Cleo Coyle Brews up Murder in Our Nation’s Capital {+ Giveaway}

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{Note: The winner of this awesome giveaway is Kelly Oster. Congratulations Kelly and thanks to everyone who dropped by during Cleo's visit.}
 
It’s with great pleasure that I welcome author Cleo Coyle back to Thoughts in Progress today to talk about her latest release DEAD TO THE LAST DROP, the 15th installment in her Coffeehouse Mystery series.

To celebrate the release, Cleo is offering an awesome giveaway to one lucky visitor to Thoughts. The giveaway includes an autographed copy of the new hardcover edition of DEAD TO THE LAST DROP; five autographed glossy recipe cards; a large, durable canvas Coffeehouse Mystery tote bag; and a pound of premium "Billionaire's Blend" coffee from One Good Woman Coffee and Tea Co., mentioned in the book's acknowledgment as part of the background research for our "one good woman"--amateur sleuth Clare Cosi. Please see the end of the post for more details on the giveaway.

Cleo joins us today to “Brew Up Murder in our Nation’s Capital”. Afterwards I’ll share my thoughts on this delightful book. Please join me in giving a warm welcome to Cleo. First, I have to say I’ve learned a lot from Clare through her 15 adventures. I now enjoy fresh ground coffee daily thanks to Clare, as well as knowing how to use my French Press and stove top espresso pot. Welcome, Cleo and thanks for sharing Clare and the gang with us readers.

First, we send our caffeinated thanks to Mason Canyon for her longtime support of our work. Mason has been reading and reviewing The Coffeehouse Mysteries since the beginning—long before Penguin moved us into hardcover or we hit the New York Times list. 

Our little coffee series that got bigger and bigger is still going strong. This year we’re celebrating over twelve years in print, and we’re here today to tell you about our latest entry.

The premise comes down to a question: How does a hardworking single mother and coffee shop manager go from befriending the First Lady and catering a glittering party at the Smithsonian, to being placed at the top of the FBI’s Most Wanted list? 

For our amateur sleuth, Clare Cosi, it begins when the President’s college-age daughter becomes a fan of her freshly roasted coffee, and a regular at Clare’s D.C. jazz club. Then the young woman mysteriously vanishes, a State Department employee collapses in the shop, and Clare is fit for a frame of kidnapping and homicide.

These capital crimes are the last thing she expects to be accused of when she relocates to our nation’s capital, but Clare must solve both mysteries—and discover who framed her—or she may discover firsthand…

Washington is murder. 

If you are new to our series, don’t hesitate to pick up DEAD TO THE LAST DROP. You can read it as a stand-alone, and if you like the ride, you have 14 more books to enjoy. But don’t miss this Washington story. It’s embedded with twists, turns, and hidden secrets about our nation’s capital that were inspired by my own experiences while living, studying, and working in D.C. 

To read the prologue and first chapter, click here. 

Black Magic Cake 

photo by Alice Alfonsi

DEAD TO THE LAST DROP is also a culinary mystery, with an appendix of more than 25 delicious recipes, including Charming Chocolate Chip Muffins, Carolina-style Mustard-Glazed Sticky Wings, Double-Chocolate Espresso Cupcakes, the best Oatmeal Cookie Recipe you may ever bake, and a fantastic version of Black Magic Cake with a “secret ingredient” chocolate frosting to die for.
 
To see the book’s free Recipe Guide, click here.





Here are some of the places Clare Cosi
will take you on her visit to Washington…


THE WHITE HOUSE
 

White House 

photo courtesy 

HiraV, Wiki Commons

Clare makes two trips to this grand destination, one at the request of the First Lady, who shares a private lunch with her in the Diplomatic Reception Room, a magnificent oval-shaped space famously redecorated by Jacqueline Kennedy and once used by Franklin D. Roosevelt for his legendary fireside chats.


GEORGETOWN

Cox’s Row of Georgetown 

courtesy Library of Congress

This picturesque neighborhood boasts some of the finest examples of Federal period architecture in the country. Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Graham Bell, and John F. Kennedy are among the past residents. It’s here that Clare lands a posh housesitting gig on “Cox’s Row” in a charming mansion that was once part of the Underground Railroad.

THE SMITHSONIAN

Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers 

courtesy Wiki Commons

A glittering black-tie party brings Clare to “America’s Attic,” the nickname of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Clare witnesses a fateful meeting here, in front of Dorothy’s ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz, one of the many fascinating artifacts that celebrate American culture, creativity, and cuisine. Yes, cuisine! As a master roaster and expert on the bean, Clare is asked to contribute her ideas to one of the museum’s newest exhibits, Coffee and the Presidency. 


THE JAZZ SPACE

This fictional location is based on a real jazz club in Washington called Blues Alley. The mouthwatering menu of our Jazz Space becomes an important plot point in DEAD TO THE LAST DROP, and the recipes for many of the menu’s items are included in the book. You can even visit our Jazz Space online. Come to our website CoffeehouseMystery.com to learn more.


CLEO’S NEWSLETTER: Contests, recipes, news, fun facts, and videos. To sign up, simply write an e-mail that says “sign me up” and send it to CoffeehouseMystery@gmail(dot)com You will receive a reply with links to past newsletters that include free recipes.

TITLE CHECKLIST: Get a free title checklist with mini summaries of all 15 Coffeehouse Mysteries. To download the list as a PDF document, click here.

Alice Alfonsi and her husband,

Marc Cerasini, who write as 

Cleo Coyle. 

Photo by Alice Alfonsi

CLEO COYLE is a pseudonym for Alice Alfonsi, writing in collaboration with her husband, Marc Cerasini. Both are New York Times bestselling authors of the Coffeehouse Mysteries, now celebrating over ten years in print. 

Alice has worked as a journalist in Washington, D.C., and New York City, and has written young adult and children’s books. A former magazine editor, Marc has authored espionage thrillers and nonfiction for adults and children. 

Alice and Marc are also bestselling media tie-in writers who have penned properties for Lucasfilm, NBC, Fox, Disney, Imagine, and MGM. They live and work in New York City, where they write independently and together, including the national bestselling Haunted Bookshop Mysteries. 

For more on this remarkable writing team, check out these links:

www.CoffeehouseMystery.com

www.Facebook.com/CleoCoyle

www.Twitter.com/CleoCoyle

www.Pinterest.com/CleoCoyle

Cleo (Alice and Marc), thanks so much for visiting with us today and sharing this insight into Clare’s newest adventure. You always have such fascinating bits of information woven into these adventures. It’s a combination of fun reading and learning at the same time.

Now for my thoughts ………

When an author can make you feel the emotions of their characters, then they have truly captured your imagination.

Author Cleo Coyle does an excellent job of this in her Coffeehouse Mystery series. Her latest release, DEAD TO THE LAST DROP, is a prime example.

In this 15th entry of the series, the author takes protagonist Clare Cosi out of her New York coffeehouse and puts her in Washington D.C. Master roaster Clare has her hands full trying to get the new Village Blend, DC, shop up and running. Struggling to earn a profit, Clare tries to get her volatile chef to change his menu to no avail. The only peace she enjoys is from the coffeehouse’s second floor jazz club. But that’s short-lived when a jazz piano genius turns out to be the President’s daughter bringing problems of her own to the club.

When a State Department staff member bursts into the coffeehouse late one night and collapses, Clare’s troubles escalate. Clare’s boyfriend, NYPD Detective Mike Quinn, is on special assignment in DC for the Justice Department, but is dealing with problems of his own. His boss, Acting Director Katherina Lacey, has her sights set on him, but Mike’s interest in her has to do with proving she is corrupt.

When the President’s daughter goes missing and the State Department staffer dies, Clare finds herself a wanted woman by the FBI. On the run with Mike, Clare has to blend the elements together to discover who wants her behind bars or worse.

The author begins the story with an adrenaline rush and doesn’t let up until the end. Combining a historical setting with intrigue, Coyle infuses the story with a touch of romance, political intrigue and fascinating history. The mystery takes twists and turns to keep you guessing.

The characters are well-developed and extremely likable. Clare is a strong and determined protagonist with a soft side readers can relate to. The friendship and loyalty among the core group of characters gives depth to the story.

Readers don’t have to have a love of coffee to enjoy this series even though bits of coffee knowledge is woven throughout the story. Political conspiracy, fascinating characters, amazing settings and a murder mystery will hold you spellbound.

DEAD TO THE LAST DROP can be read on its own with new readers having no problems following the plot and characters. Returning fans will delight in the new directions of their favorite characters. In addition, there are recipes, tips, a jazz playlist, and an interesting list pertaining to Coffee and the Presidency to tantalize you.

Coyle keeps the story fresh and the intrigue high as she takes readers on a roller coaster ride through the streets of D.C. and surrounding area. With a glimpse inside the White House and a taste of jazz, the author blends her magic for another enthralling mystery.

Dead To The Last Drop by Cleo Coyle, Coffeehouse Mystery Series Book #15, Berkley, @2015, ISBN: 978-0425276099, Hardcover, 432 Pages 

FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this book was sent to me by the author. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

This awesome giveaway is provided by Alice and Marc. It includes an autographed copy of the new hardcover edition of DEAD TO THE LAST DROP; five autographed glossy recipe cards; a large, durable canvas Coffeehouse Mystery tote bag; and a pound of premium "Billionaire's Blend" coffee from One Good Woman Coffee and Tea Co. The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and will end at 12 a.m. (EST) on Wednesday, Dec. 16.

Just leave a comment (be sure to include your email address, if it’s not in your profile) and you will be entered to win. If you wish not to enter the giveaway but want to comment, just say not entering in your comment.

Thanks so much for stopping by today during Cleo’s visit. Are you a fan of the Coffeehouse Mystery series? Have you ever tried something such as coffee or a craft after reading a book?

Solving the Peking Man Mystery {+ Giveaway}

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I’m thrilled today to welcome author Robert J. Mrazek to Thoughts in Progress to talk about his latest release, THE BONE HUNTERS, and a solution to the Peking Man mystery.

The award-winning author of VALHALLA, Bob follows up with another exhilarating archeological thriller in THE BONE HUNTERS (Signet Mass Market Original; December 1, 2015; $9.99). Both historically-driven and military savvy, THE BONE HUNTERS craftily meets fans of Dan Brown and Clive Cussler with this invigorating addition to the realm of action-adventure novels. Thanks to Bob and the lovely Roxanne from Berkley, I have print copies of both of these books to giveaway to a lucky visitor. Please see the end of the post for more details.

Here’s a brief synopsis of THE BONE HUNTERS (Lexy Vaughan & Steven Macaulay Series Book 2):

      Peking Man—a 780,000-year-old fossil of the oldest known human ancestor—mysteriously vanished from its America-bound cargo ship during WWII. Now, in an effort to extinguish the rise of a new religion inspired by this priceless relic, the Chinese government wastes no time deploying ruthless military operatives to seek out and destroy one of the greatest archeological discoveries ever made.
      However, the Chinese government will not go unopposed in their ambitions. Retired Air Force officer Steve Macaulay and archeologist Lexy Vaughan return to team up with Lexy’s mentor, Professor Barnaby Finchem, and lead the United States government on a mission to protect the precious fossil from the wrath of an oppressive government. In an epic race against time, the trio must sprint around the world, weathering unrelenting obstacles—of both man and nature—in order to thwart their rivals before irreversible destruction is achieved.
      With plenty of shocking plot twists and historical nods throughout, THE BONE HUNTERS delivers the exciting entertainment that thriller fans crave.

Please join me in giving a warm welcome to Bob as he talks about THE BONE HUNTERS and the Peking Man mystery. Welcome, Bob.

By way of background, I would like to point out some indisputable facts that form the foundation for this fictional story. In 1928, an ancient fossil was unearthed at an archeological excavation in Zhoukoudian near Peking, China. The Peking Man, as it was later called, was determined to be the first living example of Homo Erectus, or modern man. Scientists estimated that the fossil was nearly 800,000 years old and possibly our earliest known human ancestor. 

In late 1941 as the world came to the brink of the Second World War, the Chinese government decided that Peking Man, perhaps the most important discovery in the history of human evolution, was at risk of being captured by the Japanese army.

According to eye-witness accounts, the priceless remains were packed into two wooden crates at the Peking Union Medical College and put aboard a US Marine truck convoy bound for the U.S. Marine base near the port of Qinhuangdao in northern China. From there, Peking Man was to be sent aboard the S.S. President Madison across the Pacific and through the Panama Canal, the ultimate destination being the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

Peking Man vanished enroute to the port city. He has never been seen again.

In The Bone Hunters, the mystery is solved.

I had a lot of fun writing this thriller. It is the first sequel I have ever written after eight stand-alone works of fiction and non-fiction. I very much enjoyed creating the three principal characters in the first book of the series, Valhalla. I reprise them again here.

Two of them are brilliant archeologists. Barnaby Finchem is a seventy year old Harvard professor with an active libido who is a mentor to the younger one, the beautiful but fiercely independent Alexandra Vaughan. The third principal character is a retired air force fighter pilot named Steven Macaulay who carries a lot of guilt and is in love with Alexandra. There is a lot of good give and take between the three of them, real character chemistry.

In the first book of the series, Valhalla, our intrepid heroes were successful in finding the burial tomb of the famous navigator Leif Eriksson—a Norseman who crossed the Atlantic in a longboat as a teenager—proving that he arrived in the continental U.S. five hundred years before Columbus. At the same time, they were also able to rid the world of a dangerous religious cult that had deified Eriksson and planned to genetically recode the human race.

In The Bone Hunters, I needed to create a new set of plausible and nuanced scoundrels worthy of doing battle with my heroic trio. I found them in a vicious Chinese oligarch billionaire and his malevolent son Li, who join forces with a seven and a half foot tall Bahamian former NBA star turned drug lord. They came alive for me on the page and hopefully will for the reader.

Both the heroes and adversaries are involved in a worthy quest: the hunt for Peking Man and the chance to solve the most perplexing archeological mystery of the 20th century, albeit for different motives.
The story plays out in a series of adventures on land, in the air, and under the sea off the Bahamas in a torpedoed World War II cargo ship. I hope it is as much fun for my readers as it was for me writing it.

Bob, thanks for visiting with us today and sharing this insight into this fascinating thriller. I enjoy how you combine all these elements linking to a bewildering mystery.

For those who aren’t familiar with Bob, here’s a little background on him.

Author Robert J. Mrazek

Robert J. Mrazek is the author of the novels Valhalla, The Deadly Embrace, which won the W.Y. Boyd Prize for Excellence in Military Fiction from the American Library Association, Unholy Fire, and Stonewall's Gold, winner of the Michael Shaara Prize for Best Civil War Novel of 1999. He is also the author of two works of nonfiction, To Kingdom Come and A Dawn Like Thunder.

For more on Bob and his writing, you can find him on the web at www.robertjmrazek.com.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

This giveaway is for a bundle package of both THE BONE HUNTERS and its prequel, VALLHALLA. The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only and will end at 12 a.m. (EST) on Saturday, Dec. 12.
 
To enter, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and following the instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load so please be patient. A winner will be selected by the Rafflecopter widget and I’ll send an email with the subject line “Thoughts in Progress The Bone Hunters Giveaway.” The winner will have 72 hours to reply to the email or another winner will be selected. PLEASE be sure to check your spam folder from time to time after the giveaway ends. If you win and you’ve already won the book somewhere else or you just decide for whatever reason you don’t want to win, once again PLEASE let me know.

Thanks so much for stopping by today during Bob’s visit. Were you already familiar with the Peking Man mystery? What do you think happened? Are you a fan of archeological thrillers?

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If You’re Lucky {+ Giveaway}

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I’m delighted to be able to give you a heads-up about a fascinating new psychological thriller – IF YOU’RE LUCKY - by author Yvonne Prinz that was recently published by Algonquin Young Readers.

Thanks to the wonderful folks at Algonquin, I have a copy of Yvonne’s new release to giveaway. Please see the end of the post for additional information about the giveaway.

IF YOU’RE LUCKY is a smart YA psychological thriller that Kirkus Reviews calls “a solid page turner,” and Publishers Weekly boasts, “Georgia’s suspicious mind is a fascinating place to spend time… this moody murder mystery will keep readers hooked.”

Here’s a brief synopsis:

      When seventeen-year-old Georgia’s brother, Lucky, drowns while surfing halfway around the world in Australia, she can’t believe it. Lucky was so always careful in the water. Was his death really an accident? That’s the question on Georgia’s mind when Fin, Lucky’s friend from Australia, shows up for the funeral and decides to stick around. Soon, this handsome and enigmatic stranger has charmed everyone in their sleepy California town, including Lucky’s girlfriend and parents, which leads Georgia ask an even more terrifying question: Did Fin murder Lucky so he could take over his whole life?
      Determined to clear the fog from her brain and uncover the truth about Lucky’s death, Georgia secretly stops taking the medication that keeps away the voices in her head.
      As the chilling narrative unfolds, readers must decide if Georgia is imagining things, or if she’s the only one who can see the horrible truth.
 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Author Yvonne Prinz, Photo by Sloane Morrison

Yvonne Prinz is the author of several books, including the Clare series and The Vinyl Princess, which won the California Library Association’s John and Patricia Beatty Award, was shortlisted for an Arthur Ellis Award for Crime Fiction and was named to Resource Links’ Year’s Best of 2010 list. 

A Canadian living in San Francisco, Yvonne is the co-founder of Amoeba Music, the world’s largest independent music store.
Readers can connect with Yvonne on Goodreads.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

This giveaway is for one print copy of IF YOU’RE LUCKY. The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only and will end at 12 a.m. (EST) on Thursday, Dec. 10. 

To enter, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and following the instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load so please be patient. A winner will be selected by the Rafflecopter widget and I’ll send an email with the subject line “Thoughts in Progress If You’re Lucky Giveaway.” The winner will have 72 hours to reply to the email or another winner will be selected. PLEASE be sure to check your spam folder from time to time after the giveaway ends. If you win and you’ve already won the book somewhere else or you just decide for whatever reason you don’t want to win, once again PLEASE let me know.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Are you a fan of psychological thrillers? If so, do you have a favorite that you’ve read over and over again?

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Reason to Wed Coming Soon

It’s a pleasure to be participating in author Heather Boyd’s virtual book tour for her latest Regency historical romance, REASON TO WED, which will be released Dec. 8th.

REASON TO WED is the seventh book in Heather’s Distinguished Rogues series. Here’s a brief synopsis of the book followed by an excerpt.

        Richard Hill, the Earl of Windermere, might desperately require a wife and heir, but thoughts of duty fly from his mind when he rescues Esme, Lady Heathcote, from the embarrassment of a failed affair. They usually never agree about anything. He’s never even kissed the vexing widow. But when the opportunity arises to whisk her away for a no-strings-attached rendezvous, Richard can’t imagine a better way to spend a moonlit evening.
        Esme has never lacked for admirers, but having Lord Windermere’s company goes a long way to ease the pain of losing her suddenly betrothed lover. And when Windermere suggests an affair, Esme is intrigued by the blazing-hot connection even while knowing their relationship has no future beyond his house party.
        But as with any temptation, it’s a bargain they’ll soon regret.



Read an Excerpt:

The hallway beyond the drawing room was filled to bursting with chattering guests and she moved smoothly through them, nodding and speaking occasionally to some. While she admired the elegance and comforts to be found in Lord Windermere’s home, she kept her eye out for Meriwether. She turned into the library, but the room was startlingly empty.

“Looking for me?” Windermere asked as he came to stand near. His gaze raked her from head to toe in the most gauche way.

Arrogant and presumptuous. “Hardly. You should pay more attention to your guests and the health of your servants.”

Instead of taking the hint that she wasn’t in the mood to talk, he caught her hand and raised it to his lips. His blue eyes danced with amusement. “I do love when you’re friendly. How have you been, Esme?”

She scowled at him and withdrew her hand to her side. “I’ve not given you leave to use my first name and I am not of a mood to spar with you. Go back to your other guests for amusement and send your butler to his bed. Anyone can see he’s on the verge of collapse tonight.”

“I already banished Oswin to rest.” He laughed suddenly. “Young Pip has assumed his duties until Collins comes up.”

“Just as well,” she replied, thankful for such sensible decisions at last.

“Only you would ever dare tell me what to do in my own home. I wanted to thank you for coming,” Windermere murmured. “But to convince everyone we’re not at odds, you will have to talk to me occasionally with a little less acid in your tone.”

“We’ve spoken as much as needed to quell any gossip.” She smiled at him. “Or was it your wish to have me chivvy you out of your mopes too.”

“I will say again you were right.” Windermere sighed and raked a hand through his dark, wavy hair. “You’re enjoying rubbing my nose in that business with Lady Bartlett, aren’t you?”

“Perhaps.” She smothered a laugh. He hadn’t wanted to believe he was being used until it was almost too late to extract himself from the connection. “You were so indignant that day, and after venting your pique at me, you charged down the street—on foot of all things, my man and your horse trailing after. I laughed for at least a whole day afterward. But I am sorry you were let down.”

He inhaled sharply, his jaw clenching before he relaxed and shook his head. “No, you’re not. You’re positively gloating that you were proved right about her.”

REASON TO WED can be found at Amazon, Apple, Kobo, Nook, ARe, and Google Play. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Author Heather Boyd

Bestselling historical author Heather Boyd believes every character she creates deserves their own happily-ever-after, no matter how much trouble she puts them through. With that goal in mind, she writes sizzling regency romance stories that skirt the boundaries of propriety to keep readers enthralled until the wee hours of the morning. 

Heather has published over twenty novels and shorter works. Catch her latest news www.heather-boyd.com. 

She lives north of Sydney, Australia, and does her best to wrangle her testosterone-fuelled family (including cat Morpheus) into submission.

For more on Heather and her writing, visit her website and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter. You can also sign up for her newsletter and add READON TO WED to your Goodreads Shelf.

Thanks so much for stopping by today during Heather’s visit. Are you a fan of Regency historical romances? If so, what do you enjoy most about them?