GG Calpo is here to tell us about Hook, Line, and Murder, The Sweet TOOTH Murder Mystery, a cozy mystery.
There's also a great giveaway.
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Hook, Line, and Murder
GG Calpo
(The Sweet TOOTH Murder Mystery)
Published by: The Wild Rose Press
Publication date: February 9th 2026
Genres: Adult, Cozy Mystery, Mystery
What does Meg, a retired kindergarten teacher, do when the killer of her husband and only child still walks free a year after dirt had covered their graves? Go rogue, of course!
When the detective responsible for Meg’s nightmares takes over the murder investigation of her former student, Meg hunts the killer down with help from her friends. Their cozy lunches at Sweet Buns Café turn into tactical meetings while these retired grade school teachers get themselves in trouble better suited to those in their twenties. And to put the icing on their cream scones, someone is after Meg. Is it the killer? Or has Meg uncovered secrets better left buried with her loved ones?
The day was beautiful, with clear skies and a mild snap in the air. It was cold yet warm with the right amount of heat from the sun, making it the perfect spring day. Motorboats and sailboats dipped in and out of the water, out by Poet’s Bay. And at the edge of the harbor were the fishermen, alone or in groups of two or three, a rod in their hands and their tackle boxes opened beside them. We rounded the corner, almost done with our walk, when we saw mothers dragging their children away and fathers covering the eyes of the children in their arms. Pushing against the stream of parents scrambling away were others whose eyes were fixed on the man by the harbor’s edge. A man on whose fishing line dangled a catch with, what I thought were, red fins and a red tail swaying lazily around the hook.
Red? In the salt waters of Poet’s Bay? As I stood there trying to figure out what I was seeing, Barbara shoved her way into the crowd. I followed, my curiosity getting the better of me. Murmurs of “Good morning” and “Good to see you, Mrs. B” trailed behind me, changing to “You sure you want to see this, Mrs. B?” and “I wouldn’t go any further if I were you, Mrs. B.” We fetched up to the front and looked down on the ground before us while the fisherman beside us puked his guts out.
It wasn’t a fish he had caught.
Instead, on the ground was a hand. Just a hand. Nothing else.
Author Bio:
GG Calpo is a retired lawyer and accountant who traded contracts and numbers for the far more enjoyable chaos of fictional crime. Now she writes cozy whodunits featuring warm-hearted golden-aged sleuths who’ve seen it all, heard it all and will investigate a murder with zero hesitation. She loves stories where the stakes are personal, family and friendships are paramount, with characters who refuse to follow the outline and endings that pull the rug out. When not plotting twisty crimes—on paper only, of course—she spends her time reading, crocheting blankets and sweaters for her five grandchildren, watching mystery TV shows and taking long walks in her neighborhood. She lives in Central New Jersey with her husband and two corgis, Whiskey and Nugget.
Denise Devine is here to tell us about The Nightingale Detective Agency, a Charlotte Van Elsberg Mystery book 1 - a 1920s historical cozy mystery.
There's also a great giveaway.
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In 1926 St. Paul, a determined female private investigator
uncovers deadly secrets behind a debutante’s suspicious death in this twisty
Prohibition-era cozy mystery.
The Nightingale
Detective Agency
A Charlotte Van Elsberg Mystery Book 1
by Denise Devine
Genre: 1920’s Historical Cozy Mystery
St. Paul,
1926—where ambition comes at a cost, especially for a woman.
Charlotte Van Elsberg is determined to become the city’s first female private
investigator and help women in need. She’s already landed her first case: a
grieving mother who wants answers about her daughter, Eleanor Kimball, a
debutante killed in a suspicious car crash. Was it truly an accident or
something more sinister? Char intends to find out. There’s just one
hitch—Char’s husband.
Will Van Elsberg, a seasoned investigator, knows the job too well. It’s no
profession for a petite young lady, and he’s not about to let his wife charge
headfirst into danger. Char has other ideas. She agrees to hire bodyguards to
satisfy his objections.
However, despite the addition of her “new team,” she soon learns that this job
is a lot harder than it appears. Doors slam in her face, alibis don’t add up,
and everyone appears to be hiding something. Does she have the grit
and determination it takes to solve this case?
The more she digs into Eleanor’s carefully polished life, the more she uncovers
the young woman’s secrets. Hidden truths that someone is desperate to keep
buried. Evidence worth killing for. Now that Char is asking questions, who is
determined to stop her from revealing the missing pieces?
If you love Prohibition-era intrigue
and twisty whodunits, dive into this 1920s cozy mystery filled with clever
clues, hidden secrets, and a bold female sleuth. Grab your copy today and start
sleuthing!
“Last night went well,” Will
said, commenting on my new bodyguards the next morning as we lingered over
strong black coffee in the breakfast room. Golden sunlight filtered through the
tall windows from the sun streaming between the mature oaks on the edge of our
property. “Sean and Alice seemed to get along fine. What do you think?”
Sean’s manners had come across as
overly polite compared to his outburst in the den and I suspected that he was
playing to an audience of one. The real test would come when Alice was alone
with him. Would he be respectful or try to boss her around? I had my doubts
about the former.
“I think I need to let them two
sort it out and get going on my investigation,” I replied staring into my glass
of fresh-squeezed orange juice. “The truth is, I don’t know where to start.”
“Get to know your victim,” Will
offered. “Learn everything you can about her—where she lived, her friends and
relatives, the places she liked to frequent. The information will provide
valuable clues about her life and possibly reveal why she was killed.”
Will set down his cup and leaned
back as Gerard approached the table and placed a plate of scrambled eggs, bacon
and toast in front of him. Will looked at me curiously. “You said she was
engaged?” He paused to grab a bottle of Heinz Tomato Ketchup.
From the corner of my eye, I
caught Gerard wincing at the idea of smothering one’s eggs with that vile
concoction. I agreed but kept my opinion to myself. Will loved ketchup,
especially this brand, and poured it on his breakfast nearly every morning.
“Take a good look at her fiancé,”
Will said seriously. He shook the bottle, poring ketchup all over his eggs and
filling the air with a pungent tomato aroma. “In my experience, when you’re
investigating the murder of a woman, the guilty party is quite often someone
close to the victim. That doesn’t make the fiancé automatically guilty, but it
does make him a primary suspect until your investigation proves otherwise.”
“Okay,” I said, jotting down his
instructions in my journal as Gerard set a plate of poached eggs and toast in
front of me. Interviewing everyone who knew the deceased would be a huge
undertaking. Was I up to the task? More importantly, would I gain anything
useful from it? The thought exhausted me, and I hadn’t started yet.
“Go back to the scene of the
crime,” Will continued and scooped up a forkful of eggs. “Study it, leaving no
stone unturned. No detail is too small. Sometimes I find evidence that the
police missed.”
I picked up a slice of toast and
concentrated on smothering it with Welch’s Grape Jelly to avoid watching Will
eat his red eggs. “Is there anything else I should know?”
“Read the autopsy report,” he
added as he picked up a crisp piece of bacon with his fingers. “The family
might have requested their private physician to look it over and interpret it
for them but unless they knew medical terms they wouldn’t have a copy of it
themselves. You need to grease a palm or two at the coroner’s office to obtain
a look at it.”
Oh sure, I’ll just drive to
downtown Minneapolis and find someone in the coroner’s office to give me a
look-see at that report.
I let out a sigh and took a bite
of my toast, pondering how I would actually go about getting someone in the
coroner’s office to give me access to the report, much less interpret it for
me. I had no idea. “Do I need to read the autopsy report? Is it imperative to
my case?”
“It’s another piece of the
puzzle, darling,” Will said, his voice softening at my frustration. “If the
police ruled her death an accident, the family would want to know if she’d
suffered a medical issue at the time, causing her to lose control of the car.
If there is a report, you should find out what’s in it.”
Folding
my arms, I sat back and stared at him as discouragement began to seep into my
mood. Had I made a mistake wanting to become an investigator? The job was
clearly more than I’d bargained for.
Denise Devine is a USA Today bestselling author
who has had a passion for books since the second grade when she discovered
Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder. She wrote her first book,
a mystery, at age thirteen and has been writing ever since. She loves all
animals, especially dogs, cats, and horses, and they often find their way into
her books.
She has written twenty-two books, including books
in the Beach Brides series, Moonshine Madness series, and West Loon Bay series.
Her books have hit the Top 100 Bestseller list on Amazon and she has been
listed on Amazon’s Top 100 Authors.
Rachel Dacus is here to tell us about her cozy mystery The Deadly Tea.
There's also a great giveaway.
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This post is part of a virtual book organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Rachel Dacus will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Most sleuths don’t have the advantage of talking to the murder victim for clues, but Saffron has a window into the afterlife. The problem is, she's not a detective and has no wish to be.
In the charming heart of London’s Notting Hill, Saffron juggles motherhood, running an animal welfare foundation, and counseling recently deceased spirits—the invisibles. But her peaceful routine is upended when a spirit insists she solve the mystery of his untimely death. Lucas Troy pops into her awareness claiming he was killed and demanding she figure out who did it. He wants justice before he'll agree to move on. But Saffron's role isn't to play detective, but to help each invisible plan for the next adventure in living. She asks Lucas if he suspects anyone in the circle at his aunt’s tea party where he died. He can’t imagine anyone wanting to kill him, but he persuades Saffron to interview them all.
She feels for Lucas, who had hardly begun his life, and she tries to persuade him that he can have a great future next lifetime, but finally she gives in and agrees to a little investigating. If she finds out something, perhaps he’ll agree to move forward. But the closer she gets to the possible killer, the more she’s in danger. Saffron has no wish to join Lucas in The Room Over There.
Settle in to a cozy mystery with a touch of the supernatural, the heartwarming chaos of family, and the charm of London’s Notting Hill. "Interesting characters, intriguing mystery."
Read an Excerpt
It was glorious to dawdle around the bohemian and vintage shops on Portobello Road, and the addition of rare April sunshine in London made it seem to Saffron like her spa day. Not that she ever got to have those, as most mothers of young children didn’t. But today, browsing and shopping, she indulged herself in a glorious solitude amid the crowds. This busy street was her paradise, and she needed just a few more things for the children’s Easter outfits, but hoping not to find them too quickly.
Traffic and people swirled around her, and she thrilled to the bright colors, food stalls, brushes of music wafting out of open doors. She would forever be a tourist in her adopted city of London. Notting Hill was so like her San Francisco Bay Area, but snootier. In many ways, more exciting.
Peering into windows, she thought about the perfect bow tie she wanted for Percy’s suit, so her seven-year-old son didn’t look like a tiny banker. Four-year-old Freida could use a flower pin for her pinafore dress. Focusing on these ideas was such a pleasure. Saffron tried to wipe the smile off her face, remembering that Londoners did not walk around smiling, though Californians often did.
A passerby jostled her, and as she stopped to check her bag, a low voice drifted down. “Hey! Anyone here?”
Hella damn. An invisible. Another drifting spirit.
“I’m here,” she whispered. “I’m busy, as you can see. You can see me, right?”
“I see a lot of hair. Curly. Are you some kind of animal?”
Saffron huffed. “You’re looking at the top of my head. Come down lower, so you can see my face.”
Some might call it being haunted, but Saffron called it helping invisibles. She wasn’t often contacted by newly dead people, but occasionally one popped into her vicinity. They always needed orientation and comfort after the trauma of dying.
About the Author:
Rachel Dacus is the author of eight novels and five poetry collections. Her fiction features love and relationships, exotic locations and intrepid heroines, and emotional journeys of self-discovery, all with a touch of the supernatural. Her poetry, stories, and essays have appeared widely in print and online literary journals and anthologies. She enjoys life in the beautiful San Francisco Bay Area, with its coast and trails where she walks her tiny but mighty Silky Terrier with her architect husband.
Valerie Taylor is here to tell us about A Jewel of a Crime, a Venus Bixby Mystery #3, cozy mystery.
There's also a great giveaway.
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A Jewel of a Crime: A Venus Bixby Mystery
Valerie Taylor
(Venus Bixby Mystery, #3)
Publication date: June 2nd 2026
Genres: Adult, Cozy Mystery
Venus Bixby is ready for a fresh start. With green streaks in her hair and “Rock the Shamrock” polish on her nails, she’s sold her dance studio and set her sights on a glamorous second act: traveling the world to recover stolen art. But before she can book her first flight, she stumbles over the new studio owner’s dead body behind a drawn curtain.
In a town like Chatham Crossing, secrets don’t stay buried and gossip travels faster than the morning coffee line. Suddenly Venus is a suspect in a very public investigation. As she scrambles to clear her name, she uncovers a troubling secret from her late husband’s past: he purchased an emerald ring she’s never seen—and now it’s missing.
When a string of burglaries rattles the town, Venus begins to suspect the murder and the stolen emerald are connected. With rumors swirling, neighbors whispering, and her passport dreams slipping, she’ll need sharp instincts—and a dash of Irish luck—to catch the real culprit.
A Jewel of a Crime is a sparkling cozy mystery filled with small-town charm, amateur sleuthing, loyal cats, and twists that keep the pages turning. Includes cookie recipes and a nostalgic oldies playlist.
Rather than barge uninvited into the classroom looking for her, Gabby and I bided our time and hung out in the lobby. I shifted from one foot to the other while Gabby perused the business cards pinned to a brand-new combination whiteboard and corkboard.
“When I come back with that vase, I’ll bring a few business cards to tack up here.”
“Great idea!” I rifled through my purse until I found a couple of cards promoting Oldies & Goodies and Cats & Their Cradle. I affixed them to the cork and smiled. Part of me wondered whether Sam would take them down before anyone ever saw them.
Still no Margo. Did she not hear the bell when we entered a few minutes ago? Maybe not over Ol’ Blue Eyes. I considered writing a message on the whiteboard. I picked through the pens in the Tremont Regency Hotel mug on the desk, but there didn’t appear to be any of those dry-erase markers.
“Where could she be?” Gabby asked.
“Probably in the back. Should we check?”
I gently opened the glass door to the main classroom. A rush of crisp air reminded me how we’d kept the temperature in the low sixties so the students wouldn’t get overheated. The smell of fresh-cut grass suddenly wafted over me. My nose recognized dance floor wax, forcing me to stifle a sneeze.
The same song we heard when we walked into the lobby still played. Must be on a continuous loop. I listened closely. Ah, Frank was singing “Witchcraft.” An appropriate theme for the day.
The walls were painted a creamy shade of white. Floor-to-ceiling mirrors lined one wall and a row of barres ran parallel to the floor. The mirrors reflected framed images on the opposite wall. I turned to examine them up close. I walked along the wall, studying and touching each gently. Definitely Sam and Margo in their younger years.
This egotistical display was so unlike the studio Paul, and then I, owned. Our walls were proudly adorned with photographs of the young dancers who graced our ballroom.
Where are those pictures? Why didn’t they ask if I wanted them? What else did they keep from me?
“Margo?” I called.
Silence.
At the far end of the room, there was a royal purple floor-to-ceiling drape pulled closed across the width of the ballroom. As I walked toward it, I waved toward Gabby. “I’m gonna check back here.”
I noticed a universal restroom to my right. I motioned to Gabby. “You check in there.”
Then I drew back the curtain. “Never mind. Found her!” I cried out.
Author Bio:
Valerie Taylor lives in Connecticut and considers herself a typical "average Jane." She might remind you of the reclusive neighbor who fancies herself a novelist. Unlike many of her peers whom she admires, she does NOT have a degree in literature. But she is the award-winning author of the romantic comedy trilogy: WHAT'S NOT SAID, WHAT'S NOT TRUE, and WHAT'S NOT LOST. The roots of those three novels, as well as the books in the Venus Bixby Mystery series—A WHALE OF A MURDER and SWITCHED AT DEATH and A JEWEL OF A CRIME—most likely took hold during her early years watching Carol Burnett, Jack Benny, Red Skelton, and The Twilight Zone. Her love of oldies music stems from hours listening and dancing to Elvis Presley and The Beatles, and being in the Bobby Darin fan club.
Mary Seifert is here to tell us about Golfing, Gardens & Ghosts, Katie & Maverick Cozy Mysteries #11, a cozy mystery.
There's also a great giveaway.
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Cozy Mystery
Date Published: 01-28-2026
Publisher: Secret Staircase Books, an imprint of Columbine Publishing Group,
LLC
School’s out for the summer and math teacher Katie Wilk needs
something to occupy her time, something beyond helping to plan Jane
Mackey’s upcoming wedding. So, when Jane suggests golf lessons and Katie
secures a part-time job at the Shady Oaks Country Club to cover the cost of
her golfing gear, it seems like a win-win plan. Unfortunately, the
club’s irascible golf pro seems to make enemies wherever he goes, so
when his body turns up near the 14th hole, it’s anyone’s guess who
might have done him in.
Katie doesn’t really want another murder to investigate, but Officer
Ronnie Christianson is back to his old ways, and it looks like he’ll do
what it takes to implicate her in the death. And Katie just happens to have
seen a potentially incriminating clue, behind a secret garden wall that few
know about. Can Katie, Jane, and Ida ask enough questions to find out what
really happened before the police come after her?
Praise for this amazing cozy series by multiple award-winning author Mary
Seifert:
2024 Chanticleer International Book Awards - Semi-Finalist - Mystery &
Mayhem category
2024 Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award - Top Pick - Cozy Mysteries
2024 International Impact Awards - Winner - Books in a Series
“…. a solid 5 out of 5 stars. For those seeking not just a
mystery but an immersive experience, Mary Seifert's debut novel [is] the
perfect companion for a cosy night in, a cup of tea, and a journey into the
heart of a captivating mystery.”– Maverick, Movies & Murder,
Online Book Club.org
“...an intricate mystery with plenty of action and suspense. Plus, I
like the dog.” David Housewright Edgar Award winning author of Something
Wicked
“From navigating small town life to solving puzzling murders, Katie and
Maverick are a delight.” —Mindy Mejia, international bestseller
author
“Immediately captivating! Katie and Maverick are destined to become a
notable amateur sleuth team in the mystery world.”–Connie
Shelton, USA Today bestselling author
“I thoroughly enjoyed this debut book by Mary Seifert! This well written
and thoughtful story kept me engaged with fun characters, interesting
information and mind and math puzzles. Looking forward to book two!”
James, 5-star online review
“Fun read! The author has an authentic voice and has done her research.
The plot covers many topics: dogs, history, the inner workings of hospitals,
family dynamics, and more. I especially enjoyed the puzzles and little-known
historical facts that were part of the story. Maverick, Movies & Murder
kept my interest and left me wanting more. Highly recommend!”Beth,
online 5-star review
“…very much looking forward to her next!!! I can’t get
enough of Ms. Seifert’s books!!” –proudarmymom, 5 stars
“…plenty of unanticipated twists and turns. It kept [me] up
reading to see what was going to happen next!” – RHN, 5 stars
online
“Maverick, Movies, and Murder isn't merely a cosy mystery; it's a
literary embrace, a narrative that unfolds in layers, revealing both the
familiar and the unexpected.”OnlineBookClub.org review
Excerpt
“I can’t imagine you didn’t inherit my ability to sit still
and do absolutely nothing. I’m the king of procrastination.”
I laughed. “This from a man who plans every minute of his day.”
“Yes, but I make certain I plan all my sitting-still time first. I might
have some ideas for you.”
Poised to take note of Dad’s constructive contributions, I said,
“Do tell.”
He leaned back in the chair and crossed his arms. “You could pick up a
new hobby.”
…
“I could teach you to cook. Maybe. Or you could bike.”
I plopped my elbow on the table and supported my cheek in my hand. “You
and Ida have tried to teach me to cook. It’s been practically
impossible, and there’s only so much biking I can do.” I shook my
head yet listened for something novel.
“You could sleep in.”
“Tried that.” I side-eyed my pup and exhaled.
“You could learn a craft like … crocheting or knitting.”
Two more words made the list. He waited for an enthusiastic response, which
didn’t happen, but nuggets of ideas turned over in my head as I chewed
my final morsel of bacon. Our landlady, Ida Clemashevski, was a creative whiz
not only at cooking, but with her passions of art, acting, music, and probably
crafting as well.
“There’s always fishing,” he said, cautiously optimistic.
“Or get a part-time job?”
I jotted a few words next to his recommendations and drew a fish.
Dad asked, “What’s that?”
Having confirmed my lack of any artistic talent, my sketch disappeared under
scribbles. “I’ll think about taking up a hobby, but meanwhile, it
seems I’ll simply have to resign myself to mundane chores
…” I hopped up. “Nothing exciting. Something like doing the
dishes.” I juggled the serving platters, plates, and silverware and
deposited them in the sink, leaving the delicate cups for a second trip.
Soap foamed under the cascade of hot water, and I scrubbed slowly to eat up at
least a portion of my free time. Although Dad reached for a towel, I shooed
him out of the kitchen, knowing how much he valued his predictable weekday
schedule: a hearty first meal of the day, a one-mile walk around the
neighborhood—rain or shine, an in-depth read of the newspaper from cover
to cartoons, an exercise class at the Y, and his volunteer stint at the
library.
“No doubt, by week’s end you’ll have discovered a new and
more streamlined method for doing dishes. You know I love you.” He
kissed my forehead and headed for the door and a day of sunshine. “But
we’ve got to keep you occupied and out of trouble, or you’ll never
get rid of the crazy nickname you earned.”
I called to his retreating back, “Just because I’ve been in the
wrong places and involved in the resolution of several serious crimes, I
really don’t think I deserve the moniker ‘Katie Wilk, the murder
magnet.’”
About the Author
Mary Seifert is the mastermind behind the captivating Katie and Maverick
Cozy Mysteries, a 2024 International IMPACT Award winner for books in a
series. If you love a thrilling whodunit with a sprinkle of humor and a dash
of charm, her books are for you. Her novel Maverick, Movies & Murder was a
finalist for the 2023 American Fiction Award, and Santa, Snowflakes &
Strychnine earned a spot as a 2024 Chanticleer Murder and Mayhem finalist. Set
in the picturesque landscapes of West Central Minnesota, where the lakes
begin, Mary’s stories are as cozy as a warm cup of cocoa on a chilly
day.
Mary’s love affair with books began in her grandfather’s secretive
basement backroom library, where she read childhood favorites, Heidi, Black
Beauty, National Velvet, Charlotte’s Web, Charlie and the Chocolate
Factory, and devoured works by literary greats such as Agatha Christie, Sir
Arthur Conan Doyle, Erle Stanley Gardner, Wouk, Chandler, du Maurier, Ellery
Queen, Margaret Mitchell, Steinbeck, Hemingway, Salinger, Bradbury, Tolkien,
and Pasternak, to name just a few. These early literary adventures, combined
with lively book discussions with her mother and siblings helped shape her
love for mysteries and complex narratives. Her father’s gift of
outrageous storytelling added exaggeration to her arsenal, lending a playful
twist to her writing.
Mary grounded her passion for storytelling when she shared her love of reading
with her children, solving puzzles alongside beloved characters like Nancy
Drew, the Boxcar Children, and the Hardy Boys, and that passion is growing,
watching the next generation learn to read. She proudly believes her kids,
their significant others, and her grandchildren are the smartest in the
universe, and she’s not shy about letting the world know it!
Elizabeth Pantley is here to tell us about Critters and Crimes, Magical Cozy Mystery Book Club #11, a paranormal cozy mystery.
There's also a great giveaway.
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A quaint riverside
town holds many secrets ...
and the only ones who’ve seen it all are the
critters.
Critters and Crimes
Magical Cozy Mystery Book Club #11
by Elizabeth Pantley
Genre: Paranormal Cozy Mystery
A quaint riverside
town holds many secrets ... and the only ones who’ve seen it all are the
critters.
This book club dives (literally!) into the pages of a cozy
mystery. The quirky group must solve the mystery to get out of the book. It’s
so much fun - you’ll wish you had a book club like this!
In this journey, they choose a book set in a lovely
riverside town. They land in a charming neighborhood and find they are part of
a local book club. They are having a great time – and then a dead body shows
up. (Of course it does!)
The clues to what happened come to them in a unique way –
via the critters in the house.
As usual, the club finds plenty of time to enjoy the unique
setting of their journey, as they solve the mystery – one critter at a time.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
This book is part of a magical cozy mystery series of 11 books and growing.
Each book can be read as a standalone, but are much more fun
in order.
Available in eBook, paperback, Kindle Unlimited, and
audiobook.
“Hey!” Frank shouted the
word as he landed with a thump on the deck right in front of me.
“Ack!” I jumped and
grabbed the pillow beside me for protection. I nearly fell off the porch swing.
“Don’t do that!”
Frank snickered. His tail
flicked back and forth and his ears twitched.
“You startled me!”
“Really? It was so hard to
tell.” He snorted with laughter.
I peeked from behind the
pillow and shook a finger at him. “Bad cat!”
That just made him laugh
harder. He rolled over on his back and waved his paws in the air.
He looked so silly that I
relaxed and began to laugh, too.
“Good morning to you,” I
said, as I smoothed out the pillow that had been my so-called protection.
Frank finally caught his
breath and sat up. “What’cha doing out here all alone, Paige-o-roonie?”
“I was having a quiet,
reflective morning. Did you catch the definitive word there? I ‘was’ having a
quiet morning.”
“Are you implying that I
interrupted you?”
“Not implying. Stating a
fact.”
“For good reason.” He
chuckled. “I see you have some coffee there.” He pointed his nose at my cup.
“Want to go get this kitty a bowlful?” He crossed his front feet, tipped his
head to the side and widened his eyes. Then to up his cuteness quotient, he batted
his lashes. “Please?”
“Oh, for Pete’s sake,” I
laughed, getting up from the swing. “I’ll be right back.”
I went into the kitchen to
exchange my coffee for a cup of tea. Frank had jump started my heart, so I
didn’t need any more caffeine. I fixed Frank a bowl of his favorite morning
beverage: half-coffee, half-creamer. Any normal cat would be sick from the brew,
but our magical library cat was not anything resembling normal.
The house was quiet as I
grabbed our drinks and returned to the porch. I set Frank’s bowl on the table
and sat on the swing. I took a big sip from my cup.
Frank took a leap over to
the table and inhaled the aroma wafting from his bowl. He slurped greedily then
gave a moan of delight. He tipped his head at me. “What were these reflective
thoughts that I interrupted?”
I tapped a finger to my
lips in thought, and glanced at my book, which lay quietly on the table beside
me. For once, I didn’t have my nose in a cozy mystery. Instead, I had been
rocking back and forth on the porch swing, enjoying the sounds of the birds and
the quiet whisper of the wind through the trees as I had let my mind wander,
until Frank had disrupted me.
“I’d been cycling through
many topics, one after the other.”
“Maybe you were clearing
your mind’s way for the upcoming new book adventure?”
“That’s probably true.
Once we get inside a book, I won’t have time to ponder anything but the mystery
we need to solve.”
Elizabeth Pantley is a bestselling author of fiction and
non-fiction books. She writes two well-loved cozy mystery series: The Magical
Mystery Book Club, and the Destiny Falls Mystery and Magic series. She has also
written the international bestselling No-Cry Solution parenting book series
that is available in over twenty languages.
Elizabeth lives in the majestic Pacific Northwest and spends
winters in the sunny desert of Arizona. While neither location is home to any
paranormal beings (that she knows of) the vastly different yet equally lovely
locations are the inspiration for the settings in many of her books.
