Shelley Coriell's Blog

Welcome to the enchanting seaside town of Brisa del Mar and to the Toppers Hat Shop Cozy Mystery Series! Here you’ll meet my latest heroine, Adeline Hart, a former true-crime researcher turned hatmaker. Join Adeline as she investigates millinery murders, mends her broken heart, and stitches together a whole new family.

The series kicks off with Pillboxes and Peril, where a member of a bridal party is found stabbed with Adeline’s dressmaking sheers. Named the prime suspect, Adeline must clear her name and find the killer. Get your copy of Pillboxes and Peril today! Free with Kindle Unlimited.

Fleeing heartache and a smoking gun, Adeline Hart escapes to the seaside town of Brisa del Mar where she lands a summer job as manager of Toppers, the town’s whimsical but struggling hat shop. Here, she has three months to craft a whole new life now that her career as a true-crime researcher has unraveled.

But when the member of a bridal party is found stabbed with Adeline’s dressmaking sheers, she must clear her name and find the killer. Good thing she can count on her well-honed true-crime research skills to question people and find clues. Along the way, Adeline finds unexpected friendships with the town’s quirky residents and rediscovers the power and promise of a well-chosen hat.

Can amateur sleuth Adeline stitch together enough clues to keep the killer from striking again? Will she find healing and happiness in the world of hats? And what’s up with the wind in Brisa del Mar, anyway?

Pillboxes and Peril is Book 1 in the Toppers Hat Shop Cozy Mystery Series. This enchanting series in an unconventional seaside town in California follows Adeline Hart as she investigates millinery murders, mends her broken heart, and stitches together a whole new family.

The post New Book! New Series! New Genre! appeared first on ShelleyCoriell.

Tangled Truths, Vol. 4 in my Det. Lottie King Mystery Series, officially releases today! Get your copy now at Amazon, B&N, iBooks, or Kobo.

[image error] As detectives Lottie King and Oliver T. Figg officially team up to catch killers, Lottie uncovers a tangle of secrets from Figg’s past that could destroy the agency…and cost lives. Features five mysteries and Lottie-inspired recipes.

Tangled Truths — On Lottie’s first day of work at the Figg Agency, a new client literally dies in her arms, but she must hunt for the killer on her own as Figg deals with problems from his past.

Dry Bones — The deathbed confession of an elderly woman sends Lottie and Figg digging into a century-old murder during Colorado’s great Gold Rush.

Past Due — In serious need of cash, Figg takes on a run of the mill cheating spouse case that has him and Lottie running for their lives.

Short Take — Figg fills in for Lottie at a Girl Power meeting where he helps the troop plan and execute a heist that results in life-changing consequences.

Last Call — After learning Figg’s deadly secret, Lottie vows to save him and the agency, but someone will kill to keep the truth from getting out.

Joy & Peace!

Shelley

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Living in the American Southwest, Mexican food has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. So imagine my delight when I discovered this recipe for Mexican Hot Chocolate with Kahlua. It’s great for the holidays or for those chilly evenings when we’re entertaining outdoors. (And yes, we entertain on the patio year-round in Arizona!) This Mexican Hot Chocolate has a nice kick that’s smoothed out by the chocolate shavings and whipped cream. The recipe below first appeared in LIGHT PARADE, a short holiday mystery in my Det. Lottie King Mystery Series. Get your FREE copy of LIGHT PARADE, A DETECTIVE LOTTIE KING HOLIDAY MYSTERY and more hot chocolate recipes: Amazon, B&N, iBooks, Kobo

[image error]Mexican Hot Chocolate with Kahlua

Yield: Serves 2; Prep time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

Best-Ever Hot Cocoa Recipe

2 oz Kahlua

Dash of cayenne pepper

Dash of nutmeg

Cinnamon stick

Whipped cream (optional)

Chocolate shavings (optional)

1. Make one basic Holiday Hot Chocolate recipe.

2. Add Kahlua, cayenne and nutmeg and stir with cinnamon stick.

3. Pour into mug and top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

* Best-Ever Hot Chocolate Recipe

Ingredients

1/2 cup water

2 T Dutch Cocoa

2 cups whole milk

4 oz bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped

2 T organic raw sugar

2 T heavy cream

Pinch of salt

Dash of vanilla extract

Directions

1. Heat water to simmer. Stir in cocoa and whisk until lumps are gone.

2. Add milk and heat to just starting to simmer. (Don’t boil!)

3. Take off heat and add chocolate. Let sit for one minute as chocolate melts.

4. Put back on heat. Add sugar, cream, salt, and vanilla. Stir for 2 or 3 minutes.

5. Pour into mugs and ENJOY!

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Looking for a fun beverage for the holidays? Check out my Peppermint Hot Chocolate for Adults. It’s festive and fired up with Peppermint Schnapps. Last December I hosted a Hot Chocolate Party with friends and served this along with Amaretto Hot Chocolate and Mexican Hot Chocolate with Kahlua. This Peppermint Hot Chocolate was a runaway favorite with most of my guests. This recipe first appeared in LIGHT PARADE, a short holiday mystery in my Det. Lottie King Mystery Series. Get your FREE copy of LIGHT PARADE, A DETECTIVE LOTTIE KING HOLIDAY MYSTERY and more hot chocolate recipes: Amazon, B&N, iBooks, Kobo

Peppermint Hot Chocolate for Adults

[image error]Yield: Serves 2; Prep time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

Best-Ever Hot Chocolate Recipe

2 oz Peppermint Schnapps

Whipped cream (optional)

Peppermint candies, crushed (optional)

1. Make one basic Holiday Hot Chocolate recipe.

2. Add peppermint schnapps.

3. Pour into mug and top with whipped cream and crushed peppermint candies.

* Best-Ever Hot Chocolate Recipe

Ingredients

1/2 cup water

2 T Dutch Cocoa

2 cups whole milk

4 oz bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped

2 T organic raw sugar

2 T heavy cream

Pinch of salt

Dash of vanilla extract

Directions

1. Heat water to simmer. Stir in cocoa and whisk until lumps are gone.

2. Add milk and heat to just starting to simmer. (Don’t boil!)

3. Take off heat and add chocolate. Let sit for one minute as chocolate melts.

4. Put back on heat. Add sugar, cream, salt, and vanilla. Stir for 2 or 3 minutes.

5. Pour into mugs and ENJOY!

The post Peppermint Hot Chocolate for Adults appeared first on SHELLEY CORIELL.

As a special treat for readers, I shared four holiday recipes in my Christmas mystery, LIGHT PARADE, including this amazing recipe for Amaretto Hot Chocolate. Of all the hot chocolate recipes I taste-tested, this was my favorite. It was rich but smooth, so smooth I could have had a few mugs of Amaretto Hot Chocolate! LIGHT PARADE is a short holiday mystery from my Det. Lottie King Mystery Series.

Get your FREE copy of LIGHT PARADE, A DETECTIVE LOTTIE KING HOLIDAY MYSTERY and more hot chocolate recipes: Amazon, B&N, iBooks, Kobo

[image error]Amaretto Hot Chocolate

Yield: Serves 2; Prep time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

Best-Ever Hot Chocolate Recipe (*see below)

2 oz Amaretto

Whipped cream (optional)

Shredded coconut (optional)

Directions

1. Make one basic Holiday Hot Chocolate recipe.

2. Add Amaretto.

3. Pour into mug and top with whipped crea and shredded coconut.

* Best-Ever Hot Chocolate Recipe

Ingredients

1/2 cup water

2 T Dutch Cocoa

2 cups whole milk

4 oz bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped

2 T organic raw sugar

2 T heavy cream

Pinch of salt

Dash of vanilla extract

Directions

1. Heat water to simmer. Stir in cocoa and whisk until lumps are gone.

2. Add milk and heat to just starting to simmer. (Don’t boil!)

3. Take off heat and add chocolate. Let sit for one minute as chocolate melts.

4. Put back on heat. Add sugar, cream, salt, and vanilla. Stir for 2 or 3 minutes.

5. Pour into mugs and ENJOY!

The post Amaretto Hot Chocolate Recipe appeared first on SHELLEY CORIELL.

Last November I embarked upon a great quest to find the perfect hot chocolate recipe. I wanted something steamy and creamy and a tad bit decadent. I tried dozens of variations: with cream, whole milk, half and half, and even nut milks; with cocoa powder and/or chocolate with varying percentages of cacao; and with and without salt and vanilla. After extensive taste testing with My Guy, here it is, the Best-Ever Holiday Hot Chocolate! This version is wonderfully creamy and full of bold chocolate flavor, perfect for sipping while curled up with a good book or sharing with friends during the holidays. Happy sipping! This recipe first appeared in LIGHT PARADE, a short holiday mystery from my Det. Lottie King Mystery Series.

[image error]Yield: Serves 2; Prep time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

1/2 cup water

2 T Dutch Cocoa

2 cups whole milk

4 oz bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped

2 T organic raw sugar

2 T heavy cream

Pinch of salt

Dash of vanilla extract

Directions

1. Heat water to simmer. Stir in cocoa and whisk until lumps are gone.

2. Add milk and heat to just starting to simmer. (Don’t boil!)

3. Take off heat and add chocolate. Let sit for one minute as chocolate melts.

4. Put back on heat. Add sugar, cream, salt, and vanilla. Stir for 2 or 3 minutes.

5. Pour into mugs and ENJOY!

Get your FREE copy of LIGHT PARADE, A DETECTIVE LOTTIE KING HOLIDAY STORY and more hot chocolate recipes: Amazon, B&N, iBooks, Kobo

The post Best-Ever Holiday Hot Chocolate Recipe appeared first on SHELLEY CORIELL.

[image error]Authors aren’t supposed to have favorites, but TANGLED TRUTHS, the fourth volume of my Det. Lottie King Mystery Series which comes out Dec. 26, is hands-down the best in the series. This book, with all of its twists and turns, flew off my keyboard, and the characters, with all of their pains and passions, were so clear and real in my head. But what makes TANGLED TRUTHS truly special is the growing buddy story between Lottie and her greenhorn P.I. partner Oliver T. Figg. She’s a Grandma with a Glock and plenty of street smarts. He’s a privileged young pup with more attitude than aptitude. Let the shenanigans and crime fighting begin!

In TANGLED TRUTHS, veteran homicide detective Lottie King teams up with nube private investigator Oliver T. Figg to catch killers, but while on the hunt, she uncovers a tangle of secrets from Figg’s past that could destroy their P.I. agency…and cost lives.

Because I’m so excited about my latest Det. Lottie King mystery, I’m offering TANGLED TRUTHS for $2.99 to anyone who pre-orders the book by Dec. 25. On release day, the price increases to $3.99. Happy reading!

Pre-Order Now: Amazon, iBooks, Kobo

Joy & Peace!

Shelley

The post New Det. Lottie King Mystery Up for Pre-Order appeared first on SHELLEY CORIELL.

[image error]So thrilled you stopped by this leg of the Ruby Halloween Giveaway and Blog Hop where we’re giving away plenty of treats and a $100 Grand Prize. I’m Shelley Coriell, award-winning mystery and suspense author, and I have a few goodies to sweeten your Halloween.

* Free Mystery Book — Enjoy this FREE copy of ROUGH DAY, Vol. 1 in my Det. Lottie King Mystery Series. In ROUGH DAY, Lottie takes on a series of murder investigations that leave her bruised and brokenhearted. Is it finally time for this legendary Colorado Springs homicide detective to retire? Features four mysteries and Lottie-inspired recipes. I call this my “Grandma with a Gun” series! The Det. Lottie King series is perfect for readers who love books about strong women of ALL AGES and who like a little sass with their mysteries.

* Free Christmas Story – If you’re already in the mood for Christmas, check out LIGHT PARADE, a Det. Lottie King Mystery where Lottie teams up with local police to track down a bomber at a light parade where her Girl Power troop is marching. Includes delish holiday recipes, including my favorite “Adult” Hot Chocolate.

[image error]* $100 Grand Prize – My favorite Halloween Candy is HOMEMADE CARAMEL. Soft and buttery with a hint of sea salt. Heavenly! Maybe I’ll include the recipe in one of my Det. Lottie King books.

[image error]Happy summer! A quick note to let you know I’ve teamed up with 35+ fantastic mystery and suspense authors to give away a huge collection of crime fiction novels AND a Kindle Fire to two lucky readers. Included in this giveaway is print copy of my book, NEW SHOES: Detective Lottie King Mystery Series, Vol. 2, plus books from authors like New York Times bestsellers Lisa Gardner. Enter the giveaway here and good luck!

In addition, I’ve included one of my favorite summer recipes below: a sophisticated pasta salad full of flavor and a bit of attitude. When I’m on deadline, I’ll double the batch and keep in the fridge for a quick lunch. Which reminds me: new book news coming soon! In the meantime, here’s my current book list.

Got tomatoes and basil this summer? Here’s a light but sophisticated pasta salad bursting with the bright flavors of summer. Serve with tossed greens and fresh melon for a lovely light supper. Also a great summer potluck dish.

Pasta Salad with Slow-Roasted Tomatoes

Serves 4-6 as a side

Roasted Tomatoes

4 cups grape tomatoes

Olive oil

Salt

Dressing

1 clove garlic, crushed

1 tablespoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper

2 tablespoons lemon juice

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1/4 cup olive oil

Salad

1/2 pound dried bite-size pasta (I like gemelli), cooked al dante and drained

1/2 cup cotija or feta cheese, crumbled

1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted

1/2 cup pitted and halved olives (I love kalamata)

Salt and pepper

Handful fresh basil leaves, chopped

Heat oven to 300°. Cover 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Cut tomatoes in half and place cut side up on baking sheets. Drizzle with olive oil and a dash of salt. Bake until slightly dry, about 90 minutes. Cool. Next, for dressing, mix garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Whisk in lemon juice, vinegar, and oil. (This is a bold, sassy dressing. But it really sets this pasta salad apart!) Finally, to assemble salad mix drained pasta, roasted tomatoes, cheese, pine nuts and olives in a large bowl. Add dressing. Top with basil. Adapted from Smitten Kitchen

Enjoy!

The post Summer Giveaway: Kindle Fire & 40 Crime Fiction Books! appeared first on SHELLEY CORIELL.

Holiday greetings book and cookie lovers! You’ve reached Author Shelley Coriell and the next leg of the scrumptuous Ruby Cookie Exchange hosted by authors of the Ruby Slippered Sisterhood. Below is a free book, great recipe, and details on how you can win a $150 gift card. Yep, that’s some serious holiday cheer from your Ruby Sisters. ***Cookie Exchange and contest run Dec. 8-12***

NEWSLETTER & PRIZE GIVEAWAY: Do you enjoy a good mystery, thriller, romantic suspense, or books about STRONG WOMEN of all ages? Sign up for my NON-SPAMMY newsletter to learn about my latest releases, contests, and recipes. Everyone who signs up for my newsletter gets a chance to win a print copy of your choice of one of my books. (I write everything from award-winning dark and twisty thrillers to sweet coming-of-age teen books…perhaps there’s a Christmas giftie lurking here!)

FREE HOLIDAY STORY: I’m thrilled to offer each of you a FREE Det. Lottie King Mystery: LIGHT PARADE. In this fun and fast-paced holiday short story, Det. Lottie King–a sassy, salty retired homicide detective–battles the clock and an unexpected Big Bad as she joins Colorado Springs police in a race to find a bomb planted at a Christmas light parade where her Girl Power troop is marching. Includes BONUS recipes. A perfect gift for cozy and crime mystery lovers! I call this my Grandma-with-a-Gun series.

MY FEATURED RECIPE: BROWN BUTTER SEA-SALT CARAMEL SNICKERDOODLES

Sweet and salty with a gooey center and a cinnamon kick! Seriously the best cookie recipe on the planet!

Yield: Two dozen cookies; Prep time: 1 hour and 15 minutes; Total time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, sliced

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons cream of tartar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1 1/4 cups dark brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg

1 egg yolk

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 tablespoon plain Greek yogurt

1 cup caramel squares, cut in half

For rolling the cookie dough:

1/4 cup granulated sugar

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Sea salt for topping cookies

Directions

1. Place sliced butter in heavy-bottomed saucepan and cook over medium heat, whisking often until it turns brown and you smell a nice, nutty aroma. Set aside to cool.

2. Whisk flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, cinnamon, and sea salt in a medium mixing bowl and set aside.

3. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the browned butter and sugars. Beat in egg, egg yolk, vanilla extract, and Greek yogurt. Mix in dry ingredients until just combined.

4. Form the dough into a large ball, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and place in refrigerator for 30 minutes.

5. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

6. Divide and measure chilled dough into one tablespoon portions, and roll each into a ball. Flatten balls with palm and place one caramel half onto each circle. Tuck dough around caramel and roll into a smooth ball again.

7. Mix 1/4 cup sugar and 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon in a small bowl. Roll dough balls in sugar mixture and place on baking sheet. Sprinkle with sea salt.

8. Bake snickerdoodles for 8-10 minutes until brown around the edges but still soft in the center and there are cracks on the surface of the cookie. Allow snickerdoodles to cool 2-3 minutes on the baking sheet. Transfer to wire rack and let cool.

$150 GRAND PRIZE: If you’re collecting recipes for the Ruby Cookie Exchange $150 gift card grand prize, this is Author Shelley Coriell’s BROWN BUTTER SEA-SALT CARAMEL SNICKERDOODLE stop. Be sure to stop by the next Ruby on the Cookie Exchange. Here’s a complete list of authors and their recipes.

*Autumn Jordon

*Lizzie Shane

*Rita Henuber

*Elizabeth Langston

*Heather McCollum

*Shelley Coriell

*Laurie Kellogg

*Liz Talley

*AnneMarie Becker

*Jeannie Lin

*Diana Layne

*Lara Archer

*Jennifer Bray-Weber

*Kate Parker

*Katie Graykowski

*Jacie Floyd

And don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter to win a print copy of any of my books. Good luck!

Christmas Joy & Peace!

Shelley

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