Kiki Lowenstein and the Lilac Festival

by Joanna Campbell Slan

(This short story falls after Ready, Scrap, Shoot, which is Book #5 in the Kiki Lowenstein Mystery Series.) A grateful customer offers Kiki and her friend Clancy to trip to Mackinac Island, but the trip proves a dangerous situation--instead of a replay of Clancy's fantasy about Somewhere in Time. Includes recipes, craft ideas, and a Zentangle pattern.

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction

94 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 10, 2012

About the author

National bestselling and award-winning author Joanna Campbell Slan was born in Jacksonville, Florida, but she grew up in a small town in Indiana. After graduating from Ball State University with a degree in journalism, she worked as a newspaper reporter, a newspaper ad salesperson, a television talk show host, a college teacher, a public relations professional, and a motivational speaker. In that capacity, she was named by Sharing Ideas Magazine as “one of the top 25 speakers in the world.”

Slan's work has appeared in five of the New York Times Bestselling Chicken Soup for the Soul books, and one of those became a television show. She is the author of nearly 80 books, nonfiction and fiction, including Death of a Schoolgirl, which won the 2013 Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence.

Joanna's personal essays have appeared in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, and one was made into a television program on the Pax Network. The college textbook Joanna wrote—Using Stories and Humor: Grab Your Audience—has been praised as an invaluable resource by Benjamin Netanyahu’s speechwriter and endorsed by Toastmasters, International.

RT Book Reviews has called Joanna “one of mystery’s rising stars.” Her first novel—Paper, Scissors, Death—was an Agatha Award finalist. It features Kiki Lowenstein, a spunky single mom who lives in St. Louis. The sixth book in that series will be released Summer 2013.

Kirkus Reviews has said, “Slan’s mysteries are most valuable for the well-developed characters and the issues they raise.” RT Book Reviews has said, “Kiki is so darn entertaining that she’ll keep readers hooked.” A series of short stories featuring Kiki are available on Kindle.

Joanna’s newest series—The Jane Eyre Chronicles—began with Death of a Schoolgirl (Berkley) and continues with the release of Death of a Dowager. The series features Charlotte Brontë’s classic heroine Jane Eyre as an amateur sleuth.

As “Lila Dare,” Joanna has penned the fourth book in the Southern Beauty Shop series—Wave Good-bye.

Joanna is married to David Slan. The Slans live on Jupiter Island, Florida.

Website: www.JoannaSlan.com

Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/JoannaCampbel...

Twitter: @JoannaSlan

Reviews

[Lori Henrich · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kiki and Clancy are off to Mackinac Island to visit a friend. Ginny came to see Kiki to get some ideas for a poster contest for the Lilac Festival. When Ginny wins little things start happening. Someone is using the internet to hurt her business. Nasty letters are arriving and other things keep happening. Kiki and Clancy are instrumental in helping find out who is trying to hurt Ginny.

[Hilary Appel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this on the airplane today. I love that Ms. Slan writes these short stories between the novels!

[Chu-Salyer Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading all of Joanna Campbell Slan’s books about Kiki Lowenstein. It is always fun to read about Kiki and her antics. Kiki and Clancy takes a business trip to Northern Michigan and to visit a friend. and where ever Kiki goes there is a mystery to be solved. This book is a short one hour lunch time read.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

A former student calls with great news for Kiki, including a thank you trip to Michigan.
Kiki and Clancy are ready to hit many of the touristy spots.
Trouble can't help but follow Kiki and her happy trip turns eventful in unexpected ways.
I loved the chance to visit Michigan's sites and learn more about art in this quick fill in story.

[Genevieve · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick novella where Kiki and her friend Clancy go to visit a friend on Mackinac Island. Of course there is a problem that she needs to solve before enjoying herself who is targeting her friend and messing up her store and trying to terrify her.
A good fast read with a great plot and some great characters.

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know fiction is make believe, but when an author so distorts the facts of Northern Michigan, I can't keep quiet. Mackinac Island is my favorite place to vacation in the whole world. I know it quite well and enjoy reading fiction based on the island. To me, this book was more of a description you might find in a travel guide. The thing is, many of the descriptions were in error. I have to wonder if the author has ever been there. Please don't take the author's word for how the island is. Go there and see and feel the magic for yourself. I generally like the Kiki Lowenstein mysteries, but even though this is a short story, I thought the mystery could have been developed better.

[Jeanie Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful

What a wonderful visit this tales offers! At almost 100 pages, we not only get a tour of Mackinac Island, we also get a great view of Kiki's friendship with Clancy and a great taste of her luck in making and helping friends.