Cozy Mysteries discussion

We have a pair of authors that write together featured this month. They are Joyce Lavene and Jim Lavene, Jim Lavene, Joyce Lavene, also writing as J.J. Cook, Ellie Grant, Elyssa Henry.

Joyce and Jim Lavene write bestselling mystery fiction. They have written and published more than 60 novels for Harlequin, Berkley, and Charter Books along with hundreds of non-fiction articles for national and regional publications. They live in rural North Carolina with their family, Quincy, their black cat, and their rescue dog, Rudi.

Visit them at www.joyceandjimlavene.com

www.Facebook.com/JoyceandJimLavene

Twitter: @authorjlavene

www.romanceofmystery.blogspot.com


Writing as Joyce and Jim Lavene

Retired Witches Spellbook Mysteries
Missing Pieces Mysteries
Renaissance Faire Mysteries
Peggy Lee Garden Mysteries
Sharyn Howard Mysteries
The Stockcar Racing Mystery
A Renaissance Faire Mystery
Pet Psychic Mystery

Writing as J.J. Cook

Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade Mysteries
Biscuit Bowl Food Truck Mysteries

Writing as Ellie Grant

Pie in the Sky Mysteries

Writing as Elyssa Henry

Romance novels


Note: There may very well be more, but below is what I've managed to find today to list, which is quite extensive and should give you a lot of choices.

A Renaissance Faire Mystery series by Joyce Lavene

The Renaissance Faire mysteries feature craft apprentice and amateur sleuth Jessie Morton. The mysteries in this series include Renaissance recipes and fun facts.

1. Wicked Weaves
2. Ghastly Glass
3. Deadly Daggers
4. Harrowing Hats
5. Treacherous Toys
5.5 Perilous Pranks (ebook novella - currently 99¢ at Amazon for the kindle)
6. Murderous Matrimony - Release date?

Peggy Lee Garden Mystery series by Joyce Lavene

Peggy Lee is a detective's widow and owner of the Potting Shed, a garden center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Mysteries in this series include garden journals and information about plants in each chapter.

1. Pretty Poison
2. Fruit of the Poisoned Tree
3. Poisoned Petals
4. Perfect Poison
5. A Corpse for Yew
5.5 Buried by Buttercups
6. A Thyme to Die

Missing Pieces Mystery series

The Missing Pieces mysteries feature Duck (North Carolina) mayor Dae O'Donnell.

1. A Timely Vision
2. A Touch of Gold
3. A Spirited Gift
4. A Haunting Dream
5. A Finder's Fee

The Stockcar Racing Mystery series by Joyce Lavene

The stockcar racing mysteries feature Ruby and Glad Wysznewski who travel the superspeedway circuit.

1. Swapping Paint
2. Hooked Up

Pet Psychic Mystery series by Joyce Lavene

The pet psychic mysteries feature Wilmington (North Carolina) syndicated radio talk show host Mary Catherine Roberts.

1. The Telltale Turtle

Sharon Howard Mystery Series by Joyce Lavene

Sharyn Howard is a sheriff of a small town in the North Carolina mountains.

1. Last Dance
2. Our Last Good-Bye
3. The Last to Remember
4. Until our Last Embrace
5. For the Last Time
6. Dreams Don't Last
7. Last Fires Burning
8. Glory's Last Victom
9. Last Rites
10. Last One Down
11. Before the Last Lap
12. The First Shall be Last

Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade Mystery series by J.J. Cook

1. That Old Flame of Mine
2. Hero's Journey
3. Playing with Fire

Romances as Joyce and Jim Lavene

Emilie's Christmas Love
Visions of Love
Love's Treasured Secrets

New Release - Sep 3, 2013
Plum Deadly by Ellie Grant

Pie in the Sky Mysteries are set in Durham, NC near the Duke University Campus

Maggie was dropping off the tea and coffee and picking up another order for Diet Coke from Sissy who’d arrived while she’d been in back.

That was when two things happened.

She heard a ping from her email, letting her know that a possible job offer was waiting for her.

At the same instant, the chime on the front door rang and Louis Goldberg, her ex-boss at the bank, walked into Pie in the Sky.

Maggie dropped the Diet Coke on the floor. “Lou!” she squealed.

Her mind ran amok with possibilities. He was here to ask her to come back. There had been a mistake.

He was here because he realized he was deeply in love with her (she had a romantic streak) and couldn’t live without her.

He’d come because the bank had decided to prosecute her after all.

Lou stared back at her, then just as suddenly as he’d showed up, he walked back out the door.

It only took an instant for Maggie to follow him. “Lou? What’s going on?”

“Maggie.” He shook his balding head and his whole large body began to tremble. His red rimmed blue eyes teared up. “Just seeing in you in that getup was too much for me. I can’t believe I did this to you. I’m so sorry.”

She glanced into the pie shop window to make sure Aunt Clara didn’t need her. Excitement buzzed through her like an electric current. Yes!

“Why don’t you come back inside and I’ll get you some pie.” She could afford to be generous. “It will make you feel better and we can talk.”

He nodded, sniffing hard and wiping his nose with his handkerchief. He was wearing an expensive gray suit and a red, white and blue tie. Lou was nothing if not patriotic.

“That sounds good. Thanks.”

Maggie put him at a table on one side of the shop, away from the sometimes noisy book club. She needed to concentrate and didn’t want to be overheard. Her heart was beating double time in her chest. This is it!

Directly off their official website...

The Retired Witches Spellbook Mysteries

Three middle-aged witches who live in Wilmington, North Carolina are ready to retire to Boca Raton, Florida. Before they can retire, they must give up their magic, recruit and train three new witches to take their places, and hand off the spellbook they have added to for years. It doesn’t seem like it would be too hard, but that’s before their spellbook is stolen and they must accomplish it all with limited magic and hilarious results.

From Molly Addison, third generation witch, the main character in the mysteries:

“There comes a time in every witch’s life when she realizes that it’s time to retire. For me, it was when I meant to zap a ding out of my new car before my husband saw it and asked what happened. Instead, I changed the color of the blue car to bright purple. Even worse, I couldn’t change it back. How humiliating!

But like everything else, even magic fades with time. Those little things you could do once with a snap of your fingers are now big things that can’t be done at all. I have been reduced to putting dishes in the dishwasher. Manually.

It’s shocking. Shameful!

But it happens to the best of us.”

One Witch is Not Enough coming in Fall 2014

Molly’s lifelong friend, witchly compatriot, and the snappiest dresser in Wilmington, Olivia Dunst, is killed protecting their book of spells. Even though Olivia gave her life, the book is gone. Molly and Dru, the two remaining of their circle, can’t track it because their power is limited. It must be passed on if they are going to retire. A new young recruit, Penny, from the downtown library, agrees to become their apprentice. She will bolster their failing magic and help track down Olivia’s killer.

********************************

Biscuit Bowl Mysteries

Murder on Eat Street - April 2014

Zoe Chase always wanted to own her own restaurant but first, she'll have to serve up a heaping helping of meals on wheels, with a side of mystery.

When she's once again passed over for a promotion at work, Zoe decides to take the big leap and go for her dream. She quits, gives up her fancy digs, and buys a fixer-upper diner in a shady part of town. To keep above water during the renovation, she buys a used food truck to serve the downtown and waterfront of Mobile, Alabama.

Zoe starts to dish out classic Southern food but her specialty is her deep-fried biscuit bowls that blow traditional bread bowls away.

After a promising start, things start to go downhill faster than a food truck without brakes. First, someone tries to rob the cash register. Next, Zoe is threatened by the owner of a competing food truck for taking their spot. And when the owner ends up dead inside Zoe's rolling restaurant, Zoe and her sole employee, Ollie, find themselves hopping out of the frying pan into the fryer. They need to find the real killer, before both of them get burned.

INCLUDES RECIPES!

One less cook in the kitchen

It hadn't been more than thirty minutes or so since I'd climbed out of the food truck. How did Terry get there after me? And what was he doing here? Had he followed me back to give me more grief over parking in his spot on Dauphin Street?
"What's up out here, young 'un?" Ollie came out of the diner, still holding the sword.
"I dont know. This is Terry."
He nodded. "From the infamous tacky taco place?"
"Yes. I don't know what he's doing here. And I think he may be drunk or something."
Ollie bent down and put his hand on Terry's neck. "I don't know either, but he ain't goin' no place else."
"What do you mean? I can call him a cab or something."
"No, Zoe. You don't get it. The man's dead. A cab won't do him any good now."

ஐ Briansgirl (Book Sale Queen)ஐ wrote: "A Renaissance Faire Mystery series by Joyce Lavene

The Renaissance Faire mysteries feature craft apprentice and amateur sleuth Jessie Morton. The mysteries in this series include Renaissance recip..."

I read TREACHEROUS TOYS and thought it was very so-so. However, the Fire Brigade book written as J.J. Cook was very good and I'm looking forward to the 2nd one in January. Also liked PLUM DEADLY written as Ellie Grant.

I have most of the Renaissance Faire series to read. Since I used to do medieval re-enactments (with the SCA) I figured I'd enjoy these. (I did like Aunt Dimity Slays the Dragon)

My library system doesn't have ANY of the first-in-series books you listed in message #2, but I think I can get my hands on That Old Flame of Mine, the first in the Fire Brigade series.

Anything by them Barb works. They just have so many books I was only putting up the hyperlinks for the first in each series.

I've read all of the Ren Faire mysteries that are out so far. I just downloaded the short story, Perilous Pranks, and still need to read that. I really enjoy that series.

I've read the first Fire Brigade and really liked that as well. I think I gave it 5 stars.

Thanks Melissa. I didn't know Perilous Pranks (Renaissance Faire Mysteries, #5.5). was out yet.

ஐ Briansgirl (Book Sale Queen)ஐ wrote: "Anything by them Barb works. They just have so many books I was only putting up the hyperlinks for the first in each series."

Oh yeah, I know :) But I'm one of those read-in-order people, so I'd want to start with book #1 in a series :)

I've also read both of the Stock Car mysteries. I had to do an out of system library loan for Swapping Paint .

I thought that series was just okay. I do like the writing, but I'm not at all into racing so it was hard for me to get into it. Part of the reason I read them was to get a Delaware book for the USA challenge. Hooked Up

Does anyone know if Swapping Paint takes place in Delaware or is it just Hooked Up? This might be a good motivator to cross Delaware of the list. I may get to all 50 states yet!

Swapping Paint takes place at Charlotte Motor Speedway (used to be Lowe's)which is actually Concord, NC. I live very close by!

Just the second book, Hooked Up, takes place in Delaware. Swapping Paint is in North Carolina.

They go to a different track in each book to follow Nascar. I guess if the series had continued they would have been in all different places.

I'm trying to figure out if the next Ren Faire mystery, Murderous Matrimony, is only going to be an ebook?

It is coming out as a Kindle book but we hope to have it out in print later.

Joyce wrote: "It is coming out as a Kindle book but we hope to have it out in print later."

You are the author!

Yes!

I read That Old Flame of Mine and absolutely loved it. I will definitely continue reading that series.

Joyce wrote: "Yes!"

Welcome!

Thanks! And thank you Christine!

Christine wrote: "I read That Old Flame of Mine and absolutely loved it. I will definitely continue reading that series."

I too, really enjoyed "Old Flame" - and I have a crush on the ghost!!! I have the e-book pre-ordered and the second book on my 'to-buy' list. Can't wait to read more about Eric. :D

☯Emily is tired of waiting for GR announcement, so now has Booklikes account. wrote: "Joyce wrote: "It is coming out as a Kindle book but we hope to have it out in print later."

You are the author!"

I invited her to join our discussion since I featured her books this month. Glad she took me up on the invitation. Always fun when we have the author visit!

❂ Jennifer (reviews on BookLikes) wrote: "Christine wrote: "I read That Old Flame of Mine and absolutely loved it. I will definitely continue reading that series."

I too, really enjoyed "Old Flame" - and I have a crush on the ghost!!! I ..."

Me, three! I'm thinking it must be something about those characters named Eric!

Just researched some of the books mentioned & added a lot to my TBR list. Now..2 hunt one down so that I can get it read this month! (might be a challenge)

I have to catch with some of this series, so I think I have a lot of options this month :)

Thanks for having me here!

Oh, yay! I have several of their books in Mount TBR. ☺

I have A Corpse for Yew , which is #5 in the series. I may read it this month or try to go back and get the first one. I end up with these random, out of order books sometimes.

I also have about three of the Sharon Howard books that I haven't read yet. I don't think that one is considered cozy since it's about a sheriff, but I haven't read any so I don't know if they have a cozy feel or not.

I read Wicked Weaves and enjoyed it very much, so I think I will go to the next one in the series for this month's book. I will put the other series in my already too large TBR pile. Goodreads has exceeded my expectations in finding good reads, and I don't know if I will ever catch up! "so many books, so little time"

I just finished Finder's Fee. Love the series! Anymore in that series coming out...? :) I didn't know about some of these others! I will have to check them out! I do have the Firehouse #1 to read soon! Great authors!!!

I wonder if there will be any more of the pet psychic books?

I really,really love the Ren Faire series and am so excited to find they write so much more than I knew about. I have all of them (so far). I think the Sharon Howard, Pie in the Sky and Retired Witches Spellbook Mysteries all sound great. I will be looking those ones up! I did read Pretty Poison, the first Peggy Lee mystery and I am sad to say it wasn't a favorite for me. I have seen the Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade and purchased the 1st one but have not read it yet.

Based on the reviews here, I bought a copy of That Old Flame of Mine to read. :)

Looking forward to the Retired Witches series starting. It sounds good.

Melissa wrote: "I wonder if there will be any more of the pet psychic books?"

I would like to know the same...

Just read This Old Flame of Mine, the first in the sweet pepper series. I really enjoyed the mystery but thought the last bit was a bit Perils of Pauline. I am sure the recipes are tasty, but I am an abhor-er of peppers of all shapes sizes and colors, so maybe this is a good series for me to read on a diet....

Hi Guys!

Let me see if I can answer a few of these questions!

Sharyn Howard Mysteries: Yes, she is a sheriff but the books have a very cozy feel to them. Very family oriented. She became the sheriff when her father, the sheriff, was killed. It was only supposed to be temporary but she found out she was good at it.

Thanks for reading Beth and Vivian!

The next Missing Pieces Mystery (A Finder's Fee) is scheduled for later next year.

Thanks, Allison.

About Pet Psychic: There won't be any new books as such. We are adding the main character, Mary Catherine Roberts, to the Missing Pieces series. She has always been mentioned in that series. Now she'll be there all the time. She'll take the place of Shayla Lily who has been renting her shop on the boardwalk.

Retired Witches went to cover conference today! We'll have to see what those talented Berkley artists come up with!

Joyce wrote: "Thanks, Allison.

About Pet Psychic: There won't be any new books as such. We are adding the main character, Mary Catherine Roberts, to the Missing Pieces series. She has always been mentioned in ..."

Glad to hear it, I liked that book a lot.

Thanks! Mary Catherine and Baylor are two great characters. We hated to give them up.

To Joyce: I just finished The Telltale Turtle which I enjoyed immensely. Something struck me as pretty neat. Mary Catherine communicated with the hurt turtle. Of course turtles must have feelings, but I never thought about that before(mostly I think about my dog). Misty

Thanks, Misty! We thought turtles having problems would be interesting too! We know now that many animals have feelings and try to communicate their problems. We just can't understand them.

Well I started Perilous Pranks today. I really like the Ren Faire series.

I have just less than 100 pages to go in Wicked Weaves this has been a fun read, although I wasn't so sure at first, but I've really gotten into it. Now I'm looking forward to the next 4, wich are sitting right here.

Thanks, Melissa! We really enjoy writing it!

Thank you, Debbie. We wrote these books to just be fun reads.