She has a thriving freelance writing career, good friends close by, a handsome boyfriend and now the perfect kitchen to cook in. What more could a could a girl want? Certainly not to stumble across a spilled bottle of wine, a shattered glass and a dead body! The well-known winemaker was, as the Chief of Police declared, “dead as a doornail”, and Nicki is sure it’s murder! Along with her good friends, Alex and Jana, and her one-of-a-kind landlady, Maxie, Nicki’s determined to uncover who killed the much-despised winemaker, and what was so special about his personal blend of wine? In the very best tradition of a riveting “whodunit” mystery-- with twists and turns to keep you guessing, Nicki and her friends of amateur detectives will make you laugh and wonder “who murdered the winemaker” until the very last clue! A Special Blend of Murder has recurring characters, but can easily be read as a stand alone book. Download your copy today- and be prepared to put your thinking cap on! Author’s Interview: Why a Murder Mystery? I love a good mystery, especially if the clues are all there but you’re still guessing until the very end—and then it’s “Oh, of course!” Agatha Christie was a master at it, and who doesn’t love Jessica Fletcher in Murder She Wrote? I love the cozy mystery books, and even any mystery movie they’re made into! You wrote romances, why the switch? I still do write them. Never sell a romance reader short—they literally love a good story! Quite a number of my romance novels end up with a murder or some other major element of suspense. A good romance story needs a bit of something more than longing looks and a string of misunderstandings. I honestly think a little suspense, action or mystery, helps any story along. But in a romance, it’s all about the love story with some mystery on the side. In a mystery, it’s all about solving the puzzle, with friends—and maybe some romance—on the side. And I do love to read them both! And how did you come up with your characters? Like all writers do, they’re partly based on people I know or have met. But mostly, I like characters who are close and interact naturally with each other. And books are a fantasy world. Who doesn’t want a group of close-knit people you can always count on? Friends, who are not only like family but who know you really well and like you anyway? I think that’s something everyone wants in his or her life. Including me!

    Divorced, she's already earned her amateur sleuth badge by proving her super rich ex-husband cheated on her (and getting her share of the money per the pre-nup). A prize-winning cook and blue ribbon baker, she was a fabulous wife and hostess but now she's starting over.It’s fun to be home with friends and family but even quiet little towns have problems. Secrets and lies make people do desperate things-small towns just hide them better. When someone steals Grammy's precious family recipe book, Stacey must track it down or never hear the end of it. That book means the world to the family and, since cooking is Stacey's future, no one is going to steal her family's culinary heritage and get away with it!

     Recipes included in each book. In Castle Creek West Virginia, rivalries run deep, but has this tiny town’s biggest rivalry finally led to murder? When widely disliked socialite Macie Dixon is found dead on the set of her cooking show, suspicion falls on her rival, elderly family matriarch, and owner of the Red Herring Inn, Liddy Lou Cormier. As the investigation heats up, friendships will be tested, and long buried secrets will come to light. With the evidence stacking up against Liddy Lou, her granddaughter Q’Bita will risk her relationship with Sheriff Andy Hansen, and her own life, to clear her Nana’s name. It will take every ounce of Q’Bita’s culinary cunning, and a little help from her best friend Jamie and brother-in-law Rene, to figure out who’s behind the sinister cinnamon buns that killed Macie Dixon. Sign up for the Red Herring Inn newsletter using the link on the About J Lee Mitchell page to get access to contests, freebies, and an inside look at upcoming books. New subscribers will receive BONUS CONTENT as a thank you for signing up.

    While there they search for clues proving the judge who sentenced them received kickbacks from the company running the camp. But they soon discover a crooked judge is the least of their concerns.Someone may have been murdered.Join Gertie, Fortune and Ida Belle as they try to solve the mystery of The Mutiny on the Bayou (Sinful Stories Book 2).A WORD FROM THE AUTHOR: Mutiny on the Bayou was first published on September 18, 2015 as part of the Miss Fortune Kindle Worlds program (which ended in July of 2018). It is now part of the Miss Fortune World published by J&R Fan Fiction. I wish to thank Ms. DeLeon for graciously allowing other writers to explore their own writing in a most Sinful way.Sinful Stories is a series of stories written by Shari Hearn within the Miss Fortune World featuring Fortune, Gertie and Ida Belle. They may be read in any order; however, they do follow the timeline of Jana DeLeon's Miss Fortune series with regard to Fortune's relationship with Carter. With the earlier books in the series, Carter doesn't know Fortune's true identity. As Jana DeLeon's series changes with regard to Fortune's continued threat from Ahmad, future stories within Sinful Stories will reflect those changes.Currently, the stories within Sinful Stories include:Nearly DepartedMutiny on the BayouOverdueNearly BelovedRematchLeaving SinfulMurder on the Sinful Express

    Forced back to the United States by the resurgence of his mother's cancer, he decided to take a job as columnist for the Tweet; the newspaper purchased by his long-time friend Larry Archibald in the small West Virginia town of Canary Corners. He moved into the Canary House, an apartment house reputed to have resident ghosts. His next door neighbor Livinia Blossom told him the story of Canary House and introduced him to her grandniece, Marti, who quickly became his semi-constant companion. What Adam didn't realize was how soon his investigative and finder skills would be called into play to solve a murder. He was also unaware of how much assistance his dog Bagel, and the clues he provided, would be during the investigation.Authors note: This book series will never have any curse words (not one), any overt sex (the most is the occasional smile, wink and maybe slight innuendo), or overt bloodshed (someone is always murdered, but, as the reader, you only find out after the fact. You will not be a witness to the murder).Mine are "Gentle" books that a young person can read and pass to a parent without embarrassment or a parent can read the book first and then pass it to a young person.

    Discover the places and people that make New Orleans unique through the eyes of newcomer, Samantha Richardson, in the first book in the French Quarter Mystery Series, The Key to Murder. Looking for a fresh start as well as clues to her past, Samantha is thrilled with her furnished apartment even with its strange diary and key left on the living room bookshelf. Sammy, as her new friends call her, explores the city’s French Quarter by following the riddles in the anonymous diary. It was fun until it led to a body. Now Sammy must find out who wrote the journal before the murderer strikes again. Sammy moved to New Orleans for answers and a new life, but is a murderer going to keep her from her future?

    For Rose Bennett, banking consultant turned private investigator, the event shouldn’t be more than a headline in a newspaper. Except that Rose is investigating a bank fraud at the East & Northern Bank, and Pandora Mitchell’s evidence is the key to her enquiries. As Rose begins to uncover evidence of Pandora’s involvement in the fraud, her colleagues at the bank begin to close ranks. Soon old acquaintances from the past begin to look more like enemies than friends, and as word spreads that Rose is assisting DI George Mulligan to investigate Pandora’s disappearance, someone makes it pretty clear that her presence in the town isn’t welcome.But as the days pass, and fears for the missing girl grow, there’s more at stake than a bank’s reputation, and Rose doesn’t scare that easily …*Previously published under the title Collusion

     Was her former assistant Christa murdered and if so, why? Follow Heather as she searches for clues to get to the bottom of this sweet caper. Book 2 - Maple Frosted Murder A professional and very public rivalry with the owner of the corporate cookie cutter donut shop owner, leaves Heather as the prime suspect in his murder, when his body is discovered. Health inspectors, shady business practices and a tangled web of intrigue unfold as Heather dives headfirst into the case, determined to clear her name and uncover who is the cold storage killer. Book 3 - Cadbury Creme Murder It’s springtime in Hillside, Texas, which means tornado season. A tornado rips through town, damaging property here and there. Fortunately, the damage is reparable, and only one person is found dead—Verna Dixon, an elderly widow who lived on the edge of town. At first, everyone assumes that Verna was killed by flying debris from the tornado (she was found outside, halfway between her house and her chicken coop) as she was trying to bring her chickens inside. But Detective Ryan Shepherd realizes there’s more to this death than meets the eye when he discovers that Verna was not killed by a flying piece of wood, as was originally suspected. Why would anyone want to kill Verna? That’s the question bothering Ryan and Heather. There’s no apparent motive, and no one knows seems to know where to begin looking for suspects. Did Verna know something about someone she was trying to decide whether or not to reveal? What could Verna have known? Join Heather, Ryan, and all the regulars of Hillside, Texas, as they try to figure out who killed Verna and why. The answer may surprise you! Book 4 - Tricky Blueberry Murder While visiting her grandmother's friend at Hillside Manor, Heather learns that one of the nursing home's employees, aide Betty Shivers, was found dead outside the back door earlier that morning apparently as she was arriving for her shift. Could the killer have been one of the other aides, who had recently--and very publicly--threatened to kill Betty? Could it have been Betty's ex-boyfriend, who had told her that their relationship wasn't really over? Only time and a little poking around will tell. Join Heather and Ryan as they sift through the possibilities and crank out some delicious baked goods along the way. Book 5 - Chocolate Frosted Murder After accepting Maricela’s and Angelica’s invitation to join them and their family for their Tia Teresa’s 75th birthday party, Heather is enjoying herself. But the party is interrupted by two uniformed policemen who bring bad news: Tia Teresa’s grandson, Gustavo, a beloved family member, has been shot and killed in the park. The police think it looks like a drug deal gone bad, but Gustavo’s family insists he never would have been involved with drugs. Maricela and Angelica beg Heather to investigate, and she promises to do what she can. When she discovers that the shooter’s story couldn’t have taken place the way he said it did, she becomes suspicious. But she has no proof.

     At least for theater owner Jessica James and her crew in the small town of Peculiar. Things get shaky when they’re thrown into the crazy world of murder investigation. This new cozy mystery series is a step back in time for those that love old fashioned ghosts who like to stir up mayhem, amateur sleuths, and a few animals keep things lively and interesting. Jessica needs to pull off the biggest production of her life to save her small community theater. Murder in the theater threatens to bring her efforts to a screeching halt as she scrambles to figure out who the killer is and who can fill the lead role before opening night. If she can’t pull this off and the show is a flop, she will lose everything she’s been working so hard to hold onto. The resident ghost, Farley, keeps things stirred up with his antics and sarcastic remarks about everything, which leads to more trouble. Every time she turns around, the new deputy overhears her talking to thin air. How can she convince him that ghosts are real and she’s not some crazy lady who talks to herself?

     Mae West, a far cry from the Hollywood actress, has been thrown for a loop. Her plush lifestyle in the big city of New York comes to a screeching halt after the FBI raids her mansion and arrests her husband, Paul West, for a Ponzi scheme that rips people out of millions of dollars. Mae finds herself homeless, friendless, and penniless. All hope isn't lost. . .the only thing Mae got to keep that the government didn't seize is a tourist camp ground, Happy Trails, in Normal, Kentucky and an RV to live in. One problem, Mae's idea of camping has room service. By the look of the brochure, Happy Trails has plush Kentucky Bluegrass, a crystal clear lake, a beach chair with her name on it and thoughts of how much money it could bring her after she sells it. Mae figures she'll take a couple weeks vacation with her toes dipped in the lake. Things aren't always as they appear. The Kentucky Bluegrass is nothing but dirt and the crystal clue lake is murky with green slime on top. Mae quickly find out that Happy Trails and the citizens of Normal were also victims of Paul's schemes, making her lower than tha lake scum in the residents' eyes. Mae doesn't think things could get much worse, but as luck would have it, Paul West has escaped from prison and is found dead, murdered, floating in the Happy Trails mucky green lake. Mae is the number one suspect on Detective Hank Sharp's short list. After all, Mae has the perfect motive as a kept wife who has been scorned to ashes, embarrassed to death, and seeking revenge. Time is running out for Mae to prove that she's innocent and nothing like her husband. If only she could get someone to believe her and talk Detective Sharp into looking at other residents who've lost all their savings to Paul's Ponzie scheme before the curtain is closed on this Hollywood namesake.

    And while she can protect herself, and her little furry mixed-breed, Alfie, from danger, her credit cards are always being assaulted. She's got a Japanese paternal grandmother who wants to be a YouTube star, and a Yugoslavian maternal grandfather who not only thinks he's royalty, but loves Elvis, has an arsenal of corny jokes, and corresponds with Nixie regularly on FaceTime. But the murder of Big Willie Carter puts a halt to everything, and it's up to Nixie to find out whodunit if she wants to leave Collierville and get back home to Connors Grove, New York with her brand new tiny house. A fun new cozy series with Nixie Culpepper traveling the country with her dog and tiny house in tow. Coming Soon: A Merry Branson Murder A Cherry Paonia Murder A Bright Star Lake Murder

    

    Hoping to learn more about his ancestry, Duncan is drawn to the village of Taye, Scotland, where his past and future are about to collide, altering the trajectory of his life forever. Was the laird of Castle Taye accidently crushed by a merlon from his own battlement, or are more sinister forces at work? Is the alluring widow and beneficiary of eleven million pounds to blame, or innocent? Is a ghost seeking vengeance against members of Clan MacNab for the slaughter of her loved one hundreds of years ago? Will Duncan be the next victim of the merlon murders? Follow Duncan on a culinary tour of breathtaking Scotland as he navigates through relationships with the villagers of Taye in his quest for answers. The Merlon Murders I is part one of a two part mystery. Books by Victoria Benchley include: The Snail Man at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O97FE9W The Merlon Murders I The Merlon Murders II The Crime at the Bakery (A short story) - Coming Soon Join my exclusive mailing list at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Victori... and click on the sign up button, near the top. By doing so, you'll receive the latest news about upcoming novels and free offers available only to my mailing list. Follow Victoria Benchley because I enjoy connecting with fans. On Twitter: http://twitter.com/@vbenchley On Facebook: Victoria J Benchley

    A sixty-ish divorcee, she keeps a precise schedule and a close watch on her early retirement complex in Ft. Lauderdale. Little did she know her curiosity and penchant for solving puzzles would lead her to play amateur sleuth when her next door neighbor, Mr. Williams, turned up dead. The police are convinced there’s nothing to investigate, but Millie knows better and won’t rest until the people who stole Mr. Williams’ life from him pay with years of their own spent in prison. In her bumbling way – and despite the distraction of five felines and lack of confidence of the overworked Officer Marx – Millie launches her own brand of investigative efforts, with nothing more than her wit, intelligence, and imitation of Prime Time law enforcement.