Hi there!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.
Today, we're joining the BOOK BLITZ fun via Reading Addiction Virtual Book Tours starring a Cozy Mystery that's celebrating its book birthday today! It just might be right up your alley. and if you're anything like me, you're always on the lookout for your next read. Wish granted! Without further ado, READ ALL ABOUT IT...
Murder. Betrayal. Duplicity.
When ex-novice nun, turned steamy romance writer, Maggie O’Flynn moves to the
charming village of Stratford Upon Avondale to open a tea room she expects plenty of murder,
betrayal, and duplicity. On the stages of the town’s renowned Shakespeare Festival. But when a
theater critic is found murdered on the town’s riverbank and the prime suspect turns out to be the
sexy bookshop owner Maggie has had her eye on, she takes matters into her own hands. Will she
be able to dig through the layers of betrayal and duplicity to find the true murderer before that
handsome bookseller, Nate Larimer, finds himself behind bars? With the help of her loud, brash,
spitfire of a friend, Gina Mattucci, Maggie plans to do just that.
With a bit of Shakespeare, copious amounts of tea, and a faux-English setting to rival
anything the real England has to offer, ALAS, SHE DROWNED is the first book in THE
STRATFORD UPON AVONDALE mystery series. Lovers of cozy mysteries will find a cozy
home in Stratford Upon Avondale.
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Sounds interesting...
...though I do wish the 'Gina' character wasn't loud and brash, seeing how she shares my name. ^-^ Though I only dabble in the genre, I do believe I may have to actually check this one out. In the mean time, let's sneak a peek inside the cover, shall we?
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~ ~ ~ EXCERPT ~ ~ ~
As I placed the sandwich board advertising, “Authentic English Cream Teas, $7.99”,
outside my twee tea room I came to a realization. In the past two weeks alone, I’d had all the
murder, mayhem, scandal, and treachery I could handle.
When I’d moved from my home in Philadelphia to this small town four months earlier I
had no idea it was such a hotbed of scandal. Murders were commonplace; duplicity abounded;
treachery was to be expected.
And yet the place is bucolic beyond words. Nestled in a rural corner of a western state,
it is surrounded by orchards and vineyards. But much of its claim to fame is the center of town
which resembles a quaint English village, with every building seeming to have been lifted from
Tudor or Victorian England. Mullioned windows, exposed timbers, bay windows, gables, and
jettied top floors appear to be building code requirements.
But still, all that murder and duplicity.
Murder and duplicity that could be found on Stratford Upon Avondale’s two renowned
stages. The five-month long Shakespeare festival is the town’s raison d’être.
In
my short time in the village I had already attended three plays—two Shakespeare and one
production of Arsenic and Old Lace.
Yes, that was indeed plenty of murder and scandal, and the festival had just begun.
“Morning, Maggie,” called out Mrs. Vachon from the souvenir shop three doors down
the street, where she was meticulously sweeping the sidewalk. After a few days of clouds and
rain, the morning sun felt warm and welcome, and I noticed Mrs. Vachon wasn’t the only
merchant outside tidying up.
“Good morning.” I waved at the energetic, gray-haired woman who’d been running her
shop for over forty years.
Maggie O’Flynn—I was the newbie in town. Most of the business owners in the
town dedicated to all things Shakespeare and England,— despite being five thousand miles from
English soil—had been here for years. Yet they all welcomed me with open arms when I
purchased the Merry Wives Tea Room and settled into their town.
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About the Author
Monica Knightley began creating compelling characters and stories at the age of three,
when she had a plethora of imaginary friends, all with complete backstories. Today any
characters that come knocking on the door of her imagination find themselves in one of her
mysteries, young adult novels, or paranormal romances.
When not fueling her reading addiction or writing her next book, Monica loves to travel
with her husband, with England being her favorite frequently visited destination, and perhaps
France coming in a close second. She can’t live without perfectly steeped tea, a good bold red
wine, and dark chocolate. Monica loves her time with family and friends and can never get
enough of either.
Monica lives in Portland, Oregon where the frequent rainy weather is perfect for curling
up with a good book and a cup of tea.
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Giveaway
$10 Amazon Gift Card
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Special thanks to Cami at Reading Addition Virtual Book Tours for the chance to bring this celebration to you. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, or those tours forthcoming, feel free to click through the links provided above. This book is available now, so feel free to click on over to Amazon to secure your virtual copy today.
Until next time...happy reading!
Thank you for hosting me today, Gina!
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