Without further delay, here’s the link to pre-order the eBook version of Bleeding Heart Librarian.
The eBook will be available this Tuesday, May 6.
I hope you’re excited to return to Texas and follow Emma Justice on her next adventure.
Getting Real
Category: Cozy mystery
A Day in the Life of Emma Justice
Who’s Emma Justice? She’s the main character in A Texas Flower Farmer Cozy Mystery Series. She’s the amateur sleuth in Weeding Out Lies, Clover Covered Corpse, and Bleeding Heart Librarian (Soon to be released.).
I’d love for you to visit Dru’s Book Musings and get to know Emma better by spending the day with her.
Here’s the link: https://drusbookmusing.com/emma-justice/
Thanks! See you there!
Bleeding Heart Librarian
The third book in A Texas Flower Farmer Cozy Mystery Series will release on April 29, 2025. I’m so excited and I want to share a little about this story.
Emma Justice is friends with the local librarian and brings her extra flowers once a week. On a hot July morning, when people are gathered outside the closed library past opening time, Emma calls the police. The librarian’s body is found in the building and beside the body is a pink and white bleeding heart plant.
Tess Carranza was a lovely person dedicated to children and patrons of the library in Lutz, Texas. Tess recently confided to Emma about her fear someone was using the library to gather information to commit crimes. Emma didn’t get the entire story from Tess before her death, but now she’s determined to stop the crime and catch Tess’s killer.
And, for the cover reveal. I am so thankful to Shawn Reilly Simmons and Level Best Books for this beautiful book cover! Thank you!
Stay tuned for more exciting details in the days ahead.
The Writing Process
I have a deadline coming up next week. It’s for the third book in An Organized Crime Cozy Mystery Series, Killer Secrets.
One thing I have struggled with in the past is timelines. So, I check and double-check to make sure the timing is right.
I have an editor at Level Best Books who goes through my story for developmental edits and redline edits. Still, when I turn it in, I want it to be as polished as possible.
Getting a book cover is one of the fun things. I’ve been blessed with great book covers, and it’s always exciting to see what the publisher has created.
After a cover is chosen, you get Advanced Readers Copies. Then, you get your author copies near the release date.
Do you have questions about the writing process? Feel free to ask in the comments or via social media.
I Love My Readers
Because I love my readers, I’m participating in We Love Our Readers Giveaway.
The giveaway runs February 10-16.
I’ve included a copy of The Con, Book Two of An Organized Crime Cozy Mystery Series.
The killer believes Kate has incriminating evidence, and she must solve the mystery before she’s next on the hitman’s list.
If you want to enter the giveaway, here’s the link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5492/?
If you win, you’ll get twenty-five ebooks and a $50.00 Amazon gift card.
Good luck, if you enter.
If you haven’t read The Con yet, and don’t want to wait, here are some links to order it.
Amazon ebook: https://amzn.to/3AzR6nO
Amazon paperback: https://amzn.to/4fYAhmR
Kobo: https://binged.it/3Z1bB73
Kobo Canada: https://binged.it/3XhE8Ee
B&N ebook: https://bit.ly/3MiI41g
B&N paperback: https://bit.ly/3Mjsfr2
Bookshop.org https://bit.ly/3ZnGqTh
I do love my readers. Thanks for your support!
Axe Me No Questions
Dawna’s back with friends and family in Axe Me No Questions. It’s a delightful follow-up to Hammers and Homicides in A Hometown Hardware Mystery series.
I was able to read and ARC (Advanced Readers Copy) of Axe Me No Questions, and I was riveted. I love the characters, the small-town vibe, and trying to solve the mystery with the twists and turns Paula Charles throws at the reader.
When a dead body is found, Dawna is back to sleuthing. What an adventure it is.
The eBook will be released on January 28, and here’s a link to preorder it. https://www.amazon.com/Axe-Me-Questions-Paula-Charles-ebook/dp/B0DF6Q2PF8?ref_=ast_author_mpb
In case you’re wondering, I’ll give this 5 stars on Goodreads.
Why Read Cozy Mysteries?
I recently talked to a group and not everyone was familiar with cozy mysteries.
I explained some of the fun aspects of cozies.
Small communities make good settings for cozy mysteries. They can be real or fictional. I created Heyward Beach for A Low Country Dog Walker series, Lutz, Texas for a Texas Flower Farmer series, and Fox Island for An Organized Crime series. In these tight-knit communities, my amateur sleuths feel comfortable asking people questions about the crime.
Most cozy mysteries include pets. I have dogs in all my books because I love dogs. (I’m allergic to cats, but they make appearances.)
Earlier this year, I was on a panel and our theme was Romcozies. Romantic cozy mysteries. The books have a romantic thread, but it’s only a thread. The main goal of the cozy mystery is to solve the murder.
There’s one more thing I want to include. Cozy mysteries are clean. There’s no blood and gore, no sex, and no foul language. One reader told me these some of the reasons she reads cozy mysteries.
I’d love the know why you enjoy cozy mysteries.
Heather Weidner’s Done it Again
Deadlines and Valentines: A Jules Keene Glamping Mystery is the fourth book in Heather’s series, and it’s out now.
Heather is one of the nicest people I have ever met. She’s also a fabulous author, and you don’t want to miss reading this book.
Fern Valley, nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, is ground zero for all things romance. The town has pulled out all the stops for the first Valentine’s Day “Love is in the Air” Book Festival with events like Death by Chocolate, author speed-dating, a character masquerade, and a male cover model fashion show.
Everything is candy and roses until the sparks start to fly. Jules Keene and her team at the glamping resort spend their time trying to tamp down fiery tempers because opposites may not always attract.
When a popular author with a heart of gold is found murdered in the barn at the resort, Jules has to find the culprit before more than just hearts are broken.
Here’s a link: https://amzn.to/4d8KnPf
Happy reading!
Murder at the Painted Wings Cafe
I’m excited to share with you Ruth Hartman’s upcoming book. Ruth and I became friends when we were both authors for Dawn Dawdle.
Murder at the Painted Wings Cafe is scheduled to release on November 19. This is the second book in the Senneca James Mystery series.
Seneca James’ cousin, Evie, ends up in hot water, when she’s accused of stealing a wallet from an angry customer in Seneca’s Painted Wings Café. The customer also happens to be the local bank manager, who Evie pleads with for a much-needed loan, resulting in a public spectacle as the bank manager refuses, and ridicules Evie. When the manager later turns up dead inside the cafe, and Evie is the most likely suspect, it will take all of Seneca’s sleuthing and help from her best friend, Sheriff Cody Bales, to get Evie out of trouble.
Here’s a preorder link: https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Painted-Wings-Cafe-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0DLCSLW3R
Isn’t the cover beautiful? I’m excited to read Ruth’s newest book! Congratulations, Ruth!
A Party and Prizes
Tonight is the Cozy Mystery Mid Year Party on their Facebook group. Here’s the link. https://www.facebook.com/share/Zq6a1zmWxErn72rK/?mibextid=A7sQZp
If you’re not a member of the group, be sure to join. The party begins at 5:00 PM Pacific Time.
I’ll takeover at 7:00 PST which is 10:00 EST. I hope you can join us. It should be fun!
Oh, I’ll be giving away an eBook of Clutter Free.
Returning to Fox Island where she grew up, Kate Sloan begins her career as a professional organizer. When a woman accuses Kate’s police chief brother of having an affair, Kate’s priority shifts from organizing to proving her brother’s innocence. Kate visits the woman, hoping for a confession. The woman won’t admit she lied, and to make the situation worse, the accuser is found dead the next day by Kate and her business partner.
Kate has an eye for seeing what’s out of place, and she knows how to fix problems. Can she utilize her organizational skills to toss red herrings and focus on legitimate clues? Emma’s business is at risk as well as her brother’s career. The clock is ticking, and this could be the deadliest deadline of Kate’s life. She must discover the truth behind the victim’s vicious lies, but most of all, she needs to solve the murder before she becomes the next victim.
I hope you can drop in tonight. Have a great week!
Jackie Layton 