Category: Cozy mystery

Cozy mystery

Save the Date

Jackie Layton

I’m excited to share that my newest book, Killer Secrets, will release on November 11.

Here’s the back cover copy…

Speed dating sabotage?  

Or straight-up murder? 

 Kate Sloan’s best friend Bess Walker decides to try speed dating and convinces Kate to go with her for moral support.  

The night of the event is filled with many emotions. Excitement, hope, jealousy, fear, greed, and even anger. Emotions spiral out of control for one person. 

Before the second round, the event’s host is murdered. 

Kate will use her skills at organizing, list-making, and questioning to try and solve the murder. Can she unravel the mystery before the killer leaves town for the next weekend of singles events? 

And now, drum roll please, the cover reveal.

Cozy mystery

Fall is the Season to Fall for a Good Book

Jackie Layton

The days are cooler and shorter. What’s cozier than curling up with a good book?

If you haven’t read all my books yet, this is a good season to catch up.

In a few months, Killer Secrets, the third book in An Organized Crime Cozy Mystery Series will release. Stay tuned for a cover reveal and more information on the release.

Clutter Free is the first book in An Organized Crime Cozy Mystery Series.

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.

What are you looking forward to reading this fall?

Cozy mystery

It’s a giveaway

Jackie Layton

This week I’m participating a blog tour and a giveaway. Thanks to JustRead for hosting the tour.

Here’s the landing page with the stops. Be sure to enter the giveaway. https://justreadtours.com/2025/05/19/welcome-to-the-bleeding-heart-librarian-blog-tour-giveaway

May 19
Reading Is My SuperPower
Mrs. Ryan Moser’s Book and Movie Reviews
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama

May 20
Beauty in the Binding
Life on Chickadee Lane
A Modern Day Fairy Tale

May 21
Only By Grace Reviews
Danielle’s Writing Spot
Christy’s Cozy Corners

May 22
Happily Managing a Household of Boys
Carla’s Book Crush
Britt Reads Fiction

May 23
Worthy2Read
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions
Hallie Reads

Have fun and good luck!

Joyfully,

Jackie

Cozy mystery

More Ways to Read

Jackie Layton

I’m excited to share that Bleeding Heart Librarian is available more places, and the paperback is now available.

Here are some of your options:

https://amzn.to/43oidOC  is Bleeding Heart Librarian Kindle ebook

https://amzn.to/44uXTfD  Paperback BHL

https://bit.ly/3Z3AEWz B&N eBook

https://bit.ly/4iYE4kj  B&N paperback

https://bit.ly/43oHk3M  Kobo USA

https://bit.ly/437hZtW  Kobo Canada

Also, if you are on Facebook, I’ll be doing an author takeover tonight at 7:00 EST. We’ll have fun and there’ll be prizes.

And beginning May 19, there’ll be a blog tour for Bleeding Heart Librarian. I’ll share more next time.

Cozy mystery

A Day in the Life of Emma Justice

Jackie Layton

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!

Cozy mystery

Bleeding Heart Librarian

Jackie Layton

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.

Cozy mystery

The Writing Process

Jackie Layton

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.

Cozy mystery

I Love My Readers

Jackie Layton

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.

Professional organizer Kate Sloan is hired by Ben Houser to organize his office at Seaside Hideaway Resort on Fox Island. Ben tells everybody he’s planning to revamp the resort. Ben throws money around and convinces people to invest with him. The first problem is, Ben’s a con man. The second problem is, Kate finds his dead body.

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!

Cozy mystery

Axe Me No Questions

Jackie Layton

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.