Cozy mystery – Page 2 – Jackie Layton

A Zappy Little Christmas

October 20, 2025October 6, 2025 Jackie Layton

A Zappy Little Christmas in October? You bet. Paula Charles’ new book releases October 21, and I preordered it months ago. Isn’t the cover beautiful? I can’t wait to read it. Paula agreed to stop by the blog today, and here’s Paula.

Thank you, Jackie, for inviting me here today to chat about my newest book.

A Zappy Little Christmas is the third book in the Hometown Hardware mysteries. This series features Dawna Carpenter, the widowed owner of Carpenter’s Corner Hardware in the mountain town of Pine Bluff, Oregon.

In Zappy, Dawna, her daughter April, and elderly family friend Smitty are taking a festive tour on the town bus, dubbed the Christmas Light Trolley, to ooh and ahh over all the beautifully decorated homes in town.

Having them jump on the Christmas Light Trolley was inspired by a similar tour we took my husband’s grandmother on years ago when we all lived in Cody, Wyoming. That tour was just like the one I described in the book, (sans a dead body!), with festive treats, lights, and fun Christmas music pumping through the speakers. We all enjoyed it so much, and Grandma Mary’s eyes truly sparkled that night. When I thought about writing a Christmas cozy, I knew the trolley had to be included.

I hope you all enjoy your time experiencing Pine Bluff at Christmastime!

My website: Paula Charles Books | Paula Charles

From the back cover:

Silver bells ring out, but in the air there’s a feeling of…murder.

Pine Bluff, Oregon resembles a perfect cozy Christmas card. Sparkling Christmas trees line snowy main street. Wreaths, red ribbons, and colored lights adorn every door. Hardware store owner Dawna Carpenter is in a festive mood. She invites her elderly neighbor, Smitty, to join her and daughter April on the Christmas Light Tour, a trolley that takes guests through all the best decorated neighborhoods while they enjoy steaming mugs of hot cocoa and scrumptious treats.

But when Smitty spies one of the homeowners dead—a macabre decoration in an otherwise merry display—the cheerful ride turns somber fast. Dawna notices the ghost of the deceased woman standing next to the display, clearly angry over her recent demise. As snow blankets the valley and her newest employee is implicated in the crime, it’s up to Dawna to find out who’s been naughty and who’s been nice—before it’s lights out for her, too.

Thanks for sharing, Paula. Congratulations on A Zappy Little Christmas!

Cozy mystery

Save the Date

October 18, 2025 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

September 16, 2025September 11, 2025 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

May 21, 2025 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

Getting Real

May 2, 2025 Jackie Layton

Without further delay, here’s the link to pre-order the eBook version of Bleeding Heart Librarian.

https://amzn.to/42FFU4J

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.

Cozy mystery

A Day in the Life of Emma Justice

April 26, 2025 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

April 8, 2025April 8, 2025 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

February 20, 2025 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.