Summer is here, my friends: warm days, time with nature, sunshine, barbeques, camping, and festivals! Summer is usually a whirlwind of activity with family and friends. I have lots of plans for the summer such as painting my house, working on revising a book, and seeking out fun things to do. I'm thinking a visit to Red River Gorge for some hiking, kayaking, and paddle boarding, maybe even some white water rafting at Cumberland Falls would hit the spot. I think I might be part mermaid because I always want to be near water when the weather warms up! This quarter's newsletter will offer a refreshing summertime dessert, a look at what I'm reading, what I'm working on, and more! |
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STRAWBERRY DREAM PIE At least that's what I like to call it. This no-bake strawberry Jello pie was a staple from my childhood and instantly recalls those hot, sweaty days of riding my bike through the neighborhood, wading through creek beds, playing kickball and softball, and going to barbeques. Strawberries scream SUMMER! And this pie is super easy to make, light, refreshing, and certain to be a hit at any summer gathering. Check out the recipe at All Things Mamma. | | |
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I've been reading Death by Darjeeling by Laura Childs and am almost done. This is the first book I've read by Childs and I'm a fan! I can't wait to read the rest of the Tea Shop Mysteries. Set in a historic district in Charleston, South Carolina, this book is loaded with beautiful setting detail. You really get a sense of the history, the setting, and the wonderful world of tea. I'm about halfway through the book and still don't know who the murderer is, which is a good sign. So far, I'd give this book a 4 of 5 stars. A lot would have to go wrong before the end for me to change that rating! ~ ABOUT THE BOOK~ It's tea for two hundred or so at the annual historical homes garden party. Theodosia, as event caterer, is busy serving steaming teas and blackberry scones while guests sing her praises. But the sweet smell of success turns to suspense when an esteemed guest is found dead—his hand clutching an empty teacup. All eyes are on Theo who is now trying to save her reputation and track down the real killer. If only she can make sense of it all--before someone else takes their last sip... |
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The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner is sitting on my kitchen table just waiting for me to just hurry up and finish Death by Darjeeling! And I can't agree more. I've been looking for a good historical mystery / thriller. I'm not sure how much this story falls into the thriller genre, but I'm really looking forward to it. I've heard great things. It must be good: it has almost a five star rating on Amazon--out of more than 27,000 reviews! ~ ABOUT THE BOOK~ Hidden in the depths of eighteenth-century London, a secret apothecary shop caters to an unusual kind of clientele. Women across the city whisper of a mysterious figure named Nella who sells well-disguised poisons to use against the oppressive men in their lives. But the apothecary’s fate is jeopardized when her newest patron, a precocious twelve-year-old, makes a fatal mistake, sparking a string of consequences that echo through the centuries.
Meanwhile in present-day London, aspiring historian Caroline Parcewell spends her tenth wedding anniversary alone, running from her own demons. When she stumbles upon a clue to the unsolved apothecary murders that haunted London two hundred years ago, her life collides with the apothecary’s in a stunning twist of fate—and not everyone will survive. |
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I'm working on a fun independent publishing project called Dumpster Dying where hoarder Birdie Harper lives with the ghost of her dead husband and gets caught up in solving crimes. It's a cozy mystery with a twist of Southern Gothic. I'm hoping to get at least a three-book series out of this story line, but we'll see. The benefit of independently publishing is the freedom to choose the direction I want to take the story. Birdie so far is one of my favorite characters and I'm really having fun with the quirkiness of the story, but I have so much to learn about self-publishing! Even though self-pubbing is technically the same industry as traditional publishing, they are very different animals. But I love learning new things and am up for the challenge. If all goes well, I hope to have Dumpster Dying released by October 2022. |
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Even though I don't drink much, I LOVE bourbon because it's something distinctly Kentucky! True, bourbon is made all over the world, but about 95% of it is made in Kentucky. I love bourbon-flavored foods--ice cream, candy, cakes and sauces--but I also really enjoy going on bourbon distillery tours. In part, my love of distillery tours inspired my book Devil's Kiss. In my most recent blog post, and in a few more to come on Michelle's Musings at www.michellebennington.com, I take a look at a brief history of bourbon, my recent tour of the Wilderness Trail Distillery in Danville, Kentucky, and other bourbon-related topics. If you feel so inclined, visit the blog and subscribe to receive notices about blog updates, newsletters, and more! | | |
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My first book, Devil's Kiss, the first of three books in the Small-Batch series, releases from Level Best Books on May 31, 2022! Devil's Kiss is set in a fictional small town Kentucky where Rook Campbell lands a job at a distillery. When someone dies and a shipment of expensive, small-batch Devil's Kiss bourbon is stolen, Rook must discover who committed the crimes--or she may be the next to die. You can order ebooks and paper backs from Amazon. I appreciate your reviews and feel free to follow me on any of the social media platforms (links below). I'd love to hear from you! | | |
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I'm pleased to announce that I recently signed a three-book deal for a new series with Level Best Books! The series, called Widows & Shadows, is a historical mystery series set in 1803 England on the brink of England's second war with France. The first book, titled Widow's Blush, is slated to release October 2023, with subsequent books, Widow's Fire and Widow's Peak to release 2024 and 2025, respectively. |
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Y'all come on over to GoodReads, too! |
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