It sounds terrible, doesn’t it? Yet look at our literary history, we’ve always embraced the ghouls of Christmas past. Our fairy tales are as grim as they can be. And musically, we laughed when Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer. A little humor or feel good emotions surrounded by the darkness of reality make us feel better—especially when the bad guys get what they deserve. It reminds us of our humanity and our sense of right and wrong. The knowledge that justice will prevail, even if the road is a bit bumpy along the way, keeps us going. Hope. A sense of community. Justice. Love. Laughter. All wrapped up in a colorful cover to entertain you for hours. That’s what you get from cozy mysteries. Like the works of the past, today’s featured novels will make you appreciate what we have today. Turn off the television and embrace a dose of holiday cheer with a good book. MURDER IN HER STOCKING by G. A. McKevett Granny Reid #1 As the Moonlight Magnolia Agency revisits old memories on Christmas Eve, Granny Reid takes the reins back thirty years to the 1980s—back when she went by Stella, everyone’s hair was bigger,…

A love for reading was instilled in me at an early age and I remember reading Gothic romances tinged with a touch of mystery as far back as middle school. Cozy mysteries and paranormal stories (urban fantasy especially) were natural fits for me as I grew older but what a great surprise to discover cozy mysteries that blended my love for the genre with my love of the paranormal! How could anyone not love a magical bookstore? Amanda Flower is quickly becoming one of my favorites for cozy mysteries with that delightful paranormal touch and her series, Magical Bookshop, is practically a must read for all book lovers. Charming Books is exactly the kind of bookstore I would love to browse, a bookstore where the book you need will fly off the shelves just for your reading pleasure. There are three books in the series, CRIME AND POETRY, PROSE AND CONS, and MURDERS AND METAPHORS (releasing in February 2019), and each book is as delightful to read as one would expect. After all, there’s a magical bookshop involved! Magical bookstores aren’t my only love, however, as enchanted gardens have captured my heart as well (particularly during gardening season when I…

Nerds use to get a bad rap, but I think these days, nerds are everywhere. It’s completely acceptable to be a nerd and society has embarrassed it. When you decide to write a series on a team of professional video gamers, you’ve already hit nerd level. I think most people have it in them to “nerd out” in some aspect of their life, whether it be over a show, book series, hobby, or movie. After writing three books featuring three super sexy gamer boys, I’ve compiled a list of five reasons why you should date (or marry) a nerd. Nerds Treat Their Girl Right – Nerds don’t expect to have a girlfriend because a lot of times they are so quirky, it takes a special girl to find their nerdy obsessions (nerdom) endearing. So, when they have a special gal in their life, they treat her right and go out of their way to make her feel special. Endless Supply of Movie Quotes – Let’s face it, nerds are always spouting off movie and TV quoted. Pop culture usually is their jam. Think of all those Super Troopers quotes you could have fun with at that next super boring family…