CHAPTER TEN   I hurried into the kitchen to get the coffee and find out if there really were security cameras watching over the guests. Em was waiting for me just out of sight in the kitchen. She herded me toward the far end of the room. I made her stop at the coffeemaker so I could set it up for a fresh pot. We ended up in the pantry, not out back on the veranda as I’d expected originally. Fortunately, there was more than enough room in there for me and both of my sisters. Five more people could have joined us, if they didn’t mind a little invasion of personal space. CJ was kneeling next to the bed occupied by the orange cat, with Noah on his stomach on the floor beside her, reading his book. CJ looked up to say, “Have you met Beam? He came with the house. His official name is Sunbeam, and maybe it fit his personality as a kitten, but now he’s more like bourbon—smooth, well aged, and a little reserved. He’s friendly with us but prefers to stay out of sight when there are guests around.” “We met this morning when I…

by Senior Reviewer Debbie Wiley With the long days of quarantine both behind and still in front of us, if you’re like me you’re tired of hearing nothing in the news but gloom and doom. Luckily for us as readers, we have a great selection of cozy mysteries to curl up with and take our minds off seeing only the people we’ve been quarantined with. So, sit back, pretend it’s a cold day inside by the fire where staying inside is fun, and let’s look at a couple great books to choose from! Amanda Flower is one of my go-to cozy mystery authors and what could be better than a novella including an appearance by Jethro, the support pig? In BOTCHED BUTTERSCOTCH, a Mother’s Day fundraiser goes awry and now Bailey King is determined to uncover a thief. Amanda Flower offers up just the kind of heartwarming mystery we need, as BOTCHED BUTTERSCOTCH showcases Abigail’s Farm, a program opening up in the Amish community to help women recovering from substance abuse. We have a lot of fun bantering the wedding that isn’t even an engagement yet and yes, we have a great Jethro scene!  SIX CLOVES UNDER by Gin Jones features…

By Rebecca Adler Try not to judge…but I’m having an affair with my air conditioner. In spite of my desire to cling like a limpet to this hardworking, life-giving, and mechanical knight in shining armor, I still crave the outdoors: the sound of birdsong, the touch of a gentle breeze, the sight of squirrels and rabbits frolicking in the cool of the morning. Every day before the temperatures in Texas soar to a brain-frying 107 degrees, I step outside and greet the day. If you enjoy spending the cool of the morning or early evening outside, why not take along your favorite cozy to nibble along with your coffee, tea, or margarita? From the garden to the orchard, this week’s new cozy mystery boxset is sure to satisfy and refresh. DANGER COVE FARMERS’ MARKET MYSTERIES BOXED SET by Elizabeth Ashby, Gin Jones Danger Cove Mysteries From USA Today bestselling authors Gin Jones & Elizabeth Ashby comes a set of the first three full-length Danger Cove Farmers’ Market Mysteries featuring clever and witty amateur sleuth Maria Dolores, including: A DEATH IN THE FLOWER GARDEN Maria Dolores, new manager of the Lighthouse Farmers’ Market, has her work cut out for her when…