I turned my back to the crowd to hide the mess on my dress until I could muster the energy to battle my way back through the crowd to the ladies’ room to clean myself up. Gripping the railing, I looked out over the beach, rethinking my recent life choices. A small group of partiers danced barefoot in the sand, some grinning, some laughing, some singing along with the music—all happy, it seemed. Several couples walked hand in hand along the shoreline, mere silhouettes against the vast expanse of bay across which a sprinkling of lights dotted the barrier island that stood between Moriches Bay and the mighty Atlantic. A couple stood in the shadows with the lights from the outdoor dance floor giving off just enough illumination for me to make out an incredibly beautiful woman with generous curves and a ton of blonde waves cascading over tanned shoulders bared by her slinky black halter dress. She wore a stunning pair of black arch killers with rhinestones cascading from the ankle straps. At least, I thought they were rhinestones. Considering the diamonds dripping from her neck and wrists reflecting a dazzling rainbow of sparkles, was it possible the ankle…

Jennifer Vido: What inspired your new release, GROUNDS FOR MURDER? Lena Gregory: Let me start by saying, I love ice cream. It’s my all-time favorite dessert. The thought of an old-fashioned ice cream parlor on Main Street in a small town brings to mind memories of childhood, when every concert, play, and dance recital ended at the local ice cream shop. It was not only a place to grab dessert, but a venue where local gossip ran rampant. My first job was working early mornings in my grandfather’s deli in a small town on eastern Long Island. I can still remember getting up at four in the morning to go in and stock shelves, the scent of kaiser rolls with butter and bacon frying, Neapolitan ice cream sandwiches on waffles, and the gossip. Boy was there gossip. I have such fond memories of my grandfather (the inspiration for Uncle Jimmie) standing behind the counter, leaning forward, enjoying shooting the breeze with customers My grandmother knew everyone by name, and assumed everyone else did too. She used to start off a conversation with, “Can you believe Jeremy did this, or did you hear Katrina did that?” As if you would automatically…

Hi all! My Name is Lena Gregory and I’m excited to share a bit about MURDER A LA MODE, the first novel in my new Coffee & Cream Café Mystery series with you.   M is for Murder. Which Danika Delaney is 100% sure she didn’t commit and 99ish% sure Luca Marinelli, her ex-boyfriend, didn’t commit. U is for Unexpected. The last thing Danika expects to find when she returns home to take over her Uncle Jimmie’s failing ice cream parlor is a body in the basement. R is for Rumors. The Watchogue gossip mill is working overtime to keep up with rumors of infidelity and murder. D is for Detective Steamy. A.K.A. Detective Jake Barlow. E is for Ethel. Or in Danika’s case, her best friend and partner in crime, Gwen Rothberg. (The Ethel to her Lucy, according to Detective Steamy) R is for Revenge. If rumors are to be believed, Danika’s motive for killing Luca’s estranged wife, the same woman he cheated on her with at prom.   A is for Affair. Rumor also has it Danika returned at the same time Luca decided to divorce Heather because the two of them were having an affair.   L…

I’ve lived most of my life in a small town on the south shore of Eastern Long Island, along with four generations of my family. My grandfather owned a deli in town, where I started working stocking shelves and sweeping floors when I was twelve years old. When I was a little older, I started working the breakfast shift, the inspiration for the All-Day Breakfast Café Mystery series. I’ve always loved the small-town feel, the way everyone knows everyone, especially the families who have lived here for generation after generation as mine has. When I married a man from the neighboring town, it seemed natural to settle down where we’d grown up and start our family. Then my husband got a job offer in Florida, and he accepted. We moved down right after my daughter finished kindergarten. I had only ever been to Florida once, when my daughter was three and we spent three days in Disney World, so I had no clue what to expect. Just like Gia Morelli in SCONE COLD KILLER, I was in for a few surprises. I was used to deer crossing signs, since Long Island is home to a large deer population, but the…

Whoever said these were our golden years, was either living on martinis on the beach or hadn’t reached the gilded age when every bone and joint in their body screamed for attention. I’ve ignored the screaming for a few years, but the noise is now coming from a woman in a white lab coat with the initials DR imprinted in front of her name. The fun of my youth (and beyond) has a price to pay, and it’s time to pay. So I’ll be taking a few months sabbatical from blogging, podcasting and writing and working on physical fitness. Unfortunately, surfing is on doc’s ‘no-no’ list for the next year—grrr. The best part of that news, however, is that I have lined up some amazing guest bloggers from July to October! As soon as I put the news out, authors came through for me in overwhelming numbers. That’s how awesome the community is;) Here is your line-up for the Cozy Corner for the rest of the summer—until we meet again in October, get cozy and read on! Rebecca Adler Karen Rose Smith Rhys Bowen Krista Davis Olivia Matthews Tina Kashian Sofie Kelly Libby Klein Jenn McKinlay Winnie Archer Lena Gregory…

The new year is always filled with fresh prospects, new beginnings and hope for a better tomorrow. Yet sometimes, you just want to hang onto what made you comfortable last year. The time-tested and proven. As a mystery reader, its no different. Your favorite sleuths hold a special place in your heart you aren’t about to give up. And why should you? Yet you still can’t resist the shiny and new cozy that holds so much intrigue—so don’t! This week I have some great return heroines, one that’s new to me, but she’s been around for three previous books (which gave me a backlist to check out) and a bonus mystery of a brand new series that will have you looking ahead for more! If you know these authors, check out their latest mystery and return to what you love. If they’re new to you, celebrate the beginning of a new relationship with a tried and true series. And don’t forget to check out an up and coming series you’re sure add to your list of favorites. CRUST NO ONE by Winnie Archer A Bread Shop Mystery #2 Business is booming at Yeast of Eden. But with a deadly mystery…