About A Los Angeles Hockey Series Bundle

A Los Angeles Hockey Series Bundle – Books 1-3
Romance
1st 3 Books in the Series
Setting – California
Independently Published
Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 1, 2026
Print length ‏ : ‎ 836 pages
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0HDMBV7DX

LINCOLN
He’s a two-time Stanley Cup-winning goalie, but at thirty-six, his game starts to slow. Is he aging out? His fate rests in the hands of the owner’s daughter, the powerful woman he can’t stop watching. Their forbidden love unleashes an unstoppable force on the ice, but as she chases her dream of owning the team, one exposed secret could be the final buzzer for both of their careers.

Forbidden Love, Boss’s Daughter, Sneaking Around, Aging Goalie, Dating Her Secret Crush, He Rescues Her, Future Boss

LUKA
The hottest left-winger in the league and handsome golden boy for the L.A. Quakes suffers a horrific injury during a game, making his life a breakaway to disaster. But a fiery Latina tries to drag a wounded Luka back to life. Can beauty save the beast, or is the ice tilted against them?

Enemies to Lovers, Beauty & The Beast, Tortured Hero, Curvy Heroine, Different Cultures, Stalker Ex-Boyfriend

MATTHEW
Matthew Holt uses his anger on the ice, gaining him the title of enforcer for L.A. Quakes and high minutes in the sin bin. But hooking up with a teammate’s little sister may earn him the highest penalty of all.

Sunshine/Grumpy, Teammate’s Little Sister, Sneaking Around, Haunted Hero, Sin Bin Leader, One Night Stand into Fling

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Lincoln has had a great career, including being on two Stanley Cup-winning teams, but at 36 he is not as quick, and opponents are scoring on him more than expected. He is worried he will be traded or forced to retire.

Catherine is being groomed to take over the Los Angeles Quakes hockey team when her father retires. It has always been her dream to be the first woman NHL owner. Lincoln had been her secret crush when she was a “gawky teen.” After a chance meeting, they find themselves drawn to each other and begin seeing each other in secret. Linc is amazed at how much their relationship has improved his skills on the ice, but Catherine knows if their romance is revealed, it could mean her dream will have a sudden death, and the only job Linc could have would be driving the Zamboni between periods.

The Alisa Jean writing dream introduced a very captivating cast of characters for this story. Catherine and Lincoln are both likable with flaws that make them feel genuine. They are surrounded by her family and the Quakes team. Catherine’s dad owns the team and is its CEO. That can mean a lot of pressure, but he is pretty laid-back and thinks of his players as an extension of his family. Most of the team is very supportive of each other; there always has to be one or two that don’t go with the flow.

Catherine and Linc’s relationship came together almost too fast, but they were two people looking for something more in their lives and found that in each other.  That said, it was not smooth sailing. They made mistakes. Catherine makes a big one. They take readers with them on an emotional journey filled with plenty of sizzling scenes. Their chemistry is undeniable.

I am a hockey fan, more college than NHL, but some of the terminology threw me. It may be a regional thing, but I have never heard a hockey jersey called a sweater. A little research tells me the original uniform tops way back in time were wool knit and were actually sweaters. So I learned something new from this book. I also found the behind-the-scenes look at the grit and pain of playing hockey and Lincoln’s work with young hockey players interesting and entertaining. It also endeared him to me even more.

Lincoln is a dynamic story filled with energy. Catherine is driven to succeed, which I loved. Lincoln is trying to plan for his future, which gives the character more depth than expected. It’s a story filled with heartwarming friendship, humor, and a love story that is steamy hot but tender. I found the ending very satisfying. I also found myself invested not only in Lincoln and Catherine’s lives but also in the lives of other players on the team. Book 2 features Luka; I hope to read it soon.

*The story contains explicit language and scenes as expected in a book in this genre.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the authors for providing me with an ARC.

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

Be sure to come back next Saturday, the 14th, when my daughters take over my blog to share their thoughts about this series!

About Alisa Jean

Alisa Jean is the pseudonym for award-winning authors Marla A. White and C J Bahr. They first teamed up over thirty years ago over a bottle of Zima (don’t ask) while polishing their gear for a horse show. They’ve since moved on to better beverages and writing novels.

Separately, Marla prefers to murder characters in the usual way, while C J uses paranormal means. The long-time best friends joined together as a writing team through their mutual love of hockey. Wonder twin powers activated! Their hockey romances examine flawed characters with heart, humor, and sexy sizzle.

Author Links
Website    Facebook   Goodreads     BookBub    Instagram     Amazon

Purchase Links:

TOUR PARTICIPANTS
November 2 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
November 3 – Romance Novel Giveaways – AUTHOR GUEST POST
November 4 – Sarandipity’s – CHARACTER GUEST POST 
November 5 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
November 6 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
November 7 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
November 8 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT
November 9 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
November 10 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT
November 11 – Sarcastically Yours, Jen – SPOTLIGHT
November 12 – Salty Inspirations – AUTHOR GUEST POST
November 13 – Book HookUp – REVIEW
November 14 – StoreyBook Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST
November 14 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW – DAUGHTERS TAKE OVER
November 15 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT

Have you signed up to be a Tour Host?
Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today!
Want to Book a Tour?
Click Here

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.” I am also an affiliate of Bookshop.org, and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.” These funds are often used for gift cards and other giveaways.

The post A Los Angeles Hockey Series Bundle – Books 1-3 by Alisa Jean #Review (Lincoln Book 1) #Giveaway #GreatEscapesBookTour @alisajean.author appeared first on Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book - Great Escapes Book Tours .

I am thrilled that these fabulous authors invited me to join the fun!

Six Books to Die For. Six Chances to Win!

Calling all cozy mystery lovers!
Are you ready to sleuth your way to your next favorite read?
Six Crooked Lane cozy mystery authors have teamed up to bring you a giveaway that’s absolutely to die for!

We’ve gathered a delightfully suspicious collection of books featuring signed copies, audiobook adventures, and enough fictional murder to keep your real-life neighborhood perfectly safe.

Whether you prefer your mysteries with feline detectives, served with a side of spicy wings, a field guide to suspicious behavior, a murderously memorable school superlative, a steaming cup of chai, or a spot of bush tea, there’s something here to tickle your sleuthing senses!

Six Chances to Win.
Countless Reasons to Suspect Everyone!

The Bush Tea Murder by Ashley Ruth M. Bernier — a signed copy

A Field Guide to Death and Deceit by Michelle Cullen — a signed copy.

Hot Wings and Homicide by Carmela Dutra — a signed copy

The Black Cat Detectives by Kit Gray — a signed copy

Voted Most Likely to Murder by Lacey Moone — an audiobook.

The Masala Chai Mystery Club by MJ Soni — an audiobook

That’s six chances to discover a new favorite author, six prizes up for grabs, and six lucky readers who’ll have something suspiciously good to read or listen to!

Ready to put your name in the evidence log?
Enter below for your chance to win, then keep your eyes peeled for the winner announcement.
Your next favorite cozy mystery might be just one entry away!

Just Click the Link Below to Enter!

The Great Cozy Mystery Caper! Six Books to Die For. Six Chances to Win!

Good luck, happy sleuthing, and remember, in cozy mysteries, the only thing better than solving a murder is finding your next favorite book!

Giveaway runs November 1–15,
ending at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on November 15.
Six winners will each receive one prize.
Please review the official giveaway rules for eligibility, entry requirements, and prize details.
Signed paperback prizes are available to U.S. entrants only, with the exception of The Bush Tea Murder, which may be shipped internationally.
Audiobook prizes are open to international winners, subject to availability in their country.

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Escape With Dollycas.

The post Calling All Cozy Mystery Lovers – The Great Cozy Mystery Caper #Giveaway! appeared first on Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book - Great Escapes Book Tours .

Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!

I am happy to share my thoughts today about A Classic Case of Murder (A Literary Dining Mystery) by Daryl Wood Gerber!

A Classic Case of Murder (A Literary Dining Mystery)
by Daryl Wood Gerber

About A Classic Case of Murder

A Classic Case of Murder (A Literary Dining Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – North Carolina
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kensington Cozies
Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 27, 2026
Print length ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
Hardcover
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1496748239
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496748232
Digital
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496748256
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0GMTK2XTM

Personal chef and caterer Allie Catt combines her love of fiction with her love of food in the scenic North Carolina mountains—but amid her latest themed event, based on Dickens’s beloved classic, A Christmas Carol, a rare-book expert’s goose is cooked…

In the charming town of Bramblewood, not far from Asheville, Allie’s preparing for a special seasonal soiree: a literary-themed dinner party that’s a tribute to Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol. It’ll take place at the Amber Lantern, the quaint inn recently opened by her best friend’s mother, Noeline—and the holiday spirit has even led a Scroogelike local businessman to lend his prized first edition of the nineteenth-century novella for the event.

With the voices of carolers ringing in the air and the community theater staging a special performance, it looks like it will be a happy Christmas—until the priceless book disappears and someone murders the expert who authenticated it. And if the police have their way, Allie’s lawyer friend Freddy will be dragged away in chains like Marley’s ghost…

The crime has also cast a shadow over Noeline’s fledgling business, so Allie feels doubly obliged to find the real killer among the gathered guests and local visitors—and put an end to this nightmare. It’s time to investigate them all, every one . . .

Dollycas’s Thoughts

It’s time for another Feast for the Eyes bookshop literary event, and this time, the featured book is Charles Dickens’s holiday classic, A Christmas Carol. The venue is the Amber Lantern Inn, owned by Teagan’s mom, Noeline, and it’s all decked out for the holidays. Noeline has even convinced her friend Erwin Scroggie to display his coveted first edition.

A variety of guests arrive for the event, each with their own reasons for attending. But when a security guard is drugged, the prized book is stolen, and one of the guests is murdered, the holiday spirit quickly fades—and those reasons start looking like motives. The police focus on Freddy Bobb, a local lawyer, Allie’s friend, and Erwin Scroggie’s nephew. Meanwhile, all the criminal activity leads to a rash of cancellations at the inn.

Allie and Teagan know they don’t have much time to save the inn, find the book, and catch the killer. Can they solve this modern-day mystery, or will they have a Dickens of a time piecing all the clues together?

Allie Catt is living her dream with her catering business, Dream Cuisine, delivering “tasty treats to the good people of Bramblewood.” She’s a terrific protagonist and an amateur sleuth with a huge heart, which makes her so easy to root for. Ms. Gerber has surrounded her with a wonderful cast of supporting characters and introduced several new faces for this story. With such a large cast, the character list at the beginning of the book is a welcome addition. Pay close attention—you’ll spot similarities between these characters and those in the Dickens classic!

Ms. Gerber has plotted a wonderfully intriguing mystery that keeps Allie’s Clue Crew—Allie, Teagan, and Vanna—busy making lists and digging into suspects’ motives. I would have used an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of everything, but the Crew is more comfortable with a Word doc. Financial gain, resentment, jealousy, or simply a need to own that first edition—what’s behind it all? Finding the novella is key to finding the killer. Between revisiting the crime scene and coaxing details from the detectives, the Crew pieces together the clues, leading to a dramatic showdown. The well-placed misdirections kept me guessing right up to the end!

One of the things I love about this series is the book quotes that open each chapter. This time, the book’s parts are titled as musical staves—such a fitting touch for this Dickens-inspired mystery!

With snow falling in Bramblewood, the halls all decked, a solid mystery, entertaining characters, a fun literary theme, and so many delectable holiday treats, A Classic Case of Murder is a holiday treasure! It put me right in the Christmas spirit. It’s a Perfect Escape and not to be missed!

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the author, Kensington Cozies, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

About Daryl Wood Gerber

Daryl Wood Gerber is the Agatha Award-winning and nationally bestselling author of the Literary Dining Mysteries, Aroma Wellness Mysteries, Fairy Garden Mysteries and Cookbook Nook Mysteries. As Avery Aames, she penned the popular Cheese Shop Mysteries. In addition, Daryl writes suspense novels, including the well-received Accidental Murder, The Son’s Secret, Girl on the Run, and the popular Aspen Adams trilogy. Daryl has published a standalone Christmas romance, Hope for the Holidays, a mystery anthology, and a children’s illustrated rhyming book. Fun Tidbit: as an actress, Daryl appeared in “Murder, She Wrote.” She loves to cook, garden, read, and walk her frisky Goldendoodle. Also she has been known to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. You can learn more on her website: https://darylwoodgerber.com

Author Links
WEBSITE    FACEBOOK       BOOKBUB      YOUTUBE    INSTAGRAM     PINTEREST     GOODREADS   TIKTOK   AMAZON    NEWSLETTER

Purchase Links

Great Escapes Praise for A Classic Case of Murder (A Literary Dining Mystery)
by Daryl Wood Gerber 

Rating –
The Christmas atmosphere was a highlight. Snow, holiday events, books, baking, and a cosy inn made this exactly the kind of setting I enjoy, especially during the BER month.
~bibliophile_foodie

A Classic Case of Murder is another fantastic book in the Literary Dining Mystery series. This book really delivers. The author sets up another wonderful mystery, introduces numerous suspects, and fills the story with twists, turns, and red herrings.
~Sapphyria’s Books

This is my favorite book in the Literary Dining Mystery series. It has several elements I really enjoy: rare books, a holiday theme, and Christmas Carol references throughout.
~View from the Birdhouse

Deck the halls, gather the suspects, and prepare for a delightfully Dickensian mystery!
~The Avid Reader

I really loved this book’s vibe. It perfectly captured the atmosphere of the era in which A Christmas Carol was written. The vivid descriptions gave me all the warm, classic Christmas feels and awakened my senses.
~Caboodle of Cozies

TOUR PARTICIPANTS
October 26 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
October 26 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
October 27 – Romance Novel Giveaways – SPOTLIGHT
October 27 – @bibliophile_foodie – REVIEW
October 28 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
October 28 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW
October 29 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST
October 30 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW
October 30 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
October 31 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT
October 31 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
November 1 – Sarandipity’s – SPOTLIGHT
November 1 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT
November 2 – Sarcastically Yours, Jen – SPOTLIGHT
November 3 – Caboodle of Cozies – REVIEW
November 3 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW
November 4 – Twirling Book Princess – RECIPE
November 4 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
November 5 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT
November 5 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER GUEST POST
November 6 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW
November 7 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT
November 8 – Salty Inspirations – SPOTLIGHT

Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today!
Want to Book a Tour?
Click Here

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.” I am also an affiliate of Bookshop.org, and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.” These funds are often used for gift cards and other giveaways.

The post Cozy Wednesday featuring A Classic Case of Murder (A Literary Dining Mystery) by Daryl Wood Gerber #Review #Giveaway #GreatEscapesBookTour @KensingtonBooks @darylwoodgerber appeared first on Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book - Great Escapes Book Tours .

About Up The Creek

Up the Creek: A Florida Eco-Mystery
Mystery
Stand Alone
Setting – Florida
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sibylline Digital First
Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 2, 2026
Print length ‏ : ‎ 300 pages
Digital
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8897409136
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0H79D1LLY
Paperback
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8897409143
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0HF1GB458

In the Florida marshlands, Amanda finds herself in a fight that’s personal, political, and deadly

After losing her research grant, marine botanist Amanda Wright returns to her Florida hometown and takes a job at her family’s eco-tour business. But the quiet marshlands she once loved are under threat from a flashy new resort and a suspicious rezoning effort on protected land. Then a fellow scientist dies under mysterious circumstances, and a rare aquatic plant is found that may hold the key to stopping development.

As buried secrets come to light and her long-absent mother resurfaces with regrets of her own, Amanda must decide what kind of person and protector she wants to be.

A suspenseful, emotionally layered mystery set against a lush coastal backdrop, Up the Creek explores the fragile balance between progress and preservation, and one woman’s determination to defend the place she still calls home.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Amanda Wright’s research grant has lost its funding, so she returns home to work at her family’s eco-tour business. She leads kayak tours on the Iyola River and finds peace in her morning solo trips through the dark waters. But her happy place and her family’s business may be lost as land that has always been protected may be rezoned for an expansion of a ritzy new resort and vacation homes. She starts to investigate and garners help from another scientist and a club at the university where she was previously employed. Then that scientist is found dead in the river. She needs to find a way to save the marshlands and get justice for her friend. At the same time, the mother she hasn’t seen in years comes home and is happy to give Amanda tips to protest and hurt the money behind the projects; most are shady and could be deadly.

Is Amanda up a creek without a paddle? Or will she save the day?

Amanda, her Uncle Jack,  Aunt Lou, and their daughter Kaylee are good people. Years ago, Amanda’s mother dropped her off with Jack and Lou for a visit and never came back. It is easy to get invested in their lives. Working at The Boathouse and growing up on the river led Amanda to become a biologist and to become a research scientist at Coastal College. Coming home wasn’t easy, as their business was losing customers to the new resort up the road. She was determined to earn her keep and find new ways to promote the business to bring people in. But as passionate as she is, she makes mistakes, leaps before she looks, and doesn’t always think things through, which can lead to her peril.  I really like how well she was developed for the first book in a series. The whole family dynamic brings strength to the story.

The amazing setting, the fictional Iyola River and the marshlands around it, are characters themselves. Today, money talks, and protected areas like this, and the wildlife and flora there, are in danger. Saving this area is paramount to Amanda and her family. I enjoyed Ms. Marsh’s detailed descriptions that put me right in those kayaks and everywhere Amanda traveled.

The murder mystery was not as prominent as I expected, but the environmental theme drew me in. In her quest to save the wetlands and pursue a killer, Amanda finds herself in some dangerous situations, but she finds an ally willing to listen. She also makes a new friend. What I appreciated most was Amanda’s tenacity. She knew getting justice for the scientist who helped her would be difficult, but her keen sense of observation helped her find things the police missed. In the end, I found the results very satisfying.

Up the Creek is quite a story. It features a strong protagonist, with an engaging supporting cast, a current, true-to-life theme with interesting insights, a bit of politics, and a compelling mystery. The epilogue takes place three years later, so I am not sure what Ms. Marsh has planned for the continuation of the series, but I am excited to find out.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

About Shelley Marsh

Shelley Marsh is the author of the Estate Sale Mysteries, including Dying to Live Here, More Than She Bargained For, and Everything Must Go. She writes character-driven mysteries set along Florida’s coast, where community ties, hidden motives, and shifting loyalties shape the story. With Up the Creek, she expands into eco-mystery, blending environmental conflict with political intrigue and emotional stakes. When she’s not writing, she can often be found exploring the beaches and marshlands that inspire her fiction. She lives and writes in coastal North Florida.

Praise for Up the Creek

“Sharp writing, a clever mystery, entertaining characters, and the tropical Florida setting will entice readers to pay more than one visit to author Marsh’s Mysteries.”
—Ellen Byron, author of the Golden Motel Mystery series

Facebook   Instagram: A1ABeachWriter    X     TikTok     Threads      BlueSky 

Purchase Link:

Also by Shelley Marsh

The story pulled me in with its atmosphere first. The danger doesn’t scream; it whispers. And those whispers follow Amanda through every choice she makes.
~Book HookUp

The issue of preservation and Amanda’s glorious tours sets this mystery apart. Amanda is a strong and passionate character. All in all, an interesting cozy mystery.
~Christa Reads and Writes

TOUR PARTICIPANTS
October 26 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
October 27 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
October 28 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT
October 29 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
October 30 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR GUEST POST
October 31 – Sarandipity’s – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
October 31 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
November 1 – deal sharing aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 1 – Book HookUp – REVIEW
November 2 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW
November 3 – Salty Inspirations – CHARACTER GUEST POST
November 3 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
November 4 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
November 4 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT
November 5 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST
November 5 – fundinmental – REVIEW
November 6 – Sarcastically Yours, Jen – SPOTLIGHT
November 7 – StoreyBook Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST
November 8 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT
___________________

Have you signed up to be a Tour Host?
Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today!
Want to Book a Tour?
Click Here

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.” I am also an affiliate of Bookshop.org, and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.” These funds are often used for gift cards and other giveaways.

The post Up the Creek: A Florida Eco-Mystery by Shelley Marsh #Review #Giveaway #GreatEscapesBookTour @a1abeachwriter appeared first on Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book - Great Escapes Book Tours .

Welcome to My Reading Itinerary Monday!

Where are your books taking you
this week?

I will be traveling to California, New York, and Washington, D.C.!

Here’s what I read and what I have planned for this week.

Escapes Completed

The reading slump continues; last week, I can blame watching several baseball games  but I will need to really step it up this week.

Murder in the Upper Crust: A Deep Dish Mystery
by Mindy Quigley
Release Date – October 27, 2026
Setting – Wisconsin
My Review

Up the Creek: A Florida Eco-Mystery
by Shelley Marsh
Release Date – July 2, 2026
Setting – Florida
The Great Escapes Tour stops here tomorrow!

A Classic Case of Murder (A Literary Dining Mystery)
by Daryl Wood Gerber
Release Date – October 27, 2026
Setting – North Carolina
The Great Escapes Tour stops here
this week for Cozy Wednesday!

Currently ReadingLincoln (A Los Angeles Quakes Hockey Series)
by Alisa Jean
Release Date – January 14, 2025
Setting – California
The Great Escapes Tour stops here this Friday!

Scheduled Escapes

A Tail of Two Murders
by T. C. LoTempio
Release Date – October 20, 2026
Setting – California
The Great Escapes Book Tour stops here next Tuesday!

Death of a Bad Penny: The Moonlighting Mysteries
Release Date – September 8, 2026
Setting – New York State and Washington, D.C.
The Great Escapes Tour stops here next week
for Cozy Wednesday!

Possible Future Escapes

November 1 – 7, 2026

Happy Reading!!

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

Remember – This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you, which I use to fund giveaways. Thank you for supporting Escape With Dollycas.

The post My Reading Itinerary Monday! – Week #45 – 2026 appeared first on Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book - Great Escapes Book Tours .

The Sunday Salon is a Facebook group that has become an
informal week-in-review gathering place for bloggers.
It is also a place to share our thoughts about things of a bookish nature.
You can also link up weekly on Readerbuzz.

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by
Kimberly @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer
~ It’s a chance to share news~
A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received, and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE!

Tuesday, we hit the road for a little Remington #0 basketball. Oh my stars, these kids are growing like weeds and appear to be all legs. It’s just crazy; they didn’t look that tall playing football. It was fun seeing all the boys back together again. Everyone played well, including those who came off the bench, so the coach could rotate them in and out without losing intensity. They won 36 – 14. Remi scored at least 6 points. (I lost track, lol)

Weekly Rewind – October 26 – 31, 2026

Monday – My Reading Itinerary Monday! – Week #44 – 2026

Tuesday – Dina Gets Lucky: A Novel by Uzma Jalaluddin #Review #Giveaway @Uzma Jalaluddin

Wednesday – Cozy Mystery featuring Murder in the Upper Crust: A Deep Dish Mystery by Mindy Quigley #Review #Giveaway @MinotaurBooks @StMartinsPress @minty_fresh_books

Thursday – Eggnog & Evidence: A Maine Campground Cozy Mystery by Nikki Weber #Spotlight #Giveaway #GreatEscapesBookTour @nikkiweberbooks

Friday – #FlashbackFriday featuring Buried in a Good Book (By the Book Mysteries) by Tamara Berry #Giveaway #ReviewRewind

Saturday – Saturday Giveaway featuring Countdown to Christmas Murder (A Lucy Stone Mystery Book) by Leslie Meier #Spotlight #Giveaway @KensingtonBooks @lesliemeiermysterywriter

No New Books This Week.

Happy Reading!!

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

Remember – This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you, which I use to fund giveaways. Thank you for supporting Escape With Dollycas.

The post Sunday Salon / Sunday Post – A Week in the Life of Dollycas – Weekly Rewind – New Arrivals appeared first on Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book - Great Escapes Book Tours .

Welcome to Saturday Giveaway!

I am delighted to shine the spotlight on Countdown to Christmas Murder (A Lucy Stone Mystery Book) by Leslie Meier today!

Countdown to Christmas Murder (A Lucy Stone Mystery Book)
Cozy Mystery
32nd in Series
Setting – Maine
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kensington Cozies
Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 29, 2026
Print length ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
Hardcover
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1496749278
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496749277
Kindle
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496749291
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0GDS6FCFF
Audiobook
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0GXX26DQ1

Christmas may be 63 days away, but as the Tinker’s Cove Chamber of Commerce gears up for an elaborate Dickens-themed Christmas event, reporter Lucy Stone is already feeling a bit Grinchy—until a possible murder requires her sleuthing skills in the latest Lucy Stone Mystery from bestselling author Leslie Meier.

With all four kids out of the house, Lucy Stone’s suddenly empty nest has put a damper on her usual zest for Christmas. She’s got plenty of article ideas to keep her busy though, including reports of vicious social media posts targeting several town residents. Plus, there’s the self-proclaimed “reputation changer” who promises he can clean up any negative press. It all seems a bit too convenient to Lucy, who decides an investigation is in order.

On top of all that, after agreeing to play Mrs. Cratchit in “A Dickens of a Christmas,” Lucy also decides to plan a pre-Thanksgiving family weekend. Despite her juggling, it’s not a success—the kids and their partners come but the mood is tense, and Lucy is relieved to see them off. Then comes shocking news: bank manager Bert Cosgrove, one of the victims of the slanderous media posts, has been found dead. The police are calling it a suicide.

No one, including Lucy, believes sweet, mild Bert would take his own life. While holiday preparations reach a feverish pitch, she’s determined to find his killer. And as she burrows into a surprising history of motives, longstanding secrets and family connections begin to stink like rotten plum pudding. Now, as Lucy gets closer to the truth, she finds herself in a life-threatening situation that would definitely spoil Christmas—permanently.

About the Author

LESLIE MEIER is the New York Times bestselling author of the Lucy Stone Mysteries and the Carole and Poopsie Mystery series. She has also written for Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, and like her series protagonist, Lucy Stone, she worked as a New England newspaper reporter while raising her three children. She lives outside of Boston and can be found online at LeslieMeierBooks.com. Find All the Lucy Stone Mysteries HERE. 

I am giving away an ADVANCE REVIEW COPY!

The contest is open to individuals 18 or older.
with a US or Canadian mailing address.

Duplicate entries will be deleted. Void where prohibited.

You do not have to be a follower to enter, but I hope you will find
something you like here and become a follower.

Followers Will Receive 2 Bonus Entries For Each Way They Follow.
Plus 2 Bonus Entries For Following My Facebook Fan Page.

Subscribe to Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book via Email for 3 Bonus Entries. See box at the top of the right sidebar or in the footer at the bottom of the post or page.

Add this book to your WANT TO READ shelf on GoodReads
for 3 Bonus Entries.

Follow Kensington Books on Threads for 2 Bonus Entries!

Follow Kensington Publishing on Facebook for 2 Bonus Entries!

Pin this giveaway to Pinterest for 3 Bonus Entries.

If you share the giveaway on Threads, Facebook, etc., you will receive 5 Bonus Entries For Each Link.

The Contest Will End on November 14, 2026, at 11:59 PM CST
The Winner Will Be Chosen Using Random.org
The Winner will be notified by email and posted here in the sidebar.

Click Here For Entry Form

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Escape With Dollycas.

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

 

The post Saturday Giveaway featuring Countdown to Christmas Murder (A Lucy Stone Mystery Book) by Leslie Meier #Spotlight #Giveaway @KensingtonBooks @lesliemeiermysterywriter appeared first on Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book - Great Escapes Book Tours .

On Flashback Fridays, I will share with you
the books I was not able to review
when they were first released, that have been screaming at me
from my To-Be-Read bookshelf or from my Keeper Shelf. 

I reviewed this book back when it was released in May 2022.
I have made the difficult decision to start paring down my Keeper Shelf instead of purchasing another bookshelf.
My loss could be your gain.

Buried in a Good Book (By the Book Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Washington State
Poisoned Pen Press (May 24, 2022)
Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1728248604
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1728248608
Kindle ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09CLLJN32

Bestselling thriller writer Tess Harrow is almost at the end of her rope when she arrives with her teenage daughter at her grandfather’s rustic cabin in the woods. She hopes this will be a time for them to heal and bond after Tess’s recent divorce, but they’ve barely made it through the door when an explosion shakes the cabin. Suddenly it’s raining fish guts and…is that a human arm?

Tess was hardly convincing Gertie that a summer without Wi-Fi and running water would be an adventure. Now she’s thrust into a murder investigation, neighbors are saying they’ve spotted Bigfoot in the woods near her cabin, and the local sheriff is the spitting image of her character, Detective Gabriel Gonzales—something he’s less than thrilled about. With so much more than her daughter’s summer plans at stake, it’s up to Tess to solve this case before anyone else gets hurt.

Put your sleuthing hat on—Buried in a Good Book features:

• A thriller writer who knows way more than anyone should about death and dismemberment
• Her young daughter who’s more intrigued by dead bodies than she probably should be
• An isolated cabin in the woods that’s probably—definitely—hiding something
• The tiny mountain town that seems less than troubled by a sudden abundance of murders

Dollycas’s Thoughts 

A rustic cabin in the woods of Northern Washington, “they could probably reach out and touch the Canadian border”, with no electricity, phone service, or Wi-Fi, seemed like the perfect place for bestselling author Tess Harrow to bond with her daughter and finish her book following her divorce. Expecting a lot of peace and quiet they are jolted literally when an explosion occurs and then another and another. When Tess and Gertie turn to investigate, they see a man running toward them shouting, followed by another BOOM! Then came a shower of water, fish guts, and a HUMAN ARM! They hadn’t even gotten unpacked, and they already had to call the cops.

Tess writes about murder all the time, but solving one in real life could be really exciting, especially when she meets the local sheriff who bears a striking resemblance to her lead character, Detective Gabriel Gonzales. Of course, the sheriff doesn’t want her help, but that is not going to stop her from solving the case before he does. Plus all this drama is going to be perfect for her new book!

Oh, my, this was a hilarious cozy mystery!

Tess was a strong protagonist but could be a bit aggravating at times. She is always thinking about scenes for her next book, basically, she has her mind on murder almost 100% of the time and sometimes drifts off into her own little world, but she pulls it off. Her daughter Gertie, is a typical teenager, dependent on technology, livid that they are out in the boonies with no cell towers. But then she comes around and sometimes is several steps ahead of her mother in figuring things out. She also finds herself lost in a book during this story and I LOVED THAT!

Readers are introduced to several characters including Sheriff Boyd and that man was so patient with Tess. He really surprised me which made him my favorite character. He had to deal with some really crazy things and he didn’t get shook. The supporting cast is rounded out by a bookmobile librarian who becomes fast friends with Tess and Gertie, a couple of deputies including a budding author, the Peabody brothers who own Peabody Timber, and other residents of Winthrop. Tess’s ex also makes an appearance. I felt all the characters were pretty well fleshed out for the first book in the series.

Ms. Berry has written a really unique mystery full of corkscrew twists and gritty turns. Tess’s years of writing thrillers help her envision several different scenarios of what could be happening in the woods by her grandfather’s cabin and she is happy to share all of them with Sheriff Boyd. Some are pretty out there but she soon was on the right track. It was a lot of fun to follow in her footsteps as all the clues started to fall into place but I was totally surprised by the super exciting ending.

As I said, this book is so funny, I had several laugh-out-loud moments. But there were a few scenes that if I were watching it as a movie I may have covered my eyes. That being said those scenes were true to the plot the author was building so it made total sense in this off-the-wall mystery.

Buried in a Good Book will keep readers on their toes while tickling their funny bones. Tess and Gertie’s relationship really evolved into something wonderful by the end of the story and I am anxious to see what the author has in store for them next.

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

About the Author

Tamara Berry is a part-time author and part-time freelance copywriter/editor. She has a B.A. degree in English Literature from Eastern Washington University. In addition to books, she has mad love for all things TV, movies, and pop culture. Find out more and her website and sign up to be on her mailing list here.

I am giving away my paperback copy!

The contest is open to anyone over 18 years old
with a US or Canadian mailing address.

Duplicate entries will be deleted. Void where prohibited.

You do not have to be a follower to enter, but I hope you will find
something you like here and become a follower.

Followers Will Receive 2 Bonus Entries For Each Way They Follow.
Plus 2 Bonus Entries For Following My Facebook Fan Page.

 Sign up for the author’s mailing list for 5 Bonus Entries!

Pin this giveaway to Pinterest for 3 Bonus Entries.

If you share the giveaway on Twitter or Facebook or anywhere, you will receive 5 Bonus Entries For Each Link.

Contest Will End November 13, 2026, at 11:59 PM CST
Winner Will Be Chosen By Random.org
The Winner Will Be Notified By Email
and Will Be Posted Here In The Sidebar.

Click Here For The Entry Form

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The post #FlashbackFriday featuring Buried in a Good Book (By the Book Mysteries) by Tamara Berry #Giveaway #ReviewRewind appeared first on Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book - Great Escapes Book Tours .

Eggnog & Evidence: A Maine Campground Cozy Mystery

About Eggnog & Evidence

Eggnog & Evidence: A Maine Campground Cozy Mystery
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Setting – Maine
Publisher ‏ : Independently Published
Publication Date ‏ : ‎ October 13, 2026
~250 Pages
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0GZJZZL8R
Paperback
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8182860833
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0HM96445S

Some secrets are like Christmas lights: they get worse the more you try to untangle them.

Noelle Cooper is teaming up with her family to launch a festive new venture: a holiday extravaganza complete with Santa, gallons of eggnog, and a spectacular tree lighting guaranteed to make the season merry and bright.

There’s just one problem: Holly Winterbourne, the abrasive holiday consultant Noelle’s father has hired to help pull it off. Holly insists on holding a practice run at Babbling Brook Campground—in the middle of July—and she rubs everyone the wrong way.

When an incident at the tree lighting turns deadly, the festivities come to a shocking halt. Noelle feels partly responsible for the tragedy, but then the police determine that it was no accident, and Noelle’s guilt turns to suspicion. She sets out to discover who tried to pull the plug on the festival.

Great Escapes Praise for Eggnog & Evidence: A Maine Campground Cozy Mystery
by Nikki Weber

The mystery aspect was well done. The killer caught me by surprise! This is a fast-paced, fun read. I recommend Eggnog & Evidence – and this series – to other cozy mystery readers.
~View from the Birdhouse

The mystery is solid, and I thought I had it all figured out, but readers, I did not! I loved the twists the mystery took as I journeyed through Noelle’s investigation. And this was a quick read – I read it in just two sittings and enjoyed all aspects, especially the strong sense of place. It felt like a true escape!
~Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books

Bottom Line: Christmas in July takes a shocking turn in Nikki Weber’s new cozy mystery, Eggnog & Evidence, and as usual when I read a mystery by this author, my initial suspicions as to whodunit were all wrong. Which is a good thing because that means I stayed thoroughly entertained and invested in the story from beginning to end.
~Reading is my Superpower

About Nikki Weber

Nikki Weber grew up reading in unconventional places: the backseat of a car, the top of the monkey bars on her backyard play set, and the corners of the quietest hallways in her elementary school. She was born and raised in Maine and spent her childhood summers camping with her family and their beagle. She loves dogs, nachos, coffee, and ice cream, and so far, she’s managed to work three of those four things into the books in the Maine Campground Cozy Mystery series. She’s working on her next book right now, so grab a copy of whatever you haven’t read yet and get started!

Author Links
Website    GoodReads    Instagram 
 Join the Cozy Book Club! | Nikki Weber

Purchase Links

TOUR PARTICIPANTS
October 20 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
October 20 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
October 21 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – SPOTLIGHT
October 21 – Romance Novel Giveaways – SPOTLIGHT
October 22 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT
October 23 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW
October 23 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW
October 24 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
October 24 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT
October 24 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
October 25 – StoreyBook Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST
October 25 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT
October 26 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
October 27 – Sarandipity’s – SPOTLIGHT
October 27 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
October 28 – Salty Inspirations – SPOTLIGHT
October 29 – Sarcastically Yours, Jen – SPOTLIGHT
October 29 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

Have you signed up to be a Tour Host?
Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today!
Want to Book a Tour?
Click Here

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Escape With Dollycas.

The post Eggnog & Evidence: A Maine Campground Cozy Mystery by Nikki Weber #Spotlight #Giveaway #GreatEscapesBookTour @nikkiweberbooks appeared first on Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book - Great Escapes Book Tours .

Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!

I am delighted to feature Murder in the Upper Crust: A Deep Dish Mystery by Mindy Quigley today!

Murder in the Upper Crust: A Deep Dish Mystery
Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Setting – Wisconsin
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Minotaur Books
Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 27, 2026
Print length ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
Mass Market Paperback
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1250326311
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250326317
Kindle
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250326324
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0G5RWZ42K

The sixth book in the delectable Deep Dish Mystery series, set in a Wisconsin pizzeria.

Chef Delilah O’Leary is going where no deep dish pizza chef has gone before: a swanky wellness retreat, where she’s agreed to cater for a crowd of the who’s who. Instead of cashing a fat check for an easy gig, though, she encounters a diabolical plot with more layers than one of her signature pies.

The exclusive event, hosted by superstar guru Rhiannon Frost, promises inner transformation—but when a spiteful attendee turns up dead during the guided meditation, Delilah smells more than incense in the air. Every guest has a motive…and access to a sinister walled garden brimming with exotic poisonous plants.

With her restaurant short-staffed, and her boyfriend, Detective Calvin Capone, splitting his time between bartender duties and undercover sleuthing, Delilah’s got her hands full. Can she slice through the lies before the killer strikes again? Or will this luxe getaway turn into a one-way trip to the great beyond?

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Chef Delilah O’Leary was looking forward to having some time off and spending it with her boyfriend, Detective Calvin Capone, but her best friend and partner Sonya’s new girlfriend, Willow, asks a huge favor. Her new boss, lifestyle guru Rhiannon Frost, is holding a wellness retreat in Geneva Bay to promote her new book, and her caterer bailed on the event. The retreat also brings Dee’s ex, Sam, and his new girlfriend, SilverMoon, to town, as her former famous rock star father, Jay Mazur, is hosting the event at his mansion, Nightshade Garden. Soon, Dee, Sonya, and Capone are serving up food for Dee’s “ex-fiancé, his new girlfriend, a pop-psychology mogul, and several dozen of her filthy-rich devotees”. They have also been invited to join the retreat.

After dinner and dessert, the group returns to gather for a starlight meditation with each attendee in their own pod with a meditation gift bag. When the session ends, one member of the group does not exit her pod. She didn’t survive the process, and Delilah O’Leary smells murder.

In a strange twist, Geneva Bay’s new chief of police asks for Dee and Capone’s help in the investigation. With a mansion full of suspects, that puts a lot on their plates. The recipe for catching the killer may rival Delilah & Son’s deep dish Everything But The Kitchen Sink pizza.

Ms. Quigley’s characters continue to evolve in realistic ways. Dee has grown so much since the series started and, in this book, has another breakthrough. Her relationship with Capone appears to be on firm ground, with them supporting each other and working together. Sonya’s life is moving forward with a new girlfriend, but her mom is having troubling issues. The new chief of police, Carol Dwyer, was a hoot, refreshing and funny. Things get a little tense with Sam bringing his new girlfriend to visit, but Butterball was happy to see him and bring a little kitty trouble to the story. With the pizzeria closed for a few days, some of the regulars are away for most of the story.

The setting of the wellness retreat was the perfect place for someone wanting to commit murder. The former Nightshade Garden drummer’s mansion features its very own Nightshade poison garden. Everyone at this retreat except Dee and Capone had their shady moments, and one was exhibiting especially strange behavior. Any one of them could have snuck away to snip a deadly ingredient from the large garden or greenhouse. At one point, I think I suspected and rejected every one of them. The reveal was intense. It was troubling to me that the killer tested out their murder method on animals and watched them suffer. What a repugnant individual. Another willing to cover everything up was just as repulsive. The aftermath following the confession was exciting and very satisfying.

Murder in the Upper Crust is a wonderful blend of delightful, genuine characters, a gripping mystery with a dastardly villain, and a high dose of humor, set in a ritzy Wisconsin community. I can’t forget the delectable pasta and pizza featured within the story.  The recipes included at the end of the book are special, with character commentary, but you may want to get your local pizzeria on speed dial.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

About the Author

The post Cozy Mystery featuring Murder in the Upper Crust: A Deep Dish Mystery by Mindy Quigley #Review #Giveaway @MinotaurBooks @StMartinsPress @minty_fresh_books appeared first on Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book - Great Escapes Book Tours .