In this darkly funny, slightly unhinged, heart-pounding thriller, two office rivals must team up to escape wild animals and even wilder coworkers on a corporate retreat gone wrong.

Fletcher Spence is dying for a promotion. And her colleagues are more than happy to oblige.

After three years working seventy-hour weeks as assistant to the most terrifying CEO in the magazine world, Fletcher finally finagled a spot on Cartwright Media’s annual corporate retreat—a famously luxurious week on the Cartwrights’ private island, where promotions are handed out like party favors. And her plan to snag her dream job as a travel magazine photographer was going great…until her boss’s dramatic death reveals his last will and testament: Whoever survives the week will inherit the company.

So now she’s stuck on her billionaire boss’s safari park island, surrounded by wild animals and on the run from coworkers who’ve swapped coffee cups for machetes and briefcases for hunting rifles.

To Fletcher’s dismay, her only ally might be her boss’s insufferably gorgeous son, Waylon Cartwright. Despite their hostile history, Fletcher is at least 80 percent sure he won’t try to kill her this week. Plus, his experience on the island might come in handy while they fend off lions and tigers and…marketing executives? Oh my.

While Fletcher battles her own ambitions and her unexpected attraction to Waylon, her power-hungry, bloodthirsty colleagues will do anything to stop them from escaping with their lives. Everyone knows the media industry is cutthroat, but in this safari party, it’s never been more true.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Fletcher Spenser has been biding her time working seventy-hour weeks as the assistant to the CEO at Cartwright Media, but she really wants to be a travel magazine photographer. To secure a promotion, she has to be invited to the annual corporate retreat on the Cartwrights’ private island. Not on the guest list, she shows up at the plane, and her boss destroys her camera but reluctantly allows her aboard. She is soon regretting her decision.

The next morning, her boss is dead, and according to his his last will and testament: Whoever survives the week will inherit the company.

Waylon Cartwright, the son of the deceased, realizes why he was allowed to come along when he doesn’t work for the company. He will have to fight and survive to receive his inheritance. Fletcher decides that, despite their relationship being quite hostile, she doesn’t think he will kill her, so it would be beneficial to work together.

The media business is tough, but Fletcher never expected it to be deadly. This safari party has murder on the menu. She hopes to live to tell her story.

I am unsure why I agreed to review this book. It almost became a DNF. Instead, I set it aside at about 30% and made sure I was in the right frame of mind to read a dark humor, horror rom-com when I picked it back up and went with the flow. Think the business world meets the Hunger Games.

A group of professionals has attended this retreat safely for years. This year is different because no one knows the boss is dying and has a bloody, gruesome plan for suicide. Then the will is read, and those professionals who may have had minor issues with each other before turn into crazed murderers, all in a quest to win the company. It was surprising how fast it happened and all the different methods to their madness. Some were hard to read, which is why I had to put the book down. Maybe I am just too old to get the author’s humor, and I do not normally read horror books or watch horror movies.

When I restarted reading, Fletcher and Waylon were on the run, trying to avoid anyone still living and find a way off the island. It was when they were fighting the feelings they were having for each other while working together to survive. Romance, that’s up my alley. They did have a nice romantic interlude, but were tracked, and the chase was back on, along with the kill-or-be-killed focus. There was a surprise during the final encounter, and soon there were just three. I could have penned the final moments as I saw it coming many chapters earlier.

Safari Murder Party takes readers along on a wild ride. The island may have been filled with wild animals, but the story revealed that the real animals were members of corporate America who would do anything for money and power. This book was okay, but it truly wasn’t for me. Maybe try the sample feature on Amazon before you decide on the book, although 3 chapters may not be enough as they arrive on the island in Chapter 4.

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 Berkley and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

About the Author

The post Safari Murder Party by Rachel Moore #Review @BerkleyMystery @byrachelmoore appeared first on Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book - Great Escapes Book Tours .

Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!

I am delighted to share my thoughts today about Whose Body in the Library: A Lighthouse Library Mystery by Eva Gates!

Whose Body in the Library: A Lighthouse Library Mystery
Cozy Mystery
13th in Series
Setting – North Carolina
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Crooked Lane Books
Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 9, 2026
Print length ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8892424370
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0FQHPX56M
Kindle
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8892424387
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0FQHC3T7T

A new librarian’s first day goes terribly wrong when she finds a dead body on the front steps of the library.

In the thirteenth installment of the beloved Lighthouse Library mysteries, a new character takes the reins.

While Lucy McNeil is enjoying her new job as the mother of twin boys and library director, new librarian Nichelle Gilchrest has just arrived at the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library, reporting for duty. But life throws a wrench on Nichelle’s first day when she finds a body on the steps—a body that bears a startling resemblance to her father, who disappeared on a fishing trip to the Outer Banks thirty-eight years ago.

Fingerprints confirm the dead body is indeed Nichelle’s father, now living in Nags Head under the name Brian Saunders. Brian had been befriending older lonely women in exchange for money, but was he working alone?

Detective Rhonda Thomas is on the case, and the suspect list is only getting longer. Sorting through the wronged women and their relatives, Detective Thomas discovers Nichelle’s own brother, Brad, had been in Nags Head a few days before the murder happened and has been lying about his whereabouts.

Hoping to clear her brother’s name, Nichelle decides to investigate what happened. With seasoned sleuth Lucy’s gentle encouragement for the amateur, Nichelle is in for an exciting and dangerous first week at the library.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

With Bertie’s retirement, Lucy McNeil returns from maternity leave after the birth of her twin boys as the new library director. That leaves an opening in her former position, bringing Nichelle Gilchrest from New York to the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library. Lucy meets her at the library so she can move into the Aerie apartment and be ready to start the next day. Unfortunately, things do not go as planned. The next day, when Nichelle goes to unlock the front door of the library, she finds a dead body on the steps. The man looks familiar, but that cannot be possible. Her father went missing 38 years ago on a fishing trip to the Outer Banks with his buddies and was presumed dead.

The man is identified as Brian Saunders, and his fingerprints confirm that he is Nichelle’s father, living under a different name. He has been preying on elderly women who have no close companions and taking their money.

With Detective Sam Watson retired, the case is now in Detective Rhonda Thomas’s hands, and the suspect list keeps growing. It includes Nichelle’s brother, Brad, who has secretly been making trips to Nags Head and was there just before the murder. With some prompting from Lucy, Nichelle decides she needs not only to clear her brother of the crime but also to find out why her father was at the library at all. Was he there to see her, or was it just an odd coincidence?

I mentioned in my review of Shot Through the Book that changes were coming to the library and to Nags Head, but I was still surprised that this story centers on Nichelle Gilchrest rather than Lucy, even though Lucy’s perspective is still woven in through the alternating chapters. That choice gives the novel a slightly different energy and allows the series to open itself up in an interesting way. Nichelle comes into the story with enough life experience to feel fully formed from the start. After years of working as a bookkeeper and hating it, she is recently divorced, her 20-year-old twin daughters are out on their own, and she has finally chosen to pursue the dream she set aside by returning to school to become a librarian. When she is hired at the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library, she is not just changing jobs; she is building an entirely new life. That makes her an easy character to invest in. She settles in quickly, and her connection with the library, the town, and even Charles the cat makes her feel like a natural fit rather than an outsider being forced into the series. Denise, Roland, and Louise Jane welcome her warmly, and once the murder happens, the library once again becomes the center of the community, which reinforces how important that setting is to the charm of these books.

Lucy and Connor have also entered a new phase of life with their identical twin boys, Isaac and Lucas, now three months old. The novel handles that transition well because it acknowledges both the joy and the strain that come with it. Even with a trusted caregiver in Sophia, going back to work is never simple, and that tension adds a layer of realism to Lucy’s role in the story. She is adjusting not only to motherhood but also to taking over Bertie’s position, which could have easily made her feel sidelined or overwhelmed. Instead, the book shows that Lucy is growing into this next chapter of her life in a believable way. I also liked that Nichelle’s arrival does not diminish Lucy’s importance. Instead, the two characters complement each other, with Nichelle bringing fresh energy and Lucy offering perspective and steadiness. That balance keeps the transition from feeling abrupt and helps the series evolve without losing what made it appealing in the first place.

Another notable shift is Detective Sam Watson’s retirement. He is still present enough to offer guidance, but Detective Rhonda Thomas is now leading the murder investigation, and she makes it very clear that Lucy and Nichelle need to stay out of her case. That tension works well because, by now, readers know the library is never just a workplace in this series; it is the town’s unofficial hub, the place where people gather, talk, and reveal more than they probably intend to. That makes Nichelle especially effective as the newest amateur sleuth. She listens well, asks smart questions, and does not come across as reckless just for the sake of moving the plot along. I appreciated that she tried to pass along what she learned to Detective Thomas, particularly after ending up in a dangerous situation.

I hate change, so I went into Whose Body in the Library a little cautiously, but Ms. Gates handled it better than I expected. Introducing a new protagonist this deep into a series is not easy, especially when readers already have strong attachments to the existing cast, yet Nichelle never feels like a replacement. Instead, she feels like an expansion of the world. She is mature, intelligent, and grounded, which gives her a presence that works immediately. What I especially admired is that the novel manages to broaden its focus without sacrificing the familiar characters and setting that make this series such a comfort read for me. The Bodie Island Lighthouse Library still feels like the heart of the story, and the people around it still provide the warmth and personality I look forward to in every installment. To me, that is what makes this book successful. It embraces change without abandoning the series’ identity, and that leaves me genuinely curious to see where the author takes these characters next.

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 Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

About the Author

Vicki Delany (Eva Gates) is one of Canada’s most prolific and varied crime writers and a national bestseller in the U.S. She has written more than thirty books: clever cozies to Gothic thrillers to gritty police procedurals, to historical fiction, and novellas for adult literacy. She is currently writing four cozy mystery series: the Tea By The Sea mysteries for Kensington, the Year Round Christmas mysteries for Penguin Random House, the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series, and, as Eva Gates, the Lighthouse Library books for Crooked Lane.

Vicki is a past president of the Crime Writers of Canada and co-founder and organizer of the Women Killing It crime writing festival. She lives in Prince Edward County, Ontario.

Author Links –
Visit Vicki at www.vickidelany.com.
On Facebook at www.facebook.com/evagatesauthor.
Twitter @vickidelany@evagatesauthor
Instagram: vickidelany

Thanks to the publisher, I have 1 hardcover copy to give away!

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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 Whose Body in the Library: A Lighthouse Library Mystery by Eva Gates #Review / #Giveaway @crookedlanebks @evagatesauthor appeared first on Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book - Great Escapes Book Tours .

The first in a brand new, multi-generational cozy mystery series introduces three generations of strong, no-nonsense women who head the Holbrook family seafood dynasty in Downeast Maine…and a murder the Holbrook matriarch and her granddaughter must solve, even as it entangles them in a web of small-town secrets, and a Hatfields and McCoys-level chowder rivalry.

Ever since Halibut Cove’s popular eatery, The Chowder House, started serving matriarch Maggie Holbrook’s famous clam chowder it’s been in high demand. Cooked up at the restaurant by Maggie’s ambitious 19-year-old granddaughter, Audrey, the dish even has a regular nightly customer, retiree Chips Hogan. . . . Until one fateful Sunday night.

After serving Chips his chowder, Audrey rushes off to Maggie’s hilltop home for the weekly family dinner with the rest of the Holbrooks—her three uncles, and her mom, Jill. But before the meal’s end, Jill, a police chief, gets an alarming call. Chips has been found in the street—dead. Jill races out to investigate . . . and is shocked to learn Chips’ chowder was poisoned.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Chips Hogan arrives at The Chowder House nightly, usually the last customer, adamant about ending his day with a cup of  Maggie Holbrook’s famous clam chowder. These days, it is Maggie’s granddaughter, Audrey, who is doing the cooking at the popular eatery. Audrey didn’t stick around long because her presence is required at the weekly family dinners. But before the dinner is complete, when her mom and police chief, Jill, receives a call telling her Chip Hogan is dead. Her investigation shows that Chip’s famous cup of chowder contained poison.

How could that be? Many had eaten that day, and no one reported any issues with their meals. Someone targeted Chip, but how did that poison get into Chip’s chowder? Audrey and Maggie are going to find who tampered with Chip’s chowder and how. If they don’t, it could spell the end of The Chowder House, and one could end up serving time for a crime they didn’t commit.

Launching a new series is never easy, especially when it comes with a large cast of characters, and that is true even for an experienced cozy mystery author like Lee Hollis. Maggie Holbrook (Nana) is the family matriarch. Her oldest son, Oliver, is a defense attorney and quite a storyteller, and he is married to Katie, a nurse at the local hospital. Her middle son, Cord, and youngest son, Sandy, work together on a lobster boat. Cord has just become engaged to Phoebe Barker. Sandy is a handsome young man whose sexuality may be a secret to some at first, but becomes clear to the people who mattered in this story. Maggie’s daughter, Jill, is the chief of police, and Jill’s daughter, Audrey, works at The Chowder House. Every member of the family arrives with a backstory, and each has connections within the community that help build out the supporting cast. While I didn’t feel especially close to any one character yet, the groundwork is clearly there for them to deepen as the series continues.

Along with plenty of family drama, there are two mysteries woven through the pages of The Chowder House Murder. In addition to Chip Hogan’s murder, a cold case resurfaces and adds another layer to the story. Chip’s murder is somewhat intricate, but the clues are planted early enough for attentive readers to start piecing things together. The cold case takes a little more patience, especially as Audrey pushes for long-buried truths to come to light. What I enjoyed most was watching the three generations of women—Maggie, Jill, and Audrey—work in tandem to unravel both mysteries, even while Jill keeps insisting the professionals should handle it.

The Chowder House Murder lays a solid foundation for this new series. With three strong women, the story has an interesting dynamic to build on. Because the core cast is so large, I think a character list at the beginning of the book would be a smart addition and would make it easier for readers to settle into the story. Halibut Cove feels like the kind of setting that could easily support a long-running mystery series, and I am curious to see where Lee Hollis takes these characters next.

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 Kensington Cozies and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

About the Author

The post The Chowder House Murder (A Downeast Maine Mystery) by Lee Hollis #Review #Giveaway @KensingtonBooks @leehollisauthor 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 Connecticut and Illinois!

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

Escapes Completed

The Chowder House Murder (A Downeast Maine Mystery)
by Lee Hollis
Release Date – May 26, 2026
Setting – Maine
My Review will be up tomorrow!

Whose Body in the Library: A Lighthouse Library Mystery
by Eva Gates
Release Date – June 9, 2026
Setting – North Carolina
I will feature this book this week on Cozy Wednesday!

Safari Murder Party
by Rachel Moore
Release Date – May 19, 2026
Setting – Private Island
My Review will be up on Thursday!

Scheduled Escapes

A Cultivated Corpse (A Food Blogger Mystery)
by Debra Sennefelder
Release Date – June 16, 2026
Setting – Connecticut
The Great Escapes Book Tour stops here next week for Cozy Wednesday.

The Case of the Missing Maid (Harriet Morrow Investigates)
by Rob Osler
Release Date – December 24, 2024
Setting – Illinois
My #FlashbackFriday Read

Possible Future Escapes

June 7 – 13, 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. Thank you for supporting Escape With Dollycas.

The post My Reading Itinerary Monday! – Week #24 – 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!

Last Sunday was a huge day for our family. Kaden graduated from high school. Tears were flowing as I watched him walk across the same stage I did 47 years ago and 51 years after Mr. Dollycas did. I had the perfect seat to see him walk in; that’s when the tears started. There wasn’t a bad seat in the entire gym. This class of 2026 had 86 members. I love how the processional in is measured and slow, and the recessional out is pretty darn quick.

The class song was the ideal graduation anthem-
Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield.

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten

We are all so proud of Kaden and excited for what the future will bring.

Thomas played on Thursday night. He’s an old pro at this now. He played 2nd and 3rd base.

This week will again be full of sports; I love that!!!

Weekly Rewind – June 1 – 6, 2026

Monday – My Reading Itinerary Monday! – Week #23 – 2026

Tuesday – Death by Chocolate Ladyfingers (A Death by Chocolate Mystery) by Sarah Graves #Review #ARCGiveaway – @KensingtonBooks @SarahGraves2011

Wednesday – Cozy Wednesday featuring Sconed to Death (A Crochet and Crumpets Mystery) by Betty Hechtman #Review #Giveaway #GreatEscapesBookTour @bettyhechtmanauthor

Thursday – Dolly All the Time: A GMA Book Club Pick by Annabel Monaghan #Review @annabelmonaghan @penguinusa

Friday – A Necessary Death by Terri Karsten #Spotlight #Giveaway #GreatEscapesBookTour @terrikarsten

Plus – Second Act (Later in Life Love Stories) by Diana Xarissa #Review #Giveaway

Saturday – Death of an Antiquarian: A Mia Reid, Archaeologist, Mystery by Rose Kerr #Spotlight #Giveaway #GreatEscapesBookTour @RoseKerrAuthor

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 .

I am delighted to shine the spotlight on
Death of an Antiquarian: A Mia Reid, Archaeologist, Mystery

About Death of an Antiquarian

Death of an Antiquarian: A Mia Reid, Archaeologist, Mystery
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Lakeview City, Ontario, Canada (loosely based on Toronto, Canada)
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Level Best Books
Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 16, 2025
Print length ‏ : ‎ 242 pages
Paperback
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8898201159
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0GHSW122X

When archaeologist Dr. Mia Reid takes a contract position at the Lakeview City Museum, she expects artifacts, exhibitions, and research notes, not murder. The death of a local antique dealer, with unexpected ties to artifact smuggling, draws Mia into a dangerous mystery.

As chatter of an international smuggling ring surfaces, Mia and Luke race to uncover the truth. The stakes rise when threats reach her—and her beloved grandmother.

With lives in jeopardy and artifacts at risk of vanishing forever into the black market, Mia must use all her skills to piece together the puzzle. Can she expose a killer before the next artifact or person disappears?

Great Escapes Praise for Death of an Antiquarian: A Mia Reid, Archaeologist, Mystery
by Rose Kerr

Rating
This was such an engaging cozy mystery, and I really enjoyed following Mia Reid through this adventure. The mix of archaeology, museum work, and crime gave the story a fresh angle that stood out from other cozies I’ve read.
~bibliophile_foodie

I wanted to read Death of an Antiquarian because I have a lifelong interest in antiques. The mystery aspect of this book was well done, with strong suspects and some unexpected plot twists. I enjoyed this read and look forward to future books in the series!
~View from the Birdhouse

About Rose Kerr

Retired in Southern Ontario with her husband, Rose spends her days crafting mysteries featuring strong, smart women who use their resourcefulness to solve crimes. When she’s not writing, she enjoys discovering the hidden gems of the region and indulging her lifelong curiosity.

Author Links
Website    Facebook    Instagram     Pinterest     Goodreads     Amazon Author Central Page  

Purchase Links:

TOUR PARTICIPANTS – Please visit all the stops. 
June 1 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST
June 1 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT
June 2 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
June 2 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – AUTHOR GUEST POST
June 3 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT
June 3 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – SPOTLIGHT
June 4 – @bibliophile_foodie – REVIEW
June 4 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT 
June 5 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW
June 6 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
June 6 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book -SPOTLIGHT
June 7 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
June 8 – Sarandipity’s – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
June 8 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW
June 9 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR GUEST POST
June 10 – Salty Inspirations – CHARACTER GUEST POST
June 10 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
June 11 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER INTERVIEW</strong
June 12 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
June 12 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – AUTHOR GUEST POST

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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 Death of an Antiquarian: A Mia Reid, Archaeologist, Mystery by Rose Kerr #Spotlight #Giveaway #GreatEscapesBookTour @RoseKerrAuthor appeared first on Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book - Great Escapes Book Tours .

A Murder and Maggie MacGill
Cozy Mystery
Stand Alone
Setting – A small southern mountain town called Wrenhaven, Tennessee.
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Wild Rose Press
Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 27, 2025
Print length ‏ : ‎ 296 pages
Paperback
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1509262296
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1509262298
Digital
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0FC238LWX

When elementary art teacher Maggie MacGill finds the richest, most despised woman in town dead, then inherits her estate, life in the sweet mountain town of Wrenhaven, Tennessee, takes a greased ride downhill.

No one knows why Mrs. Grayson left her fortune to Maggie, but once her death begins to look like murder, and a series of unexplained pranks directed at the MacGill family turn nasty, Maggie must untangle a web of secrets and discover who has it in for her before it’s too late. Even if it means accepting help from the victim’s grandson, a man she’s loathed since high school but whose devastating grin and quick wit can still make her heart race.

Author Links
Website      Facebook       Twitter/X      Bluesky
Author Central on Amazon

Purchase Links
Amazon​      Barnes & Noble      Kobo

Also Written by Rebecca Lee Smith

Click on the covers for more information or to order from Amazon.

1/15/2026

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

The post Rebecca Lee Smith appeared first on Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book - Great Escapes Book Tours .

A Scoop of Deceit (Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
7th in Series
Setting – New York
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Gemma Halliday Publishing
Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 10, 2026
Print length ‏ : ‎ 195 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8250374026
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0GHZMWLBV

From author Lena Gregory comes another decadently delightful cozy mystery …

Spring has finally sprung on the south shore of eastern Long Island, New York, and Danika Delaney is ready to take a break from running her old-fashioned malt shop, the Coffee & Cream Café, to help her mom start planting for the season. With visions of colorful tulips and delicate daffodils in mind, Danika and her mother browse through the local garden center, where they can’t help but notice a confrontation between out-of-towner Sebastian Krane and the local cashier. Unfortunately, as Krane storms off, aggravated and not paying attention, he hops into his BMW, and crashes right into Mrs. Delaney as she’s backing up in her borrowed pickup truck.

As if that weren’t enough to put a damper on her sunny mood, Krane then has the nerve to file a lawsuit against her. But when Dani shows up at his mansion to try to straighten things out, she finds him dead, with a knife in his back. Apparently, someone had it out for Sebastian. Someone other than her mother. A fact Dani sets out to prove with the help of her sidekicks, Gwen and Eli, wading through a slew of shady suspects from the victim’s stormy past. Can Dani clear her mother’s name and find the truth behind Krane’s murder? Or will Dani be in danger of pushing up daisies herself this spring?

Author Links
Newsletter    Website    Facebook    Facebook Fan Page    Twitter (X)    Goodreads    Pinterest

Purchase Links
Amazon – Barnes & Noble 

The Rest of the Series

Also Written By Lena Gregory

Find More Books By Lena Gregory Here.

Click on the covers for more information or to order from Amazon.

6/30/2026

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

The post Lena Gregory – Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries appeared first on Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book - Great Escapes Book Tours .

The Whipped and Sipped Cozy Mystery Series 
Battered: A Whipped and Sipped Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Illinois
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Anamcara Press LLC
Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 10, 2025
Print length ‏ : ‎ 284 pages
Paperback
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1960462695
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1960462695
Digital
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1960462701
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0FQJTGGLJ
Audiobook
ASIN B07Z8XLRBL

Alene Baron has built more than a café—she’s built a community. At Whipped & Sipped, customers linger over Ruthie’s decadent-but-healthy desserts, children flock to Saturday story hour, and knitting groups craft blankets for refugee families. Alene prides herself on knowing her patrons so well she can often place “a wholegrain blueberry muffin on the counter before the customer themselves knew” they wanted it.

But when her neighbor and close friend is murdered, Alene’s cozy world begins to unravel. Suddenly, everyone she knows could be a suspect, and she starts noticing the smallest inconsistencies, furtive glances, and unexplained comings and goings around the café. With each clue and misstep, Alene pieces together a tangled web of secrets, realizing that danger may be closer than she ever imagined—and that her own family could be in the killer’s sights.

With her sharp eye for detail, wry sense of humor, and fierce devotion to her children, Alene steps into the role of amateur sleuth. But in a community where tempers flare over hot chocolate, grudges linger for years, and secrets hide beneath friendly smiles, finding the killer may prove harder than whipping up the perfect soufflé.

Battered, the first in G.P. Gottlieb’s Whipped and Sipped Mystery Series, is a delectable blend of mouthwatering recipes, quirky neighborhood drama, and page-turning suspense. Perfect for fans of culinary cozies, it’s a tale where friendship, food, and murder are always on the menu.

Smothered: A Whipped and Sipped Mystery
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Illinois
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Anamcara Press LLC
Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 30, 2026
Print length ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
Paperback
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1960462792
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1960462794
Digital
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1960462800
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0GKNS2QY5

Murder is on the menu—served warm with muffins and lattes.

In the second Whipped and Sipped Mystery, café owner Alene Baron isn’t exactly grieving when the neighboring business owner is found dead in his office. Stanley Huff was shady, sloppy, and smug about his dubious food supplements—and his watery smoothies didn’t help. He also never cleaned up his trash in their shared alley. Stanley had plenty of enemies. Unfortunately, one of them may be Alene’s own employee—who has now vanished.

The real surprise isn’t who wanted him dead—it’s how many people did. Drawn into the investigation, caterer and reluctant sleuth Alene uncovers a snarl of family drama involving a missing will, bitter heirs, and long-buried financial secrets. Every lead contradicts the last, red herrings pile up, and resentments simmer just beneath the surface.

As the mystery deepens, Alene juggles more than suspects. Between running her café, caring for her family, and protecting her staff, she finds herself relying on sharp instincts, quiet observation, and a steady supply of inventive vegan dishes. Food and detection go hand in hand, adding warmth, humor, and heart to every turn of the case.
With its cozy charm and relatable heroine, Smothered is more than a clever whodunit. It explores family ties, the corrosive pull of greed, and the small truths people reveal under pressure. Rich in character, culinary flair, and emotional insight, this mystery delivers satisfying twists—and leaves a lasting aftertaste.

Charred: A Whipped and Sipped Mystery
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – Illinois
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Anamcara Press LLC
Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 30, 2026
Print length ‏ : ‎ 250 pages
Digital
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1960462831
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0GQ1PY589

At the Whipped and Sipped Café, Alene Baron knows how to handle a kitchen fire—but this blaze may burn far beyond her control.

When a suspicious fire draws Alene, her loyal friend Kacey, and Kacey’s boyfriend Kofi to a charred property in search of salvaged wood, they expect nothing more than a little trespassing and a lot of soot. Instead, whispers of arson swirl through their tight-knit community—and before long, a body turns up amid the ashes.

Kofi fears the police will come knocking. Kacey fears someone saw them. And Alene is caught in the middle, torn between protecting the people she loves and telling the truth to her partner, homicide detective Frank. Shaw, because in this town, secrets don’t stay buried. They smolder.

Author Links
Website     Bluesky     Facebook     Instagram     Medium.com     Substack

Purchase Links

BATTERED  Bookshop.Org, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple, Kobo, Smashwords, Thalia, Fable, Palace Marketplace, Vivlio, or Everand

SMOTHERED Bookshop.Org  Amazon   Barnes & Noble   Apple    Kobo   Smashwords  Thalia  Fable   Vivlio 

CHARRED Bookshop.Org    Amazon   Barnes & Noble   Apple    Kobo   Smashwords  Thalia  Fable   Vivlio 

Click on the covers for more information or to order from Amazon.
6/5/2026

The post G.P. Gottlieb 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.

This book and the book I reviewed yesterday, Dolly All the Way, have a similar theme. 

Second Act (Later in Life Love Stories)
Contemporary Romance
2nd in Series
Setting – New York
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently Published
Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 31, 2020
Print length ‏ : ‎ 194 pages
Paperback
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8624547643
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B089CSNGXX
Kindle
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B085BRGC96

Welcome to Ramsey, New York – a small town full of characters. Some are looking for love, some most definitely are not. Sooner or later, everyone finds his or her happily ever after.

Terri Briggs is happily divorced. She and her ex-husband get along reasonably well as they work together to raise their son, Thomas.

Lucas Hogan owns businesses all over the world, including several in Ramsey. He’s never visited the small town, though.

When Lucas does pay a surprise visit to Ramsey, he has a shocking proposition for Terri. His dying mother wants to see him happily married before she dies, and he’s prepared to pay Terri for her time if she’ll pretend to be his fiancée for a few weeks.

Although Terri hates the idea of living a lie, Lucas insists that it’s just a bit of harmless play-acting for a good cause. She reluctantly agrees and the Ramsey Harvest Festival gives them plenty of opportunities to be together. When Terri finds herself falling for Lucas, though, she starts to regret her decision.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Lucas Hogan is a very successful businessman. He owns a few places in Ramsey, but this is his first visit to the town. His dying mother has just one request; she wants to see him happily married.

School teacher, Terri Briggs, has an amicable divorce, and she and her ex-husband are successfully co-parenting their teenage son, Thomas.

Lucas notices Terri dining at one of his restaurants and comes over to say hello. Terri and her friend Camille sing the praises of their friend, Chef Douglas Holloway. Lucas and Terri visit a bit, but she never expected his unusual proposal. She considers and hesitantly accepts, but when she starts to have actual feelings for him, she is worried she has made a big mistake.

This is the second book in the Later in Life Love Stories Series. I enjoyed it as much as the first.

Lucas and Terri are mature adults, but he lives and works in a world she can’t even imagine. His mother is quite a manipulator, and that adds drama to the situation. Terri had been challenged by her friend Camille, featured in the first book, Second Chances, to register on a dating app. She went on some awful dates, which cemented the fact that there are not many good men out there who want to date a woman her age. So why not have a pretend relationship and maybe have a little fun?

Second Act was a quick and entertaining read with the happy ending you know is coming from this genre. I enjoy how Ms. Xarissa writes her stories. Readers jump into the characters’ lives at a pivotal time and enjoy a speedy romance that can change their lives.

I am looking forward to Book 3, Second Thoughts.

*This book is from my private collection. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

About Diana Xarissa

The post Second Act (Later in Life Love Stories) by Diana Xarissa #Review #Giveaway appeared first on Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book - Great Escapes Book Tours .