Contemporary Authors

• Death by Chocolate Lab Kensington (New York, NY), 2017

1. Death by chocolate lab LCCN 2016364353 Type of material Book Personal name Blake, Bethany. Main title Death by chocolate lab / Bethany Blake. Edition First Kensington mass market edition. Published/Produced New York, New York : Kensington Publishing Corp., 2017. Description 343 pages ; 18 cm. ISBN 9781496707383 1496707389 CALL NUMBER CPB Box no. 4178 vol. 1 Copyright Pbk Coll Copy 1 Request in Rare Book/Special Collections Reading Room (Jefferson LJ239)

• A Midwinter's Tail - 2018 Kensington, New York
• Pawprints & Predicaments - 2018 Kennebec Large Print, Augusta
• Dial Meow For Murder - 2018 Kennebec Large Print, Augusta

• Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Bethany%20Blake/e/B01MS3Z7KV/ref=la_B01MS3Z7KV_st?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_82%3AB01MS3Z7KV&qid=1524704897&sort=date-desc-rank

  Bethany Blake lives in a small, quaint town in Pennsylvania with her husband and three daughters. When she's not writing, cooking for pets and people or riding horses, she's wrangling a menagerie of furry family members that includes a nervous pit bull, a fearsome feline, a blind goldfish, and an attack cardinal named Robert. Like Daphne Templeton, the heroine of her Lucky Paws Mysteries, Bethany holds a Ph.D. and operates a pet sitting business called Barkley's Premium Pet Care.

• Bethany Blake - http://www.bethanyblakeauthor.com/blog/

  Let Me Introduce Myself...
  January 03, 2017
  Hi, and thanks for visiting my blog! I thought I'd take a minute to introduce myself. I've been reading mysteries since I was a kid, and I had a shelf full of Nancy Drew books with the iconic yellow covers. I'm pretty sure I read every novel published in the series between 1970 and 1980. (You can probably guess my age if you think about it... Okay, I'm 51.) Here's my picture:

  I've been a writer my entire professional life. Some of you sleuths might recognize me as an author with a different name. I will let you track that down, if you're interested. We share a love of mysteries, right??

  I live in an incredibly cute town that serves as the inspiration for Sylvan Creek in my Lucky Paws Petsitting books. In fact, I lived in the apartment that character Moxie Bloom "inhabits" in the novels. This photo doesn't do the place justice, but here you go:

  Like my character Daphne Templeton, I have a Ph.D., but I never use it. When I'm not writing, I run a pet sitting business called Barkley's. And, like Daphne's mother, my mom begs me to do something different. But I love hanging out with animals - especially my dog Big Pup and my cat Potpie.

  Whoa. Don't know why they are so big, but I can't seem to fix that!

  I also have three daughters, one of whom shares my love of horseback riding. And we all love to cook and eat. And eat. And eat. My daughter Julia's first word was "french fry."

  That's a little bit about me. I really look forward to getting to know some of you. Please share your favorite recipes, stop by to chat about books, and look for my upcoming interactive "You Dunnit" event. Details to come, but I think it's going to be really fun. And there will be prizes!

• Cozy Experience blog - https://cozyexperience.com/author-chat-bethany-blake/

  Author Chat with Bethany Blake
  I love the all the animals and their personalities!

  I can’t wait for the next book to come out!

  You really know what your readers want!

  This was just some of the chatter to come out of our recent Cozy Experience Book Club Discussion Group with Bethany Blake. Bethany was kind enough to stop by our Facebook Group for a chat.

  I’m happy to be able to share some of her thoughts and insights from the discussion with all of you today.

  Cozy mysteries were not the first genre of book you have authored. Can you tell us a little bit about what attracted you to writing cozy mysteries and how the writing process is for you?
  I was writing young adult novels, but I have always LOVED cozies. I always wanted to create a world full of the stuff I loved – quirky characters, pets, good food, quaint towns – that I could go to again and again. So I ignored my agent’s advice and wrote my first cozy. I’m so happy every time I sit down and visit Sylvan Creek!

  Tell us a little about the inspiration for Daphne and the Lucky Petsitting Mystery Series?
  I used to have a small pet sitting business called Barkley’s, and I have a Ph.D. that I never used. I just thought a pet sitter would make a good detective. Sometimes you see things you don’t want to see!

  Do you have a favorite dog breed?
  Mutts! I have a pittie mix right now.

  What is your writing schedule like? How much do you write a day?
  I try to write a chapter a day, complete with research.

  What is your favorite junk food?
  French fries, no doubt!

  What is on the horizon For Daphnie and the Lucky Petsitting Mystery Series? Do you have any other books coming out in 2017 in this series or others?
  I just signed on for three more books – six total – in the Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery Series. Dial Meow for Murder is out at the end of September. One called Paw Prints & Predicaments comes out this spring, followed by a holiday book called A Winter’s Tale.

  I’m also starting a new series. The first book is A Brushstroke with Death.

  Thank you to Bethany for being a great featured author this month. Keep up with Bethany on her website, Facebook Page, and Twitter.

  Have you read any of Bethany Blake’s books? Are you looking forward to the next Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery coming out soon?
  August 31, 2017 by Marie @ A Cozy Experience
  Category: Author Interviews.

4/25/2018 General OneFile - Saved Articles
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Print Marked Items
Blake, Bethany: DIAL MEOW FOR
MURDER
Kirkus Reviews.
(Aug. 15, 2017):
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Blake, Bethany DIAL MEOW FOR MURDER Kensington (Adult Fiction) $7.99 9, 26 ISBN: 978-1-4967-
0740-6
A petsitter is saddled with a troublesome Persian while trying to solve the mystery of his murdered
owner.Sylvan Creek petsitter Daphne Templeton is battening down the hatches to take care of wealthy
Lillian Flynt's pride and joy, a Persian cat. Budgely's Sir Peridot Tinkleston, known simply as Tinkleston,
has an attitude unbecoming his pedigree. Daphne's gifted with pets, however, and she's certain she can tame
the spoiled feline when she visits him in Flynt Mansion. She's taken by surprise when the house, which
she'd been told would be empty, is being shown by her realtor mother to Elyse Hunter-Black, the out-oftown
ex of Daphne's friend and local police officer Jonathan Black. As she confides in her friend Moxie,
Daphne's almost as surprised to hear of Elyse's interest in the property as she is to learn that Elyse kept her
ex-husband's last name. There's barely time for Daphne to adjust to thinking about Elyse's move back to
town and her relationship with Jonathan before she discovers that Lillian hasn't gone away as reported but
has instead been murdered. As her incredulous mother berates her for finding yet another body (Death by
Chocolate Lab, 2017), Daphne effortlessly switches gears from petsitter to amateur sleuth, reviewing her
ideas about motive (most obviously money) with Moxie. Her leading suspect is her former high school
classmate Tamara Fox, whose recent friendship with Pastor Pete and his potentially disreputable church
dealings provide ample motive. With her canine companion, Socrates, at her side, Daphne searches for a
murderer while trying to tame Tinkleston.Though Blake doesn't stand out in the genre, she gamely ties
together bits of mystery, romance, scandal, dogs, cats, and pet-friendly recipes in a story that covers all the
bases.
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Blake, Bethany: DIAL MEOW FOR MURDER." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Aug. 2017. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A500364993/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=9acf6ffd.
Accessed 25 Apr. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A500364993

"Blake, Bethany: DIAL MEOW FOR MURDER." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Aug. 2017. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A500364993/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF. Accessed 25 Apr. 2018.

• Bibliophile Reviews
  https://bibliophile.reviews/book-review/cozy/death-chocolate-lab
  Word count: 1180

  Death by Chocolate Lab

  Author: Bethany Blake
  Publisher: Penguin Random House Publisher Services
  Print Length: 304 pages
  Release Date: February 28, 2017
  I Rate it:

  Genre: Cozy
  Purchase on Amazon
  Book Summary
  Pet sitter Daphne Templeton has a soft spot for every stray and misfit who wanders into the quaint, lakeside village of Sylvan Creek. But even Daphne doesn’t like arrogant, womanizing Steve Beamus, the controversial owner of Blue Ribbon K-9 Academy. When Steve turns up dead during a dog agility trial, Daphne can think of a long list of people with motives for homicide, and so can the police. Unfortunately, at the top of the list is Daphne’s sister, Piper—Steve’s latest wronged girlfriend.
  Certain that Piper is innocent, in spite of mounting evidence to the contrary, Daphne sets out to clear her sister’s name—and find Axis, Steve’s prize-winning chocolate Labrador, who went missing the night of Steve’s death. Aided by Socrates, her taciturn basset hound, and a hyperactive one-eared Chihuahua named Artie, Daphne quickly runs afoul of Detective Jonathan Black, a handsome and enigmatic newcomer to town, who has no appreciation for Daphne’s unorthodox sleuthing.
  Can a free-spirited pet sitter, armed only with a Ph.D. in Philosophy and her two incompatible dogs, find the real killer before she becomes the next victim?
  Includes recipes for homemade dog treats!

  About The Author
  Bethany Blake lives in a small, quaint town in Pennsylvania with her husband and three daughters. When she's not writing, cooking for pets and people or riding horses, she's wrangling a menagerie of furry family members that includes a nervous pit bull, a fearsome feline, a blind goldfish, and an attack cardinal named Robert. Like Daphne Templeton, the heroine of her Lucky Paws Mysteries, Bethany holds a Ph.D. and operates a pet sitting business called Barkley's Premium Pet Care.

  Book Review by Bree Herron
  This murder is going to the dog trial, and it is gonna be so good! Rottweilers, Labs, Bassets, and an Artie (hybrid breed) oh my, the cuteness of the dogs will make you want a drooling friend next to you while reading this book.
  Death by Chocolate Lab, is the best first in a new series of 2017. I am calling it now. Others may tie or come in a close second but I am handing this book my award now. Now, I know you are probably asking “what is this gal saying, it is only March’ but trust me I will give my top three reasons to love this book, then it is in your capable hands to go forth and read. Now my reasons are specific but this book overall as a mystery was wow. The ending and the actual killer shocked me, truly shocked me. I had to go back and think if I had seen some clues, and there were but they were so fabulously entwined with the other goings on that I didn’t really give them a second thought. Seriously, the next book can’t get to my shelf or kindle fast enough!
  Pet Sitter or Dog Walker- No matter the way you look at it Daphne is fun, and I am eager to hear more about her back stories (I could see a novella about this). She was such a stubborn sleuth that I was laughing out loud at moments (almost snorted a time or two) of her interaction with the smoldering detective. Daphne also is that friend/sister that you would want in your life if you are down or having a rough day. She had this aurora (green) about her that made this reader feel all relaxed reading her story. Her passion for animals made me feel like, Bethany made Daphne after myself, and I think any animal lover could say the same.
  The animals- Now my dog that I would say is an Artie breed, certainly has his parts. But it’s the character that is in Asher that makes him an Artie. Artie was so adorable. That is the only word that describes this rough to look at pup. Socrates is the basset hound and LOL, I swore he had feline tendency (Socrates take it as a compliment buddy) with his larger than life opinions. Now there are plenty of other pups in the story, and you will love them all, drool and unique names.
  Detective Black- Sizzle, sizzle, smoldering look. I mean he is a professional policeman with charming and oh he was hot. Okay, I can’t be a mature writer with fancy words, when this character is my fictional boyfriend. Just trust me, single gals you will WANT him. Daphne drove him bonkers (hey, I think I would have too) but he took it and gave mental eye rolls.
  Even though I can only give five stars, this book is easily eight paws and two hands up!
  Now that you know my reasons, what reasons will you find to love this book?
  I Rate it

  Leave Bethany a question or a comment about her work!
  **DISCLAIMER: I was provided an opportunity to read this book as an Advanced Reader Copy in return for a fair and honest review.
  Giveaway
  A great chance for you to win this book is being hosted by the tour, click here for your way to enter!
  Here is two ways to get entries with my blog:
  Leave a comment, and then hop to Facebook and visit the page! Now you have completed two parts and are on your way for your chance to win! Don’t forget to copy and paste the blogs name into the entries!
  Purchase "Death by Chocolate Lab" on Amazon

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  4 Comments

  Bethany Blake
  on March 13, 2017 at 6:23 am
  Thank you for the wonderful review! I’m so glad you enjoyed the book!
  Reply

  Ashley Montgomery
  on March 13, 2017 at 3:21 pm
  This one is already or my TBR but your review makes me want to read it even more. So glad you thought so highly of this one.
  Reply

  Candace knight
  on March 13, 2017 at 9:13 pm
  This sounds like a great book. I love the dogs on the cover.
  Reply

  Tari Hann
  on March 14, 2017 at 10:55 am
  This looks like an amazing book and a great new series!
  Reply
  Submit a Comment

• Fangirl Nation
  http://fangirlnation.com/2018/05/10/death-by-chocolate-lab-is-a-fun-mystery-with-dogs/
  Word count: 712

  “Death by Chocolate Lab” Is a Fun Mystery with Dogs
  May 10, 2018 Vicki Mejia-Gewe

  Daphne Templeton has a Ph.D. in philosophy and works as a pet sitter, living without rent with her veterinarian sister Piper in Death by Chocolate Lab by Bethany Blake. Piper once dated the arrogant Steve Beamus, who works as a dog trainer and has very few fans in their small town of Sylvan Creek. Piper has arranged for the local dog agility group to hold a competition at Winding Hill, the farm she owns, and the only one who owns the equipment is Steve, so late the night before the competition, Daphne observes Steve arrive with the materials and Piper greet him. Things start off cordially, but it doesn’t take long for Daphne to observe Piper storm off. Early the next morning, Piper is furious that Steve has disappeared without finishing setting up the equipment. As they get things organized at the last minute, Artie, the one-eared chihuahua Daphne rescued, goes into the tunnel and discovers the body of Steve.
  This murder leads to the introduction to Daphne of Detective Jonathan Black, with whom Daphne develops a relationship fraught with romantic tension and intrigue. As Daphne snoops into the case, she keeps running into the detective and slowly gets to know the mysterious man. In addition, Archie, the one-eared chihuahua, decides that Jonathan would be the perfect master, but no matter what he does to try to draw the attention of his intended, Archie can’t seem to get any notice. On the other hand, Daphne’s own dog, the basset hound Socrates, remains inscrutable, living up to his name with lots of deep thinking and aloofness. The dogs almost never leave Daphne’s side and help her as she works on the case, especially since Piper becomes the prime suspect. Once Piper begins to look less guilty, Daphne would consider dropping things. However, she can’t locate Axis, Steve’s loyal chocolate lab, and begins to worry, especially after learning that Axis has Cushing’s Disease and requires daily medicine. The dogs become significant characters in the book and in the case, and a group of dogs ultimately are the ones to solve the murder.
  Death by Chocolate Lab proved to be a cute, fun book. I loved the ever- present dogs and the way that several come in and out of the book especially a trio of agility champion rottweilers named McDuff, Iago, and Hamlet and whose owner uses Shakespearean language in her commands to the dogs. The thoughtful Socrates and buoyant Archie provide a fun contrast with each other. It seems that cozy mysteries with animals contain mostly cats, and if they have dogs, the dogs are often not genuine characters like many of the books with cats. But in this book, the dogs serve as enjoyable characters, actually ones more enjoyable than the humans in the book.
  The plot and characters of this book are enjoyable and give a fun experience in listening to it. The details of the plot take interesting turns, which make the book come to life. The plot has some interesting details and twists, with good choices of suspects. However, I was not very happy with the selection of the murderer. I can’t explain further without giving away spoilers though. But I did really appreciate the characters in the book, some of whom felt like real friends. Others seemed less friendly.
  Elise Arsenault performs the audio edition of this book. She does a very good job of making this book seem realistic and full of genuine people and dogs. Her timing worked well and her expressions suited the subject matter effectively. I appreciate the job she did in making this book come alive.
  I really had a great experience listening to Death by Chocolate Lab. I loved the use of the dogs in the book as they help to solve the mystery, and I enjoyed getting to know Daphne. It was a really fun book, which I give five stars.
  To purchase this book for yourself, click here on Amazon.
  Review
  Reviewer Vicki Mejia-GeweReview Date 2018-05-10Reviewed Item Death by Chocolate Lab Author Rating

• Sapphyria's Books
  http://saphsbooks.blogspot.com/2018/03/book-review-dial-meow-for-murder-lucky.html
  Word count: 664

  Sapphyria's Books

  Thursday, March 1, 2018
  Book Review: Dial Meow for Murder (Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery, Book #2) by Bethany Blake #CozyMystery @bethanyblakeau1

  Dial Meow for Murder
  Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery, Book #2
  Bethany Blake

  Book Information:

  Print Length: 342 pages
  Publisher: Kensington
  Publication Date: September 26, 2017
  Sold by: Penguin Random House Publisher Services

  Amazon
  Goodreads

  About the Book:

  Even an experienced pet sitter like Daphne Templeton can be fooled by animal behavior: how can an adorably tiny fuzz ball named Tinkleston be capable of sudden flying leaps with cat claws bared? But human behavior remains even more mysterious, especially when Tinkleston s owner is murdered on the night of a gala fundraiser for Fur-ever Friends Pet Rescue.

  Accompanied by her unflappable basset hound, Socrates, Daphne plans to take charge of Tinks the Terror and leave the crime-solving to handsome detective Jonathan Black. But while luring the prickly Persian out of hiding, she uncovers clues that might take suspicion off her own mother. Maeve Templeton already has a reputation as a killer in real estate. How far would she go to bag Sylvan Creek s most coveted property, the Flynt Mansion?

  To expose the truth, Daphne finds herself donning a deranged clown costume on an autumnal adventure that might just be crazy enough to work if it doesn't get her killed.

  Includes recipes for homemade pet treats!

  Fur-Ever Friends Pet Rescue gala is being held at the Flynt Mansion this year. As the set-up work is being done inside and outside the mansion owned by Lillian Flynt, Lillian's prized cat, Tinkleston escapes. At the same time, Maeve Templeton, Daphne Templeton's real estate agent mother, is waiting on a potential buyer to arrive to view Flynt Mansion. After Daphne is delegated the cat catcher by her sister Piper, Daphne discovers more than just a cat who hisses and tries to get away - she finds Lillian Flynt dead in an upstairs bathroom.

  Daphne has assumed responsibility to care for Tinkleston and has decided after the previous murder investigation, to leave the murder-solving to Jonathan Black, resident hunky detective. Only, when Maeve is considered a suspect, Daphne can't just sit idly by while her mother is wrongly accused. Maeve Templeton may be many things but a murderer is not one of them!

  Dial Meow for Murder is a wonderful cozy mystery full of action, suspense, drama, and animals. I love Artie, the chihuahua Daphne rescued in book 1 and convinced Jonathan to adopt. He is such scene stealer. Tinks is a feisty cat with a cantankerous personality and Socrates is patient, especially concerning Daphne and her recent influx of foster animals (both in book 1 and book 2). Now on to the humans.

  Daphne is a wonderful character. She is snarky, compassionate, without too many cares in the world. Some may think she's a flake since her cell never works and she's never on time for anything, but she's a strong protagonist that doesn't live by the timeline of others. She even has a PhD in philosophy but doesn't use her degree. She's down-to-earth, kind, and gentle. She loves her pet sitting business and continues to prosper. The sparks between Daphne and Jonathan are still there in book 2 and the dynamics are not at all subtle.

  The book is engaging from the very beginning and kept me entertained throughout. There was never a dull moment and some of Daphne's antics had me smiling. The author's writing style is phenomenal. All dialogue was smooth, thought out, and conversational. The twists and turns kept me guessing all the way until the end.

  I was provided a review copy.

  My Rating:

  at 3:57 PM

  Labels: Bethany Blake, Book #2, Book Review, Cozy Mystery, Dial Meow for Murder, Kensington, Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery, Review

• My Interdimensional Chaos
  http://myinterdimensionalchaos.blogspot.com/2017/10/review-dial-meow-for-murder.html
  Word count: 439

  My Interdimensional Chaos

  Monday, October 9, 2017
  REVIEW: Dial Meow For Murder

  Dial Meow For Murder
  Author: Bethany Blake

  Daphne Templeton knows she's in for a bad night when she shows up to the annual gala fundraiser for Fur-Ever Friends Pet Rescue dressed as a witch....only to discover nobody else is dressed in Halloween costumes. The Flynt Mansion is elegantly decorated with twinkle lights, black chandeliers and jack o'lanterns. Everything is perfect for a great fundraiser to benefit charity....until Lillian Flynt's body is discovered. The eccentric woman has been electrocuted in an upstairs bathroom. The investigation into Lillian's death soon becomes a homicide investigation. Who killed the eccentric, wealthy old woman? The investigation turns up everything from old family secrets to a questionable local cat rescue. Daphne realizes she needs to discover the identity of the killer quickly....because someone is stalking her!

  I really enjoy this series! Dial Meow for Murder is the second book in the Lucky Paws Petsitting series. Daphne is a bit of an air-head about some things (her cell phone never works, she loses things, and she's never on time for anything....), but when it comes to amateur sleuthing, she's tops! She's a fun, feisty and intelligent main character. Former Navy Seal turned local detective Jonathan Black really wishes that Daphne would stop discovering dead bodies and meddling with investigations. Daphne's mother and sister also disapprove of her sleuthing. But Daphne is bound and determined to jump right into danger to solve a mystery!

  I like the pet sitter/baker theme of this series. Recipes for the Halloween pet treats mentioned in the story are included at the back of the book. The pet sitter theme doesn't overpower the mystery portion of the plot, but adds to it. Daphne's dog, Socrates, is a great side character! Not to mention Jonathan's one-eared chihuahua and lab dog, too! The mystery moved along at a nice pace, with plenty of twists, turns and surprises. The Halloween theme is nicely done as well. This book is definitely a fun, enjoyable autumn read! I loved the atmosphere of the dark, creepy, possibly haunted old Flynt Mansion. :)

  To find out more about Bethany Blake and her books, check out her website: http://www.bethanyblakeauthor.com/ A third book in the Lucky Paws series, Pawprints & Predicaments, will be coming out in spring 2018!! I can't wait!! :)

  **I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

  Posted by Juli at 6:34 AM

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