Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: Better Off Read
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S): Myers, Ann; Page, Nora
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE:
CITY: Colorado Springs
STATE: CO
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY:
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Married.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Ann Perramond is a writer based in Colorado Springs, CO. She writes under the pseudonyms, Ann Myers and Nora Page.
Bread of the Dead
As Myers, she has published novels in the “Santa Fe Cafe Mystery” series. The first book in this series is Bread of the Dead. In this volume, main character Rita Lafitte is introduced. Rita is a recent transplant to Santa Fe, NM and has been working at the Tres Amigas Cafe, owned by a woman named Flori. The Day of the Dead is approaching, and Flori is hoping to win the baking contest that falls on the holiday. Victor, Rita’s landlord, is also looking forward to the Day of the Dead and has been preparing objects in remembrance of his dead loved ones. Rita and Victor have become friends, and she is disturbed when Victor becomes involved in an argument with his neighbor. Soon after, Rita finds Victor dead. Though his death initially appears to be a suicide, Rita wonders if he was actually murdered. She investigates.
Debbie Wiley, reviewer on the Fresh Fiction website, remarked: “Bread of the Dead is a fun and tasty start to the “Santa Fe Café Mystery” series. Ann Myers creates memorable characters, from the oh-so-nosy Flori to the ex-husband Manny who needs his comeuppance, and places them in a lovely setting that just begs to be visited over and over again.” A critic on the Rainy Day Ramblings website suggested: “There is something so pleasant about curling up on a crisp, cool day with a book that features a mystery as well as comfort food. Bread of the Dead, is just one of those books. It has a good murder mystery as well as plenty of delicious, Southwestern comfort food.” The same critic added: “If you are a cozy mystery connoisseur, this is one you don’t want to miss. The murder mystery is well done. There are plenty of suspects and motives, leading up to the big reveal.” The critic continued: “The ending is fast and a bit chaotic, but everything draws to a satisfactory close.” The same critic concluded: “Bread for the Dead was a satisfying and delightful start to a new cozy mystery series.”
Cinco de Mayhem and Feliz Navidead
Cinco de Mayhem is the second installment in the series and finds Rita determined to prove her friend Linda innocent of murder. The kind and well-liked Linda has been accused of killing a man named Napoleon, a talented but prickly chef. The two had recently had an argument, and Linda’s food cart was the weapon used to kill him. Flori assists Rita in her quest to exonerate her friend. Page Traynor, contributor to the RT Book Reviews website, suggested: “Myers writes details of scenery, clothes and culture making them sound good enough to eat.” A writer on the Rainy Day Ramblings website commented: “Yes, it is a bit unbelievable, but still it is a cozy and it is fun.” The writer continued: “Cinco de Mayhem is a fun second installment in a light, cozy mystery series with terrific food and a wonderful setting.” The writer also stated: “The one thing that held this book back was that it featured many of the well worn tropes common to this genre. Still there is a lot to like, and it is worth reading if you are a fan of cozies. Not to mention, there are some terrific recipes to try at the end. I will certainly be continuing this series.”
In Feliz Navidead, Rita looks forward to a holiday visit from her mother and seeing Celia, her daughter, take part in a local play. However, when one of the actors in the play is found dead, Rita cannot resist investigating. A man playing Santa is first fingered as the suspect. However, Rita believes someone else may be responsible. She must stop the killer before he strikes again. A contributor to the Harlequin Junkie website suggested: “With a good dose of Southwestern flair, some fantastic sounding cuisine, and a murder mystery involving Santa and Satan—yep, you read that correctly—Feliz Navidead was a lively Christmas story worth reading.” The same contributor concluded: “If cozy mysteries are your thing, then Feliz Navidead will be sure to keep your attention and make you chuckle with its offbeat characters and their holiday antics.” Lelia Taylor, reviewer on the Buried Under Books website, commented: “Santa Fe is a lively and intriguing character itself and my years-long wish to visit is even stronger now. Besides getting a firm sense of setting and culture, the food in the Tres Amigas Café sounds divine and the author has very nicely included some scrumptious recipes.”
Better Off Read
Better Off Read finds Perramond writing under the Page pseudonym. This series opener introduces Cleo Watkins, an elderly librarian living in a small Georgia town. Cleo launches a mobile library called Words on Wheels in an effort to save the local library from being torn down. Soon after, a fellow book lover is killed, and Cleo’s best friend, Mary-Rose, becomes the lead suspect. Cleo determines to find the real murderer, even if it leads her into danger.
A Publishers Weekly reviewer described Better Off Read as a “funny, fast-paced series launch.” The same reviewer added: “Page pulls together all the elements needed to sustain a cozy series.” Kathy Martin, critic on the Inside of a Dog website, commented: “This was a fun cozy mystery filled with eccentric characters from the mayor who wants to make the town the bass fishing capitol of the universe to the beauty queen new deputy to the bank president’s second wife and battleax mother to the murder victim’s soon to be ex wife and many more. Even the pets are engaging.” A writer on the Cozy Mystery Book Reviews website remarked: “Better Off Read will keep the reader thoroughly engrossed with the murders, secrets, blackmailing, [and] grouchy old people you cannot help but laugh at.” The writer concluded: “Page has done an excellent job setting the stage for future ‘Bookmobile Mystery’ books.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Publishers Weekly, March 26, 2018, review of Better Off Read, p. 97.
ONLINE
Buried Under Books, https://cncbooksblog.wordpress.com/ (November 27, 2016), Lelia Taylor, review of Feliz Navidead.
Cozy Mystery Book Reviews, http://cozymysterybookreviews.blogspot.com/ (May 11, 2018), review of Better Off Read.
Fresh Fiction, http://freshfiction.com/ (October 29, 2015), Debbie Wiley, review of Bread of the Dead.
Harlequin Junkie, http://harlequinjunkie.com/ (December 26, 2016), review of Feliz Navidead.
Inside of a Dog, http://inside-dog.blogspot.com/ (April 28, 2018), Kathy Martin, review of Better Off Read.
Rainy Day Ramblings, http://www.rainydayramblings.com (October 5, 2015), review of Bread of the Dead; (March 30, 2016), review of Cinco de Mayhem.
RT Book Reviews, https://www.rtbookreviews.com/ (July 15, 2018), Page Traynor, review of Cinco de Mayhem.
Nora Page enjoys rainy weather, the perfect biscuit, and quiet evenings in with her husband and cat. You can often find her in the company of books. Stop by and visit Nora at www.novelmystery.com/, www.facebook.com/NoraPageAuthor/, or www.instagram.com/norapageauthor/
Ann Myers lives in Colorado with her husband and extra-large housecat, but like her main character, Rita, they all feel most at home in Santa Fe. Follow Ann’s New Mexican cooking, eating, travel, and writing adventures at https://www.facebook.com/AnnMyers.writer
QUOTED: "funny, fast-paced series launch."
"Page pulls together all the elements needed to sustain a cozy series."
Better Off Read: A Bookmobile Mystery
Publishers Weekly. 265.13 (Mar. 26, 2018): p97.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Better Off Read: A Bookmobile Mystery
Nora Page. Crooked Lane, $26.99 (336p) ISBN 978-1-68331-643-5
When septuagenarian librarian Cleo Watkins of Catalpa Springs, Ga., learns that the new mayor wants to close her storm-ravaged library to fund his highend fishing pier and floating casino, she takes matters into her own hands, in this funny, fast-paced series launch from the pseudonymous Page. Cleo sets out to rally support for saving the library in Words on Wheels, a yellow school bus turned mobile library. But when someone fatally bludgeons one of the library's major benefactors, an aficionado of true crime books, Cleo enlists the support of friends and family to keep her best friend, Mary-Rose Garland, and her 24-year-old grandson, Ollie, from being implicated in the crime. Page pulls together all the elements needed to sustain a cozy series: an eccentric cast of supporting characters, a potential suitor, a cat named Rhett, a quaint town, great food, and, most importantly, a dynamo of a lead in Cleo, who drives with a lead foot and refuses to back down from anything or anyone, including bullies and murderers. Agent: Christina Hogrebe, Jane Rotrosen Agency. (May)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Better Off Read: A Bookmobile Mystery." Publishers Weekly, 26 Mar. 2018, p. 97. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A532997144/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=e0b8008f. Accessed 15 July 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A532997144
QUOTED: "This was a fun cozy mystery filled with eccentric characters from the mayor who wants to make the town the bass fishing capitol of the universe to the beauty queen new deputy to the bank president's second wife and battleax mother to the murder victim's soon to be ex wife and many more. Even the pets are engaging."
Saturday, April 28, 2018
ARC Review: Better Off Read by Nora Page
Posted by Kathy Martin at 6:30 AM
Better Off Read
Author: Nora Page
Series: Bookmobile (Book 1)
Publication: Crooked Lane Books (May 8, 2018)
Description: When her best hope of saving her storm-damaged library is found murdered, senior librarian Cleo Watkins hits the road in her bookmobile in search of justice.
Septuagenarian librarian Cleo Watkins won’t be shushed when an upstart young mayor threatens to permanently shelve her tiny town’s storm-damaged library. She takes to her bookmobile, Words on Wheels, to collect allies and rally library support throughout Catalpa Springs, Georgia.
However, Cleo soon rolls into trouble. A major benefactor known for his eccentric DIY projects requests all available books on getting away with murder. He’s no Georgia peach, and Cleo wonders if she should worry about his plans. She knows she should when she discovers him bludgeoned and evidence points to her best friend, Mary-Rose Garland.
Sure of Mary-Rose’s innocence, Cleo applies her librarian’s sleuthing skills to the case, assisted by friends, family, and the dapper antiquarian bookseller everyone keeps calling her boyfriend. Evidence stacks up, but a killer is overdue to strike again. With lives and her library on the line, Cleo must shift into high gear to close the book on murder in Better Off Read, the charming Bookmobile series debut by Nora Page.
My Thoughts: When the progressive new mayor of Caltalpa Springs, Georgia, refuses to supply the funds to replace the roof on the historic public library, seventy-five-year-old librarian Cleo Watkins hops into her bookmobile to rally community support for the library. Her first stop is with Burford Krandall who is a local eccentric more known for making enemies than friends but a big supporter of the library.
Buford has a long-running feud with his next door neighbor and Cleo's best friend Mary Rose who runs a pancakes and pie shop. Buford has come up with an invention that he says is for bottling pure water but which has the effect of muddying the waters in Mary Rose's spring. When Buford is found bludgeoned to death and his machine sabotaged, Mary Rose is the prime suspect. But Cleo's grandson Ollie and his new girlfriend Whitney could also be involved since they have been hanging around the spring and acting suspiciously too.
Cleo is determined to clear her friend and her grandson's names and find the real murderer. Buford had been reading all sorts of books about how to commit murder and unsolved murders in the Southeast written by eccentric local author Priscilla Pawpaw who disappears shortly after Buford's murder making her a person of interest for Cleo too.
Between rallying support for her damaged library, investigating Buford's death, and building a new relationship with antiquarian bookseller Henry Lafayette, Cleo is busy and the murderer would like her out of his way.
This was a fun cozy mystery filled with eccentric characters from the mayor who wants to make the town the bass fishing capitol of the universe to the beauty queen new deputy to the bank president's second wife and battleax mother to the murder victim's soon to be ex wife and many more. Even the pets are engaging. Rhett Butler is Cleo's Persian cat who has recently had an encounter with burdocks which has resulted in him being partially shaved and left rather mangy looking. Mr. Chaucer is Henry's elderly pug and Kat Krandall-Stykes mastiff the size of a pony named Beast are also frequently mentioned characters.
I recommend this one for fans of cozy mysteries.
Favorite Quote:
Worrying is like a rocking chair. It kept your head moving but didn't get you anywhere.
I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.
QUOTED: "Better Off Read will keep the reader thoroughly engrossed with the murders, secrets, blackmailing, [and] grouchy old people you cannot help but laugh at."
"Page has done an excellent job setting the stage for future Bookmobile Mystery books."
Friday, 11 May 2018
Better Off Read (Bookmobile Mystery #1) by Nora Page
Better Off Read (Bookmobile Mystery #1)
When her best hope of saving her storm-damaged library is found murdered, senior librarian Cleo Watkins hits the road in her bookmobile in search of justice.
Septuagenarian librarian Cleo Watkins won’t be shushed when an upstart young mayor threatens to permanently shelve her tiny town’s storm-damaged library. She takes to her bookmobile, Words on Wheels, to collect allies and rally library support throughout Catalpa Springs, Georgia.
However, Cleo soon rolls into trouble. A major benefactor known for his eccentric DIY projects requests all available books on getting away with murder. He’s no Georgia peach, and Cleo wonders if she should worry about his plans. She knows she should when she discovers him bludgeoned and evidence points to her best friend, Mary-Rose Garland.
Sure of Mary-Rose’s innocence, Cleo applies her librarian’s sleuthing skills to the case, assisted by friends, family, and the dapper antiquarian bookseller everyone keeps calling her boyfriend. Evidence stacks up, but a killer is overdue to strike again. With lives and her library on the line, Cleo must shift into high gear to close the book on murder in Better Off Read, the charming Bookmobile series debut by Nora Page. (Summary via Goodreads)
I really thought I knew who the bad guy was. I was pretty certain I had it in the bag but Nora Page really tangled it up in Better Off Read. But hey I am not complaining at all !!
Better Off Read is a captivating page turner and Page has you falling in love with librarian Cleo Watkins, her cat, Rhett Butler, and the town of Catalpa Springs, Georgia...close to Florida but not too close for Cleo.
Even though Cleo should have retired already, her love and devotion of books keeps her young. And even though the library isn't open due to storm damage, she still has the bookmobile, Words on Wheels, to keep her busy. However, when a grouchity old neighbor is murdered and her grandson, Ollie, is the main suspect, Cleo will do whatever she can to prove his innocence.
Better Off Read will keep the reader thoroughly engrossed with the murders, secrets, blackmailing, grouchy old people you cannot help but laugh at, (we all know 1 or 2 in our own lives) the food, the relationships, dogs and a cat !!
Page has done an excellent job setting the stage for future Bookmobile Mystery books and I, for one, will have my library card at the ready.....
Review by Missi S.
QUOTED: "Myers writes details of scenery, clothes and culture making them sound good enough to eat."
CINCO DE MAYHEM
Image of Cinco de Mayhem: A Santa Fe Cafe Mystery (Santa Fe Café Mystery)
Author(s): Ann Myers
2016 – Amateur Sleuth nominee
The second of the Santa Fe Café Mystery series makes use of the very popular city and the cuisine it specializes in. The spread of ages among the continuing characters promises room for various plots and complications in future books. While the food descriptions are drool-worthy, Myers writes details of scenery, clothes and culture making them sound good enough to eat. Don’t miss this one.
Rita finds herself involved in another murder when her friend Linda is accused of murder. Linda is considered kind and sweet. But, when her food cart is found on the body of star chef Napoleon, she is accused of killing him. Napoleon was as disliked as much as Linda was liked. Since she confronted him in a loud public argument, then found his body the next morning, the police are sure they’ve found the murderer. Rita and Flori are determined to solve the mystery. (WILLIAM MORROW, Apr., 368 pp., $7.99)
Reviewed by:
Page Traynor
QUOTED: "Yes, it is a bit unbelievable, but still it is a cozy and it is fun."
"Cinco de Mayhem is a fun second installment in a light, cozy mystery series with terrific food and a wonderful setting."
"The one thing that held this book back was that it featured many of the well worn tropes common to this genre. Still there is a lot to like, and it is worth reading if you are a fan of cozies. Not to mention, there are some terrific recipes to try at the end. I will certainly be continuing this series."
03/30/2016
Review: Cinco de Mayhem(Santa Fe Cafe Mysteries #2) by Ann Myers
25858370
Margaritas, spicy guacamole—and murder—are among this year’s preparations for Cinco de Mayo in the second Santa Fe Café mystery novel.
Tres Amigas Café chef Rita Lafitte is busy baking her green chile soufflés and chocolate flans for Cinco de Mayo. If only her friend Linda, the daughter of Rita’s octogenarian boss Flori, could get into the festive spirit. Linda’s cart, Tia Tamales, is losing business to Crepe Empire, the hottest food cart in Santa Fe. Napoleon, Crepe Empire’s owner, is a pompous, celebrity chef who wants to squeeze out the competition.
But when Linda gets into a heated argument with Napoleon and his corpse is later found stabbed and pinned beneath the wheels of her tamale cart, she becomes the number one suspect.
Determined to prove Linda’s innocence, Rita investigates. From Napoleon’s disgruntled former employees to a shady health inspector, the list of suspects is longer than Flori’s strings of dried chili peppers. And when another corpse surfaces, Rita must scramble to find an elusive killer with an appetite for murder…
ebook, 368 pages
Published: March 29th 2016 by William Morrow
Source: Publisher
Buy4._V192207739_Goodreads-badge-add-plus
03half
Three and a half stars: A fun cozy mystery with terrific food, but it does follow the traditional cozy mystery recipe.
Rita tiptoes carefully around the kitchen of Tres Amigas, hoping that her latest soufflé won't fall while baking. Then her long time friend, Linda slams the oven door in frustration after she shoves in her trays of tamales, causing the soufflé to tumble. Linda isn't usually so wound up. It turns out, Linda is frustrated because the new French chef, Napoleon, is out to take her food cart spot and her business. Linda vows to fight back, but then Napoleon plays dirty, and Linda ends up hurling some insulting words at him before fleeing. The next day, Linda discovers Napoleon dead under her food cart. Of course, Linda is a prime suspect, but Rita and Flori know better. Soon Rita finds herself doing some covert spying in order to clear Linda's name. Who actually murdered the vile French Chef?
What I Liked:
Cinco de Mayhem is the second book in the Santa Fe Cafe Mystery series, and with this latest book, the series continues to prove to be light, fun and packed with delicious New Mexican food that will leave you craving peppers, tortillas bubbly with cheese, spicy meats and beans. I love the cozy cafe setting, and the food as well as the Santa Fe setting. This is a fun series.
Rita, the heroine, continues to be likable and believable in her role as a cafe cook and a amateur detective. She is funny and kind, and she manages to get herself into a couple of hilarious situations. I especially liked her efforts to jog. She is easy to relate to and lots of fun. Accompanying Rita with her covert activities are Flori and Addie. Flori is in her eighties, but she is spry and smart. She is the owner of the Tres Amigas Cafe and the mother of the accused. She hatches some hilarious schemes to try and track down the real killer, and she may or may not have acquired a fuzzy pair of pink hand cuffs to help. Addie is the most eccentric of the three. She pretends to be British, and her idol is Adele. She is a hoot.
The setting is fantastic. This series takes place in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and I couldn't help but to fall in love. I love the rich descriptions of the buildings with their colorful Mexican decor. Santa Fe is cozy, comfortable, and wonderful.
I love the Tres Amigas Cafe. In this little cafe, delicious New Mexican cuisine is churned out. Piping hot dishes with lots of peppers, spicy meats, hot bubbling cheese and spices. I was constantly hungry while reading about the food in this one. There are even some terrific recipes at the end, in case you want to try your hand at making one of these dishes. Just be sure to actually get New Mexican Hatch chilies. Yum!
The murder mystery is well done. There are plenty of people with a vendetta against the deceased as he was a not so nice person. With multiple suspects with grudges, there were some red herrings to chase down. I have to admit, I didn't guess who the actual culprit was. I was taken by surprise when they were revealed. I always love a mystery that keeps me guessing, and this one certainly did that.
Even though this is the second in the series, it can be read as a stand alone as it is a complete story, and there is plenty of recap so you won't feel lost. I would recommend going back to read the first one just so you can get more of the town and the food. There aren't any cliffhangers or nagging questions.
And The Not So Much:
While I loved the mystery, the food and the setting, I couldn't help but be a bit disappointed when this one fell into the well worn cozy mystery tropes that are so common in this genre. You have an odious villain who stirs up a bunch of trouble before getting killed, bumbling law enforcement who can't seem to see past the set up, and they don't even appear to try to solve the murder, and of course, an amateur sleuth who outsmarts the cops and the murderer and saves the day. Yes, it is a bit unbelievable, but still it is a cozy and it is fun.
The romance was a bit of a miss this time. In the first book, the ground work was laid for what I hoped was going to be a slow burning, hot romance. The romance is present in this one, but it is never front and center, and it doesn't develop much. I wanted more.
The plot gets a little messy as the author is trying to throw everyone off the trail of the real culprit by including a couple of people with ulterior motives. I was left wondering a bit more about the blackmailing scheme.
I was frustrated with the ineptness of the law enforcement. They came across as bumbling idiots which is common in this genre.
Cinco de Mayhem is a fun second installment in a light, cozy mystery series with terrific food and a wonderful setting. I love the quirky characters and the New Mexican cuisine in this series. The mystery is solid in this one, and I was guessing up until the finale. The one thing that held this book back was that it featured many of the well worn tropes common to this genre. Still there is a lot to like, and it is worth reading if you are a fan of cozies. Not to mention, there are some terrific recipes to try at the end. I will certainly be continuing this series.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
QUOTED: "With a good dose of Southwestern flair, some fantastic sounding cuisine, and a murder mystery involving Santa and Satan—yep, you read that correctly—Feliz Navidead was a lively Christmas story worth reading."
"If cozy mysteries are your thing, then Feliz Navidead will be sure to keep your attention and make you chuckle with its offbeat characters and their holiday antics."
REVIEW: Feliz Navidead by Ann Myers
Posted December 26th, 2016 by Sara @HarlequinJunkie in Blog, HJ Recommends, Holiday Titles, Mystery/Thriller, Review / 2 comments
HJ_Recommends
In Feliz Navidead (Santa Fe Cafe Mystery #3) by Ann Myers, Christmas should be a time for joy for chef Rita Lafitte and her teenage daughter Celia. Especially since Rita’s mother is visiting from Illinois for a few weeks. But between her mother’s complaints of altitude sickness since arriving in Santa Fe and constant suggestions about Rita’s love life, she needs to find a way to distract her mother fast. Although discovering a dead body on a rooftop dressed as the devil and a bloody, deranged Santa lurking nearby was not exactly the type of distraction she had hoped for.
‘In my pre-caffeinated state, I could almost imagine that the events of last night had been a bad dream. Had I really discovered a dead devil and a killer Santa?’
Rita soon begins trying to piece together what happened to Satan during the Las Posadas street play with some help from her boss at Tres Amigas, octogenarian wannabe-sleuth Flori. But when threats continue to be made, both against the three actors who are set to play the devil as well as toward herself, Rita and her boyfriend criminal lawyer Jake Strong, plus her ex-husband and cop Manny all become entangled in the strange happenings. With the safety of her daughter and mother a huge concern, Rita isn’t sure if her amateur detective work is helping or is creating more problems for them all.
‘…My fear was confirmed. An unknown devil killer, with an unknown motive, was still on the loose.’
With a good dose of Southwestern flair, some fantastic sounding cuisine, and a murder mystery involving Santa and Satan–yep, you read that correctly–Feliz Navidead was a lively Christmas story worth reading.
It’s always fun sitting down with a cozy mystery and knowing I’ll get a chuckle as well as a whodunit out of a book. And with the charming characters and their unusual holiday situation here, that was definitely true. Our protagonist Rita was a smart, inquisitive, and dependable single mom who had her hands full between her visiting meddling mother, her spirited teenage daughter, and her elderly friends. All of those characters and their larger-than-life personalities worked well together to keep the story interesting and had me laughing at the predicaments they found themselves in. Rita’s boss Flori and her group of senior citizen knitting friends, the Knitters and Snitchers, had me cracking up most of all.
This being set in Santa Fe, New Mexico, meant that there was a ton of local history and of course yummy Southwestern food as part of the story. (Check out the recipes at the end of the book!) The whole Satan and Santa part of the story actually came from the play that townspeople put on every Christmas, named Las Posadas, where three devils followed Joseph and Mary’s progress down the street, heckling them and getting the crowd involved. Sounds unique, but it was entertaining and created an imaginative way for the killer–who I found myself second-guessing their true identity–to go after their victims in a somewhat public way.
If cozy mysteries are your thing, then Feliz Navidead will be sure to keep your attention and make you chuckle with its offbeat characters and their holiday antics…as well as start humming a certain Christmas song every time you read the book’s title.
Book Info:
Publication: Published October 25th 2016 | Avon | Santa Fe Cafe Mystery #3
Holly, jolly, and downright deadly—the third Santa Fe Café mystery unwraps surprises both naughty and nice . . . It’s the most picturesque time of theyear in Santa Fe, and Chef Rita Lafitte of Tres Amigas Café hopes the twinkling lights and tasty holiday treats will charm her visiting mom. Rita is also planning fun activities, such as watching her teenage daughter, Celia, perform in an outdoor Christmas play.
What she doesn’t plan for is murder.
Rita discovers a dead actor during the premier performance but vows to keep clear of the case. Sleuthing would upset her mom. Besides, there’s already a prime suspect, caught red-handed in his bloodied Santa suit. However, when the accused Santa’s wife begs for assistance—and points out that Celia and other performers could be in danger—Rita can’t say no. With the help of her elderly boss, Flori, and her coterie of rogue knitters, Rita strives to salvage her mother’s vacation, unmask a murderer, and stop this festive season from turning even more fatal.
QUOTED: "Santa Fe is a lively and intriguing character itself and my years-long wish to visit is even stronger now. Besides getting a firm sense of setting and culture, the food in the Tres Amigas Café sounds divine and the author has very nicely included some scrumptious recipes."
Book Review: Feliz Navidead by Ann Myers
NOVEMBER 27, 2016 BY LELIA T
3
feliz-navideadFeliz Navidead
A Santa Fe Café Mystery #3
Ann Myers
William Morrow, November 2016
ISBN 978-0-06-238231-3
Mass Market Paperback
From the publisher—
Holly, jolly, and downright deadly—the third Santa Fe Café mystery unwraps surprises both naughty and nice… It’s the most picturesque time of the year in Santa Fe, and Chef Rita Lafitte of Tres Amigas Café hopes the twinkling lights and tasty holiday treats will charm her visiting mom. Rita is also planning fun activities, such as watching her teenage daughter, Celia, perform in an outdoor Christmas play.
What she doesn’t plan for is murder.
Rita discovers a dead actor during the premier performance but vows to keep clear of the case. Sleuthing would upset her mom. Besides, there’s already a prime suspect, caught red-handed in his bloodied Santa suit. However, when the accused Santa’s wife begs for assistance—and points out that Celia and other performers could be in danger—Rita can’t say no. With the help of her elderly boss, Flori, and her coterie of rogue knitters, Rita strives to salvage her mother’s vacation, unmask a murderer, and stop this festive season from turning even more fatal.
If you ask me, a cozy is the best kind of mystery to read during the holiday season. Sure, murders don’t exactly go along with the program but, in a cozy, they’re a kinder, gentler sort, you know? There’s also humor, loyalty, friendship, family, the love of those friends and family and maybe, just maybe, a touch of romance. What more could we ask for in a season meant for comfort?
In addition to all that, a cozy gives us a puzzle to solve and Feliz Navidead is just the ticket. When Chef Rita reluctantly puts on her sleuthing cap once again, she at least has a little experience at such things, having solved one or two murders in the past. To help her investigate, Rita can count on a crew of elderly ladies who knit, purl and snoop up a storm and it’s these ladies I loved the most, especially because they are yarn bombers. We have one here in town and it’s loads of fun when we spot one of her creations on a road sign or a fence post. The Knit and Snitchers cracked me up and I quite simply fell in love with them.
Other characters like Rita’s boss, Flori, and Rita’s mom and daughter are not too shabby either, not to mention a food-stealing donkey, and Rita herself is intelligent, caring and very likeable. Getting to the solution of the crime leads Rita and the gang down a variety of danger-laden paths and I found myself pegging first this possible perp and then that one before the denouement.
One last note—Santa Fe is a lively and intriguing character itself and my years-long wish to visit is even stronger now. Besides getting a firm sense of setting and culture, the food in the Tres Amigas Café sounds divine and the author has very nicely included some scrumptious recipes.
Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, November 2016.
QUOTED: "BREAD TO THE DEAD is a fun and tasty start to the Santa Fe Café Mystery series. Ann Myers creates memorable characters, from the oh-so-nosy Flori to the ex-husband Manny who needs his comeuppance, and places them in a lovely setting that just begs to be visited over and over again."
Bread of the Dead
Bread of the Dead, October 2015
Santa Fe Cafe Mystery
by Ann Myers
William Morrow
Featuring: Rita Lafitte; Victor
356 pages
ISBN: 0062382276
EAN: 9780062382276
Kindle: B00RTMCOWO
Paperback / e-Book
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"Ann Myers creates memorable characters"
Fresh Fiction Review
Bread of the Dead
Ann Myers
Reviewed by Debbie Wiley
Posted October 29, 2015
Mystery Culinary | Mystery Cozy
Rita Lafitte enjoys her life in Santa Fe working as a chef for Tres Amigas Café and visiting occasionally with her landlord Victor. Unfortunately, Victor is soon found dead and the police, including Rita's ex-husband Manny, suspect it was suicide. Rita and her boss Flori refuse to accept that it was a suicide and are determined to find the murderer, no matter what kind of snooping it will require.
BREAD OF THE DEAD is the first book in the Santa Fe Café Mystery series. I have to admit that I double checked this fact several times as there were references made to previous snooping by Flori and Rita that made me suspect this wasn't their first investigation together, although perhaps it is their first murder mystery. In fact, I can easily envision Flori as the lead in her own series as she has quite the personality!
Ann Myers makes the setting come alive in BREAD OF THE DEAD. From the various foods to the tranquil atmosphere of Victor's garden, each and every aspect of the setting made me want to visit. I want to taste Flori's pan de muerto while relaxing in Victor's garden. Ann Myers breathes life into this cozy town, making Santa Fe practically a character itself.
BREAD TO THE DEAD is a fun and tasty start to the Santa Fe Café Mystery series. Ann Myers creates memorable characters, from the oh-so-nosy Flori to the ex-husband Manny who needs his comeuppance, and places them in a lovely setting that just begs to be visited over and over again. I can't wait to see how the Santa Fe Café Mystery series progresses and just what further trouble Rita will get herself into!
Learn more about Bread of the Dead
SUMMARY
Trick or treat—and murder—are on the menu in this first in a new culinary mystery series
Life couldn't be sweeter for Tres Amigas Café chef Rita Lafitte, decorating sugar skulls and taste-testing rich, buttery pan de muerto in anticipation of Santa Fe's Day of the Dead bread-baking contest. That is, until her friendly landlord, Victor, is found dead next door.
Although the police deem Victor's death a suicide, Rita knows something is amiss. To uncover the truth, she teams up with her octogenarian boss, Flori, the town's most celebrated snoop. The duo begins to sift through long-buried secrets and to take full measure of duplicitous neighbors, but the clock is ticking and their list of suspects is growing ever longer. Just as the clues get hotter than a New Mexican chili, one of their main suspects winds up dead. Rita fears that the killer is dishing out seconds—and her order might be up.
QUOTED: "There is something so pleasant about curling up on a crisp, cool day with a book that features a mystery as well as comfort food. Bread of the Dead, is just one of those books. It has a good murder mystery as well as plenty of delicious, Southwestern comfort food."
"If you are a cozy mystery connoisseur, this is one you don't want to miss.
The murder mystery is well done. There are plenty of suspects and motives, leading up to the big reveal."
"The ending is fast and a bit chaotic, but everything draws to a satisfactory close."
"Bread for the Dead was a satisfying and delightful start to a new cozy mystery series."
Tour Stop: Bread of the Dead(Santa Fe Cafe Mystery #1) by Ann Myers
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Here we are on Monday again. Has Fall settled in where you live? I love this time of year, the crisp mornings and cool evenings, fall leaves, pumpkins and all things spooky. Most of all, I love curling up with spooky or paranormal reads, as well as the cozy mysteries. Today, I am hosting a spot on the Bread for the Dead Tour hosted by Candace's Book Blog and Promotions. I found this to be the perfect book for the season as it is all about the Day of the Dead, and it has a good murder mystery as well as plenty of decadent comfort foods. I am ready to take a trip to Santa Fe after reading this one. For my tour stop today, I have for you a review along with a giveaway. So let's get to it.
Here is my review:
Bread for the Dead (A Santa Fe Cafe Mystery #1) by Ann Myers
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Trick or treat—and murder—are on the menu in this first in a new culinary mystery series
Life couldn't be sweeter for Tres Amigas Café chef Rita Lafitte, decorating sugar skulls and taste-testing rich, buttery pan de muerto in anticipation of Santa Fe's Day of the Dead bread-baking contest. That is, until her friendly landlord, Victor, is found dead next door.
Although the police deem Victor's death a suicide, Rita knows something is amiss. To uncover the truth, she teams up with her octogenarian boss, Flori, the town's most celebrated snoop.
The duo begins to sift through long-buried secrets and to take full measure of duplicitous neighbors, but the clock is ticking and their list of suspects is growing ever longer.
Just as the clues get hotter than a New Mexican chili, one of their main suspects winds up dead. Rita fears that the killer is dishing out seconds—and her order might be up.
ebook, 368 pages
Published: September 29th 2015 by William Morrow
Source: Publisher/ Tour Promoter
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04
Four stars: A cozy murder mystery with Southwestern comfort food and style. A perfect read for the Fall season.
Rita is happily settled into her new life in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She is recently divorced, but content. Rita especially loves her job at the Tres Amigas Cafe. Things are bustling around the cafe as her boss, Flori, prepares for the upcoming Day of the Dead bread baking contest, where she aims to reclaim her title. After a busy day, Rita returns home to enjoy a cup of delicious hot chocolate with her landlord, Victor. Victor is also preparing for the Day of the Dead with his alter to honor his relatives who have passed on. Their cozy chat is interrupted with the outburst of a heated confrontation between Victor, his brother and their neighbor. It seems their neighbor is disputing their property boundaries. Rita is disturbed by the scene, but she puts it out of her head as she returns home and falls asleep in front of the fire. She is awakened by her daughter's screams for help. Rita rushes outside and sees Victor dead apparently by his own hand. Did Victor really kill himself or was he murdered?
What I Liked:
For me, a cozy mystery is always perfect for the Fall season. There is something so pleasant about curling up on a crisp, cool day with a book that features a mystery as well as comfort food. Bread of the Dead, is just one of those books. It has a good murder mystery as well as plenty of delicious, Southwestern comfort food. By the end of this book, I was craving chile pepper dishes and longing to visit Santa Fe. If you are a cozy mystery connoisseur, this is one you don't want to miss.
The murder mystery is well done. There are plenty of suspects and motives, leading up to the big reveal. Even though I guessed who the culprit was early on, I was still pleased with the way it all played out. I also appreciated that the heroine helped solve the mystery along with the help of her lawyer friend and law enforcement. I liked the the law enforcement was capable and not bumbling and inept.
Rita, the heroine, is an average forty one year old woman, who is looking to start over after a move and a divorce. She isn't flashy. She is a down to earth, easy to like character who is just trying to find her path.
The setting steals the show. I loved exploring Santa Fe. I liked learning about the culture, the decor, the customs, the restaurants, and most of all the food. I lived in the Southwest for ten years, and this book had me longing for authentic chile cuisine and all things Southwest. I absolutely loved learning more about The Day of the Dead customs in New Mexico, and I longed to sample some of the Day of the Dead Bread. After reading this book, I was ready to book a flight to Santa Fe.
I was pleased that the book didn't have a romance. Yes, there is a romantic interest, and the groundwork is in place for the future development of a romance, but for now, the series is romance free, and there aren't any love triangles or ridiculousness that sometimes ensues with cozy mystery romances.
The ending is fast and a bit chaotic, but everything draws to a satisfactory close. The main story lines are tied up, no cliffhangers.
At the end, there are some delicious Southwestern recipes to try, including the Day of the Dead Bread recipe. I can't wait to sample some of these for myself.
And The Not So Much:
While reading this, there were plenty of moments where the author recapped events, such as how Rita got her job at the cafe, her divorce and other things that had taken place in the past. There were so many of these moments that I actually stopped and checked to see if I was reading the second book in the series, because it felt like the author was revisiting things that had occurred in a prior book. That was not the case, this is the first book in the series. I found the recap to be a bit confusing. I honestly wished the author had started the series back at the beginning when Rita first comes to town and starts her job.
For me, the culprit was apparent early on. I think because the behavior of the person was not what I thought it should be, and I found this person's absence for most of the book noteworthy. It was easy for me to put the pieces together. Not a big issue, but if you are a seasoned cozy mystery reader, you will likely be able to figure it out before the reveal.
There was a story line that featured the Day of the Dead Bread contest. Flori is convinced her rival is cheating. I was a bit disappointed that it was never revealed as to whether Gloria was actually cheating, it seems so, but I wanted to know for sure.
The ending was fast and a bit chaotic in comparison to the rest of the book. The Day of the Bread contest gets brushed over in favor of solving the crime, and both events occur at the same time. I wished that more time had been spent on the baking contest as it was a highlight of the book. I also wished that there was a bit more discussion on the how and why of the murder. It was a bit too cursory for my taste.
Bread for the Dead was a satisfying and delightful start to a new cozy mystery series. I loved the Santa Fe setting and all the Southwest cuisine. I also enjoyed the likable characters, the mystery and the recipes. This is the perfect book for a crisp fall day. I enjoyed it, and I am eagerly looking forward to the second book in this series.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
About the author:
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Ann Myers lives in Colorado with her husband and extra-large housecat, but like her main character, Rita, they all feel most at home in Santa Fe.
Follow Ann's New Mexican cooking, eating, travel, and writing adventures on her website, Facebook, or Goodreads.