Welcome to my stop on the blurb blitz for Bloodstains and Candy Canes by Marla A. White. This blitz was organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. On my stop, I have an excerpt from the book as well as the tour wide giveaway for a chance to win a $25 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card. Be sure to visit the other stops on the blitz for more content. Enjoy!
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Series: Christmas Cookies
Author: Marla A. White
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Publication Date: November 30th 2022
Print Length: 73 pages
Genre: Holiday Cozy Mystery
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Attending a swanky cookie exchange is the last thing on veterinarian Dr. Mandy Brown’s holiday to-do list, but she agrees to help a friend out. The party comes to a screeching halt after a body turns up on the kitchen floor, a carving knife jutting out of his back.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, Mandy comes face-to-face with Officer Dylan Shaw, a man she thought she was dating until he ghosted her. Tensions escalate as motives for murder come out of the pantry as fast as guests scarf down the pot-spiked brownies, making everything all the merrier.
Although the case seems open and shut, Mandy doesn’t believe the evidence. Can she and Dylan put their differences aside and find the real killer, or risk one of the bakers getting away with murder?
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EXCERPT:
“Call him.”
Dolores is right. Shaw once told me 911 calls are automatically routed to the Highway Patrol where they get sorted to the appropriate agency. If you know the local police number, you’ll get a faster response by calling them directly. But I also know the last person I want to see right now is Officer Dylan Shaw.
“Who cares?” I ask. “The dead guy isn’t going anywhere.”
Dee narrows her eyes and gives me an icy gaze. “No, but the killer is. The police need to get this place locked down fast if they’re going to have a shot at finding them.”
Well poop, I hadn’t thought of that. My head is too far up my own butt to think past my broken heart. “Fine, I’ll call him.”
She nods, pulling the sobbing Bethany under one arm and uses the other to guide, coerce and otherwise wrangle Agnes, the guests, and caterers alike back to the veranda. Very few people have the strength to refuse Dolores’ will of iron.
When everyone is gone, I slip into the den and grab my phone. Stomach lurching with dread, I hit the button for Shaw and wait the tension-filled five seconds as it rings once before he answers. “Hey Mandy, what’s up?”
His cheerful tone surprises me until irritation sweeps away the pleasure his voice brings. Does he not realize I’m mad at him for ghosting me? “This isn’t a social call, Shaw.”
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
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Marla White is a story analysis instructor at UCLA and writing coach who lives in Los Angeles. She graduated from the University of Kentucky where she took her first horseback riding lesson. After dabbling in hunters, barrel racing, and weekly trail rides, she fell hopelessly in love with the sport of eventing. She conquered Novice level before taking a break to pursue novel writing but hopes to return to the saddle some day soon. When she’s not writing, she’s out in the garden, hiking, putting together impossibly difficult puzzles, or (of course!) baking.
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GIVEAWAY:
Marla A. White will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter. Good luck!
(All the Ups and Downs is not responsible for this giveaway, its entries, or the prize. Goddess Fish Promotions and the author assume all responsibility over this giveaway.)
The cover really caught my eye. The image sets the stage for the book.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jeanna! The amazing Diana Carlile always does a great job on the cover art.
DeleteThis sounds interesting and to be honest, fun!
ReplyDeleteMeghan, I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it!
DeleteThanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great cozy.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rita!
DeleteThe perfect week to read this book.
ReplyDeleteOr any week you want a little holiday fun and murder LOL. But yes, this week as we bridge between holidays is a great time to relax under a warm blanket and read. :D
Deleteinteresting title and cover
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteThanks for hosting Heather. I'm so jealous that you lived in England! I've been on horseback riding trips through Scotland, Ireland, and Wales and just fell in love with all of it. I ride through London on a horse who was afraid of the red double decker busses was...exciting LOL.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome =) Yes, I miss England like crazy and would like to move back, but we just can't afford it =( It's been 10 years since I was last in England. I keep hoping to one day go back, but I doubt it'll ever happen. Ohhh, I never got to ride a horse in England especially in London. That does sound exciting, not so much the horse being afraid of the buses though, haha.
DeleteThis sounds like a really great book.
ReplyDeleteSounds like an awesome read.
ReplyDeletehappy hump day i hope use are having a great week
ReplyDeleteI love the cover and think the book looks good.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a great Holiday Cozy Mystery. I like the cover.
ReplyDeleteHaving pot-spiked brownies at the swanky cookie exchange is a must! lol Looking forward to reading
ReplyDeleteOh Boy does this sounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteheather hgtempaddy
It looks like a fun read.
ReplyDeleteThe holiday cozy mystery looks fun to read.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like an interesting book and I also like the cover.
ReplyDeleteabfantom at yahoo dot com
This book looks like a good holiday cozy mystery-thanks
ReplyDeleteI'm definetely going to check this book out. Its checks all the boxes for me.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter would enjoy this book
ReplyDeleteHow was your Christmas?
ReplyDeleteI love a good cozy mystery and this looks like a good one.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good read, can't wait to find out why he ghosted her.
ReplyDeletethis sounds fab have a happy new year guys
ReplyDeleteWhat is your favorite Christmas cookie?
ReplyDeleteThe excerpt is interesting. Thank you for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteWhat types of beverages do you like to keep on hand while writing?
ReplyDeletewhat are your wiritng goals for 2023
ReplyDeleteDo you have any New Years Plans?
ReplyDeletelooks like a fun one
ReplyDeleteSounds like such a good book.
ReplyDeleteDo you do New Year's resolutions?
ReplyDeleteMy daughter would enjoy this book
ReplyDeleteLooks like a good read
ReplyDeleteMy mother likes this kind of mystery, thanks .
ReplyDeletesounds and looks fab
ReplyDeletethanks again for the giveaway, Happy New Years
ReplyDeleteSounds great! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteDo you make New Year's resolutions?
ReplyDeleteI really like the book cover!! Looks like an intriguing read!!
ReplyDeleteLove the cover.
ReplyDeleteDo you have any advice for new writers?
ReplyDelete