About the Book
It’s a birthday weekend with the gift of murder.Recently widowed, Emma Banefield looks forward to a getaway birthday weekend with her free-wheeling sister, Nicole Earp, sipping chocolate martinis at the peaceful, historic Dulce Inn. When a rude stranger, a nasty food critic, and a madhouse of temperamental artists greet them, all hope for a tranquil weekend evaporates faster than dew on a hot desert morning.
Overlooking the riotous atmosphere is doubly hard after Em discovers the body of a hotel guest, and a second murder affects Nic personally. Now, entrenched in a caper that pits them against a surly detective, they cozy up to a hotel staff hiding dangerous secrets to uncover clues to the killer.
Using their smarts and love of all-things mystery, will the Chocolate Martini Sisters solve the crime ahead of the obstinate Chief Detective or find themselves trapped in the middle of a third murder?
Excerpt
Sounds like a case for the Chocolate Martini Sisters.
The silly moniker lifted the heavy weight on her chest, and she smiled. In
spite of it all, life was good. With closed eyes, she breathed deeply what
she’d expected to be fresh air. Instead, the stink of cigarette smoke made her
noise twitch. What dummy had the gall to clog up paradise? One eye popped open
in search of the culprit.
The offender, a woman sporting bleached blonde hair with sprigs of azure and
pink, propped against the hotel, one scuffed sneaker planted on the brick
façade. A white apron, the sort preferred by cooking staff, wrapped about her
slender waist. She sucked another puff. A cross tattoo on her wrist stained
the pale skin blue. Acting as though she didn’t see her sitting there,
she blew the offending smoke across her shoulder, away from her.
Thanks loads. Lips pursed and her privacy interrupted, she
sat upright and faced the hard-edged employee. The aroma of sautéed garlic and
onions mingled with the smoke of her cigarette. “You must work in the kitchen,”
Emma said by way of making conversation. A series of gold hoops pierced the
rounded helix of the woman’s left ear.
“Yup.” She crossed her arm over her waist, propping her
elbow on her opposite hand and looked away, blowing more pollution into the
air.
“So, you work with the famous Chef Grayson.”
The woman snorted. “Yeah. I guess you could say that.”
Evidently, Miss Rainbow-Colored Hair didn’t think much of
him.
“Are you his assistant?”
“Sous-chef.”
So this was Charlotte Wilson. The very woman Joe had
mentioned to Nic and who coveted Payne’s job.
“Chef Payne has built up quite a prestigious reputation.”
“Oh, yeah,” she snarled. “He’s the best.” Her acid tone
dripped with sarcasm.
Emma chose to avoid further comment about their contentious
work relationship.
“Are you familiar with the man who died?”
She grunted and picked tobacco from her tongue. “You mean
who was murdered?”
“Shocking, isn’t it?” As suspected, word of the death had
spread throughout the hotel.
The sous-chef didn’t answer. Instead, she ground the last
bit of her cigarette into the paver with her shoe, then flashed the most
chilling smile. “Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.” Without a parting
word, she disappeared through the hotel door.
She reclined against the supportive lounge chair, not
certain what to make of the woman. Hostile was a certainty, and the cold smile
was downright creepy. Could Nic’s proposed theory at breakfast suggesting the
sous-chef committed murder to frame Payne for personal advancement be viable?
Could a person successfully lead a kitchen crew with so much anger licking at
her heels? Was she driven enough to kill?
About the Authors
Joyce Proell is the award-winning author of Amaryllis, Eliza and the Cady Delafield mysteries: A Deadly Truth, A Burning Truth and A Wicked Truth. Along with her husband and little dog, Nellie, she lives in Minnesota in her very own little house on the prairie. She loves to hear from readers.
Website ~~ Facebook ~~ Amazon Author Page ~~ Goodreads Author Page
Brenda Whiteside is the award-winning author of romantic suspense, romance, and cozy mystery. After living in six states and two countries—so far—she and her husband have settled in Central Arizona. They admit to being gypsies at heart and won't discount the possibility of another move. They share their home with a rescue dog named Amigo. While FDW fishes, Brenda writes.
Website ~~ Facebook ~~ Twitter ~~ Blog ~~ Amazon Author Page
Goodreads Author Page ~~ BookBub ~~ Instagram ~~ Newsletter
Giveaway
March 15 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
March 16 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read - REVIEW
March 16 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
March 17 – I'm Into Books – AUTHOR GUEST POST
March 18 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
March 18 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT
March 19 – Elizabeth McKenna - Author – SPOTLIGHT
March 20 – Novels Alive – REVIEW – SPOTLIGHT
March 20 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW
March 21 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT
March 21 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
March 22 – Christy's Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST
March 22 – Literary Gold – REVIEW
March 23 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
March 23 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT
March 24 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT
March 25 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT
March 26 – The Mystery Section – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT
March 27 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT
March 28 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST
Thanks for hosting us.
ReplyDeleteGreat excerpt and cover.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rita.
Deletenice excerpt
ReplyDeleteSo glad you like!
DeleteThis looks like it would be a good read.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Delete