Leslie Keller Books

I must start this story at the beginning, well actually, it's the ending which makes it a backward way to begin. Once there was a very handsome fellow named, Parker. He had a rough few years before Julie came along and took him into her loving arms. She drove for hours to rescue this chap from California and the years slipped by quickly - too quickly, in fact, for his time in this world was short. He left his print on her heart, his bed cold, his things neglected. How do you know when you can stop the grieving?  How long is long enough when you miss your best friend? How do you fill the empty space he left behind? Many would say you wait and let time heal. Some would say to run out and find a new love. I believe that your heart knows when it's ready, long before it registers on your brain. And so began Julie's mission - she didn't know if she was ready. She only knew that she had an ocean of love to give and a drive to give it to one who needed it. Thus, the sea...

I'm always on Amazon - yes, I'm addicted to it, even more so than Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Since I read everything on my Kindle, it's my walk through the book store. As a cozy mystery author, I love seeing what books I may have missed by authors who have been around for a while or discovering new authors. Here is a list of a few cozy mysteries which have received great reviews on Amazon that you might want to check out. Some of these I've read and some I've gotten to - yet. Louisana Longshot by Jana DeLeon - this book has over 4000 reviews. Queen of the Trailer Park by Alice Quinn. I've read this book and enjoyed it. Armed and Outrageous - by Madison Johns and Robert Walker. I haven't read this but with almost 1000 reviews, it's on my list. Lethal Bayou by Jana DeLeon Soldiers of Fortune by Jana DeLeon Okay I'm starting to hate her Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke.  Ms Fluke has written a number of cozies and I...

Here is a very small snippet of the first chapter of Cocktails at Sunset. You'll have to read the book to find out what happens next. CHAPTER ONE Candlelight flickered against the faded wallpaper and bathed the room in a gentle glow. Two place settings balanced precariously on the doily covered table which tilted on uneven legs. Miniature screw-top bottles of blush wine waited beside chipped crystal wine glasses. Covered in foil, well-worn Wedgwood china held tonight’s special of processed turkey with instant mashed potatoes. The scent of lavender bath salts and Ben-Gay wafted through the air and Frank Sinatra crooned softly on a cassette player. The door swooshed open. Giggling, a petite woman in her golden years tiptoed in leading a gentleman by the arm. “What is this, Delores?” the man asked loudly, confusion in his eyes.  “Shhh, someone will hear us and I’ll be in big trouble,” the woman whispered. "Where are we?" Delores knitted her eyebrows lightly an...

I recently forced myself to enjoy a spa day with my girlfriends. Okay, I admit there wasn't any coaxing involved - who doesn't want a day of pampering at a fantastic price with your favorite friends? We started out having breakfast at Zuzu, which is located inside the lobby at the Hotel Valley Ho.  I saved up my calorie count in order to eat whatever I wanted and looked forward to indulging my sweet tooth on the homemade cinnamon roll. This is the second year that I've spent a Sunday morning at the restaurant prior to a spa treatment. The restaurant is relatively small and has a nice view of the patio. The menu has a variety of breakfast and lunch items. Both times I was very disappointed in the service. We waited for coffee, then waited for the cream and then waited some more for refills. The food didn't come out together which is a huge no-no for a party of six. The food was good but not great. I've had better meals at Mimi's or even IHOP.  The cinnamon ...

I thought it would be fun to interview my character from Menu for Murder and Cocktails at Sunset, Jonas Harper.  Maybe he'll give us a hint as to where the romance between him and Jayne will go. Interviewer:  Jonas can you tell us what your first impression was of Jayne? Jonas:  I met her in the early morning hours walking down a deserted road, missing a shoe and looking pretty much like she had tangled with a kitchen appliance. Her shirt was covered in food and wine stains and she had somehow gotten Prickly Pear spines in her rear end. I think my first impression was confusion. Interviewer:  Rumor has it that she was arrested on your first date. Jonas:  Yes, she was arrested but I never believed for a minute she was capable of killing anyone. She may be a handful but she's got a good heart. Interviewer:  Even after all of that you continue to date Jayne. What is it about her that keeps you coming back? Jonas:  She's different from the othe...

It's hitting 115 degrees in Arizona and that means ice melts before you can take the first sip. In honor of the dog days of summer, I'm giving you a frozen cocktail recipe that will cool you all the way to your toes. Frozen Pina Colada Margarita INGREDIENTS 1 (10-ounce) can pina colada frozen concentrate mixer, thawed 10 ounces tequila  5 ounces pineapple juice  Juice from ½ lime 7 cups ice  ** Alternatively substitute a small amount of frozen Pineapple Sherbet for some of the ice to add extra flavor Kosher salt for rimming glass (optional)  ** Can do half sugar instead of salt Lime and pineapple wedges for garnish (optional) Rub edges of margarita glasses with a lime wedge and dip in kosher salt or sugar to coat rims. Place pina colada concentrate, tequila, pineapple juice, lime juice and ice in a blender and blend until smooth. You may need to blend this is batches depending on the size of your blender. Pour into glasses. Cheers, ...

This book is a step out of my comfort zone as it includes some historical facts about the second World War. As a rule, I avoid novels about war because, to be honest, they are depressing. I usually believe there isn't anything about war which would interest me.  This book was an exception. A fact about this time from Wikipedia which I found amazing. The internment of Japanese Americans in the United States during World War II was the forced relocation and incarceration in camps in the interior of the country of between 110,000 and 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry who had lived on the Pacific coast. Sixty-two percent of the internees were United States citizens. It's the story of Henry, a Chinese boy who grows up in Seattle during the Japanese internment. He befriends a Japanese girl who's family is taken away. We meet Henry as he gazes on the Panama Hotel in the current day. The book moves flawlessly between his past and his present. The novel is about bullying, ...

Payson Book Festival 2016 was a great opportunity to meet with new readers and those who are patiently waiting for the second book.