Leslie Keller Books

I try to keep up with all the new releases in the cozy mystery genre. If you follow my blog you know that I read a little of everything but my main focus is what I write - cozies.  It still surprises me when I meet other authors and they don't know what a cozy is. Okay, maybe not every author needs to be as groovy as me, but that's life :) Here are a few recently published or soon to be published cozies: 1.  A Spell of Trouble by Leighann Dobbs - USA Bestselling Author Released August 23, 2016 2.  Mrs. Fix It Mysteries: The Complete 15-Books Cozy Mystery Series by Belle Knudson Released August 2, 2016 3.  Murder on the East Coast, a Cedar Bay Cozy Mystery by Dianne Harman Released August 25, 2016 4.  Happy Homicides 4: Fall into Crime: plus Happy Homicides 3: Summertime Crimes by Joanna Campbell Slan and Linda Gordon Hengerer Released August 24, 2016 5.  Grilled Rye Murder: Book 16 in The Darling Deli Series by Patti Benning Released August...

I know this seems like a late post to include 2015 books but I only just found it on Goodreads. This partial list in the mystery/thrillers category should keep me busy for at least a few months - or maybe that's years!  I hope you find something you like. 1.  The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins (I read this and loved it). 2.  Finders Keepers by Stephen King - I'm not sure I have the courage to read another Stephen King as I'm still feeling the aftermath of the one I read ten years ago. 3.  Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowlings).  I loved the first two books so this is definitely on my 'to read' list. 4.  Obsession of Death by J.D. Robb - I haven't read this author so I'm looking forward to picking this one up. 5.  Pretty Girls by Karen Slaughter - this author is new to me as well 6.  Marrow by Tarryn Fisher - the title is enough to make me turn on all the lights. 7.  The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny 8...

This is my version of Tilly's story - it is completely fictionalized as we will never know what really happened to this little "Velcro" dog. It may have been dark when she was born, but even if the sun had been blaring, she came into this life under a cloud. Her tiny body revealed no indication of her royal ancestry - her family tree descended from the Bichon and bred as companion dogs for Cuban aristocracy. Her bloodlines certified as pure, despite the cross breeding through recent generations. No one would have guessed by the many dogs kenneled near her that the breed had almost reached extinction before the Cuban revolution in 1959 brought a few of the dogs to the United States. When Tilly's eyes opened the first time she saw her mother with overgrown coat, matted with feces which pelted them all from the cage above. There wasn't much room for her Momma, two brothers and sister but it still felt good to snuggle in together. Tilly didn't know there cou...

I found this picture on the internet of an old metal shed. It provided me the visual for a significant scene in Cocktails at Sunset. You'll have to read the book to find out where this is featured. Happy Trails, Leslie Visit my website

Here is a snippet of the second book, Cocktails at Sunset.  I hope you enjoy seeing what trouble Jayne will get herself into this time. If you want to start at the very beginning, read my earlier post. CHAPTER ONE “Good evening. My name is Jayne and I’ll be your server tonight.” I repeated these words at the Wild Bronco Steakhouse about ten times a night, if I was lucky enough to have guests in my section. Ten tables usually meant a good night in tips. It also meant I could pay my bills and maybe have funds left over for the extras, like groceries. I’m not complaining—I savored even a bad night at the restaurant after what I'd been through recently. A few weeks ago the mayor of my small Arizona town of Cave Creek was murdered. As the old cowboy saying goes, timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance and, in my case, it put me at the scene of the crime.  As the only suspect, it took  perseverance (some may call stubbornness) to clear my name, and a da...

I dined at Bucca di Bepo about twelve years ago in Scottsdale and then again recently in Peoria, AZ. I don't think this casual, family-style restaurant has changed in all those years. As part of a large group, we had several dishes pre-ordered by our host, so I wasn't able to make my own selection. We started with the mixed green salad and Caesar salad, accompanied by garlic bread. Both were fresh and crisp.  Our entrees were the chicken parmigiana, baked ziti and chicken carbonara. They were flavorful and hearty. The service was slow and the food was warm, but not hot. Keeping in mind that this is a chain restaurant and on level of Olive Garden, it was good. Would I pick it for a nice Italian dinner - no. It's not as good as Maggianos, which is also a chain but it's also very reasonably priced for a group. Since the portions are sizable and everything is served family style you have the opportunity to share. However, if you're the only one at the table who want...

This is book one of the Rose Garner Mystery series and is a cozy mystery. We meet Rose with a great opening line, "It all started when I saw myself dead."  That definitely makes you want to read the next line to find out if she knows who and how she is killed.  Luckily, Rose makes it through the first book in one piece. Rose works for the Division of Motor Vehicles and the author is adept at making us feel her 'pain'. She also has a sixth sense which makes her feel like the town oddball. Throw in her overbearing mother and a hunky neighbor and we have a fun mystery. In keeping with my vow to never give away too much of the book in my review I am not going to state more here but I definitely recommend this fun character to see where she winds up. Happy Trails, Leslie Visit my website

I am not a fan of gin. I wish I could say the smell makes me sneeze and the taste makes me cry. Sadly, the truth is my first hangover came after a smidgen too much gin and I've never had a drop since. However, since there's a scene early on in Cocktails at Sunset, where Jayne makes this drink I decided to include the recipe. 2 oz gin 1 oz pineapple juice 1 tablespoon Cointreau 1/4 teaspoon fine sugar Combine ingredients in a shaker, half filled with ice. Shake well Strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a wedge of pineapple or slice of orange. Drink in moderation or your hula may turn into more of a prayer session. Happy Dining, Leslie Visit my website

This is the final sequence of the story where everything is tied up and the reader gets resolution. This is also called the denouement from the old French meaning to unknot. I love that description because it's what should happen at end of a story. If you have been following these blog posts, you will know that the climax has occurred and now the reader needs to know what happens after the big scene. How does the author leave our main character?  If it's a romance, what happens after the two become lovers and resolve their conflicts? I used to read John Grisham. His books thrilled me all the way to through the climax. At that point, I always felt cheated. It was as if the author wanted to wrap up the story - as if he suddenly became bored and wanted to move on to the next book. After honing the story to perfection, it's disappointing to the reader if the ending loses all momentum. Yes, the reader wants resolution but not at the expense of the story.  Have you ever read ...