Monday, July 28, 2008

Fudge-Laced Felonies Review



Title: FUDGE-LACED FELONIES
Author: Cynthia Hickey
Publisher: Heartsong Presents Mysteries
2008
ISBN: 978-1-69269- 181-9
Genre: Inspirational/ cozy mystery

Summer Meadows is angry when she gets home from vacation and finds out that her prize rosebush is dead. She’d asked Ethan Banning to water her roses for her, and he obviously fell down on the job. Wanting to make it right, Ethan takes Summer and they buy another rosebush. When Ethan digs up the dead plant, he discovers that someone had buried a bag full of diamonds, a rusty can full of cash, and a bloody gardening glove.

Thrown into a mystery by the act of the criminal, Summer sets out to discover what the meaning of it all, but then discovers that someone is targeting her. People are turning up dead, and Summer is beginning to fear she’ll be next.

Ethan begs Summer to let the police do their job, but that doesn’t stop her from throwing herself into harms way. Still, he can’t back off, he’s there for Summer and she can’t help but falling in love. But will this crime spree push Summer away from him for good?

FUDGE-LACED FELONIES is the first book in Ms. Hickey’s A Summer Meadows Mysteries series, and it’s a winner. Summer is a slightly klutzy, totally loveable heroine who stumbles into messy situations she can’t get out of easily. The reader can’t help but cheer for Summer and hope that things will work out for her.

The faith message is expertly woven in and isn’t preachy, and the setting is well-woven into the story. The opening lines of the book are really excellent. Readers are going to see a lot more of Ms. Hickey and her books – and, as Ms. Hickey’s critique partner, I know that the second two books in this trilogy are every bit as wonderful as the first. Don’t miss FUDGE-LACED FELONIES. $6.97. 244 pages.
Laura V. Hilton

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Another Review of Fudge-Laced Felonies

Check out my review at www.idealinhope.com. Click on fiction under book reviews.

Friday, July 25, 2008

ACFW Conference

I received notice today that I am on the list, along with 106 other authors, to participate in ACFW's biggest booksigning event to date. This will take place at the Mall of America, September 23, 2008. In the rotunda will be a revolving screen depicting bookcovers and photos of the participating authors.

I was getting a little depressed about the upcoming conference because I'm unsure of what I'll be pitching. Receiving the email with that news raised my excitement level back to the roof! And to put the icing on the cake, Heartsong Present/Mystery subscribers are receiving their copy of Fudge-Laced Felonies. I can't wait to hear the readers' responses.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Where the Truth Lies by Elizabeth Ludwig & Janelle Mowery


When Casey Alexander receives notice that her Aunty Liddy has died and left a suicide note, Casey refuses to believe her death was anything but murder. She leaves her web-design business and heads to her Aunt's home. It instantly becomes clear that someone wants Casey out of the picture or she'll join her aunt in the hereafter. Stalked by a shadowy figure, and finding bones buried in the yard, Casey is even more determined to find her aunt's killer.
Full of twists and quirky characters, Where the Truth Lies is an enjoyable, page-turning reading experience. Just when you think you've figured out "who-dunnit", Ludwig and Mowery throw you another curve. Well done, Ladies!

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Mainly Mystery

I will be teaming with Nancy Mehl on hosting a mystery blog. We will focus on the art of writing mystery, interviewing authors, and reviewing books. Primarily our focus is mystery, but we'll be tossing in some suspense to keep everyone on their toes. Click on the link on the right to visit the Mainly Mystery blog.

Monday, July 14, 2008

Fudge-Laced Felonies First Review

I've got my first review!

Review of Fudge-Laced Felonies
by Cynthia Hickey
http://cynthiahickey.blogspot.com/

Reviewed by Barbara J. Robinson
Award-winning Author
http://barbarajrobinson.blogspot.com/

From the lead, “I marched into church on Sunday – not to search for God, but to find a killer,” spunky heroine Summer Meadows captures your heart with humor even in the darkest situations, as you journey with her to solve a diamond mystery. A light, easy read, this page turner takes you into the Ozark foothills. Set in a small town, Summer owns a candy store and is up to her wrists in chocolate, when she’s not knee deep in trouble playing detective.

Hooked from the lead, I was riveted in the mystery and completed the novel in several readings. When interrupted, I couldn’t wait to return to Summer’s world of chocolate, diamonds, and mystery.

Rich with fresh similes and metaphors, readers savor a taste of Southern grit as two handsome men compete for Summer’s attention, but only one of them truly loves her. She must decide between Man of God, Ethan, with rough, working hands, or smooth-talking Nate with hands softer than her own. Nate says all the right things while Ethan teases like a childhood friend, leading Summer to believe that he thinks of her as a sister. Then there’s beautiful Terri Lee who once dated Ethan and attempts to pick up where she left off. Summer knows her natural beauty can’t complete with her store-bought façade.

Summer is down-to-earth, but feisty. Used to being in control, she has to learn to let God guide her steps and relinquish control to the One who can make an eternal difference in her life. She’s a Christian who attends church every Sunday, but grows in her faith through her struggles and learns to depend on God to see her through.

Have you ever treasured your flower garden and thought it worth gold? Summer’s rose garden is worth a small fortune in cash and diamonds, and she must solve the mystery of who killed her prized rose bush before she ends up a dead summer flower.

Candy-Coated Secrets is the second book in the Fudge-Laced Felonies series – Heartsong Presents. If you love humor and mystery entwined, snag the book for great summer read. See http://cynthiahickey.blogspot.com/ for more information. ISBN-978-1-60260-181-9, $6.95 paperback, 244 pages, 22 chapters of love and mystery.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Writing is Easy

My soon to be eleven year old was getting ready to spend the night with a friend. My sixteen year old is out of the state for a couple of days. To me, this means uninterrupted writing time. My younger son, said, "Why can't you write anytime? It's easy. All you do is sit down and write the words." Wow. Out of the mouth of babes. If only it WAS that easy.

Sure, we do have to 'just sit down and write the words', but there is so much more involved. I lost my son's attention when I started explaining about plot lines, and the story making sense, then there's marketing, and selling to publishers, etc. It's way more than just sitting down and putting words on paper.

The words have to be right. They have to tell a story that a reader is interested in getting into. Your characters need to be real and interesting. Your setting must draw the reader in. Oh, how I wish it were as simple as a child thinks it is. Then, there's the mechanics of writing. Oh, boy!