Title: SCORNFUL SCONES
Author: Mildred Abbott
Publisher: Wings of Ink Publications, LLC
Pages: 300
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Author: Mildred Abbott
Publisher: Wings of Ink Publications, LLC
Pages: 300
Genre: Cozy Mystery
With summer approaching, Estes Park is abuzz with flowers, baking, tourists, and… murder.
Tourist season is about to begin, and the lovely weather has Winifred
Page and her corgi sidekick, Watson, leaving the comfort of the Cozy
Corgi Bookshop and Bakery to reluctantly attend a celebration at the
Black Bear Roaster coffee shop. But a chill of uncertainty settles over
Fred when a choking death doesn’t seem so accidental—despite the dry,
hazardous scones.
As Fred and Police Sergeant Branson Wexler rekindle a possible
romance, Fred shares her suspicions. But is she seeing murder at every
turn? Learning to trust her gut feelings, Fred risks the ire of the
coffee shop owner to investigate not one, but two, deaths.
As suspects and motives abound, old resentments are uncovered, and
Fred and Watson build new friendships even as they follow the crumbs to
find clues to a killer.
Tourist season is about to begin, and the lovely weather has Winifred
Page and her corgi sidekick, Watson, leaving the comfort of the Cozy
Corgi Bookshop and Bakery to reluctantly attend a celebration at the
Black Bear Roaster coffee shop. But a chill of uncertainty settles over
Fred when a choking death doesn’t seem so accidental—despite the dry,
hazardous scones.
As Fred and Police Sergeant Branson Wexler rekindle a possible
romance, Fred shares her suspicions. But is she seeing murder at every
turn? Learning to trust her gut feelings, Fred risks the ire of the
coffee shop owner to investigate not one, but two, deaths.
As suspects and motives abound, old resentments are uncovered, and
Fred and Watson build new friendships even as they follow the crumbs to
find clues to a killer.
A
piercing scream shattered the peaceful ambience of the bookshop. We’d closed
the store ten minutes before, and I’d stolen a moment to curl up and read on
the Victorian divan. At the sound, I let out a yelp and flung the book from me.
Luckily it landed a few feet from the fireplace.
piercing scream shattered the peaceful ambience of the bookshop. We’d closed
the store ten minutes before, and I’d stolen a moment to curl up and read on
the Victorian divan. At the sound, I let out a yelp and flung the book from me.
Luckily it landed a few feet from the fireplace.
A
clatter of claws came from the other room.
clatter of claws came from the other room.
I
looked over to find Watson scrambling to a standing position as quickly as his
little corgi legs would allow. He glared at me as if I was the one who’d
disrupted his nap in the sunshine.
looked over to find Watson scrambling to a standing position as quickly as his
little corgi legs would allow. He glared at me as if I was the one who’d
disrupted his nap in the sunshine.
Before
I could make sense of a scream coming from the bookshop—it had to have come
from there, as loud and clear as it had been—there was a pounding above my head
followed by a squeal.
I could make sense of a scream coming from the bookshop—it had to have come
from there, as loud and clear as it had been—there was a pounding above my head
followed by a squeal.
Katie?
Must
be. Though I’d never heard my best friend and business partner make such a
sound before.
be. Though I’d never heard my best friend and business partner make such a
sound before.
Leaving
the book on the floor of the mystery room, I hurried to the main portion
of the bookshop and rushed up the stairs to the bakery two at a time, having to
hike my pea-green broomstick skirt slightly to keep from tripping.
the book on the floor of the mystery room, I hurried to the main portion
of the bookshop and rushed up the stairs to the bakery two at a time, having to
hike my pea-green broomstick skirt slightly to keep from tripping.
Nails
still clicking on the hardwood floor, despite his slow start, Watson passed me
on the staircase and entered the Cozy Corgi bakery a few strides ahead of me.
still clicking on the hardwood floor, despite his slow start, Watson passed me
on the staircase and entered the Cozy Corgi bakery a few strides ahead of me.
I
found Katie instantly, standing behind the marble-topped bakery counter, and
the mystery of the pounding was solved as she clenched her fists over her
chest, performed a little jig, and let out another squeal.
found Katie instantly, standing behind the marble-topped bakery counter, and
the mystery of the pounding was solved as she clenched her fists over her
chest, performed a little jig, and let out another squeal.
Okay,
apparently she wasn’t in danger of dying. Although, perhaps she was possessed.
apparently she wasn’t in danger of dying. Although, perhaps she was possessed.
Katie
caught me watching, and though a blush rose to her round cheeks, she didn’t
seem able to stop from giving another excited jig. With her brown curly hair
bouncing around her face, she was like a little kid walking in on a surprise
birthday party.
caught me watching, and though a blush rose to her round cheeks, she didn’t
seem able to stop from giving another excited jig. With her brown curly hair
bouncing around her face, she was like a little kid walking in on a surprise
birthday party.
I
cast a quick glance around the bakery. Atypically, the randomly arranged
antique tables, rustic chairs, and overstuffed couches were unoccupied in front
of the wall of windows overlooking the downtown of Estes
Park. Oh, right, not that atypical,
I had to remind myself; we’d closed the shop in the middle of the day.
cast a quick glance around the bakery. Atypically, the randomly arranged
antique tables, rustic chairs, and overstuffed couches were unoccupied in front
of the wall of windows overlooking the downtown of Estes
Park. Oh, right, not that atypical,
I had to remind myself; we’d closed the shop in the middle of the day.
“I’d
accuse you of trying to scare away the customers, if we had any. I know we’ve
been slammed and it’s nice to have a break, but I’m pretty sure people probably
heard you on the street.”
accuse you of trying to scare away the customers, if we had any. I know we’ve
been slammed and it’s nice to have a break, but I’m pretty sure people probably
heard you on the street.”
“Good!”
Katie squealed a third time. She literally seemed like she might be on the
verge of a seizure. “I want them all to hear. And after this, we’ll have a
whole new definition to the word slammed. We’re going to be so packed they’ll
be lining up all the way down the block.” Another squeal.
Katie squealed a third time. She literally seemed like she might be on the
verge of a seizure. “I want them all to hear. And after this, we’ll have a
whole new definition to the word slammed. We’re going to be so packed they’ll
be lining up all the way down the block.” Another squeal.
“Katie.”
I crossed the bakery and took her hand over the counter. “You screamed like you
just discovered zombies were real, and now you’ve squealed four times.” I
cocked an eyebrow at her but wasn’t quite able to hold back the grin. “Who are
you and what have you done to my best friend?”
I crossed the bakery and took her hand over the counter. “You screamed like you
just discovered zombies were real, and now you’ve squealed four times.” I
cocked an eyebrow at her but wasn’t quite able to hold back the grin. “Who are
you and what have you done to my best friend?”
She
whipped her hand free, grasped the laptop, and spun it in my direction. “Check
this out!”
whipped her hand free, grasped the laptop, and spun it in my direction. “Check
this out!”
Other Books in the Series
Reading the Cozy Corgi series is pretty much all you need to know
about Mildred. In real life, she’s obsessed with everything she writes
about: Corgis, Books, Cozy Mountain Towns, and Baked Goods. She’s not
obsessed with murder, however. At least not at her own hands (nor paid
for… no contract killing here). But since childhood, starting with Nancy
Drew, trying to figure out who-dun-it has played a formative role in
her personality. Having Fred and Watson stroll into her mind was a
touch of kismet.
about Mildred. In real life, she’s obsessed with everything she writes
about: Corgis, Books, Cozy Mountain Towns, and Baked Goods. She’s not
obsessed with murder, however. At least not at her own hands (nor paid
for… no contract killing here). But since childhood, starting with Nancy
Drew, trying to figure out who-dun-it has played a formative role in
her personality. Having Fred and Watson stroll into her mind was a
touch of kismet.
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Media Contact:
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Pump Up Your Book
P.O. Box 643
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Email: thewriterslife@gmail.com
I love cozy mysteries because they are the best.
ReplyDeleteI love them because I can't put them down :)
ReplyDeleteI enjoy cozy mysteries for the sleuthing and the recipes. They are always light and fun to read, usually making me laugh while flipping the pages. Plus they tend to happen in small towns where everybody knows everybody else's business.
ReplyDelete