Weekend Cat Sitting & Christmas Cozy Review/Giveaway

Truffles: Thought you all might like to hear about how Mommy spent her weekend. Cheating on me with this:

Mommy: Sweetie, that's our neighbor T-Two. She's only 8 months old and her Mom had to go away this weekend. Taking care of her was hardly cheating on you.

Truffles: Call it whatever you want. You still spent precious time with her that you could have been spending with me.

Melissa: (Now probably wouldn't be the best time to tell her that I'm going to be cat sitting for 2 weeks in February, would it?) Well, while you pout I'm going to review and give away a book, okay?

Truffles: Hmmph.

Blurb: Christmas in Aston Falls is always a magical time of year. The first big snow has arrived, the tree in the town square has been decorated, the window displays completed, and Hometown Christmas is just around the corner. Zoe finds herself knee deep in holiday shopping and Children's wishes as she and Zak play host to nine year old Scooter Sherwood and his friend Alex. Although a bit hectic, the magic of Christmas is in full bloom and things couldn't be more perfect until Zoe finds the body of history teacher Holly Jolly in the Ashton Falls High School Christmas Tree lot.

Tortie Shorties

Book reviews that are short and sweet...just like Truffles!

In this 11th Zoe Donovan mystery, Zoe is helping her friend Levi, the football coach, at the Ashton Falls High School Christmas Tree lot. Holly Jolly, history teacher and staff adviser for the school newspaper, plans to do a full-page spread on the tree lot, and ends up getting murdered there in the process. To make matters worse, it looks like someone is trying to frame Levi for the crime! Once again Zoe has to add sleuthing to her already busy schedule, while also welcoming two children to her home that need a place during the holidays.

Two characters made this book extra special to me. First, the victim, Holly Jolly. A caring and friendly lady everyone seems to know and love, but yet no one really "knows" anything about her. It's not until after she's dead that people start to realize how reclusive and alone she really was. How many of us know people like that in our own lives, people we take for granted until they're gone? I also adored Alex, a 9-year old wise beyond her years, She ends up stealing Zoe's heart and through her discovery of a diary in the attic we are able to learn more about the history of Ashton Falls. It's especially sweet when she lets her guard down and allows herself to be a child and find delight in the magic of Christmas.

If you enjoy quick reads during the holiday season, make plans to curl up by the tree with a mug of cocoa and your Kindle loaded with Christmas Cozy. It's a magical story you won't soon forget.

Giveaway: Kathi is generously offering a Christmas Cozy paperback and mug for a US winner, or a Kindle copy of the book and a $15 Amazon gift card for a non-US winner. Simply leave a comment below with your email address by noon eastern on Friday, November 28th.