Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Tea Party Tuesday ~ Happy New Year!

Only $2.99 - Perfect for rounding out the holiday season.
Nancy Jill's Chocolate Cinnamon Torte
Welcome to Tea Party Tuesday, dear readers. I hope your holidays have been enjoyable and your New Year's Eve will bring further joy. At our house, we make Beef Bourguignon - a family tradition.  The recipe can be found in this year's issue of "A Cup of Cozy 2" along with other yummy recipes and short mysteries from my fellow authors at Cozy Mystery Magazine. You may also want to try my recipe for Chocolate Cinnamon Torte that I've included- a perfect treat for afternoon tea. 


Cheers for a Blessed 2015!
~Nancy Jill






Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Tea Party Tuesday ~ Christmas Week is Here!

So glad you stopped by for a cup of tea! Please have some sweets - don't they look scrumptious?
   The month of December has been quite busy for me with baby sitting grandkids and granddog's for two wonderful weeks. What a joy to cook for them and bake their favorites.
   An unexpected event extended my stay another ten days - moving my 90 year old mom to assisted living. Have any of you gone through this?
   The good thing about this huge undertaking was the time we shared together as we sorted through photos and memorabilia.
   Happy to say move is complete - now on to Christmas!
   Mary and Joseph went through a difficult situation but counted on The Lord God to see them through. I've learned that when we depend on Him, we can endure whatever comes our way. For me, this means preparing for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day coupled with recuperating from the past three week's physically demanding events. I'll fill you in next week.


Have a Very Merry Christmas as we celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus. 

Cheers!

~Nancy Jill

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Tea Party Tuesday ~ Cheery Chocolate Teddy Bear Cookies





Welcome to Tea Party Tuesday
- let me pour you a nice cup of cranberry tea in keeping with the holidays. Please have some refreshments. We have fruit cake or cheery chocolate teddy bear cookies. These cookies have been a family favorite ever since they appeared as a white elephant gift at a holiday party many years ago. The recipe appears in our first anthology "A Cup of Cozy" which we give FREE to our readers. I hope you will download it if you haven't already as our Christmas gift to you.

May your days be merry and bright, and may all your Christmases be white.

Cheers!

~Nancy Jill


Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Tea Party Tuesday's Top Ten Gift Ideas for Cozy Mystery Lovers

 


For those of you who like to do their holiday shopping online as I do, here are some great  gift ideas for readers on your list. All books are G-Rated and contain no profanity - just good whodunits! Books are written in a series but can be stand-alone.



FOR ADDED FUN, TEDDY (JILLIAN'S SIDEKICK AND SLEUTH-DOG) APPEARS IN EVERY BOOK - MOST OF THE TIME WITH A NEW FRIEND OF HIS OWN.














1. If you want to give your reader an oceanside stay at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel with all the amenities (plus a little gossip), give them a copy of


















2. For readers who enjoy gorgeous sunsets or insight into endangered species, a mystery set at Sanctuary Spa Camelback Mountain might make a good gift. Give them a copy of  "The Ghost Orchid Murder." $13.99









3. To experience a bit of early California history in the Bay Area along with a heart-warming story, give them the Christmas adventure of "From the Clutches of Evil." $9.99







4. Does your reader like whale-watching, Waikiki Beach, or perhaps a cruise to Catalina Island? Then they  might  enjoy 
"The Mark of Eden." $11.99




5. For a visit to San Diego complete with Jillian's family reunion at a five-star oceanfront hotel you might want to give a copy of 
"Pacific Beach." $10.99








 6. For Christmas lovers and those on your list who enjoy a bit of romance "Waiting for Santa" $10.99 might be just the thing. 










7. A London adventure awaits in "The Ruby of Siam" and ends with Jillian's wedding.  $10.99












8. A terrible tragedy causes Jillian to come to the defense of a friend accused of murder in "The Long Trip Home." $8.99




9. In "Murder at Mirror Lake,"Jillian's garden club friends decide she needs a girl's getaway to view the fall color in New England, but when the head chef where they're staying is murdered, Jillian and her friends must help defend the accused son of a dear friend. $9.99











10. Another suggestion is "A Cup of Cozy," a free e-book gift on Amazon and Smashwords to you from the authors of Cozy Mystery Magazine. A collection of short stories, recipes, and introductions to author's works.







Along with the first addition, why not give "A Cup of Cozy 2" to those on your list who love holiday mysteries, menus and mirth? A collection of six new short stories by the authors of COZY MYSTERY MAGAZINE. $2.99



If you can't decide which book to buy for those on your list consider giving them the entire series. (Under $99 + SH) They'll love reading about the adventures of Jillian and her sidekick, Teddy, as they help solve homicides which fall across their path. Amazon.com



There you have it! Ten holiday gift ideas for everyone who enjoys a good whodunit cozy mystery, or animal mystery. Happy shopping, dear readers!





  See you in my books!


 ~Nancy Jill 



Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Tea Party Tuesday ~ Meet Lawrence Rivers

Welcome to Tea Party Tuesday! Sorry I'm a day late but I have had little time to write between watching the grand kids and helping my mom move. Let me pour you a nice cup of tea and we'll chat about what's going on in Jillian and Teddy's world.

Please have some snacks. 

As some of you may already know, the authors of COZY MYSTERY MAGAZINE have published our second holiday anthology. We'll be offering "A CUP OF COZY 2" free each Wednesday until the week of Christmas as a way of saying thank you for your readership. I hope you enjoy the story I wrote introducing strategic planner Lawrence Rivers, who, like Jillian Bradley, is also a  dog lover and amateur sleuth. Lawrence is the husband of Jillian's new Horticultural Society friend, Vivian.



Besides six short holiday mysteries, you'll find lovely holiday menus and recipes I think you'll enjoy.

Free on Amazon Kindle!


As we begin the holiday season, I hope and pray each of you will think of the reason for the season - the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Merry Christmas!

~Nancy Jill





Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Tea Party Tuesday ~ Getting Ready for the Holidays


Hello everyone - welcome to Tea Party Tuesday! Please join me for a nice cup of tea and some refreshments. Don't these jam tarts and pecan tassies look delicious?

With Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner and for many of you Black Friday, too, I've decided to offer my first book "Murder in Half Moon Bay" as a free gift. You can download it now to read later when you're ready for a break during the hectic holidays. (Or January perhaps?)


Download Your Free Gift Here!

All Jillian Bradley wants is to spend a quiet weekend by the ocean and enjoy her afternoon tea. But a startling discovery draws Jillian and her garden club friends into solving a mystery that threatens her life and changes her future.
"Murder in Half Moon Bay" Book 1 in the Jillian Bradley Mystery Series, introduces Jillian's little companion Teddy, a Yorkie who falls prey to danger but rises to become a sleuth dog in the next book.


Please feel free to share this offer with anyone who might enjoy a cozy mystery. Thank you! 

Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving full of blessings with friends and family this year.


Cheers!


~Nancy Jill 




Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Special Pre-Holiday Gift - "A CUP OF COZY 2"

Please Enjoy a FREE Special Pre-Holiday Gift for You on Kindle! 
From my fellow authors at Cozy Mystery Magazine.

We hope you enjoy the new holiday mysteries, menus, and recipes
from all of us to all of you.

This offer is for one day only! Wednesday, 12 am to midnight!

Thanks for taking a look at our second edition of
A Cup of Cozy.

Amazon.com
Happy Holidays!

~Nancy Jill


Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Tea Party Tuesday ~ Celebrating Our Veterans

Welcome to Tea Party Tuesday! Let me pour you a nice cup of tea and we'll begin our chat. Milk? Sugars?

Today is a great opportunity to thank those men and women in uniform for their service to our country and in our communities.
Thank you to those in the military, police, and firefighters, We appreciate your protection and watch care over us - day and night.

Cranberry Apricot Cheesecake Bread
My father was a command pilot of B-52's in the Air Force. How well I remember him being on alert for days on end, staying by the red phone in case our country was attacked.

Please have some cake - I especially love the cheesecake part.

My brother Hank flew RF 4 fighter jets in the Air Force, while my brother Tom served as a country sheriff until his retirement. Our son Mark served in the Air Force as well. Our niece Mi Chelle also serves as a police officer. Our family thanks you all!

Speaking of recipes, our new anthology "A Cup of Cozy 2" has all sorts of delicious recipes from our Holiday Menu selections. Included are my recipes for Beef  Bourguignon and Chocolate Cinnamon Torte featured in my New Years Ever Buffet menu.

In the anthology, I've written a debut story called "Lawrence Buys a Gift." Here's an excerpt from a recent review:

"Lawrence Buys a Gift" 5 stars. The title for my review is "Tea Anyone?". A couple has an amateur detective in for tea and the husband recounts his part in the solving of a murder. The housekeeper, Louise, is run ragged bringing in the goodies for the tea and keeping an eye on the menagerie of pets!


Available on Amazon Kindle only $2.99
















Hope you enjoy the new book.
Have a wonderful week - Cheers!

~Nancy Jill 












Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Tea Party Tuesday ~ Voting Day

Welcome! On this lovely fall day we have the privilege to exercise our rights as Americans to vote for the candidates and issues important to our communities and nation. I hope you'll find a moment to cast your ballot.

May I pour you a nice cup of tea? Please help yourself to some delectable (and calorie free) tea fare. I'll take the eclair - and just think - you can take one too since it's virtual.


When I was standing in line to vote this morning, one woman turned to a gentleman in line behind her and told him she didn't care if she was late to work. It was important she voted!


Do you like the tea? It's decaffeinated Green tea. It's supposed to be healthy so I'm trying to get used to it. Not too bad, really.


It was so much fun to do my first event on Facebook last weekend. I celebrated three publishing events called Triple X with over 120 participants who won books and Go Jillian and Teddy! mugs as thank you prizes. So much fun!

Amazon Kindle Only $2.99!

Don't be shy - please have more tea and help me eat these lovely snacks. (I almost typed snakes!)


Last week we talked about the first event - the launch of Book 9 "Murder at Mirror Lake." I always wanted to go on a fall color tour so I wrote a mystery about "leaf peepers."


The second event was the launch of "A Cup of Cozy 2," second edition of  Cozy Mystery Magazine's anthology featuring our authors. In it you'll find six new short holiday stories including one from my new series called "Lawrence Buys a Gift." Lawrence is the amateur sleuth husband of one of Jillian's new friends. The book also includes fabulous holiday menus and recipes that you'll want to check out. I hope you enjoy it.



The third really happy event I'm celebrating is the new cover designs for my series. They're almost ready. Here is a close replica of what they'll look like (with a few changes, of course).

I hope you have a wonderful week. If you're looking for some "Murder She Wrote" kind of books, you may want to give mine a try.


Thanks for sharing our time together.



Cheers!
~Nancy Jill