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

Tea Party Tuesday - Fall ~ A Perfect Time for Tea

Welcome to Tea Party Tuesday - I'm so glad you've joined me. Let me pour you a nice cup of tea.

Milk? Sugars? Do have some snacks.

Now that the kiddies are back in school, many of us can sit back and relax. Days are shorter, nights are longer, and things seem cozier in general.

To me, fall and winter are never long enough. Sitting by a crackling fire sipping tea, well, it doesn't get any better for a lot of us.

Especially if you're a reader!

This fall two new books are coming on the market that I think you'll enjoy.

"A CUP OF COZY 2" is the latest anthology from the authors of Cozy Mystery Magazine. You'll not only find cozy holiday stories showcasing our styles, but also holiday menus and recipes from each author.

Book 9 "Murder at Mirror Lake" is also due to launch. Jillian and her garden club friends take a fall trip to upstate New York only to find themselves in the middle of a murder investigation of an executive chef. A fun whodunnit that will keep you guessing until the end.

Lots of great reading coming up! I can't wait.

Cheers!

~Nancy Jill

You're Invited for Tea With Jillian Bradley

 AMAZON * BARNES & NOBLE  

* SMASHWORDS * KOBO

Readers will always find afternoon tea in The Jillian Bradley Mystery Series. Here is an excerpt from:

 "The Ghost Orchid Murder"

Book 2

At precisely four o’clock, there was a knock on my door. When I answered, Yvette stood in the doorway and smiled. Room service was right behind her. I motioned for her to sit down on the sofa by the fire as the server placed the tea tray on the table in front of her. I signed the bill and thanked him.

Teddy was yipping, trying to guard me from whoever entered his territory.

Yvette’s face brightened.

She looked surprisingly young for her age which I judged to be about forty-five to fifty. Her firm handshake confirmed that she was self-assured. She sat straight on the sofa with her ankles crossed. Although she was pretty in a country sort of way, the lines around her eyes told of a difficult life, not one of privilege.

High cheekbones spoke of her French ancestry. Like many Europeans, Yvette wore no makeup, only a little lipstick and yet her color looked quite healthy. She wore her shoulder-length blond hair straight and simple. Her clothes flattered her medium built figure. I wondered if Rene had been like her.

Teddy was yipping in the bedroom, trying to guard his territory from the present invader.

“Would you like some tea?”

“Thank you, I’d love some. Just plain, please.”

I took my time pouring the tea and stirring in the sugar for mine. I offered her a slice of decadent chocolate cake or a chocolate chip oatmeal cookie. She took the cookie and white linen napkin. We sipped our tea and she told me again how much she appreciated the invitation.

“I would love to meet your dog, Jillian.” She placed her cookie on her saucer.

I walked over to Cecilia’s room and let Teddy out. He immediately ran over to Yvette and jumped into her lap.

She smiled and began to pet him.

“He’s adorable.” She rubbed his ears gently and stroked his fur. “I could never give Rene a dog because A.J. said we couldn’t afford one. Of course I regret it now, like so many things.”

“Is A.J. your husband?” I was glad Teddy was taking to her so.

“He was my husband. A.J. died when Rene was a teenager.”

“I’m so sorry. What did your husband do for a living?”

“He was a logger.” She sighed. “Six days a week he’d take logs from where they fell and load them onto trucks that took them to the mills. A.J. would work twelve hours a day and when he got home, all dirty and hungry, Rene would disappear into another room. The two didn’t really mix.

“A.J. and I would have a little time over dinner together where he recapped his day. Then to sleep…early…7 o’clock sharp every evening. The same routine started all over again the next morning.”

“He seems to have worked hard to provide for his family. I’m sure you miss him.”

Teddy licked her hand as if to say he was sorry she had suffered two deaths now.

“You’re a good dog, Teddy. Thank you.” She stroked his fur. “Please have your friend come in and have some tea. I feel like I’m encroaching.”              

I stood. “I’ll ask her if she’d like to join us.”

I introduced Cecilia. Yvette seemed comfortable sharing her personal life in front of her. I think she sensed I had her welfare in mind and trusted me.

She was hungry to talk to someone, so Cecilia and I listened sympathetically.

Yvette talked for some time, unfolding her life story as we drank tea together. I made sure her cup stayed full. 

Have a lovely week, dear readers!

~Nancy Jill

Let's Get to the Story

"The Ruby of Siam"

Who? Jillian Bradley and Teddy, of course. (It is their series.) The thief Lucas Sansurin, his wife Mai, Jillian's garden club friends Ann Friedman and Nicole King, Jillian's fiance and a host of good guys and bad guys
What? A jewel heist goes wrong and the necklace is up for grabs
Where? London
Why? Jillian is determined to fufill a cryptic request.
When? Two weeks before Jillian's wedding.

Available now for $3.99 on Kindle, Nook, Kobo and Smashwords. 

 $8.09 Paperback (Amazon)

From the back cover...

When Jillian and Teddy travel to London with her wedding attendants, they find themselves embroiled in a jewel heist with a man left stabbed to death. Can they solve the crimes in the midst of Jillian’s wedding plans? An old acquaintance from San Diego offers his help, but will it  be enough to solve the mystery? Perhaps the jewel has a curse.

Thank you for your readership, good reviews, and sharing with friends. You help spread the word about my books in the best possible way! I appreciate it.

Have an awesome week!

See you in my books!

 ~Nancy Jill 

Mystery novelist Nancy Jill Thames began publishing Christian fiction in 2010. The author of seven books in the Jillian Bradley series, she is an award winning blogger and listed numerous times on the Author Watch Bestseller’s List. In addition, she won first place in her church's 4th of July celebration for her chocolate cream pie.

When she isn’t plotting her next book, she spends time with her six grandchildren, tags along with her husband on business trips, and plays classical piano for her personal enjoyment. She is an active member of the Leander Writers' Guild, American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW),  CenTex Chapter ACFW, and supports the Central Texas SPCA with a portion of her book sales. She resides with her husband in Leander, Texas.
CONTACT INFORMATION jillthames@gmail.com

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