Author Leena Clover - Cozy Mysteries

Cozy Mystery Books with food, cats and dogs, crafts and hobbies

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Many Thanks

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Happy Friday, peeps!

Hope you are curled up on the couch, enjoying your copy of Pancakes and Parrots :).

I am pleased to announce that Pancakes and Parrots is topping charts across retailers.

Top 100 Barnes & Noble

Top 100 Apple Books Mysteries & Thrillers

Top 3 Cozy Mystery New Releases on Kindle

A big THANK YOU to everyone who preordered a copy or bought it on launch day.

If you haven’t grabbed your copy yet, do it now!! Find out what thousands of readers are raving about.

SURPRISE!

As my way of saying thanks, I have made Book 1 and Book 2 in the Pelican Cove series FREE on Amazon.

They have never been free before so this is a great opportunity to get started on the Pelican Cove series. They won’t be free again anytime soon.

Please do take advantage of this offer.

strawberries and strangers pelican cove cozy nystery

Cupcakes and Celebrities Cover

Scavenger Hunt

We have been having lotsa fun at my Facebook page with the 6 day long scavenger hunt. Three more days to go so it is not too late to join us.

Please head over to http://facebook.com/leenaclovercozymysterybooks and start playing.

And that’s all from me today. Thank you for being here. I really appreciate you.

Summer Recipe

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Hello! How are you? I hope you enjoyed the sample chapter I shared with you last time.

The clock is ticking and we have exactly two weeks before Pancakes and Parrots goes live! If you haven’t entered the preorder giveaway yet, head over there right now. Remember, there is an option for a daily bonus entry too. All you have to do is click and increase your chances of winning.

Grilled cheese has to be one of my favorite comfort foods and go to meals. Give me a nice crispy grilled cheese and a bowl of tomato soup and I’m a happy camper.

Today I am sharing a recipe from Pancakes and Parrots. It is super simple and great even for novice cooks. What happens when my love for grilled cheese meets Jenny’s penchant for strawberries? Strawberry grilled cheese, of course.

You gotta try this one!

New Cozy Mystery Releases

Fellow author Chelsea Thomas has a new release in her Apple Orchard series. Dread and Butter is now available on Amazon. And Peaches and Scream, another book in the series, is FREE until August 12 only.

The body was found face down in a loaf of bread.

Chelsea has always been scared of too many carbs. But this is worse than she ever imagined. Bread is too delicious to be used as a weapon. Especially Miss May’s fluffy sour dough.

Good detectives follow every clue.

This time, those clues include a mysterious note, a fallen toupee and a literal trail of bread crumbs. But will Miss May, Chelsea and Teeny be able to find the killer while the crime is still fresh? Or will the clues get so stale they’re too tough to chew?

You’ll love this cozy because everyone loves cute mysteries that keep you turning the pages. Get it now.

Life’s a peach. Murder is the pit.

Peaches are back in season at the orchard and everyone’s got that warm, fuzzy feeling.

Miss May throws a “Peach Party” to celebrate. The whole town turns up for the bash. They munch on Peach pie, they drink Peach Sangria. Everything is, well, peachy. Until…

…a dead body turns up in the bakeshop.

Will Chelsea end up in prison for a crime she didn’t commit?

You’ll love this story because it has a mystery that’s tough to solve, plus a peach pie recipe that’s been in the family for generations.

Strawberry Grilled Cheese Recipe

Perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner. I love using crusty multigrain bread for this. You can use any bread you like.

Ingredients

4 slices bread

1 cup strawberries, sliced thick

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

1 cup shredded mozzarella or 4-5 thick slices

1/4 cup smoked gouda

1/4 stick soft butter

1/4 cup fresh basil or arugula

balsamic reduction (optional)

Method

Core the strawberries and slice them thickly, about 4 slices per berry.

Soak in balsamic vinegar and marinate for 15-20 minutes.

Butter the bread and place slices of fresh mozzarella or a generous amount of shredded mozzarella on each slice.

Place the marinated strawberries on the cheese.

Add some fresh basil leaves or arugula leaves.

Add a layer of smoked gouda.

Cover with mozzarella cheese and the other slice of bread.

Grill on a pan or in a panini press until the cheese melts and the bread is crispy and browned to your liking.

Cut into two and serve with a drizzle of balsamic reduction.

I hope you liked this recipe and are rushing off to try it out. We’ve got more fun stuff coming up soon. Stay tuned!

Ready for a Sneak Peek?

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Hello everyone! I hope you had a great week.

Many of you have been eagerly waiting for Pancakes and Parrots. Well, I’m happy to announce that the book is currently with my editor. And I have a special sneak peek for you. Ta-da!

So if you are eager to catch up with Jenny and the Magnolias and get the skinny on what’s happening in Pelican Cove, head over to the following link and download your sample.

Based on your feedback (keep it coming please), I have hosted this sample on Bookfunnel instead of my website. That is because a lot of you have written back saying that you prefer to get your free books or samples from there.

If you have any questions about this, please let me know. I am eager to hear back from you.

Flash Giveaway

I am giving away a $5 Amazon gift card to one random winner. More giveaways are coming in July. Let’s call this a dry run. I know it’s not a biggie but it should get you an ebook of your choice, at least.

How do you enter?

Please leave a comment below and let me know 3 contemporary cozy authors you like to read other than me.

That’s all from me this time. I hope you stay safe and upbeat and have a wonderful weekend!

Quick and Easy Tomato Dip [RECIPE]

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Hello everyone! Hope you are staying safe and enjoying summer, as much as you can under the circumstances.

I have been busy working on Pancakes and Parrots. I can’t wait to share an excerpt or sample with you. The book is available on Amazon, Nook and Apple Books. Recently, I thought I hit a snag when a few readers reported they could not see the Buy button when they clicked on the Apple link.

PREORDER LINKS

After further investigation, it turns out this appears only for people on Apple devices. So if you want to preorder Pancakes and Parrots from Apple, make sure you are on an Apple device! Whew.

By the way, if you still haven’t started the Pelican Cove series, now is the time. You can get the two box sets at a hefty discount.

Giveaways!

I got some fantastic ideas from you. I am going to implement them very soon. So don’t miss these newsletters. LOL.

ARC

Many of you have written to me regarding the ARC group. I am sorry I haven’t replied yet. But I have read and appreciated all the reviews you are leaving on various platforms. I am going to try and get back to you this weekend.

Recipe of the Month

I am going to make this a thing! The recipes may or may not be from the books but they will certainly be something you can enjoy.

Many of you loved the Hard Times Tomato Soup. That is one reason I chose a tomato recipe. Other reasons? I love tomatoes, it’s summer, tomatoes are available everywhere, many people grow tomatoes at this time, etc. etc.

This recipe is more of a guideline. You can modify this in many ways and make it your own. I will suggest variations, hoping it doesn’t become too confusing.

Quick and Easy Tomato Dip

Ingredients

6-8 medium tomatoes

2 Tbsp chopped ginger

2 Tbsp blanched almonds

2 Tbsp light oil

½ tsp sweet paprika

1 tsp sugar

Salt to taste

¼ cup plain yogurt or Greek yogurt

Method

Cut the tomatoes into chunks.

Heat oil in a pan and add the tomatoes, ginger and the almonds. Stir them till they are bruised and softened. Add spices and seasonings. The tomatoes will sweat a bit, releasing some juice. That is perfectly normal. Switch off heat at this point and cool the mixture completely.

Blend the tomato mixture without adding more liquid.

Your dip is ready. You can add in the yogurt at this point and pulse a few times until it is mixed in.

Refrigerate and use as a dip for chips or crudite, slather on toast, wraps or crackers.

Options – if you don’t like ginger, you can use garlic. Absolutely. Each will give a different flavor to the dip.

I used light oil because I want the tomatoes to shine but you can use extra virgin olive oil.

Use cashews instead of almonds. Or go nut free and use sunflower seeds.

Liven things up a bit by using dried herbs like oregano or mint.

Want more heat? Try adding half a fresh jalapeno pepper, or a dried chipotle or ancho chili.

That’s it! Something fresh and zesty for the next time you are curling up on that couch and going on a cozy mystery binge.

How About A Giveaway?

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Howdy! Hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy.

Let’s talk about giveaways today. I recently extended the release date for Book 11 of the Pelican Cove series. Pancakes and Parrots is coming August 25 and I hope you already reserved your copy.

This will be my 20th main title. I still pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming. I always wanted to write, even when I was an awkward teenager who preferred being lost in a mystery book over anything else. I filed it away under ‘some day’ but a few years ago, I finally took the plunge.

I’m not here to reminisce.

Like every author out there, I have lofty dreams of reaching and entertaining millions of readers. But I am happy and grateful I have come this far. And this couldn’t have been possible without YOU.

I am planning to celebrate by holding a few giveaways. And I am trying to figure out what to give away, apart from my own books

-Books by other authors like Agatha Christie

-Kindle reader

-Cookware, Instant Pot etc.

-Anything else?

I am open to any suggestions, even specific products on Amazon. Product can be anywhere under $100, preferably around 60-70 bucks.

Please write to me at leenaclover[at]gmail.com or leave a comment below.

The plan is to hold these on different platforms so it will be great if you follow me in multiple places [HINT], but only if you use these platforms.

Facebook – https://facebook.com/leenaclovercozymysterybooks

Bookbub – https://www.bookbub.com/profile/leena-clover

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16918791.Leena_Clover

Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/Leena-Clover/e/B071ZX7XS9

And there will definitely be newsletter only giveaways so you are already in the right place.

Let’s talk about Books

I read a lot of books, especially cozy mysteries. And I love the 1920s genre. But recently I read a historical mystery set in the Regency era. It’s worth checking out.

Have you checked out the Apple Orchard mysteries yet? Chelsea Thomas is offering a FREE book in this popular series. Offer valid for June 3 only.

Star Actor Shot Dead During Performance

Everyone thought the murder was part of the play at first…

…but the actor never stood up to take a bow.

The killer planned the murder well. Except for one tiny detail…

Miss May and Chelsea were in the audience. Now they’re hungry for justice. So they grab their wacky friend Teeny and pursue the case.

The clues the girls find are shocking. Could this murder have something to do with Chelsea’s past? Why are there mysterious junk removal guys destroying evidence all over town?

And what will happen during the second performance of the play?

As Chelsea and Miss May get closer to the truth they realize their own lives are in danger. Will they survive an attack by the killer? And will Chelsea finally get closure on her turbulent childhood?

You’ll love book seven in the apple orchard cozy series because it features delicious food, it’s got lots of laughs, and it’s filled with suspense.

“The perfect read for a cozy night in!”

—

That’s all from me today. I am busy working on Pancakes and Parrots. Hopefully, I will have a sample for you soon.

Toodles and take care.

Stretch a Buck [RECIPE]

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Hello! Hope you are all keeping safe and taking care of yourself in these hard times.

All we can do is stay positive, keep calm and believe that better times are ahead of us. And say a prayer for those who are affected and hope they conquer this dreaded virus.

As a writer, I am home bound most of the time and in a kind of self quarantine. So my daily schedule hasn’t changed much. But everything that’s happening around me is making it difficult to concentrate on work, which means writing isn’t getting done. So I thought I would shift gears and try to come up with some easy recipes.

Many of you have asked for recipes and I have mentioned a recipe book that will come out in the future. This is the first time I am sharing one of Jenny’s recipes. Hope you like it and try it out. I have tried to make it easy and pocket friendly, using pantry ingredients.

Updates from the world of writing – some fellow authors had planned a spring sale. Please visit the page below to check out some 99c books. One of my own books, Back to the Fajitas, is part of it. It features a family road trip along Route 66 and a mystery that is solved long distance over the phone. The setting is turn of the century, a time when there were no video chats and no smart phones. Can we even imagine such a time?

Cozy Mystery Spring Fling Sale March 19-21 – Click to Visit

My author friend Dianne Harman is having a 90 day sale. She is going to put a book free or at 99c for the next, yes, 90 days. Please sign up for her newsletter so you get an email about these books every day.

I may have a surprise for you too. Just stay tuned and keep watching this space.

Are you ready for the recipe now? It’s just a simple tomato soup that can be made with things you generally have on hand. I know the first day of spring is almost here, but it’s still cool enough to eat soup, right?

Winter Hard Times Tomato Basil Soup RECIPE

Ingredients

½ cup onion, diced

½ cup celery, diced

1 clove garlic, crushed or minced

1 dry bay leaf

2 cups carrots, cooked

5-6 cups crushed tomatoes

2 cups vegetable stock or water

1 can evaporated milk

1 Tbsp corn starch

1 tsp fresh ground black pepper

¼ tsp paprika

2 tsp sugar

½ – 1 tsp dried basil

2 Tbsp butter

2 Tbsp olive oil

salt to taste

Method

Add butter and oil to a stock pot and let the butter melt.

Add the bay leaf.

Add onions, garlic and celery and sauté on medium flame until softened.

Add carrots and tomatoes along with the stock.

Add all the herbs and seasonings and bring to a boil. Simmer for 10-15 minutes.

Whisk corn starch and evaporated milk together.

Reduce heat and add it to the soup. Stir to combine well. You can blend the soup in the pot if you want it very smooth.

Serve hot with fresh cracked pepper and a pinch of dried basil.

Notes – You can use 1/2 tsp garlic powder instead of fresh garlic. Same for the onions. Use fresh milk or half and half instead of evaporated milk.

Makes about 8 cups of soup!!

The Instant Pot has become quite popular over the past couple of years. Would you like to have an IP version of this recipe? Or would you like other IP recipes made with pantry ingredients?

Please try this and let me know what you think. Also, please share your photos. I will post them on Facebook or on the blog here to inspire other readers.

Hope you stay safe and healthy and take care!

New Release: CRANBERRY SAGE MIRACLE is Live

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Hello and Happy Leap Year. I’m happy to announce the first release of 2020 and indeed this decade.

Cranberry Sage Miracle takes us back to Dolphin Bay and the Butler ladies. This is a holiday themed book which can be enjoyed through the year.

Lots of new stuff is coming your way soon. Until then, I hope you will check out the new book and give it a chance.

CRANBERRY SAGE MIRACLE

Dolphin Bay Philanthropist Strangled in Bed! 

Christmas is around the corner and café owner Anna Butler has big plans for the holiday season. When a beloved local philanthropist is murdered in his sleep, Anna is shocked and sad but decides she is too busy to go sleuthing this time. Then an odious stranger turns up at the café and makes her an offer she cannot ignore. Anna plunges into the investigation against the wishes of her family.

Interviews with the victim’s family reveal they all had an equal opportunity to commit the crime. But none of them appear to have a motive. The situation worsens when the very man she is supposed to vindicate becomes the top suspect of the police. Can she keep up her end of the bargain?
Meanwhile, Anna’s mother is home for the holidays, trying to cope with the big secret Anna kept from her.

Cranberry Sage Miracle is a fast paced holiday themed cozy mystery that can be enjoyed any day of the year. Book 4 in the Dolphin Bay series will compel you to work those grey cells, trying to figure out whodunit. The Christmas cheer will warm your heart and remind you to count your blessings.

If you like cozy mysteries with strong women, friends and family, yummy food and a dash of romance, you will love this book.

Buy your copy now and start reading.

The book is currently on sale at 99c for a limited time.

Got PAPERBACKS?

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Hello there! Have you got your paperbacks yet?

We are firmly in 2020 with January on its last legs. This is the time when new year resolutions begin to drop off and we fall into the drudgery of our regular lives. But if you made a resolution to read more this year, I’m going to help you keep it.

I reduced all my paperbacks by almost 40% and put all of them on sale in January. Surprisingly, you bought less paperbacks this month than you do at full price. So I thought I would remind you gently before the prices go back up next week. You have a few grace days until I actually get down to doing it.

The picture above is me admiring my paperbacks after a hard day. They give me great inspiration to keep writing.

COZY MYSTERY WINTER SALE

I’m always looking around for cozy mystery sales for you. This one features top cozy authors. The books are either 99c or FREE. You will have to click on the book to check the price though.

Sale ends on FEB 2 – so you will have to hurry!

http://stephaniedamore.com/mystery-sale

PAPERBACK LINKS

I am providing all the paperback links again for your ready reference.

Strawberries and Strangers https://www.amazon.com/dp/1791638694

Cupcakes and Celebrities https://www.amazon.com/dp/1791690556

Berries and Birthdays www.amazon.com/dp/1791752853

Sprinkles and Skeletons https://www.amazon.com/dp/1791753272

Waffles and Weekends https://www.amazon.com/dp/1791788289

Muffins and Mobsters https://www.amazon.com/dp/1791788726

Parfaits and Paramours https://www.amazon.com/dp/1791970389

Truffles and Troubadours https://www.amazon.com/dp/1090809824

Sundaes and Sinners https://www.amazon.com/dp/1676966617

Croissants and Cruises https://www.amazon.com/dp/1675785384

Raspberry Chocolate Murder https://www.amazon.com/dp/1087360129

Orange Thyme Death https://www.amazon.com/dp/1686456786

Apple Caramel Mayhem https://www.amazon.com/dp/1698218141

WRITING UPDATE

The next Dolphin Bay book, Book 4, is almost ready to go to my editor. I am hoping to release it by the middle of next month. This is a Christmas themed book. I am not sure how many of you will want to read it in Feb. But it is the right time for Christmas in Dolphin Bay. The book got delayed because I got sick in November and December.

Next on the calendar is new covers for my Meera Patel series. I may also lightly edit it or give it a onceover. This will take time and delay the next Dolphin Bay book so I’m in two minds. This series is heavy on diversity and food! Some of the readers felt there was too much food. More about it soon.

That’s all for now. Hope you have a great weekend and have something great planned for February.

Welcome 2020 (New Book Inside)

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Hello there!

Wish you a Happy New Year. Hope this year brings you peace and good health. It’s the dawn of a new decade and I eagerly await what lies ahead.

Mystery fans got some sad news this week with the demise of M. C. Beaton. She’s one of my favorite authors and truly an inspiration. May she rest in peace. I have no doubt she will continue to entertain readers forever.

NEW RELEASE ALERT

Big News! I have a new release.

The book went live on December 10 and many of you have already enjoyed reading it. But I know it must have been hard to find time to read amidst all the holiday frenzy. So I waited to tell you about it.

Pelican Cove fans will be happy to reunite with Jenny and the Magnolias.

MURDER AND MAYHEM ON THE HIGH SEAS

Jenny and her friends embark on the trip of their lifetime, a nine day Caribbean cruise aboard the Glamour of the Seas. It’s Betty Sue’s 86th birthday and the girls are determined to enjoy everything the ship has to offer, starting with the Sail Away party. But stormy seas lie ahead!

When a high stakes poker game turns deadly, Betty Sue is detained as a suspect. A cold blooded killer lurks in the shadows under the warm tropical sun. Jenny steps up to investigate, aided by her trusted sidekicks. Can she apply her sleuthing skills to this alien environment and clear Betty Sue of blame?

Jenny wades through the ship’s underbelly, uncovering a web of lies and secrets as she tries to catch the elusive murderer. Wooed by admirers old and new, she must make peace with her past in order to be happy in her personal life.

If you like cruise ship adventures and fast paced mysteries with a dash of romance, you will love this cozy cruise ship mystery from the Pelican Cove series.

Join Jenny and the Magnolias this Christmas season for a nonstop, action packed adventure on the high seas. There’s plenty of delicious food and drink to keep you busy, along with quirky characters and red herrings.

COMING SOON

I am eager to know how you like this new book, especially the cruise ship setting. Would you like to read more such books? Please leave a comment, a review or let me know by email. I might just create a new cruising series ;).

Paperbacks are going on SALE soon. This will be exclusive for January only. This is a great opportunity to add your favorite books to your permanent library. So stay tuned for more.

Have a great day, year, decade ahead!! 🙂

Large Print and Mega Cozy Mystery Sale

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Have you heard of large print books? Do you ever read them?

I have been meaning to produce large print versions of my books for a while now. I am pleased to announce that I have finally taken the first step and published a large print version of Strawberries and Strangers, the first book in the Pelican Cove Cozy Mystery series.

Please do go and check it out here –>

Larger font means more pages. This one clocked in at 500+. So the cost is higher than your normal paperback.

With the holidays coming up, this is a great gift option for the readers in your family.

If you still haven’t read the Pelican Cove series, what are you waiting for?

There are 9 bestselling books in the series, all of them loved by readers. Get a kindle version of the first book here –>

You can borrow all these books for FREE if you are a Kindle Unlimited subscriber.

Mega Cozy Mystery Sale

The Mega Cozy Mystery Sale is on right now with excellent cozies for 99c. Some of them are box sets which means some really good deals are up for grabs. There is also a Kindle Fire giveaway for one lucky winner.

cozy mystery sale
http://fairfieldpublishing.com/cozy-mystery-sale-oct-2019/

Writing update –

I am currently working on the next Pelican Cove book. Hoping to release it by Thanksgiving.

I hope you all took advantage of the free run of Hazelnuts and Halloween and got yourself a copy.

If you are liking any of my books, please do head over to Amazon, Goodreads, Bookbub or whatever your favorite platform is and leave a brief review. Reviews help other readers discover my books. Why not share the love? You will have my eternal gratitude :).

Until next time, enjoy all the coziness that fall brings with it.