Author Leena Clover - Cozy Mysteries

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

Blog

Ready for a Sneak Peek?

by 11 Comments

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]

by Leave a Comment

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?

by 8 Comments

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.

Preorder Delay

by Leave a Comment

Hello there! Hope you stayed safe this long weekend.

I have some unfortunate news. Due to some unavoidable circumstances, I am delaying the release of Pancakes and Parrots, the latest book in the Pelican Cove series.

The current crisis has definitely contributed to this. I have some increased responsibilities and also found it somewhat hard to concentrate on work with everything that is going on. I apologize for this.

I am going to try and make this the best Pelican Cove book yet. The book did not have a definite blurb at the time I set up the preorder and yet many of you reserved a copy. The final blurb is up and I have a feeling this book is going to be longer than the others.

For those who came in late …

Pancakes and Parrots

Time Capsule Triggers Murder at High School Reunion

Jenny is hosting a pancake breakfast at the Boardwalk Cafe for her husband’s high school reunion. The town is abuzz with gossip since the infamous class of 1988 is back home for the event. It’s a time to indulge in nostalgia and take a trip down memory lane.

Everyone is eagerly awaiting the big event, the grand unveiling of the memory box at the gala dinner. But when the keeper of secrets is found murdered, all hell breaks loose.

Petitioned by the grieving widow, Jenny faces the belligerent reunion delegates who are not happy to be trapped in town. Everyone is a suspect since they were all present at the scene of crime. As long buried secrets begin to surface, Jenny’s sleuthing abilities will be tested.

Meanwhile, the Magnolias are busy raising funds to help a terminally ill child.

Jenny must battle a personal crisis, help a devastated mother and navigate petty high school rivalries while she hunts for the true killer.

If you like cozy mysteries with smart heroines, unexpected twists, yummy food and friendships that endure, you will love Pancakes and Parrots.

Reserve your copy now!

That’s it from me for now. Did you try the summer soup recipe? What are you reading now? Talk soon.

My Favorite Summer Soup

by Leave a Comment

Hello there! Hope this week finds you healthy and well.

Do you think summer and soup don’t go together? Well, I’m about to change your mind. Have you heard of gazpacho? It’s a cold Spanish soup made with ripe tomatoes, stale bread and a bunch of other vegetables. It’s totally yum!

Many of you wrote in to tell me how much you liked the Hard Times Tomato Basil Soup. Thanks so much for giving it a try. This one is going to be a riot on your taste buds, promise.

A writing update – I finished the first draft of the latest Dolphin Bay book. It goes on the back burner for now until I finish the next Pelican Cove book, Pancakes and Parrots. If you haven’t booked your copy yet, head over to the preorder page and do it now!

I spent an intense planning session this week for Pancakes and Parrots. My mind is reeling and I know writing this one is going to be a challenge. Expect plenty of suspects and twists and turns.

Gazpacho Recipe

You will need plenty of nice ripe tomatoes, some cucumbers, a little onion and green pepper, a sweet pepper or two, some garlic, some stale bread and really good extra virgin olive oil. I use smoked paprika to give it that authentic Spanish kick and also the smoky flavor. But if you don’t like it, you can just use sweet paprika instead.

This recipe is pretty forgiving in terms of proportions. So please use the recipe just as a guideline.

Ingredients

6 plum tomatoes
1 English cucumbers
1 small red onion
½ green bell pepper
1/2 red bell pepper
1/2 yellow bell pepper
2 cloves garlic
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
pinch of cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
2-3 slices whole grain bread
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
2 tsp sugar
2 cups+ water as needed
Salt to taste
2-3 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Method

Peel tomatoes and chop roughly.
Peel half cucumber and leave the skin on the other half. Chop these.
Finely chop quarter cucumber and set aside for garnish.
Chop the peppers, reserving some to finely chop for garnish.
Chop the red onion, reserving some to finely chop for garnish.
Add all ingredients to food processor or blender.
Add spices/seasonigs and grate or crush the garlic before adding it in.
Add a little water and blend until smooth. Add more water based on how thin you want the soup to be.
Refrigerate and serve garnished with the minced veggies and a squirt of more olive oil.
Optional – you can strain the soup through a colander if you want it super smooth.

That’s it. Isn’t it super easy? You can sip this any time of the day whenever you need a pick me up. I don’t have any recent photos so I am just sharing an old picture here, taken with an ancient camera!

Please send me your photos so I can share them with other readers here or on Faecbook.

I am going to try and write to you every week. You can look forward to more writing updates and cozy mystery recommendations at the very least.

Until next time, stay well!

LAST CHANCE: 99c Sale and more

by Leave a Comment

Hello everyone! I hope you are all safe and healthy and doing well.

I have some great news. As you know, I recently discounted my latest Pelican Cove Box Set to 99c. The sale has been fantastic and the book has earned many accolades and is number 1 in several categories. Here are some milestones achieved –

Top 20 Amazon Kindle Store

#1 Cozy Mystery

#1 in Cozy Culinary Mystery, Cozy Crafts & Hobbies Mystery, Cozy Animal Mysteries and Amateur Sleuths

#1 Mystery Anthology

All this would not have been possible without your love and support. So I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

The Box Set is still on sale TODAY ONLY for 99c. And the first set is also on sale at $2.99. If you want to grab EIGHT Pelican Cove books for $3.99, this is your last chance.

Want to check out some NEW free cozy mysteries? Head over to the Mystery Block Party where cozy mystery authors are bringing the party to You. Makes staying at home more easy! Just click in the image below.

Author friend Dianne Harman is doing a spectacular 90 day sale of her books. A new book free or 99c every day!! Check out the latest offering in this extravaganza.

A lifelong dream about to be realized
A clothing designer’s debut line goes missing
A high-end fashion house in turmoil
Was it greed, ambition, or jealousy?

Brigid accompanies her sister to Los Angeles for the culmination of Fiona’s life-long dream – to be a fashion designer. But when Fiona’s fashions go missing on the day they’re to be debuted, Brigid’s determined to find the culprit.

No one had access to the design room but Green Butterfly employees, so Brigid’s certain it must have been an inside job. But just which one of the employees is responsible, and why?

This is the 10th book in the Cottonwood Springs Cozy Mystery Series by a USA Today Bestselling Author and Amazon All-Star. 

Okay peeps! I think you have plenty to keep you busy until next time. I’m heading back to write my current book, which is almost done. Until next time, take care!!