by: Polly Holmes
Series: Melting Pot Cafe
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release Date: October 31, 2022
Publisher: Gumnut Press
Careful what you wish for!
Graduating to a fully-fledged witch on my upcoming birthday should be a momentous occasion, but when a local hairdresser turns up dead, I know it’s going to be one hell of a week.
Saltwater Cove’s resident infuriating fae looks like a good suspect for the murder, but insists she’s innocent and reveals a huge secret too amazing to be a lie. But if she didn’t do it… then who did?
The murder triggers the return of a dark force… dark enough to send even the most experienced witches into panic mode. Harriet, Jordi and Tyler join me as I try to find the culprit, putting my magical abilities to the ultimate test.
When the killer strikes even closer to home, I need to up my game if I’m going to keep evil at bay.…or have I finally met my supernatural match?
“I cannot believe you’re not going to have a birthday party!” Harriet said, dropping on the edge of my bed, disgruntled. “It’s not every day you turn twenty-five and become a full-fledged witch. Why would you not want to have a party? It’s a milestone to celebrate.”
“Parties are over-rated,” I blurted, holding a pink and black blouse against my chest and checking out the vintage look in the full-length mirror in the corner.
Not bad, if I say so myself. Lookout, Tyler, here I come.
“Harriet’s right.” Jordi joined her on the bed. Both my best friends stared blankly at me. These two women meant the world to me, and that was precisely why I was not having a party.
“I’m sure lover boy has a great night planned this evening, but what about the rest of us?” Harriet giggled. “How are we going to celebrate your birthday?”
I bit the inside of my cheek, choosing my words carefully. “Do you remember what happened when we hosted our last party at The Melting Pot?”
They glanced sideways at each other, and then Harriet piped up, “Please don’t tell me it was New Year’s Eve?”
My forehead tightened. “It certainly was.”
A grimace turned Jordi’s expression upside down. “I remember. Prudence McAvoy turned up dead in your pond. But when you think about it, that’s no great loss.”
“Jordi!” I said, three octaves higher. “That is a terrible thing to say.”
She shrugged. “Sorry, but we all know she was not at the top of my Christmas Card list. She made my life hell at school and after. She made my life hell…period.”
“Parties are over-rated,” I blurted, holding a pink and black blouse against my chest and checking out the vintage look in the full-length mirror in the corner.
Not bad, if I say so myself. Lookout, Tyler, here I come.
“Harriet’s right.” Jordi joined her on the bed. Both my best friends stared blankly at me. These two women meant the world to me, and that was precisely why I was not having a party.
“I’m sure lover boy has a great night planned this evening, but what about the rest of us?” Harriet giggled. “How are we going to celebrate your birthday?”
I bit the inside of my cheek, choosing my words carefully. “Do you remember what happened when we hosted our last party at The Melting Pot?”
They glanced sideways at each other, and then Harriet piped up, “Please don’t tell me it was New Year’s Eve?”
My forehead tightened. “It certainly was.”
A grimace turned Jordi’s expression upside down. “I remember. Prudence McAvoy turned up dead in your pond. But when you think about it, that’s no great loss.”
“Jordi!” I said, three octaves higher. “That is a terrible thing to say.”
She shrugged. “Sorry, but we all know she was not at the top of my Christmas Card list. She made my life hell at school and after. She made my life hell…period.”
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The Melting Pot Cafe Series:
Polly Holmes is the cheeky, sassy alter ego of Amazon best-selling author, P.L. Harris. When she's not writing her next romantic suspense novel as P.L. Harris, she is planning the next murder in one of Polly’s cozy mysteries. She pens food-themed and paranormal cozy mysteries and publishes her books solely with Gumnut Press.
As Polly Holmes, Cupcakes and Corpses was a finalist in the Oklahoma Romance Writers of America’s 2019 IDA International Digital Awards, short suspense category. Cupcakes and Curses claimed second place and Cupcakes and Cyanide gained third place making it a clean sweep in the category.
She won silver in the 2020 ROAR! National Business Awards in the Writer/Blogger/Author category and for the second year in a row, she was a finalist in the 2021 ROAR! National Business Awards winning bronze in the Writer/Blogger/Author category with Gumnut Press taking out the gold in the Hustle and Heart category.
2022 saw Polly Holmes’ books Muffins & Magic and Mistletoe, Murder & Mayhem long-listed in the Davitt Awards, a prestigious award run by the Sisters of Crime, Australia. Muffins & Magic also placed in the finals of the cozy mystery category in the Nashville Silver Falchion Awards.
She lives in the northern suburbs of Perth, Western Australia, with her Bichon Frise, Bella.
Places to find Polly Holmes:
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Thank you for having me here. I'm Polly Holmes and I'm looking forward to chatting to you.
ReplyDeleteHi Polly. Thank you for stopping by. Happy release day.
DeleteThanks Kim, it was a blast.
DeleteThanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome.
DeleteThanks Kim. It's very exciting.
ReplyDeleteI love your books. Cannot wait to read "Black Magic Murder". The keychain in fantastic!
ReplyDeleteFrom one Polly to another, Thank you. :)
DeleteGreat giveaway :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Cali
DeleteSounds like a fun, interesting read. Congrats to the author! :)
ReplyDeletelooks like quite an extensive book series!
ReplyDeleteSure is and I still have 3-4 books to write. :)
DeleteThis looks like a really interesting read! Adding it to my TBR list!
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