by: Nancy Pennick
Series: Pearl Hotel Cozy Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release Date: March 29, 2024
In a cozy tearoom of a prestigious five-star hotel, three friends embark on a mission to solve a murder along with a koi that appears to read minds.
Faced with a severe case of writer’s block, best-selling author Serena Tate seeks help from her close confidant, Mia, a popular fashion designer. Mia suggests that Serena observe the inner workings of her forthcoming fashion show for inspiration. What unfolds is beyond her wildest expectations—a shocking murder of a supermodel. Together with their tech-savvy friend, Lily, the unlikely trio embarks on a mission to uncover the truth.
A woman, screaming profanities, interrupted their conversation. “Will you please move?” she bellowed.
Serena recognized the voice. “Ava Taylor,” she whispered.
“You met her?” Lily widened her eyes.
“Yes. Not too friendly. Let’s go rescue whoever she is yelling at.”
“Although I’d love to meet her, you go,” Lily answered. “I must tend to my duties. Talk later?”
“Absolutely.” Serena rushed toward the catwalk, hoping Ava Taylor might be her next story. Is she a female Roman like the character in my book? A sociopath or a narcissist? Did the sociopath thing. I’ll make her a narcissist. She can do all kinds of nasty things in the book.
A woman, perhaps a size larger than Serena, stood on the runway, hands on hips. “I have every right to practice, Ava. Just like you.”
“Excuse me?” Serena waved her hand since she was three feet below them on the path around the reflecting pool.
“What do you want?” Ava narrowed her eyes as she glanced downward. “Oh. You.”
“Yes, it’s me. Hi.” Serena turned to the other woman. “I’m Serena Tate.”
“I’m Natalie Grey.”
“Nice to meet you, Natalie.”
“The plus-size model,” Ava informed Serena, flaring her nostrils. “She has two changes. I have five. I need the space to figure out my moves.”
“And I don’t?” Natalie asked.
“Hey, Natalie, mind if we talk for a minute?” Serena asked.
“Okay.” Natalie headed down the runway, which sloped to ground level when it reached the reception hall. The sun cast a golden glow on her auburn hair as she traveled along the ramp.
Serena walked alongside the stage until they met. “Let Ava have her time,” she said, connecting with Natalie’s baby blue eyes. “Once she’s done, I’ll make sure you get to walk the entire route.” She glanced at the four-foot-wide stage which traveled the total length of the reflecting pool, turned at the end and continued along the other side until it reached the hall.
“How?”
“I know Mia.”
“Mia Takeda, the designer, who’s putting on the show?”
“Yes.”
“Wow, you’re lucky. I’d give anything for her to notice me.”
“If you’re her plus-size model, and I say that lightly, she’s noticed you. What size are you?”
“Sixteen.”
“Sounds normal to me.” Serena did a quick scan of the room. “You stay here, and I’ll find Mia.”
Serena recognized the voice. “Ava Taylor,” she whispered.
“You met her?” Lily widened her eyes.
“Yes. Not too friendly. Let’s go rescue whoever she is yelling at.”
“Although I’d love to meet her, you go,” Lily answered. “I must tend to my duties. Talk later?”
“Absolutely.” Serena rushed toward the catwalk, hoping Ava Taylor might be her next story. Is she a female Roman like the character in my book? A sociopath or a narcissist? Did the sociopath thing. I’ll make her a narcissist. She can do all kinds of nasty things in the book.
A woman, perhaps a size larger than Serena, stood on the runway, hands on hips. “I have every right to practice, Ava. Just like you.”
“Excuse me?” Serena waved her hand since she was three feet below them on the path around the reflecting pool.
“What do you want?” Ava narrowed her eyes as she glanced downward. “Oh. You.”
“Yes, it’s me. Hi.” Serena turned to the other woman. “I’m Serena Tate.”
“I’m Natalie Grey.”
“Nice to meet you, Natalie.”
“The plus-size model,” Ava informed Serena, flaring her nostrils. “She has two changes. I have five. I need the space to figure out my moves.”
“And I don’t?” Natalie asked.
“Hey, Natalie, mind if we talk for a minute?” Serena asked.
“Okay.” Natalie headed down the runway, which sloped to ground level when it reached the reception hall. The sun cast a golden glow on her auburn hair as she traveled along the ramp.
Serena walked alongside the stage until they met. “Let Ava have her time,” she said, connecting with Natalie’s baby blue eyes. “Once she’s done, I’ll make sure you get to walk the entire route.” She glanced at the four-foot-wide stage which traveled the total length of the reflecting pool, turned at the end and continued along the other side until it reached the hall.
“How?”
“I know Mia.”
“Mia Takeda, the designer, who’s putting on the show?”
“Yes.”
“Wow, you’re lucky. I’d give anything for her to notice me.”
“If you’re her plus-size model, and I say that lightly, she’s noticed you. What size are you?”
“Sixteen.”
“Sounds normal to me.” Serena did a quick scan of the room. “You stay here, and I’ll find Mia.”
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The Pearl Hotel Cozy Mystery Series:
Her second YA series-Twenty Nine-had slowly developed over time. One Leap Year, an idea came to her and she created the characters and story based on that special day, February 29.
Nancy has branched out into historical romance with her Clan MacLaren series and romantic suspense, The Secret Billionaire Society and Billionaire's Bride series.
Nancy is married and has one son who helps her when she's challenged by tech, which may be more often than he likes!
Places to find Nancy Pennick:
sounds like a fun one
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good read!
ReplyDelete