Good day, my bookish peeps, I hope you’re all staying dry and warm wherever you might be. It is always an honor for me to host a visit with an author. Today’s visit is super special because I get to welcome not only a West Virginia author (West Virginia is my home state), Heather Day Gilbert but one who’s written a series of books set in one of my favorite West Virginia towns, Lewisburg. (You’ll want to plan a visit to either the Lewisburg Chocolate Festival in April or the Lewisburg Literary Festival in August. Did I forget to mention that Lewisburg WV was voted “Coolest Small Town in the US” a few years ago.) Shade Grown is the eighth book in the “Barks & Beans Cafe Cozy Mystery” series. Ms. Gilbert will be sharing with us what a few reviewers have to say about Shade Grown along with her reactions. Thank you, Ms. Gilbert, for taking the time to visit with us today. I’ll now turn the blog over to you.
TOP 5 REASONS to read Shade Grown, as compiled from reviewers
1) “You will never figure this one out but you will have great fun trying.”~review by Anne on Amazon
The consensus on Book 8 in the Barks & Beans Cafe series, Shade Grown, is that readers can’t figure out whodunit. Since I love writing twisty mysteries that even surprise me, I’m glad to hear the killer blindsided my readers, too!
2) “The characters in this series are wonderful, and Heather Day Gilbert does an amazing job with bringing each character to life.”~review by Allyson on Amazon
“All of the characters are simply wonderful and come to life right off the page.”~Kailey on Goodreads
Many readers say it feels like visiting with old friends when they read through the Barks & Beans Cafe series, and I wouldn’t have it any other way! Small-town relationships and strong family bonds are something I grew up with, and I know what an encouragement they are in life!
3) “As always, the West Virginia setting is perfect and well-described.”~DarthAmazon on Amazon
As a West Virginia native, I strive to bring my mountain state to life for readers. I’ve even based the Barks & Beans Cafe series in the real town of Lewisburg, WV. From using authentic local names to incorporating locales like the WV State Fair and the Greenbrier Resort, I hope to open readers’ eyes to the beauty of Wild and Wonderful West Virginia.
4) “It was nice to have another clean, cozy book to read!”~Papa Trox on Amazon
The Barks & Beans Cafe series (as well as the Exotic Pet-Sitter series) are clean cozy mysteries, with no cursing, graphic scenes, or gore. I even have teen readers for this series, and I’m glad to bring stories with a positive moral tone to my readers.
5) “Coal and Stormy have stolen my heart and I love their antics.”~Shonda on Goodreads
From Macy’s rescued Great Dane, Coal, to her brother Bo’s rescued Calico, Stormy, there are more than enough cuddly pets in the Barks & Beans Cafe series. Shade Grown features one of my readers’ beloved dogs, Jake, so watch for him showing up as a shelter dog at the cafe.
Thanks for letting me visit today—I hope many new readers pick up my latest mystery Shade Grown, which is set on a home and garden tour in West Virginia. The book is available for Kindle, in Kindle Unlimited, and in softcover formats. You can find all my books at heatherdaygilbert.com. ♦
Shade Grown (Barks & Beans Cafe Cozy Mystery)
by Heather Day Gilbert
About Shade Grown
Shade Grown (Barks & Beans Cafe Cozy Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
8th in Series
Setting - West Virginia
WoodHaven Press (December 11, 2023)
Paperback : 190 pages
ISBN : 9798987556955 (Paperback)
ASIN : B0BPQ8KHZR (Kindle edition)
Purchase Links #CommissionEarned: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Amazon Kindle | Barnes and Noble
BOOK EIGHT in the Award-winning BARKS & BEANS CAFE cozy mystery series!!
Welcome to the Barks & Beans Cafe, a quaint place where folks pet shelter dogs while enjoying a cup of java…and where murder sometimes pays a visit.
During Lewisburg’s popular summer home and garden tour, Macy and her brother Bo discover new aspects of their hometown’s history. One of the last homes they visit features a lush commemorative shade garden marking where a Civil War soldier’s bones were buried. As Macy pauses to admire a bed of blue hostas, she glimpses a shadowy shape lying beneath the dinner-plate leaves. It turns out to be the body of famed movie star Cody Franklin, who’d purchased the garden house as a quiet country retreat.
Back at the cafe, Macy speaks with Cody’s distraught sister, who lets slip that she’s afraid her brother’s killer will target her next. Macy’s heart goes out to the bereaved sibling, and she agrees to speak with Cody’s local acquaintances in hopes she’ll uncover some helpful backstory.
But someone powerful is lurking behind the scenes, and Macy has to zoom in on the killer before everything fades to black.
Join siblings Macy and Bo Hatfield as they sniff out crimes in their hometown…with plenty of dogs along for the ride! The Barks & Beans Cafe cozy mystery series features a small town, an amateur sleuth, and no swearing or graphic scenes.
The Barks & Beans Cafe series in order:
Book 1: No Filter
Book 2: Iced Over
Book 3: Fair Trade
Book 4: Spilled Milk
Book 5: Trouble Brewing
Book 6: Cold Drip
Book 7: Roast Date
Book 8: Shade Grown
Standalone Novella: House Blend
About Heather Day Gilbert
HEATHER DAY GILBERT, an RWA Daphne du Maurier Award-winning author and 2-time ECPA Christy Award finalist, enjoys writing contemporary mysteries with unpredictable twists, much like the Agatha Christie books she read growing up. Her novels feature small towns, family relationships, and women who aren’t afraid to protect those they love. Find out more at heatherdaygilbert.com.
Author Links
Author Website: http://www.heatherdaygilbert.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/heatherdaygilbert
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/heatherdgilbert
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories/heatherdaygilbert/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7232683.Heather_Day_Gilbert
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/heather-day-gilbert
Tour Participants
January 9 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
January 9 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT
January 9 – Novels Alive – REVIEW
January 10 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
January 10 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT
January 10 – Nadaness In Motion – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
January 11 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
January 11 – CelticLady Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
January 12 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW
January 12 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
January 13 – Mystery, Thrillers & Suspense – SPOTLIGHT
January 13 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
January 13 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
January 14 – The Book Diva’s Reads – AUTHOR GUEST POST
January 14 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
January 15 – Reading Is My SuperPower – AUTHOR GUEST POST
January 15 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT
January 15 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW
Giveaway
Use the Rafflecopter form below or click here to enter to win a $10 Starbucks gift card (available to US residents only) + a paperback copy of Shade Grown (available to US residents only) OR an ebook copy of Shade Grown for those outside of the United States. Void where prohibited by law.
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