Hi, lovely Dru! And Dru’s lovely readers!
Dru asked me to stop by and give you guys a look into my day. Well, don’t get too excited—I live in a small rural Virginia town called Winter Garden, and not a lot happens here. . .well, unless you count the murders.
So, I try to get up in time to linger over a cup of coffee and a light breakfast before I open the Down South Café. Sometimes I can do it, and other times I hit the snooze button a bajillion times and then have to run around getting ready like a lunatic. But don’t think I don’t have my priorities straight, though. I might have to race out of the house wearing two, hopefully, well-aimed swipes of mascara and my wet hair pulled back in a ponytail, but Rory—my terrier—and Princess Eloise—Mom’s cat—are always fed and cared for before I leave the house.
I live in a small house a stone’s throw from where my mom lives with Aunt Bess. Aunt Bess is actually Great Aunt Elizabeth, but she’s always been Aunt Bess to us. Mom’s house belonged to my grandparents, and my grandmother left it to Mom when she passed. Aunt Bess had come to stay with Nana a few years after Pop died, so now she lives there with Mom. It’s great having her and Mom living so close. I enjoy my independence, but it’s nice to know people who love you are right up the hill if you need them.
I open the Down South Café at seven a.m., so I try to be there between six-thirty and a quarter ‘til in order to make sure everything is tidy, to get the coffee started, and to begin breakfast prep. Just about every morning, our first customer is Dilly Boyd. Dilly brings a smile and, usually, a tidbit of gossip, and she always leaves with a biscuit for the raccoon who lives in the woods behind her house.
The other patron we have that you could almost set your watch by is Homer Pickens. Homer comes in each day at 10:30 for a sausage biscuit and a cup of coffee. And, each day, Homer has a new hero with a quote or two that usually applies to whatever is going on in Winter Garden.
The Down South Café closes at three p.m., so after cleaning up, I usually go home and crash on the sofa with Rory for a little while. Sometimes he and I look through our cookbooks to come up with a new dish to try, and other times we either nap or watch TV.
Lately, in the evenings, I’ve enjoyed hanging out with Deputy Ryan Hall when he isn’t working or I don’t have plans with my friends. Ryan and I have been dating for nearly two months now. Who’d have thought I’d be dating a man who once investigated me for the murder of my former boss?
I’ve started selling honey from Stu Landon’s farm on consignment at the café. Drop in and get a jar. You won’t be disappointed!
You can read more about Amy in Honey-Baked Homicide, the third book in the “Down South Café” mystery series.
The owner of a delightful Southern café tastes the sharp sting of suspicion in this delectable comfort food mystery . . .
It’s fall in Winter Garden, Virginia, and business at Amy Flowers’ Down South Café has never been better. So when struggling beekeeper Stuart Landon asks Amy to sell some of his honey, she’s happy to help. The jars of honey are a sweet success, but their partnership is cut short when Amy discovers Landon’s body outside the café early one morning.
As Amy tries to figure out who could possibly have wanted to harm the unassuming beekeeper, she discovers an ever-expanding list of suspects—and they’re all buzzing mad. She’ll have to use all of her skills—and her Southern charm—to find her way out of this sticky situation. . .
Giveaway: Leave a comment below for your chance to win a print copy of Honey-Baked Homicide. U.S. entries only, please. The giveaway ends December 7, 2017. Good luck everyone!
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About the author
Gayle Leeson is a pseudonym for Gayle Trent. I also write as Amanda Lee. As Gayle Trent, I write the Daphne Martin Cake Mystery series and the Myrtle Crumb Mystery series. As Amanda Lee, I write the Embroidery Mystery series. I live in Virginia with my family, which includes my own “Angus” who is not an Irish wolfhound but a Great Pyrenees who provides plenty of inspiration for the character of Mr. O’Ruff. I’m having a blast writing this new series!
All comments are welcomed.
Sounds good and I prefer paperbacks, so I’d love to win!!
Great introduction to what sounds like a lovely trip to the bucolic countryside of Virginia. Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy.
Looking forward to another visit with all my friends in Winter Garden!
I love the cover! Thanks!
Thank you for hosting me on your wonderful blog, Dru! 🙂
Delightful and special. Thanks.
I like this series and can’t wait to read this book! Thank you for the giveaway.
Love this cover, looks like a typical pet-lover’s home, lol. Thank you for the chance to win a copy of this book.
wfnren at aol dot com
Yes please Dru, I enjoyed Calamity Cafe so I’d love to win a copy of this new book for my home library.
Toss my name into the magic contest hat please.
Thanks Gayle and Dru Ann for A day in the life of Amy Flowers. Honey-Baked Homicide sounds like a wonderful book, and I appreciate the opportunity to win a copy!
This sounds like a good story!!
Gayle, this books sounds as wonderful as the others in the series! I do love the doggies you create in your books. (No offense to the kitties, I am more of a dog person!) I also love Dilly and his quotes. Such a lovely way to start a day…better than finding a dead beekeeper for sure! Can’t wait to get a copy and read this. Thanks for the opportunity to win one. 🙂 Thanks Dru Ann for having Gayle today. 🙂
Sounds like a great read.
Sounds like a great book. Would love the chance to win a copy.
Biscuits for breakfast? Yes, please.
I enjoy this series and look at that cover. Would love a print copy.
Yes, It sounds like a good read. This is a new author for me to try.
I love this series! Thanks for the chance to win.
Nothing like biscuits and mystery to make a good series. Looking forward to this.
I really love this series! What a cute, awesome cover on this new book! Sounds like a super duper exciting cozy! Thank you so much for the chance to win!
I haven’t read this series yet. I really enjoyed reading about the book and I’m looking forward to reading the series.
Thanks so much for the insight into the new book in the Amy Flowers Down South Cafe series. You’ve wet my taste to want to find out more.
I’d like to try that honey & your typical day sounds nice.
I would love to win a copy of this new to me series. Thanks for the giveaway.
Sounds delightful!
I need this one.
It do look like a great read and the intro to a new author/series is so appreciated. Do hope this will be a start to what promises to be a fun read.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to win Honey Baked Homicide.
love love LOVE this cover!!!
thank you for the giveaway………
love this author and am looking forward to reading this title!
**** WINNER ****
Honey-Baked Homicide is Celia Fowler
Congratulations!