Spending Time With Dani Greene by Jessie Crockett

Apr 23, 2015 | A Day In My Life

A Sticky SituationEven though there are still snow banks higher than my head here in New Hampshire spring is in the air. It may not be easy for everyone to spot but if you’re a fourth-generation sugar maker like me you really notice the subtle changes in the season. Every year, just as you think you can’t take one more minute of cold, it’s time to tap the maple trees and to boil down sap into syrup.

Since it requires forty gallons of sap to produce just a single gallon of finished syrup, I put a lot of miles on my snowshoes every sugaring season, placing taps and running tubing to collect the sap. But I don’t mind. In fact, I look forward to it. After all the months cooped up in the house nothing beats being out in the fresh air and sunshine, listening to the chirps of birds and chatter of frisking squirrels. At this time of year the sugar bush is my favorite place to be.

I like it even more once my great-aunt Hazel arrives for a visit. Every year she shows up in Sugar Grove in time for the annual Maple Festival. The festival is famous all over the region. Unfortunately, Hazel is even more infamous. People in town talk about her in hushed tones, like they don’t want to tempt fate by being overheard saying her name.

Hazel may be in her eighties but she still ends up at the police station and the emergency room at least once every visit. The only place you can count on her not getting into trouble is out in the woods because she’d have to pitch in and be useful there.

Even with Hazel’s visit and the responsibilities I have for my business and for helping to put on the Maple Festival, I wouldn’t trade a day of it with anyone. After all, when you spend your time making maple syrup, life seems very sweet indeed.

You can read more about Dani in A Sticky Situation, the third book in the “Sugar Grove” mystery series, published by Berkley Prime Crime. The first two books in the series are Drizzled with Death and Maple Mayhem.

GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 a.m. eastern on April 30 for the chance to win a print copy of A Sticky Situation. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Winner will be notified within 48 hours after giveaway closes and you will have three days to respond after being contacted or another winner will be selected. Make sure to check your SPAM folder.

About the author
As a nearly lifelong resident of the Granite State, Jessie Crockett naturally adores black flies, 98% humidity, killing frosts in August and snow banks taller than the average grandmother. When not working on her next murderous adventure she combs the beach, designs bento lunches ad throws parties. She delights in mentoring young writers at local schools. Jessie lives with her dark and mysterious husband and exuberant children in a village so small many other New Hampshire residents have never heard of it. Hearing from readers makes the winters seem shorter so please visit her at www.jessiecrockett.com.

57 Comments

  1. candace knight
    candace knight on April 23, 2015 at 1:15 am

    This sounds like a great book. Thank you for the chance.
    Moonbay7399@gmail.com

  2. Barbara Tobey
    Barbara Tobey on April 23, 2015 at 1:17 am

    Love to read about this sticky situation. Glad I moved away from winter and humidity.

  3. MaryAnn Forbes
    MaryAnn Forbes on April 23, 2015 at 1:28 am

    Appreciate the chance to win A Sticky Situation; thanks.📖📚

  4. Jen
    Jen on April 23, 2015 at 1:42 am

    A Sticky Situation sounds like a great cozy! Thank you for the giveaway.
    myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com

  5. kayekillgore
    kayekillgore on April 23, 2015 at 2:05 am

    I loved the first book in this series

  6. MaryB
    MaryB on April 23, 2015 at 2:41 am

    I have not read this series but the setting is one of my favorite places and I know I will enjoy reading this. Thanks for the chance to win.

  7. Barb Bristol Wiesmann
    Barb Bristol Wiesmann on April 23, 2015 at 3:01 am

    I love Hew Hampshire and I love maple syrup, so I know I’m gonna love this book.

  8. Verna Gass
    Verna Gass on April 23, 2015 at 4:10 am

    Looking forward to a sweet read. Thanks!

  9. Deb Forbes
    Deb Forbes on April 23, 2015 at 5:54 am

    Really liked Maple Mayhem so looking forward to reading this one. Thanks for giving us a chance to win.

  10. Lisa Brown
    Lisa Brown on April 23, 2015 at 5:56 am

    Love the cover; thanks for the chance to win :0)

  11. cyn209
    cyn209 on April 23, 2015 at 6:29 am

    Another awesome giveaway!!!!
    Thank you!!
    I need to start this series…..

  12. ladyjanel
    ladyjanel on April 23, 2015 at 6:31 am

    Sounds like a good series. Thanks for the chance.

  13. Marsha
    Marsha on April 23, 2015 at 7:04 am

    Would love to win, sounds like a good book. Thanks for the giveaway.

  14. Debbie Carnes
    Debbie Carnes on April 23, 2015 at 7:47 am

    I love books that take place in New England, this sounds great.

  15. griperang
    griperang on April 23, 2015 at 7:51 am

    This sounds like a great book.

  16. Margaret Rushton
    Margaret Rushton on April 23, 2015 at 8:33 am

    So excited for the next book in the series. Loved the first two. It’s also very cool to have a mystery based in my home state of NH. Can’t wait to read it.

  17. Judy Weaver
    Judy Weaver on April 23, 2015 at 9:12 am

    Sounds like a great read. Thanks for the chance to win it!

  18. Sue C
    Sue C on April 23, 2015 at 9:17 am

    Would love to read this. Thanks for the chance.

  19. rochf
    rochf on April 23, 2015 at 9:32 am

    I loved the first books in this series and am looking forward to this installment.

  20. Mary Jane H
    Mary Jane H on April 23, 2015 at 9:50 am

    My hubby is from NH and has told me about the process for making syrup, this book sounds delicious!

  21. Betty W
    Betty W on April 23, 2015 at 10:08 am

    Thank you for a great post~this book sounds terrific and New Hampshire is a beautiful setting! Thank you for sharing and for the contest!

  22. Nancy Funkhouser
    Nancy Funkhouser on April 23, 2015 at 10:10 am

    I have always been interested in tapping the sugar maples. This sounds like a good cozy series.

  23. suekey12
    suekey12 on April 23, 2015 at 10:12 am

    Maple syrup—the REAL maple syrup–is a staple in my cupboard. I just love the stuff. I’d enjoy reading this cozy, thanks for the chance to win it.
    suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

  24. Karen Candee
    Karen Candee on April 23, 2015 at 10:22 am

    I’m now dreaming of pancakes with Maple Syrup! Can’t wait to read your book.

  25. Gram
    Gram on April 23, 2015 at 10:26 am

    I have the first two on my t-b-r list.

  26. Daniele K
    Daniele K on April 23, 2015 at 10:27 am

    This series is new to me and sounds good. I would love to take a trip to NH. Thanks for the chance to win.

  27. Sheila K.
    Sheila K. on April 23, 2015 at 10:30 am

    Sounds like a good read—thanks for the chance to win a copy!

  28. Robin L. Coxon
    Robin L. Coxon on April 23, 2015 at 10:47 am

    Living in northeast Ohio we have maple tapping season and a festival to celebrate it. Nothing better than real maple syrup as well as a maple stir. robeader53@yahoo.com

  29. peggy clayton
    peggy clayton on April 23, 2015 at 10:52 am

    I would love to read about this maple syrup is so good I thank you for the chance to win a copy.

  30. Lisa Garrett
    Lisa Garrett on April 23, 2015 at 11:31 am

    I want to know more about Aunt Hazel!

  31. Libby Dodd
    Libby Dodd on April 23, 2015 at 12:37 pm

    I took my kids with their home schooling group to see a sugaring site. Quite amazing!

  32. Cheryl Corbitt
    Cheryl Corbitt on April 23, 2015 at 12:51 pm

    I’ve not read the previous books in this series, but that will change! This sounds like another enjoyable book, and I usually try to start a series at the beginning!

  33. anne
    anne on April 23, 2015 at 12:59 pm

    A great giveaway. Thanks.

  34. Vivian Shane
    Vivian Shane on April 23, 2015 at 1:02 pm

    Loved the first two in the series – thanks for the chance to win the newest release!

  35. Debbie S
    Debbie S on April 23, 2015 at 1:09 pm

    I read the first and loved it and just realized that I missed the second, don’t ask me how, I had better get busy. Hazel sounds like a real character, I can’t wait to read about her.

  36. Robin Wood
    Robin Wood on April 23, 2015 at 1:36 pm

    I would love the chance to win!

  37. tlwalcher
    tlwalcher on April 23, 2015 at 2:35 pm

    This sounds like a series I would like to try at some point. Thank you for a chance to win a copy of A Sticky Situation.

  38. Jeanie Dannheim
    Jeanie Dannheim on April 23, 2015 at 2:37 pm

    I haven’t started reading this series yet but am fascinated by it – the maple sugar business and the mysteries! Thank you for the chance to win!

  39. Karen Terry
    Karen Terry on April 23, 2015 at 2:58 pm

    It sounds like a good read.

  40. Wanda downs
    Wanda downs on April 23, 2015 at 5:37 pm

    I want to win and read this

  41. Dotty Kelley
    Dotty Kelley on April 23, 2015 at 7:54 pm

    Love this series. Looking forward to this one.

  42. Barbara Hawk
    Barbara Hawk on April 24, 2015 at 1:09 am

    Love maple syrup. Who doesn’t. Great-aunt Hazel sounds like a hoot! Sounds like a fun series! Thanks for the chance!

  43. sallycootie
    sallycootie on April 24, 2015 at 3:45 am

    I always thought it would be such a great experience to tap the trees and boil down the syrup – although it is probably much harder than in my imagination! Thanks for the giveaway.

  44. Patty Allen
    Patty Allen on April 24, 2015 at 9:13 am

    Looking forward to reading this book, it sounds great. Thanks for the chance to win 🙂

  45. Joel Eastman
    Joel Eastman on April 24, 2015 at 4:26 pm

    It was great reading the first two. Love the mystery of mystery.Nice work Ms Crockett

  47. MaryBeth McKetchnie
    MaryBeth McKetchnie on April 24, 2015 at 9:13 pm

    This is such a wonderful series! I can’t wait to read “Sticky Situation”! Thanks for the opportunity to win!! 🙂

  48. Annette
    Annette on April 24, 2015 at 9:17 pm

    This is a fun series.

  49. Kathleen Bylsma
    Kathleen Bylsma on April 24, 2015 at 10:58 pm

    I haven’t read this series before but it sounds like a very good read! Humor and painless learning!

  50. Stacy Durnwald
    Stacy Durnwald on April 25, 2015 at 4:58 pm

    Sounds great!

  51. Verna Gass
    Verna Gass on April 26, 2015 at 12:22 am

    Love the title and the cover. Preview sounds wonderful. Winning a copy would be sweet!

  52. Pamela Woodfield
    Pamela Woodfield on April 26, 2015 at 6:03 am

    Cuz who doesn’t love maple syrup? The setting sounds fun. Love the cover picture.

  53. Sharon F
    Sharon F on April 26, 2015 at 3:30 pm

    I’m not at all familiar with this series, but I will definitely be looking into it! Thank you, Dru for keeping me up to date on some great reads!

  54. Sandy Todd
    Sandy Todd on April 26, 2015 at 4:41 pm

    Another great blog Dru! Thanks for the chance to win this one!

  55. Lorraine J. Koschock
    Lorraine J. Koschock on April 26, 2015 at 8:53 pm

    I’ve been in plenty of “sticky situations” and would love to visit New Hampshire. Please throw my name in the hat for winning this book in the giveaway. Thanks for the chance.

  56. Michelle Fidler
    Michelle Fidler on April 28, 2015 at 8:20 pm

    I have one of the books in the series. Great cover.

  57. Dru
    Dru on April 30, 2015 at 4:26 am

    contest is closed.