Coffee, that’s how to start a day. Well, that’s how to start my day. A morning without coffee would be like a golf course without putting greens, a tennis court without a net, a pool without water. In a word—incomplete.
Best of all? Gone are the days of stainless percolators and endless waits. I don’t know how a person can burn coffee, but I can. If my daughter were here, she’d roll her eyes and tell you I can burn water. Teenagers.
Mr. Coffee has changed my life. First off, unlike that cold stainless steel percolator, he’s cheerful. Who wouldn’t smile at his sunny, yellow gingham? Second, he’s dependable. He’s there when I need him—morning (when I really need him), noon or night. Finally, he does exactly as he promises—a perfect cup of coffee every time I push his buttons.
Almost makes you wish men were more like Mr. Coffee. . .
Most nights, I fill him with water and grounds before I go to bed. That way, I need only push a button as I stumble through the kitchen to let Max the naughty Weimaraner out in the backyard.
In the summer, I follow my first cup of coffee with a swim at the country club. Now that it’s fall, I go for a run. If the weather meets with his approval, Max joins me.
By the time I’m back, Grace is up and I fix her breakfast—Life cereal poured into a bowl. Not even I can burn that. When, she leaves, I don painting clothes and climb the stairs to the third floor ballroom—now my studio.
I paint. If I’m lucky, I paint until Grace gets home from school. If I’m unlucky (I’m seldom lucky) I paint until I have to get ready for a bridge game or golf game or committee meeting. On lucky days, my housekeeper, Aggie, brings me lunch. On unlucky days, you’ll find me dining at the country club.
So, that’s it. Typical, boring, hum-drum days.
The problem is that since I started finding bodies, no day is typical.
You can read more about Ellison in Guaranteed To Bleed, the second book in the “Country Club” mystery series, published by Henery Press. The first book in the series is The Deep End.
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by noon eastern on Friday, October 23 for your chance to win a digital copy of The Deep End. Good luck everyone!
About the author
Julie Mulhern is a Kansas City native who grew up on a steady diet of Agatha Christie. She spends her spare time whipping up gourmet meals for her family, working out at the gym and finding new ways to keep her house spotlessly clean–and she’s got an active imagination. Truth is–she’s an expert at calling for take-out, she grumbles about walking the dog and the dust bunnies under the bed have grown into dust lions.
Her first romance was a finalist in the 2014 Golden Heart® contest. That book, A Haunting Desire released July 28, 2015.
Julie also writes mysteries. The Deep End (available now) is her first mystery and is the winner of The Sheila Award. Look for book two, Guaranteed to Bleed, recently released October 13, 2015.
Visit Julie at www.juliemulhern.com, on Pinterest, on Twitter and on Facebook
This is a great series. Thanks for the chance to win.
Thanks for stopping by, Doward!
Would love to check this book out. Thanks for the chance to win and for your great blog!
Kris, I hope you do check out The Country Club Murders. Book one, The Deep End, is on sale this weekend for 99 cents!
This book sounds like I will enjoy reading. Thank you for the chance to win.
Peggy, thanks so much for stopping by!
Sounds great, would love to read this
Thanks for taking time to comment, Debbie! I hope you enjoy The Country Club Murders! As I mentioned in another comment, the first book is on sale for 99 cents through this weekend!
Thanks for hosting me today, Dru!
Congratulations, Julie, on the publication of your second book in the series. My mother was a Russell, so this one particularly caught my eye. Wishing you continuing success with your series.
Grace, thank you so much for taking a few moments to comment. I hope you enjoy Guaranteed to Bleed!
I always get a headache if I don’t have my coffee. Thanks for a chance to enter.
Coffee, coffee, coffee! Donna, thanks so much taking time ot comment!
This sounds ominous! I can’t wait to read GUARANTEED TO BLEED. Thanks Dru for having this series featured…you have introduced me to yet another interesting series. 🙂 Thanks Julie for the opportunity to win a copy of your first book to get me started!
Ominous – what a fabulous word! Thanks so much for taking time to comment!
My Mr. Coffee is busy this morning—2nd pot on the way—-running later. Thanks for the contest, I’d love to read this book.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Second pot? Sue, you and I are soul sisters! Have a great weekend!
Interesting, very interesting. Thanks Dru for featuring this book. Also Julie thanks for the opportunity to obtain your book through your giveaway. robeader53@yahoo.com
Robeader, thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you’ll give Guaranteed to Bleed a try!
It’s great to go back to the 1970’s with Ellison, This book is wonderful!
Thanks so much, Celia!
This sounds like a fun new series! 🙂
Thanks, Vicki – hope you enjoy it! The Deep End is on sale for 99 cents through tomorrow if you’d like to start with book one…
This is a great series. Loved the premise of the first book and think I will love this one as much. Thanks for the giveaway.
Thanks for stopping by, Sally! I appreciate it!!
I already have both books on my Kindle and am reading Guaranteed to Bleed now. Loving it!
That just warms my heart!!!! Thanks so much, Nancy!
Sounds like a book I would enjoy. Thanks for a chance to win a copy.
Good luck with the drawing, Elaine, and thank you for taking time to comment!
Loved this book even more than The Deep End. I just wanted to share; I already have both books!
Jeanie, you just made me smile! THANK YOU!!!
I love Julie Mulhern. I’ve put Julie’s name in the suggestion box at the library because I’d love to get a print copy to share with the library patrons. We could create a whole new fan club. I’ve borrowed #2 from my sister & im dying to get everything of Julie’s of my own! Love to read a series from beginning to end. Thanks for the chance to get a copy, Dru & Julie!
You just made my Saturday! Thanks so much for stopping by!
Doesn’t matter whether you can cook well or not. Teenagers are probably going to discount your cooking. I think it’s in their job description.
So true, Libby – although, today when I should be working on Clouds in My Coffee, book three of the Country Club Murders, I am making macaroons for my teenager to take to a dinner. When I suggested buying brownies, I got shot down. Thanks so much for stopping by!
I want to get to know this series!
Barb, I hope you will! Thanks so much for stopping by!
Sounds like my kind of book! Thanks for sharing!
Mary Jane – I hope it is your kind of book! Thanks so much for stopping by Dru’s to say hi!
I, too, can’t start the day without coffee, so I really relate to this character and can’t wait to see what happens.
There is no day without coffee! Thanks for stopping by!
I am still looking for my Mr. Coffee 😝 Although I cannot afford a housekeeper, I might have other interests to explore in this read.
A new-to-me series….
Cannot wait to start it….
Thank you for the giveaway….
contest is closed.