How does that old saying go? Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice. . .you get the idea.
Too bad I didn’t.
See, I thought it was safe to go home again, but, well, how many dead bodies can a girl turn up before it becomes a thing?
Hi, I’m Erica Bloom, and I’ve been avoiding going home to New Hampshire for years. Sounds ridiculous, but if you knew about the incident that left half the town calling me Boobsie Bloom, you might just understand. That being said, a few months ago, when my nature-loving, vegan mom needed a favor to save her business – a spiritual retreat for women – I finally faced down some of my old demons and made the trip back to Otter Lake.
Turns out, there were a lot of things I’d missed about being home. . .the long docks stretching into the water, the nights with a billion stars, the town sheriff, Grady Forrester. He was my high school crush. Apparently, I had missed him quite a bit. Unfortunately, with all the good of last visit, there was also some bad – yeah, discovering a murdered, high school classmate would have to be at the top of the list.
I figured this trip would be different though. This time of year, home is all about the Otter Lake Fall Festival! Yup, I’d planned to spend my days hiking through the woods, eating deep-fried foods stuffed into other deep-fried foods, maybe reconnecting with a certain sheriff on the Ferris wheel. . . but wouldn’t you know, almost as soon as I stepped foot onto the midway, another dead body came rolling right out of the Tunnel of Love with my “aunt” Tweety. And to think I thought being called Boobsie Bloom was bad.
So with a killer at work in Otter Lake, instead of riding the tea cups and eating some cotton candy, my best friend Freddie and I will have to team up to unearth enough clues to keep Tweety out of the big house. . .even if it means our first case as Otter Lake Security’s official crime-fighting duo becomes our last!
Pumpkin Picking With Murder is the second book in the Otter Lake mystery series, published by St. Martin’s Paperbacks, August 2016.
When murder strikes in the Tunnel of Love, Erica Bloom has to rock the boat to catch a killer. . .
For a small town like Otter Lake, New Hampshire, the annual Fall Festival is a big deal: a Ferris wheel, corn maze, caramel apples, and pumpkin pies―even a Tunnel of Love. Back in her hometown, Erica Bloom is trying to enjoy herself, which includes getting better acquainted with Sheriff Grady Forrester. But when a swan boat sails out of the heart-shaped exit of the tunnel with a dead man slumped over a wing, her own romance will have to take a backseat.
PUMPKIN PICKING WITH MURDER
Speaking of love affairs, the other passenger in the boat―and only witness to the elderly Mr. Masterson’s swan song―is not his wife. It’s Erica’s beloved and feisty “aunt,” Tweety, who quickly becomes the prime suspect. Vowing to clear Tweety, Erica teams up with her sassy BFF and self-appointed security expert Freddie Ng to solve the murder―despite the objections of Grady, who’s convinced the amateurs are going overboard in their investigation. And he just may be right. But as Erica and Freddie start to dredge up long-kept small-town secrets, will they heading straight into troubled waters?
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About the author
Auralee Wallace has played many roles in her life, including college professor, balloon seller, and collections agent. When this semi-natural blonde mother of three children (and psychiatric nurse to two rescue cats) isn’t writing humorous novels about quirky characters, she can often be found pontificating about the Golden Age of soap operas or warring with a family of peregrine falcons for the rights to her backyard. She can also be found on Twitter, Goodreads, Facebook, and her blog at auraleewallace.com.
All comments are welcomed.
Giveaway: Two people (US and Canada only) selected at random will receive a print copy of Pumpkin Picking with Murder. Leave a comment below for your chance to win. The giveaway ends August 31, 2016. Good luck everyone!
This looks so good! Thanks for the chance to win!!
I love Pumpkins so how can I resist? Thank you for the chance and come on Fall…
Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
Great sounding book. Thank you for your giveaway. I am excited to read your book and I love printed books. I love quirky and funny books so I am looking forward to reading it. Thank you
I read the first book in the series and loved it. I can not wait to read this new one. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
Looks like another good series to check out
Hi Dru, just toss my name into your magic hat please. This definitely looks like an interesting read.
Love the title! With a character named “Boobsie Bloom”, who could resist picking up this book. Sounds fun. Looking forward to reading it.
Another new author for me to check out. The book sounds like a great one to read. Thanks for the chance.
The title makes me think of fall! Thanks.
Sounds like an interesting series. I am going to look for the first book.
Loved the first one! Captured living small town life to a tee. Would love to win the second in the series!
Great sounding book. Thank you for introducing me to Auralee Wallace’s books and for the chance to win a print copy of Pumpkin Picking with Murder.
Thank you Dru Ann for introducing me to another new series and author. This one sounds like it will be a fun book (series) to read. 🙂 Thanks to Auralee for her generous opportunity to win a copy of the book! 🙂
Ohhhh, this really sounds like a fun read! Count me in, please.
Loved book one. Can’t wait to read this one too.
I absolutely loved the first book and can’t wait to read the second. Thank you for the chance Dru!!
Thanks for another great post that introduced me to another new author & series.
This one is a perfect read for fall which is coming up fast – where has the summer gone? Another new author series to delve into. Thanks.
Thanks for this great feature and giveaway.
I enjoy this series
Can’t wait for fall and pumpkin picking time. Thanks for a chance to win a copy of your book.
Wow, falcons, kitties and writing. Sounds like a fun time. Would love to read this and start a new to me series. Plus love the name of Otter Creek, arent otters adorable. Thanks for the chance to win
Feisty aunt, pumpkins, home town, expectations. Definitely a recipe for great reading. Thanks for the chance.
Tis the time of pumpkin picking and carving. I love a book that fits the season. Thanks for the chance to win a copy. robeader53@yahoo.com
Would love a new book and love fall theme. Thanks for the chance
Looking forward to reading it!
Thank you for all the kind comments so far! Good luck to everyone!
This is a new to me series, I’ll have to go get the first one. Love the cover, but then again I’m a sucker for anything pumpkin, lol.
what a fun sounding series…just in time for the fall season! Thank you for the chance!
This is a new author to me and I’m looking forward to reading “Pumpkin Picking With Murder”. This book sounds like a great book to read in the Fall.
Hope to get to read the first in this book before I consider the second, but it does sound really good. I keep trying to keep up. So many releases, and so many great cozies to check out all the time.
This series is new to me, but I’ve got to read it to find out about the Boobsie Bloom nickname! Thanks for the giveaway Dru!
I adore fall mysteries. I love fall, I love pumpkins and I love the cover of this book. Also fall is my favorite season and Halloween is my favorite holiday.
I have been looking forward to the second in the series for months! I absolutely adored the characters in the first. Can’t wait for Grady to swim by Erica’s family dock! For those who haven’t read this book they really must! Laugh out loud funny! Thanks for the chance to win and please please keep writing Auralee!
Thank you so much, Bec!
I agree. Keep writing Auralee.
Pumpkins (yum!l and a new author to read, too. Wow!
New author for me. Would love this book.
A must-read for me!!!!
Thank you for the giveaway…..
Love that!! She “thought being called Boobsie Bloom was bad.” Can’t wait to read this! Thanks for the heads up to a new author and series So I am hoping for an early start. Thanks for the chance to get this
LOL this sounds so fun. Can’t wait to read this one!
Looking forward to reading this instalment.