Thank you so much for inviting me, Dru. Iʼm quite stunned that anyone would be interested in a day in the life of Francie Vanderhoosen. Seems like senior citizens are invisible to most folks, so Iʼm thrilled to be here. My life is fairly quiet most days. I live in a historic townhouse in Old Town, Alexandria in Virginia. My dear, departed husband and I moved into this house when we were in our thirties, so that means Iʼve seen a lot in this neighborhood over the years. We were the original desperate housewives!
Iʼm Sophie Winstonʼs next door neighbor. What a stroke of luck it was when she moved in. That girl cooks and bakes like a dream and the best thing is that she shares! Once in a while, I get involved in her murder investigations. Dear heaven! They wear me out. People are certainly fascinating creatures.
Most days I have coffee and toast in the morning, then putter around out in the garden. Pretty boring stuff. But the scuttlebutt around town these days is all about Roscoe Greeneʼs wedding to his assistant. I met Roscoeʼs wife, Olive, ages ago at a plant exchange. My husband was an avid gardener, just like Olive. It wasnʼt long before we became fast friends.
Olive is the most unpretentious person in the world. She never bothered with makeup, except maybe a little slash of lipstick for a fancy occasion. Even though she and Roscoe were wealthy, they were never flashy about it. Well, you can imagine how shocked she was when Roscoe ditched her for his young assistant after forty plus years of marriage. Iʼm still disappointed in him. What was that old goat thinking?
Fortunately, Olive landed on her feet — mostly. Iʼm going house hunting with her today. The only thing she cares about is enough acreage to start a fabulous garden. Iʼm not sure which hurt her more, being dumped by Roscoe, or leaving the beautiful gardens she had tended so lovingly.
The wicked interloper has arranged for an away wedding. I hear thatʼs all the rage. In my day, you bought a dress and walked down the aisle. But, no! The aisle in question had to be in Ireland. Iʼm treating Olive to a trip to the gardens at Winterthur on the day of the wedding to take her mind off of it. Itʼs one of those little old lady bus tours up to Delaware. Weʼll have a blast, and we donʼt have to do the driving.
Iʼm not sure how much it will help, though, since the slights continue. Olive wasnʼt even invited to the annual family picnic and open house — like sheʼs some kind of pariah! Now Olive is a very gracious woman. Sheʼs kind and giving, and loves her son more than anything else in the world, but sheʼs no pushover. Olive and I might have gone gray, and thereʼs no wrinkle cream that could make us look like that Jolie woman, but the challenges in life give a person backbone. We might not jog anymore, but weʼve got mettle and moxie. Never mess with little old ladies!
They say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Hehehe! I believe that little golddigger is about to feel some fury.
** Thanks to the publisher, I have one (1) copy of THE DIVA DIGS UP THE DIRT to give away. Contest open to residents of the US only. Contest ends June 23. Leave a valid-email address with your comment. The book will be shipped directly from the publisher. **
I’m happy to announced that The Diva Digs Up The Dirt ranked Number 31 on The New York Times Bestseller’s list. Woo Hoo!
Meet the author
Krista Davis writes the Domestic Diva mystery series. THE DIVA DIGS UP THE DIRT will be released on June fifth. The Diva Runs Out of Thyme and The Diva Haunts the House were nominated for Agatha awards. Krista lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia with three dogs and two cats and is currently sampling recipes for The Diva Frosts a Cupcake — someone has to do it. Krista’s website is divamysteries.com and she blogs at mysteryloverskitchen.com and killercharacters.com.
Books are available at retail and online booksellers.
Love, love, love this! Count me in for the free copy, please! I haven’t read this series, but if Krista wrote it, I am sure to like it!
This is another series that has tickled me from the start. I look forward to reading this one and hope that the series continues for some time to come.
mary-fairchild@sbcglobal.net
I haven’t read any books in this series. I would love to start with this one. It sounds really good!
mittens0831 at aol dot com
I love this series and this book is not any different. It’s a great read from the very beginning and doesn’t let you down.
Sounds like a fun read.
Thank you for the chance to win this book.
griperang at embarqmail dot com
I have had the books in this series on my wish list would love to win.
nlb1050(at)yahoo(dot)com
I just picked up the book from the library, so I don’t need to be entered into the contest, but I just want to say what a wonderful series this is. The tips at the beginning of each chapter are an added plus.
I love the Diva series… and thanks to a wonderful friend I even own a couple of the books (one even has a signed bookplate) and they sit proudly on my bookshelves for family to borrow and enjoy also.
I’d love to win a copy of this latest adventure.
NoraAdrienne(at)gmail(dot)com
This one sounds like a definite must read. Would read and then have put into collection at local library. Lots of book readers live in area your book would make a great addition.
I’ve loved this series from the very beginning. Getting the latest one for free would be totally awesome!
Please include me in the giveaway. I’ve always liked senior citizen sleuths and not I am one. Thanks.
judydee22002 at yahoo dot com
Any book/series about us old ladies is a winner in my eyes! 🙂
kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com
I dearly love Francie! What a charmer !! I enjoy your books and haven’t read the latest, although I’ve downloaded it on my Kindle. The story sounds great!
~joni possin
I have two books in the series. Another good cozy series. It’s always great to see them on the bestseller list.
spookycat72(at)gmail(dot)com
This sounds like such a good series. I actually have the first title sitting in my ever-growing pile of books. I think it’s about time I moved it to the very top and get started reading it! Thanks for the post and the giveaway!
jrobinson12 (at) austin (dot) rr (dot) com
Wrinkle cream won’t help me any more either— but I still like to read a good book. Thanks for the giveaway.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
This is a new series to me. It does sound like it has a great gossipy character in it. I already like Olive, lipstick is my makeup!
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
Sounds like a good series
idlivru1(at)gmail(dot)com
Risa
Sounds like a cute series – I would love to win!. Thanks for all your reviews.
kayswed at yahoo.com
This is new to me and sounds wonderful.
Theresa N
weceno(at)yahoo(dot)com
This is one of my favorite series. It sounds like Olive is going to be a great new addition to the cast of characters. Thanks for the giveaway! 🙂
scouts579@aol.com
Thanks for all your lovely comments. Can’t wait to hear who wins!
~ Krista
contest is closed.
Congrats to Kathy Franklin!