Do you remember the commercial in which a woman said, “Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful?” Yecch. Well, don’t hate me, after you hear about my life. There are some perks that I never could have imagined.
I used to work in Washington, DC. Got up in the morning, squeezed into pantyhose, dressed, grabbed a piece of toast or a yogurt, and then sat in traffic for an hour. Don’t get me wrong. It wasn’t all bad. I liked DC.
But my Oma (German for grandma) needed help at the The Sugar Maple Inn on Wagtail Mountain. I have always loved that place. She didn’t have to twist my arm too hard to convince me to move there and become her partner.
My apartment on the top floor spans the width of the inn. In the front, my bedroom has a balcony that overlooks the tiny town of Wagtail. Village would be a better way to describe it. There’s a wonderful green space with sidewalks along both sides where most of the stores and restaurants are located. Did I mention that dogs and cats are welcome everywhere? There are even special menus for them in the restaurants!
On the other side of my apartment, a larger balcony overlooks Dogwood Lake. It’s the perfect place to relax. Not that I do much relaxing but life here is pretty nice. Oma hired Mr. Huckle, a wizened old butler who was down on his luck. Before I wake, he sneaks into my apartment with hot tea or coffee, a chocolate croissant, a dog treat, and a cat treat. And then he slips out again, like a little silent fairy. And I wake to a tray of goodies!
After I shower and dress, I feed my calico kitty, Twinkletoes. Then it’s my Jack Russell Terrier’s turn. Trixie adopted me and probably saved me from continuing in my old routine in DC. She’s a delight, but I have to admit that she has a nose for trouble – and for dead people. After I take her out, we go to the dining area and feast on the kind of breakfast I used to only get on vacation. Eggs Benedict, pumpkin French toast, chocolate chip pancakes, asiago cheese omelets and heavenly home fries. And that’s just a start! I balked at first, thinking I would balloon, but I do so much walking in Wagtail that it hasn’t been a problem.
Please don’t assume my life is just a big festival of pigging out. Running an inn means you’re on call 24/7. Most of the time the guests are great, and I can’t believe how lucky I am. Unfortunately, we’ve had a couple of murders in the last year. Shh, we try to keep that quiet because we live off tourism. But I’m sure those were flukes. Right?
Oma is finally taking a much deserved vacation. I thought she would never get to the point where she trusted me enough to leave me in charge of the inn. But it’s finally happening. While she’s gone, Wagtail will be hosting a murder mystery weekend called Murder Most Howl. Pretend murders! Now that I can handle. I hope.
You can read more about Holly, Twinkletoes, and Trixie in Murder Most Howl, the third book in the “Paws and Claws” mystery series, published by Berkley Prime Crime. The first two books in the series are Murder, She Barked and The Ghost and Mrs. Mewer.
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 a.m. eastern on December 2 for your chance to win a copy of MURDER MOST HOWL. (US entries only, please.) Good luck everyone!
About the author
Krista Davis is the News York Times Bestselling author of the Paws & Claws Mysteries for animal lovers. Murder Most Howl is in bookstores now. She also writes the Domestic Diva Mysteries. Her 9th Domestic Diva Mystery is The Diva Steals A Chocolate Kiss, a chocolate mystery in bookstores now. Like her characters, Krista has a soft spot for cats, dogs, and sweets. She lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia with three dogs, two cats, and a hidden stash of chocolate.
Visit Krista at www.KristaDavis.com, pinterest.com/kristadavisbook, on twitter.com/kristadavis, and on Facebook. Krista also blogs at MysteryLoversKitchen.com and Killer Characters.com where the characters do the blogging!
I want to visit Wagtail. Bobbipad@gmail.com
How awesome to have a chance to win this book!
This sounds like a fine book, for dogs, cats and people, too. I can’t wait to sink my claws in it! Seriously, I would love to win this book and start reading immediately.
I love this series, and I want to live in Wagtail (sounds like a fantastic town). Thank you for a chance to win. <3
myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com
Small towns, animals, especially cats, and murder mystery(ies) are my kind of thing. Looks like you’ve pegged my taste down pat!!!
A great series. Thanks for the chance to win.
Can’t wait to visit Wagtail again. Thanks for the chance to win!
What a fun excerpt. Definitely makes me want to read this and visit Wagtail. Thanks for the giveaway.
Sounds great Thank you
Can’t wait to get the chance to dig into this series. Cute cover. Thanks for the chance.
So super duper excited to read this new book in this totally awesome series!!!! Sure would love to win a copy of it!!!! Thanks for the chance!!! God bless!!!
Wagtail sounds like a fantabulous place!! Thanks for the chance to win it!!
Sounds like a fun read
Can’t wait to find out what goes wrong! Thankyou for the opportunity!
I love everything Krista writes! <3 Her books always seem to suspend time-both in the book and for the reader. Thanks Dru for featuring Murder Most Howl . 🙂 Thanks also for the chance to win a copy. Wouldn't you like to live Holly's life? At least in the mornings? 😉
I loved Murder she Barked and The Ghost and Mrs Mewer. Looking forward to the next book in this series.
Love when a granddaughter will help out her grandma. I got help yesterday – for which I’m thankful. this sounds like a good story.
thanks.
I want to get into this series. Love the Granddaughter touch. My Grandkids are picking me up and taking me home for Thanksgiving. Love it.
I haven’t read any books in this series, so would love to win.
love this series
I love Krista Davis’ series and would love to have the recent copy. Thank you for the opportunity to enter the giveaway. Your review/interview helps to provide an early enticement to reading it.
I’m Canadian and know I can’t win the book, but I wanted to say I enjoyed your post.
Looking forward to reading this
Delightful and special. Thanks.
I love stories that have cats and /or dogs in them.
Love the idea of the inn, food and pets all in one story.
would love to win a copy of this book!! Thanks for the chance 🙂
Great cover and sounds like a need to be read mystery.
I enjoyed a day in the life of Holly Miller –it makes me a bit envious! Thanks for sharing Dru and Krista, and for the giveaway!
A cozy with food and animals…could it get any better?
I wish this town were a real place I could visit!
I’m reading – and enjoying – The Ghost and Mrs. Mewer right now and would like to continue with Murder Most Howl.
This is such an awesome series! I can’t wait to read this latest adventure in Wagtail! bpwoodfield@gmail.com
Book looks great!
My kind of book! I’d love to win!
I have read other series by Krista but haven’t had the chance to read this and I would love to win a copy. Thanks to both Dru and Krista for the chance. Hapoy Thanksgiving to everyone!
What fun! Sounds like a magical place. The fake murder turns into a real murder is my guess. Would love to read and keep on guessing.
Once again Krista has done it. Great series.
I would love to win this one so I won’t have to wait until I have the $$ to buy it.
Krista, you have lots of animal lovers wishing Wagtail was an actual place. A developer should take note. Tourists would flock there. Congratulations on your new release.
I’m heading to my local bookstore to find the first two in this series. I’ll read anything by Krista Davis! Maybe I’ll get lucky and win book number 3! BTW, check out her Domestic Diva series. Sophie, Natasha, Mars and the whole gang are so fun 😀
Murder Most Howl sounds like a good book. Thank you for introducing me to yet another author! Thank you for this chance.
One of my favorite authors, can’t wait to read this book. Thanks for the giveaway.
Looks like a really good, fun read. Love the cover. Love cozy titles. They are so punny.
Thank you, Dru and Holly/Krista. I’m looking forward to another visit to Sugar Maple Inn and more adventure with Trixie and Twinkletoes!
I sure love Krista’s series!
One of my favorite series
Murder Most Howl sounds like a fun read ; thanks for the opportunity to win.📖📚
Krista Davis is one of my favorite cozy authors.
I can hardly wait to read about Twinkletoes and Trixie. Thanks for the giveaway.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Sounds like a fun read.
Fantastic giveaway…and I have been wanting to read these. Thanks for the chance. Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
I would love to win a copy of your latest. Thanks for the giveaway.
A must-read for me….
Thank you for the giveaway…..
I have never read any of the books in this series, but I have read the Diva ones and I love them. I have been wanting to read this series for a while. Thanks for the chance to win!
Contest is closed.