Meet Jake Swanson, best friend to Betts Winston, the protagonist of the Country Cooking School Mystery series.
Howdy. Come on in. Next show is in half an hour, but I’m happy to answer any questions you might have about Broken Rope, Missouri. My name is Jake Swanson and I’m the local sheriff – well, the fake sheriff. You’ve probably noticed that many of us are dressed like characters from the Old West – yeah, that’s hard to miss. If you stick around a bit, you’ll hear the poem I wrote for this year’s shows– it’s an ode to a starry night, a campfire, an old cowboy, and a mean rattler that wanted to ruin his day. I’m also the self-appointed town historian, so I probably know more about our past than anyone else around here. Ask me anything.
Ah, yes, actually, many of the stories are true. Broken Rope does have a history of strange and extraordinarily gruesome deaths as well as a long list of extra mean criminals. The hanging platform at the end of the street isn’t original, but that’s the spot the first well-used one and many thereafter stood. I’m afraid, though, that sometimes, back in the day, crimes weren’t always prosecuted with “innocent until proven guilty” in mind. Not something to be proud of, but our past is definitely chock full of colorful characters who lived and died by their wits or perhaps by the trigger of a gun. We’ll have stories to tell for a long, long time.
What’s that? Yes, in fact we do have a cooking school in town. Gram’s Country Cooking School is run by Missouri Anna Winston and her granddaughter Isabelle – or Betts. Betts and I have been best friends since high school, so I’m privy to some of the school’s home cooking secrets, though Miz would tan my hide twice for good measure if I gave any of them away. The school’s in an old church building just on the edge of town. It’s a quick drive if you want to have a look-see.
Yes, that’s right, it is next to a cemetery where a few of our more interesting historical characters are buried. Jerome Cowbender is there, so is Sally Swarthmore. Yep, Jerome was the bank robber who couldn’t shoot straight, and Sally’s the one who axed her parents to death. Yes, horrible, but . . . well, interesting. There’s a whole show about Sally down at the old courthouse. If you haven’t caught it yet, I recommend you do.
Uh-huh. Oh, that rumor? Well, I’ve never seen a ghost myself. I would have to speculate that if we do have any specters lurking around I should surely be the one they want to communicate with – I do know their history better than anyone, after all. But, I suppose, those sorts of things aren’t always fair, are they? Anyway, maybe we do have ghosts, maybe we’re just set up so that we can’t quite let go of what we used to be. Maybe our past is so big that it sometimes jumps right into the present and has to show itself. Well . . . shoot, that’s probably just me being a silly sentimental and all.
Ah, no matter, welcome to Broken Rope, and we can’t wait to share our stories with you.
You can read more about Jake in If Mashed Potatoes Could Dance, the second book in the “Country Cooking School” mystery series. The first book in the series is If Fried Chicken Could Fly.
** Thanks to the publisher, I have one (1) copy of IF MASHED POTATOES COULD DANCE to give away. Contest open to US residents only. Contest ends October 25. Leave a comment to be included in the giveaway. The book will be shipped directly from the publisher. **
Meet the author
Paige Shelton is the national bestselling author of the Farmers’ Market Mysteries and the Country Cooking School Mysteries. She grew up in the Midwest but moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, after college. Paige enjoys reading, listening to music from the 80s, and watching way too many zombie movies with her husband and son.
Visit Paige at her website, Twitter or on Facebook.
Books are available at retail and online booksellers.
This is a good series. Thank you for the chance to win the next in the series.
Your title caught my eye…I owwuld eat mashed potatoes every day if I could! But if I can’t always eat them at elast I can read about them. Please enter me in a chance to win the book. Thank you.
Having read Ms. Shelton’s first book in this series, and enjoying her Farmer’s Market books, I definitely would love to be entered in this drawing for a book. Count me in Dru, I want it.
NoraAdrienne(at)gmail(dot)com
This book sounds like fun. I like reading mystery books that make you laugh and I see my home life is crazy as some of these books. I would love to win one of your books. My family also loves zombie movies, my sons and I watch, The Walking Dead. Thank You
This sound like another fun read. I’d love it! Dee grammyd01 (at) comcast (dot) net
Love these books, ready for the next one 🙂
Looking forward to this book. Thanks.
blwilstead(at)aol(dot)com
Cute title – sounds like another one to add to me TBR list. kuzlin(at)aol(dot)com
Looking forward to this one. Thanks for the review and the giveaway!
jrobinson12 (at) austin (dot) rr (dot) com
I have this one on my wishlist.
This series sounds interesting. Just requested the first book from my public library. Please enter me in your contest.
Thanks,
Misty
Enjoyed the first book in this series and I am looking forward to this one. The title is great.
lynettek51(at) yahoo(dot) com
I read mysteries for the characters first, the mystery part second. And I’m partial to series – I don’t want to make an investment of my time and an emotional committment to a one-off. This sounds up my alley on both counts. dz87507 at gmail dot com
Love the first one in this series, really looking forward to this one as well.
The titles are hilarious and I’m waiting for the next installment in this fun series!
kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com
Love this series, I would love to see mashed potatoes dance as long as I didn’t have to clean up after them, lol. Love the title.
wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
I love this series!
Would love to win!!!!
nlb1050(at)yahoo(dot)com
A fake sheriff that’s also the town historian–what fun! I’d love to win your contest.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
There ought to be a prize for the most original title and thought. I like to support farmers’ markets and would love to see mashed potatoes dance. Thanks for the contest. judydee22002@yahoo dot com
What a fun post. And now, of course, I can’t wait to read the books. (smile)
Thanks, Dru Ann and everyone for letting Jake and me stop by today. Happy reading! —- Paige
I really liked getting to know the residents of Broken Rope in the first book and am looking forward to learning more about them in this second book. I also have to say that I love the group at Bailey’s in the Farm Fresh Series.
I love the titles in the series. Haven’t read any yet but I have some of her other books. I love to eat mashed potatoes, especially with beef gravy.
catbooks(at)rocketmail(dot)com
I haven’t read the series yet but it definitely sounds like a must and will be added to my to be read pile. elisanabby at gmail dot com
contest is closed.
Congrats to Wendy N.