My name is Jakob Müller. I’m a farmer, so you’d think this time of year I’d just be finishing up my busiest season, but actually, since I farm trees—Christmas trees to be exact—I’m now in my busiest season. I also run a store called The Junk Stops Here, and I have a large German family with a father who has some health issues and a mom who’s getting older. And I have a little girl—my precious daughter, Jocelyn—who has the busy schedule of most eight year olds, with school, and seasonal pageants coming up, as well as fitting in the tumbling group she belongs to and the singing lessons she begged to take.
One evening a couple of weeks ago, as I was doing the dinner dishes, the most beautiful girl, Jaymie Leighton, banged on my door in a panic. She was in trouble, and I was able to help. I fell instantly into like, and I think it’s rapidly advancing into love.
But I have an eight year old daughter, so I have to be careful who I bring into her life. She loved Jaymie immediately; they bonded over Jocie’s photo album. So now I need to fit one more thing into my busy days. . . time with Jaymie. Time to see if what we feel can become something more. I have a sneaking suspicion my and Jocie’s lives have changed forever. . . for the better.
Anyway… my day: it starts early. I’m up at five thirty or so doing the books for the tree business and store. Then I get Jocie up by six thirty: breakfast, dishes, washing up, teeth clean, dressed neatly and school. I go to the store most days, but I do have a business partner and a couple of employees, so it’s not all on me. This time of year I have to get back to the farm by lunch and choose trees to cut for those who just want to pick up a ready cut tree. I also tag trees with information on variety and height, maintain the growing area—we put down mulch on the paths between the trees to make it neat—and coming soon I’ll be working most afternoons and evenings selling trees to cut-it-yourself folks.
But still. . . I hope I can make time to see Jaymie, and I hope she can make time to see me! She’s as busy as I am, working a half dozen jobs, volunteering at the heritage society’s new historic house, family and friends. And murder; somehow, some way, there always seems to be a murder to investigate! And Jaymie, so smart, capable and independent, always comes through.
Frohe Weihnachten from a Christmas tree farmer to you!
~::~
You can read more about Jakob in White Colander Crime, the fifth book in the “Vintage Kitchen” mystery series, published by Berkley Prime Crime. The first book in the series is A Deadly Grind.
About White Colander Crime
In the new Vintage Kitchen Mystery from the author of No Mallets Intended, the Heritage Society is re-creating a perfect Victorian Christmas—until good tidings go bad. . .
Queensville has great expectations for their Dickens Days festival. A tourist-trade boom means a big turnout for the opening of Queensville Historic Manor and for Jaymie Leighton, food columnist and vintage cookware collector, a chance to promote the manor and give away homemade goodies. At the end of a long day of festival fun, Jaymie discovers the battered body of local woman Shelby Fretter.
Shelby predicted her own murder in journal entries—and all clues point to Cody Wainwright, the troubled son of Jaymie’s beleaguered newspaper editor. But considering the entire Fretter family had its share of dirty secrets, Jaymie’s not convinced by the case against Cody. With twists all over, she’s going to have to work like the Dickens to wrap up this investigation before Christmas—especially with the real killer ready to kill again.
INCLUDES A RECIPE!
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Giveaway! Open to Canadian and US addresses: Victoria is giving away a copy of Vintage Kitchen Mysteries Book #4, NO MALLETS INTENDED and Book #5, WHITE COLANDER CRIME. Leave a comment by 12 a.m. eastern on December 4 for your chance to win. Good luck everyone!
About the author
Victoria Hamilton is the author of three bestselling series, the Vintage Kitchen Mysteries and Merry Muffin Mysteries as Victoria, and the Teapot Collector Mysteries as Amanda Cooper. She is also the 
bestselling author of Regency and historical romance as Donna Lea Simpson.
Victoria loves to cook and collects vintage kitchen paraphernalia, teacups and teapots, and almost anything that catches her fancy! She loves to read, especially mystery novels, and enjoys good tea and cheap wine, the company of friends, and has a newfound appreciation for opera. She enjoys crocheting and beading, but a good book can tempt her away from almost anything… except writing!
For more information about the Vintage Kitchen Mysteries and Victoria’s other mystery series, check her out online:
Victoria Hamilton Mysteries at www.victoriahamiltonmysteries.com
Victoria Hamilton on Facebook
Vintage Kitchen Mysteries on Facebook
Vintage Kitchen Mysteries on Pinterest.com
Twitter: @MysteryVictoria
I read this author’s other series but haven’t started this one yet. Thanks for the chance to win.
Sounds like a very good book
I have read books from both series and enjoy them. Thanks for the giveaway.
This book sounds like a lovely holiday themed cozy mystery. Thank you for the giveaway.
myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com
I love this series and have been impatiently waiting for this new one. Since we got a glimpse of Jakob at the end of the last book been wanting to know more. Thanks for the chance to win.
I have been wanting to read this series, it sounds great! Thanks for the chance to win the book, the others are now on my to read list.
This is such a fun series! I share Jaymie’s interest inf kitchen accessories, and enjoy her exploits.<3 Can't wait to read more about Jakob in this newest book. Thanks Dru for featuring it today, and thanks Victoria for the opportunity to win your books! 🙂
This is an other series I have in my TBR pile. So hope I can get to it soon. Really want to read this book in the series. 🙂
Love this series and have been waiting for this new book. It has been on my TRL
This is a great series. Thank you for sharing
The setting sounds unique and I would like to read this book. Thanks for a chance to win.
I like the German influence as that is my heritage. The series sounds like fun.
I love that this series is called the vintage kitchen mystery. Great titles!
I’ve read other books written by this author and enjoyed them. Thank you for this chance!
When a book has a flavor from other nationalities it makes the book different and interesting. Thank you for the review. robeader53@yahoo.com
I’m sure this is a good book!
Time for me to play catch up with this series…
Sounds great. I don’t think I’ve read any of this series. Would love to start. thanks.
One of my favorite authors and series!
kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com
Love this series but haven’t gotten to the latest book yet.
Thanks for introducing this author to me. Series sound very interesting and am definitely adding to my TBR list.
Sounds like a great read.
I love that there is an ethnic infleunce in the story. Also I have been puzzling for years over an ancestor who sailed from England and first name was Jakob. He must have been German! Thank you for your help Victoria Hamilton! Also I have been reading the other series so I would be so delighted to win this great contest. Thank you so much for the opportunity!
I haven’t read any of this series, thanks for the introduction, I’m adding it to my TBR list! I actually found myself thinking with the accent as I’ve heard it.
These are on my wish list! Thank you for the chance!
I love this series, and I think Jakob will be great for Jaymie! I think my mother ( who also reads mysteries) would love this series! So if I win they will be going to her. Thanks so much for the chance!
I have heard a lot about this series and it’s on the TBR list. One of the things I think I will enjoy about the series is that it is set in my home state. Thanks for the opportunity to win.
love your books, can’t wait to read the latest………….
I love this series and one of the reasons is the cover of the first book reminded me of so many things I have in my kitchen that were my mom’s.I’ve read the first 3 books already so would enjoy adding to books to this series. Thank you Victoria Hamilton for the chance. Hope to read Amanda Cooper books too.
Thanks for the chance to win these wonderful sounding books.
A delightful author.
I would love to win this book. Sounds like a really good one.
Hmmmm … Yep, I want it.
Wonderful series and great feature and giveaway. Thanks.
Love all of Victoria Hamilton’s books.
Thanks for a chance to win your latest. Love your books.
Haven’t read this series, but it is definitely on my to read list.
diannekc8@gmail.com
We know it will be great, just like the others!
I love this series! Thanks for the chance to win.
I love Victoria Hamilton books. Would love to win this one.
Sounds like a great book and series.
Oooo I love this series so much!
This sounds wonderful! I really need to catch up on this series.
What a great sounding series,I need to get started. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
I definitely need to read this, great series, great author. Thanks for the giveaway.
I like the idea of kitchen vintage collectible items—probably some of the items in my kitchen are collectible. Thanks for the giveaway.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
A double-book giveaway???
Thank you!!!
I love this series! My favorite title so far is “No Mallets Intended”! The punnier the title the better. I love cozy mysteries with recipes. They are the best. Thanks for the giveaway. eeyore722 (at) gmail (dot) com
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