“What do you think?” I asked, looking around at the stacks of boxes that dominated most of the floor space.
My large orange cat, Misfit, didn’t seem all that impressed. He flipped his tail and walked off, leaving me alone in the maze of unpacked boxes. It was standard, really.
I’d had something of a panic attack when my U-Haul broke down on the way to Pine Hills. If I hadn’t had movers helping me, I never would have managed to get everything into the house today, let alone by the time I had to go into work in the morning. It was a good thing the furniture had been set up the day before or I wouldn’t have anywhere to sleep, let alone sit down.
“Well, Krissy, you’re here,” I told myself. It was finally official; I was now a resident of Pine Hills. Not only that, but I was a business owner as well, something I never would have imagined when I was younger.
With boxes placed in the rooms where they would eventually be unpacked, I headed to the kitchen. There was no way I was unpacking today, not with the big day tomorrow. I opened a box beside the counter, removed one of my favorite chipped coffee mugs, and then went in search of the actual coffee pot. Twenty minutes later, I had a pot brewing and a chocolate chip cookie sitting in the bottom of the mug, just waiting to sop up the caffeinated goodness.
A knock at the door brought me up from where I leaned. I crossed the room and answered it, wondering who could possibly be stopping in for a visit. I hadn’t met the neighbors yet, or anyone else, for that matter. When I’d said I was new in town, I’d meant it.
“Krissy!” My best friend Vicki Patterson beamed at me. She looked as gorgeous as always, hair pulled up off of her neck, smile as dazzling as the sun. She should have been an actress; could have been if she had wanted to. I felt both glad and guilty that she’d decided to settle down and run a bookstore café with me instead.
“Hi Vicki,” I said. We hugged and I stepped aside to let her in.
“Are you ready for tomorrow?”
My excitement slipped as dread found a way in. “Are we really going to do this?”
Vicki was unperturbed. “We are.” She clasped her hands together. “The store is all set up. All we need to do now is open.”
“Are we sure about the name?” I knew it was futile to argue over it again, but I had to try one last time to get her to change it to something a little less . . . ominous.
“Everyone will love it. Death by Coffee.” She breathed in as if tasting the words. “It has a ring to it.”
“If you say so.” I motioned toward the kitchen. “I’m making coffee if you want some.”
“I wish I could. Trouble is in the car. We just came back from the vet and I thought I’d stop by on my way home. It’s going to be an early morning.” Trouble was her cat and Misfit’s littermate. They were both long-haired, but where Misfit was orange, Trouble was black and white.
And he was going to be our store cat.
“I guess I’ll see you tomorrow then,” I said, trying not to let my trepidation show. I’d never owned a store before, so I was intimidated by the prospect. What if everyone hated us? What if no one bought a single cup of coffee or book? I don’t think either of us could go home again if that were to happen. It would be too embarrassing to admit we’d failed.
Vicki gave me a winning smile and hugged me again. “I can’t wait,” she said as she stepped back outside. She got into her car, waved once, and then was gone.
By then, my coffee was ready. I didn’t add creamer or sugar; the cookie was enough. I sat down at the island counter and drank it slowly, wondering if we were going to come out of this thing alive. Once the coffee was gone, I fished out a spoon and began to eat the soggy cookie mess left behind.
Tomorrow was the big day. We were going to open Death by Coffee for the very first time.
“Don’t worry, Krissy,” I muttered to myself. “It’s just a coffee shop. What could possibly go wrong?”
Little did I know, I was about to find out.
You can read more about Krissy in Death by Coffee, the first book in the NEW “Bookstore Cafe” mystery series, published by Kensington.
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 p.m. eastern on June 2 for the chance to win a copy of Death by Coffee. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Winner will be notified within 48 hours after giveaway closes and you will have three days to respond after being contacted or another winner will be selected. Make sure to check your SPAM folder.
Meet the author
Alex Erickson has always wanted to write, even at a young, impressionable age. He’s always had an interest in the motive behind murder, which has led him down his current path. He’s always ready with a witty—at least in his opinion—quip, and tries to keep every conversation light and friendly. Alex lives in Ohio with his family and resident felines, who provide endless amounts of inspiration. You can visit him on Twitter and on Facebook.
Sounds like a book I’d love to read!
Love to read humorous cozy mysteries.
This sounds like a great series. Thank you for the chance.
Moonbay7399@gmail.com
Coffee, books and animals my favorite reads.
I know I’ll have to read this!
Hope to win!
What could possibly go wrong in a shop named Death By Coffee? I love it! Thanks for the chance of the giveaway.
Definitely looking forward to reading this series!
Thanks for the giveaway! I can’t wait to read it!
I LOVE my coffee along with a book or two 🙂
Death By Coffee! What a great name for a bookstore café. And the cover is gorgeous! I am adding this book to my TBR list. Thank you for the chance to win.
myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com
Cats and coffee..I’m in! Thanks god the giveaway. Kuzlin at AOL.com
Very Cute Cover. Thank you for the chance.
Looking forward to following another good series. Thanks!
Terrific! Thanks for the opportunity!
I love a new series…this one sounds great! Thanks for the chance to win!
Looks great and thanks for the chance 🙂
Sounds like a fun read. Thanks for.chance
Sounds wonderful, would love to read this
Sounds like a great read. Love “store cats”!
Can’t wait to read this one! Thanks for the contest!
Sounds like a good book – thank you for the chance to win
What could possibly go wrong? 🙂 Can’t wait to read it to find out! Thanks Alex and Dru for the chance to win a copy!
Great name!
Love getting in on a new series! Sounds terrific.
kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com
Sounds like a fun read! THANKS For The chance!
Thanks for the chance
Can’t wait to read – hope to win a copy! Thank you for the chance!
Sounds like a fun read—thanks for the chance to win a copy!
Thanks for this great feature and giveaway.
Another series with coffee! Love the idea! Mfg20A@aol.com
Always looking for a new author. Thanks.
I love the cover. It would make me pick this book up to read. Thanks for the review. robeader53@yahoo.com
Thanks for the chance, Dru!
I like the title.
And I’ve never thought of putting a cookie in the bottom of a mug of coffee. Fun idea.
Can’t beat the combination of coffee and cats.
I love how the heroine never thinks anything can go wrong – and then it does. Sounds like a good read. thanks.
You had my attention at COFFEE!! It has to be good. Can’t wait to read with a cup of coffee and my cat on my lap. Would only be better if I won. Thanks
Wow this book sounds great!!! I always love the book shop ( and in this case/ cafe ) angle! Thanks for the giveaway!!! 🙂
Hi Dru (taking a sip of coffee) this looks like a great series so I think I need to enter it and win. LOL Hope you had a great weekend.
Sounds like a great new series.
A new series always grabs my attention. I’d really love to have this one. It sounds like a real treat.
Sounds like a book I would love to read! Love the title and cover! Thanks for the chance!
I love coffee shops-I’m sipping some coffee right now. I would love a copy of a new series. Thank you for the opportunity to win one.
I love to read funny copies, can’t wait to read this book. Thanks for the chance to win a copy. 🙂
This sounds like a great first book in a new series I’m dying to read. I would love to win this novel, but if I don’t I am going to be buying it!!
Never thought about putting the cookie IN the mug – yum. Death by Coffee – can’t be, who doesn’t love coffee? Thanks for the giveaway.
Love coffee shops and so great that the cats that the author has at home are the inspiration for some of the book. Thank you for the giveaway!
Coffee, cats and a mystery sounds perfect to me. Thanks for the giveaway.
With a store cat named Trouble, you just know something is going to go wrong. Thanks for the contest.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
This sounds like a great book!
Coffee & books just go together. Thanks for the chance
to win Death by Coffee.📖📚
This looks great. I would love a chance to read.
I want to read this
Sounds great! I’d love to read it.
New author, sounds like a great read
Looking forward to reading this one.
Bookstores, cats, coffee and humorous mystery. Can’t get better than that. Thanks for the giveaway.
This looks to be a very promising beginning for a new author. Books and coffee go together like ham and eggs. Good luck to this new author.
Trouble and Misfit, coffee shop with books, a good mystery – it doesn’t get much better than this in a good cozy! Maybe some tea for the evenings, also. Have been looking forward to reading this since first seeing it on Amazon a few months ago.
Chocolate chip cookie at the bottom of a mug of coffee? I’m in!!! 🍪☕️📖
Sounds like my type of book.
Great! I love a good mystery. And coffee to go with it! Be still my heart.
I really do want to get this book and winning it would be excellent. I have already looked into getting Murder by Tea coming out in December I think it is. Sounds wonderful. Definitely want to start this new series and that way there were no books before it for me to have missed out on.
Thank you.
Cynthia
Love new authors. Can’t wait to read. This sounds like a great new series. Coffee, cats, and mystery can’t fail:)
I would love to read this book. Grateful for the opportunity to win. Thanks!
Been wanting to read this one!!!
Just from looking at the awesome cover on this new book I can tell I will absolutely love reading it. I’m not a coffee drinker, but I sure do love cats and mysteries so can’t wait to read this one. Sure would love to win it! Thanks for the chance! God bless you dearest Dru!!!!
I’ve been looking forward to this book’s release for awhile. It really sounds like a great beginning to a great new series. Thanks for the chance to win.
I can’t wait to read this book, it sounds wonderful! Thanks for the giveaway.
I can’t wait to find out what went wrong!
You got me at coffee and bookstores. Can’t wait to start this series.
I enjoy bookstore cozies. Thank you for a chance to win a copy of Death by Coffee.
Cats, coffee, cozy…..
It’s for me!!!!
Thank you for the giveaway!!
I never say no to a new series… and cats, books and coffee are the staples of mystery life! Thanks for the giveaway!
This sounds like it’s right up my alley!
Death by Coffee is a great title and a good read.
The more I read the above, the more I wanted to open up my own Death by Coffee Shoppe 🙂 And the heroics of a move, I could appreciate. Sounds like I’ve found a new series to investigate. Judy D.
This has all my favorite things. Cats, Coffee and Mystery. Sounds like a great read. Thanks.
Coffee, cats, and books — my kind of cozy! There are lots of books featuring bookstores or book groups. I need to read some of them.
I always love it when they say what could go wrong…
Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
A mystery and coffee–a great combination. Thanks for the chance.
scarletbegonia5858@gmail.com
Thank you!
Thanks for the chance!
Thank you for the chance to win this Dru. It sounds like an awesome book!!
I would love to win. I love reading these kind of books.
Coffee, reading, mystery what else is there…Yummy. Thanks for the chance . Love it.
Would love to win Death by Coffee.📖📚. Thanks.
I an a bibliobibuli and a coffeeholic. Love a good murder mystery….wow.. The title of this book has me hooked!
Contest is closed.