Hi, I’m Melissa Eller, but everyone calls me Lissa. Come in, and I’ll grab us some cookies and lemonade. Sorry about the dog, she loves people and tends to get in the way. Honey, baby, please move so our visitors can go through the front door. Thank you, sweetie.
Yes, Honey is a rescue Labrador retriever. She’s a yellow Lab, but likes when I say she’s blonde—and my dog definitely looks for fun, so the adjective fits. Well, it’s not all fun. A few days ago, she and I stumbled onto a dead body. Things became this side of hectic and remained so ever since.
Oh, I’m not supposed to talk about the murder. I found the victim, and because we’d argued the night before, the police are taking a particular interest in me—never a good thing. But, honest, I’m not a killer. My best friend, Abby, is a lawyer, and she keeps advising me to keep my lips zipped. I try, but I think I was born with a larger than normal amount of “helpfulness,” and I have a problem not giving more information than is good for me. People ask me something and I blurt out the answer without thinking whether I should or shouldn’t.
In fact, helpfulness is how I landed in this predicament. I’d promised to clean out a neighbor’s garage. A longtime friend of my grandmother’s, my neighbor has lived alone since her husband passed on and her kids got jobs out of state. Her garage stores about fifty years of stuff. That lifetime detritus no one wants to throw away, but there’s no room for it in the house.
But we never expected a murder victim inside.
Trying to get the police sniffing in a new direction for suspects has become Honey and my daily job in the short-term. At least, I hope this crime-solving gig will be short, because I’m terribly unqualified.
Mostly, I’m a part-time blogger. I write The Frugal Lissa blog—and I love sharing ways my subscribers can save money. We’re all in this budget-balancing thing together, and if I can offer ways to help readers keep more jingle in their pockets, we all win. However, my full-time job is being wife and mother to my three guys. Our two boys, Jamey and Mac, nine and five years old, respectively, are my 24/7 priority—they make me laugh and constantly keep me hopping.
My husband, Derek (Dek), is an award-winning photojournalist, which sounds exciting, but few of those awards offer money to help pay bills. Just plaques for me to dust (though I often stash some in the closet—he has a lot!). He works for a newspaper syndicate (if you’ve read any articles lately on the newspaper industry, then you know jobs and pay there get cut every day), and he travels a lot, so I often need to juggle our budget while waiting for his next expense reimbursement. But Dek is gaining more freelance work, and as long as I recycle every penny until it’s as thin as aluminum foil, we make it each month.
Sometimes it’s close, like now, which is how I got into the predicament I’m presently not enjoying at all.
Oops, I wasn’t supposed to talk about the active police case. I forgot, again.
That’s rude, I know, to mention something intriguing then not discuss it. However, Abby would never stop lecturing me if I said anything. I’m sorry.
No, I absolutely did not kill him. I didn’t even know the man. But he knew me and my house—and my temporary money problems. He also started a very personal conversation in a very public place, and. . .Sheesh! I’d better hush or I could talk myself into a jail cell. Please promise you won’t say anything about this to anyone.
Come into the kitchen and I’ll get the cookies and lemonade. Oh, yes, I do have some suggestions on ways to save money on groceries and utility bills. We’ll discuss those as we snack, and feel free to subscribe to my weekly Frugal Lissa blog to get access to my archives.
What’s that you ask? Hmm, not sure I’ll report any crime-solving tips, but you never know. I’ll have your subscriber address, though, so I can send a status message later if you’d like. Just hope I won’t be sending it from county jail. My boys need me home—not behind bars.
Here, try these chocolate chip cookies. My own recipe that I’ve shared with readers. Oh, thank you for the compliment. Yes, my boys love them, but they’re Abby’s favorite. When the current situation finally resolves itself, I’ll owe her a huge batch of her very own.
You can read more about Lissa in Frugal Lissa Finds A Body, the first book in the NEW “Frugal Lissa” cozy mystery series, released June 30, 2019.
Melissa Eller looks for ways to save people money. She never wanted to find a dead body. . .
Especially since she and the victim argued in public the previous evening. And she kind of threatened him (all a big misunderstanding – really).
When would she learn to keep her big mouth shut?
Now, she’s suspect number one in the guy’s murder. Worse, the detective in charge of the case is someone Lissa made fun of in high school—because he made fun of her—and he holds more leverage than just the threat of getting her sent to detention. Her boys don’t need a mom in prison!
She should never have moved back home.
Who said small towns were safer?
BONUS: Along with solving the crime, Lissa finds ways to save her blog subscribers money and shares those methods with readers. Also included are terrific family-friendly recipes.
Purchase Link
Price of book is $1.99 until July 4th
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About the author
Ritter Ames is the USA TODAY bestselling mystery author of the cozy Organized Mysteries series, the new Frugal Lissa Mysteries, and the light-suspense Bodies of Art Mysteries. When she has anything interesting to say, or news for readers, she blogs at ritterames.com. Also, subscribe to her quarterly newsletter HERE for inside scoops on subscribers-only info and special gifts, alerts about upcoming sales, info on characters, and series previews. Find her on Facebook and on Twitter.
All comments are welcomed.
Thanks to Ritter Ames for donating a digital copy (Kindle or Nook) of Frugal Lissa Finds A Body and a Frugal Lissa canvas tote bag. Giveaway ends July 4, 2019 and is limited to U.S. residents. Please leave comment in box below. The winner will be notified by email (so check your spam folder). Good luck everyone!
Like Lissa, I write a personal finance blog (Countdown to Financial Fitness) so it will be interesting to read what money-saving tips she offers.
Hi Sharon, you do such a wonderful service with your blog! Thank you. And thanks so much for stopping by today 🙂
Ooh I will be checking out this book.
Thank you, Audrey! So glad you stopped by 🙂
I did not know this. Will check out your blog.
Sounds like a great book. I will have to check it out.
Thank you, Mary B. Thanks so much for stopping by 🙂
I think this series will be both informative and a lot of fun! Hope to read it soon!
I hope it’s all those things, Fran 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by today!
Already downloaded
Lissa sounds so fun
Thanks so much, Sharon 🙂 Hope you enjoy it. Thanks for stopping by today!
Love the unusual idea of a heroine who is writing a blog on how to save money and laughed at the yellow lab which prefers to be called blonde. Sounds like a chuckle of a cozy.
That’s the goal, GB. A good mystery and a lot of fun is the great escape in my opinion 🙂 Thanks for stopping by today!
I preordered and am enjoying the book very much, so far!
Wonderful to hear! Thanks so much for stopping by, Linda 🙂
Sounds like a fun read.
Thank you, Carolyn, I hope so! Glad you could stop by today 🙂
Thank you, Carolyn 🙂
Did I make the deafline??
Count me in for this…
This sounds great–a pet, a murder, tips on being frugal–can’t go wrong with that.
Glad you like the sound of it, Rochelle! Thank you for dropping by today 🙂
This would be delightful and helpful. What a lovely feature and giveaway.
Thank you, Anne 🙂 Appreciate your comments and your stopping by today!
A captivating and unique story which I would enjoy. Thanks for this giveaway.
Nice to hear, Ruth 🙂 Thanks for stopping by today.
Great review (as normal!) I can hardly wait to start this series! Love Ritter Ames books! Awesome giveaway! Thanks for the opportunity.
I appreciate your nice words, Cheryl, thank you so much. And thank you for stopping by today!
Ritter Ames is a superb author and her books will entertain you for hours. Thank you Dru Ann for hosting Ritter and her book on your blog. Keep them coming.
I truly appreciate hearing that, Robin! That’s so gratifying to hear. Thank you, and thank you for stopping by today 🙂
I preordered this book. A book about a lab that thinks she’s a blonde (not a D.O.G.), a murder mystery and learning tips about personal finance is bound to be a WINNER! Thanks for the opportunity to be a part of this Giveaway! Thanks Dru Ann for hosting Ritter on your Blog!
Lisa, your words made me smile–and Honey said “Woof.” (yes, she’s napping under my desk) Thanks so much for stopping by today, and happy reading!
One of the things I love about the Organized Mysteries series is that I feel like I am visiting friends with each book I read. I was delighted to capture that same feeling with Lissa and Abby. The plot was excellent and I kind of like who you chose for the villain. I have been looking forward to seeing LIssa’s Honey in action; you did your girl proud. I had fun with the whole book.
I also appreciate the money saving tips. There are several that I can implement easily and others that I intend to try.
This is so wonderful to hear, Jeanie. Being an author is often like working in a vacuum, and I always worry if what I think is important/good/fun/etc is really that and not just in my own mind. Love hearing a reader’s take on things. Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting!
Sounds like a fun new series! Thanks for the chance to win a copy and a tote bag.
Thanks for dropping by, Ashley. Good luck in the drawing 🙂
Sounds interesting. A new to me author, so it would be fun to win a copy! Thanks
Nice to hear, Kay. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Sounds like a great new series. Looking forward to reading the book.
Hi Dianne, thanks for stopping by 🙂 Nice to see you here.
I bought a copy because it sounded fun and because it’s by Ritter Ames. She is a favorite.
Aww, thanks, Connie 🙂 I always appreciate hearing things like that. Thank you for stopping by today!
I have this one waiting on my Kindle for me. 🙂
Hope you enjoy it, Brooke! Thanks for stopping by today 🙂
Frugal Lissa Finds A Body sounds like a fun mystery with a quirky character leading the way to discover the killer. The book sounds like a light fun read.
Thank you, Debbie 🙂
I love this author’s books and can’t wait to read this one.
Thanks, Doward! So glad to see you here 🙂
Sounds like a fun read.
I hope so, Mary 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by today.
This sounds like a grand addition to my Kindle. The tote bag will be cool bonus.
Good luck, Amy 🙂 Thank you for stopping by today.
Congratulations on your new release! Lissa sounds like quite a character. I look forward to reading how she goes about proving her innocence and thank you for the chance to win!
Thanks so much for stopping by, Sandra!
Sounds like a great read
Thank you, Mary. Thanks for stopping by.
I’m looking forward to seeing how Lissa solves the case.
Good to hear, Jana! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
It’s on my TBR list!
I am always in need of large totes to carry my book finds from the store. Paper and plastic just can’t handle the weight! Am excited to see your latest!
Thanks for the chance!
**** WINNER ****
Frugal Lissa Finds A Body plus a Frugal Lissa canvas tote bag is Amy Gill
Congratulations!