I do not like the cold.
Hi! I’m Lucy Berberian, and I signed up for this year’s Polar Bear Plunge in my hometown of Ocean Crest at the Jersey Shore. You might be wondering why I would do such a thing if I don’t like chilly weather, let alone freezing ocean water. After all, the average temperature of the Atlantic Ocean in December is only forty-six degrees. But it’s for a good cause—raising money for our local senior center—and I participated on behalf of my family’s Mediterranean restaurant, Kebab Kitchen, where I work as the manager.
But I soon realized that no amount of preparation was sufficient to run into the frigid Atlantic Ocean. With my best friend, Katie Watson at my side, I lined up next to the other brave plungers, and at the mayor’s bullhorn command, I crashed through the surf, had my breath cut off by a tall wave, then swiftly hightailed it back to the shore where family waited with flannel blankets and hot chocolate. Just when I thought the worst was over, a chilling scream alerted everyone to a body lying at the surf.
The victim is an owner of a catering hall, the same man who snubbed me when I inquired about having my wedding reception at his establishment. Did I mention I’m engaged to Kebab Kitchen’s head chef, Azad? The victim wasn’t well liked— a wedding cake baker, an angry bride, a photographer, and a business partner are just a few who had a beef with the pompous caterer. It’s up to me and my BFF Katie to find the killer before Christmas in Ocean Crest is ruined and all the evidence is washed out to sea. . .
Just an average day at the Jersey Shore.
Giveaway: What is your dream vacation? Cold or hot weather? Relaxing or adventurous? Just comment for a chance to win an e-book or print copy (U.S. Only for print) of Mistletoe, Moussaka & Murder after it’s released on 9/29! Giveaway ends September 29, 2020. Good luck everyone!
Mistletoe, Moussaka & Murder is the fifth book in the “Kebab Kitchen” cozy mystery series, coming September 29, 2020.
Not even her impending nuptials can keep Lucy Berberian, manager of her family-owned Kebab Kitchen, from the Jersey Shore’s annual Polar Bear Plunge. But her dive into the icy ocean is especially chilling when she finds a fellow swimmer doing the dead man’s float—for real . . .
Who would kill a man in cold blood during Ocean Crest, New Jersey’s most popular winter event? When Lucy learns the victim is Deacon Spooner, the reception hall owner who turned up his nose—and his price—at her wedding plans, she can’t help wondering who wouldn’t kill the pompous caterer . . .
Perhaps the culprit is the wedding cake baker whose career Deacon nearly destroyed? Or the angry bride whose reception he ruined? With her maid of honor, Katie, busily planning Lucy’s wedding without her, Lucy will have to get to the bottom of this cold-hearted business in time for Kebab Kitchen’s mouthwatering Christmas celebration—and before her hometown’s holiday spirit washes out to sea . . .
Recipes included!
If you want to find out where Lucy’s adventures lead her and her friends and quirky family, please pick up Hummus and Homicide, Stabbed in the Baklava, One Feta in the Grave, and On The Lamb, the first four books in the “Kebab Kitchen” mystery series from Kensington Publishing. All the books can be read as stand-alone novels.
About the author
Tina Kashian is a bestselling author, an attorney, and a former mechanical engineer whose love of reading for pleasure helped her get through years of academia. Tina spent her childhood summers at the Jersey shore building sandcastles, boogie boarding, and riding the boardwalk Ferris wheel. She also grew up in the restaurant business, as her Armenian parents owned a restaurant for thirty years. Tina still lives in New Jersey with her supportive husband and two daughters.
Please visit her website at tinakashian.com to join her newsletter, receive delicious recipes, enter contests, and more! You can also connect with Tina on Facebook, on Twitter, and on Instagram.
All comments are welcomed.
I love this series! I prefer ether Autumn or Spring, and My favorite place to go is Disney world. Thank you for this chance to win.
Hello! Disney World is my family’s favorite and we hope to go again soon.
Sounds like another great book that will be fun to read! I don’t like extreme temperatures, and would prefer warmer rather than colder weather. I’d love a vacation by the ocean, and some activities (shopping, museums) but time to just relax, explore the beach, and read. Thank you for a chance to win a copy of Mistletoe, Moussaka & Murder.
Hello Barbara! I prefer warmer temperatures as well. Just like my sleuth, Lucy, I don’t like the cold. I do love to tour museums and to relax on a warm beach. Thanks for stopping by!
My dream vacation would be somewhere cold. I like cooler and colder weather. I would love to go to Alaska. Get a super nice log cabin in the woods. During the day do winter sports. At night have a roaring fire and read Mistletoe, Moussaka & Murder. If I win. I love print copies of books. This books sounds fun. Don’t know this author. Good chance to get to discover this series.
I would like to go to the New England states in the fall to see the foliage, they say it is beautiful.
I would love to win a print copy of this book, thank you for the chance.
wfnren at aol dot com
Hi Wendy! My in-laws live in the Poconos and the foliage is beautiful to see there.
I prefer warm weather! I’d love to go to Las Vegas.
Oh, Vegas! I haven’t been in years, but when we went we had so much fun. This is on my list for a future trip.
When I was a child, my family went to the beach every summer, and when I had my family, we would go to the mountains, so I have a love for both. If I could go anywhere in the world for a vacation, I would go to The Maldives for its gorgeous beaches and lots of relaxation. I love the cover of Mistletoe, Moussaka and Murder ~
Anywhere new, with plenty of time for sightseeing but also a chance to relax and have fun. There’s so many places I’d like to visit someday.
Hi Alicia! So many nice places, but so little time and money. But we hope to take the family to more trips in the future. Thanks for stopping by!
Hi Celia! We still love the Jersey Shore and we go a couple times every summer. It helps that it is only an hour away. I also enjoy the mountains and my in-laws live in the Poconos. I’ve never been to the Maldives, but it sounds wonderful!
My dream vacation is 2 weeks in Barbados with our whole family together — all 16 of us unless 1 or more of the grandchildren marry which will add more people. B’dos is where my husband was born. (Best to avoid hurricane season.)
Hi Amy. How interesting that your husband was born in Barbados! And how nice that you have a large family. You will have a wonderful time when you go.
A dream vacation for me is anywhere near water. My husband and I had our honeymoon at Niagara Falls, 35 years ago. It would be wonderful to celebrate another time there with him.
I’d love to take the kids to Niagra Falls.
I love to travel and would love to see Ireland.
Thanks to the pandemic, any vacation that did not include the necessity of social distancing, masks, hypervigilant cleaning etc. would be great!
Hi Libby. I know how you feel. We canceled a mini vacation last spring break because of the pandemic. Maybe next year it will be better. We’ll see…
This sounds very good I’m looking forward to it, Great review thank you.My dream vacation is being in a cabin in the woods. Love this series
Penney
Hi Penney! Thank you for reading the series. A cabin in the woods sound like a great geteaway
My dream vacation would be to Hawaii for sightseeing, relaxing & eating.
Hi Jeanne, I’d love to go to Hawaii, too. Palm trees, beautiful beaches, and a tropical drink sounds great right now. 🙂
Cool weather as opposed to hot. I like to go explore new things and places as opposed to lazing around relaxing. But not such vigorous activity as to kill me!
Hi Pat, we want to zip line one day with the family. We also like hiking and sightseeing. I don’t think I can keep up with my teenager, though.
Ziplined years ago. It was fun!
I have always wanted to go to Machu PIcchu. Not because I am a student of the Incas or can claim any indigenous heritage. But I feel with great certainty that there is a message wating for me there. But with the pandemic I don’t know when I can make that dream a reality.
Hi Pam. What an interesting vacation. And I’m sure there is a message! I know how you feel about this pandemic. Hopefully, it ends sooner than later and we can all travel.
I prefer cold weather to hot weather. I think my dream vacation would be going to New York and seeing all the shows I wanted to, sight seeing during the day, and having large chunks of time to read. Congratulations on the new release!
I enjoy NYC shows! It has been a long time since we have seen one. We saw “Wicked” with the kids a while back and liked it. I’d love to see the Harry Potter show, but it is two days and I don’t think we can do this anytime soon.
Love this series! My dream vacation would be relaxing on the water, maybe a little mystery thrown in!
This upcoming book sounds great. I’ve read one of the previous books in this series and I thought it was very entertaining so I’m looking forward to this one. I hope to catch up and having the newest release will get me back on track for that. Thank you for keeping me up to date on new releases Dru Ann and congratulations to Tina on your latest book!
Cynthia
My dream vacation involves temperate weather and hiking, but ending the day with lots of good food and chatting.
My dream vacation would be visiting the British Isles.
My dream vacation would be to visit the Greek Isles. I read this series and enjoy it very much.
I really enjoy this series. My dream vacation would be Australia
My dream vacation would be a Hawaiian cruise.
My dream vacation is a cruise to an exotic location. Preferably warm. However, there is beautiful scenery in cold climates too.
I’d love to visit Iceland one day.
I do like cold weather, but I live in the Houston, Texas area, so it’s most always hot and humid. Dream vaca? whether in hot or cold weather, I want mine relaxing, as long as I have coffee & a few good books, I’m fine! Thanks for the giveaway, I’d love a paper back copy for sure!
I prefer a beach near an ocean reading a great cozy mystery.
I like warmer weather. We had been planning to go to Spain this summer to visit my brother and his family who live there and to see my niece and nephew. We already had airplane tickets since last December but finally canceled the tickets in April. Hopefully, maybe next year depending on the coronavirus.
I’m for sure all about warm weather as I live in Michigan. Would love to one day visit Hawaii!
On my BucketList are Australia and New Zealand…
**** WINNER ****
Mistletoe, Moussaka, and Murder is wendynewcomb
Congratulations!