Anyone will tell you the restaurant business is one of the hardest in the world. Long hours and lots of physical endurance are required to keep customers happy. And always, always a smile. Folks in Zinnia, Mississippi tell me the town wouldn’t be the same without Millie’s Café, and they prove that every day by walking in the door and eating my home-cooked food.
It’s funny how a person finds her place in a community. I’ve always enjoyed the farmers and planters who come in at seven for coffee and breakfast, and the bankers and businessmen who gather later in the morning. I love the ladies who lunch and then the afternoon teenagers who want a burger and fries or a country fried steak and a milkshake. Lord, those young boys can pack away the calories and never show it. Each part of the day brings new customers and for me, great joy in seeing the people of my town going about their daily routine.
When I became friends with Sarah Booth, back when she first came home to Zinnia, I didn’t predict that she’d be in partnership with Tinkie Bellcase Richmond in a detective agency. I never saw how much I’d love those two women, or how they’d bring so many of my special friends together to find out the truth.
And I never saw how much I’d worry about them. I have to confess, when I look at Tinkie with that little orphan baby she named Libby, going down the street with her credit card about to melt with all those baby clothes she’s buying, I see a heavy price hanging over her head.
What happened is that someone left that baby on Sarah Booth’s doorstep, and Tinkie offered to take care of it until they could find the mother. I’m not saying this was a good or bad decision. No one could have predicted how a carrot-topped baby could insinuate herself into Tinkie’s heart. All I know is that one look at Tinkie’s face whenever she glances down at the baby is enough to tell me trouble is coming down the road at a fast, fast clip.
Something you may not know about Tinkie is that while she is the chief Daddy’s Girl and society queen bee, she’s a lot more than that. She projects a façade of the fashionista—and that woman does love clothes and jewelry—but she has a hole in her life. I don’t even think she knows how much she wants a child, but I can see.
This little abandoned baby has fit perfectly into that hole, and when the mother is found. . .my heart just breaks at the thought.
From what I’ve learned from Sarah Booth, the infant was left on the front porch of Dahlia House in the dead of night. The person who left her rang the bell and didn’t leave until Sarah Booth opened the door and saw the baby.
And a pool of blood.
Since the baby wasn’t bleeding, it makes sense that the person who left her was. If that was the mother, she could be in dire circumstances.
But the one thing I know is that Sarah Booth will turn heaven and earth to find the missing mother. And until she does, little Libby will be loved and provided for. I only hope, for Tinkie’s sake, that Sarah Booth finds the missing mother quickly. And I hope the mother is not injured or hurt. In a perfect world, every baby would have happy, healthy parents to love it. I hope this turns out just like that.
Now the meringue on my coconut cream pies is a perfect shade of brown. Time to pull them out and get on with the lemon pound cakes for today’s lunch menu. Busy is good, and I’m blessed with hungry customers and loyal friends.
If you’re in Zinnia, stop by the café and maybe Tinkie will drop in with that little redheaded love bug and you can judge for yourself. And if you know anything about who her mama might be, please let Sarah Booth know. Before Tinkie gets her big, generous heart broken.
Rock-a-Bye-Bones is the 16th book in the Sarah Booth Delaney mystery series, published by Minotaur Books, May 2016.
Sarah Booth Delaney knows the perfect way to begin recovering from both the recent attack on Scott Hampton’s blues club and her broken heart. She’s going to host a Thanksgiving feast for all of her friends at her ancestral home in Zinnia, Mississippi. But one bitterly cold night with the holiday just around the corner, Sarah Booth awakens to the insistent ring of her doorbell. She opens the door to find a newborn baby in a basket sitting on her front porch. . .and a pool of blood slowly seeping out from the basket. Before she can respond, an engine guns and a dark vehicle takes off.
After the police and a doctor ensure the baby is otherwise safe and healthy, Sarah Booth calls Tinkie Richmond, her partner at the Delaney Detective Agency. They know they need to do everything they can to find the baby’s mother. . .even if they are starting to fall in love with the baby themselves. But as they track the baby’s mother, Sarah Booth soon begins to suspect the woman might have been in danger; in fact, she might have been running for her life. And following in the woman’s footsteps, Sarah Booth might find her own life on the line next.
USA Today bestselling author Carolyn Haines will once again delight readers with the next sparkling Sarah Booth Delaney mystery.
# # # # # # # # # # #
About the author
Rock-a-Bye Bones is the 16th Sarah Booth Delaney mystery. USA Today bestselling author Carolyn Haines is a native of Mississippi. She’s published over 70 books in a number of genres. She lives on a small farm and runs an animal rescue where she takes care of cats, dogs, and horses. You can learn more about her at www.carolynhaines.com. We invite you to join her newsletter and to follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Giveaway: Leave comment below for your chance to win a print copy of Rock-a-Bye-Bones. US entries only, please. The giveaway will end May 23, 2016 at 12 AM EST. Good luck everyone!
All comments are welcomed.
This sounds like a great book. I’d love to win and read it!
Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net
Good luck!
Won!d love to win a print copy of Rock-A-Bye-Bones.Thank you for the chance.
Great…Count me in.
Love this series. Can’t wait to read this newest one.
Thanks, Jacki. Good luck.
I love everything Carolyn Haynes has written. Want this!
Thanks, Amy, good luck!
This sounds like a fun read. Thank you for the chance to win a print copy of Rock-a-Bye-Bones.
I love, love, love this series and this sounds like one of the best. I’d love to win!
Good luck!
One of my favorite series! Can’t wait to read it. Thanks for the giveaway.
Thank you. And I’m working on the next one.
Another series I’ve somehow missed! Looks like I’ve got a lot of catching up to do.
Wow Does this sound interesting.
Nothing like chicken fried steak and a good mystery to make life great.
You’re making me hungry!
I love Sarah Booth and Tinkie…and life on the Delta. This series never fails to delight, as well as devastate me. They deserve some happiness with this little carrot top baby! I can’t wait to read the book-hard to believe it is the 16th! Thanks Dru for today’s post! Thanks Carolyn for the chance to win a copy.
you’re very welcome. Good luck. And yes, the 16th! I’m working on the next one.
This sounds like an interesting book and thanks for the offer
This is a new to me series. I’ll have to go find some of the earlier books. This sounds interesting. My daughter is pregnant so finding a baby on the doorstep sounds scary right now. Look forward to reading this adventure.
The first in the seres is THEM BONES and you will love it!
Enjoyable series. Thanks for this feature.
Thanks for the introduction to a new series. Carolyn Haines’ Sarah Booth sounds like a great character with many sides to her. I appreciate the opportunity to enter the giveaway. robeader53@yahoo.com
Love this series and author. I have been reading it since the first book. Thanks for the chance to win.
Thanks, Doward. You’ve been with me the whole way!
I love this series! I enjoy stories set in the South and Sarah Booth and Tinkle are great characters.
Looking forward to reading “Rock-A-Bye Bones”
Good luck!
I have loved Sarah Booth and Jitty for a long time. Thanks for the chance to win.
That Jitty–she is a trial to Sarah Booth, but I love her.
I can’t believe I wasn’t aware of this series. It sounds like a fun one and I am going to search out earlier books right now.
I love this series. Thanks for a chance to win a copy.
One of my all time favorite series….love the setting, the stories and the delightful cast of characters…Thank you for the chance!
I’ve enjoyed Sarah Booth and Jitty from the beginning and would be delighted to win this latest book!
I have not read any books in this series yet, but would love to start! Thanks for the giveaway!
Wow, havent read any in this series but sounds like I have been missing out, would love to win, ty
This is a really great series and I always look forward to the newest book. Hopefully I’ll have a chance to win.
I love Carolyn Haines! Love this series.
These stories are so awesome! Thanks.
LOVE THIS SERIES AND WOULD LOVE TO WIN THE BOOK! THANKS FOR THE GIVEAWAY!
Love to read wonderful new books 💝, Sounds like a great book 👍👍 Thank you for a chance to win 👍👍
This is the series that made me start reading again!! Love Carolyn Haines and her crew of crazy friends in Zinnia!! If you have not read this series, now s the time to start!! Them Bones is the beginning of the crazy, fun that is had in Zinnia, and is the book that made me love books again!!!
What a high compliment. Thank you, Amy.
Sounds like a great book. Would love to win a copy. Thanks for the giveaway!
Sounds like a great book. Would love to win a copy!!
I love this series!
This is a New-to-me series & sounds fab!
Cheers-
Kelly Braun
Gaelicark{at}yahoo{dot}com
This would be a first for me and it sounds great! I’d love to read this book. Thankyou for the opportunity!
I didn’t read any of the copy above. I love to open up a new book in this series and be completely surprised! The characters in this series are like old friends.
Thank you all for the kind words about Sarah Booth and the Zinnia gang. I love spending time with the characters, and I love that you love reading about them. I hope this book brings much pleasure to you.
Great blog today. I am slowly getting to know about so many wonderful series, and fearful of all the endings. However, with 16 books in this series, I am set!
another great one..thank you.
Dry Ann does a great job of getting the word out about writers and books. Thank you all for commenting–those who are old fans of the characters and those who are willing to try a new series.
Thank you Carolyn.
Dru, thank you so much for allowing Millie to visit with you and your friends. Thank you to all who commented and joined in. The Zinnia gang bonds us in friendship in a crazy way. Thank you.
best series EVER
This is one of my favorites! I love Sarah Booth, Tinkie and the whole Zinnia gang. Thanks for a chance to win a copy of the book.
You are a a carrot top, Faith. That’s a fact!
Thank you for the opportunity!!
I would love to read this mystery. After all, I’m a carrot-topped fan. Who better to read, love, and enjoy a mystery about a fellow redhead? (Even if I don’t win, I’ll be nothing short of even-tempered!)
Who better to read an awesome mystery involving a carrot-topped baby than a carrot-topped fan? (And I promise to remain even-tempered win or lose. 😉 )
Somehow my reply ended up above. But you should know all about those carrot tops!
Sounds like another good read!
This book description just grabs my attention. Makes me want to finish it!
I adore this series! So glad there’s a new one.
Good luck to all in the drawing.
Thank you Carolyn 💟👍
I love the titles of the books in this series….
Thank you for the giveaway…..
Looks like a very intriguing read. Have not had a chance to read this author yet. So hoping this will be a start. Sarah and crew have their work cut out for this in this one. That the baby’s Mom waited to make sure the baby was found safe speaks well of her. Hope they find her in time.
Have not read this author, so maybe to win and read. Thanks.