Words from Miss Gloria by Lucy Burdette

Jul 9, 2015 | A Day In My Life

Fatal ReservationsMISS GLORIA: I hate to see my roommate Hayley so worried and sad. I know she’s thinking about Valentine’s Day, wondering whether the man she loves will come through. She imagines that if she just bakes the right cake, he’ll feel how much she cares and then open his heart to her. It’s so sweet, but it breaks my heart a little bit, too. I want to take her hand and tell her that she’ll know the time’s right when a man makes it clear that he’s crazy about her. She’ll know then, whether the cake has fresh raspberries in the frosting, or is covered with Swiss chocolate ganache, or whether it’s stale coffeecake from the grocery store. She’ll know. And then I want to take that man by the shoulders and shake him until his teeth rattle. I might even tell him she’s worth a hundred of him. An old lady should have the right to speak her mind, don’t you think?

And though Hayley hasn’t said it out loud, I know she doesn’t like my new job as tour guide in the Key West cemetery. I love wandering through that beautiful, peaceful space right smack in the middle of busy Key West and learning the stories of the people who came before us. Some funny, some tragic, some ordinary, but all worth remembering.

The dead don’t scare me a bit—it’s the living we have to be afraid of sometimes.

Hayley thinks all that death will rub off on me and I’ll drop over stone cold one day. Good gravy, as she herself would say, I’m hovering on the edge of eighty—it’s going to happen sometime. So in the meanwhile, seize every minute, right? Have a piece of cake—have two, if it’s homemade! And tell the people you care about how much you love them. That’s it for an old lady’s advice today. I’m going to take a little nap with the cats before my shift starts.

You can read more about Miss Gloria in Fatal Reservations, the sixth book in the “Key West Food Critic” mystery series, published by Obsidian. The first book in the series is An Appetite For Murder.

About FATAL RESERVATIONS

In the sixth Key West Food Critic mystery, Hayley Snow’s beat is reviewing restaurants for Key Zest magazine. But she sets aside her knife and fork when a dear friend is accused of murder. . .

Hayley Snow looks forward to reviewing For Goodness’ Sake, a new floating restaurant that promises a fresh take on Japanese delicacies like flambeed grouper with locally sourced seaweed. But nearby land-based restaurateurs would rather see their buoyant competition sink.

Sent to a City Commission meeting to cover the controversy, Hayley witnesses another uproar. The quirky performers of the daily Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square are struggling to hold onto their performance space. And this fight has renewed old rivalries between Hayley’s Tarot-card reading friend Lorenzo and a flaming-fork-juggling nemesis, Bart Frontgate. Then Frontgate is found murdered. If Lorenzo could read his own cards, he might draw The Hanged Man. He can only hope that Hayley draws Justice as she tries to clear him of murder.

GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 a.m. eastern on July 16 for the chance to win a print copy of Fatal Reservations. 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.

About the author
Lucy Burdette (aka Roberta Isleib) is the author of 14 mysteries, including Fatal Reservations, RobertaIthe latest in the Key West series featuring food critic Hayley Snow and her houseboat roommate, Miss Gloria. Her books and stories have been short-listed for Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity awards. She’s a past president of Sisters in Crime. In the throes of a mid-life crisis, Lucy realized that the work of the detective in a mystery has quite a bit in common with long-term psychotherapy: Start with a problem, follow the threads looking for clues, and gradually fill in the big picture. So her career move from clinical psychologist to mystery writer turned out to be a natural progression. Like her food critic character in the Key West series, she is passionate about food. [Photo by Carol Tedesco]

Visit Lucy at www.lucyburdette.com

61 Comments

  1. Lynette K.
    Lynette K. on July 9, 2015 at 1:23 am

    I am looking forward to this entry in the series.

  2. Barbara Landrum
    Barbara Landrum on July 9, 2015 at 1:37 am

    Looking forward to reading this book.

  3. Beverly Guy
    Beverly Guy on July 9, 2015 at 2:20 am

    Am so excited to read this new book about the awesome adventures of Hayley Snow. I have thoroughly enjoyed the first five books in this great series and know this one will be super duper awesome as well. Any book with an awesome star like the awesome Hayley Snow and kitties too is my kind of book!!!! Love the cover as well!!!! Thanks again for the chance to win!!!! God bless you dearest Dru!!!!

  4. Barbara Hawk
    Barbara Hawk on July 9, 2015 at 2:53 am

    Thank you for sharing! This book sounds wonderful! Would love to give it a home.

  5. Kaye Killgore
    Kaye Killgore on July 9, 2015 at 4:12 am

    I love this series

  6. Lisa Wine
    Lisa Wine on July 9, 2015 at 5:13 am

    Sounds great looking forward to checking it out.. Thanks for the chance to win.

  7. Marilyn Watson
    Marilyn Watson on July 9, 2015 at 5:13 am

    I have been wanting to read this…sounds great…
    Marilyn ewatess@yahoo.com

  8. Pamela Woodfield
    Pamela Woodfield on July 9, 2015 at 5:45 am

    This series looks so good. I’d love to win.

  9. Linda Kuzminczuk
    Linda Kuzminczuk on July 9, 2015 at 6:04 am

    Miss Gloria is a hoot…such a fun character in an enjoyable cozy series. Can’t wait to read this one! Thanks for the giveaway. Kuzlin at AOL.com

  10. Peggy
    Peggy on July 9, 2015 at 6:55 am

    Thank you for this opportunity! This book sounds wonderful.
    peggyhyndman(at)att(dot)net

  11. Dawn Frazier
    Dawn Frazier on July 9, 2015 at 6:59 am

    I love this series! ! Thanks for the chance to win.

  12. Jill Broussard
    Jill Broussard on July 9, 2015 at 7:10 am

    Looking forward to reading this book. Thankyou for the opportunity!

  13. Kiki
    Kiki on July 9, 2015 at 7:15 am

    Sounds and looks like great cozy mystery.

  14. Amy Gill
    Amy Gill on July 9, 2015 at 7:15 am

    I love the feisty Miss Gloria! I love Haley Snow! This is a terrific series. I’m excited to read this episode.

  15. Jane R
    Jane R on July 9, 2015 at 7:22 am

    Just a few months ago I visited Key West for the first time. What a great getaway it was! I fully intend to make return visits every chance I get. And, needless to say, Lucy Burdette’s series moved to the top of my book list! Thanks for the update!

  16. jackgetze
    jackgetze on July 9, 2015 at 7:51 am

    I must have missed one as I don’t know the roommate, but I love this series. Sign me up.

  17. Sheila K.
    Sheila K. on July 9, 2015 at 7:53 am

    I would love to read this book—thanks for the chance to win a copy!

  18. Sharame Vodraska
    Sharame Vodraska on July 9, 2015 at 7:55 am

    Awesome blog Dru. Thanks for participating in/arranging this giveaway. Thank you for the chance.

  19. Edith Patchan
    Edith Patchan on July 9, 2015 at 8:41 am

    I love this author as Roberta Isleib! I need to read this series. Thanks for the giveaway!

  20. griperang
    griperang on July 9, 2015 at 8:44 am

    This is a fun series. Thank you for the chance to win

  21. Robin L. Coxon
    Robin L. Coxon on July 9, 2015 at 8:46 am

    What a shame when women have to worry about how to please a man. Thanks Dru for the review and the chance to win a copy of this book.

  22. Sha
    Sha on July 9, 2015 at 9:17 am

    Thank you for the giveaway! Great series!

  23. hayes2014
    hayes2014 on July 9, 2015 at 9:20 am

    This sounds fascinating. Such good advice too, wait until you find someone who actually cares! My husband knows which side my toast is margarined-and he knows it’s soy too!

  24. Lisa Brown
    Lisa Brown on July 9, 2015 at 9:24 am

    Looks great, thanks for the chance to win 🙂

  25. elainehroberson
    elainehroberson on July 9, 2015 at 9:42 am

    I agree. Seize the moment and have a piece of cake. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.

  26. Nancy Funkhouser
    Nancy Funkhouser on July 9, 2015 at 9:48 am

    Would love to get into this series. Thanks for the offer

  27. Barbara Hackel
    Barbara Hackel on July 9, 2015 at 9:49 am

    I love this series…and have made many of the recipes included, 😉 I look forward to reading the newest one! Thanks Lucy and Dru for the opportunity to win a copy!

  28. Debbie Price
    Debbie Price on July 9, 2015 at 10:14 am

    I love series that have recipes or crafts in them. I have read some of this series and would love to add this book to my TBR pile!

  29. Daniele K
    Daniele K on July 9, 2015 at 12:04 pm

    I enjoy this series. Thanks, as always, for the opportunity to win.

  30. Rita Wray
    Rita Wray on July 9, 2015 at 12:07 pm

    Sounds like a great read.

  31. cjreynolds52
    cjreynolds52 on July 9, 2015 at 12:15 pm

    I love her books and would love this one. Thanks.

  32. Judy Weaver
    Judy Weaver on July 9, 2015 at 12:20 pm

    Thanks for the chance to win!!

  33. sharon
    sharon on July 9, 2015 at 12:24 pm

    Thanks for this great feature and giveaway.

  34. Patty Allen
    Patty Allen on July 9, 2015 at 12:28 pm

    One of my favorite series 🙂 Can’t wait to read this one. Thanks for the giveaway.

  35. marylouh
    marylouh on July 9, 2015 at 12:55 pm

    Reading Death w/all the trimmings right now.
    Will be ready for the next in the series.
    thanks.

  36. Kathleen Costa
    Kathleen Costa on July 9, 2015 at 2:10 pm

    I’ve just started “An Appetite for Murder,” and the titles of the next books are very exciting!

  37. Mary Jane H
    Mary Jane H on July 9, 2015 at 2:55 pm

    I have been to Key West and enjoyed my vacation a lot. This book sounds very entertaining.

  38. Linda MH
    Linda MH on July 9, 2015 at 3:04 pm

    This is one of my favorite series–love it! Thanks for the chance to win a copy of Fatal Reservations. (FYI: If you haven’t read Ms. Isleib’s Advice Column Mysteries, give them a try. They are very entertaining–I was sorry to see that series end.)

  39. debrahgoldstein
    debrahgoldstein on July 9, 2015 at 3:55 pm

    Excited to see the newest book in this series — hope it keeps going for a long time!

  40. Karen B
    Karen B on July 9, 2015 at 5:28 pm

    All 6 books are on my wishlist. Another terrific series that I haven’t started yet….

  41. Betty Jo English
    Betty Jo English on July 9, 2015 at 5:54 pm

    Thanks for doing a review of Fatal Reservations. Love this series and would love to win a copy.

  42. Jennie Knight
    Jennie Knight on July 9, 2015 at 7:39 pm

    I love Key West so I will be starting this series. Please include me in the giveaway. Thank you.

  43. Prentiss Garner
    Prentiss Garner on July 9, 2015 at 7:42 pm

    Sounds like my kind of book.

  44. Helen Jo
    Helen Jo on July 9, 2015 at 7:53 pm

    Yay! A new series for me!!! Looks wonderful.

  45. jagjhd
    jagjhd on July 10, 2015 at 12:06 am

    Will have to check out the advice column one too. Take me to Key West. Judy D.

  46. Gram
    Gram on July 10, 2015 at 8:37 am

    Miss Gloria is tops with me!

  47. Susan Slovinsky
    Susan Slovinsky on July 10, 2015 at 9:47 am

    Really enjoy this series because of the great variety of characters including Miss Gloria.

  48. Patricia
    Patricia on July 10, 2015 at 10:59 am

    Thanks, Dru and Miss Gloria (Lucy/Roberta)! I love this series and look forward to reading Fatal Reservations.

  49. holdenj
    holdenj on July 10, 2015 at 3:56 pm

    Thanks for sharing! Can’t wait to read the new title! Thanks for the chance to win.

  50. Cindergayle
    Cindergayle on July 11, 2015 at 6:49 am

    Would love to read this book!!!

  51. Lisa Millett
    Lisa Millett on July 11, 2015 at 9:42 pm

    Looks like a good book. Thanks for the chance to win.

  52. Celest Mattis
    Celest Mattis on July 12, 2015 at 12:20 am

    This sounds like a fun story. I would love to read it. Thanks for a chance to win it.

  53. cyn209
    cyn209 on July 13, 2015 at 9:13 am

    this is one of my favorite series!!
    thank you for the giveaway……….

  54. bn100
    bn100 on July 13, 2015 at 10:54 am

    interesting title

  55. Letty Blanchard
    Letty Blanchard on July 13, 2015 at 1:15 pm

    Another great book! Thanks for the giveaway. Would love to win this!

  56. Joye
    Joye on July 13, 2015 at 4:21 pm

    I have read some of your other books and enjoyed them.

  57. Bettyanne DeBlasio
    Bettyanne DeBlasio on July 14, 2015 at 11:51 am

    Sounds delightful and interesting – would love to be awarded a copy

    Thank you in advance

  60. kec200
    kec200 on July 16, 2015 at 4:39 am

    This series is new to me but sounds really interesting. Thanks for the chance.

  61. Dru
    Dru on July 16, 2015 at 4:58 am

    Contest is closed.