My name is Nora Charles, and up until recently I was a true crime reporter in Chicago; then Fate intervened and I moved back to my hometown of Cruz, California, to take over my late mother’s specialty sandwich shop, Hot Bread.
Along the way I adopted a tubby tuxedo cat I named Nick…or was it the other way around? To this day I’m not quite sure.
Nick used to belong to a PI who’s since gone MIA, and it appears he’s got a flair for detection – and for Scrabble! It wouldn’t be a typical day at Hot Bread if I didn’t trip over Nick’s Scrabble tiles at least once. He not only likes to chew on them, he likes to spell with them…and more than once his canny clues have helped me unravel a mystery!
Yep, I came to Cruz to get away from this kind of stuff and it appears msyteries have followed me! Truthfully, though, I don’t mind. Mysteries and detecting are in my blood…and maybe someday I will get that PI license, which would please Louis Blondell to no end. He’s the creator/editor of Noir, an online crime magazine I write part time for – see- just can’t get away from those mysteries!
Speaking of mysteries, today’s mystery is what sandwich to offer as the daily special! Maybe my friend Chantal can help with that. She’s got psychic abilities. Or maybe I should ask Detective Daniel Corleone for help. We’ve just started seeing each other casually, and he is quite fond of my Thin Man Tuna Melt! Although that Antonio Banderas Cuban is gaining in popularity…..
Antonio Banderas Cuban Special
Panini Bread (or long roll, if desired)
2 tablespoons mayo
Oil and Vinegar
Spicy Mustard
6 slices of Jack Turkey
6 slices of Italian Speck
6 slices of Colby Jack Cheese
Sliced Dill pickles
Olive OilMix the mayo and oil and vinegar and spread liberally on panini bread (or roll if preferred)
Place layers of Jack Turkey, Speck, and Colby Cheese, spreading spicy mustard in between each layer.
Place sliced dill pickles on top, spread top of bread or roll liberally with spicy mustard. Close sandwich, brush top of bread lightly with olive oil. Place under press or grill until cheese is melted. Slice and serve hot.
You can read more about Nora and her cat Nick in Meow If It’s Murder, the first book in the new “Nick and Nora” mystery series, published by Berkley Prime Crime.
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 6 p.m. eastern on December 9 for the chance to win a copy of MEOW IF IT’S MURDER. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.
About the Author
While Toni LoTempio does not commit – or solve – murders in real life, she has no trouble doing it on paper. Her lifelong love of mysteries began early on when she was introduced to her first Nancy Drew mystery at age 10 – The Secret in the Old Attic. She lists among her favorite mystery/suspense writers Erle Stanley Gardner, Mary Higgins Clark and James Patterson, as well as EJ Copperman, Steve Hockensmith, Victoria Laurie, Ali Brandon, Rita Mae Brown, Miranda James and Sofie Kelly to name only a few!
Toni is also passionate about her love for animals, as demonstrated with her four cats: Trixie, Princess, Maxx and, of course, ROCCO, who not only provided the inspiration for the character of Nick the cat in the Nick and Nora mystery series, but who also writes his own blog and does charity work for Nathan Fillion’s charity, Kids Need to Read! Toni’s also devoted to miniseries like The Thorn Birds, Dancing with the Stars, reruns of Murder She Wrote and Castle (of course!). She (and ROCCO, albeit he’s uncredited) pen the Nick and Nora mystery series from Berkley Prime Crime – the first volume, MEOW IF ITS MURDER, debuts Dec. 2, 2014.
She, Rocco and company make their home in Clifton, New Jersey, just twenty minutes from the Big Apple – New York.
Where to find them:
ROCCO’s blog:
www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com
Website:
www.tclotempio.com
A cat who plays scrabble! Very interesting and definitely a page turner!
Nora Charles is a favorite movie character of mine. I think this Nora Charles will also become a favorite.
So instead of Asta the dog these mysteries have a cat for cat lovers. Sounds like a nice twist on the classics.
Always loved the thin man mysteries with Nick & Nora Charles. This should be interesting.
I love the cover and the idea of the cat playing Scrabble. Another fun series to try.
Looking foreword to reading this. I had two cats named Nick and Nora but they could not play scrabble.
Sounds like a fun new series– and I love the cover!!
She needs an Asta in her story. This looks like a good seies and I would love a copy.
Meow If It’s Murder sounds like a great book, and the cover is adorable. I would like to enter the contest please.
Thank you!
This sounds like a fabulous plot..
Marilyn Watson ewatvess@yahoo.com
I loved the thin man series, waiting to see what Nick and Nora would get themselves mixed up in next. Always so much fun. Love to read a new book about another Nick and Nora to see all they get in and out of…..sounds like a great book to win
This series sounds like my cup of tea.
I adore new series…I can’t wait to give this one a try. It sounds like fun!
I really love the old Thin Man series and so I was intrigued by the title and wanted to see what this was all about. I have a good friend that is a “mystery loving cat person,” so will definitely check this new series out for her! Nice to have a new recipe, too!
I love this series. Can’t wait to read the next one. Great story, great characters and great read!
This sounds great – it is going on my t-b-r list 🙂
Love your blog! I really want to start this book! Thanks, Dru!!
Sounds like a fun new book, thank you for the chance to win
sounds great!
Sounds wonderful and fun. Can’t wait to read it
Looks great, thanks for the chance 🙂
Would love to read this
This sounds like a fun book. Thank you for entering me in the contest.
I’m always on a hunt for new mystery series and look forward to this one. Good luck everyone!
Scrabble is my game. Recipe appreciated. Love to win.
Would love to win this interesting sounding book!
Since cat mysteries are the only way I can have a cat in the house. I’d love to enter this contest. Toss my hat in the ring Dru.
Gee, I once had a tuxedo cat and she was the smartest cat that I ever knew. I never tried scrabble with her! She might have been a great player!
Sounds like a great mystery, I can’t wait to read it.
A new series is always exciting! For me, a cat lover, this one is even more special.
I love mysteries with cats. I want to read this book.
Sounds like fun.
This sounds like such a fun book.
This sounds like it will be the first in a new favorite series!
Two of my favorite characterizes in mysteries brought to life with a cat. Looking forward to reading this book!
This sounds like a great read! Thank you for the contest!
I’m drawn into this book just by seeing the cover. I love Nick the cat and am anxious to see how he helps with the solving of the mysteries involved in this read.
First thing I thought of Dru was the Thin Man movie series. Nick and Nora Charles are a hoot in those flicks! New-to-me author so I’d be most obliged to give this series debut a try. Thank you!
I’m always looking for a new cozy series with a good cat character in the cast. I’m anxious to meet Nick. Thanks for the contest.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
This looks like it’ll be fun to read!
I’m looking forward to reading this book.
Cats and Murder Mystery? What could be better?
This sounds very interesting. Thanks for the chance to read a new series.
It sounds like a fun read. I really like smart cats. Thanks for having the giveaway.
Thank you all for your interest! Much appreciated! Toni & ROCCO
This sounds like the beginning of a great series. I used to love the Thin Man.
kaye.killgore@comcast.net
Love the idea of a cat that plays scrabble and helps Nora solve mysteries with the scrabble clues.
Woohoo! New cozy!!
I would love to start this series with the book won here!
Nice title to add to my TBR list
Wonderful giveaway. Thanks.
Would love to read this one!
this is one of those ” i can’t wait to get my paws on” books
Love the title
This sounds fantastic. Thanks for a chance to win it. Merry Christmas!
Definitely going on my TBR list. Sounds like a fun read.
I love a book that has a murder mystery and delicious food.
Sounds so fun. Thank you for the chance
I love cat cozies and I have five cats. Great cover.
I have 2 cats myself. Merry and Chris. Guess when they adopted us?
Reading this has made me hungry!
I would like to win this mystery book.
Love to read
Would love to read this!
A cat and a sandwich shop, and a mystery, sounds like my kind of book. Thanks for the giveaway.
Come for the mystery stay for the recipes!!!!
Sounds like a fun new series.
Love a new author (to me) and this sounds like a good start to a fun series! Thanks for the giveaway chance!
Sounds good…got my finger’s crossed!
Sounds good! I have my finger’s crossed!
I love books with cats. Thank you for the chance.
Looks like a great debut! The characters names are fantastic and I wonder if Asta will ever make an appearance too. Thanks for the chance to win!
I have an idea that I would really like this series! Food and kitty. Perfect.
Ready to read this book
What could be better than reading about Nick & Nora? Can’t wait to try this series. It’s on my TBR list, for sure!
Kitty, mystery – this one sounds great. Can’t wait to read it.
contest is closed.