Oops! Pardon me while I wipe the goop off my hands. There that’s better. My name is Olive Peroni, former Manhattan-based psychologist now a Florida cold cream mini-mogul. Welcome to the kitchen in Nonna’s condo—which under the terms of my grandmother’s will is now my kitchen. I’ll put the kettle on for tea. Make yourself at home.
I see you peeking in the pot! Do you like the smell of lavender? Hmm . . .I hope the scent isn’t too strong. I’m still getting the feel of things—a little of this, a little of that and then stir. The cream is not for tasting—it’s for beautifying. I’m brewing my Italian grandmother’s secret recipe for a youth-restoring beauty potion. It’s been handed down through generations of Peroni women. I’m the last of the line.
Nonna’s Cold Cream shop on the beach has been jumping—so much so we sold out our entire inventory yesterday. Right now I’m scurrying to make a new batch. If you linger long enough you’ll get to meet my partner Lizzy Kelly. She’s due here any minute. She brings her hound WonderDog to play with my kitten Puff. The two critters bonded and are now best of friends.
Don’t be put off by WonderDog’s appearance. He looks like a child’s drawing of the Big Bad Wolf, but like his mistress he has a heart of gold. Not that Lizzy looks like the BBW! She’s a pretty gal, given to dressing in retro jumpsuits reminiscent of Charlie’s Angels.
I’ll share a secret with you, when I first met Lizzy I had my doubts. After we discovered that the sounds and smells coming from the trunk of her convertible weren’t due to a rotten watermelon, but rather a dead body wrapped around her spare tire. A less understanding person might have rethought partnering up with her and skedaddled out of Starfish Cove, Florida. As a psychologist I’m trained to read people. I saw in Lizzy a naïve gal who attracted trouble like flowers attract bees.
I wasn’t unfamiliar with bodies in car trunks—not that I had ever seen one in person. When I put out a family therapy shingle six years ago I never thought my top client would be Myron Meyers, the anxiety-ridden head of a New York crime family. A sallow-skinned octogenarian, I wasn’t sure how much of what Myron confessed was the truth and how much was a replay of The Godfather.
Inheriting Nonna’s beachfront condo in Starfish Cove, Florida has been the best thing that could have happened. Long relaxing walks on the beach and the occasional murder to solve—life is good. Here, try a smidge of cold cream. Doesn’t that feel good? Ready for your tea?
Giveaway: -Three e-book copies of Glossy Lips – must comment to qualify. The giveaway ends January 5, 2019. Good luck everyone!
You can read more about Olive in Glossy Lips, the first book in the NEW “Cold Cream Murders” cozy mystery series, released in November 2018. The second book, Smokey Eyes comes out January 30, 2019.
Olive Peroni put out her family therapy shingle six years ago, never thinking her top client would be Myron Meyers, head of a New York crime family. When Olive’s grandmother dies and leaves her a condo in Florida and a secret recipe for miracle cold cream, she grabs the chance at a new life in Starfish Cove, Florida, making designer creams for ladies who spend far too much time at the beach.
Business is brisk and life is good! Olive even makes a wild new best friend in Lizzy, the real estate agent who handles the transfer of Nonna’s condo. When a dead body is found in the trunk of Lizzy’s car, Olive despairs that life in Starfish Cove won’t be any different than the one she thought she’d escaped. But this time, instead of listening to confessions of murder, Olive’s going to have to solve one. Maybe two. . .
Contains a recipe for Olive & Lizzy’s super-creamy homemade lip gloss!
Purchase Link
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About the author
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Author of the Florence Nightingale Comedy Mystery Series, The Giggling Corpse, The Killer Corset, and The Cheeky Corner, Barbara Silkstone is also the creator of the Mister Darcy series of comedic mysteries ~ 9 Books plus 10 Regency novels and novellas, all with a light, humorous touch. She is also the author of the Wendy Darlin Comedy Mysteries – 5 Cozy Romantic Adventures reviewers describe as Nick and Nora Charles meet Lara Croft.
Barbara Silkstone’s Amazon Author’s page.
Sounds like a really good read. Thanks for the giveaway.
Doward,
Thank you for your kind comments!
Wishing you a day full of luscious cold cream.
*giggles*
Dru Ann,
Thank you for inviting me today. Olive was tickled pastel pink when I told her.
I hope your readers enjoy sharing a day in the cold cream mogul’s life.
Congratulations in advance, to the lucky winners of three ebook copies of
GLOSSY LIPS- Book 1 in my COLD CREAM MURDERS series.
This sounds like a series that will be fun to read! I really like the titles!
Debbie,
Thank you so much! The titles have been fun to create.
GLOSSY LIPS
SMOKEY EYES
SOAP ON A ROPE
I need suggestions for the next 3 in the series! 🙂
Blusher Bride?
KnyttWytch!
Ooo… I like that!
It’s a keeper!
Thank you!
Bath Bomb
Oh, count me in!!!!
Thank you for you the giveaway…..
Cyn,
Thank you for commenting!
Cheers!
Barbara
Tis new series sounds really good, Thank you for this chance.
Peggy,
You’re very welcome.
Thank you for commenting!
Have a great day!
Barbara
Sounds like such a fun series! Thanks for the opportunity!
Jill,
Thank you for commenting!
Good luck!
Me, please! Choose me!
Amy,
Thank you for jumping up and down!
Good luck!
Giant hugs!
This looks like an interesting start to a new series!
KnyttWytch,
I love your name!
Cheers!
Sounds like a fun series!
Sharon,
Thank you for commenting.
Have a great day!
🙂
I missed the start of this series in November, but I will catch up for sure. I am trying to figure out how a whole shop selling cold cream could work for me because it sounds wonderful!
Can’t wait to read this. Thanks for the generous give-away!
Barbara to Barbara,
When the cold cream contains a touch a magic and a bit of the fountain of youth, ladies line up to buy.
Plus Olive and Lizzy are expanding their line of beauty products.
Miracle and Magical.
Each book contains a recipe for DIY beauty creams, potions, lotions, and glosses.
Thanks Dru Ann for your blog and information/reviews you post for those of us who love to read. My fingers are crossed my name may be one of three chosen.
Robin,
Thank you for commenting and yes! Many thanks to Dru Ann. She’s a LOVE!
I love the idea of someone changing professions so drastically–and the idea of mixing up cold cream from their grandmother’s recipe sounds even better. Looking forward to this.
Rochelle,
Thank you! I so agree. Life should be like chapters in a book. Changing careers, especially drastic ones, can be so exciting. Scary but exciting!
Cheers!
Wow. Now there’s a different twist!
Libby,
A luscious twist!
The first time Olive unscrewed the lid from a jar of her Nonna’s cold cream…it was love at first sniff!
🙂
Glossy Lips sounds like a great read — I’m especially looking forward to the creamy homemade lipgloss recipe. Thanks, Olive, for sharing your day with Dru Ann and for your giveaway!
Celia,
Olive can’t come to the keyboard right now. Her hands are all goopy.
But she sends her best and hopes you enjoy your glossy lips.
🙂
Sounds like a fun read…. and series! Renee
Renee,
Thank you for your comments. I do hope you get to read the Cold Cream Murders.
They’re a little bit different and a lot of fun!
Cheers!
Sounds very cute and I love new series. Not entering just wanted to comment as I am reading only print books at this time or listening to books on CD.
Congrats to the author,.
Cynthia,
Than you for commenting. GLOSSY LIPS is available in paperback. Most of my books are or will be.
Giant hugs!
“Glossy Lips” sounds like a fun read. Looking forward to reading the book.
Dianne,
Thank you for commenting!
Good luck!
Barbara
It does sound interesting. New author to me
Kaye,
Thank you for commenting!
Wishing you a great weekend!
Looks like a Fun Read 😁💗😁
Thanks for sharing this book with us 😍❤😍
Shared on Twitter 😍❤😍
https://mobile.twitter.com/LindaMoffitt02/status/1081719066841309186
Linda,
Thank you so much and thanks for sharing the link!
Love this premise – so different. Brought back memories of my grandmother using Pond’s Cold Cream. 🙂
Susan,
Thank you. I think Ponds stirred up my memories.
Olive just added the miracles to it.
Cheers!
**** WINNERS ****
Glossy Lips are KnyttWytch, Kaye L Killgore, Celia Fowler
Congratulations!
Congratulations to all the winners!
Thank you all for your lovely comments.
Many thanks to Dru Ann for hosting Olive, Lizzy, me and the COLD CREAM MURDERS!