Peggy Lee and A Day I Wish Wouldn’t Have Happened by Joyce and Jim Lavene

May 10, 2015 | A Day In My Life

Killing WeedsI love my life. I’m a mother to Paul, and a grandmother to little Rosie.

I have my garden shop in Charlotte, NC, The Potting Shed, and my other interests working as a part-time forensic botanist for the city.

Some days, my life is hectic, and some days I putter in the garden with my plants. I have an enormous love and respect for growing things – some might say I have a very green thumb!

Recently, I had a few days I wish I could have avoided when my son was arrested for murder and my garden shop was all but destroyed. I almost lost one of my best friends, and I was suspended from my work for the city.

They say things like this make us stronger, but these things almost broke my heart. I’m fortunate to be surrounded by good friends and family who helped me through this ordeal, but I hope I never have to go through anything like it again. Besides my first husband’s death, it was the hardest thing I’ve ever lived through.

And I have the scars to prove it.

You can read more about Peggy Lee in Killing Weeds, the 8th book in the “Peggy Lee Garden” mystery series, published by J. Lavene. The first book in the series is Pretty Poison.

GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 a.m. eastern on May 15 for the chance to win a print copy of KILLING WEEDS. 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 authors
Joyce and Jim Lavene write award-winning, bestselling mystery fiction as themselves, J.J. Cook, and Ellie Grant. They have written and published more than 70 novels for Harlequin, Penguin, Amazon, and Simon and Schuster along with hundreds of non-fiction articles for national and regional publications. Visit Joyce and Jim at www.joyceandjimlavene.com.

108 Comments

  1. Rhonda
    Rhonda on May 10, 2015 at 1:10 am

    Sounds like my type of book.

  2. Mary Jane H
    Mary Jane H on May 10, 2015 at 1:38 am

    I agree with Rhonda. My TBR List is getting sooooo long.

  3. candace knight
    candace knight on May 10, 2015 at 1:40 am

    I can’t wait to read this book. Thank you for the chance.
    Moonbay7399@gmail.com

  4. Kaye Killgore
    Kaye Killgore on May 10, 2015 at 2:05 am

    I really like Peggy Lee

  5. C Culp
    C Culp on May 10, 2015 at 2:32 am

    WOW! I want to read this book, sounds like a great read and a story that is a page turner. Thank you

  6. Barbara Hawk
    Barbara Hawk on May 10, 2015 at 3:35 am

    Sounds wonderful! Thanks for the opportunity!

  7. TAMMY CUEVAS
    TAMMY CUEVAS on May 10, 2015 at 5:28 am

    Over the last couple of years, I’ve become interested in gardening, and I’ve always loved a good mystery, so this is a great combination for me.

    • joyce lavene (@AuthorJLavene)
      joyce lavene (@AuthorJLavene) on May 10, 2015 at 1:06 pm

      Hi Tammy! If you love gardening, you’ll love Peggy Lee! That’s why we wrote her, because we love gardening!

  8. Debbie Carnes
    Debbie Carnes on May 10, 2015 at 5:53 am

    Sounds like a great book

  9. Lisa Brown
    Lisa Brown on May 10, 2015 at 6:47 am

    sounds great, thanks for the chance

  10. ladyjanel
    ladyjanel on May 10, 2015 at 6:47 am

    Have the first book in this series like I do all of Jim and Joyce Lavene’s books but this is the series I want to read the most. Thank you for the chance. 😀

  12. Sheila K.
    Sheila K. on May 10, 2015 at 8:26 am

    I love the work of these two talented writers—thanks for the chance to win a copy of their latest offering!

  13. Verna Gass
    Verna Gass on May 10, 2015 at 9:12 am

    I have only read one other book by Joyce and Jim Lavene and I loved it. Really looking forward to reading this one.

  14. Robin L. Coxon
    Robin L. Coxon on May 10, 2015 at 9:22 am

    I love Jim and Joyce Lavene’s books. It is nice to have a new one to add to my list. Thanks for the giveaway. robeader53@yahoo.com

  15. noraadrienne
    noraadrienne on May 10, 2015 at 9:26 am

    Yes please Dru, I’d love to be entered in this contest.

  16. griperang
    griperang on May 10, 2015 at 9:28 am

    I would love to win a copy of this book. Thank you for the chance

  17. marylouh
    marylouh on May 10, 2015 at 10:05 am

    I’ve been reading this series and have enjoyed it. Looking forward to the next book. thanks.

  18. anne
    anne on May 10, 2015 at 10:30 am

    A great feature and wonderful giveaway and series. Thanks.

  19. Karen Candee
    Karen Candee on May 10, 2015 at 10:31 am

    This sounds like a great book to me! I love gardening and have just started a vegetable garden full of luscious food!

  20. Nancy Funkhouser
    Nancy Funkhouser on May 10, 2015 at 10:41 am

    This sounds like a great book. I also love gardening and am waiting for my son to bring me my plants as he does every Mother’s Day.

  21. Rita Quante
    Rita Quante on May 10, 2015 at 10:50 am

    A Mom and a Gramma! My kind of lady! Hope to win, and looking forward to catching up in the series! Thanks for the chance!

    • joyce lavene (@AuthorJLavene)
      joyce lavene (@AuthorJLavene) on May 10, 2015 at 1:13 pm

      Thanks for being here, Rita! We have a fondness for women who are moms and grandmas too. Fathers and grandfathers too!!

  22. Rita Wray
    Rita Wray on May 10, 2015 at 11:08 am

    Sounds like a wonderful series.

  23. carlrscott
    carlrscott on May 10, 2015 at 11:23 am

    Another great story from the Lavenes. Thanks very much for the chance to win a copy.

  24. Ruth Nixon
    Ruth Nixon on May 10, 2015 at 11:26 am

    Would love to add this book to my collection . I’ve read every book in the series and hope the series has many more books to come.

    • joyce lavene (@AuthorJLavene)
      joyce lavene (@AuthorJLavene) on May 10, 2015 at 1:16 pm

      Hey Ruth!! Glad you’re here! You know we plot the next book from the one we’re writing so we’re ready for the next Peggy Lee book!

  25. Patty Allen
    Patty Allen on May 10, 2015 at 11:58 am

    Peggy Lee has her hands full, can’t wait to read this book. Thanks for the chance to win a copy 🙂

    • joyce lavene (@AuthorJLavene)
      joyce lavene (@AuthorJLavene) on May 10, 2015 at 1:17 pm

      I know, Patty! We felt guilty doing so many mean things to Peggy but we figured it was just a very emotional time for her.

  26. sallycootie
    sallycootie on May 10, 2015 at 12:11 pm

    I have just discovered this series, it’s great! Thanks for the chance to win.

  27. peggy clayton
    peggy clayton on May 10, 2015 at 2:08 pm

    This series sounds so good and the name of the book Killing Weeds is something I think we all are continually trying to do. I know when i lived in Ca i thought i had alot then we bought 17 acres and 2 of that is house and planting area for us and wow what alot of weeds . So we are always talking about the easiest way to kill them and what to do with them. So it’s great that a mystery book has that same name and I would be so happy to win as then i won’t rush getting rid of those weeks! ptclayton2@aol.com

    • joyce lavene (@AuthorJLavene)
      joyce lavene (@AuthorJLavene) on May 10, 2015 at 5:33 pm

      You have a way with words, Peggy! I love that name, by the way! Good luck with those weeds!

  28. Libby Dodd
    Libby Dodd on May 10, 2015 at 2:25 pm

    They say God won’t test you with more than you can handle, but as St. Theresa is supposed to have said, I wish God didn’t have so much confidence in me!

  29. Grace K.
    Grace K. on May 10, 2015 at 2:32 pm

    Thanks for the chance to win! Would love to try this series.

  30. vickie
    vickie on May 10, 2015 at 2:57 pm

    I need to read this….I love Peggy and her life!

  31. cyn209
    cyn209 on May 10, 2015 at 3:05 pm

    What a fantastc cover!!
    Thanx for the giveaway!!!

    • joyce lavene (@AuthorJLavene)
      joyce lavene (@AuthorJLavene) on May 10, 2015 at 5:36 pm

      While we have nothing to do with the artistic part of the cover, we are smart enough to hire someone who does a wonderful job for us. I’ll pass this on to her.

  32. Christi King
    Christi King on May 10, 2015 at 3:07 pm

    Sounds like a great read! Thanks for the chance to win a copy!

  33. Brenda Dunston
    Brenda Dunston on May 10, 2015 at 3:33 pm

    I can’t wait to read the rest of the book! 🙂

  34. Patricia
    Patricia on May 10, 2015 at 3:51 pm

    Thanks, Dru and Peggy/Joyce and Jim. I love this series!

  35. suekey12
    suekey12 on May 10, 2015 at 4:31 pm

    Peggy sounds like an interesting character—and owning a garden shop should be a nice profession. Thanks for the contest.
    suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

    • joyce lavene (@AuthorJLavene)
      joyce lavene (@AuthorJLavene) on May 10, 2015 at 5:38 pm

      Hi Sue! I think owning a garden shop would be very nice, if you could stay out of the kind of trouble Peggy Lee gets into!

  36. Abby
    Abby on May 10, 2015 at 5:21 pm

    Looks great! Thanks for the giveaway!! 😀

  37. Karen B
    Karen B on May 10, 2015 at 6:46 pm

    Love this series – and I need to catch up!

    kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

  38. Deb Walker
    Deb Walker on May 10, 2015 at 7:25 pm

    This sounds so AWESOME. I would love to win it.

  39. tlwalcher
    tlwalcher on May 10, 2015 at 7:29 pm

    I enjoy this series and would like to win Killing Weeds. Thank you for the chance.

  40. Rachel Mustain
    Rachel Mustain on May 10, 2015 at 7:49 pm

    I have loved this series from the beginning. It was so completely fascinating to me to learn about plant toxins. I’m fascinated by medicinal and toxic properties of both plants and standard medicines. It’s my nerd fascination thing. I should have been a doctor, pharmacist, or toxicologist. But the series is full of expertly drawn characters with a plot that draws you in. Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy.

    • joyce lavene (@AuthorJLavene)
      joyce lavene (@AuthorJLavene) on May 10, 2015 at 9:28 pm

      Hi Rachel. I’ve been an herbalist and Master Gardener for years and that has made writing the Peggy Lee books fascinating for me too!

  41. Sharon F
    Sharon F on May 10, 2015 at 8:56 pm

    I would love to win a copy of this book and start reading the series.
    Mfg20a@aol.com

  42. Kathy Church
    Kathy Church on May 10, 2015 at 11:58 pm

    Sounds good! Will have to add to my TRB pile!

  43. bookwoman
    bookwoman on May 11, 2015 at 1:03 am

    This is a great series. I always enjoy it

  44. MaryB
    MaryB on May 11, 2015 at 2:25 am

    Love this series! Looking forward to reading this one. Thanks for the chance to win.

  45. Penny
    Penny on May 11, 2015 at 9:28 am

    I am addicted to this series:) I have always loved gardening. It always makes me think of my mom. She taught me how to garden and loved her flowers. Since she is no longer with us every time I look at my flowers I see her smile at me:) Thank you for this chance to win.

  46. Lisa Garrett
    Lisa Garrett on May 11, 2015 at 10:46 am

    Adversity builds character. I would like to see how Peggy’s story turns out.

  47. Nancy Roessner
    Nancy Roessner on May 11, 2015 at 1:00 pm

    I do enjoy this series!

  48. Ruth Nixon
    Ruth Nixon on May 11, 2015 at 6:27 pm

    Would love to win this book as Peggy Lee is my hero. Older woman younger man. Love this series.

  49. Agnes Zelgert
    Agnes Zelgert on May 11, 2015 at 6:49 pm

    I would to win this book thanks for the opportunity!

  50. rochf
    rochf on May 11, 2015 at 7:21 pm

    I’ve had some bad days, but that one tops them all. Looking forward to this.

  51. Judy
    Judy on May 12, 2015 at 2:57 pm

    How DID I manage to miss this series??? Whole lotta catching up to do. You had me at the mention of potting shed.

  52. elainee246
    elainee246 on May 12, 2015 at 7:39 pm

    Sounds good!

  53. Pat Lafferty
    Pat Lafferty on May 12, 2015 at 10:38 pm

    I have read several of Joyce and Jim Lavene’s books and have enjoyed each one. I would love to catch up with their latest mystery. Thanks for the opportunity.

  55. Margo Sue
    Margo Sue on May 13, 2015 at 7:54 am

    Yeah! Another book to enjoy.

  56. Cynthia E. Blain
    Cynthia E. Blain on May 13, 2015 at 8:59 am

    Joyce an Jim have the greatest books and I can tell already that this is no exception. It would be a nice surprise to be chosen.
    Thank you.

  57. Betty Hall
    Betty Hall on May 13, 2015 at 10:26 am

    I would love to win this! Thanks for the give away!

  58. Alicia F
    Alicia F on May 13, 2015 at 11:17 am

    I’ve just added this one to my To Be Read list…. thank you for the chance to win a copy!

  59. Meg C
    Meg C on May 13, 2015 at 12:34 pm

    This is a series that I really need to start reading. I keep hearing great things about it. It sounds like this will be a great addition to the series. Thanks for the chance to win.

  60. Brooke
    Brooke on May 13, 2015 at 1:49 pm

    Every book Joyce and Jim Lavene write is so good. Love their series.

  61. Margaret Rushton
    Margaret Rushton on May 13, 2015 at 5:27 pm

    This is definitely a book that has to be on my to read list. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.

  62. Ruth Treadwell
    Ruth Treadwell on May 13, 2015 at 8:32 pm

    I have read “about” your series and would like to read one now. Be a nice surprise to win this.

  63. MaryBeth McKetchnie
    MaryBeth McKetchnie on May 13, 2015 at 9:56 pm

    LOVE the Lavenes!! Can’t wait to read this! Thanks for the chance!

  64. Cynthia E. Blain
    Cynthia E. Blain on May 13, 2015 at 11:24 pm

    I somehow have missed starting g try his series but I guess it is never too late. Sounds good.

  65. Karlene
    Karlene on May 14, 2015 at 9:06 am

    I love the Peggy Lee series (and also the J. J. Cook Sweet Pepper series and Biscuit Bowl Food Truck series!) I’d like to win this giveaway.

  66. Dru
    Dru on May 15, 2015 at 5:16 am

    Thanks Joyce for commenting and interacting with my readers.

    Contest is closed.

  67. Pamela James
    Pamela James on May 17, 2015 at 7:53 am

    Since I have been flower gardening for the past two weeks around Kansas rains of course this mystery would definitely hit the spot. I bet I learn something new about gardening and of course murder.