The sign above my new antique cash register reads: When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. All right, already, cut me some slack. I know it’s a cliché, but in my case it happens to be true. When my husband, CJ, dumped me after twenty-some years to chase ambulances and a bimbo in a short shirt–I privately refer to the home wrecker and former beauty queen as Miss Peach Pit–I used every last cent I had to finance a dream of mine of owning my own business. My spice shop, Spice It Up!, occupies a prime piece of real estate on the town square in the small town of Brandywine Creek, Georgia. I love every square inch of Spice It Up! including the exposed brick walls and heart pine floor.
Unfortunately, my grand opening wasn’t quite as grand as planned. It all started going downhill after I found the body of the hoity-toity chef who’d agreed to do a cooking demo. And it didn’t help any that I handled what turned out later to be the murder weapon. Just when I didn’t think things could get any worse, my four-legged alibi disappeared without a forwarding address. To add to my dilemma, CJ, my ex, informed me that the new chief of police, Wyatt McBride, despised any and every one with the name of Prescott.
What to do? What to do?
I took the only course open to me and speed dialed my BFF, Reba Mae Johnson. Between the two of us, we’d not only bring home the bacon, but we’d fry it up in a pan. In other words, we’d solve this case, prove my innocence, and have a fine time along the way. After all, we watch crime shows on TV; we read mysteries. How hard can it be to solve a murder in a town not much bigger than a postage stamp?
We were about to find out. To misquote Bette Davis, Fasten your seatbelts. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.
You can read more about Piper in Rosemary and Crime, the first book in the new “Spice Shop” mystery series, published by Minotaur. Books are available at retail and online booksellers.
GIVEAWAY: Comment on this post by noon EST on December 18, and you will be entered to win a signed Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of Rosemary and Crime. One winner will be chosen at random. Unless specified, U.S. entries only.
Meet the author
Gail Oust is often accused of flunking retirement. While working as a nurse/vascular technologist, she penned nine 
historical romances under the pseudonym of Elizabeth Turner. It wasn’t until she and her husband retired to South Carolina that inspiration struck for a mystery. Hearing the words “maybe it’s a dead body” while golfing fired her imagination for writing a cozy. Ever since then, she spends more time on a computer than at a golf course. Author of the Bunco Babe mysteries, she is currently writing the Spice Shop Mysteries. Rosemary and Crime marks their debut.
Sounds like a fun series to start. I would love a copy.
I would love this!
A brand new series! And set in my state! A double winner!
I want in!!!! a new cozy series!! woohoo!!
thank you for the giveaway!!!
This sounds like a really fun book.
Spices? I hope there are recipes!
Sounds like a wonderful, fun read. Love to win
I love a new series, and the title is really good ! Count me in!
I love trying new cozy series. Thanks.
This sounds like the cozy for me: one with twists galore. Can’t wait. I hope to win.
It is set in the South! Sounds like a great cozy.Count me in too!
Sounds like a great cozy mystery.
What a great introduction to the book. I am Southern and I like books about the South. Dru Ann, thanks for the opportunity.
I love “spicy” books Dru, so please enter me in this contest.
Sounds delightful
I love to discover the first in a series and I love spices, so toss my name in the hat to win. Thanks.
Sounds like a book I would want to try. Thank you for the chance.
Spice Shop mystery series sounds so good! Can’t wait to read it. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
I want to go along for this ride!
I love the sound of this one, I’m ready for the bumpy ride. Thanks for the chance to win.
I’m ready to go along for the bumpy ride and enjoy this cozy.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
I love new series (had read one of the Bunco Babes books before) and this one sounds just prefect for me. I would absolutely love to win this book and follow Gail with her new Spice series. The blog post was great, and I am ready for a bumpy ride, not a problem, I have been in training all my life!!!! 🙂
Thanks to Dru for having this blog post today.
Another fun read!
I enjoy the Bunco Babes series. Will be excited to read this first in a new series especially if Icahn win a copy! Dru, thank you for the post & giveaway chance.
Excited to see what my old classmate has come up with in her latest book.
I loved the Bunco Babes series. This one sounds good too.
kaye.killgore@comcast.net
contest is closed.