I’m a store; there, I said it. I was built to be a general store, and I’ve been one my whole life, about a hundred and forty years or so, give or take a decade. I hope to remain a store until my walls crumble to dust. That being said, I may be old, but there’s a lot of life left in the old gal yet.
Let me tell you about my typical day.
I don’t get up that early. Back in the day when I was also the local post office I’d be up at the crack of dawn, but not anymore. Valetta Nibley (she’s the town pharmacist) unlocks my creaky old doors about eight fifty or so, in time for her to get organized at her pharmacy counter in the back. Mr. and Mrs. Klausner, whose family has worked with me for almost a hundred of my years, then arrive. Not every day, though. More often than it used to be a gal named Jaymie Leighton arrives and her and Valetta have a good chin wag – they being best of friends – and then Jaymie gets down to business. I like it when she works. She’s a wee bit on the plump side, but oh, my stars is she energetic! She gets up on stools and cleans my rafters, and crawls under counters to clean up the dust balls.
That tickles, you know… the cobweb cleaning and dusting, with the feather duster especially!
But my favorite time of day is morning tea break. When Jaymie is working her and Valetta get a big mug of tea and sit out on my porch, watching the good folks of Queensville go about their business. They say howdy, wave, talk to all the dogs being walked, maybe play with Jaymie’s little three legged Yorkie Poo Hoppy, if she brought him to work and has him in the puppy pen by the porch. Or she and Valetta just have a grand gossip about everyone and everything going on in their lives.
I love hearing all the news, so that is a wonderful day. It reminds me of the good old days, when I was the hub of the town and everyone dropped in for a game of checkers on the pickle barrel, or just to gossip with the proprietors and every other soul with time on their hands.
Ah, but times change. I’ve seen a lot of changes in Queensville Michigan over all my years. But once in a while – every Christmas, especially – I get to relive the old days. Valetta and Jaymie will decorate me with cedar garlands, and folks dressed in Victorian garb stand outside around a bonfire and sing carols.
At the end of a long day Jaymie turns out all the lights as Valetta closes down her pharmacy counter, and they’ll lock up so I can nap. I watch the stars come out, and fall asleep listening to the St. Clair river slip past, down by the docks.
About No Mallets Intended:
Jaymie Leighton is excited and a little nervous about her current big venture, completely redoing the kitchen at Dumpe House—now the Queensville Historic Manor—in time for the December opening. But the house is mired in controversy, a challenge to the heritage society’s right to own it, and questions about the author hired to write a pamphlet detailing the Dumpe family history and that of the house.
None of Jaymie’s business, so she keeps her head down and her focus on the exact color right for the kitchen, and assembling all the accouterments, including a Hoosier cabinet! She’s also got lots to think about in her personal life with Daniel acting a little odd, and her friend Heidi dragging her in to the trouble between her and her fiancé, Jaymie’s former boyfriend Joel.
But a late night whack on the head with one of the antique mallets Jaymie has been cataloging for the society and a dreadful murder right on the house’s doorstep draws her once again into murder and mayhem. Jaymie faces her most cunning and dangerous opponent yet, but with Valetta and Hoppy by her side and the police chief’s approval, she must figure out whodunit before they do it again!
You can read more about the Queensville Emporium in No Mallets Intended, the fourth book in the “Vintage Kitchen” mystery series, published by Berkley Prime Crime. The first book in the series is A Deadly Grind.
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 6 p.m. eastern on November 25 for the chance to win a copy of NO MALLETS INTENDED. The giveaway is open to U.S. and Canadian residents only.
About the author
Victoria Hamilton is the national bestselling author of three bestselling series, the Vintage Kitchen Mysteries and Merry Muffin Mysteries as Victoria, and the Teapot Collector Mysteries as Amanda Cooper. She is also the bestselling 
author of Regency and historical romance as Donna Lea Simpson.
Victoria loves to cook and collects vintage kitchen paraphernalia, teacups and teapots, and almost anything that catches her fancy! She loves to read, especially mystery novels, and enjoys good tea and cheap wine, the company of friends, and has a newfound appreciation for opera. She enjoys crocheting and beading, but a good book can tempt her away from almost anything… except writing!
Visit Victoria at www.victoriahamiltonmysteries.com.
This sounds like a great series. I would love to win a copy of this book. Thanks for this opportunity!
Wow, a talking General store! 😛 Judy
One of my faves. Happy to see a new one.
Looking forward to this new book in the series.
I like this series a lot.
This sounds like a great series – just the kind I enjoy.
I love how you let the building described itself! This sounds like a great book! Thanks for the chance!
I can’t wait to start this series, thanks for the chance to win.
Love these books
I am reading A Deadly Grind now and would love this one 🙂
Thanks for the chance!
Looks great, thank you for the chance 🙂
Victoria Hamilton books are great. Her stories are the type you don’t want to end. The characters become family and I want to read more.
I’d love to read this! Thank you!
Love this series and all the books by Victoria Hamilton. Looking forward to reading this book.
You have the most interesting reviews and interviews. This is a definite must read since I’ve enjoyed Victoria Hamilton’s other books. Thanks for doing such a great job.
What a fascinating perspective for a day in the life! I saw the Hoosier cabinet in Victoria’s FB post. I love those old pieces. This is a great series. Looking forward to this one.
Sounds like a great book! I love any cozy set in Michigan.
What fun – I loved the part about the store! I’ve always looked at old buildings and wished that the walls could tell the story of what happened there.
I’ve really been enjoying this series with antique kitchen itmes—even if I’m still using many of them. Thanks for the contest.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
I really enjoy this series. Thanks for the giveaway.
Sounds like a good read.
I’ve certainly enjoyed the first two in this series and look forward to reading this one. Thanks for letting us know it is now available.
To me, it is a bonus with the main character is older because I am too! I love this series.
Sounds like a good read, it looks like I have some catching up to do. Thanks for the chance to win.
This story sounds like a lot of fun. I would love the opportunity to read it.
What a fun idea to have the store tell its story.
I loved reading this post! Such a creative way to introduce so much of the series, and the Queensville Emporium is definitely a wonderful character in the series.
Thank you for the chance to win. I enjoyed reading your post
Sounds like a great story. I would love to get a chance to read it.
Oh…this sounds really good!!!! I’d love a copy! Thank you for the opportunity…
Sounds like an excellent read. Would love to win it.
I love this series. Each book gets better and better. I’m always anxious to read more about Jaymie and her family
Sounds like a great book!
Okay…now, I want to go there! Thanks, Victoria!
I love your book’s. Would love to win this. Been wanting to buy it & read it
A delightful book and great post. thanks.
Love the Vintage Kitchen series! The recipes are a bonus….
Sounds like a great book. Thanks for the give away.
This looks like a fun series.
I have the first book on order. Thank you for a chance to win a copy of No Mallets Intended.
sounds like a great book and a great contest. Such a great series!
I’ve enjoyed the other books in this series very much and look forward to reading No Mallets Intended. Thanks for the giveaway!
Sounds like a cute and unique book.
Great title to add to my TBR list
Would like this book as I’ve read her other ones in the series. I was born in 1935 and the items always brings back good momeries.
Love this series. Can’t wait to read this next book.
I love this series.
So unique. Can’t wait to read it.
sounds interesting. Would like to try it.
Sounds great! Thank you for sponsoring the giveaway!
Haven’t read your books before would love to
Sounds like a great cozy mystery.
xzjh04 gmail.com
Great series
Another book by a great author to get comfortable with anytime of day or night!
Sounds great!
What a new and interesting idea for a cozy!
This is a great series written by a great author. I’m looking forward to reading this latest one. Thanks for the chance to win.
I love cozies and thanks the chance to win a copy.
Contest is closed.