Hey, y’all, when I heard that Dru wanted me to come on her blog today and talk about my friend Jordan, I was thrilled. I can’t think of too many other things I’d rather be doing –except maybe cooking and flirting with a really good-looking man. But that’s neither here nor there.

I guess I should start by introducing myself. My name is Rosie LaRue, and I live in the Empire Apartments with Jordan McAllister and a whole bunch of quirky friends. Most of you know Jordan, but for those who haven’t read LIVER LET DIE, let me tell you about her. She’s tall, has curly red hair that has a mind of its own, and she can throw a touchdown pass better than anyone I know who is making money doing it in the NFL. She loves all sports—was once the sports reporter at the University of Texas with her ex.

All the girl ever wanted to do was see her byline in the sports section. Unfortunately, after following her boyfriend to Texas where he got HER dream job, she ended up in the small town of Ranchero, Texas, after he dumped her for a shapely weather girl who probably doesn’t know a punt from a kickoff.

I’m Jordan’s best girlfriend even though I’m 25 years older than her. At the Empire apartments where the entire gang lives, I’m referred to as the femme fatale because when I see a good-looking hombre I go after him— and usually get him. Trouble is, I always end up marrying him in the process. Not counting Mitch, whom I married twice after catching the redeye to Vegas following a night of tequila shooters, I’ve had four husbands so far.

Sheesh! Anyway, back to my story. Did I mention that the only job at the Ranchero Globe was writing the personals when Jordan came to town? But she lucked out when the culinary reporter had a jet skiing accident and ended up in rehab, and she jumped at the offer to fill in temporarily.

Bet you’re thinking the girl must really be a bang-up cook to get the position?

You would be wrong. The editor must have been desperate, and Jordan’s journalism credentials probably enticed him to offer her the position. He had no idea the girl was clueless in the kitchen—or that it’s my casserole recipes that she uses in her column every week after the gang slaps on a fancy name for them.

And you know what’s funny? The good people of Ranchero love both her and the recipes. Apparently, they think the Budine de papitos con Pollo is some fancy gourmet dish when it’s actually my Potato Chip Chicken recipe.

But I digress. If I’m really being honest about my friend, I’d have to say that somehow Jordan always manages to get herself into trouble—and usually the gang is right there in the middle of it with her. In the last book, she tangled with a diamond smuggler and an angry quarterback. In BEEF STOLEN-OFF, she goes head to head with a modern-day cattle rustling ring and nearly gets herself killed. So, if you don’t already have your copy of BEEF STOLEN-OFF, you’d better hurry. I’m going out for mine now since I’m dying to find out what kind of trouble Jordan will rustle up next. I heard there were ghosts in this one. Oy!


** Thanks to the publisher, I have one (1) copy of BEEF STOLEN-OFF to give away. Contest open to residents of the US only. Contest ends July 12. Leave a valid-email address with your comment. The book will be shipped directly from the publisher. **

Meet the author
Liz Lipperman started writing many years ago, even before she retired from the medical field. Wasting many years thinking she was a romance writer but always having to deal with the pesky villains who kept popping up in all her stories, she finally gave up and decided since she read mysteries and obviously wrote them, why fight it? Two years ago, she signed her first contract with Berkley to write a cozy series.

The first book of her Clueless Cook Mystery Series, LIVER LET DIE, debuted in October, 2011. BEEF STOLEN-OFF will release in July 2012, MURDER FOR THE HALIBUT is coming January 2013 and CHICKEN CACCHIA-KILLER will hit the bookstores in October of 2013. Look for TALK DEAD TO ME and DEAD MAN TALKING, books 1 and 2 of The Ghost and the Garcia Girls Mysteries written as Lizbeth Lipperman. This is a mainstream paranormal mystery series involving five sisters, coming in 2013 and 2014 from Midnight Ink.

Books are available at retail and online booksellers.