I’m Sofia Balducci, half owner of the Kozy Kettle Tea and Coffee Emporium. My husband, Emil, and I run the shop which is across from Peggy Lee’s garden shop in Brevard Court.
Peggy Lee is always looking for trouble! How many times have Emil and I offered to help her find a real man who could help her out of the tight scrapes she gets into? She turns her nose up and walks off with that crazy husband of hers. He’s as much good as a bicycle in a snowstorm!
Where we come from, women are protected by their family. They don’t go out in the middle of the night with strange men who could rape and strangle them – God forbid! The stories I could tell you about Peggy. They would curl your eyebrows!
Peggy is a good woman – like my own grandmother who raised three sets of children and buried five husbands. My grandmother could plow the land and put a new roof on the house by herself. But even she wouldn’t try some of the stunts that Peggy has.
I say this with all the love in my heart – Peggy is crazy! She should tend her garden, and get a smaller dog. That dog of hers is a small horse. My cousin, Jacopo, had a horse smaller than that brute. He probably ate less too.
Don’t get me started on the two kids Peggy has working with her at the garden shop. Best to leave that alone. If she had a good man, like my Emil, she wouldn’t need them and their silly stunts.
But if you should pay Peggy a visit at The Potting Shed in Charlotte, North Carolina – be sure to pay Emil and me a call too. We bake our cookies fresh each day, and everyone loves our coffee. Come to us for food. Don’t eat any of the plants that Peggy sells. She knows about poisons, God help her.
You can read more about Peggy in Lethal Lily, the 7th book in the “Peggy Lee Garden” mystery series, published by Joyce and Jim Lavene. The first book in the series is Pretty Poison. Books are available at retail and online booksellers.
GIVEAWAY
Comment on this post by 6 p.m. EST on July 1, and you will be entered for a chance to win a copy of LETHAL LILY. One winner will be chosen at random. Unless specified, U.S. entries only.
Meet the author
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, Berkley, Amazon, and Gallery Books along with hundreds of non-fiction articles for national and regional publications. They live in rural North Carolina with their family. Visit them at joyceandjimlavene.com or peggyleegardenmysteries.com.
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This book sounds funny. I wonder what’s the deal with this “Peggy” woman. I know all about Charlotte, N.C., so would be interested to read this book.
Thanks for having us here today, Dru Ann!
Joyce and Jim Lavene
Oh, this sounds like such a fun series. I would love to win a copy!
I haven’t yet started this series. Just the JJ Cook one.
I’d love to start reading this series! Thank you!
I haven’t read this series in a long time. I would like to read it again.
This sounds like a good book, thank you for the chance to win
I have fallen in love with the shop neighborhood! Tea shops ,garden shops, just give the story some added flavor. Thanks for the giveaway .
Wow! I’m hooked for sure.
I love this series !
How much fun is this. Love it!
Would love to read this series. Thanks for the chance to win.
I keep hearing about this book but none of the bookstores have it, so I would love to win it.
Visiting the garden shop and then stopping for coffee and cookies….lovely thought.
I love their writing and would love to read this one!
A bicycle in a snowstorm? That’s a classic!
Lethal Lilly sounds like my kind of woman… Dru, toss my hat in the contest ring please.
Joyce and Jim are among my favorite authors! That you to them and to you Dru for the chance to win.
I’ve read some of the other series the Lavene’s have written. They’ve been good stories. This series is not one of those I’ve read. Love to give it a try.
The Emporium, along with Emil and Sofia, seems like it would be a fun place to visit! Thanks for the intro to another new to me series!
I love the description, I love these types of books!!
I’m always glad when there is a new Peggy Lee Garden Shop book. Peggy lee’s books and the Dae and Duck series have always been my favorite series but have added J.J.Cook books too. Would like to add Lethal Lily to my TBR stack.
I’m curious about Peggy’s husband! He sounds like a wild card. And the book sounds good!
Love Sophia’s take on Peggy!! Especially like the take on her “horse”. But what I really like about these books is all the plant involvement in the mysteries!!
Sounds like a great series.
This sounds like a fun read. Thanks for the chance to win.
I love to garden too. Would love to win.
I love this series and I’m so glad there is finally a new book out. I’d love to win!
This really sounds like my kind of book! I have got to read this whole series.
Sounds like a great one! Thanks for the chance.
I love this series and am so glad that Peggy is back (and I love her dog too)!
Another great sounding book and I am glad to know about it from you Dru. You are my best source of new books all the time. Thank you for the chance. I don’t get out to shop or see anything except online and mostly on FB now, so it is great to have you to let me know what is out there.
Thank you for a chance to win a copy of Lethal Lily. I enjoy this series a lot and look forward to reading the new book.
Would love to read this new book , ty 🙂
This book sounds so good. I can’t wait to read it. Joyce and Jim Lavene write wonderful cozies.
Looks great, thank you for the chance
Oh, My! Sofia sounds like another fun character developed by the Lavenes.
Thanks for the contest.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Sounds like Peggy is ready to take us on a few fun adventures. 😀 Looking forward to reading.
Lethal Lily sounds like a great cozy for the beach!
I have enjoyed this series. Glad to see a new one.
Sofia seems pretty opinionated and strong-willed. I would like to see how Peggy holds her own!
I didn’t know about this series – thanks for the heads up 🙂
Wow, I don’t have near 70 of their books, but I’ll try. Help me out with this one, please. Thanks.
Sounds like a fun and interesting read. Thanks for the chance to win it.
Another great blog Dru Ann! I have yet to read any of the Lavine’s works, but this one sounds like a good place to start. Thanks for the give-a-way!
I love reading your reviews.
This is obviously a series I need to look into. Not quite sure how I missed it before. Oh well, looking forward to getting to it soon.
contest is closed.