Just when I think I’m getting the hang of being a “southern girl,” something happens that takes the wind out of my sails. Instead of just rolling with the “unexpected.” I find myself getting worried and uptight, reverting to my anxious Type A “northern” personality. My sister, Ali, must be more adaptable than I am, because she loves making spur of the moment plans, always welcomes a surprise and thinks of life as an adventure.
Take Sonia Scott’s visit to Savannah, for example. I’m sure you know that Sonia is as popular as cornbread and sweet tea down here, and we were thrilled to watch the taping of one of her popular cooking shows. After all, the Dream Club members love to eat; we enjoy finding new recipes to serve at our meetings. And Sonia was just as friendly and down home as she could be, chatting with the audience between takes, kidding around with the staff and generally just hamming it up for the camera.
I didn’t know until much later that Sonia was disliked by so many people and that she was one tough lady under that southern charm. But back to my reaction to the “unexpected.” Who would have thought that a chance meeting at the television taping that evening would lead to Sonia doing a book signing in our shop the very next day?
“It will be fun!” Ali told me. She was over the moon at the idea of having Sonia in Oldies But Goodies but I was less enthusiastic than my sister. Ali looked at it as a wonderful opportunity but I thought of all the work that would be involved. We only had a few hours to prepare and everything in the shop had to sparkle. Plus we needed to send out an e-mail blast to our best customers, inviting then to a meet and greet with Sonia, and we enticed them with free food. Not just any free food, but home-made desserts that we’d be up all night making. And of course, a nice selection of fresh-squeezed lemonade and sweet tea.
We slaved away scrubbing and polishing, and managed to turn out platters of delicious lemon bars and tiny cherry cheesecake tarts to serve to our guests. When Sonia and her entourage arrived and settled in the next morning, I thought my worries would be over. Everyone was in a good mood, the audience was happy and I was beginning to think that I had been silly to waste my time worrying. This was going to be a memorable experience.
And then Sonia took a bite of a cookie and clutched her throat, screaming for her inhaler. It all went downhill after that, and as you’ve probably guessed, the Dream Club had another murder on their hands.
You can read more about Taylor in Dream A Little Scream, the second book in the “Dream Club” mystery series, published by Berkley Prime Crime. The first book in the series is Nightmares Can Be Murder.
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 a.m. eastern on August 18 for the chance to win a three-wick 
honeysuckle candle from Bath and Body Works. 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.
About the author
Mary Kennedy is a licensed psychologist and the author of the Talk Radio Mysteries and the Dream Club Mysteries for Penguin-Random House. She lives in the northeast with her husband and eight neurotic cats. Both husband and cats have resisted all her attempts to psychoanalyze them, but she remains optimistic. Visit her website here.
Delightful books, another good series to love!
Ohhhh i want to read this
I’d like to read this series; sounds interesting!
I love these kinds of books — and the cat on the cover is adorable!
This is a new author for me and I’d like to read this series.. It sounds interesting!
This series sounds very interesting to me. Thanks for the chance to win.
I am very interested in reading this book. Thanks for the giveaway!
thank you for the giveaway……..
Have not read the first book in the series but this sounds delightful . Love to read about the sisters. Thank you for the chance. 😀
This sure does sound like a really awesome book. I just love, love, love the adorable cover…the room is so nice and cozy and makes me just want to lie down on the bed and read for hours! I also love, love, love honeysuckle and sure would love to win the awesome candle. Thank dearest Dru for the chance!!! God bless you!!!
So happy to be here, and am lovin’ these wonderful comments on Dream a Little Scream!
Oh, how I LOVE Taylor. She is so wonderfully type-A and she should be okay with that. What a great sister, friend and character Mary has created. I love her creativity and she is southern at heart no matter what doubts she has. I would hang out with her any day.
I loved the first book, I have this new one waiting for me on my shelf. 🙂
What a great giveaway; thanks for the opportunity to win. Happy Dreams.📖📚
I have this series on order …very excited to try them!!!
I love this series!!!
I enjoyed the first book in this series, so I am looking forward to this one. I love the giveaway…thanks! Kuzlin at AOL.com
ooh a new author and a food mystery! An unbeatable combination. Thanks Dru for the introduction. 🙂
I love this series!
Thank you for the contest…now I have another book to add to my to be read list!
Thanks for the contest. I love books like this and Honeysuckle is my fav.
would love to read this series !
I do like this series and also sweet tea. I would love the offer.
Sounds like another good series to try. Thanks.
Love sweet tea!
Thanks Dru for another great review. What a different giveaway – a candle – instead of a book by the author. robeader53@yahoo.com
Another new author for me. Sounds very interesting. Would love to read this book. Great giveaway! Thankyou for the opportunity!
I’ve read both series, and really enjoy them! The candle sounds dreamy.
Thank you for the chance to win. Honeysuckle is a wonderful childhood memory. Can’t wait to read book.
I loved Nightmares Can Be Murder, can’t wait to read Dream A Little Scream.
What a great feature and lovely giveaway. Many thanks.
Another new author, love to read new authors and get into series on book 1. would love to win, ty.
Dreams can be interesting – or scary. I would like to read this.
Loved the first book. Thanks for the chance to win.
I really enjoyed the first one, I may have to bump this up on my tbr list.
Hi Beverly, so glad you like the cover, I think they did a really good job. By the way, can you see the “second” cat on the cover?? There are two cats in the series, Barney and Scout and an eagle-eyed reader finally found the second cat for me. Do you see it?? Just wondered.
Sounds like a great read. Thank you for this chance.
Your book sounds really good. I am always looking for new authors to read.
Enjoyed reading your blog today. Your book sounds like one I would enjoy reading.
Sounds like an interesting slant on a cosy. Would love to try it!
Honeysuckle is my favorite fragrance! Thanks for the giveaway and for a glimpse into Dream a Little Scream~
I love this book and author. Thanks for the great blog review, and unique giveaway!
I am a Yankee with a “northern temperament and proud of it and I’d be concerned about hosted such a huge event on a moment’s notice! I look forward to the second adventures of the Dream Club!
Honeysuckle candle – it sounds heavenly!
sounds interesting. I have to say though the info on the author was my favorite. Love all those cats, lol Thanks for the opportunity to win what looks like a wonderful candle!
Looks like I’ve found a new author.Can’t wait to read your books.Me and my kitty Socks.
So happy that people are enjoying the series. And Gail, I am always happy to meet another cat lover. Socks is an adorable name!
Honeysuckle is my favorite…and for some reason, I’ve never been able to grow it. People laugh when I tell them that, because they say that honeysuckle grows wild and “takes over” the garden. Hmm. Maybe my yard is too shady, not sure what the problem is. But I discovered this terrific honeysuckle candle at Bath and Body Works and figured one of my readers would love it as much as I do!
I love the combination of the South, kitties and food–sounds like a great read.
Definitely adding this series to my TBR list. Our neighbor had honeysuckle growing on the side of his garage which was near our bedroom. It was wonderful to wake-up to that beautiful aroma every morning in the summer.
Yet another series on my TBR pile
Would love to read this!!!
Would love to read this!!
I would like to read Dream a Little Scream and start the series. I’d also like to win a three-wick honeysuckle candle from Bath and Body Works. thanks for the giveaway
Oh boy, another good series!
Love this series and honeysuckle! Thanks for the chance to win.
Oh, my, Is it possible for a northern born and bred girl to become a southerner?? I’d love to read this book.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Haven’t read any books by this author. I like the candle giveaway. A lot of southern mysteries are set in North Carolina and some in Georgia.
Contest is closed.