One day, I was just minding my own business in the University library working on my dissertation in transcendentalist literature, and the next I was driving halfway across the country in an utter panic. I should back up. Like in any good story, I should start from the beginning.
It all started twelve years ago when I ran away from my hometown, Cascade Springs, New York, when I was seventeen. The day I left that little village, just minutes from the world famous Niagara Falls, I swore I would never return. You see, something happened there, something terrible, and I had to run away. My Grandma Daisy, my only living relative, still lives in the village and owns and operates Charming Books, a small independent bookstore that has been in our family for two hundred years. She’s made no secret of wanting me to return to the village and take over the shop. I can’t do that, not after what happened—which I can’t get into now. Trust me; it would take a whole book to explain.
Now back to the University library. I was at my favorite table with the world largest coffee, my laptop fired up, and all my notes and books. I was ready to jump into the world Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. What I wasn’t ready for was for my cell phone to ring and hear from my grandma.
The phone rang deep inside of my purse. The librarian sitting at the reference desk shot me a dirty look, and other students in the library shuffled their papers in irritation. I mouthed, “Sorry” and rifled through my bag set on turning the phone off, but when I saw the call was from Grandma Daisy, I knew I had to take it. With the librarian glaring at my back, I took my phone into the stacks to hide as I answered the call.
“Grandma?” I asked. “Is everything okay?”
“Violet, my dear, you have to come home.” Cough. “I’m not well. The doctors say it’s serious. They don’t know how much time I have left.”
“What?!” I cried.
On the other side of the stacks, I heard the librarian nosily clear her throat.
“What?” I asked in a harsh whisper. “What’s wrong?”
There was a long pause. “They aren’t completely certain yet. They’re running tests . . .” she trailed off.
“Can I talk to your doctor?”
“No.” She coughed again. “I think it’s best if you just come as quick as we can. There will time for doctors when you arrive. You will come, won’t you?”
“Of course, of course, I’ll come. I can leave in the morning,” I said, already mentally calculating all I had to do to leave. Of course, I had to go. There was no one on Earth more important to me than my grandmother.
“Good,” she said, sounding much more cheerful. “I will expect you tomorrow. Now, I really must go.” And she hung up.
I left that the library after that in a complete haze. The next morning, I was on the road before dawn, half mad with worry the entire drive from Chicago to Western New York.
So you can imagine my shock when I burst into Charming Books to find Grandma Daisy in perfect health. She tricked me into coming back to Cascade Springs! What kind of grandmother tricks her only grandchild? She tricked me to come back and take over the bookshop and accept my special heritage . . . whatever that is. That just wasn’t going to happen.
After being there less than a minute, I was determined to leave again until a dead body turned up. That changed everything, including the entire course of my life…
Crime and Poetry is the first book in the NEW Magical Bookshop Mystery series, published by Obsidian, April 2016.
From Amanda Flower – who writes the national bestselling Amish Quilt Shop Mysteries as Isabella Alan – comes the first in the new Magical Bookshop Mystery series.
Rushing home to sit by her ailing grandmother’s bedside, Violet Waverly is shocked to find Grandma Daisy the picture of perfect health. Violet doesn’t need to read between the lines: her grandma wants Violet back home and working in her magical store, Charming Books. It’s where the perfect book tends to fly off the shelf and pick you.
Violet has every intention to hightail it back to Chicago, but then a dead man is discovered clutching a volume of Emily Dickinson’s poems from Grandma Daisy’s shop. The victim is Benedict Raisin, who recently put Grandma Daisy in his will, making her a prime suspect. Now, with the help of a tuxedo cat named Emerson, Violet will have to find a killer to keep Grandma from getting booked for good.
# # # # # # # # # # #
About the author
Amanda Flower, a three time Agatha-nominated mystery author, started her writing career in elementary school when she read a story she wrote to her sixth grade class and had the class in stitches with her description of being stuck on the top of a Ferris wheel. She knew at that moment she’d found her calling of making people laugh with her words. Amanda is a librarian in Northeast Ohio. She also writes as USA Today Bestselling Author Isabella Alan. Visit Amanda at www.amandaflower.com
Giveaway: Leave comment below for your chance to win a print copy of Crime and Poetry. US entries only, please. The giveaway will end April 12, 2016 at 12 AM EST. Good luck everyone!
All comments are welcomed.
I love the idea of a magical bookshop. Thanks for the giveaway!
What a great plot idea. I would love to win a copy.
Crime and Poetry sounds like a wonderful cozy, and I have it on my TBR list. Thank you for the giveaway.
Love this author’ work. Thanks for the chance to win.
Whether it is a fictional bookshop or a real bookshop, they all are enchanting to me. Thanks for including Amanda Flower on your blog and her latest adventure. robeader53@yahoo.com
Most of us run when grandma calls! Thanks for a chance to enter.
Wow, this sounds intriguing, not sure I can wait to see if I win! I love a book that makes me want to know what happens in the first few pages.
Putting this one on my t-b-r list now!
I’ve enjoyed Amanda Flower’s other series and look forward to this one.
Okay, I’m hooked. I want this one!
Can’t ever trust a grandma!
What could be better than a magical bookstore? Thanks Dru for today’s feature! Can’t wait to read it. Thanks to Amanda for a chance to win a copy! 🙂
A favorite author with a new series – YAY!
I love the idea of books picking you–I wonder what book would pick me? Can’t wait to read this.
Oh my, you have me intriqued! Thank you for the chance to win a copy of this book.
wfnren at aol dot com
This would be a great book to add to my cozy challenge list. Thanks for a chance to win a copy.
This sounds intriguing! Hope I win!
Fascinating and wonderful. Thanks for this lovely feature and giveaway.
Book Store and library mysteries are my favorites. I guess it must be a librarian perspective. Sounds like an interesting read!
I have been really looking forward to reading Crime and Poetry, it sounds like it’s going to be the start of a great series! Thanks for the giveaway!
A crafty grandma, who doesn’t have one of those! Sounds fun, intriguing, and a new series to get involved in. Great all round for the reader!
I love cozy bookstore mysteries and their locations. Only thing missing is the book in my hands. Thank you for the opportunity.
Love love love Amanda, great writer and would love to win, ty
I absolutely love all of your series, Amanda!!
Sounds like a great read.
What a super duper awesome cover on this new cozie…love, love, love it!!!! Sounds like a really great mystery and can’t wait to read it!!!! This is so exciting that it is a first in the series book as you know many more are to come…..love that!!! Thanks so much dear Dru for the chance to win!!!! God bless you!!!
I love bookshops. I think most are magical. Love the scene.
Love book stores. They all seem magical.
I would love to know a bookstore like that!
Love the title, very catchy, grandma sounds like she is going to be a handful, LOL. Thanks for the chance to win.
Wow, now I really need to read this book. Thanks for the chance to win.
Sounds like a great book.
This sounds like a wonderful new series from a wonderful author. Crime and Poetry sounds like a fun and delightful read. I love the magical Bookshop setting.
Love the quilt shop mysteries so that speaks volumes about this new series.
Sounds as if this could be an interesting read. Love bookstores even if I mostly use erasers.
Love how good this new series sounds! Gotta have it!
This new series definitely draws in anyone and everyone who loves books/bookstores and reading, so that is everyone reading this blog post for sure. I love the background about this book and it really has a lot of potential and I would love to get started from book 1 so please add me to the list of hopefuls. Thank you so much.
Sounds fun! Can’t wait to read it.
I would love to get this book. It sounds delightful!
I would love to read this book! Grandmothers, books, bookstores and cats? You already have me hooked 🙂
This book sounds amazing and I have had it on my TBR list for a long time. I look forward to reading, the reviews have all been great.
Crime and Poetry would be a great book to add to my cozy challenge list. Thank you for this chance.
Thank you for the chance to win a copy of Crime and Poetry. It sounds amazing.
Love bookshop mysteries!
I love magical cats and bookstores. Just plain fun reading. Keep up the good work.!!! Congrats to who ever ( or whom ever???) wins this one.
🙂
Great intro! I am looking forward to this debut! Thanks for the chance to win!
I’m hooked.. I want to know if they save Grandma???
Why does Grandma want her to come home so desperately? Thanks for the contest.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Looks so Good!!! I really enjoy Amanda Flower’s books!!!
I love this fabulous author! Would love to win this book!
cabsmith104@gmail.com cabsmith104@gmail.com carole smith
I have been so excited for this book to come out! I can’t wait to read it! It’s really painful to choose which order to read the new releases in…not enough reading hours in the day. Thanks for the chance to win!
This has been on my wish list…thank you for the contest. I love the sound of it…Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
This sounds like an interesting series.
Thank you Dru Ann for the intro to this new series! Hope you’re feeling better!
Sandy in So. Cali
sxygrndma48{at}yahoo{dot}com
This looks like a delightful read! Thanks for the opportunity!
Sounds like a great new series! Thanks for the chance to win!
Books and a cat! The best kind of story . Thanks for a chance to enter the contest!
Books and a cat the best kind of story. Thanks for a chance to enter the contest.
Sounds like a fun read.
Definitely a winner!!!!
Love love LOVE the cover!!!!
Thank you for the giveaway…..
Interesting read.
Totally a Wonderful sounding book ! 💟💟 Thank you for a chance to win 👍👍 really Love the great cover , looks like a cat I have named buddy 💟💟