With preparations for her upcoming wedding to handsome Wes Wesson, a Center City police lieutenant, on track and her DIY Bridal Crafts class at Hawkeye Haven's community center wrapped up, DIY Diva Laurel McMillan looks forward to a calm pre-nuptial week to finalize her wedding plans. There's only one problem: the week turns out to be anything but calm. Laurel and Wes narrowly escape being run down in the parking lot of their favorite restaurant. Laurel's bridal shower is interrupted by a mysterious stranger who sends Laurel's lovable chocolate Labrador retriever Bear into a frenzy, and when Laurel and Wes go to meet Lisa, their real estate agent, at a house she promised to show them, they discover Lisa's sister's body floating in the pool. Strangely, Lisa seems more concerned with selling houses than she does with her sister's death. After Lisa's mother inadvertently reveals family secrets, Laurel wonders whether Lisa could have killed her own sister. Will the mayhem and murder stop before Laurel discovers the key to the killer's game plan?
Paula Darnell writes books that draw you in and keep you turning pages until you realise hours have gone by and the book is finished!
Laurel is all tangled up in wedding preparations as Wes has popped the question and they plan to marry soon, because of this her DIY Diva classes are based around weddings, such as making head dresses and so forth, she has made her dress (which means not gaining an ounce if at all possible as any extra will show up!), she has made her cousin/BFF Tracey's dress and now it is the last few bits and pieces ... she isn't expecting one of them to be Wes and herself nearly run over as they left a restaurant mind you! Then Tracey receives an odd parcel and that is then topped by Wes and Laurel finding a body in the house they were looking at maybe buying.
With Wes off the case (otherwise he may NEVER get to go on his honeymoon) Laurel ends up trying to stitch the clues together, is it someone trying to rattle Wes and using Laurel to do so? Is it their Realtor who seems uninterested in the dead body ... even though it is her sister who died!? Or maybe the woman who had embezzled from the charity then ran away and is now back? Can Laurel and Wes sort it all out and still get married on time?
An Interview With A Character
What is your full name?
My name is Laurel McMillan, and I'm also known as the DIY Diva.
What is your Profession?
I have a wonderful job as an independent craft designer, teacher, and writer. I've always loved all kinds of crafts, but the idea of turning my love of crafts and designing into a career didn't occur to me until several years after I graduated from college. I started with a blog, so that I could share how to make the DIY craft, fashion, and home dec projects that I loved. A book editor noticed my blog, and my career as a writer took off with a series of books, each with a different DIY theme. I also design projects for crafts' manufacturers, and I teach DIY classes for residents of Hawkeye Haven at our community center. I especially like making jewelry, and I sell some of my jewelry in boutiques. I love the variety of what I do and the fact that my schedule is flexible, which gives me the time to do some DIY detective work whenever the need arises.
What is your current favourite book or movie?
Of course, I'd have to say my favourite books are Death by Association and Death by Design, in which I relate my adventures!
What is your go to comfort book or movie?
I really like The Best Years of Our Lives, a 1946 movie filmed in black and white. It's the story of three veterans who return home to the same town in America after World War II and their struggles to adjust to life back home. I've watched it several times, and the fact that they manage to make a new life in a changed society is always heart-warming.
If someone was to play you in a movie who would it be? OR what would be the character you would want to be in a book?
I'd like Jessica Chastain to play me in a movie; she has red hair, just like I do.
What is your ideal evening?
My ideal evening is any evening when my new husband Wes doesn't have to work late and he can be home with me and our Labrador retriever Bear.
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
December 9 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW
December 9 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
December 10 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW
December 10 – Hearts & Scribbles – RECIPE
December 11 – I Read What You Write – REVIEW
December 11 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT
December 12 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLGHT
December 12 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – GUEST POST
December 13 – Carla Loves To Read – REVIEW
December 13 – Diane Reviews Books – GUEST POST
December 14 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
December 14 – My Journey Back – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
December 15 – Cozy Up With Kathy – SPOTLIGHT
December 15 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT
Thank you for featuring my latest cozy mystery, Death by Proxy, today. So glad you liked it!
Paula Darnell, Author
Posted by: PaulaJDarnell | 12/10/2019 at 01:26 AM