My house calls for holiday decorations. Since I live in the historic district of Goosebush it calls for a bit of attention, but in a classic way. Delia takes care of the front of the house, and for the last couple of years, that was as far as decorating went. That wasn't always the case. When my father was alive, the house was a Christmas wonderland, with different decorations in every room, and a winter playland in the back yard, complete with a train set that went around the different bushes and plants. What folks didn't know is that he kept the lights up all winter long, to help illuminate the long New England winter nights.
I'm not up to a holiday open house this year. Maybe next. But I will decorate. Delia and I have been working on making different wreaths from different plant pruning efforts. I have become a fan of rosemary wreaths. What a wonderful scent! Delia has been working wonders with other plants, and we're adding evergreens to fill in spaces.
So yes, thanks to my friends I'm feeling better. Who knows, maybe next spring I'll have a garden party. That could be fun.
**********
Pruning the Dead, the first in the Garden Squad series, debuts on January 29. The book starts during the garden party Lilly mentions here. Here's a description of the book:Post-retirement aches and pains can’t prevent sixty-five-year-old Lilly Jayne from keeping the most manicured garden in Goosebush, Massachusetts. But as a murder mystery blooms in the sleepy New England town, can a green thumb weed out a killer?
With hundreds flocking to her inaugural garden party, meticulous Lilly Jayne hasn’t left a single petal out of place. But the picture-perfect gathering turns unruly upon the arrival of Merilee Frank, Lily’s ex-husband’s catty third wife. Merilee lives for trouble, so no one is surprised after she drinks too much, shoves a guest into the koi pond, and gets escorted off the property. The real surprise comes days later—when Merilee is found dead in a pile of mulch . . .
Lilly wishes she could stick to pruning roses and forget about Merilee’s murder—until her best friend and ex become suspects in an overgrown homicide case. Now, aided by the Garden Squad, an unlikely group of amateur crime solvers with a knack for planting, Lilly knows she has limited time to identify the true culprit and restore order to Goosebush. Because if the murderer’s plot isn’t nipped in the bud, another victim could be pushing up daisies!
The book is available for pre-order. Today I have an ARC to give away to someone who comments on the blog! I love writing this series, and so look forward to all of you getting to know Lilly and the rest of the Garden Squad.
The winner will be chosen on Friday, November 23. Happy Thanksgiving to our US readers!
Posts
Glad this year is better than your last, Lilly. I hope you and Delia (and you, Julie/Julia!) have a wonderful Thanksgiving. mbradeen [at] yahoo [dot] com
ReplyDeletePlease enter me. I love to start new series.
ReplyDeleteWendy
clarksrfun at gmail dot com
A gardening series is going to be such fun! Thank you for giving away this first book! I am looking forward to reading it.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving!
[email protected]
I always look for new series and I would love to read your garden series. Wishing you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeleterenate[at]mcmartin[dot]de
This sounds like a wonderful series. I would love to read more.
ReplyDeletedebby236 at gmail dot com
I’m always looking for new series to read
ReplyDeletesgiden@verizon(.)net
sounds absolutely wonderful. I particularly like the idea of the rosemary wreaths. Thanks for the giveaway and Happy Thanksgiving! aut1063(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteSounds like an awesome new series, thanks for the entry! barbie17(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI have yet to read a book by this author. Would love to start with this one that sounds interesting.
ReplyDeletejwisley(at)aol(dot)com
I have yet to read a book by this author. Would love to start with this one that sounds interesting.
ReplyDeletejwisley(at)aol(dot)com
Love the sound of this book! Great start to a new series, would really like to read. Happy Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeletediannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com
I love ARCs and the idea of finding her in mulch!
ReplyDeletelibbydodd at comcast dot net
I haven't tried this series yet but would love to win! Thanks for the chance and happy Thanksgiving! JL_Minter (at) hotmail (dot) com
ReplyDeleteThe Garden Squad series sounds like it's off to a grand start with "Pruning the Dead". I'd love to read more about Lilly's garden party and the solving of Merilee’s murder. Along the way, I could learn more about Goosebush and all it's inhabitants.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the wonderful chance to win a copy of what sounds like an amazing book and one that has been placed on my TBR list!
2clowns at arkansas dot net
Charming cover. Thanks for the opportunity.
ReplyDeletebrowninggloria(at)hotmail (dot) com
Sounds like a great series to start out the new year with! Thank you for your offer.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving to you, also. May your days be as blessed with love, laughter, and great company! I love starting new cozy mystery series. This sounds just like the type of book I can snuggle down with our three furbabies and enjoy getting into the characters (as I love to do!)
ReplyDeleteteddi1961(at)arcemont(dot)com
Love New England settings.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving!
jtcgc at yahoo dot com
Sounds great!! Love the cover!
ReplyDeletenjcar22(at)aol(dot)com
Sounds great.
ReplyDeletekkat(dot)edwards(at)gmail(dot)com
Sounds like my kind of read. Thanks for the chance. ematov (at) comcast (dot) net
ReplyDeleteI love older sleuths :-)
ReplyDeleteDonah42 at aol dot com
Thanks for the giveaway. This book is one that I will read as soon as I can get it!
ReplyDeletesounds wonderful. i would love to read this asap. kayt18 (at) comcast (dot) net
ReplyDeleteYou are a new to me author! Love finding new authors and books. This one looks great. Thanks for the giveaway and Happy Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeletemarthalawson at gmail dot com
What a wonderful scenario. I love the idea of an older woman, recently widowed dealing with a new career and moving forward with her life as the main sleuth. dbahn(at)iw(dot)net
ReplyDeleteOn my TBR list! cheers (at) MarjimManor (dot) com
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the introduction to this new series. I'd love to have a copy to call
ReplyDeletemy own. Thanks for the chance. robeader53(at)yahoo(dot)com
After going to school in Boston, I miss and love the east coast. Can't wait to read this one set in MA!
ReplyDeleteAfter going to school in Boston, I miss and love the East coast! Can't wait to read this one set in MA. anajs95 at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good series.
ReplyDeleteKit3247(at)aol(dot)com
Sounds like a great new series! acate9(at)utk(dot)edu
ReplyDeleteI am an avid gardener, too, so I look forward to this new series. I enjoyed the backstory that Lily provided in the first part of the post. Makes me feel as if I already know her a bit, so it will be a treat to read about her in the first book.
ReplyDeletegnluciow(at)gmail(dot)com
Looks good on my TBR maceoindo(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance. Love the premise. Maceoindo(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDeleteThis sounds delightful--I'd love to read it! [email protected]
ReplyDeleteI love reading books about MA where I was born and raised. Thank you so much for this chance. pgenest57(at)aol(dot)com
ReplyDelete