LET'S GET COZY! WHEN THE COOKIE CRUMBLES: A PREVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

 GIVEAWAY ENDED
WHEN THE COOKIE CRUMBLES

A Cookie Cutter Shop Mystery 

BY VIRGINIA LOWELL

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Olivia Greyson is the proud owner of The Gingerbread House--a quaint shop that specializes in all things cookie--and her best friend, Maddie, is her sidekick, baking up scrumptious treats for their parties. But the real-life version of their magnificent gingerbread house is about to crumble to pieces...

Tensions are running high as Chatterley Heights' 250th birthday celebration approaches, and Olivia and Maddie are working feverishly to finish a gingerbread house modeled after the famous Chatterley Mansion. When Paine Chatterley, presumed to be dead, shows up to claim his father's house, the town gossips are driven into a tizzy. And when he refuses to allow visitors to tour the mansion during the celebration, all the preparations seem for naught.

Then Paine is found lifeless in the bathtub, his wife hysterical and their precious heirlooms destroyed. The hidden lives of the prestigious Chatterley family members begin to surface, and Olivia must unravel their dark past. As it turns out, the town's history isn't all that sweet...

AN INTERESTING LOOK AT THE AUTHOR:

In a pre-holiday interview with author Virginia Lowell, she was asked some quick fire questions on her likes and thoughts on special things about the Christmas time of the year. Perhaps reading this will help you to know more about her. This information was taken from a 2011 Seattle PI article. You can go HERE to see it in its entirety.

Favorite Holiday tradition?
Carols. Cookies. Eggnog with rum. Remembering the history of our ornaments. I can't pick just one!
Favorite childhood toy?
A pseudo-Barbie doll with clothes my mom made.
Favorite childhood game?
"I Doubt It" because it encouraged making things up. Okay, lying. Is that so wrong?
Snowball fight or making snow families?
Snow ball fight, definitely. With a snow fort and lots of snow ammo.
Sleigh rides, sledding or skiing?
Sleigh rides. I wouldn't want to hurt myself.
Favorite Holiday song?
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" with the original words sung by Judy Garland in Meet Me in St. Louis.
Favorite holiday movie?
A Christmas Story, with Darren McGavin. It's hilarious!
Favorite holiday story to read?
The Gift of the Magi
Snow on holiday eve or just a chill in the air?
Snow! The fluffy kind, all day.
Most memorable holiday memory?
The year my dad tried to convince my sister and me to take a break from opening gifts, to stretch out the pleasure. We lasted maybe fifteen minutes.
Did you eat popcorn balls as a kid? If you did, do you still?
Nope. It's always been cookies for me.
Real tree or artificial? Green or white?
I'm horribly allergic to real trees, so we have a green artificial tree. It's great! We can bend the branches to best display our ornaments.
What do you do on holiday eve?
Egg nog and rum in front of the fire. With cats on our laps.
What are your holiday plans this year?
Stay home with my husband and two cats.
What's the one holiday dish your family can't go without?
Dressing with sausage. It's the worst thing I could do for my arteries, but hey, who wants to live forever?
Please share a Holiday recipe.
Dressing with sausage, of course. It's easy: Use Pepperidge Farm dressing, follow the directions, and add one pound cooked, loose sausage, preferably spicy. Then bake for about 20 minutes to lightly brown the top. It's bad for you. Enjoy!
Holiday party tip?
We just gave one, so I'd say "Don't do it!" But if you must, invite fun people and serve plenty of wine and, of course, cookies.
Favorite holiday decoration?
Two porcelain elves from my childhood.
Please share some magical holiday memories?
As a kid, I went caroling with the kids from my neighborhood. At each home, we were greeted with a treat -- hot chocolate, cookies, candy....
Wrap, gift bag or bow & go?
Wrap! I love to wrap gifts and use lots of ribbon.
Gifts or gift cards?
Gifts. I like to match the gift to the person. Of course, my nieces love gift cards, so that's what I give them!
Do you eat fruitcake?
Anyone who hates fruitcake has not tasted my brother-in-law's fruitcake. He uses lots of candied fruit, and his secret is rum. He pours it over his fruitcakes with abandon until they are really, um, moist.
Do you head to the movies on the 25th?
We've thought about it, but it would mean leaving home and the fire.
What's in your stocking? *wink*
We usually run out of time before we get to filling stockings.
What do you want in your stocking? *saucy wink aka swink*
Ooh, a gift certificate for a one-hour massage. Therapeutic, of course. What did you think I meant?
Do you head out on the 26th into the madness to exchange or shop for anything?
Not a chance. I'm petite; I might be trampled.

OTHER COOKIE CUTTER MYSTERIES BY VIRGINIA LOWELL:

                    

     GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO KAYLEIGH AND THE GOOD FOLKS

AT BERKLEY PRIME CRIME AND PENGUIN BOOKS,

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