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I hope you have the chance to read one of my funny, Southern-flavored mysteries . . . |
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Just out! July 1, 2010
Great Buzz . . . .
Publishers Weekly loves HITCHED: ''Sibling rivalry, steamy romance, a surprising killer, and plenty of catfish and hush puppies make this Southern cozy a winner . . .''
''Delightul,'' says noted reviewer Oline Cogdill: ''A solid marriage of realistic characters, humor and a view of old Florida.''
Kirkus is keen on the offbeat setting: ''Bound to give tourists a look at a Florida that is fast being paved out of existence.''
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It may be Mama's fifth try at tying the sacred knot, but that's no reason to tastefully scale back. She's planning the Wedding of the Century in little Himmarshee, Fla. - complete with a "Gone With the Wind" theme, her daughters in Scarlett O'Hara dresses, and a ring-bearing Pomeranian sporting a satin vest and top hat.
But what's a bridezilla to do when her caterer is fatally stabbed in the VFW kitchen? With a suspect list as long as the bride's gift registry, daughter Mace must find the real killer before Mama's Special Day turns especially deadly.
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In the third book in the series, Mama and Sal tie the knot. Or do they? Ready for a fun read? Mama loves book clubs, and I do too. Contact me, and I may visit your club, virtually or in real life.
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Release date: July 1, 2009
Fab reviews!
Booklist says: ''Sharp writes a funny mystery . . . descriptions of a part of Florida most of us know little about add to the appeal of this entertaining mystery.''
''Stephanie Plum goes into the backwoods in an amusingly wild ride. . .'' Kirkus Reviews
Noted mystery reviewer Oline H. Cogdill: ''Mama Rides Shotgun entertains as it showcases a part of Florida that quickly is disappearing.''
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Natalie Morales and Deborah chat about MAMA RIDES SHOTGUN
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Before Mama ties the sacred knot of matrimony for the 5th time, she coerces daughter Mace to saddle up for some country-gal bonding on the Florida Cracker Trail. The six-day trek gets off to a good start. At least until the wealthy rancher hosting the riders keels over in his Cow Hunter Chili.
A one-time beau of Mama's (and, really, who isn't?) Lawton Bramble had a bad ticker and a ton of enemies who might have "spiced" the cattleman's chili. Was it son Trey, as flawed as he is handsome? The young widow, whose grief seems well-rehearsed? Or maybe the childhood friend, wronged by Lawton in love and business?
Mace's worried sisters join the ride, and sexy Detective Carlos Martinez returns to complicate matters. But Mace's miserable love life pales as a problem next to a planted rattlesnake, a tent sliced to shreds, and a spooked horse named Shotgun. When Mama gallops into danger, Mace is determined to corral the killer stalking the Florida trail. |
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Book 2 in the series, in which Mama and Mace saddle up for a week long trail ride across Florida. I did the same, to research the setting. Contact me, and I'll tell you what the heck I was thinking.
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Book 1 starts the series, and introduces the characters and fictional setting of tiny Himmarshee, Fla. I hope you love them as much as I do.
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''Native Floridian Deborah Sharp's acute comic timing and detailed perceptions of old Florida sparkle in her lively debut... engaging storytelling makes Mama Does Time highly entertaining." Oline H. Cogdill, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
''Colorful characters and a segment of Florida seldom seen by tourists evoke a Southern Sisters feeling in this very well written Southern fried epic.'' BookBitch.com
''The mystery and its plucky narrator will draw you in faster than a raccoon to a trash can.'' Miami ArtZine
''. . . a humorous, touching reflection on familial love and politics.'' Mystery Scene Magazine
''. . . characters crackle off the page.'' Cozy Library
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Meet Mama: a true Southern woman with impeccable manners, sherbet-hued pantsuits, and four prior husbands, able to serve sweet tea and sidestep alligator attacks with equal aplomb. Mama's antics - especially her penchant for finding trouble - drive her daughters Mace, Maddie and Marty to distraction.
One night, while settling in to look for ex-beaus on COPS, Mace gets a frantic call from her mother. This time, the trouble's for real: Mama found a body in the trunk of her vintage convertible, and the police think she's the killer. It doesn't help that the handsome detective assigned to the case seems determined to prove Mama's guilt, or that the cowboy who broke Mace's heart shows up at the local Booze 'n' Breeze in the midst of the investigation. Before their mama lands in prison - just like an embarrassing lyric from a country-western song - Mace and her sisters must find the real culprit.
MAMA DOES TIME is a traditional mystery with a comedic edge: Agatha Christie meets "My Name is Earl.''
Penned by a native Floridian, set in cattle-and-citrus country, the story reveals an authentic slice of the state. Everyone knows Disney World and sexy South Beach. But how many know Florida's ranches, rodeo, and Southern-fried flavor, just fifty miles from the coast?
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