I’m celebrating the release of ESSENTIALS OF MURDER with a giveaway and a recipe, plus a reminder that my publisher has discounted the ebook price to only $0.99!
What it’s about:
After a scandalous arrest in San Francisco, Carissa Carmichael has moved back to her small Southern California hometown to start over as she opens her Aromatherapy Apothecary shop and reflexology services. A tourist destination, Oak Creek Valley, seems the perfect place to put the past behind her, but it seems no one will let her forget. When she finds the man who threatened to drive her out of business murdered in her shop, Carissa becomes the primary suspect, especially when her fingerprints are found on the murder weapon. Despite her father’s position as Oak Creek Valley’s chief of police, most townspeople assume she’s guilty.
Refusing to run again, Carissa knows she must prove her innocence to save her shop and save her father’s career when the investigating detective turns his focus on her. With suspects acting as slippery as the essential oils she distills, it’s up to Carissa to apply pressure and sniff out the truth before it’s too late.
Includes essential oil and reflexology tips, plus a recipe.
Use the Rafflecopter link below the recipe to enter for a chance to win a selection of lavender products from Bath & Body Works, a lavender sachet with essential oil my granddaughter bought while in Croatia this summer just for you!, plus a $10 Amazon gift card. Contest is limited to U.S. residents only and ends 9/26/24.
While my new series is not a culinary cozy, I couldn’t help but include a food element in the story via Jasper and the patisserie. In Essentials of Murder, Carissa begins to worry a bit about the health consequences of indulging in Jasper’s to-die-for triple chocolate rolls every day. (The chocolate roll recipe is included in the book.) He suggests she try his mini honey-sweetened cheesecake with fresh fruit topping. While not nearly as decadent as the chocolate rolls, the mini cheesecakes satisfies her sweet tooth and makes for a light and refreshing dessert.
(Makes 15 bite-sized cheesecakes)
- 1 1.9 ounce package of 15 mini phyllo cups
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened softened
- 3 tablespoons Greek yogurt, room temperature
- 2 tablespoons honey, warmed for 5 to 10 seconds in the microwave
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Seasonal berries
- Optional: 1 tablespoon apricot jam, warmed 15 seconds in microwave
-
*Bring the mini phyllo cups to room temperature according to package directions.
-
Place the cream cheese into a medium-sized bowl and beat on high speed until smooth and creamy using an electric handheld mixer.
-
Add in the Greek yogurt, warmed (not hot!) honey, and vanilla extract. Beat on high speed, until fully incorporated and mixture is light and creamy, approximately 5 minutes.
-
Spoon mixture into a piping bag fitted with a large round tip and fill the phyllo cups. Alternately, you can use a small scoop to fill the phyllo cups.
-
Refrigerate at least 1 hour.
-
Arrange berries on the tops of the cheesecakes. If desired, brush warmed (not hot!) apricot jam over the fruit for added sweetness and for creating a shiny appearance.
-
Refrigerate for an additional hour before serving.
-
Best served the day of preparing, otherwise the crust softens. However, you can store leftover cheesecakes in the refrigerator in a sealed container for up to 3 days.
-
*For a crispier crust, bake the mini phyllo cups according to package directions. Allow shells to completely cool before filling.
-
For a lump-free cheesecake, make sure all the ingredients are room temperature and the honey is warm, when blending.
Pin to Pinterest:
I’m delighted to share that Essentials of Murder will be featured by Great Escapes Virtual Book tour! Stop by at one or all the stops, to say hi and enter for a chance to win an Amazon gift card.
September 24 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
September 24 – Deal Sharing Aunt – SPOTLIGHT
September 24 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
September 24 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
September 25 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – SPOTLIGHT
September 25 – Mystery, Thrillers & Suspense – SPOTLIGHT
September 25 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW
September 25 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT
September 26 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW
September 26 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
September 26 – Guatemala Loves to Read – CHARACTER GUEST POST
September 26 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW
September 27 – Angel’s Book Nook – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
September 27 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
September 27 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
September 28 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
September 28 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW*
September 28 – The Mystery of Writing – SPOTLIGHT
September 28 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT
September 29 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT
September 29 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT
September 30 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – SPOTLIGHT
September 30 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
September 30 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW
September 30 – Reading Is My SuperPower – AUTHOR GUEST POST
Click on image for purchase links
Sounds like a great read.
Sounds delicious I would not have thought to add greek yogurt to the cream cheese. Thank you for the recipe. Deborah
Thank you for the review the recipe sounds very good. I love the Bath & Body Works my daughter gets the lavender candle from there. Thanks for the eBook sale too.
That sounds delicious. Thank you for sharing! And the book looks good too.
Preordered!! The little cheesecakes look delicious!
Congrats on the upcoming release. And thank you for the recipe! . Solves our problem for tomorrow. Nice simple recipe. We have everything on hand. Hope my name is drawn. Love lavender. Miss bath and body works. We used to have one here. Have really missed them. My sister is ordering the book for me. Looks to be a great read.
Recipe looks delicious! And I love the book cover!
The little cheesecakes sounds deliciously intriguing!
The book sounds like a great read. And that recipes—yum, delicious!!!
Love Cheesecake especially with strawberries drizzled on top. Thanks for your great generosity.