I’m celebrating the release of ESSENTIALS OF DEATH with a giveaway and a recipe!
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, especially her high school nemesis, Lacie. When Carissa finds her frenemy murdered after having a public altercation at the town’s playwright conference and festival, she becomes the primary suspect. It doesn’t help that the tarot cards she drew earlier in the day foretold the nature of the murder weapon. Despite her father’s position as Oak Creek Valley’s chief of police, the detective assigned to the case assumes she’s guilty.
When tarot death cards begin turning up to taunt her, Carissa not only has to prove her innocence to keep her freedom, she has to make sure death doesn’t come calling for her or those she loves. With the 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, reflexology tips, and a recipe.
Purchase Links: Amazon
Other online book retailers: https://books2read.com/u/38wjka
Enter for a chance to win a collection of lavender products plus a $10 Amazon gift card and some swag! Contest open to US residents only and ends September 28, 2025. Use the RafflePress box below the recipe to enter. PLEASE NOTE: RafflePress is a new contest entry format so you will need to enter your email address to use.
Carissa’s good friend, patisserie owner Jasper, becomes sick in Essentials of Death. She brings a version of this soup to him, except hers is made with tortellini instead of ravioli. When I went to make the soup for the blog post, I thought I had tortellini in the freezer, but all I could find was regular-sized ravioli… not even the mini ravioli I generally keep on hand as well. It was too late to go back to the grocery store, so I used what I had on hand. No matter what kind of cheesy-filled pasta you use, this is a bowl of warm comfort, chockful of veggies and deliciousness!
Serve with thick slabs of crusty garlic bread.
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion diced
- 1 cup sliced carrots
- 1 cup diced celery
- 1-1/2 teaspoons sea salt
- Several grinds fresh pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 quart low sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth
- 2 cups water and more if needed
- 1 16-ounce can small white beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 14.5-ounce can petite diced tomatoes
- 1 14-ounce can quartered artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
- 1 9-ounce package uncooked fresh cheese-filled ravioli (mini size is best but regular-sized will do; or substitute tortellini)
- 1 zucchini chopped into small cubes
- 2 cups coarsely chopped spinach
-
Heat oil in large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion, carrots, celery, sea salt, and pepper. Sauté 5 minutes or until tender, stirring often.
-
Add Italian seasoning, garlic, beans, diced tomatoes, artichoke hearts, broth, and water.
-
Bring to a boil then add the zucchini and the mini ravioli (or tortellini) and cook according to package directions, generally 4 to 5 minutes. Stir often. If the ravioli absorbs too much of the soup liquid, add additional hot broth or water as needed.
-
Remove from heat and add spinach, stirring to wilt. Season with additional salt and pepper if desired.
-
Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Thin soup with additional broth as needed when reheating.
Pin to Pinterest:
Appearances and other blogs helping me celebrate the new release – and there are giveaways too!
Visit Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen for a chance to win an audiobook copy of Essentials of Murder. Contest ends 9/25/25 and is open to everyone.
https://www.mysteryloverskitchen.com/2025/09/chocolate-pecan-brownie-cookies.html
I’m delighted to share that Essentials of Death 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.
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
September 22 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST
September 22 – The Mystery of Writing – SPOTLIGHT
September 23 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
September 23 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
September 23 – Carstairs Considers – REVIEW
September 24 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
September 24 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – RECIPE
September 25 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW
September 25 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
September 26 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
September 26 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
September 27 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW
September 27 – Sarandipity’s – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
September 28 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
September 28 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
September 29 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT
September 29 – My Books and Crafts – SPOTLIGHT
September 30 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
September 30 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
October 1 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT
October 1 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT
I’m now a contributing member of Cozy Town Sleuths, with appearances on the group every other Tuesday. Hop on over and join me today for some more release day celebrations and a giveaway too! If you haven’t already joined the group, you’ll need to do so in order to view the posts.
Click here to visit Cozy Town Sleuth: https://www.facebook.com/groups/cozytownsleuths
