Library Journal Weighs In With a Great Review for A Basket of Trouble!

A Basket of Trouble, the third book in my Claire Hanover gift basket designer series, officially debuts on November 8th, though many retailers already have the book in stock and are shipping copies.

A Basket of Trouble will be publishing a review for A Basket of Trouble in their November issue today that ends with the following pull quote:

"Groundwater’s third series entry (after To Hell in a Handbasket) is an action-packed cozy that successfully weaves in her small business and disability awareness."
  -- Library Journal

That means this book has hit ALL FOUR of the big 4 review publications (Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly)!! Only one other release of mine has hit all four, and that was the first in my other series (RM Outdoor Adventures), Deadly Currents. Needless to say, I'm very pleased with the reception that A Basket of Trouble is receiving from reviewers so far.

And, please check out my interview that was published today in The Big Thrill on-line magazine put out by the International Thriller Writers! The interviewer has some very interesting questions for me to answer. Go HERE.

Top Ten Review Blurbs for DEADLY CURRENTS

During the few months before the release of Deadly Currents, the first book in my new Rocky Mountain Outdoor Adventures mystery series, and during the month after the release, I've been collecting review blurbs from print and on-line book reviewers. I posted a few of them as they were published, but I decided to gather them all up and share a short blurb from my top ten favorites with my blog readers. Needless to say, I've been very, very pleased with and thankful for the reception Deadly Currents has received from reviewers.

If you have read Deadly Currents, I'd love to hear what you think of it, either personally, by contacting me at my website, or even better, on-line at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, or anywhere else other mystery readers could see your reviews.

Here's the Top Ten:

“Readers who enjoy fast-moving stories and wilderness environments will keep turning the pages of this promising series debut.”
-- Booklist Online, January 24, 2011

“Groundwater kicks off a new series that combines outdoor action with more than a modicum of old-fashioned detection.”
-- Kirkus Reviews, January 15, 2011

“This enjoyable first in a new cozy series from Groundwater introduces Mandy Tanner, ‘a brand new seasonal river ranger’ on Colorado's Arkansas River.”
-- Publisher's Weekly, January 10, 2011

“With a fresh locale and a spunky ... heroine, this is a promising new series by the author of the gift-basket designer Claire Hanover mysteries.”
-- Library Journal, March 1, 2011

“Groundwater’s novel is filled with river lore, vivid descriptions, and loving depictions of the varied characters who make up the tight-knit community.”
-- Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, June, 2011

“This was a wave-smashing soak-yourself-to-the-bone ride and I’m looking forward to the next adventure in this energizing series.”
-- Dru’s Book Musings, March 17, 2011

“The novel moves like a category five: raging, foaming, and churning all the way to the end. Hold on to the covers of this novel, the pages turn quickly, as racing through this whodunit is not an option.”
-- Gelati’s Scoop, March 1, 2011

“Deadly Currents leaves the readers thirsty for more. The writing is simple but superb, the characters come alive--rising from the pages because of their realistic depictions and dialogue.”
-- Miami Books Examiner, March 5, 2011

“Those who enjoy environmental mysteries – Sandi Ault’s Jamaica Wild series, Nevada Barr’s Anna Pigeon series, C.J. Box’s Joe Picket series, ... to name just a few – will welcome this new addition to their ranks.”
-- Mystery Series Examiner, February 20, 2011

“In Deadly Currents you will be taken through the rapids just as fast and just as deadly as the river itself. She will also give you one last Class IV ride at the very end as she reveals the true killer. Reading Deadly Currents has made me feel as though I’ve actually ridden the river myself.”
-- A Book and A Dish, March 16, 2011

First Stop on my Virtual Book Tour: Gelati's Scoop & Reviews

Today is the first day of my Virtual Book Tour for Deadly Currents, the first book in my new RM Outdoor Adventures mystery series starring whitewater river ranger Mandy Tanner. It will be released in one week on March 8th. And what a way to kick off the show! Giovanni Gelati is hosting me at his Gelati's Scoop blog, where he reviews books. His review of Deadly Currents is fantastic and warms my heart. You've just GOT to read it for yourself. :)

In the comments on his blog, we're having a discussion about what adventure, sport or activity you've always wanted to try and haven't yet. See what mine is and leave a comment about yours. When you comment, you're automatically entered into a contest for a free copy of Deadly Currents.

You can find the schedule of my Virtual Book Tour HERE. I hope you'll read each day's post, and leave a comment on each one. Every comment gives you another entry in the contest. Good luck!

While I'm on the subject of reviews, quite a few positive reviews for Deadly Currents have appeared lately. The first is from the March 1 issue of Library Journal. You can read the whole mention in their "Mysteries in Brief" column there, but here's a quote from it:

"With a fresh locale and a spunky if at times too emotional heroine, this is a promising new series by the author of the gift-basket designer Claire Hanover mysteries (A Real Basket Case)."

The next review is from Carol Thomas, who writes the Mystery Series Examiner column. You can read her whole review of Deadly Currents HERE, but a quote from it is below:

"Those who enjoy environmental mysteries – Sandi Ault’s Jamaica Wild series, Nevada Barr’s Anna Pigeon series, C.J. Box’s Joe Picket series, Jessica Speart’s Rachel Porter series or Randy Wayne White’s Doc Ford series, to name just a few – will welcome this new addition to their ranks."

And the third review is from Patricia Reid, who posts her reviews at Goodreads and other locations. You can read her review of Deadly Currents at Bestsellersworld or Mysteries Galore.com. And, here's a quote from it to whet your appetite:

"The scenery around Salida and descriptions of all the activities based on the nearby Arkansas River make for an interesting and exciting read."

I'm thrilled with all the good reviews Deadly Currents is receiving, including those already received from Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, and Publishers Weekly! Now, don't forget to visit Gelati's Scoop.