April 23 is St. George's Day - the Patron Saint of England.
Cry God for Harry, England and St George!
- William Shakespeare
Let's celebrate St. George's Day with a contemporary cozy mystery set in Merry Ole England ...
In Murder at Honeychurch Hall by Hannah Dennison, former TV celebrity host Kat Stanford is just days away from starting her dream antique business with her newly widowed mother Iris when she gets a huge shock. Iris has recklessly purchased a dilapidated carriage house, on an isolated country estate, Honeychurch Hall, several hundred miles from London. When Kat arrives at the house, she discovers that Iris has yet another surprise in store.
In Murder at Honeychurch Hall by Hannah Dennison, former TV celebrity host Kat Stanford is just days away from starting her dream antique business with her newly widowed mother Iris when she gets a huge shock. Iris has recklessly purchased a dilapidated carriage house, on an isolated country estate, Honeychurch Hall, several hundred miles from London. When Kat arrives at the house, she discovers that Iris has yet another surprise in store.
Iris has been writing in secret for years and reluctantly reveals that she’s actually Krystalle Storm, the famous bestselling author of steamy bodice-rippers. The gentry upstairs and those below stairs at Honeychurch Hall regard the newcomers with suspicion and distrust. When the nanny goes missing, the loyal housekeeper ends up dead, and Iris is accused of the murder, Kat realizes she hardly knows her mother at all and wonders if she is—indeed—guilty. Although the six hundred year old estate has endured wars, corruption and Royal favors, it’s the scandals, secrets and lies of the last few decades that must remain buried at all costs.
If you want to gather honey, don't kick over the beehive. - Dale Carnegie
Kat Standford has kicked the beehive. As a TV host of Fakes and Treasures, she is the target of online gossip, especially from the almost ex spouse of her current boyfriend. Kat’s remedy – quit TV to open her own antique shop with her widowed mother, Iris. But Iris has her own ideas - she bought a crumbling cottage from the family estate of Honeychurch Hall in Devonshire, miles away from civilization in London. Kat sets off for the West Country to “save” her mother only to find that Iris is just one enigma among many at Honeychurch Hall.
Hannah Dennsion spent her teenage years in Devon, giving her the credibility to bring its quirky characters to life in this cozy mystery. Dennison also salutes the romance genre through Iris’ alter ego, Krystalle Storm. Having grown up visiting my own English granny in Devon, I enjoyed Dennison’s success in capturing Devon’s magic. Indeed, this is no modern day Downtown Abbey. The Devon denizens are not that dull. There is a surprise around every corner at Honeychurch Hall! In addition to the murder, Kat has to “sort out” her mother and “sort through” her feelings for her not-quite-divorced boyfriend. Dennison hits the spot with one scene in Totnes – thanks, Hannah, for making me laugh!
Recommended read for fans of cozy mysteries, lighthearted humor, and the English countryside.
I received an ARC for an honest review.
I am giving away an copy of MURDER AT HONEYCHURCH HALL - winner's choice of format when it is published on May 12. To enter the giveaway,
1. Leave a comment about St. George, Shakespeare, and/or rambling old houses.
2. Comments are open through Saturday, April 26, 10 pm in Baltimore.
3. I'll post the winner on Sunday, April 27.
Mahalo,
Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City
To learn more about Hannah and her books, check out her website at hannahdennison.com.
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| Okehampton Castle in Devon - Its owner fell out of royal favor |
If you want to gather honey, don't kick over the beehive. - Dale Carnegie
Kat Standford has kicked the beehive. As a TV host of Fakes and Treasures, she is the target of online gossip, especially from the almost ex spouse of her current boyfriend. Kat’s remedy – quit TV to open her own antique shop with her widowed mother, Iris. But Iris has her own ideas - she bought a crumbling cottage from the family estate of Honeychurch Hall in Devonshire, miles away from civilization in London. Kat sets off for the West Country to “save” her mother only to find that Iris is just one enigma among many at Honeychurch Hall.
Hannah Dennsion spent her teenage years in Devon, giving her the credibility to bring its quirky characters to life in this cozy mystery. Dennison also salutes the romance genre through Iris’ alter ego, Krystalle Storm. Having grown up visiting my own English granny in Devon, I enjoyed Dennison’s success in capturing Devon’s magic. Indeed, this is no modern day Downtown Abbey. The Devon denizens are not that dull. There is a surprise around every corner at Honeychurch Hall! In addition to the murder, Kat has to “sort out” her mother and “sort through” her feelings for her not-quite-divorced boyfriend. Dennison hits the spot with one scene in Totnes – thanks, Hannah, for making me laugh!
Recommended read for fans of cozy mysteries, lighthearted humor, and the English countryside.
I received an ARC for an honest review.
Totnes Castle
English Heritage (link) |
I am giving away an copy of MURDER AT HONEYCHURCH HALL - winner's choice of format when it is published on May 12. To enter the giveaway,
1. Leave a comment about St. George, Shakespeare, and/or rambling old houses.
2. Comments are open through Saturday, April 26, 10 pm in Baltimore.
3. I'll post the winner on Sunday, April 27.
Mahalo,
Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City
To learn more about Hannah and her books, check out her website at hannahdennison.com.
I would like to visit a rambling old house. Not certain I would want to live in one, but it would be fun to spend a night or two.
ReplyDeleteThey can be very drafty and very cold in the winter!
DeleteI love rambling old houses. It's always a shame when they fall into disrepair. The upkeep must be immense though.
ReplyDeleteYes! It really can be .... a new roof runs into the hundreds and hundreds of thousands! I get so sad when it's so hard to keep those places going.
DeleteHappy St. George's Day to everybody. I haven't visited any rambling old houses, but it sounds interesting. The book sounds great, and I'd love to read it.
ReplyDeleteI hope you do Diane ... and I hope you will enjoy it!
DeleteI love rambling old houses. I would love to live in one as long as I could do some remodeling especially of the kitchen and bathrooms.
ReplyDeleteEnglish showers are notoriously bad ... a single trickle of water and no pressure ... and of course ... we all know about English loos!
DeleteI love old houses and often think about those who lived there and the stories they could tell. Wish I could afford to buy and renovate one while still maintaining its original charm.
ReplyDeleteI really believe that emotions and feelings soak into the walls -- there is a great TV show called Country House Rescue by Ruth Watson (think it's British but you could probably find it on Acorn TV). I want to be Ruth Watson!
DeleteSo glad to "meet" you, Hannah, on this blog! I hadn't heard of your books until today and am anxious to begin reading them. I love historical books about England and mystery makes them even better! :-) My hubby and I spent the Summer of 1986 in Wigan, England, where my hubby participated in a pastor exchange program. While there, we visited all parts of England we had time for, and took short trips to Scotland, Wales & Ireland as well. We would love to go back, but alas, that is probably not to be. So I read about England of old and new instead of traveling. I just read a short history of St. George and was surprised to see that he was executed as a Christian martyr and is buried in another country besides England. And I love rambling, old houses, but there aren't too many in the USA that are older than 200 years. The ancient ruins in England were and still are fascinating to me! Thanks for this post and your introduction to me. jdh2690@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteJanice ... I didn't realize that about St. George! I shall have to do my homework. Yes - I miss my home country so much but at least I can "visit vicariously" in my writings. I hope you enjoy my books.
DeleteI love the looks of rambling old houses but I doubt if I'd really want to live in one lol.
ReplyDeleteMost ... are haunted :)
Deletenot a Shakespeare fan
ReplyDeleteShakespeare scares me........
ReplyDeletenot a clue about St George........
old houses?? the creepier, the better.............NOT!!!!