Weekly Winners

We have winners at SOS Aloha ...

RWA in San Diego: A Future Duchess Lands on Navy Base Coronado
- Charlene wins a book choice from my convention stash.

Siera Londons' CATCHING REBECCA

- Gretchen wins a book choice from my convention stash.

Hannah Dennison's A KILLER BALL AT HONEYCHURCH HALL

- Catslady wins a book choice from my convention stash.

Washington Loves Readers Luncheon - Spotlight on Kerri Carpenter

- Kim H wins a book choice from my convention stash.

KC Bateman's TO STEAL A HEART

- BN100 wins a book choice from my convention stash.

Jenn McKinlay's COPY CAP MURDER

- Karen T. wins a book choice from my convention stash.

Katie Ruggle's FAN THE FLAMES

- Glenda wins a book choice from my convention stash.

From my travel blog, Jane wins a book choice from my convention stash.

Winners, please claim your prize by sending your mailing address to sos.aloha@yahoo.com.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Aloha to Hannah Dennison and A KILLER BALL AT HONEYCHURCH HALL - Book Review

When antique dealer Kat Stanford stumbles upon the partially mummified body of a young woman in an abandoned wing at Honeychurch Hall, suspicion falls on those who had been living there many years ago. And it appears that the deceased had been murdered. Given her mother Iris’s checkered past, Kat is not surprised to learn that Iris knew the victim.

Meanwhile, the unexpected appearance of former lothario Bryan Laney sets female hearts aflutter. Despite the passing years, time has not dampened his ardor for Iris, but the feeling is not reciprocated.

With stories of hidden treasure and secret chambers, past and present collide. As Kat becomes embroiled once more in her mother’s mysterious and tumultuous bygone days, she comes to realize that life is never black and white, and sometimes it is necessary to risk your own life to protect the lives of the ones you love.

Teversal Manor in Nottinghamshire

It inspired Wragby Hall in LADY CHATTERLEY'S LOVER

Image by Alan Heardman (link)

“A woman has to live her life, or live to repent not having lived it.” ― D.H. Lawrence, Lady Chatterley's Lover

Kat Standford settles into the carriage house at Honeychurch Hall in the third book of this British cozy mystery series. She left behind her TV career as an antiques appraiser, her not so divorced boyfriend, and London's face paced lifestyle to reinvent herself in the Devon countryside. In the first two books, she discovers her mother's connection to Honeychurch Hall. the ancestral home to an earl struggling to keep the estate in the black.

Book Three brings a black mark in the family's history - Kat finds the decaying body of an American heiress who disappeared during a summer ball at Honeychurch Hall over three decades ago. As Kat uncovers clues to the murder, she also learns more about her mother's checkered past from carnival child to accountant's wife to romance author.   

Dennison promotes the preservation of historic houses by incorporating key events of the English Civil War into the plot. Likewise, she gives us a glimpse of how the aristocracy protect their legacy. The mystery brings lords, ladies, and commoners together as they relive the glory days of the estate while touching upon class distinctions.  Finally, Dennison draws upon pop culture - Downton Abbey, Antiques Roadshow, and Fifty Shades of Grey (along with Lady Chatterley's Lover) - to explore themes of family discord, community spirit, and even the sexual revolution with a touch of humor.

(Teversal Manor in Nottinghamshire was passed to the Carnarvon family through marriage.  The Carnarvon family's ancestral home is Highclere Castle, the filming location of Downtown Abbey).

A KILLER BALL AT HONEYCHURCH HALL can be read as a stand alone novel.  However, I recommend reading the books in order to appreciate the ongoing humor.  I recommend this book for those who appreciate manor homes, English history, British culture, and honorable heroes from an era gone by.

I purchased a copy of A KILLER BALL AT HONEYCHURCH HALL since I enjoyed Book 1, MURDER AT HONEYCHURCH HALL, and Book 2, DEADLY DESIRES AT HONEYCHURCH HALL. 

Dartmoor Clapper Bridge
Image by Wigulf (link)

I am giving away British swag to one randomly selected commenter. To enter the giveaway,

1. What would you wear to a costume ball?  The American heiress "borrowed" an Egyptian costume.

2. Comments are open through Saturday, May 21, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3. I'll post the winner on Sunday, May 22.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Learn more about Hannah and her books at hannahdennison.com.

Aloha to Hannah Dennison and DEADLY DESIRES AT HONEYCHURCH HALL - Book Review

When the body of a transport minister is discovered in the grounds on the Honeychurch Hall estate, suspicion as to his unusual demise naturally falls on the residents. After all, who could possibly want a high-speed train line and rolling stock depot built in their front yard?

News of the murder soon reaches our heroine Kat Stanford’s nemesis Trudy Wynne. A ruthless tabloid journalist and the ex-wife of Kat’s discarded lover, Trudy is out for revenge. She is also interested in exposing—and humiliating—Kat’s mother Iris, who is secretly the international bestselling romance writer Krystalle Storm.

As the body count begins to build, Kat becomes inextricably embroiled in the ensuing scandal. Is the minister’s death the result of a local vendetta, or could it be connected to her mother’s unusual past?

Saltram House still stands in Devon.
It served as a movie location for Sense and Sensibility.
Public Domain (link).

Principles are like prayers. Noble of course. But awkward at a party. - Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham, Downton Abbey

The denizens of Little Dipperton have principles.  They are taking a stand against the proposed high speed railroad, "Save seconds in travel, loose a 1000 years of history".  The project would destroy their village, devalue their property, and detract from the grand house that has ruled over their area, Honeychurch Hall.  While the earl escapes to London, the villagers vow to take back their heritage.   They call upon Kat Stanford, a reality TV star from Fakes and Treasures, to lead them in this endeavour.  Kat reluctantly accepts the challenge, only to find herself entangled in another mystery set in Devon countryside.   

DEADLY DESIRES AT HONEYCHURCH HALL is the second novel in the series.  Dennison offers a brief recap of how Kat, an antiques appraiser, relocated from London to Devon - it involved her widowed mother with a secret career as a romance author.  Although Kat intended to return to London, her stubborn mother and the new mystery keeps her in Little Dipperton.  Kat is also drawn to the manor house, Honeychurch Hall, forging a bond with the dowager countess, Lady Edith, and the heir apparent, 7 year old Master Harry.

DEADLY DESIRES AT HONEYCHURCH HALL follows the predictable path of a cozy mystery - false leads, outlandish theories, and zany characters.  Yet Dennison adds depth with details of modern life in a historical village.  Dennison also mixes Litte Dipperton's centuries old legend with realty TV, tabloid journalism, and Downton Abbey to create an entertaining read.  I could help but laugh (and sympathize) as as Kat tries to appease her mother, the villagers, Lady Edith, Master Harry, and Sir Maurice, the local ghost.

DEADLY DESIRES AT HONEYCHURCH HALL will appeal to fans of cozy mysteries, English country life, and, of course, Downton Abbey.   Although it can be read as a stand alone novel, I recommend reading book 1, MURDER AT HONEYCHURCH HALL, to enjoy the back story of Kat and the cast of colorful characters.

I purchased DEADLY DESIRES AT HONEYCHURCH HALL as I enjoyed the first book.  I also love Devon.

Vintage image of Bradfield House, Uffculme, Devon
Public Domain (link)

I am giving away a copy of DEADLY DESIRES AT HONEYHALL CHURCH to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1. Leave a comment about you favorite "ghost story".  

In the book, Sir Maurice led the Royalists to ambush the Roundheads during the English Civil War.   He has a special chair in the local pub next to the great hearth.  The villagers do not move the chair nor sit on it.  When a newcomer moves the chair and sits on it, the villagers predict doom and gloom.

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, June 6, 10 pm in Batlimore.  

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, June 7.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Learn more about Hannah and her books at hannahdennison.com.   

Check out my interview with Hannah at this link and my review of MURDER AT HONEYCHURCH HALL at this link.

Best of 2014 - Cozy Mystery

Here are the best cozy mysteries I read in 2014 ... all are set in places where I have a connection!

Hannah Dennison's MURDER AT HONEY CHURCHHALL (link) ... Devon!

Jennifer L. Hart's FINAL NOTICE (link) ... Miami!

Jill Marie Landis' TOO HOT FOR HULA (link) ... Oahu!

Chip Hughes's Surfing Detective Series ... Moloka'i, Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island!

MURDER ON MOLOKA'I (link)

WIPEOUT (link)

KULA (link)

MURDER AT VOLCANO HOUSE (link)

Do you have a favorite cozy mystery from 2014?  One randomly selected commenter wins a book choice from my convention stash.  Comments are open through Saturday, January 3, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, January 4.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Aloha to Hannah Dennison and MURDER AT HONEYCHURCH HALL

Today I am attending Book Blogger Conference hosted by Sarah Wendell and Jane Litte (link). Blogging has connected me to Romanceland ... and it is a romance blog that introduced me to today's guest, Hannah Dennison.  From her bio,

Born in England, Hannah relocated to Los Angeles with her daughter and two cats to pursue a career in screenwriting. Along the road to publication she has been an obituary reporter, antique dealer, private jet flight attendant and Hollywood story analyst. Hannah is the author of the Vicky Hill Mysteries (Constable UK) and "Murder at Honeychurch Hall" (Minotaur USA), the first in a new series which will be published in May 2014. It will also be published by Constable UK in November 2014.

Now living in Portland, Oregon Hannah continues to teach mystery writing at UCLA, has served on numerous judging committees for the Mystery Writers of America and still works part-time for a west coast advertising agency. She is married to an advertising executive and enjoys hiking, horseback riding, skiing and seriously good chocolate.  

Hever Castle
Public Domain (link)

Kim:  I love your bio. Hampshire - Devon - Kent - LA - Oregon. That's quite an address book! Let's chat about England ... did you have a favorite "old place" (manor, castle, pub, etc) in Hampshire? Devon? Kent?

Hannah:  The first “old place” that ever captured my imagination was Old Basing House in Hampshire (50 miles south of London). It was the site of a bloody and violent siege fought between the Roundheads and the Cavaliers during the English Civil War. Since the house was razed to the ground, only the ruins and an underground tunnel remained. Today, everything is fenced off but when I was a child, my sister and I used to play among the ruins and dream of knights in shining armor.

In Kent I lived in a sixteenth century farmhouse followed by a short stint in a haunted cottage in East Sussex (about 50 miles to the south-east of London). Both counties are filled with romantic castles. My favorite is Hever Castle where Anne Boleyn (Henry VIII’s unfortunate second wife) grew up. But it’s in Devon where my heart remains (200 miles to the south-west of London)—Agatha Christie country and home to her beloved Greenway. My family moved there when I was 19 and still live there. It’s an extraordinary place steeped in history, magic and mystery—every author’s dream setting.

So … as you can imagine, spending twenty years in Los Angeles where the oldest building dates around 1900 was quite a shock to my system. Even more puzzling is the Angeleno obsession for pulling down the old buildings they do have to build even newer ones. I suppose it’s because Los Angeles is a place where people can reinvent themselves. I know I did! I’m still finding my way around Oregon but I love Portland. It feels a little like home and does boast of having a handful of homes built circa 1880s. 

View from Greenway in Devon, England
National Trust (link) 

Kim:  How do the Oregonians react to your English accent?

Hannah:  I’m always asked if I come from Australia. It’s rather like someone from South Carolina being asked if they are from Boston. Our accents couldn’t be more different! I’m going to see if I can give you an example phonetically. “Good day,” (English – rhymes with pay) “Good die” (Australian, rhymes with pie). 

Kim:  What did you learn from writing your Vicky Hill series, including reader feedback?

Hannah:  When I wrote the first Vicky Hill mystery I didn’t expect it to become an ongoing series. I quickly realized how important it was to keep a big bible with all the details of my characters—ranging from what they eat to what cars they drive; descriptions of places, especially the geographic lay-out of Gipping-on-Plym. But, most of all, to keep track of the story lines, clues and trademark quirky hobbies that appear in each book. I definitely pay attention to reader feedback especially if I have got a basic fact wrong e.g. mixing up a husband and wife! Readers are incredibly perceptive—I love that! 

Kim:  Tell us about your new series and new release, MURDER AT HONEYCHURCH HALL?

Hannah:  You could say that I’ve incorporated everything I love and miss about England into my new series. It’s set in Devon and focuses on former TV celebrity Kat Stanford who discovers that her newly widowed mother Iris has recklessly bought a dilapidated carriage house on a country estate known as Honeychurch Hall. Although this is no Downton Abbey and times have changed, a line still exists between those upstairs, and those below. Predictably, the newcomers aren’t popular especially when they discover that Iris has quite a few skeletons in her own closet—one being the fact that she’s been secretly writing racy-bodice-rippers under the pseudonym of Krystalle Storm.

An upstairs-downstairs backdrop wouldn’t be complete without a feisty, octogenarian countess but I also threw in a precocious seven year old who is obsessed with the famous fighter pilot called Biggles, a treasure trove of antiques, the occasional haunting and of course, the paparazzi, who are always hungry for celebrity news. As you can imagine there are plenty of motives for intrigue … and murder.

Yet at the core of my new series is the relationship between a mother and daughter facing new and uncertain beginnings. I’m fascinated by the notion that it’s those who are nearest and dearest to us who are often the most duplicitous of all.

Kim:  What's next for Hannah Dennison?

Hannah:  I have just turned in the sequel to Murder at Honeychurch Hall that will be published in 2015. I’ve also learned that there will be two more in the series so that is very exciting. At the same time, I’m writing a fifth Vicky Hill mystery called Accused! You could say I’m rather busy.

And finally, I’d like to extend a big thank you for hosting me on SOS Aloha today. It’s been great. I do hope you’ll stop by my website hannahdennison.com and visit me on Facebook.

Totnes Castle, Devon, England
English Heritage (link)

Mahalo, Hannah, for joning me today! I posted my five star review of MURDER AT HONEYCHURCH HALL on Goodreads at this link.   Hannah set MURDER AT HONEYCHURCH HALL in Devon - home of my English granny.  I am giving away a "English" prize package to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about honey, old buildings, and/or antiques.   

2.  Comments are open through Sunday, May 18, 10 pm in Baltimore.  

3.  I'll post the winner on Monday, May 19 (assuming I recover from RT).

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Learn more about Hannah and her sisters, er, books at hannahdennison.com.

Buckland Abbey in Devon, England
National Trust (link) 

Book Review - Aloha to Hannah Dennison and MURDER AT HONEYCHURCH HALL

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. 

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.

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.