by Kathleen Costa
Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of A Tangle in the Vines (you can choose ebook or print), and a link to purchase it from Amazon.
Covers are New, But All the Same Excitement!
Lillian Callahan, nicknamed “Calla Lily” by her Auntie Lettie, is the former lead in the long-running soap opera Not Another Day. “Former” because of her untimely “fictional” death decided upon by the producers of the show, leaving Lily unemployed. However, the untimely “real-life” death of her Aunt Lettie facilitated her return to the Napa wine country where she spent so much of her childhood. There she took ownership of her inheritance: her aunt’s estate and the Calla Lily Vineyards and Winery. Several friends from her soap opera days have joined her, assisted in revitalizing the on-site theater, and as “Lily’s Diva Posse” seem to get mixed up in some suspicious deaths. Along with the vineyard employees, the law enforcement presence includes an antagonistic local deputy, some federal agents, crime scene techs, and the very handsome Deputy U.S. Marshall Austin Jennings. What an exciting series!
Lily’s Homecoming: Under Fire (January)
A Tangle in the Vines (September)
Fall’s Killer Vintage (November)
A Tangle in the Vines earns 5/5 Scary Storms…Exciting, Edge-of-Your-Seat Fun!
“PULL HARDER!” A massive storm. Flooding basement. Drainage pipe plugged. Covered in mud. Startled by an electric storm that would rival any Fourth of July firework display. Lily is desperately trying to pull out vines and trash that have accumulated around the drainage pipe and threatening damage to the outbuilding she turned into a local theater. However, the most disturbing site beyond Marlowe’s frantic yelp and a shadowy figure running into the woods was the “hollowed-eyed skull” staring up at her…then a body…and another, then a third more recent remains. The backpack and school papers found near the bodies had a familiar name of a young girl who twenty years ago disappeared, thought to have run away, but there is a teacher who also seems to have gone missing. Lily saw a mysterious figure in a flash of lightning, and a young lookie-loo found in the middle of the night talks about a crazy guy in the woods, The Number Man, and all wonder if he might be their best “person of interest.” But, is he?
“Eek!” Readers are grabbed right off and never let go in another outstanding mystery from Anna Celeste Burke’s Calla Lily series. In this second fast-paced book, Lily is confronted by a possible serial killer which includes a cold case and a very well liked teacher, and the details and suspense put everyone, including me, on edge! Anna’s writing style is very entertaining with vivid descriptions of the vineyard and the weather, characters, and predicaments that set your sense tingling. The mystery incorporates several complexities with twist, turns, and several suspicious people…and some I’d arrest just because! With all the different characters Anna’s dialogue illustrates well the worry and fright, anger and craziness as well as all the various personalities, but she also provides a Cast of Characters list giving further background and connections. For me, it’s the relationships that make this series a favorite. Sure, the nail-biting excitement is an exhilarating plus, but I love the sense of “family,” and when a young boy enters the picture with “dysfunctional extraordinaire” parents, everyone steps up to help the kid. “Fur” friend lovers will delight in Lily’s Mini Pinscher Marlowe. And the play? the vineyard? Lily’s budding romance? All great side stories! Card carrying cozy fans should put this series and this book at the top of their “must read” list!
Delicious, Too! Anna, who trained as a chef at the Walt Disney World University, always includes the most delicious easy-to-follow recipes. For those who also enjoy a milk and cookies treat can try these three recipes: Crispy Butterscotch Praline Cookies, Mississippi Mud Cookies, and Molasses Spice Cookies. But for me, I prefer to enjoy a nice Napa Valley Pinot Noir with an appetizer of Figs and Prosciutto (See below). 
ALERT! The third book in the Calla Lily Mysteries, Fall’s Killer Vintage, is set to release on November 13, 2019, and currently on Preorder HERE for 99c. Lily along with Austin and her friends enter some of Calla Lily Winery vintages in the Taste of Napa Challenge, but of course, challenges make it difficult: a fire, a tainted wine, and one of Aunt Lettie’s old friends is a suspect in a suspicious death. Don’t miss out!
Check out these KRL articles!
KRL Issue 11/3/18 Interview with Anna Celeste Burke
Kings River Life Highlights Anna Celeste Burke Books
Be a Big Fan!
USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, and personal favorite, Dr. Anna Celeste Burke is one who “enjoys snooping into life’s mysteries with fun, fiction, and food—California style!” With five mystery series set from California’s wine country to the beautiful central coast to the delicious desert, Anna’s stories are clever and exciting with strong female characters of varied ages from twenties, thirties, fifties, and retirement age, and all my personal favorites: five-book Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery with book six A Dead Nephew out later this year, seven-book Georgia Shaw Cozy with book eight A Canary in the Canal releasing soon, four-book Corsario Cove Cozy with book five Bogus Bonus! set for 2020, three-book Seaview Cottages Cozy with book four A Fairway to Arms in Hemingway Hills releasing soon, and two-book Calla Lily Mystery series will add a third, Fall’s Killer Vintage, in November. Some for every Cozy fan!
Facebook – Anna Celeste Burke
Website – Desert Cities Mystery/Anna Celeste Burke
Twitter – aburke59
To enter to win an ebook or print copy of A Tangle in the Vines, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, with the subject line “tangle,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen September 28, 2019. Only US entries. If entering via comment please include your email address. If entering via email please include your mailing address (so we have it if you win, it will not be used for any other purpose). BE SURE TO MENTION IF YOU WANT PRINT OR EBOOK. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.
Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. Also check our our new mystery podcast! A new episode goes up this week.
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Captivating and unique feature. Thanks.
Woohoo!! Thanks so much, Kathleen Costa & KRL for this wonderful review. I’m so glad you enjoyed reading A Tangle in the Vines. I have great fun writing the books in this series set against the gorgeous backdrop of California’s wine country. I hope your fans will find the book entertaining and will try the fig and prosciutto recipe.
Sounds like a good read, and the recipes sound delicious too. Would love a print copy of this.
kozo8989@hotmail.com
Great cover! This is a new series to me. Would really like to read.
diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com
I would like a print copy if I’m selected in the giveaway.
diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com
Sounds very instering. Chevygirl901@gmail.com
This sounds interesting. Burke is a good writer. Count me in! Print version, please.
Sounds Like A Great Book ??
Thanks for the Chance to #Win a Copy ?????
iamabho AT gmail DOT com ???
I’d love to win a print copy! Thanks for the chance. JL_Minter(at)hotmail(dot)com
Thank you
lindalou64@live.com
Your books sound like very good and cute reads! I love the cover.
The cover of the books in this series wins everytime I look at them. The little mini pincher is so adorable and steals the cover over the background. Thanks for the insight into the book. robeader53(at)yahoo(dot)com
Tangle sounds great! I would love to win a print copy! Thank you for the chance to win one. tammy.hauser@yahoo.com
Congrats on this fun series! I enjoy reading books by this author! Would love to win a paperback! Lindaherold999@gmail.com
This was such an amazing read, if you love to be laughing, crying, cheering some one on and love to try and figure out who dunnit, this is the book for you.
Thanks for the great article Kathleen Costa, Anna Celeste Burke should be super proud and excited.
I haven’t read this series yet
Love the cover! Thanks for the chance! I would be happy with either print or ebook. cgstratman(at)hotmail(dot)com
This is a great review and really entices me to read the book.
I love your cover. Makes me want to read the book.
If you enjoy your cozey mystery with stellar caracters and more than one mystery after another you’ll absolutely love to read more of this authors work I know I do .Right now there’s an ongoing giveaway by the same Ms.Burke. ?? Kat
Me! Oh please pick me! 😉
I love ALL of Anna’s series!. She is one of the very few authors I automatically pre-order!
This book sounds wonderful. I love books that I can become immersed in. Thanks for the chance to win. Have a wonderful day.
Would love a chance to win a print copy of this book. Looks great.
Sounds like a fun read.
This sounds like it will be a great read. But I adore the covers for this series. I havent read any of these although I really want to but I have read a couple of her other books and shes an excellent writer and from some of her receipes a great Cook as well. I would love to have a print copy of this book.
Fate steps in when one door closes
and another opens. Would be
the start of a new series for me.
Sounds good. thanks.
Print copy, please.
Great review. I’d love to win a print copy.
scarletbegonia5858(at)gmail(dot)com
Thank you so much for the chance to win this awesome book. Crossing my fingers!!!!??????????????
Thank you for the chance to win this awesome book. I love Anna Celeste Burke’s books. Crossing my fingers ????????????
I cannot wait to read it!!
Interesting review thank you for the chance I’d love to read it. Here’s hoping
Interesting review thank you for the chance I’d love to read it. Here’s hoping the cover is awesome
I would love a print copy of the book! It sounds so good!!! rockergoddess2002 at yahoo dot com
Sounds good.
Love the covers! Can’t wait for the new book.
This book is very definitely going on my TBR list!
Just got this book and started reading it. Am very excited to enjoy this book. Love the characters, location, and story line.
I adore figs and when you add cured meat; so delicious. Thanks for chance.
This sounds interesting! Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
Would love yo win this. Thank you for a chance. Anna would be a new author for me to read.
This is a great read. The recipes at the end of the book are also amazing
Can’t wait to read this series.. Not only does it sound great but the puppy on the front reminds me of a sweet little min pin that graced my life for several year. Her name was Tinker.
This record is fantastic and what a great giveaway! Thank you for thechance! Konecny7(at)gmail(dot)
Looks terrific, Thanks for this amazing chance.
We have a winner!