by Summer Prescott

This week we have something extra special-below you will find out about a special boxed set of Christmas ebooks and a way to help out shelter pets over the holidays. And then Summer Prescott shares a fun guest post about the various books called A Day in the Life of the Characters in 12 Slays of Christmas. Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win an ebook copy of the boxed set, a copy of the companion cookbook–The 12 Slays of Christmas Cookbook–a surprise ebook from each of the authors, and a handpainted scarf! You will also find a link to purchase it from Amazon–which we highly encourage you to do along with entering the contest, because the money goes to homeless pets!

It’s a Christmas Cozy dream come true! Twelve of your favorite Cozy authors have teamed up on a very special project for a very good cause. The twelve authors listed below got together wanting to raise money this holiday season to help those who help some of the mostly helpless among us…homeless pets, particularly ones who are without food and shelter after massive hurricanes!

Each author has created an original, never-before-published Christmas-themed Cozy Mystery book for the boxed set. All money that is generated from the sale of the set will be donated to charity, to help our sweet, furry friends.

The boxed set is currently up for pre-order, and is priced at only .99 cents, so for less than a dollar, cozy readers can pick up twelve original books and make a difference in a homeless pet’s life at the same time – that’s a win-win!
The set will only be available for a limited time, so pre-order your copy now to take advantage of special pricing.

What’s in the Boxed Set:
Abby L. Vandiver – Baby, it’s Cold Outside
Judith Lucci – The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year
Amy Vansant – Stollen Time
Colleen Mooney – Death by Rum Balls
Amy Reade – The Worst Noel
Nell Goddin – The Case of the Curious Biscuit
Colleen Helme – Devil in a Black Suit
Kim Hunt Harris – Frankincense, Gold and Murder
Larissa Reinhart – A View to a Chill
Cindy Bell – Christmas Chocolates and Crimes
Summer Prescott – Home for the Holidays
Kathryn Dionne – Murder at the Holiday Bazaar
And as an extra bonus we’ve got recipes!

You can find out more about the authors, our 12-book boxed set, and how you can donate to a rescue shelter here.

A Day in the Life of the Characters in 12 Slays of Christmas

Ally Sweet in Christmas Chocolates and Crimes by Cindy Bell
Arnold, my grandmother’s pot-bellied pig, does a snort and tail wag with happiness as I feed him. Peaches, my cat, pounces on her bowl for her share. After they have gobbled down their food I say goodbye and head to the chocolate shop early to deal with the Christmas orders. But I am stopped in my tracks when I receive a phone call from my grandmother. Not only has she found a dead body, but she is the prime suspect. Now, I have to juggle the Christmas rush, try to find the real murderer, and clear my grandmother’s name.

Stevie Elliott in Murder at the Holiday Bazaar by Kathryn Dionne
My name is Stevie Elliott, and I’m a traveling chef. It’s Christmastime in my hometown of Quapaw, Mississippi, and I’m here with my sous chef, Milo Iker, to make my famous southern fried chicken legs for the annual Holiday Bazaar. Unfortunately things don’t go as planned. Pastor Cecil Oliver, head of the church, is found dead in his office holding one of my half-eaten drumsticks. We assumed he died from a heart attack because of his bad heart, but when the toxicology report comes back saying that the pastor was poisoned and Milo becomes the prime suspect. Now I must jump in to investigate. Turns out, my quaint little town has more than its share of secrets.

Alejandro Ramos in Devil in a Black Suit by Colleen Helme
Some of you might know me because of my good friend, Shelby Nichols. Through a freak accident, she gained the ability to read minds. Now she works for the same mob boss that I do. Ever since Shelby joined our organization, I’ve spent a lot of time keeping her alive, and I’ve had to dodge a bullet or two in the process. But this time, someone’s out to kill me, and now it’s Shelby’s help I need. I just hope it doesn’t get both of us killed.

Salem Grimes in Frankincense, Gold, and Murder by Kim Hunt Harris
I know we’re in a happy holiday mood and all, but to be honest, I’ll be kind of glad to get to the end of this day. The hubs will be back in town, we’ll finally be done with this three-night Trailertopia Christmas Festival, and hopefully the feud between my new friend Brent and my old neighbor George—known affectionately (not) as “The Stickler”—can come to one of those hokey-but-heartwarming endings under the lights of the Trailertopia clubhouse, inspired by the rest of the trailer park holding hands and singing “Silent Night” or something. Or maybe not. Because suddenly George is dead. And Brent is suspected of his murder.

Dr. Kenzie Zimbro in The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Judith Lucci
The digital message displayed on the screen in my vehicle said, “Bear mauling on Massanutten Mountain. Immediate assistance needed.” I looked over at Solomon, my black lab, constant companion, and best friend and said, “We’ve gotta go, boy. No time to buy you Christmas duck jerky now. We’ve got a body on The Lookout on the top of the mountain.” I switched my radio to the weather and frowned at the forecast. Over three feet of snow and ice were expected with temperatures in the single digits. It’s gonna be a hell of a night, and I can’t imagine any black bear coming out of hibernation to maul anyone. Looking over at Solomon again, I said, “Get some rest, dude. We’re in for a long night.”

Brandy Alexander in Death by Rum Balls by Colleen Mooney
My name is Brandy Alexander, and yes, that’s my real name. My dad thought it would be a hoot. My mother…not so much. I have a knack at finding fraudulent activity for companies to catch bad guys. My ex is a cop who hasn’t realized he is my ex. He has a gun, and I have a printout. He is always on my case, but I always find the right guy, or gal. I’m spending Christmas with my new boyfriend who adores me. It was supposed to be the perfect holiday party until the brother of the hostess was found dead in the dining room, and the weapon of choice appears to be dessert. Talk about ruin your dinner. There’s no place like New Orleans to have a good crime—in time—for the holidays!

Emmett in Home for the Holidays by Summer Prescott
Hey, playing Santa in the mall may not be the most glamorous gig, but a guy’s gotta eat, right? I’m certainly not above strapping on a dad belly and a beard to bring folks some holiday cheer. Life is going great—I have a roof over my head, after living in a car for a bit upon my return from the war, I’m making steady money, even if it isn’t very much, and I met this girl… Isn’t it always funny, that when things finally start to go right, something always manages to go explosively wrong?

Lilly Carlsen in The Worst Noel by Amy Reade
You know it’s going to be a long day when you come to work on the busiest shopping day of the year to find a dead body on the floor. Juniper Junction, Colorado, is not some gun-slinging Wild West outpost. It’s a tony resort town where people come to get away from it all, and as the President of the Chamber of Commerce, it’s my job to make sure that happens. But add two teenagers, a failing parent, and a deadbeat ex-husband to the mix, and it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas chaos.

Maizie Albright and Cherry Tucker in A View to a Chill by Larissa Reinhart
Christmas has never been my time of year. I guess the name Cherry Tucker is perpetually on Santa’s “Naughty” list although I don’t know what I’ve done to tick the big guy off. This year is no exception. It’s December 23, and I’ve got the flu with nothing to do but stare out my bedroom window….and unfortunately see a murder. In my past life, I spent Christmas with my mother/manager Vicki Albright at “Celebrities Best Holiday Destination” locales. For my first holiday as Maizie Albright, private investigator-in training, I finally get a real Christmas (hopefully with Nash). But how could I turn down a case of a missing granddaughter? Maybe if I’d know I’d end up in Halo, Georgia, where an ice storm and a very bad Santa may keep me from hanging a stocking ever again.

Brigitt Taylor in Baby, It’s Cold Outside by Abby L. Vandiver
All my previous Christmases had been magical—bright lights, the songs of Christmas carolers, and the smell of freshly baked goodies. But this year’s stocking was filled with murder! The cheer went out when the body fell down—from the rafters. The night may have been starry, but it was clear to me that my sister, Mel, was the prime suspect, and I was going to have to use every ounce of Christmas cheer I could muster to clear her name.

Charlotte Morgan in Stollen Time by Amy Vansant
No one would believe that Pineapple Port, the retirement community where I grew up, isn’t quite as innocent as you’d think! When my neighbor Alice was found dead with her face in a plate of holiday fruit stollen, even my first thought was that she choked. But then there was that granddaughter of her’s…always up to no good. She had a lot to gain from Alice’s death. Sure, it turned out Alice had a reaction to the nuts in the stollen, but why would she put nuts in her own stollen? My adoptive mother Mariska helped her make the bread, but she swore she didn’t add any nuts. Mariska has a tendency to add her own flair to things, but she seemed certain. So my thoughts returned to that granddaughter. She lived with Alice—didn’t that mean she was the perfect person to lace her grandmother’s bread with nuts? Mariska, Darla, my lock picks, and I are headed over to her house right now to find out…hopefully Mariska and Darla can keep out of trouble long enough for us to find some evidence!

To enter to win an ebook copy of the boxed set, a copy of the companion cookbook–The 12 Slays of Christmas Cookbook–a surprise ebook from each of the authors, and a handpainted scarf, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “slays christmas,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen December 2, 2017. U.S. residents only. If entering via email please include your mailing address, and if via comment please include your email address.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & short stories in our mystery section.

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Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.