Love Is Murder Blog Tour and Giveaway

Morning, all! I am very happy to be taking part in the book tour promoting the latest International Thriller Writers anthology, Thriller 3: Love is Murder. Compiled and edited by Sandra Brown, the collection features short stories from some of the hottest romantic suspense authors out there including J.T. Ellison, Allison Brennan, Alexandra Sokoloff, Lori Armstrong and so many more.

Instead of a standard tour, the Booktrib folks have put together something a little different: each stop features one of the contributing authors and an excerpt from their story. A fabulous way to give screen time to all of the wonderful folks featured in the collection.

My author (drum roll) is my fellow Louisianian, Toni McGee Causey! I'm pleased as punch to be her stop. Toni is the author of one of my favorite series featuring Contraband Queen Bobbie Faye Sumrall (if you don't know, every town in Louisiana has at least one signature festival and my hometown has Contraband Days, a week of pirate themed festivities that includes the Mayor walking the plank!).

I've also got one copy of Love is Murder to give away, courtesy of Booktrib. To enter, just leave me a comment here before midnight Sunday, July 15. (US/Canada only)

And now, without further ado, here's your excerpt to whet your palate!

Toni McGee Causey – Broken Hallelujah

She should not have been here. It was the worst possible scenario.

He’d caught motion on his periphery—someone threading through the crowds, moving that same fluid way she did—a powerful motion that hit his senses as if a car were about to careen into him.

He worked hard to not jerk around and try to find her. Instead, he sat in the folding chair on the hot sidewalk just below the oak trees and strummed another verse on the battered guitar before he turned his head, turned his supposedly blind eyes hidden behind mirrored sunglasses and scanned across the brightly lit Jackson Square in the Quarter.

And a little bit about Toni:

Toni McGee Causey is the author of the critically acclaimed and nationally bestselling “Bobbie Faye” novels—an action/caper series set in south Louisiana; the series was released in back-to-back publications, beginning with Charmed and Dangerous, Girls Just Wanna Have Guns and When a Man Loves a Weapon. While pursuing an MFA in Screenwriting as well as a Masters in Philosophy, Toni had scripts optioned by prominent studios and, just last year, produced and indie film,LA-308, which now has offers of distribution pending. Toni began her career by writing nonfiction for local newspapers, edited Baton Rouge Magazine, and sold articles to places like Redbook and Mademoiselle. She was a contributor to the anthology Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans, as well as Killer Year: Stories to Die For. She has had several of her blogs syndicated nationally from the group blog, “Murderati,” and she can currently be found at “Murder She Writes.” In her other life, she and her husband are the owners of a construction company which specializes in civil construction. She and her husband reside in New Orleans.

For more on Toni and her books, visit her official site here. You can also like her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter. And (as mentioned in the bio) Toni blogs over at Murder She Writes with fellow Thriller 3 contributors Allison Brennan, Lori Armstrong, Roxanne St. Claire, Laura Griffin, and Debra Webb.

Big thanks to the folks at Booktrib for inviting me to participate in the Love is Murder tour. For the full list of stops and author profiles click here. And don't forget to leave me a comment below (with your email addy so I can get in touch if you win) to enter to win a copy of Thriller 3: Love is Murder.

Doin' Louisiana Proud

I have a very obvious proud sentiment with just about anything positive regarding my home state, and I make no bones about supporting folks who give us a good name.

Toni McGee Causey is one of those folks and I am happy to say that she and her heroine, Bobbie Faye, have not let me down! The third installment to the series hit shelves on August 1 and I think it may just be the best one yet. Pretty hard to do since I think the previous two were freaking fantabulous!

This time it's a little harder and a little darker than the others, and this time Bobbie Faye may just be in some not so funny, majorly serious trouble.

Sean MacGregor, an Irish baddie who appeared in Girls Just Wanna Have Guns (aka Bobbie Faye's (Kinda, Sorta, Not Exactly) Family Jewels), which you may remember from this post, is back and hell bent on revenge against Bobbie Faye and her FBI agent fiance, Trevor Cormier. Add to that one heartbroken bomb expert also determined to have his revenge and you've got a recipe that means disaster for Bobbie Faye, one that's not at all her fault this time -- well, maybe just a little.

Bobbie Faye's not entirely over the events that led to her first encounters with the Irish mafia, in spite of the new engagement ring on her finger and the fixer-upper she and Trevor have recently purchased. When Trevor is sent out on an op that's supposed to take two, three days tops, and doesn't return for seven, the Contraband Queen is beside herself with worry. And the one person she can trust to help her just happens to be her ex, Cam Moreau, a cop who's determined to win her back at any cost. Just when Bobbie Faye thought things couldn't get any worse, she finds herself enmeshed in a plot that could mean the end for the people she cares about the most.

When a Man Loves a Weapon shows that Causey is at the top of her game. I think it's pretty obvious that she's one of my newer faves and I think you're all gonna love her. The first two titles are definitely in the Janet E. realm of funny meets mystery. This one, however, tips into more romantic suspense territory (but still with some Bobbie Faye humor -- CeCe provides much of the levity in this one and her chicken foot juju made me chuckle even at the most action-packed part of the book).

If you haven't started this series yet, here's a link to my post on Causey's debut, Charmed and Dangerous (Bobbie Faye's Very (very, very, very) Bad Day. The best kind of book therapy a girl can ask for is the kind of therapy offered up by treating yourself to a Bobbie Faye reading day. God forbid you have an actual Bobbie Faye day!

Yet Another Laugh Out Loud Read

Alrighty, I told you all about the re-release and re-branding of Toni McGee Causey's Bobbie Faye series last Friday, and I promised that I would post a little something about book the second -- Bobbie Faye's (kinda, sorta, not exactly) Family Jewels, now (as of June 30) Girls Just Wanna Have Guns. 

I also want to remind you that Toni is running a contest this week. Visit her website here for details, excerpts, and more. AND you can read more from Toni at the fantastic Murderati blog every other Sunday (highly recommend you add this blog to your faves). 

So, without further adieu, here's my review of Family Jewels/Girls Just Wanna Have Guns from the BB archives:

Bobbie Faye, the Contraband Queen and walking disaster of South Louisiana, is back and better than ever. Bobbie Faye’s latest adventure begins with a surprise visit from some of her nefarious cousins. It seems Bobbie Faye’s aunt, Marie, has gone missing with some diamonds and her estranged husband is willing to do just about anything to get them back – the diamonds, not necessarily his wife – and he’s not the only one, either. Homeland Security, gangsters, and Irish mafia all take shots at Bobbie Faye before too long, each group expressing their need to be the ones that Bobbie Faye makes her delivery to. Problem is, Bobbie Faye doesn’t have a clue what’s going on. Too bad for her, though, ‘cause no one is in any mood to listen. Where Bobbie Faye goes, disaster is sure to follow and this time she’s once again leaving behind her a trail of demolished property, terrified law enforcement agents, and bankrupt insurance companies. If you like the Stephanie Plum series, you’re going to love Bobbie Faye. She’s a tough and gutsy Cajun who’s not willing to take crap from anyone – I love it. Toni McGee Causey does for South Louisiana, and my hometown, what Janet E. does for the Garden State. Highly recommended.

It's pretty much summer here, and though Bobbie Faye makes for great year-round reading, I especially love reading this series around this time of year -- it makes me almost feel like I'm back in Louisiana!

Charmed and Dangerous, the first book in this series (formerly known as Bobbie Faye's Very (very, very, very) Bad Day) is now out and Girls Just Wanna Have Guns is due out on June 30 in mass market -- you can still get the trade paperback under the original title as well. And remember, the third book in the series, When a Man Loves a Weapon is due out August 4 (I'll be sure to remind you!).

As Promised...

Some Toni McGee Causey news for you guys. 

Some of you may remember this post, from last May, when I reviewed Bobbie Faye's Very, (Very, Very, Very) Bad Day, after a particularly bad day myself. At the time, I was reading the second book in this fabulously, hilariously, southern mystery series -- Bobbie Faye's (kinda, sorta, not exactly) Family Jewels (see Tuesday's post). And now it's time for book 3 in the series, but first, the series is undergoing a bit of a re-branding and I wanted you all to be prepared. 

Tuesday, June 2, is the official release date of Charmed and Dangerous, aka Bobbie Faye's Very (very, very, very) Bad Day. Yep, they are one and the same. So if you haven't yet read about Bobbie Faye and her seriously funny escapades, this would definitely be the time to start!

Bobbie Faye's (kinda, sorta, not exactly) Family Jewels will be re-released as Girls Just Wanna Have Guns on June 30 and then book 3, When a Man Loves a Weapon, hits shelves August 4 (I've snagged a copy courtesy of the fantabulous Mrs. Toni, so watch for a review to come). 

Also, a little birdie told me that Toni will be running a contest on her website beginning next week, coinciding with the release of Charmed and Dangerous, AND you can read an excerpt of the books there as well. 

So, if you (like me) love super funny reads with charmingly witty heroines who have a knack for getting themselves into trouble, then you NEED to check out these books!

Having a Bobbie Faye Day

I had plans for today. Really, I did. It turns out the day had other plans for me and they were kind of disastrous. For those of you who have had the pleasure of reading Toni McGee Causey's Bobbie Faye books, you'll know that my day is really nothing compared to that, but it was still up there as far as bad days go.

So, my day began with me arguing semantics with the CO DMV office. See, their website says one thing and apparently it's completely wrong. I was prepared for some arguing and, so, printed out the directions from their page. It didn't do me any good. 

After my adventures in the world of ineptitude that is the CO government, I returned home with some french fry therapy - yeah, trying to diet and then hitting the battered fries is not such a hot idea after the four shooters I had last night - having some stressful days lately. And, the bitchy girl on TOP CHEF makes for a great shots game!

Anyway, recovered from fry therapy with some Bobbie Faye therapy and began reading Bobbie Faye's Kinda Sorta Not Really Family Jewels. I should have stuck with it 'cause it was doing me some real good. I thought I would take a brief break, however, and do some yard work before walking our poor neglected pooch. Unfortunately, I was maimed by one of our lawn implements and had to call a friend to take me to get a thorough cleaning and tetanus shot - yes, I now know shoes are always required. 

Toe safely ensconced in layers of gauze and arm nicely sore from the shot, I returned home to find 27 Dresses finally on OnDemand and since the other is in NYC and my pride was hurt, I figured it was about damn time!

And now I will return to the misadventures of my fellow Lake Chuck chick - it will require a one-legged bath, but I will prevail!

If you haven't yet read Toni McGee Causey, I highly recommend them, even if you aren't having as bad a day as I am. Everyone could use some Bobbie Faye therapy! Oh, and Toni does for south Louisiana, and my hometown, what Janet E. does for the garden state. Bobbie Faye is one rockin' chick! Here's a bit to whet your whistle (my review of last year's Bobbie Fayes Very, Very, Very, Very Bad Day:

Today, Bobbie Faye was supposed to be presiding over the opening ceremony at Contraband Days - a festival held in Lake Charles, Louisiana that plays on the pirate history of the area. Then she was scheduled to meet with Social Services to show that she is a fit guardian for her niece. Unfortunately, Bobbie Faye is a walking disaster. No, really. Bobbie Faye awakens to find that her trailer has flooded thanks to the washing machine her no-good brother was supposed to fix. Then Roy (the no-good brother) calls to say that he has been kidnapped and his captors are going to kill him unless Bobbie Faye delivers her mother’s tiara to them. Her mother, the unofficial Queen of Contraband Days, wore the tiara each year in the parade and passed both title and tiara onto her daughter when she died. Why anyone would want the tiara is a mystery to Bobbie Faye but she’ll do whatever it takes to save her brother. When Bobbie Faye goes to the bank to get the tiara out of her safety deposit box, she ends up being accused of robbing the bank. The real bank robbers steal the tiara and Bobbie Faye has to force a man at gunpoint to chase them down and it’s only 10 am. Before the day is over, Bobbie Faye will have to deal with car chases, explosions, gun runners and more than one pissed off ex-boyfriend. This hilarious debut is an absolute must read. I couldn’t stop laughing. Bobbie Faye is fantastic and fun.