The Sign of the Calico Quartz by Jan Drexler: Review, Excerpt, and Giveaway!

 The Sign of the Calico Quartz

 

About The Sign of the Calico Quartz

 

The Sign of the Calico Quartz (The Sweetbrier Inn Mysteries) 

Cozy Mystery 

1st in Series 

Setting - South Dakota 

Swift Wings Press (May 20, 2022) 

Paperback ‏ : ‎ 276 pages 

 

Emma Blackwood’s favorite pastime is solving literary murder mysteries…until the body in her living room makes everything a little too real.

When Emma comes to the Black Hills to work at her Aunt Rose’s B&B, the Sweetbrier Inn, she is hoping for a quiet break from the corporate treadmill. But she hadn’t expected murder and intrigue to mar this peaceful setting.

As she wades through too many clues to identify the murderer, she soon finds that the culprit isn’t stopping at only one homicide and may even have placed Emma herself on the list of targets. With the help of her friend Becky, and a deputy sheriff who grudgingly lets them join in on the investigation, Emma tracks down the killer. But will it be in time to save the next victim?

About Jan Drexler

Jan Drexler lives in the Black Hills of South Dakota with her husband, where she enjoys hiking and spending time with her expanding family. She is the author of several historical romance novels, including the award-winning Mattie’s Pledge, and is pleased to be starting a new adventure with a cozy mystery series, The Sweetbrier Inn Mysteries. You can find out more about Jan on her website: www.JanDrexler.com.

Author Links

Website: https://jandrexler.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JanDrexlerAuthor

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6583749.Jan_Drexler

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Jan-Drexler/e/B00CLGAGAK/ref=aufs_dp_fta_dsk

My Thoughts

Emma Blackwood arrives at her Aunt Rose’s Sweetbrier Inn in the Black Hills of South Dakota.  Emma needs a change after the end of a bad relationship.  Emma is upstairs during teatime when she notices that her cat, Tim is out of their suite.  She goes into her suite with her cat and finds a man dead on the floor.  Unfortunately, Emma finds herself at the top of the suspect list.  It soon becomes apparent that someone is framing Emma.  Emma needs to figure out who is behind the murder before she ends up in the poky.  

The Sign of the Calico Quartz by Jan Drexler is the debut of The Sweetbrier Inn Mysteries.  I like Emma’s mysterious Aunt Rose.  She seems to have a unique past.  I enjoyed the lovely descriptions of the Black Hills.  The mystery is interesting.  It is a busy mystery.  There are a handful of suspects, misdirection, and good clues.  I did feel that the solution was a bit obvious.  It was fun following along Emma looked for clues, questioned the inn’s guests, and stumbled upon evidence.  There was more action in the second half that kept the story propelling toward the end.  I was left with a few questions regarding the case when I finished.  I liked Deputy Cal Cooper who was in charge of the case.  He is a nice man who takes his job seriously.  I hope we get to know Emma and Rose more in the next book.  I loved Becky, a baker, who is Emma’s new friend.  Thatcher, Rose’s corgi, is a cutie and helpful as well.  It will be interesting to see what happens next in The Case of the Artist’s Mistake.  The Sign of the Calico Quartz is a charming cozy with the beautiful Black Hills, a cute corgi, a murdered man, scrumptious scones, cagey guests, cowboy Cal, and enquiring Emma.

Excerpt

“This must be Thatcher.” I held the corgi’s smiling face between my hands and rubbed his ears. His tri-color markings included black lines around his eyes that made him look like he was wearing spectacles.

“That dog.” Humorous disgust filled Wil’s voice. “He got out of his crate again. I keep telling Rose that she needs to put a lock on that thing.”

“He’s just a smart puppy.” The dog’s eyes half-closed as I scratched his chest. “And the cutest thing.”

“Cutest brat, you mean.” Wil closed the door and picked up my suitcase. “As long as Rose is at home, he’s fine. But as soon as she walks out the door, he’s a holy terror.”

“He can’t be that bad.” I watched the dog approach the door of Tim’s cat carrier, caution in every step. “It looks like he and Tim might get along.”

“Tim?”

“My cat.” I indicated the crate. Thatcher’s nose was stuck through the wire door and his tail was wiggling.

“That dog doesn’t get along with anyone.”

His smile belied his gruff words. It was just a bit crooked. One a girl would die for. I grabbed Tim’s carrier and stood up again, dusting my knees with the other hand to avoid his gaze. Maybe some girls would fall for a grin like that, but it would be a long time before another guy caught my eye, cute as a teen heartthrob or not.

The Sign of the Calico Quartz is available from Amazon* (you can borrow for free if you belong to Kindle Unlimited).  You can find Jan Drexler's other novels here.  Now for the giveaway!  You can enter to win  a prize package from Jan Drexler.    You can enter using the Rafflecopter form below or click here to enter (sorry, but US Only).  Leave a comment for an extra entry.  Good Luck!  I appreciate you stopping by today.  I will return tomorrow to share my thoughts on Duty Calls at Goodwill House by Fenella J. Miller which is the third novel in the Goodwill House series.  I hope that you have a happy day.  I am off to work on my summer outdoor decorations. The neighbors have said my yard is not the same without the decorations (inflatables, lights).  So, I went on a hunt for a beach themed inflatable.  I have a fun summer inflatable with Santa in summer shorts with penguin similarly attired with a palm tree that will set atop warm white lights that will represent sand.  I also have palm tree inflatables to stand on each side and some beach balls. I have white and blue lights to wrap around the posts on the patio as well.  I hope the village likes what I came up with for summer.  I will have to start thinking about fall next (Halloween goes up October 1).  Take care, stay cool, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

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Tour Participants

July 18 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW, EXCERPT 

July 18 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

July 19 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

July 19 – Christy's Cozy Corners – GUEST POST

July 20 – ebookaddicts – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT

July 20 – Maureen's Musings – REVIEW

July 21 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT

July 21 – My Journey Back – RECIPE POST

July 21 – My Reading Journeys – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT

July 22 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

July 22 – Ascroft, eh? – GUEST POST

July 23 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT

July 23 – Reading Is My SuperPower - REVIEW

July 24 – Brooke Blogs – GUEST POST

July 24 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT

July 25 – I Read What You Write – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

July 25 – Moonlight Rendezvous – REVIEW WITH EXCERPT

July 26 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

July 26 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

July 27 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

July 27 – Sneaky the Library Cat's Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

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The Rolls of the Drums by Jan Drexler

Greetings! It is hard to believe it is November 1.  This year is whizzing by at a fast clip.  Poppy Redfern and the Midnight Murders by Tessa Arlen* comes out on November 5 along with The Bake Shop by Amy Clipston and Cast Iron Alibi by Victoria Hamilton.  Deanna Chase has released A Witch for Mr. Holiday.  It is the beginning of the Witches of Christmas Grove series.  If you like steamy paranormal romances, then this is the book for you.  

The Roll of the Drums by Jan Drexler takes readers back to May of 1863 in Weaver’s Creek, Ohio.  Ruby Weaver has moved in with her sister, Elizabeth Kaufman.  Elizabeth’s husband, Reuben left a year ago to fight for the south and he has not corresponded with her since he departed.  Ruby is twenty-eight, unmarried and content with her life.  Ruby does not believe that a woman must be married in order to be happy and fulfilled.  Gideon Fischer along with his ailing wife, Lovinia and their four children arrive in town.  The family experienced hardship at the hands of soldiers and Gideon wants to find a new place to start over where they do not need to fear.  Ruby becomes friends while caring for the very ill Lovinia.  Lovinia makes Ruby promise to marry Gideon if she passes away.  Lovinia believes Ruby is the partner Gideon needs and the mother her children will need in her absence.  Ruby reluctantly agrees never believes she will have to fulfil the promise.  Lovinia extracts a similar promise from Gideon.  When Lovinia passes away, neither one wish to honor the promise they made.  However, Gideon needs someone to keep house and care for the children while he establishes their farm.  Ruby will spend her days at Gideon’s home and keep living with Elizabeth.  Unfortunately, there is someone in authority who does not feel the arrangement is proper.  Ruby and Gideon must decide how to proceed.

The Roll of the Drums by Jan Drexler is the second novel in The Amish of Weaver’s Creek series.  I recommend reading The Sound of Distant Thunder before beginning The Roll of the Drums.  I thought the story was well-written and it moved along at a thoughtful pace.  The characters are realistic and developed.  Ruby Weaver has lovely red hair which along with her age and unmarried state make her different from other females in her community.  Ruby does not feel that marriage is necessary to be a happy and content individual.  I like that Ruby is a resilient woman of strong faith. Gideon Fischer is relocating his family after the soldiers devastated his small Amish community.  He wants to find a safe place for them to reside and Gideon is worried about his wife’s health.  Lovinia, Gideon’s wife, knows her time is short.  Lovinia believes Ruby is just what Gideon and her children will need once she is gone.  She makes Ruby and Gideon promise to marry each other if she passes away.  While each make the promise, they are both hoping they will not have to honor it but for differing reasons. There are good life lessons incorporated into the story.  We get to see the characters go through some rough times.  I like that the author does not give us a lighthearted feel good story (there are ups and downs just like real life).  Gideon is at the lowest point of his life and we get to see how he will handle it.  It can be hard to let go of our worries and rely on God, but it is necessary.  The phrase from The Roll of the Drums that lingered with me is “Only the Good Lord knew the future.  He will give you the strength you need”.  Everything happens for a reason as we see in The Roll of the Drums.  While the story focuses on Gideon and Ruby, we also catch up with Ruby’s sister, Elizabeth who married Reuben at such a young age.  In addition, Levi Beiler is a bookworm who loves to devour theological books.  His father constantly berates him and Levi wonders why.  He overhears a conversation that soon puts things in perspective and leaves Levi with more questions.  We see how a person’s experiences can influence how they look at others and situations.  The Roll of the Drums is a sweeping historical Amish novel that has love, forgiveness, fear, redemption, joy, judgement and so much more.  You will not be disappointed with this compelling story. 

The Roll of the Drums is available through Amazon* (Amazon UK) along with The Sound of Distant Thunder.  There is a teaser at the end of The Roll of the Drums for the next book in The Amish of Weaver's Creek series!  Thank you for joining me today.  I am participating in the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for A Legacy of Murder by Connie Berry tomorrow.  It is the second novel in A Kate Hamilton Mystery series.  I hope that you have a cheery day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*This post contains affiliate links.

An Amish Christmas Kitchen by Kate Lloyd, Jan Drexler, and Leslie Gould

Welcome! The Orphan Daughter by Sheila Riley will be out tomorrow, September 5.  We'll Meet Again by Rosie Archer about the Bluebird Girls in 1941 is now available and Power of the Witch by Deanna Chase is out today.  The Girl Who Loved Ghosts by K.C. Tansley is out September 16 and it is the third novel in The Unbelievables series.   There are so many great new books coming out this month.

An Amish Christmas Kitchen by Kate Lloyd, Jan Drexler and Leslie Gould contains three novellas celebrating the warmth of the season.  An Amish Family Christmas by Leslie Gould takes us to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania where Noelle Schrock is grieving the loss of her beloved mother and moving into a new home.  She lives with her father and does the baking for the business her mother started many years ago.  It is time for the Christmas Market and her older sister, Salome is laid up unable to handle their stall.  Noelle is afraid she will see Jesse who broke her heart and recently returned to town.  Being forced out of her comfort zone turns out to be a blessing in disguise because Noelle meets Holly, a Mennonite woman, who is also a Christmas Eve baby and sells delectable chocolates.  Noelle will be faced with some unexpected challenges and she will need her new friend along with her faith to help her navigate the difficult roads ahead.

An Amish Christmas Recipe Box by Jan Drexler takes us to the Heritage Amish Furniture shop where Ada Weaver works for her father, Leroy.  Ada bakes up the cookies and pastries they sell in the shop in addition to the beautifully handcrafted furniture.  Matthias Yoder is the newest hire and a talented craftsman.  He finds Ada to be lovely, but she only has eyes for Amos Hertzler.  Ada’s sister, Rose helps her concoct the Great Cookie Campaign to capture Amos’ attention.  Ada needs to learn that what we long for but not be what is best for us or what God has planned. 

An Unexpected Christmas Gift by Kate Lloyd has Maria Romano searching for her birth mother during the holiday season.  After her mother recently passed away, Maria learned that she was adopted.  Maria had taken a DNA test which turned up a relation.  That is how Maria ended up stranded outside Miller’s Quilts & Gifts during the holiday season.  The Miller family takes her in, and Maria gets an unexpected Christmas gift.  

An Amish Christmas Kitchen contains three heartwarming holiday stories.  I thought all three novellas were well-written and engaging.  I started reading An Amish Family Christmas one evening and just kept reading until I finished all three (it was a late night).  The novellas contain great characters and lovely settings.  We see how the Amish focus on family and the true reason for the holiday season.  I like the life lessons featured in each story with my favorite being a person’s heart is more important than their appearance.  The romance plays out softly in each story which I appreciated.  The stories are realistic with feel good endings.  One of my favorite phrases is, “Life is only as short and hard as we make it.”  It is important to remember the true meaning of Christmas and that only He can bring us the peace and joy we desire.  There is a recipe for one of the mouthwatering baked goods featured in the story at the end of each novella.  An Amish Christmas Kitchen will have you wanting to drag out your Christmas decorations and start baking your favorite Christmas cookies. 

 

An Amish Family Kitchen is available here (Amazon UK).  Thank you for joining me today.  I will return tomorrow with Who Shot the Serif? by Jessa Archer.  It is the first book in A Hand Lettering Mystery series.    I hope you have an uplifting day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

The Sound of Distant Thunder: The Amish of Weaver's Creek

Hello!  A Thief Consumed by Heather Sunseri comes out on October 11.  It is the second book in the International Thief series.  Due East, Beasts and Campfire Feasts by Erin Johnson will be published on October 13.  It is the seventh tale in Spells and Caramels series. 

The Sound of Distant Thunder by Jan Drexler is the first story in The Amish of Weaver’s Creek series.  Katie Stuckey is seventeen years old in 1862 and lives with her family on their farm near Millersburg, Ohio. She is ready to marry Jonas Weaver, but her father wants her to wait until she is eighteen.  Jonas begins work on their home in his spare time.  The Civil War is raging on and Jonas is against slavery.  He knows the stance of the church on fighting, but Jonas has yet to be baptized.  Conscription is enacted and the names for their county are drawn. Jonas is spared, but his married brother, Samuel is on the list.  Samuel has a choice of paying the $200 fee or get a substitute.  Samuel does not wish to pay the fee because the funds would go to the war effort nor is he comfortable with having someone go in his place.  Jonas takes matters into his own hands and goes in Samuel’s place.  He leaves a letter for his family, Katie and his friend, Levi.  He asks Levi to keep an eye on Katie for him while he is away.  Can Jonas and Katie’s love survive the choice he made and the separation?  Join them on their journey in The Sound of Distant Thunder.

The Sound of Distant Thunder takes us back to April of 1862 to an Amish settlement in Ohio.  I felt the author captured the time period with the viewpoints of the characters and the description of their everyday lives as well as their homes, clothing, literature, conveyances, and methods of construction.  It must have been a difficult time to be a pacifist with the Civil War going on around them.  Conscription had them battling their conscience versus their church teachings.  Jan Drexler did a wonderful job at capturing the differing thoughts and the inner conflict.  I thought The Sound of Distant Thunder was a slow paced story (it plodded along like an old horse).  The first half of the book is Jonas and others rehashing the same issues regarding war over and over.  Jonas debating if he will stay at home or go off to fight.  The pace improves slightly after Jonas goes off to war.  Christian views are prevalent throughout the book.  Prayer, faith and turning our worries over to God are some of the themes.  We get to see how the various Amish settlements had differences and their attempts to find common ground.  The Amish in the story are portrayed as hardworking and caring individuals.  I did not feel like I was reading the first book in the series.  The backstory on the main characters was lacking.  I was confused by Katie and her fear.  She has a fear that men who are attracted to her will die.  It is not fully explained until late in the book. It seemed unreasonable because she was not afraid Jonas would die if they married.  Wouldn’t she be afraid to marry the man she loves?  The ending was abrupt and felt incomplete.  I was left with several unanswered questions.  The romance between Katie and Jonas is sweet and heartwarming in the midst of such brutality.  I am giving The Sound of Distant Thunder 3 out of 5 stars.  I suggest you obtain a sample of the book for your e-reader to see if The Sound of Distant Thunder is for you.

I appreciate you checking out my review.  I am featuring A Crafter Knits a Clue by Holly Quinn tomorrow.  The first book in A Handcrafted Mystery series.  I hope you will find the time to stop by.  I hope you have an inspiring day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

Naomi's Hope: Journey to Pleasant Prairie

Greetings!  I hope everyone has had a lovely weekend.  I spent Sunday relaxing, reading and watching The White Princess marathon (chocolates were involved as well).  Journey to Pleasant Prairie series contains Hannah's Choice and Mattie's Pledge. Naomi's Hope is the third book and will be released on Tuesday, June 6.  

Naomi’s Hope by Jan Drexler is the third book in Journey to Pleasant Prairie series.  It is April 1846 in LaGrange County, Indiana.  Naomi Schrock is out looking for her adopted son, Davey and discovers him with their new neighbor, Cap Stoltzfus.  Davey has taken an instant liking to Cap and wants to spend time with him.  Cap moved to Indiana from Holmes County, Ohio to get away from the memories of his deceased wife and child.  Cap is happy in the new community and enjoys spending time with young Davey, but then an old nemesis shows up.  Shem Fischer, a bully from his childhood, moves to town.  Shem came from Ontario, because he heard of the communities need for a minister.  Cap distrusts Shem, but he keeps his own counsel.  Shem soon starts showing his true colors when he spreads seeds of doubt and mistrust among the two different Amish districts of LaGrange County and the Clinton Township.  Is there a chance of once again uniting these two factions?  Naomi and Cap spend time with each other, and Naomi begins to hope of a future she never thought possible.  But then Naomi’s world crumbles around her when relatives come to claim Davey.  How will this impact Naomi and Cap’s relationship?  Read Naomi’s Hope to find out how the Journey to Pleasant Prairie trilogy ends.

Naomi’s Hope contains good writing, but I found the pace of the novel to be slow.  The story slowly unfolds, but then wraps up quickly at the end.  After getting into Naomi’s Hope, I could anticipate how the story would unfold and end.  It is a lovely story, though, and that I found pleasurable to read. While Naomi’s Hope is the third book in this series, it can be read alone.  I appreciated the additional storyline of Naomi’s struggle with faith.  A struggle many people are familiar with and understand.  I give Naomi’s Hope 4 out of 5 stars.  Some of the themes in the Naomi’s Hope are love, forgiveness, loss, greed, and faith.  I thought the characters were realistic and relatable.  I also liked the setting and time period.  The author did a remarkable job at portraying that region of Ohio and time.  Personally, I did feel that the story could have used a little fine tuning that would have made for a better novel.  Naomi’s Hope is a novel worth reading, and I trust you will enjoy it as well.

I appreciate you visiting today and taking time out of your day to read my thoughts.  I am currently reading Treble at the Jam Fest by Leslie Budewitz.  I will return on Tuesday to review An Amish Summer by Amy Clipston, Shelley Shepard Gray, Kelly Irvin and Kathleen Fuller.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader