Showing posts with label Janice Thompson. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Tracking Tilly by Janice Thompson

About the Book

Book: Tracking Tilly

Author: Janice Thompson

Genre: Mystery/Christian Fiction

Release Date: August 2024

Who Stole Tilly from the Auction Block?

Breathe in the nostalgia of everything old red truck in book one of a new cozy mystery series.

The Hadley family ranch is struggling, so RaeLyn, her parents, and brothers decide to turn the old barn into an antique store. The only thing missing to go with the marketing of the store is Grandpa’s old red truck, Tilly, that was sold several years ago. Now coming back up on the auction block, Tilly would need a lot of work, but RaeLyn is sure it will be worth it—if only she can beat out other bidders and find out who stole Tilly after the auction ends. Hadley finds herself in the role of amateur sleuth, and the outcome could make or break the new family venture.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Janice Thompson hails from south Texas. She is a Christian author and mother of four grown daughters. Janice has written over forty books.

More from Janice

Welcome to Mabank, Y’all!

Some stories are written out of a passion for the characters. Others are written out of an idea for a unique and engaging plot. And some—like my new book, Tracking Tilly—are written out of pure love and devotion for a location.

We writers love to set our books in unique places. And because I’m a Texas gal, I usually set my stories in South Texas, often along the Gulf Coast. This time, however, I wanted to take a trek a little farther north, to the town of Mabank Texas.

Don’t know where Mabank is? No worries! It’s right next to Gunbarrel City, which is nestled next to Cedar Creek Reservoir, a gorgeous body of water that provides excellent fishing, boating, and camping. This neck of the woods is known as East Texas territory, and it’s unique from where I live in the Houston area—both in terrain and culture.

My familiarity with this region goes back to the early 1980s, when my mother remarried and moved to a 63-acre ranch with my step-dad. Though I hailed from Texas, I’d never been to this particular region. Turns out, I’d been missing out on a lot! Picture beautiful ranch-lands, perfect for raising horses, cows, goats, and chickens. Now imagine small-town churches, restaurants, and specialty shops. Add to that the beauty of a fabulous lake, one dotted with fishing boats, kayaks, and swimmer. Talk about beautiful. . .and perfect for a book series filled with the unexpected twists and turns found in most cozy mysteries.

Tracking Tilly is the first in a three-book series from Barbour called The Little Red Truck series. I used the ranch as the setting for my main character (RaeLyn Hadley) to live. And boy, does the story ever explore those beautiful Texas backdrops, all through her eyes! Tracking Tilly is set in the springtime, when bluebonnets and Indian Paintbrushes are in full bloom. I didn’t even have to research to know what those look like!

I loved setting this fun cozy mystery in mama’s hometown, and not just for nostalgic reasons. Sure, a quaint small town and a rustic 63-acre ranch provide the perfect backdrop for a mystery, but even more than that, I loved getting to know RaeLyn and her family. Plunking them down in my mama’s house allowed me to re-visit the location in my own imagination and to envision how RaeLyn would see it.

My mom passed away in 2017 and I rarely get back to Mabank and Gunbarrel City these days. But once I decided to set Tracking Tilly in this area I knew I had to make one more trip. So, I asked a close friend to join me and we made a day trip out of it. Over the river and through the woods, to my mama’s old house we went.

And while we were there, we drove by her church (First Baptist, Mabank). Oh, and we had to stop off at one of her favorite restaurants. Mostly, though, I wanted to see the lake. As I got out of my car at the water’s edge I was flooded with memories of driving over that lake on my way to visit mom when my kids were little. We spent nearly every holiday on that beautiful property.

As you read Tracking Tilly, I hope you find yourself captivated by the setting, but I also hope you see a little of yourself in RaeLyn. She’s an adventurous, inquisitive gal, loaded with zeal for life and a passion for her family. More than anything, I hope you discover a renewed sense of purpose in your own family’s story.

Thanks for reading, y’all!

My Thoughts

Tracking Tilly by Janice Thompson is a sweet story. I liked that RaeLyn wanted to purchase her grandfather’s old truck, Tilly, which held so many memories for her. RaeLyn has a great family. I enjoyed getting to know RaeLyn, her family, friends, and townspeople. I liked the Texas charm. From the Hadley farm to the charming small town with its friendly residents. RaeLyn gets to reconnect with Mason, an old friend, at the auction and romance blossoms. When Tilly is stolen, RaeLyn is determined to get the truck back. She asks questions and searches for clues. The mystery, though, is not at the forefront of the story (it is back behind life on the farm, setting up the antique store in the barn, and getting reacquainted with Mason). You can tell how much Tilly means to RaeLyn and the rest of the Hadley clan. Tracking Tilly is a story that will leave you smiling. Tracking Tilly is a feel-good tale with a family farm, an animated auction, a startling theft, tracing a truck, setting up a shop, a chance at romance, surprising secrets, and close-knit community.

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Janice is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon e-Gift card and copy of the book!! Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click here to enter. Good Luck!

Tracking Tilly is available from Amazon*. The second book in The Little Red Truck Mysteries is Sabotage at Cedar Creek which will be out on February 3, 2025. You can follow Janice Thompson on Amazon and they will send you an email when she has a new book release. Thank you for stopping by today. I will be back on Wednesday with Savannah's Amish Ties that Bind by Tracy Fredrychowski. It is the sixth book in The Amish Women of Lawrence County series. Do not forget to enter the giveaway and leave a comment for an extra entry. Good Luck! I hope that you have a cheerful day. Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

Blog Stops

Lighthouse Academy, September 6

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 7

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, September 8

Pause for Tales, September 9

Texas Book-aholic, September 9

The Avid Reader, September 10

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions , September 11

Locks, Hooks and Books, September 12

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 13

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 14

Tell Tale Book Reviews, September 14

Lily’s Corner, September 15

She Lives To Read, September 15

Devoted To Hope, September 16

Lights in a Dark World, September 16

Book Looks by Lisa, September 17

Labor Not in Vain, September 18

Stories By Gina, September 19 (Author Interview)

Holly’s Book Corner, September 19

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book. I am not required to leave a review. The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

*This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting The Avid Reader.

Saturday, July 30, 2022

Off the Chain by Janice Thompson: Review & Giveaway!

Off the Chain by Janice Thompson

About the Book

Book: Off the Chain

Author: Janice Thompson

Genre: Christian Fiction / Mystery

Release date: July 1, 2022

The Town of Brenham, Texas, Has Gone to the Dogs!

Curl up with your pup and sink into a delightful small-town mystery as riddles and rescues stack up in book one of a new cozy mystery series.

Marigold Evans’ first attempt at rescuing an abandoned pooch lands her in a drainage pipe in Brenham Texas. . .and almost in jail, until Parker Jenson comes to her rescue. Then a bad day only gets worse as the Lone Star Vet Clinic, where they both work, is vandalized and the list of suspects starts to climb. With the help of her fellow employees, Marigold sets out to simultaneously solve the crime, rehab the rescued dog, and help more dogs in crisis. But why would anyone continue to work against all their good efforts?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Janice Thompson, who lives in the Houston area, writes romantic comedies, cozy mysteries, nonfiction devotionals, and musical comedies for the stage. She is the mother of four daughters and nine feisty grandchildren. When she’s not writing books or taking care of foster dogs you’ll find her in the kitchen, baking specialty cakes and cookies.

More from Janice

Dogs, dogs, and more dogs! My world is full of dogs. If you follow me on social media, you’re probably overwhelmed with dog photos, but I simply can’t help myself. I’m in love with pooches of all shapes and sizes.

My fascination with dogs began when I was six years old and I got my first pup, Spunky. He was a mixed breed terrier. From that day until now I’ve had the pleasure of owning many, many pups—some purebreds, some street dogs that needed a safe place to stay, some elderly with chronic or acute health issues. I can’t get enough. They offer unconditional love, after all!

A few years back I was asked to foster for a local rescue, My Chi and Me. The rest, as they say, is history. For a quick glimpse at some photos, follow this link. You’ll see that I’m mostly enamored with small dogs. (Hey, I live in a tiny townhome and have limited space!) That said, I’m always willing to take on one more.

My most recent rescue ventures landed me squarely in the middle of a book idea: Why not use a dog story as the basis for a cozy mystery? My editor at Barbour Publishing wanted something dog themed and I was happy to oblige. That’s where the idea for Off the Chain (and the whole Gone with the Dogs series) came from—a simple idea involving dogs and crime.

I took the opportunity to focus solely on rescue dogs as the idea developed. These days (especially post-Covid) the need for homes for these pups is great. I linked arms with my BFF, Kathleen Y’Barbo, and together we set our series in Brenham Texas, not far from our stomping ground in the Woodlands. I felt strongly that we should merge two separate dog worlds: rescue and veterinary. (Hey, Brenham is close to A&M and they know a thing or two about veterinary training!)

Thus, the Gone with the Dogs series was born. And writing the first book, (Off the Chain), was a blast! I hyper-focused on one primary point of view character, a vet tech. (As the owner of three dogs I feel like I’m always in the vet’s office!) My stories, which are written in first person, took me back to my writing roots. I love, love, love writing in first person because I “become” the character. Fun, right?

My editors loved the book, and it got some fun endorsements, so I’m excited to see what my readers think. I can’t wait to get their feedback. I hope it’s not too “Ruff!”

But seriously. . .I’m hyped! And I’m feeling so blessed to merge my worlds—dogs and writing!

My Thoughts

Marigold “Mari” Evans is a veterinary technician who wishes to start a dog rescue in Brenham, Texas. Mari finds herself in a drainage pipe rescuing an injured pup. Mari and her friend, Cassidy end up in the back of a police vehicle after their escapade. The officer does not believe their story since they cannot provide identification (Mari’s car disappeared while she was in the drainage pipe). Then the officer receives a call to the Lone Star Veterinary Clinic where Mari and Cassidy work. Someone vandalized the clinic. There are a couple of potential suspects. Mari is determined to learn who is behind the attack while continuing her work at the clinic and getting her rescue operation off the ground.

Off the Chain by Janice Thompson is the debut of Gone to the Dogs Mysteries. Off the Chain is a lighthearted cozy mystery. We meet Mari Evans who has a dream of starting a non-profit dog rescue called Second Chance Ranch. We follow Mari as she goes about her day-to-day activities. She is also working with her adorable rescue pup, Beau Jangles and trying to figure out who is behind the break in at the vet clinic where she works. Beau Jangles is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Mari’s grandmother, Grandma Peach is a quirky character. She is lively and dispenses advice (whether you want it or not). There is plenty of activity going on in the story which makes it lively. The mystery was straightforward. There are a couple of suspects and red herring or two. I like how the group arrived at the answer. Off the Chain is a Christian cozy mystery. The faith element is woven throughout the story. There is talk about faith, church, and God as well as prayer and scripture. Mari has a crush on her boss, Tyler. Tyler, though, seems to be getting cozy with the new veterinarian. There may be someone else who is meant for Mari. I like how the community rallies to help Mari with her dog rescue. I enjoyed the Southern references (they will have you chuckling). I just loved all the dogs in the story (real cutie pies). Off the Chain has humor, faith, mystery, and romance. Off the Chain is a quirky Southern tale with drainage pipe rescue, a dancing dog, beautiful blue eyes, wrecked windows, suspicious suspects, a dog dilemma, and an unforeseen find.

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Janice is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon e-gift card and a paper copy of the book!! Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click here to enter. Good Luck!

Off the Chain can be purchased from Amazon*. The next Gone to the Dogs Mystery is Dog Days of Summer by Kathleen Y'Barbo which will be out on October 1. Barking Up the Wrong Tree comes out January 1. You can find Janice Thompson's other novels here. Thank you for joining me today. It is hard to believe that July is just about over. I will return on Monday, August 1 with A Search for Redemption by Jo Ann Brown. It is the third novel in the Secrets of Bliss Valley. I hope that you have a relaxing weekend. Do not forget to leave a comment for extra entries in the giveaway. Take care, stay cool, and Happy Reading!