Thursday, February 12, 2015

Blog Tour: Death of a Beauty Queen by Barbara Jean Coast







 Death of a Beauty Queen: A Poppy Cove Mystery
(Poppy Cove Mystery Series Book 2)
Paperback: 220 pages
Publisher: Cozy Cat Press (May 9, 2014)
ISBN-13: 978-1939816436
E-Book File Size: 353 KB
ASIN: B00LBDLZ8Q
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Synopsis
It’s the 1950’s in Santa Lucia, California, and the height of the social season. Time for the new Miss Santa Lucia, Nora Burbank, to display her loveliness at a high society fashion show produced by the city’s own fashionistas–Margot and Daphne, owners of Poppy Cove, the most elegant and “in” little dress shop in the county.
Nora steals the show in her designer gown and custom-made necklace created by local jeweler Isaac Mendelson, and used on the sly by his apprentice son-in-law, Efrem Goldberg. At the conclusion of the show, the young queen is allowed to keep her dress and a replica of the necklace for her own. But Monday morning, Efrem arrives in a panic at Poppy Cove to beg Margot and Daphne’s assistance in tracking down the real necklace, which he believes was inadvertently switched for the replica backstage. The girls get involved in Efrem’s dilemma and try to help him before Isaac’s any the wiser. But before that can happen, Miss Santa Lucia is found dead in her bed and the necklace is missing.
Who killed Nora Burbank? Is it someone jealous of her new royal position and all of its perks? Or did she just happen to be in the way when a thief attempted to steal her diamond-studded necklace? Did Nora have the real or the fake necklace, and how much did the thief and murderer know about it? But, of course, before the girls can find the killer, they’ll have to create several beautiful ensembles, calm numerous irate clients, and flirt with their ever-so-attentive boyfriends, before solving this mystery.
 
About These Authors
 Barbara Jean Coast is the pen name of authors Andrea Taylor and Heather Shkuratoff, both of whom reside in Kelowna, BC, Canada.  Barbara Jean, however, is a resident of Santa Lucia, California (eerily similar to Santa Barbara), where she enjoys long lunches, cocktail parties, fancy dinner dates with attractive and attentive gentlemen.  Her interests include Alfred Hitchcock movies, reading Carolyn Keene, music by popular musicians, such Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett, shopping for new dresses, attending society events and always looking fabulous in kitten heels.  DEATH OF A BEAUTY QUEEN is her second novel in the Poppy Cove Mystery Series.
 

Andrea Taylor

Andrea always imagined herself being a supersleuth girl detective and writing adventurous stories, full of mystery and intrigue since she was old enough to hold a pencil.  She resides in Kelowna, BC, Canada, where she writes under the pen name of Barbara Jean Coast with her co-author friend, Heather Shkuratoff, and travels often to California to further develop the stories and escapades of the Poppy Cove Mystery Series.  Andrea has also published freelance articles about fashion, current events, and childcare, and is currently blogging on WordPress about creativity and poetry, as well as researching for her own literary novels.
 

Heather Shkuratoff

As an avid mystery reader, Heather joined lifelong friend Andrea Taylor to create the Poppy Cove Mystery Series, written under the pen name of Barbara Jean Coast.  Growing up in a family of talented crafters and sewers, Heather developed her own skills to become a dressmaker and designer, which helps to give rich detail and character to their stories.  She lives in Kelowna, BC, Canada, but spends much time in California, researching for the novels and doing her best to live like Barbara Jean.
 
Author Links
Webpage: http://barbarajeancoast.com/
Blog:  http://welcometopoppycove.wordpress.com/
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/BarbaraJCoast
Pinterest:  http://pinterest.com/bjcoast/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/barbarajean.coast & https://www.facebook.com/pages/Poppy-Cove-Mysteries/375180072578350
Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/BJCoast
Amazon Kindle: Death of a Beauty Queen: A Poppy Cove Mystery (Poppy Cove Mystery Series Book 2) – Kindle edition by Barbara Jean Coast. Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.
Smashwords: Smashwords – Death of a Beauty Queen – a book by Barbara Jean Coast
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/death-of-a-beauty-queen-1
B&N, Nook:   http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/death-of-a-beauty-queen-barbara-jean-coast/1120687392?ean=2940046386165
 
My review: Death of a Beauty Queen by Barbara Jean Coast
 
4 STARS
 
This is second book in Poppy Cove Mystery, but only the first one that I have read.  I like this story. Lots of drama , fashion , murder, mystery and is a clean read.
 
Margot and Daphne own Poppy Cove a clothing store.  They put on a fashion show with the royalty of their town as models.  There clothes were a hit. 
 
Nora Burbank is Miss Santa Lucia.  She was the star in a designer gown with a necklace of real diamonds.  She gets to keep the dress and a copy of the necklace.
 
Efrem is the one who copied the necklace.  His father-in-law designed the real one for a special order.  He has no idea that Efrem made a copy but that the real necklace was in the show. 
 
Efrem later realizes that the necklace he took back to the jewelry store is a fake and must of got the necklaces switched wrong at the end of the show.  He needs to get the real one back.  Before he can do that Nora is murdered.
 
I guessed a little of the mystery before it was revealed but not all of it.
 
I like that there are a lot of characters.  I was happy with the different mix of them.  I like how they were the clothes they design and sale.
 
The book takes place in the 1950's in Santa Lucia, CA.
 
I was given this ebook to read by the authors so that I could give a honest review of Death o a Beauty Queen and be part of it's blog tour.
 
Tour Participants
February 2 – Tea and A Book – Review, Giveaway
February 3 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – Review
February 4 – Back Porchervations – Review
February 5 – rantin’ ravin’ and reading – Review, Guest Post, Giveaway
February 6 – EditingPen/Latte’ DaInterview, Giveaway
February 7 – Queen of All She Reads – Spotlight
February 8 – Christa Reads and Writes – Review
February 9 – Jane Reads – Review, Interview
February 10 – Shelley’s Book Case – Review
February 11 – A Blue Million Books – Interview, Giveaway
February 12 – readalot – Review
February 13 – Melina’s Book Blog – Review, Guest Post
February 14 – EditingPen – Review
February 15 – Cozy Up With Kathy – Guest Post
 

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