Currant Conversation Oolong Tea by Karen Rose Smith

 

Drinking tea was a past time long before I began writing cozy mysteries that take place at my sleuth’s business establishment, Daisy’s Tea Garden. When I was a child we lived with my grandfather and aunt. I remember nights in front of a black and white tv/radio/phonograph combination. My mom would brew tea.

                  Burton Teapot for One 

This week I tried Plum Deluxe’s Currant Conversation Oolong Tea. 

                                                     Currant Conversation Oolong Tea

Since my next Daisy’s Tea Garden mystery release is Murder With Oolong Tea, I’m especially interested in oolong flavors. Oolong is neither a Green tea or a black tea. It has characteristics of its own depending how it’s oxidized. The taste can also depend on where it’s grown. Its origins are in China and Taiwan.  This Currant Conversation Oolong Tea has more of a woodsy taste than fruit taste.  The smoothness comes from vanilla. It is organic. I used 1 teaspoon for each cup with boiling water, steeping it for about 4 minutes.

I hope you can relax and enjoy a time-out for a cuppa tea!

 

Tidbit about MURDER WITH OOLONG TEA

A spring house on a farm is almost a thing of the past. But not for Daisy Swanson. A spring house could save her life!

 NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER 

MURDER WITH OOLONG TEA

Release Date: DECEMBER 29, 2020

PRE-ORDER ON AMAZON

PRE-ORDER ON BARNES AND NOBLE

A New Cat in Town--Cat Crazy Booklovers by Karen Rose Smith

There's a new cat in town!

Cat lovers seem to gravitate toward each other. Our Cat Crazy Booklovers Author group came together and established a Facebook page about a year ago.  Lives and careers change and today we have four members with a mystery/romantic suspense author joining us. 

Our newest member of the Cat Crazy Author group is Colleen Collins.  Colleen is a real-life Private Investigator. I began following her on Twitter a few years ago.  Then I began following her on Facebook.  She's funny, witty and as nostalgic as I am about old movies and memories. Photos of her Persian, Denny Crane (on our new banner) always make me laugh. Her other housemate felines are a white Persian named Lily and a domestic long-hair rescue dubbed Lucy. Colleen writes romantic suspense and mystery. 

Colleen's writing buddy--Denny Crane

I met Deborah Blake who writes wonderful witchy tales when she posted on my cat blog.  I had taken in a pregnant stray and Deb had gone through the experience of having a fur baby deliver kittens, so we talked and became friends.  We've supported each other through the highs and lows of caring for our kitty kids. Deborah has three rescued feline housemates--Magic, Mystic and Angus (on the banner).

Deborah's furry friend -- Angus

Susan Meier and I met years ago (I won't say how many) when we were starting our romance writing careers.  She's written over 65 books now and my 97th comes out next year.  We talk often, compare writing and promotion strategies and support each other's life crises. Susan is a cat lover too.  Her cat is a dark tortoiseshell named Sophia. 

Susan's feline -- Sophia

As many of you know who follow my cat blogs, I have four inside rescued cats--Halo, her kitten Paddy (split color face tortie on the banner), Zoie Joy, and senior London.  I also care for two outside strays who are siblings--Bonnie and Clyde.  My writing career has branched from romance to mystery to women's fiction. 

Karen's youngest fur baby--Miss Paddington (Paddy for short)

Please come join us on our Cat Crazy Booklovers Facebook page to chat and share cat photos!

Cat Crazy Booklovers Facebook Page

Here's a selection of the books the Cat Crazy Booklovers Author's write. 

PREGNANT WITH A ROYAL BABY! on Amazon

PREGNANT WITH A ROYAL BABY! on Barnes and Noble

HOW DO PRIVATE EYES DO THAT? on Amazon

THE WEDDING PROMISE on Amazon

THE WEDDING PROMISE on Barnes and Noble

WICKEDLY POWERFUL on Amazon

WICKEDLY POWERFUL on Barnes and Noble


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USA TODAY Bestselling Author Karen Rose Smith is an only child who delved into books at an early age. She learned about kindred spirits from Anne of Green Gables, solved mysteries with Nancy Drew and wished she could have been the rider on The Black Stallion. Yet even though she escaped often into story worlds, she had many aunts, uncles and cousins around her on weekends. Her sense of family and relationships began there. Maybe that's why families are a strong theme in her novels, whether mysteries or romances. Her 95th novel will be released in 2017.

Readers often ask her about her pastimes. She has herb, flowers and vegetable gardens that help her relax. In the winter, she cooks rather than gardens. And year round she spends most of her time with her husband, as well as her four rescued cats who are her constant companions. They chase rainbows from sun catchers, reminding her life isn't all about work, awards and bestseller lists. Everyone needs that rainbow to chase.

Karen looks forward to interacting with readers. They can find her at the links below. 

Karen's Newsletter IN TOUCH

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Karen Rose Smith's romance website 

Karen Rose Smith's mystery website 

Karen's Cat-Themed Zazzle Store

Karen's Facebook Author Page

Karen on Twitter

Six Reasons I Give Away #Books!

Why do I give away books?

I give away books for several reasons.  I like to make readers happy.  What better way than to give them a signed copy of a book they'd like to read and maybe even keep.

I give away books to promote my next title.  If you read my book and you like it, I'm hoping you'll want to read more of my novels.

I give away books to be able to interact with my readers.  Maybe a reader will email me and let me know if they enjoyed the book.  We can start a dialogue that helps me know my readers better and helps them know me.

I give away books hoping a reader will write a review.  In the world of rate and review, I hope a reader will care enough to leave an honest review.  Supposedly the more reviews, the better a book sells.  I have as yet to see that, but I can hope!

I give away books at various venues to provide readers with multiple opportunities to win.  I blog on different websites.  I giveaway books on Goodreads.  I give away books at my newsletter IN TOUCH (don't forget to sign up here: IN TOUCH with KAREN ROSE SMITH newsletter  ) and from my blog and Facebook, too.  If you check my Facebook Karen Rose Smith Author page: KRS Facebook Page, I do giveaways there often.  My Caprice De Luca mystery series street team has contests as well as book giveaways.

I think the best reason I give away books is to thank my readers for supporting me in the many phases of my career.  Now, as I add mysteries to my romance repertoire, I hope you will follow me into that genre, too.

I'm giving away 2 autographed print copies of ALWAYS DEVOTED at Goodreads:  Goodreads Giveaway

I'm giving away a copy of MARRYING DR. MAVERICK at HarlequinJunkies.  Harlequin Junkies Giveaway

If you leave a comment on this blog, your name will go into a drawing for an ebook copy of HER SISTER. 

Good luck!!!

IN TOUCH with KAREN ROSE SMITH ezine
Karen Rose Smith's romance website 
Karen Rose Smith's mystery website

©2013 Karen Rose Smith 

Books, Books, #Books galore Give*way by Karen Rose Smith

Why I give away books!!!

I appreciate each and every one of my readers.  Over the years, many of them have followed me through changes in lines, editors and publishers.  Lots of my readers still like to hold a book in their hands instead of reading an ebook.  That's why I'm putting some of my ebooks into print.  HER SISTER is the first and it's what's called "trade paperback" size which is a little larger than a mass market paperback.  It's a women's fiction novel about a family in crisis 27 years ago and now in crisis again.  It's a story about a grandmother, a mother, and a daughter finding their way back to each other.

Soon, at the end of July, Harlequin Special Edition will release the first book in my MOMMY CLUB series, WANTED: A REAL FAMILY.  You'll be seeing more MOMMY CLUB books.  The Mommy Club is an organization in the town of Fawn Grove, California, started by a mysterious benefactress. This group of volunteers helps families in need.  In WANTED: A REAL FAMILY, my heroine's house burns down.  But the hero (who she met when she helped him in physical therapy) offers her and her daughter Amy the guest house on Raintree Winery.  Sara is a widow.  Jase is a former photojournalist whose specialty was photographing children in refugee camps.  Both free now, except for past romantic shadows, sparks ignite leading to bonds that will never be broken.

For the month of July, I'm having giveaways for both books on Goodreads.  The links for each giveaway are below.

Goodreads Giveaway--HER SISTER


Goodreads Giveaway--WANTED: A REAL FAMILY


In addition to these giveaways, here on this blog I will be giving away five more print copies of WANTED: A REAL FAMILY.  If you leave a comment, I will put your name in a drawing for a print copy of this first MOMMY CLUB romance.  Please leave your email address so that I can contact you if you win.  And keep watching my blog for future giveaways. 

Good luck on all the giveaways and have a happy, reading-filled, rest of the summer!


IN TOUCH with KAREN ROSE SMITH ezine
Karen Rose Smith's romance website 
Karen Rose Smith's mystery website

©2013 Karen Rose Smith