Pumpkin Roll by Josi S. Kilpack – Countdown to Christmas 2011

 Posted by  Countdown to Christmas, Special Features
Nov 302011
 

25 days until Christmas

 

Josi grew up hating to read until her mother handed her a copy of The Witch of Blackbird Pond when she was 13. From that day forward, she read everything she could get her hands on and accredits her writing “education” to the many novels she has “studied” since then. She began her first novel in 1998 and hasn’t stopped. Her novel, Sheep’s Clothing won the Whitney Award 2007 for Mystery/Suspense. Lemon Tart, the first book in the Sadie Hoffmiller Culinary Mystery Series was a Whitney Finalist for 2009. Book six in the series, Pumpkin Roll, was released in September 2011. Josi currently lives in Willard, Utah, with her husband, four children, one dog, and varying number of chickens. For more information about Josi, you can visit her website at www.josiskilpack.com or her blog at www.josikilpack.blogspot.com.

Connect with Josi: WEBSITE | BLOG | Twitter | Facebook

*****

LDSWBR: What Christmas-related activity would you like to do this year that you have never done before?

JOSI: In Ogden they have a Christmas Village set up around the courthouse on 25th street. I’ve driven by it a few times but never taken the time to walk between the houses and look inside the windows. It seems that Christmas always gets to full, but I hope to make time for the Christmas village this year.

LDSWBR: If you could find one book under the tree this year, what would it be?

JOSI: My Family 2010-2011 digital scrap-book…preferably finished by someone else :-)

LDSWBR: What is your favorite childhood Christmas memory?

JOSI: My parents wouldn’t let us leave our bedrooms until 7:00. They slept upstairs, on the same level as the Christmas Tree, and the kids were scattered throughout the basement. Starting around five a.m. we’d start waking up and congregating in my oldest sister’s room. At exactly 7:00 we would run upstairs and crawl into bed with Mom and Dad. There were nine kids, so this was quite the feat to fit us all in there. We’d giggle and wiggle for ten minutes or so, until Mom and Dad finally agreed it was time to go in. The anticipation of the morning and the connection to my family that happened in those moments will always be priceless memories to me.

LDSWBR: What a sweet memory. Thanks, Josi!

*****

Buy Pumpkin Roll by Josi S. Kilpack

DESERET BOOK | AMAZON

Read Mindy’s review of Pumpkin Roll.

What time did your family wake up Christmas morning when you were a child? If you have children, did you set a time for them to wake you up on Christmas morning?

*****

To enter the Countdown to Christmas 2011 contest, complete the following and then tell us what you did:

  • **Required entry (+1) – Leave a thoughtful comment on this post. (More than just “Great contest!” please) You must leave a comment on this post for your other entries to count. If you are reading this post through email or an RSS reader, please click through to leave a comment.
  • Bonus entry (+1 total) – Follow Josi on Twitter, Facebook or her blog. Send an email to ldswbr (at) gmail (dot) com telling us how you follow Josi.
  • Additional entries (one time +1 entry each) – 1) Subscribe to LDSWBR through email 2)Follow @LDSWBR on Twitter 3) Like LDS Women’s Book Review on Facebook (all found at the the top of the right sidebar on the LDSWBR blog). NOTE: If you already subscribe through email, follow us on Twitter, or Like us on Facebook you must tell us in a comment for the extra entries to count.
  • By leaving a comment and entering the Countdown to Christmas 2011, you agree to the contest information found here.

 

***So far the Countdown to Christmas 2011 authors have donated 16 books and some swag! The prize list is continuing to grow and will be updated often. If you haven’t read the contest rules and info, read them here.***

 

Book prizes donated by their authors (list will be updated as more prizes are added):
  • Rearview Mirror by Stephanie Black
  • The Next Door Boys by Jolene B. Perry
  • Winner’s choice of one of the books in the Sadie Hoffmiller Culinary Mystery Series by Josi S. Kilpack (including Banana Split which will be released in February 2012)
  • Seeking Persephone by Sarah M. Eden
  • Obsession by Traci Hunter Abramson
  • Circle of Secrets by Kimberley Griffiths Little
  • Indelible by Lani Woodland and a swag bag!
  • Identity by Betsy Love
  • The Hainan Incident by D.M. Coffman (autographed copy)
  • Count Down to Love by Julie N. Ford
  • Geek Girl by Cindy C. Bennett
  • The Breakup Artist by Shannen Crane Camp
  • Seers by Heather Frost
Don’t forget to comment! Merry Christmas and happy reading!

Pumpkin Roll by Josi S. Kilpack and iPad 2 Contest

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Contests, Mindy's Reviews
Sep 142011
 

Pumpkin Roll

Author: Josi Kilpack

Publisher: Shadow Mountain

Published: September 7, 2011

Softcover: 374 pages

ISBN-13: 978-1-60908-745-6

FTC FYI: Purchased my own copy

Reviewed by Mindy

Sadie and Pete are in Jamaica Plain, a quant little suburb of Boston.  Pete’s son Jared and wife Heather are out of state looking for new housing, while Sadie and Pete babysit their three boys.  While in the kitchen discussing the difference between a sociopath and a psychopath, the boys are noticeably quiet.  As they hustle to the living room, they see the boys looking out the window at the woman across the street.  The oldest Kalan, tells Sadie that he has heard his mother call Mrs. Wapple a witch.  She even has the wild hair and pointed hat.  Sadie and Pete quickly dismiss the idea that she is witch, but agree to keep their eyes on her.  Sadie and her curiosity lead to some ginger cookie deliveries around the neighborhood, of course one of the stops is to Mrs. Wapple’s.  Knocking on the front door gets her no where, so Sadie goes to side of house, pokes around, and is startled by a pair of tennis shoes.  The owner of the shoes is younger looking then the woman she saw last night, but she introduces herself as Delores Wapple.  Sadie notices many differences between the women, but takes her at her word.  Sadie also asks if she lives alone and she quietly answers that she does.  After some more light conversation, Sadie takes her cue and leaves.  More curious then ever.

When it comes to Sadie’s investigating, Pete has given some advice.

  1. Advice One  is about misleading him
  2. Advice Two is about breaking the law
  3. Advice Three is about sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong, isn’t needed, or will create more problems then relief

Sadie really takes the advice to heart.  Sadie’s son Shawn has been helping her keep up on her investigative work so she is able to come to Boston.  He mentions that Jane Seeley could help with some of the load.  Sadie dismisses the idea, she is still leery of Jane because of the article she wrote. (see BlackBerry Crumble)  Jane calls Sadie a few times, which she ignores, but the calls keep coming, so she picks up.  Jane is in New Haven working on a story and offers to help Sadie any way she can.

Sadie’s mind is still on Mrs. Wapple, and some strange occurrences start happening around the house at night.  Maybe Delores really is a witch…

I loved this book.  Every book in this series gets better and better.  Pumpkin Roll is different, while the others have their tense moments, this had me downright nervous and spooked.  Lots of creepy stuff happens to Sadie, and I could not stop reading.

5 stars out of 5.  During the climax, I kept shaking my head saying, “No way this is happening.”  I took the book to pick up my girls at school, and stayed in the car when we got home so I could finish.

Josi is a very talented writer.  Along with the Sadie Hoffmiller series, she has written other books.  Read more about Josi here.  Purchase her books here and here.

Here is what you’ve been scrolling down to find.  Leave a comment and enter to win an iPad 2!

In conjunction with the release of Pumpkin Roll the author, Josi S. Kilpack, and the publisher, Shadow Mountain, are sponsoring a contest for a new iPad. To enter, leave a comment in the comment section of this blog before November 1, 2011. Winners will be announced and notified November 3rd 2011.

For additional ways to enter, go to www.josiskilpack.com


To-Read Tuesday 8.30.2011

 Posted by  Special Features, To-Read Tuesday
Aug 302011
 

If you could read only ONE book from your to-read list, what would it be and why?
What are you looking forward to? Is it a sequel? Have all of your friends read it and you’re tired of being the odd one out? Is there a movie being released that is based on the book? Are you in love with the cover? Leave the link to your To-Read Tuesday blog post or just tell us which book you would read and why in the comments below.

Shanda

Bloodborne by Gregg Luke

I’ve been looking forward to reading this since Gregg told me about it at Storymakers in May. We’ll be posting a combined review of Bloodborne on September 7.

Sheila

I am so anxious to read Hang’em High by Tristi Pinkston. I really love the characters from the Secret Sisters Mystery series. It will be great fun to read about them going to Montana to visit the dude ranch.

Mindy

Pumpkin Roll by Josi S.Kilpack

What is Sadie up to next? Can’t wait to find out.

Blackberry Crumble by Josi S. Kilpack

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Aug 242011
 

Blackberry Crumble

Author: Josi S. Kilpack

Published Date: March 2011

Publisher: Deseret Book

Softcover; 366 pages

Genre: Mystery-Suspense

ISBN# 978-1-60641-941-0

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: Free review copy in exchange for honest review. (Or did I buy this one? I can’t remember now.)

First Things First

I am a big fan of Sadie Hoffmiller. I think it’s because she is so many things I am not and I get to experience the story through someone very different than myself.

Sadie is a widow; I’m celebrating 15 years with my hubby next month. Sadie is a fifty-something retired school teacher with two grown children in college; I am a stay-at-home mom with four kids ranging in ages from 13 to 2.5 years old. Sadie loves to cook and bake; I love to eat things other people have cooked and baked. Her curiosity gets her into some serious scrapes; I would be to nervous to do anything and just let the police handle it. She loves food; I love food. Wait…

Speaking of food, the Blueberry Muffin Tops on page 11 are absolutely delicious. They make me so HAPPY. Light, sweet, lemon-blueberry goodness…*ahem*…

Blackberry Crumble is the fifth book in the Sadie Hoffmiller Mystery series. This story is different in that Sadie is sought out by another character, May, to look into her father’s death. May feels that her father was murdered, though his death was ruled as a heart attack. Sadie is undecided about helping May, especially after Jane, the easy-to-despise reporter publishes a sensationalized article about Sadie in the Denver Post.

Sadie finds herself being shunned by those who know her because of the lies printed about her in the article. Even her church “friends” are being uncharitable, condemning Sadie without asking her side. Ultimately, Sadie decides to get away from all the gossip, takes the case and heads up to Portland.

My Thoughts

Blackberry Crumble was well-written, descriptive and full of red herrings. I honestly didn’t know who would end up being the bad guy and I was surprised by the end. The overall pace felt a little slower than the others but there was still plenty of suspense and action. There was a bit of humor along with a higher level of emotions like grief, guilt, regret, resentment, and family contention.

I’ve already mentioned the Blueberry Muffin Tops, but did you know there was such a thing as Bacon Ice Cream? At first I wrinkled my nose but looking at the recipe it actually sounds really good. My husband would love it.

There was also a certain amount of resolution with Pete that I’ve been waiting to see for a couple of books. While Lemon Tart and Devil’s Food Cake are my favorites in the series, there is something to be appreciated in each of the books. I feel that Blackberry Crumble is where action and consequence come full circle for Sadie and I’m very interested to see where Josi takes the series from here.

What’s Next?

Luckily, the wait for the next book in the series is almost over. Pumpkin Roll is due to be released September 7, 2011. I can’t wait. Not only does the cover make me hungry, it actually makes me look forward to fall. (Summer took so long to get here that I’ve been intentionally avoiding anything that even hints that winter is coming again.)

Josi is currently working on the seventh Sadie Hoffmiller Mystery book, Banana Split.

For more information and a list of book signings and other events where you can find Josi, visit her webpage and follow her on Twitter @josiskilpack.