"The Christmas Clause" By Kathi Daley: Review/Giveaway

by Kathleen Costa

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win an ebook copy of this book, and a link to purchase it.

A Delivery of...Murder!
Tess Thomas delivers the mail to the residents of White Eagle, Montana, partnered with Tilly, her trusty Golden Retriever. It’s nice checking in with everyone and joining in on some gossipy conversation, and for Tilly it’s always a treat or two. However, it seems a murder often disrupts everything, but she’s not alone. Along with Tilly, there’s her mother and aunt who run the local diner, BFF/sister-in-law Bree who owns the Book Boutique, and brother Mike who’s always in the know as the local deputy. But, the most important member of Tess’s team is her boyfriend Tony Marconi, who is quite the tech wiz. But, the one thing missing is her father. Grant Thomas died in a fiery traffic accident when Tess was only fourteen, but two years ago she found reliable evidence that put his death in question. The niggling thought...why fake his death? The other niggling thought...do I tell mom and brother Mike? The final niggling thought...what do I do now?

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The Christmas Clause earn 5/5 Antique Desks...Engaging Fun!
Tess worries she may have crossed the line into being a “stalker” as she sits outside the home of Star Moonwalker, a young woman whose “casual style, [is] reminiscent of the flower children of the 1960s” and whom Tess has reason to believe might be her half-sister. She met the young woman about six-weeks ago delivering mail to her antique shop on Main Street, and learned through conversations, and some gossip, she had been searching for her birth parents, even, months earlier, hiring a private investigator. However, the PI had been murdered, and months after, the PI’s file was sent to Star, all casting a dark shadow on the connections with Tess’s father and increasing fears Star might be in jeopardy. Be careful what you say! While parked outside Star’s house, Tess witnesses a car drive up, a figure go to the front door, Star open the door and...collapse. Shot. Dead. Tess is unable to give a clear description of the shooter beyond “average,” but due to his “wiry” build, she believes it wasn’t her father. Still there are connections hard to dismiss, and Mike, her brother and deputy in charge, needs answers, and telling him all that she’s learned about their father and never told him could destroy their relationship. And the file, the file Tess remembers delivering to Star, needs to be found.

It’s also the holidays with tree decorating, present buying, and lots of Christmassing. But, the event planner in charge of the city’s Christmas on Main festival has invoked her contract’s “Christmas Clause” indicating she can resign from the job as long as it is not less than two-weeks to the event. So, she left. Tess’s mom and the rest of the committee are in overdrive to get things done. Will they save Christmas?

Wow! Kathi Daley had me on the edge of my seat spending most of the book with the compelling storyline more related to Tess’s father. Previous books trickled bits here, photos there, maybe this, maybe that which have increased to this book’s crescendo. Although questions still remain unanswered, the drama included so many intriguing motives from a billionaire, secret business, an antique desk, a secret compartment. Family is always at the center of Kathi’s stories, and the “Why didn’t you tell me!?” accusation adds a realistic conflict that effects the once positive collaboration between Tess and her deputy brother. But, the surprise intervention is what adds the most drama. Kathi’s writing style is always clever with a first-person narrative and descriptive language and dialogue that illustrates well the setting, characters, personalities and emotions. Loved it!

A Tess and Tilly Cozy Mystery
The Christmas Letter (2017)
The Valentine Mystery (2018)
The Mother's Day Mishap (2018)
The Halloween House (2018)
The Thanksgiving Trip (2018)
The Saint Paddy's Promise (2019)
The Halloween Haunting (2019)
The Christmas Clause (2019)


Be a Big Kathi Daley Fan!
Along with this eight-book Tess and Tilly Cozy Mystery series, USA Today bestselling author Kathi Daley has twelve different series offering something for every cozy taste from Alaska to Hawaii, from the northwest to the southeast, with varied occupations and close relationships with family and “fur” friend companions, and in several series, easy-to-follow recipes. She has a great social media community of fans, an ARC team, and can be followed on Amazon, Goodreads, and BookBub. Keep updated on all of her book releases, events, and goings-on by signing up for her newsletter HERE.

Facebook - Kathi Daley Books
Join the Club Kathi Daley Book Club
On the Web Kathi Daley Website
Blog - Random Thoughts and Meaningless Musings

Delivering a Merry Christmas!
Evermine Blogs is my favorite go-to site for great holiday party and gift ideas; add my love for biscotti, and you have me drooling! Jeanne Williamson, an Evermine blogger, loves baking, sewing, and creating. Here are two easy-to-follow recipes for Chocolate & Nut Biscotti and Nut & Lemon Biscotti along with directions to make Easy Paper Wrap gift bags for quick little holiday gifts perfect for your own mail carrier or those UPS, FEDx, or Amazon drivers delivering all your holidays cards, letters, and packages.

DIY - Biscotti and Gift Bags

To enter to win an ebook copy of The Christmas Clause, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "clause,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen December 21, 2019. U.S. residents only and you must be 18 or older to enter. You can read our privacy statement here if you like. We delete all emails after the contest is over.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section in Kings River Life and in our mystery category here on KRL News & Reviews. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. And check out our new mystery podcast which features mystery short stories and first chapters read by local actors! One of our past episodes features another of Kathi's books. You can listen to it here: mysteryratsmaze.podbean.com/e/boxes-in-the-basement-by-kathi-daley We just posted a new episode this week which features a Christmas mystery short story by Donna Andrews!

You can use this link to purchase the book. If you have adblocker on you may not be able to see the Amazon link:


Opens to author website


Kathleen Costa is a long-time resident of the Central Valley, and although born in Idaho, she considers herself a “California Girl.” Graduating from CSU-Sacramento, she is a 35+ year veteran teacher having taught in grades 1-8 in schools from Sacramento to Los Angeles to Stockton to Lodi. Currently Kathleen is enjoying her retirement revitalizing hobbies along with exploring writing, reading for pleasure, and spending 24/7 with her husband.
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Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.

Comments

  1. Sounds interesting. Kathi Daley is very prolific. Count me in!

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  2. I’d love to read this!

    legallyblonde1961@yahoo.com

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  3. I love Kathi Daley's books. Thanks for the contest. ckmbeg (at) gmail (dot) com

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  4. Kathi Daley write such great cozies. Thank you for the chance to win this one.

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  5. Love Kathi Daley's books. Looking forward to reading.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

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  6. Thank you for the chance to win this awesome book.

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  7. Love Kathi Daley's Holiday Stories..
    Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com

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  8. Sounds like a book I would love to read!

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  9. My husband and I love Kathi Daley's books. Thank you for the chance to win.

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  10. I would love the chance to win. Thank you.

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  11. Love this series! jawdance@yahoo.com

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