Thursday, March 11, 2021

Audiobook & Book Review Tour: Back to the Burgh and Beyond by C.S. McDonald

 


Join us for this review tour from Mar 1 to Mar 26, 2021!

Book Details:

Book Title:  Back to the Burgh and Beyond (The Owl's Nest Mysteries) 
Author:  C.S. McDonald
Category:  Adult Fiction, 208 pages
Run Time: 5 hours, 59 minutes

Genre:  Cozy Mystery
Publisher:  McWriter Books
Release date:  Sep 10, 2020
Content Rating:  G. C.S. McDonald's books are appropriate for YA readers as well as adults--no bad language or sexual content.

Book Description: 

Meet Alexa Owl. She's returned home to Pittsburgh after a divorce to start a new life and a new business, The Owl’s Nest Couturier Shoppe. Much to her surprise, she's getting more than she ever bargained for: Detective Bobby Starr, and he's no ordinary sleuth. Bobby is an angel who's returned to Earth in hopes of earning his way into the Guardian Angel Squad. He's been sent by none other than Saint Pete to acquire Alexa’s help to solve three cold case murders he left behind. Except, here’s the catch: he’s only been allotted four days to solve the first case! How in heaven’s name is she supposed to do that? Alexa is a professional seamstress—not a detective. Bobby insists the only way to solve the first case is to return to 1953, and Alexa’s not in love with that idea at all!

Buy the Book:
Audible

Amazon ~ B&N
Add to Goodreads

My Review: ★★★★☆


Before I get into my thoughts on this book, I do want to say that I do recommend it to anyone that enjoys an easy to read cozy mystery with interesting characters. Also, I received this audiobook for free or at a reduced price in order to listen to it and give my honest thoughts. I was not required to leave a review.

I enjoyed the audiobook. It was easy to listen to, had interesting characters, and the writing flows well. The narrator did a good job, keeping it engaging for the listener. 

My only problem with the story, and after discussing it with my teen daughter she agreed, was the ease with which the main character accepted so many unbelievable things. Oh, there are ghosts. OK. Oh, there are other incredible things, like angels and Saint Pete, that many people wouldn't believe existed. Sure, I'll believe it all and not get scared, confused, awestruck, or any other extreme, or even mild, emotions that most people would feel.

I try not to get stuck on details like that, but it really bothered me throughout the book. That being said though, I did enjoy the book. I got into the story, wanting to know what would happen. I enjoyed the setting and really enjoyed the characters, especially the ghost cat. I looked forward to an ending that would satisfy most people and was not disappointed. 

So, like I said earlier, I would definitely recommend it in either book form or audiobook form. It is a fun read with an interesting story and unique characters. Just don't get hung up on small details like I did! 

 
 
You May Also Enjoy One of C.S. McDonald's Fiona Quinn Mysteries. Available in Audiobook, Ebook, and Print:
 
MURDER ON POINTE by C.S. McDonald
Book Details:

Book Title:  Murder on Pointe:  A Fiona Quinn Mystery #1
Author:  C.S. McDonald
Category:  YA Fiction, 219 pages
Run Time: 4 hours, 30 minutes

Genre:  Cozy Mystery
Publisher:  McWriter Books
Release date:  Jul 19, 2016
Formats Available for review: audiobook (audible download), ebook (mobi for kindle, epub, pdf)
Tour dates:  Mar 1 to Mar 26, 2020
Content Rating:  G (The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are for everyone--adults love the books and they are appropriate for teens and tweens too!)

Book Description:

Fiona can't wait to attend the performance of Coppelia at the Benedum Center in Pittsburgh. Her old friend, Silja Ramsay, is dancing the principal role. They have dinner after the show, but when they return Pittsburgh Ballet Theater is down one dancer! Ballerina, Alexis Cartwright, has been found dead in the dressing room. Is this murder a result of hot tempers among the cast members? Or is it a random act of violence? Will there be more murders? Homicide Detective Nathan Landry isn't taking any chances. After finding out Fiona has a strong background in ballet, he recruits her to go undercover among the cast of Coppelia. Can Fiona help catch a killer, or will she be the next victim? 

BUY THE BOOK:
Audible ~ Amazon
Add to Goodreads
 

Book Details:

Book Title:  Merry Murder:  A Fiona Quinn Mystery #2
Author:  C.S. McDonald
Category:  YA Fiction, 219 pages
Run Time: 4 hours, 51 minutes

Genre:  Cozy Mystery
Publisher:  McWriter Books
Release date:  Sep 16, 2016
Formats Available for review: audiobook (audible download), ebook (mobi for kindle, epub, pdf)
Tour dates:  Mar 1 to Mar 26, 2020
Content Rating:  G (The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are for everyone--adults love the books and they are appropriate for teens and tweens too!)

Book Description:

The cookies are baked. The tree is trimmed. The shopping? Well, it's almost done, and Fiona's parents have finally returned home for a holiday visit - along with some unexpected unruly friends. Yep, Fiona's perfectly planned Christmas is coming together, but how could've she planned for her favorite uncle's murder? Who could possibly kill a sweet old man who's played Santa at the local mall every year without fail? Fiona's boyfriend, Detective Nathan Landry, is determined to find out - before Christmas day arrives. There's only one problem: Nancy Quinn. Fiona's mom is just as determined as the detective to catch the murderer, and she isn't shy about getting the job done - even if it includes breaking a few pesky laws! Will Fiona and her mother find the killer first or will the killer find them? 
 
BUY THE BOOK:
Audible ~ Amazon
Add to Goodreads

 

Book Details:

Book Title:  Waves of Murder:  A Fiona Quinn Mystery #3
Author:  C.S. McDonald
Category:  YA Fiction, 190 pages
Run Time: 4 hours, 6 minutes

Genre:  Cozy Mystery
Publisher:  McWriter Books
Release date:  Apr 11, 2017
Formats Available for review: audiobook (audible download), ebook (mobi for kindle, epub, pdf)
Tour dates:  Mar 1 to Mar 26, 2020
Content Rating:  G (The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are for everyone--adults love the books and they are appropriate for teens and tweens too!)

Book Description:

School's out for the summer!


Kindergarten teacher Fiona Quinn is looking forward to spending some quality time in her yard and with her boyfriend, Detective Nathan Landry. However, Fiona's plans get squelched when her mother volunteers her to edit a manuscript for famous romance author Wyla Parkes.
What's so bad about that? The author insists Fiona must work on the manuscript at her beach cottage on Presque Isle - three hours away from her yard and Nathan. Spending six weeks in an adorable cottage on a private beach doesn't really seem all that bad until people start turning up dead - beginning with the author! Fiona's summer of sun and sand is instantly transformed into a murder investigation. Can Fiona and Nathan crack the case or will the murderer getaway on a wave of deceit?
Join Fiona and the gang for a hot whodunit on the sandy beaches of Presque Isle, Pennsylvania! 
 
BUY THE BOOK:
Audible ~ Amazon
Add to Goodreads

 
Book Details:

Book Title:  Tastes Like Murder:  A Fiona Quinn Mystery #4
Author:  C.S. McDonald
Category:  YA Fiction, 202 pages
Run Time: 4 hours, 46 minutes

Genre:  Cozy Mystery
Publisher:  McWriter Books
Release date:  Nov 23, 2017
Formats Available for review: audiobook (audible download), ebook (mobi for kindle, epub, pdf)
Tour dates:  Mar 1 to Mar 26, 2020
Content Rating:  G (The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are for everyone--adults love the books and they are appropriate for teens and tweens too!)

Book Description:

The bridesmaid dresses are ruffles and ruffles of ugly, one bridesmaid is trying to micro-manage…well, pretty much everything, and the bride-to-be is a total bridezilla! Wedding bells will soon be ringing, but as usual, Fiona is a bridesmaid and not a bride. As the maid of honor, how can Fiona keep the volatile pre-wedding festivities running smoothly? 


The problem is abruptly solved when the bride drops over dead at the elegant wine-tasting wedding rehearsal. Yikes! Who poisoned the wine? The suspects are lining up, and Fiona finds herself at the top of the list! Double yikes! It’s a vintage murder case for Fiona, Detective Landry, and the gang. Cheers!
 
BUY THE BOOK:
Audible ~ Amazon
Add to Goodreads
 

Book Details:

Book Title:  Good Luck to Murder:  A Fiona Quinn Mystery #5
Author:  C.S. McDonald
Category:  YA Fiction, 148 pages
Run Time: 3 hours, 49 minutes

Genre:  Cozy Mystery
Publisher:  McWriter Books
Release date:  June 1, 2018
Formats Available for review: audiobook (audible download), ebook (mobi for kindle, epub, pdf)
Tour dates:  Mar 1 to Mar 26, 2020
Content Rating:  G (The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are for everyone--adults love the books and they are appropriate for teens and tweens too!)

Book Description:

Dreams, wishes, fantasies, and... murder?


Fiona's good friend and fellow teacher, Lucky Maguire leads everyone to believe he has won a huge jackpot! Only Lucky turns out not to be so lucky - he winds up dead and his supposed winning lottery ticket missing! 
Yikes!
Did Lucky really win the lottery and if so, where is the ticket hidden? 
Who knew for sure if he truly was Pittsburgh's newest millionaire? 
Double yikes!
Join Fiona and the gang for this winning cozy mystery that's sure to keep you betting on the suspects!
 
BUY THE BOOK:
Audible ~ Amazon
Add to Goodreads
 
 

Book Details:

Book Title:  Mambo and Murder:  A Fiona Quinn Mystery #6
Author:  C.S. McDonald
Category:  YA Fiction, 160 pages
Run Time: 4 hours, 9 minutes

Genre:  Cozy Mystery
Publisher:  McWriter Books
Release date:  October 31, 2018
Formats Available for review: audiobook (audible download), ebook (mobi for kindle, epub, pdf)
Tour dates:  Mar 1 to Mar 26, 2020
Content Rating:  G (The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are for everyone--adults love the books and they are appropriate for teens and tweens too!)

Book Description:

Three ballroom dancers were murdered over 40 years ago. Wow, that’s one old cold case. What’s more, the murderer, who was thought to have been killed during a police chase, has resurfaced in Pittsburgh. Yikes! How can that be? 
Worse, ballroom dancing simply isn’t Detective Nathan Landry’s forte. After weeks of practice, Nathan still has two left feet. Can Fiona step in to guide Nathan through this dancing debacle or will it take 40 years for the detective to find his footing? 
Double yikes! Join Fiona and detective Landry in this high-stepping whodunit!
 
BUY THE BOOK:
Audible ~ Amazon
 
 

Book Details:

Book Title:  Saddle Up for Murder:  A Fiona Quinn Mystery #7
Author:  C.S. McDonald
Category:  YA Fiction, 178 pages
Run Time: 4 hours, 47 minutes

Genre:  Cozy Mystery
Publisher:  McWriter Books
Release date:  May 14, 2019
Formats Available for review: audiobook (audible download), ebook (mobi for kindle, epub, pdf)
Tour dates:  Mar 1 to Mar 26, 2020
Content Rating:  G (The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are for everyone--adults love the books and they are appropriate for teens and tweens too!)

Book Description:

Fiona is in total shock when her mother arrives unannounced on her doorstep. What’s going on? Why, she’s left Fiona’s father, that’s what. Yikes! Worse, a horse trainer is murdered outside his ex-wife’s home in Pittsburgh, and the trail leads directly to a Thoroughbred racetrack in the neighboring state of West Virginia. Get ready, because the suspects are mounting up and heading down the stretch. Whoa! Fiona and Detective Landry aren’t horsing around with this homicide!
 
BUY THE BOOK:
Audible ~ Amazon
 
 

Book Details:

Book Title:  Bon Voyage to Murder:  A Fiona Quinn Mystery #8
Author:  C.S. McDonald
Category:  YA Fiction, 198 pages
Run Time: 6 hours, 52 minutes

Genre:  Cozy Mystery
Publisher:  McWriter Books
Release date:  Nov 5, 2019
Formats Available for review: audiobook (audible download), ebook (mobi for kindle, epub, pdf)
Tour dates:  Mar 1 to Mar 26, 2020
Content Rating:  G (The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are for everyone--adults love the books and they are appropriate for teens and tweens too!)

Book Description:

Hooray! Fiona has finally convinced her boyfriend detective Nathan Landry to go on a romantic Caribbean cruise. Unfortunately, their fun on the high seas is interrupted by murder. It isn’t long before they discover a boatload of suspects, who have motives deeper than the ocean for wanting the victim out of their lives.
 
BUY THE BOOK:
Audible ~ Amazon
 

Book Details:

Book Title:  Taking Notes on Murder:  A Fiona Quinn Mystery #9
Author:  C.S. McDonald
Category:  YA Fiction, 184 pages
Run Time: 5 hours

Genre:  Cozy Mystery
Publisher:  McWriter Books
Release date:  May 19, 2020
Formats Available for review: audiobook (audible download), ebook (mobi for kindle, epub, pdf)
Tour dates:  Mar 1 to Mar 26, 2020
Content Rating:  G (The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are for everyone--adults love the books and they are appropriate for teens and tweens too!)

Book Description:

Mysterious notes are showing up in Fiona’s kindergarten classroom, claiming a suicide from 2005 was actually a homicide. Detective Landry maintains the messages are too vague, possess no integrity, and do not warrant a review of the old case.


Fiona’s not convinced. She’s determined to find the author of the enigmatic notes and uncover the truth about a man who had many secrets and countless enemies, including Fiona’s mother and former suspect Nancy Quinn!
Can Fiona crack this cold case, and what will it take to get Detective Landry involved? Don’t miss taking notes on this murder! 
 
    BUY THE BOOK:
Audible ~ Amazon
 

Meet the Author: 

For twenty-six years C.S. McDonald’s life whirled around a song and a dance. Classically trained at Pittsburgh Ballet Theater School, The Pittsburgh Dance Alloy, and many others, she became a professional dancer and choreographer. During that time, she choreographed many musicals and an opera for the Pittsburgh Savoyards. In 2011 she retired from her dance career to write. Under her real name, Cindy McDonald, she writes murder-suspense and romantic suspense novels. In 2014 she added the pen name, C.S. McDonald, to write children’s books for her grandchildren. In 2016 she added the Fiona Quinn Mysteries to that expansion. She decided to write the cozy mystery series that everyone, including teens and tweens, can read and enjoy. Presently, the Fiona Quinn Mysteries nine books with a tenth slated for 2021. The books are also available on audio, narrated by Maren Swenson Waxenberg. Cindy’s newest venture is The Owl’s Nest Mysteries. Once again, she has set her cozy mystery in Pittsburgh. The female protagonist, Alexa Owl, is much different from Fiona Quinn. The Owl’s Next Mysteries has a little grit, a little time travel, a little romance, and a whole lot of cozy! Ms. McDonald resides on her Thoroughbred farm known as Fly by Night Stables near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with her husband, Bill, and her poorly behaved Cocker Spaniel, Allister.

Connect with the author:  Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook
 
Tour Schedule
Mar 1 – Olio by Marilyn – book review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway
Mar 1 - She Just Loves Books – audiobook review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway
Mar 2 - Laura's Interests – audiobook review of Saddle Up for Murder / giveaway
Mar 3 – Rockin' Book Reviews – audiobook review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway
Mar 3 – Gina Rae Mitchell – audiobook review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway
Mar 4 – Gina Rae Mitchell – audiobook review of Murder on Pointe / giveaway
Mar 4 - Laura's Interests – audiobook review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway
Mar 5 – Rockin' Book Reviews – audiobook review of Good Like to Murder / giveaway
Mar 8 – Locks, Hooks and Books – audiobook review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway
Mar 9 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of Murder on Pointe / giveaway
Mar 9 - Splashes of Joy – audiobook review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway
Mar 10 – My Tangled Skeins Book Reviews – audiobook review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway
Mar 10 - Wickedly Romance – book review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway
Mar 11 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway
Mar 11 - Wickedly Romance – book review of Murder on Pointe / giveaway
Mar 11 - Blooming with Books - audiobook review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond
Mar 12 – Splashes of Joy – audiobook review of Murder on Pointe / giveaway
Mar 12 - Books Lattes & Tiaras – book review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway
Mar 15 - Blooming with Books - audiobook review of Murder on Pointe
Mar 15 – She Just Loves Books – audiobook review of Tastes Like Murder / giveaway
Mar 15 - Chit Chat with Charity - audiobook review of Saddle Up for Murder / giveaway
Mar 16 – Olio by Marilyn – book review of Murder on Pointe / giveaway
Mar 16 - My Reading Journeys – book review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway
Mar 17 – Westveil Publishing – audiobook review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway
Mar 17 - My Reading Journeys – book review of Saddle Up for Murder / giveaway
Mar 18 – Musing of Souls – book review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond
Mar 18 - Books for Books – audiobook review of Murder on Pointe
Mar 19 – Books Lattes & Tiaras – book review of Murder on Pointe / giveaway
Mar 22 – Westveil Publishing – audiobook review of Murder on Pointe / giveaway
Mar 22 - Musing of Souls – audiobook review of Tastes Like Murder
Mar 23 – Locks, Hooks and Books – audiobook review of Tastes Like Murder / giveaway
Mar 23 - Lisa's Reading – book review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway
Mar 24 – My Tangled Skeins Book Reviews – audiobook review of Murder on Pointe / giveaway
Mar 24 - Books for Books – audiobook review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond
Mar 25 – BookishKelly2020 – book review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway
Mar 25 - Chit Chat with Charity - audiobook review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway
Mar 26 - BookishKelly2020 – book review of Murder on Pointe / giveaway
Mar 26 - Lisa's Reading – book review Tastes Like Murder / giveaway

Enter the Giveaway:

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