When Jamie Lang finds one of her hand lettered quotes on the window of her shop, Flourish, with a hole shot through a serif, she knows someone's trying to drive her business into red ink. Jamie confronts Earleen Culp, the ruthless owner of the local stationery shop, in front of the most popular breakfast spot in the small town of Cedar Valley. Of course, Earleen professes shock and innocence, so when she’s found dead in front of Jamie's home the next morning, Jamie becomes the prime suspect.
Jamie's one cross-stroke short of acquittal, and even her best friend has her doubts. But Jamie's not the only one in town with a motive for wanting Earleen silenced for good. To clear her name, Jamie's going to need every last drop of ink in her quill.
With the hot police chief Ridge, and her makeup artist friend Nora on her side, she’s prepared to go out with a flourish if that's what it takes to catch the real murderer. She’s desperate to save her hand lettering business, but will her quest lead her right into a killer’s snare?
This was a mystery that started off slowly but gradually gained momentum until the final showdown!
At first I wasn't sure about this book, but as Jamie has more coffee to kick start her day this also kick started, what started as an annoyance (Earleen trying to stop her business) gets worse with one of her limited edition hand lettered quotes shot and pinned to the door. Jamie hadn't had enough coffee when she saw Earleen and managed to get into an argument with her, that should have been the end of it, only Jamie trips over Earleen the next day, literally trips over her as she is well and truly dead on Jamie's front door step!
Now with people cancelling orders, being stopped from the Wedding Fair and people calling her a murderer Jamie needs to find out who is framing her so she can go back to framing her quotes! Having said I wasn't sure at the beginning by the end I was thinking about adding the later books to my TBR list!
An Interview With A Character
What is your full name?
Jamie Lang. I'm single, never been married. So there are no former married names to contend with. Just my maiden name. I don't know that I've been given a middle name by my author. If I could choose, I think it would be Annette. Just because I like the way it sounds. If you're listening author—hint, hint!
What is your Profession?
I'm a professional hand letterer and calligrapher. I own a many-faceted small business, which includes my shop, Flourish. Flourish, of course, is named because it's a double entendre—a swoosh, a dash of artistic flair, and to thrive. It's really my life philosophy. I create and sell hand lettered objects both for the shop and online. Things like framed prints, mugs, kitchen towels, and postcards. A huge part of my business is lettering and calligraphy for weddings—invitations, signs, save-the-dates, place cards, anything with writing on it. I enjoy teaching and sparking the creative side in others so I give online tutorials and offer classes at my shop. Hand lettering really is more art than writing and it's all about community, which is why I love it so much.
What is your current favourite book or movie?
The Art of Cursive Penmanship: A Personal Handwriting Program for Adults by
Michael R. Sull.
I know. Not what you'd expect. Michael R. Sull is a master penman. If I could write half as well as he does, I'd be over the moon.
What is your go to comfort book or movie?
It's a few years old, but I love The Decoy Bride. It's just a fun little romcom that gives me a laugh, especially because I hand letter for so many weddings and have so much interaction with brides.
If someone was to play you in a movie who would it be? OR what would be the character you would want to be in a book?
They say never mention who you would like to play you in a movie because you'll scare the other actors away, should it ever happen. So I really don't like to say. There are so many wonderful actors who could do me justice. As for books, when I retire, which is years in the future, I'd like to be someone like an American Miss Marple and just live here in my small town of Cedar Valley inconspicuously solving crimes.
What is your ideal evening?
Every month I hold a wine and hand lettering night at Flourish. That's my ideal evening. Creating art. Inspiring others. And an evening spent with my friends and new acquaintances.
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
September 4 – The Book’s the Thing – REVIEW, Hand Lettering Practice Sheet
September 4 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT
September 4 – Laura’s Interests – SPOTLIGHT
September 5 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW
September 5 – Cozy Up With Kathy – SPOTLIGHT
September 6 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT
September 6 – I Read What You Write – SPOTLIGHT
September 7 – A Blue Million Books – CHARACTER GUEST POST
September 7 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
September 7 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW
September 8 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – REVIEW
September 8 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW
September 9 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – CHARACTER GUEST POST
September 9 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT
September 9 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
September 10 – Here’s How It Happened – REVIEW
September 10 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT
September 11 – Baroness’ Book Trove – REVIEW
September 11 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW
September 12 – ebook addicts – REVIEW
September 12 – The Book Decoder – REVIEW
September 13 – That’s What She’s Reading – REVIEW
September 13 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT
September 13 – LibriAmoriMiei – REVIEW
Crafts and Life 
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