The Witless Protection Program (A Catering Hall Mystery) by Maria DiRico ~ Cozy Mystery @ellenbyronla

The Witless Protection Program (A Catering Hall Mystery) by Maria DiRico

About The Witless Protection Program:

 

The Witless Protection Program (A Catering Hall Mystery)

Cozy Mystery

5th in Series

Setting - New York

Kensington Cozies (March 26, 2024)

Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages

ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1496744624

ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496744623

Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0C9W8W668

Mia Carina has steered her Italian-American family’s Astoria, Queens, catering hall, Belle View Banquet Manor, into becoming the borough’s premiere party site, and nothing could make her happier—except her boyfriend proposing. There’s just one presumed-dead obstacle in the way . . .

A strong, independent woman and respected entrepreneur, Mia never imagined she’d pine for a marriage proposal. Yet lately, with her beloved Shane, she’s on tenterhooks. It’s especially surprising, considering Mia’s first husband, Adam, was a philandering grifter, assumed lost-at-sea after a boating disaster. But everyone knows what happens when you assume . . .

While working a huge wedding expo in Manhattan, Mia is shocked to spot the man who nearly destroyed her life. The one who’s supposed to be sleeping with the fishes. But she loses him in the crowd. And when it happens again the next day, it’s time for an emergency meeting with the family—and the Family. Because if Adam is alive, Mia is still married . . .

Everyone wants Adam dead. Everyone except Mia. She’s dealt with enough police for a lifetime. Mia needs to be a divorcée, not a widow. But someone out there disagrees, and if Mia doesn’t discover who, she may never be free to marry Shane—or anyone else . . .

Italian recipes included!

About Maria DiRico:

Maria DiRico is the pseudonym for Ellen Byron, author of the award-winning, USA Today bestselling Cajun Country Mysteries. Born in Queens, New York, she is a first-generation Italian-American on her mother's side and the granddaughter of a low-level Jewish mobster on her father's side. She grew up visiting the Astoria Manor and Grand Bay Marina catering halls, which were run by her Italian mother's family in Queens and have become the inspiration for her Catering Hall Mystery Series. DiRico has been a writer-producer for hit television series like Wings and Just Shoot Me, and her first play, Graceland, appears in the Best Short Plays collection. She's a freelance journalist, with over 200 articles published in national magazines, and previously worked as a cater-waiter for Martha Stewart, a credit she never tires of sharing. A native New Yorker who attended Tulane University, Ellen lives in Los Angeles with her husband, daughter, and two rescue dogs.

Author Links – Website – Chicks on the Case – Facebook – Twitter 

Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Kobo –Bookshop.org – Kensington 

TOUR PARTICIPANTS:

March 25 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT

March 25 – Elicia's Book Haven – AUTHOR GUEST POST

March 25 – Christa Reads and Writes – SPOTLIGHT

March 26 – The Mystery of Writing – CHARACTER GUEST POST

March 26 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT

March 26 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

March 27 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading – REVIEW

March 27 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

March 28 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

March 28 – Elizabeth McKenna - Author – SPOTLIGHT

March 29 – Books to the Ceiling – PODCAST – SPOTLIGHT- EXCERPT

March 29 – Christy's Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST

March 30 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT

March 30 – MJB Reviewer - SPOTLIGHT

March 31 - Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

March 31 - Boys' Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT

April 1 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW

April 1 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

April 2 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR GUEST POST

April 2 – Cassidy's Bookshelves – REVIEW

April 3 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

April 3 – The Plain-Spoken Pen – REVIEW – EXCERPT a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Four Parties and a Funeral (A Catering Hall Mystery) by Maria DiRico @ellenbyronla #CozyMystery

 

Four Parties and a Funeral (A Catering Hall Mystery) by Maria DiRico

About Four Parties and a Funeral:

 

Four Parties and a Funeral (A Catering Hall Mystery)

Cozy Mystery

4th in Series

Setting - New York

Kensington Cozies (March 28, 2023)

Mass Market Paperback: ‎ 304 pages

ISBN-10: ‎ 1496739701

ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1496739704

Digital ASIN: ‎ B0B6DBV3WV

In this fresh and witty cozy mystery series set amid an extended Italian-American family in Astoria, Queens, catering hall owner and amateur sleuth Mia Carina must solve a murder on the set of a reality show. 

The June events schedule at Belle View is busting out all over—proms, graduations, and of course, weddings. There are unexpected bookings too, including a casting call for the pilot of Dons of Ditmars Boulevard. But soon, Mia’s fears about the cheesy reality show are confirmed . . . 

Belle View quickly becomes the site of a sea of wanna-be goombahs and phony girlfriends, and some of Mia’s friends insist on getting in on the action. The production company owner and his executive producer ex-wife—who’s also very minor British royalty—have assembled a motley crew that does as much infighting and backstabbing as the on-screen “talent.” Even so, it’s a shock when a dead body is found in the pool house of a local mansion rented by the show . . . 

Murder might boost the ratings. But Mia intends to make sure the killer gets jail time, not airtime . . .

Italian recipes included!

About Maria DiRico:

Maria DiRico is the pseudonym for Ellen Byron, author of the award-winning, USA Today bestselling Cajun Country Mysteries. Born in Queens, New York, she is first-generation Italian-American on her mother's side and the granddaughter of a low-level Jewish mobster on her father's side. She grew up visiting the Astoria Manor and Grand Bay Marina catering halls, which were run by her Italian mother's family in Queens and have become the inspiration for her Catering Hall Mystery Series. DiRico has been a writer-producer for hit television series like Wings and Just Shoot Me, and her first play, Graceland, appears in the Best Short Plays collection. She's a freelance journalist, with over 200 articles published in national magazines, and previously worked as a cater-waiter for Martha Stewart, a credit she never tires of sharing. A native New Yorker who attended Tulane University, Ellen lives in Los Angeles with her husband, daughter, and two rescue dogs.

Author Links:  Website – Chicks on the Case – Facebook – Twitter

Purchase Links:  Amazon - B&N - Kobo - IndieBound - Kensington

TOUR PARTICIPANTS:

March 29 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT

March 29 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – SPOTLIGHT WITH RECIPE

March 30 – I'm Into Books – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

March 30 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT WITH RECIPE

March 31 - Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

March 31 - Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW

April 1 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT

April 1 – Mythical Books – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

April 2 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

April 2 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

April 3 – FUONLYNEW – SPOTLIGHT

April 3 – My Reading Journeys – SPOTLIGHT

April 4 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

April 4 – Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder – REVIEW, RECIPE

April 5 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

April 5 – Christy's Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

April 6 – Valerie's Musings – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

April 6 – The Mystery of Writing – SPOTLIGHT

April 7 – The Book Decoder – REVIEW

April 8 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT

April 9 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

April 10 – Elizabeth McKenna - Author – SPOTLIGHT

April 10 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

April 11 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

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Blog Tour & #Giveaway ~ It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Murder (A Catering Hall Mystery) by Maria DiRico @ellenbyronla #CozyMystery

 

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Murder (A Catering Hall Mystery) by Maria DiRico

About It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Murder:

 

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Murder (A Catering Hall Mystery)

Cozy Mystery

3rd in Series

Publisher: ‎ Kensington Cozies (October 26, 2021)

Mass Market Paperback: ‎ 288 pages

ISBN-10: ‎ 1496725360

ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1496725363

Digital ASIN: ‎ B08VFBT9B2

Astoria, Queens, is decorated within an inch of its life for the Christmas season, and Mia Carina is juggling her job at the Belle View catering hall with a case of murder . . .

Mia’s busy with a full schedule of events at the family business—among them an over-the-top Nativity-themed first birthday party and a Sweet Sixteen for a teen drama queen. But her personal life is even more challenging. Her estranged mother has returned—and her lifelong friend Jamie has discovered a shocking secret about his past. He’s so angry that he starts hanging out with Lorenzo, who claims to be his long-lost brother—even after it becomes clear that Lorenzo’s story is as fake as a plastic Christmas tree. 

Then a body turns up among the elves in a Santa’s-workshop lawn display, and amateur sleuth Mia has a buffet of suspects to choose from. Amid the holiday celebrations, she intends to find out who’s the guilty party . . . 

Italian recipes included! 

About Maria DiRico:

Maria DiRico is the pseudonym for Ellen Byron, author of the award winning, USA Today bestselling Cajun Country Mysteries. Born in Queens, New York, she is first-generation Italian-American on her mother's side and the granddaughter of a low-level Jewish mobster on her father's side. She grew up visiting the Astoria Manor and Grand Bay Marina catering halls, which were run by her Italian mother's family in Queens and have become the inspiration for her Catering Hall Mystery Series. DiRico has been a writer-producer for hit television series like Wings and Just Shoot Me, and her first play, Graceland, appears in the Best Short Plays collection. She's a freelance journalist, with over 200 articles published in national magazines, and previously worked as a cater-waiter for Martha Stewart, a credit she never tires of sharing. A native New Yorker who attended Tulane University, Ellen lives in Los Angeles with her husband, daughter, and two rescue dogs.

Author Links:

Website – Chicks on the Case – Facebook – Twitter 

Purchase Links:

Amazon - B&N - Kobo - IndieBound

TOUR PARTICIPANTS:

November 1 - Literary Gold - SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

November 1 - Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 1 - Christy's Cozy Corners – RECIPE

November 1 - Christa Reads and Writes - SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

November 2 - Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

November 2 - Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

November 2 - Moonlight Rendezvous - REVIEW, RECIPE

November 2 - Sapphyria's Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 3 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT

November 3 – Baroness' Book Trove – REVIEW

November 3 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT

November 3 – My Journey Back – RECIPE

November 4 – Novels Alive – GUEST POST

November 4 – Brooke Blogs – RECIPE

November 4 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

November 4 – FUONLYKNEW - SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

November 5 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW, EXCERPT

November 5 – Author Elena Taylor's Blog – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 5 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

November 5 – This Is My Truth Now – REVIEW

November 6 – StoreyBook Reviews – RECIPE

November 6 – Cassidy's Bookshelves – SPOTLIGHT

November 6 – Laura's Interests – REVIEW

November 6 – I Read What You Write - REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST 

November 7 – Celticlady's Reviews – RECIPE

November 7 – BookishKelly2020 – SPOTLIGHT

November 7 – Melina's Book Blog – REVIEW 

November 7 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT

Have you signed up to be a Tour Host? Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today!  

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Book Spotlight & #Giveaway ~ Long Island Iced Tina (A Catering Hall Mystery) by Maria DiRico @ellenbyronla #CozyMystery

 

Long Island Iced Tina (A Catering Hall Mystery) by Maria DiRico

About Long Island Iced Tina:

 

Long Island Iced Tina 

A Catering Hall Mystery)

 Cozy Mystery 

2nd in Series 

Publisher: Kensington 

Publish Date: February 23, 2021

 Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages 

ISBN-10: 1496725352 

ISBN-13: 978-1496725356 

Digital ASIN: B089NCJ9NS

Mia Carina is back in the borough of Queens—in charge of the family catering hall, Belle View Banquet Manor, and keeping her nonna company. But some events—like murder—are not the kind you can schedule . . .

 

Mia’s newly pregnant friend Nicole plans to hold a shower at Belle View—but Nicole also has to attend one that her competitive (and mysteriously rich) stepmother, Tina, is throwing at the fanciest place in Queens. It’s a good chance for Mia to snoop on a competitor, especially since doing a search for “how to run a catering hall” can get you only so far.

 

Mia tags along at the lavish party, but the ambience suffers at Nicole’s Belle View shower when a fight breaks out—and then, oddly, a long-missing and valuable stolen painting is unwrapped by the mom-to-be. Tina is clearly shocked to see it. But not as shocked as Mia is when, soon afterward, she spots the lifeless body of a party guest floating in the marina . . .

 

Italian recipes included!

 

Meet Maria DiRico:

Maria DiRico is the pseudonym for Ellen Byron, author of the award winning, USA Today bestselling Cajun Country Mysteries. Born in Queens, New York, she is first-generation Italian-American on her mother's side and the granddaughter of a low-level Jewish mobster on her father's side. She grew up visiting the Astoria Manor and Grand Bay Marina catering halls, which were run by her Italian mother's family in Queens and have become the inspiration for her Catering Hall Mystery Series. DiRico has been a writer-producer for hit television series like Wings and Just Shoot Me, and her first play, Graceland, appears in the Best Short Plays collection. She's a freelance journalist, with over 200 articles published in national magazines, and previously worked as a cater-waiter for Martha Stewart, a credit she never tires of sharing. A native New Yorker who attended Tulane University, Ellen lives in Los Angeles with her husband, daughter, and two rescue dogs.

Website – https://www.ellenbyron.com/catering-hall-mysteries

Chicks on the Case - http://chicksonthecase.net/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/CateringHallMysteries/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/ellenbyronla 

Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Kobo – Google Play – IndieBound 

TOUR PARTICIPANTS:

March 1 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW 

March 1 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

March 1 – Novel Alive – SPOTLIGHT

March 2 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

March 2 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

March 2 – Brianne's Book Reviews – REVIEW

March 3 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW, EXCERPT

March 3 – This Is My Truth Now – REVIEW, RECIPE

March 3 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews - SPOTLIGHT

March 4 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT

March 4 – ebook addicts – SPOTLIGHT, RECIPE

March 5 – Christy's Cozy Corners – GUEST POST

March 5 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

March 5 – Cassidy's Bookshelves - SPOTLIGHT

March 6 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT, RECIPE

March 6 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

March 7 – Rosepoint Publishing – REVIEW

March 7 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT, RECIPE

March 7 – I Read What You Write – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

March 8 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

March 8 – Literary Gold – CHARACTER GUEST POST

March 9 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

March 9 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

March 9 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT

March 10 – Socrates Book Reviews – REVIEW

March 10 – Author Elena Taylor's Blog – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

March 10 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

March 10 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT

Have you signed up to be a Tour Host? Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today!  

a Rafflecopter giveaway