Spotlight & Giveaway: Homecoming and Homicide by Jody Holford

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Jody Holford to HJ!

Hi Jody and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, Homecoming and Homicide!

To start off, can you please tell us a little bit about this book?:

Homecoming and Homicide is book two of my Wannabe Sleuth Series. In this one, Annie gets to go back to high school, originally to help out with teaching kids about graphic design. However, when one of the teachers ends up dead, Annie is fully invested in finding the murderer.
 

Please share your favorite lines or quote(s) from this book:

She felt like she was home. Sure, the biggest form of excitement in terms of a night out was a high school carnival but Annie was okay with that.

Ben laughed, slipped his fingers through Annie’s. Subtle, sweet, and sexy. That was Ben. It was no wonder the women of Rainbow Falls side-eyed her for taking him off the market.

She could only imagine what the last Trenton detectives told them about Annie.
“And then you can explain why you’re the one who found the body. Again.”

Annie laughed into their next kiss. There were no guarantees but, to use his words, if ever there was a man to take a risk on, it was Ben.

What inspired this book?

I wanted something fun that centered around the characters from the first book. It was important to me to establish stronger bonds and connections between Annie and the town she’s living in. When I started thinking about who I enjoyed writing from the last book, other than Ben, I decided Margie and Tate were fun go-to characters. And since I wanted to show more of Tate’s story line, it felt fun to bring in a high school setting.

How did you ‘get to know’ your main characters? Did they ever surprise you?

I definitely think the characters become more defined and recognizable to me as I write more. Annie is a fairly independent woman but when she comes to Rainbow Falls, she learns the importance of having a support system around you. Sometimes that’s found in the most unusual of people. Ben is one of my favorite characters because he’s just so sweet and charming. He’s completely into Annie without pressuring her in any way and he puts up with her tendency to get herself in trouble. Then there’s Margie who, in my head, is similar to Betty White in energy and charisma. The secondary characters tend to come out of writing the main ones because I need to give them people to bounce things off of.

What was your favorite scene to write?

Always a romantic at heart and a romance writer first, my favorite scenes are with Ben and Annie.

Ben smiled at her. His hair was mussed a little, like he’d run his hands through it, although she hadn’t seen him do so. She loved the way his gaze could move from kind sweetness to heat and intrigue.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
She shook her head, not realizing she’d been staring. “I just feel lucky.”
He reached out, took her hand. “Same.”
They ordered two crab buckets with a side of curly fries. They talked about Ben’s day, the events and festivities coming up for Halloween, and Annie’s mystery event.
Polishing off the meat from another crab leg, Annie wiped her mouth with a napkin. “I was wondering how you’d feel about inviting Ryan for dinner Friday.”
Ben picked up his soda and took a long drink. “Okay. To your place?”
She nodded and he arched his brows.
Annie looked down at her basket of finished crab legs.
“Annie.”
She tried to fight the grin and lost. When she looked up, his lips twitched. “Just a little dinner. You, me, Ryan and a friend of mine.”
“A friend of yours?”
She nodded.
“Who happens to be a friend of mine and Ryan’s?”
She nodded again, pursed her lips. “Yup. I think you know her. She’s nice. Owns a little coffee shop with her sister.”
He shook his head. “This is a bad idea.”
“Listen, if it’s meant to be, it’ll happen. Otherwise, it’s just four friends hanging out.”
“There’s a guy code against this, you know.”
She picked up her own soda, laughing. “I don’t believe that.”
He pointed a curly fry her way. “I’m not joking. You don’t date friends’ sisters, cousins, whatever. You don’t try to set them up.”
“Well, that’s just a silly code.”
He ate his fry. “I know women have their own codes. Is one of them thou shalt set up eligible singles with others in the group?”
Another laugh. “Nothing that formal. I’m telling you, there’s chemistry between them. Levi’s a big boy. He can handle it if his friend falls for his sister.”
Ben shrugged. “I’ll deny all involvement.”
“That’s fair.”

What was the most difficult scene to write?

For me, in cozy mysteries, it can be tricky to write the scenes where the body is found. I want to make it visual but not in a graphic way. The character needs to be almost hyper aware of their surroundings so they can recall details later. This is even trickier when your main character can’t stand the sight of other people’s blood.

Without thinking, she slid her hand forward, across the table, ignoring the little jab she felt, then lifted it, pressing her fingers then her palm toward Sasha’s forehead to move it out of the water. She caught just a quick glimpse of wide-open, lifelessly frightened eyes. Annie stumbled back with a strangled sound just as Ben lifted his fingers from her neck.
“There’s no pulse. She’s dead, Annie.”

Would you say this book showcases your writing style or is it a departure for you?

This is my sixth cozy that I’ve published so I’m fairly used to the style now but cozy and romance definitely have their differences and the work I put in on the front end for cozies is more detailed than with my romances. I think every book I write (hopefully haha) makes me a stronger writer. I also like to think that regardless of the genre, there are elements of my voice and style in everything that I produce.

What do you want people to take away from reading this book?

It’s meant to be a fun read where people can try and figure out the mystery while enjoying the side banter with fun secondary characters and the snippets of romance building between Annie and Ben.

What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have planned?

I am currently working on one of my Sophie Sullivan books for a new series of holiday themed books I’ll be writing for them. Then it’s a deep dive into edits on Love Naturally, which I’m very excited about. My most recent release, alongside this one, is A Guide to Being Just Friends under my pen name.

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

Giveaway: An ebook copy of Homecoming and Homicide & 3 Tule ebooks

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: Who do you think is more important in a cozy mystery: the sidekick, the love interest, or the must be included pet? (My answer is probably easy to guess ;))

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 
 

Excerpt from Homecoming and Homicide:

If there were a magical realm that allowed one do-over, Annie Abbott would not waste it on high school. Even now, walking through the hallways of Rainbow Falls High, she got that “uncomfortable-in-her-own-skin” insecurity that plagued her as a teen. In her head, she envisioned her acne returning, her braces getting slapped back on, and her hair before she learned to use product.
Definitely not her glory days. At least classes were in session so she didn’t have to worry about pushing past kids to find her way around. The long hallways with their grayish blue floors and fluorescent lights felt wider when empty. She glanced to the left, saw rows of muted beige lockers lining both sides of a hallway down to a set of double doors.
It gave her a bump of pride when she noticed the carnival poster she’d designed on the huge bulletin board across from the office. She’d been informed by her elderly, but beyond spry, neighbor, Margie, that everyone contributed to community events in whatever way they could. Then she’d volunteered Annie’s graphic design services to be in charge of posters and tickets. At least it was something Annie knew how to do.
Of course, Margie was a pro at eating up other peoples’ time so now Annie was here to talk to the librarian about showing teens how to design flyers and other graphics. Seemed useless since most teens had a better understanding of technology than Annie, but when her neighbor voluntold someone to do something, it was better to just do it.
She stopped in front of the office counter, adjusted the oversized bag on her shoulder, and smiled through the closed Plexiglas slider at the woman talking on the phone. Tall, blond, and obviously a fan of sixties hairstyles, she was an animated talker. Her whole face got in on the conversation as she noticed Annie and gestured one minute with her finger.
The secretary hung up, said something to the older woman behind a desk further back in the office, then turned her attention to Annie. She slid open the divider. “Help you, hon?”
Soft music played a familiar song Annie knew her parents loved. “I’m here to speak with the librarian.”
“Oh, you’re Annie, aren’t you? I’m Sue. You did the posters. They’re just beautiful,” she said, drawing out the word to four syllables instead of three. “You’re dating Ben, aren’t you? He’s my vet. Well, Coco’s vet.” She laughed loudly, then inhaled deeply like she was gearing up for more. “Coco is my Goldendoodle. Named her after Coco Chanel. Best little dog in the world, and she loves Ben so much. He’s just the best.”
The one-sided conversation short-circuited Annie’s brain. She was used to people telling her how much they loved her boyfriend. “Yes. He’s great.”
Everyone had something to say about Ben McIntyre, the town vet. They didn’t mind sharing their thoughts on him, on Annie being his girlfriend, on him being a vet, and on the future of their relationship. Small towns were not unlike soap operas. Everyone was tangled up in everyone’s business and the stories seemed to crisscross to the point of confusion.
If a woman fell for one of the town’s hottest, eligible bachelors, they were going to go to the top of the gossip list. Good thing the list for Rainbow Falls gossip was long and varied.
The secretary came around the front partition, through a door to the side, joining Annie in the hallway.
Sue gestured down the hall. “Library is this way. How are you settling in? Boy, the town is just bursting over this carnival. You’d think it didn’t happen every year like clockwork but it does, and we always bend over backward trying to outdo ourselves. Everyone gets involved.”
Annie wasn’t actually sure if she was supposed to say anything. Framed photo galleries lined the walls, posters and banners talking about upcoming events. There was a spirit week coinciding with the carnival.
“Down here,” Sue said, veering to the left.
Two large metal doors were held open by the stoppers on the bottom. An overhead television listed student messages in the office. Up ahead, leaning on a bank of lockers was a surly-looking girl with bluish purple hair. A man in a suit, who stood several inches taller than her, talked softly. The girl didn’t look at him but Annie watched the stiffness seep out of her shoulders as they walked by.
“Sorry to interrupt, Mr. Mendez. This here is Annie Abbott. She’ll be helping out at the library and she did all of the posters for the carnival.”
The man and the girl looked her way. The girl arched one pierced brow as the man extended his hand.
“Pleasure to meet you, Annie. I’m Oliver Mendez, the principal. The signs are fantastic. We’re so pleased with how they turned out.” He dropped her hand.
“Those signs are sick,” the girl said quietly, looking Annie in the eyes.
Annie wasn’t exactly up on teen slang but the girl probably didn’t think the signs came down with a cold, so she smiled, nodded. “Thank you. They aren’t that hard if you know the program. Are you an artist?”
She shrugged.
“Don’t be shy, Lee,” Sue said. She turned her head toward Annie. “Leslie goes by Lee. She’s a very talented artist. Problem is that her favorite canvases are the sides of buildings.”
Annie winced. “Yikes. Probably not the best spot.”
Mr. Mendez nodded in agreement. “Head back to class, young lady. Come see me after school.”
The girl shuffled off down the hallway.
“It would be excellent to get her involved in something that would push her in the right direction,” the principal said, his voice slightly wistful.
Speaking of direction, the librarian was going to think she’d been stood up.
“Sometimes all they need is a nudge,” Annie said, remembering, with fondness, the number of teachers who had been a sounding board or resource for her during her uncertain teen years. How was someone who was just figuring themselves out supposed to know what they wanted to do with their lives?
The principal gave a thoughtful hmmm and started to walk away, clearly distracted. He must have realized because he called her name.
She turned to face him.
He smiled. “Welcome.”
“Thank you.”
“Oh,” Sue said, turning as well. “Your wife called. Needs you to call her back. She’s phoned three times. Said your cell isn’t working.”
If she wasn’t mistaken, the principal rolled his eyes. Or maybe it was a trick of bad lighting.
He shook his head. “Cell works fine. She just doesn’t seem to understand I can’t talk to her all day. I’m running a school.” With that, he huffed out a breath and turned away. As he walked, he pulled his phone from his suit pocket.
Sue didn’t seem surprised at Oliver’s response. She leaned a tad closer to Annie. “Wife keeps tabs on him like he’s going to run away if she doesn’t know his whereabouts.”
Having a conversation with this woman felt like navigating land mines. Silence felt like protection at the moment.
A little farther down the hallway, which was a whirlwind of color with all of the posters and images adorning the walls, they took a left and came to the library.
Glass windows and doors encased it like they’d created a sunroom at the center of the school. Only, it was full of books. Annie sighed, a smile stretching her cheeks. She could spend a serious amount of time in there. They even had a skylight. How cool was that?
“We have a gorgeous library. Helen takes great care of it. That’s our librarian. She’s a gem. You’ll love her. Her sister, Hazel, runs the bakery downtown. You been there yet?”
“Yes. I’m completely addicted to half of what she sells.” Annie smiled, pulled the door open.
“You and half the town, hon. Here we are. Let’s just make sure Helen is around so you’re not all by your lonesome.”
They stepped into the seemingly empty library, the door shutting behind them. The space was a reader’s fantasy come true. Bookshelves lined the perimeter of the square room. The surrounding windows added an ethereal fairy-tale feel. Longer shelves became shorter as they moved inward, creating what, from above, would look like a maze. There were benches, chairs, a few tables, beanbags, and a whole area with computers. It was welcoming and airy. Annie loved it.
The round circulation desk was to the left. Annie’s attention was quickly pulled that way by the sound of a woman yelling behind a partially open door behind the desk.
Sue sighed. “Here we go again.”
The yelling continued, and Annie wondered if she was supposed to guess what that meant or if she’d find out for herself.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
 
 

Book Info:

She doesn’t remember high school being so complicated…or as deadly.

Rainbow Falls newcomer Annie Abbott is finally feeling settled in town with her veterinarian boyfriend and their two curious kittens. The local high school is raising money for their drama program and, eager to help, Annie volunteers for the carnival’s photo booth, using her graphic design skills to create fun backdrops and mentor a group of students. The only dark cloud is a run in with an unpleasant teacher who’s critical of her teenage neighbor, Tate, and his girlfriend.

On the night of the carnival, Annie discovers the not-so-nice teacher dead. She and her motley crew of murder club sleuths leap into action to help clear her own name along with Tate’s. Luckily for both of them, there are plenty of suspects who had it out for the victim. Complicating Annie’s illicit investigation further? A mystery stalker with a vendetta against her.

As Annie and her friends chase clues, it’s becoming increasingly clear that not everyone is happy with her decision to make Rainbow Falls her home.

Book Links: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo | Google |
 
 

Meet the Author:

Jody Holford writes sweet romance and cozy mysteries with sweet romance in them. She’s published several books including the cozies in The Britton Bay Series. She’s unintentionally funny and rarely on time for anything. If she’s not writing, she’s reading, hanging out with her family, or doodling. She also writes romcoms under the pen name, Sophie Sullivan.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | GoodReads |