The ARCs are Here and #Giveaway!

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Edith/Maddie writing from north of Boston and awash in books.

News Flash: And the randomly selected winners are: Michele Walton, Kathy Fowler, Ev Bedard, Becky Ward, Ann I, Shawn, and B. Congratulations, all, and please check your email.

In the life cycle of a book, the day the publisher sends a box of advance reader copies (ARCs) is always exciting.

And when they’re copies of the first book in a new series, it’s even more thrilling. Murder Uncorked kicks off my new California-based Cece Barton Mysteries.

June is also my tenth anniversary of being published by Kensington Publishing. A Tine to Live, a Tine to Die first released in June, 2013. Much to celebrate!

Here’s the official blurb for Murder Uncorked:

Raise a glass to Cece Barton, a widowed single mom and recent L.A. transplant to California wine country, who suddenly finds herself at the center of a murder investigation in this sparkling new mystery series from Agatha Award–winning and national bestselling author Maddie Day.

As the manager of Vino y Vida Wine Bar in Colinas, Cecelia “Cece” Barton’s first Alexander Valley harvest is a whirlwind of activity. Her twin sister, Allie Halstead, who owns a nearby Victorian bed & breakfast, is accustomed to the hustle and bustle of peak tourist season. But Cece barely has a moment to enjoy her new home in between worrying about her estranged college-age daughter, juggling her responsibilities at the bar, and navigating the sticky politics of the local wine association. Just when it seems things can’t grow any more intense, Colinas is rocked by a murder within the wine community . . . and Cece is identified as a possible suspect!

With her reputation and her livelihood on the line—and the Sonoma County deputy sheriff breathing down her neck—Cece has no choice but to open up her own murder investigation. Tensions are already high in the valley, as a massive wildfire creeps toward Colinas, threatening homes, vineyards, and the vital tourist trade. And now, with a murderer on the loose, and Cece’s sleuthing exposing the valley’s bitterest old rivalries and secret new alliances, Colinas feels ready to pop! But with Allie’s help, Cece is determined to catch the killer and clear her name before everything she’s worked so hard for goes up in flames . . .

Are you as excited as I am? The book comes out in late October, but right now I want to give away all seven ARCs shown in the photo. I hope you love the read and, if you do, that you’ll leave a short positive review on Goodreads.

Readers: Tell me your favorite spot in my home state of California or your favorite place to sip your favorite beverage. Or ask a question or just say hi!

Published by Edith Maxwell

Agatha Award -winning author Edith Maxwell writes the historical Quaker Midwife Mysteries (Beyond the Page) and short crime fiction. As Maddie Day she writes the Country Store Mysteries series, the Cozy Capers Book Group Mysteries, and the Cece Barton Mysteries (all from Kensington Publishing). She lives north of Boston in an antique house with her beau and cat Martin, where she writes, gardens, cooks, and wastes time on Facebook.

197 Thoughts

  1. My favorite spot in california is visiting all my family that lives in california. I also love going to knott’s berry farm; lego land; Disneyland ; sea world and the wonderful beaches.

      1. Haven’t been to California since I was a young child. However, I’m totally interested in reading your newest series. At 68 y/o my God, family, friends and books are what keeps my heart young!

      2. Loved visiting San Francisco, we walked everywhere! Couldn’t do that now, getting too old.

        Can’t wait to start this new series! I’ve read all the others!

    2. I love hanging out with my daughter and grands in Mountain View. When I went last year with my great grands to see them, the middle school girls loved hanging in the pool, going to the Redwoods, going on rides at the shore and visiting a Japanese store that had many things that I never thought of buying. I did buy something, shoe socks that look like sheep for all my weaving friends around the country.

  2. Most of my visits to CA are to visit my brother in Palo Alto, a beautiful place I always enjoy. I’ve been to LA a couple of times and had a wonderful visit to the Hearst Castle, all of which I’ve also enjoyed. A few years ago the whole family gathered in Napa for a wedding in a winery, which became my favorite California place. Sadly the visit was marred by wild fires that caused the reception to end early, but Napa remains a place I look forward to revisiting.

  3. How exciting and thank you for offering this opportunity. I hope to visit San Diego one day.

  4. I’ve never been to California, but would like to visit my cousin in 29 Palms.

  5. We were married in Pasadena in 1984 and our favorite place for steamed clams and vodka martinis was The Chart House in Malibu. Fond memories.

      1. My MIL lived in a condo one block from Orange Grove and Pasadena Blvd. We’d sit in the front yard and watch the Rose Bowl Parade. That could also be one of my favorite memories!

  6. Oooh- I grew up in California- Anaheim to be exact. Now I live in Colorado. So I totally miss the beach! Give me an ocean view somewhere on the coast.

  8. What a fabulous way to celebrate your 10th anniversary! And with a new series to boot. How exciting for you as well as your readers. I’m so looking forward to reading and reviewing “Murder Uncorked”, which sounds absolutely amazing.

    Having lived in California for 9 years in my youth at Fort Ord. I have such fond memories of Monterey Bay and the 17 mile drive. It just looked it up to refresh my memories to find that you now have to pay to drive it. That makes it all the more special that our frequent drives were free in the 60’s.
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

  9. If I could go anywhere in the state of California, I would pick Disneyland! I am very happy that you are beginning a new series for us to read!

    1. Patti, my schoolteacher father had a deeply discounted pass to Disneyland, so we would go for a special birthday trip, with the birthday kid getting to bring a friend. My mom put all five of us (including the friend) in red sweaters so she could spot us!

  11. We visited California for a family vacation back in 1985. My favorite spots were the San Diego Zoo (I got to see the koalas) and Santa Barbara.

    Can’t wait to read this new series.

  12. Congrats, Edith, on the delivery of new baby!! Really looking forward to it since I’m about caught up on all your books.

    It’s been a way too long since I’ve been to California and I miss a lot of neat things. The first thing that came to mind, tho’, was from my first trip there in 1963. We did the famous 17-mile drive and stopped in Monterey for the night. It was breathtaking. I was only 12 at the time and from northeastern Indiana. Sure hadn’t seen anything like that before! Subsequent visits through the years have added a lot of great memories, but nothing like that first visit.

  13. Congratulations, Edith. I’ve never been to California, although I am going to San Diego for Bouchercon this year. I think my favorite spot do to just about anything is in the sunroom (and we put one on the Cottage – it’s completely surrounded by greenery and I know it’ll be a favorite spot down there).

  15. I have never been to California but I would love to visit San Diego. I was supposed to visit for a work trip years ago but covid got in the way.

  16. Congrats! Having lived in CA all my life, I have plenty of favorite spots. I haven’t been to the redwoods in years, and I miss them. (No need to enter me in the giveaway.)

      1. I’m hoping to be there on Saturday. It’s quarter end at work, so I can’t be there for the entire thing.

  17. I don’t have any special place in CA I would like to visit. There is a winery here in The Dalles, Oregon about 80 miles from my house that has wonderful wines and all of the food they serve incorporates CHEESE! So that would be my favorite place to sip my favorite beverage. Congratulations on the new release!

  18. Hi Edith/Maddie!
    Congrats on your upcoming realease and new series. And congrats on 10 years at Kensington. I love the cozies they publish.

    I don’t have a favorite place in CA as I’ve never been there. LOL I would love to visit wine country…even though I don’t really know anything about wine. I mostly sip sweet teaand read at home.

    Thanks for the chance to win an ARC of Murder Uncorked.

  19. I am born and raised in Southern California, now transplanted in Ohio. I have many favorite places to be in Long Beach. At the beach walking, 2nd street walking, and going to Pot holder’s to eat, Los Compadres to eat, and many other places.

    Thanks for a chance for ARC.

  20. I can’t say I have a favorite spot in CA. I do like the beaches around San Diego and love the coastal areas north of San Francisco, but my favorite spot to sit and enjoy a beverage is on a deck anywhere in the mountains. Looking forward to your new series and Congratulations on your 10th anniversary with Kensington!

  22. I’m looking forward to spending time next month with my sister-in-law and brother-in-law on Woodstock, Ga. Congrats with your 10th Anniversary with Kensington. Thanks for your great generosity.

  23. Congratulations on your 10th anniversary! That’s amazing. 😊 I’ve never been to California. I would like to visit San Diego and San Francisco and see the Golden Gate Bridge. Congrats on your upcoming release. 👏

  24. I have never been to California, so I don’t have a favorite spot. My favorite beverage right now is Harney and Sons blood orange iced tea with orange slices in it. I love drinking it while relaxing in my recliner with a good book.

  25. We visited La Selva Beach several times and I was captivated with the locale.

  26. I’ve never made it to California, maybe someday! I’m looking forward to your new series!

  28. Congrats on the 10-year anniversary! I’ve only been to California a few times, and two places I enjoyed were Santa Rosa and Laguna Beach.

  29. Hi. I’ve never been to California before so I don’t have a favorite spot. I hope to go some day.

  30. I like visiting California to visit family. They live around Oakland and Livermore. I used to like going to San Francisco, but I guess it’s changed a lot since I’ve been there. It’s still a beautiful city with a lot to see there. Looking forward to starting your new series, sounds like another great one!

  32. I’ve never been to California so I would love to visit where you live and Brenda Novaks place. I love sipping on cold sweet tea on my porch.

  33. Congratulations! I love the cover. I have never had the opportunity to go to California. It sounds like a beautiful state. I spend most of my time in my kitchen at the table. It is the hub of our home. Since I do not not get around very well, I have all that I need in a short distance. I also get the pleasure of looking out the back door to nature and the stray cats who come to eat. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.

  34. Well San Franciso was our favorite spot in the 1980s and 1990s but no more. It is sad at what is being done to this once magnificent city. We went there for many years in a row to attend an Art Deco Show. We stayed at the Beresford Arms every year and ate at many good restaurants in Chinatown and Fisherman’s Wharf. We loved going all the way down to Monterrey and Carmel by the Sea and up to the Russian River end where we had great cocktails at a bar on the river. Sausalito and Muir Woods were some great places. The las time I was there was in 2019 for my sister’s 75ht birthday to Disneyland, Hollywood, Huntington Beach, and Universal Studios with 10+ people that were friends and relatives. We rented a house in Anaheim and it was a fabulous trip. Not sure I would be comfortable going there now. I will love to read your books set there as I read all of your books. It was a once beautiful state with so much to offer the world. They need to clean up their act and their cities.

      1. Since I have never been to California, I don’t have a favorite place. I wouldn’t mind visiting California one day. I enjoy drinking my tea in my recliner while reading a book or going through my emails.
        I’m looking forward to reading this new series of yours, I love reading mysteries.

  35. What a thrill for you! I would love to visit the wine country someday. I have been to Palm Springs. There is something about the desert that is beautiful too.
    Thanks!

  36. Last time I was in CA was in 1985 & I really love San Francisco (with Golden Gate Park, Cable Cars & all the piers)…

  37. Oh, so many places! But for peace and beauty I’m going with the rose garden at the Huntington Library. And if they’d serve me a mocha and I could have a comfy chair and footstool on the shaded patio overlooking their back lawn, I’d be in reading heaven!

  38. My favorite place to have a glass of wine is with friends,talking about memorable moments and making new ones together. I toured a winery in the late 80’s and liked it so much I bought stock in the company. It has been acquired since then but I still own the stock and it was a wise investment.

  39. I’ve never been to California but my favorite place to drink my honey tea is my room either watching TV or reading a book.

  40. As I type this I have a friend visiting her daughter’s family in San Jose California.

  41. Congratulations on the new series! Love the premise. I haven’t been to CA in years, but the view of downtown LA from the hills was one of my favorites.

  42. Congratulations! My favorite place to sip a beverage is on my porch. We face the woods and have lots of birds in our yard (including a bluebird family in our bird house), along with a few squirrels and bunnies, who all entertain us while we are sitting outside chilling.

    1. Congratulations on you new book! Woo-hoo! There are a few of my favorite places in California- San Francisco definitely number one! San Jose, Yosemite, yes! Santa Barbara!

  44. San Francisco for sure. Hope to visit California again soon with my family! Congratulations on your new book! Thanks for the chance!

  45. I live in Northern CA and there are so many places I like: Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Monterey, Aptos, Sacramento, and then places in Southern CA too like Disneyland and CA Adventure!!

  46. Haven’t been to California but would love to visit Santa Barbara area.

  48. can’t say a favorite, but I am very fond of drinking Guinness (on tap!) and people-watching at birds restaurant in Hollywood.

  49. Congrats on ten years with Kensington. They are so lucky to have you.

    It’s been many, many years since I’ve spent any appreciable time in California, but I have fond memories of Carmel by the Sea.

    I have pre-ordered Murder Uncorked, but would love to cancel the order!

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