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!

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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 Dot and Amelia Mysteries, 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. Favorite California place is San Francisco because it was one of the last vacations I took with my parents and my mom was healthy and alive.

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    2. My favorite spot in California is Redondo Beach where my brother and his wife live. ( or Disney Land, that’s rather nice also 😊)
      A favorite coffee shop is Kava House in little Swisher, Iowa. All the scones, cinnamon rolls, kolaches, etc. are homemade and delicious! The coffee is wonderful also!

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  2. Behind union hall there is a large fountain, very quiet in the summer early mornings. Birds of all kind are in it. Nice way to greet the morning.

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  3. I have never been to California but where I am there is a lovely little park with a nice lake. You sit beneath the trees and hear the birds chirping and see the squirrels chasing each other and the rabbits hopping around. There are a lot of deer there too. It is a nice relaxing spot.

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  4. I’ve only been to the San Francisco Airport to change planes. My favorite place to go have a drink or 2 is in Englewood Beach, a restaurant across the street from the beach and they have a stage outside with live music and of course I have to sing along especially after a drink or 2. Thank you for this chance to win a copy of the first of your new series. I mostly only post reviews on Goodreads. pgenest57 at aol dot com

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  5. For a little over a year, I lived in Cypress, California while I worked at the VA hospital in Long Beach. I loved the coast there and really liked the people I worked with!

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  6. Congrats on getting the ARCs. I’ve already read the book and love it. Favorite place is sitting in Central Park people watching with a cold beverage.

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  7. Congratulations on this new series! I can’t wait to get stuck in. I am helping a friend and former California vintner edit the biography he is writing about an early 20th century German farmer turned vintner in that area. It’s such an interesting place and time! How fun it will be to read your new series while working on his historical non-fiction! As for sipping wine- any time, any place!

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    2. My favorite place for a beverage is in Harwich port on Cape Cod. My in-laws rent a house there every year. It has a fantastic porch for people watching as they go to the beach.

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  8. My favorite spot to drink wine? With my best friend Linda! She’s become somewhat of a connoisseur- so the wine is always good, but the conversations even better!

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  9. I love to sit on the back deck and listen to the birds and read and drink tea if it’s daytime…

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  10. Love San Francisco, but have lots of relatives I would love to see in Long beach. 🙂

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  12. I love San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge , one of my favorite vacations . I live in Maine so it was a cross county trip but so worth it ! Looking forward to your book!

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  14. I love going to San Diego. The zoo is wonderful.
    Can’t wait to read this new book. It sounds like a Great Adventure.

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  15. Hi Edith! Congrats on the new book and your 10 year publishing anniversary with Kensington.

    I’ve got my advance copy and I’m looking forward to reading the finished edition of this new series.

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  16. I am really looking forward to meeting Cece! I have never been to California, but I think I would enjoy Fairfax because I could visit people I know. My favorite place to enjoy a glass of wine is my “island”; I can look one way and gaze out on the pasture or look the opposite way and watch what’s happening on my street!

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  17. Years ago my best friend from high school moved to Santa Barbara and we went to visit when my daughter was 2, and our son was conceived while staying with them! We had a lovely lemon tree next to the guest house by the pool. There’s a little bit of California in all of us!
    Congratulations on the new book series! I remember reading your short story about the 2 women sleuths based on your mother-in-law during covid lock down – would love to get an ARC…

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  18. I haven’t been fortunate enough to visit California, it’s on the to-do list. My favorite place to sip my favorite beverage is my favorite reading chair, where I would love to read your new book!

    Congratulations on ten years of publishing. Here’s to the next ten!

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  23. I’ve only traveled through California – have not spent any time there/ My favorite place to sip any beverage (adult or not) is the deck of a cruise ship watching the sunset. Thank you for the chance to win. Would love to read & review.

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  24. I haven’t been to California in so long I don’t really remember it. I loved to sip iced tea on the back porch and watch the birds. I would love to read the new book! I always love your books!

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  26. I have only been to California once. We flew into San Francisco and drove to Redding. I enjoyed it but would love to explore other destinations in California. I would love an ARC! So excited about this new series!

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  28. Congratulations on the new series…I can’t wait to read it! I’ve been to California twice. My first
    visit was to Southern California, and I fell in love with San Diego. My second trip was to Northern California — my favorite place there was Monterrey. cking78503(at)aol(dot)com

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  29. Warmest congratulations, Edith! I am so thrilled for your new series and congratulations on your Kensington anniversary. I love many places in California, but have to say the parks with the sequoias and the redwoods are really special. You don’t have to enter me in the contest I just wanted to say congrats.

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  30. My favorite memory about CA is visiting my Great Aunt Molly in Culver City, CA! She had a huge avocado tree in her backyard. Best of luck with your new series!

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  33. I live in CA; so it’s hard to choose, but I love Emerald Bay at the southern end of Lake Tahoe. There’s a castle there called Vikingsholm that you can tour.

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  34. I have never been to California, but hope to visit in the future. I love to read books anywhere. My favorite is sitting on my porch swing with a cold drink and cat/dog at my side.

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  36. My favorite spot is on a porch at the beach( South Carolina to be exact). Drinks or a book to read and I am always excited to start a new series!

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  37. My favorite place to enjoy the company of friend and family is around a camp fire with a glass of wine or a hot chocolate.

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  40. Cannot wait to read your new series. My favorite place in California is Monterey. It’s so beautiful and has plenty of things to do.

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  41. CONGRATULATIONS on your tenth anniversary of being published, Maddie!!!! My favorite California location has to be my avocado ranch in San Diego County. We are up in the hills, overlooking a beautiful valley that reminds me (and our visitors) of Tuscany. It is hard work on a ranch, but we are blessed to be here, and always have joy in our hearts. When not working, I am reading, and your Cece Barton series is set in Northern California Wine Country 🙂 What could be wrong? (Duh…a murder, of course!). Sas efcharistó! Luis at ole dot travel

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  43. If I am having a glass of wine I like to have it when having a good meal. Enjoy the dinner and nice relaxing glass.

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  44. My favorite place is to sit outside on my porch swing in the back yard and look at the Mountains here in Denver Colorado. I have never been to California but am planning on visiting very soon.

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  45. I’ve never been to California. But it sure is nice after a long, hot day at work to go home and have a frozen margarita or daquari while reading, with my cat cuddled on my foot.
    I’m looking forward to the new series and would love to read and review a little early.

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  47. Newport Beach is my favorite place. it reminds me of an old and very special beach town of years ago.

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  48. I first traveled to California with my Midwestern aunt and uncle who managed to impose the Chicago suburbs on any place they traveled, but when we got to San Francisco, immediately I felt free; that here was a place I could be anyone/anything I needed to be; suburban Chicago was no match. It was the first time ever (age 17) I had felt absolutely exhilaratingly that the world is wide open. So San Francisco is my favorite place in California, and a treasured memory of late adolescence.

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    1. Wow, what a stunning memory, Nancy. I’m glad you discovered your freedom there. For myself, as I fly west and cross the Rockies, I always feel like I can breathe better.

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  50. My favorite place for a drink is my backyard. My husband just redid it and with the fountains and beautiful flowers it is so relaxing!

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