Dianne Harman - Murder in the Pearl District is featured in the HBS Author's Spotlight Showcase

The Showcase is a special feature of the Author's Spotlight. It is designed to highlight Spotlight author's NEW releases and their soon to be released novels.

The HBS Author's Spotlight SHOWCASES Dianne Harman's novel Murder in the Pearl District. 

Author Dianne Harman is an Award-Winning Bestselling Mystery, Suspense and Romance author of The Teddy Saga, the Coyote Series, the Cedar Bay Cozy Mystery and the Liz Lucas Cozy Mystery.

Murder in the Pearl District

Cedar Bay Cozy Mystery Series Book 5

Author: Dianne Harman


AVAILABLE
Amazon


Kelly, the owner of Kelly’s Koffee Shop, has reluctantly agreed to cater a dinner party for her friend Sophie Marchant in Portland’s popular Pearl District. The guest of honor, Donatella DeLuca, is a famous chef and owner of the highly acclaimed restaurant, Mangia! Mangia!

The day after the dinner party Donatella is found murdered. Who did it? The arrogant newspaper food critic? The sous chef at Mangia! Mangia!? The beautiful ex-wife of the television station owner who was going to produce Donatella’s new TV show, Dining with Donatella? The French chef whose nationality is questionable? Or the deranged “hostess with the mostest?”

Join Kelly and her dog Rebel, along with reluctant advice from her husband, Sheriff Mike, as they try to discover who murdered Donatella and why.

Excerpt

CHAPTER ONE

Kelly looked at the screen on her ringing cell phone and recognized the name “Sophie Marchant.”

“Sophie, what a pleasant surprise. How are you doing?”

“Much better than the last time we talked. I’ve gotten over Jesse’s death and the fact that my beautiful home in Cedar Bay burned down. It took me awhile after Jesse’s death, but I decided I couldn’t live the life of a grieving woman any longer, so I’ve developed a rather active social life. As a matter of fact that’s the reason I’m calling you,” she said in her soft French accent. “A friend of mine who is a well-known chef is filming her first television show in three days here in Portland. I’m giving her a celebration dinner party in two days, but my caterer just called me and cancelled. Apparently she got the flu from her children, and she’s quite ill. Normally I would cook the meal myself, but since I’m the hostess and I’ve invited twenty people, I don’t think I should. I know it’s short notice, but I’m hoping you can come to Portland and cook the meal I’ve planned for my guests.”

“Wow! I’m honored, but I don’t know if I’m good enough to cook for a chef.”

“Of course you are, chérie. You own Kelly’s Koffee Shop, one of the best places to eat along the Oregon Coast. Jesse told me that whenever tourists ate at your coffee shop, they always wanted to come back again. Jesse was always talking about what a great cook you are.”

“Well, thank you, but in my mind there’s a difference between a chef and a cook, and I’ve never considered myself to be a chef. And to cook for a chef who is the guest of honor? I don’t know, but I must say I’m intrigued. What’s the chef’s name?”

“Donatella DeLuca.”

Kelly was quiet for a moment and then she said, “Good grief, Sophie. Everyone’s heard of her. She’s about the hottest chef around. I have several of her cookbooks, and I refer to them all the time. They’re wonderful. How do you know her?”

“Her home is next to an old warehouse building I own which I have converted into my home. We kept bumping into each other at various places here in the Pearl District where I live, and I started eating at her wonderful restaurant called Mangia! Mangia! We became friends, actually, very good friends.”

“I’m sorry, Sophie, but I don’t think there’s enough time. I’d have to drive to Portland, we’d have to decide on a menu, and then I’d have to buy the food. Timewise, I don’t see how it could possibly work out. The logistics seem insurmountable.”

“Kelly, I’ve already bought all of the food. The caterer and I decided on a menu a long time ago, and even though Donatella is Italian, I’ll be serving a classic French dinner. The recipes are my personal ones. All you’ll have to do is drive up here to Portland, and then do your magic in the kitchen. A lot of the food can be made in advance, and of course I’ll help. Plus, I have plenty of room, so you can stay with me, and I seem to remember you have a boxer dog. I think I mentioned to you that my dog, Amelie, is a boxer too. Why don’t you bring yours? Amelie gets lonesome, and I think they’d be able to play together and have a good time.”

“You’re making this hard for me to say no. I’ve always wanted an excuse to explore Portland’s Pearl District. From what I hear, it’s kind of an urban island of eclectic shops and people located not far from the downtown Portland area. I’ll tell you what. Let me make a couple of phone calls and see if I can get Roxie to manage the coffee shop for me while I’m gone, and of course I’ll have to make sure it’s okay with Mike if I leave for a few days. I’ll call you back in a little while.”

“I’ll be waiting for your call, chérie.”

“Hi, Roxie. It’s Kelly. Sorry to bother you after hours, but I just got a call from Sophie Marchant. You may remember that she was the woman from Portland who was romantically involved with Jesse prior to his murder. Anyway, she was planning a big dinner party for a friend when her caterer had to cancel because she became ill. Sophie has asked me to come to Portland and prepare the meal. I’d be gone a couple of days and was wondering if you could cover for me. I know you have some friends who helped out at our wedding reception. Maybe one of them could help you, and of course Madison will also be there.”

“No problem, Kelly. You deserve a couple of days off, and Portland’s a fun place to go. Sure, I’m happy to do it, although I don’t know if the regulars will be able to get through their day without a dose of Kelly.”

“Actually, Roxie, I’ve always thought they come to see you, so that shouldn’t be a problem. You know where I keep the emergency key. Just use it, and if you have any problems, give me a call.”

“The coffee shop and I will be fine. Enjoy yourself.”

“Thanks. See you in a couple of days.”

She pushed Mike’s office number into her telephone and caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. The reflection was that of a woman in her early 50’s with jet black hair secured at the back of her head by a tortoiseshell clip and large sea-green eyes. She was dressed in her customary uniform of jeans and a red T-shirt. When she was working at the coffee shop, she added a white apron with the words “Kelly’s Koffee Shop” embroidered on it in large red letters.

Well, one down, now for Mike. I kind of remember him saying something recently about his sheriff’s office being really busy right now. Maybe it would be a good time for me to go. “Hi, sweetheart. I had a call from Sophie Marchant a little while ago.” She told him about the dinner party that Sophie had asked her to prepare and cook.

“Absolutely, Kelly. Rebel, Lady, and I will be fine. You said she lives in the Pearl District, and I know you’ve always wanted to explore it. Stay an extra day or so. We’ll get by, but I do have one request.”

“Sure, what?”

“You know that caramel sauce I love? Would you make a batch of it, and I can have it over ice cream when you’re gone? It’s one of my favorite things, and it’s been way too long since you last made it.”

“Happy to do it, but Mike, Sophie specifically asked that I bring Rebel with me. She has a female boxer and thought it would be good for her dog to have another dog to play with. Is that a problem?”

“Of course not. Lady can come to work with me, and you can take Rebel with you. Actually, I’ll feel better knowing he’s with you. Lady’s a good guard dog, but I still think Rebel’s the best. Nothing is going to happen to you with that dog around.”

“Mike, I’m simply going to Portland to cook a dinner for a chef. What could possibly happen to me?” she asked innocently.

“I don’t know, but you seem to attract interesting situations that usually result in a problem.”

“Don’t be silly. I promise I’ll be fine.”

Later, she wished she’d never made that promise to Mike or at least she wished she’d mentally crossed her fingers behind her back when she made it. She couldn’t help it that interesting things that resulted in unusual problems often happened when she was involved and unfortunately, those unusual problems always seemed to involve murder.

Author Genre: Romance and Literary Fiction

Website: Dianne Harman Author
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Twitter: @DianneDHarman
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Author Description: Dianne Harman draws her stories and characters from a diverse business and personal background. She owned a national antique and art appraisal business for many years, left that industry, and opened two yoga centers where she taught yoga and certified yoga instructors. She's traveled extensively throughout the world, most recently dividing her time between Huntington Beach, California and Sacramento, California, where her husband was a Senator. An avid reader, Dianne brings the richness of her life experiences to her novels, Blue Coyote Motel, Coyote in Provence, and Cornered Coyote - all of which are available now in the Coyote Series.

Being a dog lover and having attended numerous cooking schools, she couldn't resist writing about food and dogs, thus the Cedar Bay Cozy Mystery series, which includes family recipes! Kelly's Koffee Shop and Murder at Jade Cove have been on the top of the culinary, cozy, and animal charts within a week of being published and the third in the series, White Cloud Retreat, will be published very soon. Kelly's Koffee Shop was recently voted as one of the top 30 Best Self-Published Books of 2014.


Author's Book List
Murder in Cottage #6 - Liz Lucas Cozy Mystery Series Book 1
Liz Lucas, a 52 year old widow, is beginning to think she’s been given a second chance at life by owning a successful spa located in a beautiful forest area on the coast north of San Francisco.

What could possibly go wrong? Well, for starters, discovering that a guest staying in cottage #6 at the spa has been murdered.

In order to save the spa’s reputation, Liz, along with her two dogs, Brandy Boy and Winston, sets out to find the killer. The cast of characters includes a handyman, spa employees, the bumbling police chief, the owner of Gertie’s Diner, the dead woman’s husband (the mayor), his girlfriend, and a Tiffany glass collector. One of them probably committed the crime, but it’s up to Liz to quickly find the culprit.


Order the Book From: Amazon
Marriage and Murder - Cedar Bay Cozy Mystery Book 4
After a long courtship, Kelly, the owner of Kelly’s Koffee Shop, and Mike, the county sheriff, finally get married. Their honeymoon is cut short when Jesse, the owner of the local wine store called 'The Crush' gets murdered. Why would anyone want to murder Jesse, a likeable and legendary wine expert?

There are a number of suspects including his ex-wife, an alcoholic who hates liquor stores, a Mafia hit man, a wealthy French woman, two winemaking brothers, and even his sister. But who did it? Join Kelly, Mike, and their dogs, Rebel and Lady, as they seek to find the killer. Along the way, you’ll find lots of good food and mouth-watering recipes.


Order the Book From: Amazon
White Cloud Retreat - Cedar Bay Cozy Mystery Book 3
Third book in the popular and best selling Cedar Bay Cozy Mystery Series.

What could possibly go wrong at a beautiful Oregon vineyard overlooking the ocean? Could the White Cloud Retreat Center on the vineyard, run by a world famous Buddhist Zen Master hold a deep, dark secret? Murder, for one thing, but who could possibly have a motive for killing the beloved Zen Master?

Solving the mystery is the job of Sheriff Mike, ably assisted by his soon-to-be-wife, Kelly, an amateur sleuth, and their two dogs, Rebel and Lady. The vineyard is famous for its White Cloud Pinot Noir wines and the coffee shop that Kelly owns, Kelly’s Koffee Shop, is equally popular with customers looking for good food.

This is the third book in the popular Cedar Bay Cozy Mystery series. Plenty of good food and lovable dogs! If you liked Kelly’s Koffee Shop and Murder at Jade Cove, you’re going to love White Cloud Retreat.


Order the Book From: Amazon
Murder at Jade Cove - Cedar Bay Cozy Mystery Book 2
Was it the environmental activist enamored with spotted owls, someone from the local Native American tribe, Jeff’s son, Jeff’s wife, or his wife’s lover? Join Kelly, the owner of Kelly’s Koffee Shop, her boxer dog, Rebel, and her fiancé, Mike, the county sheriff, as they try and catch the person who killed Jeff Black.

Well, it’s not as if no one wanted Jeff dead. He had enemies. There were a lot of people who didn’t want to see his property turned into a commercial hotel and spa. Finding suspects won’t be hard to do, but finding out who killed him will be. No one would ever nominate Jeff for the “Most Popular Citizen Award.” This is going to be a nightmare for Mike. I wonder how I can help him, Kelly thought.

Murder at Jade Cove is another mouth-watering Cedar Bay Cozy Mystery with recipes and a surprise at the very end!


Order the Book From: Amazon
Kelly's Koffee Shop - A Cedar Bay Cozy Mystery Book 1
Kelly pulled into the harbor parking lot next to the pier and noticed that Amber’s car wasn’t in its usual place and there was no sign of her. She was usually standing at the door of Kelly’s Koffee Shop, waiting for Kelly to open up. Wonder what that’s all about, she thought.

The local residents of Cedar Bay come to Kelly’s Koffee Shop for breakfast, lunch, and lots of gossip. Kelly serves it all up as she works to solve the murder of the high school Homecoming Queen. The townspeople can’t believe what has happened in their sleepy little Oregon seaside town. She identifies five prime suspects, but which one did it?

Follow Kelly, her boxer dog, Rebel, and her boyfriend, Mike, the county sheriff, as they try to determine who the killer is in a murder that’s shocked the town.

Kelly’s Coffee Shop is a mouth-watering cozy mystery with recipes!

Learn more about Dianne’s other books at www.DianneHarman.com


Order the Book From: Amazon
COYOTE SERIES - (BOXED SET)
Set Includes the following full-length novels:
Blue Coyote Motel
Coyote in Provence
Blue Coyote Motel

Discover why this trilogy of fast–paced suspense novels has received over '175' five star reviews on Amazon, has been a Chanticleer CLUE award finalist, a Quarter finalist in Amazon’s Breakthrough Novel Award contest, been featured in the Top Ten Books at Authorsdb, been the Book of the Month at several Book Clubs and is at the top of a few good lists on Goodreads.

The story revolves around the rags to riches rise of Maria Brooks who marries a deranged genius working in the pharmaceutical industry. Drug addiction, anti-aging, art theft, murder, and the reader's favorite - Slade Kelly, a flawed, noirish undercover detective makes this an engaging and entertaining read. The action spans the globe – from the barren deserts of California to the snow-capped Himalayas, with stopovers in breathtaking Provence, ritzy New York and windy Chicago.

Sweet, orphaned Afghan girls, dreaded gangsters in the mafia, dirty politicians and unscrupulous businesses make their presence felt as the series weaves along at a sprightly pace. Will Maria go to prison forever? Will Slade die in a gun battle with the FBI? Will the motel guests be able to break the inadvertent drug habit they picked up at the Blue Coyote? Who are those little Afghan girls in the barn in Provence? Will Jordan and Maria ever find happiness?



Order the Book From: Amazon
CORNERED COYOTE - Coyote Series Book 3
Maria is tired of running from the law and comes back to the US from France. She murdered her husband, a deranged genius in self-defense and is arrested on arrival. Will she come out unscathed or will this be the biggest mistake of her life? Will she taste freedom or will she remain behind bars forever?

Follow the loveable yet eccentric private investigator, Slade Kelly, (a readers' favorite), as he tries to save Maria from seemingly insurmountable odds.

The story moves at a rapid pace, from the ghettos of Chicago to the beaches of Florida, from the streets of Los Angeles to the lush gardens of New York city. Each twist and turn comes with its own cast of colorful characters, from sleazy men in the mafia to hot, desperate women, who will do anything to make it big, in a world that is always trying to keep them small."


Order the Book From: Amazon - Barnes and Noble - KOBO
Tea Party Teddy's Legacy - The Teddy Saga
What happens when Bob Silva, who is married to the ex-wife of Tea Party Teddy, decides to run for the California State Assembly against the Reverend Jim Thurston, a devoted Tea Party member? Will Reverend Jim seek revenge for the death of his friend, Tea Party Teddy? And why is every television station in California and across the nation featuring Bob Silva as their lead story on the evening news?


Order the Book From: Amazon - Barnes and Noble
Coyote in Provence - Coyote Series
Just Announced! A finalist in Chanticleer's prestigious CLUE awards contest!

COYOTE IN PROVENCE (A COZY MYSTERY) #1 on 12 Goodreads Top Books Lists

>>>>>What happens when the very beautiful and sexy Maria Brooks, now Elena Johnson, a woman hiding out in Provence, France, from the California legal authorities, meets Jordan Kramer, a handsome art theft detective from Los Angeles?

>>>>>He's looking for stolen California paintings reportedly for sale in Provence. She's trying to stay under the radar. Both share a love of food and wine.Will Jordan find Pierre, the French chef who's suspected of being the art theft? And who are those young Afghan girls hiding out in his parents' home?

>>>>>If you liked Dianne Harman's award-winning novel, Blue Coyote Motel, you don't want to miss Coyote in Provence. Great mystery, wine, food, and art in romantic Provence!

>>>>>Blue Coyote Motel, the first book in the Coyote Series, was a quarter finalist in Amazon's Breakthrough Novel Award contest, a Goodreads Psychological Thriller Book of the Month, and an e-thriller Book of the Month. Coyote in Provence continues the story of Maria, the captivating character in the trilogy.


Order the Book From: Amazon - Barnes and Noble - KOBO
Tea Party Teddy - The Teddy Saga
All Teddy ever wanted was to be a California State Legislator. When he puts his marriage and his reputation on the line to get there, will he survive as his world unravels?

Nina Randall is the perfect political wife, but what happens when she finally admits her husband, Tea Party Teddy, cares more about politics than her? Will she be able to resist the romantic advances of Teddy's handsome rival, Bob Silva, the founder of Republicans for Latinos? And after Teddy has told her that all of the problems in California are caused by illegal immigrants, can Bob convince her that the Republican Party needs to bring more Latinos into the Party?

Will Nina stand by Teddy? And why did the Family Values Forever organization strip Teddy of his Legislator of the Year Award? Was he set up? Was the FBI involved? Did he really have an affair with the mysterious woman pictured in the newspapers?


Order the Book From: Amazon - Barnes and Noble
Blue Coyote Motel
Would you take an anti-aging hormone? What if you could keep your youth? If someone you knew was terrified of aging, and you'd invented the hormone, would you give it to them? Even if it meant discovery would cause you to lose your chance of winning the Nobel Prize?

An Award Winning Best Seller, Blue Coyote Motel was chosen as a quarter finalist in Amazon's Breakthrough Novel Award contest in the mystery/thriller category as well as a Goodreads Psychological Thriller Book of the Month.

Blue Coyote Motel is a suspenseful love story which begins in the barrios of Southern California and spans the globe in such diverse locations as Provence, South America, and the Himalayas. The beautiful Latina, Maria, and her husband, Jeffrey, a scientist fired from a prestigious laboratory, struggle to build a new life in a remote Southern California desert area as owners of the motel.

Along with the anti-aging hormone, Jeffrey invents a "feel-good" wonder drug to help Maria with her depression. As Jeffrey becomes insane, he begins to experiment with the wonder drug. Six wayward travelers, including an alcoholic priest, a couple who own gold mines in Brazil, a depressed widow, a struggling salesman, and a Native American pediatrician, find themselves spending the night at the small motel. The next morning they wake up feeling better than ever. Has Jeffrey's miracle drug delivered? Or is the nightmare of addiction only beginning?


Order the Book From: Amazon - Barnes and Noble - KOBO
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