Welcome my sweet and cozy world. The only steamy thing in here is the coffee.
When our family lived in West Virginia, we vacationed a lot. One particularly productive year when I was freelance writing, we took nine separate vacations. Most of them were to the Carolinas. Since moving to South Carolina, I have never gone back to West Virginia, and I never plan to go back.
It’s true what they say. If you build a life you love, then you’ll stop trying to run from it. Saying that I love our South Carolina life is a gross understatement. Who knew that I loved sunshine so much? Or that after years of living on the side of a mountain that I’d thrive on living within town limits?
But when I do get the urge to travel, I never have to look farther than my books. Although all the books I write are now set in South Carolina (for the most part), I love reading books set in other places. Here are some of my favorite destinations that I’ve traveled in books this year alone:
California - Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jiminez
Willow Ridge - Sparkle Spin Tumble Bin by Karen Lopez
New England - Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden
Spain - A Spanish Sunrise by Boo Walker
North Norfolk, England - Where the Sea Lavender Grows by Kitty Johnson
You can see a list of everything I’ve read dating back to January 2022 right here: https://beckymuth.com/reading-list. Where are your favorite places that you’ve visited via books? Reply or comment to let me know. And if you’re looking for new places to visit, keep reading to learn how you can get 30+ books for FREE through the weekend!
The price of everything is going up, including fuel. Unless you’re riding a bicycle or have access to alternate ways of fuel for your vehicle, chances are road trips are off the table.
But I have found the best solution to staycation (vacation from where I am). Spoiler: it’s books. All of the cozy mystery books in this limited-time collection are not only set in places where you might like to visit (like Mockingbird Springs, South Carolina in the Magickal Beans series), but they’re also FREE.
Click the pink button below to start grabbing your freebies from authors like Elizabeth Pantley, Denise Jaden, H.Y. Hanna, Jinty James, Tara Lush, Lyssa Lund, Kathi Daley, C. A. Phipps, Jenna St. James, Stella Bixby, Erin Johnson, Sue Hollowell, Nic Saint, Cindy Bell, R. A. Muth (hey, that’s me!), and many, many more!
I pulled my current knitting project from my tote bag, a red-and-white striped scarf inspired by peppermint sticks, and added additional rows as I walked.
In the Administrative Wing, the sound of my footsteps on the polished floors replaced the sounds of the workshop. By the time I reached Mrs. Claus’s office, my nerves jingled within me like the bells on Santa’s sleigh.
Mrs. Claus’s personal secretary smiled warmly as I approached. “Juniper, there you are. Mrs. Claus is waiting for you.”
I peeked into the office before stepping inside. A warm glow that felt like opening gifts on Christmas morning enveloped me. Shelves lining the walls held things like jingle bells, snow globes, and cookbooks. Electric candles reflected against frost-covered windows.
Mrs. Claus beamed from behind an ornate wooden desk. She wore a deep burgundy sweater patterned with mischief-making reindeer. Her reading glasses perched low on her nose. Unlike Santa, who carried an aura of chaos around him like festive confetti fueled by jolly laughter, Mrs. Claus had a calmness that made people comfortable in their own skin.
How could I have forgotten how nice she actually was? This was what I was thinking as I sat in the chair across from her desk. There was no fooling her, though.
Mrs. Claus tilted her head. “Juniper, dear, why do you look nervous?”
“Historically speaking, being summoned by authority figures has never improved my day. Did, um, someone die?”
Although I hoped her tinkling laughter would fill the office, the crow’s feet at the corners of her eyes deepened. “Yes, but not here. Yolo was found dead near the observation cliffs outside Snowhollow Crossing.”
“Yolo the yeti? Why would someone want to hurt him?” I asked. Everyone had heard of Yolo, the inventor of the Weather Predictalator. The sale of his invention had made him the South Pole’s first billionaire.
She shook her head sadly. “We’re not sure, but your help is needed.”
“Of course. I’m not sure what I can do from here.”
“That’s just the thing, Juniper. You’ll need to visit the South Pole.”
I took a few seconds to let her words sink into my brain. The room was completely silent. “With all due respect, Mrs. Claus, that feels like a terrible idea.”
Mrs. Claus leaned forward slightly, her expression warm but serious. “You notice details other people overlook, Juniper. Despite what you seem to believe about yourself, people trust you. Snowhollow Crossing needs someone observant and unbiased who exists outside of their community.”
Before I could respond, Mrs. Claus opened a small drawer beside her desk and removed a simple glass snow globe with silver trees inside. “I know you miss Figgy.”
“I’m fine,” I replied automatically. My throat tightened, betraying the words even as I spoke them.
She slid the snow globe gently across the desk toward me. “Of course you are. Shake this every night before bedtime, and you’ll be able to see how Figgy’s progressing. I know it won’t be the same as being here.”
“You’re right,” I conceded because she was, and even if she wasn’t, nobody would dare argue with Santa’s wife. Not even Santa.
Mrs. Claus beamed. “I’m so glad you agree. Now go home and pack a bag, because your chariot awaits.”
“M-my chariot?” Anxiety rose within me. Facing the unknown was as stressful as meeting new people. This trip was bound to go spectacularly wrong.
She giggled. “It’s only Santa’s sleigh, and I can promise you that it’s as safe as any other mode of transportation.”
Only Santa’s sleigh, I thought. No pressure, Juniper. You’ve got this.
I forced a smile and nodded. I sure hoped I had this.
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That's all for now. I hope your day is filled with books and coffee (or whatever you’ve got in your favorite mug).
Happy reading,
Becky
Cozy mysteries with caffeine, chaos, and charm.
Romantic stories with heart, hope, and absolutely zero heat.
The only thing steamy in here is the coffee.
www.beckymuth.com
P.S. Every ❤️ you click helps other people find my books. Leave a comment so I know you were here. I read every single one. Thanks for being here!
Paranormal cozy mysteries are similar to traditional mysteries, except they have enchanting elements such as talking cats and witchy sleuths.
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