Review and Giveaway: The Garden Plot by Marty Wingate

Here's the description from the publisher's website:
 Pru Parke always dreamed of living in England. And after the Dallas native follows an impulse and moves to London, she can’t imagine ever leaving—though she has yet to find a plum position as a head gardener. Now, as the sublet on her flat nears its end, the threat of forced departure looms. Determined to stay in her beloved adopted country, Pru takes small, private gardening jobs throughout the city.

On one such gig in Chelsea, she makes an extraordinary find. Digging in the soil of a potting shed, Pru uncovers an ancient Roman mosaic. But enthusiasm over her discovery is soon dampened when, two days later, she finds in the same spot a man’s bludgeoned corpse. As the London police swarm her worksite, ever inquisitive Pru can’t quite manage to distance herself from the investigation—much to the dismay of stern Detective Chief Inspector Christopher Pearse. It seems that, much as he tries, even handsome DCI Pearse can’t keep Pru safe from a brutal killer who thinks she’s already dug up too much.

I've wanted to start reading more "cozy mysteries", and this book definitely makes me want to read more!  This obviously wasn't like an episode of Criminal Minds or anything.  But I got my murder fix and got to have nice feelings through the whole book too!  I get why people like cozy mysteries.  You get the mystery.  You get the intrigue.  But you feel good (almost) the whole time.

Christopher, the detective working on the case, is pretty swoon worthy.  In the beginning I thought he might become a problem, but I quickly grew a soft spot for him and ended up adoring him.  I mean, he's all tough and police-like, but he's also super romantic and sweet sometimes.  I like that a lot.

Another aspect of the book I really enjoyed was how Pru was an expat living in England, trying to make a new life for herself.  Who doesn't dream of doing just that?!  Of course, Pru is stubborn and needs things to go a certain way, otherwise she tells herself she'll most definitely have to move back to Texas.  She's so smart, but not smart enough to realize that sometimes you have to alter your plans.

This was such a fun book, but it was filled with just enough danger and murder and what not that at times I was sitting on edge racing to find out what was going to happen.  I really loved it and can't wait to read my next cozy mystery!

Now for the even funner part!  TLC Book Tours is doing a giveaway: a $30 e-giftcard to the e-book retailer of the winner's choice, and a First Prize Mystery Prize Pack of three mystery mass market paperbacks and a gardening title from Random House.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Title: The Garden Plot
Author: Marty Wingate
Date of Publication: May 6th, 2014
Number of Pages: 227
Genre: Fiction/Mystery
Source: TLC Book Tours