THE LILAC CODE
by
BECKI WILLIS
Genre: Cozy Mystery / Romance / Women Sleuths
Publisher: Clear Creek Publishing
Date of Publication: June 25, 2018
Publisher: Clear Creek Publishing
Date of Publication: June 25, 2018
Number of Pages: 262
Scroll down for giveaway!
Named 2019 Best Women’s Detective Fiction, Texas Association of Authors
Will a case of mistaken identity be the death of her?
Madison Reynolds is looking forward to a few days of rest and relaxation. Her best friend Genny is judging a celebrity bake-off near DC, so it’s the perfect opportunity for a girls' getaway. With fun-loving Granny Bert in tow, the trio heads to the very heart of the Intel community. Deep in alphabet soup territory—surrounded by CIA, NSA, FBI and more—it takes only moments for things to go awry.
A mix-up at the airport leaves Madison with the wrong luggage, and a last-minute change in accommodations lands them at The Columbia Inn at Peralynna. How can they know its ties to the spy world will soon spin them into its web?
Designed as a CIA safe house, the inn has a fascinating history. When it seems a mysterious man in a dark coat is following her, Madison scoffs at her over-action imagination. She’s listened to too many spy tales, spun by the innkeeper herself. The stories of espionage and agents are intriguing, but too incredible to be real. The Texans know nothing about secret codes and counterintelligence. They’ve never heard of The Lilac Code, or the illusive agent-for-hire known simply as Kalypso.
Back home in The Sisters, a drama is unfolding that involves Madison’s precious twins. She’s raised them to do the right thing, no matter the consequence, but will their quest for justice put them in danger?
Thrust into impossible situations of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, the twins risk everything to save their school, while deep in spy territory, Madison and Genny race against the clock—and the elements—to save Granny Bert’s life.
The award-winning The Sisters, Texas Mystery Series continues in this exciting Book 7. This is a stand-alone book but best when enjoyed as part of the full series experience.
Will a case of mistaken identity be the death of her?
Madison Reynolds is looking forward to a few days of rest and relaxation. Her best friend Genny is judging a celebrity bake-off near DC, so it’s the perfect opportunity for a girls' getaway. With fun-loving Granny Bert in tow, the trio heads to the very heart of the Intel community. Deep in alphabet soup territory—surrounded by CIA, NSA, FBI and more—it takes only moments for things to go awry.
A mix-up at the airport leaves Madison with the wrong luggage, and a last-minute change in accommodations lands them at The Columbia Inn at Peralynna. How can they know its ties to the spy world will soon spin them into its web?
Designed as a CIA safe house, the inn has a fascinating history. When it seems a mysterious man in a dark coat is following her, Madison scoffs at her over-action imagination. She’s listened to too many spy tales, spun by the innkeeper herself. The stories of espionage and agents are intriguing, but too incredible to be real. The Texans know nothing about secret codes and counterintelligence. They’ve never heard of The Lilac Code, or the illusive agent-for-hire known simply as Kalypso.
Back home in The Sisters, a drama is unfolding that involves Madison’s precious twins. She’s raised them to do the right thing, no matter the consequence, but will their quest for justice put them in danger?
Thrust into impossible situations of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, the twins risk everything to save their school, while deep in spy territory, Madison and Genny race against the clock—and the elements—to save Granny Bert’s life.
The award-winning The Sisters, Texas Mystery Series continues in this exciting Book 7. This is a stand-alone book but best when enjoyed as part of the full series experience.
HALL WAYS REVIEW: I
make no secret that most of the time, what most entices me to read a book is
its cover. (Because of my cover snobbery, I have missed or delayed reading some
great stories.) From the time The Lilac Code had its cover reveal last
year, I wanted to read it. The cover evokes mystery and a little danger and has
an air of creepy to it that drew me right in. Alas, as the seventh book in a
series that I hadn’t started, I thought the love affair with The Lilac Code ended
with the cover. (I mean, who doesn’t start a series with book one and read a
series in order? Is this even allowed?)
As luck would have it, Ms. Willis
opted to bring the whole dang series to Lone Star for a Reviewapalooza to
celebrate book eight’s publication. Since I have some influence *cough* with
the book blog tours, I ended-up being assigned The Lilac Code for my
stop on the tour. I was required to break book law and jump-in without
reading the prior six books. Sometimes we have to do the tough stuff in life.
In The Lilac Code, the
mystery stands alone and we learn a lot about the characters and their lives to
this point as the stories unfold. Yes, stories, plural, as there are two complete
storylines happening in The Lilac Code: one outside of Washington DC,
the other in The Sisters, Texas. Author Becky Willis does a great job at
getting readers up-to-speed by bringing in prior books’ events and characters
in an organic way. But be warned: learning about all the adventures and
escapades also piques the reader’s interest in learning more, so if you plan on
reading this one, clear your schedule to read seven more books (six prior, one
after). Hmmm. Maybe it IS a big deal jumping in at book seven.
For those concerned about
leaving Texas to spend time in DC, don’t. With a high interest secondary plot
happening in The Sisters, readers get a taste of the small-town Texas vibe, the
tightly-knit community, and the colorful characters. It’s enough to satisfy but
also enough to make a reader yearn for more. Fortunately, in exchange for giving up some
Texas time, what readers get is the very cool, and very real Columbia Inn at
Peralynna, around which the mystery unfolds. Willis does an excellent job of
casting the air of suspicion upon all aspects of the lodging and the people
found there and does well in describing the myriad twists and turns contained
within this place. (I’ve got to visit.) The “Note from the Author” at the end
of the story gives more information about how this place came to be the setting
of her book – and an interesting tidbit about the origin of one of the characters.
The book needs more
proofreading to clean-up some SPAG errors, and at times, the characters veer
into making political statements that may fit their viewpoints but don’t feel
authentic and come off forced. However, those few shortcomings aren’t enough to
negate the terrific tale that Becki Willis tells. Willis’s strengths are in
writing believable dialogue and realistic characters to whom readers can
relate. This story, and my guess is all of the books in the series, is character driven. At the end, it feels like you’ve spent time with good friends –
and yeah, dodged some enemies.
Laced with intrigue, humor, and a dash of romance, I highly recommend The Lilac
Code – and I don’t think I’m really going out on a limb to say the whole The
Sisters, Texas series. Spending time
within these pages was time happily spent, and I can’t wait to read book eight,
Wildflower Wedding and THEN go back and start with book one, Chicken
Scratch, moving forward from there.
Thank you to the author and
Lone Star Book Blog Tours for providing me an eBook copy – which I didn’t read.
Instead, I bought my own print copy (THAT COVER) to have and to hold and to
read! No regrets. In exchange, I share my honest opinion – the only kind I
give.
Becki Willis, best known for her popular The Sisters, Texas Mystery Series and Forgotten Boxes, always dreamed of being an author. In November of '13, that dream became a reality.
Since that time, she has published numerous books, won first place honors for Best Mystery Series, Best Suspense Fiction, Best Women’s Detective Fiction, and Best Audio Book, won the 2018 RONE Award for Paranormal Fiction, and has introduced her imaginary friends to readers around the world.
An avid history buff, Becki likes to poke around in old places and learn about the past. Other addictions include reading, writing, junking, unraveling a good mystery, and coffee. She loves to travel but believes coming home to her family and her Texas ranch is the best part of any trip. Becki is a member of the Association of Texas Authors, Writer’s League of Texas, Sisters in Crime, the National Association of Professional Women, and the Brazos Writers organization. She attended Texas A&M University and majored in Journalism.
Connect with Becki below. She loves to hear from readers and encourages feedback!
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GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!
GRAND PRIZE: Signed Copy of Wildflower Wedding + $20 Amazon Gift Card
2nd Prize: $10 Amazon Gift Card
June 20-30, 20192nd Prize: $10 Amazon Gift Card
(U.S. Only)
VISIT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:
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6/20/19
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Chicken Scratch, #1
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6/20/19
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When the Stars Fall, #2
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6/21/19
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Stipulations & Complications, #3
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6/22/19
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Home Again: Starting
Over, #4
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6/23/19
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Genny’s Ballad, #5
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6/24/19
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Christmas in The Sisters, #6
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6/25/19
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The Lilac Code, #7
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6/26/19
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Wildflower Wedding, #8
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6/26/19
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Wildflower Wedding, #8
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6/26/19
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BONUS Chicken Scratch
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6/27/19
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Wildflower Wedding, #8
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6/27/19
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Wildflower Wedding, #8
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6/27/19
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BONUS When the Stars Fall, #2
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6/28/19
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Wildflower Wedding, #8
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6/28/19
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Wildflower Wedding, #8
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6/28/19
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BONUS Stipulations & Complications, #3
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6/29/19
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Wildflower Wedding, #8
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6/29/19
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Wildflower Wedding, #8
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6/29/19
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BONUS Chicken Scratch
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6/30/19
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BONUS When the Stars Fall
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