Blog Tour Featuring *Bonbon with the Wind* by Dorothy St. James @dorothywrites @dollycas #giveaway

Bonbon with the Wind (Southern Chocolate Shop Mystery)
by Dorothy St. James

About Bonbon With the Wind

Bonbon with the Wind (Southern Chocolate Shop Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Publisher: Barking Dog Press (December 9, 2019)
Print Length: 251 pages
ASIN: B082L528GS

Join Penn and Stella on their latest adventure!

There’s a legend in the Sea Islands that before a hurricane hits the Gray Lady can be seen walking down the beach warning of doom. Penn doesn’t believe in such silly stories, but she does believe weather forecasters. A powerful hurricane is heading their way. Everyone on the island of Camellia Beach is busy boarding up windows and securing valuables to upper levels of buildings. Joe Davies, a local treasure hunter with an unquenchable sweet tooth, claims to have seen the Gray Lady walking toward him just that morning and is terrified for his life.

After the storm passes everyone returns to survey the damage. As Penn walks her little dog Stella on the beach, she finds Joe Davies’ body washed up onshore. Not only that, it looks as if an exploding transformer caused Joe’s seaside shack to burn to the ground. Did the Gray Lady claim another victim? Many on the island believe that is exactly what happened.

Penn is sure there’s another explanation. She follows the clues and hints of lost gold to discover that the truth behind the treasure hunter’s death is as much of a maze as the boating channels winding their way through the local marshes.

For the Love of Papillons

By Harley Dalton

Now, I bet you’re thinking I should be the last person in the world to write a blog post about that pint-sized ankle-biter, Stella. Sure, she has lovely silky fur that flows around her like white, brown, and black silk curtains when she moves. Stella, like most papillons, is constantly in motion. And sure, when she looks up at me with those big brown eyes, I think that perhaps she’s not going to pull those antics on me this time. Ha!

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to buy a new pair of pants because Stella has decided to play shred the cuffs with the ones I’m wearing. And forget having a sane conversation around Stella. Whenever she sees me, she barks as if she thinks I’m going to sell her to someone looking to create a fur coat from puppies.

So, why do I put up with such bad behavior? Why do I let myself get within snapping range? Because Penn loves her, and I am awfully fond of Penn. And because I’m so fond of Penn, I’ve been doing a little research about the breed of dog that has her so smitten.

Stella is a five-pound papillon dog. Papillon is French for butterfly. Those little dogs are called that because their ears, which are bigger than their heads, are shaped like butterfly wings. And when they run around, they do look kind of like a butterfly flitting from flower to flower.

Papillons have an incredible amount of energy. If that energy isn’t directed into positive activities, they can get into trouble—like ankle-biting, high-pitched barking trouble. Penn has been working on training the pup, which is getting results. She also takes Stella on long walks, especially when she’s sneaking out to solve a mystery on her own. But that’s another problem altogether.

Papillons can be fiercely loyal. Stella certainly is devoted to Penn. The breed originated in the courts of Europe. They are the smallest of spaniels. People around these parts do enjoy their spaniels. They’re sporty and eager to please. There are the chocolate-colored Boykin spaniels that developed in South Carolina. We are mighty proud of them. Mary Alice Monroe, one of the Lowcountry’s favorite authors, keeps Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, which I understand are delightful.

I suppose I should say something nice about Stella. She is a pretty dog. And she is loyal to Penn. She gives Penn unconditional love, something that she’s not had a great deal of experience with. Penn’s love and affection for her imperfect high-strung rescue pup gives me hope for our relationship.

And because of that, I’m grateful to have Stella in my life.

Do you have a challenging dog in your life? Do you love him or her?

Read more about the Gray Lady and what Camellia Beach’s favorite chocolate maker and sleuth, Charity Penn, thinks of the sea island legend in Bonbon with the Wind, the latest book in the Southern Chocolate Shop Mystery series.

Dorothy St. James is the author of the White House Gardener mysteries. For the past twenty years, she made her home on Folly Beach, an artsy island community in South Carolina with her sculptor husband. Dorothy is a member of Mystery Writers of America (MWA) and the International Thriller Writers (ITW). This is her fourth Southern Chocolate Shop mystery.

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About Dorothy St. Janes

Dorothy St. James is the author of the White House Gardener mysteries. For the past twenty years she made her home on Folly Beach, an artsy island community in South Carolina with her sculptor husband. Dorothy is a member of Mystery Writers of America (MWA), Sisters in Crime (SiNC), and the International Thriller Writers (ITW). This is her fourth Southern Chocolate Shop mystery.