Recipe for Murder book tour is through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours and includes a character interview and a giveaway. Enter below, share, comment, subscribe.
Book Details
Recipe for Murder (A Pine Cove Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Pine Cove, a fictional version of Idyllwild, tiny town on top of a Southern California mountain
Publisher : Wild Rose Press
Publication date : June 17, 2026
Print length : 328 pages
Paperback
ISBN-10 : 1509265759
ISBN-13 : 978-1509265756
Digital
ISBN-13 : 978-1509265763
ASIN : B0GTRJ24MV
Mel O’Rourke traded her LAPD badge for the quiet life, running a bed-and-breakfast in tiny, quirky Pine Cove.
But when Jackson Thibodeaux, the charming café owner who broke her heart, stumbles back into town, her tranquil second act is toast. While attending a culinary academy in New Orleans, Jackson found the body of a classmate. The police rule it a suicide, but Mel’s instincts—and Jackson’s near miss with a bullet—scream murder.
Between a cooking school full of shady suspects, a reformed cat burglar for a sidekick, and a complicated love triangle involving the deputy sheriff, Mel has her hands full.Perfect for fans of the sweetness of Jenn McKinlay and the snark of Elle Cosimano’s Finlay Donovan.
About Marla A. White
Marla White kills people for a living—on paper, at least.
An award-winning mystery and suspense author with roots in Hollywood, Marla White made a striking debut with Cause for Elimination, earning recognition from Killer Nashville, the RONE Awards, Reader’s Favorite, and a second-place finish with the Orange County Romance Writers in Romantic Suspense.
Originally from Oklahoma, Marla carved her path through multiple states before landing in Los Angeles, where she built a career in television development and now teaches screenwriting at UCLA Extension—including the fine art of script coverage and story analysis.
When she’s not plotting her next murder (fictional, we promise), she can be found in her garden, on a hiking trail, cheering for the LA Kings, or field-testing craft cocktails in the name of research.
Social Media Links
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheScriptFixer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marlawriteswords/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarlaAWhiteAuthor
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@marlawriteswords
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marlaw825
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21467766.Marla_A_White
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/marla-a-white
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3MHIzkB
Substack: https://substack.com/@marlawhite?utm_source=edit-profile-page
Purchase Links –
Amazon – Barnes&Noble – Apple Books – GoodReads – AllAuthor – Books2Read – Book Bub–
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
June 10 – Jody’s Bookish Haven– SPOTLIGHT
June 11 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST
June 12 – Sarcastically Yours, Jen– SPOTLIGHT
June 13 – Sarandipity’s – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
June 13 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews– SPOTLIGHT
June 14 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT
June 15 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW
June 16 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
June 17 – deal sharing aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
June 18 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW
June 18 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR GUEST POST
June 19 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER GUEST POST
June 20 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
June 21 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
June 22 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT
June 23 – Bigreadersite – REVIEW
Character Interview
This is an interview with Poppy Phillips, best “frenemy” of main character Mel O’Rourke. More than the comic relief, her story in this book drives the side story and heart of the book.
Describe yourself.
Love, I’m British through and through, no matter that I was born in Cleveland, Ohio. I’m petite, which is the perfect size for my former occupation of cat burglar. I’m definitely a people person. I’m the spark Mel needed to appreciate this lovely little village and take the time to get to know her neighbors. Like Mary Poppins, I’m practically perfect in every way!
What makes you laugh?
Anything and everything. I mean, if you’re not having a laugh, you’re not living, are you? But Mel’s attempts to deny this adorable love triangle she’s caught up in are particularly hilarious. That and her attempts to do anything in the kitchen, even making coffee. Also, anything Grandma O says cracks me up. I hope I’m that cheeky when I’m here age.
Are you afraid of anything?
(She turns serious for a moment) Nothing I’m bloody likely going to admit to you, mate.
Do you have a special talent or gift?
(Bright smile back again.) Obviously, I’m wizard at picking any and all locks. As “The Ghost” I was never caught, after all. But I like to think my real gift is my curiosity. I like talking to people and really listening, not just having a chin wag for appearances, you know? And not for nothing, nearly everyone likes me.
Even people I’ve robbed like me. All except for Doc Hart, but I will change her mind about me, wait and see.
Do you have a secret?
Loads of them. How long can this article be? Joking, love. Seriously, my whole life was a secret before I met Mel. Constantly on the move, new names in every town. It was getting to be exhausting.
Tell us about your family.
Nothing to tell. Abandoned by me mum, never knew me dad. No, I don’t think I met my real family until I met the O’Rourkes.
Who is the most important person in your life?
Don’t take this the wrong way, I love Liam. But Mel O’Rourke is the most important person in my life. Saving her from falling off that roof might have been the luckiest thing that’s ever happened to me. If it weren’t for her, I might be in jail right now for a crime I didn’t commit.
What is your most embarrassing moment?
Ugh! (She puts her hands over her face.) Easy, the moment Deputy Marks walked into The Brook and revealed my real name is Agnes Mary Noble and that I was from Cleveland, not England. Being arrested was bad enough, but Agnes?
What do you do for fun?
Love, anything I do is fun! Although to be honest, I’ll be happy when this music festival is over. I thought playing guitar with Doc Hart would warm her up to me, but my fingers might fall off before that happens.
If you could change anything about your life what would it be?
Hmm, that would imply my life isn’t perfect, wouldn’t it? I’ve spent a lifetime molding things into what I want them to be. I’m British because I say so, not because of a birth certificate. That’s one thing Mel needs to do; stop trying to fit into the mold of an ex-cop or a B&B owner and create the life she wants.
Playing by someone else’s rules gets you sod all, I can promise you that.
Tell me about your author.
Ach, poor thing. I’m not one to gossip, but if she were less camera shy and willing to put herself out there on the socials, I think more people would discover her books. Because they are wicked funny but with a touch of romance. The mysteries are quite clever, of course. I wish she’d work less jobs and focus on writing about Pine Cove, but some people have to pay the rent, I suppose.
Do you like the way they write you?
Love the way it turned out at least. Did you know in the first novella, I didn’t even get a name? I was just a side note in Mel’s story. I’m bloody glad she came to her senses and realized what a fabulous addition I’d make to her books’ little found family.
Giveaway
Prize – $25 Amazon gift card
