Sparks, S’mores, and Scandals book tour is through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours and includes a fun author interview and a giveaway.
Book Details
Sparks, S’mores, and Scandals: (A Taryn O’Kelly Mystery)
by Michelle L. Clifton
Fans of small-town cozy mysteries looking for a summer read need look no further than Sparks, S’mores, and Scandals. This read had me itching for summer, little bits of humor are sprinkled throughout which adds to the fun in this read.
~Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books
Sparks, S’mores, and Scandals is a fun, light mystery, and I think cozy fans will enjoy this series.
~View from the Birdhouse
About Sparks, S’mores, and Scandals
Sparks, S’mores, and Scandals: (A Taryn O’Kelly Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – Colorado
Publisher : Salty Inspirations (April 13, 2026)
Print length : 293 pages
ISBN-13 : 979-8990881778
ASIN : B0GTC1TW97
Wildfires weren’t part of Taryn O’Kelly’s summer plans. Neither was arson.
When a string of suspicious wildfires erupts in the mountains, authorities clear out the KOA Campground and surrounding homes, forcing Taryn to postpone her long-planned summer kick-off picnic. As smoke drifts over town and neighbors settle in at the fairgrounds, unease spreads right along with it. Then an insurance adjuster goes missing, and rumors of arson begin to take hold.
Determined to protect her town and her livelihood, Taryn starts asking questions. Corporate land grabs, bitter zoning disputes, and simmering grudges point in several directions. Even Silver Springs’ resident prankster seems to know more than he is saying. But the deeper she digs, the clearer it becomes that someone is playing a dangerous game, and the fires may be only the beginning.
Set against the backdrop of a Colorado mountain summer, Sparks, S’mores, and Scandals blends small-town charm, wry humor, and heartfelt community spirit with a mystery that smolders long after the last ember fades.
About Michelle L. Clifton
Michelle L. Clifton writes lighthearted, high-stakes cozy mysteries filled with humor, romance, and small-town shenanigans. She is the author of the Taryn O’Kelly Mysteries, a fast-paced series featuring party planner and amateur sleuth Taryn O’Kelly and her growing circle of friends who somehow keep stumbling into trouble. Her stories blend the charm of traditional cozies with the quick pace and comedic flair readers love in Janet Evanovich books, always with a satisfying, happy ending.
Michelle serves on the board of the Southwest Florida Fiction Writers and is Editor-in-Chief of Inkwell Magazine. She is also the founder of Salty Inspirations, her blog, journal pen name, and publishing imprint, which serves as a home for her writing, creative projects, and behind-the-scenes insights into life as a cozy mystery author.
She lives in Cape Coral, Florida, with her husband. Her books are perfect for readers who enjoy humorous mysteries with heart, memorable characters, and a touch of romance mixed with murder.
You can learn more about Michelle and her books at her website and blog, Salty Inspirations.
Links to your webpage and social media:
- Website: https://www.saltyinspirations.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMichelleLClifton
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/salty_inspirations_
- Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/50111133.Michelle_L_Clifton
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
April 13 – Salty Inspirations– AUTHOR KICK OFF
April 13 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW
April 14 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
April 14 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT
April 15 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
April 15 – Angel’s Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT
April 16 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
April 16 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT
April 17 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW
April 18 – deal sharing aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
April 19 – StoreyBook Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST
April 20 – Sarandipity’s – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
April 20 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
April 21 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT
April 22 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST
April 22 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – SPOTLIGHT
April 23 – Reading Is My SuperPower – AUTHOR GUEST POST
April 23 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
April 24 – Hall Ways Blog – AUTHOR GUEST POST
April 25 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT
April 26 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
Author Interview
What is your favorite part of this book and why?
There are several moments in this book that I absolutely love. One is the quiet scene between
Alex and Taryn just before another mystery begins. Their relationship has deepened so much
since the first book, and all Alex wants is to have a normal life where Taryn is safe.
I also enjoy the introduction of a town resident who brings a bit of ridiculous humor to the story,
and of course, when Taryn’s grandpa and the VFW step in to help with the investigation.
But my favorite part has to be the ending. There are a few emotional moments tied back to
family and the community. I love seeing every loose end wrap up in a satisfying, maybe slightly
emotional, but happy way. Everyone is safe, and the world is set right once again.
If you could spend time with a character from your book, whom would it be? And what
would you do during that day?
That’s a tough one! The story has always centered around Taryn as the protagonist. She’s the
one who finds the bodies and tells the story. The series has grown from focusing mainly on
Taryn and Kandice in Book 1 to the whole group working together by Book 3. I don’t think I
could choose just one.
I’d love to sit down and have coffee with all four of them. It would be like a cast reunion show,
letting each of them share their experiences and talk about what they loved (or didn’t love!)
about their roles in solving the mystery and their relationships with each other. At this point,
they’ve really become a mix of the cast of Friends meets the cast of Scooby-Doo.
What books/authors have most inspired you?
Janet Evanovich has been my biggest inspiration and is truly the reason I became an author. I
love her writing style. Along the way, writers like John Grisham, Nora Roberts, Gemma Halliday,
and Agatha Christie have also had a strong influence on my storytelling.
Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your
imagination?
My characters are a blend of real people in my life, a little bit of myself, and the occasional
stranger encounter. I take those relationships and moments and shape them into something
new. From there, the characters tend to take on a life of their own. They’ll tell me exactly what
they are (or aren’t) willing to do.
What made you want to become a writer?
I’ve always loved getting lost in another world. I also have a tendency to talk to myself, and once
I realized I could turn that into creating my own stories, I decided I wanted to write mysteries
with a little romance. I love puzzles, mysteries, and those sneaky, unexpected twists, but I’m
also a hopeless romantic.
I need the stories I read (and write) to end happily, especially the older I get. I don’t do gore or
gruesome crime. I feel like the world can be dark enough on its own, and even though that
reality exists, I think we all need a lighter escape. That’s why cozy mysteries feel like such a
perfect fit for me. Plus, cozies and rom-coms are my favorite. No gore, just good stories and
happy endings.
Thank you so much for having me on the blog. I’ve enjoyed chatting with you. If you’re a reader
who loves small-town secrets, a tight-knit group of friends, a touch of humor, and a mystery that
keeps you guessing, Sparks, S’mores, and Scandals might just be your next cozy escape. Just
be careful… what starts as a simple campground summer kick-off party soon takes a much
more mysterious turn.
Giveaway
Prize – Three winners each receive an E-pub Copy of:
Sparks, S’mores, and Scandals : (A Taryn O’Kelly Mystery) by Michelle L. Clifton (US and Canada)
Thank you so much for this wonderful interview! I truly enjoyed answering these questions and sharing a little more about my writing and this story. I’m so grateful to be featured here!