Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **AUTHOR SPECIAL** with V.S. GARDNER!
Welcome to my Friday bonus feature called Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **Author Special**!! Today, in lieu of one of my own recipes, I’m going to introduce you to a new author who will share one of her favorite recipes. Not only will you and I occasionally learn how to make something new and delicious, but we’ll get a chance to check out some wonderful authors. Introducing author, V.S. GARDNER, and her favorite GARNET’S ZUCCHINI CAKE!
A KILLING ON HARDEE STREET
Christian Cozy Mystery Suspense
BY V.S. GARDNER
Blurb
New to the small town of Logan, South Carolina, Vonda Graham is in the process of re-building her life following the unexpected passing of her husband. She finds comfort and strength in her happy memories and faith as she faces the challenge of finding her new normal.
Strange happenings on a restless night leave her puzzling over events at the new home construction site in her neighborhood.
Will she realize it ties in with the disappearance of the Construction Company Accountant before she goes missing, too?
See how the answers come to light as Vonda forms new friendships and Logan finally begins to feel like home.
A KILLING ON HARDEE STREET
Christian Cozy Mystery Suspense
BY V.S. GARDNER
Excerpt
CHAPTER 1
The eyes looking up at him were cold and dead. Was that possible? No, it wasn’t. And yet, somehow, it was true.
What happened? Frantically his mind searched for the answer. He remembered his rage, seeing Victor go down, shouting at him to get up, to face him; this wasn’t over, not by a long shot! His anger growing fiercer he’d covered the short distance between them still shouting for Victor to get up. Then for the first time his own eyes had met the cold, dead, vacant eyes he was looking into right now.
It was taking a few seconds but his mind was beginning to register that Victor was indeed dead. Even now he couldn’t believe what was happening. He couldn’t accept it as even the remotest of possibilities. And yet each passing second forced him to face reality. Finally, he listened for breath. Finding none he felt for a pulse. Nothing.
His mind exploded “What have you done?” he asked himself. “What have you done? Oh, dear God, what have you done?”
They’d been arguing. That was all. People argue all the time. No one was supposed to die. But here he was now standing over Victor’s lifeless body.
He raked his hand through his thick dark hair and paced back and forth totally unaware of the sweat streaming down his back. When he stopped to stare at the body the muscles in his legs began to twitch. A nervous reaction he supposed, momentarily distracted.
What was he going to do? Oh, what was he going to do now?
For the briefest of moments, he considered calling the police. But no, that was out of the question. He’d worked too hard to get to this point in his life. Everything was going great for him. He couldn’t lose it all now. He wouldn’t!
No. There was absolutely no question about it. No one could know what had happened here tonight. No one could ever know.
He began to pace again trying to calm himself.
“Pull yourself together, man,” he said aloud as he began to take stock of the situation.
If no one was to know, he was going to have to deal with the body. Yes, that was it. He just had to pull himself together and deal with the situation at hand. Just the way he’d done all his life. This was no different.
As his mind started to clear he studied Victor’s still figure again, mentally noting that there was no blood. That would make things simpler.
He’d been working late. Being as it was well after regular hours everyone had gone home. He had, in fact, been startled when Victor first spoke. Victor had entered quietly coming up behind him so quietly he hadn’t even realized anyone was there. When was that? Glancing at his watch; just twenty minutes ago. He hadn’t heard Victor arrive. Was there a car to deal with? There must be. Where were the keys? What was he going to do about the car?
What else might place Victor here with him tonight? He would have to find out and deal with it. He’d have to deal with all of it. If he was going to cover this up, and he was, he’d have to be thorough. Nothing could be overlooked. No trace of Victor could be left behind.
Without even fully realizing what he was doing, he began to formulate a plan. Glancing at his watch again, his mind began to itemize each step of what he was about to do.
At some now distant, future time, when he looked back on these moments it would be with amazement at how easily and quickly the decision had been made and how methodically he’d done what he’d decided he must.
He may not realize it right now but this was a defining moment in his life.
A moment; like all moments, that once lived, could never be changed.
About Author V.S. Gardner…
After raising her family, relocating from Ohio to beautiful South Carolina and leaving the work force, VS Gardner fulfilled her lifelong dream by becoming a published author.
Her first novel, A Killing on Hardee Street. was published in 2020. The rocking chair on the front cover of the book is the author’s actual rocking chair; from which she enjoyed her morning coffee on the back patio of her home while watching a new build in her community. This is where the idea for the story originated. The main character, Vonda Graham does the same. A killing takes place at the construction site and, without realizing it, Vonda has clues to the crime. The story centers around a mysterious disappearance, new relationships, Vonda’s comforting memories, and faith.
VS Gardner’s second novel, A Brick to Remember, was published in 2022. The picture on the book cover was painted by the author’s husband, a self-taught artist, Steve Gardner. The main character is Leanza Williams. Her father went missing when she was only four years old. Leanza grows up to do two things. One is to become an advocate for missing persons. Working with an FBI Task Force, Leanza goes to the Myrtle Beach area to solve the case of thirteen current missing persons. The second is to sleep-type. This is something the author does, and where the idea for this story originated. While typing in her personal journal, Leanza falls asleep, but her mind and fingers keep working. The next time she reads her journal, the last several lines don’t make sense; they contain phrases about a brick wall, her father’s toy, a brick, a name, and several other clues to what happened to her father.
VS is currently writing her third novel, which focuses on mysterious happenings at Spivey Lake in Mount Tabor, NC.
While VS Gardner is her author name, her name is Vanessa. Holding to the belief that life’s greatest treasures are found in relationships, Vanessa’s favorite pastime is spending time with family and friends. When not writing, she enjoys reading, thrifting, exploring local points of interest, and trail walking. She is grateful for the many blessings of life.
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Links to VS’s website, blog, books, #ad etc.:
Amazon (Killing on Hardee Street):
https://www.amazon.com/Killing-Hardee-Street-V-Gardner/dp/B08NDXBBRF
Amazon (A Brick to Remember):
https://www.amazon.com/Brick-Remember-V-S-Gardner/dp/B09RV25K69
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/vs.gardner.author/
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/121649748-vs-gardner
Contact VS Gardner at vsgbooks2020@gmail.com
I hope you enjoy the recipe VS is sharing today on Karen’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy Eating!
Karen
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GARNET’S ZUCCHINI CAKE
Note from VS: My grandmother’s recipe.
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 cup oil
2 cups flour
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp vanilla
1 (8 ½ oz.) can crushed pineapple (drained)
2 cups grated zucchini, squeezed thoroughly
(Add 1 cups finely chopped nuts – optional)
Beat eggs and sugar until light colored. Add oil and blend. Mix dry ingredients together then add to egg mixture and beat 2 minutes. Stir in pineapple, nuts, vanilla and zucchini. Mix thoroughly and pour into greased and floured bunt pan.
Bake at 350 for 1 hour and 20 min. Cool.
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Thanks, VS, for sharing your book with us!
Don’t miss the chance to read this book!
Good morning, VS, and welcome to Karen’s Killer Fixin’s. Love your bright cover! I really enjoyed your excerpt, too. Can’t wait to read this story! Thanks, too, for sharing your grandmother’s recipe. Can’t wait to try that, too!
Hello, Thanks for the compliment on the book cover. I took the photo! It’s my actual rocking chair on my patio where the idea for the story originated while I was watching a new build in our community. I really enjoy hearing from readers so please feel free to message or email me or put a review on my author page (if you’re so inclined) once you’ve read my novel Grandma’s cake is delicious!
Thank you Karen for featuring my novel on your blog!
I’ve never added pineapple to mine, sounds like an interesting addition.
Nice to meet you, VS.
The pineapple is a great addition to the flavor of the cake. By the way my name is Vanessa. I’m happy to meet you!
Also, I love hearing from readers so feel free to message, email or post a review on my author page if you read my novel! Let me know if you make grandma’s cake, too!
Thank you for sharing your book and this yummy recipe.
You’re welcome! Thank you for your interest! I love hearing from readers so feel free to message, email or post a review on my author page if you read my novel! Let me know if you make grandma’s cake, too!
This sounds like an exciting story, and the cake sounds yummy!
I’m glad the story sparks your interest. I love hearing from readers so feel free to message, email or post a review on my author page if you read my novel! Let me know if you make grandma’s cake, too! It’s wonderful.
Hello, Thanks for the compliment on the book cover. I took the photo! It’s my actual rocking chair on my patio where the idea for the story originated while I was watching a new build in our community. I really enjoy hearing from readers so please feel free to message or email me or put a review on my author page (if you’re so inclined) once you’ve read my novel Grandma’s cake is delicious!
Thank you Karen for featuring my novel on your blog!
I have a recipe for zucchini cake that I have made and enjoyed. The recipe offered here sounds much better than the one I have. I will be trying it soon, after the holiday goodies are well out of the way. The books sound interesting. Good mysteries are always welcome and enjoyable.