Misty Simon Livres

No more cheating . . . Best friends Tallie Graver and Gina Laudermilch both seem to spend a lot of time around urns. For Tallie, they're part and parcel of the family business, Graver's Funeral Home. Even though she's traded ashes for dusting with her own cleaning business, she still works part-time for her folks and lives above the funeral parlor. For Gina, they're the vessels that contain her heavenly brew at her coffee shop, Bean There, Done That. And both women are learning that owning a business can make finding time for romance challenging. But when Gina's new beau turns out to have a wife, who barges into the coffee shop to take him home, she can't contain her bitterness and loudly threatens to poison his cup or boil him in a vat of coffee. So when Mr. Wrong turns up dead at the bottom of a staircase inside Gina's locked home, she finds herself at the top of the police's suspect list. Tallie needs to sweep in to save her friend. But she'll need to watch her step, or she may go from being a funeral home employee to becoming their next client . . .

Cleaning houses to make ends meet, former socialite Tallulah Graver is plagued by a series of strange events that end in murder and she must clean up this mess before another victim is swept under the rug.

Claudia Bradley, a cake maker and single mom, faces unexpected challenges when her best friend Nate becomes more than just a friend, and her son's father reappears after a decade. Balancing her evolving feelings, her son's preteen struggles, and a family eager to give advice, Claudia finds herself in a whirlwind of emotions and decisions. This story explores themes of love, friendship, and the complexities of family life, all while mixing in a dash of humor and chaos.

Set against the backdrop of a summer camp, Olivia Jameson passionately dedicates herself to providing inner-city children with transformative experiences. When Alex Campbell, the new owner with a detached view of the camp, returns to address accusations against the boys, he confronts his past and rekindles a connection with Liv. As they navigate their differing perspectives on the camp's significance, both must confront hidden truths and the possibility of love, challenging their preconceived notions and priorities.

Ivy Morris navigates the chaos of her father's wedding to her new stepmother, where mishaps abound, including a near-choking incident with the singer. As strange occurrences unfold in the quiet town of Martha's Point—particularly involving her boyfriend and the sudden interest from younger women—Ivy's lingerie shop sees a surge in sales. Amidst the comedic and mysterious events, Ivy must confront her feelings and the odd happenings around her. Can she uncover the truth behind the town's peculiar behavior?

Her number is up . . . This Christmas, Tallie Graver would like to take a break from running her cleaning business to be with her boyfriend, Max, and enjoy their first holiday together—alone. Instead, she’s stuck keeping her mother and grandmother from duking it out during the town’s annual Christmas Eve bingo game. As for festive spirit, she’ll have to settle for her mean-spirited Aunt Ronda, whose mouth could use some soap. The night only gets worse after Tallie discovers Ronda’s body. It seems someone cleaned her clock with a can of varnish. While all the evidence points to Ronda’s husband, Tallie doesn’t believe her beloved Uncle Hoagie could do such a dirty deed. Of course, his sudden disappearance doesn’t help his case. If Tallie hopes to clear his name, she’ll need to dig up some dirt to locate the real killer. Otherwise, someone else could get rubbed out . . . Praise for Cremains of the Day “Simon kicks off a new series that combines a bit of humor and romance with a heroine who knows no boundaries while searching for the truth that will keep her out of jail.” —Kirkus Reviews “An amusing new series with an engaging, spirited sleuth.” —Library Journal “You’ll be cheering as the clues pile up in this creative cozy mystery.” —New York Times bestselling author Lynn Cahoon

House cleaner Tallie Graver investigates the death of a dirty building inspector after the police prove reluctant to look into the case.

Includes an excerpt of Varnished without a trace.