Synopsis

Realist Dr. Carla Harris believes that people create their own fate through hard work and careful planning. She believes in playing things safe. But, while preparing for her upcoming nuptials, she’s forced to confront the most reckless thing she’s ever done…her estranged husband, Jacob.

Idealist Jacob Moreau believes in soul mates as much as he believes in saving endangered companies. When his long lost wife reenters his life seeking a divorce, he is convinced more than ever they are meant to be together. And he will do—and lose—anything to have her again.

She thought she had her life planned to perfection. He thought they made perfect sense together.

Would marrying Jacob be the craziest thing she’s ever done, or divorcing him?

  Paperback version from Chart House Press

About the Author

Roe Valentine was born into the right family. Not only does the name Valentine suit her, but her grandmother, unknowingly, introduced the young Ms. Valentine to her first romance novel. She hasn’t read anything else since. She calls herself a romantic at heart and believes that love conquerors all.

The San Antonio native, who now lives in Houston, attempted to write her first contemporary romance novel when she was nineteen years old. That attempt didn’t take, but her story has a happy ending. She kept pursuing the dream until she landed her first publishing contract in 2013.

When not busy writing or reading love stories, Roe can often be found in a yoga class or chatting with friends at her favorite coffee shop. Enjoying margaritas with some girl-talk isn’t unusual for her either. For a night in, she watches reruns of her favorite TV shows and, of course, romantic comedies on her Roku, usually with a glass of wine.

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An Indecent Proposal by J.C. Reed & Jackie Steele

Release date: February 23rd, 2015

Synopsis

It was supposed to be easy. 

Hire a professional actor to play my fake fiancé. 

But when he steps in front of my door to pick me up for The Interview, my heart stops. Chase Wright is perfect. And hot. I mean like, burn up your dress hot. However, Chase isn’t professional at all. I hate what he does to me with his sinfully sexy blue eyes. I hate that he wants me in his bed.

One month…that’s all I need him for. All I have to do is stay out of his bed. But the rules slowly begin to change. My fake fiancé suddenly becomes my fake husband. When Chase offers me an indecent proposal, it’s too late to fire him. It’s too late to decline. 

Full-length novel. Includes free prequel novella THAT GUY.

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Worldwide, print and ebook

Publisher:  RidgeRoute Press (November 17, 2014)
Category: International Suspense, Mystery/Thriller
ISBN: 9780991401734
Tour Date: January/February, 2015
Available in: Print & ebook, 314 Pages

Synopsis

A friend’s deception. A family’s dilemma.

While cataloging looted antiquities in Brussels, archaeologist Grace Madison discovers that her daughter has vanished in France, and her son’s bride has been attacked in Switzerland. After the Madison’s unearth a relic whose taproot pierces the Ancient Near East, they realize that before they can save themselves, they must rescue an old friend. If he’ll let them. 

They sacrifice hearts and lives in a race against eternity on a four-thousand-year-old trail crossing three continents.

Because choosing what’s right is all that’s left.

Amazon * Barnes and Noble * The Book Depository * Indie Bound

Review

This is a follow up to the first book, <i>When Camels Fly</i>.  While this could be read as a stand alone, it is best to read the first book to get a feel for the characters, their careers and what started in book 1 (water theft) continues in this book.  It is a different plot with a familiar theme.

We see the return of the Madison family – Grace, Mark, Maggie, Jeff and the newest member, Becca.  Between them they work or have connections to many government “spy” agencies – CIA, MI6, BBC (ok that one is a network), UNESCO and a tie to Mossad but not in the family…yet!  Maggie is still single with 2 men interested in her with ties to various organizations.

I enjoyed this book better than the first one.  I think probably because there weren’t as many new characters and several characters were carried over from the first book so I was familiar with them.

The ending leaves you hanging a bit.  You realize that the story isn’t over yet BUT did they really figure out what Maggie thought she had uncovered in her water research?  I’m guessing we will find out more in book 3 due out this fall.

We give this book 4 paws up!

Praise for When Camels Fly (Parched Series Book I)

“Page-turning international suspense–this writer is on her way up.”-DiAnn Mills, Christie Award winning author

“An exciting novel of suspense, intrigue, and mystery. Very nicely done.“-Paul Johnson, Readers’ Favorites 

“It’s obvious from the writing that the author has spent time here.”-Ellis Shuman, Times of Israel

“The book was fantastic, and nearly impossible to set down. Highly recommended.“-Kathryn Bennett, Readers’ Favorites 

“A unique, totally out in left field, never been told story. I love that.”-Every Free Chance Blog

Advance Praise for My Brothers Keepers

“The Brothers’ Keepers, book 2 in the Parched series, delivers masterful international suspense driven by contemporary family dynamics. Light the late-night oil because you won’t want to put this book down.”-DiAnn Mills, Christy Award Winner

“I thought Horton peaked with her first novel, When Camels Fly. I’ll admit, I was wrong. The Brothers’ Keepers is magnificent! The main characters from her first novel are beautifully developed in this sequel.

This is a more accessible novel than When Camels Fly mainly because of the location — Europe. She incorporates the history of the places her characters visit, and she weaves an incredibly feasible story around these events. The story is as complex as When Camels Fly, a good thing that requires close reading, but it is well worth the effort.

I highly recommend reading When Camels Fly before this one and continuing journeying with the Madison family!–Leigh Bennett, Reader

“I am once again became enthralled by the exploits of an intelligent, older woman and her family whom I first got to meet in When Camels Fly. It’s so rare to find a heroine that the more mature amongst us can relate to on some level. I look forward to learning more about Grace, Mark, Maggie, Jeff and Becca as they become embroiled in yet another adventure after Maggie goes missing and an attempt is apparently made on Becca’s life whilst she and Jeff are honeymooning in Switzerland.“-Anne Rogers, Reader

About the Author

Winner of  ‘A People’s Chioce Award’ in fiction, NLB Horton returned to writing fiction after an award-winning career in journalism and marketing as well as earning her Masters of Biblical Studies degree from Dallas Theological Seminary. She has surveyed Israeli and Jordanian archaeological digs, tossed a tarantula from her skiff into the Amazon after training with an Incan shaman, driven uneventfully through Rome, and consumed gallons of afternoon tea while traveling across five continents.

 Horton is a member of the venerable Explorers Club, based in New York City and founded in 1904 as an international multidisciplinary professional society of explorers and scientists. From her home in the Rocky Mountains, she writes, cross-country skis, gardens and researches ideas for her next novel. Horton’s first novel in the Parched series, When Camels Fly, was released in May 2014.  The Brothers’ Keepers is the second, with the third installment available in fall 2015.

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Follow the Tour

Teddy Rose Book Reviews Jan 5 Spotlight & Giveaway

Cassandra M’s Place Jan 6 Review & Giveaway

Victoria Simcox’s Blog Jan 6 Excerpt

Confessions Of A Reader Jan 7 Guest Post  & Giveaway

Paranormal Romance Jan 8 Review

Pinky’s Favorite Reads Jan 9 Interview & Excerpt

Rockin’ Book Reviews Jan 14 Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway

Elizabeth McKenna Romance Author Jan 14 Excerpt

Lightning Chronicles Jan 15 Review & Excerpt

Butterfly-o-Meter Books Jan 15 Guest Post, Excerpt, and Giveaway

Back Porchervations Jan 16 Review

Deal Sharing Aunt Jan 19 Review

Miki’s Hope Jan 20 Review

Devoted Mommy of 3 Jan 21 Review

Totally Addicted to Reading Jan 30 Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway

Reading To Distraction Feb 2 Review & Interview

Open Book Society Feb 5 Review

Inspire to Read Feb 9 Review & Excerpt

Celticlady’s Reviews Feb 10 Review & Excerpt

Curling Up By the Fire Feb 11 Review

Bound 4 Escape Feb 12 Review

What U Talking Bout Willis? Feb 13 Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

Teddy Rose Book Reviews Feb 18 Review

My Tangled Skeins Reviews Feb 20 Review

StoreyBook Reviews Feb 23 Review

Reeca’s Pieces Feb 25 Review

Lily’s Reviews Feb 26 Review & Guest Post

TrulySimplyPink Feb 27 Review

Title: Blood Music: A Thriller
Author: Jessie Prichard Hunter
Genre: Thriller
Publish Date: February 24, 2015
Publisher: Witness Impulse an imprint of HarperCollins Publishing
ISBN: 0062389289
ASIN: B00MMG19ZU
Pages: 320 pages
List Price: 2.99 USD

~ Synopsis ~

Chilling…A riveting thriller.” NEW YORK MAGAZINE

New York City is caught in the cold grip of a brutal serial killer who savagely rapes and murders his young, blonde victims. While ravaging them, his mind whirls with symphonic images and raging desires–rarely giving thought to his loving wife and child.

Young, blonde Zelly Wyche has a new baby and a happy life with her dependable electrician husband. She, too, is petrified by the madness and the unthinkable tragedy of the murders. While the serial killers’ sole survivor and a victim’s brother mount a desperate vigilante hunt for the “Symphony Slasher,” a chill runs up Zelly’s spine. She is beginning to wonder if the killer could be closer than she thinks. But no. Impossible. She has to be dead wrong….

Amazon // Barnes and Noble // HarperCollins

Why I Wrote Blood Music

After Blood Music was published, several people I knew, mostly from my daughter’s preschool, came up to me and said, without rancor, “I thought you were a nice person!” If by that they meant a person who is not devoured with curiosity about the darkest parts of the human psyche, then no, I am not a nice person.

Several years before I wrote Blood Music, I dreamt I’d written a book of that name. Now that, I thought, is something I’m going to do one day. I had no idea what it was about, but it certainly was a good title.

Some time later, on a lovely spring afternoon, I was sitting with my baby girl on a park lawn at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey, where I was living at the time. It was quiet and calm, with perfect sun. Suddenly I thought, What if there was someone in the bushes with a knife, watching us, and he decided to kill me if I turned my face his way? Yes, this is the sort of thing I think regularly, even to this day. I absolutely loved it. That’s Blood Music, I thought, and hurried home to write it.

I knew it had to have music in it, of course, so I put some, right at the beginning. The first chapter of Blood Music is among the finest things I have ever written, and I am proud to say it was a first draft that took about twenty minutes to finish. It was then that I knew this was a book I absolutely had to write, although I had only the foggiest idea of what it was going to be about.

At that point I had studied abnormal psychology, and specifically serial killings, for some twenty years, since I was fifteen. I had just finished another novel, Like Love, which I still adore and want to see published, in some form, one day. But although I had taken great care and love in the writing of it, it lacked one thing: a plot. I had studied dialogue, I knew how to write a sentence and create a scene. But a plot is something that sadly escapes a great many first novelists.

To make up for it I decided to write a completely plot-driven book, a thriller. Now, thrillers have a rather bad name, although I have met very few people who don’t (at least secretly) love them. They’re considered second-rate as far as writing goes, and I consider myself a literary writer. So I decided to write a plot-driven literary thriller.

It took me eight months to write the first draft, all the while raising my baby, Leah. At eight months she would crawl across the floor, pull herself up to the computer, and try to tear my hands away from the keyboard. (Later, my boy would crawl across the floor, pull himself up to the computer, and try to type with me.) I would tape Sesame Street and play it for Leah so that I could have an hour to write, which I ended up doing, in small notebooks, at a counter in the kitchen. As long as she couldn’t see what I was doing, I was all right. Heaven help me if she figured it out, though, and she was one smart baby. She wanted me all to herself, all the time; but that’s just being a mother, and now I laugh at how guilty I felt about those Sesame Street tapes.

I wrote Blood Music because I had to; it really was that simple. A name, a scene, a creation being born. That’s one of the things I love most about writing: It has its own agenda.

I did change one word for my sister’s sake (I forget which), but when it went into Editorial at Turtle Bay, Random House’s newest imprint, I stipulated that not one word of it could be changed. Not one was—although of course that had nothing to do with me!

About the Author

Jessie Prichard Hunter is the author of the psychological thriller Blood Music, forthcoming from Witness Impulse. She currently resides in New York’s Hudson Valley with her husband and two children.

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Tour-Wide Giveaway

5 individual promo codes for a free download of the book for an entire tour. Winner must have access to Bluefire Reader and have an Adobe account to receive free download.

Synopsis

With shape-shifting abilities, Haven sets out on a path of revenge against child predators, while she searches for the monster who ripped away her innocence, murdered her trust and abused her body. Hoping one day she will come eye to eye with the man who stole from her the only thing that cannot be given back or replaced. But, when she discovers Cassidy and her mysterious Uncle Bryce, Haven’s world of secrecy is exposed. Her solitude life is challenged and the protective walls she built around her scarred heart begin to crumble. Tossing her into uncharted territory and reminding her of forgotten dreams. Struggling with the haunting memories of her past, the inability to trust and the hideous reality of abuse, Haven is thrown into a battle she never expected to fight and feelings she didn’t want to face. But, one question remains. Can a damaged shifter learn to trust and love again? Or, will it destroy what little is left of her shattered heart and allow the shadows of her past the control they relentlessly seek?

 Amazon|Amazon UK|Amazon AU|Kobo|Google Play

About the Author

Frantiska Oliver currently resides in Texas with her husband, Billy, and their two children. Along with being a full time mom, she is also a part-time veterinary technician and will do almost anything to help an animal in need. Her love for fantasy and science fiction books inspired her to write her first debut novel, Never Forget the Past. Still to this day, when the sun sets and the stars appear, you will find her on the back porch with a notebook and pen writing about the adventures manifesting within her head.

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Synopsis

When archaeologist Grace Madison’s adult daughter is kidnapped in Israel, Grace knows she’ll have to break almost all Ten Commandments to bring her home alive.

Seconds after Grace shoots Maggie’s abductor, a handsome shepherd drops from the sky to kill a second assassin. The women’s world crumbles in two blinks of an eye.

Running for their lives, they quickly unearth a global evil poised to sacrifice millions. Their pursuit of justice plunges them into a vortex of intrigue and espionage, endangering friends and family while the world teeters toward disaster. As they crisscross the “cradle of civilization,” they unexpectedly extinguish old flames and ignite new loves.

How far will they have to go to save everyone and everything they hold dear? From the shadowy alleyways of old Jerusalem to a congested caravanserai in Jordan, and from elderly operatives hiding under Masada to youthful rescuers disguised as snake charmers in Jericho, the mother-daughter team soon realizes that nothing is as it seems. Even each other.

Because sometimes, doing what’s right is all that’s left.

When Camels Fly is book 1 in the Parched series. Book 2, The Brothers’ Keepers, continues the adventure.  Look for a review on book 2 in the next few days!

(Kindle version was just $0.99 on 2/20 when I created this post!)

Review

The family that spies together stays together! This was an interesting concept about countries stealing water (in the middle east) and Maggie, in the course of her work, notices something isn’t right. This leads to her being kidnapped, saved by her mother, they are both kidnapped, husband and brother come rushing in along with a wide cast of characters.

The story was good but I felt like I needed a character guide to keep track of everyone. I think it wasn’t until about 2/3 of the way through I felt like I had a handle on all of the characters and who was trying to help and who was trying to steal the water. There were a lot of details, but perhaps too many?

The book spans about a week and it is very action packed, no down time for these characters.

We give this book 3 paws and I love that the author commented on my review on Goodreads…we communicated back and forth a few times and it is nice when authors listen to those that review their book.

About the Author

Winner of  ‘A People’s Chioce Award’ in fiction, NLB Horton returned to writing fiction after an award-winning career in journalism and marketing as well as earning her Masters of Biblical Studies degree from Dallas Theological Seminary. She has surveyed Israeli and Jordanian archaeological digs, tossed a tarantula from her skiff into the Amazon after training with an Incan shaman, driven uneventfully through Rome, and consumed gallons of afternoon tea while traveling across five continents.

Horton is a member of the venerable Explorers Club, based in New York City and founded in 1904 as an international multidisciplinary professional society of explorers and scientists. From her home in the Rocky Mountains, she writes, cross-country skis, gardens and researches ideas for her next novel. Horton’s first novel in the Parched series, When Camels Fly, was released in May 2014.  The Brothers’ Keepers is the second, with the third installment available in fall 2015.

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Synopsis

What lies buried in a hoarder’s house— precious treasure or ghastly secrets?

One moment of misguided generosity throws estate sale organizer Audrey Nealon’s life into turmoil.  She loses a client’s money, cripples her budding romance, and witnesses a murder. Strapped for cash, she accepts a questionable project: clearing out the home of a mentally ill hoarder who may have hidden valuable Civil War letters. What really lies at the bottom of twenty years’ worth of collected buttons and dolls and stuffed owls and atlases?  As Audrey digs through the hoarder’s obsessions, she unleashes a vengeful response from all sides.  The house has destroyed lives in the past. Will Audrey and those she loves be its next victims?

Author S.W. Hubbard tells how she came up with this book

Who among us has not watched an episode of Hoarders and thought, “At least I’m not as bad as that!” Everyone has too much stuff, except for those owners of minimalist apartments featured in Architectural Digest (and I always suspect they have a back room filled with two Barcaloungers, a stack of unread newspapers, and Rubbermaid crates full of out-of-season clothes). Letting go of our stuff is hard because each item is more than just the plastic or metal or ceramic it’s made of. Some items are pieces of the past: Throwing away my daughter’s lacrosse stick was tantamount to discarding six years of chilly spring afternoons cheering in the stands. Some items are moral judgments: Discarding those perfectly good shoes that never got broken in is downright shameful when so many people have no shoes at all. Tossing the old waffle iron is fraught with peril: what if I have to make waffles for twenty-five and need two waffle irons to cope? And some items simply aren’t ripe for removal, so they go to the purgatory of the attic or the spare bedroom closet to await their future trip to dump hell.

Still, as hard as editing our junk is, most of us manage to either toss it or at least recycle it via Craigslist or the church bazaar.

But what if you could never let anything go? And what if you kept acquiring more and more? What would happen when your obsession affected not just your own life, but the lives of your family, friends, and neighbors?

And finally, when you’d spent years accumulating so much stuff that every room in your house was filled to the ceiling, what might lie forgotten beneath it all?

Those are the questions I wanted to tackle in Treasure of Darkness. So I gave my protagonist, estate sale organizer Audrey Nealon, a doozy of a job: find the one needle of value in a grotesque haystack of hoarded junk. In the process, she becomes entangled in the lives and secrets of the hoarder, his family, and his neighbors.

One of the best things about writing fiction is that it gives me an opportunity to grapple with issues I can’t fix in real life. For fifteen years, I’ve volunteered at the Community Soup Kitchen of Morristown. The experience has opened my eyes to the suffering of the mentally ill and the terrible challenges faced by the people who try to help them.

In Treasure of Darkness, I try to shed some light on these dilemmas. Unlike homeless animals and orphaned children, Harold the hoarder is not easy to love. He’s obstinate, unattractive, and tuned-in to a different logic than everyone else. The frustrations of his family and neighbors are totally understandable. Yet Harold’s essential humanity—his interests and intelligence and affections—are still present beneath the shroud of his mental illness. Audrey and her assistants, Jill and Ty, are torn by revulsion, fear, and compassion as they are drawn into Harold’s bizarre world. And, of course, since this is a mystery, they uncover some dark secrets along the way.

You can meet Audrey, her crew, and Harold here, in the first chapter of Treasure of Darkness.

I suspect you’ll see just a little bit of yourself in Harold. So come clean (so to speak)—what items do you find impossible to throw away?

Leslie here – my answer to what I find impossible to throw away – too much!  I am not a hoarder but I need to let go of things more than I do.  I think mine comes down to laziness!

About the Author

S.W. Hubbard is the author of the Audrey Nealon estate sale mysteries, Another Man’s Treasure and Treasure of Darkness. She is also is the author of three Police Chief Frank Bennett mystery novels set in the Adirondack Mountains: Take the Bait, Swallow the Hook, and Blood Knot, as well as a short story collection featuring Frank Bennett, Dead Drift. Her short stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine and the anthologies Crimes by Moonlight, The Mystery Box, and Adirondack Mysteries. She lives in Morristown, NJ, where she teaches creative writing to enthusiastic teens and adults, and expository writing to reluctant college freshmen.

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Synopsis

This second book in the series takes the reader further into the life of Alicia Trent and her friends. Magic, forgery, betrayal, and fabulous jewels surround Alicia as she struggles to find the reason for her friend’s death.

Wings e Press I Amazon I Barnes & Noble

Excerpt

We were nearly halfway up the stairs when I heard Lawrence groan. I turned to see what had happened. He was deathly white, and while I watched, he sank down on the closest step. He was sweating heavily and clutching his stomach. He didn’t seem coherent enough to answer any questions, so I ducked into my room and called for an ambulance. They only took about ten minutes to arrive, but it was horrible to wait. Lawrence was obviously in great pain, but couldn’t tell me what was wrong.

The ride to the hospital took an eternity. They wouldn’t let me ride in the ambulance, and I was so afraid of what would happen before he arrived. I was shaking and behind the wheel of a car was the last place I should have been, but as the ambulance tore through the streets with the siren blaring, I was right behind them.

I ran from the parking lot into the emergency room just in time to see them take Lawrence through a set of swinging doors where I couldn’t follow. I slumped into a chair, and for the next two hours I sat in a waiting room with dull green walls and hard metal chairs. I never moved while I waited. My mind was busy begging Lawrence to hold on.

Since I was the only one waiting, when I saw an exhausted-looking man dressed in scrubs walk into the room, I took a deep breath and hurried to his side.

He said, “Are you the relative who brought Lawrence Hall in tonight?”

Afraid they wouldn’t tell me anything if I confessed to not being a relative, I just nodded.

“Mr. Hall is a very sick man. He’s been poisoned, and we think he must have eaten poisonous mushrooms. Our tests indicate they were probably green-spored lepiota.”

At this point I wanted to scream at him to just tell me his condition. He could explain the details after I knew how Lawrence was.

However, he wasn’t finished explaining. “This particular mushroom doesn’t normally cause death, but among its other symptoms it can dangerously lower blood pressure. Mr. Hall must be on some type of medication that has the same effect, or at least exacerbated the effect of the mushroom, because we nearly lost him. It’s a good thing you got him here when you did. We have him stabilized now, and he should make a full recovery.”

I barely heard anything the man said except the last statement. Lawrence was going to be all right! My knees weakened with relief and I sank into the nearest chair.

He continued, “He’s awake, and we need to monitor him closely for a while. We want to keep him tonight and tomorrow for observation, but he can probably go home after that. If you want to see him, you can visit for a short time, but first, can you tell me what type of medication he’s taking? He was still pretty confused when I talked to him and wasn’t able to tell me.”

“I don’t know the exact medication. Lawrence is bi-polar, so it has to be something for that. I’ll see if I can find out the name for you.”

I got the room number and was practically running in my need to see for myself that he was alive and recovering. I burst into the room, nearly knocking over a nurse on her way out. She cautioned me the patient needed rest and, with a frown in my direction, left the room. I pulled a chair up next to the bed and took Lawrence’s hand. “You look so much better already. You have some color back.”

He said, “You look terrible. You can relax. I’m going to be fine. I was a little worried in the beginning because the confusion felt the way some of my episodes used to begin. The confusion is gone now, and I really am fine. It’s left me very tired, but they don’t want me to sleep yet. Tell me exactly what happened. I’m sure the gory details will help keep me awake. The last thing I remember is starting up the stairs, and then brief moments in the ambulance.”

I wanted to answer in the same matter-of-fact way he’d asked the question. I tried, but before I could begin, tears were running down my face and I couldn’t find my voice. I didn’t sob or howl. Strangely, I didn’t make any noise at all. I just stared at Lawrence, horrified because he might have died trying to help me. All the while the silent tears kept coming.

He said, “Ali, we can’t have this. I’ve seen you go through some horrible times, but I’ve never seen you cry. There’s no need for you to be so upset. I promise you I will be out of here tomorrow, and all will be well. Even the doctor says so.”

I gulped a few times trying to find my voice. It didn’t sound good, but I managed to say, “I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you. When you get out of here, you’re going right back to Scottsdale! I should never have involved you in any of this.”

“Whoa there, girl! In the first place, I’m a grown man and you can’t involve me in anything I don’t choose to be involved in. In the second place, you and your crazy mixed-up life are the main thing keeping me from getting old and bored. Bad things happen sometimes, but none of this is your fault. Now dry those tears and tell me how I got here.”

I hiccuped a few times but got myself under control. “Okay, I’m not trying to take the blame for what happened, but I was so scared. It seems you were poisoned. I wasn’t in much shape to listen to the doctor, but it was some kind of mushroom. There were mushrooms in the food we ate at supper, but we both ate those. Someone targeted you specifically. At the moment, I have no idea why they did it, but I don’t think whoever did this was trying to kill you. The doctor said the symptoms were severe but not normally fatal. The problem seemed to be a reaction between the poison and your medication. Whoever did this couldn’t have known that you take anything, or at least not that your medicine would react with the mushrooms. The doctor asked me to find out the name of your prescription.”

“I vaguely remember him asking me, but I was pretty confused then and couldn’t remember. It’s Geodon. They tried dozens before, but nothing worked until this came along. I’m one of the lucky ones, because it not only keeps the problem in check, but I don’t suffer from any severe side effects. This reaction with poison mushrooms is something I certainly never expected. I should have told you ages ago in case of a relapse or some bizarre circumstances like these.”

“I’ll let the doctor know the name of the medicine. I don’t know if your medication lowers your blood pressure, but it dropped dangerously low. That’s what had the doctors worried.”

“I don’t know either, but the doctors will figure it out. I understand I have to be in here until tomorrow evening, even though I tried to talk them into letting me go sooner. You need to promise me you won’t do anything the least bit dangerous until I get back. One day isn’t going to make any difference. Whoever did this may have planned it to separate us for some reason. So promise me you’ll be careful and not spend time alone.”

The frowning nurse came back and warned me I needed to leave. Visiting hours were over and the patient needed rest.

I said, “Don’t worry about me. I promise I will take every precaution until you’re out of here. I’ll be back tomorrow afternoon and will drive you to the house when they release you. Just get well!”

Outside the room, Detective Wilton was waiting for me.

About the Author

From living off the grid in the Arizona desert, Eileen has moved to the woods of upstate New York. She has authored a standalone adventure novel called Desert Shadow. She is also the author of Alicia Trent Series. The Black Cane : Dowager Diaries Book 1 is her latest release.

Miranda’s Choice by Mya O’Malley

Have you ever felt that the grass is greener everywhere else? Meet Miranda James. Miranda has a problem. Her friends and family are wrapped up in themselves, so clueless. With divorced parents, a mother who is always on her case and a new step-mother on the horizon, Miranda wishes that everybody would just grow up.

In a moment of magic, Miranda is mysteriously pulled into the life of a charming mermaid and her adventurous daughter. Why can’t her life be so carefree and exhilarating? Why can’t her own mother be more like Abigail, the mermaid? Be careful what you wish for though. Only through self-realization can Miranda figure out that perhaps the grass is not always greener. Held captive in an underwater paradise, Miranda wishes to desperately recapture the life she used to have.

Through many twists and turns, Miranda is caught up in a whirlwind of emotions, including finding her first true love.

Miranda is faced with making a decision that will not only affect her own life, but also those around her. What would you choose?

Amazon

Excerpt

Spellbound had been around for some time. Even Miranda’s mom claimed to have played it when she was a teenager. The game promised magic, mystery, and fun. A series of spaces marked the board and when you rolled the dice, you had to follow the directions on the designated spot. A group of Miranda’s friends had played it once at a sleepover at Stephanie’s house. Miranda had landed on a spot that had asked her to conjure up a mythical creature. Her chant for a beautiful fairy hadn’t succeeded, but it was tons of fun nonetheless.

“No wonder you wanted to give this to me out here. Mom would flip.” Miranda giggled as the wind slowly picked up speed.

“Is it supposed to storm tonight?” Eve spun her head around, taking in the vast beach.

“I think so, a little bit later. We should get started or Mom will come find us if we’re late.” Glancing back toward the motel, Miranda rubbed her hands together. “Let’s do this.” She opened the package, tossing the plastic and gift wrap in the nearby trash can.

“I hope I get to dare you to do anything I want,” Eve squealed, throwing her head back in laughter.

“Wrong game. This is not Truth or Dare.” Miranda knew that a spot on the board allowed you to command a game member to do anything, but that was not going to happen. She would rather walk away than let Eve embarrass her.

Sure enough, after about ten minutes of playing the game, Eve landed on her favorite spot. Miranda could feel a wave of tension seep through her body as she witnessed Eve scanning the beach.

No, there was no way that she would actually expect me to…

Praise

I love the way it all wrapped up. Some of the twists and turns took me by surprise, but that ending. Oh, how I loved it! ~Katie W.

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About the Author

Mya O’Malley was born and raised in the suburbs of New York City, where she currently lives with her husband, daughter and three step-daughters. The family also consists of two boxers; Destiny and Dolce and a ragdoll cat named Colby. Mya earned an undergraduate degree in special education and a graduate degree in reading and literacy. She works as a special education teacher and enjoys making a difference in the lives of her students.

Mya currently has two new releases: At First Sight, a contemporary romance about dating in the modern world, published by Astraea Press, and Where There is Love, a contemporary romance in which a woman struggles with past obstacles, ultimately faced with whether or not she will open her heart to love. Where There is Love is published with Solstice Publishing. Mya is excited to say that Astraea Press will be releasing her contemporary holiday paranormal romance titled If You Believe on November 25, 2014. Due to be released late January is The Calm After the Storm, published by TouchPoint Press. This novel is a contemporary romance taking place in the setting of Hurricane Sandy. The story revolves around the idea of a utility worker from Georgia falling in love with a woman in New York.

Mya’s passion is writing; she has been creating stories and poetry since she was a child. Mya spends her free time reading just about anything she can get her hands on. She is a romantic at heart and loves to create stories with unforgettable characters. Mya likes to travel; she has visited several Caribbean Islands, Mexico and Costa Rica. Mya is currently working on her sixth novel.

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