Posted in Fantasy, Giveaway, paranormal, Texas, Time Travel on December 6, 2018

The Janus Witch

by

Michael Scott Clifton

Genre: Paranormal Urban Fantasy / Romance

Publisher: Book Liftoff

Publication Date: September 1, 2018

Number of Pages: 372 pages

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Malice vs Love

A beautiful witch, a member of a murderous coven, is torn from her medieval world and transported to East Texas. The passage leaves her with no memory of her previous life. She falls in love with a young pediatrician, but her dark past threatens to reassert itself…and make her a threat.

Praise

This book is filled with magic, intrigue, excitement, and fantasy. Michael Scott Clifton is a truly gifted author.  — Teresa Syms, Readers’ Favorite

This novel was an absolute page turner with action and great character development. I enjoyed every minute of it. I’m excited for the next work by Mike Clifton. — Bronwyn Pegues, Librarian, Longview Public Library

“Michael Scott Clifton weaves and casts a magical spell in his fantasy romance The Janus Witch. A must read for any Fantasy Romance, Urban Romance, or Paranormal Romance enthusiast!” — Ranay James, Author of The McKinnon Legends: A Time Travel Series

A continuous flow of witchery and energy that kept this reader captivated until the end. — The Electric Review, 5-Star Review

5 Fun Facts You Didn’t Know About Author Michael Clifton

Fun fact 1 – As an 11-year-old, Michael was in a Baskin-Robbins commercial holding an ice cream cone with all 31 flavors!

Fun fact 2 – Michael served all 38 years in public education at the same school, Chapel Hill ISD, Mt. Pleasant, TX. He served as the district’s first Athletic Director, their first Assistant principal, and served as the district’s first ever Jr. High Principal.

Fun fact 3 – Michael was one of the orphan boys in the Albuquerque Little Theater production of Oliver! He grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and graduated from Eldorado High School.

Fun fact 4 – Michael’s car, a 1966 Volkswagen Squareback, broke down three times on his honeymoon, including once in the tiny Mississippi town of D’Lo. Michael and his wife finished their honeymoon with only a quarter—to be used to call for help should the VW break down again.

Fun Fact 5 – NBA Hall of Famer, Shaquille O’Neal, stood next to nearly six-foot-five Michael at an Austin buffet. Seventeen years old and over seven-foot-tall at the time, Shaquille was there with his San Antonio Cole team who won the Boys State Basketball Tournament that year. Michael says, “Biggest human I’ve ever been next to in real life.  I had to look up…way up just to see his face!  I coached basketball for 21 years, and I’m used to tall kids, but Shaq took it to a whole new level.”

 

Michael Scott Clifton, public educator for over 38 years as a teacher, coach, and administrator, currently lives in Mount Pleasant, Texas with his wife, Melanie, and the family cat, Sadie. An avid gardener, he enjoys all kinds of book and movie genres. His books contain aspects of all the genres he enjoys…adventure, magic, fantasy, romance, and relationships. He has been a finalist in a number of short story contests. Clifton’s fantasy novel, The Conquest of the Veil, won a First Chapter Finalist award. Professional credits include articles published in the Texas Study of Secondary Education Magazine. Clifton’s latest book, The Janus Witch, the July Book Cover of the Month, is a featured book on the We Love Indie Books website. Currently, Clifton is completing Book I of The Conquest of the Veil, which will be released in March 2019. He can be reached at mike@michaelscottclifton.com.

 

 

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Posted in 4 paws, Cozy, Giveaway, mystery, Review on December 5, 2018

Slay Bells (A Christmas Village Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
Brand New Series
Better Mousetrap Books (November 23, 2018)
Print Length: 273 pages

Synopsis

‘Twas the week before Christmas and all through the village, the night settled in over swirling-smoke chimneys; the air was alive with pine and holly, with sugar and cinnamon and cider, by golly!

Along snowy lanes and through shadows it crept, past windows behind which each villager slept, where sleeping dogs lie and cats rest a’purring—

Tonight, in Christmas Village, a killer is stirring.

Welcome to Christmas Village, a magical hamlet where even in December the roses hold their luster and bees buzz among the bluebells. You’re just in time for the week-long Christmas Festival, and nowhere is Christmas celebrated with such unrestrained merriment as the village which bears its name. Mayor Cobblestone and Sheriff Fell will be somewhere nearby, doing all they can to make sure you’re safe during your stay.

Provided you haven’t booked a room at Plum Cottage.

Nestled betwixt an opulent garden with meandering footpaths and an ancient grove of plum trees, Rose Willoughby’s boarding house is plum-full with lodgers. There are no vacancies, but just wait. Soon there will be one…and another…and another.

Presently lodging at the cottage are: the juggler, the acrobat, the magician, the psychic, the strongman, the manager, and the pretty assistant. In town as festival entertainment they’ve each brought their own bag of tricks. And a closetful of skeletons.

When the entertainers begin dying in inexplicable ways, some villagers believe a beast from old village lore is the culprit. The sheriff knows better, but he’s just as helpless to catch the invisible killer as are the town folk with their eyes to the sky in search of a flying creature. But our mysterious murderer hasn’t counted on yet another lodger coming to the cottage: Maribel Claus.

Short as a stump, round as a wheel, sweet as a candy cane, and a sharp as a whip, Maribel loves a good puzzle. But has she finally met her match at Plum Cottage?

Can you figure out whodunit before Maribel does? If you’re up to the challenge, here’s your first clue—the key to unlocking the secret of the murderer’s identity lies in figuring out how the murders were committed. Good luck!

Review

This Christmas town has a lot going for it and its citizens until a murder occurs.  Then it is Maribel Claus on the case to help solve the mystery before the town sheriff – after all isn’t that how all cozies go?!

The writing and the setting reminded me a bit like Agatha Christie’s settings and characters.  Some might call it a Golden Age setting.  Plum Cottage and Maribel’s friend Rose, are the scene of the alleged murder and the curious boarders from the troupe visiting the town during its festival and entertaining everyone, but could one of them be a murderer?

This is the first book from this author that I have read but I was riveted by this town and the quirkiness that was the essence of the characters.  I also enjoyed the folklore rolled into the story, it added a nice touch but of course what Dr. Pontifex claims to see can easily be explained by Maribel, or at least her supposition.  I’ll leave it at that and you’ll have to read the book to understand how it plays out.

There were some clues that I picked up on but I still wasn’t sure how it all tied together until the all was revealed.  This is usually what happens with me – I might guess the culprit but never know the why.

I think this could be an interesting series and I give it 4 paws up.

About the Author

T.C. Wescott was born in Missouri but has lived in Oklahoma most of his life. Like pretty much every author who has ever breathed, he is an avid reader. His favorites are classic mysteries from the Golden Age, as well as just before or just after that period (which is widely considered the period between the two World Wars). His first mystery novel, Running from Scissors, was published in July 2018 and will be the first of at least three books in the Running Store Mystery series.

The Christmas Village Mystery series will launch in November of the same year with the debut title Slay Bells. The formula for his books is simple – mixing the classic, traditional detective fiction standards with all the trappings of the modern cozy mystery.

Wescott is also (under another name) the author of two award-winning non-fiction books as well as a slew of essays and articles.

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Posted in 4 paws, Giveaway, mystery, Review on December 3, 2018

 

COVEY JENCKS

by

Shelton L. Williams

Narrated by Kathy James

Genre: Mystery / Social Thriller

Publisher: Southern Owl Publications, LLC

Publication Date: February 10, 2018

Number of Pages: 229 pages

Audio Book Length: 6 hours, 38 minutes

Covey Jencks is a murder mystery with a social conscience. Set in West Texas with a cast of colorful and humorous characters, it follows a young lawyer from Washington, DC back to his hometown of Odessa, Texas. He wants and needs to solve a murder case from 1979 in 1993. The problem is that the Odessa Police Department has already found its man, and no one wants to re-visit the case of a black prostitute whose life was seemingly of no consequence to anyone. But Freddie Mae Johnson’s death matters to Covey, and eventually he discovers an old flame, JayJay Qualls, who also knew and loved Freddie. Together they undertake an investigation that uncovers not only the truth about Freddie but also the secrets of Odessa’s south side, Mexican gangs, a Boston mobster, and the fallacy of unexamined assumptions. Finding out who killed Freddie is one thing, but preventing their own demise is quite another!

 

Praise

Williams seamlessly braids a murder mystery with a love story and a drama about the pervasiveness of racism in the South… The author’s prose is buoyantly eccentric, both insightful and self-effacingly humorous. And the clues Covey and JayJay track down are meted out to readers with impressive judiciousness: The author never prematurely surrenders so much information that the conclusion is rendered foregone while the tale’s swift pace prevents it from becoming tedious. An engrossing crime drama that’s both entertaining and provocative. — Kirkus Indie

 

 

Covey Jencks is a delight from start to finish and if you aren’t familiar with West Texas (specifically the Odessa area) you might feel like you know the town to a degree. Whether you know the town or not, you are probably aware of the football team from Friday Night Lights. There are many references to their winning years and even Covey’s role on the team. There are also references to Texas oil – both the good and the bad.

This story has two different timelines – the 1970s when the murder occurred and the 1990s when Covey is back in town and feels like he needs to figure out who killed Freddie, a friend from his youth working at his father’s car wash and an intriguing woman in her own right. I enjoyed the back and forth between the times as the story unfolded and more details of the crime and the characters were doled out to the reader. I kept wondering how Freddie’s murder might have taken place and who was involved, and while you have a clue to the second, the “how” was a mystery until the details were revealed. I was actually surprised at the involvement of one character because he portrays himself differently earlier in the book and I think that throws Covey and JayJay off.

The characters are multi-dimensional and some might surprise you as the story progresses and their involvement in past and present events. The cast of characters leaves no race, gender, or affiliation out and we see everything from white, black, brown, straight, and gay. Each character meshed well with the story and take note that there are racial slurs in the book which are appropriate to the time and location. I had no problem reading these because I know that 40 years ago is not today. I especially enjoyed all the references to many things we take for granted – cell phones, internet (and not dial-up!), and the start of coffee shops (aka Starbucks). I also enjoyed the various town references especially when the characters headed to the “big city” of Dallas et al.

Besides the mystery portion, I found different situations within the story humorous. I enjoy a good chuckle now and then because any author that can find humor in a situation is one that I will want to read again. Life is too crazy to not have some laughter now and again.

I’m not sure if this is going to be a series or not, but I would enjoy reading more about Covey’s family life coming out in light of what we know about his dad from this book. We also had a little peek into JayJay’s life as a younger woman and it would be enlightening to learn more about her and how she came to be in Covey’s life. Either way, this is an enjoyable book and one you might want to pick up.

We give this 4 paws up

Shelton L. Williams (Shelly) is founder and president of the Osgood Center for International Studies in Washington, DC. He holds a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and he taught for nearly 40 years at Austin College in Sherman, Texas. He has served in the US Government on 4 occasions and he has written books and articles on nuclear proliferation. In 2004 he began a new career of writing books on crime and society. Those books are Washed in the BloodSummer of 66, and now Covey Jencks. All firmly prove that he is still a Texan at heart.

 

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My first part-time job, while I was in high school, was announcing at the local radio station, and I had fun being “on the air” and using my sarcastic sense of humor.  I worked in the radio business for more than twenty years. My favorite pastimes are teaching figure skating, getting lost in a great book, and watching movies.  I narrate and produce audio books in my home studio, and I truly enjoy bringing an author’s characters to life with an audio book. I currently reside in Minnesota with my slightly overweight cat and two childlike golden retrievers.

 

 

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Posted in Cozy, Giveaway, Guest Post, Interview, Monday, mystery on December 3, 2018

Eggs on Ice (A Cackleberry Club Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
8th in Series
Berkley (December 4, 2018)
Hardcover: 304 pages

Synopsis

Some say that casting crusty attorney Allen Sharpe as Scrooge in the Kindred Players production of “A Christmas Carol” is just playing to type. He’s not the most beloved man in town. In fact, you’d have a dickens of a time finding someone who liked him. Still it’s a shock when the Ghost of Christmas Past stabs him during the first rehearsal. Suzanne, co-owner of the Cackleberry Club café, Kindred’s favorite combination diner, craft store and bookshop, chases the murderer out of the building but loses him in the alley.

As the days pass the list of suspects grows longer. Is it the disgruntled partner? The former secretary whom Sharpe sexually harrassed? Or is it fellow owner of the Cackleberry Club, Toni’s almost ex-husband, Junior? The women of the Cackleberry Club are determined to find the killer before he can add another victim to his Christmas list.

An interview with Laura Childs, New York Times bestselling author of Eggs on Ice

Today I am blessed to have Laura Childs here answering the tough questions!  She even shares a recipe with us, so make note of it because it sounds delicious.

Tell us a little bit about Eggs on Ice, your newest mystery.

As the Kindred Players hold their dress rehearsal for A Christmas Carol, a ghost wafts onstage and murders the star of the show. Suzanne Dietz, co-owner of the Cackleberry Club, rushes after this spooky specter but loses him when he escapes into a snowstorm. Suzanne vows to solve this murder and ends up juggling multiple suspects, holiday tea parties, a second murder, and a devastating fire. True to character, she also maintains her good humor (yes, this book is funny!) and keeps her romance sizzling with the town doctor. In the tradition of all my previous cozy mysteries, I give my readers a solid culinary fix with lots of delicious details on breakfast egg entrees as well as menus for a couple of fancy holiday tea parties.

Laura, I know you always include recipes in your books. Which ones are in Eggs on Ice?

I put in some really fun, tasty recipes like Crabby Crab Cakes, Slow-Cooker Sweet-and-Sour Pork, Elvis French Toast, Pumpkin Breakfast Casserole, and Church Basement Funeral Bars.

Who does most of the cooking in your house? And with your busy writing schedule (three different mystery series), how do you find time to cook?

I do the cooking and there really isn’t any time. So I tend to do lots of baked chicken with vegetables as well as stews and chowders that can be tossed together early on and then simmered all day.

What are your favorite foods?

I love sushi. I could eat it morning, noon, and night. In fact, I did when my husband and I visited Japan for two weeks. Also, I adore all shellfish – oysters, lobster, crab, shrimp, etc. And I’m afraid I am a chocoholic.

You also write the Tea Shop Mysteries and New Orleans Scrapbooking Mysteries. Do you include cooking in those books as well?

Absolutely. The Tea Shop Mysteries are the perfect vehicle for tea party menus, scone recipes, and food events such as winery tastings, food trucks, and fancy parties. In fact, Theodosia, my protagonist, is always coming up with new tea blends, scone ideas, and savory lunches. The Scrapbooking Mysteries are set in New Orleans which is an incredibly foodie town. So we’re talking fried oysters, stuffed artichokes, etouffee, jambalaya, and beignets. And my characters are always popping in and out of restaurants such as Commander’s Palace, Antoines, and Brennan’s.

What book are you working on now?

I’m currently writing two books. Lavender Blue Murder is a Tea Shop Mystery with a 2020 release date and Cadmium Red Dead is a New Orleans Scrapbooking Mystery with a 2021 release date. (Yes, I tend to work waaay ahead of schedule.)

Do you have a favorite recipe to share with us?

I thought you’d never ask. Here’s the top secret recipe for Church Basement Bars, those chewy, crunchy dessert bars that everybody loves!

Church Basement Funeral Bars
a bonus recipe from Eggs on Ice

1/3 cup melted butter
1 ½ cups graham crackers, crushed
1 cup coconut flakes
1 cup dates, cut up
1 cup candied cherries, cut up
1 cup candied pineapple, cut up
1 cup pecans
1 can sweetened condensed milk

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In bowl, combine melted butter with the graham cracker crumbs. Pat crumb mixture into a 9 x 13 inch pan. Then press each ingredient, in a single layer, on top of the crumbs, starting with the coconut flakes. Then press on the dates, then cherries, then pineapple, then pecans. Cover the entire dessert with the sweetened condensed milk. Bake at 325 degrees for 20 minutes. Yields 15 to 18 bars.

 

About the Author

laura-childsLaura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbook Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. In her previous life she was CEO/Creative Director of her own marketing firm and authored several screenplays. She is married to a professor of Chinese art history, loves to travel, rides horses, enjoys fund raising for various non-profits, and has two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs.

Laura specializes in cozy mysteries that have the pace of a thriller (a thrillzy!) Her three series are:

The Tea Shop Mysteries – set in the historic district of Charleston and featuring Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop. Theodosia is a savvy entrepreneur, and pet mom to service dog Earl Grey. She’s also an intelligent, focused amateur sleuth who doesn’t rely on coincidences or inept police work to solve crimes. This charming series is highly atmospheric and rife with the history and mystery that is Charleston.

The Scrapbooking Mysteries – a slightly edgier series that take place in New Orleans. The main character, Carmela, owns Memory Mine scrapbooking shop in the French Quarter and is forever getting into trouble with her friend, Ava, who owns the Juju Voodoo shop. New Orleans’ spooky above-ground cemeteries, jazz clubs, bayous, and Mardi Gras madness make their presence known here!

The Cackleberry Club Mysteries – set in Kindred, a fictional town in the Midwest. In a rehabbed Spur station, Suzanne, Toni, and Petra, three semi-desperate, forty-plus women have launched the Cackleberry Club. Eggs are the morning specialty here and this cozy cafe even offers a book nook and yarn shop. Business is good but murder could lead to the cafe’s undoing! This series offers recipes, knitting, cake decorating, and a dash of spirituality.

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Posted in Cozy, Giveaway, Guest Post, mystery on December 2, 2018

 

Violet Tendencies (A Rose City Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Kensington (November 27, 2018)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages

Synopsis

Who could object to a flower festival?

Britta Johnston and her aunt Elin are delighted that their Portland floral boutique is part of the city’s Rose Festival, which draws thousands to the Pacific Northwest for dragon boat races, fireworks, and other attractions—capped off by a big parade. They’re building a float that’s sure to rock the judge’s boat . . . until a gang of angry protestors shows up. The group, who call themselves Dark Fusion, are decidedly not into flower power, and they want to take down the system . . . including the upcoming extravaganza.

Then their leader is strangled with a garland of violets—and Britta finds the body. With tensions running high and so much at stake, there are plenty of suspects, from the Grand Marshal to a longtime volunteer to a former Rose Queen. But before Britta and Elin can stem the violence, the case is going to get even more explosive . . .

Guest Post

We are very excited to have author Kate Dyer-Seeley with us today sharing a bit about her newest book, Violet Tendencies.

Thanks so much for having me today! I’m thrilled to get to share the 2nd book in the Rose City Mysteries, Violet Tendencies with you. The book is set during Portland, Oregon’s annual Rose Festival. Portland (where I grew up) is also known as the Rose City thanks to the fact that roses bloom prolifically in the spring and summertime. Portland has one of the longest growing seasons for rose in the country. Buds first start to appear in April and can last through October. Locals and visitors can experience Portland’s rose splendor at the International Rose Test Garden where there are over ten-thousand rose bushes and four-hundred unique styles. The best part, the garden is free!

The other way to experience Portland’s abundance of roses is to visit during Rose Festival. The annual event is a celebration of all things rosy. It begins in June as navy ships line the waterfront on the Willamette River and a city fair takes over the park. From a starlight run and fireworks to dragon boat races and the Rose Queen’s coronation there is something for everyone. The highlight of Rose Festival is always the Grand Floral Parade. I remember watching the parade as a kid and being dazzled by the elaborate floats that I didn’t realize at the time were entirely constructed of flowers.

In Violet Tendencies floral artist, turned amateur sleuth, Britta Johnston is over the moon to have been picked to design the signature float. However, her excitement quickly fades when she realizes that between hand-crafting strands of dainty violets, she’ll have to hunt down a killer on Portland’s festive streets.

I hope that in addition to a page-turning mystery, you’ll get a taste of life in the Pacific Northwest. If you have a chance to make a trek to Portland for Rose Festival, I highly recommend it. And, if not. Don’t worry. You’ll get a first-hand look at the blooming city through Britta’s eyes.

Happy reading!

~Kate

About the Author

Kate Dyer-Seeley writes the Pacific Northwest Mystery Series for Kensington Publishing, featuring a young journalist, Meg Reed, who bills herself as an intrepid adventurer in order to land a gig writing for Northwest Extreme. Only Meg’s idea of sport is climbing onto the couch without spilling her latte.

She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and son, where you can find her hitting the trail, at an artisan coffee shop, or at her favorite pub. Better yet—at all three.

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Posted in Cozy, Giveaway, Guest Post, mystery on November 30, 2018

A Midwinter’s Tail (Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Kensington (November 27, 2018)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages

Synopsis

To bark or not to bark . . .

Professional pet sitter Daphne Templeton loves the holidays in Sylvan Creek, Pennsylvania. And nothing gets her into the spirit more than the town’s annual Bark the Halls Ball. The whole community will be there to wag their tails, especially this year’s special guest—Celeste “CeeCee” French, founder of a national chain of pet care franchises, who’s returning home to announce plans for a bright new flagship store.

But not everyone’s celebrating CeeCee’s homecoming. Daphne’s friend Moxie Bloom, owner of Spa and Paw, a unique salon for people and their pets, has plenty to growl about. So when CeeCee is found face down under Sylvan Creek’s town Christmas tree, stabbed with a distinctive pair of professional-grade pet shears, suspicion lands squarely on Moxie. Despite Daphne’s promises to Detective Jonathan Black, she quickly reprises her role as amateur sleuth. Ably assisted by her basset hound sidekick, Socrates, she must hurry to prove her friend’s innocence before a killer barks again . . .

Includes recipes for homemade pet treats!

Guest Post

Readers often ask authors what they have in common with the characters they create. I don’t usually base my characters off my family, friends or myself. However, this time of year, I do share one trait with Moxie Bloom, the quirky, vintage-obsessed salon owner from my Lucky Paws Petsitting Mysteries — namely, a love of old movies.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen White Christmas and its less popular predecessor, Holiday Inn. And, of course, there’s Miracle on 34th StreetIt’s a Wonderful Life, The Bishop’s Wife and the more modern classic, A Christmas Story.

But my favorite by far is 1945’s Christmas in Connecticut, about a Manhattan apartment dweller who writes a Martha-Stewart-like lifestyle column, and who is forced to pretend to live the perfect domestic life on a Connecticut farm when her charade is about to be exposed at the holidays.

If you haven’t seen this movie, starring Barbara Stanwyck, and you love coziness, run and watch it today, hot cocoa in hand.

From the barn dance to the sleigh ride, Christmas in Connecticut definitely inspired my newest book, A Midwinter’s Tail, which also features horse-drawn sleighs, ice skating, and a fancy ball in a quaint, rustic town — not to mention a few handsome war heroes, just like in the movie.

The story is different, but the warm and fuzzy setting is the same.

What story do you turn to, when you want to immerse yourself in the holiday spirit? I’d love to know. Maybe it will be my next favorite, too!

 

About the Author

Bethany Blake lives in a small, quaint town in Pennsylvania with her husband and three daughters. When she’s not writing or riding horses, she’s wrangling a menagerie of furry family members that includes a nervous pit bull, a fearsome feline, a blind goldfish, and an attack cardinal named Robert. Like Daphne Templeton, the heroine of her Lucky Paws Mysteries, Bethany holds a Ph.D. and operates a pet sitting business called Barkley’s Premium Pet Care.

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Posted in excerpt, Giveaway, romance on November 29, 2018

Synopsis

Fake relationship. Real feelings. Big problems. 

Brody O’Donnel doesn’t believe in happily-ever-afters—at least, not for himself. But he wants the best for his vivacious, beautiful friend Gwen Danes, and he’s tired of watching her pine for a clueless man. Figuring a little bit of jealousy will motivate the guy, Brody proposes a fake relationship. It’s an outrageous plan, but Gwen figures there’s no harm in it—until they share a passionate kiss she never saw coming.  

Suddenly, Gwen’s fighting a growing attraction to a man she knows she can’t have. After all, he’s just faking it…isn’t he? 

Excerpt

“How about the bar. How did you get into that?”

More relaxed, Brody made another one of those considering faces before answering. “I grew up wanting my own restaurant. The plans for the bar came later. My grandmother owned this swank place in Manhattan, and I thought there wasn’t anything better.”

“Your grandmother?” Could this guy get any better?

And the answer was a resounding yes, because then he was doing that thing where he reached back, pushing his big hands through the untamed curls of his hair, making his shirt stretch tight over his chest and arms. Nice. Brody slid the elastic off his wrist to bind the hair that liked to fall in his face. It wouldn’t stay that way for long. Within fifteen to thirty minutes, she’d bet all those wild red-brown curls would be back on the loose.

But for now he settled back against the cushions. “Yeah, the story goes that my grandfather opened the place before he met her. And one day she came in to the place with a date who’d done her wrong. Big mistake. She had a temper, and apparently wasn’t afraid to show it. So when she finished chewing this date out, Fiona was getting up to leave and my grandfather stopped her to offer her a job. He thought she could keep the kitchen running with that fiery Irish temper.”

Gwen was getting that warm swelly feeling in her chest as she leaned forward eager to hear more. “And then he fell in love with her and taught her to run the place?”

Brody coughed out a laugh. “Not quite. She told him what he could do with his offer and suggested if he had a better one, he had until she was out the door to give it to her. So he asked her to marry him instead.”

She was up on her knees, her chocolate set on the table behind the couch so she could clutch her hands over her heart. “That’s even better. No wonder you’re such a romantic!”

“Oh Gwendolyn. You give me those eyes and tell me I’m the romantic?” he asked with a shake of his head. “Hate to ruin it for you, but Fiona thought her husband had rocks in his head. Remember this is the woman who raised my mother. The happy ending to Fiona’s story was if her husband hadn’t died within a year of marrying her, she would have left him, new baby and all…but in the end she got the restaurant. And one summer I got to stay with her and she taught me to cook and—”

Gwen’s brows crumpled, that warm swelly feeling in her chest deflating in a rush. “Wait what? No.” She leaned forward poking him in the shoulder. “That’s the worst love story I ever heard!”

And now he was laughing for real, those deep green eyes flashing at her as he wedged himself further back into the couch cushions. “Love story? Sorry but that’s not really how the women in my family are. Hey!” he yelped, when she poked him again. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you not to poke the bear?”

Oh yeah, some bear. She’d heard people call him that before, because he was so big she guessed, but the only kind of bear this guy was, was a Teddy Bear. She poked again, and again because— “Yes, love story! You totally set me up.”

Poke. Poke.

Gwen.”

She was pretty sure that was supposed to be some kind of warning, but no way could she take it seriously when the big guy was literally trying to wiggle away amid those deep rumbling laughs.

Poke.

Only then, lightning fast, the world spun and Gwen found herself laid out across Brody’s lap, held in place by the strong hand still wrapped around her wrist and the solid arm supporting her back. She blinked up into Brody’s too green, too deep, too soulful eyes, caught there and held. The laughter died between them and she swore, even as tight as he was holding her, the world shifted again…

 

About the Author

USA Today bestselling author Mira Lyn Kelly grew up in the Chicago area and earned her degree in fine arts from Loyola University. She met the love of her life while studying abroad in Rome, Italy, only to discover he’d been living right around the corner from her. They live in rural Minnesota.

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Posted in Gifts, Giveaway, Holiday, romance on November 28, 2018

Christmas Gift Guide Roundup

 

Mistletoe in Texas

Gift this to: Anyone who loves all things Texas or rodeo, and fans of second chance romance

Suggested gift pairing: A cute Texas cookie cutter, or a bag of Texas Pecan coffee for a warm and authentic treat. (Because a horse won’t fit under the tree!)


Cowboy Christmas Jubilee

Gift this to: The friend who loves Christmas more than any other holiday, and fans of small town cowboy romance

Suggested gift pairing: Anything Christmas related – bonus points if there are cowboy boots involved.

 

 

Rocky Mountain Cowboy Christmas

Gift this to: Anyone who has ever wanted to live on a Christmas tree farm (!) or cowboy readers who like a little suspense

Suggested gift pairing: A pine-scented candle, or a favorite piece from a local artist (in honor of our folk artist heroine)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cowboy SEAL Christmas

Gift this to: The friend whose favorite holiday movie is How the Grinch Stole Christmas, or anyone who thinks horses and heroes are a winning combination.

Suggested gift pairing: Cute notecards, a framed photo, or an invitation to a holiday celebration because Christmas is all about connecting with the people we love!


Billionaire Wolf for Christmas

Gift this to: The friend who has a long checklist for her perfect guy (billionaire, doctor, wolf shifter) or anyone who loves a trope mashup!

Suggested gift pairing: If you can’t find a half-naked billionaire to put a bow on, then how about an adorable book themed tote to throw a copy into.

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Forever Home

Gift this to: Dog lovers, and fans of

Suggested gift pairing: A puppy! (just kidding) For the minimalist friend, give this along with making a donation to a local no-kill rescue shelter. For something that’s easier to wrap, pair this with a cozy pair of red mittens for a soft and sweet gift.


Don’t forget gifts for you! At the holidays we always spend so much time thinking about others that it’s easy to leave ourselves out. Treat yourself this Christmas and enter to win all 6 holiday books! Then cozy up with a blanket, a hot cup of whatever you like, and get lost in a wonderful romance.

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Posted in christmas, Cozy, Giveaway, mystery on November 27, 2018

 

Oh Holy Fright (Pecan Bayou Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
8th in Series
Self Published (October 31, 2018)
Number of Pages: 255

Synopsis

It’s Christmas in Pecan Bayou, Texas. Join Betsy (aka The Happy Hinter) for a good old small-town Christmas complete with Christmas carols, over the top light displays, delicious food, loving friends and…a Christmas Creeper. One of the residents of Pecan Bayou has a secret and you’d better lock the door because that isn’t Santa out there or even a stray elf. Enjoy spending Christmas with the town and family you’ve come to know in the Pecan Bayou Series.

Recipes and helpful hints included!

 

About the Author

Teresa Trent lives in Houston, Texas and is an award-winning mystery writer.  She writes the Pecan Bayou Mystery Series, is a regular contributor to the Happy Homicides Anthologies. Teresa is happy to add her Henry Park Mystery Series to her publishing credits with Color Me Dead, the first book in the series. Teresa has also won awards for her work in short stories where she loves to dabble in tales that are closer to the Twilight Zone than small town cozies. When Teresa isn’t writing, she is a full-time caregiver for her son and teaches preschoolers music part-time. Her favorite things include spending time with family and friends, waiting for brownies to come out of the oven, and of course, a good mystery.

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Posted in Cozy, Giveaway, Guest Post, mystery, WW II on November 25, 2018

Mrs. Odboddy: And Then There Was a Tiger (Mrs. Oboddy Mysteries)
WWII tale of conflict and carnivals, turmoil and tigers.
Cozy Mystery/Humorous/Historical
3rd in Series
Elk Grove Publications (July 25, 2018)
Print Length: 349 pages

Synopsis

While the ‘tiger of war’ rages across the Pacific during WWII, eccentric, elderly Agnes Odboddy, ‘fights the war from the home front’. Her patriotic duties are interrupted when she is accused of the Wilkey’s Market burglary.

A traveling carnival with a live tiger joins the parishioner’s harvest fair at The First Church of the Evening Star and Everlasting Light. Accused again when counterfeit bills are discovered at the carnival, and when the war bond money goes missing, Agnes sets out to restore her reputation and locate the money. Her attempts lead her into harm’s way when she discovers a friend’s betrayal and even more about carnival life than she bargained for.

Granddaughter Katherine’s turbulent love triangle with a doctor and an FBI agent rivals Agnes’s own on-again, off-again relationship with Godfrey.

In Faber’s latest novel, your favorite quirky character, Mrs. Odboddy, prevails against injustice and faces unexpected challenges . . . and then There Was a Tiger!

Guest Post

Today I welcome author Elaine Faber to StoreyBook Reviews.  I could never write a book but I find her tips below quite helpful should I try my hand.  Pretty sure I won’t but will share these tips with other writers I know.

Reviewing the Rules of Writing Good Dialogue
By Elaine Faber

Readers love to read a novel full of dialogue. Often they have no idea that, as writers, we have rules we must follow to keep the dialogue interesting. Every sentence in a novel must move the story forward. This keeps reader’s interest whether it is a fiction story, a devotional, or an article about keeping aphids off rose bushes.

Let’s pull back the curtain on an author as she creates her compelling story.

In dialogue, we don’t repeat the question or person’s name when giving an answer. Example:

George: “Lucy? Do you want to go to the movies with me?”

Lucy “Yes, George, I’d love to go to the movies with you.” (Sounds like the utterances of a robot.)

Readers may not even notice when a skilled writer gives an oblique reply.

George: “Do you want to go to the movies with me?”

Lucy: “It depends. What’s playing and when did you have in mind? I have a very busy social life, you know. (Aha! We’ve moved the goalpost on the story. Lucy may have another suitor.)

We don’t use conversation to impart information.

George: “So? You’ll go with me if you haven’t seen the movie yet?”

Lucy: I have a date with Tom next Saturday night. You know, Tom–my mother’s second cousin’s nephew by marriage? He’s a troubled guy, votes Democrat, but he has a charming personality.”

We don’t use meaningless chit-chat in dialogue. Every conversation should have a purpose, give a clue to something yet to come in the story, or suggest a potential conflict. Example:

George: “You’re going out with Tom? I thought he was in jail for murder.”

Lucy: “He’s out now. He was falsely accused. Now he’s receiving death threats against him or anyone associated with him.”

George: “Really, Lucy?” George raises his eyebrow. “Is it wise to date a guy like that?”

Don’t use conversation to impart lengthy bits of back story. Example:

George: “You should date me, not Tom. Don’t you realize that I was the one who saved your mother from a burning building that she set that night when she was despondent over her divorce, and then she learned that she was my father’s long-lost twin sister, separated at birth by their evil stepmother?”

Lucy: Gasp! “I’ve been away at college way too long. Good grief. Does that make us cousins?”

George: “Maybe kissing-cousins. So is it a date?”

Lucy: “As long as they haven’t arrested me yet for killing my college roommate, who recently died under questionable circumstances when she was smothered in her sleep.”

Review: Each sentence delivers new information. Give oblique answers to a question. Don’t use the person’s name in your response. Don’t use conversation to impart lengthy back story. Don’t repeat the question just asked. The goal is to keep the reader turning pages!

Wow! Writing a book isn’t easy as easy as you thought, right? I had to keep all these things in my head while writing a compelling event that hooks the reader on page one, an exciting middle, and a satisfying and thrilling conclusion. But, it was easy for Mrs. Odboddy to be the prime suspect in a burglary, involved with a counterfeiting ring, losing the war bond money, meeting a tiger and still win at the end. Mrs. Odboddy – And Then There was a Tiger will keep the reader turning pages and looking backward to the previous Mrs. O books, or forward to the next one. Join Mrs. Odboddy on this rollicking adventure as she tackles adversity in this hysterical romp at the Newbury Harvest Fair, even as she fights the war from the home front during WWII.

 

About the Author

Elaine Faber lives in Northern California with her husband and two feline companions. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, California Cat Writers, and Northern California Publishers and Authors. She volunteers with the American Cancer Society Discovery Shop. She enjoys speaking on author panels, sharing highlights of her novels. Her short stories have appeared in national magazines and multiple anthologies. She has published seven books. In addition to the Mrs. Odboddy Mysteries Elaine writes the Black Cat Mysteries.

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