House Always Wins: Vegas Ghost Story by Brian Rouff

Publisher:  Huntington Press (Oct 3, 2017)
Category: Paranormal Romance, Ghosts, Crime Thriller, Las Vegas Mystery

Synopsis

Anna Christiansen’s small-town life is about to go haywire. A young reporter stuck in a dead-end job, Anna falls head over heels for an interview subject, the bass player in an up-and-coming alt band. In short order, she pulls up stakes, moves to Las Vegas, gets married and pregnant, and buys a big fixer-upper haunted by the ghost of a Sin City racketeer.

That’s when Anna gets notice from a corrupt casino owner that he’s buying up all the properties on her street to make way for a parking lot. But Anna has poured her heart and soul into the house and digs in hard to fight the system — not the easiest of tasks in a city where bribery, mayhem, and murder are standard operating procedures.

Can Anna’s tough-guy ghost provide the help she needs to prevail in this dangerous cat-and-mouse game? Will Anna’s life be left in ruins? Or worse?

BookDepository

Praise

“It’s pure Vegas, told from an insider’s perspective.”- Anthony Curtis, Huntington Press

“A whirlwind romance leads an unlikely pair of newlyweds to Las Vegas, home of every dream and nightmare they can imagine―from predatory developers to a friendly ghost. Rouff spins a guilelessly winsome fable whose charming heroine needs to have everything from her ghost’s personal history to the ritual significance of her newborn’s bris explained to her―which means that the reader gets treated to all these explanations too.”-Kirkus Reviews

“Paragraphs are replete with uproariously sarcastic similes, metaphors, and tongue-in-cheek comments. Narrative hooks, drama, unexpected openings, and cliffhanging chapter endings keep the story flowing. Complicated situations, including confrontations with neighbors and pressure from the casino, build to a significant and unanticipated climax. A fun read from beginning to end, The House Always Wins is an attractive romance with a unique ghostly touch.”-Clarion Foreword Reviews, 5 stars

“Author Brian Rouff has dreamed up a fun little tale, which he describes in a release as “part coming-of-age saga, part mystery and part ghost story.” When it comes to Nevada stories, Rouff knows his stuff. He has lived in Las Vegas for more than 35 years and has also written the Las Vegas-based novels Dice Angel and Money Shot.”- C. Moon Reed, Las Vegas Weekly

“Brian Rouff’s writing of The House Always Wins: A Vegas Ghost Story is impressive. It’s a charming, fast-paced story beautifully narrated by the main character, Anna. It contains wit, mystery, and a bit of nostalgia. Meyer reminisces about his racketeering life and how developed Las Vegas has become. Anna is a strong-minded person who possesses a sense of humour, even when her problems are serious. I thought the road trip was interesting, also the descriptions of the communities that had seen changes, for better or for worse. The author has shown the other side of Las Vegas in this must-read novel.”- Michelle Stanley, Readers’ Favorite

Review

I’m not sure I would have picked this book up to read off a random shelf, but I was very pleasantly surprised. From the love story between Anna and Aaron to Aaron’s crazy best friend Boozer, to the ghostly Meyer. All of these aspects wove together a tale that was unexpected.

I have only been to Vegas a few times but the author makes the town come alive with descriptions of the Strip, the various hotels, the buffets, the people, and the outlying towns. Even if you have never been to Vegas, you might feel like you know the town just a little bit after reading this book.

Anna is someone I could imagine being friends with in life. She is smart but snarky. She is loyal and protective of those around her, all attributes you would want in a friend. Plus she is not someone you want to trifle with as a greedy casino owner finds out after trying to oust her from her home.

Anna does give up a safe life to move halfway across the country with Aaron. But this may be the only way that she would ever make the leap and take a chance with someone she just met. While I’m not sure how many of us would give up everything for someone they just met, it works for her and for them.

The parts where the ghost, Meyer, reveals himself were quite interesting. While Meyer was telling his story to Anna, it did seem to go on forever with no interruptions from Anna which is quite surprising considering her journalistic background. His tale was interesting but it would have been nice to have a few breaks during his monologue. I’m curious about the dog, Lucky, that Anna and Aaron adopt and some comments that Meyer makes about his life. I’ll leave it at that, no spoilers!

Overall I really enjoyed the story and recommend this book.  We give it 4 paws up

About the Author

Award winning author, Brian Rouff was born in Detroit, raised in Southern California, and has lived in Las Vegas since 1981, which makes him a long-timer by local standards. When he’s not writing articles, screenplays and Las Vegas-based novels such as “Dice Angel,” “Money Shot,” and “The House Always Wins,” he runs Imagine Communications, a marketing and public relations firm. He is also a regular contributor to Living-Las-Vegas.com.

On a personal note, Brian is married with two grown daughters and five grandchildren. In his spare time, he enjoys movies, playing guitar and the occasional trip to the casino buffet line.

Website * Twitter * Facebook

 

Giveaway

This giveaway is for one print copy or ebook copy of the book. Print is available to the U.S. only but ebook is available worldwide.

This giveaway ends on November 30, 2018 at midnight pacific time.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

The House Always Wins Web Tour Schedule

Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus Oct 16 Kickoff

Lu Ann Rockin’ Book Reviews Oct 19 Review

Monica Writers N Authors Oct 23 Review & Interview

Yari Yaris-book-world Oct 24 Review

Dawn Bound 2 Escape Oct 25 Excerpt

Dawn Bound 4 Escape Oct 26 Guest Review

Indie Review Behind the Scenes Oct 30 Video Interview 1 pm est (will be posted later in the week)

Bridgette Bookworm Bridgette’s World Nov 1 Guest Review, Excerpt

Carole’s Book Corner Nov 5 Guest Review & Excerpt

Leslie StoreyBook Reviews Nov 12 Review

Shannon Pulp and Mystery Shelf Nov 19 Interview

Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus Nov 20 Review

Autumn A Little Bit of R&R Nov 28 Review

A Cold Brew Killing (All-Day Breakfast Cafe Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Lyrical Underground (November 6, 2018)
Print Length Approximately 250 Pages

Synopsis

When an ice cream vendor discovers a frozen stiff, Florida diner owner Gia Morelli has to serve up some just desserts . . .

Gia has become good friends with Trevor, a fun, flirtatious bachelor who owns the ice cream parlor down the street from her popular All-Day Breakfast Café. Trevor has the scoop on all sorts of local attractions and activities. But when he bursts into her diner, trembling and paler than a pint of French Vanilla, she can tell something’s very wrong. Trevor points her toward his shop then passes out cold. When Gia runs down to his shop, she discovers a chilling sight—a dead body in the open freezer. But the ice cream man’s troubles are just beginning. The police suspect him of this murder a la mode, especially when details of his questionable past surface. Gia believes in her friend and is determined to clear his name and find the real cold-blooded killer before someone else gets put on ice . . .

Guest Post – Recipe

While I haven’t read this series, any time a series revolves around food I find myself drooling imagining the various dishes.  Today I have a recipe and a photo to share of breakfast pie, or quiche, whatever name you want to give it, it all is the same and is very tasty.  I did notice that the crust isn’t a pastry crust but rather made up of bacon and potatoes.  I am going to have to try this recipe very soon!  Thanks for sharing this with us today Lena.

Breakfast Pie

One of the dishes All-Day Breakfast Café owner, Gia Morelli, loves most is Breakfast Pie. In her case, it makes life easier, since they are made ahead of time and are easy enough to just slice and serve. They are also delicious re-heated, so they make for a great time saver when you’re in a hurry and want to grab something quick. Simply make them up on the weekends, slice them, and all you have to do is heat one slice up whenever you’re hungry.

Gia makes several different kinds; western (ham, peppers, onions, and cheese), meat lovers (bacon, sausage, ham, and cheese), veggie (spinach, squash, zucchini, broccoli, mushrooms, and tomatoes), and my personal favorite, my dad’s original Breakfast Pie, which he makes every Christmas morning!

Original Breakfast Pie Recipe

You will need:

1 lb. Bacon

1 Package Breakfast Sausage

½ lb. ham

1 large green pepper

2 medium onions

5 medium potatoes or 1 bag shredded potatoes

1 dozen eggs

1 bag shredded cheddar cheese

Salt & Pepper (to taste)

Prepare:

Cut up and shred 5 medium potatoes (or use 1 bag of pre-shredded potatoes)

Chop onions (keep separate)

Chop ham

Chop sausage

Chop green pepper

Crust:

Fry bacon in a large skillet (an electric frying pan works perfectly), then keep the fat in the pan, and chop the bacon. Keep 1/3 for the crust and set 2/3 aside.

Fry potatoes and one chopped onion in the bacon fat (add salt and pepper to taste). When cooked add 1/3 of the chopped bacon and stir.

Press into a pie dish to form the crust.

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

Filling:

Using the same pan (you can use non stick spray on the bottom if needed) combine and cook breakfast sausage, ham, remaining bacon, green pepper, and remaining onion.

While cooking, scramble 1 dozen eggs.

Once mixture is cooked, add eggs and mix while cooking. Add salt and pepper (to taste)

When done, stir in about 6 oz. of shredded cheddar, then add filling to pie crust. Put in oven.

Bake for 45 minutes.

When just about done, sprinkle shredded cheddar (to taste) over the top and return to oven until cheese melts.

Serve and enjoy!

 

About the Author

Lena lives in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island with her husband and three children.

When she was growing up, she spent many lazy afternoons on the beach, in the yard, anywhere she could find to curl up with a good book. She loves reading as much now as she did then, but she now enjoys the added pleasure of creating her own stories.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest * GoodReads

 

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Synopsis

Exclusive

When little-known writer Taylor Scott is granted two weeks to interview a famous reclusive author, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime. So is the chance to rekindle her friendship with Mike Greene, who happens to be the author’s assistant. But as feelings deepen and time winds down, Taylor will have to choose between the story that could launch her career and an unexpected chance at love.

A Touch of Heaven

As Regan Amerson makes the emotional decision to sell their family home, her mother wins a home makeover from a reality TV show. Regan is furious, and jaded host Sawyer Bennett isn’t thrilled either. That is, until he meets Regan—and finds himself enamored by the fiercely independent beauty. She may want nothing to do with him, but Sawyer isn’t one to give up easily…

What People Are Saying about Samantha Chase:

“A fun, flirty, sweet story filled with romance and character growth and a perfect happily ever after.”—CARLY PHILLIPS, New York Times bestselling author for I’ll Be There

“Encourages readers to sit down, put their feet up, and enjoy.”—Publishers Weekly for Until There Was Us

“Chase just gets better and better.”—Booklist

“Classic, thoughtful, and as lyrical as the stars.”—Kirkus Reviews for A Sky Full of Stars

Excerpt from Exclusive

The flight was uneventful and Taylor’s pleasure was prolonged by the fact that the car rental agency did, indeed, have a car waiting for her and she was checked in efficiently. Taking the keys from the rental agent with a smile, she was thrilled to see the sporty white SUV waiting for her.

“Thank you, Newslink,” she said to herself as she climbed into the brand-new vehicle.

“Mmm…new car smell and everything!” She was positively giddy. There was no other way to describe it. Starting the car—and it started on the first try!—she took a quick look around to get her bearings. She punched the farm’s address into the GPS system and once it was ready, plugged in her iPod so she could finish listening to the conclusion of Enveloping Darkness, then pulled away from the parking lot.

The drive was beautiful and the sound of the masculine voice coming from the stereo kept her in a state of pure relaxation. If the man Jonathan Wade picked to read his books looked as good as he sounded, Taylor knew she would have found her perfect man.

Some authors did do their own readings, so for a minute, she allowed herself to imagine it was Jonathan Wade’s voice coming through the speakers. If it was, talking with him for a week would certainly be no hardship! She’d resort to asking his favorite color and what he liked for breakfast if it meant keeping the conversation going.

The voice was deep and mesmerizing, almost like a caress, like he was speaking only to her. The voice didn’t sound old, but then again, there was no guarantee Jonathan Wade actually was old. She slammed her hand on the steering wheel out of frustration and cursed—again—the fact that she had no bio to go on for this interview. If only she had a little more information in her pocket, she’d feel more prepared and at ease! How could a person be so popular in modern culture and yet have so little known about him? It was even more frustrating and intimidating to know that she was going to be responsible for presenting this mystery of a person to the world.

What if he didn’t live up to what everyone was expecting? Or, more to the point, what if he didn’t live up to what Taylor herself was expecting? Taylor scolded herself to relax already, and listened intently to the end of the book.

The sun was rising over the clear blue water. Marcus knew his time on the island was over. Had last night been a dream? Had he truly awakened in the night to the feel of skin so soft against his that it felt like silk? Were those her lips that kissed him with the kind of tenderness he’d only ever felt with one person?

Remembering her touch, how her breath felt on his heated skin, had him aching to feel her again. Why was life so cruel as to keep taking this woman from the arms that wanted nothing more than to hold and protect her forever? She had been full of heat and life in those arms last night.

There was no evidence of her now. One day, however, there would be no questions. His answer would be standing in his embrace.

Sighing, Taylor thought this particular voice was definitely one she would love to stir her awake in the night. If the man in question lived up to that sexy voice, there would be no way she’d sneak off in the night. Hell, he’d have to pry her off with a crowbar!

Feeling suddenly hot, she flipped on the AC, laughing at herself because it was October, in Maine, and the temperature outside the vehicle did not demand air-conditioning. It was her own wildly vivid imagination—and sexual dry spell—that was heating her up. Lord help her, she needed to gain her composure and be professional at all costs during this entire process in order for this piece to be a success. What on earth would she do if the man was attractive? If just his voice could make her this hot and bothered, she’d be a babbling idiot by the time the two weeks were up.

Shaking her head to break that train of thought and looking at the GPS to see how much farther she had to go, she was surprised to see she was just minutes from her destination. Feeling nervous and self-conscious, she did some deep-breathing exercises and practiced using her “professional” voice.

As if on cue, her cell phone rang and made her jump. Putting it on speaker, she said, “Hello?”

“Everything going okay?” It was Victoria.

Taylor couldn’t help but smile. If she wasn’t mistaken, her boss’s voice sounded almost as nervous as her own. “Yes, boss, all is well. I’m driving a wonderful little SUV, the sun is shining, I’m only minutes away from the farm, and I feel ready to conquer the world!” Liar, liar, liar!

“You are going to conquer the world, my dear. You mark my words. Once this piece hits the stands, you are going to be the toast of the town and you can say I was the one who gave you your first big break.”

“I’ll remember that,” Taylor chuckled.

“Good luck, Taylor. I’ll expect to hear from you in a few days.” And then she was gone and Taylor felt a little bit lighter than she had just moments ago. She could do this. There were people who had confidence in her and she owed it to them to have confidence in herself.

Feeling revived, she pressed down on the accelerator. What she had been dreading, she was now ready for: to reach Jonathan Wade’s farm and to face her journalistic destiny.

She rolled her eyes. “Geez, dramatic much?”

She very nearly missed the entrance to the farm while she was laughing at herself. It was poorly marked by an undistinguished simple white mailbox. Then again, what was she expecting, a neon sign flashing Home of Jonathan Wade? Slamming the brakes hard, she put the vehicle in reverse and then pulled into the long dirt driveway that wound through a quarter mile of dense forest. When at last she was through the trees, she stopped the car.

The house was large, yet so simple and beautiful that it took her breath away. In all her life, if Taylor could pick one house to live in, she knew this would be it. It was like something out of a magazine and yet like nothing she had ever seen before. All white with black trim, it was two stories, but she wouldn’t be surprised to find out there was a finished lower level for extra living space. If she had to define the style, she’d say it was a Victorian country farmhouse. If such a thing even existed.

There was a large wraparound porch with hanging plants and flower baskets lining it, and she could imagine sitting outside on a warm summer night just watching the sunset—it was that perfect. Although she couldn’t see from where she was parked, she just knew there would be seating areas and a porch swing up there waiting for someone to use them.

Off to the right of the house was a barn. Traditional in style but painted to complement the main house, it came off as an extension of the house rather than a utility building. Maybe it was in the landscaping, but to Taylor’s mind, it all seemed too pretty, too perfect, to be what she normally considered a barn. Even though the house boasted a three-car garage on the side, to the left of it there was a detached two-story, two-car garage—also matching the house—and just beyond that was a large expanse of open land.

Taylor could only stare. All her life she’d lived in a big city or high-population suburbs. That was where all the action was, all the jobs, everything a person could need. The older she got, however, the more she found herself longing for peace and a little solitude. Wouldn’t it be lovely to come out and sit on the porch swing after dinner and hear nothing except the sounds of nature?

A quick smack on the head brought her back to reality. “Get a grip!” she yelled at herself. “You’re barely on the man’s property for two minutes and you’re fancying yourself living here and enjoying peaceful nights on the porch!”

Pulling up in front of the detached garage, she parked and emerged from the vehicle. Closing the door, Taylor stopped, stretched, and took in a breath of what had to be the most magnificent air she had ever inhaled. So this is what nature’s like? she thought to herself. Upon closer inspection of the property, Taylor found the green of the trees looked brighter than she had ever seen; the changing colors of the leaves almost looked too perfect to be real. If she stood still long enough, she could hear the distinct sounds of different species of birds. At home, all she ever heard was the constant hum of traffic. But here, on this particular piece of land, Taylor felt as though she would be able to hear a leaf fall.

She could commune with nature later. She tried to decide if she should introduce herself before she unloaded her car or after. Stepping around to the rear of the SUV, she came up short when she noticed a man walking toward her. Taking a steadying breath, she pasted a wide smile on her face.

This is it.

He was a young man, maybe a few years older than she was. His brown hair looked sun-kissed and although it was a bit unkempt, it seemed to suit him. He was dressed for work on a farm—blue jeans, thermal Henley, down vest, and boots. He was taking off his work gloves as he approached, and Taylor couldn’t help but notice how large those hands were, and when she looked up, she was greeted with eyes so dark blue they were almost black. When he stopped in front of her, he gave her the most endearing smile ever bestowed upon her.

She couldn’t help but smile back as she held out a hand to him. “Hi, I’m Taylor. Taylor Scott.” He didn’t say a word, but once he wrapped one of his large hands around hers and held it, her heart just about beat right out of her chest. It was big and warm and just rough enough against her softer skin that all kinds of erotic images began to play in her head. There was something oddly familiar about him, and Taylor figured she’d better find out exactly who he was before she did anything to embarrass herself. “Are you…Mr. Wade?” she asked casually.

He laughed, but rather than taking offense to his response, Taylor almost immediately relaxed. “Not hardly,” he said. His eyes met hers and he knew the instant recognition hit Taylor.

“Oh my God!” she gasped. “Mike? You’re—” She stopped as realization hit her. Michael James Greene Jr. She had been right! “I can’t believe it’s you!”

“Hey, Taylor,” he said, his own posture relaxing a bit. “How are you?”

“I’m good. Wow! I can’t believe it’s you! It’s been a long time.”

“Ten years,” he said easily.

She nodded her head. “Wow, I didn’t realize it had been that long. How have you been? What are you doing here? Wait! Are you…did you…” she cleared her throat and tried to calm her nerves. “Are you the reason I got this interview?”

Placing his other hand over the one he was already holding, he leaned in a little closer. “That’s a lot of questions,” he teased. “And we’ll get to all of them—after we get you inside and settled into your room. Lunch is ready, and I figured we could talk and get caught up then if that’s all right with you.”

Taylor sent a silent prayer heavenward for her good fortune. At least with a familiar face around for the next two weeks she’d feel a little less overwhelmed and outnumbered. True, it had been ten years since they’d last seen one another, but for a short period of time, he had been a very important part of her life. It was going to be great not only to get this interview, but to get caught up on what Mike was doing with his life.

Other than working on Jonathan Wade’s farm.

About the Author

Samantha Chase, a creative writing teacher, released her debut novel, Jordan’s Return, in November 2011. Since then, she has published seventeen more titles and has become a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She lives with her husband of twenty-four years and their two sons in North Carolina.

Website * Twitter * Facebook

 

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

LET HER GO: Lillian Dove Mystery
Suspense Mystery
3rd in Series
Horatio Press (November 6, 2018)
Paperback: 448 pages

Synopsis

Murder. Betrayal. Love Gone Wrong

With her ability to present clues without giving away the endings and offering surprising twists encouraging the reader to the next page, D. J. Adamson delves into a family tragedy ending up in murder and a teenage daughter missing. When Lillian Dove finds herself involved in the police investigation, she realizes the daughter holds the key to unravel who killed her mother.

It is three days before Christmas when Lillian Dove comes across Dr. Conrad standing out in front of his house, covered in blood. When going inside the house to help other members of his family, she finds his wife killed, his son seriously injured, and his teenage daughter, Peyton Clayton, missing. Even more shocking, the police suspect Dr. Conrad. Understanding how emotional dilemmas have strained the family emboldens Lillian to help Detective Jacque Leveque, Major Crimes Detective for the Frytown Police Department, find the prime witness to the Conrad truths.

Let Her Go is a nerve-wracking exploration into a family lost, and the extent love elicits both the good and the bad. In this Third Step in Personal Recovery Lillian works to find Peyton Clayton, while battling the worse arctic freeze in Frytown’s history, untangling human frailties, and confronting the ghosts of Christmas.

Character Guest Post

Today I’m lucky enough to have Dahlia, Lillian’s mother, visiting us and sharing her thoughts about her relationship with her daughter.  Thanks for joining us today Dahlia!

Sweet and Sour, A Mother-Daughter Relationship

As the protagonist, readers easily know Lillian Dove’s wants, dislikes, struggles, urges, and misadventures in the Lillian Dove Mystery series. But Dahlia—Lillian rarely refers to her as mother—is only known through Lillian’s eyes. Yet, Dahlia’s actions and reactions are just as complex as her daughter’s. What does Dahlia have to say to it all:

Some people might say I come across as an abusive mother. Well, I’m here to tell you, Lillian came into the world wailing, thinking life’s unfair. I tried to teach her that no matter what you want out of life, you’re going to get something different.  I know she blames me a lot. And that’s right I guess. Her father wasn’t there much in raising her. He had his own trouble. Not that I’m saying he didn’t love his daughter. He loved us all, and he did the best he could with what he’d been given. You can’t ask for more than that from any human being. I did the best I could, working two jobs, raising three kids. I tried to keep bad things from happening to that girl. Don’t think I didn’t. No matter what I did,  she was bound and determined to ruin her life. Doesn’t listen any better today. The girl’s lucky she doesn’t get herself killed, getting involved with the police, running after criminals.

Will we be close some day? I’d say were pretty close now. Mothers and daughters don’t always see eye-to-eye. But, I love my daughter.

About the Author

D. J. Adamson is an award-winning author for both her mystery novels and her science fiction novel. She is the editor of Le Coeur de l’Artiste, a newsletter which reviews books, and a blog, L’Artiste with offers authors the venue to write on craft, marketing, and the creative mind. D.J. teaches writing and literature, and to keep busy when she is not writing or teaching, she has been a board member of Sisters in Crime Los Angeles and Sisters in Crime Central Coast, a member of the Southern California Mystery Writers Organization, California Writers Club and Greater Los Angeles Writer’s Society. Her books can be found and purchased in bookstores and on Amazon.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads

 

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Synopsis

Merry Christmas from your new friends in Holiday, Texas:

The most celebratory town in the South!

When Jinx Jacobs’s motorcycle breaks down outside Holiday, Texas, the last thing she wants is to get stuck in the cheery little town, especially during the holidays. The whole place has gone Christmas crazy, but all she has to do is stay out from under the mistletoe—and do her best to keep that unnervingly attractive cop off her back.

Single dad and sheriff’s deputy Cash Walker doesn’t have time for romance, and yet something about the tempting loner twists his stomach up tighter than a tangle of tinsel. He may have finally found the missing piece in his life…but with Jinx so determined to avoid putting down roots, convincing her to stay may just take a Christmas miracle.

 

Amazon * B&N * iBooks * Kobo * Indiebound

Excerpt

Jinx breathed in the scent of pine trees. She’d expected Texas to be full of tumbleweeds and cactus, not beautiful rows and rows of pines. She raised her gaze to enjoy the view of Cash riding a few feet in front of her. Unlike her, he was an absolute natural on a horse. He swayed back and forth in the saddle, instinctively matching the horse’s gait with the movements of his body. He must have felt her gaze on his back; he twisted in the saddle to shoot a smile her way.

Her breath hitched. She’d never been this happy before. Never thought she deserved it. He brought out feelings in her that she didn’t know she was even capable of.

“Kenzie thinks she found a tree.” He pulled up, stopping his horse until she caught up. “Do we have enough ornaments for that?”

Jinx followed the line of his arm, her gaze resting on a giant pine that towered over its neighbors. “You’ve got to be kidding. That’s got to be at least, what, twelve feet tall?”

He shrugged and climbed out of the saddle. “Let’s measure. If we put it in the front room, we’ve got the height.”

“Yeah, but how in the world are you going to get that home?” She swung her leg over the saddle, trying to find the ground. Cash slung an arm around her waist, catching her before she tumbled into a heap.

“Need a hand there?” He slid her foot out of the stirrup and set her upright, both feet finally firmly planted on the ground.

“Thanks.” The tree appeared even taller now that she wasn’t sitting six feet off the ground.

“It’s perfect!” Kenzie trotted in circles around it on the back of her pony. “It’s the most perfectest Christmas tree ever.”

“You sure you don’t want to look at one of these?” Cash gestured around them to the sea of five- to six- foot trees.

“Nope.”

He smiled an apology at Jinx, a dad clearly wrapped around his little girl’s finger. “Let me get the saw.” He passed both sets of reins to Jinx. “Can you tie them up to a tree or something? They shouldn’t run, but they might not like the sound of the saw when I get it going.”

Jinx took the leather leads and loosely draped them around a branch of a tree. “Yeah, we’re going to need more ornaments.”

By the time Cash had sawed through the thick trunk of the tree, the sun sat directly overhead. “Y’all want to take a break for lunch before we head back?”

“Lunch?” Jinx wondered where they’d be able to grab a sandwich with nothing but trees and fields around them.

“Daddy and I packed a picnic.” Kenzie pulled something out of a pocket on the side of her saddle.

“When did you have time to do that?” She helped Kenzie spread out the blanket.

Kenzie beamed. “Are you surprised?”

“I sure am. You’re definitely making this a day to remember.”

Cash joined them on the blanket, spreading out the picnic feast. “PB&J, grapes, and Rice Krispies squares.”

“Perfect.” She meant it. The sun overhead, the man she’d been waiting for all her life next to her, and the promise of many tomorrows between them filled her heart with a joy she didn’t know she had the capacity for. “I think this is going to be my new very favorite best day.”

Kenzie giggled. “What’s a very favorite best day?”

It was a game she had played with her dad. She hadn’t thought about it in years. Hadn’t had a reason to. “Every time you have a really good day, you have to think to yourself…is this the very best day? Better than all the others? If so, then you can declare it as your new very favorite best day.”

“How many new very favorite best days can you have?” Kenzie picked a few grapes off of the bunch.

“As many as you want. But you can only have one at a time. That’s why it has to be the most very favorite best day ever.”

“And today is yours?” Cash asked.

“Yep.”

“Well then, it’s mine too.” He leaned across the blanket and kissed her on the lips.

“I want it to be my new very favorite best day too,” Kenzie whined.

Jinx laughed. “I already called it. You two have to find your own days. This one’s mine.”

“That’s not fair.” Cash nudged Kenzie. “What do we do when someone’s not being fair?”

Kenzie didn’t say anything, just sat there like she was thinking too hard. “We tell a grown- up?”

Jinx laughed again while Cash shook his head. “Not that kind of not fair. Jinx isn’t being fair because she won’t share her day. What do you say we tickle her?”

Kenzie’s eyes lit up, and she attacked, her fingers ready to deliver some serious tickles. Jinx tumbled over to the blanket, laughing so hard she snorted. This was the first. The first of her new very favorite best days. Her decision to stay with Cash and Kenzie meant she had an unlimited number ahead of her.

 

About the Author

Dylann Crush writes contemporary romance with sizzle and sass. A romantic at heart, she loves her heroines spunky and her heroes super sexy. When she’s not dreaming up steamy storylines, she can be found sipping a margarita and searching for the best Tex-Mex food in Minnesota. Although she grew up in Texas, she currently lives in a suburb of Minneapolis/St. Paul with her unflappable husband, three energetic kids, a clumsy Great Dane, a rescue mutt and a very chill cat. She loves to connect with readers, other authors and fans of tequila.

Website * Twitter * Facebook

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

THE BIG INCH

Misfits and Millionaires #1

by

KIMBERLY FISH

Narrated by Sydney Young

 

Genre: Historical Fiction / Romance / WWII Spies

Publisher: Fish Tales Publishing

Date of Publication: August 1, 2018

Length: 10 hours, 22 minutes

Scroll down for the giveaway!

Fans of Pam Jenoff, Susan Elia MacNeal, and Kate Quinn will want to read the first book in a sparkling WWII historical fiction series, The Big Inch. Lane Mercer is a spy recovering from a disastrous mission in France when she’s assigned to protect the interests of the new federal project sending American oil to the Allies. Thrown into the high-stakes world of Texas oilmen, she’s inventing maneuvers on the fly to outwit would be counter-intelligence and Fascist sympathizers. Complicating her mission is a handsome con-artist who manages to be under her feet at the most inopportune times. Trapped between trusting her gut or trusting her informers, Lane has to learn to navigate a town that is laced with more intrigue than she’d ever have guessed, and she soon discovers that the life she might have to save. . .is her own.

Kimberly Fish’s well-researched writing drops readers into the colorful world of the American home front known so well to those who lived alongside the Greatest Generation. Buy The Big Inch today to begin this exciting first novel in a WWII series set in Texas.

◆ Amazon ◆ Audible ◆

Praise

“Narrator Makes Book Exciting!” — 5 Stars Review on Audible

“Kimberly Fish’s writing style snatched me out of my easy chair.” — Vickie Phelps, author of Moved, Left No Address

“Kimberly Fish has a gift for combining conflict, emotion, and characterization to create a compelling story.” — Louis Gouge, author of Love Inspired Historical Four Star Ranch series

You can find my review of this book here

 

 

I learned so much about what goes into narrating a book from Sydney.  Thanks for sharing your insight!

How did you become an audiobook narrator?

I am, by profession, a lawyer. And because I believe that reading changed my own life, I read once a week to a 2^nd grade classroom throughout most of the school year.  I love the “pin drop” magic when all are listening on the edge of their seats. I’ve also long had voices when I read, which my son remembers me doing as far back as when I first read HARRY POTTER to him. This comes from being a seasoned Thespian (Actor, Vocalist, Director).

So I knew I had some ability. When I became an empty nester, I wanted to find a new passion I could work on in my now quiet home. I’m a lifelong writer and would love to voice my own work. Narration seemed a natural fit. So I took a class. Not just any class, but a good, super-in-depth one.

What cultural value do you see in audio books?

Audiobooks offer both escape and mental stimulation, and the ability to focus—in a world that is far too spoon-fed and cluttered.

Who has time to read?  I hear this often. And I sympathize. We are all busy. That is part of why I do most of my “reading” by listening to audiobooks. I listen when I drive solo. I listen when I cook solo. I listen when I work out and when I go for walks and when I garden, and I even give myself the gift of listening while I’m sitting on the back porch while my hands are busy with something else.  I always loved books on tape, so when I found Audible (the online audiobook service that delivers via an App), I was hooked.

What kind of preparation do you do before you start recording?

The key is to warm your voice up, just as you would when performing vocally.  Also, an audiobook is best if it is not rehearsed. Yes, you must know what all voices you will use, and you must research pronunciations. (Learning about “Jimplecute” in THE BIG INCH was fun!) Otherwise, if you memorize or rehearse too much, it comes across as inauthentic. You must trust yourself as a reader. The first read is usually the best because you are reacting instead of superimposing.

How do you keep the accents of your various characters straight?

Typically, there is a word or phrase that personifies the person’s “voice.” For example, I could always invoke Lane’s charge, J.R. Parson, by simply repeating his mantra: “Par for the course.”  Also, if I wasn’t sure, I would listen back.

Have you held any day jobs that helped your narration skills?

This made me laugh. I honestly don’t know a good lawyer who isn’t a good actor and well-voiced.  I think it’s part of the job description, isn’t it?

What did you enjoy most about narrating this book?

I loved the scenes with close interaction. Whether it was Emmie Tesco telling Lane to get a grip, or Lane and Theo figuratively dancing around each other, or Zeke getting Lane into trouble, those one-on-one moments have stuck with me.

Which of the characters from the book is most or least like you? Was this a challenge?

I’m far more a Tesco than a Lane, but I’ve experienced just about every emotion reflected in THE BIG INCH. I enjoy reading different characters and exploring about those who are not me. It’s the fun of it.

What projects are you working on at the present?

I recently finished another audiobook, this time a steamy romance, and I’m about to direct SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE, so I’m holding off on any large project offers at the moment. Also, my own book, I AM HOUSTON (about young Sam Houston and his forgotten Cherokee tribe), is in the publishing exploration mode (I have an agent who is about to sub it), and I really hope to voice it. (Unless John Lee would voice it. Because, John Lee!)

Kimberly Fish has been a professional writer in marketing and media for almost 30 years. In the course of research for the Longview Chamber of Commerce 100-year compilation, she stumbled across a 1940s federal works project that was too good, too war-winning, not to be retold to a modern audience. In 2017, she released The Big Inch, her first WWII spy thriller detailing the crazy, big pipeline project that fueled the Allies to a win in Europe. The Big Inch has also been released as an audio download on Audible. That eye-opening novel was so consumed by readers, she quickly followed it with a second WWII spy thriller set in Longview, Harmon General. Both of these novels will be helpful to her work with the City of Longview’s 150^th birthday celebrations which begin in January of 2020. Comfort Plans, a contemporary novel also set in Texas, continues her love of history by weaving old letters into the renovation of an iconic Hill Country farmhouse.

Kimberly enjoys speaking on the value of weaving history and nostalgia into our plans as we grow our communities for the future.

Pinterest * Twitter * Website * Instagram

Amazon Author Page * Facebook * Goodreads

 

Sydney Young is a lawyer, award-winning writer and audiobook narrator from the Lone Star State. Her next theatrical project will be directing “SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE,” for the Paris Community Theatre stage (Feb. 2019), while her novel “I AM HOUSTON,” is being submitted for publication by the Loiacono Literary Agency. Sydney has long been a reading advocate, including with her readings to an adopted second grade class each year. She loved voicing THE BIG INCH for all of its authentic Texas voices and true characters, all while she learned the history of the East Texas oil effort for World War II.  Visit Sydney’s website for more information on her writings, theatre, and audio books.

 

║ Website ║ Facebook ║ Instagram ║ Twitter ║

 

————————————-

GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!

ONE WINNER! 

Choice of Audio or Signed Print Copy of The Big Inch 

+ $25 Amazon Gift Card + a WWII Themed Surprise Gift!

NOVEMBER 5-12, 2018

(U.S. Only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out the other blogs on this tour

11/5/18	Joint Guest Post	Nerd Narration
11/6/18	Audio Book Review	Chapter Break Book Blog
11/7/18	Audio Book Review	Tangled in Text
11/8/18	Narrator Interview	StoreyBook Reviews
11/9/18	Audio Book Review	The Book Review
11/10/18	Audio Book Review	The Page Unbound
11/11/18	Guest Post	Momma on the Rocks
11/12/18	Audio Book Review	Kelly Well Read
11/12/18	Audio Book Review	Forgotten Winds

blog tour services provided by

House of Ashes: A Haunted Bluffs Mystery
Supernatural Mystery
1st in Series
Crooked Lane Books (November 13, 2018)
Hardcover, 336 pages

Synopsis

A family patriarch’s dying proclamation, an enigmatic disappearance, and a century-old curse converge in the shadows of a majestic home on Cape Cod’s craggy coast.

Thirty-seven-year-old painter Cassandra Mitchell is fourth-generation to live in the majestic Battersea Bluffs, a brooding Queen Anne home originally built by her great-grandparents, Percy and Celeste Mitchell, and still standing despite tragedies that have swept the generations. Local lore has it that there was a curse placed on the family and the house is haunted, though opinions are divided on whether it’s by malicious or benevolent spirits. Cassie believes the latter―but now she stands to lose her beloved home to mounting debt and the machinations of her dream-weaving ex-husband.

Salvation seems to arrive when a nomadic young couple wanders onto the property with the promise of companionship and much-needed help―until they vanish without a trace, leaving behind no clue to their identities. Cassie is devastated, but determined to discover what’s happened to the young couple…even as digging into their disappearance starts to uncover family secrets of her own. Despite warnings from her childhood friend, now the local Chief of Police―as well as an FBI agent who pushes the boundaries of professionalism―Cassie can’t help following the trail of clues (and eerie signals from the old house itself) to unravel the mystery. But can she do so before her family’s dark curse destroys everything in its path?

Review

There are some days I want to read a suspense filled book and this one did the trick. There were so many stories to unravel, personal histories to understand, and a mystery to solve that I had a hard time putting this book down each night.  I also can’t discount the descriptive words of the town, Battersea Bluffs, the residents in the town, and the area in general.

The story starts off 80 years in the past with the deaths of Percy and Celeste, Cassie’s Great Grandparents that came to the US from England.  Throughout the book we get glimpses of the past which helps us understand the spirits in the home and Cassie’s quest to find the truth about her ancestors, her sister, and her newest friends that have disappeared.  The crux of the book focuses on Cassie’s new friends, Ashley and Vince, who have suddenly disappeared.  Is there foul play involved?  Did they leave on their own accord?  Are they even who they claim to be?  Cassie formed a bond with Ashley and Vince, even if she really doesn’t know the truth about them and their past, so when they vanish she is concerned about them and their safety especially since they left their dog behind.  As a dog lover, I would have thought exactly the same as Cassie, that something has happened because they loved Whistler and wouldn’t leave him behind.

The book moves at a somewhat slower pace which is good and bad.  Good because it layers of the mystery are peeled back like an onion, but bad because I wanted to know what the heck happened to Ashley and Vince!  There are several other minor mysteries encapsulated in this book – why Cassie’s sister Zoe won’t come back to Whale Rock?  Who is behind an art purchase?  Is the house haunted or are the spirits friendly?  What is the real story of the supposed curse on the family?  All of these play a minor part in the story and some even tie in to the disappearance.

There is a little bit of a romance too between Cassie and FBI agent Daniel, but she also has a past with a deadbeat ex-husband and a high school love that she has a fling with when she realizes the marriage is dying.  There is also Brooks, aka Chuckles, who has a thing for Cassie but also dated her sister in high school.  That kind of makes him off limits in Cassie’s mind.

I will admit that Cassie does not have her life together at 37.  Sometimes you just have to wonder how people like her make it this far in life, but at the same time wonder if there is an underlying psychological issue that is the root cause of her actions.

Many questions are answered in the book with some twists I didn’t expect and we might not have known if Cassie didn’t push for the truth from those she questioned about her family and the past, and about her missing friends.

We give this 5 paws ups for keeping us in suspense for the whole book!

About the Author

An author of fiction, Loretta Marion’s writing bridges the genres of mystery and suspense and women’s fiction, always with hints of romance and humor, sometimes delving into the psychological and paranormal. She creates strong but flawed and struggling characters as appealing as the rich atmospheric settings in which the stories take place.

Loretta is a true bibliophile and has loved reading and creating with words since she was a young girl. And that affection for the written word followed her like a shadow throughout her life as she put pen to paper crafting marketing and advertising copy, educational brochures, and newsletters. But her passion for writing fiction evolved from the unlikely world of hospice. As a volunteer, she set out to establish a Legacy Story program to honor and preserve the rich heritage of the fascinating people who were soon to leave this world. The meaningful experience inspired her to create her own interesting characters and stories. Her debut novel, The Fool’s Truth, was a twisty and suspenseful mystery with whispers of romance. Her newest novel, HOUSE OF ASHES – A Haunted Bluffs Mystery, is the first in a series published by Crooked Lane Books.

Though born and raised in the Midwest, Loretta fell in love with New England and has made it the setting for much of her writing. When not whipping out words on her laptop, she is traveling, enjoying outdoor pursuits, or is curled up with a delicious new book. Loretta lives in Rhode Island with her husband, Geoffrey, and their beloved Mr. Peabody, a sweet, devoted and amusing “Corgador” (Corgi-Labrador cross).

Website * Facebook * Pinterest

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Murder in Her Stocking (A Granny Reid Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Kensington (October 30, 2018)
Hardcover: 304 pages

Synopsis

As the Moonlight Magnolia Agency revisits old memories on Christmas Eve, Granny Reid takes the reins back thirty years to the 1980s—back when she went by Stella, everyone’s hair was bigger, and sweaters were colorful disasters. But murder never went out of style . . .

Christmas has arrived in sleepy McGill, Georgia, but holiday cheer can’t keep temperamental Stella Reid from swinging a rolling pin at anyone who crosses her bad side—and this season, there are plenty. First an anonymous grinch vandalizes a celebrated nativity display. Far worse, the scandalous Prissy Carr is found dead in an alley behind a tavern. With police puzzled over the murder, Stella decides to stir the local gossip pot for clues on the culprit’s identity . . .

Turns out Prissy held a prominent spot on the naughty list, and suspects pile up like presents on Christmas morning. Unfortunately, the more progress Stella makes, the more fears she must confront. With a neighbor in peril and the futures of her beloved grandchildren at risk, Stella must somehow set everything straight and bring a cunning criminal to justice before December 25th . . .

Guest Post

The Frosting on the Cake by G. A. McKevett

Like many professional storytellers, I was raised in an environment rich with the sharing of family lore. Not all of it was sparkling or even repeatable in polite company, but it was entertaining, nevertheless.

One of the more prolific yarn spinners in my immediate circle was my father. Sunday afternoons, over an early dinner, he would tell and re-tell his life stories, many of which centered around the time he spent as a soldier in WWII.

“Squeaky and the Coconut Cake” was one of my personal favorites, and I’d like to share it with you now.

My father was a marine, stationed for a while in the Philippines, in a tent camp in the jungle. When the war finally ended, he returned home to southern Missouri, to his newly-widowed mother and younger sisters.

He brought with him a tiny monkey he had adopted, known as Squeaky, named after the little sounds he continually made whether he was happy and contented or wanting something—usually a food treat. He was so small that my father could tuck him into the front pocket of his shirt and button the flap, where Squeaky often took naps, close to the warmth of his “dad’s” chest.

The first Sunday after Dad’s return, my Grandma Cora Bell insisted that her non-church-attending son go to services with her and his sisters. Reluctantly, he did.

In celebration of his safe return from the war, Grandma had baked one of her delicious, moist, made from scratch, coconut cakes. It was a thing of beauty, which she placed in the center of the table before the family left. Everyone was looking forward to enjoying a generous slice of it, along with a pot of fresh, hot coffee, when they returned. But, alas, it was not to be.

While they were gone, the highly intelligent and ever-resourceful Squeaky, angry that he had been left behind, managed to escape from his cage.

The family returned to carnage.

They walked into the kitchen to find the usually immaculate room in chaos. Not only were flour and sugar bags torn open and their contents scattered, utensils pulled from cupboards and lying on the floor, and some dishes broken…but every single surface, both horizontal and vertical, in the entire room was covered with a thin coat of white stickiness.

Yes, coconut frosting. (My father would later say that he even scrubbed it off the top of the refrigerator and from the insides of the cupboard doors.)

It didn’t take long to find Squeaky. He was a gleeful little fellow. Sitting in the middle of the mangled cake. Casually licking coconut frosting from between his toes.

About the Author

G.A. McKevett is the author of the acclaimed Savannah Reid mystery series. Also writing under the name Sonja Massie, she has authored over 60 books ranging from cozy mysteries to historical romances, to nonfiction works on the history of Ireland. Her earthy humor and fast-paced plots delight her fans, while critics applaud her offbeat characterizations and incisive observations on human nature. Irish by ancestry, she has lived in Toronto, Ireland, and Los Angeles, but now resides in New York.

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Amazon

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thread Herrings (A Mainely Needlepoint Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
7th in Series
Kensington (October 30, 2018)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages

Synopsis

Angie’s first auction may turn out to be her last—when she bids on a coat of arms that someone would literally kill to possess . . .

Tagging along to an estate sale with her fellow Needlepointer, antiques shop owner Sarah Byrne, Angie Curtis impulsively bids on a tattered embroidery of a coat of arms. When she gets her prize back home to Haven Harbor, she discovers a document from 1757 behind the framed needlework—a claim for a child from a foundling hospital. Intrigued, Angie is determined to find the common thread between the child and the coat of arms.

Accepting her reporter friend Clem Walker’s invitation to talk about her find on the local TV news, Angie makes an appeal to anyone who might have information. Instead, both women receive death threats. When Clem is found shot to death in a parking lot, Angie fears her own life may be in jeopardy. She has to unravel this historical mystery—or she may be the next one going, going . . . gone . . .

 

Excerpt

“What about this one?” I asked, passing several oil paintings and pointing to another large needlework. “It looks like a coat of arms.”

“It does. Although about a third of the stitching is gone. I wonder if it was done here, or in England? Stitching coats of arms was more common there. Americans didn’t have family crests or coats of arms.”

The coat of arms was in poor condition. The glass protecting it was cracked, and dirt had sifted onto the embroidery. Threads were broken or missing in several places, so only part of the crest was clear, and the linen backing was torn in several places. Still, it fascinated me.

“Is that an eagle?” I said, trying to make sense of what might have been part of a bird on the crest.

Sarah shook her head. “I’m not interested in it. No one wants someone else’s coat of arms, and that one isn’t in good enough condition to sell, anyway.”

“It could be repaired,” I suggested. “Gram is pretty good at that.” I kept looking at the crest, wondering who’d stitched it, and when. Who’d been proud of a heritage that included a coat of arms? The other embroideries were from the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. I wasn’t an expert on American history, but I knew not a lot of Americans had bragged about their connections to nobility—especially English nobility—right after the American Revolution.

Or maybe the coat of arms was from another country? I didn’t know enough to guess.

“Why bother trying to repair it?” Sarah asked. “It’s not beautiful. It’s in poor condition. Its only value might have been to the person it represented, and, if it’s here, no one in his family wanted it.”

“But don’t coats of arms belong to families?” I asked.

“They were awarded to individuals, not families,” Sarah corrected. “Embroidered coats of arms originally were worn over armor, so knights could be identified when they were in competitions or battles.” She glanced at the embroidery in front of us. “I don’t see any identifying name, either of the owner or the woman who stitched it. In any case, I need to look at the other lots.” She made a couple of notes on her catalog. “I’ll bid on the four other samplers,” she said softly to me. “I’ll have to think about how high to go. That last sampler may be a budget-killer.”

“You go ahead. I’m going to wander and see what else is here,” I said.

Sarah headed for the cases of china, which had no interest for me.

I took one more look at the coat of arms. I couldn’t say exactly why, but it fascinated me.

About the Author

Lea Wait lives on the coast of Maine. A fourth-generation antique dealer and the author of the Agatha-nominated Antique Print Mystery series, she loves all things antiques and Maine. She also writes historical novels for young people set in (where else?) nineteenth-century Maine.

Website * Facebook * GoodReads

 

 

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

A Different Kind of Reunion (A Gilda Greco Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
The Wild Rose Press, Inc (April 23, 2018)
Paperback: 236 pages

Synopsis

While not usually a big deal, one overlooked email would haunt teacher Gilda Greco. Had she read it, former student Sarah McHenry might still be alive.

Suspecting foul play, Constable Leo Mulligan plays on Gilda’s guilt and persuades her to participate in a séance facilitated by one of Canada’s best-known psychics. Six former students also agree to participate. At first cooperative and willing, their camaraderie is short-lived as old grudges and rivalries emerge. The séance is a bust.

Determined to solve Sarah’s murder, Gilda launches her own investigation and uncovers shocking revelations that could put several lives—including her own—in danger. Can Gilda and the psychic solve this case before the killer strikes again?

About the Author

In 2008, Joanne took advantage of early retirement and decided to launch a second career that would tap into her creative side and utilize her well-honed organizational skills. Slowly, a writing practice emerged. Her articles and book reviews were published in newspapers, magazines, and online. When she tried her hand at fiction, she made reinvention a recurring theme in her novels and short stories. A member of Crime Writers of Canada, Sisters in Crime, and Romance Writers of America, Joanne writes cozy mysteries, paranormal romance, and inspirational literature from her home base of Guelph, Ontario.

Website * Twitter * Facebook
LinkedIn * Pinterest * Goodreads

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway