Asbury High and the Kidnapper’s Drive: Asbury High Series
Young Adult Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Publisher: Purple Milk Publishing (February 6, 2021)
Paperback: 383 pages

Synopsis

On a quiet summer night, in the peaceful seaside town of Asbury, a local girl is kidnapped from her home.

That very same day, a car thief is chased through an empty car lot, narrowly escaping from their teenage pursuer.

Can the two be connected?

Once again, it’s up to Asbury’s favorite, fearless foursome to find out.

Carly, Maddie, Pilot and Cornelious enter the summer before their junior year ready for normalcy. After a few weeks of calm, it seems that Carly may finally have the drama-free summer of her dreams—other than her boyfriend returning from his two-week vacation hotter than ever, drawing interest from her peers.

Just as Asbury is lulled into a sense of serenity, tragedy strikes when a local six-year-old is kidnapped from her home…with no sign of a break-in, no ransom, and no reason. While the town is desperate to find the missing girl, car parts from Maddie’s father’s shop suddenly go missing, and the gang begins to wonder if the two are connected. With little faith in law enforcement, and prodding from Maddie’s younger siblings, the gang finds themselves at the center of the investigation.

Unfortunately, solving both cases isn’t so easy, as the gang must work around the continually growing criminal enterprise of the Pitbulls, the constant construction occurring around town from Governor Gibbz’s Grant, as well as their changing feelings towards each other. When Maddie and Cornelious begin to sense their friendship might be more than what they realize, jealousies arise as the teens garner attention from others.

With all these distractions, can the foursome save the missing girl and figure out who is stealing from Petrozza Auto?

Asbury High and the Kidnapper’s Drive is the fourth book in a thrilling young adult cozy mystery series, that fans of Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys and Scooby Doo will love.

Guest Post

Today we have Carly here to tell us a little bit about herself. Take it away Carly!

How you take care of yourself/practice self-care?—Carly Cosentino

Hi!

So as the only member of the gang who actually cares what they look like, and also knows how feeling good can positively affect your daily outlook, I’ve decided to share how I take care of myself.

Basically, my daily regimen of positivity.

Living in Asbury, where its more of a summer boom town than anything, I’ve learned the importance of taking time for myself. And with my three besties (yes, including my adorably awesome boyfriend, Pilot Owens), that also means being mentally and physically ready to spring into action. For some reason, mysteries are attracted to us like flies.

You can’t just swat them away either. I’ve tried.

Anyway, don’t let me forget I’m also a Cheer Captain of my high school squad—which means my arm strength and core is killer, so I’m usually ready to go (although I like to use physical strength as a last option, as opposed to my friends…they’re brutes!).

To begin my day, after ensuring a full eight hours sleep—don’t downplay the importance of sleep, I highly doubt the business moguls and billionaires of the world who claim they sleep two hours are telling the truth. Sleep is vitally important! Now, where was I…Oh yeah! After doing my best to ensure a full eight hours, I have an alarm set to wake me up to whatever song I’m currently obsessed with. I find that’s a good and fun way to pull me out of bed (especially on test or project presentation day).

After rising from bed, I spend the next ten minutes doing some light yoga stretches and mindful meditation. I’m a huge believer of yoga as it helps me set my goals for the day.

Wrapping up the yoga, I head to my bathroom and jump into the shower and continue my hair and face wash regimen. After drying off, I take a moment to add moisturizer with SPF onto my face and neck (if you plan to copy this, please DON’T FORGET YOUR NECK! I mean, you don’t want to have a nice face and then a gobbly chicken wrinkly neck, do you?!).

After choosing my outfit for the day—depending on the mood, or what shenanigans I’m likely to get up to—I then brush my hair and, more often than not, utilize my favorite red tie-back headband here. It’s from my grandmother and I try not to go anywhere without it. Even on the days where my hair looks flawless down, with no accessories needed. Because you can also bet those are the days that Maddie drags us into some dangerous mystery…

Next, I apply some mascara and sometimes light eyeliner. I’m lucky to have pretty blue eyes, so I feel like I don’t need too much eye makeup. Or at least I think so, and Pilot agrees.

Because I’m a teenage girl and life’s not always fair, I do need to occasionally put on some light coverup over problem areas, but the face wash and moisturizing routine does wonders to minimize that, so I feel fortunate there.

Before I leave my oasis of a bedroom for the day, I take a moment to look over my vision board (I make one each year) and scan over the images that I hope will soon come to fruition. I’m a big believer in goals and visions, as you can tell.

After eating some breakfast, always fruit and a protein shake, sometimes more (my mom is the world’s best baker—well, besides Heidi over at Heidi’s Hub in town), I head over to school.

Practicing self-care is not as easy when I get to school. It is high school after all, and let’s be real, I do love gossip. However, I do my best to get to the truth and not spread things that likely aren’t true. And if it’s mean, then that piece of gossip ends with me.

Anyway, the only way to practice self-care in school, at least for me, is to do my best to focus on my teacher’s lessons and try to have fun too. Life’s too short to be too serious.

On good days, I’ll have cheerleading practice, which is a great release of energy.

Keeping me happy and sane, are my three besties, Cornelious, Maddie and Pilot. We tend to meet at Brady’s to catch up, laugh and yes, solve crime.

When I do get home, I make sure to eat dinner, sometimes a snack (never go to bed hungry, if you don’t have to. Too many unfortunate people on this Earth have no choice here, so appreciate your life people!).

After showering, remoisturizing, and reflecting on my day, I’ll call Pilot, and talk to him. Sometimes even until one of us fall asleep (not gonna lie, it’s always me who falls asleep first)!

And that’s a day of self-care. To sum it up, respect yourself and others, and please, don’t take yourself too seriously! Remember to smile, laugh and enjoy your life!

About the Author

For as long as she could remember, Kelly Brady Channick loved making up stories and leaving her listeners/readers on the edge of their seats.

Perhaps that’s why she always managed to talk herself out of trouble…

After graduating from NJ’s own Ocean City High School, Kelly accepted a basketball scholarship to Holy Family University, in Philadelphia. As a lifelong athlete, Kelly understands the importance of teamwork and overcoming adversity, something she hopes translates into her books.

Before writing page-turners, she taught first, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth grade — like a dessert menu, she simply had to test them all out. But her favorite job is the one she’s now doing full time: writing. Kelly loves to craft whodunit mysteries, leading readers through various twists and turns filled with red-herrings, hidden clues, and more peculiar characters than a reality show.

Kelly lives in South Jersey with her handsome husband, energetic baby boy, two cookie-stealing dogs, and an awfully smart cat.

Goodreads * Facebook * Website * Instagram * Amazon

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Treasure Most Deadly (A Seaside Cove Bed & Breakfast Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Satori (April 28, 2021)
Print Length: 265 pages

Synopsis

Seaside Cove amateur sleuths Rick and Alexandra Atwood are back!

 

Seaside Cove Bed & Breakfast owner Rick Atwood is again called on to assist his friend, Chief of Police Adam Cunningham, with a murder investigation. The case seems straightforward enough. Clive Crabbe, who has a quick temper and a strong jealous streak, was found hunched over the victim after the man made advances toward Clive’s ex-wife.

A murder investigation is the last thing Rick wants right now. The B&B is booked solid. The town is inundated with tourists and news reporters chasing stories about treasure thieves. And Rick’s wedding to Marquetta Weiss is just weeks away. As if that wasn’t enough, Rick’s eleven-year-old daughter Alex is not only itching to help the cops solve another murder, but she’s forming an unhealthy friendship with a B&B guest.

As the murder investigation progresses, Rick realizes Alex’s new friend could be at the center of everything. The worst part is that Alex may be the one person capable of cracking the case.

Guest Post

GUEST POST – MY WRITING JOURNEY

I’m not one of those people who knew he wanted to be a writer from an early age. At least, I don’t think I did. To be perfectly honest, there’s not much I remember about my childhood. However, if the subjects I took in high school and college are any indication of my interests, I’m confident ‘writer’ was never a job description that occurred to me.

The journey began with stress

By the time I was in my late thirties, I was in a job where there was a lot of stress. I had so much frustration built up that I knew I needed to do something, but didn’t know what. I turned to writing. There were several reasons for this choice—I’d been in jobs that involved writing and research; I’d enjoyed that process; and I definitely felt like I wanted to kill someone.

I’m basically a big chicken and a firm believer that I have bad luck where crime is involved. During my one and only teenage attempt to toilet paper a house, we got caught. All my friends got away with it, but I did not have that sort of luck. That memory was enough to remind me I didn’t want to do the time, so I was not actually going to do the crime. As a result, I decided I could write about murder and not have to pay any consequences.

The plot thickens as reality sets in

So I had a mission. Write a novel in which I’d kill off the primary source of my stress. That part was easy. It took one chapter. At that point, I realized my story was over. I had no plot to speak of. No believable characters. Hadn’t described the setting well. But one good thing came of that little exercise—I felt better.

I realized that writing is a cathartic process for me. The ability to immerse myself in a world divorced from my current reality was, as we say today, a game-changer. Being a perfectionist at heart, I also realized that if I was going to spend any time writing, I had to get better at it.

The plot thickens—again

I spent the next twenty years learning more about writing. I attended classes, read books, and got into critique groups. Over the years, I did my best to soak up criticism like a sponge and then use what I’d learned to wring more out of the next book. I tried being a pantser, but dropped that method after I had to rewrite two-thirds of my second thriller in the License to Lie series.

That one experience set me on another path, to get to where I would never have to rewrite most of a book because I hadn’t paid close enough attention to the plot or the characters. I’m now a thorough plotter and use Blake Snyder’s beat sheet as my way to control the tension in each book. For each book I have a timeline, a spreadsheet, and the equivalent of a murder board. I also go through about ten drafts. It’s an exhaustive process in my attempt to become the best storyteller I can be.

Unlike that little boy who never knew he wanted to be a writer, I now realize that my journey has brought me to telling stories. And just like that little boy, I want to be the best I can be. What about you? Are you a writer? Do you have aspirations? Or are you content to leave that process to us crazies who feel driven to tell stories?

About the Author

Once upon a time, in a life he’d rather forget, Terry Ambrose, tracked down deadbeats for a living. He also hired big guys with tow trucks to steal cars-but only when negotiations failed. Those years of chasing deadbeats taught him many valuable life lessons such as-always keep your car in the garage. Today, Terry likes fast, funny mysteries and cool photography. He writes the Trouble in Paradise McKenna Mysteries and organized an anthology to benefit Read Aloud America. He fondly likens his efforts to those of a blind man herding cats.

Website * Facebook * Goodreads

Twitter * LinkedIn * Instagram

Giveaway

Peaches and Schemes: A Georgia B&B Mystery
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books (May 11, 2021)
Hardcover: 304 pages

Synopsis

In Anna Gerard’s third delightful Georgia B&B mystery, Nina Fleet learns that despite the satin, lace, and buttercream trappings, weddings often prove to be anything but sweet…

 

Nina Fleet might be new to the innkeeping business, but she’s savvy enough to know that Cymbeline’s tourists aren’t enough to keep her fledgling bed and breakfast going. And so, Nina decides to tap into the destination wedding market by taking a booth at the Veils and Vanities Bridal Expo. The twice-yearly event is sponsored by the town’s two wedding pros: Virgie Hamilton, the sixtysomething owner of Virgie’s Formals, and Roxanna Quarry, a Gen X event planner and Nina’s new friend. But everything goes wrong during the expo’s fashion show, when Roxanna comes tumbling out of an oversized prop wedding cake, strangled to death by her own scarf.

Virgie is arrested for the crime, thanks to Nina’s statement to the police about having overheard the woman accusing her partner of embezzlement. Meanwhile, the situation grows tense with her sometimes nemesis and current tenant, the dashing out-of-work actor Harry Westcott. Harry is concentrating on plugging his most recent side hustle …but he’s not too busy to break the news to Nina that her ex-husband is engaged to be married again.

Certain that Virgie’s only offense is a bad temper, Nina decides to do her own investigating. First, however, she and Harry retrieve Roxanna’s now ownerless dog, planning to foster him until a new home can be found. But local gossip soon convinces Nina that others beside Virgie might have had reason to murder Roxanna. As Nina gets close to the truth, she’s putting her own life at danger. And when Virgie vanishes after being bailed out of jail by an unknown benefactor, Nina fears that if she can’t find the dress shop owner in time, tying the knot will take on a whole new meaning for them both.

Amazon – B&N

Guest Post

Back in the day, writers new to the mystery genre were told by the powers that be (a/k/a agents and editors) that they should kill off their book’s murder victim upfront, right there in chapter one.

Preferably on the first page of chapter one.

And even better if it happens in the first paragraph.

And thus, a generation of writers learned to do all sorts of plotting gymnastics to hit this goal, and many are still writing like this to this day. Sometimes, they pen the murder scene through the (unknown or not) killer’s eyes. Other times, they make the murder scene a prologue, with chapter one and the subsequent chapters a rewind back to what happened before that killing took place. Another way is for the victim to actually witnesses his or her own death. This often ends with the soon-to-be-corpse gasping out, you!, in horrified recognition before expiring. (This also necessitates another character jumping in and picking up the narrative in chapter two.)

In the hands of a skilled writer, all these techniques can work. But there’s one problem when the murder happens right off the bat. With the dead body sprawled right there on page one, the reader has had no chance to know the victim. And, thus, said reader has no emotional stake in the victim’s passing…or in the mystery surrounding their killing being solved.

To be honest, this lack of sentiment isn’t a big deal in a thriller or suspense novel. Victims in these books tend to be stock characters, and the bodies often pile up like cordwood. All these readers really care about is that the protagonist makes it to the end of the story with a minimum of bodily harm. But if you write cozy mysteries like me, you know that characters are as big a story driver as plot…sometimes even more so.

Bottom line, cozy mystery readers want to know and love (or hate!) the characters first before the author dispatches one of them. That ideally involves the future victim living his or her best life for a couple of chapters and interacting with the rest of the book’s characters. That way, when he or she meets the pointy end of a knitting needle or is found drowned in a keg of wine, it means something. The reader is now invested in what comes next, cares as much as the book’s sleuth about bringing the killer to justice.

Though, on the other hand, the reader doesn’t want to wait too long to get to the good part!

I must admit I’m guilty of letting my murder victims wander their books for a good chunk of pages before they meet their final fate. And while I’ve never been chastised by an editor or reader for that, I do have my concerns. Which is why, in my Georgia B&B mysteries, I’ve found a new trick of putting the body on page one without actually doing so.

These books are told in first person from the point of view of my innkeeper/amateur sleuth, Nina Fleet. And with this style of POV, Nina is basically telling us the story…relating what happened as it happens even though she’s actually looking back and already knows how the story goes, if that makes sense. As each book opens, I have Nina ruminate for the benefit of the reader about the fact that, yes, a murder will happen in these pages, though she is coy about revealing who it is. From there we launch into the story. Somewhere between pages fifty and seventy, we finally learn who that foretold dead body is. And then Nina and her cohorts band together for the rest of the book to find the killer.

I humbly think this technique works quite well in solving that “need a corpse on page one” dilemma. Does this workaround work for you? Are you okay with waiting a while before some character stumbles over the murder victim, or do you prefer to see your cozies serve up the dead body right from the start? Leave me a comment and let’s discuss.

About the Author

DIANE A.S. STUCKART is the New York Times bestselling author of the Black Cat Bookshop Mystery series (writing as Ali Brandon). She’s also the author of the award-winning Leonardo da Vinci historical mysteries, as well as several historical romances and numerous mystery, fantasy, and romance short stories. The first book in her Tarot Cats Mystery series is FOOL’S MOON, available in trade, large print, and Kindle versions. Her Georgia B&B Mystery series from Crooked Lane Books launched July 2019 with PEACH CLOBBERED, written as Anna Gerard.

Diane is a member of Mystery Writers of America and has served as the 2018 and 2019 Chapter President of the MWA Florida chapter. In addition to her mystery writing affiliations, she’s a member of the Cat Writers’ Association and belongs to the Palm Beach County Beekeepers Association. She’s a native Texan with a degree in Journalism from the University of Oklahoma, but has been living in the West Palm Beach FL area since 2006. She shares her “almost in the Everglades” home with her husband, dogs, cats, and a few beehives.

Author Website ~ Book Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Pinterest

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Synopsis

Although “maddening mother problems” are universal, the majority of adult women describe their relationship with their mother as one of the most important—and one of the most complicated in their lives. I’m a psychologist with an expertise in working with mothers and daughters. Like many other therapists, my own unhealed wounds pulled me into my specialty. I’ve spent several decades helping women mine their mother-stories, mend their wounds and find peace, freedom and joy.

While you didn’t pick your mother, as an adult you now have the opportunity to choose your path as a daughter. Stories are great teachers, these tales from my office and my life will hopefully help you untangle your stuck places, develop compassion for yourself (and possibly your mother as well) and celebrate a connection you thought doomed to disappointment and hurt.

Amazon * B&N * IndieBound * Kobo

Guest Post

The Girl in the Red Boots: Making Peace with My Mother

by Judith Ruskay Rabinor, PhD

This book was born in 1983, when my 68-year-old divorced mother-in-law announced her remarriage. Ironically, her second wedding coincided with my divorce– from none other than her son!  I’d always assumed her life as a divorced woman was lonely and difficult, but she opened up and dissuaded me of that belief. Her message was clear: single life could be fun! I joined a writing group and began writing about her (working title) Between Marriages: The Diary of a Mid-Life Woman.  A month into the group, I switched gears and began writing about my mother. Two of the key stories in The Girl in the Red Boots were written then.

Between 1983 and The Girl in the Red Boots, I published two books and dozens of articles.  In the background, I continued writing about my complicated relationship with my mother. Flash forward to 2013. Following my mother’s death, I decided to assemble my writing. Nervous about revealing my personal issues, I enrolled in both a fiction and non-fiction class. In writing two versions of the same story, it became clear that memoir was my stronger voice.

Writing this book became my ritual of mourning. My mother’s last years were difficult. She spent a decade battling Parkinson’s disease and dementia; it was a slow, sad, debilitating ending.  I was the loyal and devoted daughter who was also despairing and resentful as I plunged into what is now a familiar journey: accompanying our parents to the gates.  I grieved for my mother as she deteriorated, I grieved for myself, too, as I tenaciously stood by her. Giving myself time to write helped me sift through her life and our relationship.

The subtitle of my book is Making Peace with My Mother. In writing this book I learned  it wasn’t my mother I needed to make peace with so much as with my ambivalent feelings towards her. I’d always loved her but I’d struggled with my angry and resentful feelings. I puzzled over why I was unable to let go of my grievances. Now that I’ve written the book, I understand why: it’s difficult to let go of a traumatic experience without processing it.

For much of my life I’d helped patients understand that one doesn’t have to be victimized by cataclysmic abuse to be scarred by trauma. Unwittingly, I’d minimized the impact of events in my own life I would later understand as traumatic. Writing has always helped me release and process my feelings—and helped me face my blind spots. Ultimately it’s been a lifelong resource.

The main message of this book is that it is possible to heal a wounded relationship. The centerpiece tells the story of how I healed my relationship with my mother, and The Girl in the Red Boots is filled with stories of how I helped my patients, young girls and women with eating disorders, heal as well. Working with patients offered me the opportunity to reflect on my relationship with my mother.  A breakthrough moment occurred when I asked myself why I was able to be compassionate to my patients’ mothers but lacked compassion for mine. Asking this question shifted something important in me. Sometimes simply asking a new question is enough to create change.

Part memoir, part self-help, here are five takeaways:

1. It’s never too late to change your story and change your life. Even if your parent is dead you have the opportunity to revisit your story and rewrite your life.
2. Love is always imperfect. All of us are flawed, limited and have blind spots. Speaking about creating compelling characters in her compelling memoir, Wild Game, Adrienne Brodeur quoted Vivian Gornick’s advice, “You have to show the loneliness of the monster and the cunning of the victim.” While writing my memoir, I kept those words taped to a bulletin board above my desk. Ambivalence is part of all relationships.
3. No one is as bad as the worst thing s/he has ever done. For many years I held onto “Bad Mommy” stories, They reinforced my dissatisfaction with my mother. I carried a limited single story. Broadening my perspective helped me heal.
4. We are all imperfect narrators. Your story is simply a story. Now is a good time to examine any stories you tell yourself repeatedly. Do your stories reinforce your grudges? Are you telling a story as a victim or a survivor? Change your story, change your life.
5. Stories are our best teachers. Every story you hear has the possibility of changing you. The necessary ingredients are a curious mind and an open heart.

About the Author

Judith Ruskay Rabinor, PhD, is a clinician, author, writing coach, speaker, and workshop leader. In addition to her New York City private psychotherapy practice, she offers remote consultations for writers, clinicians, and families. She has published dozens of articles for both the public and professionals and has authored three books, The Girl in the Red Boots: Making Peace with My Mother (She Writes Press, 2021),  A Starving Madness: Tales of Hunger, Hope and Healing in Psychotherapy (Gurze Books, 2002) and Befriending Your Ex After Divorce: Making Life Better for You, Your Kids and Yes, Your Ex (New Harbinger Publications, 2012). A sought-after speaker and workshop leader, Judy speaks at national and international mental health conferences and runs workshops at spas, colleges and universities, and retreat centers.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * LinkedIn * Instagram

Shrimply Dead (A Seafood Caper Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Publisher: Muddle House Publishing (April 12, 2021)
• Number of Pages 237 PAGES

Synopsis

When veterinarian and amateur naturalist Jasmine Garr is shot in her yard, residents of Shell Island press caterer River Holloway into investigating the homicide. River dons her amateur sleuth cap and sets out to discover who killed her former catering customer.

Between Jasmine’s estranged cousin, a rival veterinarian, a wild animal trapper, the chicken lady, and a real estate broker, River has plenty of suspects to consider. As she peels back the layers of Jasmine’s life, dangerous secrets come to light.

Jasmine’s orphaned kitty, Iris, along with River’s cat Major, and her husband Pete help River sift through the evidence. At the same time, River recently expanded her catering business. She must service her regular catering clients, plus provide fresh baked goods for Pete’s ice cream shop.

The killer follows River’s every move relishing the thought of another victim. Time is running out. Will River solve the murder before she becomes a cold dish?

Amazon *  B&N *  Kobo * iBooks

Guest Post

Jasmine’s Enemies

By River Holloway Merrick as interpreted by author Maggie Toussaint

When a catering client is shot in her own backyard, I didn’t trust the sheriff to get the right answer. After all, he’d missed the mark on two previous homicide cases, and Jasmine Garr deserved justice.

This past summer I’d brought meals to Jasmine’s house for her ailing mother. The catering contract lasted until her mother passed away six weeks ago. I very much enjoyed the company of Jasmine and her mom, and the naturally landscaped place she carved out of the woods was so serene and breathtaking. It was a pleasure to go there.

The news of Jasmine being shot in the back was all kinds of wrong. And that the killer had done it in her own yard seemed extra cruel and unusual. These facts led me to the conclusion that she’d known the person and let down her guard.

Fueled by a burning passion for finding the truth, I dug into Jasmine’s life. Turns out, I didn’t have to dig far to find people who had grudges against her. For instance, her estranged cousin was furious about having been denied her inheritance of the family property and heirlooms. Jasmine’s veterinarian coworker was upset with her for personal and professional reasons. Then there was the wild animal trapper that Jasmine occasionally partnered with for wild animal rescue. His interest in her was personal, but Jasmine turned him down cold. Another man was in her orbit, a real estate broker. It was unclear what his interest in Jasmine was, but as I was finding out, Jasmine could be cold to people she had little use for.

Her next-door neighbor, an elderly woman who raised chickens, was the one who found Jasmine. The cops were looking at all of the above as suspects, including the Chicken Lady. I’d purchased eggs from the Chicken Lady, who’d been a friend of my late mother, and she didn’t have a mean bone in her body. Then bad things happened to the Chicken Lady, and I wondered if this might be about the adjourning properties.

I have no professional training for solving crimes, but I have two things going for me. First, I was born and raised on Shell Island, and everybody knows me. Most loved my cooking and were always happy to see me, so I have an extensive personal network. Second, my knack for finding things has gradually stretched beyond my family. In addition to finding lost keys, phones, eyeglasses, and pets, I’d successfully solved other murder cases on the island.

My biggest problem with this case was finding the time to investigate. I’d just expanded my catering business into another area, and product demand grew by leaps and bounds every week. It was thrilling and hard work, and I had to schedule extra help to fulfill the orders.

But I made a promise to myself. No matter how busy I was, I’d find time to get justice for Jasmine.

About the Author

Southern author Maggie Toussaint writes cozy and paranormal mysteries, romantic suspense, and dystopian fiction, with twenty fiction novels published. A three-time finalist for Georgia Author of the Year, she’s won three Silver Falchions, the Readers’ Choice, and the EPIC Awards. She’s past president of Mystery Writers of America-Southeast chapter and an officer of LowCountry Sisters In Crime. She lives in coastal Georgia, where secrets, heritage, and ancient oaks cast long shadows.

Facebook | Twitter | Blog | Goodreads

Booklover’s Bench |  Amazon Author Central

 Website | Bookbub | LinkedIn | Pinterest

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Blind Switch (A Rosedale Investigations Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Publisher: Camel Press (January 12, 2021)
Paperback: 230 pages

Synopsis

The first book in the Rosedale Investigations series finds Wayne Nichols, our doggedly determined Detective, and his sassy and irreverent partner, Dory Clarkson, starting new jobs as private investigators. Their first client, Cara Summerfield, comes with what appears to be a missing person’s case. Cara got pregnant in high school and baby Danny was adopted. Her husband, Grant, an up-and-coming politician has never been told about the pregnancy. Their only clue is an unreadable return address on a letter sent to Cara from Danny’s girlfriend. Danny is now a racehorse trainer and has been assaulted for non-payment of gambling debts. Cara charges Rosedale Investigations to find Danny and keep his existence completely confidential. When Danny is found, he’s in the ICU and not expected to live. When he passes away, it appears to the pathologist to be natural causes, but Detective Nichols doesn’t buy it. It looks like murder to him.

Amazon – B&N – Kobo

Guest Post

Making up new characters is one of the most fun and creative parts of writing fiction. For the Rosedale Investigations series, I needed a young person. The older partners in the firm were PD Pascoe, in his mid-seventies, Dory Clarkson, age a well-kept secret but approaching seventy, and Wayne Nichols, sixty years old. Obviously, if the stories were to appeal to a younger audience, I needed a young character. Thus the invention of Billy Jo Bradley who is twenty-one.

I gave Billy Jo a semi-tragic family background. Her mother dies of ovarian cancer when Billy Jo is seventeen. Her mother never told her who her father was, and he has never been in the picture. The mother’s father, Billy Jo’s grandfather, (Hector Bradley) is an important person in her life, but he dies only two years after her mother. Hector had a military background and served in Viet Nam where he met PD Pascoe and they became best friends. When Hector dies of emphysema, he asks PD to watch out for Billy Jo. It’s a good thing he did because by then Billy Jo was waiting table, going to community college at night, and living in her car. She’s taught herself computer skills and has become proficient in using the computer to ferret out the backgrounds of PD’s clients who often withhold information about themselves.

Billy Jo is ambitious and hard-working, but she’s also a kid. She loves music and particularly opera which she listens to when she’s struggling with a problem. Although she knows no Italian, the sound seems to help her come up with ideas. In “The Blind Switch” Billy Jo gets a date to the opera and spends a small fortune on a purple evening gown. She learns a difficult lesson when PD refuses to pay for the dress and she has to make payments to the business for a year.

Billy Jo needs parenting, and luckily Dory Clarkson steps in as a clothes and make-up consultant. She’s made a difference because initially, Billy Jo wasn’t wearing shoes in the office and meeting clients in off-the-shoulder shirts with black bras, and high-top sneakers. Wayne Nichols becomes a father figure for Billy Jo. She’s often ignored in staff meetings and Wayne makes sure her input is noted. He is also very protective of her. In “The Blind Split” when she is asked to copy a client’s emails and is seen leaving the house, a gunman shoots at her. Wayne is the person who makes her report the incident to the Sheriff. He also makes sure she isn’t alone at night and Dory offers her a guest room until the shooter is in custody. PD is Billy Jo’s adopted grandfather, and he’s the person who sets high standards for her. She badly wants to be made a partner in the firm of Rosedale Investigations, and PD is not ready to allow that. She had to prove herself for his approval. None of the senior team has children.

When Billy Jo meets Mark Schneider, a computer whiz who works for law enforcement, they are instantly attracted to each other. They begin a relationship and are caught in semi-compromising positions by Wayne Nichols who sends Mark packing. Dory teases Wayne, saying he’s not Billy Jo’s father, and horrifies him by hinting if the relationship endures, that Billy Jo will get a little dragon tattooed on her bottom.  Mark has a tattoo of a dragon on his back.

About the Author

Lynda J. Farquhar (penname Lyn Farrell) holds a master’s degree in English and a Ph.D. in Higher Education/Administration from Michigan State University. Prior to her retirement from MSU, she was a professor in the College of Human Medicine where she worked for 30+ years. When she retired, she returned to her first love, writing, and self-published a YA Trilogy, “Tales of the Skygrass Kingdom.” Subsequently, she and her daughter, Lisa Fitzsimmons, wrote a 7-book mystery series, “The Mae December Mysteries,” published by Camel Press under their joint penname, Lia Farrell. Marketing efforts for the Mae December mysteries, as well as much work by Camel on subsidiary rights, deal with Harlequin, have resulted in sales of 22,000+ (to date) for the series. She is now writing a new mystery series, “Rosedale Investigations.” The first is titled, “The Blind Switch” and was released in January 2021.

Website & Blog * Facebook * Newsletter

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Synopsis

Life hit Pat and Tammy McLeod hard when their son Zach collapsed on a high school football field; he had sustained a severe brain injury. Facing the devastating possibility that things would never be the same for their beloved son, they committed to staying strong as a family and finding a way to maintain their footing. But the journey would reshape their faith, their family, and their future in ways they never saw coming.

What would it take for them to navigate the endless fallout of their son’s life-transforming injury? How could they reconcile their grief over the life Zach lost, with gratitude for the life that remained? And how does a couple move forward together in their search for hope, rather than letting indefinable loss drive them apart?

Hit Hard is the true story of the McLeods’ journey through ambiguous loss–both having and not having their son. It’s the story of a family who faced unexpected heartbreak, a story that offers us all glimpses of how we can pick up the pieces, redefine expectations, and trust God for hope in the midst of unresolved pain.

Amazon * B&N * Kobo * BAM

Praise

Guest Post

Hit Hard: One Family’s Journey of Letting Go of What Was–and Learning to Live Well with What Is

by Tammy McLeod

I wrote Hit Hard seven years after my sixteen-year-old son suffered a traumatic brain injury playing football and became severely disabled for life. After a year of trying dozens of interventions, it was clear that Zach wasn’t going to have a full recovery. I started reading grief books, but they didn’t connect with me. My son didn’t die, but he wasn’t the same.

Meanwhile, the different ways that my husband and children dealt with our loss torqued the relationships within our family. I asked several colleagues and friends for recommendations for books that addressed the type of loss we were experiencing. Finding none, I finally called the librarian at Zach’s rehab hospital to see if he could recommend any books or resources for people dealing with our kind of loss.

The following day the librarian said that the name of the type of loss we were dealing with was ambiguous loss, and he sent two articles by Pauline Boss. I read them and ordered her book. When it arrived I devoured it; finally I felt understood.

At that time I was in graduate school working on a degree in spiritual formation. I decided to write a research paper on the topic. As I processed this research with one of my professors, she told me, “There is a book here.” She planted the seed.

I was compelled by two factors. First, I needed to figure this out for my own sanity and for the survival of our marriage and family. Second, I wanted to write the book that I wish someone could have given to me a year after Zach’s injury—a book that named the type of loss with which I was dealing, that validated my pain, and that helped me better navigate the ambiguity and stresses of this kind of loss.

The book never would have been written without the enthusiastic support of my professor. She offered to be my supervisor for two self-directed grad school courses. The writing assignment for the first course was the book proposal and the second course the first few chapters of the book. For another class assignment, my husband and I attended a writing conference where we pitched the book.

Interestingly, the agent who chose to represent us, the contact at the publishing house who bought the book, and the collaborative writer who got our book in its final form, all had their own personal experiences with ambiguous loss. We saw from the beginning how ubiquitous ambiguous loss is. People wanted to see the book become a reality because it addressed one of the greatest felt needs in their own lives—coping with an ambiguous loss.

Writing the book helped me process the pain of the loss. Through many tears I wrote scene after scene. Writing not only helped me to connect more deeply with my losses, but also helped me to see the good coming out of the tragedy.

Second, writing together helped Pat and I see more clearly why we were having conflict in ambiguous loss, and that led to the resolution of some of the conflict. Consequently, writing the book helped us grow closer in our marriage.

Writing also helped me find my voice in the chaos. We both wrote from our own perspective, and readers enjoyed seeing the ways two people looked at things differently and how our marriage survived.

We also had one of our young-adult sons read the first draft of our book and suggest edits. He encouraged us to be more authentic in our writing, and working together on the book drew us closer to him also.

When our publisher asked for a second draft with more transparency, it helped us be more honest about our emotions.

Last, writing the book helped me see that God could use the tragedy we went through to help others. Hearing people talk about how the book helped them was encouraging.

I hope:

that people feel validated in their ambiguous loss and are relieved to learn that their loss has a name.

that Hit Hard will stimulate readers to be gentle with themselves and their loved ones as they journey through the world of ambiguous loss.

that it will help repair marriages and other relationships that have been torqued by loss.

that readers are inspired by Zach’s life—one full of joy and still loving God and people though he has suffered much loss.

that readers learn to grieve their losses better.

that readers learn skills that help them become more resilient in ambiguous loss.

that readers come to know God for the first time, come back to God, or stay near God.

that readers find hope.

About the Authors

Pat and Tammy McLeod serve as Harvard Chaplains for Cru, an interdenominational Christian ministry. Tammy is also the Director of College Ministry at Park Street Church in Boston. She received her MA in Spiritual Formation from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Pat holds an MA in Theological Studies from the International School of Theology and an MA in Science & Religion and a Ph.D. in Practical Theology from Boston University. They are founding members of the Mamelodi Initiative in the township of Mamelodi, South Africa—a project that connects Harvard students with at-risk youth in a mentoring and educational program to prepare them for college. Pat and Tammy, certified instructors for Interpersonal Communication Programs, Inc., have been married for more than three decades and are parents to four grown children. They co-authored the book Hit Hard: One Family’s Journey of Letting Go of What Was and Learning to Live Well with What Is in which they share their journey into the world of ambiguous loss that began after their son suffered a traumatic brain injury playing football. Zach’s story received media coverage by ABC, NBC, CBS, and NPR. Recently they started COVID-19 Conversations on their website hoping to help others be resilient in ambiguous loss.

Website * Facebook * Instagram

The Hasidic Rebbe’s Son (A Becks Ruchinsky Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Perricot Publishing (March 30, 2021)
Number of Pages – 318 pages

Synopsis

Boca Raton reporter Becks Ruchinsky is stunned when her son, Gabe, brings an ultra-Orthodox friend home from college and asks her to hide him. Six days later, his body is found floating in a canal. When police deem his death an accident, Becks launches her own inquiry—a journey that takes her from secretive Hasidic enclaves to the seedy underbelly of South Beach’s glitzy club scene—to find his killer. What she discovers jeopardizes her son’s life and challenges her religious conviction.

 

The Hasidic Rebbe’s Son is an intriguing and compulsively readable mystery that contrasts the beauty of Hasidic tradition with the unbending rules that may lead to desperation and murder.

Guest Post

This is my brain on music

Joan Lipinsky Cochran

Author, The Hasidic Rebbe’s Son

One of the biggest challenges I encounter as a writer is staying focused. That is, keeping my butt glued to the chair so I can write. Some days, I’d rather do anything – wash dishes, run the washing machine, sweep the kitchen – than tap at my keyboard. And I’m not alone. I’ve heard that writers who can’t walk their dogs to procrastinate tend to have very neat homes.

The one thing that does seem to work, though, is practicing the violin. I’m no Itzhak Pearlman or Joshua Bell or even on a par with the fictional sleuth Sherlock Holmes, but it does seem to help me control the mental chatter that jams my brain.  It’s kind of like sleeping and dreaming, in that while you’re doing one thing—practicing—your subconscious is taking over and working out problems. I’ve learned, not surprisingly, that what I play on the violin matters in that its pace and tone influence what I’m writing.

For example, playing Irish music is like drinking lots of coffee. Pieces like Whiskey Before Breakfast and Swallowtail Jig are fast paced and involve a broad range of notes, which gets me hyped up for those high powered scenes when my protagonist is being pursued. Those songs always get my blood running and my heart beating. I played them as I was writing the two chase scenes in The Hasidic Rebbe’s Son as well as the end of the mystery when the stakes grow higher and higher.

Early on in the book, when I wrote about a character racing through the subway to escape his pursuer, I turned to a more technical and elaborate classical piece. Bachs Double Violin Concerto in D Minor. I’ve never played it well and find it to be physically demanding and frustrating work. It’s one of those pieces that makes me want to throw down the violin and stalk out of the room. I like to think the frustration I feel with that concerto is reflected a young Hasidic man’s mental state as he struggles to escape from a hoodlum and figure out his next step to freedom.

Fortunately, I can back away from the frustration I struggle with while trying to master classical composition by turning to one of my favorite  Irish tunes, called Shebeg and Shemore. Its origins are unclear but it is one of those pieces that every Irish musician insists on learning. It’s peaceful and uplifting, with a hint of longing, and is perfect when writing a slow or romantic interlude or when I want to slow down the pace of a novel. I played it at the point in The Hasidic Rebbe’ Son when my protagonist Becks and her husband Daniel are making an honest attempt to resolve their difficulties. Similarly, The Butterfly is a haunting Irish melody perfectly suited for writing scenes where Becks needs to sit down and think things out. The pace is slow and steady and perfect when a stymied Becks needs to employ her “little grey cells.”

I hope you enjoy the tunes . . . and my recent release, The Hasidic Rebbe’s Son. If you like it please post a review on your favorite social media.

About the Author

Joan Lipinsky Cochran is a South Florida-based writer whose crime and mystery novels focus on subcultures of American Judaism. In her latest novel, The Hasidic Rebbe’s Son, her protagonist is compelled to explore the glitzy South Beach nightclub scene and the secretive world of Hasidic Judaism to find a killer. It is the second in The Becks Ruchinsky Mystery Series. The first, The Yiddish Gangster’s Daughter, is the story of a woman whose world is upended – and life threatened – when she discovers her father was a member of the Jewish mafia.

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Instagram

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Corpse Who Knew Too Much (A Food Blogger Mystery) 
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Publisher: Kensington (September 29, 2020)
Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages

Synopsis

Food blogger Hope Early takes on a cold case that’s heating up fast . . .

Building on her recipe for success with her food blog, Hope at Home, Hope is teaching her first blogging class at the local library in Jefferson, Connecticut. She’s also learning about podcasts, including a true-crime one called Search for the Missing, hosted by Hope’s childhood friend, Devon Markham. Twenty years ago on Valentine’s Day, right here in Jefferson, Devon’s mom disappeared and was never found. Finally Devon has returned to solve the mystery of what happened to her mother—and she asks Hope to help.

The next day Hope discovers Devon’s apartment has been ransacked. Her laptop with the research on her mother’s cold case is missing, and Devon is nowhere to be found. When her friend’s body is later discovered in a car wreck, Hope is convinced it’s no accident. Clearly, Devon was too close to the truth, and the cold-blooded killer is still at large in Jefferson. Now it’s up to Hope to find the guilty party—before the food blogger herself becomes the next subject of another true-crime podcast . . .

Includes Recipes from Hope’s Kitchen!

Amazon – B&N –  Kensington – Kobo – Google Play

Guest Post

My Cold Case Obsession

by Debra Sennefelder

There were two inspirations for writing THE CORPSE WHO KNEW TOO MUCH. The first was my fascination with podcasts, and the second was my interest in cold cases.

I’m not sure where the interest in cold cases comes from. No one close to me has been a victim criminal case gone cold. Perhaps it’s the intrigue of an unsolved mystery. Or, maybe it’s the question of how a person can be here one day and gone the next with no one knowing what happened. That’s the question I explored in THE CORPSE WHO KNEW TOO MUCH.

Over the years, I’ve attended several writing conferences. The lineup of workshops ranged from topics of craft, research, publishing, and marketing. I always checked the research track first, hoping there was one on cold cases. If there’s one, I’m there in the front-row seat, taking notes and asking questions.

There was one conference where the afternoon session was led by the detective in charge of cold cases in his police department. He methodically went through how three cold cases were solved. It was fascinating to see how after decades, the truth surfaces and criminals finally face justice. His presentation was engaging, which left me with a list of follow-up questions. He graciously answered all my questions after the workshop. The next year when I attended the conference, I was disappointed that there wasn’t a similar workshop.

I understand that not every conference has workshops about cold cases which means I find myself tuning into television shows that focus on the topic. My favorite is Cold Case Justice. I’m glued to the television for the whole hour. What strikes me is how very ordinary all the people involved in the cases are. It reinforces that any one of us could be in the same situation given a series of unforeseeable events. I also watch a lot of ID channel for real-life case reviews, and one of my favorite television shows is Cold Case. Every now and again, I get to catch a rerun episode.

As an author, I find myself exploring one question repeatedly in my books – how well do you really know people. When the detective at the conference reviewed one of his cold cases, we learned that a woman had an important piece of information she never revealed, and that had led to an arrest. That woman was someone’s friend, daughter, possibly sister, or mother, and I’m curious if anyone in her life had suspected she held the key to solving a murder.

Are you fascinated by cold cases? If so, is there a case you’re particularly intrigued with? Let me know in the comments.

About the Author

Debra Sennefelder, the author of the Food Blogger Mystery series and the Resale Boutique Mystery series, is an avid reader who reads across a range of genres, but mystery fiction is her obsession. Her interest in people and relationships is channeled into her novels against a backdrop of crime and mystery. When she’s not reading, she enjoys cooking and baking and as a former food blogger, she is constantly taking photographs of her food. Yeah, she’s that person.

Born and raised in New York City, she now lives and writes in Connecticut with her family. She’s worked in pre-hospital care, retail and publishing. Her writing companions are her adorable and slightly spoiled Shih-Tzus, Susie and Billy.

She is a member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, Women’s Fiction Writers Association, and Romance Writers of America.

Website * Facebook * Goodreads * Instagram

It Happened in Tuscany by Gail Mencini

Adult Fiction (18+), 408 pages

Mainstream Fiction, Historical Fiction

Publisher: Capriole Group

Release date: Feb 18 2020

Synopsis

From the multiple-award-winning author of To Tuscany with Love comes a captivating story of the epic tug of war between honor and duty, the irrepressible power of love, and the concept of family.

In 1945, Will Mills and his fellow soldiers in the 10th Mountain Division scaled Italy’s treacherous Riva Ridge in the frigid night to break through the nearly impenetrable German line of defense. Severely wounded, Will was rescued by Italian partisans and one, a beautiful girl, tended his injuries until he had the strength to rejoin the U.S. troops.

Tormented and haunted by his decisions and actions during wartime, Will knows he has unfinished missions in Italy to complete. The passage of time and years of carrying this unfulfilled need have molded Will into a bitter, angry man.

Seventy-five years later, Will’s spunky thirty-two-year-old neighbor, Sophie Sparke, faces disaster in her life. Everything is going wrong—her job, her love life, even her dog. Part of the problem is that confident and fiercely independent Sophie lets her quick mouth get her into trouble.

Grouchy, mean-spirited Will finagles Sophie into traveling with him to Tuscany to find the partisan who saved his life. Will also secretly hopes to confront the demons his wartime actions created. Sophie and Will comb enchanting Tuscan hill towns on an improbable and unfolding mission with few clues to aid them. Will’s passionate tenacity drives their quest and in the process exposes their darkest secrets. The journey alters the course of their lives, and Will and Sophie find more than they had imagined in the hills of Tuscany.

Amazon ~ Audible

B&N ~ IndieBound ~ Apple

Guest Post

Gail joins us today and I love the topic – book themed parties!!!  What is even better is the book is set in the 1980s which were my high school and college years. I loved that decade and even had a party with that theme one year. There are some great suggestions so when the world opens back up, have a party. Or host it on a video call, that could be fun too.

Tips for Hosting a Book-Themed Party

By Gail Mencini

Have you ever been to a Great Gatsby party or wedding? Often books can provide a theme for parties and events, book clubs, and reading groups. My two Tuscany novels, To Tuscany with Love and It Happened in Tuscany, are examples of books that provide fun themes for parties.

Party themes for To Tuscany with Love:

1. I set the novel’s college years in the 1980s, which is a fun theme period.
2. Dress in the clothing styles worn in the 1980s and serve popular food from that decade.
3. Have a costume that reflects a 1980s song, movie, or artist.
4. Host an Italian dinner party, with Tuscan food and wine. You can find recipe and wine ideas on my website and in my novels.
5. Host a wine tasting party, using the wines mentioned in To Tuscany with Love.

Party themes for It Happened in Tuscany:

1. Will fought in Italy during World War II and trained at Camp Hale in the Colorado Rocky Mountains.
2. Dress in World War II era clothing and serve food served during that time period.
3. Wear ski clothing, clothes suitable for a snowshoe hike, or clothing one would wear to winter climb a mountain (in any time period) and serve après ski food and drink: cheese, Court Bouillon, and chocolate fondues, gourmet and/or spiked hot chocolate, and other warm drinks such as Irish Coffee and Hot Apple Cider.

2. Host an Italian dinner party, with Tuscan food and wine. You can find recipe and wine ideas on my website and in my novels.
3. Host a wine tasting party, using the wines mentioned in It Happened in Tuscany.

For either book, you can make a playlist of 1980s, World War II era, or Italian music with American or Italian artists for an authentic backdrop to the party. Your party invitation can include a copy of the book you’re basing your party on, so all of your guests can read or look at the book in advance!

About the Author

Gail Mencini is the acclaimed author of It Happened in Tuscany and To Tuscany with Love, both of which are Denver Post #1 bestsellers and award winners. Gail grew up in DeWitt, Nebraska, graduated from Wartburg College with a BA in Accounting and Economics, and earned a master of taxation degree from the University of Denver. A frequent visitor to Tuscany and a homegrown gourmet cook, Gail has toured Italy by car, train, bus, Vespa, and foot. She lives in Colorado with her husband.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

Instagram ~ Pinterest ~ Goodreads

Giveaway

Win 1 of 5 copies of IT HAPPENED IN TUSCANY (choice of signed print, ebook, or audiobook)

or the GRAND PRIZE (book plus high-quality canvas bag)

(6 winners total) (USA only) (ends Apr 9)

a Rafflecopter giveaway