MAGNOLIA BLUFF

 

CRIME CHRONICLES

 

Seasons 1 & 2

 

by

 

The Underground Authors

 

 

Scroll down for a giveaway!

 

 

 

 

 

Each stand-alone book in this multi-author crime novel series is set in the fictitious, beautiful little Texas Hill Country town of Magnolia Bluff. Each author writes in their preferred sub-genre to allow readers to experience humor, dark dilemmas, suspense, romance, thrills, and spills — told through good storytelling that will keep readers awake past their bedtime, trying to find out whodunit.

Season three of The Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles begins in January 2024. Stay tuned.

 

Purchase the Books

 

 

 

 

JJ and Jo find the ideal spot to escape their busy work lives—Magnolia Bluff offers Flower Bed & Breakfast, a quaint country destination within the beautiful Texas Hill Country.

They pull up to the picturesque building only to discover a crowd of citizens anxiously awaiting a special podcast created by a group of local women to start. Flower B&B is the sponsor of today’s show in this multi-day series. The couple works through the human log jam. As they check in, they learn that a cyber-attack may prevent the show from airing.

JJ, a technology guru, is convinced by Jo to help the group meet their broadcast promise. While he’s working on the issue, Jo spots a girl in the crowd with fear in her eyes who flashes the international help sign. The teenager vanishes into the throng. Fearful young people signaling for help strikes too close to home for Jo.

Their romantic vacation becomes a journey from one crisis to the next as these vacationers help the evangelizing ladies even as risks multiply. Threats expand to include all the podcasters, the show location owners, and suspected missing teens.

 

 

 

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Read for Free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

 

 

 

Meet JJ and Jo, a Brazilian super couple that has found their way to Magnolia Bluff. It is a good thing, too, because they have stumbled onto a mystery that leads to uncovering a human trafficker.

This series is unique. There are multiple authors writing this series, and they all use the town and characters. Each book adds an additional character and brings in new aspects of this tiny hamlet. The main location of this book is the Flower B&B, where JJ and Jo had planned to relax and unwind from their stressful lives, but hackers trying to bring down a local podcast called for JJ’s expertise as a cybersecurity specialist. Jo may be a supermodel, but she has experience as someone who was caught up in a trafficking situation, and not in a good way. However, that allows her to connect with the young women they rescue and create a bond with them.

I enjoyed the humor, tension from the neighbor (aka the trafficker), and watching JJ and Jo fall deeper in love with each other. The interactions with the townspeople are what I love to see in a small town. Caring, nosy, and welcoming to those who want to be a part of the community.

While there isn’t a murder to solve, there is danger that abounds thanks to these criminals in town. I really enjoyed watching the story unfold and good winning over evil.

We give the book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JJ and Jo learn privacy doesn’t exist for them. They return to Magnolia Bluff to check on their friends and recapture the small-town anonymity.  In Magnolia Bluff, no one suspects their fame.

They discount the status as urban legends in favor of acceptance and a quiet, peaceful life. After all, a supermodel needs time and space to recharge between jobs. A geek wants time to adore his wife.

• Does Magnolia Bluff hold the answers to their prayers?
• Will their desires get clouded by a hidden secret?

Past, present, and future collide in a perfect storm no one expected. JJ and Jo take action to uncover the truth. Chief Tommy Jager likes them, but he feels they’re a lightning rod for trouble and disruption.

Who will live or die to prevent the truth from being exposed? The answers may be in the graveyard with the fresh flowers on the gravestone.

 

 

 

Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

I picked up this book to read not long after I finished The Flower Enigma. This is a continuation of JJ and Jo’s life and foray into Magnolia Bluff, Texas. This is a year or so later, and JJ and Jo are celebrating their one year anniversary. They decided to revisit Magnolia Bluff and Flower B&B. A lot has happened in this town, and the young women they rescued in the previous book are now living happier lives.

JJ and Jo have decided they want to purchase a vacation home in this little town. I can’t blame them; I want to live in this town too. However, purchasing the property can be a little bit tricky. Plus, there are signs of tampering. Why? What secrets does this property hold?

I feel bad that JJ and Jo never get to have a relaxing vacation when they visit Magnolia Bluff. They are thrust into helping to solve crimes. They do have some great sleuthing skills and are able to uncover information to assist the police in solving a few mysteries. Jo turns out to have a wicked backhand when handling a skillet. There are several scenes that made me laugh tied to that skillet.

While I had my suspicions about a character or two, I wasn’t sure why. There was just something off. Once all was revealed, it made a lot of sense.

I enjoyed all of the descriptions of the town and surrounding area. The descriptions were on point, and I could envision the scene in my mind. If it doesn’t make you want to travel to the Hill Country, I don’t know what will.

This story is full of rich characters, humor, and suspense. A nice addition to the Magnolia Bluff Chronicles series.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charles Breakfield is a 25+ year technology expert in security, networking, voice, and anything digital. He enjoys writing, studying World War II history, travel, and cultural exchanges. He also enjoys wine tastings, wine-making, Harley riding, cooking extravaganzas, and woodworking.

Rox Burkey is a 25+ year applied technology professional who excels at optimizing technology and business investments for customers worldwide with a focus on optimized customer experiences. She writes white papers and documents with a marked preference for fiction.

Together they create award-winning stories that resonate with males and females, young and experienced adults, and bring a fresh new view to technology possibilities today.

 

 

Series Social Media

 

 Website ◆ Facebook◆ Twitter ◆ YouTube

 

 

Rox Burkey Social Media

 

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GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!

 

THREE WINNERS:

 

1^st: $25 Amazon gift card

 

2^nd & 3^rd: eBook bundles of first 18 books in the series

 

(US only; ends midnight, CST, 12/8/23)

 

 

 

 

 

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway
 

 

 

Visit the Lone Star Literary Life Tour Page

 

For direct links to each post on this tour, updated daily,

 

or visit the blogs directly:

 

11/27/23	Boys’ Mom Reads	10 Million Ways to Die	Review
11/27/23	Reading by Moonlight	Death Wears a Crimson Hat	Review
11/27/23	Hall Ways	Series Spotlight
11/28/23	The Plain-Spoken Pen	Death in the Absence of Rain	Review
11/28/23	StoreyBook Reviews	Eulogy in Black and White	Review
11/28/23	LSBBT Blog	Series Spotlight
11/29/23	Forgotten Winds	The Great Peanut Butter Conspiracy	Review
11/29/23	Carpe Diem Chronicles	Only the Good Die Young	Spotlight
11/29/23	It’s Not All Gravy	When Bad Things Happen to Good Mice	Review
11/30/23	Rox Burkey Blog	You Won’t Know How. . .or When	Review
12/01/23	StoreyBook Reviews	The Flower Enigma	Review
12/01/23	Writing and Music	The Killer Enigma	Review
12/02/23	Reading by Moonlight	Men Lying Dead in a Field	Spotlight
12/02/23	The Clueless Gent	The Shine from a Girl in the Lake	Review
12/03/23	Jennie Reads	The Dewey Decimal Dilemma	Review
12/03/23	Forgotten Winds	The Dog Gone Diamond Dilemma	Review
12/04/23	Chapter Break Blog	Justice	Spotlight
12/04/23	The Plain-Spoken Pen	Bye Baby Bye	Review
12/05/23	Shelf Life Blog	Texas Summers are Murder	Sneak Peek
12/05/23	The Book’s Delight	Born and Bred Texan	Review
12/06/23	It’s Not All Gravy	Who Killed Lilly Paine?	Review
12/07/23	Hall Ways	Second Chances	Review
12/08/23	The Page Unbound	A Chance of a Ghost	Sneak Peek

 

 

 

 

blog tour services provided by

 

 

 

MAGNOLIA BLUFF

 

CRIME CHRONICLES

 

Seasons 1 & 2

 

by

 

The Underground Authors

 

 

Scroll down for a giveaway!

 

 

 

 

 

Each stand-alone book in this multi-author crime novel series is set in the fictitious, beautiful little Texas Hill Country town of Magnolia Bluff. Each author writes in their preferred sub-genre to allow readers to experience humor, dark dilemmas, suspense, romance, thrills, and spills — told through good storytelling that will keep readers awake past their bedtime, trying to find out whodunit.

Season three of The Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles begins in January 2024. Stay tuned.

 

Purchase the Books

 

 

 

 

Death Stalks a Small Town.

Magnolia Bluff waits.
With apprehension.
With dread.
With terror.
May twenty-third is coming.
Somebody always dies on May twenty-third.
Why?
No one knows.
A killer walks in the shadows.
The killer is ready to strike again.

 

 

 

Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This mystery is a little different from other books that I have read. The protagonist, Graham Huston, is a man of few words, and it is evident from his writings and his speech. He doesn’t believe in using flowery language to describe anything. He writes in short, concise sentences, yet he gets his message across. Scattershot journalism is how they refer to it in the book. It is almost like reading poetry with short sentences. However, at the same time, the story feels jerky, at least until you get used to the author’s writing style. I have seen some refer to it as bullet prose; they wouldn’t be wrong.

Graham is a man with a troubled past. It takes us some time to learn why he has come to Magnolia Bluff. Once we do learn these facts, we can feel the weight on his shoulders and the burden he has been carrying. He didn’t plan to stay in town, but a job cleaning in the newspaper office led to his investigation into the May Twenty Third killings. Who is killing these people? What is the connection? And, of course, who is doing the killing? The answer will surprise you.

I enjoyed trying to decipher the clues along with Graham. There aren’t many until he stumbles across the final clue to close the case. Once I gleaned enough information, I started to suspect one person. Of course, I was wrong, but for another reason. However, the clues didn’t end there, and while I suspected what that last clue might be, I wasn’t 100% sure it was the right answer.

I found the characters engaging. They were all typical of a small town, but that isn’t a bad thing. Everyone knows everyone else’s business, so watch what you do, or you will end up in the paper!

At the end of the day, there was justice and peace for those who needed it.

I have wanted to read this series for some time. This is the second book in the series, but you don’t need to read them in order, but it might help. I’ll let you know once I work my way through the rest. We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Caleb Pirtle III was the author of more than eighty books. Pirtle was a graduate of The University of Texas in Austin and became the first student at the university to win the National William Randolph Hearst Award for feature writing. Several of his books and his magazine writing have received national and regional awards.

Pirtle was a newspaper reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and served ten years as the travel editor for Southern Living Magazine. He was editorial director for a Dallas custom publisher for more than twenty-five years. Pirtle passed away in August, 2023.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!

 

THREE WINNERS:

 

1^st: $25 Amazon gift card

 

2^nd & 3^rd: eBook bundles of first 18 books in the series

 

(US only; ends midnight, CST, 12/8/23)

 

 

 

 

 

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway
 

 

 

Visit the Lone Star Literary Life Tour Page

 

For direct links to each post on this tour, updated daily,

 

or visit the blogs directly:

 

11/27/23	Boys’ Mom Reads	10 Million Ways to Die	Review
11/27/23	Reading by Moonlight	Death Wears a Crimson Hat	Review
11/27/23	Hall Ways	Series Spotlight
11/28/23	The Plain-Spoken Pen	Death in the Absence of Rain	Review
11/28/23	StoreyBook Reviews	Eulogy in Black and White	Review
11/28/23	LSBBT Blog	Series Spotlight
11/29/23	Forgotten Winds	The Great Peanut Butter Conspiracy	Review
11/29/23	Carpe Diem Chronicles	Only the Good Die Young	Spotlight
11/29/23	It’s Not All Gravy	When Bad Things Happen to Good Mice	Review
11/30/23	Rox Burkey Blog	You Won’t Know How. . .or When	Review
12/01/23	StoreyBook Reviews	The Flower Enigma	Review
12/01/23	Writing and Music	The Killer Enigma	Review
12/02/23	Reading by Moonlight	Men Lying Dead in a Field	Spotlight
12/02/23	The Clueless Gent	The Shine from a Girl in the Lake	Review
12/03/23	Jennie Reads	The Dewey Decimal Dilemma	Review
12/03/23	Forgotten Winds	The Dog Gone Diamond Dilemma	Review
12/04/23	Chapter Break Blog	Justice	Spotlight
12/04/23	The Plain-Spoken Pen	Bye Baby Bye	Review
12/05/23	Shelf Life Blog	Texas Summers are Murder	Sneak Peek
12/05/23	The Book’s Delight	Born and Bred Texan	Review
12/06/23	It’s Not All Gravy	Who Killed Lilly Paine?	Review
12/07/23	Hall Ways	Second Chances	Review
12/08/23	The Page Unbound	A Chance of a Ghost	Sneak Peek

 

 

 

 

blog tour services provided by

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

Laurel Grant works as the social media manager for Buckeye State of Mind, an Ohio tourism magazine and website. She most definitely does not run a farm . . . but one tiny misunderstanding leads her boss, Gilbert, to think she owns her twin sister Holly’s farm just outside of Columbus. Laurel only handles the social media for the farm, but she’s happy to keep her little white lie going if it means not getting fired—she cannot be jobless again.

And keep it going she must when Gilbert, recently dumped by his wife, invites himself over for the farm’s big Christmas Eve Eve dinner (as advertised on Meadow Rise Farm’s Instagram, thanks to Laurel herself). Laurel immediately goes into panic mode to figure out how she can trick Gilbert into thinking she’s basically the Martha Stewart of rural Ohio and keep her job in the process.

Laurel and Holly come up with the perfect plan—all Laurel has to do is pretend to own the farm for one dinner. But Laurel shows up at the farm to find an unwelcome guest is waiting: Max Beckett, her nemesis since Holly’s wedding. The annoyingly attractive man she hates will be posing as Laurel’s husband just for the evening, but when a snowstorm traps them all for the entire weekend, Laurel is going to have to figure out how to survive with her job and dignity intact. Whatever the case, this promises to be the most eventful Christmas in ages. . . .

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Kobo * Bookshop

 

 

Review

 

This was an amazing romantic comedy. I laughed through nearly the whole book with the quick wit and comments from all the characters. They all added to the humor and delight of the book.

Laurel is a hot mess but a loveable one. She somehow manages to get herself into a situation with her boss, and what ensues is just plain fun. There are awkward moments, but it just adds to the depth of the story.

There is tension between Laurel and Max, her pretend husband for this caper. This is due primarily to a situation that happened years ago that was never resolved. Sometimes, what we overhear isn’t the whole story. I loved the dynamic of these two, her trying to teach Max to love Christmas and Max trying to hide his true feelings for Laurel.

The book is peppered with goats, brothers with big mouths, and good, clean fun. If you want a book that will cheer you up or lighten your mood, this is one you will want to check out.

We give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Kerry Winfrey writes romantic comedies for adults and teens. She is the author of Waiting for Tom Hanks, Not Like the Movies, Very Sincerely Yours, and Just Another Love Song, as well as two young adult novels. She lives with her family in the middle of Ohio.

 

Website * Facebook * Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

Sunny, Arianna and Molly are having three very different but equally terrible Christmases. Sunny is a newlywed with two new stepkids who want nothing to do with her; Arianna is newly divorced and hates having to send her daughter off to spend the holiday with her dad; for Molly, nothing is new, but her job at the post office is getting very, very old. The whole Christmas season has been a bust all around.

But Sunny and Arianna have a wild idea: What if they had a Christmas do-over in January? February? On Saint Patrick’s Day? Christmas all year long—what could that look like?

As these three determined women chase the perfect holiday through twelve months of cooking disasters, over-the-top festivity, and lots of laughter and tears, they’ll discover perfection is way overrated.

 

 

Amazon | B&N | HarperCollins

 

Target | Harlequin | Walmart

 

 

Review

 

Sigh, this novel has all the feels – from joy to anger to sadness and love. This band of friends is there through thick and thin, the ups and downs, which is what all true friends do. That isn’t to say they don’t have their disagreements or misunderstandings, but this trio represents what friendship should look like.

Arianna, Ava, and Sunny are fast friends. They have been dealt with their own share of problems, but I like how they help one another through those times. Whether it is ex-husbands that are the scourge of the earth or stepchildren that make life crazy. There are also mothers who bring a fresh perspective to their world.

After a rotten Christmas, they decide to celebrate Christmas each month. There is a theme for the month, but they still bring in the joy of Christmas, from giving gifts to wearing stocking hats and more. As the year went on, I enjoyed seeing the ups and downs of each woman and their families. Not every day or celebration was perfect, but they made it balanced and stepped up to support one another during some dark and sad times. There are many moments where I shed a tear or two, but that is the sign of good writing when it tugs on the emotions.

I don’t know if I had a favorite character or not, but I think Molly might top the list. She is Ava’s mother and has worked as a postal worker for many years. She has her eyes set on retirement when she hits 60. Will she make it? There are many unhappy customers at the post office, which we may have all experienced in our own towns, but this monthly Christmas project puts a new spin on how she addresses these people. Perhaps there is more to them than just a transaction. I think I connected to her because of her age, and while I haven’t gone through what she has gone through, I can appreciate her struggles and successes.

And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention there is a dog in here, too, Buster. He is adorable, and how could anyone not love him?

I was sad to see the book end but happy knowing there were so many positives that came out of this book. Be kind to one another; you never know what someone else is going through.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

Excerpt

 

Sunny Hollowell had planned a perfect day for her first Christ- mas as a wife and stepmom and it was a fail. Who was it that said something about the best-laid plans getting screwed up? Whoever it was, her mom liked to quote him a lot.

“The best-laid plans of mice and men,” her mom had begun when Sunny told her about the latest development as she and Dad walked in the door, presents in tow.

“And women,” Sunny had added before Mom could fin- ish. Women who were trying their best to be a good wife and mother, women who only wanted to bring two families to- gether for a memorable day.

The day was memorable all right, but not in the way Sunny had intended.

It all began at eight in the morning. Sunny had found a recipe online for a crescent roll breakfast pastry with a cherry filling shaped like a candy cane and, to her surprise and glee, it had actually turned out like the picture, ready for the kids to be dropped off by their mom at nine o’clock. She was laying it out on the family room coffee table for everyone to enjoy while they opened presents when the Weed called Travis to let him know that she wasn’t going to bring the kids over for the big day.

“What do you mean you’re still stuck in Spokane?” Travis had growled into his cell phone.

Sunny had watched the anger roll over his features like a breaking storm. Scratch two kids from the guest list. Tansy strikes again.

“You did this on purpose,” he’d accused.

Of course, Tansy would deny it. That was how she rolled. Mess with the ex and his new wife as much as possible but never let it look like you meant to. Was Tansy’s mother psychic when she named her daughter after a noxious weed?

“Well, thanks a lot,” Travis had growled. “Way to screw up Christmas for the kids.”

“Okay, what happened?” Sunny had asked after he ended the call and dumped his phone on the coffee table.

“She did it again, managed to screw us over,” he’d said, and slumped on the sofa. “She and Jared accidentally—” he held up exaggerated air quotes “—missed their flight home last night and are stuck at his parents’ place.”

“Can’t they get another flight out? There has to be something going out today.” Of course, by the time they got to Bremer- ton, Washington, breakfast and Christmas dinner would long be over.

“Not until tomorrow.”

Sunny had made a superhuman effort to blink back tears. Poor Travis was already upset about not getting to be with his kids. She didn’t need to make things worse by having a holi- day meltdown. But darn, she’d sure wanted to.

 

 

About the Author

 

USA Today and Publishers Weekly best-selling author Sheila Roberts has written over fifty books under various names, ranging from romance to self-improvement. Over three million books have been sold to date. Her humor and heart have won her a legion of fans, and her novels have been turned into movies for both the Lifetime and Hallmark channels. When she’s not out dancing with her husband or hanging out with her girlfriends, she can be found writing about those things near and dear to women’s hearts: family, friends, and chocolate.

 

Website * Facebook * BookBub * Instagram * Goodreads

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE OXYGEN FARMER

 

by

 

Colin Holmes

 

 

Science Fiction / Space Mystery

Publisher: CamCat Books

Date of Publication: December 5, 2023

Number of Pages: 338 pages

 

Scroll down for Giveaway!

 

 

 

 

After 35 years of living on the Moon, cranky old oxygen farmer Millennium Harrison has stumbled onto a hidden facility in the shadows of the Slayton Ridge Exclusion Zone with a radiation leak and a deadly secret. Mil’s discovery leads to the death of a young astronaut, sabotage, murder, and cover-ups that may go all the way to the Chief Administrator of the space agency. Unfortunately, she happens to be Mil’s estranged daughter, busy trying to secure her own legacy—the first international mission to Mars.

With time ticking down to a limited launch window, enemies, friends, and even family may do anything to ensure the truth doesn’t come out. Or will history finally catch up with a deadly scheme that has the potential to destroy the moon and eradicate all life on Earth? It seems the planet’s only hope is a cantankerous guy who never really liked those people in the first place.

 

 

 

 

 

CamCat Books │Amazon │ Bookshop.org │B&N

 

 

Praise

 

“An action-packed thriller perfect for fans of Andy Weir and Jack McDevitt.” —Kirkus Reviews

“This space mystery is a page-turner rooted in its convincing and compelling protagonists and their well-written relationships . . . SF fans will enjoy this rich novel full of good world building, mysterious space intrigue, and dry humor.” —Booklist

 

 

 

 

This book has the perfect balance of science fiction and suspense and is a book you will want to read, especially if you enjoy Star Trek and Space Force or really anything having to do with space. I have to admit that my husband has turned me onto Star Trek, and the concept of traveling through space is one that boggles the mind. But is a topic I am always willing to explore.

Set 50+ years in the future, Mil (short for Millennium) has been living on the moon, farming oxygen from the soil until he is told that someone else will be providing all of the oxygen for the moon and shuttles. On top of that, Mil has discovered a secret bunker that is in an exclusion zone. His curiosity about the bunker in a moon’s crater has all the markings of a conspiracy theory. What ensues is a search for the truth, evading those in authority, and trying to stay alive.

I wasn’t sure what to expect since this isn’t a genre I typically read. I found myself engaged in the story from the start. Mil may be a crusty old fella, but he isn’t stupid. He has had a hard life, and isolation on the moon wouldn’t be easy for many. That isolation also kept him from his children and grandchildren. Despite that, it is ironic that his daughter and granddaughter are both in the space field. One is willing to help him, the other not so much. Family! But you shouldn’t count Mil out; he is in the game and willing to do what he needs to do to uncover this secret. Or maybe it is just his curiosity.

The upside to this science fiction novel is that it is primarily set on the moon and Earth. There isn’t any world-building that has to be done other than a little bit on the moon. The characters are not perfect, and some are flawed, but there is depth to all of them.

I had a hard time putting this book down, and I certainly didn’t want it to end. I was invested in Mil and his discoveries. I thought about how I would react if I were in his shoes. I probably wouldn’t have the gumption that he has, but if I lived on the moon, I might be the same way. I do have to say that the first few times I saw the name Mil, my mind automatically went to the acronym for mother-in-law until I realized that it was short for Millennium.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before the pandemic, Colin Holmes toiled in a beige cubical as a mid-level marketing and advertising manager for an international electronics firm. A recovering advertising creative director, he spent far too long at ad agencies and freelancing as a hired gun in the war for capitalism.

As an adman, Holmes has written newspaper classifieds, TV commercials, radio spots, trade journal articles, and tweets. His ads have sold cowboy boots and cheeseburgers, 72-ounce steaks, and hazardous waste site clean-up services. He’s encountered fascinating characters at every turn.

Now, he writes novels, short stories, and screenplays in an effort to stay out of the way and not drive his far-too-patient wife completely crazy. He is an honors graduate of the UCLA Writers Program, a former board member of the DFW Writers Workshop, and serves on the steering committee of the DFW Writers Conference. He’s a fan of baseball, barbeque, fine automobiles, and unpretentious scotch.

 

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X (Twitter) ◆ BookBub ◆ Amazon ◆ Goodreads

 

 

 

CAMCAT BOOKS:

 

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GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!

 

THREE WINNERS:

 

Signed hardcover of THE OXYGEN FARMER

 

(US only; ends midnight, CDT, 11/22/23)

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

 

 

Visit the Lone Star Literary Life Tour Page

For direct links to each post on this tour, updated daily,

or visit the blogs directly:

 

11/13/23	The Clueless Gent	Review
11/13/23	Hall Ways Blog	BONUS Stop
11/14/23	Reading by Moonlight	Review
11/14/23	LSBBT Blog	BONUS Stop
11/15/23	Bibliotica	Review
11/16/23	Rebecca R. Cahill, Author	Review
11/17/23	It’s Not All Gravy	Review
11/18/23	Forgotten Winds	Review
11/19/23	Boys’ Mom Reads	Review
11/20/23	The Plain-Spoken Pen	Review
11/21/23	StoreyBook Reviews	Review
11/21/23	The Page Unbound	BONUS Stop
11/22/23	Chapter Break Book Blog	Review

 

 

 

 

blog tour services provided by

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

She has a loving husband and a successful career–who says you can’t have it all? Miranda Quinn is living her very best life… until she’s not. It’s been two years since her legal advice TV show was canceled, but the former Assistant District Attorney has rebounded with a late-night radio show, Miranda Nights . When her closest friend’s teenaged son gets arrested, Miranda tries to help but the evidence against him is overwhelming. Following a family member’s medical diagnosis, Miranda begins to wonder if her ‘happily ever after’ has been canceled as well. But the real trouble arrives when a persistent caller, desperate for Miranda’s attention, embarks on an all-out effort to get her to see the error of her ways. Threatening messages and slanderous social media posts escalate to break-ins and arson when a fanatical fan claims to be her only path to salvation. Miranda Nights is a fast-paced, witty story full of hidden dangers, with a strong and resilient woman at its core.

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Bookshop

 

Read for free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

Review

 

Miranda is the target of an unknown stalker who believes that she has something to repent for in her life. The stalker goes through the seven deadly sins in his attempt to achieve his goal with her. The targets are frightening, but luckily not harmful. However, that could change at any time. On top of dealing with this situation, she is also helping her best friend Tracey and her family through a potential sex offender situation with their 16-year-old son. It is one of those situations that is innocent but was blown up because of other certain factors. These are the suspense/thriller storylines in the book. But there is also Miranda’s nighttime online show, which talks about legal situations and offers resources for those who need help. She has it cushy since she has a studio in the basement of her home. However, the network wants her in Manhattan five days a week instead of doing two shows at her home. I know which I would prefer.

I loved this book. The mystery/suspense of the stalker kept me on the edge of my seat, not knowing when they would strike next. Then, it tugged at my heartstrings with Tracey’s family situation. Then there is the adoring husband, who is very supportive of everything she does. That is my kind of man! There is also the family connection with her father and his new wife. There are some tense moments when some health issues are uncovered. I am amazed that Miranda is able to hold everything together, considering everything that is happening in her life.

I had a hard time putting this book down, and while I had read the first book, it had been a few years, and I didn’t remember much about that one. So, although this is the second in a series, it could be read on its own since there are plenty of references to what happened in the first book to bring you up to speed.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Gail Ward Olmsted was a marketing executive and a college professor before she began writing fiction on a fulltime basis. A trip to Sedona, AZ inspired her first novel Jeep Tour. After three more novels: Driving on the Left, Guessing at Normal and Second Guessing, she began Landscape of a Marriage, a biographical work of fiction featuring landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, a distant cousin of her husband’s, and his wife Mary. Her latest, Miranda Writes, is a contemporary novel with a legal twist. She loves writing about quirky, wonderful women in search of a second chance at a happy ever after.

 

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Synopsis

 

When the Gimmelmans lose all their money in the 1987 Stock Market Crash, Barry Gimmelman takes his family in their vacation RV for a wild ride through America that leads to them becoming the most notorious bank robbers of the era.

Middle child Aaron watches as his family goes from a mild-mannered reform Jewish clan to having over a million dollars of stolen money stuffed in their RV’s cabinets while being pursued by the FBI and loan sharks. But it wasn’t always like that. His father Barry made a killing as a stockbroker, his mother Judith loved her collection of expensive hats, his older sister Steph was obsessed with pop stars, and little sister Jenny loved her stuffed possum, Seymour.

At first, the family steals from convenience and liquor stores, but when they hit a bank, they realize the talent they possess. The money starts rolling in and brings the family closer together where back at home, no one had any time for bonding due to their busy schedules. But Barry’s desire for more, more, more will take its toll on the Gimmelmans, and Aaron is forced into an impossible choice: turn against his father or let his family fall apart.

From Jersey, down to an Orthodox Jewish community in Florida, where they hide out, and up to California, The Great Gimmelmans goes on a madcap ride through the 1980s. Filled with greed and love and the meaning of religion and tradition until the walls of the RV and the feds start closing in on the family, this literary tale mixes equal parts of humor and pathos with thrills.

 

 

 

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Review

 

This ride through the 80s is filled with memories of the music and the simplicity of life. Growing up in the 80s, I enjoyed the trip down memory lane with a family who is dysfunctional, from the parents down to the children. Even the extended family have their own issues. But despite this, the family comes together to commit the craziest crime, robbing a bank.

This tale is told from Aaron’s point of view. He is the middle child, 12, and trying to make his mark in the family. When the family loses everything during the stock market crash of 1987, he seeks out to prove himself on their journey to Florida. He isn’t a perfect child, but he does care about his sisters. The youngest, Jenny, is a bit of a wild child. Even at that time, it was obvious that her parents didn’t know how to take care of her or seek help for her. Steph is also a bit of a wild child but in a different way. It is her hormones that drive her actions. There is a situation that happened that wasn’t surprising to me. It would ruin a few things, so I won’t tell you what. But if you read the book, you will figure it out right away, too.

The parents, Barry and Judith, are an example of what happens when you have too much money and not enough time for each other. The stock market crash changes that, but is it for the better? They may reconnect on one level, but is it a lasting connection?

The story is filled with flawed characters, but ones that have heart and are seeking a better way, at least most of them. It may not always be the best or right way, but it is definitely a reflection of them and the times. I appreciated how the story started with Aaron as an adult and his troubled teen on a road trip. Aaron has his child listen to the book he wrote, which happens to be about his life. You don’t realize that at first, but as the book is ending, it will all make sense. Some of the storylines are predictable, and if you grew up in the 80s, you will enjoy the music references and the simplicity of life without cell phones and the internet.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read, and we give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Lee Matthew Goldberg is the author of seven novels including THE ANCESTOR and THE MENTOR, currently in development as a film off his original script, and the YA series RUNAWAY TRAIN. He has been published in multiple languages and nominated for the Prix du Polar. After graduating with an MFA from the New School, his writing has also appeared in The Los Angeles Review of Books, The Millions, Vol. 1 Brooklyn, LitReactor, Monkeybicycle, Fiction Writers Review, Cagibi, Necessary Fiction, Hypertext, If My Book, Past Ten, the anthology Dirty Boulevard, The Montreal Review, The Adirondack Review, The New Plains Review, Underwood Press and others.

His pilots and screenplays have been finalists in Script Pipeline, Book Pipeline, Stage 32, We Screenplay, the New York Screenplay, Screencraft, and the Hollywood Screenplay contests. He is the co-curator of The Guerrilla Lit Reading Series and lives in New York City.

 

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COURTING MISS EMMA

 

The Hangman’s Daughters, Book 2

 

by

 

Linda Broday

 

 

Western / Clean & Wholesome / Sweet Romance / Historical Fiction

Publisher: Severn House

Date of Publication: November 7, 2023

Number of Pages: 203 pages

 

Scroll down for Giveaway!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Texas, 1868. Emma Taggart has finally found a place to belong – setting up Heaven’s Door orphanage with her sister Maura was a new beginning for her – and one she will do anything to protect.

When guarded ex-army man Stone Landry buys the neighboring land and moves in – camels and all – Emma’s world changes forever. He is an infuriating man who instantly gets under her skin – in ways she never dreamed possible, and despite herself, Emma starts to wonder if, just maybe, he is man enough to take on a Hangman’s daughter . . . But their newfound connection is quickly tested by violent night raids, kidnappings, and underhand tricks by powerful rancher Zeke Parker, who is intent on running them out of town and taking the land he deems to be his. Can Emma find enough courage to trust in Stone to give her the life, the family, she’s always dreamed of?

 

 

 

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Linda Broday knows how to bring the wild west to life with action, romance, and humor.

Emma is a character that you will admire; at least I did. She is strong, smart, and not afraid of holding her in any situation. She may have a tough life due to her father’s position, but that doesn’t mean she misses out on life. She has a fulfilling job running an orphanage. Sure, she dreams of having someone to call her own, but it is hard to find a man willing to look past her father. Enter Stone Landry. He is a former military man but has issues of his own. He isn’t prepared for Emma at all. She challenges him yet also entices him. He never expected to fall in love, but sometimes, love doesn’t care what you want and gives you what you need.

This may be the second in the series, but you don’t need to read the first to enjoy this book. I tend to read books in order that are a series, but I didn’t feel like I missed out on anything while enjoying Emma’s story. The story is filled with action when someone comes to try and claim the mission that houses Emma’s orphanage. Even back then, there were plenty of people trying to gain the advantage for financial gain. It isn’t just the mission they are trying to obtain but also the land around there, including several neighbors, Stone’s land, and Emma’s sister, Maura. I loved how they all banded together to fight off these thieves. Are they successful? You will have to read the book to find out.

The romance between Emma and Stone starts off slow. They have some miscommunication early on, which sets the tone, but over time, they are able to resolve their differences. I like that they challenge each other, and it isn’t an easily won affection for either party. They are both stubborn but sure of themselves and what they want from life and each other.

There is unexpected humor in this book when Emma comes up with various epitaphs for her tombstone. They vary based on the situation, but each time, they gave me a chuckle. The levity offsets the seriousness of the battle for the land.

There are some new characters added to the mix, including a new sister for Emma and Maura, Calista. Calista comes to the mission with a chip on her shoulder, but I enjoyed watching her slowly lose that chip and become a part of the family. There is also a lawyer, Dan, who offers a lot of sage advice and information that helps them in the end. There is also a young man, Vinny, whom Stone saves from a life in town with an abusive father. And we can’t forget Jubal, who brings a cannon to the party. Jubal is a hoot as a crusty older man who tends to hit on the ladies.

I recommend this series and really anything by this author! We give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of western romance novels and short stories. Watching TV westerns during my youth fed my love of cowboys and the old West and they still do. On a still day, I can often hear the voices of American Indians, Comancheros, and early cowboys whispering in the breeze here on the high West Texas plains. We refer to this land as “cowboy” country and men here still ride the range just as cowboys of old. My stories focus on family life and almost all have children.

 

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GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!

 

FOUR WINNERS:

 

1^st $25 Amazon gift card; 2^nd hardback copy of WINNING MAURA’S HEART;

 

3^rd eBook copy of COURTING MISS EMMA; 4^th audiobook of ONE SHOT AT LOVE.

 

(US only; ends midnight, CDT, 11/17/23)

 

 

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

 

 

 

Visit the Lone Star Literary Life Tour Page

 

For direct links to each post on this tour, updated daily,

 

or visit the blogs directly:

 

 

11/07/23	Rainy Days with Amanda	Review
11/07/23	Hall Ways Blog	BONUS Stop
11/08/23	Carpe Diem Chronicles	Review
11/08/23	LSBBT Blog	BONUS Stop
11/09/23	It’s Not All Gravy	Review
11/10/23	The Plain-Spoken Pen	Review
11/11/23	Reading by Moonlight	Review
11/12/23	Forgotten Winds	Review
11/13/23	StoreyBook Reviews	Review
11/14/23	The Page Unbound	Review
11/14/23	Boys’ Mom Reads	BONUS Stop
11/15/23	Chapter Break Book Blog	Review
11/16/23	Writing and Music	Review
11/16/23	Rox Burkey Blog	Review

 

 

 

 

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Synopsis

 

But not just any business. It’s the Golden Girls meet the Ghostbusters when four women find themselves in an unlikely career: Southeastern Paranormal Investigations. Ree Lane, a stylish widow, is more cynic than true believer, while her childhood chum, Elle Harper, has a knack for getting sensitive info with the help of her homemade pies. The preacher’s wife, Betsy Jones, can’t be seen with SPI unless she’s in her disguise as Nora, a psychic-in-training with a gift for Tarot. And the recently-returned-home Gillian Buchanan is a whiz at technology, especially of the supernatural sort.

Their first case lands on the doorstep when neighbor Doris Tucker is sure her prized vintage dolls are haunted. But there’s hardly time for ghost-hunting when the bank director’s wife mistakes SPI for a private eye venture. Now, they’re also hot on the trail of a misbehaving husband. It’s a wild ride as the sixty-something sleuths start digging into the past. But have the Ladies of SPI gone too far? And how far will Sutter go to keep its secrets dead and buried?

 

 

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Review

 

This was a delightful book! It is a mystery, but it is a soft mystery, maybe even a cozy. But the book is not short on action, friendship, and pie.

In this small southern town in Georgia, there is a band of women who come together to create SPI – Southern Paranormal Investigations. In doing so, they also happen to create a bond of friendship that they didn’t know that they needed. I don’t know if I have a favorite character because they all have a role to play in this novel. It might be Elle because she makes pies…and who doesn’t love a good pie? But then there is Betsy, who is trying to break out of the preacher’s wife role and dons a disguise to become Nora. Ree is the cautious one, or at least that is how I interpret her actions. She has to rope Elle in quite often since Elle is prone to go off script. But everyone needs a wacky friend like that. Last is Gillian. She is the serious one and very much into the paranormal and finding proof of their existence. She takes care of her mother, and I have to admit there are some funny scenes/conversations with her mom.

The mystery was intriguing. Actually, maybe I should say mysteries. There is their first paranormal case with the Tuckers. Is someone haunting their house, or is it something else? There is also a non-paranormal case that Elle gets them involved with regarding a potential cheating husband. There are many pieces that I figured out ahead of time for both of these cases, but there were a few that eluded me until the end. There are characters who make a change to their behavior that is very much needed. There are some high-tension moments near the end, but you will have to read the book to learn what those are.

I think the one thing that the men in this book need to learn is that they don’t hide their secrets very well.

There is a little bit of romance in the book, but not a lot. Several of the ladies are married, but Ree has a secret admirer in Ty. He is a friend and her lawyer, so I will be interested to see what happens with their relationship in future books.

And if you love dogs, there are a couple in the book. I hope we see many more in future installments.

This book was such an easy read. I flew through the pages and was sad when the book ended. But it looks like this is going to be a series, so I am very excited for future novels.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

There’s a great song, “I’ve Been Everywhere,” made popular by Johnny Cash (and a couple commercials). If you put the song in Georgia, it would be about Catherine C. Hall, starting when she moved to the Peach State at eight years old.

She grew up in Savannah, Georgia, where you can’t throw a stick without hitting a ghost. Even when she was a little girl, Savannah was known for its haunted history and she was hooked!

Broadcast Journalism hooked her as well, so she studied at Valdosta State University, way down in South Georgia, where it is the heat and the humidity. She worked in a few radio stations, but it was WNEX Radio in Macon that turned out to be life-changing. She met a cute deejay from Sandersville, Georgia, and married him a year later.

They moved above the Gnat Line (Oh, it’s real) to the Atlanta area, where they grew their family to two boys and a girl, and she took a turn in the teaching world. And then, whoosh! She met the half-century mark, wondering what to do. Maybe it was the merlot talking, but after years of reading mysteries, Catherine thought it was high time she wrote one. And she did; it was awful. (And way too short. Who knew readers expected 70,000 words?)

So she learned her craft, starting with flash fiction and then moving on to short fiction, where she won a few awards. She wrote essays that ended up in books like Chicken Soup for the Soul. She penned assorted humor columns and continued to freelance. And then, one day, she wrote another story that wasn’t exactly novel-length, but it wasn’t a short story, either. It was a children’s book.

She joined SCBWI, the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and had a wonderful career in children’s writing, including publishing six books. But in the midst of her last two book contracts, life changed unexpectedly when Catherine’s favorite deejay up and died.

When at last she wanted to write again, she heard four women of a certain age, each seeking purpose and joy in where they found themselves, which for them was a small town in Georgia called Sutter. For Catherine, it was at home, still in the Atlanta suburbs, revisiting the ghost stories of her youth and finally getting that mystery written. All 70,000 words of it!

 

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Synopsis

 

Hope Lyons’ husband ran through all their money and split Portland, Oregon, forcing Hope to sell her beloved Pie in the Sky bakery and move with her two children back to charming Hope Valley, her hometown. She has been working as a waitress and pinching pennies to get their lives back on track; however, when her children win KPRL’s Spirit of Christmas vacation contest, Hope worries about the extra expenses she will incur on such a trip and turns it down. Steve Waldren, the handsome KPRL sports anchor, is now of an age where he can’t afford to have a gap on his resume. His confidence is already shaky ever since his fiancée dumped him, claiming Steve would never reach his potential. When Steve’s boss dubs Steve to be Giveaway Santa, he’s forced to accept. Steve, as Santa, readily travels to Hope Valley to award the prize. But when Hope refuses it, he’s at a loss. His boss threatens to fire him if he doesn’t convince Hope to take it, and Steve does all he can to change her mind. But Hope can be stubborn, life can be a challenge, and Hope’s children can be unpredictable. Not to mention, the truth isn’t always what it seems. Will Hope and Steve find their happily ever after? It might take a holiday miracle.

 

 

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Review

 

This was a heartwarming story about overcoming the past and creating a new future. It also reminds us that there are families out there that need just a little help in getting by in this world.

Hope and her children have been dealt a raw hand when her husband/kid’s father decides he has had enough and takes off, leaving Hope holding everything. Hope is in a tough spot; she has to create a new life for them, pay all of his debts, and give up her dreams to forge ahead. I admire Hope for everything she deals with in this book. She is not perfect and makes some mistakes, but what person and parent doesn’t?

Steve is doing what he has done since college: sports commentary. He loves it and the statistics. But his life isn’t perfect either when his fiancee drops him, and his career is fleeting based on station management. It takes meeting Hope and experiencing Hope Valley for him to realize what is important in life.

An unsung character in this book is Lincoln, Steve’s brother. He is on the spectrum but is full of life and his rituals. I love the relationship he has with his brother. Of course, Lincoln doesn’t realize when certain things shouldn’t be said, but I love that naivety about him. Perhaps, if we were all like this a little bit, things would run smoother in this world.

There is a little bit of suspense in the book, but I won’t spoil that for you. There is definitely romance, and not just between Hope and Steve, but other characters.

This was a great book to escape into, and we give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Agatha Award-winning author Daryl Wood Gerber writes the nationally bestselling Cookbook Nook Mysteries, the Fairy Garden Mysteries, and the French Bistro Mysteries. As Avery Aames, she pens the popular Cheese Shop Mysteries. In addition, Daryl writes the Aspen Adams novels of suspense as well as stand-alone suspense. Daryl loves to cook, fairy garden, and read, and she has a frisky Goldendoodle who keeps her in line!

 

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