Posted in Book Release, Cozy, mystery, Spotlight on October 17, 2023

 

 

 

 

Spectral Revelations: A Karina Cardinal Mystery
Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Setting – Williamsburg, Virginia
Power to the Pen (October 5, 2023)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 285 pages

 

Synopsis

 

Is Karina’s missing aunt on vacation…or on the lam?

Karina is trying to keep her mind on getting a cosponsor for a bill, but it’s tough with her Mom blowing up her phone. By the time Karina finally stops hitting “ignore”, Mom is frantic. It appears Karina’s Aunt Vera has disappeared, fibbed to her employer about the reason for her absence, even abandoned her beloved cat, Nightshade—which is completely out of character. Karina would bet her favorite pair of designer shoes that Vera is in some kind of trouble.

However, when Karina hauls her cookies from D.C. to historic Williamsburg to search Vera’s house, she finds nothing suspicious. Except for a mischievous Civil War ghost who scares the bejesus out of her and keeps trashing Vera’s office. Until Karina realizes his seemingly random ectoplasmic tantrums have a purpose—revealing key evidence.

Something is definitely fishy, but the clues aren’t adding up. And as the spirit’s visitations become more urgent, Karina calls on reinforcements for help—her latest squeeze Rick Donovan and her sister Jillian. Because the cops are following faulty leads, which could put Vera on the wrong end of an arrest warrant … if she’s found alive.

International bestselling and award-winning author Ellen Butler presents book six in the Karina Cardinal mystery series! Fans of Elizabeth Peters and Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum will adore this gripping mystery adventure.

 

 

Amazon * B&NKobo

 

 

About the Author

 

Ellen Butler is the internationally bestselling author of the Karina Cardinal mystery series. Her experiences working on Capitol Hill and at a medical association in Washington, D.C., inspired the mystery-action series. Book critics call the Karina Cardinal mysteries “intelligent escapism” and “unputdownable adventures that will take readers on an electrifying yet light-hearted and humorous journey.” Butler also writes historical spy fiction. Her WWII spy novel, The Brass Compass, recently won a 2022 Speak Up Talk Radio Firebird Book Award for historical fiction. The second book in the duology, Operation Blackbird: A Cold War Spy Novel, is Butler’s latest historical fiction. The novel is inspired by true events and won a Next Generation Indie Book Award gold medal for historical fiction. Reviewers are calling it “riveting” and “a thrilling adventure.”

 

Website * Facebook * Instagram

 

Goodreads * BookBub * Amazon

 

 

 

 

Giveaway

 

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Posted in fiction, Giveaway, Spotlight, women on October 13, 2023

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

Socially awkward, anxiety-riddled Beverly Bonnefinche only loves three things in life: her parents, books, and a homeless man named Bill. Without them, the only way Beverly manages to get by each day is with the help of a peculiar coping mechanism that allows her to dissolve her feelings. Yet everything changes for Beverly when she meets Henry, a persistent, friendly man who sees something in Beverly most people have missed. As their relationship develops, despite her best intentions, Beverly soon finds herself stepping outside of her carefully controlled life and forging new friendships.

It’s only when a series of twists and turns threatens to unravel her new life, and her mind, that Beverly must determine if she’s got it in her to stop trudging through life—and finally start living it.

Emotional, witty, and uplifting, Beverly Bonnefinche Is Dead is an unforgettable story of love, loss, friendship, and what it means to ultimately find the courage to be who you are.

​Content Warnings: stillbirth, pregnancy loss, mental health, attempted suicide, suicidal ideation

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Target * Indigo

 

BAM * BookBub * Audible

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Lover of books, Kristen spends her time overly caffeinated in front of her computer in the Tampa Bay area with her husband and four children.

Kristen’s debut novel, Beverly Bonnefinche is Dead was selected by Barnes & Noble as a Top Indie Favorites August/September 2023 Kristen Seeley is the pen name of Marie Still (which she writes suspense/thrillers under)

 

WebsiteNewsletter ~ X (Twitter) ~ Facebook

 

InstagramTikTok ​~ Pinterest ~ Goodreads

 

 

Giveaway

 

Enter to win a signed copy of BEVERLY BONNEFINCHE IS DEAD & WE’RE ALL LYING (one winner)

Ends Oct 27

 

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Posted in Book Release, Cozy, Giveaway, Monday, mystery, Spotlight on October 9, 2023

 

 

 

 

Brush Up On Murder: An Aurora Anderson Mystery
Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Setting – California
Vista Beach Press (October 10, 2023)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 284 pages

 

Synopsis

 

Love is in the air in the quiet Los Angeles County city of Vista Beach, home of computer programmer and decorative-painting enthusiast, Aurora (Rory) Anderson.

As Valentine’s Day approaches, residents are training for the annual Love Run and expressing their undying affection for each other by attaching love locks to the pier railings. But a string of bank robberies is ruining the romantic vibe.

While Rory helps friends prepare for a Valentine’s Day wedding, a body is found and the groom is implicated in the murder. Convinced of his innocence, Rory puts her heart into the investigation. Can she identify the killer before someone else encounters their own brush with death?

 

 

 

Amazon * Kobo * B&N

 

 

About the Author

 

Sybil Johnson’s love affair with reading began in kindergarten with “The Three Little Pigs.” Visits to the library introduced her to Encyclopedia Brown, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle and a host of other characters. Fast forward to college where she continued reading while studying Computer Science. After a rewarding career in the computer industry, Sybil decided to try her hand at writing mysteries. Her short fiction has appeared in Mysterical-E and Spinetingler Magazine, among others. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in Southern California where she enjoys tole painting, studying ancient languages and spending time with friends and family.

 

Website * Facebook Author Page * Twitter

 

 

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Posted in Cozy, Giveaway, Historical, mystery, Spotlight on October 8, 2023

 

 

 

 

 

The Socialite’s Guide to Death and Dating (A Pinnacle Hotel Mystery)
Historical Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – 1958 New York City
Crooked Lane Books (October 10, 2023)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 336 pages

 

Synopsis

 

Perfect for fans of Rhys Bowen and Ashley Weaver, the second Pinnacle Hotel mystery finds another murder that strikes too close to home, and hotel heiress Evelyn Murphy knows she’s the only one who can save the hotel before it’s lights out.

New York, 1958. Even though Evelyn Murphy has made progress conquering her agoraphobia by leaving the Pinnacle, she still feels most comfortable in her father’s hotel. With Malcolm Cooper, her new boyfriend and fellow employee at the hotel, Evelyn feels prepared for whatever happens next. In this case, it’s throwing a big fundraiser with the who’s who of New York City.

The night is a success, and Evelyn finally takes up Malcolm’s offer to finally visit his apartment in Yonkers. As the party ends, they sneak away to the garage to get Evelyn’s car. But Evelyn’s always been good at finding things, and she discovers the dead body of a guest, Judge Baker, in a car—with a needle in his arm.

Detective Hodgson and his new partner, Detective McJimsey, arrive on the scene, but before they can begin to question Evelyn, they are startled by another mysterious discovery: there’s a woman in the trunk of the car, and she screams as soon as she sees Evelyn’s face. Tangled up in the police investigation, Evelyn’s got another problem, too—her father insists she break off her relationship with Mac. The next day, her father is found attacked just like the judge, only this time the detectives find a dead woman nearby.

With Mac accused of the attacks and in police custody, Evelyn will have to find the killer on her own before she’s checked out of the hotel—this time, for good.

 

 

Amazon * B&NKoboBookshop.org

 

 

About the Author

 

S. K. Golden is the author of the Pinnacle Hotel cozy mystery series. Born and raised in the Florida Keys, she married a commercial fisherman. The two of them still live on the islands with their five kids (one boy, four girls — including identical twins!), two cats, and a corgi named Goku. Sarah graduated from Saint Leo University with a bachelor’s degree in Human Services and Administration and has put it to good use approximately zero times. She’s worked as a bank teller, a pharmacy technician, and an executive assistant at her father’s church. Sarah is delighted to be doing none of those things now.

 

Website * Facebook * X (Twitter) * Instagram * Goodreads

 

 

 

Giveaway

 

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Posted in Cozy, Monday, mystery, Spotlight on September 18, 2023

 

 

 

 

Killer Hooks: A Crochet Mystery
Cozy Mystery
15th in Series
Setting – California
Beyond the Page (September 18, 2023)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 230 pages

 

Synopsis

 

When a baby girl is dropped off on Molly Pink’s doorstep, her life is thrown into disarray as she is putting together a troublesome author event at the bookstore where she works.

The author is a demanding former Hollywood columnist whose book is filled with upbeat stories, but who wants to promote a true crime podcast she is about to launch based on the dark side of what she left out of her columns.

At the same time, Molly’s son has asked her to investigate a potential investor in his production company. The baby, who happens to be Molly’s estranged granddaughter offers her an opening into an elite mommy group, a member of which is the wife of the person Molly is to investigate.

When the columnist dies suddenly, Molly finds herself in the crosshairs of an unfamiliar detective who considers her the prime suspect. Molly recruits the help of the Tarzana Hookers to help with all.

 

 

Amazon * B&NKobo

 

This book will be released on 9/26, preorder today!

 

 

About the Author

 

Betty Hechtman is the national bestselling author of the Crochet Mysteries, the Yarn Retreat Mysteries, and the Writer for Hire Mysteries. Handicraft and writing are her passions and she is thrilled to be able to combine them in all of her series. Betty grew up on the South Side of Chicago and has a degree in Fine Art. Since College, she has studied everything from improv comedy to magic. She has had an assortment of professions, including volunteer farm worker picking fruit on a kibbutz tucked between Lebanon and Syria, nanny at a summer resort, waitress at a coffee house, telephone operator, office worker at the Writer’s Guild, public relations assistant at a firm with celebrity clients, and newsletter editor at a Waldorf school. She has written newspaper and magazine pieces, short stories, screenplays, and a middle-grade mystery, Stolen Treasure. She lives with her family and stash of yarn in Southern California. See BettyHechtman.com for more information, excerpts from all her books, and photos of all the projects of the patterns included in her books.

 

Website * Blog * Facebook

 

 

 

 

Posted in Fantasy, romance, Spotlight on September 15, 2023

 

 

Synopsis

 

Tana was ready to be the crown princess. She was not ready to lose her father and save her home.

Keegan had left his home to run away from his past, but he cannot escape his heritage or his mistakes.

As the two fight to save Heimat Draz, they discover they must learn to trust both themselves and each other, because a lot more than just Tana’s kingdom is at risk. If they cannot defeat the evil spreading, all of Sandig Skaa will be destroyed.

Secrets of the Desert is the first book in Sandig Skaa Chronicles (a 3-book fantasy series) with slow-burn, sweet romance and no spice, perfect for fans of books by authors like K.M. Shea or Tara Grayce!

 

 

Amazon

 

 

About the Author

 

Anabelle Raven loves reading and writing fantasy, low-spice romance, and strong female characters. She loves chocolate and sushi, though not usually together, and traveling to new places with her family.

 

Facebook * Instagram

 

 

 

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Posted in Action, Crime, excerpt, Spotlight, suspense, Thriller on September 11, 2023

 

 

Synopsis

 

In Allen Wyler’s 6.0 installment of the Deadly Odds techno-thriller series, Arnold Gold—reformed hacker turned security consultant—lands a vital contract for his fledgling company—a penetration test of both the computer and physical security of a high-profile law firm. Up against the clock and a formidable and vindictive enemy, Head of Security Itzhak Mizrahi, Arnold and his team race to stay one step ahead of capture during a daring attempt to breach the client’s security systems.

 

 

Amazon

 

 

Excerpt

 

Now what? He chanced another peek over the railing.

There was the hand again, but now only two and a half flights below him, laboriously plodding upward.

Think.

Okay, well, the dude was obviously slow and out of shape.

Time advantage, Arnold. But did he still have enough time?

Put his hand over his mouth, whispered, “In position?” hoping the throat mic would transmit his words.

Prisha double-clicked.

“The floor clear?” he asked, figuring Lopez would realize the question was for him.

“Yes, as of thirty seconds ago.”

Arnold picked up the key card from the cement and whispered, “On three. One… two… three!”

The lock disengaged with a click loud enough to echo all the way to freaking Tacoma. Arnold pulled the heavy steel door open only far enough to keep it propped with his left foot, then started a mental stopwatch without a clue as to how long it might take for Mizrahi or his proxies to respond.

Stop! Just stay on the point, dude.

He started in, working fast as possible, methodical, zoning in intently on each move, figuring it was better to burn some extra seconds than to risk a stupid, time-wasting slip-up. He spooled off an estimated six feet of leader.

Enough?

Well, shit, you’ll find out.

He used the Swiss Army knife to cut the length before pressing the back edge of the blade against his thigh, snapping it shut, then he crammed it in his rear pocket. Done. He tossed the roll of leader back into the rucksack, leaving only the Scotch tape and the rucksack on the concrete.

Forcing himself to work quickly yet precisely despite an increasingly tingling spine and spasming asshole, he looped one end of the translucent leader around the horizontal push bar as close to the lock as possible then secured it tightly in place with a double square knot. He grabbed the Scotch tape, tore off a good three inches, and taped the knot securely to the bar. He burned an extra second running his thumb and forefinger around the tape to convince himself that it was stuck as tightly as possible to the metal, then he pulled the monofilament straight down until it was taut. He inspected it to convince himself it was secure.

Fifty pounds? Yeah, that’s the rating. He pulled harder, tugging the push bar down until he saw the tang withdraw far enough into the latch to open the door. Perfect. The leader’s fifty-pound rating appeared strong enough for what he needed… at least for this preliminary test. However, given the angle required and the edge of the metal door, the question was, would it break when it came to the actual act?

Yo, dude, keep moving.

Left hand now holding the door open, Arnold scooted back a few inches to carefully snake the leader under the bottom edge of the door, trying like hell to keep from abrading it against the metal. Jesus, his mental stopwatch was ticking louder and louder with each rapidly evaporating second, pumping more adrenaline into his arteries, pushing his anxiety off the freaking chart. A drop of sweat dripped off his nose.

Where was the dude on the stairs?

Forget him. Just focus on getting the job done.

A voice echoed from below, the words indistinguishable. Had to be the out-of-shape guard, probably receiving word that this door was just opened. Which might get him moving faster. If he could. But from the sound of it…

Shaking away the thought, he focused instead on methodically threading the leader along the bottom edge of the door toward the right corner, directly below the hinge. Once there, he pulled the remaining length up the side of the door until it was straight, then glanced at the Scotch tape…

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Allen Wyler’s thrillers have twice been nominated for the prestigious Thriller Award. He has served on the Board of Directors of the International Thriller Writers and is also an active member of the North American Crime Writers and Mystery Writers of America. He lives in Seattle.

 

Website

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Posted in Psychological, Spotlight, suspense on September 3, 2023

 

 

Synopsis

 

How far would you go to solve a crime that happened 30 years ago?

A true-crime podcaster investigates a decades-old mystery.

1979 Sixteen-year-old Carolyn Russell grows increasingly infatuated with her school mathematics teacher who is also giving her private lessons. Then she disappears.

2014 Struggling journalist Stephanie Brett creates a true-crime podcast focused on the disappearance of Carolyn Russell. By digging deep into this mysterious cold case, her confidence and flagging career are boosted. But after she confronts the suspects—and talks to a potential witness—the leads dry up. However, Stephanie refuses to let the story rest . . .

Can a small-time journalist with a shoestring podcast really hope to reconstruct the ultimate fate of Carolyn Russell after all these years, or are some secrets best left buried?

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Kobo

 

 

About the Author

 

Novelist, poet and scriptwriter, Gail Aldwin’s debut coming-of-age novel The String Games was a finalist in The People’s Book Prize and the DLF Writing Prize 2020. Following a stint as a university lecturer, Gail’s children’s picture book Pandemonium was published. Gail loves to appear at national and international literary and fringe festivals. Prior to Covid-19, she volunteered at Bidibidi in Uganda, the second largest refugee settlement in the world. When she’s not gallivanting around, Gail writes at her home overlooking water meadows in Dorset.

 

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Posted in Cozy, Giveaway, mystery, Spotlight on September 2, 2023

 

 

 

 

Wedding Bells Brew Murder (Sara and Sean Cozy Mystery Series)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – New York
Hibbert & Stiles Publishing Inc. (August 29, 2023)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 244 pages

 

Synopsis

 

With all the guests at Sara and Sean’s wedding suspected of murder, her walk down the aisle will need to wait…

Everything is going perfectly on the big day until Sara opens the door of her bridal suite. Darlene Day, who made the wedding cake, falls into the room, a serving knife plunged into her back.

As the organists start to play “Here Comes the Bride,” Sara calls a pause to the proceedings. There’s a murder to solve, and the motive may be in the icing.

Darlene wasn’t the most loved person in the small town of Cotton Spring Falls, but rumor has it that she refused the offer of a big franchise to buy her bakery. Did they go so far as murder to put her out of business?

But when it’s discovered their wedding cake was poisoned, Sara and Sean could have been the intended victims all along. Did Darlene stumble upon the killer’s conspiracy and they silenced her before she could reveal their secret? Is it someone on the invitation list or the mysterious wedding crasher?

As long as the coffee is hot, and Sara has Sean and her beagle, Magnum, at her side, she isn’t going down in a heap of tulle and lace.

Wedding Bells Brew Murder is a closed-room mystery in the fashion of the great Agatha Christie that fans of Emma Davies, Verity Bright, and Helena Dixon will enjoy reading.

 

 

Amazon * iTunesB&NKoboGoogle

 

 

 

About the Author

 

CAROLYN ARNOLD is an internationally bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has several continuing fiction series and has many published books. Her genre diversity offers readers police procedurals, hard-boiled and cozy mysteries, thrillers, and action adventures. Her crime fiction series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining. This led to her adopting the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.

Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.

She currently lives near London, Ontario, Canada, with her husband and two beagles.

 

Website * Blog * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Goodreads

 

 

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Posted in fiction, Giveaway, Historical, Spotlight, Texas on May 15, 2023

 

 

 

GHOSTLY BUGLES

 

by

 

Max L. Knight

 

 

Historical Fiction / Texas History

Publisher: Wild Lark Books

Date of Publication: February 23, 2023

Number of Pages: 210 pages

 

Scroll down for Giveaway!

 

 

 

 

 

Do the souls of the dead reach out from beyond the grave? Do echoes of the past resound through the ages? Are such insights a privilege or a curse? An old man grapples with these questions and his own mortality as he re-examines one of the most famous battles in history – the Alamo.

The 1836 siege and battle as well as current efforts to restore Alamo Plaza to hallowed ground and create a world-class attraction unfold as the old man tries to make sense of his memories, dreams, and perceived outreach by the dead whose souls cry out to him for inclusion and recognition. Beyond the myth and the legend are their stories as well as his own.

Ghostly Bugles is a fictional re-creation of the Alamo story, rich in historical detail with a unique paranormal element. The narrative combines elements of the traditional storyline with contemporary efforts to “Re-imagine the Alamo”. The dual timelines balance our understanding of this world- renowned event and provide new perspective and appreciation for the courage and sacrifice of everyone involved – Texian and Tejano defenders, and Mexican soldiers.

 

 

 

AmazonWild Lark Books

 

 

 

 

MAX L. KNIGHT was born in Panama and grew up in the Canal Zone and in San Antonio, Texas, where he and his wife reside. In addition to degrees from Texas A&M University and Campbell University, Max served twenty-four years in the United States Army (1973-1997), retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

He became the first Alamo Docent in 2004, but the tragic events of 9/11 compelled him to reactivate his security clearance and, when the approval finally came through, he returned to work in support of U.S. Counterintelligence operations. A stage IV throat cancer diagnosis in 2014 abruptly ended that phase of his life, and he turned to writing to help him get through the chemo, radiation, and surgeries. Max is currently cancer free.

His other works include Silver Taps, Palo Duro, and Tarnished Brass.

 

 

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Signed copy of Ghostly Bugles

 

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Visit the Lone Star Literary Life Tour Page

 

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

 

or visit the blogs directly:

 

05/15/23 The Clueless Gent Review
05/15/23 Hall Ways Blog Review
05/15/23 StoreyBook Reviews BONUS Stop
05/16/23 Guatemala Paula Loves to Read Review
05/16/23 Writing and Music Review
05/16/23 LSBBT Blog BONUS Stop
05/17/23 Bibliotica Review
05/17/23 Book Fidelity Review
05/18/23 Shelf Life Blog Review
05/18/23 The Real World According to Sam Review
05/18/23 All the Ups and Downs BONUS Stop
05/19/23 Forgotten Winds Review
05/19/23 Reading by Moonlight Review

 

 

 

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