Posted in 4 paws, Giveaway, Historical, Review, Time Travel on November 1, 2018

 

Christmas Eve Daughter: Time Travel Novel by Elyse Douglas

Publisher:  Broadback (Sept. 12, 2018)
Category: Time Travel, Historical Fiction, Romance, Christmas
Tour dates:Oct-Nov, 2018
ISBN:
Available in Print and ebook, 385 pages

Synopsis

 

The sequel to The Christmas Eve Letter!

When husband and wife, Eve and Patrick Gantly, discover a shocking secret from Patrick’s past, they make the difficult decision to use the old lantern once again to return to 1885. They hope to save his child from a tragic future.

Although they try to plan for every possible contingency, something goes wrong.  They lose each other and end up in a different time!  Nothing goes as planned.  They struggle to save Patrick’s daughter from certain death, even as they search for the lost lantern that will return them to their own time.

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Review

This is the sequel to The Christmas Eve Letter. While this book stands on its own, it does reference how Eve and Patrick get together and other incidents, so I highly suggest reading that book first before delving into this novel.

Time Travel is very intriguing and I wonder how I would handle situations if I found myself tossed back in time. Probably not as well as Eve seems to handle all the situations put in her path plus being in a time that she is not as familiar. I know I am not a history buff, so trying to know what will happen and when would be hard for me to adapt.

Eve and Patrick are married and doing an internet search reveals that Patrick has a daughter he never knew. He already feels out of sorts being 130 years in the future, but to find out you had a child that dies by nefarious means is too much for him to take. He insists on going back to save his daughter one way or another. Of course, he thinks he can do it on his own. He should know better being married to Eve that she is not going to let that happen. Thus begins their journey.

It is interesting how they travel back and forth in time – through a lantern. The fact that this lantern does not travel with them is interesting. It does make for a good story because Eve and Patrick have to track down what happened to the lantern from when they left in 1885. They are lucky that the lantern was recoverable but not without a lot of effort.

I enjoyed the new characters, an update on characters from the first book, and the possibility for more books because there are some characters that are mentioned but we don’t know what happened to them. I can’t spoil the story, but let’s just say that things changed from when Patrick & Eve left to when they returned and these were pretty major changes.

if you enjoy time travel themed novels you will like these books!

About the Author

Elyse Douglas is the pen name for the husband and wife writing team of Elyse Parmentier and Douglas Pennington. Elyse began writing poems and short stories at an early age and graduated with a degree in English Literature. Douglas began writing novels in college while studying music at the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music.  He traveled the world as a professional pianist for many years.  He has also worked as a copywriter and corporate manager.

Some of Elyse Douglas’ novels include: The Christmas Eve Letter (A Time Travel Novel), Christmas for Juliet, The Summer Letters, The Christmas Diary, The Summer Diary, and The Lost Mata Hari Ring. They live in New York City.

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Posted in Cozy, Craft, Giveaway, Guest Post, mystery on October 31, 2018

Drop Dead Ornaments (An Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
7th in Series
Self Published
Print Length: 209 pages

Synopsis

Anastasia Pollack’s son Alex is dating Sophie Lambert, the new kid in town. For their community service project, the high school seniors have chosen to raise money for the county food bank. Anastasia taps her craft industry contacts to donate materials for the students to make Christmas ornaments they’ll sell at the town’s annual Holiday Crafts Fair.

At the fair Anastasia meets Sophie’s father, Shane Lambert, who strikes her as a man with secrets. She also notices a woman eavesdropping on their conversation. Later that evening when the woman turns up dead, Sophie’s father is arrested for her murder.

Alex and Sophie beg Anastasia to find the real killer, but Anastasia has had her fill of dead bodies. She’s also not convinced of Shane’s innocence. Besides, she’s promised younger son Nick she’ll stop risking her life. But how can she say no to Alex?

Guest Post

The Difference Between Cupcakes and Crafts

I write the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries. As the name suggests, this is a craft-themed mystery series. Anastasia is the crafts editor at a women’s magazine. After the untimely death of her husband in Assault With a Deadly Glue Gun, the first book in the series, she finds herself, thanks to her husband’s well-hidden gambling addiction, trying to stay one step ahead of the bill collectors, her husband’s bookie, and the detectives who think she murdered the magazine’s fashion editor. Throughout the series, as Anastasia works to whittle down massive debt and keep from having to move her family into a cardboard box on the street, she also finds herself dealing with dead bodies on a fairly regular basis.

Crafting mysteries often include craft projects, just as culinary mysteries often include recipes. The big difference between the two sub-genres is that the crafting mystery author is limited in the type of crafts she can include. Recipes don’t need patterns, but many craft projects often require them. Patterns don’t work in e-books and print novels. So in my series I have to come up with craft projects that can be made by only following written directions. I also want projects that are easy enough for even the most novice crafter.

In Drop Dead Ornaments, the seventh book in the series, I feature Christmas ornaments that anyone can make, even someone who doesn’t know the difference between a fishhook and a crochet hook. These are no-talent-required projects that use easy-to-find supplies available at any craft or fabric store and many big box stores or online. They also take very little time to make. Here’s one of them:

Metallic Braid Ornament

 

Materials

Clear glass ball ornament*

5-yds. 5mm braided metallic cording (choose silver, gold, or 2-toned combination colors such as red/gold or black/silver)

9”-12” of 1/4”-1/2” wide satin or grosgrain ribbon in a complementary color

Note: If you can’t find 5mm braid, you can substitute a different diameter. You’ll need less braid for a thicker diameter and more for a thinner diameter braid. You can also substitute yarn, twine, thin braid, or a thin strip of fabric for the ribbon used for the hanging loop.

Directions

Carefully remove the metal cap from the glass ball. Feed the metallic braid through the opening into the ornament. Reattach the metal cap. Tie the ribbon through the loop for hanging.

* This is a great project to make with kids, but depending on their age, you might want to substitute clear plastic ball ornaments for the glass ball ornaments.

 

About The Author

USA Today bestselling and award-winning author Lois Winston writes mystery, romance, romantic suspense, chick lit, women’s fiction, children’s chapter books, and nonfiction under her own name and her Emma Carlyle pen name. Kirkus Reviews dubbed her critically acclaimed Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series, “North Jersey’s more mature answer to Stephanie Plum.” In addition, Lois is an award-winning craft and needlework designer who often draws much of her source material for both her characters and plots from her experiences in the crafts industry.

Website * Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers blog * Twitter * Pinterest * Goodreads * Newsletter

 

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Posted in 4 paws, Cozy, Giveaway, mystery, Review on October 30, 2018

Synopsis

It’s peak tourist season in Oriole Point, Michigan–the blueberry buckle of the fruit belt. Nothing draws the crowds quite like their annual carnival. And nothing turns it sour faster than murder . . .

The Blueberry Blow Out festival has begun and it’s time for Marlee Jacob, owner of The Berry Basket, to shine. Unfortunately it’s also bringing out the worst in her fiance Ryan Zeller. Ryan’s rivalry with Porter Gale, owner of Blueberry Hill Farm, spills over into a very public and very ugly fight. And after they compete in the pie-eating contest and a raucous tug of war, their orchard blood feud takes a deadly turn . . .

The death of the king of Blueberry Hill is a shock but not too surprising–he was a diabetic whose last pig out meal was deliciously fatal. But when authorities discover that someone tampered with Porter’s insulin, a tragic accident is looking like murder–and Ryan is the key ingredient. Now Marlee’s investigation to clear his name is taking her deep into the Gale family secrets, and she’s being shadowed every step of the way by a killer whose sweet revenge is just beginning . . .
Includes Berry Recipes!

Review

Welcome back to Oriole Point, Michigan–the blueberry buckle of the fruit belt and where murder could happen to the most unlikely citizens.

This is the third in the series and just as enjoyable as the first two. All the usual characters are back with a few new faces.

A lot more happens in this book then just solving a murder (or two). There is also Marlee’s relationship with her fiance Ryan. She has had doubts all along but red flags keep flying high and she seriously reconsiders continuing her relationship with him. This is not a bad thing because if I saw all those red flags I would be questioning my relationship with him too.

The victim in this book is Porter, the owner of Blueberry Hill. His farm is a direct competitor to Ryan’s so many thing that happen are not unexpected as it seems likely that Ryan could be involved in the murder. There are some other factors that come into play that also tie into Marlee’s apprehension in marrying him. Because of her natural inclination to investigate, Marlee finds herself knee deep in clues, killers and blueberries. Her sidekick is Natasha, a former Russian pageant contestant. I will say that Natasha doesn’t have all of our slang down and there were several times I burst out laughing at her phraseology such as “shark” shooter instead of sharp shooter.

There are quite a few surprise twists in the story and not everyone is who they appear. There are a few clues in the book but to me these clues were more musings than clues so I didn’t read more into them, but I should have but I wouldn’t have know the “why” behind the killer’s actions until the end when all was revealed.

We give this 4 paws up.  If you like cozies, berries, and murder then check out this series.

 

About the Author

Sharon Farrow is the latest pen name of award winning author Sharon Pisacreta. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Sharon has been a freelance writer since her twenties. Published in mystery, fantasy, and romance, Sharon currently writes The Berry Basket cozy mystery series, which debuted October 2016 with Dying For Strawberries. She is also one half of the writing team D.E. Ireland, who co-author the Agatha nominated Eliza Doolittle and Henry Higgins mysteries.

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Posted in Book Release, excerpt, Giveaway, romance on October 29, 2018

Title: The Memory of You
Author: Jamie Beck
Release Date: October 30, 2018
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Sanctuary Sound, Book 1

Synopsis

Steffi Lockwood has survived more than most. Recovering from an assault, she returns to her coastal Connecticut hometown to rebuild her life the best way she knows how: with her hands. But starting a remodeling business with one longtime friend puts her in the middle of a rift with another. Worse, being hired by her ex-boyfriend’s mother forces her to confront old regrets.

Public defender Ryan Quinn wasn’t shocked when his wife left him, but he was floored when she abandoned their daughter. With his finances up in the air, the newly single dad turns to his childhood home in Sanctuary Sound. The last person he expects, or wants, to see working on his family house is Steffi Lockwood—his first love who shattered his heart.

Although Steffi and Ryan are different people now, dormant feelings rekindle. But when Steffi’s secrets begins to surface, will it bring them together…or tear them apart for good?

Meet Steffi Lockwood the Heroine from Jamie Beck’s The Memory of You

Thank you so much for inviting me to talk about Sanctuary Sound, I’m Steffi Lockwood. I admit, it is strange to be back in my sleepy hometown after spending so much of my youth wanting to escape to something bigger and, in my mind, better. But life in Hartford didn’t live up to my dreams. I wouldn’t say I left because I got attacked, but it was a wake-up call for all the ways that life wasn’t really making me happy. One night while watching my favorite HGTV show, I got inspired to quit my construction job and return home to start my own home renovation business with my childhood friend, Claire, a designer.

While I enjoy the quiet beauty of our small coastal Connecticut town and am happy to reconnect with Claire, my dad, and my brother Ben, my homecoming isn’t all roses and sunshine. Although my mom died long ago, I can’t help but miss her when I’m at my dad’s house on Lilac Lane. I’m also dealing with some kind of brain fog, most likely from the many concussions I’ve suffered, including the last one I got when attacked. Then there’s the rift between Claire and our other dear friend, Peyton. We used to call ourselves the Lilac Lane League and were the closest of friends. I really relied on that sisterhood (having only brothers, myself). Now I’m trying to remain neutral, but that’s not easy when I have to live and work with Claire, and she’s still brokenhearted because her ex ran off with Peyton. But the biggest regret that follows me around town has to do with memories of Ryan Quinn, my high school sweetheart—the greatest guy in the world that I was dumb enough to ghost in college.

Like I mentioned, when I was younger, I thought I wanted a bigger life. I didn’t want to be like my mom, who married and died young without ever seeing anything of the world. I wanted adventure, and to get that, I had to break free from town and from Ryan. Fast- forward to now, when his mom just hired me to convert her porch to a family room. I didn’t know she needed to expand her house because Ryan’s marriage imploded and he’s just returned from Boston with his young daughter, Emmy. Let me tell you, ours was not a pleasant reunion. I did my best to apologize and be polite, but there’s only so much shaming I can take before I push back. Still, I’m not the same young girl I was back then and I’d love a chance to make amends with Ryan. His daughter is a real spitfire who makes me laugh, too.

Whatever happens with Ryan, I know I can take care of myself and make a success of this business, especially once this stuff with my memory heals. If I can also help my friends repair their relationship and win Ryan’s forgiveness, too, I’m going to try. At the very least, I can be the kind of friend to his daughter, Emmy, that his mom was to me when I needed one. Wish me luck!

The Memory of You Excerpt

“I do understand, Emmy. Better than you think.” Steffi took the partially folded tarp and snapped its final fold on her own, then crouched to Emmy’s eye level. “I wasn’t much older than you when my mom died. I missed her so much it felt like the whole world turned into a dark black hole. Most days I wanted to jump right through that hole and follow her to heaven. I was so angry that she left me like that, even though she couldn’t help it. But I kept all those feelings tight inside, like a ball right here.” Steffi pointed at Emmy’s stomach. “Holding all that stuff inside hurt, but it made me feel strong. It seemed better than crying, for sure. Then a girl named Claire moved in across the street. She was very sweet and sporty, and I liked her right away. I was lucky because she was patient with my moods. And at the end of our street was another girl our age, Peyton. Peyton was popular, but it turns out she was kind of lonely, too, for other reasons.

“Anyway, somehow that summer we all started spending time together. We gave ourselves a name—the Lilac Lane League—and we started a journal, because Peyton liked to write. We wrote down our dreams and the things that made us mad, and the things that made us laugh. Our crushes, first kisses, all that stuff. Little by little, that knot in my stomach unwound because my friends made me less lonely. That’s how I know the fastest way to feel better is to make a new friend.”

“You’re my new friend.” Emmy’s voice sounded small and shaky.

“I am your friend, but you also need a friend your age. I know you miss your old gang, but try to make one new friend here, too. I promise there are nice girls. I grew up here, after all, and I’m nice.” Steffi smiled and brushed some of Emmy’s curls off her face.

Ryan decided to enter the conversation now, before Emmy broke down in front of Steffi or put her in a more difficult situation. He exited through the kitchen door and crossed the partially framed porch to get to the yard. “Hey there, ladies.”

Emmy snapped her gaze at him, and he saw the panic in her eyes. His daughter’s fear of him speared his chest like a sword. He’d failed at his marriage, and his daughter was paying the highest price. He couldn’t fail her, too. He dropped to his knees and opened his arms. She flew into them in a heartbeat.

He hugged her and swayed, like he’d done when she was so much younger. Steffi quietly retrieved her toolbox and took it to her van.

“Emmy?” Ryan asked once they were alone. “I’m sorry this is such a hard time for you. I want to help you, but I don’t always have all the answers. I do know one thing, though. You can’t call people names and expect to make friends.”

She cried against his chest, each tear falling like acid raining on his heart. “Oh, sweetie, it’ll be okay. We all make mistakes. The important thing is to apologize and try to learn from it.”

“You always say that,” she muttered into his shirt.

“Because it’s the truest thing I know.” He kissed her head.

“So why can’t you and Mom apologize and make up?”

He hadn’t expected that question, although maybe he should have. “It’s not that simple.”

“You always say that, too.”

If a conversation with her took this much work at this age, he could barely imagine dealing with her in her teens. “You’re all dirty from helping Steffi. How ’bout you go inside and clean up before dinner? I need to talk to Steffi for a second. Then I’ll come in, and we can figure out how to apologize to Katie Winston.”

Emmy nodded while swiping her arm under her runny nose. “Okay.”

She wandered into the house just as Steffi came back from the van to get the rest of her personal things. He stood to speak with her. “I heard part of what you said to Emmy.”

“I know you don’t want me to speak for you, but I just—”

“It’s okay. Thank you for making her feel like she can confide in you. I should’ve listened to you the other day.” He crossed his arms and blew out a long breath. “I’m in over my head doing this on my own.”

“You’re not on your own. You’ve got your parents. But even if you were, I know you can do it. She loves you. She wants to make you happy and proud.”

He nodded, although he knew he was screwing it all up.

“Well, I’d better take off. Benny’s expecting me for another training run.”

“You guys are disciplined. I haven’t had a chance to get in a good workout in three months. Pretty soon I’m going to be too soft.” He patted his gut. Granted, he was still pretty fit. He could probably keep up with Steffi for a few miles, anyhow.

“I’m sure your mom would watch Emmy if you need to hit the gym or the mean streets of Sanctuary Sound.” She tipped her head, grinning. “My brother might even like some male company now and then. He gets sick of my singing.”

Ryan laughed. “Well, you were good at a lot of things, but singing wasn’t one of them.”

“You didn’t used to complain.” She hit his arm.

He grew quiet for a second, remembering the many times he’d listened to her terrible rendition of Lifehouse’s “You and Me” in the car or on the patio. “No, I never did mind those private concerts.”

The air between them turned sweet and thick with fond memories. Holding hands, soccer footwork challenges, the first time he’d copped a feel, and the light in her eyes when he had. The images almost made him want to take hold of her hand again; his heart beat with that hot desire like it had at seventeen.

“Dad!” Emmy called from the door, breaking the spell.

“You’d better go,” Steffi said with a wistful smile before she turned and walked back to her car.

He watched her go and waited … waited … Just before she got to her van, she peeked over her shoulder at him again, and everything seemed a little bit brighter.

About the Author

National bestselling author Jamie Beck’s realistic and heartwarming stories have sold more than one million copies. She’s a 2017 Booksellers’ Best Award finalist, and critics at Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, and Booklist have respectively called her work “smart,” “uplifting,” and “entertaining.” In addition to writing novels, she enjoys dancing around the kitchen while cooking as well as hitting the slopes in Vermont and Utah. Above all, she is a grateful wife and mother to a very patient, supportive family.

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Comments Off on Excerpt & #Giveaway – The Memory of You by Jamie Beck @writerjamiebeck #romance #NewRelease
Posted in Book Release, excerpt, Giveaway, romance on October 29, 2018

 

Title: Dangerous Exes

Author: Rachel Van Dyken

Release Date: October 30, 2018

Publisher: Skyscape

Synopsis

Isla made one teeny little mistake. Now she and her PI company, Dirty Exes, are being targeted by one seriously angry and furiously sexy ex-quarterback. Jessie freakin’ Beckett. But there’s no way some NFL superhunk is going to take her business away. If only he didn’t make her so hot—and bothered.

Jessie wants payback for a ruined reputation. His plan? Top secret. His hard-to-hide arousal for Isla? Not so much. Especially when they let down their guards and sneak a kiss. Like any juicy scandal, it goes so viral, so fast, that only a good lie can combat the bad press. Mortal enemies in a fling? No way. Um…this is love!

Actually…could it be?

Isla’s not faking it. Jessie can’t. As the game of let’s pretend gets real, Jessie forgets all about revenge. That’s the problem. His plan is already out of his control. Now it could undo everything they’ve been trying to build. Coming clean may be the only thing that can save it.

Exclusive Excerpt: Dangerous Exes by Rachel Van Dyken

I had her entire schedule.

I visited her office with a box of donuts and charmed her office manager, Abby. When Abby told me about her long, hellish day, I sent her to Colin’s bar and told her that she and her husband should order anything they want on me … but not before swiping the keys to the office.

And boom.

Schedule obtained.

Life. Ruined.

I grinned.

I knew it all.

Where she ate. Where she visited on Tuesdays.

Her routine was mine to memorize.

And I only felt slightly guilty about it, mainly because it was an invasion of privacy and I knew I’d clearly lost my mind if I was planning my day around driving her insane and making sure she knew I wasn’t going to back down.

For one minute.

I’d second-guessed myself.

And then I’d stupidly turned on the TV to see news of my old charity’s annual holiday gala.

And the anger returned tenfold.

Had she never taken my ex on as a client, embarrassed the living hell out of her, and basically used entrapment—I wouldn’t be sitting on my couch upset over my life’s work getting stripped from me based on rumors and bad publicity.

Blaire was in on it too.

But for some reason I blamed Isla more.

Isla made me feel like she genuinely liked me. She made me think she was real, that our friendship was real, not just a way to get at me in order to expose something that wasn’t even true.

A falsehood.

She’d thrown our friendship, or whatever the hell it was, away for a paycheck.

And I wasn’t sure I would ever forgive her for that.

For giving me a taste of what it could be like. What it should be like.

And ripping it the hell away.

I checked my watch and smiled when her Lexus pulled up. “Right on time.”

Part of me had to respect the rigorous schedule she kept, another part of me was horrified that there was another human being on the planet as punctual as me.

She jumped out of her car and grabbed a black duffel bag. Her leggings hugged every inch of skin like she was poured into them, and her bright-pink shirt only made me stare longer than necessary at the expansive cleavage getting pushed up by her pink-and-black-striped sports bra.

Maybe this was a bad idea.

Or the best idea I’d ever had?

I snuck in behind her and winked at the receptionist I’d bribed, then casually strolled right into the hot yoga studio.

The doors closed with finality behind me.

I cringed.

The last time I did yoga I couldn’t walk for weeks.

But the receptionist had convinced me this was a beginners class, that I’d be just fine as long as I had no health issues. I almost felt the need to remind her who she was talking to but didn’t want to come across like a jackass.

If I can stay in the NFL for eleven years as a star quarterback, pretty sure I can handle an hour of hot yoga.

I eyed Isla, grabbed my mat, and then rolled it out right next to hers. “Hey, neighbor.”

“Son of a bitch,” she hissed under her breath, knocking her water over in the process of trying to scurry away from me.

I grinned at her horrified expression. “You miss me?”

“Like I miss my braces and feathered bangs.”

“You? Feathered bangs?” I reached out to touch her silky black hair, but my hand was slapped away with a burning sting.

“Stop that.” She scooted to the edge of her mat and sat with her legs crossed. “You’re taking your creepy stalking to a whole other level if you’re following me to yoga class, you psycho.”

“Psycho.” I rolled the word around in my mouth and grinned. “Kind of has a nice ring to it, also maybe next time you should say that while looking in the mirror since you’re the one who basically moved in with me.”

“I did not move in with you.” Her cheeks flashed pink. “I merely saw an opportunity to drive you insane and took it.”

“And yet here we are.” I spread my arms wide. “In yoga class.”

“You gonna go to my gyno appointment with me Monday too?” she snapped, then regained her composure just as fast as she’d let the mask slip.

Gotcha.

I smirked. “It’s a dentist appointment, and though I’d love to watch you get your teeth cleaned and mouth tortured, I think I’ll take a hard pass, I hate the dentist, don’t even like walking into the office.”

Her eyes widened in fear as she hissed, “How the hell did you get my schedule?”

I just looked her body slowly up and down, then shrugged casually, as if to say I had to use different means, like my sexuality, to get it.

It was a lie.

I knew it.

She knew it.

And her blush, damn it, her blush was worth every lie I told.

An instructor in nothing but a black sports bra and black yoga pants turned on some weird new-age music and smiled at the class, spreading her arms wide like she was gathering our souls to her bosom before sacrificing them on the sweaty altar of hot yoga. She started rocking back and forth from foot to foot like she was doing a mating dance, her braid swung with her.

“What the hell is she doing?” I said under my breath.

Isla was gaping at me. “Then how do you have such nice teeth?”

“I think I’m lost.”

“The dentist. You refuse to walk into the building.”

“Does she always do that?” I pointed to the instructor.

“I mean they’re really white.” She leaned in like she was seconds away from asking me to open up so she could inspect.

The instructor inhaled deeply through her nose. “She seems really into this.”

Isla elbowed me. “Are you ignoring me on purpose? And she’s getting rid of all the bad energy.”

“Bad energy,” I repeated. “You’re kidding.” I panicked as I watched the students start mimicking her movements like there was literally bad air and energy in the room. They moved their arms and legs, and then shut their eyes. What. The. Hell. Finally my lust seemed to cool a bit, so I answered, “I have a friend who’s a dentist, he makes house calls.”

She rolled her eyes. “Of course you do. And no, not kidding, this is yoga, we don’t really lift heavy things and expect someone to clap for us or pay us millions of dollars when we can throw a stupid ball.”

“Twenty-eight million, actually,” I corrected with a wink. “A year.”

She scowled and returned her attention to the instructor. “No wonder your dentist makes house visits, do you even grocery shop on your own?”

“Isn’t that what Amazon is for?”

“Unbelievable,” Isla said through clenched teeth. “You know what? This isn’t even about me anymore, is it? You’re just so bored and I’m the easiest target in a sick scheme to find some sort of meaning in your life outside of football!”

“Bored?” I repeated, hating how it actually made me feel like less of a man when she pointed out one of the things I had struggled with until finding the charity. “Nah, just … angry. Very. Very. Angry. So. Angry. That the one thing I had to hold on to was ripped out of my fingers by a bitter, selfish woman and her ignorance.”

“So I’m ignorant?”

“No.” I gritted my teeth.

Her eyes flashed with hurt and anger.

“No!” the instructor shouted in my direction. “We leave our anger at the door.”

Isla leaned in, her eyes wild with rage. “She means literally.”

“Go on,” the instructor said in a fake soothing voice. “Walk over to the door and just…” She rolled her shoulders back and forth as if my anger was weighing them down. “Leave”—she let her arms go limp—“all the anger.”

“Just like that, huh?” I said in disbelief as I stood and walked over to the door, then made a dropping motion with my hands. “All gone.”

“Don’t you feel better?” She smiled wide.

No actually, if anything, I just collected everyone else’s anger that they’d supposedly left at the door and carried it back with me to my mat, where a grinning Isla was waiting.

“Yup,” I said quickly.

“Good.” She rubbed her hands together. “Shall we get started, class?”

About the Author

Rachel Van Dyken is a Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and #1 New York Times bestselling author known for Regency romances, contemporary romances, and her love of coffee and Swedish fish. Rachel’s also recently inked a deal for her Wingmen Inc. series—The Matchmaker’s Playbook and The Matchmaker’s Replacement—to be made into movies.

A fan of The Bachelor and the Seattle Seahawks (not necessarily in that order), Rachel lives in Idaho with her husband, a super cute toddler son who keeps her on her toes, and two boxers.

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Posted in Cozy, Giveaway, Guest Post, mystery on October 28, 2018

 

The Last Note: A Miami Music Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Cozy Cat Press (January 24, 2018)
Paperback: 268 pages

Synopsis

Killer songs and a killer voice, but a killer at her gig?

Vy has always found herself at the center of attention as the lead singer for one of Miami’s top cover bands, but when she finds herself at the center of a murder investigation, while performing at the Steel Horse Bar, that changes the tune of the night. Someone believes that Vy knows the truth behind the murder of the bar owner Ricky, and now that person is after her. Vy better figure out quickly who wanted Ricky dead, who is threatening her with her favorite band’s song lyrics, and why she’s falling for the handsome Detective Houston, before she too sings her last note. With a mixture of mystery, mayhem and comedy, you will find yourself immersed in Vy’s musical and murderous world.

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Guest Post

I have been asked a lot recently, What advice would you give to people wanting to enter the field?

And my answer will always remain the same, the best advice I can give is to not give up.  Do not give up on not just writing, or what your goals are, but in yourself overall.  Discouragement started in my musical career.  Granted, I was 17 years old, and I was still trying to figure out who I was.  At that time, being signed to an independent, music label, was a dream come true.  So many promises, yet nothing had transpired, so yes, it was only a dream.  I blame myself, only because I relied solely on my producer, instead of learning.  Again, I was only 17, but the upside was, after that disappointment, I grew up quickly.  So I wrote more songs, and self-produced my second record, Little Box of Secrets.  Mind you, I did not become the next Madonna, as I had hoped, but I did make a name for myself, locally (Miami, FL).

My creative journey continues to my first cozy mystery novel, The Last Note: A Miami Music Mystery.  This story is very much entwined with my musical path.  Many years ago, I became an avid reader of cozy mysteries. It all started with my sister buying me my first cozy mystery book by Joanne Fluke.  My sister and I are similar in the fact that we buy wine based on the label.  It just so happens she bought the book based on the cover.  It had a teddy bear on the cover, it mentioned murder, and recipes.  Needless to say, I ended up reading her entire series.  Then, I expanded to different cozy authors for more reading material.  The story lines were intriguing, engaging, and funny at the same time. I was so inspired by the authors, that I then decided to take my musical experiences, and put it on paper.  I meet very interesting people at my gigs, and so my friendship with a homicide detective ensued.  Later on, he not only became my ‘how to get rid of a person on paper’ guru, but also became my drummer for my band.  I began writing this first novel in 2009. In between my full-time job, my weekend gigs, and my personal life, I finally completed the novel. The phobia’s, the dream sequences, and the quirkiness of the main characters, are all based on facts.   I received so many rejection letters, that I was on the verge of not sending out any more query letters.  Then, I attended a book signing for one of my favorite authors.  Fortunately for me, and unfortunately for her, I was the only person that attended the signing.  I was able to sit with her for an hour and talk to her about my novel and the hardships.  And I finally asked for her advice.  She said to me, “give yourself a deadline of a year before you resort to self-publishing. Do not give up just yet.”  So, when I left that signing, I calendared a year from that date (I have to calendar everything.  And not on my cellphone, but an actual physical planner).

Six months had passed, and I was still receiving rejection letters.  One day, as I was working out (it’s the responsible thing to do after you have eaten two mini bags of skittles), I had received an e-mail alert on my phone.  I saw a brief caption, and it was from a publisher.  I automatically assumed it was another turn-down email, so I proceeded to stretch, do a thousand more crunches, and sweat out the last of the purple skittle that I ate that afternoon.  When I was walking back to my car, I decided to be one of those people who distract themselves by being on their cell phone and avoid running into phone poles, and I checked my e-mail.  The e-mail from thepublisher, it was not a rejection e-mail but a ‘if you make these changes’ e-mail, we will consider signing you on.  Needless to say, I ran to my car and called my sister to tell her the great news.  And so, I started making the said changes, and all of a sudden, a hurricane was on its way to Miami.  It just so happens, the hurricane was heading directly towards my vicinity.  So, I needed to evacuate and head to a safe location.  Miami lost power, phone contact, and the internet for about ten days.  Needless to say, I was panicking because, a. I couldn’t complete the changes to my novel, b. I couldn’t contact the publisher to tell them that I would be delayed in turning in my changes because of the hurricane, and c. we were not given a set date when the power would return.  When communication returned, the first thing I did was inform the publisher, then I completed the changes requested, which totaled 5000 changes.  It felt surreal the moment I clicked on ‘SEND.’  I stared at my sent screen for about two minutes to make sure that I had sent my finalized novel to my, at the time, potential publisher.  Two days later, I received an e-mail welcoming me to the family.  It was one of the happiest days of my life.

So, what I am trying to say with this post, do not give up.  Give yourself a deadline, and send out as many query letters as you can.  There will be one publisher that will believe in your work, but make sure that you believe in your work first.

About the Author

The Last Note’s main backdrop, the amazing city of Miami, Florida, is beloved and well-known to me. I was born and raised in Miami, and like the novel’s main character Vy, I am a singer/songwriter, as well as the lead singer to a self-proclaimed cover band. All things relating to music or literature are my passion. I keep a journal, and I am constantly writing poems, stories, and any thought that comes to mind. I have a fascination for black and white films, that have the element of mystery. As I have been told by many, I have a very creative imagination.

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Posted in Spotlight, Thriller on October 27, 2018

EVIL WINDS – A FAST-PACED THRILLER EXPLORES

THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

 HAS CHOSEN TO IGNORE 

With His Intimate Knowledge of the People, Places, and Politics of Sub-Saharan Africa, Award-Winning Writer and 

Naval Officer Michael Shusko Adds a Breathtaking Sense of Authenticity to His Sprawling Novel 

Author Michael Shusko is no ordinary novelist.  A decorated naval officer and physician, fluent in Arabic, he has worked in some of the most dangerous areas of the world.  In EVIL WINDS, the third installment of his Tradecraft book series, he focuses on the decades-long humanitarian crisis that has plagued the African country of Sudan and spilled across its border to Chad.

Relentless conflict has resulted in the destruction of entire villages and the massacre of thousands of people in Sudan’s Darfur region.  Massive refugee camps have sprung up with little chance of resettlement of their occupants.  Shusko uses these real-world events and locations as the backdrop for his stunning thrillerEVIL WINDS.

The story centers on the crusade of an idealistic American journalist, Angie Bryant, who wants to wake the world to the atrocities being committed in Darfur – no matter the personal risk.  She enlists the help of Jason Russo, an NGO doctor working in Chad.  When the pair witness Janjaweed Arab terrorists gun down a dozen Darfurian refugees in cold blood, they realize that time is against them, and they set out on a journey to uncover the truth behind these crimes.  They are soon captured by the vicious Janjaweed leader himself, who is just a cog in an international conspiracy to bilk Africa of its oil and mineral riches.  Using subterfuge, Angie and Jason manage to escape, rescuing twelve-year-old Halima, a courageous Darfurian girl, along the way.

But once again they are captured, this time by a troop of Sudanese soldiers.  With the help of veteran CIA operative Steve Connors, they are freed from prison.  Despite Steve’s advice that they return to the U.S., Angie and Jason – along with Halima – continue their quest to uncover the truth about government corruption, human trafficking, and other crimes that have remained hidden for much too long.

EVIL WINDS is a powerful story of international conspiracies, terrorism, and murder. Michael Shusko takes readers to locales that few of us can imagine, populated with ruthless villains as well as ordinary people whose courage is inspiring.  With his insider’s eye for detail and nuance, Shusko has produced a novel that is destined to become a classic.

About the Author

Michael Shusko, author of EVIL WINDS, is a medical doctor and decorated Marine and Naval officer who has worked on intelligence and medical missions across the globe. Fluent in Arabic, he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Middle Eastern studies from Rutgers University. After transferring from the Marines to the Navy Medical Corps, he attended medical school at Wake Forest University, obtaining his degree in 2002. He also studied at Harvard University, earning a Master’s of Public Health degree in 2013. Dr. Shusko has been awarded the Bronze Star twice for service in Iraq and Afghanistan, and has traveled extensively in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Asia. In addition to EVIL WINDS, Mike Shusko is the author of VECTOR and SHIFTING SANDS, the first two novels in his Tradecraft book series.

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Posted in 5 paws, Cozy, Giveaway, mystery, Review on October 27, 2018

 

Mardi Gras Murder: A Cajun Country Mystery
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Crooked Lane Books (October 9, 2018)

 

Synopsis

 

Southern charm meets the dark mystery of the bayou as a hundred-year flood, a malicious murder, and a most unusual Mardi Gras converge at the Crozat Plantation B&B.

It’s Mardi Gras season on the bayou, which means parades, pageantry, and gumbo galore. But when a flood upends life in the tiny town of Pelican, Louisiana—and deposits a body of a stranger behind the Crozat Plantation B&B—the celebration takes a decidedly dark turn. The citizens of Pelican are ready to Laissez les bon temps rouler—but there’s beaucoup bad blood on hand this Mardi Gras.

Maggie Crozat is determined to give the stranger a name and find out why he was murdered. The post-flood recovery has delayed the opening of a controversial exhibit about the little-known Louisiana Orphan Train. And when a judge for the Miss Pelican Mardi Gras Gumbo Queen pageant is shot, Maggie’s convinced the murder is connected to the body on the bayou. Does someone covet the pageant queen crown enough to kill for it? Could the deaths be related to the Orphan Train, which delivered its last charges to Louisiana in 1929? The leads are thin on this Fat Tuesday—and until the killer is unmasked, no one in Pelican is safe.

A simmering gumbo of a humorous whodunit, Mardi Gras Murder is the fourth piquant installment in USA Today bestselling author Ellen Byron’s award-winning Cajun Country mysteries.

 

 

 

Review

I love this series because it takes me to my roots on my mom’s side in southern Louisiana.  I can hear the accents and picture the scenery and the older homes.  This series also makes me laugh, a lot!  Here is one line that started me giggling – “Some men make their wives crazy all year.  I save it for Mardi Gras.”

The book starts off with a bang with this line: “But an intrepid crew of Crozat family members and volunteers let the relentless rain soak them as they hauled away the detritus of small town life. It wasn’t until they’d almost reached the bottom of the pile that they found the body. The body of a stranger to Pelican, Louisiana.”

Before you think this book is all fun and games, it isn’t.  There are actually several murders but we don’t know if they are all tied together or not.  We suspect that they might be, but it takes the effort of many characters to solve the mystery.  There are twists and turns galore and when the killer is revealed I was quite surprised.  While we have a few clues to figure things out, they don’t necessarily point to this character.

Another favorite line of mine in this book was this one: “We shouldn’t ignore the past. We should study it and use what we learn to build a better future.”  How true is this statement in today’s world?

We give this 5 paws up!

 

 

About the Author

 

ellen byronEllen Byron authors the Cajun Country Mystery series. A Cajun Christmas Killing and Body on the Bayou both won the Lefty Award for Best Humorous Mystery and were nominated for Agatha awards in the category of Best Contemporary Novel. Plantation Shudders was nominated for Agatha, Lefty, and Daphne awards. Mardi Gras Murder launches October 9th. Ellen’s TV credits include WingsJust Shoot Me, and Fairly OddParents. She’s written over 200 national magazine articles, and her published plays include the award-winning Graceland. She also worked as a cater-waiter for the legendary Martha Stewart, a credit she never tires of sharing.

 

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Posted in Cozy, Giveaway, mystery, Spotlight on October 26, 2018

 

Back Stabbers (The Country Club Murders)
Cozy Mystery
8th in Series
Henery Press (October 23, 2018)

Synopsis

All Ellison Russell wanted was an update on her stock portfolio. Instead, she found her broker dead.

With an unexpected out-of-town guest at her house, Ellison is too busy for a murder investigation. Only this time, Detective Anarchy Jones wants her help, and she can’t deny the handsome detective. Can Mr. Coffee supply her with enough caffeine to keep her brain sharp and everyone else happy?

Juggling bodies (one, two, three, four), two-faced friends, her social calendar, and a cat (yes, a cat) is taxing but Mother might be the biggest challenge of all.

With a killer drawing closer, can Ellison put together the pieces or will she be the one getting stabbed in the back?

About the Author

Julie Mulhern is the USA Today bestselling author of The Country Club Murders. She is a Kansas City native who grew up on a steady diet of Agatha Christie. She spends her spare time whipping up gourmet meals for her family, working out at the gym and finding new ways to keep her house spotlessly clean–and she’s got an active imagination. Truth is–she’s an expert at calling for take-out, she grumbles about walking the dog and the dust bunnies under the bed have grown into dust lions.

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Posted in excerpt, Spotlight, Thriller on October 25, 2018

Synopsis

In this sequel to Pullen’s best selling thriller, Naked Ambition, Chief Justice Nino Castiglia is scheduled to have breakfast with the disgraced newspaper reporter Beck Rikki, but shows up dead instead.

Rikki, once Washington’s premiere investigative reporter, immediately focuses on a prostitute who spent the evening with the justice. As he digs deeper, it starts to become obvious there is more to this than murder. Yet the deeper he goes, the more he suspects he is being manipulated.

He dashes back and forth between Texas and Washington, D.C. in hopes of solving the riddle and realizes he has not only put his life in danger, but the lives of others.

What has he gotten into? This is Washington where you can’t believe anyone. In this story of blackmail and manipulation, no one would believe the astonishing truth. And just how would an ex-newspaperman who has been exiled from his profession get anyone to believe the truth anyway?

Excerpt

He rang the doorbell and waited.

“Coming,” he heard. Beck held his breath.

The door opened as far as the safety chain would allow. He could see through the small opening that he must have just gotten her out of the shower. Her hair was wrapped in a white towel and she was wearing a thick white bathrobe. Even so, he immediately recognized her from the party the night before.

“Ms. Fiori?”

“Yes.”

“My name is Beck Rikki. I’m a reporter and I’d like to talk to you.”

“What about?” she asked.

“There’s been a murder. I’m not sure you’re aware of it.”

She gasped and slammed the door. The safety chain scraped against the lock and the door swung open again with such ferocity that her extended arm motion pulled loose her hastily tied belt. It fell to her sides and her robe gaped open. Beck gaped too, looking down at her exposed body. He fixed on her breasts, her smooth flawless skin and her taut belly. His eyes stopped there as she grasped at her robe with her free hand.

He tried to pretend he’d seen nothing, but her expression revealed she wasn’t buying it.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t—”

“Was it my sister?”

“Your sister?”

“The murder.”

“Oh no.” Beck cleared his mind of the accidental striptease. “I’m not here about your sister.”

“Oh thank God.”

“What about your sister?” Now Beck was curious. But he was getting off topic. Her family life was her own.

“She has issues. Never mind.”

“That’s not why I’m here. Chief Justice Nino Castiglia was murdered last night. I think you were the last one to see him alive.”

She gave him a puzzled look. “What are you talking about?”

“I saw you at dinner last night at the resort and then you left with the chief justice to go to his room.”

He gazed into her wide crystalline blue eyes. Her face was delicate and flawless. The short narrow nose and pointed chin were offset by high cheekbones.

“Mister, Mister Rikki, is it?” she said.

Her tone changed. He had put her on the defensive. Not good.

“Mr. Rikki, I don’t know what your game is or what you’ve been smoking, but I’ve never laid eyes on this justice of yours, and you most certainly did not see me at dinner last night. Please leave.”

Beck hesitated. This was his best lead. He couldn’t lose it.

“But I saw you there. I was a few tables away.”

“You obviously saw someone, but it wasn’t me.”

Beck knew better. Why would she deny being there?

“Now please leave before I call the police.”

About the Author

Rick Pullen is an award winning career journalist. He started out as an investigative reporter and eventually became a magazine editor. In 2015 he was named runner up for editor of the year. Also in 2015 Rick was named to the Folio 100—the 100 most influential people in magazine publishing.

He began writing political thrillers in 2011. His first, Naked Ambition, was a 2016 bestseller. Naked Truth, a sequel, was just published in September. The Apprentice was published in 2017.

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