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

Synopsis

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

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

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

Guest Post

The Frosting on the Cake by G. A. McKevett

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The family returned to carnage.

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

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

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

About the Author

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

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

Synopsis

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

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

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

Excerpt

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About the Author

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

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Synopsis

Callie Reed makes a long overdue visit to her aunt Melodie, who lives in a fairy-tale cottage in quaint Keepsake Cove, home to a bevy of unique collectible shops on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Just as they’re beginning to reconnect, Callie discovers her aunt’s body on the floor of her music box shop. Grief-stricken, Callie finds she can’t accept Melodie’s death being called accidental. How could her strong and healthy aunt take such a fatal fall? And why was she there in the middle of the night?

As Callie searches for the truth, signs seem to come from her late aunt through a favorite music box, urging Callie on. Or are they warnings? If Callie isn’t careful, she could meet a similar deadly fate amid Melodie’s collection.

Review

I borrowed this book from the library since I have the 2nd book on my Kindle. I love cozies and this one was just a little different from what I am used to reading but not in a bad way at all. Someone dies but no one except Callie thinks that foul play might be involved. This sets up an interesting plot line and a variety of characters and a quaint shopping town with unique shop names.

I enjoyed getting to know the various people in the town and there are several “not so nice” characters but even then, those characters add depth to the story and the history of the town and relationships they had with Callie’s Aunt Melodie (the one who dies).

I did figure out who the killer was but not by any overt clues. I think it was just that the number of possibilities was limited in my mind and this character seemed the most logical.

I can’t wait to read the next book and take another visit to this Eastern town.

We give it 4 paws up

Synopsis

The Childs family faced the unthinkable… now they have a second chance.
~~~
The Childs family has endured a terrible tragedy, but the FBI’s shocking discovery has turned their lives upside down.

His kids have all moved on from the death of their mother, as has Isaac from the loss of his wife, but now that the FBI has finally solved the case, the Childs family must face the loss of Ramie all over again.

Each has their own relationships and their own lives, but all are upended due to unforeseen circumstances. As they maneuver these new lives, they must deal with love, heartache, and jealousy as a family, and the choices they face will not be easy.

Their decisions bring out the best in some… and the worst in others.
~~~
Evolved Publishing presents the second book in the “An American Family” series, contemporary suspense thrillers that explore one family’s trials and tragedies.

About the Author

I’m a professional thrifter who is happily married, the father of four children, and an avid runner. I was born and raised in Georgia and spent time in Oklahoma, California, Connecticut, and then Oregon, as an adult. I’m a graduate of Oregon State University and now reside in North Georgia, raising my family, near family.

My first book, The Earth Bleeds Red, was released in 2013. I took a few years off from writing to start my own business, and my second book, The Lights Will Never Fade, came out in Jan 2018. My new contemporary suspense/thriller series, An American Family, is coming in the fall of 2018 from Evolved Publishing.

I’m a bit of a free spirit who enjoys working from home, traveling around, looking for treasures to share, and creating worlds that otherwise would not exist. Thrifting and writing are my two passions, and I’m fortunate to be able to do both.

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

Synopsis

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

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

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

About the Author

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

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You may remember a review of another cookbook a few weeks back that I received from Abrams Books as part of the Abrams Dinner Party in which I was selected to participate.  I’m back with another cookbook they provided to me for my thoughts.

I have to admit I did not make anything from this cookbook (YET!) mostly because I felt overwhelmed but also because my schedule has been crazy and I haven’t had time to take a deep breath and choose a recipe to make.  I have flagged several recipes including Goguma Jorim (Roasted Sweet Potatoes), Hobak Jeon (Green Squash Fritters), Yachae Twiim (Vegetable Fritters), Fennel Muchim (Fennel Salad), Gu Oon Hobak Muchim (Charred Summer Squash Salad), and Kkanpoong Saewoo ( Crispy Sweet and Sour Shrimp – I would most likely substitute chicken for a shellfish allergy).

But despite not having time to make a recipe I have flipped through this book and while some of the recipes and ingredients seem daunting, the cookbook is well laid out with lots of color photographs to illustrate the final dish and even the steps in preparing some of the dishes.  I love the introduction that tells the story of the author’s life growing up and how many of these foods played a part in her childhood and the memories.

After the introduction, there are 4 pages of photographs of various ingredients and spices used in cooking Korean food.  This is VERY helpful to someone like me that read some of the recipes and had no clue what some of the ingredients were or even what to look for at the grocery store.  I don’t think many of these I will find at my local Kroger but my town does have a large Asian population with smaller stores that will carry most of what I need.

Did you know there was a right way to cook rice?  I did not until I read the instructions laid out in the book.  I have not tried this method yet as I cheat and use a rice cooker, but one of these days I’ll try this method and see how it compares.

Overall, I think this book would be a great starter for anyone wanting to learn how to cook Korean food because of the many photos and details instructions on creating any of the dishes.

Recipe for Goguma Jorim (Roasted Sweet Potatoes)

Ingredients

2 lbs sweet potatoes

2 Tbsp olive oil

Kosher salt

1/4 cup rice wine vinegar

2 tsp sesame oil

2 tsp gochugaru (coarsely ground red pepper with a texture between flakes and powder)

2 tsp soy sauce

1 tsp minced garlic

3/4 cup thinly sliced scallions

1/4 cup thinly sliced pickled jalapenos (optional)

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees

Scrub the sweet potatoes clean and cut them into 1-inch cubes

In a mixing bowl, toss the sweet potato cubes with the olive oil and a pinch of salt, then lay them out on a baking sheet

Roast the sweet potatoes for about 20 minutes, or until cooked through and crispy on the outside.  Let cool.

In a mixing bowl, toss the cooled sweet potatoes with the vinegar, sesame oil, gochugaru, soy sauce, garlic, scallions, and pickled peppers (if using).  Serve at room temperature or cold.

This dish will last in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days.

Praise

“Korean Home Cooking is a revelation. It is an education in Korean cuisine and a roadmap for bringing it into your kitchen, with recipes that are as smart and delicious as they are achievable. Herein is a body of knowledge that needed a generous cook like Sohui to shape and share it, and it deserves a spot on every serious cook’s bookshelf.” — Peter Meehan, author, founder of Lucky Peach

“Like so many other enthusiastic eaters, I am fascinated with the flavors found in Korean cooking; earthy and tangy flavors, created by using simple ingredients like salt, soybeans, chili peppers, grains, sun, and air. Sohui’s writing welcomes us to visit her earliest food memories like a family member and she profoundly informs us with the nuanced skill of a natural teacher.”— Michael Anthony, author and executive chef, Gramercy Tavern

“Sohui Kim is breaking down barriers of the Korean cuisine, making delicious food ready for a simple Monday dinner or a balling out event for special occasions. Buy the book and open your everyday table to these amazing recipes.”— Dale Talde, author and chef, Talde

“If you could only choose one cookbook on Korean cuisine, I would opt for this one. It is a gorgeous collection of soulful recipes that are easy to follow and execute. Buy it for the banchan alone.”— Anita Lo, chef and author

“Naturally attuned to many of the current concerns and fashions in food, the delectably spiced, colorful Korean dishes in restaurants may seem overwhelming to the American home cook. No longer. In this very detailed and exquisitely illustrated cookbook, Sohui Kim combines knowledge from her Insa kitchen with down-to-earth savvy recalled from her family kitchen. It is as much a guide to successful ordering in Korean restaurants, as it is to the adventurous home cook.?”— Mimi Sheraton, author

About the Author

Sohui Kim is the chef and co-owner of Insa and The Good Fork in Brooklyn, New York. Rachel Wharton is a James Beard Foundation award-winning journalist and the coauthor of F*ck, That’s Delicious and The Good Fork Cookbook, among others. She lives in New York City.

Due East, Beasts & Campfire Feasts: A Cozy Witch Mystery (Spells & Caramels)
Cozy Mystery
7th in Series
Self Published
Paperback: 278 pages

Synopsis

A hostile town. A mountaintop mission. Will their magic save the day or spoil the pudding?

Imogen thought escaping the king’s wrath would give her everything she wanted. But her relationship with Prince Hank is tougher than an overcooked flan and the welcome they get on Badlands Island is far less than friendly. Accused of kidnapping, Imogen proposes they prove their worth by traveling through a deadly forest to retrieve a magical herb at the top of a mountain…

Forced to take her baking skills on the road, Imogen and her friends must navigate monsters, secrets, and a possible traitor. And the little matter of the impending typhoon is seriously compressing their timeline…

With the storm and creatures closing in, can Imogen complete the quest or will her next meal be her last?

Due East, Beasts & Campfire Feasts in the seventh book in the Spells & Caramels series of paranormal cozy mysteries. If you like amateur witch sleuths, unbreakable friendships, and fascinating magical creatures, then you’ll love Erin Johnson’s page-turning adventure.

Buy Due East, Beasts & Campfire Feasts to battle a mountain of monsters today!

Review

There is something about this series that has drawn me into its fantasy world.  From vampires to witches, to beasts, all have captured my attention and won’t let go!

This book is a little more serious than some of the previous books.  Or at least it seems that way to me.  But not serious in a bad way, perhaps the situation just seems more intense than past events.  However, that didn’t deter me from being caught up in the characters, the mystery, and even the romance between various characters.  I am always amazed at authors that can create these fantasy worlds and continue to expand upon them and create new situations that don’t repeat.

This book picks right up where #6 left off and we get a peek into the Badlands which maybe aren’t so bad after all considering what we have learned about Hank’s father and what he has done in the past.  Imogen and the gang have to prove they are not like all the others but without their magic.  This is not necessarily a good thing because they cannot protect themselves.  There are some tense moments for everyone but also many comical moments.  I laugh when Imogen references things from the human world and no one has any idea what she is talking about.  I like that all of the characters have their flaws and no one is perfect.  This allows the reader to relate to them, even if their world is magical.

We give this book 5 paws up.

About the Author

A native of Tempe, Arizona, Erin spends her time crafting mysterious, magical, romance-filled stories that’ll hopefully make you laugh.

In between, she’s traveling, napping with her dogs, eating with her friends and family, and teaching Pilates (to allow her to eat more).

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Death, Diamonds, and Freezer Burn (Grime Pays Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Soul Mate Publishing, Inc.
Release Date – October 24, 2018

Synopsis

An unwelcome visitor, an unrequited love, and a dead body create chaos in a middle-aged woman’s plan for a productive summer.

Despite a looming divorce, an empty checkbook, and a struggling cleaning business, Cece Cavanaugh is determined to land on her own two feet. Adamant about staying a safe distance from the handsome detective who has her fantasizing about violating the morals clause in her prenuptial agreement, Cece dives headlong into her work.

Even though she has no free time to spare, Cece finds herself guilted into cleaning a hoarder’s home. Her discoveries in the condemned house are too shocking to ignore. Diamond-laden pachyderms, a secret cache of money, and a dead body lure Cece into launching an investigation that places her in direct contact with the one person she’s desperate to avoid–hunky Detective Case Alder.

With clues in hand, Cece runs down leads and eliminates suspects one by one. Her conclusion and brave accusation put a friend’s life in peril forcing Cece to hatch a plan to outsmart the killer. A daring move could either save Cece and her friend or lead to their demise.

Review

Entertaining with laugh out loud moments and some interesting twists in the second book of this series.

Lots of things I like about this book/series – an older protagonist that seems to be ok doing whatever it takes to keep herself afloat considering the soon to be ex left her with nothing (he cleaned out the bank accounts when he moved out and hadn’t made house payments in 6 months). Her children are a mix of supportive and spoiled so it is a good balance. She has a housekeeper, Beatrice, (paid for by the MIL Hazel) that doesn’t like the MIL so she creates stories to protect CeCe and to stick it to Hazel. I think that cracks me up the most, Beatrice trying to come up with stories to rattle Hazel but not so bad that they would hurt CeCe. And the final cherry is CeCe gaining a roommate of sorts. Nancy, the gum-smacking receptionist from CeCe’s first job has lost her home and needs a place to stay, so she ingratiates herself into CeCe’s house and life. Nancy is very annoying but turns out she has some positive attributes, it just takes a while to find them.

The mystery itself has multiple moving parts – a dead body is found in a freezer, diamonds are discovered in an unlikely place, and not everyone is who they seem to be. While I did figure out part of the mystery, the story still kept me guessing and the ending was quite the surprise.

I do think that CeCe needs to be a bit stronger. She should have changed the locks when Phillip moved out and she should never have signed a prenup with a morals clause that was all one-sided (thanks to Witch Hazel!). But she is learning from her mistakes and turning things around. She just has to keep the two men interested in her at bay until the divorce is final.

I can’t wait for the third book so I can see how things progress for everyone.

We give it 4 1/2 paws

About the Author

Tricia L. Sanders writes about women with class, sass, and a touch of kickass.  A former instructional designer and corporate trainer, she traded in curriculum writing for novel writing, because she hates bullet points and loves to make stuff up. And fiction is more fun than training guides and lesson plans.

When she isn’t writing, Tricia is busy crossing dreams off her bucket list. With all 50 states checked, she’s concentrating on foreign interests. She’s an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan, so don’t get between her and the television when a game is on. Currently, she is working on a mystery series set in the fictional town of Wickford, Missouri. Another project in the works is a women’s fiction road trip adventure.

Her essays have appeared in Sasee, ByLine, The Cuivre River Anthology and Great American Outhouse Stories; The Whole Truth and Nothing Butt. She is a proud member of The Lit Ladies, six women writing their truths into fiction.

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Not So Wicked by T. A. Moorman

Published October 30, 2018 by GothicMoms Studios

YA Paranormal/Urban Fantasy

Synopsis

Caught in a realm they know next to nothing about, in a time where they’re hated for not what they are but how they look, these supernatural teens may find it harder to curve their bloodlust than they thought.

Like most teens, even those with supernatural powers and abilities, Elvira thinks that her days at Be Prepared High are a colossal waste of time. Especially Feeding 101, since she’s a cursed vampire that was born without fangs. She and her friends view most of the classes as useless since they never plan on venturing to the human realm. Why would they when Underlayes was made specifically for every factions’ safety, where they could roam free day or night with not a care in the worlds.

But just like her parents always told her, sometimes you’re put into situations you can’t control.

Elvira’s life takes an unexpected turn when a wizard hell bent on misplaced revenge kidnaps her and several of her friends. Not only does she send them with a one-way ticket to Detroit, Michigan, she sends them to a time when the tension amongst the races is at its highest. And having to deal with race issues is the one thing that has never even been so much as a thought to any of them and is the one course not on the roster.

But will everything they’ve learned in school be enough to keep them alive? What will they all do when racism stares them in the face? Most importantly, how will they get back home?

Books 2 Read

Excerpt

Chapter 1

Once upon a time… Really? I’m not starting my story off with that lame ass cliché. Fat chance. Not when my story is anything but classic. You can think of this as the life and times of a teenage vampire. A real one, not one that sparkles as though we were sprinkled with some type of fairy dust. Oh! And we’re born, not made by just being bitten, consuming blood from another vampire, or any other legend you may have researched somewhere. The bitten one is the most ridiculous theory any of us have ever heard of. I mean really, think about it, if everyone ever bitten by a vampire were to turn into one how could they ever go back for seconds on the same victim, er donor? Could you imagine how large the vampire population would be? Anyway, you wanna hear my story? Just sit back, grab a pint of blood, or milk, and have a listen.

First off, I don’t live in your dimension, I live in a separate one called Underlayes. Where the things that go bump in the night – werewolves, vampires, mermaids, sirens, witches, and so much more – truly are real. Underlayes has regular neighborhoods just like Earth does, we don’t live in a ton of dug out caves, or cryptic looking castles; besides the royals anyway. We used to live amongst you guys, but that was way before my time, and a story way too long and boring for me to bother with repeating. Just know that we all truly do exist and a very few of our number walk alongside you still. So, you may want to think about that before you lay down at night after bullying the school nerd or your shy co-worker. If they’re the silent and quiet type they’re more than possibly plotting your untimely demise and deciding what side-dish you’d go best with. Or what curse to place on you. Something my Mom should have thought about a long, long time ago.

Me? The names Elvira, yea, Mom and Pops have a sick and twisted sense of humor. Which when you come to think of it is actually a very good thing, since Mom was dumb enough to piss off a witch when she was preggers with me and my brother, Dracula (yup, again with the humor), Drake for short. During one of her many mood swings dear old Mom went completely off on an already pissed off witch; something about the witch crossing in front of her, and Mom thinking that would make us come out cross eyed (and you thought your mom was superstitious, Ha!). Miss Witch decided to do her one better and really did curse us both. I was granted with the gift of being the only vampire known of with NO FANGS! Since Underlayes doesn’t have hospitals bagged blood isn’t exactly just lying around. Why not just bite down extra hard you say? Probably because that leaves a big chunk of meat in my mouth and vampires can’t digest meat; we have a strictly all liquid diet. Why not just slit someone’s wrist and pour it in a cup you ask? If you were on an all liquid diet, would one glass a day keep your hunger pains at bay? NO! And draining someone completely dry doesn’t work either, unlike how they portray things in your human movies, blood clots up pretty quickly when it hits air; unless pumped up with nasty anti-coagulants which leave a horrible aftertaste and makes the blood nearly impossible to digest. So the blood shortage on your neck of the veil? Feel free to blame that on us, Mom and Dad had to feed us somehow during the experimental processes of properly bagging and storing the blood the way humans do. But no worries, they haven’t had to raid your neck of the realms in a long time now. The alchemist’s studied the components your scientists used and now have it down pact.

I’m not really sure if Drake’s curse is worst or pretty much just as bad. Him? He goes into a full-blown shock at the very sight of blood; fainting spells, seizures, black outs, the works. Though lucky for him rarely all of those at once. Lucky for Mom and Dad, he could still at least savor the taste and smell of it. But talk about being seriously dependent upon someone else, hard to nourish yourself when you can’t even look at your food. And as a baby? You try putting a blindfold on an infant, especially one with fangs, and let me know how well that works out for you. Ah, but it made for some fangtastic pranks when I was thirteen, which also ended in a lot of punishments. But they were so worth it!

So that’s us, Elvie and Drake, two of the only known vampires forced to live on bagged blood. Though Drake may get lucky one day and be able to savor a neck or two, as long as he keeps his eyes shut tight and doesn’t dribble.

Can’t we just break the curse you ask? Ask Aunt Flo that one. Did I fail to mention the witch in question was, and still is Mom’s best friend? She’s also a witch with more power than she can handle who needs to watch what she says at ALL times. The curse was supposedly never intentional and trying to undo it has proven pretty much impossible.

Mom, Trinity Alkaev, is a beautiful creature with a body neither skinny nor large, but what one describes as buxom perfection. Also, one of the most patient females you will ever meet, and a truly ferocious beast, fangs and all, when pissed. Dad, Borya Alkaev, is the strong not so silent type, with a chiseled chin and sculpted cheekbones in which I heard would give Michaelangelo a run for his money. Born after the creation of Underlayes, he’s only two hundred years old, so I never understood how he ended up with such a thick accent as if he just left the great Motherland of Russia. The exact opposite of Mom when it comes to patience, but the best dad any set of unorthodox twins could ask for. Neither of them were an only child, but both are the youngest and only surviving children from both of their respective lines. Many died before the dimension of Underlayes was made, some during the move. And Aunt Flo, I’m not even getting into that one. And as far as looks go Drake and I are a perfect combination of the two, with the exception of the fact that I have no fangs.

THUD. CRASH. SCREAM.

What in Hel’s name was that?

“Elvira Esfir Alkaev!” Moms blood-curling screams vibrated through the floorboards, “How many times do I need to tell you not to leave your blood bags lying around? Get down here and help me clean up this mess. And carry your brother to his room!”

Well there you have it, the usual beginning of a day in the house of Alkaev.

“Now young lady!”

About the Author

When you become a Mom, you begin to put yourself last, and your combat boots begin to collect dust. Going to your child’s PTA meetings in full Gothic, especially industrial, regalia is pretty much frowned upon. Especially by your own children, and your teens would die of a heart attack. But, one should not have to completely stop being themselves, uniqueness is greatness. So all of that darkness is put into words in her books, and designs in her jewelry sold in her Gothic Moms Dark Charms shop on Etsy and Rebels Market.

Single mother of five beautiful children, but by far more than just that. T. A. Moorman is an artist, a former violinist, a seamstress, a crafter, a writer, a blogger, a reviewer, a dark confidant and a darkly dangerous, fiercely protective friend. She still hopes to one day find her Dark Knight in shining armor, since Prince Charming would never be able to handle her. And currently broke, so go buy something of hers and tell everyone you know how much you love this book.

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Giveaway

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NOW LIVE!  Bagging Alice by Laura Barnard

Get your copy of the hilarious Bagging Alice, the third standalone in the Babes of Brighton series

Head on over to Laura’s Facebook and Instagram pages (below) to enter her HUGE giveaway!

Synopsis

Alice is used to taking photographs for a living – not having intimate pictures of herself posted for all the world to see, thanks to a disgruntled ex-boyfriend. Now her clients are canceling appointments, and she’s almost out of cash. What else could go wrong? Oh yeah, her roommate has scarpered leaving Alice completely out of luck.

Enter Tom ‘man whore’ Maddens. Having disappointed his father one time too many, he moves to Brighton, ready for a new start. And where better to begin it than in Alice’s newly-vacant spare room? And if he tries to seduce her at the same time? Well he’s just living up to his reputation isn’t he?

But then he didn’t bank on actually falling for her. Will his reputation as a commitment phobe put a stop to any sparks between the pair? Or can Alice put aside her trust issues and take a leap of faith for Tom?

Although a standalone, if you’d like to check out the first two books in the Babes of Brighton series here they are:

Excess Baggage (Book 1) – Excess Baggage

Love Uncovered (Book 2) – Love Uncovered

Stalk Laura and check out the giveaways on Facebook & Instagram

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