Synopsis

Depression is just a word. It means less to me than it does to you and I’m the one who’s living it.
I live. I love. I laugh.
And you’ll believe all my lies.
Because she does too.

The world is a stranger.
But everyone thinks they know me.
My body has all the answers.
But my mind can’t understand them.
I’m drowning everyday.
But I never go near water.
The air in my lungs is toxic.
But I’m breathing all the time.

You’ll think you understand.
But how can you?
Even with her, I’m alone.

About the Author

D Breeze is a British contemporary romance author who lives for the angst and lives of her characters. A filthy-minded dreamer. A fantasist, with a penchant for writing stories to push your boundaries.  She loves losing herself in books, reveling in sarcasm, and making people blush.

If she’s not at the bar, handing out shots to unsuspecting victims, you can usually find D hunched over her laptop at four in the morning, still trying to piece together the lines of fantasy vs reality.

Failing that, she’ll be curled up in a corner, rocking back and forth and cursing over the characters arguing in her mind!

Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Goodreads

Giveaway

Head on over to D’s facebook page  to be in with a chance of winning a $10 Amazon Gift Card and an ebook of Just Listen.  All you have to do is like her page and comment on the pinned post.  Good luck!

Scheduled to Death (A Maggie McDonald Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Lyrical Underground (January 17, 2017)
Paperback: 236 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1601836663
Digital Ebook – ASIN: B01EQ2N1QM

Synopsis

Professional organizer Maggie McDonald has a knack for cleaning up other people’s messes. So when the fiancée of her latest client turns up dead, it’s up to her to sort through the untidy list of suspects and identify the real killer.

Maggie McDonald is hoping to raise the profile of her new Orchard View organizing business via her first high-profile client. Professor Lincoln Sinclair may be up for a Nobel Prize, but he’s hopeless when it comes to organizing anything other than his thoughts. For an academic, he’s also amassed more than his share of enemies. When Sinclair’s fiancée is found dead on the floor of his home laboratory—electrocuted in a puddle of water—Maggie takes on the added task of finding the woman’s murderer. To do so, she’ll have to outmaneuver the suspicious, obnoxious police investigator she’s nicknamed “Detective Awful” before a shadowy figure can check off the first item on their personal to-do list—Kill Maggie McDonald.

Review

This is the second in a series about a home organizer, Maggie, in a small town in CA. She manages to stumble across murders and gets caught up in solving the crime.

I love all the tips at the beginning of each chapter on organization, some are very useful and I need to put a few of them into practice.

I love the cast of characters and they all play a significant role in progressing the story line. There is a new character in this book (pretty sure this book only), a incompetent police detective named George Apsel. They have given him a most appropriate nickname of detective awful because he is truly awful and does not care about solving the crime. Heck, he can’t even get Maggie’s name right. He is filling in for Jason (another police detective) that broke his leg and is laid up…but we still get to see him some in this book.

The mystery itself was not easy to figure out…I think I suspected the killer just because he seemed suspicious but there was not anything I could put my finger on. The reason for the killings was a bit surprising to me, but it made some sense if you understand where the killer was coming from (not that it is justifiable!).

Outside of the main story line there was a minor line about a couple of homeless young women. I liked how Maggie and a few others gained their trust and helped them out. There were some surprises regarding these two women that just made it more intriguing and interesting.

I really enjoy this series and can’t wait to read more.  We give it 5 paws up.

 

About the Author

Mary Feliz has lived in five states and two countries but calls Silicon Valley home. Traveling to other areas of the United States, she’s frequently reminded that what seems normal in the high-tech heartland can seem decidedly odd to the rest of the country. A big fan of irony, serendipity, diversity, and quirky intelligence tempered with gentle humor, Mary strives to bring these elements into her writing, although her characters tend to take these elements to a whole new level. She’s a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and National Association of Professional Organizers. Mary is a Smith College graduate with a degree in Sociology. She lives in Northern California with her husband, near the homes of their two adult offspring.

Website * Twitter

Giveaway

On February 10, the author will be giving away five ebook editions of both books to randomly selected names on her newsletter list. Sign up here to win!

 

check out the other blogs on the tour

January 17 – Book Babble – REVIEW

January 18 – View from the Birdhouse – SPOTLIGHT

January 19 – Sleuth Cafe – REVIEW, EXCERPT

January 19 – Books,Dreams,Life – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

January 20 – Classy Cheapskate – REVIEW

January 21 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW

January 22 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

January 23 – Jersey Girl Book Reviews – REVIEW

January 24 – The Power of Words – REVIEW

January 25 – Queen of All She Reads – REVIEW

January 25 – Girl with Book Lungs – REVIEW

January 25 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – INTERVIEW

January 26 – A Holland Reads – GUEST POST

January 27 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW

January 28 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

January 29 – Lori’s Reading Corner – SPOTLIGHT

January 30 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW

January 30 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

Synopsis

Ian’s alliance with the rebels brings the wrath of the Pur army crashing down on them, but he is forced to abandon his new allies and travels to Earth’s alternate universe to rescue Rayne. As Ian combs the strange, desolate planet in search for her, he discovers the true story of the Weir and his connection to Earth’s imminent destruction.

Excerpt

Several miles later, and unsure if he could take much more, the current slowed and he leaned back in exhaustion. The boat glided into a wide cavern with a high-arched ceiling. A narrow ray of natural light streamed from a sizeable crevice overhead. The striations across the rock walls took Ian’s breath away and he yearned for better light to view them in all their splendor. The wall depicting the planet’s evolutionary story, displaying various crust layers rising high above his head.

Bump! One of the paddles slipped out of Ian’s hand and he scrambled to retrieve it before it floated away. He slid the handle back into the iron ring that rose from the side of the boat and breathed a sigh of relief. Droplets, either from sweat or from his wet hair, plopped onto his cheek, and he used his forearm to swipe his forehead. Bump!

The rowboat swished sideways in the water. It hadn’t been diverted by an underwater rock. The motion felt more like a nudge.

A water creature swam beneath him. Was it playing with him, or was the gesture a warning?

In order to conjure a core blast, Ian would have to let go of one of the oars. If he pulled it into the boat, he’d be unable to steer.

The creature’s back broke the surface on the port side. It was about seven feet long and covered in thick scales, each one the size of Ian’s hand. Phosphorescent algae grew between the curved scales, outlining them in an emerald glow. Ian leaned over the side of the boat as the creature dove beneath and disappeared into the murky depths. He had no idea how deep the water was in the cavern, but from what he could tell, it was enough deep for this creature to have grown to the size of a small car.

He searched for a ledge, anything he could paddle over to so he could be better prepared if the creature returned. Nothing but sheer rock walls surrounded him.

The sounds of the gentle lapping water kept his breaths company, yet were unable to sooth his pulse.

When the creature didn’t return after a couple of minutes, Ian dipped the oars into the water with the merest of sound and pulled back with gentle force, headed for the mouth of the cave several yards ahead. Ian passed under a stream of natural light, and was blinded for a few seconds.

He cocked his ear at a change in the surface of the water from behind. The creature was on a direct path toward him. Ian pulled the oar in his left hand with everything he had but it wasn’t enough to skirt the oncoming blitz. The creature lifted the back end of the boat out of the water and sent Ian lunging to the side.

He face-planted on the surface, and then was pulled under the water.

 

About the Author

Sue Duff has dreamed of dragons and spaceships before she could even read, so it’s only natural that she now combines both fantasy and science fiction as her favorite genre. Having written since high school, Duff never took it seriously until a skiing accident laid her up for an entire summer and she turned on the word processor to combat the boredom. A couple years later, her first urban fantasy novel, Fade to Black , was one of five finalists in the RMFW Colorado Gold Writing Contest and in 2015, Duff’s writing earned her the PEN Award.

She is the second oldest of six girls with an avid reader mom and her dad, the family’s single drop of testosterone in a sea of estrogen.

By day, Duff is a dedicated speech-language therapist at an inner city school district, a career she pursued much in part to her aunt who got her hooked on stories of the profession when Duff was younger. She is passionate about the work she does and regularly works to help those students that need it the most.

Sue is a member of the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and The Pikes Peak Writers.  She calls Colorado home and when not saving the world one page at a time, she can be found walking her great dane, getting her hands dirty in her garden, or creating something delicious in her kitchen.

Check out her blog, A Cook’s Guide to Writing and other musings on her website.

Website * Twitter * Goodreads * Facebook * Newsletter

 

Catch up on the series by reading Fade to Black,  Masks and Mirrors and Sleight of Hand!

Love Audiobooks? You can also listen to Fade to Black through Audible.

The Blessed Event (The Professor Molly Mysteries)
Publisher: Hawaiian Heritage Press (June 10, 2016)
Paperback: 344 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1943476251
Kindle ASIN: B01GW5WUAE

Synopsis

“You may wonder what my least-favorite student was doing in my living room. In a twist of fate that might seem hilarious if it happened to someone else, he was now my stepson.”

Professor Molly Barda is looking forward to a quiet summer in Mahina, Hawaii working on her research and adjusting to married life. But when a visit from her new husband’s relatives coincides with a murder, Molly wonders what she’s married into–and realizes she might have a killer under her roof.

Just $0.99 during January and Free on Kindle Unlimited

About the Author

Like Molly Barda, Frankie Bow teaches at a public university. Unlike her protagonist, she is blessed with delightful students, sane colleagues, a loving family, and a perfectly nice office chair. She believes if life isn’t fair, at least it can be entertaining.

In addition to writing murder mysteries, she publishes in scholarly journals under her real name. Her experience with academic publishing has taught her to take nothing personally.

Webpage * Twitter * Facebook * LinkedIn * Goodreads

 

 

15 Minutes: A Maizie Albright Star Detective Humorous Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Publisher: Past Perfect Press (January 24, 2017)
Paperback: 341 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0997885323
E-Book ASIN: B01N77ZK94

Synopsis

#10days #findthewoman #getthejob #doNOTfallinlove

When ex-teen star Maizie Albright returns to her Southern hometown of Black Pine, Georgia, she hoped to rid herself of Hollywood tabloid and reality show hell for a new career as a private investigator. Instead, Hollyweird follows her home. Maizie’s costar crushing, but now for her gumshoe boss. Her stage-monster mother still demands screen time. Her latest rival wants her kicked off the set, preferably back to a California prison.

By entangling herself in a missing person’s case, she must reprise her most famous role. The job will demand a performance of a lifetime. But this time, the stakes are real and may prove deadly.

Praise

“I was already a huge fan of Larissa Reinhart’s “Cherry Tucker” series, but in her new mystery series, FIFTEEN MINUTES, she had me at the end of the first line: “Donuts.” Maizie Albright is the kind of fresh, fun, and feisty “star detective” I love spending time with, a kind of Nancy Drew meets Lucy Ricardo. Move over, Janet Evanovich. Reinhart is my new “star mystery writer!” — Penny Warner, Author of DEATH OF A CHOCOLATE CHEATER and THE CODE BUSTERS CLUB

“Hollywood glitz meets backwoods grit in this fast-paced ride on D-list celeb Maizie Albright’s waning star—even as it’s reborn in a spectacular collision with her nightmarish stage mother, her deer-pee-scented-apparel-inventing daddy…and a murderer. Sassy, sexy, and fun, 15 Minutes is hours of enjoyment—and a wonderful start to a fun new series from the charmingly Southern-fried Reinhart.” — Phoebe Fox, author of THE BREAKUP DOCTOR series

“Larissa Reinhart’s newest heroine, Maizie Albright, is at once naïve and worldly. As a former child star, she craves life in the real world by becoming a PI, just like the TV character that made her famous. Armed with humor, charm, and stubborn determination, Maizie is a breath of fresh air. I adored every second of 15 Minutes. Viva la Maizie!” — Terri L. Austin, bestselling author of the ROSE STRICKLAND MYSTERIES and the NULL FOR HIRE series.

Guest Post

Today we welcome Maizie Albright to StoreyBook Reviews.  I loved hearing what she had to say about being a detective!

Recently I’ve been aware of a certain black Sprinter van following me. I’m used to being followed, so I’ve gotten pretty good at noticing this sort of thing. Before you start to think I’m paranoid, let me explain. I’m Maizie Albright, once known for the starring role in hit kid shows like Kung Fu Kate and more famously, Julia Pinkerton, Teen Detective. You might recognize my adult self from All is Albright.

Sorry about All is Albright. It was Vicki’s project. She thought it a great idea spinning my bad press—those unfortunate club busts resulting in my rehab stints—into a reality show. Celebrity voyeurism is not my thing, I understand why it wouldn’t be yours.

But back to the van. Paparazzi stalking is just a regular Tuesday for a celebrity in LA. But in Black Pine, Georgia—where I’ve gone back to live with my father to prove I’ve given up my “celebrity lifestyle” (Judge Ellis’s words, not mine)—I don’t expect there to be paparazzi. I’m not celebrity lifestyling in Black Pine. I don’t even own a car anymore. I’m driving the dirt bike I got for my fifteenth birthday. But I’m following my dream of becoming a private investigator by working for Wyatt Nash of Nash Security Solutions.

While riding a dirt bike to surveillance assignments. But a dream’s a dream.

However, something’s up with this black van. I have a feeling it’s one of two terrible things.

It turns out that Mr. Nash’s latest client, Mr. Waverly, works for the financial company, Black Pine Group. Mr. Waverly wanted Nash to watch his wife for cheating. That’s just a Tuesday for a private investigator in Black Pine, by the way. No biggie. Except Nash just found out that his partner, Jolene Sweeney, wants to sell Nash Security Solutions and is using Black Pine Group to handle the sale.

That’s what we call a conflict of interest.

After a month of surveillance, where Mrs. Waverly kept to the same schedule every single day, Mr. Waverly’s wife disappeared. On my watch. First day on the job. A job in which I had no training.

And I sort of really wasn’t on the job either. The day before I lost her, I kind of forced my way into spying on Mrs. Waverly after Nash announced he wanted to quit the job for Mr. Waverly. Up to that point, Mr. Nash couldn’t find any evidence of Mrs. Waverly straying and told Mr. Waverly there wasn’t any point to it.

Yep, the day before she disappeared, Mr. Nash tried to quit working for the man who’s a partner in the company that wants to sell Mr. Nash’s business. Mr. Nash calls that “hinky.” And now Mr. Waverly’s doing his own PR spin on it, using not just the local Black Pine paper, but all Atlanta media outlets. And that spitball of news has grown into a giant media storm thanks to my notoriety. Hence the black van following me around and taking pictures. Which has not helped Nash from saving his company. Kind of does the opposite.

However, there could be one other reason for the van. And this one is even worse than the PR campaign against Nash Security Solutions. Vicki has come to Black Pine to convince me to sign on for another season of All is Albright, even though she knows that would breaking my probation requirements. Vicki never takes no for an answer. So much so that she dragged the crew and cast of All is Albright to Black Pine. So not only do I need to find Mr. Waverly’s wife to save Nash’s company, I’m dealing with Vicki machinations.

Machinations that could involve a black Sprinter van filming my investigation. Which sounds even more paranoid than telling you that there’s a black van following me.

But that’s just a Tuesday in the life of Maizie Albright.

About the Author

After seeing Paper Moon as a child, Larissa Reinhart fell in love with stories about confidence capers. QUICK SKETCH is the Cherry Tucker prequel to PORTRAIT in the mystery anthology THE HEARTACHE MOTEL. HIJACK IN ABSTRACT is the third in the Cherry Tucker Mystery Series from Henery Press, following STILL LIFE IN BRUNSWICK STEW (#2) and PORTRAIT OF A DEAD GUY (#1), a 2012 Daphne du Maurier finalist. She lives near Atlanta with her minions and Cairn Terrier, Biscuit.

 Website * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads * Pinterest * Facebook Street team * Amazon

 

 

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

check out the other blogs on this tour

January 24 – Laura’s Interests – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

January 24 – Books, Dreams, Life – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

January 25 – The Broke Book Bank – REVIEW

January 25 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 26 – The Book’s the Thing – REVIEW

January 27 – StoreyBook Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST

January 28 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT

January 29 – Island Confidential – CHARACTER INTERVIEW, SPOTLIGHT

January 30 – Book Babble – REVIEW

January 31 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

February 1 – Jane Reads – REVIEW, GUEST POST

February 2 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT

February 3 – Cozy Up With Kathy – INTERVIEW

February 4 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – GUEST POST, SPOTLIGHT

February 5 – Varietats – REVIEW

February 5 – Socrates’ Book Reviews – REVIEW

February 6 – Girl with Book Lungs – REVIEW

February 6 – Jersey Girl Book Reviews – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

February 6 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW

Time Out (A Dodie O’Dell Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Publisher: Lyrical Underground (January 17, 2017)
Paperback: 240 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1601837226
E-Book ASIN: B01EQ2N1W6

Synopsis

The amateur actors at the Etonville Little Theatre may be known for chewing the scenery, but restaurant manager Dodie O’Dell has something more appetizing for them to sink their teeth into. She’s been taking bows in her small New Jersey town for her theme menus, designed to complement the local productions. This fall, the community theatre is staging Arsenic and Old Lace, set in 1940s Brooklyn, so Dodie is serving up hot dogs, Italian ices, egg creams, and knishes at the weekend food festival.

All is going well until Antonio Digenza, the ex-Off-Off-Broadway director of the show, dies dramatically while noshing on a knish. As rumors of food poisoning quickly spread, Dodie scrambles to rescue the Windjammer restaurant’s reputation. But when clues point to foul play, she’s faced with a cast of suspects all auditioning for the part of DiGenza’s murderer. She’ll need to act fast to shine a spotlight on the killer—before it’s curtains for another victim . . .

About the Author

Suzanne Trauth is a novelist, playwright, screenwriter, and a former university theatre professor. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and the Dramatists Guild. When she is not writing, Suzanne coaches actors and serves as a celebrant performing wedding ceremonies. She lives in Woodland Park, New Jersey.

Website * Twitter

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

check out the other blogs on the tour

January 17 – Jersey Girl Book Reviews – REVIEW

January 17 – The Editing Pen – INTERVIEW

January 18 – The Ninja Librarian – REVIEW

January 19 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 20 – Varietats – REVIEW

January 21 – Shelley’s Book Case – REVIEW

January 22 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

January 23 – Girl with Book Lungs – SPOTLIGHT

January 24 – View from the Birdhouse – SPOTLIGHT

January 25 – A Holland Reads – GUEST POST

January 26 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 27 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 28 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW

January 29 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW

January 30 – A Chick Who Reads – REVIEW

Synopsis

A TAIL AS OLD AS TIME…

Addison Turner has scripted a perfect future for herself, complete with a fairytale ending. She will become the name in doggie fashion design and live happily ever after with the husband of her dreams—and her dachshund, Princess, by her side. Just when her plan is on track and she’s gaining recognition at the local dog show, Addison is hit with some Oscar-worthy drama. A group of prize-winning show dogs are stolen from under her nose, and she’s stuck asking for help from Felix Vaughn, an infuriatingly hot bartender who is the exact opposite of Prince Charming.

When more dogs go missing—and Felix becomes a suspect—the two team up to clear their names. Although Felix and Addison fight like cats and dogs, there’s an undeniable spark between them. And as the trail to the missing dogs heats up, so does their red-hot chemistry. Can Addison be persuaded to throw away her script to find an ending that just might be better than she ever expected?

Praise

Bestselling author Diane Kelly raves that Griffin’s previous title, Must Love Wieners is “paws down, one of the funniest books I’ve read in a long time… a relatable heroine, a sexy leading man, and adorable dachshunds.”

Review

This book has it all for me – romance, a little mystery and dogs (especially a doxie!).

This is part of a series and I haven’t read the first book yet but might just have to go back and read them (when I can find time!). You do not have to read the first book to enjoy this book, but there are a few mentions to some things in the past that happened in book 1. But nothing big or hindering enjoying the book.

I really liked the mystery aspect – who was stealing the show dogs? I was very shocked when the mystery portion came to a head and who was involved. It is crazy the lengths some people will go to in a competition.

I like the romance portion too – Addison thinks she wants one thing but who/what she really needs is quite the opposite. I love the story line between Addison and Felix and a little surprise he reveals closer to the end of the book. This surprise fills a lot of buckets for Addison once she realizes it.

All in all a great book and if you love dogs, romance and mystery you will want to check out this book.

We give this book 5 paws up

About the Author

Casey Griffin can often be found at comic conventions on her days off from her day job, driving 400 ton dump trucks in Northern Alberta, Canada. As a jack of all trades with a resume boasting registered nurse, English teacher, and photographer, books are her true passion. Casey is a 2012 Amazon Breakthrough Novel finalist, and is currently busy writing every moment she can.

Website * Twitter * Facebook

One Dead, Two to Go (An Eddie Shoes Mystery)

Series: Eddie Shoes Mystery (Book 1)
Publisher: Camel Press (April 15, 2016)
Paperback: 240 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1603813112
E-Book ASIN: B01DURRHSM

Synopsis

Private Investigator Edwina “Eddie Shoes” Schultz’s most recent job has her parked outside a seedy Bellingham hotel, photographing her quarry as he kisses his mistress goodbye. This is the last anyone will see of the woman… alive. Her body is later found dumped in an abandoned building. Eddie’s client, Kendra Hallings, disappears soon after. Eddie hates to be stiffed for her fee, but she has to wonder if Kendra could be in trouble too. Or is she the killer?

Eddie usually balks at matters requiring a gun, but before she knows it, she is knee-deep in dangerous company, spurred on by her card-counting adrenaline-junkie mother who has shown up on her doorstep fresh from the shenanigans that got her kicked out of Vegas. Chava is only sixteen years older than Eddie and sadly lacking in parenting skills. Her unique areas of expertise, however, prove to be helpful in ways Eddie can’t deny, making it hard to stop Chava from tagging along.

Also investigating the homicide is Detective Chance Parker, new to Bellingham’s Major Crimes unit but no stranger to Eddie. Their history as a couple back in Seattle is one more kink in a chain of complications, making Eddie’s case more frustrating and perilous with each tick of the clock.

Amazon * B&N * iTunes * Kobo 

 

Life In Western Washington by Eddie Shoes (with a little help from Elena Hartwell)

I moved to Bellingham, Washington a couple of years ago. It’s a great place to live. Mostly it’s quiet, although we have had a few more murders than usual in the last year. I hope that’s not a trend. I did notice it coincided with my mother, Chava, moving in with me, but I try not to think about that too much.

The Pacific Northwest isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. I moved here from Spokane, which is about as far east as you can go and not be in Idaho. Spokane is much drier than everything west of the Cascade Mountain range. It’s also hotter in the summer and colder in the winter. There are a lot of wonderful things about Eastern Washington. For example, some of the best wines in the world come from east of the Cascades. But now I call Western Washington home.

When I first moved to this side of the mountains, I lived in Seattle. Seattle is a great town. There are fabulous restaurants, marvelous bars, and spectacular views of the Olympic Mountains across the water. You can take a ferry boat to an island, out to the peninsula, or even as far as Canada. There are otters in the Aquarium and bald eagles often soar over the city.

There are lots of reasons to visit Seattle, from the Space Needle to the Pike Place Market, but I’m happy to be living in Bellingham.

Bellingham is home to Western Washington University, which keeps our population young and vital. We have a sweet little downtown area, where it’s easy to park and buildings aren’t more than a few stories tall, so skyscrapers don’t block out the sky.

We have live music at night from local bands and our own share of tasty restaurants and exciting nightlife. Plus, as an added bonus, we get less rain than Seattle. Okay, maybe just by a couple of inches, but still, a little less rain.

I like the rain, though. It keeps washing the world down, like a cleansing ritual for the environment. Water falls to earth before it runs to the sea. There’s a nice, cyclical rhythm to that, which appeals to me. It’s hard to hide dirt in a world where the sky always washes things clean. That’s good for a private investigator.

My mother complains a lot about the weather here. She lived for a lot of years in Las Vegas and the cold, wet climate isn’t her idea of fun. But I think my town is starting to rub off on her. She definitely appreciates our beautiful summers, with long days of golden sunlight. She’s less thrilled about winter, which stays dark from about four o’clock in the afternoon to eight o’clock the next morning. I see it as a tradeoff, however, to having daylight until almost ten o’clock at night in the summer.

Chava is doing a lot better now that she’s working at the casino. After all, you can’t tell what the weather is doing when you’re inside a place like that.

All in all, Bellingham is a brilliant little town. You should come and visit us out here soon. I’ll buy you a great cup of coffee and tell you all about those recent murders. I have to admit, I was involved with most of them, in one way or another. Stay a spell, and I’ll fill you in.

About the Author

After twenty years in the theater, Elena Hartwell turned her dramatic skills to fiction. Her first novel, One Dead, Two to Go introduces Eddie Shoes, private eye. Called “the most fun detective since Richard Castle stumbled into the 12th precinct,” by author Peter Clines, I’DTale Magazine stated, “this quirky combination of a mother-daughter reunion turned crime-fighting duo will captivate readers.”

In addition to her work as a novelist, Elena teaches playwriting at Bellevue College and tours the country to lead writing workshops.

When she’s not writing or teaching, her favorite place to be is at the farm with her horses, Jasper and Radar, or at her home, on the middle fork of the Snoqualmie River in North Bend, Washington, with her husband, their dog, Polar, and their trio of cats, Jackson, Coal Train, and Luna, aka, “the other cat upstairs.” Elena holds a B.A. from the University of San Diego, a M.Ed. from the University of Washington, Tacoma, and a Ph.D. from the University of Georgia.

Webpage * Facebook * Twitter * Blog * GoodReads * Pinterest

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

check out the other blogs on this tour

January 23 – A Blue Million Books – GUEST POST

January 24 – StoreyBook Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST, SPOTLIGHT

January 25 – Readeropolis – REVIEW*

January 26 – The Editing Pen – INTERVIEW

January 27 – Queen of All She Reads – REVIEW, GUEST POST

January 28 – The Power of Words – REVIEW*

January 29 – Cozy Up With Kathy – INTERVIEW

January 30 – Varietats – REVIEW

January 31 – Island Confidential – CHARACTER INTERVEW, SPOTLIGHT

February 1 – Turning the Pages – REVIEW

February 2 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 3 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too! – REVIEW*

February 4 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

February 5 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – REVIEW

Synopsis

After a murdered partner, a cheating wife and a lost job in Houston, Nick Sibelius sets up a private investigation business in a small Texas town hoping to find some peace and maybe, himself. When two lovers disappear and a fisherman turns up dead, he finds himself drawn into a web of crime and deceit involving MaryLou, a beautiful woman with a mysterious past; Junior, a failed farmer whose best intentions seem to always result in a dead body; and Barry, a sociopathic dentist turned illegal toxic waste entrepreneur with a violent right wing agenda. When the felon who killed Nick’s partner in Houston joins forces with Barry, Nick must not only stop the toxic waste dumping while finding his client’s missing daughter, but keep from being killed in the process. In the end, MaryLou’s dark secret will either save him or kill him — whichever comes first.

Review

Not only is this a crime thriller (I don’t think I can call it a mystery because you know what is going on and there isn’t really anything to solve) but it is quite funny too.  The cast of characters is very quirky but they all meld together nicely to make this a very enjoyable story.

I don’t even know where to start with this cast of characters. Nick is the PI that is searching for a preacher’s daughter that he swears was taken by a man….however, I think the preacher can’t accept his daughter dating!  Nick has his own past that has shaped him to be who he is today and he is pretty gutsy but that might be his former police training kicking in during the various incidents.  Junior is something of a redneck that has gotten into some precarious situations all because of money.  Just shows that if you don’t want to work for a living and make a quick buck it isn’t going to pretty or even legal!  Al/Alice is Nick’s office manager and he/she is quite a hoot.  I say he/she because Al wants to become Alice but not quite sure where in the process he/she is, but Nick is good and refers to Alice as a she.  I never knew what to expect and thought it was funny that he/she hit on Nick.  And then there is a love interest for Nick, MaryLou a journalist from Houston.  It is instant chemistry.

This author has hit on a great combination of action and humor and I’m not sure if I have read anything like this, but he has a fan of his work now!  Definitely pick it up if you are looking for something new to read that will keep you on the edge of your seat and laughing at the same time.

We give this 4 paws up.

About the Author

Richard Hacker has been writing most of his life, and professionally, in support of his work in management consulting, public speaking and training in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. In 2009 he moved, along with his wife, from Austin to Seattle, shifting his professional focus from business consulting to writing fiction full time. Wanted by authorities for smuggling Texas BBQ across state lines, he now writes and lives in Seattle. His writing has been recognized by the Writer’s League of Texas and the Pacific Northwest Writers Association. As a judge in literary contests such as PNWA and ChicLit, he enjoys the opportunity to give writers honest critique to move their craft forward. In addition, he is the science fiction and fantasy editor for the Del Sol Review, an online literary magazine.

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Color Me Dead (Henry Park Book 1)
Self Published (January 5, 2017)
241 Pages
E-Book ASIN: B01MQK06WP

Synopsis

Artist Gabby Wolfe has the ability to see not only the beauty of the living, but the despair of the dead. When she returns to her childhood home in Henry Park Colorado, she is forced to bring along her younger brother Mitch. He is on a “break” from college where he was majoring in wine, women and song. If that isn’t enough they also have Mitch’s rambunctious beagle Luigi along who prefers to spend his days wallowing in junk food. When Gabby draws the death of a young woman before it happens, she knows she must tell someone and risk a new job and her professional credibility. Will she reveal her secret in time to save the woman in the water or will it be too late?

Review

I thought this was a great start to a new series. Gabby is an artist and is hired to illustrate some children’s books, but that isn’t all there is to her. She gets visions of things that are going to happen and is able to sketch the image she sees while in a trance like state. She finds out when she moves back to Henry Park (she lived there as a child/teen) that someone else shares the same gift. And then she has a vice that she tries to hide from everyone, she is a smoker. It is actually quite comical how she thinks she is hiding it so well but everyone else can see right through her.

Gabby has a dysfunctional family. Her brother, Mitch, who she has been tasked to watch over (even though he is in his 20’s) by her mother. Let’s just say he tends to get into some trouble (as most people that age can do). Her mother is a control freak and it was good to see her stand up to her mother near the end of the book (I won’t say too much to not give away some of that dynamic).

The mystery itself was engaging because of Gabby and Gigi (a resident that has cerebral palsy and cannot speak) who both have the gift of the visions. There were lots of suspects as to who killed the “woman in the water” from their visions but the true killer might surprise you. It surprised me a little bit as to the why. I did sort of suspect this person because of all the characters in the book, no one else seemed likely. There are some strong indications towards a few specific characters (including her brother Mitch), but none of them really seemed likely while I was reading the story.

I think this is going to be a great new series and can’t wait to read more.  We give it 5 paws up.

About the Author

Teresa Trent lives in Houston, Texas and is an award-winning mystery writer.  She writes the Pecan Bayou Mystery Series, is a regular contributor to the Happy Homicides Anthologies. Teresa is happy to add her Henry Park Mystery Series to her publishing credits with Color Me Dead, the first book in the series. Teresa has also won awards for her work in short stories where she loves to dabble in tales that are closer to the Twilight Zone than small town cozies. When Teresa isn’t writing, she is a full-time caregiver for her son and teaches preschoolers music part-time. Her favorite things include spending time with family and friends, waiting for brownies to come out of the oven, and of course, a good mystery.

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January 23 – Books,Dreams,Life – SPOTLIGHT

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January 24 – Books Direct – GUEST POST

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January 25 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

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