Book title: Hands Off – a billionaire romance

Series: Love in the Suburbs, #3

Genre: Romantic Comedy, Romance, billionaire romance, Humor, Small town romance

Published: March 20, 2020

 

Synopsis

 

I am done with men. D – O – N – E. DONE!

I don’t care how much billionaire Roman Cadwell pushes (and, oh boy, does the sexy man push ALL my buttons), I am not dating him. Especially not when he’s wearing a golden band around his ring finger. I do not get involved with married men. Call it my line in the sand. If a man can’t be faithful, I want not one single thing to do with him.

But what if Roman isn’t really married? What then? No, no, no. I will not fall into Lying McLiarson’s trap.

Only every time the man touches me, my body forgets I’m a good girl and wants to give in. Hands off, Mr. Lying Pants, before I forget I’m a good girl.

Although – no one said I had to be a good girl forever.

Author’s Note: This romantic comedy contains absolutely, positively NO cheating. None. But it does have a whole bunch of witty dialogue and a super sweet happily ever after. And maybe more drama than the author originally intended. What can she say? The characters have minds of their own.

Hands Off is the third book of the Love in the Suburbs series but can be read as a standalone novel.

 

 

 

 

Review

 

 

This author always knows how to make me laugh – from the characters to their thoughts and their words and deeds.

Bailey has some hangups but has caught the eye of Roman, a millionaire, possibly billionaire. Nothing she seems to say or do seems to deter him from winning her heart. Roman may be rich but he is really down to earth. He does some things that seem sneaky or deceitful, but I think it was him trying to protect Bailey. I really enjoyed watching their love story come to fruition.

The whole gang is back in this book – Frankie, Shelby, and of course Grandma. Grandma is a hoot and a half. She is definitely nosy and tries to manage everyone’s life and wants everything to be happy and in love, much to Grandpa’s dismay. I think he just keeps his mouth shut and lets her do what she wants since it keeps her happy.

I’m not sure if it was this book or I just don’t remember the last book, but Shelby seems to be over the top in her words and actions. Maybe it is because she has Jackson and feels more comfortable interfering in everyone else’s life? Or maybe Grandma has rubbed off on her.

I thought this might be the last book but I’m excited to see there is at least one more that tells us Luke and Violet’s story…and I think there is quite a story there so I can’t wait to delve in and find out what has these two on the outs with each other.

We give this story 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

I grew up reading everything I could get my grubby hands on, from my mom’s Harlequin romances to Nancy Drew, to Little Women. When I wasn’t flipping pages in a library book, I was penning horrendous poems, writing songs no one should ever sing, or drafting stories which have thankfully been destroyed. College and a stint in the U.S. Army came along, robbing me of free time to write and read, although on the odd occasion I did manage to sneak a book into my rucksack between rolled up socks, MRIs, t-shirts, and cold weather gear. After surviving the army experience, I went back to school and got my law degree. I jumped ship and joined the hubby in the Netherlands before the graduation ceremony could even begin. A few years into my legal career, I was exhausted, fed up, and just plain done. I quit my job and sat down to write a manuscript, which I promptly hid in the attic before returning to the law. But practicing law really wasn’t my thing, so I quit (again!) and went off to Germany to start a B&B. Turns out running a B&B wasn’t my thing either. I polished off that manuscript languishing in the attic before following the husband to Istanbul where I decided to give the whole writer-thing a go. But ten years was too many to stay away from my adopted home. I packed up again and moved to The Hague where, in between tennis matches and failing to save the world, I’m currently working on my next book. I hope I’ll always be working on my next book.

 

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Synopsis

 

When it comes to preparing meals, choosing between healthy and convenient can be a real struggle. Until now.

Popular bloggers and cookbook authors Six Sisters’ Stuff have gathered more than 100 of their top most-requested healthy recipes that combine their fast-and-easy cooking style with fresh ingredients for delicious and family-friendly meals. Whether you are serving a full three-course meal, grabbing a quick afternoon snack, or need to take a dish to a potluck, there is a recipe here that will fit your lifestyle and busy schedule as well as satisfy your taste buds.

With each recipe coming in at under 500 calories, this cookbook offers a great place to start for people who are looking to lose weight, who would like to prepare meals using more natural foods, or who are simply working to maintain a more balanced lifestyle.

With Healthy Eats with Six Sisters’ Stuff, it’s never been easier to provide healthy snacks and meals for on-the-go families.

 

Book Design: © Shadow Mountain

Cover Photo: © Shutterstock/Elena Eryomenko

Art Direction: Richard Erickson

Cover Design: Emily Remington

Typesetting: Rachael Ward

 

 

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Review

 

I love to cook and right now during this pandemic, I feel like I am cooking more than normal.  I don’t think I really am but it just feels that way.

I was excited to receive this cookbook in the mail and as usual, these sisters know how to put together a cookbook and make it simple so that cooks of any skill level could use these recipes.  I might even be able to convince my husband to try his hand at some of these dishes.  As you leaf through this cookbook, the brilliant color photos leap off the page and many times I found myself stopping and gazing (okay, maybe drooling) over the photos and adding the recipe to my queue to prepare.

The cookbook is divided into sections for Breakfast, Lunch, Main Dishes, Side Dishes, Snacks and Desserts.  This book covers pretty much any possibility when it comes to mealtime.  With a wide variety of options, you are bound to find a recipe for even the pickiest eater.

I’m always looking for new ideas for main dishes and found quite a few I wanted to try here at home.  I had most of the ingredients on hand so it was easy to whip up the dishes.  Everything turned out delicious and we were quite content.  So far I have tried these dishes: Grilled Cajun-Lime Chicken, Honey-Lime Grilled Chicken, Garlic Steak Kabobs, and the Lemon-Garlic Salmon.  Side note, I think the lemon garlic sauce for the salmon would be divine on chicken too.  For the lime, I did substitute bottled lime juice because I forgot to purchase limes on my grocery run, but it still turned out well.  Even though I’m in Texas, our grill hasn’t been used in a while (yes I know, that is blasphemy) but I had a grill pan I used on the stove.

As I was leafing through the book while writing this review, I stumbled across a Loaded Bell Peppers breakfast recipe and I think I might have found my next dish to try one weekend morning.  There is also a Dark Chocolate Zucchini Cake that looks good.  I wonder if I could make that and not tell my husband about the zucchini and he would eat it?  Something to think about.  I also just stumbled across Baked Cinnamon Apple Crisps, what a healthy snack, and just 2 ingredients – apples and cinnamon.  I could go on and on but I keep finding new possibilities to try and this cookbook is going to be a staple in my repertoire.

We give this 5 paws up

 

 

 

Some of the recipes in the book

Breakfast

Blueberry Breakfast Cookies
Chocolate-Banana Blender Muffins
Red Potato Turkey Bacon Bake
Blueberry Protein Pancakes
Scrambled Egg Breakfast Muffins
Breakfast Tostadas
Bagel Thin Egg White Breakfast Sandwiches
Sweet Potato Breakfast Bowl

Lunch

Flat bread Veggie Pizza
Buffalo Chicken Loaded Sweet Potatoes
Skinny BBQ Chicken Tostadas
Cajun Chicken Sausage Bake
Make-Ahead Bean and Rice Burritos
Sweet Potato Taco Bowls
Grilled Salmon Salad
Shredded Beef and Sweet Potato Tacos

Main Dish

Grilled Cajun Lime Chicken
Lemon Garlic Salmon
Garlic Steak Kebabs
Egg Roll in a Bowl
Teriyaki Pork Stir-Fry
Pizza Stuffed Zucchini Boats
Shrimp Protein Bowl with Mango Salsa
Easy Chicken Street Tacos
Cauliflower-Crust Pizza

Sides

Garlic-Lime Sweet Potato Fries
Parmesan-Crusted Asparagus
Honey-Roasted Carrots
Homemade Naan
Honey Dijon Brussel Sprouts

 

About the Sisters

 

 

 

The Six Sisters—Camille, Kristen, Elyse, Stephanie, Lauren, and Kendra—started their blog in 2011 as a way to keep in touch after they moved out of their house and started lives and families on their own. In just a few years, their blog has become one of the top blog sites for women, with millions of visitors each month enjoying the Sisters’ family stories, recipes, and tips for running a home. The sisters live in California, Texas, and Utah.

 

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Seas the Day (A Seafood Capers Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Publisher: Henery Press (April 21, 2020)
Hardcover: 282 pages

 

Synopsis

Caterer River Holloway cooks like a dream and is known on Shell Island as a “finder” of things. Which is why a desperate mother begs River to track down her grown son, Chili Bolz, who’s vanished.

Deputy Lance Hamlyn can’t find the missing man, so he teams up with River. The missing person case boils over into something frightening when Chili’s mother falls victim to a brutal assault. Worse, her dying words incriminate River’s friends in both kidnapping and, now, murder. River soon finds herself caught in an unsavory recipe for disaster.

Despite catering events and the return of her absentee boyfriend, River finds the number of suspects growing longer than her food shopping list. Along the way she befriends a black cat who becomes her crime-solving partner. River must locate Chili and discover who killed his mother before her own goose is quite literally cooked.

Maggie Toussaint serves up a fun and captivating read in Seas the Day, the first in her Seafood Capers series.

 

 

 

 

 

Review

 

Wonderful start to a new series.

River is one tough, smart, and dedicated woman. She believes in supporting friends and family no matter what and has a kind heart as we learn during a discussion with Pete about what she would do if she had a million dollars. It is obvious how much she values friendships when she starts looking for Chili, a pseudo big brother at the behest of his mother, Estelle. What River doesn’t realize is that she will be put into some precarious positions in her search.

There is an interesting mix of characters, some are from River’s past since this is a small island, and some are new to the island. While the “bad guy” character becomes obvious due to the character’s words and actions, the culprit could have been anyone and I had a few characters in mind to pin the deed upon. Not all characters are as they seem and there are a few surprises when it comes to her family friends – Estelle, Chili, and Kale. (I did chuckle at their names, how did they get named after foods?!)

River and Pete have an interesting relationship and I feel like there is so much we don’t know and at times I wondered if this might be a spinoff book where these characters were introduced somewhere else. Hopefully, future books will share more of their history so we can better understand them.

There are some recipes at the end of the book that sounds delicious and this comes from someone that doesn’t eat seafood! But I bet I could make some substitutions and have a delicious meal.

We give this 4 paws up.

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Southern author Maggie Toussaint writes cozy and paranormal mysteries, romantic suspense, and dystopian fiction, with twenty fiction novels published. A three-time finalist for Georgia Author of the Year, she’s won three Silver Falchions, the Readers’ Choice, and the EPIC Awards. She’s past president of Mystery Writers of America-Southeast chapter and an officer of LowCountry Sisters In Crime. She lives in coastal Georgia, where secrets, heritage, and ancient oaks cast long shadows.

 

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Giveaway

 

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Full Circle: A Memoir

 

by

 

Pamela Lombana

 

 

Genre:  Memoir / Domestic Abuse / Forgiveness

Publisher: Wordfall Publishing

Date of Publication: December 5, 2019

Number of Pages: 217

 

Scroll down for the giveaway!

 

 

 

Alcoholism and domestic abuse creep silently into people’s lives, shattering dreams. For Pamela Lombana, the excitement of marriage turned into paralyzing fear as alcohol became her husband’s best friend. Surviving the daily physical and emotional abuse was the norm for her and their children. Full Circle tells the story of how love and God’s abiding grace helped Pamela find the strength to leave her husband, Fernando. During this journey, healing and forgiveness allowed her and the children to be there for him when he needed them the most.

 

 

 

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Today we are lucky enough to have Pamela Lombana join us on StoreyBook Reviews with some insights into her life and her book.  I hope you find some of her answers as intriguing as I did!

 

Why did you choose to write in your particular genre?

 

I chose to write a memoir about my experiences dealing with domestic abuse and an alcoholic spouse. It began as a story that I wrote because I wanted my children to understand the facts and my side of the story that we lived together. The only way to break the cycle of abuse is through awareness and honesty, so I wanted to help them understand the patterns of abuse and give them the power to break the cycle in their own lives.

 

Where did your love of books come from?

 

As long as I can remember, my mom always had a book with her and was constantly reading out loud to us growing up. Books were our way of escaping to different worlds, times, and places. As I became a mother, I kept that love of reading and stories with me and passed it on to my children. Books are the glue that has held our family together through everything, and sharing books and stories is what kept me and my mom close, even when we were physically separated.

 

How long have you been writing?

 

Since childhood—my first diary was given to me by my grandmother when I was six years old, and I’ve kept one ever since.

 

Why did you decide to self-publish?

 

I wasn’t going to publish this book originally—I wrote this book for my children as a private family memoir. Because I wrote it in English, my second language, I asked family and friends to help me edit it or give me feedback on snippets of the book as I was in the process of writing it.

I was surprised when I was consistently told that I needed to publish it “because this book could help other people in similar situations.” When you deal with abuse and alcoholism, you’re constantly hiding a secret. So many people who knew me during the years discussed in the book were shocked to hear my story, but everybody who read little parts of it while I was in the process of compiling my old letters and writings knew somebody who they thought needed to hear, could relate to, and could benefit from my and my children’s story of survival and forgiveness, so I decided to self-publish.

 

What was the hardest part of writing this book?

 

When writing a memoir, you try to stay as close to the truth and facts as possible. I knew this book would share information with my children that they were not aware of at the time and that reading the book would force them to remember and relive some of the hardest times of our lives.

 

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

 

While reliving parts of my family’s story was difficult—our life was a rollercoaster—the moments of intense hardship were accompanied by moments of intense happiness. When you’re suffering so much, you learn to find joy in everything. Remembering and reliving all of the happy times we had made me proud of my family and our ability to find happiness in any situation and learn to laugh and grow when faced with challenges.

 

What do you like to read in your free time?

 

Historical fiction and biographies

 

Who would you cast to play your character in a movie version of your book?

 

Julia Roberts because I love her movies!

 

If you could speak with an accent from anywhere in the world, what would you choose and why?

 

Italian because every Italian whom I know loves their life and embraces life passionately.

 

What’s something interesting, fun, or funny that most people don’t know about you?

 

When I was ten years old in Medellin, Colombia, my mom sent me and my siblings to a yoga retreat in an ashram.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pamela Lombana grew up in Colombia, South America, and emigrated to the United States to attend university. In 1999, Pamela became a pediatric nurse practitioner and went on to run a pediatric clinic in Spring Branch, Texas. Pamela loves working with families and children and focuses on educating her patients and their families. Pamela values strong family ties and friendships. She has three children and four stepchildren. Writing is a passion that started in Pamela’s teenage years. She enjoys being amongst nature and loves to go hiking with her husband, Mark.

Pamela is passionate about empowering women and providing them with tools to navigate life through her book, Full Circle: A Memoir, her blog, and Wordfall Publishing. Pamela wrote her memoir to offer hope and courage to women experiencing alcoholic and abusive situations.

 

 

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Amazon Author Page ║ Wordfall Publishing

 

 

 

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THREE WINNERS: Signed copy of Full Circle 

 

APRIL 21-May 1, 2020

 

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18 CALIBER, Maizie Albright Star Detective Mystery
Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Past Perfect Press (April 14, 2020)
Print Length: 395 pages

 

 

Synopsis

 

LUCKY IN LOVE AND LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. UNTIL NOW.

Maizie’s mixing with international stars, spies, and her mother’s dark past in her sixth case in The Wall Street Journal bestselling series.

“Hollywood glitz meets backwoods grit in this fast-paced ride on D-list celeb Maizie Albright’s waning star. Sassy, Sexy, and Fun.” — Phoebe Fox, author of the Breakup Doctor series.

#WannabeDetectiving While ex-celebrity Maizie Albright’s dreams of becoming a for-real private investigator have not exactly been dashed, they have been slightly thwarted. Her ex-manager and still-mother, Vicki Albright, has taken the helm of Nash Security Services while rebuilding her entertainment management company. Sometimes with the same clients. Like Chinese action star, Lili Liang, who’s making the film Unlucky 18 in Georgia.

Thus far, Lili’s living up to her movie title. Her kung fu coach is missing. Her boyfriend’s disappeared. And her director, who gambled on her with the part, might be gambling with her life.

Maizie’s luck is also running out. Maizie and Nash find themselves struggling to balance a new partnership and new relationship between missing persons’ cases, wild goose chases, and tracking a bullet into dangerous places. Sometimes it’s enough to make a girl NOT want to put a ring on it. When it comes to facing an 18-caliber killer, what will Maizie put up as the target? Her heart or her life?

 

 

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Books in the Maizie Albright Star Detective series

15 MINUTES – Free on Amazon during the Pandemic

16 MILLIMETERS

NC-17

A VIEW TO A CHILL

17.5 CARTRIDGES IN A PEAR TREE

18 CALIBER

 

Other Series by Larissa Reinhart

 

A Cherry Tucker Mystery

Finley Goodhart Crime Capers

 

 

About the Author

 

A Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Larissa writes the Cherry Tucker Mystery, Maizie Albright Star Detective, and Finley Goodhart Crime Caper series as well as romantic comedies and women’s fiction. She loves to tell funny stories about Southern women looking for love (and sometimes dead bodies) in all the wrong places. You might have seen Larissa and family with their little dog, Biscuit, on HGTV’s House Hunters International “Living for the Weekend in Nagoya” episode, but they’re back in Georgia now.

 

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Giveaway

 

 

 

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Today I’m sharing a book that could be one that gives you great insight into yourself and your possibilities.  While I haven’t read the book yet, I have heard that if you like The Secret you just might like this book too.  My husband and I are big proponents of The Secret and manifesting what you want and desire and now I’m intrigued with this book and will have to pick up a copy to see what Matt can share with us for our lives.

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

Z-isms [Zee-iz-umz] (Noun) Pearls of wisdom, original wit or personal experience shared to positively impact as many people as possible; Insights to Live By.What do you wish your younger self knew? What life lessons would you share to benefit others? These are among the core questions Matt Zinman posed as inspiration to provide readers with insightful guidance to create and live their best life, along with practical tools like the Self-Care Report Card and a Life Enrichment Action Plan (LEAP). Richly authentic, deeply personal and highly motivating, Z-isms offers new ways to better ourselves, our experiences and our encounters. Matt keeps it casual, as though in private conversation with readers, freely sharing his own life experiences and challenges. It’s impossible to read this book and not be better for it.

 

Matt’s goal is to provide as much practical guidance as possible and describes how readers will come away with:

● unique approaches to self-discovery with a certain mindset to defeat unnecessary worry, anxiety and stress; ways to find and stay in your zone; and, straightforward solutions to ease daily living;

● original concepts to improve your relationships and interactions by sizing people up, seeing things differently, saving yourself from common hassles, eliminating needless assumptions, and better managing your energy;

● techniques to heighten mindfulness, such as learning how to go with the flow, harness gratitude, achieve your why; and,

● actionable tools and practices to enrich your life by winning the battle within, becoming a life athlete and maintaining self-accountability.

In making his commitment to be comprehensive, Matt was sure to feature a few chapters with the essentials for a straightforward, total personal development tune-up. On the whole, readers will find that the book delivers on originality and advances some original topics, such as about making coincidences matter and the experience of ‘catching’ 11:11 on digital displays.

 

 

 

 

Praise

 

“A highly personal and practical primer packed with anecdotes and life lessons. It’s also well-written, easy to understand, concise and often quite funny.”  – John J. Kelly, Detroit Free Press, 5-star review

 

“Matt Zinman has provided each and every one of his readers with a blueprint for success, both in business, and in life.”  –  Susan Keefe, Midwest Book Review, 5 star review

 

                              

Excerpt

 

Z–isms [Zee-iz-umz]

(Noun)

Pearls of wisdom, original wit or personal experience shared to positively impact as many people as possible; Insights to Live By.

 

What matters above all else is that Z–isms is not exclusive. It’s about anyone who has cultivated unique insights that they want to make known for the greater good.

Not everyone has a book in them, but just about everybody has something exceptional within themselves that they believe would help others to know.

There’s no substitute for experience.

 

From Chapter 1: Earned Confidence

 

Every one of us identifies with having been through however much in our lives. What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger, right? And here we are: still standing!

Earned Confidence, among other things, enables us to apply the logic of experience to save ourselves from self-inflicted stress, worry and anxiety.

In short, if you know you have been through your share of life challenges and survived, what is the point of worrying or being anxious about what you know you’re fully capable of enduring?

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Matt Zinman is a personal success trainer whose varied experiences as an entrepreneur, athlete, single parent, caretaker, consultant and nonprofit founder drive him to be a difference-maker and positively impact as many people as possible.

In addition to his earned insights about self-discovery, relationships, heightening awareness and life enrichment, Matt is CEO of The Internship Institute, which he established in 2005, to bridge the gap between education and employment while cultivating opportunity for students, veterans, businesses, nonprofits and communities.

Matt also partners with his wife Erica to help others improve their physical health and financial well-being with Isagenix nutrition and wellness solutions.

He began his career in marketing communications working for some of Philadelphia’s most prominent agencies where he assisted nearly 100 companies, including through his own firm, Z Communication, Inc., which he started in 2002.

Matt earned his B.A. in Journalism from Temple University in 1989. He and Erica reside in Bucks County, Pennsylvania with their savvy teenagers, Jake and Greta.

 

Website

 

 

Synopsis

 

When Graham Barnett named his diner The Tourist Trap, he meant it as a joke. Now he’s stuck slinging reindeer dogs to an endless string of resort visitors who couldn’t interest him less. Not even the sweet, enthusiastic tourist in the corner who blushes every time he looks her way…

Two weeks in Alaska isn’t just the top item on Zoey Caldwell’s bucket list. It’s the whole bucket. One look at the mountain town of Moose Springs and she’s smitten. But when an act of kindness brings Zoey into Graham’s world, she may just find there’s more to the man than meets the eye…and more to love in Moose Springs than just the Alaskan wilderness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When It’s Time for Leaving
Traditional Mystery
1st in Series
Encircle Publications, LLC (October 1, 2019)
Paperback: 274 pages

 

Synopsis

 

When his girlfriend dumps him and a dealer nearly rams him off a bridge, Al DeSantis quits the New Haven Police Department. Just as he plans to head for LA, he finds out the father who left when he was a kid has deeded him the Blue PalmettoDetective Agency in Georgia.

Al goes down to Savannah intending to sell fast and go west, but before he can, he discovers a strong, attractive detective named Maxine, a dead body on the dock—and his father, alive, suffering from dementia, and determined to help his “new partner Al” solve the crime. Al has a lot of adjusting to do when his traditional ideas are challenged as he has to act as his father’s caretaker, and finds that Maxine is his superior in the agency that he “owns.” When his father goes missing, Al and Max must team up to save his father–and capture the murderer.

 

 

 

 

Praise

 

“Solid, spare and completely terrific. And though the talented Ang Pompano may wince at this–it’s absolutely charming. With an authentic knowing voice and a confident hand, Pompano honors Robert B. Parker’s legacy of wry, laconic PI’s–smart and engaging detectives with history, honor and heart.” —Hank Phillippi Ryan, Nationally bestselling author of THE MURDER LIST

Ang Pompano’s debut novel, WHEN IT’S TIME FOR LEAVING, is a corker. Thoroughly likable former cop, Al DeSantis, wants to get out of the crime business but inherits one that, fortunately for readers, won’t let him go. — Hallie Ephron, New York Times bestselling author CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR

In When It’s Time for Leaving, debut mystery author Ang Pompano has created the most unusual and appealing duo of detectives since Holmes and Watson. —Lucy Burdette, national bestselling author of A DEADLY FEAST

Author Ang Pompano serves up the PI for the double 20s. Al DeSantis is a classic, damaged gumshoe but with a youthful energy that pulls you through the pages. —Barbara Ross, author of the Maine Clambake Mysteries and winner 2019 Maine Literary Award for Crime Fiction

Crime fiction has boasted some famous fathers and sons, from Inspector Richard Queen and his son Ellery to Jim Rockford and his dad Rocky. Add to that list the unforgettable duo of Al DeSantis and Big Al—building on that tradition but with some provocative twists. Ang Pompano’s first novel proves tough-minded and warm-hearted in equal measure. A fine, multi-layered debut.—Art Taylor 2019 Edgar, Anthony, Agatha, Macavity, and Derringer Award winner

When it’s Time for Leaving is a crime thriller that delivers an atmospheric tale packed with action, suspense and some surprising twists. Pompano is a skilled storyteller who offers readers a complex mystery of chases, confrontation and introspection. The tale he weaves is, indeed a well-crafted murder mystery, set in a turbulent sea of emotions and populated with multifaceted characters. ­­­ —James Terry reviewer The Paladin Project

 

About the Author

 

Ang Pompano has been writing mysteries for more than twenty years. His mystery novel, WHEN IT’S TIME FOR LEAVING will be published on October 1, 2019, by Encircle Publications. His short stories have been published in many award-winning anthologies, including the 2019 Malice Domestic Anthology, PARNELL HALL PRESENTS MALICE DOMESTIC: MURDER MOST EDIBLE. His newest story, “Stringer” will appear in SEASCAPE: THE BEST NEW ENGLAND CRIME STORIES 2019. In addition, he has written many academic pieces including one on teaching detective fiction. A member of Mystery Writers of America, he is a past recipient of the Helen McCloy/Mystery Writers of America Scholarship for a novel in progress. He has been on the New England Crime Bake Planning Committee for fourteen years and is a long-time board member of Sisters in Crime New England. He lives in Connecticut with his wife, Annette, an artist, and his two rescue dogs, Quincy and Dexter.

 

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Title: UNEARTHING THE PAST

Author: W.L. Brooks

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Pages: 282

Genre: Romantic Suspense

 

 

Synopsis

 

A single mother and owner of the town diner, Charlie McKay couldn’t be happier with her life in Blue Creek. Taking care of everyone around her is a labor of love, but the secret she’s keeping about her daughter’s parentage lurks beneath the surface. With the scars of the past still not healed, Charlie isn’t interested in adding a man to her life, even if that man is the oh-so-tempting Craig Sutton.

Determined to own his own bar, as his father had, Craig Sutton is a man on a mission. But wanting to enjoy small town life is only one of the reasons he moved to the mountains of North Carolina. Whether meaning to or not, Craig can’t keep from getting involved with the McKay family, and the closer he gets to Charlie and her daughter the more entangled he becomes.

In Blue Creek secrets have always run deep, and someone is now trying to expose Charlie’s in a disturbing way. She isn’t the only one with something to hide, however, and deception threatens a possible relationship between her and Craig. As hidden truths are revealed and danger increases, Charlie must find a way to face the past or lose everything.

 

 

 

 

Review

 

This is the third book in the series and while it can be read on its own, I highly suggest reading the first two books.  There were many things I didn’t understand or get about the McKay family dynamic and the relationship between the sisters.  That aside, this story was quite intriguing and the suspense/mystery really kept me guessing.

Charlie is the focus of this story and someone is out to get her and her daughter, Mack.  Enter Craig who has moved to town to open a bar but has some ulterior motives of his own but he is quite interested in Charlie and her daughter.  Charlie is a bit gunshy when it comes to men based on some past history, so Craig has to work past those walls she has built up around her.

All of the characters bring an interesting twist to the story with their personality traits and flaws.  I suppose you could say that the McKay family is a bit dysfunctional and perhaps it is their upbringing since they were all adopted by the McKay family at various times in their life.  Fletcher is the most volatile in my opinion.  She is a police officer, yet she seems to fly off the handle the fastest.  This is a good and bad thing but makes for an intriguing character and I wonder what her story is and what events in her past created her character.

The mystery/suspense portion of the story is well crafted and if you can figure out who the perpetrator is before the reveal you are a better sleuth than me.  There really are not many clues other than it is someone tied to Charlie’s past.  I honestly had no idea who to suspect.

The only thing I didn’t like about this book was the number of f* bombs and other profanity.  I don’t mind some, but this had a bit more than I personally prefer.

Overall we enjoyed the book and give it 3 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

Excerpt

 

Chapter One

Someone was in his bedroom. Craig Sutton feigned sleep, even though the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. He rolled over, slid one hand beneath his pillow, grasped cold steel, and opened his eyes. He didn’t know whether to laugh or curse. Standing on the bed next to him was four-anda-half-year-old Mackenzie McKay. Her big black eyes were wide and unblinking. He released his weapon and sat up.

“Uh…hi.”

“Hi.” She twirled one of her white-blonde pigtails. Craig had come across Mack, the niece of his landlady, on a number of occasions. But…

“How’d you get in here, sweetheart?”

She pouted. “I’m allowed.”

“Well…I don’t think anyone told you, but because I’m staying here, you need to knock first.” Craig didn’t want to scare her or, God forbid, make her cry. He’d never been able to handle female tears, especially the tiny variety.

She crossed her arms. “Auntie Alex shoulda said.”

“I’m sure she meant to…How about you go in the other room while I change, and then I’ll take you to find your aunt.”

“Ohskay.” She jumped down and closed the door behind her. Craig went to the bathroom, brushed his teeth, and changed his clothes in record time. When he came out, he was surprised to find her sitting at the kitchen table, humming and swinging her legs.

Craig shook his head and smiled; the kid was adorable. “Ready, sweets?” “Yep!” She hopped off the seat and took Craig’s hand.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

W.L. Brooks was born with an active imagination.  When characters come into her mind, she has to give them life – a chance to tell their stories. With a coffee cup in her hand and a cat by her side, she spends her days letting the ideas flow onto paper.  A voracious reader, she draws her inspiration from mystery, romance, suspense and a dash of the paranormal.

A native of Virginia Beach, she is currently living in Western North Carolina. Pick up her latest novel, The Secrets That Shape Us- available now!

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Staging Wars (A Laura Bishop Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Publisher: Henery Press (April 28, 2020)
Hardcover: 254 pages

 

Synopsis

 

Laura Bishop’s new home staging business is growing in popularity, though not with her nemesis. Laura has long suspected established interior designer Monica Heller of sabotaging her fledgling company—and having an affair with her late husband.

When the ultra-chic Monica is caught at the scene of a murder, Laura is plenty happy to imagine her languishing in a prison cell with bedsheets far from her normal 600-thread Egyptian cotton. But her delight is short-lived.

 

When Laura’s friends land on the police’s radar, Laura must overcome her dislike of Monica to help solve the crime. Not an easy task since Laura and Monica have been at war since the second grade.

 

 

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Guest Post

 

 

Finding Pleasure

 

By Grace Topping

 

For a number of years, my family and I lived in a 1950s home with a bathroom with pink fixtures and black tile. Not a terrible combination and something we could live with, except for the garish plastic toilet seat that didn’t match the rest of the pink. So you might imagine how pleased I was after an extensive search to find a good quality toilet seat in the right shade of pink. To say it made me happy is an understatement.

So what’s so exciting about finding a pink toilet seat? What it says about me is that I can still find pleasure in little or simple things.

You might ask what that has to do with writing mysteries? On April 28, my second mystery, STAGING Wars will be released. I started the first one ten years ago, so to finally reach this point is quite thrilling. In an ideal world, it will become an instant best seller, selected by Oprah for her book club, made into a Hallmark TV movie, or optioned for Hollywood by Reece Witherspoon.

It would be great if even one of those things happened. But being realistic, I doubt my cozy mystery is going to hit the big time. It will give me pleasure hearing that people enjoyed my book, read reviews that say some good things about it (and learn from the things readers didn’t like), and be invited as a guest to some book clubs. In comparison to having my book made into a Hallmark TV movie or adapted by Hollywood, having someone say they loved my book might be a little thing. But it will give me immense pleasure. And sometimes that’s enough.

But if you hear Reece Witherspoon is looking for me, please give her my contact information.

 

 

About the Author

Grace Topping is a recovering technical writer and IT project manager, accustomed to writing lean, boring documents. Let loose to write fiction, she is now creating murder mysteries and killing off characters who remind her of some of the people she dealt with during her career. Fictional revenge is sweet. She’s using her experience helping friends stage their homes for sale as inspiration for her Laura Bishop mystery series. The series is about a woman starting a new career midlife as a home stager. The first book in the series, Staging is Murder, is a 2019 Agatha Award nominee for Best First Novel. Grace is the former vice president of the Chesapeake Chapter of Sisters in Crime, and a member of the SINC Guppies and Mystery Writers of America. She lives with her husband in Northern Virginia.

 

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Giveaway

 

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