The Rebel Wears Plaid

 

by Eliza Knight

 

Publication Date: 6/30/2020

 

Synopsis

 

Toran Fraser encounters a mysterious rebel, and he can’t resist being recruited to her cause…

Toran Fraser is hell-bent on taking down the Jacobites. On a late-night mission, he’s intercepted by a woman known only as “Mistress J,” who’s determined to put Prince Charlie back on the throne of Scotland. Toran can’t resist her appeal—especially with her pistol pointed at his heart—and suddenly finds himself joining the rebellion…

By day, highborn Jenny Mackintosh runs her estate in the Highlands. By night, she’s one of Prince Charlie’s Angels—a band of Jacobite rebels. Scoffing at mortal danger, she raises coin, delivers weapons, and recruits soldiers for the rebellion. When she encounters a handsome Highlander who is clearly on the run, she is more than a little intrigued. She isn’t expecting to be his enemy…

 

 

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Excerpt

 

Toran jerked around. Suddenly, figures melted out from the shadows. Scots, but in the dark and dressed as they were, he couldn’t make out what clan they hailed from. At the center of the five men stood a lass. Aye, she wore trews and had her hair up under a cap, wisps of golden strands peeking through, but there was no hiding the curves beneath her shirt and waistcoat. In the moonlight filtering through the trees, she looked bonnie—high, arching cheekbones, a mouth that puckered into a frown. But what struck him most was the spark of fire in her gaze. Her eyes reflected the light of the moon, almost making her look like she was glowing.

And the muzzle of her pistol was pointed right at him. Outlaws… Of all the bloody luck. He reached for his own pistol tucked into his belt.

“Dinna move,” the lass said. Her voice was throaty, sensual. “Else I put a bullet through your heart.”

A slow grin formed on Toran’s face. “What’s to say I won’t put a bullet in yours first?”

The lass looked down at Archie and then flicked her gaze back to his. “Ye’re outnumbered. Let’s say ye were willing to pull your weapon before I took my shot, and then ye were to waste your bullet, there’d be five more cutting through ye before ye were able to see the result.” Again, she looked at Archie. “And your friend doesna seem like he will be much help.”

“We’re verra close to the English garrison, lass. Any shot ye make will be a beacon to the dragoons lurking about. And trust me, there are hundreds of them headed this way as we speak.”

“Is that so?” She glanced at Archie once more. “A prison break? So ye two are rebels, aye?”

Toran didn’t answer. Let her come to her own conclusions.

“We have horses.” She kept her gaze on his, and he had the intense urge to draw closer. “Ye and your friend can have one when we return to my camp—for a price. Why not donate your coin to the cause and join us? We’ve a need for more rebels.”

Toran did not want to join her. Now, if she’d asked him to join her for some mutual warmth under a plaid, that would be another story. Then again, she had a point about the bullets. And he truly did not want to die.

“I’m guessing from your current circumstances ye are in need of a helping hand, sir.” Her voice was smooth, even melodic, but still filled with authority. And considering that she was the one speaking, she certainly gave the impression that she was the one in charge. Fascinating.

A group of men led by a woman? Not a common thing, and intensely intriguing. Whoever she was, she had ballocks as full of steel as his own. And if he weren’t trapped in the woods with her, a hundred redcoats on his tail, he might have asked her to join him for a dram.

“Who are ye?” Toran asked.

A soft laugh escaped her, and her hand waved dismissively. “Not yet, sir. Ye’ll have to prove yourself first.”

Prove himself? He gritted his teeth. “All right, we’ll join ye.” There really was no other choice. He and Archie needed a quick escape, and her horse would provide that. Just because he was taking her up on the offer now didn’t mean he had to stick it out. In fact, as soon as he could, he’d steal the horse and somehow get Archie back to Fraser lands where he could make certain the rest of his family was safe from Boyd.

“Good.” She nodded to Dirk. “Search them for weapons, and then help the wounded man onto your horse.”

Toran stood still for the inspection, gritting his teeth as his weapons were removed. “I’ve said we’d join ye. Why then are ye treating me like a prisoner?”

The lass cocked her head to the side, a slight grin curling her upper lip. “We must first see that ye are trustworthy.” With an added challenge echoing in her words, she said, “Ye can ride with me. And dinna try any tricks, else ye find yourself verra dead.”

The lass didn’t beat around the bush, and there was no hint of humor in her tone at all. She meant what she said.

Toran climbed onto the back of her horse, his cold, wet body flush to her warmer, dry back. Beneath the icy exterior was a lass full of lush curves. Mo chreach… Good heavens, but she felt good. Hesitantly, he placed an arm around her waist.

She shuddered. “Blast, but ye’re soaked,” she hissed. “Ye should have warned me. And ye smell like the devil’s own chamber pot.”

Toran chuckled. “A hazard of escape, lass.”

Her back straightened, and she leaned forward, away from him. “Ye can call me Mistress J.”

Mistress J? Why did that sound familiar?

“And ye are?” she urged.

“I’m called Toran,” he said slowly as realization struck him. The night had taken a very interesting turn. For he was holding onto the woman he suspected might be responsible for his mother’s death.

 

Excerpted from The Rebel Wears Plaid by Eliza Knight. © 2020 by Eliza Knight. Used with permission of the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. All rights reserved.

 

 

About the Author

 

ELIZA KNIGHT is an award-winning and USA Today bestselling author of over fifty sizzling historical romances. Under the name E. Knight, she’s known for riveting tales that cross landscapes around the world. When not reading, writing, or researching, she chases after her three children. In her spare time she likes daydreaming, wine-tasting, traveling, hiking, and visiting with family and friends. She lives in Maryland.

 

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Synopsis

 

Private investigators Liz Talbot and Nate Andrews thought they’d put Darius Baker’s troubles to rest—then his recently discovered son ropes him into a hemp farm investment with his college buddies. When a beloved Charleston professor—and potential investor—is murdered, Liz and Nate discover Darius keeps the PIs on speed dial.

A shocking number of people had reasons to want the genteel, bowtie wearing, tea-drinking professor dead. Was it one of his many girlfriends or a disgruntled student? Or perhaps Murray was killed because his failure to invest meant the hemp farm trio’s dreams were going up in smoke?

Though Liz’s long-dead best friend, Colleen, warns her the stakes are far higher than Liz imagines, she is hellbent on finding the no-good killer among the bevy of suspects. But will the price of justice be more than Liz can bear?

Take a virtual vacation to Charleston in Susan M. Boyer’s latest Southern charmer, Lowcountry Boondoggle … It’s a trip you don’t want to miss.

 

 

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Excerpt

 

The dead are audacious sorts. Take my best friend, Colleen. I’m not saying she’s brave. She is, of course, but you’d expect that, I suppose. The thing virtually all mortals fear most is death—either their own or someone else’s. Colleen cleared that hurdle our junior year in high school, when she downed a bottle of tequila and went swimming in Breach Inlet. She’s fearless, all right, but what I’m saying here is that Colleen has abandoned all sense of decorum. I’ve resigned myself to the fact that she’ll forever be a teenager. But her behavior at times is more fitting that of a six-year-old.

By way of example, on a Monday morning in late October, Nate and I were meeting with a client, Darius Baker, and his attorneys, Fraser Rutledge and Eli Radcliffe, in their elegantly appointed offices. Rutledge & Radcliffe is one of the most distinguished law firms on Broad Street in Charleston, South Carolina. The furniture in that office is museum quality, the sound so utterly dampened by luxurious rugs you almost feel the need to whisper like you’re in church. Colleen sat cross-legged like a child on the corner of Fraser’s massive desk. In her ankle-length tangerine dress with Swiss polka dots, her long red hair loose about her shoulders, she brought to mind a big orange tabby cat.

Talbot & Andrews Investigations—that’s the name of our PI firm—had an arrangement with Rutledge & Radcliffe. We didn’t work for them directly, though they’d tried to hire us many times.

But Nate, my husband and partner, and I had an open-ended contract, and lately, a sizable chunk of our workload came through Rutledge & Radcliffe. In a switch, we’d referred Darius Baker to them recently when he had an unfortunate run of luck and a pressing need for a highly skilled local criminal attorney.

That particular morning, Darius, our celebrity client, had requested the meeting with both his legal and his investigative teams. Darius always covered his bases. The five of us, Nate, me, Darius, Fraser Rutledge and Eli Radcliffe, congregated in Fraser’s office to put our heads together regarding the developing situation with Darius’s long-lost love child. Let me tell you, between the colorful personalities present, the sensitive subject matter, and the unconstrained teenaged guardian spirit, it was a potentially combustible situation.

Fraser Alston Rutledge III may have been the most comfortable person in his own skin I’d ever met. A study in contrasts, he clearly came from very old Charleston money. His seersucker suit was light blue, his bowtie and suspenders navy. The oil painting on his cypress-paneled office wall featured him with his Brittany spaniels. But his gelled hair, spiked on top, was not a style favored amongst the South of Broad set.

Fraser sat back in his executive leather chair and gave Darius a look that called his common sense into serious question. “Mr. Baker, Eli and I have deliberated over the developments you outlined by telephone, but for the sake of ensuring we are all on the same page here, let me see if I have the details of your predicament straight.”

Wearing jeans, a white button-down, and a navy blazer, Darius looked the part of a modern Lowcountry gentleman, which he was.

His smooth skin was the color of fine milk chocolate. He wasn’t quite forty, but he was completely bald. Darius closed his eyes, sighed, moved restlessly in his chair. “Fine.”

Fraser said, “A suspicious fire wiped out Brantley Miller’s entire adoptive family up in Travelers Rest back in March. In August, Mr. Miller contacted you online and indicated that he believed you were related. Subsequently, you ascertained that he is your son. He arrived in Stella Maris in September. Today is October 26. Mr. Miller is living in your home, and you have invested in his business venture with two other young men to grow hemp commercially.” Fraser tasted the word “hemp,” seemed to find it disagreeable.

“Last week,” continued Fraser, “another potential investor in that enterprise, Dr. Murray Hamilton, a beloved local college professor, who is coincidentally the uncle of one of Mr. Miller’s business partners, was murdered in his home over on Montagu Street and his house was subsequently blown to kingdom come, the remnants burned to a pile of ash. His nephew, one Tyler Duval—Mr. Miller’s friend and business associate—has been questioned by the police, and Mr. Miller is concerned that Mr. Duval may be arrested at any moment. Am I in possession of all the salient facts?”

Darius flashed him a pained expression. “Yeah. Sounds like it.”

Fraser leaned forward. “I would not be fulfilling my responsibility to you as a client of this firm if I failed to acquaint you with the many potential exposures you face here.” He proceeded to hold forth for the better part of ten minutes, which he was prone to do.

Bored, Colleen commenced standing on her head. “I wonder if I can hold this as long as he can talk?” Through some magic of hers, her dress defied gravity and didn’t flip over her head.

Eli, Darius, Nate, and I occupied the four deep leather visitor chairs in front of Fraser’s desk. Nate and I were the only ones who could see Colleen, and we ignored her completely. We’d discovered this was often the best strategy. Colleen loved nothing more than to provoke me in front of others, make me respond to her and look like a lunatic to everyone else in the vicinity.

Fraser droned on, oblivious to Colleen’s antics. “Eli and I have discussed this at great length. It is our considered opinion that you, Mr. Baker, and all of your interests, would be best served by keeping Mr. Miller and his friends—this hemp business and the recent untimely death of Professor Hamilton—at arm’s length. Your own legal troubles are not that far behind you. To become embroiled in another murder case at this juncture would be highly imprudent—”
Darius raised both palms and shook his head until Fraser stopped talking. As a relatively new client at Rutledge & Radcliffe, Darius was unaccustomed to listening to someone else talk for such extended periods. He had little patience with Fraser’s affection for the sound of his own voice. Darius looked at each of us in turn, wide-eyed and solemn, first Fraser, then Eli, then Nate, and then me. “I’m gonna be real with y’all.”

Until recently, Darius was the star of a hit reality TV series, Main Street USA. He traveled to a different small town each week, sampled the local food, attended festivals and whatnot, chatted with the local folks, and offered colorful commentary. He was a character, is what I’m saying. And his character spoke in “down home, easygoing, funny, Southern black guy, with a bit of Hollywood,” a patois that was his brand. Darius could no doubt turn that off if he wanted to. But it was rare for him to break character, even now.

Fraser sat back in his chair, raised an elegant eyebrow, and gestured magnanimously. “Well, by all means, Mr. Baker. Do be real with us.”

For her part, Colleen came down off her head and settled back into a cross-legged pose.

Darius continued, “Now, I know y’all have my best interests at heart. And I appreciate that, I do. But we’re talking about my son here. Brantley is my son. You feel me? Family is family. Now, I’m not stupid. I know he might’ve originally got in touch with me ’cause he was all excited about maybe he was gonna get himself some of my money. But we’re gettin’ to know each other. We’re buildin’ a relationship here. And he came to me for help. So I want to help. Now, can y’all help me help him…or not? ’Cause there’s more than one high-dollar law office and more than one set a private investigators in this town.”

Fraser’s brown-and-gold-flecked tiger eyes went hard, but he was silent, an unusual situation to say the least. I liked Darius more all the time. He respected Fraser’s abilities, or we wouldn’t have been there. But Darius wasn’t going to suffer Fraser’s high-handed manner in silence either. I was torn because I agreed with Fraser’s assessment if not his style.

“Darius,” I said, “does it not worry you the teensiest bit that we haven’t been able to rule out Brantley’s involvement in the house fire that killed his entire adoptive family barely more than six months ago?”

“Naw,” he said. “Uh-unh. I believe you tried your best to find something… anything…that would incriminate him in that horrible fire that killed that poor family, but you can’t.”

Nate said, “You make it sound unsavory—like we were trying to frame him, Darius. We’re just doing our due diligence, trying to protect you. You and anyone else on Stella Maris Brantley becomes involved with.”

Stella Maris is the island north of Isle of Palms where Darius and I grew up. He’d recently retired from the Hollywood high life and moved home. Brantley, a son—now twenty years old—had shown up fast on his heels, thanks to the marvels of DNA testing and its use in ancestry research.

“I understand that,” said Darius. “That’s why I continued to pay your bill this last month while you went up to Travelers Rest and looked into all a that. But if I understand what y’all are tellin’ me, you can’t find one thing to tie Brantley to that fire.”

“We can’t,” I said. “But that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s innocent. It may mean he’s very smart.” Brantley had turned up in our hometown out of the blue the second he learned his biological father was an international celebrity. Would he have come lickety-split if Darius had been a busboy? We’d never know. But I was keeping a close eye on him for the foreseeable future.

“Y’all just cynical,” said Darius. “Probably comes with the job. But I refuse to think the worst a him. If y’all had come back and told me you thought he set that fire, even if you couldn’t actually prove it, I could see sending Brantley packin’. But that’s not what you told me.”

“I am afraid I must agree with Miz Talbot and Mr. Andrews,” said Fraser. “Best to err on the side of caution. Especially given this latest development.”

“That’s not a development,” said Darius. “The fire over on Montagu has nothing whatsoever to do with Brantley.”

“As far as you know,” I said. “But he is connected to Professor Hamilton’s death. That’s the only reason you want us to get involved. Hell’s bells—think, Darius. One brand-new son. Two fires involving deaths.”

Darius said, “Brantley ain’t got nothing to do with that professor’s house catching on fire. If Sonny Ravenel thought for a second that he did, Brantley would be sitting over at the jail in North Charleston, just like I was for four long days and three long nights not very long ago. Sonny, he ain’t shy about locking people up.”
Sonny Ravenel was a good friend and a Charleston police detective. Back in September, he’d had no choice but to arrest Darius in the case of his high-school girlfriend—Brantley’s mother’s—murder, but that’s a whole nother story, and all behind us now, thank goodness.

“You’ve got to admit, it looks suspicious,” said Nate. “Brantley and his buddies meet with the professor, Tyler’s uncle, right?”

“That’s right,” said Darius. “They were there last Monday evening.”

“They need money for their hemp business,” said Nate. “The professor is skeptical. He doesn’t give them any money. Then the professor dies and leaves a substantial sum to his nephew, Tyler Duval. And then Murray Hamilton’s house explodes into flames, possibly destroying evidence.”
What was the protocol? Was Murray Hamilton properly referred to as Dr. Hamilton or Professor Hamilton?

Colleen consulted the ceiling, the way she does when she’s using the cosmic version of Google. “Professor Hamilton. Students would address him as Dr. Hamilton. Outside the classroom you use Professor to differentiate him from a medical doctor, though you’ll hear it both ways.”

Thank you.

“I never said it don’t look suspicious,” said Darius. “Of course it looks suspicious. I know all about suspicious, believe you me. If it didn’t look suspicious, I wouldn’t need y’all to help Brantley’s friend out of this mess. Suspicious don’t mean that boy killed nobody. And it definitely don’t mean Brantley burned somebody’s house down.”

Colleen blew a stray lock of hair off her face, looked annoyed.

“I tried to tell y’all…if Darius was in danger, I would know. Right now he’s not.”

 

 

About the Author

 

Susan M. Boyer is the author of the USA TODAY bestselling Liz Talbot mystery series. She was blessed with a quintessential small-town childhood and has had a life-long love affair with books. Susan is grateful to have been gifted with an over-active imagination. She was one of those children whose teachers were always telling her mamma that her talents needed to be “channeled.” She’s been making things up and writing them down her whole life

Susan’s debut novel, Lowcountry Boil, won the 2012 Agatha Award for Best First Novel, the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense, and garnered several other award nominations. The third book in the series, Lowcountry Boneyard, was a Spring 2015 Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance Okra Pick, and was short-listed for the 2016 Pat Conroy Beach Music Mystery Prize.

Lowcountry Book Club was a Summer 2016 SIBA Okra Pick and was short-listed for the 2017 Southern Book Prize in Mystery & Detective Fiction.

Lowcountry Boomerang, the eighth book in the series was released September 3, 2019. Book nine, LOWCOUNTRY BOONDOOGLE, is scheduled to be released June 30, 2020.

Susan loves beaches, Southern food, and small towns where everyone knows everyone, and everyone has crazy relatives. You’ll find all of the above in her novels. She lives in Greenville, SC, with her husband and an inordinate number of houseplants.

 

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What Momma Left Behind

 

by

 

Cindy K. Sproles

 

 

Christian Historical Fiction

Publisher: Revell

Date of Publication: June 2, 2020

Number of Pages: 256

 

 

 

 

Worie Dressar is seventeen years old when influenza and typhoid ravage her Appalachian Mountain community in 1877, leaving behind a growing number of orphaned children with no way to care for themselves. Worie’s mother has been secretly feeding a number of these little ones on Sourwood Mountain. But when she dies suddenly, Worie is left to figure out why and how she was caring for them.

 

Plagued with two good-for-nothing brothers—one greedy and the other a drunkard—Worie fights to save her home and the orphaned children now in her begrudging care. Along the way, she will discover the beauty of unconditional love and the power of forgiveness as she cares for all of Momma’s children.

 

Storyteller and popular speaker Cindy K. Sproles pens a tender novel full of sacrifice, heartache, and courage in the face of overwhelming obstacles.

 

 

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Praise

 

“Worie Dressar isn’t your typical heroine—she’s tough, she’s opinionated, and she’s loud. But at her core she wants to love and be loved—just like the rest of us. Cindy’s special talent is in telling about life the way it is—hard parts and all—while preserving the beauty and wonder of love shining through even the darkest night.” —Sarah Loudin Thomas, Christy Award-nominated author of Miracle in a Dry Season

“Seldom does a story move me to tears and encourage me to examine my life. A powerful story. Highly recommended.” —DiAnn Mills, author of Fatal Strike

“Cindy Sproles has a way of placing readers inside the Blue Ridge Mountains. Her ability to transport readers into her Appalachian adventures is nothing short of genius. Leaving us hanging on every word, Cindy writes with feeling and incredible historical knowledge. This book is a must-read!” —LaTan Murphy, writer, speaker, author of Courageous Women of the Bible

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lately, I have really enjoyed reading books that are based on actual events from the past but are fiction in nature.  What Momma Left Behind takes a peek into life in the Appalachian Mountains in the late 1800s when illnesses such as typhoid and influenza were wiping out the population,  Living in the mountains, many were isolated from doctors and towns and the ability to receive medical attention was low.  Those on the mountain did what they could for each other and this story beautifully addresses the compassion given to the many orphans so that they may survive.

Worie Dressar is a complex character for just seventeen years old which is actually not surprising or uncommon for that time period.  Most young women and men were more mature and grew up faster during that time.  In fact, many were married by Worie’s age and might even already have several children.  Worie had dreams for her life that were shattered when she finds her mother dead.  But perhaps it just means a new path was forged for her without her knowledge.  I discovered this line within the book that sums up Worie to a T.

There it was – laid out on the mornin breeze.  I was selfish and judgemental. I was angry, stubborn, a tad hateful.

As I read this book, the admiration I felt for Worie grew.  She was not afraid to confront anyone, even when she should have tempered her words.  She stood up to anyone and everyone when protecting herself, her family, and the orphans she was taking care of at the time.  She fought for these children and keeping them together when others might want to split them apart for their “benefit.”  On the flip side, that strength was also her biggest weakness because she didn’t trust anyone.  She might have had a modicum of trust for Ely and Bess, but there were so many others that wanted to help her, she just needed to see past her pride and allow them into her life.

While the focus of the story is primarily on Worie, we also have interactions with her two brothers, Justice and Calvin, and these brothers are nothing alike.  Calvin is cruel to everyone and is only looking out for himself.  Justice is a little more compassionate but has his own demons to battle.  We also learn more about Momma through slips of paper left in a mason jar.  Her words of wisdom and the bits of her life that are revealed were a little shocking but also gave us greater insight into her character and why she took care of the other children that lost their parents.  That sort of compassion cannot be taught, it is inherent.

There are other characters that help round out the story and provide the help and guidance that Worie needs in this life.  After all, she is still young and has a lot to learn.  But how she adapts to taking her mother’s place in caring for the young children is admirable.  She doesn’t question taking care of anyone else and feels that it is her duty to ensure the children thrive but also understand what family means – it doesn’t necessarily mean it is who is related to you by blood, but anyone that cares about another.

Ultimately, this book is a story about trust, forgiveness, and love.  All three things that Worie exhibits and learns over the course of the novel.  It takes a lot of time because she is stubborn and sometimes those lessons have to be repeated over and over again.

Here are some of my favorite lines:

“Life ain’t easy in these mountains,” Momma would say. “When the messes happen, you swallow the ache and do what has to be done.”

“I ain’t nothin but a drunk.  But you, little lady. You are Momma made over, and that ain’t nothing but good.”

There was still more questions than answers, but a momma bird only feeds her babies a bite at a time. I reckon that was my bite.

“You understand, Worie, it ain’t your job to fix me. It’s your job to love me despite my downfalls.”

“if a man is to overcome something that has a hold on him, they has to be some trust.”

There was that word again. The same one Justice had give me, Trust. I thought trust was something you could find, but I’m seein it ain’t found – it’s gived.

If the good Lord wasn’t doin nothin else other than teachin me what it meant to trust, then I was the better for listenin.

I understood that forgiveness wasn’t for the other person.  It was for me. It was what the good Lord would use to set me free and help me make my own way.

Despite all them children had lost…there was laughter. It was a lesson I needed to learn.

 

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cindy K. Sproles is the cofounder of Christian Devotions Ministries. An author, storyteller, and popular speaker, Cindy teaches at writers’ conferences across the country and directs the Asheville Christian Writers Conference in North Carolina. Editor of ChristianDevotions.us and managing editor for Straight Street Books and SonRise Devotionals, Cindy has a BA in business and journalism and lives in the mountains of East Tennessee with her family.

 

 

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First Winner: Copy of What Momma Left Behind + $20 B&N Gift Card 

 

Second Winner: Copy of What Momma Left Behind + $5 Starbucks Gift Card 

 

Third Winner: Copy of What Momma Left Behind

 

 June 23-July 3, 2020

 

 

 

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Visit the Lone Star Literary Life Tour Page

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

Or, visit the blogs directly

 

6/23/20	Book Trailer	Texas Book Lover
6/23/20	Author Video	Hall Ways Blog
6/24/20	Review	The Adventures of a Travelers Wife
6/25/20	Author Interview	Reading by Moonlight
6/26/20	Review	Missus Gonzo
6/27/20	Excerpt	Story Schmoozing Book Reviews
6/28/20	Author Interview	All the Ups and Downs
6/29/20	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
6/30/20	Excerpt	Jennifer Silverwood
7/1/20	Review	That’s What She’s Reading
7/2/20	Review	Forgotten Winds

 

 

 

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Synopsis

 

Backyard or battleground? From the piles of mysterious recluse comes an adventure so epic, no dwarf, fairy, nor dragon can take it on alone

 

For Arty to miss a day of school, either he is very, very sick or a fairytale-character turf-war has begun in his backyard — such as what begins this particular Wednesday. First, he finds an ax-swinging, bearded, sweaty warrior Dwarf scaring his dogs. Soon enough, Emma, Cry and other middle-school friends also find fairy creatures — Elves, Spriggans, Pixies, and a hoped-for Dragon — crashing into their normal homework-doing, backpack-carrying, phone-charging schooldays.

Why are these magical beings here? What should be done? Is that axe sharp? Can Pixies be given aspirin?

Arty with his friends — and spying jerks, and questionable strangers with long names — follow the clues and try to find out, even as things turn dark and dangerous.

The mythical beings are taking sides. The Gwyllion, that legendary Old Woman of the Mountains, has a sinister plan, turning the neighborhood into a fantasy battleground. One that awaits young heroes.

 

 

 

 

Read an excerpt here

 

 

Interview with Gertrude Dee Marplot

 

Gertrude is the great-granddaughter of Professor Marplot.  She shares some insights into the book and the author.

 

How and when did you discover your great-grandfather’s manuscripts?

 

I was very young — I think 5 or 6 years old — when I went on an extended family reunion that had us tramping all over Great Britain. All I remember of Great-Grandad is wandering around in this dark old mansion. It looked like a cathedral, with the light inside coming at all crazy angles and through huge colored windows, and everywhere were large bookcases, and bookshelves, from floor to high-ceiling, and with every desk or table piled high with old papers, books stuffed with flattening parchments, scrolls and tube containers — a musty, dusty maze through the whole house. And they told me not to touch any of it!  That experience definitely started my love of books. I don’t think I was even there very long, but those images are burned into my memory, a very happy one.

I don’t remember seeing the professor too much, but he must have noticed me because when we left, he wobbled over to me — he had a cane, was very old and gray with a stiff, short beard and a pipe sticking out of his fat, fluffy mustache. He said something about me being a good girl and that I should read a lot, or something. I don’t remember much else; it was so long ago and dream-like. But on my birthday every year since, he sent me some old parchment or ancient
book with leaves disintegrating off the binder, and they were about very strange things — supposedly hidden knowledge or stories that just looked like a mess of
symbols to me. Some had designs with bright colors and gold and silver etched lines — and pictures! Very cool.

When I was 13, I asked him to send me something that I could actually read, something a normal girl would like. And in pieces — large pieces, in big boxes —
I started to receive papers filled with more modern stories. And with very little explanation! I finally convinced him to get a computer and email so we could
communicate faster and more often. He wouldn’t want me to say much more, but he did help me get the papers in order, and he told me all he knew of their history — which honestly wasn’t much.

 

How did you weave together the story as you sorted the tattered pages, and how long did it take?

 

A long time for “Dwarf Story” because pieces of it arrived in a scattered and disorganized way. And specifics as to the story’s setting were missing — as if any scenes that revealed specific data were intentionally left out, cut from existence. With some — very little — help from my great-grandfather I narrowed down some possible U.S. locations for the story, though it could have taken place almost anywhere. The place names in the tale were hints, as well as the weather and landmarks. I followed clue after clue, the way Arty does in the story, and did the best I could. Interesting that such a modern story could have such a mysterious source. I was just about 15 when the first package with “Dwarf Story” pages came — marked as “Mary’s letters,” and those scenes from the middle of the book. Because I recently finished it, it was about eight years from beginning to end. A lot of fun! But eight years to tell a story that takes place over one week is crazy!

 

What do you think your grandfather would say, knowing you went through all of this effort to tell his stories?

 

I think he will be proud to see more stories published because, to him, they are the latest link in a long chain. One theme of all his research and investigations concerns stories of young adults and how they cross into the fantastic and legendary. Though he doesn’t communicate much — or say much when he does communicate — so it’s hard to tell. But I think he is enjoying it.

 

Do you think your grandfather left behind more pages that you’ve yet to uncover?

 

Oh, yes. In fact, there are pages that didn’t make it into the book, a few scenes that definitely take place in Scotland, but they didn’t fit the main story and still need work. It is a good question I ask myself also: For how long will I keep getting more “Dwarf Story” pages?

 

Did you learn more about your grandfather after discovering his writing? Was anything surprising?

 

Only that he seems more real, sometimes, seeing the work he did to collect these stories, and the writing he did on pulling together all old legends and connecting them up — like what I did for “Dwarf Story,” now that I think about it! Though his work is much, much greater. The hidden knowledge he compiles and collects and seams together is truly amazing — and I have only seen a small part of it!

 

 

About the Author

 

Professor Welkin Westicotter Marplot, of Coillemuir, Scotland, is a collector of esoteric tales of global wisdom and curator of ancient manuscripts. He is a recluse and, as he claims, has been collecting and collating adventure and fantasy stories for over a century.

 

Synopsis

 

Aurelia has always valued love and happiness over titles and power. Though her kind-hearted father has allowed her to turn away suitor after suitor in pursuit of a love she cannot yet define, when he dies her choices die with him. Knowing that marrying the elderly governor of a neighboring province can secure her mentally challenged brother’s safety, she gives up on her dream of finding love in return for his protection.

Cassius is the ill-fated captain of the governor’s guard tasked with escorting the Lady Aurelia and her unpleasant aunt to the governor’s estate. Since the soothsayer Tullia foretold an early death for him, Cassius wants nothing more than to keep his hands busy with labor and his heart free from any connections to the world he believes he will be leaving soon. As they work through a series of misfortunes on the road to the governor’s province, the words of the soothsayer start to make sense, and together they find the courage to allow their true destiny to unfold.

 

 

 

 

Excerpt

 

Aurelia watched as Cassius struck again, and again, each strike more forceful than the last. She could see from the way he brought down the sword with each try the mounting tension in his body. Finally, no more than two steps into the field of thorns, Cassius growled a barely audible curse, then turned to face Aurelia. He wiped the sweat off his brow with the back of his hand, his chest visibly rising and falling as he tried to catch his breath.

She knew better than to say anything, and in any case the intensity of his eyes as he looked at her told her everything she needed to know.

As his breathing slowed and his temper cooled, he sheathed his sword and stepped closer to her. “These vines do not intend to be cut today, but perhaps we do not need them to be cut. My lady, please forgive the impropriety of this request, but if you will follow my instructions, I think we may be able to make some progress against this terrible field of thorns.”

Aurelia replied without hesitation. “Ask, and I will do as you say.”

Looking as though he had expected more of a fight, Cassius nodded. “Please, if you would come closer, my lady.”

Ignoring the lightness in her stomach at his request, Aurelia moved closer to him.

“If we cannot cut the stubborn vines, then perhaps we can move them away, far enough and for long enough a time that we may pass by.”

He took his shield in his left hand and held it in front of him. It was an oval piece of wood covered in leather that extended from his shoulders to his knees.

“I will hold my shield in position and move forward through the brambles, as though charging the enemy. If you will walk closely behind me—and I mean closer than my own shadow—then I can be your shield, and we can both get through to the other side. Do you understand?”

“I do,” she began, “but your shield is not big enough to protect you from the thorns.”

“It is true, I would give anything for my legionary’s shield at this moment, but this shield is what we have, and it will do.”

He took a breath and turned around to face the enemy thorns.

She stood a couple steps behind him and did not move.

He turned his head to look at her and motioned for her to come to him with his free hand. “My lady,” he said, almost shyly.

Aurelia felt a tingling in her chest, but took a step toward him.

“My lady, I cannot protect you unless you are right behind me. Please.”

She took another step, until her toes were nearly touching his heels.

“I sincerely apologize for the seeming impropriety of what I am about to suggest, but, if you would, please, have your feet touch mine, so that we may take each step as one. And I think it may be easier if you would—if you don’t mind, that is—put your arms about my chest and bury your head in my back. Just let me lead you. Trust me, my lady.”

“I trust you, Cassius,” she said, just loud enough for him to hear. She had not intended on saying his name.

Cassius nodded, then looked away from her and raised his arms. She appreciated the fact that he could not watch her tentative movements as she willed each arm to be raised to the level of her chest, her hands still gripping the edges of the cloak he had put on her. She slid her feet forward until her toes touched the heels of the soldier’s shoes, at the same time bringing her arms full circle around his broad chest.

She felt his right hand gently grip each of her wrists in turn through the cloak she still held tightly in her balled fists and pull her arms more closely against him, until she had no choice but to allow the fronts of her thighs, abdomen, and chest to be pressed against his body.

She swallowed hard and, closing her eyes, brought her forehead to rest against the soldier’s back. At her touch, she felt his strong body tense up, then gradually relax.

“Are you ready, my lady?”

She answered softly, speaking into his back. “Yes.”

 

About the Author

 

Kathryn Amurra is an intellectual property attorney by day and a writer of Romance novels by night. Some of her best writing takes place between the hours of 10PM and midnight (or later) when she has “logged off” from her day job and her hubby, three girls, and boxer are asleep. She currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she is working on the next book in her Soothsayer’s Path series set in Ancient Rome.

 

Website * Facebook

 

 

Synopsis

 

At the dawn of the Renaissance, Alfred – the eponymous second son – must discover the special destiny foreseen for him by his grandfather. Now, the unthinkable has happened: Alfred’s brother is king. And it isn’t long before everyone’s worst fears are realized. Traditional allegiances are shattered under a style of rule unknown since the grand bargain that formed the kingdom was struck over two hundred years ago. These will be the most dangerous years of Alfred’s life, forcing him to re-examine his duty to personal honor and to the kingdom, while the threats posed by his brother constantly remind him of his father’s final words of advice. What choices will he have to make to try to protect the things he holds most dear?

 

 

 

 

Guest Post

 

Today we welcome author Pamela Taylor to StoreyBook Reviews and she shares with us what it is like to live with Corgis.  I’m a dog lover and know that dogs have a mind of their own sometimes but their love is unconditional.  Plus they play a role in Pamela’s new book.

 

Corgi Inspiration

“A dog walk, Mom. That’ll get your creative juices flowing. Definitely a dog walk. Like, maybe a dog walk right now?”

I’m pretty sure that’s what Maggi is saying when she comes into the office and contrives to knock my hand away from the mouse or the keyboard. Clearly, she’s thought about this, ’cause she’s pretty short and has to put her forefeet up on my leg to be able to nudge my arm. But she’s a Corgi, so she knows how to get much larger animals to do her bidding. And I have to admit, most of the time, she’s right 🙂

Once you know what to look for, you can see their herding behavior in a lot of the things they do. My other Corgi, Marlo, is really good at telling me where she wants us to go on that dog walk. She gets on the opposite side of me from the direction she wants to go and slowly moves me toward her desired path. If I don’t show signs of cooperating, she’ll circle around me and try again. It’s actually rather fun to watch her do her Corgi thing.

Without the breed being explicitly named, Corgis figure in the Second Son Chronicles. Not just their herding abilities, though that’s how they came to be the denizens of the Royal Kennel, and it’s the role they play in the broader society of the kingdom. Many of their other characteristics feature in the story as well.
They are very loving. They want nothing more than to be with their people – on a walk or sitting on the sofa or playing with a favorite toy or sharing their human’s bed. And they really do smile.

Like some Corgis, Maggi occasionally needs a good FRAP (Frantic Random Activity Period). For her, this means a mad dash around the house, out the back door, circle the yard, back through the house, and back out again, all at top speed. And you’d be astonished how fast a Corgi can run.

They all love belly rubs – and since they often sleep on their backs, there are plenty of opportunities for that. They do shed – they’re double-coated, so they do a major undercoat shed in spring and fall. Marlo says, “No, Mom, we do not shed. We emit magical fibers of joy and love.” They bark when they think something is wrong – lawn-mowing equipment is a frequent demon. But I know they would let me know if something was truly amiss.

And then there’s food. “All kinds of food, Mom. Any kind of food, Mom. We like to eat.” My girls enjoy their kibble, but they also love things like pumpkin, bananas, butternut squash, spinach, cauliflower, cheese, sweet potatoes . . . and, of course, peanut butter. I have to watch their calories or they’d look like little barrels on four legs.

But, best of all, they are just incredibly cute and sweet. Big dog personality in a package you can pick up and cuddle. I love my Corgis.

 

About the Author

 

Pamela Taylor brings her love of history to the art of storytelling in the Second Son Chronicles. An avid reader of historical fact and fiction, she finds the past offers rich sources for character, ambiance, and plot that allow readers to escape into a world totally unlike their daily lives. She shares her home with two Corgis who frequently reminder her that a dog walk is the best way to find inspiration for that next chapter.

 

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Click on the image below to read more from Pamela and

enter the Giveaway that ends 6/28

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book Title: Yummy Me Feels So Good by Lion I Am

 

Category: Children’s Fiction (Ages 3-7), 36 pages

 

Publisher: Funny Bird Production

 

Release date: January, 2020

 

 

Synopsis

 

Yummy Me Feels So Good isn’t just another storybook. It is something you can use with your kids and grandkids for many years. Simple and childlike, kids identify with the gentle creatures within. Absolutely beautiful, Yummy Me is a genius way of helping children immediately connect with the world of emotions through enchanting animal friends. The images and words are so simple and therefore can be grasped by children and adults of all ages. The book can easily open up space for a dialogue about emotions between an adult and a child, all the while being playfully disguised as animal talk. Children laugh and grimace as they flip through the pages, mirroring the emotions they feel on the pages. Yummy Me is a great doorway to explore the sometimes difficult arena of emotions, both for children, teachers, and parents.

Rather than labeling certain emotions as “good” or “bad”, these emotions simply get space to be as they are and encourage the reader to remember that they too will pass. The final message of the book that we are in fact “none of these” me’s is a loving reminder that at any moment we can start our day again from joy. “I have seen firsthand how taking out this book can transform a child’s tantrum into a smile and eventually bursts of laughter.

 

 

 

Praise

 

“Lion I AM validates and assists children to experience emotions in a conscious manner — essential to learning and gaining self-knowledge. Scientific research has demonstrated that even more than IQ, your emotional awareness and abilities to handle feelings will determine your success and happiness in all walks of life, including family relationships. Yummy Me Feels So Good will help you and your child learn to be “Lions of Love,” to consciously choose and express effectively what you are feeling. Being watchful and strong like the Lion brings acceptance and maturity in the ever changing world of feelings. Then everyone can share this “feeling of magic” and joy with others.” – Harold H Bloomfield MD, N.Y. Times bestselling author 

 

 

Review

 

I enjoy reading children’s books now and then because a hidden message can almost always be found that is teaching children something but in a fun and colorful way.  This book achieves that goal.  This book teaches children about feelings and emotions and that it is ok to have different feelings and emotions throughout the day.  All people feel different emotions at different times depending on the situation, their surroundings, and how they feel that day. I think this book could open up some dialogues about how kids are feeling at different times.

The illustrations in this book sum up the various emotions nicely.  A smiley face for a happy me, a pufferfish for a grumpy me, and a bear for a fuzzy me.  The illustrations are colorful and some appear to have been drawn by a child while other drawings are a little more advanced.  But all of the illustrations fit the accompanying text.

I think this book would be a great addition to any child’s library and allow the parents to read the book with the child especially in different emotional states.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

The author Lion I Am lives on a beautiful island with lots of trees and animals. He likes quiet spaces in nature just like his animal friends. He enjoys talking to the turtles, dolphins, and whales when they’re around. Like the Lion, he enjoys relaxing in nature and listening to the sounds of the birds and animals and that of the wind in the trees and bamboos. He especially loves the beach and the ocean surf. One of his favorite things is swimming in the strong waves in the ocean. He loves playing with children and animals. They help him laugh at all his passing Me’s and his funny moods. The children and animals remind him to be grateful for life here on this beautiful Earth. ​ Lion I Am loves to visit with teachers and children who read the Lion I Am books together and share their feelings and playfulness together. The Funny Bird Productions mop top birds sing “All there is Love, Love is all there is. Love is all there is, All you need is Love” They know the important things in life.

 

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Giveaway

 

Win 1 of 10 copies of YUMMY ME FEELS SO GOOD (USA only) (10 winners) (ends July 10)

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

Feeling her life is at a standstill, Jill McCallister jumps at the chance to visit Morgan’s Grove, the town founded by her great-great-great-grandfather. Eager to discover her roots and do research for a new book, she drives from Colorado to Texas, excited to meet the inhabitants of her grandfather’s legacy.

Jill immerses herself in the charming community, enjoying the residents and their quirky traditions. When she meets the mysterious Rick Wright, she almost forgets she’s sworn off men, but she’s not willing to risk getting too involved, especially since she will be returning home in a few weeks.

When the winter festival kicks into high gear, Jill and Rick are thrown together to work on a project, and sparks soon fly. Although she fights it, Jill can’t help falling hard for his soulful eyes and flirty smile. But as tempting as Rick is, he’s hiding something, and the mystery writer in Jill is determined to discover his secret.

With the clock running out on her time in Morgan’s Grove, Jill needs to decide what “home” really means to her.

 

 

 

Review

 

I always enjoy a book set in Texas, even if it starts out in Colorado.  This book has that Hallmark feeling, and I could see it being made into one of their Christmas movies since it is set at Christmas time.

Jill McCallister has writer’s block so she turns to a friend with an online magazine for an article to write to jumpstart those creative juices.  Her assignment – genealogy.  Since Jill has a mother that does not stay in one place and her father is deceased, she is rather perplexed as to where to take this article.  That is until her roommate suggests Jill’s own family history.  Little did Jill expect to find roots from her father’s side of the family thanks to an online genealogy website.  It is that spark of information that takes her to Morgan’s Grove, Texas and her real adventure begins.

Jill is a kind soul but she has walls built up around her heart to protect herself from getting too close to anyone.  This could be because of her childhood and never staying in one place too long.  We also find out she was bullied as a child over her curly hair, so that doesn’t help matters any.  However, when she encounters the citizens of this small Texas town, she realizes that maybe there could be more to her life and an extended family since she is a descendant of the founders.  She is treated like a celebrity, once she lets people know her ties to the town because everyone loved the founder and everything he and his family did to create this small town wonder.

Lucille is a widow with a heart of gold.  I think Jill coming into her life while visiting this town saves both of them.  And of course, it wouldn’t be a romance without a male lead and in this case, it is Lucille’s son, Rick.  He seems to be the strong silent type (with some similar walls around his heart) but there are some developments happening in his life that have him appear standoffish and moody. When you learn the full story it makes a lot of sense and there is an element of surprise for Jill.  It was refreshing to watch Rick and Jill’s banter back and forth as they got to know one another.

I enjoyed watching Jill research her family but I wish we could have learned more about her ancestors and what resources she used to learn about them.  I would have enjoyed reading more about the article she wrote for her friend’s magazine and what she included and the direction of the article.  I say that because I want to learn more about my dad’s family but it will take a lot of research to learn more.

This is one of my favorite quotes from the book.  Lucille is one wise woman.

“Well, most people think love is roses and candlelight, but it’s hard work. It’s learning to compromise and live with each other’s flaws and staying firm during the hard times, the ebbs and flows of a marriage. You choose to stay.  That’s how a marriage really lasts. You both make the choice, every single day, to stick it out.”

I can’t finish this review without mentioning the dogs, Gracie and George.  Two Corgis that were full of life and a bit mischievous.

This is a very enjoyable read and I had a hard time putting the book down.  I’m looking forward to the next book in this series.  We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Traci Borum is a writing teacher and native Texan. She’s also an avid reader of women’s fiction, most especially Elin Hilderbrand and Rosamunde Pilcher novels. Since the age of 12, she’s written poetry, short stories, magazine articles, and novels.

Traci also adores all things British. She even owns a British dog (Corgi) and is completely addicted to Masterpiece Theater–must be all those dreamy accents! Aside from having big dreams of getting a book published, it’s the little things that make her the happiest: deep talks with friends, a strong cup of hot chocolate, a hearty game of fetch with her Corgi, and puffy white Texas clouds always reminding her to “look up, slow down, enjoy your life.”

 

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Title: Meant to be More

Author: Amelia Foster

Series/Book: Meant to be Series, Book 4

Genre: Contemporary Romance

                

Synopsis

 

My best friend has spent the past several years traveling the world with Doctors Without Borders. It’s been her life’s dream and something I’ve always admired about her. But somehow, after twenty years of friendship, our last goodbye brought about the realization of a truth I hadn’t yet recognized.

I don’t just respect Jillian, I am in love with her, and it’s time she knows.

But upon her return home, she manages to lay her own shocking news on me before I can even form the words to tell her how I feel. It seems she needs access to the fortune her grandfather left her in his will. But there’s one problem.

The caveat being an antiquated, but ironclad stipulation that she can’t receive the funds unless she gets married and stays that way for eighteen months.

Naturally, I’m the only person she can trust with such a delicate arrangement. And I’m also hopelessly in love with her, so I’ll greedily take the chance to fake-marry my best friend.

This way, I can prove to her that we are meant to be more than just friends.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read the Meant to Be Series on Amazon! Each book follows the love story of a Carlisle brother.

 

Book 1 – MEANT TO BE KEPT: – Tanner & Izzy – Read my Review

Book 2 – MEANT TO BE DIFFERENT – Wyatt & Gigi – Read my Review

Book 3 – MEANT TO BE FAMILY – Conner & Kelsey – Read my Review

Book 4 – MEANT TO BE MORE – Dean & Jillian – Review coming soon!

 

 

About the Author

 

Books, coffee, and chocolate make up both the heart and body mass that is better known as Amelia Foster. She has been a lifelong lover of the written word, both as a reader and an author, and completed her first manuscript at the ripe old age of five complete with illustrations. Sadly, her art was a medium that never improved over time although thankfully her writing has.

From sweet to salacious the only requirement Amelia has in books she reads – and definitely in the ones she crafts – is an excessively satisfying happily ever after… and then a little bit more.

 

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Giveaway

 

Enter to win ice cream & a book!

Head on over to Amelia Foster’s Facebook page to enter!

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

Freelance book editor Mikki Lincoln knows the makings of a well-written story. But she’ll need to choose her words wisely when a new assignment introduces a deadly plot twist . . .

Forgotten on the outskirts of quaint Lenape Hollow, Feldman’s Catskill Resort Hotel has outlasted its heyday as a popular tourist destination and now awaits demolition. But once Mikki is hired to edit a revealing memoir by Sunny Feldman, the last living relative of its original owners, the doomed resort quickly ends up back in the spotlight . . .

Unfortunately, everyone’s attention shifts to Mikki when a body is discovered at the demolition site. Seen arguing with deceptive entrepreneur Greg Onslow right before his shocking death, the editor has no choice but to spell out exactly why she isn’t guilty of murdering him . . .

Mikki’s dash for answers brings Greg’s shady dealings into focus, along with an unsettling list of potential culprits. As false leads and dead ends force her to revise theories on who really did it, can Mikki judge fact from fiction before the investigation reaches a terrifying conclusion?

 

 

Available June 30th, 2020

 

Amazon * B&N * Kobo * IndieBound

 

Review

 

This is the 3rd book in the series.  I normally only like to read in order but didn’t realize this was the 3rd book in the series.  Other than some references to the past two murders she helps to solve, this book can definitely be read as a stand-alone.

Mikki Lincoln is a spunky and tough woman that has enough energy for someone half her age.  She is also confident and doesn’t need anyone to watch over her, as her nephew, Nick, soon finds out when sent to visit by his mother, Mikki’s sister-in-law.  Nick was a little too overprotective for my liking.  Mikki wasn’t a feeble minded old woman, she could well enough take care of herself.  However, Mikki compares Nick to her deceased husband and that they were both bull headed and it took a while to bring them around to the right way of thinking….her way!

There is a varied cast of characters and while many might have a motive to kill Greg Onslow, there was only one murderer in the lot.  I will have to admit that I didn’t suspect this character and probably should have looking back.  There weren’t a lot of clues to point the reader in this person’s direction, but when you look at the possibilities, this person was definitely one of the ones to consider.

I really liked the writing and grammar tips at the end.  Some great tips for me to put into effect.

A very enjoyable book and a series I would suggest checking out.  We give this 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Kaitlyn Dunnett is a pseudonym used by Kathy Lynn Emerson, author of the Mistress Jaffrey Mysteries, the Face Down Mysteries featuring Susanna Appleton, 16th century gentlewoman, herbalist, and sleuth, the Diana Spaulding 1888 Quartet, and the award-winning How to Write Killer Historical Mysteries, plus an assortment of other books.

As Kaitlyn, she writes the Liss MacCrimmon series set in Moosetookalook, Maine, and the Deadly Edits series set in rural Sullivan County, New York.

She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and other professional organizations and blogs regularly with Maine Crime Writers.

 

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