Lost Heart in King Manor: Mysteries of a Heart Series
Romantic Suspense/Edgy Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting –  Dost Island (fictional) off the coast of Massachusetts
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently Published
Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 24, 2025
Hardcover
Print length ‏ : ‎ 347 pages

Synopsis

LOST HEART IN KING MANOR
Book One in the Mysteries of a Heart Series

At 45, Gabby Heart isn’t looking for drama—just quiet days on Dost Island running her village gift shop, teaching art, and keeping her past tucked safely away. But when her mother suffers a sudden health crisis, Gabby is pulled into a storm of family secrets, betrayal, and a dark legacy buried within the walls of the once-grand King Manor. What was supposed to be a safe place for her mother’s recovery becomes the backdrop for a chilling mystery. Strange incidents begin to unfold, and it becomes clear: someone inside King Manor has a deadly agenda. As a hurricane traps Gabby inside the sprawling estate, she’s forced to work alongside two very different men—her maddeningly attractive officemate and a charming new neighbor, both hiding dark secrets. One man may want her heart. The other may want her dead.

But can she trust her instincts before it’s too late?

★ A slow-burn romantic suspense with an edgy cozy mystery twist peppered with humor, Lost Heart in King Manor is perfect for fans of strong women over 40, amateur sleuths, brooding men with buried secrets, and small seaside towns hiding deadly truths. ★

Because some secrets are worth killing for.
And some hearts don’t break quietly.

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Guest Post

“Ghosts, Guilt, and Gabby Heart”

By Jay King – professional smartass, reluctant truth-teller, and dangerously drawn to a certain copper-haired woman

My name’s Jay Laird, and I’m not the main character of this circus—Gabby is. But I keep getting dragged into the spotlight, sometimes shirtless and saying something witty. (What does that say about our author, Celeste Fenton? I’m flattered. And slightly concerned.)

Anyway, I didn’t plan on staying. Let’s get that straight right up front. I came to Dost Island to do a little recon. Dig up a few artifacts. Maybe a few buried truths. Then vanish before anyone asked too many questions. Quick in, quick out. End of story.

Gabby Heart wrecked everything. Including my heart.

We met at a faculty meeting. I picked up her flyer. Then took her desk by the window. That sparked what’s now known (at least in my mind) as the Battle of Wits and Seating Rights, in which she accused me of arrogance, and I countered with charm, logical superiority, and mind-bending quotes.

She was unimpressed. Which, naturally, made her all the more interesting.

Next, we found ourselves at an ACHE event about King Manor’s history. She was sharp, curious, completely in her element. Absolutely not trying to be impressed by me. (She was, by the way.)

Then came the restaurant.

She was a little drunk. A little jealous. Watching Rick cozy up to Lavanda. Though she’d die before admitting it. She tripped. I caught her. She shook me off like I’d lit her on fire. Pretty sure I did.

Things escalated quickly after that.

Gabby, Rick, and me ended up trapped in the tunnels beneath ACHE, stumbling through dark passages and truths. She took charge. Kept her cool. Got us out.

Later, when the cops tried to pin a crime on me, she didn’t hesitate. She defended me. Loudly. Publicly.

Fast forward. We uncovered the truth. Faced the villain.

We kissed. Yeah, white hot, body parts pulsing…you get the picture.

Then she pulled the ripcord. Called it heat-of-the-moment fear.

Said we were better off as friends. Okay, sure.

So now, technically, we’re friends.

That’s fine. I can play the long game.

Except every time she walks into a room, I forget how to breathe.

But she’s not the only force of nature on this island.

There’s Rick Payne, her former flame, and Payne-in-my-ass. He shows up at the worst times, says all the right things, and looks at Gabby like he still has a shot. Which he doesn’t. Probably not. Maybe. Shit.

My favorite, my compadre, is Anna. She’s a doctor, the smartest person in any room, and somehow immune to my usual brand of deflection. She brings calm, grace, and truth I didn’t know I needed. Don’t tell her I said that. I like to pretend I’m aloof, but she sees through me faster than I can open a bottle of vintage bottle of scotch.

Gabby’s squad also includes Abe, who I only met once—not long enough to form an opinion. However, if you’re asking, I think she’s talented, observant, and carrying more pain than she lets on. Then there’s her other GAL pal (you see what they did there…), Lola, who is chaos in vintage heels. She’s outspoken, intense, and oddly refreshing. She’s also convinced I’m “emotionally constipated,” which is not inaccurate… just rude. There’s a shady past there, I’m damn sure of it. When I have time, I plan to Google her. She’s got Gabby’s back, probably with a switchblade hidden in a fashionable boot.

Detective Rosa Morales surprised me. I expected a by-the-book suit with a badge and an ego. Instead, she’s sharp, competent, and calmly terrifying. She looks at me like I’m hiding something (fair), and never flinches when people lie, especially me. I respect that. Not publicly, of course. Let’s not ruin our dynamic.

The wild card…literally… Lavanda. Gabby once called her a “hottie-tot.” Inelegant but accurate. Lavanda’s beautiful, calculated, and knows exactly what she wants (Rick) and when to strike. She’s dangerous. My advice? Don’t get in her way.

But the gravitational pull in this story? We’re back to Gabby Heart.

As the most brilliant man in the universe, Albert Einstein, once said:

“Falling in love is not at all the most stupid thing people do—but gravitation cannot be held responsible for it.”

Gabby is a green-eyed, lipstick-wearing black hole. Brave. Brilliant. Sarcastic as hell.

Which should make me run. Instead, it makes me want to press my forehead to hers and quote something profound just to hear her laugh. She drives me insane. On purpose, I’m pretty sure. And I’ve never felt more alive.

“Love is a fire,” said Joan Crawford.

“But whether it is going to warm your hearth or burn down your house, you can never tell.”

I raise my glass to that.

Jay Laird

Professional smartass. Reluctant truth-teller. Still learning that falling in love isn’t always a tactical error.

About the Author

I have an M.Ed. and Ph.D. in education and have worked in higher education for over thirty-years. A former educator and lifelong reader, I began writing seriously at age 60. No one is more surprised than me, that in retirement, I found reward and occupation as an author.

My writing is fueled by a lifelong love of mystery and a fascination with the complexities of the human heart. As a widow, mother of adult twin sons, proud grandmother, dog lover, and semi-retired educator, I believe I have enough real-world experience to weave imagination with insight to create stories rich with emotion and suspense. My work blends romance, mystery, and heart—with healthy doses of humor and hope. I feel passionate about helping others realize that creativity doesn’t have an expiration date.

When I’m not writing, reading, or plotting another plot twist, I like to explore small towns across America—setting out solo for month-long adventures much to the awe (and occasional alarm) of family and friends. My latest obsessions include escape rooms, mastering the perfect miter cut for a DIY bathroom remodel, training my cavalier spaniel to do a high five, and making the impossible decision of where to travel next.

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