Synopsis

Fake engagements are a dangerous business.

Bryan James’s job is on thin ice unless he can secure a contract with a popular design house. He knows his best friend’s sister can help—but her terms are more than he bargained for.

Alexis Devers’s debut fashion line is a hit. But when Alexis’s publicist tells buyers that it landed her a wealthy, gorgeous fiancé, Alexis needs to come up with one—fast. Bryan’s offer to strike a deal is perfectly timed. She’s more than willing—on one condition…

It’s the perfect plan…until feelings start getting in the way. Suddenly, the dangers of mixing business and pleasure become much more real than either of them expected.

Excerpt

Bryan and Alexis make their “unorthodox arrangement.”

“Before I sign these, there is one more thing I want to request from you.”

Meeting her gaze, he asked, “What can I do for you?”

“Funny you should pose that question. I’ll warn you, what I’m about to ask is very unorthodox.”

His brow hitched. “I see the immense value in this account, Ms. Devers, and I plan to do whatever you require in order to gain your business.” He used that line often when a new account was on the line, but he didn’t remember ever meaning it as sincerely as he did at the present moment.

She smiled, gave a small chuckle. “I’m about to test that. Call me Alexis.”

“Okay, Alexis.” He settled in, giving her his full attention. “Let’s hear it.”

“When my partner was out drumming up retailer interest in our fashion line, she told one reporter that I was engaged to be married. For some reason, that made the line more saleable. Sydney’s little falsehood is now part of the public discourse, because the reporter mentioned it on television.”

He could feel his brow scrunch with confusion. “That’s an odd way to go about it, but whatever works. Though I’m not sure what this has to do with me.”

Another soft chuckle. “I’ll just ask you straight out, then. Would you be willing to pose as my fiancé? At least until the line gets off the ground and becomes well-established?”

He blinked several times. Did she just say what I think she said? “I’m sorry, what?”

“I told you it was unorthodox. I need a wealthy, handsome fiancé on my arm, and my cursory research tells me you fit the bill. So will you do it?”

“You researched me?”

She shrugged, her expression remaining casual. “All it took was a little bit of digging online to find out a few things about you. I also looked into Royal’s company history, and based on that and your illustrious educational and professional background, I’d wager you are financially set.”

He blinked a few times, unable to disagree with her assessment. “Okay, then.”

“And as far as the other thing, I’m not blind.” She fixed him with an appreciative stare. “You’re very easy on the eyes.”

His pulse quickened, his throat becoming dry as his body reacted to her words and her tone of voice. “You were right. This is the first time I’ve had a request like this.”

She said nothing but kept her eyes on him.

He met her gaze, arrested by the dark pools of her eyes, framed by a thick fringe of black lashes. “And what exactly would I have to do as your faux fiancé?”

“It depends on whether the line catches on. You have to be seen in public with me. We’d need to appear affectionate toward each other, of course.”

“I can handle that. Is there more?”

“If things go well, there will probably be television interviews and press. So you may have to appear affectionate in front of cameras. I won’t ask much else of you.”

He cupped his chin, thought about what she was asking him to do. He couldn’t deny that it appealed to him. “Is this strictly a business offer? Or is there more to it?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, I’m sure you could ask someone else, but you asked me. So what does that mean? How should I take that?” He searched her face, attempting to gauge her motivation.

She pursed her lips momentarily before answering. “I’m attracted to you; I can admit that. The way I see it, that will only make this easier. Our engagement will look like the real deal.”

She just admitted that she’s attracted to me. He’d thought as much, but to hear her say it was the best kind of confirmation. He quieted as he let the satisfaction of her admission sink in for a few moments.

“I apologize if you think I’m out of line or if I made you uncomfortable. If you’d like to think about it, I understand, and I can wait a few—”

“I’ll do it.”

Now she appeared surprised. “Really? Just like that?”

“I’m attracted to you as well. But I think you know that.”

She broke eye contact for the first time in several minutes, and a hint of redness crept into her cheeks. “I know.”

“And since I’m marriage agnostic, I don’t have any qualms about the whole fake engagement thing.”

One arched brow lifted. “Marriage agnostic?”

“I don’t have any strong feelings about the institution, one way or the other.”

“Hmm.” She seemed to turn that over in her mind for a moment. “So you’re sure you want to do this?”

“Why not? The two of us can have fun, at least until this little arrangement has served its purpose.”

She said nothing, watching him intently.

“You need a manufacturer as well as a fiancé. I need this contract. I’d say this is a pretty good way for us both to get what we want.” He nodded as he thought about it further, because he planned to make full use of his time as Alexis’s intended, fake or otherwise. “Whose brilliant idea was this, by the way?”

The blush in her cheeks deepened. “Mine…”

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Murder in the Museum: An Edmund DeCleryk Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Cozy Cat Press (February 13, 2018)
Paperback: 266 pages

Synopsis

Early one gray November morning, retired Lighthouse Cove, NY police chief, Edmund DeCleryk, finds Emily Bradford’s body on the beach at the base of the bluff where the local museum and historical society stands. At the same time, a break-in has been reported at the museum, and Emily’s coat and purse are found hanging on a peg in the museum’s gift shop where she worked. Was her death the result of a burglary gone bad or something more sinister?

When the police chief is called out of town for a family emergency, he hires Ed, now working as a criminal consultant, to assist deputy police chief, Carrie Ramos, with the murder investigation. After several leads don’t pan out, the chief, now back in Lighthouse Cove, decides to close the case. Confident that with more time the murder can be solved, Ed is determined to continue investigating on his own, with encouragement from his wife, Annie the museum’s executive director.

One morning while in the basement of the museum, the couple discovers a copy of a map dated 1785, and Ed’s instincts tell him it may be connected to Emily’s death. On a hunch, he and Annie travel to Toronto, Canada, where he learns of the original map and a manuscript written in 1847 that were unearthed during an archaeological dig. The manuscript contains information about a ship that capsized during a fierce storm on Lake Ontario — in 1785. Now Ed has clues as to why the murder occurred, but he still doesn’t know who committed the crime. Or does he?

About the Author

Karen Shughart received a B.A. in Comprehensive Literature from the University of Pittsburgh and completed graduate courses in English at Shippensburg University.

She is the author of two non-fiction books and has worked as an editor, publicist, photographer, journalist, teacher and non-profit executive.  A Murder in the Museum: An Edmund DeCleryk Mystery is her first work of fiction.

Before moving to a small village on the shores of Lake Ontario in upstate New York, she and her husband resided in south central Pennsylvania, near Harrisburg, PA.

Website * Facebook * Blog * Goodreads * Hometown / Rochester Reads * LinkedIn

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Title: Joy to You and Me (at Work!) by Amy Thornton
Category: Adult Non-Fiction, 179 pages
Genre: Self-help, Business
Publisher: Tell-Tale Publishing Group, LLC
Release date: June 5, 2018

Synopsis

Are you one of the 48% of employees worldwide who don’t like their jobs? Do you feel constantly stressed at the office? Or maybe you’re just feeling “blah” about your job and want to bring some life back into your workplace. If you talk to anyone about their careers or jobs these days, most of the time you won’t hear positive stories or excitement. You’ll probably hear words like “busy”, “stressed”, “exhausting”, and “mind-numbing.” And with the good old 40 hour workweek becoming a distant memory for many of us, this reality is just plain sad.

Joy to You and Me (At Work!) helps turn these situations around by giving the reader easy tips they can implement quickly to start making a positive difference in the workplace. Being joyful isn’t just a “fluffy-cutesy-nice” thing to do each day – it actually increases productivity and is good for any company or organization. The book helps anyone learn how to:

– Be a more joyful person
– Bring joy to co-workers
– Bring joy to customers
– Bring joy to networking

This fun, easy-to-read guide shows people of all ages and personalities how to make a difference immediately to make not only themselves happier, but to spread that happiness throughout the workplace – and beyond!

By sharing stories from the author’s 25+ years of making a joyful difference in the workplace and examples from truly kick-ass companies, Joy to You and Me (At Work!) is a life changing, fun read for anyone who wants to improve their work life.

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Tell-Tale Publishing

Interview

Today I welcome  

Where do you get inspiration for your stories?

I swear most of them come “from above!” I have a strong relationship with God and try to pray daily. Talking to God is not hard for some of us, but sometimes listening to Him IS difficult. I try to stay open to ideas and possibilities, as the next story idea can come from out of nowhere. And when it hits, I’ve got to scribble that idea down quickly or it flies right out of my head!

My next book will be a novel and it is based on a true story that I heard about a few years ago. When I thought about the situation, I started to imagine how it could affect the relationship between the two women and for everyone around them.

 

What is your next project?

As I mentioned, my next project will be a novel. Two life-long best friends, Kate and Amanda, encounter an unexpected situation that instantly creates a wedge in their friendship. Will that wedge keep expanding to eventually push them and their families apart forever, or will something repair the relationship? Even I’m not 100% certain of the ending yet!

 

Is there a specific ritualistic thing you do during your writing time?

I started something new with Joy to You and Me (At Work!) by writing it mostly standing up! I dictated the book into my iPad positioned in front of me on a music stand. I liked being able to pace back and forth while I wrote and not feel like my butt was expanding from sitting so much! It also saved my hands and wrists, as I’ve dealt with some carpal tunnel/wrist pain issues in the past.

And I always have a cup of tea nearby while I write. Tea and writing go hand and hand for me!

 

What’s the most courageous thing you’ve ever done?

I used to pray for the opportunity to be courageous – you know, like run into a burning building to save someone or push a child out of the way of a speeding car. But I’ve realized I’ve done the most courageous things on behalf of my mom. I’m now in the “sandwich generation” – taking care of both my family and my elderly mother. Mom’s been in a couple of assisted living facilities and I’ve learned that if I don’t speak up for her, and often repeatedly, she doesn’t receive the proper care that she needs. It’s a reality for most any place that takes care of the elderly – you have to stay on top of the staff. I’ve been amazed how fiercely protective and vocal I am on her behalf!

 

If there were one thing you want readers to remember about you, what would it be?

My mission in life for years has been to give others joy – for real! And most of the time I’ve brought joy to people by doing little things that don’t require Herculean effort. Spreading immense happiness can come from doing something as simple as paying a sincere compliment to someone at the grocery store, or giving a co-worker who’s down a hot cup of their favorite tea. You may forget the small gesture you made for someone, but they may remember it for the rest of their life!

About the Author

Amy Thornton Shankland, GPC, has been bringing joy to her workplaces for over 25 years thanks to her innate enthusiasm. She is a former Dale Carnegie instructor, has been a grant professional for 17 years, is a former columnist for the Noblesville Daily Times, and is a current board member of Noblesville Main Street.

Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

Giveaway

Prizes: One winner will get a paperback copy of Joy to You and Me at Work and a $25 Amazon.com Gift Card and 2 winners will each get a paperback copy of the book (open to USA only / 3 winner total)

(ends Oct 27, 2018)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Old Buildings in North Texas

by

Jen Waldo

  Sub-genre: Literary Fiction / Dramedy

Publisher: Arcadia Books

Date of Publication: April 1, 2018

Number of Pages: 213

Scroll down for the giveaway! 

After rehab, Olivia, a 32-year-old cocaine addict, is required to move back in with her mother and pregnant sister. Having left a promising career in journalism in New York, she’s now working as a sales assistant for a family friend in her hometown in North Texas.

Under pressure from her court-mandated counselor – an old high school friend – to take up a hobby, Olivia decides on “urbexing.” Soon she’s breaking into derelict homes, ex-prisons, and old drive-ins across North Texas, and it’s not long before she’s looting state property and making money off the possessions, fixtures, and fittings that have been left behind.

Old Buildings in North Texas is about a modern woman’s search for personal equilibrium and wild adventure — the attempt to find stability in existence without losing sight of what makes life worth living. Jen Waldo’s style modulates effortlessly from domestic nuance to taut adventure, tackling social and moral transgressions with incisive observation and vivid humor.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Audible * Books-A-Million

PRAISE FOR OLD BUILDINGS IN NORTH TEXAS

“A lot of Jen Waldo’s debut novel takes place out on the porch of Olivia’s mother’s house. […] With its casual, confidential tone, Old Buildings in North Texas puts the reader in one of those porch chairs, reclining on a warm evening with a cool drink.” — The Skinny

“Old Buildings in North Texas is an amusingly written and well worked book” — Trip Fiction

“This novel is an absolute blast. There are serious moments of course, but Jen Waldo looks for the comedy in everything to create a memorable scenario that reminded me very much of the style of Six Feet Under.” — Shiny New Books

 

I’m always up for a book that is set in a small Texas town, and even more when the characters make me laugh and manage to find themselves in predicaments that most people couldn’t even imagine. Olivia has managed to get herself into a pickle with her past lifestyle and drug use but now she gets to enjoy being treated like a 4 year old by her mother since Olivia is in her care and her mom is responsible for her whereabouts and actions.

Being back in Caprock, Olivia has to deal with those classmates that never left town. This is a good and a bad thing. At least she knows who they are but they aren’t people she really wants to hang out with if she had her freedom. And, as it is with all small towns, there isn’t a lot to do and Olivia has been charged with finding a hobby. After considering and discarding several options, Oliva stumbles across Urban Exploration or Urbexing. This is exploring abandoned buildings. I have a cousin that would check out abandoned buildings and part of this book reminded me of her adventures. Unlike my cousin, Olivia decides to start taking items to sell (eBay etc) so she can build up a savings account since her paycheck all goes to those she owes for past debts. While I can understand why she did it, she was breaking the law and didn’t see to care. However, some of her actions did end up with negative results but I’m not sure she learned anything from those situations.

There are some other intriguing storylines including Olivia’s sister and her biological father; Olivia’s employer and family friend, Zachary; and a dead body from one of her expeditions. Sadly, we don’t really learn anything more about the dead body and I do wish there had been a little more detail on how this person died, how they might have arrived to be in that location, etc. There was also a minor storyline with Zachary’s cousin who is a hoarder and was holding some family documents “hostage”. I think there could have been more to that story too.

Even with all of the dramedy, deep down Olivia is a woman that has some issues to work through and I think she has some walls in place that will take time to tear down. I think she might be to a good start with meditating and choosing random bible verses, but does she really believe what she is reading or is this just something she is doing to placate her parole officer and therapist?

I enjoyed this book and felt like the author provided a descriptive picture of the abandoned buildings, the mall, and even her home so that I could imagine being in the room with Olivia and gang. The book does just end and while one question was answered, there are so many more questions that I have and I hope that perhaps there will be another book that delves more into what Olivia is doing now or perhaps even one from her sister’s point of view (since she has her own issues to deal with in this book).

We give it 4 paws up

Jen Waldo lived in seven countries over a thirty-year period and has now settled, along with her husband, in Marble Falls, Texas. She first started writing over twenty years ago when, while living in Cairo, she had difficulty locating reading material and realized she’d have to make her own fun. She has since earned an MFA and written a number of novels. Her work has been published in The European and was shortlisted in a competition by Traveler magazine. Old Buildings in North Texas and Why Stuff Matters have been published in the UK by Arcadia Books. Jen’s fiction is set in Northwest Texas and she’s grateful to her hometown of Amarillo for providing colorful characters and a background of relentless whistling wind.

 

◆  Website  ◆  Twitter  ◆

◆  Amazon Author Page  ◆

◆  Goodreads Author Page  ◆

 —————————————

GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!

1st Prize:

Signed Copy of OBiNT + $10 Amazon Gift Card

2nd Prize:Signed Copy + $5 Amazon Gift Card

3rd Prize: eBook Copy of OBiNT

October 2-11, 2018

(US ONLY)

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out the other blogs on this tour

10/2/18	Excerpt	Texas Book Lover
10/2/18	Guest Post	That’s What She’s Reading
10/3/18	Review	Tangled in Text
10/4/18	Author Interview	Chapter Break Book Blog
10/5/18	Review	A Page Before Bedtime
10/5/18	Excerpt	Max Knight
10/6/18	Guest Post	Story Schmoozing Book Reviews
10/7/18	Review	Momma on the Rocks
10/7/18	Notable Quotable	Books and Broomsticks
10/8/18	Notable Quotable	StoreyBook Reviews
10/9/18	Review	Reading by Moonlight
10/9/18	Guest Post	The Page Unbound
10/10/18	Sequel Spotlight	All the Ups and Downs
10/11/18	Review	The Clueless Gent
10/11/18	Review	Forgotten Winds

blog tour services provided by

Assault and Beadery (A Cora Crafts Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Kensington (September 25, 2018)
Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages

Synopsis

All of Cora Chevalier’s dreams are coming true. Since moving to Indigo Gap, North Carolina, the busy crafting maven has been blessed with a great boyfriend, a lovely home, and a booming craft retreat business. But on the eve of her first Crafty Mom’s Escape Weekend, tragedy strikes again in Indigo Gap. This time, it’s curtains for Stan Herald, the disagreeable director of the local theater group, who’s murdered on the opening night of their new production. Worse, Cora’s friend Zee is accused of the crime.

Cora is determined to prove her friend’s innocence, but Zee’s mysterious past is making that difficult. And with a list of suspects longer than a double spool of satin cording, getting a bead on the real culprit won’t be easy. With her friends Jane and Ruby at her side, Cora must string together the clues and solve Stan’s murder before the killer gives an encore performance.

Includes crafting tips!

Recipe

Today we are in for a treat! Here is Cora’s recipe for Bloody Mary’s, a tasty drink for any brunch or event

Cora’s Bloody Mary

RECIPE INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup finely grated peeled fresh horseradish
2 ounces Worcestershire sauce
2 ounces sriracha chile sauce
Finely grated zest of 1 small lemon
2 teaspoons celery salt
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Freshly ground pepper
32 ounces tomato juice
Ice
16 ounces vodka
Lime wedges
Pickled or fresh vegetables (optional)

RECIPE DIRECTIONS

In a pitcher, combine the horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, sriracha, lemon zest, celery salt, kosher salt, and 2 teaspoons ground pepper. Add the tomato juice and stir well. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, at least 2 hours.

Pour the tomato juice mixture into 8 ice-filled glasses. Add 2 ounces vodka to each glass and stir. Garnish each drink with a pinch of ground pepper, a lime wedge, and pickled vegetables.

So next time you are planning an event, remember this recipe and whip up a batch!

About the Author

Mollie Cox Bryan is the author of the Cumberland Creek Scrapbooking mystery series and the Cora Crafts mystery series. She is also author of two cookbooks, the regional bestseller Mrs. Rowe’s Little Book of Southern Pies and Mrs. Rowe’s Restaurant Cookbook: A Lifetime of Recipes from the Shenandoah Valley. An award-winning journalist and poet, she currently blogs, cooks, and scrapbooks in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia with her husband and two daughters. Scrapbook of Secrets was nominated for an Agatha Award for Best First Novel. Visit her on the web at molliecoxbryan.com.

Website * Facebook * Pinterest * Twitter

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Glitter Bomb (A Scrapbooking Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
15th in Series
Berkley (October 2, 2018)
Hardcover: 320 pages

Synopsis

An exploding Mardi Gras float has got to be the strangest murder weapon scrappy sleuth Carmela Bertrand has ever encountered in this latest Scrapbooking Mystery from the New York Times bestselling author.

It’s Mardi Gras in New Orleans and scrapbook shop owner Carmela Bertrand is excited to be attending the Pluvius Parade along with her best friend Ava. Carmela’s ex-husband Shamus rides by the duo on his float at the head of the parade, when suddenly the revelry turns to disaster. Shamus’ float crashes and explodes, and although Shamus escapes unhurt, a member of his krewe is killed.

Carmela and Ava plunge into an investigation of the krewe-member’s death, but as they dig deeper it starts to look less like an accident and more like a murder….and Shamus seems less like a victim, and more like a suspect.

Guest Post

Ok so how crazy is this?!   1 year ago today, Laura was visiting my blog and she is back today sharing thoughts on another subject.  AND it is my birthday so Happy Birthday to ME!

Dogs and Cats and Mystery!

Guest blog by Laura Childs, New York Times bestselling author of Glitter Bomb, a New Orleans Scrapbooking Mystery.

When I write a mystery – and I’ve written 42 of them so far in my career – my very first chapters literally begin with a bang. I’ve had dead bodies roll out of wine casks, exploding hot air balloons, Jeeps crashing through store windows, gunshots, stabbings, fires in haunted houses, cemetery murders . . . well, you name it, I’ve probably done it.

From there I try to keep my pace moving at breakneck speed. Sometimes there’s a second murder, an injury, car wreck, or someone pleading for help. Often my main character is threatened or her livelihood attacked. This is why I refer to my books as a hybrid between a mystery and a thriller – a thrillzy.

And, yes, I diligently focus on character, plot, timing, and internal architecture. But there’s one more wild card that I always toss in – a dog or a cat.

I firmly believe that caring for a pet gives my characters a more human side. In my Scrapbook Mysteries, Carmela has Boo and Poobah, two dogs. Her BFF Ava has a cat. In my Tea Shop Mysteries, Theodosia has her dog Earl Grey and Drayton has a recently acquired Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Honeybee. And in my Cackleberry Club Mystery series, Suzanne has Baxter and Scruff, two dogs, as well as a horse, Mocha Gent, and a mule name Grommet.

You see, even the names in this menagerie make one smile. And three of these critters were rescued from the streets. So it just goes to reason that if one of my characters will go out of her way to help a stray animal, of course, she’s going to help a friend who’s been falsely accused of murder.

Sometimes, a dog or cat can even help investigate a crime. (The dogs and cats in my books are very smart). Or they can guard the home front when the killer shows up to seek revenge.

Dogs and cats are a wonderful plot device – and yet they’re wonderful characters just on their own. They can listen to my protagonist when she’s down or troubled, they can go on walks where ideas are worked out, or act as a perfect foil for “accidentally” bumping into a suspect.

Best of all, it’s just plain fun to toss a dog or a cat into the mix. They’re loveable fur babies with antics that tend to make readers chuckle. And if you as a reader enjoy curling up in your favorite chair, with your dog or cat at your feet, so much the better.

If you’re intrigued by the notion of dogs and cats in mysteries, you’re going to enjoy Glitter Bomb, my newest New Orleans Scrapbook Mystery. In fact, here’s a quick synopsis:

Mardi Gras in New Orleans is in full swing when the King Neptune float explodes, sending a plume of glitter into the night sky and killing a hedge fun bigwig. Scrapbook maven Carmela and her BFF Ava have front row seats to the mayhem – and get pulled in when Carmela’s ex, Shamus, becomes a key suspect. Running her own shadow investigation, Carmela tries to clear Shamus while dodging the watchful eye of her fiancée Detective Edgar Babcock. Haunted cemeteries, fashion show, sports car rally, and hungry alligators round out the humor and mischief.

Thanks for reading me!

Love, Laura Childs

 

About the Authors

Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbook Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. In her previous life she was CEO/Creative Director of her own marketing firm and authored several screenplays. She is married to a professor of Chinese art history, loves to travel, rides horses, enjoys fund raising for various non-profits, and has two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs.

Laura specializes in cozy mysteries that have the pace of a thriller (a thrillzy!) Her three series are:

The Tea Shop Mysteries – set in the historic district of Charleston and featuring Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop. Theodosia is a savvy entrepreneur, and pet mom to service dog Earl Grey. She’s also an intelligent, focused amateur sleuth who doesn’t rely on coincidences or inept police work to solve crimes. This charming series is highly atmospheric and rife with the history and mystery that is Charleston.

The Scrapbooking Mysteries – a slightly edgier series that take place in New Orleans. The main character, Carmela, owns Memory Mine scrapbooking shop in the French Quarter and is forever getting into trouble with her friend, Ava, who owns the Juju Voodoo shop. New Orleans’ spooky above-ground cemeteries, jazz clubs, bayous, and Mardi Gras madness make their presence known here!

The Cackleberry Club Mysteries – set in Kindred, a fictional town in the Midwest. In a rehabbed Spur station, Suzanne, Toni, and Petra, three semi-desperate, forty-plus women have launched the Cackleberry Club. Eggs are the morning specialty here and this cozy cafe even offers a book nook and yarn shop. Business is good but murder could lead to the cafe’s undoing! This series offers recipes, knitting, cake decorating, and a dash of spirituality.

Webpage * Facebook

Short-listed twice for The Best American Mystery Stories, Terrie Farley Moran is delighted to introduce mystery fans to the Read ’Em and Eat café and bookstore, which debuted with Well Read, Then Dead. followed by Caught Read-Handed and Read to Death released in July of this year.  The only thing Terrie enjoys more than wrangling mystery plots into submission is playing games and reading stories with any or all of her grandchildren.

Facebook * Blog * Goodreads

 

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Perfect Body (Professor Molly Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
8th in Series
Hawaiian Heritage Press
Release Date – September 30, 2018
Print Length: 203 pages

Synopsis

When Professor Molly attends Mahina State University’s exclusive donor dinner, she doesn’t expect to have to share a table with the insufferable Stephen Park. Turns out it’s one thing to invite your toxic ex-boyfriend to drop dead…it’s quite another when he takes you up on it.

Indigo

Guest Post

Cozy mysteries: ‘Tain’t What You Write (It’s the Way That You Write It)

(With apologies to Jimmy Lunceford)

I write cozy mysteries, and I know that cozy is what my readers expect. Which is why I put this disclaimer into the description of my latest Professor Molly mystery, The Perfect Body.

 

The Perfect Body has

* no swearing

* no explicit sex

* no graphic violence

However, it does have

* descriptions of the new-mom experience, including diapers and breastfeeding

* conversation about a transgender character

* lurid descriptions of the inner workings of a public university

 

Why the warning? Because every reader has a different definition of what a cozy is. Personally, I think breastfeeding is fair game. But I didn’t want anyone to slam the book shut in disgust when, for example, we find that Molly has accidentally shot her poor husband in the eye (nursing moms, you know what I’m talking about).

Amanda Flower, writing for Publishers Weekly, tells us the essential ingredients of a cozy are:

An amateur sleuth, an unsuspecting victim, a quirky supporting cast, and trail of clues and red herrings.

Just as important is what a cozy doesn’t have. According to The Cozy Mystery List, a cozy contains

 no graphic violence, no profanity, and no explicit sex.

Notice: No graphic violence. No explicit sex. It’s a matter of style rather than substance. It’s not what you’re telling the reader, it’s how you’re saying it.

While truly disturbing topics are off-limits (I can’t imagine a cozy about child soldiers, for example), I believe a cozy author can write about some fairly dreadful subjects, as long as the author keeps a light touch.

Consider the appalling behavior hinted at in this passage from one of Sarah Caudwell’s Hilary Tamar mysteries.

[Waiters] are an overworked and exploited profession, who have to spend much of their energies running to and fro carrying drinks and so on, so that the duration of the pleasure given is not always commensurate to the enthusiasm with which it is offered. If the coffee brought me by the pretty waiter had been cold by the time he left, I should have been willing, in the particular circumstances, to forgive him; but my forgiveness was not called for.  

–Sarah Caudwell, Thus Was Adonis Murdered

When Caudwell’s characters aren’t indulging in unregretted liaisons, they’re stumbling into impromptu bacchanalia:

It was in many respects an admirable bathroom—marble walls, gold taps, and a bath the size of a paddling pool. It did not, however, afford the privacy which was my objective. The bath, you see, was full of people—I can’t say exactly how many, since they were rather tangled up together.

.― Sarah Caudwell, The Shortest Way to Hades

People are drowned, poisoned, and pushed off balconies. Straitlaced bankers are found chained to beds. A couple indulges in an afternoon frolic, unaware of the body stashed in the bedroom.

None of this spoils the mood. Through it all, we readers smile and occasionally burst out laughing.

In a tense psychological thriller, any setting can take be terrifying. A bake sale or a bridal shower can turn into a disturbing nightmare.

But in a cozy, any situation can be whimsical—regrettable dalliances, inconvenient deaths, and perhaps even the mysteries of new motherhood.

 

About the Author

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

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

Webpage * Twitter * Facebook * LinkedIn * Goodreads * Pinterest * Instagram

 

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

With the temperature dropping and leaves turning colors, it’s time to get ready for the cool days of fall. And what better way to prepare for the long nights ahead than to download a great whodunit novel with a dash (or heaping helping) of romance. Below we have crafted a quiz to help you find your next great read, but be warned, the titles all have mysteries that need to be solved and villains that must be brought to justice. So grab a thick blanket, a cup of hot cocoa, and answer the following questions to discover which romantic mystery you will want to “fall” into next.

1. Where is your perfect romantic mystery set?

a) In “small town USA”. The everyday setting makes the violent crimes all the more shocking.
b) The rolling hills of Texas where there are lots of places to hide.
c) In a historic mansion near the choppy waters of Virginia, giving the story a Gothic feel.

2. I want to read about a heroine who is …

a) …one hundred percent devoted to her family yet balanced enough to find success in her chosen career.
b) … intelligent and diligent, with a pressing drive to help others.
c) … currently in mourning after losing a loved one, but strong enough to take on any challenge.

3. Is your heroine in peril?

a) She may face down a bad guy (or two), but thankfully her significant other is always there to guard her with his life.
b) In my fictional world nobody is safe. NOBODY!
c) The heroine doesn’t face physical danger, but her emotions take a severe beating as she learns terrible secrets from the past.

4. When your heroine needs backup, who is she going to call?

a) Her BF who just happens to be a private investigator that solves crimes for a living.
b) A steely-eyed Texas Ranger who is known for delivering justice.
c) The town leader who is a successful businessman and pillar of the community.

5. My ideal hero is….

a) …totally and completely devoted to supporting his woman.
b) …dependable and incredibly strong, however, he has suffered a loss and every once in a while his vulnerability shows through.
c) …steadfast, principled, and dedicated to his community.

6. When sitting down to read a mystery, the crimes should be…

a) … studied in a clinical, professional manner.
b) … frequent and terrifying! I want something that keeps me up at night.
c) … in the past. I like trying to figure out who the bad guy is instead of focusing on violence.

7. When the last page of the book is read, I want to feel…

a) … that second chances are not only real, but they can be incredibly joyous.
b) … a sense of deep satisfaction that justice has been found and order restored.
c) … tremendous hope and optimism for the future.

***

If you choose mostly As … then get ready to follow dedicated defense attorney Morgan Dane as she takes on her next case in Melinda Leigh’s What I’ve Done.

Morgan has been hired to defend Haley Powell after the young woman wakes up in a pool of the victim’s blood. And while Haley has no memory of the night and no alibi, Morgan is sure that there is more to this crime than a simple case of murder. With the help of her private investigator boyfriend Lance Kruger, Morgan inches towards answers all the while dodging threats meant to keep her silent.

***

If you choose mostly Bs … then the lightning fast twists and turns of Mary Burton’s romantic suspense novel Cut and Run is just right for you.

Medical examiner Faith McIntyre is used to investigating grizzly crime scenes, yet she is totally unprepared when faced with a barely-alive victim that looks EXACTLY like her. With no answers and nowhere else to turn, Faith teams up with her colleague-with-benefits Texas Ranger Mitchell Hayden. Together they discover decades old crime scenes, as well as new victims of a serial killer.

***

If you choose mostly Cs … then get ready to be transported to the windswept beaches where Mary Ellen Taylor sets her next release Winter Cottage.

When heroine Lucy Kincaid loses her mother, she receives an unexpected inheritance—a lonely old estate big enough to hold the secrets of Lucy’s family. Why did her mother never mention the mansion or the sea swept town of Cape Hudson? Who is Lucy’s father? And why is there a (literal) skeleton on Lucy’s property? With more questions than answers, Lucy turns to handsome local Hank Garrison only to find he has a motive for wanting the Winter Cottage all to himself…

Giveaway

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

Synopsis

 

Sometimes life’s most magical journeys bring you back to where it all began…From USA Today bestselling author Emily March comes The Christmas Wishing Tree, an enchanting account of the magic and miracle of Christmas.

A man who loves adventure and the open sea, Devin Murphy returns for a short Christmas trip to his small hometown of Eternity Springs. Immersed in the joy and magic of the holiday season all around him, he doesn’t hesitate to play along when a young boy phones Santa to ask for a very special wish. Devin never guesses that a wrong number has the potential to make everything in his life so right.

Jenna Stockton adopted Reilly when he needed a mother and she intends to keep him safe. A small town across the country called Eternity Springs seems like a good place to hide from their past without any complications —until sexy Santa himself discovers her secrets. When Devin proposes a daring plan to face down the danger together and defeat it once and for all, she is tempted. Maybe Devin really is capable of making wishes come true? Perhaps in a Christmas wish they’ll both find the miracle they’ve been looking for all along…

A delightful Christmas novel in the New York Times bestselling Eternity Springs series.

 

 

Macmillan ~ Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Books-a-Million ~ Indie Bound ~ Powells

 

 

Review

 

I didn’t realize this was #15 in a series! I’ve read a few of the previous books because characters started sounding familiar. That said, this book can definitely be read as a stand alone but if you think you want to read this series, then start at the beginning because a series is always best started with the first book so you can watch the personal lives grow.

This installment focuses on Jenna and Devin. They meet totally by chance but had spoken on the phone without knowing it when they met. Jenna’s son Reilly called Northpole One to reach Santa to add a Dad to his Christmas list. It was a fluke that a burner phone that Devin had was that number. I have to admire Devin for playing along and not crushing a young boy’s belief in Santa. He tried to reach Jenna to let her know her son was calling him, but Jenna would not answer. She had her own issues with a stalker and thought it was that person. Thankfully she finally answered and they got that squared away. I think it was at that moment that Devin fell in love with someone he didn’t even know.

Jenna ends up in Eternity Springs because it is touted as a place to heal broken hearts. Plus she feels safe there when the stalker forces her to go off the grid to escape him/her. She just didn’t realize that she would find her new home and potentially family there. Turns out it was a great decision for her. Plus since Jenna is a OB/GYN she was able to help all the women that seemed to have gotten pregnant during a blizzard in March. One of my favorite lines near the end – “After that, it was like dominoes. All six women…every last one of them…went into labor.”

Another favorite line between Jenna and Devin – Jenna “Who starts a fight at a cakewalk? You smashed Maggie’s cake!” Devin – “That was unfortunate. But since I as the winner, the only person I hurt was myself.” (there was more but I just highlighted my favorite parts)

There are some tense moments for Jenna when the stalker initiates some pranks and (apparently) what they call swatting (prank calls to emergency numbers). I will say that the whole situation with this stalker fell a little flat. I realize it wasn’t the main focus of the book, but once they discovered who it was it just ended and there wasn’t any more mention of this person or what happened to them or if Jenna would need to testify against this person.

Overall this is a very enjoyable book and I can just imagine that one of the upcoming books will be about Boone. This book just hints that there is more to him than meets the eye.

We give it 4 paws up!

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Emily March is the New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today bestselling author of over thirty novels, including the critically acclaimed Eternity Springs series. Publishers Weekly calls March a “master of delightful banter,” and her heartwarming, emotionally charged stories have been named to Best of the Year lists by Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and Romance Writers of America. A graduate of Texas A&M University, Emily is an avid fan of Aggie sports and her recipe for jalapeño relish has made her a tailgating legend.

 

Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest

 

Giveaway

 

Enter to win a print copy of The Christmas Wishing Tree.  US Only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

COWBOY CHARM SCHOOL

HAYWIRE BRIDES, #1

by

MARGARET BROWNLEY

  Sub-genre: Western / Clean Romance

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Date of Publication: September 4, 2018

Number of Pages: 384

Scroll down for Giveaway!

When Texas Ranger Brett Tucker accidentally derails a wedding, he’s determined to bring the estranged couple back together…but he never dreamed he’d start falling for the bride!

Texas Ranger Brett Tucker hates to break up a wedding, but the groom—notorious criminal Frank Foster—is a danger to any woman. So he busts into the church, guns blazing…only to find he has the wrong man.

STOP THAT WEDDING!

Bride-to-be Kate Denver is appalled by her fiancé’s over-the-top reaction to the innocent mistake and calls off the wedding—for good. Guilt-ridden, Brett’s desperate to get them back on track. But the more time he spends with Kate, the harder he falls…and the more he yearns to prove that he’s her true match in every way.

 

“Light and airy as cotton candy, this tale charms.” — Publishers Weekly

A great combination of romance, humor, history and even a little bit of a mystery!

This is the first book I’ve read by this author but I’ve featured her books on my blog many times in the past. I wasn’t aware of what I was missing until I read this book. Another book I just couldn’t put down and wanted to know what was going to happen next for Kate. Was Frank Foster going to win her heart again or was it lost to Texas Ranger Brett Tucker?

This is set in a small Texas town (heck I think they were all small back in the late 1800s) where Kate is running the family business, a candy store that also happens to sell dime novels, much to the horror of some town residents (they think the books are risque). The descriptions of her sweets were very tempting. I loved that she befriended a young boy that was being bullied and actually helped turn that situation around.

When it comes to romance, Frank Foster has no idea how to woo a woman. Brett Tucker feels it is his obligation to teach Frank how to woo since he broke up their wedding. This reminded me a little bit of My Fair Lady and the basic story line. It is obvious that Frank has his work cut out for him especially since he is allergic to animals and Kate loves animals. I enjoyed the interaction between Brett and Frank and found it quite humorous. Plus Frank has this jealous streak a mile wide, that causes some issues for all involved.

The mystery portion of this book is who was in the gang that kept robbing towns and how did they keep eluding law enforcement. I was quite surprised by the reveal when it was discovered but it made sense. However, before getting to that point a few people were in jeopardy because the outlaws thought they knew more than they really did, so of course they wanted to make sure the citizens didn’t reveal their identity.

This is one of my favorite lines in the book: “Heck, she hadn’t just sneaked her way in; she’d practically burrowed a hole right through him all the way to his heart. And he had no right feeling this way.”

We give this 5 paws up!

 

New York Times bestselling author MARGARET BROWNLEY has penned more than forty-five novels and novellas. She’s a two-time Romance Writers of American RITA^® finalist and has written for a TV soap. She is also a recipient of the Romantic Times Pioneer Award.

Her story, A Pony Express Christmas, will appear this fall in the Old West Christmas Brides collection, and book two of her Haywire Brides series will be published May 2019.  Not bad for someone who flunked eighth-grade English.  Just don’t ask her to diagram a sentence.

 

◆  Website  ◆  Facebook  ◆  Twitter  ◆

◆  Amazon Author Page  ◆   Goodreads  ◆

 —————————————

GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!

 Signed Copy + $10 Amazon Gift Card

  September 24-October 3, 2018

(US ONLY)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out the other blog on this tour

9/24/18	Excerpt	Hall Ways Blog
9/24/18	Excerpt	The Clueless Gent
9/25/18	Review	Chapter Break Book Blog
9/26/18	Author Interview	Book Fidelity
9/26/18	Top Ten List	Books in the Garden
9/27/18	Review	Momma on the Rocks
9/28/18	Guest Post	Books and Broomsticks
9/28/18	Author Interview	Story Schmoozing Book Reviews
9/29/18	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
9/30/18	Guest Post	That’s What She’s Reading
9/30/18	Excerpt	Forgotten Winds
10/1/18	Review	Carpe Diem Chronicles
10/2/18	Guest Post	The Book Review
10/3/18	Review	Reading by Moonlight
10/3/18	Review	Missus Gonzo

blog tour services provided by