THE THIRD DAWN:

 

FROM BETHLEHEM TO GOLGOTHA

 

by

 

Thomas J. Nichols

 

 

Inspirational Religious Fiction / Historical Fiction

Publisher: Nicholson Books

Page Count: 212 pages

Publication Date: September 14, 2023

Updated version with new dialogue and more detailed descriptions

 

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Nichols turns his award-winning writing career to the greatest mystery of all time in The Third Dawn: From Bethlehem to Golgotha.

Accompanied by His lifelong friend, Nur, the young Jesus ventures throughout the towns and villages of Israel, Palestine, and across the sea to the port city of Ephesus. With Nur always at His side, Jesus experiences the joys and hardships of humanity—Jews and gentiles, rich and poor, believers and nonbelievers, freemen and slaves.

Nichols’s gifted storytelling brings forth this unique perspective on the life of the Messiah, providing a rare insight into His personal joys and suffering. The reader will experience the emotions of His power and authority when, on a mountaintop above Capernaum, He pronounces the future, and a spectacular miracle occurs in the city below.

The Third Dawn was initially published in 2011 but is now updated with new dialogue and more detailed settings.

 

 

 

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Thomas J. (Tom) Nichols’s law enforcement career ranged from patrol, detective, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, Deputy Chief, and Chief of Police. spanning the era of the growth of the Mexican drug cartels and war on drugs. He has written seven novels and three short stories with themes of the border wars, espionage, international intrigue, and the supernatural.

Tom’s latest work is The Third Dawn, an inspirational retelling of the early life of Jesus galvanized by his devotion to local and international church affairs. His ideas were brought to life while traveling with Gwen, his wife who also serves as his editor, to experience of the Holy Land—the Church of the Nativity, the Holy Sepulcher, The Annunciation, the Mount of Olives, the River Jordan, Capernaum, Tiberias, the Sea of Galilee, Jericho, and Ephesus.

 

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Realm of Ice and Shadow
Young Adult Fantasy
1st in Series
Level Best Books, Level Elevate (November 7, 2023)
Number of Pages 210

 

Synopsis

 

Seventeen year old Ryleigh Donnovan is certain her life is cursed. Nothing ever goes smoothly, and her first job interview is no exception. An earthquake rocks the building, sending Ryleigh on a frantic search for her younger sister, a search which lands her in the hospital. Terrified they’ll push her for answers she can’t afford to give, Ryleigh flees with a mysterious stranger.

Jackson Maynard is about to be ordained as a Death Dealer, a warrior for the Kingdom of Cymmera, but first he must pass one more test. When he fails to acquire the human girl the prophet has chosen, he’s forced to stand trial for treason. Banished from his realm, he seeks out the girl from the vision, Ryleigh Donnovan, and together they embark on a journey to save his dying kingdom.

 

 

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Guest Post

 

My Favorite Places to Write

 

Some of my favorite places to write are my library, my office (where I also homeschool my son) and my sunroom when I’m looking for somewhere peaceful.

 

 

I tend to have a difficult time getting started writing. I need everything to be just so. Before I even start, I go through all of my emails and social media to be sure nothing needs my attention. If I have any phone calls to make, I do that so I can minimize interruptions. Once I have anything that could distract me in order (not that something I haven’t anticipated won’t interfere, but I do my best), I get set up to write. If I’m just beginning a story, I set up my murder board with a diagram of all the main characters and suspects, then I set up my notes—piles and piles of them, on everything from loose-leaf paper to fast food napkins—and settle down to write. That’s usually when the phone rings or one of my kids starts yelling, “Mom!”

 

 

Excerpt

 

“Your Majesty.” Jackson Maynard dropped to one knee before the king and bowed his head. “You summoned me?”

“Rise.” Though the king issued the demand quietly, there was no mistaking the steel in his tone or the strength in his near black eyes.

As Jackson stood, his gaze ricocheted around the stone chamber, noting everyone present in an instant, as he’d been trained to do. It made no sense he’d been summoned to the throne room. Unless he was in trouble, again. An official reprimand, perhaps?

He wisely kept his mouth shut, for a change, at least until he had some clue what was going on. Though he’d stood in the throne room more times than he could remember, as a child, as a trainee, even during counsel sessions, his presence had never before been the result of an official summons.

His trainer, the king’s second in command, for the moment anyway, stood at attention beside the throne, feet apart, hands clasped behind him, dark eyes rivetted on Jackson. An imposing figure under the best of circumstances, Kai was downright scary at the moment.

Elijah, the king’s prophet, hurried into the chamber. “My apologies for taking so long, sir, I had to be sure.”

The king simply nodded as Elijah took his place beside Kai, fidgeting with the sleeve of his black robe.

Jackson didn’t have to turn around to know the warriors lining the wall behind him in full battle gear all stood at attention in the king’s presence. If the Death Dealer team had been assembled, something was definitely wrong.

Since his best friend Dakota wasn’t present, Jackson doubted it had anything to do with the dragon they’d commandeered the night before, though he couldn’t be sure. But the presence of Death Dealers would most likely mean something more pressing than a childish prank, albeit an unwise and dangerous one. Besides, it’s not like they hadn’t returned him when they were done.

King Maynard rose from his throne, standing tall in his own armor. He bore the dark hair of most Cymmeran men, though his had shot through with a streak of silver upon Queen Dara’s death—perhaps the only touch of light she’d been able to leave him. “Prince Maynard…”

Uh oh. His official title, which his father never used unless Jackson was in serious trouble.

“Under Kai’s tutelage,” he continued, “you have trained these past centuries to take your place as a Death Dealer.”

Jackson sucked in a breath. Oh, no way!

With one hand resting on the handle of his sheathed sword, his expression carved in stone, the king paced the platform that held both the king’s and queen’s thrones, though Queen Dara’s had sat empty these many centuries.

Jackson’s gaze shifted to the seer, Elijah, only for an instant while his father’s back was turned, but he couldn’t read the other man, couldn’t tell why he’d been summoned. Jackson could only hope… His gaze shot back to the king, offering his full attention before he turned back around.

Unfortunately, his momentary lapse of focus hadn’t been lost on Kai. The warrior scowled in warning, and Jackson struggled to regain his concentration.

King Maynard descended the steps to the chamber floor and stood facing Jackson. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly as he held Jackson’s gaze. “It is time, my son.”

 

 

About the Author

 

Young adult and middle-grade fantasy writer Leigh Stratton is the author of the Kingdom of Cymmera series and the Ranger of the Realms series. Leigh grew up in a small town on Long Island where she spent many lazy afternoons with a good book. She would read at the beach, outside beneath a tree, anywhere she could find to curl up and lose herself in a story for a few hours. She loves reading as much now as she did back then, only now she enjoys the added pleasure of creating stories of her own.

 

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GOOD TALK. . .GOOD TALK

 

by

 

Ginny Andrews

 

 

Nonfiction / Humor / Comedy / Essays

Publisher: Ginny Andrews Comedy, LLC

Date of Publication: October 5, 2023

Number of Pages: 171 pages

 

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Raise your hand if you have ever run into a mannequin in a store and apologized. Continue to keep your hand raised if you want to pre-write thank you notes to those whom you anticipate attending your funeral because you suffer from chronic “way too nice” syndrome. Keep it up high if you have ever farted in church or yoga class. Man, my arm is getting tired!

Most people are awkward during the middle school years, grow out of it, and blossom into mature, well-functioning human beings…I’m still waiting for this to happen. Awkwardness is my hidden talent, although most who know me would tell you it isn’t hidden—it’s written on my forehead. My daily life is filled with epic failures. Sometimes I feel like I’m one big malfunction! As I have gotten older, I just try to embrace it.

After you read this collection of essays, hopefully you will be able to accept your imperfections too! Nope, probably not because I’m still not there! However, maybe my comedy will stick with you like that hemorrhoid you can’t seem to get rid of, like ever—Good Talk. . .Good Talk.

 

 

 

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Praise

 

“Reading Ginny Andrews’s Good Talk. . .Good Talk is a lot like hanging out with that girlfriend that invariably makes you laugh until you cry.” —Lauren Cassel Brownell, author of Zen and the Art of Housekeeping and Dying to Donate

“Good Talk. . .Good Talk is a laugh out loud winner, filled with quirky stories reminiscent of Patrick McManus.” —J. Andersen, author of The Breeding Tree, The Gene Rift, and Legacy’s Impact

“Anyone with anxiety will totally relate to Ginny Andrews’ humorous tales of the struggle of day-to-day life in today’s world.” —John A.B., Amazon Reviewer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I first started this book, I wasn’t quite sure if I would be able to finish. The first few chapters made me anxious, and I’m not an anxious person! However, once I hit chapter four, I found essays that were relatable and introspective for the author. I found that I could relate to many things she wrote about, from medication issues to not laughing too hard so you don’t pee and confronting your fears. I appreciate that she can share her fears and awkwardness with the reader. I bet that many of us have felt this way at one time or another. I know that I laughed because these situations were so familiar. I think we have all said things we didn’t mean to say, or at least not how they came out of our mouths. *Raises hand*

Ginny is down to earth in the essays she shares with us in this book. I feel like I could be sitting next to her, agreeing wholeheartedly with the things she says. When you reach a certain age, almost everyone has the same issues and reactions to events. I think if I invited her to a gathering, I might not be the most awkward there. Ginny, what are you doing next week?!

While the essays are not tied together, there is a common theme – self-awareness. It may not always be the prettiest, but it is knowing who you are and being the best person you can be in whatever the situation. And if you can recognize your foibles along the way, even better.

I came away from reading these essays with the knowledge that no one is perfect, and we all are doing the best we can in this life. We may stick our foot in our mouth, not understand some things around us, or feel like a hamster on a wheel, but we are all human. We just need to learn how to laugh at ourselves, and maybe next time, we won’t be quite as awkward.

I give this book 4 paws up. Get it for the donkey pictures!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ginny Andrews is a former high school teacher and coach, who is now an aspiring comedian, speaker, and writer. She would greatly appreciate it if you purchased her book! Door Dash, dog-sitting, used car sales, lawn mowing, and selling random items found in her house aren’t high paying gigs!

 

 

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10/31/23	Chapter Break Book Blog	Notable Quotables
10/31/23	Hall Ways Blog	BONUS Stop
11/01/23	Bibliotica	Review
11/01/23	LSBBT Blog	BONUS Stop
11/02/23	Reading by Moonlight	Guest Post
11/03/23	The Plain-Spoken Pen	Review
11/04/23	Carpe Diem Chronicles	Author Interview
11/05/23	The Real World According to Sam	Excerpt
11/06/23	A Page Before Bedtime	Review
11/07/23	The Page Unbound	Scrapbook
11/07/23	Forgotten Winds	BONUS Review
11/08/23	StoreyBook Reviews	Review
11/09/23	Rox Burkey Blog	Review

 

 

 

 

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Genie and the Ghost (Genie and Adriana Darling Cozy Paranormal Ghost Mysteries)
Paranormal Cozy Mystery
1st in the Series
Independently Published (September 18, 2023)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 218 pages

 

Synopsis

 

New York jewelry designer Genie Darling has returned to her childhood home in quaint Cobblewood Cove for one reason only: to sort through generations of old family heirlooms and hand anything of historical interest over to the local museum.

But after a failed mugging attempt, and the appearance of a beautiful but ghostly young stranger in a vintage evening dress, Genie realises there’s something suspicious – and spooky – going on.

The glamorous and friendly spectre turns out to be Genie’s own great-great-aunt Adriana, who died in 1929 in mysterious circumstances.

When there are more attempts on Genie and her home and her main suspect dies in a suspicious accident, she decides to get to the bottom of the mystery.

Does it have anything to do with Adriana’s death and reappearance?

With her unflappable, pet-whispering aunt and cat Cleo by her side, Genie sets out to lay this ghost to rest by solving the mystery and unmasking the culprits.

But digging up the past can be deadly …

 

 

Amazon

 

 

About the Author

 

Carmen has spent most of her life with ink on her fingers and a dangerously high pile of books and newspapers by her side.

She has worked as a newspaper reporter on two continents and always dreamt of becoming a novelist and screenwriter.

When she found herself crouched under her dining table, typing away on a novel between two earthquakes in Christchurch, New Zealand, she realised she was hooked for life.

The shaken but stirring novel made it to the longlist of the Mslexia competition, and her next book and first mystery, The Case Of The Missing Bride, was a finalist in the Malice Domestic competition in a year without a winner. Since then she has penned several more cozy mysteries, including the Jack and Frances series set in the 1930s.

Genie and the Ghost is her first paranormal cozy mystery.

Carmen now lives in Italy with her human and her four-legged family.

 

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Bulletproof Barista (A Coffeehouse Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
20th in Series
Setting – New York
Berkley (November 14, 2023)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 352 pages

 

Synopsis

 

When a film crew’s location shoot delivers an actual shooting, Clare Cosi finds herself at the scene of a true crime in this showstopping entry in the beloved Coffeehouse Mysteries from New York Times bestselling author Cleo Coyle.

Only Murders in Gotham, the smash-hit streaming program, is famous for filming in authentic New York locations and using real New Yorkers as extras. For its second season, they’ve chosen to spotlight the century-old Village Blend and its quirky crew of baristas. Shop manager and master roaster Clare Cosi is beyond thrilled, especially when her superb bulletproof coffee lands her a craft services contract for the production.

Madame, the eccentric octogenarian owner of the landmark shop, reveals an old kinship with the star of the show, comedian Jerry Sullivan. Now a Hollywood legend, Jerry frequented the Blend during his early years performing in Greenwich Village comedy clubs. But the past may hold more than nostalgia for Jerry. Suspicious accidents begin plaguing his shoot. Then a real bullet is fired from a stage gun, and Clare becomes convinced something sinister is afoot.

While Jerry’s production moves to exciting new locations, Clare keeps the coffee flowing—and her investigation going—even as a murderer lurks in the wings. But can she root out the rotten player in this Big Apple production before the lights go out on her?

Includes a stellar menu of surefire recipes!

 

 

 

 

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About the Author

 

CLEO COYLE is a pseudonym for Alice Alfonsi, writing in collaboration with her husband, Marc Cerasini. Both are New York Times bestselling authors of the long-running Coffeehouse Mysteries—now celebrating eighteen years in print. They are also authors of the nationally bestselling Haunted Bookshop Mysteries, previously written under the pseudonym Alice Kimberly. Alice has worked as a journalist in Washington, D.C., and New York, and has written popular fiction for adults and children. A former magazine editor, Marc has authored espionage thrillers and nonfiction for adults and children. Alice and Marc are also both bestselling media tie-in writers who have penned properties for Lucasfilm, NBC, Fox, Disney, Imagine, and MGM. They live and work in New York City, where they write independently and together.

 

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In the Key of Dead: A Miami Music Mystery
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Florida
Cozy Cat Press (July 17, 2023)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 206 pages

 

Synopsis

 

Killer songs and a killer voice land Vy in yet another melodic murder mystery. Interlude Records has signed Vy to a long-anticipated record deal after years of rejections, but she never thought that murder would be part of the deal. Now, Vy finds herself, yet again, at the center of a murder investigation that may change the course of her music career.

It seems that someone doesn’t want Vy to record her album, and is doing everything to sabotage the release date, including murdering a key member of the production team. So Vy and her sister, Alexia, are back at it again—detecting in their own way. This time they’re using their quick-witted banter, and super sleuthing skills to ensure that Vy’s record makes it to the Billboard Top 100 list before the murderer makes it to the Miami Beach Police Department’s most wanted list.

They say the music industry is cutthroat, but Vy has never taken that statement literally. Could this be the strum of Vy’s guitar playing her last note IN THE KEY OF DEAD?

 

 

 

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Guest Post

 

I am named after my beautiful mother. I am the youngest of six. I was born into art. My mother is an amazing artist, composer, and musician. I remember sitting on the couch watching my mom’s fingers move graciously throughout the piano keys. It was mesmerizing for me. My mom taught me to play the piano when I was 12 years old. From then on, my love for music began, but my love was not for the piano, my love was simply listening to the music.

I am a storyteller in my song-writing. I am inspired by musicians like Rob Thomas, Pink and Jewel. I had a few lessons on my first, used and worn-out classical guitar, and started combining my own original poetry with some basic guitar melodies. That was the result of my debut album, “Train Ride.” As an independent artist, I have released an EP called “Little Box of Secrets.” My latest self-produced singles, Savannah and Bulletproof Queen, takes one on a journey from one extreme to the other.

Although the journey has been challenging, I am not ready to stop showing the people the world through my eyes. My lyrics portray the different journeys my life has taken me through; heartache, hardships, falling in love, and happiness. I want the people to feel what I felt, to see what I have seen, and to know what I have learned. I want my music to be the window to my soul for the world to peek in. It is more than just listening to the songs; it is breathing in the words. But my journey did not stop there.

I then decided to take my musical experiences and put it on paper. I published my first novel, through Cozy Cat Press, The Last Note: A Miami Music Mystery. Thanks to the success of my debut novel, I have once again, brought my characters back to life, in the sequel, In the Key of Dead: A Miami Music Mystery. I have currently started the third novel to the series. The novels appeal not only to those readers who love a good murder mystery coupled with humor, but ones who wish to become familiar with the world of a musical talent trying her best to come up through the ranks of bars to superstardom.

The process of arriving to where I am today, may sound smooth and straight-forward, but it was anything but. Musically, it has not been easy. Unfortunately, I learned the hard way. I was signed to an independent record label. I was naive back then, and I trusted too much. When I released my first CD, Train Ride, it was through the record label. I couldn’t really call it my baby, although the lyrics and the music were my stories, my journeys. I had no say when it came to producing it.

Throughout the five years that I was signed to that label, it became a battle that facilitated my loss in my positive energy. And after the contract expired, I had lost faith in myself. Luckily, I have my family, especially my mother and father (an angel now). They encouraged me to not give up on my dreams. To keep writing, to keep singing, to keep believing in myself. And although it was a struggle, because, in the end, I was the one who had to choose to get back up, I did get back up.

Then, I was able to record my EP record, Little Box of Secrets, and that was my baby. But my artistic journey does not stop there. I decided to push myself, a bit further and I choose to write a novel, a murder mystery novel, to be exact. Once completed and edited, I proposed my first novel to the writing world. One that I was very new to. I know the music world like the back of my hand, but when it came to publishers, and a writer, and all the elements in between, that was a completely different league. I received so many rejection letters that I was on the verge of not sending out any more query letters.

Then I attended a book signing for one of my favorite authors. Fortunately for me, and unfortunately for her, I was the only person that attended the signing. I was able to sit with her for an hour and talk about my novel and the hardships. She said to me, “give yourself a deadline of a year before you resort to self-publishing. Do not give up just yet.”

So, when I left that signing, I calendared a year from that date. In six months, my novel was picked up by Cozy Cat Press. Since then, it has been an amazing ride, of learning, self-discovery, and excitement. I can’t wait to complete book three of the series. And I am happy to say that I have also started writing a psychological thriller. I wanted to experiment outside the cozy genre into more of an intense genre. I love challenging myself, and I love to step out of my comfort zone. To me, that’s living! As Tom Hank’s character said in A Legue of Their Own, “If it were easy, everybody would do it. Hard is what makes it great.”

 

 

About the Author

 

The Miami Music Mystery series’ main backdrop, the amazing city of Miami, Florida, is beloved and well-known to me. I was born and raised in Miami, and like the novel’s main character Vy, I am a singer/songwriter, Grammy-considered, independent artist. All things relating to music or literature are my passion.

Many years ago, I became an avid reader of cozy mysteries. The storylines were intriguing, engaging, and funny at the same time. I was so inspired by the authors, that I then decided to take my musical experiences, and put it on paper. I published my first novel, The Last Note, a Miami Music Mystery. Now, I have brought my characters back to life, in the sequel, In the Key of Dead, a Miami Music Mystery. The phobias, the dream sequences, and the quirkiness of the main characters, are all based on facts. I hope that I was able to, once again, show the readers of my novels, the love I have for Miami, the Cuban culture, my family, and music.

 

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Synopsis

 

As a young wilderness girl, Pistol Rose knows nothing of the advanced Strelkie City or the mad king Ward Harrol who sits behind its walls. She doesn’t understand why the Strelkie forbid marriage.

When the king forces the surrounding countryside to change their traditional culture to match his vision, the Punimin resist, and Rose learns everything about how to kill Strelkie and get away with it.

But throwing her own secret wedding without being caught… is another matter entirely. Rose refuses to give up her lover, Clock Dancin, for the tyrants who threaten her way of life. And most Punimin stand with her–only one is a betrayer.

In this futuristic medieval steampunk country filled with liars, killers, and wilderuckers, the strongest weapon is love. But using it comes with a heavy cost.

 

 

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Guest Review by Nora

 

“Truly, war is ripe on the tree and the gentlest gust could bring a fall no one is quite ready for. It would be an avalanche in both directions, and they all know it. Enough of them want it that the wiser folks hold their breath. Or maybe they aren’t the wiser folks.”

The first in a series that is sure to pull in any reader, ‘Pistol Rose and the Wedding that Sparked a War’ by Michael Ryan Hahn, is a tale of two worlds and two directions.

The first is the world of the Strelkie, a posh city filled with delights for the lucky people who live there. The Strelkie are specifically told to move from family to family and household to household throughout their lives as a method of creating loyalty to their people and not to individual families.

In complete opposition are the Punimin, a group with strong family bonds who take to carving their family stories in any and all wood surfaces they can find.

Pistol Rose is a Punimin, destined to live a life of hardship outside of the city and to eventually go into her family business of gun making. Rose loves her family dearly, and she is a skilled gun maker, but when she falls in love with a boy from her village, she realizes that she has only two options. Either she can ask the local Strelkie emissary for permission to marry her fiancé and risk being turned down and possibly losing her love forever, or she and her love can escape to the forest to find a place beyond Strelkie rule.

Neither option is easy, as even escape will come with uncertainty and struggle. But Rose and Dancin’, her fiancé, decide to escape, not realizing that this decision will light the spark that ignites a war and that soon they will have no way out.

This was an excellent story for me, personally. I love great characters and great world-building, and this book had it all! I would recommend this for anyone who loves steampunk or fantasy because those elements were really present here.

Hahn is a very talented writer, and I can’t wait to read more from this series!

 

 

About the Author

 

‘Pistol Rose and the Wedding That Parked a War’ is Michael’s debut novel and the first in a planned 7- part series, The Anthem of Ash & Pistols. He previously wrote a standalone horror novella called ‘Children of the Storm.’ He recently released an adventure podcast in the style of old radio plays called Fire Pockets. His stories aim to weave exciting action with humor and heart, with complicated villains—probably because of his upbringing. He comes from a big ol’ raucous family, and he survived a shockingly bruising (but not altogether unfun) cadre of violently delinquent Boy Scouts to become an Eagle Scout. He loves fight scenes.

Michael won a ScreenCraft competition that led to development with Bad Robot. He’s a 3x ScreenCraft Finalist and has 18 other accolades from major screenwriting competitions, including AFF and Final Big Break.

As a director, he won Best Feature at GenCon and Best Director at BAFF for his micro-budget, wild sci-fi comedy action feature, ALIEN THEORY

He lives in Los Angeles with his wife. In his spare time, he designs custom habitats for cats.* The habitats are highly popular with the cats.

 

 

Website * X (Twitter) * Fire Pockets Podcast

 

 

 

Giveaway

 

This giveaway is for 2 copies.

The winners will have the choice of print or ebook.

This giveaway is open worldwide and on November 23, 2023, at midnight pacific time.

Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter only.

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Cat House (Crazy Cat Lady Mystery)
Cozy Cat Mystery
10th in Series
Setting – Portland, Oregon
Independently Published (October 29, 2023)
Number of Pages: 255

 

Synopsis

 

This Halloween, the cats are hiding, and the monsters don’t wear costumes.

Young men from the Portland-Seattle area are going missing. It’s just another sad headline to Lynley Cannon—until she starts her new cat sitting job for an enigmatic neighbor Darla, that is.

An off-limits room, a suspicious phone message involving drugs, and the sudden appearance of a missing man’s cat peaks Lynley’s interest, but how far can she go before her cat-like curiosity turns deadly?

 

 

Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guest Post

 

Featuring Lynley Cannon, hero of the Crazy Cat Lady Cozy Mysteries

 

by Mollie Hunt

 

 

My name is Lynley Cannon and I have nine cats. No, I’m not a hoarder. I just can’t pass up a cat in need, and as long as I can care for all of them and give them an environment of plenty, it can’t be considered hoarding.

I know a lot about cats, though I am always learning more. Did you know that petting a cat can lower your blood pressure, or that many cat (and animal) advocates, including myself, have chosen to live a vegan lifestyle? How about the fact that cats don’t taste sweets or see the color red? It’s said their little vocal cords can produce up to one hundred different sounds. “Meow” to that! In ancient Egypt, cats were worshiped as gods, and as you may have heard on the internet, they have never forgotten it.

I’m what people call a cat person, and sometimes, a crazy cat lady, but I’m not quite crazy yet, I swear. I do find myself in a lot of mischief, however. It’s not my fault. I’m curious as any one of my cats, and that curiosity has consequences.

For example, I recently decided to take a job cat sitting for a woman in my neighborhood. In all my sixty-some years, I’d never thought about working as a cat sitter before, but there was something about the flyer on the cat shelter bulletin board that caught my eye. Whether it was the photo of her extensive clowder posed on a white sofa or the picture of her house which I recognized from my walks around the block, I’m not certain. All I can say is her plea made me curious, and before I knew it, I was embroiled in something that went far beyond sitting with cats.

Last summer I took on another job I’d never done before as a live-in foster mom to a diva cat who happened to be the only occupant of one of Portland’s most prestigious mansions. Winter Orange, Winnie for short, was a ward of Friends of Felines cat shelter where I volunteer. Her person had died, though it quickly came to light the man had been murdered. And there I was, stuck in the middle of deception and intrigue trying to take care of a cat!

There have been other incidences as well where my curiosity brought me trouble and even danger.

I got sealed in a subterranean tunnel with a handsome feline archaeologist who couldn’t find a way out.

I helped solve a locked room mystery and clear a cat of the murder rap, but only after I was almost killed myself.

I infiltrated a group of vigilante cosplayers to discover who did away with their leader Captain Cat. The situation turned out to be more deadly than I could ever have expected.

And the list goes on.

My teenage granddaughter Seleia presses me to be more careful. Sometimes I think she wants me to stay at home watching television and sipping chamomile tea like other women my age. Sorry, but that’s not going to happen.

I don’t intend to get myself into any more tomfoolery, however, and I have a plan to keep busy with a new and harmless hobby. My best friend and shelter buddy Frannie DeSoto has become a member of a quilting club, and she wants me to join too. I’m not much of a seamstress, but she promises I’ll figure it out as I go. The group specializes in cat-themed designs, so it sounds like it’s right up my alley. And what possible trouble, beyond poking myself with a needle, could I get into making quilts?

 

To read more of Lynley’s adventures, check out the Crazy Cat Lady Cozy Mystery Series. Books need not be read in order—just pick a topic that appeals to you and go!

 

 

About the Author

 

Cat Writer Mollie Hunt is the award-winning author of two cozy series: the Crazy Cat Lady Mysteries featuring a sixty-something cat shelter volunteer who finds more trouble than a cat in catnip, and the Tenth Life Paranormal Mysteries involving a ghost cat. Her Cat Seasons Sci-Fantasy Tetralogy presents extraordinary cats saving the world. She recently released a COVID memoir, which she calls “a tale of a plague and politics, of depression and inspiration, and an ode to the very real and healing presence of cats.” In her spare time, she pens a bit of cat poetry as well.

Mollie is a member of the Oregon Writers’ Colony, Sisters in Crime, the Cat Writers’ Association, Willamette Writers, and the Northwest Independent Writers Association (NIWA). She lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband and a varying number of cats. Like her cat lady character, she is a grateful shelter volunteer.

 

 

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FINDING COMFORT

 

Comfort and Joy Trilogy, Book Two

 

by

 

Kimberly Fish

 

 

Women’s Fiction / Contemporary / Cozy Mystery

Publisher: Fish Tales Publishing

Date of Publication: September 1, 2023

Number of Pages: 312 pages

 

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Even with all her experience, Gloria Bachman, retired banker, and candy entrepreneur, didn’t see this coming.

Sweeties, the beloved Comfort chocolate shop, was ready for its cameo in advertising extraordinaire Jazzy Mezcal’s famous travel and food show! Comfort town folks had worked hard all summer to get their shops Hallmark-movie ready. On the eve of the TV crews overtaking the town, Gloria’s Chamber of Commerce welcome party gets drenched in a wicked rainstorm. Locals call it a “blue norther,” and a dreaded agent of change. Flooding seems like the worst of their problems until the celebrity TV host turns up dead.

In shock, Gloria’s friends turn to her to figure out who could be responsible for such a disaster. With the TV crew and guests in town for the 8^th Street Market’s annual shopping event, suspects are endless. Reluctant to get involved, Gloria would much rather focus on the delicious romance with Mason Lassiter. And she would if a frenemy from Kerrville didn’t haunt her every step. Now, as Gardner Rogers treads on her turf, everything feels suspicious.

With all eyes on Gloria to find the truth behind Jazzy Mezcal’s untimely death, she indulges her curiosity for problem-solving while trying to disguise how unsure she is about the future with her boyfriend. Disruption in Mason’s world, mayhem in Comfort, and one epic chocolate disaster rouse Gloria to action and make her decide what’s worth fighting for. All she can say for sure is that no one is finding any comfort in Comfort.

 

 

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I have fallen in love with Comfort, Texas, and I really need to visit there sometime soon. I love small towns and the unique character they bring to those around them.

This story has me laughing, yet on pins and needles, as Gloria seeks the truth in a local homicide. There were so many surprises regarding the death of the network star that it kept me guessing throughout. Just when you think you know the full story, you are smacked with a new twist that you didn’t see coming. To even hint at those twists would ruin the book for you, so this means you will have to pick up the book and read it.

Gloria is growing on me. She is an older protagonist, which I appreciate. It is nice to know that not all main characters are younger and that the wisdom and maturity that she brings to the pages reflect well on her. There are so many great quotes from the book that relate to Gloria that I need to share a few with you.

“You feel responsible for everyone. It’s one of your worst traits.”

“You have an over-developed helper gene…”

“What you think is some dumb luck attributed to women who like to dress up and find the softer side of life is really a carefully honed skill. I earned it by sharp knocks, obstacles, heartbreak, and a lot of hard work. Some people call it character. I like to call it grit.”

These are all true of Gloria. She is kind to a fault and will go the extra mile for her friends. Yet she is tough when the situation calls for it. She had some tough times, but she is back on her feet with a chocolate shop (one of my dreams!) and a new love interest, Mason. I like that because they are older, they appreciate taking their time in getting to know one another and not rushing into anything too quickly. Their path together is not smooth, but I think this helps their relationship blossom and become stronger. There are some things tied to Mason’s past that will need to be resolved, but at least they are working on it together, and he isn’t shutting her out.

Gloria has also moved past putting up with shenanigans from people in her past, namely one Gardner Rogers. This woman has something up her sleeve, but it is hard to know exactly what. We learn a little bit more about her and her past with Gloria, but there is more than meets the eye with this one. So watch out for her!

There are a few other lines I wanted to share with you. If you are a woman, you will understand and perhaps even laugh at these statements.

“Menopause changed me. Honey, it changed us all. It’s like puberty’s ugly step-sister.”

“I’ll text Margo that you’re next door. She’ll want to come make tea or whatever it is you ladies do in crisis moments.”

This book stepped up the mystery aspect over the first in this series so much that I feel it fits into the cozy category. But there are plenty of other attributes to enjoy outside of seeking the truth in Jazzy’s untimely death.

This author knows how to bring friends together in support, good times and bad, and even when tracking down a killer.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kimberly Fish has been a professional writer in marketing and media for over thirty years, with regular contributions to area newspapers and magazines. As an accidental historian, she wrote two novels, The Big Inch and Harmon General, both based on factual events in Longview, Texas, that changed world history. Kimberly also offers a set of contemporary women’s fiction novels and novellas based in the Texas Hill Country that reveal her fascination with characters discovering their grit and sweet, second chances; all four of the novels have won distinguished awards. Finding Comfort is her latest novel, the second book in the Comfort and Joy Trilogy.

 

 

 

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Signed copy of FINDING COMFORT + surprise bonus gift!

 

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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:

 

10/24/23	Reading by Moonlight	Review
10/24/23	Hall Ways Blog	BONUS Stop
10/25/23	The Book’s Delight	Review
10/25/23	LSBBT Blog	BONUS Stop
10/26/23	Bibliotica	Review
10/27/23	Jennie Reads	Review
10/27/23	The Page Unbound	BONUS Stop
10/28/23	The Plain-Spoken Pen	Review
10/29/23	Rox Burkey Blog	Review
10/30/23	StoreyBook Reviews	Review
10/31/23	Carpe Diem Chronicles	Review
11/01/23	Boys’ Mom Reads	BONUS Stop
11/01/23	It’s Not All Gravy	Review
11/02/23	Forgotten Winds	Review

 

 

 

 

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A Nutcracker Nightmare (A Killer Chocolate Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Montana
Crooked Lane Books (October 17, 2023)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 320 pages

 

Synopsis

 

Perfect for fans of Joanne Fluke and Laura Childs, when twin sisters Hanna and Alex help out at the local high school reunion, volunteering takes a turn when they find a former classmate’s dead body.

Hanna and Alex, owners of the Murder and Mayhem book and chocolate shop, are busy preparing for the Harriston High School’s reunion weekend. Neighbors will connect with old friends and perhaps try to avoid old foes. One person no one can avoid is Kyle, the former star quarterback, who is busy using his entire playbook to try and score with Hanna, even threatening her if she doesn’t play nice. At the reunion, Alex glimpses more drama than nostalgia as insults are flung around like a football at a Friday night game. The party is put on hold when Alex finds the dead body of none other than Kyle himself, bludgeoned to death by a nutcracker that the sisters admired earlier in the night.

Hanna quickly becomes the prime suspect—someone saw her slap Kyle in the face at the reunion dance. She’ll need her sister, their sleuthing canine, Watson, and their old friends and colleagues to help break this case wide open. While looking through old yearbooks and taking a stroll down memory lane, Alex uncovers a few secrets about Kyle, now, it seems like everyone had a motive to kill him.

But when the suspects start becoming the victims, Alex and Hanna know that they can’t melt under the pressure—they must find the killer before they become just another yearbook memory.

 

 

 

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Review

 

If you are ready for the holidays and want a cozy to read, check out this new book. It is set during the holidays, has plenty of decorations to keep you in the spirit, and delicious chocolates that will leave you salivating.

This is a fun series, and I like that the main character is a little older (40’s), runs a bookstore, and is navigating the world of dating with neighbor Tom. She also has to deal with sniping from another neighbor, Penelope. I think Penelope is just jealous that Tom chose Alex over her. But, in this book, there is another potential love interest for Alex, Eddie. Will he make the cut?

I loved the mystery because I did not guess the killer. I was sure it was a certain character and almost thought I was right until things turned. I was very surprised in the end, and I think you will be too. I think I might have suspected this character, but it was fleeting, and there was nothing concrete to say it was them.

I love the chocolates that Hanna creates. I would like a box mailed to me, please!

This is a delicious series, and we give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Christina Romeril is the author of the Killer Chocolate Mystery series. The series is set in Montana at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, one of her favourite places to visit. She and her husband live a few hours away in a small village in Southern Alberta. When Christina isn’t writing she loves to hike in Waterton Lakes National Park, or just hang out there eating gourmet hot dogs and ice cream. When the former banker isn’t enjoying nature, she loves to create and consume chocolate confections. Not necessarily in that order.

 

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