The Cha-Cha Babes of Pelican Way
Cozy Mystery
Wild River Consulting & Publishing, LLC (June 21, 2018)
Paperback: 506 pages

Synopsis

Would you move a dead body for the sake of your best friend? Ask cha-cha babe Celia Ewing, a sixty-five-year-old widow who has just settled into Boca Pelicano Palms, the Florida retirement community of her dreams. When Celia’s best friend Marcy calls her and their friend Deb for help in the middle of the night, they find a naked Marcy trapped under the body of her beau, the community’s board president, Melvin. And he’s dead. The three friends secretly move Melvin back to his apartment setting off a chain of events that will threaten to tear their community apart and send them to jail. Melvin is one of a number of residents who are dying under suspicious circumstances; and soon Celia becomes an amateur sleuth in an attempt to identify what she suspects is a serial murderer.

Filled with humorous, witty observations about retirement communities, the realities of getting older, and the promise of new love, the Cha-Cha Babes of Pelican Way celebrates the deep bonds of female friendships, the desire for companionship at any age, and shows us that it’s never too late to learn how to cha-cha through life.

Guest Post

Thank you, Frances, for being here today.  Today she shares her thoughts on a romance between older people.

Romance with people of a certain age

Do you gag at the thought of an older person in a hot, romantic relationship? Get over it! It’s a subject I’ve dealt with in THE CHA-CHA BABES OF PELICAN WAY. They are babes who hunger for intimacy as much as younger people do. Marcy, an important secondary character, seeks romance actively. Celia, the main character, is more subtle but open to the idea.

If older folks dared to step away from the unwritten rules of “age appropriate” you’d find a vibrant, exciting person who is still very curious and open to life changes. Each time I think there’s a stage later in life where new things stop happening there is a big surprise and something comes along to stir mental juices. Look at the new movie soon to be released, The Book Club. Those women appear quite willing to seek romance. Well, in my novel, it’s The Cha-Cha Club with the same aspirations.

NEWS FLASH: Mature people desire romance as much as younger people. For many, needs and desires don’t dissipate. Why should they? It is adult fun and games and more exciting than video games. Maybe mature romance is not involved with all aspects of what once occurred in youth. Maybe sex takes place, but it might not. It’s slower with creakier backs and limited flexibility, but nonetheless, intimacy is an aspect of mature relationships. Maybe it’s about cuddling, hugging, kissing with your one and only. Holding hands while strolling along a thoroughfare, pinching a cheek, a warm kiss (even in public, heaven forbid) is all part of any romance and doesn’t exclude oldsters. Here is the cry to all ages — find romance and cherish it. Treat it with care. If nothing else, it might be the best medicine you can find.

And being without a romantic partner doesn’t mean the end of life. The romance is icing on the cake, but your life is the whole cake. Take big bites by having good friends and being a good friend. Get people you enjoy together to give dinner parties, go to movies, theater, readings even happy hour. Contact with family is heartening, too. Whatever your interests are, you can find people to enjoy them with you. It’s great if you all have the same interests, but if not, consider trying something new to accommodate someone else.

About the Author

Frances Metzman, a graduate of Moore College of Art and a Masters degree from the University of Pennsylvania, co-authored a novel, Ugly Cookies, by Pella Press. Her short story collection, The Hungry Heart: Stories, was published by Wilderness House Press, February 1, 2012. In 2009 she won a nomination for a Dzanc Books award, “Best of the Web.” In addition to publishing numerous (25) short stories in various literary journals, she has a novel published by Wild River Books, 2018, The Cha-Cha Babes of Pelican Way. Her teaching credits include Adjunct professor at Rosemont College to graduate school, Temple University at OLLI (creative writing and memoir). Other writing workshops, memoir/creative writing, have been given at universities and colleges such as Bryn Mawr, Penn State, Delaware, University of Pennsylvania, Widener, etc. As fiction editor for a literary journal, Schuylkill Valley Journal, she selects and edits the submissions. Many articles, essays, and stories she writes deal with aspects of society that influences relationships for all ages, including the mature set (sometimes tongue in cheek). Many articles are dedicated to improving attitudes toward the mature folks and address myths about “age appropriate” thinking.

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Gown With the Wind (A Wedding Planner Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Kensington (December 18, 2018)
Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages

Synopsis

Professional wedding planner Mallory Shepard knows her job is challenging under any circumstances. But when the groom is your ex and someone invites murder, there may never be another tomorrow . . .

Mallory’s fine—really—handling the wedding arrangements for her ex, Keith. But his fiancée, Becca, has at the last minute decided to switch from a Japanese-cherry-blossom theme to a Gone with the Wind theme. She wants to honor her ailing grandmother, who owns an impressive collection of GWTW memorabilia—and who is fiercely at odds with the groom’s mother over the nuptial plans.

But among other complications, Becca gets into a fight with an old childhood rival over a replica Scarlett O’Hara wedding gown. She wins the dress—but soon becomes a murder suspect when the other woman is found dead in Becca’s swimming pool. And it’s up to Mallory to solve the mystery behind this unhappy occasion, before a different kind of civil war breaks out . . .

Guest Post

“World Building in Cozy Mysteries”

One of my favorite things about writing cozy mysteries is world building. World building is usually discussed in the context of genres that require elaborate, new backdrops with complicated histories, like science fiction and fantasy. But cozy mysteries require quite a bit of thought too. Cozies benefit from details lovingly crafted to make fictional towns come to life. They help a novel ring of authenticity and provide a rich environment for your characters. I adore reading cozies for the arm-chair opportunity to travel to small towns, learn their secrets and idiosyncrasies, and to get a healthy dose of charm.

I love spending time in the fictional town featured in my series, Port Quincy, Pennsylvania. I almost think of Port Quincy as being its own character. It’s an amalgamation of some real places I lived in and worked in back in Western Pennsylvania. When I close my eyes and take a stroll down the streets of Port Quincy with my characters, I feel the echoes of Canonsburg and Washington, PA. Little details that resonated me from my time growing up in Pennsylvania pop up in the books, like resurfaced memories. I always loved traveling on the yellow brick roads that compose some streets in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. The bricks made a steady, pleasing thrum as cars drove over them. The gorgeous, Pepto-Bismol pink colored courthouse featured in my novels is an echo of the grand courthouse at the heart of Washington, Pennsylvania. And I imagine my character Mallory’s bed and breakfast to resemble none other than Henry Clay Frick’s own mansion, Clayton, located in Pittsburgh’s East End.

But more important perhaps than the physical trappings of the small town in my books, whether rooted in some real detail from my memories or created out of whole cloth, is the spirit and character of the place. I wanted Port Quincy to exemplify the close-knit feel and camaraderie I’ve enjoyed in the small towns and neighborhoods I’ve lived in. Port Quincy is a place where neighbors pull together, citizens share in their triumphs and tragedies, and everyone is connected. I now live in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, nestled on the banks of the Mississippi River. It always brings a smile to my face to run into a friend or acquaintance out and about during my errands. There is a strong sense of community and friendliness that I try to weave into my fictional town. Though my protagonist Mallory often involves herself in high stakes situations and risky cases, the heart of her existence in Port Quincy is forming connections with her family, friends, and the denizens of the town. I love exploring her evolving relationships and friendships with the people of Port Quincy. As many details as I lovingly craft about the physical space, the real beating heart of my fictional town is its people.

About the Author

A native Pittsburgher, Stephanie Blackmoore now lives in Missouri, with her husband, son and two-spirited cats. She was an attorney in Pittsburgh and a librarian in Florida before becoming a writer. Stephanie is a fan of everything black-and-yellow. She is hard at work on her next Wedding Planner mystery. Connect with Stephanie at the links below.

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A Literal Mess (An Allie Cobb Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Lyrical Underground (January 8, 2019)
Print Length: 196 pages

Synopsis

The first book in a new series featuring Allie Cobb brings the New York literary agent back to her Hoosier home town where a mysterious death keeps everyone on spoiler alert . . .

Allie Cobb left home for the literary circles of Manhattan to make her name out from under the shadow of her legendary father. Now his death brings her and her rescue cat Ursula back to the southern Indiana town of Rushing Creek, population: 3,216. But a tragic new chapter hits the presses when the body of her father’s hard-drinking, #1 bestselling client is found under the historic town bridge. The local police suspect foul play and their prime candidate for murder is the author’s daughter—Allie’s longtime friend.

Determined to clear her bestie, Allie goes into fact-checking amateur detective mode while trying to ignore the usual rumormongers. Those with means, motive, and opportunity include the vic’s ex-wife, his rejected girlfriend, the mayor, and a rival agent trying to mooch clients. With a rugged genealogist distracting her and the imminent Fall Festival about to send tourists descending on their once-peaceful hamlet, Allie needs to stay alive long enough to get a read on a killer ready to close the book on a new victim: Allie . . .

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Guest Post

Today I welcome author J.C. Kenney to StoreyBook Reviews.  I love his mother’s response to why she read mysteries.  It also gave me a little bit of a chuckle because I’m Catholic too!

It All Started With a Question

Hi, folks! Thanks for stopping by. I hope your 2019 is off to a great start. With the release of A Literal Mess, my year has started out like a lion, that’s for sure.

As I celebrate the arrival of my debut cozy mystery, I’m trying to enjoy every moment. Making sure I don’t get caught up in what’s next (like the next book in the Allie Cobb Mysteries series) but appreciate the what’s happening now.

While I do that, I’d be remiss not to reflect on my journey that brought me to this day, chatting with you all as a published cozy mystery author. You see, I’ve often been asked how I got my start as a cozy author. Did I always want to write mysteries? Where did this ride start?

To answer that question, we need to go back in time over forty years, to the days of my youth. I grew up in a traditional Irish-Catholic household, the youngest of eight children. Both of my parents were voracious readers. I remember Mom regularly returning home after a visit to the library with dozens of books for her and Dad to read.

While I was insanely jealous of the massive haul (I was only allowed to check out seven at a time), I also noticed something that made me curious. My dear mother, who went to church twice a week and taught Sunday school, liked crime fiction. The books she read were by authors like Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, and Lilian Jackson Braun.

Dame Agatha

 My young mind couldn’t understand how my mom, who was a model Catholic, liked murder mysteries. I mean, murder was the worst criminal act possible, right?

Ngaio Marsh

One day, this conundrum became too much to ignore, so I asked her why she read these awful books where people were killed.

Her answer left me stunned. She told me it wasn’t about the murder. It was about the puzzle. At first, I didn’t understand. Then, when she explained, the clouds parted. What appealed to her wasn’t the crime, it was the act of putting together the clues, the pieces of the puzzle, in the pursuit of justice.

It was all about catching the bad guy.

As the years passed, that exchange stuck with me and I became a fan of cozy mysteries, myself. The first cozy I read was And Then There Were None. I was fifteen years old and I loved it. Here’s the cover of the edition I read.

From there, I followed the adventures of Holmes and Watson, went along for the ride on the Oriental Express with Poirot, and fell love with Koko and Yum-Yum as they helped Qwilleran ensure justice prevails.

Interestingly enough, when I started writing, the stories I came up with weren’t mysteries. They were in a completely different genre, although those stories often included a mystery subplot. It wasn’t until a couple of years ago, when my agent challenged me to write a mystery, that I gave it a try.

Moments after accepting the challenge, I panicked. There was simply no way I could write a whodunit. I wasn’t smart enough. I wasn’t creative enough. Then, Mom’s words came back to me.

It’s not about the crime. It’s about the puzzle.

With that in mind, I got to work. Clues, along with suspects and red herrings, became my puzzle pieces. Before long, I had a full-fledged story worked out. And, as they say, the rest is history.

So, it’s not wrong to say I got my start writing cozy mysteries only a couple of years ago. It’s also not wrong to say I those cozy mystery seeds were planted over forty years ago. When it all started with a question.

How about you, folks? How did you get your start in the cozy mystery world? Do you have a favorite cozy author? I’d love to hear about it and thanks again for visiting!

About the Author

J.C. Kenney grew up in a household filled with books by legends Agatha Christie and Lilian Jackson Braun, among many others, so it was no surprise when he found himself writing mystery stories. When he’s not writing, you can find him following IndyCar racing or listening to music. He lives in Indianapolis with his wife, two sons, and a cat who is the inspiration for Ursula in the Allie Cobb Mysteries.

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads * Instagram

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The Plunge (Aggie Mundeen Lake Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series (Spin-Off of a previous series with this character.)
Wildside Press (October 9, 2018)
Paperback: 136 pages

Synopsis

When Aggie Mundeen accompanies San Antonio Detective Sam Vanderhoven on a weekend getaway to Lake Placid, she thinks it’s going to be fun in the sun. What could be better than caretaking a friend’s cottage on the Guadalupe River in Central Texas? Never mind that Sam intends to discretely investigate the theft of that friend’s boat…

Unfortunately, the weather has plans of its own. Buckets of rain and gusting winds roil the lake, turning the peaceful Guadalupe into an angry, raging river. As darkness descends, lightning reveals two people arguing on a dock across the river. When lightning flashes again, they are gone. Did Aggie and Sam witness an accident? A drowning? A murder?

The Plunge sweeps readers along with the threat of looming disaster, helpless before an untamable force, where sleuthing takes a back seat to survival…

About the Author

Nancy G. West is the author of award-winning suspense and the Aggie Mundeen Mystery Series. Each book in the series has either won or been nominated for an award. The Plunge, Lake Mystery #1, takes Aggie in a new direction.

Chat with Aggie and Nancy on their blog * Website * GoodReads * Twitter

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Synopsis

Amelia Moore, the founder of the Moore Detective Agency, specializes in missing persons. Her cases have taken her to some very interesting places and put her in some dangerous situations, but she always solves the case. With the help of her partner, Rick Bonito, the business is flourishing.

Pauline Jones is confused why her boyfriend took off without telling a soul where he was going. But that isn’t all. Sam Whitaker is accused of stealing a valuable porcelain doll from the museum. His disappearance makes him look guilty, but Pauline is convinced he is innocent. When Amelia finds Sam, she realizes they need to prove his innocence. Where is the antique doll and who has taken it?

Review

I really enjoy this cozy series for several reasons – the stories are shorter, the characters are well fleshed out, and I rarely decipher the mystery!  This book was no exception as I figured out a few things but not everything and there was a twist at the end I did not expect. I also like that there are not a lot of characters.  There are enough for the story and to have multiple suspects, but not too many that it is overwhelming.

I enjoy the banter between Amelia and Rick and like that they are helping each other check off items on a bucket list and are moving slowly in a relationship with each other.

We give this book 5 paws up.  It is a great series and while you can read out of order, to follow the personal story line you will want to start at the first book.

About the Author

I was raised on a farm surrounded by the rolling hills of southern Idaho and have made my home in southern Utah among the beautiful red mountains and desert heat. I have been happily married for 42 years and am the mother of six daughters and have five wonderful grandchildren.

After my family began to leave the nest, I decided it was time to finish what I had started long ago. I decided to go back to college and get a degree. It had been 30 years since I had been to college and it was one of the most frightening things I had ever done. I had to learn how to study and take tests all over again. The first day of college, I was a nervous wreck and wondered if I could do this, but with the support of my husband and children, I was able to graduate. I received my Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theatre and Music at Southern Utah University and received the Outstanding Non-Traditional Student Award for the College of Performing Arts in 2002. During the meantime, I cut a CD named “Romantic Love Songs of Sigmund Romberg and Victor Herbert.”

I have enjoyed writing short stories and novels for several years but it took a lot of courage to begin submitting them. After “Melinda and the Wild West” was published, I entered it in the Reader Views Literary Contest and my book was chosen as a Semi-Finalist in the “Reviewers Choice Awards 2007.” It was one of the top ten out of hundreds of other entries.

I have traveled throughout the United States, teaching people to write their family history and autobiography. I have traveled to seventeen states and given over 500 workshops. I am the author of six historical sweet romances, four mystery adventure novels, a children’s book, and a new cozy mystery series. All of my books are family friendly.

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Synopsis

A dead cabaret singer? Poisoned bath bombs? Impossible.
Patti hand mixed the bombs herself.
Who would believe Patti’s slight concussion gave her the ability to communicate with the dead?
Nobody. Especially not her fussbudget partner Sandy.
A chatty Technicolor ghost who needs help moving on to the Beyond? Improbable.
What must Patti do to help Fanny find peace?
What about Teddy? Would he lace the bath bomb supplies with rat poison?
Let’s hope not, he’s former Garland County Deputy.
Myra, the Row’s landlady, goes missing. What’s up with that? She’s a nosy busybody and wouldn’t miss a moment of the intrigue happening at the shop.
Has the competition put a hex on the newest soap shop on Central Avenue?
Maybe. They’re jealous hags who want Bathhouse Row Soapery to fail.
How does Patti solve the mystery of the poisoned bath bombs? Can Fanny leave Hot Springs without knowing what happened to her little boy? Will someone save Myra before its too late?

Review

I noticed that with both of this author’s series that the protagonist starts seeing ghosts. In this series, Patti’s fall when she bumps her head shifts something and she is able to see Fanny Doyle, a seamstress from the 1920s. This creates some awkward moments when those around Patti think she might be a bit crazy because it looks like she is talking to herself or spouting off random sentences. I’m surprised that her friends didn’t suspect something was wrong with her other than she had fallen and hit her head.

The mystery was intriguing and I wondered how it was going to play out in the end. I was a bit surprised at some of the answers to my questions but not too surprised. Of course Fanny’s story isn’t complete so I’m sure we’ll see some more of her in the next books.

The characters are diverse and some are a bit mysterious so I hope we learn more in future books.

We give this 4 paws up!

Title: SPIKED: A RESORT TO MURDER MYSTERY III
Author: Avery Daniels
Publisher: Blazing Sword Publishing, LTD.
Pages: 230
Genre: Cozy Mystery

Synopsis

Julienne, a poisoned Private Investigator with her business card on his body, an MI5 agent taking a liking to her, and her heart on the line.

Julienne needs only three things: successfully pull of a last minute wedding relocated to her resort, work out things with her stubborn ex- boyfriend, and solve the murder of a private investigator found with her business card on his dead body. The wedding she can handle, but it comes with a flirtatious brother of the bride from Britain who manages to give Mason the idea she has moved on, and the dead PI was playing with fire before he was poisoned leaving a myriad of suspects. Two suspects are part of a scandal waiting to explode and nobody wants to be in the middle of the fallout.

Can Julienne wade through the various suspects while coordinating the wedding and dealing with a handsome amorous guest before her rival on the local paper exposes her connection and thus damages her and the resort’s reputation? Will she and Mason find their way to each other?

Excerpt

“Detective Lawrence gave me a pointed look that he didn’t buy that cover story for a minute.  Chad changed to accommodating at the mention of the last minute wedding I was to ensure was perfection itself.

“Detective, Julienne is busy.  Perhaps I can be of assistance?”

“No, I need to know why Julienne’s name was on a hotel card in the pocket of a man who died of what I am guessing was poison just a few hours ago.  Amazing how you’re connected with another death.”  His beady little eyes watched me.  Well, they were menacing beady eyes to me in any case.

I could feel the blood drain to my toes.  Not again.”

About the Author

Avery Daniels was born and raised in Colorado, graduated from college with a degree in business administration and has worked in fortune 500 companies and Department of Defense her entire life. Her most eventful job was apartment management for 352 units. She still resides in Colorado with two brother black cats as her spirited companions. She volunteers for a cat shelter, enjoys scrapbooking and card making, photography, and painting in watercolor and acrylic. She inherited a love for reading from her mother and grandmother and grew up talking about books at the dinner table.

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Title: IQUITOS: THE PAST WILL KILL
Author: John R. Beyer
Publisher: Black Opal Books
Pages: 353
Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis

Jonas Peters and Frank Sanders team up to solve a string of murders, starting with the intentional and fatal bombing of a local coffee shop in downtown Riverside—a usually calm city in Southern California. Dozens are dead after an explosion rips apart the Coffee Grind, leaving dozens of others gravely wounded. Frank soon finds himself up to his elbows assisting the bombing victims, especially when he discovers that Jonas was walking to the Coffee Grind to meet up with his fiancée, but he never made it. In an instant, all their lives are thrust into a trail of death and destruction carried out by an unknown psychopath.

Excerpt

PROLOGUE

Jonas Peters grinned at the slightly older man standing on the second step of the entrance to the brick building while reaching out his right hand. “Thanks for the help on the case.”

Frank Sanders shook his head. “I should be the one saying ‘thank you’ a few times, as many cases you’ve helped me on.”

“How’s business, seriously?” Jonas asked.

“It’s good, Jonas. Some cases really make me some money, and some just pay the bills. Sure, I miss the days when you and I would bump into each other at the department on a juicy murder or burglary, but those days are gone. Retirement pay isn’t substantial, but this gig gives me plenty of traveling money.”

The two men had spent the previous forty minutes in Frank’s office on the second floor of the Wright building just northwest of the Mission Inn in downtown Riverside, California. They had been going over the final paperwork on a joint case they had been working on together, albeit somewhat apart.

Frank had gone from a crimes-against-persons detective to private detective when he retired from the Riverside Police Department. Jonas Peters had gone from homicide detective to falling into a bottle of Jack Daniels and then re-surfacing to finish a case which cost him a dear friend, along with many innocents. Fortunately, that story had a happy ending, with the killing of Zachary Marshall, the psychopath who had started it all. It should have meant the release of the demons Jonas had felt for so many years, but instead, it just reinforced the negativity of the world in which he had lived for so long. He wanted out, but did not know how to exit.

Jonas had turned in his badge for the Riverside Police Department where he worked, and moved to Scottsdale, Arizona, believing his life might take a one-eighty. It hadn’t. Jonas eventually found himself on a pension, living on twenty acres of desert near a small town named Phelan in Southern California and working a few cases here and there as a private detective. Not a glamorous job but one, like Frank had responded, that helped make the financial side of life a bit more comfortable.

Jonas also liked the solitude of the High Desert. Seemed fewer ghosts circled there.

He also liked to cry where no one would see him.

“How’s your life really going?” Frank asked while stepping down a step and looking his friend squarely in the eyes.

Frank had known Jonas for over two decades while working at the Riverside City Police Department but had never gotten to know the man very well. Jonas had always been friendly enough, but to dig into his personal history was not a door a fellow officer ever tried to venture through.

Jonas had always been somewhat aloof. Not aloof like a head-in-the-sky sort of fellow but one who always questioned himself and thus never allowed anyone from the outside to look inside.

“Actually, Frank,” Jonas stated. “Things are looking up for me recently. The cases I take are ones that I want, and the ones I don’t, I don’t.”

Frank nodded his rather large square head. “Any women?”

Jonas smiled. “There was in Scottsdale for a while. A great lady by the name of Samantha—I called her Sam—and we hit if off well after I retired from the force. You know, after Steve’s murder, I just had to get out of here, but after a year or so I needed to come back. This is where I grew up and all I really know.”

“You know, John Steinbeck wrote that you can never truly go home.”

“Yeah, well, he was right. That’s why I live out in the boonies in Phelan. Just me and my three dogs.”

Frank grinned. “I like dogs.”

“You have any?”

“Nope, I’m just gone too much to feel like it would be fair to them.”

“That makes sense.”

“What happened to Sam?”

Jonas shifted his weight from the left to the right. “She could sense I wanted to move back near here, and we sort of went our own ways. We reconnected a few months back—you know, sort of a long-distance affair with texts, phone calls, and the like. She called me the other week to let me know she would be in Riverside on business. It coincided with my meeting with you.”

“Serendipitous, I would say.” Frank clapped Jonas on the shoulder while giving him a wink.

Jonas smiled in return. “Yes, we’ve spent the last couple of days together, and things were just like they were. We may even try the relationship again—even if it means some traveling for both of us for now. I truly love that woman, Frank.”

“And I’m sure she feels the same way about you.”

“I hope so,” Jonas said. “Well, I gotta get going. I promised to meet her at the Common Grounds in a few minutes. Thanks for helping me on the case.”

“And vice versa.” Frank held out his hand and shook his friend’s. “Go and enjoy your cup of coffee.”

I hope she does love you, Jonas—you could use it.

About the Author

John R. Beyer spent nearly ten years in law enforcement in Southern California as a street cop, a training officer and a member of the elite SWAT team. After leaving the force, he continued in public service entering the field of education. During his tenure, he served as a classroom teacher, school administrator, and district administrator, and was an integral part of the gang and drug force in San Bernardino. While in both worlds he earned a Doctorate in School Administration and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology.

During all those years, he never gave up the passion for writing – both fiction and nonfiction. He has been published in numerous magazines, newspapers and the like for decades, writing on a variety of topics. His latest short stories in the past year can be found in Foliate Oak Literary Magazine (2016) and GNU Journal (2017). He is also the author of three highly praised internationally known novels – Hunted (2013), Soft Target (2014) and Operation Scorpion (2017).

He won the ‘Write Well Award’ in October of 2018 from the Silver Pen Writer’s Association for a fictional short story.

His newest novel, ‘Iquitos – the Past Will Kill’, was released in November of 2018 by Black Opal Books bringing two of his protagonists together for their first investigation. Jonas Peters and Frank Sanders will work hand in hand with an international incident which left undetected could cause a catastrophic issue for the United States. They are friends and they are good at what they do. Catching the bad guys.

Website * Blog * Twitter

Synopsis

Murder? Romance? Intrigue? The Desert Oasis runs rampant with gossip and secrets.

Sweetie Bastard told Hunny Bunny—pack your bags we’re moving to lovely Tucson, Arizona. She didn’t have a choice. He sold her house and bought a park model online sight unseen in The Desert Oasis 55 plus community.

The park was more asphalt than oasis—hot—dry—terrible.

The trailer was a wreck. No air-conditioning. No beautiful view of the San Francisco Bay.

There’s an Arizona room to build. A golf cart to buy. Dances, crafts, and funerals to attend.

Bunny agrees to take water aerobics. She hates water.

First lesson—the park’s ladies’ man athletic director was found weighed down and dead at the bottom of the swimming pool. Who killed philandering Dan? And why?

The last tenant in their new home, Wanda, left behind her clothes, knickknacks, and dishes. The place gives her the willies. Bunny can’t stand an unsolved mystery, and she’ll dig deep and wide to solve Wanda’s case.

Will Bunny agree to live happily ever after in the Oasis, or will she make Sweetie Bastard move to posh Scottsdale?

The Desert Oasis series:
Alpaca My Bags
Wool Over Your Eyes
No Prob-Llama
Ain’t No Llama Drama

Review

This is a decent start to a new series. I loved the title and how it tied into an Alpaca trip they were supposed to take (not sure if they did). I’m not sure there is a mystery that was solved because there didn’t seem to be much of an investigation unless it is something that will flow into the next book. The supposed killer confessed but there wasn’t much of an explanation as to the “why”. Now there was another mystery involving Wanda’s death that wasn’t really tied up either BUT I can see that one flowing through to future books. I want to know more about why Bunny can see her but no one else.

I was very surprised at what Bunny put up with from Phil. I am guessing they are older based on the new community in which they live so perhaps it is a generational thing. I don’t think I would be that happy with my spouse if he up and sold our house without talking to me about it first.

There is an interesting cast of characters and personalities vary greatly. It adds some depth to the series.

I think this series has some potential and will see how the second book shakes out.

We give this 3 paws up.

To Fetch A Thief
Cozy Mystery Anthology
Light, humorous, dog-themed mysteries.
Bay Breeze Publishing, LLC (November 8, 2018)
Paperback: 278 pages

Synopsis

To Fetch a Thief, the first Mutt Mysteries collection, features four novellas that have gone to the dogs. In this howlingly good read, canine companions help their owners solve crimes and right wrongs. These sleuths may be furry and low to the ground, but their keen senses are on high alert when it comes to sniffing out clues and digging up the truth. Make no bones about it, these pup heroes will steal your heart as they conquer ruff villains.

Review

Short stories, dogs, and murder – what a great combination!

This book has four short stories that each have a dog or two in them.  I think my favorites were the first and the third story.

The first story centers around a dog walker and a client hiring her to do some sleuthing to find a missing necklace.  She is able to narrow down the suspects but a major twist is thrown in and surprises everyone, me especially!

The second is a young couple purchase a home where the couple just left.  The neighbors have some crazy stories to tell about the couple and the wife keeps finding things in the house that were left behind.  There are some crazy things that happen and while the story is good I wanted to know more about how the story ended.  I can’t say too much but let’s just say that this could have gone on for many more pages to maybe tie up the loose ends.

The third story has a couple of mysteries – where are the painted rocks going that represents the passing of some pets and who killed Sean?  Another story where I was surprised when the killer was revealed.  I think I had some ideas about this character but not many.

The last story feels like it is set in England based on some of the descriptions and it just has a more European feel.  The main character is a person of interest simply because a suspected weapon ends up in his bag.  This story is a bit more “formal” for lack of a better word.  I suppose you could say it is more of a police procedural.  I found it interesting that he named his dog after his former girlfriend.  Either a sign of love or craziness! There are plenty of clues to determine who the killer is but it is interesting how it all comes together in the end.

You can’t lose picking up this book especially if you love dogs and mysteries.

We give it 5 paws up.

About the Authors

Teresa Inge grew up reading Nancy Drew mysteries. Today, she doesn’t carry a rod like her idol, but she hotrods. She is president of Sister’s in Crime Mystery by the Sea Chapter and author of short mysteries in Virginia is for Mysteries and 50 Shades of Cabernet.

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Heather Weidner, a member of SinC – Central Virginia and Guppies, is the author of the Delanie Fitzgerald Mysteries, Secret Lives and Private Eyes and The Tulip Shirt Murders. Her short stories appear in Virginia is for Mysteries series and 50 Shades of Cabernet. Heather lives in Virginia with her husband and a pair of Jack Russell terriers, Disney and Riley. She’s been a mystery fan since Scooby-Doo and Nancy Drew. Some of her life experience comes from being a technical writer, editor, college professor, software tester, IT manager, and cop’s kid. She blogs at Pens, Paws, and Claws.

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Jayne Ormerod grew up in a small Ohio town then went on to a small-town Ohio college. Upon earning her degree in accountancy, she became a CIA (that’s not a sexy spy thing, but a Certified Internal Auditor.) She married a naval officer and off they sailed to see the world. After nineteen moves, they, along with their two rescue dogs Tiller and Scout, have settled into a cozy cottage by the sea. Jayne is the author of the Blonds at the Beach Mysteries, The Blond Leading the Blond, and Blond Luck. She has contributed seven short mysteries to various anthologies to include joining with the other To Fetch a Thief authors in Virginia is for Mysteries, Volumes I and II, and 50 Shades of Cabernet.

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Rosemary Shomaker writes about the unexpected in everyday life. She’s the woman you don’t notice in the grocery store or at church but whom you do notice at estate sales and wandering vacant lots. In all these places she’s collecting story ideas. Rosemary writes women’s fiction, paranormal, and mystery short stories, and she’s taking her first steps toward longer fiction, so stay tuned. She’s an urban planner by education, a government policy analyst by trade, and a fiction writer at heart. Rosemary credits Sisters in Crime with developing her craft and applauds the organization’s mission of promoting the ongoing advancement, recognition, and professional development of women crime writers.

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