Synopsis

 

Things are gonna get messy…

An illegal union, a banned birth, a Great Lie, and now, genocide. Vampire lawyer Donovan Trait and his wife, chemically-turned Judge Shirley Magnusen, are battling for their lives and the lives of their children. The Vampire Coalition wants them dead, but now the despots have also decided to expand their net, targeting any vampire whose blood is mixed with human or Were. Half-bloods are already treated like dirt by the Vampire Nation. They have been subjected to centuries of discrimination and cruelty at their hands. As the Coalition embarks on a campaign of terror, destruction, and slaughter, millions of half-bloods emerge from the shadows, ready and willing to reclaim their place in the Vampire Nation. The problem is, war cannot be unleashed out in the open in the human world, battles must be fought in other ways. Even with an island of highly-skilled vampire nuns and a few Weres and humans at their side, it appears the Traits may be fighting an unwinnable war. Their only option may be to sacrifice their own lives in the hopes of setting all other half-bloods free.

 

 

Extasy Books

 

 

 

 

Excerpt

 

Donovan shifted on the lounger and muttered incomprehensively, then he emitted a rumbling snore.

“Hey, y’all. So yeah, vampires are real and they’re not above doing the dirty to those who share their blood. Take a look at this.” The Tik-Tokker grinned. “You are not gonna believe it. It’s so shady.”

Video of the Coalition camps rolled across the screen. Occasionally, the camera zeroed in a dirty or bruised Millennial, or a guard pushing a group of people into a building, their ankles locked together with some sort of rope. They were seen eating off of metal plates and lined up to fill a metal cup with something from a barrel. It wasn’t water. The liquid was rust-colored and thick, like blood.

“And the dudes running the place have a Marie Antoinette fetish. You know—” The woman mimicked a knife across her throat. “Off with their heads?” She giggled.

A guillotine appeared on camera. About ten people were in line, each with a black hood over their heads and their arms bound behind them. One at a time, they were pushed onto a stage and forced to their knees, their necks positioned directly under the blade. With manic efficiency, a guard released the blade. Most heads flew into a barrel in front of the platform. The ones that rolled off onto the stage were kicked to their final destination. The headless bodies were tossed onto a pile on the ground.

“Oh, grosss,” the woman complained. She leaned toward the camera. “Kind of like a bad zombie movie, isn’t it?” She sat back in her chair and made a face. “Whatever. I mean, like, are we supposed to believe that’s really happening? Isn’t that against the law or something?” She cackled. “As if.” She leisurely stretched her body, her crop top exposing a belly button ring. “I’m so shook.”

The woman tossed her hair over her shoulder and smiled. “Now, I’m not sharing this for the views. It is kind of sus. But if this shit is real, someone needs to get off the pot and do something about it. Aren’t there any woke cops out there who can play the James Bond card? Before anymore—” She swiped her finger across her throat and giggled. Then the screen went black.

Donovan shot up in his chair and blinked. Once. Twice. He shook his head and attempted to gather himself. What the hell? Sure, he had needed the sleep, even if it was only a thirty-minute nap, but the dreams he could do without. It had been less than forty-eight hours since the worldwide kidnappings. Donovan knew preparations for rescue were underway. But he also knew Bengotten and Hannigan were capable of even greater cruelty. He could only imagine the terror and the torture the victims were being subjected to.

It was difficult to understand how the vampire world was capable of this. He had long prided himself on their natural superiority, their ability to rise up above the petty politics and unjustified violence in the human and Were worlds. Yet overnight, vampires had become the monsters, the tyrants capable of such evil. That astonished him. For the first time in his long existence, Donovan was ashamed of being a vampire. If it was possible, he might very well submit to being turned into a human or a Were. He buried his face in his hands. Yes, he could live as a human. Perhaps he could ask Dr. Alvarez to find a way to turn off his vampirism, maybe using the gene-editing Marilyn could not stop talking about.

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Award-winning author Seelie Kay writes about lawyers in love, sometimes with a dash of kink.

Writing under a nom de plume, the former lawyer and journalist draws her stories from more than 30 years in the legal world. Seelie’s wicked pen has resulted in nineteen works of fiction, including the new paranormal romance series Donovan Trait, as well the erotic romance Kinky Briefs series and The Feisty Lawyers romantic suspense series. She also authored The Last Christmas, The Garage Dweller, A Touchdown to Remember, The President’s Wife, The President’s Daughter, Seizing Hope, The White House Wedding, and participated in the romance anthology Pieces of Us.

When not spinning romantic tales, Seelie ghostwrites nonfiction for lawyers and other professionals. Currently, she resides in a bucolic exurb outside Milwaukee, WI, where she enjoys opera, the Green Bay Packers, gourmet cooking, organic gardening, and an occasional bottle of red wine.

Seelie is an MS warrior and ruthlessly battles the disease on a daily basis. Her message to those diagnosed with MS: Never give up. You define MS, it does not define you!

 

Website * Blog * Twitter * Facebook * Instagram * Author’s Amazon Page

 

 

 

 

 

Title: FIRST BITE

Author: Avery Daniels

Publisher: Blazing Sword Publishing, Ltd.

Pages: 290

Genre: Paranormal Cozy Mystery

 

 

Synopsis

 

In 24 hours, Misty Summers had the worst date of her life, was bit by a vampire, and her PI boss may close his business as he goes through a divorce. Looking on the positive side, she decides to use her new vampire assets and become the private investigator to keep her income. She doesn’t know what her future holds, but it can’t be any worse! When she starts following up on a missing woman’s case, she finds herself in the middle of murder.

 

 

Amazon

 

 

Review

 

What would you do if you woke up a vampire? Well, that is Misty’s problem after a horrible blind date and not what she had planned. But she manages to roll with the punches and does her best to adapt to her new situation with the help of a few from the Meta-Mundane council that governs all non-human creatures.

This was a fun read and while normally I don’t read a lot of paranormal books, this one sounded intriguing. I enjoyed getting to know Misty and her new life. It doesn’t hurt that she has an ally, Rowan, who is a warlock (male witch), who helps her with some P.I. cases she decides to investigate while her boss is trying to work on his marriage. She shouldn’t be doing these jobs but she needs something to do so this is it. Misty learns a lot about her new life as a vampire and she is quite bummed that she can’t smell or taste anything anymore and that the foods and drinks she used to love, make her sick.

I have to admit that I don’t think I would have solved the cases she did and while some clues were there, not enough to really pinpoint who was the antagonist(s) in the end. But I enjoyed the chase to find the answers to the missing child and woman. At least some of the cases she worked on for her boss were minor and more mundane but added a little more depth to the story.

Misty and Rowan are also chasing down the vampire that turned her because it was like a “hit and run” event. Apparently, there are rules that are to be followed when turning someone into a vampire…who knew?! While the case isn’t solved, there are more clues to finding this vampire and it will carry over to the new book or two.

I will definitely be picking up the next book in this series to discover how Misty is adapting, what the story is with the rogue vampire, and if Misty and Rowan are able to form a relationship other than friends.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

Excerpt

 

Chapter One

 

“I never want to see you again!”  I slammed the passenger side door. Roger sped off in his red truck, his dragging muffler sounded like a tray of silverware ground in a garbage disposal.  That ended the date from hell.  He took me to a cheap restaurant, we saw the budget dollar movie, and I had to pay for my own popcorn.  I can understand being on a budget, truly, I get it. But then to get all handsy in a parking lot, right under a parking light!  He had the nerve to get upset when I said no.  I had to slap him.  When he slapped me back, I elbowed him in his jewels.  The complete jerk.

There was a sickle moon hanging lazily in the sky and a cool autumn breeze rustled the gold and russet leaves.  I walked faster to warm up.  I hadn’t brought a coat since I’d expected to be driven.  A gust whipped my hair across my eyes and I swept it back.  I took a deep breath and wondered at the smell of autumn, the slightly sharp tang in the crisp air.  I wrapped my arms around myself.

The bright side was I stood up for myself and put an end to his assault.  Unfortunately, I’m stranded after eleven in a rougher part of town on a Sunday night with nobody around.  I wish I could strangle Roger’s pencil neck.  I can walk off my anger; we don’t have an Uber or such in the small town of Majestic.  I needed to recapture my positive vibes anyway, so a walk would do me good.

Another positive item to the evening was I didn’t spring for a new or previously owned dress for the evening.  It would have been wasted on the moron, anyway.  I wore my deep purple sleeveless turtleneck and black pants.  It was classic and more than he deserved.  My best friend, Courtney, had assured me this blind date would be different.  Oh, it was different, all right, and not in a good way.

I’ve never actually had a good date, not one single good memory of a date.  Tears stung my eyes.  Enough negativity.  I recited my mantra.  I am ready for the perfect man for me.  I am working on myself to be the person who will attract my perfect partner. After yet another disheartening experience, it’s all I can do to not blame it all on myself.  Nope, the right man is coming to me.  Yeah, okay.  I may be trying to convince myself more than attracting Mr. Right into my life.  I’m okay with that at the moment.

My low-heeled strappy sandals slapped against the sidewalk, an exclamation point with every step.  There wasn’t any traffic, and I had a couple of miles to go.  Other than my footsteps, it was quiet except for a dog barking in the auto salvage yard behind me. But I felt a presence and knew I wasn’t alone.  I sped up.  I was speed walking now and my heart hammered.  This really wasn’t a good area.  Majestic was a modest-sized town, just big enough to warrant two canines on the police force.  I didn’t want to find out firsthand about the seedy side of town.

Were those footsteps behind me?  I stopped abruptly. I heard a scuff, then nothing.  My senses screamed run, and even though my sandals weren’t the best for it, at least they were strapped on.  I grabbed hold of my purse strap to keep my purse with me.  I didn’t care how it looked; I took off running for everything I was worth.  My mind continued to yell, faster, faster!

One instant, it was a clear sidewalk in front of me, and the next I ran into a man who had just appeared.  My mind reeled at his abrupt materialization.  His eyes were strange; even in the dark, his eyes bore into mine.  I took my purse and aimed for his head. He moved so fast I barely saw a blur.  Next thing I knew, the guy was behind me, had pinned my arms, and was trying to give me a hickey!

Worst day ever!  There just is no positive way to look at any of this night.  I struggled, scratched, and kicked but was losing my energy quickly.  I remember slumping to the ground. I think he was still attached to my neck.  I wanted to keep fighting, but I couldn’t even stay conscious.

 

 

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.

 

Website * Blog * Twitter * Facebook

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

A true crime blogger gets more than she bargained for while interviewing the woman acquitted of two cold case slayings in this chilling new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Sun Down Motel.

In 1977, Claire Lake, Oregon, was shaken by the Lady Killer Murders: Two men, seemingly randomly, were murdered with the same gun, with strange notes left behind. Beth Greer was the perfect suspect–a rich, eccentric twenty-three-year-old woman, seen fleeing one of the crimes. But she was acquitted, and she retreated to the isolation of her mansion.

Oregon, 2017. Shea Collins is a receptionist, but by night, she runs a true crime website, the Book of Cold Cases–a passion fueled by the attempted abduction she escaped as a child. When she meets Beth by chance, Shea asks her for an interview. To Shea’s surprise, Beth says yes.

They meet regularly at Beth’s mansion, though Shea is never comfortable there. Items move when she’s not looking, and she could swear she’s seen a girl outside the window. The allure of learning the truth about the case from the smart, charming Beth is too much to resist, but even as they grow closer, Shea senses something isn’t right. Is she making friends with a manipulative murderer, or are there other dangers lurking in the darkness of the Greer house?

 

 

Amazon | B&N | Apple Books | Indiebound | Google Books

 

Murder By the Book | Poisoned Pen | Chapters | Audible

 

 

Review

 

I am not a true crime junkie like some of my friends, but this story pulled me in from the start. A true crime blogger believes there is more to this cold case than meets the eye and starts digging around and even contacts the lone survivor from the family that was impacted. She is shocked that she is able to get an interview with Beth, but at the same time, I think Beth’s motivation to talk about this case stems from deeper issues and carrying around these details for all those years.

This book has so many twists and turns and just when I thought I had a handle on what was happening, something new would happen or new information would be shared. I figured out a small part of the story but was surprised when it went even deeper than I could have imagined. There is a paranormal twist with a ghost haunting the mansion and this is where it really gets interesting as we slowly learn the details behind the family, the murders/deaths, and so much more. And even though we find out the “who” about 1/2 of the way in, we still don’t know the why until much later as the details are slowly shared with us.

Shea really digs into the mystery surrounding Greer House and even has a private investigator helping her out with some of the details. Shea has her own issues, including not driving or even getting into a car, which stems from an incident she was involved with as a child. While it appears that this is a small town, it does have a really good bus system since it gets her where she needs to go including Greer House which seems to be off the beaten path.

This book is also about family – Shea’s family, Beth’s family, and those of the town. Both Shea and Beth have to come to terms with their own issues and their past and move forward into a new life. Just as I thought I had a handle on the dynamics of the family, another layer was peeled back that provided more depth and information.

The story flips back and forth in time and is told from Shea and Beth’s POV. There is so much insight and I wanted to tell the other character, “hey, this happened to her and it impacts what you are doing.” But alas, I could not.

This book has so much going for it and if you are a fan of true crime you will probably enjoy this new release. We give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Simone St. James is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Sun Down Motel, The Broken Girls, and The Haunting of Maddy Clare, which won two RITA awards from Romance Writers of America and an Arthur Ellis Award from Crime Writers of Canada. She wrote her first ghost story, about a haunted library, when she was in high school and spent twenty years behind the scenes in the television business before leaving to write full-time. She lives outside Toronto, Canada with her husband and a spoiled cat.

 

Website * Twitter

 

 

GHOST AGENTS

 

by

 

NITA DEBORDE

 

 

Categories: Science Fiction / Cozy Mystery / Paranormal / Texas History

Series: The Ghost Agents Trilogy

Publisher: Mabelonia Press

Date of Publication: July 31, 2021

Number of Pages: 309 pages

 

Scroll down for Giveaway!

 

 

 

 

An organization that has operated in secret for centuries… a mystery that threatens to burn it all to the ground… and she’s the only agent who can stop it…

To the residents and tourists of Galveston Island, Claire Abelard is the friendly young woman who works at the local candy store by day and leads ghost tours of the island’s haunted locations by night. They don’t realize this persona is a cover for Claire’s real job as an agent of the Bureau for Historical Preservation, a clandestine organization that monitors and assists energy projections, or the entities more commonly known as “ghosts.”

When projections begin disappearing from around the island, Claire worries that history may be repeating itself. She launches a dangerous investigation and uncovers a sinister, arcane organization whose agenda threatens not only Galveston’s ghosts, but everything she has worked her whole life to protect.

The truth behind the disappearances rocks Claire’s world to its core and shows her that ghosts aren’t the only things that can come back to haunt you.

 

 

 

Amazon

 

Read for free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nita DeBorde is a published author and teacher from Houston, TX. Writing and teaching are her two major passions, though traveling and being dog-mom to a crazy Staffordshire-Boxer mix named Mabel are high on the list as well.

Nita has taught high school French for more than 20 years and absolutely loves her “day job” job (about 95% of the time). She loves to travel, and not surprisingly, France is her favorite destination, though her home state of Texas runs a close second.

She is also a huge history buff, which comes through in her fiction writing, and particularly in her latest novel, Ghost Agents, a genre-defying, cozy paranormal mystery with a little sci-fi and romance thrown into the mix. Ghost Agents: Revelations, the second book in the Ghost Agents Trilogy, is slated for release in March 2022.

Nita’s first novel, Project Lachesis, is currently available in both Kindle and hardcopy format from Amazon.com.

Her first published work, a Christian allegory titled Lessons from the Meadow, was published in December of 2013 under the pen name A.M. Ward. Stay tuned for more titles by A.M. Ward in the Christian fiction genre.

 

 

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Jousting and Justice: Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic
Paranormal Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Better Beginnings, Inc. (February 15, 2022)
Number of Pages 315

 

 

Synopsis

 

An invitation to a medieval festival. A ferry ride to a mysterious island. A scheming, inept witch. An office break-in, an unidentified body, and a string of suspects. Can Hayden, her brave, sassy cat, Latifa, and the people of Destiny Falls solve the mystery and enjoy the festival?

Jousting and Justice follows the series format of combining two stories that blend into one. A murder mystery and the island mystery.

The Island Mystery: Hayden and all her friends get an invitation to a medieval festival – but it’s on “the forbidden island.” It’s too enticing to pass up. Of course, strange things will happen once they get there! . . . You’ll also learn the truth about the witch’s sister!

The Murder Mystery: A dead body shows up in the most shocking place. First, they need to figure out who this dead guy is. Then, who killed him and why. There are so many twists and turns on the way to the answers! But we know that Hayden, Latifa, and their family and friends will figure it out and justice will be served.

Hayden’s many adventures in Destiny Falls will keep you guessing with each book in this intriguing series.

 

 

Amazon

 

Read for free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

Review

 

This has been a delightful series to read. There is something about the characters, setting, and mysteries that draw me in and keep me coming back to Destiny Falls.

While this book could be read as a standalone, you will be better off starting at the beginning of the series to truly understand how Hayden came to Destiny Falls, meet the rest of the family, and have a better grasp of the dynamics of this town and island.

The town will be attending a medieval festival on another island and everyone is excited. However, they don’t know the true story behind the festival, at least not in time to not attend. Even though everyone is in frantic preparations for the festival, a dead body is still found and this time in Hayden’s newspaper office. What they uncover is more than they expected and many were surprised at the turn of events. There are a few suspects but new details thwart their efforts to uncover the killer quickly.

We are introduced to the Knitting Club when Hayden is told to go undercover to try and learn some information from one of the members. I love the name of the yarn shop, Knitty Gritty, and while I love the thought of knitting, it isn’t something I have tried myself yet. Maybe one day. There is a surprise member that Hayden discovers at her first meeting. You might never guess who and I’m not going to tell you, so pick up the book and find out.

There are so many characters to love in this series from Bear the personal chef for the Caldwell family to Han, Hayden’s love interest. He isn’t in the book very much since he was called away for a security emergency. But that is ok because Hayden has plenty to keep her busy until his return. There is also the cat trio of Latifa, Lola, and Chanel, which add a little flavor to the story. Lola is still a kitten and I can imagine her voice in my head anytime she says something.

This has been a fun series to read and there is so much to learn about the characters and the town. I can’t wait to read the next book to learn more. We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Elizabeth Pantley says that writing the Destiny Falls Mystery and Magic book series is the most fun she’s ever had at work. Fans of the series say her joy is evident through the stories she tells. Elizabeth is also the internationally bestselling author of The No-Cry Sleep Solution and twelve other books for parents. Her books have been published in over twenty languages. She lives in the Pacific Northwest, the beautiful inspiration for the enchanted Destiny Falls world.

 

NoCrySolution​.com | Facebook | Pinterest

 

Instagram |  Website | Amazon

 

Giveaway

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tea & Talismans: A Paranormal Cozy Mystery (Prickly Pear Psychic Mysteries)
Paranormal Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Arizona
Independently published (November 29, 2021)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 262 pages

 

Synopsis

 

Alara Beatty never thought her life would change so fast.

She’s only just begun to use her psychic abilities, and she’s already being met with a slew of truths and challenges. In a short span of time, she’s met her biological aunt, solved a murder, and discovered that she was given up for adoption due to a mysterious prophecy.

But that’s certainly not all that’s in store for Alara. Suddenly, her biological family members are flocking to her small town of Prickly Pear, Arizona to meet her…and evaluate her psychic strength.

As Alara begins to get used to her new situation, her cousin Todd receives a mysterious death threat…one that she knows to take seriously. Together, she and Todd must investigate the threats and try to determine who they’re coming from—before it’s far too late.

Not only must Alara learn to use her psychic abilities, she also needs to determine who she can trust. Her newfound family? And what about Rudi Rivera, her charming, handsome police officer friend who has no idea that Alara is psychic?

 

 

Amazon

 

Read for free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

Guest Post

 

Are Dogs Good Cozy Mystery Companions?

 

By Elle Wren Burke

 

In the world of cozy mysteries, cats seem to reign supreme! Scrolling through any online bookstore, you’ll find cat after cat on cozy book covers. These adorable felines are usually companions to the main character and sometimes even help solve the mystery. In a few cases, the cats are the detectives!

Seeing all these cats can leave dog lovers wondering if there’s something about canines that makes them less than ideal costars alongside our beloved amateur sleuths. Do they require too many walks? Do their barks draw too much attention? Is their breath too awful? Or maybe they just don’t make good cover models for cozies?

So what’s the answer—are dogs good cozy companions? Yes, of course! Dogs are better than just good—they make wonderful pets for our amateur sleuths! They have amazing noses. They can protect their owners (even the smallest ones!). They give awesome snuggles. And they will always greet their owners at the door after a tough day of investigating (unlike cats, who are likely to be hiding in a cabinet or closet somewhere!).

I know a lot of readers are firmly Team Cat, so you might not believe me. I’m highly allergic to cats myself, so I tend to lean more towards dogs when I read cozies (mostly so I don’t get a phantom itchy nose thinking about all the cat fur). This means I’ve read lots of dog cozy mysteries and have lots of proof for you!

One of my favorite dogs so far is Oliver from the Cookie House Mysteries by Eve Calder. I recently read the first book—And then there were Crumbs. Oliver, possibly a Goldendoodle, is his own dog in this book. He goes where he wants with who he wants, but always seems to know exactly where he’s needed. From raising the alarm during a break in to laying on laps when bad news arrives, he’s there to help. The main character makes fast friends with Oliver and it sounds like they have many more adventures to come.

Another beloved dog for me is Coal from Heather Day Gilbert’s Barks & Beans Cafe series. In the first installment, Coal is actually wrapped up in the mystery, which I thought was great fun. Coal is a Great Dane and a sweetheart of a gentle giant. Not only does his size make him a wonderful protector, but his mellow nature is just what the main character needs after a hectic day of investigating.

I recently read An Embarrassment of Itches by M.K. Dean, the first in her Ginny Reese Mysteries series. The main character is a vet who travels to her customers’ homes, bringing her German Shepherd, Remy, along for the ride. Not only does Remy provide support and companionship to her each day, he plays a key role in protecting the veterinarian when someone involved in the investigation decides she’s getting too close.

If I had to pick a favorite dog, though, I would choose Lady from Amy Boyles’ Magical Renovation Mysteries series. Lady starts out as a normal Dachshund, but quickly gains the ability to talk. Not only does she help the main character throughout the series, such as alerting her to suspicious noises and smells, but she’s also snarky and hilarious. She has a mind of her own and knows exactly what she wants. She goes almost everywhere with her owner and demands food and cute outfits along the way. She knows her worth and isn’t afraid to ask for what she deserves.

Then there are the dogs in my own cozy mystery series—Prickly Pear Psychic Mysteries. My main character is lucky enough to own two dogs, Pretzel and Blueberry, a Pitbull and a Rottweiler. Though they might look scary, they’re both big softies. I gave them each distinct personalities which shine in the books, but the dogs are also involved in the mysteries. In the second book, Tea & Talismans, one of the dogs plays a very important role towards the end of the story. And they might both be involved in the mystery of the upcoming third book, Canines & Cacti.

There are so many other wonderful dogs in the world of cozy mysteries! These are just a few examples to help prove to you that dogs pull their weight in cozies. I’m not saying they’re cozier or better than cats, just different. Personally, I’d like to find some cozies that feature a cat and a dog working together! Know of any? Shoot them my way!

 

 

About the Author

 

Elle Wren Burke is a paranormal cozy mystery author who writes witty, fun books with strong females as protagonists.

Elle has Master’s degrees in Geography and Business. She lives in Arizona with her husband and fur baby. She enjoys puzzles, baking, and board games.

 

Website * Instagram * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest * Goodreads

 

 

 

Giveaway

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

Ghost Agents
Paranormal Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Independently published (July 26, 2021)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 309 pages

 

Synopsis

 

An organization that has operated in secret for centuries… a mystery that threatens to burn it all to the ground… and she’s the only agent who can stop it…

 

To the residents and tourists of Galveston Island, Claire Abelard is the friendly young woman who works at the local candy store by day and leads ghost tours of the island’s haunted locations by night. They don’t realize this persona is a cover for Claire’s real job as an agent of the Bureau for Historical Preservation, a clandestine organization that monitors and assists energy projections, or the entities more commonly known as “ghosts.”

When projections begin disappearing from around the island, Claire worries that history may be repeating itself. She launches a dangerous investigation and uncovers a sinister, arcane organization whose agenda threatens not only Galveston’s ghosts, but everything she has worked her whole life to protect.

The truth behind the disappearances rocks Claire’s world to its core and shows her that ghosts aren’t the only things that can come back to haunt you.

Ghost Agents is a genre-defying, cozy paranormal mystery, with a little sci-fi, romance, and Texas history thrown into the mix!

 

 

Amazon

 

Read for Free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

Guest Interview

 

Interview with an Agent of the Bureau for Historical Preservation

 

Instructor:       Congratulations on your recruitment to the Bureau for Historical Preservation and your entrance into the new agent training program.

 

At this point in your training, you might be feeling a little overwhelmed by all the information that’s been coming your way over the last few weeks, so we thought it might be nice for you to hear about the job from a veteran agent. So, today we’re here with Claire Abelard, the senior agent in charge of the Bureau’s team in Galveston, Texas. Welcome, Claire.

 

Claire:             Thank you. It’s great to be here.

 

Instructor:       So, Claire, tell us about how you came to work for the Bureau.

 

Claire:             Well, my family history with the Bureau dates all the way back to its founding in the early 1700s, so you might say it’s a family business.

 

Instructor:       That’s right. Pierre Abelard is your great, great… how many greats?… grandfather.

 

Claire:             (with a laugh) I’m not really sure. I’d have to do the math.

 

Instructor:       Well, however far back it goes… Hopefully, our recruits will remember Pierre was one of the original scientists who discovered that all humans give off varying degrees of energy, and that some people leave behind projections of that energy after they die.

 

Claire:              That’s right. He and his fellow scientists started the Bureau as a way to monitor and help the energy projections they were meeting.

 

Instructor:       You’ve been an active agent with the Bureau for a few years now, Claire. Can you share with the recruits your favorite thing about the job?

 

Claire:             Oh, that’s a tough one. There are so many rewarding things about being an agent. I think for me, the best thing would be knowing that we’re helping keep history alive and active in the minds of the general public. If it weren’t for our efforts, so much of history would be forgotten and lost forever.

 

Instructor:       What are some of the challenges you face on the job?

 

Claire:             (with a chuckle) Honestly, sometimes the projections we monitor can be a little childish. I imagine it would be a lot like refereeing a toddler soccer match.

 

Instructor:       How’s that?

 

Claire:              Well, we call them projections, but it might be more accurate to think of them as remnants of the living person’s energy. Whatever personality traits the person had when they were alive, their energy projection will be a streamlined, static version of that. Basically, pure personality without the potential for growth or development, and sometimes that can make our job challenging. But I find it’s best to just embrace the challenge and try to enjoy their personalities for what they are.

 

Instructor:       Thank you, Claire. Now, if you’re up for it, I’d like to open up the floor to questions from our recruits.

 

Claire:              I’d be happy to answer some questions.

 

Recruit #1:      I was curious about acumens. I know Communicative Acumen is the basic requirement for an agent, but does it really matter all that much if you have any of the other abilities?

 

Claire:              Actually, yes, it really can matter. Communicative Acumen is just the foundation that allows you to talk to the projections. But the job just gets a lot easier if you can bring other abilities to the table.

 

Recruit #1:      How so?

 

Claire:             Well, one example would be that Affective Acumen helps you gauge a projection’s mental and emotional state at any given moment. This gives you an advantage in regulating your own emotions to help you direct your interactions with them. Believe me, you never want to let the projection steer the ship.

 

Recruit #2:      Is it possible for a sensitive to develop new acumens?

 

Claire:              It’s my understanding that, yes, it is possible, but it takes a lot of work and training.

 

Recruit #2:      Have you been able to develop any new acumens?

 

Claire:             (hesitantly) Actually, I’ve never tried.

 

Recruit #2:      But you just said more acumens make the job easier.

 

Claire:             (nodding) They do. I’ve just never had to try to acquire any new acumens.

 

Instructor:       (in disbelief) You possess all the acumens?

 

Claire:              Well, not all of them, but the ones I do have, I’ve always had. It’s probably because I was raised in a Bureau family, but I just don’t remember a time when I didn’t have my acumens.

 

(murmurs among the recruits)

 

Instructor:       (steering the conversation back) Okay, I think we have time for one more question.

 

Recruit #3:      Are rogue projections really as dangerous as our training materials make them out to be?

 

Claire:             (choosing her words carefully) Well, yes and no. They all have the potential to deteriorate more quickly than monitored projections, but that doesn’t mean they all will. Many of them just want to be left alone. Of course, there are those who get out of line and pose a danger to livings, but our P.I.D. teams handle them.

 

Recruit #3:      You mean, they dispatch them.

 

Claire:             When necessary, but usually a warning does the trick. Honestly, most rogues just go about their business and don’t cause any problems at all.

 

Recruit #3:      What’s the scariest encounter you’ve ever had with a rogue?

 

Claire:              I’ll be honest and say I have encountered some aggressive rogues in the past, but I wouldn’t call the experiences “scary.” The living people we encounter while doing our job pose more of a threat to us than rogue projections do.

 

Instructor:       Well, I think that’s all we have time for today. Thank you so much, Claire, for stopping by to chat with our recruits and answer their questions.

 

Claire:              No problem at all. I’m always happy to help out.

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Nita DeBorde is a published author and teacher from Houston, TX. Writing and teaching are her two major passions, though traveling and being dog-mom to a crazy Staffordshire-Boxer mix named Mabel are high on the list as well.

Nita has taught high school French for more than 20 years and absolutely loves her “day job” job (about 95% of the time). She loves to travel, and not surprisingly, France is her favorite destination, though her home state of Texas runs a close second.

She is also a huge history buff, which comes through in her fiction writing, and particularly in her latest novel, Ghost Agents, a genre-defying, cozy paranormal mystery with a little sci-fi and romance thrown into the mix. Ghost Agents: Revelations, the 2^nd book in the Ghost Agents Trilogy, is slated for release in March 2022.

Nita’s first novel, Project Lachesis, is currently available in both Kindle and hardcopy format from Amazon.com.

 

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Giveaway

 

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Synopsis

 

A magic mirror to an enchanted world… A mysterious ghost… A hilarious, perpetually annoyed witch… A brave, sassy cat… Two unexplained deaths and a mysterious community filled with secrets… Can Hayden and the people of Destiny Falls solve the mystery and return the community to its peaceful, enchanted existence?

Hayden’s adventures in Destiny Falls continue in book four of the Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic series. Starting with a strange old woman at a cave and her father’s mysterious ferry journey, there are secrets to be unwound.

The enchantments in Destiny Falls are showing cracks, and Hayden suspects that it is tied directly to her family, which has a history that’s more complex than she realized. When two bodies are found floating in the bay it’s clear that the mysteries surrounding Gladstone and the ferry are more dangerous than people realize. And then . . . those spiders.

Luckily, Hayden and her sassy sidekick, Latifa have developed a group of family and friends in this enchanted place who are all ready and willing to help solve the mystery, and release Destiny Falls to resume its normal, amazing, enchanted existence.

Hayden’s many adventures in Destiny Falls will keep you guessing with each book in this intriguing series.

 

 

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Review

 

This has been a fun series to read and in each book, we learn more and more about Hayden’s family, their magical abilities, and watching familial relationships continue to build and blossom. I think what I have enjoyed about it so far is learning about Hayden’s family and Destiny Falls. Sure the mystery part is intriguing and trying to figure out the killer doesn’t always happen, but the story of how Destiny Falls came to exist, along with Gladstone, is intriguing. Gasper really adds flavor as the ghost that can’t answer questions but can tell you a story with a lot of clues peppered within the pages.

The cats crack me up and Lola, the newest one, seems to be finding her voice. I could just imagine how she would sound. And when Hayden takes them for a ride in the convertible? I just chuckled at their antics and wardrobe.

While we have known who the old woman in the cave was, or at least suspected, it was nice to see it confirmed and slowly more information about the past is revealed and there is a bit of a cliffhanger at the end that has me on pins and needles waiting to read the next book in this series.

I adore the budding relationship between Hayden and Han. It is nice to see them both finding someone that gets them and understands the magical aspect of Hayden’s life.

This is a series that all paranormal and magical fans will adore. We give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Elizabeth Pantley is the international bestselling author of The No-Cry Sleep Solution and twelve other books for parents. Her books have been published in over twenty languages. She lives near Seattle and is the mother of four and nana to one.

 

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Daunting Darkness (Paige Papillon Paranormal Mysteries) 
Paranormal Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Partners in Crime Book Services (January 7, 2022)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 289 pages

 

Synopsis

 

Following your dreams can become a nightmare.

Paige Papillon has always loved mysteries. So much so, she enlists in the Police Academy to one day become a detective.

But when she washes out of training, her Sergeant inspires her to go another route: become a private investigator.

After a few boring cases, she receives an envelope full of cash and mysterious clues that lead to the discovery of a cover up of paranormal proportions.

Worse, the Sergeant’s wife is at the center of it. Can Paige solve the mystery and stay alive, or will she become a midnight snack for a monster?

 

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Freaky Familiars (Paige Papillon Paranormal Mysteries)
Paranormal Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Partners in Crime Book Services (January 7, 2022)
Print Length ~140 Pages

 

Synopsis

 

No time for a catnap for this paranormal detective!

Now aware that things that go bump in the night exist, private investigator Paige Papillon has expanded her business to include clients of all species.

Assisted by a former detective and his mystery writer wife with a checkered past, she begins to settle into her new job as Chicago’s premier paranormal PI.

But when her best friend’s cat goes missing, Paige realizes how much she still doesn’t know about the supernatural world. It’s a race against the clock to save a shapeshifter and prevent a witch’s familiar from being sold to the highest bidder.

 

 

Amazon

 

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Guest Post

 

Perfect endings? With the exception of fairy tales, they don’t exist. Perfect endings are not real, and with today’s market, they should not be. Once upon a time–pun intended–they were perfect, but the stories everyone really remembers, the stories that make you feel, do not have perfect, happy endings. Take Shakespeare. Take, if we are going modern, Stephen King. Their works could have about five different outcomes each, and no two fans can 100% agree on what the ‘perfect ending’ can be. Even today’s romance novels with the promise of ‘HEA’ do not have perfect endings, because the readers cannot all be satisfied. It just isn’t possible.

I think a perfect example of an unsatisfying ending is Harry Potter, with their ‘all was well’. How was all well? George lost his other half, Teddy Lupin was left orphaned, children were massacred, and a war hero was wrongfully murdered before anyone could recognize his greatness and his lifelong sacrifice. I’d say about half of the fanbase is satisfied with that ending, but the other half is torn in multiple directions over what would have been a better ending. I am part of that latter half, personally.

This is why HP has so much fanfiction written about it.

When it comes to my own stories, I am never satisfied with what I write. While there is no such thing as a perfect ending, there is such a thing as a perfect cliffhanger.

Which I could not do when writing the Paige Papillon Paranormal Mysteries. They needed an ending, and they needed to be PERFECT. Cozy mystery readers will accept nothing less, and I don’t blame them. No one wants a mystery to not be solved at the end. I’d probably throw the book at a wall if that happened.

But because Paige is a cozy mystery series, the journey to GET to the ending is as important as the ending itself. We require red herrings, missed clues, foreshadowing, and a great plot twist. Most of all, we need to entrance the reader for about 35k words until we begin to show them the conclusion. It’s not easy, and then we have that ending hanging over our heads like a guillotine.

With Daunting Darkness and Freaky Familiars, both their red herrings came easily. Their endings, however, did not. I had to wonder, if I was the reader, what would I want to happen at the end? How can I remove cliches? How can I make the reader shut the book and say, “That was perfect!”

I can’t.

Nothing can be truly perfect. But it can be satisfying, and that’s just as good if not better than perfection.

After all these years, readers want endings wrapped up in a neat little bow, and so do we. We want to know our characters are either happy, or resting peacefully. However, that is not always the case, in fact, it is rarely the case.

I was just rewatching a TV show the other day and a character said a very simple phrase: endings are hard. He’s right. Endings are hard. Because even if you manage to please yourself, you can’t ever please every single reader. It’s impossible: we might be creators, but we are not God. We have to write what feels best to us, and hope that others enjoy it. Even if they don’t prefer it as an ending, if they are entertained, that’s what really matters.

I hope everyone who takes a chance on Paige’s stories enjoy them half as much as I enjoyed writing them.

 

 

About the Author

 

Lily Luchesi is the USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of the Paranormal Detectives Series.

Her young adult Coven Series has successfully topped Amazon’s Hot New Releases list consecutively.

She is also the co-owner of Partners in Crime Book Services, where she offers a myriad of services alongside her business partner Annie Smith, including editing.

She was born in Chicago, Illinois, where many of her stories are set. Ever since she was a toddler, her mother noticed her tendency for being interested in all things “dark”. At two she became infatuated with vampires and ghosts, and that infatuation turned into a lifestyle. She is also an out member of the LGBT+ community. When she’s not writing, she’s going to rock concerts, getting tattooed, watching the CW, or reading comics. And drinking copious amounts of coffee.

She also writes contemporary books for adults as Samantha Calcott.

You can also keep up with Lily via her newsletter … and receive a free e-book as well!

 

Website * Newsletter * Instagram * Twitter

 

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Giveaway

 

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Synopsis

​A haunted teen outcast and her snarky ghostly best-frenemy outwit enforcers, monsters, and the scars of the past in a race to take expose a deadly conspiracy and escape a bloody end. A lush, award-winning debut to a captivatingly eerie YA Urban Fantasy trilogy. Discover a labyrinthine, post-climate-collapse dystopian Vancouver overrun by monsters and magic in this intricate and startlingly original journey of discovery, restoration, and revenge.

It’s hard not to be a little obsessed with survival when your only “friend” is an unruly ghost and the wrong thought could get your soul devoured by eldritch horrors. Haunted 17-year-old outcast Cole wants nothing more than to hide her forbidden fascination with the monster-taken and blend in with the (dreary) scenery. Her plans for a peaceful life take a turn for the deadly when a mesmerizing stranger and his dangerously tempting offer drive her into the middle of a grisly conspiracy.

But Cole hasn’t yet uncovered the biggest secret of all, and it might just have something to do with the mysterious threads tugging her into horrifying visions—not to mention the shimmering boy at their dark heart. Uncovering the truth will cost her dearly as she fends off scheming enforcers, dreamjacking ghosts & soul-sucking nightmares in a desperate quest for survival and retribution. Can she escape the scars of her past and expose the lies before she’s the next to die?

Blind the Eyes is the first book in a lush and labyrinthine trilogy of paranormal-meets-gothic-dystopian YA Urban Fantasy filled with glittering underworlds, delicious-and-deceptive strangers, and facing down the voices in your head. This slow-burn fantasy with an edge leads readers on a captivatingly unexpected journey of self-discovery, reclaimed identity, and conflicted sisterhood for those who like a little sparkle with their monsters (it glistens so nicely on all the blood.) Fans of post-climate-collapse dystopias, monsters-and-magic, and genre-bending dark fantasy will love this award-winning series starter in a complete and 100% binge-ready trilogy.

 

 

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Guest Post

 

Read Spooky Not Scary!

 

I’ve always had waaay too much imagination for the truly terrifying—seriously, I had nightmares after the first time I watched The Mummy (which is tragic, because Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz are fantastic in it!)

Which is why I love the idea of “spooky reads.” There’s this whole sort of hidden subgenre of fantasy with creepy characters, scenes, and other elements, without the kind of creeping horror that makes you afraid to step out of bed in the middle of the night. Specifically, I like to hang out on the gothic end of the spectrum. Consider:

 

• Dystopian manors, towns, or cities, crumbling into obscurity. Everything’s a little worn and faded but also eerily gorgeous. Also, you’re half-or-more in love with death, which is perfect, because it’s also obsessed with you.
• There’s a very slim chance of a romance turning out well, but may I present: confused and/or forbidden attraction, endless yearning, and frustrated desire. Forget steam; how about a slow, poisonous simmer?
• Then there’s the monsters. Are they paranormal? Supernatural? A symptom of your own repression? The true face of society’s oppression? Does it matter, when you know the only sure thing is that your dread will be rewarded with blood and someone’s sure to die beautifully?
• And don’t forget the aesthetics. Wisps of fog, hidden menace and shrouded scenery. Dark waters, mirror-still and waiting to swallow you whole or storm-grey and tossing, eager to grind you against the rocks. Ominous towers with secrets hidden at their feet, endless rooms hiding unimaginable horrors, and faded glory, flaking off under your touch. Gilt and velvet and tattered silks; bitter wine and opium.
• But where it really all comes together is the heroine. Lost and lied to, trapped by circumstances, desperate not to dominate, to subject, to rule, but simply to survive. A gothic dystopian heroine is not a kickass leather-bound stereotype in stilettos but an exhausted girl just trying to get by in a world that wants to grind her under its heel. What could be more relatable? And if she has to untangle endless lies, uncover her stolen past, face down her ghosts and face up to the broken humanity surrounding her in order to take back her life and her power, what could be more aspirational?

 

So yeah, despite my woefully low capacity for the kind of horror that makes you pull the covers over your head, I’m all about the gothic touches in my fantasy. Curious what it’s all about? Join me at kawiggins.com (and join the newsletter to get started with some free spooky short reads!) or on social @kaiespace!

 

About the Author

 

K.A. Wiggins (Kaie) writes award-winning speculative fiction for young people and adults that explores the tangled webs of society, environment, and identity through intricate, dreamlike tales of monsters and magic.

Her debut novel was a Page Turner Awards 2020 Book Spotlight Prize winner and a Barnes & Noble Press “20 Favorite Indie Books of 2018,” kicking off a celebrated and recently completed YA Urban Fantasy trilogy set in a gothic-dystopian post-climate-collapse Vancouver. Her short fiction has appeared in small press anthologies, genre magazines, and in translation for international audiences.

She’s also the President of the Children’s Writers and Illustrators of British Columbia society, co-founder of marketing and business services consultancy The Creative Collective, and a creative writing coach with the Creative Writing for Children society, and was recognized in the 2021 Arty Awards, taking first place in Literary Arts category.

 

Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest ~ Instagram ~ Goodreads

 

Giveaway

 

Enter to win a special edition hardback copy of Blind the Eyes: A Dystopian-Gothic YA Urban Fantasy (GRAND PRIZE) (one winner/USA only) or ebook copy K.A. Wiggins’ award-winning novel. (5 runner-up winners) (ends Dec 24)

 

BLIND THE EYE by KA Wiggins Book Tour Giveaway