Synopsis

 

How do you track down a killer when he has no face?

The corpse of a millionaire antique collector is found in New York on the eve of a major auction. The last thing he saw in the darkness, seconds before his grisly demise, was something that terrified him beyond imagination and was enough to end his life. But was it a man or was it a ghost?

Now detective Kevin Kris must draw on all of his considerable skills in what amounts to the most challenging case of his career, as he sets out to track a murderer who is known as The Man With No Face.

Capable of causing paralyzing fear and death just by his appearance, is the Man With No Face really the embodiment of an ancient Greek monster? And what is the connection between an ancient medallion and a secret project codenamed Chimera 68?

The fate of millions of people rely on just one man to solve an unfathomable riddle.

This cozy, fast-paced, who dunnit mystery is packed full of unexpected twists and turns that will leave you as breathless as Kris, as he tries to keep pace with a foe who is every bit his equal.

 

 

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Excerpt

 

“The inspector told me that my father went out at 11.30 p.m. and caught a cab to an unknown destination,” Edmund replied.

“Did the police tell you anything else?” asked Kris.

“Only that they found a single clue at the scene of the crime, and I don’t have any idea how it could have got there,” said Edmund, slowly. “There was a book on his chest.”

“What book?”

“Mythical Creatures of Ancient Greece. It was published in New York this year and was opened at the page on Chimera.”

“A monster with the head of a lion, the body of a goat and a serpent for a tail. The offspring of Typhon and Echidna that was slain by Bellerophon, at the command of King Iobates.” Kris nodded. “Was your father interested in Ancient Greek legends?”

“He didn’t know anything about them.” Edmund shook his head. “On the page it was open at, someone had made a simple, pencil sketch of a king on his throne, and some woman…”

 

 

About the Authors

 

Jake is digital marketer and fan of healthy, active lifestyle. He is keen on sport, cinema, books and self-development. Jake belives in power of positive thinking and phisical jerks.

Kate is a teacher. She loves cooking, growing plants, spending time with her family and her lovely pets.

Jake & Kate are creative duo. Besides writing fiction books they developed other creative projects like boardgame and journal for cinema lovers.

 

Website

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

“It is a dreadful thing to be possessed, to be invaded by a spirit woman who commands your body and soul and looks out at the world through your eyes. It happened to me in 1778. Pray it will never happen to you.”

Adele’s diary tells the story of her domination by an incubus Lynne, a serving girl in a London ale house who died a violent death and commandeered Adele’s body for eight years. Can Adele be held responsible for Lynne’s crimes? Will the evil spirit return and renew her tyranny over Adele’s mind?

Lynne has moved on into the 21st century, but the transmigration has left her emotions flat. Lynne is eager to go back to her first life and experience once more the passion she felt for her lover, Jack. To do so, she needs a channel to the past: the manuscript of Adele’s diary, if only she can find it.

A time-slip novel set in contemporary Los Angeles and 18th century London, The Loneliness of the Time Traveller is a story of love, crime, and adventure combined with fantasy, a little bit of Jane Austen-style irony, and a healthy serving of social criticism.

 

 

Amazon * Indiebound * Bookshop.org * Inanna Publications & Education

 

 

 

Praise

 

“This is a fast-paced page turner. A suspenseful, thrilling roller coaster ride with lots of twisty, loopy sections. Head Games is an apt title for this enthralling read. “- Joy Renee, Joy Story

“Identity’s a big theme in this work, so if you’ve ever felt you were someone other than yourself, if you thought you might like to try living in someone else’s skin, if you’ve wondered whether your friends and loved ones were not exactly who they claimed to be, then this psychological labyrinth might just be your winding road to a good read”.- Carole Giangrande, Words to Go

“This was a book that grabbed me from the start. It’s a period in history that offered much to the world but also had some of man’s darkest moments. Due to that it does provide rich material for a novelist and Ms. Rummel does an excellent job of taking her reader on a dangerous journey through the twists and turns of what many faced during the time. The characters are well developed and defined. The scenes are well described and I found myself feeling like I was actually walking the streets with the characters of the book.”-Patty, Books Cooks Looks

“To live during such tumultuous times would be horrible. You would have to be careful of every word that came out of your mouth. That might be easy when you are alert, but what about when you are so tired that you can’t even think? This book made me thankful that I was born in America in the 20th century. Any fan of riveting historical fiction will get lost in this book from page one.”-Lisa, Lisa’s Writopia

 

 

Excerpt

 

NOSTALGIA.  It started a week ago in New York, at a farewell party the Shearers gave me.  Maybe I should call it a good-riddance party because I wasn’t popular at Argus Investments. My success left a bitter taste in the mouths of my colleagues. Bitch! they said behind my back, but I caught them in the act. Bitch was hovering in the air.

Stockbrokers are realists. They believe in statistics, in calculable risks, in tangible facts. They don’t believe in telepathy and the ability to read a person’s mind. But that’s my forte. Thoughts are visible to me, whether they come out as words or remain tucked away in people’s minds. I see them swirling around their heads, little puffs of vapour merging with other people’s thoughts, turning into clusters, becoming trends.  I know what people think, about me, about currencies, about real estate, tar sands, copper mines, steel production, oil platforms. That’s how I made my money on the stock market, predicting the next big thing, spying on the thoughts of traders and investors, watching the aura of greed tremble in the air and build toward a boom, or the fears gather and burst the bubble. That’s how I knew it was the right time to leave Argus Investments and cash out. The market was at its peak. The downward slide started two days after I sold my holdings. The rancour among my former partners was palpable. They resented my perfect timing. I could see the question in their eyes, casting an opaque shadow: How the fuck did she know? It couldn’t have been pure luck.  She must have a hook-up. — I do. Reading people’s minds is my hook-up.

So the Shearers put themselves out and gave me a party. They thought it was a good investment.  I might be useful to them in future.  I could see the idea sticking up from Dan’s head like the crest of a Mohawk: Let’s keep on friendly terms with Lynne. She’s got connections. Smiles were painted on every face around the table and reflected in the gleaming silverware. Thoughts coiled around every head, wound tightly to prevent them from unravelling and turning into slippery words. It was a perfectly staged party. There were enough flowers for a wedding or a funeral. The caterers had planned the dinner to the last delicious detail, although gourmet food and vintage wines are wasted on this crowd. They are hungry only for stock market news.

“So what’s up next, Lynne?” Dan Shearer asked me.

The conversation around us stopped as people leaned in to hear my answer.

“Just moving on,” I said.

They thought it was a metaphor, as in: moving on to a new company, to new investments. No, I meant it literally, as in: transmigration. I suppose Dan Shearer would call that a hook-up, too.  If he believed in paranormal phenomena such as time travel and switching bodies.

When I reach the point of ennui, when success no longer keeps away boredom, I make my move. It’s a natural cycle. The current begins to flow in the right direction, the winds pick up, impatience runs in my veins like sap. It’s the season to slough off my old body and slip into a new skin, to enter new territory. I know the danger, but I can’t resist the call. Reading people’s minds and migrating into their bodies are, shall we say, related activities. One is only a brief incursion — a hit-and-run operation to prey on their thoughts. The other involves all-out war, a battle for total control, the permanent occupation of a foreign body. You become them. They become you. Timing is crucial in transmigration. The battle begins when the body’s owner has reached a low point and is ready to cede control to Death. That’s when I make my move and contest his take-over bid. It’s an operation that requires a high level of competence. I’ve honed my transmigration skills over more than two centuries and still can’t say that I’ve perfected the method. It’s always risky. You have to take into account a large number of variables when you challenge Death for control over a body. You have to time your entry exactly and strike with military precision. One mistake, and you are in a disaster zone. Death wins, you die. But there is glory in fighting Death, a poetic beauty in the glint of danger, the rush of blood, the terror of an uncertain fate, and in the end, the exhilaration of victory.  I’ve never lost a battle yet. I am a survivor.

“Not giving anything away?” Dan said and smiled a knowing smile.

I smiled back at him.

“Sorry, Dan, but that’s confidential for the time being.”

I don’t remember the rest of the conversation because my attention was arrested by a painting on the opposite wall. When Dan leaned forward to talk to me, it came into full view and hit me between the eyes – that’s what it felt like, a violent knock, someone demanding to get into my head. What I saw was a large white canvas. In the upper left corner was a tangle of green letters like graffiti marking gang territory. In the centre of the painting, a gash spurted tiny blood-red letters that said LA to NY, NY to LA. It looked like an itinerary, and I recognized the thing that had punched me in the head: nostalgia. I’d moved to New York from Los Angeles twelve years ago. Was I nostalgic for L.A., for a time when my interests were more genteel, when I studied history at UCLA and worked as an intern at the Clarkson Rare Book Library? Yes, those memories played into my nostalgia, but for some reason the painting on the wall had triggered a longing for something further back.  It was nostalgia for my first life, in London, two centuries ago. I wanted to go home. I wanted to see Jack again. For some inexplicable reason, when I looked at that painting, Jack’s name flared up in my brain, a lick of fire. I ran hot and cold. I could feel his mouth on mine, making me shiver with pleasure.  I could hear his voice in my ear, an urgent whisper making my heart beat faster: Come back, Lynne!

Perhaps the cliché is true, and you can’t go home again. In my travels I’ve always moved on.  I don’t know how to reverse the flow of time, or let’s say, I tried it once, in Los Angeles twelve years ago, and it didn’t work, but when I looked at that painting in Dan Shearer’s apartment, I made a decision: I’ll give it another try.  I’ll find a way to go back home to London, to my first life.

 

 

Guest Review by Nora

 

19^th century London. A world that is easy enough for some, but heinously difficult for others. This is the story of two young woman from different worlds that come together in a very unexpected way.

Lynne is a serving girl from the seedy side of the city. In love with a criminal, she is suddenly murdered one day by an enemy of her lover, Jack. Somehow, though, her spirit survives beyond death. You see, Lynne is what is called a ‘transmigrant.’ A spirit that is able to migrate between bodies to keep themselves alive.

Lynne is only able to enter bodies that are dying, and, as such, she finds a girl named Adele who is suffering from a life-threatening fever. Making herself right at home in Adele’s body, Lynne spends the next eight years slowing gaining control over the poor girl and ruining her life.

After Lynne leaves Adele to move onto someone else, the latter woman writes a memoir about her experiences with the body-snatching evil spirit. And, after centuries of spanning the globe, taking others lives and eventually moving on when she gets bored or the body loses it’s luster, Lynne finds herself desperate to return to Adele’s life—and she decides to use Adele’s original manuscript to do it.

Lynne believes that touching the words that Adele wrote will allow her to time travel back to the 19^th century, and she is willing to do whatever it takes to obtain the manuscript and test her theory.

Having read one of Erika Rummel’s books before, I’ve come to know her as a very talented author especially in respect to her ability to write historical scenes. The scenes that looked back at Adele’s life were some of my favorites in this book, and so well written that they momentarily made me forget I wasn’t reading a novel from that era.

This is Rummel’s first foray into science fiction and she hit a home run! I want to give this more stars, but I will have to settle for five, since that is the standard. Do not miss out on this captivating novel!

 

 

About the Author

 

Award winning author, Erika Rummel has taught history at the University of Toronto and Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo.

She divides her time between Toronto and Los Angeles and has lived in villages in Argentina, Romania, and Bulgaria.

She has published eight novels and more than a dozen books on social history of the Renaissance. A recipient of international fellowships and literary awards, she was honored in 2018 with a lifetime achievement award by the Renaissance Society of America.

 

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Giveaway

This giveaway is for 2 print copies and is open to Canada and the U.S. only.

This giveaway ends on October 8, 2022 midnight, pacific time.

Entries accepted via Rafflecopter only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

NYPD detective turned small town PI Laney Bird is in a fight to save lives—including her own—when an explosion of deadly violence at a block party exposes the crimes simmering underneath her neighborhood’s peaceful façade.

A transplant to the upstate New York hamlet of Sylvan, all Laney wants is a quiet life for herself and her son. But things rarely remain calm in Laney’s life.
When one neighbor, a Russian immigrant, is shot, and his Ukrainian wife disappears—along with Laney’s best friend—at her neighborhood summer block party, Laney will need all her skills as a PI to solve a mystery that reaches far beyond her small town.

As people closest to Laney fall under suspicion, the local authorities, and her colleagues, question her own complicity. And then there’s fifteen-year-old Alfie, her complicated, enigmatic son, obviously hiding something. Even as Laney struggles to bury evidence of her boy’s involvement, his cagey behavior rings every maternal alarm.

Laney’s personal life unravels as she’s drawn into her friend’s dark secrets, and she must ask herself: how far would a wife and mother go to keep her family from ruin? One woman’s desperation is another’s downfall, and with treachery blazing hot as the searing summer sun, Laney realizes she and Alfie are in danger and she must fight to save lives, her own and her son’s included.

 

* Starred PW Review, December 2021

 

 

 

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Review

 

This is the second in a series about Laney Bird; a retired police detective turned PI in a small town in New York. The cast of characters is back from the first book, but we find that her best friend Holly has a more significant role in this novel. The story is told from Laney and Holly’s points of view, and while they are doing different things, their stories intersect near the end, bringing everything together. The story also flips in time between April and July of the same year. It is essential to share the events in April since it will help the current-day events make more sense.

While we don’t see Alfie quite as much in this book compared to the first one, he still plays a vital role with a new friend and her impact on the situation at hand. There is also a new potential romance for Laney with one of her coworkers, Jack. Actually, Jack is the son of the owner of the PI firm, but that doesn’t seem to bother him.

Multiple storylines are happening, not just between Laney and Holly, but other characters that impact both of them. I enjoyed trying to figure out what certain characters were up to and how Laney was able to make some educated guesses and ended up in the right place to find the details she needed to prove her suppositions.

I was a bit disappointed with some of Holly’s actions, and I’m not sure how she could have taken out a mortgage on her home by forging her husband’s signature. Usually, things like that are notarized. I also couldn’t believe her brother’s let her keep giving them money to support their lives. Granted, one had cancer, but this had been going on for years. I think it was guilt from her childhood that caused her to act this way. But in the end, she could recognize her issues and move forward.

Laney was a bit calmer in this book, but I suppose since it wasn’t her son that was missing, she could think a bit more rationally.

I enjoyed this book more than the first one, and you don’t have to read the first book to enjoy this story. It does give you a little more insight into Laney and her capabilities.

We give it 4 1/2 paws.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Emilya Naymark is the author of the novels Hide in Place and Behind the Lie.

Her short stories appear in A Stranger Comes to Town, edited by Michael Koryta, Secrets in the Water, After Midnight: Tales from the Graveyard Shift, River River Journal, Snowbound: Best New England Crime Stories 2017, and 1+30: THE BEST OF MYSTORY.

When not writing, Emilya works as a visual artist and reads massive quantities of psychological thrillers, suspense, and crime fiction. She lives in the Hudson Valley with her family.

 

Website * Facebook * FB Author Page * Twitter * Instagram

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

She left the NYPD in the firestorm of a high-profile case gone horribly wrong. Three years later, the ghosts of her past roar back to terrifying life.

When NYPD undercover cop Laney Bird’s cover is blown in a racketeering case against the Russian mob, she flees the city with her troubled son, Alfie. Now, three years later, she’s found the perfect haven in Sylvan, a charming town in upstate New York. But then the unthinkable happens: her boy vanishes.

Local law enforcement dismisses the thirteen-year-old as a runaway, but Laney knows better. Alfie would never abandon his special routines and the sanctuary of their home. Could he have been kidnapped–or worse? As a February snowstorm rips through the region, Laney is forced to launch her own investigation, using every trick she learned in her years undercover.

As she digs deeper into the disappearance, Laney learns that Alfie and a friend had been meeting with an older man who himself vanished, but not before leaving a corpse in his garage. With dawning horror, Laney discovers that the man was a confidential informant from a high-profile case she had handled in the past. Although he had never known her real identity, he knows it now. Which means several other enemies do, too. Time is running out, and as Laney’s search for her son grows more desperate, everything depends on how good a detective she really is–badge or no..

 

CrimeReads Notable Debut 2021

Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award Finalist

 

 

 

Amazon * Barnes&Noble * Indie Bound * Book Depository

 

 

Review

 

I always enjoy a psychological thriller, but I’m not sure what that says about me! In this new series, Laney and her son move to a small town in NY to escape her involvement in undercover work in NYC, trying to bust some drug dealers. There are other issues, too, including her husband leaving her because he doesn’t want to take care of their child anymore. We see that Alfie has some issues, but it is sad to see a parent decide they don’t want to parent anymore. So Laney does what she thinks is best to raise Alfie in a safe environment. However, what town is truly safe, especially when it comes to teenagers? When Alfie disappears, Laney goes off the deep end and decides that no one can do as good of a job finding him as she can. While there is some truth to her words, I felt she was somewhat manic when speaking to people and tracking down clues. Granted, she gets the job done, but at what cost?

The story does flip back and forth in time so that we can understand what she was doing as an undercover cop and what impact that has on the present day’s incidents. You might get an inkling about her partner and that perhaps he isn’t who he appears to be.

We also meet Laney’s best friend, perhaps only friend, Holly. I think Holly gets involved for the adventure until that backfires on her, but sometimes you do need to shake up your life. I liked that Holly wasn’t afraid to jump into situations and at least be there to support Laney.

I thought that Laney should have been more accepting of the police helping her find Alfie. Sometimes small-town police don’t take everything seriously, but I think one officer did despite her impetuous actions. But her actions might have caused more problems despite the results she achieved.

While I had a feeling where this book was going, it still kept me engaged, and the ending sets up the next book or at least a portion of it. That book is next on my list to read, so look for a review in a few days.

Overall, a suspenseful book, and we give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Emilya Naymark is the author of the novels Hide in Place and Behind the Lie.

Her short stories appear in A Stranger Comes to Town, edited by Michael Koryta, Secrets in the Water, After Midnight: Tales from the Graveyard Shift, River River Journal, Snowbound: Best New England Crime Stories 2017, and 1+30: THE BEST OF MYSTORY.

When not writing, Emilya works as a visual artist and reads massive quantities of psychological thrillers, suspense, and crime fiction. She lives in the Hudson Valley with her family.

 

Website * Facebook * FB Author Page * Twitter * Instagram

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

A disgraced attorney seeking redemption. A single mother desperate to regain custody of her son. Two women willing to risk it all to put a sexual predator behind bars.

 

Former Assistant District Attorney Miranda Quinn is on the brink of a career comeback when she gets a phone call. It’s a witness who disappeared three years earlier, resulting in a violent criminal going free. Miranda was fired as a result, but the witness has resurfaced with a shocking story, one that implicates Miranda and her ex, defense attorney Adam Baxter. And now, there’s a new victim.

Miranda’s legal advice blog-turned-podcast Miranda Writes is about to become a daytime TV show, but the negative press could destroy her credibility. Will the network stand behind her?

When it comes to the law, Miranda has all the answers, but the questions are getting harder and the stakes are getting higher. The dangerous web of lies and cover-ups she exposes leaves her questioning just how much she is willing to risk. She has the right to remain silent, but needs to speak up… doesn’t she?

 

Miranda Writes is a story of how far we’ll go to protect those we love and the power of second chances.

 

 

Amazon * B&N

 

 

Review

 

Mix romance, a little suspense, and quick wit, and you get Miranda Writes.

I was hooked on this book from the get go. Miranda is a lawyer who was somewhat disgraced when she worked for the ADA’s office. She moved to writing a blog and doing a podcast to address legal scenarios, which made her happy. Now, she has been signed by a broadcasting company to do a live show, and she is beyond thrilled. However, the case that threw a wrench into her life has circled back around, and Miranda is in the middle of things, but not necessarily in a good way.

I enjoyed this fast-paced novel that had me wondering who was involved in the coverup from years ago, who was terrorizing Miranda, and would she overcome everything that was being thrown at her. I was quite surprised at different turns of events as Miranda learned the truth about what happened three years ago. While I sympathized with Miranda, some of her actions didn’t make much sense. Everything hinges on one witness, yet when she doesn’t respond, she doesn’t go find out what happened to her. And when she meets a new guy, Eric, she practically falls into bed with him the first moment they are alone. So, while I enjoyed the storyline and uncovering the truth, Miranda’s actions at times were puzzling, to say the least.

There are some twists that I didn’t expect that just added to the depth of the story. I liked that several people got what was coming to them, and they were brought to justice.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Gail Ward Olmsted was a marketing executive and a college professor before she began writing fiction on a fulltime basis. A trip to Sedona, AZ inspired her first novel Jeep Tour. After three more novels: Driving on the Left, Guessing at Normal and Second Guessing, she began Landscape of a Marriage, a biographical work of fiction featuring landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, a distant cousin of her husband’s, and his wife Mary. Her latest, Miranda Writes, is a contemporary novel with a legal twist. She loves writing about quirky, wonderful women in search of a second chance at a happy ever after.

 

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Synopsis

 

His time is now …

 

London, 1966

 

Fear grips the capital when a second ritualistically murdered victim is found in an alleyway — with their heart removed.

With no leads or motive, DCS Kendall Quincy is under intense pressure to find the sadistic killer before a third victim is claimed.

Out of luck Randolph Landon — disillusioned with his life as a private investigator and separated from his family, soon becomes embroiled with his biggest, challenging, and most terrifying case to date. The case leads him down a sinister road to a chilling discovery like no other, so that he regrets grumbling about his lack of work and misfortune …

 

 

 

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About the Author

 

Alan Golbourn was born in Essex, England. He has enjoyed writing stories since a young age when he was recognized early for his writing abilities. Amongst several interests and hobbies, including football and computer games, he holds love and compassion for animals.

 

Goodreads

 

 

Synopsis

 

The O’Malleys are doing what? How is it possible that dangerous complications arise from their simple vacation in wine country? With their recent move to South Whidbey Island, only the O’Malley’s would stumble upon drug smugglers, embezzlers, and murderers amongst the locals. The quirky, pastoral island, reachable by a less than speedy ferry from Mukilteo or the narrow, deteriorating Deception Pass bridge, is no match for the wicked men about to visit.

A notorious drug lord and a nondescript enforcer with freakish hell-raising skills invade the peaceful Pacific Northwest island—where not even the friendly locales and free-roaming long-eared rabbits can soften his homicidal heart.

Weeding through the facts and surprisingly connected characters with their trusted friend, Bellevue Detective Bill Owens, the narrative swirls from Mexico to Canada and throughout Puget Sound. It’s a heart-racing and outrageously offbeat adventure for two innocent people, proving once again that trouble will find the O’Malleys without the slightest amount of effort on their part.

 

 

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Read for Free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

Excerpt

 

One

 

“Kevin, Jenne, wow what are you two doing here?”

Robbie Burns had surprised Kevin and Jenne O’Malley as they were seated at the bar, killing time while waiting for their room to be made up.

“Mick, hey, what a stunner seeing you here.” Although slightly less than enthusiastic, Kevin’s tone seemed to escape Burns’ notice.

`    “The U.S. sales division brought all the leading dealerships here for a sales meeting. I’ve never been here, but man, this is spectacular. How about you two?”

Even though the O’Malleys had stayed at the lodge a few times in the past, Kevin was reluctant to get into anything other than a cool hello with this fellow, even though they were casual acquaintances from their membership at the same golf club.  “We’re here for a few days just to relax and visit a few wineries. Hope you have fun, we’re just heading over to reception to pick up our room keys. Maybe we’ll see you later.”

The two interior designers quickly made for the exit and set out for the quaint bungalow that housed the reception area. “Kinda, gave Mick the bum’s rush, eh Kev?”

“Yeah, well we’re here to unwind and the less I have to deal with that asshole the more relaxed I’m going to be.”

“Just because we stopped working for him on that barn out in Carnation doesn’t mean he’s a bad guy.” Jenne was slightly less critical of the man.

“I’m not saying he’s bad or evil. I just think he’s a pompous ass, very enamored with himself, and I rather not be around him.” Kevin, on the other hand, was less inclined to be subtle about these things.

They strode up to the reception table where Aaron was looking expectantly at them. They knew it was Aaron because his name tag said it was. The lodge was comprised of forty or so separate bungalows, each a duplex, spread over a magnificent valley with sumptuous views.

“Mr. and Mrs. O’Malley, your room is ready for you now. Would you like two keys?”

“Aaron, my man, can I ask you a question about another guest? It’s not that I’m prying, I just don’t like the guy and I don’t want our cottage to be anywhere near his. I understand you have privacy rules but we’re here to relax, and he’s not very relaxing.”

The Lodge didn’t get to be exclusive without being attentive to their guests. The staff was trained to serve, above all else.

“I understand sir, what’s the guest’s name?”

“It’s Burns, Robbie Burns.”

Aaron looked up from his screen with a pleased smile and said, “Not to worry Mr. O’Malley. He and his associates are at the far end of the property. You’re safe.”

With Aaron’s assurance that all would be well, they hopped a shuttle to their Napa-style cabin, their home for three nights.

The drive to the wine country was always relaxing. Seven hours to Ashland, OR to spend the night and break up the drive, and then only four hours or so to the epicenter of winemaking in the United States.

Staying at the famous, and very expensive Meadowlark Lodge in Rutherford, the O’Malleys had looked forward to four days of decompressing. It had been a bizarre year to say the least.

Their Bellevue Washington-based interior design firm had more business than they could handle at the moment. Their involvement in a white separatist terrorist attack at Kelsey Creek Country Club had been at the forefront of the national news for the last twelve months, the resulting unsolicited publicity a windfall to their practice.

After arriving at a lovely cottage on the hillside overlooking the valley, they unloaded their things, then sat on the deck and inhaled the fragrant lavender-filled air.

“Finally,” Jenne commented, “It feels great just to sit and listen to absolutely nothing.”

“I’m pretty sure there’s a golf tournament on, we could see who’s in the lead.” Kevin was a big fan of the sport and rarely missed an opportunity to indulge himself with some prime Golf Channel viewing.

“You turn that thing on, and you’ll be having sex with yourself the next three nights.”  Jenne – pronounced “Jenny” – was less enthusiastic about the game and apparently was enjoying the “quiet time”.

“Okay, well, you put it that way then hell, I don’t need no stinkin’ TV.” Kevin needed only to be told once that the penalty for interrupting their silence was this severe. Three days in this beautiful place with no frolicking in the sheets was not an option.

After a half hour of basking in the autumn sun on a cloudless October afternoon, Jenne was ready to leisurely stroll up to the main lodge building for the daily wine tasting.

While the lodge was world famous for their hospitality, its owner was world famous for his cult wines, offered at enormous prices. The everyday tastings were of excellent producers from Napa Valley and were accompanied by appetizers.

As the couple entered the foyer of the lodge they were greeted by George Harmon, the owner of the place. He felt it was his duty to occasionally show up at these social gatherings to welcome the guests.

“Mr. and Mrs. O’Malley, welcome back and thanks for visiting us again.” Kevin had to hand it to the man, he knew his business. They had been here two years ago, so it took some effort on the owner’s part to research the current crop of visitors.

“Thanks, George, we love coming here. It’s got to be the most beautiful place in this part of the country.” That Jenne, Kevin thought, she really knew how to suck up to a potential client.

           “I agree,” chimed in Kevin, “You also do a wonderful job with your staff, they always make us feel welcome.” If Jenne could suck up then Kevin wasn’t going to be far behind. Much of the O’Malleys’ work was in the hospitality segment and they were always on the lookout for marketing opportunities.

Kevin caught the immediate eyeroll from his wife and took the cue to dial back the schmooze level. He considered himself among the luckiest men alive to have Jenne for his wife and he still wasn’t certain what she saw in him.

Kevin, in his mid-fifties, and Jenne, five years younger, had been married for seven years. Strangely, it felt both old and new at the same time. Because of their design firm, they were together almost constantly, though he never tired of it.

Her stylish gray hair framed a beautiful olive complexioned face, which was only enhanced by her wide-set hazel eyes. Avid hiking and a dedicated workout routine kept her physique in better shape than women ten years her junior. Yes, Kevin concluded, he was a very lucky man.

“So what do the two of you have planned for the next few days?” Even though it seemed Harmon’s question was perfunctory, his apparent sincerity was appreciated.

“We’ll visit a few wineries, do a little hiking and just kick back. We might even play nine on your executive course.” Kevin had played the little nine-hole course here at the lodge the last time they visited and, although small in scale, it was still a hoot to play.

“If you don’t already have appointments, perhaps our concierge can set up a few things for you. There are several very small producers nearby that make fabulous wine. Because they are boutique places, smaller than a few thousand cases, most people haven’t heard of them. Most of their production is sold to upscale restaurants but you can still purchase from many of them.”

“Geez, George, that would be terrific. Who should we talk to?” Jenne was never shy about leading the way.

“I’ll take care of everything. We’ll even have our car and driver shuttle you around to insure you can enjoy yourselves without any concern about directions or driving after tasting.”

Kevin wasn’t certain why Harmon was being so solicitous but he sure as hell wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth. “That’s very kind of you, George, we really appreciate it.”

After they confirmed the following day’s agenda they headed back to their cottage. Rather than eat at the restaurant, Jenne suggested room service and a nice Oakville cabernet to celebrate their first night.

Kevin was secretly hoping that the festivities would further continue in the bedroom, but he knew better than to suggest the dessert items just yet. He was thinking those things always seemed to work out better if he didn’t do the planning.

The lodge was sandwiched between two steep hillsides, making for a cozy, quiet retreat from the hustle and bustle of the real world. On this clear, moonless evening, with the temperature dipping into the forties, the climb up the gentle slope to their cabin was refreshing.

The footpath, illuminated by pools of subtle, garden lighting meandered through sweet-smelling pines, lavender and clumps of feather grass. Rounding the last turn just short of their rooms, they looked up to a darkened porch leading to their entry door. The only other cottages they could see had their porch lights on.

“Looks like our light is burned out, not something you usually see at this place with all their attention to detail.” Kevin wasn’t overly concerned given the security of the resort.

“Kev looks like the door isn’t closed all the way. I’m pretty sure I closed and locked it when we left.”

“Maybe housekeeping left it that way when they did their turndown service.” Kevin’s suggestion sounded more hopeful than reassuring. The Meadowlark just did not make mistakes like this.

“Jenne, stay here for a minute and let me take a look first.” Kevin stepped up to the porch, reached inside to find the light switch, and flipped it on. Immediately the landing was brightly lit. “I guess the light works, it just wasn’t turned on.”

“You’d think housekeeping would know better.” Jenne was happy just to write it off as a mistake, perhaps a new employee on the staff.

“Yeah, maybe. Hold on a sec until I get the lights on in here.” As he stepped inside, Kevin flicked the rest of the toggle switches up, bathing the simply but elegantly designed interior in soft, efficient lighting.

The cottage was comprised of a foyer/living room area with a wood burning fireplace which connected to a bedroom, furnished with a king-sized bed, completed with Frette linens. Carrera marble and white subway tiles were the finishes of choice in the spa-like adjacent bath.

Normally Kevin would have relaxed at the sheer comfort of the place. Unfortunately, the sight of Robbie Burns’ limp body lying at the foot of the turned down bed and the deep red blood stains on the lavish Frette linens was going to curtail the planned activities he had counted on for the evening.

 

 

About the Author

 

Ted Mulcahey has lived throughout the US the past 35 years in the Pacific Northwest. He’s an Army vet, sales and marketing VP, entrepreneur, business owner, avid reader, one of nine children, a former caddie, and lover of dogs and golf. The last twenty-five years were spent in partnership with his wife Patte, as the owners of a highly respected and published hospitality interior design firm in the Seattle Area. They’re now living on Whidbey Island and enjoying its rural bliss.

Ted writes about things he’s seen and places he’s been. He tries to incorporate personality traits of people he’s known into his fictional characters, although none of them exist in reality. Many of the locations are real, but the names have been changed.

 

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Synopsis

 

From the author of My Sweet Girl comes a dangerously addictive new thriller about a lavish Sri Lankan wedding celebration that not everyone will survive.

When Amaya is invited to Kaavi’s over-the-top wedding in Sri Lanka, she is surprised and a little hurt to hear from her former best friend after so many years of radio silence. But when Amaya learns that the groom is her very own ex-boyfriend, she is consumed by a single thought: She must stop the wedding from happening, no matter the cost.

But as the weeklong wedding celebrations begin and rumors about Amaya’s past begin to swirl, she can’t help but feel like she also has a target on her back. When Kaavi goes missing and is presumed dead, all evidence points to Amaya.

However, nothing is as it seems as Jayatissa expertly unravels that each wedding guest has their own dark secret and agenda, and Amaya may not be the only one with a plan to keep the bride from getting her happily ever after…

 

 

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Excerpt

 

Amaya

Morning of the Wedding

 

I woke up with bruised knuckles and blood under my fingernails, more rested than I have been in years. I guess this is who I am now. The kind of person who would finally get a good night’s sleep after attacking someone else. The kind of woman who would fly halfway around the world to stop my ex-best friend from marrying my ex-boyfriend. If that’s one too many exes for you, well, it certainly is for me. But I’m also the kind of woman who does whatever it takes, so here I am.

I opened the sliding door that led out onto the small balcony attached to my room at the Mount Lavinia Hotel. It overlooked the expansive private beach, which was deserted.

Of course it was. It was too early in the day for anyone to be out there. Maybe later on, but then again, who knows how things will pan out? The wedding would definitely be canceled now. The guests would all shuffle home, dispirited and upset. Or maybe they wouldn’t. Maybe they would just be grateful for the all-expenses-paid weekend, and take advantage of the beautiful beach and open bar. They would definitely mull around, gossiping and curious about what transpired. Aunties would have their own theories, no doubt, and phones will light up with messages about what happened to the unfortunate bride, Kaavindi Fonseka. This is Colombo after all.

It flickered in my stomach then-the first flutter of nervousness. I knew I couldn’t keep it away for long. It had been a simple plan, of course. But like all simple plans, it could be quite complicated unless you teased everything out. Laid everything bare. And like all simple plans, it had the potential to go very, very wrong.

I watched the waves swell and bounce and crash and forgive. The fishing boats were already well on their way out to sea, and a few birds circled the ocean in the distance. Keeping my eyes on the horizon, I took a deep breath and counted to five.

Then exhaled.

My hands were steady on my cup of tea, but a fleck of dried blood had made its way onto the clean white ceramic. I’d better take a shower. Today was a big day for me. Perhaps even more so than yesterday. So much depended on what I did next.

I stepped into the bathroom and made the water as hot as it would go. It felt like a betrayal, washing the last bits of yesterday off me. Knowing she was gone, as I watched the water swirl down the drain. But I went through all the motions, still nervous but also feeling, for the first time in a very long time, that I belonged to myself. That things just might be okay. That I was finally vindicated of everything that happened five years ago.

I shampooed my hair, conditioned it, slathered on soap that smelled like jasmine all over my body.

Deep breath in, Amaya. Now count to five. Let it out slowly. Just like Dr. Dunn said.

It was over. After so many years, I could finally let it go.

Steam clouded around me as I dried and then dressed myself. My small overnight bag was already packed, ready for me to make my exit. My passport was at home, with the rest of my luggage. The flight back to LA wasn’t until tomorrow morning, but I could last till then.

I checked the time-6:36 a.m. A pattern. A lucky number. Thank goodness. I felt some of the tension leave my shoulders.

I’ll wait until 7:00 a.m. to check out. 7:07 a.m., if I could manage it. I couldn’t afford to look suspicious. After all, who checks out of a five-star hotel at the crack of dawn unless it’s some sort of emergency? I didn’t want to draw attention to myself now. I couldn’t leave anything up to chance.

I busied myself by giving the room a once-over-making sure I hadn’t left my charger plugged in and forgotten, or left anything hanging behind the bathroom door. There was a T-shirt in a plastic shopping bag that I kept near my purse, waiting to be thrown out on the taxi ride home. It was always better to be safe. I sat down, phone in hand, watching the numbers on the clock tick their way toward when I could leave.

The rap on my door came at 6:51 a.m., ricocheting through my quiet room, lodging itself deep in my heart.

Who would knock on my door now?

It didn’t make any sense.

I hesitated a moment.

The second rap sounded more urgent.

“Miss Bloom, this is Alistair Ferdinand, the hotel manager. Sorry to disturb you. Could we have a moment, please?”

The manager?

Well, at least it wasn’t the police. They’d come later. I hoped to be gone by then.

I took another deep breath and cracked open the door.

“Yes?” I tried to keep the tremble out of my voice. I knew it even before he said anything. I could feel it in my bones-the writhing. The inherent sense that things were about to go very, very wrong.

“Miss Bloom, my apologies for this, but we have to search your room.”

“Search my room?”

But he was pushed aside by someone as she barreled her way inside.

“Where is she?” Her voice was shrill.

“Tehani? What are you doing here? What’s going on?” My voice was a whimper. An embarrassing contrast against hers.

“Oh f* off, like you don’t know.”

“I-I don’t understand.” I swallowed. This wasn’t what was supposed to happen.

“I’m sorry, ma’am.” The manager stepped in. “We have been instructed to search all rooms immediately. It appears that one of our guests has gone missing.”

 

 

About the Author

 

Amanda Jayatissa grew up in Sri Lanka, completed her undergrad at Mills College, CA, and lived in the UK before moving back to her sunny little island. She works as a corporate trainer, owns a chain of cookie stores, and is a proud dog-mum to her two spoiled huskies.

 

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Synopsis

 

Liv Reese wakes up in the back of a taxi with no idea where she is or how she got there. When she’s dropped off at the door of her brownstone, a stranger answers―a stranger who now lives in her apartment and forces her out in the cold. She reaches for her phone to call for help, only to discover it’s missing, and in its place is a bloodstained knife. That’s when she sees that her hands are covered in black pen, scribbled messages like graffiti on her skin: STAY AWAKE.

Two years ago, Liv was living with her best friend, dating a new man, and thriving as a successful writer for a trendy magazine. Now, she’s lost and disoriented in a New York City that looks nothing like what she remembers. Catching a glimpse of the local news, she’s horrified to see reports of a crime scene where the victim’s blood has been used to scrawl a message across a window, the same message that’s inked on her hands. What did she do last night? And why does she remember nothing from the past two years? Liv finds herself on the run for a crime she doesn’t remember committing as she tries to piece together the fragments of her life. But there’s someone who does know exactly what she did, and they’ll do anything to make her forget―permanently.

In the vein of SJ Watson’s Before I Go to Sleep and Christopher Nolan’s cult classic Memento, Megan Goldin’s Stay Awake is an electrifying novel that plays with memory and murder.

 

 

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Review

 

I have been a fan of this author since The Escape Room. I enjoyed her second book, The Night Swim, as well. So when I saw she had a new book coming out, I knew I had to get my hands on it to read. This book did not disappoint, and I think it is my 2nd favorite after The Escape Room.

In this psychological thriller, we meet Liv, who cannot remember anything if she falls asleep. To combat this rare type of amnesia, she ingests a lot of caffeine and other products to keep her away, a sort of forced insomnia. However, her body will force her to fall asleep, and she awakens with no memory of how she got somewhere. She also thinks it is 2 years in the past and is searching for her roommate, Amy, and her boyfriend, Marco. But at the same time, there are forces working against her, and the police are close to honing in on her after discovering a dead body and some incriminating evidence against her…or is it?

This story is told from two different timelines, current day and two years ago, right before Liv lost her memory. The back and forth kept me riveted to the book, which was hard for me to put down. I kept trying to figure out who the villain was and if Liv was crazy or not. I suspected one character but was far off base…I think there was something with this character, but it is never answered or resolved. There were a few surprises, but some earlier scenes led me to believe that certain events had happened, but there was never any definitive proof.

I really liked Detective Darcy Halliday and her approach to deciphering the clues and not assuming that Liz was a killer. She was very methodical but also not afraid to put it all on the line when necessary. I felt bad for Liv because she couldn’t remember anything and wrote notes on her arms but couldn’t remember what the note was for or if she could trust what was written. Plus, she couldn’t get any answers for the missing 2 years, but some were trying to help her and looked out for her knowing that she couldn’t remember.

While there are things that aren’t realistic, such as Liz consuming lots of caffeine but never having to go the bathroom, it still was a fantastic read.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Megan Goldin was a journalist before she became a writer. She reported from the Middle East for the Associated Press, Reuters, the (Australian) ABC, and other news outlets. She worked in Asia as a reporter and editor for Reuters and Yahoo.

 

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Synopsis

 

Discover New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Karen Rose’s brand-new series set in the sultry, crime-ridden city of New Orleans and featuring a tough team of high-end private investigators who are after justice–no matter what they have to do to get it.

There are good cops. And there are bad cops. The question is…who wins?

After completing her tours with the Marines in Iraq, Molly Sutton knew she could take down any bad guy she met. But when her law enforcement agency in North Carolina turned against her, she joined up with her former CO Burke Broussard, who left New Orleans PD to set up a private investigative service for people who couldn’t find justice elsewhere.

Gabe Hebert saw the toll that working for the NOPD took on his dad and decided instead to make a name for himself as one of the best young chefs in the French Quarter. But when his father’s death is ruled a suicide after a deliberately botched investigation by his former captain, Gabe knows his dad stumbled onto a truth that someone wants silenced.

Gabe goes to his father’s best friend, Burke, for help. Burke assigns the toughest member of his team, Molly, to the case. Molly can’t believe she’s being asked to work with the smoking hot chef whose chocolate cake is not the only thing that makes her mouth water. Sparks fly as they follow the leads Gabe’s dad left them, unraveling a web of crimes, corruption, and murder that runs all the way to the top.

 

 

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Excerpt

 

Molly looked up to find her boss standing in his office doorway. Burke Broussard was in his midforties and, other than a few silver hairs at his temples, hadn’t changed a bit since he’d been her CO in the Marines a decade before. “Morning, Burke. I brought you coffee, too.” She held up the cup.

“Thank the good Lord for that,” he said fervently. “I’ve been here since six.”

Molly shuddered in mostly mock horror. “Why?” She’d left rising with the sun behind when she’d finished her final tour with the Marine Corps. Burke, however, had a love-hate relationship with mornings. He said he hated them, but he continued coming in earlier and earlier. The man was a fool.

He was also smart as hell, driven to succeed, compassionate, and generous to a fault. But a morning fool.

“Come into my office,” he said. “I have a new client you should meet.”

Joy’s eyes widened further, and she maneuvered her wheelchair so that she could unabashedly watch Molly walk into Burke’s office.

And Molly immediately understood why.

Sitting in the chair at Burke’s conference table was none other than Gabriel Hebert, Choux chef extraordinaire. He looked tired and tense and very unhappy.

She wondered if he’d been so unhappy the night before. He had looked tired, but not this unhappy. Of course, he might be one of those people who could put on the face they wished the world to see.

“Molly, this is Mr. Hebert. Gabe, this is Miss Sutton. I’m going to assign her to your case.”

Molly’s brows shot up. What?

Gabe’s brows shot up as well, then crunched together in a disgruntled frown. “What? You’re handing me off?” He came to his feet. “What the hell, Burke?”

The two men faced off, and they couldn’t have appeared more physically different. Burke’s skin was olive toned, his deep tan a testament to all the road biking he did in his spare time. Gabe was so lightly tanned that she might still call him pale. And, like a lot of redheads, he had a smattering of freckles across his nose.

She’d always wanted to trace those freckles with her fingertips. She’d wondered where else he had them.

Both men were tall, but Burke’s body was bulky where Gabe’s was lean. Molly loved to watch Gabe move. When he was cooking in his restaurant’s kitchen, it was like watching a choreographed dance.

Only their accents were similar-both speaking with that smooth New Orleans drawl that sounded like hot summer nights with jazz music thick in the air. Except that Gabe’s voice made her shiver, when Burke’s never had.

She probably shouldn’t have shivered at all, considering how angry he seemed, but her body couldn’t help how it reacted. Sue me.

Burke waved at him to be seated. “I’m too close, Gabe. Your father . . . he was important to me, too. He was my partner. I had his back, and he had mine. Whatever else went down when I was on the force, I knew your father would stand by me, and he did. I don’t know that I’d be able to keep an open mind.”

Gabe did not sit down, his frown deepening to something almost dangerous. “Open to what?” he asked, each word dripping with anger and warning.

“The truth,” Burke said simply. “Whatever it might be. Molly’s my right hand. She will not let you down. Now, please, have a seat. If, after you’ve talked with her, you want someone else, we’ll figure it out. Don’t worry. You can depend on her discretion, no matter who you choose to work your case.”

Gabe released a harsh breath. “Okay.” He sat, then shifted his gaze to Molly, who still stood in the doorway, having not moved a muscle. He did a double take. “Do I know . . .” He trailed off. “Right. Last night. Happy birthday, Miss Sutton.”

Burke looked between them, his expression suddenly unhappy. “You two know each other?”

“No,” Gabe said.

“No,” Molly said at the same time. “I’ve been to his restaurant a few times, that’s all. The girls took me there last night for my birthday. I brought you some cake,” she added lamely. “It’s in the fridge in the break room.”

“Thank you, Molly.” Clearly relieved, Burke gestured to one of the empty chairs at the table. “Join us. As I’m sure you’ve figured out, this case requires extreme discretion.”

Molly nodded. “I understand. Mr. Hebert, if you decide I’m not the best fit, there will be no hard feelings. But should you choose to work with me, I’ll do my very best.”

Gabe’s shoulders slumped, his exhaustion clear to see. “I appreciate that.” He swallowed hard. “I need to find out who killed my father.”

Molly glanced at Burke. “Are the police involved?”

Gabe’s laugh was bitter. “Most likely, yes.”

Burke sighed. “What he means is, someone in law enforcement might be complicit. Or responsible.”

Molly sat back, wishing she was surprised. “All right, then. Let me have it.”

 

 

Review

 

Corruption knows no bounds.

In this new novel by Karen Rose, she drags us into the seedy underbelly of New Orleans and the corruption that reigns through multiple entities, and you never know who you can trust and still stay alive. The action doesn’t stop in this book, and while the time frame that it covers for a majority of the book is only a few days (a week at the most), I was worn out by the time all was said and done. My emotions were pushed and pulled in every direction, and I was dragged into this story kicking and screaming. Ok, not really, but the intensity is not for the faint of heart.

While we know the players that are wreaking havoc, we don’t really know who everyone is since some have nicknames. But you have to know that the corruption runs deep and high up the food chain of the police department and politicians. Gabe hires Burke Broussard’s PI firm to find out what happened to his father when an independent autopsy reveals foul play. This brings Molly Sutton into his orbit, and it is instant chemistry. Granted, they know of each other from his restaurant, but this is the first time they are properly introduced. From here on, it is a battle to keep their feelings low-key until this situation is sorted out. That doesn’t last too long, and there are some romantic interludes between the two, with other characters smirking throughout at their behavior. Despite Gabe’s career as a chef, he can hold his own when it comes to helping track down the culprits and discovering the truth.

There are so many characters you might need a playbook to follow along. However, it won’t take long to get into the book’s rhythm and keep track of everyone involved. At least, I could remember almost everyone and whether they were good or bad.

Outside of the action, there is levity, humor, romance, and suspense. As clues were unearthed, I started putting the pieces together but never would have guessed some of the answers that were revealed in the end. I missed a big clue regarding Lamont, but it isn’t surprising when I look back at how certain things are handled or portrayed. I was shocked at what some of the characters were capable of doing, but I really shouldn’t be, considering how crazy this world is these days.

I don’t know if this will be a series, but I wouldn’t mind taking a trip back to New Orleans with these characters. I would like to learn more about Val, a minor character because she sounds fascinating.

We give this book 4 paws up. It is a long book at a little over 600 pages, but I can’t think of much that could have been cut to trim down the length. Every scene was needed to move the story forward.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Internationally bestselling, RITA-award winning, author Karen Rose was born and raised in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC. She met her husband, Martin, on a blind date when they were seventeen and after they both graduated from the University of Maryland, (Karen with a degree in Chemical Engineering) they moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. Karen worked as an engineer for a large consumer goods company, earning two patents, but as Karen says, “scenes were roiling in my head and I couldn’t concentrate on my job so I started writing them down. I started out writing for fun, and soon found I was hooked.”

Her debut suspense novel, DON’T TELL, was released in July, 2003. Since then, she has published fifteen more novels and two novellas. Her seventeenth novel, ALONE IN THE DARK, will be released in 2016.

Karen’s books have appeared on the bestseller lists of the New York Times, USA Today, London’s Sunday Times, and Germany’s der Spiegel (#1), and the Irish Times, as well as lists in South Africa (#1) and Australia!

Her novels, I’M WATCHING YOU and SILENT SCREAM, received the Romance Writers of America’s RITA award for Best Romantic Suspense for 2005 and 2011. Five of her other books have been RITA finalists. To date, her books have been translated into twenty-four languages.

A former high school teacher of chemistry and physics, Karen lives in Florida with her husband of more than twenty years, her two daughters, two dogs, and a cat.

 

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