A Tail for Two

 

by Mara Wells

 

Publication Date: 9/29/2020

 

 

Synopsis

 

All paws on deck!

 

Carrie Burns has a successful business, a young son, Oliver, and an energetic Jack Russell terrier. She doesn’t have time in her busy schedule for her ex-husband and his talk of working together again. But when she runs into Lance in the dog park, their lives are turned upside down.

Lance Donovan wants to promote his fledgling construction company by helping his brother Caleb with a big condo conversion. Lance even knows the perfect interior designer to make this project a success—his ex-wife, Carrie. But after a fateful meeting at the dog park, Lance finds himself not only petsitting both his brother’s dog and the beloved Jack Russell terrier he had to leave behind in the divorce, but babysitting a young son he never knew he had while his ex-wife tries to get back into dating. How did life get this crazy?

 

 

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Excerpt

 

Carrie called the elevator, nerves stretched so tight she thought she could hear them twang as she walked. That had been close, too close, and now here she was owing Lance for saving the day, for charming Kristin into extra time, for getting her business back on track. She felt unsettled by the whole thing, from her panicked call to him to his casual acceptance of the job. The Lance she knew wouldn’t have been so calm, would’ve argued about Kristin’s timeline and threatened her with all the things that could go wrong if the job was rushed. When had he learned to schmooze a client like that? When had he traded his anger for charm? For all that she’d lived with the man for five years, she found herself staring at him like she’d never seen him before.

“Come by the Dorothy tomorrow.” Lance followed her into the elevator, unaware she was silently freaking out. “You could bring Oliver.”

That snapped her right back into the moment. “To an active construction site?”

“Right, bad idea. I heard it as soon as it left my mouth.” He smiled ruefully, a familiar expression that made him her Lance again.

“You take lunch breaks?”

He leaned broad shoulders against the back wall. “Yeah, most days.”

“You can have lunch with us.” She busied herself looking for something in her purse. Keys? Sure, it didn’t matter. She just couldn’t look at him. “If you want.”

Lance waited until she looked up, and his eyes locked with hers. “Oh, I want.”

Carrie stilled. Caught. Because she wanted, too. She watched him watch her, sure that want on his face was reflected on hers. He’d always read her so easily. It was one of the things she loved about being with him, how completely she felt seen. Understood. Only now she wished he wasn’t quite so perceptive.

He took a step toward her. She took a step back and another until she was pressed against the elevator doors. He followed, stopping when he was close enough that the heat of his body radiated through the thin T-shirt, warming her. Melting her resistance, one particle at a time. She grasped the strap of her bag tightly with both hands. She would not reach for him.

“You want me, too.” It wasn’t a question, but her head bobbed in agreement. His eyes flared at the movement, pupils darkening, widening. He leaned toward her. She wobbled on her heels, knees suddenly too weak to support her. Lance shot out a hand and steadied her, using his grip to pull her closer.

He lowered his head. He was going to kiss her. She knew it, knew she should do something to stop it. Nothing good could come of kissing Lance. But he’d come and helped when she called, hadn’t stayed angry at her about Oliver. And he smelled so good, a citrusy soap and that something in the air that was simply Lance. Her Lance.

“Yes,” she said even though he hadn’t asked a question, and his lips crashed down on hers.

It was fierce, their first kiss since Oliver was conceived, like the years apart had left them both starving. She was starving. She let go of her bag’s strap and fisted handfuls of T-shirt, hauling him closer until her breasts pressed into his chest. She moaned at the pressure. He changed the angle of their kiss, going deeper, harder. She couldn’t breathe and didn’t care. He was all the air she needed. God, she’d missed him. Missed this, the very us of them together.

The door dinged and opened, bringing fresh air against her back. She gasped and pulled away, stepping backward and over the threshold, wiping her palms down the front of her chocolate skirt. What a mistake. What a colossal mistake. She should say that out loud, tell him to forget it happened. She opened her mouth, but one look from his smoldering eyes silenced her. Instead, she turned and fled. She was pretty sure he’d get the message. Lance Donovan was not something she could have, and her raging hormones would simply have to calm down and get over it.

He followed her to her Blazer and leaned in the window once she’d pulled on her seat belt. “See you tomorrow?”

Oh God, tomorrow. She swallowed. “Yeah.”

He tapped the top of her car. “Sleep well.”

“I always do,” she lied. Then she lied to herself all the way home about how letting Lance back into her life was only for Oliver’s sake. And Beckham, of course. Yeah, it was all for them. She would put the kiss out of her mind. Old habits and all that. She was sure it meant as little to Lance as it had to her. If she never mentioned the kiss again, she doubted he’d even bring it up. It was better this way, really. She repeated that in her head until it started to sound true.

 

***

Excerpted from A Tail for Two by Mara Wells. © 2020 by Mara Wells. Used with permission of the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. All rights reserved.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Mara Wells loves stories, but especially stories with kissing. She lives in Hollywood, Florida with her family and two rescue dogs—a poodle-mix named Houdini Beauregarde, and Sheba Reba Rita Peanut, a chihuahua-mix.

 

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Beyond Power

 

by Connie Mann

 

Publication Date: 9/1/2020

 

Synopsis

 

If you dare venture beyond Disney’s magic and Miami’s high-rises, you’ll find yourself in Florida’s untamed wilderness…

 

When your heart’s involved…

A bush pilot and officer for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Josh Tanner is one of the tough cops needed to manage the rugged areas of Florida. And the minute he finds Delilah Atwood deep in the woods without a good explanation, he knows something is very wrong…

 

All the stakes are raised…

Delilah barely escaped her ultra-fundamental militia family years ago. Now she’s back to save her sixteen-year-old sister, and no government man is going to stop her. Josh isn’t going to stand by and watch Delilah risk her life, but unless he can get her to trust him, she may end up being the militia’s next victim.

 

 

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Excerpt

 

I think I’m nearby. Shine a flashlight, call my name, I’ll find you.

 

Josh’s text sent a surge of relief through Delilah, and she sagged against the tree, eyes closed. “Oh thank God.” Seconds later, panic hit. Worried he would give up and leave before he found her, she scrambled to her feet, wincing as she accidentally put weight on her left foot. One hand braced against the tree trunk, she shouted his name, waving her flashlight over her head like a shipwreck survivor who’d finally spotted a Coast Guard vessel.

When he raced into the clearing, Delilah launched herself into his arms. He stumbled back a few steps before he caught his balance, wrapping her tightly in his arms, murmuring, “I’ve got you. I’ve got you.”

She pulled back to see his face, and suddenly, her lips met his—or his met hers, she couldn’t tell which—and they were kissing with the kind of desperation reserved for real shipwreck survivors. The kiss went on and on, sensations rushing over her faster than she could sort them out. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer still, nuzzling his neck, sighing as he murmured in her hair and placed soft kisses along her jaw. His grip shifted, and she realized her legs were wrapped around his waist after she’d climbed him like a tree. His hands cupped her bottom, and when she crossed her ankles to get closer still, she winced in pain.

The moment shattered, and he slowly pulled back. She blinked, dazed and not at all sure she wanted the kiss to end. His eyes said he felt the same, but even so, reason had reasserted itself. He brushed her lips once more, then steadied her as she unwrapped her legs and lowered them to the ground. She winced again when her injured ankle touched down. His grip on her waist tightened. “Easy. Go slow.”

With infinite care, he maneuvered her down against the tree, then crouched beside her. He ran his flashlight over her with crisp efficiency before he set it off to the side so it wouldn’t blind them. His touch was gentle as he tipped her head up so he could see her face. “Are you okay? Which ankle?”

She met his concerned gaze. “Left one. And I’m fine. Nothing much injured except my pride.” She couldn’t believe she’d launched herself at him. “Sorry I, ah, overreacted.”

One side of his mouth curved upward. “The forest can be unsettling at night.” Then his grin widened. “But feel free to overreact anytime you want.”

They grinned at each other like idiots for a minute before she remembered she had to keep her distance. But dang, the man could kiss. He removed her boot, and the sharp pain jerked her back to the present. He ran his big hands from her calf all the way to her toes, then carefully rotated her ankle, and she bit her lip to keep from crying out. When he was done, he gently slid her foot back into the boot, tucking the laces inside rather than tying them, since it was already starting to swell.

“The good news is I don’t think it’s broken.” He sent her the lopsided smile that turned her insides to mush. “The bad news is that I don’t think you’re going to be able to walk on it.”

“How far away is your truck?” she asked.

“Not too far if you have two good legs.” He stood and held out his hands to help her to her feet. The moment she was upright, he pulled her into his arms and wrapped her securely against his hard chest again. “I’m so glad you weren’t hurt worse.”

He kissed her again, gently this time, and Delilah slid into the kiss like a warm bath. She absorbed the strength of his arms around her and the beat of his heart thundering against her chest, feeling cherished and protected in a way she never had before. Slowly, reluctantly, she pulled back, and their eyes met and held, awareness buzzing between them like an electrical current. The heat in his eyes sent a low hum through her body. It buzzed through her a split second before he slapped at a mosquito on her cheek. She yelped in surprise, and he grinned. “Sorry. Bloodthirsty little buggers. Let’s get out of here.”

Keeping one of her hands in his, he turned his back and crouched. “Climb on. I’ll carry you back to my truck.”

Delilah was shaking her head no before he finished speaking. “You can’t carry me. I’m way too heavy.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Are you doubting my manly strength?”

The absurdity surprised a laugh out of her. “I would never doubt your manly strength, Officer Tanner.”

“Then climb on, and let’s get out of here already.” He crouched lower. “And stop calling me Officer Tanner.”

Since she didn’t have much choice at this point, Delilah gingerly climbed on. He scooped her up, piggyback style, and set off into the forest. He spun her around a few times as he walked, singing an off-key version of the seven dwarves song. “Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, it’s through the woods we go,” then he whistled the rest, making up words here and there.

Delilah laughed and attempted, badly, to sing along, appreciating his attempt to distract her from her throbbing ankle. She took her cue from him and decided to enjoy the ride, the feel of her arms wrapped around his neck, his rock-hard arms supporting her as he strolled through the forest as though she weighed nothing. She was used to thinking her way through life, but with Josh, she was learning to simply enjoy the moment.

***

Excerpted from Beyond Power by Connie Mann. © 2020 by Connie Mann. Used with permission of the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. All rights reserved.

 

 

About the Author

Connie Mann is a licensed boat captain and loves writing romantic suspense stories set in Florida’s small towns and unspoiled wilderness. She is the author of Beyond Risk, (Florida Wildlife Warriors #1), the Safe Harbor series (Tangled Lies, Hidden Threat, Deadly Melody), as well as Angel Falls and Trapped! She has lived in seven different states but this weather wimp has happily called the Ocala area home for more than twenty years.

When she’s not dreaming up plotlines, you’ll find “Captain Connie” on the Silver River, introducing boats full of schoolchildren to their first alligator. She is also passionate about helping women and children in developing countries break the poverty cycle and build a better future for themselves and their families. Besides boating, she and her husband enjoy hanging out with their grown children and extended family and planning their next adventure.

 

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Here for You

 

by Pat Simmons

 

Publication Date: 9/1/2020

 

Synopsis

 

Caregivers sometimes need a little TLC too.

 

Rachel Knicely’s life has been on hold for six months while she takes care of her great aunt, who has Alzheimer’s. Putting her aunt first was an easy decision—accepting that Aunt Tweet is nearing the end of her battle is far more difficult.

Nicholas Adams’s ministry is bringing comfort to those who are sick and homebound. He responds to a request for help for an ailing woman but when he meets the Knicelys, he realizes Rachel is the one who needs support the most. Nicholas is charmed by and attracted to Rachel, but then devastating news brings both a crisis of faith and roadblocks to their budding relationship that neither could have anticipated.

Emotional, poignant women’s fiction from acclaimed inspirational romance author Pat Simmons featuring a hero and heroine who are better at taking care of other people than themselves, a dark moment that shakes their faith, and a profoundly satisfying happy ending.

 

 

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Excerpt

 

With Aunt Tweet gone, there would be no more ministerial visits. It was up to Rachel to do her own soul-searching, and she needed inspiration now more than ever to ease the hurt of her wounded spirit.

She continued her stroll down one aisle of the parking lot, inhaling the unseasonably warm April air and gaining strength from the sunshine. Although her mind was drifting as she recalled happy times with her aunt, she heard footsteps behind her.

“Rachel.” The voice was unmistakable. Had she conjured him up? A breeze brought a whiff of a familiar cologne to confirm Nicholas was nearby.

She shaded her eyes from the sunlight with her hands until he stood

within a few feet of her. She had never seen him dressed up before, and he was handsome beyond measure in a suit and tie. He looked serious until he caught her staring again, and he smiled.

“I saw you step out. I wanted to check on you. Are you okay?” He frowned.

“Will I ever be?” she said more to herself. “I was hoping no one saw me,” she said, “especially Jacqui.”

“Yes, you will, and I did.” His voice was barely above a whisper. “I’m flying out in a few hours, but I would like to pray with you before I go.” Why did his words seem to lighten her burdens? “Thanks for coming here.” Rachel’s eyes watered, but she got a handle on her emotions. “I didn’t realize ministers attended the funerals, especially those who are out of town.”
“I wanted to be here for you. The location didn’t matter.”
“Thank you, Minister Adams.”
“Always Nicholas to you. I don’t need the title to do God’s work.”

His words were kind and thoughtful.
“Okay.” She studied him, really looked at him. Was there a special lady in his life waiting for him to propose? If so, the woman had a keeper, Rachel thought as he watched her.

Nicholas blinked first, then cleared his throat. “I called a couple of times to check up on you. Did you get my messages?”

Rachel shrugged. “Jacqui has been checking messages, answering emails, and stuff. I’m sorry.” She bowed her head, embarrassed.

“Hey.” That low voice of his gently commanded her to look at him. “I’m available to listen about anything whenever you want to talk.”

He reached for her hands. His fingers were coarse but gentle. “Father, in the name of Jesus, let Rachel feel Your presence from this day forward. Comfort her when she’s lonely, and when she’s weak, give her strength. And let the memories of her aunt give her joy…”

His words were like a balm to her spirit. Rachel whispered, “Amen,” with him when he finished. “Thank you.”

“Anytime. Take time to heal emotionally and mentally. There’s no expiration date for the process, and remember what I said—if you call me, I’ll listen.” He frowned, and his stare was intense. “I mean that, Rachel,” he said and squeezed her hand.

Although the gesture was comforting, Rachel yearned for a hug, one of those cocoon-type embraces where she could close her eyes and sigh as she snuggled. But she had no one to offer her that.

When he released his hold, his eyes seemed to dance with amusement as he glanced down at her feet. “Oh, and I wouldn’t walk too far in those heels. My feet hurt even thinking about it.” He shivered, then chuckled before he swaggered away.

“A man with a sense of humor.” Mirth stirred in her belly until a chuckle escaped her lips. He actually had made her laugh.

Later that night, back at Tabitha and Marcus’s house in her old neighborhood, the sisters’ heels, dresses, and makeup came off. They lounged in the family room in their flannel pj’s, reminiscing about Aunt Tweet and the sizeable inheritance she had left them.

Marcus entered the room. “Came to check on you ladies and give my wife this.” He leaned over the sofa and brushed a kiss against Tabitha’s lips.

Rachel’s heart fluttered; she longed for that type of deep-rooted affection. The couple was a perfect match for each other. He had been Tabitha’s rock when she needed it. Aunt Tweet had been a handful while she stayed with Tabitha, but Marcus had somehow wormed his way into their lives and charmed her aunt and Tabitha too.

“Okay, I came for what I needed. Carry on.” He grinned and ducked to escape the pillow Tabitha aimed at her new hubby’s head.

When Tabitha faced her sisters, Rachel and Kym were smiling.

“You’ve definitely got you a winner, Sis,” Kym said and sighed. “Honestly, I thought Rachel would beat us to the altar.”

“Me too,” Tabitha agreed, “but I have no regrets about being first. Aunt Tweet harped on having no regrets, and I have none being Mrs. Marcus Whittington.”

“I don’t know why you thought I would get hitched first.” Rachel shook her head.

Kym gave her a surprised look. “Because you draw men like a car

show—from your sultry voice to your calculated catwalk to your form- fitting fashions. You, dear baby sister, have men wrapped around your manicured finger.”

“I think that was wishful thinking, but you don’t see any standing in line with a ring, do you?” Rachel challenged them.

“Nicholas Adams might be a prospect. Marcus likes him, and he did make a special trip to be by your side during our sorrow.” Tabitha nodded. “And that man is downright good-looking.”

“Nope.” Kym shook her head. “He’s hot—sizzling,” she teased. “He’s a minister. That’s what he does—prays and is there for people.” “I think you need to rethink that, because I would give that darker

version of actor Daniel Supta a second look.”
“It’s Sunjata who played on Graceland, and both men are unmistakably handsome. I figured ministers are attracted to women of God like missionaries or evangelists, and as my two sisters have pointed out, I may have other men wrapped tight, but Nicholas—I mean—Minister Adams’s focus is on God’s work.”

“If you say so,” Kym said and eyed Tabitha. “You may be part of his work in progress in a personal way.”

Nicholas wasn’t interested in her in that way. He hadn’t asked for a date or dinner but offered her prayer, which, surprisingly, Rachel couldn’t get enough of, as if she were dying of thirst and hearing it quenched it.

 

***

Excerpted from Here for You by Pat Simmons. © 2020 by Pat Simmons. Used with permission of the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. All rights reserved.

 

 

About the Author

 

Pat Simmons is an author of more than thirty-five titles and a self-proclaimed genealogy sleuth who is passionate about researching her ancestors, then casting them in starring roles in her novels. Pat holds a B.S. in mass communications from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. She has worked in various positions in radio, television, and print media for more than twenty years. For fourteen years, she oversaw the media publicity for the RT Booklovers Convention. She lives with her husband in Florissant, Missouri.

 

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Cake Popped Off (Cupcake Catering Mystery Series)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in the Series
Publisher: Cinnamon & Sugar Press (September 22, 2020)
Print Length: 295 pages

 

Synopsis

Cupcake caterer Emory Martinez is hosting a Halloween bash alongside her octogenarian employer, Tillie. With guests dressed in elaborate costumes, the band is rocking, the cocktails are flowing, and tempers are flaring when the hired Bavarian Barmaid tries to hook a rich, hapless husband. Except one of her targets happens to be Emory’s brother-in-law, which bodes ill for his pregnant wife. When Emory tracks down the distraught barmaid, instead of finding the young woman in tears, she finds her dead. Can she explain to the new detective on the scene why the Bavarian Barmaid was murdered in Emory’s bathtub with Emory’s Poison Apple Cake Pops stuffed into her mouth?

With an angry pregnant sister to contend with, she promises to clear her brother-in-law’s name. As Emory starts asking questions and tracking down the identity of the costumed guests, she finds reasons to suspect her brother-in-law has been hiding a guilty secret. Her search leads her to a web of blackmail and betrayal amongst the posh setting of the local country club crowd. Can Emory sift through the lies she’s being told and find the killer? She’ll need to step up her investigation before another victim is sent to the great pumpkin patch in the sky.

 

Includes spooky Halloween recipes!

 

 

 

 

 

Review

 

This is the second cozy I’ve read recently that floored me when the killer was revealed. Normally I have a clue as to who might be guilty but in this case? Nada, zip, zilch, nothing.

I always love cozies when food is involved especially anything sweet. The descriptions of the various cupcakes, muffins, and other items had me drooling all throughout the book. Thank goodness for recipes at the end!

This is quite a diverse cast of characters and many of them are endearing and others, well we just hope that they see the light and turn their attitude around. I’m talking to you Theodore (not that he can hear me or even read this since he is a fictional character!). I adore Emory, she is one tough woman but at the same time has a vulnerable side when it comes to her past and possibly even her family. Emory and Carrie learn some interesting news from their mother in this book which will be an adventure as they seek to learn more about this secret.

Tillie is also another favorite character and as a woman in her 80’s, I just hope I am something like her at that age. She seizes life to the fullest, much to the chagrin of her son and one grandson.

We saw Emory’s high school friend Brad a little bit but not much and I hope he makes more of an appearance in the next book. But we do have a lot of interaction with Brad’s new beau, but that would be because he is the detective assigned to the murder case.

The crime was quite intriguing – a young woman ends up dead during a costume party at Tilly’s. Why would someone want to kill her? Emory and Tillie feel that they have to do their own sleuthing much to the dismay of Detective O’Neill (Brad’s beau). But they are instrumental in helping solve the murder and the clues they unearthed really came together at the end. I didn’t suspect this character in the least and to learn what led up to this moment was incredulous. WOW is all I can think to say when the killer revealed themself.

This is a fantastic new series, but make sure to start with the first book because it will set up how Emory and Tillie met and it will explain the relationship of many characters.

We give this 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Kim Davis lives in Southern California with her husband. When she’s not spending time with her granddaughters she can be found either writing stories or working on her blog, Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder, or in the kitchen baking up yummy treats.  She has published the suspense novel, A GAME OF DECEIT, and cozy mystery, SPRINKLES OF SUSPICION. She has had several children’s articles published in Cricket, Nature Friend, Skipping Stones, and the Seed of Truth magazines. Kim Davis is a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime.

 

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Hollyberry Homicide (A Berry Basket Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Publisher: Kensington (September 29, 2020)
Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages

 

Synopsis

 

A cold wind is blowing off Lake Michigan, and murder is scaring the dickens out of everyone . . .

 

Considering her name, Marlee Jacob is an obvious choice for the role of Jacob Marley in Oriole Point’s production of A Christmas Carol. It’s just sad that the role has opened up because of the death of the elderly actor who’d originally been cast.

But Marlee, the proprietor of The Berry Basket, will do her best to keep spirits high—that is, until clues start mounting that there’s danger behind the scenes. There are accidents on set, the tree in the village square topples over, and worst of all, a body is found with a sprig of holly draped over it. If Marlee can’t wrap up the case, she may not have a berry merry Christmas . . .

Includes Berry Recipes!

 

 

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Review

 

I have really enjoyed this series but this one? Wowsa!  Let’s just say the killer reveal was a total shocker and nothing I ever expected to happen.

It’s Christmastime in Oriole Point and Marlee takes decorating to a whole new level. It’s like Christmas exploded at her home and store. She is lovingly ribbed by her friends for going overboard with the decorations. She even blows fuses with everything she has plugged into the sockets. It might also have something to do with her birthday at that time. But this holiday may not go the way she planned when she finds 95 year old Everett dead at the museum. Now everyone else thinks it is natural causes, but Marlee suspects otherwise. The story just takes off from there and Marlee ends up playing Jacob Marley in the theater’s performance of A Christmas Carol, she stumbles across several unknown facts (which I won’t disclose) about Everett and a few other characters. All culminate into a point where Marlee is nearly killed, but who is the killer?  You’ll have to read the book to discover the killer and his/her motive for yourself.

I have enjoyed this series and I always feel like I gain weight just reading the book and dreaming about the pastries, cookies, ice cream, jams and jellies, and many other berry flavored items. We don’t see as much of Kit in this book who is Marlee’s love interest since he is working out of town on a case. I really do like Theo and his baking skills. He is a very sweet character and I like that Marlee has taken him under her wing to help him continue to grow and mature.  And then there is Natasha, Marlee’s Russian friend. She is a hoot and a half.

This is a great series so if you haven’t read any of the first 5, I suggest you do so before diving into this book. It will help you understand the characters a little better.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Sharon Farrow is the latest pen name of award winning author Sharon Pisacreta. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Sharon has been a freelance writer since her twenties. Published in mystery, fantasy, and romance, Sharon currently writes The Berry Basket cozy mystery series, which debuted October 2016 with Dying For Strawberries. She is also one half of the writing team D.E. Ireland, who co-author the Agatha nominated Eliza Doolittle and Henry Higgins mysteries.

 

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SIX FEET UNDER TEXAS:

 

 Unique, Famous, & Historic Graves in the Lone Star State

 

(Cemetery Tales Book 1)

 

by

 

TUI SNIDER

 

Genre: Nonfiction / Texana / History / Texas Travel

Publisher: Castle Azle Press

Date of Publication: August 15, 2020

Number of Pages: 250 pages

 

 

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Explore the cemeteries of Texas with Tui Snider as she reveals overlooked history in these fascinating open-air museums.

 

Along the way, you’ll meet fascinating characters, including a whistleblower who died in suspicious circumstances, an oilman who added a phone line to his mausoleum, and the events that caused two “frenemies” to be chained together in death.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I always enjoy books from Tui because I learn so much. This book is no different and I was enthralled with the variety of people buried in Texas and their stories. I know every state has its own celebrity graves, but I live in Texas so am more interested in what is here in our fine state.

Tui takes us on a journey through time visiting cemeteries with notable residents and interesting markers. One comment she makes is that “cemeteries are more than a place of death. It was also a place to bring the families together and celebrate the living.” How true because a cemetery is not for the dead, it is for the living to remember the past and celebrate the lives of those that have gone before us.

I am always amazed at the depth of Tui’s research into her books and she is able to find details to corroborate the stories that are passed down as to whether they are the truth or just an urban legend. There is one cemetery in Gainsville that has a huge oak tree that was the scene of a Great Hanging in 1864 where many men were lynched and there is even a drawn image reflecting the scene. I liked this comment from the author “that while it is nothing to be proud of and should not be forgotten. At the very least, such an incident serves as a reminder of how important a well-structured legal system is to the stability of a nation.”

There are even some humorous stories and one of them is about a Hungarian immigrant named Anthony Bascilli. He was well prepared for the day he died. He slept in his coffin to ensure it was comfortable, had his grave dug and lined with brick and mortar, and even had plans for when the dirt that would cover him “to ensure that it would be gently shoveled rather than roughly tossed into his grave, he hid bottles of whisky throughout the mound. I guess these were like party favors for the gravediggers!”

If you are even mildly interested in the history behind graves and tombstones and how things came to be, you need to read this book. While I might not visit these various cemeteries (and she provides an address at the end of each story in case you do want to visit), I do feel like I learned a little bit more about Texas and those who came before me. Side note, I have visited Oswald’s grave that is mentioned in this book. It is very unassuming but I didn’t know the story about the grave next to it for Nick Beef.

We give this book 5 paws up and cannot wait to read the next volume and learn more and who knows, maybe one day I’ll visit some of these cemeteries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tui Snider is an author, speaker, photographer, YouTuber, podcast host, and musician who researches historic cemeteries and symbolism, offbeat Texas travel, overlooked history, and haunted lore. As she puts it, “I used to write fiction–but then I moved to Texas!”

 

Snider’s best-selling books include Understanding Cemetery Symbols, 100 Things to Do in Dallas-Fort Worth Before You Die, Paranormal Texas, and many more. Snider has several books in progress and enjoys connecting with readers all over the globe through social media, her weekly newsletter, and her website.

 

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  September 29-October 9, 2020

 

 

 

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Visit the Lone Star Literary LIfe Tour Page

For direct links to each post on this tour, updated daily

or visit the blogs directly:

 

9/29/20	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
9/29/20	Review	Rainy Days with Amanda
9/30/20	Review	Momma on the Rocks
10/1/20	Review	Missus Gonzo
10/1/20	Review	The Clueless Gent
10/2/20	Review	Reading by Moonlight
10/2/20	Review	The Adventures of a Travelers Wife
10/3/20	Review	Forgotten Winds
10/4/20	Review	That’s What She’s Reading
10/5/20	Review	Chapter Break Book Blog
10/6/20	Review	Hall Ways Blog
10/7/20	Review	Max Knight
10/7/20	Review	All the Ups and Downs
10/8/20	Review	It’s Not All Gravy
10/8/20	Review	Book Fidelity

 

 

 

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One Boy’s War by Nancy McDonald

Middle-Grade Fiction (Ages 8-12), 134 pages

Historical fiction

Publisher: Iguana Books

Release date: April, 2020

 

 

Synopsis

 

ENGLAND, SUMMER 1940. Following a brush with death in the Irish Sea, 10-year-old Käfer Avigdor unexpectedly finds himself back in London. There, he stumbles upon a sinister Nazi plot that targets hundreds of people in Britain—including the most powerful man in the country. The one person who might be able to defeat Adolf Hitler. With the Germans threatening to invade England at any moment, Käfer musters all his courage and ingenuity in a valiant effort to thwart the Nazis. But will he succeed in time to save the day? One Boy’s War, the sequel to Boy from Berlin, is inspired by real people and historical events.

 

 

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Boy from Berlin by Nancy McDonald

Middle-Grade Fiction (Ages 8-12), 142 pages

Genre: Historical fiction

Publisher: Iguana Books

Release date: May 7, 2018

Synopsis

 

Berlin, April 1938. One night, eight-year-old Käfer Avigdor uses his specialty toilet-paper roll binoculars to spy on his Mama and Aunt Charlotte. The whispered conversation he overhears alerts him to a danger he didn’t know existed and starts him rethinking who he really is and where he belongs. Within hours, Käfer and his family flee their comfortable life. In a desperate race to stay one step ahead of the Nazis, Käfer is called on to be braver and more resourceful than he ever imagined possible. But will it be enough? Boy from Berlin is based on real people and actual events.

 

 

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Chapters Indigo.ca ~ Barnes & Noble ~IndieBound

 

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Praise for Boy from Berlin

 

“Inspired by a true story, Boy from Berlin shares a unique voice in the Holocaust. Highly recommended!” – Jennifer Roy, author of Yellow Star, winner of the Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Award.

“A compelling introduction to themes of war, courage and identity, certain to engage young readers.” – Trilby Kent, author of Stones for my Father, winner of the TD Canadian Children’s Literary Award.

 

 

Interview with Nancy McDonald

 

 

Q:           You’re been a professional writer your entire career, but novel writing has come late. Has anything surprised you about it?

 

A:            Yes! I’ve been amazed at how it takes over my life. Whatever book I’m writing is in my head all the time. I’m going about my day – shopping, walking the river, meeting friends, working at the book store – and scenes, or bits of scenes, are percolating away. It’s almost like I’m living two parallel lives, mine and my characters’.

 

Q:           What genre do you write?

 

A:            I write historical fiction for middle-grade readers. I’ve always been very interested in history, in particular the two World Wars.  But how I got writing fiction for that age group was a fluke. I was cleaning out my filing cabinet after my husband Käfer died, and I came across a slim, manila file folder that I didn’t recall seeing before. Inside were copies of letters that my late father-in-law had written in 1940. I knew right away that they were all that remained of the story of how and why the family had fled Berlin, first for The Hague and then to England.  My first thought was to write a history for the family, but as I started to piece together the information from the letters with what I learned and imagined how Käfer would have felt and acted, it turned into a novel, Boy from Berlin, written in his eight-year-old voice. The sequel, One Boy’s War, picks up the action, again, from his point of view.

 

Q:           How did you do the research?

 

A:            Parts of it were really challenging because the books are based on real people and everyone in my husband’s family is dead.  I started by scouring the Internet. It’s amazing what you can find out online! I discovered that Käfer’s father, who I knew was an aeronautical engineer, had invented a game-changing fuel pump that could help win the war. When they fled, it landed him on Hitler’s notorious “Black List”, a special arrest list to be used upon a successful invasion of Britain. I travelled to Berlin and The Hague to see where Käfer had lived, and the places he’d gone with his parents, and tried to re-create what happened from his eight-year-old point of view.

 

Q:           What’s the appeal for middle-graders?

 

A:            First of all, both books are thrillers. They’re action-packed with lots of twists and turns. Second, the stakes are very high. There’s a family in real peril, in a race to escape, with the Nazis on their heels. If they’re caught, they’ll end up in a concentration camp. And, at the centre, there’s a young boy, Käfer, who is desperate to help save them — and prove to his father that he’s brave and resourceful.

 

Q:           What’s your next book?

 

A:            It’s called Girl on the Run and it is set in Berlin in 1933, just as Hitler comes to power. It’s based on historical fact, but this time the characters are totally fictitious. The heroine is twelve-year-old Amelie. She has a little sister, Gigi, and a father who is heads the biology department at Friedrich Wilhelm University (now Humboldt). Their mother is dead. The story begins ominously with the news that Nazi commissars have been appointed to all the universities. Jewish professors and students are banned; curricula are changed to suit Hitler’s beliefs. When Amelie’s father falls in love with a colleague, Amelie discovers that her mother was Jewish and that the new step-mother doesn’t want her or her sister. That sets off a trail of events that leads the girls on a harrowing escape, hopefully to safety.

 

Q:           What do you think is the attraction of historical fiction?

 

A:            As a reader, it lets you get lost in another time and place and experience a moment in history through the eyes of the characters. I think we all wonder: what would I have done if I were put in those circumstances? Would I do the brave thing?

 

 

About the Author

 

Nancy McDonald began her career as a journalist on television programs that include W5, Canada AM, and Marketplace before going on to become a sought-after freelance writer, penning everything from documentaries to live-action scripts to comic books. One Boy’s War is the highly anticipated sequel to Boy from Berlin. Nancy lives in Stratford, Ontario, where she revels in Shakespeare, takes theatergoers on tours of the Costume Warehouse, and treads the boards with the Perth County Players. She also works part-time at Fanfare Books, Stratford’s only independent bookseller.

 

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Giveaway

 

Autographed set of BOY FROM BERLIN & ONE BOY’S WAR. (one winner) (USA and Canada only) (ends Oct 9)

 

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Campaigning Can Be Deadly (A Discount Detective Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Walrus Publishing, an imprint of Amphorae Publishing Group (September 29, 2020)
Number of Pages – 300

 

Synopsis

 

What begins as a prank ends in murder . . .

 

The campaign for the U.S. Congressional seat was referred to in the press as “Mr. Smith goes to Washington versus the carpetbagger. “The popular local candidate gets the majority of endorsements, but his opponent’s wealthy, out-of-state family is willing to do whatever it takes for him to win.

Penny-wise Investigations a discount detective agency located in a mall, is hired to find out who is stealing the local candidate’s political signs. Two of their investigators, Cameron Chandler and Yuri Webster, not only catch the thieves in the act, they find a body next to a pile of stolen signs, proving that . . . Campaigning Can Be Deadly.

 

 

 

Amazon – B&N – Book Depository – IndieBound

 

 

About the Author

 

In a world filled with uncertainty and too little chocolate, Charlotte Stuart has a passion for writing lighthearted mysteries with a pinch of adventure and a dollop of humor. Her first discount detective mystery, Survival Can Be Deadly, was a Foreward INDIES finalist. Why me? Chimeras, Conundrums and Dead Goldfish was short-listed for the Chanticleer Murder and Mayhem contest before it was published. She began her career in academia with a PhD in communications. Then, she and her husband decided to build a commercial boat and go fishing for salmon in Alaska. Currently, she is the VP for Puget Sound Sisters in Crime and lives and writes on Vashon Island in Washington State’s Puget Sound. She spends time each day entertained by herons, seals, eagles, and other wildlife.

 

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Candidate for Murder by Lauren Carr

A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 12)

Adult fiction, 464 pages

Murder Mystery / Political Satire

Publisher: Acorn Book Services

Release date: June 9, 2016

 

 

Synopsis

 

It’s election time in Spencer, Maryland, and the race for mayor is not a pretty one. In recent years, the small resort town has become divided between the year-round residents who enjoy their rural way of life and the city dwellers who are moving into mansions, taking over the town council, and proceeding to turn Deep Creek Lake into a closed-gate community—complete with a host of regulations for everything from speed limits to clotheslines. When the political parties force-feed two unsavory mayoral nominees to the town’s residents, David O’Callaghan, the chief of police, decides to make a statement—by nominating Gnarly, Mac Faraday’s German shepherd, to run for mayor of Spencer! What starts out as a joke turns into a disaster when overnight, Gnarly becomes the front-runner, and his political opponents proceed to dig into the canine’s past. When one of the mayoral candidates ends up dead, it becomes apparent that slinging mud is not enough for someone with a stake in this election. With murder on the ballot, Mac Faraday and the gang—including old friends from past cases—dive in to clear Gnarly’s name, catch a killer, and save Spencer!

 

 

Amazon ~ Audible

 

B&N ~ BAM ~ BookBub

 

 

Guest Post

 

Living the Life of Gnarly: (Story of a K-9 Sidekick)

By Lauren Carr

 

 

This guest post is the story of Gnarly, German Shepherd sidekick to Mac Faraday, the star detective of Lauren Carr’s Mac Faraday Mysteries.

Mac Faraday was a homicide detective in Washington, DC, when his life changed in one day. With the pound of a judge’s gavel, Mac’s twenty-year marriage was over and his wife got everything. He was wiped out financially. As he was leaving the courtroom, a lawyer approached him. Fearful that he was about to get another financial hit, Mac ran for three city blocks before he felt sorry for the little man chasing him.

With the expression of a child bursting to tell his secret, this lawyer informed Mac Faraday that the teenaged girl who had given him up for adoption forty-seven years earlier had grown up to become Robin Spencer, world famous murder mystery writer. Upon her death six weeks earlier, she had left her entire estate to her only child.

Mac Faraday also inherited Robin Spencer’s dog—Gnarly, who has recently been elected mayor of Spencer, Maryland, located on the shores of Deep Creek Lake.

Here’s Gnarly’s story, as dictated to Archie Monday, because Mac has grounded him from using the computer after ordering a $2000 Home Pet Spa, complete with a massage attachment, on his credit card.

Take it away, Gnarly!

 

I was born a poor German Shepherd at Beck’s Kennels, located in a small town in West Virginia called Inwood. Okay, maybe I wasn’t exactly poor, but let’s face it, it was a far cry from Spencer Manor on Deep Creek Lake, Maryland.

Well, I could tell you about my life in the Army, but then I would have to kill you. So, I guess you want to hear about how I ended up as chief of security at Spencer Manor, Mac Faraday’s multi-million-dollar estate, and mayor of Spencer. I know, most mayors quit their day jobs after getting elected, but I just can’t leave the security of my favorite human to just anyone. I mean, if something happens to Archie, then who’s going to feed me? Who’s going to take me to the salon? Who’s going to cover up my scandals?

Anyway, I digress …

It all started after the Army decided they needed to get rid—I mean, it was time for me to leave my life of service in the United States military.

Eventually, I ended up on Spencer Point, assigned to protect this less-than-nice woman named Katrina Singleton in It’s Murder, My Son.  Let’s just say she and I didn’t see eye-to-eye. I kept trying to tell her that someone was seriously stalking her, but she wouldn’t listen and kept telling me what a bad dog I was because I was digging up her yard. She kept locking me in the garage. Hello! It was my job to protect her and she’s locking me in the garage. How am I supposed to protect someone when I’m locked up?

But there was this nice police officer, David O’Callaghan. He listened. After Katrina’s murderer almost killed me when I tried to apprehend him, David took me to the vet. Katrina’s husband ordered them to put me to sleep, but Robin Spencer, the nice lady who lived next door to Katrina, saved me.

Life with Robin Spencer (until she died a couple of months later); and then Mac and Archie Monday (Robin’s assistant, now Mac’s wife) is the best. Mac has a tendency to get testy on occasion—like when I find things and bring them home. He especially gets mad when David, who it turned out is Mac’s half-brother, shows up in his role as chief of police and accuses me of stealing this stuff that I have found fair and square.

But, I flash everyone my big brown eyes. My favorite female human, Archie will jump to my defense and plead temporary insanity. David will agree to abuse his position as chief of police and cover up my crime. (He’s even paid off some of my victims to drop their complaints, but you didn’t hear that from me.) Mac will grumble, glare, and ground me.

I must confess that the life of a rich and famous K-9 is not all that it’s cracked up to be. Take Mac’s latest case in Crimes Past:

It was autumn. The weather was fair and mild and the leaves were at their height—I mean brilliant colors—until I stepped outside and a feral cat attached itself to my face and started biting my eyebrows.

Not a good way to start the day!

Of course, I had to defend myself. I bucked the cat off and snapped its neck. So, I’m standing there with puncture wounds on my head, bleeding, and Mc’s sanding there with his mouth hanging up and there’s a dead cat laying at our feet.

Meanwhile, we are well aware that right next door, the crazy cat lady who brought all of these feral cats to torment me, is just looking for something to get me into trouble―like I can’t get into trouble on my own without her help. She calls the police if I so much as sneeze and my phlegm hits her driveway.

What does Mac do? What any good political advisor will do. He throws me in the car and we get the hell out of there. Then, he calls David to get rid of the body. Only problem is that the dead body disappears.

Anyway, other than yet another political scandal, it was the perfect weekend for a wedding. No, not mine! I’m a confirmed bachelor. Let’s get that straight. Though, I do admit I have a favorite girl by the name of Storm. She’s Belgian, by the way. She lives with David O’Callaghan, who has been a bit sad lately since his last girlfriend took off for Paris.

Mac Faraday has offered up the Spencer Inn, his hotel, as a free venue for the daughter of a detective he used to work with. The bride’s late mother had been the victim of a double homicide—a case Mac had never solved. Of course, Mac does have a devious streak in him. The bride had invited all of her mother’s co-workers and friends—who happened to be suspects in the murder. (And to think he scolds me when I’m devious.)

David was supposed to help Mac on the case, which meant I got to spend some extra time with Storm, only he ended up blowing Mac off when some lady from his past showed up out of the blue with a young man who bore a striking resemblance to David. Storm liked them both right away, so I guess they were cool—which is a good thing considering what they asked me to do at the end of the weekend.

Mac was so desperate to explore every avenue for a break in the cold case for the double murder that he even entertained a suggestion from disgraced former detective Lou Gannon that one of their former friends was the killer.

So I was taking a nice nap in my reserved chair in the lounge at the Spencer Inn when a toilet blew up! That’s right. Someone blew up a toilet and set Mac’s hotel on fire—in my town! No one blows up a hotel in my town and gets away with it. Of course, I had to get straight to work biting butts and taking names.

That was all Mac needed to rip into this cold case to get to the truth. The big question was—which was of Mac’s old friends was really a cold-blooded killer.

Read Crimes Past to find out.

 

Trailer

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, Chris Matheson Cold Case, Thorny Rose Mysteries, and the Nikki Bryant Cozy Mysteries—close to thirty titles across five fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!

Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr’s seamlessly crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, crime fiction, police procedurals, romance, and humor.

​A popular speaker, Lauren is also the owner of Acorn Book Service, the umbrella under which falls iRead Book Tours. She lives with her husband and two spoiled rotten German Shepherds (including the nephew of the late-great Gnarly! (pictured above)) on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.

 

 

Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook

 

 

Instagram ~ Pinterest ~ Goodreads

 

 

Giveaway

 

Prizes: ​ $50 Amazon Gift Card courtesy of Lauren Carr, author of CANDIDATE FOR MURDER (ends Oct 16)

 

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Synopsis

 

When souls intersect deeply, but their paths are separate…

After a harrowing experience from his service in the military, Matt returns only to find his marriage to the love of his life is over. In the midst of his darkness, Matt seeks peace camping in Wyoming, where he meets Nicole, an intriguing woman who shifts his perspective, and changes his life forever. As their connection deepens, their relationship uncovers the fears that are holding both of them back.

Matt isn’t the only one with an unresolved love in his past. Waiting in the wings is Sam, Nicole’s business partner and best friend. The pair have a history of more than just catering and event planning, but Nicole has always been afraid of letting Sam get too close.

In this novel of self-discovery, compassion and healing, Nicole and Matt are brought to a greater understanding and acceptance of themselves, and who they are in the world.

 

 

 

 

Praise

 

“The mature romance at the center of a delicate dance of souls is infused with spiritual ideas.” – Foreword Clarion Reviews

“The novel has many strengths. Readers will steadfastly follow the characters’ journey of self-discovery… detailed descriptions of the protagonists and their personalities, including imperfections, make them credible and relatable. Infused with spiritual lessons, this story about two lost souls finding their way back to themselves proves a satisfying read.” – BlueInk Review

 

 

Review

 

This is a novel that reaches deep inside your psyche and makes you question what you know or think you know about life and how you perceive events and other people.

Matt and Nicole meet at a campsite and are instantly drawn to each other. Is it physical or something more? Why it appears to be physical, Matt is struggling with PTSD and events that occurred while he was stationed in Iraq that have affected his life and his marriage. Nicole has her own issues from the past that has her scared of commitment with anyone else, especially a friend named Sam. Despite their pasts, this doesn’t stop Matt and Nicole from becoming involved with each other, but at the same time, Nicole is helping Matt overcome his fears with various spiritual techniques. While it may seem that the book is focused on helping Matt, Nicole has her own breakthrough. I found her description of what she was feeling and experiencing interesting.

I did wonder why Nicole and Matt continued to pursue their physical relationship despite Matt’s declarations of love for his ex-wife and Nicole’s interest in her friend Sam. Amanda, Matt’s ex-wife, is quite an amazing character with her strength considering everything that is thrown at her regarding Matt and Nicole. I don’t know if I could have done what she did, however, love does seem to conquer all.

I’m not sure about Sam despite his connection to Nicole. While we know he loved Nicole and wants her in his life, he does seem a bit passive-aggressive towards her and the situation with Matt. I was amazed that Nicole and Sam had few secrets. But perhaps that is what made them good friends and business partners.

There is a side story about two country music stars planning to marry in Cheyenne and Sam and Nicole’s role in planning that wedding. It was a nice diversion from the main storyline.

Overall, while I started this book thinking it was going to be a simple romance novel, I found it to be so much more and it encouraged me to consider the spiritual side of my life.  We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

Karen D. Hamilton’s path of spiritual growth has spanned decades and has included several teachers with transformative perspectives. She currently lives in Colorado where she loves to weave, go camping, and especially enjoys being with family and friends. Karen hopes her work will give readers a broader and more compassionate view of their own lives. a delicate dance of souls is her first book.

 

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