Synopsis

 

Waylon Jenkins has a problem. Well, he’s got a few of them. The ghost of Betsy Ross lives in his house, he’s pretty sure his favorite client is the victim of ongoing domestic violence, and he’s been roped into helping the police investigate a series of murders.

And his penis fell off in the shower this morning. He needs a new one, but none of his friends are willing to donate theirs to the cause.

In case it isn’t obvious by now, Waylon Jenkins is a zombie.

He’s also one of the most highly respected and in-demand makeup artists in Hollywood, and that keeps him busy, no matter how dead he is. But now he needs to find out who’s committing a string of murders, and make sure nobody hurts Mitzi (one name only), one of his most faithful (and famous) clients.

He also needs a new penis.

Pluck & Cover is the first in the Zombie Cosmetologist Novellas, a new series by J.D. Blackrose, author of The Soul Wars and The Devil’s Been Busy.

 

 

 

Review

 

If you are looking for a mystery short story that will make you laugh then look no further than this book.  The premise is wacky, the characters are plucky, and good overcomes bad in the end.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I opened to the first page, but finding a zombie concerned about his manhood was not one of them! And then to have Betsy Ross sewing it back on?  You know that the rest of the book is going to a scream, and not in fear but in laughter.

This story moves at a fast pace and there are multiple storylines that somewhat merge together near the end, or at least several of them do. The characters have interesting backstories but we don’t find those out until closer to the end of the story. I think some of it could have been dropped in earlier because it would have made more sense or at least the reader would have a better understanding of Waylon and Early.  I found it interesting that the police had no issue with Waylon being a zombie. But at the same time, it made him a more likely suspect.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and want to know more about the characters, how they came to be the way they are and how they came together (although we find out how Early and Waylon know each other) and will this company that is producing zombies succeed?  I also expect that the next book will have just as much humor in it and will be an enjoyable read.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

J.D. Blackrose loves all things storytelling and celebrates great writing by posting about it on her website, www.slipperywords.com. She has published multiple series through Falstaff Books, as well as numerous short stories. She spends a lot of time chatting with the imaginary people in her head and is often accused of having a hearing problem. As a survival tactic, she has mastered the art of looking interested. She credits her parents for teaching her to ask questions, and in lieu of facts, how to make up answers.

 

Website * Facebook * Twitter

 

 

Giveaway

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

Synopsis

 

Just when I think I’ve got it all figured out – BOOM! – in walks trouble.

It’s taken me years, but my life is finally back on track – new job, new friends, a complete new Violet! I don’t even cry myself to sleep every night anymore. But then he walks through the front door of my new workplace. How dare he come in here and ruin everything for me – again!

Luke Freaking Bauer. Not the boy who got away. Nuh-uh. Not even close. The boy who tossed me aside when I needed him the most.

But when I look deep into those hurt eyes, I forget I’m the one who was wronged. Oh boy. I’m knee-deep in trouble and sinking fast.

Knee Deep is book 4 of the Love in the Suburbs series but can be read as a standalone.

 

 

 

 

Review

 

This is the last book in the Love in the Sububurbs series and this makes me sad. This group of women have become friends and so much more. Heck, even their guys are good friends. This book (and series) is filled with so many quick quips and one-liners that I was in stitches for nearly the whole book.

This book focuses on Violet and Luke. They have known each other since high school but lost touch after a certain incident that did not end well. But they still have chemistry and a spark between them that lights up the pages with their banter and their love for one another…once they stop being obstinate and move past the event in the past.

I love the camaraderie between all of the characters and even Grandma who is so focused on having great grandchildren, even though Frankie is her only biological grandchild. The rest have been adopted because of their relationship with Frankie.  At least there is no one left for her to find a beau for which is a good thing since she never does well at that endeavor.

I don’t want to spoil the story, so just know that if you are looking for a good laugh then this is a series you definitely need to read. This book may be a standalone book, but you will really get a feel for all of the characters by starting at the beginning.  You will not be disappointed!

We give this book 5 paws up and wish there were more to come….maybe a book a few years down the road and we can see what the gang is up to and if anyone has had any children for Grandma.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

I grew up reading everything I could get my grubby hands on, from my mom’s Harlequin romances to Nancy Drew, to Little Women. When I wasn’t flipping pages in a library book, I was penning horrendous poems, writing songs no one should ever sing, or drafting stories which have thankfully been destroyed. College and a stint in the U.S. Army came along, robbing me of free time to write and read, although on the odd occasion I did manage to sneak a book into my rucksack between rolled up socks, MRIs, t-shirts, and cold weather gear. After surviving the army experience, I went back to school and got my law degree. I jumped ship and joined the hubby in the Netherlands before the graduation ceremony could even begin. A few years into my legal career, I was exhausted, fed up, and just plain done. I quit my job and sat down to write a manuscript, which I promptly hid in the attic before returning to the law. But practicing law really wasn’t my thing, so I quit (again!) and went off to Germany to start a B&B. Turns out running a B&B wasn’t my thing either. I polished off that manuscript languishing in the attic before following the husband to Istanbul where I decided to give the whole writer-thing a go. But ten years was too many to stay away from my adopted home. I packed up again and moved to The Hague where, in between tennis matches and failing to save the world, I’m currently working on my next book. I hope I’ll always be working on my next book.

 

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads * Amazon author page

 

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Mystery Follows Her – A Multi-Author Cozy Mystery Collection
Cozy Mysteries
Publisher: Kydala Publishing, Inc. (June 24, 2020)
Print Length: 426 pages

 

MISCHIEF, MAYHEM, OR MURDER?

MYSTERY FOLLOWS HER through dangerous city streets, quaint villages, and locales across the globe. Uncover the clues with feisty female sleuths of various ages in this multi-author cozy mystery collection of short stories.

 

Catch a mugger in THANKSGIVING AND THEFT by Dianne Ascroft
Dig up hidden treasure in BURIED BY THE BEACH by Ellen Jacobson
Open up a case in CLOSED OUT by Tamara Woods
Pray for justice in TREASURES IN HEAVEN by Sarah Biglow
Escape the blame in RING GONE ‘ROUND THE ROSES by Aubrey Elle
Try on some clues in THE MYSTERY OF THE STOLEN RING by Beate Boeker
Search for the suspect in WHEN THE CLOCK CHIMES TWO by Adriana Licio
Catch the culprit in HIJINKS IN AJIJIC by Vikki Walton
Locate the missing loot in VENDORS AND VILLAINS by Angela K. Ryan

You’ll love this collection of intriguing and light-hearted stories from award-winning and best-selling authors from across the globe.

 

 

 Kobo – Amazon – B&N  – Apple Books  – Books2read

 

 

 

Guest Post

 

The Cozy Choice

 

I have been writing and publishing cozy mysteries since 2016 and as of now, I have eleven single titles and two boxed sets under my belt in two different series. I first got into the genre because I liked the idea of the light-hearted mystery and the non-police protagonist helping to solve the case. Also, my dad is an avid Murder, She Wrote fan. Back when I started writing my first series, I stumbled on some general plot concepts that sparked my interest and I worked to adapt them for my own characters. I’d been thinking about some character names I’d come up with and tried to fit into an old story (not cozy) that hadn’t panned out, as they sometimes do, and I figured, why not see if they fit this genre instead!

And thus Kalina Greystone, comic shop owner, was born. With so many cozies out there, it’s important to make one’s heroine’s unique and memorable. While a lot of cozies I was seeing at the time were older ladies saving the day, which is amazing, I wanted to write something a little different and so my characters tend to be younger women in their 30s around my own age. Hey, they say write what you know! While I’ve never been a comic shop owner or a Reverend or served in the military, these types of things called to me and I listened. I think I enjoyed creating Kalina’s world so much because it gave me an outlet at the time to share some of my nerd culture loves.

I think getting creative with what your protagonist does not only gives you a fun twist that can help with marketing but can also end up being a good way and reason for them to get involved in cases, as is the general requirement for a cozy mystery. My next series as my Reverend Margot Quade series finishes is a paranormal cozy with a young witch protagonist and I’m super excited to see her journey. I, of course, had to give her a fun profession and she works at a marijuana dispensary. I’m having a blast figuring out her world and the other people that populate the small town, including a bed and breakfast owner who may end up getting her own series.

You’ll also find a diverse group of heroines in the pages of Mystery Follows Her. As we were putting this anthology together, it was important to all of the authors to share their own unique take of the genre with their chosen leading lady. You’ll find young sleuths and older mystery seekers spread out across the globe in all kinds of professions and circumstances. You’ll also get a wide range of cases. Now, I’m not shy about killing people in my books, but I know some readers and writers prefer to stay away from the dead bodies, especially in cozies. But, I’m always mindful of not being too gory when I do have one of my leading ladies happen upon a body.

If you haven’t already, check out the anthology. I suspect you’ll find some new-to-you authors and some new unique ladies to spend some time with solving crimes!

 

 

About the Authors

 

Two US Today bestselling authors are among these nine authors who hail from Germany, Italy, Northern Ireland, and the United States.

Their current and past occupations are diverse and include lawyer, perfumery shop owner, biology lecturer, marketing consultant, global house and pet sitter, interior designer, university campus minister, journalist, tea lady, arborist, bookseller and lottery archivist.

Their interests and hobbies are broad too. Here’s just a few: anthropology, walking and hiking, quilting, sailing, lindy hop dancing, suburban homesteading, sci-fi and urban fantasy, playing bagpipes, and poetry. While many have traveled and lived in places around the world that were new and exciting to them, one even lives in a tiny campervan that’s traversed several American states this year!

Yet as diverse as they are, they all share a love of cozy mysteries and telling a good tale. And that’s what they have done in this collection of stories and novellas that introduces readers to characters in each author’s cozy mystery series.

 

Dianne Ashcroft Website * Ellen Jacobson Website * Tamara Woods Website

 

Sarah Biglow Website * Aubrey Elle Website * Beate Bocker Website

 

Adriana Licio Website * Vikki Walton Website * Angela K. Ryan Facebook

 

Giveaway

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

Synopsis

 

Plastic surgeon Lou Edwards’s life is complicated by two major issues.

One, his wife has lupus, possibly due to leaking silicone from breast implants Edwards himself inserted. And two, his malpractice insurance has been canceled, as it has been for many other plastic surgeons, due to the burgeoning breast implant problem.

But it gets worse.

Shortly after Edwards threatens an insurance company president on national TV, the president is found murdered in his penthouse.

Dr. Jim Bob Brady once again finds himself doing a bit of investigating, this time on behalf of a colleague. But how well does he know this colleague? Is the investigation worth the threat to Jim Bob’s own life? Will he discover that it was a burglary gone bad? A lover’s quarrel? Or is this an act of revenge?

 

 

 

 

Excerpt

 

Act of Revenge: A Medical Thriller

by John Bishop, MD

Chapter 2

 

Monday, February 10, 1997

 

“JIM BOB! Jim Bob? Can you hear me?”

I was stunned but not unconscious. My first concern was that I had sustained another head injury. I had been mugged a year and a half ago and had spent ten days in a coma after developing a subdural hematoma, a collection of blood between my brain and skull requiring surgery. The hair on my shaved head had taken seemingly forever to grow back out to a length and texture I could brush. I wasn’t prepared to go through all that again.

“I’m okay, I think,” I said to Mary Louise. She was kneeling down over me, skis off. “Thanks for not being in front of me. I might have hit you, too. Where’s the guy I ran into?”

“He’s up the hill. I’ll go check on him.” And with that, she headed back up the slope.

Since I had landed face down in the snow, I used my corduroy cap to clean off my goggles and face in an attempt to see what was going on. I was partially buried in the foot-high drift, but when I assessed that my extremities were intact and my vision was relatively normal, I managed to turn myself around.

I sat up and saw my wife kneeling down over the man I had run into twenty yards behind me. One ski was off, and the other was twisted about 45 degrees, half-buried in the snow. Unfortunately, his leg was still attached to it. My skis had come undone, and God only knew where they had landed. Probably in someone’s condo.

I had heard of a ski accident that occurred on the same slope wherein a crash between two skiers had resulted in a lost ski sailing down the hill and crashing through a picture window into the living room of a residence. No one was hurt, at least in the home, but I’m sure it gave them quite a start. And some decent kindling.

I abandoned my ski poles, which had still been attached to my wrists with their adjustable loops, and stepped up the hill to join Mary Louise and the unknown assailant. A thought crossed my mind that perhaps I was the unknown assailant. Whatever the situation, I hoped the man had experienced enough of a shock to render him an amnesiac but not unconscious or damaged.

“Are you okay?” Mary Louise was asking him repeatedly as I arrived on the scene. Several other skiers had gathered as well and had already placed their skis in the ground, tips up and crossed, the universal sign of an injury requiring the ski patrol’s attention.

The man was on his side. His eyes were open.

“Listen,” I said, “I’m a doctor. I need to check your pupils and your arms and legs. Don’t be frightened. Okay?”

He nodded.

His pupils reacted normally to light. I felt his neck.

“Any pain here?” I asked as I gently moved his cervical spine from side to side. “Any numbness? Arms or legs?”

He shook his head. “My leg . . . killing me.”

“I’m sure. I’ll get down there in a minute.”

The man’s arms, chest, head, spine, and right leg all seemed to be in working order. It was time to address the crucial issue.

“Listen,” I explained, “my name is Jim Brady. I’m an orthopedic surgeon from Houston. I need to check out this left leg and try to decide if you’ve got a fracture in your femur or tibia or if you’ve got a knee ligament injury. I may not be able to tell, but I’d like to try before the ski patrol arrives. Okay?”

“I don’t want you to move it. Hurts too bad.”

“Well, the medic will have to move it to get you onto the stretcher. Your leg’s kind of twisted out at an angle. If I can figure out what’s wrong, I may be able to make you more comfortable by moving it. Let me try.”

He nodded. I gently felt his femur, the thigh bone, with both hands. No pain. Same with the tibia and fibula, the two bones connecting the knee to the ankle. When I felt his knee, however, even through his bulky, waterproof ski pants, I could feel the enlarged joint. He winced.

“It’s your knee, probably a ligament tear. If I can get your ski off and straighten out the leg, you’ll feel a lot better. I want you to hang on for a minute.”

“Man, it’s killing me! Just leave it alone!”

I paused, then slid down toward his boot release, had Mary Louise support the ski to minimize the torque, and unsnapped his boot from the binding. He moaned for a second, but I quickly untwisted the leg, brought it parallel to the other, and laid it down.

“Damn it! I told you not to—huh. Feels better.”

“See,” I said, “you should have trusted me.”

“Sort of hard to trust a guy who runs you over, wouldn’t you say?”

I assumed amnesia wasn’t going to be a problem for him.

Two members of the ski patrol arrived on separate snowmobiles pulling stretchers. One of them had probably been intended for me. I was glad to decline it. I helped the medics get my victim onto the stretcher and bind him down to minimize the shock of the journey to Snowmass Ski Clinic. I felt obligated to accompany them.

“Are you by yourself? Is there anyone we can notify?” Mary Louise asked. “I’ll be glad to make a call. Whatever you need.”

“Guess you better call my wife, tell her I’m hurt. I hate to upset her, though.”

“Where are you staying?” she asked him.

“Wood Run Condos. Just down the hill. I was headed home.”

“So were we,” Mary Louise said. “Why don’t I just run by there. We’re at the Chamonix. You’re only a block or so away. How would that be?”

He nodded and sort of smiled. “That’d be real nice, ma’am. I’d appreciate that.”

She looked at him for a minute, waiting. “I need your name and condo number,” she said patiently, like a schoolteacher waiting for a third grader to figure out the times tables.

“Oh, sure. Sorry. I’m Lou Edwards. Her name’s Mimi. We’re in 530 Wood Run. And thanks.”

“It’s the least I can do,” Mary Louise said, looking at me like she was very glad I was okay, but not happy that I had run over the poor man. I didn’t blame her.

 

Excerpted from Act of Revenge: A Doc Brady Mystery. Copyright © 2020 by John Bishop MD. All rights reserved. Published by Mantid Press.

 

 

About the Author

 

John Bishop MD is the author of Act of Revenge: A Doc Brady Mystery. Dr. Bishop has practiced orthopedic surgery in Houston, Texas, for 30 years. His Doc Brady medical thriller series is set in the changing environment of medicine in the 1990s. Drawing on his years of experience as a practicing surgeon, Bishop entertains readers using his unique insights into the medical world with all its challenges, intricacies, and complexities, while at the same time revealing the compassion and dedication of health care professionals. Dr. Bishop and his wife, Joan, reside in the Texas Hill Country.

 

Website

 

 

 

 

Hippie Haven Homicide (Psychedelic Spy Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Publisher: Cozy Cat Press (May 21, 2020)
Paperback: 229 pages

 

Synopsis

 

Get ready to flip your wig over another groovy 1967 retro-cozy with actress and amateur spy Noelle McNabb. Spy agency SIAMESE (Special Intelligence Apparatus for Midwest Enemy Espionage and Surveillance) turns Noelle’s pet, Ceebee, into an “acoustic kitty” to listen in on an agent known only as Old Scratch. Meanwhile, a counterculture religious sect led by the Wise One infiltrates the staid town of Yuletide, Indiana. When one of the sect members makes a premature departure to the Spirit in the Sky, Noelle investigates, but finds herself in deep water—literally. With her undercover disguiser, Noelle really knows how to sock it to ‘em. However, she still can’t solve the secrets of a certain family member. Don’t miss this fab story of saints, sinners and spies!

 

 

 

 

Guest Post

 

Today we welcome Blossom from the Psychedelic Spy series. If you are a fan of the Austin Power’s movies and shows like Get Smart, you might want to check out this series. I think it will be right up your alley.

 

Blossom

 

My given name is Janet Campbell, but now I am known as Blossom, because I have recently grown and thrived, like a newly watered plant. I’ve discovered that to find a connection, I had to leave my old family for a new one.

My childhood in Homestead, Illinois, was blissful, until my mother died. Mom and I were quite close, and her passing left a huge gap in my heart. My father was devastated. Having to raise me alone didn’t agree with him. He remarried soon after mom was gone.

My stepmom was nothing like my real mom. Stepmom yelled at me and found fault in everything I did. My stepbrother tormented me constantly. When I complained to dad, it’s like he didn’t care. The fire went out of him when mom left us. As long as he had someone to run the household, he didn’t pay attention to me. He’d come home from work; eat dinner quickly, and retreat to his den to watch TV.
I thought I was doomed to a life of misery—until I met SPARK.

A friend invited me to SPARK rally that was happening in the local park. I had nothing else to do, and it gave me a good excuse to get away from stepmom for a while. SPARK is Spiritually Pure And Radiant Kin. They are devotees of the Wise One, a masterful guru who speaks of loving oneself and being in harmony with others. When I arrived, I was skeptical, but once I heard the Wise One speak I was overwhelmed with joy. The other devotees seemed so happy. I wanted that contentment for myself.

When the SPARK bus left town the next morning, I was on board. My boyfriend wasn’t happy. When I phoned him to tell him I was leaving, he threatened me. I didn’t care. I knew the Wise One would protect me.

SPARK takes care of us. First Sage handles our needs. He arranges for housing and food as we travel to make new recruits. He provides the blue robes and sandals that we wear. Wise One spends most of his time in mediation and writing. Wise One blesses us with his appearance only occasionally, but when he speaks the waiting seems like seconds.

Our days are quite busy. We spend much time in learning, singing and dancing. We play games and have fun. The Wise One calls us his “children,” so he tells us to behave like innocent, sweet children. In the towns we visit we “witness,” that is, we share SPARK literature with the residents and request donations to support our cause. We want others to share in our happiness. Many people shun or insult us. We still wish them well. Wise One tells us to never think ill of anyone; they act that way because their minds are clouded by the material world.

The other devotees are so friendly. Many of them were bummed and lost, as I was, but are now at peace.

I have had only one unpleasant experience with my new family. I did something that I was not supposed to do. Someone was very upset with me over this. I was scared and sad. But later that evening as I was chanting with my brothers and sisters, I felt better. I will simply work harder to do better next time.

We are now in a small town in Indiana called Yuletide. It’s such a funny place. The streets and stores have Christmassy-names. The town mayor, who spoke to us when we arrived, showed up in a Santa Claus suit. He plays Kris Kringle at the local Christmas theme park. The police chief doesn’t like us though. He called us dirty hippies. His mind is clouded by much hate.

One of the residents, Noelle McNabb, is very kind. She wants to be my friend. I like her a lot, but First Sage told me not to talk to her.
Since the hotels would not rent rooms to us, the devotees are staying at the Holiday Acres campgrounds. One day I found a note on my cabin bunk. It said someone wanted to meet me at the fire pit by the lake. While the other devotees were busy, I slipped away to the fire pit to meet this person. I wonder who—

(Blossom’s post breaks off here. A short time later, Noelle found the body beside the fire pit. Noelle suspects foul play, and is investigating the death).

 

 

About the Author

 

Sally Carpenter is native Hoosier living in Moorpark, Calif.

She has a master’s degree in theater from Indiana State University. While in school, her plays “Star Collector” and “Common Ground” were finalists in the American College Theater Festival One-Act Playwrighting Competition. “Common Ground” also earned a college creative writing award. “Star Collector” was produced in New York City and served as the inspiration for her first mystery series.

Sally also has a Master of Divinity and a black belt in tae kwon do.

She’s worked as an actress, college writing instructor, jail chaplain, and tour guide/page for Paramount Pictures.

The books in her Sandy Fairfax Teen Idol series are: The Baffled Beatlemaniac Caper (2012 Eureka! Award finalist for best first mystery novel), The Sinister Sitcom Caper, The Cunning Cruise Ship Caper, and The Quirky Quiz Show Caper, all with Cozy Cat Press.

Flower Power Fatality is the first book in the Psychedelic Spy series.

She has short stories in three anthologies: Last Exit to Murder, Plan B: Omnibus, and Cozy Cat Shorts. She penned chapter three of the CCP group mystery Chasing the Codex.

 

Website * Blog * Facebook * Goodreads

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

Something monstrous wants to exit Wonderland and enter the real world.

Lewis Carroll, author of the classic book Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, secretly recorded the true story of his actual travels to Wonderland in four journals which have been lost to the world . . . until now.

Celia and Tyrus discover the legendary Lost Diaries of Wonderland and fall into a portal that pulls them into the same fantasy world as the White Rabbit and the Mad Hatter. However, Wonderland has vastly changed. Some of the characters that Tyrus remembers from the book have been transformed into angry monsters.

Helped by the Cheshire Cat and a new character, Sylvan, a young rabbit, Celia and Tyrus desperately work to solve puzzles and riddles, looking for a way out of Wonderland. But the danger increases when the Queen of Hearts begins hunting them, believing the two young visitors hold the key to opening multiple portals to multiple worlds, and she will stop at nothing to capture them.

Will the crazed creatures of Wonderland escape into the real world? Can Celia and Tyrus stop them and save both worlds? Or will they be trapped in Wonderland forever?

 

 

 

Amazon * B&N * BAM * IndieBound * Deseret Books

 

 

Praise

 

“Savage pays homage to Carroll’s world with imagination as well as a notable love for math and literature while adding his own ingenious twists to the original. Both Celia and Tyrus struggle with bullying back home, and Celia’s dyslexia is a constant source of frustration when other kids underestimate her intelligence, and the book ultimately offers a message of empowerment and self-love. A fun and clever return to Wonderland.” –Kirkus

 

“It’s very clear that Scott not only loves the [Wonderland] books, but he GETS them. He gets Lewis Carroll/Charles Dodgson. His love of wordplay, which is so often missing from sequels and interpretations! The math! The names! The puns! What a delight! This is both an action-adventure and a wonderful exploration of Wonderland, and written with such sensitivity, too, toward the new main characters and the original characters!” –Jessica Day George, NYT bestselling author

 

“A whimsical adventure packed with clever puzzles and plenty of heart. Whether you’re already a fan of Wonderland, or new to Lewis Carroll’s world, you’ll be so glad you fell down this rabbit hole!” –Shannon Messenger, NYT bestselling author

 

 

About the Author

 

J. SCOTT SAVAGE is the author of both the Mysteries of Cove and the Farworld middle grade fantasy series and the Case File 13 middle grade monster series. He has published 19 books, visited more than 3,000 schools, and taught dozens of writing classes.

 

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Instagram

 

 

Synopsis

 

When Riley Madigan moves to the sleepy mountain town of Miracle Creek, she hopes her new job as a high school art teacher will help her mend her recently broken heart. A little peace and quiet would be a gift this Christmas season. The last thing on her mind is love.

Former firefighter Mark Rivers has spent the last year recovering from burns sustained during a rescue operation. He’s been trying to piece his life back together but still struggles both emotionally and psychologically. When he meets Riley, he finally sees something that might bring some light back into his life.

When Mark asks Riley to work on a special nativity project, he finds himself falling for her quirky, unaffected ways. Riley doesn’t seem bothered by his scars, but is her affection for him real, or is this just another act of charity?  One thing’s for certain, in a small town that views Mark as a fragile hero, it’s hard to pursue a relationship without everyone in his business. And although Riley has sincere feelings for Mark, is she ready to risk her heart?

Broken hearts and lives are mended as the town of Miracle Creek comes together to celebrate a Christmas to remember.

 

 

Amazon * B&N * IndieBound * BAM * Desert Books

 

 

Review

 

I wasn’t sure if I was ready to read a Christmas book in September, but this one kept me in stitches and had me dreaming of colder weather.

Riley and Mark have their own baggage to deal with and in a small town that isn’t always easy because everyone knows everyone else’s business. But it is also that small town vibe that helps Mark and Riley through their difficulties and towards each other.

Riley and Mark start off as friends on a secret project for Mark’s dad, but what evolves is so much more. I liked how Riley saw past Mark’s burn scars and saw the man within. I think it is what helps bring him back out of hiding. Mark helps Riley stop running from life and examine what she holds to be true in her life.

There are so many funny parts from their stumbling around each other and I liked how they brought up those moments even later to tease each other.

But their path towards a relationship is not smooth from a smarmy guy trying to make Riley another notch on his bedpost to misunderstandings between Mark and Riley. But each situation just helped to forge their bond in the end.

Love wins.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Krista writes contemporary romance, historical romance, and fantasy. She has lived in lush Oregon and rugged Wyoming, but Washington is her beloved home state. She likes to choose familiar settings for her stories and is grateful to have such inspirational places to choose from. She is a mother of six, gramma of three, a gardener and cook, loves to travel, laugh, and hike, and lives to make the best of what she’s been given.

Instagram * Website * Pinterest * Facebook * Twitter

 

 

Synopsis

 

The story accompanies a single day of John C., a man of about thirty. In this short passage of time he has three dialogues with three different people. These dialogues, certainly, have shaped his day and, likely, will exist within him eternally.

 

 

 

 

Review

 

This short story is not a quick read. Yes, the story can be read in less than 1/2 hour, but the themes running through the story are not light and might cause one to reflect on how they view others and themselves.

John C (mostly referred to as C) in this book has three separate interactions with those he meets in the course of a day. His therapist’s secretary, his therapist, and his first love. It is interesting to view C in these interactions because you can tell he has some issues relating to others and afraid of offending others with his words. It is also this insecurity that causes others to act differently around him too which just further intensifies his fears.

Because this is a short story we don’t have the ability to really know John C and what made him who he is today. But his conversations with his therapist, the therapist’s secretary, his first love, and even his own thoughts, allow us to see a little deeper into his personality and who he is as a person.

I enjoyed the story and it did take a little bit of time for me to follow the flow of the language in the book because the author is from another country and every country has its own way of speaking.  This is not a bad thing at all because it helps expand my understanding of other countries and how people might speak and interact with others. It also allows me to cultivate an appreciation for other cultures and countries.

If you pick up this book, allow yourself time to really delve into the character and the story and appreciate the complexity of the character.

We give this book 3 1/2 paws up and look forward to what this author decides to publish next.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Cairo Marques was born in 1996 and is based in Brazil. He is an engineer and writer. He writes stories. Most of them are short ones. Recently he felt that one of them was worthy of being published and so he did, with his first book called “An Indelible Day”. He also enjoys stroganoff, actually, he loves it.

 

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Synopsis

 

The Best Part of Us will immerse readers in a breathtaking natural world, a fresh perspective on loyalty, and an exquisite ode to the essential roles that family, nature, and place hold in all of our lives.

Beth cherished her childhood summers on a pristine northern Canadian lake, where she reveled in the sweet smell of dew on early morning hikes, the loons’ evening trills across the lake’s many bays, every brush stroke of her brother’s paintings celebrating their cherished place, and their grandfather’s laughter as he welcomed neighbors to their annual Welsh harvest celebration. Theirs was an unshakeable bond with nature, family, and friends, renewed every summer on their island of granite and pines.

But that bond was threatened and then torn apart, first as rights to their island were questioned and then by nature itself, and the family was forced to leave. Fourteen years later, Beth has created a new life in urban Chicago. There, she’s erected a solid barrier between the past and present, no matter how much it costs―until her grandfather asks her to return to the island to determine its fate. Will she choose to preserve who she has become, or risk everything to discover if what was lost still remains?

 

 

 

 

Release date, September 8th, 2020

 

 

Praise

 

“This is not just storytelling, it’s a lived experience. Sally’s description of the cold, crystal waters and magnificent landscape of the North Country is so vivid I feel as though I paid it a visit. The story’s depth and vivid characterization are unforgettable. At a time when we seem to have lost our way in navigating the human relationship with place, Sally has provided a true compass to help us find home.” ―Dave Dempsey, 2009 Michigan Author of the Year, author of ten books and renowned Great Lakes environmental policy expert

 

“With exquisite descriptions of Canadian lake and forest country and the Ojibway life rooted there, Cole-Misch expertly weaves the elements of those differing cultures, fraught but tightly bound family relationships, young love, old love, and the wonder of coming of age―at every age―into a luminous novel. The Best Part of Us is a beautiful story that will keep you up reading, and then keep you company for a long time afterward.” ―Barbara Stark-Nemon, award-winning author of Even in Darkness and Hard Cider

 

“A story so evocative you can smell the lake and hear the loons. . . . The Best Part of Us draws in lyrical strokes the many shades of grief and the healing magic of place.” ―Jenni Ogden, bestselling author of A Drop in the Ocean

 

“Place plays a key role in this novel, with an island in northern Ontario lovingly observed through the eyes of our protagonist, Beth. Troubles come in the form of her family’s attachment to the land and issues around who rightfully owns it―their Welsh ancestors or the Native peoples of earlier times―and the book raises and explores these important, contemporary questions with care and sensitivity. Their resolution is complicated―at once hopeful and messy, like all imperfect decisions. The Best Part of Us is a lovely, engrossing book about place, family, history, and cultural sensitivity.” ―Angela Pneuman, award-winning author of Home Remedies and Lay It on My Heart

 

 

About the Author

 

Sally Cole-Misch is a writer and environmental communicator who advocates for the natural world through work and play. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri, a master’s degree in environmental education and international water policy from the University of Michigan, and a certificate in fiction writing from Stanford University. Throughout her career, she’s focused on communicating our essential connection with nature—particularly the Great Lakes—and the role each of us can play to restore, protect, and enjoy all that nature gives to us. Sally lives in Michigan with her husband and son and enjoys hiking, kayaking, sailing, skiing, and gardening.

 

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Synopsis

 

In The Psychic’s Memoirs, a hot-tempered Los Angeles detective and his distracted partner are assigned to find an alleged teenage psychic whose capture might determine the outcome of a looming civil war and humanity’s relationship with a misleading alien force. The standalone novel is part of Ryan Hyatt’s Terrafide series, techie tales of woe, and hope in which characters grapple with a world falling apart. The Terrafide universe, which also includes Rise of the Liberators and Stay Younger Longer, takes place on an alternate timeline that mirrors and mimics present-day events.

 

More about The Psychic’s Memoirs

 

The story begins in December 2026, months after the Coastal Earthquake ravages Los Angeles and compounds disaster brought on by the Greatest Depression, a global financial calamity underway throughout the decade. In the wake of the quake, a group of revolutionaries called Eco-Socialists clench a sweeping electoral victory in California. Led by a charismatic figure known as ‘Che Tay,’ the Eco-Socialists are committed to an autonomous Golden State freed from the constraints of a broke and bungling federal government. Hopes to end the federal occupation, symbolized by the presence around L.A. of giant mechas called Liberators, is the immediate goal. Over time, however, the Eco-Socialists hope to right the wrongs of the past and forge a model of statehood based on economic and environmental justice. If they could, they would save the world, or so their supporters claim.

Detectives Ted Kaza and Lydia Jackson of the Los Angeles Police Department are assigned to find an alleged teenage psychic, Alice Walker, whose capture might determine the outcome of the civil war looming between California and the United States. They visit the high school Alice attended to meet her former history teacher, Walter Newman, who leads them to a coffee shop where the teenager is apprehended. However, a surprise encounter during their sting involves Che Tay, who reveals himself to be not entirely human. Some even consider the revolutionary to be a greater threat to world order than Alice and her prophetic powers. Unfortunately for the detectives, Che escapes, and LA’s finest discover they have been manipulated by clandestine forces within the federal government to bring Alice into custody. When Alice disappears from jail and Kaza and Jackson fail to capture Che Tay after a political rally, the need to redirect the world’s bleak future suddenly rests squarely on the detectives.

Their trail leads them to their commander, James Elroy, who turns out to be a CIA operative along with his sidekick, a small sentient doll named Mr. Y. Jackson and Kaza’s quest to find Alice takes them to a mansion in the desert. Paranormal Plantation, which once played a part in California’s eugenics program, now serves as a federal outpost to experiment on individuals with extraordinary abilities. When Che Tay’s corpse turns up in front of LA City Hall, the public is up in arms, and time seems to be running out for the detectives to save the psychic and prevent a war. Thanks to clues left in Alice’s notebook, secrets are revealed at Paranormal Plantation about the nature of the extraterrestrial presence that has confounded the detectives’ investigation. If Kaza and Jackson are to quell an alien uprising and save their political friends and foes, they will have to prove they have faith in more than a nation or themselves; they must be willing to witness a dimension of their existence that is downright terrifying.

 

 

 

 

Praise

 

“The Best Cyberpunk Novels in 2020 and 2021” –Joel Stafford, Joel’s Books

 

“A mind-warping journey through an all-too-plausible near-future America where sociopolitical revolution and advanced technology represent the promise and peril of human evolution.” –Jake Anderson, author of Gone at Midnight: The Mysterious Death of Elisa Lam

 

“Hyatt’s superior ability to build a convincing lived-in world just over the horizon is on display page after page. This is not another orgy of post-apocalyptic horrors, but an opportunity to see every calamity as a possible stepping stone toward utopia.” –A.L. Lorentz, author of The Filter Trap and Dead Monkeys

 

 

Excerpt

 

“Good morning, class!” I say as the smartboard projects the notes from my computer screen. My voice is met with half-hearted grunts from half-awake juniors.

“Please, turn to the next page in your notebooks,” I say. “Date and title your notes as you see on the board.”

It’s Friday, May 8, 2026, and the title of today’s lesson is, ‘TREE OF POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES – CIRCA 1945.’ Three unlabeled branches stem upward and outward from a tree trunk labeled, ‘WESTERN CIVILIZATION.’

I meander between clusters of desks and monitor students as they flounder through backpacks searching for their notebooks, or at least pretending to be searching for their notebooks, as I catch several with contraband in hand: ear buds, licorice, soda, and other gadgets and junk they know they shouldn’t have.

I have to give credit to this group of juniors, they sure like to start the day off right with a solid breakfast of energy drinks and spicy chips, so that by the end of first period they’re fired up and ready to raise hell around campus. It’s as if school is little more to them than some lame party they are forced to attend, so they bring their own favors to liven it up.

I can’t deal with such nonsense so early in the day:

“Take off the earbuds, Jorge. They make you look like an alien from outer space. Try talking to Earthlings for a change. You might get a girlfriend.”

“Save that can of caffeinated diabetes juice for after school, Jeffrey, when you need it to stay awake to finish the homework you owe me.”

“Keep the flaming hot Salsalito chips stored in your backpack, Enrique. If you keep eating crap, your girlfriend will dump you and start going out with Jorge, as long as he’s willing to acknowledge her.”

Jorge, Jeffery, and Enrique laugh.

“Crazy Newman,” someone says.

 

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The Urabus heads eastbound on Del Mar Boulevard away from the Caltech campus. The detectives spot the golf cart one hundred yards ahead of them and dozens of motorists driving leisurely between them on a thoroughfare lined with apartment buildings and single-family homes.

Kaza opens the sun roof, stands through it, and withdraws his Beretta—

BOOM!

BOOM!

BOOM!

“What are you doing?” Jackson demands, whacking Kaza’s thighs.

“Ouch, that hurts!” Kaza’s says, kicking at her flailing arm. “I’m just clearing the streets…”

Cars swerve out of their way. Two black SUVs turn a corner and gain on the detectives.

“Who are they?” Jackson shouts, glancing to her right and left at a set of tinted windows.

“I have no idea,” Kaza says, sliding back into his seat. “What the hell?”

Both detectives notice in the rearview mirror an airborne shadow approaching them from behind. Jackson eases off the accelerator, and the two SUVs with California government plates advance toward the golf cart. There’s a flash of light and a thunderous SWOOSH—

The SUVs explode. Jackson slams on the breaks. The Urabus careens toward the wreckage, skids to a halt and avoids two balls of billowing flame. Sweat pours from Jackson’s head as she clasps the steering wheel. Kaza opens the passenger door, hops out of the station wagon, and runs through the wreckage. A huge shadow looms over him and engulfs everything in sight.

The humongous bird of prey turns half circle, faces the detectives and transforms into a towering mecha. The hovering Liberator points a palm at the golf cart, which lifts off the ground. Cables extend from the mecha’s legs, wrap around the two screaming security guards, and fling them far and wide. Their screams are heard trailing off in the distance as Che Tay, clinging to the golf cart, shouts obscenities at the invisible force pulling the golf cart into the palm of the giant’s hand. The Liberator closes its grip around the wanted man. The mecha transforms back into a bird of prey. Its wings spread outward as the arms and legs fold into its chest. The soles of its feet, which also function as rockets, ignite and propel the magnificent machine and its cargo northeast toward the desert outside of Los Angeles.

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Ryan Hyatt was born in Tucson in 1976. He was raised in Phoenix, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Copenhagen before returning to his hometown and graduating from the University of Arizona in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in history, psychology and creative writing. Hyatt spent much of his twenties working as a reporter and columnist for newspapers such as the Apache Junction Independent and Santa Monica Daily Press.

In addition to the Terrafide series, he is author of the modern western, The Death of Rock ‘n’ Roll, and editor of the satirical sci-fi news site, The La-La Lander, as well as Not Your Father’s Bedtime Stories, children’s tales he creates with his daughter. He holds a master’s degree in education from California State University Northridge and develops and manages literacy intervention programs for Los Angeles schools.

 

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