Three Widows and a Corpse (A Food Blogger Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Kensington (October 29, 2019)
Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages

Synopsis

Food blogger Hope Early finds one item not on her scavenger hunt list—a dead husband . . .

Between developing her food blog, Hope at Home, and choosing low-cal recipes for a feature in Cooking Now! magazine, Hope has a full plate. Still, she’s never too busy to compete in a Jefferson, Connecticut, tradition—the town’s annual scavenger hunt.

But as she races with her team to check off the next item, Hope discovers a grisly surprise—the body of shady real estate developer Lionel Whitcomb, shot in a parking lot. His wife Elaine, who’s also in the hunt, gasps and nearly faints. But two other women on the scene cry out that their husband is dead.

It turns out this louse of a spouse was more than a little lax in legally divorcing his former wives. Did one of them put a bullet in the bigamist? Number one suspect and number three wife Elaine begs Hope to investigate. Now Hope is on a new kind of hunt—for a cold-hearted killer and triple widow-maker . . .

Includes Recipes from Hope’s Kitchen!

 

 

Amazon – B&N – Kobo – Google Play – IndieBound

 

Review

It is time for a trip back to Jefferson to see what Food Blogger, Hope Early, has new in her life.  Hope finds herself knee-deep in another mystery when she stumbles across another dead body while on a scavenger hunt.  The bigger surprise comes when two other women appear in town and claim to still be married to the deceased.  Who is the true widow?  Will Hope survive the search for the killer?  You’ll have to read the book to find out those answers and much more.

I’ve enjoyed this series because I love food and I am always intrigued at a look behind the scenes of what food bloggers do to create their recipes and posts.  I love to cook but have never really created my own recipe.  I have adapted some recipes but that is about all.  Several of the recipes in this book have chocolate in them so my mouth was watering just reading about the muffins, cookies, and cakes.  Recipes are provided and a few have caught my eye.

The mystery is intriguing and the author does a splendid job of hiding the killer in plain sight.  I’m not sure I suspected this character so I was surprised when the story came to a head and the killer was revealed.  There are several potential suspects and while I would have liked it to have been one character, no such luck.

Hope has multiple sides to her – she inserts herself into the case trying to solve the murder (despite her boyfriend the sheriff asking her to stay out of the investigation), she doesn’t know how to say no, and is a little insecure when it comes to her relationship with Ethan.  But all of these pieces come together to form a likable protagonist.

Overall I enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one in the series.  We give it 4 paws up.

 

About the Author

Debra Sennefelder, the author of the Food Blogger Mystery series and the Resale Boutique Mystery series, is an avid reader who reads across a range of genres, but mystery fiction is her obsession. Her interest in people and relationships is channeled into her novels against a backdrop of crime and mystery. When she’s not reading, she enjoys cooking and baking and as a former food blogger, she is constantly taking photographs of her food. Yeah, she’s that person.

Born and raised in New York City, she now lives and writes in Connecticut with her family. She’s worked in pre-hospital care, retail and publishing. Her writing companions are her adorable and slightly spoiled Shih-Tzus, Susie and Billy.

She is a member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, Women’s Fiction Writers Association and Romance Writers of America.

Website – Facebook – Goodreads

 

 

 

Giveaway

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Synopsis

Will her party-girl past ruin her future?

Lori Randall is a dedicated ER nurse — dedicated to her patients and dedicated to finding a hot doctor to marry. But after she is shaken by a local tragedy, she decides it’s time to give up on chasing doctors and start building a better life for herself. Her first step is buying her own house, and she ends up with one with a very peculiar history. That sets off a surprising chain of events that rocks the lives of many of her Fairview friends — including her friend Molly from Worth the Wait.

Jake Williams is the local real estate agent who shows Lori a house that wouldn’t be for just anyone, but is perfect for her. Back in the day, it belonged to a man who fancied himself the Hugh Hefner of Fairview. Legendary parties took place there in the ‘70s, and nobody has redecorated it since then. The house is an ode to excess and debauchery, right down to its tacky gold wallpaper and the disco ball in the master bedroom. Lori immediately decides it’s the house for her. Little does she realize what will follow! Any woman who has ever decided to change her life will identify with Lori’s story.

 

 

 

Excerpt

Lori is a nurse. Jake is a real estate agent she cared for in the ER, the same night the ER lost a young girl in an unexpected way, causing Lori to decide to clean up her life. She decides to buy a house and contacts Jake, and he takes her house-hunting.

“I don’t know,” Lori said. “These aren’t quite what I had in mind. Maybe it would be better if I held on a bit and saved up some more money so I could qualify for something a step or two up. I guess I’ve been a little impulsive about this. I probably should have planned ahead more.”

“Not a problem,” Jake said. “Let’s check out the final one, and then we’ll head back to the office and talk about options.” She agreed, but didn’t hold out much hope. She regretted not having paid any attention to her finances all these years. She knew she could have bought something better if she’d paid as much attention to her bank statement as she had to fashion and fun, and said so.

“Not to worry, Miss Randall.”

“Call me Lori,” she said.

“You’re still young. You would be surprised. There are people who are a lot older than you and still haven’t gotten their money situation in hand. You haven’t done so badly. The important thing to remember is that you’re making a fresh start. And you make a good income. Let’s just see what you think of this next place. I’m going to warn you, it needs a lot of updating. The guy who built it was probably the closest thing this town had to a playboy, back in the day. He fancied himself the Hugh Hefner of Fairview and made some rather … unconventional … decorating choices. But the house has good bones and if you’re willing to put some effort into updating it, you could end up a few years from now with a showplace. Try to look past the décor. This place hasn’t been touched since the ’70s. He died about a year ago after spending several years in a nursing home and his family is motivated to sell,” he said, as he pulled up into the driveway of a brick home. The yard was overgrown and Lori didn’t hold out much hope.

Jake unlocked the front door and Lori gasped.

“Oh. My. God.”

“I know, it’s a lot to take in,” Jake said.

Lori laughed. “Seriously!” The house was a testament to ’70s gaudiness. The living room featured horrible geometric-patterned harvest gold wallpaper, a sunken conversation pit and the ugliest rug she had ever seen. But there was a cool-looking fireplace that she loved.

The kitchen kept the harvest gold look going. The appliances would all have to go, of course. The dining room was a monstrosity. A heavily carved sideboard filled one wall. The massive table and chairs matched, the chairs featuring gold velvet upholstered seats. She entered the downstairs bathroom. It was an unbelievable orange. She wanted to shield her eyes from the crazy orange patterned tile. Unbelievably, even the tub, sink and toilet were orange. A few touches of avocado green made the orange look even more aggressive. A pair of giant ceramic goldfish were mounted on the wall over the toilet. She quickly backed out.

Jake said nothing. He just let her wander and gather her own opinions. He bent to pick up a listing sheet someone had dropped and she bit her lip. Now that was a fine, fine butt. She looked away before he could catch her looking and went upstairs to check out the master bedroom. It had a huge round bed with a mirrored ceiling and a mirrored ball. Jake hit a button on the wall and suddenly they were in a disco.

“All we need now is some KC and the Sunshine Band,” Lori laughed.

Jake sang out a line from the chorus of their most famous song. Lori did a little dance, the glittering lights crossing her body as she moved.

“I wonder what this dude’s parties were like, back in the day,” Lori asked.

“Pretty sure they didn’t just play charades,” Jake said.

“OK, I know I’m supposed to play coy,” Lori said. “But yeah, this is the place. You said the furniture comes with it, right?”

“I’m pretty sure they’ll knock a grand off the price if you agree to take it as is,” Jake said. “You can imagine his nieces and nephews don’t want any part of clearing this place out. He didn’t have any children, and he apparently wasn’t close to his nieces and nephews. They live out of state and they just want to get what they can from this place and get out.”

“It is perfect. Oh, I’ll make some changes, definitely. But you gotta admit, this place has got personality!”

“I have to advise you to get a housing inspection and all that,” he said. “But it appears the place is in decent shape as far as plumbing etc. It’s just … well, it is what it is.”

“Those other three houses looked like grandma houses,” Lori said.

“This one does not look like a grandma house,” Jake agreed. “Unless your grandma was a Playboy bunny.”

“She was not. She’d be horrified. But I LOVE THIS HOUSE!” She went back to doing her little dance. “Come on, Jake, give me some music,” she said. He laughed.

“I just exhausted my entire knowledge of ’70s music, I’m afraid,” he said.

Lori jumped onto the bed, which rewarded her with a burst of dust, and began singing the chorus of an old Bad Company song as she danced and played air guitar. Suddenly she stopped, embarrassed, and jumped down off the bed. “I’m sorry! I went a little nuts there!”

Jake had a look on his face she wasn’t sure she understood.

“Forgive me,” she said. “This house is getting to me.”

He looked like he was making an effort to control his facial expression. “No problem. Why don’t we get back to my office and get the ball rolling? We’ll need to make an official offer and if they take it, I’ll need a check for the earnest money. If all goes well, you can be in this house for the holidays.”

“I will need a giant white artificial Christmas tree. With lots of gaudy ornaments!” she said.

“Well, uh, if there’s nothing else you want to look at, let’s get back to the office,” he said.

“Sure,” Lori said, abashed after her impromptu performance. She was subdued on the drive back. She’d embarrassed him, clearly, and tried to turn the conversation back to normal. “Hey, how’s your hand? I see you’re not wearing a bandage anymore.”

“It’s just fine,” he said, flashing his palm toward her. A jagged pink line was all that was left to show where the splinter had been. Back in the office, he excused himself to make her offer to the owners. It was quite a bit less than the listed price and she didn’t expect them to take it, but they accepted it on the spot.

“This was meant to be!” Lori exclaimed. “Care to celebrate with me at The Clipper tonight?”

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I really can’t. It’s just an ethical thing. I really can’t date a client.”

“I did not mean it that way,” she said, insulted. “Excuse me for asking.”

“No, I’m sorry,” he said. “That came out wrong. At any rate, I do want to congratulate you. You’re getting a great house. When the ’70s look gets old for you, you can remodel and you’ll have a house worth significantly more than what you’re paying for it. And if at that point you feel like you want to move up to something higher-end, you’ll definitely be able to.”

Lori hid her irritation and embarrassment, wrote a check, shook his hand, and was on her way. Screw Jake. She should have known better than to make a move on him. He was cute, but he was no doctor.

 

 

About the Author

Sophia Sinclair grew up in a town so small (pop. 170!) that the little town of Fairview where this series is set seems like the big city to her. For many years, she was the editor of a small town’s daily newspaper, so she understands the rhythms of small-town life. When she started writing romances, she decided to set them all in a small town called Fairview. If you’re from a small town, you’ll feel like you’ve been there. If you’re from a larger city, don’t be surprised if you start yearning for small-town life. It’s often said that in a small town, everybody knows everyone else’s business, but the truth is, there are still a lot of secrets in small towns!

She is married to a European man, has two grown children and two lovely grandbabies she spoils to death. There’s a little bit of Sophia in every one of her books. Molly is a librarian who wears plain dark dresses and looks very conservative but often wears racy underwear under that plain black dress. Sophia dresses the same. Lori likes to have a good time and always has lots of boyfriends before meeting the love of her life. Sophia will take the Fifth on that one. Catarina has a German poem on her bedroom wall; Sophia has the first two lines of that same poem tattooed on her upper thigh, in German. (It’s Rilke, and the first two lines translate to: “You see, I want a lot. Perhaps I want everything.” As for Julie in Perfect Fit, Sophia is mad about all aspects of pregnancy, breastfeeding, childbirth, and babies. She attended many of her friend’s births, taught breastfeeding to WIC moms as a volunteer, started a business that handled pumps, bras, slings etc., and gave very serious thought to working as a lactation consultant, doula or midwife once the newspaper industry died. Instead, she started writing these romance novels, and she very, very much hopes you’ll enjoy them.

She also writes for Curvicality.com, an online women’s lifestyle magazine aimed at plus-size women. That’s why Julie in Perfect Fit is plus-sized. She wanted to show that love is for everyone; not just the thinner ladies.  Here is an example of the fun stuff she writes there.

Facebook * Amazon Author Page * Instagram

 

 

Book Title: The Art of Taking It Easy by Dr. Brian King

Category: Adult Non-Fiction (18+)

Genre: Literary/Self-Help/Humor

Publisher: Apollo Publishers

Release date: October 2019

 

Synopsis

Psychologist and Comedian King explores the science behind stress in this witty, informed guide. The author uses a bevy of running jokes and punch lines to enliven technical explanations for how and why people experience stress. His metaphors of coming across a bear in the wild as well as being stuck in traffic are also used to great effect to explain a variety of stress responses, such as perceiving a threat and feelings of powerlessness. Reframing thoughts plays a large role in King’s advice: Stress is simply a reaction to a perception of threat being able to consciously redirect choices made by other areas of the brain is the key to living a less stressful existence. He also provides breathing exercises, plants for painting physical health and useful advice for setting attainable goals. King’s enjoyable guide to living with less will be of help to any anxious reader.

 

 

 

Excerpt

Don’t Eat The Poison Berries (pages 203 – 204)

Art of Taking It Easy: How To Cope With Bears, Traffic, And The Rest Of Life’s Stressors
By Dr. Brian King

Despite the simple and easy activities, I previously mentioned, it is very difficult to think positively all of the time. Whether they are bears or unicorns, bad things happen to all of us and negative thoughts are unavoidable. It is perfectly natural to have negative thoughts pop into our head from time to time. In fact, our brain seems to be somewhat disposed to seek out negativity and hold onto it. Psychologists refer to this phenomenon as the Negativity Bias. Basically, if we encounter two stimuli, one positive and one negative, our brain is more likely to notice and be affected by the negative stimulus.

This sucks, but it’s how our brain is wired. It makes sense too, if you think about how the brain develops and gathers information about the world it finds itself in. to illustrate this, I like to imagine the challenges that must have been faced by the first human beings, hundreds of thousands of years ago in the savannahs of northern Africa. Imagine being one of the first people to explore the area in search of food. Suppose you stumble upon a bush growing some fresh berries that look strangely appealing. You grab a handful, examine them thoroughly and decide to toss a couple into your mouth. And, they are… delicious! Sweet and juicy, but not only do they taste great, but you suddenly feel energized as the nutrients begin to circulate throughout your body. You just discovered a tasty source of food and it is important for your brain to remember these berries, in case you get hungry in the future.

Now imagine that you encounter a different kind of bush with a different kind of berry. However, this time when you cram a few in your early human mouth they taste terrible. In fact, they make you feel queasy and ill. Maybe one of your buddies, who had a bit more than you, gets sick and dies. The berries, as it turns out, are highly poisonous. Now, although it is extremely important to remember which berries were tasty and nutritious, it is absolutely crucial to your survival to remember the ones that could potentially kill you. It is a simple matter of survival. I often explain the negativity bias this way, with poison berries.

 

About the Author

DR. BRIAN KING trained as a neuroscientist and psychologist and for the past decade has traveled the world as a comedian and public speaker. By day he conducts seminars, attended by thousands of people each year around the US and internationally, on positive psychology, the health benefits of humor, and stress management. By night he practices what he teaches in comedy clubs, and is the founder and producer of the highly reviewed Wharf Room comedy show in San Francisco. Dr. Brian holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas, a master’s degree from the University of New Orleans, and a PhD in neuroscience from Bowling Green State University. Hailing from New York and living in dozens of cities throughout the US as the child of a military family, today spends his life on the road with his partner, Sarah, and their young daughter.

 

Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram

 

 

 

Synopsis

Molly wasn’t looking for love — or a mystery — but she found both.

Molly Miller is an overworked and underpaid librarian struggling to raise her three kids herself. The only romances she has time for are the novels she returns to the shelves. Then one day, David Conrad walks into the Fairview Public Library. He looks just like the sexy pirate on the cover of a romance novel her best friend, Lori, has been reading, so they secretly refer to him as The Pirate Man. But the truth is even stranger. His appearance means old secrets are about to be revealed, and not everyone in town will be happy about that.

Who is David Conrad?

David immediately rubs Molly the wrong way. But she somehow keeps getting entangled with him in ways she can’t seem to avoid. He claims to be descended from a prominent Fairview family that was brutally murdered in the 1950s. The Conrad murders were never solved, and now that a Conrad is back in town and asking questions, the people of Fairview are in for some surprises. So is Molly. Who’d have thought an irritating Pirate Man could capture her heart?

 

 

 

Excerpt

This scene is not remotely romantic, but shows off Molly and her love interest, David, and the villain, Matt, who is the president of the library board and thus her boss. He’s been harassing her since high school.

Fairview wasn’t a wealthy town. She was surprised at how many people depended on the library, despite Matt’s contention that it was basically a place for poor moms to get free kid activities. She once again wondered why someone so uninterested in public libraries would want to be the president of a library board. Would he really do this just to get Molly’s goat as often as possible?

Speak of the devil. As if her thoughts had summoned him, Matt walked through the front door. She forced herself to speak to him cordially.

“Well, good morning, Mr. Green,” she said.

“Molly,” he nodded in return. “Let’s see this bathroom you can’t seem to keep functioning.”

“It’s the ladies, in the back. There aren’t any patrons this early. You can walk right in,” she said, seething. He was back shortly.

“It looks just fine to me,” he said. “To hear Johnny tell it, the bathrooms were a disaster. Tried to tell me we need to do a complete remodel.”

“We do need to do a complete remodel,” she said.

“Oh, and I suppose you’re a plumbing expert,” Matt said.

“I do know that antique plumbing fixtures eventually start to fail, and these are clearly failing,” she said.

“I bet some kid flushed a wad of paper down the toilet and made it overflow,” Matt said. “You probably just weren’t paying attention to the kids. I’ve told you before, you need to keep an eye on them or you never know what they’ll get up to. Hell, you know that. I heard about young Thomas, tearing hell out of the old Conrad place over the weekend.”

Molly hadn’t noticed, but David had quietly walked up and now he spoke. He put down a folder he’d been carrying.

“I was here when the plumber switched out the toilets. I can attest that the problem wasn’t a wad of paper. That plumbing is going to just get worse,” David said.

“Oh, you’re the new Conrad in town. Didn’t know you were a specialist in plumbing. Or in libraries. I did hear you were a regular specialist on handing juvenile delinquents. Heard you decided to let the kids off. I heard why, too.” Matt gave him a knowing little smirk.

“That’s no concern of yours,” David said. Molly saw Matt’s face darken.

“This library is no concern of yours, either,” Matt said. “Molly, I’d have thought better of you than to just hire the very first man to give you a second look. But I guess when you haven’t gotten a date in years, you’ll do whatever it takes, won’t you?”

Before she could even react, David did. His fist shot out and caught Matt squarely on the chin. Matt brought his hand to his chin and touched it, as if unsure to believe that David had really hit it.

“You need to apologize,” David said.

“I will do no such thing! You are fired, Mr. Conrad! Get out of here this instant. I’m calling the sheriff, and your ass is going to be arrested and run out of town.”

“You can’t run me out of town. I own a house here. You can have me arrested if you want the gossip, but I can guarantee it won’t be good publicity for the bank if I tell the whole story.”

“You’re a nobody! You think anybody cares you’re a Conrad? Everybody in town knows exactly what’s going on in this library. You two, carrying on. It’s disgusting. And after taking advantage of Tina Macintosh, too. But I guess you’re the type of womanizer Molly likes. Her husband was the same way. Some women don’t have any standards.”

David’s voice became very low, so low Molly had to strain to hear the words.

“You will not talk to her that way. And you will not spread nasty gossip, either. If you do, so help me God, you will live to regret it.”

“Get the hell out of this library! I’m not going to call the sheriff because you’re right, I don’t want the publicity. But you get out of here right now, and don’t come back. Or it’s not just your job. It’s Molly’s too. Now get out!” Matt’s face was red and he was literally spitting as he yelled. Molly had seen Matt mad before, but never like this. She took a step backward, involuntarily. David still looked absolutely calm. She saw his right hand was still in a fist, and as she watched, he relaxed it, but took another step toward Matt.

“Oh, I’ll go quietly. And I apologize for hitting you. I don’t want Ms. Miller to lose her job on account of me. But I can promise you, if I hear you do anything to her, anything at all, you will answer to me. And I can assure you, I do not make idle threats. If I hear a whisper of gossip about any of this, or if she loses her job, you’ll get more than just a little tap on the jaw next time.” He turned to Molly. “If you need me, you know how to get in touch.” She nodded, dumbfounded. He turned around, picked up the folder of papers and slowly walked across the lobby, pausing at the door to stare at Matt pointedly. And then he was gone.

Molly stared at Matt. She had never seen anyone stand up to him like that. Not in high school, not since.

 

 

About the Author

Sophia Sinclair grew up in a town so small (pop. 170!) that the little town of Fairview where this series is set seems like the big city to her. For many years, she was the editor of a small town’s daily newspaper, so she understands the rhythms of small-town life. When she started writing romances, she decided to set them all in a small town called Fairview. If you’re from a small town, you’ll feel like you’ve been there. If you’re from a larger city, don’t be surprised if you start yearning for small-town life. It’s often said that in a small town, everybody knows everyone else’s business, but the truth is, there are still a lot of secrets in small towns!

She is married to a European man, has two grown children and two lovely grandbabies she spoils to death. There’s a little bit of Sophia in every one of her books. Molly is a librarian who wears plain dark dresses and looks very conservative but often wears racy underwear under that plain black dress. Sophia dresses the same. Lori likes to have a good time and always has lots of boyfriends before meeting the love of her life. Sophia will take the Fifth on that one. Catarina has a German poem on her bedroom wall; Sophia has the first two lines of that same poem tattooed on her upper thigh, in German. (It’s Rilke, and the first two lines translate to: “You see, I want a lot. Perhaps I want everything.” As for Julie in Perfect Fit, Sophia is mad about all aspects of pregnancy, breastfeeding, childbirth, and babies. She attended many of her friend’s births, taught breastfeeding to WIC moms as a volunteer, started a business that handled pumps, bras, slings etc., and gave very serious thought to working as a lactation consultant, doula or midwife once the newspaper industry died. Instead, she started writing these romance novels, and she very, very much hopes you’ll enjoy them.

She also writes for Curvicality.com, an online women’s lifestyle magazine aimed at plus-size women. That’s why Julie in Perfect Fit is plus-sized. She wanted to show that love is for everyone; not just the thinner ladies.  Here is an example of the fun stuff she writes there.

Facebook * Amazon Author Page * Instagram

 

 

A Legacy of Murder: A Kate Hamilton Mystery
Traditional Mystery
2nd in Series
Crooked Lane Books (October 8, 2019)
Hardcover ~336 Pages

Synopsis

American antique dealer Kate Hamilton’s Christmastime jaunt to a charming English village leads to an investigation of a missing ruby…and a chain of murders.

It’s Christmastime and antiques dealer Kate Hamilton is off to visit her daughter, Christine, in the quaint English village of Long Barston. Christine and her boyfriend, Tristan, work at stately-but-crumbling Finchley Hall. Touring the Elizabethan house and grounds, Kate is intrigued by the docent’s tales of the Finchley Hoard, and the strange deaths surrounding the renowned treasure trove. But next to a small lake, Kate spies the body of a young woman, killed by a garden spade.

Nearly blind Lady Barbara, who lives at Finchley with her loyal butler, Mugg, persuades Kate to take over the murdered woman’s work. Kate finds that a Burmese ruby has vanished from the legendary Blood-Red Ring, replaced by a lesser garnet. Were the theft and the woman’s death connected?

Kate learns that Lady Barbara’s son fled to Venezuela years before, suspected of murdering another young woman. The murder weapon belonged to an old gardener, who becomes the leading suspect. But is Lady Barbara’s son back to kill again? When another body is found, the clues point toward Christine. It’s up to Kate to clear her daughter’s name in Connie Berry’s second Kate Hamilton mystery, a treasure for fans of traditional British mysteries.

 

 

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Indiebound * Kobo

 

Guest Post

 

CAN I DO IT AGAIN?

by Connie Berry

 

My agent once said that the hardest book you’ll ever write is your second. That’s probably true for many authors, but with all due respect—she’s an amazing, knowledgeable professional—no book could ever have been harder than my first. A Dream of Death took ten years and several massive revisions before it was ready for prime time. The learning curve was so steep, I often doubted I’d ever make it to the top. And this from a person with an M.A. in English Literature who’d been told from second grade on that writing was her gift. I’d read a thousand and one fine mysteries before sitting down at my computer and asking myself, “How hard could it be?” I found out.

I began writing my second book, A Legacy of Murder (a sequel) before I had an agent or a publisher. Writing was a pleasure. First of all, I didn’t have to make all those beginner mistakes again. Yay! Besides, I was writing about characters I had already learned to know and care about—plus some entertaining new characters as well. I loved my plot. And with no deadlines to pressure me, I had all the time in the world to polish, polish, polish (my favorite thing in all the world).

Then I sold two books to Crooked Lane. All of a sudden I was responsible to someone besides myself. I had deadlines. Then the other shoe fell. When A Dream of Death began getting terrific reviews, I couldn’t help asking myself, “Can I do it again?” Can I, in the next six months, produce another story people will like? After all, it took ten years for the first.

Helen Simonson didn’t help. She’s the author of the run-away best-seller Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand, a sweet story of love conquering all. Then her eager fans (me included) had to wait six long years for her second novel, The Summer Before the War. Another excellent book, although she lost a star on that one. Her website gives no hint, but I hope she’s working on a third.

The bottom line was, I didn’t have six years. I had less than six months, so I got to work. And with only a month’s delay (graciously granted), I pushed send and my manuscript flew through cyberspace toward its destiny. I felt like I had when as a young mother, I watched my first son board the yellow school bus and wave goodbye as it chugged around the corner and out of sight.

Since then (as I write this, I’m working on book three in the series), I  have come to understand that just about every author asks the question, “Can I do it again?” They ask it every time they begin a new book. Here’s where fear creeps in: What if the plot never comes together? What if I need more time to finish? What if readers don’t connect with my characters? What if the pace is too slow—or too fast? What if…what if?

I love what the eighteenth-century English lexicographer, Dr. Samuel Johnson, once said: “Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be met.” That encourages me to push forward.

I’m glad to say that reviews for A Legacy of Murder have been wonderful so far. People are reading and enjoying the story. They are connecting with the characters and the wonderful Suffolk countryside setting. Now, with book three, I wonder: can I do it again?

Have you struggled with the fear of failure? What might you accomplish if instead of asking, “Can I do it again?” you asked, “What am I risking if I never try?”

 

About the Author

Like her protagonist, Connie Berry was raised in the antiques trade. After teaching theology for twenty-five years, she took up writing mysteries featuring high-end antiques and the legacy of the past. Connie loves history, cute animals, travel with a hint of adventure, and all things British. She lives in Ohio with her husband and adorable dog, Millie.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads

 

Giveaway

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Synopsis

 

The stories of the lost Kado treasure were not legend. They told the truth.

Eighteen-year-old Tom Murrell could never understand his father’s dreams of carving a new life out of the wilderness. He wanted to do something else with his life besides spend it behind a plow, but with the family moving to the Red River in Arkansaw Territory, he was stuck.

Everything changes for Tom when he witnesses the death of Tiatesun, spiritual leader of the Kadohadacho tribe, and is drawn into a raging conflict between the Kado and their arch enemies, a renegade band of Osage.

His new friends Mattie and James say there is no alternative. They must use a cryptic map, drawn in a bible by Tiatesun in his own blood before he died, to find this place called Na-Da-cah-ah. Only then can Tom be sure that his family and friends will be safe.

But it is a race against time—a race against Wey Chutta’s Osage. Dangers are everywhere. The only chance to save his family is for Tom, Mattie, and James to join with six Kado warriors, make sense from the many clues they uncover on their quest, and discover the real Na-Da-cah-ah.

 

 

 

Praise

“A robust take that’s steeped in history and features well-rounded characters throughout.” —Kirkus Reviews

 

Listen to the Prologue here

 

About the Author

E. Russell “Rusty” Braziel has been a rock musician, entrepreneur, and widely read blogger, and is the author of the nonfiction bestseller The Domino Effect.

Born in Caddo country in Northeast Texas, Rusty is the four-times-great-grandson of John Murrell, patriarch of the Murrell family that inspired Kado. For over 15 years, he has been a student of the Caddo tribal culture in pre-Columbian and early frontier periods, including the tribe’s history, language, and beliefs.

Rusty and his wife Teresa share their time between a homestead in Northeast Texas and grandkids in Houston.

 

Website * Goodreads * Twitter * Facebook * Instagram

 

Synopsis

Allie Abraham has it all going for her—she’s a straight-A student, with good friends and a close-knit family, and she’s dating cute, popular, and sweet Wells Henderson. One problem: Wells’s father is Jack Henderson, America’s most famous conservative shock jock…and Allie hasn’t told Wells that her family is Muslim. It’s not like Allie’s religion is a secret, exactly. It’s just that her parents don’t practice and raised her to keep her Islamic heritage to herself. But as Allie witnesses ever-growing Islamophobia in her small town and across the nation, she begins to embrace her faith—studying it, practicing it, and facing hatred and misunderstanding for it. Who is Allie, if she sheds the façade of the “perfect” all-American girl? What does it mean to be a “Good Muslim?” And can a Muslim girl in America ever truly fit in?

ALL-AMERICAN MUSLIM GIRL is a relevant, relatable story of being caught between two worlds, and the struggles and hard-won joys of finding your place.

 

 

 

Review

If you are looking for a book that reflects the struggles of a young woman and her Muslim heritage than look no further.

The title of this book intrigued me to read the description and then grab a copy of the book to read.  I am so glad that I did because I felt for Allie and her struggles with her heritage but not really growing up as a Muslim because her parents were not religious.  I’m not really sure what the turning point was for Allie to pursue learning more about being a Muslim, but it is definitely a learning curve for her.  From praying, learning the Qur’an, to fasting during Ramadan, and learning Arabic, Allie is on a roller coaster of feelings about everything she knew in the past and what she is learning now.

I appreciated the insight into the Islamic faith and learning more about what they believe.  It also showcases Allie’s struggles with what the faith teaches (especially when it comes to dating – as in there is no dating) and trying to survive in today’s world.  I admired Allie’s willingness to stand up for her faith and heritage against bigots and even though they may have dismissed her as a child, she at least made her feelings known.

Teenagers today have a lot to deal with in our social media crazed world, I can’t imagine adding conflicting feelings when it comes to faith and family.

There is also the family dynamic as her father states that they are not religious and believe in science.  I think this also is a catalyst for pushing her towards her faith because of what she sees from her extended family when she sees them on various holidays.

This book was very educational and would be a good read for any teenager to understand that they can stand up for their faith and heritage and learning more and becoming more only benefits them.

We give this 5 paws up.

 

 

As a side note, I received a copy via Netgalley but the text message text did not appear in my eGalley.  Hopefully, this is fixed for all future eBooks.

 

About the Author

Nadine Jolie Courtney is the author of ALL-AMERICAN MUSLIM GIRL (FSG/2019). She is also the author of ROMANCING THE THRONE, and—under her maiden name Nadine Haobsh—BEAUTY CONFIDENTIAL and CONFESSIONS OF A BEAUTY ADDICT.

Nadine is a Circassian-American, a Muslim, and a believer that compassion and education can make the world a better place.

Nadine graduated from Barnard College and was formerly a beauty editor at Lucky and Ladies’ Home Journal magazines. As a travel, beauty, and royalty writer, her work has appeared in Town & Country magazine, Vanity Fair online, and Vogue online, and she has been profiled in Vogue, Cosmo, the New York Times, and Allure. She is a contributing writer for Angeleno magazine.

As a blonde-haired, green-eyed Muslim of Circassian descent, Nadine was raised to hide the truth about her religion, spending years hiding behind her white-passing privilege. Following the Muslim Ban, she gathered the courage to write a love letter to Islam—a book about a young girl running toward her Islamic heritage, rather than away from it. The resulting book—ALL-AMERICAN MUSLIM GIRL—is designed as a tonic for other confused or curious cross-cultural kids, eager to finally embrace their own heritage.

An avowed Anglophile, Nadine has worked for Sarah, Duchess of York, and lived in England, Argentina and Palm Beach managing Carlos Gracida, the most successful polo player in history, favorite of Her Majesty The Queen, and teammate of HRHs Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry—settings and relationships Nadine drew upon while researching and writing ROMANCING THE THRONE.

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Christmas Cupcakes and a Caper (Death by Cupcake)
Cozy Mystery Novella
4th in Series
Independently Published (November 1, 2019)
Number of Pages: 80

Synopsis

It’s all candy cane cupcakes and peppermint coffee until you find a dead elf on your doorstep.

Only the elf wasn’t a real elf, because elves don’t actually exist – not even at Christmas time. A college student dressed like an elf decided taking a nap in sub-zero winter temps was a good idea. It wasn’t. Anna, the pink-haired baker extraordinaire of Callie’s Cakes, is convinced the student’s death was not an accident. She drags Callie and Kristie along with her as she attempts to discover who killed the elf … um… student.

Will the gals of Callie’s Cakes find the killer before Christmas is ruined?

Cupcakes not included, although you’ll find recipes for all the delicious Christmas cupcakes Anna baked.

 

 

Review

I don’t think I have read anything by this author that I didn’t enjoy! This book is humorous and kept me engaged from the first page to the last.  I liked that it was a shorter read, it was just the right length to read before I went to sleep.

This series centers around three women that are good friends, they have hunky men that adore them and there is a cupcake shop involved with mouth-watering sweet treats.  All is going well until an elf shows up dead on the shop’s doorsteps.  It is then off to the races to find out who killed the elf and why.  The answer was a bit surprising to me and I truly didn’t suspect the killer.  Along with finding the killer, Callie is trying to figure out what is going on with her boyfriend Ben.  The answer is sweet but that is all I will say, you will have to read the book yourself to find out the answer.

Anna cracks me up – she is petite but a force of nature.  Let’s just say you shouldn’t mess with her.

This is the fourth book in the series and I didn’t read the first three but I don’t think that would keep anyone from enjoying this book, you just miss out on the character development.  I will have to go back and read the first three at some point to see what I missed.

Overall it was a great book and we give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

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.

 

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Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

Synopsis

It is said that dreams are just that: only dreams. But believe me, this is not always true. Some dreams are as real as the dreamer.

Thanks to their dreams, dreamers can receive the special visit of eternal wisdom that has inspired the creativity of great inventors, scientists, musicians, and even writers throughout the ages.

This creative wisdom is not always the type that appears to the eager conscience. Sometimes, a Defiler, a destroyer of dreams, is the one who tries to appear before the dreamer. These creatures were once humans, but they allowed their pain and desire for revenge to take over and seek the same miserable fate for the one who dreams.

You must not fear — Dream Guardians, also known as Kelsdrant, will always protect the one who dreams, even with their own life. They are people of flesh and bone, just like you and me, or at least they are on Earth.

The following story is dedicated to the fun, extravagant, and enlightening life of Julian Fox, the Dream Guardian.

Be prepared, dear reader. It is time to dream, laugh, reflect, and even maybe cry.

Welcome to the Land of the Wise Dreams.

 

 

 

Read the first 3 chapters on E.J.’s Website

 

Interview

Tell us a little bit about your background and where the inspiration from this book stemmed from.

I believe that reading inspires any writer. I have been reading since I was a little girl, and one day, many years ago, I decided to put my own words in front of readers. I am inspired by my desire for sincere support and respect as a response to the intolerance that we can still see today. I hope Julian Fox makes the readers laugh, reflect, and realize there are other ways of writing, debunking the myth that everything has been written.

How has living in Colombia influenced your writing style and the types of stories you’re interested in telling?

I have had the honor of living in this beautiful country for almost two years. During all of this time, I have continued writing about Julian Fox’s adventures. The happiness of this Latin-American country has been very stimulating for me, especially to come up with the pranks between Julian and Nicholas. I must also say that Cartagena, a wonderful city I visited many years ago, inspired me to write the story of a brave Colombian Guardian who will always be remembered by all the present Dream Guardians.

How did you approach the book’s genre when creating a unique blend of history, fantasy, mythology, romance, and humor?

I have been wanting to create my own world for a long time. Julian Fox’s personality, sense of humor, sense of justice, love for his family, and respect for others echoes who I am. I respect and admire every book I have had the fortune of reading, and I believe every book to come must be as authentic as the writer. In my particular case, I write about stories of the past so the reader can reflect on how much we as a humanity have evolved and how much we still need to change. In this book, I also express my love for the beauty and complexity of mythology and, as an homage to past writers’ imagination, I created my own take on mythology, giving it a meaning and a purpose for me and my dear readers.

Do you think female readers are yearning for new fantasy stories that will connect with them? Did you intentionally craft your tale to appeal to a female audience?

I write to the feelings, decisions, and consequences that are born from our free will. I write to the strong heartbeats that make us humans, not to a specific gender. I dedicate my story to our laughter, strength, and courage, and I hope one day respect and understanding prevail between us, just like it does between my Dream Guardians. I know my goal is too big but it is my dream, and I know many readers out there, regardless of gender, share this dream with me.

Your writing often takes place across a wide range of settings: Paris, Miami, Chicago, Boston, Rio de Janeiro, Moscow, China, Greece, Spain, Mexico, Italy, and Argentina. What is your take on global writing and how do you choose which locations to represent? Have you traveled to every place you write about?

I have had the opportunity of traveling to many cities around the world. I chose Paris as Julian’s birthplace after my first trip to this mesmerizing city. The same happened during my stay in Spain. I chose Seville, one of the main epicenters of the Spanish Inquisition, as the main scenario for the story of Juan de Villanueva. Many cities have inspired me, mainly for their past, their history, and their culture and how it has changed over the years. I believe a society’s culture is what makes its history, and it is important to learn from our past mistakes to avoid repeating them today. I must say that Moscow, China, and Greece are still on my travel bucket list.

 

About the Author

E. J. Miranda is an avid reader, an enthusiastic traveler, and a passionate author. Her great sense of humor and love for nature have granted her a rebellious writing style: her approach describes the adventures of life, but in such a way that each reader can have an individual take on the matter. Her inspiration comes from her curiosity about other countries’ cultures and peculiarities. A few countries in particular which spark her curiosity are Colombia, Italy, Costa Rica, England, Belgium, Mexico, Spain, and the United States. Her favorite places to visit are historical sites and museums, locations that allow her to explore important and even overlooked details. She currently lives with her husband in Colombia, but frequently travels to Houston to visit her daughter and son. E.J. Miranda has a degree in tax accounting, but she prefers interacting with people to calculating their taxes.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Goodreads

 

Tarnished Brass

by

Max L. Knight

 

  Genre: Historical Fiction / Novella / War

Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.

Date of Publication: September 20, 2019

Number of Pages: 114

 

Scroll down for the giveaway!

 

 

The war in El Salvador as seen through the eyes of a U.S. Army officer, a guerrilla leader, and a refugee turned gang member

Patrick Michael Moynihan finds himself returning to the small Central American country where, as a young impressionistic junior officer, he was thrust into the middle of a brutal civil war.

Miguel Alejandro Xenias, once a member of the ruling elite in El Salvador, recalls his change of heart, advancement within the guerrilla movement, and his new-found hope for the country now that the FMLN is in power.

Antonio Cruz, seeking a new life in America, finds only a different kind of hatred and conflict, joins the street gang MS-13, and returns home bringing with him a new kind of warfare.

These perspectives spotlight an ongoing struggle in El Salvador that continues to impact the immigration crisis on our southern border and the spread of gang violence throughout the United States.

More than just a history of the war in El Salvador, a conflict that ended almost thirty years ago, Tarnished Brass gives voice to those who fought and those who only wanted to escape the violence.

 

Amazon ● Barnes & Noble

GooglePlay  ●  Apple iTunes ● IndieBound

 

 

 

 

This novella packs a punch when it comes to covering the war in El Salvador.

While the story is fiction it is based on real events in the 80s into the early 90s.  From the guerrilla warfare, the corrupt governments, and even some human interest when it comes to refugees, this book shines a light on an event most of us probably weren’t even aware of – assuming you are old enough to remember that time period!

I was enthralled with this story as events unfolded and gave us a picture of what this country looked like in the 80s.  I felt like the author did an outstanding job of sharing facts of this war along with military terminology so that I felt like I might have been there as an observer.  But at the same time, some of these stories were heartbreaking when it came to those escaping to the USA for a chance at a better life, yet not finding one.  Or the young boy that turned to gangs to fill a void that he felt needed to be filled.  Or the priests in the Catholic Church that lose their life because they dare to stand up to the factions.  Patrick, who is in the US military, gets too close to the situation and luckily escapes before his luck runs out.

War is brutal and I cannot imagine living in a country that is torn apart by mercenaries or guerrillas on a daily basis.  When reading a book like this it makes me appreciate what I have and where I live even more.  Thank you to Max for sharing his knowledge and experiences with us in this book.

We give this 5 paws up.

 

 

 

Max Knight was born in Panama and grew up in the Canal Zone and in San Antonio, Texas. He graduated from Texas A&M University in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in English. A Distinguished Military Graduate, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army and served twenty-four years in the Air Defense Artillery retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

In addition to assignments within his basic branch, Max also specialized as a Foreign Area Officer in both the European Theatre of Operations (Germany and Greece) and within USSOUTHCOM (Panama, Honduras, and El Salvador). He received the Defense Superior Service Medal for his service in El Salvador during that country’s civil war. Max earned his master’s degree in government from Campbell University and retired from the Army in 1997.

Upon retirement, Max was hired by RCI Technologies in San Antonio and became its Director of Internal Operations. He also was the first volunteer docent at the Alamo working within its Education Department. However, following the tragic events of 9/11, he became an Independent Contractor and spent the next ten years as a Counterintelligence Specialist in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Central America before cancer forced him to quit.

Max has since published a memoir, Silver Taps, and a novel of westward expansion, Palo Duro. He resides in San Antonio with his wife, Janet “Gray.” They have three surviving children; Lisa, Brian, and Sean, and three grandchildren; Tony, Nicholas, and Cecilia Marie.

 

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GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!

One Winner: Signed copy of Tarnished Brass + $25 Amazon Gift Card

OCTOBER 29-NOVEMBER 8, 2019

(U.S. Only)

 

 

 

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Check out the other blogs on this tour

10/29/19	Promo	All the Ups and Downs
10/29/19	Excerpt	Chapter Break Book Blog
10/30/19	Author Interview	That’s What She’s Reading
10/30/19	Review	Hall Ways Blog
10/31/19	Scrapbook page	Missus Gonzo
10/31/19	Review	Librariel Book Adventures
11/1/19	Playlist	The Clueless Gent
11/1/19	Review	Forgotten Winds
11/2/19	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
11/2/19	Review	Reading by Moonlight

 

 

 

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