Synopsis

As a teen, I had my life figured out: graduate and make my dream of being a bull riding champion a reality. That is right up until the goth girl transferred to my school. Georgia laid the snark on as thick as her eyeliner, but I saw through the toughened façade and fell for her. Hard.

She was willing to give up her own dream to follow me as I pursued my passion, but I couldn’t let her do that. So, I made the hardest decision of my life…and walked away.

It’s been twelve years since I left home without her and the all-grown-up Georgia is just as feisty and fiery as she was back then. It’s clear she has no intention of making redemption easy for me. Thankfully, I’m a patient man who knows what he wants. I’ve never stopped loving her, and I know she feels the same.

Back then I was a rhinestone cowboy, and she was a dark angel, complete opposites, yet we fell in love anyway. We weren’t meant to be like every other cookie cutter couple, we were meant to be different.

 

 

Review

I enjoyed the first book and this one was just as enjoyable!  This time the story focuses on another Carlisle brother, Wyatt.  He is a handsome bull riding rodeo star that has decided to open up a school to teach other men (and maybe women?) how to ride a bull.  And who should he run into when seeking some guidance on promoting the school?  His one and only love, Georgia aka Gigi aka Dark Angel.

I really like how this story goes back and forth between the past and the present sharing the backstory of these two, the ups and downs, and what they meant to each other.  They were just teenagers so of course, true love did not run smoothly due to mistakes on both of their parts.  But the sparks are still there when they are brought together by chance and Wyatt is determined to not let Gigi slip through his fingers again.

I enjoyed how he asked his brothers for help and some were understanding and others were a bit flippant.  Just wait, the flippant one will get his due I’m sure.

There are some great lines between the two (and sadly I didn’t mark any while reading to share with you) and you can definitely feel the heat between the two once they let their guard down and give in to the chemistry between them.

We give it 4 paws up and await future books about the Carlise brothers.

 

About the Author

Books, coffee, and chocolate make up both the heart and body mass that is better known as Amelia Foster. She has been a lifelong lover of the written word, both as a reader and an author, and completed her first manuscript at the ripe old age of five complete with illustrations. Sadly, her art was a medium that never improved over time although thankfully her writing has.

From sweet to salacious the only requirement Amelia has in books she reads – and definitely in the ones she crafts – is an excessively satisfying happily ever after… and then a little bit more.

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Dreamed It (Dreamwalker Mystery)
Paranormal Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Camel Press (August 13, 2019)
Paperback: 248 pages

Synopsis

Justice for the dead and solace for the living is Baxley Powell’s creed, but she faces uncharted territory in this sixth book of the Dreamwalker Mystery Series. The Suitcase Killer has struck again, only this big city menace is now a problem for Baxley’s hometown. As that investigation heats up, a local woman is reported missing. The sheriff orders Baxley to work the missing person’s case.

Listening to the dead is familiar ground for Baxley but finding a missing young lady isn’t in her skill set. Besides, her dreams rarely follow a timeline. With the clock ticking, can this crime consultant discover a way to reach the living?

Her main source of help in the afterlife, a mentor named Rose, is unavailable. Instead, Baxley must rely on her wits and her Native American boyfriend, Deputy Sam Mayes, to find leads. Each shared dreamwalk and energy transfer binds them closer together, creating another issue. Mayes wants to marry Baxley but it isn’t that easy. They’re hampered by their community roles in opposite ends of the state.

Baxley juggles the pressure of two high-profile cases, a determined suitor, and expanding her limits. One thing is certain. Without her extrasensory sleuthing, the missing woman will die.

 

Excerpt

A sudden jolt propelled me to consciousness. I gazed upon a vast darkness and wheezed air into my lungs. Time passed as I steadied my breathing and slowed my racing heart. Flat on my back, I took stock of my situation. Numb limbs indicated an extended dreamwalk, but I had no memory of any such excursion.

I’d spent a quiet Sunday evening at home with my daughter and Sam Mayes, my Native American boyfriend, who was down from North Georgia for the weekend. I’d gone to sleep in my own bed and awakened here, wherever here was.

Was I alone?

I called upon my flagging energy to do a life signs scan. Using my extra senses, I virtually ranged out from my prone position. Mayes was to my immediate left, and from his low energy levels, as wiped out as I was. He was a dreamwalker, same as me. And from the cold energy pressing against my leg, my ghost dog watched over us. He’d bark on the spirit plane if someone or something approached, though my scan assured me we were alone.

The void in my memory worried me. My debilitated condition pointed to an extrasensory event, but danged if I remembered contacting a spirit on the Other Side. Strange, because I remembered every other dreamwalk I’d ever made. Why not this one?

So much for me being an expert on the paranormal.

Just when I thought I had the hang of my unusual profession of communicating with the dead, it socked me in the teeth. Crossing over to the spirit realm was something I did often, but the veil between the living and the dead nearly won this time.

This had been no ordinary dreamwalk. Instead of it being a spirit-only event, somehow our bodies had also undergone the shift. That defied the laws of physics, but here we were, body and spirit. Impossible and yet my reality.

Tears misted my eyes, and I blinked to sharpen my vision. A woodsy aroma filled my nose, so we were outdoors. The darkness suggested it was night. My thoughts drifted into a self-healing meditative trance focusing on the breath. Gradually, clarity returned.

As numbness yielded to tingling nerves, sensation seeped into my rigid body. Fatigue rolled in next, and with it, the riptide of bone-deep exhaustion. Despite my weariness, I took heart. This reaction was normal after an extended dreamwalk.

Oliver lapped happily at my face, his whip-thin tail wagging his entire ghostly form. Good dog, Oliver, I managed as I joined him on the spirit plane. While here in spirit only, I still maintained awareness of my physical surroundings.

My ghost dog materialized as a misty image of a jet black Great Dane, his body aquiver with happiness. Earlier this summer I rescued Oliver from virtual chains and too-tight collar at a haunted house. No amount of urging had prompted him to the afterlife, and his essence attached to mine. At this bereft moment, I was delighted by his presence.

Oliver showed us the way home through the drift, I realized. It wasn’t the first time he’d rescued me, and I owed him so much already.

Despite my dry-as-cotton mouth, I cooed over him while I tried to pinpoint my location. Stars twinkled overhead, framed by tall oaks and pines. Not my treetops, not my yard.

I heard a moan to my left. Felt the urgency as Mayes whispered my name. “Baxley.” With a final rub of the ears for Oliver, I integrated fully into the physical plane.

Mayes whispered again, his tone deeper and freighted with authority. “Bax. You okay?”

“Yeah.” I managed. “What happened to us?”

“Got no clue.”

Sam Mayes had become a fixture in my life, though I’d only known him for three months. I wished I was in his protective arms right this very second.

“I feel like I got run over by a truck,” I said. “Last thing I remember is getting ready for bed.”

“That’s right.” His voice roughened. “I shared your toothpaste before we crawled under the covers.”

My face heated as memories surfaced. “I remember the before-sleep part fine, but between there and here is a big, fat zero. Except for Oliver. He guided us home through the drift.” I tried to sit, but my limbs weren’t fully responsive yet. I remained prone.

“I have the same mental gap. I believe we were taken, body and spirit, from your house.”

Hearing the words made it real. The impossible had happened. Nothing else explained our physical displacement, the prolonged recovery time, and the shared memory gaps.

My teeth ground together as I made another connection. “Unless some other entity kidnapped us, my money’s on Rose. Her abilities go beyond the possible. I’ve never met another spirit entity as powerful.”

Allegedly, my otherworld mentor, Rose, worked undercover in the spirit realm, but she claimed to be an angel. Seeing her dark, powerful wings had made a believer out of me. That physical manifestation, her ability to do impossible feats, and her total hold on me proved she was more than a powerful spirit. She’d banished demons, fetched folks from beyond the point of no return, wrestled with selkies, quelled spirit rebellions, and more.

Trouble was, Rose kept changing the rules of our association. By sheer willpower, I managed to draw one hand close enough to study in the starlight. From the faint glow of my watch, it was three a.m. The rose tattoo on my hand was still there. Rose put three tattoos on my body to indicate the hours of my indenture to her. Rats. If she’d gone to the trouble of kidnapping us and erasing our memories, her prominent brand indicated I still owed her the hours of my life I’d willingly exchanged during life-or-death situations of loved ones.

That’s right. Rose charged for her supernatural favors, and I’d begged for her help three times. Each time the terms had been the same. A favor in exchange for an hour of my life. I’d agreed due to the dire nature of the situations, but darn-it-all if I wanted Rose to collect. With her rule-bending nature, I could turn into a mass murderer or worse on either side of the veil.

“I keep reminding you, Rose is not your friend,” Mayes said.

++++

 

About the Author

Southern author Maggie Toussaint evolved into a mystery author after getting her feet damp in romantic suspense and dystopian fiction, with twenty fiction novels and two nonfiction novels to her credit. Her work won two Silver Falchions, the Readers’ Choice, and the EPIC Awards. She’s a past president of Southeast chapter of Mystery Writers of America and an officer of Lowcountry Sisters In Crime. She lives in coastal Georgia, where secrets, heritage, and ancient oaks cast long shadows.

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Giveaway

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Synopsis

DEFINITELY, MAYBE…OR LOVE, ACTUALLY? 

English professor Bonnie Blythe expects her life to play out like her favorite novels, especially now that her long-term boyfriend has finally proposed. So when a shocking discovery leads Bonnie to end her engagement, she decides to close the book on love. But the plot thickens when a brand-new character enters the scene—and quickens Bonnie’s heart.

With his brilliant blue eyes, sexy accent, and irresistible charm, Theo Wharton is like a romantic hero straight out of a Jane Austen novel. When fate places Bonnie in England for a summer—conveniently close to Theo—she realizes a hot friends-with-benefits fling is exactly what she needs to start a fresh chapter. Just as Bonnie begins to believe she’s falling in love, an eye-opening revelation into Theo’s life makes Bonnie feel like she’s wandered into one of her favorite books. Will Bonnie have the courage to risk her heart and turn the page with the dashing Brit to find her true happy ending after all?

 

Review

This is the 2nd book in this series and I enjoyed all of the characters and their many quirks.

We were introduced to Bonnie and Theo in the first book as best friends to the main characters.  I could feel the interest between these two but knew at the time it wasn’t going to go anywhere because Bonnie was engaged and she isn’t the type to cheat on her man.

Fast forward to an event in Chicago that brings Theo and Bonnie together again and the chemistry is still there.  Thankfully Bonnie finds her fiance cheating on her which opens the door for Theo.  But what does Bonnie want from him?  A fling?  More?  She really isn’t sure but is lucky enough to have the summer to figure it out.

This book has a lot of laugh out loud moments for me and I read the book very quickly since I didn’t want to put it down.  I enjoyed the conversations between Theo and Bonnie, the various activities they did while she was in England, and just how they just seemed to click.

I’m hoping that there will be a couple more books featuring the other two girlfriends that make up the rest of Bonnie’s group of friends.

We give this 5 paws up and suggest starting with Getting Hot With the Scot since it will set you up for this book.

 

About the Author

A Star Wars junkie and Shakespeare groupie who quotes both Yoda and the Bard with equal aplomb, award-winning author Melonie Johnson—aka #thewritinglush—is a two-time RWA Golden Heart® finalist who loves dark coffee, cheap wine, and expensive beer. And margaritas. And mimosas. And mules. Basically, any cocktail that starts with the letter m. She met her future husband in that most romantic of places—the mall—when they were teenagers working in stores across the hall from each other. They went on to live happily ever after in the suburbs of Chicago with two redhead daughters, a dog that’s more like a small horse, and a trio of hermit crabs. After earning her Bachelor of Arts magna cum laude from Loyola University Chicago, Melonie taught high school English and Theatre in the northern Chicago suburbs for several years. Now she writes smart and funny contemporary romance and moonlights as an audiobook narrator under the pseudonym, Evelyn Eibhlin.

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Death by Design: A DIY Diva Mystery
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Cozy Cat Press (June 20, 2019)
Print Length: 184 pages

Synopsis

DIY Diva Laurel McMillan rejoices when her student Jennifer’s peacock pillow wins a design contest; that is, until Jennifer’s husband Matt is smothered with the very same pillow. When the police confiscate her prize-winning pillow, Jennifer freaks out, and Laurel fears that Jennifer may be more upset about losing the pillow than about Matt’s death. But the police arrest disgraced nurse Edna Elkins, not Jennifer. Begging Laurel to find the real killer, Edna insists she’s innocent, but Laurel’s not so sure, and when Laurel encounters Jennifer while walking her lovable Labrador retriever, Bear, she’s left with more questions than answers. Should the crafty DIY Diva play DIY Detective or does Edna really belong in jail?

Includes recipes and pillow project instructions.

 

Guest Post

Crafting in the DIY Diva Mystery Series

by

Paula Darnell

Most of us cozy mystery readers enjoy trying to solve a puzzle. Although the answer to the whodunit question is at the center of most mysteries, it’s not the only consideration for an author who plans to write a mystery novel. Another major element that authors must take into consideration is the persona of the detective (always an amateur in a cozy), who’s also the main character in the book. In addition to the physical characteristics of the amateur sleuth, the author has to focus on personality, relationships, daily routine, and so on.

One of the first elements I thought of when I was planning the first book in my DIY Diva Mystery series is the occupation of my amateur sleuth, Laurel McMillan. Cozy mysteries often have protagonists who own a small retail business. I like to read these myself because the reader often gets a good idea of the struggles and successes of an individual proprietor, but I wanted Laurel to have more freedom and a more flexible schedule than she would have if she were running a retail business six or seven days a week. Such freedom gives Laurel plenty of time to play DIY Detective when the need arises.

Another factor that played into selecting her occupation resulted from the story’s setting. Since the first book focuses so much on the walled, guard-gated community where she lives (and where the murder takes place), I wanted her to be physically present in the community as much as possible, giving her plenty of opportunity to pick up gossipy tidbits from friends and neighbors.

A work-at-home occupation seemed to fit the bill. Briefly, I considered making her a writer, but then I had a better idea. Why not make her a crafter who has been able to turn her love of crafting into a viable business? Because many people dream about turning a hobby into a business and actually making money and supporting themselves by doing something they love, I liked the idea and decided to go with it.

Another thing I liked about having Laurel making her living from crafting is that I know a lot about several different crafts as well as sewing, which comes in handy when I write about what she’s doing in her business. I also know about writing about a craft or teaching a craft to others, so I was able to add these components to her repertoire.

In the DIY Diva Mystery series, Laurel blogs, writes DIY books on crafts, designs craft projects for manufacturers, teaches various craft and sewing classes at the Hawkeye Haven community center, and sometimes sells some her jewelry wholesale to boutiques. Why so many elements to her crafting business? I believe such variety makes the portrayal of her vocation much more realistic because people who have small crafts-based businesses typically wear many hats, and it’s not unusual to teach, write, design, sell wholesale, sell online, sell at craft fairs, or pursue a combination of these activities.

In each book in the series, Laurel is writing her own book. In Death by Association, the first book in the series, she’s busy researching and writing DIY for Dog Lovers (she has an adorable chocolate Labrador retriever for inspiration). To tie in with the theme, I include four recipes for dog treats in the back of the book. along with two projects for readers’ own favorite canine companions: a reversible, fringed dog scarf and a no-sew dog bed. In Death by Design, the second book in the series, Laurel is teaching a class about how to make pillows and writing her next book, DIY Perfect Pillows. Included at the back of Death by Design are instructions for a suede or leather (faux or real) fringed pillow and a lacy neck roll pillow.

Another tie-in to the craft theme is that, in Death by Design, Jennifer, one of Laurel’s students, wins a design contest with a beautiful peacock pillow she makes. Unfortunately, Jennifer’s prize-winning pillow is used to kill her husband Matt.

Book three in the series features a different craft, but I won’t give it away yet, as it concerns the plot of the book, too. The third book in the series should be out sometime in late fall, if I get back to my computer and finish it soon!

 

About the Author

An instructor at five colleges over the years, Paula Darnell most often taught the dreaded first-year English composition classes, but she’s also been happy to teach some fun classes, such as fashion design, sewing, and jewelry making. Paula has a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, and a Master’s degree in English from the University of Nevada, Reno.

Like Laurel, the main character in Death by Association, Paula enjoys all kinds of arts and crafts. Some of her memorable projects include making a hat and a cape to wear to Royal Ascot, sewing wedding gowns for both her daughters, exhibiting her textile and mixed-media artwork in juried art shows, and having one of her jewelry projects accepted for inclusion in Leather Jewelry, published by Lark Books. She sells some of her jewelry and hair accessories in her Etsy shop.

Paula’s interest in DIY craft projects and fashion led to her writing hundreds of articles for print and online national publications.

Living in a guard-gated community governed by a homeowners’ association gave Paula the idea for the setting of Death by Association. She finds that residing in an HOA community can be both a blessing and a curse. A Happy-New-Year greeting from her community association called on residents to “start the new year by reviewing your Rules and Regulations booklet,” something unlikely to top anyone’s list of New Year’s resolutions.

Paula lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, with her husband Gary and their 110-pound dog Rocky, whose favorite pastime is lurking in the kitchen, hoping for a handout

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Book Title: 120 Days by Ronald L. Ruiz
Category: Adult Fiction, 318 pages
Genre: Legal thriller, crime fiction, literary fiction
Publisher: Amika Press
Release date: May 22, 2019

Synopsis

BARBARA BLAKE is a bright, young, attractive, and ambitious defense attorney. Alejandro Soto, an inmate already serving two life sentences for the brutal murder of a drug dealer and the man’s mother, is on trial for a third murder, one he did not commit but that could well result in the Death Penalty. When Blake and Soto meet in the San Cristobal, California courtroom, they begin a 120-day journey that will invariably alter both of their lives. Together, they spiral ever more deeply into the dark heart of a quintessentially American story of sex and love, truth and lies, justice and prejudice, crime and punishment, and, ultimately, life and death.

Praise for 120 Days

“​There is a human element here that is only found in top-tiered crime fiction, and this book is filled with it. I adore all of the major bestselling authors of this genre and have finally found a new favorite that, in my opinion, belongs in the same league. A truly brilliant novel. An exceptional writer. Highly recommended.”
– Readers’ Favorite Reviews

Amazon * Amika Press

 

Guest Post

There are many books out there about….What makes yours different?

A Real Love Story

Many years ago, growing up in Fresno, California, if I was walking down the street or through an alley around nine o’clock in the morning during the summer or on a school holiday, I could hear the same dramatic, dense organ music coming from every house I passed by. After about 20 seconds, a deep, serious male voice would come on, humming for a few moments, and then announce, “The adventures of Helen Trent”. He would then ask the ultimate question: “Can a woman after 35 find romance?” Then he would hum away as the dramatic organ quieted.

Years later, a neighbor used to come out on her side porch at different times of the day and start pounding on her loud typewriter. She was writing nurse love stories, and was the sole support of her large family doing that. They were paperback books that were sold off of racks at Five and Dime stores. I used to wonder how many stories she could possibly write about nurses and love. There had to be some variations. Or were there?

Now come Barbara Blake and Alejandro Soto into my life as characters in my latest book, 120 Days. This is a real love story, or at least it is based on a real love story. Cases that are appealed from decisions in trial courts appear in published volumes, and a few years ago, a case appeared involving a man who had been convicted of murder and sentenced to death had appealed his conviction. His sole defense was that an incompetent lawyer had been court-appointed to represent him, and the allegation of incompetence was that his woman lawyer had fallen in love with him, and given her state of mind, could not have competently represented him at trial.

I knew the woman lawyer involved and was aware of her relationship with the defendant. She was an attractive and intelligent woman and a well-respected lawyer. I could not understand their relationship, but I was sufficiently intrigued to want to write about the idea that an accomplished woman lawyer and a man accused of murder could develop such a relationship. Out of that, I created what I believe is a real love story.

 

About the Author

Ronald L. Ruiz is a retired attorney whose entire career was spent in criminal law as a deputy District Attorney, a District Attorney, a Defense Attorney and a Public Defender.

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Giveaway

Prizes: ​  Win one of two copies of 120 Days, or Amazon gift card of $30 (3 winners) (open USA & Canada)

Ends Aug 30, 2019

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Title: Call Her Mine
Author: Melissa Foster
Release Date: August 13, 2019
Series: Harmony Pointe, #1
Publisher: Montlake Romance

Synopsis

Ben Dalton has always been honest, except where his heart is concerned. He’s been in love with his best friend—saucy, smart-mouthed Aurelia Stark—forever. But Ben’s a planner, and timing has never been on his side. When he finally decides to make his move, Aurelia beats him to the punch with a move of her own—to a different town.

Aurelia loves her new life in the charming town of Harmony Pointe. She has a great apartment and her very own bookstore, and best of all, the sinfully hot, commitment-phobic friend she’s crushed on for years is no longer just around the corner. Maybe she’ll finally be able to leave her unrequited love behind and move on.

But when a baby is left on Ben’s front porch—a baby that is presumably his—Aurelia is there for him. Neither one knows the first thing about babies, but how hard can it be? Ben and Aurelia are catapulted into a world of love, laughter, and tracking down the baby mama, and it might even add up to a very happily ever after… just not one either of them expects.

 

 

Melissa Foster Author Interview

1) ”If a woman can’t find love in the quaint town of Harmony Pointe, it’s sure to find them…” —this is the tagline for your newest series Harmony Pointe. Tell us a bit about the town and these women who are finding love.

I love writing about close-knit small towns, where gossip is ripe, and embarrassing tales of youthful rascals abound. Harmony Pointe is nestled between Sweetwater and Port Hudson, New York, not far from the city. It offers grand views of mountains as far as the eye could see. Cobblestone streets, brick-front eclectic shops, and old-fashioned street lights add to the small town’s charm. Readers who are familiar with my Sugar Lake series will recognize Harmony Pointe as Derek Grant’s hometown.

2) What was the idea that sparked the beginning of the series?

I have been itching to write Ben Dalton and Aurelia Stark’s story since I first read about them in WILD BOYS AFTER DARK: LOGAN and BAD BOYS AFTER DARK: MICK (Billionaires After Dark series) and THE REAL THING (Sugar Lake series). Harmony Pointe is a Sugar Lake spin-off, and in the Sugar Lake series several of Ben’s siblings find love. It was finally Ben’s turn.

3) For longtime fans, can you tell us what this series has in common with your previous books? How is the series different from what you have written before?

Avid readers of my Love in Bloom series will have met Ben and Aurelia in several previous books and series. Their story is filled with humor and sexy times, and this one wallops the reader with an ugly-cry worthy punch. This family is very female centric, which is different than most of my other series. The exception is the Montgomerys, cousins to the Daltons, in which the males are also outnumbered. #GirlPower (Bradens & Mongtomerys series).

4) Why was it important that Ben and Aurelia launched this series in Call Her Mine?

Ben and Aurelia were too loud for me to ignore! They were finally ready to share.

5) There are friends-to-lovers romances and then there is Ben and Aurelia who are closer-than-close. Seriously, these two just about live in each other’s heads. What takes them so long to realize that they belong together?

Have you ever had a friend who you love so much that you can’t imagine life without them? I have. It instills a certain level of fear—what if you risk that friendship, lay your feelings on the line, and the other person doesn’t feel the same? True friends, the ones who “get” you, who accept you at your worst, bitchiest states, and at your best, are hard to come by. Risking the friendship is terrifying. I think this was the case for Ben and Aurelia—Plus there’s Ben and his damn planning…
That man made me crazy.
I love him so hard!

6) When romance finally (finally!) is in the cards for these two, they have one very tiny situation that turns up—Ben’s previously unknown infant daughter. What was it like to create an insta-family for this pair?

It was so frigging fun I wish I could do it again! I loved every second of writing this book. I was able to strip Ben and Aurelia down to their most raw selves and emotions, and then watch as they found their new footings together. It was glorious.

7) While it is unfair to ask if you have a favorite hero, we’d love to know what makes Ben so special to you.

Heroes come in all shapes and sizes—arrogant, funny, introverted, brilliant, average, overly serious, etc. Ben is like the guy you see sitting at the end of a bar in a fine suit and think he’s probably taken, or at the least too refined to be fun. And then he opens his mouth and melts you, or makes you laugh, at every turn. He’s protective, but not in a bullying way. Don’t even get me started with that man holding a tiny baby, falling in love with her page after page. I’ve got goosebumps just thinking about it.

***

Call Her Mine Excerpt

“I’ve got to go.” She tried to pull away, but he dug his fingers into her knotted muscles, releasing tension and drawing a moan from her traitorous lungs.

“Don’t run off,” he coaxed. “I wasn’t kidding. You are my best friend. I trust you with my secrets, and I love who you are.”

Hope bubbled up inside her, and she closed her eyes, glad he couldn’t see her face. Had their time finally come? “Really?”

“Of course,” he said, and she heard the smile in his voice.

That made her feel all sorts of good, and the truth came easily. “I love who you are, too.”

He leaned his chin on her shoulder, his hard chest pressing against her back as he said, “I especially love who you are when you’re making me breakfast.”

“Ugh!” She pushed to her feet, but he snagged her wrist, giving her the puppy-dog eyes she’d never been able to resist. The ones that said, Please don’t leave me. “Ben,” she warned.

“Relsy,” he pleaded.

“I am not making you breakfast. I have to go.” She yanked her hand away and said, “And I’m busy for the next few weeks. Actually, for a lifetime, so . . .” She shoved her feet into her red Converse sneakers and grabbed her purse.

“I seriously have to make my own breakfast?” Ben pushed to his feet and stretched, six-plus feet of hotness towering over her five-two frame. “But you make waffles better than I do.”

“I do a lot of things better than you. Don’t forget to call Aiden back.” Aiden was his business partner. He’d called Ben last night while they were watching a movie and Ben had made her laugh, causing tequila to come out of her nose, which had sent him into hysterics and rendered him unable to answer the call.

“That’s right.” He grabbed his phone from the table. “He was supposed to set up a meeting with our legal team.”

“For the hotel chain you’re buying?”

“Yeah. Hey, take my sweatshirt. It’s early. You’ll be cold.”

He pulled his sweatshirt over his head and tossed it to her, revealing a dusting of chest hair over muscular pecs and a treasure trail that disappeared beneath the waist of his low-slung jeans. His sweatshirt hit her in the chest and landed at her feet, reminding her she was staring.

Ben laughed. “Nice catch, Rels. Remind me not to pick you for my baseball team.”

“I don’t want to be on your team. You run the bases too slow,” she mumbled as she picked up his sweatshirt and tugged it over her head, inhaling his masculine scent. “I’m out of here.”

“How about cereal?” he asked with a wink. “I’ll make it.”

“Since when did you become so needy?”

A coy grin slid across his face. “I know that once you’re in my kitchen, there’s no holding back. You won’t let me eat crap when you can make something delicious.”

“Yeah, you should see me in the bedroom.” She felt her eyes bug out. She slammed her mouth closed, unable to believe what she’d said. She stormed through the hallway and out the door, followed by Ben’s laughter—and almost tripped over a basket. She leaned back, holding the door open, and hollered, “I think Willow left you muffins. There’s a basket on your porch.”

“Way to go, Willow,” he said as he strode down the hall. “Let’s see the goods.”

She realized she was staring at his bare chest again and snapped, “I’m taking the biggest muffin,” as if it was his fault he had great pecs and abs she wanted to lick, and bite, and—

Down, girl.

He cocked a grin and said, “Take as many as you’d like, but you’ll pay for them later.”

In my dreams.

 

 

 

About the Author

Melissa Foster is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of more than eighty books, including The Real Thing and Only for You (from her Sugar Lake series). Melissa and her books have been featured in USA Today, Hagerstown Magazine, The Patriot, and more. Her novel River of Love has been optioned for film by Passionflix. Melissa also writes sweet romance under the name Addison Cole. When Melissa isn’t writing up a storm, she’s living her own happily ever after with her husband and a gaggle of grown children.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads

 

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Stir Up (Lark Davis Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Independently Published (July 1, 2019)

Synopsis

Peace and quiet is underrated.

After her last brush with murder, Larklyn Davis is relieved to be spending her time with the talented new horse at her stables instead of tripping over body parts. While she’s trying to figure out why her newest horse has lost his mojo, she’s also puzzling over her relationship with the brooding, uncommunicative Detective Brecken Wilson.

But then, disaster strikes, and both Lark’s reputation and business are on the line. Once again she finds herself pulled into a murder case and in close proximity to the handsome Detective. Throw in a dashing veterinarian plus a matchmaking town and Lark’s life spins out of control. As clues pile up and all evidence leads back to her barn, Lark gets saddled up to solve another mystery.

Who knew life in Barrow Bay would stir up so much trouble?

 

Guest Post

Writing and isolation…

When I dreamed of being an author, I had this image of being locked in a room (preferably a tower) and living in relative isolation with just me and my computer. Because, to me, authors were these successful introverts who lived the dream by only interacting with people at their choosing.

I wanted that. After being in sales for years. I wanted it so bad.

But it’s a huge lie. Huge. I can’t tell you how big of a lie.

Oh, wait. I’m about to.

The first thing I learned after finishing my first book was that I needed people. I needed someone to read it and tell me what they thought. So I cleaned it up as best I could (which wasn’t very good at all) and bribed three of my best friends into reading it. And I got back seven words that changed my life.

“This wasn’t horrible. You should keep trying.”

But, to keep trying, I would need more people to read it and give me feedback. And we couldn’t afford an editor without seeing if my word was any good to people who didn’t already love me… so, to the internet I went. I joined beta reading groups other people’s works. I found some great people to read my work and realized something even more shocking. I didn’t know what their advice meant. I mean, I got that there was a problem… but I didn’t understand why it was a problem. And I’m a ‘systems’ person. If I don’t understand the why, I don’t understand the problem. So back to my best friends I went, and one of them gave me the best advice I’ve ever had. She told me to go beta read other people’s work and learn from them.

Seriously. Best. Advice. EVER.

After a week of beta reading numerous books, I had a better understanding of what people meant when they gave me advice. I had studied other books for errors so I could understand those problems on my own. I worked with other people and edited my own feedback to try and not make them cry. I used some of the very words that had mystified me when I got them from my beta readers. Gasp!

Then I wrote again. And sent it out and got back more positive feedback. It was, almost actually good — if I fixed these things. I did, and then I had to find more people to read it. And then more. And then more.

I started this to stop having to talk to people. I hadn’t even published before I realized that, at a minimum, I needed a team of Beta readers. Not just a few, a team of people who all felt confident enough to tell me the truth in a nice tone.

I needed people. This was not the promise of my dream.

Then I went into the editing phase and realized that not only did I need a good editor, I needed an editor that I trusted. Who got me. I found two, because I have been so incredibly lucky. Now I don’t know what I would do without them. I definitely wouldn’t have published. Let me tell you, if you find an editor who can make you laugh so hard you’re crying as she points out failures in your manuscript, you keep them. Because they are golden.

So now, I had a team of people that I could count on to beta my work, all amazing people. And two editors. But I needed people to talk to about publishing. To learn from. So I joined two writers groups. There, I learned from their mistakes and how to market my book.

I watched other authors on the internet to learn from them. I did everything but sit in a room and write.

I joined groups in my genre to share what worked and how to promote my book in my little area of printing. I got even more social media and I check it every day, learning to post and interact with people I don’t know.

To write, publish and sell a book, I need people. Lots of them.

Isolated? Not even close.

Missing being isolated? Not even a little bit.

 

About the Author

Annabelle Hunter is a stay-at-home mom and an avid fan of classic mystery shows and dressage. She lives in Southern California with her husband, two children, and too many animals.

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Instagram

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Synopsis

Sir Isaac Newton and Chicken Little did the same thing. Chicken Little would have figured it out if she had investigated. In this version, she does, and in the process saves herself and her friends from Foxy Woxy.

 

Review

This is another great STEM book that introduces physics in a simple yet fun way.  An acorn falls on Chicken Little’s head and this leads to figuring out what fell by comparing it to other objects.  The sound that falling objects make is different from character to character, so off to the king to have him make a final declaration.  They are adventures for Chicken Little and the whole gang including Henny Penny, Ducky Lucky, Goosey Loosey, and Turkey Lurkey.  There is deception awaiting them from Foxy Woxy, but the other animals use their new information in defeating him.

The illustrations in this book depict the characters and scenes nicely.  I also like how the words on each page are not just text on a page, the words feel interactive.  I feel like this book will spur the imagination of any child and perhaps have them start thinking more about STEM areas without even realizing it.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

About the Author

Lois Wickstrom earned her BA in biology with Chemistry and English minors. She is the creator of the Imagenie videos on YouTube and “Starting With Safety” available from the American Chemical Society. She also co-authored the Nessie’s Grotto Books with Jean Lorrah, and the Orange Forest Rabbit books with Lucrecia Darling.

Website * Twitter * YouTube * Facebook

 

The artist, Francie Mion, received a degree in fine art, then included fine art again into her life after a long career in therapeutic massage.

 

Synopsis

he’s So Cold: Murder, Accusations and the System that Devastated a Family is a true story about three boys whom the police believed killed a twelve-year-old girl.

Donald E. McInnis is a California criminal defense attorney. Early in his career he was a research attorney for the California Superior Courts. Later, he served as a Deputy District Attorney for two northern California counties and a Deputy Public Defender for a southern California county. During his four decades long legal career, Mr. McInnis experienced both the prosecution and defense sides of the law and is thoroughly familiar with all aspects of police and prosecution practices.

When 12-year-old Stephanie Crowe was found stabbed to death on her bedroom floor on Jan. 21, 1998, the Crowe family’s nightmare had only just begun. In the weeks to follow, her brother, Michael, then 14, and two of his friends, Joshua Treadway and Aaron Houser, were charged with her brutal murder.

To be tried as adults, these three juveniles faced charges which carried life long prison sentences. Charged with their defense were criminal defense attorneys Mary Ellen Attridge, Donald E. McInnis and Paul Blake.  These attorneys faced the daunting task of freeing these boys, two of whom had confessed to the murder.

In a last minute series of event, the defense discovers new evidence, and with it, a twisting series of bizarre events unfolds which forever shatters the lives of fifteen people and the childhood of the three young boys.

This is a true story of Police Coercion and the Fifteen Lives Shattered in the Crowe Murder Case.

 

Excerpt

THE CROWE MURDER CASE
by Donald E. McInnis
Author of She’s So Cold: Murder, Accusations and the System that Devastated a Family

 

When a police investigation goes wrong, it is a travesty for all

As one of the defense attorneys in the Crowe murder case, what enrages me most about the botched investigation into the brutal death of 12-year-old Stephanie Crowe is that her father, Steven, and mother, Cheryl, never got the closure of knowing that the real killer had been caught, convicted, and sentenced to prison. To make matters worse, these parents had to suffer through the horror of their 14-year-old son being prosecuted for Stephanie’s murder.

The incredibly frustrating fact is that the Escondido detectives had all the evidence they needed to arrest the man whom a jury would eventually convict for killing the little girl. Instead, they followed the hunch of a uniformed officer who felt Michael was not showing enough grief over the loss of his sister.

What evidence did the detectives overlook? On the night of the stabbing of young Stephanie Crowe, a vagrant named Richard Tuite was seen in the neighborhood peering through windows, knocking on doors, and walking into homes looking for a young woman named Tracy – a young woman who looked like Stephanie.

The day after the discovery of Stephanie’s body, the police had already decided that the murder was the result of a well-thought-out plan, since they had found no evidence at the murder scene that could lead them to the murderer. The police therefore expanded their initial investigation and went looking for the 28-year-old vagrant. Tuite was found in a laundromat several miles away from the Crowes’ home. The patrol officer, following protocol, took Tuite to the police station, where the suspect was stripped of his clothes, photographed, interviewed, and given new clothing; his clothing was bagged and catalogued. In the investigating officer’s opinion, however, Tuite was mentally incapable of such a “sophisticated” murder, so he was released.

Tuite’s clothing, along with clothing of the Crowe family, was examined by the local crime lab. No physical evidence was found connecting anyone to the murder. But instead of sending the clothing on to another lab for advanced DNA testing, the evidence was stored at the police station.

Since the police had no other leads, they turned to 14-year-old Michael Crowe. After two days of interrogation, they got a confession. Two friends of Michael’s, 14-year-old Joshua Treadway and 15-year-old Aaron Houser, were also interrogated, and incriminating statements were obtained. The Escondido police had their man, or at least their boys. Case closed.

Until a year after the murder, when the defense attorneys for the three boys demanded further DNA testing, and Tuite’s clothing was sent to an advanced lab in Berkeley, California. By now, Joshua Treadway’s trial was starting. Then came the news that shocked everyone: Tuite’s clothing had splatters of Stephanie’s blood on it. All charges against the boys were dropped and Tuite was charged for Stephanie’s murder.

Very few of us know what it is like to lose a child, much less by the supposed hand of your own son, who you know in your heart could not have committed such a horrible act. Steven and Cheryl had to live with this terrible reality simply because the police proceeded on a hunch and saw no need to send Tuite’s clothing for further DNA testing.

But the dismissal of charges against Michael was not the end of the Crowe family’s suffering. After two jury trials for murder and nearly 12 years after Stephanie’s death, Richard Tuite was found not guilty of the murder, due in part to how the police handled the evidence. Not only did the one person the Crowes felt could have murdered Stephanie go free, but now this family faced the worst possible ending to their daughter’s death — no closure. One can’t image the continuing pain the Crowe family has had to live with these last 20 years.

It is hoped my book She’s So Cold, a true and accurate telling of the failed police investigation, once and for all sets the story straight as to why Michael and his friend were maliciously interrogated and prosecuted for a crime they did not commit. Their story of what happens when the police interrogate a child is a warning to every parent: Do not let this happen to your child.

In an effort to prevent such catastrophes in the future, I propose new Miranda rights warnings specifically worded so children can better understand their constitutional rights, and a Bill of Rights for Children for when they are being investigated by police. These new protections are in the Appendix to She’s So Cold. We need not repeat the painful agony that the Crowe family continues to live with to this very day.

About the Author

Donald E. McInnis is the author of She’s So Cold: Murder, Accusations and the System that Devastated a Family. He is a California criminal defense attorney, and he represented one of the three accused boys, Aaron Houser, in the Stephanie Crowe murder case. Over the span of his 40-year legal career, Mr. McInnis has worked alternately for the prosecution and for the defense, having served as a deputy district attorney for two California counties and as a deputy public defender for one California county during his early professional years.

Website

 

Dragonfly

by

Leila Meacham

  Genre: Historical / WWII / Espionage

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Date of Publication: July 9, 2019

Number of Pages: 576

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From the New York Times bestselling author of Roses comes a gripping new novel about five young spies embedded among the highest Nazi ranks in occupied Paris

At the height of World War II, a handful of idealistic young Americans receive a mysterious letter from the government, asking them if they are willing to fight for their country. The men and women from very different backgrounds-a Texan athlete with German roots, an upper-crust son of a French mother and a wealthy businessman, a dirt-poor Midwestern fly fisherman, an orphaned fashion designer, and a ravishingly beautiful female fencer-all answer the call of duty, but each for a secret reason of her or his own. They bond immediately, in a group code-named Dragonfly.

Thus begins a dramatic cat-and-mouse game, as the group seeks to stay under the radar until a fatal misstep leads to the capture and the firing-squad execution of one of their team. But…is everything as it seems, or is this one more elaborate act of spycraft?

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Indiebound   ◆  Walmart 

 

 

 

Praise

“Meacham’s impeccable pacing and razor-wire tension evoke the daily drama of life under a Reich whose French reign might have lasted little more than four years but felt like the thousand years that it threatened to endure.” ―Bookpage

“Meacham’s nail-biting tale will please fans looking for an intricate story of spycraft and deception.” ―Publishers Weekly

“Meacham ratchets the suspense ever tighter, while providing fascinating backstory on the intrepid five [American spies] as well as delivering a detail-rich portrait of Paris during the Occupation.” ―Booklist

“Complex, epic, and rich in historical detail-an uplifting story of finding friendship behind enemy lines.” ― Kirkus

 

 

I will probably not do this review justice but I’ll tell you right off the bat I LOVED this book and could not put it down.  The intrigue, the danger, the interwoven storylines….all of this make Dragonfly one of the best books I have read all year.

“One loose thread can unravel the whole ball of twine.”

Truer words were never spoken when it comes to this book.  This book follows five spies for the OSS (Office of Strategic Services, a real government agency during WWII in case you didn’t know) and their various missions in Paris to seek information about the Germans and help end this war sooner rather than later.  While they know all five will be there, where the drop box is located to pass along information, and the mural for coded messages, they do not know each other’s cover names, stories, or missions.  Yet, as this story progresses their missions become intertwined and it is just a matter of time before all hell breaks loose!

This story kept me up many late nights because I could not put the book down!  I felt my breath catching and my heart skipping a beat as I followed these five spies across Paris serving their country but also for some personal reasons.  The story starts out as we are introduced to the six main characters – the five spies and their handler.  The book opens in 1962 which is approximately 20 years after they are recruited and it is about time for a reunion that they planned before they set off to Paris.  There are actually two reunions, one more immediate after the war and then this one twenty years later.  As the last reunion is about to commence, Alistar (the handler) discovers a book that tells the story of their mission, Dragonfly.  This starts a journey for the author and his source and brings back many memories of the war and how the situations played out for everyone.

“On into late fall and throughout the rest of the year, Dragonfly hovered close to waters teeming with an increasingly frantic enemy.”

This line reflects the pace of the book for me.  Most of it was quick but there were times where the story played out in a calmer fashion.  Having both types of situations made the story that much more appealing to me.  I watched one of the characters mourn for the loss of someone close to her, another rejoice in finding family, and all of them learn something about themselves that they probably never would have expected – the fortitude to continue despite the circumstances or situations.  It also reflected the mindset of some of the Germans in Paris and what they truly thought about Hitler and what was coming down the pike regarding the war.

I found the story well crafted and for the author to be able to intersect the missions of the various characters was genius.  There is so much more that could have been written about the war and potentially even expanded the missions of the characters, but it was wrapped up quite nicely and I found myself shedding a few tears at the end.  So be prepared and have a tissue on hand.

If I could give this book more than 5 paws I would in a heartbeat.  If you love historical fiction you will want to pick up this book and read it soon.

 

 

Leila Meacham is a writer and former teacher who lives in San Antonio, Texas. She is the author of the bestselling novels Roses, Tumbleweeds, Somerset, and Titans.

 

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TWO SIGNED COPIES OF DRAGONFLY

August 7-17, 2019

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Check out the other blogs on this tour

8/7/19	Excerpt	Texas Book Lover
8/7/19	Review	Reading by Moonlight
8/8/19	Review	Nerd Narration
8/9/19	Guest Post	The Page Unbound
8/9/19	Review	Momma on the Rocks
8/10/19	Review	Carpe Diem Chronicles
8/10/19	BONUS Audio Review	Hall Ways Blog
8/11/19	Audio Review	Forgotten Winds
8/12/19	Author Interview	All the Ups and Downs
8/12/19	Review	Bibliotica
8/13/19	Guest Post	Chapter Break Book Blog
8/13/19	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
8/14/19	Audio Review	Sydney Young, Stories
8/15/19	Guest Post	Missus Gonzo
8/16/19	Review	Max Knight
8/16/19	Review	Book Fidelity

 

 

 

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