Synopsis

 

A ghost’s antics, a harrowing moose chase, a hypnosis session, and smuggled booze lead to spilled secrets and betrayal, but do they also lead to murder?

At a hot springs retreat in Montana, whiskey-swigging Maude, the nearly eighty-year-old chef, longs for the glory days when the retreat hosted martini-sipping celebrities instead of long-haired hippies who refuse to wear deodorant. Brooke, feisty, adventurous, and a bit reckless, proposes a reunion at the retreat with her best friends to get away from the chaos of her life with teenagers and the emotional aftermath of her postponed wedding. One of those friends, Tracy, has devoted her life to her children and her husband despite her excruciating boredom. But a long-held secret could cost her the most important friendships in her life. Haunting the place is a ghost who, in life, dealt with tragedy by turning to prostitution which led to her murder over 100 years ago at the very place they all are staying.

What Happens in Montana explores friendship, betrayal, and forgiveness with blunt truth and witty insights. Together, these friends learn to navigate empty nests, infidelity, deception, and poltergeists. Most importantly, they learn their friendship is strong enough to get them through it all.

 

 

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Review

 

This story blends friendship with a hint of mystery and a ghost!

Four women decide to take a weekend getaway to a hotel in Montana, in need of much repair. At least parts of it. But what they don’t anticipate is finding their true selves, uncovering some secrets, and making new friends.

This story is told from multiple points of view. This can get distracting, but it helps, especially when Simone, the ghost, is telling her story. I really enjoyed learning about her life and why she died and was stuck at this hotel. I really liked Maude. She has been at the hotel/retreat center for thirty years. That is a long time in one spot, but she loves it there and has a connection with Simone. She may not know why Simone is there or what she needs to move on, but she still feels a connection to her. Then, there are the four women who came to this retreat to reconnect. While they had met as younger women, they were spread out across the country now. There are secrets that come to light, and it is amazing how revealing those secrets freed the women up to be themselves and not in fear of the secret being revealed before the right time.

I enjoyed the story and can appreciate how this weekend away might impact their lives. There is a sideline story about Maude’s daughter who died and how Brooke reminds her of that daughter. But we are left hanging as to what happened to the daughter and how it impacted her marriage. I would have liked to have known more about that scenario. There is also a lothario at the hotel, Max. Let’s just say that Max is not who you think he is, and luckily, no one is hurt in their interactions with him.

This was a fun read, and we give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

Excerpt

 

I glanced at the bird-like woman who sat across from him and wondered how she kissed him with that facial hair. Didn’t it smell like whatever he ate? Or scratch her face? Didn’t errant hair ever tickle her nose and make her sneeze? Maybe they had been together so long that they didn’t really kiss much anymore. Just a peck hello and goodbye. I supposed I could handle facial hair if that was my only interaction with it.

“Hello, I’m Maude, and I’ll be taking care of you tonight. Can I get you anything to drink besides water?”

“Water is fine for me. Dear, what would you like?”

“Oh, I’d like sparkling water. One of those flavored ones, if you have it. Not one that has calories or sugar or anything. Just the essence of lime or tangerine or whatever. Do you know what I mean?” She looked at me with big, pleading eyes. I saw such hunger in those eyes. Lord, this woman needed a huge steak and a baked potato with butter and sour cream. Then she needed a good bottle of wine to go with it and a German chocolate cake to finish it all. This woman didn’t look as though she had been properly nourished and decades. But what I saw most in her eyes was that she had not allowed herself to live. She imposed such restrictions on her life – what to eat, what to wear, what friends to have, what church to attend, what car to drive, what words to say – that she forgot what she wanted. She forgot how to live. She was just going through the motions. She might as well already be dead.

I wanted to tell her to forget calories, forget working out at least five days a week, forget always needing to be a size zero, forget what others think, forget keeping her house perfectly in order, for surely this woman’s house was always in order, and throw all caution to the wind. Eat an entire gallon of ice cream while binge watching Grace and Frankie. Stay in your pajamas till noon and dance to Uptown Funk with the volume so loud the neighbors will call the police. Hike to the top of Boulder peak at dawn to watch the sunrise regardless of the animals you might encounter. Tell your husband to shave that nasty dead rat on his face and kiss him like you did when you were a teen teenager. Just don’t live like life will last forever.

Instead, I said, “Sure. We have lime, grapefruit, and coconut sparkling water.”

 

 

About the Author

 

Kim McCollum graduated from Barnard College as a Japanese major and headed to work on Wall Street. Many miserable all-nighters and the birth of her first child led her to stay home to raise her children. Eventually, she pursued her passion for writing. An excerpt from this novel appeared in The Copperfield Review Quarterly, and her short stories have appeared in The Dillydoun Review, Beyond Solace, and Fiction on the Web. She lives in Bozeman, MT, with her husband, Brian, and their blended menagerie of five kids, two dogs, and seven spoiled chickens. What Happens in Montana is her first novel.

 

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Ill-Fated Fortune: A Magical Fortune Cookie
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – California
Minotaur Books (February 20, 2024)
Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages

 

Synopsis

 

Jin grew up literally hanging onto Mom’s apron strings in their magical bakery in the quaint town of Pixie, California. Her mother’s enchanted baked goods, including puffy pineapple buns and creamy egg tarts, bring instant joy to all who consume them. Felicity has always been hesitant in the kitchen herself after many failed attempts, but a takeout meal gone wrong inspires her to craft some handmade fortune cookies.

They become so popular that Felicity runs out of generic fortunes and starts making her own personalized predictions. When one customer’s ill-fated fortune results in his murder, Felicity’s suspiciously specific fortune has the police focusing on her as the main culprit. Now Felicity must find a way to turn her luck around and get cleared from suspicion.

 

 

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Recipe

 

~Auspicious Almond Cookies~

 

Makes about 24 cookies, or 2 dozen

Ingredients:

1 ⅓ cups sifted all-purpose flour

⅝ cup white sugar

¼ tsp baking soda

¼ tsp salt

½ cup butter

1  egg

1 ½ tsp almond extract (1 tsp if less almond flavor is desired)

24 almond slices (sliced almonds)

 

Directions:

1. Combine flour, sugar, baking soda and salt together into a bowl. Cut in the butter (VERY important, don’t skip this) until mixture resembles cornmeal. Add the almond extract and half of the egg. Mix well. The dough will appear to be too crumbly in the beginning, but if you mix it long enough, it will get the right consistency (that’s why you only need half an egg).
2. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Put parchment paper on a cookie sheet.
3. Roll dough into 1-inch balls. Set them 2 inches apart on the cookie sheet. Press down with your thumb to flatten each cookie slightly. Place an almond slice in the middle of each cookie.
4. Combine the other half of the egg and ½ tbsp water to make a light egg wash glaze. Cover the tops of the cookies with the glaze using a basting brush. You can adjust the amount of glaze used on each cookie depending on how much almond cookie shine you want.
5. Bake in oven until the edges of the cookies are golden brown, about 15 to 18 minutes.

 

Note: They taste even better the second day because the almond flavor has set in.

 

 

 

 

 

Review

 

This new series was a lot of fun to read, and the mystery left me hanging until the end because I had no idea who the killer could be, and there were not a lot of suspects to choose from! I did not suspect the killer since no motive was ever really established until it was revealed.

Felicity is coming into her own in the bakery her mother owns. They are a magical family and everything her mom bakes is infused with joy. It took Felicity a while to find her grove, but she finally does with fortune cookies. I thought it was neat that she could write fortunes specifically for a person. It takes her some time to uncover how to do it and control it.

I really liked her best friend, Kelvin, and her godmother, Alma. These are two characters that add character to the story. Kelvin is her partner in crime, and they find themselves in some sticky situations. There is even a bunny that appears, Whiskers, that might have magical abilities too. Only time will tell.

Not everything is smooth sailing for Felicity and her mom. Certain situations put them in a bit of a pickle. It causes a few hiccups for the bakery. Luckily, all works out in time.

I think this could be a good series, I look forward to reading more and depth added for the characters with more background.

We give this 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Jennifer J. Chow writes cozies with heart, humor, and heritage. Her newest series is the L.A. Night Market Mysteries. The first book, Death By Bubble Tea, was nominated for both an Agatha Award (Best Contemporary Novel) and a Lefty Award (Best Humorous Mystery). It hit the SoCal Indie Bestseller List multiple times and was one Aunt Agatha’s Best of Cozies 2022, Kings River Life Staff Favorites of 2022, and one of the 2022 Bestsellers at Bel Canto Books. It’s been featured in Book Riot, BookBub, Bustle, CrimeReads, Goodreads, and Mystery Scene Magazine. The New York Times Book Review said of the novel: “Yale and Celine’s growing loyalty to each other, coupled with the warmth of Chow’s prose, adds extra depth, just like the tapioca balls nestled in a glass of bubble tea.” Jennifer currently serves as President on the board of Sisters in Crime and regularly blogs at chicksonthecase.com. She is also an active member of Crime Writers of Color and Mystery Writers of America.

 

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Giveaway

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

Synopsis

 

A troubled marriage and love story set against the background of the AIDS pandemic and the American wars in Vietnam and Iraq lie at the heart of After Camus. Saul Davidoff and Tolle Riordan, who meet during a protest against the Vietnam War, marry, live through the Plague Years of the AIDS epidemic, raise a family … and burn out. Camus is a hero to both of them: Tolle, a young dancer and choreographer, has a liaison with him in Paris shortly before his death; Saul, inspired by Camus’s The Plague, becomes an infectious disease (and AIDS) doctor … and Camus becomes a ghostly presence central to our story.

Hoping to repair their marriage, Tolle and Saul return to a village in the South of France where they lived when they were first in love and where Camus lived when recovering from a siege of tuberculosis. The novel draws a vivid portrait of a marriage that spans a series of historical events: from the Vietnam War through the AIDs epidemic and Gulf War to the Iraq War and the advent of the right-wing Le Pen movement in France. After Camus is both a fictional meditation on recent history and a compelling tale of how various forms of love and friendship do and do not survive in times of social and political upheaval. In this novel of enchantments, internationally acclaimed author Jay Neugeboren is at the peak of his powers as a master storyteller.

 

 

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Excerpt

 

Often, when he doubted his love for her—or, more exactly, his capacity for love—or wondered why and how they had stayed with each other for more than forty years in a time when most people they knew—friends, relatives, colleagues—had divorced and moved on to new couplings and marriages—he would go back to the beginning.  This is how we met, he’d say to himself, and by telling himself the story again, no matter how many times he did, and no matter his knowledge that the effect of doing so was transient, he would for a brief while be reassured.  But reassured about what?  That they had been truly, deeply in love once upon a time?  That they had not erred in marrying, or in having children, or in remaining married?  That she did still love him and was devoted to him no matter the ways, they had, through the years, distanced themselves from one another?

More likely, he mused—they were driving south along a country road in France on a clear, unseasonably warm early February morning—Tolle had insisted they not take autoroutes, that they wind their way down from Paris at a leisurely pace—by conjuring up the first time they met, he was able to feel again what he rarely did of late: some genuine affection for Tolle, for the young man he had once been, and for the man he had become.

He saw himself standing across the street from the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Veteran’s Day, 1965.  The air was crisp, the sky blue and cloudless, the crowd of anti-war protestors, among whom he stood, animated and happy.  How, on such a day, standing side by side with people of like mind and heart, could one believe anything was amiss with the world, or that whatever was amiss could not, with good will and hard work, be set right?  Across the street, crowds that lined the sidewalk behind police barricades with their banners, posters, and flags—in support of the war in Vietnam—seemed equally happy, so that the chants each side launched into the air seemed little  more than friendly cheers for rival football teams.

Tolle, in the front row of protestors, wore a pale V-neck lavender sweater, a purple paisely scarf knotted loosely around her neck.  Her wheat-colored hair,  shoulder-length, was, in the autumn sunlight, laced with threads of gold, and she appeared to him to have stepped straight out of a Saks Fifth Avenue advertisement so as to take her place—out of place—among those whose fashions seemed, for the most part, to have been purchased from clothing racks in Salvation Army thrift stores.

She seemed the kind of woman—beautiful, cool, poised—who had always had the power to intimidate him: a woman who, he assumed, went to debutante balls with self-assured men who were destined to become diplomats, to run Fortune 500 companies, to own yachts, and—always, always—to sweat less than he did.  He imagined she read Jane Austen, vacationed in Monaco, had lunch at the Plaza.  What, then, was she doing in the front line of anti-war protestors?  And what could a young woman like her ever want with an intense, curly-headed Jewish boy from Brooklyn?

Still, when she turned and looked his way, and when she smiled at him—a quizzical glance, as in: We’ve met before, yes?—he gained the courage he needed, pushed through the crowd, and made his way to her side.

He began talking at once—about the rally, about the weather, about the war, about the organization she was with (she held a placard that identified her as a member of the Committee for a SANE Nuclear Policy)—about whatever came to mind, and she responded easily.  Encouraged, and eager to impress, he alluded to the fact that he had rearranged his schedule at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital, where he was doing a residency in infectious disease, in order to be at the rally, and also that he was a member of The Resistance and, although above draft age, was intending soon, in a public ceremony, to burn his draft card with those of draft age.  When chants from both sides of the street grew louder, she tugged on her right ear with thumb and forefinger to indicate that it was difficult to hear him.  Her pale hazel-green eyes, above ruddy high-colored cheeks, seemed almost translucent, and—what he had not expected—warm and inviting.

He looked to the right—uptown, to where she pointed—and saw that a military band was approaching, its music—Sousa’s familiar “Stars and Stripes Forever”—blasting away.  Behind the band, a phalanx of soldiers in camouflage khakis, rifles to their shoulders, marched in lock-step, policemen on motorcyles cruising slowly at their sides.

Closer to him, she asked his name.

“Saul,” he said.  “Saul Davidoff.”

She shook his hand.  “I’m glad to meet you, Saul Davidoff,” she said, then held to his arm briefly.  “But would you excuse me, please?” she said, and turned away, slipped under the wooden barricade, walked out onto Fifth Avenue and, along with about twenty others, sat down in the middle of the street, directly in the path of the oncoming parade.

 

Excerpt from AFTER CAMUS. Copyright © 2024 by Jay Neugeboren. Published by Madville Publishing. Reprinted by permission of the publisher. All rights reserved.

 

 

About the Author

 

JAY NEUGEBOREN is the author of 22 books, including five prize-winning novels, four collections of award-winning stories, and two prize-winning books of non-fiction about mental illness: Imagining Robert: My Brother, Madness, and Survival and Transforming Madness: New Lives for People Living with Mental Illness.

His stories and essays have appeared widely in The New York Review of Books, The Atlantic Monthly, The American Scholar, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Psychiatric Services, Ploughshares, Black Clock, Tablet, Commonweal,  among others, and have been reprinted in more than 50 anthologies, including Best American Short Stories, Penguin Modern Stories, and The O. Henry Prize Stories.

He is the recipient of fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Massachusetts Council on the Arts, and is the only author to have won six consecutive Syndicated Fiction Prizes.  His archive is housed at the Harry Ransom Humanities Center in Austin, Texas.

Nuegeboren was a Professor and Writer-in-Residence at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, as well as the Director of the Graduate MFA Writing Program there. He has taught at other universities, including Stanford, Indiana, S.U.N.Y. at Old Westbury, and Freiburg (Germany).  He now lives and writes in New York City, where he is on the faculty of the Writing Program of the Graduate School of the Arts at Columbia University.

 

Website

 

Synopsis

 

Kate’s home is filled with turmoil that leaks out into her small town as her famous mother draws her family into international power struggles. Her parents worry about Kate’s interaction with her invisible friend Destiny… who can’t be real… or can she?

 

 

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Excerpt

 

Gem thought Kate was, for lack of a better word, unique. Hints of her mother’s lovely feminine charm appeared in Kate. Beyond that, she and Margot bore little resemblance to one another. Margot’s celebrity charm, that set her up to be the star of every gathering, was absent in Kate. Instead, Kate almost vanished into the background.

The forest’s ability to entice Kate to enter, appeared natural to Gem. Her long, straight hair lacked the gentle curls present in Margot’s hair. It had tones present in the bark of many evergreens… brown, mixed with hints of red, and flecks of yellow, as if sunlight peeking through the leaves deposited itself there. A small section in her hair, just around her right ear, stood out as it was a mixture of pearl-white and opalescent tones. Deep-green of the evergreen trees played with lighter tones of green, hints of blue, and occasional specks of gold in Kate’s eyes, and they seemed to glow or sparkle when her curiosity piqued.

Thankfully, she had more of her father’s character traits than those of her mother. Even in her most introverted and withdrawn moments, Kate agreed to help anyone who asked her. She assisted with tasks, and unlike her mother, Kate preferred doing so without recognition. Her father, Rob, behaved the same way. Neither sought volunteer opportunities, but both volunteered when asked. Both insisted that their contribution was minor compared to others.

Margot was a mesmerizing woman. Glamorous and blessed with a perfect figure, she was accustomed to being surrounded by admirers everywhere she went. Her habit of changing her hair and eye color to fit her changing mood and style set her apart.
…..
Kate was more like a mist, or a fantasy creature one could sense, but almost not see. One might refer to Margot as a distinct style of fantasy creature from her daughter.

Despite her vanity, Margot’s innate charisma charmed people, although those who witnessed her darker side bristled at how cold she became around Kate and Rob. Oblivious to her coldness, Rob melted with the slightest flash of her smile. Gem saw the smiles she aimed at Rob lacked love. Her harsh words aimed at Rob were hard to listen to, so they must have felt worse having them directed at him. Whether a strength or a fault, Rob’s patience approximated being limitless.
….
Kate seemed to occupy another world much of the time and frequently forgot to play her roles in the other children’s games. As she drifted off to places alone, Kate seemed to believe she was following someone.

Some locals wondered if Kate inherited an artist’s imagination. Others theorized she might be that type of slightly mad person, who is not a threat, but doesn’t fully grasp reality. Many noticed

Kate was polite and helpful beyond what one would expect from the average child.

Kate had a quality that some of the superstitious folks felt reflected the fairy folk of the old world. Gem avoided those discussions but understood how people might form such impressions. Kate knew odd things and never had a satisfying explanation for her knowledge.
….
He heard Kate say several times that ‘Destiny’ showed her things. ‘Destiny’ seemed personified and linked with the pronoun her, so he doubted it was a concept, rather than the name of a being, that she was referring to.

Margot lost her poise when Kate mentioned ‘Destiny’ and dragged Kate to the side. After Margot’s menacing whispers, Kate would return and apologize for speaking of ‘Destiny’ as if it referred to something real.

Sometimes in response, people laughed and commented that many people believed in destiny. They said, “Maybe people from Central Intelligence City believe they have full control over their lives, but people in Waterly know better.” He could see their comments confused Kate.

From what Gem could see, Kate believed Destiny was an actual being, and a female one at that. Maybe Margot believed that as well sometimes? He was aware her status would be jeopardized by admitting she had such beliefs, so it didn’t surprise him if that pressure added to her discomfort with the already unsettling idea.

 

 

About the Author

 

I have had characters and stories in my mind for as far back as I have memories. For me, writing has been a hobby, comfort, and a path through some school degrees… but until now, not shared widely. My mother loved imaginative play, and my father was a teacher of multiple languages. They opened my eyes to the wonder of how language shapes our view of the world, and how what we experience shapes our language. That undoubtedly influenced my storytelling. My stories are told in translation. For instance, people there aren’t a perfect map to people here, but have some similarities we can relate to.

I would love to have the characters, worlds, and stories escape my mind and bring joy to as many people as possible… while keeping a little distance from me, the storyteller.

My time is mostly spent writing, traveling to see family, cuddling dogs, gardening, walking, hiking, etc.

 

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Cover design and author “photo” artist: Kaleb Leino

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

Step into the captivating world of Andrea de Laney, leader of the DeLaney Mob. In this gripping tale, Andrea finds herself entangled in a web of personal and professional challenges as her organization faces relentless attacks. Amidst the chaos, she unexpectedly encounters Valerie Cross, a resilient young woman whose own past traumas resonate deeply with Andrea. As their connection deepens, Andrea begins to realize the void that has long existed in her life.

As DeLaney prepares to engage in a fierce showdown against their rivals, The Fury and Ban Jack Mafia, Andrea assumes the role of a cunning mastermind, strategizing to outmaneuver them all and emerge victorious. However, the stakes are higher than ever, and survival becomes the ultimate goal.

Join Andrea de Laney on a suspenseful journey where loyalty, ambition, and unexpected love converge. Will she navigate the treacherous path ahead and emerge triumphant, or will the odds prove insurmountable?

 

 

Amazon

 

Read for Free via Kindle Unlimited

 

Other books in the series:

Book 2: Power In Vengeance

Book 3: Power in Justice

Book 4: Power in Loyalty – Preorder today!

 

 

Excerpt

 

Andrea’s stomach flip-flopped as the main door closed behind Valerie. She wondered how she let this get so out of hand. Scarlett had tried to kiss her while Valerie was in the apartment with them. Of all the stupid things her friend had done this week, that was the lowest of them all. She knew Scarlett was just using a tactic they used before where they fought and made up many times over the years, but today was the last time she could ever allow that to happen.

Before Andrea could bring herself to turn around and give Scarlett an ultimatum the redhead started speaking. “The Fury are trying to kill you. Your own brother hired them. Bryan betrayed you on every level. We chased a man in the tunnels where you were shot, and Allie literally pulled a bullet out of your arm. You have a very important city council vote tomorrow about a project that means a lot to you. You need to name a new number two and we have to find an accountant you can trust. That doesn’t even include all the other businesses DeLaney has and the things that need to happen with them this week. I mean fuck Andrea, on top of all of that you decide this 26 year old, who is 12 years younger than you, who you’ve known for less than a week, is suddenly your great love or something?” Scarlett chuckled darkly and Andrea heard the rustle of fabric behind her. She didn’t turn around though, she knew she wasn’t finished. “You know what giving her that necklace is going to tell everyone and what they are going to say don’t you?”

Andrea turned and looked directly at Scarlett who was sitting on the edge of the bed. “That she is mine. That if someone, including you, so much as touches her, looks at her wrong, or threatens her, I will kill them. I knew what it meant when I did it and if you think for one second that I didn’t you don’t know me at all.” She straightened her shirt again and fixed her belt while trying to gather her words. “A few days ago you told me I could handle a million things at once better than anyone you’ve ever seen. Now you think I can’t handle any of it because of Valerie?” Andrea laughed and rolled her eyes. “If it weren’t for her this week, I would’ve already killed Asher, blown up half the city trying to eliminate Brody and The Fury, and I would have met with the mayor and told him to get behind my proposal or I’d kill him next and run this city the way my grandfather did.”

“So what? I should be thanking her for preventing all out war?” Scarlett ran her hand over the sheets and rolled her eyes too. “You don’t want war and I know that. You should’ve just fucked her and sent her on her way that first night like you do everyone else!” Scarlett ran a hand through her hair and sighed. “Now that I think about it, maybe the fact that she’s not satisfying your needs is the reason you’re so pissed.”

She wasn’t going to play these games anymore. Andrea stepped closer and in a tone that left no room for questions as to what it meant, she said, “You have until I walk into that meeting with you and Victor downstairs to figure out if you can handle this. Because none of the other things you listed are relevant to you if you can’t get over yourself and move past my relationship with Valerie and your own misguided feelings.” Andrea grabbed her jacket off the dresser and slipped it on. “And if you can’t, I suggest you get the fuck out of this building and out of my city because I’m not kidding, Scarlett. I’ve given you more leeway than I would give anyone else, but you are testing my patience and the limits of our friendship. Now, get out and make your choice.”

Scarlett swung her legs down to the ground and stood from the bed. She looked around the room. “Well, once again whatever Andrea de Laney says is the final word huh?” As she passed Andrea, she let their shoulders brush. “I’ll see you downstairs.”

As soon as she heard the door close, Andrea sat on the bed and took a deep breath. This wasn’t how she wanted to start her morning. There were actual problems she needed to solve and plans she needed to make. The last thing she needed today was this drama with Scarlett. Remembering the pain in Valerie’s eyes made her stomach drop. Andrea wondered just how much her girlfriend had heard and how far this whole scenario would set them back. With another deep breath to calm down a bit further, she stood and headed for the main door, but when she opened it there was no one in the hall. Bril was gone as was Valerie, and her heart started racing.

 

 

About the Author

 

Kirby Ann has always been captivated by the world of literature. From a young age, her love for reading laid the foundation for a lifelong passion for storytelling. It wasn’t until her twenties that she took up writing seriously, embarking on a journey of self-expression.

Away from writing, she finds joy on trips with friends and family, drawing inspiration from the new landscapes and cultures she encounters. When in need of a break, she immerses herself in the world of online gaming, finding both relaxation and creativity in the virtual realms.

In 2023, she took a bold step forward, deciding to share her works on a larger scale. As her professional writing career takes its first steps, she is filled with optimism and high hopes for the future. With a unique blend of Texas spirit, a love for storytelling, and a supportive network, she looks forward to weaving more tales that resonate with readers and leave a lasting impact.

 

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Murder Under A Honey Moon: A 1930s Mona Moon Historical Cozy Mystery
Historical Cozy Mystery
12th in Series
Setting – On the RMS Majesty ocean liner in the Atlantic
Worker Bee Press (February 19, 2024)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 250 pages

 

Synopsis

 

Mona Moon and her new husband, Robert Farley, Duke of Brynelleth, are on their honeymoon at last. They have just boarded the RMS Majesty ocean liner. The couple are looking forward to visiting Robert’s ancestral English home, Brynelleth, and then off to Paris before winding up on the Italian Riviera. After a romantic evening of dancing until the wee hours of the night, Mona and Robert discover their suite has been ransacked and Mona’s jewelry, supposedly secured in their stateroom, has been stolen.

Mona is horrified, as some of the jewelry belongs to the Brynelleth Estate and were cherished pieces of Robert’s mother. The ship’s crew searches the ocean liner, and a gold brooch turns up in a bartender’s cabin. It is the same bartender who served Mona earlier in the evening. The only problem is the bartender has been murdered and the rest of the jewelry is still missing.

 

 

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Guest Post

 

Murder Under A Honey Moon: A 1930s Mona Moon Mystery

 

I love history.  I love reading and writing about it. In my 1930s Mona Moon Mysteries, I weave in real people and events into the plot and take care to get the history, clothing, language, and food right. I always learn something new, which adds depth to the story and characters.

So, who is in Murder Under A Honey Moon?

The dashing English playwright Noel Coward, Martha Gellhorn, a famous war correspondent, and Virginia Hall, America’s legendary spy.

Mona Moon and her new husband, Robert Farley, Duke of Brynelleth, are on their honeymoon at last. They have just boarded the RMS Majesty ocean liner. The couple are looking forward to visiting Robert’s ancestral English home, Brynelleth, and then off to Paris before winding up on the Italian Riviera. After a romantic evening of dancing until the wee hours of the night, Mona and Robert discover their suite has been ransacked and Mona’s jewelry, supposedly secured in their stateroom, has been stolen.

Mona is horrified, as some of the jewelry belongs to the Brynelleth Estate and were cherished pieces of Robert’s mother. The ship’s crew searches the ocean liner, and a gold brooch turns up in a bartender’s cabin. It is the same bartender who served Mona earlier in the evening. The only problem is the bartender has been murdered, and the rest of the jewelry is still missing.

So join me on this mysterious and dangerous ocean voyage.  Can you figure out who the murderer is?  Mona does!

 

 

About the Author

 

Award-winning author Abigail Keam writes the Mona Moon Mystery Series—a rags-to-riches 1930s mystery series, which includes real people and events into the story line. “I am a student of history and love to insert historical information into my mysteries. There is an addendum at the end of the mystery to give more information. My goal is to entertain my readers, but if they learn a little something along the way—well, then we are both happy.”

Miss Abigail currently lives on the Palisades bordering the Kentucky River in a metal house with her husband and various critters.

 

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Giveaway

 

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Synopsis

 

If you could open a door to anywhere, where would you go?

In New York City, bookseller Cassie Andrews is living an unassuming life when she is given a gift by a favourite customer. It’s a book – an unusual book, full of strange writing and mysterious drawings. And at the very front there is a handwritten message to Cassie, telling her that this is the Book of Doors, and that any door is every door .

What Cassie is about to discover is that the Book of Doors is a special book that bestows an extraordinary powers on whoever possesses it, and soon she and her best friend Izzy are exploring all that the Book of Doors can do, swept away from their quiet lives by the possibilities of travelling to anywhere they want.

But the Book of Doors is not the only magical book in the world. There are other books that can do wondrous and dreadful things when wielded by dangerous and ruthless individuals – individuals who crave what Cassie now possesses.

Suddenly Cassie and Izzy are confronted by violence and danger, and the only person who can help them is, it seems, Drummond Fox. He is a man fleeing his own demons – a man with his own secret library of magical books that he has hidden away in the shadows for safekeeping. Because there is a nameless evil out there that is hunting them all . . .

Because some doors should never be opened.

 

 

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Review

 

Everything comes full circle.

When I first started reading this book, I thought it was going to be about one thing – a young woman who finds adventure. Well, yes, she does, but this book is so much more than just that. It is filled with suspense, action, danger, magic, and friendship.

Cassie is a young woman who has had a somewhat difficult life. She lost her mother at a very young age and was raised by her Grandfather until he was gone, too. I feel like she is a bit of a lost soul and floundering to find her place until she befriends Mr. Webber at the bookstore where she works. He leaves her The Book of Doors. This book allows her to travel anywhere in the world as long as there is an unlocked door. Forget transporters from Star Trek; this is the way to travel!

I loved her adventures, but her friend, and roommate, Izzy, is concerned about what the book could do. Is it safe? Will they be harmed? One wouldn’t think so until we come across a bunch of book hunters who want these books for their personal gain. These individuals are not to be trifled with in the least. They are hard and ruthless. However, this is the full-circle comment I made. While I can’t divulge much because it would give away a lot of the story, we learn how these individuals came to be who they are today. It might be a bit of a surprise when you get to that portion of the story (last 30%).

While I thought Cassie was a good protagonist, there was a period near the end when I did not like her and thought she was wishy-washy and weak. After everything that she had gone through, to act the way she did was mind-boggling. However, she does redeem herself after that.

The story has a varied cast of characters. All add depth to the story, which makes it even more engaging.

I highly recommend this book and give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Gareth Brown has been writing novels since he was a teenager. Most of those books were not very good and, thankfully, were never published. His first published novel – The Book of Doors – will be released in the UK (Bantam) and USA (William Morrow) in February 2024. Foreign language rights for The Book of Doors have also been sold to nearly twenty other territories, including Germany. Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and Hungary.

When not working or writing, Gareth loves travel, barbecues, playing bass guitar, and watching snooker. He also enjoys falling asleep in front of the television like an old man.

Gareth lives with his wife and two Skye terriers near Edinburgh in Scotland.

 

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A Ghostly Clue (Pet Momma Cozy Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – The small town of Starport Cove and a suburb of the town called Bluffington Hills
Independently Published (December 15, 2023)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 151 pages

 

Synopsis

 

It’s the Christmas season in the charming small town of Starport Cove. But amid shopping for gifts, decorating, baking sugar cookies, and organizing the Christmas Bazaar, the discovery of a body is not the holiday event that anyone expected. When antique store owner Milton Cenford is found dead in a suit of armor, amateur sleuth Tarsey Quinston is determined to find the killer.

As quirky visitors arrive in town and create more questions than answers, Tarsey finds herself investigating rumors of a missing historic diary penned by a First Lady from Starport Cove and looking into paranormal activity.

Will the discovery of a mysterious hidden passageway and an encounter with a ghost lead Tarsey and her intuitive cat Silver down the path to danger? Or will they finally unveil the identity of the killer?

 

 

Amazon

 

Read for Free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

About the Author

 

Maryann Shanesy is a native of Maryland who has always enjoyed writing. A lifelong lover of mysteries and anything gardening, she is a pet momma to a rescue dog and cat that brightens her life. She and her husband have two wonderful daughters and live in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. She hopes you will enjoy the second cozy mystery in her series.

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Giveaway

 

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Synopsis

 

Jimmy Hamilton overcame childhood tragedy to become a hero in Vietnam, only to die there in 1967. All but forgotten, Jimmy leaves behind a young wife, an infant son, and a man wracked by guilt.

Circumstances allow Becca, his young widow, to be manipulated into an abusive, loveless union with Jimmy’s brother and into raising her son ignorant of his father’s true identity—a wrong she knows must be set right…but how? When?

Like Jimmy before him, James, Jr. is an intellectually gifted, albeit troubled man. Hamstrung by the false narrative of his life and then tormented by an unspeakable loss, his days are spent treading the knife’s edge between present day reality and a past he’s incapable of forgetting.

With his final act of bravery, Jimmy unknowingly saved the scion of a powerful Washington family. In so doing, he set in place circumstances that just might draw his son back from the abyss…but only if he can somehow make it home from Vietnam.

Roses in December concludes the Hamilton Place series, an epic family saga extending from the Great Depression to present day. Through war and peace, love and loss, triumph and tragedy, follow the Hamilton family on their journey from a run-down farm in South Carolina, through the jungles of Vietnam, to the top of the world in New York City, and through the gardens of stone at Arlington.

 

 

Amazon

 

Pre-order your copy today. This book will be released on April 2, 2024.

 

 

Review

 

This is the conclusion to A Song That Never Ends, and it continues the story of the Hamilton family. While I enjoyed the first book, this one really sucked me in and had me on an emotional rollercoaster ride. I felt for many of the characters and what they were enduring at various times in their life. There is tragedy but also hope. Sadness, yet happiness too. No one character had the perfect life, but that is what made it feel real because their experiences might be what we experience in our own lives, too.

The author really honed these characters and the storyline. While the first book was good, this one was even better. I don’t know if it is because it pulled current events into the timeline or just the satisfying conclusion to the story. There were some twists for the characters, nothing that you won’t see coming, but it was their surprise at the turn of events that kept me engaged in the story.

Since many of the characters are the same, if you didn’t like them in the first book, you won’t like them here either. That is ok because you need that tension to move the story forward. Some of the characters receive their just rewards. Others live a good life despite their past.

This is a series, and you really need to read A Song That Never Ends first before you pick up this book. Otherwise, some of it won’t make a lot of sense.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Mark A. Gibson is a physician who practices Cardiology in the mountains of rural North Georgia. He was raised on a small farm in upstate South Carolina—the last postage-stamp sized sliver of a much larger parcel granted to the family by a land grant from King Charles II in 1665—and may or may not have once gotten in trouble for digging up his mom’s calla lily bed in search of the family’s long-lost charter.

Dr. Gibson graduated from the Citadel in Charleston, SC, with a BS in Biology. Afterward, he received his medical degree from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine in Columbia, SC. He received his Internal Medicine training through the University of Tennessee Medical System and Cardiology training through the Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center. He served for eight years on active duty with the US Air Force before leaving the military for private practice.

Although a cardiologist by profession, Dr. Gibson is a dreamer by nature. He is a self-styled oenophile who enjoys travel and fine food. In his spare time, he builds sandcastles and dreams of distant shores.

Roses in December represents Dr. Gibson’s second offering to the world of literature and the conclusion of his Hamilton Place Series. All previous publications have been of the professional, peer-reviewed, medical variety and make for lovely sleep aids.

 

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Giveaway

 

Win author-signed copies of A SONG THAT NEVER ENDS and ROSES IN DECEMBER (Hamilton Place)

(USA only)

(ends Mar 1)

 

A SONG THAT NEVER ENDS (Hamilton Place) by Mark Gibson Book Tour Giveaway

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

George and Murphy are two brothers who share everything – toys, secrets, and especially the love for their sweet grandmother. But one day, she goes to Heaven, and the brothers miss her a lot.

Then, something amazing happens. Bright red birds start showing up wherever they go. These aren’t just any birds; they seem special. Following these birds, George and Murphy go on a big adventure. Along the way, they learn that these birds have messages from their grandmother!

The story of When the Red Bird Flies is like a big, warm hug. It tells us that even when someone we love goes away, they’re still with us in different ways. Sometimes, they might send signs to let us know they’re watching over us. All we have to do is pay attention and believe.

So, join George and Murphy as they learn about love, memories, and the magical ways the world tells us that we’re never truly alone. With every chirp and flutter of the red bird’s wings, they find a little more happiness and remember all the fun times they had with their grandmother.

 

 

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Excerpt

 

On a cold night in November, a loving grandmother had gained her heavenly wings—this left all her family in tears but especially George. George said “How will we go on without her? I will miss her so terribly much, Mommy.” His parents told him that he would never be alone, that his grandmother may have left but she is still here—right here. “You can feel her, but you can’t see her. If we believe enough and ask her to send us signs to let us know she is watching over us, she will do just that—always look for the signs when you need them most.”

Shortly after his grandmother’s passing, George celebrated his seventh birthday. His parents tucked him into bed on the evening of his birthday. As his mom closed his door, she whispered: “Close your eyes and make a wish.” So, he did—he wished for his grandmother to send him a sign to let him know she is still with him.

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Courtney Reames Haydell, born to Bonnie Carville Reames and Michael Wilks Reames, is the youngest among six siblings.  Hailing from a small town in Louisiana, she’s an author deeply rooted in familial ties and the wonder of nature.  Drawing inspiration from her own experiences and surroundings, her stories often touch upon themes of love, loss and healing.  Courtney currently resides in Texas, where she finds joy in the company of her husband and two sons.  Through her writing, she hopes to touch young hearts, helping them navigate through life’s profound moments.