Welcome to the prerelease blitz for MALICE, a stand-alone young scifi/paranormal thriller romance, byNew York Times bestselling author, Pintip Dunn, releasing February 5, 2019. See below for the cover, information on the book, pre-order links, and an exclusive excerpt.
Synopsis
What I know: a boy in my class will one day wipe out two-thirds of the population with a virus.
What I don’t know: who he is.
In a race against the clock, I not only have to figure out his identity, but I’ll have to outwit a voice from the future telling me to kill him. Because I’m starting to realize no one is telling the truth. But how can I play chess with someone who already knows the outcome of my every move? Someone so filled with malice they’ve lost all hope in humanity? Well, I’ll just have to find a way—because now they’ve drawn a target on the only boy I’ve ever loved.
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Excerpt A streak of electricity zaps through my head.
My eyes pop open. What was that? I swear I felt my brain short-circuiting.
Cautiously, I glance around. A couple of my classmates are biting into fat, foil-wrapped burritos, and a girl with a feather tattoo is stretched on the lawn, using her girlfriend’s stomach as a pillow. A group of guys throw a basketball around on the court,
Not a single person looks at me. Clearly, no puff of smoke billows around my head.
Okay, then. I was probably just imagining it. Lack of sleep and too much fatigue from carving all those veggies. That combo’s enough to make anybody hallucinate.
Giving my head a firm shake, I start walking—
Zapppp.
My breath hitches.
The synapses inside my brain sizzle, as though they’re being held over an open fire. I grab my temples between my hands, but it doesn’t help. The pain intensifies, as though my brain is slowly being brought to a boil.
My vision blurs, and I lurch behind a tree, dropping to my knees. A muffled voice rumbles. I don’t pay attention. I have more pressing concerns, like keeping the brain inside my skull. The voice rumbles louder. FLAMING MONKEYS. Can’t you see a girl is dying here? Go. Away.
“Maybe I would if you would listen a moment,” the Voice snaps, much more clearly this time.
What? Disoriented, I look up. But there’s no one around other than a butterfly flitting by my head.
“I’m in here,” the Voice says, as though I’m a wayward two-year-old. “In your head.”
The pain dials back a notch, but my stomach is still swirling with nausea. A voice…in my head? No way. I’m hallucinating. I’ve got to be. The chicken tasted worse than normal—maybe I have food poisoning. Any second now, I’m going to vomit or pass out. Probably both.
“Focus,” the Voice barks. She sounds feminine, but I can’t tell if she’s young or old. “Do you want this pain to stop?”
The flames roar back, burning even hotter. This is the worst food poisoning ever. I’m never cooking again. “Yes!” I moan. “I’ll do anything. Just make it stop.”
The pain shuts off like a door being slammed, and I collapse against the tree trunk, panting.
“Good. I’ll go away, once and for all. You won’t have to deal with this pain anymore. You just have to do one thing for me.” She pauses, as though gathering her thoughts. “Tell Bandit that you love him.”
“Huh?” The electricity must’ve fried my hearing. “Who?”
“Bandit,” the Voice bites out. “You know. The Thai boy playing basketball across the field?”
Pushing myself off the tree, I peer around the trunk. Across the courtyard, a guy with electric-blue hair raises his hands to shoot the ball, and his shirt rides up, revealing nicely defined muscles.
“You’ve g-got to be kidding,” I sputter. “I don’t even know him! I’m not going to profess my love to some random guy.”
The Voice sighs. “Yes, actually. You are.”
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Author Pintip Dunn
About the Author Pintip Dunn is a New York Times bestselling author of young adult fiction. She graduated from Harvard University, magna cum laude, with an A.B., and received her J.D. at Yale Law School.
Pintip’s novel FORGET TOMORROW won the 2016 RWA RITA® for Best First Book, and SEIZE TODAY won the 2018 RITA for Best Young Adult Romance. Her books have been translated into four languages, and they have been nominated for the following awards: the Grand Prix de l’Imaginaire; the Japanese Sakura Medal; the MASL Truman Award; the Tome Society It list; and the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award. Her other titles include REMEMBER YESTERDAY, THE DARKEST LIE, GIRL ON THE VERGE, and the upcoming STAR-CROSSED and
THE GAME CHANGER (Parkwood Mysteries #1) by Jennifer Brown
Synopsis Hollis and Daisy love podcasting about murder cases…But can they solve one?
Hollis Bisbee used to be a big-city crime reporter. Now, she’s a small-town journalist, and she’s bored. She and a young mom, talented baker Daisy Mueller, start the Knock ‘Em Dead podcast—”Where murder and muffins meet!” It’s all fun, games, and baking tips until murder comes to Parkwood.
After a brutal homecoming game loss, the coach of the rival football team is the victim of a hit-and-run in the high school parking lot. The entire town is on edge, and the star quarterback—who happens to be the police chief’s son—may just look the guiltiest of all.
With Hollis’s investigative skills and Daisy’s famous muffins…and in spite of the charming rookie police officer tasked with keeping Hollis out of the way…the podcasting duo sets out to solve their first real case.
This cozy mystery includes a killer free recipe for Daisy’s Cherry Chocolate Chunk Muffins.
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My Review OMG! How much do I love this book? Soooooo much! Seriously, this is just the thing I needed to help break up my post-holiday blahs. Hollis Bisbee is a reporter of a tiny newspaper in Parkwood, Missouri. She writes about hotdog rollers and new vacuum stores in the local mall. A former crime reporter in Chicago, to say her job lacks the excitement she’s used to would be a gross understatement. While interviewing the snack bar supervisor at Friday night’s big high school homecoming football game, an altercation occurs on the field between the Parkwood quarterback and the opposing team’s coach. When not long after the game, said coach ends up dead in the Parkwood High parking lot, things get a little sticky for Hollis and her best friend, Daisy, who have a true crime murder podcast that is equal parts macabre and munchies, since Daisy is also the best baker in town and uses the platform to help promote her baking business. And when Hollis discovers the quarterback is also the sheriff’s son, and the death has been ruled natural causes, Hollis has had enough of her feel good pieces and drags Daisy into an investigation that the sheriff, the new local hunky deputy, and her boss, the paper’s editor, can’t catch wind of.
Plot The primary plot is the murder mystery and it’s exceptional. There were so many red herrings, I got to the point where I suspected it was going to be a MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS ending. There are a few minor subplots including Hollis’s job and a budding romance with Office Blue Eyes, but they were just there to round out the main plot. This was such a fun ride, I’m anxiously awaiting more Parkwood Mysteries!
Characters The characters are THE best! I would read anything with Hollis and Daisy in it. They’re both hysterical, witty, charming, and definitely the kind of people you’d hang out with in real life if they weren’t just figments of Brown’s imagination. Maybe I just need to hang out with the author in real life! Hollis is amazing as the spirited reporter who refuses to take no for an answer. Her bff and sidekick, Daisy, is a stay-at-home mom to like 32 kids. Entire scenes are devoted to her chewing out one kid after another as she still manages to carry on a coherent conversation with Hollis. She’s quick on her feet and helps Hollis out more than a few tight spaces. The rest of the cast, including Officer Hopkins, with his muscles and impossibly blue eyes, are just as warm and loveably quirky as Hollis and Daisy. If Hallmark makes this into a movie or a TV show, I’m all in.
What I Loved About THE GAME CHANGER 1. Everything. Seriously, I can’t find any fault with this book. The story, the characters, the writing, everything is top notch.
2. Hollis. She’s funny, smart, endearing, and tenacious.
3. Daisy. The best BFF ever and the type of person we all want in our lives.
4. The Mystery. Really well done. One of the best I’ve read in the genre in a long time.
5. Podcasting. My co-author and I have been toying with the idea of starting a pod cast in the near future, but nothing we come up with will ever be as good as the Hollis and Daisy show.
Bottom Line An absolutely adorable cozy mystery with a sweet romance and some of the best damn characters in the book world.
Disclaimer I was provided a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
About the Author Jennifer Brown is the author of acclaimed young adult novels, Hate List, Bitter End, Perfect Escape, Thousand Words, Torn Away, and the Shade Me series. Her debut novel, Hate List, received three starred reviews and was selected as an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, a VOYA “Perfect Ten,” and a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year. Bitter End received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and VOYA and is listed on the YALSA 2012 Best Fiction for Young Adults list.
Jennifer also writes middle grade novels — her debut novel, Life on Mars, was the winner of the 2017 William Allen White Children’s Book Award. She also writes women’s fiction under the name Jennifer Scott. Visit her at www.JenniferScottAuthor.com Jennifer writes and lives in the Kansas City, Missouri area, with her husband and three children.
Jennifer is available for school visits, workshops, classroom and book club Skypes, and speaking engagements. Contact JenniferBrownYA@gmail.com to book her for your next event!
Welcome to the blog tour for KEYSTONE, a standalone young adult scifi romance series, by Katie Delahanty. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
Synopsis When Ella Karman debuts on the Social Stock Exchange, she finds out life as a high profile “Influencer” isn’t what she expected. Everyone around her is consumed by their rankings, in creating the smoke and mirrors that make them the envy of the world.
But then Ella’s best friend betrays her, her rankings tank, and she loses—everything.
Leaving her old life behind, she joins Keystone, a secret school for thieves, where students are trained to seal everything analog and original because something—or someone—is changing history to suit their needs.
Partnered with the annoyingly hot—and utterly impossible—Garrett Alexander, who has plenty of his own secrets, Ella is forced to return to the Influencer world, while unraveling a conspiracy that began decades ago.
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Excerpt #3 A reaction that existed before this time where knowledge rules and skill declines. Truth uncovered, recharged, raved, then buried in greed to protect fame. Taken from the hedonistic night; it is a giver of light. Break the world, make it shine, and take your place among the divine.
Slamming down my pencil, I read the riddle again. And again.
Existed before this time… Pre-Information Age…but how far back? Buried in greed to protect fame…hidden truth…someone else took credit… Recharged, giver of light… A power source? Taken from the hedonistic night… Stolen from an orgy?
I run through the possibilities I know exist in the vault: The Louvre…Museo Nacional de Antropología… Hmmm… Maybe something from ancient times? The Antikythera mechanism, one of the earliest analog computers, is in the National Archaeological Museum of Athens… Maybe I should start there? I concentrate, waiting for something to click, and come up empty. All the while the clock is ticking. At least I’m not alone. Sneaking a glance at Garrett with his head bowed over his cipher, a strand of hair falling across his forehead, I take consolation in the fact that he hasn’t figured it out, either.
Drawn to him, I take advantage of his closeness—and rare silence. Tracing his strong jaw and full lips, I feel heat build in my center. He’s perfect. As if he hears my thoughts, his eyes snap up, connecting with mine. They seem darker today, the usual gray-green reading charcoal. Rimmed with kohl to disguise their symmetry, they are like black holes, sucking me in, bending the light in the room, and I sit frozen, heart pounding, unable to look away.
Speaking of hedonistic nights…
I blink myself back into reality, and I’ve got it. Babylon. Symbolic of all that’s evil in the Bible, awaiting her fall in Revelation…The answer is the Babylon Battery. The history lesson comes flooding back. Also known as the Baghdad Battery, it’s an ancient jar containing what was identified as an electric cell, dating back thousands of years before Alessandro Volta took credit for inventing the battery. It was looted from the National Museum of Iraq when the U.S. invaded in 2003, and then was later stolen by a Keystone alumnus and donated to the Vault. It now resides in the Pyramid. If only I can get there first… It’s clear on the other side of the Vault, and I don’t know how to get there from here, having only stumbled upon it once by accident.
A slow smile spreads across Garrett’s face. “Welcome back. You’re cute when you’re analyzing, but be careful not to chew that pretty lip until it bleeds.”
My stomach drops, but I refuse to let him distract me.
“What’s this?” he asks, touching the tiger’s eye I wear at my throat. “Good luck charm?”
“I don’t need luck.” Making sure my glare is received, I leap out of my seat and rush to the door. Unfortunately, I’m no match for his longer strides, and he catches me, snaking his arm around my shoulders just as I’m about to exit.
“Fair enough,” he says. “Do you want to walk over there together?”
“Do you know where we’re supposed to be going?” I stare up at him, my head tucked perfectly against his shoulder. Holding my breath, I resist inhaling his spicy scent.
He laughs. “I think so, but just in case, why don’t you tell me where you’re going?”
“Not a chance.”
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Author Katie Delahanty
About the Author Katie lives in Los Angeles with her husband, twin daughters, and son. Growing up in Pittsburgh, she loved old movies and playing dress up, but never considered telling stories of her own until she was asked to start a blog for the sleepwear company she worked for. Unsure what to say about lingerie, she wrote a fictional serial about a girl chasing her costume design dreams who fell in love with a rock star along the way. And that’s when Katie fell in love with storytelling. That blog became The Brightside Series and she’s been waking before dawn to write ever since..
Today is release day for KEYSTONE, a standalone young adult scifi romance series, by Katie Delahanty. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
Synopsis When Ella Karman debuts on the Social Stock Exchange, she finds out life as a high profile “Influencer” isn’t what she expected. Everyone around her is consumed by their rankings, in creating the smoke and mirrors that make them the envy of the world.
But then Ella’s best friend betrays her, her rankings tank, and she loses—everything.
Leaving her old life behind, she joins Keystone, a secret school for thieves, where students are trained to seal everything analog and original because something—or someone—is changing history to suit their needs.
Partnered with the annoyingly hot—and utterly impossible—Garrett Alexander, who has plenty of his own secrets, Ella is forced to return to the Influencer world, while unraveling a conspiracy that began decades ago.
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Excerpt “But doesn’t being a Disconnect mean no technology? How would anyone even know about me?” I ask.
“We may live off the grid, but it’s important we’re aware of what’s going on in the world. At Keystone, we’re a special legion of Disconnects. Our mission is to steal analog history—to preserve the truth—before corporations and the government can alter the past to benefit their personal futures. We’re in danger of entering a Digital Dark Age, where the only information available is digital. Tape recordings, printed books, films, photographs—proof of history—are decaying and becoming scarce. Digital information is easy to tamper with, and there are forces at work that want current society to reflect their version of the past.” Allard sips her tea before continuing.
“Often, we’re after priceless works that are protected by the latest technology, so we have to understand tech even though we don’t use it ourselves. We have internet access in the Crypt—that’s our code-breaking library—and the TMI-feed is likely a guilty pleasure for some of the girls. They watch the Networks—they have to. For your Initiation Heist, you’ll be asked to go under cover in Influencer society, and you’ll need to know how to fit in—and how to hide in plain sight.”
“Initiation Heist?” I almost choke on my tea, the cup rattling in my trembling hands at having to reenter society.
“It’s the final test before becoming a full-fledged Keystone member with access toour top-level secrets, but don’t worry,” Allard says. “You’ll have plenty of time to learn our ways—and you’ll participate in a heist as an assistant to an Initiate—before you’re asked to lead a heist the following year.”
“Lead a heist?” My eyes bulge. “Right.”
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Author Katie Delahanty
About the Author Katie lives in Los Angeles with her husband, twin daughters, and son. Growing up in Pittsburgh, she loved old movies and playing dress up, but never considered telling stories of her own until she was asked to start a blog for the sleepwear company she worked for. Unsure what to say about lingerie, she wrote a fictional serial about a girl chasing her costume design dreams who fell in love with a rock star along the way. And that’s when Katie fell in love with storytelling. That blog became The Brightside Series and she’s been waking before dawn to write ever since..
Welcome to the prerelease blitz for KEYSTONE, a standalone young adult scifi romance series, by Katie Delahanty, releasing January 7, 2020. See below for information on the book, preorder links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
Synopsis When Ella Karman debuts on the Social Stock Exchange, she finds out life as a high profile “Influencer” isn’t what she expected. Everyone around her is consumed by their rankings, in creating the smoke and mirrors that make them the envy of the world.
But then Ella’s best friend betrays her, her rankings tank, and she loses—everything.
Leaving her old life behind, she joins Keystone, a secret school for thieves, where students are trained to seal everything analog and original because something—or someone—is changing history to suit their needs.
Partnered with the annoyingly hot—and utterly impossible—Garrett Alexander, who has plenty of his own secrets, Ella is forced to return to the Influencer world, while unraveling a conspiracy that began decades ago.
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Playlist Crawling out of the lake, I sprawl on the beach, sucking in precious air for as long as I dare. Still breathless, I limp into the woods. My temples throb and I long to return to the house and climb into bed, to huddle under the blankets until the shivering stops. Last chance tokeep my old life.I could come out of this a survivor. My parents would be so proud… Once the story hit the Networks, my Influencer status would be reinstated—especially now that everyone who knew my family’s secret is…dead.
Isn’t that convenient?
I don’t dwell on who’s behind the explosion. Maybe part of me already knows the truth, but I’m not ready for it. Instead, the final fleeting glimpse I had of my best friend, Deena, her blond hair whipping across her face right before the blast, assaults me.
Doubling over, I swallow the sickness rising my throat, shutting my eyes against her. We weren’t speaking, but she didn’t deserve this. None of them did. Tears bubble down my cheeks. Dropping to my knees, I stare up at the starry sky, an irrevocable ache seeping through me. How can I be in this world without them?Wherever they are,can they see me? The universe is endless, and the stars shine down without even a wink.
A voice arrives on the breeze from the lake, its nearness sobering me. For the plan to work, the world needs to believe I’m dead. But if I stick to the plan I can never go back. That truth should terrify me, but I’m already overwhelmed. Besides, there’s nothing left to go back to. Not without Adam. He was the only one who made me feel like I mattered.Breathing deep, I heave myself to my feet and drag myself deeper into the woods. I have no home. I have to keep going.
The old me would have ordered a car to drive me from Lake Tahoe to the Sequoia National Forest, but the Disconnects offered me refuge on the condition I wouldn’t be tracked. Starting now, I’m invisible. They were supposed to send a guide, but he never showed up, and it’s pure luck I stumble upon the bikes, sneakers, and hooded sweatshirt hidden behind a tree. Taking it as a sign I’ve made the right decision, I yelp. Choking back the cry, I tug the sweatshirt over my dress with shaking hands. In the pocket I find a tube of glittery, gold paint and draw a haphazard zigzag over half my face to disguise my identity from facial-recognition cameras. The mark of a Disconnect.
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Author Katie Delahanty
About the Author Katie lives in Los Angeles with her husband, twin daughters, and son. Growing up in Pittsburgh, she loved old movies and playing dress up, but never considered telling stories of her own until she was asked to start a blog for the sleepwear company she worked for. Unsure what to say about lingerie, she wrote a fictional serial about a girl chasing her costume design dreams who fell in love with a rock star along the way. And that’s when Katie fell in love with storytelling. That blog became The Brightside Series and she’s been waking before dawn to write ever since..
Welcome to the book blitz for IN THE HEART OF WINDY PINES, a stand-alone adult cozy mystery, by Holly Tierney-Bedord. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
IN THE HEART OF WINDY PINES by Holly Tierney-Bedord
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited
Title: IN THE HEART OF WINDY PINES
Author: Holly Tierney-Bedord Release Date: November 24, 2019 Genre: Adult Cozy Mystery
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU
Synopsis From the author of Kindle Unlimited All-Star winner Sweet Hollow Women comes a new novella featuring characters from Murder at Mistletoe Manor, Carnage at the Christmas Party, and The Port Elspeth Jewelry Making Club!
Klarinda Snow is the innkeeper of Mistletoe Manor in beautiful, remote, Windy Pines, Idaho, where she brings her unique brand of hospitality to the tiny mountain town.
When she finds her inn unexpectedly fully booked on a snowy Tuesday night in November, it brings back memories of a tragedy years before. Before she knows what hit her, she and her trusty team of employees (Myrtle, Pierre, and her new night manager, Josephine), have found themselves back at the task of solving another mystery at Mistletoe Manor!
While this book can be enjoyed as a stand-alone novella, if you plan to read the books in the Windy Pines Mystery series or The Port Elspeth Jewelry Making Club, it’s highly recommended you read those first, as this book contains spoilers that could affect your ability to enjoy them.
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Excerpt #3 “Excuse me,” Klarinda said to the man at the table, as she turned to go back up to the front desk.
“Hellooooo! Anybody home? You’ve got customers waiting!” yelled the voice over the banging, clanging clatter of the bell. She now picked up on a strong Southern accent. How was the bell making so much noise? As she came around the corner, she saw that it wasn’t being rung, it was actually being slammed onto the front counter again and again.
“Please! Stop that! You’re going to break it,” said Klarinda, swiping it out of the hand of the stocky, red-faced man who’d been abusing it and setting it off to the side, out of his reach.
“I was beginning to wonder if this place was even open! Do you have any more rooms for tonight?” he asked, using a forefinger and thumb to wipe away the spittle that had formed at the corners of his mouth. The little blonde woman on his arm looked mortified. She pressed her palm to her cleavage and smiled a small, apologetic smile at Klarinda.
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Author Holly Tierney-Bedord
About the Author Holly Tierney-Bedord is the author of over twenty novels and novellas including Kindle Unlimited All-Star winner Sweet Hollow Women. Her books feature quirky, flawed characters and the kind of crazy scenarios that could only happen to someone you probably know. Count on her stories to have unexpected twists and turns, dark secrets, and lots of laughs.
Holly is also an artist and miniaturist, creator of the mid-century dollhouse restoration blog flipthisminihouse.com, and the author of several non-fiction books about creating miniatures.
She lives in Madison, Wisconsin. When she’s not writing or decorating her real house or mini houses, she’s traveling. Visit her website at www.hollytierneybedord.com where you can connect to her blogs and subscribe to her newsletter.
Author Andrea Bills is revealing the cover to THE BROKEN KIND, the third book in the adult romantic suspense/thriller/mystery series, The Brotherhood, releasing January 23, 2020. See below for the cover, information on the book and series, and preorder links. You can preorder the eBook for just $0.99.
THE BROKEN KIND (The Brotherhood #3) by Andrea Bills
About the Book – Preorder NOW for just $0.99!
Title: THE BROKEN KIND Series: The Brotherhood #3 Author: Andrea Bills Release Date: January 23, 2020 Genre: Adult Romantic Suspense/Thriller/Mystery Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo
Synopsis The Brotherhood Series comes to a close with one final story: The Broken Kind.
A simple rescue mission for Beryl’s niece, Blair, turns Kip’s carefully balanced world upside down. She’s been held against her will for months leaving her physically and mentally battered. Kip is determined to finish what Blair started when she went undercover, but she’s just as determined to help.
Kip finds peace from his own demons when she’s around— which is both terrifying and freeing. He knows it’s selfish to crave her closeness because Blair has her own healing to do. Even still, her chaos calls to his own in a way that only someone as broken as him would find beautiful.
She’s the kind of woman whose strength, beauty, and intelligence would make a man go to war.
He’s the kind of man that stays in the dark because the light of the world doesn’t want him around
Can love unite two tired, desperate souls or will it only exist as a catalyst to their own self-destruction? The odds are against them in this romantic suspense, but shouldn’t love be able to conquer all?
About the Author Andrea is a wife, mother and writer from small town West Virginia. She spends her time while she’s not dreaming up lovers and villains alike chasing after her two kids and husband.
Her overactive imagination and her husband’s wacky dreams attribute to her love of the written word. Guilty pleasures include reading all night and Reese Cups.
COCONUT CRUSH (Press Pass Mysteries #3) by April Anderton
Synopsis Dinner, drinks, and death.
A honeymoon cruise they won’t forget.
Boston reporter Ali Loukas hasn’t had time to legally change her name, but a week in the middle of the ocean with her shiny new husband should mean time to kick back and relax–with no dead bodies. No such luck. Ali’s reputation and penchant for coming across corpses have preceded her. Trapped on a floating city with a handful of eccentric fans, she finds herself swept up in the lifestyle of the Boston Elite.
When a body turns up on the second day at sea, one fan turns to Ali, expecting her to help the ship’s security team come up with a killer. But Security’s not interested in Ali’s help and they threaten to throw her in the brig if she interferes with their investigation.
Mysterious elderly stalkers, a magic show gone bad, and a killer on board, make Ali wonder if her tropical vacation will bring her closer to her husband as intended or send her overboard.
If you’re a fan of Mary Higgins Clark mysteries, get this book today!
Content Note: PG equivalent – No swearing, no sex, and no graphic violence. Sweet newlywed innuendo.
Other books by April Anderton:
Previous Engagements – Press Pass Mysteries Book One
Drowned at The Rat – Press Pass Mysteries Book Two
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My Review WARNING: Mild spoilers for Books 1 and 2.
This is my favorite book in the series so far. Anderton has upped the humor, created endearing and developed characters, and once again, kept me guessing. Ali and Ryan are on their honeymoon cruise, organized and paid for by their mothers, which means it’s bound to have issues. What should be the perfect romantic getaway becomes deadly when l one of the guests dies on board. And of course Ali and Ryan have a connection to the deceased — he was sitting at the same table as they were. The ship’s security team doesn’t want Ali poking her journalist nose in their business and do everything they can to keep her at arms’ length from the story. But being Ali, she can’t just let it go. All she’ll commit to is not reporting the story during the cruise. She honestly befriends a couple of her fellow passengers who also happen to be close to the deceased, which provides her with an edge when it comes to solving the mystery.
Plot
The story centers on the mystery surrounding the death of a cruise ship passenger. The search for answers brings Ali closer to several of her fellow passengers and throws her into the path of two mysterious passengers who seem to be following her. As Ally and Ryan sneak in as much quality alone-time as possible, the events aboard and onshore keep them torn between relaxing and solving the crime.
Characters I love the characters. Ally is only more endearing with each book, as is Ryan. The quirky supporting cast are just as fun and delicious as I’ve come to expect from this author.
Top things I Loved About COCONUT CRUSH 1. The Setting. I’ve never been on a cruise myself, but I’ve seen enough episodes of The Love Boat in my life to appreciate the setting.
2. Backstabbing and Plotting. This story is rife with character’s plotting against one another, bringing a level of hilarity and confusion to the mystery.
3. Ali. She’s more tenacious than ever without losing that sweet, funny side of her.
4. Ryan. He seems to have reluctantly accepted his wife’s job and all of the pitfalls that accompany it.
5. Mystery Guests. They had me laughing out loud!
Bottom Line A wonderful cozy mystery by an author coming into her own. If you love Stephanie Plum, you’ll adore Ali Loukas.
About the Book Title: COCONUT CRUSH Series: Press Pass Mysteries #3 Author: April Anderton Release Date: August 19, 2019 Pages: 228
Category: Adult Cozy Mystery Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU
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Author April Anderton
About the Author April Anderton is a designer, blogger and author of cozy and young adult mysteries, survival adventures, non-fiction how-to books and articles for blogs and magazines. She lives off-grid in the mountains of North Idaho with her husband and their homeschooled pre-teen son. She doesn’t quite understand why her grown children would rather live in cities in homes with running water, plumbing and electricity, but she loves them anyway. If you ran into April at the grocery store, chances are high that she would not be wearing makeup and may be on the edge of looking presentable. She’d still say hello..
DROWNED AT THE RAT (Press Pass Mysteries) by April Anderton
Synopsis The bass player’s dead and no one’s talking.
When the bass player of a local punk group turns up dead at the infamous night club known as The Rat, it looks like a clear-cut case of band envy. Boston reporter, Ali Loukas, isn’t so sure. Something smells off and with the help of her boyfriend and homicide detective, Ryan McGuire, Ali sets out to sniff out the real killer . . . or killers.
It’s 1997 and The Rat is slowly dying. Underground violence and cutthroat competition have become the norm, but Vinny G.’s death threatens to close the curtains. Can Ali help find the killer and save the club or will she end up six feet under?
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My Review The second book in the Press Pass Mysteries, Ali Loukas has come into her own as a reporter for Channel 7. In the midst of doing a story at The Rathskeller nightclub, she stumbles upon the murder of Vinny G, a member of a band slated to play there. And Ali, being who she is, can’t just walk away from this story, even though her sort of boyfriend, Detective Ryan McGuire, all but begs her to. Their budding romance is hit from all sides as Ali is determined to find out what happened to Vinny at the same time that Ryan is keeping valuable information about the investigation from her. The deeper Ali digs, the more secrets she uncovers, secrets people will kill to keep hidden.
Plot
Once again, Anderton tells a well-plotted tale with plenty of twists and red herrings to throw us off, but in the end, the truth has been staring us in the face the entire time. Where the first book had multiple points of view, this second one in the series is only from Ali’s, which makes it smoother. By not being privy to anything she is not, the mystery unfolds at the perfect pace. The humor is ramped up in this installment without ever veering into silliness. The romance is a solid subplot and believable, adding a nice counterbalance to the murder mystery.
Characters The characters are where the story really shines. Ali Loukas, once again, is a likable protagonist who is easy to root for. Ryan is both her perfect foil and a swoonworthy book boyfriend. The rest of the cast of characters are ideal for the roles they’re scripted for and are far more than two-dimensional stereotypes.
Top things I Enjoyed About DROWNED AT THE RAT 1. 1997. From the fashion to the music references, this is a fun romp down memory lane.
2. Ali. She’s come into her own with style and wit. I love her even more than I did in the first book.
3. Ryan. He’s still a tough-as-nails cop who plays his cards close to the vest, but watching him soften toward Ali makes him all the more adorable.
4. The Rat. A retro 80s punk-styled nightclub in the late 90s is everything.
5. The Mystery. Once again, the author keeps us guessing.
Bottom Line A fun fast read with delightful characters and plenty of heart and humor
About the Book Title: DROWNED AT THE RAT Series: Press Pass Mysteries #2 Author: April Anderton Release Date: May 31, 2019 Pages: 238
Category: Adult Cozy Mystery Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU
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Author April Anderton
About the Author April Anderton is a designer, blogger and author of cozy and young adult mysteries, survival adventures, non-fiction how-to books and articles for blogs and magazines. She lives off-grid in the mountains of North Idaho with her husband and their homeschooled pre-teen son. She doesn’t quite understand why her grown children would rather live in cities in homes with running water, plumbing and electricity, but she loves them anyway. If you ran into April at the grocery store, chances are high that she would not be wearing makeup and may be on the edge of looking presentable. She’d still say hello..
PREVIOUS ENGAGEMENTS (Press Pass Mysteries #1) by April Anderton
Synopsis Senator Morgan Maxwell’s fiancée is dead and it’s not the first time.
It’s 1996 and Boston reporter, Ali Loukas, has her sights set on advancing from radio newscaster to TV correspondent, so when the Maxwell story practically drops into her lap, she seizes the opportunity to solve the murder, scoop her competitors, and move up the broadcasting ladder.
But gaining access to evidence and witnesses without stepping on the toes of family friend, Detective Ryan McGuire, could be tricky.
Despite a knife wedged in her front door and opposition from the police, Ali is determined to prove that she can find the answers, solve the crime and earn the dream job…if she can stay alive to make it all happen.
If you love Mary Higgins Clark Mysteries, grab this one today!
Content Notes: PG equivalent – No swearing, sex or graphic violence.
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My Review Set in the mid 1990s, this is a delightful trip into my pre-kids/marriage youth, with references to some of my favorite music and other pop culture from that time. Ali Loukas moves to Boston as a cub reporter for a radio station, her sights set on working in TV some day, following in the footsteps of her idol. When she dives into the murder of a prominent citizen, she gets to meet her idol, only to discover she’s the exact opposite of what Ali imagined. As a viscous rivalry develops between the two, Ali is determined to solve the mystery first. Her sleuthing sends her directly into the path of dreamy Detective Ryan McGuire, the son of her mother’s best friend, making things doubly complicated, and then triply so when Ali discovers Ryan might just have reciprocal feelings for her. But before long, Ali somehow asks the wrong person the wrong question, putting her directly in the crosshairs.
Plot
The primary focus is the mystery – who killed Senator Maxwell’s fiancee. But there are a couple of solid subplots involving Ali’s career and her budding romance with Detective McGuire. The mystery is well done, with several twists and a culprit, who I did suspect from time-to-time, I never really latched onto as the one. The author expertly foreshadows everything, though, so the big reveal feels inevitable. Because the story takes place more than twenty years ago, there are some fun things the author takes advantage of, including the fact that smart phones weren’t a thing and the internet was still dial-up for a lot of the population.
Characters The characters were awesome. Ali is instantly likable as a determined reporter, who is maybe a bit naive, but tenacious enough to overcome it. Ryan is swoon-worthy as her foil and potential love interest, and the moms are the absolute best, driving some of the funniest moments in the book.
Top things I Enjoyed About PREVIOUS ENGAGEMENTS 1. Ali. She’s funny, smart, and will stop at nothing to get to the truth.
2. Ryan. He’s all about the rules. At least until he meets Ali.
3. The 1990s. Showing my age here, but the 90s were my favorite decade from the music, to movies, and TV shows. The pop cultural references were a blast from my past.
4. The Mystery. It was well done and kept me guessing.
5. Humor. A lightheartedness to the story kept it from getting too dark and had me laughing throughout.
Bottom Line A fun cozy mystery with a nostalgic edge and a lighthearted romance.
About the Book Title: PREVIOUS ENGAGEMENTS Series: Press Pass Mysteries #1 Author: April Anderton Release Date: March 1, 2019 Pages: 247
Category: Adult Cozy Mystery Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU
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Author April Anderton
About the Author April Anderton is a designer, blogger and author of cozy and young adult mysteries, survival adventures, non-fiction how-to books and articles for blogs and magazines. She lives off-grid in the mountains of North Idaho with her husband and their homeschooled pre-teen son. She doesn’t quite understand why her grown children would rather live in cities in homes with running water, plumbing and electricity, but she loves them anyway. If you ran into April at the grocery store, chances are high that she would not be wearing makeup and may be on the edge of looking presentable. She’d still say hello..
Entangled Teen and author Monica Sanz are revealing the cover to MIRROR BOUND, the second book in the young adult paranormal romance/mystery suspense series, The Witchling Academy, releasing September 2019. See below for the cover, information on the book and series, and preorder links.
MIRROR BOUND (The Witchling Academy #2) by Monica Sanz
About the Book Title: MIRROR BOUND Series: The Witchling Academy #2 Author: Monica Sanz Publisher: Entangled Teen Release Date: September 2019 Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance/Mystery Suspense Links:Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Entangled
Synopsis Conspirator. Failure. Murderer.
Seraphina Dovetail is used to being called all these things. As the seventh-born daughter to a witch, and the cause of her mother losing both her powers and her life, Sera has always felt isolated. Until Nikolai Barrington.
The young professor not only took an interest in Sera—he took her into his home, hired her for his moonlighting detective agency, and gave her the one thing she’d always dreamed of: a chance. Under Barrington’s tutelage, Sera can finally take the School of Continuing Magic entrance exam to become an inspector and find her family. Now if only she could stop her growing attraction to her maddening boss—which is about as easy as this fiery elementalist quitting setting things on fire.
But when ghosts start dragging Sera into possessions so deep she can barely escape, and then the souls of lost witches and wizards appear trapped in mirrors, these two opposites will have to work together to uncover a much deeper secret that could destroy the Witchling world…
About the Author Monica Sanz has been writing from the moment she could string together a sentence. Her stories have come a long way from mysterious portals opening in the school cafeteria, transporting classmates to distant worlds. A classic by the name Wuthering Heights is responsible for that. She’s been lost to dark romances and brooding fictional men ever sense. Now she writes about grumpy professors, cursed ringmaster, tortured soul collectors, and the girls they fall in love with. Monica’s books have received many accolades on the social writing website Wattpad. She’s accumulated over six million reads, eighty thousand votes, and fifteen thousand comments since posting her books on the website. She is also a member of the Wattpad4, a group of writers who host weekly Twitter chats on the subjects of writing and publishing.
Today is release day for IT’S A GHOST’S LIFE, the fifth book in the adult cozy mystery series, Murder by Design, by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Erin McCarthy. See below for information on the book, buy links, and an exclusive excerpt.
IT’S A GHOST’S LIFE (Murder by Design #5) by Erin McCarthy
Synopsis When the bitterly cold days of January descend on Cleveland, Bailey Burke finds her “Put It Where?” home staging business is as frozen as her toes. The only bright spot is the return of her friend Ryan after his, ahem, eviction from heaven. Especially since no other dead people seem to be harassing her in recent weeks.
Yet when her grandmother’s bingo buddy turns up frozen solid in a stranger’s back yard, Bailey is the only one who finds the death suspicious. Bailey knows fashion and she knows Vera, a one-time film star, would not be caught dead, literally, in a stained nightgown and cheetah-print boots. Determined it prove it is homicide and not dementia, she enlists Ryan’s help to investigate, despite his ghostly limitations.
This time Bailey is ready to play it smart, solve the crime, have the bad guy do the time… only all is fair game when it comes to eccentric backstabbing biddies at bingo.
A full-length novel in the hilarious Murder By Design series…
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Excerpt Vera used her phone way more than Grandma Burke. She had social media accounts where she followed fashion and Old Hollywood accounts. She had TMZ. Rent the Runway. Images of sexy men reading books. She had a reading app with hundreds of books on it, from classics to romance novels to modern literature like The Kite Runner.
Her texts were from her friends and her niece, Eva. A man I assumed was her nephew. A couple of guys who were clearly flirting with her. I scrolled through the thread with the man named “Colin” and let out a startled yelp. Right there in their conversation going back and forth, was a dick pic. “Dang, Vera.” I quickly scrolled past it, then out of pure curiosity went back because it didn’t look like a selfie from a ninety-year-old man.
They say that men don’t age there the way they do elsewhere but even so… the thighs appeared to be a man in his prime. I suddenly felt like a naughty schoolgirl. Vera might be a cougar, and that was all well and good, but I had a boyfriend.
“Moving on, Bailey.” I closed that thread a heartbeat after I should have, and felt guilty as all get-out for that.
Then I found a thread with a man named Stanley.
It appeared he had come into town and had made plans to see her Friday night.
So lovely to see you again, she’d written at midnight on Friday.
Interesting. I wonder if he had any clue she had passed away?
I needed to call him and ask some questions but I needed to work up the courage to do that.
Dashing back downstairs I snagged a crystal flute from her dining room hutch, and using a towel from the kitchen, opened the champagne. I took the bottle and the glass upstairs and poured in Vera’s bedroom.
“To you, Vera,” I said, glancing around her inner sanctuary. “You were a cool chick who lived life to the fullest. May you rest in peace, dahlin’.”
I half-expected her to answer me. Maybe I was hoping she would. But the room remained silent. Vera had a record player on an etagere in the corner and I opened it to see what record was on it. Glenn Miller. I turned it on, not wanting to snoop in silence.
Sipping champagne, I went through Vera’s closet, drooling over the vintage pieces nestled up against the modern designers. Nothing was cheap. There were classic, timeless pieces, then funky and fun accessories. She had mastered the art of dressing in well-made basics, then adding shoes, jewelry, a turban, or a funky shawl to change up her look.
Her shoes were to die for.
I gave a laugh of horror in the closet at that thought. To die for. Yikes.
There were drawers lined with felt that had a drool-worthy collection of brooches, bracelets, rings, and necklaces. She even had hairpins that I suspected were from the 1930s. I did notice what looked like some odd empty spots in a few drawers and I wondered how closely Pam had inspected the collection. Or if Pam had swiped a few items on her way out.
There were four stacks of hat boxes, which was glorious.
Beside them were photo boxes. Inside I found newspaper clippings from seventy-five years earlier.
Miss Vera Rosenbaum, 21, model with the House of Chanel, is engaged to legendary film star, Frank Torro, 37. Nuptials to be held at the private home of Humphrey Bogart in a simple ceremony, in accordance with wartime sacrifice.
There was an engagement photo where Vera looked way older than she actually was at the time. Dressed in a suit with shoulder pads, she looked glamourous as hell. Her lips were dark, eyebrows dramatic, hair perfectly curled. Her fiancé was what I would call dapper but not particularly handsome. He was glancing affectionately down at her. On the other hand, she was staring boldly into the camera, sensual and full of life.
“Age is a funny thing, Vera, isn’t it?” I said out loud in the closet, draining my glass.
The box was full of old photos. Wedding photos of Vera at different ages. Photo shoots. A three-legged race on the lawn of a mansion, palm trees in the background. Runners laughing as they held on to each other.
Man, I was having a melancholy day.
There were love letters in the box too. Passionate notes from Vera’s third husband, things like “Even on the darkest day, you are the sun that warms my soul.”
Now it’s all text messages.
I would fall over if Marner wrote me a note.
There was also a nasty note from a woman that Vera had kept, which I found fascinating.
It was a woman named June calling Vera a homewrecking whore.
“Why would you save this?” I murmured.
And was June still alive? Had she gotten her final revenge on Vera? That seemed unlikely. She was probably ninety herself.
The record playing cut off suddenly.
I jumped, dropping the letter from angry June.
My heart started racing.
It didn’t sound like the record had ended on its own. It had cut off mid-song.
Could Vera do that?
Then I realized I heard footsteps.
Shoot.
Crawling on my belly, I reached the closet door and tried to ease it closed so as not to alert the intruder.
It was too late. I was on my stomach, staring at Italian loafers.
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Author Erin McCarthy
About the Author USA Today and New York Times Bestselling author Erin McCarthy first published in 2002 and has since written over sixty novels and novellas in teen fiction, new adult romance, paranormal, and contemporary romance. Erin is a RITA finalist and an ALA Reluctant Young Reader award recipient, and is both traditionally and indie published.
When she’s not writing she can be found sipping martinis in high heels or eating ice cream in fleece pajamas depending on the day, and herding her animals, kids, and amazing renovation-addicted husband.
New York Times bestselling author, Alyssa Day is revealing the cover to EYE OF DANGER, the the fourth book in her adult paranormal romance mystery series, Tiger’s Eye Mysteries, releasing July 2, 2019. See below for the cover, information on the book and series, and preorder links.
EYE OF DANGER (Tiger’s Eye Mysteries #4) by Alyssa Day
Synopsis He’s a PI who turns into a tiger.
She can see how you’ll die.
The bad guys never stood a chance.
EYE OF DANGER: The longest and most twisty installment of the Tiger’s Eye mysteries yet!
When Tess Callahan’s long-lost and presumed-dead father comes back to town, running from the mob, she’s not sure how to feel. But when she finds out the bad guys are really after her, to use her “gift” as a weapon, she knows exactly who to turn to.
When Jack Shepherd must confront mob bigwigs, a rogue vampire, and Tess’s dad all in the same day, he realizes that small towns can be every bit as deadly as the rebellion he led when he was a soldier. Tess is in trouble, and there’s no way Jack will let anything happen to her—they haven’t even gone on their first date!
Welcome to Dead End, Florida, where the pawnshop never, ever deals in vampire teeth. And welcome to the Tiger’s Eye Mysteries!
Beware! This novel contains: magic, shape shifters, humor, vampires, a taxidermied alligator, mob bosses, assassins, a missing father, in-law jokes, gunshots, bad singing, delicious baked goods, terrible parking, the FBI, swamp commandos, tigers, special agents, flirting, belly laughs, comedy, humor, and a pawn shop. .
About the Author AlyssaDay is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than forty novels filled with kissing, laughter, mystery and magic. Alyssa‘s paranormal series include the Poseidon’s Warriors and Cardinal Witches paranormal romances and the Tiger’s Eye Mysteries paranormal mysteries. In an AlyssaDay book, the good guys (and gals!) always win and happily ever after always prevails!
Alyssa‘s many awards include Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA award for outstanding romance fiction, and the RT Reviewer’s Choice Award for Best Paranormal Romance novel of 2012. Her books have been translated into a zillion languages but she’s still holding out for Klingon.
Welcome to the book blitz for THE CONTESSA’S BROOCH,the fourth book in the adult mystery series, Harmony Duprie Mysteries, by P.J. MacLayne. See below for information the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
THE CONTESSA’S BROOCH (Harmony Duprie Mysteries #4) by P.J. MacLayne
Synopsis A firebug is stalking Oak Grove and internet researcher Harmony Duprie is on the case. It starts as a simple data analysis project for Police Chief Sorenson, but things get personal when the house she renovated is targeted.
The arsonist is in it for the glory, posting videos of his exploits on social media. So, Harmony calls for backup from her favorite computer hackers, Eli, Lando, and Scotty. Complications arise when Fiesker, a fire investigator with a chip on his shoulder, is brought in to unmask the culprit and put an end to the fires. Then there’s the mysterious emails being sent to the town’s firefighters. And who is leaving a trail of Celtic brooches behind?
Harmony finally gets a break when Jake, her ex, stumbles across information that might lead to the guilty party.
Can Eli, Lando and Scotty help Harmony track down the pyromaniac before someone gets hurt? Or, worse yet, killed?
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Excerpt #2 The emergency vehicles traveled faster than the speed limit and soon were out of eyesight. It didn’t matter because the red glow in the sky led me to the fire’s location, a residential area on Broad Street.
I parked a block away. Close enough for my purposes. I knew the house because I thought about buying it to fix up before I started working at the library. Built in the ’50s, it wasn’t anything fancy, just a solid little house that had seen better days. No one lived there when Sarah, my real estate expert, took me on a walk-thru, and I prayed no one had moved in since then.
I couldn’t resist getting out and walking a little closer but staying well back from the police lines. I wanted a better view, not of the fire, but the people in the crowd. Was one of them the mystery videographer? With all the cell phones aimed at the incident, it would be impossible to isolate any one person as the guilty party. Unless they did something that made them stick out, like sneaking in under the police tape. I eliminated the ones in pajamas, rousted from the neighboring homes as a safety precaution. But everyone was behaving themselves.
The water brigade made their appearance, with cheerful smiles and those silly purple vests they wore. They stood as close as possible to the fire lines. It was like those water stations they use along the routes of marathons. Every now and then, a firefighter grabbed a bottle from them and emptied it before returning to work. The volunteers always cleaned up after themselves, so they were tolerated.
With a loud crash, the roof caved in. The shower of sparks fell as far as the police lines, and the people in front forced their way backward. Torrents of water from every available firehose streamed through the sky to quell the hotspot. Steam and ash from the fire drifted throughout the neighborhood. The stench of smoke and over-heated chemicals burned my nose and I sneezed several times.
About the Author Born and raised among the rolling hills of western Pennsylvania, P.J. MacLayne still finds inspiration for her books in that landscape. She is a computer geek by day and a writer by night who currently lives in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains. When she’s not in front of a computer screen, she might be found exploring the back roads of the nearby national forests and parks. In addition to the Harmony Duprie Mysteries, she is also the author of the Free Wolves adventures.
Author Melissa ErinJackson is unveiling the cover to PAWSITIVELY POISONOUS, the first book in her adult cozy mystery series, Witch of Edgehill, releasing June 10, 2019. See below for the cover, information on the book, an a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
PAWSITIVELY POISONOUS (Witch of Edgehill Mysteries #1) by Melissa Erin Jackson
About the Book Title: PAWSITIVELY POISONOUS Series: Witch of Edgehill Mysteries #1 Author: Melissa ErinJackson Release Date: June 10, 2019 Genre: Adult Cozy Mystery Links:Goodreads
Synopsis Every town has its secrets, but no one has a secret like hers.
Amber Blackwood, lifelong resident of Edgehill, Oregon, has earned a reputation for being a semi-reclusive odd duck. Her store, The Quirky Whisker, is full of curiosities, from extremely potent sleepy teas and ever-burning candles to kids’ toys that seem to run endlessly without the aid of batteries. The people of Edgehill think of the Quirky Whisker as an integral part of their feline-obsessed town, but most give Amber herself a wide berth. Amber prefers it that way; it keeps her secret safe. But that secret is thrown into jeopardy when Amber’s friend Melanie is found dead, a vial of headache tonic from Amber’s store clutched in her hand.
Edgehill’s newest police chief has had it out for Amber since he arrived three years before. He can’t possibly know she’s a witch, but his suspicions about her odd store and even odder behavior have shot her to the top of his suspect list. When the Edgehill rumor mill finds out Melanie was poisoned, it’s not only the police chief who looks at Amber differently. Determined to both find justice for her friend and to clear her own name, Amber must use her unique gifts to help track down Melanie’s real killer. A quest that threatens much more than her secret …
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Author Melissa Erin Jackson
About the Author Melissa has had a love of stories for as long as she can remember, but only started penning her own during her freshman year of college. She majored in Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology at UCDavis. Yet, while she was neck-deep in organic chemistry and physics, she kept finding herself writing stories in the back of the classroom about fairies and trolls and magic. She finished her degree, but it never captured her heart the way writing did.
Now she owns her own dog walking business (that’s sort of wildlife related, right?) by day … and afternoon and night … and writes whenever she gets a spare moment. The Microsoft Word app is a gift from the gods!
She alternates mostly between fantasy and mystery (often with a paranormal twist). All her books have some element of “other” to them … witches, ghosts, UFOs. There’s no better way to escape the real world than getting lost in a fictional one.
She lives in Northern California with her very patient boyfriend and way too many pets.
The Forgotten Child is her debut, the first in a paranormal mystery series. Her next book, Pawsitively Poisonous, releases June 10th, 2019.
RUSTY NAIL (Jack Daniels Mysteries #3 ) by J.A. Konrath
Synopsis Lee Child, David Morrell, and M.J. Rose all agree: Jack Daniels is the one to watch! Anthony Award finalist J.A. Konrath’s latest novel featuring the feisty female police detective serves up another thriller
Lt. Jacqueline “Jack” Daniels of the Chicago Police Department is back, and once again she’s up to her Armani in murder. Someone is sending Jack snuff videos. The victims are people she knows, and they share a common trait — all were involved in one of Jack’s previous cases. With her stalwart partner hospitalized and unable to help, Jack follows a trail of death throughout the Midwest, on a collision course with the smartest and deadliest adversary she’s ever known.
During the chase, Jack jeopardizes her career, her love life, and her closest friends. She also comes to a startling realization — serial killers have families, and blood runs thick.
Rusty Nail features more of the laugh-out-loud humor and crazy characters that saturated Whiskey Sour and Bloody Mary, without sacrificing the nail-biting thrills.
This is Jack Daniels third, and most exciting, adventure yet!
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My Review RUSTY NAIL is my first book by J.A. Konrath, and I now consider myself a fan. This is the third book in a series, and it builds upon characters and events in the first two books, but the author weaves in just enough information that I wasn’t lost without recapping everything. Part thriller, part mystery, Detective Jacqueline (Jack) Daniels is faced with a cruel serial killer who has ties to previous cases of hers. As she attempts to track down this new killer, she must determine if it was an accomplice or a copycat of the original. She works with her partner, Herb, a handful of FBI agents, and a collection of officers in various jurisdictions. Interspersed with this is the marriage of her former partner, Harry, a romance with an ex, and coping with her feelings surrounding her mother who is in a coma in a skilled nursing facility.
Plot
The main plot is the mystery, told in first-person POV from Jack’s perspective, as well as various third-person POVs, including the killer. The story moves at a steady pace, building to a pulse-pounding climax. Humor is woven throughout to keep it from getting too dark, and this really helps an otherwise gruesome story from getting too morbid. I prided myself on figuring out who the killer was only to be floored when I was wrong. But in retrospect, everything I needed to know was skillfully placed throughout the story.
Characters
I had some difficulty connecting with Jack at first. She’s rough, tough, and really hard around the edges, but as the story unfolded, I saw softer sides of her, including her visits with her unconscious mother, the way she cares for her mother’s cat, who clearly can’t stand Jack, and even her broken heart. Herb, Harry, and even Harry’s fiancee, Holly, were all fascinating characters that helped make Jack that much more human when she tried her best to be inhuman.
What I Enjoyed About RUSTY NAIL 1. Plotting. Great plot with lots of twists and unexpected surprises.
2. The Ending. I love the way the author wound up the story in a way I didn’t expect.
3. Jack. It took me a bit to warm up to her, but once I did, I loved her more than just about any detective I’ve read in a long time.
4. Harry. Jack’s former partner, Harry McGlade, is a soft, pasty, gross mess of a man, but he has some of the best lines in the book.
5. Evil. The villains on Criminal Minds ain’t got nothin on Konrath’s bad guys.
Bottom Line Gripping thriller/mystery with great characters and a plot that never lets up.
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About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited Title: RUSTY NAIL Series: Jack Daniels Mysteries #3 Author: J.A. Konrath Publisher: Hyperion Books Release Date: July 1, 2006 Pages: 288 Genre: Adult Thriller/Mystery
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars Links: Goodreads | Amazon| Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU
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Author J.A. Konrath
About the Author J.A. Konrath is the author of eleven novels in the Jack Daniels thriller series. They do not have to be read in chronologically to be enjoyed, but the order is: Whiskey Sour, Bloody Mary, Rusty Nail, Dirty Martini, Fuzzy Navel, Cherry Bomb, Shaken, Stirred, Rum Runner, Last Call, and White Russian. More coming soon.
Jack Daniels also appears in the novels Dead On My Feet, Dying Breath, Everybody Dies, Shot of Tequila, Flee, Spree, Three, Timecaster Supersymmetry, Banana Hammock, Lady 52, and Serial Killers Uncut. She’s also in the novellas Floaters, Burners, Planter’s Punch, Babe On Board, Racked, Straight Up, October Dark, Jacked Up!, Beat Down, Cheese Wrestling, Abductions, Watched Too Long, and Babysitting Money, and the collection Jack Daniels Stories.
Wow, that’s a lot of Jack.
Other novels include the thrillers Origin, The List, Disturb, Timecaster, Afraid, Trapped, Endurance, Haunted House, Webcam, Grandma?, Holes In The Ground, and Draculas. Other novellas include Fix, Hit, Naughty, Exposed, Rescue, and Wild Night is Calling.
He also writes the Stop A Murder mystery puzzle series, where you become the sleuth and solve brain teasers to try and catch a killer.
And, finally, he writes erotica under the pen name Melinda DuChamp.
Joe writes a lot. You should probably read everything.
Welcome to the blog tourfor DEAD AND GONE, the second book in the adult contemporary romance/comedy mystery series, Funerals and Obituaries, by Jennifer Rebecca. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
DEAD AND GONE (Funerals and Obituaries Mysteries #2) by Jennifer Rebecca
About the Book Title: DEAD AND GONE Series: Funerals and Obituaries Mysteries #2 Author: Jennifer Rebecca Release Date: March 11, 2019 Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance/Comedy Mystery Links:Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo
Synopsis You ever have an out of body experience? Like one of those moments where you’re standing on a street corner watching yourself do something monumentally stupid? Something you know you shouldn’t do but you just can’t help yourself?
Three weeks ago, Trent and I were deep into the Honeymoon stage of love, I swore I wouldn’t be the first one to rock the boat—Lord knows with our two Irish tempers it would happen soon enough—so when he made me promise to keep my nose and our grandmothers out of his investigation, I did.
It didn’t hurt that his head was buried between my legs at the time either. But then Daisy called me begging for help and what kind of bestie would I be if I shut the door in her face? That’s right, a sh*tty one. So I packed up our grandmothers and their gogo boots, g-strings and pasties to get to the bottom of things. Only problem is if Trent catches us I’ll be dead meat, folks.
My name is Shelby Whitmore, Funeral and Obituaries columnist for the San Diego Metro News and most likely to be single again if I survive this sh*t. But hey, at least I’m still a hit with the blue hairs . . .
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Excerpt #4 “We’re running out of time, Shell,” Granny says as gently as she can.
“But—” I start.
“There is no time.”
“Then what do we do?” I ask, not knowing at all that that one little sentence spoken in a breakfast joint in Rancho Bernardo would change the course of my life irrevocably.
“We have to find out who is doing this, honey,” Granny says.
“But how?”
“We’re going undercover.”
“I don’t understand,” I tell them.
“We’re going to George Washington’s,” Marla says brightly.
“To the strip club?” I ask, confused.
“Everyone knows there’s always a trick working the back of the club,” Daisy says like we’re talking about what kind of jam we want on our toast. Incidentally, I am no longer vacillating between strawberry and orange marmalade.
“A trick?”
“A hooker,” she says seriously, and I feel my eyes go wide. “A working girl.”
“There’s a hooker working George’s place?” I whisper-shout.
“Of course not,” Granny says, shooting me a Don’t be stupid look. “But we need to trap a hooker killer.”
“And Christina and Stacy were both working the back room at Girls! Girls! Girls!” Daisy adds when I looked confused. “It’s the strip club off the 5, just past O’side.”
“And what can I get you ladies this morning?” the waitress asks as she steps up to our table, interrupting my world exploding because there is no way I could have heard them correctly. And if I did, Trent is going to kill me. Guess I don’t have to have that birth control talk after all.
We go around the table giving our orders before she leaves to put them in. I sit there sipping my coffee for a minute before I realize that I have to find out once and for all if my friends are really about to pimp me out.
“And I have to be this hooker?” I ask hesitantly while throwing up prayers to Jesus, Joseph, Mary, and the damn camel that I misheard them. They don’t want me to be a hooker, a job that is against the law in most of the fifty US states.
“Yes,” Daisy affirms.
“But . . . but . . . why me?” I ask.
“Well, most of the johns know me, seeing as how I used to be in the business,” she explains. “And no offense to the grannies, but no one is going to pay to do them.”
“None taken,” Granny agrees.
“Of course, dear,” Marla says like Daisy just asked for an extra chocolate chip cookie after dinner.
“So, as you can see,” Daisy begins. “You’re up.”
“I’m up?” I ask.
“You’re up,” Daisy confirms with a nod. “We’re going to make you into the best trick there ever was.”
“But I can’t be a trick,” I shout, losing my tenuous grip on my control.
“Why not?” Daisy asks.
“Because, for one, it’s illegal!”
“So what?” She shrugs.
“So what?” I repeat. “My boyfriend is a homicide detective!”
“Trent’s cool,” Daisy says.
“He’s not that cool!”
“Maybe he doesn’t have to know,” Marla says quietly, and I know I’m so incredibly screwed.
“Yeah, I—” I start to reject the notion, but I’m interrupted by the server bringing a huge tray of food to the table.
“Here we go, ladies.”
After that I dove into my eggs Benedict like it was my job and completely forgot to tell Daisy, Granny, and Marla that I was not going to be their prime hooker and I most definitely wasn’t going to keep it from Trent either.
About the Author Jennifer is a thirty something lover of words, all words: the written, the spoken, the sung (even poorly), the sweet, the funny, and even the four letter variety. She is a native of San Diego, California where she grew up reading the Brownings and Rebecca with her mother and Clifford and the Dog who Glowed in the Dark with her dad, much to her mother’s dismay.
Jennifer is a graduate of California State University San Marcos where she studied Criminology and Justice Studies. She is also an Alpha Xi Delta.
10 years ago, she was swept off her feet by her very own sailor. Today, they are happily married and the parents of a 8 year old and 6 year old twins. She can often be found in East Texas on the soccer fields, drawing with her children, or reading. Jennifer is convinced that if she puts her fitbit on one of the dogs, she might finally make her step goals. She loves a great romance, an alpha hero, and lots and lots of laughter.
Today is release day for DEAD AND GONE, the second book in the adult contemporary romance/comedy mystery series, Funerals and Obituaries, by Jennifer Rebecca. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
DEAD AND GONE (Funerals and Obituaries Mysteries #2) by Jennifer Rebecca
About the Book Title: DEAD AND GONE Series: Funerals and Obituaries Mysteries #2 Author: Jennifer Rebecca Release Date: March 11, 2019 Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance/Comedy Mystery Links:Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo
Synopsis You ever have an out of body experience? Like one of those moments where you’re standing on a street corner watching yourself do something monumentally stupid? Something you know you shouldn’t do but you just can’t help yourself?
Three weeks ago, Trent and I were deep into the Honeymoon stage of love, I swore I wouldn’t be the first one to rock the boat—Lord knows with our two Irish tempers it would happen soon enough—so when he made me promise to keep my nose and our grandmothers out of his investigation, I did.
It didn’t hurt that his head was buried between my legs at the time either. But then Daisy called me begging for help and what kind of bestie would I be if I shut the door in her face? That’s right, a sh*tty one. So I packed up our grandmothers and their gogo boots, g-strings and pasties to get to the bottom of things. Only problem is if Trent catches us I’ll be dead meat, folks.
My name is Shelby Whitmore, Funeral and Obituaries columnist for the San Diego Metro News and most likely to be single again if I survive this sh*t. But hey, at least I’m still a hit with the blue hairs . . .
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Excerpt I’m dead meat. Literally. Dead. Meat.
Last month, when Trent and I started up for real after all of our false starts at the beginning of our relationship I promised him I wouldn’t do anything crazy. I wouldn’t go off half-cocked. And most importantly, I wouldn’t follow our grandmothers down the crazy-assed rabbit hole of Granny Grabbers and Dangerous Dames.
“You’re not police officers,” he had said.
And I agreed. We’re not.
Trent also might have coerced me into agreeing with him in the most despicable ways. One minute my legs were wrapped around his neck, my eyes were rolled back in my head, and I was one more “Oh, yes!” away from the promised land.
“Shell,” he said to me in between licks and kisses. “Promise me you won’t do anything crazy.” He kissed me again and again.
“Yes.” I ignored him as I rocked against his mouth, moving closer and closer.
“Promise,” he commanded as I spiraled the edge.
“Yes!” I cried.
“You promise?” he asked me again, but I was too far gone.
“Sweet petunia, yes!”
“I’m so glad we agree. You have no idea how happy this makes me, Shelby.” Trent smiled as he slithered up my body like the snake that he was.
Although, I had an idea how happy my climax had made him, as it was currently poking me in the thigh. Before I had a chance to catch my breath or even question what, exactly, Trent and I agreed on, he slid all the way inside me, to the hilt, and my eyes rolled back in my head.
About the Author Jennifer is a thirty something lover of words, all words: the written, the spoken, the sung (even poorly), the sweet, the funny, and even the four letter variety. She is a native of San Diego, California where she grew up reading the Brownings and Rebecca with her mother and Clifford and the Dog who Glowed in the Dark with her dad, much to her mother’s dismay.
Jennifer is a graduate of California State University San Marcos where she studied Criminology and Justice Studies. She is also an Alpha Xi Delta.
10 years ago, she was swept off her feet by her very own sailor. Today, they are happily married and the parents of a 8 year old and 6 year old twins. She can often be found in East Texas on the soccer fields, drawing with her children, or reading. Jennifer is convinced that if she puts her fitbit on one of the dogs, she might finally make her step goals. She loves a great romance, an alpha hero, and lots and lots of laughter.
Today is release day for DEATH OF A DEBTOR, the first book in the adult romantic mystery series, Sophie Parker Coupon, by Jenna Harte. See below for information on the book, buy links, and an exclusive teaser.
DEATH OF A DEBTOR (Sophie Parker Coupon Mysteries #1) by Jenna Harte
About the Book Title: DEATH OF A DEBTOR Series: Sophie Parker Coupon Mysteries #1 Author: Jenna Harte Release Date: March 9, 2019 Genre: Adult Romantic Mystery Links:Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU
Synopsis Forced to move back home to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia after her father and brother end up in jail for running a Ponzi scheme, Sophie Parker does the best she can. While living with her curmudgeonly aunt, she works as a wench waitress at a pirate-themed restaurant and learns the ins and outs of discount shopping through a coupon group.
Life goes from bad to worse when an innocent airplane ride with her former teenage crush, AJ, leads to her being picked up by the police. The plane’s indebted owner has been murdered, and he’s the man who helped put her father in jail.
What started as a curiosity has now turned into a quest to make sure she isn’t arrested. Armed with gossip from the women in her coupon group, and her cantankerous aunt, Sophie sets out to find out who killed the ruthless businessman minutes after she flew off with AJ.
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Author Jenna Harte
About the Author Jenna Harte is a die-hard romantic, writing about characters who are passionate about and committed to each other, and frequently getting into trouble. She is the author of the Valentine Mysteries, the first of which, Deadly Valentine, reached the quarter-finals in Amazon’s Breakthrough Novel Award in 2013. She’s also the author of the Southern Heat contemporary romance series, and recently sold a three-book deal of a new cozy mystery series involving coupons, fairy tales and airplane repos. The first book in that series, Death of a Debtor, is due in February 2019. She’s a member of the Virginia Writers Club and Sisters In Crime.
When she’s not telling stories, she works by day as a freelance writer, author, and online entrepreneur. She speaks and teaches adult education courses on publishing, writing, and author platform building. She’s an empty nester living in central Virginia with her husband and a fat cat. Get free ebooks, updates on Jenna’s work, and more at her website: http://www.jennaharte.com.
Author Andrea Bills is revealing the cover to THE FORGOTTEN ONES, a stand-alone adult romantic suspense/thriller/mystery, releasing May 6, 2019. See below for the cover, information on the book, and preorder links
Synopsis From the iBooks Bestselling Author of Hardwired comes…
One small town.
One lost love.
One killer.
Agent Caitlin Cade is called back to her hometown by a serial killer. She’s avoided the town for six years, trying to create a new life away from the painful memories of the sudden passing of her father and a love lost.
Dean Campbell was given a mission that forced him to walk away from the only woman he had ever loved. Just as his mission is over and he can return to her news reaches him that a serial killer has Caitlin caught in a deadly game.
Can Dean handle not being the one in control in order to show Caitlin he’s back for good? Can Caitlin not only face her past but also a killer who always seems two steps ahead of her? As a game of chess plays out using human bodies, secrets and lies come to see the light of day for the first time.
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Author Andrea Bills
About the Author Andrea is a wife, mother and writer from small town West Virginia. She spends her time while she’s not dreaming up lovers and villains alike chasing after her two kids and husband.
Her overactive imagination and her husband’s wacky dreams attribute to her love of the written word. Guilty pleasures include reading all night and Reese Cups.
