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Author Daniela Alibrandi will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B&N Gift Card to a randomly drawn winner. Don’t forget to enter!

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Cold Hands

By Daniela Alibrandi 

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Genre:  Noir Thriller / MultiDimension Crime
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Synopsis

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In Rome, the past never stays buried for long. When a dangerous man, Cold Hands, is released from psychiatric detention and quietly returns to the city, Commissioner Rosco and his team are drawn into a shadowy investigation where old crimes, hidden grudges, and new threats begin to intertwine. Beneath the surface of ordinary lives, secrets fester in hospital wards, along the Tiber, and in the darkest corners of the capital. Seemingly unrelated crimes gradually intertwine within a hypnotic, subterranean world of hidden Rome, mysterious lakes and ancient legends, revealing a larger pattern that is difficult to recognize. As tensions rise, Rosco must protect the fragile happiness he has finally found while facing a menace that knows how to wait, watch, and strike. Atmospheric, gripping, and rich in psychological tension, Cold Hands is a suspense novel set in a Rome of buried memories and lurking danger.

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Who will read the novel will discover the unbelievable seductive settings, on the shores of Rome’s underground lakes, in which a disturbed mind stalks its prey. They will enjoy this important step in the overall journey of the work, which intertwines serial crimes with murders of a different nature, even with the ancient legends that abound in the Eternal City.

Through the MultiDimensionCrime approach, the novel invites readers to enter a world where atmosphere, emotions, and events become almost tangible, entering the mind of the killer, the desperation of the victims, while investigating with the squad in increasing twists and suspense. The novel, set in the Eighties, is also published as an Extended Book, an innovative publishing format experienced by Morellini Editore, that enhances the reading experience. By scanning the QR code printed on the back cover, readers can explore the locations featured in the story, immerse themselves in its atmospheric world, and listen to a curated soundtrack of 1980s music that brings the novel’s setting to life. A journey that doesn’t end with the last page!

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Rome in early spring—there’s nothing more enchanting, even for Rosco, who slid behind the wheel, still heavy with sleep, having skipped breakfast yet again. Another night spent with the little one waking up over and over, until he’d earned his rightful place in the big bed. And yet, for Rosco, there was nothing sweeter than feeling that warm little body pressed close, so bossy and so tender—a tiny tyrant to whom he gladly surrendered.

But by morning, Marilena had reached her limit. With gentle hands, she’d scooped up the boy and, for the umpteenth time, tucked him back into his crib. Then she’d slipped back under the covers—a mistake, as it turned out, because now Rosco could smell her, and it had been ages since he’d been this close to her. The child was sleeping soundly now, dawn’s timid light beginning to seep through the shutters, and Rosco could make out the outline of Marilena’s body as she breathed deeply, on the verge of drifting off again. He couldn’t resist the urge to caress her hips, and when she turned toward him, he kissed her lips, then her neck, and finally began to suckle her nipple. She wasn’t nursing anymore, and the scent of her skin had returned to what it once was, before— a whiff of stale caciotta cheese, during those endless months of round-the-clock feedings.

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About Author Daniela Alibrandi:

Daniela Alibrandi is the author of successful thrillers and noirs in Italy and abroad. She was born in Rome, and lived and studied in the United States. In her professional life, she has been involved in cultural exchanges within the Council of Europe and the European Union. With her seventeen published novels, a Trilogy, an Anthology of short stories and seven English editions she is a prominent figure in the Italian literary scene. Her writings have often been featured in national newspapers and literary columns on RAI Italian television and radio broadcasts. The author, always present with her novels in the most important national bookfairs, has also won several national literary awards and the 2022 Women Art Week Award for her literary career. Some of her Italian editions are present in Harvard and Yale libraries as well as in New York Public Library.

For years and from various sources, such as literary critics and reviewers, this author’s style has been defined as multidimensional, until it was officialized as MultiDimensionCrime (Acronym MDCrime). A reading experience that forges imagination in a multi-dimensional way. In the complex and intertwined plots of her novels, which lead to sudden and unexpected twists, the characteristics of different strands are harmoniously blended. The reader follows the investigation to solve a murder and at the same time he amazingly enters the mind of the killer, reasoning alongside him, preparing the crime with him, and even partaking in the victims’ despair and terror. All in a growing suspense, both during the narration and in the final pages, when the reader often has to question all the beliefs he has developed during the reading. The settings the author chooses as well as the atmospheres are always amazing and palpable.

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Hook, Line, and Murder

By GG Calpo

 

(The Sweet TOOTH Murder Mystery)
Published by: The Wild Rose Press
Publication date: February 9th 2026
Genres: Adult, Cozy Mystery, Mystery

What does Meg, a retired kindergarten teacher, do when the killer of her husband and only child still walks free a year after dirt had covered their graves? Go rogue, of course!
When the detective responsible for Meg’s nightmares takes over the murder investigation of her former student, Meg hunts the killer down with help from her friends. Their cozy lunches at Sweet Buns Café turn into tactical meetings while these retired grade school teachers get themselves in trouble better suited to those in their twenties. And to put the icing on their cream scones, someone is after Meg. Is it the killer? Or has Meg uncovered secrets better left buried with her loved ones?

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

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Enjoy this peek inside:

The day was beautiful, with clear skies and a mild snap in the air. It was cold yet warm with the right amount of heat from the sun, making it the perfect spring day. Motorboats and sailboats dipped in and out of the water, out by Poet’s Bay. And at the edge of the harbor were the fishermen, alone or in groups of two or three, a rod in their hands and their tackle boxes opened beside them. We rounded the corner, almost done with our walk, when we saw mothers dragging their children away and fathers covering the eyes of the children in their arms. Pushing against the stream of parents scrambling away were others whose eyes were fixed on the man by the harbor’s edge. A man on whose fishing line dangled a catch with, what I thought were, red fins and a red tail swaying lazily around the hook.

Red? In the salt waters of Poet’s Bay? As I stood there trying to figure out what I was seeing, Barbara shoved her way into the crowd. I followed, my curiosity getting the better of me. Murmurs of “Good morning” and “Good to see you, Mrs. B” trailed behind me, changing to “You sure you want to see this, Mrs. B?” and “I wouldn’t go any further if I were you, Mrs. B.” We fetched up to the front and looked down on the ground before us while the fisherman beside us puked his guts out.

It wasn’t a fish he had caught.

Instead, on the ground was a hand. Just a hand. Nothing else.

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About Author GG Calpo:

GG Calpo is a retired lawyer and accountant who traded contracts and numbers for the far more enjoyable chaos of fictional crime. Now she writes cozy whodunits featuring warm-hearted golden-aged sleuths who’ve seen it all, heard it all and will investigate a murder with zero hesitation. She loves stories where the stakes are personal, family and friendships are paramount, with characters who refuse to follow the outline and endings that pull the rug out. When not plotting twisty crimes—on paper only, of course—she spends her time reading, crocheting blankets and sweaters for her five grandchildren, watching mystery TV shows and taking long walks in her neighborhood. She lives in Central New Jersey with her husband and two corgis, Whiskey and Nugget.

Website / Goodreads / Instagram / Facebook

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The Awful Truth

By Melanie Summers

 

(The Glass Houses Collection, #2)
Publication date: September 24th 2026
Genres: Adult, Suspense, Thriller, Women’s Fiction

They have money. Status. And terrible judgment.

It was supposed to be the ultimate escape. A curated guest list. A luxury yacht. A week on the crystal-clear Adriatic, far from everyone’s real lives.

Except no one is there for the view. Careers, contracts, and futures are all quietly in play.

Antonia and Ted have built a global brand on their perfect marriage, which would be more convincing if they could still stand each other. Mercy has spent years smoothing over the worst instincts of her powerful husband, convinced the man she fell in love with is still there. Winslow is hiding a secret that could end his career, while his husband, Miguel, is carrying news that will change everything between them.

And then there’s Charlotte—the assistant everyone overlooks. Which gives her an excellent view of everything.

The first night, the drinks flow, the gossip gets vicious, and everyone shares far more than they should. But what’s a little indiscretion among new friends?

The trouble with a yacht is that there’s nowhere to go once you’ve said too much. No separate hotels. No quick exits. Just the same people, fewer places to hide, and another breakfast together in the morning.

By the third day, one marriage is as good as over. One guest is desperate enough to do something irreversible. And Mercy is realizing the man she loved was all for show—and the man she fears is who he really is.

Before any of them set foot on solid ground again, one of them will be dead in the water.

Privilege has protected them from consequences for years. But desperation can make even very comfortable people do terrible things.

The Awful Truth is a sharp, warm, wickedly funny domestic suspense novel about marriage, power, and the spectacularly bad decisions people make when they have everything to lose. For readers who love the wit and heart of Liane Moriarty and Sally Hepworth, with the glamor and menace of The White Lotus.

Heat Level: Open door, spicy not explicit
Tone: A fast-paced, suspenseful, emotional, character-driven drama
Series Type: Standalone, part of a collection of domestic suspense novels
Ending: Emotionally satisfying, book club / upmarket resolution
POV: Multi-POV, third person
Content Notes: Infidelity, emotional abuse dynamics, death, suicidal ideation, brief sexual violence, psychological tension

Goodreads / Amazon

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Charlotte sat back, tuning out the conversation while she stared out at the hills and smattering of buildings along the highway. So far, the city wasn’t much to look at. A lot of low brush and an irritating bank alongside the road that only allowed the briefest glimpse of the water. But soon, she’d be surrounded on all sides by the clear blue Adriatic Sea, and she felt a surge of excitement. It was her first time in Europe. As a teenager, she always thought she’d go right out of high school—backpacking and staying in hostels for a few months, really living, as her mother, who’d never gone farther than Niagara Falls from their home in Muskegon, would say. But in the end, Charlotte met a boy and decided he was more exciting than Italy and France and England combined. Only he wasn’t. He was a huge disappointment, and by the time she realized it, it was already move-in week at the University of Michigan.

So here she was, at the ripe old age of twenty-nine, getting her first taste of the ‘old world.’ This wasn’t how she imagined it (few things were)—sandwiched between her lover and her lover’s wife in the back of a limo—but this was how she had arrived. Charlotte was sleepy and mixed up and felt guilty as all hell, but she was here. She had made it. She’d take as many glamorous pics as she could to post on her Instagram account. Her friends would be filled with envy which they would mask with comments like, ‘Looking hot, mama!’ and ‘You deserve it. You work so hard. Have an amazing time, girlie!’

But she wouldn’t be having an amazing time, would she? She’d likely be working long hours—maybe even through the night—to liaise between the studio and her bosses, not to mention having a front row seat to the ‘Ted and Antonia pretending to be blissfully happy’ show, which she’d much rather skip. She knew it was all bullshit, at least on Ted’s part. An act meant to keep the multi-million-dollar ruse going. It was bad enough when they were on set and she had to watch them gaze into each other’s eyes and act like they were still in the playful honeymoon phase. Ted had warned her that they’d have to lay it on extra thick around Mr. and Mrs. Bishop, but not to let it get to her. Because he only wanted her.

None of that was stuff she could share on Instagram, or tell her friends, for that matter. She’d keep her secret and smile, like she always did. But at least she could pretend she was having a wonderful time.

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About Author Melanie Summers:

Melanie Summers also writes steamy romance as MJ Summers.

Melanie made a name for herself with her debut novel, Break in Two, a contemporary romance that cracked the Top 10 Paid on Amazon in both the UK and Canada, and the top 50 Paid in the USA. Her highly acclaimed Full Hearts Series was picked up by both Piatkus Entice (a division of Hachette UK) and HarperCollins Canada. Her first three books have been translated into Czech and Slovak by EuroMedia. Since 2013, she has written and published three novellas, and eight novels (of which seven have been published). She has sold over a quarter of a million books around the globe.

In her previous life (i.e. before having children), Melanie got her Bachelor of Science from the University of Alberta, then went on to work in the soul-sucking customer service industry for a large cellular network provider that shall remain nameless (unless you write her personally – then she’ll dish). On her days off, she took courses and studied to become a Chartered Mediator. That designation landed her a job at the R.C.M.P. as the Alternative Dispute Resolution Coordinator for ‘K’ Division. Having had enough of mediating arguments between gun-toting police officers, she decided it was much safer to have children so she could continue her study of conflict in a weapon-free environment (and one which doesn’t require makeup and/or nylons).

Melanie resides in Edmonton with her husband, three young children, and their adorable but neurotic one-eyed dog. When she’s not writing novels, Melanie loves reading (obviously), snuggling up on the couch with her family for movie night (which would not be complete without lots of popcorn and milkshakes), and long walks in the woods near her house. She also spends a lot more time thinking about doing yoga than actually doing yoga, which is why most of her photos are taken ‘from above’. She also loves shutting down restaurants with her girlfriends. Well, not literally shutting them down, like calling the health inspector or something–more like just staying until they turn the lights off.

She is represented by Suzanne Brandreth of The Cooke Agency International.

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Two weeks before her wedding, Aurora Larrimore slapped her wedding planner, punched her florist, stole the florist’s van, and drove off.

Is Aurora missing, or is she just gone? Those are two different types of investigations.

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Why Aurora Ran

by Nora Kingsley

Genre: Mystery

Two weeks before her wedding, Aurora Larrimore slapped her
wedding planner, punched her florist, stole the florist’s van, and drove off.

Her family calls her unstable. Melissa “Pissy Lou” Jenkins isn’t
convinced. A blunt, brilliant skip tracer for the family’s law firm, Pissy Lou
notices what everyone else misses, and her Tourette’s has a habit of announcing
exactly what she thinks of the people she questions. She is sent to find Aurora
in time to save the wedding, and she starts with the question nobody else
asked: is Aurora missing, or is she just gone? Those are two different types of
investigations.

Her interviews turn up stories about a controlling mother, a fiancé whose
answers don’t fit, and a carefully polished lie the whole family seems to be
protecting. Before Pissy Lou can find the runaway bride, she has to answer the
question at the heart of the case. Everyone involved in the wedding has a
theory about Aurora, but Pissy Lou is the only one asking why she ran.

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

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Chapter
4

Vendors and a Client

 

Pissy Lou was at her desk by eight the next morning. She
poured her yellow-orange mug full of iced coffee and opened her notebook to a
fresh page. The Larrimore file was open in front of her. She had a list of
calls to make before she drove out to Devereaux Heights, where Richard and
Celeste Larrimore lived. She had verified information on the people she had
intended to talk to the day before.

First on her list was the caterer,
a woman named Darlene Puckett who ran the Fork & Flourish out of a
commercial kitchen on the east side of town. Ms. Puckett answered on the second
ring.

After introductions, Pissy Lou got
down to work. “What did you do when Celeste Larrimore called to change the menu
for the wedding?

“I told Aurora everything,” Puckett
said. She had the tone of a woman who was waiting to talk about this situation.
“As soon as I realized what her mother was doing, I called Aurora directly. I
did not care whose toes I stepped on. It is her wedding.” She paused. “That
woman, Celeste Larrimore, called me four times in two weeks. She wanted to swap
out the entire menu. Aurora and Hayes had tasted everything; they’d signed off
on a menu, and we had a contract. The menu was set. Then here comes Celeste wanting
another tier on the cake, to swap out the wedding topper, and then she wanted
chicken marsala and salmon added to the menu. She said Aurora was ‘too
informal’ in her choices, like it was a character flaw.” Another pause, a
deliberate one. “I have dealt with a lot of difficult mothers of the bride.
That woman is in an extra-obnoxious category by herself.”

Pissy Lou thanked her and moved on.

The printer, a slow-talking man who
identified himself only as “Bill, from Printed to Perfection,” confirmed the
invitation situation, Aurora and Hayes had selected a plain card with an
elegant texture, letterpress printing, a classic Garamond font, and wording
that named them both first and their parents second. Celeste had called and
instructed him to change the wording so that it read: “Mr. and Mrs. Richard
Larrimore request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter
…”
which was not what Aurora had ordered, and not what was on the signed
proof. Celeste provided her credit card, so he did a second run with the new
wording. He then emailed the new proof to Aurora. She called back and sounded
angry. She told him to throw those out, and hoped he still had the original
invitations. He did. She also made him promise to call her again if Celeste
tried to change them again.

“This happens more often than
you might think,” Bill said in his deadpan way. “Parents argue about
wording. Grandparents argue about wording. I once had a bride’s aunt threaten
to sue over cardstock. That is why I never throw invitations away until after
the wedding. Somebody is always upset about something.”

“Was this unusual?” she
asked.

“As I said, no, happens all
the time. But this was a bit new, Aurora wanted me to call her personally if
her mother contacted me again. I mean the woman got caught the first time. Why
would she try it again?”

Pissy Lou’s call to BarbyAnne
Knowles, the events coordinator at the wedding venue, was more involved. Aurora
and Hayes had booked The Carrington, an estate property outside of town with a
bridal ceremony and reception space, gardens, and a catering kitchen. Celeste
had called The Carrington and, citing unspecified “concerns,” canceled the
booking, then booked a different property, Magnolia Hall, which had a more
formal aesthetic. Pissy Lou suspected this site had a greater prestige among
the circles Celeste traveled in. Aurora had called The Carrington, discovered
the cancellation, and re-booked it immediately.

“I was surprised at how calm Aurora
was. If my mother had pulled that on me, I would have been swearing something
awful,” BarbyAnne said. “Then she asked that no further changes be accepted
from anyone other than herself, and that such changes had to be in writing. I
could tell she had thought this out before she called. I have never had another
bride who had to ask me to do th Her last vendor call was to Beaufort Bridal,
the shop where Aurora’s gown had come from. The owner, Serafina Beaufort, ran
the store her grandmother had opened and had been dressing Nunenberg brides for
over forty years. She remembered the gown without having to look anything up.

“Aurora picked an ivory,
sleeveless couture gown, clean lines, no fuss. It had a slightly uneven hem,
and ended just above her ankles so she could move easily. It suited her
perfectly, and she knew it the minute she had it on. You can always tell,”
Serafina said. “And she had an eye, that girl. She chose all four
bridesmaids’ dresses here too — peacock blue, midcalf, with three-quarter
sleeves of ivory illusion lace, and little flowers embroidered into the lace in
the same blue, so they seemed to bloom right on the skin. Each one was cut a
little differently, but you could see at a glance they belonged together. Those
women came to their fittings laughing, and every single one asked me if she
could wear hers again afterward. In this business, that is the highest
compliment there is.”

“And the bride’s gown?”

“Then the alterations
started.” Serafina Beaufort paused before continuing. “Her mother ordered the
changes directly, four separate times, and mostly between fittings, so Aurora
never saw them coming. Lace sleeves. A higher neckline. Lace layered over the
bodice. She addeda train and veil. Mrs. Larrimore was paying for the work, so
my hands were tied, but every fitting, that poor girl came in and found less of
her own dress waiting for her. At the last one she said something about us
turning it into a lacy burka. One of my fitters laughed. I did not.”

“Four rounds of
alterations,” Pissy Lou said. “Is that normal?”

“Honey, in forty years I have
taken gowns in, let gowns out, and re-beaded an entire bodice overnight for a
bride who changed her mind. I have never un-designed a dress four times for a
woman who was not the one wearing it.” She paused. “I heard Aurora
took the gown with her when she left. Good. She should burn it. I’ve unpicked a
lot of mistakes in forty years, but that gown’s got four rounds of her mother
sewn in too deep for any seam ripper. Fire’s just the last alteration, and it’s
the only one her mother can’t reverse.”

“So, you think Aurora intends
to burn the dress?” Pissy Lou asked.

“Honey, if that were my dress,
I’d pour a can of gasoline on it and strike a match,” Serafina said
without hesitation.

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A quick note before I get into Lou’s Tourette’s: she isn’t the first fictional detective to have it. Jonathan Lethem’s Motherless Brooklyn, published in 1999, is an award-winning neo-noir novel featuring private investigator Lionel Essrog, who has Tourette syndrome. It was also adapted into a film starring Edward Norton. I haven’t read the book yet, so Lionel wasn’t an influence on Lou, but I recently got a copy and will be reading it shortly.

When writing about Lou’s Tourette’s, I did my research but I am sure there are things I got wrong. Her mother, Augusta, helped her learn ways to cope with it, but Tourette’s is different for everyone. Sometimes what comes out of Lou’s mouth is coherent and sometimes it isn’t. It’s part of Lou, but it doesn’t define her. In Chapter 3, while interviewing Hayes Merritt, she says something off-color and then thinks: “My apologies. I meant nothing by it. Tourette’s,” she said. I had no idea I was going to say that but I did. Wow. One of the few times I agree with the rando shit that comes out of my mouth. This guy is a damn stinker, as Grandma used to say.

The involuntary swearing associated with Tourette syndrome is called coprolalia, and despite the stereotype often shown in movies and on television, it affects only about 10–15% of people with Tourette’s. Tics can be vocal, such as sniffing, throat clearing, grunting, or words and phrases, or motor, such as blinking, shrugging, twitching, or sudden movements. The tics are involuntary and don’t necessarily reflect someone’s thoughts or beliefs. Some people can suppress them temporarily, but that takes effort and can create a buildup that leads to stronger tics later.

I explored this in Chapter 6: Celeste Larrimore, when Lou barely makes it back to her car after holding her tics in through a tense interview. Once the door closes, the pressure breaks: she rocks, pounds the steering wheel, and unleashes a string of rhyming insults until she’s nearly crying with relief.

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Nora Kingsley lives on Cape Cod in Massachusetts, where the
landscape, the weather, and the Atlantic provide a constantly changing backdrop
for an active imagination. Why Aurora Ran is Nora Kingsley’s debut and the
first in the Lou Jenkins mystery series.

A lifelong reader, Nora is happiest wandering through
historical fiction, mysteries, science fiction, and fantasy, especially books
that offer a compelling world, an intriguing puzzle, or characters worth
following well past bedtime. Her interests extend beyond the page to music,
movies, cooking, and art, and she has always been drawn to the many different
ways people create and tell stories.

She shares her life with the people and animals she loves,
an unreasonable number of interests, and the firm conviction that there is
always room for another book.

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Enter the Why Aurora Ran Giveaway Here

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A Killer for Christmas: A Novel
by Kim Harrington


A Killer for Christmas: A Novel
Cozy Mystery
Stand-Alone Novel
Setting – Maine
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Crooked Lane Books
Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 22, 2026
Print length ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
Hardcover
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8892425025
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0GC485289
Paperback
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8892425032
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0GC47JK57
Digital
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8892425049
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0GBZN538M

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Wrapped in red has a bloody new meaning in this contemporary holiday romance with a murderous twist, perfect for readers who enjoyed The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year.

Christmasville, Maine, is the only place where Kelsey Hendricks has ever felt happy. When she loses both her job and her boyfriend, the move is a no-brainer, especially when she sees a listing for a position as Christmasville’s social media manager. Surrounded by twinkling lights and candy canes and with the perfect job, this tinsel town is working its magic on Kelsey. With two heartthrobs vying for her attention, her life is now just like a Christmas movie.

Except for the murders.

The first one is dismissed as an accident. But after the second, and definitely the third, it becomes abundantly clear that Santa is leaving coal in someone’s stocking this year.

Determined to bring back the holly jolly spirit to the town before tourists begin canceling their reservations, Kelsey must sleuth her way out of a chilling murder mystery and back to a holiday rom-com.

This charming and clever mystery-romance where a cozy winter wonderland warms the heart while suspense chills the bones is the perfect read for the holiday season.

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About Author Kim Harrington

Kim Harrington is the author of A Killer for Christmas, her debut adult mystery, as well as Clarity, Perception, The Dead and Buried, and Forget Me for teens and Revenge of the Red Club, the Sleuth or Dare series, and Gamer Squad series for younger readers. Her books have been sold to ten countries and optioned for television. She lives in Massachusetts with her family, where she’s hard at work on her next mystery novel.

Author Links: Website / Instagram / Facebook / BlueSky / Goodreads

Purchase Links
PenguinRandomHouse    Amazon      B&N      Bookshop.org

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In the Frame: A Fake Dating Queer MM Romance

By Hayden Stone

 

(The London Arts Club, #2)
Publication date: August 29th 2026
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance

An artist. A developer. And an art gallery which they both want—for very different reasons.

When recent uni grad Matty Gowen-Smith, a talented painter and not so talented bartender, spills a tray of drinks on a hot-shot investor, Florian de Ligt, he’s left with no choice to make amends. Especially after Matty ruins Florian’s suit on a big night out for Florian’s birthday.

Trying to make things right, broke artist Matty offers Florian his only suit in a desperate effort to not get fired from his job. Conveniently, Matty is flat sitting around the corner, where his one prized suit awaits his friend’s wedding next weekend. Not so conveniently, they are soon trapped together in an elevator at Matty’s flat, and things rapidly go from bad to worse until landing on an uneasy truce.

Which is where a pact is born to come right from this mess. Florian needs a date for an upcoming art gala, a world he knows little about. Matty desperately needs a respectable date for his friend’s Brighton wedding to prove he’s a success in his new London life.

Two fake dates and an unexpected kiss later, fake feelings begin to feel a bit too much like real feelings. Which wouldn’t be a problem if Florian wasn’t so determined to dismantle Matty’s art community by redeveloping a popular local art gallery into luxury condos. An art gallery which may give Matty the solo exhibition he’s dreamt of to launch his art career. And now Matty must choose between his community or what might be a real chance at love…

In the Frame, the second book in the London Arts Club series, features forced proximity, boy next door, and fake dating in a fun new adult romcom.

Goodreads / Amazon

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Enjoy this peek inside:

The fact is I’m kind of a shit bartender in a not-so-shit London bar. A popular bar full of discerning hipsters with deep pockets and others who want to be seen. It’s my first Saturday night working here at my new job. Which is exactly what I need to be doing to bring in some cash, and not spending money I can’t afford on supplies from the local art shop around the corner in Soho.

Forget that my new boss has all the makings of a tyrannical dictator—one who already has me nestled comfortably in his crosshairs. It’s not all smooth sailing despite the luxurious queer glamour of Ivan’s. Dramatic high-coffered ceilings soar overhead with gleaming chandeliers, and chic paintings from highly successful contemporary artists hangs on dark walls. The last part’s like artisanal sea salt in a career-shaped wound.

I have no idea why they hired me. Aside from me technically being qualified for the job. And also technically having the right references.

I mean, they obviously needed another bartender, after one of their old ones left. Which is a reasonable thing for a bar to want to keep running smoothly and keep their customers in suggestively named cocktails, like Get Your Freak On or Banger Baby or classics like Sex on the Beach. But just because I gave them my resumé doesn’t automatically mean I’m the best man for the job.

Never mind. I’m here now and I need to get on with it. The paycheck will make up for my current suffering, and, at best, low-key competence.

Around me, the upscale bar glows with burnished wood counters, gleaming glassware, and a stylishly imposing pink neon display (saying you have arrived and it reminds me a little of Tracey Emin’s works in neon), accompanied by a thousand bottles of premium, backlit spirits on the brick wall behind me that the finest of London’s equally premium queers will enjoy. Backlighting optional.

Clenching my jaw, I wring the bar cloth into the sink, rinse it, and give the counter in front of me a quick wipe, because I inadvertently slopped some ale when I should have slid the glass over with a certain panache expected of a bartender in a place like this. With every last drop of said ale staying within the confines of its glassware.

Except I panicked, because nerves.

Because Saturday night. Because there are hot men everywhere, where the hotness per capita rating is off the charts—to the point there should be a public health warning and an exclusion zone for the susceptible to distraction, like me. It’s definitely the sort of hotspot in London where people go when they want to be noticed. The occasional celeb makes their way through here too, tipping off the paparazzi who wait outside. There’re regularly high numbers of influencers in Ivan’s, all vying for social media clout.

Meanwhile, the remaining froth I missed looks obscene on the walnut bar. I wring out the cloth one more time for luck.

People in the queue for drinks are thankfully looking at the mess and not at me. In my crisp white shirt and black waistcoat and pressed trousers, I at least look the part like the rest of the wait staff, if not the clientele. In fairness to me, I do tidy up quite nicely when I try. Except I’ve got no chill, especially not tonight.

 

About Author Hayden Stone:

More animal than mineral, Hayden Stone (he/him) is a writer of fun queer fiction, especially with kissing. Hayden is the author of the When Snow Falls, Being Royal, and The London Arts Club romcom series. He currently lives in Victoria, Canada, and has previously lived in Vancouver, Canada and London, UK. You can find out his latest news on Instagram or his website: haydenstonebooks.com

Website / Goodreads / Instagram / TikTok

 

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Holmes Away From Home (An Althea Adler Mystery)
by Samantha Larsen


Holmes Away From Home (An Althea Adler Mystery)
Historical Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – London, 1911
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Severn House
Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 6, 2026
Hardcover
Print length ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1448322405
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1448322404
Digital Coming – September 16, 2026

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Introducing Althea Adler, accomplished thief and daring heroine with a mysterious link to Sherlock Holmes.

A heart-racing game of wits, murder and romance is about to commence . . .

London, 1911. Althea Adler receives a mysterious postcard with just four words, ‘Holmes away from home.’ Surely her mother, notorious thief and opera star Irene Adler, is instructing her to break into Sherlock Holmes’s safe? But when she does, Althea makes a shocking discovery . . .

Still reeling from events at 221b Baker Street, Althea accepts an invitation to a party at Twickenham Towers, the ancestral home of Lord Slough, where a murder throws her into further turmoil―as does handsome fellow guest William, the Marquess of Sheffield, who has been tasked with staking out Slough by the British Government.

Althea and William form an unlikely alliance as they set about catching a killer. But can they trust each other when they both have something to hide?

An addictive new cozy mystery trilogy featuring a super smart, lively heroine, a dashing lord and a fiendishly good whodunnit, perfect for fans of Sherlock Holmes’s classic mysteries, Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell Mysteries, and Netflix’s The Residence.

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Enjoy this peek inside:

The private library at his gentlemen’s club felt very warm. William saw a lively fire blazing in the hearth. The only man in the room was his employer, who sat on a wingback chair beside a mahogany table. His superior had salt-and-pepper hair that was combed over his round head and reached his ears. He was a large man in height and size; his lips and nose were unremarkable, but his blue eyes, nearly black, were unsettling as they were sharp.

“You’re back early, Sheffield,” he drawled.

“Sir,” William said, bowing to his superior. “There’s been important developments in my assignment. On Monday, I broke into Lord Slough’s London flat and found a custom metal wax seal with the Red Dawn symbol. It matches the design seals on the threatening letters received by the prime minister and other members of government. I nicked a piece of the crimson wax stick from his desk and had the police lab compare it to the other wax seals from letters of the Red Dawn—the compound is identical. It definitely ties Slough and his group to the bombing of David Lloyd George’s London residence in January.”

“I should like to see this metal seal.”

William sighed. “I left it in the secret compartment in his desk, because I wanted Slough to lead me to the other members of the society. I didn’t want him to realize that he was under investigation. It is unlikely that he is working alone.”

“A shrewd choice.”

William tried not to let the blood rush to his face over such a small compliment. Particularly since he’d had no further luck. “I’ve been tailing Lord Slough for a week now, but I am no closer to knowing if the current members of the Red Dawn anarchist society are the same ones from Slough’s secret club at Eton.”

“I need to know as soon as possible. The Red Dawn is still sending threatening letters to Prime Minister Asquith and promising to assassinate him if he continues to support restricting and removing power from the House of Lords. Other parliamentary members have also received menacing letters if they support Irish home rule.”

William sighed. Their threat to the government was even greater.

When he’d returned to London a week and a half ago he’d recognized the sun symbol on the wax seal at once, for he’d lifted Saul’s secret-society card off him more than ten years ago. Stealing had been the only way that William could get revenge on the larger boys in school that used him as a punching bag. At Eton, William had thought that the secret society was just a way for the aristocratic boys to bully members of the working class. They egged storefronts, taunted male laborers, and tried to steal kisses from young female shop assistants. But it seemed that their thuggish ways had escalated into bombs and a real political threat.

The older man tapped his thick fingers against the side of his chair. “The crown supports restricting the House of Lords’ power from one of veto to one of delay. While you were still in Egypt, King Edward VII gave a speech from the throne on the twenty-first of February to that very effect. We have been tasked not only to protect the prime minister, but all the members of his Liberal party cabinet. We must find the members of the Red Dawn as soon as possible. The House of Commons intends to pass resolutions in the next two months that will remove the power of the House of Lords to veto money bills and to reduce the term of Parliament from seven years to five—the king would have preferred four years, but concessions must be made for progress.”

William placed his hands behind his back, gripping one wrist tightly with the other hand—a prickling of unease on his scalp. “Perhaps we should arrest Slough. Maybe if we promise leniency in his sentencing he will tell us the other members of the group.”

“Don’t second-guess yourself, Sheffield. It’s unlikely that he would tell us the truth and even if he did, it would be Slough’s word against another man’s. No, your theory makes perfect sense: a group of aristocratic young men who will one day inherit hereditary positions in the House of Lords are trying to protect their future power with violence and threats. Perhaps they are even being encouraged by their fathers who are current parliamentary members who don’t want Irish home rule to pass. We need to catch them in the act of conspiracy against the government or their privileged papas will tear us apart in court.”

William lifted his chin. “I thought I needed to get closer to Slough, so I made contact with him. I wangled an invitation to his family home, Twickenham Towers, for the weekend . . . I am hoping that he is less cautious at home with hiding information or that I can gain his trust and perhaps receive an invitation to join the secret group.”

His employer nodded and his eyes narrowed. “Then he doesn’t suspect you?”

“No, no,” William assured him as he shook his head. “I pretended to run into him at a department store and Slough was adequately distracted by the most beautiful young woman I have ever laid eyes upon.”

The older man brought one of his sausage-like fingers to his chin. “Describe her.”

“Venus, Aphrodite,” William admitted, feeling his face flush with color. “Blue eyes, rich-coffee colored hair that you long to run your fingers through, an angelic face, and a figure—”

There were no words for the perfection of Miss Adler’s figure, so William whistled.

His employer’s lips moved a little, but William wasn’t sure if the movement was enough to be called a smile. “Did you get her name?”

“Miss Adler.”

“Adler?” his employer said sharply and leaned forward. “An American?”

“Yes,” William admitted, blinking. “Do you know of her?”

“I once knew a Miss Adler. She had the face of the most beautiful of women, and the mind of the most resolute of men. She was a formidable thief and a potential political nightmare for Europe.”

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About Author Samantha Larsen

Samantha writes cozy mysteries under Samantha Larsen and historical romances under Samantha Hastings. She met her husband in a turkey sandwich line. They live in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she spends most of her time reading, eating popcorn, having tea parties, and chasing her four kids. She has degrees from Brigham Young University, University of North Texas, and University of Reading (UK). She’s the author of: The Last Word, The Invention of Sophie Carter, A Royal Christmas Quandary, The Girl with the Golden Eyes, Jane Austen Trivia, The Duchess Contract, Secret of the Sonnets, The Marquess and the Runaway Lady, and A Novel Disguise. Learn more at: www.SamanthaHastings.com

Author Links
Website      Instagram     Facebook      X     BookBub

Preorder Links 
Amazon – B&N

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

September 16 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

September 16 – Sarcastically Yours, Jen – SPOTLIGHT

September 17 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

September 17 – Storybook Lady – REVIEW 

September 18 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT 

September 18 – Baseball, Books, and Banter Podcast/YouTube – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

September 19 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 20 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

September 21 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW

September 21 – Angel’s Book Nook – AUTHOR GUEST POST

September 22 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

September 22 – Carstairs Considers – REVIEW

September 23 – Reading Reality – REVIEW

September 23 – Sarandipity’s – SPOTLIGHT

September 24 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT

September 24 – Salty Inspirations – SPOTLIGHT

September 25 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW

September 25 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 26 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

September 26 – Book HookUp – REVIEW

September 27 – Romance Novel Giveaways – SPOTLIGHT

September 28 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

September 29 – deal sharing aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

September 29 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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Crime and Croissants (Cooking Club Murder Mystery)
by Emmie Lyn


Crime and Croissants (Cooking Club Murder Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – New Hampshire
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Tule Publishing
Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 16, 2026
Print length ‏ : ‎ 280 pages
Digital
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1972451434
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0GYZY5HWJ

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Milly Rosebush thought the hardest part of starting over would be moving into the lakeside home she once owned with her ex-husband. In a small New Hampshire town where everyone knows her history, she’s determined to rebuild her life—with good food, fresh starts, and her best friend by her side.

Then she finds a woman in her upstairs bedroom. Dead.

Worse, a stranger walks in to find Milly holding the murder weapon—and just like that, she’s the prime suspect.

As gossip spreads faster than a kitchen fire, clearing her name means asking questions no one in Fox Hollow wants answered. Because the deeper Milly digs, the more unsettling the truth becomes.

With the help of her cooking club—a group with sharp opinions and sharper instincts—plus a too-helpful neighbor, Milly finds that every gathering comes with good food… and a side of suspicion.

But in a town built on secrets, getting too close to the truth can be dangerous.

If Milly wants a second chance, she has to catch a killer—before she ends up on the menu.

With lakeside charm, mouthwatering recipes, and a dash of danger, the Cooking Club Murder Mysteries serve up the perfect bite of cozy crime.

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About Author Emmie Lyn

Emmie Lyn has written several cozy mystery series and a romantic suspense series.

Emmie lives in a small New England town, the kind where everyone knows your name—and your secrets. It’s no surprise that her fictional worlds are filled with the same charm: scenic, close-knit communities full of quirky, unforgettable characters. She loves crafting mysteries laced with clever twists and turns, the kind that keep readers guessing and turning pages well into the night.

She lives with her husband and a black cat who rules the house with a velvet paw and a terrible attitude. Their twelve-acre homestead is a haven for deer, bunnies, turkeys, and a chorus of songbirds. When she’s not plotting fictional murders, she’s out hiking wooded trails, or spending time with her grandchildren.

Author Links: Webpage / Facebook / Goodreads

Mystery on the Menu newsletter

Purchase Link – Amazon 

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

September 16 – Angel’s Book Nook – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

September 16 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

September 17 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST

September 18 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

September 19 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT

September 20 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT

September 20 – Book HookUp -REVIEW

September 21 – Sarcastically Yours, Jen – SPOTLIGHT

September 22 – Salty Inspirations – CHARACTER GUEST POST

September 23 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR GUEST POST

September 24 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

September 24 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

September 25 – Twirling Book Princess – SPOTLIGHT 

September 26 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

September 27 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

September 28 – Sarandipity’s – RECIPE

September 28 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW

September 29 – Romance Novel Giveaways – AUTHOR GUEST POST

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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The Harlot of St. Cecelia's by Darcy Graves Banner

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THE HARLOT OF ST. CECELIA’S
by Darcy Graves
September 21 – October 16, 2026 Virtual Book Tour

 

 

Synopsis:
An Inspector Garrett Mystery

  London, 1923. American expat librarian Eden Brior thinks things are bad when she is accidentally locked overnight in the St. Cecelia’s Library vault with the charming and unreliable Simon Cross. Then she emerges to find the body of his estranged wife — a celebrated French actress — draped over a chair upstairs. Detective Inspector William Garrett is methodical, quietly perceptive, and already fairly certain he has his man. He tells Eden firmly to go home and leave the detecting to the professionals. But how can she? Racing to clear their names before Garrett closes the case, Eden follows the truth from the bright footlights of the London stage through the sleek drawing rooms of Jazz Age society, and into secrets that someone will kill to keep buried. Steeped in the style of the golden age of detective fiction, The Harlot of St. Cecelia’s captures a London still glittering on the surface and shadowed underneath — where every drawing room hides a secret and every secret has a price.

Perfect for fans of Jacqueline Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs series.

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Praise for The Harlot of St. Cecelia’s:

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“This novel consistently delights, from the spicy title to the last page.” ~ Kirkus Reviews

 

Book Details:

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Genre: Historical Mystery

Published by: Independently Published Publication Date: May 3, 2026 Number of Pages: 306 ISBN: 979-8195315580 Series: Inspector Garrett Mystery Series, Book 1

Book Links: Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads | BookBub

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Enjoy this peek inside:

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About Author Darcy Graves:

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Darcy Graves

Darcy Graves grew up in Boston and holds an MA in English history and a BS in copywriting. A marketing content writer for over thirty years, she brings to her work a deep love of the golden age of detective fiction — particularly Agatha Christie and P.D. James — and the whimsy of P.G. Wodehouse. Darcy lives in the Berkshires with her daughter, two ragdoll cats, and a very naughty terrier named Merial. The Harlot of St. Cecelia’s is her first novel.

Catch Up With Darcy Graves:

DarcyGravesAuthor.com Amazon Author Profile Goodreads BookBub – @darcygravesauthor Instagram – @darcygravesauthor

 

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This giveaway is hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for The Harlot of St. Cecelia’s. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.

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In a semi-abandoned haveli deep in Rajasthan, a woman on a
social work project finds herself drawn into an enigmatic bond with a man — and
into the secrets the ancient walls have kept for generations, discovering her
own identity along the way.

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The Desert Awakening

by Gitanjali Bhagia

Genre: Mystery, Romantic Thriller

In a semi-abandoned haveli deep in Rajasthan, the desert
wind still carries whispers of the family that once lived within its crumbling
walls.

When Soma travels from her life in Mumbai back to the land
of her ancestors, she isn’t looking for love — she’s looking for herself. But
the haveli has other plans. Drawn into an enigmatic bond with a man as guarded
as the house itself, she finds that every question she asks about him leads
back to a secret the ancient walls have kept for generations. As the line
between attraction and danger blurs, and the past refuses to stay buried, Soma
must decide how far she’s willing to go — through Mumbai’s crowded streets and
Rajasthan’s sun-baked silence — to uncover a truth that could unravel
everything she thought she knew about her family, and herself.

For readers of The Henna Artist and The Palace of Illusions,
THE DESERT AWAKENING is a slow-burn thriller-mystery-romance about identity,
inheritance, and the secrets that outlive the people who kept them — written by
a deb.ut author whose own grandmother’s stories from Rajasthan inspired the
novel.

Amazon * Bookbub
* Goodreads

 

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from Chapter 1
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    The place was picturesque from a distance. Built in the 19th century, the sandstone facade remained untouched allowing it to surrender its grandeur at dusk. Two domed structures at each end of the south side guarded the balconies of the main chambers. The original Indo-Islamic architecture was preserved from the north entrance with its intricate jaal stone gate, arched windows, and floral reliefs flanking the main wooden doors. The two-door access was a towering replica of the original fort-like entryway with a series of symmetrical melon-sized brass knobs accenting the simple wooden frame. Concrete and cement managed to invade the interior of the house after generations of reconstruction. Centrally, a courtyard outlined by a veranda echoed with voices of the past. A step down from the veranda, a garden once flourished intermingling jasmine and rose essence. Now it was diminished to soft desert sand with a few staggered terracotta planters making a feeble attempt to instill life into the semi-abandoned haveli.
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Malti sat on the edge of the veranda patiently with her bare cracked feet immersed in the cool sand. She had aged with the house, transforming her role from an ayah to general caretaker, now bearing the burden of holding the immense gate key. The sole resident of a former bustling household, she sat motionless. Adorned with a turmeric-stained crumpled cotton flowing skirt and tattered brown shawl, she waited for his arrival. Without any sign of anticipation, she rested on the mosaic tile of the veranda staring blankly at the wall in front of her. He mentioned that he would return at the end of the monsoon. It had been 2 days since the last rain.
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Malti looked away from the paan-stained wall and into her past — 26 years ago. She clearly heard him shouting, “Malti-ma! Malti!” He came running straight through the garden toward the kitchen where she was supervising the other maidservants Meera and Radha in sifting lentils and churning fresh cream for the evening meal. “I got first prize in 2 subjects…math and painting!” Avi pulled the bronze Aladdin lamp trophy with its white marble base out of his overflowing backpack. As a fourth-grade student now, he felt bigger than ever. Malti was expressionless as she looked at his mark sheet. “Hmm. I see that you can still do better.” Malti could only understand the numbers on his sheets as she had barely completed elementary school and could only read in Hindi. All his scores were pristine, but he was just shy of honors in his moral science class — a course that he would question throughout life. Avi was far from phased by her lack of enthusiasm because he knew he would be rewarded in due time with homemade kulfi ice cream swimming in rose syrup. Before she could tell him to change out of his uniform, he raced down the long corridor and slammed the door to his room demanding the attention of his two older cousins.
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Malti was jolted by the clanging sound of the wrought iron gate. She knew he had arrived. The iron gates creaked open almost by themselves — welcoming Avi to the ghosts of his past. As much as he tried to ignore the memories of his childhood in the village of Khuri, they kept surfacing and the smell of the damp sand only heightened the queasiness from nostalgia.
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Avi had spent the last 14 years in the States building a separate life. He tried to replace the feelings associated with his native land with new strides of the immigrant dream. It was not bitterness or resentment that caused him to suppress his childhood links… but a true longing for a past that could never be reproduced. The buzz of servants and his cousins and uninvited neighbors dropping in for a cup of tea amidst the morning calls of peacocks on the terrace, the vegetable seller repeating his call for the day, cows and water buffalos calling out to their herd… All of this tumultuous hubbub actually brought peace to his inner being. He was infused with a sense of belonging only to be shadowed by the desire to seek a sense of purpose. Avi was the first in his family to venture abroad; he thought this would be the pinnacle of perfection. Lost in the glamour of this illusion, he discovered nothing but the true meaning of loneliness. The urban landscape of his studio apartment in DC was no sanctuary. Residents in his buildings were like drones programmed to hover back and forth from work to home and home to work with absolutely no break in routine. Colleagues at work would perhaps start a shallow conversation, meet up for the happy hour ritual but always leave with the same cold affection. He felt a disconnect from everyone… including his wife, Anna.
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Gitanjali Bhagia is a first-generation Indian American. She
is not just a dedicated ophthalmologist practicing in Northern Virginia but a
storyteller woven from the threads of her own diverse heritage. She finds
inspiration in the rich tapestry of her ancestry, especially in the legacy of
her beloved grandmother, Vimla Bhagia, whose tales from her family’s home in
Rajasthan, India, ignited her imagination from a young age.

Born in Pennsylvania and raised in North Carolina, Gitanjali’s cultural roots
became the fertile soil from which her passion for writing blossomed. Her
frequent visits to Rajasthan not only connected her to her familial history but
also stirred a deep appreciation for the mystique and allure of the Indian
subcontinent.

With her enchantment of the tales whispered by the sands of Rajasthan,
Gitanjali weaves narratives that transport readers to captivating worlds. Her
writing carries the essence of her cross-cultural experiences, inviting readers
to explore the intricate nuances of identity, heritage, and the human
connection.

Website * Instagram * Amazon
* Goodreads

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