Archive for September, 2021

The Drop-Dead Temple Of Doom by Heather Haven

Posted: September 12, 2021 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways
Tags: ,
3

.

The Drop-Dead Temple Of Doom

An Alvarez Family Murder Mystery

by Heather Haven

.


The Drop-Dead Temple of Doom (The Alvarez Family Murder Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
8th in Series
Setting  – Ancient Mayan ruins, El Mirador, Guatemala
Publisher – The Wives of Bath Press (September 15, 2021)
Number of Pages – 414
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09CN8DK2M

A MOUTHFUL OF POISON FROG….
WHERE’S THE LAW OF THE JUNGLE?

Ace detective Lee Alvarez is perfectly cozy at home with her cats when she and her former Navy SEAL husband receive a panicky call from JJ, an archeologist cousin, who’s on assignment deep in the Guatemalan jungle. The news? JJ is pregnant– and the father of her child has gone missing in the wilderness. The site director won’t let JJ call the police, so she asks Lee to travel to the jungle and track down her missing man.

Begging for help from Lee Alvarez sure makes sense–Lee’s family runs Discretionary Inquiries, a ritzy Silicon Valley P.I. firm. Lee is the star detective, her Uncle Tio’s on staff as the genius chef, and Lee’s brother, Richard, is a whiz at all things technology. Not to mention the presence of Lee’s very high class, upscale, and frankly scary mother Lila. Who–by the way—steamrolls her way onto Lee’s jungle trip.

A beleaguered Lee, the judgmental and prissy Lila, and Lee’s gorgeous SEAL husband (turned partner-in-crime) depart on the adventure of a lifetime, perfect for cozy mystery armchair travelers. And, once in the jungle, the already-gripping story takes a grisly turn: the three investigators have barely arrived in the lush, verdant wilderness when they discover a dead man–the assistant to JJ’s missing husband–dressed in traditional Mayan warrior garb with a poisonous frog crammed in his mouth.

And that’s just for starters: author Haven concocts a wild ride through the jungle that’s simultaneously fun, potentially fatal, and always entertaining.

Fans of cozy authors like CeeCee James, Hope Callaghan, and of course Janet Evanovich, will discover a new favorite series! Lee’s gang will also appeal to lovers of female PIs, especially those with lots of colorful friends and relatives, like Linda Barnes’ Carlotta Carlyle and Lisa Lutz’s Izzy Spellman. A near certainty: If you like THE SPELLMAN FILES, you’ll love the Alvarez family!

About Heather Haven

After studying drama at the University of Miami in Miami, Florida, Heather went to Manhattan to pursue a career. There she wrote short stories, novels, comedy acts, television treatments, ad copy, commercials, and two one-act plays, produced at several places, such as Playwrights Horizon. Once she even ghostwrote a book on how to run an employment agency. She was unemployed at the time.

One of her first paying jobs was writing a love story for a book published by Bantam called Moments of Love. She had a deadline of one week but promptly came down with the flu. Heather wrote “The Sands of Time” with a raging temperature, and delivered some pretty hot stuff because of it. Her stint at New York City’s No Soap Radio—where she wrote comedic ad copy—help develop her longtime love affair with comedy.

She has won many awards for the humorous Alvarez Family Murder Mysteries, Persephone Cole Vintage Mysteries, and Corliss and Other Award Winning Stories. However, her proudest achievement is winning the Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY) 2014 Silver Medal for her stand-alone noir mystery, Murder Under the Big Top.

As the real-life daughter of Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey circus folk, she was inspired by stories told throughout her childhood by her mother, a trapeze artist and performer. The book cover even has a picture of her mother sitting atop an elephant from that time. Her father trained elephants. Heather brings the daily existence of the Big Top to life during World War II, embellished by her own murderous imagination.

Author Links: Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Newsletter

Purchase Links – Amazon

~~~~~

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

September 6 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT

September 7 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

September 7 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT

September 8 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

September 9 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW

September 9 – Baroness’ Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

September 10 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT  

September 11 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews

September 12 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

September 13 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

September 14 – Cozy Up With Kathy – CHARACTER GUEST POST

September 15 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 15 – Novels Alive – GUEST POST

September 16 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

September 16 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

September 17 – I Read What You Write – REVIEW, GUEST POST

September 18 – Here’s How It Happened – SPOTLIGHT

September 19 – BookishKelly2020 – SPOTLIGHT  

.

.

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

SWIMMiNG with the fISheS ~ A Ozark Lake Mystery by Marc Jedel

Posted: September 11, 2021 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways
Tags: ,
2

.

SWIMMing with the fISHeS

An Ozarks Lake Mystery

by Marc Jedel

.


swimming with the fishes An Ozarks Lake Mystery
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Arkansas
Publisher: BGM Press
Number of Pages: 220
Amazon and GoodReads Links – Coming Soon
A murdered accountant. Missing money. Mysterious visitors. Can these newlyweds untangle the knots before someone else joins the bottom feeders.

 

An explosion on the lake nearly kills Elizabeth Trout’s dog and her friend gets arrested for murder. Mix in the stress of her high school reunion, plus living with her mother, and she is ready to burst.

Armed with artistic license and a slice of pie, Elizabeth sets out to right this wrong before things spin even further out of control. Small town Jenkins may never be the same again. Good thing her husband, Jonas, is along for the ride as these amateur sleuths solve the case with their unique approach of love, logic, and laughter.

Try Swimming with the Fishes to take a bite of happy and hook this twisty catch today.

 

About Marc Jedel

Marc Jedel writes humorous murder mysteries. He credits his years of marketing leadership positions in Silicon Valley for honing his writing skills and sense of humor. While his high-tech marketing roles involved crafting plenty of fiction, these were just called emails, ads, and marketing collateral.

 

For most of Marc’s life, he’s been inventing stories. As he’s gotten older, he’s encountered more funny and odd people and situations. This has made it even easier for him to write what he knows and make up the rest. It’s a skill that’s served him well, both as an author and marketer.

 

The publication of Marc’s first novel, UNCLE AND ANTS, gave him permission to claim “author” as his job. This leads to much more interesting conversations with people than answering, “marketing.” Becoming an Amazon best-selling author has only made him more insufferable.

 

Like his characters Jonas and Elizabeth from the Ozarks Lake Mystery series, Marc grew up in the South and spent plenty of time in and around Arkansas. Like his character, Marty from the Silicon Valley Mystery series, Marc now lives in Silicon Valley, works in high-tech, and enjoys bad puns. Along with all his protagonists, Marc too has a dog, although his is neurotic, sweet, and small, with little appreciation for Marc’s humor.

 

Visit his website, marcjedel.com, for free chapters of novels, special offers, and more.

Author Links: Blog / Amazon /  Website / Facebook / LinkedIn / Goodreads / BookBub

Purchase Link: Amazon

~~~~~

GIVEAWAY

~~~~~

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

September 8 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT

September 8 – Novels Alive – GUEST POST

September 9 – Mysteries with Character – GUEST POST

September 9 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT

September 10 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

September 11 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

September 11 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

September 12 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

September 12 – Carla Loves To Read – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

September 13 – I Read What You Write – GUEST POST

September 13 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 14 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW

September 15 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

September 15 – StoreyBook Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST

September 16 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

September 16 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

September 17 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT

September 18 – My Journey Back the Journey Back – CHARACTER GUEST POST

September 19 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 19 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, GUEST POST

September 20 – Reading Is My SuperPower – SPOTLIGHT

September 21 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

.

.

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Ghost Cat Of Ocean Cove ~ A Tenth Life Cozy Mystery by Mollie Hunt

Posted: September 10, 2021 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways
Tags: ,
11

.

Ghost Cat Of Ocean Cove

A Tenth Life Cozy Mystery

by Mollie Hunt

.

Ghost Cat of Ocean Cove (A Tenth Life Cozy Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published (August 3, 2021)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 249 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8519309813
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0992WH2CL
Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 17, 2021

A new feline cozy from the author of the award-winning Crazy Cat Lady Mysteries.

 

Septuagenarian Camelia Collins and her cat Blaze move to the Oregon Coast to fulfill a lifelong dream, but that dream becomes a nightmare when Camelia learns she has purchased a murder house. The former resident, reclusive businessman Jonathan Chamber, was brutally killed on the stoop, and the killer is still at large.

 

What’s more, Camelia discovers an ancient gravestone at the back of her garden belonging to a cat named Soji. Dead long ago, this seventh black kitten of a seventh black kitten now returns incorporeal form. Will Soji’s haunting help Camelia solve the murder mystery or send her screaming back to Portland?

 

About Mollie Hunt

Native Oregonian Mollie Hunt has always had an affinity for cats, so it was a short step for her to become a cat writer. Mollie Hunt writes the award-winning Crazy Cat Lady cozy mystery series featuring Lynley Cannon, a sixty-something cat shelter volunteer who finds more trouble than a cat in catnip, and the Cat Seasons sci-fantasy tetralogy where cats save the world. She also pens a bit of cat poetry.

Mollie is a member of the Oregon Writers’ Colony, Sisters in Crime, the Cat Writers’ Association, and Northwest Independent Writers Association (NIWA). She lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and a varying number of cats. Like Lynley, she is a grateful shelter volunteer.

Author Links: Website / Amazon / Facebook / Goodreads / Twitter / Newsletter

Purchase Link – Amazon

~~~~~

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

September 8 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW, GUEST POST

September 8 – Novels Alive – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 

September 8 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 8 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

September 9 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT

September 9 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT

September 9 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

September 10 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

September 10 – Mochas, Mysteries and Meows – CHARACTER GUEST POST

September 10 – Literary Gold – CHARACTER GUEST POST

September 10 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 11 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 11 – I Read What You Write – REVIEW, GUEST POST

September 11 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

September 12 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 12 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW

September 13 – Here’s How It Happened – SPOTLIGHT

September 13 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

September 13 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

September 14 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW

September 14 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

September 14 – BookishKelly2020 – SPOTLIGHT  

 

 

.

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

A Chautauqua Murder Mystery ~ A Plague Among Us by Deb Pines

Posted: September 9, 2021 in giveaways, Mystery
Tags: ,
3
A Plague Among Us
A Chautauqua Murder Mystery
by Deb Pines
September 1-30, 2021 Tour

.

A Plague Among Us by Deb Pines

Synopsis:
 

When Al Martin, the editor of a satiric newspaper in Chautauqua, N.Y., reportedly dies of COVID-19, the local consensus is: good riddance.

A sister suspects foul play. She wonders why Al was cremated in a hurry.

The police stay out of it.

So it takes reporter and relentless snoop Mimi Goldman to try to find which of Al’s haters— including an estranged wife, three bitter siblings, a secretive caregiver, old enemies and the many targets of Al’s poison-pen sarcasm—might be a ruthless killer.

The novel, No. 8 in a series called “an Agatha Christie for the text-message age,” once again offers page-turning suspense. Wit. And the unforgettable setting of Chautauqua, a quirky, churchy, lakeside, Victorian cottage-filled summer arts community that launched an adult-education movement Teddy Roosevelt called “the most American thing in America.”

Kirkus Reviews calls A Plague Among Us “an intriguing and engaging crime tale” and “enjoyable novel” with “captivating characters.”

 

Genre: Mystery

Published by: KDP Publication Date: July 1, 2021 Number of Pages: 280 ISBN: 979-8525017368 Series: Mimi Goldman Chautauqua Mysteries, Book 8 | Each book can be read as a Stand-Alone Mystery

Purchase Links: Amazon | Goodreads

Enjoy this peek inside:

Chapter Twenty-Nine Mimi and Sylvia were on the road again, heading to the Tissue Donor Center in Jamestown to chase Winston Suarez. The center wasn’t far from the Loves’ funeral home. But this time Google Maps was directing them to take the highway, not back roads. They started out the same way, heading west on 394, passing the same early landmarks: the Institution’s empty parking lots, busy golf course and We Wan Chu Cottages. “So what’s new?” Sylvia asked. “Too much,” Mimi said. “It’s crazy how I keep learning stuff without seeing how any of it means anything.” “Because the medical examiner still hasn’t called?” “Uh-huh.” Sylvia sighed heavily. “Maybe he’s just as difficult as his dad.” Tom Love Sr., in Mimi’s opinion, wasn’t difficult. All he had done was stand up for his son before Sylvia picked a fight with him. But Mimi let it go. “Well, one thing I’ll grant the older one,” Sylvia said. “What?” “He’s above average in the looks department.” Mimi chuckled. “What?” “I thought you’re done with all of that nonsense.” “I am.” Sylvia moved to the left lane to take the ramp onto Route 17/Interstate-86 East and floored it. “Whoa, hey,” Mimi said. “Mario Andretti, slow down.” “Okay, okay,” Sylvia said. “Just had to get us on the highway.” Sylvia slowed down to fit into the slow lane, sticking behind a FedEx truck going a steady 70 miles an hour. Mimi filled Sylvia in on what she had heard from Shannon about Liam and Patrick. Their denials of knowing anything about the pranks. Their claims the decisions to have no autopsy and a quick cremation were just expedient—so Patrick could get home. “So what time does Winston Suarez get off work?” “I’m pretty sure it’s 5.” Mimi had reached Winston once, described why she was calling. He got quiet, then hung up. After that, she called Winston and never reached him—leaving something like five or six messages. They stayed on the highway about ten miles before taking the Jamestown airport exit, then winding around a maze of city streets until signs with a big “H” led them to the UPMC Hospital campus. “Hopefully,” Sylvia said, “we’re more irresistible in person.” The Tissue Donor Center was one of many outbuildings with medical-sounding names surrounding the redbrick main hospital. Some were done in their own architectural style. Most, like the Tissue Donor Center, imitated the low-slung, redbrick design of the hospital, down to having a white number (for their address) and a primary-colored letter on their sides. The letters were explained on campus signs. Building A was the main hospital. Building B, the signs said, was Outpatient Svcs. C was the Sherman Medical Bldg. D was Imaging & Medical Bldg. E was Physical Therapy, Pharmacies. F was the Tissue Donor Cntr. Sylvia zipped past the early letters of the alphabet, slowing at F, the Tissue Donor Cntr. The main door had its name above it, an intercom to the right. Near the curb, another sign said, “No Standing any time. Ambulance Lane.” They didn’t see any ambulances, but Sylvia decided to wait for Mimi anyway in a parking lot across the street. “Break a leg,” Sylvia yelled as Mimi got out. Mimi laughed. If she did break a leg, no question, this was the place to do it. Her limb could be X-rayed at the Imaging Bldg.(D) and then set at Outpatient Svcs. (B). At the door of the Tissue Donor Center, Mimi knocked. “Who is it?” The woman’s voice, through the intercom, was familiar. “My name is Mimi Goldman,” Mimi said. “And—” “Let me guess? You’re looking for Winston?” Mimi laughed. “I guess I’m pretty predictable. Is he here?” “He is. This is Hannah, by the way. We keep speaking on the phone. Why don’t I see if he’ll come out?” Mimi had high hopes. How hard would it be for Winston to take a few steps to walk outside and see her? On the other hand, blowing her off might be easier. When she heard a ping, Mimi examined her phone. Sylvia, after coaching from her grandkids, texted like a teenager.

Wassup?

I asked for WS and someone said they’d get him. Just waiting.

kk

Standing there, Mimi went through her email. Then she switched to her latest word game addiction: Spelling Bee in The New York Times. Players have to make the most words, four letters or longer, from seven given letters, including one letter that had to be used in every word. The words that day had to be made from BLWCHAE, with all using an E. Mimi started with the obvious ones: BLEACH, BLECH, BEACH, EACH, LEACH, LECH. She was moving on to trickier words when the center’s door swung open. Out stepped a tall, handsome, dark-featured young man in a white surgical mask and blue scrubs with the name SUAREZ above his shirt pocket. “I don’t know who you are,” he said. “I don’t know why you keep asking me about this case, but . . . I’m pleading with you to drop it and just go.” Mimi had expected an asshole, too lazy or too self-important to talk. Not a frightened young man. “Can you say why?” she asked. “I have no idea why this case is at all sensitive.” Winston shook his head. “How about off the record? You have my word that I’d never tell anyone you ever spoke to me.” “Sorry,” he said. “I can’t risk losing my job.” *** Excerpt from A Plague Among Us by Deb Pines. Copyright 2021 by Deb Pines. Reproduced with permission from Deb Pines. All rights reserved.

 

 

Author Deb Pines:
Deb Pines

Deb Pines, an award-winning headline writer for the New York Post, is the author of seven Mimi Goldman novels and one novelette all set in the Chautauqua Institution in southwestern New York where they are top sellers. A former reporter, Deb is also a lover of puns, show tunes and indoor cycling. She lives in New York City with her husband Dave.

Catch Up With Deb Pines: DebPines.com Goodreads BookBub – @debpines Instagram – @pinesdebbie Twitter – @pinesdeb Facebook – @deborah.pines.9

 

 

ENTER TO WIN:
.

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

 

Get More Great Reads at Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours

 

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Can they stay in their own lanes?……… Renovated by Nikki Kiley

Posted: September 8, 2021 in Adult Fiction, Contemporary Romance, giveaways
Tags: , ,
10

Renovated: A Workplace Romance
Nikki Kiley
Publication date: August 5th 2021
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

They’ve been hired to remodel a mansion. Will they end up getting a room?

Marisa Sanchez has grand designs for her future. After taking over her grandfather’s construction firm, the successful vlogger and civil engineer is about to take the next step with a new show on the Home Design Network. But she’s not pleased to find out she can only have the lucrative gig if she agrees to work with a handsome rival.

Levi Chance takes the responsibility of providing for his brothers seriously. So when his biggest client asks him to come into the spotlight to co-host a new program, he reluctantly accepts. But he fears the pretty, camera-loving partner he’s been assigned might bring his top-notch reputation tumbling down if she can’t deliver the goods.

Discovering her teammate is quite capable, Marisa battles her attraction to him as she ambitiously turns the project upside down. And the more Levi works with the smart Latina, the more he worries he’s about to push the “no sex” morality clause in their contract into forbidden territory.

Will Marisa and Levi’s fixer-upper turn into a happily together forever?

Renovated is the charming first book in the moving Chance Brothers contemporary romance series. If you like sparkling attractions, comedic moments, and steamy action, then you’ll love Nikki Kiley’s well-built romp.

Goodreads / Amazon

Check out this peek inside:

“I’m going to make a confession. I wasn’t expecting to like you, especially after our first meet and greet.” She bit her bottom lip. All I could do was stare at her mouth as she continued. “I’m not shy, I also believe in saying what’s on my mind and going for what I want, so I’m going to come right out and say it.”

I could feel the heat of her body only inches from mine as she moved closer to me. “You’re super-hot, the total package, brains, and brawn. I understand why the network wants you. Women will eat you up. They’ll imagine you as they make their honey-do lists, it’s a compliment before you get offended,” she laughed as if the joke was on her. “Shit, I would do you, but I’m not fucking this up. I won’t cross any lines that could risk the project, so we each stay in our lanes. Of course, I’m assuming you agree.”

Did she just say she’d do me? “Uh, yeah, um. . . stay in my lane, couldn’t agree more.”

.

Author Nikki Kiley

Nikki Kiley is an aspiring author of Contemporary Romance. Since she was a young girl, she dreamt of writing stories that would entertain and move her readers, like she was and still is, by talented authors.

When not working the day job running a medical office, she spends hours crafting and writing stories about heroes and heroines earning their chance at love. She makes her home in Puerto Rico with her husband, two young adult children, and a gentle giant, the bull mastiff, Kira.

She loves the beach, her Nespresso maker, and cupcakes (S’more in particular).

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

 

GIVEAWAY!

.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by:
XBTBanner1

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Did she or didn’t she?…… Trace Of Doubt by DiAnn Mills

Posted: September 7, 2021 in giveaways, Mytery/Thriller, Romance, suspense
Tags: , , , ,
3
Trace of Doubt
by DiAnn Mills
September 1-30, 2021 Tour

.

57239695

Synopsis:
 

Bestselling and award-winning author DiAnn Mills delivers a heart-stopping story of dark secrets, desperate enemies, and dangerous lies.

Fifteen years ago, Shelby Pearce confessed to murdering her brother-in-law and was sent to prison. Now she’s out on parole and looking for a fresh start in the small town of Valleysburg, Texas. But starting over won’t be easy for an ex-con.

FBI Special Agent Denton McClure was a rookie fresh out of Quantico when he was first assigned the Pearce case. He’s always believed Shelby embezzled five hundred thousand dollars from her brother-in-law’s account. So he’s going undercover to befriend Shelby, track down the missing money, and finally crack this case.

But as Denton gets closer to Shelby, he begins to have a trace of doubt about her guilt. Someone has Shelby in their crosshairs. It’s up to Denton to stop them before they silence Shelby—and the truth—forever.

Praise for Trace of Doubt:

“Well-researched… with some surprising twists along the way. In Trace of Doubt, Mills weaves together a tale of faith, intrigue, and suspense that her fans are sure to enjoy.” – STEVEN JAMES, award-winning author of SYNAPSE and EVERY WICKED MAN

“Trace of Doubt is a suspense reader’s best friend. From page one until the end, the action is intense and the storyline keeps you guessing.” – EVA MARIE EVERSON, bestselling author of FIVE BRIDES and DUST

“DiAnn Mills serves up a perfect blend of action, grit, and heart… Trace of Doubt takes romantic suspense to a whole new level.” – JAMES R. HANNIBAL, award-winning author of THE PARIS BETRAYAL

“Filled with high stakes, high emotion, and high intrigue.” – JLYNN H. BLACKBURN, award-winning author of UNKNOWN THREATand ONE FINAL BREATH

 

Genre: Mystery & Thrillers, Romance, Romantic Suspense

Published by: Tyndale House Publishers Publication Date: September 7th 2021 Number of Pages: 432 ISBN: 1496451856 (ISBN13: 9781496451859)

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook.com | Tyndale | Books-A-Million | Murder By The Book | Goodreads

Check out this excerpt:

PROLOGUE

SHELBY

Would I ever learn? I’d spent too many years looking out for someone else, and here I was doing the same thing again. Holly had disappeared after I sent her to the rear pantry for potatoes. She’d been gone long enough to plant and dig them up. I needed to get those potatoes boiling to feed hungry stomachs. I left the kitchen to find her. The hallway to the pantry needed better lighting or maybe fewer corners. In any event, uneasiness swirled around me like a dust storm. A plea to stop met my ears. I raced to the rear pantry fearing what I’d find. Four women circled Holly. One held her arms behind her back, and the other three took turns punching her small body. My stomach tightened. I’d been in her shoes, and I’d do anything to stop the women from beating her. “Please, stop,” Holly said through a raspy breath. For one who was eighteen years old, she looked fifteen. “Hey, what’s going on?” I forced my voice to rise above my fear of them. “Stay out of it, freak.” I’d run into this woman before, and she had a mean streak. “What’s she done to you?” I eyed the woman. “None of your business unless you want the same.” “It’s okay, Shelby. I can handle this.” Holly’s courageous words would only earn her another fist to her battered face. And it did. “Enough!” I drew my fists and stepped nose to nose with the leader. The four turned on me. I’d lived through their beatings before, and I would again. I fell and the kicks to my ribs told me a few would be broken. A whistle blew, and prison guards stopped the gang from delivering any more blows to Holly or me. They clamped cuffs on the four and left Holly and me on the floor with reassurance help was on its way. I’d been her age once and forced to grow up fast. No one had counseled me but hard knocks, securing an education, and letting Jesus pave the way. I’d vowed to keep my eyes and ears open for others less fortunate. Holly’s lip dripped blood and a huge lump formed on the side of her head. I crawled to her. “Are you okay?” “Not sure. Thank you for standing up for me. I thought they would kill me. Why do they do this? I’ve never done a thing to them.” “Because they can. They want to exert power, control. Stick by me, and I’ll do my best to keep you safe.”

CHAPTER 1

I tightened my grip on the black trash bag slung over my shoulder containing my personal belongings—parole papers, a denim shoulder bag from high school, a ragged backpack, fifty dollars gate money, my driver’s license at age sixteen, and the clothes I’d worn to prison fifteen years ago. The bus slowed to pick me up outside the prison gates, its windshield wipers keeping pace with the downpour. The rain splattered the flat ground in a steady cadence like a drum leading a prisoner to execution. I stepped back to avoid the splash of muddy water from the front tires dipping into a pothole. Air brakes breathed in and out, a massive beast taking respite from its life labors. The door hissed open. At the top of the steps, a balding driver took my ticket, no doubt recognizing the prison’s release of a for- mer inmate. He must have been accustomed to weary souls who’d paid their debts to society. The coldness glaring from his graphite eyes told me he wagered I’d be locked up again within a year. Maybe less. I couldn’t blame him. The reoffend stats for female convicts like me soared high. For too many years, I imagined the day I left prison would be bathed in sunlight. I’d be enveloped in welcoming arms and hear encouraging words from my family. Reality hosted neither. I moved to the rear of the bus, past a handful of people, and found a seat by myself. All around me were those engrossed in their devices. My life had been frozen in time, and now that I had permission to thaw, the world had changed. Was I ready for the fear digging its claws into my heart? The cloudy view through the water-streaked window added to my doubts about the future. I’d memorized the prison rules, even prayed through them, and now I feared breaking one unknowingly. The last time I’d breathed free air, riding the bus was a social gathering—in my case, a school bus. Kids chatted and laughter rose above the hum of tires. Now an eerie silence had descended. I hadn’t been alone then. My mind drifted back to high school days, when the future rested on maintaining a 4.0 average and planning the next party. Maintaining my grades took a fraction of time, while my mind schemed forbidden fun. I’d dreamed of attending college and exploring the world on my terms. Rebellion held bold colors, like a kaleidoscope shrouded in black light. The more I shocked others, the more I plotted something darker. My choices often seemed a means of expressing my creativity. While in my youth I viewed life as a cynic. By the time I was able to see a reflection of my brokenness and vowed to change, no one trusted me. All that happened . . . Before I took the blame for murdering my brother-in-law. Before I traded my high school diploma and a career in interior design for a locked cell. Before I spent years searching for answers. Before I found new meaning and purpose. How easy it would be to give in to a dismal, gray future when I longed for blue skies. I had to prove the odds against me were wrong. *** Excerpt from Trace of Doubt by DiAnn Mills. Copyright 2021 by DiAnn Mills. Reproduced with permission from DiAnn Mills. All rights reserved.

 

Check Out This Fab Trailer for Trace of Doubt:

.

 

Author DiAnn Mills:
DiAnn Mills

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. DiAnn believes every breath of life is someone’s story, so why not capture those moments and create a thrilling adventure? Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a former director of Blue Ridge Christian Writers, and a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. She shares her passion for helping other writers be successful by teaching writing workshops around the country.

DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms listed:

DiAnnMills.com Goodreads BookBub – @DiAnnMills Instagram – @DiAnnMillsAuthor Twitter – @DiAnnMills Facebook – @DiAnnMills

 

GIVEAWAY

.

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

 

Get More Great Reads at Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours

 

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Only For One Week…….. Never Enough by Nancy Fraser

Posted: September 6, 2021 in giveaways, Romance
Tags: ,
13

Welcome to my stop on the virtual book tour for Never Enough organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Author Nancy Fraser will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Don’t forget to enter!

And be sure to c lick on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour and more chances to enter.

Never Enough

by Nancy Fraser

Never Enough: A Later-in-Life Steamy Romance (Never2Late4Love Book 1) by [Nancy Fraser]

Synopsis

When Amanda Thorne arrives on San Bella Island, she’s tired and in bad need of a vacation. She’s just finished paying off her late husband’s many debts by selling their home and belongings. On her way to Dallas for a new job in a medical research lab, she’s taking one week to recoup before beginning her new life.

Nicholas Holloway is recovering from a 2-year stint undercover for the U.S. Marshal Service. Ordered to take a vacation to clear his head, he ends up on San Bella at the same time.

Will these two battle-scared souls find peace in the other’s arms? And, will they be able to walk away at the end of their one-week fling?

Caution: This book contains love scenes and language some may find offensive. Or hot!

Check out this peek inside:

The sound of fussy children arguing the onset of bedtime drew her attention to the far side of the grounds. Young couples walked arm in arm, stopping every few feet to share a kiss, some chaste, more than a few bordering on indecent. She swallowed and released a slow breath. It had been so long since she’d been with a man; since she’d been kissed, cherished. Loved.

Forcing her attention away from the latest pair of lovebirds, her gaze clashed with the man she’d seen earlier. He’d been standing at the top of the pathway, his long fingers wrapped around a tall bottle of beer. Now, he stood less than ten feet away, his legs spread for balance on the gentle slope of grass.

He was tall, at least six-two, his medium brown hair held a hint of gray at the temples and hung to the top of his shirt collar, his face darkened by a hint of a beard. His crooked smile drew her attention to the scar that ran along his jawline.

Not bad looking. Interesting in fact, in a rugged sort of way.

While she’d been staring, he’d taken a few more steps in her direction. The closer he came, the harder she found it to look away.

“Is this seat taken?” he asked, nodding toward the empty chair next to hers.

“No, it’s not.”

“May I sit?”

She shrugged. “It’s a free beach.”

He chuckled, his laugh sending a shiver skittering across her bare arms.

“Not at the prices this place charges, it’s not.”

“True,” she agreed, giving him a shy smile.

He stretched out his hand. “Nick.”

She placed her hand in his, surprised by the gentleness of his grasp. “Amanda. Although I prefer Mandy,” she responded.

“Nice to meet you, Mandy.”

“You too, Nick.”

“Can I buy you a drink?” he asked.

She gave her half-full glass a shake. “I’m good. I’ve been nursing this one for a while now.” Taking a small sip, she admitted, “I’m not much of a drinker.”

“So, what brings you to San Bella Island?”

Mandy took a moment to answer, unsure of how much she was willing to share with a total stranger. “Short vacation. I needed to get away from the city.”

His jaw twitched, but he held back an actual smile. “And what city would that be?”

“New York,” she said simply. “Long Island, to be exact.”

He made a show of looking around them, scanning the whole of the resort grounds and beach. “You can’t get much farther away from New York than this place.”

“How about you, Nick? What brings you to San Bella Island?”

“Same. Vacation. I just finished a big job, and needed a break.”

She took another sip of her drink, and asked, “What do you do… for work?”

He drew his full lower lip through his teeth, as if contemplating her question. “I’m a contractor,” he told her. “How about you?”

“I’m in between jobs at the moment.”

“A perfect time for a vacation.”

“Have you been here long?” she asked. “At Diamond Key?”

“I got in earlier today. How about you?”

“Yesterday. I’m here for a week.”

He met her gaze, giving her another half-smile. “Me too, until next Saturday at least.”

A thought occurred to her. As heartbreaking and emotionally draining as her last few years had been, there was one thing she needed even more than her brief vacation.

She needed a man. Badly.

She’d never been one for casual sex, but the idea of having a brief fling set her pulse racing. And Nick, with his crooked smirk, soulful chocolate gaze, and interesting imperfections seemed like the perfect candidate for a temporary lover.

Swallowing back the last of her drink, more for courage than thirst, she wondered how one would go about bringing up the subject of sex with someone they’d just met.

About Author Nancy Fraser:

NANCY FRASER—Jumping Across Romance Genres with Gleeful Abandon—is an Amazon Top 100 and Award-Winning author who can’t seem to decide which romance genre suits her best. So, she writes them all.

Nancy has published over forty books in full-length, novella, and short format. When not writing (which is almost never), Nancy dotes on her five wonderful grandchildren and looks forward to traveling and reading when time permits. Nancy lives in Atlantic Canada where she enjoys the relaxed pace and colorful people.

Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Bookbub / Amazon / Goodreads / YouTube / Newsletter

 

Purchase Links: Amazon / Apple / B&N / Kobo / Universal

.

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Right into a nest of vipers……. Tabou by Beckett Riley

Posted: September 5, 2021 in Contemporary Romance, giveaways
Tags: ,
2

Tabou
Rachel Rossano
(Beckett Riley)
Publication date: September 1st 2021
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Trapped between societal boundaries, siblings Tom and Theia Edwards thought they knew all about the family business they just inherited from their father. When the true nature of his dealings are revealed, they are thrust into the savage world of drug smuggling for a Mexican cartel.

Forced to continue the work their father once did or suffer the consequences of having their darkest secret exposed, they embark on a journey that will reel them into a nest of vipers full of deceit and betrayal at every turn. But underestimating the forbidden and unbreakable bond between Tom and Theia can prove to be just as deadly to anyone standing in their way.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Eden Books

.

Enjoy this peek inside:

“Get the fuck out of my house,” he spat, blocking Theia from Tenoch’s view.

“That’s no way to speak to your guests, gringo. We just stopped by to say hello and discuss some… unfinished business. But first, I want to meet that lovely little creature hiding behind you,” he said, the corners of his mouth ticking upwards into a punchable cheshire grin. “Come here, mamita, let me have a good look at you.”

Before Tom had a chance to take one step in Tenoch’s direction, one of

the guns on Jake was now pointed directly at him. “What do you want?” he

demanded, looking back at Theia who had tears streaming down her face.

“Well, Tom, we seem to have a couple of problems. One: you are refusing to

continue a particular service your papi used to provide. And two: you know

what I do, and that doesn’t sit well with me. But no worries, I found a solution

now since I know what you… do,” he said, eyeing Theia with his cocky grin still plastered on his face.

.

 

Author Beckett Riley:

Beckett Riley resides in the sunshine state where she writes in between taking care of a four-year-old daughter, three dogs, six chickens, a grumpy barn cat, and a husband (sometimes in that order according to him). She loves writing erotic stories as much as she enjoys reading them. Dark romance and happily ever afters with hot, possessive, guys bring tears of joy to her eyes so please excuse the alpha males roaming her pages, they know not what they do.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram

 

.

GIVEAWAY!

.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by:
XBTBanner1

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Malice In Miami ~ A Jamie Quinn Mystery by Barbara Venkataraman

Posted: September 4, 2021 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways
Tags: ,
3

.

Malice In Miami

A Jamie Quinn Mystery

by Barbara Venkataraman

.

Malice in Miami: A Jamie Quinn Mystery
Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Independently Published (June 9, 2021)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 318 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8518046757
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08P27FRL6

Reluctant family law attorney Jamie Quinn is loving life–and why wouldn’t she? Her boyfriend Kip is back from Australia, her long-lost dad finally has his visa and she’s about to start her dream job at an art foundation. But it all falls apart when Jamie is accused of stealing priceless art from a rare book collection. If she can’t find out who framed her, she can kiss her dream job good-bye–and her law license too. Meanwhile, Kip has problems of his own. Now an environmental activist, he uncovers a deadly secret–one that just might get him killed. Jamie’s in trouble, Kip’s in danger, and Duke Broussard has gone AWOL. How could Jamie’s favorite P.I. abandon her at a time like this?

About Barbara Venkataraman 

Barbara Venkataraman is an attorney and author of the award-winning Jamie Quinn Cozy Mystery series, as well as Teatime with Mrs. Grammar Person, Quirky Essays for Quirky People, and A Year of Shorts: Flash Fiction. Her books have won numerous awards including Indie Book of the Day, First Place in the 2016 Chanticleer Murder & Mayhem Mystery Writing Competition, Gold Medal in the Readers’ Favorite Contest for Memoir, and Two-time Finalist in the Kindle Book Awards. She also co-authored Accidental Activist: Justice for the Groveland Four with her son Josh about his four-year quest to obtain posthumous pardons for The Groveland Four.

Author Links – Amazon Author Page – GoodReads 

Purchase Link – Amazon

~~~~~

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

September 1 – Novels Alive – GUEST POST

September 1 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT

September 2 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

September 2 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

September 3 – Didi Oviatt – Author – SPOTLIGHT

September 3 – ThisIsMyTruthNow – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

September 4 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

September 5 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

September 6 – I Read What You Write – GUEST POST

September 7 – Baroness’ Book Trove – REVIEW

September 8 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

September 9 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, GUEST POST

September 10 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 11 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 11 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 12 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT

September 13 – Dear Reader – GUEST POST

September 14 – BookishKelly2020 – SPOTLIGHT  

.

.

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Deadly Summer Nights ~ A Catskill Summer Resort Mystery by Vicki Delany

Posted: September 3, 2021 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways
Tags: ,
3

.

Deadly Summer Nights

A Catskill Summer Resort Mystery

by Vicki Delany

.

Deadly Summer Nights (A Catskill Summer Resort Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Berkley (September 7, 2021)
Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 059333437X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593334379
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08NT3JCXQ

A summer of fun at a Catskills resort comes to an abrupt end when a guest is found murdered, in this new 1950s set mystery series.

 

It’s the summer of 1953, and Elizabeth Grady is settling into Haggerman’s Catskills Resort. As a vacation getaway, Haggerman’s is ideal, and although Elizabeth’s ostentatious but well-meaning mother is new to running the resort, Elizabeth is eager to help her organize the guests and the entertainment acts. But Elizabeth will have to resort to untested abilities if she wants to save her mother’s business.

 

When a reclusive guest is found dead in a lake on the grounds, and a copy of The Communist Manifesto is found in his cabin, the local police chief is convinced that the man was a Russian spy. But Elizabeth isn’t so sure, and with the fate of the resort hanging in the balance, she’ll need to dodge red herrings, withstand the Red Scare, and catch a killer red-handed.

 

About Vicki Delany

Made with Repix (http://repix.it)

Vicki Delany is one of Canada’s most prolific and varied crime writers and a national bestseller in the U.S. She has written more than forty books: clever cozies to Gothic thrillers to gritty police procedurals, to historical fiction and novellas for adult literacy. She is currently writing four cozy mystery series: the Tea by the Sea mysteries for Kensington, the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series for Crooked Lane Books, the Catskill Resort mysteries for Penguin Random House, and the Lighthouse Library series (as Eva Gates) for Crooked Lane.

Vicki is a past president of the Crime Writers of Canada and co-founder and organizer of the Women Killing It Crime Writing Festival. Her work has been nominated for the Derringer, the Bony Blithe, the Ontario Library Association Golden Oak, and the Arthur Ellis Awards. Vicki is the recipient of the 2019 Derrick Murdoch Award for contributions to Canadian crime writing. She lives in Prince Edward County, Ontario.

 

Author Links: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Bookbub

Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Kobo – IndieBound

~~~~~

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

September 1 – Author Elena Taylor’s Blog – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

September 1 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

September 2 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

September 2 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

September 2 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT

September 3 – Novels Alive – GUEST POST

September 3 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

September 4 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 4 – Baroness’ Book Trove – REVIEW

September 5 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

September 5 – The Cozy Pages – REVIEW

September 6 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW, RECIPE

September 6 – This Is My Truth Now – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

September 7 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW

September 7 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

September 8 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

September 8 – My Journey Back the Journey Back – RECIPE

September 8 – I Read What You Write – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

September 9 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

September 9 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW

September 10 – View From the Birdhouse – REVIEW

September 10 – Brianne’s Book Reviews – REVIEW

September 11 – Literary Gold – CHARACTER GUEST POST

September 11 – The Book’s the Thing – REVIEW, GUEST POST

September 12 – Brooke Blogs – REVIEW

September 12 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW

September 13 – Reading Reality – REVIEW

September 13 – Socrates Book Reviews – REVIEW

September 14 – Book Club Librarian – REVIEW

September 14 – BookishKelly2020 – SPOTLIGHT

.

.

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Older Entries
Newer Entries