This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.
Author Marla A. White will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Don’t forget to enter!
And you can click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Cause For Elimination
by Marla White
Reclaiming her life after a devastating riding accident, equestrian Emily Conners’ world shatters again when she discovers her friend and boss laying in a stall with a smashed skull. Now jobless and with a handsome cop underfoot investigating the case, she’s torn between wanting the killer found and keeping her own secrets safe.
Detective Justin Butler always gets his killer, but this victim has a stampede of enemies and few leads to go on. Stonewalled by the tight-knit equestrian world, he looks to Emily for help, but she’s strangely reluctant. Is she hiding something, or is she afraid of their growing attraction?
As the search for the murderer heats up, their hearts become entangled and their lives at risk, forcing Emily and Justin to work together to find the killer before they strike again.
Enjoy this peek inside:
Sitting around the rickety picnic table and talking over old times, she almost forgot for a moment why the detective—Justin, she reminded herself—was there. He sat there, loose limbed and relaxed, interested in their conversation while most non-riders soon got glassy-eyed with boredom. But he wasn’t just chatting, was he? She had to remind herself he was listening for information to help him catch a killer.
“What about you ladies?” he ventured. “Did any of you ever have any problems with Ms. Yates?”
After another fit of laughter, Erin howled, “Like we’d ever ride with Pam. Despite what everyone around here may think, we’re not crazy. Well, not that crazy at least.”
“Hunters are more our speed,” Samantha chimed in. Emily took in her very un-hunter-like, fringed pink half-chaps and raised her eyebrow. “Okay, we don’t fit in with that crowd either,” Samantha admitted. “Which is why we’re here with Ben.”
“Since Pamela had Ben blacklisted, he’s stuck with us ladies who hack.” The three shared another round of titters.
They may not have realized they’d supplied Ben with a motive to kill Pamela, but Emily did. “Hang on, rumors have blown that way out of proportion. Pamela wasn’t thrilled after Ben dissolved their partnership and took his clients to Middle Ranch, but—”
“Hah! ‘Wasn’t thrilled’ is putting it mildly,” Sandy interrupted. “First chance she got, she had him brought up on abuse charges.”
Samantha added her two cents. “They banned Ben from showing for three years, so naturally, his clients who were serious left him and found another trainer.”
“Funny, no one told me this before now.” Justin’s voice lost its light tone, and the heat of his glare rolled over Emily’s skin.
About Author Marla White:
Marla White is a story analysis instructor at UCLA and writing coach who lives in Los Angeles. She graduated from the University of Kentucky (go Wildcats!), where she took her first horseback riding lesson. After dabbling in hunters, barrel racing, and weekly trail rides, she fell hopelessly in love with the sport of eventing. She conquered Novice level before taking a break to pursue novel writing but hopes to return to the saddle someday soon. Her first novel, “The Starlight Mint Surprise Murder,” was published in 2021 followed by the first two books in her Keeper Chronicles series. When she’s not writing, she’s out in the garden, hiking, or putting together impossibly difficult puzzles.
Buy Links:
~~~~~
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.
Thanks for hosting!
Sounds like a good book.
Thanks, Rita, it was a lot of fun to write! And although horse lovers will get a kick out of it, you don’t have to like them to enjoy the conflicts, romance and murder 😀 Good luck to everyone in the giveaway.
Captivating, intriguing and a real treasure to enjoy and appreciate.
Thanks, Anne, much appreciated!
very nice cover, this sounds pretty interesting
Thank you, Wendy. Wild Rose Press cover artist Diana Carlile did an amazing job giving me the cover I’d always dreamed of for this book. It’s inspired by the early editions of Dick Francis’ mystery novels and I couldn’t be happier!
Thanks for hosting, Laura. I’m jealous of your office! I love working outside as well. What do you think readers – work outside no matter the weather, or inside? Good luck to everyone!
Sounds like a book I would enjoy reading. Adding to my TBR list.
Murder and horses – I love it.
I like the plot. Sounds really interesting. Will it be the start of a series?
Sounds really interesting.
thanks again for the giveaway and best wishes with your book
Love the cover!