Archive for September 25, 2026

The Harlot Of St. Cecelia’s By Darcy Graves ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: September 25, 2026 in Excerpt, giveaways, Historical, Mystery
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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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Tour Participants:

Click through the other tour stops for can’t-miss reviews, insider interviews, exclusive guest posts, and more chances to win! Click here to view the Tour Schedule  

 

Don’t Get Locked Out… Enter for a Chance to Win!
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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THE HARLOT OF ST. CECELIA’S by Darcy Graves | Gift Card Can’t see the giveaway? Click Here!

Get More Great Reads at Partners In Crime Tours

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

The Desert Awakening By Gitanjali Bhagia ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: September 25, 2026 in Excerpt, giveaways, Mystery/Thriller, Romance
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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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Follow the blitz HERE for special content and a giveaway!

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Enter The Desert Awakening Giveaway Here

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Death By Mail ~ A Josiah Reynolds Mystery By Abigail Keam

Posted: September 25, 2026 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways
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Death By Mail: A Josiah Reynolds Mystery
by Abigail Keam


Death By Mail: A Josiah Reynolds Mystery
Cozy Mystery
23rd in Series
Setting – Kentucky
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Worker Bee Press
Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 14, 2026
Number of Pages ~200
Digital
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0FRPPP8S1
Paperback TK

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Josiah’s phone won’t stop ringing. Both Hunter Wickliffe and Eli Bradley are vying for her attention. At first it was flattering and fun, but now she doesn’t have a moment’s peace. Meanwhile, Josiah and her dog, Baby, take their daily walk to give treats to the horses and llamas before checking the mailbox. Baby is occupied with sniffing out the scents left overnight by the rabbits, foxes and coyotes, as Josiah leafs through the bills and junk mail. A small blue envelope at the bottom of the stack catches her attention. It is just inscribed with JOSIAHabove her address in crude block letters. There is no return address. She quickly tears it open, and a single sheet of paper falls on her gravel road to reveal one word – DEATH!

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About Author Abigail Keam

Abigail Keam is an award-winning and Amazon best-selling author who writes the Josiah Reynolds Mystery Series about a Southern female beekeeper turned amateur sleuth living in the glamorous world of oak-cured bourbon, antebellum mansions, and Thoroughbred farms.

Besides loving history, Kentucky bourbon and chocolate, Abigail loves honeybees and for many years made her living by selling honey at a farmers’ market like her protagonist, Josiah Reynolds. She is an award-winning beekeeper who has won many honey awards at the Kentucky State Fair including the Barbara Horn Award, which is given to beekeepers who rate a perfect 100 in a honey competition.

Miss Abigail has taken her knowledge of beekeeping to create a fictional beekeeping protagonist, Josiah Reynolds, who solves murder mysteries in the Bluegrass. While Miss Abigail’s novels are for enjoyment, she discusses the importance of a local sustainable food economy and land management for honeybees and other creatures.

She currently lives on the Kentucky River in a metal house with her husband and various critters. She still has honeybees.

Tagline – Mystery With A Shot Of Bourbon!

Tagline – There’s justice, and then there is Josiah’s justice!

Author Social Media Links
Official Site   Facebook    Instagram    Pinterest      Amazon      TikTok    BlueSky 

Purchase Links – Amazon –  Nook        Kobo     Google Play

AWARDS
2010 Gold Medal Award from Readers’ Favorite for Death By A HoneyBee
2011 Gold Medal Award from Readers’ Favorite for Death By Drowning
2011 USA BOOK NEWS-Best Books List of 2011 as a Finalist for Death By Drowning
2011 USA BOOK NEWS-Best Books List of 2011 as a Finalist for Death By A HoneyBee
2017 Finalist from Readers’ Favorite for Death By Design
2019 Honorable Mention from Readers’ Favorite for Death By Stalking
2019 Top 10 Mystery Novels from Kings River Life Magazine for Murder Under A Blue Moon
2020 Imadjinn Award for Best Mystery – Death By Stalking
2022 Finalist in Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Finalist for Best Historical Category – Murder Under A Full Moon
2022 Finalist the Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award for Best Historical Category – Murder Under A New Moon
2022 Death By Chance: A Josiah Reynolds Mystery Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Finalist for Best Cozy Mystery

The Josiah Reynolds Mystery Series
Death By A HoneyBee
Death By Drowning
Death By Bridle
Death By Bourbon
Death By Lotto
Death by Chocolate
Death by Haunting
Death By Derby
Death By Design
Death By Malice
Death By Drama
Death By Stalking
Death By Deceit
Death By Magic
Death By Shock
Death By Chance
Death By Poison
Death By Greed
Death By Theft
Death By Betrayal
Death By Trauma
Death By Mistake
Death By Mail

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GIVEAWAY

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

September 21 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

September 21 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT

September 22 – Romance Novel Giveaways – SPOTLIGHT

September 23 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT

September 23 – Christa Reads and Writes – SPOTLIGHT

September 24 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – SPOTLIGHT

September 25 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

September 25 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

September 26 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

September 27 – Sarandipity’s – SPOTLIGHT

September 27 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 28 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 29 – Sarcastically Yours, Jen – SPOTLIGHT

September 29 – Book HookUp – REVIEW

September 30 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT 

 

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.