Author Archive



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One Big Little Secret: A Secret Baby Romance

by Nicole Snow

 

Publication date: November 9th 2024
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

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One wild night and a surprise reunion sends a moody billionaire spinning into fatherhood in this heartwarming and steamy romance by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Nicole Snow.

I guessed wrong.
A little reckless fun with a stranger never hurts.
A drunken one-night stand doesn’t leave you pregnant.
A savage twist of fate won’t make your baby daddy your new boss.
Bad luck can’t last forever—unless you’re me.

Should we count the ways I’m cooked with Patton Rory?
He rocks the grumpy gene, dialed up to eleven.
He’s so handsome the mirror winks back and his bank account has its own zip code.
He’s also totally oblivious—thank God.
I’m not sure what he’ll be if he figures out the little boy who trashed his fancy building and ruined his favorite tie is his son.

Maybe I’m becoming a human knot, but I won’t make the same mistake twice.
If he starts acting human and making my munchkin laugh, I’m not swooning.
If his forbidden kiss tastes like pure temptation, I’ll eat mud.
If he makes my heart sing, I’m still clinging to my big little secret.
Even if it’s growing so massive I can’t separate love from the lie.

This standalone romance read serves up a sweet and spicy secret baby entanglement with heart-rippy feels. Witness the last man who ever thought he’d be a father wake up and go all-in for the wife and son he needs more than his next breath.

Goodreads / Amazon

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Enjoy this peek inside:

My one-night stand is my boss.

The biggest life-scorching mistake I’ve ever made is my boss.

The father of my child is my boss.

Inwardly, I’m screaming, and I can’t show it.

Because the handsome stranger who turned my life upside down without ever knowing it is my flipping cockamamie boss, and there’s nothing I can do about it.

This is the sort of Twilight Zone coincidence that’s only supposed to happen in movies and stay there.

But this is real life and I’m hilariously screwed. I’m too paralyzed to even laugh.

I linger on the rooftop after he leaves, still holding the dirty towel in my hands like it’s the only thing tethering me to reality.

It’s definitely ruined, just like he said.

Just like this shiny new job after a morning that’s been one long cataclysm after the next. Except now they all pale in comparison to finding out Grumpybutt is my unknown baby daddy.

“Mommy? Is everything okay?” Arlo asks, his eyes wide.

It’s so not okay.

I’m pretty sure this day is the textbook definition of anti-okay.

He stares at me with those big blue eyes, just like Patton Rory’s. Hopefully, that’s something he didn’t notice.

But I need to sit down before I throw up.

Wouldn’t that be the rancid cherry on top of my crap-luck sundae? Arlo spills hot chocolate over Patton Rory’s suit, and I hurl all over his precious leather chairs.

“Everything’s fine, baby,” I whisper, bending to soak up more cocoa on the floor.

“Mr. Grumpybutt was mad.”

Yes, he was mad.

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About Author Nicole Snow:

Nicole Snow is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author. She found her love of writing by hashing out love scenes on lunch breaks and plotting her great escape from boardrooms. Her work roared onto the indie romance scene in 2014 with her Grizzlies MC series.

Since then Snow aims for the very best in growly, heart-of-gold alpha heroes, unbelievable suspense, and swoon storms aplenty. With over a million books sold, she lives for the joy of making two people fight with every bit of their soul for a Happily Ever After.

Current fan favorites include her Enguard Protectors series, accidental love novels, plus long beloved MC romance thrillers like the Grizzlies and Deadly Pistols.

Website / Goodreads / Instagram / X / Facebook / Bookbub

 

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

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A Corpse Among the Carolers (A Food Blogger Mystery)
by Debra Sennefelder

 

 


A Corpse Among the Carolers (A Food Blogger Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
7th in Series
Setting – Connecticut
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Beyond the Page Publishing (November 12, 2024)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 226 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1960511920
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1960511928
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0D6G64B46

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Hope Early is fully immersed in the spirit of the Christmas season, until the sounds of joyful carolers are silenced by the words “Ho-ho-homicide” . . .

Food blogger Hope Early always gets a hearty holiday laugh from knowing that the weeks leading up to Christmas are as frantic as they are festive. But in spite of everything she has to do, the one thing she always has time for is the annual Jingle Bell Stroll, a night when the community gathers to sing their hearts out and enjoy each other’s company. This year’s caroling feels especially heartwarming, until the final note lands with a thud when Hope finds the body of the man who’d volunteered to play Santa, a knife plunged into his back.

With virtually the whole town present at the caroling, the list of suspects seems endless. It doesn’t take long, though, for both Hope and the police to turn a sharp eye on the victim’s bitter and vindictive ex-wife, along with his new wife, who may have been after his money. Then Hope unearths a clue that suggests the dead man may have been hiding a sordid past and connections to unseemly characters. But as she closes in on the killer, they’re determined to wring her neck before she can ring in the new year . . .

Includes tasty and toasty holiday recipes!

About Debra Sennefelder

Debra Sennefelder is the acclaimed author of charming and suspenseful cozy mysteries set in small towns filled with intriguing characters and delightful pets. Based in Connecticut, Debra shares her home with her family and a lovable, slightly spoiled Shih Tzu. Her passion for mystery fiction, particularly cozy mysteries, inspires her to create engaging stories that blend crime-solving with delicious recipes and stylish fashion. She is the author of the Food Blogger Mystery series, the Resale Boutique Mystery series, and the Cookie Shop Mystery series. When she’s not plotting her next whodunit, you’ll find her baking sweet treats or indulging in a good book.

When she’s not reading, she enjoys cooking and baking and as a former food blogger, she is constantly taking photographs of her food. Yeah, she’s that person.

Born and raised in New York City, where she majored in her hobby of fashion buying, she now lives and writes in Connecticut with her writing companion, Connie.

She can be reached at Debra@DebraSennefelder.com

Author Links: Newsletter / Facebook / Website / Instagram 

BookBub / Goodreads / Amazon

Purchase Links – AmazonB&NKoboBookshop.org

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

November 10 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT  

November 10 – Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder – REVIEW, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

November 11 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

November 11 – Frugal Freelancer – AUTHOR GUEST POST

November 12 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 12 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 13 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT

November 13 – Angel’s Book Nook – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 14 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

November 14 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

November 14 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

November 15 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW

November 15 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

November 16 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

November 16 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

November 17 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

November 17 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 18 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW

November 19 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – AUTHOR GUEST POST, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

November 19 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 20 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

November 20 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 20 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

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.

 

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Keep warm this season with these 4 tales of holiday romance!

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Just in Time for Christmas: Tales of Romance

with stories by

Shay Lacy,
Constance Phillips, Denise Lynn, Mila Winters

Genre: Holiday Romance Anthology

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A Fiery Flamingo Christmass by Shay Lacy

What will ignite when a protected witness with a
flamethrower meets the hunk next door?

The mob located Gina Weston two days before Christmas, but she refuses to run
any more. Except maybe into the arms of her next-door neighbor after he
extinguishes her burning flamingo Christmas tree. But are her gun and
flamethrower enough to protect her from the lure of this sport hero playboy?

Former home run king Stone “Sledge” Hammer had been bored in the
baseball off-season. Meeting Gianna has given him the chance to be a hero
again, if she lets him in. While he’s showing her the true spirit of Christmas,
can he get inside her defenses to show her the importance of home?

It’s no game they’re playing, and it’s a must-win
against the mob.

 

Christmas Memories by Denise Lynn

When Kelly’s missing husband unexpectedly shows up with amnesia right before
the holidays, will the miracle of the Christmas season help restore his
memories and what they once shared?

 

Family Reclaimed by Constance Phillips

Is their new fragile love strong enough for these
first tests?

Kayson and Jack swore eternal love to each other. Now all they want is some
time alone to explore the meaning of Christmas as a new family. But the hustle
of the holidays while building their dreams at once is testing the strength of
that vow. Everybody wants a piece of them.

If they give all their time and love away to
others, will they have enough left for one another and their young son?

 

What She Wants for Christmas by Mila Winters

When Leann’s hopes for spending Christmas with her daughter are dashed, she
licks her wounds by indulging in a fling with Ben, the cute guy she meets at a
bar.

All Ben wants for Christmas is to romance the beautiful woman he’s had a crush
on for years. If Leanne learns all his secrets, she might not give him a chance
to prove they can be great together.

Now, only Leanne can decide if Ben is really what
she wants for Christmas.

Amazon * Apple
* Kobo
* Smashwords * Books2Read * Bookbub
* Goodreads

 

 

 

 

Shay Lacy lives in Ohio with her husband and cat GG.

She writes romantic suspense and erotic fantasy
romance. Shay sees story ideas everywhere. Even something as simple as a sequin
can spark a new romantic suspense. Many times a story has emerged from her
musing, “You know, somebody could die from that.”

When not writing, she loves to bake, people watch, and
shop flea markets and estate sales.

Shay enjoys hearing how couples met and what they love
about each other. You can find more information about Shay, her books, and how
to contact her at her website, www.shaylacy.com.

Website * Facebook * X * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

 

Denise Lynn lives in NW Ohio
with her husband, son and an ever-changing number of 4-legged kids.

She writes medieval romance for Harlequin/Mills and
Boon Historical and whatever she feels like writing for herself. Having read
romance novels since she was far too young to do so, she enjoys having the
opportunity to share her own stories with readers.

In her spare time, she gardens, sews, and basically
putzes around with any craft project she can get her hands on. 

Visit website at www.denise-lynn.com
for more information on her books. Links to her social media pages, to the
Denise Lynn Newsletter and contact information are on her site.

Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon *
Goodreads

 

 

Constance Phillips lives in Ohio with her husband, daughter, and three canine kids.

She writes contemporary and paranormal romance novels.

When not writing stories of finding and rediscovering love, Constance loves spending time in the
garden, with her pups, or cooking with her fresh from the garden produce.

If she leaves the house, it’s to spend time with good friends or family…or go to an eighties pop
concert.

Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon
* Goodreads

 

Mila Winters loves romance. Be it written between the pages of a book, larger than life on the big
screen or residing in her home. So, of course, she writes it too. That is, when she’s not working
with teenagers or hanging out with her wife and their dog Toby.

Creating likeable (and sometimes unlikeable) characters makes her do a happy dance and she hopes
her readers enjoy them too. To learn more about Mila, her other stories and how
her writing brain works, visit her at www.milawinters.com.

 

Facebook * Amazon
* Goodreads

 

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

$10 Amazon – 4 winners!

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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.

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A Room for Murder (Charlie Kingsley Mysteries)
by Michele Pariza Wacek

 


A Room for Murder (Charlie Kingsley Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Setting – Wisconsin – In the 1990s
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Love-Based Publishing (November 2, 2024)
Number of Pages ~100 pages
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CMN7TXGY

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A Room For Murder For is Book 4 in The Charlie Kingsley Cozy Novella series by USA Today bestselling author Michele PW (Pariza Wacek). Ideal for cozy mystery fans, especially readers who love clean, twisty and funny cozy mysteries that include tea, pets, baking, small towns and quirky side characters.

Charlie’s very first case!

Normally Darla, the ghost that haunts the Redemption Inn, behaves herself. Relatively speaking.

Nancy, the owner of the Redemption Inn, swears that Darla is harmless. At least, mostly harmless. Maybe she plays a few pranks on some unsuspecting guests, but it’s all in good fun.

Until one of the hotel guests is found dead at the bottom of the stairs, and Darla is the one who’s blamed.

With the threat of guests cancelling and her business on the line, Nancy turns to Charlie to help find the real culprit so Darla can rest in peace.

Meet Charlie. Better known as “Aunt Charlie” from the award-winning Secrets of Redemption series. She’s back, making teas and solving cases in this funny, twisty, cozy mystery series set in the 1990s in Redemption, Wisconsin.

About Michele Pariza Wacek

A USA Today Bestselling, award-winning author, Michele taught herself to read at 3 years old because she wanted to write stories so badly. It took some time (and some detours) but now she does spend much of her time writing stories. Mystery stories, to be exact. They’re clean and twisty, and range from psychological thrillers to cozies, with a dash of romance and supernatural thrown into the mix. If that wasn’t enough, she posts lots of fun things on her blog, including short stories, puzzles, recipes and more, at MPWNovels.com.

Michele grew up in Wisconsin, (hence why all her books take place there), and still visits regularly, but she herself escaped the cold and now lives in the mountains of Prescott, Arizona with her husband and southern squirrel hunter Cassie.

When she’s not writing, she’s usually reading, hanging out with her dog, or watching the Food Network and imagining she’s an awesome cook. (Spoiler alert, she’s not. Luckily for the whole family, Mr. PW is in charge of the cooking.)

Author Links : Website / Facebook / Instagram

Purchase Links – Amazon   B&N  

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

November 2 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

November 2 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 3 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW  

November 4 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT  

November 5 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

November 5 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

November 6 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 7 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 8 – Maureen’s Musings – REVIEW

November 9 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW

November 10 – Reading Authors Network – AUTHOR GUEST POST

November 11 – Deal Sharing Aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 12 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

November 12 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

November 13 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

November 14 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

November 15 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

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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 Know She Was There by Jennifer Sadera Banner

I KNOW SHE WAS THERE
by Jennifer Sadera
October 28 – November 22, 2024 Virtual Book Tour

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Synopsis:
Be careful what you see when you shouldn’t be looking.

Residents of the posh Upstate New York neighborhood of Deer Crossing enjoy all the amenities wealth provides. From drive-up dog-grooming to monthly botox parties, these lucky suburbanites have everything they could ever want. And one thing they don’t. Stalker Caroline Case, who wheels her infant along their streets each night with just one goal…to spy on anyone too careless or too foolish to close their window blinds. Convinced the owners of the impressive homes are living a dream existence, the troubled new mom hopes to escape her working-class life by prying secrets from the unsuspecting. But the fairy tale twists into a nightmare when she sees something she shouldn’t. Something that shatters her illusions about the people in the privileged community she’s obsessed with, even as she begins to doubt what she saw. As Caroline investigates the event, shocking secrets are laid bare, and nothing is as it seems. She knows she must prove something sinister occurred in Deer Crossing or risk letting someone get away with murder.

Praise for I Know She Was There:

“‘Twisty’ doesn’t begin to describe this compelling and complicated story. Don’t even try to guess how this turns out—just put yourself in Sadera’s capable hands and enjoy the ride!” ~ Karen Dionne, author of the #1 international bestseller The Marsh King’s Daughter and The Wicked Sister “In the world of thrillers, few conceits are more alluring than a ‘mostly harmless’ habit gone terribly awry. Such is the premise in Jennifer Sadera’s addictive I Know She Was There, where protagonist Caroline Case’s proclivity for sidewalk-spying on her wealthy neighbors turns into her own living nightmare. Sadera’s deeply psychological novel, echoing nicely to Rear Window, has Caroline guessing not only what she saw, but whether she saw it at all, and her struggle becomes ours through effective first-person narration. An impressive and thrilling debut . . . Sadera is an author to watch.” ~ Carter Wilson, USA Today bestselling author of The Father She Went to Find “Jennifer Sadera’s intense debut about a troubled young mother on a passionate mission to discover the truth kept me awake all night! It’s a gut-wrenching and addictively readable thriller.” ~ Bonnar Spring, author of Toward the Light (2020), Independent Publishers’ bronze medal winner for Best First Novel, New Hampshire Literary Awards—People’s Choice winner for fiction, and Disappeared (2022) ‘Best of 2022’ from Bookreporter and Crime Fiction Lover short fiction: 2023 Al Blanchard Award, 2024 Derringer “Twisty and compelling, I Know She Was There deftly explores how well we can truly know each other—or ourselves.” ~ Tracy Sierra, author of Nightwatching “A knockout debut—sharp domestic suspense that combines taut prose with a complex, artfully crafted unreliable narrator, and plenty of twists and turns that readers won’t see coming. I Know She Was There proves Jennifer Sadera is a voice to watch.” ~ Elena Hartwell Taylor, bestselling author of the Eddie Shoes and Sheriff Bet Rivers Mystery series, including the upcoming A Cold, Cold World

 

Book Details:

Genre: Psychological Suspense, Domestic Suspense

Published by: CamCat Books Publication Date: November 12, 2024 Number of Pages: 352 ISBN: 9780744310955 (ISBN10: 0744310954)

Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | CamCat Books

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MY REVIEW

I sat down to write my review and was lost. How to write a review when the book has so much happening. I questioned Caroline’s right to walk the streets of Deer Crossing, an affluent neighborhood she thought she’d live in some day if only her husband hadn’t left her and their baby. I questioned her trying to validate her actions of spying on the people. Looking in their windows. That’s just wrong, right? And when she saw something she shouldn’t have, I questioned whether it had really happened. As did Caroline.

This story was busy. There’s background that’s shared. It helped explain some actions. That feeling of wanting the answers now, all of them, plagued me. And it kept me sucked into the story, right up to the end. Did I guess the ending right? Nope. Was it a good ending? You betcha.

4 STARS

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Enjoy this peek inside:
Jane Brockton was going to get caught. My heart raced when Jane emerged from the side door of her home; what she and I were both doing was risky, but it was too late for regrets. I wondered if she thought so too. Probably. Her behavior was becoming alarmingly brazen. I pulled Emmy’s stroller closer and pushed aside boxwood branches, widening the portal I peered through. Although Jane’s across-the-street neighbors’ hedge was directly in front of her farmhouse-style McMansion, it was too dark this late at night for me to be seen. Go back inside if you know what’s good for you. I pressed my fingers to my lips as the man emerged from the house next to hers. Even if I’d yelled a warning, Jane Brockton wouldn’t heed it. Who the hell was I? Certainly not someone her neighbors on Woodmint Lane knew. If Jane observed my late-night excursions through the streets of her stylish suburban New York neighborhood, her first instinct wouldn’t be to worry about her behavior. I was prepared. If confronted by any resident of the exclusive enclave, I’d explain I walked the streets late at night to lull my colicky baby to sleep. I couldn’t admit my ulterior motive—worming my way back onto Primrose Way and into my former best friend’s good graces. And there was no need to share how, lately, the lives of this neighborhood’s inhabitants had been luring me like a potent drug—or how Jane Brockton was fast becoming the kingpin of my needy addiction. Jane stood out, even in this community of excess: gourmet dinner deliveries, drive-up dog grooming, same-day laundry service, and monthly Botox parties. Her meetings with the mystery man were far from innocent. The first tryst I’d witnessed was late the previous Friday night—exactly a week earlier. I’d strolled around the corner of Woodmint Lane just as the pair had emerged from their side-by-side houses and taken to the dark street like prowlers casing the block. I followed their skulking forms up Woodmint, being careful to stay a few dozen yards behind, until all I could discern was their silhouettes, too close to each other for friendly companionship. They’d eventually crossed Primrose Way and veered into the woods where the bike trails and picnic areas offered secluded spaces. When they didn’t emerge from the wooded area, I backed Emmy’s stroller up silently and reversed my route, heading away, my pulse still throbbing in my temples. It was impossible to deny what was going on, as I watched similar scenes unfold three nights that week: Jane slipping soundlessly from her mudroom door like a specter, the flash of the screen door in the faint moonlight an apparent signal. This night, as they hooked hands in the driveway between the houses, I slicked my tongue over my dry lips. She risked losing everything. I knew how that felt. Tim had left me before I’d even changed out his worn bachelor-pad sofa for the sectional I’d been eying at Ethan Allen. I watched them cross through the shadows, barely able to see them step inside the shed at the far end of Jane’s yard. And all under the nose of her poor devoted husband, Rod. He couldn’t be as gullible as he appeared, could he? A voice called out, shattering the stillness of the night. I flinched, convinced I’d been discovered. I scanned the immediate shadows, placing a hand over my chest to still my galloping heart. “Jane?” It was Rod’s voice. I recognized the timbre by now. Settle down, Caroline. My eyes darted to the custom home’s open front door. Rod had noticed his wife’s abandonment earlier than usual. Warm interior light spilled across the porch floorboards and outlined Rod’s robed form in the door frame. “Are you out here? Jane?” The worry in his voice made me hate Jane Brockton. I flirted with the idea of stepping away from the hedge and announcing I’d witnessed her heading to the shed with the neighbor. Of course, that would be ridiculous. I was a stranger. My name, Caroline Case, would mean nothing to him. Rod closed the door and my gaze traveled to the glowing upstairs window on the far left of his house. The light had blinked off half an hour earlier, like a giant eyelid closing over the dormered master bedroom casement. I knew exactly where their bedroom was because I’d studied the Deer Crossing home models on the builder’s website. I knew the layout of all three house styles so well I could escort potential buyers through them. I’d briefly considered it. Becoming a real-estate agent would give me access inside, where I could discover what life behind the movie-set facades was really like. Pristine marble floors, granite countertops, and crystal vases on every conceivable surface? Or gravy-laden dishes in sinks and mud-caked shoes arrayed haphazardly just inside the eye-catching front doors? I suspected the latter was true for almost every house except for my former best friend Muzzy Owen’s place on Primrose Way. Muzzy could put Martha Stewart to shame. I wedged myself and Emmy’s stroller further into the hedge. Becoming a real-estate agent wouldn’t connect me as intimately to Jane and Rod Brockton (information gleaned by rifling through the contents of their mailbox) as I was at this moment. Trepidation—and yes, anticipation—laced my bloodstream and turned my breathing shallow as I waited for Rod to come outside and start his nightly search for his wife. Some may consider my interest, my excitement, twisted, but I didn’t plan to use my stealthily gathered information against anyone. It was enough to reassure myself that nobody’s life was perfect, no matter how it appeared to an outsider. A faint click echoed through the still night. I squinted through the hedge leaves, my eyes laser pointers on the side door Jane had emerged from only moments before. Rod appeared. As he stepped into the dusky side yard, I thought about the people unknown to me until a week earlier: the latest neighborhood couple to pique my interest. Even though they were technically still strangers, I’d had an entire week to learn about the Brocktons. A few passes in my car last Saturday morning revealed a tracksuit-clad Gen Xer, her wavy hair the reddish-brown color of autumn oak leaves, and a gray-haired, bespectacled boomer in crisp dark jeans and golf shirt standing on the sage-and-cream farmhouse’s front porch. Steaming mugs in hand, their calls drifted through my open car window, cautioning their little golden designer dog when it strayed too close to the street, their voices overly indulgent, as if correcting a beloved but errant child. The very picture of domestic bliss. I studied the Colonial to the Brocktons’ right. On the front porch steps, two tremendous Boston ferns in oversized urns stretched outward like dozens of welcoming arms. The only testament to human activity. Someone obviously cared for the vigorous plants, but a midnight peek inside that house’s mailbox revealed only empty space. It made me uncomfortable not knowing who Jane’s mystery man was. And did Rod usually wake when his wife slipped between the silk sheets (they had to be silk) after her extracurriculars? He obviously questioned her increasingly regular late-night abandonment. He wouldn’t be roaming the dark in his nightwear if he hadn’t noticed. Perhaps Jane said she couldn’t sleep. She needed to move—walk the neighborhood—to tire herself. Hearing that, he’d frown, warning her not to wander around in the middle of the night. Rod was the type—I was sure just by the way he coddled his dog—to worry about his lovely wife walking the dark streets, even the magical byways of Deer Crossing. Hence, the need for new places to rendezvous each night. But the shed on their very own property! Even though this night’s tryst was later than usual, it was dangerously daring to stay on-site. Maybe Jane wanted to get caught. A scratching sound echoed through the quiet night. I looked at the side door Rod had just emerged from, saw his silhouette turn back and open it. The little dog circled him, barking sharply. The urgent yipping cut clearly through the still air, skittering my pulse. I quickly glanced at Emmy soundly sleeping in her stroller. If the dog didn’t stop barking, I’d have to get away—fast. Emmy could wake and start her colicky wailing, which would rouse the Brocktons’ neighbors whose hedge I’d appropriated. One flick of their front porch light would reveal me in all my lurking glory. As if to answer my concerns, the dog ceased barking and scampered toward the shed. I rubbed at the sudden chill sliding across my upper arms. That little canine nose was sniffing out Jane’s trail. Rod stepped tentatively forward. It was too dark to see what he was wearing beneath the robe, but I pictured him in L. L. Bean slippers with those heavy rubberized soles and cotton print pajamas, like Daddy used to wear. Daddy’s had line drawings of old-fashioned cars dotted across the white cotton background. Model Ts and roadsters. I felt angry with Jane all over again. How dare she . . . “Sorry, darling,” Jane called, striding from the shadows, stopping a few feet in front of him. “I was potting those plants earlier and thought I left my cell phone in the shed.” Her voice was soft, relaxed. She was a pro. “I saw it on the bookshelf in the study earlier this evening,” Rod said, bending to calm the little dog, who was bouncing between them like a child with ADHD. “Oh geez, I’m losing it,” she said, laughing. Not yet, you’re not, I thought. Not yet. *** Excerpt from I Know She Was There by Jennifer Sadera. Copyright 2024 by Jennifer Sadera. Reproduced with permission from Jennifer Sadera. All rights reserved.

 

 

About Author Jennifer Sadera:

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Jennifer Sadera

Jennifer Sadera began her writing career just out of college as a junior copywriter at book publisher NAL before transitioning to the editorial departments of national women’s magazines Woman’s World, Redbook, and Beauty Digest. She’d already established herself as a freelance writer and blogger when she decided to follow her true passion: creating novels. She is an active member of International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime; her writing has earned her multiple awards at Atlanta Writers Conferences and a fellowship at the Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing. I Know She Was There is Jennifer’s debut psychological suspense novel. When not writing, Jennifer can be found gardening, traveling, or reading anything she can get her hands on. She is blessed with CJ, her husband of many years, two adult children, Amanda and Ryan, and two adorable rescue grand dogs named Sunny and Moonie.

Catch Up With Jennifer Sadera: JenniferSadera.com Goodreads LinkedIn Instagram – @jensadera Twitter/X – @jennifersadera Facebook – @jennifersadera

 

 

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Book Details:

DEAR HERO by Alyssa Roat & Hope Bolinger
Category:  YA Fiction (Ages 13-17),  394 pages
Genre:  YA Romance, Superheroes, Chat Fiction, Humor
Publisher:  Torchflame Books
Release date:  October, 2024
Content RatingPG-13 for MCU-level superhero violence; PG when it comes to language and sexual content (kissing).

Book Description:

There’s an app for everything–even meeting a new nemesis.

Up-and-coming teen superhero Cortex is on top of the world—at least, until his villain dumps him. If he’s going to save his reputation, he needs a new villain to fight, and fast. Meanwhile, the villainous Vortex has once again gotten a little overeager and taken out a hero prematurely. Will any young hero be able to keep up with her? Maybe she should work on finding a steady relationship with an enemy she won’t kill in the first round.

Enter Meta-Match, a nemesis pairing site for heroes and villains. The two match right away, and after throwing punches at each other behind coffee shops, practicing their fight choreography, and hiring henchmen to do their bidding (mostly just getting them coffee), they realize they have a lot more in common than names that annoyingly rhyme. After all, they’re still rising through the ranks in their respective circles, and their reputations need good press.

But not everything in the superhero world is as it seems. Can a hero really trust a villain to do the right thing? And can a villain trust a hero not to screw them over? As darkness from the past threatens them both, they may need each other for the fight to come—one with much higher stakes than their choreographed meet-ups on weekends.

Told entirely through texts, transcriptions, and direct messages, this darkly humorous chat fiction rom-com goes behind the scenes of the superworld.

BUY THE BOOK:
Torchflame
Amazon B&N
​add to goodreads
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Author Interview:
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Can you walk me through the process of the two of you writing this book?

Absolutely! Alyssa and I (Hope) have always enjoyed collaborating on pieces together. So with the height of the superhero movie Golden Age in 2018, we wanted to try our hand at a chat fiction book about a hero and a villain matching, on something similar to a dating app, but for nemeses. We had a lot of fun, assigning characters and letting the plot whisk us away. You never knew what your coauthor was going to write next, so it was an excellent exercise in improvisation and collaboration.

What advice would you give to budding authors?

I think we can both agree that the industry is unexpected in a lot of ways. Whether you choose to go traditional or if you go indie, there’s quite a steep learning curve, and the industry tends to be sluggish. Be prepared for the unexpected, and don’t give up. Write for fun and write what you love. Don’t allow anyone to pigeonhole you.

Are you plotters or pantsers?

We are actually complete opposites. Alyssa tends to fly by the seat of her pants. I (Hope) am a lot more comfortable with an outline. But when we write together, we tend to stretch each other in the areas in which we feel weakest. It’s a good kind of scary.

Do you write every day?

Not really. There was a period of time where Alyssa and I had quite a few deadlines, and we honestly burned ourselves out with how quickly we had to write books (I believe I had to write 7 books in one year, all under deadline). So I think we’ve both taken a step back to enjoy the process a little more, and write for the fun of it. We’ve enjoyed the challenges of deadlines, but definitely are trying to take a break from hustle culture.

What Is Your Next Project?

Alyssa and I both have underworld/mythology books releasing next year. Hers is a YA romance, and mine is a middle grade. At the moment, I (Hope) am in recovery from a number of health things, so I may be slowing down some of my publication schedule. I’m learning to put myself first and care for myself—something I’m not always the best at doing.

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Meet the Authors:

Alyssa Roat lives in the cornfields of Indiana, but she hopes to soon discover a portal to a fantasy world where she will run a bookshop for magical creatures. For now, she is an award-winning multi-published author and has worked in a wide variety of roles within the publishing industry as an editor, agent, writer, and publicist. She and her partner have four black cats who allegedly have never been fed in their lives and occasionally help her write by walking across the keyboard. Her name is a pun, which means you can learn more about her at www.alyssawrote.com or on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook as @alyssawrote.

connect with the author: website X/Twitter ~ instagram ~ facebook goodreads

 

 

Hope Bolinger is the author of more than 25 books, including the award-winning Blaze trilogy, and has contributed to many more. She has worked for various publishing companies, magazines, newspapers, and literary agencies and has edited the work of 300+ authors. She has won awards for her essays, poetry, children’s books, novels, and plays. She’s a theater nerd and spends too much time hiking and petting her fat cats, Freya and Odin. She can be found online @hopebolinger and @hopekbolinger.

connect with the author: website X/Twitter ~ instagram facebook ~ goodreads

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DEAR HERO by Alyssa Roat and Hope Bolinger Spotlight Book Tour Giveaway

 

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The Crushing by Kerry Peresta Banner

THE CRUSHING
by Kerry Peresta
October 21 – November 15, 2024 Virtual Book Tour

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Synopsis:
OLIVIA CALLAHAN SUSPENSE

  The victim of a vicious assault six years ago that resulted in a traumatic brain injury, Olivia Callahan is now a private investigator with her own firm. The assault that almost took her life resulted in a spectacular metamorphosis. No longer the shy, passive introvert she once was, she’s become a driving and determined force. However, the lack of impulse control caused by her rewired brain causes her to run toward trouble instead of away from it. When Olivia sends her colleague, Sherry, to the Florida panhandle to find a missing friend, Hannah; the search takes Sherry into the dark heart of an abusive, hostage situation. The man Hannah married is cruel, dangerous, and well-connected. Olivia reels in her favorite cop—Sergeant Hunter Faraday—for a discreet assist, and it soon becomes clear that Hannah’s new husband is adept at waging war against anything that blocks his way.

While rescuing Hannah is Olivia’s primary goal, her incarcerated ex-husband has other plans. He’s collected friends who support his obsessive need to punish her for her role in his murder conviction, and a time bomb is ticking.

As Olivia and Sherry battle to save Hannah, try to neutralize the fiendish plan of an ex bent on revenge, and endure a terrifying race for their lives through the Florida wetlands; a final betrayal waits patiently in the dark. Smiling.

Praise for The Crushing:

“Fans of Frieda McFadden and Lisa Jewell will stay up past their bedtimes devouring the latest thriller from Kerry Peresta! Haunted by her abusive ex-husband, P.I. Olivia Callahan had better keep her friends close and her enemies closer. Now, if she could only tell them apart. When one of her best friends goes missing in a Florida swamp, the clock is ticking. The suspense winds tighter on every page!” ~ Kelly Oliver, author of the Jessica James Mysteries

“The tension in Kerry Peresta’s The Crushing is off the chain. Chilling! ‘I can beat this,’ the captive whispers from her locked room. ‘I will escape.’ Taut. Gripping. Engrossing. Highly recommended!” ~ Tracy Clark, award-winning author of the Cass Raines Chicago mysteries and the Detective Harriet Foster series.

“Rich details, a strong, character-driven plot, and enough snaky twists and turns to give you vertigo – this fourth entry in Kerry Peresta’s Olivia Callahan series will have you sweating bullets and turning pages like a tornado, leaving you as breathless as a mile sprinter. There’s nothing less simple than a simple missing-persons case, and there are far worse things than gators in the dark, dank Florida boonies. Don’t believe me? Read The Crushing.” ~ J.R. Sanders, Shamus Award winning author of the Nate Ross novels.

Book Details:

Genre: Thriller, Suspense

Published by: Level Best Books Publication Date: October 15, 2024 Number of Pages: 310 ISBN: 978-1-68512-770-1 Series: Olivia Callahan Suspense, Book Four

Book Links: Amazon | Goodreads | Level Best Books

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MY REVIEW

After suffering a serious Brain injury six years ago, Olivia is back on her feet and running her own private investigations firm. She’s good at it and senses something is wrong when she can’t get in touch with her friend, Hannah. Along with her partner, Sherry, she sets out to find her missing friend. The way is fraught with danger but she’s not one to run away. She’s brave and a loyal friend. She’ll not stop until she finds Hannah.

Well, talk about suspenseful. This story is like a runaway train. The characters are so genuine, the good and the bad. And there’s not much down time to catch your breath. The plot powers along, and you’ll need to hang on for the ride.

Suspense, mystery, romance. This book has it all. And you get multiple points of view so you don’t miss a thing. Being the fourth book in the series, I do want to go back and start Olivia’s story from the beginning. She’s such an intriguing personality. What a thrill this was to read.

5 STARS

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Enjoy this peek inside:
PROLOGUE

Sherry crammed the phone against her ear as she dashed through the thick undergrowth, trudged across boggy marshes, and arrived at a feeder stream.

Olivia! Olivia?”

Nothing.

“Dammit!” she muttered, shoving her cell back into her pocket. She calculated that the nearest town rested fifteen miles down the highway out here in Florida-cracker country, and holing up until the shooter emerged seemed the best option.

She should’ve known there’d be no service out here.

Where did he go? She scraped mud off her face and rubbed her sunburned cheeks. He actually fired a weapon. On no planet had she ever thought this little trek would become a fight for her life, yet here she stood, hands glued to the trunk of a huge palm, eyes darting back and forth across the marshy, pancake-flat wastelands of inland Florida. Behind her lay a wide body of water surrounded by suspicious-looking marsh grass and, she suspected, alligators…and in front of her lay miles of marshland and bedraggled palms spearing the sky.

Why had she volunteered for this assignment, again? “I just had to get my investigator’s license,” she muttered. “Maybe I should’ve stayed put as Olivia’s assistant instead of private investigator. This isn’t quite how I envisioned the job.” She rubbed her calves. How long had she been running? Fifteen minutes? Twenty? An hour? Where was Olivia? The distant blast of gunfire reached her ears. A bullet sliced through the air and hit the tree she’d wrapped herself around, missing her hand by inches. Sherry felt her stomach freeze into a block of ice. Wiping the sweat from her eyes, she slid her hand to the paddle holster on her belt, gripped her Smith & Wesson revolver, and released the safety strap. Another crack of gunfire erupted closer this time. She swallowed, hard. A whoosh of air zipped past a mere twelve inches in front of her nose. Sherry dropped to the ground like a stone. The spikey bushes on the ground dug into her arms, her chest, her legs. She located a slight rise about ten feet away, and hastily low-crawled through the weeds on her stomach, edged to the top of the incline, and threw herself over the top. Breathing hard, she peeked out above the edge. The crack-crack-crack of shots fired caused her to dive for cover. She took a deep breath, wiped the sweat off her palms, and fired back a volley of her own. When silence fell, she relaxed against the incline and tugged out her phone. A signal! With fumbling fingers, she pressed in Olivia’s number. She waited through one ring, then two, before her call was answered. “Where are you?” Olivia’s anxious voice demanded. “Are you okay?” Tears of relief trailed down her cheeks. She rattled off a description of her location. Her gaze trained on the best-case origination of shots fired, she whispered, “Olivia! I found Hannah. She’s exhausted and weak, but I’ve got her.” Sherry listened to Olivia’s instructions. “Okay. I’ll meet you at the airport, but…wait. I hear something,” she whispered, and stuck the phone back in her pocket. She gripped her weapon with both hands. Minutes passed. Sherry tried to breathe. Something shuffled through the grass. Her eyes sliced left, right. The shuffling stopped. The hum of cicadas intensified. She swatted at mosquitoes. Sweat trickled down her face. Sherry adjusted her grip on her sidearm. She strained to hear more footsteps, but only heard the faint squawk of herons and hoot of owls. The setting sun left a red slash on the horizon. Bats dipped and swooped above her. She lowered her weapon, puzzled. Had one of her prior shots wounded her target? Taking her time, she rose from her niche behind the incline. A single shot burst from her adversary’s weapon and sizzled through the air. She cried out in pain. The bullet had nicked her, the sting of a monster wasp. She groped her waist with her free hand and lifted it away wet with blood. Rage rushed through her chest and down her arms. She planted her legs wide and emptied her weapon in the direction of the shooter. The phone in her pocket vibrated with a text as she reloaded. Another bullet clipped her in the shoulder. The sound of sirens wailed in the distance. She collapsed. *** Excerpt from The Crushing by Kerry Peresta. Copyright 2024 by Kerry Peresta. Reproduced with permission from Kerry Peresta. All rights reserved.

 

 

About Author Kerry Peresta:

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Kerry Peresta

Kerry Peresta is a suspense novelist, and her releases include The Deadening, The Rising, The Torching, and The Crushing, books one-four in the Olivia Callahan Suspense series; and Back Before Dawn, a standalone thriller, all published by Level Best Books Publishing. Her magazine articles have appeared in Hilton Head’s Local Life Magazine, The Bluffton Breeze, Lady Lowcountry, and Island Events Magazine. She spent twenty-five years in advertising as an account manager, creative director, editor, and copywriter. She is past chapter president of the Maryland Writers’ Association and a current member and presenter of Hilton Head Island Writers’ Network, South Carolina Writers Association, Pat Conroy Literary Center, International Thriller Writers, and the Sisters in Crime organization. Kerry is the mother of four adult kids, a flock of grandkids, and three cats. She and her husband moved to Hilton Head Island in 2015.

Catch Up With Kerry Peresta: kerryperesta.com Goodreads BookBub – @kerryperesta Amazon Author Page Instagram – @kerryperesta Twitter/X – @kerryperesta Facebook Author Page Facebook Personal Page

 

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The Dasher: Cindy’s Version

by Cindy Kehagiaras

 

(Tennent Surf, #2)
Publication date: October 9th 2024
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

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Lisa—My business is failing, my father disappeared, my brother is lazy, and my uncle just mansplained me—again. Ben is nothing I want right now, but he might be everything I need.”

Ben—My new brother-in-law, the legendary “Zen Shredder,” is making me launder my karma which is bullshit and interesting. The coolest man on the planet just married my spreadsheet-loving sister and is about to save Tennent Surf Company, making him Lisa Tennent’s hero.
I’m the one who should be her hero, yeah, me, a tattooed ex-con with anger issues. I’ll show her my friendship and loyalty and return her magic.

“The Dasher” is a friends-to-lovers, single father, over 40 romance sequel to “The Perpetual”- with GenX pop culture references and lessons in self-love as we age.

Goodreads / Amazon

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Lisa Tennent is the heiress of the “Tennent Surf Company” dynasty, and it’s about to go under. Her father, the patriarch, has disappeared, her brother is a lazy HIMBO, her debutante mother is uninterested, and her uncle just mansplained her—again. None of them will right the sinking ship; she has to do it herself. Thankfully, Jason Mattis, the legendary “Zen Shredder,” is back in Huntington Beach after twenty years and wants to help.

Ben’s new brother-in-law, the three-time world champion surfer Jason Mattis, has just made him an offer he can’t refuse. He’ll work as his assistant, and Jason will pay off his debts. That includes saving his former sponsor “Tennent Surf Company” and Lisa Tennent, who is in a familiar emotional and mental health crisis. Ben knows all about Lisa’s frustration and anger and makes it his mission to be the friend and lover Lisa needs. Only she doesn’t know it yet.

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About Author Cindy Kehagiaras:

🏆”The Perpetual,” my over 40-second chance romance, has won the coveted “Stiletto Award” by Contemporary Romance Writers in the Mid-length Contemporary Romance category.

BIO: My writing journey began after my 50th birthday, and the pandemic lockdown allowed me to write. Some of my stories have haunted my dreams for decades. When the characters shouted day and night, I knew I had to write about them. These days I love to read and write stories about second chances with GenX characters in over 40, later in life, and mature steamy romances.

My previous lives have been in advertising, fashion, and small business owner. I’ve made it my life’s ambition to push through the challenges of dyslexia to consume novels, poetry, and articles and tell my stories.

A proud native Californian, I live in Hermosa Beach, CA, with my husband of 17 years, two beautiful kids, and two spunky-rescue kitties.

Please find me on all social media platforms.

https://linktr.ee/cindykehstories

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Meet Charlie. Better known as “Aunt Charlie” from the
award-winning Secrets of Redemption series. She’s back, making teas and solving
cases in this funny, twisty, cozy mystery series set in the 1990s in Redemption,
Wisconsin.

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A Room For Murder

Charlie Kingsley Mysteries Book 5

by Michele Pariza Wacek

Genre: Cozy Mystery

A Room For Murder For is Book 4 in The
Charlie Kingsley Cozy Novella series by USA Today bestselling author Michele PW
(Pariza Wacek). Ideal for cozy mystery fans, especially readers who love clean,
twisty and funny cozy mysteries that include tea, pets, baking, small towns and
quirky side characters.

Charlie’s very first case!

Normally Darla, the ghost that haunts the Redemption Inn, behaves herself.
Relatively speaking.

Nancy, the owner of the Redemption Inn, swears that Darla is harmless. At
least, mostly harmless. Maybe she plays a few pranks on some unsuspecting
guests, but it’s all in good fun.

Until one of the hotel guests is found dead at the bottom of the stairs, and
Darla is the one who’s blamed.

With the threat of guests cancelling and her business on the line, Nancy turns
to Charlie to help find the real culprit so Darla can rest in peace.

Meet Charlie. Better known as “Aunt Charlie” from the
award-winning Secrets of Redemption series. She’s back, making teas and solving
cases in this funny, twisty, cozy mystery series set in the 1990s in
Redemption, Wisconsin.

Amazon
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* Goodreads

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Chapter 1

“Excuse me … do you know where I might find books on local ghost stories?”

I looked up from the murder mystery I was contemplating buying to discover a Robert Redford lookalike smiling at me. In fact, he looked so much like Redford, I had to blink several times to make sure the famous actor himself didn’t just happen to stroll into a random bookstore in Redemption, Wisconsin.

“Um, the books by local authors are over there,” I said, pointed in the general direction. “Although I don’t actually work here.”

His smile became sheepish, which made him even more appealing. “Yeah, I figured you didn’t. But I can’t seem to find anyone who DOES work here, and you seemed like you might know your way around the store, so …” he tilted his head and shrugged.

He had a point. The employees at Quoth the Raven, the new and used bookstore we were currently shopping in, weren’t around a lot. I suspected it was because they hired a lot of high school students who seemed to wander away from their posts more often than not. It didn’t matter so much for me, unless I wanted to pay for something, but I could see how frustrating it would be to visitors or tourists, which this man appeared to be.

I tucked the book under my arm and smiled at him. “Come on. I can show you the section.”

His expression was relieved. “Oh, thank you. I appreciate the help, although I didn’t mean to disturb your shopping.”

“No problem. I was pretty much done anyway,” I said as I led him down one of the aisles.

“I’m Julian, by the way,” he volunteered.

So, definitely not Robert, unless Julian was his incognito name. “Charlie,” I said. “Local ghost stories, huh? Any particular one you’re interested in?”

I was expecting him to mention my house, as it was supposedly the most haunted house in Redemption. And that’s saying something, as Redemption was known as a haunted town. But the man surprised me. “Yes. The ghost at the Redemption Inn.”

I looked at him in surprise. “The Redemption Inn?” I had stayed at the Redemption Inn for a couple of months when I first moved to town, and I didn’t remember anything about a ghost.

“Yeah, her name is … Deborah? Diane?” He furrowed his brow. “I can’t remember. It’s not a real common name.”

“Have you seen this ghost?” I asked, half-jokingly, but his expression was serious.

“I’ve had a few…encounters.” He seemed hesitant to say more, and instead shot me that sheepish smile again. “I guess she only reveals herself to men.”

“Really?” A ghost that only showed itself to men. Maybe that was why I hadn’t seen her when I was living there. “Why is that?”

“I’m not sure. That’s why I was hoping to find a book about her.”

“What did Nancy say?” Nancy, the owner of the Redemption Inn, was also a friend of mine.

“Just that she liked men.” He let out a laugh. “Now, granted, she was in the middle of getting breakfast out, but I thought rather than bug her further, I would see if I could do my own research.”

“So, you’ve actually seen this ghost?” I asked again.

“Let’s just say I’ve seen something,” he said with a smile, though I sensed the conversation was making him uncomfortable. “Something strange is going on in that hotel.”

As much as I wanted to ask more questions, it was clear he didn’t want to talk about it. “Well, here’s the section,” I said lightly, gesturing to a shelf of books. “As you can see, there are a lot of books about all the various Redemption ghosts. I’m not sure if there are any specifically about the Redemption Inn ghost, though.”

He examined the titles, pulling one out. “That’s okay. It might be kind of fun to learn about all the ghosts living here.” He winked at me. “Maybe I’ll even go for a ghost walk. Or tour.”

Was he flirting with me? I couldn’t be sure, although it didn’t matter anyway. I had sworn off men. Two failed relationships were more than enough for me.

“Julian! There you are.” A woman who was once pretty but not aging well came around the corner. Her chestnut-brown hair curled around her face, looking suspiciously like the results of a perm, and her dark-brown eyes were heavily made up. She stopped dead when she saw me, her eyes shifting between Julian and me. “I didn’t realize you found a friend.”

“Nina, this is Charlie,” Julian said, holding up the book. He seemed nonplussed at Nina’s reaction. “She helped me find a book on local ghost legends.”

She came closer to peer at the cover, a sour look on her face that she tried to hide with a forced smile. “Oh, so we’re finally going to learn Darla’s story.”

Julian snapped his fingers. “Darla. That’s her name.” He grinned at me. “I told you it was uncommon.”

“You did,” I said, feeling a little uncomfortable as I took a step back. Nina’s eyes seemed to be boring into the back of my head, and the adage, “If looks could kill” kept drifting through my head. “I should probably get going,” I said, holding up my book. “I hope you get your answers.”

“So do we,” Nina said. She had moved closer to Julian and put one hand on his arm.

“You have no idea,” Julian said. “Nancy keeps insisting that Darla is harmless, and maybe she is, but boy is it irritating. If nothing else, I need a decent night’s sleep.”

“Wow, I had no idea.” Again, I wondered how I had heard nothing about Darla. I was going to have to ask Nancy about her, for sure.

“Yeah, Darla is quite the mischievous ghost,” Nina said, patting Julian’s arm. “And she has excellent taste.”

Julian flashed her a quick smile that didn’t reach his eyes as he took a few steps away from her. “You might not say that if she was haunting you,” he said lightly.

There was a strange tension in the air as Nina stared at him, her expression frozen. I hadn’t quite figured out if they were dating or married, but either way, something seemed off with them.

“I better go,” I said, walking away quickly. “Enjoy your stay in Redemption.”

I barely heard their answer as I strode toward the cashier. At least I had one thing to be grateful for—since they were tourists, it was highly unlikely I would see them again.

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A USA Today Bestselling, award-winning author, Michele
taught herself to read at 3 years old because she wanted to write stories so
badly. It took some time (and some detours) but now she does spend much of her
time writing stories. Mystery stories, to be exact. They’re clean and twisty,
and range from psychological thrillers to cozies, with a dash of romance and
supernatural thrown into the mix. If that wasn’t enough, she posts lots of fun
things on her blog, including short stories, puzzles, recipes and more, at
MPWNovels.com.

Michele grew up in Wisconsin, (hence why all her books take place there), and
still visits regularly, but she herself escaped the cold and now lives in the
mountains of Prescott, Arizona with her husband and southern squirrel hunter
Cassie.

When she’s not writing, she’s usually reading, hanging out with her dog, or
watching the Food Network and imagining she’s an awesome cook. (Spoiler alert,
she’s not. Luckily for the whole family, Mr. PW is in charge of the cooking.)

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

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Things I Wish I Said

by Gracie Graham

 

Publication date: November 7th 2024
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult

Lung cancer patient Ryleigh Sinclair wants a boyfriend for the summer.

And my mother wants me to be the one to make her wish come true.

Me. The eternal pessimist. The guy who no longer believes in happy endings after my dad died of pancreatic cancer and my girlfriend dumped me in the same month.

But after weeks of spending time with Ryleigh, she somehow does the impossible. She fills the gaping hole of my father’s absence until I’m the one hoping for a miracle.

I’ve learned my lesson about wishes.

Happily ever afters are a lie.

Yet I’m the one wishing like hell for another outcome for Ryleigh.

I lost my father to cancer; I can’t lose her too.

Goodreads / Amazon

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Enjoy this peek inside:

“You make me happy.”

I swallow, afraid to move and the break the spell we’re under. “No, I don’t,” I say, my throat raw.

“You do. This last month, I’ve laughed more than I have since I lost him. You make me forget to be so damn sad all the time.” His other hand rises, and he drags his thumb over my lower lip while my heart crashes into my ribs.

“Grayson . . .”

“You asked me why I kissed you.”

I nod, my resolve to keep him at arm’s length crumbling.

“I kissed you because I couldn’t stand another second of pretending I didn’t want to. Because watching you flirt with Cameron drove me fucking crazy. Because when I touch you, everything else fades away. All the shit in my life feels bearable. Like I can move forward as long as I have you. Simply put, life is just better with you in it.”

A sob escapes the back of my throat, and then his mouth is on mine, and he’s kissing me like his life depends on it. Like we’re the last two people on the face of the planet and the world’s existence depends on us. Like he is the Earth and I am the moon, just caught up in his orbit.

Butterflies take flight in my chest.

My toes curl.

The pulse drumming inside my ears reaches an ear-splitting decibel.

His mouth slants, his tongue brushing against mine as his hand tightens around my waist, and I’m hit with the scent of leather and cinnamon, bringing me back to his bedroom the other night when I sat there and promised myself I’d help him.

Losing his father nearly broke him. I’d hate to think of what losing me only a year later would do.

I place a hand on his chest and push him away.

The breath rasps in and out of my lungs as I come back down to earth, staring into gunmetal gray. “I thought you didn’t believe in love and happy endings?”

“I believe in you.”

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About Author Gracie Graham:

Gracie Graham is a contemporary young adult author who loves romance and writing fictional characters. She thrives on bringing angst and emotion to her books, and her greatest goal in life is to give readers a book hangover. When she’s not busy telling lies for a living, she’s likely wrangling her three kids, cooking subpar meals, over-caffeinating, and procrastinating. Feel free to reach out to her on social media.

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