Archive for the ‘giveaways’ Category

Chasing Headlines By J Rose Black ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: January 31, 2025 in Contemporary Romance, Excerpt, giveaways, New Adult
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6

Chasing Headlines

by J. Rose Black

 

(Chasing Victory, #1)
Publication date: January 2nd 2025
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

They’re chasing the same dream…
Too bad they’re not on the same team.

When Breslin Cooper’s major league dreams go up in flames, he’s left with his backup plan: college baseball at Texas State Tech in Vanquer, Texas. But his public altercation with a reporter saddles him with mandated community service, therapy–and a toxic “Storm Cooper” reputation that no professional baseball scout will touch.

Liv Milline’s family name is practically synonymous with IML baseball. Yet despite her love for the game (the tight pants aren’t bad, either) and her dreams of becoming a baseball scout–her father holds one, ironclad rule: No baseball for Olivia (the corollary: no baseball players for Olivia is just downright mean).

Her one loophole? Playing baseball beat reporter for Texas State Tech.

Chasing similar dreams, Liv attempts to befriend Breslin. But the amazingly talented, pain in her aperture has only two words to say whenever she’s around: “No comment”.

Still, she can’t help but notice the troubled ballplayer’s running on overload. Emotionally wounded and reeling from his mother’s death, the only time Breslin seems close to “ok” is on the ballfield. Liv and his new teammates can’t seem to get through.

When a lapse in judgment catches Breslin in a real-world rundown, jeopardizing his probation and his baseball scholarship, his only choice may be to rely on Liv–the aggravating, attractive, and utterly relentless reporter, chasing her latest headline.

[Book one of a series, Chasing Headlines ends with a HFN, no cliffhanger, but lingering / unresolved issues waiting to bite them in the butt in Book 2.]

Goodreads / Amazon

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Breslin POV

I threw my glove in my locker and grabbed my backpack from the hook. I imagined myself bounding out of the room, but my legs barely managed more than a shuffle.

Still, I must have gotten going a bit too fast because, the next thing I knew, Rally Girl was on the ground, phone skittering across the tile.

And I was the asshole. Shit.

She sat on her rear in the center of the hallway, rubbed her hip and winced. Fuck, is she going to claim I injured her—to get back at me for earlier? I glanced behind me at the locker room door. She can follow me. I looked at the exit door. I’d have to step over her. That would be ridiculous. I had more integrity than that.

Still . . .

She hissed through clenched teeth.

“You . . .” Dammit, what was her name? I had not been paying attention to anything other than, well, my shirt. On her body. Idiot.

“Well, what’s left of me. Geez, do you eat bricks for breakfast or what?”

Her legs, long and tan and open—they bent at the knee as she rested her elbows on them. And apparently, my body was not too tired to enjoy the view.

“I’m not hurt and I’m not upset. But maybe you could help me up?” She spoke in a soft voice. Dark eyelashes framed bright blue-green eyes.

I extended a hand and tugged her to her feet. She stood for a breath, two. So close. Connected. Something about the feel of her skin against mine . . . A small, but soothing warmth tingled through the nerves in my hand, sparking a heated rush from my palm to my neck.

A sharp breath, and then her fingers slid from my grasp. I missed the warmth of her.

“. . . maybe offer an apology?” She moved her hand up and down in a phantom handshake. “Sure, Coop. No hard feelings.”

“Sorry,” I mumbled. Can this be over? I panted for air and shifted back a step. Her being the hot chick in the water fountain had been one thing. I could have tried to find her, always wondered, haunted the student center in the hopes I’d run into her again.

Her being a reporter meant all of those things went on the “no fucking way, ever” list.

“I don’t know what you’re over there thinking, but, I wouldn’t hurt you. You mean too much to the team.” She frowned. “This was an accident. Not that it didn’t jar me to the bone. You missed your calling as a linebacker.”

I blinked. Opened my mouth. Re-ran the words through my brain. She just said a shit ton of stuff, and what the fuck was any of it about?

“I’m fine, really. You need to stop gushing over me. All the upset is really beneath you.” One eyebrow rose and she crossed her arms. How did she breathe while saying all those words?

“Um, are you OK?” She leaned closer.

I stared at her mouth. “You talk a lot.”

Her arms dropped to her sides. “That’s what you have to say? Not a ‘You OK?’ or ‘So sorry, I didn’t see you there. Can I help you with your things?’”

I didn’t catch all of it, but, maybe, if I did the last thing, she’d move out of my way? And I could get food, drink a gallon of water, take a shower? I stunk to hell and back.

Help her with her stuff. I set my backpack down and knelt at her feet. I tried not to think about those short running shorts or how good it’d feel to slide my fingers over the curve of her calf, up to her hip. I shoved her shit into her bag and tossed it to her. I retrieved her phone from the tile floor.

“That’s, um. Yeah. Thanks.” She pulled the device from my grip.

I pushed my sweat-soaked hair from my forehead. “You’re OK?”

“Yeah.” She pulled the bag over her shoulder. “Got bowled over by a human freight train, but lived to tell the tale. I pity any catcher that tries to get in your way.” She gave me a tight-lipped smile.

So many words. No wonder she had to write them all down. “But you’re fine?”

“What, do you need me to sign a waiver?”

Red hazed into my vision. “I’d say yes, but reporters are lying snakes in the grass. Wouldn’t matter.”

“I . . .” Her jaw worked, but no sound came out.

An errant thought about her mouth working flit through my brain.

“But, I–We’re on the same team, Coop.” She pointed at her jersey as if that was “proof”. It sure as hell wasn’t.

“We’re not.” I hefted my backpack onto my shoulder. “But you were right about one thing.”

“What do you mean?”

I leaned down and stared at her head on. She turned a deep dark pink.

“To pity the person who tries to get in my way.”

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About Author J. Rose Black:

J. Rose Black weaves stories about obsession, redemption, and the transcendental power of love. From her early days writing fanfiction for a passionate following of international readers, to crafting novels with her own characters, Rose has always been drawn to broody protectors and plucky, no-nonsense women ready to fight for what they believe in.

When Rose isn’t deeply immersed in her latest manuscript, she’s working in cyber security and thwarting the next generation of internet bad guys. Out of the office, she’s #Shipping with friends over her favorite, swoon-worthy couples, heading to the gym to battle the great evil that is Unmovable Baby Weight, or complaining about her husband’s addiction to 3D printing. Also: nagging her children to eat something other than cheese.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / Newsletter / Twitter

 

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Early Termination By Cindy Goyette ~ Review And Giveaway

Posted: January 30, 2025 in Excerpt, giveaways, Mystery, reviews, suspense
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2
EARLY TERMINATION

by Cindy Goyette

January 20 – February 14, 2025 Virtual Book Tour

 

 

Synopsis:
A Probation Case Files Mystery

  There are two ways to get off probation early. The first is to be a model citizen and complete all requirements imposed by the court. The second is to die. In Early Termination, Phoenix probation officer Casey Carson’s clients aren’t civic-minded, but they are dropping like flies. She’s on a gang’s hit list, a detective’s suspect list, and is torn while two very hot men vie for her heart. As more clients die and a probationer accuses her of brutality, she becomes the focus of the investigation. Casey risks losing everything in her race to find the real killer, but doing so will put the target squarely on her back. She will need to find the person responsible for lightening her workload before she’s the one terminated.

Praise for Cindy Goyette’s Novels:

“A hard-charging crime novel powered by combustible realism and driven by a fresh, new heroine—probation officer Casey Carson. Buckle up for a wild, white-knuckle ride.” ~ Lee Goldberg, #1 New York Times bestselling author “A dynamite start to an excellent new series. This is the kind of book that can grow legs and take off just by word of mouth. The character Casey Carson has grit, loyalty and honor. OBEY ALL LAWS is a topnotch thriller and I can’t wait for the next one. Author Cindy Goyette is here to stay.” ~ David Putnam the bestselling author of The Bruno Johnson series “Cindy Goyette is a master with words. And she knows how to spin a tale! Drawing from rich life experiences in law enforcement, her characters jump from the page. Don’t miss a single sentence this gifted author writes.” ~ Judith L. Pearson, author of From Shadows to Life, The Wolves at the Door and Belly of the Beast “A rollicking ride through the gritty world of feisty Probation Officer Casey Carson, a fantastic character with a heart as big and vast as the Arizona desert she calls home. When her probationers keep stacking up as homicide victims, Casey realizes that someone is sending her a message, and they’re dead serious about it. Now, she must unravel the sinister plot before she becomes the next victim. A complex, entertaining story that includes a secondary theme of romantic frustration simmering in the background, and a twisty ending that ensures we’ll see more adventures from Casey Carson. A great read! Five thumbs-up!” ~ Kerry Peresta, author of the Olivia Callahan Suspense series and Back Before Dawn

 

Book Details:

Genre: Mystery, Suspense

Published by: Level Best Books Publication Date: January 7, 2025 Number of Pages: 320 Series: A Probation Case Files Mystery

Book Links: Amazon | Goodreads

 

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MY REVIEW

I’ve read a lot of mystery and suspense book that had characters who were part of law enforcement like policemen, sheriffs and rangers. The main character in this  story is a female probation officer. I was intrigued. Something a bit different is always intriguing.

So, you know Casey Carson is a probation officer living in Phoenix. What you learn is she’s dedicated and hard working. She keeps tabs on her charges. But, she’s realistic. Not all of them assimilate back into society and become success stories. Yet, she never expected them to start dying. One by one, someone is killing them.

Casey is everything I like in a female protagonist. She’s smart, loyal and fierce when she needs to be. She also has a softer side. Two men want her. She’s juggling her personal entangles while also trying to solve the murders and stay alive. I felt suspense building for both cases. Who’s behind the killings. Who’s going to win her heart.

The characters who share Casey’s story are genuine and one especially stood out for me. Felony. Such a funny name for Casey’s sidekick. Just so you know, Felony is a dog.

This was a gritty, thrilling read and when I finished it I was curious if there there were more stories about Casey. There are and I’m excited to explore more.

5 STARS

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Enjoy this peek inside:

One
In probation work, there’s no such thing as a routine day at the office. This morning, flashing red and blue lights guided me to the crime scene. Coming to a stop behind the coroner’s van, I parked my Jeep Wrangler and took a deep breath. Coroner meant someone was dead. Not a good start to my day, but even worse for whoever I’d been called here about. As I climbed out of my Jeep, I adjusted my sunglasses and surveyed the area. Yellow crime scene tape blocked off the entrance to the canal. Red tile rooftops peeked over six-foot walls that separated the waterway from the middle-class sea of stucco on either side. The canal, about ten feet wide, snaked smack in the middle of a dirt pathway that residents used to get their steps in. It was nearing the end of September, and I was grateful for the hint of the cooler weather that would dip below one hundred for the first time in months. Ninety degrees might seem hot to some, but in Arizona, it was sweater weather. I walked up to a uniformed cop and held out my badge. “I’m with probation. Detective Ramsey asked me to come.” It wasn’t unusual for the police to contact us, but it wasn’t common practice to be called to a crime scene. My curiosity mixed with dread. The cop glanced at my identification. “Ms. Carson. Welcome to the shit show. Don’t touch anything.” He held the tape high so I could pass. I ducked underneath and secured my badge to my belt so the other officers could tell I belonged there. Lots of Tempe Police blue uniforms and forensic staff mulled around the area, but I homed in on the tall, balding man standing close to the water. He had on plain clothes—khakis and a plaid shirt with the sleeves rolled up. I figured he might be Ramsey, so I walked over to him. He scribbled something on a small notepad and glanced at me as I approached. “You the PO?” I nodded and dropped my gaze to the mound covered by a tarp at his feet. I wasn’t fond of seeing dead bodies. One reason I was a PO and not a cop. “Thinking this might be one of your charges, Ms. Carson,” he said. “I gotta warn you, it’s not pretty. He was in the water for a while and birds, and god knows what else got to him. You got a strong stomach?” No. At the mere thought of seeing the body, my breakfast threatened to make a reappearance, but I wouldn’t admit that. “I’m fine. Why do you think he was on my caseload?” Ramsey shrugged. “Someone stuffed your business card in his mouth.” I gulped air. “You’re kidding.” “Nope. You ready?” Ramsey reached down and pulled the sheet back before I could respond. A bloated, green face, missing chunks of cheek, greeted me. Bulging eyes looked skyward. Bran flakes swirled in my stomach and crested in my throat. Without a word, I ran to the canal and vomited so hard I thought I’d hack up a vital organ or two. “You okay, ma’am?” Ramsey sounded bored. I wiped my mouth on my sleeve and straightened. Memories of the same man, alive and animated, flashed in my mind. Not so long ago, he was proud of accomplishing a solid month of sobriety. Now, I hardly recognized him. “Could you put the sheet back?” I said, keeping my back to the body on the ground. “Sure.” I waited a moment to give Ramsey time to cover the corpse and to compose myself. But that would take a while, and the detective didn’t seem like he had a lot of patience. The relationship between police and probation was fickle. We often needed each other, but POs were on the lower end of the food chain. When I finally turned around, Ramsey was tapping his pen against his notebook. “So, you know the guy, or what?” “Brian Johnson,” I said. “He was on abscond status. Haven’t seen him for a few weeks, maybe a month. He was doing well, but then he stopped reporting. He probably relapsed. I was gearing up to request a warrant for probation violations. What do you think was the cause of death?” Ramsey shrugged again. “Too soon to tell, but most people who die of natural causes don’t end up in a canal or send a message like your business card does. They preserved it in a plastic Baggie, so we’d get the point no matter how long it took to find him. I felt even sicker. Was the message for me? “Couldn’t you ID him through fingerprints? I thought you had all kinds of tech gadgets for that.” “Sure,” Ramsey said. “But then I wouldn’t have seen your reaction. Plus, some of his fingertips are missing and what’s left probably isn’t usable. Dental records take time.” He pulled a business card out of his shirt pocket and handed it to me. “Call me if you think of anything else I might need to know.” I turned back to the canal and vomited until I had nothing left to give. In probation work, there’s no such thing as a routine day at the office. This morning, flashing red and blue lights guided me to the crime scene. Coming to a stop behind the coroner’s van, I parked my Jeep Wrangler and took a deep breath. Coroner meant someone was dead. Not a good start to my day but even worse for whoever I’d been called here about. As I climbed out of my Jeep, I adjusted my sunglasses and surveyed the area. Yellow crime scene tape blocked off the entrance to the canal. Red tile rooftops peeked over six-foot walls that separated the waterway from the middle-class sea of stucco on either side. The canal, about ten feet wide, snaked smack in the middle of a dirt pathway that local residents used to get their steps in. It was nearing the end of September, and I was grateful for the hint of the cooler weather that would dip below one hundred for the first time in months. Ninety degrees might seem hot to some, but in Arizona, it was sweater weather. I walked up to a uniformed cop and held out my badge. “I’m with probation. Detective Ramsey asked me to come.” It wasn’t unusual for police to contact us, but it wasn’t common practice to be called to a crime scene. My curiosity mixed with dread. The cop glanced at my identification. “Ms. Carson. Welcome to the shit show. Don’t touch anything.” He held the tape high so I could pass. I ducked underneath and secured my badge to my belt so the other officers could tell I belonged there. Lots of Tempe Police blue uniforms and forensic staff mulled around the area, but I homed in on the tall balding man standing close to the water. He was dressed in plain clothes—khakis and a plaid shirt with the sleeves rolled up. I figured he might be Ramsey, so I walked over to him. He scribbled something on a small notepad and glanced at me as I approached. “You the PO?” I nodded and dropped my gaze to the mound covered by a tarp at his feet. I wasn’t fond of seeing dead bodies. One of the reasons, I was a PO and not a cop. “Thinking this might be one of your charges, Ms. Carson,” he said. “I gotta warn you, it’s not pretty. He was in the water for a while and birds, and god knows what else got to him. You got a strong stomach?” No. At the mere thought of seeing the body, my breakfast threatened to make a reappearance, but I wouldn’t admit that. “I’m fine. Why do you think he was on my caseload?” Ramsey shrugged. “Your business card was stuffed in his mouth.” I gulped air. “You’re kidding.” “Nope. You ready?” Ramsey reached down and pulled the sheet back before I could respond. The face before me was bloated, green, and missing chunks of cheek. Bulging eyes looked skyward. Bran flakes swirled in my stomach and crested in my throat. Without a word, I ran to the canal and vomited so hard, I thought I’d hack up a vital organ or two. “You okay, ma’am?” Ramsey sounded bored. I wiped my mouth on my sleeve and straightened. Memories of the same man, alive and animated flashed in my mind. Not so long ago, he was proud of accomplishing a solid month of sobriety. Now, I hardly recognized him. “Could you put the sheet back?” I said, keeping my back to the body on the ground. “Sure.” I waited a moment to give Ramsey time to cover the corpse and to compose myself. But that would take a while, and the detective didn’t seem like he had a lot of patience. The relationship between police and probation was fickle. We often needed each other, but POs were on the lower end of the food chain. When I finally turned around, Ramsey was tapping his pen against his notebook. “So, you know the guy, or what?” “Brian Johnson,” I said. “He was on abscond status. Haven’t seen him for a few weeks, maybe a month. He was doing well, but then he stopped reporting. He probably relapsed. I was gearing up to request a warrant for probation violations. What do you think was the cause of death?” Ramsey shrugged again. “Too soon to tell, but most people who die of natural causes don’t end up in a canal or send a message like your business card does. It was preserved in a plastic Baggie, so we’d get the point no matter how long it took to find him.” I felt even sicker. Was the message for me? “Couldn’t you ID him through fingerprints? I thought you had all kinds of tech gadgets for that.” “Sure,” Ramsey said. “But then I wouldn’t have seen your reaction. Plus, some of his fingertips are missing and what’s left probably isn’t usable. Dental records take time.” He pulled a business card out of his shirt pocket and handed it to me. “Call me if you think of anything else I might need to know.” I turned back to the canal and vomited until I had nothing left to give. *** Excerpt from Early Termination by Cindy Goyette. Copyright 2025 by Cindy Goyette. Reproduced with permission from Cindy Goyette. All rights reserved.

 

 

About Author Cindy Goyette:

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Cindy Goyette

Cindy Goyette is a former probation officer who had a front row seat to the criminal justice system. She kept her sanity by finding humor in most situations. A mix of these things helped her create The Probation Case Files Mystery Series, Book 1, OBEY ALL LAWS won a PSWA Award for best suspense, and was published in January of 2024. Book 2, EARLY TERMINATION, released January of 2025. Her first cozy mystery, DIAMOND IN THE RUFF, will release in May of 2025. After spending over twenty years in Arizona, Cindy lives in Washington state with her husband and two Cocker Spaniels.

Catch Up With Cindy Goyette: CCGoyette.com Amazon Author Profile Goodreads BookBub – @ccgoyettewriter Instagram – @cindy.goyette Threads – @cindy.goyette X – @cindy_ccgoyette Facebook

 

 

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Peek Inside And Giveaway ~ Harleigh Sinclair And The Kingdom Of The Bristol Skull By Tamara Grantham

Posted: January 29, 2025 in Excerpt, giveaways, Paranormal or fantasy, Romance
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Harleigh Sinclair and the Kingdom of the Bristol Skull

by Tamara Grantham

 

(The Harleigh Sinclair, #4)
Publication date: February 4th 2025
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance

An Egyptian ankh. An Inuit mask. A Skinwalker’s scythe.
Three Neotact artifacts have been found. Only the shield and sword remain.
My name is Harleigh Sinclair. I have a gift to find lost artifacts, though there are some who call it a curse…
When I discover a riddle etched inside a goldstone skull, it may be the clue I need to discover not only the Viking shield, but the famed sword of King Arthur, Excalibur.
After my father was attacked by a Blood Raider over a decade ago, and his sword stolen, my life’s mission has been to find his attacker and bring justice to our family. But before I can find the attacker, I must first discover the original four artifacts before the Blood Raiders obtain them first.
With the aid of the insufferable and dangerously handsome Jagg Ransom, plus my sister and a team of handpicked experts, we follow the riddle’s clues. Our search leads us from a Viking museum in Norway, to underground crypts in Bristol, England, and finally to a forest haunted by a legendary hellhound. But we’re not alone.
The Blood Raiders have gotten desperate. And they’ve been following us. If we don’t find the shield first, they’ll attain more power than we can comprehend, and not only will we fail, but we’ll be doomed to die at their hands.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

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Enjoy this peek inside:

I stepped into the office of Darius Greyson—my boss, my once savior. Some would call him my captor. Thunder rumbled as I looked through the vast windows ringing the room. Usually, the view from the fifty-seventh floor displayed an impressive panorama of the San Antonio skyline. Tonight, only a few pinpricks of light managed to punch through the storm clouds.

Muted pendant lights flickered as another peal of thunder shook the room. My footsteps echoed over the expansive marble floor, and my heart gave a sudden lurch when I approached the glass display cases sitting atop polished onyx pedestals.

Nothing but velvet cushions remained where the artifacts had once been displayed.

The Egyptian ankh. The mask of Kushtaka. The scythe. Where were they?

My hand went to the Glock holstered at my side. Questions swam through my head. After last month’s security breach, perhaps Greyson had moved the artifacts? I tried not to ponder the less pleasant theories.

“Greyson?” I focused on the marble and gold desk near the windows. His chair was turned away from me, and I couldn’t be sure who was sitting there.

“Greyson, is that you?” I addressed the chair, unsure of who might answer. He’d asked to meet at eleven p.m. sharp—not an unusual hour for him. But in the many years I’d been his employee, he’d never failed to meet.

I took another step forward when the chair spun around. Shock stunned me. King Khamron sat in Greyson’s chair. His dark skin blended with the night sky beyond the windows, and his expression, while congenial, held a look of warning. I’d only ever seen Greyson sitting in the chair. Seeing King sitting there unnerved me.

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About Author Tamara Grantham:

Tamara Grantham is the author of more than twenty books and novellas, including the Olive Kennedy: Fairy World MD series, the Harliegh Sinclair, urban fantasy series, and the Twisted Ever After trilogy. Dreamthief, the first book of her Fairy World MD series, is a #1 bestseller on Amazon with over 1,300 five-star reviews.

Her numerous awards include: two first place Rone awards, first place in Foreword Reviews Book of the Year awards, a first-place Praiseworthy award, and first place in the WriterCon awards.

Tamara holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Lamar University. She has been a featured speaker at multiple writing conferences, and she has been a panelist at comic cons across the country speaking on the topic of female leads.

Born and raised in Texas, Tamara now lives with her husband and five children in Wichita, Kansas. She rarely has any free time, but when the stars align and she gets a moment to relax, she enjoys reading fantasy novels, taking nature walks, and watching every Star Wars or Star Trek movie ever made.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / TikTok

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

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Secrets, Songbirds, & Succulents ~ A Succulent Sleuth Cozy Mystery By Iris March

Posted: January 29, 2025 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways
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Secrets, Songbirds, and Succulents: A Succulent Sleuth Cozy Mystery
by Iris March

 


Secrets, Songbirds, and Succulents: A Succulent Sleuth Cozy Mystery
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – Ohio
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Wandering Gingko Press (January 23, 2025)
~250 Pages
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DQQ8XJLL

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The annual Buckeye Trail Town Festival. A trail construction site. And one dead naturalist.

The charming town of Hawthorn Heights is celebrating its connection to the Buckeye Trail with a weekend-long town festival. When a local naturalist is found dead at the bottom of a ravine off the trail, amateur sleuth and garden center manager Molly Green finds herself tangled in a murder investigation – again.

As the Trail Festival concludes, Molly unearths unexpected secrets about the bird-obsessed naturalist’s life along with other people in her small community. When the police focus on who Molly knows is the wrong suspect, she starts her own investigation with her flock of fellow amateur detectives. Will Molly and her team identify the killer or will they fly away free?

Secrets, Songbirds, and Succulents is a heartwarming and suspenseful cozy mystery that will keep readers guessing until the very end. Perfect for fans of small-town mysteries and amateur sleuths with both birding and eco-friendly themes.

About Author Iris March

Iris March has a reputation for killing houseplants and now she’s killing people off in books? Coincidence? Perhaps not. Iris has spent two decades working in the sustainability field and is usually either reading a book or on a trail. She lives in Ohio with her husband, son, and three cats.

Author Links: Website / Instagram / Facebook / GoodReads

Purchase Link – Amazon

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

January 27 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

January 27 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 28 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST

January 28 – Frugal Freelancer – SPOTLIGHT

January 29 – Angel’s Book Nook – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

January 29 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

January 30 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

January 30 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

January 31 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

January 31 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW

February 1 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

February 1 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT

February 2 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

February 2 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

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Peek Inside And Giveaway ~ Change Of Heart By Cristina LePort, MD

Posted: January 28, 2025 in Excerpt, giveaways, thriller
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Change of Heart

by Dr. Cristina LePort

 

(A Miner & Mulville Novel)
Publication date: February 4th 2025
Genres: Adult, Thriller

In the bustling heart of New York City, a young medical student’s life is tragically cut short, though her heart continues to beat, holding the promise of life for another. Detective Kirk Miner is called to the scene and quickly uncovers a chilling conspiracy involving organ donations and high-stakes crime. As the investigation unfolds, Miner realizes the case is far more complex and dangerous than it initially seemed.
Enter FBI Agent Jack Mulville, who steps in to supervise Special Agent Charlotte Bloom as they join forces with Miner. Together, they unravel a web of corruption, revealing that Amy Winter’s death is connected to a ruthless organ trafficking ring. Amy Winter, a promising pre-med student, is found dead under mysterious circumstances. Her death triggers an investigation that pulls Miner, Mulville, and Bloom into a labyrinth of deceit and desperation. As they dig deeper, they discover that Amy’s heart is not just a donor’s gift but a coveted prize in a deadly game controlled by criminals willing to kill to keep their secrets hidden.
The quest for justice takes Miner, Mulville, and Bloom through the shadowy underbelly of organ trafficking, revealing the lengths to which people will go to secure life-saving transplants. Amidst the danger, they face moral dilemmas and personal risks, pushing them to their limits as they strive to protect innocent lives and dismantle a powerful criminal network.
“Change of Heart” is a gripping medical thriller that intertwines the intricacies of modern medicine with the relentless pursuit of justice. Cristina LePort, M.D., masterfully combines her medical expertise with edge-of-your-seat storytelling, delivering a novel that will keep you turning pages long into the night. Dr. LePort is an accomplished physician with a passion for weaving medical knowledge into thrilling narratives. Her extensive background in medicine lends authenticity and depth to her stories, making the Miner & Mulville series a unique blend of fact and fiction. (CristinaLePort.com)

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

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Enjoy this peek inside:

He examined the blood-smeared paper. Only one typed sentence: I donate my organs for transplant. Kirk stared at the illegible signature. Something begged for attention, but he couldn’t pinpoint what it was…

“Any weapons or bullets?”

“This was on the driver’s seat between the victim and the door.” John produced an evidence bag from his backpack. “A Ruger. A woman’s gun. Small, concealable, and accurate.”

Kirk reached for the bag and wrapped his hand around the plastic covering the grip’s checkered frame. In his mind, the weapon’s light weight and John’s words triggered an image of a beautiful young woman, Amy Winter, with no future.

“The bullet,” John went on, “ended up embedded next to the ceiling, on the car’s front passenger side. No other bullets found in the gun.”

“Why next to the ceiling?” Kirk lifted his eyes from the gun.

“It must have hit her cellphone.” John handed Kirk a plastic-wrapped iPhone with a dazzling pink case. “She must’ve been holding the phone to her ear when the bullet exited. We found the phone on the car floor between the two back seats. Screen’s shattered, phone’s dead.”

Kirk examined the phone. The black screen bore a bloody diagonal fracture from top to bottom. That would have been the direction of the exiting bullet grazing a phone glued to the woman’s right ear. Who in hell would she be chatting with while killing herself?

“Who discovered the victim?” Kirk said.

“A man called the hospital ER and 9-1-1 at about the same time.” John extracted a smartphone from his sport jacket and scrolled through his notes. “The call to the ER was registered at 4:41a.m. I’m not sure how precise that is. The 9-1-1 call came in at 4:42.”

Kirk placed his index finger on the phone’s volume button. Nothing happened. Then his thumb pressed the reset button several times. After the third try, the screen lit up. A key piece of a puzzle fell into place, making Kirk feel almost giddy with excitement.

“I’m afraid we’re not dealing with an attempted suicide,” Kirk said, turning the face of the phone toward John, “but an attempted murder.”

“I agree.” John’s brows went up. “But how can you be so sure without any forensics?”

“Several things,” Kirk said. “The note was added later, after the shot. Smears of blood, instead of sprays. Poor attempt by the shooter to make us believe the note was on the seat before the bullet hit.”

“Yeah,” John said, “that’s been bothering me also. You’ve come a long way from your training over ribs and beer.”

Kirk smiled at the memory of their favorite pub. It seemed a long time ago when Kirk decided to leave the police force and John helped him get started as a private investigator. John was more than a mentor. He always cared about Kirk, but cared even more after Kirk’s near-fatal car accident years ago. John had become as protective as an older brother.

The image of the dark pub dissipated and Kirk refocused on the victim’s note.

“I’m no calligrapher,” he said, “but, from the slanting of the signature, I think the victim is right-handed. A right-handed person would shoot her right side.”

“If it’s actually her signature,” John said.

“The shooter could have forced her to sign at gun point,” Kirk said. “Either way, it would point to attempted murder.”

“What else?”

“We’ve got the exact time of the shooting,” Kirk said, waving the plastic-clad phone. “Here in this frozen, undead iPhone.”

John grabbed the evidence bag. He stared at the fractured, frozen screen.

His lips stretched into a grin.

“The bullet froze the time at 4:43,” Kirk said. “One minute after the 9-1-1 call. The man called before the shooting occurred. It’s unlikely someone would notice the shooter, figure out what he was going to do, call the police, and leave without talking to them.”

“The witness could have left because he was afraid the shooter would come after him,” John said.

“Or perhaps,” Kirk said, “the caller knew the shooting would occur because he himself was the shooter. And he wanted the victim to be found as soon as possible.”

John referred again to his notes. “The caller said that someone had been shot. Not someone is going to shoot, or is shooting, somebody. The woman had gun powder residue on her left hand, but the shooter could’ve placed the gun in her hand before throwing it in the car. We’ve got a few prints on the handle. I bet they’re all from her. But I still think you’re right.”

Kirk nodded. “The shooter made sure she would be rescued in time for her organs to be saved for donation and subsequent transplant.”

Kirk turned toward the hospital ER entrance. A vivid memory materialized. A plastic bracelet around his wrist, from six years ago, in a different hospital. The bracelet classifying him as an organ donor. After his prolonged coma, doctors had given up on Kirk. Luckily for him, he had woken up and retained his organs.

The woman who had crossed the ER threshold earlier that morning wouldn’t be so lucky. Someone wanted her organs badly enough to put a bullet in her brain.

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About Author Dr. Cristina LePort:

Dr. Cristina LePort was born in Bologna, Italy. She attended medical school at the University of Bologna and then completed her medical training at Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn and at the University of California, Los Angeles. She is board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Diseases and has been practicing medicine for more than thirty years. Cristina is also the Chief Medical Officer and co-founder of Genescient, a biotech company devoted to genetic research on aging and the amelioration of chronic diseases. Medicine and fiction are her twin passions, and she is absolutely thrilled to be able to share her medical thrillers with the world.

Cristina LePort currently resides in Orange County, California, with her husband Peter LePort, a general surgeon. They have three children and three grandchildren.

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The Marriage Agreement By A. Akinosho ~ Spotlight And Giveaway

Posted: January 28, 2025 in Contemporary Romance, giveaways
Tags: ,
21
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The best laid plans sometimes crumble,
but fate has the perfect detour.
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The Marriage Agreement

The Agreement Series Book 2

by A. Akinosho

Genre: Age Gap, Second Chance Contemporary Romance

The best laid plans sometimes crumble,
but fate has the perfect detour.

 

Ayodele

In desperate need of a solution, I’m about to lose
everything—my education, my future—if I’m deported before finishing school.
Osei, bless his heart, is willing to marry me, but his wandering eye would only
bring more trouble than we need.

Enter Luke, my best friend’s brother, with a shocking
proposal: a marriage agreement. A simple arrangement that could save us both.

He needs to escape the forced marriage his father’s pushing
on him, and I need to stay in the country to finish school.

It’s a deal that works for both of us.

But neither of us expected that living together, pretending
to be husband and wife, would blur the lines between what’s real and what’s
just part of our agreement.

I didn’t plan on falling in love with Luke, but sometimes
the heart doesn’t care about the plan.

 

Luke

There was always a girl—a girl I couldn’t get out of my
head. When I finally find her, she’s with the one person I could never
betray—my brother.

I’ve kept my distance, believing that Ayodele was
off-limits, only to learn she’s only my brother’s best friend. But crossing
that line still felt forbidden. So, I’ve watched her quietly, wanting what I
thought I could never have.

Now, she desperately needs help, and I see a way to help
her—and myself. A fake marriage would solve both our problems. She stays to
finish school, and I escape the loveless match my father is forcing me into.

It’s the perfect solution.

Or so I thought. What was supposed to be just an agreement
is becoming something else entirely. The connection I’ve tried to deny is
impossible to ignore, and keeping my distance is no longer an option.

Maybe this was never supposed to be a plan, because, neither
of us is sticking to the plan.

No problem, right?

Amazon
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The Handshake Agreement

The Agreement Series Book 1

He promised her the world,
Then, abandoned her at the altar.

Anne
I’m a realist, cynical about falling in love. Until I met Declan – the rich and
powerful player. With his quiet determination, he dismantled my cynicism and
made me believe.
Before I know it, I’m flashing a radiant smile, dressed, and eagerly awaiting
him at the altar.
Only, I got the text – “I’m not coming” – shattering my world.
Regret is a waste of time; I stand by my original convictions.
Years later, he’s back demanding a second chance, how dare he?

Declan
I shook on the agreement without hesitation because I had zero plans to marry
for love. Ever.
Years later, Anne crashed into my life. I find myself craving what I thought I
didn’t need or want.
Unexpectedly, the agreement I made resurfaced, presenting me with a dilemma:

Marry as agreed or
Lose Anne forever.

Deal accepted, regardless of hurting Anne.
When I find Anne again, she’s engaged, far as I’m concerned, she’s still mine.
I’ll cheat, steal, and fight before I let Anne marry another.
All is fair in love and war. And this is war…hope he’s ready to fight?

The Handshake agreement is a contemporary an age gap, second chance romance
with a Possessive MMC

Amazon
* Bookbub
* Goodreads

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A. Akinosho lives in her own little nest in Illinois. An
avid reader and enjoy reading thrillers, suspense and romance novels (partial
to romance genre). When, She’s not reading or keeping up with life. She enjoys
writing and creating twist to stories. She loves writing about diverse
characters, friendship and overcoming challenges through, what is perceived as
a weakness.

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

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A Hush At Midnight By Marlene M. Bell ~ Review And Giveaway

Posted: January 27, 2025 in Author Interview, Excerpt, giveaways, Mystery, reviews
Tags: , ,
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Book Details:

  A HUSH AT MIDNIGHT by Marlene M. Bell
Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 368 pages 
Genre: Mystery
Publisher:  Ewephoric Publishing
Release date:   October 2024
Content Rating:  G. No profanity or intimate situations

 

Book Description:

Celebrity chef Laura Harris dwells on the horror of finding her mentor’s body in the groundskeeper’s disheveled bed—pillow and bedding half covering her open eyes—purple bruising around her mouth. A grisly snapshot in time revealing the Texas woman’s last moments during her attack. The elderly matriarch from the small town of Stenburg has left the physical world, and Laura is shattered.

She is catapulted headlong into the pursuit of a casual executioner, one bold enough to come and go from the crime scene with ease, dropping bizarre crumb trails designed to mock the deceased. But Laura herself doesn’t go unnoticed. As she digs deeper, she is followed and bombarded by warnings to leave the state.

When the victim’s attorney informs Laura that she’s to inherit the entire Stenburg fortune, the last act of kindness has made Laura the main person of interest in the investigation.

​Message by message, Laura is methodically taunted by someone so deranged and driven they’ll do whatever it takes to dislodge Laura from Texas – permanently.

 
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MY REVIEW

I do like my mysteries and the author had me coming and going, at a loss as to the who or why in this one.

I like a strong female protagonist and Laura fits the bill. She has a protective instinct along with some stubbornness. When she visits her mentor and friend, elderly Hattie, she notices something’s off. She seems so frail. She knows something is very wrong when she discovers Hattie dead. What killed her? Why was she in the grounds keeper’s house? These are some of the questions she asks herself and she smells a rat.

I mentioned the author was adept at keeping me guessing. There were plenty of false trails and suspects. I’d love to say I had it all figured out. Not the case and I enjoyed how it all wrapped up.

4 STARS

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An Interview With Main Character Laura Harris

A HUSH AT MIDNIGHT

  1. Laura, you’ve spent your adult life as a pastry chef and suddenly you’re unraveling mysteries. Looking back, do you see any hints that your life would evolve like this? Did you love reading mysteries growing up? Were you especially observant or – dare I say it – nosy? Do you have any special training – maybe martial arts or military training?

Solving murders or unraveling a heinous crime never entered my thoughts on any level. Fate can drop things in our path, both good and bad. I’m a chef with a dream to attain the coveted Mechlin Star for my own restaurant one day. Being part of my family’s winery, tasting room, and restaurant was the avenue to accomplish this until the feud with my sister, DeeDee made it feel more like a wild fantasy. 

The closest I get to reading in earnest would have to be non-fiction cookbooks. My formal training is in French pastry but I love cooking in general. As a matter of fact, I’m in the process of publishing my first cookbook in a few months. I do love a good mystery, though. Except when it involves someone close to home and as special to me as Hattie Stenburg was. I can’t move forward in my career plans until I find the monster who killed my friend.   

  1. You moved back to Texas to help your family out but what do you miss most about California?

California is a beautiful state with everything for everyone; the Pacific Ocean’s pristine beaches, majestic blue foothills and craggy mountains, tall redwood forests and big city life, as well as quaint valley towns with a rich heritage. The overall weather in California can’t be beaten, in my opinion. It’s mild temperatures hardly vary from winter to the summer months unless you’re in snow country. 

My favorite place in the world is found at the 6,225-foot elevation in the high Sierra Mountains. Meeks Bay Resort near Tahoma, CA on Lake Tahoe. The cabins sit just off of the main highway that encircles the lake on the west side. I spent many family vacations there with aunts, uncles, and cousins, bunking in rustic cabins around the July 4th holiday. The aroma of native trees such as aspens and live oaks and numerous varieties of pines populate the landscape and surround that cold, clear lake. The freshest air imaginable enters the senses at high elevations. The most peaceful place on the planet! I learned to waterski in Tahoe’s freezing water. A sixty-degree mountain lake made from snow melt requires a wetsuit to swim the middle even in July. Novice skiers learn to pop out of the water quickly in an environment like that. I sure did! 

  1. What about Texas? What’s the one thing about home that you can never get enough of?

We actually see the changing seasons in East Texas. Fall color is unbelievable in the Woodlands. A plus is living in a wilderness with nature so close to our houses where we’re home to many creatures not seen in California such as the little excavators we call, nine-banded armadillos. They’re truly prehistoric-looking with their claws on each foot and armor covering them from their pointed snouts to the tip of their tails. Their armored plates have the look of metal, too. Armadillos have terrible eyesight, so if you’re lucky enough to come across one, you can photograph them until they smell your approach. I’ve learned to stay downwind for best results. White-tailed deer enter our properties by the hundreds and a host of skunks and foxes, including the nighttime prowlers; coyotes and the occasional mountain lion share the scenic grounds. In short, the wildlife is breathtaking and plentiful. It’s a plus when they’re near enough to get great photos. 

  1. You worked at your family’s restaurant, a friend’s bakery as well as many other places during your training as a chef. Do you have a favorite dish/sweet treat you like to make?

My personal favorite are French profiteroles like those I brought to Hattie before she, uh…was taken from us. Little puffs of heaven I like to call them. Luscious cream-filled puff pastries drizzled with the finest Belgian chocolate. When I want to liven things up, I sometimes fill them with the most delectable vanilla custard and add whisps of raspberries on top before serving. Of course, whiskey replaced the vanilla flavoring for Hattie. How I’ll miss making her special desserts and the decades of letters we wrote to each other.

Texans are partial to sheet cakes, I found out. Place a sheet cake on one end of the table and offer a tempting dish of handcrafted desserts at the other end to Texas guests—and when the party is over, the fancy plate will hardly be touched. The sheet cake will be gone with only crumbs remaining. It’s taken me a while to get used to the simple desserts locals prefer, like fried pies, banana pudding, and peach cobbler. Chocolate sheet cakes are the winner I always keep in the freezer. My bakery partner, Duska Novak can plow through an entire 13×9 cake she’s made herself, and it’s gone in two days!  

  1. Laura, I’m sure you know I love to read! So, tell us what do you like to read? Please tell me it isn’t just cookbooks (although they can be fun). 

Since you’ve taken cookbooks off the list, a close second are novels by new authors or independent writers. Writing books is arduous (as I’ve learned,) and anyone who has the time, money, and stomach to publish books on their own without a publisher’s backing deserves a chance at new readers. I’ve recently picked up an author whose written several books in an international series that spans Europe as well as countries down under. You might have heard of her; Marlene M. Bell. A Texas sheep breeder turned novelist. She has a new book out called, A Hush at Midnight. It’s not from her Annalisse series, but I’m curious to see how she describes Texas in this latest novel. I hear she has a main character with the same name as mine who is also a chef. Isn’t that interesting? I can’t wait to read her slant on Texas!

Thank you for the opportunity to speak to your readers!

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Meet Author Marlene M. Bell:

Mystery at a killing pace

Marlene M. Bell has never met a sheep she didn’t like. As a personal touch, her fans often find these wooly creatures visiting her international romantic suspense, thriller, and cozy mystery books as characters or subject matter.

Marlene’s multi-award-winning Annalisse series boasts numerous Best Mystery honors for all installments including the newest IP Best Regional Australia/New Zealand, and Global Gold Award for the fourth cozy mystery from down under.
​
connect with the author:  website ~X ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads

 
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A HUSH AT MIDNIGHT by Marlene M. Bell Book Tour Giveaway

 

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Peek Inside And Giveaway ~ Eternal Ashes By Janelle Marie

Posted: January 25, 2025 in Excerpt, giveaways, thriller
Tags: ,
8

 

Eternal Ashes

by Janelle Marie

 

(Ash & Rage, #1)
Publication date: January 21st 2025
Genres: Adult, Thriller

One night. One moment. One mistake.
Now life will never be the same.

In her hometown of Auburn Village, Sofie Collins has built a good life for herself and her teenage daughter, April.

Sofie’s business is growing, and they are both happily in love, with April about to graduate from high school in only a few weeks.

Life – although far from perfect – is good. But one moment is all it takes.

Just one moment and now Sofie’s world will never be the same again.

Instead of building a brighter future with each passing day, Sofie suddenly finds the happiness she found slipping further and further through her fingers.

And it seems as though all the blame and guilt lies with her…

Or does it?

This mesmerizing drama is the compelling first chapter of a story of heartbreak, betrayal and cold revenge. When her world breaks, will Sofie find the strength to rebuild the pieces? Or is she about to send it crashing down?

Goodreads / Amazon

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Sofie stared out the window of Chief Edison’s unmarked police car, a cold sense of dread spreading through her chest as she awaited her daughter’s fate. The local hospital wasn’t far, but the ride felt like it was hours. They had left immediately after throwing on some clothes. Sofie wasn’t sure what she had grabbed, or if she should bring anything for April. What had happened? What could’ve possibly happened? Why hadn’t she come home?

The night was still and silent. Everything was so quiet and peaceful, in such stark contrast to the turmoil raging through Sofie’s whole body.

Please, let my baby girl be okay. The thought repeated itself in her head, right along with the last image she had of April walking hand-in-hand out of the pub with Drew. April’s last words to Sofie had been “I love you.” But Sofie couldn’t remember if she’d said those all-important words back to her.

Sofie’s breath clutched in her chest, her gasp disturbing the silence inside the car. Chief Edison glanced back at her through the rearview mirror, concern in his eyes despite his blank expression. Beside her, Parker took Sofie’s hand, interlocking their fingers.

Chief Edison hadn’t given them many details beyond the fact April and Drew had been in an accident. He’d shared no insight into their condition. He didn’t need to though. Sofie could read between the lines. If the kids were okay, they would have been driven home.

April would have called.

If the kids were okay, Chief Edison would have said so instead of staying tight-lipped. His silence was a red flag. A bad omen.

Please, let my baby girl be okay…

Sofie’s vision blurred and she blinked back tears, refusing to let any fall yet. She was convinced crying prematurely would only bring bad luck. Sofie was fearing the worst, but she needed to hold on to some kind of hope. At least now, before she knew for certain how bad it was.

Maybe the kids were banged up and in shock. Maybe there were some broken bones. Maybe some concussions. Scrapes and scratches. Bruises. A bunch of stuff would heal quickly…

And maybe one day, a few weeks or months from now, they would remember this incident as a scary close-call they’d overcome. A minor setback.

Someday in the future, April and Drew would be married and in their forties, telling their kids about the bad crash they had weeks before graduating high school. Their yearbook would have pictures of all the signatures they’d gotten on their matching casts.

There was no need to panic.

No need to panic. Sofie let these words replace the chant in her head, wanting so badly to believe them. Yet, no matter how hard she tried to cling to some optimism, the prolonged drive provided ample time for dread to take hold again.

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About Author Janelle Marie:

Janelle Marie is a distinguished voice in the realm of thriller-suspense fiction. Residing amidst the towering evergreens and cascading mountains of the Pacific Northwest, she infuses her stories with the essence of her surroundings, creating a unique and immersive experience for her readers.

With a talent for weaving tales, Janelle embarked on her writing journey, driven by a love for a great book. She discovered her passion for crafting stories that send shivers down the spine, skillfully spinning narratives that are tapestries of suspense, where unexpected twists and turns keep readers guessing until the final, gripping conclusion.

Janelle Marie invites readers to join her on a journey into the heart of suspense, where the landscapes are as unpredictable as the twists in her tales. Through her evocative prose, she aims to transport readers into a world where danger lurks in the shadows and the only way out is to keep turning the pages.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / Bookbub

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The Girl Of Many Crowns By D.H. Morris ~ Author Interview And Giveaway

Posted: January 24, 2025 in giveaways, Historical
Tags: ,
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​ The Girl of Many Crowns by D.H. Morris
Category:  Adult Fiction (18 +),  305 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction 
Publisher:  New Classics Publishing
Release date:  October 4, 2024
Content Rating: PG due to some mature subject matters, but no graphic violence, language, or sexual content.
 
 
 

Book Description:

The true and inspiring story of a powerful knight and a run-away queen who unite to defy an empire.

King Charles, the first king of France, is beset by Vikings, rebel lords, and his brother, all seeking to take his kingdom. To strengthen his kingdom, King Charles marries his twelve-year-old daughter Judith to elderly, widowed Aethelwulf, King of Wessex. When Aethelwulf dies unexpectedly, Judith is pressed into marrying Aethelwulf’s cruel eldest son. When her second husband also dies, twice-widowed Judith refuses to accept a third arranged marriage.

​As punishment for her refusal, King Charles imprisons 16-year-old Judith in one of his palaces where she is visited by her brother, Louis, and his knightly companion, Count Baldwin “Iron Arm.” When Baldwin helps Judith escape, they are hunted by her father’s men and must flee for their lives. Can Baldwin and Judith hold on to each other and their faith as they face the fury of an empire?

 
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Interview With Author:
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Stuff about you:

What is something unique/quirky about you? I acted in local theater for several years, I love Yorkies, and I lived in Germany for 12 years total.

Describe yourself in 5 words or less!  Serious thinker

Do you have a favorite movie? Black and white classics

Which of your novels can you imagine made into a movie? The Girl of Many Crowns has already drawn attention and discussions about possible mini-series.

As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal? A Yorkie

Stuff about the Book:

What did you enjoy most about writing this book? I enjoyed it most, discovering all the surprising historical turn of events that happened in this story. They were exciting, delightful, and hysterical. I kept telling myself you can’t even make this stuff up. Fact is stranger than fiction.

Tell us about your main characters- what makes them tick?  Baldwin wanted to serve his king and country and protect the people. He was truly altruistic. Judith had a similar mindset although she did it in a different way. Her original sole goal was to help her father and serve him in his kingdom, but in the end, she had to choose between her desire to serve her father and not compromising herself.

If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the lead? No, Judith was a young girl in the book.

Anything specific you want to tell your readers? Write your own family history stories. Let other descendants read about their family stories.

What is your favorite part of this book and why? When Baldwin finally tells Judith how he feels about her.

If you could spend time with a character from your book whom would it be? And what would you do during that day?  I would love to meet, interview, and pick the minds of all of the characters in the book. But if there were only one, I could meet it would be Baldwin to watch him training for battle. To see his horsemanship and learn more about his battle style.

Have you written any other books that are not published? Yes. I have 1 children’s book I wrote for my children that is not published and 1 planned educational book that is my personal teaching method for teaching children to read. It has worked well for my family, friends, and neighbors. I also am starting on the Prequel to The Girls of Many Crowns. I also collaborated on writing the book and lyrics for a musical version of Pride and Prejudice.

If your book had a candle, what scent would it be? It would be spice, intrigue, maybe a hint of sweet… I guess a Sandalwood scented candle.

Audiobook Questions:

What made you decide to get the book made into an audiobook? I know several people that prefer that format and I felt that it could reach more readers by having an audiobook version.

Who did the narration on the audiobook and what made you choose them?  I chose to do it myself with an AI assist as I have training in audio recording.

What goes into making an audiobook? Lots of hours of recording sessions and making sure you are in the right environment for recording.

How many audiobooks do you currently have and are there any more on the horizon? This is my first audiobook, but when I finish the prequel, I will do another audiobook.

What’s the biggest challenge about producing an audiobook? Making sure the recording is just right.

Do you prefer to listen to audiobooks or read a book? Read a book

Stuff about Writing/ Reading:

How long have you been writing? I’ve enjoyed writing ever since I was a child.

What kind of research do you do before you begin writing a book?  I use everything from the internet, to going to the library. I use every possible resource I can find including dissertations or master theses. I research the era, the food, and the medicine before I write about it. I am someone that is very uncomfortable writing about things I do not understand. So, I immerse myself in research before beginning writing.

Do you see writing as a career?

What do you think about the current publishing market? It’s a complicated market that takes a lot of time and research to understand. It’s not something easily done overnight.

Do you read yourself and if so, what is your favorite genre? I like anything well written. I am very eclectic in my reading. My favorite would probably be Historical Fiction, Mystery, and Fantasy.

Do you prefer to write in silence or with noise? I prefer to write in silence so that I am not easily distracted. 

Pen or type writer or computer?  Used to always be pen, but now I have transitioned to computer.

A day in the life of the author? No two days are the same. I start my mornings with my husband and Yorkie. My husband and I like to play puzzle games together. I do my best writing in the mornings so this is a good time to write. Then I work through my schedule whether it is shopping or chores that need to be done, appointments or events I have, family management tasks, or researching my next novel. Then I end my day with doing a puzzle with my husband and relaxing with my Yorkie, Max. Sometimes we will watch a movie before we go to bed.

Advice they would give new authors? Learn to love rewriting, because that is where your manuscript goes from a good idea into a polished gem. Don’t be afraid of constructive criticism, use it to make your writing better. Also remember that not everyone will understand your journey so keep working on your manuscript and keep submitting it for review.

What is your writing process? For instance, do you do an outline first? Do you do the chapters first? What are common traps for aspiring writers?  This book was different as the outline was already provided for me by history. It was basically reading about the events that occurred during that year and making sense of it in my own mind, then sleeping on it, and I would write about it in the morning.  If you want to write just to be a popular author, then you have to follow what the trend of the day is and do what other authors are doing. If you want to create something special and unique, then you can’t do what everyone else is doing.

What is your writing Kryptonite? Overthinking is my Kryptonite. I think you just have to start writing. The process of writing organizes your thoughts. As you get into the writing process, it all starts coming together. The initial writings are you just organizing your mind and you will most likely throw out anyways. So, if there is a phrase or anything that sparks your imagination then just start writing it.

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Meet Author D.H. Morris:

​A native of San Diego, California, D. H. Morris has lived on four continents and traveled through many countries. She has four children and eleven grandchildren and currently lives in Kansas City, Missouri. She graduated from Utah State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre and Choral Music education and pursued graduate work in English at USU and law at the University of Utah. She is also a published playwright.

As a descendant of Judith and Baldwin, the author discovered their intriguing story while doing a genealogical project. This journey inspired her to research everything about the 9th Century – including food, politics, travel, war, education, clothing, jewelry, religion, holidays, marriage customs, and medicine. She loves talking about this remarkable time in history when the European countries we know today were being formed and fighting for their very existence.

connect with the author:  website ~ pinterest~ goodreads

 
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THE GIR OF MANY CROWNS Book Tour Giveaway

 

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Deadly When Disturbed By DM Barr ~ Review And Giveaway

Posted: January 23, 2025 in Excerpt, giveaways, suspense, thriller
Tags: , ,
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Deadly When Disturbed by DM Barr Banner

DEADLY WHEN DISTURBED
by DM Barr
January 13 – 31, 2025 Virtual Book Tour

 

 

Synopsis:

Deadly When Disturbed follows the journey of leading Realtor and philanthropist Dara Banks. When Dara searches for an assistant, finding someone as resourceful as Meryl “Merry” Rafter seems too good to be true. So good in fact, she neglects to run a reference check. Bad move. Before she knows it, Merry, a former “actress” trying to be “helpful,” has insinuated herself into Dara’s business, family, and charity, and may be the only person saving her from prison. Dara becomes suspicious and begins snooping into Merry’s past. Feeling cornered, Merry reciprocates by launching an investigation of her own and realizes—too late—that she may have picked the wrong mark to con. These women’s unsettling discoveries, and their desperate efforts to safeguard their skeleton-filled closets and fragile self-images, lead to an explosive confrontation certain to destroy the lives of everyone in their midst.

Praise for Deadly When Disturbed:

“Two women. Friends? Hardly. They’re both after the same thing. And as the stakes get higher, the mind games get uglier, until—well, I’m not going to give away the killer ending. D. M. Barr’s latest domestic thriller is a total rush. It’s like being back with Betty and Veronica all over again—only this ain’t high school, and these women (like the title says) are DEADLY WHEN DISTURBED.” ~ Marshall Karp, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of the NYPD RED series

“Who’s the hunter and who’s the hunted in this taut domestic thriller? Don’t even try to guess. Just relax, enjoy, and hang on as DEADLY WHEN DISTURBED takes you on a wild ride.” ~ Brad Parks, international bestselling author of THE BOUNDARIES WE CROSS.

“Tense, well-written, and surprising—Liane Moriarty meets Gillian Flynn by way of John Lutz in D.M. Barr’s latest domestic thriller, DEADLY WHEN DISTURBED. Gaslighting and suburban intrigue abound in this carefully crafted tale, guaranteed to keep you in suspense all the way to the final chapter. Put this one at the top of your to-be-read pile!” ~ Richard Helms, Thriller, Macavity, and Shamus Awards winning author of 22 RUE MONTPARNASSE.

“DEADLY WHEN DISTURBED is a superb dark thriller that offers a brilliantly written bizarro take on the classic All About Eve. Shifts in reality and twists of the plot keep the reader on edge until the stunning and unexpected climax. Fasten your seatbelt and hang on. It’s a great ride.” ~ S. Lee Manning, award-winning author of TROJAN HORSE, NERVE ATTACK, BLOODY SOIL, and DEADLY CHOICE.

“DEADLY WHEN DISTURBED by D.M. Barr is a clever psychological thriller reminiscent of The Hand That Rocks The Cradle, updated for today’s culture and with a superior narrative.… With a steady and increasingly intense pace, [it] is a hypnotic read of insanity and wretchedness that will stay with you long after the last page.” ~ Gaius Konstantine for Readers’ Favorite

Deadly When Disturbed Trailer:

 

Book Details:

Genre: Domestic Suspense, Domestic Thriller

Published by: Level Best Books Publication Date: January 2025 Number of Pages: 310

Book Links: Amazon | Goodreads

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MY REVIEW

Two female characters starring in a thriller. Sounds good to me.  So I dove in.

When Dara’s work load becomes too much for just her to handle, she searches for someone to help. She finds Merry, who quickly becomes indispensable. And then, like a leech, she gets under Dara’s skin, inserting herself into all aspects of her life.

Does this scenario sound familiar to you? It does, doesn’t it? But, the author puts an intriguing twist on this. Dara wants Merry gone. Merry wants to step into Dara’s shoes. So, in order for either of them to get what they want, they’ll have to get to know everything about each other. And, boy, does it get suspenseful when the closet doors are flung open and the skeleton’s that were hiding there are revealed.

Talk about an ending you won’t see coming. A humdinger, indeed. For me. For you. And probably for the two women who lived it in these pages.

4 STARS

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Enjoy this peek inside:
Prologue
She stood at her dining room table and calmly fingered through the cardboard box, double-checking that the paperwork was in chronological order. Even now, no one could accuse Samantha Ellingsworth of being anything but organized and precise. For nearly forty years, it had been both a gift and a curse. First the letters from Harry, professing his incendiary ardor during their abbreviated law school courtship. The GIA certificate for the diamond, his glittering promise of passion extending through eternity. The deed to their Upper West side condo. A copy of her resignation from Davis & Milliken, where she’d been on the fast track to partner. The birth certificates for her daughter, dated a year later, and the surprise twins, ten years after that. Next, the children’s coveted acceptance letters from Harrison—Manhattan’s most elite private pre-school and elementary—followed by every one of the glowing report cards she’d worked with them so diligently to earn. Campaign flyers she’d created for Harry’s run for state senate. Her passport opened to the page containing the stamp from that fateful trip to Aruba. The letters she’d written, refuting everything he’d accused her of as lies—all unopened and marked “Return to Sender.” The prescription for Prozac, unfilled, as if any pharmaceutical could rescue her from this pit of depression. Finally, the divorce papers she’d received a few weeks ago, still unsigned. A lifetime of aspirations, misunderstandings, and betrayals, all encapsulated in a pile of paper less than an inch thick. She affixed the cover to the box and took a long, wistful look at the “perfect” apartment they’d been so ecstatic about buying, beating out several competing bids thanks to the lingering cachet of the Ellingsworth name and its clout in political circles. Confident that the condo was spotless, with everything in its place, Samantha slowly donned her hooded sheepskin coat, grabbed the box, and headed out. The elevator operator nodded as she entered, but Gloria from the floor above murmured a curt hello and diverted her gaze as they descended from the seventh floor. Samantha had grown used to the frostiness over the past few weeks. Did the other tenants fear it was catching, that they too might be abandoned by their spouse and children, their lives reduced to rubble, if they inched too close? Whatever. She trudged southbound through the early morning wintery mix; package still cradled to her chest like a newborn. Frigid raindrops grazed her eyelashes before cascading downward and stinging her cheeks as she passed the signs in Zabars’ windows, reminding patrons to purchase their Thanksgiving turkeys. The holiday was only days away. The irony did not escape her. Shivering as much from the weather as from what lay ahead, she descended the subway staircase at 72nd Street, pushing against the throngs headed toward the sidewalk. She had someplace to go too and nothing—not crowds nor apprehension—was going to delay her. Today was the day, a chance to have her say. Finally, she’d make him understand. Samantha ran her MetroCard through the turnstile and headed toward the stairway leading to the uptown train. She positioned herself as close as possible to the opening of the tunnel and stood by the edge of the platform, resummoning her fleeting courage as the crowds swelled behind her. Commuters too involved with their phones to notice the determined woman beside them whose breathing had quickened and whose face had grown hot. She hugged the box even tighter to her fidgeting body and waited. And waited. A collective sigh arose from the crowd as the loudspeaker announced that the next train was going out of service and wouldn’t be stopping. She saw the light in the distance and heard the clunk-de-clunk and whirl—a deafening gale descending onto the tracks, drowning out the murmur of the passengers. Her ride to the most important meeting of her life. And it was the number 2 train. How appropriate. Just like her, relegated from number one. Timing was everything, the oncoming gleam only yards away. She tightened her grasp on what was left of her world, recalling the face of the bitch who’d laughed as she’d stolen it all away. Then she took one last breath and jumped onto the tracks. *** Excerpt from Deadly When Disturbed by DM Barr. Copyright 2025 by DM Barr. Reproduced with permission from DM Barr. All rights reserved.

 

 

About Author Dawn M. Barclay:

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DM Barr

Dawn M. Barclay is an award-winning author who writes psychological and romantic suspense as D.M. Barr and non-fiction under her own name. Her eight other published books include Expired Listings, Murder Worth the Weight, and Saving Grace: A Psychological Thriller. Along with Deadly When Disturbed, in February LBB will also publish the first of her multi-volume series, Vacations Can Be Murder: A True Crime Lover’s Travel Guide. Dawn recently completed her second stint co-editing a Sisters in Crime NY/Tri-state anthology. New York State of Crime, published by Down & Out Books in the fall of 2024, which includes her third published short story, “Orchestral Removals in the Dark.” She is currently editing an anthology of crime fiction for Down & Out Books inspired by the music of Elton John and Bernie Taupin. Dawn offers developmental and copy editing through SuggestedDevelopment.com, and ghostwrites personal histories and corporate profiles through LegacyQuest.net. A member of ITW, she has served as president of Hudson Valley Scribes, vice president of Sisters in Crime-NY (still a board member), and the newsletter author/board member of the NY chapter of Mystery Writers of America.

Catch Up With DM Barr: www.DMBarr.com Goodreads – @DMBarr BookBub – @DMBarr Instagram – @AuthorDMBarr Threads – @AuthorDMBarr YouTube – @BarrSinister-m7u Bluesky – @AuthorDMBarr YouTube – @BarrSinister-m7u Facebook – @AuthorDMBarr TikTok – @AuthorDMBarr

 

 

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