‘Tis The Season To Feel Inadequate by Dorothy Rosby ~ Q&A and Review

Posted: November 25, 2022 in giveaways, reviews
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Book Details:

Book Title:  ‘Tis the Season to Feel Inadequate; Holidays, Special Occasions and Other Times Our Celebrations Get Out of Hand  by Dorothy Rosby
Category:  Adult Non-Fiction (18+) ,  258 pages
Genre: Humorous Essay
Publisher:  Unhinged Press
Release date:   November 2022
Content Rating:  G – appropriate for general audience as defined above

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MY REVIEW

 I was going to share some of my favorite quotes from the book, but there were just too many. I love it when an author can make me snort and I did a lot of that. Also some laugh out louds and chuckles.

I’m sure you can relate to how the human condition almost forces us to take a festive occasion and blow it all out of proportion. To make it bigger, shinier…..than the last time. I’m sure guilty of it. Author Dorothy Rosby shares some very funny situations from a bunch of different occasions that will have you relating and laughing too. A great read to lift my spirits after a couple of surreal years caused by the pandemic. Thanks so much Dorothy!

4 STARS

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Book Description:

Christmas comes but once a year; chaos never ends! Happy Halloween, merry Christmas and joyful Lumpy Rug Day. We didn’t make that up. Lumpy Rug Day is celebrated every May 3, though “celebrated” might be too strong a word. It’s the American way to create a celebration for everything, then turn it into a chore or worse, a nightmare. ’Tis the Season to Feel Inadequate is a collection of humorous essays about holidays, special occasions and other times our celebrations make us feel not-so-celebratory. It’s understanding for those who think Christmas form letters can be honest—or they can be interesting. And it’s empathy for anyone who’s ever gotten poison ivy during Nude Recreation Week or eaten all their Halloween candy and had to hand out instant oatmeal packets to their trick-or-treaters. ​

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Guest Post
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Empathy for Those Who Get Depressed after Reading Other People’s Christmas Letters 

By Dorothy Rosby

Holidays and other special occasions are hard on my self-esteem. The only thing that makes me feel more inadequate than reading everyone else’s Christmas letter is trying to write my own. Have I really not accomplished a single thing this year—except taking last year’s Christmas tree down by St. Patrick’s Day.

    Then there was the year my oven quit working right before I was set to serve Thanksgiving dinner to a dozen people. And the year I didn’t get my Christmas shopping done and wound up buying five gift cards, a chia pet and a talking trout just before the mall closed on Christmas Eve. And the year I ate all the Halloween candy and had to give instant oatmeal and Ramen noodles to my trick-or-treaters.

    I don’t think I’m the only one either. I mean I don’t think I’m the only one who feels inadequate during holidays and special events. I probably am the only who’s ever handed out instant oatmeal to their trick-or-treaters.

We heap a lot of stress on ourselves in the name of celebrating. I think it’s because we set our expectations too high. We think our Christmas gifts should be purchased, wrapped and placed under a beautifully decorated tree by December 15. We think we should be able to keep our New Year’s resolutions until at least January 5. We think we should be as thin as we were in high school when we attend our 20th class reunion and that we need 12 attendants and 400 guests at our wedding. Why? Let’s give ourselves some grace when the next holiday or special event comes up. Celebrations should be fun. And anyway, oatmeal is good for children.

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Meet the Author:

Dorothy Rosby is a syndicated humor columnist and the author of four books of humorous essays. She’s the 2022 global winner of the Erma Bombeck Writers Competition, sponsored in part by the Erma Bombeck Writers Workshop. She lives in the Black Hills of South Dakota, 20 miles from Mount Rushmore, something she’s very proud of though she’s not on it—yet.

Connect with the Author:  website  ~  twitter  ~  facebook  ~ bookbub ~  goodreads
 

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TIS THE SEASON TO FEEL INADEQUATE Book Tour Giveaway

 

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A Dress The Color Of The Moon by Jennifer Irwin ~ Author Interview And Giveaway

Posted: November 25, 2022 in fiction, giveaways
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Book Details:

​A Dress the Color of the Moon

 by Jennifer Irwin

Category:  Adult Fiction (18+),  360 pages
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Publisher:  Glass Spider Publishing
Release date:  October 30, 2021
Content Rating:  PG-13 +M: Though this book deals with sexual addiction, it does not contained explicit sex scenes and the language is tame. The book’s focus is on the protagonist’s path toward recovery from an addiction.

Book Description:

Prudence Aldrich is a sex addict. Five weeks ago, she checked into the Serenity Hills rehab center to prevent that addiction from ruining every important relationship in her life. Now Prue must face the trail of destruction she left behind, including mending the broken bond with her teenage son, finalizing the divorce from her husband, Nick, and using a newly learned set of skills to ward off her insatiable cravings for male attention-a compulsion that puts her friendship with lifelong pal Lily to the test.

​Adding ever further complications to the hurdles in her path is the arrival into town of Alistair Prescott, her in-rehab romantic obsession, and the one person in the world most capable of throwing Prue off her recovery. Meanwhile, Serenity Hills counselor Mike Sullivan is undergoing a crisis of his own-one that will drive him to the rediscovery of a lifelong passion . . . and causing him to cross paths again with Prue, his former patient.

A Dress the Color of the Moon tracks the rocky and sometimes disastrous path to recovery-a recovery that will require Prudence and her friends to face down the demons of their pasts while learning to accept the fearful uncertainty that comes with living life on your own two feet.

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Interview with Jennifer Irwin
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In your book you make a reference to the fairytale Donkeyskin. How did you come up with this idea?

The fairytale Donkeyskin refers to a father wanting to marry his daughter which is of course, completely unnatural. The DRESS series is about one woman’s journey to heal from her childhood trauma, and I felt the two stories were thematically quite similar. This is also how I came up with the titles for my books as referenced in the fairytale.

Where do you get inspirations for your stories?

Most of my inspiration comes from personal experience which I then expand from there. I’m also fascinated by people’s perception of others and the idea that nothing is ever as it seems.

What advice would you give budding writers?

Try to write every day and don’t get too worried about your writing being perfect. Also, connect with other writers and maybe join a writing group. I also recommend getting involved with NANOWRIMO.

What is your next project?

I’m currently pitching my third novel The Ad Agency to agents at the Kauai Writer’s Conference. This is an unlikely love story between two people who work at an ad agency. The story takes place in NYC in 1987.

What is the last great book you’ve read?

A Little Life

What is your writing schedule?

I write every day after I finish my other job at 3:00pm and stop writing at 6pm which is when I work out.

Where do you write?

I’m very sensitive to my environment so I make sure that I find my writing place to be aesthetically appealing and comfortable for me to really focus. I have a beautiful office in my house which has a sliver of an ocean view and a cabinet with some of my favorite family heirlooms and framed photos of my favorite humans.

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Meet the Author:

Jennifer Irwin’s debut novel, A Dress the Color of the Sky, was published in 2017 and has received rave reviews, won seven book awards, and was optioned for a feature film. Jennifer’s short stories have appeared in numerous literary publications including California’s Emerging Writers: An Anthology of Fiction. Jennifer is represented by Prentis Literary and currently resides in Los Angeles.

connect with the  author: website ~ facebook ~ twitter ~ instagram ~ youtube ~ bookbub ~ goodreads
 
 
 
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DRESS THE COLOR OF THE MOON Book Tour Giveaway

 

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Hunted by V. M. Nelson ~ Sneak Peek And Giveaway

Posted: November 24, 2022 in giveaways, Paranormal or fantasy, YA
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Hunted

by V.M. Nelson

 

(The Dhampyr Series, #1)
Publication date: October 25th 2022
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult

Tasi, an eighteen-year-old, head-strong, blood-drinking, dhampyr, has been hidden away in a small town in Maine since the death of her parents. Though she had trained to fight and kill vampires, she never believed those skills would be useful in her mundane life. That’s where she’s wrong.

In one moment, her life changes forever, and her aunt’s final words ring in her head.

They want your blood.

Now orphaned and charged with protecting her sister, Emily—a sister who doesn’t know what they are or that she’s about to endure a life-threatening change—Tasi has no other choice but to follow directions left for her. She is to find an ally who lives in New York City. This is the only way Tasi will figure out why she and Emily are being hunted before they end up drained of their blood.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

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SNEAK PEEK:

What started out as a routine task to find blood turned into an onslaught of pain. I rubbed my eyes, allowing the darkness that filled my head to fizzle away. My hands, tender from scraping against the gravel, grasped at the cold metal fence. I flinched as my cuts burned against the steel. I’d done this to myself. The thumping under my skin and my lack of balance were all a result of ignoring my need to feed.

Now here I sat, watching my blood as it dripped down my leg and pooled onto the sidewalk. A tingling sensation ran through me as I flicked out the tiny shards that had embedded themselves in my skin. My body helped to push them out in an effort to heal itself. This was not part of tonight’s plan. I stared back up at the fence—my nemesis. Razor-sharp wire wrapped itself around the top of the rusty, twelve-foot-high chain-link barricade.

Take the shortcut, Tasi. It’ll be quicker and safer, Tasi. What a stupid idea.

Under normal circumstances, I could dart up the fence, hop over the barbed wire, and gracefully land on my feet. My overall dexterity might have won me a gold medal in gymnastics, but that was so not happening in my current condition.

An ache thundered through my body as I reached for the fence again. I hoisted myself up for the first time since tumbling off. With one last labored breath, I ran my hands down my pants, dislodging the remaining rocks from my newly healed skin. Nearby, a rustling sound echoed through the alley. My breath caught. The metal garbage cans clanked together as if they were being tossed around. If I were human, I wouldn’t think twice about the commotion. Lucky for me, I knew better. It was probably setting up to kill its next victim. There were a few shady-looking dive bars and run-down nightclubs in this area. The repetitive pounding of music stemming from different directions would drown out all screams. This was a perfect feeding ground.

Over the past few months, these creatures had become my reality. Since I was thirteen, I’d known of their existence, but only recently had I been in the same vicinity as them. And when they were around, you didn’t want to be, so it was time to go.

With a quick pivot in the opposite direction, I ran. I didn’t get farther than a few feet before my shoelace caught in the grate and my chin scraped against the ground. More blood dripped from my body.

Tasi, seriously—what else can go wrong?

Wrapping the shoelace around my fingers, I yanked until it released itself. By the time I tucked it into my shoe, it was too late. It had heard me. The pounding in my ears was no longer from the nightclubs but the pavement, and it was getting louder. I’d piqued its interest. Rather, my blood had piqued its interest.

Author V. M. Nelson

V. M. Nelson is the author of The Dhampyr Series. She writes upper young adult paranormal, urban fantasy with a touch of romance thrown in. When she isn’t writing, you can find her playing video games.

Virginia resides in Minnesota with her partner and three children. She has always had an obsession for myths, legends, and fairytales. If asked, she would prefer to live in an alternate universe with vampires and fairies.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / TikTok / Amazon / Pinterest

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A Home For Christmas by Katie Eagan Schenck ~ Guest Post And Giveaway

Posted: November 24, 2022 in Contemporary Romance, giveaways, Guest Post
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A Home For Christmas

by Katie Eagan Schenck

Genre: Contemporary Holiday Romance

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Brad has just one wish this Christmas: to find a real home. Having lost his parents before joining the Marines, he misses that sense of belonging and family. When he meets an introverted flight attendant on his journey to start his civilian life, he wonders if this might be his chance.

After a messy divorce, Shelly has decided the only person allowed within the brittle walls of her broken heart is her daughter, Lilly. At least, until she meets a friendly man who hails from her hometown while working a routine flight. When she learns he needs a place to stay, she offers the apartment over her garage out of the kindness of her heart – and her desperate need for extra cash.

Even as Brad endears himself to Shelly by saving the town’s Christmas pageant, she attempts to keep her distance to protect the fragile stability she’s built since her divorce. But Brad’s willingness to walk the fine line between what Shelly’s heart wants and what her head allows slowly wears down her resolve. And when Brad receives a job offer near the only family he has left, Shelly must decide whether she’s willing to risk her heart again before he leaves her home, and her life, for good.

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**On Sale for Only .99 cents!!**

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Amazon * Apple * B&N * Kobo * Champagne Books * Bookbub * Goodreads

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Do you have any side stories about the characters?

 

When I wrote the first draft of A Home for Christmas, I actually wrote several chapters from Lilly’s point of view. I loved delving deeper into her character, and it helped me to understand her so much more than if I hadn’t gotten in her head.

 

However, a developmental editor I’d hired didn’t think it worked for the book, as she’d never read a romance that wasn’t from a single or dual point of view. So, I went back and rewrote Lilly’s chapters to make them from Brad and/or Shelly’s viewpoint. But I still have Lilly’s chapters in earlier draft form, and I’ve considered turning them into a short story. She had her own romantic interest, after all, and it’d be fun to delve into that a bit more.

 

I’ve also considered expanding the world of the book to write about the other characters. Whether that would be in the form of more novels or short stories, I haven’t decided yet. But I could see a story for Beatrice and Wallace, giving them their own second chance in a “seasoned” romance. I’d also love to write about Susan and Annabelle, and their journey to being parents. And then there’s Kylie. She could use a love story all her own.

 

Unfortunately, between the fantasy series and the other two books, I don’t know when I’ll have the time to do these stories justice. But I’ll keep them in mind for the future!

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Debut author, Katie Eagan Schenck, writes sweet romance that warms the heart and gives all the feels. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s either working on regulations for the federal government or binging Hallmark movies. She lives in Maryland with her husband, daughter, and their three cats.

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Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

 

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Film Crews And Rendezvous ~ A Jules Keene Glamping Mystery by Heather Weidner

Posted: November 23, 2022 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways
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Film Crews And Rendezvous

A Jules Keene Glamping Mystery

by Heather Weidner

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Film Crews and Rendezvous: A Jules Keene Glamping Mystery
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Virginia
Level Best Books (October 25, 2022)

Number of Pages 240
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BHLSYBZ9

Hollywood has come to Fern Valley, and the one stoplight town may never be the same. Everyone wants to get in on the act.

 

The crew from the wildly popular, fan favorite, Fatal Impressions, takes over Jules Keene’s glamping resort, and they bring a lot of offscreen drama and baggage that doesn’t include the scads of costumes, props, and crowds that descend on the bucolic resort in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Added security, hundreds of calls from hopeful extras, and some demanding divas keep Jules’s team hopping.

 

When the show’s prickly head writer ends up dead under the L. Frank Baum tiny house in what looks like a staged murder scene with a kitschy homage to the Wizard of Oz, Jules has to figure out who would want the writer dead. Then while they are still reeling from the first murder, the popular publicist gets lost after a long night at the local honky-tonk and winds up strangled. Jules needs to solve both crimes before filming is canceled, and her business is ruined.

 

About Heather Weidner

Through the years, Heather Weidner has been a cop’s kid, technical writer, editor, college professor, software tester, and IT manager. Vintage Trailers and Blackmailers is the first in her cozy mystery series, the Jules Keene Glamping Mysteries. She also writes the Delanie Fitzgerald mystery series set in Virginia. Her Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mysteries debut in 2023.

Her short stories appear in the Virginia is for Mysteries series, 50 Shades of Cabernet, Deadly Southern Charm, and Murder by the Glass, and her novellas appear in The Mutt Mysteries series.

Originally from Virginia Beach, Heather has been a mystery fan since Scooby-Doo and Nancy Drew. She lives in Central Virginia with her husband and a pair of Jack Russell terriers.

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

Amazon / Pinterest / LinkedIn / BookBub

Purchase Link – Amazon

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

November 16 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

November 17 – Lady Hawkeye – CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 17 – I’m Into Books – SPOTLIGHT

November 18 – Mythical Books – AUTHOR GUEST POST

November 18 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT

November 19 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 19 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

November 20 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

November 20 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews– SPOTLIGHT

November 21 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT

November 22 – Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder – REVIEW, RECIPE

November 22 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 23 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST

November 23 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

November 24 – THANKSGIVING

November 25 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

November 26 – The Book Decoder – REVIEW

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November 27 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST

November 28 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

November 29 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 30 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT

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Ghost Agents: Retribution ~ The Ghost Agents Trilogy by Nita DeBorde

Posted: November 23, 2022 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways
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Ghost Agents: Retribution

The Ghost Agents Trilogy

by Nita DeBorde

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Ghost Agents: Retribution (The Ghost Agents Trilogy)
Paranormal Cozy Mystery
3rd in Trilogy
Setting – Paris (primarily)
‎Mabelonia Press (October 22, 2022)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 235 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1958045063
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1958045060
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BDTT9S6D

The Bureau for Historical Preservation is under attack.

 

The sinister, secret organization known as The Syndicate has finally stepped out of the shadows and made their presence known with a dramatic demonstration. In the aftermath of these shocking events, Claire Abelard and her fellow agents travel to the Bureau’s international headquarters in Paris, France in hopes of launching a coordinated response to the attack.

 

But something isn’t right with Claire. The acumens she has relied on her whole life have gone haywire, endangering not only the mission but also everything she holds dear. As the scope of the Syndicate’s plan unfolds, Claire must use every resource at her disposal to try to stop them… but will it be enough?

 

Find out in this thrilling, final chapter of the award-winning Ghost Agents Trilogy.

About Nita Deborde

Nita DeBorde is a published author and teacher from Houston, TX. Writing and teaching are her two major passions, though traveling and being dog-mom to a crazy Staffordshire-Boxer mix named Mabel are high on the list as well.

Nita has taught high school French for more than 20 years and absolutely loves her “day job” job (about 95% of the time). She loves to travel, and not surprisingly, France is her favorite destination, though her home state of Texas runs a close second.

She is also a huge history buff, which comes through in her fiction writing, and particularly in her Ghost Agents Trilogy, a collection of genre-defying, cozy paranormal mysteries with a little sci-fi and romance thrown into the mix. Ghost Agents: Retribution, the 3rd book in the Ghost Agents Trilogy, was released on October 22, 2022.

Author Links: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

Purchase Link – Amazon

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

November 16 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW

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

November 17 – The Book’s the Thing – REVIEW

November 18 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book– SPOTLIGHT

November 19 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 19 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 20 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT

November 21 – Maureen Musings – SPOTLIGHT

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The Darker The Skies by Bryan Prosek ~ Interview And Giveaway

Posted: November 22, 2022 in giveaways, Science Fiction, YA
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Book Details:

​Book Title:  The Darker the Skies by Bryan Prosek
Category:  YA Fiction (Ages 13-17),  292 pages
Genre: YA Science Fiction
Publisher:  CamCat Books
Release date:  November 2022
Content Rating: PG. It’s very clean.

Book Description:

It only takes one to make a difference.

Just days before Jake Saunders plans on proposing to the love of his life, Jake is called upon once again to save his home, Earth. The Earthen Legion troops and its allies think they’re battling only pirates, but a new, more powerful foe from another galaxy flanks their forces and invades, in search of a weapon the planet didn’t even know it had.

​When Jake learns that this new enemy was responsible for the death of his father many years ago, he realizes he can finally face his true nemesis. The odds are stacked against Jake, but with the help of his friends and allies he’s made along the way, he must rally the remaining Legion troops and retake Earth before it’s too late. The fate of Earth and the fate of his love, rest in the balance.

Buy the Book:
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add to goodreads
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Author Interview
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  • If you were stuck on a deserted island, which 3 books would you want with you?

Besides the obvious choice of an instruction manual on how to build a boat (lol), I would want the Bible, And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (one of my all-time favorite books), and a brand new, very long, science fiction book (maybe something by Andy Weir).

  • If you could put yourself as a character in your book, who would you be?

Jake Saunders, without a doubt. I would love to sword fight like he does!

  • How long have you been writing?

I’ve been writing for a little over ten years.

  • Do you ever get writer’s block? What helps you overcome it?

Yes, I do. I generally take a break, and then think about the story at some later time without trying so hard, like when I’m driving or hiking in the woods. After forgetting about it for a while and then being relaxed when I do come back to the book, something then comes to me most of the time.

  • Do you have any hobbies?

I like the outdoors . . . hunting, fishing, hiking. But I have trouble finding time for these between practicing law and writing.

  • If there is one thing you want readers to remember about you, what would it be?

That no matter how much time I spent writing or practicing law or doing anything else, I always put my family first.

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Merry Murder ~ A Fiona Quinn Mystery by C. S. McDonald ~ Freebie and Giveaway

Posted: November 21, 2022 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways
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Book Details:

Book Title:  Merry Murder:  A Fiona Quinn Mystery #2
Author:  C.S. McDonald
​Category:  YA Fiction, 219 pages
Run Time: 4 hours, 51 minutes
Genre:  Cozy Mystery
Publisher:  McWriter Books
Release date:  Sep 16, 2016
Content Rating:  G (The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are for everyone–adults love the books and they are appropriate for teens and tweens too!)

Enjoy an early Christmas gift!
MERRY MURDER
will be FREE on Amazon November 21-23
It will be offered at a reduced price of .99 cents
until January 1st
 
Book Description:

The cookies are baked. The tree is trimmed. The shopping? Well, it’s almost done, and Fiona’s parents have finally returned home for a holiday visit – along with some unexpected unruly friends. Yep, Fiona’s perfectly planned Christmas is coming together, but how could’ve she planned for her favorite uncle’s murder? Who could possibly kill a sweet old man who’s played Santa at the local mall every year without fail? Fiona’s boyfriend, Detective Nathan Landry, is determined to find out – before Christmas day arrives. There’s only one problem: Nancy Quinn. Fiona’s mom is just as determined as the detective to catch the murderer, and she isn’t shy about getting the job done – even if it includes breaking a few pesky laws! Will Fiona and her mother find the killer first or will the killer find them?
 
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Book Details:

Book Title:  The Christmas Cameo:  A Fiona Quinn Quick Mystery
Author:  C.S. McDonald
​Category:  YA Fiction, 32 pages
Length: 1 hr, 16 minutes
Genre:  Cozy Mystery
Publisher:  McWriter Books
Release date:  November 13, 2019
Content Rating:  G (The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are for everyone–adults love the books and they are appropriate for teens and tweens too!)

Book Description:

​A lovely cameo brooch is discovered in Fiona’s late Uncle Wilbur’s house two days before Christmas. The pin bears a romantic Christmas message from Wilbur for his new wife with the initials, D.A.S.
How very strange! To the family’s knowledge, Uncle Wilbur had never been married. So, who is this mysterious woman? Now, Fiona is on a holiday mission to locate D.A.S. and deliver the belated gift.
Question is, what happened to the marriage? Is D.A.S. still alive after all these years? And if so, can Fiona find her before Christmas?

Buy the Book:
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Meet the Author:

For twenty-six years C.S. McDonald’s life whirled around a song and a dance. Classically trained at Pittsburgh Ballet Theater School, The Pittsburgh Dance Alloy, and many others, she became a professional dancer and choreographer. During that time, she choreographed many musicals and an opera for the Pittsburgh Savoyards. In 2011 she retired from her dance career to write. Under her real name, Cindy McDonald, she writes murder-suspense and romantic suspense novels. In 2014 she added the pen name, C.S. McDonald, to write children’s books for her grandchildren. In 2016 she added the Fiona Quinn Mysteries to that expansion. She decided to write the cozy mystery series that everyone, including teens and tweens, can read and enjoy. Presently, the Fiona Quinn Mysteries includes nine books with a tenth slated for 2021. The books are also available on audio, narrated by Maren Swenson Waxenberg.

Cindy’s newest venture is The Owl’s Nest Mysteries. Once again, she has set her cozy mystery in Pittsburgh and the female protagonist, Alexa Owl, is much different from Fiona Quinn. The Owl’s Nest Mysteries has a little grit, a little time travel, a little romance, and a whole lot of cozy!

Ms. McDonald resides on her Thoroughbred farm known as Fly by Night Stables near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with her husband, Bill, and her poorly behaved Cocker Spaniel, Allister.

Connect with the author:  Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook ~ Instagram

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Longing Is Violet Dusk ~ A Hazel Dean Mystery by Josalyn McAllister

Posted: November 20, 2022 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways
Tags: ,
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Longing Is Violet Dusk

A Hazel Dean Mystery

by Josalyn McAllister

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Longing is Violet Dusk: A Hazel Dean Mystery
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Georgia
Eburnean Books (September 27, 2022)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 302 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8987053201
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BDD6J18R

After a stressful foray into crime fighting, Hazel Dean is relieved to resume normality, taking care of her family and book shop–until her ability to see emotions in color pulls her into another crisis.

 

One night at book club, Hazel sees a swirl of jarring purple, blue and black encompass a young mother. Realizing that the woman might be in trouble, Hazel recommends a book that she hopes will provide some comfort and guidance.

 

To her horror, the young mother goes missing the following week. Hazel feels responsible and becomes obsessed with finding her. But the search isn’t the only thing Hazel is juggling. She’s also trying to help the missing woman’s children, evade a young reporter, and deal with the sudden reappearance of an old high school flame.

 

With all of Hazel’s efforts, can the missing woman be found before it’s too late?

About Josalyn McAllister

Josalyn McAllister is a cozy fiction author whose most recent works include Love Over Easy and Guilt is Midnight Blue. Josalyn started writing character descriptions at the tender age of seven, inspired by the works of LM Montgomery. In her teenage years, she moved on to Newsies fan fiction. Inspired by National Novel Writing Month, she wrote her first novel about a child she mentored in college. She has never stopped writing. Josalyn taught middle school history before deciding she would rather spend time with her own children than other peoples. A restless soul, she has moved all over the country and collected an eclectic array of hobbies. Her writing has a relatable quality that will charm and entertain you.

Author Links:

Website    Facebook     GoodReads    Instagram

Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N

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Christmas Spirits by Dakota Star ~ Sneak Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: November 19, 2022 in giveaways, Holidays, Romance, thriller
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Christmas Spirits

by Dakota Star

 

Publication date: November 15th 2022
Genres: Adult, Holiday, Romance, Thriller

Ash has always felt at home in the small town of Humble, Connecticut, especially for the holidays. After her husband’s death, she never thought she’d love again, but then Cole Whelan arrived. His good looks and haunted hazel eyes were impossible to ignore, and their passion put an end to her simple, ordered life. This year, she can’t wait to celebrate with hot chocolate, a tree to decorate, and presents, lots of presents.

But when Ash stumbles into a cave and a corpse during a run, Christmas turns into crisis. There’s a killer on the hunt, and she’s his next target. With the snow falling, Ash hosting for the holidays, and another mysterious murder, will all hope of holiday cheer be trashed like old wrapping paper?

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SNEAK PEEK:

She jogged, warming up along the start of the trail, and then increased the tempo. Maple, beech, and birch lined the singletrack, the rough texture and bark color the only indication of the different species of deciduous trees.

Ash sped up, tightening her ponytail in the elastic; a few long, wayward curls drooped down her back. She felt the heat build under her thermal top and vest as her arms and legs pumped. Rambo kept pace.

I need this run. Breathe in through the nose, out through the mouth. In and out. Repeat.

The exercise opened her lungs and stretched lean, athletic limbs until the energy flowing became liquid fire. Invigorated, she picked up the pace again.

Ash saw the cave, her two-mile marker and turnabout point. Surveying the rocky landscape, she gulped air before the return trip. She wiped the sweat from her brow and then ran her damp hands along her black spandex leggings.

Turning back, Rambo refused to follow. He barked and pulled on the leash. His small body was stiff, the fur on his back straight up. He pulled her toward the cave.

“Come on Rambo, let’s go home.” Ash shivered and pulled on the leash.

The dog refused to yield.
“Fine.” She stumbled, realizing her shoe hated her and even with a double knot had come untied again. She bent to retie the laces, double knotting the strings, pulling them tight with vengeance. Standing, Ash hiked the rocky precipice, the dog pulling ahead. The final steps to the cave coalesced along a dirt and twig laden path. The cliff adjacent to her was a high point on the trail, but she had no plans to scale it.

Large rock outcrops created a dark cave entrance shaped like a mouth mid scream. Rambo barked and lunged.

Ash had heard stories of people living in or visiting these caves, from historic figures to modern day squatters. She found it easy to envision a camper coming to one before dark, starting a small fire with kindling, preparing a meal, and enjoying the quiet of nature. At least it was possible to imagine during the warmer months. No one would want to be out here in winter, even if the daytime temperature had topped forty degrees.

Rambo pulled her inside the cave. Instantly claustrophobic, the interior narrowed to a pinpoint at the end. Ash ducked as she made her way under the formation’s schist and gneiss slabs. Cold engulfed her. Rich, dark rock mosaics greeted her from the recesses. Crouching slightly, she scurried forward. “What the heck?” A horrid stench stung her nose A lump rose from the ground and in her throat. Something had died here. Ash pulled out her phone, turned on the flashlight, aimed toward the misshapen entity, and gasped. In the far corner—a body.

About Author Dakota Star:

Dakota Star lives in Connecticut with her husband and two daughters. Both her daughters have finished college and moved away so her dogs, cats, and retired horse now keep her busy. When not outside hiking or horseback riding, she loves to read and travel.

She has worked as an editor, a freelance writer for local newspapers, and an educator at local environmental non-profits like aquariums and The National Audubon Society.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

 

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