Posts Tagged ‘giveaway’

It’s a killer….. Mile High Lab Rat by Ann Payton

Posted: April 4, 2022 in giveaways, Mystery
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Mile High Lab Rat

by Ann Payton

Genre: Mystery

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A page-turning mystery that will strike a chord with anyone who’s coped with a toxic workplace, Mile High Lab Rat is also fun, thought-provoking, and authentic!

Coordinating a college science lab seems a terrific job for this fledgling graduate.

The instructors are fun and appreciative. Maci loves helping with field trips and magic shows, and the intrigues of science are endlessly fascinating.

Except, why all the secrets? The dean orders Maci to say nothing about finding a bleeding man in the parking lot.

Reporting missing lab equipment is also taboo!

When Maci investigates fraudulent expenditures the lab reagents she prepares fail. Toxic fumes from a broken bottle force an evacuation.

To make matters worse, someone uploads a devastating virus into a state-wide system—from Maci’s computer!

While she’s pushing to discover who’s behind the trouble, the instructors conclude that it’s Maci!

Her one loyal ally acts a lot like a stalker. She’s on her own dodging booby traps, bloody threats, and termination.

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

Giveaway * Amazon

 

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What Makes a Book Magical?

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Clan of the Cave Bear had me keeping an eye out for saber-toothed tigers as I drove my kids to school. Len Deighton’s Berlin Game brainwashed me into pointing out passersby who were obviously spies. (The trench coat? Duh.) Getting that immersed in a book is the magic I treasure.

I also love traveling by book—getting to know places on an uber intimate level so rarely achieved with an actual visit. James Lee Burke’s Robicheaux series gave me the goods on New Orleans. Carl Hiaasen rules Floridian swamps. John Grisham and Margaret Maron rock the south, Peter Hessler’s River Town shanghiaed my heart to China.

Naturally I consider a strong sense of place essential in my own novels. I wrote my adventure novel Rocky Mountain Walkabout with the idea of showcasing Colorado and giving readers a tour of my favorite hangouts. Then things got out of hand, and my husband and I had to make a run for the border, so I could capture Juarez’s true colors.  My new novel, Mile High Lab Rat explores iconic Colorado scenery as well. My characters take a field trip to Hanging Lake in the Glenwood Canyon because I hiked that trail as a kid. Before I wrote the scene, I repeated the trip and gave every detail the attention it deserved. Breckenridge appears in the book, too, because it always charms me when I pass that way. I tried to buy my mom lunch at the Motherloaded Tavern, but it was closed that day. Funny how some part of me lays claim to places and historical events I’ve explored in my writings.

Genuine characters are also critical to the magic, and I relished bringing my Mile High College instructors and administrators to life with traits I observed in my 20 years working in a college science lab. Have you ever noticed that, even in conversation, some teachers tend to repeat key points, repeatedly? Teachers also tend to be rule breakers. Maybe being a rule maker corrupts a person’s respect for regulations? Or maybe a few rule breakers have colored my judgement…

Maci, my main character is into science and nature and is inclined to wonder what causes odd phenomena: What combination of wind currents formed that strangely shaped cloud? Why are some pinecones drenched in sap while similar cones on the same tree are bare?  Are birds nesting earlier as the climate warms, or are their instincts locked into a cue such as hours of daylight per day?

I’d never really thought about my tendency to analyze such things, but now that I’ve considered it, yes, I’m all for filling life with wonder!

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Sometime in the 90s I decided I needed a dream to pursue between working and raising three children. As the science lab coordinator for a Colorado community college, I enjoyed helping revise lab manuals, so why not become a travel writer? I managed to learn enough to sell freelance articles to a few major publications. Then I wrote a travel adventure novel, which led me into giving lectures on cruise ships and writing another novel. Can’t wait to see where that dream’s going to take me next.

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The Corpse’s Secret Life ~ A PIP Inc Mystery by Nancy Lynn Jarvis

Posted: April 4, 2022 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways
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The Corpse’s Secret Life

A PIP Inc Mystery

by Nancy Lynn Jarvis

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The Corpse’s Secret Life (A PIP Inc. Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – Santa Cruz, CA.
Good Read Mysteries (March 16, 2022)
Number of Pages 245
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09SX9RHN4
GoodReads Link Coming Soon
Pat’s fledgling private investigation company, PIP Inc., has a promising new case.

Pat is still wearing a wrist cast after breaking her arm in a confrontation with a killer, so when she’s hired by the City of Watsonville to unearth the identity of an older woman who died in her bed, she’s delighted that her next job promises to be a simple computer-based research project.

Why is it that things are never as simple as she thinks they will be? Pat soon discovers nothing is as it seems, beginning with a corpse who had secret identities, murder, and a post-death ritual thought to have last been performed decades ago.

 

About Nancy Lynn Jarvis

Nancy Lynn Jarvis left the real estate profession after she started having so much fun writing the Regan McHenry Real Estate Mysteries series that she let her license lapse. She’s enjoyed writing about Regan and her husband, Tom, but decided it was time to do a new series.

PIP Inc. introduces protagonist downsized law librarian and not-quite-licensed Private Investigator Pat Pirard. “The Funeral Murder” is the second book in the series.

After earning a BA in behavioral science from San Jose State University, Nancy worked in the advertising department of the San Jose Mercury News. A move to Santa Cruz meant a new job as a librarian and later a stint as the business manager for Shakespeare/Santa Cruz at UCSC.

Currently, she’s enjoying being a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and Santa Cruz Women of Mystery.

Author Links: Website / Facebook / Goodreads

Purchase Link – Amazon

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The body count will rise……. Paradise Cove by Davin Goodwin

Posted: April 3, 2022 in giveaways, Mystery
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Paradise Cove by Davin Goodwin Banner

Paradise Cove
by Davin Goodwin
April 1-30, 2022 Virtual Book Tour
Synopsis:
Paradise Cove by Dave Goodwin

Every day is paradise on Bonaire—until something unexpected washes ashore

On the laid-back island of Bonaire, every day is paradise until a seaweed-entangled human leg washes ashore. Combing the beach, retired cop Roscoe Conklin examines the scene and quickly determines that the leg belongs to the nephew of a close friend.

The island police launch an investigation, but with little evidence and no suspects, their progress comes to a frustrating halt. Then, thanks to a unique barter with the lead detective, Conklin finds himself in possession of the case file. He can now aggressively probe for his own answers.

Sifting through the scant clues, eager to bring the killer to justice, Conklin struggles to maintain forward momentum. He has all the pieces. He can feel it. But he’d better get them snapped together soon.

Otherwise, the body count will continue to rise.

 

Praise for Paradise Cove:

“An intriguingly gruesome beginning, sexy location, and a supremely satisfying ending. Paradise Cove is a terrific read.” —Marc Cameron, New York Times best-selling author

“Paradise Cove is a wonderful thriller with a great story . . . what makes it special are the perfect descriptions of Bonaire and life on the island.” —Nicholas Harvey, author of the AJ Bailey Adventure Series

“Grab a beer and revisit Bonaire with Roscoe Conklin as your guide in Paradise Cove. A rich cast of characters and an intriguing plot guarantee an exciting trip you’ll long remember.” –Shawn Wilson, author of Relentless

 

Book Details:

Genre: Mystery

Published by: Oceanview Publishing Publication Date: April 5th 2022 Number of Pages: 304 ISBN: 1608094855 (ISBN13: 9781608094851) Series: Roscoe Conklin Mystery #2 | The novels in the Roscoe Conklin Mystery Series stand on their own and can be read in any order.

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Enjoy this peek inside:
Finished with my morning swim, having pushed myself hard the last quarter mile, I sat on the end of the pier with my legs dangling over the edge. No clouds in the typical Caribbean-blue Bonaire sky and a faint hint of salt floated in the air. The wind shoved waves, larger than normal, against the shore. An iguana lay a few feet away, basking in the sun, overweight from gorging itself on the remnants of the near-by garbage can. It sat motionless, one eye tilted in my direction, the other skewed over the edge of the pier at the water. It was a resident of the area and joined me regularly on the pier after my swims. I had taken to calling it Charlie. As I towel-dried my arms and hair, I noticed two teenaged boys using a stick to poke at an object near the water’s edge, a stone’s throw south of the pier. The object had washed ashore and was covered with random strands of dark seaweed. I watched the boys take a few steps forward, jab the stick at the object, then retreat, as if expecting something to happen. Nothing did, so they repeated the process several times with the same result. Some younger children ventured forth, staying well behind the brave teenagers. Wide-eyed, high-pitched streams of Papiamento—the native language of Bonaire—filled the air as they half-talked, half-screamed. They gawked at the object, the raced back up the beach to their mothers, sitting on beach blankets. One mother stood, nodding her head, and, appeasing the child, walked toward the water. She stopped a few feet shy of the shore. Her eyes widened and she shuffled backward to the other women, grabbed her cell phone, and, with a shaky hand, put it to her ear. She pointed at the object and spoke, her Papiamento not as high-pitched as the child’s, but every bit as excited. Unfortunately, I didn’t understand a word they said, my Papiamento being only slightly better than my Klingon. The base of my neck tingled. I no longer carried a badge, but nearly three decades as a law enforcement officer, specifically with the Violent Crimes Division of the Rockford, Illinois, police department, had trained my curiosity to remain on high alert. Of the hundreds of traits, quirks, and ticks conditioned into my psyche during those years, the sense of inquisitiveness, along with a constant need to know and understand, were the most deeply engrained. I shook my head, stood, and walked down the pier to the beach. This was something I probably needed to see. My sudden movement startled Charlie and he darted to the other side of the pier, both eyes now pointed in my direction. I gave him a shallow wave. “Sorry, Charlie.” The water surface on the west side—or leeward side—of the island remained consistently flat, almost glasslike, aided by a solid wind from the east. The wind also swept most of the seaweed, litter, and other debris out to sea. Few items floated ashore on the leeward coast of Bonaire. Except during wind reversals. Over the last few days, the easterly wind had changed direction and blew in from the west, bringing with it all kinds of surface floaties. I plodded through the sand, closing the distance to the water’s edge. Most likely, an unfortunate tuna or tarpon had met its demise. But based on the actions and behaviors of the children, and the concern of the mother, I quickly changed my mind. A fish washing ashore was too common an occurrence and wouldn’t generate the reactions I’d just witnessed. Then I remembered the epidemic affecting the green moray eels. For some reason, a strange parasite was attacking the green morays, causing the deaths of many. The occurrence was so rare that a group of marine biologists had recently arrived on the island, and with the help of local researchers, were studying the phenomenon. The situation was declared serious, possibly affecting the entire green moray population of the local reefs. When a dead eel washed ashore, the researchers wanted to be informed so they could harvest the carcass for study. The teenagers moved back a few steps as I worked past them and stood over the object. It wasn’t a tarpon or tuna. Or a diseased moral eel. I turned back toward the beach and scanned the area, noticing the increased crowd size. I admit, the word crowd is relative on a small island like Bonaire, but, even so, a small horde of lookie-loos had gathered. Some vied for a better view, meandering closer to the water’s edge. But not too close. I sighed and shook my head. Few things draw a crowd to the beach faster than a human body part washing ashore. *** Excerpt from Paradise Cove by Davin Goodwin. Copyright 2022 by Davin Goodwin. Reproduced with permission from Davin Goodwin. All rights reserved.

 

 

Author Davin Goodwin:
Davin Goodwin

Davin Goodwin is a graduate of Arkansas State University and works in the technology industry. He’s been a small business owner, a real estate investor, an aerial photographer and flight instructor, a semi-professional banjo player, and a scuba diver, often seen on the island of Bonaire. Paradise Cove is the second novel in his Roscoe Conklin Mystery Series and he intends to continue writing the Roscoe Conklin series set on Bonaire. Goodwin lives in Madison, Wisconsin, with his wife, Leslie.

Catch Up With Davin Goodwin: DavinGoodwinAuthor.com Goodreads BookBub – @dgoodwin7757 Instagram – @davin_goodwin_author Facebook – @authordavingoodwin

 

 

Join In:
This is a giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for Davin Goodwin. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.
 

 

 

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The Art Of Decoy ~ A Scandal Mountain Antiques Mystery by Trish Esden

Posted: April 2, 2022 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways
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The Art Of Decoy

A Scandal Mountain Antiques Mystery

by Trish Esden

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The Art of the Decoy (A Scandal Mountain Antiques Mystery)
Traditional Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Vermont
Crooked Lane Books (April 5, 2022)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1643859641
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1643859644
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B098PXZNDF

Perfect for fans of Jane K. Cleland and Connie Berry, Tricia Esden’s series debut is sure to please.

 

After her mother is sent to prison for art forgery, Edie Brown returns to Northern Vermont to rebuild her family’s fine art and antiques business. She’s certain she can do it now that her mother is gone. After all, butting heads with her mom over bad business practices was what drove Edie away three years ago, including a screwup that landed Edie on probation for selling stolen property.

 

When Edie scores a job appraising a waterfowl decoy collection at a hoarder’s farmhouse, she’s determined to take advantage of the situation to rebuild the business’s tarnished reputation and dwindling coffers. In lieu of payment, Edie intends to cherry-pick an exceptional decoy carved by the client’s renowned Quebecoise folk artist ancestors. Only the tables turn when the collection vanishes.

 

Accused of the theft, Edie’s terrified that the fallout will destroy the business and land her in prison next to her mom. Desperate, she digs into the underbelly of the local antiques and art world. When Edie uncovers a possible link between the decoy theft and a deadly robbery at a Quebec museum, she longs to ask her ex-probation officer, and ex-lover, for help. But she suspects his recent interest in rekindling their romance may hide a darker motive.

 

With the help of her eccentric uncle Tuck and Kala, their enigmatic new employee, Edie must risk all she holds dear to expose the thieves and recover the decoys before the FBI’s Art Crime Team or the ruthless thieves themselves catch up with her.

About Trish Esden

Trish Esden loves museums, gardens, wilderness, dogs, and birds, in various orders depending on the day. She lives in northern Vermont where she deals antiques with her husband, a profession she’s been involved with since her teens. Don’t ask what her favorite type of antique is. She loves hunting down old bottles and rusty barn junk as much as she enjoys fine art and furnishings.

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

Purchase Links – Amazon – IndieBound – Barnes & Noble – Books-a-Million – Kobo

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Mayhem becomes motive….. Southern Harm by Travis Casey

Posted: April 1, 2022 in giveaways
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Southern Harm

Tyler’s Trouble Trilogy Book 4

by Travis Casey

Genre: Romantic Comedy, Suspense

Twenty-seven years after Tyler left his troubles behind in his trilogy, he has a son, Oscar, who is proving to be a chip off the old block. As Kentucky’s most eligible bachelor, he has everything–including a gambling problem. After getting on the wrong side of a notorious loan shark, Louie Gomez, Oscar Novak-Chambers must use his family’s good standing with the governor’s office to obtain a monumental favor to clear his debt. He targets the governor’s daughter, Stacey Davenport. Sweet she is not. Ruthless she is–and she’s looking to bring down Kentucky’s criminal hierarchy–and Louie Gomez with it. But Stacey is no angel. When her skeletons begin to rattle, mayhem becomes motive.

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**Only .99cents!!**

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What book do you think everyone should read?

1984 by George Orwell.

 

How long have you been writing?

12 years

 

What kind of research do you do before you begin writing a book?

When we moved from the UK to America, part of the plan was to pick up my parents in Florida and drive them home to Minnesota. On the way, I insisted we stop in Frankfort, Kentucky as a lot of the book takes place at the governor’s mansion in Frankfort. I had looked at a lot of pictures on the internet, but boy did I get a lot of it wrong!

 

I managed to get onto the grounds and wandered around for a minute or two with my tape recorder making notes before a Kentucky Secret Serviceman came out of the mansion and asked what I was doing. I told him I was writing a book. He wished me luck and told me to get the hell off the property.

 

What do you think about the current publishing market?

I think Fifty Shades of Gray did for publishing what American Idol did for the singing industry. A lot of hidden talent has emerged, but there is also a huge number of people who should have never been put on the stage or into print.

 

Do you prefer to write in silence or with noise? Why?

I have to have absolute silence. Somebody once asked me how many words a minute I can type. I replied, “It depends on how fast I’m thinking.” When I’m in the zone the slightest distraction can make three paragraphs in my head vanish before I can get them down. I am a focused person which means I suck at multi-tasking.

 

Do you write one book at a time or do you have several going at a time?

I do one at a time however, I have a rather long editing process. So when I hand over my current work in progress to an editor or beta readers, I work on another book. But as soon as my WIP comes back from whomever I’m right back into editing it.

 

Tell us about a favorite character from a book.

In my third book, FORBIDDEN TROUBLE, I needed a friend for Tyler so he could talk about his feelings. I came up with a bumpkin from Kentucky named Billy Earl McClure. I would write Billy Earl and whenever I read it back I’d laugh out loud. I think he was my funniest character to date.

 

Do you have any advice to offer for new authors?

Be patient. Don’t rush to get the first book out and into the public’s hands. I know that is the exciting bit but don’t rush the editing. Editing is the most important part—it is also the most expensive, the most time-consuming, and the most rewarding.

 

Describe your writing style.

Very simplistic and humor is always included no matter what I write. I’m not a great writer in terms of lavish detail and deeply emotional characters, but I’m a good storyteller. I create difficult situations for my characters to see how they get out of it. Part of the fun of writing is writing myself into a corner without any idea of how to resolve it and let the character figure it out. They surprise me time and time again. And I don’t often send the reader to the dictionary—the odd character might now and then, but not me.

 

What makes a good story?

Unpredictability. I love it when readers tell me “Wow, I didn’t see that coming.”

 

What is your writing process? For instance do you do an outline first? Do you do the chapters first?

After I come up with a basic idea, I let it formulate in my mind for weeks without writing anything down. I visualize the characters, their personalities, and the obstacles they must overcome. I let it resonate. By the time they hit the page, I know them. They may surprise me and evolve into someone different to make a better story but that’s where the editing aligns my original thoughts with their paper persona.

 

What are common traps for aspiring writers?

Telling not showing, but I didn’t even know how to do that until I joined a writing group. A very basic example is: Karen was standing by the jukebox. You just told the reader what Karen was doing.

Karen’s hips swayed as she stood next to the jukebox as Bryan Adams sang Everything I Do. Now you’ve shown the reader what Karen did and created a better visual. Don’t rely on self-editing alone. If you can’t afford editing services join an online writing group such as CritiqueCircle.com or Scribophile.

 

Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?

I try to be more original. That’s why I write across so many different genres. When I meet people and tell them I’m a writer, the next question is “What do you write?” And that’s when I give a silent “Uh Oh.” I can’t summarize it in one or two words because I don’t have twenty books about billionaires with different haircuts. But if you want originality, I write romance, comedy, suspense, noir, satire, memoir …

 

What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from other genders?

Oh I love it! When I write a female character, it is the only time I can control what a woman thinks, says, and does.

 

How long on average does it take you to write a book?

3-4 months writing it, 4-6 months editing it.

 

Do you believe in writer’s block?

Yes. It’s when your imaginary friends quit talking to you.

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**Don’t miss the rest of the series here! **

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Trouble Triangle

Tyler’s Trouble Trilogy Book 1

**Get it FREE!!**

Goodreads * Amazon

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Oceans of Trouble

Tyler’s Trouble Trilogy Book 2

**Only .99 cents!!**

Goodreads * Amazon

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Forbidden Trouble

Tyler’s Trouble Trilogy Book 3

**Only .99 cents!!**

Goodreads * Amazon

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Travis was brought up in Midwest America before embarking on a nine year Navy career that allowed him to travel the world and learn about life. He has ping-ponged across oceans moving from mainland United States to Hawaii, to Scotland, to Seattle, to England, to Minnesota, back to England, and back to Minnesota where he currently resides … for now

He writes easy-reading, light-hearted fiction and true stories about his own experiences that even the best fiction writer couldn’t make up. Relax by the beach or curl up on the couch on a rainy day while Travis takes you on fun-filled adventures that let you forget about life for a while and have a laugh.

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Website * Facebook * Twitter * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Gambling With Murder ~ A Southern California Mystery by Lida Sideris

Posted: March 31, 2022 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways
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Gambling With Murder

A Southern California Mystery

by Lida Sideris

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Gambling with Murder: A Southern California Mystery
Mystery
5th in Series
Setting – California
Level Best Books (March 29, 2022)
Paperback, 260 pages
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09QYW2VYG

A late-night call is all it takes for rookie lawyer Corrie Locke to kiss her day job at the movie studio goodbye, and do what she does best: flex her sweet P.I. skills and go undercover to find a senior who’s missing from a posh retirement community. One small stumbling block: skirting past security to gain inside access to the exclusive Villa Sunset. Time to call in the heavy artillery. Besides former security guard turned legal assistant—now wannabe P.I.—Veera, Corrie relies on a secret weapon: her mother, a surprisingly eager addition to Corrie’s team. Armed with enough pepper spray to take down a band of Navy Seals, Mom impersonates a senior to infiltrate the Villa, Corrie and Veera in tow. Turns out the job’s not as easy as they’d thought. These seniors have tricks tucked up their sleeves and aren’t afraid of using them.

 

The action gets dicey when the missing senior case turns into attempted murder by a criminal mind who’s always one step ahead. Corrie’s hot on the trail, but finds more than she bargained for…when her mother becomes a target.

 

About Lisa Sideris

Lida Sideris’ first stint after law school was a newbie lawyer’s dream: working as an entertainment attorney for a movie studio…kind of like her heroine, Corrie Locke, except without the homicides. Lida was one of two national winners of the Helen McCloy Mystery Writers of America Scholarship Award and a Silver Falchion Award Finalist. She lives in the northern tip of Southern California with her family, rescue dogs and a flock of uppity chickens. To learn more, please visit: www.LidaSideris.com

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

Purchase Links – Amazon 

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It waits for everyone….. Comeuppance Served Cold by Marion Deeds

Posted: March 30, 2022 in Fantasy, giveaways
Tags: ,
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ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0927CQSSN
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Tordotcom (March 22, 2022)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 22, 2022
Language ‏ : ‎ English

Praise for COMEUPPANCE SERVED COLD
A Most Anticipated Pick for The Nerd Daily | Autostraddle

“I love a good heist, and this is a beautifully constructed magical heist in turn-of-the-century Seattle.” ―Mary Robinette Kowal

“This fierce magical heist tale is as smooth as gin and jazz.” ―Beth Cato

“Catnip for those who like watching con artists walk the tightrope of trickery and lies.” ―Marie Brennan

“[A] captivating noir fantasy. . .Deeds presents all this intrigue in reverse chronological order, spinning out mysteries that will keep readers guessing till the end. The result is a well-crafted puzzle; readers’ only complaint will be that they want more.” ―Publishers Weekly, starred review

“A fun, fast-moving heist story that will immediately hook readers who love 1920s-era worlds and soft-fantasy world building.” ―Booklist, starred review

“Readers who love heist and caper stories will be thrilled with Dolly and her quest to deliver much-deserved comeuppance to those who believed they are above the law. The gas-lamp setting gives just the right touch of magic and creeping dread to Deeds’s novel.” ―Library Journal

“A deliciously fun novella set in 1929 Seattle is just what is needed for your bookshelves. . . .Beginning at the ending and following the path backwards through a magical heist, this story brings comeuppance to all.” ―Buzzfeed

“Deeds tells her story with nuance and subtly, luring you into a false sense of pleasantry. From the first page to the very last word, I was enthralled with this tale of thievery and lies.” ―Grimdark Magazine

 

Synopsis

Seattle, 1929—a bitterly divided city overflowing with wealth, violence, and magic.

A respected magus and city leader intent on criminalizing Seattle’s most vulnerable magickers hires a young woman as a lady’s companion to curb his rebellious daughter’s outrageous behavior.

The widowed owner of a speakeasy encounters an opportunity to make her husband’s murderer pay while she tries to keep her shapeshifter brother safe.

A notorious thief slips into the city to complete a delicate and dangerous job that will leave chaos in its wake.

One thing is for certain—comeuppance, eventually, waits for everyone.

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Chapter One

 

november 4, 1929 (thirteen days before)

 

ambrose earnshaw, Seattle’s Commissioner of Magi, looked over his wide ebony desk at the young woman seated across it. “Mortimer Lester is a good friend,” he said, “but he is not a great a judge of character. I am, and I investigate thor- oughly.” He touched the open file folder before him.

The woman nodded. Her expression was serious but not anxious. She was pretty, with green eyes and black hair, un- fashionably long, tucked up bob-like under a gray cloche. Her hands were folded, but he could see where a tear in the thumb seam of one glove had been nearly perfectly mended. Her white blouse was impeccably pressed. The gray wool skirt she wore, which ended just below her knee, was not in the latest fashion.

“You came here from California, and you told me you at- tended Miss Meritage’s Young Women’s Academy in San Diego,” he said.

“My parents died when I was ten, and Uncle John was the only one who could take me in.” She had a low-pitched voice. “When I was thirteen, my aunt got sick. With the four boys, they couldn’t look after me, so I went to Miss Meritage’s.”

“I have her letter here.” He cleared his throat and read aloud,

“Miss White was a conscientious and obedient student. Even though she possesses no magical affinity, she is a careful and methodical mixer of potions. She is reliable, punctual, and tidy. If the position you are filling does not require great imag- ination, she will do well. I recommend her to you.”

If Miss White was hurt by this blunt assessment, it didn’t show.

“You cared for Mortimer’s great-aunt, in Tarzana, until she crossed over.”

“Yes.” Miss White shifted her hands. “I came to Seattle look- ing for work. Mr. Lester told me you might have a position.”

“I do,” he said. He glanced around the room, stroking his mustache with thumb and forefinger. His study always filled him with satisfaction, from the teak wainscoting to the mar- quetry ceiling carved of bird’s-eye maple. The rich Persian rugs—chosen by his wife, now five years dead—ran up to the French doors, their thin drapes drawn back to show a view of the flagstone terrace and the autumn garden.

“I’ve done a bit of research about you too, Mr. Earnshaw,” Dolly White said. “I understand you are the Commissioner of Magi, and your eldest child, Francis, is in the Order of Saint Michael the Protector, which I assume is a magical police force. Or part of your commission? I don’t completely under- stand.”

“The Order is less formal. Our police force is filled with shortsighted fools, too timorous to take necessary action. There’s a need for a volunteer force to pick up the slack.”

A puzzled frown wrinkled her forehead. “A vigilance com- mittee?”

“That’s an old-fashioned term, Miss White. The Order of Saint Michael merely protects the populace where the police

cannot.” He shot his cuffs. “As for the Commission, it’s a . . . well, a governing council. We recommend policy on magic to the mayor and the city council, and we investigate com- plaints. We’re responsible for the licensing of magical practi- tioners and the collecting of fees.”

“We didn’t have those in California, I think,” she said. “California is a hotbed of magical crime.”

A silence fell.

“Well,” Dolly said, “I admit I’m confused. You wanted a companion for your daughter, but I’ve seen her picture in the society pages, and she isn’t an invalid, is she?”

“My daughter is a drunkard.” Dolly White raised her eyebrows.

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You can purchaseComeuppance Served Cold at the following Retailers:
       
Photo Content from Marion Deeds

 

Marion Deeds was born in Santa Barbara, California and moved to northern California when she was five. She loves the redwoods, the ocean, dogs and crows.

She’s fascinated by the unexplained, and curious about power: who has it, who gets it, what is the best way to wield it. These questions inform her stories.

Deeds has published Aluminum Leaves and Copper Road from Falstaff Books, with short works in Podcastle and several anthologies. She reviews fiction and writes a column for the review site Fantasy Literature.

     
WEEK ONE
MARCH 28th MONDAY Movies, Shows, & Books EXCERPT
MARCH 29th TUESDAY JeanBookNerd INTERVIEW
MARCH 30th WEDNESDAY FUONLYKNEW EXCERPT
MARCH 31st THURSDAY Kait Plus Books INTERVIEW
MARCH 31st THURSDAY TTC Books and More GUEST POST
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WEEK TWO
APRIL 4th MONDAY The Momma Spot REVIEW
APRIL 5th TUESDAY BookHounds REVIEW
APRIL 6th WEDNESDAY Casia’s Corner REVIEW
APRIL 7th THURSDAY Crossroad Reviews REVIEW
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They dared to rule the high seas….. Pirate Queens

Posted: March 29, 2022 in Action/Adventure, giveaways, middle grade
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Publisher ‏ : ‎ National Geographic Kids (January 11, 2022)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 64 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1426371950
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1426371950
 

Praise for PIRATE QUEENS

“For readers who want more herstory in history.” —Booklist

“…an ethnically inclusive selection of real-life women who commanded ships, wielded cutlasses, and struck fear into the hearts of others.” —Publishers Weekly

 

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From Ching Shih, a Chinese pirate who presided over a fleet comprised of some 80,000 men (Blackbeard had 400!), to Anne Bonny who famously ran away from an arranged marriage to don trousers and brandish a pistol in the Bahamas, to Sayyida al Hurra, an Islamic queen who ruled the Western Mediterranean, this edgy illustrated book proves that since ancient times women have made their mark in all aspects of history—even pirate lore.

Reviewed by some of the world’s leading pirate experts and historians, Pirate Queens showcases six gutsy women who dared to rule the high seas.

 

You can purchase Pirate Queens at the following Retailers:

 

Photo Content from Leigh Lewis

Leigh Lewis is a children’s writer whose middle-grade debut, Pirate Queens: Dauntless Women Who Dared to Rule the High Seas (National Geographic Kids), spotlights six fierce female pirates, telling each of their stories in verse. Leigh’s adventures on the high seas have enabled her to call many places home, including Turkey, Greece, England, Japan and Russia, and she eventually navigated her way back to her hometown of Columbus, Ohio. Leigh spends her time there dreaming up stories for kids of all ages, buoyed by an amazing crew—her Turkish delight of a husband and their three swashbuckling daughters.

 

Sara Gómez Woolley is an award-winning Latina illustrator, graphic novelist, and educator living and working in Brooklyn, NY. Her children’s book Charlotte and the Quiet Place received a Foreword Reviews INDIES Book of the Year Gold Medal and an IPPY Award Silver Medal, and has been featured in Creative Quarterly: Journal of Art and Design.

 

*JBN is not responsible for Lost or Damaged Books in your Nerdy Mail Box*

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Katz Island by Katherine E. Soto

Posted: March 28, 2022 in Fantasy, giveaways
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Join Us For This Tour From:  March 28 to April 15

 
Book Details:

Book Title:  Grey Dawn of Dharaven Bk.1: Katz Island by Katherine E. Soto
Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 417 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Rhetoric Askew
​Publication Date: February 24, 2022.
Tour dates: March 28 to April 15
Content Rating: PG

Book Description:

A fantasy adventure book about an archeology expedition that heads off into uncharted areas on Katz Island on the planet Dharaven. Earth Dragon Clan born archaeologist Grey Dawn Fields leads to a team of explorers and archaeologists into the wilds of Katz Island looking for a human
underground settlement. She’s seen it on an ancient map found in an antiquarian store. That’s when the problems start, and they’re not only coming from the island. When they arrive on Katz Island the expedition is forced to wonder why they are even there when they find little in the first valley the team ground searches. The second valley is more promising as it shows signs of old habitation in its cliff caverns. It’s still not what Grey is looking for.

When an Earth Dragon attacks the second camp looking for food, then dies leaving a baby Earth dragon behind; Grey realizes she has trouble on her hands. Between training a baby Earth Dragon and her archaeology expedition duties Grey is required to stretch her problem solving capabilities and is forced to rely on her friends, colleagues and even her Earth Dragon Clan for help.

​Is there an ancient human underground settlement on Katz Island or is Grey on a crazy quest to find something that does not exist? Grey’s archaeology career rests on her ability to solve every problem that stands in her way of success. Readers of fantasy adventure books will be captivated by this book.

BUY THE BOOK:
Amazon ~ Apple
B&N ~ Kobo ~ Thalia ~ Vivlio

 

Meet the Author:Katherine E. Soto is a writer of fantasy novels. Her passion for writing started in high school with free form poetry writing, although she does remember creative story writing at an early age. Katherine enjoys composing short stories, flash fiction, poetry, sci-fi/fantasy novels, and nonfiction. She wrote her first fantasy novel in 2019 and it was published in 2022.

connect with the author: website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ bookbub ~ goodreads ~ linktree 

 

Tour Schedule:

March 28 – Working Mommy Journal – book spotlight / giveaway
March 28 – Cover Lover Book Review – book spotlight / giveaway
March 28 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book spotlight / giveaway
March 28 – FUONLYKNEW – book spotlight / giveaway
March 29 – Celticlady’s Reviews – book spotlight / giveaway
March 29 – JB’s Bookworms with Brandy Mulder – book spotlight / giveaway
March 30 – Kam’s Place – book spotlight
March 31 – Splashes of Joy – book spotlight / giveaway
March 31 – TC Marti’s Action-Packed Book Reviews – book spotlight / giveaway
April 1 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book spotlight / giveaway
April 1 – fundinmental – book spotlight / giveaway
April 4 – From the Book Reviewer’s Desk – book spotlight
April 5 – Buried Under Books – book spotlight / giveaway
April 5 – Lamon Reviews – book spotlight / giveaway
April 6 – Ravenz Reviewz – book spotlight / giveaway
April 7 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book spotlight / giveaway
April 8 – Library Lady’s Kid Lit – book spotlight / giveaway
April 11 – Gina Rae Mitchell – book spotlight / giveaway
April 12 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book spotlight / giveaway
April 12 – Stephanie Jane – book spotlight / giveaway
April 13 – Literary Flits – book spotlight / giveaway
April 13 – Books for Books – book spotlight
April 14 – Sadie’s Spotlight – book spotlight / giveaway
April 15 – Westveil Publishing – book spotlight / giveaway

 

Enter the Giveaway: 

 
KATZ ISLAND Book Tour Giveaway

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

The Stars Forgot Us by R. J. Garcia

Posted: March 28, 2022 in giveaways, Paranormal or fantasy, YA
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TheStartForgotUs copy

We’re celebrating the release of The Stars Forgot Us, by bestselling author R.J. Garcia. This beauty will be available on March 30th. Read on for details and a chance to enter a fantastic giveaway – A paperback copy & a $10 Amazon e-gift card (US only) and an e-book edition if the winner lives outside the US!

21-438 RJ Garcia The Stars Forgot Us (1)

The Stars Forgot Us

Publication Date: March 30th, 2022

Genre: YA Paranormal

Publisher: Midnight Tide Publishing

Fifteen-year-old Jacob Kelly would love to go back to simpler times. Before his parents’ divorce and the onset of his older brother’s schizophrenia. But when he returns to his hometown, things feel off. After a series of strange occurrences in his new house, Jacob fears the house is haunted, or even worse, he is losing his mind.

To his surprise, Jacob discovers a mysterious teenage runaway, Sanctuary Daniels, living in the house. She reveals she has been kept by a figure known only as Mother, in a place where downstairs children are languishing prisoners, and upstairs children do Mother’s bidding.

Both Jacob’s investigation into Sanctuary’s allegations and their budding romance are cut short when she is reclaimed by evil beings. Beings who unleash terror upon Jacob and his family. Now he must journey to a real haunted house to save his first love and fight for his life.

Add to Goodreads

Excerpt

My eyes snapped open as three words surfaced in my sleepy brain. You’re not alone. A cold settled into my flesh, making the fine hairs on my arm stand up. I sat up in bed, sucking in a deep breath, and stared into the darkness, unsure what had woken me. My lights were off. It was pitch black. Then the distinct pitter-patter of footsteps sounded down the hall.

“Mom?” When I got no answer, I jumped out of bed and scrambled for the light switch. The overhead fluorescent light blinked on, and I immediately noticed the closet door was partway opened again. This time, I was sure I’d closed it, so I started off with slow, measured steps to investigate. I yanked the door open the rest of the way and hit the closet light. I scoured the walls to discover more writing. The single word, HELP, was written in the same marker on the wall. My pulse skyrocketed. It freaked me out.

I crept back over to the bed and grabbed the blanket, swinging it around my shoulders like a cape, settling down on the drafty hardwood floor. With a shiver of anticipation, I kept my eyes pinned to the door, and strained to hear the slightest noise. It was eerily quiet. Even the wind had died down.

Unexpectedly, I heard a girl’s voice, so soft it was hardly audible, as it drifted up from the floor. It was only the word, “I’m.”

I scooted over to the vent and whispered, “Um…hello?” There was no reply. It could have been a ringing or humming in my ear. Yeah, I’d only imagined it was a voice. Yet, I hadn’t imagined the writing on the wall. I mean, what the hell? I got up and decided to have a look around. If someone was in the house, I had to know. I exited my room and began my search.

I stood face to face with a long and quiet hallway—doors on the left and right. My mind was a hot blank space as a thread of fear tugged me along. My mom’s bedroom was kitty-corner to my room, so I stepped in just far enough to take in the visual of her tucked in bed. Her sleeping sounds were somewhere between wheezes and moans.

“Mom?” I whispered, but she didn’t wake up, and I decided to just let her sleep.

I crossed over to the spare bedroom, smacking on the lights. There was only a desk and Mom’s old computer in the corner. Determined, I was now on a serious hunt and rushed to the closet, flinging the door open. There wasn’t anything. Not even writing on the wall.

Next on the list was Michael’s room. I found him sitting up in bed with a vacant stare. The lights were off, but the blinds were open. Moonlight flitted in, creating shadowy outlines above the chest of drawers that appeared incompatible and menacing.

My gaze returned to my brother as I cleared my throat. “Were you just walking around?”

“No.”

“Did you hear a girl’s voice, Mike?”

He came to life. “Yeah. I heard her.”

My mouth dropped. “Holy shit, I hoped I imagined it.”

Michael stared at me with an unsettling intensity. “I heard her in the vents, the drainpipes, and in the walls. If you listen closely enough, you’ll hear them all.”

Oh great, I’m losing it too.

My brother nodded approvingly. Tension slid from his features, softening his mouth and jaw muscles. Misery loves company, I guess.

Be sure to get your copy HERE on March 30th!

About the Author

Balck and white author pic

R.J. Garcia is a wife, and proud mom of two smart teens and a chorkie, Zoey She earned her MSW and worked with foster children and as a school social worker. Writing has been her other great love. She has been writing short stories for as long as she can remember. To her amazement, those short stories became novels!

RJ Garcia | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Click the link below to enter the giveaway. This will run from today and close at 12 AM EST on March 31st. Good luck!

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Book Blitz Organized By:

R&R Button

R&R Book Tours

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

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