Posts Tagged ‘mystery’

Deadly Curiosities by Gail Z. Martin ~ Series Showcase And Giveaway

Posted: July 28, 2024 in giveaways, Literature, Mystery, Supernatural
Tags: , , ,
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A haunted tapestry. A cursed dynasty. Dark magic, and a supernatural
creature with an insatiable hunger.

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Tapestry

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Deadly Curiosities Book 6

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by Gail Z. Martin

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Genre: Supernatural Mystery Adventure

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A haunted tapestry. A cursed dynasty. Dark magic, and a supernatural
creature with an insatiable hunger.

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Cassidy Kincaide and the Deadly
Curiosities crew get a call from a desperate real estate investor to
un-haunt a mansion that has belonged to a family of dark witches for
generations. Inside, a hidden chamber reveals a legacy of
supernatural power, a dangerous tapestry woven with malicious magic
and defiant ghosts that refuse to accept the house’s new ownership.
When the dust settles, the family’s witch and the djinn that has
influenced the dynasty’s fortunes for more than a century are
missing—and bent on vengeance.

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A mysterious pop-up gallery
sells magical tapestries to Charleston’s art collectors, but good
luck quickly turns bad as the woven pieces permit the djinn to drain
and kill the owners. Meanwhile, Cassidy’s best friend, Teag Logan,
and his fiancé, Anthony Benton, finalize plans for their wedding,
dodging mama drama and supernatural setbacks.

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When Cassidy and her allies go
after the witch and the djinn, they find themselves targeted by magic
that can bend perception and reshape reality. The psychic pain caused
by the cursed tapestries fuels the power of the djinn and the dark
witch, setting up a showdown with the Alliance for the soul of
Charleston.

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Can they stop the witch, defeat
the djinn, destroy the tapestries, and still make it to the wedding
on time?

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Legacy

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Deadly Curiosities Book 5

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A dark witch dynasty. A malicious, immortal undersea place-spirit. Eternal
guardians who wagered their souls to protect Charleston.

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Omens of impending disaster
have the city on edge. Tremors warn of earthquake risk, while a
potentially catastrophic storm gathers strength over the ocean and
heads for land.

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A last-man-standing promise
among elderly veterans creates a dangerous inheritance involving an
imprisoned, wish-granting goblin. A sea captain and a swashbuckler
worked blood magic to protect Charleston from an ancient evil with a
spell that bound their souls and their descendants to the task, but
danger looms as its power fades. The head of a witch family wants
artifacts and secrets—and he’ll do anything to get them.

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Cassidy Kincaide runs Trifles
and Folly, an antique and curio store where her touch magic helps get
cursed and haunted objects out of the wrong hands. More than once,
she and her allies have saved the world from supernatural threats.

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The clock is ticking for
Cassidy and her friends to stop the dark warlock, capture the goblin
and restore the guardian spell before a malevolent ancient entity
takes its vengeance on Charleston and the coast. It’s going to take
all the magic, courage and quick thinking they can muster—and for
once, that might not be enough.

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Legacy is an action-packed
urban fantasy paranormal thrill ride full of dark magic, infernal
creatures, goblins and demigods, haunted places, pirate ghosts, found
family, witch dynasties, loyal friends, Voudon spirits, secret
history and plenty of adventure.

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Inheritance

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Deadly Curiosities Book 4

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Stolen magic. Infernal creatures. A cursed heir to a warlock
dynasty. Supernatural suspense.

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Caribbean ghosts terrorize
Charleston and rack up a body count. Then Beckford Pendlewood, the
heir to a powerful family of dark warlocks, shows up raving about a
bound demon locked in a lost box and begs sanctuary.

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Cassidy Kincaide can read the
history of objects by touching them. She and her allies use magic and
paranormal abilities to keep Charleston and the world safe from
supernatural threats.

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Can Cassidy and her friends find the
demon box, stop the killer ghosts, and break the Pendlewood curse
before Beckford’s murderous cousins and the vengeful demon destroy
them all?

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Inheritance is an action-packed
thrill ride full of dark magic, infernal creatures, demons and
demigods, haunted places, found family, witch dynasty politics, loyal
friends, Caribbean ghosts, secret history and plenty of adventure!

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Book Four in the Deadly Curiosities series.

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“This story starts out right
in the thick of it with loads of action, and doesn’t let up until
the final pages.”—Drops of Ink on Inheritance

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Tangled Web

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Deadly Curiosities Book 3

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Zombies rise in Charleston cemeteries, dead men fall from the sky, and the
whole city succumbs to the “grouch flu.” 

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Cassidy Kincaide runs Trifles and Folly in Charleston, an antiques
and curios shop with a secret history of ridding the city of cursed
objects and keeping the world safe from supernatural
threats.Cassidy’s magic can read the history of an object with a
single touch. Her best friend Teag is a Weaver witch, and her boss,
Sorren, is a 600 year-old vampire.

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Now a vengeful dark
witch is gunning for Teag and planning to unleash an ancient horror.

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Cassidy, Teag, and Sorren—and
all their supernatural allies—will need magic, cunning, and the
help of a Viking demi-goddess to survive the battle with a malicious
Weaver-witch and an ancient Norse warlock to keep Charleston—and
the whole East Coast—from becoming the prey of the Master of the
Hunt.

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Tangled Web is an action-packed
thrill ride full of magic, restless ghosts, infernal creatures,
haunted places, found family, vampire politics, old Norse magic, Wild
Hunt, loyal friends, secret history and plenty of adventure!

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Book Three in the Deadly Curiosities series.

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“There are plenty of spooks
and magic to keep the action fresh. From page one to the big finale,
the plot gallops along at a good pace.”—Cats Luv Coffee on
Tangled Web

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Vendetta

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Deadly Curiosities Book 2

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Immortals never forgive, never forget.

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Sorren has spent centuries
shutting down the plans of powerful immortals, dark warlocks, fallen
angels, and supernatural creatures. He’s a vampire working with
paranormal allies to protect a world that doesn’t know the dangers
that prowl the shadows. Now an enemy from his past is picking off
everyone Sorren cares about, destroying his sanctuaries, and making
it clear that Sorren will be the final target of a magic-fueled
vendetta.

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Cassidy Kincaide runs Trifles &
Folly in modern-day Charleston, an antique and curio shop with a
dangerous secret. Cassidy can read the history of objects by touching
them and along with her Weaver witch friend Teag, Sorren, and their
allies, they get rid of cursed objects and keep Charleston and the
world safe from supernatural threats.

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The clock is ticking. Old power
stirs, the kind that hasn’t been seen in centuries, waking from
slumber and hungry for vengeance.

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This sort of evil can’t be
destroyed—but it can be contained, and that’s what Sorren and his
allies did long ago. Now, the evil has returned, even stronger and
craftier than before. Cassidy, Teag, and Trifles and Folly are in the
crosshairs against an unknown enemy with strong magic and significant
resources and to win they’ll have to put their lives—and souls—on
the line. Can they help Sorren fight a deathless foe from centuries
past, or will they see everything they love go down in flames?

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Vendetta is an action-packed
thrill ride full of magic, restless ghosts, infernal creatures,
haunted places, found family, cursed paintings, old Norse magic,
demigods, vampire politics, fallen angels, loyal friends, secret
history, and plenty of adventure!

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Amazon
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Deadly Curiosities

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Deadly Curiosities Book 1

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Some family heirlooms are to die for.

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Welcome to Trifles & Folly,
a store with a secret. Proprietor Cassidy Kincaide’s psychic gift
lets her know the history and magic of an object by touching it.
Cassidy and her friends—including Weaver witch Teag and her vampire
business partner Sorren—save the world from vengeful ghosts, dark
magic, hidden monsters, and things that go bump in the night.

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When a trip to a haunted hotel
unearths a statue steeped in malevolent power, and a string of
murders leads to the abandoned old Navy yard, Cassidy, Teag, and
Sorren discover a diabolical plot to unleash a supernatural onslaught
on their city.

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It’s time for Cassidy and her
team to handle the “deadly curiosities” before it’s too late.

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Deadly Curiosities is an
action-packed thrill ride full of magic, restless ghosts, infernal
creatures, haunted places, dangerous curios, found family, loyal
friends, secret history, and plenty of adventure!

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Amazon
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* Goodreads

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Gail Z. Martin writes urban fantasy, epic fantasy, steampunk and more for
Solaris Books, Orbit Books, Falstaff Books, SOL Publishing and
Darkwind Press. Urban fantasy series include Deadly Curiosities and
the Night Vigil (Sons of Darkness). Epic fantasy series include
Darkhurst, the Chronicles Of The Necromancer, the Fallen Kings Cycle,
the Ascendant Kingdoms Saga, and the Assassins of Landria.

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Together with Larry N. Martin, she is the co-author of Iron & Blood, Storm
& Fury (both Steampunk/alternate history), the Spells Salt and
Steel comedic horror series, the Roaring Twenties monster hunter Joe
Mack Shadow Council series, and the Wasteland Marshals near-future
post-apocalyptic series. As Morgan Brice, she writes urban fantasy MM
paranormal romance, with the Witchbane, Badlands, Treasure Trail,
Kings of the Mountain and Fox Hollow series. Gail is also a
con-runner for ConTinual, the online, ongoing multi-genre convention
that never ends.

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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.

One Of You ~ A Tower District Mystery by Lorie Lewis Ham

Posted: July 22, 2024 in giveaways, Mystery
Tags: ,
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One of You (Tower District Mysteries)
by Lorie Lewis Ham

 


One of You (Tower District Mysteries)
Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – The Tower District of Fresno, CA
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Mystery Rat’s Books (June 4, 2024)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 278 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8325667381
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0D46P6JBJ

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With her life on the California Coast behind her, Roxi Carlucci is beginning to feel at home in the Tower District—the cultural oasis of Fresno, CA—where she now lives with her cousin P.I. Stephen Carlucci, her pet rat Merlin, a Pit Bull named Watson, and a black cat named Dan. She has a new entertainment podcast, works as a part-time P.I., and is helping local bookstore owner Clark Halliwell put on the first-ever Tower Halloween Mysteryfest! The brutal summer heat is gone and has been replaced by the dense tule fog—perfect for Halloween!

She just wishes everyone would stop calling her the “Jessica Fletcher” of the Tower District simply because she found a dead body when she first arrived. But when one of the Mysteryfest authors is found dead, she fears she jinxed herself! The Carlucci’s are hired to find the killer before they strike again. Will Mysteryfest turn into a murder fest? How is the local gossip website back, and what does it know about the death of Roxi’s parents?

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Prologue-

 

I’m back! Did you miss me? Boy, do I have some juicy gossip! Spotted: A whole lot of trouble coming your way! Murder, did you say? Why, of course, there will be murder!

 

When I typed “The End” I knew it was just the beginning. They would never expect the trouble I have in store for them! Some surprises are worth waiting for, and some are deadly.

 

Chapter 1

 

My alarm clock went off at eight a.m. and I groaned. It was way too early for this night owl. I rolled over and looked at my Buffy calendar. October 21. I couldn’t believe I’d been in Fresno for three months. The worst thing so far had been the weather. I survived the brutal heat of the summer, and now I was getting to experience the wonderful Tule fog—so thick I could almost pretend I was in London instead of the San Joaquin Valley of California.

 Thankfully, the temps were now in the 60s to low 80s, which made me feel like I was back in Ayr, the California coastal town I’d been forced to leave when my publisher dropped my children’s book series featuring a pet rat—still a very sore subject for me.

 At thirty-five, I packed up my life and moved in with my P.I. cousin, Stephen Carlucci. I arrived with everything I owned—being sure to bring in the car with us the things I valued the most—my Sherlock Holmes collection, a replica of Excalibur, and my pet rat, Merlin.

 The only bright spot had been that he lived in the cultural oasis of Fresno, the Tower District. It was the hub of all things artsy, and I loved it! He also had a great house. It was a cocoa-colored, early Mediterranean-style place that instantly felt like home. Since my only transportation was my trusty red bike, I seldom ventured beyond the Tower, despite Stephen’s best efforts, which was fine with me.

I’d rented out my house in Ayr for extra income and now worked for Stephen as a part-time P.I.

“Hey there sleepyhead, want coffee?” yelled Stephen from the kitchen, which was close to my bedroom.

“Yes, please! I’ll be out as soon as I feed my bedmates.”

Reluctantly, I extracted myself from the furry heating pads wrapped around my body under the covers and sat up. Watson, the Pit Bull, and Dan, the black cat, had been left homeless after a murder that had taken place soon after I arrived and were now a part of our family. There was a wonderful rescue in the area for bully-breed dogs and great cat rescues, but I couldn’t bear to let them go to rescue after already losing one owner. It wasn’t a surprise that I’d collected two more animals since moving here; it was something I’d done my whole life.

After feeding them, I went to the large cage on the floor by my desk to feed Merlin, a dumbo rat with big round ears set more to the side like an elephant. He’d been the star of my books. Thankfully, Dan ignored Merlin, and they managed to coexist without any problems. Of course, Merlin never seemed to be scared of anything. Maybe it was because he was a wizard.

When living in Ayr, I’d run a hamster and pet rat rescue. Domestic rats are wonderful pets. They bear little resemblance to their wild counterparts—they’re much smaller, come in many different colors, and are very affectionate.

After the furries were fed, I pulled on jeans and a Supernatural t-shirt, ran a brush through my long black hair, and stumbled into the kitchen.

Stephen was already dressed for the day in perfectly pressed jeans and a t-shirt—his normal non-working garb. When he worked, he wore expensive Italian suits. My handsome cousin with his blond hair and gray eyes was more of a clotheshorse than I would ever be.

“Good morning, Roxi.” He handed me coffee, then shooed me from the kitchen into the living room. I plopped down on the brown faux leather couch, and he sat in one of the comfy brown and red chairs on the other side of an oak coffee table. The house was decorated in earthy tones, except for my bedroom. He had decorated that in purple and black just for me.

The coffee table had a couple of big books on it; one was on Sinatra—a love he and I shared—come on, we’re Italian. The other book was about opera. I was grateful Stephen didn’t blast his opera music loudly—that was a love we did not share.

I looked at the fireplace. “Can you please light a fire? It’s cold.”

Stephen laughed. “Soon, I promise. The afghan Aunt Carol made is on the back of the couch, grab that.”

I glared at him as I grabbed the brown and tan afghan and wrapped it around me. I had to admit I loved this place. The living room was perfectly cozy, like the rest of the house. It wasn’t big, but it was big enough. The walls were decorated with beautiful paintings of horses. Stephen used to own several, which he bred and raced, but the corruption in the industry led him to get out of the business. He kept his two favorites so we could go riding. At his mother Maria’s urging, he had reluctantly stabled them at his parent’s ranch just outside of Donlyn.

Stephen’s father, Antonio, was again involved with the local Mafia, after  having supposedly retired, so Stephen’s relationship with him had gotten even worse than it already was. Originally, becoming a P.I. had been as much to piss off his father as it had been an outlet for his sense of justice. He ended up being very good at it.

Not only did Stephen hate what his father did, but he blamed him for his brother’s death. Stephen had been at Julliard studying piano when his brother was killed by the Mafia. He left school and became a police officer and later a P.I. He still played the piano, but it had taken him a long time to return to it.

Though we were both raised in a Mafia family, mine hadn’t been involved in the illegal side of the family business. They ran the family winery in Paso Robles on the coast until their deaths.

“What are you up to today?” he asked.

I took a sip of the heavenly coffee—Stephen only bought the best—and sighed. “I need to meet with Clark around ten to finish everything for Mysteryfest.”

Soon after arriving in Fresno, I was persuaded to volunteer for a community theatre production and was shocked when a crew member was murdered. It led to all sorts of adventures, and I’d gotten to know some wonderful people. One of them, playwright Clark Halliwell, had become a dear friend. Clark recently purchased the local bookstore Walt’s Book Nook and renamed it Halliwell’s Book Haven.

About a month ago, Clark decided Halloween would be a perfect time for a mystery event. The Tower Halloween Mysteryfest was this weekend. With my and Stephen’s help, along with several volunteers, he’d managed to pull it all together. He’d even done an adaptation of Edgar Allen Poe’s Murders in the Rue Morgue to be performed as part of the event. His connections as a BookTuber, and now a bookstore owner, made getting local authors for the event easy. He even managed to get the reigning Queen of Cozy Mysteries, Marilyn Bradford.

When I first met Clark, I knew he looked familiar, but it took me forever to figure out why. I later realized he was a BookTuber, and an extremely successful one. His YouTube channel was called Halliwell Reads—which always made me think of the show Charmed. Clark was amazing. If I were to decide I was ready for a relationship, maybe…but not now. He was also attractive. At six feet, he was a little taller than me, slender, and had shoulder-length dark brown hair and expressive brown eyes.

Stephen flicked a lock of hair from his eyes—something he’d done since we were teenagers. “Mysteryfest opens on Friday evening, doesn’t it? How’s it going?”

I took another sip of my coffee before answering. “Good. I never dreamed it would be so much work. If it wasn’t for the volunteers, it would never happen.”

“You have a heavy contingent of volunteers from the theatre community, don’t you?”

“Well, they do make up a good percentage of the population around here.”

Most of the friends I’d made over the past three months came from volunteering with that theatre production when I first arrived—so they were mostly theatre people. I still didn’t know much about Clark, but I knew he loved books, Sherlock Holmes, old movies, and animals, so that was a great start. Oh, and most importantly, Star Trek and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. After my parents were killed in a car accident when I was thirteen, TV had been a faithful companion, providing hope and inspiration in an often dark world.

“I imagine Tabitha has been a big help,” said Stephen. “There’s nothing that woman can’t do.”

Tabitha O’Reilly was another person I’d gotten to know. Not only was she the owner of a local tea shop, she ran her own theatre company, and helped run Happy Paws. Happy Paws rescued dogs and trained them to be emotional support animals.

Dan jumped in Stephen’s lap and he nearly spilled his coffee. That cat wasn’t shy. “How’s the podcast going?” Stephen asked after he averted disaster.

Three months ago I started a podcast called Tower Talk. I covered local arts and entertainment and interviewed pillars of the community like Marcel Nunes, who created the Rogue Festival—a local Fringe festival that happened in the Tower every spring.

“Great! The coverage the podcast got in the local media after the murder was a huge boost. It didn’t hurt that it took up the slack left behind by Tower Gossip either.” Tower Gossip had been a local gossip website like the one on the TV show Gossip Girl. It revealed secrets everyone would have preferred to leave hidden. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when solving the murder led to the end of Tower Gossip.

“I need to edit the Zoom interview I did yesterday with Marilyn Bradford and get that up. I can’t believe how nervous I was. I hope I did okay.”

“Considering you’ve been a fan of her mystery novels since you were a teenager, I’m not surprised. I’m sure you were fine,” reassured Stephen.

Marilyn was the biggest name coming to Mysteryfest. The authors were all published by Bradford Publishing, owned by Marilyn’s husband Edward, who was also a local actor.

“I heard Nathan is doing a one-man show of Edgar Allan Poe for Mysteryfest. Have you seen much of him lately?” asked Stephen, a mischievous twinkle in his gray eyes.

I wadded up a napkin and threw it at him, but he ducked. If I were looking for a relationship, the dreamy Nathan Gilmore would be another option. Not only was he a talented local actor, but he worked in the library at Fresno State University, was an environmentalist, Master Gardner, vegan, and just too good to be real. I had failed to find a fault in him, yet. The only thing I could say, was that he was too busy to be human. Perhaps he was from another planet, or maybe an android, though his heart was way too big for that. But Data from Next Generation had a big heart, so I couldn’t rule that out.

My phone dinged. It was a text from Clark. “When can you get here? I really need your help!!!” The exclamation marks were a concern. He never used exclamation marks.

I jumped up. “Duty calls. Sounds like Clark may have an emergency, and since he never freaks out, I’m guessing it’s bad. You off today, or do you have a case?”

“I have a client meeting in about an hour, guess I’d better change and get going. Good luck. If it has to do with Alec again and you need help, let me know.”

Alec Dunne and his husband Matt Freeman were two more theatre people I’d gotten to know. Alec had been the director of that first show and could be a bit difficult in that role. As a friend, he was a delight and a great source of gossip. Matt was a successful realtor and the total opposite of Alec in personality, a great big teddy bear. Alec was directing Murders in the Rue Morgue.

He and Clark had butted heads before, so it was definitely a possibility that he was the urgent problem. “Will do.”

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About Lorie Lewis Ham

Lorie Lewis Ham lives in Reedley, California and has been writing ever since she was a child. Her first song and poem were published when she was 13, and she has gone on to publish many articles, short stories, and poems throughout the years, as well as write for a local newspaper, and publish 7 mystery novels. For the past 14 years, Lorie has been the editor-in-chief and publisher of Kings River Life Magazine, and she produces Mysteryrat’s Maze Podcast, where you can hear an excerpt of her book One of Us, the first in a new series called The Tower District Mysteries. Book 2, One of You, will be out in June of 2024. You can learn more about Lorie and her writing on her website mysteryrat.com and find her on Facebook, and Instagram @krlmagazine & @lorielewishamauthor.

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

Purchase Links – Amazon    Barnes and Noble    Kobo

Universal Buy Link https://books2read.com/u/m0eWAy

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

July 18 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

July 18 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW

July 18 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST

July 19 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

July 19 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT

July 20 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – AUTHOR GUEST POST

July 20 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR GUEST POST

July 21 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

July 22 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

July 22 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW

July 23 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

July 23 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

July 24 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

July 25 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Twice Hung by Vanessa C. Hawkins ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: July 19, 2024 in giveaways, Mytery/Thriller, suspense
Tags: , , ,
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Welcome to my stop on the virtual book tour for Twice Hung organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Author Vanessa C. Hawkins will award a $10 Amazon or B&N Gift Card to a randomly drawn winner. Don’t forget to enter!

And you can click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Twice Hung

by Vanessa C. Hawkins

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Genre: Mystery / Suspense / Thriller

Synopsis

Ethel Arsenault’s been hearing noises in her brother’s house ever since she arrived from Summerside, but when he turns up dead, could the supernatural be to blame, or her sister-in-law Dolly whose been caught talking to herself when night falls?

Ethel isn’t sure, nor is she happy when she’s left alone to care for Ernest’s estate. Was her brother the victim of sweet, little Dolly Arsenault, or is some other sinister force at work? The city of Charlottetown is quick to point the blame at Dolly, but now Ethel has been hearing things in the house…

… or is it just her imagination?

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Enjoy this peek inside:

The days were dandelions, sprouting and flourishing and wafting away in puffs to seed more weeds anew. Though the roads had been muck-filled and swampy when they’d arrived, gradually they were becoming less burdensome and easier to promenade when the days were hot. Ernest’s trip had been postponed, but that meant he spent the days at work, oftentimes taking a break to show Ethel the delights of Queen’s Square and Victoria Row or holed up in his study pouring over papers and the occasional glass of gin.

Ethel was enjoying her days at Eden Hall, wandering outside in the small gardens, or taking a stagecoach in town with Miss Murphy to appraise the daily catch and supply of vegetables hauled in from the neighbouring farms. Though the nights were seldom peaceful, Ethel had resolved to keep her concerns private. No one else in the house seemed bothered or affected, so she often napped during the afternoon, dozing after writing in her journal or upon finishing a few chapters of Little Women.

 “I’m certain there must be something in the attic,” Ernest grumbled at breakfast one morning. His departure had been finalised for the next day and a few men had been around to load up a few personal effects he had packed for the voyage. It was a beautiful midweek morning, and the windows in the dining room had been removed to let in the scent of grass and sunshine.

Dolly was sitting opposite her husband at the little breakfast table, while Ethel was in the middle. Both women looked up from their plates to regard Ernest as he poured a fresh cup of tea for himself.

“Adella-Ray, will you not check the liquor cabinet in the study for a bottle of the blueberry spirits? There’s a touch of maple in it that I’m sure will stir the tongues of the Americans.”

The serving woman was in the foyer, handing an order for milk to the carrier before she turned towards the study as asked.

“The attic?” Dolly piped up, directing the conversation backwards. She was picking around the sauce of her eggs benedict, combing it over the white poached pillow like a toupée on a bald man’s head. “Is there something up there that you forgot to pack?”

Ernest shook his head. “No, but I think an animal has gotten up there somehow. I’ve been hearing it scuttling around the last few nights.” He looked up and smiled, as though to excuse his ramblings. “I’ll ask Al to take a look. I don’t want it scaring you ladies while I’m gone for work.”

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About Author Vanessa C. Hawkins:

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A life-long lover of horror, Vanessa wrote her first story in the genre when she was only in grade five. It was titled Mutilated and it warranted her a trip to the school guidance counsellor. A lifetime later, she continues to write about anything that suits her fancy. She was afforded second place in the David Adams Richards Prize this year, and honourable mentions in the WFNB writing competition for her novel A Child to Cry Over. With over a dozen publications under her belt, Vanessa was celebrated as a bestselling author with Books We Love Publishing for the sale of over a thousand copies of The Curious Case of Simon Todd! She lives with her husband Brendon and daughter Bernie in New Brunswick.

Vanessa is the author of the following BWL Publishing Inc. releases:

The Curious Case of Simon Todd

Bunker Blitz

Ballroom Riot by Vanessa C. Hawkins & Tara Woodworth

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Secrets And Photographs by A. K. Ramirez ~ Review And Giveaway

Posted: June 24, 2024 in giveaways, Mytery/Thriller, reviews
Tags: , , ,
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Secrets and Photographs by A. K. Ramirez Banner

SECRETS AND PHOTOGRAPHS
by A. K. Ramirez

   

June 17-28, 2024 Virtual Book Tour
The Marissa Ambrose Witness Series
Synopsis:

 

How do you stop a killer you can’t even see?

It’s been two years since Detective Marissa Ambrose nearly lost her life working the Couple’s Killer case, but time hasn’t stopped the vivid nightmares. She still carries the heavy guilt of her partner’s death, and the Seattle Police Department refuses to support her theory that the suspect they arrested had an accomplice. With her ex-husband regretfully out of the picture, Marissa was supposed to be focusing on adjusting back to something resembling normalcy in her quiet tourist town. Then the letters came.

Unmarked envelopes full of photographs have been arriving at Marissa’s door. Candid shots of her at home. Now, Marissa is certain the missing murderer is stalking her, tracking her every move to finish what he started. As she obsesses over the strange images, the Seattle PD unexpectedly asks for her help. A serial killer is on the loose and targeting members of the Port Townsend community. Despite a personal connection to the first victim, Marissa agrees to pin her badge on once more.

The photographs are piling up and the suspect can’t be seen by surveillance cameras. Like a ghost, this killer is haunting her.

Praise for Secrets and Photographs:

“This book is Amazing!! I couldn’t put it down. I need book 2!!!” ~ Nicola Jamieson

“We love a messy family and a plot thick with dark and winding paths. Truly enjoyed this book and read it very quickly! I am very excited to get a signed copy of the next book that was just released!! AK Ramirez is “one to watch” in the crime/thriller genre. You have a fan for life now.” ~ Molly Badgett

“I had the pleasure of meeting this author in Richmond at a convention. I really enjoyed the story. The author pulls you in from the first page. Quick read” ~ Chris Kennedy

“A friend recommended this book to me as I was looking for a new mystery novel and I was so sad when it ended because I wanted more! The writing was exceptional and the story captivated me. Twists I didn’t expect had me reading this book in record time. Absolutely recommend!” ~ Melissa Brown

“I’m a sucker for a good crime novel and this one kept me hooked. I also love books set in the Pacific Northwest – I might be biased since I live in the PNW but I thought the author did a good job of using the coziness of Port Townsend to contrast with the horror of the crimes. I’m looking forward to reading book 2!” ~ April O’Brien

“I was hooked on the book from the beginning. It was a great read. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone that likes mystery and suspense.” ~ Diana

“I wasn’t sure how much I enjoyed this book at the beginning. It felt like it was moving very slowly. In fact, I was wondering if there was ever going to be a murder when I was about a third done. Then a couple minutes later, a murder! That’s when the book sped up! I had a little trouble keeping the two investigations separate. The twist was great! And I did enjoy how the two cases crossed. I felt for Marissa that no one believed her and was thankful when the police started listening to her. She’s a great detective and I’m looking forward to revisiting her and hopefully solving the big mystery soon!” ~ CMC

Book Details:

Genre: Mystery Thriller Published by: 4 Horsemen Publications Publication Date: November 15, 2022 Number of Pages: 362 ISBN: 9781644506639 (ISBN10: 1644506637) Series: Marissa Ambrose Witness Series, #1

Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | 4 Horsemen Publications

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MY REVIEW

This book…… How do I love thee. Let me count the ways.

One: Suspects. Plenty of them. In the shadows, hovering just out of sight, or right in my face. It creates a bigger challenge to sift out the red herrings and find the right direction that leads to the villain.

About those suspects.  In Secrets And Photographs, the first suspect that pinged my radar about a third of the way through the book ended up with me being right. It was something I now can’t quite put my finger on that made the character stand out. I reread that whole scene several times but never nailed it down. But, there’s more than one crime, and the second suspect that pinged my radar seemed kind of obvious. I knew better than to just assume and actually kind of forgot about that one for a while. But, the character kept popping into my head as I continued reading and is number one on my list. But, since that crime is continuing into the next book, I’ll have to wait and see if I was right.

Two: The title and cover are perfect for this book. I’ll explain. There are secrets. So many. And you won’t get to know all of them. That will come in the next book. And photographs. That’s the killer’s calling card. His signature. And a way to torment his victims. The cover perfectly compliments the title. Both beautiful and chilling.

Three: Characters. I came to care about several. Especially the main character, Detective Marissa Ambrose. She was kidnapped by a serial killer and was the only victim that had ever survived. So damaged. Emotionally and physically scarred. Medication and alcohol an important coping tool. Her panic attacks are debilitating. Leaving her vulnerable. Though she thinks she’s weak, I think she’s incredibly strong.

Four: The feels. So many. Marissa has some amazing support from long time friends and her family. The author worked her magic and made so many of them genuine. I laughed with them. Got mad with and at them. And cried. Several times. Whew….

Five: The ending. I got some answers. Was left hanging on others. I loved this book and so many of the characters. No way I won’t read more of this series.

5 STARS

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Enjoy this peek inside:
Chapter 1

Marissa felt cold. She couldn’t see anything, a blindfold tied tightly against her eyes. Music blared against her ears, the throbbing in her head synced with the beat of the music. The cold, rough concrete burned her bare legs, and every time she attempted to adjust them, she felt sharp sensations rush through. She was stiff and cold and tired. Her right hand was handcuffed to something that felt heavy and unbreakable, though she tried to pull away. Time had blurred, and her mind swam, unable to focus on anything. She was thirsty, hungry, and tired. Marissa had never been so frightened in her life.

Someone grabbed her by the arm, squeezing tight as they unlocked her cuff from whatever she was attached to and ushered her along. She whimpered in protest and tugged away from the fingers that dug into her. She thought she heard a laugh in her ear over the music before that hand shoved her hard. She nearly toppled over but fell into another set of hands that caught her in their arms. These weren’t as rough and didn’t grip her as tightly. They held her up as she pulled her legs back under her, and one of the hands rubbed her arm where the other had aggressively gripped. She could feel his breath on her neck as his lips touched her ear, whispering something she couldn’t quite hear.

She gasped, sat up with a start, and sighed, acknowledging she was safe in her room. Ellie was lying on top of her legs, her cold nose poking at her in concern. She rubbed Ellie’s ears, feeling her heartbeat slow to normal. Her chest heavily convulsed as tears fell down her cheeks. Pulling the dog in close, she hugged her tight—a solid reminder she was no longer in that place but inside her bedroom, in her home. Safe.

“Good girl,” she whispered, gripping Ellie’s fur. The shepherd leaned in close, burying her cold nose into her neck.

Leaning back, Marissa glanced over at her clock. It was nearly five. “Come on. Let’s go downstairs.” With a heavy sigh, she shifted as Ellie bounced off the bed and toward the door. Marissa swung her legs over the side and winced, aches traveling through her body from her heels as they hit the floor. “It’s going to be a day,” she mumbled and forced herself to stand. It was still dark outside, and she was sure the air outside was cold, but the old house was warm. It may have been old, but her mom had updated everything except for the walls. Marissa wandered into the bathroom; she could still hear Ellie bouncing in the hallway, excited to start her day. She did not share the dog’s enthusiasm. She washed her hands and stared at the reflection that stared back at her. Her dark hair was a tangled mess, and dark circles were under her eyes. Marissa remembered when she took pride in how she looked, brushed her hair several times a day, and had a whole skincare routine. She had been a beauty queen when she was younger. It all seemed so pointless now. Her eyes drifted from her face down to her shoulder with the long, dark scar. Then they drifted to the scar that ran from the bottom of her collarbone across her chest. Her tank top covered most of it, but she knew the rest ran down her side and to her back. She was full of scars now. She turned the light off and followed Ellie to the hallway, stopping at the top of the stairs. It was the same every morning: the stairs were always daunting. Her ankles locked up like they usually did, forcing her to take slow and precise steps. Once she reached the bottom, she headed to the kitchen and opened the back door, letting Ellie bound out into the dark yard. Sunrise was still a way off, but the sky was beginning to lighten. She went to the cabinet above the sink and dug out her meds. Since her recovery from the events at the warehouse, Marissa had received a long list of diagnoses: fibromyalgia brought on by trauma, panic attacks, PTSD, and arthritis. Not to mention a rapid heart rate they couldn’t pin down, chronic migraines—so many meds. Putting on her tea kettle, she set up her teacup and waited for the water to boil. It had taken some time, but Marissa had made her childhood home her own again. Her mom had signed the house over to her while she healed, which gave her full rein to do as she pleased with the place, taking the opportunity to downsize without selling. Port Townsend was not where Marissa thought she would be, especially after so many years in Seattle. She loved the city: the noise, the crowds, the food. The fact that almost everything was open until at least midnight. Not like this tourist town, which felt like it had a town-wide bedtime of 9 p.m. It was known as a charming, quaint town by the sea, and as far as she was concerned, it had lost its charm decades ago. Slowly but surely, the house was coming together. She sighed, grabbed her hoodie off the hook by her back door, and threw it over her head while letting Ellie back inside. Her mom had done all the hard stuff, remodeling the upstairs and downstairs to an open-concept floorplan and updating the plumbing and electricity. Marissa could see her front door, the living room, the dining room, and a study from the kitchen. Below the stairs was a full bathroom. As the tea kettle screamed, she poured the water into the cup and watched the steam rise. This was not where Marissa expected to be at thirty-six. Growing up, all she wanted was to get the hell out of this town. She would be married to her high school sweetheart with kids, living in a big city, and making detective. The funny part was, Marissa had married her high school sweetheart. Twice. They’d also had two divorces. She had been living in a big city, owning not one but two properties in Seattle. She had made detective, reaching incredible heights as one of the youngest promoted in her unit. And now, she was back in her childhood home, divorced and alone, still a detective but benched for the unseen future. It felt like a punishment. Of course, some of it was her doing. She had pushed Jared away and moved back home. Her nightmare wasn’t only when she slept. Her precinct had done all but call her a liar during her recovery when she told them there was more than one assailant. She couldn’t see, so it was simply her word. She had undergone so much; she couldn’t have been sure. That was what her unit had said because it didn’t fit into the profile the SPD had given. People she had trusted with her life didn’t have her back. She paused for a moment before retrieving the hidden key from her hutch and carefully climbing onto her counter. Despite telling herself she wouldn’t, most mornings she would pull down the box. She winced, pain stretching through her leg as she reached the top of her cabinets to recover a lockbox. Once it was on the counter, she paused as her feet hit the ground. She hoped that one day, something new would stand out. Some tangible clue she could hold in her hands. Ellie came right alongside her and whined, sensing her discomfort. Marissa stretched a hand down, scratching her ear as she unlocked the box and let the photographs pour out onto the countertop. There were candid shots of her going about her day, walking down the street, leaving the bakery, checking her mail. A good stack of them was just Jared. Sometimes they would arrive weekly, and sometimes she would go a few weeks without receiving anything. Or maybe it was just a good reminder of why this was her life now. Why she had chosen to be here, alone. A reminder that her life was in danger. Local cops and SPD, while agreeing she was a victim of a stalker, wouldn’t connect it to that case because before the warehouse, Marissa hadn’t received any photos. She had been given police protection across the street, but she knew no one had taken her seriously. In the eyes of the law, she hadn’t been threatened and couldn’t identify anyone. She only had pictures that appeared on her doorstep or in her mailbox. She kept them safely locked away, spending most of her days trying hard to forget them. But too often, she found herself thumbing through them. It had become an almost daily ritual. Once she was satisfied the tea had steeped long enough, she returned the photos to the box and put everything back in its place. Her former partner, Tom, would tell her dwelling over the same pieces of evidence wouldn’t get her anywhere. He had always given her advice like that. He had been so much like the older brother she’d never had, having been the oldest of three sisters. Taking her mug with both hands, she headed out to the backyard, not bothering to turn the light on. She stretched out on her swinging bench and scrolled through her socials. Occasionally, she found her eyes wandering over the backyard, watching for anything or anyone out of place. She knew there was always an officer across the street, watching over her and her home, but they hadn’t proven very helpful yet. They hadn’t managed to see who or how things were being left on her doorstep. The early morning air was chilly and quiet. The only noises she could hear were Ellie’s panting as she plopped herself down next to Marissa and the occasional breeze blowing by. She glanced at the clock on her phone. Barely any time had passed. Putting her feet up, she finished her tea, put the empty cup down on the side table, and looked out into her dark yard. She needed to rest, but she knew sleep would keep eluding her. She didn’t want to sleep anymore; the nightmares had worsened. If she had stopped to think about it, she would have realized why. All that mattered was every time she closed her eyes, she was back there again. *** Excerpt from Secrets and Photographs by A. K. Ramirez. Copyright 2024 by A. K. Ramirez. Reproduced with permission from A. K. Ramirez. All rights reserved.

 

 

About Author A.K. Ramirez:

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A. K. Ramirez

A.K. Ramirez is a mystery writer tucked in a corner of the Pacific Northwest. She likes to weave mystery, and family drama with a little bit of romance all in one. She has participated in NaNoWriMo on and off for years, reaching her goal three times with three different novels, in both the mystery and fantasy genres. When she isn’t writing, she runs a dog training, boarding, and daycare facility or spends time with her husband, kids, and pack of dogs.

Catch Up With A.K. Ramirez: www.akramirezwrites.com Goodreads Instagram – @AKRamirezWrites Threads – @AKRamirezWrites Twitter/X – @AKRamirezWrites TikTok – @AKRamirezWrites Facebook – @AKRamirezWrites

 

 

Tour Participants:

Visit these other great hosts on this tour for more great reviews and opportunities to WIN in the giveaway!

 

 

JOIN IN ON THE GIVEAWAY:

This is a giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for A. K. Ramirez. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.

 

 

 

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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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The Golden Manuscripts by Evy Journey ~ Review And Giveaway

Posted: June 24, 2024 in giveaways, Historical, Mystery, reviews
Tags: , , ,
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The Golden Manuscripts is inspired by the real-life theft of medieval manuscript illuminations during World War II.

 

 

The Golden Manuscripts: A Novel

Author: Evy Journey

Pages: 360

Genre: Historical Fiction/Women’s Fiction/Mystery



goodreads add to

A young woman of Asian/American parentage has lived in seven different
countries and is anxious to find a place she could call home. An unusual
sale of rare medieval manuscripts sends her and Nathan—an art
journalist who moonlights as a doctor—on a quest into the dark world of
stolen art.  For Clarissa, these ancient manuscripts elicit cherished
memories of children’s picture books her mother read to her, nourishing a
passion for art.  When their earnest search for clues whisper of old
thieves and lead to the unexpected, they raise more questions about an
esoteric sometimes unscrupulous art world that defy easy answers.   Will
this quest reward Clarissa with the sense of home she longs for? This
cross-genre literary tale of self-discovery, art mystery, travel, and
love is based on the actual theft by an American soldier of illuminated
manuscripts during World War II.
Buy Links:

 

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MY REVIEW

Clarissa has lived in many places and now she’s trying to put down roots. This takes her back to the US, where she was born. Looking for a subject for her MA theses, she comes across an article in a art newspaper. It’s about illuminated manuscripts that were supposedly stolen during WWII and disappeared. Their reappearance raises many questions.

I’d not heard of illuminated manuscripts so I did a search to understand what they were. I got lost down the rabbit hole and quickly realized how this would be a great subject for Clarissa’s thesis. And how daunting the task would be to prove their authenticity and ownership. Of course, she’d need help and someone from her past is called upon to help. As Clarissa and Nathan dig deeper into the mystery of the manuscripts, their attraction to each other grows.

As much a mystery as a romance and a woman seeking a place to call home, The Golden Manuscripts was a fascinating and hopeful read.

4 STARS

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Book Excerpt:

November 2000

Rare Manuscripts

I sometimes wish I was your girl next door. The pretty one who listens to you and sympathizes. Doesn’t ask questions you can’t or don’t want to answer. Comes when you need to talk. 

She’s sweet, gracious, respectful, and sincere. An open book. Everybody’s ideal American girl. 

At other times, I wish I was the beautiful girl with creamy skin, come-hither eyes, and curvy lines every guy drools over. The one you can’t have, unless you’re a hunk of an athlete, or the most popular hunk around. Or you have a hunk of money.

But I’m afraid the image I project is that of a brain with meager social skills. The one you believe can outsmart you in so many ways that you keep out of her way—you know the type. Or at least you think you do. Just as you think you know the other two.

I want to believe I’m smart, though I know I can be dumb. I’m not an expert on anything. So, please wait to pass judgement until you get to know us better—all three of us. 

Who am I then? 

I’m not quite sure yet. I’m the one who’s still searching for where she belongs. 

I’m not a typical American girl. Dad is Asian and Mom is white. I was born into two different cultures, neither of which dug their roots into me. But you’ll see my heritage imprinted all over me—on beige skin with an olive undertone; big grey eyes, double-lidded but not deep-set; a small nose with a pronounced narrow bridge; thick, dark straight hair like Dad’s that glints with bronze under the sun, courtesy of Mom’s genes. 

I have a family: Mom, Dad, Brother. Sadly, we’re no longer one unit. Mom and Dad are about ten thousand miles apart. And my brother and I are somewhere in between.

I have no one I call friend. Except myself, of course. That part of me who perceives my actions for what they are. My inner voice. My constant companion and occasional nemesis. Moving often and developing friendships lasting three years at most, I’ve learned to turn inward. 

And then there’s Arthur, my beautiful brother. Though we were raised apart, we’ve become close. Like me, he was born in the US. But he grew up in my father’s home city where his friends call him Tisoy, a diminutive for Mestizo that sometimes hints at admiration, sometimes at mockery. Locals use the label for anyone with an obvious mix of Asian and Caucasian features. We share a few features, but he’s inherited a little more from Mom. Arthur has brown wavy hair and green eyes that invite remarks from new acquaintances. 

Little Arthur, not so little anymore. Taller than me now, in fact, by two inches. We’ve always gotten along quite well. Except the few times we were together when we were children and he’d keep trailing me, like a puppy, mimicking what I did until I got annoyed. I’d scowl at him, run away so fast he couldn’t catch up. Then I’d close my bedroom door on him. Sometimes I wondered if he annoyed me on purpose so that later he could hug me and say, “I love you” to soften me up. It always worked.

I love Arthur not only because we have some genes in common. He has genuinely lovable qualities—and I’m sure people can’t always say that of their siblings. He’s caring and loyal, and I trust him to be there through thick and thin. I also believe he’s better put together than I am, he whom my parents were too busy to raise. 

I am certain of only one thing about myself: I occupy time and space like everyone. My tiny space no one else can claim on this planet, in this new century. But I still do not have a place where I would choose to spend and end my days. I’m a citizen of a country, though. The country where I was born. And yet I can’t call that country home. I don’t know it much. But worse than that, I do not have much of a history there. 

Before today, I trudged around the globe for two decades. Cursed and blessed by having been born to a father who was a career diplomat sent on assignments to different countries, I’ve lived in different cities since I was born, usually for three to four years at a time. 

Those years of inhabiting different cities in Europe and Asia whizzed by. You could say I hardly noticed them because it was the way of life I was born into. But each of those cities must have left some lasting mark on me that goes into the sum of who I am. And yet, I’m still struggling to form a clear idea of the person that is Me. This Me can’t be whole until I single out a place to call home. 

Everyone has a home they’ve set roots in. We may not be aware of it, but a significant part of who we think we are—who others think we are—depends on where we’ve lived. The place we call home. A place I don’t have. Not yet. But I will.

I was three when I left this city. Having recently come back as an adult, I can’t tell whether, or for how long, I’m going to stay. You may wonder why, having lived in different places, I would choose to seek a home in this city—this country as alien to me as any other town or city I’ve passed through. 

By the end of my last school year at the Sorbonne, I was convinced that if I were to find a home, my birthplace might be my best choice. I was born here. In a country where I can claim citizenship. Where the primary language is English. My choice avoids language problems and pesky legal residency issues. Practical and logical reasons, I think.

 

 

About the Author

 

 

Evy Journey writes. Stories and blog posts. Novels that tend to cross genres. She’s also a wannabe artist, and a flâneuse. Evy studied psychology (M.A., University of Hawaii; Ph.D. University of Illinois). So her fiction spins tales about nuanced characters dealing with contemporary life issues and problems. She believes in love and its many faces. Her one ungranted wish: To live in Paris where art is everywhere and people have honed aimless roaming to an art form. She has visited and stayed a few months at a time.

Author Links  

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

 
Evy Journey will be giving away nine $25 Amazon Gift Cards & nine boxed sets of the last 3 books in the series, Between Two Worlds! This is the way it works. Evy is touring for 6 months. At the end of each 2 month period she will be giving away 3 $25 Amazon Gift Cards and 3 boxed sets of the last 3 books in the series, Between Two Worlds. You will have a chance to win 3 times during her tour!

Terms & Conditions:

  • By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
  • Nine winners will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card and a boxed set of the last 3 books in the series, Between Two Worlds.
  • This giveaway starts February 5 and ends July 30.
  • Winners will be contacted via email on March 28, May 31 and July 30.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

Sponsored By:

 

 

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The John Callahan Series by Elizabeth Upton ~ Teasers And Giveaway

Posted: June 21, 2024 in giveaways, Mytery/Thriller, Romance
Tags: , , ,
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Father Callahan is forced back into
dangerous filth, corruption, and crime. Can he remain a celibate
priest, or will he abandon the life of faith for more sensual
pleasures? Will he stay a good man or return to the dark criminal
life he once knew so well?”

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At Home Among Sinners

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The John Callahan Series Book 1

by Elizabeth Upton

Genre: Romantic Mystery Thriller

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John Callahan is a good man with a
bad past — and his past will not let him live in peace.

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Against the odds, he matures from a teenage Belfast street thug and an IRA
killer to a happily married man and expectant father. Then fate
snatches away his wife, his unborn child—and his world—in the
flash of a tragic accident for which he feels responsible. Years
later, just as he begins to find peace and serenity again as a monk
in a rural Irish monastery, a vindictive superior banishes the
handsome young priest to a derelict parish in New York City.

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Ripped away from his quiet, cloistered life, Father Callahan is plunged back
into a dangerous cacophony of filth, corruption and crime. Will he
remain a celibate priest or will he abandon the life of faith for
more sensual pleasures? Will he remain a good man or return to the
dark criminal life he once knew so well?

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In this exciting, insightful novel, Elizabeth Upton puts readers inside
the mind of a passionate, wounded and angry young priest as he
struggles to live in a state of grace among new friends and enemies
in a foreign land.

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

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Amazon
* Bookbub
* Goodreads

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The Web of Darkness and Light

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The John Callahan Series Book 2

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Demons never tire. Like the banshees
of Irish legend, they cling to John Callahan and fill his heart with
wails of despair.

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No matter how John tries to live an
exemplary life, the former IRA killer is haunted by the memories of
the horrors he has suffered — and those he has inflicted in return.
Not the monastic life, not the vows of the priesthood, not the move
from Ireland to New York City has brought him peace.

In this second gripping novel in the series by Elizabeth Upton, John
Callahan has resigned from the priesthood in the hope of living a
simpler life as a professor at New York University. However, his
promise to a distraught colleague — who soon turns up dead —
plunges him into another mystery alongside his friend Ronald Casey, a
detective with the NYPD. Who would want to kill a professor of
neuroscience? What could be contained in the briefcase she has
guarded, quite literally, with her life?

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It begins to be clear that Dr. Shannon Grey Feather had discovered a cure for
addiction and several complex brain disorders. That is a medical
breakthrough worth millions — and one worth killing over. Once
again confronted by murder’s cruelty and life’s injustices, Callahan
must find a killer while coming to terms with his criminal past. He
longs for true peace and genuine love, but before he can hope for a
bright future, he must revisit his dark past — where the looming
demons dwell.

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

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Amazon
* Bookbub
* Goodreads

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Lovers’ Secrets and Revenge

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The John Callahan Series Book 3

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How much does family matter? And
what if there are unknown details about them?

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John Callahan visits his beloved grandmother, Annabelle, at her 500-acre
estate in Ireland. The peaceful countryside is beautiful, with lush
hills that overlook the coastline, so different from Callahan’s
home in New York City. After Annabelle dies, Callahan discovers that
she’s left everything to him. However, there are some challenges
with the staff, where secrets abound, including murder and heightened
security on the estate that can’t seem to control the chaos that is
happening.

Callahan is perplexed, wanting to solve the
murder, understand the workings of the estate, and also longing for a
relationship that would create a happy home. He meets Sara, the woman
in charge of the horses at the estate, and longs to be with her.
Throughout the busy days of work, travel, and wondering if he’s in
love, John remembers Annabelle’s words. “Whenever you need my
help, rub this precious jewel for consolation, wisdom, and
protection. Call me when needed, dearest Johnnie, and I shall come to
you.”

.

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Learn how Callahan meets the challenges of
revenge, murder, and love to discover the true meaning of friends and
family.

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

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Amazon
* Bookbub
* Goodreads

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Elizabeth Upton is a best-selling
author and influential writer of gripping romantic thrillers and
inspiring self-help motivational nonfiction books.

Her best-selling books, ‘Secrets
of a Nun: My Own Story,’ ‘The Silver Woman of Fire’ and ‘The Healing
Swords of Love and Innocence’ helped set her firmly within the
world’s literary map. With many novels to her credit, like her newest
fiction book, released in June 2022, titled ‘Lovers’ Secrets and
Revenge,’ a gripping romantic thriller, and her new nonfiction
release in Feb. 2024, titled ‘You Are a Sovereign Woman of Strength,
Love, and Grace: Embrace Your Journey.’

The Author’s favorite book she
enjoyed writing was ‘The Shaman and The Mafia,’ as she shares, “The
creation of this story has been an exciting journey. I would love to
meet all of the characters in this book in real life.”
Elizabeth’s nonfiction books and novels are available on Amazon and
Amazon Kindle and are featured on fine literary book sites and
magazines.

Elizabeth was born and raised in
Los Angeles, CA., until the age of sixteen, when she entered a New
York State Convent and became a nun for twenty years, but she yearned
for a more authentic spiritual life. Elizabeth left the convent and
chose to attend and receive her B.A. from Syracuse
University.

Returning to her native state of California,
she attended and received her M.A. in psychology from Chapman
University. The Author began working for over thirty years in family
counseling as a social worker and probation officer working with
troubled teens and abused children. She is a speaker, spiritual
mentor, and advisor.

Elizabeth is happily married and
enjoys writing books for her reader fans around the world. When the
Author is not writing, she works out with a personal trainer to stay
fit and healthy; she loves long walks on the beach with her husband
and dog. She enjoys reading good books by some of her favorite
authors like Geraldine Brooks, Hanh, Jerry Archer, Joseph Murphy, and
Michael Connelly.

Elizabeth and her husband reside outside
the area of Santa Barbara, California.

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Peek Inside And Giveaway ~ Private License by Kevin R. Doyle

Posted: June 17, 2024 in Excerpt, giveaways, Mystery
Tags: ,
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Welcome to my stop on the virtual book tour for Private License organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Author Kevin R. Doyle will award a $10 Amazon or B&N Gift Card to a randomly drawn winner. Don’t forget to enter!

And you can click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Private License

by Kevin R. Doyle

 

 

Genre: Mystery

Synopsis

All Lorie Jones wants is a little help with her divorce. Some extra information, a bit of ammunition to take into court against her no-good husband. And when she hires the biggest and best investigation firm Kansas City has to offer, that’s exactly what she gets. But after their operative wraps up Lori’s case, he decides he doesn’t want to move on, and Lori soon realizes that she’s got an even bigger problem than she had before, one that threatens her privacy, and maybe even her life.

It’s up to Sam Quinton, one-man detective agency, to take on the largest firm in the business, and as Sam digs into the background of Lori’s harasser, he soon finds something bigger, and much more dangerous, than one overzealous guy who just can’t let go.

 

Enjoy this peek inside:

They wore blue jeans, sneakers, and tee-shirts, the blond wearing navy blue and the brown-haired guy wearing bright red. Both wore their tee-shirts hanging out, and the shirts looked a size or two too big for them.

“How you doing?” the blond one asked me.

“Up to now, not bad,” I said.

The blond man continued, “Like to talk to you if you don’t mind.”

“And if I do mind?”

The two glanced at each other before turning back to me. “Going to talk to you anyway.”

I flicked my head towards the second man. “He have a voice?”

“Let’s say I’m the spokesman here, okay?” The blond tensed his arms and chest to show me he was in charge.

“You know,” I said, “flexing your muscles doesn’t do a whole lot when your shirt’s too big. You can either show off the muscles or conceal your weapons, but not both at the same time.”

Both men made involuntary hand motions towards their left hips, then caught themselves.

I smiled. “See what I mean?”

“We need to talk,” Blond repeated.

“No, you mean you want to talk. Just like I want to sit here and finish enjoying my breakfast, which isn’t going to happen if I have to take time to bounce you two bozos out into the street.”

“You think you can do that?” the brown-haired guy finally spoke up.

“Not sure,” I said. “But if you guys keep bothering me, I’m going to do my best to find out. And whether I succeed or not, it’s going to cause a ruckus, which I’m guessing your sergeant isn’t going to like too much.”

About Author Kevin R. Doyle:

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A retired high-school teacher and former college instructor, Kevin R. Doyle is the author of four novels in the Sam Quinton mystery series, all published by Camel Press. He’s also written four crime thrillers, including And the Devil Walks Away and The Anchor, and one horror novel, The Litter, along with numerous short horror stories published in small magazines over the years. The first Quinton book, Squatter’s Rights, was nominated for the 2021 Shamus award for Best First PI Novel, and the fifth in the series, Private License, will be out in August of 2024.

Author Links: Website / Facebook / Goodreads

Buy Link: Amazon

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To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Lady Anne And The Haunted Schoolgirl by Victoria Hamilton ~ Author Guest Post And Giveaway

Posted: June 12, 2024 in giveaways, Guest Post, Historical, Mystery
Tags: , , ,
19
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When a childish prank is linked to murder, Lady Anne Addison must investigate the death
of a young woman at the hands of a ghoulish fiend . . .
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Lady Anne and the Haunted Schoolgirl

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Lady Anne Addison Mysteries #5

by Victoria Hamilton

Genre: Historical Paranormal Mystery

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When a childish prank is linked
to murder, Lady Anne Addison must investigate the death of a young
woman at the hands of a ghoulish fiend . . .

As her
wedding to Lord Darkefell approaches, Lady Anne is summoned by a
local girls’ school to help them with a young student troubled by
ghostly apparitions. She’s quick to respond, and quick to discover
the trickery behind the so-called ghosts. But despite her efforts to
demonstrate to the student that she’s been the victim of a cruel
hoax, the young woman apparently jumps to her death the very next
night. Stunned and saddened by the turn of events, Lady Anne soon
realizes that what she thought was a prank was a dark precursor to
foul play.

Certain that someone closely connected to the
school murdered the young woman, Lady Anne promptly begins
questioning students and staff alike to root out the culprit.
Confronting calculating young classmates, pompous instructors, and
even the shockingly callous relatives of the victim, she still feels
no closer to exposing the killer. Then a pattern emerges suggesting
exactly who was behind the foul deed, and Anne will put her life on
the line to find justice for a young woman who lost her own life too
soon . . .

Praise for the Lady Anne Addison
Mysteries:

“If you are looking for a historical
mystery with romance, suspense, and a suggestion of paranormal, then
read Lady Anne and the Howl in the Dark.” —Fallen Angel
Reviews

“[Hamilton] excels at imbuing her realistic
characters with subtle depths . . .” —American Library
Association

“[The author] has set up a well-drawn Gothic
horror setting here, so the atmosphere is fantastic, what with it
being chilling, mysterious, and menacing all at once.” —Mrs.
Giggles

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

Find them on Amazon

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Behind the Scenes: A Writer’s Day

By: Victoria Hamilton

It’s a glamorous life, filled with champagne, strawberries, writer’s retreats, galas, and award ceremonies. Most authors have little time for the mundane details of life, between traveling to New York for meetings with their agent, top level talks with movie directors wanting to option their book, and hobnobbing with celebrity pals.

It’s exhausting, all that dining in fine restaurants and jetting around the world for research to far flung exotic locales.

That’s my daydream. The reality? I’ll tell you about it.

7 AM. Wake up. Cat barfed and I slipped in it and fell, so I have to clean that up even before coffee, limping from my twisted ankle… not a good sign of what the day will be like.

7:10 – Coffee made, head to computer. Cat whining for breakfast in kitchen. Okay… fill bowl, make it back to the computer and hear the unmistakable sounds of the cat barfing again. Let him out and clean up.

7:20 – Head back to computer. Coffee is cold. Go back and zap it in the microwave. Yuk… okay…

7:25 – Make a fresh cup of coffee because nuked coffee is awful.

7:30 – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, newsletter, emails, etc. Get lost in the latest online controversy, madly typing pithy remarks, and just as quickly erasing them in case they get me in trouble. I’m a writer; if people don’t like my opinions I could easily end up in the hinterlands of publishing, boycotted for an unpopular stance.

9:00 – Work! Need to write. Start, then realize that there is nothing for supper and the laundry is waiting, so I put in a load, go on Instacart, order groceries, change laundry to dryer and put another load in the washer, receive Instacart order and put it all away.

12:00 – Lunch. Read articles while eating at the computer.

12:30 – Write, goldarnit. Gotta get down to it! Reread what I wrote yesterday and go back, editing that much. Try to plan ahead so I won’t end up in the plotting blackhole like the last book, when it took three bottles of wine and an intervention to get past the mid-plot slump. Realize that I hate plotting; writing is where it’s at. So… dive into writing. I’m headed for trouble and I know it, but have given up caring. I’ll muddle through somehow. So… write on. And… this is how I finally get my 1,000 word quota for the day done. Yes, I have a quota… it keeps me on task. Thank heavens for that or I’d never type ‘The End’.

3:45 – Squint out the window… it is daytime, right? Yes… there is light, so it’s day. And… dang it… there’s still laundry in the dryer and wet clothes in the washer. And what’s for dinner? Darn; I put everything away from the Instacart order but didn’t take anything out of the freezer. Maybe pizza?

3:47 – Oops… last minute query from editor. There’s a problem with the last manuscript, the one that is supposed to go to print in a week. A software issue has popped up and suddenly spaces are wandering off, going missing, and words are being smooshed together. This is not good, especially when the two words are ‘an’ and ‘ally’. (True story.) This is going to require a complete read through of the manuscript. It’s due three days from now if I have any hope of getting it published in time.

And my next book (the one I just started) is due in two months. I’m behind, and I’ll never ever catch up.

But… the very next morning I get a lovely letter from a reader that makes me cry. It’s the best job in the world, and I love it, and it’s a wonderful life.

~::~

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Victoria Hamilton is the national
bestselling author of four mystery series: the Vintage Kitchen
Mysteries; the Merry Muffin Mysteries; the Lady Anne Addison
Historical Mysteries and the Gentlewoman’s Guide Regency Mysteries.

Victoria
loves to read, especially mystery novels, and enjoys good tea and
cheap wine, the company of friends, and has a newfound appreciation
for opera. She enjoys crocheting and beading, but a good book can
tempt her away from almost anything… except writing!

She
now happily writes about vintage kitchen collecting, muffin baking
and dead bodies – among other mysterious topics – for publisher
Beyond the Page.

Visit
Victoria’s website and sign up for her newsletter!

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Website
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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

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Swag Pack with $25 Amazon Giftcard – 2 winners, US & Canada only,

$10
Amazon giftcard – 1 winner, WW

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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.

Over The Edge ~ A Novel by Kathleen Bryant

Posted: June 8, 2024 in giveaways, Mystery
Tags: ,
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Over the Edge: A Novel
by Kathleen Bryant

 


Over the Edge: A Novel
Traditional Mystery
Setting – Sedona, Arizona
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Crooked Lane Books (June 4, 2024)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1639107541
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1639107544
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CH9KTJ6C

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In Sedona’s red rock canyons, a former reporter must piece together her shattered memories in time to stop a killer in this cat-and-mouse thriller, perfect for fans of CJ Box and Anne Hillerman.

After a disastrous mistake ended her career as a crime reporter, Del Cooper returns to Sedona and takes a gig with a down-on-its-luck tour company while she rebuilds her life. Her peaceful small-town escape ends when, hiking in a remote red rock canyon, she finds the broken body of a murdered man.

At first, she believes the murder is connected to a proposed land trade that will pave the way for a luxury development on the edge of town, but it seems money isn’t the killer’s only motive. As she digs deeper, she uncovers the small town’s darkest secrets, all leading her to Lee Ranch, a former filming location for Western movies. Two women disappear after Del interviews them, and rumors begin to spin faster than Sedona’s famed energy vortexes. But she knows the truth: Someone is watching her from the shadows.

About Kathleen Bryant

Kathleen Bryant turned her boots-first exploration of the West’s landscapes and cultures into a career as a travel writer and novelist. Her publishing credits include romance novels, travel guides, magazine articles, an award-winning children’s picture book, and a cookbook highlighting National Parks. An avid hiker and history buff, she’s led tours of ancient rock art sites, participated in field school digs, and guided yoga experiences in the red rocks of Sedona. Today, Kathleen lives with her musician husband in California, where she continues to seek out new adventures. When she’s not writing or researching her next book, you might find her on a hiking trail taking photos of wildflowers or driving down a country lane to visit a dairy farm or vineyard.

Author Links: Website / Facebook / Instagram / Bluesky / LinkedIn / Amazon

Goodreads / Library Thing / Substack

Purchase Links

Amazon Kindle    Amazon Hardcover    Apple Books    BAM!    Barnes & Noble    Bookshop.org    Google Play   Kobo    Random House

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

June 4 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT

June 4 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

June 5 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

June 5 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST

June 6 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

June 6 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

June 7 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

June 7 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

June 8 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

June 8 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

June 9 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

June 9 – StoreyBook Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST

June 10 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR GUEST POST

June 10 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read! – REVIEW

June 11 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

June 11 – Carla Loves To Read – REVIEW

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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.

Murder At The College by P.H. Turner ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: June 4, 2024 in Excerpt, giveaways, Mystery
Tags: ,
43

Welcome to my stop on the virtual book tour for Murder At The College organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Author P.H. Turner will award a $20 Amazon or B&N Gift Card to a randomly drawn winner. Don’t forget to enter!

And you can click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Murder At The College

by P.H. Turner

 

 

Genre: Mystery

Synopsis

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Enjoy this peek inside:

The Starlight bar’s back door was unlocked, and the old door creaked like a rusty garden gate. If Kat was already there, she knew someone had arrived. Quinn ran through the corridor and past Ben’s dark office toward a light burning over the mixologist workstation. Ben was dropping orange peels into a steaming pot of water and wearing earbuds. He was humming softly to himself.

“Ben,” she yelled as she raced up the steps to join him.

He turned around and jerked out the earbuds. “What’s going on?”

Suddenly, the lights went out, plunging the bar into the dark. The only light came from the gas flame flickering under the bubbling pot. “Call the police,” Quinn said.

“It’s okay. It’s the storm. I have a flashlight around here somewhere.” Ben bent over and pulled a light out from under the counter.

Quinn whirled around to stare into the back hall. She’d heard something, but it was black as pitch, and she couldn’t see.

Ben must have heard it, too. He aimed the powerful flashlight into the hallway. “Who’s there?”

The overhead light flickered once and came on, and the hairs on the back of Quinn’s neck rose.

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About Author P.H. Turner:

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P.H. Turner (Pat) writes contemporary mysteries spiked with long-held grudges, secrets, and murder. With roots in a Texas farm homesteaded in the 1850s, she calls Austin home. When she’s not writing, she’s cooking for family, or taking care of a pair of hairy mutts, or in her garden coaxing roses to bloom in the Texas heat.

Pat is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and Romance Writers of America.

Author Links: Amazon / Website / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

Purchase Link: Amazon

~~~~~

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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.

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