Saturday, September 30, 2023

Hanging by a Thread (A Sewing Studio Mystery) by Dorothy Howell ~ #CozyMystery @DHowellNovels

 

Hanging by a Thread (A Sewing Studio Mystery) by Dorothy Howell

About Hanging by a Thread:

 

Hanging by a Thread (A Sewing Studio Mystery)

Cozy Mystery

2nd in Series

Setting – Fictional Town of Hideaway Grove

Kensington Cozies (September 26, 2023)

Hardcover: ‎ 304 pages

ISBN-10: ‎ 1496740424

ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1496740427 

Digital ASIN: ‎ B0BRF14464 

The latest novel in a new crafting cozy series in the genre-leading Kensington Cozy Mystery program focusing on the members of a Sewing Studio.

Some of the independent shops in this sleepy town are barely hanging on financially—and that includes Sarah’s Sweets, Abbey’s aunt’s bakery. The shop’s advantage—aside from the deliciousness of its products—is the fact that it’s the only bakery in the area. But it looks like that’s about to change. The second wife of a wealthy businessman wants her own bakery—and money is no object.

When murder unravels the plans for the competing shop, Aunt Sarah is an immediate suspect—and Hideaway Grove’s merchants are on pins and needles about a big upcoming women’s conference, fearing the organization will cancel their booking because of the crime. Abbey’s doing her best to stay optimistic and stitch some custom tote bags for the attendees, but she’s also concerned with patching up Aunt Sarah’s good reputation. And when it comes to sorting through the possible motives of the victim’s family members and associates, she’s got a few tricks up her sleeve . . .

About Dorothy Howell:

USA Today Bestselling author Dorothy Howell is the author of 49 novels. Her books have been translated into a dozen languages and sold worldwide. She writes the Sewing Studio mystery series, the Haley Randolph mystery series, and the Hollis Brannigan and Dana Mackenzie mystery series. Dorothy also writes historical romance novels under the pen name Judith Stacy. Dorothy lives in Los Angeles.

Website: DorothyHowellNovels.com
Goodreads: Dorothy Howell 

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS:

September 26 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
September 26 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT
September 26 – Kenyan Poet – SPOTLIGHT
September 27 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – AUTHOR GUEST POST
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September 29 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT
September 29 – Jane Reads – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
September 29 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT
September 30 – StoreyBook Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST
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October 1 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT 
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October 4 – Novels Alive – REVIEW
October 4 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT
October 5 – Angel's Guilty Pleasures – SPOTLIGHT
October 5 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW

Sitou’s Journey into the World of Emotions by Linda Luchtman ~ @RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #SitousJourney #LindaLuchtman #MiddleGrade

 

Sitou’s Journey into the World of Emotions by Linda Luchtman 

Children’s Book, Middle Grade

Date Published: September 30, 2023

 

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Come along with Sitou on a magical journey of emotional discovery!


About the Book:

Are you ready for a magical trip through a beautiful autumn forest, where you'll learn lessons on joy, sadness, anger and fear and meet some wonderful friends? We're excited to tell you about "Sitou’s Journey into the World of Emotions," a captivating children's book that takes kids over seven and older on a trip of emotional discovery that changes them.

The Journey Starts with the main character Sitou, a young and sensitive girl. Sitou makes friends with a scared, talking hedgehog. As they go on a journey together, Sitou learns that even the smallest animals have their own emotions and feelings. Sitou wants to learn more about fear, sadness, joy and anger and she does.  Sitou learns to recognize and understand her own feelings and those of others as she meets different animals. The book shows in a beautiful way how important understanding and emotional intelligence are, giving young readers the tools they need to deal with their own feelings with confidence and kindness.

Interesting is that the story isn't the end of the trip! The second part of the book is a workbook "Discover for Yourself the Essence of Joy, Sadness, Anger, and Fear". The workbook has a set of interactive tasks that encourage readers to use the lessons Sitou learned on her trip in their own lives. The assignments help kids understand and deal with their feelings, which is important for their mental health.

The author really wants to make a difference in the mental and emotional health of young readers. If this book can make a child smile or help someone who is having a hard time with their feelings and emotion, it will make the author very happy and proud. Parents, guardians, teachers, and therapists are encouraged to talk to their kids,  students and clients about what's in the book. This can lead to fun and important conversations.

Why read:  "Sitou’s Journey into the World of Emotions"?

 

·         A heartwarming and interesting story for kids 7-12 years of age.

·         Shows youngsters how important emotional intelligence and kindness can be.

·         Interactive tasks reinforce what you've learned and help you grow as a person.

·         A helpful resource for parents, guardians, teachers, and therapists who want to help children's mental health and intelligence.

·         Beautiful illustrations made by an award-winning illustrator


Get a copy right away! Don't miss the chance to join Sitou and her friend the hedgehog on this touching trip. You can now buy the book "Sitou’s Journey into the World of Emotions, at https://www.amazon.com/Sitous-Journey-into-World-Emotions-ebook/dp/B0CGJTSZLT.  Let your child's heart be touched by the magic of emotions as they discover the beauty of the autumn forest and the depth of their own feelings.


 

About the Author:

Linda Luchtman is a debut author from the Netherlands. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, which was a hard time for many people emotionally and mentally, the story of Sitou was born, but the author put it aside to write "The Bum Biter," a sweet little book for toddlers that was only released in her private circle in the Netherlands but will be available on Amazon later this year.

It wasn't until her daughter, Lara, struggled with anxiety in 2023 that the author revisited the story of Sitou. She knew it was the perfect way to help her daughter, and it did just that. Now, Linda is on a mission to share the story to help kids and adolescents with their emotional well-being. Next to this, she has made several assignments to go along with Sitou's story to help readers connect Sitou's journey to their lives. This makes it a more interactive and meaningful experience.

Linda is not only an expert in writing. She is also an expert in instructional design and using neuroscience to create effective classrooms. She has a Master's degree in this field and has helped many teachers and trainers in universities, vocational training, and businesses. She is a certified coach and is currently seeing her first coaching clients.


Contact Link:

Website


Purchase Link:

Amazon


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Friday, September 29, 2023

Cover Reveal ~ The Desk from Hoboken by ML Condike ~ @RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #TheDeskfromHoboken #MLCondike #Mystery #CoverReveal @harborlanebooks

 

The Desk from Hoboken by ML Condike 

Mystery

Date to be Published: March 5, 2024 

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About the Book:

In a bid to heal from the grief of a personal loss, forensic genealogist, RaeJean Hunter, takes on a straightforward case —identify human remains found on a nearby college campus, believed to be the 180-year-old remains of Mary Rogers, a woman who died mysteriously in 1841 and was believed to have been buried in the nearby cemetery that had washed away. It should be simple enough, a project to get her back in the game.

Unfortunately, it quickly becomes anything but. In fact, it becomes downright dangerous.

Someone doesn't want RaeJean to investigate the puzzling death of the woman whose death inspired Edgar Allan Poe's "The Mystery of Marie Roget." As she follows clues through four states and discovers living family members who both help and hinder her search, she quickly realizes that the secrets of Mary Rogers' demise were never meant to be exposed.

What lengths will someone go to keep the truth buried in the past? As threats escalate and RaeJean and her family's lives become endangered, she's forced to follow every lead and use every skill she has to find the answers she needs before it's too late. Using DNA from two famous New England families, historical data, modern genealogical techniques, and a little guidance from a seemingly mystical antique desk, RaeJean takes on the cold case despite being given every reason to abandon it.

After all, what truths have been hidden for 180 years that would be worth bribery, kidnapping, and even murder?

RaeJean Hunter is about to find out. 

 

About the Author:

ML Condike has published short stories in anthologies that include Strange & Sweet, (2019), Tall Tales and Timeless Stories, (2022), Malice in Dallas, Metroplex Mysteries, Volume 1 (2022), and won first place in the fifteenth annual Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction Awards, Mystery/Crime category (2019), and 2nd Place in the Tennessee Williams Short Story Contest, Key West Art & Historical Society (2022).

She’s an associate member of Mystery Writers of America Florida Chapter, Sisters in Crime National, Sisters in Crime North Dallas (Treasurer), Granbury Writers’ Bloc, and Key West Writers Guild.

As the result of her study of genealogy for her debut novel The Desk from Hoboken, she researched her own family and she discovered she had a direct bloodline to a Patriot. So, most recently she has been inducted into the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).

 

Contact Links:

Website

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Follow the Publisher on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook - @harborlanebooks

 

Preorder Links

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The Ladder Larceny by Caron Pescatore ~ @CaronPescatore @RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #TheLadderLarceny #CaronPescatore #MiddleGrade



A Kids' Court Whodunit #6

 

The Ladder Larceny by Caron Pescatore

Middle-Grade / Mystery

Date Published: 09-29-2023

 

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About the Book:

A missing ladder. A relentless bully. Can the junior lawyer uncover the truth before chaos erupts?

Luana Porcello has discovered a new love: volunteering at the community dog pound. Still, as much as she enjoys working with animals, law remains her true passion. So, when the local bully accuses his neighbor of theft, she happily resumes her attorney role, confident of her client’s innocence.

But as Luana gets to work, a formidable wall of evidence stands against her client, from physical proof linking him to the alleged crime scene to an eyewitness who insists he saw the accused commit the deed. Undeterred by the odds stacked against her, Luana is relentless in her quest to vindicate her client. Will her determination be enough to tip the scales of justice in their favor?

About the Author:

Caron Pescatore was born in the United Kingdom. She spent most of her childhood in Jamaica before migrating to the United States. After practicing as a registered nurse for many years, Caron decided to enter law school, obtaining her J.D. in 2001. She worked as an attorney for several years before leaving the profession to become a stay-at-home mom—her most challenging career to date. She recently resumed working as an attorney at Legal Aid, representing people from marginalized communities. Ms. Pescatore is passionate about justice and fairness for all, a sentiment that led, in part, to her decision to write the Kids’ Court Whodunit series. Her favorite pastimes are reading, writing, and watching true-crime shows. She also recently discovered a love of painting using stencils. At present, Ms. Pescatore lives in Florida with her husband and two children.


Contact Links:

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Facebook

Twitter

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Purchase Link:

Amazon https://amzn.to/3RtmLhf

 

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Twiggy and the Lost Socks by Renée DeVincent ~ @DevincentR47835 @RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #TwiggyandtheLostSocks #ReneeDeVincent #ChildrensBook

 

A Rhyming Backyard Adventure

 

Twiggy and the Lost Socks 

by Renée DeVincent

Children's Book

Date Published: September 2023

 

About the Book:

Meet Twiggy! He loves to explore with his family finding treasures to store before winter. Fall is ending, and Twiggy finds a soft and fuzzy treasure to keep him warm during colder days. Unknown to him, it belongs to a girl searching for her favorite lost sock. Find out what happens when Twiggy and the girl come face to face. How will they cope with their complex emotions about the situation and each other? 

About the Author

Renée DeVincent was born on an Army Base in Savannah, GA. Her passion for reading and creativity developed at a young age. Growing up in a military family and moving frequently, books and art became a source of comfort and escape. Later in life, she embarked on her writing career, grant and technical writing, shortly after receiving her M.Ed. in Counseling. At the same time, she continued to develop her passion for fictional short stories, literature, and art, leading her to get an AAS degree in Graphic Design.

Reading books to her daughters inspired her to write and illustrate her first Children's Book, Twiggy and the Lost Socks. Renée believes reading and storytelling are powerful ways to connect with others and foster a love of learning. Using a lighthearted rhyming style, inspired by nature, Renée uses her colorful illustrations and writing to encourage self-awareness, responsibility, positive relationships, and a solid character.

Currently, Renée resides in the heart of Kansas with her two children and supportive husband of 30 years. When not writing or creating art, Renée loves to spend time with her garden, nature, the outdoors, and her many fur babies. Hazel the Doberman and Milo the Ragdoll cat, provide many hours of writing inspiration.

 

Contact Links:

Website

Facebook

Instagram

X (formerly Twitter)


Purchase Link

Author Website: https://www.reneedevincent.com/product/Twiggy-and-the-Lost-Socks-A-Rhyming-Backyard-Adventure

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3rn20t1

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My Favorite Season is Spring by Patrice Wilkerson ~ @RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #MyFavoriteSeasonisSpring #PatriceWilkerson #ChildrensBook

 

My Favorite Season is Spring by Patrice Wilkerson

Children's Book

Date Published: May 1, 2023

Publisher: Jan-Carol Publishing, Inc.


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About the Book:

My Favorite Season is Spring is a beautifully illustrated picture book which every child will love. Through rhythm and rhyme, take a fun and exciting journey with little Susie as she describes her favorite season. She finds so many fun things to do and she loves the outdoors, and you will too! Great engaging teaching tool for children. 

About the Author:

Patrice D. Wilkerson is an MBA graduate who loves writing poetry. She has been writing poetry since she was eight years old and loves to inspire others through words. She's written a collection of poetry entitled, Through It All, I'm Going to Make It, which she published in 2010.


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Thursday, September 28, 2023

Reading, Writing, and Murder (Chocolate Martini Sisters Mystery) by Brenda Whiteside and Joyce Proell ~ Cozy Mystery @brendawhitesid2

 

Reading, Writing, and Murder (Chocolate Martini Sisters Mystery) 

by Brenda Whiteside and Joyce Proell

About Reading, Writing, and Murder:

 

Reading, Writing, and Murder (Chocolate Martini Sisters Mystery)

Cozy Mystery

2nd in Series

Setting - Wyatt, Arizona (fictitious setting)

Independently Published (September 19, 2023)

Print length: ‎ 273 pages

Digital ASIN: ‎ B0C4G6GZLN

At the writers’ conference, murder tops the program.

Aspiring mystery author Emma Banefield and travel writer Nicole Earp are excited to attend a writers’ conference during their latest sisters’ getaway. Nic’s birthday should be all about relaxation, writing, and a chocolate martini to toast another trip around the sun, but the climate at the gathering rumbles like a sudden desert thunderstorm. When sparks fly between the keynote speaker and her timid assistant over a handsome mystery author, the subtitle on this anticipated tranquil weekend spells drama. If a heated love triangle, bruised egos, and betrayal aren’t enough to upset the atmosphere, the conference banquet erupts into a drunken brawl and sends the place spinning. After a body is discovered, Nic and Em do what they do best—snoop—and become embroiled in a mystery that jumps off the pages of a true-crime bestseller. With more than enough suspects and little time, the amateur sleuths have their hands full finding the killer. But can the competitive Chocolate Martini Sisters solve the crime before the prickly chief detective does, or will a murderer outwit them all?

About the Authors:

Joyce Proell is the award-winning author of Amaryllis, Eliza and the Cady Delafield mysteries: A Deadly Truth, A Burning Truth and A Wicked Truth. Along with her husband and little dog, Nellie, she lives in Minnesota in her very own little house on the prairie. She loves to hear from readers.

Website Facebook Amazon Author Page Goodreads Author Page

Brenda Whiteside is the award-winning author of romantic suspense, romance, and cozy mystery. After living in six states and two countries—so far—she and her husband have settled in Central Arizona. They admit to being gypsies at heart and won't discount the possibility of another move. They share their home with a rescue dog named Amigo. While FDW fishes, Brenda writes.

Visit Brenda’s Website Facebook Twitter Blog Amazon Author Page Goodreads Author Page BookBub Instagram

Join her Newsletter Group here.

Purchase Links Amazon US Amazon UK Amazon Canada

TOUR PARTICIPANTS:

September 19 – Baroness Book Trove – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
September 19 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW
September 20 – Elizabeth McKenna - Author – SPOTLIGHT
September 20 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT
September 21 – Mystery, Thrillers and Suspense - AUTHOR GUEST POST
September 21 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT
September 22 – Novels Alive – REVIEW
September 22 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT
September 23 – StoreyBook Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST
September 23 – Cassidy's Bookshelves – SPOTLIGHT
September 24 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT 
September 24 – Christa Reads and Writes – SPOTLIGHT
September 25 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT
September 25 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT
September 26 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
September 26 – Bea's Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT
September 27 – Christy's Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST
September 27 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT
September 28 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
September 28 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
September 29 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW
September 30 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW
September 30 – Reading Is My SuperPower – AUTHOR GUEST POST
September 30 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT
October 1 – The Mystery Section – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT
October 1 – Rebecca M. Douglass, Author – CHARACTER GUEST POST
October 2 – eBook Addicts – REVIEW  a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Heart of the Storm (Demon Storm, Book Four) by Valerie Storm ~ YA Fantasy @Valerie_Storm


Heart of the Storm
Demon Storm
Book Four
Valerie Storm

Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: Shadow Spark Publishing
Date of Publication: 9/13/23
ISBN: ISBN: 978-1-956883-14-5
ASIN: B0CFHBLMGJ
Number of pages:410
Word Count:101219
Cover Artist: @Ginkahederling

Tagline:
A fresh start. An old home, new again.  And a new evil to match.

Crimson eyes and dark wings. Together, they'll be terrible. Can she break free?

Their light is broken. When a new darkness rises, will they overcome it?

About the Book:

More than night terrors keep Kari awake at night. Ari languishes beside her, broken by the horrors Raven bestowed upon him.

She hopes he heals, and soon.

When a familiar presence and an unexplainable human with magic happen upon their doorstep, Kari and Ari make a decision: leave Raziac Village in search of answers and a new home.

But the heart eater waits for them.

Read an Excerpt:

Kari pushed away her steak, half-eaten. “Can this place be real?”

            Rathik looked up from his turkey. “Sometimes I can’t believe it myself, and I headed the revolution.”

Ari leaned over his plate, eyes widening. “You did? How?”

“From within the town itself. I was on the guard. I hid myself, too.” Rathik looked at Kari. “My commanding officer believed I had a skin disease.”

A sudden memory pricked her attention. The day she’d run into a guard in Snow Shade—after stealing the magic book for Kiki—she’d glimpsed scales on that man’s face and forgotten all about it.

Guine snorted. “Nice.”

            Rathik inclined his head. “My position enabled me to sneak demons in. I was just trying to help sickly ones at first. Eventually my name—different than the one I used as a guard—became infamous.” He laughed, shaking his head, and took a sip of ale.

            “I…I remember your name. Rathik.” Kari wracked her brain, remembering the first bolt of lightning she had called down; it had been glorious, though it also represented the first time she had felt the burning fire of the Catalyst. She’d been attacked by a demon yelling about a Rathik.

            Rathik grimaced. “I became a rallying point for many demons in the north, and it wasn’t long until the Lord Isaac was looking for me.”

            Kari, nodded, recalling that, too.

“Lord Isaac became frantic, especially when a man and his wife were found dead in their homes. He ordered searches, and it wasn’t long before my friends were found out. One died, trying to protect the others.”

Kari’s throat tightened. Ari shifted so she could grab his arm. Guine glanced at them.

“It was me,” she muttered in a hoarse whisper.

“What?” Rathik asked.

“It was my fault your friend died. I…I was the one who killed those two humans.”

She’d had no choice, she’d told herself, yet that hadn’t been true. How many times had Kiki tried to convince her they could run away without leaving any bodies behind? And Kari had refused, sure that killing Anne and Joseph was the only true way to honor her parents.

If she’d listened, Kiki may have lived, and Rathik’s friend wouldn’t have died.

Rathik leaned over the table. “No. Trust me, Kari. It was only a matter of time before Lord Isaac snapped. Even Dorn, from Isaac’s council, said he was well on his way to madness without anyone’s help.”

“He’s right,” Ari said, rubbing her. “Even we’d heard some stories in Raziac. You aren’t to blame for his actions.”

Kari caught Guine’s eye, his expression indiscernible, then frowned at her plate.

            Rathik nodded. “His own people saw it. Some of them helped us, guiding our peaceful speeches to fellow humans, and reconciling began. Now we have this.”

            He waved his hand, gesturing at the room.

            “Even though I’d heard of the revolution, I can hardly believe my eyes,” Ari said. “This place is unimaginable.”

 

 

About the Author:

Valerie Storm was raised in Tucson, Arizona. Growing up, she fell in love with everything fantasy. When she wasn’t playing video games, she was writing. By age ten, she began to write her own stories as a way to escape reality. When these stories became a full-length series, she considered the path to sharing with other children & children at heart looking for a place to call home.









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Wednesday, September 27, 2023

Just a Fika: Coffee, Connection, and a Matchmaking Ghost Grandmother by Beck Erixson ~ @BErixson ~ Speculative Contemporary Romance/Women’s Fiction with Romance



Just a Fika: Coffee, Connection, and a Matchmaking Ghost Grandmother
Beck Erixson

Genre: Speculative Contemporary Romance/Women’s Fiction with Romance
Publisher: Aegir Haven, LLC 
Date of Publication: October 3, 2023
ISBN: 979-8-9875998-0-8 (paperback)
ISBN” 979-8-9875998-2-2 (ebook)
Number of pages: 308
Word Count: 83,000
Cover Artist: Melody Jeffries

Tagline: Family. They’re always meddling in your love life… Even after they’re dead.

About the Book:

Brooklynite-and genealogist-Ingrid Ekstrom accepts a surprise request from her typically estranged family: to become the live-in caretaker of their shared historic house in the sleepy Jersey Shore town of Aegir Haven. A fun-loving cousin is quick to introduce Ingrid to the local handyman and bluegrass musician. As he fixes up the place, Ingrid digs into the house's past and learns about the family she barely knows. 

And then Mormor-her long-dead grandmother-shows up, acting as though not being in the spirit realm is perfectly normal.  

Ingrid's always yearned for stronger family connections, and it's nice having Mormor around. Mormor tries to set her up with a young real estate attorney who's closer to her more thunderous, god-like personal standards than the musician with keen senses Ingrid is falling for. As lore and legends mingle with real life, she's torn. Mormor's fantastical family sagas can't actually be true, right?


Read an Excerpt:

“Show yourself, you meddling woman,” I say, probably too stern for a granddaughter. She did this to herself.

“Oh, relax. You had fun, didn’t you?” Mormor’s voice projects from the living room.

“You had no business showing up tonight. My social life is mine.” I kick off my shoes in the entry and cut across to the warmth of the lit fireplace. She’s kept herself busy.

“Oh, sit down,” she scolds me from the purple wingback chair, like the child she believes I still am.

Hard to say no to your grandmother, even if you don’t really know her. For civility’s sake, I take my place in the leather chair on the other side of the fireplace, garnering an unobstructed view of her. The heat and flames of the fireplace illuminate the bridge etched into the back of the black stone, only visible when the temperature hits high enough. She’s been waiting.

“Did you have fun?” The chair creaks as she adjusts her legs. “You two were adorable together.”

“So you said at the restaurant. Directly to him.” The energy it takes to argue isn’t worth the effort right now. Opting for a tone of juvenile annoyance takes less energy. “Can you please stay out of my personal life? Can this be something we agree to?”

“Absolutely not. You’ll blow it. Look at your track record. You need me.” She waves off my request. “Besides, it was one date, and of course that boy ended up there too.”
Ah, so she didn’t send him. Sweet. “Thatboy?“ I ask.

“Yes, the one with the instrument and the curls in his hair. The one who’s been fixing things here.” Mormorisn’t holding back niceties.

“Kurt?” I grin. “What do you have against Kurt?” Reveling in this is wrong, but so right.

“You need someone with their feet on the ground. Someone like Yale.” She sits high like a queen in her court.

“What do you know about him?” I’m not arguing. Who knows how long she’s been popping in and out of my life?

“I know what I need to.” She lengthens her neck. “Why even bother with him?”

“Ah, so you know nothing.” Makes two of us, really. Other than being kind, talented, and someone to joke around with, he’s a mystery. A mystery who’s comfortable to be around, but sometimes makes butterflies flutter in my chest. Yale makes me awkward and nervous. Ugh,I’m overanalyzing again. Inside me there’s a constant nag when I’m around Yale that he’s not a good idea. Not that Kurt’s a good idea.

“Let’s clarify something. I’m not going back until I know you are okay.” Mormor stares off at the fire. A gentle breeze whistles through the windows and flutters the edges of her hair.

“Is this a promise or a threat?” Please stay, for at least a while longer. I like getting to know her when she’s not meddling. Half the reason I agreed to move out here was to learn more about my family.

I suppose I should thank her. Dinner ended when the menu she was holding too close to the wall sconce caught fire and we had to run outside. Serves her right for spying and not paying attention. There’s nothing quite like the smell of melting plastic to inflict headaches and end a date quickly.

He was kind enough to walk me home after I made the first turn in the wrong direction. I’d have made it eventually. His gentlemanly self was fantastic. It was the long periods of not talking and staring at the candle that made me want to bolt.

“You know I love you.” I open my arms for a hug.

She turns non-corporeal and laughs as my arms slice through her.

Mormor! “What are the rules here? When are you—you? And when are you a ghost?” I stamp my voice like a toddler mid-tantrum, adding extra emphasis at the beginning of each sentence.

“You were going to squeeze me too hard.” She’s right. “When I’m tired, I fade a bit. I don’t like where I go when I fade.”

A tiny over-the-top squeeze to make her feel as uncomfortable as I felt with Yale is deserved, tight enough so she knows I’m squeezing love and the want of a direct connection with her.

“Where you go?” Legitimate question.

“I have to go somewhere? What? You think I’m like a fading light?”

I shrug. “Sorry, I don’t have experience with—ghosts?”

“We’ve been over this.” She rolls her eyes. “The rules are murky.” She pulls at the low braid on the back of her head.

“Oh, is that all?” This woman is off her rocker.

“It’s complicated.” She crosses her arms and huffs. “Haven’t you bothered doing your research?”

“This isn’t something I can research.” Hello, librarian, I keep seeing my dead grandmother. Do you have any books on this?

My jaw drops—this was an intentional diversion. “You’re trying to get sympathy and distract me from the fact you interrupted in the most inappropriate way on a date.”

She wrinkles her nose. “Caught me. You still need to think about dating a proper choice. I’m holding my ground on this.”

“Proper?” Again, with that word. “I don’t need to date anyone. I’m here to watch the house.”

She comes over and envelopes me in a too-hard hug.

I wheeze. “Besides it wasn’t a date, it was two people going to dinner.”

The unsuccessful wiggle of my arms proves Mormor’s ghost form is stronger than she lets on.

“Dating doesn’t mean a relationship.” I peck her cheek. “Having dinner once or twice is getting to know someone.”

She releases her arms and slinks back in her chair. “Don’t end up alone, Ingrid.” A tremble crosses her tone.

“I’ve got you. How can I be alone?”

“You know very well what I mean. You’ve squandered your twenties, and now—”

“I got an education and lived life.” There it is. Clear disappointment I’ve caused her in my life choices. “I traveled and dated. Not everyone finds themselves in their early twenties.”

“Will you consider dating while you are here? He’s really a nice boy.”

“I’m here to maintain the house. Not to date.” I’m over dating.

“Being here doesn’t mean you can’t date.”

I shake my head. She’s relentless.

Mormor waves her hand in front of the fire, and the flames dance higher. “Yale is…” She wags her eyebrows. “Kurt is…” A hovered eye roll punctuates the end of her sentence.

“A friend.” Sort of—he’s working here because Svea paid him.

Mormor grumbles something inaudible from my seat. “I have a list of projects for you. Promise me you’ll stay till you finish some?” She pulls her arm back to the chair and rests her hands on her lap.

“I’m a fill-in. The only person available with no ties to kids or an office.” Story of my life. The living family members call when they remember my existence. Supposedly they love me, but…eh, baggage to think about another day, right? “Promise me you won’t mess up Kurt’s projects on the house?” He works hard regardless of her impression of him.

“As long as he sticks to the house as a project and not you.” She wags her finger and heaves a sigh.

A halfhearted nod is the only option to end this conversation. “Tea?”

I’m not a project.



About the Author: 

Beck Erixson writes about the beautifully awkward world of navigating the journey to true happiness through friendships, love, and family—be it blood, found, or chosen. Her stories enhance the importance of positive interconnection, even when we feel lonely. She lives on the Jersey Shore, and can often be found either writing by the river, or in it in some way. Her short stories have appeared in Many Nice Donkeys, and Full Mood Mag.









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