Tuesday, May 21, 2024

Audiobook Blast - Grounds for Murder: Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries by Lena Gregory - Read by Eleanor McCormick @LenaGregory03

 

 

Audio Book Grounds for Murder: Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries 

by Lena Gregory 

Read by Eleanor McCormick

Grounds for Murder: Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries

Cozy Mystery 

2nd in Series

Setting - Watchogue, Long Island, New York

Audiobook (May 21, 2024)

Publisher – Tantor Audio

Listening Length – 6 hours and 55 minutes 

ASIN: B0D324Q1S7 

Audio CD ASIN: ‎ B0CZ2KWM4M 

Gemma Halliday Publishing (November 21, 2023) 

Number of Pages: 226

Digital ASIN: ‎ B0CCLT922F

From author Lena Gregory comes a tasty new mystery with a killer twist...

Danika Delaney is thrilled to have taken over her uncle Jimmie's old fashioned malt shop on eastern Long Island and is working hard to make it her own. In an effort to increase business, Danika invites a mystery writer to the Coffee & Cream Café for a discussion and book signing. Things seem to be going well, until a guest shows up and confronts the author, accusing him of plagiarizing his work. Embarrassed by the incident, Danika goes to the inn where the writer is staying the following morning, hoping to apologize and offer him another chance to return. What she finds instead is his dead body—beside a cup of poisoned coffee! Now it's up to Danika to find out who wanted to silence the author... before the killer decides to write Danika a not-so-happy ending!

About Lena Gregory

Lena grew up in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, but she recently traded in cold, damp, gray winters for the warmth and sunshine of central Florida, where she now lives with her husband, three kids, son-in-law, and four dogs. Her hobbies include spending time with family, reading, and walking. Her love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn’t sleep through the night. She works full time as a writer and a freelance editor and is a member of Sisters in Crime.

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Audiobook

Release Date June 25, 2024

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Toasted by Isobel Reed ~ @GoddessFish #ContemporaryRomance ~ #ThereIsAGive@way


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Isobel Reed will award a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

About the Book:
Welcome to Woodvalley Pines…where hunky firefighters save the day! It’s time to turn up the heat and hope this smokin’ hot fireman can control the blaze.

Libby hadn’t even been in Woodvalley Pines a day and she was already freaking out. Her kitchen had just set on fire. From toast of all things! That’s right, she was the victim of the elusive toaster fire. Yes, a toaster. Who knew they could just spontaneously burst into flames? She certainly didn’t. If that wasn’t enough to ruin her day, a swarm of hot firefighters seeing her in her pink pajamas would do it.

Zach tried his hardest not to laugh as the woman in the Disney pajamas accused him of keeping toaster fire safety a secret. He didn’t know where in the world this angry green-eyed princess had come from, but he had to admit that he was intrigued. After all, if she had this much passion when it came to talking toasters, what other kind of flames could he stoke in her?

Libby and Zach’s spark was instant, but will the fire burn out or can they keep the flames blazing?
Genre:

Contemporary Romance

Read an Excerpt:

“Looking beautiful tonight, princess.”

He watched as her nose crinkled while she scanned her own outfit.

“My sweatpants are beautiful?” she challenged.

“No … but the woman in them is.”

“This isn’t a date,” she reminded him, her smile quickly disappearing.

“Is that why you wore sweatpants?”

“Maybe.”

It was his turn to smile. So transparent. “Well, not sure your cunning plan worked, princess … ‘cause you still look hot as f**k in those pants.” He let his gaze trail down her body. “Actually, I’m pretty sure the way they cling to those curves of yours is gonna make me blush. I’m not sure how appropriate that would be – considering this isn’t a date.”

His plan worked. She was blushing again. Now all he had to do was control himself. And put his tongue back in his mouth. The black yoga pants she had on were the biggest test. Paired with a white vest and a black lace bra on full display –he was in for a tough night.

“Those lines normally work for you?” Pink cheeks diluted some of her sass.

“You always take compliments so well?” He could do this all night.

A cute little growl slipped past those pouted lips. “You’re lucky I’m hungry.” The door opened wider as she gestured him inside. “So, what did you bring?”

“You like steak?” Zach turned briefly to make sure she was following him as he made a beeline for the kitchen.

“Is the sky blue? Of course I like steak. You’re making us steak?”

“Is the sun hot?” he teased.

“You’re hilarious.”

“I try.” He broke into another smile as he settled the groceries onto her countertop.

About the Author:
Isobel was born and raised in London. She still lives along the River Thames with her husband, her son, and her substantial book collection. Ever the hopeless romantic, she fell in love with the genre from a young age and was inspired to write her own stories. When she's not feasting on romantic comedies or binge reading her hoard of contemporary romance novels, Isobel is writing.

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@isobelreedbooks
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/isobelreedbooks
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Website: https://www.isobelreed.net/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/isobelreed
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/Isobel_Reed
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/isobel-reed

BUY LINKS:

AMAZON: https://amzn.to/3KawzrB
KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/toasted-2
BN: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/toasted-isobel-reed/1145009200
APPLE: https://books.apple.com/us/book/toasted/id6478872311
GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/209449629-toasted
BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/books/toasted-love-burns-series-book-1-by-isobel-reed

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Rebel by Harley Wylde ~ @RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #Rebel #HarleyWylde #MotorcycleClubRomance #MCRomance #MC @changelingpress

 

A Dixie Reapers Bad Boys Romance

Savage Raptors MC, Book 5

 

Rebel by Harley Wylde

Motorcycle Club Romance

Date Published: May 24, 2024


 




About the Book:

Isy -- Being the daughter of a Dixie Reaper isn’t as wonderful as it sounds. Not when your dad expects you to be this perfect little princess who never causes trouble, never dates, and just… sits on a shelf collecting dust. It sucks. When I get the chance, I run. I didn’t exactly have a destination in mind, but ending up in Bryson Corners turned out to be a good thing. The first Savage Raptor I saw, I claimed. I should feel bad for Rebel, but… he’s just so sexy, and now he’s all mine!

Rebel -- You know the saying be careful what you wish for? I should have listened. I wanted a family and fate literally threw Isy into my arms. I’d thought I was saving her. It never occurred to me she’d announce she was my girlfriend. Although, I have to admit there’s chemistry between us. It’s hard to keep my hands off her. I’d thought the kidnap attempt was a one-time thing, but I was wrong. Isy has a stalker, and I will do whatever it takes to keep her safe. She’s mine, and I’ll make damn sure everyone knows it!

 

WARNING: Rebel is an insta-love story intended for adult readers. It contains violence, stalking, bad language, and adult situations.

 


 

Read an Excerpt:

Rebel

The scent of stale beer and cigarette smoke clung to the air, setting the perfect tone for a typical night at the Savage Raptors MC clubhouse. I sat perched on a worn-out barstool, nursing my drink and taking in the rowdy chaos around me. The clubhouse was alive with the sounds of laughter, cursing, and the clinking of glass as my brothers let off some steam.

I could have gone to a bar in town, but the beer here was free. Sort of. The club treasurer took a percentage of the club take for any jobs and funneled it over to an account used for stocking the bar. Even though we hadn’t had a lot of runs lately, we’d picked up two local businesses. Bought them cheap when they were about to close up, so now we had a gas station and a honky-tonk. Both brought in good revenue.

I wasn’t much for country music, so I avoided the honky-tonk unless I had no other options. It was always lively. Lots of pretty girls there too. Unfortunately for me, I apparently looked more like the good-time guy than boyfriend material, because they only ever wanted one night. There were times that was perfectly fine. Most of the time I was looking for something else. Not that I’d admitted as much to anyone.

“Fuck yeah, man!” Stinger shouted from across the room, landing a winning shot on the pool table. Ever since Atilla decided to follow the Dixie Reapers’ example and ban club whores from the compound, our clubhouse had changed quite a bit. Of course, we were a smaller club, so we’d never been as rowdy anyway.

Now, instead of women, we had a pool table, dartboard, and a poker table. I had to admit, I much preferred it this way. The women who came here were nothing but trouble. Although, Truth had kept them in line before. He’d disliked most females, and certainly hadn’t respected them, until he met his wife. He’d changed a lot since Madison came into his life. They’d even adopted a son, which mellowed Truth even more.

When he’d wanted to claim Madison, I’d thought for sure Atilla would tell him no. The way he’d always treated women, he was the last one I’d expected to settle down. Now my brothers were all falling, one after another. We’d gone from all being bachelors to four of us having families.

I couldn’t help but crack a smile at my brothers’ antics as I watched them. We were a family -- a ragtag group of misfits bound together by brotherhood and loyalty. But beneath the camaraderie and wild nights, something gnawed at me, leaving me restless and itching for more. It wasn’t precisely a new feeling, but one that was steadily growing with each passing month. It started a few years ago, and clearly wasn’t going away.

“Nice shot, Stinger!” I called out, raising my own bottle in a toast before taking another swig. My gaze drifted around the room. Even though I sat by myself, I wasn’t alone. Not here.

General and Spade were locked in an intense arm-wrestling match, veins bulging and sweat pouring down their faces as they strained against each other. A few brothers had gathered around them, placing bets on who would emerge victorious.

“Come on, Spade, you got this!” someone yelled, egging him on with a slap to his back.

“Fuck that, General’s gonna wipe the floor with his ass!” another voice countered, earning a snarl from Spade. Yeah, probably not the brightest idea to piss off the club’s VP. Whoever had made the comment was most likely going to get the shit jobs for a while. Or forced to scrub toilets both here and at our businesses.

I’d been living this life for years -- the booze, the bikes, the women -- but it all felt so hollow now. Like I was missing the one thing that would make it all worthwhile. I still hooked up with women sometimes, but not recently. In fact, I hadn’t been with anyone in over three months. I always got tested afterward, just to be safe. Being with random women wasn’t the smartest thing to do. Even a condom wasn’t foolproof.

The feeling I’d had wasn’t one I’d been able to label until recently. Helping out Cowboy’s son, Jackson, in the past few weeks had certainly made an impact on me. He’d been willing to do anything for his wife and kid, and it had taken me a few days to realize I was jealous as hell. I’d had no reason to be, until I came to the conclusion the restless feeling inside me was because I wanted a family of my own. Not just a brotherhood, but a wife and kids.

“Hey, Rebel!” Stinger called out, snapping me from my thoughts. “You want in on the next game?”

“Maybe later,” I replied, tossing him a grin before taking another swig of my beer. My mind refused to let go of the thought there should be more to life than this -- something deeper, more meaningful. And I was determined to find it, whatever the cost. Not that the town of Bryson Corners was crawling with women I’d want to claim for more than a night. If it was, they’d all given me a wide berth. Maybe I wasn’t the kind of man they thought would want a lasting relationship. I needed someone who could handle living with the club, accept this way of life. Some might think it sounded amazing, but the reality would most likely send them running at some point.

My gaze drifted across the clubhouse, finally landing on Lynx and Atilla, who were seated nearby, beers in hand, deep in conversation.

“Man, I never thought I’d see the day when Grizzly would let his daughter be part of our world,” Atilla chuckled, taking a swig from his bottle. As the President of our club, he’d never backed down from a challenge, and always kept us in line. “It’s too bad he’s not here to see how much progress Meredith has made. She’s almost like a different woman these days. May Grizzly’s soul rest in peace!”

“I honestly thought he’d lose his shit and demand I send her home,” Lynx said, running a hand through his reddish hair as he smiled. “But Meredith’s been a true blessing in my life. Wouldn’t trade her for anything. We have a good life here, and I hope he’s watching over her and sees that she’s right where she belongs.”

“Damn straight,” Atilla replied, raising his bottle in a toast. “To love and brotherhood.”

The genuine smiles spread across their faces struck a chord within me. There was a depth to their happiness I had yet to find in my own experiences. It gnawed at me, a hunger no amount of drink or late-night escapades could satisfy. Family. What those two had with their women was more than I’d ever thought to have for myself. Except now, I wanted it more than anything. I was only in my thirties, and I knew a lot of brothers my age who weren’t ready to settle down. Some would say I still had my entire life ahead of me, but why spend all those years alone? Easy pussy wasn’t as satisfying as it had been a decade ago.

“Rebel, you all right?” Lynx called out, noticing my stare. I hadn’t realized how long I’d been watching them.

“Uh, yeah. Just thinking,” I said, offering a half-hearted grin. “Guess I zoned out for a minute.”

“Careful, brother. Don’t wanna strain that little brain of yours,” Atilla teased, his laughter echoing through the room as Lynx joined in.

“Fuck off, old man!” I shot back. Thankfully, he knew I was joking, otherwise the Pres would have put me on my ass.

I couldn’t help but envy their camaraderie. I’d noticed those who had settled down with a woman and kids seemed closer than ever before. It made me feel left out.

“Seriously, though,” Lynx continued, his expression sobering, “if you ever need someone to talk to, we’re here for you. Looked like you had something heavy weighing on your mind.”

“Appreciate it,” I replied, giving them a nod. But as their laughter resumed and they dove back into their conversation, my thoughts continued to churn. If I was going to find a woman around here, I would have by now. I’d lived in Bryson Corners most of my life. But unless I ran into her on a run to another city or state, it wasn’t likely I’d have the chance to search for my one and only. Not anytime soon.

My eyes flicked back to Lynx and Atilla, the sight of their contentment only deepening my desire for something more. And as the noise and chaos of the clubhouse washed over me, I swore to myself that I wouldn’t settle for anything less. I needed to find that missing piece, the connection that would make my life complete.

Lynx’s phone went off, and he stood to go outside to answer. He’d only been gone a few minutes before he returned, his face pale and his hands clenched into fists. I wondered what the call had been about, but I wasn’t going to pry. He sat down and leaned closer to Atilla. Whatever he’d said made Atilla check his phone as well. The Pres let out a curse and disappeared down the hall to his office.

As curious as I was, I knew if it was anything club related, I’d find out eventually. I only hoped it wasn’t anything too bad. With the way Lynx looked, I knew it wasn’t good news, though.

As the night wore on, I slouched on my barstool, arms braced on the bar top in front of me. I twisted my empty beer bottle, trying not to feel sorry for myself. No one had approached me so far. Probably thought I was drunk off my ass, and honestly, I was getting close. How many beers had I had already? I’d lost count.

“Another round?” Benjamin asked. The Prospect held out a bottle toward me, and I nodded. He popped the top and handed it over.

“Rebel, you ever think about settling down?” The question came from Ace, our newest member, who sat two barstools down from me. His eyes sparkled with mischief, and I wondered if he was about to try setting me up with a stripper or some stranger he’d just met. Wouldn’t be the first time. He’d done it to every single man here at one point or another. Last time he’d tried it with me, she’d been a no-show. I counted myself lucky.

Poor Knuckles had ended up with a stripper who’d been high as a kite. He’d caught her shooting up during their date and walked out. Good thing too since she’d OD’d later that night. If Knuckles had been with her at the time, the police would have given us hell. Last thing we wanted was a spotlight on us.

“Me? Nah, not my style, man,” I replied dismissively, unwilling to share my true thoughts with anyone just yet. I knew my brothers would give me shit if I admitted I wanted a wife and kids more than anything.

“Fair enough.” He chuckled. “You’re older than me but still young. Plenty of time for that I guess.”

“What about you?” I asked. “Since you brought it up, do you have your eye on someone? Or were you just trying to unload some unwanted attention?”

He laughed and shook his head. “No, to both, but I have to admit, Atilla, Lynx, Maui, and Truth all look pretty content these days. Makes me wonder if they’ve figured out the secret to happiness.”

“Hey, Rebel,” a sultry voice whispered in my ear, snapping me out of my reverie. I glanced over to see Raven, a dark-haired beauty who frequented the club, sliding her hand up my thigh. When the hell had she gotten here? “Wanna have some fun?”

She wasn’t a club whore, and never had been. Which was why Atilla allowed her to come to the clubhouse sometimes. However, she had a tendency to hang out with a few of my brothers and seemed to worm her way into this place on occasion. Like now. I didn’t know why she kept targeting me, but she wasn’t my type. Too high maintenance.

I’d be willing to bet it took her over an hour to get ready every day. I’d seen her around town often enough to know she fixed her hair and makeup like this all the time. Had to admit I wondered what she’d look like fresh out of the shower, but I doubted she’d ever let someone see her like that.

“Thanks, Raven, but not tonight,” I muttered, brushing her hand away. Her pout did little to entice me. The move was too practiced.

“Suit yourself,” she huffed, stalking off to find another willing participant for her games. Of course, there was always the chance she was angling for a property patch. If that was the case, she’d be better off trying to con Stinger into taking her.

“Damn, Rebel. You turning down Raven?” Ace whistled, his eyebrows raised in surprise. “You must be going soft. I know the two of you have hung out a few times. Not to your taste anymore?”

“Shut the fuck up,” I growled, taking a swig of my beer, welcoming the bitter taste. I’d played pool with her twice, and on a night I’d been too drunk to stand up straight, I’d fucked her in the bathroom. No one wanted to let me forget it either.

I’d always been fiercely loyal to my brothers, but as the night wore on, the truth became clear: I needed something more -- someone who saw beyond the leather and tattoos, who could fill the void inside me. And until I found her, I felt like I’d never truly be whole. 

About the Author:

Harley Wylde is an accomplished author known for her captivating MC Romances. With an unwavering commitment to sensual storytelling, Wylde immerses her readers in an exciting world of fierce men and irresistible women. Her works exude passion, danger, and gritty realism, while still managing to end on a satisfying note each time.

When not crafting her tales, Wylde spends her time brainstorming new plotlines, indulging in a hot cup of Starbucks, or delving into a good book. She has a particular affinity for supernatural horror literature and movies. Visit Wylde's website to learn more about her works and upcoming events, and don't forget to sign up for her newsletter to receive exclusive discounts and other exciting perks.

 

Author on Facebook, Instagram, & TikTok: @harleywylde

 

Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @changelingpress

 

Pre-Order Today



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Release Blitz ~ The Neighbors’ Secret by Diana Sussman ~ @harborlanebooks @RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #TheNeighborsSecret #DianaSussman #MiddleGradeMystery

A Maddie Mystery series, Book 1

 

The Neighbors’ Secret by DianaSussman

Middle Grade Mystery, Children’s Mystery

Date Published: 05/21/2024

Publisher: EverImagine Books (an imprint of Harbor Lane Books, LLC.)


 

About the Book:

Maddie’s life is a mess. Along with the usual hassles of eighth grade, her best friend Rachel has gone boy-crazy and seems drawn to a new crowd. To make matters worse, everyone’s teasing Maddie for impulsively breaking into her neighbor’s home when her imagination went wild thinking that she saw a mythical creature called a Yeti inside.

Then, the new neighbors pull into their driveway and Maddie thinks she sees a human hand push out the taillight of their car. Other strange events follow. Are they kidnappers? Spies? Maddie convinces Rachel to help investigate, hoping that working together will bolster their friendship. But that looks unlikely after both of them crush on the new neighbors’ son Alex.

Maddie is in a no-win situation. If she proves the new neighbors are spies, Alex will hate her. If she finds out they’re not spies and dates Alex, Rachel will hate her. But Maddie can’t resist solving a mystery and soon finds herself on a collision course with her best friend, her first crush, and the dangerous world of espionage. Her entire world – and her life – is at risk.

About the Author:

Since discovering Nancy Drew books as a child, Diana has been a lifelong mystery fan. She wrote this story to share her passion with tweens and early teens, to glorify girl power, and to pay tribute to female spies from the American Revolution. Recent FBI counterintelligence investigation of Russian spies, who portrayed themselves as typical Americans, known as Operation Ghost Stories and an American scientist who was arrested for providing intelligence to China inspired her to write this story. As a former litigator, she also drew from her experiences defending FBI prosecutorial targets and witnesses and handling a case involving someone who had led a double life. She also did research on Agent 355 of the Culper Spy Ring. She grew up near Cranbury, New Jersey, where her sister now lives. The Neighbors’ Secret is a finalist in the Connecticut Tessa Awards.

 

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

 

Purchase Link:

Amazon

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Release Blitz & #ThereIsAGive@way ~ Hatfield 1677 by Laura C. Rader ~ @LauraWriter2B @RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #Hatfield #LauraCRader #HistoricalFiction



Hatfield 1677 by Laura C. Rader

Historical Fiction

Date Published: May 21, 2024

Publisher: Acorn Publishing


 

About the Book:

Colonist Benjamin Waite, a devoted husband, father, and skilled military scout in King Philip’s War, reluctantly obeys orders to guide an attack against a camp of Algonquian Natives.

After the catastrophic event, Benjamin is burdened with guilt and longs for peace. But the Algonquians, led by the revered sachem Ashpelon, retaliate with vengeance upon Ben’s Massachusetts town of Hatfield, capturing over a dozen colonists, including his pregnant wife Martha and their three young daughters.

Hatfield 1677 is a tale of three interwoven yet diverging journeys of strength and survival: Benjamin, driven by love and remorse to rescue his family; Martha, forced into captivity and desperately striving to protect her children; and Ashpelon, willing to risk everything to ensure the safety and freedom of his people.

Based on the lives of the author’s ancestors, this riveting and unforgettable novel gives voice to three vastly different experiences in North America during a time before the creation of the Declaration of Independence. Then, the land was but a wilderness and a battleground; equality was not yet perceived as self-evident; and liberty and happiness were nothing more than dangerous pursuits.


About the Author:

Laura C. Rader earned a BA in psychology from San Diego State University, where she minored in history and took creative writing and literature classes. She drew on those passions in her thirty-year career as a history and English teacher of elementary and middle school students. Now, a full-time historical fiction writer, Laura also enjoys studying genealogy, attending neighborhood book club meetings, taking forest walks with her Rough Collie, and visiting her adult daughter in Brooklyn. Originally from California, Laura lives twenty miles north of  Raleigh, North Carolina.  Hatfield 1677 is a work of historical fiction inspired by a story Laura discovered about her ninth great-grandparents while researching her family’s genealogy.

 

Contact Links:

Website

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Purchase Links:

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Monday, May 20, 2024

Cover Reveal ~ The Broken and Afraid by Monica Corwin ~ @Monica_Corwin @XpressoTours ~ Contemporary Romance, Romance #WhyChoose

The Broken and Afraid
Monica Corwin
Publication date: August 1st 2024
Genres: Adult, Contemporary Romance, Romance

About the Book:

I can still feel the sand under my nails. The blood on my skin.

Parrish’s blood on my skin.

It’s been a year since my friends, Poe, Gin, and I returned home from overseas and left military service. A year of waiting to take our fallen friend’s ashes to the ocean he loved more than anything else.

But we can’t do it alone. Not when every night is a circle jerk of nightmare fuel and none of us can even look at each other without breaking.

I need her. The nurse who saved my life, my ex, the girl I thought I’d marry one day. But she hates me. I’m only hoping she can put our past aside long enough for one final mission.

The Broken and Afraid is a why choose steamy road trip romance with ptsd reconciliation, sword crossing, and so much only one RV vibes.

Add to Goodreads / Pre-order


Meet the Author:

Monica Corwin is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author. She is an outspoken writer attempting to make romance accessible to everyone, no matter their preferences. As a Northern Ohioian, Monica enjoys snow drifts, three seasons of weather, and a dislike of Michigan football. Monica owns more books about King Arthur than should be strictly necessary. Also typewriters...lots and lots of typewriters.

You can find her on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/monicacorwin,

on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/monica_corwin,

on the web at: http://www.monicacorwin.com.

Monica Corwin is also on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/rosetyper9

and Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/monica-corwin

If you want up to date information on releases be sure to follow her here on Amazon or you can join her newsletter at monicacorwin.com

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Pinterest



Submissions Now Being Accepted for the Against All Odds Anthology Contest by Mirror World Publishing ~ @MirrorWorldPub

Submissions for Against All Odds, the third volume of Mirror World Publishing's
 Far, Far Away series is now open! 


Contest opened May 1st, 2024 and Mirror World Publishing will be accepting 
submissions until the end of May. 

This post has everything you need to know about what Mirror World Publishing is looking for
and how to submit your work!

What Mirror World Publishing is looking for: 

Short stories and novellas ranging between 5000 to 25,000 words that are science fiction, fantasy, adventure, time travel, romance, or some combination of the above that focus on a theme of love against the odds. This includes love in dangerous places and times, love between diverse or marginalized populations, love in unlikely or unusual circumstances.

Mirror World Publishing is looking for original, unpublished works and as always they prefer stories with engaging openings, character-driven stories, and quality world-building.

There is a fee of $25 CAD to enter, but all money raised will go toward prizes for the winning entries as well as production of the book, Against All Odds: Far, Far Away Vol. 3,  to be released next summer.

Winning entries will receive: 

A contract for publication in Against All Odds + a minimum prize of $75 CAD + 1 Author Copy of the finished paperback, and option to order more copies at wholesale cost

As always, submissions and inquiries are to be sent to submissions[at]mirrorworldpublishing.com. Or by filling out this entry form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScAyVtxZIlrfOwO_Wf5iiMMfwTHM-GrcViij_3N7nHzJSk9lw/viewform?usp=sf_link

If you’re not a writer, or don’t plan to enter but still want to support the creation of Against All Odds, please consider donating through this link: https://www.mirrorworldpublishing.com/product/against-all-odds-anthology-contest-entry/112

Or purchasing an ebook or paperback copy of Far, Far Away (vol. 1) or From Here to There (vol.2) in our store and we’ll put aside all profit form these titles in the month of May to go toward the contest and production of Against All Odds (Vol. 3)!


Connect with Mirror World Publishing:

FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/mirrorworldpublishing

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Book Blitz ~ Can’t See Around Corners by Josie Townsend ~ @RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #CantSeeAroundCorners #JosieTownsend #PsychologicalThriller

 

Can’t See Around Corners 

by Josie Townsend 

Psychological Thriller

Date Published: January 27, 2024

 

 

About the Book:

Two fraternal twins, Sharon and Annie are the only children of Edna and Warren Karce.

They are the future of the highly famed socialite dynasty.

The girls have graduated with honors and look forward to their trip to Europe.

The sisters' love for one another is obvious but a sinister force of malicious feelings dwells beneath their facade of shared contentment.

Once abroad and with their hypervigilant parents absent, treachery, deceit, and wickedness develop intensely between the girls, and their relationship advances into the vilest possible nightmare, changing their lives forever.

The discovery of an ancient, mysterious pendant formerly owned by Vlad, the Impaler from Dracula's Castle begins an epic spiral of demonic incidents that traumatize not only the twin girls lives while in Romania but has the ability to penetrate their family's existence back home in Australia.

How will the highly renowned family survive the unforeseen satanic entity, integrated with the discreditable exploits from the once idolized and respected daughters of the Karce Empire?


About the Author:

Josie Townsend was born in regional NSW Australia, the eldest daughter of five children. She started writing at the age of 55yrs old and has self-published two manuscripts and a third on the way. At the young age of 21, Josie had a car accident and lost sight in her left eye, so as a vision-impaired writer it was even more difficult for her to write but she endeavour's to follow her heart's desires and keep moving forward in life. Even through her struggles, she believes in never letting life's hardships hold you hostage like you're its victim.

 

Contact Links:

Author Website

BookBuzz

 

Purchase Link:

Amazon


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Sunday, May 19, 2024

The Light Beside the Sea (A Zodiac Mystery) by Connie di Marco ~ @askzodia #Mystery

 

The Light Beside the Sea by Connie di Marco

About The Light Beside the Sea:

 

The Light Beside the Sea (A Zodiac Mystery)

Traditional Mystery

5th in Series

Setting - San Francisco, California

Publisher – CMA Literary (May 6, 2024) 

Paperback: ‎ 341 pages 

ISBN-13: ‎ 979-8989009596 

Digital Print length: ‎ 318 pages 

ASIN: ‎ B0D393JQ87

San Francisco astrologer Julia Bonatti has been haunted for years by the hit and run death of her fiancé, Michael Sefton. The driver of the vehicle was never apprehended. The lone witness to the accident spoke to no one and now is dead. Even the cold case detective assigned to the case died before any resolution was found. Every time Julia thought she might be getting close to an answer, each clue led only to a dead end.

Michael, a graduate student, had just returned from an archeological dig in Guatemala when he was killed. But why did he mail his journal to Julia for safekeeping before his return home? What was he afraid of? Why did another graduate student fall to his death on that trip? And now, another man connected with that journey has been murdered closer to home. And the murderer hasn’t finished.

When Julia finally finds the courage to delve into the journal Michael sent to her years before, she learns of the undercurrents, jealousies and anger between members of the group. She begins to understand the pressure and fear her fiancé was coping with and his suspicions of their University mentor who was most likely engaged in unethical and illegal behavior. But events soon take a darker turn when Julia finds a likeness of the Maya god Hunhau, god of death and the underworld, on her doorstep. A strange man covered with markings and tattoos keeps appearing to her but no one else seems to see him. With guidance from another professor she’s introduced to a world she never knew existed.

Is the man she sees human? And is he under the sway of the Maya god of death?

Will he unleash evil or is he here to right a wrong done to his people?

Julia must move quickly or her death will be the next. 

My Review:

The Light Beside the Sea is the fifth book in the Zodiac Mysteries. Julia is still reeling from the untimely and sudden death of her fiancé, Michael Sefton. After returning home from Guatemala, Michael was run down and killed. Was the archeological dig he was part of, the reason for the death? Is the death of one his colleagues on that same trip related to Michael's death? Now, Julia learns of another recent death of someone related to that trip. Julia finally has the courage to read the journal Michael mysteriously mailed to her prior to leaving Guatemala. The journal, filled with passages of anger and jealousy, pushes Julia down the path of a world she was unaware of until now.

The Light Beside the Sea is a great addition to the Zodiac Mystery Series. The twists and turns in the book had my head spinning as I desperately tried to piece things together. The author pulled in  characters that had motive, means, and opportunity. I enjoyed at the ebb and flow of the book and how the author tied everything together. The multi-faceted story kept me engaged and interested throughout the entire book.

Of course, the death of Michael has haunted Julia for years and during the parts where she had to revisit her past, I really felt her emotions bleed through the pages. She’s still grieving because there really hasn’t been any closure to the tragedy that struck. When she has to fully engage in the journal, new world she comes involved in, revisit the cold case death, and deaths of others from the same trip, her emotional wounds reopen.

The Zodiac Mystery series is very interesting. I'm glad I've been along for the ride. The author does a great job weaving together different threads.

I was provided a copy of this book.

My Rating:


About Connie di Marco:

Connie di Marco is the author of the Zodiac Mysteries featuring San Francisco astrologer Julia Bonatti, a woman who never thought murder would be part of her practice. The fifth book in this series, The Light Beside the Sea, has just been released.

Writing as Connie Archer, she is also the author of the national bestselling Soup Lover’s Mysteries from Berkley Prime Crime. You can find her excerpts and recipes in The Cozy Cookbook and The Mystery Writers of America Cookbook. Connie is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Crime Writers Association, International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime.

Author Links:


Purchase Links - Amazon 

TOUR PARTICIPANTS:

May 6 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
May 7 – Christy's Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST
May 8 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT
May 9 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT
May 10 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
May 11 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
May 12 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT
May 13 – StoreyBook Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST
May 14 – Socrates' Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
May 15 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
May 16 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR GUEST POST 
May 17 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW
May 18 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT 
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Saturday, May 18, 2024

Scales of Justice by Mitchell S Karnes ~ Mystery, Suspense, Thriller @mitchellskarnes @partnersincr1me #ThereIsAGive@way

Scales of Justice by Mitchell S Karnes Banner

SCALES OF JUSTICE

by Mitchell S Karnes

May 13 - June 7, 2024 Virtual Book Tour

About the Book:

Scales of Justice by Mitchell S Karnes

Top assassin Graham Turner walks a delicate line as he tries to secretly solve the mystery of his parents' "accidental" deaths. The truth is buried deep within a child's forgotten past and an organization that demands secrecy and absolute devotion. His main obstacle is William Allen, Graham's boss and legal guardian. A master of manipulation and control, William pits Graham and his brother Robert against one another like pawns on a chessboard. William's idea of justice is kill or be killed.

Just as Graham discovers the identity of his parents' murderer and sets out to exact his revenge, he falls in love and develops a conscience. Graham must choose between love or loyalty, forgiveness or revenge. In a world of gray, Graham must find the line between black and white, wrong and right.

Follow the parallel stories of Graham and his father, two assassins who become their own worst enemies.

Book Details:

Genre: Mystery, Suspense, Thriller
Published by: Amazon
Publication Date: September 7, 2023
Number of Pages: 479
ISBN: 9798860779228
Book Links: Amazon | MitchellSKarnes.com | Add to Goodreads

Read an Excerpt:

Chapter 1

“Ease up, Champ,” Graham whispered. “Don’t wear yourself out and make my job too easy.” He removed the small envelope from the three-pronged plastic stick of the bouquet and opened it. “You are the only Chance I’ll ever take. Have a great conference. I’ll see you next month…and I’ll be keeping Atlanta hot for you!” There was a little red heart sign and the name, “Mary.” Graham shook his head in disgust. “He really does have a woman in every port.” As soon as the noise subsided and Graham heard the shower water, he readied himself for the task at hand. He slipped into the shadows of the far corner of the den and waited for Chance to come to him. Graham didn’t have to wait long.

Chance opened the bedroom door and wrapped the fluffy white towel around his waist. He examined the damage to his brand-new white shirt. Twisting and turning it in his hands, he noted the two missing buttons, the slight tear, and the smudges of red lipstick. “Oh well,” he said and tossed the shirt in a nearby wastebasket. “Well worth it.” Opening the fridge, he uncorked a chilled liqueur and chugged the miniature bottle. “Wow, Stacey was tenacious!”

Shelly, you idiot, Graham thought. He wanted to step out of the shadow and kill Chance right then, but he resisted the urge. All in due time, Graham, he assured himself.

“Oh well, she served her purpose,” Chance said. “Now how do I get rid of her before Janet calls?” Chance walked back to the bedroom and returned with a gold ring. Putting it on his left hand and glancing one more time toward the sleeping naked woman in the bedroom, he lifted the phone to his mouth and said, “Call Janet.” It rang once…twice…three times.

“Hey, babe,” came the sweet voice on the other end. “How’s your day been?”

“Draining,” Chance said with a smile as he looked back to the bedroom. “It was a real struggle.”

“Oh, but I’m sure you kept up your end of the deal,” she said. “Nobody can stand up to my man.”

“You got that right.” Chance heard laughter in the background of the phone and bristled defensively, “Janet, who’s that?”

“Oh, I’m at the ladies’ book club tonight. You want to talk to anyone?” she asked.

“No thanks,” he said. “Hey, I got to go. I need to get packing for the trip back.”

“Okay, babe. I love you,” she said and then hung up.

“Yeah, yeah,” Chance said and tossed the phone to the couch to the left of Graham. Chance suddenly noticed the flowers and walked over to examine the bouquet. “When did these get…” He pulled out the note. “Mary…Mary…Mary…who the hell’s Mary?” He picked up the bouquet, smelled it once, and then walked it over to the trash can. He slapped the back of his neck. “What the hell?” He twisted around and slapped again at the stinging sensation in the back of his neck.

“The polistes annularis,” the dark figure announced calmly. “Or as we say in Tennessee, ‘The red paper wasp.’” He took a step back as Chance swung awkwardly at him. “But you lawyers…you love all of that Latin mumbo-jumbo, don’t you?” Chance fell to his knees. Graham took the opportunity to touch Chance once again with the wasp held delicately in his tweezers, this time stinging the front of his throat. Chance slapped at the wasp, but Graham pulled it safely away. “Ah…ah…ah,” Graham said with a shake of his head. “Just one more for good measure, if you don’t mind.” He put the wasp to Chance’s temple, and it obliged once again with a deadly sting.

Chance uttered raspily, “Who are you?” as he grabbed at the swelling lumps on his temple and neck. His tongue was swelling rapidly, and Graham could tell he was already struggling desperately to breathe.

“Who am I? I guess I owe you that much,” Graham said. “What harm could it do?” He squatted a few feet from Chance and scrutinized the desperation in his face and eyes. Chance clawed his way toward the bathroom, but it was so far away. “Graham Turner at your service.” He studied his victim as Chance’s body convulsed. Graham laughed, not at Chance’s situation but his own last comment. “Well, I suppose I’m actually at the service of your wife Janet.”

Chance stopped struggling and turned his swollen neck towards Graham. Was it a joke? Chance tried to say Janet’s name, but his tongue was too swollen to utter any sound other than the heavy wheezing of each belabored breath. The couch within his reach, Chance crawled for it.

“Looking for this?” Graham asked, waving Chance’s phone in front of him. “You lawyers are way too predictable.” He put the phone in his jacket pocket. “Anyway, you asked a question and we only have a few minutes at most, so let me explain while there’s time.” Graham moved toward the bedroom door and waited there. Seeing Chance glance towards the bed, Graham said, “Oh, don’t concern yourself with Shelly; I drugged her drink downstairs as soon as I saw your overt interest in her little black dress. She’s out for at least another hour.”

Graham smiled. He didn’t have to hear the words to know the thought. “Yes, I do think of everything. That’s why they pay me so much. But your wife…” Graham paused. “Yes, your wife, she thinks of everything too. Quite a lady you have there. Well, I suppose I should speak in the past tense in that situation. Quite a lady you had, Chance.”

The lawyer’s neck was blowing up like a massive goiter and his face contorting so badly that Graham’s stomach heaved; he quickly stood and walked away as Chance struggled toward the bathroom. Looking out the window, Graham continued, “She caught wind of your plan to leave her and cut her out of everything…last year, I think.” Graham couldn’t stand to see Chance struggle any longer. He moved back to him, stepped over the lump of flesh and said, “Save your energy, you won’t find the epinephrine kit either.” Chance collapsed; sobbing, quivering and moaning to his last gasp of breath. Graham removed the black gloves and replaced them with a set of blue latex gloves instead. He checked Chance’s wrist for any sign of a pulse. He waited and watched until he was absolutely certain Chance Harrington was dead from the anaphylactic shock. According to the research, Chance Harrington had a deadly allergy to wasp stings…especially the red paper wasp. Graham set the wasp on Chance’s neck and used the dead man’s hand to squash it. Finally, he put the dead wasp next to the bouquet Chance had dropped on the floor.

As he removed up any evidence of his own presence in the room and made certain the scene looked authentic for a bee sting, Graham said, “Thanks, Mary…I owe you one.” He closed the door, wiped the handle and waited for the elevator. He wasn’t about to walk back down fourteen flights of stairs, especially in Denver.

The elevator door opened, and Graham disappeared inside. One more dead body to lose in the endless count of bodies…one more name to forget…one more job to mark off as “Zero Retribution,” a job well done.

***

Excerpt from Scales of Justice by Mitchell S Karnes. Copyright 2024 by Mitchell S Karnes. Reproduced with permission from Mitchell S Karnes. All rights reserved.

 

 

Meet the Author:

Mitchell S Karnes

Mitchell S Karnes is a husband, father of seven, and grandfather of nine. Mitchell uses his experience and insights as a minister, counselor, and educator to write and speak on challenging issues and concerns with an ever-growing audience. He has published five novels, three short stories, a one-act play, and numerous Bible study lessons. He is now working on a new series featuring Abbey Rhodes, a Nashville Homicide Detective.

Through two separate battles against Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, God has given Mitchell a new perspective on life that challenges him to create stories to not only entertain audiences but call them to action. Mitchell's mission is to reach and reconcile those who have been disillusioned with God and His church and inspire the church to live out the love of Christ Jesus in a broken and hurting world.

Catch Up With Mitchell S Karnes:
MitchellSKarnes.com
Goodreads
Instagram - @mitchellskarnesauthor
Twitter/X - @mitchellskarnes
Facebook

 

 

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