Jennifer Crusie's Blog, page 21

Argh Author: Deb Blake’s Wickedly Powerful

Our own Deb Blake has a re-release in the third book in her Baba Yaga series, Wickedly Powerful.. She writes, “I’m thrilled to have gotten the rights back to the Baba Yaga series, since they’re my favorites of everything I’ve written. (Shhh…don’t tell the others.) This is the third one in the series, so if you haven’t read the others yet, you’ll want to start with the first one, Wickedly Dangerous. If you love mythical witches, kickass women, dragons disguised as gigantic dogs or cats, and a paranormal romance with a happy ending, you’ll probably like these books.”

Known as the wicked witch of Russian fairy tales, Baba Yaga is not one woman, but rather a title carried by a chosen few. They keep the balance of nature and guard the borders of our world, but don’t make the mistake of crossing one of them…

The only thing more fiery than Bella Young’s red hair is her temper. She knows that a Baba Yaga’s power without strict control can leave the people she cares about burned, so to protect her heart—and everyone around her—the only company she keeps is her dragon-turned-Norwegian-Forest-cat, Koshka.
But when Bella is tasked with discovering who’s setting magical fires throughout Wyoming’s Black Hills, she finds herself working closely with former hotshots firefighter Sam Corbett—and falling hard for his quiet strength and charm.

Sam may bear the scars of his past, but Bella can see beyond them and would do anything to help him heal. Only before she can rescue her Prince Charming, she’ll have to overcome the mysterious foe setting the forest fires—a truly wicked witch who wields as much power and even more anger than Bella…

Buy Links
Amazon – B&N – Apple – Kobo – Smashwords

Author Links:
Etsy: https://deborahblake.etsy.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/deborahblake
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/debor...
Newsletter: http://dld.bz/dWEQs
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/deborahblake
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deborah.blake
Blog: http://deborahblake.blogspot.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deborahblak...
Website: http://deborahblakeauthor.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Bio
Deborah Blake is the author of seventeen books on modern Witchcraft, including The Eclectic Witch’s Book of Shadows, The Little Book of Cat Magic and Llewellyn’s Little Book of Spellcraft, as well as the acclaimed Everyday Witch Tarot and Oracle and Everyday Witch’s Familiars Oracle decks. She has also written three paranormal romance and urban fantasy series for Berkley, and as well as a cozy mystery series about a run-down pet rescue. Deborah lives in a 140 year old farmhouse in upstate New York with numerous cats who supervise all her activities, both magical and mundane. She can be found at http://deborahblakeauthor.com

Argh Author: Carrie Nichols’ Fortune’s Faux Engagement

Our own Carrie Nichols has a new book out, Fortune’s Faux Engagement (The Fortunes of Texas: Fortune’s Secret Children Book 3) from Harlequin Fortunes of Texas:

“You couldn’t possibly be engaged to someone like Heath Blackwood.”

Or could she?

What in heaven’s name had compelled Jade Fortune to pretend that Heath Blackwood, the most sought-after bachelor in Chatelaine, was her fiancé? Especially when Jade barely knew the start-up titan desperately seeking answers about his own past. But to Jade’s surprise, Heath’s happy to play along with her spur-of-the-moment ruse. This ersatz engagement’s just a figment of Jade’s imagination, though. Or could this be the stuff dreams are made of?

Carrie Nichols’ website is at https://carrienichols.com/

Buy links are:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Fortunes-Faux-...
Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/fortu...
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fort...

This is a Good Book Thursday, September 19, 2024

This week, I stacked books instead of reading them, and remembered how much fun physical books could be (if you weren’t hauling them around). I have some fabulous books, and if I ever get this house straightened out, I’m going to read some of them.

What did you read this week?

Working Wednesday, September 18, 2024

I have moved more heavy furniture this week than I should have, including a mantel, a TV console that was evidently made of lead, and a bed. Also a TV, but by the time I got to that, it was nothing. I kept thinking, I probably shouldn’t do this, I’m a heart patient, if I die in my sleep tonight, Bob’s going to be really mad. So, if there’s no Good Book Thursday tomorrow, sorry about that, Bob.

What did you work on this week?

Happiness is Llamas

So I usually work all night, quitting about 6AM. I like the quiet. But at about three or four in the morning, I need a break. And that’s when I tend to lose my grip as I surf the net. This week, it was llamas.

I’d gone to the Chewy site to check on a dog food price, and they had llama cat trees, a tall one and a shorter one. And because it was 4AM and I had a $20 off coupon, I bought the little one. Because Fernanda. Also because it was 4AM, I did not notice that I hadn’t changed my New Jersey address to my Pennsylvania address. So when I got the e-mail that said it had been delivered, and it wasn’t on my doorstep, I looked at the address and realized my llama had gone to NJ. So I wrote Chewy and said,”Hey, this is MY FAULT, I didn’t change the address, can you please sent me another one?” And they said sure because Chewy Customer Service, I have learned, is phenomenal. So at 4AM I gave them my new address.

Then I got a second “Your llama has landed” e-mail from Chewy and I looked and it wasn’t out there. So I wrote Chewy again, and they said no problem, they’d send another and if the other one showed up I could just keep it. At this point, I felt Chewy should be rewarded and I ordered the big llama, too, and set up an auto ship for Veronica’s food.

Then this very nice man showed up at my door with the second llama (small) because I had put the wrong address on it. Yes, at 4AM I had given Chewy a second wrong address. I thanked him profusely–those llamas are not light–and then had a horrible thought and went to check. Why, yes, I had put the wrong address on all FOUR FUCKING LLAMAS. And I didn’t know where that poor guy lived so I couldn’t go get the big llama and Veronica’s chow when it arrived because the wrong address I’d given doesn’t exist here. (Somewhere a FedEx driver hates me.)

But now all is well. All three llamas sent to PA have landed along with Veronica’s dinners, and I am beholden for life to Chewy and whoever that poor guy is who carted three llamas to my door. Do I need three llamas? No, but I told Mollie about it and she said if I had an extra llama she’d take one, so I’m down to two after she comes to visit this week. Unless the one from New Jersey shows up. Of course, with my luck, Lionel will sneer at all of them, he’s only beginning to warm up to me after a year (rescue cat) so god knows how he’ll relate to a pack of llamas. Me? I love their silly faces.

Happiness is llamas and great customer service and a nice neighbor who hauls those llamas for you.

What made you happy this week?

Admin Note

As you’ve probably guessed, I’ve been swamped here, so if you wanted something from me (Argh Author, maybe?) and I haven’t gotten back to you, please try me again. I’m catching up now, but it’s still a mess here, so definitely let me know if I’ve missed something. But not last week’s Working Wednesday, I already know I blew that one.

Argh Author: Judy A Johnson’s Cancer Songs: Psalms for Pilgrims on the Cancer Journey

Our own Judy Johnson has a memoir out now, Cancer Songs: Psalms for Pilgrims on the Cancer Journey. Multiple cancer diagnoses gave Judy A. Johnson a new lens through which to read the Psalms. Meditating on verse within the Psalms in light of her experience led to these fifty short pieces intended to encourage others.

She writes: I am very proud of this book, which marinated for a long time. The five sections (fear, anger, sorrow, joy, and gratitude) are divided by original poems. The watercolors are my own. I self-published this memoir/meditation collection last October. I’ve been told the emotions also are applicable to other situations, such as grief. There are bonus pages at the end (and a photo of me after chemotherapy).

Nearly eighteen years after my first diagnosis, I am so very happy and grateful to be alive.

.

https: judyjohnsonwrites.weebly.com /work.html

• Buy links
https://bookshop.org/p/books/cancer-s...
https://www.target.com/p/cancer-songs...
https://www.barnesandnoble.com
https://www.amazon.com

Argh Author: Shelly Burbank’s NIGHT MOVES: An Olivia Lively Mystery (Book 2)

Our own Shelly Burbank has the second novel out in her Olivia Lively Mysteries series: “If someone poured Sex and the City and Murder She Wrote into a cocktail shaker and served the concoction in an ice-cold martini glass, you’d have the Olivia Lively Mystery Series. Liv is a fashion-conscious private detective living in Portland, Maine, solving crimes, and messing up her love life at every turn.

After a splashy success with her last big case, Olivia Lively finds herself struggling to manage her one-woman detective firm’s sudden growth spurt.
When an old friend offers her a chunk of cash to investigate his wife and brother who may be having an affair, Liv reluctantly agrees in hopes of getting Lively Investigations back on track. She heads to a cozy cabin in the northern Maine woods to investigate, thinking it will be a chance to enjoy summer while also solving her cash flow problem. But when Liv stumbles onto the suburban wife’s dead body, she also discovers surprising connections to a seedier underbelly of crime, strip clubs, steamy literature, and human trafficking.

Having failed to save one woman, Liv is determined to rescue another. Meanwhile, her boyfriend Jasper, aka Dr. Hottie, pushes their relationship too far, too fast. Her best friend Ashleigh becomes obsessed with all things baby. And FBI Agent Colin Snow keeps appearing and disappearing in a maddening way. In the midst of all this turmoil, Liv finds herself questioning her choices and contemplating her true desires.

It’s a sticky summer in Portland, Maine, and in the heat of it all, Liv discovers that often the most complex relationship a woman has is the one with herself.

About Shelley:

Shelley Burbank is a mystery and women’s fiction author and journalist based in Maine and San Diego, California. She’s a contributing writer to the Waterboro Reporter newspaper, and her short fiction has been published nationally in True Story, True Love, and True Confessions magazines. Regional and literary publications include San Diego Woman Magazine and The Maine Review. Final Draft, the first Olivia Lively Mystery published by Encircle Publications (March 2023), was her debut novel. The second in the romantic mystery series, Night Moves, will be released on August 14, 2024. For the latest news, find Shelley on Facebook and Instagram, and visit www.ShelleyBurbank.com

Follow Shelley on social media:

https://www.facebook.com/shelley.burb...
https://www.instagram.com/shelleyrbur...

Kindle E-book link is https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D485Q4R1/
Amazon paperback link is https://www.amazon.com/Night-Moves-Ol...

Barnes & Noble link is https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/nigh...

This is a Good Book Thursday, September 12, 2024

What did you read this week?

Exploiting You, Especially If You Live in Germany

Bob wrote a scene in Very Nice Funerals where his guy asks for a croissant. In a German bakery.

So I googled for “German croissant” and got “Franzbrötchens.”

Does that work? Is it always capitalized? I’m learning a lot more about German pastry than I’d intended.

Thanking you in advance for any help you can give.