Brenda Whiteside's Blog, page 15

Toast with a Chocolate Martini and Murder

MUSE MONDAY

Last week, my sister and I had our first chocolate martini of the year. We have one twice a year, once in the spring for her birthday and again in the fall for my birthday. We've been doing this for a few years now. We always go to the Hasayampa Inn in Prescott, Arizona and sit in the saloon called the Peacock Room. This tradition is what led to the cozy mystery series I am writing with co-author Joyce Proell. Candy, Cigarettes, and Murder released in March. Book two, Reading, Writing, and Murder is set to release in September.

Our fictional Chocolate Martini Sisters are Emma (Em) Banefield and Nicole (Nic) Earp. They find a lot more murder and mayhem at the Dulce Inn in our fictional town of Wyatt, Arizona than my sister and I find in the Peacock Room!

Over the next few weeks, I'll share some never before seen excerpts and photos of the inspiration behind this really fun to read series.

The Inspiration Photos (could that be Em on the patio?) and new excerpt:

“Hakata and Guthrie must be inone of the event rooms is my take. They’re located down the hallway.” Thanks,she mouthed and gave the clerk a little wave. “If Guthrie’s there, I’m going tohead outside and chill in a patio lounge chair. Care to join me?” 

“Hmmm.” Nic acted as though theproposition required deep contemplation, but her quick answer, as ininstantaneous, suggested she’d already made other plans. “I’m going to moseyabout for a bit.” 

She lifted one brow, amused.“Oh?” 

“Thought I’d wander to the diningroom and maybe catch Dan Lee. Lunch hour isn’t in full swing yet. 

“On the prowl, eh? Are youthinking to provoke his temper again?” 

Nic glanced at her toes with asheepish smile. “If Chef Payne hasn’t arrived yet, he might have time to talk. Iwant another go at him. Maybe he’ll reveal something more about Payne’sreaction to Shaw.” 

“Well…” She glanced at her phonefor any messages. There weren’t any. “When you get hungry for lunch, partner,you know where to find me—in the great outdoors.” 

It didn’t surprise Emma to findthe patio deserted at this time of morning, not on the first day of the art
fair. People didn’t hang around inside a hotel when they could be outside playingand shopping in perfect weather. The patio, constructed of dull red bricks, waslocated on the opposite side of the building from the Azul. Around its border,a row of trees strung with lights gave it a semi-secluded look. She tookadvantage of the shade of a decorative Japanese maple and stretched out in alounge chair, wiggling her toes, and closed her eyes. A moment couldn’t getmuch better than this.  

For the first time since she’dset off with Nic earlier in the morning, she found herself alone. With nopleasant social distractions at hand, images of the murder scene flooded hermind. She winced at the sheer ugliness of murder. What a way to go, bludgeonedto death. Sometimes winding up dead was a matter of being in the wrong place atthe wrong time. If this morning’s murder had been a random event, she couldhave easily been the victim. The alarming notion sent a cold shiver ripplingover her body. 

BOOK LINKS

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Amazon Canada 

Goodreads 

Bookbub

Binding a Book Like a Work of Art by Kitty Shields

Readers, you are in for a most fascinating Fearless Friday. So grab a cuppa, prop up your feet, and enjoy the post by guest Kitty Shields.

AFTERBEFOREHi, my name is Kitty, and I’m a book nerd. I have a book problem. I read them; I writethem; I… bind them. Not in a weird way. No, I’m a certified bookbinder. 

What is a bookbinder? Traditionally, abookbinder is the person who sews and covers a book. Nowadays, machines dothis, mostly with glue. Sometimes a machine will sew a book (depending oncosts, hardback vs. paperback, etc). Most contemporary books are bound withglue and the cheapest kind at that. 

What I do is sew books, cover them inleather, repair them. Basically, I do book makeovers. 

So, what the hell does this have to dowith #FearlessFriday? 

In 2008, the stock market took a dive.A lot of people lost their jobs, and I was one of them. I was a graphicdesigner for a trade business magazine, nothing fancy, but it paid the bills.The Great Recession, as it’scalled, forced me to move back home, where I spent a miserable year working inretail and trying to figure out my next move. 

I started researching grad schools andsort of stumbled on art conversation, specifically book conservation. See,conservationists are entrusted with the most important cultural objects.Paintings, books, jewelry, monuments — a conservationist’s job is to repair, maintain, preserve, and stabilize thesecultural treasures so that they can be passed on to the next generation.

You know the part in the movie NationalTreasure when they steal the Declaration of Independence from that specialroom? That’swhere the conservationists work. That’sthe kind of job I’mtalking about. A book conservationist gets to repair and handle the mostfascinating books in history: Gutenberg’s Bible, Shakespeare’s First Folio, a first edition Isaac Asimov, a clay tabletof cuneiform writing. Honestly, can this job sound any cooler? 

I may have stumbled upon this careerpath, but I wanted in bad. The prerequisite list for admittance into anart conservationprogram was long and arduous. And there wereonly two art conservation grad programs in the country. One of the requirementswas to have 150 hours of conservation experience already logged before applying. Um…where the hell was I supposed to do that? 

Enter: North Bennet Street School. 

North Bennet Street School is avocational school for old world trades. There you can learn violin-making, preservationcarpentry, furniture and cabinet making, piano technology, and, of course,bookbinding. This is a school where a special kind of hands-on nerd goes. Ifpeople go to Hogwarts to learn to change the world through magic, people go toNorth Bennet to learn to change the world through craft. As part of theircurriculum, students learn the basics of book conservation technique. As partof the curriculum, I could log 150 hours of experience. 

The catch? The bookbinding programonly takes eight students a year. It is a two-year, full-time program locatedin Boston. Two years of vocational school before even applying for grad school.Then another two years of grad school before I could play in the backs ofmuseums and libraries all day. And that was assuming I was accepted into bothprograms. 

The idea was ludicrous. Like a good,mature adult, I let it go. 

I found a fantastic job, got my ownplace, adopted a cat, traveled to foreign and wondrous lands. I rebuilt mylife, and it was pretty good. But I couldn’t help myself. On weekends, I went to bookbinding workshopsand rare book libraries. After a few years, I applied to North Bennet on alark, thinking they would never let me in. There was only eight spots! I was ahobbyist. Then I got a call to come visit. 

The school sits on the periphery ofthe North End in Boston. Two blocks down is the best Italian food outside ofItaly you’llever have. Across the street is a gorgeous public park, and you can smell thesalt water of the harbor from the front door. And the inside! 

The bookbinding department has over athousand brass hand tools just to decorate leather. There are book presses fromtwo centuries ago and more pretty paper than an art store. The teacher, Jeff,has a dry sense of humor and a mustache that curls at the ends. 

We launched into a conversation aboutthe program, books, tools. It felt like someone was finally speaking mylanguage. I had found my tribe. We talked for over two hours. At one point, hepulled out my portfolio, and we went over the examples I submitted one by one.Finally, the conversation wound down and he shrugged and said, 

“Well, we have one spot left. It’s yours if you want it.” 

If this were a movie, this would bethe moment where the music changed. I remember sitting back and remindingmyself that this was insane. I’dhave to quit my job, move to Boston, somehow afford to attend the school fulltime for two years. Who does that? Who leaves a perfectly good life when theywere just settling down to go to a foreign city with no friends, no family, toattend a school for bookbinding? 

I did. And I don’t regret it. 

I moved to Boston and graduated fromthe Bookbinding program. In those two years, I had many, many adventures. I gotto see Paul Revere’slibrary card, repair books owned by Franklin D.Roosevelt, touch a curl of the Statue of Liberty, visit the archives at theGuinness Factory in Dublin, hold a book bound in human skin, see Harvard’s conservation lab. I ate better than I have ever eaten inmy life. Boston is a foodie city for sure. I made lifelong friends anddiscovered that I did not, in fact, want to be a book conservationist. Bookconservation, it turns out, consists mostly of repairing itty, bitty, teeny,tiny rips in paper. Although they get to play in the backs of museums andlibraries and handle some of the most amazing objects ever, I found 150 hoursto be plenty of experience logged. I didn’t need anymore. It was the best midlife crisis ever. 

So what do I do now that I am acertified bookbinder? I take people’sfavorite books, graphic novels,
gaming manuals and transform them into works ofart. My Harry Potter set looks like it came out of the Hogwarts library. My RPGgaming manuals appear to have been stolen from the dungeon master. My graphicnovels match their super heroes. 

I can’t pretend I’m not lucky. Luckythey offered me this amazing opportunity, that I was able to go for it.Perhaps, most of all, I was lucky to discover that one path wasn’t for me. I’mincredibly lucky and grateful. All I can say is if you have a ludicrous notionthat equal parts terrifies you and sings to your soul—be fearless. Like me, youmay come out realizing that some paths aren’t your path, but the stories you’llcollect along the way will be worth it. 

You can find all of Kitty's books here: Kitty's Amazon Page

Author Bio: 

Kitty Shields(she/her) lives outside Philadelphia, where she writes to overcome the factthat she was born a middle child with hobbit feet, vampire skin, and a tendencyto daydream. In her spare time, she binds books, takes bad photos, and tries toavoid the death traps her cat sets for her. You can check out her writing at www.kittyshieldsauthor.com. Her new book The Second Pillar iscoming out May 2023!

Want to see morebookbinding? Visit her on Instagram @theshadowbindery or Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/theshadowbindery.

 

THE SECOND PILLAR AVAILABLE FOR PREORDER RELEASES MAY 2023 Kate McGovern has survived her first job long enough to get fired from it. But she has not come out empty-handed. Now a Pillar of Heaven, Kate bears the weight of a quarter of the sky. And she is looking forward to her next chapter, whatever that is. But the world is still in danger.

When another Pillar of Heaven is killed in a natural disaster, Kate must travel to Indonesia to locate the body and pass the Pillar on before the sky teeters and falls. Soon enough, Kate and her team realize the natural disaster was, in fact, supernatural. As powerful enemies strive to destroy the world, Kate, with the help of some new friends, fights to restore the balance. Oh, and she needs to find a new job too.

 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NGWLYD6?

 

 

What Comes After Release Day by Jennifer Wilck

MUSE MONDAY

I'm happy to have Jennifer Wilck back to Discover... for Muse Monday. Hey, Jennifer, I have a question for you:

What do you do after RELEASE DAY? 

That’s a great question, and one that manyof us often forget about when planning our book release. Writing the book—ofcourse! Editing, too. Once the book is submitted, accepted, and assigned a releasedate, we have to move onto marketing while also writing the next book. 

If you’re like me, you create a timeline ofwhat is happening when. You plan cover reveals, send out copies of the book forreviews, and plan a schedule of blog appearances, all leading up to releaseday. The goal is to build momentum so that everyone wants to buy your book. 

But then what? 

You celebrate the release day. Great. Wine,chocolate, and good humor. 

And then? 

Hopefully, the reviews start rolling in aswell as sales. But if you don’t keep up the momentum about your book afterrelease day, that sales blip is going to fizzle and dry up. That’s why myrelease calendar includes publicity for months after release day. Like thisblog appearance, I make sure I appear in different places after release day. AHeart Restrained released March 27, but I have blogs scheduled through July. 

I focus on short attention-grabbinggraphics that I can use to promote in different spots on social media. Thingslike “hooks”--#oppositesattract. Or I write more in-depth pieces about my heroand heroine—did you know Fiona LOVES telenovelas, even though she doesn’t speakSpanish? Or I’ll find photos of my hero—Caleb is tall, muscular, bald, andtattooed, so there are lots of photos to choose from (think The Rock).

And the best use of my time is takingreviews as they come in, grabbing a line or two, and making specific graphicsthat I can share. 

In fact, I spend about twenty to thirtyminutes every morning marketing my entire backlist in different places on theInternet. I don’t know how much it helps, but I do see my sales continuingfairly steadily for all my books. In addition to my sales, it keeps my interestin my characters, which often spurs my creative juices and leads me to createbooks based on secondary characters. It reminds me why I loved the stories tobegin with and enables me to continue talking about the books long afterthey’re out. 

Hopefully, you’ll love them, too. J 

Blurb:

CalebZeno, a wealthy and successful media mogul, refuses to allow emotions into anyaspect of his life, especially his entertainment corporation. When hiscompany’s lifestyle website runs into competition from a small boutiquecompany, the most logical solution is to buy out his rival. 

FionaHamilton’s lifestyle website succeeds due to her loving and caring treatment ofher clients, who have become like family to her. She has no desire to sell toanyone, much less a tattooed, muscled, automaton. 

Atodds professionally, Caleb and Fiona come together as a favor for Caleb’ssister. Sparks fly and sexual chemistry abounds. But Caleb can't let go of hisabusive past and be the man Fiona needs, and she is unwilling to riskindependence and financial security for anything less than a perfect happily everafter. Can they put their differences aside to find a viral kind of love? 

Excerpt:

“Wouldn’t you enjoy thismore if it were in English?”

She paused and shifted soshe faced him, one leg bent under her, the other dangling off the edge.“Absolutely not! Telenovelas are so much more emotional than American TV.”

“Why don’t you at leastresearch online to find a plot summary?”

“I’m happy with the waythings are,” she said. “I don’t need to hear the words to feel the story.”

“But...you’re crying.”

She smiled through her tearsand wiped her cheeks. “I know.”

Staring at her, his heartrate increased, and he tamped the panic her tears caused. At first, he thoughtpain caused her tears, but her rapt attention to the screen made him realizeotherwise.

Why would she want to dothis to herself? And how could she enjoy a show she couldn’t understand?

He should leave, before sherecognized his complete lack of comprehension. But her rapt attention to thescreen fascinated him. She was smart—his business dealings with her had provenit. Yet she focused as if she understood her show.

She stared at the TV screen,but he couldn’t take his gaze off her. Her skin, despite its bruising, wasluminous. Her lips were parted, and she gripped the edges of the sofa cushionsuntil her knuckles turned white. This close to her, heat radiated from herbody. He could hear a faint sigh.

If she were this passionateabout a television show, how passionate would she be if he kissed her?

Buy Links:

 

Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BS56R4LH

Barnes & Noble:https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-he...

iBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/a-hea...

Kobo:https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-he...

Universal Link:https://books2read.com/u/3k2G5n

Bio 

Jennifer Wilck is an award-winningcontemporary romance author for readers who are passionate about love,laughter, and happily ever after. Known for writing both Jewish and non-Jewishromances, her books feature damaged heroes, sassy and independent heroines,witty banter and hot chemistry. Jennifer’s ability to transport the reader intothe scene, create characters the reader will fall in love with, and evoke aroller coaster of emotions, will hook you from the first page. You can find herbooks at all major online retailers in a variety of formats. 

Author Links: 

Website: https://www.jenniferwilck.com

Facebook Readers Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/879114386079365

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063739892318

Newsletter: https://www.jenniferwilck.com/contact.html#newsletter

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorjenniferwilck/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jennifer-wilck

Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/JenniferWilck

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5032661.Jennifer_Wilck

Reading and Reviews (Clair and Troilo, Leigh)

I'm an author, but I'm also a reader. Each month, I'll sharewith you reviews of present and past reads. My available time to read islimited because I write, but I love to curl up with a paperback or an eBook atnight for the last hour of my day. 

I tend to read what I write, but not exclusively. BesidesRomantic Suspense, I read crime and law novels, once in a while a true story, WWIIhistoricals, mysteries, and mainstream character driven books.

Here are some of the books I've read recently or in the not-too-distant past.Maybe you'll discover a new book or author. 

The Haunting of Chatham Hollow Mae Clair and Staci Troilo 

Onefounding father.
One deathbed curse.
A town haunted for generations.

Ward Chatham, founder of Chatham Hollow, is infamous for two things—hiddentreasure and a curse upon anyone bold enough to seek it. Since his passing in1793, no one has discovered his riches, though his legend has only grownstronger.

In 1888, charlatan Benedict Fletcher holds a séance to determine the locationof Chatham’s fortune. It’s all a hoax so he can search for the gold, but hedoesn’t count on two things—Victor Rowe, a true spiritualist who sees throughhis ruse, and Chatham’s ghost wreaking havoc on the town.

More than a century later, the citizens of the Hollow gather for the annualFounder’s Day celebration. A paranormal research team intends to film a specialat Chatham Manor, where the original séance will be reenacted. Reporter andskeptic Aiden Hale resents being assigned the story, but even he can’t deny thesudden outbreak of strange happenings. When he sets out to discover who or whatis threatening the Hollow—supernatural or not—his investigation uncoversdecades-old conflicts, bitter rivalries, and ruthless murders.

This time, solving the mystery isn’t about meeting his deadline. It’s about notending up dead. 

MY REVIEW

Right off, let me tell you, Ienjoyed this book. The story unfolds in the 1900s and continues into presentday. The authors pulled off the transition and the cross referencing themystery in beautiful form. I don’t need to recap what happens. Read the blurband then dive into this book for some entertaining fun. 

AMAZON BUY LINK 

 

A Broken Bone Melinda Leigh 

Themysterious death of a local teen leads to a hunt for a killer in the sixthWidow’s Island novella by #1 Wall Street Journal bestsellingauthor Melinda Leigh.

On Widow’s Island, thesecrets are dark…and everybody has one. So when Deputy Tessa Black responds toa call about an explosion in a quiet neighborhood, she gets more than shebargained for: the body of a teen who went missing weeks ago.

Until recently, Gavin wasliving in a reputable foster home. But now that he is found dead—Tessa can’thelp but wonder if sinister forces are at play. Who would want to hurt him, andwhy?

With thehelp of her partner, Park Ranger Logan Wilde, Tessa tries desperately todecipher what happened to Gavin before another life is cut short. Someone onWidow’s Island knows the explosive truth. Will Tessa find the answers she needsbefore someone else turns up dead?

 

MY REVIEW

This is anovella, 104 pages, and I felt a bit cheated on detail. Could she haveelaborated more, given more description, gotten deeper into POV if she’d madeit a full-length book? This is a series and perhaps if you’re vested in theseries, you have all the detail you need. It isn’t a bad read, it just didn’tengross me as much as hoped. 

AMAZON BUY LINK

How Much Wicked is Enough? by Randy Overbeck #WickedWednesday

 WICKED WEDNESDAY

How great to have Randy Overbeck back on Discover... Now I'm not calling Randy wicked, but he sure knows how to write about it. Take it away, Randy... 

            As a writerand a reader, I’ve always been fascinated by how much we are all drawn to the“wicked”. In TV news and on newspaper headlines, the dominant saying is “If itbleeds, it leads.”
OnSocial Media posts, those who get the most traction are often the onesdepicting horrible events. Earlier this month, the demented gunman who shot upa Louisville bank and killed six livestreamed the event, no doubt because hethought people would be drawn to the horror of it all.

I believe most of us are surroundedby far too much real life “wickedness”—a twenty-something using an AK-15to shoot up a bunch of six-year-olds in a Texas school, a politician acceptingmillions of dollars in bribes for an energy vote in Ohio, misinformed protestors
looting andbeating up cops defending the US Capitol, thefaceless scammers bilking unsuspecting seniors out of what little money theyhave, the deludedTennessee racist murdering black worshippers in church, or podcasts aboutpsychopaths who victimize and murder unsuspecting victims or even thesuccessful South Carolina lawyer who killed his wife and son after embezzlingmillions of dollars from his clients. The list of real life wickedness goes onand on. Either there is more real wickedness today or it is splayed more in ourfaces today, which amounts to the same effect.

Real life wickedness isinescapable.

            Whenreaders open the pages of their favorite books—or turn on their e-reader—theyare certainly looking for a hero or heroine to root for, for the good guys towin.  But I believe most
readers are also seeking fictional wicked characters who can be vanquished. Thescheming real estate mogul who murdered his competition, the serial killer whogets off on the thrill of watching others die, the monster, vampire, werewolfwho preys on the helpless, thedesperate murderer who kills his wife/partner/friend to keep his secret fromgetting out—all of these fictional antagonists who embody wickedness also drawreaders into our books. Of course, without antagonists, there would be noconflict and without conflict there would be little story. But I believe it ismore than that.  A great many readersfind reassurance in the stories where the wicked get their just reward, wherejustice prevails with more predictability and regularity than in the real world.

I’m one of them.

            In my HauntedShores Mysteries series, I take as great a care selecting and crafting myantagonists, those embodying wickedness as I do with my heroes. For some ofthese villains, their wickedness is obvious, for others it is hidden, much likein the real world.  In Scarletat Crystal River, the murder under investigation is particularlyheinous—the execution of two helpless, immigrant children. So for this tale, Ichose my antagonists with extreme caution. And, most important, readers aresatisfied when the bad guys in my narrative end up behind bars where theydeserve. 

“The characters are well drawn. Darrell andErin make an attractive pair. The bad guys are very bad indeed and the plot isengrossing. It’s an enjoyable read with protagonists who are easy to root forand it ends in a very satisfying way. Highly recommended”.—Amazon Reviewer

 

But, with each of the entries in myseries I try to go one step further. My protagonist Darrell does manage tobring the fictional wicked bad guys to justice but he also learns thatthe murder of these two young Latino children is tied to a much larger and veryreal evil he never dreamt of. The murdering of the five- and six-year-olds turnout to be only a small indication of the broader abuse and victimization ofimmigrant migrant workers by the entire system. My hope is that readers willget what they seek—an escape into a world where good triumphs and evil isvanquished—but they also can see the connection of the fictional evil to thevery real wickedness spoiling into the real world. I hope readers’ escape intothe suspense of my books provides them with an awareness and unexpected insightinto one corner of real world wickedness. And, as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (and others) said, “All ittakes for wickedness to prosper is for good men to do nothing.” My hope is thatmy novels, in addition to being engaging reads, make it a little harder forgood men and women to do nothing about evil.

Dr. Randy Overbeck is a best-selling author of theaward-winning series, The Haunted Shores Mysteries, each a cold case murdermystery wrapped in ghost story served with a side romance, set in a beautifulresort location. He is the host of a new podcast, “Great Stories about GreatStorytellers,” which reveals the unusual backstories of famous authors,directors and poets. He is also a speaker in much demand, sharing hismulti-media presentations, “Thanks Still Go Bump in the Night” and “A FewFavorite Haunts” with audiences all over the country. More info about hisnovels, programs and podcast can be found at his website www.authorrandyoverbeck.com . 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorrandyoverbeck

Twitter: https://twitter.com/OverbeckRandy/media

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorrandyoverbeck/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/randy-overbeck 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Randy-Overbeck/e/B07QQHW7DM?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1658371317&sr=8-1 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4825632.Randy_Overbeck 

Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1924616/10983135 

Purchase/Book Links

AMAZON

BARNES AND NOBLE 

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57841458-scarlet-at-crystal-river?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=RTpsYLU6mO&rank=3 

BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/books/scarlet-at-crystal-river-by-randy-overbeck 

 

Reading and Reviews (Gallant and Barbur)

Although I've managed to do a little reading over the last few months, I haven't taken the time to post reviews. I'm just busy-busy writing. But I had to stop, take a break, and get some reviews done, or I'll forget what the books are about!

I tend to read what I write, but not exclusively. BesidesRomantic Suspense, I read crime and law novels, once in a while a true story, WWIIhistoricals, mysteries, and mainstream character driven books.

Here are some of the books I've read recently or in the not-too-distant past.Maybe you'll discover a new book or author.

ChillingMoonrise (Leave No Trace Book 4)

  by Jannine Gallant

Aninheritance she never anticipated or desired sparks murder . . . and passion.

Widowed and left with her husband’s vast empire to manage, Camille Valentineisn’t sure how much longer she can hold on. Between her single-minded need tosucceed and the very real threats on her life, the pressure is crushing hersoul. The only thing keeping her sane is the man determined to protect her atany cost.

Former Navy Seal and black ops agent Michael Zorn spends his days chauffeuringan extremely wealthy—not to mention gorgeous—woman to and from her businessmeetings. Not the future he’d envisioned, but he’d made a promise to the manwho’d once saved him, one he doesn’t intend to break.

As a hired assassin steps up his game, Camille and Michael fight for theirlives. From the Santa Barbara shore to the redwood forest to the rugged beautyof Mount Rainier, her desperate plight ignites feelings neither of themanticipated. But until they uncover the identity of the traitor behind thehitman, true happiness is an impossible dream—because their reality is arelentless nightmare. 

MY REVIEW:

I’ve loved this series andcouldn’t wait to dive into book four. As usual, Ms. Gallant gave me a goodentertaining read.

Camille Valentine has been onmy radar since she was mentioned in another of the series books. I hoped she’dget her own story with her Navy Seal bodyguard. Camille has her hands full withtoo much money and too many greedy step-children. It’s a mystery if one of themcould be trying to kill her. Thank goodness for Michael Zorn, who’s promisemade to another man to protect Camille has him watching her every move. Troubleis, watching her and her watching him watch her leads them into a relationshipthey didn’t expect. Hold on, this isn’t all about romance. There is plenty ofsuspense. Enjoy this read!

AMAZON BUY LINK

Primitive Weapons: A Tye Caine Wilderness Mystery Book 2 byDavid Barbur 

It was supposed to be asimple job: go to the private island, find the missing billionaire.

Instead, tracker Tye Caineand his friend Gary find themselves caught in a dark conspiracy that blendsancient artifacts with modern technology.

Huntedby an unseen gunman, stalked by dark shapes in the forest, Tye and Gary mustfirst unlock the decades-old secret of the island, then understand themodern-day technological terror that is about to be unleashed.

Tyewill need all his wilderness skills to survive this one.

My Review:

I’d like to classify this asa “man’s man book” and yet I kept reading to the end. It’s a real blend ofmystery and suspense, high-tech/low-tech, and a touch of supernatural. Once ina while I felt a little lost in the jungle of the plot just like thecharacters, but the twists and turns are probably what held me. It’s an adventureyou might enjoy.

AMAZON BUY LINK

The Mysterious Waukau by Joyce Proell #recipe #cozymystery

 My Cozy Mystery partner, Joyce Proell has a great recipe I'd like to share. I just know my favorite beverage, a hot latte, would go perfect with this. So heat up that oven and give it a try!

Years ago, a sibling was kindenough to share with me his recipe for a raspberry pancake called a Waukau. Iwas intrigued with the unfamiliar name. Waukau? Was the word European or NativeAmerican? Curious, I prepared the batter following the simple directions. Oncein the oven, a golden pancake arose, its edges crusty and slightly browned andfilled the kitchen with a delicious aroma. Spread across the top like scarletjewels, the berries glistened in their syrupy juices. What an impressive sight.My husband and I sat at the kitchen table, eager to have a bite. How yummy. Weloved it. The sweet yet slightly tart berries against the spongy texture of egggave a bright taste to breakfast. The best part, according to my husband, isthe buttery edge. Soon the Waukau pancake became our Sunday morning go-to item.

So where did the name come from?I did a Wikipedia search. Outside the town of Rushford, WI is an unincorporatedarea called Waukau. According to the census taken in 2000, 178 people livethere. Perhaps this is where the pancake evolved.  

At any rate, I’m certain TheChocolate Martini Sisters would have delighted in the unusual dish. Emma, oneof the sisters and known for her sweet tooth, would savor the mix of sugary andtart berries. Too bad it wasn’t on the menu at the Dulce Inn where they stayedin Candy, Cigarettes and Murder.

CHOCOLATE MARTINISISTERS MYSTERY

Candy, Cigarettes, andMurder

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BN96RS4G/

The following recipe is one thatI’ve adapted over time in response to my particular taste. It takes onlyminutes to prepare. Eaten alone or paired with bacon or sausage, it feeds aboutthree or four adults. Give it a chance. You won’t be disappointed.

 Waukau (Berry Pancake)                                   

1 cup flour

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup milk

2 eggs

½ tsp vanilla

3 T butter

Pint ofraspberries

1/3 cup sugar

Oven heat:375 degrees. Heat pan with butter in oven. (I use a heavy 10” stainless steelfry pan suitable for the oven)

Whisk flourand salt in medium bowl. Whisk milk, eggs and vanilla in small bowl.

Make a wellin center of the flour mixture and add the milk mixture to the well. Whiskuntil combined. (A fork works well)

When pan isat oven temperature, pour batter into the oan. Scatter the berries over thebatter, leaving one inch border around the edges. Sprinkle sugar over theberries, again avoiding the outer 1-inch border. Bake until the edges arepuffed and deep golden brown, 40 – 45 minutes. 

Be carefulnot to burn your fingers when you take it from the oven.

Enjoy!

Joyce 

 

A Moving Adventure by Terry Segan #Fearless Friday #TimeTravel

FEARLESS FRIDAY

Please welcome Terry Segan to Fearless Friday. She made one of those fearless moves of discovery and came out on top. Read on!

Ever wonder what itwould be like to move to a new city without first securing a job and a place tolive? I did just that in my early twenties. Not being satisfied to go only atown or two away, I slapped a cartop carrier onto the roof of my Toyota Corollaand took off for the opposite coast.

I’d grown up on LongIsland and wanted a new adventure—a new life. The beaches of SouthernCalifornia called to me, and I had no choice but to answer with a resounding,“Yes!”

I’ve always been a bitof a wanderer, never settling for the same thing all the time. While thisdoesn’t always afford stability, I got to work in a variety of industries overthe ensuing decade. With my secretarial skills, I could work in most any officesetting. My very first job had been on the lot of a major movie studio.

After that year, Idecided to work part time toward a college degree, while working for tempagencies. The freedom of not having a permanent job allowed me to take time offto travel. In between trips, I worked several positions as an HonoraryImagineer at the Disney offices in Pasadena and also for an airline, who laterhired me.

Following my dream ofliving in another country, I spent a fall semester in Cambridge, England.Wanting to see more of Europe the following spring, I went on a six-weekbackpack trip through Europe with a friend. We began in London and wound up inthe Greek Islands for the final ten days.

All of theseadventures took a leap of faith, as I didn’t always know where I’d end up. Now,much later in life, I’ve begun a new career as a paranormal fiction writer. Anotherleap. It’s much like the characters, Keira and Grayson, in my current book, TheJelly Bean Jump Project. They must take a leap of faith to pursue their dreamof time travel and don’t always know where their future will take them.

Are you ready for yournext adventure? 

Book & Bio info: 

THE JELLY BEANJUMP PROJECT  Release date: April 17, 2023 PREORDER NOW

Fate drew them together. Will their dream of timetravel keep them apart? 

Keira longedto do something amazing with her life. When offered a chance to join a timetravel program, she didn’t hesitate. With her soulmate by her side, nothingcould be more perfect.

Grayson never believed happiness would find himuntil he met Keira. Lightning struck twice when both got accepted into TheJelly Bean Jump Project, a time travel experiment. Only a handful of applicantsmade the cut each year.

One of the requirements—no family ties. Keira andGrayson were alone in the world except for each other. An adventure of alifetime awaited, until a glitch in the system threatened to tear them apart.Would they walk away from their fantasy or surrender their hearts in exchange?

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Jelly-Project-Beans-Spring-Things-ebook/dp/B0BVRW4H3Q

Barnes &Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-jelly-bean-jump-project-terry-segan/1143069048 

Author Website: https://terrysegan.com/

Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/AuthorTerrySegan

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terrysegan

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SeganTerry

Bio:

 

Terry Segan, originally from Commack, NY, now resides in thedesert where she’ll never require an ice scraper or snow shovel again. Thebeach is her happy place, but any opportunity to travel soothes her gypsy soul.The stories conjured by her imagination while riding backseat on her husband’smotorcycle can be found throughout the pages of her paranormal mysteries.Growing up immersed in sarcastic humor and science fiction movies, Terry’sgoals are to cause her readers to laugh out loud, cry with joy, or cower underthe covers wondering if the noise under the bed was real or imagined.

Journey to a Cozy Mystery by Joyce Proell

I'm happy to introduce you today to my writing partner, Joyce Proell, for the Chocolate Martini Sisters Mysteries. We've been friends since I lived in Minnesota. She's the perfect co-author. Tell us a little about yourself, Joyce.

My interest in mysteries took flight in third grade. At one of myfavorite places, the children’s section of the public library, I spotted aneerie cover and was immediately intrigued. I couldn’t wait to get home and devourThe Mystery of the Whispering Mummy. Suspenseful, I’ll admit, yet after manyyears, I can’t recall a thing about the raggedy mummy or the plucky kids whosolved the crime. What the book did do is encourage me to read more books of asimilar type. Thank goodness for the Trixie Beldon series. Her neighborhoodcrime solving escapades delightfully fed my curiosity.

As I got older, I drifted to Agatha Christie and Dorothy L.Sayers’ stories featuring the clever Lord Peter Wimsey. Robert B. Parker’sSpenser and Tony Hillerman had my interest. For a time, I focused on Britishmystery authors like P.D. James, Anne Perry, Elly Griffiths, Anne Cleves andMartha Grimes, reading each book upon publication. I read American authors whoset their series in England. Even Nordic Noir received its share of attention, asdid historical mysteries and the lighter stories of M.C. Beaton and ElizabethPeters. If you’ve not read her Amelia Peabody series, you’re missing out. Her stories,usually set at an archeological dig in Egypt are bright and funny. DeborahCrombie, Elizabeth George, Charles Todd, Jacqueline Winspear, C.S. Harris,Victoria Thompson, Kate Morton, Charlaine Harris, Rhys Bowen are just a few ofmy favorite mystery writers. A practical person might wonder where I found allthe time to read.

I wonder, too. Maybe I’m a fast reader. In truth, I love mystery—darkor light, historical or contemporary, serious or funny. The sub-genre doesn’treally matter. Finding the killer does. Once the crime puzzle is set, I race tothe end. And if by chance, I figure out who did it before the principalcharacter does, I feel a great sense of satisfaction.  

So it wasn’t a big jump that after writing two romances, I glided intoromantic suspense with my Cady Delafield series. When my dear friend and fellowwriter, Brenda Whiteside approached me with a series proposal about two sistersleuths, I got excited. The premise is fashioned after Brenda and her sister’srespective birthday dinners and always includes a Chocolate Martini. Thus, itmade sense to title the series The Chocolate Martini Sisters. In the stories, thebond between the sisters, Emma and Nic, is as important as the murder. They areas diverse as they are similar. Nic is creative, intuitive and impulsive. Emma isanalytical, fact-driven and careful. They are each other’s best friend andequally enjoy solving a caper. They are all about solving a mystery.

Candy,Cigarettes and Murder is thefirst in this series. I hope you are intrigued and excited to read about the livelysisters and their perplexing capers. I certainly had a blast writing aboutthem.  

When Sisters Emma and Nic check in at the storied Dulce Innfor a relaxing, birthday weekend, they don’t expect a madhouse of temperamentalartists or getting entangled in two murders. Using their love of all-thingsmystery, and despite a surly detective who stands in their way, can theChocolate Martini Sisters tackle the caper, unsnarl the web of secrets, lies,and vengeance to catch the killer? 

BOOK LINKS:

AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BN96RS4G/ 

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/71969141-candy-cigarettes-and-murder 

BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/books/candy-cigarettes-and-murder-a-chocolate-martini-sisters-mystery-book-1-by-brenda-whiteside-and-joyce-proell

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

Visit her website atwww.joyceproell.com orhttps://www.facebook.com/JoyceProellA....

 

Afternoon Tea in Elm Ridge—1851 Style by Ellen Parker (@eparkerwrites) #NewRelease #HistoricalRomance

MUSE MONDAY

Enjoy the guest post today with Ellen Parker as she takes us back to the middle of the nineteenth century.

The Deutsch immigrants in New Dreams are on their way to Elm Ridge, Illinois. I hope you enjoy this introduction to furnishings and customs of 1851.

 

After a flurry of greetings, Mrs. King leads us to the large kitchen at the rear of the house.

“I am so glad you came for tea.” Our hostess smiles.

I remove my shawl and drape it over a chair back. The table, covered with a white cloth, is set for three. The plates are blue-and-white, the cups dainty, and the saucers deep. A lidded sugar bowl and matching cream pitcher are in the center. 

“Please, take a seat. The water is almost at a boil.” Mrs. King adds tea leaves to the pot waiting on the corner cupboard. A moment later, she lifts the teakettle from the stove and adds steaming water. “Do you like cherries?”

“Yes, very much.” Geraldine, my mother-in-law, and I respond almost in unison.

Mrs. King sets the teapot on the table. A moment later, she opens a tin box on one of the deep shelves. “I went to Keil’s Bakery this morning. Do you trade with them?”

“Not often, Geraldine responds.

“I went for rye bread last week. The scents are always so enticing.”

“The baker’s wife called this a Kuchen. She said they make them with several different fruits—apple, plum, and apricot—in addition to cherry.”

“Please, Mrs. King, sit, relax, and enjoy afternoon tea. Tell us how you managed with the language at Keil’s Bakery.

Blurb:

America beckons with opportunity during the 1850’s.

 

Louisa Mueller, a baker’s daughter, arrives in Elm Ridge, Illinois with determination to learn English and work as a baker. Since the death of her sweetheart a year ago, she pushes aside thoughts of marriage. However, she’s intrigued by a fellow passenger who tells the most interesting stories.

 

Desperate for a fresh start, a young thief takes the name Hans Hoffmann when a look-alike passenger dies during the trans-Atlantic passage. Vowing to be an honest man in America, Hans discovers temptation wears many disguises. Will the pair be rewarded as they attempt their new dreams in a strange land? 

 

Excerpt:

 

Hans shook his head. He ignored the stifling air and stepped toward Louisa. “Welcome, Fraulein Mueller. Did you enjoy the lecture?”

“Ja. Danke.” She hid her hands in the folds of her skirt.

“May I be bold and ask you a question?” He waited for her slight nod. “Where are you going after we leave the ship in New Orleans?”

“I travel to join my cousin.” She moistened her lips and shifted her gaze to the floor.

Polite conversation is difficult. He searched for proper phrases among the crude remarks common in the cheap taverns he frequented. “I…I would like to become acquainted. May I speak with you again?”

 

Raised in a household filled with books, it was only natural that Ellen Parker grew into an avid reader. She turned to writing as a second career and enjoys spinning the type of story which appeals to multiple generations. She encourages her readers to share her work with mother or daughter – or both.

Ellen currently lives in St. Louis. When not guiding characters to “happily ever after” she’s apt to be reading, walking in the neighborhood, or tending her tiny garden. You can find her on the web at www.ellen-parker-writes.com and www.facebook.com/ellenparkerwrites.

 

Ellen’s website: www.ellen-parker-writes.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ellenparkerwrites

Buy links for New Dreams:

Kindle: https://amzn.to/3vWydWE

Nook: http://bit.ly/3wR900t