Brenda Whiteside's Blog, page 2

Book Catalogs! Book Catalogs!

September! Fall is coming! Good time to stock up on books. These catalogs have some of my books in them and a whole lot more you should check out.

Get your cozy fill here (even you pumpkin haters will find some great reads):https://books.bookfunnel.com/pumpkinspicecozies/j95dqj0pld





Here's another catalog that is sure to complete your September reading (western or thriller or mystery with the right touch of romance): https://books.bookfunnel.com/romancebeginnings/lf60q6crz2





Who doesn't love a mystery packed thriller or twisty who dunnit for FREE? This catalog for September fits the bill. https://books.bookfunnel.com/thrillingfreebies-sep/msdzkcog7z

Reading and Reviews (Finn and Grafton)

I'm an author, but I'm also a reader. From time to time, I'llshare my 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. 

Here are some of the books I've read recently. Maybe you'lldiscover a new book or author. 

The Secret in the Stacks (TheBookshop Detective) by Kat Finn 

A mysterious letter hidden in avaluable book leads a novice bookshop owner to uncover a decades-olddisappearance in a quaint coastal town. 

A former librarian turned bookshopowner uses her literary expertise and newfound amateur sleuthing skills tosolve a decades-old missing person case in a small coastal town, uncoveringlong-held secrets and finding her place in a close-knit community. 

When Olivia Paige inherits heraunt's bookshop in charming Millbrook Cove, she expects a quiet life surroundedby books. But a cryptic letter discovered in a rare edition of "The Houndof the Baskervilles" plunges her into a 30-year-old cold case. As Oliviainvestigates, she clashes with skeptical locals and forms unlikely alliances,including a gruff fisherman with surprising literary knowledge. With her keenanalytical mind and vast knowledge of mystery novels, Olivia must piecetogether clues from dusty records and town gossip to solve a long-buriedsecret—and possibly put herself in the crosshairs of a killer who thought theircrime was long forgotten.

This is the PREQUEL to The Bookshop Detective series.

My Review 

I haven’t read any of the othernovels in this series. I was given this prequel free, and I’m glad I read it. I’ma fan of cozies, but I don’t like the cutesy kind which seem to be in abundanceright now. I started two others and quit a chapter in. Ms. Fin has woven atwisty cozy with smart characters and just enough of the “cozy” feel to make ita good Cozy Mystery. I’ll be sure to check out the other books in this series. 

https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Stacks-Bookshop-Detective-ebook/dp/B0DJPR518R/

 

 

S is for Silence: A Kinsey MillhoneNovel by Sue Grafton 

Cases don't get much colder thanthat of Violet Sullivan, who disappeared from her rural California town in1953, leaving behind an abusive husband and a seven-year-old named Daisy. ButPI Kinsey Millhone has promised the now adult Daisy she'll try her best tolocate Violet, dead or alive. All signs point to a runaway wife—the clothesthat disappeared; the secret stash of money Violet bragged about; the brazenflirtations she indulged in with local men, including some married ones.

Kinsey tries to pick up a trail by speaking to those who remember Violet—andperhaps were more involved in her life than they let on. But the trail couldlead her somewhere very dangerous. Because the case may have gone cold, butsome people's feelings about Violet Sullivan still run as hot as ever... 

My Review 

To date, I’ve enjoyed the PI Kinseybooks, but this one wasn’t one of the best. It started off keeping me turningpages so I got deep enough into it, I had to follow it to the end. There is alot of jumping around in past and present. I didn’t much care for some of thesupporting characters that I thought I was supposed to like. Or maybe I wasn’tsupposed to like any of them. Hard to tell. Where they find Violet was astretch for me. That’s all I’ll say so I won’t spoil it. Eh, somewhatentertaining. 

https://www.amazon.com/S-Silence-Kinsey-Millhone-Novel-ebook/dp/B000O76NCS/

 

Truly Wicked with Randy Overbeck

WICKED WEDNESDAY

Join me in welcoming Randy Overbeck back to Wicked Wednesday on Discover... Always a great guest post.

Sadly, thereis no shortage of wicked in our world. All you have to do is lookaround. The news with the latest homicide or the newest political scandal. Andwhat’s with everyone’s fascination with true crime…and serial killers. Not tomention, mysteries and thrillers are the second most popular genre for readers—behindromance, who doesn’t love a romance? We are fascinated by wicked ,though we prefer it tugged safely in the pages of our latest read or capturedon the screens of our phones or 58’ television.

Wickedis okay as long as it is…out there.

With mynewest title, Red Shadows at Saugatuck, I have tried to give readerswhat they want—some wicked inside the pages of the novel—and, atthe same time, cross the line into the reality of truly wicked.This new novel is the fourth entry in my Haunted Shores Mysteries, thebestselling series which has captured twelve national awards, including BESTBOOK AWARD (Chanticleer) GOLD AWARD (Literary Titan) and MYSTERY OF THE YEAR(ReaderViews). Each tale is mystery and a ghost story and each revolvesaround a murder connected to some larger wicked. Earlierentries have tackled such wickedness as racial injustice (Blood onthe Chesapeake)  and humantrafficking (Crimson at Cape May).

RedShadows at Saugatuck (2025)follows in these well-trod footsteps. This time the narrative is set on the westshore of Lake Michigan, on what’s known as the Art Coast. Like Cape May andCrystal River, Saugatuck is a quaint, charming resort town in Michigan visitorsflock to in the summer. And for this entry, I chose to entangle the murdermystery in a wicked beyond belief, a wicked  that would come to be known as MMIW, Missingand Murdered Indigenous Women—though that label did not yet exist at the time thestory is set in (2007).

Through myresearch for the novel, I learned some shattering truths about this wicked—

·      Tentimes as many Native women and girlsdisappear as white females each year (and Natives make up 1.1% of the USpopulation compared to 60.6% for whites)

·      In2023 (the latest year with stats) more than 16,000 Native women and girlsare reported missing

·      Becauseof lack of coordination between local, state and federal authorities, thenumbers of kidnapped, abused and murdered indigenous women and girls are mostcertainly higher than even these numbers

·      Andthese atrocities have been going on for decades (at least) because untilrecently there was little effort to collect this data and follow up on reports

·      Also,the US is not alone. Canada is confronted with the same wicked,as their numbers of MMIW are just as staggering.

Talkabout sobering statistics of a real life wicked.

Whenreaders dive into the pages of Red Shadows at Saugatuck, they will notonly discover another beautiful resort town nestled against the fresh waters ofLake Michigan, they’ll get a tale about family and love and relationshipssparked by a spunky five-year-old named Leo. And they’ll encounter anothersatisfying ghostly whodunit like the earlier entries, which won Mystery of theYear honors. But, perhaps most important, they will be confronted with thereality of a truly horrendous wicked , Missing and MurderedIndigenous Women. 

Ithink Red Shadows at Saugatuck is my best work yet and early criticsagree.

“Thoughtful,deeply human and low-key terrifying.”—LiteraryTita

“Mesmerizedfrom the very first page right up to the last.”—ReaderViews

“Aparanormal mystery while stole my heart and took my breath away. Truly, one ofthe finest books ever written.”—N N Light Bookheaven

Here’sa bit about Red Shadows at Saugatuck.

DarrellHenshaw hoped he was past it all. After all, no ghosts had visited him foryears. Instead, he learns his five-year-old-son, Leo has inherited his “gift.”

Now,they both can see ghosts.

Thistime, Darrell drives his young family 800 miles to celebrate his AuntGertrude’s 80th birthday. But, once in the resort  town of Saugatuck, Michigan, theirparticipation gets derailed by the spirit of a Native teen who went missingweeks earlier. When he and Leo inquire about the girl, the locals dismiss theirconcerns—"Those girls run away all the time.”  Still, as questions pile up and threats grow,Darrell senses they may have stumbled onto something far worse and even moreevil than one missing teen.

CanDarrell continue to pursue justice for the girl if it places his wife andfive-year-old son in danger?

Youcan check out more information on Red Shadows at Saugatuck and all myworks at my webpage—http://authorrandyoverbeck.com

Dr.Randy Overbeck is an award-winning educator, author, speaker and podcaster. Asan educator, he served children for more than three decades and has mined thatexperience to create captivating fiction, authoring two series, the bestsellingseries, “The Haunted Shores Mysteries,” and the award-winning series, “Lessonsin Peril.” His novels have won critical acclaim and garnered national awardsincluding Mystery of the Year (ReaderViews) Best Book Award(Chanticleer Books and Reviews) and the Gold Award (Literary Titan) andamassed hundreds of 5-star reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. Dr. Overbeck also hoststhe popular podcast, “Great Stories about Great Storytellers,” which revealsthe unusual and sometimes strange backstories of famous authors, directors andpoets and can be heard wherever listeners get their podcasts. He is a speakerin considerable demand, sharing his popular presentations about ghosts and theworld of book publishing with hundreds of audiences all over the U.S.

Asa member of the Mystery Writers of America, Dr. Overbeck is an active member ofthe literary community, contributing to a writers’ critique group, serving as amentor to emerging writers and participating in writing conferences such asKiller Nashville and the Midwest Writers Workshop.

Whenhe’s not researching, writing, speaking or podcasting, Randy enjoys travelingwith his wife Cathy and visiting both his far-flung family and the sceniclocations around this country, often in search of inspiration for his next greatstory. 

More infoabout his novels, programs and podcast can be found at his website www.authorrandyoverbeck.com

randyoverbeck@authorrandyoverbeck.com 

SOCIALMEDIA CONTACTS

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

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

 

 

 

 

Love, Jealousy, Rage Wicked Wednesday by Lori Matsourani

WICKED WEDNESDAY

Hey readers! Join me in welcoming Lori Matsourani to Wicked Wednesday on Discover... Murder and Ghosts with a dash of Romance makes for a great Wicked Wednesday. And read to the bottom for a Goodreads giveaway!

Do we ever know who’s really capable of murder? Is it thethug with the tattooed face who despises rival gang members? The distraughtfather, furious with the sadistic husband who abuses beloved daughter? Or theex-lover, angry at the new man who replaces him in the bedroom?

Rage and jealousy have existed since the beginning of time.Especially when stemming from the desire for a woman. It’s conceivable theseemotions can transcend the passage of time... and perhaps, corporeal existence.After all, can love, jealousy, or rage ever be erased?

Not for eighteenth-century plantation owner Samuel Watts, the husbandof beautiful Ariella. His jealousy cost him the love of his life. His ragedemanded an even higher price: his own life. And despair over his loss condemnedhis forlorn spirit to roam his plantation home on Maryland’s Eastern Shore forcenturies. Until he encounters Bethany Hendren, a love-wary guest in hishouse (now a B&B known as Horatio House).

Samuel reaches out to Bethany for help in unraveling theoutcome of his fight with Frederick Howard, the man with wicked intentions regardingSamuel’s wife. The details are hazy, and Samuel wonders if murder was involved.His ghostly intrusion leads Bethany to reluctantly join forces with Nick Dorsey—thefirst boy she ever loved and the first one to break her heart—and help Samuelwith his quest. As Bethany and Nick follow Samuel’s clues, sparks from theirlong-ago romance start to flare, but Bethany shuns the idea of reigniting theflame. Nick ghosted her years ago, and she can’t bring herself to trust himwith her heart. But it’s Samuel’s revelations about relationships and trust thatencourage her to open up to the possibility of love and happiness with Nick.

And what about Samuel? Can he use his wisdom in matters ofthe heart to find his own peace? Or is he doomed to continue roaming the hallsof Horatio House as a bereaved spirit for eternity, which would be a wickedshame.

 

Blurb:

When her fiancé’s infidelity prompts Bethany Hendren to map out anew path forward, her plans are disrupted by an unexpected encounter with NickDorsey, who convinces her to help search for the remains of a troubledeighteenth-century ghost. Nick is the handsome summer boyfriend who ghosted heryears ago, and now he wants to rekindle their relationship.

Despite her reluctance to trust him, Bethany discovers he’s stillthe funny, caring person who captured her heart as a teen, but giving him asecond chance is risky—it could lead to love and happiness or result in anotherdevastating heartache.

Although Bethany wants a happily ever after with Nick, does shehave the courage to trust him with her future?

 

Excerpt:

He opened the door and motioned her inside the large room. Avintage wrought-iron bed, as well as a nightstand with a tray of wine, cheeses,and stemware, occupied the wall on her left. An enormous stone fireplace, withan antique painting of a woman mounted over the mantel, dominated the oppositeside of the room.

Nick studied the portrait as he set down the suitcase, then peeredat Bethany. “Oh, wow. You look just like her.”

The woman, dressed in eighteenth-century garments, appeared to beabout Bethany’s age. They had the same oval face, narrow nose, chestnut-brownhair, and caramel eyes.

“I see the likeness,” Bethany said. “Who is she?”

“One of the Worthingtons. I’m sure Aunt Margaret knows her name.”

She stepped closer to study the centuries-old canvas andencountered a cold spot in the room. A shiver coursed through her. “Is thisroom always so chilly?”

He frowned. “Not usually. I’ll check the thermostat.”

Bethany hoisted her suitcase onto the bed, impatient to end thisunwelcome encounter with Nick. Then, without thinking, she pivoted away fromthe mattress and almost collided with him. He threw out his hands to steadyher, his face inches away as his fingers clutched her upper arms. His dark eyeslocked on hers.

“I turned up the heat.” He maintained his grasp and her breathcaught as she stared back, captivated by the richness of his almost-blackirises.

“Thank you.”

“And there’s something else.”

“What’s that?” Her heart pounded, sending a rush of blood to herears. She couldn’t look away. Was he going to apologize? Explain why he’dghosted her after that summer?

“Even though the family completely redid the inside and outside ofthe house, the ghost still haunts this place.”

That’s what he wants to tell me?

With a sigh, she shook off his grip and stepped out of his reach,disappointed in him for dodging the chance to explain what happened back thenand frustrated with herself for letting him get to her. She’d conquered herfeelings for him a decade ago and was determined to squelch any residual heartflutters.

“If you’re trying to spook me, it’s not going to work.”

 

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F9XCPLYD/thewildrosepr-20

Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/p/books/ghosted-lori-matsourani/22722837?ean=9781509262540&next=t&affiliate=114419

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ghosted-lori-matsourani/1147463084?ean=2940184606941

Books A Million: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/9781509262540

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/ghosted/id6746414091

 

Bio:

Lori Matsouraniis a romance addict. Give her stories with a touch of heartbreak and a spark ofjoy, and she’s happy. Throw in characters with a huge helping of heart andsoul, and she’s up reading all night in romance heaven! While currently a Texasresident, Lori grew up near Baltimore and often draws on the historical flavorof Annapolis and Maryland’s Eastern Shore to inspire her story settings. Sheauthored her first fiction story at twelve and has been hooked on writing eversince. Early on, her writing career focused on articles for magazines andnewspapers before shifting to her first writing love—fiction. For Lori,connecting words to tell a story is like assembling a jigsaw puzzle, and sheloves the challenge of creating every piece.

Social media links:

Website: https://lorimatsourani.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lori.matsourani.author/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lori.matsourani/

 

Goodreads Giveaway: Runs from August 1 to August 30

https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/418301-ghosted

Love, Jealousy, Rage Wicked Wednesday

WICKED WEDNESDAY

Hey readers! Join me in welcoming Lori Matsourani to Wicked Wednesday on Discover... Murder and Ghosts with a dash of Romance makes for a great Wicked Wednesday. And read to the bottom for a Goodreads giveaway!

Do we ever know who’s really capable of murder? Is it thethug with the tattooed face who despises rival gang members? The distraughtfather, furious with the sadistic husband who abuses beloved daughter? Or theex-lover, angry at the new man who replaces him in the bedroom?

Rage and jealousy have existed since the beginning of time.Especially when stemming from the desire for a woman. It’s conceivable theseemotions can transcend the passage of time... and perhaps, corporeal existence.After all, can love, jealousy, or rage ever be erased?

Not for eighteenth-century plantation owner Samuel Watts, the husbandof beautiful Ariella. His jealousy cost him the love of his life. His ragedemanded an even higher price: his own life. And despair over his loss condemnedhis forlorn spirit to roam his plantation home on Maryland’s Eastern Shore forcenturies. Until he encounters Bethany Hendren, a love-wary guest in hishouse (now a B&B known as Horatio House).

Samuel reaches out to Bethany for help in unraveling theoutcome of his fight with Frederick Howard, the man with wicked intentions regardingSamuel’s wife. The details are hazy, and Samuel wonders if murder was involved.His ghostly intrusion leads Bethany to reluctantly join forces with Nick Dorsey—thefirst boy she ever loved and the first one to break her heart—and help Samuelwith his quest. As Bethany and Nick follow Samuel’s clues, sparks from theirlong-ago romance start to flare, but Bethany shuns the idea of reigniting theflame. Nick ghosted her years ago, and she can’t bring herself to trust himwith her heart. But it’s Samuel’s revelations about relationships and trust thatencourage her to open up to the possibility of love and happiness with Nick.

And what about Samuel? Can he use his wisdom in matters ofthe heart to find his own peace? Or is he doomed to continue roaming the hallsof Horatio House as a bereaved spirit for eternity, which would be a wickedshame.

 

Blurb:

When her fiancé’s infidelity prompts Bethany Hendren to map out anew path forward, her plans are disrupted by an unexpected encounter with NickDorsey, who convinces her to help search for the remains of a troubledeighteenth-century ghost. Nick is the handsome summer boyfriend who ghosted heryears ago, and now he wants to rekindle their relationship.

Despite her reluctance to trust him, Bethany discovers he’s stillthe funny, caring person who captured her heart as a teen, but giving him asecond chance is risky—it could lead to love and happiness or result in anotherdevastating heartache.

Although Bethany wants a happily ever after with Nick, does shehave the courage to trust him with her future?

 

Excerpt:

He opened the door and motioned her inside the large room. Avintage wrought-iron bed, as well as a nightstand with a tray of wine, cheeses,and stemware, occupied the wall on her left. An enormous stone fireplace, withan antique painting of a woman mounted over the mantel, dominated the oppositeside of the room.

Nick studied the portrait as he set down the suitcase, then peeredat Bethany. “Oh, wow. You look just like her.”

The woman, dressed in eighteenth-century garments, appeared to beabout Bethany’s age. They had the same oval face, narrow nose, chestnut-brownhair, and caramel eyes.

“I see the likeness,” Bethany said. “Who is she?”

“One of the Worthingtons. I’m sure Aunt Margaret knows her name.”

She stepped closer to study the centuries-old canvas andencountered a cold spot in the room. A shiver coursed through her. “Is thisroom always so chilly?”

He frowned. “Not usually. I’ll check the thermostat.”

Bethany hoisted her suitcase onto the bed, impatient to end thisunwelcome encounter with Nick. Then, without thinking, she pivoted away fromthe mattress and almost collided with him. He threw out his hands to steadyher, his face inches away as his fingers clutched her upper arms. His dark eyeslocked on hers.

“I turned up the heat.” He maintained his grasp and her breathcaught as she stared back, captivated by the richness of his almost-blackirises.

“Thank you.”

“And there’s something else.”

“What’s that?” Her heart pounded, sending a rush of blood to herears. She couldn’t look away. Was he going to apologize? Explain why he’dghosted her after that summer?

“Even though the family completely redid the inside and outside ofthe house, the ghost still haunts this place.”

That’s what he wants to tell me?

With a sigh, she shook off his grip and stepped out of his reach,disappointed in him for dodging the chance to explain what happened back thenand frustrated with herself for letting him get to her. She’d conquered herfeelings for him a decade ago and was determined to squelch any residual heartflutters.

“If you’re trying to spook me, it’s not going to work.”

 

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F9XCPLYD/thewildrosepr-20

Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/p/books/ghosted-lori-matsourani/22722837?ean=9781509262540&next=t&affiliate=114419

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ghosted-lori-matsourani/1147463084?ean=2940184606941

Books A Million: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/9781509262540

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/ghosted/id6746414091

 

Bio:

Lori Matsouraniis a romance addict. Give her stories with a touch of heartbreak and a spark ofjoy, and she’s happy. Throw in characters with a huge helping of heart andsoul, and she’s up reading all night in romance heaven! While currently a Texasresident, Lori grew up near Baltimore and often draws on the historical flavorof Annapolis and Maryland’s Eastern Shore to inspire her story settings. Sheauthored her first fiction story at twelve and has been hooked on writing eversince. Early on, her writing career focused on articles for magazines andnewspapers before shifting to her first writing love—fiction. For Lori,connecting words to tell a story is like assembling a jigsaw puzzle, and sheloves the challenge of creating every piece.

Social media links:

Website: https://lorimatsourani.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lori.matsourani.author/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lori.matsourani/

 

Goodreads Giveaway: Runs from August 1 to August 30

https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/418301-ghosted

From Lawyer to Film to Crime Novels by Arthur Coburn

MUSE MONDAY

Join me in welcoming Arthur Coburn. His is a fascinating story. 

Tell me, Arthur, how did you go from law to film to novels? You obviously found your Muse.

After graduatingfrom Harvard Law School, I quit my law firm job the day I passed the bar. Andworked in film in Seattle. I moved to Los Angeles and became a film editor.After working in various capacities in film, I found I could translate what Iknew into writing fiction novels. I also learned the advantage of being willingto fail. I used to try lots of solutions, discarding the ones that didn't workand improving the ones that did. I learned to trim down scenes to a fightingweight. In Murder in Concrete, I used much of what I learned in film.This story takes place on a low budget zombie thriller movie set in Barstow,California.

Let's hear about your book, Murder in Concrete.

A small-town murder unravels a teenage girl’s life as shetries to discover who is responsible for killing her mother and learns thateverything she thought she knew might be an illusion. 

Charlie Purdue was just another small-town teenage girluntil she discovered her mother’s dead body at home after school. All signspoint to her father, who has disappeared, but his cryptic final words toCharlie have always left her wondering. When she spots him in a film monthslater, she’s shaken to her core and dead set on going to Los Angelesto find him and unearth the truth of what really happened that horrible day. 

What follows is a gripping odyssey through the underbelly ofLA’s film industry, where everything Charlie thought she knew about her life issuddenly, and shockingly, brought into question. 

AMAZON BUY LINK

Arthur Coburn grew up in New Jersey, went to DartmouthCollege and Harvard Law School, passed the Washington bar, exam spent two yearsin the U.S. Infantry as a first Lieutenant, and survived a three-year lawcareer, before bailing out and landing a job for King Screen Productions, afilmmaking Division of the KING Broadcasting Company in Seattle. His firstassignment there was to make a chart of all the proposals for peace inVietnam.  He progressed to directing commercials, industrials and documentaries;later to writing educational film scripts for the same company. When thedivision closed, he worked as a freelance writer doing environmental impactstatements, and as a freelance still photographer. He has written fivenovels: Murder in Concrete (published in 2024) Murder inMadrona (currently in revision); and several awaiting care and review: BoysWill Be Boys, Mostly (general fiction),  Rough Cut (athriller).

ARTHUR'S AUTHOR PAGE ON AMAZON

Dogs and Coffee: Full of Hope by Neil C. Plakcy

MUSE MONDAY

Please welcome Neil Plakcy to Muse Monday on Discover... He's sharing his spot today with Betty Martinez, the owner of The Smiling Dog Cafe. Neil has a wonderful series full of hope and doggies and coffee. All three of which are my favorite things. Today is release day for the third book in his series, Grounds for Hope. I have it cued on my reader and can't wait to dive in. Meanwhile, enjoy Betty's delightful lesson on coffee...

Betty’sGuide to Coffee Beans
ASmiling Dog Café offering

 

Welcome, Friend.

There's a reasonyou're holding this guide right now. Perhaps you're looking for a deeperunderstanding of the coffee you drink each morning. Maybe you're searching forthat perfect cup that brings comfort on difficult days. 

Whatever broughtyou to these pages, welcome. I'm Betty Martinez, owner of the Smiling Dog Caféin Brooklyn, and I believe that coffee, like healing, is both science and art.It requires precision and patience, but also intuition and heart. 

In my thirty yearsas a grief counselor before opening the café, I learned that people needdifferent things at different moments. The same is true of coffee. Sometimes weneed the bright clarity of a light roast to help us face new beginnings. Othertimes, we need the deep comfort of a dark roast to hold us through difficultnights. 

This guide focuseson coffee beans - their origins, characteristics, and the stories they carrywithin them. The beans are just the beginning of our journey together, butthey're the foundation upon which every meaningful cup is built. 

Understanding Coffee Beans: TheHeart of Every Cup

Coffee beansaren't really beans at all. They're the seeds of coffee cherries, fruits thatgrow on small trees in specific regions around the world. Like people, theseseeds carry the legacy of their origins - the soil that nourished them, therainfall that quenched their thirst, the sunlight that warmed them throughseasons of growth. 

When we roastthese seeds, we're helping them transform their stored potential into somethingthat can nourish others. The heat reveals qualities that were always presentbut hidden, brings forward notes of chocolate or fruit or spice that tell thestory of where they came from and how they grew. 

Every coffee beancarries its own particular wisdom. Learning to listen to what each one has totell us is part of the journey toward that perfect cup - the one that speaksdirectly to you, in your own language of comfort and joy. 

In Colombia, I metDona Clemencia, who told me, "You already know the most importantthing—that coffee is medicine for the soul before it is anything else." 

When I asked whatshe meant, Doña Clemencia invited us into her modest home, where she preparedcoffee using a method I'd only seen my grandmother use—cloth filtered, with apatience that modern brewing rarely allows. The kitchen filled with an aroma socomplex it seemed to have its own vocabulary. 

"InColombia," she explained, "we say that coffee has memory. Itremembers the soil, the rain, the hands that picked it. And when we drink itmindfully, it helps us remember too—not just the painful things we try toforget, but also the joyful things we shouldn't." 

The Colombianbeans I brought home from that trip—particularly those from high-altitude farmsin Huila and Nariño—carried complex notes of red fruit, chocolate, and apleasant nuttiness with a clean, bright acidity. But their true value lay inwhat they taught us about healing. Not the American model of "gettingover" grief, but the Colombian understanding that some griefs remain withus forever, becoming integrated into who we are, like the flavor of the soilbecomes part of the coffee bean. 

I discovered thatColombian coffees seemed particularly effective for people struggling withtransitions—those caught between past and future, between pain and possibility.The beans' balance of brightness and depth mirrored what we were learning abouthealing: that acknowledgment of darkness makes the light more appreciable, notless.

The finestColombian coffees still carry that perfect tension between acidic brightnessand comforting warmth—a reminder that healing doesn't mean forgetting, butfinding balance between remembering and moving forward. 

When I brewColombian beans at the café, especially for someone navigating life'sthresholds—graduation, career change, relationship endings—I think of DoñaClemencia's weathered hands, showing us that nurturing growth requires bothtenderness and strength. 

These memoriesinfuse the coffee I serve, invisible but present, like the altitude andrainfall that shaped the beans themselves. This is what I learned in Colombia:that coffee, at its best, is not just a beverage but a bridge—between past andpresent, between cultures, between people seeking to understand each otheracross the chasms of different experiences. 

Selecting YourCoffee Beans

When choosingcoffee beans, consider what you're seeking in this moment: 

For Mornings ofNew Beginnings

Reach for lighterroasts from Ethiopia or Kenya, where bright, citrusy notes can help you greetthe day with clarity and purpose. These coffees awaken the senses and remind usthat each day offers fresh possibilities. 

For ThoughtfulAfternoons

Medium roasts fromColombia or Costa Rica provide the perfect balance for contemplative moments.Their harmonious flavors create space for reflection without demanding too muchattention.

 

For Evenings ofComfort

A medium-darkGuatemalan or a sweet Brazilian offers warmth and grounding as the day windsdown. Their gentle sweetness soothes without overwhelming. 

For Moments ofTransformation

A dark Sumatran orrobust Vietnamese coffee can accompany you through times of intense change.Their bold presence reminds you of your own strength even as you transform. 

 A word from Neil:

You are alwayswelcome at The Smiling Dog Café, down a Brooklyn side street, where thecoffee’s brewing, and the dogs are waiting to help you with your own healingprocess. To read the stories that have come before you, you can find TheSmiling Dog Café, The Bridge Between Us, and our newest offering, Groundsfor Hope, available on Monday, August 4, 2025. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F4Z5VHTC

GROUNDS FOR HOPE:  At a quiet Brooklyn café watched over by painted dogs and warmed by just the right cup of coffee, two teenagers arrive—lost, hurting, and unsure where to turn next.

In this deeply compassionate third entry in the Smiling Dog Café series—fully enjoyable as a standalone—author Neil S. Plakcy shares two powerful novellas about grief, resilience, and the unexpected ways we find our way home.

In Grounds for Hope, Miguel is alone on the streets after his father is deported back to their violence-plagued homeland. Cold, hungry, and nearly out of hope, he’s led to the café by a mysterious pit bull named Baxter—and taken in by Betty, the wise café owner whose coffee and compassion help restore his sense of safety and purpose.

In Finding Grace, Tanya is reeling after her mother’s decision to walk away from their life to “find herself.” Angry and unmoored, Tanya is gently nudged toward the café by Kiyomi, a calm, three-legged Samoyed—and slowly begins to rediscover her strength, her voice, and her path forward.

This tender volume celebrates how healing begins—in community, through ritual and memory, and with the quiet guidance of a dog who always knows exactly who needs help next.

Come in from the cold. The coffee’s brewing, and the dogs are waiting.

AMAZON BUY LINK

I’m proud that since the first book was released in January, we have already garnerednearly 200 four- and five-star reviews from satisfied customers. 

Neil S. Plakcy isthe author of over 70 novels in mystery, romance, adventure and healingfiction. His website is www.mahubooks.com.

Book Catalogs to Complete Your Summer

Stock up your readers up for the rest of the year...or at least long enough for those cooler autumn days to descend. These catalogs have some great offerings to get you through the last dregs of summer.

Kids are starting back to school. Get your new readers into some great chapter books!  

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Romantic Suspense in this August Catalog that is also  Kindle Unlimited.   
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How about a Romantic Escape in this Catalog of Books...oh, yeah, find your next Book Boyfriend

                                                Click the photo to be taken to the catalog



Cozy and Sweet...the Perfect Combination for Some Great Reads!

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Life's Adventures: Trips and Trauma

This summer has been a real mixed bag of highs and lows. 

On the high side, one of my books was chosen for a BookBub Featured Deal. Now that was a trip. I've tried numerous times, but they only let 20% of the submission pay the outrageous price for the one day ad. The thing is, that one day equals lots of exposure. This is the book: The Art of Love and Murder, Wild Horse Peaks book 1 

On the low side, our granddaughter is preteen and not inclined to spend a week with us on her summer break. 

On the high side, she loves spending time with us in general so we snatched her for a day of fun in Phoenix. 

And another high side, is she and I had a girl day of shopping and laziing around a hotel that night. We talked and laughed so much.

On the low side, FDW had to schedule numerous medical appointments for an upcoming surgery.

On the high side, we managed a trip for a hotel stay and dinner at a very fun place in Scottsdale. This interactive dinner show has locations all over the U.S. I recommend them. Kind of pricy, the food is good, and the
show is fun. 

You get to cheer for your knight in armor too! Ours won.

On the high side, got my trip to Prescott for a chocolate martini with my sister to celebrate her birthday.

On the low side, FDW's shoulder replacement surgery was a miserable day. We were the first ones in at 6 a.m. and the last ones out at 4:00 p.m. Little things like the bloc didn't take so the pain was off the charts when he woke up. They shot him up with opioids which he has reactions to. They finally gave him a second bloc which took. But about the time he was relaxing with less pain, the opioid reactions set in and he was sick. 

On the high side, the reactions passed. The surgeon said the new shoulder looks great. All went well. So...all will be great in a few months.

On the low side, since his right arm is out of commission, I am doing all those things he normally does around here. Wow! Do I need this guy.

On the high side, my exhaustion and grumpiness is temporary. We're heading into the last day of summer. If you haven't heard...I HATE SUMMER. But yes, it is on the way out.

And...the 4th book in the Chocolate Martini Sisters Mystery books is up for preorder (eBook) and print is available now. We're told it's the best one yet!  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FK3P31T5

Books, Books, and More Books

Stock your readers up for the rest of the year. These catalogs have some great offerings...

A New Catalog of Amateur Sleuths
and Cozy Mysteries
You'll Not Want To Miss Opening in July

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   Kindle Unlimited Romantic Suspense for You
in This July Catalog of Books

 
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Mystery, Thriller, & Suspense free books in this July Catalog of Books



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