Brenda Whiteside's Blog, page 3

Fearless Adventures by M. S. Spencer

Please welcome M. S. Spencer to Fearless Friday on Discover...What fun she's had. 

Let’s see, adventures. I’ve had so many it would beimpossible to choose just one. I’m not sure my childhood adventures qualifysince I kind of went along for the ride—things like flying one of the firstpassenger planes to Europe, then going halfway around the world to Turkey, ortaking the Queen Mary across the Atlantic to live in Paris, or tea with BarbaraHutton in Tangier.

Living in Egypt had its share of events. It was just beforethe October 1973 war broke out and foreigners weren’t permitted anywhere buttourist sites. We had taken the train to Luxor (the Temples of Karnak) and sleptthrough our stop. Terrified we’d be thrown into an Egyptian jail, we huddled onthe platform. Suddenly a delegation of the village elders appeared, greeted uslike celebrities (they loved Americans) and made sure we got to Luxor safely.  Another heart clutching moment came atcustoms when I returned from Egypt with a suitcase full of spices. Swarmed byagents, they led me to a windowless room. The agent asked me to identify whatwas in each package. I gulped and began. Halfway through my mind went blank. Istared at the agent with panicky eyes. “I…I…” He said calmly, “Cardamom. Next?”I realized he knew exactly what I had and was just toying with me.

While working for the Bureau of Reclamation, I flew a Cessnadown the Colorado River, stopping at every dam. Despite severe claustrophobia Imanaged to crawl through the bowels of the Hoover Dam on an inspection tour.

I thought the Mayan city of Chichen Itza was the coolest placein the Americas until I went to Peru. The research station deep in the Amazonjungle was the setting for my book  Orion’s Foot: Myth, Mystery, and Romance in the Amazon. I swam with pink dolphins and fishedfor piranha, watched the smallest primates on earth cavort in the trees, andthe largest rodents on earth, capybaras, graze at my feet. One of our group offour touched a plant and her fingers stuck together. Our guide took hisrazor-sharp machete and split the two digits without spilling a drop of blood! 

But probably the most dangerous thing I ever did was walkdown Amsterdam Avenue on the upper west side of Manhattan in my bare feet.

I’m excited to announce the release of my new mystery, Railroad Ties: the Marmion GroveMurders.

Blurb

When Sophie Childress discovers a letter written in 1920 bythe witness to a murder, she enlists Noah Pennyman—owner of the house where ittook place—to investigate. Who was the victim? What did the killer do with thebody—not to mention a carpetbag full of money? Together they expose a complexweb of family ties and lies that has persisted through four generations in thehistoric village of Marmion Grove. When two more corpses are unearthed, Noahand Sophie are faced with too many victims and not enough murderers.

Railroad Ties: the Marmion GroveMurders

Mystery, cozy

The Wild Rose Press,June 11, 2025

390 pp; 89,900 words

Buy link: Books2Read: https://books2read.com/railroadties/

 

About the Author

—M. S. Spencer has livedor traveled in five of the seven continents. She has published eighteen romantic suspense and mystery novels. She currently divides her time between theFlorida and Maine. 

Social media links:

https://msspencertalespinner.blogspot.com

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

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/msspencerauthor

GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/msspencer
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/msspencerauthor/

https://www.bookbub.com/profile/m-s-spencer

https://shepherd.com/search/author/21204

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B002ZOEUC8

The Outlawed Realm Continues with Tina Donahue

MUSE MONDAY

Tina Donahue has a new release. Stolen Desire is the fourth book in the series Outlawed Realm, and she's here today to share it with you. This series is Erotic Urban Fantasy Romance, but we're sharing some PG teasers. Enjoy!

Blurb:

 

One touch is never enough.

Her freedom depends on one man. A criminal to his realm…

 

One minute, Paige Ross is outside a Seattle bar, grievinga failed engagement. The next, she jerks awake in a weird, candlelit room withvelvet walls, black silk sheets, and a man who motions for silence.

 

Paige has little choice but to trust the powerfulstranger who promises a way out of what looks like Satan’s brothel. And prayhis promise to keep her safe is as real as the heat burning in his eyes.

 

Banished from E2’s ruling elite for supposed crimesagainst the realm, Zekin risks everything to rescue those brought to E5 for theguards’ carnal pleasure. Paige will be leaving this inhospitable realm of fireand ice—if he can somehow forget the way she melts in his arms.

 

Safe—temporarily—in an underwater world populated bystrange creatures, Paige’s sexual awakening explodes into an unquenchable needthat consumes them both. But the guards will be looking for her. And Zekin’splan to send her home is a dangerous journey she cannot—will not—take withouthim.

 

EXCERPT:

Thick gray clouds rolled above them, heavywith more snow. A sliver of bluish-white light poured through a gap in thecloud cover, as though the moon were trying to bleed through. Its rays sweptacross the land, which shimmered in the frail glow, sparkling like thousands ofdiamonds. The effect lasted only a moment, and then the light receded, with shadowsonce again taking over the hostile terrain.

As though that worried him, Zekinincreased his already fast pace, pausing only once to shove her clothing into asnowdrift, burying it.

Why?

Paige wasn’t able to ask. She struggled tokeep up, gulping air. It should have been icy, hurting her throat, but wasn’t.The transparent mask no doubt heated it. How was that possible? Desperate foranswers, she cried out, “Where are we going?”

Zekin looked over. “A colony where you’llbe safe.”

Paige dug her fingers into his hand.“Where are we? What is this place?”

“E5.”

What in the hell was that? A governmentinstallation where scientists conducted classified studies and had pleasureslaves on the side? That made absolutely no—

Wait a sec. Suddenly, Paige recalled Zekinmentioning E1 when he’d first come into her room.

“I’ll do all I canto bring you back to E1,” he’d promised her then.

Instinctively, she held back. Just asquickly, Zekin yanked her forward.

“Don’t fight me,” he warned, “or you’llend up like the others you saw outside the guards’ outpost.”

Paige shivered so badly, her voice shook.“Did those bastards throw the bodies out there after they murdered thosepeople?”

“Only some. The others they pushed outthere to die.”

“Why?”

“They weren’t useful any longer.” Again,he glanced over. “When one of the guards found you and brought you here, theygot rid of the other woman. That’s what they do when they tire of females fromyour realm, or the pleasure slaves they haven’t already killed.”

Paige was about to pepper him with morequestions. Instead, her mind snagged on one word—realm.

“You mean country?” Maybe she’d been wrongabout his nationality. It wasn’t Greek or Middle-Eastern but Russian. Could bethis was Siberia. In a weird sort of way, that made sense. “Is that what youmeant—my country? The USA? America?”

He regarded the landscape past her. “Wehave to hurry before the other guards return and see us.”

Paige couldn’t imagine how that waspossible. The material covering them was the same tint as their surroundings,making them virtually invisible…unless the guards had some kind of specialeyewear, like night-vision goggles, that allowed them to see what the naked eyecouldn’t. “How far is the colony?”

“Past that body of water.” He gesturedtoward what appeared to be an enormous frozen lake ringed by drifts.

As Paige scanned the area beyond it,searching for some sort of building, a flock of birds flew over the lake. Atleast she thought they were birds. Their thick feathers were an ashy white,their wingspans enormous, like nothing she’d ever seen.

They flew in an odd formation, not theusual V pattern, but in a perfect circle. Paige couldn’t help but stare at thephenomenon. How in the world did they do—

A thunderous crackling sound interruptedher thoughts, and the again screeching wind.

She flinched. Zekin released her hand andmoved in front, his body pushing hers back, shielding Paige as somethingshattered the ice from beneath the center of the lake. Within seconds, acreature pushed through, hurling its milky body upward. The waves that followedit froze instantly in the raw air, the ends of the water curled over like afine crystal sculpture. As massive as a blue whale, the creature surged fromthe lake, a horn protruding from its snout, no doubt what pierced the ice. Withblinding speed, it penetrated the circle made by the birdlike creatures.

Shrieking wildly, they scattered, but itdid no good. The whale-like thing swung its monstrous head back and forth,gulping several of the creatures before gravity pulled it back down to thewater. A thin sheet of ice formed instantly, hiding its exit. Harsh windstoppled the frozen waves as easily as if they’d been a house of cards, thenpushed them against the snowdrifts, returning the scene to the relative calm ofa few minutes before as though none of the carnage had occurred.

Paige continued to hyperventilate. Whatkind of fucking nightmare had she stumbled into? Was it possible she’d beendrugged and was hallucinating? If not… Aw crap, she didn’t want to think aboutthat.

AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Stolen-Desire-Outlawed-Realm-Book-ebook/dp/B0F9LP3TFZ/

You might want to start with the first book in the series, although you can read them as standalones.

UNENDING DESIRE

BOOK ONE – OUTLAWED REALM

Erotic Urban Fantasy Romance  

AMAZON: https://tinyurl.com/2p8t73s

 

Blurb:  

His hunger for one woman will make him a traitor tohis world…

 

From aportal in his lab on E2, one of the five dimensions of Earth, quantum physicistNikoli Zorr gazes on everything forbidden to him. Passion. Desire. Theexquisite pleasure of running his hands over the lush curves of a young womanhe should have stopped watching weeks ago.

 

His dutyis to close the portals that keep the monsters out of E2—and never interferewith the inevitable fate of those on the other side. Yet he can’t bring himselfto abandon the woman who has captured his soul.

 

PsychologistRegina Page is trying to focus on her client, and off the mysterious,unbearable sexual cravings that consume her when she’s alone in her bedroom.The next moment she’s attacked by vampires, then swept into another realm byNikoli, a stranger whose touch awakens that same raw desire. Whose eyes arealready filled with farewell.

 

Yetbeneath their undeniable carnal lust, something else stirs. The beginnings ofillicit love. The unexpected need to protect him. Even if it means riskingbody, blood, and soul to defeat the merciless horde…for a future that was nevermeant to be.

AboutTina: 

Tina’s an Amazon and internationalbestselling novelist who writes passionate romance for every taste – ‘heat withheart’ – for traditional publishers and indie. Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, RomanticTimes and numerous online sites have praised her work. She’s won Readers’Choice Awards, was named a finalist in the EPIC competition, received a Book ofthe Year award, The Golden Nib Award, awards of merit in the RWA Holt Medallioncompetitions, and second place in the NEC RWA contests. She’s featured in theNovel & Short Story Writer’s Market. Before penning romances, she worked ata major Hollywood production company in Story Direction. 

On a less serious note: she’s anadmitted and unrepentant chocoholic, brakes for Mexican restaurants, and hasbeen known to moan like Meg Ryan in WhenHarry Met Sally while wolfing down tostadas. She’s flown a single-engineairplane (freaking scary), rewired an old house using an ‘electricity fordummies’ book, and is horribly shy despite the hot romances she writes.

 

MeWe: https://mewe.com/i/tinadonahue

Bluesky: @tinadonauthor.bsky.social

Website/Blog: https://tinadonahuebooks.blogspot.com/

Newsletter: https://tinadonahuebooks.blogspot.com/p/newsletter.html

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tina-donahue

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/146988.Tina_Donahue

Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/tinadonahue

Amazon author page: https://amzn.to/1ChWFkO

Sweet ‘n Sexy Divas: https://sweetnsexydivas.blogspot.com/

Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/user/AuthorTinaDonahue 

Sadi and Max Chapter Books (Dogs Are the Best)

The third book in my children's Sadi and Max Chapter Books is now available everywhere. So, how did a Romantic Suspense and Cozy Mystery author come to write a childrens series. This nana couldn't refuse to work with her only grandchild whose brainstorm it was.

One morning, on the way into town to get donuts, Sadiexpounded to me about how special her new puppy was, a blue nose Pit Bull,although he might be a blue Staffy. She also related her knowledge of the badrap these dogs receive and why. An idea popped, and she soon bounced on herseat while chewing her chocolate iced donut. We could write a book about Maxand all his wonderful characteristics. 

As the months marched on, the idea took shape,expanding and twisting with imaginative tales. We've published three of thesestories. I have no idea how many there will be—that depends on Sadi. When thisproject started, she was an eight-year-old little girl. Now, at twelve, she’sgrowing up, evolving, and although her passionate love for dogs will neverchange, the amount of time she’ll spend with Nana weaving stories might.

I've enjoyed every minute of working with Sadi. But I do have to tell you, the third book was more difficult to finish with a distracted pre-teen as my co-author.

You can find all of the Sadi and Max eBook and Pint books here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CXBTT9MW

The eBooks are also found at your favorite online retailers.

Eight-year-old Sadi wants to find a puppy under the Christmastree this year. She loves her two old dogs, but they don’t run and playanymore. How can she convince her parents she’s old enough to care for her owndoggy? When they surprise her with a trip to the rescue home of Talia Wagger, it’spuppy love at first sight. She gets the best present in the entire world—Max. 

Max wants to be one of the lucky puppies who gets adopted.He cuddles up to his sister in the playpen to stay warm in the cold garagewaiting for the humans to visit and hopefully choose him. When he sees thelittle human, he knows his wish has come true for the best home in the entireworld—with Sadi. 

A car ride, missing his sister, meeting Sadi’s friends,learning what no means, and finding a way to get along with the two old dogsare only some of the adventures this puppy has once he’s in his new home. Butwhen he listens to Mom, who laughs all the time, and Dad, who likes to tease,and his little human Sadi, who gives him hugs and kisses, he understands—he’sthe luckiest puppy in the entire world.

Yay for spring break! Sadi has a whole week to play withMax, the puppy she got for Christmas. But something is bothering her playfuldog. When they bump heads, and Sadi hears a voice, could it be Max, and willanyone believe her? 

Max is happy to be part of the family. He loves his humansand the two old dogs that are now his sisters. But he left another sister atthe rescue home of Talia Wagger. He knows his sister Rosie is still there andlonely. He has to find a way to get her adopted. If only his little human Sadicould understand him… 

A neighbor who needs help and a puppy who needs to beadopted are all part of the adventure in this latest Sadi and Max book. Nowthat they can understand each other, Max has mischievous plans, but he’s also apuppy with a big heart—he enlists his little human on a mission to rescue.

Sadi is on summer break. Now shehas lots of time to play games on her iPad, talk to friends on the phone, andplay with her puppy, Max. But sometimes she wants to relax and just do nothing,especially after cleaning her room and sorting toys.

Max is happy to have Sadi homeevery day. He’s glad she doesn’t have to go to the blue buildings she callsschool. But after three days, he’s bored. They need adventure.

Max talks Sadi into taking him tovisit her friend so he can meet her two dogs, Tank and Dozer. He doesn’t counton a cat he isn’t allowed to chase. He doesn’t know the tales of adventure hespins will stir things up and cause mischief for his new friends. 

Now, he and Sadi are on a crazy,fast adventure to save Tank and Dozer from getting into trouble.

Devilishly Delicious Apple Pie and More by Reggi Allder

WICKED WEDNESDAY

I'm so happy to welcome Reggi Allder to Wicked Wednesday on Discover... Apple pie is one of my favorites and a wickedly good one is worth the baking (I'm not into cooking but for this one I'll make the effort).

Hi all, thanks for stopping by.

I’m excited to be here on Wicked Wednesday. I have adevilishly delicious apple pie recipe for you.

But first, ever wonder why there are so many scary booksand movies? With those choices, why read romantic suspense? Well, nothing takesreader into the depth of the characters like a book. The romantic suspensegives more than one point of view, so the reader can see danger when the heroesin the book do not. The reader can yell, “Stop. Watch out! Don’t go in there!”

Villains are wicked, but they believe right is on theirside because they were mistreated in some way. Their belief gives them theright to do whatever is needed to fix their perceived wrong. The bad guys or galsshould be intelligent, but ruthless. They are people to be reckoned with, andfear-inducing. There is a possibility the villain may win and all will be lost,but the reader can experience the threat and excitement from a place of safety.

As a teen, I discovered romantic suspense novels in thebasement of a friend’s house. They had shelves filled with classic romanticsuspense books. It was obvious the books had been read and then placed therefor safekeeping. I was allowed to choose several. I took them home and quicklyread them. When I decided to write, those novels set me on the road to my firstbook, Shattered Rules. 😊

I’ve finished writing book four in the Dangerous Series,Dangerous Moves. It is available. The fifth book is in the works,Dangerous Sisters, it moves on with the characters from DangerousMoney.

DANGEROUS MONEY by Reggi Allder -Five Stars-A darn good read. - Mimi Barbour, BestSelling New York Times Author. “An enthralling read that takesyou in from the first sentence.”

Click HERE for the book on Amazon

Caterer Kathryn Carlyle was proud when her company waschosen to cater for billionaire software developer Conner Harrison. She hadworked hard to build her career, but now, she’s accused of poisoning the foodand has been branded a murderer by the police. Did I mention she is in the crosshairsof a killer? Can the truth save her? Should she believe Holt will help?Is he using her for his own purpose?

Journalist HoltRand knows how to find the truth. He needs a scoop to revive his stalledcareer. Kathryn’s story is the ticket. Even though a personal relationshipwould get in the way of doing his job, Kathryn is tempting enough for him toconsider it. Still, if she is a murderer, he’d be crazy to fall in love withher. But innocent or guilty, he won’t let his feelings for her stop him fromreporting the truth.

Click HERE for the SERIES on Amazon

Bio: “Reggi Allder will hold you on the edge of your seat as youfollow her real-to-life characters. Grab one of her books. You won’t bedisappointed.” NL Reviews

Reggi writes suspense and contemporarynovels. And besides other books and anovella, she has participated in two cookbooks. She studied creativewriting and screenwriting at the University of California at Los Angeles(UCLA).

An avid film buff, shehas collected many classic movies. A dog lover, she has raised a puppy forGuide Dogs for the Blind. She has done foster care for dogs and cats with theSPCA. She and her hubby share their home with a purebred dog and a rescuedmutt. He barks too much, but she loves him anyway.

Follow Reggi Allder on Amazon, Bookbub andFacebook😊Ifheartwarming novels are for you, try Reggi’s Sierra Creek Series, Her CountryHeart is book one of four.

Love is in the Air...and California by Martha O'Sullivan #MuseMonday

Inspiration is the theme of today's Muse Monday. Martha O'Sullivan's love affair with California inspired her to write books that sound enthralling and entertaining. Please welcome her to Discover...

Mylove affair with California began at the tender age of fifteen and continuestoday, over four decades later. So it should come as no surprise that the bookof my heart, which ultimately became the Chances Trilogy, as well as Christmas in Tahoe and my new release, Sierra Fall,are set there. 

Maybeit was the ineffable thrill of a midwestern girl seeing the ocean for the firsttime. Or the movie star-like, perpetually bronzed surfers playing beachvolleyball in the sand. Maybe the soaring palm trees gently swaying against theblinding blue sky. But that was in Southern California; my books are set in LakeTahoe and San Francisco, hundreds of miles to the north.

Iwas an only child of the seventies, growing up in a place where short, precioussummers became long, cold winters seemingly overnight. In high school I oftenopted for the city bus because it stopped in front of the public library. Itwas just a branch, but they had loads of paperback books. And I always foundmyself drawn to the wire rack of slightly musty and lovingly tattered romancenovels. The books took me to places all over the world where effortlesslybeautiful, determined heroines were swept off their feet by handsome,larger-than-life heroes and lived happily ever after. And if I found the book’sending disappointing or the story ended too soon, I would simply finish it inmy head to my liking. 

Writingsuch ideas down, however, took another thirty years. In the interim, I went tocollege and met my own hero. And we went to San Francisco on our honeymoon.And, as cliché asit sounds, that’s where I left my heart. Part of it anyway. Until a few yearslater when I went to Lake Tahoe for the first time and my love affair withCalifornia moved farther north. 

Ihope my books, Second Chance, Chance Encounter, LastChance, Christmas in Tahoe and Sierra Fall,will take you there. And you’ll leave a little piece of your heart behind too.  

Sierra Fall by Martha O’Sullivan 

Blurb:

Mackenzie Bishop was lookingforward to spending the summer in Lake Tahoe. Recently widowed with two youngkids, a change of scenery would do them all good. But she never expected BrenBanks to be part of that scenery. Or that he would come to mean so much to herin such a short amount of time. Bren is just as surprised as she is; he’d longago accepted that falling in love wasn’t in the cards for him.But keeping his promise to wait until she's ready is proving increasinglydifficult. And while Mackenzie tries to find the courage to trust Bren with herbroken heart, Bren has to decide if he can trust her with a secret. Onethat could cost him everything, including her. 

Excerpt: 

Thenews had been a shock to say the least, but the gossamer, cocoon-like brumethat followed had been a bittersweet blessing, a double-edged sword. Aseductive, insidious blanket that swaddled Mackenzie Bishop and held her tight,then cruelly and indiscriminately released her with no respect for time orplace. And as that fog lifted, reality set in. 

Shewas a widow.

 

She’dgotten word in the middle of the night and had initially convinced herself itwas just a bad dream. So much so that she forced herself to go back to sleep soshe could wake up again to prove it. But when she did Kenzie found herselftrapped in a nightmare that would become her new normal. And the worst was yetto come. 

Tellingthe kids. 

Shewent through the motions on autopilot—the service, the luncheon, the HonorsCeremony. Whenever reality tried to rear its ugly head, Kenzie traded it fordenial. Matt was deployed. One of those missions where he was out of touch forweeks at a time. If something happened, she’d know. 

Butshe did know.  

Aroutine training exercise had taken Matt away from them forever. It wasludicrous, really. He was only two states away, not flighting on some foreignbattlefield. He was coming home in time for the Spring Fling at school nextweekend. 

Buthe didn’t.                                                  

*****

BrennenBanks killed people for a living. And as is often true of things we love, hewas good at it. But the best part about it, aside from the inordinate amount ofmoney he made doing it, was that nobody knew. It was his little secret. Well,his mother knew. But she wasn’t going to tell anybody. She liked her swankycondo with the sporty two-seater parked in the garage. All courtesy of herfavorite son and only child, the greatest thriller writer who never was.

Brenhad loved sports growing up. It had been an outlet for his boundless energy, achannel for his unrelenting competitiveness and had served as a copingmechanism for not having a father in his life. But unlike most of histeammates, his passion for reading was just as voracious as his passion to win.And from an early age, Bren had seen no reason why he couldn’t combine the twothings he loved most into a career. He’d sell millions of copies, sign over hismovie rights and live happily ever after writing his next novel from his yachtwith his beautiful wife and two perfect children. 

Instead,Bren found himself rejected time and time again. So he’d had little choice butto take freelance work. What started as copy editing evolved into reworkingstorylines, creating subplots and layering characters before he knew it. Andthat had not gone unnoticed by the literary agency representing an aging thrillerwriter who shall remain nameless.

 

Hecould live anywhere in the world but chose to live here among the soaring pinesand pristine waters of Lake Tahoe. He loved the seasons, the way the lake borepatient witness to them, never freezing, never warming, always stalwart andundaunted. He loved how the snowcapped peaks stood in perfect relief to theblinding blue sky in winter, the way the meadows came alive with the lushnessof spring, the wall-to-wall sunshine of summer and the colorful reckoning offall. 

Buthis mother not so much, which is why he’d set her up in a retirement  community in Scottsdale where she could wantfor nothing. To his mind it was the least he could do. She’d raised him alone,rarely thinking of herself, while never ceasing to remind him that he was thebest thing that had ever happened to her, her life’s greatest gift. Howeverunexpectedly that gift had been bestowed. 

He’dalways assumed he’d get married, have a family. Not to any woman in particularand without much thought to a timeline but eventually, someday.

Hehadn’t given it much thought again until lately, but something about turningforty last year had brought it top of mind. Sometimes when he grabbed a beer towatch the sunset Bren wondered what it would be like to have someone to shareit with. Someone to run dinner ideas by, someone to ask about their day andrelay the highlights of his, someone to plan a vacation or a holidaycelebration with. Maybe even someone to watch play baseball or help withhomework. A partner, a family. The family he’d never had despite how hard hismother had tried to check all the boxes—mother, father, sibling. There wasalways something missing and that something eluded him still. He couldn’t helpbut wonder if it always would. 

Brenremembered his first visit to Tahoe all those years ago like it was yesterday.They’d pulled over just past the fork in the road where the lake first comesinto view, peeking through the gaps in the trees. He’d dropped his mother’shand and ran to the water’s edge, then looked back at her. She’d nodded insilent permission and within an instant the cool water covered his shoes andspit spindrift on his ankles. The sun’s rays bounced off the sharp crests ofthe waves like millions of tiny diamonds glittering under a cobalt blue haze.And that was it. He was hooked. 

Ithad taken him a couple of decades, but Bren owned his own piece of Tahoe now.Where the crimson sun burst through the charcoal dim of the mountains in themorning. Where the air carried the sweet scent of pine straw and was so freshand crisp it snapped. Where the star-studded night sky guarded the lake andcradled the basin as he slept. Where he had the privilege to live. 

Alone,Bren reminded himself and took a deep pull from the bottle. 

Buy Links:

https://books2read.com/marthaosullivansierrafall

https://www.marthaosullivan.com/ 

Bio:

Martha O'Sullivan has loved reading romance novels foras long as she can remember. Writing her own books is the realization of alifelong dream. She is a graduate of Illinois State University where she wrotefor the school newspaper and was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha. She is also aformer Acquisitions Editor at MacMillan Computer Publishing. Martha writescontemporary romances with male/female couples and happy endings. Her ChancesTrilogy, Second Chance, Chance Encounter and Last Chance, and fourth novel Christmasin Tahoe, are available in print and digital formats at onlineretailers everywhere. Her new book, Sierra Fall, was released onFebruary 18, 2025. A native Chicagoan, she lives her own happy ending inFlorida with her husband and daughters.

Social media links: 

https://www.marthaosullivan.com/ 

https://www.instagram.com/authormarthaosullivan/ 

http://twitter.com/@m_osullivan26

https://bsky.app/profile/mosullivanauthor.bsky.social

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7254612.Martha_O_Sullivan

Three Catalogs for Your Summer Reading

June's catalogs will get you off to a good summer of reading whether you like Cozy Mystery or all genres of Romance. One catalog is all about Free Romance Reads. I'm sure you'll find several somethings to get you through the long hot summer or those enjoyable days on the beach or under the shade trees.

If you like romance and you like FREE, this catalog is right for you: https://books.bookfunnel.com/junesbouquetofrom.../t0bkj691zh

If you're a Kindle Unlimited reader, this June catalog must hold some fun for you: https://books.bookfunnel.com/KULoveJune/1z5gzdrcmr














Get June and summer started with some fun Cozy Mystery from this catalog of choices: https://books.bookfunnel.com/cozycravings-jun/dq3t9fz9af

Reading and Reviews (Evanovich and Jance)

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. 

I tend to read what I write, but not exclusively. BesidesRomantic Suspense and mystery, I read crime and law novels, once in a while atrue story, WWII historicals, romance, 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.

 

Look Alive Twenty-Five: A StephaniePlum Novel by Janet Evanovich

 

There's nothing like a good deli,and the Red River Deli in Trenton is one of the best. World-famous for itspastrami, cole slaw, and for its disappearing managers. Over the last month,three have vanished from the face of the earth, and the only clue in each caseis one shoe that's been left behind. The police are baffled. Lula is convincedthat it's a case of alien abduction. Whatever it is, they'd better figure outwhat's going on before they lose their new manager, Ms. Stephanie Plum.

 

My Review: 

It’s been a while since I’ve read a Stephanie Plum novel. Howodd it took me a couple of chapters to actually start enjoying it. I like hercharacter Lulu, but the book started out being more about her than anythingelse. But true to form for Ms. Evanovich, it finally took off offering plentyof laughs, sighs at the two hunks Stephanie keeps company with, and anentertaining read. 

AMAZON BUY LINK 

 

Desert Heat (Joanna Brady MysteriesBook 1) by J. A. Jance

 

A cop lies dying beneath theblistering Arizona sun—a local lawman who may well have become the next sheriffof Cochise County. The police brass claim that Andy Brady was dirty, and thathis shooting was a suicide attempt. Joanna Brady, his devoted wife and motherof their nine-year-old daughter, knows a cover-up when she hears one . . . andmurder when she sees it. But her determined efforts to hunt down an assassinand clear her husband's name are placing Joanna and her surviving family inharm's way—because in the desert, the one thing more lethal than a rattler'sbite . . . is the truth.

 

My Review: 

Being from Arizona, I could identifywith the heat and the small-town obstacles Joanna Brady encounters. I know thatthose readers who aren’t familiar with Arizona will get a good visual. Thecharacters are well-defined and the story is just twisty enough. Joanna istough enough, but relatable, for a new widow who wants answers. I’m glad Istarted with book one to see how it all began. I’ll look forward to the rest ofthe series. Jance is up to 11. 

AMAZON BUY LINK

Fearless Friday Character Story by Amber Daulton

FEARLESS FRIDAY

Okay, Readers, this is one fun Fearless Friday guest post. Welcome Amber Daulton to Discover... She's brought the heroine of her new book with her. How exciting to hear a tale directly from the character's mouth. So in addition to Amber, let's welcome Carmen Lozano. 

Hello, everyone. I’m Carmen Lozano,the heroine from Amber Daulton’s dark romance novel, Dark Hearts Aflame. Today,I’m going to talk about redemption.

My story starts before I was born,when my criminal father married my ambitious beauty queen mother. He was theleader of a powerful cartel and had scores of brutal enforcers at hisfingertips to do his bidding. His lavish lifestyle provided everything mysiblings and I could want—exotic pets, expensive clothes, wild vacations, andall the top gadgets. We had it all—except for our parents’ love. The price ofall that useless material stuff was blood. Death. Destruction. Humiliation.Fear. Misery. I could go on and on, but I don’t want this post to be about awhiny little rich girl.

Let’s move forward to when myfather sold me into marriage to one of his capos. For five long years, I turneda blind eye to my husband’s activities, which ranged from drug running, rape,and murder. Then I snapped. I couldn’t take it anymore. Miraculously, I managedto escape and took refuge with an anti-cartel resistance group. There, I foundfreedom, my passion, a chance to do something good with my life. I learned fromthe nurses and medics that volunteered at the rebel base, and after a while, Iwas the go-to person called upon to extract bullets, sew up wounds, administerlife-saving injections, and things like that. Far too often, rebel soldierswould be injured while fighting with the cartel in our backyard, so medics werea godsend. For the first time in my life, I felt like a decent person inhelping others. I found real friends, a family of sorts. Then my past caught upwith me.

I never thought I would see BristolRieger again. Back when I was a child, he was an up-and-coming enforcer in myfather’s inner circle. I had a crush on him, but since he was seven years olderthan me, nothing ever happened between us. Now, I’m all grown up. Whencircumstances thrust us together, we have to go on the run to survive. My lifeas a healer was over, or so I thought, but I crave redemption as much as I dolove and peace. After all the horrible things I’ve seen and brushed aside outof fear for my own safety, I’m done hiding in the shadows. I’m a strong,fearless woman. Whether I use my words, my fists, or my ability to heal, I willno longer stand aside while an innocent person is in danger. My soul cannottake anymore needless death.

Bristol says I have nothing to seekredemption for, that I was a victim trapped in a horrible situation. Maybe he’sright. Maybe not. I need to atone for the sins of my family, and the only wayI’ve found to do that is to help the kind of people my family seeks todestroy—the innocents, the weak, the downtrodden.

So that’s my story. It’s notpretty, but it’s real. Thankfully, it has a happy ending. Bristol and I arecrazy, madly in love. While I’m still working as a medic, he’s seeking his ownredemption to try to wash the blood from his hands. We have a long way to go,but we’re in it for long haul.

Want to know more? Read Dark HeartsAflame. You won’t be disappointed.

*****

Adrug lord on the run. A cartel princess in hiding. All it takes is a spark toset their world ablaze.

BristolRieger left his criminal life behind for a fresh start in Mexico. Flying underthe radar of the government and the cartels alike, his best-laid plans go awrywhen a woman from his narco days discovers his whereabouts. Carmen Lozano,however, is no longer the innocent girl he remembers.

Carmenescaped the chains of her tiara and her abusive marriage to join a group ofresistance fighters. The last thing she expected was the now-retired caposetting out to seduce her with his wicked touch. Embracing the blood on hishands is easy, but his secrets wear on her patience.

Whentheir enemies close in, Bristol will have to summon his inner monster toprotect her. But can that monster be tamed again? 

Excerpt: 

Bristol sighed, moreangry with himself than with her. “Believe me when I say I wish we could havemore. Just trust me and know we can’t. It’s for your safety.”

Carmen slowed to astop and trailed her index finger over the line of his jaw.

The resignation inher eyes scorched him.

“Your mind is likestone. If you never tell me your secrets, the truth you think I will notunderstand or accept, then it’s your loss. Not mine.” She notched her chin. “Iknow my worth, Bristol. Maybe I can do better than you. Maybe not, butat least I’m happy with you, and that’s all I ever wanted. So fine, keep yoursecrets. Someday, if I’m safe enough, I will find a man who can trust meimplicitly and love me without reservation. When that happens, I hope yoursecrets will keep you warm at night because I’ll be gone.”

Though he intendedto let her go, the idea of losing her almost cracked his knees on the floor. Hehad to protect her, but what about her heart? And his? He couldn’t push herinto the arms of another man. He wanted—needed—her for himself. Bristolpulled her close and kissed her, desperate to feel her soft lips with hisfirmer ones and her tight body in his arms.

She opened hermouth, inviting his plunder. Her scent invaded his nostrils. Her sweet,delectable taste rolled through him, seeking to claim him.

After three days ofstarvation, he needed more. How could he survive three years? Thirty years? Hecouldn’t do this anymore, couldn’t keep quiet. He wanted her to be happy, yetthe idea of some other man giving her everything she deserved sickened him tohis core.

“Let’s go, Carmen. I have something to tell you.” 

Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/211106548-dark-hearts-aflame-lozano-cartel-book-1

Check it out on BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/dark-hearts-aflame-lozano-cartel-book-1-an-on-the-run-dark-cartel-romantic-suspense-by-amber-daulton 

Download Direct fromAuthor (Receive a $2 Discount): https://books.amberdaulton.com/darkheartsaflamedirect

Universal: https://books2read.com/darkheartsaflame

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4hGWOog

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dark-hearts-aflame-amber-daulton/1144724204

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/dark-hearts-aflame

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=vtfwEAAAQBAJ

Apple/iBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/dark-hearts-aflame/id6544805264

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1509101 

– Book one is an Interracial (Hispanicwoman/white man) dark romance novel in the Lozano Cartel series. All the bookscan be read as a standalone, but are part of an interconnected series.

– Scenes featuringtorture/violence, kidnapping, attempted assault, infertility issues, childabuse (discussed), and suicide (discussed) may be uncomfortable for somereaders.

– No cheating and HEAguaranteed!

– Written in 3rdPOV.

Amber Daulton is theauthor of the Lozano Cartel, the Arresting Onyx, and the Ramseysin Time series, as well as several standalone novellas. Her books arepublished through Daulton Publishing, The Wild Rose Press, and Books to Go Now,and are available in ebook, print on demand, audio, and foreign languageformats.

She lives inNorth Carolina with her husband and demanding cats. 

Social Media Links

 

Follow Me: https://linktr.ee/AmberDaulton

Check out my website (Daulton Publishing): https://amberdaulton.com

Sign up for my ExclusiveNewsletter (free ebook to new subscribers): https://amberdaulton.com/newsletter-signup/

Muse Monday Philosophy with Sandra Holiday

 MUSE MONDAY

After two failed marriages and countlessrelationships, years of less than perfect choices that derailed her travel-related career and left her single and broke, Sandra Holiday still approaches life with humor. And she has her own brand of philosophical musings. I'd like to welcome the main character of my latest release (eBook is on preorder and print is available now) Sleeping with the Lights On to Muse Monday on Discover...

Me: Hi Sandra. I'm wondering if you'd share a few of your wisdoms from your story.

Sandra: I'd be happy to. I'm not sure how wise I am, but as a fifty-year-old woman, I do have some experience tucked away. 

From my own experience, Iknow nights are the worst time to be alone. The dark quiet intensifies yourisolation. Instead of folding around you like a soft cocoon, the dark isendless nothingness, leaving you feeling exposed and vulnerable. It’s best tosleep with the lights on. 

Daddy said sex wasninety-percent of any good relationship. My mother and father were marriedfifty-eight years. Until he died. But Daddy hadn’t explained the otherten-percent. I happened to think the other ten-percent kept them together solong. Having been married twice, not to mention countless relationships, I hadto admit the left-over ten-percent had been elusive for me. 

People often say, if I onlyknew then what I know now. I say, if I’d known as much then, I would’ve avoidedway too much and wouldn’t know now what I know. Nor would I have been where Ifound myself that morning—the object of affection by a man I’d yet to fullydiscover on a lazy spring morning. I had to believe my future held some goodpossibilities. 

The fact he resembled myfavorite Beatle, George, and I Got MyMind Set On You played from his jukebox when we met, may seem like acoincidence. But there are no coincidences. Regardless of the song having beenwritten years before we met, it existed for us. Things like that happen. Theenergy of ideas lives in a timeless medium and will come together at the rightmoment.

Thanks for having me, Brenda. I hope your readers will enjoy the story you wrote for me. They can buy the book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F4M25SR6

Life's Adventures: The Daily Grind

Blogging. Life's Adventures. I haven't had any momentous adventures lately. At one time, I thought maybe recounting the daily push of being an author could be of interest. I keep a daytimer with my list of to-dos. Hmm... I'll think on it. I did make note of a few days at the beginning of last year. Maybe I'll drop in my daily routine from time to time.

January 29, 2024

Create QR codes for promotional handouts. 

Done. Yay. Now when I do book fairs and someone wants an eBookinstead of print, I can hand them my post card or business card with the linkto find my books using a QR code on their phone. 

Reevaluate all of Gaughran’s webinars and emails I’ve savedto determine if I want to invest the time in listening and reading them.

I know I need to. David Gaughran is one smart guy when itcomes to marketing. I’ve read two of his books. No time today. Push it forward 

The Amazon Ad Class I took all last week – files are closingtoday if I missed any

Done. Huff and puff, I skimmed through all 6 because, yeah, Ididn’t look at them last week. It is much of what I already know but there werea few gems I will review in a few days. 

Pay personal bills

Done and paid and logged into the spreadsheet in mycomputer. 

Get set up in Payson with a primary care doctor on my newinsurance.

No time today. I’ll call on anotherday. 

Call GoDaddy, my domain provider for my website, regarding authenticationof my email and website so my newsletters don’t get bounced.

The writing community is going crazy over this. I have NOidea what it is, but I thought I should pursue it. Hold time was 46 minutes. I just can’t worry about it today. 

Day One of getting back on weight lifting

Done! 

January 30, 2024

2:30 AM awoke with a pinching pain in my chest

I got back to sleep around 3:30. Up again at 6:00. Only ½mile walk. So sleepy. 

Find out why no reviews on Amazon for Amanda in the Summer

Spent nearly an hour on texting with Amazon to no avail. Ifinally said forget it. I’ll try another day anddisconnected. 

Make sure Amanda in the Summer is on BookFunnel, BookBub,and GoodReads

Done. BB and GR had it already. I uploaded a copy to BookFunnel soI can give a free copy to my newsletter subscribers in February. 

Upload the corrected copy of A Legacy of Love and Murder toAmazon

Done. Found a small mistake. This is the free book my newslettersubscribers can have. 

Start revising Amazon Ads

I’m still fuzzy headed from the lack of sleep with the chestpain thing. Push this forward. 

Read advice from a fellow author on Amazon Ads saved inemail of 11/20/2023

Too fuzzy headed. Push this forward. 

Call Colorado Credit Union regarding personal online account

Done! 

Sign up for more BookFunnel promotions

Sort of Done. I managed a couple. I need sleep. 

Edit Cornbread, Ribs, and Murder

Done. Ah, yes. This was relaxing and fun. I put in a couple ofhours. I am so excited to get this third book in the Chocolate Martini SistersMysteries published in April. 

Remind FDW to call the VA billing department

Done! Suckers are overbilling us for his prescriptions. 

Defrost the small refrigerator

I couldn’t face it today. Push it offuntil tomorrow. 

January 31, 2024

Looking back on pushed forward items: 

I dug into defrosting the fridge. We let it go so long ittook me all day…done! 

The chest pain kind of scared me so I set my butt down andgot set up with a primary care doctor in Payson. But I’m fine, you know. Done! 

Still not enough time to delve into Gaughran’s advice. 

Found the online chat feature for GoDaddy and spent 45minutes getting my domain authenticated. I guess. It’s all Greek to me.(Update: days later discovered I am still a fail on one aspect. I triedMailChimp and couldn’t get a response. I tried GoDaddy again and had to give upthat day after a half hour since I had an appointment. Still unresolved. Thiskind of stuff gives me a major headache.) 

Searched in KDP and Author Central for who to help me to getmy Amanda in the Summer reviews to show on Amazon. Hit dead ends on both sites.Push it forward yet again. 

I got halfway through revising Candy, Cigarettes, and Murderads on Amazon. I can see this is going to take a while…like weeks. I also needmore knowledge beyond what I learned in the Amazon Ad class. I purchasedPublisher Rocket. FDW has committed to helping me. Yay! 

Schedule more BookFunnel promotions

Done! 

Edit Cornbread, Ribs, and Murder

Aw, yes, again. I’ll be at this for the next week and ahalf. These hours are truly my enjoyable time. 

February1, 2024

I need a break after those last 3 days of January. FDW and Iheaded north for lunch and shopping in Pine. Elk roaming through town, a hippieshop full of fun stuff to walk down memory lane, delicious fudge and coffee,and a lunch in a high-country café. A satisfying adventure.