Brenda Whiteside's Blog, page 39

November 6, 2020

Reading and #Reviews (Hogan, Buchbinder, Bonatch) #paranormal #romanticsuspense

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

I tend to read what I write, but not exclusively. Besides Romantic Suspense, I read crime and law novels, WWII historicals, mysteries, and some main stream character driven books.

Although I don't read many paranormal books, I have of late picked up a few and have been pleasantly entertained. I declare today Paranormal Day. Hope you are enticed to try these recent reads.

Intoxicate Me (Underbelly Chronicles book five) by Tamara Hogan

Paranormal Romantic Suspense

I’ve read all of the Underbelly Chronicles, partly because I know the author and I offer input as she creates, but also because these stories are finely crafted. I love the setting in my favorite American city, Minneapolis. I love that ‘they live among us.’ In Intoxicate Me, Jack Kirkland, is not only one of two humans who knows about the paranormal community, but he works with them guarding their secret. He’s injured in the line of duty. Sasha, an intoxicating succubus volunteers to nurse him back to health in spite of the fact her father was murdered under Jack’s watch. There’s lots of sexual tension and danger in this story. It’s a fun read, and if you haven’t tried paranormal before, this is the series to get you started.


Tears of the Wolf (Hotel LaBelle Series book four) by Sharon Buchbinder

Paranormal Romantic Suspense

This is the second Hotel LaBelle book I've read. Not sure why I'm jumping around in the order, but it doesn't matter. They stand on their own. This book spoke to me. I'm a degree of Native American and the problem of Native American women disappearing or abused or murdered is major. Ms. Buchbinder tapped into that and covered the issue beautifully. I know this series has paranormal undertones, well, maybe overtones, but the native culture is mystical to me and so not so much paranormal as tapped into our inner selves. I was totally wrapped up in the story for the emotional as well as the suspenseful elements. You're going to love it. 



Not a Chance (The Enchantlings Series book two) by Maureen L. Bonatch

Paranormal Suspense with Romantic Elements

This book was recommended to me and ended up being a fun read. I love well-defined characters and boy does this one have characters. Hope, the main female character, embodies a mortal's problem which is when to give hope and when to drain the life out of someone. We sort of all have that ability, although she can do it literally. Her boyfriend is yum. And there is Berta who we'd all want to tamp down. There's demons and half-demons and all sorts of trouble in the town with no name. I can't say I'd want to live there, but it sure was fun to visit. Steep yourself in an imaginary world and enjoy.

 


 

 

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Published on November 06, 2020 09:06

November 1, 2020

Mountain Blaze Inspiration by Debby Grahl #MuseMonday #romanticsuspense

MUSE MONDAY

Don't you just love hearing how and where authors get their story ideas? What inspires the written word. Debby Grahl has some insight for you today. Tell us about Mountain Blaze, Debby.


I love both the ocean and mountains. I now live on Hilton Head Island, and thankfully my cousins live a few hours away in North Carolina where they graciously took my husband and me sightseeing. The idea for Mountain Blaze came to me while we were all exploring around Asheville.  It was Fall, and the spectacular display of color against the backdrop of the Smoky Mountains was breathtaking. We passed through some small towns which reminded me of Mayberry from the Andy Griffith show. We decided to hike for a while and discovered a scenic overlook which revealed a stream winding through the valley below. Standing there, in the quiet, it was hard to imagine there was a city full of people not too far away.

We came upon a small ranch which had cabins to rent and offered horseback riding. As we waited for the horses to be saddled for a trail ride, my writer’s imagination replaced the nice older man with a handsome cowboy. Now, what would be his story? As we rode through the lush woods, the air fragrant with the smell of pine, Dillon McCoy took shape in my mind.

Afterward, we drove down the mountain into Waynesville. This is a wonderful little town where I discovered Mast General. A fun old-fashioned country store, this is one of my favorite places to shop. You can get everything from clothing to shoes to dishes, and the best, aisle after aisle of any kind of candy you can imagine. After shopping, one of my favorite things to do, we decided to stop in a café, and while sipping a delicious cup of coffee, I noticed an attractive woman seated at an adjacent table. Her clothes were stylish. She looked as if she had just walked off Fifth Avenue. Once again, my writer’s imagination took over, and Diana Thompson was born. Now, what circumstances could bring the cowboy and the wealthy city girl together? I enjoyed creating their personalities, backgrounds, and tiny quirks that made them unique.

In all my books, I like to have some type of mystery. Not only do Diana and Dillon meet, there’s an outside force which is determined to keep them apart and endanger their lives.

In researching my stories, I try to be as accurate as possible. Readers will notice if a specific place, business, or street I mention isn’t in the correct location. If it’s not possible to visit the location, I found Google Earth is a great tool for virtually touring the area.

If you ever get a chance to visit western North Carolina, I’m sure you’ll find it beautiful, fun, and full of history. 


Disillusioned by his wife’s betrayal, rodeo star Dillon McCoy comes home to the mountains of North Carolina to lick his wounds. When he agrees to take over the family ranch, the Lazy M, he’s unaware danger waits.

Diana Thompson is having doubts about her engagement to Trent Sawyer. She agrees to leave Chapel Hill and spend Thanksgiving with her friend Jenn at the Lazy M. When Diana and Dillon meet, neither can deny their attraction, but both must resolve past relationships while fighting their growing desire.

After Dillon turns down an anonymous offer to purchase the ranch, attempts are made on his life. When a body is found, Dillon sets out to discover who wants the McCoy land enough to commit murder.

Excerpt

Dillon smiled and Diana thought it the sexiest smile she’d ever seen. There was a slight cleft in his chin, and fine lines formed at the corners of his eyes. Diana inwardly groaned. The butterflies wereback.

“I’d hold onto you. I wouldn’t let you fall,” he softly said.

With his slow southern accent, the words sounded like warm honey rolling off his tongue. The depth of his eyes and the sound of his voice mesmerized her.

The horses stood side by side. Her and Dillon’s legs touched. He leaned toward her, and the light aroma of wood smoke, hay, and his spicy cologne filled her nostrils. Diana knew what he was about to do but had no willpower to stop him. He cupped her cheek and their lips met.

Gentle at first, his lips glided over hers. He increased the pressure until she opened her mouth and his tongue slipped in. Diana moaned and wrapped her arms around his neck. His arms around her waist, he deepened the kiss. Before she realized what he was doing, without breaking their kiss Dillon lifted her from Flora and placed her across his lap.

Cradled in his arms, Diana clung to him, delicious sensations filling her. Her body came alive in a way that surprised her. The only thing that mattered was this man and this moment.

Flame moved, bringing her back to reality. Diana’s eyes fluttered open, and she stared into Dillon’s, deep with passion and need. 



Bio

Award winning author, Debby Grahl, lives on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, with her husband, David. Besides writing, she enjoys biking, walking on the beach and a glass of wine at sunset. Her favorite places to visit are New Orleans, New York City, Captiva Island in Florida, the Cotswolds of England, and her home state of Michigan. She is a history buff who also enjoys reading murder mysteries, time travel, and, of course, romance. Visually impaired since childhood by Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), she uses screen-reading software to research and write her books. His Magic Touch, a paranormal romance, was released by Wild Rose Press December 5, 2018. Her latest book, Mountain Blaze, will be released November 2. 

You can find Debby at the following:

Website -- www.debbygrahl.com
Facebook -- https://www.facebook.com/debbygrahlauthor?ref=br_rs

Bookbub -- https://www.bookbub.com/search/authors?search=debby%20grahl
Twitter -- https://twitter.com/DebbyGrahl

https://www.bookbub.com/books/mountain-blaze-the-carolina-series-by-debby-grahl

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55319289-mountain-blaze

 


 


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Published on November 01, 2020 23:30

October 28, 2020

A Brothel and the Wicked Owner by Vali Benson #WickedWednesday #Western #Tombstone

 WICKED WEDNESDAY

You've probably heard of "the town too tough to die." Tombstone, Arizona has been romanticized, written about, and immortalized in numerous movies. My guest today, Vali Benson, has a new book about that wicked town and a very wicked woman. Makes for some wickedly fun reading. Take it away, Vali...

            Miss Lucille was a tough, callous, and calculating businesswoman. She controlled and operated one of the busiest brothels in the hottest boomtown on the western frontier. In 1880 the place was famously referred to as “The Town Too Tough to Die”, Tombstone, AZ. Miss Lucille was a woman of her times but even for the Wild West, she was more merciless, conniving and ruthless than most. Many characterize her as wicked.

            Lucille Dobbs was born on her grandparent’s farm in southern Illinois in 1850 to a drunken father and a pretty teenage mother.  As soon as Lucy could travel, her mother robbed the old folks of every valuable they had and took a stage to St. Louis with the baby.

            Lucy’s mother was popular on the seedy waterfront. But she developed a severe opium habit, thanks to the man she worked for.  And little Lucy caused major mischief along the docks.  So the man decided to move on, with Lucy, her mother and two other girls, as well as a big, runaway slave named Jonah.  

            At age twelve, Lucille was a survivor. Random   events always seemed to favor Lucille. Her useless mother was inflaming her temper, which had become a very dangerous thing to do.  She resented the extra mouth to feed, and especially the cost of the drugs. So when her mother took a nasty spill from a wagon and broke her neck, Lucy swore she didn’t know what happened.  She told her companions, “Oh well, it’s for the best”. 

            Times were tough and it was apparent to the strong girl that if she didn’t look out for herself, no one else would.  With very little trouble, she took over the man’s business.

             After the Civil War, her greedy nature led her west. Having rid herself of the man and the two girls, (after reliving them of their money at knifepoint), she and her servant Jonah took off for San Francisco. The gold rush was over, but the city was still flush with money.

            It was not long before Lucille found a protector, a man with money, but weak enough for her to manipulate. Frank Morrow owned a nice dance hall on the Barbary Coast. She informed Frank that she was turning the dance hall into a brothel. Frank objected; he was found dead in the alley the next morning and Miss Lucille, as she was now known, took over. She informed the singers, dancers, and hostesses that their duties would be expanded.

            The “accident” that befell Frank became a recurring theme in Miss Lucille’s life. Maybe it was just coincidental; perhaps wickedly coincidental?  If one of Lucille’s girls worked up the courage to leave her employ, they would always seem to wake up dead the next morning. When what little law there was on Barbary Coast began to connect the murders, Miss Lucille realized it was time to move on.

            An old acquaintance wrote Miss Lucille and told her to join her in the boomtown of Tombstone with her best girls.  The lure of new money was more than she could resist. And she needed to disappear.

            This is where the book Blood and Silver finds Miss Lucille. She is viewed through the eyes of twelve-year-old Carissa, the daughter of Miss Lucille’s most beautiful working girl, Lisette. Not only does Miss Lucille rule by fear, she keeps Lisette under her control by plying her with laudanum. Carissa knows that it is only a matter of time before she will be forced into the trade by Miss Lucille or that her mother dies, or both. Will Carissa figure out a way to save herself and her sick mother from Miss Lucille, or will Miss Lucille brandish her trusty stiletto again?

               Miss Lucille IS wicked, very wicked indeed!



After graduating from the University of Illinois, Vali started and sold two successful businesses before she decided to pursue her real passion of writing. She published several articles in a variety of periodicals, including History Magazine before she decided to try her hand at fiction.

In April of 2020, Vali published her first novel, “Blood and Silver”. That same month, she was also made a member of the Western Writers of America.

 

Website:

http://valibenson.com/

 

Amazon BUY LINK:

https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Silver-Vali-Benson-ebook/dp/B086R4RBF3

 

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53167218-blood-and-silver

 

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/RealValiBenson/?modal=admin_todo_tour 

 

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/BensonVali

@BensonVali


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Published on October 28, 2020 00:30

October 26, 2020

New Release...New Cozy by Kate Fellowes #NewRelease #CozyMystery

MUSE MONDAY

Cozy mysteries are all the rage now. And I can see why. What a fun way to spend a few hours reading. Welcome my guest, Kate Fellowes with a great post about her latest. 


Many thanks to Brenda for allowing me to drop by her blog today. While I’ve been a writer as long as I can remember, it isn’t often I have a chance to talk about a new novel.

A Menacing Brew, (Fire Star Press, 2020), is my sixth book, and my first cozy mystery.  My earlier titles were romantic mysteries, where one of the questions in the plot was always “Is he going to kiss her or is he going to kill her?” 

That’s not an issue with A Menacing Brew, where Barbara York and her adult daughter Amy become the most amateur of sleuths when Barbara is named a suspect in the death of her old friend from college.  These two women are very different people and have never seen eye-to-eye on much.  But Amy is a Designated Daughter—the one who can be relied upon to help out when needed and do what needs to be done.  In this case, she is also the only daughter, so she always feels the pressure to be useful to her mother.

And so, they end up far from home, in a strange house, with a dead man in the basement.

Frankly, I’m surprised it took me this long to write a cozy mystery, because cozies are my current favorite reading material.  I love the sense of community I feel as a reader, when book follows book in a series.  I enjoy getting to know the citizens of the town and see how the author showcases individual characters from one story to the next, so everyone gets some time in the limelight of crime, if you will.  If there are libraries or bookstores and cats or dogs included, so much the better. 

I’ve heard it said readers like mysteries because the plots create order out of chaos, something I’ll bet we all wish we could do in real life, especially this year.  I like that philosophy, but it ignores the mental challenge of trying to solve the puzzle myself.  There’s no better feeling than my gasp of surprise when the perpetrator is revealed at the end of a book and it’s a character I hadn’t even considered.  Looking back, their guilt is obvious, but authors hide the clues so well I am frequently stumped.  Thank goodness.  If I could guess the ending, I know I’d feel disappointed.

The first time I sat down to write a novel, I crafted an outline to guide me through the plot.  Holding the outline in my hand later, I was disappointed because I knew how the story would end.  Where was the fun in that?  Of course, over the time it took to actually craft the book, I veered from that outline a hundred times at least, and was frequently surprised by changes the characters themselves seemed to insist upon.  Whodunnit stayed the same, but the how and why and all those other questions changed—and made for a better book, I think.

Now, working on the second Kirkwood Clues mystery, I’m eager to see where Barbara and Amy go on their next adventure, and which citizens of Kirkwood will take them there.  It’s all a mystery, and that’s the best part!

***

Blurb from A Menacing Brew

With the summer off, Amy is at loose ends. Since her husband is busy with work and her son is at college, she reluctantly agrees to accompany her mom, Barbara, on a trip to visit an old college chum, Carl, who became a journalist. Amy knows their long drive will be filled with too many of her mom’s stories about her personal Summer of Love, but she never expects they’ll find Carl dead in his basement practically the minute they arrive. Things go from bad to worse when Barbara becomes the prime suspect in the crime, since she’ll inherit the dead man’s estate.

To clear Barbara’s name, she and Amy delve into Carl’s most recent assignment and discover a link to Kirkwood’s biggest employer, family-owned Stutger Brewery. More than one skeleton lurks in the Stutger closet. But are these old secrets still worth killing over? Or was Carl’s death motivated by an incident with more recent roots?

One thing’s for sure—Barbara and Amy are making few friends among locals with all their questions. As the brewery’s centennial celebration fast approaches, it’s time for Barbara and Amy to bring things to a head and unmask killers, past and present.

***

EXCERPT from A Menacing Brew

As I headed toward the basement steps, I said, "I hope I don’t fall."

"You’ve got your flashlight." Mom clumped up behind me. "I’ll wait up here."

I put my hand on the splintery old door at the top of the staircase and headed down. The first few steps were fine, if a little creepy in my special-effects lighting. Then, the stairs took a sharp turn and, on the narrowest part of the step, I wobbled, grasping for the handrail. The flashlight went out when it slipped from my hand, clattering away, leaving me in the dark again.

"That’s just great!"

"You okay?"

"Dropped the flashlight." I descended one step at a time, feeling around with my pointed toe before trusting my weight. How many more steps could there be?

It was cooler here, beneath the house. Cool and damp and musty smelling. Eventually, my toe touched concrete, hard and smooth, and I relaxed my hold on the railing.

Squatting, I felt around, cursing modern technology. If I’d carried a big, old-fashioned flashlight, it might have stayed on, revealing itself.

On all fours, I reached a little further around me. More grit, more dead bugs. Aha! In triumph, I closed my hand around the thin plastic case and gave a mighty squeeze.

The beam of light poured forth, shining right into the eyes of the dead man on the floor.

***

Buy Links

https://www.amazon.com/Menacing-Brew-Kate-Fellowes-ebook/dp/B0864THDXQ/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=menacing+brew&qid=1591125765&sr=8-1

http://prairierosepublications.com/books-view/a-menacing-brew/

***


Bio: Kate Fellowes has published six mysteries, most recently A Menacing Brew.  Her short stories have appeared in many publications, from Woman's World to Crimestalker Casebook.  Working in a public library, every day is a busman's holiday for her.  She blogs at https://katefellowes.wordpress.com/

***

Blog: http://katefellowes.wordpress.com/

Twitter: @katefellowes

Facebook: Kate Fellowes, Author


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Published on October 26, 2020 00:30

October 22, 2020

Reading and #Reviews (Hoonstra, Proell, Patterson)

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

I tend to read what I write, but not exclusively. Besides Romantic Suspense, I read crime and law novels, WWII historicals, mysteries, and some main stream 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! 


On the Make (Brothers in Blue, book three) 
by Margo Hoonstra

Romantic Suspense

If you love books about cops, and you love romance, this book is for you. Madison Clark is twice widowed and her first love was a policeman. The hunky policeman, Adam Pride, who walks into her life this time is also a movie star. Whoa! Quite a combination. And when she becomes an intended victim, who better to have on your side. A fun read for sure.

BUY LINK



Amaryllis by Joyce Proell

Historical Romance with Suspense

I had such fun reading this book. Spy vs spy and boy do the sparks fly. Lily Fitzhugh will do almost anything to get to America to save her father. It's a time period in which she's acting rashly for a woman. She sneaks aboard a ship bound for America and doesn't expect to fall for the man who she's supposed to be spying on...who is a spy. Ms Proell mixes history with fiction and that equals a very enticing read.

BUY LINK



Cat and Mouse
by James Patterson

Crime Novel

Gary Soneji, a dying prison escapee, is looking for revenge on Cross, while another insane killer is pursued by Thomas Augustine Pierce-a brilliant and relentless detective who may even be better than Cross. As the bodies pile up, and Cross is nearly murdered in his own home, the game of cat and mouse leads to one final trap. . . As always, I enjoyed this Patterson novel. Alex Cross is one of my favorite recurring characters.

BUY LINK


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Published on October 22, 2020 00:30

October 21, 2020

Wicked Talk for #WickedWednesday with Dee. S. Knight

WICKED WEDNESDAY

Dee is back and as always, not only entertains but makes us think. Wicked is as wicked does. Now, is that good or bad or just plain fun? Let's ask Dee.


The way we talk? It’s totally wicked. 

As a writer I have to admit that keeping up with contemporary language is really hard. I’m not in my 20s anymore. I don’t have children, young or old, so I don’t have young grandkids hanging around to help me out. For that reason, sometimes when I hear slang I do a double take. 

The first time I heard wicked being used as an adverb, I had to stop and think about it. Was the reference good or bad? After all, wicked meant that something was morally bad, right? Or malicious or dreadful. But no, in this case wicked just meant the object was a lot of whatever came next. Wickedly good, wickedly hard, wickedly wicked. Okay, easy enough. But I’d just got wicked down when I heard someone say that what they were looking at was sick. And in saying sick, they meant good. What?? Good Lord, what’s a girl to do?? 

Finding a slang dictionary was a start. I found Green’s Dictionary of Slangaccidentally, and in a sense of desperation. But much of what’s in Green’s is old style slang. For something newer, I just had to look up sites that had current slang. I’m writing a character who would know a lot of street slang because the streets are where she does her work and she has a younger sister. Why or why would I conceive of such a woman when I myself know no slang? I’m a masochist! 


The Good Man Series...so far
Marin is a woman who has done whatever it takes to keep herself out of jail and to watch over and raise her sister. She’s extra—barely—until her sister gets herself mixed up with a badster. Yes, even in college the kid doesn’t know that FOMO can lead to a lot of trouble. In this case, trouble for Marin. Marin has never let her sister see the badnessshe sometimes has to go through to keep them safe. Now, Marin has to lie like truth to the hero, Mark, in order to keep her sister from the POSwho has her in thrall. It won’t be easy. Or maybe it will. Mark is the furthest from a man she would describe as highkey. Will she slay the job of ripping off Mark in order to safe her sister? 


Good golly, after reading that last paragraph Ihardly know what I mean. Integrating slang into my story at the right points is going to take some work. But I know I’ll slay it and make a wickedgood story. Or else, I’ll be shook

How do you keep your dialogue fresh and current? 

Only with the Heart is book 3 of the Good Man series. 

Meet Dee/Anne/Jenna:

A few years ago, Dee S. Knight began writing, making getting up in the morning fun. During the day, her characters killed people, fell in love, became drunk with power, or sober with responsibility. And they had sex, lots of sex. 

After a while, Dee split her personality into thirds. She writes as Anne Krist for sweeter romances, and Jenna Stewart for ménage and shifter stories. All three of her personas are found on the Nomad Authors website. And all three offer some of the best romance you can find! Also, once a month, look for Dee’s Charity Sunday blog posts, where your comment can support a selected charity. 


Where to find her (them):

https://nomadauthors.com

Blog: http://nomadauthors.com/blog

Twitter: http://twitter.com/DeeSKnight

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeeSKnight2018

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/265222.Dee_S_Knight

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B079BGZNDN

Newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/h8t2y6

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/dee-s-knight-0500749

Sweet ‘n Sassy Divas: http://bit.ly/1ChWN3K

 

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Published on October 21, 2020 00:30

October 19, 2020

Ghosts and Love by Anna M. Taylor

MUSE MONDAY

I'm a believer. Are you? In ghosts and the unexplained, that is. Anna M. Taylor is back with some fascinating facts. I've seen one of the types she tells us about when I stayed in a haunted hotel in Flagstaff. She's done her research and written a fascinating romance. Enjoy the read today!

In A Little In Love With Death my hero, Mitchell Emerson, has lost the love of his life because she believes in ghosts and he does not. He believes he can win her back by discovering what is really haunting her childhood home. Instead what he learns is there are definitely more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in his philosophies. I had fun doing research on spirits for A Little In Love With Death. Here are five that I learned of: 

Interactive Personality – This is the traditional manifestation of a spirit, usually recognizable as person 

Ectoplasm – This is a misty presence rather than a spirit with recognizable as once having been human 

Poltergeist – This is an animated spirit that makes noise by moving or knocking things over. It’s often explained as energy being controlled by someone alive and unaware of what they’re doing. 

Orbs – These are balls of light that hover and can be human or animal that take on this shape to make it easy to travel. 

Funnel ghosts – These are swirling spirits usually associated with cold spots. 

Louisville Historic tours has some cool photos of each if you’d care to check them out: https://louisvillehistorictours.com/the-5-different-types-of-ghosts-with-photos. They’ve even got a video purporting to capture an orb: https://louisvillehistorictours.com/ghostorbs.


Blurb:

Ten years ago no one -- not even the man who said he loved her -- believed Sankofa Lawford's story of being attacked by a ghost. Mitchell Emerson believes science and reason can account for the ghostly happenings at Umoja House. He seeks a rational explanation that will prove him right and hopefully regain Sankofa’s trust and love. Instead what he learns leaves his own beliefs shattered. Now reluctant allies, Mitchell and Sankofa uncover years of lies that threaten to pull them apart until help comes from an unexpected ally: the ghost itself. 

 Excerpt:

“‘Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against powers and principalities, against spiritual wickedness in high places.’” 

Mitchell leaned forward in the chair across from Professor John Mortimer. The neat and tidy mid-Century chrome, light wood and primary color surfaces defied the stereotyped clutter attributed to eccentric college professors. 

“That’s your realm more than mine, John. You’re the philosophy and religion professor.” 

Mortimer leaned back, his fingertips steepled. “But it’s why you sought me out, why you’re talking to me about this.” 

“Granted, but as I’m not in the camp of Biblical literalists, I don’t know how to interpret that verse.” 

Mortimer smiled. “Perhaps you’re more comfortable with Shakespeare? ‘There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophies, Horatio.’” 

Mitchell shook his head. “Nope. That’s equally unhelpful.” 

Professor Mortimer laughed. “Too metaphysical for your scientific tastes, Mr. Soon-to-be Commissioned Lay Pastor?” 

Mitchell shrugged. “Too metaphysical for someone who recently just put religion back in their portfolio.” 

Mortimer leaned a forearm across his desk’s glass surface. “So why don’t we start with the answer you want and work our way back to the truth?”

BUY ANNA'S BOOK ON AMAZON: https://amzn.to/3mGvWci


Find Anna and her other book here: https://www.amazon.com/Anna-M-Taylor/e/B0894LFCTV

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Published on October 19, 2020 06:04

October 14, 2020

The Wicked Town and the Wicked Madam by Vali Benson #wickedWednesday #western

WICKED WEDNESDAY

You've probably heard of "the town too tough to die." Tombstone, Arizona has been romanticized, written about, and immortalized in numerous movies. My guest today, Vali Benson, has a new book about that wicked town and a very wicked woman. Makes for some wickedly fun reading. Take it away, Vali...

            Miss Lucille was a tough, callous, and calculating businesswoman. She controlled and operated one of the busiest brothels in the hottest boomtown on the western frontier. In 1880 the place was famously referred to as “The Town Too Tough to Die”, Tombstone, AZ. Miss Lucille was a woman of her times but even for the Wild West, she was more merciless, conniving and ruthless than most. Many characterize her as wicked.

            Lucille Dobbs was born on her grandparent’s farm in southern Illinois in 1850 to a drunken father and a pretty teenage mother.  As soon as Lucy could travel, her mother robbed the old folks of every valuable they had and took a stage to St. Louis with the baby.

            Lucy’s mother was popular on the seedy waterfront. But she developed a severe opium habit, thanks to the man she worked for.  And little Lucy caused major mischief along the docks.  So the man decided to move on, with Lucy, her mother and two other girls, as well as a big, runaway slave named Jonah.  

            At age twelve, Lucille was a survivor. Random   events always seemed to favor Lucille. Her useless mother was inflaming her temper, which had become a very dangerous thing to do.  She resented the extra mouth to feed, and especially the cost of the drugs. So when her mother took a nasty spill from a wagon and broke her neck, Lucy swore she didn’t know what happened.  She told her companions, “Oh well, it’s for the best”. 

            Times were tough and it was apparent to the strong girl that if she didn’t look out for herself, no one else would.  With very little trouble, she took over the man’s business.

             After the Civil War, her greedy nature led her west. Having rid herself of the man and the two girls, (after reliving them of their money at knifepoint), she and her servant Jonah took off for San Francisco. The gold rush was over, but the city was still flush with money.

            It was not long before Lucille found a protector, a man with money, but weak enough for her to manipulate. Frank Morrow owned a nice dance hall on the Barbary Coast. She informed Frank that she was turning the dance hall into a brothel. Frank objected; he was found dead in the alley the next morning and Miss Lucille, as she was now known, took over. She informed the singers, dancers, and hostesses that their duties would be expanded.

            The “accident” that befell Frank became a recurring theme in Miss Lucille’s life. Maybe it was just coincidental; perhaps wickedly coincidental?  If one of Lucille’s girls worked up the courage to leave her employ, they would always seem to wake up dead the next morning. When what little law there was on Barbary Coast began to connect the murders, Miss Lucille realized it was time to move on.

            An old acquaintance wrote Miss Lucille and told her to join her in the boomtown of Tombstone with her best girls.  The lure of new money was more than she could resist. And she needed to disappear.

            This is where the book Blood and Silver finds Miss Lucille. She is viewed through the eyes of twelve-year-old Carissa, the daughter of Miss Lucille’s most beautiful working girl, Lisette. Not only does Miss Lucille rule by fear, she keeps Lisette under her control by plying her with laudanum. Carissa knows that it is only a matter of time before she will be forced into the trade by Miss Lucille or that her mother dies, or both. Will Carissa figure out a way to save herself and her sick mother from Miss Lucille, or will Miss Lucille brandish her trusty stiletto again?

               Miss Lucille IS wicked, very wicked indeed!



After graduating from the University of Illinois, Vali started and sold two successful businesses before she decided to pursue her real passion of writing. She published several articles in a variety of periodicals, including History Magazine before she decided to try her hand at fiction.

In April of 2020, Vali published her first novel, “Blood and Silver”. That same month, she was also made a member of the Western Writers of America.

 

Website:

http://valibenson.com/

 

Amazon BUY LINK:

https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Silver-Vali-Benson-ebook/dp/B086R4RBF3

 

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53167218-blood-and-silver

 

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/RealValiBenson/?modal=admin_todo_tour 

 

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/BensonVali

@BensonVali


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Published on October 14, 2020 09:47

October 12, 2020

Mermaids Marry in Green and Other Aquatic Creatures by Alice Renaud #fantasy #romance

 MUSE MONDAY

Please welcome Alice Renaud back to Discover... I love her fantasy stories so grab a cup and sit back and enjoy!

I grew up in Brittany, western France, my father was Breton and my mother is Welsh, so you could say I received a double dose of Celtic heritage. Welsh myths and legends are a big source of inspiration for me. Especially the monsters. Welsh monsters like water, and water features heavily in all my stories. The first two books in my Sea of Love series are set in, near, or under the sea; the third, Mermaids Marry in Green, on pre order now, is set in London, but a lot of the action takes place near or in the river Thames. 

Here are a few of my favourite aquatic creatures! 

The Water Horse (Ceffyl Y Dwr)

The Water Horse is a spirit who takes the shape of a horse and offers unwary travellers a ride on his back, only to throw them off and try to drown them in the marshes. In some stories he can also take human form. He can live in any body of water: the sea, rivers, ponds, even baptismal fonts in churches. The Water Horse features in the second book of my series, Music for a Merman. 

Mermaids and Mermen 

The whole Sea of Love series revolves around mermaids and mermen. My merfolk are shape shifters who can take human shape, but also have an aquatic form. In their aquatic form, they have webbed hands and feet and a tail, but not a fish tail. They are one hundred per cent hot-blooded mammals. 

Afanc 

The afanc lives in lakes or pools. He is part crocodile, part beaver. Folk think he’s a terrifying monster, but in my third book, Mermaids Marry in Green, he is an intelligent, magical, lost creature. The mermaid heroine Caltha teams up with the hero, Jonty the warlock, to find the afanc. Once she has found him however she has to rescue him, which brings her in conflict with the warlocks who want to capture and study him. 

Torrent spectre 

This malevolent spirit haunts mountain torrents and streams high up in the hills, and often takes the shape of a terrifying, evil old man. He can cause flooding and chaos and revels in it. He is related to the mist hag, a fearsome old woman who hides in thick fog and shrieks the names of those who are about to die. I think both would make great villains in my next book! 

The Giant Cat of Anglesey 

This needs no description! I just love the idea of a giant cat roaming an island, chasing horses as if they were mice. King Arthur captures him in one of the legends. 


Blurb: Mermaids Marry in Green
 

Caltha Dooran is the toughest, fiercest shape-shifting mermaid in the western seas. She has three Clans to rule, and no time for romance. But when a warlock, Jonty, turns up and asks her to come with him to London to capture a water monster, she can't say no. In London, away from her duties, her attraction for Jonty grows... and they soon fall under each other's spell. But will his past and her responsibilities pull them apart, or can they find the only true magic, the one that binds two souls together? 

Buy Links

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FCQQ75P

https://books2read.com/u/3LglAN 

Excerpt 

A pile of twigs shuddered and slid to the side. Two yellow eyes peered at her out of the tangle of wood and litter. Excitement exploded in Caltha’s chest, rocking her whole body. She’d found him! But she strove to keep her voice low and soft.

“Afanc?”

A reptilian head that looked like a crocodile’s, but smaller, pushed through a plastic bag. The mouth opened, revealing a row of sharp teeth. “Morwenna?” the creature hissed, in Caltha’s language.

She tried to repress the trembling in her body and appear calm so the creature wouldn’t take fright. “Yes, I am a mermaid.” She lifted her webbed hands to show him. The afanc extended a furry paw, tipped with powerful claws. Caltha brushed the damp fur with her fingers. “I’m Caltha.”

The afanc let out a sigh. “Morwenna Caltha,” he said. He stared at her with shining eyes full of hope. “I am lost. Can you help?”

Caltha’s mind went blank with surprise. She’d expected a powerful water monster with awesome magical powers, not this vulnerable animal pleading for assistance.

The afanc stretched its neck towards her. “Please?”

Compassion engulfed Caltha. “Of course I’ll help you.” 


Bio

Alice lives in London, UK, with her husband and son. By day she's a compliance manager for a pharmaceutical company. By night she writes fantasy romance about shape shifting mermen, water monsters and time-travelling witches. Her first book, “A Merman’s Choice,” was published in January 2019 by Black Velvet Seductions. It is the first book in a fantasy romance trilogy inspired by the landscapes and legends of Brittany and Wales. The second book, “Music for a Merman,” is out now and the third, “Mermaids Marry in Green,” will be released on 1 November. Alice has also written two short stories for BVS anthologies, “The Sweetest Magic of All,” in “Mystic Desire,” out now, and “The Holiday Mermaid” in “Desire Me Again,” out in October. Alice loves reading and writing stories, and sharing them with anyone who’s interested! 

Social Media Links:

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/alicerauthor

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alice-ren...

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

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

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/alice-renaud

Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Alice-Renaud/e...

 

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Published on October 12, 2020 00:30

October 8, 2020

Reading and #Reviews (McLean, Knight, Vitek)

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

I tend to read what I write, but not exclusively. Besides Romantic Suspense, I read crime and law novels, WWII historicals, mysteries, and some main stream 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! 


A Switch in Time
by Cassie McLean

Time Travel

I was intrigued by not only the subject matter of this story, but how the novel came to be and had to get it. I've read other books by Ms. McLean and wasn't disappointed. The fact that this story was originally written in the 1960s and considering the state of the U.S. today, the twist Ms. McLean added to her mother’s original manuscript was pure genius. Some readers might find their comfort level tested, but stick with the story, learn right along with the characters and you’ll be rewarded with a great read. In addition to the grit of racial clashes are some well described scene settings—one of my favorite parts of a well-written book.

BUY LINK

 


Passionate Destiny by Dee S. Knight

Erotic Romance

I've been wanting to read a book by Ms. Knight ever since I encountered her post on a blog. I chose Passionate Destiny because I'm a believer in ghosts and the blurb hooked me with a brief description of the characters. I'm not normally a reader of erotica, but I have to say, this book is erotic romance. I think there is a distinction. The romance is sweet, the sex is hot, and the story is intriguing. The main characters are educated and well-read. I love that the hero is mistaken as simply a construction guy by the heroine who is rather snooty with her evaluation. There is humor with the ghost episodes but also passion you will find intriguing if you like ghost stories. After reading Passionate Destiny, I will most definitely be ready to read other books by Ms. Knight.

BUY LINK

 



Rescue Me
by Jody Vitek

Romance

Can Catherine accept the consequences of a great-aunt's dying wish without losing her heart or independence? Josef wants to own the land his great-grandfather lost in a poker game to Catherine's great-grandfather. When they come together, he sees a way, but his heart is part of the bargain.

Animals, Minnesota and love - Rescue Me had it and combined for a sweet, romantic read. I believe this was Ms. Vitek's first novel and kicked off a great romance writer career.

BUY LINK

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Published on October 08, 2020 00:30