Brenda Whiteside's Blog, page 53

#CozyMystery When the #Setting Counts by Sally Handley

MUSE MONDAY
Setting is so important when writing fiction. Without knowing what the story is about, wouldn't you have a different vision if I said the book takes place on the Sahara Desert as opposed to downtown Minneapolis? Please welcome my guest today, Sally Handley, and hear what she has to say about setting.
The last moderator of our local Mystery Book Club decided to choose books set in foreign countries.  We read: Daphne DuMaurier’s  classic suspense, Rebecca, set on the Cornish coast of England; Donna Leon’s Death at La Fenice, set in romantic Venice; and Cara Black’s irresistibly French Murder in the Marais set in Paris. The settings in this trio of books profoundly shapes the reading experience.
Recently I was invited to stay with friends in Tuscany, and as a result of my book club experience, I thought it would be a great idea to read books set in Italy while on the trip. Because I absolutely loved Death in La Fenice, I loaded Death in a Strange Country, the second book in the Guido Brunetti series.
My second selection was Aunti Poldi and the Vineyards of Etna, the second book in Mario Giordano’s Auntie Poldi series which is set in Sicily. I loved the first book, Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions, so much that I pre-ordered book two. It arrived on my Kindle a full month before I embarked on my Tuscan adventure, and I had to resist reading it until the flight. Am I glad I did!
Reading these books set in Italy totally enhanced the travel experience for me. I actually looked forward to getting into bed at night to read these stories after a day of touring the countryside. The descriptions of the Italian people, the food, and, of course, the wine made me smile as I recalled the people I’d met on our travels each day, the food we’d eaten, and, of course, the wine we drank.
As a cozy mystery writer, my settings are not quite as exotic as the books I’ve just described. Almost by definition, the cozy mystery needs to be set in a small town atmosphere where everybody knows everybody else. Still reading mysteries set in other countries has caused me to think more about setting as critical element of the stories I write.
The first two books in my Holly and Ivy mystery series mostly take place in the fictitious New Jersey town of Pineland Park. I confess, the neighborhood bears a remarkable resemblance to the New Jersey town I really lived in for twenty-five years. Funny thing, Holly’s Tudor house was also quite similar to mine.
In Full Bloom, book three of the series, my sister sleuths never set foot in Pineland Park. The story begins with their arrival in the fictitious town of Reddington Manor, nestled in the Catskill mountains.  They’ve come to visit Holly’s friend, Kate Farmer. And guess what? Kate’s home bears a distinct resemblance to my friend’s home in the Catskills. You have to admit that if “cozy setting” was listed in the dictionary, that picture would make an ideal illustration.
In a March 4th blog on setting, Author, Editor, and Writing Coach, Lori Freeland sums it up perfectly: “The way you stage the setting in your story deepens the experience for both the character and the reader. Whether you’re being blatant or subtle, dropping heavy detail or sprinkling light clues, how you present a place tells readers how to feel about it.”
TuscanyI couldn’t agree more. So as I continue to write cozy mysteries, I will continue to set them in cozy settings. But you know, I was thinking there’s no reason why my characters can’t take a trip to an exotic locale. Besides, Holly’s love interest is named Nick Manelli. I mean a trip to Italy would almost be a necessity. And, really what’s not cozy about a villa in Tuscany?
Full Bloom Book Blurb
In the third book in the Holly and Ivy mystery series, the Donnelly sisters are looking forward to a relaxing stay in the Catskills after Holly’s break-up with Nick Manelli. Holly and Ivy have their plans thwarted when, once again, they become involved in a murder investigation. The day they arrive at Kate Farmer’s house in rustic Reddington Manor, they discover the body of Kate’s next-door neighbor, Chuck Dwyer, in a pool of blood on his kitchen floor.  In a rush to judgement, the local sheriff sets his sights on 17-year old Tommy Cranston, but Kate insists Tommy is innocent. Can the sister sleuths prove that a shifty neighbor, the victim’s widow and local drug dealers all have better motives for the murder? And can Ivy and Kate unravel another mystery — the cause of Holly and Nick’s break-up and the chances of their getting back together?
Excerpt      The full moon lit the yard and Holly could see all the way back to the recently installed chicken coop. She descended the porch steps and waited, grateful no deer or other more worrisome critters were about. Lucky moved down the yard sniffing. The dog squatted and Holly smiled. “That was quick,” she said into the night air. Lucky turned and headed back, but midway down the long expanse of yard she veered off around the back of the house. Holly rolled her eyes and sighed. She didn’t want to disturb the peace by yelling for the dog, so she decided to just wait for her to return. After a few minutes Holly remembered the deep ravine that separated Kate’s house from the Leggett house.  She hoped Lucky hadn’t gone down there and decided she better go find here. No telling what she’d bring back from down there.Moving the flashlight beam back and forth in a wide arc, Holly crossed the yard. She could feel the wetness of the grass penetrating her slippers.Turning the corner of the house, she was relieved to see the dog by the side porch.“Lucky, c’mon,” she said in a stage whisper.The dog didn’t respond. Instead, she lowered herself onto her front paws. Her butt up in the air wiggled as she stuck her nose under the porch.“Oh, no!” Holly ran over when she remembered Kate said a groundhog sometimes took up residence under there. “Lucky, no!” She reached for the dog’s collar, attached the leash and tugged. “Come out of there.”On the last tug, Holly lost her grip and fell backwards landing flat on her back. “Great. Just great,” she said aloud as she struggled her way up to a sitting position, facing the Leggett house. That’s when she noticed a light in the window that faced her bedroom. Still holding onto the flashlight, she aimed the beam at the window. Holly gasped as a man’s ghoulish face appeared. He spotted her, then quickly disappeared. The light went out.Holly scrambled to her feet, caught hold of Lucky’s leash and pulled.“Let’s go!” she commanded and this time the dog followed. Together they ran around the back of the house. Her heart was racing as they bounded up the porch steps.Inside, Holly slid the barrel bolt lock, turned the deadbolt and shut off the lights. Scurrying into the living room, she found the remote and shut off the television. She mounted the stairs as quickly as she could and went straight to her bedroom window, peering out across the ravine. She stood watching, trying to catch her breath. No lights. No movement. No sounds. Climbing into bed, she pulled the covers over her head.  What fresh hell is this?
Buy Linkswww.sallyhandley.comAMAZON

Sally Handley, Writer, Gardener, Sister in Crime
President of the Upstate South Carolina Chapter of Sisters in Crime (SinC), Sally Handley is author of the  Holly and Ivy cozy mystery series. Sally’s sleuths are middle-aged, sisters who are reluctantly drawn into a murder investigation. Both find inner strength and renewed purpose, experiencing a renaissance at an age when many choose to accept the limitations of aging. A resident of Mauldin, SC, Sally devotes her time to writing cozy mysteries and gardening and also writes a blog “On Writing, Reading and Retirement” at www.sallyhandley.com.

Tips and Myths #ThursdayThoughts #MythBusters

TIPS AND MYTHS
We’ve all been given great tips for everything from saving money to getting healthy. My mom has great ones, although some might border on old wives’ tales. Others, I’ve read in books or in those pop-up articles that catch your eye on social media and new sites. I’ll share some and bust some.
Mom says her dad claimed drinking a hot drink when you’re hot will cool you off. NOTThe only way I think this would work is if you stand in front of a fan with the added sweat you get from hot on the inside and outside.
I read that the shampoo and conditioner sold at the dollar store for a buck is just as good as the $10 bottle from the drugstore. NOTMaybe it’s seconds, maybe it’s watered down, but for me it was just yuck.

Mom says hot water in the ice tray freezes faster than cold water. YESI don’t know why, but it really seems to work.
Have a chest or head cold? Vicks on the chest while you sleep helps, but did you know if you rub it all over your feet and cover with socks for the night, it works even better? YESI tried this when I had the flu, and I breathed easier and felt better.
Trying to make that cake healthier? You can substitute apple sauce for the cooking oil. YESReally!
Watching calories? Snack on celery and carrot sticks to stave off hunger until the next meal. NOTSorry, but that just doesn’t do it for me. In a half hour, I’m hungry again. Including celery and carrot sticks with a meal helps on the caloric intake, but when I get hungry in between I have to have something that sticks. And it does no good to just stay hungry. I devour too much when the meal comes. So…I’ll have a teaspoon of peanut butter and ¼ of a banana. Or four salt-free soda crackers with honey lightly drizzled over them. I’ll use carrots and celery for fillers at mealtime.

Do you have some old wives’ tales to bust or any helpful tips for whatever? Let me know and I’ll share next month.

Rebuilding LIfe After Lost Love by J.L. Regen #romance #LostLove

MUSE MONDAYPlease welcome my guest today, J.L. Regen. We're talking lost love and finding happiness today. Can you relate?
Loss can be wicked, sapping emotional strength, robbing sleep, and denying happiness. Someone who experiences lost love is left empty. Their life is shattered. With great effort, those emotional dragons can be slayed so a new life can spring from the splinters.
My book, Secret Desires, was written as a love story, but because both of the characters, Margo and Edward, suffered from broken promises in love (Margo) and Edward's wife died of cancer, it was the wicked devil of bad luck that drew them to each other.
Edward loved his first wife with all his heart. When she died of cancer at thirty, his world shattered.
Margo thought her high school love would last a lifetime. The flame died at graduation.
Now, Margo and Edward have to get beyond their emotional pain to unite in love.
Blurb:Nothing in Margo Simmons’s life comes easy. She can’t claim the inheritance on a condo apartment her uncle has left to her until she is gainfully employed in a job for a year. She meets the man of her dreams but anguishes over a loving relationship because he is still emotionally tied to his deceased wife. With great difficulty, she becomes the guardian to a recently orphaned child she had been tutoring.   Margo evolves from an insecure, newbie elementary teacher into a woman determined to fulfill the secret desires locked in her heart. My story speaks to anyone who has suffered a loss and had to start over. AMAZON BUY LINK
Meet the author:J.L. Regen’s book was inspired by a real-life story of lovers who join hearts against many odds. She lives in the New York metropolitan area, is a published photojournalist, has short suspense stories online, and has taught English as a Second Language to students around the globe. This is her first contemporary romance. She has also published three nonfiction books and is crafting a historical suspense set in World War II. 

Try On That Book Before You Buy #MondayMotivation #romance #AudioBook

MUSE MONDAYWhat motivates you to buy an eBook or Print Book or Audio Book? How about a sample? As much as I worry about Amazon's reach, about putting the little guys out of business, and their power over the author's venue, I have to praise their virtual store access. Why? You can read a sample of a book or listen to a sample of an audio book before you lay out the moola...and in the comfort of your home at any time, day or night. That is a definite advantage.

Most authors have an Amazon page. Click on HERE to see mine. You'll find all of my books and a little about me. You can go to the individual book page to read a sample. OR...

You can read the entire first chapter on my Web Page. Click on HERE to go directly to the "Read the First Chapter" page.

The first three books of my Love and Murder Series is now available on audio. And the very first book I published, Sleeping with the Lights On is also available on audio. Click on the links below, "Listen to a Sample", to hear a sample of the audio books. Thanks for checking them out!

Listen to a Sample





Listen to a Sample




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Listen to a Sample

Muse #MondayMotivation #Giveaway #Giftcard

MUSE MONDAYGiveaways are a lot of fun. I'm doing one right now that could introduce you to some awesome new authors. The method is through Rafflecopter. Each author has a task for you to complete. The more tasks you complete the more chances you have in the drawing. So click on the words below (WIN WITH RAFFLECOPTER) and open the gateway to winning Amazon gift cards for $50 or $15 . Good luck!

WIN WITH RAFFLECOPTER

#Fearless Friday's Only Child and #Adventurous by Dee S. Knight #romance

FEARLESS FRIDAY
Please join me in welcoming Dee S. Knight with some fearless fun. Remember that first fearless adventure you had? Dee shares hers with us. So read on and enjoy. You'll find out her heroine is fearless too.
When I was just shy of my 18th birthday, I hugged my mom and dad goodbye in Orlando, Florida and stepped onto the train that would take me to Fredericksburg, Virginia for my first day of college. I’d never been away from home before—except for hospitals where I’d had surgery due to polio. I’d never traveled alone before, never been on a train or in a taxi. I’d never visited or even seen the school I was going to attend or ever been in Fredericksburg. I didn’t know anyone else going to my school. I'd never been separated from the familiar.
Still, I was fearless.
I was bound for adventure and new sights, new friends, new freedoms. With the typical selfishness of youth, I didn’t give very much thought to the fact that my parents had just sent their only child thousands of miles away and how they might feel. I knew I would miss them and that they would miss me, but I was consumed with excitement and looking forward to discovering the unknown.
As an only child I wasn’t especially attuned to adventure. I’d led a very sheltered life. My dad was in the Navy. We had moved to Orlando the summer between my junior and senior year, so I didn’t feel a strong kinship with the city, my high school, or any friends I’d made in that one year. The separation from lifelong friends and a city I loved had taken place the previous summer, when we left Virginia Beach.
The train trip was interesting. I was able to sit back and watch the scenery change from Florida, to Georgia. Through the Carolinas, and then into Virginia. As soon as we crossed the Virginia line my heart lightened. Not only was I going to the school of my choice—Mary Washington College of the University of Virginia (now Mary Washington University—no longer an all-girls’ college and now separate from UVA)—but I was once again in the same state with my sweetheart, Jack. Going back to Virginia for school had nothing to do with the fact that Jack was also going to school there (in Lexington, hours from Fredericksburg, but in the same state, at least). Nothing.But it didn’t hurt.

A #WickedWednesdays Glimpse into the DNA of Evil Characters by Addison Brae #villain

Please join me in welcoming back Addison Brae to Discover... She always has a good take on subjects, and she's tackled one of my favorites--villains. Villain DNA...read on!
Who are your most hated villains? My most recent favorites are Walter White from Breaking Bad, Gus Fring from Better Call Saul, Serena Joy from The Handmaid’s Tale, Kilgrave from Marvel’s Jessica Jones, and Marlo Stansfield of The Wire. All of these characters have three things in common. They’re authentic. They’re interesting and unique. And they’re evil to the point of having no soul, even though they may earn your sympathy on occasion.
Authentic, interesting and evil make up the DNA of an effective villain. Then match the villains’ traits with what scares the main character most. The combination has the effect of oil and water or two like ends of magnets and hopefully makes it hard for readers to put the book down.
Developing villains is fun. Think about all the bad bosses you’ve had mashed together. Combine characteristics, traits, and wicked things they did. That’s very similar to how Kim, Gillian’s boss at her first real job at an accounting firm, came about in Becker Circle. Gillian has a horrible fear of controlling people and how they belittle her. Here’s how her fear plays out during a staff meeting. It’s after Gillian tells her boss she suspects embezzlement after auditing a client’s records.   “I know, Gillian, you’re doing your job.” Kim turns back to the table. “But someone with more experience needs to handle this one.” She pauses and scans the faces around the conference table. Everyone’s looking somewhere else but at her. “Get with Bryan this afternoon. He’ll take it from here.”
What? My body goes hotter than a raging bonfire. I found the problem but I’m not smart enough to finish? She’s just like Connor—controlling and always cutting me down. And Bryan? He’s about a minute more experienced than I am. My face must be as red as it feels because everyone’s looking at me. Sara’s expression reaches across the table like a warm hug. I take a few slow deep breaths and force a smile. “Okay. Bryan, come by and I’ll explain everything to you.”
He does. And I do. And whatever.
Kim is one of the kinder wicked characters that show up in different parts of Gillian’s life in Becker Circle. She also has a love interest with multiple personalities and few other evil people she encounters while trying to solve the murder she witnessed. The most fun part of writing great scenes for mean characters is how the author can write the ending they want. This is especially satisfying in scenes based on truth—events that you always wish you had that second chance for a different outcome.
Today’s Wicked Wednesday and a perfect day to change a bad outcome to something fantastic. I challenge you to chase down something wicked and turn it into good.
Connect with Addison Brae on her website, Tirgearr Publishing, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube. You can find Becker Circle on Amazon, B&N, iTunes, Kobo, Smashwords.  
About Becker Circle
My first and only boyfriend believed I was too gutless to leave. He was dead wrong. My name’s Gillian, and I graduated Harvard early and left his hot temper and everyone else behind for Dallas. Determined to make it on my own, I land a second job bartending at the neighborhood pub smack in drama central where most every jerk in the neighborhood hits on me—at a huge price.
A week into the job, the neighborhood’s very popular drug dealer falls to his death a few feet from the table I’m serving. The cops say suicide, but the hot guitar player in the house band and I suspect foul play, and I intend to prove it. We dig deeper, grow closer, and make a shocking discovery. We know the murderer. Watch the trailer.   

Wicked Hero aka Bad Boy by Amber Daulton #wicked #redemption

WICKED WEDNESDAY Please welcome Amber Daulton as the guest blogger today. Nothing like a wicked hero! Bad boys can steal our hearts. Enjoy.
Even though Mason Harding is the hero of his book, Arresting Mason, he can be a pretty wicked man. After all, that’s what bad boys are supposed to be. He appeals to me as both a reader and writer because I love redemption and second chance stories. Just because someone makes a mistake (depending on the mistake, really), I don’t think they should be ostracized from society, especially if they’re trying to make amends to live a better life.
The idea for this character and the book came to me in a dream. In my dreams, however, I’m always the leading lady, and I fell in love with a secretive ex-con with a dangerous past. I couldn’t stop thinking about Mason for days after that, and his seductive voice kept urging me to write about him as I tossed and turned in bed at night, so I finally wrote out a tentative plot.
For Mason, he was 18 years old when he and a few friends robbed a liquor store. Two innocent men were shot as a result, but Mason did what he could to save the men’s lives. He went to prison for it and has regretted that night ever since. While in the slammer, he joined a drug gang and used his fists more often than not. After a while, he made some changes and watched his attitude, but prison is no place for good guys. Now on parole, he’s left his criminal life behind, but the past has a way sneaking up on people and it’s definitely riding his backside.
Despite his mistakes, Mason loves his family and friends, and he’s holding down a respectable job. He’s a good example of someone turning their lives around for the better. Otherwise, his ladylove, Mia Eddison, wouldn’t be with him. According to Mia, and I quote: “Mistakes are a fact of life. It’s how you respond to those mistakes, or how you cope, that defines you as a person.” I think that pretty much sums this up. Everyone makes mistakes, but those who can move on and make a good life for themselves and those they love, in spite of any and all adversities, deserves a pat on the back. Even wicked boys like Mason.
Blurb
Once you’re in a prison gang, you’re in it for life. That’s what Mason Harding thought until the boss accepted his resignation. After the State releases him on parole, a sexy divorcée behind the wheel of a car almost ends his life quicker than a shank. His chance encounter with Mia Eddison results in a night of passion, but her brother—his parole officer—catches them together and doesn’t approve.
Mia falls hard for the cocky ex-con, but not because of his chiseled body. She vows to break through his walls and discover his secrets, but never expects those secrets to threaten her life. When members of an organized crime ring kidnap Mia to force Mason’s return to the gang, he goes up against an old friend to save the woman he loves. Will his sacrifice be enough or will everything fall apart in a blaze of gunfire?
Excerpt
“You’re not a bitch queen, but it is high and mighty of you to expect me to blurt out all my mistakes when you know I don’t trust people easily. I trust you—don’t misunderstand me—but women have stabbed me in the back before, so I took the safe road.” Her disappointment struck him hard, worse than her anger could have, and her gentle reprimand reduced him to feeling like the worst type of shit. “It goes against everything I believe in to tell you about my past.”“Why?”“Because I love you.” The words spilled from his mouth. As her eyes widened, he swallowed hard to soothe his rough voice, but he couldn’t take back those stupid words. “I love you, Mia, and I know you’ll stab me in the back any time now.”
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39005064-arresting-mason
Buy Links
Amazon – http://amzn.to/2ppcmEJBarnes and Noble – https://bit.ly/2uOj90JiTunes – https://apple.co/2FVAQMPKobo - https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/arresting-masonGoogle Play – https://bit.ly/2Izu3cZThe Wild Rose Press store – http://bit.ly/2FSVvBaBooks2Read – https://books2read.com/u/m2vvY7
Author Bio
Amber Daulton is the author of the romantic-suspense series Arresting Onyx and several standalone novellas. Her books are published through The Wild Rose Press and Books to Go Now, and are available in ebook, print on demand, audio, and foreign language formats. Amber lives in North Carolina with her husband and four demanding cats. Feel free to visit her at http://www.amberdaultonauthor.blogspot.com.
Social Media Links
Facebook Author Page – www.facebook.com/amber.daulton.authorTwitter – https://twitter.com/AmberDaulton1Pinterest – http://pinterest.com/amberdaulton5/

Finding my Hidden Heroine by Kate McKeever #heroine #romance

FEARLESS FRIDAYOpening your mouth with the suitable response can be pretty fearless. Read on and enjoy my guest, Kate McKeever.
Have you ever been in a situation where, after the fact, you wished you’d said something witty and sarcastic in reply to a criticism? Or have you looked on in a moment as an outsider and wondered, what would I do?
I have found myself in both situations a lot. As a writer, I tend to be someone who lives inside my head, with numerous retorts springing forth silently or only to be brought forth when I’m five minutes down the highway and clenching my teeth. And yes, I am one of those people that imagine myself as a masked heroine, only I’m clothed in so many layers, I’d never be able to respond to the emergency without getting tangled up in my shoes.
That’s why I write the strong but vulnerable heroines I do. In my current book, Sinner’s Redemption, my heroine is a woman who, in times of danger, responded bravely only to be punished and now bears inner scars, as well as outer ones. Every heroine I write, I find, has an inner core that may or may not be obvious to those around them. But, of course the hero sees it.
BUY LINK CLICK HERESinner’s Redemption, a Brotherhood Protectors World book, features a woman who has built a reputation as a reporter who isn’t afraid to go into any situation. However, when she meets a man who, like her, has met the evil of men and carries his own wounds, she may face her biggest challenge, that of giving her heart to another.
For Val, the world has been something to conquer, to reveal its underbelly to the public and to find a way to make it better. She has the warrior’s spirit, as well as a touch of the crusader, with the need to heal the world.
So, what makes me write this type of heroine? As a writer, I think I leave something of myself in each book and even reveal something of my character, or the woman I would like to be. And I would like to be a heroine, finding something to fight for and something to heal.
For my upcoming book, Saint’s Fall, my heroine would never recognize herself by that name. Jewel spent her youth making all the wrong choices to be with the boy she thought was her lifelong love. When she finally realized she was being used by the one man she trusted, she turned her back on everything she knew and is now trying to make a new life in a new place. Luc “Saint” Benatou may not see his own value after being maimed in the middle east, but he can see the wounded warrior in Jewel and is determined that she see the same. Saint’s Fall will be available in June through Amazon, as my latest book from Elle James’ Brotherhood Protectors world.

What kind of heroine do you like to read? And what kind of heroine are you?
Kate McKeever was born and raised in the south and spent her childhood rambling in the woods and reading, often at the same time. She spent a lot of time in libraries as a volunteer and reader, then as a perennial student, so her mother thought. She tried several careers before settling down on her current one. Writing is a passion and joy. Kate loves to write small town and paranormal romances.
Website: www.kate-mckeever.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/katemckeeverauthor/Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Kate-McKeever

Spirits, Addiction, and Romance with Claire Gem #haunting #romance

MUSE MONDAY Please welcome by guest blogger today, Claire Gem.
I’m an author who is very much influenced by place. In fact, every one of my six novels is set in a location I have either lived in or visited—usually often. I think having spent time in a particular place, becoming familiar with the scenery, the history, and the people there, makes it easier for my imagination to take hold and blossom. Some, like Lake George, N.Y. of A Taming Season, holds many happy memories for me. We vacationed there often as I was growing up, and still try to make an annual visit to the quaint lakeside village.
Not all of those places, though, have happy memories connected with them.
Spirits of the Heart, one of my Haunted Voices novels, is actually set in my home town. Middletown, N.Y. was the site of a psychiatric center up until the late 1970s. That was the time of “de-institutionalization,” when the government closed many mental asylums all over the country. When I was a child, my father spent a few stints in Middletown State Hospital. Sadly, he battled with alcoholism all his life.
My brother still lives in Middletown, and whenever we visit, I like to drive around the old campus of the asylum. Many of the buildings have been razed or re-purposed, but some still stand eerily empty, crumbling under the weight of time. The biggest building was Talcott Hall. With its barred windows and caged patios, it was clearly the place where the most disturbed patients were housed. I thought—what a great place to set a story. A ghost story.
And so, Spirits of the Heart was born.
Blurb:An addiction counselor and a security guard struggle to free a little girl and her father, two lost spirits trapped inside an abandoned mental asylum.

Addiction counselor Laura Horton returns from college to move in with an old friend and start her career. But her homecoming is jarring. Her friend moves out, leaving Laura alone with the gorgeous but intimidating ex-boyfriend—in a house that snugs up to an ancient graveyard.

Officer Miller Stanford is a man with a shattered past. His alcoholic dad destroyed their family, a weakness Miller is terrified will consume him too. The last thing he needs is a sexy, blonde addiction counselor watching his every move. When he begins to see specters in the dark, he starts questioning his own stability.

But Laura sees her too—a pathetic child-spirit searching for her father. Then Laura starts digging into old asylum records . . . Can Miller and Laura uncover the secrets of Talcott Hall without jeopardizing their love—and lives—in the process?
Spirits of the Heart Amazon Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Spirits-Heart-Haunted-Voices-Book-ebook/dp/B01N7VIZU2/

Youtube Trailer:  https://youtu.be/YUa2RALSEm8

****Claire is a multi-published, award winning author of five titles in the genres of contemporary romance, supernatural suspense, and women’s fiction. She also writes Author Resource guide books, and presents seminars on writing craft and marketing.

Her supernatural suspense, Hearts Unloched, won the 2016 New York Book Festival, and was a finalist in the 2017 RONE Awards. Also in 2017, her women’s fiction, The Phoenix Syndrome, was a finalist in the National Reader's Choice Awards, and her contemporary romance, A Taming Season, was a Literary Award of Merit finalist in the HOLT Medallion Awards. Her latest release, Spirits of the Heart, was a finalist in the 2017 "I Heart Indie Awards."
Creating cross-genre fiction she calls "supernatural suspense," Claire loves exploring the paranormal and the unexplained, and holds a certificate in Parapsychology from the Rhine Research Center of Duke University.
A New York native, Claire has lived in five of the United States and held a variety of jobs, from waitress to bridal designer to research technician—but loves being an author best. She and her happily-ever-after hero, her husband of 39 years, now live in central Massachusetts.
Claire is available for seminars & media interviews & loves to travel for book promotional events.
Find Claire here:Website:                      http://www.clairegem.comBlogs:                          http://www.clairegem.wordpress.com                                    http://www.hauntedpathways.wordpress.comFacebook:                    http://www.facebook.com/clairegem.authorTwitter:                       http://www.twitter.com/gemwriterGoodreads:                  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8284235.Claire_GemAmazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2nabvbm Youtube Channel:       https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO-vB7WDZhEQ8U4YpC937ng