Kris Bock's Blog, page 38

A Hot New Read from Paris Brandon: Cassidy's Touch (Cassidy's Touch Series Book 1) #PNR #Fantasy #Romance

  Cassidy’s Touch by Paris BrandonBook 1 in the Cassidy’s Touch seriesHer gift is a double edged sword. Will it be enough to save a cursed bootlegger from becoming a demon’s prize?The least of reality show host Cassidy Spencer’s worries is banishing the ghost of a handsome bootlegger who disappeared after being accused of murdering his best friend’s fiancée. According to an expert, her ghost isn’t a ghost and if she doesn’t use her psychometric ability to find his body before the witch who cursed him does, he could end up enslaved by a demon for eternity.Chance Coraggio doesn’t remember anything before he could walk through walls and that includes the crazy woman telling him he’s been asleep for nearly a century. The life he should’ve lived has been stolen. All the people he has ever loved are dead—and it turns out the crazy woman isn’t as crazy as he’d hoped.But waking Chance is only half the battle. Now, both are bound by blood to a demon’s curse. To break free, they must find out who is coming for them and why. Because the only reason for a sleeping curse that has lasted almost a century lies somewhere in a past that Chance can’t remember.  *Previously included in The Shadow Files, limited edition boxed set. Amazon: https://amzn.to/2OpC0sdB&N: https://bit.ly/2QVqwJYKobo: https://bit.ly/2CkorD1iTunes: https://apple.co/2NMawaW  PG13
She stripped off the rest of her clothes and tossed them into the bathroom wicker hamper before stepping into the large clawfoot tub and drawing the ivy-patterned shower curtain around the circular rod. The trickle of tepid water from the calcium-encrusted shower head cooled her off a bit, but she probably ought to consider buying a new filter. She closed her eyes and put her head under the stream.

And once again saw the sudden terrifying vision of Marian Collier’s killer, calmly slicing off her swollen finger and stealing her wedding ring. Nausea rolled through her, and she almost tore the shower curtain off the rod when she reached for the wall. Not that it made her any steadier. Any normal person would have been sick if they saw the scene each time they closed their eyes. She was far from normal. She needed a way of draining her body of the malevolent energy she’d absorbed from the Collier reading, otherwise her symptoms were going to make life intolerable.
During her hiatus from the show, she planned on exploring the possibility of visualization as a way of handling the aftereffects of her little gift. Learning to concentrate for longer than five seconds might enable her to “see” the headaches and tremors float away, absorbed by the atmosphere instead of another human being. That would be a plus if the opportunity for another relationship ever arose. Which wasn’t likely to happen anytime soon.
Because, as much as she wished otherwise, she couldn’t imagine anyone not caring that she had the ability to read them through any object they’d touched.
She’d know if they were lying or cheating.
She’d know if even for one brief moment they hated or feared her.
Oh, hell; enough of the pity party.
The water was cooling faster than it should have. She tried adjusting the temperature, but it never got any warmer, and she added a water heater to the growing list of items the house might need. If she ended up keeping the house, it wouldn’t be a huge problem in the summer, but a winter in Kansas City spent taking tepid baths wasn’t an option she wanted to entertain.
She turned off the shower and pulled open the curtain. A shadow was there one moment, filling a corner of the room, and gone the next. It was almost as if the lights had flickered on and off. Fabulous. Whether she stayed or not, she’d need an electrician.
And she probably shouldn’t trust the fuses to hold up under the addition of a small window-unit air conditioner until she had the place checked out.
Stepping over the rolled lip of the tub, she grabbed for a fluffy white towel and blotted her hair and body but left enough droplets behind to help keep her cool for as long as possible. Wrapping the towel sarong style, she padded down the hall.
The water on her back and chest had evaporated by the time she’d made it to her small square bedroom. Sunrays filtered through the leaves of the huge old tree outside her window, leaving a dappled pattern on the crisp, white cotton sheets she’d found in the linen cupboard. They’d been tied with a rose-pink satin ribbon and still held a trace of her aunts’ loving attention within its threads.
She exchanged the towel for a short white cotton robe and turned away from her reflection in the cheval glass at the foot of the bed. The shower hadn’t helped her look any less tired. This season had been brutal. Between the nonstop shooting schedule and trying to deal with her grief she’d been on autopilot with barely a minute to breathe.
The room was marginally less stuffy since she’d turned on the ceiling fan. Closing her eyes, she tried to envision the sharp shards of emotional energy dissolving in a shower of soft, warm sparks that cascaded over her and into the ground. Instead the shards clung like dark magnets against her skull.
She was lousy at this.
A breeze chilly enough to raise goose bumps washed over her bare arms. A shadow flickered across the mirror. She blinked and for the second time that afternoon caught movement out of the corner of her eye.
The pale ivory curtains covering the windows on either side of the wide mahogany dresser had stopped rippling. The air around her was still—and cold.
“Are you Cassidy?” rasped a voice that sounded as if it were filtered through a layer of dust. “Maude said that you could help me.”
 
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2OpC0sdB&N: https://bit.ly/2QVqwJYKobo: https://bit.ly/2CkorD1iTunes: https://apple.co/2NMawaW

A #MFRWHooks for What We Found #Romance and #Mystery

Finding a dead body changes a person.
22-year-old Audra Needham is back in her small New Mexico hometown, ready to work hard, fit in, and help her younger brother. Going for a walk in the woods with her former crush, Jay, seems like a harmless distraction … until they stumble on a body.
Jay, who has secrets of his own to protect, insists they walk away and keep quiet. But Audra can't simply forget what she's seen. The woman needs to be found, and her story deserves to be told.
More than one person isn't happy about Audra bringing a crime to life. The dead woman was murdered, and Audra could be next on the vengeful killer's list. She’ll have to stand up for herself in order to stand up for the murder victim. It’s a risk, and so is reaching out to the mysterious young man who works with deadly birds of prey. With her 12-year-old brother determined to play detective, and romance budding in the last place she expected, Audra learns that some risks are worth taking – no matter the danger, to her body or her heart.
Excerpt: 
An engine started. The battered old truck stood out like a janitor at the prom. It was dark blue, splattered with mud and probably decades old, with a cap on the bed. The evening sun glared off the side window, but as I walked slowly past the front I saw a figure inside – the one-handed man. He had his hand on the wheel but his head back, eyes closed.
 I paused, studying his face. I guessed he was in his twenties, with short, light brown hair and pleasant features in a mask as still as death.
 He opened his eyes and looked straight into mine.
 I couldn’t move as he held my gaze. My heart thumped against my ribs. He studied me without expression, no smile, no frown, nothing in his face but weariness.
 Finally I had to blink, and once the eye contact was broken, I jerked my gaze away and kept moving. I quickly turned between the next two cars, to get out of his view. I’d have to cross behind his truck to reach my car, which might look odd if he was still watching, but I didn’t care so long as I got out of there, fast.
 I noticed the rusty screeching again. It was coming from his truck. I stumbled to a stop, staring at the back of the truck. What could be making that sound? The tailgate and back window on the cap were closed, hiding the sight inside, but the screech came again and again like someone – something – screaming.
 The screams seemed to echo in my head. I couldn’t take any more. I turned away with a hand over my mouth to hold back my own scream and hurried to my car.
Praise for What We Found:
“Another action-packed suspense novel by Kris Bock, perhaps her best to-date. The author weaves an intriguing tale with appealing characters. Watching Audra, the main character, evolve into an emotionally-mature and independent young woman is gratifying.” – Ellen R.
“This book had me guessing to the end who was the murderer. Well written characters drive the story. Good romance. Exceptional and believable plot twists and turns. I loved it! I recommend this book highly.” – Suzanne B.
“This is a nonstop suspense. Love the characters and how real they seem with every episode played out. This is a love story and suspense all in one.” – Pam
Learn about the true experience that inspired What We Found.

Sample or buy What We Found on Amazon

Visit all the Book Hooks from #MFRWHooks - You might find your next great read! Kris Bock writes novels of suspense and romance with outdoor adventures and Southwestern landscapes. Whispers in the Dark features archaeology and intrigue among ancient Southwest ruins. In Counterfeits, stolen Rembrandt paintings bring danger to a small New Mexico town. The Southwest Treasure Hunter novels feature feisty heroines and supportive heroes tracking down mysterious treasures in New Mexico and Arizona. Each book stands alone, starting with The Mad Monk’s Treasure. In The Dead Man’s Treasure, estranged relatives compete to reach a buried treasure by following a series of complex clues. In The Skeleton Canyon Treasure, sparks fly when reader favorites Camie and Tiger help a mysterious man track down his missing uncle.
Read excerpts at www.krisbock.com or visit her Amazon page. Sign up for the Kris Bock newsletter for announcements of new books, sales, and more.

Special Time Limited Offer – #Christmas #romance via @KryssieFortune #99c #deal

This exciting Christmas romance in on sale for 99c November 2-5 only, or read it for free in Kindle Unlimited
Grabyour copy today at Amazon.
Christmas sucks. No family. No tree. No decorations.

Abigail Montgomery lives for her regular visit to Masked Nights BDSM club. Thanks to her great-aunt’s will, she needs to abandon her spanking lifestyle and find a husband—fast.

Desperate, she advertises for a husband.

Jared Armstrong, a former, Marine, cold-blooded sniper, and occasional Dom, needs $125,000. Without it, Mobsters will murder his family. His solution – marry Abigail for her money. 

Jared plans to hunt down the mobsters then reimburse Abigail. Together they face extortion, a kidnapping, and an attempted murder. Along the way, Jared steals Abigail’s heart, but she’d promised him a divorce after two years. 

Will Jared walk away? Or can he work some Christmas magic and make their relationship real?

A stand-alone romance and Book One of the Heroes of Westhorpe Ridge Trilogy
Excerpt
Rising to his feet, he held out his hand. “Jared Armstrong. Pleased to meet you.”
He towered over her diminutive frame, six-feet-six to her five-feet-four. She studied him a moment, reached out, and shook his hand briefly. “Abigail’s enough for now.”
He sat back in his seat, forcing himself to appear relaxed. “Okay.”
He regretted not pulling her chair out and seating her, but she was a prospective employer, not his date. A good thing too, since she didn’t seem to have an ounce of vanity or dress sense. He sipped at his water and waited for her to speak.
Blushing, she sucked on her lower lip. “This is awkward. Can I ask you some questions?”
He nodded. “I don’t guarantee answering them, but ask away.”
God, he wished she’d get on with it, but she studied the unopened menu as though her life depended on it. Finally, she lifted her head. “Are you married?”
His eyes narrowed. “Your advert said no ties. I’m single, HIV free, and I don’t screw anyone for cash.”
She choked on her drink, coughing and splattering water over the table. Jared watched and waited, unwilling to make it easier for her when she was the one who placed the advert.
Across the table from him, Abigail curled her hands into fists and laid them on her lap. Her smile faded and her voice trembled. “Will you marry me?”
“Are you pregnant?” he shot back.
Her cheeks turned scarlet. “No. In fact, I came on my period two days ago. But I do need a husband. I know I’m not what you imagined in a wife, but I’m willing to pay a $75,000 advance as well as house, feed, and clothe you for two years. After that, I’ll pay you another $150,000 when we divorce.”
He stared at her intently, trying to decide if she needed therapy—or perhaps a few weeks in the local insane asylum. “You’re serious?”
She took a sip of mineral water. “I am.”
His eyes narrowed, and his forehead furrowed in anger. “I’ll feed and clothe myself. Can I still put time in with my business, or should I get a job local to where you live?”
When she finally smiled, it felt as though the sun had come out on a cloudy day.
Putting her glass on the table, she took looked anywhere but at him. “I’m glad you want to do so. In fact, it’s one of the reasons I chose you. You have values and goals. All I have is an insane great-aunt, or I did until recently.”
“Tell me about it,” he demanded.
Kryssie Fortune writes the sort of hot sexy books she loves to read. If she can sneak a dragon into her paranormal books she will. Her paranormal heroes are muscular werewolves, arrogant Fae, or BDSM loving dragons. 

Kryssie likes her contemporary heroes ex-military and dominant. Her heroines are kick ass females who can hold their own against whatever life - or Kryssie - throws at them.

Kryssie's pet hates are unhappy endings, and a series that end on a cliff hanger.
Her books are all stand alone even when part of series. Plot always comes before sex, but when her heroines and heroes get together, the sex is explosive and explicit. One review called it downright sensual.
Kryssie loves to hear from her readers. You can contact her here:
Website http://kryssiefortune.wixsite.com/kryssieBlog  http://kryssiefortune.blogspot.co.uk/Twitter  https://twitter.com/KryssieFortuneFacebook https://www.facebook.com/KryssieFortunePinterest http://bit.ly/1OGFnjcGoodreads http://bit.ly/2kxqabJAmazon Author Page http://amzn.to/2hA0ZVO

Check out #MFRWHooks for The Skeleton Canyon Treasure: #Romance and #Suspense

In honor of Halloween, a little "Skeleton" seemed appropriate!
The Skeleton Canyon Treasure
When Camille Dagneau surprises a strange man in the college machine shop she runs, she is ready for battle. Ryan MacAllister seems equally suspicious of her, but he insists he’s merely looking for his missing uncle, who has disappeared while hunting for a lost treasure. He believes Camie is the key to finding the treasure, and his uncle. But Camie – beautiful, brilliant, and prickly – isn’t about to trust this oversized geologist, or the attraction she feels.
Following the clues in the missing man’s journal will take Camie, Ryan, and the cat Tiger on a trail through New Mexico and Arizona. They’ll visit the Tombstone graveyard at night, uncover clues in museums, and ultimately wind up in Skeleton Canyon, where rumor says nineteenth-century cowboy bandits secreted their treasure in a cave. To rescue Ryan’s uncle, they’ll face steep cliffs, twisty tunnels, and worse dangers in human form, but trusting each other may be the biggest challenge. And they’re running out of time….
Excerpt: In this scene, the team discusses the legendary treasure:
Ryan held a small, leather-bound notebook, turning it over and over in his hands. “Does anyone here know anything about the Skeleton Canyon treasure?” he asked.“I looked it up as soon as Camie told us the name,” Erin said. She grabbed a book from the coffee table and flipped through it as she spoke. “Skeleton Canyon is in southeastern Arizona, near the New Mexico border. But the treasure came from Mexico.” She frowned. “Lost treasure stories usually involve some pain and death, but this one seems excessive.”“No honor among thieves,” Ryan said.“Right,” Erin agreed. “It started with Mexican bandits, the Estrada gang, who looted banks and churches in Monterey, Mexico. Gold bars, diamonds, gold statues – millions in treasure according to some stories. Other researchers say no way, there’s no record of that kind of heist in Monterey. Whatever they got, the gang tried to smuggle it into the U.S. through Skeleton Canyon, loaded on mules.”Ryan nodded. “But a gang of Arizona bandits, weird name–”Erin glanced at the book. “The Curly Bill Brocious Gang.”“Yep. One of them heard about the Mexican gang’s plan. They set up an ambush.” Rebecca murmured, “I take it these weren’t good guys playing Robin Hood.”“No way,” Erin said. “Not good guys, and not an especially good plan either. They shot the Mexicans off their horses. Horses and mules scattered. To stop the mules from running away with the treasure, the Americans shot the mules.”“During that fiasco, some of the treasure got scattered around the canyon,” Ryan commented. “That’s probably why a few random coins have been found.”Camie wondered if he was annoyed by Erin taking over some of the explanation. Apparently the treasure part of his story was true – or at least as true as any of these legends. If he’d planned to fudge the details, Erin’s quick research had killed that option. But if he’d planned to fake things, he’d have been better off faking the whole treasure, not using one that had been reported in books and on the Internet.He seemed relaxed enough as he went on. “The American bandits now have the treasure, but no mules to transport it. So they bury it.”“Most of it,” Erin corrected. “They allegedly divided up some of it and took it with them.”“And never got around to coming back for the rest?” Sam asked.Erin gave a sly smile. “It’s much more dramatic than that. Two members of the gang–” She glanced down at her book. “Zwing Hunt and Billy Grounds – decided to double-cross the others. They hired a Mexican who had a team of horses, went back to the canyon and moved the treasure, and then killed the Mexican.”“Wait, so the treasure isn’t even in Skeleton Canyon anymore?” Camie asked. “Assuming it ever existed?”“They moved it to another spot in the canyon, or at least nearby.” Ryan met her gaze and smiled. “Assuming it ever existed. Some self-proclaimed experts claim it must be within a day’s ride of the original ambush spot. Hunt and Grounds hid out in a cave in the canyon for months, but eventually they were killed by a sheriff’s posse.” When Erin opened her mouth, Ryan held up a hand to forestall her. “Fine, one of them was killed right away and one was badly wounded, if that matters. The injured one supposedly made a map before he died.”“Which of course disappeared, if it ever existed,” Erin said. “The treasure itself may not even be real. Or it could’ve been small enough that they divided it up at the beginning without burying anything.”“Hunting it seems like a waste of time,” Camie said.         Ryan shrugged. “That’s not really my concern. “I’m not trying to find the treasure, I’m trying to find my uncle.”Was he protesting too much? Something about buried treasure gave even the mildest people – of whom Ryan was certainly not one – dreams of swashbuckling adventures. For some it was the fortune, for others the idea of being the one to solve a century-old mystery. Ryan’s ambivalence was in itself suspicious.Camie leaned forward. “So what exactly do you want from us?”Ryan held up the notebook. “This is what my uncle sent me. It has the list of clues and notes that got me this far. I’m sharing it in a gesture of good faith. I want to follow his trail and find him.” He grimaced, as if he didn’t like what was coming. “And I need help.” 

If you love suspense and romance, don’t miss this gripping adventure! The Southwest Treasure Hunters novels include The Mad Monk’s Treasure and The Dead Man’s Treasure. Each novel stands alone in this series mixing action, adventure, and romance. Praise :
“The Skeleton Canyon Treasure is a light, breezy action/adventure/romance that's perfect for summer reading.”
"A great mystery, love story, and search for a treasure.”
Visit all the Book Hooks from #MFRWHooks - You might find your next great read!

Kris Bock writes romantic suspense novels set in dramatic Southwestern landscapes. Whispers in the Dark brings a gothic drama to an archaeology dig at ancient Southwest ruins. In What We Found, a young woman’s life swiftly changes when she finds a murder victim in the woods. In Counterfeits, an artist heads back to the children’s art camp she once knew well – but danger awaits.
The Mad Monk’s Treasure follows the hunt for a legendary treasure in the New Mexico desert. In The Dead Man’s Treasure, estranged relatives must follow a series of complex clues in a competition to locate a buried treasure. In The Skeleton Canyon Treasure, reader favorites Camie and Tiger the cat help a mysterious man track down his missing uncle. Each book stands alone, with no cliffhangers.

Meet guest author Mary Marvella and her new romantic suspense @mmarvellab

Meet guest author Mary Marvella and Her Deception. Her Deception is up for preorder and will go live October 30. It will be 99 cents until November 3.
Her Deception
The day Patrice heard her husband order a hit to be done quickly or his ass wouldn't be worth anything she knew she had to leave him. The only way she knew to investigate him and his people was by returning to stripping where she would meet the people who dealt in death, drugs, and prostitution. When she worked her way through college she learned more about crime than she ever wanted to know.

Why would anyone believe Hugh, the man who played golf with the mayor of the a small town on the outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia, who socialized with the chief of police in that town and respected business owner, had a second life one involving crimes? Who would believe a former stripper over this man?
EXCERPT:Through breakfast she had to make small talk since her attentive husband didn't spend this time reading his newspaper or business papers. He was once again the soft-spoken Hugh she knew, attentive and interested in her plans. How could two such different people live in one man's body? Would he one day order her death? Yesterday she would have said no way.              "Patrice?"             She struggled to bring her thoughts back. She cleared her dry throat and looked across the table at the man speaking to her. "Yes, dear?" She couldn’t make herself look into the blue eyes that had always seemed warm and caring. What would she see in them this morning?"Patrice, I really think you should consider some other form of exercise. Kick-boxing is so unladylike." So is stripping, but it paid for my degree in accounting. His baritone voice slid over her like sand-covered velvet. She'd always thought he had a nice voice. This morning, though, it made her skin crawl.She tried to hide the revulsion building. "It helps me let off steam. Spending hours bent over a computer, filling in spreadsheets builds stress." It keeps me fit and ready to defend myself, if I need to. After years of living in situations unsafe for a defenseless person, she'd never let herself get soft.            "There are better ways to let off steam, darling." The man across from her waggled graying eyebrows and leered.          "You showed me plenty of them."            "It's not the same." She tried to give him the coy smile he'd expect. Shut up and eat.              "Consider letting me hire a trainer for you, please." He finished the last of his poached eggs and wheat toast.              "If I want a personal trainer, I'll hire one." She hadn't meant to sound snippy. How much longer? She fought the urge to glance at her watch. She watched him fold his napkin and place it on his plate. Meticulous and civilized, as usual.             "Of course, but I like spoiling you."            She speared a bite of cold omelet to avoid responding. It went down like a rock, tasted like dirt.            "You're awfully quiet this morning, Pat. Maybe you should take the day off."            "Just a headache." What a way to start a week and end a way of life. Any other time she'd have appreciated his concern. "I can't stay home. I have appointments with clients all day."            When Hugh stood she noticed his squint lines. He'd aged little during the four years of their marriage. He was handsome, the way mature men are when they take care of themselves and wear expensive tailored suits. He'd had his bi-monthly hair trim and regular exfoliating treatment earlier in the week.             He looks harmless, so civilized.             On auto-pilot, she rose to accept the usual good-bye kiss on her cheek, soft to avoid mussing her make-up. The last kiss I'll have from this man?            "Darling," he asked, "shall I arrange for pickup at the airport when I get back? Or will you be there to meet me?"            Patrice swallowed the bile of betrayal and regret. "What time Wednesday?"            "Around six-thirty should work."            "I'll be there," she lied. "Sorry I can't take you this morning, I have a meeting with a client. I could try to change it?" Please say no. Hell, I won’t be there anyway.            "Of course not, Bill will take me. I pay him well to take me places." He strode to the front door and opened it. "He's here already, right on time."            She followed him but stopped half a room away, holding her breath, waiting for him to grasp the handle of his black Louis Vuitton suitcase and pull it to the car and driver waiting in the circular drive. He paused in the doorway, neither inside nor outside the house, then turned back to face her, smiling.              "Have a good trip," she said, her insides churning. Please don’t let him hear anything different in my voice.  She forced a smile and a flirty wave.            When he rushed to her side and took her in his arms panic cramped her stomach. His spicy smelling cologne pleased her when she bought it for him. This morning it made her ill."I'll miss you." His voice was deep.            "Miss you, too." She forced the words through stiff lips. If he doesn't leave soon I'll lose my breakfast.
Mary Marvella has been a storyteller for as long as she can remember. The arrival of the book mobile was as exciting as hearing the music of the ice cream truck.
Retired from teaching classic works of the masters, Mary plays let’s pretend with her characters. She presents editing workshops, edits, coaches writers, and tutors one-on-one
Mary has published novels, novellas, and short stories.  Her genres include paranormal romance, romantic suspense, women’s fiction, and sweet romance.

Georgia raised, she writes stories with a Southern flair.
http://amzn.to/29g2nKW  Author page https://www.facebook.com/Mary-Marvella-Edits-249592838804981/https://www.facebook.com/mm.mayfieldauthorhttps://mmmayfieldauthor.wordpress.com/https://twitter.com/MmMayfieldauthohttp://www.amazon.com/Mary-Marvella/e/B008E1SJ32/https://goodreads.com/author/show/4909455.Mary_Marvella www.MaryMarvella.com https://www.facebook.com/mmbarfield https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mary-Marvella-Author/121044561311561 http://pinkfuzzyslipperwriters.blogspot.com Follow Mary Marvella on Twitter @mmarvellab www.facebook.com/aromancecaper https://www.instagram.com/marymarvella/

A Spooky Tale from the Wild West for #Halloween

The Old West is full of true stories of bandits, shootouts, and lost treasures. Many people attempt to divide historical figures into heroes and villains, lawman and outlaws. In reality, most people are more complex than that, and few famous people from the Old West led blameless lives.
Wyatt Earp is often regarded as a heroic lawman. However, he spent only six years in law enforcement. He also worked as a gambler, buffalo hunter, stagecoach guard, and Teamster, among other jobs. He was arrested for stealing a horse, but he escaped from jail.
Like many famous Western figures, Wyatt Earp wound up in the famous town of Tombstone, Arizona. Wyatt Earp and Ike Clanton allied to find a group of cowboys who had robbed a stagecoach, but the alliance fell apart – possibly because the Clantons were involved in the robberies. This led to the famous shootout at the OK Corral and the deaths of Billy Clanton and the two McLaury brothers, known cattle rustlers. Soon after, Wyatt’s brother Virgil was seriously wounded in a shooting, and their brother Morgan was killed in a shootout. The attackers were unknown, but Wyatt and his gang killed several suspects. He fled town to avoid prosecution.
Many movies have been made featuring Wyatt Earp, most of them romanticizing his life. The truth is more complex.
A Deadly Killer
Curly Bill Brosius, on the other hand, was pure outlaw and a close friend of the Clantons. He was supposedly a crack shot who could hit running jackrabbits and shoot out candle flames without breaking the candles. His idea of a practical joke was to make a preacher dance during a sermon by shooting at his feet. He forced Mexicans at a community dance to take off their clothes and dance naked. He killed at least one man in a robbery, escaped from prison, and led a gang of rustlers in Arizona Territory.
In 1880, in Tombstone, Curly Bill killed popular Marshal Fred White. The Marshal was trying to take Bill’s gun and it went off, hitting White in the groin. Wyatt Earp then knocked Bill unconscious with his gun. White said he didn’t think Curly Bill was trying to kill him, but he died from his wound the next day. Curly Bill was also implicated in some revenge killings and at least one death during a bar fight. He was implicated in the murder of Morgan Earp, but without proof he wasn’t charged.
Violence in the Desert
Curly Bill also might have been involved in the Skeleton Canyon Massacre. Here history and legend get muddled. Some people claim that Mexican bandits looted Monterrey, Mexico, and escaped across the border with a treasure worth $75,000, or $2 million, or $8 million. Others claim there is no evidence of such a heist in Monterrey, and that it’s doubtful such a treasure ever existed in the first place.
Regardless, violence came to Skeleton Canyon, a shallow canyon in southeastern Arizona, not far from the Mexico border. An American gang ambushed a group of Mexicans – possibly the bandits, or else merely vaqueros (cowboys). One story says Curly Bill’s gang shot the Mexicans out of their saddles, which caused their mules to stampede. The bandits then shot the mules to keep them from running away with the treasure, but with the mules dead, the men had no way to transport the loot. Two men from the gang, Zwing Hunt and Billy Grounds, hid the treasure somewhere in the canyon. When they were killed, the location of the hidden treasure was lost. 
Curly Bill had been wounded six weeks before the Skeleton Canyon Massacre and was supposedly still recovering. Was he involved or not? Was the violence over a treasure that would be worth millions today, or merely over some cattle? The debates continue, and some people still hunt for the treasure.
What is most likely true, but is still challenged by some people, is that Wyatt Earp killed Curly Bill in a shootout in 1882. Bill was in his thirties, which considering his lifestyle was a surprisingly long life.
Unsolved Mysteries took a look at the Skeleton Canyon Treasure.
Tombstone is now a popular place for tourists to visit.
History (and Legend) As Inspiration
My adventure novel, The Skeleton Canyon Treasure, was inspired by the legendary treasure. In the novel, set today, Camie and Ryan are hunting for Ryan’s uncle, who disappeared while hunting for the historical treasure. The clues take Camie, Ryan, and the feisty cat Tiger on a trail through the Southwest. Their quest takes them to historic sites such as Tombstone and eventually into the remote canyon, where danger awaits.
“The Skeleton Canyon Treasure is a light, breezy action/adventure/romance that’s perfect for summer reading.”
If you love suspense and romance, try this gripping adventure!
The Mad Monk’s Treasure is the first of the Southwest Treasure Hunters novels. The Dead Man’s Treasure is book 2 and The Skeleton Canyon Treasure is book 3. Each novel stands alone and is complete, with no cliffhangers. This series mixes action and adventure with light romance. The stories explore the Southwest, especially New Mexico.

Crescent Roll Baked Chile Relleno #Recipe – a #Southwest Variation

A well-made chile relleno is an amazing treat. Unfortunately, they can be a bit of a hassle. No doubt some people keep a pot of oil on hand for deep frying the battered, cheese-stuffed New Mexico green chiles, but I don't normally deep fry. This recipe turned out to be an excellent substitution! 
Instead of batter, it uses refrigerator crescent rolls. The chiles are laid out on the crescent squares. They can be whole, but don't need to be. I like to use a Monterey Jack string cheese plus some extra cheddar, but I have used whatever I had on hand. Then they're folded and baked. Yummy! 




Kris Bock writes novels of suspense and romance with outdoor adventures and Southwestern landscapes. Whispers in the Dark features archaeology and intrigue among ancient Southwest ruins. What We Found is a mystery with strong romantic elements about a young woman who finds a murder victim in the woods. In Counterfeits, stolen Rembrandt paintings bring danger to a small New Mexico town.
In The Dead Man’s Treasure, estranged relatives compete to reach a buried treasure by following a series of complex clues. In The Skeleton Canyon Treasure, sparks fly when reader favorites Camie and Tiger help a mysterious man track down his missing uncle.
Read excerpts at www.krisbock.com or visit her Amazon page. Sign up for the Kris Bock newsletter for announcements of new books, sales, and more.

My #MFRWHooks for The Mad Monk’s Treasure - #Romance and #Suspense in New Mexico

The Mad Monk’s Treasure , 
a Romantic Adventure by Kris Bock
The lost Victorio Peak treasure is the stuff of legends – a heretic Spanish priest’s gold mine, made richer by the spoils of bandits and an Apache raider. When Erin, a quiet history professor, uncovers a clue that may pinpoint the lost treasure cave, she prepares for adventure. But when a hit and run driver nearly kills her, she realizes she’s not the only one after the treasure. And is Drew, the handsome helicopter pilot who found her bleeding in a ditch, really a hero, or one of the enemy?
“The story has it all - action, romance, danger, intrigue, lost treasure, not to mention a sizzling relationship....”
Chapter 1:
   Erin could hardly believe what she was seeing. Could this be it? After all this time waiting, searching, had she finally, finally, found what she was looking for?
   She forced herself to sit back and take a deep breath. Don’t make assumptions. Don’t rush into things. She wanted to leap up and scream her excitement, but years of academic training held. Slow down, double-check everything, and make sure you are right!
   She leaned forward and ran her fingers over the grainy photograph. With that one image, everything seemed to fall into place. This was the clue. It had to be.
   She fumbled in her desk drawer for a magnifying glass and studied the symbols in the photo more closely. At a glance, they looked like your standard Indian petroglyphs. You could find them throughout the Southwest, tucked away in caves or scattered among boulder fields. She’d been on a hike just a few miles outside of town which took her past a wonderful series of handprints and spirals, and what looked strangely like a robot.
   But this was different.
   If she was right—and she had to be right—these symbols were a map. A map that could lead her to one of the greatest caches of buried treasure ever.
   Erin flipped back a few pages, to the first photograph, the one that showed an overview of the boulder field. She confirmed that it had numbers identifying the specific rocks that the book then showed in detail. She could see a few outcroppings that would help orient anyone searching for those petroglyphs. The book also had a map of the area, and clear directions. She would be able to find the carved map. If the landscape hadn’t changed too much the last century, anyway.
   She pushed that thought aside, jumped up, and did a little dance.
   She reached for the phone. In a few seconds a voice said, “Yeah.” Erin could hear the sound of some tool on metal in the background.
   “Camie? I found it! I found the clue! I know where the treasure is—well, at least, I think I’ve found the first clue that will—”
   Camie cut her off. “Forget the disclaimers. You really found something? You mean, we might actually do this?”
   The two women laughed into the phone together. Erin collapsed into her desk chair, her cheeks sore from smiling. “I’m so excited I can hardly breathe. Look, are you at work? I’ll come by. I can get out of here in, oh, fifteen minutes, so I’ll see you in half an hour?” She leaned over her desk and gazed down at the photo in the battered old book. “I want to show you where we’re going. We need to make plans.”
   “I’ll be here waiting.” Camie’s voice purred, with a touch of twang. “Honey, we’re going places.”
   Erin hung up and gazed at the book a moment longer. Who would believe she’d found the clue to one of the most fabulous hidden treasures ever, in a battered old library book? The book must have been sitting there for years, quietly hoarding its secrets. But she had found it. Six months of research had led to this.
   In the beginning, it had been a whim. Something to distract her from the tedium of teaching history classes at a small science college where students didn’t value history. Researching lost treasures was fun, and she’d written a few articles about it for magazines. Reading the books on lost mines and buried treasures, you’d think the entire country was covered with them. The Southwest had more than its fair share, from miners who lost track of their remote gold mines, to prospectors who had buried bags of gold and never returned to retrieve them, to bandits who had hidden stolen loot and been killed.
   But among all the legends, all the fact and fiction, one story stood out. The Victorio Peak legend had it all. A Franciscan priest and a swindler. Torture, murder, a government cover-up. Where was the truth, among all the stories? Erin wanted to find out. Over time, and with Camie’s encouragement, she’d started to take the treasure hunt more seriously. It wasn’t so much for the treasure itself—that would most likely belong to the government or the landowners. But from the start, she’d recognized the potential, should she ever unearth new information. Forget academic publications; this was the kind of story which could capture the general imagination and catapult her into success as a writer of popular nonfiction. It would make her reputation, open up new job opportunities—change her life in ways she hardly dared dream.
   Erin shook her head. Who would’ve thought that she, the quiet, studious girl who’d spent her entire adult life in academia in one way or another, would be planning such an adventure?
   She checked that the front door was locked, a habit left over from living in bigger cities, grabbed her bike helmet, and went out the back.
   Erin wheeled the bike around the front of her house and mounted. At the corner, she paused and looked both ways. The long frontage road was dangerously narrow, with a cement wall on one side and a ditch on the other. Fortunately, traffic was normally light, and at this time of day the road lay empty. Erin pushed off, still grinning from her find. She rode on the right side, by the ditch, instead of facing traffic, because it was just too frightening to ride alongside the wall when a car passed.
   She’d gone a block when she heard the hum of a car engine as it pulled out from a side street behind her. She rode along the very edge of the pavement, even though the car would have plenty of room to pass her without oncoming traffic.
   Erin glanced over her shoulder. The black SUV 20 feet behind her hadn’t bothered to pull out into the road at all. Jerk. When would drivers learn to share the road with bicyclists? Erin pulled onto the two-foot wide gravel strip between the pavement and the ditch. She couldn’t stop without risking a skid, but she slowed so the SUV could pass.
   The engine roared. Erin glanced back again.
   Black metal bore down on her. Her heart lurched and the bike wobbled. This guy was crazy! She whipped her gaze forward, rose up in the seat, and pumped the pedals with all her power, skimming along inches from the ditch. He was just trying to scare her. She’d get his license plate and—
   She felt the bumper hit her back tire. The bike seemed to leap into the air, and she went flying. The dried mud and weeds of the ditch seemed to rise up to meet her.
   She didn’t even have time to scream.
Visit all the Book Hooks from #MFRWHooks - You might find your next great read! Kris Bock writes novels of suspense and romance featuring outdoor adventures in Southwestern landscapes. E-books are available from $.99 to $2.99, or free with Kindle Unlimited. Read excerpts at www.krisbock.com or visit her Amazon page. 
The Southwest Treasure Hunter novels feature feisty heroines and supportive heroes tracking down mysterious treasures in New Mexico and Arizona. Each book stands alone, starting with The Mad Monk’s Treasure. 
Kris’s other titles include Whispers in the Dark, a gothic drama at an archaeology dig in the Four Corners area, What We Found, a murder mystery set in small-town New Mexico, and Counterfeits, a suspense set near Jemez Springs.

Snatching Dianna: Romantic Suspense by Seelie Kay @SeelieKay #Romance

An Interview with Seelie Kay:
Q.  Why do you write romance?
Because I am fascinated by the games people play to find and secure a lasting relationship, which is not always love. There’s the chase, the courtship, the falling, the surrender. That’s what I try to capture in my stories.
Q.  Do you prefer a certain type of romantic hero?
I adore smart, dashing gentlemen who aren’t afraid to live on the edge. They can be a bad boy, a billionaire, a prince, or a secret agent. That hint of danger just hooks me!
Q.  Why did you write “Snatching Dianna?”
Actually, for two reasons.  First, when writing the Kinky Briefs series, there were certain couples I fell in love with:  The Sheikh and his American lawyer wife who sue terrorists on behalf of their victims, the police chief (with a preference for handcuffs) and his criminal defense attorney wife who seek to right wrongs, and the covert agent and his law professor wife, who are smart, funny, and incredibly hot! Each of these couples have wonderful relationships and incredible lives. And each and every one of them is dedicated to preserving justice.
I wanted their stories to continue. So, I created the Feisty Lawyers series. Second, “Snatching Dianna” deals with a law student who is kidnapped by a slave trafficking cartel. This plot permitted me to focus not only on the continuing problem of slave trafficking, but also on the investigative issues behind finding a missing adult. In this story, there is no evidence and no witnesses. It’s takes a lot of investigative savvy to piece together seemingly unrelated clues. I love complex puzzles and this story lets me go wild!
Q.  Why slave trafficking? That seems like such an uncomfortable subject.
My book ends with this statement:  Experts say that more than 3,000 people around the world are sold, kidnapped, or forced into slavery each day, many of them children. Even in the United States, men, woman, and children are snatched off the streets for the purpose of human slavery. Slave traffickers do not discriminate by race, gender, religion, education, or socio-economic status. Victims of slave trafficking come from all walks of life, as do those who traffic in humans. It is a crime of international proportions and one that requires committed international cooperation.
As a lawyer and a human being, I think it is a topic worth calling attention to.
Q.   How does your former profession as a lawyer impact your writing?
After 30 years, the law and the legal world are so firmly embedded in my brain that I can’t flush them out. That has become the lens through which I view the world and that naturally guides my characters and plots. Little peculiarities that I have witnessed in lawyers and the law always work their way into my stories.
Q.   The cover of the book clearly says “Snatching Dianna” is part one in the Feisty Lawyers Series.  How many more books can we look forward to?
At this point, I’m not sure. In each book, I introduce new characters with compelling stories, so it is difficult to predict how and when their stories will be brought to a satisfactory conclusion.  However, the second book, “Infamy,” is in the queue, and I have a good start on the third, “Cult.” There should be at least one more after that.

About Snatching Dianna
The hours are counting down as investigators try to prove that Dianna Murphy has been snatched. Unfortunately, without witnesses and solid evidence, all the police really know is that she is missing.
When suburban Milwaukee law student Dianna Murphy fails to connect with her roommate, there is no real evidence that she has been snatched. Until Law Professor Janet MacLachlan, a former covert secret agent, discovers a single clue, one that points to a taking by a slave trafficking cartel. In a race against time, Janet recruits her husband, secret agent Cade Matthews, small-town Police Chief David Manders and his wife, criminal defense attorney Julianna Constant, and other law students to uncover the truth. Can they prove she has been taken,before Dianna disappears without a trace?
Romantic Suspense (Three Flames)
Excerpt:
After what seemed like hours in the sweltering van, it lurched to a stop.
Dianna heard a man bark orders. A door to the van opened and someone pulled the rope from her feet, then removed her hood. She took a deep breath.  A man grabbed her by the arm, forced to her feet, and pulled from the van. Dianna stumbled when she hit the ground. The stones were hot and her feet were covered by athletic socks, no shoes. Show no weakness.
Dianna immediately surveyed her surroundings. It was still night, but she was in a well-lit courtyard. A large stone mansion stood in front of her. She looked to her right, then her left. The courtyard was enclosed by a large stone fence, at least eight feet high. A fortress. Fortunately, Dianna was a rock-climber. She could rappel over the fence with the right equipment. All she would need was something to serve as a pick, maybe a rope. A knife, a screwdriver, even a fork. Keep your eyes and ears open. Be ready.
A large black man, dressed in a white suit and a maroon turban, walked out of the front door and down the stairs. He stopped and flashed a malevolent smile. He flung his arms wide and in a cultured baritone boomed, “Welcome to paradise, ladies. I hope you enjoy your stay.”
Some of the guards laughed.
“Crikey,” Tillie muttered. “Sounds like a blasted genie.”
Dianna glanced sideways and for the first time, got a look at her new friend. She was tall and thin, her body well defined. She looked strong and aware, almost fierce. Her eyes seemed to be studying the place, taking everything in. She showed no fear. Instead, she seemed interested. Something was off. Tillie did not act like a victim as the others did. She was not cowed. Was she a cop? Or like Dianna, someone who would not permit themselves to be broken?
There was only one thing of which Dianna was certain. She had found a friend. A useful one.
Get Snatching Dianna
Seelie Kay is a nom de plume for a writer, editor, and author with more than 30 years of experience in law, journalism, marketing, and public relations. When she writes about love and lust in the legal world, something kinky is bound to happen!  In possession of a wicked pen and an overly inquisitive mind, Ms. Kay is the author of multiple works of fiction, including the Kinky Briefs series, The Garage Dweller , A Touchdown to Remember, and The President’s Wife. 
When not spinning her kinky tales, Ms. Kay ghostwrites nonfiction for lawyers and other professionals. She resides in a bucolic exurb outside Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she shares a home with her son and enjoys opera, gourmet cooking, organic gardening, and an occasional bottle of red wine.
Ms. Kay is an MS warrior and ruthlessly battles the disease on a daily basis. Her message to those diagnosed with MS:  Never give up. You define MS, it does not define you!
Find Seelie Kay Online:
www.seeliekay.comwww.seeliekay.blogspot.comTwitter: @SeelieKay https://twitter.com/SeelieKayFacebook:  https://www.facebook.com/seelie.kay.77Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Seelie-Kay/e/B074RDRWNZ/

#MFRWHooks for Whispers in the Dark: #Romance and #Suspense at an Archaeology Dig

Whispers in the Dark:
Archaeology student Kylie Hafford craves adventure when she heads to the remote Puebloan ruins of Lost Valley, Colorado, to excavate. Romance isn’t in her plans, but she soon meets two sexy men: Danesh looks like a warrior from the Pueblo’s ancient past, and Sean is a charming, playful tourist. The summer heats up as Kylie uncovers mysteries, secrets, and terrors in the dark. She’ll need all her strength and wits to survive—and to save the man she’s come to love. 
“This book was a delight from start to finish!”
Whispers in the Dark , romantic suspense set in the Four Corners region of the Southwest, will appeal to fans of Mary Stewart, Barbara Michaels, and Terry Odell. This title stands alone and is not part of a series. It has 4.2 star-average with 55 reviews.Last week I shared an excerpt from Chapter 1 of Whispers in the Dark. Here's another excerpt from a little later in the book: Hovenweep Castle by Greg Willis Creative Commons license I finished the loop well before dark, cleaned up in the restroom, and sat at my picnic table to eat the second half of the sandwich I’d been keeping in a cooler since lunch. The block of dry ice would keep my yogurt and cheese sticks cool for a couple more days. Then I’d be stuck with dried and canned food until I made a trip into town, something I didn’t relish given that my compact car obviously wasn’t designed for the rough roads. Well, I hadn’t expected luxury.I had expected quiet, though. Yet the night filled with sounds as dusk fell. Birds, insects, and rustling in the dark. I strained my ears and tried to identify the sounds. Bird calls were easy enough. That low buzz had to be some kind of insect, and I convinced myself it was only creepy because I wasn’t used to it. Rustling in the bushes was harder to dismiss. I forced myself to breathe deeply and repeated in my mind, Just animals. Just animals. You’re safe here. A squirrel scurried up a tree nearby, proving my point, and I let out a burst of nervous laughter. I went back to my deep breathing. I didn’t want to crawl into my tent until I felt comfortable there, or I knew I’d spend the night imagining monsters sneaking around the thin protection of my nylon walls. I could sleep in my car, as I had done several times on the drive out, when I wasn’t sure of my security. But this campground would be my home for weeks. I had to get used to it, face my fears until they disappeared. I closed my eyes and concentrated on the cool air on my skin, the soft breeze.I heard voices in the distance and a thump like something being dropped. I told myself it was good to know others were within hailing distance. I breathed, and listened, and finally felt my heart slow and my muscles relax. I thought I might be able to sleep.A new sound drifted through the air, and my breath caught in my throat. I heard a soft sobbing, like a woman crying.Should I check it out, see if someone needed help? But no one was calling for help, and I couldn’t target the sound. It was probably some animal or bird, but still, I felt goosebumps prickle my skin. I went to my car for a sweater, trying to blame the drop in temperature for my chills. When I opened the car door, the overhead light came on, shockingly bright. I jumped and glanced around, feeling oddly guilty, as if I’d insulted the night. I grabbed my sweater, closed the door quickly, and stood for a minute waiting for my eyes to readjust as the darkness pressed around me.The crying seemed to ripple in the air, coming from nowhere and everywhere.***“This book kept me turning pages until the end. The plot was full of twists and turns, always keeping the reader rooting for the heroine. Excellent read!”
Visit all the Book Hooks from #MFRWHooks - You might find your next great read!
Kris Bock writes novels of suspense and romance featuring outdoor adventures in Southwestern landscapes. E-books are available from $.99 to $2.99, or free with Kindle Unlimited. Read excerpts at www.krisbock.com or visit her Amazon page. The Southwest Treasure Hunter novels feature feisty heroines and supportive heroes tracking down mysterious treasures in New Mexico and Arizona. Each book stands alone, starting with The Mad Monk’s Treasure. Kris’s other titles include What We Found, a murder mystery set in small-town New Mexico, and Counterfeits, a suspense set near Jemez Springs.