Christa Nardi's Blog
October 4, 2025
Book Spotlight: GRAVE WORDS (A Deadly Deadlines Mystery Book 2) by Gerri Lewis
About the Book
In the second installment of the Deadly Deadlines mysteries, obituary writer Winter Snow faces her biggest challenge yet when the body of a homeless man is found in a burning building and her best friend is the main suspect, perfect for fans of Eva Gates and Kate Carlisle.
Winter Snow has had it! With her business in a death drought, her best friend Scoop implicated in a string of arsons, and an obituary listing Winter herself as deceased, her life is heating up. But just as she’s trying to cool things down, she receives her newest assignment: an obituary for Chester, a homeless man found in a burning building.
Promising the local funeral home manager that she will have the obituary by the deadline, Winter is stonewalled at every turn, failing to discover Chester’s last name, or where he came from. When it is discovered that Chester was murdered and that the fire was set to cover it up, all fingers immediately point to Scoop. Not only is Scoop a person of interest in the arsons, he was also the last person to see Chester alive.
As more nails are pounded into Scoop’s coffin, Winter’s uncle Richard hopes to help by inviting the notorious town gossips, The Nosy Parkers, to a neighborhood food fest. Unfortunately, the breadcrumbs they toss set murder in motion.
More determined than ever, Winter must figure out the twists and turns of the case to clear Scoop’s name, putting her on a deadly deadline to solve the murder and avoid meeting the same grave consequences.
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About the Author
Gerri Lewis started her writing career as a newspaper columnist, feature writer, reporter and obituary writer for seven syndicated newspapers. If she were to write her own obit, it would go something like this with a little wishful thinking thrown in: Author of the popular Obituary Writer Series, The Last Word, A Deadly Deadlines Mystery, Gerri Lewis died at the age of 100, at the Ridgefield home she loved and the setting for many of her books. Gerri's accolades include numerous awards from the Society of Professional Journalists, the New England Press Association and Writer’s Digest. THE LAST WORD was a 2024 finalist in the Best Book Awards sponsored by American Bookfest and an honorable mention at the Los Angeles Book Awards sponsored by the LA Times. Throughout her career she has remained a go-to person in the community for obituaries, especially sensitive ones, because she said, “Capturing a loved one’s personality in an obituary is one of the greatest gifts you can give to the grieving.”
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Giveaway: Grave Words: A Deadly Deadlines Mystery by Gerri Lewis
September 29, 2025
Book Review: DEATH BY BAGUETTE (Travel Can Be Murder Cozy Mystery Series Book 2) by Jennifer S. Alderson
Paris—the city of love, lights … and murder? Join tour guide Lana Hansen as she escorts five couples on an unforgettable Valentine-themed vacation to France! Unfortunately it will be the last trip for one passenger…
Lana Hansen’s future is looking bright. She has money in her bank account, a babysitter for her cat, and even a boyfriend. Regrettably she won’t get to celebrate Valentine’s Day with her new beau, Chad. Instead, she will be leading a lovers-only tour in France. Luckily for Lana, her best friend, Willow, and her partner, Jane, will be joining her.
Things go downhill when Lana’s new boyfriend shows up in Paris for her tour—with his wife. Chad is not the website developer he claimed to be, but a famous restaurant critic whose love of women rivals his passion for food. After Chad drops dead during a picnic under the Eiffel Tower, a persistent French detective becomes convinced that he was poisoned. And the inspector’s sights are set on several members of the tour—including Lana!
While escorting her group through the cobblestone streets of Montmartre, the grand gardens of Versailles, and the historic Marché des Enfants Rouges market, Lana must figure out who really killed Chad before she has to say bonjour to prison and adieu to her freedom.
Review
As with others in this series, Lana's trip to Paris is interesting, both because of the characters and the setting. Initially, Lana's concerned with the trainee joining her group; however, when she discovers her boyfriend Chad is one of her guests with his wife, she's glad for the help. Her two friends - one of the four couples, also provide support. Only Chad is killed and Lana becomes a suspect.
The story is well-paced with an easy shift from the relationships, the couples, and the murder to the popular sights and feel of Paris. Characters are well-developed and clue are sprinkled throughout. Another enjoyable cozy mystery that can easily be read out of order.
AMAZON
Books in the Travel Can Be Murder Cozy Mystery Series: Book 1 – Death on the Danube: A New Year’s Murder in BudapestBook 2 – Death by Baguette: A Valentine’s Day Murder in ParisBook 3 – Death by Windmill: A Mother’s Day Murder in Amsterdam Book 4 – Death by Bagpipes: A Summer Murder in EdinburghBook 5 – Death by Fountain: A Christmas Murder in Rome Book 6 – Death by Leprechaun: A Saint Patrick’s Day Murder in Dublin Book 7 – Death by Flamenco: An Easter Murder in Seville Book 8 – Death by Gondola: A Springtime Murder in Venice Book 9 – Death by Puffin: A Bachelorette Party Murder in Reykjavik Book 10 – Death by Oxcart: An Independence Day Murder in Costa Rica
About the Author
Jennifer S. Alderson was born in San Francisco, grew up in Seattle, and currently lives in Amsterdam. After traveling extensively around Asia, Oceania, and Central America, she lived in Darwin, Australia, before finally settling in the Netherlands.Jennifer’s love of travel, art, and culture inspires her award-winning Zelda Richardson Mystery series, her Travel Can Be Murder Cozy Mysteries, and her Carmen De Luca Art Sleuth Mysteries. Her background in journalism, multimedia development, and art history enriches her novels.
When not writing, she can be found perusing a museum, biking around Amsterdam, or enjoying a coffee along the canal while planning her next research trip.
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September 22, 2025
New Release: THE ITCH OF GREED (An Izzie Di Sante Mystery Book 6) by Christa Nardi
A dark cloud hangs over baseball season in Rosedale when star pitcher Randy Kampton is taken out of the game for good.
The DA is determined to pin the crime on Cole Rigley, a friend's brother and fellow pitcher, citing the fierce competition for a major league trade as his motive murder. Rigley's brother, asks Henry and reluctant restaurant owner Izzie Di Sante to help prove his innocence. Adding fuel to the fire, Kampton stole Rigley’s girlfriend months earlier.
While Kampton’s pitching skills are universally acknowledged, no one, not fans or teammates, has a kind word to say about him, making for a long list of suspects. Rigley, on the other hand, is respected for his talent and team spirit. The wild card is another pitcher recovering from a car accident, whose open roster spot has all three men vying for the same prize. In Rosedale, loyalty to the minor league team runs deep, and Izzie’s digging into the players’ pasts draws resentment from fans, police, and management alike. When the team’s PR person is targeted after meeting with her, the threats become all too real. The closer Izzie gets to uncovering the truth, on and off the field, the higher the stakes, and the more dangerous the game becomes.
AMAZONRead an excerpt:
An alert sounded on my phone as I entered Cenare, the Italian restaurant I owned with my sister Chloe. While Chloe was a foodie, I took care of the business side of things.
Before our parents died, I freelanced as a journalist following homicides in New York City. I was committed to the restaurant and Chloe, but my passion was murder, so I kept the homicide alerts coming. Occasionally, if one sparked my interest, I took some time to search out my next story. Homicides provided a rush the restaurant business didn’t give me.
I put my things down on the small table in the kitchen area and pulled up the message.
“Breaking news! The Rosedale Thorny Bats will be hurting this season. Their best pitcher, Randy Kampton, died under suspicious circumstances. His body was discovered by the custodians in the Thorny Bats locker room early this morning. Stay tuned for details.”
The announcement prompted me to check my other sources for unsolved homicides, although I’d never heard of the Thorny Bats or Kampton. I assumed if the man was a pitcher, the sport was baseball. It was spring and our guests or employees occasionally mentioned baseball. Growing up, Chloe and I spent most of our time in the restaurant. We lived and breathed Cenare.
My escape was writing. I knew from experience that the death of those close to you changed your life. My stories focused on the impact of a sudden death – usually a homicide – on those left behind. I found less resistance from law enforcement when I focused on cold cases or those that were stalled.
Most often, my casual interviews with those who knew the victim provided clues to the killer. Unfortunately, sometimes the killer targeted me. Having lived in New York City for five years, I was prepared for that, even in small town Pinewood, Maryland, where murders rarely happened.
With the first ever murder in our small town a few years back, I clashed with the local police detective when the immediate conclusion was a burglary, and I disagreed. For the record, I was right.
With the murder of an athlete, Kampton’s death would likely be quickly solved if the alert was any indication. Not finding anything else of note in the alerts, I went through my morning routine of checking income, paying bills, placing orders, and taking inventory. At least I used my degree in business management. I preferred taking care of those tedious tasks before anyone else arrived.
As usual, Chloe arrived with a breakfast treat as I finished the accounting and started the inventory.
“Good morning, Chloe. Those look and smell delicious.”
“Thanks, Izzie. Help yourself. I got this idea in my head and combined ingredients from an apple brownie recipe and a cinnamon streusel cupcake. Ryan assured me they were more than edible.”
With money from the estate and the restaurant, Chloe had completed her training at the culinary institute nearby. In and out of the restaurant, she often created dishes. Breakfast for me and whomever else wanted a taste tended not to be traditional Italian. For the restaurant, she kept with the family tradition and stuck to Italian dishes.
I chuckled. “I don’t know how you can cook here all day and then try out new things when you get home.”
“Well, Ryan brought some work home that he needed to get done like yesterday. Only he didn’t get the assignment until that morning.” She shrugged. “I got creative in the kitchen while he worked.”
Since she and Ryan married a few months ago, she hadn’t been as creative with her morning treats, though I could always count on her to provide my breakfast. When she took a week off for her honeymoon, I had to fend for myself, usually stopping at the local bakery on my way to work.
“It’s delicious! Not quite brownie and not quite muffin. Still very moist and I’m a sucker for cinnamon and apples. I’ll have to freeze some of these for the next time I see Henry. Now that he’s taken the detective exam and he may be working part time in Franklin, I hope to see him more often.”
Henry and I had started off as friends and our relationship moved forward from there. He was always a willing assistant and backup when I pursued a story. Helping me out prompted him to pursue his detective credentials.
“Speak of the devil.”
I showed Chloe the phone, took the container of treats, and sat down at the table.
“Hi, Henry. How are you?”
“Good. I may have a case for you and wanted to give you a heads up. Do you have a few minutes?”
I grabbed a piece of paper off the nearby printer. “Sure. What’s going on?”
“You know the guy who always gives me a hard time about driving an automatic or having a family car? Phil Rigley?”
“Dark hair, hazel eyes, not quite as tall as you, and maybe a year or two younger. A southern twang.”
“That’s him. He called this morning, wanting my opinion. His brother, Cole, plays ball with the Thorny Bats. Cole contacted Phil this morning. Something about a player dying and the police interviewing everyone. Phil didn’t have many details, but he wanted me to look into it.”
My phone pinged with an alert.
“I caught one announcement earlier and then another just came in. A custodian found Randy Kampton, a pitcher for that team, dead this morning. It was a sports broadcaster the first time, the usual police blotter the second time. Nothing else. Where did the Thorny Bats come from? Is there a new major league team in Maryland?”
“No. The Baltimore Orioles is the only major league team. The Thorny Bats is a triple-A minor league team out in Rosedale. The players are good and some eventually get picked up by a major league team. I played in college and a few of my teammates went on to the minor leagues. We lost touch but I may see if I can locate them.”
“The news I caught indicated a suspicious death. Thorny Bats is a weird name for a team though.”
“Minor league teams often have interesting names, usually related somehow to their location and often suggested by fans. Rosedale, thorns, and baseball bats – Thorny Bats. Makes perfect sense to me.”
He chuckled. “Keep me posted. If it’s a homicide, Phil thinks his brother will be a person of interest. Both Cole and Kampton are pitchers, and Kampton stole his girlfriend.”
Excerpt from The Itch of Greed. Copyright © 2025. All rights reserved.
About the Author
Christa Nardi is the author of four mystery series, all featuring strong women sleuths. Her series are best characterized as “cozy” with an edge. While clean reads (no graphic violence or sex, no profanity), some of the characters and situations touch on sensitive topics.Christa is member of Sisters in Crime. When not reading or writing, Christa enjoys travel and playing with her dogs and granddaughters. She supports animal rescue and other efforts to help others.
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Christa's Books
September 8, 2025
Book Review: HIDDEN CURRENTS (Lantern Beach Mysteries Book 1) by Christy Barritt
You can take the detective out of the investigation, but you can't take the investigator out of the detective.
A notorious gang puts a bounty on Detective Cady Matthews’s head after she takes down their leader, leaving her no choice but to hide until she can testify at trial. But her temporary home across the country on a remote North Carolina island isn’t as peaceful as she initially thinks. Living under the new identity of Cassidy Livingston, she struggles to keep her investigative skills tucked away, especially after a body washes ashore. When local police bungle the murder investigation, she can’t resist stepping in. But Cassidy is supposed to be keeping a low profile. One wrong move could lead to both her discovery and her demise.
Can she bring justice to the island . . . or will the hidden currents surrounding her pull her under for good?
***Hidden Currents is the first book in the six-book Lantern Beach Mystery series. Each book contains a standalone mystery, but there are overarching mysteries within the entire series.***
Review
The "ice cream lady" in Lantern Beach living as Cassidy Livingston, is detective with a bounty on her head. She's in hiding and supposed to keep things low key. When a body washes ashore, she tries not to get involved - at least not in an obvious way, only she can't help but investigate.
Christy Barritt's characters and setting are well-developed. The reader feels Cassidy's tug-of-war and she is very likable. Once she's all in, the pace picks up quickly, mixed with well-placed humor. This is a strong beginning to the new (to me at least) 6-book series.
AMAZON
About Christy Barritt
USA Today has called Christy Barritt's books "scary, funny, passionate, and quirky."
A USA Today and Publishers Weekly best-seller, Christy writes both mystery and romantic suspense novels that are clean with underlying messages of faith. Her books have sold more than three million copies, one has been made into a TV movie, and another is being developed for a TV series. Christy's books have won the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Suspense and Mystery, have been twice nominated for the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award, and have finaled for both a Carol Award and Foreword Magazine's Book of the Year.
She's married to her prince charming, a man who thinks she's hilarious--but only when she's not trying to be. Christy's a self-proclaimed klutz, an avid music lover who's known for spontaneously bursting into song, and a road trip aficionado.
Christy currently splits her time between the Virginia suburbs and Hatteras Island, North Carolina. She loves spending time with her husband, her two sons, and her four dogs.For more information, visit her website: www.christybarritt.com.
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August 31, 2025
Book Review: MURDER PAYS A CALL (A Keri Armstrong Cozy Mystery) by Nancy J. Cohen
Personal concierge Keri Armstrong will accept almost any job, but solving murders wasn’t on her to-do list—until now.
When personal concierge Keri Armstrong swings by her favorite client’s mansion to drop off groceries, she expects a heartfelt chat along with a cup of tea—not Fiona Sullivan dead in bed and her room ransacked. Though police chalk it up to a botched robbery, Keri isn’t so sure. Whispers around town suggest Fiona wasn’t as adored as Keri had believed, and many of the philanthropist’s so-called friends in affluent Sunny Grove, Florida seem glad she’s gone. Keri refuses to let Fiona’s memory be reduced to malicious gossip. Armed with a keen eye, insider access, and a fully charged tablet, she sets out to uncover the truth. Soon her file of suspects grows faster than her to-do list. Between sneaky neighbors, resentful relatives, and tight-lipped charity board members, Fiona left behind a trail of frenemies who’d happily skip her memorial brunch.
As Keri digs deeper, she discovers her late mentor had a gift for extracting people’s secrets and using them like fine china—carefully storing them until they could serve a purpose. But Fiona also kept a few skeletons in her own walk-in closet. Now, with danger creeping closer, Keri must race to crack the case before her number comes up next… and Murder Pays a Call.
Review
With Keri's concierge business, she serves as a personal assistant to many in the community, including Fiona. More than a PA, Keri believes Fiona is her mentor and a friend. Unfortunately, when Fiona dies, Keri discovers the many secrets Fiona hid from her. And Fiona's not the only victim.
The main characters are well-developed and Keri, as well as her friends Lora and Pam and others, create a support group of sorts to find the killer. There are multiple intertwined mysteries to be solved with a steady pace and surprises along the way. Even better, there's a hint of romance coming for Keri if she can organize her day so she has time for it. All in all, a great start for a new series by Nancy J. Cohen.
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review. This has not affected the content of my review in any way.
AMAZONAbout the Author
Nancy J. Cohen writes the Bad Hair Day mystery series and the Keri Armstrong cozy mysteries. Her books have won numerous awards including her nonfiction title, Writing the Cozy Mystery, an Agatha Award Finalist. Active in the writing community, Nancy is a past president of Mystery Writers of America Florida Chapter and a frequent speaker at conferences and community events. When not busy writing, she enjoys reading, fine dining, cruising, and visiting Disney World. Nancy's contacts include:
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Don't Leave Yet!
Don't miss the Fall Into These Great Reads Bookathon!Calling all readers! Have you read all your beach reads over the summer? Looking for books to dive into this month? We’re celebrating books from all genres at N. N. Light’s Book Heaven’s eighth annual Fall Into These Great Reads Bookathon. 26 books featured plus a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card.
August 21, 2025
Book Review: COLORADO K-9 RESCUE by Kathleen Donnelly
A kidnapper’s twisted game is on.
And a trusty K-9 won’t let him succeed.
Years after being abducted, Mckenna Parker’s worst nightmare has come true—her kidnapper is out on parole. And he’s after her again. Now an FBI victim specialist, she and her crisis canine, Mocha, have been assigned to a case with FBI agent Evan Knox. Together they must find two local girls who disappeared.
As passionate as Mckenna is about helping others, Evan is ambitious about his career. Both have sworn off love. But when Mckenna vanishes into the mountain wilderness, it’s Evan—with Mocha’s amazing help—who braves danger at all costs. Review
Mckenna still hasn't overcome her own kidnapping but has dedicated herself to helping other survivors deal with the aftermath. Working with the FBI and her dog, Mocha, her first interaction with the grouchy and cold Agent Knox is when Mocha eats his sandwich. She hopes she never has to work with him. Of course when two girls are kidnapped, she is assigned to work with him.
As the one survivor, Lily, tells her story of what happened, Mckenna relives her own experience as so many of the details match. Two weeks prior to this new kidnapping, the man found guilty of her kidnapping is paroled. Only Mckenna really believed it was him, back again. Now she and Agent Knox have to find him and try to put the pieces together.
Donnelly crafted a believable, practical character who continues to be strong and fight her own battles in Mckenna. Similarly, Agent Knox's character is well-developed. This is well-written, excellently paced to keep this reader's interest, with tension and romance intermingled with the suspense. Donnelly did a great job of weaving the romance with the danger. I didn't figure out the kidnapper. Besides, who couldn't love a K-9 therapy dog like Mocha?
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review. This has not affected the content of my review in any way.
AMAZON
About the Author
Award-winning author, Kathleen Donnelly is a handler for a private narcotics K-9 detection company. She enjoys using her experience to craft realism into her fictional stories. Kathleen loves the beauty of the mountains, which inspired her choice of setting for her series. She lives near the Colorado foothills with her husband and her four-legged co-workers. You can visit/follow Kathleen:
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Book Review : DROPPED LIKE A BAD HABIT (Nun the Wiser Mystery #q2) by Melissa Westemeier
The bodies keep piling up along Chestnut Street…
When Sister Bernadette hears from the local pharmacist about plans to redevelop and gentrify their small community on Chestnut Street, she rallies her neighbors at The Abbey: Senior Living to help stop it. Chestnut Street is home to local mom-and-pop businesses that The Abbey’s residents frequently access. But when the healthy pharmacist mysteriously drops dead with no discernable reason, Detective AJ Lewis is stumped. Then another, younger, business owner dies with no explanation, and AJ is suspicious and starts to dig. Sister Bernie, trying to solve small, seemingly nonsensical thefts, is intrigued and positions herself to collaborate with the police for what she hopes will be her second murder investigation. Why did two seemingly healthy men conveniently die? Who’s behind the shadowy Vision Corporation? Each question leads to a dead end or another question. And then there’s an unexpected death at The Abbey.
Coincidence or connection?Murder’s becoming a bad habit Sister Bernie and AJ are determined to break.
Review
Lots of quirky characters make this a fun read with laugh-out-loud moments. The MC, Sister Bernadette, is older and a dominant force, as she likely was when she was actively a nun and teacher. The church and school closed and the building was re-purposed to The Abbey, a senior living facility with apartments and other amenities.
Meadow is the manager and younger of the seniors, while Fern is the oldest and frailest. She adds the calming force as various residents disagree. Not far from The Abbey, on Chestnut Street, stores are being pressured to sell out to a development company. One staunch objector, Ethan, is found dead. As Bernie jumps in to find answers the detectives - AJ and Taylor - can't find, spearheads an organized attack on the Vision, residents have objects disappearing. Then there's another person with a suspicious death, and then another.
The tale is well-written with eccentric characters, lots of surprises and suspects. It is both witty and heartwarming. Genre is definitely cozy, but with AJ predominant as well, includes police procedural. This is the second in the series. It can be read alone, still I always recommend you start with the first book in the series.
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review. This has not affected the content of my review in any way.
AMAZON ~ Barnes&Noble
About the Author
Melissa Westemeier grew up around the edge of nerd culture, but marriage and motherhood with three sons immersed her in it. She’s fluent in Marvel, DC, Dr. Who, Star Wars, Godzilla, and more thanks to their influence. Her fiction work includes rom-com and a trilogy loosely based on her experience tending bar on the Wolf River in Wisconsin. She’s thrilled to realize her childhood dream of writing murder mysteries.Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Instagram ~ AMAZONAUTHOR
August 14, 2025
Book Review: COWBOY WATCH (The Watchers Book 1) by Petie McCarty
Someone—or something—wants Kellen out of town . . .
Kellen Brand’s inheritance comes as a monumental shock—a rundown farm in West Virginia she doesn’t want and one paroled Watcher all her own. Kellen’s eccentric mother had believed the Watchers to be fallen angels who sought penance by guarding chosen individuals who had lost their way. Seriously? A Watcher?Only her mother . . .
Since Kellen vows no sane woman would choose to live in Riverside, she’s on a mission to dump the old farm fast and to the first buyer who comes along. Unfortunately for her, the only buyer is a resort developer, spurned by a townful of objectors and one handsome cowboy—her neighbor, Luke Thornton. Luke must block Kellen’s farm sale or risk exposing his own family’s secrets. He can ill afford his immediate and compelling attraction to his new neighbor. Someone is watching Kellen, but not who she thinks. Someone deadly and intent on scaring her out of town. Or worse.
Luke faces a hellish choice. Step in and rescue Kellen from her threats, or stand by and watch to protect his family. . .
Review
Kellen arrives at the farm she inherited with her number one goal that of selling it and getting back to the city and her job. Her mother left her a cryptic note about a "watcher" keeping her safe. She's not sure what that means and deals with her goal. Only her first impression of the person pushing her to sell is negative and as she meets people in the small town, she learns the townspeople are very much against the sale. Enter Luke Thornton, who owns the adjoining property and strongly pushes her not to sell. Then she notices lights and shadows toward the mill.
Cowboy Watch includes well-developed characters of Kellen and Luke, with sparks flying, as well as a number of bad guys and angels (or watchers). McCarty communicates the emotional side of Kellen's decisions and Luke's arguments - tissues recommended. The suspense builds - not only with regard to who is the watcher and who are the bad guys now fearful of what Kellen has seen - but with Kellen and Luke. A must read for those who enjoy romantic suspense without the heat.
AMAZONAbout the Author
Petie spent a majority of her career at Walt Disney World—"The Most Magical Place on Earth"—where she loved working in the land of fairy tales by day and crafting her own romantic fairy tales by night, including her series, The Cinderella Romances. She eventually said goodbye to her "day" job to focus on her stories full-time.
These days, Petie spends her time writing new tales for her Cinderella series, her new paranormal-romantic-suspense series, The Watchers, sequels to her Regency time-travel series, Lords in Time, and more contemporary romance standalones, along with her two previous releases—Any Fin For Love and Ambush in the Everglades. Petie shares her home on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee with her husband, a horticulturist/landscape designer who provided all technical background for Cinderella Busted, and an opinionated Nanday conure named Sassy, who made a cameo appearance in Christmas Watch, Book 2 of The Watchers series.
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August 11, 2025
Book Review: LOST HEART IN KING MANOR (Mysteries of the Heart Series) by Celeste Fenton
Romantic Suspense/Edgy Cozy Mystery 1st in SeriesSetting – Dost Island (fictional) off the coast of Massachusetts Publisher : Independently Published Publication date : April 24, 2025
About the Book At 45, Gabby Heart isn’t looking for drama—just quiet days on Dost Island running her village gift shop, teaching art, and keeping her past tucked safely away. But when her mother suffers a sudden health crisis, Gabby is pulled into a storm of family secrets, betrayal, and a dark legacy buried within the walls of the once-grand King Manor.
What was supposed to be a safe place for her mother’s recovery becomes the backdrop for a chilling mystery. Strange incidents begin to unfold, and it becomes clear: someone inside King Manor has a deadly agenda. As a hurricane traps Gabby inside the sprawling estate, she’s forced to work alongside two very different men—her maddeningly attractive officemate and a charming new neighbor, both hiding dark secrets.
One man may want her heart. The other may want her dead. But can she trust her instincts before it’s too late?
Review Gabby is dealing with her daughter Val moving across the country for college when she gets a call that her mother fell. Gabby rushes home to help her mother while still trying to keep her own work afloat. A second incident, with Gabby and her mother saved because of the cat, Gabby is at her wits end. There's an opening at ACHE, a senior rehab facility and her mother could recover there with the best of care. At least that's the promise.ACHE has taken over the King Manor, with all it's glam, history, and tales of secret treasure. The director of ACHE, Beth, is her mother's neighbor and her mother is recovering there as well. The two men edging into her life? Rick and Jay. Rick has secrets and Jay is a little too smooth.
When first a tornado and then hurricane hits the area, two residents are injured among other strange occurrences and the discovery of tunnels, the tension mounts. Both Rick and Jay are constant companions to Gabby but she's not sure she can trust either of them.
This is an interesting and engaging tale, with lots of unexpected twists and turns. What secrets is Rick hiding? What's Jarid's endgame? The pacing is strong and the reader is carried along to the final conclusion. This is a great start to what should be an interesting series.
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review. This has not affected the content of my review in any way.
Companion Guide to Lost Heart in King Manor: An inside look (Mysteries of a Heart Series)
Step deeper into the secrets of Dost Island with this richly illustrated companion to Lost Heart in King Manor, the first book in the Mysteries of a Heart series.Explore the island’s storm-swept cliffs, charming village life, and shadowy past through exclusive character profiles, behind-the-scenes insights, maps, photographs, and bonus content that brings Gabby Heart’s world to life. Meet the unforgettable residents—from the sharp-witted Jay Laird and enigmatic Rick Payne, to the wise and mysterious women of the Heart family—each with their own stories, scars, and secrets.This companion is your invitation behind the curtain.But be warned…On Dost Island, even the quietest corners have something to hide.
About the Author I have an M.Ed. and Ph.D. in education and have worked in higher education for over thirty-years. A former educator and lifelong reader, I began writing seriously at age 60. No one is more surprised than me, that in retirement, I found reward and occupation as an author.
My writing is fueled by a lifelong love of mystery and a fascination with the complexities of the human heart. As a widow, mother of adult twin sons, proud grandmother, dog lover, and semi-retired educator, I believe I have enough real-world experience to weave imagination with insight to create stories rich with emotion and suspense. My work blends romance, mystery, and heart—with healthy doses of humor and hope. I feel passionate about helping others realize that creativity doesn’t have an expiration date. When I’m not writing, reading, or plotting another plot twist, I like to explore small towns across America—setting out solo for month-long adventures much to the awe (and occasional alarm) of family and friends. My latest obsessions include escape rooms, mastering the perfect miter cut for a DIY bathroom remodel, training my cavalier spaniel to do a high five, and making the impossible decision of where to travel next.
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Companion Guide Purchase Link Amazon
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August 5, 2025
Book Review: WHISKERS & WITNESSES (A Purrs and Puzzles Cat Cafe Cozy Mystery) by Samantha Noble
A dead judge. A café full of curious cats. And me, Emma Carter—the prime suspect.
When a well-known Judge Harrington is found dead in my cozy cat café, I’m as shocked as anyone. I never thought my café, Purrs & Puzzles, would turn into the scene of a murder investigation. But when my rescue cats start bringing me clues—odd little “gifts” from the crime scene—I realize I’ve got a puzzle to solve.
With the help of my nosy friend Lizzie, Detective Jake Malone who’s allergic to cats, and a bunch of quirky regulars who know more than they’re saying, I’m diving headfirst into a tangle of secrets and lies. And uncover a secret my mom has been hiding.I must untangle the truth before I lose my café, my freedom - or worse, my life.
Review
The MC, Emma Carter, is likable and upbeat, except about the murder, and the cats - Cinnamon, Snowball, Patches, and Oreo - do their part. Her best best friend, Lizzie, helps, and the detective, allergic to cats, has his eye on Emma -perhaps for more than the murder. Emma has to deal with her usual customers, and some know more than they're sharing. This is a short, fast-paced cozy mystery ideal for a quick read to unwind. A fun read, especially for cat lovers.
AMAZON
About the Author
Samantha Noble is the author of the Hazelwood High Jinx and Purrs & Puzzles Cat Café cozy mystery series, where the gossip is juicy, the animals sometimes seem smarter than the humans, and the bodies always seem to turn up at the worst possible time.Set in small towns bursting with secrets (and the occasional sass from a parrot or a dog or a cat), Samantha’s mysteries blend humor, heart, and whodunits that’ll keep you guessing.
Whether you're following a curious innkeeper, a determined cat café owner, or a parrot with a taste for drama, you’re in for a delightful dose of cozy crime-solving. When she’s not writing or wrangling plot twists with her editors or VA Chad Penwright, or getting suggestions from her Beta Team or ARC team, Samantha is likely sipping something caffeinated, daydreaming about her next book cover, or driving around town plotting murders (fictional ones—promise!).
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