Christa Nardi's Blog, page 73

Blog Tour: COFFEE IS MURDER (A McKinley Mystery) by Carolyn Arnold

  You might want to rethink your morning routine. A cup a day won’t kill you, but a few might.
Their first case as private investigators have Sean, Sara, and Jimmy neck-deep in coffee beans trying to find a killer. With their client certain that her mother was poisoned through her coffee of the month club, it has them setting out to Williamsburg, Virginia. But instead of approaching matters from the traditional standpoint, Sean and Sara brew a robust plot and stir Jimmy into the blend, all to get close to their top suspect and grind out the truth.
Going undercover at Tasty Beans, the coffee company, the three of them work to expose the culprit before anyone else dies.
ReviewSara might be tempted to give up coffee, at least from Tasty Beans, when it seems that someone is poisoning the coffee! When arsenic is found to be the true cause of death in one woman's case, Sara, Sean and Jimmy jet out to Virginia to hopefully keep anyone else from dying. Of course, now that they are famous, they are in disguise and arrange for jobs at the Tasty Beans factory. Jimmy works with the truckers, Sara with the prime suspect in the manufacturing process, and Sean as a custodian. For whatever reason, no one seems very happy at Tasty Beans and that makes it hard to engage the other employees in idle gossip. In the meantime, rumors are that customers are calling and complaining of feeling sick after drinking the coffee. 

Arnold crafts an engaging story that kept me reading until I finished it. The philanthropy of Sara and Sean, as well as their sense of justice despite possible danger to themselves are nice touches that make the story enjoyable. Add in a bit of humor in the form of their disguises and this is fun read. This is the 9th book in the McKinley mystery series. It can be read as a stand alone, but I suspect it is better if you have the back story to Sara and Sean's wealth. The first one is on my kindle now.

About This Author Carolyn Arnold is an award-winning and International bestselling author, a blogger, and is published in IUeMag, a distinguished online magazine dedicated to inspiring people. She is also the proud founder of the Shining Soul site that is geared to healing, motivation, and self-empowerment.
Since she published in 2011, her books have been sold and downloaded well over half a million times. Titles in her Madison Knight, Brandon Fisher FBI, and McKinley Mystery series have all hit bestselling lists. Her work ranges from cozy mysteries to hard-boiled detective and FBI procedurals.
Born in a small town, Carolyn enjoys returning to her roots and spending time in the country reflecting on life and letting her imagination run wild. She currently lives in a city near Toronto with her husband and two beagles, Max and Chelsea.
Carolyn Arnold is an award-winning and International bestselling author, a blogger, and is published in IUeMag, a distinguished online magazine dedicated to inspiring people. She is also the proud founder of the Shining Soul site that is geared to healing, motivation, and self-empowerment.
Author Links: 
Website: https://carolynarnold.net 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Carolyn_Arnold 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCarolynArnold 
Purchase from Amazon

Tour Participants 
May 3 – Griperang's Bookmarks – Spotlight 
May 4 – Tea and A Book - Review, Excerpt 
May 5 – Melina's Book Blog - Review 
May 6 – Author Michele Lynn Seigfried's Blog - Spotlight, Excerpt 
May 7 – Lisa Ks Book Review - Review, Excerpt 
May 8 – StoreyBook Reviews - Review, Excerpt 
May 9 – View from the Birdhouse - Spotlight 
May 10 – off 
May 11 – deal sharing aunt – Spotlight, Excerpt 
May 12 – off 
May 13 – off 
May 14 – Frankie Bow - Excerpt 
May 15 – Nadaness In Motion – Review, Excerpt 
May 16 – off 
May 17 – off 
May 18 – Community Bookstop - Review 
May 19 – Babs Book Bistro - Spotlight 
May 20 – readalot - Review 
May 21 – Musings and Ramblings - Review, Excerpt 
May 22 – Laura's Interests - Review 
May 23 – Christa Reads and Writes - Review 
May 24 – LibriAmoriMiei – Review 
May 25 – Brooke Blogs – Review 
May 26 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – Spotlight 
May 27 - Check out the Tour Page for an except from the book!! 


    

Book Review: DEATH OF A BRIDE AND GROOM by Allan J. Emerson

Synopsis:


When the body of writer Iris Morland is discovered in full bridal array atop a gigantic wedding cake parade float, the little resort town of Honeymoon Falls is left reeling. Not only is its reputation as "the Romance Capital of the World" at risk, its very survival is threatened. Murder, it seems, has a chilling effect on those considering venues for potential nuptials.

Iris enjoyed betrayal, which makes half the people in town credible suspects. Among them is her husband, Kenneth, whose faltering grip on a mechanical mouse plunged him into a hideously embarrassing scene with Iris and her latest lover, television host Arnold Reifel. Arnold was finding the affair burdensome, and his wife, Marjorie, was seething because Iris, not content with appropriating her husband, had turned Marjorie's interior decoration schemes into a very public humiliation. Then there's haughty French film auteur, Pierre Blondin, in town filming his adaptation of Iris's novel. Did Iris trigger his murderous wrath by opposing a nude scene featuring ninety-five-year-old actress Hermione Hopkins?

Captain Will Halsey, head of Honeymoon Falls' three-person police force, has to find the killer in the crowd of Iris’s enemies, while coping with small-town politics, feuding among his subordinates, and the ferocious attentions of the media.

What Other Writers Say:

"Packed with mystery, humor, romance, and an intriguing cast of characters. Anxiously awaiting the next in the series!" —Mary Daheim, bestselling author of the Alpine/Emma Lord and Bed-and-Breakfast mystery series.

"Murder's a funny thing sometimes, and never more so than in Allan J. Emerson's fun, fast-paced novel DEATH OF A BRIDE AND GROOM." —Alice Duncan, bestselling author of the Daisy Gumm Majesty series.

"Written with a delightfully wry humor and an eye for detail, this intriguing tale has an ending you won’t see coming. A totally fun read."—Kate Kingsbury, bestselling author of the Pennyfoot Hotel and Manor House mysteries.

"Fast and funny with a quirky cast of supporting characters bent on keeping their secrets. The Honeymoon Falls series is off to a great start!" —Tamar Myers, author of the Den of Antiquity mysteries.

"A sly romp with a likable police chief who’s trying to keep his force of two from killing each other as he solves the murders."—Elizabeth Zelvin, three-time Agatha Award nominated author of the Bruce Kohler mystery series.
Review
Imagine a town with everything named along a wedding theme... you have to smile (or groan) at the street names even, but there is more humor in the story. Along with the wedding theme, romance is a given with honeymooners visiting this tourist attraction town, and the story comes through on that. When the two senior ladies trying to drive a huge wedding cake to the Wedding Daze parade staging area and cause a wreck, more than traffic citations are the result.  Little did the sisters know they had corpses as the bride and groom on top of that cake. Now Halsey and his two detectives have the chore of trying to solve the murder without looking completely incompetent.  

This is a fun, quick paced, and easy read. A bit corny at times, with some predictable  parts, but enjoyable just the same. As the story unfolds, Iris is the victim that it's easy to want dead and the suspect list just continues to grow as Halsey interviews her various conquests and almost gets taken in by one of the suspects. The resolution? Not obvious, but believable in terms of the murder. Romances and relationships evolve. The characters - especially Halsey are likable without being perfect. I hope to see some of them in future books...
About the Author:Allan Emerson is a Canadian writer who was born in Saskatchewan and brought up in small towns there and in British Columbia. He lived in Australia and New Zealand before settling on the west coast of Canada. As his mother could tell you, he's been making up stories since he was a little kid.
Death of a Bride and Groom is the first book in the Honeymoon Falls series. Although the town of Honeymoon Falls and all its inhabitants are purely fictional, the idea of marriage and murder in close proximity came to him when he was visiting Niagara Falls, and wondered about the lives of the permanent residents. 

Visit Allan at http://www.allanjemerson.com/

Buy Link:
AMAZON

Guest Post:

Today it's my pleasure to have Elaine Faber, author of the Black Cat Mysteries, here as my guest.  Her post on "Creating a Series" tells about the Black Cat Mysteries.  Spotlight and review of the third in the series follows the guest post.

Creating a Series - Thumper, the Cat in the Black Cat MysteriesElaine Faber
The novel : Authors write from our hearts and can’t help but inject many of our own ideas, humor, personality, fears or interests into our characters, particularly the protagonist. Though limited to the physical capabilities of a feline, Thumper, the cat in the Black Cat Mysteries, is best described as having human emotions, thoughts, ideas, and knowledge. With this in mind, Thumper, therefore, is much of me.
As a POV character in Black Cat’s Legacy, Thumper has waited for someone to return to solve the cold case murder from 25 years ago at the lodge. With the aid of his ancestors’ memories, he points out clues to help Kimberlee and her associates solve the mystery. Of course, someone stands in the way and creates chaos. Throw in a bit of romance and intrigue, a touch of espionage and a smidgen of fantasy and you have a real page turner.
The sequel : The author engages in a clever dance, writing a sequel to create what happens next. Assuming a mixed audience of fans from our first book and new readers starting with book two, we must give enough of what happened before to understand why this and that is happening in book two without spoiling book one.  
Thumper plays a bigger POV role in the sequel, Black Cat and the Lethal Lawyer. By meeting his soul-mate, Noe-Noe, a cream tabby with eyes the color or mustard and stripes the color of marigolds, he has opportunity for more POV scenes and humorous conversations. Set on a Texas horse ranch, Thumper must stop a killer bent on harming Grandmother, even though he doesn’t like her very much as she has her own wicked agenda.
The third in the series :  The third novel in a series must tie up all the loose ends within the three books, leaving the reader contented with the conclusion. As authors, we must answer all the questions satisfactorily and yet leave just the hint of a possible future plot.
In the novel, Black Cat and the Accidental Angel Thumper and Noe-Noe are left behind following an MVA. Thumper suffers a head injury and memory loss. For whatever reason, Noe-Noe says, “Call me Angel. I’m here to take care of you,” refusing to share their previous life. What follows is a journey where Thumper, now called Black Cat in their new home on an Emu farm, experiences a spiritual journey of human emotions that include fear, loss, grief, shame, faith, jealousy, despair and joy as he learns, with the assist of divine intervention, that there are more important things than knowing your own name. (yes…there is an angel)

What’s next ? In spite of my intention that my journeys with Black Cat are finished, one never knows what tomorrow brings. After all, as the muse for his character, he still lives within me, kicking and screaming to get out, wanting to share yet another adventure, even as I turn my attention to another series set during WWII.  ****
Elaine Faber is an active member of Sisters in Crime, Inspire Christian Writers and Cat Writers Association. Elaine lives in northern CA, with her tolerant husband and four house cats, including a tuxedo cat that looks a lot like Black Cat and three ferals that come to the back door night and morning looking for a hand-out! A portion of the proceeds from her Black Cat mysteries goes toward cat rescue organizations.
Elaine.Faber@mindcandymysteries   email
www.mindcandymysteries.com   http://facebook.elainefaber2  facebookhttp://tinyurl.com/lrvevgm   Black Cat’s Legacy - Amazonhttp://tinyurl.com/lg7yvgq    Black Cat and the Lethal Lawyer - Amazonhttp://tinyurl.com/nczzkd6    Black Cat and the Accidental Angel - Amazon
Review of BLACK CAT AND THE ACCIDENTAL ANGEL Black Cat (aka Thumper) and Noe-Noe are thrown from the car in their crate when their persons' car is hit and the door pops open.  Black Cat has a head injury and can't remember who he is or where "home" is, but Noe-Noe knows and won't tell him. As they try to find "home" they stow away in a truck and end up with John and his daughter Cindy. Cindy names them (appropriately) Black Cat and Angel. As the story unfolds it seems that Angel's notion that there is a reason they ended up with John and Cindy becomes more likely. Someone is threatening John and trying to make him give up his ranch.
In this third book, the point of view (POV) is not only Black Cat's, but also Angel's. Their discussions and problem-solving as well as Black Cat's male perspective countered by Angel's has a very human feel. Faber does a great job of weaving the conflicts between them - Black Cats desire to remember and find his persons, and Angels seeming reluctance - as well as painting a number of plausible suspects behind the threats to John and Cindy. I've read all three, and this is by far my favorite.

Blog Tour: BITE THE BISCUIT by Linda O. Johnston

Synopsis
Carrie Kennersly, a veterinary technician, has become known for offering healthy and popular dog treats at the clinic where she works. When the local bakery’s owner moves away, Carrie jumps at the chance to convert it into the Barkery, a shop to make and sell her canine delights.

But Myra Ethman, co-owner of another pet product store, hates the new competition. At the Barkery’s opening party, she badmouths Carrie’s homemade dog biscuits, insisting she’ll find a way to shut the place down. So when Myra is found dead with a Barkery biscuit beside her, Carrie must prove she didn’t do it before she’s collared for murder.
ReviewVet tech turned entrepreneur for both a bakery and barkery, Carrie Kennersly has her hands full. The elite Ethman family of the town own a resort, hold seats on the council, and own a rival pet store. Myra Ethman and Carrie get into an argument and then Myra is found dead and Carrie is a suspect. She finds herself trying to clear her name by identifying other possibilities for the two cops on the case. In the meantime, she's still not sure the two assistants, Judy and Diana, can get past their differences and thwarted aspirations to own the bakery to work with her. Two possible romantic interests, one of whom also had conflict with Myra, add to Carrie's distractions and keep the story interesting. 

The story line is well developed and Carrie as the protagonist is likable with both depth and believability. She has doubts but even while panicking thinks of donations for the homeless and the local animal shelter. There are a lot of secrets and possible suspects - Myra managed to make many people angry, including some of her relatives. The resolution makes sense but isn't obvious. I'll be looking for another in what I hope will be a new series. Bonus: a recipe for a dog treat and a people treat at the end!
About the Author Linda Johnston
Linda O. Johnston’s first published fiction appeared in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine and won the Robert L. Fish Memorial Award for Best First Mystery Short Story of the year. Since then, Linda, a former lawyer who is now a full-time writer, has published more short stories, novellas, and 38 romance and mystery novels, including the Pet Rescue Mystery Series, a spinoff from her Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime, and Harlequin Romantic Suspense as well as the Alpha Force paranormal romance miniseries for Harlequin Nocturne. She additionally writes the Superstition Mysteries for Midnight Ink.
Her latest cozy mystery series, the Barkery and Biscuits Mysteries also from Midnight Ink, kicked off this month with BITE THE BISCUIT.
** Photo by Dan Irvin Photography 

Author Links:
Webpage: www.LindaOJohnston.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LindaOJohnston

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Blog Tour: THE FINAL REVEILLE by Amanda Flower

Synopsis:
As the director of Barton Farm, a living history museum in Ohio, Kelsey Cambridge is underpaid and underappreciated, but she loves every minute of it. Determined to keep the struggling farm open, she plans to impress the museum’s wealthy benefactress, Cynthia Cherry, with a Civil War reenactment on the farm’s grounds.

Unfortunately, the first shot in the battle isn’t from a period soldier. It’s from Cynthia’s greedy nephew, Maxwell, who fires a threat at Kelsey to cut the museum’s funding. The next morning, things go from bad to worse when Kelsey discovers Maxwell dead. Now Kelsey is the police’s number one suspect, and she must start her own investigation to save Barton Farm . . . and herself.
Review: Barton Farm is a living history museum and farm and Kelsey is responsible for tours and civil war re-enactment, and trying to keep the place from shutting down. The immediate villain in the story is Maxwell who wants the museum shut down, but then he's killed. Who killed Maxwell becomes the focus in this delightful whodunit. 
Kelsey is a likable and strong heroine and sleuth. Cynthia, Portia, Ashland, and the other characters add to the story with a bit of humor. Like history? Like mystery?  THE FINAL REVEILLE is the book to read.
About the Author:
Amanda Flower, a two-time Agatha Award-nominated mystery author, started her writing career in elementary school when she read a story she wrote to her sixth grade class and had the class in stitches with her description of being stuck on the top of a Ferris wheel. She knew at that moment she’d found her calling of making people laugh with her words. She also writes mysteries as national bestselling author Isabella Alan. In addition to being an author, Amanda is an academic librarian for a small college near Cleveland.
Author Links:

Website: http://amandaflower.com/

Pen Name Website: http://isabellaalan.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/aflowerwriter

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3412728.Amanda_Flower

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/aflowerwriter/

Purchase Links:
Amazon B&N
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Guest Post by D D Marx author of BEYOND BELIEVING

Today, it's my pleasure to welcome DD Marx, author of BEYOND BELIEVING:

Where is Bobby Kristina?by DD Marx
This is a tragic story about a troubled girl who lost her mother, Whitney Houston, in a senseless, meaningless and preventable way. She lives in the public eye and cannot hide and grieve privately. In public, she’s tried to display strength but has also been extremely vocal about her tremendous loss and the pain she endured daily from the loss of her mom. Now it seems that she has followed closely in her mother’s footsteps and sadly suffered a similar demise.

I can’t help but continue to think about her and her current “state”. She is being kept alive on life support, is in a coma and has had zero signs of improvement for over two months. I certainly can understand and appreciate the family’s grief and the absolute want and need to fight to do whatever they can to try to get her back. When is enough, enough? I am not judging just more questioning what would I do if faced with similar choices? They certainly have the financial means to keep her alive but is it for them or for her? Something that has been on my mind since the story broke. After writing a novel about love and loss and believing in an after-life, are they just prolonging her pain by keeping her here in the physical world? Can she see her mom but not get to her because the people here aren’t willing to let her go?

When I lost my friend Dan it was instant. He was thrown from the vehicle and died on impact. When it happened, I cried and prayed, “Why couldn’t he break a leg, ribs or his clavicle? Why did he have to die? Why was he taken so suddenly and at such a young age?” I just kept asking, over and over, so many “whys”! I don’t wish it upon anyone, to be put in a position to have to choose life or death, to continue hoping or give up. I just keep them all in my prayers and hope it ends in peace, for all of them, sometime soon.



Book Description:

When Olivia gets news of her best friend Dan’s fatal car accident, her life is shattered. Consumed with grief and struggling to find any meaning or purpose to life, she trudges along with a gaping void in her heart. Finally, when her frustration reaches its peak, Olivia decides to put her trust in the depth of friendship the two of them shared. That trust finally allows him to breakthrough to her, and Dan begins to guide Olivia through the twists and turns of her life, leading to something new and entirely unexpected.

When Olivia exposes a gigantic internal scandal at work, her career implodes. With no job and nowhere to turn, she escapes to Palm Springs for the sympathy and care of her beloved cousin, Garrett. However, with only weeks left before the opening of his newest store, “Gin and Tonic,” Garrett isn’t quite the comfort Olivia had expected. She yet again tries to find her way, and in the process meets someone who begins to fill that void in her heart. She’s never before experienced a love like this; it heals her soul and rekindles her spirit – and just may have been the design of her dearly departed friend all along.

Beyond Believing is a sweet, funny, and romantic story that touches the heart, serves up delicious twists and turns, and shows the reader that there’s no such thing as “coincidence.” Author D.D. Marx regards this book as her “love letter to friendship,” written in memory of her best friend, Dan.

Author's Bio:
D.D. Marx is a contemporary romantic fiction writer and blogger, as well as a lover of all things social. She is a graduate of the University of Dayton, as well as the Second City program in Chicago, where she currently resides. A proud aunt and self-described hopeless romantic, Marx has always has a knack for humorous and engaging storytelling. Her pen name is a dedication to her beloved friend Dan, who continues to guide and inspire her in her daily life.



Connect with D.D.: Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Pinterest
Where to buy the book:
Author's Website
Amazon
Barnes & Noble




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SPOTLIGHT: THE DUKE CONSPIRACY by Wendy May Andrews

The Duke Conspiracy is a 96,000 word Sweet Regency Romance

Tagline:

A spying debutante, a duke, and a conspiracy. Can love be found despite their feud?

Synopsis:

Miss Rosamund Smythe, the only daughter of a baron diplomat, is finding the Season to be a dead bore. After her stint at spying while in Vienna with her father, she wants a higher purpose in life than “just” being a wife.

His Grace, Alexander Milton, the Duke of Wrentham, wants a quiet life with a “proper” lady as his wife after the tumultuous childhood he had. His parents had fought viciously, lied often, and Alex secretly wonders if he was even his father’s son.

Rose and Alex grew up on neighboring estates and have been best friends since she was four years old but a family feud has torn their friendship apart.

At a Society event Rose overhears a plot to entrap Alex into a marriage of convenience. Her loyalty to their old friendship as well as her knowledge of the conspirator, Sir Jason Broderick, causes Rose to overcome her aversion to Wrentham in order to warn him of his danger. Alex’s complicated childhood has caused him to despise all forms of deception so Rose avoids telling him how she knows so much about Sir Broderick.

When Rose is abducted by Sir Broderick to prevent her interference, Alex must deal with his own conflicted feelings to help her rescue herself. Can they claim their happily ever after despite the turmoil?
Buy Links:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/18YsbHK
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1121452824?ean=2940151488785iTunes: https://itun.es/ca/lpls6.l

Excerpt:
Alex gazed at his old friend in admiration. If anyone had ever told him he would be standing in Burlington House surrounded by Elgin’s Marbles debating with Miss Rosamund Smythe about who might be conspiring to entrap him into marriage, he would never have believed such a claim. But here they were. And she looked mighty fetching as she gazed up at him expectantly. He had to make an effort to remember what she had said. Oh yes, something about ideas to investigate. He wondered absently what she could possibly know about investigations and clues and all that. But she was right. They needed to have a direction. The only trouble was he was drawing a blank about any possible ideas.

All he could do was shrug helplessly. “I am so sorry, Rose, but I have absolutely no idea where to start. To the best of my knowledge I have never had any dealings with Broderick. I developed an instant dislike of the man upon first making his acquaintance, but I cannot even tell you why, as we have barely conversed.”

The duke was clearly flabbergasted over this development and was even slightly ashamed to not have a ready solution. Rose must have realized this. She hastened to reassure him. “Never mind about that. We both agreed earlier that the best place for us to start is with Lady Anne. That will have to be my job, as you will just be walking straight into their plot if you try to do anything about it. Now, I really must be going, so we must hurry and establish another appointment to meet up to discuss any of our findings. In the meantime, you should speak to your solicitors or man of affairs or whatever you might have along those lines and see if they are aware of any issues Broderick might have with you. Those gentlemen might know more on the subject than you.”

“How did you get so smart about such things?”

Alex was intrigued by the blush that spread over her face at this unanswerable question. The only thing she could offer was “My father is a diplomat,” with as much dignity as possible.

Alex allowed the moment to pass and was rewarded by the look of relief on her face. He hurried to make an appointment as they saw her maid approaching. “Would it be remarked upon if you come here again tomorrow or the next day?”

“Probably not,” Rose answered. “My mother never rises before noon and is really only concerned with how I spend my evenings. But you had best give me at least one day to try to make the acquaintance of Lady Anne, so let us say the day after tomorrow. That gives me a day and a half to gather as much information as possible. I shall start with my friend Lady Elizabeth. She is a font of knowledge about the ton, as well as being friendly with Lady Anne.” While she was speaking she fumbled with her drawing supplies, finally tucking them under her arm. “Wish me luck,” she concluded as she once more faced the duke.

The duke watched a myriad of emotions chase themselves across his companion’s face. He was unable to identify most of them, but he thought she looked rather wistful as she offered him a brief curtsy before she hurried away without another word.

Alex stood in the same spot for several moments, watching her retreating figure, wondering if she would look back before exiting the building. He was unprepared for the profound disappointment that swept over him as she strode away with purpose, never once glancing back in his direction. Slowly bringing his focus back to the statue she had been sketching, the duke allowed the entire interlude to play itself out in his mind. Giving his head a shake to rid himself of the melancholy that had befallen him, he followed in her footsteps and strode from the hall.


About the Author: Wendy May Andrews

Wendy May Andrews has been reading whatever she could get her hands on since the age of five. She has been writing for almost as long but hasn’t been sharing those stories with anyone but her mother until recently. Wendy lives in Toronto with her own real-life hero. When not writing or reading, they love to travel wherever the mood takes them.


Website:
http://www.wendymayandrews.com
Social Media:www.facebook.com/WendyMayAndrews
Twitter: @WendyMayAndrews
Top Ten Reasons I Love Regency Romance by Wendy May Andrews
10. All the Books I get to read in the name of Research – as the Regency era is my favorite period to read about, and a writer really must keep abreast of what is current on the marketplace, it could actually be considered a tax deductible expense ;-)

9. The Settings – Regency era England had spectacular decor and architecture. I find it a challenge to sufficiently describe these but they are a great pleasure and one of the reasons I love Regencies.

8. The Clothes – I am sure wearing all those layers regularly would be wearying today, but everything a Regency lady wore was so elegant. And there was a specific, appropriate gown to be worn for each occasion. A lady could change her clothes up to six times a day! Gentlemen, too, had elaborate, spectacular wardrobes. I would have loved to see that time with my own eyes. It is a pleasure to write about.

7. The Manners – the lords and ladies of Regency England had such impeccable manners. They were so proper and there were quite rigid rules involving any social interactions. But it’s so fun to read how the characters either circumvent these rules or accomplish their ends within them.

6. The Vocabulary – connected with the correct manners, Regency lords and ladies were very well read and had a much more extensive vocabulary than most people today. And they had hilarious expressions for things, like bosky, foxed, or disguised means drunk and blunt, brass, and ready refer to money.

5. The Conflicts – Since the Regency era also coincides with the Industrial Revolution there were so many changes taking place. Women were gaining rights, and many members of the ton were gaining or losing their wealth based on various inventions. It is a fascinating time period.

4. The Research – There are reams of information available about the Regency era. I spend hours researching. So many fascinating things were taking place politically with the Napoleonic wars and then all the negotiations when the war ended. Fashions were changing. Industrialization brought modern conveniences.

3. Jane Austen – really, need I say more? Who doesn’t love her? Austen’s writings were contemporary for her but they have stood the test of time.

2. The Excitement – Regency romances always hold such an edge of excitement. The lords and ladies were so sly with their speech. There are so many subtleties; most Regencies need to be read carefully to catch the nuances. The conflicts and developments of the times lead to many exciting twists and turns to the story.

1. Georgette Heyer – the number one reason why I love Regency Romances. Georgette Heyer, the godmother of the genre, was amazing. Her comedic timing and use of tension and conflict keep readers coming back for more. I love to read and reread her books over and over.

Blog Tour: GUEST POST by Amy M. Reade (GHOSTS OF PEPPERNELL MANOR)

Today, it's my pleasure to have Amy M. Reade, author of the The Ghosts of Peppernell Manor as my guest to talk about becoming a writer.

Five Things I Wish I had Known Before Becoming an Author
by Amy M. Reade
When I started my first novel, Secrets of Hallstead House, I had no plans to submit it to a publisher. But the more I wrote and the further I got into the story, I began to think that I probably should submit it to someone because it was too much work to do for nothing.

I had no idea what I was getting into. The very first person who rejected the book said it was good, but I had no online presence. So I signed up for a Facebook account, my previous declarations that I would never join Facebook notwithstanding (never say never).

Once the book was accepted for publication, I learned very quickly that my dreams of sitting back and waiting for those royalty checks to roll in were just that—dreams. And thus, firmly planted in reality, here are the five things I wish I had known before becoming an author:

1. Unless you’re J.K. Rowling or John Grisham or some other author who’s sold a million billion books, you have to do most of the legwork to market yourself. If you have a publisher, the publicity department should help you out, but they have so many authors to promote that they can’t devote tons of time and resources to your book. So you have to get out there and promote it yourself. This takes an incredible amount of time and energy. It helps if you’re an extrovert. After I got a personal page on Facebook, I then created an author page, then I started a blog, then I designed my own website, then I ventured into the Twitterverse. I’ve had a steep learning curve, but guess what? I love it.

2. I had no idea how many genres of books there were until I had to pick one for my first novel. Did you know there are at least thirty-six subgenres of romance? Did you know there are at least twenty suspense subgenres and a minimum of twenty-two mystery/crime subgenres? It’s very hard to pick just one or two subgenres for a book, but it’s necessary because that’s how books are sold online, especially through Amazon which, for better or worse, is how most books are sold online.

3. You’ve probably heard the old adage “you have to spend money to make money.” That is almost my mantra now. I’ve had to shell out money for author swag, books to give away, transportation and hotel fare for writers’ conferences, and several blog tours. It’s a very expensive journey. From what I’ve read, most authors spend their first few books in the red because they have to spend so much to promote themselves. It’s not until the third book that the great majority of authors start to break even.

4. Authors read all the time! This one should have been quite obvious, and it was, but I never realized the extent to which other authors read. I love to read and I read during every spare minute, but I’m a rookie compared to other authors I’ve met. I’m constantly amazed at the amount of reading that other writers can accomplish in a day.

5. The writers I’ve been lucky enough to meet, whether in person or online, are the most generous, helpful, kind, supportive, gracious, and interesting group of people I’ve ever met. It may be a rat race to get readers and followers and fans, but it’s not a competition. There’s room for everyone’s books on the bookshelves and most authors seem to acknowledge this. They yearn to connect with other writers and share stories—both good and bad—as well as tips and encouragement.

Why do I wish I had known #5 before I became a writer? Because if I had known it, I would have become a writer sooner. And despite the hard work and the disappointments that come with every job, including that of a writer, I can no longer imagine doing anything else.

I invite you to have a look at my most recent romantic suspense novel, The Ghosts of Peppernell Manor. As you may have guessed from the title, the novel is set at Peppernell Manor, an antebellum plantation near Charleston, South Carolina, that has seen better days. But when its owner hires restoration specialist Carleigh Warner to oversee its return to grandeur, disagreements over the property’s future threaten to tear the Peppernell family apart. Carleigh is swept unwittingly into a whorl of secrets that she must face to protect her future and her daughter’s life.

I also invite you to visit me online, where I love connecting with readers. You can find me at the following places:  Website: http://www.amymreade.com (my website has a page listing my appearances)

Blog: http://amreade.wordpress.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/amreadeauthor

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



About This Author

Amy M. Reade is also the author of Secrets of Hallstead House, a book set in the Thousand Islands of northern New York, where Amy grew up. After graduating from Cornell University, she went on to law school at Indiana University in Bloomington. She practiced law in New York City before moving to southern New Jersey, where, in addition to writing, she is a wife, a full-time mom and a volunteer in school, church and community groups. She lives just a stone’s throw from the Atlantic Ocean with her husband and three children as well as a dog and two cats. She loves cooking and all things Hawaii and is currently at work on her next novel. 
Thank you Amy for joining us today!  Now let's take a look at...
GHOSTS OF PEPPERNELL MANORSynopsis:

“Do you know what stories Sarah could tell you about the things that happened in these little cabins? They’d curl that pretty red hair of yours.”

Outside of Charleston, South Carolina, beyond hanging curtains of Spanish moss, at the end of a shaded tunnel of overarching oaks, stands the antebellum mansion of Peppernell Manor in all its faded grandeur. At the request of her friend Evie Peppernell, recently divorced Carleigh Warner and her young daughter Lucy have come to the plantation house to refurbish the interior. But the tall white columns and black shutters hide a dark history of slavery, violence, and greed. The ghost of a former slave is said to haunt the home, and Carleigh is told she disapproves of her restoration efforts. And beneath the polite hospitality of the Peppernell family lie simmering resentments and poisonous secrets that culminate in murder—and place Carleigh and her child in grave danger…

Blog Tour: DOUBLE DUPLICITY - A Shandra Higheagle Mystery by Paty Jager

Synopsis:


On the eve of the biggest art event at Huckleberry Mountain Resort, potter Shandra Higheagle finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation. She’s ruled out as a suspect, but now it’s up to her to prove the friend she witnessed fleeing the scene was just as innocent. With help from her recently deceased Nez Perce grandmother, Shandra becomes more confused than ever but just as determined to discover the truth.

Detective Ryan Greer prides himself on solving crimes and refuses to ignore a single clue, including Shandra Higheagle’s visions. While Shandra is hesitant to trust her dreams, Ryan believes in them and believes in her.

Can the pair uncover enough clues for Ryan to make an arrest before one of them becomes the next victim?

Review

The mystery is rich in Native American art and culture, including communication with the recently deceased. It is the setting and the culture that provide a different feel for this mystery as Shandra and the detective work to solve the murder. Complicating are family dynamics and conflict. Even with support from Nez Perce, there are many suspects and danger increases as they get closer. The ending is not obvious and that is always a plus. Jager blends culture, small town issues, family conflict, and murder into an enjoyable read. I hope there are more Shandra Higheagle mysteries. 
About This Author

Award-winning author Paty Jager and her husband raise alfalfa hay in rural eastern Oregon. On her road to publication she wrote freelance articles for two local newspapers and enjoyed her job with the County Extension service as a 4-H Program Assistant. Raising hay and cattle, riding horses, and battling rattlesnakes, she not only writes the western lifestyle, she lives it.

All her work has Western or Native American elements in them along with hints of humor and engaging characters. Her penchant for research takes her on side trips that eventually turn into yet another story.

Author Links:

blog; Writing into the Sunset

her website; http://www.patyjager.net

Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/#!/paty.jager , Goodreadshttp://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1005334.Paty_Jager

twitter; @patyjag

Purchase Links

Windtree Press http://windtreepress.com/portfolio/double-duplicity/

Amazon http://authl.it/2ng

Kobo http://store.kobobooks.com/search?Query=Double+Duplicity

Nook http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/double-duplicity-paty-jager/1120790322

Apple https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id942249867


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Blog Tour: LOWCOUNTRY BONEYARD (A Liz Talbot Mystery Book 3) by Susan M. Boyer

Synopsis

Where is Kent Heyward? The twenty-three-year-old heiress from one of Charleston’s oldest families vanished a month ago. When her father hires private investigator Liz Talbot, Liz suspects the most difficult part of her job will be convincing the patriarch his daughter tired of his overbearing nature and left town. That’s what the Charleston Police Department believes.

But behind the garden walls South of Broad, family secrets pop up like weeds in the azaleas. The neighbors recollect violent arguments between Kent and her parents. Eccentric twin uncles and a gaggle of cousins covet the family fortune. And the lingering spirit of a Civil-War-era debutante may know something if Colleen, Liz’s dead best friend, can get her to talk.

Liz juggles her case, the partner she’s in love with, and the family she adores. But the closer she gets to what has become of Kent, the closer Liz dances to her own grave.
Review
Liz Talbot is called in a month after Kent goes missing. The police have decided that Kent is not missing, but rather left of her own accord. As Liz asks questions and uncovers some family secrets, Liz isn't so sure. Colleen, a ghost is also prompting her along the way. Liz has to be sure to have her ear buds in so if she responds to Colleen and someone hears her, the assumption will be she is talking to a real person not crazy. Amidst the mystery is the relationship between Liz and Nate, neither of which wants to leave their roots, and in Liz's case, Colleen. Despite personal issues, Nate helps with the case and the whodunit is wrapped up nicely. In case the reader missed a clue along the way, Liz and Nate debrief at the end.
This is the third in the series, following LOWCOUNTRY BOIL and LOWCOUNTRY BOMBSHELL. For the story of Kent and the relationship between Nate and Liz, this LOWCOUNTRY BONEYARD can easily be read as a stand alone. I haven't read the first two but I gathered from the descriptions and reviews, that Colleen's history and her draw for Liz are set out in these first two books. That said, you might want to start at the beginning with this series.
About This Author

Susan M. Boyer is the author of the USA TODAY bestselling Liz Talbot mystery series. Her debut novel, Lowcountry Boil, won the 2012 Agatha Award for Best First Novel, the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense, and garnered several other award nominations. Susan loves beaches, Southern food, and small towns where everyone knows everyone, and everyone has crazy relatives. You’ll find all of the above in her novels.

Susan lives in Greenville, SC, with her husband and an inordinate number of houseplants.
Author Links:
http://www.susanmboyerbooks.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Susanmboyerbooks

https://twitter.com/susanmboyer

https://www.pinterest.com/susanmboyer/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5895680.Susan_M_Boyer

Purchase Links:
Amazon B&N Kobo Google Play