Rachael Stapleton's Blog, page 6

Check out Book Two in SC Alban's Strega Series

Barely Living Alive, Book Two in The Strega Series, releases TODAY, November 15, 2016!

With her four-hundred-year-old curse finally lifted, Kate Martins now knows who she is. She has regained the power of the Strega Negri and is ready to unleash all kinds of hell on her tormentor and husband, Alessandro. Especially since he sent her destined love, Gio, into a coma where he is trapped between worlds and unable to communicate. With Claire and Willem at her side, Kate follows Alessandro’s trail straight into San Francisco’s magical underground. But, with Alessandro tapping into dark magic and the Dark Lord Rau now in the mix, Kate realizes that she just may have bitten off more than she can chew.

Download your copy of the highly anticipated follow up to A Life Without Living today! #ParanormalThriller #WitchyRomance #NewRelease

myBook.to/BarelyLivingAlive
***Review to follow***

Meet Today's Guest Lena Gregory: Cozy Mystery Author of Death at First Sight

Death at First Sight (Bay Island Psychic Mystery #1)

I received my advanced copy of Death at First Sight, the FIRST IN A VISIONARY NEW MYSTERY SERIES by Lena Gregory over a month ago and devoured it in a matter of days. I love a good cozy book right before bed, and this charming story about Psychic Shop owner Cass Donovan did not disappoint. I stayed up far too late into the evening because I couldn't put it down. A well-crafted mystery with a quirky cast of characters, and plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing to the end. I highly recommend this book!
It doesn’t take a crystal ball to see that something’s not right on Bay Island...

Since she left her psychiatric practice in New York City to open up a psychic shop in her hometown on Long Island, Cass Donovan has given her fair share of readings to conflicted customers. But what she sees in Ellie Hawkins’ future doesn’t bode well.

When Ellie’s mother Marge publicly confronts Cass about the reading, the embarrassment makes her want to curl up and die. But when she later stumbles across Marge’s body—and is arrested for her murder—Cass is suddenly the star of Bay Island’s rumor mill.

Out on bail, Cass is determined to prove her innocence and save Ellie from meeting the fate in her unfortunate vision. But even with the help of her friends Bee and Stephanie, Cass will have to channel some serious sleuthing instinct to find the real killer...


Brushes With the Paranormal
Lena Gregory
Have you ever had a brush with the paranormal? And encounter you couldn’t quite explain away, no matter how hard you tried to convince yourself there was a logical explanation? I’ve had several over the years, but I’ll only share a couple.
I have three kids, and not one of them slept through the night, so I can only assume it’s something I did wrong. Of course, neither my husband nor I sleep through the night either, so I guess it’s no surprise.

Anyway, one night, when my middle guy, Nicky, was around a year and a half old, he just would not go to sleep. I was so exhausted I couldn’t keep my eyes open another minute, and I was afraid to bring him in my bed for fear he’d fall down the stairs if he got up and wandered, which he did even then, so I crawled into the crib with him and closed my eyes.

The next think I knew, someone was shaking my shoulder. Startled, I opened my eyes and looked up, fully expecting to find my husband standing over me wondering what in the world was going on, but there was no one there. I was absolutely positive a hand had gripped my shoulder and shaken me, so I sat up and looked around the room, figuring either my husband or my ten-year-old daughter had tried to wake me then walked away when I didn’t respond.

When I looked down, I didn’t see Nicky. Terrified, I jumped up and found him tangled in the blanket. I quickly unwrapped the blanket from his head. His face was beet red, and he was breathing hard but, thankfully, he was okay. It might have ended much differently if something hadn’t nudged me awake that morning. When I finally calmed down enough to get up, my husband and daughter were both still asleep and hadn’t been up to wake me.

To this day, sixteen years later, I still get chills and hug my son whenever that memory surfaces.

On a lighter note, I used to teach dance for a living, until Nicky was about three. I’d always brought my kids to the studio with me while I was teaching, but he couldn’t handle the noise. The kids talking and laughing, the music blasting, tap shoes hitting the wood floor, all proved to be too much for him. He would always want to be in my arms with his hands over his ears.

Within the year, he was diagnosed on the autistic spectrum. He needed physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech, so I gave up teaching and started cleaning houses to give me the flexibility necessary to bring him to therapy five days a week.

One of the houses I took was a beautiful, old house on the bay. The view was gorgeous, as was the house, which was built in the 1800s. One of the first times I went in to clean, I put the garbage pail back in the bathroom beside the shower. Then I realized there was an old stain beneath the pipe under the sink where the pail had been. I figured it must leak sometimes and put the pail back under it. When I returned a few minutes later, the pail was beside the shower again.

That freaked me out a little, but I figured maybe I’d left the floor a little wet and it slid over a couple of feet, or maybe I’d meant to put it under the pipe but then forgot to actually do it. So, I made sure the floor was dry and put it back. The next time I looked in the bathroom, it was back beside the shower. Needless to say, that’s where it stayed that time.

Every time I returned to the house after that day, I put the pail under the pipe and it stayed where it was.

Then, one day, I was in the basement doing laundry when there was a weird sort of scratchy, tapping sound. It was coming from the ceiling rafters in the basement beneath the foyer. It definitely freaked me out, but I finally decided it must be mice or something, and I filed the incident away to use in a book somewhere down the line—which I haven’t yet but still intend to.

When the homeowner asked how everything was going and if I was finding everything okay, I told her everything was fine, but I thought the house was haunted, and I sort of laughed.

She laughed too and asked me what had happened.

I told her about the garbage pail, but not the tapping, since I’d already explained that to myself.

She then told me the house definitely was haunted, and what was now the foyer was originally a bedroom, and someone died in there. She also said they often here a strange knocking sound in the foyer.

The existence of the unexplainable has always fascinated me. Is there truly a world beyond our own that sometimes overlaps with ours? Or are we just creatures with extremely vivid imaginations?

Cass Donovan, from Death at First Sight, makes a living delving into that world, “contacting” the dead. At least, that’s what her customers think. She thinks she’s just very intuitive. What do you think?

Have you ever had a brush with the paranormal? Leave a comment and let me know!




****Review to Follow***



Rafflecopter Code: a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Traveling Bibliophile Series: Happy to Announce that my Tour is all Booked.

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The Traveling Bibliophile Series
Temple of Indra's Books 1-4

Check out the schedule:
January 5 – The Self-Rescue Princess - CHARACTER INTERVIEW

January 6 – The Book's the Thing - REVIEW, GIVEAWAY

January 7 - Books,Dreams,Life - GUEST POST, SPOTLIGHT

January 8 – Deal Sharing Aunt - INTERVIEW, GIVEAWAY

January 8 – Island Confidential - GUEST POST, SPOTLIGHT

January 9 – Readsalot - SPOTLIGHT

January 10 – T's Stuff - INTERVIEW, SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY

January 11 – Sleuth Cafe - REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST, GIVEAWAY

January 12 – StoreyBook Reviews - REVIEW, GIVEAWAY

January 13 – Community Bookstop - REVIEW, GIVEAWAY

January 14 – A Holland Reads - CHARACTER GUEST POST, SPOTLIGHT

January 15 – 3 Partners in shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, too! - SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY

January 16 – Celticlady's Reviews - SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY

January 17 – Nadaness In Motion - REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST, GIVEAWAY

 January 18 – Polished Nails and Puppy Dog Tales – REVIEW

Compliments of Great Escapes Tours

Mystery Revealed: Happy To Announce My Time Traveling Bibliophile Series Tour Dates

[image error]
The Traveling Bibliophile Series
Temple of Indra's Books 1-4

Check out the schedule:
January 5 – The Self-Rescue Princess - CHARACTER INTERVIEW

January 6 – The Book's the Thing - REVIEW, GIVEAWAY

January 7 - Books,Dreams,Life - GUEST POST, SPOTLIGHT

January 8 – Deal Sharing Aunt - INTERVIEW, GIVEAWAY

January 8 – Island Confidential - GUEST POST, SPOTLIGHT

January 9 – Readsalot - SPOTLIGHT

January 10 – T's Stuff - INTERVIEW, SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY

January 11 – Sleuth Cafe - REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST, GIVEAWAY

January 12 – StoreyBook Reviews - REVIEW, GIVEAWAY

January 13 – Community Bookstop - REVIEW, GIVEAWAY

January 14 – A Holland Reads - CHARACTER GUEST POST, SPOTLIGHT

January 15 – 3 Partners in shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, too! - SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY

January 16 – Celticlady's Reviews - SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY

January 17 – Nadaness In Motion - REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST, GIVEAWAY

 January 18 – Polished Nails and Puppy Dog Tales – REVIEW

Compliments of Great Escapes Tours

Mystery Revealed: Happy To Announce My Time Traveling Bibliophile Book Series Tour Dates

[image error]
The Traveling Bibliophile Series
Temple of Indra's Books 1-4

Check out the schedule:
January 5 – The Self-Rescue Princess - CHARACTER INTERVIEW

January 6 – The Book's the Thing - REVIEW, GIVEAWAY

January 7 - Books,Dreams,Life - GUEST POST, SPOTLIGHT

January 8 – Deal Sharing Aunt - INTERVIEW, GIVEAWAY

January 8 – Island Confidential - GUEST POST, SPOTLIGHT

January 9 – Readsalot - SPOTLIGHT

January 10 – T's Stuff - INTERVIEW, SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY

January 11 – Sleuth Cafe - REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST, GIVEAWAY

January 12 – StoreyBook Reviews - REVIEW, GIVEAWAY

January 13 – Community Bookstop - REVIEW, GIVEAWAY

January 14 – A Holland Reads - CHARACTER GUEST POST, SPOTLIGHT

January 15 – 3 Partners in shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, too! - SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY

January 16 – Celticlady's Reviews - SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY

January 17 – Nadaness In Motion - REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST, GIVEAWAY

 January 18 – Polished Nails and Puppy Dog Tales – REVIEW

Compliments of Great Escapes Tours

Looking for a Spooky Read to Put you in the Halloween Spirit: Check Out Solstice Publishing's Anthology's

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep Vol 3
Welcome to your worst nightmare. Where creatures creep, bad guys or gals extract trouble where there is none, and you are guaranteed not to have a good night’s sleep.
Solstice Shadows and eight fabulous authors team up to bring you, our faithful readers, scary tales from all around the world.



http://bookgoodies.com/a/B01M29O4I9
Blurb
Eight tales sure to send your goosebumps screaming in terror…
The Twilight Zone meets Hitchcock…
Do you see me now?
Nothing is as it seems…
Wake Up to Your Worst Nightmare…It’s dark magic; get the picture?Do captured Spirits really exist?
A dream house of mystery…
Cora inherits a haunted castle.
Authors Christopher Davis, Rocky Rochford, Leah Hamrick, S@yr, M.A. Cortez, P.J. Lawton, CS Patra, and E.B. Sullivan bring your worst nightmares to life in this scary, can’t put down anthology.
https://youtu.be/oWeMppIdfe8


While you’re out and about for these wonderfully terrifying stories, check out our Halloween cookbook, to prepare wonderfully themed meals!

http://solsticepublishing.com/ghoulish-delights-for-your-halloween-fun/

Have a scary time and don’t forget to leave the lights on!
Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep Vol 4
Welcome to your worst nightmare. Sleep is highly overrated. You could be reading a book guaranteed to keep awake long after the kiddos are in bed and the Halloween candy is tempting you to grab some. Please enjoy these eight tales sure to send you to hiding under the bed!

Solstice Shadows and eight fabulous authors team up to bring you, our faithful readers, creepy tales from all around the world.



http://bookgoodies.com/a/B01M7URA5Z
Blurb

Sleep is impossible after reading these eight tales of things that go bump in the night…
Mysterious Warrior Battles Evil Coven…
Haunted wedding dress horror story…
Every secret has a cost…
Who am I and why am I here?
Long hidden secrets emerge from the pond…
Unexpected consequences from an interruption…
Don’t plan on the usual housewarming!
The perfect relationship from hell!
Sadie K. Frazier, Josie Montano, S.C. Alban, Johnny Gunn, K.C. Sprayberry, Debbie De Louise, Archimede Fusillo, and Alex Pilalis present eight stories of horror sure to have you screaming!

https://youtu.be/2tr5-Z_KNDM

While you’re out and about for these wonderfully terrifying stories, check out our Halloween cookbook, to prepare wonderfully themed meals!

http://solsticepublishing.com/ghoulish-delights-for-your-halloween-fun/


Have a scary time and don’t forget to leave the lights on!

Book Review of JANET FINSILVER's Murder at the Mansion

Genre – Cozy
MysterySeries: A Kelly Jackson Mystery Publisher: Lyrical Underground

Fortunes, fineries, and foul play . . .
Murder at the Mansion by JANET FINSILVER is the second book in the Kelly Jackson Mystery series. It’s whale-watching season in Redwood Cove, and B&B manager Kelly Jackson’s battening down the hatches for the tourist rush at Redwood Heights—a Victorian-style estate owned by her boss. And due to recent jewelry thefts, her duties include keeping track of the many dust-covered artifacts spread throughout the property. I enjoyed the first book and was pretty pumped to read the second installment. Unfortunately, I was a little underwhelmed by the first quarter of the book. Kelly Jackson's arrival back at Redwood Cove Bed-and-Breakfast is pretty slow. The B and B has been undergoing renovations and is not quite ready to open yet. Kelly’s boss, Michael Carrigan, has her doing inventory of Redwood Heights due to recent thefts. Kelly hears a scream and rushes to find a guest, Sylvia Porter at the bottom of the lobby stairs. Sylvia is upset and insists that someone pushed her, however, Interim Manager Margaret Hensley thinks differently. Apparently, Sylvia has been a demanding guest since her arrival. Later, Kelly is sent to assist on a whale watching tour but returns to the inn early and finds guest Sylvia dead at the dressing table. She begins to question whether or not Sylvia’s death is related to the thefts. Something odd is going on at Redwood Heights, and with the help of her friends, the Silver Sentinels, Kelly sets out to investigate. 
Murder at the Mansion was a cute cozy mystery novel. I definitely enjoyed the ending. I love fast paced novels so I did find the first half too slow. I give Murder at the Mansion 4 out of 5 thumbs up. I enjoyed the misdirection, however I wish the mystery had been a little faster and a little more difficult to solve.

I received a complimentary copy of Murder at the Mansion from NetGalley (and the publisher) in exchange for an honest evaluation of the novel.a Rafflecopter giveaway

To follow the other stops on the tour: http://www.escapewithdollycas.com/great-escapes-virtual-book-tours/books-currently-on-tour/murder-mansion-janet-finsilver/

Get Lucky this Saint Patrick's Day with a Nice Irish Setting

Ireland makes for a great book setting, doesn't it? From the rolling hills and haunted gothic castles that radiate romance and evoke magical visions of fair maidens and frightful dungeons to the bustling metropolis of Dublin alive with entertaining cultural pursuits, beautiful architecture and lively pubs. Not surprisingly, one of the most anticipated and beloved parties revolves around Ireland’s national holiday, St. Patrick’s Day. Parades, expressive costumes, street theatre and a lively carnival atmosphere will leave you spellbound. But if you're like me then perhaps you'd prefer to do your celebrating via the pages of a nice cozy mystery. If that's the case why not check out The Temple of Indra Series. Here's an excerpt to wet your whistle.Excerpt from The Temple of Indra's JewelChapter Twenty-Three| Curator’s Connection––––––––  Surrounded by hedges and covered in moss, his home looked like a whimsical Tudor-style cottage with beautiful steps leading up to it. It had sectioned-off gardens with alder trees, bells of Ireland, forget-me-nots, wisteria, iris and lavender. It was asymmetrical, with façades of dark timbers and limestone. The roofs were steeply pitched and complex, with gable ends poking this way and that. The massive chimney crowned with chimney pots thrust skyward. Bays of casement windows with diamond-paned leaded glass jutted out from exterior walls, a lot like Gigi’s windows. The whole place reminded me of Snow White’s cottage—unique, charming, clean and comfortable. I looked around to see where Cullen had disappeared to. At any other time, I would have enjoyed taking in the details, but this time I was more interested in the owner than the well-appointed house. I wandered down the hall and into the living room, where Cullen had placed some family photos and artwork on the wall. He had sunk into the sofa with a pint in hand.“Who is this?” I asked. “Is this your ancestor, or do you enjoy hanging large portraits of men on your walls?” Cullen laughed. “Well, I do enjoy a good manly portrait from time to time, but that would be my great-great-great-grandfather, Tandy O’Kelley.”“I can see the resemblance. What is that?” I asked pointing at his great-great-great-grandfather’s side.“That was his dagger. Beautiful, isn’t it? When I was little my Da made one out of cardboard for me and I pretended it was his.”“And I take it that is your great-great-great-grandmother.”“Ye’d be right, all right.”“What is that she’s wearing?” I said, suddenly standing straighter.“A frock?”“No. That!” I said sharply, pointing to her neck, where a huge purple scarab gem sat. “Ah. Good eye. My great-great-great-grandfather was a curator at the National Gallery of Ireland.”I cut him off. “Your great-great-great-grandfather? What?”“What’s the matter, Sophia?”“Are you kidding with me?”“No, why?”“That’s the reason I’m here.”“I thought I was the reason you’re here.”I looked up sheepishly. “You are, but remember the family heirloom I mentioned? I think that’s it. I was coming here to look for information on it. All I know is that my grandfather got it from a man who worked as a curator at the National Gallery of Ireland.”Cullen took a huge gulp of his beer. “This is way too much of a coincidence. I wish I could remember the name of it, he said it was the strangest thing he’d ever seen. There was script carved into it.”“The Purple Delhi Sapphire.” “Yes that’s it. It came with a note that said it was cursed and stained with the blood and dishonour of everyone who had ever owned it. He showed it to my grandmother, and she begged him to let her wear it for the picture. That was the only time he ever let my grandmother wear it. She fell and broke her leg that same day.”My grandfather was a very superstitious man so after that he sealed it with protective charms and got rid of it. Sophia. What are you looking at?”“Sorry,” I said, turning away from the painting. His hand slid to my neck, and he gently cupped the side of my face with his other hand. “Cullen, I overheard you say that you dreamed of me?” He gave an involuntary shudder. “I did,” he replied, gently running his thumb back and forth, mesmerizing me.“What was the dream about?” “I’m . . . after forgettin’ the details now.” His face reddened. “Come on,” I encouraged him.Embarrassed, he looked down at the floor. “I’ve actually had a couple of different dreams. There’s one in a castle, and another in the sea.” He lifted a hand to the back of his head and ran his hands through his hair.Was he some distant relative of the Graf?“It’s not a sign of weakness to dream about people,” I said gently.I looked back at the portrait of his ancestors. Should I tell him about Sapphira? Were we all connected because of this purple sapphire? I stared at him, the conversation sinking in.He snorted. “Ah, well, it’s just Arthur Guinness talking,” he said, taking a swig of beer to hide his embarrassment.No, it wasn’t but I decided to let him keep his sense of normalcy for the moment. I wished I could still pretend there wasn’t more going on. I looked down at the table and saw a cute gold tin with a blue lid. Sweet Kilarney. “Are these candies?” I asked picking it up. I could go for something sweet right about now.“Candies … no. Well, maybe candy for men. That’s pipe tobacco.”“You smoke a pipe?”“I’ve had a puff here and there but no, not really.”My attention was attracted by a play of light coming in through the half-opened window. I got the feeling that someone was out there. The draperies, gently buffeted by the breeze, took on a life of their own. “I can’t stand smoke. It always reminds me of this nightmare I had as a kid.” I set the tin back down and wandered over to the window. There was no one there. His phone beeped at his side, and he pulled it out of his pocket and stared at it.“Bollix. I have to go into the office for an hour. Will ye be all right here, or I could drop ye at Ma’s?”“I’ll be fine. I’m kind of tired.”“The guest room is upstairs, second door on the left. Here, I can show you.”“No, go ahead. I’m going to grab a glass of water first. I’ll see you later.”He walked away but then turned back, “I was thinkin’ we’d head down to one of the local haunts when I get back for some drinks and dinner. Would ye be into that?” “Sounds great.”“Make yourself at home.”I watched Cullen get in his Land Rover, and then I walked up the stairs. The painting was still haunting me. This was all too strange to be true. It couldn’t be real.But it was real. Wasn’t it?I picked up the phone and dialed Leslie. She would have to believe me now. My call went straight to voicemail. Damn it! Maybe I’ll send her a quick text. As I was typing my phone rang. Wow. That was fast.Silence. I almost hung up. Then I heard breathing.“Did you think you could get away?”The voice was muffled like the phone was covered with something.“Nick?”“I know where you are.”“Nick? Is this you, you son of a bitch?”“You know what I want.”Maybe it wasn’t Nick. “I think you have the wrong number.”“Sophia.” The voice was raspy, gravelly, a growl. Disguised.A prankster? Can’t be—he said my name.A whisper now, barely understandable. “I can see you. Give it up.”“Who is this? What are you talking about?”“I won’t stop until I have it.”“Have what?”“I’ll be watching.”The phone went dead.“Damn you,” I screamed to the empty house.I walked to the window to see if Cullen’s vehicle was still there. No. I frowned suddenly, feeling a cold tension seize me. Why? Something … A sound. Yes. I thought I’d heard a sound downstairs. “Cu—”I opened my mouth to call out and then closed it quickly. Some sixth sense warned me that it couldn’t be Cullen; the Land Rover was gone. I remained dead still, listening. Not a sound. I waited. Looking down, I realized that my fingers were curled hard over the windowsill. I made a point of relaxing them. Still nothing. I had imagined it.Then I heard something again. At least I thought I did. A sound, coming, fading, gone. What had it been? A creaking?And then I realized …Someone was coming up the stairs.I started to rush into the hall. Then I realized that if a burglar was in the house, I would run right into him. I stood frozen. No, I couldn’t go running into the hall. He was coming closer. Coming straight for the guest bedroom. I spun around and tried to silently open the closet door. It creaked loudly.I could feel his footsteps through the floor. I felt around in the closet. I needed a weapon. I couldn’t think. My fingers grasped something long and cold with a thick end. A golf club. There was a whole set of them. I pulled one out.The closet would be an obvious place to look for me. I ran to the bed. Too low to fit under. The footsteps were almost upon me. I jumped behind the curtain, gripping the club tightly in both hands, holding it upright against my body. I waited, barely breathing. I heard nothing. Nothing at all. He must have gone.
Then suddenly, just when I was relaxing my stance, breathing deeply, easily, the curtain was pulled back. THE TEMPLE OF INDRA’S JEWEL is the first in a series of four. It is centered on the adventures/misadventures of Sophia Marcil, an unlucky-in-love librarian who is mysteriously swept back in time to 1857, where she is caught up in a plot for the throne. A modern day woman in the body of an 18th century princess, she believes she’s been cast in an elaborate dinner theatre, but as she’s pursued by suitors both odious and dreamy, she begins to investigate and unearths the truth. Her family’s heirloom has cursed her and tied her to a dangerous man, one who would stalk her in every life and do anything to possess her stone’s magic, including murder. Perhaps being a princess is not all fun and games. Buy Now
"A sexy Lord of the Rings/Da Vinci Code/Twilight" Lacey Crowe - Published onAmazon.com

"This is a good read! Calling all Diana Gabaldon fans... if you are a fan of the Outlander series you will enjoy this book." Stephanie. Published on Goodreads.com


CURSE OF THE PURPLE DELHI SAPPHIRE is the second in a series of four. It is centered on the adventures/misadventures of time-traveling librarian Sophia Marcil, who is going to be murdered unless her love for books can save her—or rather one book in particular—The Book of Rochus.
It's been one year since Sophia last fell through time and her troublesome trinket has found her once more, this time in the form of an engagement ring. As usual it’s pulled her into a past life and placed her in terrible danger, the home of her nemesis circa 1920. Determined to change history and her fate, she attempts a spell from the five-hundred-year-old book given to her by a shopkeeper in London, but she unwittingly deepens her connection to her killer.Sophia returns to the present and for her own safety goes to stay with Cullen's relative on the family estate, a property that has been passed down for generations. While there, she discovers a gravestone which makes her wonder if a murderer’s blood runs in her fiancee's veins. Desperate to uncover the truth, she searches for answers but doesn't like what she uncovers. In every life, her killer has been revealed as someone close to her and now she’s beginning to wonder if she’s being duped once again. Buy Now

Rachel Stapleton spent her youth cultivating a vivid imagination inside the book lined walls of an old Victorian library where she consumed everything from mystery to biography, creating magical worlds, hidden elevators, and secret spiral staircases. At sixteen, she penned a column for the local newspaper and in 2006, wrote her first book featuring an adventurous librarian. She lives in a Second Empire Victorian with her husband and two children in Ontario and enjoys writing in the comforts of aged wood and arched dormers.

Visit her website and follow her on social media or sign up at

www.rachaelstapleton.com to receive email updates.
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#Amazon #Kindle #Bestseller #Timetravelromance #Temple of Indra's Jewel #Temple of Indra Series #CurseofthePurpleDelhiSapphire #CullenOKelley #IrishBookBoyfriend #Excerpt #Mystery #Author #Amreading #writingtips #solsticepublishing #Cozymystery #SaintPatricksDay

Need Help Decorating? How About Adding An Eclectic Vintage Flare?

I hear it all the time. Where did you find that piece? If you like a mix of jewel tones and dusty colours, timeworn or handmade textiles, and collected objects that create a lived-in feel. Think Paris flea markets, Granny’s teacups, the film Grey Gardens then you'll like this post.


Can you help me redecorate? My answer is always, of course. Can you wait a few years?
    



Between writing books, blogs, marketing, fitness competition training and being a full-time mom, I can fit it in.

No, but really, I love to hear it.
It's sweet, and I love that people enjoy my quirky taste. Unfortunately, I can't re-decorate all of my friend's homes, so I will share where I do my shopping.

Dun Dun Dun Duhhh...
Antique Shops, Second hand stores and believe it or not Pawn Shops and Ontario has plenty.
And just in case your wondering what I mean by eclectic vintage flare. It's basically a rich, layered look combining flea-market finds, furniture designs from various time periods (namely Victorian pieces and 18th-century French styles), and a diverse collection of accessories and artwork.

Furniture with shapely, feminine silhouettes, intricate detailing, and weathered finishes.Jewel tones mixed with washed-out, chalky shades.Antique and vintage elements interspersed with newer, offbeat items.A varied mix of fabrics (on pillows, upholstery, and window treatments), including jacquards, paisleys, ethnic tapestries, folk motifs, botanicals, and florals.Crystal chandeliers and embellished lamps.Abundant art and decorative accents on walls and surfaces.
Where Can I Buy This Sort Of Awesome Stuff?




As a matter of fact today I'm going to feature one of my favourite places to shop.

Past & Present Antiques, Collectibles, Arts & Gifts in Norwood, Ontario.
Davina Bailey, the owner is a lovely woman, who is always ready to help you find the perfect piece for any room. She's also an artist who sketches and builds beautiful unique frames for other people's artwork.

  She sells everything from furniture to candles to knitwear. This year, she also has plans to expand into vintage clothing. She already sells beautiful vintage jewellery. 


Need somewhere to store those pearls? How about a cool vintage suitcase. Organize your makeup, scarves or balls of yarn.

The shop is small but it's packed with goodies and if at first glance you can't find what you need, ask about the storage room. She has a boat load of treasures inside. I've seen it myself. 
Check out some of her pieces below. These are on display at the moment but I should tell you with the Christmas Season ending she is working this month to switch out the inventory so there will be a whole new selection on display next month. Because of this her hours are limited to Thursday 12-6, Friday and Saturday 8:30-4:30 until February 4th.


     
   








 

Still need a copy of The Temple of Indra's Jewel or Curse of the Purple Delhi Sapphire. She also sells those! $20/book or $30/set.Past & Presents 
Davina Bailey
2368 County Road 45
Norwood, Ontario K0L 2VO
705 957-1586

Magnificent Snowy Day To Curl Up By The Fire With a Cozy Mystery by Jill Behe! Oh & Win an Amazon $25 Giftcard

So this morning I woke up to large fat, snowflakes falling from the sky. It’s like fluffy feathers, covering the trees and lawn in a cold white blanket.

And while the dedicated few, like my own hubby, are forced to shovel and trudge through the slippery white stuff, risking the roads, a few of us Ontarians are taking a snow day. Hurray! Even though I have a little one and write at home and snow days don’t really exist for me I still get caught up in the excitement of pj’s, hot chocolate, snuggles by the fire, and good books. The Magnificent Snowy View Out My Kitchen Window
Today the lovely Jill Behe is visiting my blog and she’s giving away an amazon giftcard, perhaps you could use it to buy one of her new cozy mysteries. Freezer Burn looks like the perfect book to read on this lovely snowy day?!


So don’t’ forget to enter the Rafflecopter below before you bundle up for a walk in the white stuff. Maybe you’ll win, then you can come home to a hot cup of tea, a cozy blanket and choose a good book.

P.s – Drop me a line and say hello. Let me know what you prefer when you are snowed in. Hot chocolate, Coffee, or Tea? And what’s your fave book or movie to curl up with?

#Snowday #Snow #Canada #JillBehe #MossyCreek
#AMaggieMercerMystery #CozyMysteryWriter #MysteryBooks #Amazon #Win #Giftcard #BewitchingBookTours


a Rafflecopter giveaway
A Word With Jill As a writer, I 'wonder' all the time. That's where most of my stories come from. My first grade teacher was probably the first one with a clue as to my future endeavors, except she called me a daydreamer, and that wasn't a good thing in her book. At that time I hadn't yet learned to spell, let alone write them down. By the third grade, though, I was penciling about weird triplet space aliens, and forcing my siblings to act out the parts. I'm a lot older (and wiser) now, and my 'wonderings' are more mature and ... earthbound. to this day, I write out my daydreams because, who knows, they could turn into a published novel, or short story. A few of mine have.


Mossy Creek A Maggie Mercer Mystery Book OneJill Behe
Genre:  romantic mystery, cozy mystery, women sleuth mystery
Publisher: DevilDog Press
Date of Publication: 12/15/15
ASIN: B0191Z04WI
Number of pages:251Word Count: 57666
Cover Artist: Dane@ebooklaunch
Book Description:
Welcome to Mossy Creek. We’re small and easy-going with a lot of community pride and camaraderie. What we don’t have a lot of is crime.
A close-knit laid-back little borough, so close to the southern border of Pennsylvania we’re almost in West Virginia. Townsfolk like to say: “We’re south enough to lend credence to our slight drawl, but sufficiently north of the Mason-Dixon to be ‘damn Yankees’.”
None of us were prepared for murder … especially involving a teenager.
Amazon    BN    Kobo    iTunes

Freezer Burn A Maggie Mercer Mystery Book TwoJill Behe
Genre: romantic mystery, cozy mystery, women sleuth mystery
Publisher: DevilDog Press
Date of Publication: 12/15/15
ASIN: B0191Z0JSW
Number of pages: 338Word Count: 69,977
Cover Artist: dane@ebooklaunch
Book Description:
Mossy Creek is in the midst of a bone-chilling winter. Even then, crime doesn’t take a vacation. If the temperatures don’t rise to the plus side of zero soon, the citizens will be suffering from Freezer Burn.
A visiting reporter has allegedly gone missing. Wyatt and Ricky are pulling double duty out at the lake, helping prep the hillside for the annual toboggan run. The mailbox baseball bandit, from last summer, has escalated his bashing spree. And, Maggie has acquired a stalker.
And, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
It’s cold outside, y’all. Come on over here. Warm yourselves by the fire while I’ll fill you in.
Amazon    BN    Kobo    iTunes

Coming in the Summer of 2016 Book Three





About the Author:
Jill is the eldest of four children born to Christian parents in East Central Pennsylvania. It took a while, but the rebel within finally broke free. After shocking family and friends by enlisting in the US Army, then marrying--not much of a shock--birthing three sons, and getting divorced--again not much of a shock--she's now settling in, back in the great State of PA ... until the next adventure.
Jill began writing nonsense stories for her siblings and friends while in grade school, probably from the time she learned cursive. Her writing has improved. (A good thing.) With time, maturity and persistence, she continues to hone her craft in a variety of genres ... and at the urgent butt-kicking of her friends.
During the thirty-odd years she was 'away from home,' she never lost her love of creating prose. It was only a few years ago, she met another writer, and accepted an invitation to join a writing group. Not only did she make many new friends, she also learned more about the craft, and how to market her work. 
https://therebelwriter.wordpress.com/
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JillSBehe
http://www.amazon.com/Jill-Behe/e/B006XL0XE8/

If you know someone who would enjoy being spirited away to a world of time travel and harrowing investigations, please check out The TEMPLE OF INDRA series on Amazon. 
The Temple of Indra's Jewel | Book One Temple of Indra Series. Buy Now on Amazon in Paperback & Kindle!
Curse of the Purple Delhi Sapphire | Book Two Temple of Indra Series. Buy Now on Amazon in Paperback & Kindle!

Dinner in the Dark | Delectable Cozy Prequel. Buy Now on Amazon Kindle!

Also available in paperback in the Peterborough, Vaughan and Ajax Chapters locations. (Located in the Consignment Section.)