Babs Hightower's Blog, page 121
January 30, 2015
Release day & Giveaway for Corsica Gate by Robena Grant
Enter to Win a
$20.00 Amazon or B&N eGift Card
A heroine who has stopped believing in fairy tales and happy endings, Dia Sophia Romani, jilted three days before her wedding, has lived with Mama in San Diego’s Little Italy for six months. She’s tired of everything Italian, and is ready to move on…
Enter an unlikely hero. Carlo Antonelli is of Italian descent. He adores Dia, but he’s willing to take his time and not rush her. When he learns she will be vacationing in Italy and Corsica, he must step up his game.
Will a wish made at a magical gate destroy, or strengthen, their newfound love?
“You mean…?” She looked back at the guy.
Nah, impossible. I’ve never been that lucky.
“Yeah, that’s Carlo Antonelli.”
“You don’t want to accept the date, just make up whatever excuse you want.” Tony beckoned.
A jolt of heat spread through her abdomen when Carlo grinned and waved. He ducked through the slow moving traffic and stopped in front of her smiling a crooked smile. Pushing his sunglasses onto his head, white teeth flashing, and mahogany eyes sparkling, he held out his right hand.
My wedding date? Her heartbeat pounded, and her mouth went dry.
“You must be Dia.” He tucked the book underneath one arm and held her hand gently with his other big warm hand. “Carlo Antonelli.”
“Yes.” The word came out on a soft breath. She swallowed hard. “Tony mentioned you wanted to speak to me about Marco’s wedding.” Something inside of her shifted, as if a huge iceberg started to melt in her chest and slide sideways, leaving a pool of cool, blue, bubbling water. She floundered for a minute wondering what to say next, because she couldn’t use the word date. Not while looking into his magnificent eyes. Then she remembered he was Italian, or at least part Italian.
Strike one.
Her shoulders stiffened. She had no interest in Italian men. She hitched up the purse onto her shoulder, and squinted from behind the dark sunglasses.
Robena Grant writes contemporary romance about ordinary women in extraordinary circumstances. Travel and discovering new places brings Robena great pleasure, and she often includes these discoveries in her stories. She is Australian by birth, lives in Southern California, and has two grown children. Robena may be contacted at her website.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
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Release Day – Cowboy Passion by Helen Hardt & Giveaway
Book: Cowboy Passion — Bakersville Saga 5 & 6
Author: Helen Hardt
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Cowboy
Synopsis:
Treasuring Amber
Kissing handsome rancher Harper Bay to avoid a confrontation with her past isn’t on Amber Cross’s “to do” list, but sometimes a situation calls for desperate measures. She doesn’t expect the kiss to leave her breathless.
Amber is the hottest thing walking but clearly not Harper’s type. Nope, he’s not looking for a platinum blonde manicurist from the city, even if she is Bakersville’s reigning rodeo queen. After her surprising kiss leaves him panting, he changes his mind and decides to get to know her. Chemistry sizzles between them, but this gorgeous woman has a past that could get them both killed.
Trusting Sydney
Sam O’Donovan is bored with his stale life in Montana. When his brother-in-law offers him a great job and a cut of the McCray Ranch in Bakersville, Colorado, he’s ecstatic. This is the change he needs. As for beautiful Sydney Buchanan resurfacing? That’s icing on the cake.
Sydney’s back in Bakersville for one reason and one reason only. She needs to win as many large rodeo purses as she can to help her parents run their struggling ranch in Nevada. She doesn’t bank on running into Sam O’Donovan. All the sparks they shared five years earlier are still there, but so much else has changed. If only Sam could understand the decisions she made during their time apart…and trust her.
Buy The Book
*****INSERT BUY LINKS WHEN AVAILABLE *****
Author Bio
Helen Hardt is an attorney and stay-at-home mom turned award-winning romance author and freelance fiction editor. She writes contemporary, historical, paranormal, and erotic romance from her home in Colorado. She’s a mother, a black belt in Taekwondo, a grammar geek, an avid fan of opera and football (as long as her older son and younger son are performing/playing, respectively), and a lover of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream.
Social Links
Goodreads Author
Praise for Helen Hardt:
Helen Hardt writes as smooth as a hot knife cutting through butter. Her
words take you away and you feel like you are watching the story play out
right in front of you.
~Delightfully Dirty Reads~
Ms. Hardt has a way of writing that makes me forget I’m reading a book.
It’s more like slipping into a world she created and getting lost for a while.
~Whipped Cream Reviews~
Flawlessly written and in my opinion a work of art…
~Girly Girl Book Reviews~
Other Books in the Series
Cowboy Heat – Bakersville Saga 1 & 2
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1w6AdII
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1trA6Bl
Cowboy Lust – Bakersville Saga 1 & 2
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/14UYqGK
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1u5MFTJ
Giveaway
The post Release Day – Cowboy Passion by Helen Hardt & Giveaway appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
Time Out, Valentine by Melinda Dozer
Blurb
Lexi’s life is one big dump. Or so she thinks. To keep her mind off her latest breakup, she stays busy with work. It’s no big deal, since writing for Time Out Portland Magazine is a blast…except for the one small snag – Grant Reeds. Grant, a shy but sexy computer geek, is new to Time Out, working as the Networking Director for the online magazine. Even though Lexi thinks he doesn’t notice her, he sure as hell does. The owners have a plan for their upcoming Valentine’s Special, pairing up the two to explore romantic date ideas around the city. Soon, Lexi and Grant learn that the old adage, “Opposites Attract,” can ring true.
After hectic days of teaching English to middle school students, Melinda finds time to write and read in the evenings. She lives in Guatemala, Central America with her husband/ college sweetheart who brings “mucho amor” to her life. Melinda enjoys being the queen of her household and dreams of being pampered fully by her three boys once they are grown. Melinda’s guilty pleasures include reality t.v., traveling, blogging and playing Zynga games.
LINKS
Website: www.melindadozier.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/melindadozier
Facebook: http://www.twitter.com/melinda.doz
The Wild Rose Press: http://goo.gl/F3IG1W
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January 29, 2015
Disenchanted by Leigh Goff Book Blitz/Blog Tour
for Disenchanted, the recently released YA
Fantasy novel by Leigh Goff.
About Disenchanted:
A dark curse, a forbidden love, an impossible choice.
Orphaned sixteen-year-old Sophie Goodchild is an outcast among the ordinaries and her coven, but not because she’s untalented. Descended from a powerful Wethersfield witch, her spellcasting gift is awkwardly emerging, but that’s the least of her worries. The boy she’s forbidden to fall for, a descendant of the man who condemned her ancestor to hang, carries a dark secret that could destroy them both unless Sophie learns how to tap into the mysterious power of her diamond bloodcharm.
Suspenseful, dark, romantic, and brimming with old magic, Disenchanted captures the intrigue of New England’s witchlore.
Book Details:
Title: Disenchanted
Author Name: Leigh Goff
Genre(s): Young Adult, Fantasy Romance
Publisher: Musa Publishing, LLC http://www.musapublishing.com/
ISBN: 978-1-68009-045-1
Date Released: 12/19/2014
Add Disenchanted to your Goodreads Shelf:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23485048-disenchanted
Purchase Your Copy at Musa Publishing:
Disenchanted by Leigh GoffPurchase Your copy at Amazon:Disenchanted
Excerpt:
“You really want to know?” He circled behind me, not touching me, but I could feel him there, just an inch away. He stepped closer, his body heat warming my exposed neck.
I tried to ignore the trembles and craving his alluring voice provoked. Heat and tension continued to roll off him. My breathing quickened. “Secrets never stay secret in Wethersfield. It’s going to slip out eventually.”
He circled around to face me again and nodded. “Your curiosity is inexhaustible.”
I pressed my hand to my forehead, trying to regroup, which was harder than it should have been. “Look. It doesn’t matter. I can handle whatever it is.”
“Zeke will be thrilled if he finds out what I’m about to tell you.” He shook his head, probably imagining the ugly scenario. “I come from a long line of Mathers who have been more than unlucky in love. A staggering number of them, so many that one cannot blame it on misfortune or bad luck. For years, my father thought it was a genetic fluke until he had our ancestor’s DNA tested and, like his own, it showed nothing.” He rolled his sleeve up enough to show me the pinkish birthmark on his wrist. It resembled a small heart broken in two, exactly like Zeke’s. “You see, from my father’s research, every Mather heir for centuries has carried this mark in this spot. It is something passed down in our family, inherited, but not genetic. That leaves only one explanation. Our bloodline is cursed.”
“Are you sure it’s not Karma or bad luck?” We knew Francis had been cursed for his father’s hand in the hangings. But all of them? I didn’t think a generational curse was really possible.
“I don’t believe in bad luck, but I do believe in the power of this curse. It has haunted us through time.”
“How many of you?”
“After they fell in love? Since Francis Mather, the one buried under the tree next to your ancestor, all of them. Not at first. Some of them were able to bear a child or two before their love deepened and the curse took hold of one or both of them. It is why my father used a surrogate rather than risk a relationship. He, Zeke, and I are the last of Rev. Mather’s direct descendants. It’s too many to make sense so all we are left with is the fact that we are cursed to live a life without love or die from it.”
I staggered backward, staring at the trees lining the path, in shock. Elizabeth warned me about a curse living on. The judge even sputtered on about a problem caused by the witches. Did they both mean a generational curse on the Mathers? Generational curses were only heard of in myths because they required great power and a dark heart. Did Rebecca have that much power? “Let’s say that’s even possible.” I could barely grasp the possibility for the irony got in the way. A curse cast by my ancestor meant to punish the Mathers was now threatening not only my happiness, but my life.
About the Author:
After taking several writing courses in college and attending professional writing workshops after I graduated from the University of Maryland, University College, I began writing young adult fiction with purpose. I joined the Maryland Writers’ Association and Romance Writers of America and became an approved artist with the Maryland State Arts Council.
My debut novel, Disenchanted, is now available, and I am working on my next, The Witch’s Ring, which will be set in Annapolis.
Follow the Tour:
Jan. 19 Review ~ Bookaholicfix.wordpress.com
Jan. 20 Spotlight ~ http://saphsbookblog.blogspot.com/
Jan. 21 Guest Post ~ http://www.dreamlandteenfantasy.blogspot.com
Jan. 22 Guest Post ~ http://saradanielromance.blogspot.com
Jan. 23 Character Interview ~ http://sharonledwith.blogspot.ca/
Jan. 24 Guest Post ~ http://shirleyfrancesbooksandmore.com/
Jan. 26 Spotlight ~ http://www.drcpromotions.com/
Jan. 27 Review ~ http://sbkbooksandmore.wix.com/s-and-n-books-
Jan. 28 Guest Post ~ http://dawnsreadingnook.blogspot.com
Jan. 29 Spotlight ~ http://www.babsbookbistro.net/
Jan. 30 Spotlight ~ http://saphsbookblog.blogspot.com/
Feb. 2 Spotlight ~ http://sloanetaylor.blogspot.com/
Feb. 3 Spotlight ~ http://jojodebrazza.com/
Feb. 4 Spotlight ~ http://musapublishing.blogspot.com/
Feb. 5 Review ~ http://www.dailymusingsbycarrie.blogspot.com
Feb. 6 Spotlight ~ http://saphsbookblog.blogspot.com/
Feb. 9 Review ~ http://themissphyrelibrary.wordpress.com
Feb. 10 Guest Post ~ http://karynd19.tumblr.com
Feb. 11 Review ~ http://authorsandralove.blogspot.com/
Feb. 12 Spotlight ~ http://saphsbookblog.blogspot.com/
Tour Coordinated by Sapphyria’s Book Promotions
The post Disenchanted by Leigh Goff Book Blitz/Blog Tour appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
Blog Tour: Agent S5: Jaydan by Joni Hahn & Giveaway
Agent S5: Jaydan (DIRE Agency, #5)
Genre: Sci-fi Romantic Suspense, Super-hero Blurb:
Agent S5: Jaydan Rose
Credentials: • Former D.I.R.E. Enemy Agent • D.I.R.E. Double Agent
Enhancement: •
Muscle Acceleration/Strength
Now that he’s part of the D.I.R.E. Agency’s elite squad of super-powered agents, Jaydan Rose is walking the straight and narrow. He absolutely, positively avoids three things: high-maintenance women, trouble, and Hope Powers. Days away from his estranged brother’s wedding, Jaydan gets a lead on the missing sister-in-law of Riordan “Saint” St. James, a fellow agent. If he can locate her, perhaps he can make up for not being there when Saint had needed him most, and prove he’s worthy of his new D.I.R.E. enhancement. As the only daughter of one of the richest men in the world, and with a special power of her own, Hope Powers wants to be taken seriously. If she can prove the D.I.R.E. Agency needs her new software application, she’ll have the credibility she craves. When she threatens to search for the missing woman with or without him, Jaydan smells trouble, but knows he has to take her. However, when danger and close quarters prove too much for their passion, Jaydan knows his list of things he absolutely, positively avoids has just disintegrated. When their quest uncovers scandalous secrets and decades old dangers, they realize they’ve stumbled onto something bigger than themselves. While the lines of reality and imitation become blurred, a psychotic maniac makes plans for Hope. Will Jaydan’s past rear its ugly head and destroy them both, or does history have plans of its own?
GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23556476-agent-s5?from_search=true
BUY LINKS:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1AnNvB2
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/agent-s5-joni-hahn/1120795552?ean=2940046409031
AUTHOR BIO & LINKS:
By day, Joni Hahn keeps her secret decoder ring hidden while she works as a mild-mannered HR manager and accounting generalist. She believes the world can never have too many superheroes, and anxiously waits for the call when one will need help saving the world… or getting into his costume. Joni was born with a hopelessly tender heart and believes there is nothing on earth more exhilarating than falling in love (Other than the rear shot of Chris Evans in The Avengers – that was pretty darn exhilarating). A native Texan, she thinks cowboys are the epitome of masculinity, and that country music is the other soul music.
Website | Facebook | | Goodreads
The post Blog Tour: Agent S5: Jaydan by Joni Hahn & Giveaway appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
January 28, 2015
Youphoria Yoga Towels Review
What a great towel I was very impressed and still am at the quality of this product. I have not ever felt a towel this soft and absorbent. It is one or the other. The towel stay on the mat with no slipping. Very please with this product.
Youphoria Yoga Towels – 100% Microfiber Non-skid Hot Yoga , Fitness and Travel (24″ X 68″) – Hot Yoga, Bikram, Vinyasa, Hatha, Ashtanga. No Slip, Skidless, Super Absorbent, Protect Your Mat and Improve Your Grip! – 100% Satisfaction Guarantee!
-EXTENDS MAT LIFE AND REDUCES RISK OF BACTERIA – No one wants the daunting task of washing their yoga mat after each session. These machine washable yoga towels add a hygienic layer between you and your mat, reducing the risk of harmful bacteria spreading to your skin and saving you time on cleaning your mat.-SUPER ABSORBENT & QUICK DRYING – Youphoria Yoga Microfiber Towel outperforms ordinary cotton or polyester towels. Made with ultra light weight, moisture wicking microfiber.
-NON-SLIP & SKID-LESS – Your mat can turn into one dangerous Slip ‘N Slide if you don’t use a towel specially designed to grip to your mat. You will be able hold advanced poses longer with peace of mind that your towel will stay in place for the duration of your Yoga experience.
-PERFECT SIZE – These towels are sized perfectly (24″ x 68″) to fit on top of your yoga mat. However, our yoga towels aren’t just suggested for hot yoga enthusiasts, they can be used for a variety of different activities such as: Basic yoga, gym workouts, beach days, pool days, you name it!
-WORLD CLASS SERVICE – We believe that you, the customer, should make the final call on product performance. Each one of our customers has a yoga specialist who will help answer questions, provide yoga towel care instructions, and make sure you are 100% satisfied! Customer satisfaction is our #1 priority!
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Written On Her Heart by Paige Rion review
Andi Callaway has dreamed of becoming a published author her entire life.
Ford Delaney has always wanted nothing more than to escape his past.
An opportunity of a lifetime. This is what Andi finds when she returns home to Callaway Cove on summer break. A chance to work for her literary idol Ford Delaney is up for grabs, and she’s willing to risk everything—her boyfriend, her best friends, and her education—to get it.
She’s positive this will be the key to reaching her dreams. But the moment she begins working for the reclusive author, Andi realizes there’s more to him than just a name. As attraction builds between Andi and Ford, she begins to discover consequences must come hand-in-hand with something great—which could loosen control over her tightly wound life. And once romantic sparks fly, Andi’s other relationships start to crumble, Ford’s fame comes back to haunt him, and the heat they generate will either forge a powerful, enduring love or threaten everything she holds dear.
Callaway Cove Series:
1. Book One: Written On Her Heart
2. Book Two: While It Lasts
3. Book Three: What the Heart Wants (Spring 2015)
My thoughts:
A great first book to a series. What a page turner. Andi is a dreamer and never thought she would have competition on arriving back to her home for the summer nor revealing some secrets. At age 21 Andi never dreamed an opportunity would arise for her to work with her favorite author nor did she know he might be the best thing to happen to her which would not go well with her boyfriend. Talk about a roller coaster ride this book will do it. From page one you want to know what is going to happen.
I have never read anything by this author as she is new to me. I will say I am glad to read this book I will be wanting to read more by this author. A great read by a great author.
I was given this book to read for an honest review which is what I have done.
The post Written On Her Heart by Paige Rion review appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
Karen Rose Smith Author spotlight & Giveaway
Karen Rose Smith
Karen Rose Smith was born in the Susquehanna Valley of Pennsylvania. Although she was an only child, she remembers the bonds of an extended family. Since her father came from a family of ten and her mother, a family of seven, there were always aunts, uncles and cousins visiting on weekends. Family is a strong theme in her books and she suspects her childhood memories are the reason.
In college, Karen began writing poetry and also met her husband to be. They both began married life as teachers, but when their son was born, Karen decided to try her hand at a home-decorating business. She returned to teaching for a while but changes in her life led her to writing romance fiction. Now she writes mysteries and romances full time. She is a USA Today best-selling and award-winning author. Her 86th novel, GILT BY ASSOCIATION, will be released in 2015 by Kensington Books.
When she isn’t writing, she cares for four rescue cats and a couple of strays, gardens, and cooks. Married to her college sweetheart since 1971, believing in the power of love and commitment, she envisions herself writing relationship novels, both mystery and romance, for a long time to come!
Ten Things About Me
I was an only child who always longed for a sister.
During my childhood I always had access to a relative’s farm.
This summer my husband and I took in a stray pregnant cat and helped deliver her kittens.
When I was in my late twenties, I learned to swim and ride horses!
I attended the Beatles concert at Dodger Stadium.
With my cousin I wrote a script for The Monkees tv show.
I wrote for six years and finished 13 manuscripts before I sold two books in one week to two different publishers.
I use a tape recorder to write and like to tape on the patio on summer nights under the moon.
I love 60’s fashion.
I’m a crazy cat lady!
Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ Website ~ Karen Rose Smith Mysteries Website
Join Karen Rose Smith’s Street Team, Team Caprice
Staged to Death (Book 1) – on sale for only $2.99
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ iTunes
Staged to Death Book Trailer
Deadly Decor (Book 2) – on sale for only $1.99
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ iTunes
Gilt By Association (Book 3)
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ iTunes
Join the Gilt By Association Release Party
Drape Expectations (Book 4)
Coming August 2015
Nathan’s Vow (Book 1)
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ iTunes ~ Smashwords
Audio Book : Amazon ~ Audible ~ iTunes
Jakes’s Bride (Book 2)
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ iTunes ~ Smashwords
Audio Book : Amazon ~ Audible ~ iTunes
Always Devoted (Book 3)
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Smashwords
Audio Book : Amazon ~ Audible ~ iTunes
Always Her Cowboy (Book 4)
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ iTunes ~ Smashwords
Audio Book: Amazon ~ Audible ~ iTunes
Heartfire (Book 5)
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Smashwords
Audio Book : Amazon ~ Audible ~ iTunes
Cassidy’s Cowboy (Book 6)
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ iTunes ~ Smashwords
Audio Book : Amazon ~ Audible ~ iTunes
Her Sister (Book 7)
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ iTunes ~ Smashwords
Audio Book : Amazon ~ Audible ~ iTunes
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Bliss County series, THE MARRIAGE CHARM & Giveaway by Linda Lael Miller
About THE MARRIAGE CHARM:
Giveaway below.
In THE MARRIAGE CHARM, it’s Melody Nolan’s turn to find love. Melody has recently found success as a jewelry designer, and her work is the focus of her life. She’s not exactly unhappy, but she wants more. She’s always been attracted to Spence Hogan, the local chief of police, but she’s convinced that Spence, a notorious charmer, isn’t what you’d call husband material. Spence is a good cop who isn’t scared of anything—except love. And he’s done everything he can to preserve his reputation as a womanizer—a reputation that keeps marriage-minded women, including Melody, at bay. And yet…there’s something about Melody he can’t forget, something his heart can’t ignore…
Linda’s last book, The Marriage Pact – the first in the Bliss County series – received fabulous reviews. RT Book Reviews said, “Miller has found a perfect niche with charming western romances and cowboys who will set readers hearts aflutter. Funny and heartwarming, The Marriage Pact will intrigue readers by the first few pages.” and Library Journal called it a, “touching, down-to-earth story that provides fans with a realistic community in a glorious landscape and deftly launches Miller’s latest contemporary Western series.”
My review:
Everyone knows I love Linda L Miller. What is there not to love. Her writing is remarkable and the stories are always great. Nothing has changed in The Marriage Charm. I loved this book and turing the pages wasn’t a hardship. The Marriage Charm is the second book in the Brides of Bliss County series.
Spence and Melody had to work hard at their relationship. Melody was easy to relate to and was nice to see her stand on her own two feet and fend for herself. Spence really had to work at making Melody his and it was touch and go for a while but the whole book made you fall for them both and hope for the best. I have to say it was nice to see Spence work at wining Melody back a nice change.
The added robberies in the story helped with the twists to make the book even more enjoyable.
The author really knows her writing and settings. She never misses a beat. If I could have Linda on my blog each day I would you can never get tired of her. You will not go wrong in reading this series.
Giveaway: One US winner will receive a print copy of The Marriage Charm.
I will make this easy just comment on the post with your favorite Western romance author or book.
About this author
As the daughter of a town marshal, Linda has come home to the western lifestyle that gave birth to one of today’s most successful authors. She left Washington years ago and pursued her wanderlust, living in Arizona and London and traveling the world. Now the author of more than 100 novels, the “First Lady of the West” is glad to be back home, writing contemporary and historical stories that have earned her awards and placements on all the national bestsellers lists.
Linda traces the birth of her writing career to the day when a Northport teacher told her that the stories she was writing were good, that she just might have a future in writing. Later, when she decided to write novels, she endured her share of rejection before she sold FLETCHER’S WOMAN in 1983 to Pocket Books. Since then, Linda has successfully published historicals, contemporaries, paranormals, and thrillers before coming home, in a literal sense, and concentrating on novels with a Western flavor. For her devotion to her craft, the Romance Writers of America awarded her their prestigious Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.
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Dead in a Dumpster: Leah Norwood Mystery #1
Title:
Dead in a Dumpster: Leah Norwood Mystery #1
Author:
B.L. Blair
When Leah Norwood finds the body of Isabel Meeks in the dumpster behind her store, she can’t believe the police consider her a suspect. Sure, she didn’t liked Isabel, but then again, neither did anyone else. Isabel had a condescending attitude and a bad reputation. As manager of the antique store, Patina, she had made a lot of enemies.
There is Patina’s assistant manager, the handsome and charming Trent. Isabel was blackmailing him. There is Patina’s owner, the aloof and influential Anthony Thorpe. Isabel was smuggling drugs through his store. And there is the entire drug dealing Cantono family. Isabel had lost a box containing heroin from one of their shipments. That is just to name a few and didn’t even include the stranger who was seen arguing with Isabel just hours before her death.
The police have too many suspects and too many soft alibis. Leah needs to prove to the sexy new chief of police that she had nothing to do with Isabel’s death.
Leah loves a good mystery. Can she find the killer before the police arrest her for murder?
“So you found the victim about seven fifty?” asked the baby-faced young cop.
Why was everyone so young? The name on his badge read Keith Cisneros. I have always been a little nervous around police officers. I’m not sure why. However, I couldn’t be nervous around Keith. First, he was just too young. Second, I didn’t have any nerves left. I was too wet, too cold, and too miserable. And third, I knew Keith. Not well, but well enough to not find him intimidating.
We were standing by the dumpster and trying not to look at Isabel. I don’t think Keith had ever seen a dead body either because the look on his face made me think he wanted to follow in my footsteps – scream, run into the nearest building, and lose his lunch. But the kid was made of sterner stuff. My estimation of him rose as he held his ground and questioned me.
“What were you doing out here?” he asked. Okay, so my estimation of him fell a little. I glanced at the trash bags sitting at our feet and tried to keep my voice even as I answered.
“I was taking out the trash.” I don’t think I succeeded as he looked at the trash and then flushed. Now I felt bad, like I had kicked a puppy.
“So did you …”
“Cisneros.” A deep, smoky voice cut through the night. Both of us jumped and then turned toward the voice. From the shadows, a figure emerged. If I had any nerves left, I might have been a little anxious. The man walking toward us moved like a stalking panther. Smooth, long strides that ate up the space.
He was breathtaking. Not gorgeous or handsome but there was a power about him that drew the eye. He wasn’t exceptionally tall, standing about five eleven, but his shoulders were broad and his hips narrow. Dark hair cut short in a military style, covered his head. His face was attractive in a timeless way. Chiseled and clean-shaven but with just a hint of a five o’clock shadow. He had a small indentation on the right side of his mouth that was trying very hard to be a dimple. It was as if he was willing it not to appear with the strength of his personality alone. He had intense green eyes that swept over me briefly before settling on Keith.
He looked familiar, but I knew we had never met. I would have remembered him. He stopped between us and turned to Keith. “What have we got?”
“Victim identified as Isabel Meeks. Gunshot wound to the chest, close range. She was found about seven fifty p.m. by Ms. Norwood.”
Keith pointed to me, and the man turned his eyes to mine. His gaze swept down my body and back up. He then dismissed me without a second glance before turning back to the rookie. “Has the ME been called?”
Now, I know that I am not the most attractive person in the world. I am what most people would call average. Average height, average weight, average looks, but being dismissed so completely really pissed me off. I was cold, wet, tired, and quite frankly, still a little queasy. And it had been a really bad day.
“Can I leave now?”
Both of them turned toward me. Keith seemed a little surprised that I was still there. The other man just seemed irritated that I had interrupted him.
“You found the body?” he asked and then continued when I nodded, “We will need to ask you some questions.”
Keith had been asking me questions. My nerves were shot and my temper short. I am not usually such a bitch, but I had enough of standing out in the freezing rain. I probably shouldn’t have mouthed off to a police officer, but I figured my day couldn’t get any worse. I summoned up my inner diva, gave him my most haughty look, and asked in a snooty tone. “And you are?”
He stared at me a minute, his eyes hard and unyielding. He raised his eyebrows just a notch, pulled out a badge, and held it toward me. “Chief of Police Alexander Griggs.”
Well, damn, my day just got worse.
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B. L. Blair writes simple and sweet romance and romance/mystery stories. Like most authors, she has been writing most of her life and has dozens of books started. She just needs the time to finish them.
She is the author of the Holton Romance Series and the Leah Norwood Mysteries. She loves reading books, writing books, and traveling wherever and as often as time and money allows. She is currently working on her latest book set in Texas, where she lives with her family.
The post Dead in a Dumpster: Leah Norwood Mystery #1 appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
