Babs Hightower's Blog, page 40
March 28, 2018
The Redemption of Lillie Rourke by Loree Lough pre – order blitz & giveaway
THE REDEMPTION OF LILLIE ROURKE
Bestselling Author Loree Lough
Series: By Way of the Lighthouse Series Book 3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Harlequin Heartwarming
Publication Date: April 1, 2018
She’d worked for that second chance, but will he believe she has changed?
When she fled Baltimore after a near-fatal accident that left her dependent on painkillers, Lillie Rourke lost everything. Now, physically and emotionally healed, sheís ready to make amends and start over. But Jase Yeager has moved on, and who can blame him? Yet Lillie isnít giving upóon her–or them. Earning back Jaseís trust wonít be easy, but Lillieís no stranger to challengesÖ
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PRE-ORDER LINKS
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Book Excerpt
The kid whoíd offered to help him earlier now pecked keys on the register. ìThis sheet music is on sale,î he said, running the book across the scanner screen. ìAre you a kindergarten teacher or something?î
Lillie grinned. ìNo, nothing like that. I volunteer at Hopkins Childrenís Oncology every couple of weeks, and my material is getting stale. Those kids are going through enough without me, adding boredom to their list of complaints. Not that they complain. Theyíre the bravest little souls Iíve ever met.î
Lillie tended to ramble when nervous, and he felt bad that his nearness made her feel that way.
ìMy cousin was in there a few years ago,î the kid said, sliding another songbook over the screen. ìLeukemia won.î
Jase watched as Lillie, ever the caring comforter, lay a hand atop his.
ìIím so sorry,î she said. ìHow old was he?î
ìFourteen.î
Her shoulders rose, then fell with a sympathetic sigh. How many times had he told her that her heart was bigger than her head? Too many times to count.
The cashier bagged her music, hit the register button to ring up her total. ìItís really nice, what youíre doing,î he said, handing her the receipt. ìThe thing Lance hated most about that place was how long the days were with nothing to do but watch TV and listen to his monitor beep.î
Jase had to agreeÖit was a nice thing sheíd been doing.
She thanked the kid and turned to face Jase. ìWell, it was a nice surprise, seeing you again.î
ìCan you hang around a minute, just until I pay for this stuff?î
She looked surprised by his invitation. In truth, heíd surprised himself, extending it. But he couldnít just let her leave.
ìOkay,î she said. ìIíll wait for you over by the door.î
There was a time when, as she looked up at him that way, his heart had beat doubletime. But who was he kidding? It was happening, right now.
The kid made smalltalk with him, too, but Jase barely heard a word as he watched her from the corner of his eye. Silhouetted against the bright sunshine on the other side of the window, he couldnít help but notice the way her chin-length hair curved and curled above her shoulders. She used to dress like a tomboy. Sneakers and jeans with comfy t-shirts, like sheíd worn to plant flowers that day in her parentsí yard. But that little dressó
ìAll set,î the kid said, holding up Jaseís bag.
He thanked the boy and wasted no time, joining Lillie.
ìYou want to grab a cup of coffee?î He held open the door, hoping that slight frown didnít mean sheíd say no. ìItís only a short walk to CafÈ LatteídaÖî
ìOn Aliceanna Street. I remember.î
Of course she did, because before her addiction destroyed them they used to go there at least once a week to decide the order of the songs theyíd sing at Three-Eyed Joeís.
ìSo what do you say? Iíll treat you to a sandwich. Or pie. Or both.î Recalling her penchant for eating small portions, he added, ìWe could shareÖî
Her sweet, sad smile told him she, too, remembered all the meals theyíd shared. And again, it made his heart beat a bit harder.
ìI donít have to be at work until six, so okay, pie and coffee it is.î
They were waiting for the light to change at Fleet and Aliceanna when she said, ìThis wonít upset Whitney, will it?î
ìWhy would it upset her?î
ìI, well, that day at The Flower Basket, I got the impression she knows that we were a couple.î
ìI havenít been seeing her long, so I doubt she cares enough to be jealous.î
The image of that candlelit table flashed in his mind, proof that she cared. Clamping his jaw against a twinge of guilt, Jase said, ìSo how long have you had this Hopkins gig?î
ìCouple months now.î
The light changed, and he pressed a hand to her back to guide her across the street. Not that she needed his assistance. Lillie had been walking to and from her folksí inn to the restaurant and hotel for months. Still, it felt good, felt right, being this close to her again.
Inside CafÈ Latte Da, Jase admitted that heíd skipped breakfast.
ìThe guy whoís forever reminding people itís the most important meal of the day?î Lillie laughed. ìWhy!î
ìJust got back from Florida, and didnít have time to make a grocery run. My cupboards are as bare as Mother Hubbardís.î
ìI caught the last few minutes of the casserole demonstration. You were born to be a TV host.î
ìYeah, wellÖ So I think Iíll get the chicken wrap. What about you? In the mood for something more substantial than pie?î
ìCoffeeís plenty.î
ìThought I heard your belly growl earlierÖî
Instinct made her press a palm to her stomach. ìAn espresso is plenty for now. Iíll whip up a sandwich or something before I clock in at the hotel.î
When sheíd paid for the sheet music, Jase saw a lone ten dollar bill in her wallet. He knew her well enough to explain why sheíd said no: Lillie had decided that until he could deposit every dime sheíd borrowed, she wouldnít take anything more from him. Unnecessary as that was, Jase respected her decision.
The sat at an empty table near the dooróa rare occurrence on a Saturday afternoonóand settled in.
ìTell me about this volunteer work. When did you sign on for that?î
ìA week or so after I got home, I gave in to a moment of self-pity.î She stared out the window. ìIt was time to stop focusing on me, and start focusing on others.î Eyes locked to his, she added, ìBestóand worstóthing I have ever done.î
He didnít get it, and said so.
ìLife has put those kids through the wringer. Some of them are barely hanging on, but theyíre hanging on. A person canít help but admire the fight in them.î She sipped her espresso. ìHard to feel sorry for yourself after spending time with them.î
It made sense, considering how sheíd always said that self-pity was the most dangerous of all human emotions.
ìMust be tough, though, working that closely with them.î
ìOnly during the drive home.î
ìWhy?î
Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. ìBecause I never know which of them wonít be there when I go back.î
And not because theyíd gone home, healthy, he surmised.
She started talking about individual kids, the conditions that put them into Hopkins, the parents and siblings that supported them, and the staff that cared for and comforted them. Hands folded on the table, Lillie said, ìAnd then thereís Jason, the sweetest, cutest ten year old boy youíll ever meet. He told me the other day that he wants to marry one of the girlsóSallyóbecause his momís biggest regret is that sheíll never see him walk down the aisle with the girl of his dreams.î
Wiping away a wayward tear, she added, ìThen he asked me if Iíd sing at their wedding, and help him make arrangements. Flowers. Streamers. Punch and a cake.î
And he knew that sheíd agreed to everything. Jase wanted nothing more at that moment than to take her in his arms, tell her what a terrific person she was. But he sat back, instead, and said, ìHow can I help?î
ìHelp? You?î
ìHey. Quit looking so shocked. I do nice stuff once in a while, you know.î
ìI know that better than almost anyone,î was her quiet reply.
ìMaybe we can work up a couple of tunes, two or three of the things weíd sing at Three-Eyed Joeís when people were celebrating anniversariesÖî
It meant spending time with her, alone, and Jase hoped the offer hadnít been a big mistake.
ìI think the kids might like that.î
She thought the kids might like it? Why the hesitation? And then it hit him: She was as afraid of being so close, of reliving warm and wonderful moments as he was.
ìThen letís put our heads together, figure outÖ When is this ceremony, anyway?î
ìIn two weeks.î There wasnít a trace of a smile on her face when she added, ìIf he makes it that long.î
ìKeep a good thought, Lill. If the kid is half as determined to do this for his mom, heíll make it. And who knows? Maybe itís just what he needs to push him closer to a cure.î
She brought the espresso cup to her lips and, nodding, met his eyes.
His high school Lit teacher had made the class memorize what sheíd termed ìlove poems.î It surprised him that, after all this time, he was able to zero in on a line from Sir Walter Scottís ìLochinvarî: Sheíd lookíd down to blush, and sheíd lookíd up to sigh, with a smile on her lips and a tear in her eyeÖî
Yet again, Jase had to fight the urge to draw her into a comforting hug.
He cleared his throat. Sat up straighter. Downed a gulp of his iced tea. ìSo where do you think we should get together? My place? Weíd have plenty of quiet and privacy there.î
Too much, too soon, he realized when her eyes grew big and round.
ìThe acoustics are great in the innís turret. Iím sure Mom and Dad wonít mind. In fact, they were just asking about you the other day. Iím sure theyíd love seeing you.î
ìSounds good. Iíll be home for a month, so my schedule is pretty flexible. Youíre the one whoís clocking a hundred hours a week, soÖî
ìIím happy to see you havenít changed much,î she said, laughing. ìStill exaggerating like crazyÖone of the things that made me crazy about you.î
She gasped a little when that last line came out and, hands over her mouth, Lillie said, ìGood grief. Iím sorry, Jase. That was really inappropriate. And bad timing.î
ìItís neither, and itís okay. Nothing wrong with concentrating on the good times. We had plenty of those beforeÖî
If heíd been standing, Jase might have kicked himself, because things had been going really well until he put his big foot in his mouth. Lillie shoved the espresso cup into the center of the table, her way of saying their meeting was over. Sheíd gathered her things and stood, and he did, too.
ìSo should I call you? Or would you rather call me? About a time when we can get together. To rehearse, I mean.î
Rambling again. And again, he felt bad for raising her stress level. ìDo you have a pen?î
Like magic, she produced one from her purse.
Leaning over the table, he scribbled three phone numbers on a napkin. ìHome, cell, and office,î he said, ìin that order. You can always get me on my cell. Call any time.î Call soon, he thought. As he pressed the napkin into her hand, their fingers touched. Not for longóa blink in time, if thatóbut long enough to send a current of longing straight to his heart.
Heíd been behaving like some guilt-ridden goofball whoíd dumped his best girl, when in reality, Lillie had ended them by choosing booze and pills over their relationship.
It hit him like a punch to the gut: Suggesting that they get together, for any reason, had been a bad idea. But maybe luck was on his side, and sheíd hesitated earlier because she felt the same way. Jase hoped she wouldnít call. And he hoped she would. Why had she come back, just when heíd gotten himself back on track, and turn order into chaos again?
Feeling miserable and confused, Jase held open the cafÈ door.
A tiny frown furrowed her brow. ìAre you okay?î
ìYeah. Just remembered something I forgot to do.î LikeÖstaying the heck away from her.
ìOh. Because you lookÖdifferent.î
ìDonít mind me,î he said, leading the way across the street. ìIím a little annoyed with myself, is all, for forgettingÖî He let his sentence trail off.
ìI remember what a perfectionist you are, and how frustrated you get with yourself when you let something, no matter how trivial, slip through the cracks.î
Yeah, she knew him, all right. Their closeness is what allowed her to use him, time and again, to suit her I love drugs more than you needs.
About Loree Lough
Bestselling author LOREE LOUGH once sang for her supper, performing across the U.S. and Canada. Now and then, she blows the dust from her 6-string to croon a tune or two, but mostly, she writes novels that have earned hundreds of industry and “Readers’ Choice” awards, 4- and 5-star reviews, and 7 book-to-movie options. Her 115th book, 50 Hours, is her most personal to date, and released in June. More recently, The Man She Knew, book #1 in her ìBy Way of the Lighthouseî series (Harlequin Heartwarming) and Bringing Rosie Home. Next, #3 in the series, The Redemption of Lillie RourkeÖand additional surprises for 2018, 2019, and beyondÖ.
Official website: http://www.loreelough.com
Connect with Loree Lough on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
Giveaway
WIN ONE OF FIVE FREE EBOOKS
Prizes up for grabs:
Five (5) eBook Copies of The Redemption of Lillie Rourke
Contest runs from March 29 – April 4, 2018.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
In partnership with
Book Unleashed Blog Tours
The post The Redemption of Lillie Rourke by Loree Lough pre – order blitz & giveaway appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
March 27, 2018
Love Laughter And Lots Of Dogs by Ellen Whyte, blog tour and spotlight
“A Sweet,Funny, and Adorable Romance” – Roxie’s Reviews
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A Pawsome Romance by Ellen Whyte
A standalone novel
50,000 words Price: $2.99
Kelly Taylor’s homemade pet treat business
is taking off. Even better, utterly yummy Lord Cory Winthrop, the man she had a
teenage crush on, asks her out for dinner.
Back on a lightning visit home, Cory
Winthrop runs into his childhood friend, Kelly. Captivated by her happy nature,
he becomes determined to win her heart.
However, finding true love is never easy.
Kelly worries she may not fit into Cory’s spectacularly glamorous lifestyle. To
complicate matters, Cory’s banking career is at a crossroads, and his evil ex
is about to come rocketing back into his life.
Will Cory and Kelly be able to overcome
their difficulties and live happily ever after?
A warm, light-hearted small town romance
with a curvy girl and a very hunky billionaire banker. Featuring Hamish, the
adorable rescue puppy.
#Wintrop #Romance
What The Reviewers Are Saying
“What an adorable cute even funny at times romance story” – Paula D on Goodreads.
“What a totally delightful read!” Miri on Goodreads.
“…who wouldn’t love them…I absolutely did” –
Buy Links
Need more curvy girl romance? Click to read these free on KU!
About The Author
I’m Scottish-Dutch, I live in West Malaysia, and I like to keep busy. I’m dividing my time between several jobs I love because that’s what makes me happy.
I’m a newspaper columnist, a magazine feature writer, and a counselling psychologist. Novel writing is a hobby – or rather, a passion. I write sweet romance as Ellen but I also have a dark side as AJ Adams. Come and say hello to me on Facebook, no friend request needed.
Stalking Links
Ellen Whyte Sweet, Hot & Sexy Romance Blog
The post Love Laughter And Lots Of Dogs by Ellen Whyte, blog tour and spotlight appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
March 26, 2018
Killer Tied (Eve Appel Mystery) by Lesley A. Diehl, blog tour & spotlight
Killer Tied (Eve Appel Mystery)
by Lesley A. Diehl
About the Book
Killer Tied (Eve Appel Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Camel Press (March 15, 2018)
Paperback: 264 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1603813198
Digital ASIN: B0789824WQ
Eve Appel Egret is adjusting to married life with Sammy and their three adopted sons in Sabal Bay, Florida. While still running her consignment stores, she is going pro with her sleuthing by becoming an apprentice to a private detective.
Until her marriage, Eve’s only “family” was her grandmother Grandy, who raised her after her parents died in a boating accident. Now, in addition to her husband and sons, she has a father-in-law who clearly dislikes her. Sammy’s father, a full-blooded Miccosukee Indian long presumed dead, has emerged from the swamps where he’s been living like a hermit, and he isn’t happy about Eve’s marriage to his half-Miccosukee, half-white son.
As for Eve’s family, are her parents really dead? A woman named Eleanor claims to be Eve’s half-sister, born after her mother faked a boating accident to escape her abusive husband, Eve’s father. Then Eleanor’s father turns up dead in the swamps, stabbed by a Bowie knife belonging to Sammy’s father, Lionel. Strange as Lionel Egret is, Eve knows he had no motive to kill this stranger. In order to clear him, Eve must investigate Eleanor’s claims, and she might not like what digging around in her family’s past uncovers.
About the Author
Lesley is a country gal through and through, from her childhood on a dairy farm in Illinois to college in a cornfield in Iowa, Lesley creates sassy, snoopy protagonists who embrace chasing killers in country settings. Lesley writes several series: the Big Lake Murder mysteries and the Eve Appel mysteries both set in rural Florida; the Laura Murphy mysteries located on a lake in upstate New York; and short stories, some featuring a few of Lesley’s unique relatives from back on the farm (Aunt Nozzie and the Grandmothers). She is inspired by an odd set of literary muses: a ghost named Fred and a coyote as yet unnamed. Killer Tied is the sixth mystery in the Eve Appel Mysteries. To read more about Lesley’s unusual and humorous cozy mysteries, go to www.lesleyadiehl.com.
Author Links
Visit her on her website: www.lesleyadiehl.com
Blog: www.lesleyadiehl.com/blog
Twitter: @lesleydiehl
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lesley.diehl.1
Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lesley-A-Diehl/522270901254754?fref=ts
Purchase Link
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
March 15 – Books Direct – GUEST POST
March 15 – Laura’s Interests – SPOTLIGHT
March 16 – Teresa Trent Author Blog – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
March 16 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
March 17 – Mysteries with Character – CHARACTER GUEST POST
March 18 – Island Confidential – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
March 19 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
March 20 – Community Bookstop – REVIEW
March 21 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
March 22 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
March 23 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – REVIEW
March 24 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – GUEST POST
March 25 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT
March 26 – Back Porchervations – REVIEW
March 27 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT
March 28 – Ms. Cat’s Honest World – REVIEW
The post Killer Tied (Eve Appel Mystery) by Lesley A. Diehl, blog tour & spotlight appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
March 25, 2018
Prestige, Privilege & Murder (A Stacie Maroni Mystery) by Christa Nardi, blog tour, giveaway & spotlight
Prestige, Privilege & Murder (A Stacie Maroni Mystery)
by Christa Nardi
About the Book
Prestige, Privilege & Murder (A Stacie Maroni Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Self Published (January 10, 2018)
Print Length: 182 pages
ASIN: B078N1M422
Money isn’t worth killing for, or is it?
When her estranged husband is murdered, Stacie Maroni Noth is quickly identified as the main suspect. With divorce papers not yet signed, she may get a substantial inheritance – a clear motive in the eyes of both Noth’s family and the police. His family and law firm strive to keep up the pretense that all is above reproach and idyllic. In her quest to prove her innocence, however, Stacie discovers she’s not the only one with a motive for murder. Could it be a colleague at the prestigious law firm where he worked? Or is it tied to the victim’s stance on domestic violence? Or maybe even his threats to reveal family secrets? Whatever the true motive may be, it soon becomes clear that Stacie might be the next victim.
Giveaway
About the Author
Christa Nardi is and always has been an avid reader. Her favorite authors have shifted from Carolyn Keene and Earl Stanley Gardner to more contemporary mystery/crime authors over time, but mystery along with romance are her preferred choices for leisure reading. Christa also has been a long time writer from poetry and short stories to cozy mystery. She is the author of the Cold Creek Series and co-authors a young adult mystery series with Cassidy Salem.
Author Links
Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00G8SBCKK
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7257539.Christa_Nardi
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christa.nardi.5
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChristaN7777
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/christa-nardi
Blog: https://christanardi.blogspot.com
Sign up for monthly newsletter http://smarturl.it/NardiNewsletter
Purchase Link
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
March 26 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT
March 26 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
March 27 – Readeropolis – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
March 27 – Varietats – REVIEW
March 28 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW
March 28 – Valerie’s Musings – REVIEW
March 29 – Texas Book-aholic – REVIEW
March 30 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
March 30 – Teresa Trent Author Blog – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
March 31 – Mysteries with Character – SPOTLIGHT
March 31 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW
April 1 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW
April 2 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT
The post Prestige, Privilege & Murder (A Stacie Maroni Mystery) by Christa Nardi, blog tour, giveaway & spotlight appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
March 24, 2018
The Uninvited Corpse (Food Blogger Mysteries) by Debra Sennefelder, blog tour, spotlight & giveaway
The Uninvited Corpse (Food Blogger Mysteries)
by Debra Sennefelder
About the Book
The Uninvited Corpse (Food Blogger Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Kensington (March 27, 2018)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1496715920
Digital ASIN: B073NNPM7G
Leaving behind a failed career as a magazine editor and an embarrassing stint on a reality baking show, newly divorced lifestyle entrepreneur Hope Early thought things were finally on the upswing—until she comes face-to-face with a murderer . . .
Hope’s schedule is already jam packed with recipe testing and shameless plugs for her food blog as she rushes off to attend a spring garden tour in the charming town of Jefferson, Connecticut. Unfortunately, it isn’t the perfectly arranged potted plants that grab her attention—it’s the bloody body of reviled real estate agent Peaches McCoy . . .
One of the tour guests committed murder, and all eyes are on Hope’s older sister, Claire Dixon—who, at best, saw Peaches as a professional rival. And suspicions really heat up when another murder occurs the following night. Now, with two messy murders shaking Jefferson and all evidence pointing to Claire, Hope must set aside her burgeoning brand to prove her sister’s innocence. But the closer she gets to the truth, the closer she gets to a killer intent on making sure her life goes permanently out of style . . .
Includes Recipes from Hope’s Kitchen!
Giveaway
1 Print Copy of The Uninvited Corpse – U.S. Only. All you have to do to enter leave a blog comment on why you like cozy mysteries. Don’t have to be a long post easy and simple. Be sure to leave you email so I can contact the winner.
About the Author
Debra Sennefelder, the author of the Food Blogger Mystery series and the Resale Boutique Mystery series, is an avid reader who reads across a range of genres, but mystery fiction is her obsession. Her interest in people and relationships is channeled into her novels against a backdrop of crime and mystery. When she’s not reading, she enjoys cooking and baking and as a former food blogger, she is constantly taking photographs of her food. Yeah, she’s that person.
Born and raised in New York City, she now lives and writes in Connecticut with her family. She’s worked in pre-hospital care, retail and publishing. Her writing companions are her adorable and slightly spoiled Shih-Tzus, Susie and Billy.
She is a member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, Women’s Fiction Writers Association and Romance Writers of America.
She can be reached at Debra@DebraSennefelder.com
Author Links:
Website – http://bit.ly/2CUW6Bj
Facebook – http://bit.ly/2ASJVDr
Goodreads – http://bit.ly/2DpMPE8
Purchase Links
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
March 19 – Bibliophile Reviews – AUTHOR INTERVIEW, GIVEAWAY
March 19 – Readsalot – SPOTLIGHT
March 20 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW
March 20 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – GUEST POST
March 21 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY
March 21 – Back Porchervations – REVIEW
March 22 – The Power of Words – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY
March 22 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
March 22 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT
March 23 – Texas Book-aholic – REVIEW
March 23 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW
March 23 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY
March 24 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY
March 24 – Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers – SPOTLIGHT
March 25 – La libreria di Beppe – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY
March 25 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY
March 26 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY
March 26 – Mysteries with Character – SPOTLIGHT
March 27 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
March 27 – A Holland Reads – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY
March 28 – Community Bookstop – AUTHOR INTERVIEW, GIVEAWAY
March 28 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY
March 29 – A Cozy Experience – REVIEW, GUEST POST, GIVEAWAY
March 29 – Socrates’ Book Reviews – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY
March 30 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW
March 30 – Varietats – REVIEW, GUEST POST
March 31 – Moonlight Rendezvous – REVIEW, GUEST POST
March 31 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW
April 1 – The Montana Bookaholic – REVIEW
April 1 – Bookworm Cafe – REVIEW
The post The Uninvited Corpse (Food Blogger Mysteries) by Debra Sennefelder, blog tour, spotlight & giveaway appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
Clues in the Sand (A Seaside Cove Bed & Breakfast Mystery) by Terry Ambrose, giveaway & spotlight
Clues in the Sand (A Seaside Cove Bed & Breakfast Mystery) by Terry Ambrose
About the Book
Clues in the Sand (A Seaside Cove Bed & Breakfast Mystery)
Cozy Mystery 2nd in Series Self Published Release Date – March 15, 2018 Print Length: 191 pages
To Rick Atwood’s dismay, the police find a body on the beach near his Seaside Cove B&B. The dead woman held a pottery shard from an ancient rice bowl, which the cops believe is a clue to her murder. The chief suspect is Flynn O’Connor, a female archaeologist known for her hatred of treasure thieves. Trouble is, Rick’s daughter Alex sees Flynn as a role model and will not believe her friend is a killer. Alex pressures her dad as only a ten-year-old can to prove Flynn is innocent. The mayor is also making demands—for Rick to stay out of the investigation. With his daughter and the mayor at odds, Rick sees trouble brewing. He knows too well how much Alex loves sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong. Especially when there’s murder involved.
Giveaway
About the Author
Terry Ambrose is a former skip tracer who only stole cars when it was legal. He’s long since turned his talents to writing mysteries and thrillers. Several of his books have been award finalists and in 2014 his thriller, “Con Game,” won the San Diego Book Awards for Best Action-Thriller. He’s currently working on the Seaside Cove Bed & Breakfast Mystery series. Author Links: Website: http://terryambrose.com Facebook: http://facebook.com/suspense.writer Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6447968.Terry_Ambrose Purchase Link Amazon
The post Clues in the Sand (A Seaside Cove Bed & Breakfast Mystery) by Terry Ambrose, giveaway & spotlight appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
March 23, 2018
Cinco de Murder (A Taste of Texas Mystery) by Rebecca Adler, blog tour, excerpt, giveaway and spotlight
Cinco de Murder (A Taste of Texas Mystery)
by Rebecca Adler
About the Book
Cinco de Murder (A Taste of Texas Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – Texas
Berkley (April 3, 2018)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0425275955
Digital ASIN: B073TJH4FF
Tex-Mex waitress and part-time reporter Josie Callahan serves up more Lone Star justice in this spicy mystery from the author of The Good, the Bad, and the Guacamole
.
It’s fiesta time in Broken Boot, Texas, and tourists are pouring into town faster than free beer at a bull roping for the mouthwatering Cinco de Mayo festivities. Tex-Mex waitress Josie Callahan, her feisty abuela, and even her spunky Chihuahua Lenny are polishing their folklórico dances for Saturday’s big parade, while Uncle Eddie is adding his own spicy event to the fiesta menu: Broken Boot’s First Annual Charity Chili Cook-off.
But Uncle Eddie’s hopes of impressing the town council go up in smoke when cantankerous chili cook Lucky Straw is found dead in his tent. And when Josie’s beloved uncle is accused of fatal negligence, she, Lenny, and the steadfast Detective Lightfoot must uncover who ended the ambitious chilihead’s life–before another cook kicks the bucket.
Excerpt
Chapter 1
Folklórico Rehearsal
On such a gorgeous May morning, what could be better than a power walk to Cho’s cleaners with my long-haired Chihuahua, Lenny? The morning sun had tossed a wide blanket of gold over the Davis and Chisos mountains, awakening the piñon pines and the weeping junipers from their slumber, illuminating the bluegrass and scrub so they looked like desert jewels. The plan had been to retrieve my abuela’s folklórico costume and burn some extra calories. And though we made good time—considering the length of my canine sidekick’s pencil-thin appendages—the morning sun galloped down Broken Boot’s cobbled streets while I paid Mr. Cho with a crumpled five-dollar bill and a coupon for a dozen free tamales.
“Yip.” Lenny lapped from the pet fountain in front of Elaine’s Pies, soaking his black-and-white coat.
“¡Vámonos, amigo!” If we were late to the final dance rehearsal before the Cinco de Mayo parade, God only knew when Senora Marisol Martinez, our matriarch, would permit me to call her abuela again.
During my first few months back home, I was elated to find I could accomplish tasks in far less time than in the crowded thoroughfares of Austin. Almost a year later, I was forced to admit the slower pace of our dusty little town didn’t aid me in my quest to check things off my list. It merely encouraged me to meander.
On that happy thought, Lenny and I raced down the sidewalk toward Milagro. Suddenly I tripped over the plastic clothes bag, nearly kissing the pavement with my face. “Whose great idea was it to rehearse this early?”
“Yip.”
“That’s what I was afraid of.”
When we barreled through the front door of Milagro, the best, and only, Tex-Mex restaurant on Main Street, I expected the folklórico rehearsal to be in full swing. Instead my best friend, Patti Perez, glared at me, which only made me smile. I was wise to her marshmallow center, in spite of her ghostly Goth appearance.
“Sorry,” I mouthed. After all, it had been my idea for all of us to join the local folklórico troupe—my way of embracing life back in good old Broken Boot, Texas.
“About time,” she chided as I draped Senora Mari’s costume over a stack of hand-painted wooden chairs. In my absence, the other dancers had cleared the dining room to create a dance floor on the beautiful Saltillo tiles.
“I would have called,” I began.
“But I was trapped in a dead zone,” we said in unison. Service was so bad in Broken Boot and its outlying communities that folks were slower here than in the rest of the country in ditching their landlines.
“Where’s Anthony?” When our headwaiter offered his newly formed mariachi band to play for our first performance, I didn’t have the heart to say no. Beggars can’t be choosers, or look a gift band in the mouth.
“Tsk, tsk.” Across the room, Anthony’s new fiancée placed her hand over the bar phone’s mouthpiece. Though christened Lucinda, we’d quickly dubbed her Cindy to avoid calling her Linda, my aunt’s name, and vice versa. “He says his truck has a flat tire.” She scowled at whatever Anthony said next and responded with a flurry of Spanish.
“Who doesn’t keep a spare in the desert?” Patti, whom I referred to as Goth Girl if for no other reason than to hear her snort, delivered this line with a deadpan expression and a flick of her rehearsal skirt.
“Yip,” Lenny said, chasing after her ruffles.
Goth Girl snapped her head in my direction and gave me the stink eye. “Tell me you replaced your spare.”
“Uh, well, not yet, but I will after Cinco de Mayo.” Money was a bit tight, what with the loss of tourists during the winter months.
To my right, Aunt Linda, a stunning middle-aged woman with warm chestnut hair, modeled her bright-colored skirt better than any fashionista in Paris. “That’s what you said about Valentine’s Day.” She was my late mother’s older sister. She might look great in her Wranglers, but she and rhythm had never been introduced.
“And Saint Patrick’s,” chimed in Senora Mari, executing a double spin. This morning she wore a rehearsal skirt of black-tiered lace along with her Milagro uniform of peasant blouse, gray bun at her nape, and large pink flower behind her ear. No matter how much I rehearsed, none of my moves could compare to her sassy head turns and flamboyant poses. Who knew my seventy-something, four-foot-eleven abuela would turn out to be the star of our ragtag troupe?
A sharp clapping interrupted our chatter. “Let’s try it on the counts,” cried Mrs. Felicia Cogburn, mayor’s wife and self-appointed dance captain.
“Yip,” Lenny agreed.
“Why is that dog here?” Mrs. Cogburn demanded, her hands raised in mid-clap.
“He has a key role, remember?” My abuela smiled, an expression so rare on her dear weathered face it made folks uncomfortable.
Mrs. Cogburn blinked several times. “Of course.” Before she could begin, a small truck landed at the curb with a bed full of musicians, trumpets and guitars in full serenade. The band stopped playing long enough to hurry inside.
“¡Ay, Dios! Senora, I had to borrow a spare. Mine was flat.” Anthony waved his friends into a semicircle just inside the door.
Senora Mari thrust a finger into the air. “So you say.” She snapped her head dramatically to the side. “Play.”
With a worried look, Anthony counted off, and the group of dark-haired men and boys began to play the “Jarabe Tapatío”, the Mexican hat dance. I spied a familiar face on trumpet. Anthony’s little sister Lily gave me a wink and a nod.
As the trumpets and guitars played, Mrs. Cogburn called out, “And one, two, three, four.”
“Where’s your skirt?” Patti asked as we twirled first right and then left.
“Ah, chicken sticks.” I dodged the dancers, ran up the stairs to my loft apartment, and retrieved my long skirt from a chrome dining chair.
“Yip, yip, yip,” Lenny cried from the bottom of the stairs.
“Sorry.” I found his straw hat on the yellow Formica table and made it downstairs without mishap. “Here you go, handsome.” I perched the hat on his head and tightened the elastic under his chin. As we danced, Lenny would spin in place on his back legs, melting the hearts of the crowd faster than fried ice cream in August.
Giveaway
About the Author
Rebecca Adler grew up on the sugar beaches of the Florida Gulf Coast. Drawn to the Big Apple by the sweet smell of wishful thinking, she studied acting on Broadway until a dark-eyed cowboy flung her over his saddle and hightailed it to the Southwest.
Prior to writing women’s fiction, Gina always found a way to add a touch of the dramatic to her life: dinner theatre in Mississippi, can-can club in Florida, and playing a giant Furskin in the New York Toy Fair, plus the occasional play and musical.
She’s currently content to pour her melodramatic tendencies into writing her Taste of Texas culinary mystery series. Set in far West Texas, her humorous stories are filled with delicious suspense and scrumptious Tex-Mex recipes. Her alter ego, Gina Lee Nelson, writes sweet contemporary romances with a sweet, Southern-fried flavor.
Author Links
Webpage: www.AuthorRebeccaAdler.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorRebeccaAdler/
Twitter: @CozyTxMysteries
GoodReads: http://tinyurl.com/GoodReads-RebeccaAdler
Purchase Links
Amazon B&N Kobo Google Play BAM BookBub
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
March 22 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
March 22 – Cozy Up With Kathy – GUEST POST
March 22 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW
March 23 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY
March 23 – The Self-Rescue Princess – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
March 24 – Varietats – REVIEW
March 24 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT
March 24 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
March 25 – T’s Stuff – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
March 25 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – AUTHOR INTERVIEW, GIVEAWAY
March 25 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
March 26 – View from the Birdhouse – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY
March 26 – A Chick Who Reads – REVIEW
March 27 – Teresa Trent Author Blog – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY
March 27 – Dee-Scoveries – SPOTLIGHT
March 28 – Texas Book-aholic – REVIEW
March 28 –Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
March 28 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT
March 29 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – GUEST POST
March 29 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
March 30 – The Montana Bookaholic – REVIEW
March 30 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW
March 31 – That’s What She’s Reading – REVIEW
March 31 – Brooke Blogs – CHARACTER GUEST POST, GIVEAWAY
The post Cinco de Murder (A Taste of Texas Mystery) by Rebecca Adler, blog tour, excerpt, giveaway and spotlight appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
March 18, 2018
Uneasy Prey (A Zoe Chambers Mystery) by Annette Dashofy, blog tour, giveaway & spotlight
Uneasy Prey (A Zoe Chambers Mystery)
by Annette Dashofy
About the Book
Uneasy Prey (A Zoe Chambers Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Setting – Pennsylvania
Henery Press (March 27, 2018)
Paperback: 286 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1635113204
Digital ASIN: B078RWM8S1
On the way to the emergency room, an elderly woman regains consciousness long enough to inform paramedic Zoe Chambers that her fall down the basement steps was no accident. Before she can say more, she succumbs to her injuries, launching Zoe and Police Chief Pete Adams into the investigation of a burglary ring targeting the area’s vulnerable senior citizens.
Zoe—in spite of Pete’s objections—takes it upon herself to act as protection detail after the con men, disguised as water company employees, set their sights on Zoe’s beloved former landlady. It’s a decision that eventually puts Zoe in harm’s way.
With Zoe already recovering from one close call, Pete must race against time to stop the crime ring—and a dangerous killer—before they strike again.
Giveaway
About the Author
Annette Dashofy is the USA Today best-selling author of the Zoe Chambers mystery series about a paramedic and deputy coroner in rural Pennsylvania’s tight-knit Vance Township. CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE
was a finalist for the Agatha Award for Best First Novel of 2014 and BRIDGES BURNED
was nominated for the 2015 Agatha for Best Contemporary Novel. UNEASY PREY
, the sixth in the series, is set for release on March 27.
Author Links
Website– www.annettedashofy.com
Blog– http://annettedashofy.blogspot.com/
Facebook– https://www.facebook.com/annette.dashofy
Twitter– @Annette_Dashofy
Purchase Links
Amazon B&N Kobo
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
March 19 – Texas Book-aholic – REVIEW
March 19 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT
March 20 – Teresa Trent Author Blog – SPOTLIGHT
March 20 – Cozy Up With Kathy – CHARACTER GUEST POST
March 21 – A Chick Who Reads – REVIEW
March 21 – Readsalot – SPOTLIGHT
March 22 – Varietats – REVIEW
March 22 – Jane Reads – GUEST POST
March 23 – The Power of Words – REVIEW
March 23 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
March 24 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW
March 24 – La libreria di Beppe – SPOTLIGHT
March 25 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW
March 25 – Brooke Blogs – GUEST POST
March 26 – The Montana Bookaholic – CHARACTER GUEST POST
March 26 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
March 27 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW
March 27 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT
March 28 – Island Confidential – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
March 28 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
The post Uneasy Prey (A Zoe Chambers Mystery) by Annette Dashofy, blog tour, giveaway & spotlight appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
March 17, 2018
Lethal in Old Lace: A Consignment Shop Mystery by Duffy Brown, blog tour, spotlight & giveaway
Lethal in Old Lace: A Consignment Shop Mystery
by Duffy Brown
About the Book
Lethal in Old Lace: A Consignment Shop Mystery
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
1st with this publisher.
Crooked Lane Books (March 13, 2018)
Hardcover: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1683315353
Digital ASIN: B074MB9R6J
Reagan Summerside returns in national bestselling author Duffy Brown’s fifth Consignment Shop mystery, now for the first time in hardcover.
There are two social functions in Savannah guaranteed to get people talking: weddings and funerals. And just as consignment shop owner Reagan Summerside agrees to marry the hunky Walker Boone, her neighbors, sisters Annie Fritz and Elsie Abbot, step up their business as professional mourners. They are so successful that the Sleepy Pines Retirement Center has hired them as a part of their retirement package. But the celebration over good business is cut short when the residents at Pines suddenly begin dying at an alarming rate. And the sisters are the first suspects.
Reagan has her doubts, however, and begins to look into the strange phenomenon. But then something even stranger happens: a body winds up in the sisters’ pink Caddy. The evidence begins to pile up and the suspicious case of Willie Fishbine, who swindled the sisters out of a fortune and coincidentally died prior to the Pines case, is reopened.
Not wanting Willie to be buried until they can find the killer responsible for the murders, Reagan must catch the culprit in time to walk down the aisle.
Giveaway
Giveaway – 1 Duffy Brown Tote Bag – U.S. Only –
Just comment on what is one of your favorite “old” item.
About the Author
While others girls dreamed of dating Brad Pitt, Duffy Brown longed to take Sherlock Holmes to the prom. Today she conjures up who-done-it stories for Berkley Prime Crime and has two series, the national bestselling Consignment Shop Mysteries
set in Savannah and the Cycle Path Mysteries
on Mackinac Island.
Author Links:
Webpage – www.DuffyBrown.com
Facebook – www.facebook.com/authorduffybrown
Twitter – https://twitter.com/DuffyBrownCozy
Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/duffybrown/
Purchase Links
Amazon
B&N Kobo
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
March 8 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY
March 8 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY
March 9 – A Cozy Experience – REVIEW, GUEST POST, GIVEAWAY
March 10 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY
March 10 – Mysteries with Character – SPOTLIGHT
March 11 – The Power of Words – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY
March 12 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW
March 12 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST
March 13 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
March 14 – Back Porchervations – REVIEW
March 15 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW
March 16 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY
March 17 – Ruff Drafts – GUEST POST
March 18 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY
March 18 – Readeropolis – GUEST POST, GIVEAWAY
March 19 – T’s Stuff – SPOTLIGHT
March 20 – The Montana Bookaholic – REVIEW
March 21 – La libreria di Beppe – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY
The post Lethal in Old Lace: A Consignment Shop Mystery by Duffy Brown, blog tour, spotlight & giveaway appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
March 16, 2018
Giveaway ….Greystone Chronicles Book One audiobook giveaway
Greystone Chronicles Book One audio being out finally!
Laurie Catherine Winkel and Jeff Hays, along with Cyn, Justin, and the other folks at Soundbooth Theater did a great job with this one! And I want everyone to hear about it.
Want one? Here’s how you get it!
Click below on the rafflecopter and enter.
The Greystone Chronicles: Book One: Io Online https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076FN84HY/
In the latter half of the 21st century, Alexander and his guild mates play Io Online for fun and to earn a living. It’s the largest VRMMORPG on the planet, and the source of income that supports families around the globe. While completing a rare “First Kill” dungeon in hopes of epic loot, they discover that demons, who have not been seen in the realm for ages, have once again invaded Io.
Given the chance to test a new experimental immersion system, the friends must give up their high level characters and begin again at level one. As they work through the noob zone quests, they discover that the new immersion system allows them to play in ways that hadn’t been possible before. Casting is faster. Movement more fluid. Even magic itself behaves differently.
They quickly run afoul of a party of player killers, and become the targets of an entire PK guild bent on spawn camping them until they leave the game. War has been declared.
The fight expands into populated areas, where innocent citizens are murdered, and player accounts are terminated. The guild works to help citizens rebuild what has been destroyed, but are repeatedly forced to stop and defend against enemy attacks.
After the gods of Io and a powerful being of darkness get involved, Alexander and his friends learn the hard way that their in-game actions have consequences, both in the game, and in the real world.
**This is a LITRPG novel. Which means that in addition to monster fights, dungeon runs, crafting adventures, and battles of swords and magic, there are game elements involved. If you’ve not played MMORPG’s or even tabletop RPG’s, or you don’t know what those terms mean, this book may not be for you. For the uninitiated, there is a sort of cheat-sheet narrative in the back of the book.
Warning: This book contains adult language.
Giveaway
The post Giveaway ….Greystone Chronicles Book One audiobook giveaway appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
