Title: Why Do You Like Me

Author: Hannah Rose

Genre: Contemporary Romance (f/non-binary)

Publisher: Rowan Prose

Book Blurb:

“Hannah Rose’s writing is so whimsical. This book was full of queer and trans found family feels, and enough twists and turns that made it hard to put down. A perfect LGBTQ+ romance about going after what you want and following your heart, even the journey doesn’t turn out the way you think it will.” -Bestselling Author Georgina Kiersten

At a friends’ wedding, Mae Saunders has a love-at-first-sight moment with Amber, someone whose aura matches the surrounding snow. But then Amber drags Mae into a wild, half-planned scheme for a European trip. Utterly smitten, Mae is ready to follow Amber anywhere, even quitting her job at a tea shop like she’d quit college more than a year ago. As a twenty-two-year-old lesbian, Mae knows she prefers femme women, even if she isn’t sure of much else.

Mae’s sure she’ll win Amber’s heart during the venture, but there are two obstacles. As a bisexual, Amber encounters the lamest dudes to flirt with in every city. And then there’s Blaise, Amber’s non-binary Belgian cousin—a killjoy the family sends as a companion for the trip. Blaise is a presumptive, quiet reminder of the gap between Amber’s world and Mae’s. Yet her surprising attraction to them confuses her, their aura a golden light she can’t ignore. Regardless, Mae stubbornly maintains she’ll woo Amber, and by the time they reach Paris, she’ll be Mae’s girlfriend.

Plan in place, Mae confides in Blaise as they grow closer, and friendship lines blur as her strategy crumbles. Blaise breaks every rule Mae assumes about attraction, their vigilant protection comforting her without asking for anything in return.

But if Mae can’t decide what or who she really wants, she might lose them both.

Fans of Lisa Frederickson’s “The Utterly Sublime Adventures of Ava Roberts,” Becky Albertalli’s “Imogen, Obviously,” and Chappell Roan’s “Good Luck, Babe” will enjoy “Why Do You Like Me,” by Hannah Rose.

Excerpt

“It’s just the trip of a lifetime,” I whispered.

My entire wardrobe, and some extra from a friend, was piled on my lofted bed as I stared up. Dresses, jeans, sweaters. It was a winter trip, after all. I opened my phone up and stared at the text she sent.

I stared at the map she drew on a screenshot. Less than a month for all that? And I got carried away because that’s what I did so well, daydreaming a perfect scenario. Her hand in mine. Her lips on my neck. And then I had the best idea ever. I need a new dress. Paris? Holy hell, that’s the dream, right? Kissing her under the lights of the Eiffel Tower? Her aura glowing bright, and maybe I’d match it, enveloped in its white light. Infused with love as I take her back to the hotel, and spend the rest of the night making her scream for whatever deity comes to mind. I wanna wake the neighbors. I want complaints because I need her to lose control and fall head over heels in love with me.

There it is. Because I knew she’s already got control, but I wanted a taste of it. Probably something I needed to shove in the back for some introspection. But you know what? She’ll fall for me. Maybe she already did?

Buy Links:

https://books2read.com/u/38qzqr

Author Biography

Previous to writing fiction, Hannah Rose was an award-winning newspaper journalist with a BS in Communications and Information Technology. Currently, she’s a stay-at-home mom to a child on the Autism spectrum. She identifies as a bisexual, demisexual woman who is on the ADHD spectrum. She resides in Georgia.

Social Media Links:

https://www.rowanprosepublishing.com/hannahrose

The Silverton Estate Duology

Author

Islay Corwin

Genre

Literary Fiction / Magical Realism / Botanical Gothic

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BOOK ONE

Title

Through the Yew Hedge: A Tale of Identity Magic

Genre

Literary Fiction, Magical Realism

Book Blurb

Through the Yew Hedge: A Tale of Identity Magic by Islay Corwin begins as a fairy tale and unfolds in a reckoning with truth and belonging.

Boundaries blur in the best hybrids. As in the liminal spaces of Silverton Estate’s Medieval Garden, growth needs both structure and wildness, and roots bind past to present. As Stella’s abilities awaken, stirring longing and confusion about her place in her adoptive family, she begins to sense her half-fae nature. From her perspective, both retrospective and transcendent, she explores identity fracture, the need to know her true origin, what she observes to be true, and the myths we choose to believe.

Excerpt

Excerpt from the Introduction: Silverton Foundations

“…The giant Yew Hedge had first obscured her view, but as they walked, and she squinted against the glare down toward the glistening silver herbs, she discerned the Monastery Garden’s geometry: tightly pruned and low, the evergreen boxwood hedge formed crisp, frost-glazed quadrants bisected by an earth-toned, sandstone walkway.

Amidst the wide winter landscape, Sarah visualizes the herbary in a colorful season, with all its shapes and textures. Purple and lavender spikes in contrast to the full, green leaves of lemon balm, the tall stalks of echinacea, and its cones of violet purple and vibrant pink against the bushy foliage.

The beds are dedicated to types of herbs and flowers; each of their healing properties is marked with miniature wooden signs, all meticulously organized. In one quadrant, a germander border contains rollicking herbs — more texture, structure, and purpose in Elizabeth Silverton’s Garden…

“What is that aura, or aroma — like pine — like rosemary?”

“Oh! You’ve picked up the scent of the ancient Cedars at the far reaches of The Estate,” said James, “remnants of the storied, primeval forest that emerged after the Ice Age. We’ve done our best to protect the fragment that Elizabeth Silverton willed to the University. Much wilderness was lost to speculators before she acquired and preserved the meadows, ponds, creeks, and trees, and built the Tudor Mansion.”

Buy Links — Through the Yew Hedge

Amazon

Books2Read (all retailers)

Goodreads

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BOOK TWO

Title

Through the Iron Gate: The Rosemere Records

Genre

Literary Fiction, Magical Realism, Botanical Estate Gothic, Dark Academia

Book Blurb

For over a century, Silverton University has stewarded the Tudor manor, herb quadrants, and ancient cedar groves bequeathed by Elizabeth Silverton, the Estate’s enigmatic founder. Sarah Caldwell, the current curator, has raised her adopted daughter Stella in the manor’s labyrinthine archives and garden paths.

Now twenty-one, Stella is no longer the child Sarah brought home. When the University divests Rosemere, Elizabeth’s locked cottage at the edge of the cedars, Sarah purchases it. Inside, Stella and her grandmother, Helen, a folklorist, discover letters that suggest the Estate’s gentle mythology has concealed something far more troubling. A confession in Victorian hand. Records in botanical cipher. Evidence that the beings who moved through the garden’s margins did not intervene equally for everyone.

What Helen translates, and Stella reads in the cedar groves, demands a reckoning with the cost of Stella’s own rescue, and of the children for whom no rescue came.

Through the Iron Gate: The Rosemere Records is both a gothic mystery and an archival elegy; a literary novella about identity, inheritance, severed lineage, and the dangerous grace of stories told to protect what cannot be undone.

Excerpt

Chapter 1: The Blue Book

I turned fifteen that September, nearly a year since Ellen left me for the second time. Late Autumn light slanted into the Keeper’s Cottage front windows, gilding the weathered oak dining table. Charles unfolded one extra leaf and added three chairs to the Hawthorns’ usual three. I helped Margaret open and smooth her antique linen tablecloth, and lay her best stoneware and stainless steelware while she lit candles in pewter holders. Fragrant beeswax flames danced over the rustic centerpiece of fall’s final flowers in the blue glass jars Margaret cherished.

I had stopped by the Guest Cottage on the way to my birthday gathering. The morning glory vine cascaded over the porch rails, its blue flowers defying the late September chill. The black rose stem we had found on Ellen’s pillow, a token of her passing the previous Samhain, now held dark hips on long, vigorous canes. Charles had rooted the stem in a pot by the door of my mother’s temporary dwelling. He had brushed frost from that single, surviving bloom. After one season, the black rose now trailed across the railing.

The Keeper’s Cottage was a second home to me. Sarah and Helen met me there, Mom carrying the spice layer cake Helen baked in the Manor’s trusty AGA oven. Margaret was ready with fifteen candles, and she sifted powdered sugar over the top. James hadn’t yet moved into the Guest Cottage and was home after his day in the Archives. Ellen’s absence filled the room.

At my fourteenth birthday party at the Hawthorns’ home, she had placed a gift on the sideboard and said, “Birthdays matter in our family.” Our family. The words filled my heart. They meant more now, weighed down by the loss of the Fairchilds I knew only from Ellen’s heritage stories.

Buy Links — Through the Iron Gate

Amazon

Books2Read (all retailers)

[Goodreads page coming soon]

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Author Biography

Islay Corwin writes lyrical tales of gardens and families formed in liminal spaces, where identity is shaped through memory, ceremony, and chance. She is the pen name of Mary Ellen Gambutti, an adoptee, horticulturist, essayist, and memoirist. Her Silverton Estate Duology explores adoption from inside the adoptee’s experience: sealed records, the unnamed void, the systems that determine who is rescued and who is not. She publishes the Substack newsletter Roots & Branches at melandislay.com.

Social Media Links

Facebook: MelGambuttiAuthor

Instagram: @maryelleng.author

Threads: @maryelleng.author

BlueSky: @maryellenlwrites.bsky.social

LinkedIn

Substack — Roots & Branches

As I park my car in front of Hartleigh Hall, I feel a chill caress my skin. The house is more like a mansion with architecture that speaks to me. This place has been around for centuries, and I have the distinct feeling that I am being watched. Whether by the inhabitants inside or the hall itself, I’m not sure. All I know is that this interview is going to be interesting. Bracing my shoulders, I knock. I am greeted by a servant and escorted to a room where I am greeted by Eleanor Hartleigh, the Duchess of Hartleigh.

It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Nancy and I am with N. N. Light’s Book Heaven. Would you care to introduce yourself and tell my readers a little about yourself?

My name is Eleanor Hartleigh, the Dowager Duchess of Hartleigh and the Keeper of Hartleigh’s Legacy. For many years, my greatest joy was sharing Hartleigh Hall with my husband, Charles. Together we built a life rooted in family, duty, and love. Now, after his passing, I find myself learning that grief and hope often walk hand in hand. Hartleigh has always been more than a house. It holds memories, secrets, and the legacy of generations. Some days I feel its weight. Other days I find comfort in its familiar halls. Through it all, I have learned that the past is never truly gone. It lives within us, shaping who we become and reminding us that even after loss, life continues.

She speaks with such emotion and passion. Even though her demeanor is regal, she has gentleness in her eyes. I look around the room and can feel the aura of the hall coming to life.

I’m so sorry for your loss. It sounds like your husband was a wonderful man and Hartleigh Hall is a guardian of the past and protector of the present. What is your idea of perfect happiness?

A full house. Laughter in the drawing room, children racing through the corridors, and the knowledge that those I love are safe and content. Happiness has never been found in grand accomplishments for me. It lives in shared moments.

I agree, it’s all about the shared moments which make life worth living. What is your greatest fear?

That those I love will carry burdens alone when they need not do so. Grief teaches one how isolating pain can become. I would spare others that loneliness if I could.

I shiver and suddenly feel cold. I glance around trying to see if a window is open. All the windows are shut and the large fireplace has a roaring fire going. Why am I so cold all of a sudden?

I have known grief like that. What is your current state of mind?

Hopeful. Some might find that surprising. There are days when sorrow still arrives uninvited. Yet I have learned that hope and grief are not enemies. They often sit beside one another.

I smile as an image of my father pops into my head. He’s been gone for over twenty years but I carry on in the hope he is proud of me.

I never thought of hope and grief as polar opposites, but two life lessons. What or who is the greatest love of your life?

My husband, Charles. Even now, years after his passing, the answer remains unchanged. Love does not end simply because someone is no longer standing beside you.

I smile.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

My family. Not titles or estates. Family. If those who come after me are stronger, kinder, and wiser than those who came before, then I shall consider my life well spent.

Normally, a woman of your station would respond in a different way. I’m impressed. What is your most treasured possession?

There is a tree carved into the stone of Hartleigh’s crypt. Each generation leaves its mark upon it. I treasure what it represents more than any jewel or inheritance. It reminds me that every life touches another and that no one is ever truly forgotten.

What a valuable legacy and a visual way to view a family tree. What do you most value in your friends?

Loyalty and honesty. A true friend will tell you what you need to hear, not merely what you wish to hear.

I nod.

A true friend, now that is a great treasure. What is your greatest regret?

That there are conversations I can no longer have. We always believe there will be one more opportunity, one more evening, one more chance to say what matters. Life does not always grant us that luxury.

Finally, my last question. What is your motto?

The truth may sleep, but it never dies.

Thank you, Duchess Hartleigh, for taking the time to sit with me for an interview. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting you and learning more about the Hartleigh legacy.

I close my notebook and place it and my pen in my purse. I glance around the room before closing my eyes for a moment. The walls exhale in my mind and I wonder what secrets it holds.

Nancy, would you like some tea and cakes?

I open eyes to gaze at my hostess. I smile and nod.

That would be lovely, thank you.

Title A Legacy of Lies

Author Ruth A. Casie

Genre Historical Gothic Romance

Publisher Dragonblade Publishing

Book Blurb

Some legacies are claimed. Others are survived.

When Nathaniel Draycott inherits the Hartleigh title in name but not in blood, he expects ledgers, land, and the quiet burden of stewardship. What he finds instead is a house that resists accounting, an estate that balances on paper while something beneath it remains unclaimed.

Clara Whitmore has built her life on discipline and silence, serving at Eleanor’s side in a house that watches as closely as any living thing. She knows every passage, every locked room, and every rule that keeps her past buried. What she does not expect is the new duke’s gaze, precise, persistent, and far too perceptive.

As Nathaniel begins to uncover discrepancies between Hartleigh’s records and its reality, Clara becomes both his most valuable guide and the one person he cannot safely trust. Each corridor they share tightens the web of suspicion and attraction neither can afford. A storm-lit encounter shatters their restraint, binding them in a secret neither can name without consequence.

But Hartleigh keeps its own accounts. Missing jewels, a sealed inheritance, and a shadow from Clara’s past threaten to destroy more than reputation. To survive, Nathaniel must learn whether the woman who moves unseen through the house is its greatest danger, or the only one who can help him uncover the truth.

In a place where lineage is uncertain and every silence carries consequences. Desire may prove the most perilous revelation of all.

A Legacy of Lies is a gothic romance of buried secrets, haunted inheritance, found courage, and a love that refuses to be silenced.

If you love the brooding mystery of Rebecca, the inheritance suspense of Knives Out, and the romance of Downton Abbey, you’ll be swept away by A Legacy of Lies, the first book in The Hartleigh Inheritance series.

Excerpt

The long gallery stretched like a corridor of witnesses. Tall windows caught the storm-light, flaring white with every strike, followed by the dark. Portraits lined the walls. Faces dim. Eyes alive. Watching. Waiting.

The runner whispered beneath his boots. Damp threads. Damper stone. One gilt frame sagged slightly on its wire, and for a breathless instant, Nathaniel swore its gaze moved. Cold. Condemning. As though judgment now had a face.

The gallery had always been long. Tonight it felt endless.

She stood by the central window. Her shawl clutched tight. Lightning lit her profile, pale and still. Her breath caught. But she didn’t step back.

Nathaniel stopped short of reaching her. The storm’s chill clung to his coat. And something darker clung to his voice.

“How long have you kept this from me?”

She froze, as if struck. “I never touched those jewels,” she said. “They were forced on me.”

“By whom?” His jaw locked. “Tell me who forced your hand. I’ll see they never come near you again.”

Her heart twisted. The name rose, hot and urgent, but Eleanor’s warning struck like iron. Do not speak it.

She wrapped her arms close. “I didn’t choose this.” Her voice shook. “But I gave my word to someone who matters. I can’t betray that. Not now.”

His reply cracked, grief behind steel. “Do you think I want to doubt you? I am asking for one truth I can hold.”

Her chin lifted, though tears stung her eyes. “Understand this. The doubt isn’t yours. It’s mine. It’s already won.”

He stared at her, brittle and breaking.

“Give me something I can hold.”

She shook her head, a knot burning in her throat. “I could hand you the truth, and you’d still question the hand that gave it.”

Lightning flared, too bright. The portraits seemed to lean in. Not shadows. Not paint. Judgment. Silence crowded between them, thick and ancestral.

Rain pushed through the old stone, dampening wax, dust, and history. The air reeked of consequence. And neither of them moved.

His voice roughened. “Then I was right to be afraid.”

“And I was wrong to hope.”

His breath caught, raw against the storm’s howl. Pride still barred his words. His body betrayed him. He stepped forward, not fast, but helpless. Drawn.

Clara’s resistance faltered in the same instant. Not by logic. By longing. By the ache she had sworn to bury.

Their mouths met, not softly, not sweetly, but sharp, bruising, desperate. A collision of everything they could not say.

For a heartbeat, the world shrank to that point of contact. Salt. Storm. Hunger. Grief.

Her hands knotted in his coat, not to hold him but to keep herself from falling. His lips set a vow against her skin, one he could never speak aloud. He wanted her. Still. Even now. Even with doubt in his blood.

Her breath hitched. His ribs couldn’t hold the feeling. His hand trembled at her waist, the choice swelling between his fingers. Love. Suspicion. He had never known the two could touch.

But pride returned like a blade.

Clara pulled away first. The breath between them tore like a seam.

His hands fell. His jaw hardened, as if he could lock the moment away. It would not be locked.

Her mouth throbbed, kissed to silence. His lips tasted of rain. That small violence stayed with them like a bruise they wouldn’t name.

They stepped back almost together. The space widened like years. The storm hammered the glass. Silence closed in between them. Not peace. Not calm. Just absence. Her shawl slipped from one shoulder. His hand lifted. Paused. Fell.

The moment hung. Raw. Bruised. Unspoken.

The gale struck like a blow.

Glass burst inward. Rain and wind flooded the gallery. A branch, driven by the storm, slammed into the portrait of Charles Hartleigh.

The wood cracked. The canvas tore. Gilt shattered. The painting dropped, a thunderclap. Glass scattered across the runner.

Clara cried out. Shards sprayed her skirts. Wind tore her hair loose and flung her shawl wide. For one heartbeat, Nathaniel saw her framed in the rain, her eyes burning, pale and resolute. Terribly alive.

Then the wind surged between them. Shards underfoot. Judgment on the floor. The storm where love should have been.

She turned and fled, skirts brushing glass. The shadows took her.

He called her name once. The wind stole it.

He stood as if the house had shut its lid around him. His grief was fresh. Unfamiliar. Her absence ached like a wound where something had been torn loose.

Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub)

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Legacy-Lies-Historical-Hartleigh-Inheritance-ebook/dp/B0H37SQ5Q4

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/252819794-a-legacy-of-lies

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/a-legacy-of-lies-a-regency-historical-romance-the-hartleigh-inheritance-book-1-by-ruth-a-casie

Author Biography

Ruth A. Casie is a USA Today bestselling author of sweeping historical romance filled with adventure, intrigue, and deeply emotional journeys. A former corporate executive, she now crafts stories featuring intelligent, courageous heroines and the heroes who cherish them. Ruth writes multiple interconnected series, including Barrington’s Brigade and The Hartleigh Inheritance. She loves weaving mystery, family legacy, and slow-burn passion into richly textured settings.

Social Media Links

• Substack: https://substack.com/@ruthacasie

• BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/ruth-a-casie

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RuthACasie/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthacasie/

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Ruth-A-Casie

• LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/ruthacasie

Title: Assume Nothing

Author: Barbara-Helene Smith

Genre: Mystery, Short Stories

Book Blurb:

Do you like short, fast-moving mysteries with a unique protagonist?

ASSUME NOTHING is a collection of short mysteries about four ordinary women, who find themselves in extraordinary situations, while looking for the truth. Each story can be read in a couple of hours while on a beach, an airplane, by the pool, next to a fire on a cold afternoon or sitting in a comfy chair with a steaming cup of coffee, tea or glass of your favorite wine.

Search for Justice - Kelly Williams hasn’t seen her eight-year-old son since her husband gained custody after their divorce three years ago. Determined to find Tommy, Kelly enrolls in a class designed to locate missing persons. There she meets Roger Ross, who offers to help, but his trust falters when Kelly reveals a secret past. Will Roger follow his instincts or the evidence that never lies?

Vanished - If Holly Hall had a life most women would envy, why did she leave her husband? When Bill discovers Holly and half the money in their joint account are missing, he hires a private investigator to find her. The pursuing cat and mouse game reveals both Holly and Bill have been living different lives.

Family Matters - Lucinda Lawrence inherits a fortune from a total stranger. While attempting to uncover her benefactor’s identity, half-siblings begin to surface and then are mysteriously murdered. The evidence mounts against Lucinda, making her the prime suspect.

Fakes, Frauds and Forgeries - When Paige Jenkins learns her grandmother’s Santini portrait is a forgery, she initiates her own search to discover the truth. After identifying two more fake paintings, she contacts Byron Cruise, an insurance investigator, whose company insured the paintings. In her quest for answers, Paige repeatedly finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time, and unwittingly becomes involved in robbery, kidnapping and murder.

Excerpt from Search for Justice:

Kelly drove to Tommy’s school and stared at the empty playground, not sure what to do. I could go into the building, identify myself as Tommy’s mother and take him home with me. But that would be kidnapping. Mom always said, ‘Two wrongs don’t make a right’. Besides, Tommy thinks I’m dead. It would be a shock to suddenly appeared.

She waited across the street and watched as different groups of children came out to play in the yard. When she spotted Tommy’s blue-and-white striped shirt, she left the car and hid behind a palm tree. Her heart ached. She wanted to climb the fence and hug him, but resisted the urge. I found him, she thought jubilantly. I know where he is. He’s safe and happy.

She walked to the car after Tommy’s class went inside the school. A sudden wave of panic flowed over her. Maybe I shouldn’t leave. What if Buddy takes Tommy away again?

Assume Nothing by BarbaraHelene Smith is available as an e-book and paperback at Amazon.com.

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Assume-Nothing-Four-Short-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B07NJ755YP

Why is your featured book a must-read this summer?

ASSUME NOTHING REVIEWS

Rex Applegate

5.0 out of 5 stars

March 8, 2019

Engaging, well written stories that grab your attention until the end: A woman recently released from prison searches for her son taken by her ex-husband; The trophy wife gets in trouble while wising up to the nefarious activities of her husband; A young lady searches for the reason a stranger left her a fortune in his will, and: Another young woman get accidentally pulled into the seamy world of art forgery. I enjoyed all four and look forward to more.

G. Stelzenmuller

5.0 out of 5 stars

September 3, 2019

Every bookshelf needs a book of short mysteries which you know you can pick up and enjoyably polish off at times of your choice. No, put this book on the coffee table and polish the four stories off, one at a time, in any order.

The four stories read easily, mainly because it is hard to put the book down once a story gets started. I guarantee each ending will give the reader a satisfying finish. Looking back on the stories, you will find that the author dropped clear hints as to the quality of each character, including the “bad guy.” By then, you can tell yourself that you knew it all along!

G. Adams

5.0 out of 5 stars

May 19, 2019

These four short mysteries reminded me of some of the fast-paced, no nonsense television dramas of the 1950s—shows such as Hollywood Offbeat; Martin Kane, Private Eye; City Detective; and Dragnet—even though they are focused more on victims and perpetrators than on law enforcement personnel. Occasionally the dialogue slips from the natural into the slightly formal, but that’s a scant distraction. The stories are cleverly conceived yet not overly complicated and they move right along. I assume they were each made to read briskly, maybe over a good cup of coffee, and purely for fun. They achieved that for me.

CK Gund

5.0 out of 5 stars

February 19, 2019

For a first mystery writer, I really enjoyed the short stories. The characters were well developed and the stories were fast moving. I thought the author did just the right amount of background to establish the environment and situation for each murder. I enjoyed reading them and hope that she continues writing longer novels.

Sue

4.0 out of 5 stars

April 19, 2019

Each story can fill a little time slot when you need to escape a busy life or forget your own problems. Personally, I like more drawn out details but when I was reading, I was engrossed. Well worth my time.

Jean O’Connor

4.0 out of 5 stars!

May 30, 2019

I was totally engrossed by each story and couldn’t put the book down until I was done! Can’t wait to read Barbara’s next book but in the meantime, I think I’ll reread “Assume Nothing”.

Giveaway –

Enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card:

https://kingsumo.com/g/1yp82l1/summertime-books-bookish-event-giveaway

Open Internationally.

Runs June 23 – July 10, 2026.

Winner will be drawn on July 11, 2026

Author Biography:

BarbaraHelene Smith is a woman of mysteries. Like most writers, she has a story to tell. Inspired by intrigue, she uses her experience from academia, government and private industry to plot suspense stories.

She belongs to several writing groups: Lilac City Rochester Writers, Wild About Writing and Novel Ideas. Her stories and poetry have been published in the Barnes and Noble’s Halloween Anthologies (Horrendous Halloween, Howling Halloween, Hair Raising Halloween), IdeaGems, The Storyteller, Adventures of the Average Woman, Tough Lit, and Cruisin’ Style Magazine. “Merry Christmas to You” won the May 2006 International Library of Poetry Editor’s Choice Award.

BarbaraHelene also published the Connie Murphy Mysteries series, twelve e-books and four paperbacks, about a senior drug investigator dedicated to protecting public health and safety. The stories are based on her seventeen years as a Food and Drug Administration investigator. She is currently writing a contemporary mystery, Uprooting the Family Tree.

When not writing, she likes to travel, hike with friends, work on genealogy, and volunteer at the local animal shelter.

BarbaraHelene Smith’s books are available at Amazon.com. and she can be contacted at bhs.author@gmail.com.

Title: Cherry Creek

Author: Linda Griffin

Genre: Historical Romance

Book Blurb:

When her fiancé died, Eileen said, “Then I’m free,” words that her younger sister Molly didn’t understand and never forgot. In 1850s Ohio, a girl doesn’t have that many options, and marrying Andrew MacLeith may be the best she can hope for. He promises to cherish her, but they have to live with his parents, and he can’t even protect her from his mother’s sharp tongue. After a quarrel, Molly impulsively joins his gambler brother Hugh on a journey to the Pike’s Peak gold region. Perhaps the romance and freedom she longs for lie elsewhere. Or were they right under her nose all along?

My Review:

Molly doesn’t have many prospects, and Andrew might be her best option. Even though it’s the 1850s, she doesn’t know what else she can do. Andrew promises to honor and cherish her, but they must live with his parents. His mother is a beast of a woman and puts Molly in her place every chance she gets. Molly feels trapped and Andrew doesn’t stand up for her. On a whim, Molly joins Andrew’s brother Hugh on a trip to the Pike’s Peak gold rush. Molly experiences life in the wilderness of Pike’s Peak and even finds romance. Can she embrace this new and exciting life, or will she go back to Andrew and live a boring life?

Cherry Creek is a historical romance I enjoyed. Linda Griffin normally writes contemporary romantic suspense, suspense, and thriller books so I was very interested to see how she writes historical romance. She writes a compelling historical romance with an honest brush. I connected with Molly on so many levels. Her innocence is refreshing and so is her response to challenges. Life is what you make it, and Molly learns soon enough that even women in 1850s Ohio can make a change. The descriptive narration is immersive, and I was transported to the time period. The romance is sweet and touching. If you’re looking for a realistic historical romance with a dash of adventure, pick up Cherry Creek.

My Rating: 5 stars

Buy it Now:

E-books

Amazon

Amazon Australia

Amazon Canada

Amazon India

Amazon UK

Apple

Apple Canada

Barnes & Noble

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/251092560-cherry-creek

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/cherry-creek-by-linda-griffin

Author Biography:

I knew I wanted to be a “book maker” as soon as I learned to read and wrote my first story at the age of six. My passion for the printed word also led me to a career with the San Diego Public Library. I retired to spend more time on my writing and have had stories published in numerous literary journals. I have had eleven books published by The Wild Rose Press and produced as audio books on ACX. In addition to the three R’s—reading, writing, and research—I enjoy travel, movies, Scrabble, and visiting museums and art galleries.

Social Media Links:

Website: http://www.lindagriffinauthor.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lindagriffin.author/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LindaGriffinA

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Reviewed by: Nancy

Title: Loving Whiskey

Author: Gracie Cooper

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Book Blurb:

Tired of dating, Willow Lawson gives up on love and focuses on the expansion of Martini Girl Bar. She is officially on a man-strike. Until she meets Colt.

Colton Royce has his hands full raising his four-year-old niece and seventy-two-year-old grandmother. But when a chance encounter to play music again knocks on his door, he takes it.

Lightning strikes when Willow and Colt are around, proving love enters when they least expect it.

Excerpt:

Willow rounded the stage and ran into an unexpected brick wall. A warm, breathing, oh so good smelling brick wall. She looked and got lost in hazel eyes.

“Hey,” he muttered. “Sorry about that. You must be Whiskey.”

Say what? Mr. Oh So Smells Good knew her name. “Uh yeah. That’s me.” She gulped the sudden knot in her throat. “Um, but I think you’re lost. Restrooms are on the other side. Down the hall. In the back. Down the hall.” Wait. She already said that. Didn’t she?

Why was she light-headed and weightless and supercharged all at once? It made no sense other than her body short circuited and then bolted with a super nova charge. Multiple tingles and aches flooded Willow’s body. Shivering from their impact.

His lips fought a smile as she stared, still in a trance over his light moss-like eyes.

“Not lost, Darlin’. Think you told Levi you wanted to see what I got. Not thinking you taking to the restroom is what you have in mind. Unless, it’s a dark hallway, in the back,” he said in a deep, timbre voice.

Oh my, whispered Halo.

Oh yeah, whispered Tails.

Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):

Amazon: Amazon.com: Loving Whiskey (A Martini Girl Bar Series) eBook : Cooper, Gracie: Kindle Store

Website www.graciecooper.com

Goodreads Loving Whiskey (A Martini Girl Bar Series) by Gracie Cooper | Goodreads

What makes your featured book a must-read?

“Loving Whiskey is a sensual, flirty and humorous novel.” If you are looking for a heartwarming, romantic comedy that will have you laughing and swooning all at once, then this is the book for you.

Giveaway –

Enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card:

https://kingsumo.com/g/1yp82l1/summertime-books-bookish-event-giveaway

Open Internationally.

Runs June 23 – July 10, 2026.

Winner will be drawn on July 11, 2026.

Author Biography:

Gracie Cooper was born in South Florida to a large, loud, rowdy Cuban family where Sunday dinners were as sacred as the dominoes played every evening. She currently resides outside of Saint Augustine with her husband, two sons and a miniature schnauzer and continues Sunday dinners and rounds of dominoes with the family.

Social Media Links:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/gcooperauthor

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/gcooperauthor

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Website: www.graciecooper.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/graciecooperauthor

Title

Lyon on the Inside: Lyon’s Den Connected World

Author

Regina Jeffers

Genre

Historical Cozy Mystery, Fiction Romance, Classic Romance Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Suspense, British Historical Fiction, Historical Regency Fiction, British and Scottish Literature, Romantic Suspense, Series, Regency Historical Tales, Clean Romance

Publisher

Dragonblade Publishing

Book Blurb

Lyon on the Inside: The Lyon’s Den Connected World

A shadow from Aaran’s past may end both Lady Freya’s life and his chance for happiness.

Desperate to avoid her father’s declaration that she was to marry a middle-aged baronet, Lady Freya Cunningham boards the London coach to her Aunt Felicity’s home in Kent. She means “accidentally” to encounter Lord Aaran Graham. His lordship is to stand up with his brother at Benjamin Thompson’s wedding, but Freya quickly realizes that a lady traveling alone is a prime victim for a devious man, that is, until, like in a storybook tale, the man of her “dreams” comes to her rescue. Freya’s heart is about to be stolen, but whether by a thief or a gambler or a gentleman remains to be seen.

Aaran had been desperate to reach Lady Freya before something untoward happened to her. His brothers’ wives had set up this scheme of bringing the two of them together, but Graham fears accepting his hopes to find happiness with the woman he desires will more likely leave him standing without a leg upon he can depend. Lady Freya’s father despises him, though Graham is one of the richest men in the United Kingdom.

Lady Freya’s adventures are just the beginning. There’s an unhappy younger brother, a wicked stepmother straight out of a Grimm fairytale, a diamond of the first water to whom Graham had once proposed, and the unrelenting “evil” that had been following Lord Duncan’s family, including Aaran Graham, around for nearly a year, all coming together for a final showdown in a Kent hunting lodge.

Tropes you’ll enjoy:

• Forbidden love

• Alpha hero

• Strong female lead

• Love at first sight

• Soul mates

• Matchmakers gone wrong

• Honorable marriage

• Star-crossed lovers

Read in Kindle Unlimited!

Enjoy these books in a new series within The Lyon’s Den Connected world by Regina Jeffers.

Book 1 - Lyon in the Way

Book 2 - Lyon’s Obsession

Book 3 - Lyon in Disguise

Book 4 - Lost in the Lyon’s Garden

Book 5 - Lyon on the Inside

This is the last book of a 5-book romantic suspense/cozy mystery Regency era series. [All are available on Amazon Kindle]

Excerpt

Freya was surprised by how easily she had managed to reach a sturdy branch upon which to perch, though she would not wish anyone to take notice. Her shirttails were hiked higher than she would like, but she had efficiently removed herself from the bull’s view. “Hopefully, he will quickly find his way back to his adoring throng,” she groused. With a sigh of acceptance, she glanced about to see if anyone had viewed her antics. “No one to know otherwise.”

For nearly a quarter hour, Freya observed the bull’s antics as the animal playfully nudged two different cows, as if attempting each to meet him in the shadows. “Come on, Romeo,” Freya coaxed aloud, though she would not wish to view nature’s act.

Then she heard hoofbeats and looked down to her shirttails, but there was little she could do to cover herself properly. A rider was actually following the road from the main house towards the village. Despite wishing to be rescued, Freya had no desire to be found in a tree. Even so, she took a good hold of the limb and forced herself to call out. “Help! Help please!” The man did not turn to notice her, but the bull did. The animal snorted and pawed the ground several times.

For a frightful moment, she thought the gentleman would pass her by, but he stopped and waved—not to her—but to another rider. Her heart sank as a figure she would know anywhere reined in before the first. “Wonderful!” she groaned in despair, and both men turned together to view her situation.

The younger man frowned, but, as was typical of the other man, the man she was learning to love, Lord Aaran Graham smiled. He turned his horse to climb the hill, while the other rider followed. “Fancy meeting you here, Lady Freya,” Lord Aaran Graham called as he stepped down from his horse.

“She is trespassing on my stepfather’s land,” the younger gentleman declared with a sense of importance.

“Not true,” Lord Graham corrected. “I believe the lady is the niece of Rayland’s clergyman.” Lord Graham was staring up at her exposed legs and grinning widely.

“But she should not be in Lord Rayland’s tree,” the other man, who she now knew must be Lord Boyde Graham, argued.

“Her father outranks Rayland,” Lord Graham said with a frown of disapproval, for her actions or his brother’s absurdity, she did not know. He returned his attention to her dangling legs. “Might you wish to join us on the ground, my lady?”

“I would gladly do so,” she said with a huff of irritation. “However, Lord Rayland’s bull still expresses his dislike of our interrupting his amorous affairs.”

Both men looked to where she pointed. As she had described, the bull remained at the bottom of the hill, snorting and pawing the ground in displeasure.

“Perhaps, Boyde,” Lord Graham instructed, “you might convince the cows to move on so the bull will follow, while I assist Lady Freya to the ground.”

“Why must I chase away the bull,” the younger man argued, “and you assist the lady?”

Freya knew Lord Graham swallowed his first thought. “Instead,” he asked, “are you prepared to marry the girl for taking her in your arms? As I see it, there are no means of assisting her down without doing so. Trust me, her father, Lord Iain Cunningham will use this incident to force you to marry his youngest daughter. His lordship has chosen a husband for the lady, but as you are both a relatively wealthy lord and Scottish, rather than an English baronet, I imagine Lord Cunningham might change his mind. Moreover, you are young enough that his lordship might take you under his tutelage.”

“Why would he not do the same with you?” the younger Graham brother demanded.

“For he would rather see his daughter’s reputation in ruins than to present her to the likes of me,” Lord Graham said with only a hint of bitterness in his tone, which Freya thought remarkable considering Lord Graham’s place in society.

The younger lord shook his head in disbelief. “You are an odd one, Aaran. You could buy her father—heck, every father’s approval if only…”

“I would not want that type of approval,” Lord Graham said in hard tones. “Now be about driving the cows away, while I assist Lady Freya down. I mean to call upon your mother this morning.”

The younger lord shrugged his acceptance and turned his horse to race towards the cows with a call of “Ha!” and a sharp whistle. Meanwhile, Lord Graham said, “Do you wish to climb down now?”

“I am not confident I can without falling,” Freya admitted.

“I will break your fall if such occurs,” Lord Graham instructed. “I grew up with four brothers who often climbed too high. I am accustomed to assisting them. Moreover, I have confidence in you, Lady Freya Cunningham, for you are the most adventurous spirit of my acquaintance, and the likes of Lady Emma Orson and Lady Annalise Beaufort are among my family.”

“You will not look at my legs?” she asked foolishly.

“If I close my eyes, how will I know if you require my assistance?” he asked with another large smile.

“You are incorrigible!” she declared as she turned on the branch and began to work her way down, her shirttail draped about her legs and, as he had predicted, she wished she could see the next branch more clearly. She was nearing the bench upon which his lordship stood when her boot slid off the lowest limb—her footing failing her completely. She expected to tumble to the ground, but Lord Graham’s arms came about her legs. For a few precarious seconds it was as if he had lifted her high into the air. Then he tumbled over backwards, slamming into the ground, but never releasing her, just as he said he would.

“My lord!” She immediately was checking him, searching his body with her hands. “Tell me you are well.”

He caught one of her hands and caressed her cheek with the other. “Do you recall what I said when you offered to tend my injured leg?” he questioned as he stared into her eyes.

Freya stilled immediately. “Y… Yes,” she managed.

His lordship’s hand caught the back of her head and guided her to a position where his lips were finally touching hers. Freya had never been kissed and knew not what to do, but when his mouth met hers, the pressure was gentle—more gentle than she expected. “Freya,” he murmured as the heat of his mouth on increased. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on who was telling the tale, they both heard the sound of his brother’s return.

Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub)

Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H37V7MSW/ref=sr_1_1?crid=JIODJJTLH9UB&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.-1M4kY3OxERm8JkmWBHdu9iyvDmvR9Qori_HjibnjeIUNMcUTrANUncbiHppa-ZO.m53MjpvcZ4uJz0eCi9MHWBI5oozOQHqxOK52PQqFQeE&dib_tag=se&keywords=lyon+on+the+inside&qid=1780043525&sprefix=lyon+on+the+inside+%2Caps%2C171&sr=8-1

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/lyon-on-the-inside-the-lyon-s-den-connected-world-by-regina-jeffers?_gl=1*vved2t*_gcl_au*ODk4NTU3MjQ1LjE3Nzg5NTU5ODUuMTY0NzczMTYwMy4xNzgwMDY5NzU1LjE3ODAwNjk4OTU.*_ga*MTk5NjAwOTI0Mi4xNzgwMDY5NzE4*_ga_CQ6ZYMZH0N*czE3ODAwNjk3MTckbzEkZzEkdDE3ODAwNzAwOTEkajM0JGwwJGgwJGR4a29rTjBfMnZaRmJ1ZkJPaXBOTXNGc1lvd1VJOUNXem53

Author Biography

Regina Jeffers writes books about corsets, rakes, daring heroines, dashing heroes and all aspects of the Georgian/Regency era. She is an award winning author of cozy mysteries, historical romantic suspense, and Austenesque vagaries. Jeffers has been a Smithsonian presenter and Martha Holden Jennings Scholar, as well as having her tales honored by, among others, the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense, the Frank Yerby Award for Fiction, the International Digital Awards, and the Chanticleer International Book Award.

Social Media Links

Every Woman Dreams (Blog) https://reginajeffers.wordpress.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Regina-Jeffers-Author-Page-141407102548455/?fref=ts

Twitter https://twitter.com/reginajeffers

Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Regina-Jeffers/e/B008G0UI0I/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1479079637&sr=8-1

Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/jeffers0306/

BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/regina-jeffers

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/darcy4ever/

Website https://rjefferscom.wordpress.com/

Darlene Deluca writes contemporary romance and women’s fiction, and likes to explore relationships – what brings people together or keeps them apart.

Title

The Story Between Us

Author

Darlene Deluca

Genre

Sweet contemporary romance

Publisher

The Wild Rose Press

Book Blurb

Her agent warned her not to get attached to a fan. But children’s book author Kristen Hanover is about to break the rules. Kristen meets a young boy who is a victim of a tragic accident and is drawn into the heartbreaking situation.

Six years ago, Reed Armstrong never imagined he’d actually become guardian of his sister’s boy. Now he is, and most days he’s not sure he’s up to the task.

When he and Dylan meet Kristen, Reed downplays his nephew’s crush on the author. But as their lives become unexpectedly intertwined, he finds himself captivated as well. Trouble is, she sells stories for a living. Does she truly care about Dylan…and Reed, or is she using them for her own career advancement?

Excerpt

Reed pulled his keys out of his pocket. In the doorway, he folded his arms and leaned against the casing. “Can I ask you a question?”

Chest pounding, Kristen forced a smile. “Of course.” She took a couple of steps toward him and braced a hand against the back of the sofa.

“Is writing your only reason for being here?”

Heavy, charged air closed around her. How to answer that? Honestly, of course, but…how honestly? “Well, writing is my goal for sure. But—” She glanced around the room before looking at him again. “I’d love to ride my horse, er, Star, and spend some time with…with people I like, too.”

As he pushed off from the door, a slow grin spread across his face. “Sounds like an excellent plan.” He sauntered closer. About a foot away, he stopped. “You’re good with dinner at the main house tonight? Don’t let Dylan bully you. You decide.”

She gave a shaky laugh. That was the plan, right? She couldn’t remember for sure. Her brain was going fuzzy. “I’d love to,” she managed to say.

He leaned closer, his breath warm on her cheek. She braced herself for a friendly peck, but when her eyes fluttered shut, his lips grazed hers. Hovered there, and when she thought her legs might give out, Reed caught her arm and pulled her slightly toward him, his lips covering hers again.

Sparks exploded in her brain, and she grabbed hold of his arm. All of her senses came alive and responded to the unexpected deluge.

A long moment later, he pulled back and brushed a thumb across her cheek. “See you in about an hour.”

Kristen could only nod. As soon as the door closed behind him, she collapsed against the sofa. She ran a finger along her bottom lip. That kiss…Oh, man. The chances of her getting any writing done this weekend just dropped from unlikely to who-said-anything-about-writing?

Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08DCVKMWV/

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-story-between-us-darlene-deluca/1137387092?ean=2940162985785

https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-story-between-us/id1525107147

https://www.bookbub.com/profile/darlene-deluca

Author Biography

Darlene Deluca writes contemporary romance and women’s fiction, and likes to explore relationships – what brings people together or keeps them apart.

Her intent is to bring to life interesting characters that readers can relate to in real-life situations that combine a little fun, plenty of drama (with perhaps a tear or two), and big helpings of friendship, love and self-discovery, and will leave readers either cheering or sighing with a satisfied smile as they turn the final page.

The Kansas City author enjoys getting lost in a good story with a glass of tea, a bit of dark chocolate and a warm, sunny beach.

Social Media Links

https://darlenedeluca.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6879809.Darlene_Deluca

https://www.instagram.com/darlenedelucaauthor/?hl=en

https://www.facebook.com/darlenedelucaauthor

Title

Sunset Ledge

Author

Darlene Deluca

Genre

Later-in-life contemporary romance

Publisher

The Wild Rose Press

Book Blurb

Jack Armstrong lives like a recluse on his Texas ranch. In the difficult years after his wife’s death, he goes through the motions of life and wants to be left alone.

Caroline Tate, a widowed ecology professor, arrives at the ranch for a much-needed break and to take nature photos for her sabbatical project. But relaxing is a challenge when she finds herself at odds with the curmudgeonly cowboy who owns the place.

Jack generally steers clear of the guests, but this time, it’s not so easy. Vivacious Caroline doesn’t fade into the background. This city gal comes with pearls around her neck, a big red flower on her floppy hat, and way too many questions. Her self-assured, adventurous spirit gets under Jack’s skin, and she soon stirs feelings long dormant inside him.

Excerpt

Jack spotted the car first. But as the road curved around the creek, he saw the woman. He watched as she set up a tripod then pulled a bag from her car. No equipment, huh?

She tossed off the hat she’d worn the day they’d met and moved up to the camera, hair blowing around her.

He signaled Charlie, his trusted Appaloosa, to move forward. As far as Jack could tell, she was taking pictures of rocks. He didn’t much care what she was doing, but he wanted her to know he saw her and all the stuff she had strewn about.

As they approached, she turned, shading her eyes with her hand.

Jack tipped his hat. “Afternoon, ma’am. I understood you weren’t bringing equipment.”

“Good afternoon, Jack. It’s Caroline. Do you mean the tripod?”

What else would he mean? He nodded toward her set-up.

“I understood you didn’t want a crew of people and video equipment. All I have is a single tripod for a single camera used by a single person. It helps steady my hand.” She held up a hand and added with a light laugh, “I prefer my pictures to be in focus.” She gestured toward the rock. “These little guys move so fast.”

Jack squinted. “What guys?”

“I’ve got three or four lizards running around here.”

“Ah.” Jack adjusted on the horse, feeling a bit foolish. Probably best to move on and leave her to it.

“I got a great shot of a rattler a while ago.”

Alarm pulsed through him. “You did? A rattlesnake here on the ranch?”

“Yes. It was amazing, but a little…rattling. Pun intended.”

She let out that soft chuckle again.

“I admit it gave me a scare for a minute, but after a short standoff, we gave each other our space and went our separate ways. Want to see?”

She fiddled with the camera a moment, and Jack was compelled to swing down from the horse. He did want to see.

When she held it toward him, he peered into the back of her camera, and found the cold-blooded face of a rattlesnake staring at him at close range. His heart bounced. He turned his gaze back to the woman beside him—and wondered if the ranch had adequate insurance to keep her on the property.

She’d captured one hell of a shot. The snake, obviously alerted to her presence, sat tensed, partially hidden beneath a rock, but its rattle erect and sending the telltale warning to the intruder.

“What do you think?” Caroline asked.

Jack shook his head. He couldn’t say what he really thought in the presence of a lady. He blew out his breath. “Caroline, we try to keep our guests out of harm’s way on the ranch and would appreciate it if you’d help us out in that regard by not doing something foolish. How close were you?”

The hand she placed on his arm sent unexpected—and unwelcome—jolts of heat through Jack.

“Don’t worry. It’s a long lens. I wasn’t as close as it might seem. Also, if it gives you any comfort, I carry a snake kit in my backpack.”

Disbelief rolled through Jack. That sounded like a line of bull to him. He stared hard. He’d better make sure they had a fresh supply of the kits just in case. It’d been a while since he’d seen a rattlesnake around.

“Remember?” Caroline prompted. “I’m a biologist. I’ve taught college-level biology and ecology for twenty-five years. Technically, I’m ‘Dr.’ Tate.”

She added a saucy smile that crinkled around her warm eyes.

Caught off guard, Jack cleared his throat. “No, I don’t think you mentioned that.” The information explained the hint of arrogance in her attitude. Well, fine. No need for him to worry about her then. “Very good. I should let you get back to your picture taking.”

He put his left foot into the stirrup and swung his right leg over Charlie’s back.

“Hey, Jack.”

He would’ve moved along had she not called to him. Instead, he turned back. She didn’t seem to have any trouble with his first name. In fact, it rolled from her lips as if they were old friends. He squirmed in the saddle. “Yes?”

She dusted her hands against her jeans before meeting his eyes. “I understand you’re all alone in the big house. Would you have dinner with me tonight? I’d love to learn more about the ranch.”

A hot flush crept to Jack’s collar. She had to be kidding. Who had she been talking to? And why would he want to have dinner with her? Sweat rolled down the back of his neck. Because he could use the company? And she was an attractive, interesting woman?

She glanced at her watch. “I’m ready to wrap up here. It’s been a full day, for sure. Want to say around six-thirty?”

He hadn’t said yes.

Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D1VVTRFD/

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/.../sunset.../1145247176...

https://books.apple.com/us/book/sunset-ledge/id6497954022

Title: Love Song for the Barbarian

Author: Kay Jeffery

Genre: Romantasy/Historical Romance

Book Blurb:

Come away to an enchanted island where the nuns of Adytum Abbey have made their idyllic home . . . until a band of barbarians arrives in search of forbidden treasure. Sister Frances Ignatius has been the musician of Adytum Abbey for seven years but increasingly longs for something more than her safe existence. When the Viking bard Andor invades her home, ensnaring her with his own potent music, she must overcome the obstacles threatening to separate them—and decide where her loyalties, and her future, lie.

Excerpt:

Women’s screams pierced the air, coming from multiple directions. Even worse, they were accompanied by booming shouts in male voices. For as long as Sister Frances Ignatius had lived at Adytum Abbey, there had never been any men. But now there were, and they had come in a violent wave.

The noise reverberating through the room was the tragic echo of war, of violence and fear. Was her life in danger? Would blood soon stain these walls? Would the room fill with the sounds of savagery?

Would she be kidnapped?

Maybe, dare she think it, rescued?

The sound of clashing weapons and a relentless, rhythmic pounding at the front doors of the Abbey shook her from her thoughts.

Frances knew what she had to do. All the nuns at the Abbey had been instructed in what they were to do if their refuge was threatened. They each had their defenses to mount, specific treasures to hide and protect. On the ground floor as she was, it would not be long before the raiders invaded her sanctuary. They would find her first.

After quietly closing and locking the heavy wooden Music Room door, for whatever protection it might afford her, she hastily gathered up scrolls and raced toward one corner of the room. A loose stone hid a large, secret storage space in the floor, into which she deposited, armload by armload, the parchments containing the entire musical heritage of Adytum Abbey. Her thin slippers scraped across the hard stones as she raced to and fro, fulfilling her responsibility as the Abbey’s musical guardian. Her heart beat rapidly, pumped blood through her veins, and made her body thrum with anticipation.

She had just grabbed a long flute off the wall when male voices shouted right outside her door.

The men were inside the convent.

A sudden splintering of wood signaled that the Music Chamber would soon be breached.

Although Frances briefly contemplated cramming her own body into the secret storage space—she was petite, after all—she knew she’d never be able to do it in time. There was no place to hide. Instead, she positioned herself behind two rows of the high-backed wooden benches and waited to see what destiny had brought to her.

And so it was that, when three burly, long-haired men, arms bulging with muscles, busted through the door, they found themselves face-to-face with a small, pale-faced nun, dressed in white from her head to her toes, barricaded behind a set of pews and brandishing a silver flute as if it were a sword.

“Stay back!” she called out in her strongest voice, the one she used to get the nuns’ attention when starting a performance.

But she had no idea how she could possibly back up her demand.

****

Andor looked at his comrades Skade and Trygve with some bemusement. This was already the strangest raid their band had ever undertaken, and he’d felt annoyed that they were met everywhere by no one but females. At the shoreline, in the courtyard, racing along the interior corridors—nothing but women! Where were the menfolk? How had they left their women to defend their homestead alone?

He knew that their band’s chief, Harald, had a good reason for this invasion. But Andor himself had no taste for battling women, much less this little thing holding out her flute like a spear, singing out to him in a resonant melodic voice. That voice plucked a chord deep within him, despite being in a language he could not understand.

Trygve looked similarly uncomfortable and uncertain how to proceed. But even as Andor glanced his way, Skade’s mouth took on a smirk that could mean nothing good. The younger man stalked noisily toward the little nun and her barricade. This was Skade’s first raid. He had not yet learned to curb his impulses and think before acting.

Skade made short, violent work of the first bench, tossing it toward a wall where it broke apart.

Large, frightened blue eyes widened even more, and the little female looked over her shoulder as if seeking further retreat. Andor sighed heavily at his comrade’s overly dramatic display.

“Look at this tasty morsel,” Skade said gleefully, his boots stepping over the shards of wood on the floor as he marched toward her. “What do you say, men? Let’s try her out.”

Andor exchanged a disgusted look with Trygve. “Skade! Remember why we’re here,” he barked.

But Skade lifted up the second bench and leered at the woman clenching the flute in a small fist.

“Oh, I remember,” he said. “And I like this one.” A crash signaled the destruction of the second bench and then Skade had seized her arms in his large, clumsy hands. She let out another cry, this time one of fear, and struggled in Skade’s grasp. She stabbed her flute forward into Skade’s gut, and though he coughed at the contact, the sound quickly turned to a delighted chuckle. She tried again, aiming upward toward his chin with a sharp and desperate sound.

That agonizingly beautiful cry galvanized Andor into action. He rushed to Skade and pulled his head back with a fist in his hair.

“Let. Her. Go.” He growled his words in a menacing voice.

Skade abruptly released the nun’s arms and lifted his hands to show surrender to Andor as the dominant male.

Andor threw him toward Trygve. “Get him out of here but watch him carefully. Don’t forget what we’re looking for,” he said. The older man caught Skade with a meaty hand and dragged him, protesting, out the door. The gods spare me from overeager youths.

However, Andor reflected, Skade wasn’t wrong that there was an enticing quality about this female.

He watched curiously as the little nun backed herself against the wall, clearly aware that the threat to her person was not over.

Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0FJG8HKFT?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_0&storeType=ebooks&qid=1781663933&sr=8-1

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-song-for-the-barbarian-kay-jeffery/1147879414?ean=2940184476032

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/239176952-love-song-for-the-barbarian?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=OIVfAl1ezZ&rank=1

https://wildrosepress.com/product/love-song-for-the-barbarian/

What makes your featured book a must-read?

Love Song for the Barbarian is the first in an interwoven series, Nuns and Barbarians, a medieval romantasy about an enchanted, women-only island one day invaded by a men-only band of barbarians. Sister Frances, the island musician, is hungry for adventure, and the clan’s bard, Andor, is ready to oblige. The story starts amid action and never stops until the emotionally satisfying HEA. It’s a quick and delicious read with characters you’ll love. Spicy and focused on the romance between the main couple, this insta-love novella introduces you to a magical realm you’ll want to escape to again and again. The series can be read in any order, and this is a perfect place to start!

Giveaway –

Enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card:

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Runs June 23 – July 10, 2026.

Winner will be drawn on July 11, 2026.

Author Biography:

Kay Jeffery is a professional historian who loves stories. One day during her midlife crisis, Kay remembered that she’d always wanted to write romance novels. Her husband said, “I think you should do it.” Her kids were glad to have her (more or less) out of their business. Thrilled to have a stable lap for long periods of time, the cats discovered quickly that typing does not preclude scritches. And so Kay carved out pockets of time in between family life and her job to research such arcana as medieval love songs, Nordic swearwords, ancient Celtic rituals, obscure mythological divinities—and to weave them all together. Her writing builds a fantasy world where strong, intelligent, loyal, and courageous heroines and heroes find their way to each other, where dreams are realized, and where love always, always wins.

Social Media Links:

Website: https://kayjeffery.com

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Embark on a journey of love on Kincaid Ranch in this sweet romance series by Rachelle Paige Campbell.

Title: Finders Keepers, Cowboy

Author: Rachelle Paige Campbell

Genre: Sweet contemporary romance

Publisher: Rowan Prose Publishing

Book Blurb:

Meg Hawke’s antique store is faltering. When her octogenarian neighbor Hank asks her to clean out his shed and sell antiques on consignment, she has a real chance at discovering forgotten treasure. If she steps foot on the Montana ranch, however, she’ll come face-to-face with her childhood frenemy and Hank’s grandson, Ryan.

After selling off the ranch’s cattle years before, Ryan Kincaid dove into the world of high-end tourism, devoting everything to the business. For his sanity, he avoids his annoying known-her-since-childhood neighbor, Meg. With the forced proximity of the shed project happening in his backyard, though, he’s singing a different tune. Perhaps he’d been wrong about her.

A surprise discovery spurs both change and challenge, and they’re forced to choose the potential of ever-after or forget each other and finally move on forever.

Excerpt:

Colby padded back to him.

Ryan scratched the dog on the head once and then raised the hand to massage his aching chest. “You heading home? Or you plan on blocking my drive for the rest of the evening?” He frowned at Meg.

She rolled her eyes. “I’ve been here all of ten minutes. Don’t blame me for your poor timing.”

Or good. “You know, for someone who once accused me of rolling my eyes at her, I can’t help but point out you are almost always staring heavenward in my company.”

She blushed.

He smiled and scrubbed his hands over his face. When had he pulled behind her little SUV, he whistled an upbeat tune. He wanted a chance to apologize for his poor behavior this morning and fate provided him the opportunity. He dropped his hands to his sides and lifted the corner of his mouth. “You’re probably right.”

“Excuse me?” She widened her gaze. “Can you please repeat your statement?”

He gritted his molars. This was exactly the reason he never admitted to being wrong on the few occasions the rare occurrence happened. Other people tended to gloat when he needed grace. “I’m sorry.”

“Hmm. Not quite what you said, but I’ll take it. She smiled and sashayed past him, elbowing him in the sore ribs as she passed. “Walk me to my car, cowboy. I’ve had a long day.”

Up close, he caught a hint of lavender wafting in the air again. He could identify the scent anywhere. He remembered watching Grandma and her best friend work on the little sachets. In the first few months after her passing, Hank had declared himself allergic to the herb. He wanted all trace of the potpourri eliminated from the house.

Ryan hid one heart-shaped packet in the bottom drawer. Try as it might, the little sachet stood no chance against the lingering stench in his socks even after a thorough laundering. If he focused on thinking about his smelly feet, he’d ignore the other sensations racking his body at her hot breath so close to his collar. She made the same lavender scent her own, different from the sachet with a hint of soap he couldn’t identify. He tipped his hat and turned. “Ma’am, let me escort you and your dog off my land.”

She batted his arm and laughed. “Stop teasing me, and don’t be mad. I only came by at Hank’s request.”

“Oh?” He studied her from the corner of his gaze.

“Eric authenticated the photos. I’m sure Hank wants to tell you the details. I’d hate to spoil his fun.” She sighed.

He narrowed his gaze.

“Oh, okay, I’ll tell you a little more. Eric wants to do research, so he’ll stay a little longer on the ranch. I promised to help, when I can of course. I had a great day at the store. It’s a nice first wave of tourists you’ve brought here. Very deep pockets.” She smiled.

Warmth spread through him. He couldn’t take any credit for the shoppers but was glad for her good day. He didn’t want her to leave. His silence encouraged her old pattern of rambling. Instead of the flare of annoyance as she spoke, he almost smiled. He liked how she couldn’t hold herself back from blurting every thought in her head. He only had one issue. “Eric?” He arched a brow.

She turned pink and fumbled with the purse on her arm. She studied the contents with far more interest than him or her path.

Rounding the house, they’d reach her vehicle in another few strides. First, they had to cross the bigger rocks he’d hauled up from the pond to create a boundary so Hank didn’t drive the truck into the porch. She wasn’t looking. She stepped on a rock, lodging her shoe and flailing her arms.

He reached out and grabbed her, hauling her against his chest as he lifted her over the rock. In his arms, he wrapped an arm around her waist, gripping her slight frame. If he wasn’t careful, she’d slip through his grasp. He was so used to her being a force of nature he never considered how small her actual stature was. He set her down on the ground but didn’t drop his grip or move back.

Her chest rose and fell with rapid, shallow breaths.

In the light from the porch, her hair glimmered and sparkled again. Her eyes shone bright, more rich mahogany than mud brown. She couldn’t hide her surprise or her reaction in his arms.

Eric couldn’t do that. Ryan wouldn’t give himself the satisfaction of saying out loud what they both knew was true. The expert was a slim, city man. Not rugged and rough, with muscles honed from manual labor instead of trendy gyms. She couldn’t leave him for Eric and a new city.

“Ryan?” She croaked.

“Hmm?” He studied her face.

“I’m safe. Can you put me down?”

I can’t lose you. With a nod, he dropped his hold and stepped back.

She raised her key fob and unlocked her vehicle. Colby raced to the passenger side.

He followed the dog, opening the door. At least he could be useful while giving them both a chance to catch their breaths.

Her SUV door opened, and she hopped behind the wheel as he shut the passenger door and rounded the car to her side.

She lowered the window.

He rested his hand on the roof of the car, leaning forward. I could kiss her. Standing close, he noticed everything about her. The light hint of shampoo and laundry was the best perfume he’d ever inhaled. At the base of her throat, the delicate skin meeting her collarbone fluttered.

Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/205091843-finders-keepers-cowboy

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/finders-keepers-cowboy-by-rachelle-paige-campbell

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CRVV11SW

Universal: https://books2read.com/u/b5BEqk

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Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/finders-keepers-cowboy-rachelle-paige-campbell/1144610780?ean=2940167578135

Author Biography:

Rachelle Paige Campbell writes bestselling contemporary romance novels filled with heart and hope. She believes love and laughter can change lives, and every story needs a happily ever after. Learn more at her website

https://rachellepaigecampbell.com/

Social Media Links:

a. https://www.instagram.com/rachellepaigebooks/

b. https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13453682.Rachelle_Paige_Campbell

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d. https://rachellepaigecampbell.substack.com/

Title: Catch A Cowboy

Author: Rachelle Paige Campbell

Genre: Sweet contemporary romance

Book Blurb:

Kincaid Ranch’s lead cowboy, Ted Stirling, isn’t looking for romance or entanglements. He settled in Herd, Montana over a decade ago after a devastating loss. He’s seeking comfort and friendship. Nothing more. If he was going to try for love again, he would pick someone sweet and sunny, exactly like kindergarten teacher, Stephanie Patricks. But she’s too young for him.

Stephanie has nursed a crush on quiet, handsome Ted for years. Unfortunately, every time she’s around him, she gets tongue-tied. She only seems to be able to find her words when she’s working with her students. When Ted’s sister unexpectedly arrives in town with his five-year-old niece in tow, he needs help, and Stephanie is just the woman to provide it.

A sudden emergency puts into sharp focus exactly how fragile life is, and Ted needs to decide whether to open his heart again, or let love slip away forever.

Excerpt:

Instead of paying attention to what he was doing, Ted focused on the car, hoping Stephanie might be the driver. And she was. He swung down his leg, glad for a chance to chat again and make sure she was okay.

Except, he didn’t land on the ground with his usual grace. His jeans snagged on the top rail and his back foot caught. His palms scrapped against the rail. He fell in a heap on the ground, denim ripping as the weight of his leg pulled his foot free.

Tires squealed as the car stopped on the shoulder.

“Ted? Are you okay?” Stephanie shouted.

He winced and sat up, easing his legs out in front of him. Testing his muscles, he’d ache in the morning but hadn’t twisted any major leg joints. He waved a hand. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

“No, you’re bleeding. Hold on,” she called.

He sucked in a breath and flipped over his palms. She was right. He’d torn through the top layer of skin and bled in several sections. The wounds didn’t look deep enough for stitches, but he’d have to keep bandages on and use his work gloves for a few days. “He should have worn the gloves before he’d hopped the fence, but he’d been so sure of his abilities that his ego led to his fall.

“May I see?” Stephanie asked in a soft voice.

He met her concerned gaze and swallowed the lump in his throat. With her knees pressing into the ground, she was close. Almost as near as last night when she’d kissed him.

His cheek burned from the memory of the tender press of her lips. Kiss was a rather hopeful word to define the peck. But he couldn’t stop from hoping she might kiss him palms. He didn’t think that would make him all better but he wasn’t about to stop her from trying.

“May I?” she asked again.

“Of course.” His voice sounded scratchy, and he coughed, clearing his dry throat. “I mean. Please.”

She furrowed her brow as she studied the angry dashes on his palms. Then she reached into her purse for a small red case with a cross on it. “First aid kit. Occupational hazard.” She smiled.

He returned the grin, liking the conspiratorial gleam in her eyes.

When she wiped his palms clean with a wet towelette, however, his smile faltered. The shock of cold and the sting of the alcohol was fleeting. She produced antibiotic ointment next, careful to dab but not rub the cream into each wound before covering each palm with a large square bandage. “All done.” She sat back on her heels, putting space between them.

“Thanks. I’m a little surprised you had normal bandages and not something covered in cartoons.”

She chuckled. “Oh, I have those too.” She rifled through the kit and produced a fluorescent purple bandage with unicorns. “But your injuries required something a little larger.”

“I’m not sure if that’s a good or a bad thing.” He shook his head. “It’s strange to see you dressed down.”

“What do you mean?” She held out her arms and stared at her olive-green corduroy jacket and dark rinse jeans.

“I like the bright colors you wear to work. You know the smiling crayons and stuff.” Was he rambling? He felt like he was.

She shrugged. “I do have a full adult wardrobe in my closet. It’s not all yoga pants and over the top sweaters. But . . .” she tapped a finger to her chin. “Now that you mention it, I’ve never seen you in anything but flannel and old jeans.”

“I can clean up when I need to,” he said. “I just don’t need to.”

She giggled.

“I’m grateful you stopped by and helped.” Although, he’d admit to himself, he might have had a chance at staying whole if she hadn’t.

“I am, too. I don’t know what you are doing out here. But I suppose we’re even now. You saw me cry. I saw you cry.”

He rolled his eyes at her smirk. “Friends don’t need to keep score but sure, we’re even.” He made his next mistake by meeting her gaze again only to study her lips. She hadn’t kissed his boo-boos. Had he imagined the charge between them at the saloon?

Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CRVVLBB5

ACX: https://www.amazon.com/Catch-Cowboy-Match-Made-Montana/dp/B0DSGDV315

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/catch-a-cowboy/id6475723518

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/catch-a-cowboy?sId=3aba61fa-b248-4c39-96a4-d6155c5e923f&ssId=1PjMnSf3mRuag8HvNUiIL

Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=5DzsEAAAQBAJ

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/catch-a-cowboy-rachelle-paige-campbell/1144580727?ean=2940179244585

Universal: https://books2read.com/u/mg5dPR

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/205091867-catch-a-cowboy

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/catch-a-cowboy-match-made-in-montana-book-2-by-rachelle-paige-campbell

Title: Unmasking A Cowgirl

Author: Rachelle Paige Campbell

Genre: Sweet contemporary romance

Book Blurb:

Middle school teacher and amateur historian, Joe Staunch, likes everyone in smalltown, Herd, Montana. Except for Abby Whit. He can’t quite pinpoint what annoys him so much, besides the unnerving feeling she is lying to him and everyone in their close-knit community.

Food truck owner, Abby Whit has a secret. The descendant of the infamous Whittier family, she never meant to settle in town under an alias, but she can’t imagine living anywhere else. Time is running out to claim her property, and she is unsure how to do so without upsetting everyone and ruining her life.

How does she come clean without destroying her newfound love? And can love survive a lie?

Excerpt:

Until Joe walked out of Finders Keepers with Abby on his arm, he hadn’t thought much about next steps. His defense of her at the town meeting almost a month earlier hadn’t been enough. He should have done more. With the return to school and the frantic rush to the end of the year while also working on his new programs for the summer season on the ranch and compiling his notes for his book, he hadn’t had another moment to think about what else to do. Meg’s call had snapped him out of his daze.

He hadn’t realized how low Abby felt until she showed up at the antique store. With her reddish-brown hair hidden under a hat, she looked diminished and anonymous. His heart broke for her. Without her in his life, his days had been a monotonous drone. He’d missed her.

“Whoa,” she breathed. “Is that a bison?”

He turned and followed her finger pointing down the street towards the blacksmith shop.

A dark shadow with a big hump meandered into view. The fence was supposed to discourage the bison for their safety and the town’s.

Shielding his gaze with his free hand, Joe squinted. The shape became clearer, a massive furry figure almost improbably supported by slender legs. “Yep, that’s one of the bison.”

Joe couldn’t judge his distance away or the size of the creature. It looked like it was nowhere near the businesses. Which was good. He’d assured the town that the animals wanted nothing to do with them and vice versa.

But he wasn’t a hundred percent certain that was true.

The conservation group had included some animals that had exposure to humans as both domesticated animals in private zoos and a couple from a circus. The hope was that with wide-open spaces the animals would return to their natural habitats and leave the humans alone. Of course, many of the bison had never lived in herds. Could the animals learn instinctual behavior? Could humans?

“Looks like he’s well past the blacksmith shop.” Thankfully.

“I know they’ve been in the area for a few weeks,” she said. “I hadn’t seen one before. It’s sort of startling.”

He understood. While Herd might look like an Old West town, it was as sanitized and commoditized as the rest of the country. The bison would reinstate the wild moniker to their West. “I’ve been out at the ranch a few times, but I haven’t seen one wander close to town. The fence deters them.”

“How many bison are there?”

“About two dozen, give or take. The adults are mostly females with their young. A few males were included.”

“Hoping for some babies next spring?” She winked.

He liked her playful tone and the cheeky gesture. “I don’t think that’s the plan. Teds in charge of caring for the bison. He’ll know more. I’ll give him a call to let him know we have a wanderer in the midst.”

She chuckled. “Maybe that one is being helpful and eating up the dead grass. Would be nice to have a little bit of natural wild fire control.”

“They’re not goats.”

She glared, her green eyes glittering like emeralds. “Just looking for the positive.”

He liked her slightly annoyed and feisty. Playing the victim didn’t suit her. And she had a point. He spent too much time focused on the worst outcomes. He had a tendency to predict his own demise. Instead of the positives of a self-fulfilling prophecy, he carefully plotted his own doom. He needed to look at his life from a different perspective. She was good at reminding him about that. “I’d be a lot happier if I followed your lead.”

“Glad to hear it.” She lifted the corner of her mouth in a tilted grin.

He stared at her lips. She twisted her mouth to create the most fascinating shapes to express every emotion. Anger, frustration, and amusement were the three he’d witnessed the most. What else could she do?

She darted her tongue along her lower lip.

He flexed his hand at his side, fighting the itch to reach for her, pull her close, and do something inopportune like trace her mouth with his tongue.

Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CS3Y1SPQ

Audible: https://a.co/d/03SlOoEi

Universal: https://books2read.com/u/b5BEqR

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/unmasking-a-cowgirl/id6475723486

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/unmasking-a-cowgirl?sId=6ac1eaa9-ae30-4ede-aa06-9db557f9de07&ssId=j1Z00AQeZtytMKnU-GTmB

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=7jzsEAAAQBAJ

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/205212476-unmasking-a-cowgirl

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/unmasking-a-cowgirl-match-made-in-montana-book-3-by-rachelle-paige-campbell

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/unmasking-a-cowgirl-rachelle-paige-campbell/1144580729?ean=2940167502178

Title:

In the Crosshairs: the Body on Leffis Key

Author:

M. S. Spencer

Genre:

Mystery

Book Blurb:

Palmer Lind, recovering from the sudden death of her husband, embarks on a bird-watching trek to the Gulf Coast of Florida. One hot day on Leffis Key she comes upon—not the life bird she was hoping for—but a floating corpse. The handsome beach bum who appears on the scene at the same time seems to have even more secrets than the dead man.

His story begins to unravel as the pair search for answers to a growing pile of dead bodies. Spies, radical environmentalists, and wealthy businessmen circle around each other in a complex dance. Which one is lying? What do a seemingly random group of individuals have in common, other than being targeted by a crossbow?

Excerpt:

Palmer is Arrested

Carson woke Palmer at dawn. “Let’s get a few hours driving in before we stop for breakfast.”

They had reached the outer suburbs of Chicago when Carson slowed. “There’s a Denny’s at this exit.” As he changed lanes, they heard a bang and the truck started to wobble. He steered it into the turnoff lane and stopped. “Damn it, another flat tire!”

“Did Mr. Taylor give you back your spare?”

“I forgot to ask for it.” He got out and started to unhook the motorcycle. “You stay here; I’ll go for help.”

At that moment, a siren started up. An Illinois State Police sedan passed them and pulled over in front. The trooper—unexpectedly short and chubby—sauntered back to them. “You folks need a tow?”

“No, thank you, sir—I’m off to find a spare.” Carson put a hand on the bike’s seat.

The trooper looked the two over, then walked slowly around the camper. “You from Florida?”

“Yes, sir. On a road trip with my bride.” Carson draped an arm over Palmer’s shoulder.

“Uh-huh. I’ll call the garage for you. Sit tight.” He went back to his squad car.

“Now what?”

Carson watched the back of the policeman’s head. “I don’t like this. I swear he recognized me. Or maybe Thrasher sent out a notice on the license plate. Wait here.” He climbed into the camper. A minute later he came out stuffing something into a backpack. He edged back to the Harley, keeping an eye on the officer.

She whispered, “Are you going to make a run for it?”

“Yeah. If I don’t cruise, I’ll lose.”

“What about me?”

“He’s got nothing on you. Just stay mum. Keep safe. I’ll be back for you.” He swung onto the bike and roared off.

The trooper jumped out of his car. “Hey!” He ran up to Palmer. “Where the hell is he going?”

She hoped she sounded more casual than she felt. “He…Bill…said he knows where a tire store is. He wanted to save you the trouble. Bill. We’ll…we’ll be all right, Officer.”

“Did he tell you his name was Bill?”

“Uh, yes.”

“Well, his real name is Carson Hawk.” The policeman scrutinized her face. “But I’m guessing you knew that.”

“Me? Um…” She was at a loss.

The policeman stood very still. Slowly he tapped his radio. “Suspect has absconded. He’s heading down I57 on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.” He listened to the tinny voice. “Okay, then. I’ll bring in his female companion.”

Palmer gulped. “What…what do you mean, ‘bring in’?”

He clapped handcuffs on her. “I am arresting you for aiding and abetting the flight of a wanted man. You have the right to remain silent. Any…”

The rest of the words melted together in an unholy mess. Arrested! She let the trooper put her in the back seat of the cruiser and watched the landscape whizz by. They reached the station a few minutes later. A large plaque by the front door said Kankakee Sheriff’s Office. She was taken to a desk, where another officer took her particulars. Through the haze, she remembered to ask about the Airstream. “It’s stuck on the highway.”

The policeman was unconcerned. “Right.”

“Is someone going to change the tire on the truck?”

He looked at her, amusement vying with annoyance. “Nah. It’s not like it needs to go anywhere.” At her gasp, he said, “They’ve both been towed to the impoundment lot. Now, Miss Lind, you have one phone call.”

“Huh? Call? Who should I call?”

He said gently, “It’s customary to call a lawyer. Would you like me to get a name for you?”

A lawyer? “No. I have one. I know one. May I use my phone?” He handed it to her. She looked up the number in her contacts and dialed. “Hi, Hardy. It’s me. Palmer.”

“Palmer! Where are you! Are you in trouble?”

“Actually, a bit, yes, Hardy. I would have called sooner, but they took away my cell phone.”

“Then how were you able to call me?”

This is not going well. “The sergeant gave it back to me.”

There was a pause. “Sergeant?”

She took a stab at perky. “Sergeant Scoter! He’s guiding me through the process.”

“Process?”

“I’m…er…being booked. He said I could call my lawyer. That’s you.” She hoped she sounded so confident he couldn’t contradict her.

Hardy’s voice was not reassuring. “I repeat: where are you?”

“I’m in Kankakee. It’s about fifty miles south of Chicago.”

“Chicago? Last I checked, that isn’t on the way to Arizona.”

“No, it isn’t.” Bite the bullet. “I wasn’t exactly honest before. Well, I was, but my plans changed. Car—Mr. Hawk called Saturday morning. He had reflected on what you said about Nestor and Raven looking alike and decided Nestor was in danger. He…uh…asked me to accompany him to Illinois.”

He whistled. “So Thrasher was right. Nestor was the real target of the killer? Not my Raven?”

“I’ve no idea. We don’t know who’s committing these crimes.” Palmer caught Sergeant Scoter watching her. “But it’s not Mr. Hawk.”

“Then why are you under arrest?”

She wailed, “I don’t know. Captain Thrasher only wanted to ask Carson some questions, but these cops are calling him a fugitive. They won’t tell me from what.”

Hardy said soothingly, “He may be a person of interest, that’s all. He just needs to turn himself in. I’m sure it will all work out.”

“But he can’t turn himself in now. He has to get to Chicago. His daughter may be in mortal danger.”

His voice turned slightly huffy. “But why does he need you along?”

She thought fast. “Her mother is out of town. He—Carson—believed the presence of a woman would help.”

“What about your car?”

“Car?”

“Did you leave it in New Orleans?”

Ulp. “Um…no. I…uh…took the bus. I…uh…don’t like to drive alone.” Will he buy it?

Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):

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What makes your featured book a must-read?

In the words of a reader: “This fast-paced story opens with a bang and doesn’t let up…The mystery was clever and well-developed. I had no idea who the killer was until the end. The author does a fantastic job of painting a picture of the scenes with setting and senses. With an admirable main character, realistic and interesting side characters, a compelling mystery and a touch of romance, this book is a definite must-read.”

Giveaway –

Enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card:

https://kingsumo.com/g/1yp82l1/summertime-books-bookish-event-giveaway

Open Internationally.

Runs June 23 – July 10, 2026.

Winner will be drawn on July 11, 2026.

Author Biography:

Librarian, anthropologist, research assistant, Congressional aide, speechwriter, nonprofit director—M. S. Spencer has lived or traveled in five of the seven continents and holds degrees in Anthropology, Middle East Studies, and Library Science. She has published eighteen mystery or romantic suspense novels. She has two children, an exuberant granddaughter, and currently divides her time between the Gulf Coast of Florida and a tiny village in Maine.

Social Media Links:

Blog: https://msspencertalespinner.blogspot.com

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

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Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B002ZOEUC8

BookDNA: https://bookdna.com/search/author/21204

Title: Puppied to Death

Author: C.B. Wilson

Voice Actor/Narrator: Candace Fitzgerald

Genre: Cozy Pet Mystery

Book Blurb:

A murder, an ancient rivalry, and a puppy you can’t help but love…

Award-winning author C.B. Wilson delivers a delightfully chaotic mystery anyone who has ever raised a puppy will fall in love with.

When a desperate call from her sister pulls Cat Hawl to Hawaii, she expects family drama—not a murder scene. A renowned tea sommelier is dead, a playful puppy has trampled the evidence, and Cat’s trouble-prone sister has vanished without a trace. Is Lani a victim, a fugitive, or the killer’s next target?

With the police convinced of the worst, Cat joins forces with her formidable mother and the unstoppable Miss Marple Mahjong Mamas. Their investigation uncovers an ancient feud dating back to China’s Forbidden City—and a prophecy steeped in tea leaves that someone will kill to protect.

Puppied to Death is the tenth Barkview Mystery—an irresistible mix of sharp twists, family drama, and laugh-out-loud puppy chaos. Perfect for fans who like their sleuthing clever, their settings exotic, and their mysteries served with just the right bite

Audiobook Clip: https://samples.audible.com/bk/acx0/432553/bk_acx0_432553_sample.mp3

Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):

Audible US: https://www.audible.com/pd/Puppied-to-Death-Audiobook/B0DWB3KYXP

https://www.amazon.com/Puppied-Death-Mystery-Barkview-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B0DP3BBFJ2

Universal link: https://mybook.to/PuppiedtoDeath

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/puppied-to-death-a-dog-lover-s-cozy-mystery-barkview-mysteries-book-9-by-c-b-wilson

Do you listen to audiobooks? Do you have a favorite? If you don’t listen to audiobooks, is there a particular reason why not?

I love the feel of a book in my hand and turning a page.

What makes this a must-listen audiobook?

Puppied to Death is more than a mystery—it’s an escape. This compelling story transports listeners to the beautiful islands of Hawaii, where sunshine, stunning beaches, adorable dogs, and murder collide in all the best ways. With lovable characters, laugh-out-loud moments, and a mystery that keeps you guessing, the audiobook brings the tropical setting vividly to life—making you feel like you’re solving the case right alongside the characters. Perfect for listeners who love cozy mysteries with heart, humor, and a little island adventure.

Giveaway –

Enter to win a $100 Amazon gift card:

https://kingsumo.com/g/107l7q3/celebrate-audiobook-month-event-giveaway

Open Internationally.

Runs June 1 – June 30, 2026.

Winner will be drawn on July 1, 2026.

Author Biography:

Winner CIBA 2025 Best Cozy Mystery, CB Wilson writes the Gem Hunters and the Barkview Mysteries—two series that blend intrigue, heart, and unforgettable animal companions. A GIA-trained gemologist, she brings authenticity and insider detail to her fast-paced stories of stolen jewels, hidden histories, and high-stakes recovery.

Her breakout novel, The Fire Diamond, has resonated strongly with readers, launching the Gem Hunters series with a compelling mix of adventure and intrigue. The story continues in The Water Diamond, following diamond recovery specialist Taylor “Hunter” and her diamond-sniffing dachshund, Glimmer, as they unravel a mystery that reaches back generations. The next installment, The Ice Diamond, is set for release later this year, taking readers into an icy world of secrets, danger, and international stakes.

CB’s Barkview Mysteries offer a lighter, Hallmark-style escape into the dog-friendliest town in America, where each story highlights the charm, quirks, and realities of life with beloved canine companions.

When she’s not writing, CB draws inspiration from horseback riding through the Arizona desert, playing pickleball, and her lifelong love of animals. Her stories reflect her passion for blending cozy mystery warmth with adventure-driven suspense—where every clue sparkles, and every diamond has a story.

Awards:

Narrator Biography:

Candace is a New Jersey–based audiobook narrator and voice actor passionate about authentic storytelling and bringing strong female characters to life. Using her versatile, textured voice, she specializes in horror, thriller/mystery, and romance. Her background as a music therapist, actress, teacher, and mom brings warmth, humor, and relatability to her performances.

A trained performer from Circle in the Square Theatre School, Candace has extensive stage and screen experience—including meeting her husband while touring in Charlotte’s Web as Charlotte to his Wilbur. Today, she voices commercials, corporate narration, e-learning, and audiobooks from her home studio. When not narrating, she enjoys music, family time, craft beer, and walks with her Australian shepherd.

Author Social Media Links:

https://cbwilsonauthor.com

www.facebook.com/cbwilsonauthor

www.instagram.com@cbwilsonauthor

Metropolitan Detroit consists of three large counties: Wayne, Oakland and Macomb with a multitude of cities, villages, and townships in various shapes and sizes. All told, that encompasses more than six million square miles with over five million people. Unfortunately, local police departments are not always forthcoming with their neighboring law enforcement counterparts about crimes happening within their territories.
​
That’s where Sergeant Jefferson Chene and Squad Six of the Michigan State Police come into the picture. The squad has the authority and jurisdiction over that entire region. Focusing on major case crimes, they go wherever the clues take them. Chene leads the team in solving the most complex cases.

Title: Why 319?

Author: Mark Love

Genre: Mystery (Police Procedural)

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Book Blurb:

A serial killer is on the loose in metro Detroit. Three female victims have been discovered in motel rooms in different suburban cities surrounding Motown. The only connection is that each body is found in Room 319 and the killer leaves the taunting message “Why 319?” on the bathroom mirror, written with the victim’s lipstick.

Detective Jefferson Chene heads up an elite squad of detectives assigned to the case. With no home life, he devotes every waking moment to catching killers. But this one is more elusive than most. With no clues and no apparent link between the victims, Chene is at a dead end. But a startling revelation busts the case wide open. He’s closing in on the murderer, but will it be before another young woman loses her life?

Excerpt

Cantrell rolled an unlit cigarette across his knuckles. “We need to do this fast. Like the poet once said, timing ain’t waitin’ for no one.”

Despite his butchering of quotations, we all knew what he meant. We only had so much time to figure this out and find the guy before he struck again.

“We need to determine the common denominator,” Megan said. “There’s got to be something that all three of our victims shared. We just need to look at them closely and let them tell us what that is.”

Barksdale made a derisive snorting noise beside her. “Just how do we do that, McDonald? Call the psychic hotline? Break out the Ouija board?”

“We look at the evidence,” she said with a sneer.

“We look at the evidence,” Barksdale mimicked, waving his hands like a cheap carnival magician.

“Knock it off,” I said. “Megan’s right. We go through every bit of information we can find on the victims. That means reviewing the files, repeating every single interview. We take the investigation a step further. If the locals talked to three coworkers, we need to talk to six. If they interviewed one neighbor, we interview five.”

Barksdale turned his scowl to me. “So how are we going to do that before this pervert strikes again? We got other cases going.”

“Not no more, ya don’t,” Cantrell said. “As of right now, this un is your one and only. And Ah hate to ruin your Saturday, but there ain’t no days off until we crack it. Y’all need to break it down and find the pattern.”

If Cantrell expected any grumbling from the squad, he would be disappointed. Even Barksdale held his tongue for a moment.

“So how you figure we’re going to do this, Pappy? That’s a lot of territory to cover, no matter how you cut it,” Barksdale asked.

Cantrell shifted his gaze to me. “Whatcha think, Chene?”

“We could break it into sections. Laura could delve into their background. Barksdale could handle the autopsies. Koz could focus on the departments…” I stopped when I saw Cantrell slowly shaking his head.

“Y’all need to move faster.”

Laura spoke up for the first time. She was the newest member of the squad and still getting accustomed to Cantrell’s laid-back management style. “So how should we handle it, Pappy?”

“Y’all break into teams. Boy and girl on each. We got three homicides that we know of, so each team takes one. Y’all start from the ground up.”

Megan pointed out the obvious. “You realize we’re a girl short.”

Cantrell checked his watch. “Bloomfield’s offered up one of their detectives to work the investigation, so Ah agreed. She’ll be here shortly.”

This was highly unusual. Cantrell was adamant about keeping our investigations within the house. Once we took over a case, he didn’t give it back until it was closed. Then the brass would hold a press conference, explaining how the local department, working with the state police, had solved the crime. It made for great politics.

“When?” The anger in my voice surprised me. It was obvious to the rest of the squad that I didn’t like this sudden change.

“Maybe twenty minutes.”

Koz caught my eye. Without missing a beat, he pushed back from the table. “Guess I’ll grab a coffee while we wait. You did want to wait until the other detective got here before proceeding, right, Pappy?”

Cantrell tucked the cigarette into the corner of his mouth and snapped a flame with his lighter. “Yep.”

I waited until everyone else filed out of the room. Cantrell let his eyes close as if he were meditating. With the smoke curling up around his head, he looked like something out of a Tennessee monastery. The Art of Zen, courtesy of Jack Daniels.

“Well?” he muttered.

“When were you going to clue me in on this plan?”

“Y’all weren’t ready.”

I didn’t try to keep the anger from my voice. “Bull. I’ve been the lead on ninety percent of the investigations we’ve handled for the last three years. You know it. I know it. The whole freaking squad knows it.”

He took a long drag and pulled the cigarette from his lips. “But not everybody likes it.”

I didn’t even have to think about it. “You mean Barksdale. The guy’s a dinosaur.”

“Would that be a triceratops?”

I was surprised he was able to name one, but then Cantrell could be full of surprises. Like this new plan. “So how do you see this?”

“We split into three teams, just like Ah said. We put Koz with Laura. Give them the oldest case, the Wayne County. You and Megan take the Macomb. Bloomfield will want their girlie working their crime. We stick her with Barksdale.”

“So why didn’t you tell me before?”

“You all right, Chene, but you ain’t no actor. Ah wanted everyone to know this was a surprise, even you. It made your reaction real. You gettin’ pissy ’cause Ah didn’t tell you about it first.”

I considered it for a moment. The old bastard had it down cold. Barksdale would have pitched a holy fit if I’d made the decision to split the team by case and assign him the outsider. He and Megan could barely stand each other. Laura was too new to stick with him. That left the Bloomfield detective. Since the orders were coming down from Cantrell, there was no way he’d argue it. Especially when it appeared that Cantrell did not trust me to make the call. It was a stroke of genius, pure logistical genius. I told him as much.

“’Tweren’t nothin. You might have figured it out in a couple of days.”

“Don’t be so modest, Pappy. You know how to manipulate him.”

“Uh huh.”

It took me a moment to admit the rest. “And me too.”

He nodded slowly. “Hell, Chene, if Ah can’t ever manipulate ya, y’all ain’t no good to me.”

Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):

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https://books.apple.com/us/book/why-319/id1222126642

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https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35340750-why-319?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=2AicoNdLtw&rank=2

https://www.bookbub.com/books/why-319-by-mark-love

Why 319? by Mark Love, Paperback | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

Special Giveaway:

Enter to win a signed copy of “Why 319?”

Let’s have some fun here. Name your favorite Motown song. Use the comment section below to enter.

Winner will be contacted by email.

Open to US only.

Author Biography

Mark Love lived for many years in the metropolitan Detroit area, where crime and corruption are always prevalent. A former freelance reporter, Love honed his writing skills covering features and hard news. He is the multi-award-winning author of the Jamie Richmond mysteries (with Inkspell Publishing) Devious, Vanishing Act, Fleeing Beauty, Stealing Haven and Chasing Favors. Love also writes the Jefferson Chene mystery series (with The Wild Rose Press) WHY 319? Your Turn to Die and The Wayward Path.

His independent stories include, “Rules of Desperation” “Part-Time Criminal” and the latest “Fade Away”.

Mark Love resides in west Michigan with his wife, Kim. He enjoys a variety of music, books, travel, cooking and exploring the great outdoors.

Social Media Links

https://motownmysteries.com

http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B009P7HVZQ

https://www.facebook.com/MarkLoveAuthor

https://www.instagram.com/motownmysteries

https://www.threads.net/@motownmysteries

Title: Your Turn to Die

Author: Mark Love

Genre: Mystery (Police Procedural)

Publisher The Wild Rose Press

Book Blurb

It was supposed to be a friendly round of paintball. But blood, not paint, covers Kyle Morrissey’s body. Though admired by the public for his charity, the businessman was no choirboy. Could it be that more than one person want him dead?

Sergeant Jefferson Chene and his detective squad catch the case. With two new faces on the team, he finds himself in the unfamiliar role as mentor. He is also cautiously beginning a relationship with Simone Bettencourt, the beautiful woman he met while pursuing a serial murderer. Complicating the case are two retired gangsters, a fortune in jewels, and Detroit’s history of organized crime. But the squad must utilize every resource available to catch a killer.

Excerpt

The mood in the office was subdued. Valerie Mann was expecting me. Without delay she steered me to her office. I noticed that Colleen’s office was dark. Valerie’s expression was stern. She pointed me toward a visitor’s chair as she took her seat behind the desk.

“Things are a little stressful, Detective. What do you need?”

“I was hoping to speak with Mrs. Morrissey.”

“She’s making the final arrangements for tomorrow’s funeral. I don’t expect her to be in the office again until next Monday.”

“Which is why I’m hoping you can fill in some blanks for me.”

Valerie laced her fingers as if she wanted me to admire her manicure. It still looked as polished as it had on Monday when we’d first met. I waited while she drew a breath and let it out slowly.

“I know you have a job to do. It’s just a very difficult time for all of us.”

“I understand. Are there any concerns about the business continuing?”

“Why no! Colleen has assured us that we will maintain operations, just as Kyle would have wanted. Each unit is profitable, although some more so than others. I doubt she would consider selling.”

I wasn’t convinced. “Are there potential buyers for the business?”

“There have been a few overtures the last couple of years. But nothing Kyle took seriously. The movies and the bookstores are like his children. He’d never sell.”

“I met with the company’s lawyers earlier. Do you know if Kyle and Colleen have a personal attorney?”

She hesitated. I watched her eyes flick away. Here it comes.

“I’m sure they must, but I have no idea who that might be.”

“It’s a bad idea to lie to a cop, Valerie. Sooner or later, the truth comes back to bite you in the ass.”

Her body jolted as if I’d slapped her. “There may be something in Kyle’s contact list. He didn’t keep business cards. When someone gave him one, he’d put the details on his computer.”

“And you have access to that file?”

“Yes. It’s on the network.”

“Let’s take a look.”

I could have had the Cyber Unit scan the files but there was a chance she’d give me more than just a name and a number. Valerie turned to the computer and pulled the chair closer to the desk as I came around beside her.

“Why did you lie to me?”

She shifted her head just enough to look me in the eye. “I don’t like you.”

“It’s not a popularity contest. I’m trying to figure out who killed your boss.”

“You’re abrasive.”

I shrugged. “If I have to be.”

“Your mother must be so proud.” Her voice was dripping with sarcasm.

“I wouldn’t know. I never met her.”

Valerie opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out. Her cheeks and throat flushed scarlet. She swallowed once and turned her attention to the computer. I watched as she scrolled through a list of files and brought up a folder labeled ‘contacts’.

“So there must be some other reason you lied, other than not liking me.”

“I just don’t see how any of this could help you find his killer.”

I pointed at the computer monitor. Slowly she ran through the list of names. Valerie stopped occasionally to jot down the details for several people listed as attorneys. It was tempting to see if there were any recent emails between them and Morrissey. I was about to ask but figured Yekovich and Pinky would be able to tell me. We finished with the list. Valerie switched off the computer.

“Want to tell me about the lie?”

She let out a ragged breath. “You’re impossible.”

I rested a hip on the desk. She remained in the big chair. Self-consciously she crossed her legs, then tugged the hem of her skirt down toward her knee. It didn’t cover much. “I’m in no hurry.”

“I thought you were trying to catch a killer.”

“I am. But my boss gets pissed if I do a sloppy job and miss something.”

Valerie folded her hands in her lap. “I have nothing more to say. Unless you have questions related to Mr. Morrissey’s business dealings, I’m going to ask you to leave. We have a number of things to finish up before tomorrow’s services.”

I decided not to push it. She was obviously holding something back. Whether it was pertinent to the case was anyone’s guess. Tucking the papers into my pocket, I pushed away from the desk. Valerie stayed in the chair.

“Good-bye, Sergeant.”

“I’ll see you around, Ms. Mann.”

It obviously wasn’t the response she was hoping for.

Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MPPYY31/

https://books.apple.com/us/book/your-turn-to-die/id1449415728

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/your-turn-to-die-1

Your Turn to Die by Mark Love, Paperback | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

https://www.audible.com/pd/B07PYYZKDJ

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43907286-your-turn-to-die

https://www.bookbub.com/books/your-turn-to-die-by-mark-love

Title: The Wayward Path

Author: Mark Love

Genre: Mystery (Police Procedural)

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Book Blurb

Charity Gray was an intelligent, inquisitive teen who disappeared fifteen years earlier. When her body is discovered, it should be a typical cold case. Before the Detroit police can get started, the FBI commandeer the investigation, with a prime suspect in mind: retired mobster Leo Agonasti.

When Agonasti slips through their grasp, he reaches out to Sergeant Jefferson Chene. Their unusual friendship draws Chene into the thick of the case. Burdened with two reluctant FBI agents, Chene is working against the clock and the feds to find the real killer.

Chene senses they are getting close to the answers. Will he be able to solve the murder and clear the old mobster of this heinous crime before time runs out?

Excerpt

Koz and Laura were waiting just down the block as I rounded the corner. We stopped alongside.

“You must be out of your f*cking mind,” Koz snarled.

“Nothing new there. I just want to have a quiet conversation with a certain homeowner. Maybe he can shed a little light on these recent events.”

Laura leaned forward, so I could see her past Kozlowski’s bulk. “Where do you want me?”

“Across the street. There’s good elevation.” I pointed to what I had in mind.

She nodded and slid back.

I glanced at Koz. “You in?”

“Out of your f*cking mind,” he muttered. “Of course, I’m in. Your lady friend would kick my ass twice if I don’t cover yours.”

“Let’s roll.”

The front door opened as we approached. A stocky man greeted us. A thin panatela was balanced between the first two fingers of his right hand. “Afternoon, officers. What can I do for you?”

“Like a few minutes of your time, Mr. Tocco,” I said.

“You got a warrant?”

“Don’t need a warrant just to talk.”

Movement behind him caught my eye. Koz was on my left flank, Naughton on the right. A slender man in his thirties appeared alongside Tocco.

“My youngest son,” Giovanni Tocco growled. “Lorenzo, say hello.”

“Hello, police officers. Would you mind stating your names?” Lorenzo’s voice was that of an educated man.

“Sure, I’m Brady. These are my associates, Gronkowski and Edelman.”

Tocco barked a laugh. “Well, you sure as hell don’t play for the Lions.”

“Their names are unnecessary. You already know mine. That should be sufficient.”

“Well, it is true that you’re a smartass. What is it you want, Chene? My secret cannoli recipe?” We were back to serious family business now.

“There was a shooting last night. Three men assaulted two law enforcement officers.”

Tocco nodded sagely. “Saw it on the news. But what’s that got to do with me? I’m just a businessman, enjoying a summer’s day.”

“Two of the gunners were for hire. But the third has me curious. Kind of a pretty boy. Last name was Tancredi.” I showed him the picture on my phone.

“That stupid f*ck,” Giovanni Tocco muttered. “Matteo Tancredi. Matteo Tancredi is one of Luca Vitale’s punk grandsons.”

“Was,” I said, tucking the phone back in my pocket. “I was under the impression that Vitale has been out of the business for quite a while now. Any truth to that rumor?”

Tocco gave me another sage nod. “Stroke left him paralyzed. Luca’s older than dirt. But he has been taken care of. His interests were…equally divided.”

“Any idea who Matteo was working for?”

Giovanni Tocco rolled the panatela between his fingers thoughtfully. “I don’t want to be in the middle of a family battle. We have a, what do you call it…” He turned his head for a quick glance at his son.

“An accord,” Lorenzo piped in.

“Yeah, an accord. There’s enough action and territory here, no reason for anybody to go pissing on the other guy’s petunias.” He brought the cigar up horizontally and ran it under his nose. “Matteo thought he could reclaim his grandfather’s action.”

“How long has it been since Luca Vitale’s…interests were divided?”

“Two, maybe three years.” Tocco shrugged. “There were no hard feelings. Luca had no sons alive, and the girls weren’t active in the business. Bianchi made a very generous offer.”

“You’re telling me Matteo Tancredi was working for Bianchi?”

Tocco slowly wagged his head back and forth. “Doubtful. That was one of Vitale’s demands. Separate the business from his immediate family,” Tocco said. “But if you like, I’ll make a call. Bianchi’s got nothing to hide.”

“Appreciate your time, Mr. Tocco.”

“You got brass balls, Chene, meeting me like this.”

“You didn’t get where you are by having a gun battle with state police detectives. All I wanted was some information. I appreciate that. And your assistance.” I gave him a nod of respect.

Tocco slowly shook his head. He studied the cigar for a moment. Naughton moved forward and snapped open an old Zippo lighter. He sparked it to life and extended the fire toward Tocco. They locked eyes briefly. Tocco popped the panatela in his mouth and bent forward, drawing in the flame.

“Pop! You know what the doctor said.”

Tocco leaned back and puffed smoke into the air. “F*ck the doctor. I haven’t enjoyed one of these in weeks. Guys are going to wonder why I still carry it.”

Naughton cracked a grin. “Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.”

“Damn right.”

We headed down the driveway. Kozlowski shook his head in disgust. “You’re still out of your f*cking mind. And now your antics are corrupting Naughton too!”

Naughton laughed. “It’s a little late for that.”

Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B114JLCD

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-wayward-path-mark-love/1141467645?ean=9781509242191

https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-wayward-path/id6442843627

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-wayward-path

https://www.hoopladigital.com/ebook/the-wayward-path-mark-love/15279766

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61290085-the-wayward-path?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=nGAZ6GQiuh&rank=4

https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-wayward-path-a-jefferson-chene-mystery-book-3-by-mark-love

Title: Guise of the Elf Lord

Author: Heidi Vanlandingham

Genre: Romantasy

Book Blurb:

As co-regent of war-torn Alfheimr, Lamruil Vakas is desperate to hold his crumbling kingdom together. The fragile alliance between elves and dwarves could help restore what was lost, but when Norse goddess Freyja arrives with a personal mission to rescue a missing she-elf, he must choose between his duty to his people and escaping his political battlefield.

Soliana Tornorin never aspired to be a hero, just someone who mattered. But after being taken by a demon and lost to the currents of time, her once-bright dreams have all but vanished. Alone, imprisoned, and haunted by what could have been, hope seems a distant memory, until the last person she ever expected appears to save her.

What begins as a rescue becomes something far more dangerous when Lamruil and Soliana uncover the truth: the Dark Fae no longer controls the warp—something older and far more malevolent does. Trapped between timelines and hunted by a darkness neither understands, they must trust in each other—and the bond still burning between them—to survive.

But facing the past might be the only way to save the future... If time doesn’t destroy them first.

My Review:

Lamruil Vakas is trying desperately to hold his war-torn kingdom together. As talks continue between the elves and dwarves, Norse goddess Freyja arrives with a mission for Lamruil. He must rescue a she-elf named Soliana who is imprisoned in the past. You don’t say no to Freyja, so Lamruil reluctantly agrees. He travels through the threads of time in order to save Soliana. What was supposed to be an easy mission turns much more deadly. The Dark Fae no longer controls the time warp so they must find a new way home. Dodging an evil they can’t fathom, Lamruil and Soliana must trust each other in order to survive. Will the be able to rectify past mistakes in order to save the future or will they be lost forever in time?

Guise of the Elf Lord is a gripping romantasy with time travel I couldn’t put down. Heidi Vanlandingham has once again outdone herself with the world-building. Blending her multiple series into the multiverse Nine Worlds is flawless. I don’t know how she does it. The continuity is impressive and the characters she wrote many years ago are still as captivating. The descriptive narration is immersive and once I started reading, I was hooked. Emotions run high in Guise of the Elf Lord. The romance between Lamruil and Soliana is second chance where the stakes couldn’t be higher. The tension is palpable, too. The action scenes are incredibly detailed. You’ll be able to envision every action with its cinematic storytelling. If you’re a fan of romantasy and romantic fantasy, you’ll want to read Guise of the Elf Lord.

My Rating: 5++ stars

Buy it Now:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Guise-Elf-Lord-vengeful-ebook/dp/B0H4MXNHQ2/?tag=heidivanlaaut-20

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w?ean=2940196114939

Apple: http://books.apple.com/us/book/id6778547752

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/guise-of-the-elf-lord

Draft2Digital: https://books2read.com/kel-guise

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/guise-of-the-elf-lord-a-beneath-the-mask-second-chance-dark-fantasy-romance-kingdom-of-the-elf-lords-book-4-by-heidi-vanlandingham

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/253671340-guise-of-the-elf-lord

Author Biography:

Heidi Vanlandingham writes sweet, action-packed stories set in war-torn Europe, otherworldly magical realms, and the Wild West. Her love of history is evident in each book, and her characters are lovable, strong, and diverse. Heidi’s stories transport the reader to a different place and time where they can experience understanding, compassion, and, most of all, love.

Growing up in Oklahoma and spending a year in Belgium gave Heidi a unique perspective on various cultures. She continues to reside in Oklahoma with her husband. Her eldest son is on the autism spectrum, diligently working toward living independently, while her youngest son graduated magna cum laude and is now pursuing his own dreams. Heidi cherishes laughter, paranormal and fantasy romance novels, music, and long road trips.

Social Media Links:

Website: https://heidivanlandingham.com

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hvanlandingham.author

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidivanlandingham_author/

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

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/hvanlandingham/

Amazon Author Pg:

https://www.amazon.com/Heidi-Vanlandingham/e/B00BI5NPA8

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6939054.Heidi_Vanlandingham

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/heidi-vanlandingham

Reviewed by: Nancy

Title: Recipe for Murder (A Pine Cove Mystery)

Author: Marla A. White

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Book Blurb:

Mel O’Rourke traded her LAPD badge for the quiet life, running a bed-and-breakfast in tiny, quirky Pine Cove.

But when Jackson Thibodeaux, the charming café owner who broke her heart, stumbles back into town, her tranquil second act is toast. While attending a culinary academy in New Orleans, Jackson found the body of a classmate. The police rule it a suicide, but Mel’s instincts—and Jackson’s near miss with a bullet—scream murder.

Between a cooking school full of shady suspects, a reformed cat burglar for a sidekick, and a complicated love triangle involving the deputy sheriff, Mel has her hands full.

Perfect for fans of the sweetness of Jenn McKinlay and the snark of Elle Cosimano’s Finlay Donovan.

My Review:

Mel O’Rourke thinks she has it all figured out until Jackson, the man who broke her heart, returns and drops a bombshell. Jackson is down south in New Orleans attending culinary school. He discovers a fellow student dead, but the police say it’s suicide. Jackson returns to Pine Cove seeking help. Mel’s detecting senses scream murder. She enables the help of the deputy sheriff and together make inquiries. What is it about this culinary school that brings out the worst in people? What secrets are they hiding? Can Mel whip up a murderer before Jackson expiration date comes due?

Recipe for Murder is a fun cozy mystery I couldn’t put down. Marla A. White brings the cutthroat nature of the culinary industry to life. It’s not all niceness and great food. I love the characters who reside in Pine Cove. They are quirky personified, and they make this story a blast to read. The descriptive narration is immersive and well-detailed. The plot progression is smooth, so you’ll be reading at a quick pace. Marla A. White writes a cozy mystery full of twists and false clues. The cast of suspects grows with every chapter and just when I thought I knew whodunit, another clue drops. When I finished reading Recipe for Murder, I wanted to read it all over again. It’s an addictive cozy mystery with small town vibes, quirky characters, and a culinary backdrop. Fans of Ellie Alexander and Jessica Beck will enjoy Recipe for Murder.

My Rating: 5+ stars

Buy it Now:

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Recipe-Murder-Pine-Cove-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0GTRJ24MV/

Barnes & Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/recipe-for-murder-marla-a-white/1149756706

Apple Books https://books.apple.com/us/book/recipe-for-murder/id6761060169

GoodReads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/250187891-recipe-for-murder

AllAuthor https://allauthor.com/book/106098/recipe-for-murder-a-pine-cove-mystery/

Books2Read https://books2read.com/u/b5eqzA

Book Bub https://www.bookbub.com/books/recipe-for-murder-a-pine-cove-mystery-by-marla-a-white

Author Biography:

Marla White kills people for a living—on paper, at least.

An award-winning mystery and suspense author with roots in Hollywood, Marla White made a striking debut with Cause for Elimination, earning recognition from Killer Nashville, the RONE Awards, Reader’s Favorite, and a second-place finish with the Orange County Romance Writers in Romantic Suspense.

Originally from Oklahoma, Marla carved her path through multiple states before landing in Los Angeles, where she built a career in television development and now teaches screenwriting at UCLA Extension - including the fine art of script coverage and story analysis.

When she’s not plotting her next murder (fictional, we promise), she can be found in her garden, on a hiking trail, cheering for the LA Kings, or field-testing craft cocktails in the name of research.

Social Media Links:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheScriptFixer

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marlawriteswords/

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

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@marlawriteswords

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marlaw825

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21467766.Marla_A_White

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/marla-a-white

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3MHIzkB

Substack: https://substack.com/@marlawhite

Reviewed by: Nancy

Title The Lawyer on the Texas Ranch

Author Marisa Masterson

Genre Christian Historical Fiction

Book Blurb

A new love cannot erase past hurts.

Jack and Phillip Poston, the reunited brothers, head to Texas, intent on finding a lost friend, Stubby, as well as selling a ranch. When an accident injures Jack, Sybil will take his place by Phillip’s side. Well, not exactly. Take his place. After all, she can only travel with this unrelated man if he is her husband. A problem? Yes!

After a painful twelve-year marriage, Sybil has discovered freedom on the Poston farm as the housekeeper. She may be in love with Phillip, yet she is far from ready to surrender her freedom. And can she trust him not to become the ogre her first husband was?

Nothing is like they expected in Texas. Why are there none of Jack’s prize horses at the ranch when she and Phillip arrive? Where is Stubby, and why does the Sheriff not help search for him?

And why does her freedom become less and less her focus in the tangle that is her makeshift marriage?

Excerpt

“Marvel wasn’t much of a pa to my girls.” Sybil released a trembling sigh. “After my husband,” she paused and bit her lip. “Um, after Marvel, that is, died, the girls and I lived on the streets. Did I ever tell you that?”

Phillip frowned. “I know you were left penniless.”

“When Sadie found Caroline at the hotel in the city, it changed our lives. Like God put her in our path. From then on, my family has been blessed and safe.”

“I sense more.” His chin prodded the air, and he silently urged her to continue.

“Marrying you changes all that. We’re back in the city, and I’m open to harm. What if we end up on the streets again?”

One corner of his mouth pulled up as he arched a single eyebrow. “I would never—”

Then his face features fell as a sad smile crept onto his lips. “It’s easier for me to make promises than for you to accept them. I can’t imagine what you went through, but it’s left a terrible fear inside you. Knowing that, I can be patient.”

“I wish there was more we could do. It’s not something I can wish away or ignore.”

“Once, I heard someone say that prayer changes things. Do you believe that?”

“Ye-e-es.” Her heart beat fast in her chest. “Do you?”

“God’s got a hold of me in the last few months. Now, I can say I do.”

She slipped her hand from under the blanket and inched it across the bed to his. As she waited, she sucked in air and held tight in her throat.

His hand swallowed hers in a mock embrace. “We should pray together. Not just today, but as a family each day. Might make a difference for all of us.”

“It just might.”

Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H665VJB7

https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-lawyer-on-the-texas-ranch-the-postons-book-3-by-marisa-masterson

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/246709135-the-lawyer-on-the-texas-ranch

Facebook Party:

Read More Books: Tina Hogan’s Reader Group

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Please join the party for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card as well as eBooks and the complete set of the series featuring The Lawyer on the Texas Ranch.

Find the entire series at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FZKL39GJ

The Series in Order—

The Bride on the Shawnee Trail

After witnessing a murderer hiding evidence, Caroline flees to safety by becoming a mail-order bride. That safety turns to danger as she and her new husband begin a cattle drive on the Shawnee Trail. She determines to keep him safe from the unknown danger that lurks on the journey. But, as they face the hardships of the trail, Caroline realizes another real threat follows her.

4.5 stars on Amazon with 112 reviews

The Stranded Rancher

Unwilling to risk their baby, Jack Poston and his wife remain in the North after driving cattle up the Shawnee Trail. When a miracle inheritance lands in his lap, Jack jumps at it, not realizing shady dealings and a crooked judge are involved.

4.6 stars on Amazon with 74 reviews

The Lawyer on the Texas Ranch

Big brother Phillip comes to the rescue after an injury prevents Jack from heading south to discover why the sale of his ranch has stalled. With his brother’s friend, Stubby, missing along with a valuable herd of horses, he can only rely on his new bride—a woman who insists they are married for this trip and no longer. Will he solve both mysteries, that of the disappearances and how to win her love?

Author Biography

Marisa Masterson is the author of more than seventy books. She and her husband of thirty-seven years make their home in Saginaw, Michigan. They have two grown children and a precious granddaughter, Hunny, who keeps Grandma happy and busy.

She is a retired high school English teacher and oversaw a high school writing center in partnership with the local university. In addition, she is a National Writing Project fellow and a regular contributor to the Sweet Americana Sweethearts blog.

You will find Marisa hanging out in the Sweet Wild West Reads group on Facebook. She invites you to join that group and get to know her as well as additional authors of Christian historical fiction.

Social Media Links

No Spam Newsletter

Marisa’s Messages

Website

marisamasterson.com

Facebook

Marisa’s Profile

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Title If She Were Mine

Author Karen Kay

Genre Historical Romance/Native American Romance

Book Blurb

AI-FREE! 100% organic author-created content. No artificial intelligence was used in the writing of this book.

If you enjoy stories about how love can win, despite terrible wrongs and extreme prejudice, this story is for you.

A star-crossed love, treachery, and a desire that will not be denied.

Briella Feher is in love, but not with her fiancé. Her father has exiled her from the sweeping plains of Montana to New York City “for her own safety,” commanding her to marry within her heritage and class. Raised in Indian Territory, Briella was shaped as much by the Pikuni—Blackfeet—people as by her aristocratic Hungarian family. Viewed as a cowgirl, Briella doesn’t fit in with society. Perhaps it’s the guns she wears strapped to her evening gowns. Her heart has always belonged to Red Fox, the Pikuni medicine man who taught her to survive on the prairie, the man who was her teacher, her first love. When James Maximillian III proposes—with the condition that he keep his mistress—Briella accepts, seeing his proposal as her only path back to Montana and to Red Fox.

Two years apart have not cooled the fire between Briella and Red Fox, yet his honor won’t allow him to claim this woman who is promised to another. With the escalation of the Indian/Cavalry wars, Red Fox believes distance is the only way to protect the woman he loves. Then a vision reveals a devastating truth: Briella’s fiancé is hiding a lie that could shatter every vow. It’s now up to Red Fox to find the truth.

But, time is running out and forces are aligned against them. Can Red Fox find the proof and expose the treachery in time to alter the ending of their Romeo and Juliet romance, or will he lose Briella forever in a romance destined for tragedy?

Warning: This is a forbidden love story—forbidden by both sets of parents--which begs the question: will the hero and heroine get a second chance at love? Set in the 1870’s, this sensual love story is sprinkled with paranormal, Native American style. But, if you love the old west as it was lived and loved by the First Americans, you’re going to love this story.

Excerpt

PROLOGUE

Northwest Indian Country

Territory of the Blackfeet

The Month When Geese Come (May) 1871

Máóhkataatoyi, Red Fox watched as Pokaa’aakíí (Poka’aki), Child Woman, or as the white’s called her, Briella Fehér, raised her hand and shouted, “Watch me take down this buffalo calf with one shot!”

“Saa! Wait! Do not shoot! There are—”

BLAST!

It was too late! The damage was done. Hadn’t Poka’aki seen the buffalo herd hidden in the shallow, plain-like valley below?

And now the buffalo, having heard the shot, would assume hunters were close-by; it would cause them to stampede. But, perhaps their direction might be to run along the valley rather than to climb the hill and…

As Red Fox heard the unmistakable thunder of hundreds or perhaps thousands of the buffalo’s hooves coming closer and closer to him, he knew the stark reality of what this was: a stampede on its way—toward him and Poka’aki.

There is, perhaps, nothing more terrifying to the heart of a man than the sound of snapping wood, the whooshing of shrubs and bushes, as well as the quaking and ratting of the ground beneath one as the tremendous force and speed of a stampeding herd of buffalo was on the run.

Even now the air carried the dirt and rocks kicked high into the air by those buffalos’ hooves. With a sinking heart, Red Fox knew the herd would be here before Poka’aki had time to get out of the way, and, if she didn’t move fast enough, they would trample her to death.

“Get out of here!” he shouted and waved at her. “Quick! Leave here! Go! Fast!”

But he knew his words were useless. All sound was blocked except the thunder of the stampede.

In a time quicker than it takes to think it, Red Fox knew that George, who was Poka’aki’s brother as well as his own almost-brother, was too far away to come to Briella’s rescue. George had left their hunting party early in the morning, his intention being to return to the tribe and report this enormous herd of buffalo to the chiefs, letting them decide if they would call a tribal hunt of the buffalo or secure a buffalo caller to send the herd, one and all, over the cliff of the pisskan, the buffalo jump.

Inwardly, he cringed. Because of his and Poki’aki’s actions here today, the stampede would interfere with the tribe’s ability to obtain enough food for winter storage, if only because a stampeding herd of buffalo could run through the day and into the night, taking the vast supply of food completely out of Blackfoot territory.

This was why, when a large mass of buffalo had been spotted, the chiefs banned all hunting until the tribe’s men could, as a single body, hunt the game.

On this very day, the chiefs had sent both himself and George—two scouts—out from the camp to look for buffalo. No one in the tribe yet knew this large herd was even here. And yet, it would soon be gone.

The thunderous, ground shaking roar of the stampede caused all further thought to cease. Casting a glance over his shoulder, Red Fox caught sight of the black, horned creatures coming into sight and directly at him. Just then, his horse reared as a wave of the black, hairy beasts encompassed him and his mount, and pushed him and his pony in alongside of them.

With a quick action, Red Fox brought his pony under control. There was no running from them now, and, within the batting of an eye, Red Fox and his mount were caught up in the stampede…but he was on the other side of the herd from Poka’aki.

Buy Links

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GWY3P5KS

What makes your featured book a must-read?

My books bring the reader into the realm of the First Americans, treating the reader to the American Indian’s viewpoint of the land as it was. Perfect for reading this summer.

Giveaway –

Enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card:

https://kingsumo.com/g/1yp82l1/summertime-books-bookish-event-giveaway

Open Internationally.

Runs June 23 – July 10, 2026.

Winner will be drawn on July 11, 2026.

Author Biography

Bestselling author of American Historical Romance, KAREN KAY is a multi-published Author of romance and adventure in the Old West, American Indian. She has been praised by reviewers and fans alike for bringing insights into the everyday life of the American Indian culture of the past. As Reviewer, Suzanne Tucker, once wrote, “Ms. Kay never fails to capture the pride, the passion and the spirit of the American Indian…”

KAREN KAY’s great grandmother was Choctaw Indian, and she is adopted Blackfeet. Ms. Kay is honored to be able to write about the American Indian culture. “With the power of romance, I hope to bring about an awareness of the American Indian’s concept of honor, and what it meant to them to live as free men and free women. There are some things that should never be forgotten.”

Social Media Links

https://www.facebook.com/karenkay.author

Title: Dreidels and Dead Ends

Author: Nancy J. Cohen

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Publisher: Orange Grove Press

Book Blurb:

A daring holiday heist at the local history museum sends hairstylist Marla Vail on her most tangled case yet.

When salon owner Marla Vail agrees to speak at the local history museum’s gala opening for a new exhibit, she expects applause—not a catastrophe. But shortly after she takes the stage, a thief steals the featured diamond-studded hairbrush, leaving behind an empty display case and a badly injured security guard.

Marla’s friend, museum curator Becky Forest, begs for her help in recovering the prized heirloom before the mayor uses this scandal as an excuse to cut their funding. To make matters worse, the antique hairbrush comes with a curse, and suddenly bad luck is spreading through town faster than a botched dye job. As Hanukkah festivities begin, Marla would rather be lighting candles than chasing clues, but with Becky’s job at stake, she takes on the case.

Her trail leads to a knot of suspects including the hairbrush’s owner, his greedy cousin, shifty museum staff, and a reclusive collector of mystical antiquities. Instead of enjoying menorah lights and latkes, Marla discovers murder, lies, and larceny. She’ll need sharp wits and a holiday miracle to save the museum and to keep the truth from being brushed aside.

Do you like Christmas in July? If so, you might like Chanukah in June! Get a head start on the holidays by adding DREIDELS AND DEAD ENDS to your summer reading list. And consider ordering some print copies to stash away as holiday gifts for your friends.

Excerpt

She rounded a corner to note Sierra vanishing into the restroom. Marla followed her inside, realizing she could use a bathroom break herself.

However, Sierra wasn’t in a stall when Marla entered. The redhead stood by a sink, washing her hands. No, she was scrubbing them like Lady Macbeth wiping imaginary blood off her skin.

“Hey, Sierra. Are you okay?” Marla asked with a friendly smile.

Sierra cast her a surprised glance, then her eyes narrowed. “I’m fine, except for you being here. With my social media presence, they should have asked me to give that keynote speech. I could have come up with some beauty tips and filmed the session for my podcast.”

Of course you would only think of yourself. “People wanted a history lesson, not a class on beauty hacks,” Marla managed to say in an even tone.

“Oh, yeah? And what are your credentials in the field?”

“I’ve had an article published on the subject, plus I work with hairbrushes every day. And I’m friends with the curator, she thought but didn’t say aloud. “I didn’t expect to see you here tonight. Did you come with the handsome man in a tux that I saw you with earlier?”

“That’s none of your business.” Sierra dried her hands with a paper towel and tossed it in the trash.

“He’s impressive, whoever he is.” When Sierra didn’t respond and merely glared at her, she tried another tack. “It’s terrible that the guard was hurt. I hope he’ll recover without any residual damage. Imagine the chances of standing right under the chandelier at the wrong time.”

“People are saying the curse struck again,” Sierra remarked, lifting her penciled brows.

“I don’t believe there’s anything supernatural involved. Joel’s accident put him conveniently out of commission so somebody could steal the hairbrush.”

“I’ll bet you want to investigate,” Sierra said with a sneer. “I know how you like to meddle, but it wouldn’t be wise for you to get involved.”

Is that a warning? Marla’s instincts flared. Since she’d been solving cases with Dalton, she’d become suspicious of implied threats.

“Why is that?” she asked, with a glance at the Kate Spade bag on Sierra’s shoulder. It was large enough to hold swag that she gave out to fans, like samples from the companies she endorsed online. Or perhaps a stolen artifact?

Sierra gave her a smirk. “The curse may affect you next. Maybe I should be glad no one asked me to speak.”

“That’s ridiculous. I don’t believe in evil spells. And even if I did, once the hairbrush is restored to its rightful owner, nobody will have to worry about a mythical curse.”

Sierra swept a tendril of red hair off her face. “If I were you, I’d leave the investigation to the cops. I’d think you have enough on your plate without interfering in other people’s affairs.” She gave a pointed glance at Marla’s belly, then whipped around and left.

Marla frowned as she watched Sierra depart. She couldn’t fathom what the woman might know, and yet she felt certain Sierra hadn’t been scrubbing her hands for fear of germs.

Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub)

Universal Link: https://books2read.com/DreidelsandDeadEnds

Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0GWQMWF7Y

Amazon Print: https://www.amazon.com/Dreidels-Dead-Ends-Nancy-Cohen/dp/1952886392/

Apple: http://books.apple.com/us/book/id6762002485

BN Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dreidels-and-dead-ends-nancy-j-cohen/1149880713?ean=2940184997292

BN Print: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dreidels-and-dead-ends-nancy-j-cohen/1149880713?ean=9781952886393

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=tKDPEQAAQBAJ

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/dreidels-and-dead-ends

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/250876619-dreidels-and-dead-ends

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/dreidels-and-dead-ends-bad-hair-day-mysteries-book-19-by-nancy-j-cohen

Author Biography

Nancy J. Cohen writes the Bad Hair Day mystery series and the Keri Armstrong cozy mysteries. Her books have won numerous awards, including her nonfiction titles, Writing the Cozy Mystery and A Bad Hair Day Cookbook. Active in the writing community, Nancy is a past president of Mystery Writers of America Florida Chapter. She’s a frequent speaker at writers’ groups, libraries, and community events. When not busy writing, she enjoys reading, fine dining, cruising, and visiting Disney World.

Social Media Links

Website: https://nancyjcohen.com

Newsletter: https://nancyjcohen.com/newsletter

Blog: https://nancyjcohen.com/blog

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

X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/nancyjcohen

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@nancyjcohen

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancyjcohen

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Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/nancyjcohen

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/nancy-j-cohen

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@NancyJCohen

Title: A Simple Matter of Hope and Joy

Author: Nathan Menoian

Genre: Christian-themed fiction, hope and salvation,

Book Blurb:

Eric David Matthews can’t imagine why God would select him for anything. He’s a longtime business owner with no interest in the Creator of the Universe, and no remaining zest for life. He wonders if this is all life holds for him.

Unexpectedly, he meets a woman of devout faith who tells him what Jesus has done in her life. After hearing her story, he’s willing to ask Jesus into his heart, and the rest is history!

In quick order, Eric hands his mundane and middle-aged life over to God. He soon finds himself in a whirlwind of divinely-guided activity, discovering that the Lord will and can use anyone - young or old. Though the weeks and months ahead aren’t all smooth sailing for Eric, he remains ever-faithful as he experiences love, joy, sorrow, fear, and rejuvenation.

One very demanding question keeps racing through his heart: Does God have a specific calling in mind for him? At just the right time, Eric receives the answer he’s been looking for, along with a brand-new zest for life.

Excerpt:

My faults could fill a long list in anyone’s book. With God’s help, I’ve been attempting to improve myself. Being 54-years old now, two things I will say in my defense, is that I’ve worked hard and always tried to do right by folks.

With my heart softened like a marshmallow the past few months, and my mind awakened to new insights from the Creator of the Universe, the brain in my head was on overload. All of these happenings were either something to brag about, or keep to myself.

My long-time divorce continued haunting me. Who among us is without sin? Our intentions were right, but our actions ended up proving otherwise. In the beginning, I loved her more than I had ever loved any woman. Over the years, instead of falling deeper in love with each other, we fell out of love. And all we were left with was disappointment and heartbreak.

God’s love is unconditional. What human being can say theirs is as well? How then could I be held accountable, yet I knew I would be. Who on this earth can love someone without a hint of selfishness. I can’t, but should have tried to do better.

The thoughts in my head don’t seem so sure about anything anymore. Have I blindly lived my life in spiritual darkness? Of course I did, up until now. I do recall catching an occasional glimpse of God’s light, a match-head brightly burning for a few seconds and then dying out. And short-lived as that was, it gave me something to hope for.

The people I’ve most associated with throughout my life were probably as spiritually lost as me, or so it seemed. Quick hello’s, fast goodbyes, foolish chatter, and shallow conversation were the norm.

Thankfully, a lady named Marsha Kelly came my way at the perfect time. She pointed me toward God. I needed help beyond my abilities. Life was not going my way, and I was treading water with weak arms. God was standing at the ready to reach down and pull me up. It took far to long to call on Him, but thankfully I did.

I was sensing that God had plans for my life. Thinking as a business owner: Did He want me as an employee? As a spiritual infant how might I understand that? Was I expected to act as a mature biblical adult? That didn’t seem possible at this point. However, throughout all of this, I could see God’s hand moving in my everyday life.

In my heart-of-hearts I knew that my rock-solid business was ripe for selling. It had grown in value more than I imagined. Within a few weeks after listing it, a legitimate offer was made from an out-of-state concern. Six months of back-and-forth negotiations were needed to hammer out the hundreds of details.

Sitting with my accountant, two lawyers, and God’s grace, the sale was finalized. I held no doubt that God oversaw each line and paragraph of the sale, from the final dollar amount to the protected positions and employees that were to remain working. When all the details were met to my satisfaction, I signed the papers.

Was my life over or just beginning anew? Preacher, teacher, candlestick maker, who was I kidding? Where was my faith?

“I’m headed in a new direction,” I professed, with a slight quiver in my voice. My questioning friends, family, and associates couldn’t easily accept what I was doing in leaving such a sure thing behind. Though I couldn’t see the laughing demons of doubt, I did hear them. But only for a moment did they slow my steps.

The first day of retirement was rather uneventful. It was hard to believe, but for the first time in years, I had nowhere to go and nothing to do. A momentary fear overtook me. I was afraid of growing old and dying alone.

I took my time shaving and getting dressed before heading downstairs. While listening to the morning news on the radio, I shuffled around the kitchen preparing breakfast. No earth-shattering events had taken place. The sun was rising, birds were chirping, and the neighbor’s dog, Oscar, barked his usual ‘good morning’.

I seated myself at the table and bowed my head in prayer. “Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for your goodness. I am at your service. Please give me something to do with the rest of my life. Guide me and put your words into my heart. In your precious name, I pray. Amen.”

A plateful of scrambled eggs, ham, and toast filled me up, along with four or five cups of coffee to wash it all down. That was it. Now what?

My thoughts were scattered. Would this turn out to be a day of mourning or jubilation? My heart was not yet tipping its hat. Was this going to be my new life?

I went about cleaning the kitchen, stopping for a moment to push open a window. An autumn breeze drifted in. I watched a noisy batch of rustling leaves flutter around the backyard. I felt nearly as wayward as some of them, standing slightly unsure of my direction in life. The days in front of me would be an unfolding story.

Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):

Available in digital, print, and audiobook.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Simple-Matter-Hope-Joy/dp/B0B75S9D63

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-simple-matter-of-hope-and-joy-nathan-menoian/1138739111

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ww/en/ebook/a-simple-matter-of-hope-and-joy

Audible US: https://www.audible.com/pd/A-Simple-Matter-of-Hope-and-Joy-Audiobook/B0B75PJBQC

Chirp: https://www.chirpbooks.com/audiobooks/a-simple-matter-of-hope-and-joy-by-nathan-menoian

Hoopla: https://www.hoopladigital.com/audiobook/a-simple-matter-of-hope-and-joy-nathan-menoian/16242147

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62877749

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/a-simple-matter-of-hope-and-joy-by-nathan-menoian

What makes your featured book a must-read?

A good story with the right people awaits you. Any must-read needs two things: truth and someone to share it with. Love and joy, hope and happiness together make life bearable and worth the effort.

Giveaway –

Enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card:

https://kingsumo.com/g/1yp82l1/summertime-books-bookish-event-giveaway

Open Internationally.

Runs June 23 – July 10, 2026.

Winner will be drawn on July 11, 2026.

Author Biography:

I was born in Michigan to parents of Armenian descent, and attended public schools in Dearborn and West Bloomfield. Flying kites, bike riding, and participating in neighborhood baseball games were part of my youth; with teamwork a valuable life-lesson I learned as a sprinter on my middle-school track team.

At 19, I joined the U.S. Navy. Afterward, I enrolled in college earning a Journalism Degree from Oakland University. It was there that I invited Jesus Christ into my heart, becoming a born-again Christian.

Throughout my years as a writer: from newspaper reporting, writing editorials, spending twelve years in the Adverting Department with a national discount retailer, publishing a monthly business magazine, and producing a variety of freelance work. I’ve been the recipient of many blessings, friends, and challenging opportunities.

Both of my sons are successful in their chosen careers. Michigan remains my home, and authoring this book is a blessed highlight in my writing experiences.

Title: Eanswythe’s Bones

Author: John Broughton

Genre: Historical Fiction, Archaeological Fiction, Supernatural Fiction

Book Blurb:

When archaeology PhD student Anna Marcić helps analyze the relics of Anglo-Saxon Saint Eanswythe, she doesn’t expect to become a vessel for the saint’s restless soul. Suddenly fluent in Old English, performing inexplicable miracles, and hounded by a viral world eager for a modern-day saint, Anna’s life unravels. Fame causes her engagement to break off, a mysterious voice haunts her thoughts, and a glimpse into the past reveals unsettling parallels between her life and the cloistered nun’s. Fleeing to an island abbey in search of peace, Anna must confront the question that won’t let her go: is she free, or has Saint Eanswythe claimed her forever?

My Review:

Anna Marcic is a down-to-earth archaeologist studying for her PHD – a thesis on a forgotten local saint – St Eanswythe. The saint – princess, nun, miracle-worker - is, largely, a legend now forgotten. Her relics are purported to have done miracles, but are lost...or are they? A lucky find in an old antique shop leads Anna and her tutor on a hunt for a missing reliquary, and they find a lot more than they anticipated. Eanswythe may have been dead for 800 years but that’s not going to stop her completing her life’s work…

I was hooked on this story from the get-go. The character of Anna is engaging: she is smart, down to earth (although raised a Catholic), enquiring of mind, and independent. She’s young, but driven in her field, and so when she finds herself possessed and obsessed by the medieval saint it’s a great character arc, as her life unravels. She’s a very likeable character and her journey is a rollercoaster. No one believes she is the vessel of the Saint until she heals her friend, and pays the price – hounded by the press, social media and fake priests she stands to lose her boyfriend, her friends, her job and her identity.

The prose is lyrical, almost musical, and the story captivated me. Would Eanswythe let Anna be free? Would they become one? What price would be paid?

Oh, and the twist at the end…didn’t see that one coming.

An excellent read for those looking for something that touches historical fiction, paranormal and adventure.

My Rating: 5+ stars

Buy it Now:

Universal link: https://books2read.com/u/3Lz7AX

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GGZB7FQ4

https://www.kobo.com/ebook/eanswythe-s-bones

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/246672145-eanswythe-s-bones?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=THCVNLpRg1&rank=1

Author Biography:

Award-winning author, John Broughton, was born in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, UK, in 1948, a post-war baby boomer. After attending grammar school and studying to the sound of Bob Dylan, he went to Nottingham University and studied Medieval and Modern History (Archaeology subsidiary). The subsidiary course led to one of his greatest academic achievements: tipping the soil content of a wheelbarrow from the summit of a spoil heap onto an old lady hobbling past the dig. Fortunately, they subsequently became firm friends.

He did many different jobs while living in Radcliffe-on-Trent, Leamington Spa, Glossop, the Scilly Isles, Puglia, and Calabria. These included teaching English and History, managing a Day-Care Centre, being a Director of a Trade Institute, and teaching university students English. He even tried being a fisherman and a flower-picker when he was on St Agnes Island, Scilly. He has lived in Calabria since 1992, where he settled into a long-term job, for once, at the University of Calabria teaching English. He is married to Maria Valente.

His two kids are grown up now, but he wrote books for them when they were little. Hamish Hamilton and then Thomas Nelson published six of these in England in the 1980s. They are now out of print. He’s a granddad and, happily, the parents named his grandson Dylan, John’s favourite musician. He decided to take up writing again upon retirement. He has made up for lost time by being a prolific writer (see attached list). As soon as he stopped translating and proofreading, he resumed writing in 2014. The fruit of that decision was his first historical novel, The Purple Thread. The novel is set in his favourite Anglo-Saxon period. Various literary awards followed for his historical and crime novels and can be seen on the author’s website <www.saxonquill.com>.

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Reviewed by: Alex