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Monday, September 30, 2024

ACFW Romance New Releases

 


General Contemporary



I’ll Be Home 

by Darlene L. Turner, by Sara Davison, Helena Smrcek, Melanie Stevenson —

 With chaos and confusion all around them, can they find their way home this Christmas? The people in these four stories are all searching for something—an escaped convict, a job promotion from a love interest, connection to a lost parent, answers across time. Christmas should be a time of wonder and celebration, but the obstacles each faces seem insurmountable. Perhaps they will find what they are seeking during this season of miracles and hope. Or maybe, with God’s help, they will discover that the longing of their hearts takes them to places—and people—they didn’t even know they’d been searching for. (General Contemporary, Independently Published)




Chokecherry Valley Collection

 by Jean Rezab — 

One accident. Two devastated families. Paul Richmond’s life changed in an instant when his wife and seven-year-old daughter die in a car accident. He struggles to move forward with this huge change. As his two-year sobriety anniversary approaches, he knows he’s on the edge of a relapse. He takes a sabbatical from his work as a doctor and works on his in-law’s farm to get perspective and try to come to terms with his new life. What if Paul could have the one thing he desires most? To see and speak to his daughter again. (General Contemporary, Independently Published)  


Contemporary Romance




A Match Made at Christmas

 by Amy R. Anguish, Sarah Anne Crouch, Lori DeJong, Heather Greer — 

A mischievous little boy, an interfering friend, a committee of Christmas planners, and a quartet of teenage elves play matchmakers in this fun collection of Christmas romances. (Contemporary Romance, Scrivenings Press)



The Warrior’s B&B

 by Jennie Atkins — 

Is it possible for a man to fall in love with two different women and never suspect they are the same person? (Contemporary Romance from Amazon)



The Dream of a Cowboy 

by Elsie Davis — 

Cowboys who deserve a second chance at love and happiness and the women strong enough to show them the way…Texas style! (Contemporary Romance from Sweet Romance Publishing)



One Special Christmas

 by Amanda Cabot  

 It will take a miracle to salvage her dreams, but Christmas is the season of miracles, isn’t it? (Historical Romance from ByDand Publishing)



One Starry Christmas

 by Mary A. Felkins 

A pastor with a past faces his greatest challenge. Redemption. (Contemporary Romance from Gardenia Press)




A Christmas at Hotel del Coronado

 by Kq l. L .1athleen Denly 

Her entire life, Eleanore Wainright has been molded to fit the ideal society wife in the glittering world of New York’s elite. Her father’s aspirations for her are clear: marry a man of wealth and status and secure their family’s future. But when she arrives at the Hotel del Coronado with intentions to do just that, Eleanore’s carefully laid plans are thrown into disarray when she comes face to face with Thomas Harding, the man who shattered her heart and disappeared without a trace. (Historical Romance from Wild Heart Books)

 


Beyond Shattered Dreams

 by Cynthia Roemer

After months in a Confederate prison camp, Private Will Everett boards the Sultana eager to return home and leave behind the horrors of war. One day into the voyage, the overcrowded steamboat explodes, rendering Will injured and unable to recall his identity. With only a pocket watch and the name Will E. etched inside to guide him, Will begins a relentless quest to find his forgotten past. (Historical Romance from Scrivenings Press)


Healing Hearts 

by Sherida Stewart  

Two wounded hearts. His shattered by grief, hers burdened by guilt. Will these two hurting hearts be healed by love and faith? A frontier “Beauty and the Beast” tale set in New Mexico Territory. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)


Sunday, September 29, 2024

New Releases

 


Death At The Dinner Party

 by Ellie Alexander 

When her friend Penny confesses she’s struggling to finance the restoration of the historic Wentworth farmhouse, Annie is instantly inspired. The beautiful property has stood empty since the 1970s, but rumors still swirl about the eccentric Wentworth family and their hidden fortune. It’s the perfect setting for a spooky, immersive dinner party, and the evening is a roaring success – until neighboring landowner Curtis Wright drops dead at the dining table… 


Murder Under A Cold Moon by Abigail Keam (Historical Mystery 1930s)

Mona Moon and her new husband, Robert Farley, Duke of Brynelleth are on their honeymoon at last. They are invited to a weekend party by an old friend of Robert’s family—Lady Eustacia. Mona and Robert arrive in a substantial downpour to find several other couples awaiting the appearance of their hostess. When Lady Eustacia fails to come downstairs, Mona and Robert search the manor house only to find the lady missing. It is then they discover the telephone wires have been cut and none of the cars are able to drive into town due to the storm. Format: Print, Digital, Audio


Reel Trouble

 by Karen MacInerney 

Innkeeper Natalie Barnes has her hands full helping her niece Gwen adjust to her new baby girl–and managing the arrival of her opinionated sister Bridget–when a star-studded film crew descends on the Gray Whale Inn to film a historical murder mystery. Between her troublesome sister and an inn full of demanding guests, Natalie feels like she’s barely treading water. Then she finds a nosy crewmember floating belly-up behind the inn, and Natalie realizes that the film’s fictional murder plot isn’t the only one afoot. 


Take a Book for Murder

 by Millie Mack 

Carrie and Charles Faraday are all smiles at a book party celebrating Carrie’s long-awaited mystery—at least until Carrie witnesses a nasty quarrel between two of the guests. When one of the quarrelers turns up dead the next morning, and the party hostess becomes a suspect, Carrie and Charles feel a responsibility to find the real murderer.  

Brew Unto Others

 by Sandra Balzo 

The Kingston family has always been at odds, but Maggy Thorsen hopes that the passing of Edna Mayes Kingston, mother of Sarah Kingston, her Uncommon Grounds coffeehouse partner, might unite them. Alas, few tears are shed over the self-righteous Edna, and the wake is barely over when Edna’s body is shuffled off unceremoniously for burial and Sarah’s sister Ruth is found unconscious in the family home. 


The Ghost Therapists 

by Kathy Daley 

Tess and Tony are asked to chair the annual Halloween event, which once again, will feature televised therapy sessions conducted by paranormal psychologists Tim Rivers and Tom Masters. While participating in the ghost therapy sessions is always a hoot, Tess is feeling overwhelmed and distracted this year with all the changes in her life and she wonders if she’ll be able to handle everything that is coming down the pike as efficiently as she hoped she would. 


A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Catching a Killer

 by Maxie Dara 

It’s not like it used to be. Modern-day grim reapers wear business casual, not black cloaks, and they don’t carry scythes, they work for S. C. Y. T. H. E. (Secure Collection, Yielding, and Transportation of Human Essences), where the Department of Natural Causes is the least exciting gig. And that’s how Kathy Valence likes it: boring and predictable. She has enough stress in her personal life; she’s mid-divorce, pregnant, and terrified she doesn’t have what it takes to be a good mom


Christmas at Glitter Peak Lodge 

by Kjersti Herland Johnsen 

After a traumatic climbing accident, well-known Alpinist Ingrid Berg has returned to the small Norwegian village that her family has called home for generations to take over the management of the Glitter Peak Lodge from her aging grandmother, who’s no longer up to the task. With Christmas rapidly approaching, the Glitter Peak Lodge staff are busy baking kransekake and saffron buns, decorating an enormous tree with tinsel, and enlisting guests to participate in their Santa Lucia celebration.  


The Alchemist of Brushstrokes and Brimstone

 by Gigi Pandian 

Zoe’s hard-won peaceful life is shattered when a devious thief targets her most prized possession—a vibrant portrait that’s her last connection to her long-dead brother. It’s a painting that also holds the secrets of a forgotten artist who created recipes for the most breathtaking colors ever seen. 

The Alchemist of Brushstrokes and Brimstone by Gigi Pandian (Cozy Mystery)
Zoe’s hard-won peaceful life is shattered when a devious thief targets her most prized possession—a vibrant portrait that’s her last connection to her long-dead brother. It’s a painting that also holds the secrets of a forgotten artist who created recipes for the most breathtaking colors ever seen.   


Moo River by Mollie Cox Bryan (Cozy Mystery)

Fall is always busy in the village of Shenandoah Springs, Virginia, and this year is no exception. Brynn McAlister is juggling the grand opening of a new local business and preparations for the big Harvest Festival. But when expensive koi fish vanish from Sally’s Pond Plants & Supplies, and Brynn’s mischievous bull calf, along with a close friend, are accused of the crime, she vows to find the real thief—no matter what the local police say. And if that one officer happens to have just asked her to the police ball? Well, that only complicates things.








Thursday, September 26, 2024

Convincing Derrick by Sara Blackard My Review

 


About the book 

An ex-Army operator defining a new life by rescuing abused horses. A socialite striving to escape her devious family. Will the evil that threatens them rip them apart?

Derrick Nicholson’s last fifteen years have been spent living the life his older brother never got to have.

After a tragic accident took his brother, Derrick has become obsessed with perfection. Everything has to be triple checked. He’ll never allow his lack of attention to cause disaster again. Too bad Kiki Payne, his friend and housemate, is a distraction he can’t seem to ignore.

Kiki Payne’s life has always been one of status and leisure. But the veneer shatters when she uncovers her parents’ plot to steal a child from her mother.
Now, every move Kiki makes is to separate herself from her dishonorable parents. While her friends and housemates at Stryker Security bleed honor and truth, she wonders if the corruption of her family will always taint her. Yet, the acceptance of the team gives her hope for a better future.

When a case of mistaken identity has Derrick, Kiki, and her niece abducted, will they be able to overcome insurmountable obstacles to find freedom?

If you like page-turning adventure, fascinating characters, and engaging stories of triumph, you'll love Sara Blackard's riveting inspirational security romance series.

And I thought 

There's a lot that I liked about book 6 in the Stryker Security Force series.


I had the chance to read book 1 and fell in love with these characters.


Each of the books is written as a standalone.


If this series is new to you don't worry about stepping in at any point.


The characters from the previous books make cameo appearances in Convincing Derrick


Always stepping in and making sure there is a happy ending.


There is much to like about this one. I have a soft spot for animals especially Horses and so does Derrick.


Kiki's introduction by Derrick to two abused and neglected mares spoke to me.


Seeing Author Sara Blackard's spot on discripton in the scenes in living the horses told me that her writing is spot on.


There is alot of Camando in this book. The challenges that Derrick faced when he, Kiki and little Eva are kidnapped reminded me of Rambo.


And for this reader that is a good thing.


Author Sara Blackard not only gives the reader a Suspense filled story but her characters trust in God and pray themselves through the Drama, fear and near death experiences they encounter.


I truly not only liked Convincing Derrick I loved it.


I am looking forward to the chance to read the books I've missed at #7 when it releases.


I am glad I was introduced to Sara Blackard and the Stryker Force Series.


My review will appear on retail sites and Good Reads.


I received a complimentary copy.


Buy the book 

Available on Amazon click Here 


The Series 




Monday, September 23, 2024

New Author/Book Feature

 Today I am introducing a New Author.  

About the book 

Johnny Reason notices a woman with a long red braid swaying in the middle of her back as she steps from the train before him in St. Joseph, Missouri, where his life as a Pony Express Rider will begin. But as he settles into his new life, Erin, a bold young woman seeking a husband, sets her sights on him. He soon wonders which is more dangerous--riding for the Pony Express or being pursued by Erin Byrne.


And why do thoughts of the young lady with the long red braid continue to invade his mind?


Since her mother's death, Maggie Carter has struggled to get out from under her oldest sister's thumb to live her own life. Sparks of romance stir within her from the first moment she sees the handsome Pony Express rider, Johnny, but her overbearing sister has determined that Maggie needs to find someone more fitting for her social standing.


Will Maggie win Johnny's heart, or will her sister put an end to the relationship before it starts?

And a few readers are saying . . . 

Dedra Hart review on Amazon

Love by Pony Express is well-written with a fantastic storyline that keeps you turning the pages to find out what happens next. The book is a great combination of fact and fiction, adventure and romance. What’s next for Johnny and Maggie? I loved this book and eagerly anticipate the next book in the series. 

A Kindle Customer said 

Really enjoyed this book. I would recommend to everyone. A clean action packed love story no matter your age or gender. 

Mrs. B. Amazon customer 

I am a fan of history, and a former elementary school teacher. Over the years, I taught several units on the Pony Express, so it was fun to read a novel that put flesh and bones on the facts and figures of that time. Well researched, the novel moves quickly, as did the Pony Express. Through one man's experience, Johnny Reason, you get a sense for the challenges the riders faced and how rapidly towns emerged and changed during this turbulent time. The characters are enjoyable and you'll find yourself cheering on Johnny, getting annoyed with Erin, Janie, and Charles, and worrying with Maggie.


Overall, Love by Pony Express is a nice ride!


Learn more about the author click Here




Sunday, September 22, 2024

New Releases

 


A few covers need to be added but I wasnted get these posted for those wanting to shop on Sunday

 All titles available on Amazon. 


High Style and Homicide

 by Kathleen Bridge 

Never in her wildest dreams did interior decorator Meg Barrett think she’d get the chance to team up with the iconic Jessica Sterling. A do-it-yourself dynamo, Jessica’s Dahlia Lane Farms brand has swept the country, and Meg is thrilled to discover she’s just as charming and gracious in person as she is on TV. But tragedy strikes when her beloved brother is killed in a hit-and-run, and when the evidence points to foul play, Meg vows to help Jessica by investigating. 



Six Stunning Sirens

 by Lynn Cahoon 

In a triumph for Mia’s catering business and cooking school, Mia’s Morsels is chosen to host a fall festival event in their Idaho mountain town—which means managing a bunch of stage moms and their social-media obsessed daughters as they get ready for the big beauty contest. There’s a lot riding on the results of the Harvest Moon Festival—it’s where the local coven leader is chosen for the following year. 





The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco 

by Michelle Chouinard 

The chill of a San Francisco summer can be deadly. No one knows this better than Capri Sanzio, who makes her living giving serial killer tours of the city. Capri has been interested in the topic since she was a kid, when she discovered she’s the granddaughter of serial killer William ‘Overkill Bill’ Sanzio. She’s always believed in his innocence, though she’s never taken the leap to fully dive into the case. 



Grounds for Murder

 by Betty Ternier Daniels 

Jeannie is in trouble. After the loss of her husband, everyone around her is pressuring her to leave her precious farm, including an incredibly persistent realtor who won’t name her client. But when that realtor ends up dead, killed by mistake when she borrows Jeannie’s car, it becomes clear that her client won’t take no for an answer. Who wants Jeannie’s land so badly that they are willing to kill her for it? And why her farm when there are plenty around her for sale? To find the answer, Jeannie joins forces with off-duty cop Derek and finds refuge with the young back-to-the-land tenants who rent a section of her farm.  




A Slay Ride Together With You

 by Vicki Delany 

Rudolph, New York, shop owner Merry Wilkinson’s best friend Vicky Casey is newly engaged to Chef Mark Grosse and is moving into the historic Cole House–a home surrounded by drama, intrigue, and a possible haunting that is in desperate need of renovation. The wedding is just three weeks away, but all is not bliss for the newly engaged couple as estranged relatives of the late owner fight over her will. Then, late one night, Vicky and Merry come across a dead body in the garden of Cole House–and Mark is the one standing over the corpse. 



Murder In An Italian Café

 by Michael Falco 

Though she still misses her late husband, Carlo, Bria couldn’t be happier that their dream bed and breakfast, Bella Bella, is humming along nicely. Of course, even on the stunning Amalfi Coast, things seldom run smoothly. Like Bria’s mother and mother-in-law dueling over a suitable communion site for Bria’s eight-year-old son Marco. Bria’s also juggling the demands of the famous Chef Lugo, his producer, Massimo, and Pippa, a member of the production crew who is staying at Bella Bella for a nice, long-term stay . . .



A Killer Clue 

by Victoria Gilbert 

When Eloise Anderson, the owner of an antiquarian bookshop, arrives at the grand Aircroft estate to ask retired librarian Jane Hunter and eccentric collector Cameron Clewe for help, Jane and Cam expect a bookish inquiry. But the bookseller has a different sort of assistance in mind—clearing her mother’s name of a murder Eloise is convinced she didn’t commit. 




Murder at a Scottish Christmas 

by Traci Hall 

All Paislee wants for Christmas is for her new home to be finished, but it looks like she’ll have to wait for New Year’s Day. Whether the paint on the walls has dried or not, she’ll host a feast for her twelve-year-old son Brody, Grandpa, their black Scottish terrier Wallace, and friends—including police station receptionist Amelia Henry and her brother McCormac, whose black locks can fulfill the Scottish first-footer tradition that a tall, dark-haired man should be the first person to enter your home on New Year’s to bring good luck. 




Death of a Gingerbread Man

 by Lee Hollis 

With the holiday season in full swing, food and cocktails columnist and restauranteur Hayley Powell has lots to check off her last-minute to-do list. Not included is the sudden arrival of her father, who hasn’t been in the picture since she believed in Santa Claus. Dwight Jordan’s presence in Bar Harbor might just be the unwanted gift that keeps on giving—especially after he becomes the top suspect in a case of yuletide murder . . 



Shear Terror

 by Dorothy Howell 

Abbey’s life in Hideaway Grove is comfortable, and she’s grateful for her small sewing studio in the back room of her aunt’s bakery, but she’s feeling stuck. Her plan to expand her custom tote bag business by selling to a chain of gift shops has hit a snag. Making enough totes to distribute to all the stores requires large-scale production—which requires money Abbey doesn’t have. To make ends meet, she takes a part-time job at the town’s bustling Visitor Center 


 


Mrs. Claus and the Nightmare Before New Year’s

 by Liz Ireland 

April Claus is looking forward to relaxing with her hubby, Nick (aka THE Santa Claus), in the week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. But just after Santa departs for his deliveries, an elf pulls into Santaland with three people he found lost in the frozen wilderness. The survivors of a scientific expedition are injured, but their presence endangers the future of Santaland. So, while the strangers recuperate at the infirmary, April convinces Christmastown to pull off its grandest, most impossible, most magical feat yet . . . pretend to be normal! 




Silent Nights Are Murder 

by Libby Klein (Cozy 

Ever since Thanksgiving, when an engagement ring in a velvet box—and no gift tag—was left behind, Poppy and her pals have been left with an unsolved mystery. But at least this mystery isn’t the kind that involves murder. That all changes when the body of a fish supplier is discovered in the kitchen of her ex’s restaurant—and he’s frozen, not fresh. 




Caught on Camera

 by Kara Lacey 

It’s been more than a year since the sudden death of her husband, and photographer Bobbie Brooks wants nothing more than to escape her grief. Fleeing her life in the city, she seeks a fresh start in the serenity of the Green Mountains. But Bobbie’s new beginning comes to a halt when she finds a member of her camera club dead beneath the village’s idyllic covered bridge. Tragic accident or something sinister? With a keen photographer’s eye, Bobbie suspects murder. 


Bell, Book and Corpses by T.C. LoTempio (Cozy Mystery)

Waincroft Manor has long been tied to rumors of witchcraft and fatal curses, and to Nora Charles, that makes it the perfect place for a Halloween fundraiser. But her first trip to the deserted old mansion turns out to be truly ghoulish when she discovers a dead body. What’s more, the corpse is laid out in a coffin—with two bite marks on its neck. Then the autopsy comes back showing that the body was drained of blood, and there’s no stopping the local gossip from whispering the word vampire to anyone who will listen.  


The Glass Bottom Hoax by Diane Vallere (Cozy Mystery)

Madison Night has a reputation for excellence in mid-century modern decorating, but when a covert opportunity to expose a crime ring on a cruise ship comes her way, she goes undercover. The job will test her acting skills as much as her investigative prowess: she’s booked as a Doris Day impersonator and police captain Tex Allen is posing as her manager husband. But roleplay and reality blur when the body of the entertainment director is found on the lido deck sometime between shuffleboard and sunset. Format: Print, Digital


Pretty Lentil Liars by Cathy Wiley (Cozy Mystery)

The quaint town of Holland, Washington, is all abuzz with excitement for its third annual lentil festival. Among the crowd is Jackie Norwood, a former celebrity chef turned food festival judge. Jackie’s palate is ready to be delighted by the town’s culinary offerings, but she quickly discovers that Holland’s lentil dishes come with a side of secrets and lies. 


Murder on the Court by Barbara Barrett (Cozy Mystery)

No good deed goes unpunished, as television star Marla Dane learns the hard way. The recently fired TV detective, trying to figure out her next move at her sister’s Minnesota condo, reluctantly agrees to sub as Water Girl at a weekend pickleball match. Which makes her the first suspect of many when the team captain turns up dead. Format: Digital (Print to follow)


Murder in the Hidden Cargo Hold by Denise Jaden (Cozy Mystery) *first book in a new series*

Olivia Ocean’s dream job aboard the Moonlit Majesty turns into a nightmare when she witnesses an attempt to dispose of a helpless kitten at sea. Rescuing the kitty entails a chase, which leads her to discovering a dead body! Armed with her camera and newfound feline friend, Olivia must navigate the ship’s dark corners, pounce on the clues, assist the swoon-worthy security manager, and capture the killer before the ship reaches its final destination. Format: Digital


Panic in the Panhandle by J.C. Kenney (Cozy Mystery) *first book in a new series*

In the sleepy panhandle of Florida, Benjamin “Elmo” Simpson has carved out a comfortable niche as the go-to wild animal removal specialist. Life is sweet until a peculiar service request takes him to a local condo and an unexpected scene. Retired lawyer Fran Cohen is missing and in his apartment is a well-fed alligator that appears to have enjoyed a nice breakfast with…or rather, of 


Moo River by Mollie Cox Bryan (Cozy Mystery)

Fall is always busy in the village of Shenandoah Springs, Virginia, and this year is no exception. Brynn McAlister is juggling the grand opening of a new local business and preparations for the big Harvest Festival. But when expensive koi fish vanish from Sally’s Pond Plants & Supplies, and Brynn’s mischievous bull calf, along with a close friend, are accused of the crime, she vows to find the real thief—no matter what the local police say. And if that one officer happens to have just asked her to the police ball? Well, that only complicates things.






Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Todays You Tube Book

 



https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Last-Drop-Mystery-Killer-ebook/dp/B083JR5Q5W/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=3IM622MRH4JMH&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.y5UwzBSyz9t-2WF8_le3tydhb3Mo6DD5yBHnNq_DxzPGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.99Spcp2NeQBXNRFLdZ7O69sgQcks-H1lBA9I3z2Hr74&dib_tag=se&keywords=dead+to+the+last+drop+tonya+kappes&qid=1726675274&sprefix=%2Caps%2C240&sr=8-1

Sunday, September 15, 2024

Cozy New Releases







Poison and Pudding

 by Kat Bellemore 
Starlight Ridge’s first annual surfing competition is right around the corner when retired sisters, Jo and Dorothy Darby, finally get settled into their new bakery. Not willing to miss out on the fun, they, along with the rest of the town, close up shop for the day to support their local surfing champion, Isaac Larson. Foam fingers included. But when Isaac’s arch-rival is flung off his board and never resurfaces, the competition grinds to a halt. Upon recovering the body, the local doctor discovers the fall was no accident. The man has been murdered. And all eyes are on Isaac as the culprit. 



The Art of Murder

 by Sarah Osborne 

Mabel Aphrodite Brown looks forward to a much-anticipated week in Québec with her family and closest friends, Lurleen and Danny. Danny has found the perfect spot with a baker he knows in a small French-speaking village along the Saint Lawrence River. Ditie can get bread-baking tips from the baker while Lurleen and the rest of the family take French lessons from the baker’s wife. Danny has made all the arrangements. But you know what they say about best-laid plans! 


Meditation and Mischief 

by Elizabeth Pantley 
This book club does more than read their books – they are absorbed into them to become the amateur sleuths! In order to leave the book, they must solve the mystery and reach The End. In this journey they travel to The Golden Island Wellness Retreat for yoga, meditation, workshops, and spa treatments. They’ll bond with nature and improve their spiritual wellbeing. They’ll find their inner peace – and a dead body, of course. 



Revenge at the Rodeo 

by Jamie L. Adams 
Lily Cranston is still at the helm of Calico Rock Mine and Ghost Town, enjoying its success as Grady, California’s premier tourist attraction. The town is abuzz with excitement as the annual rodeo approaches, promising thrills and entertainment for all. However, the festivities take a dark turn when one of the rodeo clowns is found dead, casting a pall over the  



The Sullivan’s Island Supper Club 

by Susan M. Boyer 
Welcome to Sullivan’s Island, an idyllic beachside town just outside Charleston, South Carolina. This serene, unspoiled sanctuary offers tourists a picturesque taste of the lush Lowcountry while the locals enjoy a laid-back, small-town lifestyle. Amidst an eclectic mix of newcomers and natives, lifelong resident and social maven Tallulah Wentworth’s legendary monthly dinners have united an unlikely group of women into the very best of friends. 


Killer Under Contract 

by Catherine Bruns
With the real estate world thriving and her daughter’s wedding around the corner, Cindy York is busier than ever. The happy couple is searching for the home of their dreams and Cindy is only too happy to help. When her daughter locates her dream home, Cindy is less than thrilled to discover that the listing agent is Hillary Ryder, a condescending snob who once dated Cindy’s husband before they were married. For her daughter’s sake, Cindy agrees to make a fresh start. But when she arrives for the listing appointment and finds Hillary’s lifeless body, she realizes that her troubles are just beginning.  



Autumn Embers 

by Tina deBellegarde 

Bianca St. Denis travels to Kyoto to return a priceless artifact recovered in Batavia-on-Hudson during last summer’s flood. It’s late October, and the city of 2,000 shrines is in full autumn splendor. While she’s in Japan’s ancient capital, Bianca visits with her son, a student at Kyoto University. Ian shows her the sights and introduces her to his circle of friends—his chosen family. 



A Holiday for Homicide 

by Devon Delaney 

Despite being a seasoned competitor, nothing could have prepared Sherry Oliveri for the thrill of being chosen for a three-day cooking challenge on national television. She’s dying to tell her friends, but she and everyone else involved in the contest has been sworn to secrecy until it airs. Still, that’s not stopping someone from penning cryptic notes about the show for the whole town to read, which has the production crew on edge—right up until one of them is found dead. 



We Solve Murders 

by Richard Osman 

Steve Wheeler is enjoying retired life. He still does the odd bit of investigation work, but he prefers his familiar routines: the pub quiz, his favorite bench, his cat waiting for him at home. His days of adventure are over. Adrenaline is daughter-in-law Amy’s job now. Amy Wheeler thinks adrenaline is good for the soul. Working in private security, every day is dangerous. 




Thursday, September 12, 2024

A Bride For Harley by Heidi Grey McGill feat New Spainish Version

 A7thor Heidi Grey McGill shares the story behind translating her book into Spainish 


I originally wrote A Bride for Harley because I’ve always been passionate about sharing Jesus. Loretta, the wayward child, has tough choices in this coming-of-age historical fiction. God redeems her defiant and disobedient ways and brings her to a full life of joy and peace. We all need a reminder of God’s grace.  

But my heart extends beyond the typical reader and leans heavily toward those who speak a language other than mine. As the retired founder and director of an English as a Second Language (ESL) ministry, I interacted with hundreds of students eager to learn English. I quickly learned that sharing Jesus with them often meant using simple actions or words.

“He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.'” Mark 16:15 (NIV)

Our mission was to provide every student with a Bible in their native language. However, I realized that understanding and applying God’s Word to our daily lives is greatly enhanced when we see it lived out in a story. This unique approach led me to create La Elegida para Harley, a book that brings Scripture to life and shows how faith can be woven into the fabric of our everyday experiences.  

Language (ESL) ministry, I interacted with hundreds of students eager to learn English. I quickly learned that sharing Jesus with them often meant using simple actions or words.

“He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.'” Mark 16:15 (NIV) 

One of my former advanced-level ESL students, Katia, recently translated A Bride for Harley into Spanish. This has allowed me to reach even more people with the message of God’s redeeming love, making it accessible to Spanish-speaking individuals who can benefit from reading Christian fiction and seeing Scripture in action.

Who do you know who may benefit from hearing the message of salvation and redemption as lived out through the lives of my characters? Would you consider sharing this link or purchasing a copy to gift to them?  

Or, if you know missionaries or laymen in Mexico and Latin America, you can send them this link: La Elegida para Harley – Mexico Amazon Link

Thank you for walking beside me in ministry. 

Available on Amazon click Here 

Purchase the English version Here 

Visit the author click Here



Monday, September 9, 2024

Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder by Valerie Burns MY Review

 

About the book 
Snappy dialogue, a well-drawn supporting cast and an irresistible canine companion all add delicious flavor. Gulp this book down or savor it, but consuming it will guarantee a sustained sugar high.”– The New York Times Book Review

In a brand-new culinary cozy series with a fresh edge and a delightful small-town setting, the acclaimed author introduces Maddy Montgomery, a social media expert who’s #StartingOver in small town Michigan after inheriting her great-aunt’s bakery…and a 200-pound English Mastiff named Baby.

A CrimeReads Most Anticipated Book Of 2022

When Maddy Montgomery’s groom is a no-show to their livestream wedding, it’s a disaster that no amount of filtering can fix. But a surprise inheritance offers a chance to regroup and rebrand—as long as Maddy is willing to live in her late, great-aunt Octavia’s house in New Bison, Michigan, for a year, running her bakery and caring for a 250-pound English mastiff named Baby.
 
Maddy doesn’t bake, and her Louboutins aren’t made for walking giant dogs around Lake Michigan, but the locals are friendly and the scenery is beautiful. With help from her aunt’s loyal friends, aka the Baker Street Irregulars, Maddy feels ready to tackle any challenge, including Octavia’s award-winning cake recipes. That is, until New Bison’s mayor is fatally stabbed, and Maddy’s fingerprints are found on the knife . . .
 
Something strange is going on in New Bison. It seems Aunt Octavia had her suspicions, too. But Maddy’s going to need a whole lot more than a trending hashtag to save her reputation—and her life.

“Everyone is a suspect in Valerie Burns’s entertaining new mystery, filled with surprising twists, suspicious characters and a mastiff named Baby who will win your heart. Top that off with humor and delicious recipes and you have a delight of a cozy.” —Valerie Wilson Wesley, author of A Fatal Glow

And I thought . . .

I recently began listening to Audio books on You Tube. 

I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed Valerie Burns  Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder.

From the first line I was hooked. 

Madison the main character made you giggle and laugh.  

Madilene starts out as a priviledged and a bit entitled 'Rich Girl'.  I pictured The Legally Blond movie which in itself is a hoot because Madison is a woman of color. 

The story moved fast and I didn't have time 'Not to like' Madison. 

One thing I did like was the plot.  It was refreshing that the main character wasn't broke amd in desperate need of the inheritance she just received. 

What Madison did need was to 'find' herself. 

And she did as she learned to Bake and Manage her new business left to her by her Great Aunt Octavia. 

She used her hobby talent in Social Media to grow her new business after a murder and fire in her bakery almost caused the Bakery to close.  I was inspired not only with Madison' Savvy but also the Savvy of Aunt Octavia.  

She knew something was amiss and left clues for Monica. 

I enjoyed all the sub characters.  Giving a bit of a spoiler but I am glad the Author let Madison and Michael the vet get together and not string us along with an on again off again relationship through several books. 

I am looking forward to reading the remaining books in the series.  

I am waiting to see what trouble Madison manages to get into and out of. 

And I am curious if the priest who was in the first scene plays into any future story lines.  

And if the Admiral Madisons father joins the cast. 

I have to give 5 stars.

My review will appear on Good Reads.

I am unable to post on Amazon. 

I will feature also on  FB and Instagram. 




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