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Review – Bowled Over Americano by Carolyn Arnold #NetGalley @Carolyn_Arnold #BowledOverAmericano

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Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Bowled Over Americano by Carolyn Arnold is a departure from her normal writing of police procedurals and thrillers, veering off into the world of cozies, and I am eager to see how she does. The cover looks fun…sooo….let’s go bowling.

Sara Cain is a detective by day and a writer by night. An evening run has her meeting Magnum, a beagle, who leads her to his murdered owner. Cliff Cunningham was a championship bowler. Douche Detective Davenport is on the case. He is incompetent, choosing the easy way out to close his cases. She is drawn into the case, when her mother makes the request.

Sara and Sean are partners….and that’s all. They both acknowledge their attraction, but she won’t let it go any further. No mingling in the work place.

Sean is a kind and compassionate person and a kindness given reaps Sean more than he ever could have imagined. He is so romantic, so sweet. How has he not been snatched up yet? Sara better be careful.

Carolyn Arnold handles her foray into cozy mysteries with the same panache as her police procedurals and thrillers. The writing flows smoothly, leading me from page to page, devouring the words, becoming involved with the richly developed characters, walking with them step by step to the very end…enjoying every minute of it.

I am eager to see what adventure comes next for Sara and Sean.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Bowled Over Americano by Carolyn Arnold.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Sara Cain isn’t your typical thirty-two-year-old woman. Murder detective by day, writer and… sleuth by night? Just as long as there’s enough coffee to keep her going…

When her first novel gives her trouble, Sara goes for a walk to clear her writer’s block and ends up stumbling right into a real-life murder mystery. Magnum, an adventurous beagle, comes running off leash toward her in the local park, and she returns him home only to find his master dead on the entry floor.

Cliff Cunningham was a championship bowler with a mean streak and a temper, and police are pegging his Golden Pin bowling trophy as the murder weapon. While any number of people could have clocked a strike by knocking him on the noggin, the prime suspect is a friend of Sara’s mother—and she expects Sara to prove the woman’s innocence. A tall order, as the case isn’t officially hers and belongs to a rival detective.

But a promise is a promise, and Sara soon finds herself sleuthing undercover—and off the clock—in a world of polyester shirts and rental shoes. It’s not all bad, though, as she’s taking her friend and partner Sean McKinley along for the ride. They are better together than they’ve ever been split, and they’re not amateurs at finding killers.

Despite being up against small-town hijinks and colorful characters who threaten to roll their efforts into the gutter, they are having fun. That is, until they get close to the killer and a dangerous twist puts their lives at risk.

A completely addictive caper full of twists that offers up a serving of murder, a dollop of romance, and a dash of humor. This perfect blend of robust and sweet is bound to hit the spot with readers who are fans of Verity Bright, Tonya Kappes, and Agatha Frost.

ABOUT CAROLYN ARNOLD

CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has several continuing fiction series and has many published books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from police procedurals, hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures. Her crime fiction series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining. This led to her adopting the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.

Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.

She currently lives near London, Ontario, Canada with her husband and two beagles.

MY REVIEWS FOR CAROLYN ARNOLD

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Giveaway – No Small Murder by Lena Gregory @dollycas LenaGregory03

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No Small Murder: A Mini-Meadows Mystery by Lena Gregory

About No Small Murder

No Small Murder: A Mini-Meadows Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Florida
Level Best Books (February 21, 2023)
Number of Pages 215
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BHX5L1J4

Mini Meadows, a Tiny Home community in rural Central Florida, is home to Emma Wells, a downsize specialist who left her daddy’s mansion and her inheritance behind in favor of a simpler, more peaceful life in a tiny home that was once two shipping containers. But when she opens a shipping container and discovers her dead client sitting in a rocking chair, neatly wrapped and labeled, and two of her friends end up on the suspect list, Emma pitches in to help find the killer. With plenty of clues to unpack, Emma narrows down the suspect list, but as she begins to close in on the culprit, she realizes if she’s not careful she could end up in a box of her own.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Tiny houses are all the rage these days and a small town in Central Florida is embracing the concept mightily. Mini Meadows is a Tiny Home community with new residents and businesses flocking to the town at a rapid pace. Emma Wells had a major disagreement with her father and she left his mansion and money behind for a tiny home in Mini-Meadows. She has also become a downsizing specialist to help people make the transition from their large houses of several thousand square feet to smaller or tiny homes in the 500 square feet range.

Her client, Mr. Aldridge was having his train-inspired mini home placed in Mini Meadows and his and his wife’s belonging delivered. Mr. Aldridge has been a difficult person to work with so Emma is anxious for his move to go smoothly. When she arrives to help unload his furnishings from the trailer she sees something strange in a rocking chair wrapped in plastic. As she gets closer she sees the new homeowner’s face. Broderick Aldridge no longer needed his unique tiny house and she needed to call the police.

Surprised to learn two of her friends are on the suspect list Emma decides to do a little investigating of her own. But if she’s not careful she could be moving to a much smaller tiny home six feet underground.

Oh, I love the theme of this new cozy series! There have been many times I thought I could be happy in a tiny house. Then my family points out all the stuff I have that I just can’t part with, like my books, LOL.

Ms. Gregory introduces some dynamic characters in this series’ debut. Emma Wells’ father disinherited her so she moved out of his huge home into her tiny one and has been quite happy. I love her energy and positive attitude. Her Granny Rose was also living with her father and missed Emma greatly after she moved out. She gave her son an ultimatum and moved out. She has now moved into Emma’s tiny house too. It is a bit cramped but Emma had missed her Granny Rose as well so vowed to make it work. Granny Rose is not your typical granny. She drives a shiny red corvette and is embracing a whole new self. Wearing frayed jeans, camisoles, high-top sneakers, gold chains, and earrings, she shocks Emma. This is not the grandma she grew up with. Granny also grabs the attention of the elderly gentleman that just moved in across the street from Emma. Oh my gosh, she is a delight and a spitfire and so much fun. Emma has two close girlfriends, Jade and Chloe. Chloe runs Pocket Books and Jade owns Little Bits Consignment and Thrift Shop. We also meet Libby who owns the local diner. All great places to hear local gossip. I can’t forget that Emma has an orange tabby named Ginger and it isn’t long before a Great Dane named Butch joins the family. All these characters are nicely crafted and continue to evolve over the course of the story.

There was something off about the deceased Broderick Aldridge from the start so there were clearly a couple of suspects right away but as the story continued several more were added to the list. With the many twists and turns it was almost impossible to eliminate any of them. I loved following along with Emma as she tried to unpack each clue and make it fit into the puzzle before her. The murderer was on my list but I was really iffy about the motive. An epic final twist revealed all and set up a very dramatic ending.

No Small Murder was a wonderfully entertaining read. A fresh theme, fun characters, and a rousing mystery have set this series off to a fantastic start. I am excited for this series to continue. We have just scratched the surface of what I hope will be a long-running series.

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

About Lena Gregory

Lena Gregory grew up in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, but she recently traded in cold, damp, gray winters for the warmth and sunshine of Central Florida, where she now lives with her husband, three kids, son-in-law, and four dogs. Her hobbies include spending time with family, reading, and walking. Her love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn’t sleep through the night. She works full-time as a writer and a freelance editor and is a member of Sisters in Crime.

Author Links
Newsletter    Website    Facebook    Facebook Fan Page    Twitter    Goodreads    Pinterest

Purchase Links – Amazon

Also by Lena Gregory

Great Escape Praise for No Small Murder by Lena Gregory 

Great characters and an intriguing mystery make NO SMALL MURDER a delightful start to a new series.
~Cozy Up With Kathy

The characters are well-rounded and well-developed. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well-crafted cozy mystery. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
~ MJB Reviewers

I am a huge fan of pretty much anything Lena Gregory writes. So I was more than eager to get my hands on the start of a new series. The setting is absolutely adorable! A “Tiny House Community” is a great choice for cozy fans.
~Books a Plenty Book Reviews

What a fun setting for this new cozy series, a tiny home community. I love looking at tiny homes; just not 100% sure I could live in one. If I did, I would need someone like Emma to help me downsize my current home to a new one. I think this is going to be a fun new series, and I look forward to upcoming books.
~Story Book Reviews

No Small Murder is a great book. The story grabbed my attention and kept me engaged. The story was fun, exciting, suspenseful, and full of twists and turns. Fun characters with a fantastic whodunit made this cozy mystery top-notch. It checked all my cozy boxes!
~Sapphyria’s Books

TOUR PARTICIPANTS – Please visit all the stops. 
February 21 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST
February 21 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
February 22 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
February 22 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
February 23 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
February 23 – Diane Reviews Books – SPOTLIGHT
February 24 – Cozy Up WIth Kathy  REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
February 24 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT
February 25 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
February 25 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW
February 26 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
February 26 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW
February 27 – I’m Into Books – SPOTLIGHT
February 27 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – SPOTLIGHT, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY
February 28 – Jane Reads – CHARACTER GUEST POST
February 28 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY
March 1 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
March 1 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW
March 2 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
March 2 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT
March 2 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW
March 3 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW
March 3 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
March 4 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
March 5 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT
March 6 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

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Giveaway – DAWGS: A True Story of Lost Animals and the Kids Who Rescued Them by Diane Trull with Meredith Wargo @ireadbooktours

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GUEST POST

8 Reasons to Adopt a Senior Pet

There’s no denying that puppies and kittens are ridiculously cute. But training one of these adorable fluffs of fur can take a lot of time and energy. If you’re thinking about adding a pet to your family, consider adopting a senior animal.

While some adopters might express concern about the life-span issue when adopting a senior pet, the good news is that animals are living longer, higher-quality lives. But even with today’s advances in veterinary medicine and improved nutrition, there’s no way to determine how long our pets will live. What is known, though, is that senior pets still have a lot of love to give and are grateful for a second chance.

If you’re still unsure about adopting a senior animal, consider these benefits:

  • Senior pets generally have had some training, both in obedience and house manners.
  • Senior pets are less destructive.
  • Older dogs have been socialized and know what it takes to be part of a pack.
  • Senior pets are great company for older or less active people.
  • Older cats will be less rambunctious than kittens, who are frequently active, curious and into everything.
  • Senior animals are a known commodity, so you know what you’re getting in terms of size, shape, and personality.
  • Senior dogs are instant companions, ready to go on a long walk or to be the snuggle buddy or workout partner you need from the get-go.
  • Adopting an older pet makes a statement about compassion and the value of all life at all ages.

Book Details:

Book Title:  DAWGS: A True Story of Lost Animals and the Kids Who Rescued Them by Diane Trull with Meredith Wargo
Category:  Adult Non-Fiction (18+),  256 pages
Genre: Narrative Non-Fiction 
Publisher:  Citadel Press – Kensington Publishing Corp.  
Release date:  March 2020
Content Rating: This non-fiction book is rated PG. There is one scene in which the shelter was broken into and several puppies were killed. The author does not go into any gory details, but this information may trigger some sensitive readers. 



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The Love of Dogs for Their Humans – Devoted by Dean Koontz @deankoontz

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Dean Koontz’s love of dogs shines through in Devoted!

I grabbed this book through Kindle Unlimited. I signed up for the special two months free some time ago.

Devoted

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Woo Hoo! Another fabulous read from Dean Koontz that shows his love for dogs, especially Golden Retrievers.

There is so much going on in Devoted that I frantically turned the pages, worried for the new friends I have made. Dean Koontz is a master storyteller and I was so engrossed in the story I read until the wee hours of the morning, having to know who and how many will die. He takes a story that I think could be predictable and twists and turns it, leaving my head spinning.

I love that he gave an autistic character, Woody is an eleven year old child whose father died and makes him and his mother a target of more than the evil villains trying to hide what they have done, the starring role.

His ability to make the dogs in his stories seem human gives me so many good feelings and he takes them to a level that I don’t think I could ever dream up myself.

I highly recommend Devoted by Dean Koontz.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

From Dean Koontz, the international bestselling master of suspense, comes an epic thriller about a terrifying killer and the singular compassion it will take to defeat him.

Woody Bookman hasn’t spoken a word in his eleven years of life. Not when his father died in a freak accident. Not when his mother, Megan, tells him she loves him. For Megan, keeping her boy safe and happy is what matters. But Woody believes a monstrous evil was behind his father’s death and now threatens him and his mother. And he’s not alone in his thoughts. An ally unknown to him is listening.

A uniquely gifted dog with a heart as golden as his breed, Kipp is devoted beyond reason to people. When he hears the boy who communicates like he does, without speaking, Kipp knows he needs to find him before it’s too late.

Woody’s fearful suspicions are taking shape. A man driven by a malicious evil has set a depraved plan into motion. And he’s coming after Woody and his mother. The reasons are primal. His powers are growing. And he’s not alone. Only a force greater than evil can stop what’s coming next.

ABOUT DEAN KOONTZ

Acknowledged as “America’s most popular suspense novelist” (Rolling Stone) and as one of today’s most celebrated and successful writers, Dean Ray Koontz has earned the devotion of millions of readers around the world and the praise of critics everywhere for tales of character, mystery, and adventure that strike to the core of what it means to be human.

Dean R. Koontz has also published under the names Leigh Nichols, Brian Coffey, David Axton, Owen West, Deanna Dwyer and Aaron Wolfe.

Dean, the author of many #1 New York Times bestsellers, lives in Southern California with his wife, Gerda, their golden retriever, Elsa, and the enduring spirit of their goldens, Trixie and Anna.

Website

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Giveaway – Love Is For The Dogs by Annee Jones @GoddessFish

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Love is for the Dogs by Annee Jones

GENRE:   Clean contemporary romance

BLURB

A coveted award…a missing Maltese…and a cheating ex… Can Trisha Campbell survive this year’s dog show competition in Last Chance Beach, much less walk away without a broken heart?

If there’s one thing vet tech Trisha Campbell knows, it’s dogs. Men, however, not so much. Especially ever since catching her ex-boyfriend, Miami P.D. Landon Prescott, kissing her arch-nemesis, Blythe Baker, at last year’s dog show after Blythe’s pup Princess took home the grand prize. Needless to say, Trisha’s not looking forward to seeing either of them again at this year’s competition in Last Chance Beach, even if her beloved Maltese, Chloe, is a front-runner for the coveted trophy.

Soon after arriving on the island for the week-long event, Princess goes missing and everyone fingers Trisha as the dog-napper since her pooch is Princess’ main opponent. With not only the prize money but also her reputation at stake, Trisha’s willing to join forces with none other than her cheating ex. Can she and Landon figure out a way to work together to catch the culprit and find the missing Maltese before the whole competition goes straight to the dogs? And what happens when they find themselves alone together at last?

EXCERPT

“I can’t believe this!” Trisha said as Landon steered her back toward the boardwalk. “Am I really a suspect?”

“No,” he said firmly. “I know you, Trisha. You love animals and you believe in fairness. I know you’d never steal, much less harm, Blythe’s dog. I’m sure your name will be cleared officially once Graham has a chance to touch base with Mrs. Butterworth.”

“Thank you,” she said, relieved. “At least you believe me.”

“Of course,” he said. “Always.”

They walked a little while in silence, processing the turn of events.

“So, I guess you’ve probably figured out that Blythe and I are not together?” Landon asked, breaking the silence.

Trisha nodded. “Yes, I got that,” she said. “But I still don’t want to talk about what happened last year.”

He blew out a breath of frustration. “I really wish you’d let me explain.”

“Look, I’m suddenly being investigated as a dog-napper!” she cried, eyes filling with tears. “I’m a veterinary technician! This is my reputation! And you know the rumor mill – people are going to suspect that I had something to do with this no matter what until Princess gets found. This could jeopardize my career!”

“Okay, okay, you win,” Landon said. “I’m sorry. You’re right, finding Blythe’s dog and clearing your name is the main priority right now. Please say you’ll least let me help?” His dark eyes were pleading. How could she resist?

“I think I need all the help I can get right now,” she said. “Even from you.”

He smiled in response. “You won’t regret this,” he said.

But the pull in her heart told her she already did. 

AUTHOR Bio and Links

Author Annee Jones loves to write all things romance, fantasy, cozy mystery, & more. She is passionate about writing stories where dreams come true, and love wins in the end!

Professionally, Annee works as a disability counselor where she helps her clients navigate through complex medical and legal systems while rediscovering their wholeness in Spirit.

Subscribe to Annee’s newsletter to stay up to date on new releases, sneak peeks, author parties, and exclusive giveaways:         https://www.anneejones.com/newsletter

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You can also connect with Annee on her FB author page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAnneeJones

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Rescued Release Day Blitz @CaffeinatedPR

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Today we are excited to share the release of Rescued. This anthology from New York Times and USA bestselling authors delivers a collection of contemporary romances filled with heat, heart and dog treats! The authors have rescue dogs and came together because of their beloved pups. They are donating release day sales to Roxanne St. Claire’s rescue charity.   

Rescued Release Day!!



Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Apple

What happens when 10 dog-loving romance authors get together and brainstorm? Why, books with rescue dogs, sexy heroes, dirty talking, and lots of dog treats, of course.

From Cynthia D’Alba – Hot Assets– A Dallas socialite must team up with a cop to save her rescued dog from a determined dognapper
From Donna Alward – Doggie on her Doorstep When Emily’s flighty cousin leaves her dog on Em’s doorstep, she enlists the help of the sexy grouch next door.
From Jenna Bayley-Burke – The Guy Next Door –Fourth grade teacher has the naughtiest dog, the punniest jokes, and perfect washboard abs…and now an angry neighbor with a busted fence thanks to his dog.
From Mandy Harbin– Rescuing Orion – When undercover FBI agents foster a dog to investigate a money launderer, ignoring their attraction becomes difficult with playing house with a cute pooch.
From Cindy Kirk – For the Love of Ivy – A city girl and the dog she rescues turns a sexy rancher’s life upside down
From Melissa Schroeder – Last Love – A single mom tries to avoid her one-night stand, but her dog, Houdini, keeps leading her to his door.
From Lexxie Couper – Who’s A Good Boy? – After meeting a feisty dog trainer and a 3-legged dog, the future PM of Australia questions his future and his life.
From Shana Gray – Dogs on A Plane- A heavy snow strands a bush pilot and socialite with a pack of love hungry pups. Who saves who?
From Laura Trentham –Nobody’s Hero – An ex-con tries to persuade an abandoned puppy and an innocent romance author he’s nobody’s hero.
From Tamlyn Black – Nobody But You – A grumpy cowboy has his world upended by his sister’s new BFF and the stray dog she brings to his door

Teaser from A Dog on Her Doorstep

 

Emily Janssen stood at the bottom of her driveway and stared at her front step. Even from fifty feet away, she could see that the black and-brown lump blocking her front door was a dog.

A big dog.

A big, hairy dog.

She wasn’t afraid of dogs, though she always took care when approaching one she didn’t know. That was just responsible. She was just… confused. Why on earth would a dog choose her front step? There was nothing to entice a pup to her townhouse. No other dogs—or cats, for that matter—or treats or toys or kids looking to play.

More was the pity, but who had time for all that, anyway?

The dog finally noticed her, sat up, and let out a deep woof accompanied by a swooshy, waggy tail.

She sighed, but couldn’t help but be charmed.

“Well, hello to you too,” she said starting up the driveway. “And who might you be? Aren’t you pretty?”

The swishy tail swished faster as the dog stood, and its back end started to wiggle. She recognized the breed easily. Bernese Mountain Dogs were lovely, but large. If this guy decided to jump up to say hello, she’d find herself on her butt. – Excerpt from Doggie on Her Doorstep by Donna Alward



Grab your copy: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Apple

Release Day sales benefit Roxanne St. Claire’s rescue charity.   

Authors

Cynthia D’Alba, Donna Alward, Jenna Bayley-Burke, Mandy Harbin, Melissa Schroeder, Lexxie Couper, Shana Gray, Laura Trentham, Tamlyn Black, & Cindy Kirk forward by Roxanne St. Claire.


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Excerpt – A Dog Named Chubby by Robert Douglass @rtdouglassLitv @partnersincr1me

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The Little Town of Summerville

A Dog Named Chubby

by Robert Douglass

December 1-31, 2021 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

The Little Town of Summerville by Robert Douglass

Jack Wellington moves from the big city to make a new start. He jumps at the opportunity to become a detective in Summerville.

A peculiar case is assigned to him as artwork has been stolen and a dog is missing. Fellow detective Charlie Finch, a man adorned with decades of service, uncovers clues with Jack. They become intrigued by the words and actions of a neighborhood boy and wonder how much he might know.

Clues are followed but it’s the kids in the neighborhood who provide the most relevant clues. As the detectives get closer to them with their questions, the pressure of the kids struggle unfolds.

Kids, dogs, thieves, and a detective who meets a gal named Sally in the little town of Summerville.

Book Details:

Genre: Mystery
Published by: Amazon
Publication Date: November 1, 2021
Number of Pages: 200
ISBN: 979-8677929410
Series: The Little Town of Summerville, 1
Purchase Links: Amazon

Read an excerpt:

Jack poured a coffee and reached the back door with mug in hand. He stepped onto the screened-in porch as the twilight of morning brightened the yard. He enjoyed the peaceful surroundings of the porch. It was completely different from the small apartment he left behind a few months ago. He had worked in the Saint Louis police department for five years and jumped at the opportunity to work in Summerville.

He settled into an old wicker chair he’d found at a garage sale and grabbed the tablet lying next to it to get caught up on sports and local news. He was on his second mug when the phone hummed away on the table. He noticed the number was from the police station.

“Hello, this is Jack.”

“Hi Jack, this is Captain Ottoman. I need you to get over to 28 Little Creek Lane. Someone was in the house during the night and the homeowner is very upset.”

The captain sounded tired and cranky with no patience for conversation, so Jack didn’t bother explaining it was supposed to be his day off.

“Yes sir. I can get over there right away.”

“Thank you,” and the captain ended the call.

Jack got back inside, buzzed the electric shaver over his face, jumped into some clean clothes, and was out the door quickly. He thought about the history of the town as he drove to the location.

Summerville had been founded during the railroad days of long ago. It was a crossroads of railway tracks built by the Summers Rail & Cargo Company. John Summers became so impressed with the area he established the town and moved his family to the beautiful location with its wide valley and soft hills. Blueprints were drawn for the town which included shops, neighborhoods, and parks, which would enjoy the modern luxuries of the era, and of course, the ability to travel by railway.

Today Summerville still enjoyed the shops of the downtown area, its many parks, and the atmosphere of its small college. A group of businessmen and a strong town council maintained the town with its modest Midwest economy. At times, a getaway for some of the city dwellers to get refreshed by the small-town charm. It was a pretty town, safe and friendly, and Jack Wellington intended to keep it that way.

Jack pulled up to 28 Little Creek Lane as the sun cast its long early morning shadows. Each lawn had its own style, with a tree or two in the front yard and shrubs along the side that acted like a fence. There were sidewalks on the narrow residential street which had gas streetlamps that would shine day and night.

He got out of the car and checked his dark hair in the reflection of the car window. He was above average height with a lean and strong build for a mid-twenties guy, but his collar was crooked. He shook his head, rebuttoned his shirt, and hoped no one was watching as he tucked it back into his pants. A quick check to make sure he had pen and notepad in his back pocket, and he took the walkway across the yard to the front porch entrance. Up the stairs, across the porch, and a few taps on the door. The homeowner opened the door.

“Hello. I’m Jack Wellington from the Summerville police department. Captain Ottoman asked me to come over this morning.”

The homeowner tried to smile, but her eyes were swollen with a sunken tainted darkness around them. Her sterling gray hair looked a bit out of place with a sadness upon her face.

“So, you’re a policeman?”

“Yes, I’m a detective,” and Jack showed her his credentials.

She gave a soft grasp of Jack’s hand, “I’m Elizabeth Ashley,” and she invited him into her home. They walked down the entrance hallway and dropped into the living room. Two couches and a couple of chairs formed a horseshoe with a coffee table in the center. The couches faced each other, and the chairs sat on the end with a straight view to a fireplace. She sat on the couch and Jack took a chair.

***

Excerpt from The Little Town of Summerville – A Dog Named Chubby by Robert Douglass. Copyright 2021 by Robert Douglass. Reproduced with permission from Robert Douglass. All rights reserved.

 

 

Author Bio:

Robert Douglass

Robert has an AAS in Microsoft Networking Technology from Glendale Community College and is a Microsoft Certified Professional.

He likes reading, writing, and exploring natural wonders. His favorite pastime is telling tall stories around the campfire.

Catch Up With Robert Douglass:
RTDouglass.com
Twitter – @RTDouglassLit
Facebook – @RTDouglassAuthor

 

 

Tour Participants:

Visit these other great hosts on this tour for more great reviews, interviews, guest posts, and more!

 

 

 

 

 

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Giveaway – Wild Dog Revenge by Victoria Tait @dollycas @VATaitAuthor

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Wild Dog Revenge (A Kenya Kanga Mystery) by Victoria Tait

About Wild Dog Revenge 


Wild Dog Revenge: A Page-Turning Cozy Murder Mystery (A Kenya Kanga Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Setting – Kenya
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kanga Press (November 12, 2021)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 237 pages
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09B66WXJ4

A high-stakes match. An inexplicable death. As the players take their positions, can an amateur sleuth solve the mystery before the final whistle blows?

Mama Rose just wants to enjoy a local polo tournament and care for any injured horses. But when a polo player is found dead in a stable, there’s all to play for if our silver-haired investigator is to discover the deadly truth.

Intrigued by tales from a late-night party, Rose unearths multiple suspects all with motives to harm the victim. But when her enquires lead to dead ends, she begins to doubt her intuition that there’s been foul play.

With the tournament drawing to a close, and the dead man’s influential father demanding answers, the police are on the losing side.

Can Rose unravel the clues before the umpire calls full time?

Wild Dog Revenge is the absorbing sixth novel in the Kenya Kanga cozy mystery series. If you like ingenious whodunits, diverse characters, and fascinating African settings, then you’ll love Victoria Tait’s page-turning tale.

Buy Wild Dog Revenge to score a victory for justice today!

About Victoria Tait

Victoria Tait is the author of the enchanting Kenya Kanga Mystery series.  She’s drawn on 8 years’ experience of living in rural Kenya, with her family, to write vivid and evocative books.  Her readers feel the heat, taste the dryness and smell the dust of Africa.  Her silver-haired sleuth, “Mama Rose” Hardie, is Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple reincarnated and living in Kenya.

Like all good military wives, Victoria follows the beat of the drum and currently lives in Sarajevo, in Bosnia and Herzegovina.  She has two fast growing teenage boys and enjoys horse riding and mountain biking.

You can find Victoria at VictoriaTait.com, on Bookbub and in her readers’ Facebook group, Victoria’s Voracious Readers (with her cat Izzy)

Author Links – Website  –  Facebook  – Blog/News  – GoodReads – Pinterest – BookBub – Twitter – 

Purchase Links:
Amazon – Kobo – Barnes & Noble – Apple – Google Play – Books2Read –

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Giveaway – Dog Girl by Gabi Justice @gabi_justice @YABoundToursPR

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Book Tour & Giveaway! 
Dog Girl
by: Gabi Justice 
YA Contemporary Fiction 
Tour: March 8-12 


Summary: Dog Girl is Fangirl meets Pit Bulls and Parolees.

Saving the dogs who end up at Delray Dog Rescue is Kendall’s life. It’s the perfect job for a girl with severe social anxiety.

Delray Dog Rescue doesn’t just rescue dogs, it’s a second chance for felons, like her dad. Losing the rescue means losing Kendall’s home, her sanctuary, the dogs she loves, her identity and her dad, all over again.

But money’s tight, and soon, Kendall must decide between keeping a roof over her head and saving the rescue.

When a video of Kendall’s harrowing rescue of a pit bull from the path of an oncoming train goes viral. Suddenly, everyone wants a piece of Kendall, making her anxiety worse. But this is an opportunity to put the rescue in the spotlight and secure the donations needed to save it.

Can she overcome the social paralysis that’s plagued her all her life? Can she ignore negative comments on social media about her looks and smell? Can she accept help from a boy who really sees her, even though she can’t understand what he could possibly see in her?

DOG GIRL is the story of a teen girl who wants to save the world, and ends up saving herself in the process.



For a Book Club Kit, follow this link! 
https://www.gabijustice.com/book-club-kit  

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1951710053?tag=&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1

B & N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dog-girl-gabi-justice/1137266628?ean=9781951710057

Target: https://www.target.com/p/dog-girl-by-gabi-justice-paperback/-/A-81646408#lnk=sametab



Giveaway Prizes! 
Enter to WIN! 

GRAND PRIZE – Dog Girl t-shirt! (U.S. Only – sizes s-xl)


1st Prize:  $10 Amazon Gift Card! (International) 


a Rafflecopter giveaway


About the Author:

Gabi Justice is the author of Dog Girl, her teen and young adult contemporary romance debut set to publish in the fall of 2020. She is the mom to three dogs and one stray cat named Luna Buna. She lives in Florida with her husband and children. You’d be hard-pressed to find a tennis court in the state that she hasn’t visited, having three competitive junior players in the family. She spent most of her adult life writing editorial copy for local magazines after graduating from the University of South Florida. Florida provides the settings for all her coming-of-age stories that highlight bullying, misjudgment, acceptance, and teen anxiety. Her main characters are goal-oriented teenage girls with a drive that can be fierce and dangerous.


Author Links:

Website: https://www.gabijustice.com/

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

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

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20495013.Gabi_Justice

Twitter: https://twitter.com/gabi_justice




BONUS Playlist! 


Tour created by YA Bound Book Tours 



Giveaway – On St Nick’s Trail by M K Scott @morgankwyatt @SDSXXTours

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On St. Nick’s Trail
The Talking Dog Detective Agency Series Book 6
by M.K. Scott
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Old Saint Nick is missing, sparking shenanigans in the town of Santa Claus.
Private Eye Nala Bonne and her trusty crime-fighting rescue dog Max spend their days surfing social media for telltale signs of disability fraud and philandering husbands, but when a lucrative opportunity to investigate something entirely different, Nala readily agrees to take the case.
The task: find a missing Santa impersonator
Unfortunately for her, someone is dead set against the search and will stop at nothing to drive Nala and Max out of town before their search even begins.
Can this dynamic duo locate the missing Santa before it’s too late?
**Only .99 cents!!**
A Bark in the Night
The Talking Dog Detective Agency Series Book 1
***Get it FREE Sept 19th-23th!! ***
**Only .99 cents!!**
Requiem for a Rescue Dog Queen
The Talking Dog Detective Agency Series Book 2
**Only .99 cents!!**
Bark Twice For Danger
The Talking Dog Detective Agency Series Book 3
**Only .99 cents!!**
Dog Park Romeo
The Talking Dog Detective Agency Series Book 4
**Only .99 cents!!**
The Ghostly Howl
The Talking Dog Detective Agency Series Book 5
***Get it FREE Sep 26th – 30th!!***
**Only .99 cents!!**
M. K. Scott is the husband and wife writing team behind The Painted Lady Inn Mysteries. Morgan K Wyatt is the general wordsmith, while her husband, Scott, is the grammar hammer and physics specialist. He uses his engineering skills to explain how fast a body falls when pushed over a cliff and various other felonious activities. The Internet and experts in the field provide forensic information, while the recipes and B and B details require a more hands on approach. Morgan’s daughter, who manages a hotel, provides guest horror stories to fuel the plot lines. The couple’s dog, Chance, is the inspiration behind Jasper, Donna’s dog.
Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!