A Nutcracker Nightmare (A Killer Chocolate Mystery) by Christina Romeril
About A Nutcracker Nightmare
A Nutcracker Nightmare (A Killer Chocolate Mystery) Cozy Mystery 2nd in Series Setting – Montana Crooked Lane Books (October 17, 2023) Hardcover : 320 pages ISBN-10 : 1639104917 ISBN-13 : 978-1639104918 Kindle ASIN : B0BSKRF471
Perfect for fans of Joanne Fluke and Laura Childs, when twin sisters Hanna and Alex help out at the local high school reunion, volunteering takes a turn when they find a former classmate’s dead body.
Hanna and Alex, owners of the Murder and Mayhem book and chocolate shop, are busy preparing for the Harriston High School’s reunion weekend. Neighbors will connect with old friends and perhaps try to avoid old foes. One person no one can avoid is Kyle, the former star quarterback, who is busy using his entire playbook to try and score with Hanna, even threatening her if she doesn’t play nice. At the reunion, Alex glimpses more drama than nostalgia as insults are flung around like a football at a Friday night game. The party is put on hold when Alex finds the dead body of none other than Kyle himself, bludgeoned to death by a nutcracker that the sisters admired earlier in the night.
Hanna quickly becomes the prime suspect—someone saw her slap Kyle in the face at the reunion dance. She’ll need her sister, their sleuthing canine, Watson, and their old friends and colleagues to help break this case wide open. While looking through old yearbooks and taking a stroll down memory lane, Alex uncovers a few secrets about Kyle, now, it seems like everyone had a motive to kill him.
But when the suspects start becoming the victims, Alex and Hanna know that they can’t melt under the pressure—they must find the killer before they become just another yearbook memory.
About Christina Romeril
Christina Romeril is the author of the Killer Chocolate Mystery series. The series is set in Montana at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, one of her favourite places to visit. She and her husband live a few hours away in a small village in Southern Alberta. When Christina isn’t writing she loves to hike in Waterton Lakes National Park, or just hang out there eating gourmet hot dogs and ice cream. When the former banker isn’t enjoying nature, she loves to create and consume chocolate confections. Not necessarily in that order.
What first drew me in was the second line of the blurb: Based on the buried events of one of the largest criminal frauds in history, Paper Targets digs into the motivation of criminals on the fringe.
I like a flawed character, and these characters are definitely flawed. Enzi was a stutterer. His mother died when he was twelve and his father hit the bottle. He was bullied at school and ignored by his teachers. He was removed from his fathers home, passed from school to school, bullies to bullies, until her ran away at fourteen. He roamed from job to job. He became enamored with patterns, which led to mathematics.
He becomes involved with Kaori, a woman he met at a party and she is a piece of work.
He does a little something for Tsai, and before he knows it he’s in over his head. Threats fly and he struggles to find a way out of the tangled web he has become involved in. I wondered how, or if, he would get out of the situation that threatens his life and those around him. We do have an elusive guy he goes to for a bit of peace and quiet, and he becomes a favorite of mine.
I flipped between a three and four rating, but the ending was worth that extra star. Many times I find the ending is what saves a book for me. Good job, Steve.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
While breaking into a financial network, a hacker falls for a dangerous artist.
Based on the buried events of one of the largest criminal frauds in history, Paper Targets digs into the motivation of criminals on the fringe.
Critics and reviewers are calling it “Wonderfully written,” “A novel to read now,” and “A literary thriller with a soul.”
Set in Montana, Paper Targets simmers with greed and love before boiling over along the red-flagged path between lost and found.
From the publisher:
Paper Targets reads like a confession from someone double-cursed with the skills to make money and the sort of love that makes sorrow. It is a captivating story. What got me on the first read of the manuscript was the writing. Stark, yet emotional. Dark while still being relevant and heart-breakingly clear. For a few pages, I wondered to what genre the story belonged. Then I didn’t care because all I wanted to know was what would be revealed on each page turn. Paper Targets is a story of modern crime set in Montana with connections and events in the money world of New York, Seattle, and London. The descriptions of Montana rock and sky blend and flow easily — with only the slightest of wobbles — with the descriptions of technology and cityscapes of grey concrete.
First published February 2, 2022 by Flooding Island
ABOUT STEVE S SAROFF
Steve Saroff is a well-known short-story writer, novelist, and entrepreneur. He published over 30 short stories, printed traditionally in Redbook and other national magazines, and is the author of Paper Targets; The Long Line of Elk; and the forthcoming Mixed Drinks. He also hosts the literary podcast Montana Voice.
Steve Saroff was a runaway who became an author and a computer coder. He has helped artists, writers, musicians, and a few good actors start careers. He helped launch Submittable, the submission system used by publishers, and he was the founder of FreeMail Inc, the first commercially successful web-based email system. FreeMail was acquired just before WorldCom and Enron’s multi-billion-dollar criminal fraud and collapse — still the world’s largest combined criminal frauds. His novel Paper Targets digs into a buried fringe from that corrupt time.
(Author’s photo was taken from the time of the oil-field events in Paper Targets)
I love the awesome cover for Fault by Lumen Reese. It told me everything I needed to know. I love creature features and eagerly cracked open my ereader to begin.
And begin we did. An earthquake that sunk part of the California coast gave the creature its freedom. It reveled in it.
Lucille Bennet is in Montana for work when it hits. Her children are lost, but she refuses to leave them for the creature to eat. She proceeds to build a submarine and enters the quarantine zone to retrieve their bodies. Things sure didn’t go the way I thought and I love it.
She is rescued by a ship called the Last Chance. A ship of criminals and rejects. It is dangerous, not just for her, but anyone that takes on the job. It is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. They go to the most dangerous place, where the creature is, searching for oil. Yeah, keep drilling and maybe you’ll find another creature. Only one of three workers will survive the mission.
I am not going to share a ton of details, because the blurb stayed nondescriptive. The parts of the book share a separate character and their point of view. We have some romance and a few laughs. She wins over the crew by cooking good food and with a little help from those she makes friends with.
Fault by Lumen Reese unraveled like a B movie, and I devour them like the creature devoured anything that got in its way. Fault seems to be a bit different, not just a creature feature, but scifi and a bit of time travel?
The beginning was action packed and set the hook. The middle introduces us to the cast of characters and life aboard the Baton Rouge. The end is tense and thought provoking. All in all a very satisfying read.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of Fault by Lumen Reese.
4 Stars
GOODREADS REVIEW
A grieving mother. A monster. A ship crewed by the damned.
The Thing swam out of the magma in the Earth’s core and clawed its way up through the San Andreas Fault on the night that a chunk of the California coast sank into the Pacific. Millions died, including the two children of Lucille ‘Ceely’ Bennett, an accomplished engineer stranded in rural Montana when the cataclysm occurred. Ceely builds a submarine, complete with mechanical arms and a set of harpoons -the biggest on the market- with the intention of going down among the ruins of Los Angeles to collect her daughters’ bodies. A mother’s love -and fury- drive her to hunt the creature across oceans and decades in this story of grief and revenge.
List: Fantasy, Horror, Queer, Science Fiction
396 pages, Paperback
Expected publication August 24, 2023
ABOUT REESE LUMEN
Writer of diverse science fiction, fantasy and horror from Michigan. I failed many math classes in high school to write first drafts of the books I’ve published. It was worth it. I think that a story should be entertaining, but should handle important social and class issues in order to be an accurate portrayal of our world. I value honest resolution over shock-value, and happy endings wherever possible, especially for my LGBT characters. You can find me on Twitter @ZoominLumen Or follow me on Goodreads for sales and announcements.
FAULT is a SCIENCE FICTION/HORROR novel. (Out August 24, 2023! Available in ebook and paperback.)
THE BRIDE HUNT OF ELK MOUNTAIN is a SPECULATIVE/SCIENCE FICTION novel. (Out now! Available in ebook and paperback.)
MONSTER MIDWIFE is a FANTASY/HORROR novel. (Out now! Available as an ebook.)
TRIAL OF THE LOVEBIRD BUTCHER is an URBAN FANTASY/THRILLER novel. (Out now! Available in ebook and paperback.)
CLAIRE GOT HERSELF IN TROUBLE is a YA/NEW ADULT CONTEMPORARY novel. A portion of all proceeds go to Planned Parenthood. (Out now! Available in ebook and paperback.)
MONARCH FALLS is a SCI-FI MYSTERY novel. (1st in the FOUR QUARTERS OF IMAGINATION TRILOGY) (Out now! Available as an ebook.)
THE UNDESIRABLES is a WWII THRILLER. (Out now! Available as an ebook.)
ROMANI and ROMANI: AMBASSADORS were the first two parts of a trilogy that I started when I was seventeen. At the time, I intended to bring awareness to an underrepresented and much maligned group, in a story about how the privileged in our society have a moral responsibility to help the less fortunate. I have since decided that I did not have the right to be telling that story, and have unpublished both books.
Casanova Cowboy Jamie Schulz (The Montana Men Series, #2) Publication date: June 6th 2023 Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
She’s used to the glitzy, big-city life. He hides behind country-boy charm. Will these total opposites spark unquenchable flames of attraction?
Izabel Silva is wary of men. After escaping an awful relationship and a workplace betrayal, the talented marketer seeks refuge with an old friend in small-town Montana. And though worried she’s falling in with another control-obsessed hunk, she accepts the kindly neighbors’ invitation to stay with them and their flirtatious son.
Zack MacEntier longs to live down his reputation. With his ranch’s bank accounts at rock bottom, the one-time lady’s man isn’t ready to take on a gorgeous and strong-willed Latina. But when his mother volunteers him to show the lovely newcomer around, the loyal cowboy is secretly glad of an excuse to spend more days in the fierce woman’s company.
Taken aback by local prejudice, Izabel’s concerns over Zack’s stubborn protective streak start to fade when he comes rushing to her rescue. And even as the brave rancher fears that he has nothing to offer the beautiful outsider, their growing passion has placed them firmly in danger’s crosshairs…
Can they survive the unexpected threat and claim a scorching love?
Casanova Cowboy is the steamy second book in the Montana Men romantic suspense series. If you like determined women, heroes with hidden depths, and slow-burn chemistry, then you’ll adore Jamie Schulz’s fiery path to happily ever after.
Buy Casanova Cowboy to flirt with trouble today!
* No cliffhangers. Though the stories intertwine in places, each book is a standalone suspenseful, western romance with adult content. The perfect read for fans of strong heroines, broken heroes, cowboys, horses, slow-burning love, and small-town romance!
Her mind filled with thoughts, and scents, and images of this man, of Zack. She welcomed the hungry nature of his kiss and the hard strength of his body, and she wanted more.
Without breaking the kiss, she slid her hands down his chisel chest and tugged at the navy material of his T-shirt until it came free from the waistband of his jeans. Greedily, she slipped one hand inside and she groaned at the hard heat that flexed beneath her fingers. Needing to touch him, to see him, Izabel sat back and jerk the rest of his shirt from his jeans. Frantically, she pulled and pushed it upward until Zack lifted his arms and allowed her to haul the shirt over his head.
She couldn’t seem to catch her breath. The masculine beauty she’d unveiled sucked it all from her chest as her eyes took in every work-hardened crest and valley of his well-built body. The breadth of his shoulders, the thick layers of muscle that made them and his brawny arms bulge and flex when he moved. The perfect plane of his pecs and the ridges of his belly. Her nails rasped over the dusting of dark, curling hair on his chest, her fingers following its path as it narrowed into a line that disappeared under his jeans.
“Izabel?”
She looked up, startled by the strangled sound of his voice. His cheeks were flushed as his breath heaved in through parted lips, and his soulful whiskey eyes were hooded and full of passion as he stared back at her.
“You are gorgeous, Zack.”
He smiled, but when she swiveled and got to her feet, apprehension filled his face. “What are you doing?”
Reaching for the closure of her jeans, her mouth curled suggestively as she popped the button and slowly lowered the zipper.
Zack’s lips tipped up at the corners and appreciation washed over his expression.
Once she’d shed the jeans, Izabel crawled back onto his lap, but straddled his legs this time.
“Did you think I was going to leave?” she asked, flicking her nails over his nipples. Her grin grew when he sucked in a breath and his eyelids closed briefly. When they opened, he cupped her butt cheeks in each of his huge hands and drew her against the large bulge in his jeans.
“I thought so, yes.” He ducked his head and his lips found her neck. “I thought you might leave me with this,” he said as he lifted his hips and pressed himself against her core.
She moaned as he nibbled the tender column of her throat, drawing gasps of pleasure from her. When he found a sensitive spot at the base of her neck, a sharp pang of desire shot through her belly. Lust electrified her, zapping along nerve endings and driving her need for him…for Zack.
“What do you want, Izabel?” His voice sounded rough against her skin. “Tell me what you need.”
“You, Zack. I need you,” she gasped. “I want to see you. I want to feel your skin on mine. I want you to make love to me. Right now!” She reached for her blouse and quickly unbuttoned the first two buttons, but frustrated with how long it took, she reached down and yanked it over her head.
Zack’s passion-filled eyes had followed her movement, but now she sat back and watched as his gaze devoured her. From the disarray of her curly hair to her small breasts and down to the plain white bikini underwear she wore, he soaked it all in as his chest rose with each rapid breath. Slowly, almost reverently, he traced the gentle swell of her breasts above the lace edge of her bra with his fingertips. The touch sent a shiver through her body as need pulsed hot and wet between her thighs.
“Oh, God, Zack,” she cried, the ache from his simple touch so acute, she had to grip his shoulders to keep from tumbling to the ground. Her head dropped back onto her neck and she sighed. “What you do to me…”
“Tell me, goddess,” he said with a throaty growl as his hands bracketed her face and pulled her in for another soul-melting kiss.
“You’ve lit a fire inside me,” she said when he let her up for air. “You give me strength when I feel week. You make me feel strong and beautiful and wanted. You make me want…more.”
Author Bio:
Jamie Schulz lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her family, her husband, and their fur babies. Writing has always been a big a part of her life, and she hopes to one day reach the best sellers lists.
Cowboys, ice cream, and reading almost any kind of romance are among her (not so) secret loves. To her, every one of her stories, no matter how dark, must have a happy ending, and she strives to make them impossible to put down until you get there.
She balances her free time between reading her favorite romance authors–in genres ranging from erotica and dark romance to sweet historicals and contemporary romance–and spending time with her family.
I was scrolling through my books to be read and came across The Last Track by Sam Hilliard. The cover and title made me curious and when I saw that we had a mystery with a paranormal twist and a young man with asthma, alone, lost in the woods, running for his life, I had to know more.
Mike Brody is a former Special Forces operative and a master tracker, with psychic abilities that enhance his tracking talents. When he learns an asthmatic, young boy is lost in the woods, maybe being chased by those who he saw commit a murder, he knew he had to find him.
Mike has his own demons, nightmares from his past that haunt him. And it is a horrid past that no child should have to go through. That is what motivates him.
A murder, sure, but a mystery that goes so far much farther than the loss of one life. I had my sites on several as the villain, but Sam Hilliard does not make it easy to commit to one or eliminate another. Danger surrounds Mike Brody and his family. Threatening phone calls, people creeping in their rooms, makes ME nervous, so why doesn’t Jessica hold her cards closer to her vest. They have traveled together, even though Jessica and Mike are separated. They still have a good relationship and a child that they love. She is an investigative reporter, with resources that will come into play, but I worry that she isn’t more careful about her person, her room, her child.
As we track the boy, the murder starts to take a backseat to the complex mystery of what is really going on in the town and who is behind it. I love that I had the villain(s) in site, but could never make up my mind if it was them or not. There are so many of them and some others that could be and could not be ruled out..until Sam made it official. I love when I say yeah, its him, no, it’s not…..
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Mike Brody, the man you want when the one you love is missing.
After an asthmatic boy witnesses a murder and goes missing in the Montana wilderness, police turn to Mike Brody, a former Special Forces operative and master tracker with psychic abilities. But as Mike and a local officer follow their elusive quarry deeper into the woods, the killer begins a hunt of his own…
Some say his gift is supernatural, others consider it a curse. To Mike Brody, it’s a penance.
From the back cover: “A good mix of mystery and adventure, The Last Track will appeal to any thriller reader. A good yarn, not to be missed . . . highly entertaining and extremely difficult to put down.” ~John A. Dunay, Police Lieutenant (Ret. ‘06) ~Police Advisor to Department of Justice, Dinwanyah and Kurdistan, Iraq ‘08
“The Last Track, by Sam Hilliard, is full of mystery and suspense to intrigue the mind. The story captures the thrill of the chase and the fear of the unknown. What kept my interest was the struggle for that we desire most in the form of love, success, money, and complete control. This book will keep your reading lamp on in the wee hours of the night!” ~Spc Amanda Daigle, Jan-Dec 09, Kirkuk, Iraq. ~Purple Heart, Feb 09
“The Last Track is one of the best thrillers our book club has ever read. Chock full of unexpected twists and turns, this well-crafted mystery kept us guessing up until the very last page. A natural storyteller, Hilliard knows how to build suspense and create compelling characters. We can’t wait to go on another adventure with Mike Brody!” ~Revolution Reading Club
ABOUT SAM HILLIARD
For seven years Sam Hilliard served as the IT Director at an all-girls boarding school, where he learned world class drama first hand, as well as the proper role of martial arts in secondary education and the need for a very strong deadbolt on his office door.
Currently he lives at an undisclosed location in New Jersey with his wife and Cat Army. On the long dark nights, he works on the sequel to The Last Track, which despite allowing the manuscript sufficient breathing space at times, is not, in fact, writing itself. He also works at Princeton University.
I found A B Whelan when I came along a freebie. Who knows where it came from, a blog I visited, a giveaway I participated in, or maybe I just scrolled through Amazon and found it. Either way, I am glad I did, because this woman can write!
I love deep, dark, twisted novels and No One Can Hear You Scream fits the bill to a T. Warning! Brace yourself! Brutal. Graphic.
The animal sanctuary took in those pets whose owners didn’t want them any more. Sounds like a good story…right?
Jennifer Parker is a YouTube influencer and shares her time with the animal sanctuary, as does her son, Jayden. He even created an Instagram account for George, a cow, who is the star. I love that our social media world is making an appearance in novels, not always in a good way.
I immediately didn’t like Tyler, her momma’s boy husband. Looks to me like she has another child instead of a life partner. Good thing she ditched him. He might have made a good boy toy, but is not a keeper.
Again…I am furious, sickened, disgusted…If I were ever to meet someone like HIM I hope I would have the courage to take him out! The abuse is shocking, even for me and I love being shocked and sickened in a depraved thriller sort of way.
We have two plots going on, and, though I haven’t talked about Alex, I have a feeling I know what part his story will play.
No One Can Hear You Scream by A B Whelan may have you thinking twice about putting your life on line, for all the world to see.
OMG…I see it coming…so freaking twisted! I had to take a deep breath at 82%. The evil keeps on going. Well, I didn’t see that coming…and that is why I love A B Whelan so much. She gives and she teases. I figure out one thing, then, BAM, in your face.
This line really hit home: Our world has gotten so small it suffocates us.
I had moments where I wanted to shout out to Jennifer…and the police!
Mind blowing. Gut wrenching. I love this dark, gritty, horrendous story that others may shy away from, and A B Whelan took it to the max with No One Can Hear You Scream
A B Whelan has included book club questions at the end. I think they will create a lively discussion.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of No One Can Hear You Scream by A B Whelan.
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
A ruthlessly addicting and terrifyingly twisted story of a family stuck on a secluded mountain at the mercy of an obsessed fan of the woman.
It started as a vacation of a lifetime.
Jennifer Parker is a successful YouTube influencer living in a beautiful home outside Los Angeles with her three children. After divorcing her husband of eighteen years, Jennifer dives right into a new relationship despite her children’s disapproval.
Jennifer’s boyfriend, Tyler, is a middle school English teacher and a mama’s boy. To prove to Jennifer that he can be as outdoorsy as her ex-husband, he suggests going on an off-the-grid vacation in a yurt in Montana. The idea of not having cell phone reception and running water for days doesn’t appeal to Jennifer. Reluctantly, she agrees to the trip because she envisions this unique retreat as an opportunity for her children to connect with her new boyfriend.
Jennifer’s subscribers are excited about following their favorite online vlogger on an adventure in the wilderness. But one follower sees her vacation as the perfect opportunity to get close to her and act out his twisted and sick fantasies.
Alone on the mountain, where no one can hear her scream, Jennifer realizes that it wasn’t the deep, dark woods she had to fear after all.
ABOUT A B WHELAN
New release: No One Can Hear You Scream is a gripping, atmospheric psychological thriller about obsession, survival, and family bonds, releasing on October 20th.
Whelan is an Amazon bestselling author of domestic psychological thrillers.
She
currently resides in California with her husband and two children.
When she isn’t writing, editing, marketing, or researching her next
book, you can find her walking her two rescue dogs, socializing online,
coaching soccer, or doing another DIY project with her husband.
Find me on: * Facebook (AuthorABWhelan) * Instagram (authorabwhelan) * Goodreads (A.B. Whelan) * Twitter (AuthorABWhelan) * Bookbub: A.B. Whelan
I have been with the Class Heroes by Stephen Henning since the beginning and am so happy to be back with them again. Lolly has become my favorite superhero because I have a love/hate relationship with her.
It has been a long time since I have been with the Class Heroes series by Stephen Henning. I have loved these teenage superheroes, watching them grown and learn about their powers and life in general.
Lolly is an exceptional character and has become my favorite. She is mean, evil, and now that she has a boyfriend, she is beginning to see things in a different light. She has the ability to control fire and I wonder what will become of her.
Her father, now I am not so sure he can be redeemed. He has the power to manipulate people int doing what he wants them to do. I wonder….does he use it on Lolly?
It’s been a while since Book IV, London Belong To the Alchemist, and Hearts and Minds picks up where it left off, and even though it has been some time, I had no trouble picking up where I left off.
There are moment of suspense where she is in serious danger, but, hey, she’s the main character. You wouldn’t kill her off, would you Stephen?
In Hearts and Minds, Lolly has reunited with her father after he spent nine months in prison. She struggles to find her own identity. I don’t trust the man at all, as they search for a missing girl who may have super powers.
Lolly, Lolly, Lolly….BEWARE! I feel a sense of danger, very subtle, yet always there and I don’t know who she can trust. The story doesn’t end here, so if we are looking for closure, we will have to wait.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Hearts and Minds by Stephen Henning.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Sixteen-year-old Lolly Rosewood, the cold and calculating anti-hero from the Class Heroes series, is back in a new, thrilling and dangerous mission. Lolly and her father, Sir Michael, are in Montana on the track of a kidnapped girl — Erica Barrington — who they believe has superpowers. But there are other people hunting for the missing girl. Can Lolly and her father find Erica in time? This is the fifth book in the Class Heroes series. It’s a journey of discovery — and more secrets — for father and daughter. Lolly has always trusted her father implicitly, followed his orders, and shared his goal to reach out to other people with special abilities. This mission to Montana is a new experience for Lolly as she battles to shake off the shackles of being seen as a little girl in her father’s eyes, and establish a new relationship with him as an equal. Warning: Contains Violence, Death, Sexual References, Dark Humour and some Upper Class British Snobbery 🙂
ABOUT STEPHEN HENNING
I
began writing the first Class Heroes book on my laptop in February
2011, but these stories have probably been continually playing in my
head since I was aged five or six, when I would act them out with toys
and with my friends. I then branched out into using pencils, colouring
pens and paper, moving on to writing pads and then my first computer.
So, as you’ve probably gathered, I have always enjoyed making up stories and the super-hero genre has been one of my favourites.
The CV-type stuff is that I went to Sheffield Hallam University to
study English. I then trained and briefly worked as a journalist in
Salford. After that, I moved into publishing – which was great. An
interesting and fun industry to be in and fascinating to see how books
are put together and sold.
After that I started doing technical writing, which led me to start
my own business with my friend and colleague Andrew Butters. My love of
writing, generally, led me back to writing fiction. Our company,
Elucidox Ltd, publishes the Class Heroes books.
If you want to know a bit more about me, what kind of super powers I
have and the kind of super villains I have to tangle with on a daily
basis, then feel free to watch Rage. This is a short film, that took a
long time to make. It’s a simple day in my life :-). Actually it’s just a
fun movie that I made with the very kind help of some of my best mates.
We had a laugh doing it, hope you like it too. And if you do, then why
not explore the super world of the Class Heroes books?
Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those
neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread. If you are anything
like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in
your stacks.
An appaloosa horse is
the only eyewitness to a killing, a sack of Montana sapphires is
missing, and only Heaven knows the whole truth.
In “The Man Who
Fell from the Sky,” some themes of “Ghost” meet “The Horse Whisperer” in
this full-length, paranormal whodunnit mystery that is packed with
romantic suspense, danger, dark secrets and high spiritual stakes.
Cody
Bliss, angel detective, is assigned by Heaven to the mortal body of
J.R. Wilder, a paroled murderer, in order to solve his own previous
untimely demise and take care of unfinished business with Mariah, who is
unable to move on with her life until she knows what happened to her
missing husband.
Against the backdrop of a western Montana ranch
near Glacier National Park, and in the company of Mariah and her
tight-knit family, Cody (inside the body of J.R. Wilder) must solve the
murder mystery using forensic clues and the spiritual powers of an
angel. He must also yield to J.R., whose body he is using, as J.R. falls
in love with Cody’s widow.
This full-length novel’s compelling characters are all seeking truth and redemption. Only an angel detective can set things right, and the consequences for an entire family rest in his heavenly hands.
Angel detectives, a mix of the ghost and horse whisperer…what’s not to like? Sounds like a good one to me. How about you?
Dire wolf skeleton and mural, La Brea tarpits museum, LA.jpg (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
These Dire Wolves really did exist four thousand years ago. They are double the size of the grey wolf. Their bones were found in the La Brea Tar Pit in Los Angeles. Why did they become extinct? Who knows?
Mark Lansdowne saw a sign saying Granny Barton’s Antiques. He was curious and stopped. He was just browsing when he spotted an old book and was drawn to it. He purchased it for five dollars and left.
He was reading the book, when the dogs, he had three named after the Three Stooges, growled and the hair on their backs rose . He went out, but saw only a pair of red eyes and smelled a scent of rotting meat. The red eyes drifted back into the forest as if they were never there.
As he sat drinking a cup of tea, he heard a scream. It could be anything, a wild animal. He decided he couldn’t do anything in the dark, so he’d check it out in the morning.
In the morning, Lansdowne checked around his pond and found something had come to eat or drink. Just the one with huge paws, but no nail prints. The dogs were with him, and these prints did not look anything like theirs. And then there was the awful smell , which he and the dogs followed.
His dogs all had something that distinguished them from each other. Larry was the biggest, Moe heard the best and Curly was the smeller in the group. Curly returned with a bone. It could only be human, it contained a screw. It was Janey Malone, the waitress at Barkers.
In Maple Hills, Missouri, it is such a small community that everyone knew everyone else. Barkers was the local gathering place. Farmers were talking about missing cows and deer hunters were seeing no deer.
Dave and Janey didn’t show up for work at Barkers. Now Myron Cox was missing, with just a trail of blood . Lansdowne called the sheriff. Sheriff Ralph Benson showed up. Morrison, a deputy was at the Cox home, investigating his disappearance, while Benson was at Lansdowne’s. Benson received a call from Morrison saying Christine McKay, from the Department of Conservation, had found Dave Morris, dead.
Benson joined up with Skruggs, Lansdowne’s lifelong friend, and Lansdowne to follow the smell to the cave. The woods were silent, no sound of squirrels or birds. The smell was stronger than before and he spotted a paw print that hadn’t been there earlier.
Months ago two girls had turned up missing from their rafting trip. He found a tennis shoe belonging to one of them. As they left the cave, Lansdowne said one of them had to stay in the area. He told them he would stay and protect what was left of Janey.
Lansdowne had climbed a tree with a view of the cave entrance. As the creature approached, Lansdowne came down from the tree to track it. The creature felt something was wrong and turned around. It had laid a trap for Lansdowne. Now Lansdowne became the hunted.
The bite caused excruciating pain, but he was still able to kill the beast. He felt he was going to die.
When he came to, his pal, Skruggs, was there. He must have been at death’s door, because his wife, Glenna, had come to him telling him he must get better and move on. Mark seemed to be healing very quickly, he was hungry and anxious to go home.
As the sheriff and Lansdowne talked, Amy came in. She always cut his hair. She kissed his cheek and told “Mike” how glad she was he wasn’t dead. She looked to see if Benson caught what she had said.
The sheriff thought there were seven missing, but Lansdowne figured nine, maybe eleven. Too many in too short a time for it be done by one animal.
The carcass of the wolf had been taken in for examination. It was an extra-large wolf, even though there had never been any wolves in the Ozarks. It couldn’t be identified in any database. Where had it come from? Are there more?
4 STARS – Would Highly Recommend To Others
I won this book in a Goodreads First Read Giveaway. The author was gracious enough to autograph the book for me. Thank you. This is Patrick’s Jones debut novel and I feel he knocked it out of the ballpark. I can hardly wait to see what he comes up with next.
I thought it was going to be just another werewolf book, by the cover and title, but was very pleasantly surprised. The blurb made me a little more curious, but didn’t do the book justice.
It is about wolves that had gone extinct 4,000 years ago. I love creature books. It is so realistic and I can see how it could be true. With all the scientific advances of today, why couldn’t someone recreate a wolf? Jurassic wolves, what’s not to love?
The writing was excellent and the characters were well developed. I fell in love with Lansdowne and his “puppies”. He has an awesome best friend in Skruggs, now all he needs is a love interest, or does he already have one and not realize it? He thinks he hasn’t moved on from his wife’s death, but has this experience made him realize life is too short, you must live it, not just exist.
There is more than one mystery, and it seems Mark Lansdowne is not what he appears to be. This is a series and I am eagerly awaiting the next book, whether it is about how Mark came to be in Maple Hills, or about the wolves, I don’t care. I feel it can only get better. Soooooooo, write faster Mr. Jones. lol
This video is courtesy of Sandy Jones.
Interview with Patrick Jones: Hi Patrick. I want to welcome you to my blog and thank you for sharing with us.
Interview Questions:
What was the inspiration for writing about these particular wolves?
The Dire Wolf died out or went extinct around ten to twelve thousand years ago. (Bones found in Arkansas were dated to about 6000 years ago). If these dates are accurate, they lived alongside of prehistoric man. Some scientists believe the Dire Wolf hunted in packs and they probably did, but skeletal remains at the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles, CA indicate that they may also have been lone hunters. A grey wolf averages about 120–150 pounds, but can you imagine a wolf or a pack of wolves the size of African lions with three inch fangs? Scary? You bet!
Can you tell us about the cover and who designed it? I feel these are always key elements to drawing a reader to the book.
My wife Sandy did the original cover but she was just never satisfied with the way it looked. She always felt it could be better at grabbing the attention of the reader. She subsequently designed 4 other covers. It was not until this point that we both agreed on the cover. The cover is one of Sandy’s pictures taken on the actual “Wolf’s Moon” in January 2012, precisely because that picture described a scary night.
What was the hardest part of writing the book?
The hardest part of writing the story was stopping to eat. “The Wolf’s Moon” started out as a short story but took on a life of its own. I attempt to write every day from 5AM to noon but in the case of this book, I just never noticed the clock. On the days I could not write, for whatever reason, my mind kept going refining what was to come next in the story.
If the book was made into a movie, who would play Lansdowne and why?
Hmmm. John Wayne? Nope – dead. Sean Connery? Too old now. Anyway, I couldn’t afford either one. Then one day it came to me, the guy that played the part of the scientist in the TV program SG1, Michael Shanks. He looks much like I imagined Linden to look and I think he could pull it off.
What do you do when you are not writing?
I love to hunt with my son, Patrick and my daughter’s son, Cody. Fishing is great as is woodworking in my shop. I work mainly with walnut and cherry. Making a table or a bookcase out of either or both is so satisfying. The best thing is to be with all of my grandchildren.
I am a bit of a car nut. If you could own any car, what would it be?
We already own it! A 2011 Camaro, black with black interior. I love the 2001 Silverado Sandy bought me after nine-eleven. The truck means a lot to me but we bought the Camaro as an anniversary gift to each other.
If you had 24 hours to be alone, go anywhere, do anything (money not an issue), what would it be?
I already do that. I have a cabin tucked away in the woods in the Ozark Mountains. The cabin is small and rustic. No running water, no electric. A couple gallons of water and a kerosene lamp and I’m set. God has made many beautiful places on this planet but none more beautiful than the view of the glen from the cabin.
What are you working on now? Would you like to share anything with us?
I’m working on the next book involving Linden and Skruggs right now, as well as another story without the guys. There is one reader who wants to marry Linden and another who wants an introduction to Cindy Winters, and another still who wants to go to dinner with Amy. It’s really flattering that readers get that deeply involved with the characters. That means I did my job right.
Is there anything else that you would like to share with your fans?
When I have a reader that leaves a good review it makes me happy. When I get a review that isn’t so great, I smile and remember that everyone is different and it is possible they are only looking at the story and not everything as a whole. I am happy they read the story. When I’m in the grocery store and someone wants to chat about the book, it’s a great feeling.
Fun Facts
Country or rock and roll? Usually everything but rap.
Margarita or Martini? Sometimes a Black Russian; other times a Bud.
Summer or winter? All four seasons. I thank God everyday he allows me to see each.
Football or baseball? Football…you know God is a man…the NFL is on Sunday and Monday and Thursday.
Spontaneous or planner? More spontaneous.
High or low maintenance? Low more often than not
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Pat Jones was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. His special interests include the science of paleoanthropology and archaeology.
Woodworking is one of his favorite hobbies, with special emphasis on the unique grains and textures of various species of trees. He and his wife, Sandy, thrive on designing and creating a flower garden of perennials, second to none! Constantly evolving, the garden began as a way that he could surprise his wife on her birthday. The rest is history! The garden now spans one fourth of an acre!
When their children graduated from school, the couple relocated to rural Missouri where they now reside with their four dogs. The love of the area, in combination with the uniqueness of the people, provided the impedance for “The Wolf’s Moon”.
The sequel to “The Wolf’s Moon” is already in the works and proves to be yet another suspenseful page-turner! Pat believes that there is a story in everything. Everybody that he meets has their own special story; one simply has to take the time to listen. The story then writes itself.
To order a copy of the book, simply click on the cover.
Giveaway – Patrick has offered 2 ebooks for the giveaway. It is International and easy to enter, as always. Just answer the question – Do you think there have been enough scientific advances to make a Jurassic wolf? – and leave your email. Ends November 5, 2012. CLOSED.
The Winners of the 2 ebooks were vetteklisa and Susan Laine. I would like to thank everyone that stopped by to comment and enter.
