Book Title: Kingdomless (The Evamore Series Book 1) by Michelle Garyfalakis Category: YA Fiction (Ages 13-17), 422 pages Genre: YA Fantasy Romance Publisher: Self-Published Release date: January 2022 Content Rating: PG-13 +M: There is a scene where our main
character is held at knife point and her attacker grabs her breasts
without consent. The word ‘nipple’ is used in this situation. This is
the reason for the added “M” in the rating.
Book Description:
The remnants of the United Kingdom of Garth, once ruled by the legendary Dynasty of Evamores are in the throes of conflict. Ten years ago, King Wren of the West discovered Raelle washed up on the shores of the Balour Sea, with no memory of the first nine years of her life. She was brought back to the castle and dutifully cared for and cherished by the king and his three older sons. On her nineteenth birthday, the Western Kingdom’s adoptive princess is secretly sent away by her stepmother to marry King Veras as a token of peace between the kingdoms. But, the Northern King has other plans.
As Raelle’s amnesia melts away with the help of a northern storyteller, she discovers more about the Kingdom of Garth, magic, the lovetie connection of the Evamores, and her role in the grand scheme of things. She is confused, angry, and curiously comfortable in the North.
A dark shadow overcasts all of the kingdoms, and the threatening influence of the fallen god Kellar seems to spread among the people,
inciting disorder and violence. While the fate of the kingdoms may rest on Raelle’s shoulders, she can’t help but feel kingdomless. Betrayal is everywhere, from her own adoptive family to her newfound friends. Fearless, observant, witty, and determined, she is town between her attraction to King Veras’ good nature and the unexplained pull to the Tracker Calak. The challenge that she faces is not simple. As the old gods, laws and magic awaken, so does her own sense of self. There is a choice to be made, step into the role expected of her, or dive into the unknown and make her own destiny.
This YA fantasy novel asks the readers important coming of age questions, captures the attention with witty dialogue, relatable
characters, and a world that is reawakening its forgotten magic. The readers will be entranced and hungry for more (and perhaps a piece of chocolate cake).
MICHELLE GARYFALAKIS was born and raised throughout Ontario, Canada. She currently lives just outside of Hamilton, Ontario with her husband, four kids and Snowy (their friendly Samoyed-Border Collie). When she isn’t obsessively typing out new stories on her computer, you can find her drinking coffee with a friend, snacking on some guacamole or binge watching Outlander (again). Michelle loves finding creative ways to communicate with people, and her passion for storytelling is the newest addition to that list.
Join us for this tour from May 23to June 17, 2022!
Book Details:
Book Title: Alycat and the Cattywampus Wednesday by Alysson Foti Bourque Category: Children’s Fiction (Ages 3-7), Genre: Children’s Picture Book Publisher: Pelican Publishing Release date: May 9, 2022 Content Rating: G
Book Description:
Alycat wakes up to seafood gumbo for breakfast, and even though her house is the first stop for the school bus, the bus is already full when she boards. Alycat’s whole day is turning topsy-turvy. What is happening? Young readers will tag along on Alycat’s adventures during her very “cattywampus” Wednesday and learn that a little help from some friends and a good attitude can make your day!
The themes of the books in the Alycat Series all reflect a reliance on friendships, imagination, and creativity towards problem solving. The character traits of Alycat
and her friends inspire and encourage young readers to find their own special gifts. After enduring a cattywampus world pursuant to an
unexpected pandemic, this book will resonate with readers to persevere through the wackiest and toughest of times.
Alysson Foti Bourque is the author of the award-winning Alycat series. Alysson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and a Juris Doctor degree from the Southern University Law Center.
After practicing law for six years, she traded in writing trial briefs for writing children’s books. Alysson enjoys public speaking opportunities at schools, conferences, and festivals nationwide. She hopes to inspire people of all ages to follow their dreams and believe in themselves wholeheartedly.
AWARDS & HONORS
The Alycat Series has won several prestigious awards including: Three Mom’s Choice Awards® Benjamin Franklin Digital Award, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) Best Book Award Finalist NY Big Book Award Reviewed by Midwest Book Review Southern Festival of Books Panelist Louisiana Book Festival Featured Author
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!
Okay, let’s start with an introduction: This is the second story of the Candella Sisters and it is time to meet Agape “Aggie” Candella and her romantic interest Nickolas “Nick” Sleigh. It’s best to read the series in order, even when each book can stand alone.
Aggie felt she was being paranoid, put the feeling she was being watched lingered.
Thinking this was too easy and predictable, I was watching for Jane Blythe to twist and turn the story to a place I didn’t see coming. She is good at that, which is why I love her novels so much and eagerly grab each one, waiting to be delighted by the trials and tribulations she will put her characters through.
Agape means love in Greek. It fits her perfectly, since all she really wants is her happy ever after, her knight in shining armor, her white picket fence. She is naive, trusting, easy prey. She would find a guy she liked, become obsessive and drive him away. We have met her family before…and her two sisters. Though they look like triplets, they all have a different mother.
Nick had learned early on to never let emotions rule him, don’t get attached. He rarely laughed or smiled….until Aggie. Her sweetness, innocence and strength was quick to entrance him, and he will protect her at all costs.
Romantic suspense is my comfort zone. My adrenaline rises, yet I feel wrapped in a warm snuggly embrace. I am just a rider, a spectator in Jane Blythe’s characters lives. I don’t know how she continually comes up with new ways to stress me (LOL), to amaze me, to keep me reading on, but I am grateful for having found her. Soooooo, thanks so much, Jane, for the many hours, days, weeks, months, and years of fabulous entertainment. You keep writing, I’ll keep reading.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Little Hearts by Jane Blythe.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
She thinks he’s her hero but he’s lying to her.
Agape Candella has been obsessed with finding love for as long as she can remember, unfortunately there has been a lot of heartache along the way. When a sexy stranger saves her from a mugging she knows that this time she’s found the real thing. No more broken hearts for her.
Nickolas Sleigh thought it would be easy. Make contact, use the woman, get what he needed, and then be out of there. Falling for her was never part of the plan. Now he’s trapped between his rapidly growing feelings for the sweet Aggie, who wears her heart on her sleeve, and the reality that his own heart is black, and that he’s going to lose her forever once she finds out the truth.
Losing her also means losing his only chance at stopping a dangerous killer who soon has Aggie in his sights.
ABOUT JANE BLYTHE
USA Today bestselling author Jane Blythe writes action-packed romantic suspense and military romance featuring protective heroes and heroines who are survivors. One of Jane’s most popular series includes Saving SEALs, part of Susan Stoker’s OPERATION ALPHA world! Writing in that world alongside authors such as Janie Crouch and Riley Edwards has been a blast, and she looks forward to bringing more books to this genre, both within and outside of Stoker’s world. When Jane isn’t binge-reading she’s counting down to Christmas and adding to her 200+ teddy bear collection!
Sparks fly as Dr. Lily Robinson-the brilliant academic pathologist and covert assassin for the U.S. Government-investigates two seemingly unrelated deaths alongside her lover, Agent Jean Paul Marchand, and D.C. Medical Examiner Dr. Logan Pelletier.
A U.S. Senator and the president of a developing nation are found dead in their beds. As governments thousands of miles apart react to the fallout and begin their investigations, no one claims responsibility, and no motives are clear. Yet, the cause of death implies a link between the two—one that only a mind versed in poisons and politics can decipher. With her personal relationships teetering on the brink and her loved ones facing foreign threats, Lily must unravel the mystery and uncover a plot more calculating than anyone could imagine—but it may be too late.
A Message in Poison, the third part of the Art of Secret Poisoning trilogy (The Queen of All Poisons and The Power of Poison), continues with twists and turns as Dr. Lily Robinson travels the globe, stares down death, and finds herself at “another crossroad, another choice between life real or imagined…”
The fast-paced action juxtaposes nicely with the personal dilemmas Lily faces as she uncovers a new plot that forces her to reconsider her talents and place in the world. ~ D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
Book Details:
Genre: Medical Mystery / Thriller Published by: Encircle Publications Publication Date: April 20th 2022 Number of Pages: 278 ISBN: 1645993256 (ISBN13: 9781645993254) Series: A Dr. Lily Robinson Novel, The Art of Secret Poisoning Part 3 Book Links:Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
Read an excerpt:
I’ve done some terrible things in my life. Big lies splash in my wake and follow me until the water creeps into my lungs. I’ve murdered many people who deserved to die. I take the phrase ‘pick your poison’ literally. My arsenal of natural toxins and poisons hidden deep within a freezer provide enough variety to mimic natural death. The cool salt air at my seaside cottage coaxes plants in my poisonous garden to yield the natural killers that I need. And I have collaborators around the world who can provide for me what my garden cannot.
Yes, it’s true that I’ve spent much of my life taking care of patients as a physician and taught a generation of medical students. But it was this very expertise in toxicology that captured the attention of our government. They seduced me and then orchestrated a transformation from consultant to assassin. Some say it’s my jewel-green eyes, raven-colored hair, and even my stiletto heels that tend to disarm my victims. They are blinded to the truth. With eyes closed to the Hippocratic Oath, I travel the world, eliminating terrorists and traitors with poison, stealth in a bottle, in the name of preventing mass destruction on a global scale. Our small covert counter-terrorism team weeds out threats at home and abroad—sanctioned killing, the price of doing business. I’m told that ‘the good of the many outweighs the good of the one.’ It’s become my guiding mantra, allowing me to rationalize this dual existence.
I hide my secret life beneath the cloak of justice, and I’ve discovered that others do too. So I ask you if you’re sure you know the truth about those around you. This last year of my life has been fraught with revelations that I didn’t see coming. For more than twenty years, I thought my baby, my little girl, had died in the Colombian jungle. Not only did I learn that she’s alive, but I discovered that she’s attending the same medical school where I have my academic appointment—a life-changing disclosure. I tremble when I think that we may have brushed by each other not only at the university, but in my fleeting past. I look back and see momentary images of familiarity etched in my mind. Was my beautiful Rose right in front of me while I wore blinders of guilt and despair?
JP, my lover, and partner in our covert government band, grasps my turmoil. Desperate to soothe my soul, he promises that life’s twists and turns can only make us more resilient and resolute. Facing the wind, my body stands tall and hard like a tree firmly rooted in the ground. Having no support on its own, a vine uses its tendrils to clutch to the broad trunk. My stories are like this vine, ever climbing, ever strangling—a complicated life that requires both brilliance and strength.
***
Excerpt from A Message in Poison by BJ Magnani. Copyright 2022 by BJ Magnani. Reproduced with permission from BJ Magnani. All rights reserved.
Author Bio:
BJ Magnani (Barbarajean Magnani, PhD, MD, FCAP) is the author of the Dr. Lily Robinson novels: The Queen of All Poisons (Encircle Publications, 2019), The Power of Poison (Encircle Publications, 2021), and A Message In Poison (Encircle Publications, 2022.) Lily Robinson and the Art of Secret Poisoning (nVision Publishing, 2011) is the original collection of short stories featuring the brilliant, yet deadly, doctor. Dr. Magnani is internationally recognized for her expertise in clinical chemistry and toxicology, has been named a “Top Doctor” in Boston magazine, and was named one of the Top 100 Most Influential Laboratory Medicine Professionals in the World by The Pathologist. She is Professor of Anatomic and Clinical Pathology (and Professor of Medicine) at Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, and the former Chair of both the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Toxicology Committee and the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Tufts Medical Center.
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Almost Perfect Delaney Diamond (The Cordoba Agency, #4) Publication date: May 20th 2022 Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense
A cat burglar and an assassin run for their lives across Paris—and try not to get distracted by the sizzling attraction between them.
Assistant antique dealer by day, cat burglar by night, Sable Devereaux has lived in the shadows for years. With one final heist, she can walk away from a life of crime and open her own antique store, retiring to the quiet existence she has always dreamed of. But during her last theft, she witnesses a murder and goes on the run to escape the cross-hairs of some very powerful people.
Agent and master-of-disguise, Hunter Mitchell is intrigued when he has to subdue the sexy thief after she breaks into his Parisian apartment. Then he quickly learns he must protect her—and himself—from an organization hiding much more than a murder.
The couple races across Paris in a fight to stay alive and stop one of the most powerful organizations in the world—and discover what they’ve been looking for all along… is each other.
“I got it. I’ve been shot before. I have nine lives.” Hunter flashed a grin.
Her hand grasped his undamaged arm. “Please.”
He paused. “All right.” He turned down the lid on the commode and sat down.
“Take off your shirt,” Sable instructed as she doused a washcloth with warm water.
Hunter pulled the shirt over his head and revealed his firm chest. Blood stained his sandy-colored skin and the blond hairs on his forearm.
Sable started cleaning his arm and around the cut. “Why do you do this?”
“Do what?” So close to him in the small bathroom, his voice rumbled in her ears.
“You’re good at what you do, but you risk your life to protect people all the time, right? How can you constantly jeopardize your own safety?”
“You’re one to talk.”
She looked up at him briefly before setting the bloody rag on the counter and picking up a cotton swab. “Normally, being a thief isn’t so dangerous.”
He watched her work for a bit. “It’s exciting. It’s in my blood. I’ve been this way since I was sixteen. I got into trouble and an organization helped me get on the right path.”
“Men like you…” Sable shook her head, tossing the bloody cotton in the trash. “Never mind.”
“Men like me? Daredevils?” he prodded.
“Yes, daredevils. And players.”
“What’s wrong with us? Daredevils are fun. Players make the best lovers.” Amusement filled his voice.
She wrapped his arm with gauze, keeping her eyes trained on the task and avoiding his eyes. “Players also break hearts.”
“Only if you give them your heart,” Hunter said in a low voice.
That was a warning if she ever heard one. Sable smoothed a hand over the bandage. “There.” She briefly washed her hands while he continued to watch her.
When she finished, she stepped back, but Hunter caught her shirt and held her in place. She didn’t want to look at him but couldn’t resist lifting her gaze.
“You want to give me your heart, Sable?”
The thinning of the air made breathing difficult. “I’m not that foolish.”
Hunter’s light-colored eyes scoured her face. Then he stood, fisting her shirt in his hand and hauling her closer. Sable let out a soft gasp. The breath leaving her nostrils trembled and stuttered as much as her beating heart.
“Thank you for taking such good care of me.”
She swallowed. “You’re welcome.”
He cocked his head, gaze dropping to her parted lips. “I’ve been wanting to kiss you for the longest. You gonna let me kiss you, Sable?” he asked huskily.
He didn’t wait for an answer.
He dipped his head, and her lips fell open wider before his mouth touched hers. Their mouths crashed together, guttural moans leaping from their throats and filling the small bathroom.
Author Bio:
Delaney Diamond is the USA Today Bestselling Author of sensual, passionate romance novels, and was born and raised in the U.S. Virgin Islands. She reads romance novels, mysteries, thrillers, and a fair amount of nonfiction. When she’s not busy reading or writing, she’s in the kitchen trying out new recipes, dining at one of her favorite restaurants, or traveling to an interesting locale. To get sneak peeks, notices of sale prices, and find out about new releases, visit her website and join her mailing list. Enjoy free stories on her website at www.delaneydiamond.com.
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MY REVIEW
Deputy Chief Dustin O’Meara, his daughter, father in law and four women were murdered in a home invasion and Mac Faraday is on the case. Because of that, the perp needs to be very nervous because Mac always gets his man.
“To the animal behind this, I want to say only one thing. I’m coming for you…and I will find you.”
Lots of great characters, human and animal both.
Teddy is a hero, a cockatoo with an attitude, and I love him. I love Kourtney too. This ten year old girl is such a fabulous character, older than her years. Gnarly always cracks me up with his hijinks. Erica, the Cold Case Diva, has a horse in a dog suit. How cool is that?
Mac may need some help, so the Nancy Drew Crew is on the case. They even made Kourtney a Junior member.
Lauren is so creative and adds a touch of humor to her murder, and I found myself smiling….a lot, sometimes laughing out loud. There is so much I want to share about the critters, but I must leave it up to you to find out why I love them so much.
I have been reading the Mac Faraday series for a long time now, but Shadow of Murder is not one of my favorites. I enjoyed the story, but I got bogged down with so many characters and so much info that I kept getting lost. This is an ARC, not a finished product, so changes may be made, creating a more polished version that the one I read.
So many plots, so many suspects, some murder, some laughs, some romance.
For a police procedural, Shadow of Murder was filled with action and a battle between good and evil and a wild ride at the end, making it all worth it.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of Shadow of Murder by Lauren Carr.
3 Stars
Book Details:
Book Title: Shadow of Murder by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 14) Category: Adult fiction, 496 pages Genre: Murder Mystery / Police Procedural / Crime Fiction Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: Mar 30, 2022 Content Rating: PG-13.
Lauren Carr’s mysteries are murder mysteries. Sometimes, the murder does happen on-stage. There is no graphic violence or explicit sex.There is some very mild language (hell or damn, very few and far between) No
F-Bombs!
“Five Stars for Lauren Carr’s 14th book of the Mac Faraday Murder Mysteries,Shadow of Murder!
In this new release, she has recaptured the fun of cute “creatures” with the fast-moving, suspenseful, and captivating mystery, along with her usual touch of romance.” – review by Lu Ann Worley, Rockin’ Book Reviews
“This newest title in the author’s Mac Faraday cozy murder mystery series offers Lauren Carr’s most intricate plot to date – full of twists and turns guaranteed to keep readers up until the wee hours. While still full of the humor, fun critters and touch of romance that are her trademark, the author has also woven in a dark supernatural element that
whispers through to the startling ending.”– review by Marilyn R. Wilson, bestselling author, freelance writer, editor, and speaker at Olio by Marilyn.
Book Description:
You can’t move to the next chapter of your life, without tying up loose ends in the previous.
True crime blogger, Erica Hart starts a new chapter in her life with a bang when a dark shadow darts into the mountain road to send her SUV off a cliff and to the bottom of Deep Creek Lake. Spencer’s newest addition to the police force, Dusty O’Meara assumes it was a bear. Erica is not so sure.
Soon afterwards, contractors discover Konnor Langston’s body at the bottom of an abandoned swimming pool at the new summer home of Mac Faraday’s son.
With Police Chief David O’Callaghan away on paternity leave, Deputy Chief Dusty O’Meara must lead the investigation in his first murder case since moving to Spencer. Not only does Dusty have to work under the shadow of the legendary Mac Faraday, but he also has to match wits with Erica, who is determined to find justice for Konnor, her childhood friend.
Mac isn’t so difficult. Even Gnarly, the town’s canine mayor, is manageable if his authority is well-respected and he is kept entertained.
Erica Hart, Dusty finds, is more of a challenge. It wouldn’t be so difficult if she wasn’t so irresistible.
“Lauren’s dialogue is brisk, her setting beautiful and the addition of Gnarly is very clever…It’s Murder, My Son is a delightful read and I look forward to more of Carr’s Mac Faraday mysteries.”– review by Connie Gregory, Connie’s Reviews
Book Details:
Book Title: It’s Murder, My Son by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 1) Category: Adult fiction (18+), 288 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: June 23, 2010
Book Description:
What started out as the worst day of Mac Faraday’s life would end up being a new beginning. After a messy divorce hearing, the last person that Mac wanted to see was another lawyer. Yet, this lawyer wore the expression of a child bursting to tell his secret. This confidence would reveal Mac as heir to undreamed of fortunes, and lead him to the birthplace of America’s Queen of Mystery and an investigation that will unfold like one of her famous
mystery novels.
Soon after she moves to Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, Katrina Singleton learns that life in an exclusive community is not all good. For some unknown reason, a strange man calling himself “Pay Back” begins stalking her. When Katrina is found strangled all evidence points to her terrorist, who is nowhere to be found.
Three months later, the file on her murder is still open when Mac Faraday, sole heir to his unknown birth mother’s home and fortune, moves into the estate next door. Little does he know as he drives up to Spencer Manor that he is driving into a closed gate community that is hiding more suspicious deaths than his DC workload as a homicide
detective. With the help of his late mother’s journal, this retired cop puts all his detective skills to work to pick up where the local investigators have left off to follow the clues to Katrina’s killer.
“As in any good who-done-it, there are red herrings and plot complications in Old Loves Die Hard and fans of mysteries and police procedurals will get a kick out of Lauren Carr’s books.”– review by David M. Kinchen, Huntington News
Book Details:
Book Title: Old Loves Die Hard by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 2) Category: Adult fiction (18+), 318 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: April 23, 2011
Book Description:
In Old Loves Die Hard, Carr picks up where she left off in It’s Murder, My Son.
Mac Faraday is settling nicely into his new life at Spencer Manor when his ex-wife Christine shows up—and she wants him back! Before Mac can send her packing, Christine and her estranged lover are murdered in Mac’s private penthouse suite at the Spencer Inn, the five-star resort built by his ancestors.
The investigation leads to the discovery of cases files for some of Mac’s murder cases in the room of the man responsible for destroying his marriage. Why would his ex-wife’s lover come to Spencer to dig into Mac’s old cases?
With the help of his new friends on Deep Creek Lake, Mac must use all of his detective skills to clear his name and the Spencer Inn’s reputation, before its five-stars—and more bodies—start dropping.
“Shades of Murder is a fascinating, intricately woven mystery that has a number of engaging characters looking into two cases that would seem to have
nothing in common. …This is a most entertaining entry in this series, made all the more so by the wonderful inclusion of Gnarly and Irving, Mac’s dog and Gates’s black and white cat, who meet during the course of
the story.”– review by Mysterious Reviews
Book Details:
Book Title: Shades of Murder by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 3) Category: Adult fiction (18+), 232 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: May 7, 2012
Book Description:
In Shades of Murder,
Mac Faraday is once again the heir to an unbelievable fortune. This time the benefactor is a stolen art collector. But this isn’t just any stolen work-of-art–it’s a masterpiece with a murder attached to it.
Ilysa Ramsay was in the midst of taking the art world by storm with her artistic genius. Hours after unveiling her latest masterpiece–she is found dead in her Deep Creek Lake studio–and her painting is nowhere to be found. Almost a decade later, the long-lost Ilysa Ramsay masterpiece has found its way into Mac Faraday’s hands and he can’t resist the urge to delve into the case.
A world away, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; former JAG lawyer Joshua Thornton agrees to do a favor for the last person he would ever expect to do a favor–a convicted serial killer.
The Favor: Solve the one murder wrongly attributed to him.
Joshua finds an unexpected ally in Cameron Gates, a spunky detective who has reason to believe the young woman known to the media only as Jane Doe, Victim Number Four, was the victim of a copycat. Together, Joshua and Cameron (*) set out to light a flame under the cold case only to find that someone behind the scenes wants the case to remain cold, and is willing to kill to keep it that way.
Little do these detectives know that the paths of their respective cases are on a collision course when they follow the clues to bring them together in a showdown with a killer who’s got a talent for
murder!
“I must
say, I truly enjoyed reading this book! I found myself waking up
slightly early for work just to finish a couple chapters! Not only was
this book captivating, I found myself laughing at Gnarly, the ever so
lovable and rambunctious German Shepherd! I look forward to reading the
next book by Lauren Carr!”– Review by Debbie Hill, Miss Book Lovers
Book Details:
Book Title: Blast from the Past by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 4) Category: Adult fiction (18+), 301 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: January 2, 2013
Book Description:
A woman is killed when she
falls down the stairs. Men die writhing, in a little coffee shop. Death
may not be that unusual these days in Deep Creek Lake, but then someone
tries to kill Archie, the woman Mac Faraday loves.
When she tells Mac the reason behind it and her secret is
exposed, Mac and the entire police department will go to extremes to
keep Archie safe.
That raises rather a lot of questions:
Who exactly are they protecting her from? Could it be warring crime lords? Hit men? Why does one particular couple keep showing up around town? Just how many killers are there, anyway? Is anyone who they say they are?
“So much fun to read! The
castle seemed foreboding. The rumors of the ghost dog, werewolves, and
more made more plausible in light of the murders. Is it enough to make
even detectives reconsider? Is it all about the missing book or is the
real motive money?”– review byMystery Suspense Reviews
Book Details:
Book Title: The Murders at Astaire Castle by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 5) Category: Adult fiction (18+), 281 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: July 18, 2013 Content Rating:
PG-13 – Lauren Carr’s mysteries are murder mysteries. Sometimes, the
murder does happen on-stage. There is no graphic violence or explicit
sex.There is some very mild language (hell or damn, very few and far
between) No F-Bombs!
Book Description:
Never tell Mac Faraday not to go someplace.
Spencer’s police chief, David O’Callaghan, learns this lesson
the hard way when he orders Mac to not go to the south end of Spencer’s
mountaintop —even though he owns the property. It doesn’t take long for
Mac to find out what lies on the other side of a stone wall
and locked gate with a warning for visitors to keep out.
Topping the list of the ten top haunted places in America,
Astaire Castle is associated with two suicides, three mysterious
disappearances, and four murders since it was built almost a century
ago—and Mac Faraday owns it!
In spite of David’s warning to keep out, Mac can’t resist
unlocking the gate to see the castle that supposedly hasn’t seen a
living soul since his late mother had ordered it closed up after the
double homicide and disappearance of Damian Wagner, a world-famous
master of horror novels.
What was supposed to be a quick tour of a dusty old castle
turns into another Mac Faraday adventure when Astaire Castle becomes the
scene of even more murders. Mac is going to need to put all of his
investigative talents to work to sort out this case that involves the
strangest characters he has run into yet—including a wolfman. No, we’re
not talking about Gnarly.
“I recommend this book to all mystery lovers! The Lady Who Cried Murder was another heart-stopping thriller! While the mystery and the road to
it’s solution was amazing, I truly enjoyed the cast and characters (they feel like family)! Another great hit and I look forward to reading the next installment of Mac Faraday and his gang and what kind of drama they
end up in!” – review by Debbie Hill, Miss Book Lovers
Book Details:
Book Title: The Lady Who Cried Murder by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 6) Category: Adult fiction (18+), 286 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: January 2, 2014
Book Description:
Determined to get her pretty
face in front of the cameras, Khloe Everest fakes an abduction only to make a grand entrance in the midst of a press conference held by Spencer’s Police Chief David O’Callaghan.
Three years later, after failing to catapult her notoriety into a long-lasting celebrity, Khloe Everest returns to Spencer upon her mother’s sudden death and seemingly finds another weapon to propel her into the spotlight. Unfortunately, someone kills her before she can make this entrance.
In Lauren Carr’s sixth mystery, Mac Faraday and his friends come up against reality stars, politicians, has-beens, and wannabes. Mac also finds himself face-to-face with an old foe from his past who had managed to escape arrest during their last encounter. Now, Mac sees that his adversary has only become more powerful, and dangerous, with the
passage of time.
Intent to not let this killer escape again, Mac and his friends need to put all of their talents together to put a stop to a cold-blooded lady killer.
“Twelve To Murder is a clever blend of comedy,
mystery, and sappy love story. Lauren Carr does a good job of moving the
quirky storyline along nicely with an abundance of witty dialogue. And
you have no idea who the good guys are and who the bad guys are until
the end.”– Review by Every Free Chance Book Reviews.
Book Details:
Book Title: Twelve to Murder by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 7) Category: Adult fiction (18+), 266 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: February 9, 2014
Book Description:
Mac Faraday’s plan to spend a quiet weekend home alone with his lady love, Archie Monday, is shattered by murder.
A middle-aged couple are brutally murdered in their summer place on Deep Creek Lake. To any other detective, the case would be considered open and shut when it appears as if one of the victims has written her killer’s name in her blood—not so for Mac Faraday, who believes there is more to this case than meets the eye.
In Lauren Carr’s latest Mac Faraday Mystery former child-star and teen-idol Lenny Frost steps into a pub in Deep Creek Lake to see his face on the television over the bar with the announcement that he’s wanted for the murder of his agent and her husband!
How does Lenny Frost react to this sudden comeback into the headlines? He takes everyone hostage and gives Mac Faraday twelve hours to find the real killer or he’s going to kill everyone in the bar.
“There is actually a mystery
within a mystery in Carr’s new book. It’s a tangled, twisting adventure
that adds more dead bodies along the way. Carr’s characters are lively,
her plots complex, there is always just enough humor to set a lighter
tone.” – Review by Allene Reynolds, Mystery and Me
Book Details:
Book Title: A Wedding and a Killing by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 8) Category: Adult fiction (18+), 275 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: September 13, 2014
Book Description:
Not wanting to wait until
their big day to start their life of wedded bliss, Mac Faraday and his
lady love, Archie Monday, decide to elope to the little church where his
ancestors had all married—along the tranquil shore of Deep Creek Lake.
However, before they can say, “I do,” the sanctuary erupts into chaos
when Gnarly finds a body in the church office.
In A Wedding and a Killing, Mac
and his team discover more questions than answers. What kind of person
walks into a church and shoots a man for no apparent reason? How do you
solve the murder of a man who has no enemies in the world? Which of the
seemingly kind-hearted church members is really a cold-blooded killer?
Then, there is the all-important question, how long do Mac Faraday and his lady love have to wait to get married?
“I am, bottom line, amazed at the giant step that places Carr
comparable to significant authors whose name slips off our tongues like,
for instance, Nora Roberts. Watch this author–she’s moving quickly to
where her goals are headed… Three Days to Forever has to be, in my opinion, the best of her best! Get it!”– review by Glenda Bixler, Book Readers Heaven
Book Details:
Book Title: Three Days to Forever by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 9) Category: Adult fiction (18+), 366 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: January 19, 2015
Book Description:
In one of the most critically-acclaimed Mac
Faraday Mysteries from best-selling mystery author Lauren Carr, readers
embark on a roller-coaster adventure with old friends (including
the Lovers in Crime team of Prosecutor Joshua Thornton and Homicide
Detective Cameron Gates), but also meet new ones as Mac Faraday’s
daughter Jessica Faraday and Joshua Thornton’s son Murphy Thornton join
the team in the race to get the lovebirds to the altar!*
With three days left to the year, Deep Creek Lake is hopping
with holiday vacationers and wedding guests pouring into the Spencer Inn
for Mac Faraday and Archie Monday’s huge wedding ceremony which is
being touted as the social event of the year.
But droopy flowers and guests who failed to RSVP are the least
of Mac’s and Archie’s problems when a professional hit squad hits
Spencer Manor to send the groom, Joshua Thornton, Archie’s mother, and
Gnarly running for their lives.
With time running out to the big day, Mac Faraday and Spencer’s
small police force have to sort through the clues to figure out not
only who has been targeted for assassination, but also who is determined
to stop everything … FOREVER!
“There’s lots of drama, crimes, murder, and laughter that surrounds
the Diablo Ball. As usual, Gnarly is in the middle of everything. Hated
to have to keep putting this down. I loved reading Open Season for Murder.”– review by Rhonda Laney, readalot
Book Details:
Book Title: Open Season for Murder by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 10) Category: Adult fiction (18+), 318 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: June 1, 2015
Book Description:
“Robin, it’s me, Ashton.”
Spring is in the air. In Deep Creek Lake, the burst of blossoms on the trees has the effect of a starting pistol in the race to get the resort area ready in time for the seasonal residents return to Spencer,
Maryland.
This year, the Spencer Inn, Mac Faraday’s five-star resort, has the added duty of preparing for the Diablo Ball, an annual benefit event that used to kick off Deep Creek Lake’s summer season. The exclusive gala has drawn in A-listers from across the country—including suspects and witnesses connected to Ashton Piedmont, a young woman who
had disappeared while skinny dipping in Deep Creek Lake five years earlier—days after the last Diablo Ball.
Intrigued by a mysterious phone call from a young woman claiming to be Ashton, retired homicide detective Mac Faraday can’t resist diving head first into the cold case. But he’s not the only one. Someone behind the scenes has gone to a lot of trouble to bring Ashton Piedmont’s friends and enemies to the Diablo Ball—which promises to be a gala event to die for!
“The story moves at a rapid pace
and has a bit of everything – romance, humor, and suspense with several
other murders after the body is discovered. A few surprises along with
the tension both at home and in New York. Carr does an excellent job of
developing her characters and providing backstory while maintaining a
quick pace. Well worth the sleep I gave up to get to the end.”– review by Christa Nardi, Christa Reads and Writes.
Book Details:
Book Title: Cancelled Vows by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 11) Category: Adult fiction (18+), 320 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: January 28, 2016
Book Description:
Police Chief David O’Callaghan and Chelsea Adams’ wedding day
is fast approaching. Unfortunately, at the last minute, David discovers
that there is one small problem to be taken care of before he can walk
down the aisle—divorce his first wife!
Lauren Carr takes fans of the Mac Faraday mysteries to the Big Apple in this nail-biting adventure. In Cancelled Vows,
David, Mac, and Gnarly, too, rush to New York City to dissolve David’s
marriage to an old girlfriend—and he’s got five days to get it done.
When murder throws up a roadblock, it is up to David’s best man, Mac
Faraday, and Gnarly, K9-in-waiting, to sort through the clues to get
David to the church in time!
“OMG! Carr is over the top and giving us an easy “10” with her latest, Candidate for Murder!…Don’t
just sit there thinking that this might be the book to try for Lauren
Carr! I’m telling you right now it’s a must-read for daring, adventure,
crime-busting, high-level government criminal elimination.” – reviewer by Glenda Bixler, Book Readers Heaven
Book Details:
Book Title: Candidate for Murder by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 12) Category: Adult fiction (18+), 410 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: June 16, 2016
Book Description:
It’s election time in
Spencer, Maryland, and the race for mayor is not a pretty one. In recent
years, the small resort town has become divided between the local
year-round residents who have enjoyed their rural way of life and the
city dwellers moving into their mansions, taking over the town council,
and proceeding to turn Deep Creek Lake into a closed gate
community—complete with a host of regulations for everything from speed
limits to clotheslines.
When the political parties force-feed two unsavory mayoral
nominees on the town residents, Police Chief David O’Callaghan decides
to make a statement—by nominating Gnarly, Mac Faraday’s German shepherd,
to run as mayor of Spencer!
What starts out as a joke turns into a disaster when overnight
Gnarly becomes the front-runner—at which point his political enemies
take a page straight out of Politics 101. What do you do when you’re
behind in a race? Dig up dirt on the front-runner, of course.
Seemingly, someone is not content to rest with simply
embarrassing the front-runner by publicizing his dishonorable discharge
from the United States Army but to throw in a murder for good measure.
With murder on the ballot, Mac Faraday and the gang—including
old friends from past cases—dive in to clear Gnarly’s name, catch a
killer, and save Spencer!
“With her usual panache, Lauren Carr blends the grittiness of
murder(s) with a good deal of humor, the latter revolving largely around Gnarly and David’s Belgian shepherd, Storm, who would much rather be couch potato-ing than anything involving exertion.” – review by Lelia Taylor, Buried Under Books
Book Details:
Book Title: Crimes Past by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 13) Category: Adult fiction (18+), 245 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: October 16, 2018
Book Description:
It’s a bittersweet reunion for Mac Faraday when members of his
former homicide squad arrive at the Spencer Inn. While it is sweet to
attend the wedding of a late colleague’s daughter, it is a bitter
reminder that the mother of the bride had been the victim of a double
homicide.
The brutal slaying weighing heavy on his mind, Mac is anxious
to explore every avenue for a break in the cold case—even a suggestion
from disgraced former detective Louis Gannon that one of their former
friends is the killer.
When the investigator is brutally slain, Mac Faraday rips open
the cold case with a ruthless determination to reveal which of his
friends is a cold-blooded murderer.
Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday,
Lovers in Crime, Thorny Rose, Chris Matheson Cold Case Mysteries, and
Nikki Bryant Cozy Mysteries—over twenty-five titles across five
fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!
Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr seamlessly
crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, crime fiction, police
procedurals, romance, and humor.
The owner of Acorn Book Services, Lauren is also a publishing manager,
consultant, and virtual book tour coordinator for independent authors.
Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions.
She lives with her husband, and two spoiled rotten German shepherds on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.
March 28 – Mystery Review Crew – book series spotlight / guest post / giveaway
March 28 – Cover Lover Book Review – book series spotlight / giveaway
March 29 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / guest post / giveaway
March 29 – Olio by Marilyn – book review of IT’S MURDER, MY SON / giveaway
March 30 – Literary Flits – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
Mar 30 – Olio by Marilyn – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
Mar 30 – Olio by Marilyn – book spotlight of SHADOW OF MURDER / author interview / giveaway
March 31 – My Reading Journeys – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
April 1 – Kam’s Place – book spotlight of SHADOW OF MURDER
April 4 – Kam’s Place – book spotlight of IT’S MURDER, MY SON April 4 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – audiobook review of IT’S MURDER, MY SON / giveaway
April 5 – Literary Flits – book review of SHADES OF MURDER / giveaway
April 6 – Leels Loves Books – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
April 7 – Kam’s Place – book spotlight of OLD LOVES DIE HARD, SHADES OF MURDER, BLAST FROM THE PAST April 7 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – audiobook review of OLD LOVES DIE HARD / giveaway
April 8 – Nighttime Reading Center – audiobook review of SHADES OF MURDER / giveaway
April 11 – Kam’s Place – book spotlight of THE MURDERS AT ASTAIRE CASTLE, THE LADY WHO CRIED MURDER, TWELVE TO MURDER
April 12 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book series spotlight / giveaway April 13 –Rockin’ Book Reviews – audiobook review of SHADES OF MURDER / giveaway
April 14 – My Reading Journeys – book review of TWELVE TO MURDER / giveaway April 15 – Library of Clean Reads – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
April 15 – Kam’s Place – book spotlight of A WEDDING AND A KILLING, OPEN SEASON FOR MURDER April 19 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – audiobook review of BLAST FROM THE PASST / giveaway
April 20 – Bound 4 Escape – book review of OLD LOVES DIE HARD / giveaway
April 21 – My Reading Journeys – book review of A WEDDING AND A KILLING / giveaway April 21 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review of THE MURDERS AT ASTAIRE CASTLE / giveaway
April 22 –Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / guest post / giveaway
April 26 –Literary Flits – book review of THE MURDERS AT ASTAIRE CASTLE / giveaway April 27 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – audiobook review of THE LADY WHO CRIED MURDER / giveaway
April 29 – Nighttime Reading Center – audiobook review of THE LADY WHO CRIED MURDER / giveaway
May 3 – Dab of Darkness Audiobook Reviews – audiobook review of A WEDDING AND A KILLING / giveaway
May 4 – Kam’s Place – book spotlight of THREE DAYS TO FOREVER
May 4 – Literary Flits – book review of TWELVE TO MURDER / giveaway
May 5 –Kam’s Place – book spotlight of CANCELLED VOWS
May 6 – Kam’s Place – book spotlight of CANDIDATE FOR MURDER and CRIMES PAST
May 9 – Splashes of Joy – audiobook review of OLD LOVES DIE HARD / giveaway
May 10 – Celticlady’s Reviews – book series spotlight / giveaway
May 11 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of THE MURDERS AT ASTAIRE CASTLE / giveaway May 12 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – audiobook review of TWELVE TO MURDER / giveaway
May 16 – Hall Ways Blog – audiobook review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
May 17 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of A WEDDING AND A KILLING / giveaway
May 18 – Dab of Darkness Audiobook Reviews – audiobook review of OPEN SEASON FOR MURDER / giveaway
May 19 – Deborah-Zenha Adams – book series spotlight / author interview / giveaway
May 19 – Library of Clean Reads – book review of OLD LOVES DIE HARD / giveaway
May 20 – Nighttime Reading Center – audiobook review of A WEDDING AND A KILLING / giveaway
May 20 – Bound 4 Escape – book review of BLAST FROM THE PAST / giveaway May 23 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review of A WEDDING AND A KILLING / giveaway
May 24 – Mostly Mystery Reviews – book review of IT’S MURDER, MY SON / giveaway
May 25 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
May 26 – Dab of Darkness Audiobook Reviews – audiobook review of CANCELLED VOWS / giveaway
May 27 –Bound 4 Escape – book review of THE LADY WHO CRIED MURDER / giveaway
May 31 –Jazzy Book Reviews – book series spotlight / guest post / giveaway
June 1 – fundinmental – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
June 2 – Mostly Mystery Reviews – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / guest posts / giveaway
June 3 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – audiobook review of OPEN SEASON FOR MURDER / giveaway
June 6 –Bound 4 Escape – book review of TWELVE TO MURDER / giveaway
June 7 – Splashes of Joy – audiobook review of SHADES OF MURDER / giveaway
June 8 – The Page Ladies – audiobook review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
June 9 – Dab of Darkness Audiobook Reviews – audiobook review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
June 9 – Bound 4 Escape – book review of A WEDDING AND A KILLING / giveaway
June 10 – Nighttime Reading Center – audiobook review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway June 13 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review of CANDIDATE FOR MURDER / giveaway
June 14 – Bound 4 Escape – book review of OPEN SEASON FOR MURDER / giveaway
June 15 – Bound 4 Escape – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
June 16 –Literary Flits – book review of THREE DAYS TO FOREVER / giveaway
June 20 – Splashes of Joy – audiobook review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
June 24 – Adventurous Jessy – book review of SHADOW OF MURDER / giveaway
June 24 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review of CRIMES PAST / giveaway
I loved reading these characters dark and disturbing stories. I don’t think I have ever been where they took me. How will it end? Nothing can stop me from finding out. My guess, they can’t all die…can they? Someone has to be left standing…don’t they?
I couldn’t put it down.
The explosive conclusion blew me away…
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of His Affliction: A Desecrated Conclusion by C A Rene.
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
I heard he was crazy, that his feelings were all dead.
I heard the bad things he did was because of the monster in his head.
He likes to deal out pain, reveling in his victims’ screams.
He likes breaking hearts, ripping them apart at the seams.
Everything became better, because he went away.
But none of that mattered, since a part of him stayed.
Now he’s back, looking for what he left behind.
They all whisper the same things, about his affliction of the mind.
People say he’s broken, this man Brody Landry.
But I think he’s beautiful, a perfect Prince for me
ABOUT C A RENE (from her website)
First off… Call me Chrissy!
I’m
so glad you’re here, whether it’s because you found me from reading my
books or hit a link, I’m just ecstatic you decided to check me out.
In
my books you will find complete inclusivity and I refuse to be kept in
any specific box. I write across all genres and dabble in just about
everything.
To keep up with all new releases and teasers for all my upcoming books, you can follow me on any social media platform!
Lover
of all things dark. I love to read it, write it, own it, eat it,
whatever it. My addictions include Coffee, books, and WINE, in that
order.
Serenade Morgan Shamy (The Dark Nocturne, #1) Publication date: May 31st 2022 Genres: Mystery, Paranormal, Young Adult
St. Paul’s Academy of the Arts isn’t your usual boarding school…
When November Huntington is sent away to live with her long-lost family, she’s forced to attend a music school for the gifted—which wouldn’t be a problem if November were musical. She’s an athlete through and through, and hates being different.
The kids at the school don’t welcome her, they’re wary of her presence, especially Vincent, a brooding teenage boy involved with dark spirits, who can make time stop when he plays his piano. In fact, all her classmates are all obsessed with playing their instruments. And odd things happen when the do.
But something is off about the school. Deaths have occurred through the years, students showing up dead the same way November’s parents were killed—with their throats ripped out.
A killer is on the loose… November must figure out a way to stop whoever it is, balance her feelings for Vincent, and solve her parents’ past before she, too, is numbered among the dead.
The first in a Paranormal Fantasy Saga by debut author Morgan Shamy.
She started forward once more, silently cursing, when a soft melody drifted from the woods. The sound jarred her to a stop, and her heart suddenly spiked. She wasn’t alone. Someone was out here. The music drew closer, heightening. It was slow and haunting, tinkling, like a music box. It didn’t sound like music from a radio or phone. It moved through the trees, wrapping around the bushes, spreading out toward her. She could feel it all around her, soaking into her.
“Hello?” she asked, backing up a step. She squinted into the trees. “Hello?”
No one answered.
The music continued, and she wrapped her arms around herself, backing up further.
“Hello?”
Deep into the forest, a bright light appeared, small at first until it burst outward. The light seared her eyes, large and white, and she ripped her gaze away. A voice in the back of her mind screamed at her to run. The music continued to play on the air, soaring toward her. It was getting closer, becoming thicker, heavier.
This couldn’t be happening. She was having hallucinations. She needed to get out of here. She needed to find stability. Ground herself.
She pushed herself faster, her feet pounding on the forest floor. But the music slithered after her, brushing along her back, carrying with her as she ran.
“Stop!” she yelled. “Stop!” She continued to race, until she dropped to her knees. She covered her hands over her ears, squeezing her eyes shut. “Stop!”
In a blink, the music halted, and the light dissipated, but the music still echoed inside her head, hanging on the air. She stretched her eyes wide, her gaze darting side to side. She stayed frozen, her knees on the dusty ground. Her heart beat loud as the breeze picked up and tickled the hair off her face. Birds chirped, and the forest came alive again. She slowly lowered her hands.
Everything was normal. Everything was fine. She had been hallucinating.
She huffed out a frustrated breath and headed back down the trail, shaking out her arms. She was stupid to think someone had been after her, or to think she’d heard music or seen such a bright light, but the sweet melodic sound wouldn’t leave her alone. The melody lingered inside her head, weaving through her memory. Maybe someone had been there, and maybe she had been its target.
Author Bio:
Morgan Shamy is an ex-ballerina turned YA writer. She has been immersed in the arts since the young age of 4, where she performed various roles alongside a professional ballet company for over seven years, and has danced on prestigious stages like soloing at Carnegie Hall in New York City. She has taught hundreds of girls in her fifteen years of teaching, where some of her students have received full-ride scholarships to schools like School of American Ballet, the Harid Conservatory, Kirov Academy of Ballet, and Pacific Northwest Ballet, to name a few.
Morgan discovered writing when her three-year-old son was diagnosed with cancer. It was through that experience which instilled the need to share art and magic with children through words on the page.
Morgan is also an accomplished concert pianist. She was the first girl in Utah to receive the 75 pt. Gold Cup in the Utah Federation of Music in piano solo/concerto competition. Morgan currently lives with her X-Games gold-medalist husband and four children in Salt Lake City, Utah.
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. C.J. Carson will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
The paranormal mystery The Veils of Parallel Times continues with “Murderous Interruptions”. Allie Callahan’s nemesis is a challenging and formidable adversary.
Travel with Allie as she finally accepts and embraces her ancestral gifts to stop her archenemy who would have her destroyed for his own lust of power. Explore the depths of her relationship with this rival in this life and beyond the veil.
Read an Excerpt
When I turned from the fire to respond, the woman hushed me. “You have much work to do, my dear, now rest.” She held me in her arms, swallowing me up in the most comforting sleep I could remember for a very long time, maybe ever.
Hours later, the warm glare of the sun’s first light sliced through the trees of the forest, waking me from a sound sleep. The air was cool and crisp, and I was laying next to the fire that had burned down to smoldering coals. Suddenly, realizing I wasn’t dreaming, I was in unfamiliar surroundings. I remembered the woman I had met the evening before, but she was not within eyeshot. Glancing around to get my bearings, it was shocking to be sitting in the middle of a small clearing of the woods. Several teepees made of tall tree branches wrapped in animal skins sat along the edge of the clearing. Standing and sliding out from under the animal skin blanket, I looked down to see myself dressed in unfamiliar clothes, and leather moccasins covering my feet. I had the strange sensation I was in a familiar place, but still not where I belonged.
Before I took one step, I scanned the area. Then something compelled me to approach one of the dwellings. As I drew closer, an Indian brave stepped out. Grabbing me by the arm, he pulled me into the teepee and shoved me to the ground. Walking to the edge of the space, he retrieved a large round basket and shot it at me with such force I thought it might fray. Shocked, I gazed up at him, he looked oddly familiar, but it was his eyes that gave him away. These new experiences were teaching me that the eyes were indeed the window to the soul. Those dark brown eyes were those of a man I knew all too well. Makya! Could this be Makya? Had I known him through other lifetimes? Although he spoke in a different tongue, it somehow translated perfectly for me.
He was angry and started barking. “You are a lazy dreamer. Why you insist on leaving our dwelling and choose to lay with the fire in place of me is a mystery. You need to do your gathering, and you are late in starting your day. I am off to hunt. You will obey me and begin behaving like a squaw worthy of me.”
I heard footsteps outside as someone was approaching. “Calian, are you coming? We are late; the morning is half over.”
Stunned, my eyes widened. Makya? Although the man called him Calian, the spirit was too familiar. It was the evil spirit I’d come to know as Makya! It didn’t look like him, but it was his temperament.
As I pushed up to my knees, Calian glared down at me, striking out in my direction. Although his hand never touched me, a force knocked me back to the ground. As I raised my hand to him, he grabbed my wrist, twisting it, and forced me back to the ground.
“You know better. Do not use your powers on me. I will strike you down every time. You are no match for me!”
Panic rose in me as I struggled to understand what was happening. If this brave was indeed Makya by a different name, how did we get here?
Pushing through the opening in the structure, he paused without turning to me. “Do not return this afternoon unless you have filled that basket with berries and some healing herbs. You must learn your place and mind your responsibilities. Do not make me the laughingstock of this tribe one more time!”
I listened to his footsteps as he jogged off, mounted his horse, and rode away before I got up from the ground.
About the Author:
CJ Carson was inspired by a great story from a very early age. What brought her to this juncture in life and encouraged her to put pen to paper are the many rich experiences and opportunities of her life’s journey.
While working in the medical field, she explored energy work and became a Polarity Therapist and Reiki Therapist.
Exploring acting brought her into the theatre world both on the stage and behind the scenes.
Painting introduced her to a group of artists that shared her passion for bringing a scene to canvas.
Her love of singing allowed her to travel twice to Europe as a soloist with conductor Sonja Dahlgren Prior, who inspired her to do something, she never dreamed possible.
CJ Carson has always wanted to write. Now she is introducing to the world her second published book, “Murderous Interruptions,” from her trilogy, Veils of Parallel Times.
