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.
Bea Collins is desperate. Her fiancé, Dean has disappeared and Bea is sure that he didn’t just walk out on her. In comes the troubleshooter, Hannibal Jones who is skeptical until he finds the missing man who is dazed, confused, and accused of a coworker’s bloody murder. Suddenly, Hannibal has a new mission: to prove Dean’s innocence. All evidence points to Dean but he can’t seem to remember what happened. To find the truth, Hannibal travels through Dean’s past where he stumbles on evidence linking him to yet another murder. These deaths have destroyed the lives connected to them, and it soon becomes clear that Hannibal will have to solve all three cases in order to save Dean from the death penalty and to prevent further bloodshed.
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Sara R. Turnquist will be awarding a $30 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.
She has nowhere to go. He has nothing to lose.
Lily McAllen has known nothing but hardship and rejection. Her brother, the only person she can lean on, takes a job at the Miller ranch. Now with no ally, she is alone, confined, and vulnerable. She becomes desperate to get away…by any means necessary.
Despite his best intentions, Daniel Hayworth is drawn into a fatal mishap. He feels responsible. And is prepared to do whatever it takes to ensure Lily is cared for…even if that means proposing marriage.
Complicating matters, Geronimo and his raiding band terrorize the surrounding areas. Troubles mount and tensions challenge the growing attraction between Dan and Lily.
Will they make it to the church? Or find themselves victims of lies, disillusionment, or the ire of an Apache rebel?
Read an Excerpt:
She prayed he would not pull back. Why would she do so? Why did she wish him to be near? Why did that seem important?
As if answering her prayer, he leaned closer. “That’s just not possible.”
She clenched her hands. “Why not?” The words did not have much force behind them.
“Just…trust me.” His words were clipped.
The manner of his tone sliced through her, stinging as it cut. Her fight against her tears became futile. And one escape.
Why would he be so insistent? Was there something he didn’t trust her with?
Dan covered her hands with his larger ones. “Lily, I…”
What did he care to say? Would he speak things that would endear him to her? She should not listen, yet she waited.
“I only want to do the best I can by you. For you.”
This time it was she who sought his regard while he looked downward.
He continued, “I can’t do that if you won’t trust me.”
In the silence of the moments that followed, she considered his words. And she knew he had been right—there must be some give and take. And he wasn’t asking for much. Only hurt had kept her from seeing it.
She didn’t have ground to stand on anyway. The truth was she had nothing. No one. And nowhere to go. He had been and was being generous. This offer was a gift.
Nodding, she slid a thumb over one of his fingers.
He peered up at her, meeting her gaze at last.
The velvety brown she found there was so soft and deep that the world melted away. Her heartbeat slowed.
Perhaps her trust wasn’t for nothing.
About the Author:
Sara is a coffee lovin’, word slinging, Historical Romance author whose super power is converting caffeine into novels. She loves those odd little tidbits of history that are stranger than fiction. That’s what inspires her. Well, that and a good love story.
But of all the love stories she knows, hers is her favorite. She lives happily with her own Prince Charming and their gaggle of minions. Three to be exact. They sure know how to distract a writer! But, alas, the stories must be written, even if it must happen in the wee hours of the morning.
Sara is an avid reader and enjoys reading and writing clean Historical Romance when she’s not traveling. Her books range from the Czech lands to the American wild west and from ancient Egypt to the early 1900s. Some of her titles include The Lady Bornekova, Hope in Cripple Creek, The General’s Wife, Trail of Fears, and the Convenient Risk Series.
Today I am excited to share an excerpt and giveaway to celebrate the release of ARROGANT BASTARD by Jennifer Dawson. This is the second standalone novel in the Bastard series and shares Cat and Caden’s romance. Enjoy and be sure to download your copy!
Arrogant Bastard
I’m Cat McKay, and I’m in desperate need of a man. My farm manager deserted me six weeks before our grand opening that will help put my family’s business on the map. Now I need to find a replacement, because I’m not about to be the reason we fail. Unfortunately, Caden Landry— whose arrogance, evasions and good looks rub me the wrong way—is my only option on a list of zero candidates. So, as much as it pains me to admit it, I need him to step in and save the day. Yeah, I hate it too. I’m Caden Landry, and I have a self-destructive streak a mile wide. One thing is clear, I need to stay the hell away from my new boss, Cat McKay. Not an easy task, considering she’s the kind of woman I find irresistible. But I’m tired of running, tired of living paycheck to paycheck with nothing but a flatbed to my name. I’m determined this time I’m going to get my life together. So, I’m not about to screw a golden opportunity because I can’t keep my hands off the woman in charge. This time, self-preservation will prevail.
I point to the empty seat at the end of the counter. “Did you not hear me say I want to be alone.”
“I did.” He points to the shot glass. “You gonna let me do a shot all by myself?”
“You would have been doing it all by yourself if I wasn’t here.”
“But you are here,” he points out, oh so helpfully.
I contemplate irrationally throwing the tequila in his face but that seems a bit too dramatic and wouldn’t really work in my favor. Not only does it show my cards, but it wastes perfectly good alcohol.
Doesn’t mean I can’t work out a deal.
I tilt my head. “If I do a shot with you will you leave me alone?”
“Probably not.” He grins.
I think he intends it to be all good-natured and disarming, but it doesn’t come across like that at all.
Heat kicks up low in my belly. I shake my head. “You know, I kinda hate you.”
“Oh, I know you do.” He laughs, and it hardens my nipples under the thin cotton of my tank top.
“I find you annoying.” I straighten my spine, feeling all justified. Which is probably the liquor. But isn’t that the point in drinking? To justify your actions while you’re in the headspace to not give a shit about the consequences.
“You don’t say.” He drinks his beer before placing it on the bar and shifting toward me. “What else?”
“You’re infuriating.”
“Not the first time I’ve heard that.”
I wrinkle my nose. “You think you know everything.”
“Not everything, but most things.”
I’m on a roll now and it feels good to let loose of the reins a little, I’ve been strung too tight for too long. I need to snap a little to find some balance. “I hate how everyone likes you.”
He flashes that smile at me. “That is frustrating.”
I roll my eyes at him. “Oh my god, stop it.”
“I’m just listening to your list of grievances.”
“Well, stop it.”
He picks up his glass and tilts it in my direction. “About that shot.”
Join Us for this Book Series Tour from Jul 7 to Aug 10, 2020!
“A Wrinkle in Time meets The Princess Bride.” – Review by Lee Lee Thompson, The Perpetual You Magazine
“Chute’s novel weaves STAR WARS-like characters with a WONDER-like message to form an enrapturing read for booklovers of all ages.” – US Review of Books
“Fast and bizarre… Never a dull moment.“ – Foreward Reviews
SERIES DETAILS:
Series Title: The 8th Island Trilogy by Alexis Marie Chute Category: Young AdultFiction (13 to 17 yrs) (368 to 448 pages) Genre: fantasy, adventure, coming of age, ya, adult Publisher: SparkPress. Release dates: Jun 2018; Oct 2019; Apr 2020 Content Rating: PG: Battle scenes and death depicted.
Series Description:
The 8th Island Trilogy includes Above the Star, Below the Moon, and Inside the Sun.
Over the three books, we follow the adventures of a quirky family, the
Wellsleys. The main characters are frumpy senior citizen Archie, his
daughter-in-law, Tessa, and his ill fourteen-year-old granddaughter
Ella.
Archie, searching for his missing son, accidentally transports his
family—and a cruise ship full of people—to a magical planet. There, they
uncover the truth: all worlds are dying. Yet hope is not lost. A way to
restore all that will soon be destroyed is revealed, along with the
realization that Ella will play a role no one could have
imagined—especially not her.
On the mysterious island of Jarr-Wya, many races of
creatures battle for dominion and magic lurks around every corner. When
the world falls dark, that is when bravery must shine the brightest, and
the Wellsleys will reveal the strength they never knew they
possessed—as well as the power of love to save the day.
Books in the 8th Island Trilogy:
Book Details:
Book Title: Above the Star by Alexis Marie Chute Category: Young AdultFiction (13 to 17 yrs), 368 pages Genre: fantasy, adventure, coming of age, ya, adult Publisher: SparkPress. Release dates: Jun 2018 Content Rating: PG: Battle scenes and death depicted.
Book Description:
When frumpy senior citizen Archie goes in search of his missing son in
the Spanish Canary Islands, he stumbles upon a higher mission: locating a
magical cure for his ailing fourteen-year-old granddaughter, Ella.
Using a portal-jumping device called the Tillastrion, Archie and a
stone-headed creature named Zeno are transported to Jarr-Wya, a
magnificent yet terrifying island in a connected realm―along with Ella
and her strong-willed mother, Tessa, who accidentally stow away on this
not-so-secret quest.
What they find on Jarr-Wya is an island tortured by a wicked Star
anchored in the sea, and a raging three-way battle for dominion between
the stone-wielding Bangols, the fiery Olearons, and the evil Millia
sands. Ella’s wit and resourcefulness emerge in this new world, while
Tessa is forced to confront her long-buried secrets and a confusing new
love triangle. When Ella is captured, Tessa and Archie―with the help of a
company of peculiar allies―set out to save her and unravel the terrible
mystery of her cure. A mesmerizing, stay-up-all-night adventure of
three unlikely heroes, Above the Star reminds us that even the smallest
act of bravery can transform our lives and the fates of the worlds
around us.
Book Title: Below the Moon by Alexis Marie Chute Category: Young AdultFiction (13 to 17 yrs), 448 pages Genre: fantasy, adventure, coming of age, ya, adult Publisher: SparkPress. Release dates: Oct 2019 Content Rating: PG: Battle scenes and death depicted.
Book Description:
Ella Wellsley is not your typical teenager. Cancer left her mute, but
not powerless. Trapped in a parallel dimension, Ella rallies her
strength to join her family―her mother, Tessa, her grandpa Archie, and
her magical boyfriend―in locating the cure to her illness. This cure is
entangled in the fate of all worlds, and threatened by the presence of
an evil Star anchored in the sea. The Star has thrown life everywhere
into chaos―and it is Ella who holds the key to unlocking its mystery.
Caught in a web of betrayal, mistaken identities, secrets, and love
triangles, Ella, Tessa, and Archie must overcome their troubled pasts to
ensure a future for all worlds. On this journey―armed with unearthly
abilities and unexpected allies―each member of the Wellsley family will
learn the power of love in the face of their greatest fears.
Book Title: Inside the Sun by Alexis Marie Chute Category: Young AdultFiction (13 to 17 yrs), 384 pages Genre: fantasy, adventure, coming of age, ya, adult Publisher: SparkPress. Release dates: April 2020 Content Rating: PG: Battle scenes and death depicted.
Book Description:
All worlds are dying, and it’s up to one broken and dysfunctional family from Earth―the Wellsleys―to save the day.
Cancer-ridden Ella celebrates her fifteenth birthday beneath an
enchanted mountain, but it is what lies even farther below―the
mysterious Star in the sea―that demands she grow up quickly. While Ella
grapples with the sacrifice she must make and the lies she is forced to
tell, her mother, Tessa, is hell-bent on protecting her.
Through bizarre encounters, love-sick Tessa realizes that she is not the
lonely orphan she believes. Her husband, Arden, and father-in-law,
Archie, are not the only ones with magical bloodlines. This revelation
changes everything. As Archie chooses to embody his unexpected ancestry,
he learns that leading the charge in the ultimate battle against evil
won’t be as easy as he thought. He’ll need his family―and the strange
allies he has gained―by his side to give Ella enough time to set things
right.
Can they defeat the unstoppable Millia sands―and another unexpected
foe―before everything they hold dear is destroyed? Or will their
adventure tear them apart for good? The finale to The 8th Island Trilogy
will hold you spellbound until the final page, and long after.
Alexis Marie Chute is an award-winning author, artist,
photographer, art curator, filmmaker, and public speaker. She has
received over 40 noteworthy distinctions for her visual and literary
work. Her award-winning fantasy series The 8th Island Trilogy includes,
Above the Star, Below the Moon, and Inside the Sun. The series has been
described as “A WRINKLE IN TIME meets THE PRINCESS BRIDE” by The
Perpetual You magazine, and “Fast and bizarre… never a dull moment” by
Forward Reviews. The 8th Island Trilogy “weaves STAR WARS-like
characters with a WONDER-like message to form an enrapturing read for
blooklovers of all ages” – US Review of Books. Chute’s bestselling
memoir, Expecting Sunshine: A Journey of Grief, Healing and Pregnancy
After Loss, was a top Kirkus title of 2017 and received a plethora of
other literary distinctions. The memoir was accompanied by the feature
documentary of the same name, which has screened internationally for the
last three years. Chute received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art and
Design from the University of Alberta, Canada, and studied at Media
Design school in Auckland, New Zealand. She graduated valedictorian with
her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Lesley University in
Cambridge, MA, USA. Chute is a highly regarded public speaker. She has
presented on art, writing, bereavement, and the healing capacities of
creativity around the world. Contact the Author/Artist for bookings
info@alexismariechute.com When not in her art/photo studio or at her
computer, Chute loves to spend quality time with her family, read
fiction and non-fiction, watch reality TV, paddleboard, and canoe. She
is not a winter person but lives in frosty Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
with her husband and their three living children.
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Barbara Whitaker will be awarding a $20 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.
Seeking adventure, shy Kitty Greenlee joins the Women’s Army Corps. In 1944 England, as secretarial support to the 8th Air Force, she encounters her dream man, a handsome lieutenant who only has eyes for her blonde friend. Uncomfortable around men, Kitty doesn’t think the handsome officer could want someone like her.
Recovering from wounds, Ted Kruger wants to forget about losing his closest friends and have fun before returning to danger as a bomber navigator. When Ted recognizes Kitty as the girl who rescued him two years before, he must choose between dating the sexy blonde or pursuing quiet, serious-minded Kitty even though he knows he’s not nearly good enough for her.
As the war gears up with the D-Day invasion, will Kitty and Ted risk their hearts as well as their lives?
Read an Excerpt
“Starting Initial Point,” the pilot announced. “McGill take over.”
No dodging it now. The bombardier took the controls for the bomb run.
Seconds ticked away. Ted’s gloved hand clenched the pencil. He forced himself to relax before he broke another one. He couldn’t plot their course on the map without a pencil.
The aircraft reeled from explosions nearby. The bumpy ride made him think of an old truck driving at top speed over a rutted, muddy road in the middle of the night. Unable to dodge the holes, even though he knew they were filled with dynamite. Unable to stop. Just straight ahead until he blew up.
Come on, Come on. Get it over with and get out of here.
“Bombs away.” The beautiful, gorgeous words came through the intercom. The plane lurched upward at the loss of its heavy load. He let out a sigh.
“I’ve got it,” Rollins announced. The pilot took back the controls and maneuvered away from the drop zone.
Ted marked the spot on the map and started his calculations for the return leg.
“Hang on. We’re in the middle of it,” the pilot warned only an instant before an explosion jarred through them.
The plane bounced and shook.
Then another, louder bang.
Ted’s seat collapsed, tossing him to the floor. His head hit something.
Blackness alternated with blurry, bright light.
Fiery pain burned through his thigh. His hand searched for the wound. He gasped for air. His oxygen tube must have pulled loose.
Someone hovered over him. “Kruger’s hit.” It was McGill’s voice. Clutching his tightening throat, Ted watched as Mac stuck the tube of a walk-around bottle into Ted’s mask.
About the Author:
Barbara grew up in a small town in Tennessee where the repeated stories of local and family history became embedded in her psyche. Fascinating tales of wartime, from her parents and her in-laws, instilled an insatiable curiosity about World War II. After retiring from her sensible career in accounting, she began full time pursuit of her lifelong love of historical romantic fiction. Enjoying every minute of research, Barbara spends hours reading, watching old, black-and-white movies and listening to big band music.
Although Barbara and her husband have been longtime residents of Florida, they both still think of Tennessee as “home.” Visit Barbara’s website at http://barbarawhitaker.com. Or find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BarbaraWhitakerAuthor.
Happy Monday everyone and welcome back to Music Monday! Let’s share
some songs we’ve been enjoying lately! If you would like to play, and I
really hope you do, please see the rules and link up below HERE
I got the idea and the motivation to start doing this post from All The Book Blog Names Are Taken.
It has helped me to keep track of my reading shelf as far as current
events and I also started doing a post for Books From The Backlog to
tidy up my shelf. I feel better about my out of control TBR and have
even knocked off a couple of those old ones that had been hanging around
for years. COME ON….JOIN IN.
What if you could help those who’ve passed on get a second chance—but at the risk of your own life?
Book Details:
Genre: Supernatural Thriller Published by: Vesuvian Books Publication Date: July 14, 2020 Number of Pages: 326 ISBN: 1944109080 (ISBN13: 9781944109080) Purchase Links:AmazonGoodreads
Read an excerpt:
Though the wide mirror made the tiny room feel big, it had the opposite effect on Tal. She splashed water on her face. Her reflection seemed to shrink in the big glass, making her feel like a single speck of humanity on a vast planet in an endless universe. A lone Vessel housing the infinity of Spirit.
She splashed more water and blinked. A more present and focused woman blinked back—one who wasn’t much different than the woman who had been uprooted from her old life in Pittsburgh. But she had accepted an insane job as a ghost host and had been branded with her very first tattoo. Her badge and gun were gone, and the concept of “protect and serve” now meant something else entirely.
Tal grabbed one of the soft white towels and dried her face. The cloth smelled fresh and clean, like air-dried linen—it was homey, comforting
She caught her own gaze in the mirror one more time. That frightened, hopeless woman from the pawnshop window two weeks ago was gone. A more confident person replaced her—equally uncertain but willing and ready to face a new and unpredictable future. Perhaps her change was more like the grown-up happy child after all, and less like the dried up pool full of leaves and dirt.
A sudden pain stabbed her left ankle, and the skin around her new tattoo seemed to—move. Tal sat on the bed, yanked up her pant leg and crossed her left foot over her right knee.
While most of the iridescent vines shimmered normally, a small cluster at the center of her inside leg were twisting together into a small circular mark at her ankle. They pulled in the hidden SObY letters, elongating and absorbing them to form a kind of Celtic or Romanesque knot made of iridescent vines.
Her flesh burned slightly as the center of the twisting knot opened and a tiny image took shape. The figure was more primitive and cryptic, like a totem carving or cave painting, but it definitely had wings. One last vine connected and the twisting stopped. So did the pain.
Tal inhaled sharply. She held her breath, steeled her nerve, and touched the mark. Though the texture looked different, and though the mark was round against the straight, interconnected tendrils of the tattoo that circled her leg, the skin felt the same on both. Tal exhaled and closed her eyes, unable to discern where one ended and the other began. When she opened her eyes again, she caught the symbol’s shrouded image for a fleeting moment before it finished. What she’d thought was a primitive knot or ancient medallion of vines turned out to be—a nest. At its center, the angel figure had become an enigmatic, nearly invisible dove clutching a vine in its beak like an olive branch. The mark twisted closed, hiding the nest and bird inside. Goosebumps tore up and down Tal’s skin.
She shifted to the nearby desk and fired up her computer. Her trembling fingers flew over the keyboard as she researched images of doves, dove symbolism, the “Serve Others” expression, and any other ideas the tattoo inspired. Her search turned up a host of disparate sites—from the dove above Jesus at his baptism, to white birds being released at weddings and funerals, to recipes on preparing tasty squab. Nothing reflected this tattoo or its particular elements.
“This is crazy,” she mumbled, working her shoulders to unstick the tension. “That many Vessels in the world, spanning decades, and not a single image or hit?”
***
Excerpt from The Vessels by Anna M. Elias. Copyright 2020 by Anna M. Elias. Reproduced with permission from Vesuvian Books. All rights reserved.
Author Bio:
Anna Elias is a screenwriter who began her career as Don Johnson’s assistant on Miami Vice. She’s worked on feature films such as Nell, The Rainmaker, The Client, 12 Monkeys, A Time to Kill, and Practical Magic. She has written and co-written spec films, TV scripts, and award-winning shorts. Anna’s passion for justice translates to her work. This was especially true on the set of John Grisham’s A Time to Kill. Canton, Mississippi had just suffered great racial hardship and division in a Mayoral race. With Anna’s encouragement, the movie crew made extra efforts to befriend, buy from, and work with the townspeople, and it served to break down walls of inequality and injustice that had divided the town for decades. The impact was so positive that Dan Rather traveled there to tape a 2-part special for 48 Hours.
Visit these other great hosts on this tour for more great reviews, interviews, guest posts, and giveaways!
Enter To Win!!:
This is a rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for Anna M. Elias and Vesuvian Books. There will be 2 winners. One winner will receive an Amazon.com Gift Card and One winner will win THE VESSELS by Anna M. Elias (print). The giveaway begins on July 1, 2020 and runs through September 2, 2020. Open to U.S. addresses only. Void where prohibited.
Join us for this tour from June 22to July 10, 2020!
Series Details:
Book Title: The Annie Oakley Mystery Series by Kari Bovee Category: Adult Fiction (18+), 83 to 332 pages Genre: Historical Mystery Publisher: Bosque Publishing Release dates: Shoot Like a Girl (2019); Girl With a Gun (April, 2020); Peccadillo at the Palace (April 2020); Folly at the Fair (June, 2020) Tour dates: June 22 to July 10, 2020 Content Rating: R for some swearing, violence, and mature themes.
Book Details:
Book Title: Shoot Like a Girl (A Pre-quel Novella to Girl With A Gun) by Kari Bovee Category: Adult Fiction (18 + yrs), 84 pages Genre: Historical Fiction Publisher: Bosque Publishing Release date: November 2019 Tour dates: June 22 to July 10, 2020 Content Rating: R for Mature themes and some violence. No bad language.
Book Description: Shoot like a Girl
depicts the historically fictive tale of a young Annie Oakley’s
struggles before she becomes the most famous sharpshooting woman of all
time. After the death of her father, Annie is sent to the Drake County
poorhouse where she learns to cook, sew, and keep house for other
families to help her mother make ends meet. Annie ends up at the
McCrimmons, a couple whom she comes to refer to as “the wolves.” Cruel
and neglectful, the McCrimmons push Annie to the brink of despair. The
only bright spot in her dreary existence is Buck, a beautiful
buckskinned horse, and the two form a bond. Despite her resolve to help
her family, Annie loses hope of ever seeing them again, as life at the
McCrimmons’ becomes more oppressive, and she is cut off from all outside
communication. Physically and emotionally weak from illness, hunger,
and abuse, Annie resigns herself to a life of servitude to the abusive
couple. But, when Mr. McCrimmon’s continued cruelty to Buck finally
threatens the horse’s life, Annie takes matters into her own hands and
formulates a plan for escape.
Book Title: Girl with a Gun (An Annie Oakley Mystery) by Kari Bovee Category: Adult Fiction (18 + yrs), 316 pages Genre: Historical Mystery Publisher: Bosque Publishing Release date: April 2020 Tour dates: June 22 to July 10, 2020 Content Rating: R for one explicit sex scene. There is some swearing, violence, mature themes.
Book Description: In an exciting new
historical mystery series, award-winning author Kari Bovee brings the
beloved American icon, Annie Oakley, into the world of mystery and crime
as a plucky, amateur sleuth. Fifteen-year-old Annie Oakley is the sole
supporter of her widowed mother and two younger siblings. An expert
markswoman and independent spirit, she hunts game to sell to the local
mercantile to make ends meet instead of accepting a marriage proposal
that could solve all her problems, including the impending foreclosure
of her family’s farm. After a stunning performance in a shooting contest
against famous sharpshooter Frank Butler, Annie is offered a position
in the renowned Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. Finally, she has a chance
to save her family’s farm–and make her dreams come true. But after her
catapult to fame, a series of crimes takes place in the Wild West Show,
including the death of Annie’s Indian Assistant. The coroner claims the
death was due to natural causes, but Annie is unconvinced. Then her
prized horse, Buck–a major part of her act–is stolen, and she realizes
that someone is out to get her. With the help of a sassy, blue-blooded
reporter, Annie sets out to find her horse, solve the crimes, and clear
her good name–before everything she’s worked for is destroyed.
Book Title: Peccadillo at the Palace (An Annie Oakley Mystery) by Kari Bovee Category: Adult Fiction (18 + yrs), 332 pages Genre: Historical Mystery Publisher: Bosque Publishing Release date: April 2020 Tour dates: June 22 to July 10, 2020 Content Rating: R for some swearing, violence, and mature themes.
Book Description: In this second book in
the Annie Oakley historical mystery series, award-winning author Kari
Bovee brings back the lovable character, Annie Oakley, as an amateur
sleuth. It’s 1887, and Annie and Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show are
invited to Queen Victoria’s Jubilee celebration in London, England. But
their long journey across the Atlantic takes a turn for the worst when
the queen’s royal servant ends up dead and Annie’s husband, Frank
Butler, falls suspiciously ill. Annie soon discovers that the two events
are connected–and may be precursors to an assassination attempt on the
queen. In London, it becomes clear that there is rampant unrest in the
queen’s kingdom–the Irish Fenian Brotherhood, as well as embittered
English subjects, are teeming in the streets. But amid the chaos, even
while she prepares for the show, Annie is determined to find the truth.
With the help of a friend and reporter, Emma Wilson, the renowned poet
Oscar Wilde, and the famous socialite Lily Langtry, Annie sets out to
hunt down the queen’s enemies–and find out why they want to kill
England’s most beloved monarch.
Book Title: Folly at the Fair (An Annie Oakley Mystery) by Kari Bovee Category: Adult Fiction (18 + yrs), 322 pages Genre: Historical Mystery Publisher: Bosque Publishing Release date: June 2020 Tour dates: June 22 to July 10, 2020 Content Rating: R for some swearing, violence, and mature themes.
Book Description: She
never misses a target. But unless she can solve this murder, she’ll
become one… Chicago World’s Fair, 1893. “Little Sure Shot” Annie Oakley
is exhausted from her work with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. But when a
fellow performer scuffles with a man who threatens her harm, she has to
keep her eyes peeled. And when the heckler is found dead under the
Ferris Wheel, Annie won’t rest until she proves her defender is
innocent. Before she can rustle up any clues, an old friend asks Annie
to protect her young daughter. And as more bodies turn up around the
grounds, she’s going to need all her sharpshooting skills just to stay
alive. Can Annie live up to her reputation and put a bullseye on the
killer? Folly at the Fair is the third book in the Annie Oakley Mystery
historical fiction series. If you like strong heroines, Wild West
adventures, and suspenseful twists and turns, then you’ll love Kari
Bovee’s fast-paced whodunit.
When she’s not on a horse, or walking along the beautiful
cottonwood-laden acequias of Corrales, New Mexico; or basking on white
sand beaches under the Big Island Hawaiian sun, Kari Bovee is escaping
into the past—scheming murder and mayhem for her characters both real
and imagined, and helping them to find order in the chaos of her
action-packed novels. Empowered women in history, horses, unconventional
characters, and real-life historical events fill the pages of Kari
Bovée’s articles and historical mystery musings and manuscripts. An
award-winning author, Bovée was honored with the 2019 NM/AZ Book Awards
Hillerman Award for Southwestern Fiction for her novel Girl with a Gun.
The novel also received First Place in the 2019 NM/AZ Book Awards in the
Mystery/Crime category, and is a Finalist in the 2019 International
Chanticleer Murder & Mayhem Awards and the International Chanticleer
Goethe Awards, as well as the Next Generation Indie Awards. Her novel
Grace in the Wings is a Finalist for the 2019 International Chanticleer
Chatelaine Awards and the International Chanticleer Goethe Awards. Her
novel Peccadillo at the Palace is a Finalist in the 2019 International
Chanticleer Murder & Mayhem Awards and the 2019 International Goethe
Awards, as well as a Finalist in the 2019 Best Book Awards Historical
Fiction category. Bovée has worked as a technical writer for a Fortune
500 Company, has written non-fiction for magazines and newsletters, and
has worked in the education field as a teacher and educational
consultant. She and her husband, Kevin, spend their time between their
horse property in the beautiful Land of Enchantment, New Mexico, and
their condo on the sunny shores of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
Today I am excited to spotlight Issued the first novel in the Navy SEALs of Little Creek, a contemporary romance series by Paris Wynters. Fans of the marriage and arrangement trope will love this steamy new series.
Issued
She needs a total life reboot…even if it means marrying a stranger
Taya Maverick has just volunteered to marry a random Navy SEAL as part of the military’s new spouse-matching program. What other choice does she have? Her former best friend killed her father and torched her house. Taya’s determined to start over, but to be safe she has to disappear. The program is the perfect opportunity, complete with refuge and a built-in bodyguard. Her Navy SEAL husband can keep her safe, right?
After one spectacularly disastrous marriage, Jim Stephens nixes round two. But his commanding officer never accepts no for an order. While an injury may have sidelined him temporarily, Jim still needs to salvage his career after a mistake in combat puts him in leadership’s cross-hairs. Being the first in the pilot program guarantees him his rank and eventual active duty clearance…as long as he can last the trial year.
The I dos are barely uttered before Jim and Taya realize they’ve each miscalculated. Their sizzling chemistry might lead to bed, but neither is prepared to open their heart. And then Taya’s past comes knocking…
We watch for a beat or two, the sight of the princess issuing her not-so-subtle ultimatum bringing a genuine smile to my face. “I used to have a thing for Mary Crosby. Hell, I still have a thing for Mary Crosby.”
“Didn’t she play on Dallas?”
“She basically made the show.”
“Wow. That’s quite a claim.”
I knock her hand aside when she makes a grab for more popcorn, and one of my brows raise. The woman who shot J.R. made television history.
“And by ‘claim,’ I mean ‘an accurate and astute observation.’” The corner of her mouth lifts in an almost-smile when I release my buttery hostage. “Tell me more about your obsession with Ms. Crosby.”
“Mrs. Brodka,” I correct absently. “And it’s not an obsession. I just appreciate the classics.”
“Are we talking about the movie or the actress?”
My face heats when she lets loose a bark of laugher. “I was talking about the movie. It’s a good movie. Sue me.”
“You’re preaching to the choir, sweetheart. They don’t make space operas like they used to.”
I hesitate before sticking my big toe down the rabbit hole. “Have you ever seen Firefly?”
“I’m sorry? I’m alive and breathing, aren’t I? When I think about cinematic tragedies, canceling Firefly is right up there with the remake of Total Recall and the existence of Jurassic sharks.”
“Sharknado haunts my dreams.”
“I saw the movie and it left me feeling personally disrespected. You know there’s a movie called Aliens vs. Avatars?”
Settling deeper into the couch, Taya leans her head against my shoulder. The remnants of a grin linger around her mouth, and I want to lean in and kiss the vestiges away. My throat tightens. The weekend has not been kind, but for now, everything in my world is good and right. Is it wrong to want the feeling to last?
Dumbass.
Taya spends the next few minutes explaining which sci-fi movies she believes should be classified as acts of terrorism. I don’t always agree, but listening to the animated way she shreds plotlines and decimates directors and actors alike makes me wary of disagreeing. Her face lights up and she actively involves her hands the more passionate she becomes, and I can’t bring myself to look away. It’s as if I’ve been placed under some sort of spell and the world is moving in molasses around me while my heart races along. Listening to the sound of Taya’s voice is more satisfying than any ocean wave I can imagine. Righter than any curve I could master on my bike.
The credits scroll across the screen, darkening the room. Taya angles her body to face me, one knee propped on the couch and her head canted sideways on the cushions. I mimicked her position at some point, and the intimacy of being face to face, separated by only a handful of inches further stirs up emotions that have been building, but that I don’t want to examine too closely because they are new and terrifying. They feel like soap bubbles. Swimming in iridescent color and too fragile to live, and that the slightest prod will make them burst.
“Katniss has nothing on my emee, though.” Taya rolls her eyes, waving a dismissive hand in the air.
“Huh?”
“With the bow and arrow.” Taya searches my face, concern etched in her features. “You okay?”
My fingers tug at the extra material around the leg of my Wranglers. Shit. She probably thinks I zoned out from my TBI. “Yeah, fine. So, your grandmother was a professional archer?”
“In a way. Archery and horsemanship are part of Mongolian culture. Did you know many of the warriors in Genghis Khan’s army were women? Though, according to my grandfather, I inherited more of my father’s side than my mother’s. Of course, the comment was made after I accidentally shot him in the foot with an arrow.”
I laugh so hard, my head whips backward. “Let me guess, your father’s side can’t cook, either.”
Taya gently kicks me in the thigh, the corners of her lips curling up. I grab hold of her, so she can’t pull away, and rest her foot in my lap. When her smile fades around the edges and she clears her throat, I worry I might have screwed things up somehow without even trying.
About the Author
Paris Wynters is an adult romance author repped by Tricia Skinner at Fuse Literary. She lives on Long Island in New York with her family, which includes two psychotic working dogs. Paris is a graduate of Loyola University Chicago. Paris and her son are nationally certified Search and Rescue personnel (she is a canine handler). She is a huge supporter of the military/veteran community. When not writing, Paris enjoys playing XBOX (she is a huge HALO fanatic and also enjoys FORTNITE), watching hockey (Go Islanders), and trying new things like flying planes and taking trapeze classes.
