Giveaway – The Gate To Eden by Cathy McDavid @CathyMcDavid @PrismBookTours

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On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Audiobook Tour Grand Finale for The Gate to Eden By Cathy McDavid

We hope you enjoyed the tour! If you missed any of the stops you’ll find snippets, as well as the link to each full post, below:

Launch; – Note from the Author

…I thought for this launch post I’d tell you about why THE GATE TO EDEN is such a favorite of mine. To start with, it’s a historical western, a genre I loved writing but, unfortunately, has a limited market. Come on now, aren’t cowboys one of the best romance book heroes? I agree, which is probably why I started preening contemporary westerns, a genre I also love 🙂. THE GATE TO EDEN print book was also an Amazon top 100 bestseller with an average 4.3 star rating and has won several awards. Lastly, I wrote the book during a difficult time in my life, and it became a testament to my courage during adversity.

I hope you’ll come along with me on this blog tour. I’ll be sharing not only excerpts from the book but also some the interesting and fun process of turning a print book into an audiobook.

— Cathy

Becky on Books – Review

“Ms. McDavid, a new-to-me author, did a great job of ratcheting up the tension and conflict in this story. Maddie and Scott are both very sympathetic characters, and though they have some solid chemistry, it’s hard to imagine for much of the book that they could really end up together in the end. . . . Fortunately Ms. McDavid succeeded, giving us an ending that put a smile on my face.

I enjoyed the narrator–he had a great voice that really helped to transport the reader to the old west setting.”

It’s All About the Romance – Excerpt

Wearing only his long underwear, he walked to the door of his sleeping quarters and knocked. “Are you all right, my dear?”

His only answer was a soft scuffling sound.

“Hello.” He knocked again, and the brass knob twisted. Thaddeus smiled and moved away from the opening door. “There you are.”

“So, I am.”

The door swung wide, and the smile on Thaddeus’s face died as the end of a Colt revolver was jammed into his protruding gut.

Hallie Reads – Review

“Take a trip to the Old West with Cathy McDavid’s new audiobook The Gate to Eden. With a female Robin-Hood-like character falling for the man trying to put her behind bars, it’s a story full of drama, danger, and excitement. . . . The Gate to Eden is a fun story, and the audiobook is well done.”

Beck Valley Books – Guest Post

The Long and Winding Road

I’m absolutely delighted to be here and talking about my western historical book, THE GATE TO EDEN. It’s one of my favorites for many reasons, so I thought I’d share the somewhat involved history of this book and how it eventually became my first audio book…

E-Romance News – Excerpt

He was disappointed not to see Maddie by the canned goods on his way out. When had she left? But then he spotted her standing by the door, dusting a display.

Once again, their gazes connected. Scott’s reaction was more sudden than before and every bit as intense. Surprising himself, he paused and held out the paper sack. “Here. Take this home to your daughter.”

Her chin lifted ever so slightly. “Thank you kindly, but I can’t.” She spoke with a hint of Southern accent.

“Please. It’s only a rope of licorice.”

“I know what it is.”

Wishful Endings – Guest Post

From Print to Audiobook

Next to seeing one of my books turned into a movie, having an audio version was my biggest dream. Let me start out by saying I love, love, love my traditional publisher Harlequin and hope to remain with them until the very distant day that I choose to stop writing. But, being a realist, I know it’s unlikely one of my series books with them will ever become an audiobook. If my dream had a chance of becoming gaining wings, it would be up to me…

Nicole’s Book Musings – Excerpt

Scott didn’t so much as blink, yet Maddie sensed his rising excitement. Her plan was working, and she nearly went limp with gratitude. Maybe he would even go so far as to travel to the Vista Linda Mine and check out this fictitious Rory O’Shea. That would buy the council several days in which to plan their next move.

But then, assuming he did visit the Vista Linda Mine, what would he do when the wild goose chase she’d sent him on didn’t pan out? Would he return and confront her for lying to him? She could always claim a faulty memory, she supposed. Miners did come and go with regular frequency.

Colorimetry; – Guest Post

The Appeal of the Cowboy Hero

Cowboys have long been a popular hero for genre fiction. I’ve given workshops in the past on the appeal of the cowboy hero and would ask the participants to call out words that describe him. I always hears ones like: strong, capable, loyal, protective, resourceful, determined, moral, honorable, brave, trustworthy, and, of course, handsome…

Andi’s Book Reviews – Audio Excerpt

Listen to an excerpt here.

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What’s Beyond Forks? – Review

“…they did have some good chemistry. The characters and their world were well built. I could envision it easily. This was an entertaining story. The narrator’s style reminded me of William Shatner at times which added a bit of fun as well.”

Locks, Hooks and Books – Review

“I give The Gate of Eden a well deserved five stars. I recommend to readers who enjoy fun and romantic historical fiction. I look forward to reading more by this author in the future. “

Don’t forget to enter the giveaway at the end of this post, if you haven’t already…

The Gate to Eden By Cathy McDavid Historical Romance, Western Audiobook, 10 Hours and 33 Minutes (also in Paperback and ebook) January 12th 2019

Expert crackshot Maddie Campbell will do whatever it takes to survive in this female Robin-Hood-of-the-Old-West story – including evading bounty-hunter-for-hire Scott McSween who’s intent on bringing her in.

Not your ordinary thief, widow and mother Maddie Campbell likes to think her wealthy victims are merely “donating” to herself and the hundreds of other widows and children left abandoned by the mining company after a devastating accident took the lives of their menfolk. Maddie’s secret excursions are quite successful…until ruggedly handsome former lawman Scott McSween arrives in Eden to investigate the recent string of crimes.

Despite her efforts to throw him off track, they can’t resist each other. He knows she’s somehow involved and is determined to draw out all her secrets in the most exquisite ways – with soft caresses and passionate kisses. But when finally confronted with the truth – that Maddie is actually the thief he’s been hired to hunt down and bring in – will Scott choose the woman he loves or his duty to the law?

GoodreadsAudibleKoboAmazonBarnes & Noble

About the Author

As a sophomore in high school, NY Times, USA Today, and Amazon bestselling author Cathy McDavid won a local writing competition with her self-illustrated children’s book. Who knew that small triumph would eventually lead to a career writing contemporary romances with over 1.3 million books sold? With forty-seven titles to date, Cathy is also a member of the prestigious Romance Writers of America’s Honor Roll. This “almost” Arizona native and mother of grown twins recently married her own real-life sweetheart. After leaving the corporate world four years ago, she now spends her days penning stories about good looking men who ride the range or fight fires or hunt creatures all while sweeping the girl off her feet. It’s a tough job but she’s willing to make the sacrifice.

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Tour Giveaway

Western-themed basket with goodies, including a $25 Amazon Gift Card US only Ends March 27, 2019

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Giveaway – Pinot Red by J C Eaton @dollycas

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Pinot Red or Dead?
(The Wine Trail Mysteries)
by J.C. Eaton

I enjoyed Pinot Red or Dead . . . The characters are fun.
~My Reading Journeys

About the Book


Pinot Red or Dead? (The Wine Trail Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Lyrical Underground (March 26, 2019)
Paperback: 206 pages
ISBN-10: 1516108035
ISBN-13: 978-1516108039
Digital ASIN: B07F5XDH41

There’s a lot of noir surrounding this rare pinot.

As the vineyards in Seneca Lake, New York, prepare for the seasonal “Deck the Halls Around the Lake” festivities, someone is determined to keep pinot noir off the wine list. Hijacked trucks and sabotaged ingredients have made it a hard-to-acquire vintage for the six local wineries—including Norrie Ellington’s Two Witches Winery.

The case of the stolen and spoiled wines gets stranger when Arnold Mowen, owner of the company distributing the wine, is found dead, the apparent victim of a hunting accident. As Norrie tries to find the connections between the pinot’s problems and Arnold’s death, she uncovers a conspiracy among many locals whose hatred for the wine distributor was bottled up for far too long . . .

About the Authors

Ann I. Goldfarb

New York native Ann I. Goldfarb spent most of her life in education, first as a classroom teacher and later as a middle school principal and professional staff developer. Writing as J. C. Eaton, along with her husband, James Clapp, she has authored the Sophie Kimball Mysteries (Kensington) set for release in June 2017. In addition, Ann has nine published YA time travel mysteries under her own name. Visit the websites at www.jceatonauthor.com and www.timetravelmysteries.com

James E. Clapp

When James E. Clapp retired as the tasting room manager for a large upstate New York winery, he never imagined he’d be co-authoring cozy mysteries with his wife, Ann I. Goldfarb. His first novel, Booked 4 Murder (Kensington) is set for release in June 2017. Non-fiction in the form of informational brochures and workshop materials treating the winery industry were his forte along with an extensive background and experience in construction that started with his service in the U.S. Navy and included vocational school classroom teaching.

Visit their website at www.jceatonauthor.com and Like and Follow on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/JCEatonauthor/

Purchase Links
Amazon    B&N    Kobo   Google Play IndieBound

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

March 25 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW

March 25 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

March 25 – fundinmental – REVIEW

March 26 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW

March 26 – Reading Is My SuperPower – GUEST POST

March 26 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

March 26 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT

March 26 – Ruff Drafts – GUEST POST  

March 27 – Baroness’ Book Trove – REVIEW

March 27 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

March 27 – I’m All About Books – CHARACTER GUEST POST 

March 28 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

March 28 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW

March 29 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

March 29 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT

March 29 – StoreyBook Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST

March 29 – MJB Reviewers – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

March 30 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

March 30 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT

March 30 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

March 31 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW

March 31 – Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

March 31 – Rosepoint Publishing – REVIEW

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Dead Eye by Alyssa Day @Alyssa_Day #FREEBOOK

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Dead Eye by Alyssa Day is a paranormal romance mystery. I love the location, Florida. I keep my eyes open for shapeshifters and dead bodies, but, so far, none have come my way. How about you?

I love the cover. It makes me feel like this will be a ton of fun. I am 50% through on Kindle and lovin’ every minute of it.

Dead Eye (Tiger's Eye Mystery, #1)

Amazon / Goodreads

GOODREADS BLURB

For Jack Shepherd, tiger shape-shifter and former soldier, life is heading for a dead end. Dead End, Florida, to be exact. When he learns that he inherited a combination pawn shop/private investigation agency from his favorite uncle, Jack’s first job is to solve his uncle’s murder. Because sometimes it takes a tiger’s eye to see the truth.

This novel is a paranormal mystery with magic, shape shifters, humor, vampires, a taxidermied alligator, witches, gunshots, bad singing, Crazy Hormonal Town, terrible parking, the FBI, swamp commandos, tigers, special agents, flirting, belly laughs, comedy, humor, and a pawn shop.

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Giveaway – An Au Pair To Remember by Stephen Kaminski @dollycas

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An Au Pair to Remember:
A Male Housekeeper Mystery
by Stephen Kaminski

About the Book


An Au Pair to Remember: A Male Housekeeper Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Cozy Cat Press (January 27, 2019)
Paperback: 260 pages
ISBN-10: 1946063703
ISBN-13: 978-1946063700
Digital ASIN: B07NCBZ23L

From the author of the award-winning Damon Lassard Dabbling Detective series comes the Male Housekeeper Mysteries, focusing on charming characters, snappy dialogue, eclectic murders, and cunning confidence schemes. To his mind, Cam Reddick has failed—as a husband, as a father, and as a professional. After recognizing that his vanilla credentials didn’t stack up in a big city brimming with overachievers and toiling in drudgery for half of a decade, an emotionally raw Cam returns to his childhood hometown—the quaint and quirky village of Rusted Bonnet, Michigan. He’s determined to resuscitate relationships marred by youthful immaturity, most importantly those with his ex-wife Kacey Gingerfield (who doubles as the village’s Deputy Chief of Police) and their first grader, Emma. Armed with striking looks and an endearing proclivity for mixing metaphors, but saddled by “momma’s boy” tendencies, Cam takes the helm of his mother’s housekeeping business—Peachy Kleen. Access to homes across the village facilitates Cam’s penchant for amateur sleuthing as Kacey’s aide-de-camp. Surrounded by Kacey, his sophisticated mother Darby, garrulous senior housekeeper Samantha, and recuse fish cum confidant Bait, Cam’s circuitous journeys to solving murders and unravelling complex cons hasten his struggle down the path of self-healing to self-respect. And there’s hope that—just maybe—he can rekindle the romance he once had with Kacey.

In An Au Pair to Remember, Cam’s plan for a quiet return to Rusted Bonnet is dashed when a beautiful German au pair, Greta Astor, is found dead in Dutch McRae’s foyer with all signs pointing to a hastily disassembled trip wire at the top of the stairs. When Kacey learns that Cam was cleaning the McRae home the previous afternoon, she confides to him that Chief Bernie Leftwich is set on arresting Dutch for the murder—either alone or in tandem with Greta’s bartender boyfriend. But she worries that Bernie’s been duped. And later, when his mother Darby becomes a suspect, Cam inserts himself into the investigation and stumbles through a series of ostensible incongruities—a thief swallowing a cache of stolen diamonds, a snack food distributor laundering money, and a Cash-for-Gold scam. Meanwhile, Peachy Kleen’s young African housekeeper has disappeared with one of the company vans. All the while, Cam finds himself flirting with his new neighbor and struggling with his complicated feelings for Kacey.

About the Author

Stephen Kaminski is the author of An Au Pair to Remember, the first installment of the Male Housekeeper Mystery series.  He also writes the award-winning Damon Lassard Dabbling Detective books.  Stephen is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and Harvard Law School and serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the trade association representing the United States’ poison control system and its fifty-five centers.  He lives with his daughter and rescue kitty in the Washington, DC area.

Author Links 

GoodReads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43834065-an-au-pair-to-remember

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/DamonLassard/

Purchase Links – Amazon KindleAmazon Paperback 

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March 21 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

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March 23 – The Broke Book Bank – REVIEW

March 24 – My Journey Back – REVIEW

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March 27 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

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Giveaway – Assassin By Day by Tessa Robertson @authoringtessa @SDSXXTours

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Assassin By Day
by Tessa Robertson
Genre: Thriller
What would you do if the mystery to your mother’s death lay with your employer?
After years of unanswered questions, Mishka Vald sets out to uncover the skhodka’s involvement in her past. What she doesn’t expect is to join forces with men who push her to become a double-agent and confirm her future. While hunting down leads, the ruthless assassin realizes a life in the shadows is the only way for her to protect those she loves.
For Mishka, forbidden love is worth the pain when it comes to Eddie Harper, a military man turned cop. Her affection waivers when duty comes first and she joins forces with an elite Russian soldier, Alexei Petrovich. With a blackmailer threatening her school love, she seeks refuge with a fellow assassin, Nickolas Volkov. And when pushed too far, she’s ushered to a secure location…and straight into the arms of mysterious handyman, Dylan Kain. As the pieces fall into place, their mangled order reveals each man’s true intention. Whose deceit can she accept and whose will obliterate her?
All roads lead back to the woman she thought dead—her mother. Now, as weddings are crashed and alliances tested, Mishka uncovers a deadly game and the players involved. Her heart, once unable to budge, is thrust into action, but which man can keep her soul intact?
**Only .99 cents!!**
Catalystat Night
Book 2
The skhodka isn’t done with their best assassin yet.
Too bad for them, as a rivaling mob – the vory – holds Mishka Vald captive. The real kicker? She’s trapped in her mother’s clutches with the two men she loves, with no escape from the devious scheme Alena Vald cooked up to destroy the skhodka.
After spiriting across the globe with one man in tow, Mishka comes face to face with her past. Piecing together the distorted memories would be easy if someone hadn’t tampered with them.
Can Mishka slip through the grips of warring Russian mobs for a chance at a normal life? Find out in Catalyst at Night., the sequel to Assassin by Day.
Tessa Robertson has been landlocked in the heart of Iowa, USA for the better portion of her life. She grew up on sci-fi and action movies, but isn’t nearly a ninja…yet. Since childhood, writing stories and reading have been a constant. Moonlighting in a law firm, she takes on her favorite cases: criminal. Her stories push the limits of standard characters and explore the thriller facets of romance and action.
In her spare time, Tessa attempts to teach her Australian Shepherd and Golden Retriever new tricks; spends copious time with family; catches up on her favorite shows; and listens to country music.
Follow the tour HERE for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!
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I Dare You to Enter The Mire – Damaged Hope by Liesel K Hill

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This is not my first taste of Liesel K Hill’s work and it won’t be my last. If you are into dystopian worlds, serial killers and murder, Street Games may be for you.

Damaged Hope (Street Games, #3)

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I am excited to be back in Kyra’s dystopian world in Damaged Hope, Street Games #3, by Liesel K Hill. Kyra is the strong female character I love to read about.In is cheap.this desp0perate, dystopian world, life

Kyra’s not herself. She’s in BIG trouble. Some want her dead, some want to use her, and one wants to love her. She is stubborn, obstinate, confident in her ability to survive the Mire. Every time she turns around, she’s getting her ass kicked, covered in cuts and bruises. She can’t quit…she searches…

Gabe is a cop that has become enamored with Kyra.

Missing and dead children, prostitutes, one killer or two, a slow burning relationship, and fantastic world building.

Tense, dangerous, teeth gritting moments.

Nothing is smooth sailing. The characters will put it all on the line for each other. Not all will survive and not all questions will be answered. The pacing keeps the thrills coming, one after another some high, some low, and I want more. I must know the end of Kyra’s story.

“It’s all a game. Brothers and killers. Rivals and customers. The Mire and mobsters. Alleys and streets. All games. Games we must conquer, or else disappear into the gaping maw of this city.”

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Damaged Hope by Liesel K Hill.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

“Kyra [is] smart, resourceful, and gritty. She’s got steel in her spine. This is the woman I think we need to see more of in fiction.”-Rebecca A., The Missing Lynx

After surviving the horror of the Carmichael District, Kyra continues to look for her brother, but she can’t seem to avoid crossing paths with the Mire’s psychotic serial killer. Avoiding him and surviving the darkness of the Mire grows ever more difficult. And now he may be targeting her.

For Gabe, the mystery surrounding his brother’s disappearance twenty-five years ago deepens as the suspect in custody is questioned, but speaks in riddles. If Gabe can decipher Hammond’s strange clues, perhaps he can finally bring his brother’s body home and obtain some closure. That is, if he can stay one step ahead of the murders in the Mire.

Kyra and Gabe face new, darker challenges in their search for missing brothers. Every victory brings setbacks and complications. They have little to push them forward now except determination and hope. Even if it is a Damaged Hope.

If you love you some crime, murder mystery and suspense with detectives and serial killers thrown in, don’t miss the action-packed third installment of Street Games!

ABOUT L K HILL

L.K. Hill

Also publishes under K.L. Conger and Liesel K. Hill.

L.K. Hill is a novelist who writes across three genres. Her crime and historical fiction are written under her initials, L.K., while her scifi/fantasy and dystopian are written under her full name, Liesel K. Hill. She lives in northern Utah and comes from a large, tight-knit family. She plans to keep writing until they nail her coffin shut. Or the Second Coming happens. You know, whichever happens first. ;D

MY L K HILL REVIEWS

Dark Remnants

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  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.

Blessed Mayhem by Sue Coletta @SueColetta1

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Sue Coletta writes some fabulous thrillers that blow me away and I am so happy to have a copy of Blessed Mayhem. This serial killer reminds me of Hannibal Lector, but without the penchant for eating his victims.

Look at that fabulous cover done by EJR Digital Art

Woo Hoo…Here I go, on another wild ride with Sue Coletta.

Publisher: Tirgearr Publishing

Blessed Mayhem

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

The cat burglar and the serial killer collided in a most unexpected way. HE took it as a challenge…and with Shawnee, it certainly will be. He is looking forward to breaking her will, but Shawnee bends for no one.. Sparks fly whenever she is around and I love the snarky dialogue. She is a risk taker. She’s not a cop, but she works for them, running their cyber crime unit. If you get on her bad side, she would just as soon kick your ass as look at you.

Sue Coletta has taken a different route with Mr Mayhem and Shawnee Daniels. I love it! I find it very refreshing and challenging, and exciting, because I don’t know where she’s going to take me.

And…What’s up with the crows? That is a whole ‘nother issue.

Shawnee walks through a nightmare, at times the past and present merging together, making it hard for her to pull herself back from the brink of insanity. She guards her secrets closely, but sooner or later she is going to have to explain Maggie…and Jessup.

She tries more than Levaughn’s patience with her antics. He works as a detective for the police department. He knows about her burglaring, but thought she had given it up. I think she is hooked on the adrenaline high, and a safe, normal life won’t work for her.

She’s like an M&M, hard on the outside, soft on the inside. Her love for Berkley, her sleeping pill is his purr. Her motto, she’d face Lucifer himself to save a child. And she can’t say no to Levaughn, needing him to hold her, love her, when life becomes unbearable.

I can see Mr Mayhem’s resemblance to Hannibal Lector. I can see Shawnee’s resemblance to Clarice. I love that Sue Coletta took Blessed Mayhem so far out there, I had to reign myself in after the last page was read.

I don’t know if it is just me, but I wanted to be ‘shown’ more. Shawnee is so hard on the outside, I wanted to be ‘shown’ more of her love for Levaughn, her best friend and lover. I also wanted to be ‘shown’ more of the badass side and the evil that befalls her in her battle with Mr Mayhem. I wanted to get lost inside their heads. Maybe I just wasn’t ready for the story to end. If I did half stars, I would rate this 4.5, but seeing I don’t, I round up…5 Stars it is.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Blessed Mayhem by Sue Coletta.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

2017 Winner of Readers’ Choice Award in Mystery/Thriller, hosted by Rosie’s Book Reviews!!

A chance encounter …a deadly predicament …a lethal decision.

The infamous Mr. Mayhem is not your average serial killer. Reminiscent of the beloved Hannibal Lecter, minus his thirst for flesh—because eating humans is just plain rude—Mr. Mayhem storms on the scene with style, grace, elegance, and a zest for life unlike any other. Impeccable manners also help. He may commit murder, but there’s no reason to be impolite about it.

Accompanied by his loyal crow companions, Poe, Allan, and Edgar, his crimes strike fear in the hearts and minds of folks across Massachusetts’ North Shore. When Shawnee Daniels—cat burglar extraordinaire and forensic hacker for the police—meets Mayhem in the dark, she piques his curiosity. Sadly for her, she leaves behind an item best left undiscovered. Or is it serendipity by design?

Color him curious, but he yearns to examine the psychology behind her life choices, tough girl routine, witty banter, and unique double-life. In a different time and place they may even become friends. But unfortunately, their predicament defines the risk.

The stakes are too high to stop now.

For reasons authorities cannot fathom, these seemingly unrelated murders will go down in history as the most impressive killing regime of all time. His coup de grace, if you will. Even if it means permanently erasing Ms. Daniels from the equation. All the pieces are there if the authorities look hard enough. The question is, will they? The only new wrinkle is Shawnee Daniels, and she may be his toughest opponent yet …if she’s clever enough to play the game.

ABOUT SUE COLETTA

Sue Coletta

ABOUT SUE COLETTA   Member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers, Sue Coletta is an award-winning, multi-published author in numerous anthologies and her forensics articles have appeared in InSinC Quarterly. In addition to her popular crime resource blog, Sue co-hosts the radio show “Partners In Crime” on Writestream Radio Network every third Tuesday of the month from 1 – 3 p.m. EDT/EST (see details at www.suecoletta.com). She’s also the communications manager for the Serial Killer Project and Forensic Science, and founder of #ACrimeChat on Twitter. She runs a popular crime website and blog, where she shares crime tips, police jargon, the mind of serial killers, and anything and everything in between. If you search her achieves, you’ll find posts from guests that work in law enforcement, forensics, coroner, undercover operatives, firearm experts…crime, crime, and more crime.   For readers, she has the Crime Lover’s Lounge, where subscribers will be the first to know about free giveaways, contests, and have inside access to deleted scenes. As an added bonus, members get to play in the lounge. Your secret code will unlock the virtual door. Inside, like-minded folks discuss their favorite crime novels, solve mindbender and mystery puzzles, and/or relax and chat. Most importantly, everyone has a lot of fun.   Sue lives in northern New Hampshire with her husband, where her house is surrounded by wildlife…bear, moose, deer, even mountain lions have been spotted. Course, Sue would love to snuggle with them, but her husband frowns on the idea.  

Website * Facebook Author Page * Facebook * Twitter * PinterestGoogle+ * Youtube * Amazon * Goodreads

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Friday 56 #156 – A Map of the Dark by Karen Ellis @KatiaLief

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The Friday 56 is hosted by Freda’s Voice.The only rules are to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and find any sentence or a few ( no spoilers) that grabs you and post it.

Please join Rose City Reader every Friday to share the first sentence or so of the book you are reading along with you initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires.

Please include the title of the book and the author’s name.

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I got a copy of A Map of the Dark by Karen Ellis from Net Galley, thought I have been trying hard to stay away from it until I have read and reviewed all the books I am behind. Needless to say, when I saw Karen’s Searcher series, I couldn’t resist. Let’s take a look at the first in the series A Map of the Dark.

A Map of the Dark (The Searchers #1)

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

BOOK BEGINNINGS

She likes the feel of the ground underfoot and so so she toes off her sneakers and carries them, swinging loosely from her fingertips. But after a couple of minutes she steps on something sharp and changes her mind. She drops her book bag i a pool of shifting shadows. Sits on it. Ties her left sneaker, then plants that foot on the ground and cantilevers over a bent knee to tie the other one. She feels tired. tired from all the things on her agenda this week. All the shoolwork piling up. Yawning, she stands and continues walking slowly, vaguely, in the direction of her high school.

MY 56

She was on her way to school. She missed the bus. She was walking. And then. And then.

(56% on Kindle)

GOODREADS BLURB

A girl, missing
A woman, searching
A killer, planning…

FBI Agent Elsa Myers finds missing people.
She knows how it feels to be lost…

Though her father lies dying in a hospital north of New York City, Elsa cannot refuse a call for help. A teenage girl has gone missing from Forest Hills, Queens, and during the critical first hours of the case, a series of false leads hides the fact that she did not go willingly.

With each passing hour, as the hunt for Ruby deepens into a search for a man who may have been killing for years, the case starts to get underneath Elsa’s skin. Everything she has buried – her fraught relationship with her sister and niece, her self-destructive past, her mother’s death – threatens to resurface, with devastating consequences.

In order to save the missing girl, she may have to lose herself…and return to the darkness she’s been hiding from for years.

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
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Giveaway – Beach Blanket Homicide by Maria Geraci @MariaGeraci @dollycas

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Beach Blanket Homicide
(Whispering Bay Mystery)
by Maria Geraci

About the Book

Beach Blanket Homicide (Whispering Bay Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Independently Published (November 27, 2018)
Paperback: 268 pages
ISBN-10: 1790435722
ISBN-13: 978-1790435722
Digital ASIN: B07K6WXBG8

The first book in a fun, quirky chick-lit mystery series featuring Lucy McGuffin, world’s best muffin maker and amateur sleuth.

Everyone agrees that Lucy McGuffin bakes the best muffins in Whispering Bay, but she’s got another talent, one that she’s tried her whole life to hide. Lucy can always tell when a person is lying or telling the truth. Being a human lie detector isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Especially when you don’t really want the answer to the universal question: Does this dress make my butt look too big?

When Lucy is hired to cater the grand opening celebration of the city’s new community center, she stumbles across the dead body of Abby Delgado, a prominent member of the Sunshine Ghost Society. Lucy’s brother, Father Sebastian, a local priest, is the last person to have seen Abby alive. Convinced he’ll be breaking a confidence, Sebastian refuses to cooperate with the police, forcing Lucy to put her skills to the test to save her brother’s good name.

Enter the town’s new hotshot deputy, Travis Fontaine. Travis doesn’t want an amateur like Lucy snooping around his turf, so he offers her a deal. He’ll stay out of her kitchen if she’ll stay away from his crime scene. But Lucy isn’t about to let her brother’s fate rest in the hands of an arrogant cop. Good thing she has her best friend Will and her new little rescue dog, Paco, to back her up, because its up to Lucy to figure out what everyone in the quaint little beachside town is hiding.

About the Author

Author Maria Geraci. (Photo by Chris Kridler/ChrisKridler.com)

Maria Geraci writes quirky, fun, romantic women’s fiction and cozy mysteries. She’s a two time RITA® Finalist, as well as a finalist in the National Readers’ Choice Awards and Romantic Times’ American Title Contest. She lives in central Florida and is always on the lookout for the perfect key lime pie recipe (but not the kind they served on Dexter).

Author Links

Website – http://mariageraci.com/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/MariaGeraciBooks

GoodReads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2869532.Maria_Geraci

BookBub – https://www.bookbub.com/authors/maria-geraci

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/authormariageraci/

Purchase Link – Amazon 

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Giveaway – Broken Bone China by Laura Childs #LauraChilds @dollycas

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Broken Bone China
(A Tea Shop Mystery) by Laura Childs

I appreciate Laura Childs wonderful descriptions of the Indigo Tea Shop, Charleston, the beautiful antiques, books, Haley’s tasty dishes and the entrancing teas (I can just imagine how they would smell).
~The Avid Reader

About the Book


Broken Bone China (A Tea Shop Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
20th in Series
Berkley (March 5, 2019)
Hardcover: 336 pages
ISBN-10: 0451489632
ISBN-13: 978-0451489630
Digital ASIN: B07DMZPLWY

Theodosia Browning serves tea and solves crimes in Charleston, a city steeped in tradition and treachery in the latest Tea Shop Mystery from New York Times bestselling author Laura Childs.

It is Sunday afternoon, and Theodosia and Drayton are catering a formal tea at a hot-air balloon rally. The view aloft is not only stunning, they are also surrounded by a dozen other colorful hot-air balloons. But as the sky turns gray and the clouds start to boil up, a strange object zooms out of nowhere. It is a drone, and it appears to be buzzing around the balloons, checking them out.

As Theodosia and Drayton watch, the drone, hovering like some angry, mechanized insect, deliberately crashes into the balloon next to them. An enormous, fiery explosion erupts, and everyone watches in horror as the balloon plummets to the earth, killing all three of its passengers.

Sirens scream, first responders arrive, and Theodosia is interviewed by the police. During the interview she learns that one of the downed occupants was Don Kingsley, the CEO of a local software company, SyncSoft. Not only do the police suspect Kingsley as the primary target, they learn that he possessed a rare Revolutionary War Union Jack flag that several people were rabidly bidding on.

Intrigued, Theodosia begins her own investigation. Was it the CEO’s soon-to-be ex-wife, who is restoring an enormous mansion at no expense? The CEO’s personal assistant, who also functioned as curator of his prized collection of Americana? Two rival antiques’ dealers known for dirty dealing? Or was the killer the fiancée of one of Theodosia’s dear friends, who turns out to be an employee—and whistle-blower—at SyncSoft?

INCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES AND TEA TIME TIPS!

About the Author

Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop MysteriesScrapbook Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. In her previous life she was CEO/Creative Director of her own marketing firm and authored several screenplays. She is married to a professor of Chinese art history, loves to travel, rides horses, enjoys fundraising for various non-profits, and has two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs.

Laura specializes in cozy mysteries that have the pace of a thriller (a thrillzy!) Her three series are:

The Tea Shop Mysteries – set in the historic district of Charleston and featuring Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop. Theodosia is a savvy entrepreneur, and pet mom to service dog Earl Grey. She’s also an intelligent, focused amateur sleuth who doesn’t rely on coincidences or inept police work to solve crimes. This charming series is highly atmospheric and rife with the history and mystery that is Charleston.

The Scrapbooking Mysteries – a slightly edgier series that take place in New Orleans. The main character, Carmela, owns Memory Mine scrapbooking shop in the French Quarter and is forever getting into trouble with her friend, Ava, who owns the Juju Voodoo shop. New Orleans’ spooky above-ground cemeteries, jazz clubs, bayous, and Mardi Gras madness make their presence known here!

The Cackleberry Club Mysteries – set in Kindred, a fictional town in the Midwest. In a rehabbed Spur station, Suzanne, Toni, and Petra, three semi-desperate, forty-plus women have launched the Cackleberry Club. Eggs are the morning specialty here and this cozy cafe even offers a book nook and yarn shop. Business is good but murder could lead to the cafe’s undoing! This series offers recipes, knitting, cake decorating, and a dash of spirituality.

Laura’s Links:

Website – http://www.laurachilds.com/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/laura.childs.31

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