Category Archives: Series Books

It’s Release Day: The Gilded Thespian Show by Mae Clair

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Silhouette of woman in western-style dress sitting on a bench beneath a tree at sunset. Man standing beside her also in silhouette in cowboy clothes, one leg raised, foot resting on bench

Hello! Anybody out there? 😆

It’s been eight months since my last post, and while I occasionally show up online, you’ve probably figured out by now I’ve pretty much retreated from blogging. That doesn’t mean I’ve retreated from writing, hence my newest release, book two of my Shallow Draw Series. Hopefully, I’ve still got a fan or two interested in checking out my latest venture into the Old West of the early 1870s. There’s plenty of mystery and suspense this time around, along with a smidgen of romance. If you enjoy books about characters who get second chances at making things right, I think you’ll like The Gilded Thespian Show.

BOOK BLURB:

Renowned actress Wisteria Westlake has performed on the grandest stages, but nothing prepares her for Shallow Draw, a place she hoped never to see. Not while Asher Cade, the rancher she once promised to marry, calls it home.

When The Gilded Thespian Show’s owner lies about the reason for their stay in the dust-choked little town, his deception prompts vicious arguments and hostile feelings. As tensions rise among the troupe, a local hothead causes trouble and a mysterious stranger sparks fears of violence. Then the unthinkable happens—one of Wisteria’s companions is brutally attacked and left for dead.

Asher Cade has tried to forget Wisteria. The best way to guard against further pain is to avoid her altogether, but suddenly she needs protecting. To keep her safe, Asher must find a killer. Before he’s finished, his hunt will unearth secrets from Wisteria’s past and expose deep wounds within The Gilded Thespian Show.

Because in Shallow Draw, some stories don’t end when the curtain falls.

PURCHASE KINDLE | PURCHASE PAPERBACK

I hope everyone is doing well. Life certainly throws changes at us as we age. I’m keeping busy with many interests, but reading and writing remains foremost among them.

Although my blogging days have faded into the rearview, I do release a regular monthly newsletter sharing whatever I happen to be involved in that month and showcasing new releases by my author friends. If you’d like to keep up with me, I’d love to have you subscribe! Just click the link below!

SUBSCRIBE TO MAE CLAIR NEWSLETTER

A Beggar’s Bargain by Jan Sikes @jansikes3 #newrelease #historicalfiction #forcedmarriage #WWII #missouri #literaryfiction

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Happy Thursday! I’m excited to share another new release with you. Please welcome good friend and talented author, Jan Sikes with her latest book baby, A Beggar’s Bargain. If you enjoy historical fiction, this is one you won’t want to miss! I loved the era and the location. Jan brought both vividly to life and told a spell-binding story. I’v read her work before, but this book is in a league of its own.

Look for my 5-star review toward the end of this post, but first please welcome Jan!

Banner ad with book cover for A Beggar's Bargain and short review from reader

Thank you, Mae, for so generously offering to help me spread the word about my new book, A Beggar’s Bargain. I deeply appreciate your support!

There are often controversial social issues we have to address in our stories and in A Beggar’s Bargain, I had to share a bit of history about gypsies. Sara Beth’s mother was a gypsy, which was one reason the townsfolk thought she was a witch. One of my favorite scenes to write was when Uncle Seymour shared some memories about Esmerelda.

Take a look:

Sara Beth pulled a chair out from the table and pointed. “Rest while I pour you a glass of tea. I have lots to learn about growing things.”

He accepted the cool glass. “I’ll teach you everything I know.”

She dropped into a chair across from him. “You’ve never told me. How did you meet my mama?”

“They was traveling through Mississippi. Reckon it was about 1926. You know, folks shunned the Gypsy caravans. Thought they was all thieves. It was common for the black folk to offer them food and a place to camp.”

“She camped on your family’s place?”

He nodded. “I was sharecropping. A hard livin’ if ever there was one. When it came time to leave, she asked if I’d like to get out of the field and go with them. It wasn’t a hard choice.”

“How old were you? She must have been a young girl.”

“She might’ve been seventeen or eighteen. I was already close to my fifties and plumb wore out from working the fields. We had some sort of instant kinship. She read the cards for me, and they all said to go. Didn’t have a clue where either one of us would end up. A short time later, she met your daddy, and they married. Part of her agreement to marry Homer Williams was that I could stay.”

“What about her folks? My grandparents?”

“Her mama and daddy had done passed on. Never knew them.”

“I wonder what they would’ve been like? I never had any grandparents. My father’s folks were dead too.”

“If her parents were anything like her or you, they were good decent folks.” Seymour finished his tea and stood.

When I was a kid, I loved dressing as a gypsy for Halloween. The nomadic lifestyle of the gypsies has always fascinated me, but I never realized that part of that lifestyle was due to the fact that they were shunned everywhere they went. I found some interesting facts in my research. They were often thought of to be thieves and because of their penchant for the occult, such as fortune telling and tarot reading, God-fearing folks believed they were evil. I loved making this part of Sara Beth’s heritage.

Let’s talk about society perceives how certain groups of people. Can you think of other groups society has shunned like they did the gypsies?

Book Blurb:

A shocking proposal that changes everything.

Desperate to honor his father’s dying wish, Layken Martin vows to do whatever it takes to save the family farm.

Once the Army discharges him following World War II, Layken returns to Missouri to find his legacy in shambles and in jeopardy. A foreclosure notice from the bank doubles the threat. He appeals to the local banker for more time—a chance to rebuild, plant, and harvest crops and time to heal far away from the noise of bombs and gunfire. 

Only the banker firmly denies his request. Now what?

Then, the banker makes an alternative proposition—marry his unwanted daughter, Sara Beth, in exchange for a two-year extension. Out of options, money, and time, Layken agrees to the bargain.

Now, he has two years to make a living off the land while he shares his life with a stranger.

If he fails at either, he’ll lose it all.

UNIVERSAL PURCHASE LINK

Bio box for author, Jan Sikes

AUTHOR’S SOCIAL MEDIA:
Website | Facebook | Bookbub | Twitter | Amazon Author Page | Goodreads

REVIEW BY MAE CLAIR:

This is a moving account of one man’s determination to save his family’s farm from foreclosure. Set shortly after WWII in Missouri, the setting and time period are every bit as vibrant as the characters who populate this extraordinary novel.

Layken Martin agrees to a marriage of convenience with Sara Beth Williams in order to keep her cold-hearted banker father from foreclosing on the farm that has been in his family for generations. Emotionally damaged from living under her father’s controlling and abusive thumb, Sara Beth nonetheless bristles at the idea of marriage to a complete stranger.

At the start, these two tread around each other as though walking on eggshells. Given time, however, both begin to realize their own self worth and the blessing of the marriage. It’s a gradual process that unfolds slowly and believably.

Lest you think this book is a romance, it’s far from it. Rather the story focuses on damaged individuals overcoming adversity through dedication, hard work, and belief in the goodness of others. While Layken and Sara Beth are the central characters, there is also a handful of strong secondary characters—and I do mean STRONG—who flesh out several intricate threads woven into the plot.

From “Uncle” Seymour, a hired hand Sara Beth has known since childhood, to Tab, a skittish young boy with troubles far outweighing his years, the way these characters come together is beautiful to witness. I read one chapter of this novel, then had to set it aside for the day. The next morning, I picked it up and read straight through to the finish. During that period, the author had me on an emotional rollercoaster with her brilliant plotting, heart-wrenching drama, and unforgettable characters. I’ve read Jan Sikes before, always enjoying her stories, but this book is an entirely different league. The writing is both earthy and pristine, and shorter chapters keep you eagerly flipping pages.

If you enjoy moving historical fiction, I highly recommend this gem with its roots set deep in America’s past. Bravo!

UNIVERSAL PURCHASE LINK

Thanks for helping me welcome Jan today. I hope you enjoyed her visit and will drop her a comment below. Don’t forget to grab your own copy of A Beggar’s Bargain through the purchase link above, then step back in time to the dusty byways of Missouri, and an earlier generation!

Finding Me: The Defiant Sisters Duet- Book 2 by Jacquie Biggar @jacqbiggar #newrelease #YA #siblingrivalry #romance #familydrama

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Hello, and welcome to April! I hope the weather is treating you well in whichever corner of the world you may be camped out. Today, I’m delighted to welcome Jacquie Biggar to my blog. I can’t begin to tell you how many novels and novellas I have read by this talented author. Today, Jacquie is sharing her newest release, Finding Me: The Defiant Sisters Duet (book 2). Look for my 5-star review toward the end of the post, but in the meantime . . . take it away, Jacquie!

Kindle with book cover for Finding Me by Jacquie Biggar shows young girl in prom dress, kindle lying among rose petals

Thank you for sharing my new release on your blog today, Mae. It’s deeply appreciated!

A few years ago, a regular customer of my restaurant lost her husband to suicide. It shocked our small community and devastated her family. They seemed like a happy, loving couple, so what happened?

The same occurred to a famous, well-loved dancer called tWitch. He and his wife had three children, the youngest only two years old. And yet, he, too, is gone.

This led me to wonder (and worry) about the children left behind. How do they handle the loss of their father? Do they blame themselves? Each other?

The Defiant Sisters Duet is an exploration of two sisters, Renée and Izzy, affected differently by the loss and how it eats at the family’s dynamics.

Finding Me

Izzy

My life is not like I dreamed it would be. I had the foolish fantasy of finishing high school, going to college, making something of myself- maybe even becoming famous.

Instead, I’m the infamous kid of the father who killed himself in the family’s backyard.

How’s that for a legacy?

Renée

I came home for my mother’s funeral, but I’m staying to mend bridges with my sister. We have another chance, and whatever it takes, we need to come together as a family or live the rest of our lives knowing we let our brother down.

They say pride goes before a fall, but it doesn’t tell us how to avoid the scrapes along the way.

Excerpt:

Izzy

Two years earlier

The day my life changed forever started like any other with Mom yelling for me to get out of bed, my sister hogging all the hot water in the shower, and my little brother peeping at me from the doorway to my room.

“Beat it, creep,” I mumble, throwing my one good pillow at his head. He grins and takes off for the stairs as fast as his gangly legs will carry him. I sigh and flop onto my back, blinking the sleep from my eyes. Dust motes float in the air through the sun’s early morning rays, sneaking past my half-closed blinds. Upstairs, the floorboards creak as Mom moves around the kitchen preparing our lunches. That nagging cough of hers grosses me out. It’s a cross between a gag and a snort; real attractive first thing in the morning.

A vibration under my right shoulder blade sends me on a frantic search for my cell through the topsy-turvy mess I’ve made of my blankets. The Hello Kitty case shakes again. I turn it over to find five messages from my best friend, Trinity.

Did you decide yet?

It’s going to be a blast!!!

The biggest party of the year, and it’s your birthday

Kyle’s going

Izzy, are you there?

Kyle’s going? Oh, man. Trinity teases me, but Kyle is the cutest boy in tenth grade and nice, too. Ever since he’d turned to me in Hendricks’s class and asked for help with Canada’s social and economic growth and the connection to natural resources, I’d been dreaming of those dark brown eyes. I need to go to that party.

What are you going to wear?

Knowing Trinity, she’d probably shopped all weekend for the perfect outfit.

I found the perfect outfit! Wait ’til you see it!!

I look at the tired clothes hanging in my closet and sigh. The money I make working part-time after school at The Voltage, a popular coffee shop downtown, goes toward helping Mom with the bills.

I stare at Trinity’s words, her excitement contagious. I want some of that enthusiasm. To be a teenager, just for one night.

Author, Jacquie Biggar

AUTHOR BIO
Jacquie Biggar is an award-winning author of romance who has been listed on USA Today’s bestseller list. Her writing is centered around tough, alpha male characters who fall for strong and independent contemporary women. She resides on Vancouver Island with her husband and would love to hear from readers worldwide!

In her own words: “My name is Jacquie Biggar. When I’m not being a klutz, I’m a wife, a mother of one, a grandmother, and a butler to my calico cat. Watching reality TV shows such as The Voice and Amazing Race is one of my guilty pleasures. Every Monday night, you can find me laughing at the judge’s shenanigans as I’m plastered to my armchair. I love hanging out with my husband at the beach, taking pictures, and reading romance novels (what else?). I have a slight obsession with Tim Hortons, enjoy gardening, everything pink, and talking to my friends.” 

Subscribe to her Newsletter and follow her on these sites:
Amazon | Website | Facebook | Newsletter
Twitter | Pinterest | GoodReads | Bookbub

PURCHASE LINK

MY REVIEW:

Jacquie Biggar takes her reader on an emotional roller coaster of family dynamics, romantic entanglements, misunderstandings, buried feelings, and forgiveness. She doesn’t hold back but places her characters under a microscope, digging deep into the core of what makes them tick. At the heart of this touching story is the relationship between sisters Izzy and Rene, struggling through estrangement after the death of their mother. Buried deeper in the past is the shocking suicide of their father, a tragic event that upended the lives of both sisters and their younger brother, Ben.

In addition to the two leads, strong supporting characters come into play (I’m a huge fan of Jay!), all twined together in an emotional nest that had me alternately grinding my teeth in frustration and other times sniffling with heartache. Told in first person POV from the viewpoint of several central characters, the writing flows effortlessly, rolling from the pages with authentic voice for each.

This is a poignant novella with a beautiful finish that speaks to the strength of family, belief in others and the power of love.

PURCHASE LINK

I’m super excited about this release, and hope you’ll help me spread the word by using the sharing buttons below. Feel free to drop Jacquie a “congrats” in the comments. And don’t forget to use the purchase link to scoop up your own copy of Finding Me! I wish you happy reading!

The Body in the Kitchen by Judi Lynn #preorder #cozymystery #culinarymystery #jazzizanders

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Happy Tuesday! I have another new release to share today, this one from a series I have happily followed from book one. Judi Lynn has a brand new Jazzi Zanders mystery she’s here to share. The characters in this comfy series are like close friends and family, and I can’t wait to spend time with them again. Whether you’re a long-time fan like me, or a new reader to this fun house-flipping couple and their extended brood, I’m sure you’ll be enchanted. Here’s Judi to tell you more!

I’ve admired Mae Clair’s writing for so long, I consider it a special treat to be invited to her blog.  Thank you, Mae.  I’ve come today to promote my newest Jazzi Zanders mystery, The Body in the Kitchen.  It’s up for pre-order now and goes live on Feb. 27.  I’ve also put up 50 copies for a Goodreads Giveaway Feb. 14 – 25, so if you enter, good luck!

Book cover for The Body in the Kitchen by Judi Lynn shows food and drink and also a cute pug dog

In each Jazzi mystery, Jazzi, her husband Ansel, and her cousin Jerod flip a rundown property and hope to make a profit selling it.  In this book, they’ve taken on one of the biggest projects they’ve ever done.  They bought a warehouse on the edge of downtown, close to the city’s riverwalk, and are converting it into condos—three units on each floor.  And happily, every condo has sold even before they can finish them.  

Two of their friends, Elspeth and Fazal, bought the space for a condo on the first floor and asked them to make it into a bakery.  It’s already open and doing well.  A few doors down from the warehouse is a building with rent-a-kitchens, where chefs and caterers can rent a kitchen to cook for big events.  Fazal’s friend and a fellow chef, Jordan, rents space there when he’s going to cater a party.  Jordan gets a job for a really elaborate event and asks Fazal to cover the desserts, and he’ll do the appetizers.  It’s a huge success, but the next morning, Fazal finds Jordan, dead.  And, of course, he asks Jazzi to help find who killed him.  She’s worked with Detective Gaff before and has a great track record.

The Jazzi series are cozy mysteries with a lot of food and family thrown in the mix.  If you try one of them, I hope you enjoy it.

Bio: 
Judi Lynn lives in Indiana with her husband and a bossy gray cat.  She loves to cook and owns more cookbooks than any mortal woman would ever need.  That’s why so much food sneaks into her stories.  She also loves her flower beds, but is a haphazard gardener, at best.

My blog & webpage:  http://writingmusings.com/
My author Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/JudiLynnwrites/ 
Twitter: @judypost
On BookBub at Judi Lynn with a link to Judith Post (for my urban fantasies):  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/judi-lynn 
My Amazon author page:  Amazon.com: Judi Lynn: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle 

The Body in the Kitchen releases on February 27th, but there’s no reason to wait
PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY HERE

Please help Judi spread the news of her upcoming release by using the sharing buttons, then drop a comment to cheer her on! If you’re a fan of cozy mysteries, you’ll want to grab this one!

New Release: Sheriff Tyree by S. Cox #historicalfiction #westernfiction #oldwest

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Hello, friends! I’m excited to announce a new release from talented author Sandra Cox—Sheriff Tyree. I’ve already picked up my copy and can’t wait to dive into this tale of the Old West. I speak from experience in saying Sandra always tells an engrossing tale. If you need convincing, check out the deets on her latest!

Banner add for Sheriff Tyree by S. Cox shows electronic tablet with book cover superimposed over sunset sky

Blurb:
Keeper Tyree has a reputation of being the toughest, most fearsome bounty hunter in Kansas. Now he’s sheriff of El Dorado.

Description:
There’s a new sheriff in town.

Instead of chasing bounties all over the state, Keeper Tyree has taken the job of sheriff of El Dorado.

Everything is going well. He’s tamed the town and now he doesn’t have to knock more than a few heads together a day, and has no more than one or two occupants in the calaboose at a time. Then a stranger comes to town. A stranger bent on vengeance and the man he wants to bring down is Keeper.

Mitchell Jordan holds Keeper personally responsible for his daddy being hung. He believes in an eye for an eye and he’s out to even the score. A family member for a family member.

Keeper is fearless, except where his loved ones are concerned. They’re his one weakness and there’s nothing he won’t do to keep them safe. No matter which side of the law he has to come down on. There’s no right or wrong, there’s just taking care of his own. And now they’ve been threatened.

Jordan leads Keeper out of El Dorado down a winding trail of danger and deceit, and that trail won’t end till one of them is lying boots up six feet under.

Character facts

Keeper surely does enjoy a good cup of coffee.

Dora, one of Maybell’s girls, is always flirting with him, but he only has eyes for his new bride.

When Keeper married Cathleen, he had the exact same ring he gave her made for her young daughter so Aislinn would know there was room in his heart for her too.

Author Sandra Cox in a candid shot

Bio:
Sandra, who writes as both Sandra Cox and S. Cox, is an animal lover and avid gardener. She spent a number of years in the Midwest chasing down good Southern BBQ. By the time she moved to North Carolina where Southern BBQ is practically a staple, she’d become a vegetarian.

She and her husband are ruled by a dog and several cats. An award-winning author, her stories consist of all things Western and more.

Sandra can be found at http://www.sandracoxwriter.com
OR http://www.cowboytrivia.blogspot.com
OR https://sandracox.blogspot.com 

Well, pardner, if you’re ready to give this western a spin, check out the buy link below. Then be sure to join in with Sandra as she celebrates her new release. Drop her a “congrats” in the comments below and lift a glass of virtual bubbly in her honor—or in the case of Keeper, maybe it should be a shot of rot-gut whiskey. 😉 🥃

Buy Link:

UPDATE: Friends, I just heard from Sandra. She had been trying to log in and reply to comments, but as a user of Blogger, WordPress is not cooperating with her. She sends her apologies, and thanks all those who have visited and commented for their support. Technology! 😒

New Release and Book Review: The Gift by Gwen M. Plano #harborpointeseries #family @gmplano

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Hello, and Happy Tuesday! Today is release day for The Gift, the second book in the Harbor Pointe Series of novellas. As with all the books in the collection, this enchanting tale can be read as a standalone. Take a look at the blurb, followed by my 5-Star Review.

The Harbor Pointe Inn has loomed on California’s cliffs for generations of Hawthornes. For some, it’s been a blessing. For others, a curse. Travel through two centuries of stories to discover the old inn’s secrets.

In an innocent 1958 American suburb, Shelly doesn’t know the power of a kiss. Or how it will change her entire life.

At sixteen years old, she falls in love with a young man. One night—just one night—they go too far. Months later, pregnant and shamed, Shelly’s parents banish her.

Alone and heavily pregnant, circumstances force Shelly to cross the country in an old pickup.

A mistaken turn leaves her lost in a forest amidst a severe snow storm and in labor.

In the dark of night. Shelly must get help for her new-born baby before they both perish. A light in the distance gives her the slimmest glimmer of hope.

After Shelly wraps the infant in her father’s old jacket, she trudges through the snow to a lighthouse keeper’s cottage. Snow half buries the squat stone building.

Will Shelly find shelter, or is it the beginning of the end?

MY REVIEW:

The Gift is a beautiful story about overcoming hardships through the power love. Set in fictional Harbor Pointe, the story takes place over a few days during the Christmas season in 1958.

Pregnant and barely seventeen, Shelly is sent away by her parents to live with an aunt. While driving there, she becomes caught in a snowstorm, and goes into labor on Christmas Eve. Her baby is born in the car, but she’s rescued by Jes, a lighthouse keeper, and his wife, Mary. An older couple, the pair lost their daughter, Annie, a few years after she was born.

If you’re looking for a heartwarming treat, this tale will leave you sniffling happy tears. I loved the scattered allusions to the Biblical Christmas story, but most of all I fell in love with the characters. From Jes and Mary, to Shelly and her boyfriend, Jonathan, to his cousin Howard, and his parents—each left a mark on my heart. I could easily see this tale unfolding into a beautiful Christmas movie. It delivers an uplifting message about the bonds of friendship and family. A gem!

Although I’ve closed comments on this post, I hope you’ll join me in celebrating with Gwen on her release day, then hopping over to Amazon to check out The Gift for yourself. You can also discover all the books in the Harbor Pointe Series, HERE.

PURCHASE THE GIFT

Release Day: The Price of Atonement by Mae Clair #ghosts #suspense #halloweenread #historical #mystery #harborpointeseries

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Happy Tuesday! Today, I’m celebrating a book birthday with the release of The Price of Atonement, book one of the Harbor Pointe Series. This is a complete standalone novella, as are all of the tales within the series (remaining novellas are available for pre-order HERE).

With October looming and Halloween around the corner, it’s the perfect time to pick up a spectral read.

This is not a horror novella, but a tale meant to induce a goose bump or two through atmosphere and ghostly visitations.

It also plays off the relationship between the two lead characters—which I’ve been told has a smidgen of Holmes and Watson lurking under the surface.

BLURB:
Some hauntings come from within.

Leviticus Sinclair has been a broken man since the murders of his wife and brother. Burdened by personal failures the night they were killed, he occupies himself by crossing the country, searching out departed spirits unwilling to move from this world to the next. His dead brother’s Bible and a pocket watch—forever frozen at the precise moment of his wife’s death—serve as grim reminders of a past he cannot exorcise.

Accompanied by Wyatt Resnick, a paid employee who fills the role of researcher and hired muscle, Leviticus arrives at the Harbor Pointe Inn amid rumors of a vengeful ghost. A phantom who may be the single spirit he has long sought, one capable of freeing him from his torment. Set in the remote Pacific Northwest of 1887, The Price of Atonement is a story of jealousy, guilt, and one man’s relentless quest for absolution.

In the excerpt below, my two lead characters, Leviticus Sinclair and Wyatt Resnick have arrived at the Harbor Pointe Inn.
August Hawhthorne is the proprietor.

EXCERPT:
Hawthorne passed them two keys, then indicated the staircase to the right of the entrance. “The only adjoining rooms I have are on the top floor. It boasts a shared sitting area which I’m sure you gentlemen will like for your brandy.”

“Rather odd for an inn in such a rugged location, isn’t it?” Wyatt asked.

“Perhaps now, but my father built this place at the height of the gold rush. During its heyday, the Harbor Pointe Inn provided rooms for everyone from established ore barons down to passing prospectors who preferred not to sleep outdoors. We were a boom town once.” Hawthorne lifted his chin indignantly, the spark in his eyes hinting of a past and faded glory.

Wyatt felt almost sorry for him. He motioned to the portrait, noting a family resemblance in the narrow slope of a too prominent nose. “Is that your father?”

“Yes. Isaac Hawthorne. He came here from Massachusetts with nothing but a few dollars and a dream. Good fortune smiled, and he struck it rich almost immediately. He could have abandoned the area but built this place instead. It’s his personal suite you’ll be using.”

Wyatt shot a glance to Leviticus, noting his employer didn’t seem surprised. “I would have thought you’d reserve that for your own lodging.”

Hawthorne tucked his shoulders. He glanced away briefly before fingering the edge of the desk. “My wife… doesn’t care for the view. We converted the suite to bedrooms for lodging but kept the living area. We have our own accommodations on the main level. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to alert Etta we have guests so she can prepare properly for dinner.”

Before Wyatt could protest, he disappeared back through the door from which he’d come.

Wyatt tucked his key into his pocket, then hefted their bags. “Odd fellow.”

“Not necessarily.” Leviticus headed for the steps. “I would imagine our rooms provide a good view of the lighthouse. If I’m not mistaken, that’s where we’ll find our ghost.”

PURCHASE LINK

Thanks for helping me celebrate my book birthday! I already have plans for these two characters with continuing adventures down the road, so I hope you enjoy their introduction. I wish you a happy autumn and happy reading!

Pre-Order The Harbor Point Series #mystery #ghostfiction #suspense #standalones

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Happy Hump Day! Some of you might have seen the announcement on Story Empire yesterday about the Harbor Pointe book series. This is the reason I’ll be holding off to release the novels I mentioned in Monday’s post (The Keeping Place and The Ghosts of Wingate Hall) until next year.

I’m excited to announce the ladies of Story Empire have banded together, each writing a novella set around the fictional Harbor Pointe Inn and lighthouse. Our series spans two centuries, from past to future, each title now available for pre-order.

Book cover for The Price of Atonement by Mae Clair shows lighthouse on rugged sea cliff overlooking ocean, birds in sky

I have the honor of kicking off the series with
The Price of Atonement, a tale set in 1887.  

THE PRICE OF ATONEMENT
Harbor Pointe Series Book 1
by Mae Clair

BLURB:

The Harbor Pointe Inn has loomed on California’s cliffs for generations of Hawthornes. For some, it’s been a blessing. For others, a curse. Travel through two centuries of stories to discover the old inn’s secrets.

Some hauntings come from within.

Leviticus Sinclair has been a broken man since the murders of his wife and brother. Burdened by personal failures the night they were killed, he occupies himself by crossing the country, searching out departed spirits unwilling to move from this world to the next. His dead brother’s Bible and a pocket watch—forever frozen at the precise moment of his wife’s death—serve as grim reminders of a past he cannot exorcise.

Accompanied by Wyatt Resnick, a paid employee who fills the role of researcher and hired muscle, Leviticus arrives at the Harbor Pointe Inn amid rumors of a vengeful ghost. A phantom who may be the single spirit he has long sought, one capable of freeing him from his torment.

Set in the remote Pacific Northwest of 1887, The Price of Atonement is a story of jealousy, guilt, and one man’s relentless quest for absolution.

Although all tales are connected by location, each is completely independent of the others and can be read as standalones. Staci Troilo created the amazing book covers, Harmony Kent provided formatting, and Diana Peach designed the gorgeous trailer below. Thank you ladies for your hard work!

All books are available for preorder. The stories, in order of release date, are:

The Price of Atonement by Mae Clair

Release Date – September 26, 2023
Preorder:
Amazon US
Amazon UK

The Gift by Gwen M. Plano

Release Date – October 17, 2023
Preorder:
Amazon US
Amazon UK

The Destination by D. L. Finn

Release Date – October 31, 2023
Preorder:
Amazon US
Amazon UK

The Seas of Time by D. Wallace Peach

Release Date – November 14, 2023
Preorder:
Amazon US
Amazon UK

The Edge of Too Late by Jan Sikes

Release Date – November 28, 2023
Preorder:
Amazon US
Amazon UK

A Fathomless Affair by Staci Troilo

Release Date – December 5, 2023
Preorder:
Amazon US
Amazon UK

A Death at The Inn by Joan Hall

Release Date – January 2, 2024
Preorder:
Amazon US
Amazon UK

The Room at the End by Harmony Kent

Release Date – January 9, 2024
Preorder:
Universal Link
Amazon US
Amazon UK

Browse the titles and links, then join us for a variety of genres. Tales range from mystery, suspense, ghost fiction, time travel, family and relationships, historical fiction, and futuristic—there is something for everyone. Given the rollercoaster year I’ve had, I am over-the-moon to be participating in this undertaking.

I hope to see you in Harbor Pointe! 🙂

New Release: Death at the Asylum by N.A. GRANGER #RheBrewsterSeries #womensleuths #cozymystery

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Hello, everyone, and happy Monday! I hope you had a blessed and happy Easter.

Today, I’m happy to share a new release from friend and author N.A. Granger. If you haven’t read one of Noelle’s books before, you’re missing something special. From her polished and clever Rhe Brewster series, to her meticulously researched The Last Pilgrim, Noelle delivers stories that keep you glued to the pages. Today, I’m happy to spotlight her latest release, Death at the Asylum. Look for my 5-Star review at the bottom!

Book cover for Death at the Asylum shows a public figure at podium speaking before crowd with large building in background

BLURB::
Attending the opening of a new commercial center, Rhe Brewster, an ER nurse and police investigator, and her husband Sam, chief of the Pequod police department, save the governor of Maine from a sniper attack. They are assigned to a task force to find the sniper, at the same time trying to identify the person who has stolen Rhe’s personal data and is using it to run up thousands of dollars in debt and even steal their home. Rhe treats a student from Pequod University raped following a night at a local bar and soon discovers there is a serial rapist on the loose. The threats to Rhe and Sam escalate as a sociopath from Rhe’s past reemerges in a strange twist. Are any of these perpetrators linked?

Maine’s most tenacious sleuth is back, surrounded by the colorful characters who populate the coastal town of Pequod. In this fifth installment of the Rhe Brewster Mysteries, Rhe’s strength and determination are tested to their limits while she tries to protect her unborn child.

EXCERPT:
The sniper had been in the attic of the empty house across the river for nearly a day, lying on a table pushed up to a window, with his gun resting on the window sill. The view was perfect. Habit kept him there, virtually unmoving, diapered to take care of his needs, and stoked on coffee until earlier this morning.

Now he needed steady hands. Gravity, wind speed and direction, altitude, barometric pressure and humidity could all affect the bullet trajectory, and he’d taken each one of those factors into account.

Just one shot. He’d done it before with deadly accuracy in Iraq—twenty-three times. Just one more. He could do this. Maybe then the gnawing pain of his loss would lessen.

He slowed his breathing, slowed his heart rate, stilled every muscle except for those in his trigger finger, and focused on the grinning head now in the crosshairs of the telescopic lens. He heard his former spotter’s voice whispering quietly, ‘Now.” He gently, slowly, squeezed the trigger, felt the solid push back against his shoulder. And waited. It takes time for a bullet to get to its target from that far away.

Author, N. A, Granger

AUTHOR BIO:
N.A. GRANGER is a Professor Emerita at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. After forty years of research and teaching undergraduates and medical students, plus earning her EMT licence, she decided to use her knowledge of human anatomy and emergency medicine in mystery writing. In addition to the Rhe Brewster mystery series (Death in a Red Canvas Chair, Death in a Dacron Sail, Death by Pumpkin, Death in a Mudflat), she has written for Coastal Living and Sea Level magazines and several times for the Bella Online Literary Review. She recently published her first historical fiction novel, The Last Pilgrim, which received critical acclaim. The mystery series has its own website: http:www.na-granger.com. You can find more of her writing at saylingaway.wordpress.com. She lives in Durham, North Carolina, with her husband and a Maine coon cat who blogs.

AMAZON PURCHASE LINK

MY REVIEW:
This intriguing mystery juggles multiple plot lines but the author handles them all with finesses. Although this is the fifth entry in the Rhe Brewster mystery series, you needn’t be familiar with any of the previous titles (though I do recommend them). Character relationships are clearly defined both before the story in a Forward by the author, and throughout the engrossing chapters that follow.

Things begin with a bang—literally—when ER nurse, Rhe, and her Chief of Police husband, Sam, attend a speech given by the governor, and a sniper targets him. As a part-time investigator with the police, Rhe gets caught up in the resulting investigation led by Sam. Multiple suspects complicate matters, but that’s only the beginning. A stalker reemerges from Rhe’s past, drug thefts occur at the hospital, and a serial rapist is on the loose.

If that sounds like a handful, trust me—it will keep you flipping pages. The plot is like an octopus with arms, each branching in a different direction, each given the proper amount of attention to keep the reader puzzling out possibilities. This is a clever mystery with strong characters. Rhe and Sam are wonderful together, and even supporting characters, like Rhe’s BFF, and co-workers at both the hospital and police department get to shine. I loved the Maine setting and the back-and-forth between investigative work, hospital cases, and home life.

If you enjoy intelligent plots, polished writing, and layered mysteries with characters who settle into your heart, you’re sure to like this latest entry in the Rhe Brewster Mystery Series. Highly recommended for fans of female sleuths!

BOOKS IN THE RHE BREWSTER SERIES:
Death in a Red Canvas Chair
Death in a Dacron Sail
Death by Pumpkin
Death in a Mudflat

Thanks for joining me today as I spotlight this wonderful new release from a gifted writer. Please use the sharing buttons to help spread the word on Noelle’s latest. Drop a comment with your thoughts to join in the release celebration, and don’t forget to grab your own copy of Death at the Asylum from Amazon!

I wish you happy reading and happy sleuthing!

Guest Post – The Last Drive by John W. Howell #newbook @HowellWave

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Hello, and thanks for joining me today while I welcome Story Empire colleague, and fantastic author, John Howell. I’ve enjoyed all of John’s books but when he wrote Eternal Road, an unusual blend of history and the supernatural, which addresses the conflict between good and evil, I was smitten. So much, that I hinted around—erm, repeatedly—that the characters needed a sequel. I’m happy he agreed.

Today, I’m delighted to host John during his tour for The Last Drive, the long-awaited sequel. You can find my five-star review at the end of this post. In the meantime, please welcome, John!

Book cover for The Last Drive by John W. Howell, shows dirt road headed toward sea, greenery on either side

I am so pleased to be with you today, Mae. First, I want to thank you for helping to spread the word about The Last Drive. Although I had not planned to write a sequel to Eternal Road, I have you to thank for pushing me to return to the characters and the situation. It was an advantageous experience, and I must take a moment to thank you for convincing me it would be a good thing to do. As a result, I could explore additional areas of the relationship between Lucifer, Sam, and James. So, thank you, Mae.

Here is the blurb, and then we can get to a short excerpt from the book.

The Blurb:
In the sequel to Eternal Road – The final stop, Sam and James are reunited to look for two souls, Ryan and Eddie. Ryan was killed in Afghanistan, trying to avoid a schoolyard with his crippled plane. Eddie Rickenbacker, Ryan’s hero, is to guide Ryan to his Eternal Home, and now both are missing.

The higher-ups believe that there has been some interference in Ryan and Eddie’s journey by Lucifer, so Sam and James have the task of finding Ryan and Eddie to get them back on the road despite the evil interference. Unfortunately, the machinations designed to prevent Ryan and Eddy from completing their journey take the pair to horrifying testing grounds. The places visited represent the best work of the Devil. They are the trenches of World War I in France, gladiators at the Roman Coliseum, the sinking Titanic in 1912, Hiroshima 45 minutes before the bomb, and the Auschwitz concentration camp in 1943.

This book is for you if you like plenty of action, strong characters, time travel, and a touch of spiritual and historical fiction. So, join Sam and James as they try to find the missing souls while staying one step ahead of the Prince of Darkness, who is determined to destroy all that is good.

Banner ad for The Last Drive shows tablet with book cover beside cup of coffee and cell phone

An Excerpt:
The Archangel touches his temple. “I’ll come right to the point.”

“Thank you, Sir.” Sam’s eyes lock on the Archangel’s.

“We’re missing a soul and his guide.”

Sam’s hand goes to her mouth. “Missing? How is that possible?”

“Before we get to that, please have a seat, and let me give you the preliminary details.” He points to a chair.

Sam perches upright on the seat’s edge.

“You can relax, Samantha. This may take a while.”

Sam eases back into the chair. For the first time, she notices small lines on the Archangel’s forehead.

The Archangel sits heavily in his chair, sighs deeply, and looks Sam in the eyes. “The soul belongs to an American Air Force pilot. His aircraft got disabled over the Afghanistan countryside.” He pauses. “A lucky shot from an insurgent hit a vital place in his machine. Long story short, the damage forced him to bail out of the crippled craft, since it was on fire and no longer viable.”

A Link to the Trailer

Buy Links

The Last Drive is available in paper and Kindle editions on Amazon.
Here are the universal links.
The Kindle edition is on sale for 99¢ through mid-February.

Kindle  | Paper

Author, John W. Howell

Author Bio:
John is an award-winning author who after an extensive business career began writing full time in 2012. His specialty is thriller fiction novels, but John also writes poetry and short stories. He has written Six other books that are on Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions. 

John lives in Lakeway, Texas with his wife and their spoiled rescue pets.

Author links
Blog: Fiction Favorites  | Facebook  | Twitter | Goodreads Amazon Author’s page | BookBub

Eternal Road Buy links
Kindle Universal link  | Paper Universal Link 

I hope you enjoyed this post from John. Before you hop over to Amazon to snatch up your copy of The Last Drive, check out my review below and be sure to drop John a comment to wish him well. Thanks for visiting!

My Review of The Last Drive
In this follow up to the Eternal Road, departed souls, Samantha (Sam) and James are reunited to help a recently deceased pilot. Airforce captain, Ryan Sanders, died in a selfless act. Eddie Rickenbacker (yes, THAT Eddie Rickenbacker) is assigned as his guide on the Eternal Road but when the two veer off course, it’s up to Sam and James to get them back on track.

The four eventually connect, but their problems are far from over. Determined to claim Ryan’s soul, Lucifer lays trap after trap as the four hop through time using a 1956 Buick Oldsmobile as transport (trust me, the car is a brilliant touch).

It’s obvious Howell did his research—and there was certainly a lot! The reader visits Super Bowl I, the Battle of Britain, Gettysburg, Hiroshima, the California Gold Rush and ancient Rome, to name just a few of the highlights. I found the scenes onboard the Titanic remarkably touching, especially when Sam and James interact with the captain and crew.

S & J have excellent chemistry and their devotion to each other (especially when pitted against Lucifer) is part of what makes them such excellent characters. Captain Sanders also gets a personal spotlight, when the four journey into his past to discover what became of a woman he loved before entering the service.

An entertaining mix of history and the supernatural, The Last Drive offers a unique journey with four great characters as guides. The ending is wholly satisfying and left me with a wonderful warm feeling. If you’re ready for adventure, sit back and buckle in while James revs up the Olds. Next stop—history!