Guest Post by Ellen Kirschman Author of Call Me Carmela-A Dot Meyerhoff Mystery (#contests- Enter to win a Bookshop.org Gift Card-2 winners)

CALL ME CARMELA

by Ellen Kirschman

November 11 - December 6, 2024 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

A Dot Meyerhoff Mystery

 

Police therapist Dot Meyerhoff helps a young woman find her birth parents and unburies dark family secrets in this psychological thriller.

Police psychologist Dot Meyerhoff’s caseload is usually filled with cops—which is why she’s hesitant to help an adopted teenager locate her birth parents. But the teen’s godmother is Dot’s dear friend Fran and a police widow to boot. How could Dot possibly say no?

Once Dot starts digging into the case, though, she’s drawn into a murky world of illegal adoptions and the choices a young pregnant woman might make as a last resort. Soon there’s only one thing Dot knows for sure: the painful truth of what happened all those years ago might heal one family—but it’s certain to destroy another.

Genre: Psychological/Domestic Suspense
Published by: Open Road Media
Publication Date: November 26, 2024
Number of Pages: 292
ISBN: 9781504095754 (ISBN10: 1504095758)
Series: A Dot Meyerhoff Mystery, #5
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | Open Road Media

Guest Post:

I write the Dot Meyerhoff mystery series. Dot (after my mother), Meyerhoff (after my maternal grandmother), is a police psychologist. So am I. You could call my books semi-autobiographical, although Dot is younger and thinner than I am. And when it comes to helping her cop clients, she takes way more risks.

Readers often ask me, “Did you really do what Dot did? My answer is always “Of course, not. I would have lost my license.”

Dot solves most crimes using her brain and her training as a psychologist. But when more is called for she’ll do whatever it takes. Just so you know, I would never have impersonated a public official, broken into my ex’s office, hit someone over the head with a wine bottle, or tried to run anyone down with my car.

I write in first person. Dot’s voice is mine. So are some of the challenges she faces in every book. I’ve tangled with a lot of badge heavy cops like Eddie Rimbauer. I’ve helped rookies like Ben Gomez (Burying Ben) and Randy Spelling (The Right Wrong Thing) get their bearings in a job that is filled with challenge and tragedy. I’ve helped veteran officers manage the wear and tear of the job on family life (The Fifth Reflection). And I’ve struggled to maintain the belief that what I do as a psychologist helps people change for the better (The Answer to His Prayers).

Like most writers, I mine my personal life and family for material. With his permission, I plagiarized much of my husband Steve’s life for Dot’s love interest, Frank. I turn the tables on incompetent psychologists, bumbling police

chiefs, social unrest, as well as my own tendencies to overwork and never give up on anyone, no matter how bad they are. My struggles to build trust with cop clients and get administrators to appreciate my services, show up in every book.

Call Me Carmela, my most recent book (available now for pre-order) took me in a new direction. Ripped from the headlines in a British newspaper, it has all the same quirky secondary characters shaking their heads as Dot helps the adopted teenage god daughter of KPD’s only police widow find her birth parents. It was refreshing to look beyond my own experience and take a deep dive into the complicated and emotion-filled world of adoptions.

Thanks for reading. I hope you find my books to be informative and enjoyable. Happy reading.

 

Read an excerpt:

 

 

 

Author Bio:

Ellen Kirschman, Ph.D. is a police psychologist. and clinician at the First Responders Support Network. She is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, The American Psychological Association, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and the Public Safety Writers Association. She is the recipient of the California Psychological Association’s award for distinguished contribution to psychology as well as the American Psychological Association’s award for outstanding contribution to the practice of police and public safety psychology. Ellen brings her expertise and decades-long experience to both fiction and non-fiction. She is the author of three non-fiction books and a five-book mystery series featuring police psychologist Dot Meyerhoff.

Catch Up With Ellen Kirschman:
EllenKirschman.com
Goodreads
BookBub - @EllenKirschman
Instagram - @ellen.kirschman.copdoc
Facebook - @ellen.kirschman

 

 

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Book Blitz of Killer Motives by Bonnie Traymore (#Contests- Win An Amazon Gift Card)

 

Killer Motives
Bonnie Traymore
Publication date: April 14th 2022
Genres: Adult, Mystery, Suspense

 

“A riveting, pulse-pounding, adrenaline rush of a thriller. Do not miss this book!” – Noelle W. Ihli, author of Gray After Dark

Readers’ Favorite 2023 Silver Medal Award Winner, Mystery-Murder
Audiobook Reviewer 2023 Best Mystery Award

Victoria’s life isn’t as perfect as it seems. But with two homicide detectives on her doorstep, it’s about to get a lot worse.

Still reeling from the shocking discovery that her husband is having a passionate affair with his real estate client, Victoria struggles to process the mind-blowing news that Nick’s lover is dead—brutally murdered in cold blood on the very same evening she uncovered the truth.

And now two detectives are on her doorstep, waiting to question both of them. Is she a suspect?

With little hard evidence and no shortage of suspects with “killer motives,” Detectives Jack Stark and Lexi Sanchez are under intense pressure to solve the high-profile murder case that rocks the picturesque village of Tarrytown just as the town is gearing up for the area’s annual Halloween festivities and an influx of tourists.

As Victoria sets out to clear herself and find out the truth, she’s faced with two terrifying possibilities—either her husband is a murderer or someone is out to get them.

Conflicted about her marriage and emotionally raw, she sets out to find the truth about what happened that night.

But does she really want to know?

Perfect for fans of Shari Lapena, Jeneva Rose, Sarah Pekkanen, Kaira Rouda, or Shalini Boland.

Add to Goodreads / AMAZON

—

EXCERPT:

Victoria was home working off some nervous energy as she put the dishes away and wiped yesterday’s smudges off the white Shaker cabinet doors. Out the kitchen window, the sun sparkled magically on the Hudson River reflecting the scarlet and gold of the fall foliage clinging to its steep banks. Her melancholy mood from the evening before had turned to excitement, bolstered by a bit too much caffeine on an empty stomach and her Alanis jams playing in the background. She had already called her attorney and had an appointment for next week. She would put all that out of mind until then. Today, she had a meeting scheduled at her office at eleven this morning, an important one, and her benefit dinner tonight. It was now half past nine and she needed to get going. She was almost finished emptying the dishwasher in her methodical manner–only a few cups were left–when her cell phone vibrated against the granite island countertop, its dark surface blending in with the stone. She reached over to grab it. There was a text from her husband: It’s an emergency. Call me.

There were also three missed calls from him and a voicemail. Nick was not given to hyperbole. Quite the opposite. He was actually a bit too laid back, never worrying much about anything. He had never sent a text like that before. She called immediately, not bothering to check her voicemail, putting it on speaker as she finished her chores.

“Vic?” His voice was soft, almost apologetic. He didn’t seem hurt or in danger.

“Nick. What is it?” She felt mildly annoyed, already.

“I have something to tell you, and I’m warning you it’s pretty shocking.” Was he actually going to confess about the affair now? Over a cell call? That was totally unlike him.

“I have to get to work, Nick. What’s so urgent?” She was starting to wish she’d ignored his text.

“My client. From the Shady Hill property. The one I went to see last night? The police called me. She was found dead. At her house. This morning.”

Victoria placed the last clean mug on the counter. Dead? A heart attack or something? No. The police wouldn’t call Nick for something like that. There had to be more to it. She picked up the phone and took it off speaker.

“What happened?” She wasn’t sure she wanted to know the answer.

“I don’t know, but a homicide detective is meeting me at the house any minute now. They called and wanted to meet with me in person. ‘See if I could shed some light on it,’ was how he put it. Jeff told me to meet them at our house, not at the station.”

“Homicide? She was murdered?” Victoria had to hand it to Nick. This certainly reached the bar of ‘emergency.’

“They didn’t say that, exactly. He said he’d tell me more in person. I don’t know much more than you do at this point. What if I was the last person to see her alive, Vic?” Nick’s voice was shakier now, almost panicky.

“So? You’re certainly not responsible for her death?”

“That’s what Jeff said.”

“What does Jeff have to do with this? You called Jeff before you called me?” She thought that sounded like the actions of a guilty person, reaching out to your attorney friend. But guilty of what?

“He’s an attorney! And he knows her! I told you, remember? They had that law suit going. Let’s not do this now. Please!” His tone was harsher now, devoid of sentimentality. “I just wanted to give you a heads-up. The detective might get there before I do. They’ll probably want to question you too. Tell them I’m on my way. I’d appreciate some support. I’m your husband, Victoria, please try to remember that.” He hung up.

She picked up the mug she’d left on the counter, looking out to the sun’s rays sparkling on the Hudson, her thoughts suspended in the timeless currents of the flowing river. It was all starting to hit her now, just what a disaster this was. The photos that were supposed to liberate her from the marriage were now a liability, potentially placing her at a crime scene. What do detectives look for? Means, motive, and opportunity? She had two out of three for now. Should she be worried? And what about Nick? He was acting strangely last night, and she’d attributed it to a guilty conscience. The affair, she assumed. But could it have been more? She knew Nick wasn’t overtly violent, but anyone could commit murder given the right circumstances. What if the woman had gotten pushy? Demanding? Threatening? How far would Nick go to protect what was his? She needed time to think, consult with an attorney. But she didn’t have the luxury of time.

The gate buzzer sounded, jolting her out of her stupor, and the mug slipped from her hand, shattering into pieces on the travertine tile floor. She quickly picked up the big chunks, but the shards of porcelain would have to wait.

Author Bio:

Bonnie Traymore is the Amazon Bestselling author of seven domestic/psychological thrillers. Her thrillers feature strong but relatable female protagonists who peel back the layers of suburban American life and give readers a peek inside. The plots explore difficult topics such as jealousy, infidelity, murder, and the impact of psychological disorders, but she also includes bits of romance and humor to lighten the mood from time to time. She's an active status member of International Thriller Writers and Mystery Writers of America.

Bonnie has a doctorate in United States history and has taught at top independent high schools as well as Columbia University and the University of Hawaii. Originally from the NYC area, she resides in Honolulu with her family.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram

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Book Blitz of Barristers and Bones by J.L. Brannick (#contest- Win an Amazon Gift Card.)

Barristers & Bones

 J. L. Brannick
(Las Vegas House of Spades, #1)
Publication date: October 15th 2024
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Dark Comedy, Dark Romance, Romantic Suspense

A hot, morally gray mentor out for revenge. A sprawling funeral home. Torture, mayhem, and a Las Vegas wedding she can’t remember.

Luna needs to complete an internship to graduate, but staying alive suddenly takes priority when she’s paired with the cold, starkly handsome attorney from hell. Roman Fowler is an infamous partner at the most notorious law firm in Las Vegas, and he’s harboring deadly secrets and searching for retribution. And when he forces her hand, their chemistry explodes.

But she’s not a helpless, scared child anymore. The House of Spades–her adopted family–is a powerful, violent, oddly close-knit clan that has a hands-on, DIY approach to taking care of “life’s little problems.” They’re still deciding if Roman is a problem when Luna’s dark past threatens.

Can they fight the danger and menace together? Or will the monsters win again?

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

He smirked and walked over, wrapping his arms around me. “Why do I feel there’s no right answer here?”

My lips quirked. “Because you’re smart, but you never listen.”
He bent down and sniffed my neck. “I do listen to you, especially when you’re

making those sexy little whimpers while I’m–”
I put my hand over his mouth. “If you start with the dirty talk, we’ll never make it

to Ezra’s house for dinner.”

Author Bio:

J. L. Brannick lives in the desert with her family and fur babies. She works as an attorney, and detoxes by taking long hikes and exploring old Western ghost towns while plotting her novels. She graduated from law school in Las Vegas, Nevada where she quickly realized that truth can be stranger than fiction.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / Newsletter

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Book Blitz of Magic Unleashed by Delta James (#contest- win an Amazon Gift Card)

Magic Unleashed
Delta James
(The Grimm Files, #1)
Publication date: September 18th 2024
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance

Mysterious deaths. Impossible magic. And the sexy dragon who might drive her to murder.

In the shadowy heart of modern-day New Orleans, where the supernatural simmers just beneath the surface, Phoenix Landry is a force to be reckoned with. As a formidable fairy enforcer, she stands as the city’s last line of defense against the demonic threats that prowl the night. She’s trained from childhood and is armed with lightning-fast reflexes, mastery over fire, and deadly weapons, Phoenix knows she’ll only come into her full power when she finds and bonds with her fated mate. But Phoenix has never been one to wait for fate—until it throws her into the path of Griff Cavill, a hard-nosed dragon shifter detective with secrets of his own.

Griff has been investigating a series of gruesome deaths that defy all logical explanation. As their paths intertwine, Phoenix is forced to confront the truth: Griff is her fated mate. Together, they form an uneasy alliance to combat a rising demonic cult. But as their chemistry ignites, so too does the danger surrounding them.

Griff becomes possessed by the very demon lord they’ve been hunting. Phoenix faces an impossible choice: uphold her duty as a fairy enforcer, or risk everything—including her life and the fragile balance between worlds—for the man she’s come to love.

As the battle for New Orleans intensifies, Phoenix must confront her deepest fears and make a heart-wrenching decision in a final showdown that will determine the fate of both worlds.

Magic Unleashed, the first book in The Grimm Files, is a gripping paranormal romance where love is a double-edged sword, and the price of power could be everything.

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

“Well, if it isn’t Detective Broussard, bright and early. Are you doing the walk of shame as well? Come to sweep my sister off her feet again, or just drag her back to bed?”

Griff scowled, brushing past her without a word. He wasn’t in the mood for Savannah’s teasing, not when his mind was spinning with everything that needed to be done.

“Where’s Phoenix?” he asked, his voice low and gruff as he entered the front hall.

Savannah sighed dramatically. “Upstairs, brooding, as usual. You two really are made for each other, you know that?”

Griff didn’t respond; instead, he headed straight for the stairs. He took them two at a time, his boots echoing off the polished wood as he made his way to the second floor where Phoenix’s room was. He could feel her presence even before he reached the door, the faint pulse of her magic brushing against his senses like a whisper.

He pushed the door open without knocking and found Phoenix standing by the window, her back to him, arms crossed. The sunlight streamed in through the tall windows, casting her in a golden glow that made her seem even more untouchable than usual.

“You didn’t even say goodbye?” Griff growled; his voice thick with frustration as he closed the door behind him. “After everything that happened last night, you just disappear?”

Phoenix didn’t turn to face him, but he saw the slight tension in her shoulders. “Griff, last night was…” She paused, choosing her words carefully. “It was what it was. But we both know it doesn’t change anything.”

“Doesn’t change anything?” Griff’s temper flared, and before he could think better of it, he crossed the room in quick strides, grabbing her by the arm and turning her to face him. “It changes everything, Phoenix.”

She met his gaze, her eyes a storm of emotions. “No, it doesn’t. You can’t just—”

Whatever protest she had died on her lips as Griff moved faster than she could anticipate, tossing her over his shoulder with ease, his arm wrapped firmly around her dangling legs. Phoenix let out an indignant cry, her fists pounding against his back.

“Griff! Put me down, you bastard!”

Ignoring her protests, Griff carried her out of the room and down the hallway, the echo of his footsteps loud in the otherwise silent mansion. Her sisters and Aunt Maeve were already standing in the foyer, watching the scene unfold with wide eyes full of mirth—okay, her aunt was pissed, but her sisters seemed delighted.

Geneva chuckled. “Well, this just got interesting.”

“Out of the way,” Griff barked, pushing past them as Phoenix continued to squirm and protest.

He reached the front room, a spacious parlor with high ceilings and elaborate decor, and set her down none too gently on her feet. He’d known he needed to be in a room other than her bedroom. He needed a room where they could have some privacy without the temptation of her big four-poster bed staring him in the face. With one hand, he slid the pocket doors shut, sealing them both inside and locking out her meddling sisters and aunt.

Phoenix glared at him, breathless and flushed. “Have you lost your mind?”

Author Bio:

Delta James is a USA Today Bestselling Author known for her captivating paranormal and contemporary romantic suspense novels. She crafts stories featuring complex, curvy heroines and the dominant alpha males who adore them, creating a romantic journey filled with challenges and thrills.

After embarking on a transformative second chapter in her life, Delta now calls Florida home. She enjoys relaxing on warm summer evenings with her lovable pack of basset hounds, watching birds, squirrels, and lizards. When she's not weaving fast-paced tales, she indulges in horseback riding, beach walks, and white-water rafting.

Discover more about Delta, including her complete list of books and audiobooks on her Delta James website.

Delta deeply values her readers and strives to respond personally to as many messages as possible. Connect with her on Instagram, Facebook, or join her private reader group: Delta's Wayward Pack

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / Newsletter

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Book Blast of Spiral by Randy Dean Noble(#thriller, #horror, # contest- Win an Amazon/BN Gift Card)

 

I want to welcome Randy Dean Noble to Books R Us. Randy has written a Horror and thriller novel called Spiral. The Author is giving away a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to one lucky winner. Enter below to win. This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Click on the banner above to see the other stops on the tour.

About the Book:

They’re in the number one watched game in the world… or so they wetold. But they have no memory of who or where they are. Something beyond their wildest imaginations awaits to mercilessly strike them down. And looming in the darkness is something worse... much worse.

Green—named after the color of car he's driving—awakens on the side of a dark highway surrounded by dense forest. And he's in an old muscle car with no way to tell time, no cell phone, and the radio doesn’t work. When he encounters others like himself, they have to join forces to unravel the mystery surrounding them. Yet, trust doesn't come easily—someone amongst them is a saboteur.

With their lives at stake, they are compelled to engage in a race where being last means certain death. They must disentangle the truth that threatens to consume them, before they spiral out of control.

Spiral is a gripping tale of survival, coalition, and the terrifying secrets that lie hidden in the shadows.

Prepare for a rip-roaring, adrenaline-fueled ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.

If you enjoy books by authors like Dean Koontz and Blake Crouch that involve supernatural thrills laced with fast-paced action, then check out Randy Dean Noble's exciting horror thriller, Spiral, today.

 

 Excerpt:

Have you ever had an instinct so strong that you had to comply? It’s all I had. An overwhelming feeling to run.

I woke up in a car I didn’t recognize, seated behind the wheel, with no memory of how I got there, no idea what day it was or what time other than I could clearly see it was night. I had no watch and no cell phone. The engine idled with a deep rumble, the gear shifter in neutral, and the emergency brake had been depressed. It was a standard transmission. Did I know how to drive a standard? I couldn’t remember.

And when I woke, every part of my being screamed at me to go, to just drive. The longer I contemplated, the sweatier my hands got, sliding on the hard, cracked green steering wheel. My heart palpitated faster and faster.

It was dark out, like really dark. A moonless night. Initially, disorientation didn’t register where I was, but it didn’t take long to see I was pulled over on the side of a highway.

My heartbeat thumped in my chest like it was trying to escape. Wide eyes greeted me in the rearview mirror, eyes I didn’t recognize, nor the sweat-beading bald head reflecting back.

Who was I?

A flicker of movement caught my attention—in the ditch, near the line of pine trees. The headlights were on the high setting.

When I turned my head to look, nothing was there, but I swear I saw… something.

About the Author:

Randy Dean Noble is a supernatural thriller kind of guy. He grew up in Canada on a slew of movies and books (action/adventure, horror, sci-fi, and fantasy), all of which have inspired his writing interests. Working a plethora of minimum wage jobs took Randy into computer science and a career in I.T. (because he didn't want to eat PB&J for the rest of his life). But his passion has always been writing, and his dream is to be a full-time fiction author. He writes stories he wants to read, which end up as fast-paced thrilling escape stories meant for one thing: to entertain the reader from beginning to end. His most recent work, Spiral, is a horror thriller wild ride you won't soon forget. Visit him at www.randydeannoble.com.

Connect with the Author:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RandyDeanNoble

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@randydeannoble

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/randydeannoble/

Buy the Book: https://mybook.to/BMTJgXQ

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Blurb Bitz Tour of Dying For Monet by Claudia Riess (#Contest- Enter to Win an $25 Gift Card)

 

 

Dying For Monet:

Claudia Riess

Genre: Mystery

BLURB:

Dying for Monet, book 5 of Riess’s art history mystery series, opens on a gala evening auction at Laszlo’s, an upstart auction house in New York City. After a much sought-after Impressionist still life painting is without notice withdrawn from the auction
block, its broker is found dead at the foot of an imposing statue in Laszlo’s courtyard. Amateur sleuths Erika Shawn and Harrison Wheatley are once again drawn into an investigation involving an art-related homicide, this time with one sharing an unnerving coincidence with violent crimes occurring abroad.

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Excerpt:

Greenwich, Connecticut January 5, 1927

It was time. The mavericks, all thirty of them represented at the first Impressionist Exhibition in Paris, 1874, had passed away. Not that a clean sweep was essential to the plan, but there was a sense of closure about it, as useless yet gratifying as an account ledger balanced to the penny.

The framed canvases were propped up against the far wall of the living room like hostages awaiting their release. The overstuffed couch with its mesmerizing pattern of exotic birds had been moved into the dining room to clear the wall space for them. The drapes were drawn and the room was bathed in artificial light, yet the paintings seemed to be standing out in the open, beneath the sky. It was the sheer vibrancy of color that created the illusion, Elizabeth Barden thought, as she surveyed the display, guilt creeping into her enjoyment of it. Though there’d been no law against it, it had been criminal to have kept these luminous visions in the dark all these years. If only she hadn’t been bound by a promise!

She remembered her parents sitting her down at the kitchen table in this very home, thirty-three years ago it was, the two of them planting themselves opposite her, looking more grimly serious than she’d ever seen them. She was fourteen years old at the time and not yet settled on what to make of herself, looks and intelligence ratings still torturously pending. She imagined she was about to hear that she’d been adopted or had three months to live. What they told her was less dire, but required a more sustained focus to take in. The paintings would be her legacy, they said, but in order for this to be the case, she must follow their instructions down to the letter. She had to clasp their hands in hers—as good as swearing on the bible—and promise to do so. The mood lightened only once during the interview, and that was when she’d pronounced the artist’s name as if it rhymed with “bonnet.” “Monet,” her mother had corrected, grinning. “Mow the grass. Neigh says the horse.”

The memory did not draw a smile. How could it, when these prisoners stood before her in dutiful formation? How brilliantly they’d persevered without a trace of reproach marring their freshness! And wasn’t it curious, how her gaze seemed to be drawn—and return when it wandered elsewhere— to the still life of a Wedgewood vase teeming with flowers—gladioli, lilies, wildflowers; a riot of color she would hardly call “still.” Not her favorite genre, still life, but she’d felt the same sort of instant affinity to this painting as she’d had with her lover, Jacob, not at all her type, but upon an exchanged look, bound to him body and soul. And of course, in a manner of speaking he, too, like the painting, had been hidden for far too long from the embrace of natural light. She must free him, too, from the dark. She had been intending for a year—what was she thinking, more than a year—to tell her most dear but tiresome husband of her affair and the necessity for a divorce. The imminence of the afternoon’s scheduled eve

nt strengthened her resolve. She would end the secrecy tonight.

Hard to believe that barely one hour from now, unless God or chance intervened, the transaction would be under way. The wealthy young art collector, Lewis Keller, along with the gallery owner who had used his networking skills to nose him out and was serving as broker in the deal, would soon be rapping at the door of the sprawling old ranch-house where Elizabeth had lived all her life, half of it with her husband, Wallace. The gallery owner’s entourage of packers and transporters would be on hand as well. The collector, a bit wet behind the ears, she’d discovered when he’d first come to look over the paintings, had seemed to rely more on the gallery owner’s aesthetic judgment than on his own. Like a pet owner forced by circumstances to give up her precious charge, she hoped that the man to whom she was relinquishing the paintings would treat them with the care they deserved.

Before withdrawing to her room to freshen up, Elizabeth stepped into the kitchen to see how her husband was coming along with the needless crudité platter he was arranging for their guests.

“Ah, Wally,” she said rather sadly, thinking of what was ahead for the poor man tonight, “an unaccompanied champagne toast would have been quite sufficient.”

“I know, Liz, I know,” Wallace said, putting down the knife with which he had been slicing carrots into sticks. “But you must admit, a little gesture of thoughtfulness goes a long away.” He tapped his apron-bibbed chest for emphasis.

“You’re right, dear,” Elizabeth agreed, gritting her teeth at his habit of speaking in aphorisms. The knife was lying on the counter unattended, and she imagined, for an instant as fleeting and pleasant as a sunny landscape striking an Impressionist’s eye, of stabbing him with it.

 

About the Author:

Claudia Riess has worked in the editorial departments of The New Yorker and Holt, Rinehart and Winston, and has edited several art history monographs. Stolen Light, the first book in her

art history mystery series, was chosen by Vassar’s Latin American history professor for distribution to the college’s people-to-people trips to Cuba. To Kingdom Come, the fourth, will be added to the syllabus of a survey course on West and Central African Art at a prominent Midwestern university. Claudia has written a number of articles for Mystery Readers Journal, Women’s National Book Association, the Sisters in Crime Bloodletter, and Mystery Scene magazine. To read more about Claudia and her work, visit the author's website.

Connect with the Author:

Website: http://www.claudiariessbooks.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/ClaudiaRiess

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ClaudiaRiessBooks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claudiariessbooks/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/claudiariessbooks/

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Book Blast of Spellcaster Wild Card by Nikki Jefford (#contest- Win an $50 Gift Card to the Authors Store)

Spellcaster Wild Card
Nikki Jefford
Publication date: October 1st 2024
Genres: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult

 

Win the game. Change the world.

Winning the show means living forever. It is the golden ticket to fame, fortune, and a place among the vampire elite.

Being remade isn’t on my wish list. I like being me, and with nearly a million online followers, it’s working. My parents and big sister are the do-gooders in our family who want to make the world a fair and just place for all humans and paranormal creatures. I just want to finish high school and keep doing what I do best—sharing hair and beauty tips while discussing Spellcaster and how the show’s vampire judge Malachi Rayne is the hottest male on the planet.

Then, life as I know it ends. There are evil forces who will stop at nothing to maintain world dominance—indefinitely.

It’s hard to care when I’ve become dead inside and out.

After my family is violently attacked, the host of Spellcaster insists I audition for Season 13. For the first time in the show’s history, they want to represent every species of paranormals. That’s me now. Not human. Not vampire. Not the class of creature anyone EVER cheers for.

This season’s prize is power beyond anyone’s imagination. It is the kind of reward that contestants and their sponsors would kill to possess.

Let the other contestants and judges underestimate me. They can gossip all they want about the hotshot wizard and the alpha werewolf behaving as though I’m another prize to be won. And if Coach Malachi can’t handle a bold influencer with abilities, then he can suck it. I preferred watching him from the other side of the screen. He’s about to discover that Haylee Hutchins is a force to be reckoned with. The whole world will.

Someone thought they could silence my family for good. Instead, they created a monster. I’m still here, and I am much harder to kill.

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EXCERPT:

Everything is spinning. My body. My vision. My brain. I clamp my mouth shut to keep from vomiting. The cleaning crew just got the stage cleaned. Then there’s the second reason I keep my lips pressed tight. I refuse to beg Malachi for mercy.

My hands flail and grasp for something to hold on to, but the wind rushing between my fingers is no help. If this is what flying feels like, then it’s highly overrated. I lean forward in an attempt to go vertical, which has the ill effect of pitching me forward so I catch a brief view of how far I am from the stage. My body flips around another time. I don’t want to land on my feet and crush my ankles. I certainly don’t want to land on my head and shatter my skull. I don’t want to break anything on my body!

If I won this season’s prize, I could defend myself instead of swirling helplessly like the roof of a house caught in a tornado.

The wind rips out my hair tie and blows my braid out in an instant. Blond hair whips me in the eyes. My body begins to descend slowly, while the spinning continues in full force. The tornado fades little by little into the stage until I am set down gently and it disappears altogether. I try to remain standing while the theater seats and stage continue to spin, but I tilt to one side and misstep. Thump. I fall to the stage, sprawled out on my side. It could have been worse, though. Way, way worse.

It’s a little hard to feel grateful as partially digested lunch rushes up my throat. I swallow it down.

Malachi stomps over. “What the hell was that, Hutchins?”

Great. He’s using my last name. The coaches never use contestants ’last names. I must be in trouble.

It’s a serious effort to get to my feet, which takes outstretched arms to keep my balance, but I’m not about to listen to this lecture in a crumpled heap on the stage.

My loose hair tickles my cheeks. I swallow again and cover my mouth with my hand. Malachi’s not in my face, but I don’t want him scenting my vomit breath. Well, not technically breath, but whatever foul waft might originate from the leftover taste on my tongue.

Malachi doesn’t wait for me to answer his question before drilling into me. “First rule of magical combat—never lose hold of your wand.”

“You lost yours,” I mutter, which is the wrong thing to say.

Author Bio:

Nikki Jefford is a third-generation Alaskan nomad married to an amazing Frenchman. She loves fictional bad boys and heroines who kick butt! Books, travel, TV series, hiking, writing, and motorcycle riding are her favorite escapes. The dark side of human nature fascinates her, so long as it's balanced by humor and romance.

To get in on the fun and adventure, visit Nikki at her website for release alerts, updates, exclusive giveaways, and a free story when you subscribe to her newsletter: https://nikkijefford.com/newsletter/

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