Book Spotlight/Giveaway: A Pinch of Salt by Misty Simon

 

Welcome to the Sunny Side Up Diner,

where the pancakes are fluffy, the bacon is crisp,

and murder should not be on the menu…

A Pinch of Assault

Sunny Side Up Mysteries Book 3

by Misty Simon

Genre: Small Town Cozy Mystery with a dash of Romance

Welcome to the Sunny Side Up Diner, where the jukeboxes jive and the secrets thrive...

With things at her Sunny Side Up Diner sailing along smoothly for once, Jax Tapman has turned her attention to her personal life. It’s time to meet the boyfriend’s mother in person. And while Jax isn't totally certain she’s up to the challenge, she agrees to show Eliot’s mom around a local retirement home. It sounds innocent enough, and it shouldn’t be too difficult to sell the woman on the idea of moving to be closer to her son. But instead of making her case, when Jax enters the model apartment, she and her potential in-law find one dead body and a whole lot of secrets!

Suddenly it’s up to Jax to discover who the retirement home killer is—a task that only gets harder when someone from Eliot's past shows up and might know far more about the crime than she’s letting on.

The Sunny Side Up Diner is jumping with gossip, Jax and her best friend Dani are running interference, and Eliot’s mom is calling all the shots. But sorting out chaos and minimizing damage is something Jax has grown accustomed to, if she can only get a clue.


"This new series is off to a great start. Misty does an excellent job showing readers all the details of the small town, the diner, and a cast of entertaining characters."
~ Kings River Life Magazine

"Readers cannot help but fall in love with this first book!!! Simon has you laughing out loud... I, for one, look forward to more books in the series!!!!"
~ Cozy Mystery Book Reviews

 

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“We’re looking for the model apartment,” I said. “If you could point us in the right direction?”

“Of course,” said a guy who came up from behind to join the others. He was wearing a hoodie also emblazoned with the company logo of a big, branchy oak tree with a smiling face. “Right behind you.”

I turned around, and sure enough, when I looked at the sign on the wall to my right, it had a big arrow and the very helpful words “Model Home” in a polished silver that must have cost a pretty penny. But for what they charged to live here, that was probably a drop in the bucket of the money they made on a monthly basis.

“Much appreciated.”

“No problem,” he said, saluting me, and then he caught up with the others.

“We have our direction now from the guy who must not realize it’s warm enough to not need a sweatshirt.”

“Not everyone is as hot as you are,” Eliot said with a chuckle.

“Ha!” I did appreciate that he thought I was hot, of course, but I was fighting a blush that he’d said it in front of his mom.

“Nicely done,” Dot said, patting her son’s arm.

“Let’s carry on.” I cleared my throat and prepared to make the idea of living here irresistible, or at least get mother and son to laugh while trying. “Here we have state-of-the-art facilities and comfort like no other place in the world. The programs and activities are top of line, too. You will only be bored here if you want, or actively make an effort to be bored, because we can schedule your every second before Wheel of Fortune comes on, if you so desire.”

Dot snickered, and even Eliot laughed at that.

“Please follow me to our version of paradise.”

I inserted the key into the lock and twisted, but I didn’t feel any resistance or hear the dead bolt click. I turned the doorknob anyway, thinking maybe the door was just that well-oiled.

Opening the door into the really beautiful suite of rooms, I was already half in love with the teal carpet and the rose-colored walls. The tan furniture they’d chosen to place in the living room was set off nicely with pastel throw pillows, light wood side tables, and a coffee table. The sliding glass door to the left let in ample sunlight without being blinding and bathed the whole area in a golden glow that warmed the room. The effect was truly lovely.

It was obvious I wasn’t alone in thinking so either, since Dot was already oohing and ahhing from the doorway. As she stepped in, I moved out of the way in case she wanted to make a beeline for the kitchen. The breakfast bar fronting the kitchen was big without being massive and separated it from the living room while keeping the floor plan open for entertaining.

I was hoping she’d love the space as she moved around the end of the bar, but when she stepped into the kitchen, she drew to an immediate halt and barked at us to call 9-1-1.

Don’t miss the other Sunny Side Up Mysteries!

Find them on Amazon or at Gemma Halliday Publishing

Misty Simon always wanted to be a storyteller…preferably behind a Muppet. Animal was number one, followed closely by Sherlock Hemlock… Since that dream didn’t come true, she began writing stories to share her world with readers, one laugh at a time.

Touching people’s hearts and funny bones are two of her favorite things, and she hopes everyone at least snickers in the right places when reading her books. She lives with her husband in Central Pennsylvania where she is hard at work on her next novel or three. She loves to hear from readers so drop her a line at misty@mistysimon.com.

 

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Enter the A Pinch of Assault Giveaway Here

Discover Recipe For Murder by & a Giveaway

 

Welcome to Pine Cove.

The Mayor is a dog, B&B guests are fugitives, and the pancakes are burnt. 

Recipe For Murder

A Pine Cove Mystery Book 2

by Marla A. White

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Mel O'Rourke traded her LAPD badge for the quiet life, running a bed-and-breakfast in tiny, quirky Pine Cove.

But when Jackson Thibodeaux, the charming café owner who broke her heart, stumbles back into town, her tranquil second act is toast. While attending a culinary academy in New Orleans, Jackson found the body of a classmate. The police rule it a suicide, but Mel’s instincts—and Jackson’s near miss with a bullet—scream murder.
Between a cooking school full of shady suspects, a reformed cat burglar for a sidekick, and a complicated love triangle involving the deputy sheriff, Mel has her hands full.

Perfect for fans of the sweetness of Jenn McKinlay and the snark of Elle Cosimano’s Finlay Donovan.

 

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The aroma of maple bacon and coffee wafted into her office as Poppy interrupted her pondering with a plate full of breakfast and a mug to replace the one that had already gone cold on her desk. “Thanks,” she murmured, still studying the computer screen.

“Don’t get used to the service, mate. Liam talked me into checking on you after I told him about Jackson’s sudden appearance.”

“And the food?” Mel cocked an eyebrow at her friend, who she suspected was just as worried about her mental state as her brother after their chat last night. The lithe, vertically challenged woman might resemble a brunette pixie, but that brain of hers worked with devious speed.

“Figured you’d holed yourself up in here without getting a proper brekkie. Besides, I have a small favor to ask, but not while you’re sporting that glower on your phiz. What’s got you frowning so hard?” She didn’t wait for an answer but came around the desk to have a look for herself. “You’re reading about the cooking school?”

“Can you believe these gullible idiots, and yes, I’m including Jackson among them, pay for the honor of working for free in Isabelle Fontaine’s restaurant?” Taking a piece of bacon, Mel absently munched on it until the flavor of maple, meat, and unbridled joy exploded in her mouth. Poppy wasn’t as diversely talented in the kitchen as Jackson, but she was the master of the breakfast dishes she made. Mel moaned in appreciation before asking, “All right, out with it. What’s this favor?”

“Well,” her friend gave her a sly grin. Never a good sign. Whatever was about to follow would almost certainly be illegal. But when she said, “I need your advice on how to win over Doctor Hart.” Mel’s jaw actually dropped open.

“You’ve never struck me as the kind of person who worries about other people’s opinions.” She eyed the other woman suspiciously. “Why do you care what Doc thinks?”

Poppy wandered around the office, tidying a crooked photo and pulling out one of Mel’s hospitality course textbooks. The only purpose for all of her movement, as far as Mel could tell, was to avoid letting her see her face. “Because she’s important to you and it seems life would be much easier for you if the two of us got along.”

“Really?” She sat back in the creaky desk chair, crossing her arms over her chest as she tried to figure out the ex-thief’s actual motivation.

“Okay, fine.” The woman whirled on her in a huff. “I’ve never had anyone not like me. Ever. Pathetic loser Agnes Mary Nobel? Sure. But since I transformed myself into the fabulous Poppy Phillips? Even people I’ve stolen from end up liking me.”

“Kind of judgey of poor Aggie, aren’t you?” She’d only recently discovered Poppy’s true identity when Gregg investigated her as a murder suspect. Abandoned by her single mother, she’d grown up in Cleveland in various foster homes that ran the gambit from kind to truly horrific. Given that, she understood her friend’s choice to reinvent herself, fake English accent and all. She claimed she identified as British, whatever that meant. If Mel had to put money on it, she’d bet it was because the accent meant she could get away with murder. And she had to admit, it had come in handy more than once to soothe the ruffled feathers of a guest. But Doc Hart, who’d been suspicious of her from the start, remained an aloof skeptic.

“You could try dropping the accent.”

For the first time, she saw a flash of vulnerability in the bold ex-thief’s eyes.

“What would I even sound like without it?” Poppy murmured, then switched to a flat, nasal tone that presumably she thought people from Cleveland sounded like. “My name is Agnes from Cuyahoga County. I like cheese. Blch.”

“I’m pretty sure you’re confusing Cleveland with Milwaukee, but I see your point.”

 

Framed For Murder

A Pine Cove Mystery Book 1

After a life-changing injury, Mel O’Rourke trades in her badge for bed sheets, running a B & B in the quirky mountain town of Pine Cove. Her peaceful life is interrupted when an old frenemy, the notorious and charismatic cat burglar, Poppy Phillips, shows up on her doorstep, claiming she’s been framed for murder. While she’s broken plenty of laws, Mel knows she’d never kill anyone. Good thing she’s a better detective than she is a cook as she sets out to prove Poppy's innocence.

The situation gets complicated, however, when the ruggedly handsome Deputy Sheriff Gregg Marks flirts with Mel, bringing him dangerously close to the criminal she’s hiding. And just when her friendship with café owner Jackson Thibodeaux blossoms into something more, he’s offered the opportunity of a lifetime in New Orleans. Should she encourage him to go, or ask him to stay? Who knew romance could be just as hard to solve as murder?

 

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Mel gaped slack-jawed at her brother, whose palm covered his face. “Why did you kidnap Grandma?”

“I did not—ugh!” He answered from behind his hand before shaking off his frustration and moving to the back seat of the truck to grab their bags. “Mom forced me to bring her. That’s what the delay was all about. She’s been driving her crazy, and then this morning she lit the kitchen on fire.”

“She what?!”

“I wasn’t there, so I don’t know exactly, something about the toaster and a curtain. Anyway, Mom convinced her she should come help you out and halfway up the mountain she wove this kidnapping story.”

“Help me? How, by greeting guests with her charming personality?” She loved her grandmother, but her salutation and scathing condemnation of the inn with just one glance were pretty mild for the old woman. When she really got on a tear, the best thing was to go to a movie until she wore herself out.

“Beats me but pro tip, do not let her in the kitchen.” Balancing the bags in one hand, Liam enveloped her with his free arm. “At least, not until we make sure the insurance covers curtain fires.”

“No need to worry, I just hired someone today who is great in the kitchen.”

He looked at her askance. “Great as in better than you or someone who is actually a good cook?”

“Shut up.” She laughed in response to the insult. “The guests this morning raved about the food. For however long she stays, I think she’ll be a plus in the breakfast department, anyway.”

“Where did you find this culinary genius? Did you put out an ad already?” He held the door open for Mel and they entered the lobby.

“We didn’t, she found me.” She looked around. “Where’s Grandma?”

The echoes of laughter led the siblings into the Great Room where their grandmother sat in front of the fireplace chatting away with Poppy. They turned toward Mel and Liam as they entered.

“Mel, your mother is a hoot,” she gushed.

She narrowed her eyes at the alleged ex-thief, who had to know perfectly well the woman in front of her was too old to be her mother. Grandma O, however, took the compliment to heart and patted Poppy’s hand, gracing her with one of her rare beaming smiles.

To Mel’s surprise, Liam skidded to a dead halt. She turned back to see why and received the icy blast of the unmistakable storm in his eyes. She’d seen the same dark expression in the mirror when she was furious. What did he have to be so angry about? Before she could ask, he dropped their bags and launched into full hissy fit mode.

“You!” he bellowed at Poppy.

The brunette seemed sincerely surprised at his response. Swiveling her head to see who else was in the room and finding no one, she met his gaze and pointed to herself with an exaggerated, “Who, me?” expression.

Her brother spun, targeting his rage at her. “Don’t tell me this is who you hired?”

“You’re only being a grump because you haven’t tried her bacon,” she joked, hoping to deflate the situation. Years of trying to nail her for any number of jobs she’d pulled off had frustrated Mel, but she had to admit she always liked her style. Despite her suspicions when she found Poppy in the lobby this morning, so far she’d been nothing but charming and kind of fun, so what had she done to piss off easy-going Liam in the two minutes since they met?

Her brother crossed his arms, stubbornly jutting out his square jaw. “There’s no way that woman is working here. She nearly killed you once, I’m not giving her a second chance.”

“You two have met?” The information surprised her, so she let the macho b.s. slide for now. She didn’t need anyone to protect her, but his anger rolled off him so calling him on his chauvinism skittered close to throwing gasoline on a fire.

“We had to watch her on the news sound bites, taking her bows for saving your life, while you lay in that hospital bed, broken and in agony.” Mel had never seen his eyes blaze with such fury before. She’d been so focused on her own suffering she’d never thought about what her family had gone through. Liam clearly had been carrying steamer-trunk sized baggage. “Nobody bothered to mention she’s the one who put you in danger in the first place. Or that you’re crippled for life, thanks to her.”

“Crippled?” Poppy’s brows furrowed, her eyes darkening.

“Easy, drama queen,” Mel snarled, “nobody’s crippled.”

“We used to go rock climbing and now you can’t even mount a set of stairs without getting dizzy.” His exasperation exploded as he paced to the far end of the Great Room to stare out the floor-to-ceiling glass door at the patio and brook beyond. What really hurt was he sounded more bummed out for himself losing a climbing partner than concerned about her.

“Is that true?” Poppy sprang up.

“I’m working on it.” Embarrassed by the whole conversation, she busied herself with tidying the morning newspapers the guests had left strewn around the sitting area.

“She nearly killed you, she’s not working here,” Liam repeated without turning away from the view outside.

Grandma O’Rourke rose to her feet with more nobility than agility, stood between her two grandchildren, and pronounced, “I like her, and I say she stays,” before tottering off to the kitchen in a self-professed search for the infamous bacon.

Of course, she liked Poppy, she just paid her a huge compliment. Never mind if she was guilty of what Liam accused her of doing or not. After putting the last section of the newspaper back in place, Mel noticed the below the fold story on the front page and tightened her fist until she almost tore the paper in two.

Scientist Killed in Daring Heist

Marla White is an award-winning novelist who prefers killing people who annoy her on paper rather than in real life. Her first full-length mystery novel, “Cause for Elimination,” placed in several contests including Killer Nashville, The RONE Awards, The Reader’s Favorite, and finishing second in the Orange County Romance Writers for Romantic Suspense. Originally from Oklahoma, she lived in a lot of other states before settling down in Los Angeles to work in the television industry.  She currently teaches at UCLA Extension and gives seminars about the art of script coverage. When she’s not working on the next book, she’s out in the garden, hiking, cheering on the LA Kings, or discovering new craft cocktails.  

 

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Enter the Recipe For Murder Giveaway Here

Tour Stop/Giveaway: Padlocked by p.m. Terrell

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. p.m. terrell will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Talking with p.m. Terrell

What is your latest book about?

In the afterlife, the past isn’t over. It’s waiting for you.

Padlocked begins when ordinary people are swept into an extraordinary storm of life-altering circumstances as Nazi Germany invades Poland in 1939. Each decision they make seals a fate, binding strangers in an unbreakable chain of consequence. In this tense, visionary tale, every action echoes into the afterlife.

Taking the story from a concept to a published book is a long and involved process. How does that usually work for you?

I was writing a cozy mystery set in North Carolina when I dreamed Padlocked in one night from beginning to end. I felt as though I had time-traveled when I awakened the next morning. As I pondered the thousands of details that I’d dreamed about, I knew it was a story I had to write. I asked God how I could ever remember everything. It was as if I heard His voice answering, “You won’t remember. But I will.”

This was the first time I had ever started a book in this manner, but as I worked on it, it felt as if the story was being dictated to me. I recall Barry Gibb once saying that the Bee Gees’ songwriting often felt like they reached into the ether and brought it down, and I know exactly what he meant.

Which of your books would you recommend for readers to choose first if they’re new to you and your books?

It really depends on what they like to read. If it’s romance, I’d start with Exit 22. That launched a six-book series, including Vicki’s Key, Secrets of a Dangerous Woman, Dylan’s Song, The Pendulum Files, and Cloak and Mirrors.

For soulmates, I recommend The Tempest Murders followed by the sequel, The White Devil of Dublin.

My most popular books are historical. Songbirds are Free is based on the true story of my ancestor, Mary Neely, who was captured by Shawnee warriors in 1780. River Passage is the companion book about the Neely family’s involvement in the Donelson Journey to Fort Nashborough during the Chickamauga Indian War. A third historical book is Checkmate: Clans and Castles, based on the true story of my ancestor, William Neely, and his involvement in O’Doherty’s Rebellion of 1608.

I have also written several books set in magical, mystical Ireland with various historical backdrops, including April in the Back of Beyond, A Thin Slice of Heaven, and A Struggle for Independence, all of which feature romance.

Padlocked is an epic historical and visionary novel that follows the lives of a group of ordinary people who find themselves in extraordinary, life-altering circumstances as Nazi Germany invades Poland in 1939.

Two foreign photojournalists, an American and a Spaniard, are trapped between armies at Festungsfront Oder-Warthe-Bogen, along Poland’s western border with Germany. It is Hank’s last overseas assignment, and he’s been counting the days until he can go home to North Carolina to be with his family. Rafe fled Spain after the dictator, Francisco Franco, targeted his family. The experience changed him, and he now sees the rise of fascism in Europe as a battle between good and evil. They will find themselves embedded with the Polish, Nazi, and Soviet forces at varying times, forcing them to face moral and ethical decisions in their struggles to survive.

A young woman is separated from her sister in Warsaw as the Nazis encircle it. Agata made a vow that she would return to take Elsa to safety, but soldiers and barbed wire prevent her from entering the newly established Jewish sector. She is consumed with guilt over their separation, and when she discovers her sister was taken by train to a work camp near Krakow, she navigates her dangerous, war-torn country in search of her. Her quest will force her to confront a Hell on Earth to find her.

A young man joins the Jungdeutsche Partei, or the Young German Party. Once bullied as a child, Max’s new affiliations promote him to a position where he can dictate life or death and settle scores. In order to thrive under Nazi occupation, he makes daily choices that legitimize brutality and erode humanitarian principles and scruples.

While they don’t know one another at the start of their journeys, each will make decisions that have the power to transform them and place them on paths that ultimately converge on January 27, 1945, as the 60th Army of the First Ukrainian Front opened the gates to Auschwitz-Birkenau for all the world to witness.

This is ultimately a story about the strength of love, courage, faith, and resilience in the face of unimaginable hatred and obsession with power, and how every decision we make places us further along specific paths.

Read an Excerpt

Max was unprepared for the pandemonium as he stepped outside the building. He supposed it made sense as he could hear the voices from his office even if he hadn’t been able to make out the words. Still, it was jarring to see people who would normally walk with controlled purpose now rushing this way and that, as though the sky were falling. It made him hasten his steps, his heartbeat quickening as he joined the throngs. Many stopped along the way to cheer on the passing army vehicles, but he dodged around them, eager to get his book and get back to work. He didn’t want the soldiers to give his office to anyone else in his absence.

“Max! Max!”

At the sound of his name, he almost hid, thinking his ruse was discovered, but he quickly realized the voice was female. His eyes darted around the crowded faces. After a moment, the horde parted, and Stella rushed through to him.

“They’re on our doorstep!” she shouted excitedly. Her face was aglow, and he wanted nothing more than to scoop her into his arms and kiss her.

But, as others glanced their way, he grabbed her hand and led her to a quieter area. “Stop smiling,” he directed, swinging her around to face him.

“Why?” she demanded.

“They are not here yet. Do you want the Polish Army to pick you up?”

“Why would they? I have done nothing wrong.”

“Oh? Now that they are here and we are locked in a battle with them, you and I are collaborators.”

“Huh! That is not true.”

“Isn’t it?”

“It is not. We knew nothing of their plans to invade. We only know that we like their system of government.”

“And you don’t think they are here to change our system of government to their own?”

“Isn’t it exciting?”

“Stop it, I say. Stop it!” Max wiped his forehead. “What are you doing here, anyway?”

“The shop where I worked closed.”

“Closed? Why?”

Stella shrugged. “Excitement. Fear. Maybe a little of both.” She peered at him, her eyes narrowing. “Why are you here and not in the mayor’s office? I would have thought you’d be very busy there.”

“I am very busy.” He pulled at his suit jacket as if straightening it. “I have been promoted.”

“Promoted! To what?”

“I am now a liaison to the military.”

“The Polish military?”

“Do you see another here?” He waved his hand toward the tanks passing by them.

“What are you doing for them?” she breathed, her brow furrowing.

“English translation.”

“You don’t speak English!”

“How do you know that? I do, actually. And I am on a mission, and you are delaying me.”

“Be that way, then.” She pouted briefly before adding, “What will you do when the Nazis arrive in Będzin?”

“How do you know that they will?”

She shrugged. “I am hedging my bets.”

“For right this moment, today, I am a military liaison. That is all I know for now.” He waved as though pushing her away. “Now, go.”

As she started to leave him, he pulled her back into an embrace and kissed her. Startled, he thought she might pull away, but she didn’t. She leaned into him, her tongue flicking inside his mouth and her body pressing against him. She smelled of flowers and musk, and he held her more tightly as he inhaled her essence. Then she abruptly stepped back. “Call on me later,” she said, “when you are no longer working your military liaison shift.”

Then she was gone, as if she had never been there; her petite figure disappeared among the taller men and women crowding the sidewalk. He stared in the direction she’d gone, but when he didn’t spot her among the cluster of people, he turned back in the direction of home.

About the Author:

My full name is Patricia McClelland Terrell, and I have been writing under the pen name p.m.terrell ever since a publisher presented me with my first fiction book cover. The graphic designer had also entered my name in lower-case letters; my editor hated it, and I loved it. It’s been p.m.terrell ever since.

I began writing when I was nine years old, inspired by a schoolteacher and elementary school principal. Scott-Foresman published my first book, a computer instructional for universities, in 1984. Scott-Foresman, Dow-Jones (Richard D. Irwin branch), Palari Publishing, Paralee Press, and Drake Valley Press have published 27 books to date.

Before embarking on a full-time writing career, I founded McClelland Enterprises, Inc., in the Washington, D.C., area in 1984, specializing in workplace computer instruction. I opened another business, Continental Software Development Corporation, in 1994, which focused on custom application development, programming, website design and development, and cybersecurity.

I was honored to be the first female President of the Chesterfield County/Colonial Heights Crime Solvers. Since moving to North Carolina, I served on the boards of the Robeson County Friends of the Library and the Robeson County Arts Council.

I launched The Book ‘Em Foundation with Waynesboro, Virginia, Police Officer Mark Kearney, and assisted in Virginia, New Hampshire, and South Carolina events before establishing the Annual Book ‘Em North Carolina Writers Conference and Book Fair, chairing it for several years before turning it over to Robeson Community College in Lumberton, NC.

Padlocked is available in all eBook formats, trade paperback, hardcover, and large print editions.

Website: https://pmterrell.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pmterrell.author/
Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/padlocked/id6759671735
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/padlocked-pm-terrell/1149563468
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GPWWNBFN
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/padlocked-2
In France: https://shop.vivlio.com/product/9781935970569_9781935970569_10020/padlocked
In Germany: https://www.thalia.de/shop/home/artikeldetails/A1078388459
All other eBook formats: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1977075

Release Day Book Review: Wake-Up Calls by Mariah Stewart

 

When a woman finds she is heir to an aunt she had no knowledge of and more, she finds herself on the road to discovery as she delves into her family past and in the bargain finds where she belongs.

Available at Amazon

Release Date: May 1st, 2026

My Rating for Wake-Up Calls: 5 Stars and a Recommended Read

Kit Porterfield is stunned that an aunt she never knew existed left her everything, including a family house and property that is a mystery to her. Going to Maine to settle the estate as well as figure out what drove her aunt and her mother's estrangement, Kit finds family secrets, the lovely town of Tolerance and the people there as wella s the aunt she begins to figure out fromt he town who l oved her as well as her mother's life before the estrangement. But for Kit, her personal life is in freefall and as she navigates that, she finds herself again as she uncovers the secrets her mother was determined to stay buried. 

My Review of Wake-Up Calls:

Wow is all I can say after reading Wake-Up Calls by Mariah Stewart. This is an author who knows how to tell a story with multiple layers and storylines playing out within the background. I loved Kit and her relationships with her sister, Beth and kids, Abby and Nate. She is a strong woman who forgot that strength when dealing with personal setbacks and upheaval. What stays with me after finishing this the other night was how much growth Kit experiences as she navigates family secrets and personal issues that cause her to stand tall and take life by the horns. She is a delight to read as the reader journeys alongside her as she tries to figure out why her mother lied to her and get to know the aunt she never knew, Maxine Meadows. 

The story flows smoothly with a few twists I didn't see coming, populated with rich multidimensional characters that fairly fly off the pages of the book while I was reading Wake-Up Calls. It really kept my attention and had me reaching for it again and again as I really needed to see how this story ended. The characters are set in a setting of a little Maine town that is populated with rich secondary characters that added to my enjoyment of the book. Mariah Stewart delivers another wonderful woman's fiction book to her book  list with Wake-Up Calls and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. 

If you enjoy a rich storyline with characters that speak to you as a reader with a few twists you won't see coming then I highly recommend Wake-Up Calls as your perfect beach read book. Mariah Stewart delivers another stellar story that will steal your heart and won't let go of it.

Release Blitz & Giveaway: Tell Them Goodbye by E.R. Sanchez

Tell Them Goodbye
E. R. Sanchez
(Third Death Series, #1)
Publication date: December 17th 2025
Genres: Thriller, Young Adult

16-year-old Sino and his 17-year-old cousin, Martín, run away from their family’s ranch—El Petaco—after witnessing their cousin Adal murder their cousin Javier over Adal’s marijuana business.

Not wanting to be forced into Javier’s job, Sino and Martín plan to run, knowing that Adal will come after them and anyone they tell. Although running away will leave people confused, Sino and Martín agree that leaving will protect both them and their loved ones from Adal’s wrath.

The pair realize the journey ahead of them is going to be rough, so before leaving they hatch a plan that includes stealing two goats, making it to Arteaga, getting on as many buses as it takes, and paying a coyote to smuggle them across the U.S.-Mexico border.

Sino and Martín don’t know much about life in 1970s America due to their sheltered life on El Petaco, but they’ve heard of a potential better life waiting for them in America and assume it’s the only option for freedom. The harrowing path ahead of them has them constantly looking over their shoulders for Adal’s assassins, fighting off robbers who attempt to take what little possessions they have, and weaving their way through Mexico’s class prejudices, violence, and exploitation.

“Tell Them Goodbye” is an unflinching, gritty immigrant story based on true events. It’s more than just a tale about two cousins trying to get to the United States; it’s an offering to all immigrants who only make it as spirits and an offering for humanity’s unstoppable determination to risk everything to accomplish any goal or dream.

Goodreads / Amazon

Author Bio:

E. R. Sanchez is the author of Fried Potato Press’s first full-length novel, Tell Them Goodbye. He also has poems and stories published online and in print.

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GIVEAWAY!

Tell Them Goodbye Blitz

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Book Tour Stop/Giveaway: A Proof of Love

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. A randomly drawn winner will receive a $25 Amazon/BN gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Interview with Merida Johns

Do you ever wish you were someone else? Who?

I kind of like who I am . . . I've had the good fortune of having a strong and loving family, good friends, and great careers. But if hard-pressed to be someone else, that would have to be the most papered pet in the world.

What risks have you taken with your writing that have paid off?

The greatest risk was to launch a career in writing women's fiction. I have written several nonfiction books and textbooks, as well as academic and research articles. But nonfiction is a different ballgame. As a nonfiction author, I was used to telling readers the facts—in fiction, the author has to develop a story and characters and show the reader, not tell them, what's happening.

The big payoff is being able to use my creativity, curiosity, and bravery in a different, fun way while still helping people become their best selves through storytelling.

What part of the writing process do you dread?

That's a tough question. I can honestly say, there's nothing I dread about the writing process itself. Writing allows me to create something new and provides an outlet to exercise my curiosity and creativity.

However, if you're talking about the "ancillaries" around writing, like securing an agent, landing a publishing contract, and marketing, that's a different story (sorry for the pun). In my nonfiction writing, I published with traditional publishers. But when I began writing fiction, I decided to hire a publication team (editors and designers), and self-publish through my own press. I didn't want to spend my creative time pitching to agents, trying to secure publishing contracts, dealing with attorneys, and afterward waiting years for publication after a manuscript was completed. So, I guess you can say, whatever I dreaded about the "writing process," I eliminated so I could spend my time on what I love and enjoy the most—writing stories that inspire readers to reach for the stars themselves.

Do you ever suffer from writer's block? If so, what do you do about it?

My guess is that most authors suffer from writer's block. In the research community, there's a diverse discussion about what writer's block is and its causes, including affective/physiological, motivational, and cognitive components.

That's pretty heavy "stuff", so I'll stick to my definition of writer's block as experiencing "a short slowdown in creativity" from time to time."

When I need to up my creative juices, I like to play with what ifs:

·         What if a character dies?

·         What if the character goes against community norms?

·         What if the character disappears?

·         What if the character has a secret?

·         What if . . .

Other techniques I use are as simple as "changing the subject" by doing something other than writing, usually taking a walk or knitting, and being present in the moment.

Tell us about your latest release.

A Proof of Love combines fiction with a memoir overlay. In 2024, narrator Katie Blake takes readers on a journey through the summer of 2009 with her nine-year-old self, living in Woodburg, a small Midwestern town, and shares the principles and influences that came with the personalities and people she wants to immortalize in writing.

In the Prologue, Katie writes about the inciting incident prompting her to write a memoir at twenty-four years old:

Shoulders slumped, she sips lemonade turned tart. "I should have kept a diary, she says. "Not to chronicle life's ups and downs, but to share stories about those I loved the most."

She gazes at that old maple tree and makes us a promise. "One day . . . I'll write about the special people in my life so you will know them, and they will never be forgotten."

But Gram went to heaven before her one day came, and her stories, told in her own words, are lost forever.

Fifteen years later, I've learned that one day's promise is not assured. Before it's lost . . . So, I'm seizing that one day to write about the special people in my life, so you will know them, and they will never be forgotten. This is A Proof of Love.

Though Katie's grandmother is "dead and gone forever" as she opens the story, the currents of Katie's life and their effect on family and community are shaped by the values in her grandmother's sayings, which live in THE Principles List Katie creates to direct her life.

But living up to THE Principles List and relying on its precepts to control her world turns out to be a "great disappointment." Katie learns that THE List can't resolve all life's contradictions, fix every problem, or help her at each "grim crossroad," especially when it comes to Ned Boomer, Woodburg's grumpiest man, and Rose LeMay, the town's enigmatic newcomer and a secret that binds the three together.

 

A fictional story with a memoir overlay as narrator Katie Blake reflects on life in small town America and the principles, influences, and big personalities she wants you to never forget.

It’s Memorial Day weekend, 2009, and the town gossips have their shorts in a twist about a mysterious newcomer who wears tie-dye, colorful headbands, clunky necklaces, and rings on every finger.“Who installs a ceiling fan on a Victorian porch?” cries Ned Boomer, Woodburg’s grumpiest man, and the town gossips concur, “She must be a hippie, witch, or maybe worse . . . a socialist.”

Hell-bent on preventing a neighborhood blow-up, precocious, nine-year-old Katie Blake launches a covert investigation to gather the truth about the enigmatic Rose. But when she discovers a decades-old secret binding her, Rose, and bad-tempered Ned Boomer, her world takes a turn.

Penning a memoir sixteen years later, Katie is forced to reconsider whether the real proof of love was in preventing a neighborhood war or finding friendship and comfort among three unlikely grief-stricken souls who should never be forgotten.

Read an Excerpt

Gram taught me to be independent, manage my anxieties, and have confidence in myself, showing me how to use my imagination to wiggle out of a jam or face the “grim crossroads” when confused or sad.

The first time I cried and lost it over a complicated computer problem, she said, “Be inventive, Katie! What can you do to calm down and think things through?”

We put our heads together to come up with ideas. Gram said she brewed herself a cup of tea when needing a break. Mom worked on crossword puzzles. Dad played solitaire. My one decadent delight was a FatBoy ice cream, and that’s how Gram and I hatched the plan of taking two ice cream sandwiches and hiding them under the frozen vegetables to create my private emergency stash.

“Close your eyes, breathe, take a bite, and replace the leftovers. No one will suspect anything. Our little secret. . .”

About the Author:

At heart, I am a storyteller who writes women’s fiction and stories of courage and discovery, showcasing the protagonist’s journey toward a more fulfilled self.

My passion is writing women’s fiction and exploring the human experience—how ordinary people tackle challenges, endure sorrow and betrayal, wrestle with doubt, and act on their aspirations to achieve flourishing lives. My insight into the power of fiction came during a conference call in late 2017 with a group of fellow life coaches. “What would it be like to help women and men achieve a flourishing life through storytelling?” I asked them.

After that phone call, I got started answering that question. The result was my debut novel titled Blackhorse Road, a compelling story of womanhood and the power of choice, gratitude, and forgiveness, published July 21, 2020, by Coffee Cup Press, followed by Flower Girl (2022), Flawless Witness (2023), and now A Proof of Love (2026)

Before embracing writing fiction, I was the author of health informatics and leadership textbooks. Later, I put my leadership experience to use as a leadership coach, focusing on supporting others to fulfill their leadership and economic potential. My range of nonfiction is available on my Amazon Author Page.

Substack: https://meridajohns.substack.com/
Facebook: https://meridajohns.substack.com/
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/MeridaJohns
Website: https://www.MeridaJohnsAuthor.com

Book Spotlight: Arranged Marriage to a K-Pop Idol by Bianca Rowena

Arranged Marriage to a K-Pop Idol
Bianca Rowena
Publication date: April 28th 2026
Genres: Dystopian, Romance, Young Adult

He who controls the media, controls the world.

In a world where a young woman only has two choices, marry by age 18 and procreate naturally, or be thrown into a fertility prison, AnAn finds herself in an arranged marriage to K-Pop Idol Taejung, who is running from the paparazzi and his government.

Can Taejung and AnAn stop the One World Nation’s plot to use K-pop concerts and fans, to win the world election, or will Taejung be pulled back into the K-pop world he left behind, and AnAn lose her first love?

Author Bio:

Bianca Rowena was born in Romania, Transylvania and has enjoyed writing from a young age. She now lives in Canada, which is the setting and inspiration for her novels. Bianca studied Cinema/Television/Stage/Radio at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology.

Website / Facebook / Instagram

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Tour Stop/Giveaway: THE OBSCURA SYNDICATE by Raven Storme

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Raven Storme will be awarding a signed paperback and book plate to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Lira was meant to die for the throne.

Cassian Vale was trained to be the blade that ended her.

But the moment he hesitates—one heartbeat, one breath—everything forbidden ignites.

Now the deadliest man in the Syndicate is the only thing standing between Lira and a prophecy that demands her blood. He should fear her. He should kill her. Instead… he can’t stop wanting her.

She’s the girl marked for sacrifice.
He’s the weapon shaped to obey.

Together, they become the spark that threatens to burn Obscura to ashes

As Lira’s power awakens and the throne tightens its grip, their desire becomes its own kind of danger—raw, consuming, and impossible to survive untouched. Enemies hunt them. Shadows follow them. And the kingdom whispers one truth:

If Cassian doesn’t ruin her, she’ll ruin him.

A dark, seductive story of prophecy, power, and a love so intense it could topple a kingdom.

Read an Excerpt

The blade was colder than I expected.

Cassian Vale stood close enough that I could feel his breath against my temple, slow and steady—unbothered by the fact that he was about to end my life. His hand didn’t shake. His voice didn’t rise.

“Any last words?” he asked quietly.

I laughed.

It startled him. I felt it in the brief hitch of his breath, the infinitesimal pause before instinct took over again.

“You look disappointed,” I said. “Were you hoping I’d beg?”

His grip tightened at my throat—not enough to hurt, just enough to remind me how easily he could. “I don’t enjoy this,” he said.

“Then why are you here?”

His mouth hovered near my ear. “Because Obscura demands obedience.”

My pulse raced—not with fear, but with something sharper. Dangerous.

“And what do you demand?” I whispered.

The blade lowered.

For the first time in his life, Cassian Vale hesitated.

About the Author:

Raven 🐦‍⬛ Storme writes dark, smut-heavy romance for readers who crave obsession, power struggles, and secrets whispered in the dark. Living in Pennsylvania, she’s been married for fourteen years and shares her life with fourteen dogs—because calm has never been her aesthetic. Her debut series, The Obscura Syndicate, dives into forbidden desire, shadowy loyalties, and characters who blur every moral line. Raven believes love is messy, passion is dangerous, and the best stories live in the dark.

Website: http://Ravenstorme.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@raven.storme
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ravenstormeauthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smut.luvin.books

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Obscura-Syndicate-Dark-Gothic-Romance-ebook/dp/B0GH2HS8PW/ref=sr_1_1

New Book Review: Trust No One by James Rollins

 

James Rollins delivers another tour de Force with his latest stand alone thriller steeped with history, science and a mystery that will leave you breathless.

My Rating for Trust No One by James Rollins: 4 Stars

Release Date: February 24th, 2026

Contemporary Mystery, Technothriller

Publisher: William Marrow

Available at Amazon US

Knowledge is power until it hits too close to home for five students who go on the run with a mystery to figure out while staying one step ahead from an ancient organization determined to own a centuries old book that will tear apart the fabric of what is humankind. What the Comte de Saint-Germain has written down may just change the fabric of humankind.

My Review of Trust No One:

TRUST NO ONE is James Rollins' latest & delightful stand alone title of 2026 that will leave you on the edge of your seat till the very end of the book. This is one of my ultimate favorite author as he is a master at blending history with science fiction and a contemporary setting that will suck the reader in and not let go until the last page is read. With each book of this author, I am drawn more and more into his storytelling that leaves me speechless after ach book I read. With a fast paced storyline, TRUST NO ONE introduces the reader to five students accused of murdering their professor and having to go on the run trying to stay ahead of an organization that is determined to get a centuries old book that was written by the mysterious 18th century Comte de Saint-Germain. The author is a masterful storyteller and one I highly recommend if you enjoy Douglas Preston & Clive Cussler books. Mr. Rollins will keep you up way past your bedtime with TRUST NO ONE and I for one loved every minute of the book.

We meet Sharyn Karr, an american studying at the University of Exeter and when her professor thrusts a book at her, declaring she mustn't trust anyone, she is thrust into a mystery filled with dangerous and deadly adviratry and more a mystery that spans centuries. She along with four other students of the history of witchcraft, folklore, and spiritualism go on the run trying to find allies even as their enemies come close to them repeatedly. I got to admit, the five MC's are different and took me awhile to warm up to them. I did like how the author delivers different personalities and made me worry for them as they raced across Europe trying to stay ahead of this dangerous cabal. I liked how multidimensional the characters were and the shocking last chapter had me on the edge of my seat. The story flowed smoothly after a slow start and introduction of the main characters. I liked how the author uses the settings as a perfect backdrop tot he fast paced storyline so the reader felt like they were there as well while reading TRUST NO ONE. The twists alone in the story had me breathless as they came out of nowhere and had me gasping.

If you enjoy any of James Rollins books before this one, then you will enjoy TRUST NO ONE. He delivers a wild and fraught filled ride with this latest book that I couldn't wait to see who this shadow organization was while learning more about this mysterious Comte de Saint-Germain as well. TRUST NO ONE is a pulse pounding ride from start to finish and I highly recommend this as well as his other books (Sigma series 1000%) for a wild ride that will take you to places you might never been to before.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement. I received this ARC from the publisher via Netgalley.