In accordance with new FTC guidelines regarding endorsements and testimonials for bloggers, I would like my readers to know that many of the books I review on my site are provided to me for free by the publisher or author of the book. I do not receive money for such reviews. The books are sent to me for an honest review. I will make known in such reviews if I received the book for free. I am an Amazon affiliate, so many links will direct you to Amazon. If you make any purchase through my link, I will receive a small commission. If you have any questions, please contact me.
Mason "Mace" Perry was a firebrand cop on the D.C. police force until she was kidnapped and framed for a crime. She lost everything-her badge, her career, her freedom-and spent two years in prison. Now she's back on the outside and focused on one mission: to be a cop once more. Her only shot to be a true blue again is to solve a major case on her own, and prove she has the right to wear the uniform. But even with her police chief sister on her side, she has to work in the shadows: A vindictive U.S. attorney is looking for any reason to send Mace back behind bars. Then Roy Kingman enters her life.
Roy is a young lawyer who aided the poor until he took a high-paying job at a law firm in Washington. Mace and Roy meet after he discovers the dead body of a female partner at the firm. As they investigate the death, they start uncovering surprising secrets from both the private and public world of the nation's capital.
Soon, what began as a fairly routine homicide takes a terrifying and unexpected turn-into something complex, diabolical, and possibly lethal.
A huge thank you to Hatchett books for allowing me to give away 3 copies of this great book.
Here's how to enter ~
U.S. addresses only please
Leave a comment here with your email address or PBS ID (I need to have a way to get in touch with you!)
Follow my blog (on lower right sidebar) ~ get an extra entry
Rate my blog (on left sidebar)~ get an extra entry
Blog about it ~ get an extra entry
Tweet about it ~ get an extra entry
Contest open through November 8th. Winner will be announced on November 9th.
1. It was a dark and stormy night, and all I want to do is curl up in bed with my book.
2. She didn't want to read the books so I offered to take the books for myself.
3. Rushing out, I nearly tripped over the pumpkin by the door.
4. Sadie's barking...I think she heard a howl!
5. Shhhh... I'm trying to read.
6. I'm hungry give me something good to eat!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward tocatching up on tv and sleeping, tomorrow my plans include a waxing and then going to see my girls in their costumes, go with them on their neighborhood parade, and trick or treating if they aren't too tired by then and Sunday, I want to relax and read Michele's new manuscript!
Facing the nightmare of their past is the only way out . . .
Mysterious computer wizard Seth Harper awakens in a bloody motel room to find he's not alone. The vacant eyes of a grisly corpse stare accusingly at him—the body of a young woman. Seth becomes the prime suspect of a heinous murder. If only he could remember what happened.
His former employer, bounty hunter Jessie Beckett, is determined to prove his innocence despite his gaps in memory. But when Seth is reluctant to reveal his own dark secrets, she must earn his deepest trust. Against all odds, she's in an uphill battle to save him—the man she hasn't stopped thinking about since he disappeared from her life.
But his plight is not what it seems. And both Jessie and Seth must confront the demons of their past—in the place where their nightmares began—before Seth becomes a sacrificial lamb to a ruthless killer. With one fatal mistake, more innocent lives could wind up on the wrong side of dead. (From Amazon)
Writing is total war. You are in the trenches of your imagination with fictional characters who nag and scold and clamor for constant attention. Everything you see, think, experience, ponder is a prism for the work. In a way, writing’s like living in a maximum-security prison except you get to order in Thai food and DVR Sons of Anarchy (my favorite show). Escape is difficult.
But you must, otherwise you will lose your mind. And for a writer, so absorbed in make-believe worlds, an intense physical world is imperative.
For 15 years I studied martial arts and rose to first-degree black belt. My discipline was Okinawan go-ju-te, though my senseis (teachers) always incorporated other types of martial arts, from Chinese staff and Filipino sticks to Japanese swords (I always managed to slice my stomach practicing one specific routine).
Classes in the dojo, working out in between, mastering the zen of being prepared to respond if someone tried hurting you or a loved one. Preferably without being physical. Once in London with my son, packed in a crowded elevator at a tube station heading to the theatre, a 30-something man inadvertently pushed him. Being eight, he pushed back. The guy started jawing at my child.
Papa Bear shot him a long, steely look, saying in my Brooklyn accent, “Chill man.” The elevator of Brits quieted at the reincarnation of Leo Gorcey, but the dude ignored me, continuing his trash talk. I repeated, “I said, chill man.” His girl friend tugged at his sleeve, gesturing at my expression You don’t want to go there. Convinced he might be headed for a diet of soft foods, he quickly sought a graceful way to exit. I said to my son, “See, that’s how to handle disputes, without violence,” but, being eight, he was a little disappointed his father hadn’t smashed the guy’s head.
About a year and a half ago, I got tired of hitting and being hit. Once I wore my bruises proudly. At a certain point in life, stubbing your toe can send you to the Mayo Clinic, much less punched by some 20-year-old white belt looking to impress his girl friend.
I turned to vinyasser yoga. Compared to martial arts training, I expected mellow. Guess again. Different training utilizes different muscles. My first couple classes, I felt like my body was made of low quality plywood. I tilted, groaned and, since I have a bad right knee from playing football as a kid, certain positions defied me. Gradually, my body adjusted and embraced. Now I’m a yoga addict. Plus there are so many pretty girls in the class!
Hey, I never claimed to be Buddha. Writing does require all kinds of balances.
Novelist/playwright Gary Morgenstein is the author of four novels. In addition to Jesse’s Girl, a thriller about a widowed father’s search for his adopted teenage son who has run away from a drug treatment program to find his biological sister, his books include the romantic triangle Loving Rabbi Thalia Kleinman, the political thriller Take Me Out to the Ballgame, and the baseball Rocky The Man Who Wanted to Play Center Field for the New York Yankees. His prophetic play Ponzi Man performed to sell-out crowds at a recent New York Fringe Festival. His other full-length work, You Can’t Grow Tomatoes in the Bronx, is in development. He can be reached at www.facebook.com/people/Gary-Morgenstein/1011217889
It’s that time of week again, everyone, and time for the Tuesday Teaser. Again the reminder of what this is all about. We are asked to:
Grab your current read.
Let the book fall open to a random page.
Share two teaser sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
Share the title of the book that the “teaser” comes from, so people can find the book if they like the teaser.
And again remember – avoid spoilers.
Here's mine ~
She did know that she was dangling on the ragged edge of exhaustion. Feeling like a frayed carpet, she didn't have enough reserve to knit herself back to coherency. She wasn't sure how much she wanted to share about her past, so she decided the best offense was a good defense.
In the small New England town of Morse Point, Brenna Miller glosses over her painful past by watching her decoupage students create eye-catching projects out of cutouts, glue, and varnish. But when the mayor's body is found stuffed in a trunk at Morse Point Lake, it's up to Brenna to clear her enigmatic landlord's name of murder-before his fate is signed, sealed and delivered. (From Amazon)
We sharewhat books that we found in our mailboxes last week.
Blood Game: An Eve Duncan Forensics Thriller (Eve Duncan Forensics Thrillers)by Iris Johansen ~ Eve Duncan returns in a thriller that pits her against the most evil mind she has ever encountered: a ruthless killer who taunts her with his every move…and who has a special affinity for blood. When a Georgia senator’s daughter is found murdered, and her body drained of blood, Eve Duncan is drawn into the web of Kevin Jelak—a serial murderer who is on Eve’s short list of killers who might know something about her missing daughter Bonnie. When a goblet of blood is found in Eve’s refrigerator, she knows the taunting is over…and the games have begun. As Eve and Jelak engage in a dance of death, Eve must call upon those she loves and trusts the most…even if it means bringing them into the game as well.
Killer Crab Cakes: A Fresh-Baked Mysteryby Livia J. Washburn ~ When Phyllis's cousin asks her to look after her Oak Knoll bed-and-breakfast for a few weeks, Phyllis jumps at the chance-mostly because the inn is located close to the annual Rockport, Texas, Just Desserts competition. Determined to beat her friendly rival and enjoy some peaceful downtime with her boyfriend Sam, Phyllis concocts the ultimate sweet treat. But Phyllis's holiday turns bitter when she and Sam discover a dead body-and all signs point to murder. Dismayed that bad luck seems to pop up wherever she goes, Phyllis wants to stay out of this one. But as the list of suspects gets too close for comfort, she decides to throw herself into the mix. Because when it comes to solving murders, Phyllis is one smart cookie.
The Manufactured Identityby Heath Sommer (For Review) ~ Months after his mysterious disappearance from a routine fishing trip, no one really expects over-the-hill Texas housewife Lory Latchley to find her missing husband—especially her husband. The Manufactured Identity is clinical psychologist Heath Sommer's ever-escalating immersion into the world of unlikely friends who each awaken to find their faithful companions missing without warning or reason. Desperate to find meaning in their pain, they are thrust by the auspices of fate into a common thread of mystery and human frailty. In the end, the fate of all may reside in the unstable hands of rookie pastor John Joe, but ultimately Lory and her newfound partners will uncover a truth so unnerving it makes even infidelity look palatable.
Dixie Divasby Virginia Brown ~ "You found my philandering ex-husband?" Bitty asked. "Where? Mexico? Paris? In Tupelo with a cocktail waitress?" "In your closet," I answered. "Dead." Break out the hoop skirts and the zinfandel. The Divas are on the case. Wine. Chocolate. Transvestite strippers. Just another good-time get-together for the Dixie Divas of historic Holly Springs, Mississippi, where moonlight and magnolias mingle with delicious smalltown scandal. But Eureka "Trinket" Truevine, the newest Diva, gets more than she bargained for when she finds her best Diva girlfriend Bitty Hollandale's ex-husband in Bitty's hall closet. He's dead. Very dead. Now Trinket and the Divas have to help Bitty finger the murderer and clear her name.
Murder Takes The Cakeby Gayle Trent ~ Cozy murder mystery. When the meanest gossip in Brea Ridge dies mysteriously, suspicions turn to cake decorator Daphne Martin. But all Daphne did was deliver a spice cake with cream cheese frosting--and find Yodel's body. Now Daphne's got to help solve the murder and clear her good name. Problem is, her Virginia hometown is brimming with people who had good reason to kill Yodel, and Daphne's whole family is among them.
I've sent her an email requesting her address. If I don't hear back from her in 48 hrs, I'll choose another winner. Thank you to those that have entered :)
Nick Heller is tough, smart, and stubborn. And in his line of work, it's essential. Trained in the Special Forces, Nick is a high-powered intelligence investigator--exposing secrets that powerful people would rather keep hidden. He's a guy you don't want to mess with. He's also the man you call when you need a problem fixed.
Desperate, with nowhere else to run, Nick's nephew, Gabe makes that call one night. After being attacked in Georgetown, his mother, Lauren, lies in a coma, and his step-dad, Roger, Nick's brother, has vanished without a trace.
Nick and Roger have been on the outs since the arrest, trial, and conviction of their father, the notorious "fugitive financier," Victor Heller. Where Nick strayed from the path, Roger followed their father's footsteps into the corporate world. Now, as Nick searches for his brother, he's on a collision course with one of the most powerful corporations in the world--and they will stop at nothing to protect their secrets. (From Amazon)
I'm going to do something a little different here with this Amazon Gift Card Giveaway. I'm tying this gift card in with the release of Happy Hour by Michele Scott. The minimum amount for the gift card will be $20. The rest will be up to you!!!
The total amount of the gift card that the winner will receive will be based on the number of sales of Happy Hour. If there are 2500 books sold ~ the gift card will be $25. If there are 5,000 books sold ~ the gift card will be $50. I think you get the drift.
So, in order to get a higher amount gift card, you've got to get out there and get the book. Spread the word to all your moms, sisters, good girlfriends, book clubs, etc. You can pre-order a copy of the book by clicking on the "buy now" button on the right sidebar of my blog. AND -- if you pre-order a copy by MONDAY OCTOBER 26th each order will contain an autographed copy of one of Michele's books from either her Wine Lover's Mystery series or her Horse Lover's Mystery series. AND a few select books will contain coupons on how to redeem books for your book clubs as well as a wine and food gift basket! The book will be released on November 5th
Every woman has that group of friends in her life ~ her "go to girls" The friends that she can turn to who "get it." The ones who are there for you no matter what. The ones who laugh with you and cry with you. The ones that will always be there. These are the women of Napa Valley.
Jamie is the editor-in-chief of Wine Lover's Magazine, a single mother and caretaker to her senile mother-in-law ~ a woman who thinks her daily caregiver is Dean Martin. Jamie is still recovering, financially and emotionally from the death of her husband several years earlier. And when she finds what could be the key to happiness, can she open the door and let it in? Or will her feelings of guilt and betrayal hold her back?
Danielle is a vintner and the divorced mom of two. She's basking in what she knows is going to be a successful launch of her new wines. Wines she created on her own after her divorce. But what she doesn't expect is for her daughter to come home with news that will shock her to her core. Will an old flame help her accept the changes that are coming and find the love she's been missing in her life for so long? Or will a tragedy that no one sees coming change their lives forever?
Kat is a sommelier, co-owner of a magnificent restaurant with her chef husband, and mother of a blended family. But is being deeply in love with your husband enough to get them through the teenage years, step-children and exes? And what happens when old faces return and she's faced with the knowledge that not everything is what you thought it was. What happens when she finds she was mad at the wrong person and finds out the "right one" was in the wrong? Can she forgive and move on? Can love overcome everything and truly bring a family together?
Alyssa is an artist and gallery owner with a secret of her own. One she was hoping would stay buried deep in her closet. But the time has come for her to put someone else first, to face the past and to deal with her demons. What she never expected to find was love and her "home."
No matter what is going on in their own lives, no matter the heartache or joy they're experiencing these four women are always there to love, support and encourage each other.
This book is a clear example of the power of friendship and how it can last through the years. You will laugh with them and you will cry with them. It's the story of true and lasting friendships. It's the type of friendships that every woman should experience and a story we can hopefully all relate to. I LOVED LOVED LOVED LOVED LOVED it. Can’t say that enough. It is an amazing, beautiful book and I can’t wait to share it with my friends!!! A MUST READ!
Here's how to enter ~
U.S. addresses only please
Leave a comment here with your email address or PBS ID (I need to have a way to get in touch with you!)
Follow my blog (on lower right sidebar) ~ get an extra entry
Rate my blog (on left sidebar)~ get an extra entry
Blog about it ~ get an extra entry
Tweet about it ~ get an extra entry
Contest open through December 30th. The winner will be announced within a week of the contest ending.
Not too much happens in the sleepy little town of Timber Ridge, North Carolina - which is fine with pizza-purveyor extraordinaire Eleanor Swift. The spunky owner of A Slice of Delight is trying to mend her broken heart and could use a little quiet time. But when a late night delivery customer turns up dead, she's in for just the opposite in this delicious mystery series debut, featuring pizza as the prima character...Eleanor figures somebody must have been really mad at Richard Olsen to bury that kitchen knife in his chest. But when Kevin Hurley - her ex-boyfriend and Timber Ridge's police chief - starts eyeing her as a prime suspect, Eleanor knows she better get to the bottom of things before the gossipy townspeople decide to stop ordering her specialty pies. With her sassy and occasionally married sister Maddy by her side, Eleanor finds the list of suspects begins to outnumber the ingredients on the Slice's famed Smorgasbord Special pizza. Like Richard's eccentric sister, who appears out of nowhere to learn she's the heir to $100 grand...in what looks like dirty money. Richard worked for a shredding business - and it seems he read before he shred, and very well could've been a blackmailer. What about Richard's boss, who now stands to lose his shredding company? And then there's that steamy scented letter from none other than the mayor's wife. But when someone takes a shot at Eleanor on a late-night delivery run, she and Maddy know time is running out. To find the killer - and keep the pizzas rolling out of A Slice of Delight's ovens - she'll need to put it all one the line and hope that her search for the truth doesn't end in an unmarked grave. (From Amazon)
1. The crickets sing,at times annoying the heck out of me.
2. I am with you,wherever you are.
3. I want to get far away from the drama.
4. For my grandfather to meet his youngest great-granddaughter; this was a dream.
5. But as for me who knows.
6. I will never forget where I come from
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to giving Sadie a bath and relaxing, tomorrow my plans include a pedicure in the morning, reading and relaxing during the day and babysitting my niece at night and Sunday, I want to CHILL!
I'm going to leave Alyssa and her story now. You'll need to buy the book if you want to find out if she goes into the restaurant, if she tells Terrell her secret and what happens if it does get out.
Time to move on to Danielle's story. And remember it's still 3 years ago :)
These things were always so phony. The smiles, the chit-chat, the bullshit. Women in their designer outfits discussing the latest craze in cosmetic surgery and gossiping about which desperate housewife had taken the leap and gone under the miracle worker’s knife. Good God, could it be any more dull than that? Get a life, right? But Danielle Bastillia caved every time someone called and asked her if she would participate in whatever charity event their organization represented. Al thought it was wonderful, explaining how necessary it was to keep good community relations. Sure, that was a part of it. However, for Danielle, it always came down to the charity itself.She was a sucker for kids, animals, anything and anyone stricken. Maybe it was the Catholic upbringing and the inevitable guilt that came with it, but come on? How could she turn down the Leukemia Fund for Children’s Hospital, or the rescue center for greyhounds?Everyone knew that if you invited Danielle Bastillia to your charity event, she would show up to donate her wines and her time.
Today’s event was yet another Danielle could add to her list. She braved a smile at Marilyn Dixon, the co-chair for Homeless, Teenage mothers. Ah, Marilyn, all cheeky and blonde. Indeed she’d seen the inside of Dr. Get-rich-off-of-women’s insecurities office. Her face was taut to the point where Danielle found herself wanting to touch it to see if it felt like Saran Wrap.
“Danielle, you look absolutely stunning. Vintage Diane, right? It’s amazing on you. Love the purse, too. Prada, right? Saw it at Bloomie’s in the Big Apple and should have grabbed it, but the hubby was rushing me. He had some meeting or something. I don’t know. Anyway, you’re seated at my table, and…oh, you…” she snapped and pointed at one of the servers. “What’s your name?”
“John,” the young man replied.
“Right. John, can you please move the chairs over there that are blocking that doorway and put them in a back room or something? It’s not tidy looking.”
The server nodded and scurried off.
One thing, well, two things that Marilyn was actually good at: charm and delegating. She had those down to a tee. Even with her apparent A.D.D.
Marilyn haphazardly flung her hands in the air, cocked her head to the side, and smiled back at Danielle. “Thank you so much for your time today. Your wines are lovely. Everyone is singing praises.”
Anyone who used the word lovely or expressions like ‘singing praises,’ was someone Danielle could never trust. Especially anyone who looked like Marilyn Dixon—hair dyed a golden blonde that was only natural on three-year-old children, eyes a shocking ocean blue that were surely colored contacts, and skin that was…well, that was the clincher. No way the woman could be trusted.
Danielle stared at Marilyn with a mix of envy and loathing. “You’re welcome. It was Al’s and my pleasure to supply the wines.” She smiled again feeling the crinkling of the crow’s feet that had recently shown up on her face. She hoped she didn’t look as exhausted as she felt. Two days earlier, Danielle had conducted a food drive through the organic growers association. She’d packed and loaded food onto vans with a handful of other folks, then had driven one of the vans into San Francisco to the food bank. Her mind and emotions handled it fine, but her body in full PMS mode hadn’t fared so well, and now she found herself wiped out and wanting chamomile tea and her bed.
Marilyn cocked her head to the other side. “By the way, how is Al?”
“He’s good. Busy as always. We’re both working constantly. And you know how it is with kids. It’s go, go, go.” What time was it? When could she get out of here, kick off the high heels, and slip out of the Diane Von Furstenberg dress? Not that she wasn’t in love with the dress. Diane had a knack for making a dress that showed off a woman’s best assets, yet camouflaged less than attractive areas—like that belly bulge that inevitably followed childbirth and hung on into middle age. Middle age! It couldn’t have been called a wiser age, the mature age, the grown-up age? But middle age, was a term that meant she gained five extra pounds annually since turning forty a few years ago. Middle age was not nearly as fun as everyone claimed.
For Danielle, the wraparound navy blue dress made the most of her breasts—totally natural and not yet sagging. With good boobs you could usually get away with an extra pound or two, and good boobs fit great in a Furstenberg dress. All the same, Danielle preferred her jeans and T-shirts. For these events, though, she did what she had to, even having her long dark red hair styled and putting on some makeup. No matter what she felt about the charitable brouhahas around town, she did have an image to maintain. Al reminded her of that regularly. They were important people in the community. God forbid anyone think that the owners of Bastillia’s Wines had any issues. Yes, God forbid she taint their image.
Marilyn nodded emphatically as if she completely understood Danielle’s life. What a joke, because although Marilyn stood as the president of the woman’s club chairing the event, the fact was that Marilyn Dixon never picked up her own children from school—and it was doubtful that she ever really did anything with her kids unless nannies were along for the ride. Her staff consisted of a personal trainer, private chef, nannies galore, and a housekeeper. If the woman ever lifted a finger, Danielle guessed it would be to get a glass of wine for herself.At least, those were the rumors in Napa’s gossip logged vineyard land.
“And the girls? They’re good?” Marilyn asked as if she was really interested.
Danielle applauded inwardly. The moment she’d been hoping for. Danielle wanted to palm her hands together and wave them high over her head and do the victory dance. Instead she smiled warmly.There were times to be grateful for that gossip vine… Thanks to the local grapevine, Danielle had learned that Marilyn’s daughter had been rejected by Yale. “The girls are great. Shannon earned a full scholarship to Yale. We received her acceptance letter over the weekend. And, of course, Cassie will be starting at Trinity Prep.”
Marilyn was rendered speechless. “Why, that’s wonderful,” she finally said, and rose from her seat. “I guess I better get things started.” She walked up to the stage at the front of the room and tossed back the golden waves.
Marilyn smiled brightly at the crowd and Danielle studied her. Yes, it was petty not to like the woman for being fake—sort of—but, dammit, get real. Please, would someone get real around here! She was acting as badly as Marilyn, posing at the luncheon in her designer dress, with her newly colored hair, boasting about her kids for her own ego while carrying a fake Prada purse. Yes, fake. What was the point in spending two grand on a purse when you could get a perfectly decent knockoff for thirty bucks? Maybe she was the true fake here. Danielle, at least, knew better than to believe this shit was what made up the real world.
Her mouth went dry. No time for a panic attack or a reality check. She’d stopped popping Xanax a few months ago and had gone on a health kick, even joining the local gym, secretly hoping that Al would notice her again. She’d shed ten pounds and felt better than she had in years, but Al still didn’t seem to pay much attention to her, except when there was a problem with the payroll, or the accounts, or an employee. Their life together after twenty years had boiled down to a business relationship, not a marriage, and she missed that connection that they used to enjoy. She missed the jokes they shared about the craziness that went on in the world around them.
That was where she should start being honest—with her own husband.
To find out what happens with Danielle - if she fesses up to Al and the potential repercussions if she does, click on the "buy now" button on the right to pre-order your copy today :)
Melanie Cooper and Angie DeLaura are finally living out their dream as the proud owners of the Fairy Tale Cupcakes bakery. Their first big order comes courtesy of their partner and best friend, Tate Harper, who’s getting married. Tate and his fashion designer fiancée want 500 cupcakes for the wedding. The only problem is Mel and Angie can’t stand the demands of this bridezilla who insists on original recipes for the cupcakes and complete ownership.
When Mel stumbles upon the bride-to-be dead-by-cupcake, she immediately becomes the prime suspect. The police believe that a secret ingredient in the cupcakes may have caused her death. To save Mel and their business, the ladies need to find the real murderer, before the cupcake killer ices someone else…
True Blue by David Baldacci
