I was so excited when I won hardcover, signed copies of The Disposables, The Squandered, and The Heartless, and a signed paperback of The Scorned by David Putnam.
Today, I am going to share The Heartless, #7 in the Bruno Johnson Thriller series by David Putnam.
The Heartless is my fourth book in the Bruno Johnson series by David Putnam. I have read them out of order and am missing some here and there. That does take away a little something, but seeing the series is a genre that I love, I tend to overlook some things others might call attention to. It is what it is and I accept that.
I love that David Putnam pulls from his personal experience and it shows in the details.
You don’t want someone like Bruno Jonson hot on your trail. He walks a very ‘thin blue line’ and I love that David Putnam has created a characters that is neither all good nor all bad. He wants justice and does what is necessary to make it happen, all while protecting those he loves.
You want some action, you can’t go wrong with a Bruno Johnson novel.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Perfect for fans of Robert Crais and John Sandford
Former LA County Deputy Bruno Johnson is now a bailiff in the courts having stepped down from his role on the Violent Crimes Team to spend more time with his daughter, Olivia. Bruno fears his job decision may have come too late when he gets a frantic call to extricate Olivia from a gunpoint situation in a LA gang-infested neighborhood. His desperation escalates when he realizes Louis Barkow, a stone-cold killer awaiting trial, had orchestrated that deadly tableau. When Barkow and three other criminals break out of jail and hit the streets, Bruno is plunged back into violent crime mode. Now, the agenda is personal—Olivia has become a pawn in the desperate chase of this sinister murderer. The walls are caving in on Bruno as violence escalates in his hunt for Barkow and his heart strings are stretched to the breaking point as he struggles to protect his daughter not only from the criminal violence swirling around them, but from Olivia’s own impetuous life choices.
First published February 4, 2020 by Oceanview Publishing
Series: Bruno Johnson, #7
ABOUT DAVID PUTNAM
Best-selling author David Putnam comes from a family of law enforcement. During his career, he did it all: worked in narcotics, served on FBI-sponsored violent crimes teams, and was cross-sworn as a US Marshall, pursuing murder suspects and bank robbers in Arizona, Nevada, and California. Putnam did two tours on the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s SWAT team. He also has experience in criminal intelligence and internal affairs and has supervised corrections, patrol, and a detective bureau. In Hawaii, Putnam was a member of the real-life Hawaii Five O, serving as Special Agent for the Attorney General investigating smuggling and white-collar crimes.
Putnam lives in Southern California with his wife, Mary.
I zipped through all three books in the series within 24 hours. I read until the wee hours of the morning, unable to stop. The problem now is the review. It’s hard to separate one book from the others because I read all three without taking a breath (you know what I mean).
Bea had prepared for an event, stashing weapons, tools and seeds. She had planned to be there for her four granchildren, but that was not to be. I love that we follow Bea through all three books. Is she a ghost? A metaphysical manifestation of energy? Because of her planning, the group has a place to start. It’s not long before Keno realizes they will have to leave their haven if they want to survive.
Keno had dreamt of his Nana, Bea, telling him he will know what to do as he sets out to scavenge. He meets Richie, who he quickly realizes could be a font of information.
Keno is haunted by his nightmares and does not want to be the leader he has become, but someone has to take charge. Danger is encroaching on them.
There are numerous characters that rise to the front. One of my favorite is Mazie. She is an adorable eight year old girl, who I quickly grew to love her.
In this first book of the Braving The Light Series, If Darkness Takes Us by Brenda Marie Smith, she quickly lures me into their lives. Circumstances steal the children’s childhood, making them grow up fast, facing danger and learning to take care of themselves, having to working together to survive.
We don’t have any zombies, but we do have The Walking Dead Vibe. The scavenging, the scarcity of food, and all the other complexities of an apocalyptic life, just not as intense. You never really know someone until an apocalypse happens, and is there anything worse than teenage testosterone?
As I delve into book two, If The Light Escapes, the pace picks up, the suspense rises, and conflicts arise amongst the group.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
2018 SOUTHERN FRIED KARMA NOVEL CONTEST WINNER
IN SUBURBAN AUSTIN, TEXAS, BEA CRENSHAW SECRETLY PREPARES FOR THE APOCALYPSE. But when a solar pulse destroys modern life, she’s left alone with four grandkids whose parents do not return home. She must teach these kids to survive without power, cars, phones, running water, or doctors in a world fraught with increasing danger.
If Darkness Takes Us is realistic post-apocalyptic fiction with a focus on a family in peril, led by a no-nonsense grandmother who is at once funny, controlling, and heroic in her struggle to hold her family together with civility and heart.
Genre: Apocalyptic, Dystopian, Science Fiction
382 pages, Paperback
First published October 15, 2019 by SFK Press
Setting: Austin, Texas (United States)
Series: Braving The Light
AUTHOR Bio and Links
2018-10-18_Brenda Marie Smith
BRENDA MARIE SMITH is attracted to stories where everyday characters transcend their limitations to find their inner heroism. She lived off the grid for years in a farming collective where her sons were delivered by midwives. A lifelong community activist, Brenda has managed student co-op housing, produced concerts, and raised a small herd of boys. She and her husband live in Kyle, Texas. They have more grown kids and grandkids than they can count.
Ewan O’Meara is no stranger to death: in recent months, he’s found his way to limbo at least once per week, much to his parents’ concern. It’s a necessary price for getting experience to become the greatest adventurer his homeland of Veridor has ever known, but the overbearing Veridian Church has him pinned down, soaking him for the penance gold to unlock his stats each time he respawns. And because the Church’s ancient war put an end to both the godlike Gems and the epic quests they once bestowed, Ewan has no better alternative.
That is, until he encounters a young woman fleeing arrest from the Church’s soldiers. At first glance, Treanna Rothchild needs it: she’s clueless about Veridian life. But she has other skills that defy Ewan’s understanding, and she knows things. Unsettling, seditious things the Church wants kept secret at any cost.
And she’s in Veridor to raise an army, to fight an enemy only she can see.
Risking both life and soul, Ewan follows Treanna where no Veridian has ever been and there is no respawning. But for him to have a chance at making a real difference in the strange, harsh world she reveals to him, he must first come to terms with it. Especially as he and Treanna discover how much it has in common with Veridor—and how much they depend on each other to survive.
New-adult science fiction, wrapped in gaming and fantasy around a hopepunk core, Emissary is an immersive, thought-provoking adventure with a little teen romance and a lot of heart.
EXCERPT
Ewan didn’t know why he did it. He had plenty of reasons. He was angry about getting censured, annoyed with Paul’s warning to keep his head down, and embarrassed by how quickly he’d ignored it. No one took him seriously as an adventurer, much less understood when he asked the big questions.
But, more than anything, looking into those eyes, he simply knew this girl was in trouble, and that he wanted to help her.
She flew past as time resumed its normal flow; Ewan shouted and leaped in front of the Swords to draw their aggro. He called up his menu, winced when he remembered he’d given Kate his armor, then equipped his blades anyway.
An ominous tone sounded in his mind, and a warning flashed across his vision that he now had a bounty, along with a reminder that only Swords were permitted to equip weapons in the cathedral. As if to prove the point, the soldiers slowed as they saw the blades flash into being on his back, but with grim smiles they equipped their own and changed targets.
Ewan spared a quick glance behind him to see the girl vanish down the steps, then turned to face his opponents.
The crowd was whispering excitedly now, but he focused on the Swords, quickly calling on his own basic aura-reading skills to scan them. They were stronger than him, and bigger too, but neither had bothered to bolster their defense beyond their armor, clearly seeing him as an easy mark.
Time to see what agility’s all about, he thought with a nervous chuckle.
AUTHOR Bio and Links
E.B. Brooks lives in the southeastern USA, where he splits his time between writing, research, and homesteading. He enjoys building fictional worlds, real houses, and landscape models, but he’s most at home with his wife and children, and their many, many pets.
Meet Zarik MacKinnon, soon-to-be chief of his clan. Stubborn, unrelenting, and not in need of love. For years he’s been told by the clan’s druid that someone will come to save him. Someone for him to love. He shrugged his shoulders and continued on in his protection of his clan. Never wanting to be chief, Zarik is surprised when Tsarina Fraser arrives and is said to be the one he must marry. The catch? She’s from the future.
Author Bio:
After 14 years of book and product reviews, I have finally got my own books in the works.
Book Title: The Prime Suspect (A Sam MacKade PI Mystery) by Lauren Carr Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 430 pages Genre: Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: Oct 26, 2023 Content Rating: PG-13 (Lauren Carr’s books are murder mysteries, so there are murders involved. Occasionally, a murder will happen on stage. There is sexual content, but always behind closed doors. Some mild swearing (a hell or a damn few and far between). No F-bombs!
“The plot is twisted. The characters are full of depth, with many hiding secrets. Mackade’s two dogs and Greyson’s cat are not only smart, but have attitude with a capital A. I don’t want to spoil anything, so all I am going to say is the cat is the hero who deals with one personal threat.”Marilyn R. Wilson, Author, Speaker, Book Reviewer, review of THE PRIME SUSPECT
“Lauren Carr is among my favorite mystery writers. She knows how to write a fun tale while keeping readers engaged. …“– Amy Campbell, Locks Hooks and Books
“I am, bottom line, amazed at the giant step that places Carr comparable to significant authors whose name slips off our tongues like, for instance, Nora Roberts. Watch this author–she’s moving quickly to where her goals are headed…”– review by Glenda Bixler, Book Readers Heaven
Lauren Carr is a master storyteller who combines the humor of Janet Evanovich and the investigative skills of Patricia Cornwell. She is always at the top of my reading list.” –review by Sherry Fundin, Fundinmental, As Eye See It
MY REVIEW
Lauren Carr has a large cast of characters in her novels and it amazes me how she is able to keep them clear in her mind, and the list in the beginning of her books helps me keep them clear in my mind.
A lone man walking across a deserted campus late at night. Such were the makings of suspense novels.
That was Dr Dermont Lynch’s thoughts as he walked through the deserted campus to his vehicle and was shot and killed. Bryce’s life has never been the same, since many think she was the person who killed him.
Sam MacKade’s mentor had tried to kill him, causing his injury that forced him out of the police force. He became a private eye. He hadn’t let anyone close, except for his canine companions. Will Bryce be the one to open his eyes, his heart and his life to…more?
Dogs, like Gus and Cleo, Dutch Shepherds, are hallmarks of Lauren Carr’s novels. They put many smiles on my face, at times having me laughing out loud. Lauren’s writing and creativity in describing their actions, antics and training add so much delicious goodness and feel good feelings to her stories. Between them and Sam, I think the Sam MacKade series may be my new favorite.
Bryce Greyson is one of the main characters, but her friends, Susan, Erin and Cat play important roles. With so much action and mystery, we have plenty of room for lots of characters.
“Don’t let the cat leave town.”
Bryce’s cat Misha, is a Ninja Cat and I LOVE IT! The whole situation in Bryce’s house, around page 360, was at turns funny, frightening and frustrating. I laughed at the mayhem Misha caused protecting her domain.
The Prime Suspect by Lauren Carr is filled with hours of reading entertainment. We have more than one mystery, danger and suspense, dogs with giant personalities and a ninja cat…oh my…with plenty of villains suspects, thieves and murderers.
Go ahead and pick up a copy of The Prime Suspense by Lauren Carr…and try to put it down. Go ahead. I dare ya. Can’t be done. There is so much going on, so many clues to follow, so many deaths, my head is spinning and I never want it to end.
5 Stars
Book Description: Two murders with one common denominator. Both victims betrayed Bryce Greyson. How could she not be the prime suspect?
Four years after Bryce’s cheating husband is gunned down, her boyfriend-stealing former roommate’s remains are found buried under a statue at her alma mater.
Declared the prime suspect by both detectives and the media, Bryce has no choice but to hire someone to clear her name.
Enter Sam MacKade, private eye.
To solve two murders, the former police K-9 officer and his canine partners must sift through the clues and the lies to reveal the true prime suspect.
Selling over half a million books worldwide, Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, Thorny Rose, Chris Matheson Cold Case Mysteries, and Nikki Bryant Cozy Mysteries—thirty titles across five fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!
Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr seamlessly crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, crime fiction, police procedurals, romance, and humor.
The owner of Acorn Book Services and iRead Book Tours, Lauren is also a publishing manager, consultant, and virtual book tour coordinator for independent authors.
Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and author panels at conventions.
She lives with her husband, and two spoiled rotten German shepherds on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.
I love sharing giant covers for Sue’s books, so you can get that up close and personal looks at all the details.
The first book in the series, Wings Of Mayhem is free. Go ahead. Grab a copy. You will see why I am so hooked on this series and these characters. Always check for the ‘0’.
GUEST POST BY SUE COLETTA
Sherry asked me another question that other readers might wonder about.
“I am writing my review and saw the list of all the consultants and sites in the front of the book. It is obvious you do tons of research, and I am interested in how you came to be so enthralled with Native American culture.”
It’s sort of a convoluted story, but I’ll try to simplify things.My brother and I grew up in a three-bedroom gambrel built by my maternal grandfather. In fact, my bedroom used to be my mother’s childhood bedroom. Unfortunately, my grandparents on both sides died before I was born, except for my maternal grandmother, who died when I was four.
This house held hidden secrets. In the walls, in the floors, and in the side attic.
Because of my grandparents passing, no one commented on the construction of the house, nor did they explain why the backs of our closets had hidden doorways that led to tunnels behind the walls or why trapdoors led to a secret staircase. To access the hidden passageways, you had to crawl or hunch. My brother and I thought they were the coolest forts. Neither of us had any idea why they existed, nor did it matter. Kids don’t care about the why or how something materialized. They just take the win.
Fast forward a few years. In the third grade my art teacher—back then we had one teacher for all creative activities—planned to put on a school play about the Pilgrims “discovering” America. She asked each student to choose a role, “Indian” or Pilgrim. I chose the former.
Side note: Please excuse the usage of “Indian” rather than more acceptable terms of Native American, First Nations, American Indian, First Peoples, or Indigenous. I use it here for accuracy. That’s the term my misguided teacher used.
Also of note:
Back then, all teachers whitewashed America’s dirty little secrets and instead taught a skewed version of history.
“Indians” were portrayed as the villains of the school play.
For this role, I needed a costume, which Mom made from a bedsheet. A cute little dress edged in fringe. The material couldn’t stay white, of course, so she brewed up several pots of tea to create the perfect dye to mimic tanned animal hides. While we dyed my dress, she told me all about my grandfather and our Native roots. She also said I was spitting image of his sister, my Great Aunt Hat.
Anyway, because I lost my mother so early in life, important parts of our conversation have faded. I’ve pieced together that I’m most likely Algonquin, since my grandfather hailed from Maine, but I’ve never been able to pinpoint the exact clan affiliation. Native American bloodlines are notoriously difficult to trace. They weren’t included in the census bureau because the white population didn’t consider them human, as disgraceful as that sounds. As an aside, Little Rain was one of my relatives, the name I gave Maggie in my Mayhem Series. It fits her so well.
On my father’s side, others have traced his line back to the Mayflower. Evidently, my paternal line consists of the very colonists who murdered Native Americans. So, basically, I’m a walking contradiction. 😉
From as far back as I can remember, I’ve always had a Native heart and soul. When my mother told me about our heritage, life made sense. And so did those secret passageways in our walls. My grandfather built hiding places into our home to protect family and friends from those who wished them harm, like an underground railroad. He had good reason to, as Native people were driven off their ancestral land at an alarming rate. Even today, few New England states have a robust Indigenous community.
Incidentally, at the school play, I wore that tea-dyed, fringed dress with pride. I also gave the teacher a piece of mind for portraying my People like they were the enemy. Needless to say, Mom had a lot of explaining to do afterward. The principal wasn’t pleased with my outburst. LOL Never once did Mom blame me, though. Instead, she taught me to take pride in my Native heritage.
So, to answer your question, yes, I do a ton of research for my Mayhem Series. Not only for accuracy but for me, personally. Through that research I fell in love with Diné culture and traditions, and the spirituality speaks to my soul. As Shawnee learns about her heritage, I learn about mine.
Thanks for another great question, Sherry. <3
Truly fascinating Sue. I want to thank you so much for sharing ‘the good, the bad, and the ugly’. I couldn’t help but smile at the thought of you giving your teacher a history lesson. I love picturing you, in your fringed dress, righting a wrong. Unfortunately and unbelievably, in the 21st century here in Florida, they are trying to ‘turn back time.’ It’s true, ‘history repeats itself’…over and over and over again.
It’s 9:30 am on a Monday morning and Mr Mayhem and Shawnee are racing through the forest. Shawnee struggles to keep up with the frantic pace Mr Mayhem has set, slapping branches aside, doing her best to keep up. Why is Poe sending out an alarm?
Where is Shicheii? Shicheii is her grandfather, her only living relative. She will die for him.
And that is the opening for Merciless Mayhem.
Sue Coletta and the Mayhem gang have been working tirelessly to protect nature and all the animals that inhabit our world, and this time Orcas and dolphins are the target of the Killzme Corporation. They present themselves as conservationists, but use those who care about saving the animals for nefarious purposes, without their knowledge. That really ticked me off! Sue Coletta’s subject matter and writing does get all my emotions firing.
The blurb and introduction inside the book made me want to share…well, almost everything, but I figure you will read that anyway, so let’s just get right down to my thoughts.
Sue Coletta does a lot of research and I love an author that strives to make their novels authentic, as realistic as possible. She does that very well.
I won’t go into all the updates for how we came to be where we are. I will leave that for you to find out for yourself, but Sue Coletta does include them in the story. I believe you may be able to read each book as a standalone, but starting in the beginning gives so much depth and meaning into the characters, I recommend beginning with Wings Of Mayhem, Book I.
The Killzme Corporation was the largest animal trafficking ring in the US and they had put a bounty on Mr Mayhem and Shawnee. They will use anyone they care about to get their hands on them.
I love their role playing, as they do their investigating, and they had me bursting out in laughter. The visuals Sue created in my mind are amazing.
Mr Mayhem’s nickname for Shawnee, Cautious Cat, is a misnomer. She can be impulsive, acting without thought of the consequences, putting herself in peril when those she loves are in danger. Mr Mayhem is her mentor and works with her to create a center of calm, giving herself time to anticipate the results of her actions. It’s a work in progress. 🙂
I am speechless when Shawnee launches her attack, around 617 on my ereader. She is a badass warrior and a character sure to capture any thriller lover’s heart, like mine.
Shawnee is in a committed relationship with Levaughn, but we don’t hear much about him. We meet up with some old friends and are introduced to some new ones.
Her interactions with Poe are always fun. They are like two kids struggling through sibling rivalry and Shawnee comes out with the short end of the stick. Lots of smiles to be had, but when push comes to shove, Poe will be there for her.
I love an author that makes me want to do my own research and Sue Coletta is one of those authors. Her chapters begin with Native American sayings that make me think. The Sea Shepherd is mentioned and I remember watching the TV show. They put themselves in danger to stop the slaughter of whales by the Japanese.
Chapter 47 took me to a place I have been waiting to go. I thought it had to come and I am eager to see where Sue will take it in the next book. That being said, I feel it is too important to share and I WANT you to find it out for yourself. Will this go where I want, where I feel it has to, where I feel fate has meant it to be? Have I made you curious?
The Orcas and dolphins may be safe, for the moment…BUT… brace yourself. The next stop is Yellowstone, where Killzme has planned a mass slaughter of bears, wolves and lynxes.
I am always eager to see what Sue will come up with next in this series, but now she has made me even more curious with this snippet at the very end of the novel:
Once my grandfather vanished inside, I swiveled toward my mentor. “He’s definitely hiding somethin’.”
“Oh, yes. Yes, he is. The question is, what?”
“Aw man, Shicheii. What did you do?”
Sue Coletta left me smiling. Thanks, Sue, Mr Mayhem and Shawnee! Oh, and our feathered friends.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Merciless Mayhem by Sue Coletta.
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Shawnee and Mayhem continue to wreak havoc on the Killzme Corporation—the largest animal trafficking ring in the country—by killing one poacher at a time. The stakes grow increasingly higher when the nefarious group retaliates by putting a bounty on their heads.
Meanwhile, the traffickers set their sights on capturing Orca for profit and pleasure.
With a ticking clock and no place left to hide, Shawnee and Mayhem alternate between undercover surveillance and clandestine battles to save their loved ones and the Innocent Ones from Killzme’s evil plans. Skills are tested. Tenuous alliances are formed. Not everyone will make it out alive.
Set in a world of cultural wonder, environmental threats, and looming danger, this heart-stopping eco-thriller will have you glued to the page from the first sentence to the last.
Sue Coletta is an active member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. Feedspot and Expertido.org named her Murder Blog as one of the “Top 100 Crime Blogs on the Net” (Murder Blog sits at #5) for four years in a row. And recently, she appeared on an Emmy award-winning true crime show.
Sue also blogs at the Kill Zone, a multi-award-winning writing blog, and writes two serial killer thriller series (Tirgearr Publishing) and narrative nonfiction/true crime for Globe Pequot, trade division of Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group.
For readers, she has the Crime Lover’s Lounge, where members will be the first to know about free giveaways, contests, and have inside access to deleted scenes (if available). As an added bonus, members get to play in the lounge. Your secret code will unlock the virtual door.
BONUS: When you join Sue’s community you’ll receive two free killer reads!
Sue lives in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire with her husband, and begins each by feeding all the wildlife in her yard. Her favorite “pets” are a murder of crows who live free but come when called by name.
This collection of cat poems will tickle your whiskers and your funny bone. They’re the purr-fect way to brighten your day and celebrate the furry friends in your life.
Prepare to laugh out loud as you read about cat adventures with magnets, candles, strawberry milkshakes, and plush balls—but don’t let me ruin the surprise, you’ll have to read to find out!
The wonderful thing about anthologies is meeting so many new authors at once. Are you looking for some cowboy romance? Some good, clean, fun. holiday reading, sure to put a smile on your face and maybe find some new authors to add to your reading list.
I enjoyed meeting each and every character, spending time in their world in or near Alberta, Canada. Each story is a novella that ends in a happy ever after. There was sadness and tears, and love and laughter. Some I cared for more than others, but each gave me something to take with me when I finished the story.
The first story I started with was Lawna Mackie because she is the only author I was familiar with and have enjoyed reading her stories.
Silver Belle’s Christmas Cowboy
…life in Alaska was what she wanted. Right?
Silver Belle is an ecologist with a degree in Zoology, caring for nine reindeer in Alaska. She’s working on her thesis, studying the reindeer. Problems arise and she may need to steal the reindeer to keep her promise. Yes, we do have a blizzard. That always adds a little extra to the story, especially when Jace Newman comes to the rescue. She has a heart as big and wide as the countryside and will stop at nothing to make a little girl’s dream come true for Christmas. A wonderfully magical Christmas story.
Another story that stood out for me was:
All I Want For Christmas by Victoria Chatham
Luke Evans is a rancher and plans to spend his Christmas alone with his trusty sidekick, Chloe, a Golden Retriever. A snowstorm delivers Kate Cooper and her five year daughter, Alice Cooper to his doorstep. Alice Cooper does not take after her namesake, rock and roll legend, Alice Cooper. She is sweet as molasses.
‘Christmas is better with snow.”
“Like cake with icing, Alice chimed in, pushing her way between them, pressing her nose against the windowpane, then looking up at him. “Why haven’t you got decorations?”
There are many adorable moments, with the innocence of Alice taking center stage, and the cute dialogue that only children can supply.
"I love all my presents....But really, all I want for Christmas is a daddy."
The happy ever after brought a tear or two to my eye.
My overall rating is a solid four and I highly recommend A Cowboy This Christmas for some Christmas novellas that are sure to put a smile on your face.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Limited time price offer!
At Christmas, even the loneliest cowboy can find true love, whether it arrives with the subtle fragrance of evergreen or the kick of a wild stallion. Celebrate the holiday season with these nine, short, sweet, and heartwarming contemporary romances.
The Cowboy’s Comeback Christmas – by Jan O’Hara, USA Today Bestselling Author The woman formerly known as Shrinking Violet is back, bearing a new no-nonsense attitude and a deadline for leaving town. Five Christmases ago, Russ broke both their hearts. Can he prove he’s a changed man and convince her to stay?
Capturing the Christmas Cowboy – by Roxy Boroughs, Amazon Bestselling Author To secure her job with an advertising company, an L.A. photographer travels to the wilds of Montana, searching for a rugged cowboy to peddle cheap cologne. There she meets a down-on-his-luck, camera-shy rancher, who wants to give his little brother a homespun Christmas – just like the ones they knew before they lost their parents.
A Rocking Horse Christmas – by Raine Hughes, Amazon Bestselling Author Recovering from a life-changing injury, a bronc buster drives across Canada with his young sons to work as a ranch foreman. Heart-sore owner, Sally, hides a wariness of being touched with a warm, hopeful smile. Will the miracle of Christmas help them find true healing love?
Candy Cane Cowboy – by A.M. Westerling, Amazon Bestselling Author Mandy Robinson, a server in a country diner is puzzled when her encounters with the new short order chef, injured bull rider, Chay Burton, seem to mirror events as chronicled over a hundred years ago in her great grandmother’s diary. Romance blossoms as Christmas approaches but should she trust the journal that hints of eventual heartbreak or a cowboy who only has his love to offer?
All I Want for Christmas – by Victoria Chatham, BWL Bestselling Author Rancher Luke Evans expects to spend Christmas alone. When a snowstorm strands Kate Cooper and her five-year-old daughter Alice, that changes. While the child’s smile warms his heart, will widowed emergency nurse Kate dare to love again? Could she and Alice become the family Luke always wanted?
Silver Belle’s Christmas Cowboy – by Lawna Mackie Being the caregiver to nine reindeer in Alaska has many challenges, including a promise Silver Belle Delaney intends to fulfill. Granted, there are a few hiccups. Steal her employer’s reindeer…oh, and his truck and trailer, drive through a blizzard, then hope and pray the handsome, wealthy rancher doesn’t throw her in jail on Christmas Eve.
My Cowboy, Until Christmas – by Shawna Mumert, Debut Author Desperate to keep her ranch, Caroline Bailey, a young widow, hires Trace Morgan, a drifter, to help her until Christmas Eve, when the final ranch payment is due, but working together changes their dreams and their lives.
Come Home for Christmas, Cowboy – by Amy Jo Fleming Jolene, a young widow, needs to sell the ranch that she loves. It’s the only home her son Cody has ever known. There’s a catch. Her late husband’s cousin owns half the property. Devon will be home for the holidays and Jolene needs to convince him to sell before Christmas. Will those old feelings that Jolene and Devon once shared ruin her plans?
A Heart Creek Christmas – by Joanie Wilde, Debut Author A kind-hearted equine osteopath lands her dream job – and possibly the love of her life in a broken-down cowboy. Can they move past their personal barriers to find love in time for Christmas?
This anthology is the work of nine independent-minded women who live in or near cattle country, Alberta.
Genre: Anthology, Cowboys, Romance
560 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication November 2, 2023
Devour these 9 short, sweet romances along with your shortbread
A new twist on the 1930s English country house mystery.
Embarking on their most daring time-travel experiment to date, Depression-era cop Steven Blackwell and his 21st-century partner-in-crime Olivia Watson travel to the Adirondack Mountains for a Christmas party at one of the legendary Great Camps. Their host, a wealthy New York publisher, has planned a weekend filled with holiday activities, but, as the last guest arrives, temperatures plummet and a blizzard hits. Before long, the area is buried in snow, the roads are impassable, and the publisher is poisoned.
Unwilling to wait until the local police can arrive, the victim’s widow convinces Steven to launch an unofficial investigation. Soon, a family member goes missing and Steven and Olivia discover a second victim. Trapped with a killer, Steven and Olivia race against the clock before the murderer strikes again.
Praise for RSVP to Murder:
“A classic holiday movie and Agatha Christie novel mashup” ~ Shawn Reilly Simmons, author of the Red Carpet Catering Mystery Series
“RSVP to Murder is Agatha Christie with a time-travel twist. Pouliot supplies us with just what we crave in a great locked-room mystery: a blizzard, closed roads, dead phone lines, roaring fires, and lots of suspects and motives—all set in a luxurious Adirondack Great Camp in 1934. Snap on your seatbelt and travel with Steven and Olivia, you’ll be happy you did!” ~ Tina deBellegarde, Author of The Batavia-on-Hudson Mystery Series.
“A Great Camp in the Adirondacks serves up a sumptuous setting of plump armchairs, roaring fireplaces, and the heady scent of Christmas pines—all begging to be settled into with this thumping good vintage whodunit set in the 1930s. Cleverly plotted with plot-twists aplenty and some time-travel to boot, this immersive mystery is a gem.” ~ Laurie Loewenstein, Author of the Dust Bowl Mystery Series
“Readers are invited to the glamour of the Thirties, where the rich are putting on the Ritz, until there’s a murder to solve. Join time-travelers Blackwell and Watson in a race to the Racines’ Adirondack Great Camp to catch a killer. A clever…and a thoroughly unique must for fans of the paranormal and historical. RSVP today!” ~ Gabriel Valjan, Author of the Shane Cleary Mysteries series
“The Blackwell and Watson Time-Travel Mysteries’ latest installment, RSVP to Murder, combines the thrilling and “timeless” aspects of Jack Finney’s classic TIME AND AGAIN mixed with the wit and charm of a modern, puzzling mystery. Highly recommended for all lovers of time travel, history, romance and wily sleuths.” ~ L.A. Chandlar, Best-selling author of the Art Deco Mystery Series
Book Details:
Genre: Traditional mystery Published by: Level Best Books Publication Date: September 2023 Number of Pages: 305 ISBN: 9781685123857 Series: The Blackwell and Watson Time-Travel Mysteries, #4 Book Links:Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads
Read an excerpt:
Chapter 1
December 31, 1902
New York City, New York
She was marrying the wrong man.
With a silk-gloved hand, Margery Belleville lifted the bottom of her wedding gown and peeked around the heavy, carved doors into the nave of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Several hundred guests—ladies in expensive finery, wool coats trimmed with ermine and fancy hats with brims reaching out over their shoulders, and tuxedoed men in black silk top hats—awaited the wedding of the decade. St. Patrick’s reminded Margery of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris with its Gothic-style pointed arches and rich stained-glass windows set in lacey webs. The soaring, vaulted ceiling, lit by crystal chandeliers suspended on long rope-like cables, rose hundreds of feet in the air. Light from the chandeliers reached into the far corners of the church and mingled with the glow of candles twinkling in wrought-iron stands. Inhaling the scent of balsam fir from the many holiday decorations, Margery gazed down the long center aisle, where she would soon walk with her father.
Margery stepped back into the vestibule, her pure-white gown rustling softly as she moved. She was, at least, happy her parents had allowed her the choice of her wedding dress, if not the groom. Margery and her mother had searched in several shops, nearly deciding to have the dress custom made when they came upon this elegant, sleek gown. The moment Margery laid eyes on it, she knew it was the one. The high neckline draped in soft folds beneath her chin, flattering her face. The form-fitting bodice hugged her curves, yet avoided the dreaded hourglass silhouette, with its yards of smooth satin skirt billowing around her. Margery’s unadorned veil revealed topaz eyes and soft lips, but covered her rich auburn hair and cascaded down her back. This was the gown of a modern, independent woman. If only her life matched the dress.
His conversation with the bishop finished, Anthony Belleville joined his daughter. “Are you ready, my dear?”
The organ began Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March,” and a rumble echoed throughout the nave as the guests stood and turned toward the back of the cathedral. Trembling, Margery took her father’s arm.
He must have felt her shaking because her father leaned over and, to Margery’s astonishment, whispered, “I know he’s not your first choice. But you will be well cared for and you know Gil adores you. I don’t know which man has captured your heart, but you won’t lack for anything with Gilbert Racine. The publishing empire he’s going to inherit will provide a comfortable, even pampered, life. He’s the best choice to keep you in the style your mother and I have provided. I can’t bear the thought that you would ever lack for anything, my dearest daughter.”
Margery was further shocked when her father wiped a tear from his eye.
It was at that moment when Margery Belleville, soon to be Margery Racine, accepted her fate. She would be a good wife for her successful businessman husband. She would provide him with children and a well-run home. She’d bury her feelings deep inside, lock them away in a cupboard, and throw away the key. She could not marry the man she loved. But she might grow to love the man she married.
Margery forced a smile and reached up to give her father a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll be alright, Papa. Gil will be a good husband.” She patted his hand. Straightening her spine, Margery gave a sharp nod of her head. “I’m ready.”
***
Excerpt from RSVP to Murder by Carol Pouliot. Copyright 2023 by Carol Pouliot. Reproduced with permission from Carol Pouliot. All rights reserved.
Author Bio:
A former language teacher and business owner, Carol Pouliot writes the acclaimed Blackwell and Watson Time-Travel Mysteries, traditional police procedurals with a seemingly impossible relationship between Depression-era cop Steven Blackwell and 21st-century journalist Olivia Watson. With their fast pace and unexpected twists and turns, the books have earned praise from readers and mystery authors alike.
Carol is a founding member of Sleuths and Sidekicks, Co-chair of the Murderous March Mystery Conference, and President of her Sisters in Crime chapter. When not writing, Carol can be found packing her suitcase and reaching for her passport for her next travel adventure.
I feel compelled to share that by purchasing the book, you have donated 10% of the profits to Ben’s friends. Ben, not Tony’s son but another lost soul with the same name, had many friends and they started a community program after his death. I found this so amazing, I had to share. It is obvious he impacted many lives and will be sorely missed.
Every time I crack open a Claus novel by Tony Bertauski, I know I am going on a magical adventure. Nutcracker is the eleventh novel in this stand alone series and is just as entertaining as the past novels I have read.
After the death of their parents, Marie and her brother, Fritz, are taken in by her Aunt and Uncle. Vern has many personalities, but Rinks has only one, and it’s not a pleasant one. She wants….everything and doesn’t care much what she has to do to get it.
This wonderfully fun fantasy of magic and childish delight is fraught with sadness and it comes through in Tony Bertauski’s writing. I love that he made me try to put myself into Rinks shoes and see why she was so unhappy and vindictive, trying to see her life from her perspective, try to walk a mile in her shoes, to empathize with Marie and Fritz with their loss. Marie tamps down her sadness over the loss of their parents and Fritz no longer speaks.
Marie and Fritz find the gift, after a visit to their Godfather, and their adventure into Candyland begins. Is it a dream? Another one of their Godfather’s inventions? I love the creativity involved in the creatures and action that takes place. It is so hard for me to describe what happens inside Candyland without spoiling it, so I will leave it to you to find out for yourself
I always wonder how an author comes up with such a fantastical story and I can only attribute it to their vivid imagination. Their ability to open their mind and let the magic begin is a gift to us readers. The best thing is that I end the book with a smile on my face.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
The 11th standalone novel in the Claus Universe.
Once upon a time, there was a toy store filled with magical playthings and fantastical stories. But not anymore. That was a long time ago.
When Marie arrived, the place was cobwebs and empty shelves. Little dry pellets covered the floor. Aunt Rinks called them dirt balls. They weren’t dirt balls.
The place didn’t feel like Christmas. Nothing did anymore. What Marie wanted, she couldn’t possibly have. A leaky air mattress and a self-absorbed aunt was all she got. But Christmas wasn’t about what you wanted; it was about what you needed. Godfather told her that. That was when he told her the tale of the nutcracker.
“You must find the princess,” he told Marie. “She’s been waiting for you.”
It was a story, nothing more. Marie didn’t believe in fairy tales or Christmas spirit anymore. Certainly didn’t believe in a wooden soldier and a cursed princess who needed saving. Until she discovered the gift.
Marie and her brother, Fritz, find a small box hidden in the old toy store. When they open it, the real journey begins. Marie discovers the nutcracker is more than just a silly toy. The princess isn’t a metaphor. The nutcracker shows Marie a truth hidden inside her.
They’ll have to hurry to save the princess. When Aunt Rinks finds the gift, she aims to take everything they’ve discovered for herself, to leave Marie and Fritz with nothing and the princess still cursed. The journey, however, isn’t a game. It will reveal Marie’s true nature.
What happens next is not what anyone wanted for Christmas.
Genre: Action and Adventure, Childrens, Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction Teen and Young Adult
My grandpa never graduated high school. He retired from a steel mill in the mid-70s. He was uneducated, but he was a voracious reader. I remember going through his bookshelves of paperback sci-fi novels, smelling musty old paper, pulling Piers Anthony and Isaac Asimov off shelf and promising to bring them back. I was fascinated by robots that could think and act like people. What happened when they died?
I’ve written textbooks on landscape design, but that was straightforward, informational writing; the kind of stuff that helps most people get to sleep. I’ve also been writing a gardening column with a humorous slant. That takes a little more finesse, but still informational for the most part.
I’m a cynical reader. I demand the writer sweep me into his/her story and carry me to the end. I’d rather sail a boat than climb a mountain. That’s the sort of stuff I wanted to write, not the assigned reading we used to get in high school. I wanted to create stories that kept you up late.
Fiction, GOOD fiction, is hard to write. Having a story unfold inside your head is an experience different than reading. You connect with characters in a deeper, more meaningful way. You feel them, empathize with them, cheer for them and even mourn. The challenge is to get the reader to experience the same thing, even if it’s only a fraction of what the writer feels. Not so easy.
