Summary: Dog Girl is Fangirl meets Pit Bulls and
Parolees.
Saving the dogs who end up at Delray Dog Rescue
is Kendall’s life. It’s the perfect job for a girl with severe social anxiety.
Delray Dog Rescue doesn’t just rescue dogs, it’s
a second chance for felons, like her dad. Losing the rescue means losing
Kendall’s home, her sanctuary, the dogs she loves, her identity and her dad,
all over again.
But money’s tight, and soon, Kendall must decide
between keeping a roof over her head and saving the rescue.
When a video of Kendall’s harrowing rescue of a
pit bull from the path of an oncoming train goes viral. Suddenly, everyone
wants a piece of Kendall, making her anxiety worse. But this is an opportunity
to put the rescue in the spotlight and secure the donations needed to save it.
Can she overcome the social paralysis that’s
plagued her all her life? Can she ignore negative comments on social media
about her looks and smell? Can she accept help from a boy who really sees her,
even though she can’t understand what he could possibly see in her?
DOG GIRL is the story of a teen girl who wants to
save the world, and ends up saving herself in the process.
GRAND PRIZE – Dog Girl t-shirt! (U.S. Only – sizes s-xl)
1st Prize: $10 Amazon Gift Card! (International)
About the Author:
Gabi Justice is the author of
Dog Girl, her teen and young adult contemporary romance debut set to publish in
the fall of 2020. She is the mom to three dogs and one stray cat named Luna
Buna. She lives in Florida with her husband and children. You’d be hard-pressed
to find a tennis court in the state that she hasn’t visited, having three
competitive junior players in the family. She spent most of her adult life
writing editorial copy for local magazines after graduating from the University
of South Florida. Florida provides the settings for all her coming-of-age
stories that highlight bullying, misjudgment, acceptance, and teen anxiety. Her
main characters are goal-oriented teenage girls with a drive that can be fierce
and dangerous.
Old Saint Nick is missing, sparking shenanigans in the town of Santa Claus.
Private Eye Nala Bonne and her trusty crime-fighting rescue dog Max spend their days surfing social media for telltale signs of disability fraud and philandering husbands, but when a lucrative opportunity to investigate something entirely different, Nala readily agrees to take the case.
The task: find a missing Santa impersonator
Unfortunately for her, someone is dead set against the search and will stop at nothing to drive Nala and Max out of town before their search even begins.
Can this dynamic duo locate the missing Santa before it’s too late?
M. K. Scott is the husband and wife writing team behind The Painted Lady Inn Mysteries. Morgan K Wyatt is the general wordsmith, while her husband, Scott, is the grammar hammer and physics specialist. He uses his engineering skills to explain how fast a body falls when pushed over a cliff and various other felonious activities. The Internet and experts in the field provide forensic information, while the recipes and B and B details require a more hands on approach. Morgan’s daughter, who manages a hotel, provides guest horror stories to fuel the plot lines. The couple’s dog, Chance, is the inspiration behind Jasper, Donna’s dog.
Book Title: Candidate for Murder by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 12) Category: Adult fiction, 464 pages Genre: Murder Mystery / Political Satire Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: June 9, 2016 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!
“It is an amusing look at politics and media today. Appropriate to
see how the Deep Creek mayoral election relates to current events.
Dissatisfaction with politicians on many levels often leave us looking
for extreme change. It may leave you thoughtful. It may leave you
writing Gnarly’s name in as your preferred candidate in the next
election.”Reviewer: Merry Citarella, Jaquo.com “Hilarious, mysterious and full of adventure, Gnarly
and his human friends will have you on the edge of your seat unable to
put your book down. Candidate for Murder is well written, played out and
a story that you have just never heard before. I enjoyed every moment
reading this book!” Reviewer: Working Mommy Journal
Book Description:
It’s election time in Spencer, Maryland, and the race for mayor is not a
pretty one. In recent years, the small resort town has become divided
between the year-round residents who enjoy their rural way of life and
the city dwellers who are moving into mansions, taking over the town
council, and proceeding to turn Deep Creek Lake into a closed-gate
community—complete with a host of regulations for everything from speed
limits to clotheslines. When the political parties force-feed two
unsavory mayoral nominees to the town’s residents, David O’Callaghan,
the chief of police, decides to make a statement—by nominating Gnarly,
Mac Faraday’s German shepherd, to run for mayor of Spencer! What starts
out as a joke turns into a disaster when overnight, Gnarly becomes the
front-runner, and his political opponents proceed to dig into the
canine’s past. When one of the mayoral candidates ends up dead, it
becomes apparent that slinging mud is not enough for someone with a
stake in this election. With murder on the ballot, Mac Faraday and the
gang—including old friends from past cases—dive in to clear Gnarly’s
name, catch a killer, and save Spencer!
“Lauren’s dialogue is brisk, her setting beautiful and the addition of Gnarly is very clever…It’s Murder, My Son is a delightful read and I look forward to more of Carr’s Mac Faraday mysteries.” –Connie Gregory, Connie’s Reviews “I couldn’t put this book down! Lauren Carr
develops the characters and weaves the details of the murder
investigation into a complex storyline that keeps the reader
relentlessly turning pages. She is skilled at teasing you into reading
more. I finished the last page still wanting to read more!” — Kelly Carpenter, Kelly’s Lucky You
“No
disrespect to Mac Faraday, Archie Monday, David O’Callaghan, Travis
Turner or any of the multitude of good, bad and ugly characters
populating Lauren Carr’s It’s Murder, My Son; but to me the most interesting character in the book is a lovable, mischievous, sneaky German shepherd named Gnarly.” – David M. Kinchen, Huntington News
Book Details:
Book Title: It’s Murder, My Son by Lauren Carr Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 1) Category: Adult fiction (18+), 288 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: June 23, 2010 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!
Book Description:
What started out as the worst day of Mac Faraday’s life would end up
being a new beginning. After a messy divorce hearing, the last person
that Mac wanted to see was another lawyer. Yet, this lawyer wore the
expression of a child bursting to tell his secret. This confidence would
reveal Mac as heir to undreamed of fortunes, and lead him to the
birthplace of America’s Queen of Mystery and an investigation that will
unfold like one of her famous mystery novels.
Soon after she moves to Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, Katrina Singleton
learns that life in an exclusive community is not all good. For some
unknown reason, a strange man calling himself “Pay Back” begins stalking
her. When Katrina is found strangled all evidence points to her
terrorist, who is nowhere to be found.
Three months later, the file on her murder is still open when Mac
Faraday, sole heir to his unknown birth mother’s home and fortune, moves
into the estate next door. Little does he know as he drives up to
Spencer Manor that he is driving into a closed gate community that is
hiding more suspicious deaths than his DC workload as a homicide
detective. With the help of his late mother’s journal, this retired cop
puts all his detective skills to work to pick up where the local
investigators have left off to follow the clues to Katrina’s killer.
Lauren Carr is the international
best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, Chris Matheson
Cold Case, Thorny Rose Mysteries, and the Nikki Bryant Cozy
Mysteries—close to thirty titles across five fast-paced mystery series
filled with twists and turns!
Book reviewers and readers alike
rave about how Lauren Carr’s seamlessly crosses genres to include
mystery, suspense, crime fiction, police procedurals, romance, and
humor.
A popular speaker, Lauren is also
the owner of Acorn Book Service, the umbrella under which falls iRead
Book Tours. She lives with her husband and two spoiled rotten German
Shepherds (including the nephew of the late-great Gnarly! (pictured
above)) on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.
For thirteen years, my beloved Bell loved me
unconditionally. Through the many challenges of life that I faced, she was
always there by my side with unwavering loyalty and dedication. Her obedience
to me is a beautiful depiction of how we, as Christians, should strive to
please the Lord who is our master in Heaven. God’s Word ensures us that all
good things come from above, and I think that includes our four-legged angels
on Earth who love and honor their masters so fiercely and bring us so much joy.
I am a native of Texas, born and raised in a small town. I graduated from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas in 2008 with a Bachelor’s degree and from Tarleton State University in 2019 with a Master’s in English and Curriculum. I currently am a full time teacher, mother, and wife.
God has put writing on my heart in order to inspire and encourage others that are currently or have experienced similar tribulations in life. My hope is that my stories will give others hope and comfort through the trials they face throughout their lives.
My first story, Lonely Road of Faith, is inspired by real-life events and me and my husband’s broken paths that eventually led back to each other and to God.
I have read all the books in the series…so far…so check out my review links at the end of the post.
“The plot was original, fresh and fast paced in spite of the
“traditional elements” employed which can normally be found in any other
thriller of this genre. The USP of this story would be its
unpredictability. When you think you have it all guessed up, the plot
would change its course keeping you hooked. There were a lot of suspense
twists and turns that kept the momentum up. Needless to say, the
writing was simply perfect. One thing that writer needs to be lauded for
is the humor she inculcated in the book. Minus those humorous parts,
the book would have been one serious read.” – Reviewer: Book and Ink
Join us for this tour from May 4to Jun 5, 2020!
Book Details:
Book Title: Kill and Run by Lauren Carr Series: Thorny Rose Mystery Series (Volume 1) Category: Adult fiction, 422 pages Genre: Murder Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: September, 2015 Format available for review: audible (download code), ebook (mobi, ePub, PDF) Tour dates: May 4 to Jun 5, 2020 Content Rating: PG (mild violence and sexual suggestion)
Book Description:
Five women with seemingly nothing in common are found brutally murdered
in a townhome outside Washington, DC. Among the many questions
surrounding the massacre is what had brought these apparent strangers
together only to be killed.
Taking on his first official murder case, Lieutenant Murphy Thornton,
USN, believes that if he can uncover the thread connecting the victims,
then he can find their murderer.
The case takes an unexpected turn when Murphy discovers that one of the
victims has a connection to his stepmother, Homicide Detective Cameron
Gates. One wintry night, over a dozen years before, her first husband, a
Pennsylvania State trooper, had been run down while working a night
shift on the turnpike.
In this first installment of the Thorny Rose Mysteries, the Lovers in
Crime join newlyweds Murphy Thornton and Jessica Faraday to shift
through a web of lies and cover-ups. Together, can the detectives of the
Thorny Rose uncover the truth without falling victim to a cunning
killer?
“Mysteries, murder, danger, and memories that threatens their
lives keeps the action and suspense at a high level and even when the
answers are found, it left me wanting more.” – Review by Sherry Fundin of Fundinmental
Book Description:
After ten months of marital bliss, Jessica Faraday and Murphy Thornton
are still discovering and adjusting to their life together. Settled in
their new home, everything appears to be perfect … except in the middle
of the night when, in the darkest shadows of her subconscious, a deep
secret from Jessica’s past creeps to the surface to make her strike out
at Murphy.
When investigative journalist Dallas Walker tells the couple about her
latest case, known as the Pine Bridge Massacre, they realize Jessica may
have witnessed the murder of a family while visiting family at the
winery near-by, and suppressed the memory.
Determined to uncover the truth and find justice for the murder victims,
Jessica and Murphy return to the scene of the crime with Dallas Walker,
a spunky bull-headed Texan. Can this family reunion bring closure for a
community touched by tragedy or will this prickly get-together bring an
end to the Thorny Rose couple?
Murder by Perfection is a wonderful read and a perfect to
escape from the challenges of a busy day. Danger, intrigue, humor, and
love all take their turn in this tale which will keep you reading into
the wee hours.” Review by Marilyn R. Wilson, Olio by Marilyn
Book Description:
Beware: Perfection has a dark side!
Frustrated with their busy schedules, Murphy Thornton and Jessica
Faraday attempt to find togetherness by scheduling a weekly date night.
The last thing Jessica Faraday expected for her date night was to take a
couple’s gourmet cooking course at the Stepford Kitchen Studio, owned
by Chef Natalie Stepford―the model of perfection in looks, home, and
business.
When Natalie ends up dead and Murphy goes missing, the Thorny Rose
detectives must peel back the layers of Natalie Stepford’s life to
discover that the pursuit of perfection can be deadly.
Enjoy this latest Thorny Rose Mystery! Coming soon to Audible!
“Wow – this is one INCREDIBLE novel that I could not put down.
It had me on the edge of my seat and I can honestly say that I never
saw the end coming. It was full of suspense, action but also humour
(done in a way that only Lauren can accomplish).” – 5-Star Review of THE NUTCRACKER CONSPIRACY by Working Mommy Journal
Book Details:
Book Title: The Nutcracker Conspiracy(A Thorny Rose Mystery #4) by Lauren Carr Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 388 pages Genre: Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: January 30, 2020 Format available for review: audible (download code), mobi, epub, PDF Tour dates: May 4 to Jun 5, 2020 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!
Book Description:
Three years ago, the nation gasped in horror when the President of the
United States barely escaped an assassination attempt that left two
dead—the vice president’s wife and the attempted assassin. Even after
numerous investigations proved otherwise, conspiracy theorists argue
that the assassin was acting on orders from the CIA, FBI, and every
federal agency within a hundred miles of the capital.
Aspiring Author Dean Conway is the last person Lieutenant Commander
Murphy Thornton wants to spend his Saturday afternoon when they end up
at the same wedding reception table. While their wives tend to
bridesmaid duties, Murphy is trapped listening to Dean’s latest
work-in-project—completing the manuscript of an investigative journalist
who’d disappeared months earlier.
“She was number twelve,” Dean says.
“Twelve?” Murphy asks.
“Twelve witnesses connected to or investigating The Nutcracker shooting have died either in an accident or suicide.”
Two days later, Dean dies suddenly―but not before sending a text message to Murphy:
Lauren Carr is the international
best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, Chris Matheson
Cold Case, and Thorny Rose Mysteries—over twenty-five titles across
three fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!
Book reviewers and readers alike
rave about how Lauren Carr’s seamlessly crosses genres to include
mystery, suspense, crime fiction, police procedurals, romance, and
humor.
A popular speaker, Lauren is also
the owner of Acorn Book Service, the umbrella under which falls iRead
Book Tours. She lives with her husband and two spoiled rotten German
Shepherds on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.
“Lauren Carr’s books are never boring, that’s for sure. They entertain,
give us a good mystery to dig into, keep the reader guessing, give us a
few good laughs and make us eager for the next book. Warning: Lauren
Carr’s series are addictive, so be ready to read more than just one
book!” – Laura Fabiani, Library of Clean Reads
Join us for this tour from April 20to May 22, 2020!
MY REVIEW
With the fun cover for Killer Deadline by Lauren Carr, I was pretty sure I would have some laughs with my mystery, and she did not fail to deliver.
Nikki had left home to go to college and study journalism and never came back. It has been twenty years, and she has come back to run the TV station her family owns…and see if HE is still available.
Also, Her father’s murder has never been solved and she is on the case.
It wouldn’t be a Lauren Carr novel without a dog, and Elmo is a perfect fit. He is a social icon,a party animal, a ham. He loves to have his photo taken and has a huge following through his social media. I love this touch. So real.
Nikki is an investigative journalist. She doesn’t waste time with make up and dressing up, doesn’t care about shopping, and loves to sit down and read a good mystery. I can relate to her easily and that makes for better reading.
Trudy, the cook at the family B&B, is a real hoot and plans on fattening her up.
Ashleigh Addison was a high school rival and nothing seems to have changed about that.
AND, now we come to Ryan, who has definitely changed from the skinny, glass wearing high school nerd she had always had a crush on. He’s filled out from the military and Elmo immediately fell in love with him. It’s always been a bit creepy…considering he is her step brother. BUT, WAIT, they are not related other than through marriage, so not so creepy…right?
And, who is NerdyGuy that she has been ‘talking’ to over the internet. Even though it was easy to figure out, I loved it.
Do you need some household chores done? Elmo’s your guy. I thought his antics were hilarious and different from the normal critter antics I’ve read in novels. So much fun.
AND what are those hairless things? Will Elmo ever win them over and become friends?
Lunch at the gazebo…it’s these kind of moments that add those laughs I look for, especially in a cozy mystery.
I have read many of Lauren Carr’s novels and always prefer walking on the dark side, but I couldn’t resist that cover and laughing at the critter’s antics while walking down one misleading path after another searching for the answer.
I voluntarily reviewed and ARC of Killer Deadline by Lauren Carr.
4 Stars
Book Details:
Book Title: Killer Deadline(A Nikki Bryant Cozy Mystery) by Lauren Carr Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 232 pages Genre: Mystery/Cozy Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: April 23, 2020 Content Rating: G. This is a true cozy mystery. No sex. No on-stage violence. No swearing. Just good clean fun!
“Here we go! Carr is a master storyteller who always offers a plot full
of twists and turns, a bit of humor to offset the dark, and a unique
cast of characters. In Killer Deadline that
cast includes – handsome Ryan, her first love (who is now her
step-brother); a mysterious social media friend called Nerdy Guy; Elmo, a
super smart dog, a boxer, she rescued who has become asocial media star
and has a penchant for cleaning; a TV station full of suspicious
employees; and more.
“This book is a wonderful read to pick up at the end of a long day. It
truly is a “cozy murder mystery.” I promise, it’ll draw you in right
from page one and keep you turning the pages until you reach the very
last page. I can’t wait for the second book in this series.” – Marilyn R. Wilson, Olio by Marilyn
Book Description:
Folks in Pine Grove, Pennsylvania, claim that where Nikki Bryant goes,
trouble is not far behind. Her refusal to back down from a challenge has
made Nikki Bryant a top investigative journalist.
When an online friend nudges her to join him in a pact to reconnect with
their first loves, Nikki and her boxer dog Elmo leave the bright lights
of Las Vegas for the charming town of Pine Grove. There, she must face
the biggest challenges in her career and life—the first love she had
left behind and her father’s unsolved murder.
But before she has time to unpack her car, Nikki stumbles upon the dead
body of local news anchor, Ashleigh Addison, her childhood rival. Could
Ashleigh’s death be connected to an explosive news story that she had
teased about airing live? Did that explosive story have anything to do
with the murder of Nikki’s father?
With the clues in her father’s cold case hot again, Nikki intends to
chase down the story of her life until she catches his killer—no matter
what it takes.
Lauren Carr is the international
best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, Chris Matheson
Cold Case, and Thorny Rose Mysteries—over twenty-five titles across
three fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!
Killer Deadline marks Lauren’s first venture into mystery’s purely cozy sub-genre with a female protagonist.
Book reviewers and readers alike
rave about how Lauren Carr’s seamlessly crosses genres to include
mystery, suspense, crime fiction, police procedurals, romance, and
humor.
A popular speaker, Lauren is also
the owner of Acorn Book Service, the umbrella under which falls iRead
Book Tours. She lives with her husband and two spoiled rotten German
Shepherds on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.
A wild cast of characters, a cute fur ball…and secrets are exposed. Savage Sourdough is a bit different than the other light hearted mystery stories in the Cozy Corgi series. It will take a lot more than Fred and Watson to solve this mystery.
Fred and Watson have settled into the small town of Estes Park. Not every loves them, but that’s okay. That’s just life.
She has her beloved book store and above it is her best human friend, Katie, and her bakery. They are a perfect fit.
I knew there was a secret surrounding Katie, but like Fred, I let it go figuring when the time was right, she would tell. NOW… Death and danger surround her and she realizes the time is right.
Fred’s family is quite the collection of quirky characters. There are too many to describe individually, but when they circle the wagons around Katie, it makes her realize how much she is loved and accepted.
Romance…there is always something in the air, we are just not sure what….
Mildred Abbot has kept us all guessing at who could be behind the mystery. Of course, we have plenty of chuckles and sweet moments while investigating. After all, it is a cozy mystery. The more time I spend with her wacky family and her sweet furball, the more I love them. Even as I type these words, I have a smile on my face.
It doesn’t matter the order read, they all stand alone, but why wouldn’t you want to start at the beginning?
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Savage Sourdough by Mildred Abbott.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Opening the Cozy Corgi in Estes Park is a dream come true: small-town charm, fresh-baked bread, hours by the fire reading mysteries, and… murder.
For Winifred Page and her devoted corgi, Watson, the puzzle pieces of life are falling into place as they settle into their home in the Colorado mountains. Surrounded by family and friends, Fred begins to relax into the charm and beauty of being the owner of a bookshop and bakery.
The buzz of possible romance—though Fred wasn’t looking for a relationship—has quieted as one of her suitors is no longer a viable option while the other has moved into the friend zone. But all thoughts of romance, wanted or not, fly out the window when Fred finds a dead body in the Cozy Corgi bakery… again.
Things get stickier when Fred’s main suspect turns out to be a family member of one of the local police officers—the one who already despises Fred and her little dog. Determined not to let past grievances cloud her judgment, Fred tips her detective hat and pokes deeper into the murder investigation. But in a mystery that becomes smoke and mirrors, nothing is as it seems.
The revelations Fred unveil threaten not only her picture-perfect world but her very life….
ABOUT MILDRED ABBOTT
Reading the Cozy Corgi series is pretty much all you need to know
about Mildred. In real life, she’s obsessed with everything she writes
about: Corgis, Books, Cozy Mountain Towns, and Baked Goods. She’s not
obsessed with murder, however. At least not at her own hands (nor paid
for… no contract killing here). But since childhood, starting with
Nancy Drew, trying to figure out who-dun-it has played a formative role
in her personality. Having Fred and Watson stroll into her mind was a
touch of kismet.
I am experimenting with Nextgen Gallery. I have had it for a long time, just never really used it. Now is the time, seeing Mr Wonderful is scanning images from our photo albums before they fade too badly. Unfortunately, the negatives have become damaged due to all the humidity down here and it is even more important to save them now.
Mobile, Alabama holds a Doo Dah Parade every spring and these are from 1997. I can tell this was still in the film days, because I had to limit how many photographs I took due to cost. I still like film the best, but I can click away with digital and that is an advantage I revel in. There are ups and downs to everything.
This is a slide show, but you can click on the individual photograph to see it better, then scroll through them using the buttons below the photograph.
