Please help me welcome today’s guest, Linda Griffin….
In the small Maryland town of Morgan’s Landing, fourteen-year-old Julie Morgan is living in comfort with her wealthy family. She disappears on her way to school after a spat with her twin sister. Detective Jim Brady, married and the father of two, has been on the Morgan’s Landing police force for twelve years. He identifies a few suspects in the girl’s disappearance—Is it the fired school janitor, a paroled sex offender, Julie’s computer teacher…or his own teenage son? Jim can’t believe his son could be involved, but his wife is convinced the boy is hiding something. He needs to find Julie before the worst happens—and keep the peace at home.
Excerpt:
Heather was taking a math test when Mr. Scarlett, the vice principal, called her out in the hall to ask if she knew where Julie was. He was unusually stern.
“She has Phys Ed this period,” Heather said. Shouldn’t he know that?
“She’s not in class,” Mr. Scarlett said. “She wasn’t in Computer Applications first period, either. Your mother says she didn’t stay home sick.”
“No, she left before I did,” Heather said. She was mystified, and as the situation sank in, she experienced the first shudder of real fear. Julie liked school, and she would never cut classes. Their parents would kill them if they even thought of such a thing. They were not overly strict, but they were firm in their expectations that their daughters would always do the right thing.
She dug her cell phone, silenced during class, out of her purse, and dialed her sister’s number. It rang four times and went to voicemail. “It’s me,” she said. “Where are you? Call when you get this.”
****
“Julie Morgan is missing.” Jim Brady took the call at 10:30. He had been with the Morgan’s Landing Police Department for twelve years, and this was only his second missing person case. The first had involved a three-year-old boy who had wandered away and been found within the hour. He still remembered the emotions associated with that hour: the overwhelming anguish of the boy’s mother, the sharp desire to make sure his own son was safe. This time Colin was in school, and Jim resisted the urge to call Frances—of course the baby was safe with her.
Linda Griffin knew she wanted to be a “book maker” as soon as she learned to read and wrote her first story, “Judy and the Fairies,” at the age of six. Her passion for the printed word also led me to a career with the San Diego Public Library. She retired to spend more time on her writing and has had stories of every length from short shorts to novellas published in numerous literary journals. Morgan’s Landing is her tenth novel published by the Wild Rose Press. In addition to the three R’s—reading, writing, and research—she enjoys travel, movies, Scrabble, and visiting museums and art galleries.
After Richard III is slain in battle, a beautiful orphan finds true love and her true family, to her relief—and horror.
England, 1471
Beautiful orphaned Denys Woodville is thrust into the center of power politics when her guardian Elizabeth Woodville marries the new king, Edward IV. The Wars of the Roses finally seem to be at an end, with the House of York victorious over the House of Lancaster. But not everyone rejoices in King Edward’s victory. Elizabeth and her Woodville clan have clawed their way to power by switching sides throughout the Wars of the Roses. They are always on the lookout for a chance to advance their ambitions, even at the expense of the king’s family and most loyal supporters.
Denys is delighted that the House of York has won, though she detests Elizabeth’s grasping nature. She considers King Edward and his youngest brother Richard, duke of Gloucester, the only real family she ever had. Elizabeth has never given her a hint of who her real parents might have been.
As the walls of the palace start to close in around her, Denys decides to flee the safety of the court in order to seek the truth about her real identity. She longs to find any living family of her own.
Elizabeth marries her off to Valentine Starbury, duke of Norwich, out of spite, but her feelings for him strengthen and bloom into love. He joins her quest to find her family, but with no reliable leads, it becomes hopeless. After King Richard’s devastating death in the Battle of Bosworth, Denys finally reaches her lifelong goal—she finds her family, in a stunning twist of fate.
Scene Three of CROWNED BY LOVE
Denys’s Aunt Elizabeth adopted her, then neglected her to passionately pursue Edward, England’s future king. Edward fell hard, and they married. The new bride had no need of a child, so she sent Denys to Yorkshire, far out of the way.
The childless duke and duchess of Scarborough raised her as the daughter they never had. When the duchess died, the duke sent Denys back to court, unwanted again. Despite having a king and queen for an uncle and aunt, Denys languished, a lost soul. Today, as reunited lovers surrounded her, she stood alone, unwanted. To add to her misery, the knight of her dreams appeared, only to vanish. Such was her life as an outsider.
Her lady-in-waiting entered, curtsied, and held out a folded parchment embossed with the royal seal. “A page delivered this from her highness the queen, my lady.”
She dismissed the maid. “It can wait.” Probably a summons to one of the queen’s silly musicales, an excuse for court ladies to gossip.
She put the message out of her mind till that eve as her tiring woman stood behind her brushing her hair.
“Jane, please fetch me that royal parchment.” She waved in the direction of her writing table.
Denys broke the seal and unfolded it—a summons, all right—but not to a giddy musicale.
It was a summons to a wedding—her own. Her heart took a sickening lurch.
Her intended was Richard, duke of Gloucester, the king’s youngest brother, her childhood companion. Queen Elizabeth always married relatives off to the cream of nobility, and Richard was the highest ranking bachelor in the kingdom.
Far from her idea of a husband. A brother, yes. A husband—never!
A fastidious prude, he intended to wed his sweetheart Anne Neville.
Denys and Richard played together as children, and renewed their friendship when she returned to court. They played tennis, chess, cards—but play ended at games. Just the thought of kissing him made her shudder.
Now the queen wanted them wed on Christmas Day.
Seething with fury, she strode to the hearth and flung the parchment into the flames. They licked and charred it beyond recognition. She crawled into bed for a long, hard think.
By the time she fell asleep, she’d already thought of several ways out.
How I ‘met’ Richard III
Every Ricardian has a story about how they discovered Richard III and became fascinated with him.
I started researching my first historical, The Jewels of Warwick, centered around Henry VIII and two fictional heroines, in 1990—with no internet (how did I do it?) I have a strong spiritual connection with late medieval England, which is the basis for my enchantment with this place and time. Jewels took 2 years to research and write, with no internet. It came very close to publication with several romance houses, but missed the mark for containing too little romance. When I finished Jewels, I scoured the history books for another legendary figure to write about. While I browsed the Cambridge Library stacks, a book snagged my eye. Lying, not standing, on the wrong shelf was Crown of Roses by Valerie Anand. It drew me like a magnet. Richard III is a central character in the story, and the author thanks the Richard III Society for helping her. Already hooked on Richard, his tragic death at 32 and his reputation as a usurper and a murderer of his little nephews, I joined this Richard III Society. As everyone else who has a story about how they ‘met’ Richard, he fascinated me. I’d found the subject of my next novel! And it tied in perfectly as a prequel to The Jewels of Warwick. Titled Thy Name is Love, it made the same rounds of publishers, remaining homeless after several rewrites and seven years.
In 1999 with the Internet making my life so much easier, I queried the many E-publishers that had recently set up shop, and British publisher Domhan Books responded in March with an offer for my two historicals. Fortunately, Domhan also published print books.
The publisher, Siobhan McNally, published Thy Name is Love because she’s a huge Richard sympathizer.
My passion for history and travel has taken me to every locale of my books and short stories, set in Medieval and Renaissance England, Paris, Egypt, the Mediterranean, colonial Virginia, New England, Washington D.C. and New York. My urban fantasy romance, FAKIN’ IT, won a Top Pick award from Romantic Times. I’m a member of Romance Writers of America, the Richard III Society and the Aaron Burr Association. My husband Chris and I own CostPro, an engineering firm based in Boston. In my spare time, I bicycle, golf, play my piano, devour books of any genre, and spend as much time as possible living the dream on my beloved Cape Cod.
Giveaway: $10 Amazon Gift Card and ‘Matchmaker’ key chain to one lucky commenter
Who knew a stray pony and a haunted cottage could bring two wounded hearts together?
BLURB:
When Megan Johnson inherits an old cottage in the Welsh countryside, she seizes the opportunity to cut ties with her past life, after a broken romance. Her nearest neighbour, a horse trainer, is also something of an enigma. Single dad Glyn Phillips does his best to balance his love of horses and hard work, with his devotion to his son. When he meets his new neighbour, he knows he should resist any attraction. A feisty pony mare which mysteriously appears on his land adds to his problems, but another, larger problem lies ahead. Two matchmaking spirits find their carefully laid plans may not go as smoothly as they hope.
Excerpt:
Prologue
Near Pentrebont, West Wales, sometime in the distant past.
“Faster Seren, faster.” Leaning low over the pony’s neck the young woman urged her into a mile-eating gallop. The mare’s hooves scarcely seemed to touch the ground as she appeared to fly across the rugged landscape. If only Seren really could gallop through the air, it would make her escape so much easier.
There had been something very special about the filly Rhiannon found as a motherless foal in the mountains and raised until fully grown. She named her Seren, meaning ‘Star’, for the perfect diamond-shaped star on her face. Seren needed no breaking-in or training, but allowed Rhiannon to sit on her back as soon as she was mature enough to take a rider. No one else could ride her, not even Sion Sienco. Now she could only hope the mare would carry her to Sion in time.
She cast one last, swift look over her shoulder at the only home she had ever known. The cottage receded into the distance, appearing forlorn in the soft moonlight before melting into the darkness. She could almost believe the cottage knew she would never return. With a sigh, she turned her head to concentrate on the rough road ahead.
Thoughts of the injured animals the villagers, or their children, would bring to the cottage for her to heal flashed into her mind, and hot tears stung her eyes. Her spells and herbs could heal most injuries provided they were not too severe. Now she would no longer be able to help them. Nor would she be able to use her gift of matchmaking to help the maidens in the village find their one true love. “Oh Sion,” she whispered, “Sion, where are you when I need you?”
She pushed the mare even faster. “Sion,” she whispered once more. “Sion, please let me find you.”
Her father’s harsh words rang in her head and a shiver ran through her, which had nothing to do with the chill night air. “It is all arranged. You will marry Gwynfor Pryce. We have already agreed on the marriage settlement and the wedding will take place a week today. There will be no more argument.”
Rhiannon knew then she must leave the little cottage where she had lived with her father since her mother died five years before. Leaving the dwelling where she’d lived her whole life, the only home she knew, made her heart ache. However, she would not marry a man she hated.
Buy link:
About the Author:
Award-winning U.K. author, Hywela Lyn spent most of her life in Wales, whose beautiful landscapes and wealth of myths and legends inspired her to write. A horse and dog lover, she weaves fantasy romances set in her native Wales, and romantic Science Fiction adventures set in the future. She loves dreaming up characters who overcome the odds, and go on to find deep and enduring love. However difficult the journey, in the end love will always win. She hopes her stories will truly take you ‘out of this world’ and beyond.
She is a member of The Romantic Novelists’ Association and her local writing group, Chiltern Writers. Beloved Enemy, the third book in the Destiny Trilogy, was shortlisted in the Paranormal category of the prestigious Romantic Novelists Association RoNA awards and was a Runner up in the U.S. RONE Awards in 2017. Circumstances prevented her writing since the Release of Beloved Enemy and she is excited to now be able to announce the release of her new novel The Matchmaker’s Mare, featuring her other great love, horses, and the area in Wales where she grew up.
When she is not writing or reading, she can usually be found enjoying the outdoors with Choccy, anything involving horses or dogs, or just eating chocolate!
Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?
My pen name, Hywela Lyn, is a combination of my first two names. (I have always been known by my second name ‘Lyn’ and thought it was time my Welsh first name was used as well!) Having been born and raised in Wales living and working there for most of my life, I moved to a small village in England when I married my late husband, Dave, although I have to admit my heart remains in Wales! A keen animal lover, especially horses and dogs, I live with a terrier called Choccy, adopted by myself and my husband. Choccy rules the house and keeps me sane (nearly
Where did you get the idea for THE MATCHMAKER’S MARE. Why did you choose this genre (is it something you’ve written in before)? Was there anything unusual, any anecdote about this book, the characters, title, process, etc, you’d like to share?
I’ve always loved Science Fiction, Fantasy and stories of the paranormal. My fantasy novella, Dancing with Fate was originally written as part of an anthology featuring the Greek muses, for the Wild Rose Press, who have published all my books to date, including my Science Fiction Romance trilogy, which, like The Matchmaker’s Mare, started out as a short story.
One of the first short tales I ever wrote was entitled A touch of Witchcraft, about a fiery grey Welsh Mountain pony belonging to a white witch. Years later, I dug that one out and the witch became a matchmaker, and the pony evolved into a chestnut mare, becoming my latest novelThe Matchmaker’s Mare. I usually manage to sneak a horse or pony into all my stories somewhere, and this one allowed me to indulge my love of horses more fully.)
I’ve had a passion for horses for as long as I can remember, and I saved up for five years to purchase Flicka, my first horse, who crossed the Rainbow Bridge several years ago and is also featured in The Matchmaker’s Mare, along with Flying T’pau (aka TipTop), although the actual Star (Seren) was a gentle 15.2 hands high bay mare I bred myself, from Flicka, rather than a feisty little chestnut pony, but she did have a perfect star in the middle of her face!
Check out the fabulous Tashia L. Fugate and her latest release…
“Not all that is dark is evil. Sometimes it’s just misunderstood.”
Blurb:
Typical fairy tales are filled with magic and wonder, but in Glenwood things have turned grim. Prince Charming has fangs, the princess doesn’t want to be rescued, and the kingdom isn’t everything it should be. For Samantha Walker, getting a second chance in life was a miracle, but opening her mind to the reality of her past was like opening Pandora’s box. With her memories unlocked, she struggles to find her way in a world that thinks she’s dead. The line between good and evil has become blurred as she fights for the truth.
Sparks turn into flames as Samantha reconnects with Deacon Vasileios, the handsome werewolf from her past, but is he enough to keep Samantha out of the enemy’s claws? Control only makes things worse as Deacon and their friends are left with the consequences of their decisions. If Samantha can’t break away from this dark path on her own, then Deacon will have to stop her one way or another. Breadcrumbs have been scatted along the way, but in Glenwood, the Gingerbread House isn’t where the witch sleeps.
Excerpt:
She was the predator, and she wanted the world to know it. Her howl echoed through the fog. The lights of Glenwood twinkled below her perch on the mountain side. Her city awaited her, and the wolf longed to taste all that it held. Starting with Deacon. I will find you. Her voice spoke in her mind and with a final howl she lost herself completely.
Tashia L. Fugate lives in Kentucky with her husband and their family. She is the author of Silver and Aconite, the first book in A Prophecy of Blood and Flowers series. She began writing this series in college but has always used her imagination to create different characters and worlds. In the summer she gardens and can usually be found on a walk or in her craft room. She enjoys painting and drawing, but her greatest joy is reading. There’s no place she would go without a good book in hand. You can visit her online via TikTok, Instagram or Facebook (@tashialfugate).
Please help me welcome today’s guest, Lawrence E. Rothstein…
Where did you get the idea for Ripped Genes?
The idea for Ripped Genes comes from my academic research into the legal aspects of genetic technology and privacy as well as the Panama Papers money laundering news coverage.
Why did you choose this genre (is it something you’ve written in before)?
I love to read mysteries and, and in law classes, I enjoyed writing fictional scenarios for my students to analyze.
What’s your favorite book of all time and why? What’s your favorite childhood book?
The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco because of its intricacy, historic panorama, intriguing mystery, and intelligent detective. As a middle school aged child, I particularly enjoyed the John Carter of Mars books by Edgar Rice Burroughs for the heroic action and interesting and exotic setting.
What do you want readers to come away with after they read Ripped Genes?
I hope that readers enjoy reading my book as much as I enjoyed writing it. I hope they find it to be a good story with an intriguing puzzle; a cerebral detective assisted by an active, street wise, intrepid leg person; humorous incidents; an intriguing locale; and culinary delights.
What actors would you like in the main roles if your book were made into a movie?
I would love to see Sidney Greenstreet or James Earl Jones play Korb. Unfortunately, they are no longer available. Maury Chaykin who played Nero Wolfe might be a good present-day choice. Don Warrington from Death in Paradise would also make a great Korb. Possibly Dan Ackroyd appropriately aged and padded. As for Kelan Su, Michelle Yeoh or Lucy Liu in their younger days or possibly Aki Maeda, Chiaki Kuriyama. Idris Elba would make an excellent Desmond St. Clair.
If you could be a character in any of your books, who would you be?
Kelan Su. Although she is much braver and more of a criminal investigation expert than I.
Who is the most famous person you have ever met?
I met James Baldwin in Vence, France in 1976.
How did you come up with the title?
I love puns and the title Ripped Genes also captured the essence of the murder victim’s wrongdoing.
How did your interest in writing originate?
Both as a lawyer and an academic I did a lot of writing. I very much enjoyed the creative process of finding the right words to effectively and forcefully make a point.
Thank you for joining me today. I enjoyed the interview. Now, please tell us about your book…
The Tri-Star Investigations team must negotiate Chicago’s underworld and politics to find the killer of a medical scientist who fraudulently patented and restricted research on a gene and a test for Feraxia.
Excerpt:
KELAN SU
Korb was in the office sitting in his favorite overstuffed wing chair reading a book. He still wore his scuffed leather slippers and bright yellow pajamas. It was 3:00pm! He pushed the reading glasses to the end of his nose and glanced over the top of the lenses as I entered but immediately pushed the specs back and returned to Hamid Ismailov’s, The Railway.
Closing the door behind me with a little extra force, I stood still watching my boss. After about five seconds, I cleared my throat. Finally, Korb looked up with a tight smile, placed the book open over his knee and took off his glasses. “Is there something you want?” he asked, cocking his head to the right.
“Well, you know there’ve been no new paying clients for over two weeks,” I began after a slight hesitation.
“Yes. I consider it a welcome respite.”
Korb was lazy between cases, although a bulldog once he got his teeth into an investigation. Money was important to him, but not always as important as his time for reading, reflection, gourmandizing or playing bridge.
“Our operating accounts are guttering. There may not be enough next month to pay Des’s and my salaries and Mickey D’s retainer.”
“If necessary, I can replenish the accounts with personal funds. All will be paid.”
Korb was loaded as a result of his renown as an investigator and some very prudent investing. “Oh, I’m not really worried about my salary. I know you’re good for it. But …”
Korb looked down and shook his head slightly as he interrupted me. “Kelan, stop beating around the bush. You want us to work for your friend, Cheryl Dain, who is representing the woman accused of murdering the scientist that patented the gene and test for feraxia, do you not?”
My mouth opened soundlessly for a moment. I finally managed to sputter, “How did you know that?”
A loud “harrumph” came from deep down in Korb’s chest. “The conclusion was obvious. I read the papers. The development of the case has been front page news and fodder for several letters to the editor. You told me yourself that you were to meet with Dain today and mentioned that you hadn’t seen her for quite a while. Your little diversion about our accounts didn’t put me off the scent. Can she pay or is this another one of your pro bono projects?”
I closed my eyes, contemplating how to put it. “She can pay but an installment arrangement will have to be set up. Dain will cover expenses as they occur.”
“If we do this, and I’m not committing to it, I will need to talk first to Dain, Merino, and Merino’s husband and daughter. Our contractual agreement will have to be with Dain so we are covered by attorney-client privilege and Dain will be liable for our fee.
Korb continued, “As much as I hate to travel to the suburbs, the initial meeting should be at Dain’s office to bolster any privilege or work product claim. See if you can arrange this for Monday afternoon. Make sure the car is ready for a trip to Marshfield.” Korb replaced on his nose the glasses he had been holding in his right hand and picked up the open volume. “Well, does that conclude the business for which you interrupted my immersion in this excellent novel?”
I am a retired lawyer and university professor who has published in constitutional law, privacy law, political theory and labor law. Born and raised in Chicago, I am now residing with my wife and family in beautiful southern Rhode Island and wintering on Hutchinson Island, Florida. I have lived and traveled widely in Europe. As an avid reader of crime fiction, I have always wanted to write detective novels. I consider this my third career. Venetian Bind published in May 2024 was my first Tri-Star Investigations novel. Ripped Genes is my second and I am well into my third, The Tell-Tale Art. As a lover of food and cooking, I include many scrumptious meals and some recipes in my novels and on my website.
Please help me welcome today’s guests, Amber Daulton and Carmen Lozano…
The Trials of Redemption
Hello, everyone. I’m Carmen Lozano, the heroine from Amber Daulton’s dark romance novel, Dark Hearts Aflame. Today, I’m going to talk about redemption.
My story starts before I was born, when my criminal father married my ambitious beauty queen mother. He was the leader of a powerful cartel and had scores of brutal enforcers at his fingertips to do his bidding. His lavish lifestyle provided everything my siblings and I could want—exotic pets, expensive clothes, wild vacations, and all the top gadgets. We had it all—except for our parents’ love. The price of all that useless material stuff was blood. Death. Destruction. Humiliation. Fear. Misery. I could go on and on, but I don’t want this post to be about a whiny little rich girl.
Let’s move forward to when my father sold me into marriage to one of his capos. For five long years, I turned a blind eye to my husband’s activities, which ranged from drug running, rape, and murder. Then I snapped. I couldn’t take it anymore. Miraculously, I managed to escape and took refuge with an anti-cartel resistance group. There, I found freedom, my passion, a chance to do something good with my life. I learned from the nurses and medics that volunteered at the rebel base, and after a while, I was the go-to person called upon to extract bullets, sew up wounds, administer life-saving injections, and things like that. Far too often, rebel soldiers would be injured while fighting with the cartel in our backyard, so medics were a godsend. For the first time in my life, I felt like a decent person in helping others. I found real friends, a family of sorts. Then my past caught up with me.
I never thought I would see Bristol Rieger again. Back when I was a child, he was an up-and-coming enforcer in my father’s inner circle. I had a crush on him, but since he was seven years older than me, nothing ever happened between us. Now, I’m all grown up. When circumstances thrust us together, we have to go on the run to survive. My life as a healer was over, or so I thought, but I crave redemption as much as I do love and peace. After all the horrible things I’ve seen and brushed aside out of fear for my own safety, I’m done hiding in the shadows. I’m a strong, fearless woman. Whether I use my words, my fists, or my ability to heal, I will no longer stand aside while an innocent person is in danger. My soul cannot take anymore needless death.
Bristol says I have nothing to seek redemption for, that I was a victim trapped in a horrible situation. Maybe he’s right. Maybe not. I need to atone for the sins of my family, and the only way I’ve found to do that is to help the kind of people my family seeks to destroy—the innocents, the weak, the downtrodden.
So that’s my story. It’s not pretty, but it’s real. Thankfully, it has a happy ending. Bristol and I are crazy, madly in love. While I’m still working as a medic, he’s seeking his own redemption to try to wash the blood from his hands. We have a long way to go, but we’re in it for long haul.
Want to know more? Read Dark Hearts Aflame. You won’t be disappointed.
He gets more than he bargained for with his runaway cartel princess.
Blurb
A drug lord on the run. A cartel princess in hiding. All it takes is a spark to set their world ablaze.
Bristol Rieger left his criminal life behind for a fresh start in Mexico. Flying under the radar of the government and the cartels alike, his best-laid plans go awry when a woman from his narco days discovers his whereabouts. Carmen Lozano, however, is no longer the innocent girl he remembers.
Carmen escaped the chains of her tiara and her abusive marriage to join a group of resistance fighters. The last thing she expected was the now-retired capo setting out to seduce her with his wicked touch. Embracing the blood on his hands is easy, but his secrets wear on her patience.
When their enemies close in, Bristol will have to summon his inner monster to protect her. But can that monster be tamed again?
– Book one is an Interracial (Hispanic woman/white man) dark romance novel in the Lozano Cartel series. All the books can be read as a standalone, but are part of an interconnected series.
Excerpt:
Bristol sighed, more angry with himself than with her. “Believe me when I say I wish we could have more. Just trust me and know we can’t. It’s for your safety.”
Carmen slowed to a stop and trailed her index finger over the line of his jaw.
The resignation in her eyes scorched him.
“Your mind is like stone. If you never tell me your secrets, the truth you think I will not understand or accept, then it’s your loss. Not mine.” She notched her chin. “I know my worth, Bristol. Maybe I can do better than you. Maybe not, but at least I’m happy with you, and that’s all I ever wanted. So fine, keep your secrets. Someday, if I’m safe enough, I will find a man who can trust me implicitly and love me without reservation. When that happens, I hope your secrets will keep you warm at night because I’ll be gone.”
Though he intended to let her go, the idea of losing her almost cracked his knees on the floor. He had to protect her, but what about her heart? And his? He couldn’t push her into the arms of another man. He wanted—needed—her for himself. Bristol pulled her close and kissed her, desperate to feel her soft lips with his firmer ones and her tight body in his arms.
She opened her mouth, inviting his plunder. Her scent invaded his nostrils. Her sweet, delectable taste rolled through him, seeking to claim him.
After three days of starvation, he needed more. How could he survive three years? Thirty years? He couldn’t do this anymore, couldn’t keep quiet. He wanted her to be happy, yet the idea of some other man giving her everything she deserved sickened him to his core.
Amber Daulton is the author of the Lozano Cartel, the Arresting Onyx, and the Ramseys in Time series, as well as several standalone novellas. Her books are published through Daulton Publishing, The Wild Rose Press, and Books to Go Now, and are available in ebook, print on demand, audio, and foreign language formats.
She lives in North Carolina with her husband and demanding cats.
Please help me welcome today’s guest, Kara O’Neal…
My husband and I always go on a trip for our anniversary. I went hunting for our next getaway – I wanted a small town with antique shops – and I found Jefferson, Texas. This small town sits in the northeast corner of Texas, just a hop and a skip away from Louisiana.
When I discovered all the historic houses in this town, I flipped with excitement. I can’t even begin to tell you how many gorgeous homes have been turned into B&Bs. We ended up just strolling the streets to see them all.
Jefferson is small. Not a lot of people live there. But, at one time, it was a happening place. Reason being, there was this natural log jam, called a raft, on the Red River. It clogged up waterways, which forced all the steamboats to use Jefferson as a port.
Well, in 1873, the US Corp of Engineers said the raft was a hazard and cleared it up. That forced other waterways to open and the great steamboats started passing by Jefferson for other cities. (Like Houston.)
This caused Jefferson, once a very booming city, to become almost a ghost town. In an instant, people’s lives were changed.
And that got me to thinking…
What would a town do if their city was threatened with extinction?
Enter Millie Stewart, the heroine of SUNFLOWERS FOR HER. A young lady who isn’t used to carrying heavy burdens and discovers that an entire town is depending on her to get things right. And because she loves her neighbors, she’s going to do everything she can to be what they need.
Of course, she needs help. And John Fletcher, a mysterious, reserved, intelligent, grizzly bear of a man, is just the person she needs.
After a horrific storm rips through her hometown, Millie Stewart finds that her neighbors are in dire need of help. She sets out to do everything she can, but when her brother leaves her high and dry, she has to operate Stewart Mercantile on her own. The town is depending on her.
John Fletcher—smart, reserved, and mysterious—comes to town, sets up shop, and brings with him the knowledge needed to clear the log jam on the river, giving everyone a chance at survival.
John is a tad scary in Millie’s opinion. Never mind that he’s handsome. Never mind that he’s generous. He makes her feel things. He makes her heart skip a beat, and suddenly, with barely a warning, she’s in love. Only he doesn’t seem to return the sentiment.
Her brother returns, but only to rob her blind. A little too mad and a whole lot tougher, Millie sets out to find him and give him what-for. Little does she know, someone is chasing her.
John won’t let Millie go to battle alone, especially since she’s the reason his heart is beating again. Can he get to Millie in time? Or will her ne’er-do-well brother’s villainy take everything John holds dear?
Excerpt:
As Millie gathered her thoughts and tried to manage the hard pound of her heart, she studied John. He didn’t appear as if he’d also been tormented by their kiss throughout the day.
But it didn’t matter. She had to know, or she was going to lose her mind like she’d already lost her heart. “I have some questions,” she stated succinctly.
“All right.”
“Actually, I have two questions.”
“Two?”
“Yes.” She took in a deep breath, then said, “There was a painting of a field of sunflowers in the auction.”
He stilled and an arrested expression came over his face.
Hope surged within her. He had painted it! “Are you the artist?”
He didn’t immediately answer and swallowed hard.
She didn’t want to make him uncomfortable, but she had to know.
“Yes,” he said gruffly. “How’d you figure that out?”
Her cheeks flamed with heat, and she nibbled on her bottom lip. Her heart was pounding so hard. Why do I keep doing all of these scary things?
Before she could lose her nerve, she closed her eyes and said in a rush, “I was curious about your other desk and saw your drawings on it the night you tried to give back the bandages and medicine.”
After her confession, there was silence.
Slowly, she opened her eyes and found him rubbing his jaw.
“I’m sorry,” she said hastily.
He waved her off. “It’s all right.”
“I invaded your privacy.”
“Millie, it’s all right.” He lowered his arm. “What’s your other question?”
Oh, dear. Knots were forming in her stomach. What was she doing? She was being too forward. She was not herself. She was—
Enough!
All of her anxiety and agonizing had to end.
She lifted her chin. “You titled the painting “For Her”. Am I ‘her’?”
The lines of his face went instantly unreadable, and he blinked at her. “No.”
Kara O’Neal is an award-winning author of over thirty historical romances. Humor, family, love, and romance take center stage in her novels, and her characters have been touted as “real, complex, and down-to-earth”. Her books are available in print and ebook.
When not writing, she’s a teacher, but she’s always a mother to three talented children, and the wife of a man quite worthy of being called “hero”.
Telling stories is her passion, and she does so with memorable characters and unique plots certain to keep you reading late into the night!
Please help me welcome today’s guest, Karina Bartow…
Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?
I still live in the same small town in northern Ohio where I grew up. My house is run by a very charming yet opinionated parakeet!
Where did you get the idea for Undercover Babymoon?
A friend, who’s always hitting me up with ideas for stories, suggested I set a mystery on a cruise ship. I don’t really welcome suggestions about what I write unless it’s in a professional capacity, especially from this friend, who doesn’t typically offer the most serious tips! For a change, however, he made me perk up my ears. Instead of mentally discarding the notion, I filed that one away, waiting for the right opportunity to act on it. Since my family went on one voyage years earlier, I had experience I could tap into to make it realistic, which added to the viability of the prospect.
Why did you choose this genre?
This was the fourth mystery I wrote, and I’ve grown to love the genre. I enjoy the opportunity to implement red herrings and twists and turns. I like playing with readers’ minds!
What do you want readers to come away with after they read your book?
With all of my books, I always want readers to be entertained, first and foremost, but I also hope they feel the same emotions as the characters. In The Unde(a)feated Detective Series—which follows a deaf detective—I include a lot of experiences and stigmas disabled people have to rise above, so I hope readers learn from some of those lessons in the process.
What genre have you never written that you’d like to write?
I’ve considered sci-fi, specifically time travel. Never excelling in science class, though, I doubt I have enough brain power!
If you were stranded on a deserted island and you could have 3 (inanimate) objects, what would they be?
A Bible, jug of iced mocha, and my mp3 player.
What celebrity would you most like to be stranded on an island with?
Robin Williams.
What do you want your tombstone to say?
She died with her high heels on!
What character in your book are you least likely to get along with?
Camille, the next door neighbor. She’s a nosey phony but a blast to write!
Who is the most famous person you have ever met?
Joey McIntyre of New Kids on the Block.
How did you come up with the title?
I was struggling with it, but I was patient, figuring it’d manifest eventually. A friend was talking about planning a vacation and mentioned a website named Undercover Tourist. Undercover Babymoon clicked right into place!
Thank you for being my guest, Karina…I enjoyed getting to know you. Please tell us about your book…
Excerpt:
Gus rocked back in his seat, as he always did while contemplating. “And if it was, then it’s out of our jurisdiction. That ship’s on international waters, so anything that happens after it docks isn’t even the country’s duty. You guys just need to do what you can here to make sure our people are safe, even if you can’t solve this murder. Meanwhile, I’ll make some calls to the Coast Guard and Border Patrol to alert them of our suspicions about a drug trafficking operation.”
“Logan’s roommate on the ship said they had a few days between voyages, so this would be the ideal time to scope it out,” Cael said.
Minka agreed with his resolution, hoping the feds would uncover something. No detective wanted to accept a case going unsolved, and up to this point, she thankfully hadn’t had to. Now that she was in Homicide, the possibility became greater, and deep down, she figured the day would come.
An hour later, Gus reported that Emmett’s statement about the drugs didn’t give Border Patrol or even the DEA enough to launch an investigation. Neither agency received any other tips about the ship or crew. Plus, Emmett’s condition didn’t give the claim much credence, and even assuming he was correct, the words were uttered on land by men who might not have any ties to the ship.
On their own yet again, Minka and Cael combed through Logan’s phone for something that hinted to drugs or his secret, but the superheroes remained their only grounds for suspicion. With no leads emerging the rest of the morning, they took longer lunch breaks than usual. Minka spotted an issue of The Miracle of Motherhood magazine she’d bought at the café a few days ago and took it with her to peruse it, skimming an article on the latest nursery fashions. After she highlighted a couple of ideas, she flipped to the next write-up, which shared ways to enjoy your second trimester. With Cael seated across from her in the break room, she had to joke with him about it.
“Guess I’m not on trend. Chasing after killers isn’t ‘the thing to do’ during my second trimester.”
“Bogus article!”
She giggled, browsing through what she was supposed to be doing, including indulging in spa days and wellness classes. With the busy life she led, all of the luxurious suggestions amused her. When her eyes crossed the words “Take a Babymoon”, she initially kept her cynicism intact, until an idea occurred to her. She put it down and told her partner, “I need a babymoon!”
Karina Bartow hails from Northern Ohio. Though born with Cerebral Palsy, she’s never allowed her disability to define her. Rather, she’s used her experiences to breathe life into characters who have physical limitations, but like her, are determined not to let them stand in the way of the life they want. Her works include Husband in Hiding, Forgetting My Way Back to You, Brother of Interest, Wrong Line, Right Connection, Accidental Allies and Undercover Babymoon. She may only be able to type with one hand, but she writes with her whole heart!
Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?
Thank you for having me today on your blog! I grew up with my eight siblings on a small farm in western Pennsylvania, but now live in West Virginia with my husband, daughter, and thirteen-year-old Jack Russell. My three older children have graduated from school and are living on their own.
Tell us a little about your process in writing your book.
When I started writing the Euphoria trilogy, I had never written in the adult genre before. All my other books had been children’s stories. I chose romantic suspense because I like to read romances, and I wanted to see how difficult it would be to write an adult novel. I also thought it would be cool to incorporate medical topics in the book, as I worked in a clinical lab for several years and had a medical background. I honestly hadn’t realized the amount of research writing a book would take, but learning is so satisfying and I wanted to make the story as realistic as possible. The most difficult aspect about drafting the third book Embracing Euphoria was finding the fine line between giving out too much information from previous books in the trilogy and not enough. I had to go back twice to rewrite entire sections. Besides the rewrites, getting the story back into the editor’s queue in their busy schedule takes time. Whoever said patience is a virtue knew what they were talking about! I’m lucky my editor is very patient, too.
Do you have another occupation, other than writer? If so, what is it and do you like it?
I keep busy with different jobs. Currently I’m a musician working with two churches as the music director and organist. I also worked as a substitute teacher for over ten years. Before having my family, I worked as a medical technologist in a hospital laboratory. I joke with my sister that I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up. LOL!
Do you collect anything?
Rocks and Pokémon cards.
What’s the main thing that you could get rid of in your life that would give you more writing time?
Cooking, cleaning, and household obligations. Often people assume when you write you can still spend your time doing everything in addition to your writing. If I worked in an office out of the home, I’d have eight hours of uninterrupted writing. Only in my dreams!
What’s your favorite book of all time and why? What’s your favorite childhood book?
My favorite book of all time is “Remember When” by Judith McNaught. I love how she shows emotions like pain and desire in her writing. I also like how McNaught brings in recurring characters from books. My favorite childhood book was The Secret Seven series by Enid Blyton. I read almost the entire series in elementary school. I became a fan of mysteries after reading those books.
Would you rather have a bad review or no review?
No review.
Have you written any other books that are not published?
I’ve written a middle-grade novel, but haven’t had time to pursue a publisher for it yet. The book was recognized last year in a state writing contest. I’ve also written a holiday screen play that I hope to find a home for this year.
If you could spend time with a character from your book, whom would it be? And what would you do during that day? (PG-13 please 🙂
I’d hang out with the main character Hailey Langley and shadow her in her biochemistry lab analyzing Euphoria. If I were lucky enough, I’d follow her around in an undercover case and then hit the gym with her.
How did you come up with the title?
I used the word Euphoria throughout my trilogy, including this final book Embracing Euphoria. Euphoria has a double meaning . First, it’s the name of the drug used in the first book that gets unleashed into the public. The protagonist in the book Finding Euphoria also longs to find happiness from the guilt she’s had for giving her first-born son up for adoption. In the second book, Saving Euphoria, the protagonist holds on to any happiness she has left after she believes her husband succumbed to a fire. The roots from the Euphoria shrub are used to derive the mind-altering drug she is unknowingly taking, and her scientist friend is trying to save his dying Euphoria plant. In Embracing Euphoria, the protagonist needs to find a Euphoria shrub after she learns the plant’s flowers hold the key to regenerating her husband’s skin. She also convinces her husband to accept his condition and their relationship, even if he can’t be healed.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Love and relationships aren’t easy, but you need to continue living and embrace the positive that exists all around you.
Your favorite…
Movie August Rush
Music Contemporary Christian
Place you’ve visited Florence, Italy
Place you’d like to visit Australia
TV show from childhood Little House on the Prairie
TV show from adulthood Guiding Light soap opera
Food Chocolate cake
Which do you prefer: Board games/card games or television?
Board games –Bananagrams and Big Boggle
Thank you for joining me today. I enjoyed getting to know you. Please tell us about your book.
Blurb:
Hailey Langley tries to wrap her mind around the news her husband survived a fire she thought had killed him. Before she can search for him, Hailey has a promise to keep that takes her to Colombia where she must face the drug lord behind her husband’s attack.
Mark Langley is suffering from his own plight and insecurities, including burns and PTSD. Beneath Mark’s scarred exterior is a man seeking acceptance from a wife he refuses to see. Uncertain if he will ever reunite with his family, Mark struggles through his therapies, hopeful an experimental drug from the Euphoria plant will heal his scars.
When another villain from Colombia seeks revenge, Hailey and Mark must learn to trust and love again as they battle their newest threat and find their way back to each other.
Excerpt:
Mark breathed in his wife’s delicate feminine scent, taking in every beguiling curve of her body. Dang! Hailey was sexier than when they first met. Even her soft snores heated his blood. He should’ve brought her here weeks ago. After sharing a bed again, he’d do whatever it took to recover and return home.
The shuttle bus would arrive in an hour. He’d wait another five minutes to calm his erection before he prepped for therapy.
He licked his lips. The sweetness of Hailey’s honeyed kisses the previous night still lingered. They hadn’t made love; the last time he’d slept with Hailey had been almost a year ago. He couldn’t push her. Depending on her response to his disfigurement, that element of their marriage might never happen again.
He raised his gloved hand to touch her cheek but then lowered it. Better take things slowly. For now, lying next to her was enough.
Bruce’s suspicions had been correct about Hailey encountering hardship in Colombia. Twice during the night, Hailey cried out Mendoza’s name.
Mark had comforted her, smoothing her hair, whispering, “I’m here, honey.”
He ground his teeth. He should kill that bastard for tormenting her. Thank God she was safe now. Back in the US, away from the Mendoza family.
Hailey’s eyelashes fluttered, and a smile spread across her face. “Good morning. What time is it?”
“Quarter after eight.” He leaned over and kissed her. God, her sweet lips tasted delicious. He nibbled on her lips again. Like a hummingbird feeding on nectar. “You can use the bathroom first. I’ll ask the therapist to change my pressure garments at the clinic. I leave at nine. I won’t have much time for breakfast.”
She snuggled closer into his arms. “Give me another minute with you. Before the outside world takes over.”
His pulse raced. Maybe their relationship hadn’t changed that much.
C. Becker is a romance suspense writer, musician, and lover of crafts. She has a bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology and worked in the clinical hospital setting until she began raising a family. As her children grew older, she never outgrew the attraction of using science in everyday life. She turned to teaching, music, and eventually to writing stories. She considers herself a “jack of all trades,” and readily admits she is a “master of none.” Yes, she even does home improvement projects! Becker has published three romance suspense novels in the Euphoria trilogy, several poems, and over a dozen children’s books (under Colleen Driscoll). Becker enjoys hanging out with her family and Jack Russell, playing the piano, reading, traveling, and gardening.
Please help me welcome today’s guest, M.S. Spencer…
Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?
I once counted up the number of significant moves in my life…and stopped at twenty-five. I have lived or traveled in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the US, Central America, and South America. Florida has been my home for the last eleven years. Hurricane Helene arrived in September 2024 and flooded the bungalow built by my parents-in-law, so I am currently in a rented apartment with a fabulous view of Sarasota Bay and not much else to recommend it.
By June, 2025 I will have published eighteen romantic suspense and mystery novels, the first released in 2009. I hold degrees in Anthropology, Middle East Studies, and Library Science. I’ve worked as a librarian, anthropologist, research assistant, Congressional aide, speechwriter, and nonprofit director. I have two children, an exuberant granddaughter, and currently divide my time between the Gulf Coast of Florida and a tiny village in Maine.
Was there anything unusual, any anecdote about this book, the characters, title, process, etc, you’d like to share?
I’m featuring my latest release, In the Crosshairs: the Body on Leffis Key, a Florida mystery. Like several of my books, I take as a premise something that is in the news. In this case, I’d been following the concerning trend of Chinese purchases of US farmland. I wound it into the plotline. As the news cycle moved on I was afraid that particular issue wouldn’t be relevant any more, and then bingo—it’s in the news again! The story I’m working on now had to do with offshore wind farms. It’s only in first draft so I kind of hope it continues to be controversial!
What book have you read that you wish you had written?
The Late George Apley, by J. P. Marquand (1937). It was so intricately woven between time periods. An amazing book.
What do you love that most people don’t like and wouldn’t understand why you do?
That’s easy: snakes. I love snakes. Most humans have a primal fear of snakes. I did not get that gene, nor did my daughter, who had a sweet little scarlet kingsnake named Phoebe. They are not slimy or slippery or scary. I find them beautiful and they do make lovely pets.
Do you collect anything?
Oh my God, I used to collect all kinds of stuff. I had miniature porcelain figurines, rocks, stamps, coins, Wizard of Oz books, elephants, and more. The final straw was when I decided to collect the shells of cooked lobsters. My mother came into my room and gagged. Who knew old seafood shells stank?
What was your first job?
There was the life-guarding job at 15, but my first real job was as assistant to a professor who was writing a bibliography of works on Ethiopia in the Library of Congress. I had a desk in the library and two stack passes—which are more valuable than gold to a scholar. I could actually go in to the stacks of the greatest library in the world and browse.
What’s your favorite book of all time and why? What’s your favorite childhood book?
It would have to be Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice for its perfect prose, but I do love Douglas Adams’ A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy because it’s irreverent, funny, and original. My favorite children’s book was Frank Stockton’s The Queen’s Museum & Other Fanciful Tales, which includes such gems as “The Gryphon & the Minor Canon” and “The Bee-man of Orn.” I have the copy that belonged to my grandmother, which I read till the cover fell off.
What is your favorite quote?
“Shirley, you are one silly bitch.” This is from the movie Shirley Valentine starring Pauline Collins. It’s about a middle-aged British housewife who goes to Greece on holiday & rediscovers herself. Whenever she gets overly dramatic or introspective, she tells herself this.
Your most prized material possession? Why?
My grandfather clock. My ancestor brought it from England around 1880, at which time it was already over 100 years old. It is a simple, yellow-pine box, but represents centuries of Spencer history.
Have you written any other books that are not published?
Yes. In the heady days before computers and thumb drives, I wrote a novel set in Yorktown and Williamsburg about the murder of the first female director of the Environmental Protection Agency. I had an agent and the manuscript was well on its way when two things happened. First, my agent decided to quit agenting. Then my husband, in a spring-cleaning frenzy, threw out the one copy. That was 17 years ago. I left the dream behind.
Who is the most famous person you have ever met?
Prince Charles was visiting the University of Chicago & I met him. Meryl Streep was a dorm-mate at Vassar. Working at the US Senate meant that I met famous senators and other politicians on a regular basis, plus visiting dignitaries and hearing participants. I had my picture taken with Charlton Heston and met Paul Newman.
Your favorite…
Movie: Ninotchka, the only Greta Garbo movie in which she laughs.
Music: Opera
Place you’ve visited: Too many—Paris, Istanbul, the Amazon, Egypt
Place you’d like to visit: Galapagos Islands
TV show from childhood: Have Gun Will Travel
TV show from adulthood: Death in Paradise
Food: Bacon cheeseburger with lots of lettuce
Sports team: Minnesota Vikings
Thanks so much for the interesting interview. I would have been sick about that manuscript being thrown out! And, wow…snakes. Yeah, not my favorite thing. Eek!
Please tell us about your book…
Someone is killing people with a crossbow—who will be next?
Palmer Lind, recovering from the sudden death of her husband, embarks on a bird-watching trek to the Gulf Coast of Florida. One hot day on Leffis Key she comes upon—not the life bird she was hoping for—but a floating corpse. The handsome beach bum who appears on the scene at the same time seems to have even more secrets than the dead man.
His story begins to unravel as the pair search for answers to a growing pile of dead bodies. Spies, radical environmentalists, and wealthy businessmen circle around each other in a complex dance. Which one is lying? What do a seemingly random group of individuals have in common, other than being targeted by a crossbow?
Excerpt:
Palmer climbed into the bass boat, and Hooper pushed it back in the water. They motored after the skiff. Hooper gazed over Palmer’s head, his expression unreadable. She studied him. Dusty blond hair cut short, but not short enough to lose the wave. Luminescent gray eyes whose brooding depths reminded her of a sea captain far from home or a world-weary traveler. His gnarly hands plus the five o’clock shadow on his chin attested to his beach bum status. She checked out the filthy shorts and ragged shirt barely concealing the tanned chest. He must live alone. The thought had a curious effect on her. A kind of warmish, softish feeling, a feeling she was not in the habit of having, at least not since Peter died.
His eyes dropped to hers. “Like what you see?”
Her momentary embarrassment was swiftly replaced by irritation. “You could use a wash and brush up.”
His cheeks tightened. “Last I checked you weren’t my mother.”
“True. I’m not your wife either, but one or the other should take a hand with you.”
A spasm crossed his face. Then he attempted a wry grin. “Since I currently have neither, perhaps you could do the honors.”
She sucked in a breath. “Sorry, just passing through.” Yikes. Did he think I was flirting with him?
“Oh. Well, then.” They had reached the dock. He cranked the engine down. “Hop out and I’ll tie up.”
Palmer ran over their conversation, trying to tease out any misleading statements she had made. How to explain that I’m not in the market—not so soon after Peter… She regarded the man at the tiller. Something about him… Am I attracted to him? No, it was something else, something enigmatic about him… He looked startled when he saw the dead man’s face. And he had hesitated when the patrolman asked his name. He also acted cagey when I called him a native. Why? Could he be a fugitive from justice? She sized him up. “So…what’s your real name and who are you really?”
Librarian, anthropologist, research assistant, Congressional aide, speechwriter, nonprofit director—M. S. Spencer has lived or traveled in five of the seven continents and holds degrees in Anthropology, Middle East Studies, and Library Science. In June 2025 she will have published eighteen mystery or romantic suspense novels. She has two children, an exuberant granddaughter, and currently divides her time between the Gulf Coast of Florida and a tiny village in Maine.
Author Alicia Dean 