Author Archives: Alicia Dean

Alicia Dean's avatar

About Alicia Dean

Author of paranormal and romantic suspense. Follow her on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alicia-Dean/131939826889437) or twiiter (https://twitter.com/Alicia_Dean_)
December 16, 2025 · 7:25 am

Author Interview with Maxine Douglas ~ Deceitful Promises ~ American Historical Romance

Please help me welcome today’s guest, my friend and fellow author, Maxine Douglas…

Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?

I am originally from Wisconsin, born and bred, but my late-husband and I moved to Oklahoma after I retired from my day job after nearly 30 years. I share my home with my shelter cat, turned cover model. Simon. Maybe I should saw Simon’s shares HIS home with me. I have one son, two granddaughters, and two great-grandchildren.

Is there anything you’d like to tell us about how this book came to be?

Deceitful Promises went through a few changes. I went from a story with two mail-order brides and two grooms, to its current version. I just couldn’t wrap my head fully around the original theme, and after brainstorming with a few friends settled on the current storyline. Plus I LOVE The Gilded Age on HBO, and it’s an era that I’d like to write more of.

What do you want readers to come away with after they read Deceitful Promises?

To never give up on love and finding your soulmate. In this story, it’s reconnecting with your soulmate. Sometimes fiction imitates life.

What actors would you like in the main roles if your book were made into a movie?

Actually, three of the main characters in Deceitful Promises were all inspired by actors in The Gilded Age: Louisa Jacobson as Clara Wakefield, Kelley Curran as Lydia Blackwell, and Harry Richardson as Larry Sanford. And last but not least, Anderson Reimer as Kit Dawson.

Would you rather have a bad review or no review?

I’d rather have a bad review simply because I know the book was read, or at least I hope it was. As a rule, I believe reading a book is subjective to the reader. Not every reader gets the same experience in their journey.

If you were stranded on a deserted island and you could have 3 (inanimate) objects, what would they be?

Tough question! I would want plenty of paper and pencils, as well as the good book.

Have you written any other books that are not published?

Yes! I am currently writing a small-town cozy mystery that is due to be released in April 2026. In Art of Deception The Art of Deception every masterpiece tells a story—this one whispers murder. I will also be working on my second Friday the 13th story title Lighthouse Cove set to be released on November 13, 2026.

Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?

When I first started writing way back when, I wrote what I knew and the people knew. Now I’d like to think that as much as my characters and their situations are fictional, they do carry a bit of me in them somewhere.

What do your friends and family think of your writing?

My family is very supportive, even if they haven’t read any of my books. My brothers and my son said they don’t want to know what goes on in my creative brain. LOL  Several friends continuously buy and read my books, which warms my heart in the best way possible.

Your favorite…

Movie I have so many it’s hard to choose just one, but I do enjoy the Hallmark movies from time-to-time.

Music Country or classic rock from the 1960s-1990s

Place you’ve visited My late-husband and I travelled the US a lot from coast to coast.

TV show from childhood Walt Disney’s Zorro was my first Bonafide hero!

TV show from adulthood The Gilded Age, Outlander, Bridgerton, to name a few.

Sports team Why the Green Bay Packers and the Wisconsin Badgers Football

Which do you prefer: Board games/card games or television? LOL All three!

This Christmas, in the heart of the frontier, promises can deceive—but love never lies.

When Kit Dawson asked for an early Christmas gift to find his way in the newly developed Unassigned Lands, he didn’t anticipate that Lydia Blackwell, a bride hand-picked by his father, would arrive expecting to immediately become his wife. Nor that a woman from his past, lady detective Clara Wakefield, on the trail of a suspected fraudster, would also land on his doorstep.

Secrets, misunderstandings, and unforeseen circumstances test and challenge them all to face their deepest desires and find the true meaning of love. 

Did Santa know Kit’s dreams would clash with harsh realities, love, secrets, and unforeseen alliances?

Excerpt:

Late Fall, 1889

Wildwood, Unassigned Lands

Kit brushed off Larry’s warning once again. He knew time was of the essence to do the one thing he was far from ready to do. Find a wife and get married before his father tried to force him to come home and marry some socially acceptable woman he’d chosen for him.

“I suppose I’ve got to find someone suitable to marry,” Kit answered, looking at the landscape painting he’d been working on. Painting had been his passion in college. Here in an untouched world in comparison to New York City, it had grown, giving him peace.

“You know your father will choose for you since you’ve held up your end of the financial bargain.” Larry shook his head. “And just so you know, you’ve only got ninety days.”

“Not really enough time to fall in love with the lucky lady,” Kit muttered under his breath, adding a stroke of light blue to the canvas. Unless he finds the only one who had his heart, he’ll have to settle for companionship with someone else. “Falling in love doesn’t happen every day, my friend.”

Dawson Residence

East 61st Street

New York City

Madame Harper walked with natural grace over to the settee, sitting on the very edge of the cushion. She’d been a woman well brought up to advance in society, and she had done just that for the most part.

“I heard from your son just this morning. I received a telegram instructing me to send my selection per his instructions,” Madame Harper said, smoothing a wrinkle from her skirt. “I have Miss Blackwell, per your directive, with me. I trust it is time to send her to your son.”

“Is she agreeable to the arrangement then?” Oscar asked, hovering over one of the wingback chairs before sitting down.

“She is, understandably, hesitant and suspicious, but eager,” Madama Harper replied. “However, given her somewhat sketchy background I am convinced that she comprehends the benefit that awaits her by accepting the arrangement. Unless, of course, you find her unsuitable given her reputation.”

“I would like to talk with her alone, if you don’t mind,” Oscar said, getting up and ringing for Lewis. “I must make sure there isn’t any chance of this plan going astray.”

“Of course, I’ve done all that you’ve asked; the rest is up to you now, Mr. Dawson,” Madame Harper said, as the butler opened the door.

Madame Harper relinquished her seat, pausing only a moment before following Lewis out the door. “This is your chance, Lydia,” she suggested, turning and nodding to Oscar.

It was all Oscar needed. He’d get this little bird to bend to his will before Mrs. King arrived with the coffee.

“Miss Blackwell, please have a seat,” Oscar offered, motioning to the settee Madame Harper had just vacated.

“Mr. Dawson, I understand you have a proposition for me?” Lydia asked, the lavender silk rustling as she crossed the floor. “I’d rather get down to business, as I understand time is of the essence.”

Buy links:

Amazon KU US https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FPGL6NCT

Amazon KU UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FPGL6NCT

Print: https://books2read.com/u/baQRp8

Goodreads: Deceitful Promises by Maxine Douglas | Goodreads

BookBub: Deceitful Promises by Maxine Douglas – BookBub

About the Author:

Award-winning author, Maxine Douglas writes in many genres and found a love for western historical romance. A Wisconsin native, Maxine resides in Oklahoma. While Maxine may miss her family and friends in the north, she loves the mild winters Oklahoma has to offer.

Having found love in 2001 and then losing the love of her life in 2018 to cancer, Maxine hasn’t given up on believing in true love. She hopes that she expresses that feeling with every story she brings to life through her writing.

Maxine is a current member of the Oklahoma Writers’ Federation, Inc. and its affiliations Central Region Oklahoma Writers and Oklahoma Romance Writers Guild. She is also a member of the Romance Writers of American, The Friends of the Chickasha Public Library, and serves as a Board Member on the Chickasha Area Arts Council.

3 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , ,

October 30, 2025 · 5:45 am

Happy Almost Halloween…Blog Tour with Dirty Girl #Horror Short Story ~ #Giveaway!!

It’s almost Halloween…so it’s time to grab some spooky reads…

If you want it to stay buried, bury it deep

A Friday the 13th Story, Series #7

by Alicia Dean

Genre: Horror

A tragic accident…

A fateful decision…

A horrific weekend they won’t soon forget…

Everet Holcomb is cheating with his sister-in-law, Blair, and the two sneak off for an illicit out of town getaway. While driving down a dark country road, they hit something and are horrified to discover they’ve killed a young woman. Panicked, they bury the body instead of calling the police, knowing if their spouses learn of their affair, they’ll lose everything.

When Everet’s son brings his new girlfriend home for his college graduation celebration, they notice that something about her seems…off. The odor of dirt emanates from her, but Everet and Blair are the only ones who can smell it. And when Everet almost chokes to death for no apparent reason, they start to wonder…have their misdeeds come back to haunt them?

A Friday the 13th Short Story: 13 authors ~ 13 suspenseful stories. Murder and mayhem on Friday the 13th…with a new collection released every year!

Excerpt:

Corbin guided her in with a hand at the small of her back. “Everyone, this is Mila Blackburn. Mila, meet my mom Madlyn my dad Everet, my Uncle Grady and Aunt Blair and my annoying sister Ariana.”

“Hey, jerk.” Ariana laughed and stuck out her hand. “I’m so happy to meet you. I’m excited you’re here. There’s so much to do, boating and swimming and kayaking and all kinds of things. You’re going to love it.”

Madlyn laughed. “Give the girl some breathing room, Ariana.” She held out her hand. “I’m Madlyn, Corbin’s mother. So pleased you could join us.”

The others introduced themselves, then it was Everet’s turn. He took the girl’s hand, and a shiver raced over his body. Her flesh was ice-cold, even though it was a warm June day. An odor emanated from her…something unpleasant…like damp earth.

Like the dirt they’d buried the poor girl in…

He shook himself mentally. It was just his guilty conscience. This girl was probably about the same age and was similar in size and coloring.

He went to pull back his hand, but her grip tightened almost imperceptibly, and he met her dark eyes. Something seemed to lurk in their fathomless debts. Some kind of secret knowledge…or accusation. He wanted to look away, but was unable to. Light flickered in the brown orbs and he saw a flash of a scene…just a brief moment but he could swear it was there. Headlights shining on trees, the glint of moonlight. Two figures—one thrusting a shovel into the dirt, the other holding a flashlight. The smell of dirt assailed him and, for a moment, he couldn’t breathe.

** Only .99cents!**

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

Book Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F282SNC2

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/dirty-girl-a-friday-the-13th-story-7-by-alicia-dean

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/230225344-dirty-girl

Find all the stories in the series here: https://linktr.ee/Fridaythe13thHorrorStories_7

About the Author

Author Alicia Dean hails from Oklahoma, where the wind comes sweeping down the plain, (sometimes gusting and twisting and ravaging down the plain…) She is from Moore, affectionately known as Tornado Alley, but now lives in Edmond.

She’s always wanted to be a writer and wrote her first romance at the ripe old age of ten. She still has the tattered, pencil-written copy of ‘Just Pretend,’ titled after one of her favorite Elvis Presley songs and featuring a hero who looks JUST like Elvis. (Have you guessed, she’s an Elvis fan?)

Other than reading and writing, her passions are Elvis Presley, MLB, NFL (she usually works in a mention of one or all three into her stories) and watching (or rewatching) her favorite televisions shows like Dexter, Vampire Diaries, Justified, and Breaking Bad. Some of her favorite authors are Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane, Lee Child, Lisa Gardner, Ridley Pearson, and Jonathan Kellerman…to name a few.

Website * Facebook * Facebook * X * Instagram * Instagram * Bluesky * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

Author Links

Website: https://aliciadean.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAliciaDean/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Fri13thShortStories

X:  https://x.com/Alicia_Dean_

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AliciaDeanAuthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fridaythe13thhorror/

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/aliciadeanauthor.bsky.social

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/alicia-dean

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Alicia-Dean/author/B004HQW4X4

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/468339.Alicia_Dean

Giveaway

$10 Amazon or Paypal

Follow the blitz  HERE for special content and a giveaway!

https://sdbook.promo/DirtyGirl

1 Comment

Filed under Uncategorized

October 28, 2025 · 5:00 am

Hobby, Career, Passion – “Jam, Jam, and More Jam” with Meg Benjamin ~ The Tomato Jam Murder #Cozy Mystery

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Meg Benjamin…

Jam, Jam, and More Jam

It all started because I was being a conscientious writer. The heroine of my Luscious Delights cozy mystery series (The Tomato Jam Murder, Book 6, is available now) has a jam business she runs out of her home in the Colorado mountains. I figured if I wanted to write about Roxy Constantine’s cooking, I needed to try making jam myself. There’s only so much you can learn by watching YouTube videos, after all.

Fortunately for me, the first book in the series was The Pepper Peach Murder. Although I didn’t know it at the time, peach jam is dead easy to make. Unlike strawberries, peaches are simple to cut up. Unlike apples, they don’t need to be peeled. And unlike blackberries, they cook down easily and quickly. My first jars of peach jam were luscious, much tastier than the peach jam you buy in stores. I know now that’s because most of the jam I make is refrigerator jam, which goes straight from the jam pot to the freezer—well, I let it cool down first—retaining its fresh fruit flavor. Anyway, I was hooked. And I wanted to make more jam, lots more, of many, many different types.

I’ve tried making most of the jams Roxy makes in the Luscious Delights books, including tangerine marmalade (book 3), which is a real pain. Marmalade requires cooking down both the fruit and the rind, which has to be sliced into ribbons and added back to the jam. Tasty, but labor intensive. Like Roxy I’ve also done a lot of jam research  for future books. Carrot marmalade, on the other hand, was a lot easier. This was a jam developed during the Depression when citrus fruit was too expensive for a lot of households. It sounds like a mess, but it’s actually very tasty, with a unique sort of flavor that comes from the combination of grated carrots and lemon juice. Roxy will make it in a future book where she’s trying to come up with a winter flavor. I recently stumbled upon chocolate raspberry jam, which is yummy and doubles as a dessert sauce. I’m not sure when Roxy will make it, but trust me, she will.

Not all the jams work out, either for me or for Roxy. The tomato jam, for example, never quite comes together. Roxy’s worried about ending up with ketchup, and the tomato jam I made really did have a ketchupy flavor. I had a hard time using it up, too, since my hubs really isn’t a fan of ketchup glaze on meatloaf. Wine jelly (book 5) was another jam that I probably won’t make again. It’s pretty, but it tastes a little odd on your morning toast. Roxy made if as a wedding favor, and it made sense.

There are also a couple of jams I haven’t made even though Roxy made them. Pumpkin butter (book 2) just didn’t excite me—I’m not a pumpkin fan. And Roxy makes a special rose petal jam for her Significant Other in The Pepper Peach Murder. I love the sound of it, and I do have a recipe. But gathering rose petals from our very thorny rose bushes has always seemed like more than I wanted to take on.

Jam making has lots of benefits. I’ve now got enough jam in the freezer to tide us over until spring when the first strawberry crops come in. The smells that fill the kitchen while I’ve got the jam pot on the stove are enticing, and the tastes are even better. It gives me a great excuse to visit farmers markets and farmstands in the summer, and I’ve always got a tasty hostess gift on hand. And like I said, it’s dead easy to do. No kidding. Refrigerator jam is just fruit, sugar, and lemon juice.

Finally, it’s given me a great heroine with a delicious occupation.

Roxy’s spending her summer with burros and jam, but there’s a murderer in the mountains.

Excerpt:

“Peggy Sue, don’t you dare!”

Peggy Sue turned soulful brown eyes on my friend Laurel Beacham, who was a few feet behind her. She looked like she really, really wanted to go through the gate leading to Laurel’s front yard.

“Peggy Sue, you listen to me.”

Peggy Sue took another tentative step forward. Clearly, she was weighing just how much trouble she’d be in if she kept going. The gate to the front yard of Laurel’s cabin was slightly ajar and Peggy Sue would likely be able to step through it in just a moment or two. On the other hand, based on her tone of voice, Laurel clearly meant business.

“Peggy Sue, I will lock you in the barn, so help me.”

Peggy Sue gave her another of those tragic looks that conveyed, How can you be considering something so cruel? So inhumane? All I want is some grass. And it’s just sitting there.

Laurel picked up her pace, but she was still a little far away from the gate. I, on the other hand, was right there. I quickly stepped forward just as Peggy Sue started to push the gate open. I gave it a quick shove so that the latch caught, and the gate snapped closed.

Peggy Sue stared up at me, eyes narrowing. I had no idea if donkeys bit people who annoyed them, and I didn’t want to find out. I stepped back. “Sorry, Peggy Sue, but I think you were about to get into a space where you aren’t allowed.”

Laurel moved forward and grabbed the burro’s halter. “Oh, she was definitely heading for a space where she isn’t allowed. And she knows it full well.” She pulled Peggy Sue away from the fence. Shaking her head, the burro gave my friend a look that should have broken the strongest heart. She had some of the longest eyelashes I’d ever seen, along with those great big brown eyes. Puppy eyes are nothing compared to burro eyes.

Buy links:

https://amzn.to/4oj93e5

About the Author:

Meg Benjamin is an award-winning author of romance and cozy mysteries. Meg’s cozy mystery series, Luscious Delights from Wild Rose Press, concerns a jam-making sleuth based in the mythical small town of Shavano, Colorado. Her Konigsburg series is set in the Texas Hill Country and her Salt Box and Brewing Love trilogies are set in the Colorado Rockies (all are available from Entangled Publishing and from Meg’s indie line). Along with romance and cozies, Meg is also the author of the paranormal Ramos Family trilogy from Berkley InterMix and the Folk trilogy from Meg’s indie line.

Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meg.benjamin1/ (personal)

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063609878239 (author)

Instagram: @meg_benjamin

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@meg_benjamin

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/meg-benjamin.bsky.social

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2869971.Meg_Benjamin

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/meg-benjamin

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/megbenjamin/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Meg-Benjamin/author/B0030F12FY?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@megbenjamin1396

Website: http://www.MegBenjamin.com/

1 Comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , ,

October 8, 2025 · 5:00 am

Amber Daulton – Career Forged in Blood & New Release: Lost in His Spiderwebs – #DarkRomance

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Rubén Lozano…

I’m Rubén Lozano, the hero from Amber Daulton’s dark romance novel, Lost in His Spiderwebs. I don’t feel comfortable calling myself “hero.” That doesn’t fit me. Not at all. I’m an anti-hero, a villain with a decent side. If you’re someone I like, I can be a good guy toward you. Nice, funny, generous. If we’re enemies, then watch your back. That’s the only warning you’ll get.

Today, I’m going to talk about my career. I’m the leader of the Lozano Cartel, one of the oldest cartels in Mexico. It’s dark, deadly, dangerous—just like me. Being the boss is messy, and only the most fearless can survive it.

As a child, I was the forgotten second son. Papá focused all of his attention on my older brother, corrupting him and turning him into a monster. Even though I was raised in luxury, it came at a price—blood. Anyone who crossed the path of a Lozano had to pay. Everything I have, I earned with my fists. Or a knife, gun, machete—I’m not picky when it comes to weapons. Unlike my best friend, Enrique. He loves his damn blades. Anyway, I’m the third generation of Lozanos to rule the cartel, so I have some big shoes to fill. I took command last year after Papá died. My father and grandfather who ruled before me would turn over in their graves if they knew about the changes I was making to the cartel infrastructure.

No more unnecessary killing.

No more targeting civilians.

Do business as peacefully as possible.

Shed blood only when you run out of other options.

These changes aren’t popular with some of my underlings, but as the boss, they have no choice but to obey me. At least, that’s how it should be. One of my councilmen, Alroy Tenorio, and his flunkies are causing problems. A civil war brewing. With Enrique and my core group of trusted friends and confidants at my side, I’m more than capable of handling betrayers, but I’m distracted. Before you ask, yes, I’m distracted because of a damn woman.

Drina Cabrera.

Dios mío. My God. That gorgeous, infuriating woman will be the death of me. I keep thinking about her when I should be worrying about Tenorio stabbing me in the back. She’s wicked, fearless, and all mine. When I’m with her, I feel like I can do anything, accomplish any goal, become the man I was destined to be. The thought of losing her guts me. She shouldn’t have so much power over me, but here I am, telling you this when I need to staple my mouth shut. I need a son to carry on my legacy. But I want a queen, a woman to rule at my side, to advise me in tough situations. That woman is Drina. She just needs to let her down guard and accept my darker side into her life.

I’m nothing if not determined. Drina will be mine forever. The cartel will thrive under my leadership. For those who think to take either from me, think again. I’m not a man to trifle with.

Readers, if you want to know more about my business and my relationship with Drina, pick up a copy of Lost in His Spiderwebs. It’s a dark, angsty ride, so be prepared.

The cartel king has finally found his queen.

Kidnapped by the enemy. Bought by the jefe. Will his smoldering touch thaw her frozen heart?

Rubén Lozano, the new leader of the Lozano Cartel, craves peace amidst a legacy of bloodshed and death. He never expected to find his ex-lover, Drina Cabrera, in the clutches of his vicious rivals. Her haunted eyes compel him to rescue her, but freeing her is another matter.

After five months of captivity, Drina trades one captor for another. Though she succumbs to Rubén’s masterful touch, the bittersweet memory of her daughter and the life she was stolen from is a constant wedge between them.

When Rubén’s darkest secret comes out, he will have to wash his hands in crimson. Will Drina let her king face the danger alone, or stand at his side as his cartel queen?

– Book two in the dark romance series, the Lozano Cartel. All the books can be read as a standalone, but are part of an interconnected series.

Excerpt:

“Smile,” Rubén told her. “It’s showtime.”

She nodded and lifted her chin, wincing a little in the flashing camera lights.

As three hand-picked paparazzi snapped pictures of him and Drina from all angles, Rubén counted to thirty before he steered Drina past them to the music room.

“Wow,” Drina murmured as they passed the piano for the ballroom.

A massive chandelier gleamed from the lofty ceiling, its decorative crystals reflecting the soft white light and dancing spots across the ivory walls and the chattering, laughing guests. The live band played instrumental music at the far end of the rectangular room, where Esme’s team had set up fancy tables and chairs for the speech and dinner portion of the evening.

“Why do you keep this room locked up? It’s magnificent.”

He shrugged. “It’s a bitch to clean.”

His blunt answer steepled Drina’s eyebrows. “My, what consideration. I’m sure the housekeeping staff appreciates it,” she teased and pulled him onto the dance floor alongside several other couples. “Let’s dance.”

As her arms slid around his shoulders, he rested his hands on her waist. Her body heat and strawberry aroma enveloped him. Groaning, he gripped the thick fabric of her dress so hard that it bunched and the band of his rings bit into his skin. She rested her head against his chest, and her hair teased his nose. They swayed, lost in each other as though they were the only people around. A foolish notion, one he shouldn’t revel in. If he did, he would ravage her on the floor.

“You have a good turnout,” she murmured while he twirled her about. She spun back into his embrace. “Are any of these people your friends?”

“Hardly.” This was his world. Glamour, power, prestige. The public mask he wore to hide his sinister nature. “You’re swimming in dangerous waters. The sooner you realize I can buy and discard all these sharks and guppies with a flick of my wrist, the better off you’ll be.”

“I’m well aware you’re king of the sharks.”

He snorted, holding her closer. “You’re a barracuda. Lithe grace and sharp teeth.”

“Ooh, I like that.” She nipped at his chin. “I’ll never be a guppy.”

Damn right. As the song ended, he guided her off the dance floor. Duty called.

Buy links:

Universal: https://books2read.com/LostInHisSpiderwebs

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4joCJUV

BN: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lost-in-his-spiderwebs-amber-daulton/1147318586?ean=2940184374895

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/lost-in-his-spiderwebs

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=7lNYEQAAQBAJ

Apple/iBooks: https://apple.co/4jpLyht

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1648364

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/231721773-lost-in-his-spiderwebs

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/lost-in-his-spiderwebs-lozano-cartel-book-2-a-dark-captivity-second-chance-romance-by-amber-daulton

About the Author:

Amber Daulton is the author of the Lozano Cartel, the Arresting Onyx, the Embracing You, and the Ramseys in Time series, as well as several standalone novellas. Her books are available in ebook, print on demand, audio, and foreign language formats.

She lives in North Carolina with her husband and demanding cats.

Follow Me: https://linktr.ee/AmberDaulton

Check out my website (Daulton Publishing): https://amberdaulton.com

Sign up for my Exclusive Newsletter (free ebook to new subscribers): https://amberdaulton.com/newsletter-signup/

1 Comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , ,

September 3, 2025 · 9:45 am

10 Moments That Changed My Life with Randy Overbeck ~ New Release: Red Shadows at Saugatuck

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Randy Overbeck…

1 – My parents’ divorce—When I was 12, my dad left and my mom had to raise six boys, ages 6 to 18. (I was the middle child.) Although those times were difficult and challenging, they caused me to grow up faster and I learned the importance of responsibility.

2 – First teaching job—I was just 21 when I got my first, real adult job, what I had trained for and dreamed of. What a change, a city boy uprooted to a small rural town and school district. My days consisted of eight-hour school days and my nights of six hours of prep and grading. I loved it and decided  this was what I wanted to do with my life, help kids learn and maybe achieve better lives.

3 – Getting married—A few months later, I married my high school sweetheart. Though we had dated for five years, starting life together was an interesting challenge in a new small town, on our own. I guess it worked. 54 years later, we’ll still married with three kids and seven grandkids.

4 – Birth of our daughter—My wife and I always knew we wanted to be parents and when our daughter came, I couldn’t believe how happy I was. Life pivoted with late night feedings and diaper changes. Our lives now revolved around her—and her two brothers who followed—and we loved it.

5 – College job—Even though I enjoyed teaching high school, I always thought I’d make a great college prof. I got my chance at age 29 and thrived at Morehead State University, teaching and advising students and working with my colleagues. But it was not to last.

6 – Lost my college job—I hadn’t realized it at the time but my college position had been funded with a federal grant and, after three years, the grant expired. Just like that I was unemployed in a different state, with no job, a wife and three kids to feed. But that loss changed the trajectory of my career. It took 60 applications and four interviews all over the country but I made the jump and got my first administrative position. It led me on a path where I ended up running four different school districts as superintendent and assistant superintendent for the next 28 years.

7 – Earned a Ph.D.—Even as a young man, I yearned to obtain a doctorate and finally made it at the age of 46, a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership. The doctoral program caused me to grow as an educator and person, and helped me think differently about education, leadership and my responsibility in the world. 

8 – My first book published—In 2011, I retired and turned my attention to my second love—after serving kids—and had my first novel published, LEAVE NO CHILD BEHIND. It did okay—won Thriller of Year from ReadersFavorite.com—and the writing bug bit me bad.

9 – Signing with Wild Rose Press—After working with a very small press for my first book, I wanted to find a more stable home for my fiction. In 2017, I found WRP or rather they signed me. And I found the Rose Garden, a supportive group of fellow writers who helped answer my questions and provided support. They nurtured my writing bug and encouraged me to keep at it.

10 – Literary agent contract—Even though working with WRP with my last five novels has been a rewarding experience, I’ve wanted to have a chance at the “big boys” and I needed to persuade an agent my writing was at that level. This past month I signed with Stonesong Agency for my new historical suspense. At this point, I hope this is a moment that will change my life going forward.

 Praise for Red Shadows at Saugatuck:

  • “One of the finest books ever written! A paranormal mystery that stole my soul and took my breath away.” 5++Stars—N.N. Light Book Heaven
  • “Complex and Captivating…mesmerized from the first page to the very last one.” 5 Stars—ReadersFavorite.com
  • “Overbeck is a dominant storyteller. A must read book and series.”—Still Moments Magazine
  • “A gripping tale of finding justice for a missing Native American teen…Overbeck kept me turning pages well into the night.”—John DeDakis, author of Fake and Senior CNN Editor for “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer.” 
  • “Thoughtful, deeply human, and low key terrifying. I recommend it readers who like their readers to feel something, not just guess whodunnit.” 5 Stars and Gold Award Winner—Literary Titan
  • “An exciting adventure bristling with suspense…a page turner until the very end.”—ReaderViews.com
  • “The mystery and suspense kept the story engaging, not to mention the numerous twists that kept popping up. I can’t wait to read more in the Haunted Shores Mysteries Series and discover what mystery awaits. I highly recommend grabbing a copy of Red Shadows at Saugatuck today!”—The Avid Reader

Blurb:

Darrell Henshaw hoped he was past it all. After all, no ghosts had visited him for years. Instead, he learns his five-year-old-son, Leo has inherited his “gift.”

Now, they both can see ghosts.

This time, Darrell drives his young family 800 miles to celebrate his Aunt Gertrude’s 80th birthday. But, once in the resort  town of Saugatuck, Michigan, their participation gets derailed by the spirit of a Native teen who went missing weeks earlier. When he and Leo inquire about the girl, the locals dismiss their concerns—”Those girls run away all the time.”  Still, as questions pile up and threats grow, Darrell senses they may have stumbled onto something far worse and even more evil than one missing teen.

Can Darrell continue to pursue justice for the girl if it places his wife and five-year-old son in danger?

Excerpt:

Darrell knew what was happening, or he thought he did. Sheila—er, rather her ghost—was leaving breadcrumbs and he was supposed to follow them. He followed his son’s gaze and saw the kids playing on the gazebo. He watched as a long, sleek motorboat, painted white with a rainbow stripe down the side, glided silently down the Kalamazoo River, no doubt headed for Lake Michigan. To the left, a man and a woman headed toward a building painted in a scene reminiscent of Monet or Seurat. When they disappeared inside, he realized it was likely a set of restrooms.

“There she is!” Leo pointed at the restroom building.

Darrell looked in time to see the back of a girl with long black hair walk past the gaily painted building and disappear out of sight beyond the structure.

“Come on,” Leo urged.

Before Darrell could stop him, Leo took off running in that direction. Darrell hustled after him, Erin’s hurried footsteps right behind. When his son made it past the structure, he stopped, glancing around. Ahead of them, a young family sat together on a blanket, the mother holding up a baby and the father shaking a toy in front of the infant. A pair of teens were throwing a frisbee, one tossing it in long arcs across the green grass while a second ran to catch it, often in an acrobatic stunt. On the boardwalk along the water, an elderly couple sat together, still gazing out to the water, probably the same pair who’d been there when they boarded the ferry. A second wooden bench sat empty.

He brought his gaze back to his son, whose head looked like it was on a swivel.

Then Leo turned and looked behind him, his eyes going wide. “She must’ve gone in there.” His gaze swung to his mom. “Can you go in and check?”

Confusion bloomed on Erin’s features. Darrell realized she wouldn’t want to let her son down but she knew she wouldn’t be able to see Sheila’s ghost. Why would Sheila even go inside the restroom building? Erin’s gaze went from Darrell to her son. A small smile appeared on her face.

“Sure. I can go check.” She patted her son’s shoulder. “Probably a good idea to go to the bathroom anyway.” She placed a soft hand on Leo’s cheek. “Why don’t you and Dad go do the same while I check this out?”

Darrell took his son’s hand. “Sounds like a good idea. We’ll meet you right back here in…five minutes?”

Erin glanced over at the restroom entrance as three women opened the door and went inside. “Better give me ten minutes.” She looked down at her son. “If I find Sheila in there, it might be better to talk with her in private first.”

“Got it. See you here in a few.”

Darrell pulled Leo to the other door. He practically had to drag his son who wanted to keep his eyes focused on the door to the women’s restroom. But, when they got inside the men’s, Leo was dancing from foot to foot.

“You need to go one or two?”

Leo glanced up at him. “Both.”

When they got inside, Darrell’s gaze made a sweep of the small lavatory. A row of urinals and two stalls and he was relieved to find them both open. And they were alone, at least for the moment. Inside the first, he helped Leo get situated. “You want me to stay? You want my help?”

Leo looked up at his dad like he was crazy. “I’m a big guy. I can do this myself.”

“Okay, okay. I’ll be in right next door.” Darrell backed out, closed the door, making sure it wouldn’t lock. Then he sat down in the next stall.

Darrell tried to figure out how he was going to handle this. Now, he had little choice. He was going to have to tell his young five-year-old son about the ugly side of life, at least some of it.

The sound of a flush interrupted his train of thought. It was close.

“Leo? You done?”

Another flush released a loud rush of water drowning out his son’s words.

“What? Leo, you okay?”

“I’m fine, Dad,” his son answered.

Darrell started, “Okay, stay there—” but his words were swallowed by the deafening sound of air rushing out of the dryer.

Darrell tried yelling over the cacophony. “Leo, just stay there and I’ll be right there.”

The blast of air covered most of what his son said. He thought he heard “outside” through the air noise. Darrell hurried his efforts, pulling his pants up, flushing the toilet and exited the stall. His gaze darted around. No Leo. He called, “Leo!” and listened. No answer.

God, he needed to get out there, check on Leo. He looked at his hands and the faucet. He had to wash them, had to. Turning the spigot, he splashed soap on his fingers and ran his hands under the running water. He leaned over and turned off both handles with his elbows. He stepped over to the now finally silent air dryer. He couldn’t take time for that and wiped his hands on his tan shorts as he hurried out the door, gaze darting around. No Leo. He looked at the “women’s door.

“Leo!” he screamed.

His head swiveled like it was on a pivot, right, left, right, left. Same family on a blanket and the young dad’s gaze met his. Two teens still tossing frisbee. The elderly couple hadn’t moved. The speedboat had disappeared. He glanced back toward Water Street and saw a few tourists drifting in and out of shops across the street. Three cars rolled past without stopping.

Oh, God. No bright red T-shirt.

About the Author:

Dr. Randy Overbeck is an award-winning educator, author, speaker and podcaster. As an educator, he served children for more than three decades and has mined that experience to create captivating fiction, authoring two series, the bestselling series, “The Haunted Shores Mysteries,” and the award-winning series, “Lessons in Peril.” His novels have won critical acclaim and garnered national awards including Mystery of the Year (ReaderViews) Best Book Award (Chanticleer Books and Reviews) and the Gold Award (Literary Titan) and amassed hundreds of 5-star reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. Dr. Overbeck also hosts the popular podcast, “Great Stories about Great Storytellers,” which reveals the unusual and sometimes strange backstories of famous authors, directors and poets and can be heard wherever listeners get their podcasts. He is a speaker in considerable demand, sharing his popular presentations about ghosts and the world of book publishing with hundreds of audiences all over the U.S.

As a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Dr. Overbeck is an active member of the literary community, contributing to a writers’ critique group, serving as a mentor to emerging writers and participating in writing conferences such as Killer Nashville and the Midwest Writers Workshop.

When he’s not researching, writing, speaking or podcasting, Randy enjoys traveling with his wife Cathy and visiting both his far-flung family and the scenic locations around this country, often in search of inspiration for his next great story.

More info about his novels, programs and podcast can be found at his website www.authorrandyoverbeck.com

randyoverbeck@authorrandyoverbeck.com

SOCIAL MEDIA CONTACTS

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorrandyoverbeck

Twitter: https://twitter.com/OverbeckRandy/media

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorrandyoverbeck/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/randy-overbeck

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Randy-Overbeck/e/B07QQHW7DM

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4825632.Randy_Overbeck

2 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

September 1, 2025 · 5:39 am

Author Interview with Meg Benjamin ~ New Release: The Wine Jelly Murder #CozyMystery

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Meg Benjamin…

What book have you read that you wish you had written?

Right now I’m obsessed with J.D. Robb’s Eve Dallas series. J.D. Robb is, of course, Nora Roberts writing under a different name. The Dallas books are detective stories set in the near future, and my fascination comes from the way Robb/Roberts juggles all the plot elements. Dallas is a quirky, introverted, solitary type who improbably marries an Irish billionaire but continues to work as a homicide cop. The books usually have simultaneous romance and crime plots, as well as a host of eccentric supporting characters you get to know as you go along. I love them, and I can only wish I had Roberts’s gift for creating lively plots and characters you care about.

Do you have another occupation, other than writer? If so, what is it and do you like it?

Once upon a time I taught English and writing at Enormous State University in Texas. I’d always wanted to be a college professor, from the time I was a little girl, so it represented a dream job in a way. There were things about it I loved and things about it I didn’t, but I will say it taught me to establish a writing routine (publish or perish is real), which has stuck with me to this day.

What do you want readers to come away with after they read The Wine Jelly Murder?

I hope you’ll enjoy the story and get involved in the characters’ lives. The great thing about writing a series with the same characters is the way you can show them growing and changing. I try to do that, and I hope readers will want to find out more about Roxy and her friends and family. There are five books in the series available now, with a sixth on the way in January.

What genre have you never written that you’d like to write?

I love, love, love regency romances, but I doubt that I’ll ever write one, just because they require so much research and attention to historical detail. But I’ll admit I actually created a regency-style hero in one of my paranormal series: The Folk. Prince Bertie comes as close to being a regency character as I’m likely to get, and I loved creating him. I hope I get a chance to revisit that world and bring Bertie back for a few more adventures.

What character in your book are you least likely to get along with?

I hate to admit it but I probably wouldn’t get along with the Shavano, Colorado, police chief, Ethan Fowler. Don’t get me wrong: I like Fowler a lot. But he’s the closest thing to an alpha male in the Luscious Delights series, and alpha males usually make me nervous. Plus he’s got that chief of police thing going on, which heightens the nervous factor. So although he’s a nice guy deep down, he’d probably not be a bestie.

Who is the most famous person you have ever met?

Back in the day, I used to go to RWA and RT conventions (both of them now defunct), and at one of them a friend and I recognized Jo Beverly standing by herself at a publisher’s reception. Jo Beverly, if you don’t know, was a terrific English regency writer and one of the publisher’s stars. My friend and I went up and introduced ourselves, and I told her I was a big fan. Beverly, who was probably in her seventies at that point, was very nice and told us she was a little nervous about the length of her skirt (sort of a mini, but not really). “You’re rockin’ it,” my friend told her. And she was.

How did you come up with the title?

I always name my books after a jam Roxy is struggling with in the story. This time I had to come up with something that was both festive (it’s for a wedding) and appropriate for the holidays. After rejecting a lot of cranberry possibilities, I went with wine jelly.

Weddings can be murder, and Roxy’s trying not to be the next victim.

Roxy Constantine and Nate Robicheaux are into weddings, both for work and family. But when the obnoxious father of the bride is murdered at the engagement party, they find out more about his business than they bargained for.

Now someone wants to stop Roxy from investigating even as she pulls out all the stops on a super New Year’s Eve wedding celebration for her uncle.

She’ll need more than wine jelly favors and wedding cake to stop the killer.

Excerpt:

As I stepped onto the landing, I heard something that sounded like a sob. “Did you hear that?”

“What?”

“That sound. It was over…” As I started across the landing toward the stairs, I heard another sob, much louder this time, coming from the stairs leading down to the lower floor. “Is anybody there?” I called.

“Roxy?” It sounded like Thalia, but a very different Thalia from the normal, terrifyingly efficient woman we’d been working with. I stepped quickly to the landing and peered toward the lower floor.

And saw Thalia Rosenberg leaning over Emerson Pollack, who lay spread-eagled on the concrete floor.

From where I stood, he looked very dead.

I ran down the steps. The stairwell was very dark although the light from above streamed down on Pollack’s body where it lay. Nate was at my heels.

Thalia knelt beside Pollack, her face the color of the snow still falling outside. “We need to call an ambulance,” she said. “He’s…hurt.”

Judging by the way Pollack was splayed on the floor, I didn’t think an ambulance would do much good. I put my hand on her shoulder. “Come on, Thalia. Step away from him now.”

Nate had climbed up the stairs and was now speaking urgently into his phone. I heard the words “accident” and “serious injuries,” which might well be true, as far as the “serious injuries” went. I was less certain about the “accident” part.

Thalia looked like she might faint or have hysterics, neither of which I wanted to deal with right then.

She leaned toward me, her brown eyes huge in her pale face. “Oh my God,” she whispered. “My God. He’s dead, isn’t he?”

Buy link(s):

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FCVCRC6S/thewildrosepr-20

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-wine-jelly-murder-meg-benjamin/1147592049?ean=2940184558462

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-wine-jelly-murder/id6747186348

About the Author:

Meg Benjamin is an award-winning author of romance and cozy mysteries. Meg’s cozy mystery series, Luscious Delights from Wild Rose Press, concerns a jam-making sleuth based in the mythical small town of Shavano, Colorado. Her Konigsburg series is set in the Texas Hill Country and her Salt Box and Brewing Love trilogies are set in the Colorado Rockies (all are available from Entangled Publishing and from Meg’s indie line). Along with romance and cozies, Meg is also the author of the paranormal Ramos Family trilogy from Berkley InterMix and the Folk trilogy from Meg’s indie line. Meg’s books have won numerous awards, including an EPIC Award, a Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, the Holt Medallion from Virginia Romance Writers, the Beanpot Award from the New England  Romance Writers, the Carly Crown Jewel of Books from the Mid-America Romance Authors, and the Award of Excellence from Colorado Romance Writers.

Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meg.benjamin1/ (personal)

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063609878239 (author)

Instagram: @meg_benjamin

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@meg_benjamin

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/meg-benjamin.bsky.social

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2869971.Meg_Benjamin

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/meg-benjamin

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/megbenjamin/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Meg-Benjamin/author/B0030F12FY?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@megbenjamin1396

Website: http://www.MegBenjamin.com/

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , ,

August 27, 2025 · 11:12 am

Hobby, Career, Passion ~ Why Zuri Loves Mixed Martial Arts by Dan Rice ~ New Release: Phantom Algebra #YAHorror

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Dan Rice…

Why Zuri Loves Mixed Martial Arts in my New Release: Phantom Algebra

When I took a crack at writing Phantom Algebra, I faced a couple of new challenges. First, the novel is a horror story, a ghost tale to be precise, which was something I had never tackled before in novel-length fiction. Sure, I had written a handful of short stories that fit into the creepiest of genres, but crafting an entire book in that genre felt like a monumental undertaking. This was especially true because I also faced a deadline, which was not the self-imposed kind. If I wanted the yarn to be part of The Wild Rose Press’s series, The Haunting of Pinedale High, I needed to produce a polished manuscript in a little over a year. Such a task usually takes me at least eighteen months.

Despite those challenges, I wanted to make my hero, Zuri Williams, distinct from the characters I had encountered in the horror genre. What quintessential passion could I give her to set her apart from the genre’s many heroes and final girls?

While brainstorming passions, I fondly recalled watching boxing with my father as a lad. He wasn’t much of a sports fan, but he did enjoy the pugilistic arts. This was back before mixed martial arts (MMA) had taken off and women’s boxing was rarely televised. But times have changed. MMA fighter Conor McGregor has helped make mixed martial arts more mainstream and become a sporting superstar. Fighters like Ronda Rousey have increased the prominence of the female side of the fight game. Social media is full of videos of female fighters battling with the same levels of passion and skill as their male counterparts. I thought, what if Zuri is an aspiring MMA fighter? That struck me as a suitably unique passion for a horror hero, and raised an awesome question. What will Zuri do when facing foes she can’t punch, kick, or grapple into submission?

So mixed martial arts became Zuri’s passion imparted to her by her estranged father, a former prizefighter turned gangland enforcer. Instead of studying algebra, Zuri obsessively watches clips of her hero, The Jade Tiger, battling it out in the octagon and dreaming of one day becoming a world champion herself. She will learn just as she can’t solve algebraic equations with her fists, some enemies, namely nasty poltergeists, can’t be dispelled with a high kick alone, no matter how expertly delivered.

Zuri and her mother settle in Pinedale, North Carolina, to start over. For years, they’ve been on the run from Zuri’s father, a retired boxer and full-time gangland enforcer.

In Pinedale, Zuri finds a gym where she can train in mixed martial arts to pursue her dream of becoming a champion fighter. At Pinedale High, she discovers friends among the outcasts, academic challenges, and something unexpected…ghosts.

When Zuri encounters a tween phantom haunting the library, her life is turned upside down and inside out as she attempts to help the spirit. This incurs the wrath of devils, living and dead. Zuri will need her martial arts prowess, heart, and the aid of friends to protect everyone she loves.

Excerpt:

After being sucker punched by Mason, Zuri had executed the advice to lead with straight right hands. As the oldster had said, Mason was fast, but she was faster, and for whatever reason, be it arrogance or laziness, the boy never raised his guard high enough to block her shots. Instead, he tried to dodge them, which he did sometimes, but not nearly enough. Her right hand crunched into his face time and time again, sending satisfying jolts up her arm into her shoulder. With gratification, she watched the maniacal glee fade from his eyes, and panic set in as he realized he was getting his ass whooped by a girl. Mr. Tito ended the sparring match after one round, not wanting Mason to get beat up with the tournament only weeks away.

But the revelation after the match had doused Zuri’s joy at showing up the bully. After berating Mason for his shoddy defense, Mr. Tito ambled over to help Zuri remove her gloves. Smelling of aftershave and sweat, he spoke as he worked. “You did good in there, Zuri. Maybe too good for Mason, but you taught him a hard lesson. Something I’ve been working on with him for months. Keep your hands up!”

“He does keep his left low,” Zuri agreed.

Tito wrenched the right glove off her hand and dropped it to the canvas. “The angles you throw the right hand are unorthodox. I’ve only seen it once before.” He looked her questioningly in the eyes. “Zuri Williams. You’re not Jake Williams’s daughter, are you?”

Zuri’s mouth dropped open. “Ummm…” What to say? She collapsed in on herself, shriveling like a raisin. Did she dare lie and risk being caught? Did Mr. Tito know her father? Would he phone Big Jake as soon as she left?

Buy link(s):

About the Author:

Dan Rice pens the young adult urban fantasy series The Allison Lee Chronicles and other speculative fiction, both short and long, in the wee hours of the morning. To discover more about Dan’s writing and keep tabs on his upcoming releases, check out his blog, join his newsletter, and follow him on BlueSky. His latest novel, the YA horror Phantom Algebra, releases on September 15, 2025.

4 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , ,

August 25, 2025 · 9:44 am

The Spotlight is on Lori Matsourani and her New Release: Ghosted ~ Contemporary Romance with a Touch of the Paranormal

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Lori Matsourani…

A haunted inn, a first crush, and a second chance for love with “help” from the resident ghost…

When her fiancé’s infidelity prompts Bethany Hendren to map out a new path forward, her plans are disrupted by an unexpected encounter with Nick Dorsey, who convinces her to help search for the remains of a troubled eighteenth-century ghost. Nick is the handsome summer boyfriend who ghosted her years ago, and now he wants to rekindle their relationship.

Despite her reluctance to trust him, Bethany discovers he’s still the funny, caring person who captured her heart as a teen, but giving him a second chance is risky—it could lead to love and happiness or result in another devastating heartache.

Although Bethany wants a happily ever after with Nick, does she have the courage to trust him with her future?

Excerpt:

As Mrs. Snowden spoke, a tall, dark-haired man entered the foyer. He wore jeans and a soft blue crewneck sweater that accentuated his lanky, yet solid, build. As soon as he saw Bethany, his face lit up.

“Bethany!”

He walked toward her as though they were long-lost friends, and she half expected him to pull her into an embrace. Then she recognized the dark chocolate eyes behind the black-framed glasses and her stomach lurched.

Nick Dorsey. He’s Mrs. Snowden’s nephew?

“Aunt Margaret told me you were checking in today.”

Stunned, Bethany stepped backward, bumping into the edge of the desk as her heart thudded. A white-hot flush scorched every inch of her skin as she stared at Nick. Of all the people she could run into, it had to be the first guy to break her heart? And why did he have to be so handsome, with that bit of hair curling over his forehead and late-day stubble?

She inhaled deeply to rein in her composure, hating her can’t-catch-your-breath reaction to him, then dipped her chin in a neutral acknowledgment.

“Hello, Nick.”

His smile morphed into a full-on, lopsided grin. “It’s been ages since I’ve seen you. Ten years, I bet. Not since the summer Zach and I got our drivers’ licenses.”

Mrs. Snowden laid her hand on Nick’s shoulder. “Bethany is staying in the Howard Room. Can you help her with her bag?” Then, turning to Bethany, she said, “Come back down when you’re ready and I’ll give you a tour of the house.”

As Bethany followed Nick to the second floor, the pain, questions, and self-doubts she’d buried years ago reemerged, seeping into her belly like liquid concrete. The last thing she needed was Nick Dorsey invading her healing zone. It had taken her months to get over the summer romance they’d shared—and he’d abruptly ended—when they were teens. And even longer before she could bring herself to date again.

And now he was in her safe space.

Buy link(s):

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F9XCPLYD/thewildrosepr-20

Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/p/books/ghosted-lori-matsourani/22722837?ean=9781509262540&next=t&affiliate=114419

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ghosted-lori-matsourani/1147463084?ean=2940184606941

Books A Million: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/9781509262540

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/ghosted/id6746414091

About the Author:

Lori Matsourani is a romance addict. Give her stories with a touch of heartbreak and a spark of joy, and she’s happy. Throw in characters with a huge helping of heart and soul, and she’s up reading all night in romance heaven! While currently a Texas resident, Lori grew up near Baltimore and often draws on the historical flavor of Annapolis and Maryland’s Eastern Shore to inspire her story settings. She authored her first fiction story at twelve and has been hooked on writing ever since. Early on, her writing career focused on articles for magazines and newspapers before shifting to her first writing love—fiction. For Lori, connecting words to tell a story is like assembling a jigsaw puzzle, and she loves the challenge of creating every piece.

Social media links:

Website: https://lorimatsourani.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lori.matsourani.author/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lori.matsourani/

Goodreads Giveaway: Runs from August 1 to August 30. Enter here:

https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/418301-ghosted

1 Comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , ,

August 20, 2025 · 5:00 am

Author Interview with Susan Dalessandro ~ New Release: A Whisper In The Trees YA romance w/paranormal elements

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Susan Dalessandro…

Please tell us a little about yourself.  I’m from Bucks County, PA, a northwest suburb of Philadelphia. I still live here now. I have two grown sons and two dogs. I am a passionate runner and have been since I was seventeen.

Where did you get the idea for A Whisper In The Trees?  I love to write coming of age YA stories, and I wanted to show both the physical and emotional pressures that young runners go through. I ran cross-country in high-school and still run 6 days a week currently, so I have a lot of experience!  

Why did you choose this genre (is it something you’ve written in before)? All of my books are YA contemporary with a romance subplot, but this one I wanted to add a paranormal element. I thought the woods created a great venue for that aspect of the book.

What is the most difficult thing about writing a book? Honestly, it’s the marketing! Getting your book in front of people once it’s published. As to the writing itself, sometimes getting stuck in the middle of the story. I know where I want the story to go, but I’m not always sure how to best get there.

What was the most difficult thing about this one in particular? For this book, it was making the ghost story believable. As I mentioned above, I write YA contemporary (usually with a romance subplot), but I wanted to add a paranormal, ghostly element, because I thought if fit in perfectly with the story and I wanted to add some mystery to the woods. Hopefully, I’ve done that!

Do you have another occupation, other than writer? If so, what is it and do you like it? I have an M.A. in Applied Math -I’ve always loved math and figuring out problems- and I work in Assessment Sciences. Yes, I love what I do and the people I work with. 

What do you love that most people don’t like and wouldn’t understand why you do? It’s probably running long distances. So many people say, ‘I hate running’, but I can’t live without it. It’s an integral part of who I am, and it helps me think and plot story lines as I run.

What was your first job? My first job was a lifeguard and swimming instructor for a summer day camp. Swimming is also a favorite of mine.

What do you want readers to come away with after they read A Whisper In The Trees? It’s important, no matter what age you are, to be true to yourself, be your real self.

Have you written any other books that are not published? I have a book I’m querying at present, ‘All The Secrets That Aren’t’, a YA romantic suspense.

Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination? Some of the characters are derived from real people and share some of their characteristics and qualities. Some are entirely fictional. 

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp? It’s so important to be you, to be yourself, to not let anyone else define you.  

How much of the book is realistic? All of it, except for maybe the ghostly presence in the woods. Although, people claim to have had paranormal experiences, so maybe it’s not far-fetched.

How did your interest in writing originate? I’ve always had stories in my head, and I finally started writing them down.

Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work? I love Jennifer Armentrout. She writes both fantasy and contemporary. Her writing (especially her YA books) gives me all the feels, makes me care about the characters, and that, to me, is what I want to experience when I read a book.

Hard truths aren’t easy to run from

Excerpt:

I hug myself tightly and glance around. Nothing but leaves blowing in the dusty, hot breeze. Hot, not cold. It doesn’t change the fact I’m frozen inside like the last time. And I didn’t pass out at practice today. I was totally fine for our mile repeats. In fact, I killed them.

The chill leaves as quickly as it arrived, and I exhale, a dense vapor billowing from my mouth. I take off along the path and the song resonates in my head. Only this time the lyrics are sharper. Stronger.

My stomach clenches and I try to push the song out of my head, but it refuses to be silenced.

It taunts me.

Buy links: https://books2read.com/u/bQwQy0

About the Author:

I’m a lifelong lover of books and storytelling and hold an M.A. In Applied Math, a subject which finds its way into many of my stories.

I live in Bucks County, Pennsylvania with my husband, two sons and two dogs. I gather story ideas as I run in the early mornings with my dogs. Running is the perfect environment for me to think and create. It’s also a central theme of many of my novels.

My debut novel, Complex Solutions, a YA coming of age thriller, released March 16, 2021, with Rhetoric Askew Publishing. As part of a group of authors in the Play Like A Girl shared world series, I released Strong Enough, a YA sports romance. My most recent book, A Whisper In The Trees, a YA romance with paranormal elements from The Wild Rose Press, released on June 30, 2025.  

https://authorsusandalessandro.com

dalessandrosusan27@yahoo.com

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , ,

August 19, 2025 · 5:00 am

Hobby/Career/Passion How an Apparel Career Led to a Writing Gig with  Susie Black & Death by Dreidel #CozyMystery

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Susie Black…

How an Apparel Career Led to a Writing Gig

Like the protagonist in my Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series, I am a ladies’ swimwear sales executive. The most critically important skill a sales exec must have to succeed is to be a good storyteller. Fortunately, I’ve been telling stories since I learned how to talk. One thing I was told repeatedly as a sales executive was to know your product inside and out.  I heard the same thing when I started writing cozy mysteries: write what you know. If you don’t know it, either do the research and learn it, or don’t dare to write it. Whether you’re an author or a sales exec, you’re selling yourself, and readers, like buyers, can sniff out a phony in a heartbeat, and then you and whatever kind of story you’re telling are toast.

I came to write in the cozy mystery genre because I love solving puzzles. My parents would certainly confirm I have always asked a lot of questions, and I am naturally curious (some narrow-minded people say I am nosy…go figure…LOL). So, writing mysteries was the natural next step for me to take. Since I’d never written a novel before, the only thing I knew to do was to apply the same storytelling skills I’d successfully used hawking bikinis to writing a tale. It turns out that how you present an apparel line is the same way you write a story. Both have a beginning, a middle, an ending, and a point of view.

So, where did my story ideas come from? From the start of my career, I have kept a daily journal that chronicles the quirky, interesting, and often challenging people I’ve encountered as well as the crazy situations I’ve gotten myself into and out of. The protagonist of the Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series, Holly Schlivnik, is based on me. The journal entries are the foundation of all my writing for the stories that comprise the Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series. With a dollop of imagination, a pinch of angst, and a decades-long career chocked to the gills with juicy characters, I had more stories itching to be told in my daily journal than time to write them.

Who could push a sales exec to dream of murder and mayhem? Who else but a buyer?  After completing a rather challenging conversation with an important but difficult account, I imagined how good it would feel with my hands around her scrawny neck, squeezing the life out of her. While the notion of knocking off my annoying customers was wildly appealing, a horizontally striped prison uniform making my four-foot, eight-inch body look like a barbershop pole and a fire hydrant had a child wasn’t a pretty sight. The viable alternative?  Writing humorous murder mysteries set in the Los Angeles garment center. Brilliant and cathartic! In one fell swoop, eliminate a pain-in-the-patootie buyer, avoid life in prison, and still get the order. It doesn’t get any better than that.

Very interesting article, Susie. Thank you for sharing. And now, tell us about your book…

Brings a whole new meaning to a killer party.

Blurb:

Mermaid Swimwear President Holly Schlivnik attends an industry Hanukkah party to honor Rapido Swimwear CEO Leni Waxman as the Mount Cedars Hospital Woman of the Year. The guest of honor collapses and dies in the middle of the event. An autopsy confirms that Leni expired as a result of poisoning by coming in contact with a purposely contaminated dreidel. There is no shortage of suspects—Leni had no problem destroying anyone who threatened her position as the top dog in the swimwear industry. When Holly’s business partner is wrongly arrested for Leni’s murder, the irreverent sales exec can’t mind her own beeswax. The wise-cracking snoop sticks her nose everywhere it doesn’t belong to flesh out the real killer. But the trail has more twists and turns than a rollercoaster, and nothing turns out how Holly thinks it will as she takes on a ruthless killer hellbent on revenge.

Excerpt:

I leaned over to Queenie and pointed to Leni. “Take a gander at Leni. Something’s wrong with her.”

Queenie followed my index finger with her eyes. “Yeah, she’s white as a ghost and perspiring.”

Gary snapped, “Maybe the old broad is nervous.”

Buddy took his seat and pointed to Leni. “Something is wrong with that woman.”

Mira shrugged. “Or perhaps the emotion of sharing the loss of her sister took its toll.”

Gary clucked his tongue. “Don’t let her fool you with her sad story about her sister. I wouldn’t be surprised if she made the whole thing up to add some dramatic context to her acceptance speech. Leni Waxman has a heart of stone, and only ice water runs in her veins. She is incapable of loving anybody but herself. She’s probably going through menopause and having one helluva hot flash.”

Seeming to rally after taking several restorative gulps of water, Leni tottered on unsteady feet over to a large glass-topped table piled high with door prizes. She pointed to the stack and said in a remarkably normal voice, “Okay, folks, the last thing on our party agenda is the auction of these wonderful door prizes donated by all you generous vendors. Dig down deep in your pockets and let’s see some high bids. The proceeds are going to buy a library of books for the daycare center in the new hospital wing.”

She leaned over to pick up the first item, but it slipped through her fingers. Leni bolted straight up and stumbled as she clutched her midsection and let out a blood-curdling scream. She gagged and vomited down the front of her dress. Leni fell forward and collapsed onto the table. The stunned crowd went as silent as a cemetery when the glass top shattered and the door prizes scattered across the ballroom floor.

Hadassah Waxman jumped up and screamed, “Oh My God, No!” Morty and Barry rushed to Leni, but Doctor Levinson pushed them away.  Levinson yelled, “Somebody call nine-one-one!” Then he sprang into action. He carefully pulled Leni out of the glass shards and laid her stiff-as-a-board body on her back. He held his palm over her mouth. She wasn’t breathing. He pressed his thumb first on the inside of her wrist and then on the bottom of her throat, but detected no pulse. He put his ear to Leni’s chest but didn’t hear a heartbeat. He commenced CPR, but she failed to respond.

Ten minutes later, two paramedics, pushing a stretcher loaded with life-saving gear and accompanied by a pair of LAPD uniforms, rushed into the ballroom. The hushed crowd held their breath as the medical first responders reached Levinson, still working desperately to revive Leni. The two pulled resuscitation equipment out and prepared to work on the supine guest of honor. The doctor’s shoulders slumped with defeat. Levinson’s eyes filled, and his voice cracked as he waved the two off.  “It’s too late. She’s gone.”

Naturally, I burst out laughing.

Buy link: https://books2read.com/u/m2jl7d

About the Author:

Named Best US Author of the Year by N. N. Lights Book Heaven, award-winning cozy mystery author Susie Black was born in the Big Apple but now calls sunny Southern California home. Like the protagonist in her Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series, Susie is a successful apparel sales executive. Susie began telling stories as soon as she learned to talk. Now she’s telling all the stories from her garment industry experiences in humorous mysteries.

She reads, writes, and speaks Spanish, albeit with an accent that sounds like Mildred from Michigan went on a Mexican vacation and is trying to fit in with the locals. Since life without pizza and ice cream as her core food groups wouldn’t be worth living, she’s a dedicated walker to keep her girlish figure. A voracious reader, she’s also an avid stamp collector and sailor. Susie lives with a highly intelligent man and has one incredibly brainy but smart-aleck adult son who inexplicably blames his sarcasm on an inherited genetic defect.

Looking for more? Contact Susie at:

Website: www.authorsusieblack.com

E-mail: mysteries_@authorsusieblack.com

Contact Links:

Blue Sky: @hollysusiewrites.bsky.social

Facebook: Susie Black, author of The Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series | Facebook

Facebook: https://facebook.com/TheHollySwimsuitMysterySeries

Instagram: Susie Black (@hollyswimsuit) • Instagram photos and videos

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/authorsusieblack-61941011

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/hollysusie1/

X: Susie Black (@hollyswimsuit) / X

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , ,