Book Spotlight: A Sour Note (A Music Box Mystery) by Jill Piscitello

My guest today is Jill Piscitello, author of the new cozy mystery A Sour Note (A Music Box Mystery). I have the double pleasure of reading it now and being able to share this fast-paced amateur sleuth story's details with all of you. Trust me: you won't want to put it down!

TAGLINE:

When murder provides a welcome distraction…

Blurb:

On the heels of a public, broken engagement, Maeve Cleary returns to her childhood home in Hampton Beach, NH. When a dead body turns up behind her mother’s music school, three old friends land on the suspect list. Licking her wounds soon takes a back seat to outrunning the paparazzi who spin into a frenzy, casting her in a cloud of suspicion. Maeve juggles her high school sweetheart, a cousin with a touch of clairvoyance, a no-nonsense detective, and an apologetic, two-timing ex-fiancé. Will the negative publicity impact business at the Music Box— the very place she’d hoped to make a fresh start?

 

EXCERPT:

With his mouth set in a grim line, he waited.

If anyone else had enough nerve to presume she owed them an explanation, she would respond with a solid mind your own business. Instead, the seventeen-year-old still inside her refused to tell him to get lost. “He was hiding money in his office.” This was one of those times when learning how to wait a few beats before blurting out inflammatory information would come in handy. Each second of passing silence decreased her ability to breathe in the confined space. She turned the ignition and switched on the air conditioner.

“How do you know?” His volume just above a whisper, each dragged-out word hung in the air.

“I found it.”

“When were you in his office?” He swiped at a bead of sweat trickling down the side of his face, then positioned a vent toward him.

“Last night.” When would she learn to bite her tongue? Finn’s switch from rapid-fire scolding to slow, deliberate questioning left her unable to swallow over the sandpaper lump in her throat.

“Where was Vic?”

She stared at the back of the building, wishing she’d kept her mouth shut. “He’d left for the night.” If she averted her gaze, she could pretend his eyeballs weren’t bugging out of his head, and his jaw didn’t need a crane to haul it off his chest.

“You were at the town hall after hours? Did anyone see you?”

“A custodian opened his door for me.” She snuck a glance. Sure enough, features contorted in shock and horror replaced his boy-next-door good looks.

About the Author:

Jill Piscitello is a teacher, author, and an avid fan of multiple literary genres. Although she divides her reading hours among several books at a time, a lighthearted story offering an escape from the real world can always be found on her nightstand.

 

A native of New England, Jill lives with her family and three well-loved cats. When not planning lessons or reading and writing, she can be found spending time with her family, trying out new restaurants, traveling, and going on light hikes.

Purchase Links:

Amazon

Kobo

Barnes & Noble

Google Books

Walmart

BooksAMillion

Indie Bound

 

 Social media links:

Website ~ Twitter  ~ Facebook ~  Instagram  ~ Amazon ~ GoodReads ~ BookBub

 

 

Book Spotlight: Raven's Hollow Spring Magic by Tena Stetler

Helen, thank you for allowing me to share a few reasons why everyone should read my new release. Raven’s Hollow Spring Magic revisits the same quirky town and some of the same unusual characters from Meringue Snowflake Magic.  Then add in a few new quirky characters, a romance, a mysterious ancient jelly bean machine, a disappearance, and time travel and—poof—you have a new and exciting tale. I love jelly beans. Don’t you?  I guarantee after reading Raven’s Hollow Spring Magic, you’ll never look at jelly beans the same way again. Am I finished with Raven’s Hollow and the characters?  Only time will tell. <grin> 

Book Trailer – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdUGZl7qipE

Top 11 Reasons You Should Read Raven’s Hollow Spring Magic

1.      Find out what makes Raven’s Hollow so unique.

2.      Find out who is missing and what happened.

3.      What about the adorable dog, Cocoa? Where did she come from?

4.      Was the ancient jelly bean machine to blame?

5.      You love spring time.

6.      You love tales with happily ever after endings.

7.      You love stories set in a small town with quirky townspeople.

8.      You love mystery stories and time travel.

9.      The action, adventure, and magic will keep you turning pages.

10.  Find out what happened in 1861 that intrigued the characters.

11.  You enjoy stories with twist and turns, and engaging characters.

You need a break from your ordinary world to be swept into an exciting mystery sprinkled with a bit of fantasy and romance that you may never want to leave.

Now let’s see what my new release, Raven’s Hollow Spring Magic is all about.

Spring is in full bloom in Raven’s Hollow, a small town in the Colorado Rockies with a population of unique townspeople. Blaze, a dragon shifter, and Wynter, a witch, are neck-deep in wedding preparations, when Wynter’s mother, Jade, goes missing after opening her new antique store, and attending the Simon estate sale where she procured an ancient jelly bean machine. Frantic with worry, Blaze and Wynter track her last movements via the store’s ancient, grainy, security footage. What it reveals is nothing short of shocking. As deputy sheriff, it’s Blaze’s responsibility to find his soon-to-be mother-in-law. But at what cost?

How about a sneak peek between the pages of Raven’s Hollow Spring Magic?

“Let’s not jump to the worst-case scenario. Relax, we’ll find her.” Using his calm cop voice, he felt anything but calm. My gut is telling me she’s not here, and I’ve no idea how to find her. He sucked in a deep breath and blew it out slowly. He could see that his calm voice did little to soothe her.

She nearly vibrated. “Mom is missing. Our wedding is in less than two weeks. Tammy’s baby is due soon. I gotta find a part-time employee and you’re telling me to relax?” Another clap of thunder shook the building and an involuntary scream flew out of her mouth.

He wrapped his arms around her tight and held on. “We’ll find her. Everything will be all right. One step at a time. We’ll stop over to Ms. Roost’s place as soon as the storm subsides. Then we’ll come back here and view the surveillance footage, if there is any. That’s the plan right now. Don’t think it’s smart to try to view it while the storm rages. Electrical current could cause a surge, fry the system, and then where would we be?”

“My head knows you’re right. My heart is at war with my head.”

“I understand. Off to Ms. Roost’s first.” He shut off the lights and unlocked the door.

She set the antiquated alarm, and locked it after they were outside. Thunder still rumbled around with only an occasional flash of lightning. The torrents of rain had turned into a drizzle as they ran to his vehicle. 

Buy Links:

Universal Link: https://books2read.com/u/bOPR5E

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Ravens-Hollow-Spring-Magic-Things-ebook/dp/B0C43XYQ5P

Barnes& Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ravens-hollow-spring-magic-tena-stetler/1143427010?ean=2940160979014

Ibooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/ravens-hollow-spring-magic/id6448729654

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/raven-s-hollow-spring-magic-jelly-beans-and-spring-things-by-tena-stetler 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/146782568-raven-s-hollow-spring-magic

 About the Author: 

Tena Stetler is a best-selling author of award-winning paranormal romance/mystery with an over-active imagination.  She wrote her first vampire romance as a tween, to the chagrin of her mother and the delight of her friends. Colorado is home; shared with her husband, a brilliant Chow Chow, a spoiled parrot and a forty-five-year-old box turtle. When she’s not writing, her time is spent kayaking, camping, hiking, biking or just relaxing in the great Colorado outdoors.

 Her books tell tales of magical kick-ass women and mystical alpha males that dare to love them. Travel, adventure, and a bit of mystery flourish in her books along with a few companion animals to round out the tales.

Social Media Links:

Website: https://www.tenastetler.com

Authors’ Secret’s Blog: https://www.tenastetler.com/category/authors-secrets-blog/

My Say What Blog: https://www.tenastetler.com/category/my-say-what-blog/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/tenastetler.author

Twitter Page: https://www.twitter.com/TenaStetler  

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14187532.Tena_Stetler

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/author/tenastetler

Newsletter: https://www.tenastetler.com/newsletter-signup/

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

Tribber: https://triberr.com/TenaStetler

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tena-stetler

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

Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/tenajean2014

Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tena-stetler-10057978/

My Review:

💖💖💖💖💖 Raven’s Hollow Spring Magic by Tena Stetler in The Wild Rose Press Jelly Bean series, is the sequel to Meringue Snowflake Magic in The Wild Rose Press Cookie series. Introduced in the Christmas book, the characters of Wynter and Blaze find their lives upended when she goes into the Witness Protection Program and lands in Raven’s Hollow, the town he’s protecting as deputy sheriff. Now she’s settling into her new life in a town that’s a haven for magical creatures and where her own gifts can bloom. Only when her mother triggers a time machine do things go awry, but in a charming and delightful way. This is the very coziest of cozies, a fanciful mystery without a dead body cluttering up a most harmonious place, perfect for lovers.

 

FREDERICK FLY-CATCHER on Sale Now

Looking for summer reading for that favorite grade school child or grandchild? A story of adventure that also promotes the values of family, friendship and kindness? 

I’m excited to announce that my middle-grade fantasy, FREDERICK FLY-CATCHER, will be available as part of the Smashwords Summer/Winter Sale! This is a chance to get my book, along with books from many other great authors, at a promotional discount. FREDERICK FLY-CATCHER is cut to half price, only $1.49 in ebook.

You can find the general promo here: Smashwords Summer/Winter Sale

You can find FREDERICK FLY-CATCHER ebook for only $1.49 here: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1244386

Book Spotlight: The Emerald Fairy and the Dragon Knight

 The Emerald Fairy and the Dragon Knight by Jennifer Ivy Walker

This is the final book in Walker’s thrilling and darkly romantic fantasy trilogy based on the legend of Tristan and Isolde/Issylte.

My Review:

💖💖💖💖💖 The Emerald Fairy and the Dragon Knight by Jennifer Ivy Walker is an action-packed adventure across Ireland, Cornwall, and Breton as well as fairy sites of mystical power from islands to lakes and caves. Shape-shifters, elves, and woodland, sea and sky creatures all come to the aid of Issylte and Tristan as they face their final bloody battles with the Black Widow Queen and her devoted servants, both human and otherworldly. Just when the reader thinks the heroes have won some breathing room, the forces of evil cast another dastardly spell to stymie them. Walker weaves an epic tapestry of sacrifice and devotion as these heroes fight their way across land and sea to earn their reward, a life and future together as crowned heads of their respective realms. A terrific finale and fitting conclusion to this version of the timeless legend.

Blurb:

Wielding a trio of enchanted Elven weapons to battle a dark wizard and a legion of diabolical dwarves, Tristan is faced with the impossible choice between saving the woman he loves or defending his endangered kingdom. Inexplicably compelled to remain in the sacred forest where he hears the voice of her heart, the heir to the throne of Cornwall incurs the wrath and scorn of his army when he decides to hunt for his captive mate.

Her verdant magic greatly enhanced by the mystical Morgane la Fée, Issylte must summon a coalition of Naiad nymphs and celestial fairies to destroy a nascent evil as she fights to reclaim her rightful crown.

When the Black Widow Queen unites with a malignant menace and a ghost from Tristan’s haunted past, the Emerald Fairy and the Dragon Knight must ally with a triad of shapeshifting warrior tribes to defeat a Viking Trident and defend their trinity of Celtic kingdoms.

Interwoven fates. Otherworldly mates.  Destiny awaits.

Excerpt:

She held the églantine to her nose, inhaling the delicate fragrance with a smile of wonder. “Thank you, my love. It reminds me of the nightingale in the woods of Avalon. You never cease to amaze me.” Gratitude shifted to empathy as she intently searched his face. “How does it feel to come home?” 

Tristan looked out at the cerulean sea. The blue waters of Lyonesse. His home. “I feel…conflicted. Tremendous guilt and grief, mingled with incredible joy.” He raised the hand in which she held the wild rose, lifting the pink blossom to his nose. He inhaled its soothing floral fragrance—Issylte’s essence—to ease his heavy heart. “When I saw the edge of the forest where Goron held me that day…I relived the horrors…” A violent shudder shook his body.

Issylte wrapped her arms around his waist and nestled her head against his thundering chest.

 He kissed the top of her head, cocooning her in loving arms. “But now…with you here…I remember the love.” He rocked her in his arms as fond memories flowed, washing away the sadness and sorrow. “My mother’s tender touch…my sister’s beautiful smile…my father’s noble face. All the happiness we shared here. All the laughter. All the love.”

Issylte raised her tear-stained face to beam at him. “Love conquers hate. It is the Goddess’ greatest gift. And I am eternally grateful that She has healed your broken heart.”

He kissed her. His Wild Rose. His green golden goddess. His Emerald Fairy. “Aye, my love. She has. Through you.” 

About the Author:

Enthralled with legends of medieval knights and ladies, dark fairy tales and fantasies about Druids, wizards and magic, Jennifer Ivy Walker always dreamed of becoming a writer. She fell in love with French in junior high school, continuing her study of the language throughout college, eventually becoming a high school teacher and college professor of French.

As a high school teacher, she took her students every year to the annual French competition, where they performed a play she had written, "Yseult la Belle et Tristan la Bête"--an imaginative blend of the medieval French legend of "Tristan et Yseult" and the fairy tale "Beauty and the Beast", enhanced with fantasy elements of a Celtic fairy and a wicked witch.

The Emerald Fairy and the Dragon Knight—book 3 and the conclusion of The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven trilogy--is a blend of her love for Celtic legends, the romantic French language, and epic fantasy. It is a paranormal fated mates adaptation of the medieval legend of "Tristan et Yseult" (Tristan and Isolde), interwoven with Arthurian myth, dark fairy tales from the enchanted Forest of Brocéliande, and otherworldly elements such as Avalonian Elves, Druids, forest fairies, and magic.

She hopes her novels will enchant you.

Explore her realm of Medieval French Fantasy:

Website:  https://jenniferivywalker.com/

Goodreads Author page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22671046.Jennifer_Ivy_Walker

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-emerald-fairy-and-the-dragon-knight-the-wild-rose-and-the-sea-raven-book-3-by-jennifer-ivy-walker

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

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/bohemienneivy

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

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jenniferivywalker

Amazon link:  https://www.amazon.com/Emerald-Fairy-Dragon-Knight-Raven-ebook/dp/B0C28XRHR2/ref=sr_1_1?crid=WC4MNXW6LNY2&keywords=the+emerald+fairy+and+the+dragon+knight+jennifer+ivy+walker&qid=1683425307&sprefix=the+emerald+fairy%2Caps%2C125&sr=8-1

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-emerald-fairy-and-the-dragon-knight-jennifer-ivy-walker/1143179531?ean=2940161094518

 

Recommended Reading: Fatal Witness

Fatal Witness by Michelle Godard-Richer will 
give you chills, so read it with the lights on in the middle of the day while you're not alone and the doors are locked. Jessica and Jon and their respective families and friends find their comfortable worlds turned upside down and inside out by one incredibly nasty and clever villain. It's all they can do in this fast-paced thriller to keep evil at bay after Jessica witnesses her neighbor dumping a body into his pickup bed late at night. Thankfully, her long-ago crush has retired from the FBI and returned to the Montana ranch near her aunt's place. If anyone can protect the young widow and her son, it's Jon Kent. But even he will need help to fend off this stalking killer.

  The author masterfully weaves terrifying suspense with a rekindled romance to produce a page-turning thriller. In addition, the author's experience with and education in criminal justice gives credibility to each step of the investigation, undergirding the suspense with a real sense that Jeesica's situation could happen just as described. Well-written suspense with a H/H you're on the edge of your seat rooting for.

Find it on Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/fatal-witness-by-michelle-godard-richer

What I'm Reading: Sazerac, Sleuth & Slay by Mary Cunningham

Welcome to New Orleans, courtesy of  Sazerac, Sleuth & Slay (An Andi Anna Jones Mystery Book 2) by Mary Cunningham 

If you're in the market for a new mystery endorsed by none other than Carolyn Haines, author of the popular Sarah Booth Bones mysteries, look no farther. 

What a twisty mystery! This one kept me wondering whodunnit throughout as the author first presented one suspect and then another thanks to two-faced friends and false leads. When Andi Anna Jones puts on her amateur sleuth hat in order to save her travel agency from being sued by an angry client blaming her agency’s mistakes for his wife’s death, she bites off way more than she can chew. She may have survived her first foray into investigating (book #1), but digging up dirt in New Orleans is not for the faint of heart. While this isn’t what I’d call a light-hearted mystery, what with a gruesome murder and deadly situations, the author has woven in just the right amount of humor, thanks to Andi’s stepmother Ruby and her employee Ellie. The characters are multi-dimensional and varied. And New Orleans’ French Quarter is portrayed in vivid detail, down to the sweltering summer heat, ever-present music, and quirky shops. You won’t want to put this book down.

Here's the rundown:

Synopsis:

It’s gonna be a great day! Or, so she thought.

Andi Anna Jones, so-so travel agent, amateur sleuth, doesn’t suspect her least favorite client, Stewart (The Pain) Payne, will set off circumstances that lead to disappearance and death.

After his wife is a no-show for a convention in New Orleans, his threat to sue Graves Travel for “ten times more than it’s worth”, and Andi’s wish to honor one of her late dad's requests, leads her to The Big Easy in search of Grace Payne.

Five unsolved murders, a body caught in a crawfish cage, and a mysterious candle, magic, and incense shop, takes Andi deep into the bayou on a hunt for clues.

Will another victim be added to a serial killer’s list, or is the main suspect closer to Andi than she thinks.

Bio:

Author, Mary Cunningham grew up on the northern side of the Ohio River in Corydon, Indiana.

Her first memories are of her dad’s original bedtime stories that no doubt inspired imagination and love of a well-spun “yarn”.

Through the author’s horrifying stint as a travel agent, protagonist Andi Anna Jones, travel agent and amateur sleuth, sprang to life. The adult/mystery series gives extra meaning to the phrase, “Write what you know.”

Cunningham also has a published biography depicting a military brat, college and professional basketball player, along with a five-book, middle-grade fantasy series.

She is a member of Sisters in Crime, Sisters in Crime, Atlanta Chapter, International Thriller Writers, Inc., and the Carrollton Writers Guild.

When she gives her fingers a break from the keyboard, she enjoys golf, swimming, and exploring the mountains of West Georgia where she makes her home with her husband and mischievous rescue pup, Murphy.

Links:

http://www.marycunninghambooks.com

Website: http://www.marycunninghambooks.com

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/cynthiasattic/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/MaryCunningham

Amazon Author Page: Amazon.com: Mary Cunningham: books, biography, latest update

Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/author/show/367223.Mary_Cunningham

Instagram: Author Mary Cunningham (@marycunningham2604) • Instagram photos and videos

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon: Sazerac, Sleuth & Slay (An Andi Anna Jones Mystery Book 2) - Kindle edition by Cunningham, Mary. Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Barnes & Noble: Sazerac, Sleuth & Slay by Mary Cunningham | eBook | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

GoodReads Link: Sazerac, Sleuth & Slay by Mary Cunningham | Goodreads

Happy reading!

What I'm Reading: MID-FLIGHT by Lisa Wilkes

Dystopian fiction. I have to admit to a few preconceived notions about the genre, mostly garnered from films. But Lisa Wilkes' latest novel MID-FLIGHT has broadened my mind. 

Tagline:

She failed to save her brother and her best friend from destructive forces. Could she topple the most sinister villain of all time?

Blurb/Book Description:

2037 was a really bad year.

Lexi Brennan’s best friend was killed in a plane crash. Two weeks later, an intergalactic crisis threatened the fate of humanity. Authorities responded by launching a genocide.

Lexi opposed this vicious attack. Then again, what could she do? An eccentric flight attendant drawn to glamorous trysts, she felt powerless to incite change. 

Until tragedy struck close to home. Suddenly, Lexi was forced to acknowledge the widespread atrocities. She uncovered a network of lies along with an opportunity to restore basic human rights. To protect others, Lexi would have to launch a movement that could destroy everything important to her, including her promising new romance.

My review: 

The year 2037 in Lisa Wilkes’ dystopian novel Mid-Flight feels an awful lot like the current era, Pandemic and all. There’s been a meteor disaster followed by a pathogen that together have caused general panic among citizens and governments already leaning into authoritarianism. Flight attendant Lexi Brennen, still reeling from the loss of her best friend, fortunately works for the airline most successfully surviving the calamity. It’s the one thing holding her wounded soul together. When she meets fellow survivor Jason at a training week in Orlando, sparks fly for the first time in ages.

While there are strong connections to current events and situations, and plenty of character commentary on such, the main driver of the novel is Lexi’s emotional journey as she pieces herself back together and finds a way to fight the injustices she sees. Although she takes on serious risk, it’s not the kind of dangerous subterfuge and death-defying stunts often associated with dystopian literature. Rather, this is a story built on relationships. In addition, the author’s experience as a flight attendant brings great authenticity to her portrayal of the inner workings of an airline and its staff.

Disclaimer: I received this book from the author in the hopes I would review it. 

Condensed Author Bio:

Lisa Wilkes has spent 13 years as a flight attendant, jetting across the globe and collecting inspiration for her writings.

In her second novel, Mid-Flight, Lisa transports readers to the year 2038. A flight attendant begins to unravel after her best friend is killed in a plane crash. In the throes of unspeakable grief, she uncovers a political ploy to decimate one-fifth of the population. To combat this sinister plan, she must risk everything. Including her breathtaking new romance.

Lisa’s writing is provocative and timely, with a focus on societal issues and powerful internal conflict.

Contact links:

lisamichellewrites@gmail.com

Website: Https://www.lisamichellewilkes.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Travelisa1984/

Amazon author page: https://amazon.com/author/lisawilkes