Friday, May 02, 2025

Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway: All We Buried (Sheriff Bet Rivers Mystery, #1) by Elena Taylor

The Sheriff Bet Rivers Mystery Series by Elena Taylor Banner

The Sheriff Bet Rivers Mystery Series

by Elena Taylor

April 28 - May 23, 2025 Virtual Book Tour

ALL WE BURIED

Sheriff Bet Rivers: All We Buried by Elena Taylor

Interim sheriff Elizabeth "Bet" Rivers has always had one repeat nightmare: a shadowy figure throwing a suspicious object into her hometown lake in Collier, Washington. For the longest time, she chalked it up to an overactive imagination as a kid. Then the report arrives. In the woods of the Cascade mountain range, right in her jurisdiction, a body floats to the surface of Lake Collier. When the body is extricated and revealed, no one can identify Jane Doe. But someone must know the woman, so why aren't they coming forward?

Bet has been sitting as the interim sheriff of this tiny town in the ill-fitting shoes of her late father and predecessor. With the nightmare on her heels, Bet decided to build a life for herself in Los Angeles, but now it's time to confront the tragic history of Collier. The more she learns, the more Bet realizes she doesn't know the townspeople of Collier as well as she thought, and nothing can prepare her for what she is about to discover.

Book Details:

Genre: Mystery
Published by: Crooked Lane
Publication Date: April 7, 2020
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | Penguin Random House

Plus, Don't Miss

A COLD, COLD WORLD*

Now In Paperback!

The world felt pure. Nature made the location pristine again, hiding the scene from prying eyes. As if no one had died there at all.

In the months since Bet Rivers solved her first murder investigation and secured the sheriff’s seat in Collier, she’s remained determined to keep her town safe. With a massive snowstorm looming, it’s more important than ever that she stays vigilant.

When Bet gets a call that a family of tourists has stumbled across a teen injured in a snowmobile accident on a mountain ridge, she braves the storm to investigate. However, once she arrives at the scene of the accident it’s clear to Bet that the teen is not injured; he’s dead. And has been for some time . . .

Investigating a possible homicide is hard enough, but with the worst snowstorm the valley has seen in years threatening the safety of her town, not to mention the integrity of her crime scenes – as they seem to be mounting up as well – Bet has to move fast to uncover the complicated truth and prove that she’s worthy of keeping her father’s badge.

A Cold, Cold World is nominated for a Foreword INDIES Award, Best Mystery of 2024 (winner announced early June)

Praise for ALL WE BURIED:

"Well-crafted . . . Taylor skillfully sets the scene, describing the distinctive local landscape [while] the introspective, conflicted Bet proves her mettle. Readers will look forward to her next outing."
~ Publishers Weekly

"This spooky and suspenseful story should be a must-read for fans of Lisa Unger, J. A. Jance, and Julia Keller."
~ Booklist

"Extremely hard to put down . . . Would recommend this to anyone who loves mystery thrillers."
~ San Francisco Book Review

"This book stands apart due to its smart, thoughtful protagonist and its richly layered setting in the remote Washington wilderness."
~ Midwest Book Review

"A thrilling start to a mystery series."
~ BookTrib

 

Author Bio:

The Sheriff Bet Rivers Mystery Series by Elena Taylor

Elena Taylor spent several years working in theater as a playwright, director, designer, and educator before turning her storytelling skills to fiction. Her first series, the Eddie Shoes Mysteries, written under the name Elena Hartwell, introduced a quirky mother/daughter crime fighting duo.

With the Bet Rivers Mysteries, Elena returns to her dramatic roots and brings readers much more serious and atmospheric novels. The series introduces Collier, Washington, with its dark and mysterious lake, tough-as-nails residents, and newly appointed sheriff with her sidekick Schweitzer, an Anatolian Shepherd.

Elena is also a senior editor with Allegory Editing, a developmental editing house, where she works one-on-one with writers to shape and polish manuscripts, short stories, and plays. If you’d like to work with Elena, visit www.allegoryediting.com.

Her favorite place to be is at Paradise, the property she and her hubby own south of Spokane, Washington. They live with their horses, dogs, and cats. Elena holds a B.A. from the University of San Diego, a M.Ed. from the University of Washington, Tacoma, and a Ph.D. from the University of Georgia.

Catch Up With Elena Taylor:
www.ElenaTaylorAuthor.com
Elena's Blog: The Mystery of Writing
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads
BookBub - @elenataylorauthor
Instagram - @elenataylorauthor
X - @Elena_TaylorAut
Facebook - @ElenaTaylorAuthor

 

 

 

Review:

5 stars!

Dynamic and relatable young sheriff uncovers long-buried secrets when she returns to her small mountain hometown. 

All We Buried is the first book in author Elena Taylor’s Sheriff Bet Rivers Mystery series, and with its engaging and relatable new female sheriff, remote mountain setting, and intricate plot, it was absolutely unputdownable. Elena Taylor has zoomed to the top of my list of favorite mystery writers. 

At the request of her ailing father, Elizabeth ‘Bet’ Rivers returns to her hometown of Collier, Washington, a small remote town in the Cascades, to serve as interim sheriff while he undergoes treatment for cancer. Bet, a four-year veteran with LAPD and studying for the upcoming detective’s exam, takes a leave of absence, never expecting her father to succumb to his illness within months and leave her in the position. Serving as her father’s eventual successor had always been her plan, a Rivers had been sheriff of Collier for generations; however, she had hoped to have a solid career under her belt in LA before taking the helm once her father retired. She’s torn about her future, wanting to resume her life in LA but realizing with her father’s premature death, her earlier plans may no longer be feasible. Underlying her plans is a deeply ingrained desire to protect the people of Collier, and waiting in the wings for her to leave is a young but inept and lazy deputy who’s already campaigning to be the next sheriff. The discovery of a murder victim found floating in glacial Lake Collier is not only a tough case but an opportunity for Bet to prove herself to her community. But as her investigation progresses, long-buried secrets are revealed, and once disparate storylines start to converge. 

The story kicks off early with the discovery of the body of a young woman, and the author subtly weaves in Bet’s backstory and her dream about seeing a body disposed of in the lake, as well as introduces the supporting characters, the residents of Collier and its visitors, and their secondary storylines. In realistic fashion, the author keeps Bet busy juggling all manner of calls and duties while pursuing her homicide investigation, just like real life in a small department. Still, the pace picked up even more as Bet got closer to the truth, storylines came together, and the resolution loomed. 

One of the most memorable aspects of the story is the small-town setting in the Washington Cascades. Collier, with a tiny year-round population and dependence on tourism, is quite remote, and its isolation impacts the availability of services to the residents and the Sheriff’s Department, delaying responses, information, assistance, and Bet’s case. Lake Collier, a glacial lake devoid of fish or life of any kind, has a dangerous reputation and casts an eerie and ominous presence throughout the book. 

With its engaging main character and exciting plot, I recommend ALL WE BURIED to readers of mysteries and thrillers, especially those who enjoy strong female protagonists or remote mountain settings.


*See my review for A Cold, Cold World HERE!


Tour Participants:

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Book Review: Beds, Breakfasts, and Beta Blockers (Three Dog Mysteries, #1) by Jann Franklin

Beds, Breakfasts, & Beta Blockers (Three Dog Mysteries #1)Beds, Breakfasts, & Beta Blockers by Jann Franklin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

New, fun and quirky, dog-centric cozy mystery debut set in small-town Louisiana.

Beds, Breakfasts, and Beta Blockers is the first book in author Jann Franklin’s new series, the Three Dog Mysteries, and it is a delightful visit to small-town Louisiana, where everyone knows your name and your business. After Ro Bergeron’s grandmother passes away, she decides to turn her family farm in tiny Belle Bayou, Louisiana, into a bed and breakfast targeting guests who travel with their dogs. However, the engaging heroine with her quirky family, while absolutely adorable, is woefully underprepared to embark on her new venture.

Ro is such an innocent and optimistic young woman, and she is completely convinced that everything will be great as she opens her home for business, even though she doesn’t know how to turn on her new oven, let alone cook breakfast. She’s good-hearted, and thankfully, so is her close-knit family, with whom she depends to help smooth out her first attempt at successful innkeeping. Otherwise, she has a good head on her shoulders, which comes in handy when her first guests, a couple of true crime fans, prove to be more interested in the investigation into the recent murder of her former high school math teacher than anything else.

Ro’s twin maiden aunts, Min and Win, are quirky whirlwinds throughout the story, and her cousin Marshall, surrounded by the women in his life, is an often put-upon but loving family man. To set the stage for her dog-friendly B&B, Ro adopts the three dogs of a local man, sadly relocating to a New Orleans senior facility at the behest of his son. Having never owned a pet in her life, Ro experiences a quick “Come to Jesus” when two of the dogs prove to be rambunctious, untrained labs, and the third is an aging senior dog.

The plot is well-paced, with the author introducing readers to Ro, her family, friends, and other supporting characters and developing a pretty robust backstory for all. While the death of the victim occurs early in the story, Ro doesn’t become directly involved until her true-crime, social media-obsessed guests arrive and strong-arm her into a meet & greet with the investigator on the case, Ro’s secret high school crush. The clueless guests, the antics of the aunties, and Ro’s miscalculations had me laughing throughout the entire book.

I recommend BEDS, BREAKFASTS, AND BETA BLOCKERS to cozy mystery readers.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.


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Thursday, May 01, 2025

Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway: Hairless Hassles (Mobile Cat Groomer Mystery, #3) by Ruth J. Hartman

 

Hairless Hassles
A Mobile Cat Groomer Mystery

by

Ruth J. Hartman

About Hairless Hassles

 

Hairless Hassles (A Mobile Cat Groomer Mystery)

Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting - Indiana
Level Best Books (April 22, 2025)
Number of Pages 280
Digital ASIN: B0F585MZ9Z

When two of Cat Groomer Molly Stewart’s pet parents are framed for murder, Molly will stop at nothing to keep her octogenarian friends out of jail. The fact that the body was discovered between Florence and Lottie’s houses doesn’t bode well for the ladies, or the fact that their Sphynx cats were way too interested in pawing at the body when it was discovered. Although Molly is ready to pounce on the real killer, will she be able to help them, or has the ladies’ continual gossip and spying on others finally landed them in hot water?

CLICK TO PURCHASE!

 

About Ruth J. Hartman

Ruth J. Hartman loves a good mystery. That’s probably why she happily gave up a life of cleaning other people’s teeth to write books. With several cozy mysteries under her belt, her main problem is keeping the characters straight – sometimes they have a tendency to hop on over to a different series, just for laughs

Over forty books later, consisting of romances, a children’s book, women’s fiction, and now cozy mysteries, Ruth still enjoys the thrill of taking the thoughts and images of her characters from her imagination to her computer screen.

She lives in rural Indiana with her husband, Garry, and their family of spoiled cats. Because of Ruth’s love for felines, every one of her books has at least one cat in it. Her cats, who’ve deemed themselves her editors, act like they’re supervising her writing, even though they’re often loafing off or napping.



Review

5 stars!

Mystery and murder return to Whitewater Valley! 

Hairless Hassles is the third book in author Ruth J. Hartman’s great Mobile Cat Groomer Mysteries, which features intrepid cat-mom Molly Stewart, and her feline family, Jasper and Percival. When elderly and very quirky clients, next-door neighbors Florence Makes and Lottie Campbell, become the main suspects in a murder, Molly can’t sit back and watch. She’s compelled to look deeper into the case and clear her friends’ names. 

Molly Stewart, cat groomer extraordinaire and successful amateur sleuth, is once again at the right place at the right time for her cats to find the body of the latest victim of murder in the small town of Whitewater Valley, Indiana. The plot gets down to business straight away with the discovery of the victim occurring in the very first chapter. As the body is found in between the two octogenarians’ homes, the sheriff soon narrows his investigation to these two elderly ladies. While a highly doubtful conclusion from the start, the victim, Carlotta Sykes, also has a reputation for being unpleasant and was involved in a couple of nasty altercations in the days leading up to her death, so there are a few more plausible suspects to consider besides. Also, Florence and Lottie have provided some wonderfully reliable comic relief in this series from the start, and it would have been a sad day for them to have been the culprits. I went back and forth on some others, though, and it took the suspenseful confrontation between Molly and the real perpetrator to reveal the actual murderer. 

As with the previous books, there is a plethora of locals dropping in and out of the story throughout, and there is nice teamwork between Molly and her friends to investigate and cross the red herrings off their list of possible suspects. There are plenty of cats to ooh and ahh over, including the Sphynx kitties, Eleanor and Helga, which are referenced in the book’s title. Readers new to the series should have no trouble jumping in on this story as each one reads as a standalone.

 With its engaging characters, both human and feline, and interesting and quickly evolving plot, I recommend HAIRLESS HASSLES to cozy mystery readers, especially those who enjoy cat-themed stories.


Tour Participants

April 24 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
April 24 – Jody's Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
April 25 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT
April 26 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
April 27 – Christy's Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
April 28 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
April 29 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
April 30 – Frugal Freelancer – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
May 1 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW
May 1 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
May 2 – Sneaky the Library Cat's blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
May 3 – Reading Is My SuperPower – SPOTLIGHT

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Book Tour & Giveaway: Shadowed Skies by Haley Cavanagh


Shadowed Skies
by
Haley Cavanagh


YA / Dystopian / Fantasy / Romance
Publisher: Our Street Books
Publication Date: April 1, 2025
Page count: 208 pages


SCROLL DOWN FOR GIVEAWAY!

SYNOPSIS:
 
In the shadowed aftermath of global destruction, humanity’s hope takes flight on the wings of the Evol-humans. River Shaw, secluded in his high-altitude sanctuary, seeks solace after a life scarred by loss. His quiet existence is disrupted when Delene Fairborne, fleeing captivity and a dark past, crashes into his world. Together, they find strength in their unique abilities, resisting the sinister forces that hunt them for a cure only their blood can provide. As love blossoms amidst the chaos, they face a ruthless scientist hell-bent on harnessing their power. Shadowed Skies is a tale of survival, sacrifice, and soaring hope, where two souls, bound by destiny, fight for a world on the brink. Dive into a world where love flies against insurmountable odds.

CLICK TO PURCHASE!

ENJOY AN EXCERPT:

I wake to a muscular, silent figure looming over me, his wings casting unnerving shadows. intelligent dark eyes scrutinize me from his smooth, brown face framed by cropped black hair and raven quills. He’s been around the block. My guard shoots up. I’d stand, but my body’s too weak from the climb.

“Your nest, huh? Sorry, I didn’t see your name on it.”

“It’s carved right over there.” He points past me to the rockface. My eyes travel over the stone, where he’d etched River in craggy letters. The carved name is so tiny I didn’t notice.

“Now you’re supposed to tell me your name. That’s how this goes.”

I blink. “Delene Fairborne. Listen, would you mind if I––ow,” I scrape against the wall and suck air through my teeth. I clamp my eyes shut.

“Are you okay?”

I shrug the blanket off, and my injured wing flops lamely near my shoulder. River’s eyebrows Lower, and he comes closer.

“Let me look.”

He stows his serrated hunting knife, presents empty hands, and crouches to examine my injury.

“Relax. I won’t hurt you. Let’s see the damage.”

He’s gentle, avoiding the wound and handling my feathers softly. He lightly touches the Bandage.

“Dr. Lytle runs the Stockade, the underground bunker and lab where the humans imprison and experiment on our kind. His men hunted me down and shot me with a crossbow as I tried
to escape. The wound is still healing––I changed the bandage earlier, but without a spare set of clothes, I had to tear strips off my pants to re-dress it.”

“Hmm.” He examines the back with a frown. “There’s an exit wound.”

“Yeah, I pulled it out.”

“Well, that was stupid of you. You could have died if those goons pierced a blood feather.”

My temper flares. “Oh, as opposed to leaving it in. I’d rather take my chances, thanks.” My voice is hostile, though I’m grateful for his help. I still don’t know who he is or what he wants, and my mother warned me to be on my guard.

River sits back on his haunches, sighs, and meets my eyes.

“Doesn’t look good. How long have you been here, kid? A day or so?”

“I’m no kid. I’m seventeen.”

“Well, I’m eighteen. So, you’re a kid.”

“By what, a few whole months?” I snicker. “Okay. If a kid free-climbed in the pitch-black up a hundred-foot cliff to get here, I guess I’m a kid.”

After examining the wound, he says, “The damage looks fixable. Let’s clean this well to prevent infection.”

“I’ve cleaned the wound.”

“Clean deeper,” he admonishes. “I don’t have antibiotics, but I’ll try to get some. Or at least honey. Honey heals.”

He hesitates before retrieving water, then takes a rag from his pouch and soaks the cloth. With the knife still in hand, he comes closer.

“Look … You seem all right, but I’m a lone wolf. I operate solo. You have a target with a big ‘X’ on your back. I feel bad for you. I do. But you know how it is with our kind.” He gives me a blatant look, so here’s your cue to leave.

“Gee, I’d kindly vacate the premises, but I can’t fly.”

He rubs the back of his neck, agitated. “The valley’s full of drones. And they’ve got at least a dozen soldiers combing the forest.”

“I’m sorry.” I shift my eyes down. “You never asked for any of this.”

“None of us did,” he waves me off. “The soldiers are here. I’m screwed either way.” He pauses and assesses me. “Stay the night. Then after that, I’m sorry, but you need to find somewhere
else to hide.”

The night might be all I need. “Thank you.”



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Haley Cavanagh is a military veteran, wife, and mother. She is a multiple award-winning and best-selling author and the two-time recipient of the League of Utah Writers Silver Quill Award in 2020 and 2024. Haley is an alumna of Columbia College, a musical theater nut, and she loves to dive into any book that crosses her path. Haley resides with her family in the United States and enjoys spending time with her husband and children when she’s not writing. She loves to hear from her readers and encourages you to contact her via her website and social media.



 

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Book Tour & Giveaway: Insight (Insight, #1) by Jamie Magee


She’s marked by stars, hunted by shadows—
and destined for a love that spans worlds.


Insight

Insight Series Book 1

by Jamie Magee

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance



"Spellbinding lyrically crafted fantasy series." Sarah Dodd

 

"Magic, action, and paranormal romance offer an escapism that will engross readers—the story stays with you, unforgettable." - M. Mass



Cursed with an empathic insight, Willow Haywood has lived her life as a proud introvert in a small town. Her world shatters when a nightmare brands her wrist with a star. The foreboding omen forces her family to unveil ancient secrets that bend the boundaries of reality, dreams, and dimensions.

In the chaos of this revelation, Willow focuses on the good dreams she had every night of her life. Her instinct promised her that the angel in them was real, that he was her soul mate, and together they would be an unbeatable force in the promised war of young gods.

The conflicted path to him was easier to face than the mystery, magic, and danger haunting the shadows of the cosmic storms on the horizon. With or without him… her nightmare would soon be her reality if she did not flee to the dimension her soul once roamed.

Guided by love, tormented by fear, and hunted by those who would twist her gifts for their sinister ends, Willow’s journey is one of self-discovery, sacrifice, and the relentless pull of destiny.

Insight is a spellbinding tale of love, prophecy, and the courage to find your true self. Perfect for fans of young adult fantasy and multidimensional adventures, it’s an unforgettable story that will stay with you long after the last page.

Are you ready to step into the storm? The journey begins here. 


"We lost ourselves in the teen angst of Fallen, and Hush, Hush. We found courage in the pages of Hunger Games and Divergent. Our imagination was on fire inside of Mortal Instruments, Throne of Glass, and The Red Queen. And now we have the compelling, enigmatic, character-driven thrill ride of the long-reaching contemporary fantasy series INSIGHT." Colleen Riley

 

**Get it FREE!! **

Amazon * Apple Books * B&N * Kobo * BookBub * Goodreads





Jamie Magee is not your average author—she’s also an astrologer and the host of Scheduling Fate, a podcast where insight meets inspiration. With over 22 published novels spanning Young Adult, New Adult, and Contemporary genres, Jamie has captivated readers with stories that stir the heart and awaken the soul.

Her passion for storytelling is matched by her love of astrology. Whether she’s guiding you through fictional dimensions or decoding the deeper meaning of life’s turning points, Jamie helps her audience align with purpose, embrace their own rhythm, and schedule fate with intention.

Website * Facebook * X (Twitter) 

Instagram * Bluesky * BookBub

Amazon * Goodreads



Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Win A free 30 min astrology reading with the author,

or

$10 Amazon giftcard 

– 1 winner each! 



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Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Book Review: Unstoppable (Kate Preacher Thriller, #2) by Michael Maloof

Unstoppable (Kate Preacher Thriller #2)Unstoppable by Michael Maloof
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This thrilling and intricate follow-up to the series debut will keep readers glued to their seats and begging for more!

Unstoppable is the second book in author Michael Maloof's exceptional Kate Preacher Thriller series, building on the intrigue and, perhaps, even surpassing the intensity of the series debut. Kate Preacher, although still reeling from her husband's murder during an armed attack on a Parisian café, is determined to get to the truth, expose those responsible, and extract her own vengeance. Kate's husband warned his killer that she would be unstoppable, but so are the thrills readers will experience from this story.

Only days have elapsed since Jake Church was gunned down by a long-range sniper's bullet, but that is enough time for his widow, former CIA analyst Kate Preacher, to gather her resources and head back to Paris to prove her theory that the brutal café attack which took Jake's life and made him a national hero was no terroristic act but a calculated assassination when he got too close to the perpetrators involved in a high-level and powerful international crime coalition. Even after having read the previous novel, I was still thrilled by her tactical skills, knowledge, and the digital forensics used in the story. Key characters from book one return to lend their considerable expertise while surprising new allies and hidden antagonists enter the picture. The loyalty and determination of Jake's former team members are on full display and, at times, evoke gut-wrenching admiration.

The plot is fast-paced as the story hits the ground running, and the action and intrigue are unrelenting and non-stop. Dangerous secrets, hints of unknown agendas, and shocking plot twists kept me on the edge of my seat as Kate got ever closer to her goal, and those working against her tried to stop her or, at a minimum, manage her discoveries and limit the consequences. When loyalty, friendship, and her concern for another character's safety take Kate from Paris to an emerging African country, the stakes rise when evil intentions become clear and broaden to affect even more innocents, and storylines cleverly converge.

While this is the second Kate Preacher novel, the author subtly weaves in enough backstory for readers new to the series to read this book as a standalone. I recommend UNSTOPPABLE and the Kate Preacher Thriller series to thriller fans.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.



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Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway: Snowfall by Jennifer Patricia O'Keeffe

by

Jennifer Patricia O'Keeffe

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by

Goddess Fish Promotions.

Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

RomCom

Publisher: DCL Publications

Publication Date: March 13, 2025

Page count: 87 pages

SCROLL DOWN FOR GIVEAWAY!

SYNOPSIS:

Melody is a simple woman with simple needs that include good clean books, safe and intelligible television, and a job that she loves. As far as she’s concerned, she has everything she needs, including a beloved gig as the assistant librarian of her local public library. When a Winter Reads program turns chaotic and Melody is caught in the crossfires of a massive child-induced food fight, her dream job becomes a nightmare – a nightmare that continues into a snow-covered, accident-prone next day. After waking up to a sudden massive snowfall covering her town, she becomes the unwilling victim of a snowball fight between two identical twin brothers. Melody must then decide if she has met her very own Mister Right, or if her perfect life can handle an imperfect interruption. Lighthearted laughs and endearing moments fill this modern romantic comedy by humorist Jennifer Patricia O’Keeffe.

CLICK TO PURCHASE!

This book will be on sale for $0.99 for the duration of the tour.


ENJOY AN EXCERPT:

As she walked, she read. While there were a lot of people around, it wasn’t very crowded. She didn’t worry about bumping into anybody or tripping over anything as long as she stayed on the paved pathways that circled around and wound through the city park. The pathways had plenty of snow covering them, but the people who had arrived before her did good work in trampling through and stomping down the snow that covered them.

Soon, all thoughts of her surroundings faded away into the background as Sally and her tale of love and life took over. Melody was at a really great part too. Sally, the protagonist, was single and twenty-five – close enough to Melody’s own age to make her very relatable. And there was this guy named Eric who worked at the same clothing store as Sally. Sally had found him attractive, and she hoped the same from him. At the start of the current chapter, Sally received a dozen red roses with an unsigned note card attached that says, “You look beautiful today.”

Melody gushed and paused in her step to just take in the moment. And, in that very moment, she heard a man shout, “I got it! I got it, bro!”

Looking up just in time to see a snowball nearing her face and a man leaping in front of it to try and catch it, Melody squealed. The snowball splattered against the man’s hand. The man lost his footing on the snow and fell backward. This caused him to impact with a startled Melody, plunging into her and knocking her down to the ground. Her bottom plopped down into the deep snow, and her elbows helped prevent her from landing flat and making it worse. Had she not been holding on to Roses for Sally for dear life, she surely would have damaged the book in the snow.

The man who collided into her landed just a foot or so in front of her and was pushing himself out of the snow while laughing. She watched him as he wiped the snow off himself, oblivious to her existence on the ground behind him. More than a bit insulted by the moment, she glared up at him.

“I told you I got it!” he shouted and laughed again. “Dude, did you see that block?”

“Yeah, bro,” yelled another voice. “But did you see what else you hit?”

“Huh?” the man asked. “What’d I hit?”

Melody watched him look over his shoulder and finally see her there on the ground behind him.

“Oh…” he muttered, looked blank for a moment, and then smiled and said, “Hi!”

GUEST POST:

Please welcome the author of our featured book, Jennifer Patricia O'Keeffe, to the blog today!

‘Smiles Brighten Rainy Days’
 by Jennifer Patricia O'Keeffe

The reason I write romantic comedies is because I love nothing more than to smile. To laugh. To be happy. That’s why I am a literary humorist. I believe that joy opens us up to receive the greater things out of life.

I wrote ‘Snowfall’ because I needed to smile. I needed to laugh. I needed to be happy, but I wasn’t. I was depressed, which is not very good for a humorist. Life around me had become different and chaotic. I’d stopped writing after just beginning to build a steady fanbase. I was simply going through the doldrums of each single day and into the next, off my path and forgetting my dreams of goals.

Then, in late fall of last year, I had a serious heart to heart with myself and reminded myself that the thing that makes me happiest in life is writing and bringing joy to my readers. I sat myself down, opened up my laptop, and wrote again for the first time in a long time.

That is how ‘Snowfall’ was born.

‘Snowfall’ is a book about a woman with a perfectly simple life who believe she has everything she needs and doesn’t need anything more. On one fateful morning, she awakens to a huge snowfall covering her city and throwing a wrench in her day’s plans. It is then that her perfect, simple life takes a series of heavy blows.

Her name is Melody, and she is strong and demonstrates this throughout ‘Snowfall,’ taking on whatever life throws her way.

Through it all is what I do best – incorporating humor into everyday life. Nothing feels better than a genuine smile, and the offer of that is what ‘Snowfall’ brings to the table.

If you’re expecting something along the lines of Amy Schumer style romantic comedies, you won’t find that here. My romcoms are cleaner, without the usage of foul language or explicit sex throughout. I believe in leaving some things up to the imagination, and I believe the language in my books shouldn’t offend my readers, no matter who they may be. I write light, safe romantic comedies, and ‘Snowfall’ embodies that.

I enjoyed romantic comedies when I was a teenager, and I’ll enjoy them when I’m old. That’s another reason my romcoms are appropriate for most ages. They’re entertaining, plot driven, and – especially in the case of ‘Snowfall’ – they offer a realistic look at today’s young every-woman and a glimpse of what today’s romance involves.

I can’t express how much I love this book, and I am appreciative of this opportunity to explain why. If you need a smile on your face… if you need to breathe a sigh of joy instead of a sigh of angst or boredom… if you need someone to root for and to love who would love you and root for you back, meet Melody. Enjoy her snowstorm adventure.

Thank you for enjoying this moment with me here at Guatemala Paula Loves to Read Blog! I do hope you’ll take a chance on my style of romantic comedies and read my latest release ‘Snowfall.’ I promise, it’ll put a smile on your face and a tickle on your funny bone!

If you’re interested in reading more of my musings, or my book reviews, movie reviews, or the occasional recipe or household tip I feel the urge to share, please follow my blog at: https://singlegirlsguidetohappiness.blogspot.com/

Much Love and Many Laughs,

Jenn. 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jennifer Patricia O’Keeffe is a humorist fiction author whose works include the stories My Name is Not Cupid, The Scent of a Man, and the beautifully reviewed thriller about a mother who would stop at nothing to save her child, Hot Chocolate on a Cold Winter’s Night, among others. Known for her quirky romantic comedies that feature realistic women of various ages and races and the trials and tribulations of adulting and dating, Jennifer’s writings allow real women to see themselves in her characters. Jennifer is also a proud LGBTQ+ ally and often features gay characters in her stories, including the tale All I Want is to be Happy, which features a wonderful gay protagonist. Jennifer, herself, is a single straight woman, still looking for love, and living with her cats in an apartment in Nashville, Tennessee.

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GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!
Jennifer Patricia O'Keeffe will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.

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Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Book Review: Relentless (Kate Preacher Thriller, #1) by Michael Maloof

RelentlessRelentless by Michael Maloof
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A fantastic debut for this thrilling new series featuring former CIA analyst Kate Preacher!

Relentless is the first book in author Michael Maloof’s thrilling new series featuring former CIA analyst Kate Preacher, and what a debut it is! With its honorable and sympathetic protagonist and breathtaking plot, this book needs to be on the top of every thriller lover’s wish list!

The main character is Kate Preacher, a former CIA analyst who left the business when a mission went horribly wrong. As a result of the mission, though, she met her husband and the love of her life, Jake Church, a retired SEAL and now owner of an elite executive protection firm. Kate now uses her vast technological skills to support litigation at a downtown Richmond, Virginia, law firm. At times, those skills satisfyingly end up helping the little guy but, for the most part, assist in protecting the assets or reputation of the firm’s wealthy, high-profile clients who have something to hide. Lately, she’s been second-guessing her career choice and what her future holds, but a deadly terrorist attack in Paris ultimately takes the decision out of her hands. Kate is a dynamic character, going from crippling grief to fully harnessing every skill and tactic in her repertoire to follow up on what Jake was secretly investigating and tracking down those responsible for the Parisian café bloodbath. She’s smart and determined and swallows her pride in calling on all her old connections for favors, even those she swore she’d never deal with again. I quite literally ached for what Kate had experienced in her past and for all she was going through in the present.

The story opens tragically and violently, establishing an atmosphere of dark, brooding menace always lurking in the background. The resulting sorrow is interrupted by adrenaline-fueled action sequences that had me gasping, and scenes of military honors, traditions, and ceremonies had me trying to hold back tears. The plot thickens with unexpected twists and turns and high-tech shenanigans. Still, with both Kate’s and Jake’s backgrounds, an amazing array of creative and envy-inducing technological and tactical hardware is available to Kate for her to fight back. The story was mesmerizing, and I didn’t want to put the book down. My only regret is that there isn’t a prequel detailing the Syrian mission.

I recommend RELENTLESS to readers who enjoy thrillers with international connections, technological creativity, and capable, strong female protagonists.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.




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Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway: Stone of Doubt (Stones of Iona, #5) by Margaret Izard


STONE OF DOUBT
Stones of Iona, Book 5
by
Margaret Izard

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by
Goddess Fish Promotions.
Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Paranormal Romance
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
Publication Date: March 17, 2025
Page count: 187 pages

SCROLL DOWN FOR GIVEAWAY!

SYNOPSIS:

In the absence of doubt, only faith is found. 

A human with Fae powers living like an oddball has its ups and downs until Evie MacDougall’s dream Fae boy pops back into her life after she thought another was “the one.” 

One dark and devilish, the other her long-lost love. Evil forces trap her for a magic Fae stone, but which man can she trust? As a teen prophesied to be Fae king, Aodhán viewed the girl of his dreams through an Eye of Ra. 

Once, he risked all to help Evie MacDougall find a magic Fae stone, only to end up imprisoned. Kept from his true love for years, he finds her at risk from an evil Fae hunting a magic stone. 

Is a single vow strong enough to save true love, to save the human and Fae realms?

CLICK TO PURCHASE!


ENJOY AN EXCERPT:

Her head shot up, and he stood before her. “Hello, Evie.”

Her hand lifted as she moved it toward him, expecting it to pass through. When she touched his warm chest, she jerked back.

He captured it in his hand. “Aye, I’m real, Evie.”

He brought her hand to his lips and brushed the back, kissing her. Tingles shot from her hand to her heart. Only one person affected her that way. Aodhán.

His grin grew as he lowered her hand. “I’ve been away, and for that, I am sorry. But I’m finally freed. Free to revisit the human realm.”

Tears gathered in her eyes as he gazed into her eyes, her heart. Her Fae love, Aodhán, stood before her and held her hand.

“Evie, please let me make up my absence to ye. Let me show ye new hope and erase all doubt about yer feelings for me.”

She whimpered as a tear fell. “Aodhán?”

His hand came up and caught her tear. He rotated his palm and held it open, presenting a clear gemstone shaped like a teardrop.

Handing it to her, he whispered, “I can only stay a moment, but tomorrow I shall come to ye. I’m glad ye kept the sphere. I heard yer call every time. No more tears, Evie.”

He brushed a kiss on her lips. “Look for me tomorrow night in yer dreams. Don’t lose hope.”

Aodhán faded from her view.

Evie blinked. She turned around once, scanning the area. No one was about.

She turned again, calling out, “Hello?”

No one appeared on the street.

She pulled her camera up and pressed the button. Aodhán’s smiling face and ethereal glow came into view. Proof he’d visited and she’d not seen a ghost.

Her fingers brushed her tingling lips at the promise of tomorrow night.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Margaret Izard is an award-winning author of historical fantasy and paranormal romance novels. Her latest awards are 2024 Reader’s Favorite Honorable Mention for Stone of Love and 2024 Spring BookFest Silver Award for the same title. She spent her early years through college to adulthood dedicated to dance, theater, and performing. Over the years, she developed a love for great storytelling in different mediums. She does not waste a good story, be it movement, the spoken, or the written word. She discovered historical romance novels in middle school, which combined her desire for romance, drama, and fantasy. She writes exciting plot lines, steamy love scenes and always falls for a strong male with a soft heart. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and adult triplets.


GUEST POST:

Please welcome Margaret Izard, the author of our featured book, Stone of Doubt, to the blog today!

Surprising research finds that subtly make their way into your story
by
Margaret Izard

In the course of writing our books, there is always a fascinating piece of research that we (authors) stumble on, and it may or may not make it into our stories. Really good research should, of course, never be intrusive, so here is your opportunity to let that little piece of trivia or major research point have its moment in the sun. Today, I think it would be wonderful to share one of those discovered “Fun Facts.”
Research is a big part of the development of my books. From research, I’ve had the Brooch of Lorne, a historical artifact that readers will see repeatedly in the Stones of Iona books. But I had the greatest gift from research in an event, especially for Stone of Doubt. While much of my research centers around history since many in the series revolve around time travel, Stone of Doubt, book 5 in the Stones of Iona,doesn’t travel in time.
 
Stone of Doubt takes place in Edinburgh, Scotland, on the present day, and I needed an event or festival for Manix to take Evie, and the city has not disappointed. I found the Hidden Door Project, a volunteer-run charity whose work is funded through ticket sales, sponsorship, and fundraising. All money goes back into the festival and ensures all their creative contributors are fairly paid. They open up forgotten urban spaces for the public to explore and discover incredible music, art, theatre, film, dance, spoken word, and more. Through the festivals, the project reveals hidden parts of the city and showcases new and emerging artists, musicians, theatre, and filmmakers.

You can find out more about them HERE!


Thank you for visiting with us on the blog today, Margaret!


GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!

Margaret Izard will be awarding
a Stone of Doubt Book Swag Box
to a randomly drawn winner.




 


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