The Scheme

THE SCHEME

Amethyst Drake

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

GENRE:  Mystery

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

BLURB:

 

Katherine Carson, a former intelligence operative turned private detective, has never been in it for the money. But when a desperate CEO offers double her usual fee to find his missing daughter, she can't refuse.

 

Set in Baltimore, 2009, what begins as a simple missing person inquiry transforms into a complex case of espionage, financial crime, and deep-seated grudges. For Katherine, this case strikes a personal chord, stirring up haunting memories from her own past. As unexpected connections emerge, she must confront her unresolved guilt.

 

Can Katherine and her team of private detectives solve the case before it's too late, or will the turmoil of her past consume her?

Excerpt:

 

Katherine slowed down as she closed the final feet between them. Her target was cornered. Marty attempted a final desperate move, grabbing some scaffolding to haul himself up. The cold metal groaned in protest and shook under his weight. Katherine reacted instinctively as the scaffolding began to shudder. She leapt over the scattered debris, snatched Marty by his belt, and pulled with all her strength. She managed to rip Marty away mere moments before the neglected structure top-pled over, sending a billow of dust and debris into the air.

 

They both covered their faces and waited for the dust to settle. Marty’s chest heaved as he gaped at the place where he had been standing moments before. 

 

He coughed and stammered. “You saved me.”

 

“Don’t get sentimental on me, Marty, I need information.” Her eyes blazed with intensity. “Why did you run?”

 

“Are you kidding? The last thing I want is to tangle with you again. I couldn’t believe it when they told me you’d be on the other side of the case.” Marty tried to scramble to his feet.

 

“What case? And who's they?” Katherine helped Marty up.

 

“The prosecutors. The stolen pesticide?”

 

“Marty, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I haven’t heard about stolen pesticide. I’m here to ask for your help,” Katherine gritted her teeth, “as one professional to another.”

 

“Oh.” Marty looked relieved and straightened his coat. “In that case, sure. Anything you want.”

 

"Great. I'm looking for a young woman who has gone missing. Tell me why you were following Olivia Ames."

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Amethyst Drake is a passionate storyteller. She excels at crafting delightful characters and enjoys developing com-plex relationships among them. Mystery has always been her favorite genre to read, making it a natural choice for her writing. She aims to blend her personal experience with mental health and the moral complexities of intricate interpersonal relationships into engaging novels.

 

Amethyst loves reading all kinds of mysteries, suspense, and thrillers and enjoys watching classic detective and espionage dramas like "Murder, She Wrote," "Perry Mason," and "Mission: Impossible." 

 

She also loves hearing from readers! Connect by signing up for her newsletter at amethystdrake.com or email amethyst@agswordsmiths.com

 

Links

Author Website https://amethystdrake.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amethystdrake.author

Amazon https://amzn.to/3M5lmJO

Barnes and Noble https://bit.ly/3Z3VsOv

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Choice

The CHOICE

Dora Farkas

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

GENRE:  Women's Fiction

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

BLURB:

 

Val is a young Mexican-American quantum physicist and single mother struggling with an anxiety disorder and financial challenges. Her world is turned upside down when her ex-husband files for full custody of their three-year-old daughter to take her across the country where he was offered a job. The story unfolds as she decides either to stay put in Boston and meet job related deadlines or go on a holiday and visit her parents in Mexico.

 

Encouraged by her father, Val flies to Mexico with Maya, her service dog, and Daisy, her daughter, and she discovers a world of magic that will change her outlook on life forever. She also reconnects with her childhood friend, Mercedes, who gives her a glimmer of hope. Things, however, are not what they seem to be. As all areas of her life begin to fall apart, Val must explore the power of her intuition and make different choices to change the course of her and her daughter’s futures.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

Excerpt 

While growing up, Mom and I had a special tradition: every Friday afternoon, she showed me how to cook and bake her family’s recipes, some of them as old as 400 years. As soon as I could stand, she pulled up a stool for me, and I watched her prepare dishes from her native town in Oaxaca, Mexico, which had been passed down from mother to daughter for many generations.

 

Although she had to create a new home when she and Dad moved from Oaxaca to a suburb of Boston before I was born, she made sure that I would be well-prepared to pass on our family’s recipes to my children. My memories from elementary school are filled with rolling churros in cinnamon sugar, measuring out ingredients for our family’s secret mole recipe, and taking turns with Mom mixing sweet corn dough for tamales. 

 

When I was in middle school, she stood right next to me as I simmered the sweetened milk for capirotada, the bread pudding my family ate every Easter, and nodded in approval as the deep aroma of cinnamon sticks, brown sugar, and cloves filled the air. The older I became, the more Mom expected from me in the kitchen, but there was one thing that never changed throughout the years: whenever we cooked and baked together, time stood still.

 

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

 

 

 

Although Dora was born in Budapest, Hungary, she lived in Mexico for five years during her early childhood. Her connection to the Mexican language, history, and cooking inspired the cultural setting for her debut novel, “Choice.” 

 

After getting her doctorate from MIT, she published her first book, “The Smart Way to Your Ph.D.” which paved the way for a six-figure consulting business while she was a stay-at-home mom with two daughters. She has given workshops about writing at MIT, Tufts, Boston University, the University of Connecticut, Ohio State University, the Scripps Research Institute, the University of Calgary, and the University of British Columbia. 

 

 

 

Author website: https://dorafarkas.com/

Buy link: https://dorafarkas.com/Choice

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dora.farkas

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

 

The author will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner.

 

CLICK HERE

 

Beyond the Book: Don't Tempt Me

“No matter how many _____ I have, I always have the urge to buy more.” 

I thought about this topic, and it seems to me that most of the things that tempt me most fall into several categories. The first is china. I love fine china, especially holiday china. I have three sets of Christmas china, and not a Christmas went by that I didn’t use them. As I got older my granddaughter offered to handle Christmas for the family. I agreed to her plan without reservation because planning a Christmas gathering for twenty five is a big undertaking. So the last two years my beautiful china hasn’t been used. I’ve seen new pieces that I love, but I leave them in the store. I also have three sets of regular china, but I love the Christmas ones best. I can also add Christmas decorations to this category. I have way too much now, but I can always find more that I want.

The second category that temps me is clothing trimmed in white lace. To me, it’s gorgeous. I have several pieces that I love, but while I’m tempted to buy it most of the time I can restrain myself. Now when it comes to shoes I find so many pretty ones I could probably fill a room with them. The thing is my older feet need good supportive shoes not the strappy ones I love. 

The third category is books. I mostly read ebooks now so I don’t have to worry about space for storage. That being said when I see a book I like I buy it. I think I could resist almost anything but books. I’ve been a reader since I was a child, and I have no intention of stopping anytime soon. I always buy books. I feel kind of sorry for people who don’t read. They don’t know what they’re missing.

“No matter how many _____ I have, I always have the urge to buy more.” 

I thought about this topic, and it seems to me that most of the things that tempt me most fall into several categories. The first is china. I love fine china, especially holiday china. I have three sets of Christmas china, and not a Christmas went by that I didn’t use them. As I got older my granddaughter offered to handle Christmas for the family. I agreed to her plan without reservation because planning a Christmas gathering for twenty five is a big undertaking. So the last two years my beautiful china hasn’t been used. I’ve seen new pieces that I love, but I leave them in the store. I also have three sets of regular china, but I love the Christmas ones best. I can also add Christmas decorations to this category. I have way too much now, but I can always find more that I want.

The second category that temps me is clothing trimmed in white lace. To me, it’s gorgeous. I have several pieces that I love, but while I’m tempted to buy it most of the time I can restrain myself. Now when it comes to shoes I find so many pretty ones I could probably fill a room with them. The thing is my older feet need good supportive shoes not the strappy ones I love. 

The third category is books. I mostly read ebooks now so I don’t have to worry about space for storage. That being said when I see a book I like I buy it. I think I could resist almost anything but books. I’ve been a reader since I was a child, and I have no intention of stopping anytime soon. I always buy books. I feel kind of sorry for people who don’t read. They don’t know what they’re missing.

Where the Stars Cross

                                               

WHERE THE STARS CROSS

Dottie Sines

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

GENRE:  Historical Romance

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

BLURB:

 

In the depths of the Great Depression, Ellie suffers another crash—that of her marriage. She’s left struggling to restore her shattered life, feeling as damaged as the stained-glass panels she refurbishes for Chicago’s historic structures. While visiting her aunt in Marietta, Ohio, a charming river town, Ellie encounters towboat captain Wyatt and feels a searing attraction to him. But thanks to past and subsequent wounds, her attempts at opening herself to love seem futile. Her hope for love and her determination to find the place she belongs are further complicated by her tendency to make impulsive decisions. In her journey, Ellie draws on an unrealized level of courage and learns she must identify her brightest passions in charting her course.

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

EXCERPT

 

Climbing from her automobile, Ellie ambled around to the sidewalk, where she tipped herself onto her toes to stretch her legs and flung out her arms with a moan, promptly smacking a hand into what felt like a human. She pivoted.

 

“Oh, my goodness, I’m so…” The “sorry” came a heartbeat or two later, followed by, “Are you all right?” even though there was no way this man wasn’t okay.

 

Tall and sturdy enough to survive much more than a little whack in the chest, his faded blue-and-white pinstriped shirt, tan leather vest, and well-worn trousers did nothing to detract from the toned lines of his body. A sampling of gray wove through the hair peeking out from beneath his newsboy cap. Slightly wavy, sandy blond hair, which on anyone else would need a good trimming but suited him fine. He hadn’t shaved in a day or two.

 

“Lengthy drive, I take it?” His mouth curved into a half smile, crinkling the corners of soft, hazel eyes. “Nothing like a good punch to work out the kinks, huh, Slugger?”

 

Ellie drew in her lips. A laugh didn’t seem appropriate right now. “Really, I am very sorry,” Ellie said. “You are all right, aren’t you?”

 

“I think I’ll be fine,” he said with a nod and a languid blink of those captivating eyes. “Ma’am,” he said with a tip of his cap before he and his comrades continued toward the river.

 

Ellie’s feet felt their way to the door of the five-and-dime. Wowee, did that bloke look better from the front or the back? Biting her bottom lip, she reached for the door handle.

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Dottie scratched out her first fiction as a little kid transfixed by the books she read all those lazy summer days on the front porch swing. Two of her short stories have been published in The Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park’s literary journal, Hemingway Shorts, having placed among the top ten entries in its annual short story contests.

 

Where the Stars Cross, Dottie’s first novel, is available for purchase at:

 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Where-Stars-Cross-Dottie-Sines/dp/1509257373/ref=sr_1_1 (where it’s on the Hot New Releases list for 20th century historical romance!)

 

Website: https://www.dottiesines.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555443236996

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

 

 

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

 

The author will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner.

 

 

Enter to win a $15 Amazon/BN GC - a Rafflecopter giveaway

Beyond the Book: Colony Under Siege Interstellar Plague

 Colony Under Siege Interstellar Plague: (The Sectors SF Romance Series)

Blurb

Newly graduated from a prestigious interstellar medical school, Dr. Saffia Mandell has been assigned to the Haven Two colony on the galaxy’s outer rim as the only doctor for some 2000 human residents. She’s counting the days until her five years there is up, trying to adjust to rural living after life in the crowded Inner Sectors and fighting her attraction to Chief Ranger Micah Navonn. She’s dreading the upcoming tourist season when the rich and pampered will descend on the planet for the scenic wonders and novel sports opportunities and no doubt inundate her little clinic but the colony depends on the seasonal income to survive.
As the senior official for his people, the Calinurra, the indigenous inhabitants of Haven Two, Micah enforces the treaty, regulates the tourist permits, patrols the forests and resists his fascination with Dr. Mandell. He never expected to be involved with a human woman and doesn’t want to believe in the concept of a fated mate. He wants to keep his life simple and isn’t ready for any long term commitment. Besides Saffia keeps proclaiming she’ll be leaving when her appointment is up in four and a half years so why should he risk his heart?
Then a ship arrives unexpectedly carrying a very ill little girl and soon the deadly virus is spreading through Haven Two. The colony authorities are desperate to cover up the problem to preserve the all-important tourist season and Saffia and Micah have to work together to battle the outbreak, the local administration and their undeniable feelings for each other.
Can the colony survive? And will Micah and Saffia be able to move past their fears about entanglements to act on the mutual attraction?
An 87K word novel of the far future…

My Review

If you've been here before you know that I like Sci/Fi romance but with a caveat. I don't like books that spend so much time telling you all about the tech part it reads like a physics textbook and leaves the reader with nothing to relate to. I like the ones with hunky aliens who can't take their eyes off each other

You'll never doubt that you are in a place way beyond the stars, which goes to show that certain virtues are the same no matter where you go.

If you'd like to see if you like s/fi romance this one would be a nice one to start with.



• Post

Men of the 65th

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Talia Aikens-Nunez will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Honor and Fidelity. That is the motto of the 65th Infantry Regiment, also known as the Borinqueneers, the only Puerto Rican unit in the United States Army.

Since the regiment’s creation in 1899, the men of the 65th have proudly served the US through multiple wars, despite facing racial discrimination. Their courage, loyalty, and patriotism earned them hundreds of accolades, including the Congressional Gold Medal in 2014.

But the honor and fidelity of the men of the 65th came into question in 1952, in the midst of the Korean War, when ninety-one Borinqueneers were arrested and tried for desertion and disobeying orders. How could this happen in one of the most distinguished and decorated units of the Army?

In this telling of one of the forgotten stories of the Korean War, author Talia Aikens-Nuñez guides us through the history of the Borinqueneers and the challenges they faced leading up to what was the largest court martial in the entire war. Rediscover the bravery of the men of the 65th through Aikens-Nuñez’s thorough writing and the soldiers’ firsthand accounts of the Korean War.

Read an Excerpt

The Borinqueneers successfully defended the 1st Marine Division’s retreat, but they soon realized this was only part of a much larger withdrawal of UNC [United Nations Command] troops. As the retreat continued into mid-December, news came that the enemy buildup had accelerated. Chinese and North Korean forces were gathering and converging on Hungnam. The UNC’s worst fears were coming true: they were losing ground in the war.

They had to accelerate their plans in response to protect their troops and evacuate the Korean refugees that had fled to Hungnam. They ordered troops to board ships, division by division, and sail south to Pusan… Meanwhile, the 65th and the 3rd Infantry Divisions would hold the main line of resistance, providing enough cover for everyone to make it safely out of Hungnam…With each withdrawal, the enemy continued to push the Borinqueneers and the 3rd Infantry Division.

…They were exhausted from several days of fighting…The soldiers of the 65th were some of the last to leave Hungnam. They were hurried and squeezed tightly onto the final boats. Finally, they could rest and relax. Once they left, the military would destroy the port so the enemy could not use the equipment and facilities against them.

…After they loaded onto the final ship and set sail, the dynamite detonated. The soldiers looked back and watched the port explode…everything – erupted in smoke and flame.

About the Author:

Talia Aikens-Nuñez writes chapter books, picture books, and nonfiction for children. Her daughter inspired her to write her OMG Series of books about an accidental little witch. She and her husband live on a river in Connecticut with their daughter and son.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Men-65th-Borinqueneers-Korean-War-ebook/dp/B0BNT3ZRZQ/

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sweet Southern Heat

<

Title: Sweet Southern Heat

Series: Magnolia Grove Series

Author: Ashley Cade

Genre/Tropes: Small Town Romance; Ex's Older Brother; Enemies-to-Lovers; Grumpy/Sunshine 

Release Date: September 12, 2024

Kissing your enemy is never a good idea, especially when he’s your ex’s surly older brother. But in my defense, he kissed me first.

Landon Crawford has always blamed me for the accident that stole his brother’s future, but he doesn’t know what really happened that night. I’ve hidden the ugly truth from everyone for six long years, but in a small town like ours, secrets don’t stay buried forever.

When I unexpectedly inherit my grandmother’s bakery, I find myself back in Magnolia Grove and Landon’s orbit. I try to avoid the grumpy mechanic, but fate is hellbent on throwing us together, and the more time I spend with him, the more the line between love and hate starts to blur.

The moment we give into our feelings, tragedy strikes again, leaving Landon with an impossible choice: fully give his heart to me or cling to what’s left of his crumbling family.

*Sweet Southern Heat is a complete standalone set in the Magnolia Grove Series. It's a small town, enemies to lovers, grumpy/sunshine romance with plenty of steam, lots of tension, and a guaranteed HEA.

I couldn’t keep my eyes off Olivia. And I hated myself for it. Even with Honey Beaumont—who was arguably one of the most beautiful women in Magnolia Grove—sitting next to her, I couldn’t make myself look away from the woman I swore to loathe until I took my last breath. She was the flame, and I was the moth, destined to be burned by her if I couldn’t resist the pull.

Even worse, I’d been caught. Stopping just long enough to wipe the perspiration from my face from working in the unforgiving sun, I snuck another peek at her in that scrap of temptation she called a bathing suit. It was too much, too hard to resist. Her long legs were on full display, and her tits were barely covered by two triangles that did little to hide her body’s reaction to catching me watching her. Her chest heaved with each breath she took, and her mouth parted in a little “O” of surprise. And all I could think about was filling that circle with my cock.

I gritted my teeth and looked away. It didn’t matter how badly my body wanted hers or how satisfying it would be to fuck that pretty little lying mouth. Olivia Duprey would always be off limits. She was my brother’s ex and the woman who shattered all his hopes and dreams the night she stole the bright future that was just within reach.

Shaking away those thoughts, I continued with my work, losing myself in the sound of my drill and scent of fresh lumber. When the sound of the back patio door sliding open registered in my ears, I stood and turned to find Olivia coming through it. Strange, I hadn't heard her go inside nor had I noticed her absence. She must not have been gone long considering how often my eyes drifted to her as she lounged poolside with her friend.

She gently closed the door behind her and turned to find me watching her every move. A shy smile curved her lips, and she held out her hand. In it was a tall glass filled to the brim with fat ice cubes and yellow liquid that could only be lemonade. Condensation beaded on the outside of the glass, and my mouth watered. I was parched from working in the sun and had long since drained the bottle of water I'd brought with me.

“I thought you might need a drink,” Olivia said hesitantly.

I closed the distance between us in two long strides and reached for the glass. My fingers curled around the cool glass, brushing against her skin ever so slightly. The brief contact shot an electric pulse up my arm. She must’ve felt it too because she quickly jerked away and clasped her hands together.

“Thank you,” I said with an appreciative nod.

“You’re welcome,” she muttered quickly and tried to back away, but her foot caught on a small pile of wood I'd stacked next to the rail. I thought it was far enough out of the way, but in her attempt to give me a wide berth, she tripped over it. Her body pitched backward, and she let out a yelp as she careened toward the deck. Instinctively, I shot out my free hand and caught her around the waist, my arm wrapping around her middle. I tugged her toward me, holding her tightly so she wouldn’t fall and crack her head open. Her body pressed against mine, her back arched as her arms flailed, searching for purchase. Wide, frightened eyes peered into mine as she finally realized she was no longer falling. Her palms flattened against my chest as she regained her balance.

Her touch sent a shockwave of awareness through my entire body, and I nearly released her. The sensation was jarring, though not unpleasant. I wanted more of it. My cock stirred to life behind my zipper as my gaze dropped to her full parted lips, then lower to where her breasts were pressed against my chest. Could she feel the pulse thundering against my ribs as I held her, her entire body plastered to mine?

It must’ve been the adrenaline rush from having to save her from certain demise. She could’ve been seriously injured had she fallen, especially with the steps so close behind her. And it would’ve been my fault.

I swallowed hard, hating the idea of her getting hurt because of my negligence. Dean would certainly get sued and then fire me. My stomach knotted at the prospect. I told myself it was only because I couldn’t afford to lose my side gig and not because I cared what happened to Olivia.

Clearing my throat, I loosened my hold on her.

“Are you okay? Can you stand?” I asked, more than ready to be rid of her. But if I released her too soon, before she regained her balance, she could still fall.

“I-I think so,” she replied shakily. I slowly uncurled the arm wrapped around her middle, my fingers grazing the silken skin of her back as I attempted to steady her while she found her footing again. Every inch of my skin that connected with hers sparked with something I refused to acknowledge.

“Thank you for catching me. That could’ve been bad.”

I nodded my reply, afraid if I opened my mouth, I’d say something stupid like, “I’m glad you’re okay,” or “my boss would fire my ass if you got hurt because of me.” Both were true but were better left unsaid.

“I guess I should stay out of your way until you’re done,” she offered with an embarrassed chuckle.

“That’s probably for the best.”

In the heart of Alabama, lies a charming little town on the river, where everyone knows your name… and your business.

Follow the intertwined lives of its beloved residents as they navigate first love, second chances, and all the unexpected surprises that their small-town holds.

Welcome to Magnolia Grove, where every neighbor has a story worth unraveling, the roots run deep, and love blossoms around every corner.

Join the Magnolia Grove Reader Group to find out more!

Ashley is a USA Today Bestselling author who likes her small town romance extra spicy with a touch of angst and a splash of humor. Her swoon worthy heroes will melt your kindles (along with your undergarments). She resides in Ohio with her husband and two sons where she pens emotionally gripping love stories about imperfect people who find their happily ever after.

HOSTED BY:

>