Dial Meow for Murder
A Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery #2
by Bethany Blake
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Even an experienced pet sitter like Daphne Templeton can be fooled by animal behavior: how can an adorably tiny fuzz ball named Tinkleston be capable of sudden flying leaps with cat claws bared? But human behavior remains even more mysterious, especially when Tinkleston’s owner is murdered on the night of a gala fundraiser for Fur-ever Friends Pet Rescue.
Accompanied by her unflappable basset hound, Socrates, Daphne plans to take charge of Tinks the Terror and leave the crime-solving to handsome detective Jonathan Black. But while luring the prickly Persian out of hiding, she uncovers clues that might take suspicion off her own mother. Maeve Templeton already has a reputation as a killer—in real estate. How far would she go to bag Sylvan Creek’s most coveted property, the Flynt Mansion?
To expose the truth, Daphne finds herself donning a deranged clown costume on an autumnal adventure that might just be crazy enough to work—if it doesn’t get her killed.
Includes recipes for homemade dog treats!
“Doggone charming from start to finish!” —Cleo Coyle, New York Times bestselling author on Death by Chocolate Lab
“I can’t believe you found another body,” my mother said, in a somewhat accusing tone. She paced back and forth in the mansion’s kitchen, where Piper, Moxie, Socrates, and I waited while coroner Vonda Shakes, some EMTs, and a few uniformed police officers tromped around upstairs. Needless to say, the fundraiser had come to an abrupt end when the ambulance had arrived. “And you had to do it when I’m trying to sell a house,” Mom added. “Really, Daphne!”
“I helped you by catching Tinkleston,” I reminded her, raising my hands, which an EMT had been nice enough to wrap in bandages. I looked like a boxer— which was appropriate. The cat had really put up a fight when I’d tried to capture him so he wouldn’t get lost in what I’d known would be inevitable excitement. I’d barely managed to carry him a few feet down the hall and secure him in the bedroom with the fireplace. “And don’t you think it’s best that I found Miss Flynt before your big-city socialite buyer arrived? What if she’d asked to see the bathroom again? I don’t think finding a body on a house tour bodes well for getting that ‘full asking price’!” “Daphne’s probably right,” Moxie said. “I wouldn’t be able to even think about the wallpaper if there was a dead person in the tub.” My mother gave Moxie one of her signature funny looks. Then the reality of Miss Flynt’s death began to sink in for me, and I suddenly felt sad. “Could we all stop talking about Miss Flynt like she’s an object? Or an inconvenience?” I requested. “She wasn’t the easiest person to deal with, but she did a lot for Sylvan Creek and animals.” “Daphne’s right,” Piper agreed. “I think, in our shock, we’re acting a little callous.” She rubbed her arms like she was cold, although her silk shirt had finally dried, leaving behind a water stain. “And where is this ‘buyer,’ anyhow, Mom?” she asked, taking a seat on an upholstered bench that ran the length of the bank of windows. It really would be a lovely spot for morning tea. Then my sister checked the wristwatch she always wore, in case her phone ever died. Which never happened. “It’s getting late.” “I don’t know where she is,” Mom said. “I’ve been trying to text her, to postpone, but she’s not responding. I suppose she’s still en route. Traffic between Manhattan and the Poconos can be dreadful, even on a Saturday evening.” That was true. A lot of city folks had weekend homes in the mountains, and the commuter route was perpetually backed up, even at odd hours. “I’m stepping outside for a moment,” Mom told us, tapping at her cell phone. “Reception is sometimes bad in these old houses. Maybe she’s not even receiving my messages.” Piper, always restless, rose again as the back door shut behind our mother. “I’m going outside, too, to clean up.” Either Moxie or I—or both of us—probably should have offered to help gather up the jack-o’-lanterns and take down the chandeliers, but neither of us volunteered. Moxie began fidgeting with her nails, pretending she hadn’t heard Piper, no doubt so she wouldn’t miss any gossip-worthy news from the coroner or police. Socrates, sitting quietly at my feet, also averted his gaze. “Come on, Moxie,” Piper finally prompted. “I’m sure you won’t miss anything if you’re on the lawn.” Moxie stuck out her lower lip, like she doubted that. Then her shoulders slumped. “Oh, fine. I’ll help.” Piper turned to me, her eyebrows raised over her wire rims. “Daphne?” Before I could answer, the doorbell rang. “I need to get that,” I said, grabbing the Falling Leaves candle off the counter again. Resourceful and brave Piper had located a fuse box in the basement, but she hadn’t been able to restore the power. “It’s probably Mom’s big commission.” “Oh, fine,” Piper grumbled, taking Moxie by the arm. “We’ll see you in a few minutes, though, right?” I didn’t make any promises. I just hurried toward the foyer, with Socrates lumbering along behind me, and opened the front door. “Welcome to Flynt Mansion . . .” I started to greet the visitor in a way I assumed my mother would. Then I realized who was actually standing on the porch, and the words died on my lips. The person waiting to come inside wasn’t speechless, though. “So, you’re mixed up in another possible murder,” Detective Jonathan Black said, shaking his head and marching right past me into the house. Then he looked me up and down, frowning. “And are you dressed as a boxing witch?”
Bethany Blake lives in a small, quaint town in Pennsylvania with her husband and three daughters. When she's not writing, cooking for pets and people or riding horses, she's wrangling a menagerie of furry family members that includes a nervous pit bull, a fearsome feline, a blind goldfish, and an attack cardinal named Robert. Like Daphne Templeton, the heroine of her Lucky Paws Mysteries, Bethany holds a Ph.D. and operates a pet sitting business called Barkley's Premium Pet Care.
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"DO WHAT WE TELL YOU OR YOUR SON WILL DISAPPEAR..."
Master gemstone cutter Carly Rose Kelley will do anything to keep her son safe...but with blackmailers insisting she forge priceless antique stones, she needs help. With Christmas days away, the desperate widow has only one hope--the brother-in-law she never met. Hostage rescue specialist Dallas Morgan never knew about his nephew or his estranged late brother's wife. Now their lives are in his hands. But the sweet child and vulnerable woman remind Dallas of the family he once had and lost. And he can't afford distraction. Now that they're trapped in the sights of ruthless blackmailers, nowhere is safe...but Dallas won't let anyone stand in the way of him saving Carly and her little boy.
An engaging and energetic romantic suspense story that captivated my mind. It was a great read for a rainy evening with the entertaining plot with plenty of twists. The suspense kept the intensity high, the romance was alluring yet sweet, and little Zane, he was just too cute and endearing, saying the funniest things to make you smile.
Carly Rose Kelley was a strong female lead. She knows who she is, what she wants, what she is good at, and where she needs help with and how to go about getting the help. She learned the hard way to stand on her own, but she does it beautifully while raising her son. Her late husband taught her not to trust men, not to count on other's word, not to rely on anyone. Could it be possible that his brother would be the person to teach her to trust again? Dallas Morgan grew up in a rough environment and getting adopted with his brother to a good, loving, Christian home was something he would always be thankful for. His losses in life were still sore in his soul, but he was getting on with life, making his mark after finding his place with HEART. The connection between Carly and Dallas was instant yet believable. It had time to grow while the investigation was developing, giving the relationship depth and sincerity. The attraction between them is palpable and even with all the tension, threats, and danger lurking around, they were rather adorable with the budding feelings festering inside their hearts and minds. Little Zane and Jazz made great secondary characters and deserve a mention. I wish that one day soon after she is healed, Jazz would find a true love as well. Even though their faith in God is evident in the few thoughts and quick prayers across the story, it has by no means a center stage in the tale, nor is it talked about or gotten into in depth. A compelling tale with appealing, charming characters with interesting life stories and heartbreaking destinies mixed in a life-threatening situation with thrilling, high-speed action and puzzling motives. ~ Four Spoons
A second chance for Joy
While recovering at a remote cabin, Dr. Simon Walsh stumbles across Cara Amos. Injured and left for dead, Cara is harboring dark secrets. Yet Simon can't help falling for his mysterious patient. As her memory returns and her injuries fade under his gentle care, he vows to help her find her missing daughter. At The Lemonade Stand shelter, managing director Lila McDaniels is helping Cara's estranged father, Edward Mantle, bond with his traumatized granddaughter, Joy. And his feelings extend well beyond gratitude. Bringing this family together seems impossible… Luckily, Christmas is the season of miracles.
A story about healing after domestic abuse, about survival, about finding your way again, and about the kind of love that can help in the process.
This book was not an easy read. It took me a good part of a week to digest and think about the horrendous events the characters had lived through. Even all the abuse is in the past, and happen only in the memories and nightmares of the characters, I would recommend being careful with the story if violence towards women and children can be a trigger for you. Even without an abusive past, I felt the impact of the story. That gives you a great picture of the talent the story is written with, and how deep in the mind of the characters the author takes the readers as the story progress. The dual stories happening at the same time and twining together, until combined towards the end, gave a broader picture of the events and the history of the characters. It was a little bit distracting yet also helpful in taking off some of the deeper angst that could have built in the tale, if not known what was happening in California. All four main characters have gone through heartbreaking experiences in their lives and are broken souls in desperate need of healing and finding forgiveness for themselves. This takes time, effort, and energy that leaves a little else to be handled in their lives at the same time. The romantic relationships are very slowly developing on the backburner and take a second seat in the progress of the plot. While realistically yet sensitively talking about domestic abuse, the story does deliver hope in the better tomorrow's to come. The tale points out there are places to look help for, it reaffirms the power of love and the possibilities of healing and mending of body and soul, and it delivers the kind of ending that leaves you with faith in the future and promise of a recovery. ~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side
Petals
by Laurisa White Reyes
Genre: YA Contemporary
On Christmas Eve, a horrific car accident leaves Carly Perez without a mom. After a year of surgeries and counseling, Carly’s life is nearly back to normal—except for the monsters—vague, twisted images from the accident that plague her dreams. When her father insists on spending their first Christmas alone in Guatemala with a slew of relatives Carly has never met, she is far from thrilled, but she reluctantly boards the plane anyway.
That’s where she first spots the man with the scarred face. She could swear she has seen him before. But when? Where?
In Reu, the Guatemalan town where her father grew up, Carly meets Miguel, her attractive step-cousin, and thinks maybe vacation won’t be a total waste after all. Though she is drawn to him, Carly’s past holds her back—memories that refuse to be forgotten, and a secret about the accident that remains buried in her subconscious. And everywhere she turns, the man with the scarred face is there, driving that unwelcome secret to the surface.
“Trust me, Carly. You’ll love Guatemala,” he said. He was relentless. “It won’t be so bad, spending Christmas there.” He poured the rest of the nuts into his mouth and chewed.
Personally, I had serious doubts about spending nearly a month in a third world country where half the people lived in mud huts. “It’s a great place,” Dad continued. “Lush jungles, ancient ruins, coconuts—” Malaria, sauna-like heat, amoebas-- “All I ask is that you give it a chance, Carly. Give them a chance.” Them. The so-called family I never knew. For all my seventeen years, they had been nothing more than pictures on the mantle. Dad rarely spoke of them, so why he chose our first Christmas since Mom died to change the status quo was beyond me. “Why did I have to come?” I asked, my frustration piquing. “I’m old enough to man the house while you’re away. I can take care of myself.” “We already went over this, Carly. They want to meet you. It’s important to me that they do.” “If they’re so important, then why haven’t you seen them in two decades?” I didn’t expect an answer. I just wanted to get Dad off my back. But instead, he shrugged his shoulders and gave me an apologetic grin. “Let’s just say we had our differences,” he said. The flight attendant returned, this time offering a pillow. She was still smiling. At least the red mark on her teeth was gone. I took the pillow and arranged it behind my neck. Dad took one as well, tucking it behind his head. I should have been glad to finally have some quiet time to myself, but curiosity got the better of me. I leaned over and whispered. “What differences?” “Go to sleep,” said Dad. “What differences?” I asked again. “Carly, it’s almost one in the morning. Even if you’re not tired, I am. Let me get some sleep. Okay?” I looked around and realized that most of the other passengers had already dozed off. “Do you need your pills?” Dad asked. I shook my head. “If I take them now, I’ll be a zombie by the time we land.” Although, maybe Guatemala won’t seem so bad if I’m in a drugged-out stupor. “Night, Carly,” said Dad. Five minutes later, he was snoring. Across the aisle, Raisin Face had a magazine open on his lap. He licked his thumb before turning each page. I didn’t realize I was staring until he turned abruptly to look at me. Our eyes locked, and in that sliver of a moment, my heart threatened to explode right out of my ribcage. I broke away from his gaze and jerked opened my own magazine, pretending to be absorbed in it. When my heart returned to its normal rhythm, I set the magazine aside, turned on my music, and leaned back against the pillow. I closed my eyes, but thoughts kept racing through my head. I wanted to look at him again, to study his face and give my brain time to place him. Is he watching me? I wondered. Does he recognize me too? After a while, I started to relax. Oblivion was calling, but I desperately clung to consciousness, like a mountain climber gripping a rock by her fingernails while dangling above a precipice. The fall was inevitable, but I strained to hold on. It wasn’t that I had trouble sleeping, but the pills kept the monsters at bay. Finally, unable to fight it any longer, I surrendered. Falling into sleep, I struggled to recall just where I had seen that man’s face before.
* B&N
The author is running this tour alongside her fundraiser for Casa de Sion, an orphanage/charity in Guatemala, which is where the book is set. She is donating $1.00 for every book sold and also $1.00 for every review of Petals posted on Amazon or Goodreads throughout the month of November to Casa de Sion. Her goal is to raise $200. More specific details can be found here:
What can $200 do?
...feed a mother and child for six months
...buy shoes for 15+ children
...educate a child for 1/2 a year
...and more!
Laurisa White Reyes is the author of the 2016 Spark Award winning novel The Storytellers, as well as The Celestine Chronicles and The Crystal Keeper series. She lives in Southern California where she teaches English at College of the Canyons.
The Texan Duke
by Karen Ranney standalone Historical Romance Avon Romance Publication Date October 31, 2017
As the ward to the late Duke of Lothian, Elsbeth Carew resides at the ancestral estate of Bealadair. Fiercely attached to the manor, she loves it more than anyone else. When Connor McCraight—the new Duke of Lothian—arrives, Elsbeth does not quite know what to make of the American who has inherited the title but has never even set foot on Scottish soil. The tall, ruggedly handsome Texan sweeps through Bealadair with an air of authority Elsbeth has never encountered.
Connor has no intention of making Scotland his home and hopes to sell the estate as soon as possible. But his plan is jeopardized when he meets Elsbeth. A sweet, gray-eyed beauty, she tempts him in ways no other woman has. As word spreads of Connor’s intention to sell Bealadair, his life is threatened—and the only woman who can save him may be the one he has hopelessly lost his heart to.
Everything was being readied for the man in the carriage approaching the long drive.
Would he care? Would he even notice? The blowing snow obscured everything but the yellow glow of the carriage lanterns. None of it belonged to them anymore. It was all owned by the man who would soon emerge from the carriage, the same man who could so easily wave his hand and banish them. She shivered, wishing she had been able to wear her cloak. And a scarf around her throat. And a hat pulled over her hair. She couldn’t feel her lips or her fingertips. People were stamping their feet against the packed snow of the drive and wrapping their arms around themselves. She could see plumes of their breath against the night sky. Didn’t Rhona notice that everyone was about to freeze to death? Sometimes, she thought that Rhona forgot that the people who staffed Bealadair were human beings. A great many of her dictates didn’t make sense. Yesterday she’d given an order that the laundress was to starch all the maids’ aprons and today no one was to sit or otherwise crease their uniforms until the duke arrived. You could either do the job you were supposed to do or you could walk around acting like a marionette. Rhona made decisions like that, making changes that weren’t the least practical. A few months ago she’d given an order that all of the maids were to have their hair arranged in the same fashion, in an overly intricate braided bun. It took so long for the girls to arrange their hair that way that Elsbeth had countermanded Rhona’s orders, more than willing to go to battle for the staff. Fortunately, the duchess hadn’t noticed. Rhona liked to issue decrees. She made pronouncements, waved her hand in the air like a queen, and demanded certain behaviors. Just as quickly, however, she forgot what she’d ordered. Elsbeth had the feeling that Rhona really didn’t care. The duchess just liked being obeyed, even if it was only momentarily. Elsbeth took great pains to ensure that Rhona got that impression, even if it wasn’t exactly correct. In the past year she’d taken on the duty of housekeeper. Mrs. Ferguson had increasingly incapacitating arthritis. It was easier for the poor woman to remain in her quarters than it was to traverse the many staircases of Bealadair. None of the family had any objections to Elsbeth assuming the role. They wanted their meals on time, their suites kept clean and sparkling, and their lives not disrupted by petty things such as laundry, staffing expectations, and inconsequential details like leaky roofs. As for Elsbeth, she enjoyed having something to do every day. Each evening she met with Mrs. Ferguson, consulting the woman over the tasks that needed to be done. The housekeeper had been at Bealadair for over twenty years and knew the house as well as—if not more so—the McCraights. The woman was an organizational genius, acquiring details about the many collections housed at the estate from armaments to historical documents. No doubt the new duke would want to know the extent of his inheritance. Thanks to Mrs. Ferguson, she could provide him with an exact inventory. The carriage was turning into the drive. A stableboy ran out to steady the horses. A footman strode forward to open the carriage door. Rhona stepped up, accompanied by her oldest daughter, Lara, and Lara’s husband, Felix. Elsbeth was too far away to hear the duchess’s words, but they were probably those of welcome. Maybe the duchess said something in Gaelic, evoking Scottish sentiment. After all, the new duke was an American who needed to be educated on his Scottish heritage. At least that’s what she’d been told. No one had ever spoken of this unknown nephew. Until Mr. Glassey had sent back word from America, they had expected that the 14th Duke of Lothian and the Laird of Clan McCraight would be Gavin’s brother. This man who stepped down from the carriage was a complete mystery.
About Karen RanneyKaren Ranney is an American author of historical and paranormal romance novels. She began writing when she was five. Most of Ranney’s novels are set in Scotland and feature “believable characters, careful plotting, and simmering sexual tension.” She has been nominated nine times for a Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award and won a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in 2002 for British-set Historical Romance. In 2014 Ranney began writing the paranormal romance series The Montgomery Chronicles, which center on a newly and unwillingly turned female vampire, and in 2016 began writing a spinoff series, The Furry Chronicles. Ranney has also been on the USA Today Bestseller List as well as the New York Times bestseller list. She lives in Texas. Author Links
Christmas in The Sisters
The Sisters, Texas Mystery Series Book 6
by Becki Willis
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Latest book in the Award-Winning The Sisters, Texas Mystery Series!
Madison Reynolds can’t wait for Christmas this year. Rebuilding her life as a single mom hasn’t been easy, but after a challenging twelve months, she’s excited about the holidays. She and her twins have settled quite nicely here in The Sisters, renovations on the house are complete, her business is slowly growing, and, best of all, Chief of Police Brash deCordova is in her life. Visions of the perfect Christmas dance in her head.
The tinsel begins to tangle when someone targets the community for a series of ‘Christmas Crimes.’ Homes are broken into and wrapped gifts are stolen from beneath trees. Even vehicles loaded with presents aren’t safe, particularly on a lone stretch of highway. Things like this just don’t happen in Naomi and Juliet. Torn between solving the rash of burglaries and shutting down the gambling ring that’s active in the area again, Brash does the only thing he can: he hires In a Pinch to help with the investigation.
Finding the common link between cases is like finding the bad bulb on a string of lights. Every lead is a short circuit. The frustration mounts when Madison and the Angel Tree she’s involved with fall victim to the crimes. Only the worst kind of Grinch steals from needy children!
Brash has plans of his own for the perfect Christmas. With the help of a new jewelry store, he thinks he’s found just the right gift for Madison, until the Grinch strikes again. This wasn’t the surprise he had in mind.
Ready or not, Christmas is on its way, and time is running out to create the holiday of their dreams. As the house fills with unexpected guests, Madison and the twins honor favorite traditions from the past while creating a few new ones of their own.
Who has time for being kidnapped by men in Santa suits and bad beards?
This is one Christmas that no one in The Sisters will ever forget!
Emergency lights clashed with the festive Christmas scene.
Beyond the police car’s glaring strobe, cheerful strands of twinkling white icicles dripped from the eaves of the house. Each porch post was wrapped in green. A profusion of multi-color lights sprang up in the yard, garnishing every bush, every bird feeder, and every tree in sight. Wedging the cruiser into a slim niche between a Ford Expedition and a Pontiac Grand Am, Brash deCordova came within inches of a gigantic inflatable snowman. The chief of police picked his way between a stand of lighted candy canes, a herd of reindeer, and an animated gingerbread man. The obstacle course led him to the front porch, where a trio of wooden carolers greeted him, and a motion-activated wreath began the first bars of We Wish You a Merry Christmas. It came as no surprise when the doorbell twinkled out the tune of Jingle Bells. Brash shook his head in wonder. The Hutchins certainly loved the season. The door swung open and a plump woman motioned him inside. “Brash! You’re here.” The relief in Vanessa Hutchins’ voice was palatable. “Come in, come in.” She turned slightly away and bellowed down the hall, “Larry! The police are here!” “I’m sorry to come calling like this, Vanessa,” Brash apologized, tugging the cowboy hat from his auburn head. “Larry tells me you’ve had some trouble.” “I’ll say! Look! Just look at that!” She flung her arm toward the massive Christmas tree centered at the front windows. Dozens of bulbs, baubles, and ornaments covered every tip, illuminated by hundreds of miniature white lights. A red and green tree skirt peeked from beneath the lower branches. “Nice tree,” Brash murmured, wondering how it kept from collapsing. “Nice? It’s empty! Glory be, someone stole all our presents!” A groove of worry puckered the officer’s brow. “All of them? How many did you have under there?” “You mean an exact number?” “For now, an estimate will do.” Vanessa cocked her head to one side, mentally tallying up the gifts. “At least thirty. I’m almost done with my shopping. Or I was, until this happened!” She gave another emphatic wave toward the barren tree skirt. “Calm down, Nessa,” her husband said, coming into the room carrying a steaming mug. He thrust it at his wife before offering his hand to Brash. “Brash, thanks for coming out so quick. Vanessa, take a few sips of hot chocolate and try to relax. Everything is going to be all right.” “All right? You’re not the one who shopped for those gifts. And you didn’t wrap a single one of them, Larry, so don’t tell me to calm down!” Her voice rose with every word, both in pitch and volume. “Can we have a seat?” Brash suggested. Appalled by her lack of manners, the frantic woman immediately turned apologetic. She fussed around the officer, fluffing a snowman afghan at his back and producing a Santa-shaped ottoman for his feet. Brash politely settled among the excessive holiday pillows, grimacing when he activated one with music. Over the digital notes of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, he struggled to sound professional. “Tell me exactly what happened.” “We were robbed, that’s what happened!” “Were there any signs of forced entry?” “The back door was jimmied open, if that’s what you mean,” Larry Hutchins offered. “We didn’t touch anything, in case you want to dust for prints.” “Smart thinking. Was anything else taken?” “Not that we’re aware of. We checked the gun case, jewelry box, desk drawers where we keep the checkbook, that sort of thing. Everything else seems to be here.” “They were only interested in the presents,” his wife concurred. Hot chocolate already forgotten, she had taken to wringing her hands. Brash jotted down notes in his trusty little notebook. It traveled with him everywhere he went, tucked into his shirt pocket. “Take me through this evening. We need to establish some sort of timeline.” “Well, let’s see… I got off work around four. I stopped by Granny Bert Cessna’s to leave a donation for the Angel Tree. Bless her heart, that woman is over eighty and still as active as ever! She told me she’s going to Vegas to attend the National Finals Rodeo with her new beau, Sticker Pierce. They’re doing some big award for him, being as he’s a rodeo legend and all. Glory be! Anyway, on the way home, I spotted Glitter Thompson walking her dogs, so I stopped to chat for a few minutes. Poor dear is having trouble with her bursitis again. So, I must have wound up getting home about five fifteen or so. Since I forgot to lay anything out for dinner, we decided to go out for supper when Larry came home.” Brash waded through all the useless chatter to find a kernel or two of helpful information. “Were the gifts still under the tree when you arrived home at five fifteen?” “Yes. The first thing I do when I get home is turn on the tree lights. I’ve thought of getting one of those automatic timers, but I’m not sure I trust them.” “What time did Larry get in?” “Five thirty-eight, same as every day. You can set your clock by this man.” For the first time since Brash had arrived, Vanessa smiled. She patted her husband’s shoulder as she stood over him, too nervous to sit. “And neither of you saw anything unusual? No strangers about, no cars out front, no unscheduled deliveries?” Brash clarified. “No, everything seemed normal,” Larry answered. “What time did you leave for the restaurant?” “Around six thirty. And we called you the minute we got in, about ten minutes ago.” “So that narrows down the window of opportunity to about an hour and thirty-five minutes.” Larry nodded. “That sounds about right.” “Vanessa, do you have a list of everything under the tree?” “Of course. I keep a detailed list of what I buy for each person, and I check each item off as I wrap it. I’ll be happy to get it for you.” “Fine, fine. But I’d like to ask a few more questions before you do. Have either of you noticed anything strange over the past several days, or weeks? Again, any strangers about, cars out front, deliveries, anything disturbed in the yard, anything at all?” “I don’t believe so.” “Glory be, not that I can think of.” “How long has your tree been up?” “We always put it up Thanksgiving evening, while the kids are here to help pull things out of the attic. Larry’s shoulder gives him a fit, you know. Rheumatism.” “Old football injury,” her husband claimed, rotating his arm as if to disprove his wife’s claims.
Don't miss the other books in The Sisters, Texas series!
The first four books of the series will be a Free Kindle book (in order) each Saturday in Oct, with the last book, Genny's Ballad, available for a .99 Kindle Countdown Deal Oct 24-31
Becki Willis, best known for her popular The Sisters, Texas Mystery Series and Forgotten Boxes, always dreamed of being an author. In November of '13, that dream became a reality. Since that time, she has published eleven books, won first place honors for Best Mystery Series, Best Suspense Fiction and Best Audio Book, and has introduced her imaginary friends to readers around the world.
An avid history buff, Becki likes to poke around in old places and learn about the past. Other addictions include reading, writing, junking, unraveling a good mystery, and coffee. She loves to travel, but believes coming home to her family and her Texas ranch is the best part of any trip. Becki is a member of the Association of Texas Authors, the National Association of Professional Women, and the Brazos Writers organization. She attended Texas A&M University and majored in Journalism.
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’Tis the season for ex-Navy SEAL Clayton East to come home for the holidays―even if the mood at home is anything but festive. His father is ill. The East Ranch is in financial trouble. And now it’s on Clayton, the prodigal son, to make sure his family doesn’t lose everything.
Headstrong Abby Harper is like a mother to her younger brothers, who she’s helped raise since she was a teenager. Keeping them in line is no small task while she’s also working toward her college degree. And now that one of her brothers has been arrested for stealing cattle at the East Ranch, Abby is at her wit’s end. But there is a silver lining: Clayton East. He believes in second chances, and is willing to give one to her brother this Christmas. Letting beautiful Abby―and the inescapable longing in his heart―off the hook, however, is a whole ’nother story. Could it be that the woman of this local hero’s dreams has been back at home all along?
A sweet romantic story with a dash of danger and family drama that will surely hold your interest and entertain your mind.
I liked the story of ex-Navy SEAL Clayton East and Abby Harper. They were both strong characters, well thought out with room to grow and develop through the story. They both had their own issues with their past and with their families. Learning to trust and open up, learning to share life and the deep dark secrets their hold inside is something they both had to work on. Abby is a strong and capable young woman, the legal guardian of her younger brothers. She has struggled to provide to her brothers the best life possible. And even though they might lack in some material goods, they have a strong, loving bond between them that is palpable and more valuable than anything else. The abandonment and trust issues Abby has developed over the years keeps her from taking the leap to embrace the attraction she feels towards the sexy SEAL currently protecting her and her brothers. Clayton has avoided the painful memories his home brings to him and stayed away for four long years until his father's poor health and problems at the ranch bring him home. He is strong, protective, and deadly when so needed, yet there is a kind, tender, generous spirit in him that believes in second chances and new beginnings. Not only does Clayton have a sizzling chemistry with Abby, he has a connection with her brothers as well. I liked the romance between Abby and Clayton, it had obvious physical attraction yet also something very sweet and adorable in it, a word wholesome came to mind more than once while I was reading the book. Maybe that's why it felt so out of place that every movement of Clayton's cock (the author's choice of a word) was mentioned. The sex scenes were tender and loving, and amply describing the attraction between them and fitting part of the plot, but the 'cock twitching' felt an unnecessary addition to the tale, in my opinion. The bit of a mystery with the accounting and cattle theaves brought spice and danger to the story, as well as the struggles of the Harper's over the years brought human interest side that touched my heart. An enticing tale with scenes from poignant and delightful to thrilling and pleasing, a quick, entertaining read. ~ Four Spoons |