Archive for the ‘Recommended Reading’ Category

Murder by the Stroke (A Fiona Quinn Mystery) Spotlight

Posted: October 11, 2023 in Blog Tour Hosting, iRead Book Tours, Now Available in Paperback, Polls, Press Release, rafflecopter, Recommended Reading, Showcase, Spotlight
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Join us for this spotlight tour from Oct 2 to Nov 2, 2023!

Book Details:

Book Title:  Murder by the Stroke (A Fiona Quinn Mystery) 
Author:  C.S. McDonald
Category:  Adult Fiction, 260 pages
Genre:  Cozy Mystery
Publisher:  McWriter Books
Release date:  Nov 2023
Content Rating:  G. C.S. McDonald’s books are appropriate for YA readers as well as adults–no bad language or sexual content.
Book Description:

Detective Landry’s old flame is drop-dead gorgeous, and so are her paintings!

Pittsburgh’s most influential cultural enthusiasts are overjoyed when famous artist, Vashti, has scheduled a gala followed by a weeklong exhibit of her latest works. On the other hand, Detective Nathan Landry isn’t so excited about the invitation he has received to the gala. Back in the day, he and the renowned painter were lovers. That is, when her name was Sadie Jensen, or as Nathan’s sister liked to call her, “Psycho Sadie.”

Art experts, and collectors alike, have been intrigued by a tiny brush stroke, known as an invisible stroke. So subtle and out of place is the technique, that Vashti’s elusive stroke has become as famous as a Where’s Waldo search.

Meanwhile, Fiona finds herself captivated by more than Vashti’s flair for the obscure. Rather, she is far more interested in the gorgeous artist and Nathan’s past. Against his wishes, Fiona, her mother, and her mother-in-law attend the exhibit.

Indeed, Vashti’s paintings are killing it in the art world, and in more ways than one.
Buy the Book:
(available for pre-order)
Amazon 

Meet the Author:

For twenty-six years C.S. McDonald’s life whirled around a song and a dance. Classically trained at Pittsburgh Ballet Theater School, The Pittsburgh Dance Alloy, and many others, she became a professional dancer and choreographer. During that time, she choreographed many musicals and an opera for the Pittsburgh Savoyards. In 2011 she retired from her dance career to write. Under her real name, Cindy McDonald, she writes murder-suspense and romantic suspense novels. In 2014 she added the pen name, C.S. McDonald, to write children’s books for her grandchildren. In 2016 she added the Fiona Quinn Mysteries to that expansion. She decided to write the cozy mystery series that everyone, including teens and tweens, can read and enjoy. Presently, the Fiona Quinn Mysteries includes nine books with a tenth slated for 2021. The books are also available on audio, narrated by Maren Swenson Waxenberg.

Cindy’s newest venture is The Owl’s Nest Mysteries. Once again, she has set her cozy mystery in Pittsburgh and the female protagonist, Alexa Owl, is much different from Fiona Quinn. The Owl’s Nest Mysteries has a little grit, a little time travel, a little romance, and a whole lot of cozy!

Ms. McDonald resides on her Thoroughbred farm known as Fly by Night Stables near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with her husband, Bill, and her poorly behaved Cocker Spaniel, Allister. 

Connect with the author:  Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook ~ Instagram




The Ancient Ones Showcase

Posted: October 10, 2023 in excerpt, guest post, Now Available in Paperback, Press Release, Promo, Recommended Reading, Showcase, Spotlight
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The Ancient Ones

By c.b. strul

Synopsis:

The Ancient Ones is a Science Fiction adventure that takes place on Earth 100,000 years ago. It is the survival tale of a teenage girl named Blue Flower who escapes into the wilderness as her tribe is captured by an opposing clan. Out in the far reaches of the desert landscape, she is rescued by a being from another world and the two of them form a bond through music. Blue Flower and Crow Mother develop a relationship through song though their words have little value to one another at first. Ultimately, they realize they want to trust each other, and Crow Mother helps Blue Flower to find her captured tribe.

Read an excerpt:

Blue Flower had only died for a moment, perhaps a couple of hours… could a day have passed? When she finally opened her eyes, she did not know where she was, or why it was so much cooler in this place, or what that odd dripping appendage was hanging just over her face and mouth. The walls of the cave were all mossy stone and grey and red. Some mineral deposits colored the stones with starkly beautiful layers of crushed sediment. Droplets of water had been falling onto her face from the appendage, and she realized it bore an off resemblance to some of the water pots of Tetset at the end, though there was an extension of metallic tubing coming out the back end of the thing that did not look familiar to Blue Flower in the slightest.

She shook off the small puddles of liquid that had been forming around her eyes and chin where the drip had missed its mark. She sat up slowly, feeling the ache in her muscles from the long journey she had just taken. She followed the metal tubing with her eyes to see it extend from wall-to-stalactite-covered-ceiling. Her sidelong glance brought her attention to a cluster of humming bricks formed from that same metal. The boxes were new with no signs of rustication. If Blue Flower had known much about metal, she would have recognized that none of those components could have been there for very long. But all of it was beyond Blue Flower’s comprehension. Her people had not been metallurgists. Tetset had never imagined the need for stronger, more durable materials like these. Still, she marveled at the shine of the stuff.

More metallic objects lingered beyond those boxes, with soft, velvety surfaces inlaid atop them. What this substance was, she had even less of a clue about. And why were there so many shiny finger-sized circles and sticks jutting up from just below the velvet? Had all these things been built by someone? They did not appear natural — not like anything Blue Flower had ever experienced.

Eventually, she decided she should stand in order to see the rest of the room. Her aches seemed to dissipate as her sense of disoriented curiosity overtook everything. Now on her feet, she realized the room was much smaller than she had initially thought. She would have been able to walk from one end to the other in perhaps six long steps if she hadn’t suddenly become distracted by the other creature with its back turned to her behind the place where she had been sleeping.

Author bio:

C.B. Strul is excited to launch his first full-length science fiction novel entitled The Ancient Ones. He has previously released a series of three novellas: Spinners, Forget the Complex, and What Grows from the Stump of a Tree? He lives in Los Angeles with his fiancée, extended family, and two sweet pugs. To learn more, please visit OdomsLibrary.com or follow him on Instagram @CBSciFi.

Purchase the book on Amazon.

Made in Ireland Blitz

Posted: October 4, 2023 in Blog Tour Hosting, cover reveal, Crowdfunding, giveaway, Now Available in Paperback, Polls, Press Release, Promo, rafflecopter, Recommended Reading, Showcase, Spotlight, Xpresso Tours
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A Match Made in Ireland
E.D. Hackett
Publication date: September 23rd 2023
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance

A semester abroad was exactly what she needed, but falling in love with her roommate was not part of the lesson plan.

When Rory, a driven American seeking a much-needed break from her hectic life, lands in Ireland for a semester abroad, she never imagines sharing her space with Jaime, the charming yet irksome redhead from her flight. A twist of fate entwines their paths, forcing them to live under one roof for four months.

Despite his laid-back demeanor clashing with her meticulous nature, Rory finds herself irresistibly drawn to Jaime’s infectious Irish charm and tight-knit family bonds. As they traverse the breathtaking landscapes of Ireland, Rory relies on Jaime’s wisdom to navigate the challenges of their travels. It doesn’t take long for her to fall for the enchanting Irish experience he offers, which extends far beyond the usual tourist trails.

But as the end of the semester draws near, Rory is faced with a heart-wrenching decision. Will she leave a piece of her heart in Ireland, or was Jaime merely a dream meant to be left behind?

Immerse yourself in E.D. Hackett’s A Match Made in Ireland for a delightful romantic comedy that delves into the magic of Ireland, the beauty of unforeseen bonds, and the transformative power of self-discovery. Buckle up for a journey filled with laughter, tears, and love that you won’t want to miss!

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

It was him. The man from the plane sat on the bed, staring at a drawing pad on his lap. The spiky red hair, the smattering of freckles, and the creased eyes triggered a series of flashbacks that ran through my mind: the lack of spatial awareness, the soda down my leg, and the stolen dinner roll.

I pulled the covers over my head, my heart racing and the pit in my stomach digging into my pelvis like a concrete boulder. I dragged the duvet below my eyes and squinted, trying not to be obvious. Am I dreaming? Ha! Maybe I’m having a nightmare. The same red hair, now tousled from sleep, rested against the wall. I pushed the blanket down to my shoulders and said, “Hello, again.”

He looked up from his drawing pad and tilted his head to the left, tapping his pencil against his scruffy chin. “I remember you. From the plane.”

I tried to smile, but my lips refused to rise. I pushed my body against the back wall and pulled the sheet closer to my armpits. “What are you doing here, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“I could ask you the same thing. I live here.”

My eyes bulged and I scrambled to a seated position. “You can’t live here. You’re a guy. This is an apartment with women. Foreign exchange students. A bunch of Americans.” I spoke slowly, as if that would make him understand.

Jaime chuckled and looked down again. “Yes, I am aware, but this is my apartment now. I forgot to renew my housing paperwork last semester, and they gave my room away. This was all that was left. They told me I was living with Rory, Zoey, and Marissa. I take it you’re Rory?”

I nodded.

“I thought you were an Irish lad.”

I swallowed loudly, the saliva crawling down the back of my throat. Reaching across my bed to my nightstand, I downed a bottle of water. Cloudiness from the alcohol still in my system slowed down my brain’s processing ability, and I struggled to understand his words. “You can’t live here,” I said again.

“I wish I didn’t. Living with a bunch of Americans during my last year of college is the last thing I want to do, but it’s that or be homeless so I’ll suck it up.” He returned to his drawing and spoke to his paper. “Nice to meet you, Rory.” His amber eyes looked over, scanning my top half. “Fun time last night?”

My brain beat against my forehead, and I massaged my temples. “Yeah. Sorry if I woke you.”

“No worries. I spent the night with my old flatmates. They live downstairs, and I came up here to crash. I didn’t even hear you come in.”

I grabbed the hooded sweatshirt sitting at the end of my bed, and pulled it over my body. “Are you sure they said there was nowhere else? I mean, I don’t know, Jaime. You’re a guy, a stranger, really, and I have a boyfriend. I don’t think he will be too excited when I tell him my roommate’s an Irish guy.”

His liquid gold eyes looked me up and down. “I asked to be moved and they put me on a waiting list if some other American no-shows, but I want my old flat and my old flatmates. Unless they can squeeze me back in there, I’m staying here. So, there it is. An Irish bloke and an American lass living together. That’ll make a good story for the grandkids. Promise, you won’t even know I’m here.”


Author Bio:

E.D Hackett is a Speech-language pathologist by day and a writer by night. She writes novels that investigate layers of self-expectations, family dynamics, self-love and self-acceptance. She hopes that her novels create a safe and cozy environment for her readers to fall into and explore.

She writes women’s fiction novels with one foot in romance. And every story has a happy ever after.

She lives in New England but in her heart, she feels that she belongs in Ireland. She reads women’s women’s fiction and romantic comedies, prefers books to movies, ice cream to cake, and fall to spring.

Please visit https://www.linktr.ee/edhackett for more information! You can also find her on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Goodreads.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / Bookbub


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