CRUEL LESSONS: #NewRelease from Randy Overbeck

Randy Overbeck joins me with a look at CRUEL LESSONS, his newest release and book one his new mystery series, Lessons in Peril. This new series is set in the world of classroom. Randy used his many years as an educator to create his amateur sleuths, Superintendent Ken Parks and teacher Stacy Turner, and lend an air of realism to his fiction. Welcome, Randy!

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“Sooner or later, everything old is new again.”

This quote from Stephen King came to mind when I thought about my newest work. In October, the Wild Rose Press will release my newest fiction, CRUEL LESSONS, an atmospheric amateur sleuth mystery and the first in a new series called “Lessons in Peril” stories set in schools. The novel features a pair of middle age protagonists who are, you guessed it, educators, in fact, an elementary school teacher and a school administrator. Hardly your normal heroes. In the story, fifth graders get hold of a dangerous hallucinogenic, steal a car and die in a horrific crash. Assistant Superintendent Ken Parks and teacher Stacy Turner struggle to uncover who is peddling the deadly drugs before more kids die.

What brought King’s words to mind is that, while the novel is my newest work, it is also my oldest. I’ve been at this writing thing for a while now. Cruel Lessons will be my fifth published work in the past decade or so. But like most writers I think, I’ve been inventing stories, imagining characters and conjuring up plots and crimes for quite a while. One of my earliest fictional inventions was this story—or at least a very early version of the narrative and characters. This manuscript has lain in the virtual drawer for twenty years—the first attempt at the tale written long hand on legal pads—waiting for me to mature and improve as a writer and storyteller. Even though the current published version of Cruel Lessons has been through too many revisions, re-writings and editings to count, the skeleton of the narrative is much the same as envisioned so many years ago. So, like King wrote, what’s old is new again, though this was probably not King’s intent for the saying. 

Cruel Lessons is an atmospheric, amateur sleuth mystery, the first in a new series set in schools called “Lessons in Peril.” The story involves a rogue, hallucinogenic drug being pushed in a middle school and, after it results in the death of four students, the rush to stop the drug pusher before more children die. 

I think you’re going to like the final rendering of the tale. The early reviewers certainly do.

Literary Titan wrote that the novel was “masterfully written. Each new revelation adds to the suspense and keeps the reader on edge, eagerly anticipating what further secrets the story holds…… a gripping crime thriller and amateur sleuth mystery.” 

The folks at ReaderViews called it “a thrilling murder mystery…with an immersive plot, steady pace and stellar character development…one of the best mysteries of 2023.” 

And the reviewers at N N Light Bookheaven thought CRUEL LESSONS was “brilliant from start to finish…Impressive storytelling left me with a racing heart and shivers. One of the best thrillers I’ve ever read.” Interested yet?

Be among the first. 

CRUEL LESSONS is going to be one of your favorite new mysteries.

BLURB:

Four kids dead. Can Assistant Superintendent Ken Parks unmask the drug dealer poisoning his students before more kids die?

On a school camping trip, fifth graders experiment with a dangerous new hallucinogen and die in a horrific accident, their deaths shattering the quiet town. Assistant Superintendent Ken Parks, hoping to redeem a fatal mistake from his past, grasps the opportunity to conduct the district investigation of how students are getting the drugs. Almost before he begins, the cops make a stunning arrest. But Parks battles on, convinced the real pusher is still out there, poisoning more kids until he receives an anonymous threat: if he continues, those close to him will pay. Is Parks willing to risk those he loves for a chance at redemption?

EXCERPT:

From the bend, the road descended quickly and Amanda felt the car picking up speed as gravity and its powerful engine propelled it downhill. As she approached the next turn, she realized she was coming in a little too fast. She slid her foot to the brake. Her concentration on steering the twisting road ahead, at first it didn’t register. She dared to take her gaze off the road and look down at her feet before she understood. When her right foot depressed the brake, the pedal glided all the way to the floor. No friction. She pulled her foot back and slammed on the brake again. The pedal slid all the way down. Unbelieving, she pumped it, again and again.  

There was nothing there.

She jerked her eyes back. The hairpin turn hurtled at her. On instinct, she kept jamming on the pedal. It was supposed to work. She turned the wheel wildly. The big car shuddered as it tried to negotiate the turn. The two rear wheels slipped off the pavement, spinning in space. With the front wheel drive, the front two tires managed enough traction to catch. The car veered around the curve and headed down the next straight incline. The heavy vehicle rolled faster again as gravity pulled it down the hill. 

Amanda’s mind reeled. What was she supposed to do? 

Struggling desperately to force her mind to think, Amanda tried to consider her options. It was all happening too quickly. The next treacherous turn came at her fast. She had no way to slow down. White knuckles gripped the steering wheel.

The bend ahead showed a hard curve to the right, not quite as tight as the last one, but steeper. And she felt the car accelerating, though she hadn’t touched the gas pedal. Right before the car hit the curve, Amanda spun the steering wheel. The car lurched around the bend. The driver side of the car lifted up. Halfway through the long bend, Amanda watched the hood tilt in the turn until it was almost vertical. No seat belt on, she was catapulted down the leather seat, crashing into the passenger door.  

“Hell!” she cried, reaching to grab her bruised shoulder. 

She froze as the two wheels still on the ground shuddered in the gravel, sliding off the small road. Slammed against the side door, she heard the tall weeds and low branches whip against the body. But the car didn’t slow. Blood streamed from a gash on her forehead. For an instant she lay there stretched across the passenger door, holding her breath.

Then she sensed the car teetering. The front tire bumped something hard. Amanda stared, unbelieving, as the car began to flip. As the Regal made the first revolution, she screamed.

AUTHOR BIO:

Dr. Randy Overbeck is an award-winning educator, author and speaker. As an educator, he served children for more than three decades and has turned that experience into captivating fiction, authoring the bestselling series, the Haunted Shores Mysteries, winner of nine national awards. This fall, the Wild Rose Press will release his newest work, an atmospheric amateur sleuth mystery, CRUEL LESSONS, the first installment in a new series set in schools, “Lessons in Peril.” He is the host of the popular podcast, “Great Stories about Great Storytellers,” which reveals the unusual and sometimes strange backstories of famous authors, directors and poets. He is also a speaker in much demand, sharing his multi-media presentations, “Things Still Go Bump in the Night,” “A Few Favorite Haunts,” and “Everything You Wanted to Know About Publishing” with audiences all over the USA. As a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Dr. Overbeck is an active member of the literary community, contributing to a writers’ critique group, serving as a mentor to emerging writers and participating in writing conferences such as Sleuthfest, Killer Nashville and the Midwest Writers Workshop.

More info about his novels, programs and podcast can be found at his website www.authorrandyoverbeck.com .

randyoverbeck@authorrandyoverbeck.com

513-633-2838

SOCIAL MEDIA CONTACTS:

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/OverbeckRandy/media

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

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/randy-overbeck

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Randy-Overbeck/e/B07QQHW7DM

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4825632.Randy_Overbeck

Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1924616/10983135

Buy Links:

https://books2read.com/u/3GGGvK

Interview with Author Richards I. Levine

I'm interviewing author Richard I. Levine today. In his new book, TO CATCH THE SETTING SUN, a disillusioned Oahu police detective searches for a killer who's targeting women. Richard has had an amazing wealth of experiences in a variety of occupations, including as a writer. Thanks for letting us get to know you, Richard!

Q: Where did you get the idea for your new novel

A: It was a confluence of several separate, yet simultaneous, sensory experiences that triggered images which ignited the creative foundation for this story. Please allow me to explain. In 2018 I was on my way to the set of a Hawaii 5-O episode where I was cast as a background NCIS agent. On the way to set I mentally became this agent—giving him a name, a history, habits etc. I pictured him being uncomfortably hot while driving to an investigation because his car air-conditioner didn’t work. So, I shut mine off, rolled down the windows which caused a blast of hot air to rush in along with the smell of a trash pile left along the roadside. Then I began to play some music from the John Dumas CD Kohola Dreamtime and HPD detective Hank Benjamin came to life. After several weeks of repeating this ritual while in the car, a story began to develop and I knew I had my next novel.

Q: What was the most difficult thing about writing this book?

A: Constant interruptions from work or personal obligations, to neighbors engaged in noisy home remodeling projects or playing loud music to all hours of the night. It was extremely hard and frustrating to find uninterrupted quiet time. 

Q: Did you always want to be a writer?

A: From the time I was a small child, I had always found it difficult to verbally express my thoughts and feelings. I was never one of those people who had the ability to fire off a quick retort in the heat of the moment. The perfect response to any situation would always come to me hours later. Writing always came easy. It was a natural and an enjoyable path to travel; an easy way to transform my daydreams into a world that others can experience.

Q: Do you have any words of advice to beginning writers?

A: When I write, I literally do it for myself. It’s my entertainment. I’m the creator and the critic. The end result just happens to be a story, a novel, and a world that never existed until it developed in and moved out from the deep recesses of my brain. I never worry about an idea that comes to me at an inopportune time. If it’s a good idea, I’ll remember it. If I don’t, well, there will always be more to come. I never try to force a paragraph, a sentence, or a word, and you shouldn’t either. If the inspiration isn’t there, go do something else. If you try to force it, you’ll close down the innate pathways to the imagination and become frustrated. Just remember that If it doesn’t flow naturally, allow yourself to step away. Most important, don’t doubt yourself and don’t rush to get the approval of others. Believe that you are a creative genius. Do allow your imagination to sail across the cosmos with reckless abandon and understand that everything you put down on paper is not chiseled in stone. 

Q: What’s your favorite thing about being a writer?

A: Playing God. Seriously, getting to create and develop my characters and the world where they live. 

Q: What’s your least favorite thing about being a writer?

A: Playing God. While writing my previous four books, there were characters that I had developed a fondness for and never anticipated their demise when they were first created. In each instance, I had to pause for several days to reconcile the inevitable. After I had convinced myself it had to be done, I actually grieved over their passing. Sounds crazy, yes? 

Q: Tell us a bit about you. Where do you live, and how long have you been writing? 

A: I am a native New Yorker raised in the shadows of Yankee Stadium. After dabbling in several occupations (volunteer fireman, bartender, auto parts store manager) and a one-year coast to coast wanderlust trip, I returned to school to become a chiropractor. I’m a twenty-two year cancer survivor and a strong advocate of the natural healing arts. I have four Indy-published novels under my belt; my first being written in 2011. My fifth and latest work, To Catch The Setting Sun, will be released on August 22, 2022 on the Crimson Rose label of The Wild Rose Press. In 2006 I wrote, produced, and was on-air personality of the Dr. Rich Levine show on Seattle’s KKNW 1150AM and after a twenty-five year practice in Bellevue, Washington, I closed up shop in 2017 and moved to Oahu to pursue a dream of acting and being on Hawaii 5-O. While briefly working as a ghostwriter/community liaison for a local Honolulu City Councilmember, I appeared as a background actor in over twenty-five 5-Os and Magnum P.Is. I can be seen in my first co-star role in the Magnum P.I. third season episode “Easy Money”. I presently resides in Hawaii. 

Q: Do You have any pets? What do you like best about your pet.

A: I’ve always been a cat person. Found my first one when I was eight. My current kitty is an all-black (salt and pepper now) stray who is approximately twenty years old. Buddy is more like a lap-dog who follows me around the house. He’s the most vocal cat I’ve ever owned; constantly calling out to be fed, brushed, or to join him on the couch for TV time.

Q: What genre is your favorite to read?

A: I love history, especially late 18th century America. So both historical fiction and non-fiction piques my interest. I loved David McCullough’s John Adams. If I could go back in time, I would love to live in colonial Boston, New York, or Philadelphia.

Q: Name two authors we might find you reading when taking a break from your own writing?

A: When I was in high school, I was impressed with Ernest Hemingway and had always fantasized living in Key West with a bunch of polydactyl kitties and smoking Cuban cigars while pounding the keys of an old cast iron Royal typewriter.

I also have an affinity for the 1930s-1940s. I love old Bogart and Cagney films, so it makes sense that another author on my to-read list is Dashiell Hammett. In the future, I can see myself writing a noir detective novel.

Q: What are two (or more) of your all-time favorite books in any genre?

A: The first would have to be the George R. Stewart sci-fi classic Earth Abides. Written in the 1950s the story follows introvert Isherwood Williams who, thanks to the venom from a rattlesnake bite, survived a world-wide viral epidemic that wipes out most of humanity. Stewart’s masterful prose easily transports me into the protagonist’s shoes. Oddly, given the state of our world today, I find this story a tad prophetic of what can still occur. 

The second book would have to be McCullough’s biopic on John Adams

Q: What do you like best about your hero in To Catch The Setting Sun?

A: I like Detective Henry Benjamin’s integrity; his moral compass. He’s a flawed individual, he has his faults and weaknesses which he recognizes and is determined to overcome. Still, he’s honest and faithful.

Q: What do you like best about your heroine in To Catch The Setting Sun?

A: There are a couple of heroines in this story. My female leads are strong, independent, and intelligent. Not all are honest, but nonetheless, they can hold their own in any situation and can kick a little butt when necessary.   

Q: How can readers reach you or find you online?

A: I can be found on my Amazon author page, On Twitter @Your_In8_Power, and my Facebook author page Richard I Levine—fiction novelist.

Q: If I was a first-time reader of your books, which one would you recommend I start with and why?

A: I would definitely begin with my newest work because it’s “hot of the presses” as they say.  I wouldn’t deter anyone from my earlier work which are the four novels of the Ray Silver action adventure series. While each book can be read as a stand-alone, just know that where one book ends, the next book begins.

To Catch The Setting Sun

BLURB:

There’s a killer loose on the island of Oahu. His targets? Young, native-Hawaiian women. But it also appears that he’s targeting and taunting Honolulu police detective Henry Benjamin who knew each victim and whose wife, Maya, had been the first name on that list. In addition to battling his personal demons, this New York transplant’s aggressive style didn’t sit well with his laid-back colleagues who viewed Henry’s uncharacteristic lack of progress in the investigation as evidence that fueled ongoing rumors that he could be the killer. Was he, or could it have been someone within the municipal hierarchy with a vendetta? As it was, after thirteen years on the job Henry had been disillusioned with paradise. His career choice long killed any fantasy of living in a grass hut on a wind-swept beach, being serenaded by the lazy sounds of the ocean and a slack key guitar. Instead, it had opened his eyes to a Hawaii that tourists will never see.

EXCERPT:

The reflection from scattered tiki torches competed with the moonlight flickering across the black velvet lagoon. Gentle trade winds, carrying the sweet peach-like scent of plumeria, tickled the flames and the palm fronds. Clearly a welcomed reprieve from five straight days of stifling temperatures. A catamaran and a couple small outrigger canoes, their artfully painted fiberglass hulls made to look like the wood of ancient Koa trees, were pulled up along the sandy shoreline. The heavy beat of drums reverberated off the tall palms and set the rhythm for a half-dozen pair of grass-skirted hips dancing on the main stage while vacationers laughed, ogled, and stuffed their faces with shredded pork, scoops of macaroni salad, steaming flavored rice wrapped in Ti leaves, thick slices of pineapple, papaya, mango, and freshly roasted macadamia nuts that were all artfully displayed on wide banana leaf covered center pieces. They sat cross-legged in the sand, sipping Mai Tais from plastic cups made to look like hollowed out coconut shells, lost in a tropical fantasy that came complete with a souvenir snap shot taken with an authentic hula girl—the perfect paradise as portrayed on the website. The noise from the music, chanting, and laughter, drowned out the frantic noise of the nearby kitchen, and it drowned out the desperate pleas and painful cries of Makani Palahia from the far side of the beach at Auntie Lily’s Luau Cove and Hawaiian Barbecue.

Author Bio:

Richard I Levine is a native New Yorker raised in the shadows of Yankee Stadium. After dabbling in several occupations and a one-year coast to coast wanderlust trip, this one-time volunteer fireman, bartender, and store manager returned to school to become a chiropractor. A twenty-one year cancer survivor, he’s a strong advocate for the natural healing arts. Levine has four Indy-published novels and his fifth work, To Catch The Setting Sun, has just been completed and he's anticipating a spring 2022 release. In 2006 he wrote, produced and was on-air personality of the Dr. Rich Levine show on Seattle’s KKNW 1150AM and after a twenty-five year practice in Bellevue, Washington, he closed up shop in 2017 and moved to Oahu to pursue a dream of acting and being on Hawaii 5-O. While briefly working as a ghostwriter/community liaison for a local Honolulu City Councilmember, he appeared as a background actor in over twenty-five 5-Os and Magnum P.Is. Richard can be seen in his first co-star role in the Magnum P.I. third season episode “Easy Money”. He presently resides in Hawaii. 

Simon Scarrow's WW2 Thriller: BLACKOUT - #NewRelease

 I'm participating in Simon Scarrow's blog tour with Silver Dagger Tours. I love mysteries and I love WW2 stories, so BLACKOUT sounds like it's right up my alley. Make sure to enter Simon's giveaway!

 

Blackout

by Simon Scarrow

Genre: Historical WWII Thriller 

During Berlin’s brutally cold winter of 1939, a serial killer stalks the city throughout the Third Reich’s forced nightly blackouts in this chilling WWII crime novel from #1 Sunday Times bestselling author Simon Scarrow—perfect for fans of Babylon Berlin, Philip Kerr’s Berlin Trilogy, Robert Ludlum, Andrew Gross, and William Christie . . .

Berlin 1939. The city is blanketed by snow and ice. In the distance, the rumble of war grows louder. In the shadows, a serial killer rises . . .

As the Nazis tighten their chokehold on the capital, panic and paranoia fester as blackout is rigidly enforced. Every night the city is plunged into an oppressive, suffocating darkness—pitch perfect conditions for unspeakable acts.
 
When a young woman is found brutally murdered, it’s up to Criminal Inspector Horst Schenke to solve the case quickly. His reputation is already on the line for his failure to join the Nazi Party. If he doesn’t solve the case, the consequences could be fatal. 
 
Schenke's worst fears are confirmed when a second victim is found. As the investigation takes him deeper into the regime’s darkest corridors, Schenke realizes danger lurks behind every corner—and that the warring factions of the Reich can be as deadly as a killer stalking the streets . . .
 
“That line between right and wrong gets pretty smudged in this gem of a story. Atmosphere, sharp intrigue, and a host of fascinating characters all combine to make this one the next addition to your keeper shelf."
—Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author

“Mesmerising. Nail-biting. Unputdownable. Utterly authentic and beautifully written.”
—Damien Lewis, internationally bestselling author

Add to Goodreads

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Simon Scarrow’s passion for writing began at an early age. After a childhood spent travelling the world, he pursued his great love of history as a teacher before becoming a full-time writer. His Roman soldier heroes Cato and Macro made their debut in 2000 in UNDER THE EAGLE, and have subsequently appeared in many bestsellers in the Eagles of the Empire series, including CENTURION, THE GLADIATOR and THE BLOOD OF ROME. Simon’s latest books, BLACKOUT and THE EMPEROR’S EXILE, are out now.

 Simon is also the author of the novels YOUNG BLOODS, THE GENERALS, FIRE AND SWORD and THE FIELDS OF DEATH, chronicling the lives of the Duke of Wellington and Napoleon Bonaparte, and of SWORD & SCIMITAR, the epic tale of the 1565 Siege of Malta, and HEARTS OF STONE, set in Greece during the Second World War.

 Simon has also co-written with T. J. Andrews three bestselling novels set in the Roman era, ARENA, INVADER and PIRATA.

 Writing with Lee Francis, Simon is the author of the contemporary thriller PLAYING WITH DEATH.

 Simon lives in Norfolk.

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#NewRelease: PRIVILEGE by Tina Donahue

 Tina Donahue is here today with PRIVILEGE, her new release in The Valesky Crime Family series. Be sure enter the giveaway at the end of the post. Congratulations on the new book, Tina!

 

Privilege

The Valesky Crime Family Book 2

by Tina Donahue

Genre: Dark Mafia Romance 

She’ll destroy the mobsters who murdered her brother... unless they kill her first.

District cop Lia Blosky warned her twin brother not to get involved with the Valesky Crime Family. He didn’t listen. Now, he’s dead, tortured horribly before mobsters murdered him. Out for blood, she’ll do anything to see these monsters dead.

FBI Special Agent Adrian Kalin is connected to the Valesky Family in a way he loathes and doesn’t want. His stepfather rules the syndicate and is tired of Lia threatening to kill him and others responsible for her brother’s death. To shut her up for good, he orders Adrian to murder her. Who better than an FBI agent who has no connection to her and knows how to hide evidence?

Adrian resists, but if it comes down to saving Lia or his brothers and mother from Dimitri’s rage, he’ll have to choose family.

In a deadly game between each other and the mob, Lia and Adrian fight to survive... while also surrendering to their undeniable attraction to each other.

This is book two in the Valesky Crime Family series, can be enjoyed independently and has an HEA.

Publisher’s Note: This contemporary dark mafia romance contains elements of mystery, suspense, action, adventure, adult themes, and possible triggers for some readers.

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LIA

My rubber soles squeak on the polished floor.

Tap.

The unexpected sound stops me.

I cock my head.

Nothing.

The walls must be settling.

I put in my earbuds to listen to music then quickly take them out. If I fuck up while I’m on duty here I’ll

have no income.

The store’s main entrance is past the shoes and cosmetics, the faintly lit mall visible beyond it.

I proceed.

Tap.

Again, I stop, my skin crawling. That sound isn’t coming from the building nor is it a coincidence.

I spin around.

No one’s behind me.

Holding my breath, I wait for something to pounce at me from either side.

Nothing does.

What the fuck?

Shaken and confused, I face front.

Adrian advances.

No, no, no!

“You need to come with me,” he says.

To make my murder easier on him? His jeans, tee, and biker boots show he’s dressed for manual labor...

like digging a grave.

Instinctively, I reach for my gun, which isn’t there. This mall doesn’t want their security guards involved

in shootouts even if they’re cops. Standing down is their preference. My only weapon is my phone.

I pull it out and back away.

He follows. “If you plan to call 911, that’s not a wise choice. Remember, the cops in this area are on

Dimitri’s side not yours.”

Just like him. Together, they could easily subdue me. Once I’m cuffed or hogtied, transporting me to

another location for the final kill would take zero effort.

I shove the phone back in my pocket but keep retreating.

He matches my every step. “Lia, come with me, please. If you don’t want to go into WITSEC, I can take

you somewhere safe.”

Like a fucking grave?

No thanks.

He may be bigger and have a gun but I know this place. He doesn’t.

Using that to my advantage, I back toward the escalators. They’re turned off but still lead away from him.

His gaze jumps from me to them. “There’s no need to run. I can protect you.”

Liar. Bastard.

I don’t stop.

Neither does he.

Junk jewelry displays crowd the area a few feet from the escalators. No one bothers to put that stuff away.

Thieves wouldn’t bother with it.

At last, I stop.

Adrian does, too. “Please say you’re coming with me. I’m begging you.”

I’d rather he was shrieking in agony from a bullet to his dick or gut, but keep that venom from my voice.

“We can talk. That’s it. I’m not promising anything. Got it?”

“Sure.” He gestures behind himself. “Let’s go outside to my car or yours. Whatever you’re comfortable

with.”

I won’t relax until he’s dead. “I have to close up first. There’s a door upstairs I need to lock.” I point to

the upper floor.

He nods. “I’ll go with you.”

“I’d rather you didn’t.”

“Lia, please.”

I feign indecision then nod. “Fine.” Alert and impatient, I wait for him to step closer.

When he’s no more than a foot away but still coming, I push the junk jewelry display in his path.

Unable to stop, he trips over it.

I lift the next display and bring it down hard on his back.

His breath whooshes out. He falls face forward... directly in my path to the mall entrance.

Before I can get around him, he’s pushing to his knees.

Shit. I race up the escalator to leave from the exit I mentioned.

Tap, tap, tap.

He’s steps below me, murder in his eyes, his gun drawn. “You’re going to fucking stop,” he says, “and

you’re going to do it now.”

Target

The Valesky Crime Family Book 1

A Russian kingpin wants her dead... the only one who can stop it is the man sent to murder her.

Toni Flores loved her dream job working for a respected US senator until he raped her. She’s determined to bring him to justice, no matter the cost.

For years, Dimitri Valesky, head of a Russian crime family in America, has bought off those in government. Just like the senator responsible for Toni’s assault. When she won’t keep quiet about it and risks Dimitri’s business, he orders his stepson Michael to kill her.

Michael’s a lobbyist not a mafia enforcer. He refuses the insane demand, but Dimitri insists. The power he holds over Michael and his brothers is absolute... or so he believes.

Rather than murder Toni, Michael intends to romance her. Once he convinces her to keep quiet about the Senator, she won’t be a target any longer and Dimitri will back off on the hit. The plan falls apart and now they are dodging mafia enforcers, bullets, and Dimitri’s outrage.

Michael and Toni fight to stay alive and save those dearest to them as they also fall hopelessly in love.

This is book one in the Valesky Crime Family series and has an HEA.

Publisher’s Note: This contemporary dark mafia romance contains elements of mystery, suspense, action, adventure, adult themes, and possible triggers for some readers.

Add to Goodreads

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Tina’s an Amazon and international bestselling novelist who writes passionate romance for every taste – ‘heat with heart’ – for traditional publishers and indie. Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, Romantic Times and numerous online sites have praised her work. She’s won Readers’ Choice Awards, was named a finalist in the EPIC competition, received a Book of the Year award, The Golden Nib Award, awards of merit in the RWA Holt Medallion competitions, and second place in the NEC RWA contests. She’s featured in the Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market. Before penning romances, she worked at a major Hollywood production company in Story Direction.

On a less serious note: she’s an admitted and unrepentant chocoholic, brakes for Mexican restaurants, and has been known to moan like Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally while wolfing down tostadas. She’s flown a single-engine airplane (freaking scary), rewired an old house using an ‘electricity for dummies’ book, and is horribly shy despite the hot romances she writes.

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DEATH BY SAMPLE SIZE by Susie Black #NewRelease

Please welcome author Susie Black. Susie's new release DEATH BY SAMPLE SIZE is a mystery set in the fashion industry. Susie knows all about the fashion industry, and swimsuits in particular. In fact, she's offering a swimsuit buying guide to help anyone looking to buy a new suit this summer. If you'd like a copy of her guide, just email her at mysteries_@authorsusieblack.com I need all the help I can get when buying a swimsuit! Thanks for being here, Susie!

Set in the heart of the competitive Los Angeles apparel industry, Death By Sample Size is the story of one woman’s relentless quest for power regardless of the cost. Since she didn’t think any rules applied to her, buying office big shot Bunny Frank had no problem breaking them all. Ruthless, driven and power hungry; from bribery to bullying to extortion, Bunny Frank did whatever it took to make her buying office the biggest and best no matter who she had to step on to succeed. Nobody said no to Bunny Frank; at least nobody with a brain. Rejected and publicly humiliated by the only man she ever loved, Bunny plotted her revenge and didn’t care how many careers she destroyed to make him pay. With no shortage of suspects, the mystery wasn’t who wanted Bunny dead. Who didn’t? 

The one thing that is drilled into an author’s head is to only write what you know. If you don’t know it, either do the research and learn it or don’t you dare write it. If you don’t have the creds for what you write, you are toast because readers can spot a phony by the second paragraph and never finish reading your book. This concept is one I never lose sight of and is the reason I write about the subjects I do. 

 Like the protagonist in my Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series, I am a ladies’ swimwear sales exec in the greater Los Angeles area. From the beginning of my career, I have kept a daily journal chronicling the interesting, quirky, and sometimes quite challenging people I have encountered as well as the crazy situations I’ve gotten myself into and out of. My daily journal entries are the foundation of everything I write. The plots and premises of my stories all take place in the fast-paced, take no prisoners ladies' apparel industry.

 All of my characters are based on real people, and the central characters are all strong, successful women who have beaten the odds and broken the glass ceiling. Holly Schlivnik, the main character, is based on me with some poetic license taken, of course.

As a female who has succeeded in a historically male-dominated industry, it was important to me to write about the apparel business from a woman’s point of view. Like other books before it such as I Can Get it for You Wholesale and Save the Tiger, Death By Sample Size shakes out the dirty laundry of the cutthroat fashion business. But this time it’s a woman peeling back the underbelly of the apparel industry and revealing how the latest trends really get from the designer’s imagination to the store rack.

Blurb:

Everyone wanted her dead…but who actually killed her?

The last thing swimwear sales exec Holly Schlivnik expected was to discover ruthless buying office big wig Bunny Frank’s corpse trussed up like a Thanksgiving turkey with a bikini stuffed down her throat. When Holly’s colleague is arrested for Bunny’s murder, the wise-cracking, irreverent amateur sleuth jumps into action to find the real killer.  Nothing turns out the way Holly thinks it will as she matches wits with a wily killer hellbent on revenge.

Excerpt:

When the elevator doors opened, I had to stop myself short not to step on her. There was Bunny Frank-the buying office big shot-lying diagonally across the car. Her legs were splayed out and her back was propped against the corner. Her sightless eyes were wide open and her arms reached out in a come-to-me baby pose. She was trussed up with shipping tape like a dressed Thanksgiving turkey ready for the oven with a bikini stuffed in her mouth. A Gotham Swimwear hangtag drooped off her lower lip like a toe tag gone lost. Naturally, I burst out laughing. 

Before you label me incredibly weird or stone-cold, let me say genetics aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. If you’re lucky you inherit your Aunt Bertha’s sexy long legs or your father’s ability to add a bazillion dollar order in his head and get the total correct to the last penny. Without even breaking into a sweat, it’s easy to spout at least a million fabulous traits inheritable by the luck of the draw. Did I get those sexy long legs or the ability to add more than two plus two without a calculator? Noooooooooo. Lucky me. I inherited my Nana’s fear of death we overcompensated for with the nervous habit of laughing. A hysterical reaction? Think Bozo the clown eulogizing your favorite aunt.

I craned my neck like a tortoise and checked around. Then I clamped a fist over my mouth. Cripes, how could I possibly explain my guffaws with Bunny lying there? The disappointment was simultaneously mixed with relief when there was no one else in the parking lot. Where was security when you needed them?

I toed the elevator door open and bent over Bunny. I’d seen enough CSI episodes to know not to touch her. She was stiff as a board and I attributed the bluish tinge of her skin to the bikini crammed down her throat. I was no doctor, but I didn’t need an MD after my name to make this diagnosis. Bunny Frank was dead as the proverbial doorknob. 

It was no surprise Bunny Frank had finally pushed someone beyond their limits. The only surprise was it had taken so long. The question wasn’t who wanted Bunny Frank dead. The question was who didn’t?

Buy Links:

Amazon  itunes  barnesandnoble  goodreads  Target  KOBO 

Author Bio:

Born in the Big Apple, Susie Black now calls sunny Southern California home. Like the protagonist in her Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series, Susie is a successful apparel sales executive. Susie began telling stories as soon as she learned to talk. Now she’s telling all the stories from her garment industry experiences in humorous mysteries. 

She reads, writes, and speaks Spanish, albeit with an accent that sounds like Mildred from Michigan went on a Mexican vacation and is trying to fit in with the locals. Since life without pizza and ice cream as her core food groups wouldn’t be worth living, she’s a dedicated walker to keep her girlish figure. A voracious reader, she’s also an avid stamp collector. Susie lives with a highly intelligent man and has one incredibly brainy but smart-aleck adult son who inexplicably blames his sarcasm on an inherited genetic defect. 

Social Media Links:

Twitter  Book Bub  Linkedin  Pinterest  Facebook  Instagram  

   

#NewRelease from J.L. Delozier: CON ME ONCE

I'm thrilled to have super imaginative writer J.L Delozier with me today. She sat down for an interview and talks about writing and life. Her new book CON ME ONCE release tomorrow, February 5, 2020. Welcome J.L.!

Where did you get the idea for your new novel, CON ME ONCE? 

 I got the idea for this book from an old GQ article on the "real-life superhero community", specifically a man named Phoenix Jones. The article made me ponder the psychology behind the need for these (mostly) men to dress up in home-made costumes and patrol their neighborhoods. It also made me wonder what would happen if they got embroiled in something heavier than helping little old ladies cross the street, and - voila! - Con Me Once was born.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?

I write the first page and then the last page. The rest of the time I spend desperately trying to fill in the murky middle.

What do you want readers to come away with after they read CON ME ONCE?

I want them to think it was a hell of a ride, and I’m hoping they’ll want to see more from the cast of characters. I could easily make this book a series focusing on each of the different cosplayers.

What genre have you never written that you’d like to write? 

Sci-fi was my first love, but I’ve only ever written/published one short story in the genre. I have an idea for a novel…

Did you always want to be a writer? 

Yep. Started with short stories in elementary school.

If you could change something about one of your books that’s already released, what would it be?

I’d love a do-over on Type & Cross. It was truly the first novel I’d ever written (nothing stashed in a drawer, I swear) and I never expected it to get published, much less nominated for a Thriller award. I’ve learned so much about the craft since then, and I cringe when I read it.

Do you work on more than one book at a time? 

Never.

Do you have any words of advice to beginning writers? 

Buckle up. Do it for the love. Be prepared for rejection.

What comes first for you – plot or character? And why? 

Plot. I think that’s true for most thriller/suspense authors.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Panster.

What’s your favorite thing about being a writer?

Creating intricate balances-of-power within my circle of characters.

What’s your least favorite thing about being a writer? 

Self-promotion/marketing. I wasn’t on any social media prior to 2016 when my first book published.

If writing is your first passion, what is your second? 

Science, particularly astronomy

Do you have another occupation, other than writer? If so, what is it? Does it help you with your writing?

I’m a physician – part-time now, so I can concentrate more on my writing.

How do you think your life experiences have prepared you for writing? 

As a physician, my job is to observe people both physically and mentally. When I did disaster work in particular, I got to see the best and worst of humanity. It’s given me great insight into how people act when stressed.

Do you have any pets? Are you cat person or a dog person? Or are you into totally different pets, like goldfish? What do you like best about your pet? 

I have three cats, but I love all animals.

If money were not an object, where would you most like to live? 

Florence, Italy Why? It’s a historic, literary, walking city with great food. Need I say more?

What did you want to be (occupation-wise) when you were a child?

An astronomer.

Name two authors we might find you reading when taking a break from your own writing.

Neil Gaiman, Kazuo Ishiguro

Tell us a little about your current work in progress.

The Photo Thief  is my first mystery with a significant paranormal element and also my first to mix POV characters: one first person, and one third person. It’s been a challenge, to say the least, but hopefully it’ll be worth it. The plot centers around a young adult with a seizure disorder who “hears” old photographs collected by her great-grandfather speaking to her. They ask her to solve their murders—and that of her own mother.

What’s your tagline? Why did you choose it? 

I have two. “Crime plays” is a take-off of the old saying “crime doesn’t pay” and also refers Vegas, where the second half of the book takes place. If you’ve ever played a casino table game, you’ve heard the phrase “money plays.” The second tag line is “this con is on” which refers to both the multiple schemes at play as well a comic convention taking place in Vegas during the book’s climactic moments.

Do you have an event coming up you’d like to tell us about?

I’ll be at ThrillerFest in NYC in July which is a great venue for fans and writers of all levels to mingle.

Blurb, CON ME ONCE:

When Frank Lambda, a bumbling superhero wannabe, witnesses a mob hit gone wrong, he ends up running for his life. Enter the mysterious Keira, whose secret academy claims to turn wannabes like Frank into real heroes. Frank knows a con when he sees one. But desperate for an escape, he joins three other recruits for training in Las Vegas. Against the backdrop of a thousand spandex-clad cosplayers Keira’s true agenda—a multimillion-dollar heist from her mobster brother—is exposed. With their lives and a fortune at stake, Frank and his team of diverse misfits fight to become the heroes they always wanted to be.

Author Bio:

J.L. Delozier has practiced rural and disaster medicine for 25 years. For inspiration, she turns to science that exists on the edge of reality—bizarre medical anomalies, new genetic discoveries, and anything that seems too weird to be true. She’s published three thrillers, the first of which was nominated for a “Best First Novel” award by the International Thriller Writers organization. Her short fiction has appeared in the British crime anthology, Noirville: Tales from the Dark Side, in NoirCon’s official journal, Retreats from Oblivion, and in Thriller Magazine.

Her first sci-fi short story won the “Women Hold Up Half the Sky” prize of the Roswell Award and appeared in Artemis Journal. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and three rescue cats. See more at www.jldelozier.com

Social Media:

www.jldelozier.com
www.Amazon.com/author/jldelozier
www.Goodreads.com/jldelozier
www.Facebook.com/jldeloziermd
www.Twitter.com/jldelozier

Clothes Make the Character: Jane Barnaby Adventure Series

James DiBenedetto visits today with a look at the clothes his heroine Jane wears and what they say about her. I love his graphics! Please welcome James DiBenedetto!

Over the course of a book series, the main character will usually wear a lot of different outfits, and Jane Barnaby, the heroine of my Jane Barnaby Adventures series, is no exception.  As you can see in the illustration  you’re never quite sure what you’re going to get with Jane.

She’s an archaeology student, and her books take place in the early 1990’s, so it’s only natural that she’d see herself as Indiana Jones.

When we meet Jane, she’s studying at Oxford for her Master’s Degree.  Which means she was a teenager in the mid 1980’s.  And that explains the second outfit, big hair and all!

Being at Oxford means living with cold, damp weather, and Jane was fully prepared when she headed off to England, as you can see in the third outfit.

Her first book, FINDERS KEEPERS, begins with Jane taking on what she thought was an easy job: picking up her professor’s new car and driving it out to him in Spain. And as the fourth outfit shows, she thought she was ready for the task.

The fifth outfit shows Jane after three days on the road, having lost her professor’s car, not to mention a box of priceless artifacts she mistakenly ended up with for a little while.  She’s clearly very much the worse for wear!

Finally, in the third book of the series, HER BROTHER’S KEEPER, Jane has to sneak into a costume ball to try and rescue her brother from Russian spies.  So, naturally, in keeping with her chosen profession, she dresses as Marion from Raiders of the Lost Ark to blend in with the crowd.
Here’s a brief excerpt, showing how Jane decided on that last outfit:

At six o’clock, Jane headed up to her room to get dressed.  It didn’t take long; it was a simple enough costume.  And it looked right, not that anyone other than Bill would probably notice if it didn’t.  Still, something was bothering her, and she stood in front of the mirror for a couple of minutes before she figured out what it was.

Marion was the sidekick – no, not even that.  She was the damsel in distress.  It was only a costume, but what did it say about her that she chose it, rather than dressing as the hero of the story?  Granted, there hadn’t been anything in the closet that looked as though Harrison Ford might ever have worn it, and definitely nothing like the iconic hat, but still, now that she was thinking about roles, it annoyed her.  Had she picked Marion because she was at least archaeology-related, which would have been fine, or was there some subconscious reason?  Was she hoping for someone to rescue her, and her brother?  Was she ready to pass off her responsibility to her family if a likely-looking hero happened to come along?

No.  There was no point thinking that way.  Sometimes a costume was just a costume, and this was one of those times.  

You can find the Jane Barnaby Adventures on Amazon, and everywhere else eBooks are sold.  FINDERS KEEPERS is on sale at the moment for just $0.99, and you can get it at http://books2read.com/FindersKeepers.  It’s also available as a fantastic Audible audiobook!

You can also follow me all over the Interwebs:

My website – www.jjdibenedetto.com
Facebook – www.facebook.com/jjdibenedettoauthor
Twitter – www.twitter.com/jjdibenedetto
Amazon author page – www.amazon.com/author/jjdibenedetto
Audiobook Samples – www.tinyurl.com/jjdsamples

Andi Ramos and Ten Things you need to know

Mystery writer Andi Ramos is my guest today. We're going to get to know Andi in a new segment I call "Ten Things". Welcome Andi!

Top 10 Things To Know About Andi Ramos:

1. I’m a foodie- to pick a favorite kind of food is hard, but I have to say its a rare occasion when I turn anything chocolate down ;)

2. I’ve been married over 20 years, God bless him!

3. I have four kids- 3 of them teenagers, God bless us both!

4. My Favorite Quote: “The muse works for you. You don’t write at her beck and call—you train her to show up when you’re writing.” JK Rowlings

5. I LOVE old movies, I think Cary Grant is the most charming actor that ever existed!

6. I HATE to cry- I avoid it at all costs- which means any books or movies that might shed a tear, I get very close minded and won’t consider them!

7. I have a unique laugh that is a mix between a wheeze, chortle and a snort!

8. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is my secret boyfriend, only he doesn’t know it- my husband does, so we’re all good!

9. I have a pet goat that thinks he’s a dog.

10. My guilty pleasure:Binge watching TV shows- I don’t watch a lot of TV but, on a rare occasion I will clear a whole weekend just to indulge- Popcorn and Oreos here I come!


Blurb, GUMSHOE GIRL:

Sheagan O’Hare got more than she bargained for when her newly inherited detective agency lands its first case; a missing person, embezzlement, and murder. Sheagan’s out to prove she can hang with the pros, despite the constant reminder of her amateur status from an annoyingly attractive FBI agent, Colin 'Mac' MacEvine, who’s forced himself into her life.

How does she feel when an old high school friend hopes to ignite a new romance?

Will she be able to discover if detective work and love can mingle before someone gets hurt?

Buy Links:

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gumshoe-Girl-Andi-Ramos-ebook/dp/B07CMZVJ9Zi

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Gumshoe-Girl-Andi-Ramos-ebook/dp/B07CMZVJ9Z

Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/gumeshoe-girl/id1376902448

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/820388

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/gumeshoe-girl

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gumeshoe-girl-andi-ramos/1128555736

Excerpt:

Sheagan made a split-second decision to head back to Kinney, Kelley, and Wellstood. It was a long shot, but she felt she had to move on it since there was nothing else to go on.

It was past business hours by the time she parked. She tried the door; it was locked. She peered through the window and saw Ernie collecting his things, so she knocked and watched him shuffle to the door.

“Hi Ernie," Sheagan said, as he unlocked the door.

“Little Miss, are you back so soon?”

“I forgot something upstairs this morning.”

“They are just about closed up. Most everybody is gone. I was just leaving myself.”

“I’ll just be a minute,” Sheagan charmed.

“You promise you won’t be long now?”

“I promise.”

He nodded. “Okay.” He stepped aside and let her in. Ernie looked tired.

“Long day?” she asked.

“They get longer every day.” He managed a weary smile.

She nodded sympathetically and made her quickly way to the elevator, dreading what to say to the receptionist. The doors dinged opened, and Sheagan peeked out from inside the elevator. She didn’t see anyone. Perfect!

She slipped out of the elevator and crept around the corner, then eased her way back to Mary’s cubicle and breathed a sigh of relief as she shook the first file cabinet drawer open. It was full. She took a photo so that she could investigate any company names later, and did the same with the second and third drawers. The fourth was full of office supplies – a box of staples, and full boxes of paper clips, pens, Scotch tape, and more sticky notepads.

She turned her attention to the second file cabinet. It was the same arrangement as the first, with files in the first three drawers. She opened the last drawer, thinking it would also house supplies, but was surprised to see a picture of Mary’s husband and a small, fabric printed handbag.
Sheagan heard a loud voice come from the conference room. She felt a knot in her stomach and slipped the purse on her shoulder, concealing it as best she could with the thick strap of her bag.
The voice grew louder, and there was heavy banging, like someone was pounding on a desk. Nerves got the best of her and Sheagan ducked out of the cubicle and crept down the hallway towards the reception area. Just as she rounded the corner, she crashed into the cleaner, Lewis. A hot chill ran up her spine as he grabbed her shoulders.

Author Bio:

Andi Ramos is a debut author from central Massachusetts where she lives with her family, goat, and Boston Terriers. Her love for reading grew into a passion for writing. She dabbled with pen and paper for a long time and eventually stopped pushing her amusements aside and started developing those stories into novels. One of her favorite things to do is to hop into her motorhome with her family and write while traveling down the road as they journey to various destinations.

Website: www.andiramos.com
Blog: www.andiramos.com/blog
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andiramosauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/andiramosauthor