A REVIEW OF PATY JAGER'S TARNISHED REMAINS

by Mary A. Adair

I just finished TARNISHED REMAINS, second book in Pat Jager’s Shandra Higheagle Mysteries. A Big 5 Stars!

This story is a murder mystery set in Idaho on Shandra Higheagle’s farm. Shandra grew up with little memory of her father who died in an accident when she was a small child. Thanks to her grandmother she grew up understanding her Native American heritage. This is a part of the story I really liked, after her grandmother’s death, her grandmother still visited Shandra in her dreams. Shandra accepted that she dreamed of her grandmother and the visits seem to help her through the rough patches in her life, which includes solving murder mysteries, but she still feels the visits are actually her mind‘s own way of working through the issues.

Well, it seems Shandra has a knack for finding dead bodies. In Tarnished Remains Shandra unearths a body while digging on her own property to retrieve the clay needed to fashion her pottery. Can you imagine just digging away in your garden and unearthing an old boot with the foot still in it?! 

Detective Ryan Greer is the first person to come to her mind as the person to call. If you haven’t read book one in the series, she and the detective worked together before. Shandra was his main suspect in book one. This is mentioned in book two and flows with the story. TARNISHED REMAINS is a complete story and stands on its own. So don’t worry if you haven’t read book one, it is not necessary to understand the second book.

TARNISHED REMAINS kept me on my toes. Just when I thought I knew who the murderer was, I changed my mind. I just loved the small town atmosphere and all the quirky people living there. I reminded me of the small town I grew up near and went to school in. I swear, everyone in this book looked at least a little guilty at some part of the story. It had me guessing till the very end. When the true culprit was revealed it made perfect sense.

I give TARNISHED REMAINS 5 stars. It is a small town murder mystery with a hint of budding true love. There is also the dream-visiting grandmother. I always love a touch of super natural.  I also love a big, loveable, and scared-of-his-own-shadow-dog.  I have one of those and I love her, love her, love her! What else could you ask for? I loved it.

It is a stand alone story so you don’t have to read them in sequence, but if you haven’t read book one it would be great fun to read it first.

http://www.amazon.com/Tarnished-Remains-Shandra-Higheagle-Mystery-ebook/dp/B00T83F3XE/ref

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What can I say about 2016 so far? Oy!  

Since July 2015 everything in my life has doubled…. Including the stress. I’m drowning and I don’t know how to get out other than make something very bad happen to the folks in my WIP. Lol… 

I kid.. I kid. 

I am finally back at work after 2 weeks of staying home with 6 kids. If I had a nickel for every “Stop” “No” or “Get off” … I might not be 1/3 of the way as stressed.

                                

Oh! Some good news during the break… I am all but done with my NaNo (yeah, I’m not giving up)… just doing the look-see and make sure it flows before I stamp it with “The End”.

I was also asked to gather some ideas and proposals to continue my career with this particular company. I kid you not… My heart raced, sweat crossed by brow… my hands even shook. I thought I might actually get sick… BUT I hit the send button. Now it's the waiting game. 

Does anyone have any resolutions? I said I wouldn’t make any. It’s always in the back of my mind to eat better and exercise more. But this year, I’d like to learn more. I want to learn how to do one of those sticky-note boards to help organize my books. Hopefully by the summer I’ll post pictures of my own.

Alright... time to make the doughnuts. Y'all don't let these folks push your buttons! Enjoy January. 

Carolyn

 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TBUJYDE?keywords=carolyn%20hector&qid=1452050789&ref_=sr_1_4&sr=8-4

http://www.amazon.com/Magic-Mistletoe-Kimani-Romance-ebook/dp/B00UFM3XES/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1452051021&sr=1-3

And available for pre-order (a button worth pressing!)

http://www.amazon.com/Bachelor-Beauty-Queen-Once-Tiara-ebook/dp/B0105SY4LM/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1452051161&sr=1-2

Are you on Facebook? I am! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010563251297

#NewRelease MERCY: BRIDE OF IDAHO by @JacquieRogers #mailorderbride

Website | Pickle Barrel Gazette | Amazon

With Mercy and Patience...
by Jacquie Rogers

2016 is here and let me tell you, 2015 went out with a bang.  Mercy: Bride of Idaho debuted #1 on the Amazon Hot New Releases for Victorian Romance.  Awesome!

Mercy: Bride of Idaho

This book was an interesting journey for me.  In fact, I actually was on a journey--a book tour starting in Deadwood, South Dakota, and ending in Owyhee County, Idaho.  The phone rang (actually played the William Tell Overature) and it was Caroline Clemmons.  She told me Kirsten Osbourne had cooked up this crazy plan to have mail-order brides from all the states in the Union in 1890, a book to be released each day in order of admission.  

Patience:
Bride of Washington

Seemed like an ambitious undertaking to me.  My publishing schedule was full but this seemed like a fun opportunity and after all, I do enjoy mail-order bride stories.  Caroline and I had already written a duet, Mail Order Tangle (she wrote the first book, Mail Order Promise and I wrote the second, Mail Order Ruckus).  After a bit of discussion, we decided our brides would be sisters again, although this time Caroline's was the older one.  She wrote Patience: Bride of Washington, which has been burning up the charts, too.  It's an awesome book, so be sure to get it if you haven't already.

As she suggested, I linked my book to  my Hearts of Owyhee series.  The heroine (Jake O'Keefe) in the fourth book, Much Ado About Mavericks, is a strong player in Mercy: Bride of Idaho, and the book is set in Henderson Flats on a fictional ranch, the Circle ID.  This ranch would've been about six miles from Jake's ranch, and three miles from the farm where I grew up, so I know the area--the smell, the feel, the people, the climate, very well.

Another advantage is that Mercy's personality (and hair) is based on my daughter.  She's an eternal optimist and can find sunshine in the darkest of times.  I actually toned down the fictional Mercy a bit because I didn't think readers would find the real deal plausible.  I have to say, it was a joy to see this character bloom on the page.

But I didn't know much about 1890 in general.  The latest of my books is set in 1885, so I had quite a bit of research to do.  Here are a few tidbits;

Mercy and Patience are from Lawrence, Massachusetts.  Believe me, relocating to Owyhee County would've been a culture shock for Mercy.  But she'd have gotten off the train at Nampa, Idaho, and the depot was brand new.

Train Depot in Nampa, Idaho

Mercy and Patience think they'll be able to visit back and forth since Washington abuts Idaho.  So once they get to Idaho, the vastness of the land is a bit overwhelming.  The entire state of Massachusetts is only 10,555 square miles.  Owyhee County alone is nearly that size.

And here's a little about the book:

MERCY, BRIDE OF IDAHO 

American Mail-Order Brides #43 

One woman bent on saving her family. One rancher determined to save his own heart. Is her love enough to save them all? 

Mercy Eaton has come to Idaho to marry the man of her father’s choosing in order to help her family make ends meet back home. She just knows it’ll all work out. That's what she's told her sister and her traveling companions all the way from Massachusetts to Owyhee County, Idaho. Then she meets her groom. He's seventy years old. She nearly faints. 

Quill Roderick has no intention of marrying. Ever. As far as he’s seen, women leave—first his mother, then his great-aunt, then his first flame. Quill sees no reason to open his heart again, especially to some mail-order bride his crazy old uncle brought for him. But Mercy tempts him like no other with her unruly long red hair, sunshine smile, and the most alluring eyes he's ever seen. Can he keep his heart barricaded from this dangerous fireball, or are her kisses the master key needed to unlock his heart to a whole new world... Love. 

The book is available to read for free if you're subscribed to Kindle Unlimited!

Hearts of Owyhee series

Hearts of Owyhee

Much Ado About Madams

Much Ado About Marshals

Much Ado About Miners

Much Ado About Mavericks

Much Ado About Mustangs

Amazon Author Page

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2016, HERE I COME!

By Caroline Clemmons

Welcome 2016. I hope this New Year brings new opportunities, health, prosperity, and happiness for you and yours.

How has your year started? Are you happy to launch into the adventure of the coming year, or sorry to see the old year pass away?  I look forward to the New Year. In addition to writing, we have plans to do a little remodeling on our home, and our daughter with the severely broken leg is healing. She’s eager to go home, but is stuck at our house for now.

Next week, Geri Foster, Sylvia McDaniel, Kathy Shaw, and I will go to a house on a local lake for a writing retreat. There’s an amazing fireplace so we’re hoping for cold weather. We’ll plot new books, spend time writing, and—probably most of all—laugh and recharge. (Adult beverages and chocolate will be involved.) In spite of our silliness, we so look forward to these sessions and accomplish an amazing amount of work. Talking over plots and marketing with like-minded authors is wonderful for exchanging ideas and invigorating our dedication to rear-in-chair-fingers-on-keyboard.

Kathy Shaw holds the plotting board in
front of the fireplace at our 2015 plotting retreat

One venture in which I’m involved now is a project called the Glass Slipper Sisterhood. Fifteen authors (including moi) have joined to cross-promote our contemporary Cinderella-type stories. You can get the CINDERELLA TREASURE TROVE containing excerpts from these fifteen books, recipes, games, and party ideas for FREE! 

Each of the fifteen is a different take on the Cinderella theme and authors and includes:

Cinderella’s Enchanted Night by Amber Daulton – Annalise wanted just one night with Elijah, but will an antique locket and a bit of Cinderella magic fulfill her every dream?

Cinderella had it Easy by Jennifer Conner – Cami only has 24 hours in her Cinderella body. Will she keep hiding or can she learn how to live life?

Cinderella Series – The Collection by Kae Elle Wheeler – Said the fairy godmother, ”True sisters will always find their way, no matter.”

Cinder the Fae by Rebecca R Garniere – When Prince Rome’s father initiates a contest to win him a wife, Cinder finds herself having to fight sixty other females for his heart while trying to keep the evil vying for the crown from destroying them all.

Fairy Tale Flirts by Lisa Scott – She’s an unappreciated housekeeper with an eye for designer goodies. Can Cindi get her dream shoes and her dream guy? A sweet, funny modern take on Cinderella.

Fooling Around with Cinderella by Stacy Juba – What happens when the glass slippers pinch Cinderella’s toes? When Jaine Andersen proposes a new marketing role to the local amusement park, general manager Dylan Callahan charms her into filling Cinderella’s glass slippers for the summer.

Home Sweet Texas Home by Caroline Clemmons – This modern Cinderella encounters problems even a fairy godmother couldn’t imagine.

Nobody’s Cinderella by Joan Reeves – A lie and a wish on a Christmas star…uh oh! This Cinderella should have been careful what she wished for!

Pumpkin: A Cindermama Story by Ines Johnson – Having given up on fairytales after falling for her toad of an ex, Pumpkin is afraid to take a chance on town royalty Manny who believes she may be his soulmate.

Savage Cinderella by P J Sharon – Kidnapped and left for dead, Brinn Hathaway survives for years in the wild, only to be drawn out of hiding by a young nature photographer who steals her heart. Now, Brinn must decide if coming out of hiding is worth the hope—and the danger—that may await her.

Second Chance Cinderella by Sharon Kleve – Raven St. James only has 24 hours in her Cinderella body. What will she do with it? Will she become the confident, strong, flirty girl she wants to be? Will she get the guy she has always wanted?

Spellbound Cinderella by Angela Ford – If you had your dream body for only 24 hours… What would you do? One magical pendant gives Tess one wish to use before the clock strikes twelve.

The Cinderella Princess by Melissa McClone – A scandal-ridden prince must marry a royal if he doesn’t want to be disowned, but he falls for the American sent to find him a princess bride.

The Thin Person Inside by Rochelle Weber – Kristen Jensen never expected to fall in love when she finally decided to address her morbid obesity by seeking addictions treatment—let alone with a rock star.

Wishful Thinking by Lynette Sofras – A struggling single mother and a pop-icon turned Hollywood star meet in unusual circumstances. Fate drew them together, but the intrigue and trappings of stardom threaten to unravel love’s ties.

Some are sweet, some are hot. You choose. Better yet, choose to purchase all fifteen books! Find out about them when you get your FREE download of the CINDERELLA TREASURE TROVE at Amazon, http://amzn.com/B019E764YA and other online vendoes.

My book in this project is HOME SWEET TEXAS HOME. This is not a new book, but one I enjoyed writing. The setting is West Texas near where I grew up, so writing it raised a lot of memories for me.The heroine, Courtney, has a rags-to-riches experience that turns out much different than she expected. Even a fairy godmother couldn't have untangled Courtney's situation--she has to save herself. Her handsome neighbor Derek plays a major role in her story. Buy it at Amazon for $2.99. 

My plans for 2016 include western historical AMANDA'S RANCHER releasing on February 9, as well as stretching my fingers into multiple genres. I'll stick with the western historicals I love for DANIEL'S DETERMINED BRIDE, McClintocks book four, and for more of the Bride Brigade series. 

If you’re a member of my mailing list, I’ll keep you posted with new releases. If you’re not a member yet, you can join by clicking here and receive a FREE copy of the western historical novella, HAPPY IS THE BRIDE, for your effort.

In the coming year, I have plans for numerous contemporary and western historical romances containing humor, mystery, time travel, and always a happy ending. Does anyone know how I can get 36-hour days?

The Ghosts of Christmas Past by Suzanne Rossi

First of all, I'd like to wish everyone a belated Merry Christmas even if you don't celebrate the holiday. Christmas can represent a wonderful spirit of giving and love, so why not spread it around? I can't see that it hurts anyone.

We had a very quiet Christmas this year. It gave me the opportunity to remember some of those Christmas's past that will stick in my mind until I'm no more.

My first recall is when I was two or three years old. (Okay, I don't actually remember this, but my mother swore it was true and my dad would just laugh when she told the story, so I have to believe it.) One of my gifts was a train set. It ran around the Christmas tree complete with a puffing engine and a whistle. A strange gift for a girl until you realize that my father sat on the floor next to me handling the controls because he didn't want his princess to hurt herself. I think I was five before he let me do the honors. By then the train had grown in size and been mounted on a hunk of plywood between two sawhorses in our basement. The plywood is long gone, but I still have that Lionel train set in my garage. I haven't had it out in twenty-five or so years and I'm sure the Florida climate has rusted some of the track, but when we move to Memphis next year, you can be sure I'll try to get it up and running for my grandsons.

My mother made sure that I received my fair share of dolls over the years. My favorite is still with me. She sits in a chair in our bedroom. Her honey blonde hair is a little worse for wear--I played hairdresser a bit too often--but a huge white bow I bestowed upon the back of her head is also in place to this day. The ruffled, pink, full-length, circle skirted dress is almost intact. Unfortunately, the matching pink shoes and wrist corsage she wore disintegrated over time.

By the time I turned eight, I was heavily into reading, so imagine my delight when I opened a present containing ten--count them, ten!!!--Nancy Drew mysteries. I was in heaven and within two weeks had read them all, barely able to contain my excitement until I could afford the next book in the series. I eventually gave them all to my niece, since I was not blessed with a daughter.

At twelve, my interests in toys had faded and clothes took center stage. I was born and raised in Indianapolis and going downtown to see the Christmas display windows at the L. S. Ayres and Wm. H. Block department stores was a must. I can remember seeing this gorgeous pink angora sweater on display in the Ayres Junior Miss department. It was so beautiful. I could see me wearing it to school and being the envy of all the other girls. I begged my mother for it, but the price tag was $15, a small fortune for the late '50s. We walked away. And yet, there it was under the tree on Christmas morning. I was ecstatic and couldn't wait for the first day of school after winter break. The irony was the wool made me itch and the angora made me sneeze. I think I wore it the grand total of three times.

And before I forget, giving was just as  important as receiving. I can recall with sharp clarity, the time Mother and I somehow squeezed a huge box into the car, wrapped it, and shoved it next to the tree for Daddy. It was a bar and fit into the corner of our den perfectly. He was delighted even though he had to assemble it and buy the bar stools later.

Mother also benefited from my gifts. She smiled and immediately wore all the bracelets and necklaces from G. C. Murphy's Five and Dime I could afford, declaring them exactly what she wanted. After her death, I found all those items in boxes in her dresser drawer. My mother was not a particularly sentimental person, so this touched me deeply. I still have them in my vanity

As time passed, my gift requests turned more practical. Now, most women would smack their husbands up along side the head with a two-by-four for getting them a washer and dryer for Christmas. But since I had two small boys and hated going to the laundromat, I did a happy dance across the living room floor.

Christmas gradually turned into watching my sons and later my grandchildren opening gifts. Seeing the surprise and joy on their faces was all the presents I wanted. Which now makes me understand my father playing with a train and my mother spending a fortune on a sweater. And that's what counts in the long run.

So hang onto those memories. They can never be taken away and as I get older, I've discovered they return sharp and clear.

Wishing you all the best.

Suzanne

Funny You Should Ask

Yes, my diabolically curious kitten/cats, Peaches and Cream, had a fabulous Christmas and drove me nearly mad trying to keep them out of presents. I failed. And the tree has only lights this year, no ornaments, as they would have been batted all over the house, Ditto for wisemen, camels, sheep, shepherds, etc, so no creche displays either. I gloried in cheery lights and the angels crammed on a high narrow mantel. The after Christmas blues are settling in, not only with me, but the cats searching in vain for those fun gifties they so enjoyed leaping in and chewing on.

Is there life after Christmas? Certainly. We found evidence of a mouse nest in the corner of the roll top desk--rarely unrolled. So hope springs eternal for some micelette playmates. None have turned up yet, fortunately. Or not. And my DH received a brightly colored drone, two actually, that Peaches bravely stalks. Cream is more guarded. When worried, he snuggles beside me on the couch and kneads and sucks his favorite blanket. He also purrs in my ear and nibbles my hair. Peaches is more of a lap cat, as is our curmudgeonly older tabby, Percy. My tiny pom-poo Sadie Sue, stays by my side when not patrolling cats, and rescue dog Jilly lolls companionably nearby.

(Beth and friends zoning above)

Onward ho with writing projects. I'm at work on The Panther Moon, book 3 in my new Young Adult Fantasy Romance series, Secret Warrior. It would speed the process if I'd actually make headway, but Christmas took its toll. Book 1, The Hunter's Moon came out on Dec. 15th, not a great time for a non-holiday release, I add with a sigh. I'm open to assistance, as in please spread the word to adults and teens who might enjoy the story.  Happily, Book 2, Curse of the Moon, is in the publishing process at the Wild Rose Press (Release date TBD).

Blurb from The Hunter's Moon:

Seventeen-year-old Morgan Daniel has been in the witness protection program most of her life. But The Panteras have caught up with her and her younger brother. Her car is totaled, she's hurt, and the street gang is closing in when wolves with glowing eyes appear out of nowhere and chase away the killers. 

Then a very cute guy who handles a bow like Robin Hood emerges from the woods and takes them to safety at his fortress-like home. 

And that's just the first sign that Morgan and her brother have entered a hidden world filled with secrets...

The Hunter's Moon is available from ALL online booksellers. Kindle link: http://www.amazon.com/Hunters.../dp/B017OCROM8/ref=sr_1_1

AND I created a Face Book Page for my Secret Warrior Series that could use likes and shares.
Thanks in advance for any exertions on my/our behalf. For more on me please visit my blog: https://bethtrissel.wordpress.com.

Did You Survive the Big Day? by Vonnie Davis

Shopping, wrapping, baking, cooking, making travel plans, coordinating plans to accommodate everyone, mailing cards, shipping gifts...phew! Is it any wonder we all feel like this?

 

 

Calvin and I stayed home this year. We had a very low-key Christmas. Calvin fell at the movies and is still sore. We'd gone to see "The Letters," a movie on the life of Mother Theresa. It was very moving. Afterward, we both hoofing it to the restrooms and he blacked out for a minute. I nearly died when I saw him on the floor. I'm pampering him as I muddle through edits. He's been taken off one of his blood pressure medicines. Evidently, something in his system changed and suddenly the two blood pressure pills he's taken for years are just too much.

 

Even so, the excitement in our family continues--life doesn't stop because you feel bad, does it? Since Thanksgiving, our oldest granddaughter got engaged to a young man she's been dating for three years. Wedding plans are for June, the month after she graduates from college. Even with all her excitement and shopping for the "perfect" gown, she still got all A's in her double major of Psychology and Criminal Justice.

 

Our grandson was accepted into MIT, no small feat since they only accept eight out of every hundred applicants. Ryan's had his heart set on MIT since he was in middle school, so we were greatly relieved when the good word arrived. He got perfect scores in both science and math in his ACT's. Four hours of his school day are spent in the lab of the Cancer Institute, splitting cancer cells and working with DNA. He's wrestling again this year and is undefeated. He also tutors six students in math and physics. He'll tell you his favorite book is one Calvin and I sent him, The Universe and Dr. Einstein. He's read it four times.

 

Speaking of books, I'm finishing up edits on HER SURVIVOR, book one of my Black Eagle Ops series for Random House Loveswept. No cover to show you yet. A group of authors and I have combined 5 romance novels into a bundle for 99 cents. It's available for pre-order now, but will release February 1st. All proceeds will go to the Wounded Warrior Project.

 

http://amzn.com/B0181NC92E



 

As you rest up from Christmas, grab a good book to read, a cup of hot chocolate to sip and rest. My best to you all. Hugs!