Three heart-pounding, action-packed e-books in the Kyndall Family Thriller series are free or on sale for a limited time! A romantic suspense series filled with spine-tingling thrills and alluring romance. Set against some of America’s most beautiful landscapes, from the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and the Highlands of Maine, to the sweeping peaks of Alaska. You’re bound to fall in love with the characters—and their surroundings. "Blade of Death" The short story prequel (non-romance) Free Feb 21 - 25, 2021 (e-book) Get the Book >> He'll strike when she least expects it. Alexa Kyndall, an FBI special agent, has seen too many vile and unrepentant people escape justice. After coming off a harrowing kidnapping case, she visits her hometown of Stewart’s Crossing while on a two-week vacation. Set in the wilderness of Alaska, "Blade of Death" will leave readers on edge and grasping for clues in this short story prequel to the Kyndall Family Thrillers. Join Alexa and her brothers as they track down a killer before an old friend becomes his next victim. The Dragon's Staircase Book One (stand alone) Only 99 cents Feb 21 - 27, 2021 (e-book) Get the Book >> A woman haunted by her past. A man willing to do whatever it takes to save her. A killer closing in. FBI Agent Alexa Kyndall devoted eight years of her life to the search for justice, showing no mercy to the guilty and depraved. When she joins a special task force to bring down a serial killer, Alexa encounters the most unexpected criminal of her career. When a child witnesses a brutal slaying, Alexa's life becomes intertwined with Craig Pierson's, a man with his own haunted past. They join forces, only to discover they must put everything on the line in a pulse-pounding struggle to protect and survive. Nestled in a small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, The Dragon's Staircase is an intriguing, nonstop adventure that will keep readers enthralled from start to finish. Shadow of the Forgotten Book Two (stand alone) Only 99 cents Feb 21 - 27, 2021 (e-book) Get the Book >> A woman preyed upon by corruption. A man who won’t abandon her. An obsession that could destroy them both. Heather York’s investigative career with the U.S. Marshals Service is neither glamorous nor dangerous, but when she’s thrust to the precipice of an unexpected threat, she has no choice but to wonder if she was meant to be collateral damage or the intended victim. At a luxury lakeside lodge in Maine, Jordan Kyndall’s plans to celebrate the wedding of his college roommate go awry before the happy couple has a chance to say “I do.” Jordan anticipated a good time with old friends. Instead, he stumbles upon a gruesome scene in the picturesque woods of the woman whose lifeless body unexpectedly stirs his protective nature. As the threat against them grows and the questions multiply, they’ll have to trust each other—and their feelings—if they’re going to survive. From a quaint and unsuspecting town in northern Maine comes Shadow of the Forgotten , the second book in the Kyndall Family Thrillers series, a contemporary suspense series filled with gripping intrigue, riveting romance, and nonstop adventure. Praise for the Kyndall Family Thriller series “That’s the way to do it - keep the reader hooked and reading and thinking they have it all figured out ... only to discover that they don’t. A nice bit of romance, a good deal of “whodunit” tension, and a satisfying conclusion make Shadow of the Forgotten a great read on a weekend away. Enjoy!” – Readers' Favorite “The Dragon’s Staircase is a mind-boggling adventure that will keep you guessing until the last page.” – Night Owl Reviews, Top Pick “Holy smokes! This is one suspenseful, anxiety-ridden, skin-crawling tale of murder, mystery, and psychological creepiness. Looking for a hard-to-figure-out mystery with a side order of nail-biting? Then look no further!” – InD'tale Magazine on The Dragon's Staircase “The well-defined characters combined with the suspenseful storyline make this a must-read and one that I will be recommending to all of my bookworm friends. I’m amazed at how smooth these two authors have combined their talents into one fabulous story.” – Linda Thompson, Host of AuthorsShow.com “WOW, what a read! The plot was intense, powerful and thrilling and held me captive all the way through! The characters fairly leaped off the page, and the tension was palpable. If you are looking for a book that you just CAN’T put down, then this is DEFINITELY the book for you!” —BookBub review on The Wicked Cries Wolf “I was literally at the edge of my seat. The suspense level is amazing.” – My Life, One Story at a Time "OMGOODNESS!! This book was a suspenseful thriller. I couldn't put it down!! I won't repeat the blurb. I will tell you that I recommend this book to lovers of suspense. My heart was racing like crazy while reading this book... who is the gruesome murderer and will he/she be caught before another murder is committed!? I can't wait to start reading the next book in this exciting series." - Goodreads review on "Blade of Death" Meet the Author McKenna Grey writes romantic suspense and thrillers, including the Kyndall Family series, and heartwarming, small-town romance to break up the murder and mayhem. She lives and plays in the northern Rocky Mountains where she manages to stay out of the trouble her characters can't seem to avoid . Visit her online at mckennagrey.com. The Dragon's Staircase and Shadow of the Forgotten were co-authored with Everly Archard. The Dragon's Staircase and Shadow of the Forgotten Genre: Romantic Suspense Type: Novel Heat Level: 3 (not applicable to "Blade of Death" Language Level: 3 Violence Level: 3 Click here to learn more about content ratings.

“A perfect read to escape the world.” —Miriam Parker, author of The Shortest Way Home Minus Me Her life turned upside down by a grim diagnosis, a small-town Maine woman sets about writing a "How To" life manual for her handsome yet hapless husband in a novel Elinor Lipman ( Good Riddance, On Turpentine Lane ) calls "smart, funny-quirky, and so very satisfying." Annie and her devoted but comically incompetent childhood sweetheart Sam are the owners and operators of Annie's, a gourmet sandwich shop, home to the legendary Paul Bunyan Special Sandwich—their "nutritionally challenged continual source of income and marital harmony and local fame." But into their mostly charmed marriage comes the scary medical diagnosis for Annie--and the overwhelming challenge of finding a way to help Sam go on without her. Annie decides to leave Sam step-by-step instructions for a future without her, and considers her own replacement in his heart and their bed. Her best-laid plans grind to a halt with the unexpected appearance of Ursula, Annie's Manhattan diva of a mother, who brings her own brand of chaos and disruption into their lives. Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound | BAM! | BookShop | More Buy Options Enjoy an Excerpt from Minus Me 1. Your mother’s birthday is June 28th; she wears a size ten. Your father’s is May 18 and a bottle of single malt always works. Annie pulls up outside Michaud’s Quik-Basket. She’s too near the hydrant, but for once she doesn’t care. She turns off the engine and tries to slow her breathing. She pictures the all-too-cheerful and all-too-serene yoga instructor in the video Sam gave her at Christmas. “Made for Type A’s,” he explained. She watched only half. She’s lousy at relaxing. The harder she tries to breathe from the diaphragm, the faster and more shallow her breathing becomes. So what, she thinks, and opens the car door. Nothing matters now. She leaves the key in the ignition; she leaves the door unlocked; she climbs over the ice bank rather than mincing her way along the skimpily shoveled path. To hell with everything. Let her slip, splayed like a snow angel on the filthy sidewalk. Perfect simile. Raoul, the father, and not the son, Ralphie, who sat behind her in high school social studies, is in front of the cash register—her first stroke of luck. Ralphie would want to yack about their classmates, analyze hockey scores, ask about her mother. Not that it matters either. But today, of all days, she does not want to talk about Ursula. Mr. Michaud is watching the weather report. It’s February first. Will Punxsutawney Phil come out of his hole tomorrow, grins the lumber-jacketed, suspiciously orange-skinned weatherman. His teeth are five degrees whiter than fresh snow, shaming the dirty brown and yellow mounds polka-dotting her hometown. “Whatja think, Annie?” asks Raoul, his Canadian vowels harsh against the weatherman’s broadcasting-school diction. “Don’t know,” she says. Don’t care either. Six more weeks of winter or an early spring mean nothing to her now. Annie points to the racks behind the dusty cash register, its fading photos of Ralphie and his sister Marie in their confirmation clothes, twenty years out of date, scotch-taped to it. “A pack of Marlboros, please.” She reconsiders. “Actually, a carton.” If Mr. Michaud disapproves, she can’t tell. His face is turned to the TV. She pays. He counts out the change. “You want a bag with that?” he asks. “Don’t bother,” she says. Let the whole town see evidence of her vice. Her public relapse. But no witnesses are on the sidewalk when she exits. No one to ask how she’s doing, whether she’ll be at the city council meeting tomorrow night, if the new pickle suppliers for the Paul Bunyans are up to snuff, and what about that enchanting mother of hers. There’d be a pause, then a glance at the carton, followed by is everything okay? Lucky for her, not a single car passes along the street to see her leaning against the steering wheel as she lights up. Oh, happy day. Hunky-dory day! Of course, the lighter is broken. Of course, she doesn’t have a match. With the car still running, she gets out and goes back inside. “Matches?” she asks. He doesn’t look up. “Over there.” He points to a Whitman’s Sampler filled with matchboxes from Gus’s Gas across the road. “Have a good one,” he says. She drives around the block to the high school. She turns into the last row of the parking lot, territory once claimed by the tough guys who used to smoke their unfiltered Camels and rolled their joints over by the pine trees. It’s the exact spot, too, where the fast girls unhooked their bras, where she and Sam used to make out—how quaint—in his father’s old Chevy when they were teenagers and the movie had ended. By nine, the whole town closed down. At that hour, when the glow from living room televisions dimmed one by one along Grove Street, you could almost hear the words, “Good-night, John Boy, Good night, Jim Bob,” from The Waltons reruns she used to watch as a kid. Nobody’s around. Hardly surprising since teenagers have birth control and the comfort of their own beds for overnights. “Better at home than in the back of the car or some cheap motel, since they’re going to do it anyway,” explained her best friend, Rachel, whose daughter had a boyfriend with weekly sleepover privileges. Not that Annie has that problem. But the problem she does have is a big one. The biggest. The central theme of literature and music and philosophy—not of cigarettes and teenage sex and municipal taxes. Or of narcissistic mothers or bland pickles. It’s the major enigma slash obsession of all time. End of Excerpt Excerpt © Mameve Medwed. Shared with permission. The Author Mameve Medwed is the author of six novels— Mail, Host Family, The End of an Error, How Elizabeth Barrett Browning Saved My Life (2007 Massachusetts Book Award Honors in Fiction), Of Men and Their Mothers , and Minus Me (January 2021). Her short stories, essays, and book reviews have appeared in The New York Times , Gourmet, Yankee, Redbook, Playgirl, The Boston Globe, Ascent, The Missouri Review, Confrontation, The Readerville Journal, Newsday , and The Washington Post . She has taught fiction writing for many years at The Cambridge Center for Adult Education, has been a mentor in the writing program at Lesley University, read papers for the English Department at Simmons College, and has taken part in writing festivals across the country, serving on panels and teaching seminars. Learn more at https://mamevemedwed.com. Genre: Women's Fiction Type: Novel Publication Date: January 12, 2021 Alcove Press Content Note: No Sex; No Violence View our rating system Thank you for visiting and reading! Feel inspired? Want others to experience the book magic? We hope you'll support this author by sharing with your friends. Have you read the book? Let us know your thoughts!

"Lighthearted, funny, punny, romantic and with fantastic characters, The Duke Heist is my new favorite book by Erica Ridley!" — (un)Conventional Bookworms The Duke Heist A NYT bestselling author kicks off a new Regency series of "irresistible romance and a family of delightful scoundrels" as a woman looking to recover a stolen painting accidentally kidnaps a duke instead. (Eloisa James) Chloe Wynchester is completely forgettable -- a curse that gives her the ability to blend into any crowd. When the only father she's ever known makes a dying wish for his adopted family of orphans to recover a missing painting, she's the first one her siblings turn to for stealing it back. No one expects that in doing so, she'll also abduct a handsome duke. Lawrence Gosling, the Duke of Faircliffe, is tortured by his father's mistakes. To repair his estate's ruined reputation, he must wed a highborn heiress. Yet when he finds himself in a carriage being driven hell-for-leather down the cobblestone streets of London by a beautiful woman who refuses to heed his commands, he fears his heart is hers. But how can he sacrifice his family's legacy to follow true love? E-Book Kindle | Apple Books | Kobo | Nook | Google Play Paperback Barnes & Noble | Amazon | IndieBound | Chapters/Indigo | Target | Walmart The Author Erica Ridley is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of witty, feel-good historical romance novels, including the upcoming THE DUKE HEIST, featuring the Wild Wynchesters. Why seduce a duke the normal way, when you can accidentally kidnap one in an elaborately planned heist? In the 12 Dukes of Christmas series, enjoy witty, heartwarming Regency romps nestled in a picturesque snow-covered village. After all, nothing heats up a winter night quite like finding oneself in the arms of a duke! Two popular series, the Dukes of War and Rogues to Riches, feature roguish peers and dashing war heroes who find love amongst the splendor and madness of Regency England. When not reading or writing romances, Erica can be found riding camels in Africa, zip-lining through rainforests in Costa Rica, or getting hopelessly lost in the middle of Budapest. Website: EricaRidley.com Genre: Historical Romance Type: Novel Series: The Wild Wynchesters, book 1 Publication date: February 9, 2021 Content Rating: 5 Hearts View rating system

Duke of Renown Who doesn’t love a duke? How about five of them? Welcome to bestselling author Alexa Aston’s new Regency romance series, the Dukes of Distinction! These five aristocrats all come with nicknames Polite Society has bestowed upon them. Renown. Charm. Disrepute. Arrogance. Honor. A woman with a broken heart . . . A soldier who never dreamed he’d become a duke . . . Phoebe Smythe, Countess of Borwick, suffers a tragic miscarriage when she learns her husband and young son have been killed in a carriage accident. The grieving widow retreats to an isolated cottage on the coast of Cornwall, where she finds a smuggler who’s washed ashore, blood leaking from a bullet wound. Captain Andrew Graham returns home from the Napoleonic Wars after the death of his older brother, finding his father on his deathbed. Soon he becomes the Duke of Windham and must deal not only with numerous responsibilities but his wayward half-brother, who has amassed a mountain of debt and then shoots Andrew so he can become the new duke. Andrew awakens to an angel of mercy, Mrs. Smith, a middle-class widow who nurses him back to health. She thinks he’s a criminal, which amuses him, but he soon falls in love with her beauty and spirit. On the day he decides to ask for her hand in marriage, she disappears and he has no way to find her—until he spies her across a London ballroom. Though her heart belongs to the Cornish smuggler she left behind, Phoebe places herself once more on the Marriage Mart. She yearns to be a mother again—which means finding a husband. What will Phoebe do when she learns that her Mr. Andrew is none other than the famous Duke of Renown? Find the answer in The Duke of Renown, Book 1 in the Dukes of Distinction . Each book in Dukes of Distinction is a standalone story that can be enjoyed out of order and can be read for free in Kindle Unlimited. Amazon The Author Award-winning and internationally bestselling author Alexa Aston lives with her husband in a Dallas suburb, where she eats her fair share of dark chocolate and plots out stories while she walks every morning. She’s a binge fiend (The Crown and Ozark are favorites) who enjoys travel, sports, and time with her family. Her historical romances bring to life loveable rogues and dashing knights, while her contemporary romances are light and flirty and sometimes contain a bit of suspense. Her series include Soldiers & Soulmates, Hollywood Name Game, and The St. Clairs. Website: alexaaston.com Genre: Historical Romance Type: Novel Series: Dukes of Distinction Publication date: February 9, 2021 Content Rating: 5 Hearts View rating system

“Cleverly plotted, the action is fast paced and full of twists and turns, surprises, and suspense.” —Historical Novel Society on The King's Justice, book one of the Stanton and Barling Mysteries The Canterbury Murders A fire-ravaged cathedral. An ungodly murder. Easter, 1177. Canterbury Cathedral, home to the tomb of martyr Saint Thomas Becket, bears the wounds of a terrible fire. Benedict, prior of the great church, leads its rebuilding. But horror interrupts the work. One of the stonemasons is found viciously murdered, the dead man’s face disfigured by a shocking wound. When King’s clerk Aelred Barling and his assistant, Hugo Stanton, arrive on pilgrimage to the tomb, the prior orders them to investigate the unholy crime. But the killer soon claims another victim–and another. As turmoil embroils the congregation, the pair of sleuths face urgent pressure to find a connection between the killings. With panic on the rise, can Barling and Stanton catch the culprit before evil prevails again—and stop it before it comes for them? THE CANTERBURY MURDERS is the third book in E.M. Powell’s Stanton and Barling medieval murder mystery series. Combining intricate plots, shocking twists and a winning–if unlikely–pair of investigators, this series is perfect for fans of Ellis Peters’ Brother Cadfael or C. J. Sansom’s Shardlake. AMAZON | PAPERBACK Add to Goodreads | Add to BookBub Enjoy an Excerpt from The Canterbury Murders Shortly after Stanton and Barling hear of the murder of Peter Flocke, Stanton has an unsettling encounter with a stranger . . . The cathedral bells were sounding for Compline, but the streets were still thronged. Stanton couldn’t help a twinge of regret for the merrymaking he’d looked forward to but was not to be. It didn’t matter. What mattered was working with Barling to solve the murder of that unfortunate stonemason as quickly as possible. Then Stanton could leave Canterbury, putting many miles between him and the city. He would never be able to abide the rejoicing at Henry’s arrival, the praising of the man’s piety. Not when his Rosamund, his love, lay cold in her grave because of the King. A pastry seller stood on a corner, doing a brisk trade as folk made the most of the last of Palm Sunday. He hurried over, as the woman was down to the last one. ‘Any chance I could have that excellent-looking crust, goodwife?’ He gave her his best smile, his stomach growling at the smell of warm, yeasty dough. He got the usual blush in return. ‘A pleasure, sir.’ They exchanged coin and pastry and he took a deep bite of his prize as he walked off, the sweetness of the apple it contained flooding onto his tongue. How Barling could choose to sit in his room, scratching away at his tablet, over devouring good food, Stanton would never know. He took another huge mouthful, feeling a bit better. Somebody collided hard with his aching back, sending him lurching to one side. The remains of his pastry flew from his grasp and splattered into the street muck. ‘A plague on it.’ He turned to tell off whoever had done it. A wild-eyed man in a threadbare pilgrim’s tunic stared back at him, his hair and long beard clogged with greasy dirt and all of him covered in layers of filth. ‘Praise the Martyr,’ said the stranger. ‘Praise him!’ ‘I was praising my pastry,’ said Stanton. ‘Now look at it, fellow.’ The man banged the battered, badge-covered staff he held in his left hand on the ground in front of Stanton. ‘Open your heart to the Lord our God. Before death comes for thee.’ He thrust his right hand in Stanton’s face. Stanton recoiled. The man’s hand curled over in a twisted claw, his stained fingers and long, dirty fingernails tangled worse than a bundle of tree roots. A group of laughing, jostling men of Stanton’s age pushed past, sending the man bumping into him. ‘Be watchful, be watchful.’ The stranger stank worse than the spoil underfoot. Stanton stepped back. ‘On your way, fellow.’ The man staggered away again, into the path of a burly carter. ‘Thou livest and are dead!’ he wailed at the carter. He got a string of curses for his trouble. Stanton shook his head as he watched the man stagger on, shouting and gesturing all the while. Time for that ale. God’s eyes, he needed it. And once he’d finished it, he’d have another. And another. It would be the only way he’d sleep tonight. God rot the King. Excerpt © E.M. Powell. Shared with permission. The Author E.M. Powell’ s historical thriller and medieval mystery Fifth Knight and Stanton & Barling novels have been #1 Amazon and Bild bestsellers. The third Stanton & Barling mystery, THE CANTERBURY MURDERS, will be released in November 2020. Born and raised in the Republic of Ireland into the family of Michael Collins (the legendary revolutionary and founder of the Irish Free State), she lives in northwest England with her husband, daughter and a Facebook-friendly dog. E.M. Powell is represented by Josh Getzler at HG Literary. Find out more by visiting www.empowell.com . You can also find him on Facebook , Twitter , and Goodreads . Genre: Historical Fiction/Mystery Type: Novel Publication Date: November 12, 2020 Crosshaven Press Series: Stanton & Barling, #3 Content Rating: View our rating system Enter to win a paperback copy of The Canterbury Murders by E.M. Powell! Two copies are up for grabs! The giveaway is open to US only and ends on February 5, 2021. You must be 18 or older to enter. Void where prohibited by law. This giveaway is sponsored by the author and hosted by Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours. Thank you for visiting and reading! Feel inspired? Want others to experience the book magic? We hope you'll support this author by sharing with your friends. Have you read the book? Let us know your thoughts!

Congratulations to E.M. Powell, author of The Canterbury Murders , winner of the February 2021 Readers' Choice Cover Contest! Thank you to all those who voted and supported the wonderful authors and their books. Vote in the new cover contest >

Congratulations to J'Nell Ciesielski, author of Beauty Among Ruins , winner of the January 2021 Readers' Choice Cover Contest! Thank you to all those who participated and voted. Vote in the new cover contest >

"When the unthinkable happens, mother and daughter are forced to look deep within themselves for the truth. Achterberg takes you for a ride that you won’t forget. I loved this book." —Barbara Conrey Author of Nowhere Near Goodbye Blind Turn An examination of forgiveness in the aftermath of a fatal texting and driving accident. Liz Johnson single-handedly raised an exemplary daughter—honor student, track star, and all-around good kid—despite the disapproval of her father and her small town. How could that same teenager be responsible for the death of the high school’s beloved football coach? This is Texas, where high school football ranks right up there with God, so while the legal battle wages, the public deals its own verdict. Desperate for help, Liz turns to a lawyer whose affection she long ago rejected and attempts to play nice with her ex-husband, while her daughter struggles with guilt and her own demons as she faces the consequences of an accident she doesn’t remember. Can one careless decision alter a lifetime? A tragic, emotional, ultimately uplifting story, BLIND TURN could be anyone’s story. AMAZON | BARNES AND NOBLE | INDIEBOUND | BOOKSHOP.ORG In the author's words . . . Writing Blind Turn allowed me to explore how life could spin in a completely different direction as a result of one tiny action, something that seems like nothing at the time. It was a chance to write through some of my greatest fears as a mom and to ponder the weight of forgiveness, and whether one bad decision invalidates a good life. Enjoy an Excerpt from Blind Turn “You need to take this.” Avery shoves my cell phone at me. “I’ll deal with the party.” “Who is it?” I glance at my watch. Eleven-thirty. I rarely work on Sundays, but it is Edna Mae’s 100th birthday and her entire family is here for a birthday brunch, as well as a reporter from the paper. She probably doesn’t even know the party is for her, but I wanted to be on hand to be sure it went okay. Her great-grandchildren have just blown out her candles and a cheer goes up. “He kept calling,” Avery says. “He says it’s an emergency.” The residents break out with an enthusiastic but out of tune rendition of For She’s a Jolly Good Fellow. Their time-worn voices always center my heart, reminding me that life wasn’t always so complicated and on-demand. One time when my daughter Jess was maybe eight, she heard them singing and asked, “Don’t they know she’s not a fellow?” I take the phone and slip into the hallway, pulling the door closed behind me. The call is from Jake, my ex-husband. I have not talked to him in weeks; parenting is mostly a side gig for him, something he squeezes in between fishing season and the latest bimbo. “What do you need, Jake? I’m busy.” I glance back through the narrow window in the door to watch Avery lean down and kiss Edna Mae on her crinkly cheek, leaving a faint red trace. Edna Mae smiles, pats her arm. “It’s Jess.” It is the sound of his voice that frightens me. Instead of the cocky boy-man he has become, I hear a scared kid, the one who proposed to me because he didn’t know better. “She’s been in an accident,” he says. “It’s bad.” I hurl questions at him as I sprint to my desk, grab my purse, and run for my car. “Is she okay? Where is she? What happened? Why didn’t you call me sooner?” “I’m calling you now. She’s at Memorial. They’re checking her; they said the injuries aren’t life-threatening…” The phone goes quiet and I think it has cut him off, but then I hear him talking to someone, muffled voices, Jess’ name. “Jake?” I shriek as I open my car door. “She hit someone,” he whispers. He says nothing more. I wait for him to explain, but all I hear is the buzz of a hospital corridor. He takes a breath, and I can hear it catch on the inhale. Is he crying? He exhales loudly, slowly. “She hit someone? What do you mean? With her car?” I have always operated at a much higher speed than Jake Johnson. He’s a good old boy from Texas, a guy used to taking his time, never in a rush to say anything he doesn’t need to say. As he has done for the better part of twenty years, he ignores my questions. “Lizzie,” he says now, clearly, calmly. “It’s real bad.” “I thought you said her injuries weren’t life-threatening?” “It’s not her, it’s the guy she hit—he’s dead.” “What?” My world teeters sideways. Skidding to a stop. For a moment, just a moment, I thank God it was someone else and not Jess. And then I dig in my purse for my keys, toss out receipts, mints, and earbuds, leaving them where they scatter on the pavement. Finally, my keys. “She was taking Sheila home,” Jake says, as I slam the door behind me and crank the engine. “She hit some guy on Elm.” “I don’t understand! You’re not making any sense!” I scream as I back blindly out of my spot, slamming on the brakes when a nurse jumps out of my path. I wave an apology, and she scowls. I take a breath. “I don’t understand,” I say again, calmer now as I carefully back out of my space. “Is Sheila okay?” “I think so, nobody said. The guy was walking on the side of the road.” “Then how did she hit him? That makes no sense,” I insist. I wonder if Jake got all the details or if he was only half-ass listening, as usual. “That’s all I know, I just got here. I’ll call you when I know more.” “I’ll be there in ten minutes.” The yellow light turns to red as I press the pedal to the floor, my dragging tailpipe banging through the dip in the intersection. The entire way to the hospital, I chant, “No, no, no, no,” as if I can change whatever has already happened. Excerpt © Cara Sue Achterberg. Shared with permission. The Author Cara Sue Achterberg is the author of four novels, two memoirs, one work of non-fiction, and multiple blogs. She is the cofounder of Who Will Let the Dogs Out, a nonprofit initiative to raise awareness and resources for shelter dogs. Cara currently lives in New Freedom, Pennsylvania, and Bentonville, Virginia with her husband and far too many animals. For more information visit CaraWrites.com . Genre: Women's Fiction Type: Novel Publisher: Black Rose Writing Release Date: January 7, 2021 Content Rating: 3 Hearts / PG View our rating system "From its life-shattering opening on, pages will seemingly turn themselves as you seek resolution for this novel’s imperfect yet courageous characters, and for one eye-opening reason: these events could have happened to any of us. An important story about how taking responsibility for our actions—even if accidental—can turn a nightmare into rays of hope." —Kathryn Craft, award-winning author of The Far End of Happy Thank you for visiting and reading! Feel inspired? Want others to experience the book magic? 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"Murphy chillingly evokes some social ills of 19th-century America, including the complete control of women by their husbands. Readers will hope Amelia returns soon." – Publishers Weekly, Starred Review A Deadly Fortune A historical mystery in the vein of The Alienist , in which a young woman in Gilded Age New York must use a special talent to unravel a deadly conspiracy. Amelia Matthew has done the all-but-impossible, especially for an orphan in Gilded Age New York City. Along with her foster brother Jonas, she has parleyed her modest psychic talent into a safe and comfortable life. But safety and comfort vanish when a head injury leaves Amelia with a dramatically-expanded gift. After she publicly channels an angry spirit, she finds herself imprisoned in the notorious insane asylum on Blackwell’s Island. As Jonas searches for a way to free her, Amelia struggles to control her disturbing new abilities and survive a place where cruelty and despair threaten her sanity. Andrew Cavanaugh is familiar with despair. In the wake of a devastating loss, he abandons a promising medical career—and his place in Philadelphia society—to devote himself to the study and treatment of mental disease. Miss Amelia Matthew is just another patient—until she channels a spirit in front of him and proves her gift is real. When a distraught mother comes to Andrew searching for her missing daughter—a daughter she believes is being hidden at the asylum—he turns to Amelia. Together, they uncover evidence of a deadly conspiracy, and then it’s no longer just Amelia’s sanity and freedom at stake. Amelia must master her gift and use it to catch a killer—or risk becoming the next victim. AMAZON | BARNES AND NOBLE | INDIEBOUND More purchase options at Simon & Schuster Enjoy an Excerpt from A Deadly Fortune Amelia returned to herself a sense at a time. First a woman’s voice, brusque and echoing: “This way please, gentlemen. Set her down, thank you. We’ll take her from here.” Throbbing pain filling her head to bursting. Mewling with it, clutching her temples with her hands. A foul taste in her mouth and a stench in her nostrils that she dimly recognized as coming from herself. Filth and bile and rust. Slow, shallow breaths. Slitted eyes opening against piercing light. She blinked slowly, orienting herself. She was lying on the floor—on a stretcher—in a large, tiled washroom. And she was not alone. Three women wearing identical brown-striped dresses and stern expressions looked back at her. One opened the folder she held and looked down, making notes with a pencil. The scritching sound was as loud as a scream in the echoing room. The second held a cloth bundle and a limp canvas sack. The third stepped forward. “Good. You’re awake. Do you understand me?” Amelia tried to speak but found her voice wouldn’t obey. She managed a shadow of a nod. “Do you know where you are?” Shaking her head was beyond her capacity. She closed her eyes again. Frowned. “This is the city lunatic asylum at Blackwell’s Island.” Shock forced Amelia’s eyes wide open. The light assaulted her, sent a bolt of pain through her head, forced a strangled groan from her throat. Her stomach heaved, but it was empty, and all she did was retch pitifully. “None of that. We’ll not be cleaning up after you.” One of the others spoke. “Let’s get her seen to.” Hands pulled her upright, and the room whirled sickeningly. Amelia closed her eyes again. One of the women probed at her head, yanked at her tender scalp. “What on earth have you done to your hair?” Amelia reached up with a trembling hand. Felt coils of hair, stiff with filth. “I’m not going to waste all day trying to get this mess cleaned and combed out. We’re going to have to cut it off.” The speaker nodded to the one with the folder. “Make a note: there was an infestation of lice.” Amelia ignored their chuckles as the woman reached into her pocket and produced a pair of scissors. Clumps of hair fell to the floor. “There. Let’s get her cleaned up.” Two of them held her on her feet while the third stripped her, grumbling over the muck caked on her clothes. Naked, she was lifted into an enormous tub. The water was cold. “In with you,” one of them muttered, prodding her hard in the back. Amelia’s feet slipped out from under her, and the frigid water closed over her head. Her breath went out in a rush. She came up sputtering, the chill already seeping into her bones. But it brought her further back to herself. She took more note of her surroundings as she was scrubbed with stinging soap and a coarse brush. Her hands and feet were blue with cold when the women finally lifted her out of the tub. She shuddered as they dried her with a length of rough toweling. They dressed her in a coarse linen shift and shapeless calico dress made for someone much taller. There was writing along the hem, illegible from her vantage point. A white cap and a pair of thin slippers completed her new wardrobe. Amelia’s own clothes disappeared into the sack, probably fit only to be burned. “Now then,” the one with the folder said. “Carolina Casey, found in fits in a public park, possibly drunk, uncommunicative.” She tutted. “No known family or friends, adjudged destitute, committed by judicial order until such time as the asylum superintendent finds her fit to be released.” Carolina. Who was . . . ? “Lina,” she muttered. The cloak Jonas had saved for her. It had Lina’s name in it. “Lina,” one of the nurses repeated, scratching something in the file. Amelia opened her mouth to protest, to tell them her real name, to insist they let her go. Then some practical part of her mind, awake now for the first time since the park, realized how it would sound—half the women here must insist all those things with their every breath. No one would believe her; anything she said would be only further evidence of her madness. And Lina had no further need of her cloak or her name. She was gone to California. Amelia stilled, keeping an iron grip on the terror beating its wings against her chest. Her name didn’t matter. She could be Lina for now. Excerpt © Stacie Murphy. Shared with permission for the blog tour. The Author Stacie Murphy grew up near Nashville, TN. She began writing A Deadly Fortune in 2017 as a way to force herself to stay off Twitter in the evenings. She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, daughter, and the worst cat in the world. WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS Genre: Historical Mystery Type: Novel Publisher: Pegasus Crime Release Date: January 5, 2021 Content Rating: View our rating system Enter to win a copy of A Deadly Fortune by Stacie Murphy & a $50 Gift Card to Amazon or your favorite Indie store. Winner’s choice. The giveaway is open to US only and ends on February 5, 2021. You must be 18 or older to enter. Void where prohibited by law. This giveaway is sponsored by the author and hosted by Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours. Thank you for visiting and reading! Feel inspired? Want others to experience the book magic? We hope you'll support this author by sharing with your friends. Have you read the book? Let us know your thoughts!

"Fast-paced, deep character development, page-turning action, what more do you need." — Netgalley review The Last King They sent three hundred warriors to kill one man. It wasn’t enough. Mercia lies broken but not beaten, her alliance with Wessex in tatters. Coelwulf, a fierce and bloody warrior, hears whispers that Mercia has been betrayed from his home in the west. He fears no man, especially not the Vikings sent to hunt him down. To discover the truth of the rumours he hears, Coelwulf must travel to the heart of Mercia, and what he finds there will determine the fate of Mercia, as well as his own. AMAZON US | AMAZON UK In the author's words Q&A with MJ Porter Were there alternative endings you considered for this book? What were they and why did you change them? When I first decided to write The Last King , my initial idea was to make it a lengthy volume, covering the entire time period that King Coelwulf was king of Mercia. But, I quickly changed my mind, and considered turning it into a trilogy. If I’d written only one book, or just a trilogy, it would have resulted in a very different ending, and also a different story to the one the reader ultimately gets. After finishing the first book, I realized it was fun to write about the characters and I changed all my expectations about how I was going to cover the time period. Readers now have four books all taking place very quickly, one after another, but still in AD874. It means that there’s more scope for future books, which is fantastic, because I don’t want to stop writing about Coelwulf, and I have nearly of decade of his life to cover. What has been your greatest challenge as a writer? Have you been able to overcome it? The greatest challenge about being a writer is to stay motivated and positive. This is a hard business, and people will knock you, or try to knock you all the time, and it’s not always intentional. There have been occasions, most notably four years ago, when I really didn’t think I could do it anymore following some niggles from a review website and a bad experience with a literary agent, on top of other things. It was so hard, and there was so much negativity, and obviously, financially, it can be a real burden when you’re starting out. I hope that I’ve managed to overcome it, even if only for now, and I’ve certainly learned resilience and that it’s okay to believe in yourself and your characters. What special challenges did you face making your story stand out from others in the genre? The Last King is set in AD874 in Mercia, and that’s prime Bernard Cornwell and the Last Kingdom territory. For many years, I stayed well away from covering the same historical period because it was firstly, daunting, and secondly, because I would need to do something different with the characters than have a running battle between Christianity and Paganism, kings and Raiders (Vikings), which isn’t that easy when that’s what people are expecting to happen. Luckily, an archaeological find in 2015 (the Watlington horde), has already put a fresh spin on the time period, but I still needed to make it both different, and similar. I wanted to write a bloodier, more violent book, and one where the focus wasn’t all on politics and political one-upmanship. I first had the idea of writing about King Coelwulf, in 2017 after finishing writing The Lady of Mercia’s Daughter , but although I picked up the idea a few times, it didn’t seem to quite work. And then I had a break through, where two of my characters came to me in a particular scene (not even a very exciting one), and from there, the rest grew. But I was still searching for something unique, and it was while watching The Gentleman film directed by Guy Ritchie, that I had the idea for giving a hook straight away, and then telling the story of how the characters came to be in that situation. I know that readers really enjoy it. I also think that the ‘potty mouths’ the warriors have make it standout from others, as does the humour. How do you think you’ve evolved creatively? When I first began writing, it was a laborious process. I wanted everything to be perfect before I committed it to the laptop, and I fell into the trap of editing everything I’d written previously, before I could start writing afresh. I don’t do this anymore. I’ve learned that my stories come together in the edits, of which there are three or four extensive ones before I count a project as ready to share with beta readers. For me, it’s about honing my characters and storyline once the outline story is written, and once I’ve determined how the story will develop. I am not a planner although I always have an end in mind, but it can change if the characters or the storyline evolve away from it, and I let them, or rather, they just do it without my say so. How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have? I have two half-finished books at the moment, the one I’m working on, and one that I started last year. Both of them are not my usual genre – one is historical fantasy and the other is a historical murder-mystery. The first one remains unfinished because The Last King and the follow-up books took over much of my writing time throughout 2020. I will get back to it, soon. I quite like knowing I’ve got something in the background that I could polish and publish if I ever needed to. The other story will, hopefully, be finished sooner. Both of them have been NaNoWriMo projects, when I allow myself a month off from my usual writing to try something a bit different. I find it refreshing and reinvigorating. I also have some other projects that range from being just a title, to those where I’ve written maybe 10,000 words before putting them to one side, and at the moment I’m also working on the next Earls of Mercia book. The Author I’m an author of fantasy (Viking age/dragon-themed) and historical fiction (Early English, Vikings and the British Isles as a whole before the Norman Conquest). I was born in the old Mercian kingdom at some point since 1066. Raised in the shadow of a strange little building, told from a very young age that it housed the bones of long-dead Kings of Mercia and that our garden was littered with old pieces of pottery from a long-ago battle, it’s little wonder that my curiosity in Early England ran riot. I can only blame my parents! I write A LOT. You’ve been warned! WEBSITE | TWITTER | GOODREADS Genre: Historical Thriller Series: The Ninth Century, Book One Type: Novel Release Date: April 23, 2020 Content Rating: R-2 View our rating system Enter to win a copy of The Last King by M.J. Porter! Two paperbacks are up for grabs! The giveaway is open to US only and ends on January 22, 2021. You must be 18 or older to enter. Void where prohibited by law. This giveaway is sponsored by the author and hosted by Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours. Thank you for visiting and reading! Feel inspired? Want others to experience the book magic? We hope you'll support this author by sharing with your friends. Have you read the book? Let us know your thoughts!

‘A Scottish lord and an American socialite discover love during WWI in this gorgeous historical romance from Ciesielski …The undercurrent of mystery and Ciesielski’s unflinching approach to the harsh realities of wartime only enhance the love story. Readers are sure to be impressed.’ – Publishers Weekly Beauty Among Ruins In Ciesielski’s latest sweeping romance, an American heiress finds herself in Scotland amid the fallout of the Great War, and a wounded Scottish laird comes face-to-face with his past and a woman he never could have expected. American socialite Lily Durham is known for enjoying one moment to the next, with little regard for the consequences of her actions. But just as she is banished overseas to England as a “cure” for her frivolous ways, the Great War breaks out and wreaks havoc. She joins her cousin in nursing the wounded at a convalescent home deep in the wilds of Scotland at a crumbling castle where its laird is less than welcoming. Alec MacGregor has given his entire life to preserving his home of Kinclavoch Castle, but mounting debts force him to sell off his family history bit by bit. Labeled a coward for not joining his countrymen in the trenches due to an old injury, he opens his home to the Tommies to make recompense while he keeps to the shadows. But his preference for the shadows is shattered when a new American nurse comes streaming into the castle on a burst of light. Lily and Alec are thrown together when a series of mysterious events threatens to ruin the future of Kinclavoch. Can they put aside their differences to find the culprit before it’s too late, or will their greatest distraction be falling in love? AMAZON | BARNES AND NOBLE | BAM | INDIEBOUND More purchase options at Thomas Nelson In the author's words Q&A with J'nell Ciesielski Books & Benches: A Scotland setting, stunning cover, and interesting description will surely appeal to readers (it has this one). We're delighted to welcome J'nell Ciesielski and share her new book with our readers. Let's start with a little something about your newest release, Beauty Among Ruins . Life should always be enjoyed from one exciting moment to the next. At least it was until American socialite Lily Durham is banished overseas to England in hopes of curbing her frivolous ways. When the Great War breaks out, she joins her cousin in nursing the wounded at a convalescent home deep in the wilds of Scotland at a crumbling castle where its laird is less than welcoming. Alec MacGregor has given his entire life to preserving his home of Kinclavoch Castle, but mounting debts force him to sell off bit by bit of his family history. Labeled a coward for not joining his countrymen in the trenches due to a horse accident that left him with a limp, he opens his home to the Tommies to make recompense while he keeps to the shadows. But his preference for shadows is shattered when a new American nurse comes streaming into the castle on a burst of light. Clashing like the sun in a thundercloud, Lily and Alec are thrown together when a series of mysterious events threatens to strip Kinclavoch away. Can they put aside their differences to find the culprit before it’s too late or will their greatest distraction be falling in love? What is your favorite scene in Beauty Among Ruins ? I love nothing more than a scene filled with romantic tension and Lily and Alec have tension exploding moments in abundance. None more so than a when they are standing hilltop in the Scottish outdoors. Up until this point Alec has been too afraid to allow anyone inside his high walls of defense. Until Lily barreled through them without hesitation. Finally ready to confide in her, he takes her to his favorite spot overlooking a majestic valley full of Scottish drama and offers her his journal where his heart’s most private thoughts and pains are contained. It’s a turning point in their relationship. I won’t give it away but I will say that Lily catches Alec a bit off guard with her delighted and most unreserved response. What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex? It’s so difficult to know what they’re thinking! As a woman, I think a certain way. Everything is connected, many things are tied together by emotions, I can have a million thoughts all at the same time, and I perceive situations more by personal connections rather than fact. When I write the male POV I have to make sure that the sentences are more direct and to the point. No flowery speech, no asking a bunch of questions, and keeping a tight rein on those emotions. At least until he’s ready to finally open up to the heroine. Most of the men I write are doers and fixers. They don’t sit around idly for the problem to be solved so it is my duty to have them up and about all the time. What appeals to you most about your chosen genre? I love history, and for it to be a good story to me it needs a healthy dash of romance. Sweeping away to another time and place is bewitching because it allows one to forget their cares of present day and step back to eras where conversation was key, manners were a must, and fashion was gorgeous. Now of course this is all experienced through rose colored glasses, but that’s what fiction is for! And above all else stories should have happily ever afters. If you were to genre-hop, which genres would you most like to try writing? Fantasy. I love alternate worlds populated by mystical, magical, and mythical creatures. I am so in awe of writers who can come up with stories like that quite simply blow the imagination. The Author With a passion for heart-stopping adventure and sweeping love stories, J’nell Ciesielski weaves fresh takes into romances of times gone by. When not creating dashing heroes and daring heroines, she can be found dreaming of Scotland, indulging in chocolate of any kind, or watching old black and white movies. Winner of the Romance Through the Ages Award and the Maggie Award, she is a Florida native who now lives in Virginia with her husband, daughter, and lazy beagle. Learn more at www.jnellciesielski.com . You can also find J’nell on Facebook , Twitter , Pinterest , Instagram , and Goodreads Genre: Historical Fiction/Scottish/Romance Type: Novel Publisher: Thomas Nelson Release Date: January 12, 2021 Content Rating: 1 Heart View our rating system 5 lucky readers will win a paperback edition of Beauty Among Ruins ! The giveaway is open to US only and ends on January 22, 2021. You must be 18 or older to enter. Void where prohibited by law. This giveaway is sponsored by the author and hosted by Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours. Thank you for visiting and reading! Feel inspired? Want others to experience the book magic? We hope you'll support this author by sharing with your friends. Have you read the book? Let us know your thoughts!

“Hubbard writes of healing and brave new beginnings from a refreshingly feminist perspective.” — Booklist First Light in Morning Star Founded by five enterprising Amish maidels, the new Morningstar Marketplace is a joyous success. What’s even more remarkable is the gift the business bestows upon each of these unmarried women—the unexpected blessing of love . . . Leaving Flaud’s Furniture to teach at the community’s new school is a joy for Lydianne Christner. Old Order Amish, but new to Morning Star, she’s grateful that the congregation trusts her with the position—but she panics when handsome Bishop Jeremiah Shetler asks about the life she left behind. If anyone discovers the secret she’s hiding, she would, quite rightly, be shunned. A widower, Bishop Jeremiah admires young Lydianne’s youthful energy and skill with the children. He’s also curious about her past, and the burden he senses on her heart. When his request to court her is refused, he’s stung, and lonelier than ever. It isn’t until a crisis prompts a tearful Lydianne to confess to him that Jeremiah is faced with a choice that requires all of his faith—and teaches them both that love and forgiveness go hand in hand. Amazon | B&N | Bookshop.org | Apple | Kobo IndieBound | GooglePlay | BAM Additional Order Options Don't miss the giveaway at the end of this post! Enjoy an Excerpt from Frist Light in Morning Star “Miss Christner, we’re pleased to offer you this teaching position,” Bishop Jeremiah said as he grasped her hand, “and if you need time to consider your answer—” “Oh, no, I’ll be happy to accept!” Lydianne interrupted gleefully. “Denki so much for considering my application. What I lack in experience, I’ll make up for with careful preparation and my love of learning. I won’t let you down.” “That thought never entered our heads,” the bishop put in. “And with Lorena Flaud and Clarence’s Lucy being in their final year of school—and with their sisters right behind them—you’ll have plenty of eager assistance as you teach the youngest ones the basics of reading and arithmetic. I anticipate a productive—and fun—year for our scholars.” “This is so exciting!” Lydianne said as she shook each man’s hand in turn. “Maybe this sounds silly, but I still love the smell of fresh packages of notebook paper and new bottles of glue, and the joy of opening a fresh box of crayons—thinking of all the drawings and reports and projects that lie ahead of us.” As she left the schoolhouse and drove down the road, Lydianne floated on a cloud of euphoria. After she turned off the main county highway to head for home, she paused at the sight of a little blond girl chasing a butterfly on the front lawn of Tim and Julia Nissley’s place. With the sunshine shimmering on her golden hair and upturned face, six-year-old Ella Nissley looked for all the world like a little angel. Her laughter rang out as she ran and reached eagerly for the butterfly, followed closely by a little brown puppy that yipped and yapped. Lydianne’s heart overflowed with a wave of emotions. Her dream had come true: she would now be Ella’s teacher. But she would have to be very, very careful. Ella was the apple of her adoptive parents’ eyes, and Lydianne had no intentions of interfering with their happy family. No one else, including Tim and Julia, knew that Ella was the newborn baby Lydianne had given up when she’d been an unwed mother. End of Excerpt . Copyright © Charlotte Hubbard Learn more by visiting the author's website. First Light in Morning Star released December 29, 2020 from Zebra Books. Meet the Author In 1983, Charlotte Hubbard sold her first story to True Story. She wrote around 70 of those confession stories, and she’s sold more than 50 books to traditional or online publishers. A longtime resident of Missouri, she’s currently writing Amish romances set in imaginary Missouri towns for Kensington. She now lives in Omaha, NE with her husband of 40+ years and their Border collie, Vera. www.charlottehubbard.com Facebook -- www.Facebook.com/Charlotte.Hubbard1 First Light in Morning Star by Charlotte Hubbard Genre: Amish Romance/Inspirational Publisher: Zebra Books Release Date: December 29, 2020 Available in Print and E-Book Type: Novel Content Rating: 1 Heart Charlotte Hubbard will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B&N gift card to one randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour. Don't forget to tell your friends about this beautiful book! Must be 18 years or older to enter giveaway. Void where prohibited by law. Giveaway is sponsored by the author and hosted by Goddess Fish Promotions. Thank you for visiting, and happy reading!