Blog Archives
A Rising Tide
A Rising Tide by Iona Morrison is a wonderfully crafted novel that seamlessly blends suspense, romance, and supernatural intrigue. Set in the picturesque yet mysterious town of Blue Cove, the story revolves around Jessie, a bookstore owner with a deep connection to her ancestral gifts. As she becomes enmeshed in enigmatic events, haunting dreams, and escalating threats, Jessie is propelled into a journey of self-discovery and courage. With the steadfast support of her boyfriend Matt and a close-knit circle of family and friends, she must navigate the delicate interplay between supernatural forces and tangible dangers, ultimately confronting her destiny amidst a rising tide of darkness.
Morrison’s storytelling shines in her ability to intricately weave together diverse elements—romance, heritage, mystical abilities, and societal challenges—into a cohesive and riveting narrative. Jessie emerges as a compelling protagonist and her personal growth was both inspiring and relatable. Her relationship with Matt provides a heartwarming counterbalance to the tension and peril that drive the story.
The vividly depicted setting of Blue Cove, with its serene exterior concealing deeper undercurrents of unrest, mirrors Jessie’s own struggles with precision and depth. The novel’s ambition is undeniable, offering a rich tapestry of plotlines that range from the discovery of ancient family scrolls to the unraveling of contemporary crimes. This expansive scope occasionally felt overwhelming to me. Certain intriguing aspects, such as the mystical artifacts and the concept of influencers shaping events, I think would benefit from deeper development. Nevertheless, these minor critiques do little to detract from the novel’s overall impact.
A Rising Tide is both a thrilling and heartwarming tale, deftly combining paranormal elements with themes of resilience, love, and community. Morrison’s ability to create a story that is at once captivating and deeply human ensures an engaging experience for readers. Fans of paranormal fiction infused with romance and mystery will find themselves thoroughly enchanted by this remarkable work.
Pages: 298 | ASIN : B0DCZTD26N
Into the Mist
A single act of betrayal sends Cheyenne Tanner spiraling into heartbreak, prompting her to flee with no destination in mind. Lost and overwhelmed, she stumbles upon an overgrown driveway that leads to a crumbling yet captivating Victorian mansion. Drawn by its eerie allure, Cheyenne wrestles with fear and a strange compulsion to enter the house. When the door creaks open, she steps inside, unaware of the dark mysteries that await her. What secrets does this house conceal?
Into the Mist, by Sharon Mikeworth, weaves a suspenseful narrative of love, mystery, and time travel. At its heart is Cheyenne, a woman burdened by personal betrayal and emotional upheaval, who finds herself inexplicably drawn to the mansion. Her journey takes an extraordinary turn when she is transported back to 1895, where she forges connections with Gus and a vibrant cast of characters from a bygone era. Mikeworth’s writing shines with its vivid descriptions and emotional depth, skillfully blending suspense, humor, and historical intrigue. Her dynamic dialogue and nuanced tone transitions keep the reader engrossed, shifting seamlessly between lighthearted moments and raw emotional intensity. The novel masterfully fuses historical fiction, paranormal romance, and mystery/suspense into a cohesive and compelling story.
Into the Mist is a captivating tale perfect for cozy evenings by the fire, offering readers an immersive escape into Cheyenne’s world—a world both mysterious and achingly relatable. The plot twists and turns, defying expectations and keeping the suspense palpable. With its haunting Victorian setting, intricately developed characters, and enthralling narrative, Into the Mist is a must-read for fans of dark, atmospheric fiction steeped in intrigue and emotion.
Pages: 452 | ASIN : B0DN27KR4N
Special Challenge—and Pleasure
In The Cadieux Murders, an architect hired to renovate a mansion soon finds her work opens the door to a long-buried murder mystery. Where did the idea for this novel come from?
I edit a real estate newsletter and found out that if you own a landmark home, you have to call in a specially certified architect to make any changes. I thought, what a great idea—to have such an architect find mysteries in the historic homes she works on! And I’ve always loved old homes: My wife and I live in an 1850 farmhouse and love its quirks.
What was the hardest part about writing a mystery story; where you constantly have to give just enough to keep the mystery alive until the big reveal?
That’s the trick! You want to give readers enough information so they feel they can solve it. The ending should be a surprise but can’t be out of left field. That is, the reader must say “Aha! They were leading up to this!” Consider Murder on the Orient Express. No one combined hints with a final surprise better than Agatha Christie.
Which character in the novel do you feel you relate to more and why?
Wren Fontaine, my architect/sleuth, seems different from me in many ways: she’s a woman and I’m a man. She’s an architect and I have a weak visual sense. She is gay and I am straight. And yet, she’s the protagonist most like me. Wren and I share a difficulty relating to people. Our personalities and ways of coping are very similar. Bringing her to life was a special challenge—and pleasure.
Can we look forward to another installment in the Historic Homes Mystery series?
I’m working on one now with Wren returning to her difficult high school years—transforming a long-closed dormitory for modern use for foreign visiting students. Can she rebuild the dorm, solve a long-ago murder, and work with her former bully?
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And the home itself comes with a dark past: In 1955, it was the site of the never-solved murder of its owner, Dennis Blaine. Cadieux himself was alleged to be having an affair with Dennis’s wife, the stunningly beautiful Rebecca. It seems like yesterday’s headlines, but then someone starts killing people with a connection to the house. The home’s new owner—bestselling novelist Bronwyn Merrick—may be using the house to launch a fictionalized account of the 1955 crime. But someone may not want her to. Just how far will Bronwyn’s armed bodyguard go to protect her?
As Wren untangles the threads, she finds they all lead back to the house. Rebecca apparently inspired the strange, yet alluring residence, and both the home and its mistress may have caused uncontrolled emotions that led to tragedy. Wren uses all her architectural skills to decipher the hidden message Cadieux cunningly wove into the home’s design. She must think back 20 years to when, as a little girl, she met Cadieux. Deeply impressed with Wren, he gave her a clue about the house—and his unusual friendship with Rebecca. With her girlfriend Hadley at her side, Wren eventually solves the mysteries of the home and the people who lived there, develops a grudging respect for modernist architecture—and learns something about the difference between love and obsession.
A Tricky Dance
Trouble Afoot at the Three Hounds Bakery follows a mystery writer who inherits her aunt’s home and three dogs, where she finds herself in the middle of trouble in a town that is unwelcoming to her. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I grew up around dachshunds. They are extremely unique dogs, with definite ideas and temperaments of their own, and I wondered what it would be like to be plopped down in the middle of dachshund territory with no prior experience or warning. Setting up a character who is already a bit moorless and dropping her without warning into a nest of wiener dogs and a tricky mystery seemed like a very fun premise.
I found Willa Lattner to be an intriguing character. What was your inspiration for this character?
Willa sort of wrote herself. I planned on a plucky heroine who happened to write mystery stories, and she just showed up–every messy bit of her, from her crazy hair to her self-deprecating writing style. I liked her, so I let her stay awhile to see what would happen. I find I do my best work when I just let the characters show up and introduce themselves. Then my only job is to stay out of the way as much as possible.
What was the hardest part about writing a mystery story, where you constantly have to give just enough to keep the mystery alive until the big reveal?
I usually have to write a dozen versions of the same story before I’m satisfied with the pace at which the mystery is being delivered. Sometimes I say too much too quickly, and other times I get to the end and think I haven’t earned any of it! It’s always a tricky dance. Often, when I’m stuck, I bring in a reader to help me out. They haven’t been staring at the same story for months, and they can read with a fresh mind and let me know who they suspected, why, and what point, and help me really refine the ultimate clues and reveals.
When will book two be available? Can you give us an idea of where that book will take readers?
Book two, Death Pays A Call To The Three Hounds Bakery, will be out on Kindle on January 31st. We’ll be seeing a lot more of Willa and the dogs, and may even meet a few more human (and canine) friends. Willa’s past life plays a huge role in this mystery, and we get a lot more insight into who she was before she came to Humboldt Cove.
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When mystery novelist Willa Lattner inherits her great-aunt Mina’s charming bakery in the coastal town of Humboldt Cove, she expects to find solace in new friends, fresh air, and all the pastries she can eat. Instead, she’s met with a trio of heartbroken dachshunds and an unsettling mystery surrounding Mina’s sudden death.
As Willa digs into her aunt’s legacy, she uncovers a web of old grudges and hidden agendas lurking beneath the bakery’s warm facade. With each clue, the stakes rise, and she realizes that someone is desperate to keep the past buried—at any cost.
With her clever canines by her side, Willa must navigate quirky neighbors, mend a tattered reputation, and uncover dark secrets. Can she piece together the puzzle before the killer strikes again, or will her first adventure be her last?
Trouble Afoot at The Three Hounds Bakery is a deliciously twisty mystery full of memorable characters, cozy peril, and non-stop dachshund fun.
The Bookshop Mysteries: A Bitter Pill: A Small Town Cozy Mystery
S.A. Reeves’ The Bookshop Mysteries: A Bitter Pill delivers an engaging tale of intrigue, friendship, and unexpected twists in the charming town of Belper. At the heart of the story is Gemma, a passionate bookshop owner with a love for mystery novels, whose life takes an unexpected turn when a real-life mystery falls into her lap. Her companion in crime-solving is Mavis, a sharp-witted older woman grieving the recent loss of her husband yet equally drawn to the allure of a good mystery. Together, they make a delightful sleuthing team, eager to crack the case that, unexpectedly, might be more dangerous than they anticipated.
Gemma and Mavis make a refreshing detective duo—Gemma, the dog-loving, quick-thinking bookshop owner, and Mavis, an elderly woman full of wisdom and surprising cleverness. Their unique talents complement each other perfectly, and readers will find themselves cheering for these two as they dive headfirst into Belper’s secrets. The town itself adds an irresistible layer to the plot, with its sleepy ambiance concealing an undercurrent of suspense that keeps readers on edge. Each page introduces new suspects, from the unassuming Ellie to the financially struggling Donna, all of whom keep you guessing. Memorable moments abound: the charming friendship between Gemma and Mavis, the shocking death of an author in Gemma’s shop, and the fast-paced unraveling of a mystery full of twists. Reeves masterfully balances lighthearted camaraderie with gripping suspense, resulting in a page-turner you won’t want to put down. The storyline is clever, the characters vibrant, and the world is one you’ll easily get lost in, eagerly guessing until the very last page.
For mystery lovers, A Bitter Pill is a must-read. It’s an addictive tale of crime, community, and the kind of unexpected twists that make a mystery unforgettable. I highly recommend this book, not just for the thrill of the mystery but for the compelling story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Looking forward to more from S.A. Reeves!
Pages: 246 | ASIN : B0D9W3VBGG
Animal Traffickers
Cans of Cola Just Don’t Cry follows a writer living in the Florida Keys who is researching a cold case from her childhood when she discovers a baby chimpanzee locked in a crate on her dock. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The setting had to be somewhere on the water, a place where a boat could drop off a delivery, so I chose the Florida Keys, which are beautiful. The main character has just bought a house that was idle for several years. She doesn’t know her dock has been used as a drop-off point for animal traffickers. Ha, surprise, surprise!
I enjoyed the depth of the main character, Nola. What was your process to bring that character to life?
That was easy. Nola is a lot like me. She’s intrigued by a cold case from her past, where she witnessed some very suspicious behavior from one of her neighbors. He was in it up to his neck. I once saw some very unusual activities, possibly criminal, though probably not, taking place as I rode past the home of one of my family’s acquaintances, so I know what it’s like to have a strange situation kind of take hold of you and not really let you go. It’s always fun to wonder just what the heck was going on there!
I found the title of this book interesting and not at all what I was expecting for a cozy mystery. How did you decide on the title of this novel?
The title just came to me one day after I saw a documentary on how animal traffickers smuggle these poor baby chimpanzees in crates. It showed this tiny, tiny creature, crawling around and making little “eek eek” noises like it was crying or whimpering. I thought, what if the box with the chimp is left in the wrong place, for the wrong person to find, and she hears it crying? That’s when it came to me: Cans of Cola Just Don’t Cry!
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I’ve got two more books in the works at the moment, both cozy mysteries. Well, maybe one of them is a little less cozy than the other. One is set during World War II in my parents’ old hometown, Elizabeth, New Jersey. The other I actually just started writing just this afternoon. I’m not sure where I’ll set it yet, but it’s going to involve a murder at a wedding and a lot of wacky relatives.
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Who is responsible for smuggling the poor chimp into Florida? How will these elusive criminals get caught? And on top of all else, can Nola solve that old cold case from when she was a kid that’s been haunting her for fifty solid years?
The Bookshop Mysteries: A Bitter Pill: A Small Town Cozy Mystery
I thoroughly enjoyed The Bookshop Mysteries: A Bitter Pill by S.A. Reeves. Set in the charming town of Belper, UK, the story revolves around Gemma Curtis, the owner of a cozy bookstore called The Bookworm, and her witty shop assistant turned sleuthing partner, Mavis Rawlings. Together, they’re brainstorming ways to revitalize their business, and a book signing with local author Dominic Westerly seems like the perfect idea—until Dominic unexpectedly dies upon arriving at the shop. What starts as a promotional event quickly turns into a mystery, with Gemma and Mavis attending Dominic’s funeral and finding themselves drawn deeper into the secrets of his life and untimely death.
While I found the core mystery compelling, there were times when the sheer number of subplots and characters felt overwhelming. Alongside Gemma and Mavis’s sleuthing, there are multiple storylines involving characters like El Amir and Elena, Annie and Ramone, and Sarah and Hans. The abundance of secondary characters made it challenging to keep track of everything, and at times, I felt lost in the complexity of their intertwined lives. However, I did appreciate the depth of Elena’s character, particularly her strength and independence as she navigated her personal journey. The romance in the book also added an interesting dynamic, especially the relationship between El Amir and Elena, whose love story brought a heartwarming element to the mystery. El Amir’s willingness to risk his life for Elena gave the story a touch of drama that I enjoyed, and seeing love triumph in the end was satisfying.
The ending of A Bitter Pill wraps up many of the key storylines neatly, yet it leaves just enough intrigue to suggest there could be more mysteries to come. Overall, while the multiple threads made the story occasionally hard to follow, I loved how everything came together in the end, and the book delivered a satisfying conclusion that left room for future adventures. For fans of cozy mysteries with a dash of romance, this one is worth the read.
Pages: 246 | ASIN : B0D9W3VBGG
Cans of Cola Just Don’t Cry
Cans of Cola Just Don’t Cry, written by Carolyn Summer Quinn, is a charming and engaging cozy mystery set against the vibrant backdrop of the Florida Keys. The story follows 63-year-old retired editor Nola Carmody, who moves to this remote location with plans to investigate an old bank robbery case. However, her quiet life takes an unexpected turn when she discovers a mysterious box labeled “cans of cola” on her dock, only to find a chimpanzee trapped inside. This startling discovery launches Nola into a thrilling investigation of animal traffickers, even as she continues to grapple with the unsolved crime from her past.
Quinn expertly blends elements of mystery, suspense, and humor, making the novel a delightful read for fans of crime fiction. The exploration of animal trafficking adds a thought-provoking layer to the plot, shedding light on an important issue while keeping the story engaging and accessible. The setting in the Florida Keys is vividly described, capturing the essence of the island region and immersing readers in its unique atmosphere. Nola’s character is a refreshing protagonist—an older woman with wit, determination, and a sense of humor. Her interactions with a colorful cast of characters, including the dashing Shamus and the lovable chimpanzee, Lollapalooza, are heartwarming and entertaining. Even the villains are crafted with depth, adding tension and intrigue to the story. Quinn’s lighthearted tone and sharp storytelling keep the pace lively, though I feel certain portions of the novel feel slightly drawn out with details that don’t significantly advance the plot.
Cans of Cola Just Don’t Cry is a thoroughly enjoyable read. Quinn deftly handles the dual motifs of an old bank robbery and present-day animal trafficking, weaving them into a compelling narrative that balances mystery with moments of romance and humor. This cozy mystery will appeal to readers who love crime fiction with a twist of lighthearted fun and a focus on timely issues.
Pages: 186 | ASIN : B0DH85KL9K
LITERARY TITAN 