Guest Post: Get A Clue by Author Julie Moffett

Today, I'm excited to have Author Julie Moffett as my guest...  

Get a Clue!

By Julie Moffett

One of the reasons I love to read and write mysteries and adventure stories is I get to sort through clues and figure out the problems as the story unfolds. In mysteries, romantic suspense and thriller novels, the discovery of the clues and the resulting action and adventure are what drive the plot. I admit it—I love the thrill of the hunt, the misdirection, red herrings, false clues, relationship drama and, ultimately, the final twist and denouement.

It's so much fun!

When I was a kid, I loved to play the board game Clue. I still do. My eleven-year-old son and I play all the time. It's an activity we enjoy doing together, and I like knowing I'm stimulating my son's observation and deductive skills.

Our favorite cartoon? Scooby Doo and the Mystery Gang, of course. Not surprisingly, Velma is our favorite character. Why? Because she looks for clues! She thinks. She deduces. She's the brains behind the operation. Her clue assembly and observation skills lead to the resolution of the mystery. Our intrepid heroine likes to figure things out piece-by-piece, clue-by-clue. For her, the devil is in the details. Mystery solved. Jinkies!

As a writer, I love to give my readers a good conundrum, a puzzling twist, a plot that is mysterious, adventurous and interesting. As a reader, I actively search for books with these elements. I like to add those elements to my stories because I enjoy writing them as much as like reading them. So, bring on the clues and let’s get reading!

Question for you: What’s your favorite mystery series right now?

########

NO REGRETS is Book 10 in the humorous Lexi Carmichael mystery series published by Carina Press and was released January 2018.

Geek girl Lexi Carmichael has tackled her share of formidable tasks, but nothing quite as daunting as serving as maid of honor at her best friend’s wedding…

When I agreed to stand by my best friend, Basia, on her big day, I had no idea what I was in for. Bouquets and unflattering evening wear I can handle. But between disgruntled dates, a beach venue and suspicious packages, what else can go wrong? Oh, right—my parents don’t know I’ve moved in with Slash. Oops?

Thankfully, I’ve got everything semi under control, at least as far as Basia and Xavier know. They can leave for their honeymoon happy, knowing Elvis, Slash and I will keep things safe at home.

Meanwhile, Elvis and Xavier’s boss at ComQuest has asked X-Corp—well, me—to take a quick trip to retrieve a sensitive company package from the British Virgin Islands. No hacking involved. Just show up, accept the package and bring it home safely. A cushy assignment, and a safe one. Right?

Wrong. Things start to unravel the minute I set foot on the boat to the island. Before I know it, I’m up to my neck in thugs, sand and trouble. I’m going to have to work fast to stop the bad guys before the sun sets for good on this unexpected beach vacation…

Links to ALL the books in the Lexi Carmichael mystery series (including NO REGRETS) are HERE.

Note: NO MONEY DOWN, the novella in the Lexi Carmichael mystery series is only 99 cents until midnight (EST), May 31st.

# # # # # # # # # # #

Meet the Author 

Julie Moffett is a bestselling author and writes in the genres of mystery, young adult, historical romance and paranormal romance. She has won numerous awards, including the 2014 Mystery & Mayhem Award for Best YA/New Adult Mystery, the prestigious 2014 HOLT Award for Best Novel with Romantic Elements, a HOLT Merit Award for Best Novel by a Virginia Author (twice!), the 2016 Award of Excellence, a PRISM Award for Best Romantic Time-Travel AND Best of the Best Paranormal Books of 2002, and the 2011 EPIC Award for Best Action/Adventure Novel. She has also garnered additional nominations for the Booksellers’ Best Award, the Daphne du Maurier Award and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Sign up for Julie’s newsletters (about 5 a year) for a chance at awesome prizes and free books at her website: www.juliemoffett.com. You can also follow her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. All comments are welcomed.

Spotlight New Release: CHARMED BONES (A Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery) by Carolyn Haines

Synopsis (from Amazon)

Zinnia, Mississippi is rife with quirky characters, but the arrival of three sister witches—and their intention to open a Wiccan boarding school—sets the small town on its ear. And bodies begin to accumulate as a result. Faith, Hope, and Charity Harrington are sexy and smart. They’re setting up their boarding school in an old dairy—a piece of property with tremendous development potential. And they’re standing in the way of “progress,” according to some in the town.

When young Corey Fontana goes missing, Delaney Detective Agency is hired to find the youth—who’s well known as a local hooligan. His mother, Kitten Fontana, who is married to the kind of land development, believes the witches have abducted her son and makes no bones about it. She’s willing to pay hard cash to find her son, especially if she can implicate the witches in his disappearance.

When Sarah Booth Delaney and her partner, Tinkie Richmond, find Corey, unharmed, it is only the beginning of a series of events that include midnight dances under a full moon, love potions, and murder. Are the sister witches criminals… or victims? Do they truly have magical powers, as they claim? Sarah Booth and Tinkie must find the answer before more people are harmed.

The Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery Series

A Gift of Bones

Charmed Bones

About the Author

Carolyn Haines is the USA Today bestselling author of the Sarah Booth Delaney mystery series and a number of other books in mystery and crime, including the Pluto's Snitch paranormal-historical mystery series, and Trouble, the black cat detective romantic suspense books. She is the recipient of the Harper Lee Award for Distinguished Writing and the Richard Wright Award for Literary Excellence. She is a former journalist, bartender, photographer, farmhand, and college professor and lives on a farm where she works with rescue cats, dogs, and horses.       

Spotlight: CHERRY PIE OR DIE by CeeCee James

Synopsis (from Amazon)

After a traumatic life event, Georgie Tanner returns to her hometown to start her life over... at 31 years old. Add sporadic memory loss to the mix and Georgie is a certified hot mess.
Luckily, Aunt Cecelia is there with a job for Georgie. She might not feel able to take on the world, but she's think she's up for taking tourists through Gainesville, Pennsylvania's historic downtown. The place is as American as apple pie, steeped in rich Revolutionary history, Amish settlements, ghost stories, and colonial manors. Georgie knew it was a safe place to go to piece back her memories.

After all, what could go wrong in a sleepy town like this?

Until she leads a group of tourists through the Three Maidens' Manor, a battle site converted into a museum. When the power goes out during the tour, Georgie thinks it's a crazy fluke. But when it returns, she has six panicked guests, and a dead man in her midst.
Who would want to kill him? And more importantly, which one of them was the murderer?

Bonus: With Recipes!  Only $0.99 or FREE with Kindle Unlimited!

The Series:

Cherry Pie or Die (Baker Street Cozy Mysteries Book 1)

Cookies and Scream (Baker Street Cozy Mysteries Book 2)

Crème Brûlée To Slay (Baker Street Cozy Mysteries Book 3)

About CeeCee James (from Amazon)

CeeCee James is a wife, mom of four kids and pet mom to two mini-dashchunds. She's always loved to read and always had her nose in a book-- getting her into trouble at school when she'd sneak it in her text books.

Writing has been a life long passion. Her first works were published in middle school in a local newspaper, and she won several short story and poetry competitions through out her life. Her published works include the Angel Lake Cozy Mystery series, nonfiction Ghost No More, and Wrecked and Yours, a sweet romance series. She loves writing about love and the celebration of life. Sometimes there is beauty even in the chaos of a messy moment. For her, writing is about taking time to savor those moments.

Spotlight: COOKS, CROOKS AND A CORPSE : Baker Girls Cozy Mystery Book 1 by Maria Grazia Swan

Synopsis (from Amazon)

Can't resist lighthearted comedy dressed with a little mystery that never takes you down a dark road?

Good, because that’s what you get when you put two hot Italian imports together. Meet the hot pink Fiat 500 and its owner, real estate agent Monica Baker. 

Now stir in a dead body, a caterer about to lose her license, a real estate office coming off the rails, a goofy Great Dane, and a lively heroine who can’t help falling for the brooding bad boy. This is the world of Monica Baker: a high-speed mystery with a serving of mischief and a side of laughs.

AMAZON

Psst... only 99 cents until May 10th!

Book Trivia from Maria Grazia Swan:

When I started this new series I wanted to insert as much of my real life details as possible. Here are a few examples:

Like Monica, I sell Real Estate in Phoenix, Arizona

I’m from Italy, but have US Citizenship.

I married, and divorced an American man.

I learned how to drive in a Fiat 500.

I owned and loved to death a goofy Great Dane.

I often hike the 40th street trails.

I love Amaretti di Saronno and spinach balls.

And last, Monica’s version of recipes, is what I do when I cook for myself.
Author Info

From her author bio on Amazon : 

National Bestselling author Maria Grazia Swan was born in Italy, but this rolling stone has definitely gathered no moss. She lived in Belgium, France, Germany, in beautiful Orange County, California where she raised her family, and is currently at home in Phoenix, Arizona--but stay tuned for weekly updates of Where in the World is Maria Grazia Swan?

mgsweb1@gmail.com

http://www.mariagraziaswan.com

I haven't read this one yet, but humor and mystery sound good to me!