Special Post: THE MISPLACED DOG by Christa Nardi & Cassidy Salem

Spotlighting the newest in the Hannah and Tamar Mystery Series - The Misplaced Dog - on SALE this week for $0.99!

Synopsis

A gorgeous addition places Playful Paws and its staff at the center of a mystery.

It’s love at first sight when Tamar meets Rusty – the newest resident at the local shelter where she volunteers. However, the arrival of the well-trained and affectionate dog coincides with the onset of suspicious and dangerous incidents involving the shelter and its staff. Is it a coincidence or is the dog the key to solving a major crime? In this latest addition to the Hannah and Tamar mystery series, the sisters are determined to find out.

AMAZON 

The Motivation Behind THE MISPLACED DOG

Both Cassidy and I are dog people - big dogs and little dogs. I especially prefer a lap-size dog, but I know a great dane who seems to think that description fits him. Growing up, my family had dogs when I was younger and then older. I don't really remember the dogs from the younger years. At some point, my mother decided to get a poodle as we all suffered from allergies and poodle dander is less of an irritant for many with allergies. Three generations of poodles and all spoiled like crazy. 

As an adult, I wanted to get a dog, but many apartments didn't allow pets. At one point, some one I knew convinced me to go with her and help out at the local shelter. I took dogs for walks, cleaned out cages and runs, fed them and loved on them. And took a lot of antihistamines! I tried to adopt one terrier, but allergies got in the way. 

The friend, who is now in charge of that shelter, spotted an ad for a poodle puppy and I got myself a puppy from a breeder who couldn't keep the pup or others. Cocoa has since gone over the Rainbow Bridge. A second dog, found abandoned in a park joined our family by default - a poodle mix. He and Cocoa kept each other coming and he is now with Cocoa. 

Currently, we have three dogs - a purebred miniature poodle who was owner surrendered to a local rescue, a mini poodle mix found emaciated and rescued, and a lhasa apso-shitzu mix we inherited from one of our adult children (see below). They bring us much joy and are definitely counted as members of our family, even when they choose to sleep in odd places.

About the Series

The release of The Mysterious Package in October 2016 marked the launch of the Hannah and Tamar Mystery series, a new mystery series for young adults and teens written by Christa Nardi and Cassidy Salem. Mrs. Tedesco’s Missing Cookbook was released in April 2017. The third book in the Hannah and Tamar YA mystery series, The Misplaced Dog was released in August 2017. All three books are available for Kindle, in paperback, or through Kindle Unlimited. For more about the series, click here.

Amazon Reviews for The Misplaced Dog

"Who knew that volunteering at Playful Paws would lead to discovering a murder had been committed! This is a cozy mystery for young adults. It is well written and the characters sparkle."

"Cute mystery for young teens. ... With such lovable characters, I can see this series becoming a best seller."

"Another great book for teens. I enjoyed reading about the sisters Hannah and Tamar. This time they have a new problem to solve. ... This is a fun, entertaining mystery!"

Read an excerpt from The Misplaced Dog

“I don’t get it. Why couldn’t you do your community service closer to home? I’m gonna be late for my study group at the library.”

The Playful Paws animal shelter was located on the eastern outskirts of Rosedale, Maryland. Only a 10 minute drive from Rosedale High, you’d think it was on the moon to judge from Hannah’s complaining.

“You know, I could drop you off at school and take the car the rest of the way myself. It’s not my fault you insist on driving.” Tamar knew that wasn’t going to happen.

“Fat chance.” Hannah shook her head.

Tamar had recently passed her driving test and was itching to spend more time behind the wheel, even if it meant putting up with her sister’s non-stop criticisms. Hannah, on the other hand, wasn’t about to give up the driver’s seat.

The Bertolet’s green Subaru Outback pulled up in front of a dreary, red brick building in Rosedale’s industrial area. The parking lot was half full.

“Be ready to leave at 6:30 – I’ll text you when I get here. And don’t make me wait for you. Dad’ll be mad if we’re late.”

“Alright. I get it. Your wish is my command.” Tamar slammed the car door shut and headed into the building.

The ever-present scent of disinfectant and incessant barking filled the building. Playful Paws was just one of the animal shelters in the greater Baltimore area that housed cats and dogs in need of a good home. Temporary residents, the animals were kept in two rows of enclosures in an old warehouse.

Tamar stopped to greet two other volunteers, Zola and Jason, who were busy sweeping out the enclosures and filling water dishes.

“Hi, Tamar. How’s it going?” Zola was a second-year student at Towson University, where she was majoring in zoology. Tall and slim with long blonde hair and big blue eyes, she looked like a model.

“Great. So looking forward to our next adoption event.”

Jason watched the two young women but didn’t say anything. A senior at a different high school, Jason flashed Tamar a shy smile. It was his second year volunteering at the shelter, and he was almost never at a loss for words, except for when Tamar was around. Zola was amused by his obvious interest in the slender, dark haired teen who seemed oblivious to his admiration.

Tamar spoke softly to the residents as she walked down the long row of enclosures to reach the office in the back. This Paws shelter had a total of 18 enclosures, eight large enclosures on one side of the aisle, 10 smaller enclosures on the other. The center currently housed 19 dogs.

Two dogs were curled up together in the enclosure closest to the office. A bit of an odd couple – a small dachshund and a full grown Irish Setter. When the setter raised its head and gazed into Tamar’s eyes, her heart melted. She immediately spoke to the setter.

“Hey there, how’d you end up here?”

Joel Newman, the manager, stood in the doorway to the office. Passionate about animal welfare, the thirty-something year old worked as a free-lance designer to pay his bills. He always wore jeans and a t-shirt regardless of the weather, and today was no different. “I see our latest guests have made an impression.”

“Wow. That setter is gorgeous. Where did she come from? How could anyone surrender such a beautiful dog?”

“First, she is a he. Of course, it’s hard to tell the way he’s curled up right now. A lady found him wandering around the industrial area and dropped him off right before you got here. He has a collar but no tags. I was about to check to see if he’s chipped.”

“I’ll do it.”

Tamar reached for the handheld RFID reader. Although Maryland doesn’t require owners to have microchips implanted in their pets, the widespread practice makes it easier to identify and contact the owners of lost pets. As soon as she let herself into the enclosure, the dog sat upright and smiled; at least it looked like a smile to her.

She crouched down and held out her hand, waiting for the dog to come to her. He ambled over and smelled her hand before giving it a gentle nudge. She scratched him behind the ears and stroked his silky fur. He had a leather collar, his fur wasn’t matted, and he wasn’t shy.

The small brown dachshund was soon bouncing around her feet, demanding her share of attention. With the scanner tucked under her arm, Tamar tried to pet them both.

“You do realize you can’t play with them and scan the setter at the same time.” Joel chided her. “I think I’d better do it myself.”

Tamar shrugged.

Joel let himself in and took the scanner from her. Standing next to the setter, he commanded, “Sit.” And the dog sat. As he waved the scanner over the animal’s left shoulder, an indicator on the device flashed.

“Great, it looks like he has a chip.” He pressed a button on the device to save the reading and smiled. “Now, maybe we can find out who he belongs to.”

Back at the desk, Joel attempted to pull up the scanned data on his screen. “That’s odd.” A popup message indicated that no ID data had been found.

Tamar peered over his shoulder. “Must be an old or faulty chip.”

“What about the dachshund?”

“Already checked. No chip. No collar, either. Found her sitting outside when I got back from lunch. Well, since it looks like these two guys are going to be here for a while, we might as well give them names.”

Zola had walked over and heard the latter part of the conversation. “Let’s call the dachshund Ducky.”

“And the setter looks like a Rusty to me.” Tamar said.

“Sounds good to me. Let’s get their general descriptions, nicknames, and photographs into the database. I didn’t notice any immediate medical needs, still I’ll let Dr. Goodman know we have two new guests.” 

Copyright © 2017. All rights reserved.

Book Review: ACCIDENTALLY MARRIED by Victorine E. Lieske

Synopsis

Madison Nichols, aspiring actress, is floundering. Her rent is due and she needs a job. Desperately. After getting a tip about an open position, she rushes to Jameson Technologies and meets CEO Jared Jameson. Unfortunately, due to a misunderstanding, she is put in the awkward position of pretending to be his girlfriend. Not the job she was applying for. And when she finds out Jared lied to her to get what he wanted, she decides to get back at him. In front of his family.

Jared is stunned when Madison announces they are getting married. She pushed her revenge too far. How can he tell them it’s all a lie? And when his sick aunt asks them to be married before she dies, Madison comes up with a hair-brained plan to hire an actor and stage a fake wedding.

What they both don’t know is Jared’s father has found out about the fake wedding. And he’s got his own hair-brained plan.

This is a sweet romance, appropriate for any age.

Review

Madison is a bit impulsive and emotionally fragile, but she has good heart. She's out of a job and following the advice of a friend shows up to interview for a job that doesn't exist. Jared is looking for the person he has arranged to pretend to be his girlfriend and assumes that is Madison. He convinces her to go along with him to the family gathering with the possibility of a job later on. He then admits the job doesn't exist. She goes along with the charade to a point - afterall, she is an actress - and she needs to pay the rent.

Her attempts to get even with Jared backfire when she finds that she likes his family and doesn't want to deceive them. The ending is predictable, but there are humorous moments along the way and the story is well-written. Those looking for a light and fun romance that could be shared with teens or parents will enjoy this book. It was just what I needed in between reading mysteries.

AMAZON

Book Review: MENDED HEARTS (New Beginnings #2) by Mandie Tepe

Synopsis:

How do you rebuild your life when you refuse to be a victim anymore?

Gracie Laurent had gone from happy-ever-after, with her childhood sweetheart, to a nightmare. In the blink of an eye, her world had crumbled and she’d retreated to the bosom of her family. After letting them care for her, she realized she didn’t want to be the weak person she’d become any longer. Deciding to go out on her own and start a whole new life, she rediscovered the music she’d missed and found a love she never dreamed possible . . . with someone from her past she never expected to find.

A hero at a crossroads . . . looking at an uncertain future

Luca “Sonny” Ionescu loved his life as a Navy SEAL. After being injured in Afghanistan, he’d been shipped home and was facing the biggest challenge of his life. What would he do if he weren’t able to recover enough to rejoin his SEAL team? How could he rebuild his life into one as satisfying as the one he’d been living? A phone call from a childhood friend out of the blue gives him a mission and a new purpose—a reason to focus on someone other than himself. It also leads to a brand new love and a life more fulfilling than he could have ever expected.

An old threat resurfaces putting their future at risk.
Is their love a strong enough foundation to hold up the new life they’re building?

Review:

Gracie Laurent is starting her life over, confident her ex-husband is incarcerated.  She's following her dream to be a singer. Luca's fighting to keep his dream of being a SEAL after being injured on his last mission. Little did Luca know that the sister of his best friend from high school was singing in a local bar or that she was even more beautiful than he remembered. No one knew Gracie's ex would be released. 

Both Gracie and Luca are dealing with change and stress of change. They're both fighting and support each other. This is a wonderful story that captures the tensions of families of the military and their tight knit community, as well as the protective response of family members when one of them is victimized. Well written and uplifting with enough tension to keep it going. 

This is the first one in the series I've read, but I'll be adding the others in the series to my TBR list.

Direct Link to AMAZON

Book Review: SHARPE SHOOTER (Cozy Suburbs Mystery #1) by Lisa B. Thomas

Synopsis

Burned-out high school teacher Deena Sharpe is ready for a change. She has no idea a fifty-year-old murder case is about to turn her life upside down.
The Perry County Sheriff’s office has found a skeleton in the closet…literally. When they identify the man’s body fifty years after his disappearance, his family turns to Deena to uncover the truth about his murder. The clock begins ticking when she discovers a mysterious writer is about to implicate the victim in his latest conspiracy theory book. She must channel her inner super-sleuth to solve the puzzle and protect her family name. With the help of her off-beat brother and others from the cozy town of Maycroft, Texas, Deena takes on a quest that leads to more questions than answers. 

Sharpe Shooter is the first book in the Maycroft Mystery Series. With antique shopping, car chases, and ghosts in the night, the story will keep you guessing as you follow Deena on her quest for the truth. 

Review

Deena didn't plan to leave her job as a high school teacher, but begins to think about journalism as an option. Unfortunately, with no experience it's hard to get a job at the local newspaper. She has the unexpected opportunity to try to get closure for Aunt Cora and write an investigative piece when her Matthew Meade's body is identified. He was murdered 50 years ago and Deena sorts through papers and contacts people he knew back then. A man, Leon Galt, thinks he knows the answer and he doesn't want any interference...

Thomas weaves a delightful story with associated twists of family members, old friends, and letters from Matthew's military service. Add to the mix conspiracy theories and the grassy knoll along with Galt's determination that Deena not find anything that will prove his story wrong. This was an enjoyable clean read. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

Direct link to AMAZON  

Other books in the series:

SHARPE EDGE

SHARPE MIND

NEW RELEASE BLITZ! LILY OF THE VALLEY by Faith Blum

Happy Cyber Monday! In honor of the biggest internet shopping day of the year, or at least one of them, Faith Blum decided to do a blog tour release of her newest novel, Lily of the Valley. There are two giveaway opportunities and lots of fun interviews and excerpts.

About the Book

Howdy, Teacher! You don’t know me, but my kids talk bout you a lot. I been lookin fer a wife and mother fer a few years and was wonderin iffen we cood meet and get to no each other a bit. I’ll come after skool to git yer answer. Grover Miller

Unruly schoolchildren, three suitors, and too many things to do. When Ruth Brookings rejects one of the suitors, he refuses to accept no for an answer. To make matters worse, when she prays for guidance, she’s answered with a challenge instead: To encourage her friend to find a wife—whether he wants one or not. Will she lose her friend just when she needs a friend the most? Will she be able to weather the storms she’s about to face? 

Excerpt            

    After finishing the last of the essays, Ruth stood up, picked up Jeremiah’s essay, and sat in the desk next to him. “Can you explain your behavior this morning?”
    Jeremiah shrugged. “No.”
    “So you have no idea why you brought the frog inside or ruined Grace’s lunch?”
    “I wanted to.”
    “Why?”
    Jeremiah grunted and crossed his arms. “Grace is annoying. She’s always acting like she’s better’n everybody else.”
    Ruth tapped her fingers on the desk. “Who made you the judge of that?”
    Jeremiah wrinkled his nose, but didn’t answer.
    Ruth sighed. She would have to talk with his father about this and let him deal with it. “And how do you explain this?” She held the paper with his name on it.
    “It’s invisible ink.”
    “Even invisible ink leaves indentations, Jeremiah.” Ruth sighed. “You will stay here after school and sit in your desk writing your essay as well as a note to give to Grace tomorrow. The note will have an apology and also say three nice things about her. And make sure those nice things are things she would think are nice.”
    Jeremiah looked up at Ruth with wide eyes. “Miss Brookings, please…”
    Ruth held up her hand. “No, Jeremiah. You are not getting away with this. I will also have a talk with your pa this afternoon. When your essay and note are finished, we will both walk down to the sheriff’s office together.”
    “Miss Brookings…”
    “Nothing you say will deter me from this punishment.”
    “But I had plans to study with Clem and Chancy.”
    “You’ll have to do it another time,” Ruth replied as she stood up. “Go ring the bell, please.”
    Jeremiah bowed his head and obeyed in sullen rebellion.

 Purchase on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B016VAJ7EW

About the Author

Faith Blum started writing at an early age. She started even before she could read! She even thought she could write better than Dr. Seuss. (The picture doesn't show it well, but there are scribblings on the page of Green Eggs and Ham). Now that she's grown up a little more, she knows she will probably never reach the success of Dr. Seuss, but that doesn't stop her from trying. When she isn't writing, Faith enjoys doing many right-brained activities such as reading, crafting, writing, playing piano, and playing games with her family. One of her dreams is to visit Castle City, Montana someday to see the ghost town she chose for her characters to live in. She currently lives on a hobby farm with her family in Wisconsin.

Free Book

 

 Today is the last day to get Be Thou My Vision (Hymns of the West #2) free! Here is the link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NF3QV52

Giveaway

Faith has a Goodreads giveaway going on through November 30th! Be sure to check it out and enter to win one of two signed paperback copies of Lily of the Valley.  

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Lily of the Valley

by Faith Blum

Giveaway ends November 30, 2015. See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/widget/161619  

In addition to the Goodreads giveaway, Faith is also giving away all four of her paperback novels to one lucky winner!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Bloggers involved

November 29: Writings, Ramblings, and Reflections-Tour introduction Shanna Hatfield-Book Spotlight 
November 30: Musings of Inspiration-Author Interview/Book Spotlight C.K.Rich-Book Spotlight Singing Librarian Books-Book Review/Author Interview Writing Dreams-Author Interview/Character Interview/Book Spotlight Tara Ellis - Wife. Mother, Indie Author and Photographer-Book Spotlight Christa Reads & Writes-Book Spotlight Rebekah Lyn Books-Book Spotlight The Overactive Imagination-Author Interview Wildflower Acres-Book Review/Spotlight Jaye L. Knight-Book Spotlight Zerina Blossom's Books-Book Review/Spotlight God's Peculiar Treasure Rae-Book Spotlight Tamie Dearen’s Blog-Book Review/Spotlight Clean Indie Reads

Spotlight: SNOW JOB by Debbie Brown

TITLE: Snow Job

RELEASE DATE: October 15th

AUTHOR: Debbie Brown

KEYWORDS: Romance, Action, Adventure, Detective, Suspense, Thriller, Snow, Christmas

CATEGORIES: Romance, Action, Adventure 

PAGE COUNT: 260

ISBN: 978-1517489267

IMPRINT: Sly Fox

She’s just a divorce lawyer, so how’d she end up 2000 mi from home, dodging bullets and running for her life with a park ranger?

SYNOPSIS: When NY divorce lawyer, Sarah Lindquist, stepped out of her office to clear her mind before her next client showed up, the last thing she   expected was to come to in the middle of the Colorado Rockies, with two park rangers standing over her. 
The ex-military rangers are convinced someone wants her out of the way, but how do they find out who, without putting her life at risk and letting that 'someone' know they've missed the target? 

BOOK PAGE: http://ravenswoodpublishing.com/bookpages/snowjob.html

AUTHOR BIO: 

All her life, Debbie has spun stories in her mind, watching the characters come to life. After working as a nurse, teacher, martial arts instructor, artist, and CIC officer in the Canadian military, her life reads like a story itself. Since graduating from the Institute of Children’s Literature, she is finally devoting herself to writing these stories down and taking us all on a ride we won’t quickly forget.

EMAIL: amethysteyes01@yahoo.ca


AUTHOR LINKS: 

http://welcometomywritingworld.weebly.com/index.html
http://amethysteyesauthor.blogspot.ca/
https://twitter.com/amethysteyes01 
https://www.facebook.com/Amethyst-Eyes-169207996492385/timeline/
http://bit.ly/1y8n8Mm

AMAZON US: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015W01YFW
AMAZON UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B015W01YFW
BARNES & NOBLE: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/snow-job-debbie-brown/1122713113?ean=2940151185974
KOBO: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/snow-job-11
GOOGLE PLAY: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=fBKeCgAAQBAJ
SMASHWORDS: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/580806
iBOOKS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/snow-job/id1044920185?mt=11
CREATESPACE: https://www.createspace.com/5758000
PAPERBACK: http://www.amazon.com/Snow-Job-Debbie-Brown/dp/1517489261/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1443483349&sr=8-1&keywords=Snow+Job+Debbie+Brown

SPOTLIGHT: THE DUKE CONSPIRACY by Wendy May Andrews

The Duke Conspiracy is a 96,000 word Sweet Regency Romance

Tagline:

A spying debutante, a duke, and a conspiracy. Can love be found despite their feud?

Synopsis:

Miss Rosamund Smythe, the only daughter of a baron diplomat, is finding the Season to be a dead bore. After her stint at spying while in Vienna with her father, she wants a higher purpose in life than “just” being a wife.

His Grace, Alexander Milton, the Duke of Wrentham, wants a quiet life with a “proper” lady as his wife after the tumultuous childhood he had. His parents had fought viciously, lied often, and Alex secretly wonders if he was even his father’s son.

Rose and Alex grew up on neighboring estates and have been best friends since she was four years old but a family feud has torn their friendship apart.

At a Society event Rose overhears a plot to entrap Alex into a marriage of convenience. Her loyalty to their old friendship as well as her knowledge of the conspirator, Sir Jason Broderick, causes Rose to overcome her aversion to Wrentham in order to warn him of his danger. Alex’s complicated childhood has caused him to despise all forms of deception so Rose avoids telling him how she knows so much about Sir Broderick.

When Rose is abducted by Sir Broderick to prevent her interference, Alex must deal with his own conflicted feelings to help her rescue herself. Can they claim their happily ever after despite the turmoil?
Buy Links:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/18YsbHK
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1121452824?ean=2940151488785

iTunes: https://itun.es/ca/lpls6.l

Excerpt:

Alex gazed at his old friend in admiration. If anyone had ever told him he would be standing in Burlington House surrounded by Elgin’s Marbles debating with Miss Rosamund Smythe about who might be conspiring to entrap him into marriage, he would never have believed such a claim. But here they were. And she looked mighty fetching as she gazed up at him expectantly. He had to make an effort to remember what she had said. Oh yes, something about ideas to investigate. He wondered absently what she could possibly know about investigations and clues and all that. But she was right. They needed to have a direction. The only trouble was he was drawing a blank about any possible ideas.

All he could do was shrug helplessly. “I am so sorry, Rose, but I have absolutely no idea where to start. To the best of my knowledge I have never had any dealings with Broderick. I developed an instant dislike of the man upon first making his acquaintance, but I cannot even tell you why, as we have barely conversed.”

The duke was clearly flabbergasted over this development and was even slightly ashamed to not have a ready solution. Rose must have realized this. She hastened to reassure him. “Never mind about that. We both agreed earlier that the best place for us to start is with Lady Anne. That will have to be my job, as you will just be walking straight into their plot if you try to do anything about it. Now, I really must be going, so we must hurry and establish another appointment to meet up to discuss any of our findings. In the meantime, you should speak to your solicitors or man of affairs or whatever you might have along those lines and see if they are aware of any issues Broderick might have with you. Those gentlemen might know more on the subject than you.”

“How did you get so smart about such things?”

Alex was intrigued by the blush that spread over her face at this unanswerable question. The only thing she could offer was “My father is a diplomat,” with as much dignity as possible.

Alex allowed the moment to pass and was rewarded by the look of relief on her face. He hurried to make an appointment as they saw her maid approaching. “Would it be remarked upon if you come here again tomorrow or the next day?”

“Probably not,” Rose answered. “My mother never rises before noon and is really only concerned with how I spend my evenings. But you had best give me at least one day to try to make the acquaintance of Lady Anne, so let us say the day after tomorrow. That gives me a day and a half to gather as much information as possible. I shall start with my friend Lady Elizabeth. She is a font of knowledge about the ton, as well as being friendly with Lady Anne.” While she was speaking she fumbled with her drawing supplies, finally tucking them under her arm. “Wish me luck,” she concluded as she once more faced the duke.

The duke watched a myriad of emotions chase themselves across his companion’s face. He was unable to identify most of them, but he thought she looked rather wistful as she offered him a brief curtsy before she hurried away without another word.

Alex stood in the same spot for several moments, watching her retreating figure, wondering if she would look back before exiting the building. He was unprepared for the profound disappointment that swept over him as she strode away with purpose, never once glancing back in his direction. Slowly bringing his focus back to the statue she had been sketching, the duke allowed the entire interlude to play itself out in his mind. Giving his head a shake to rid himself of the melancholy that had befallen him, he followed in her footsteps and strode from the hall.

About the Author: Wendy May Andrews

Wendy May Andrews has been reading whatever she could get her hands on since the age of five. She has been writing for almost as long but hasn’t been sharing those stories with anyone but her mother until recently. Wendy lives in Toronto with her own real-life hero. When not writing or reading, they love to travel wherever the mood takes them.

Website:
http://www.wendymayandrews.com
Social Media:www.facebook.com/WendyMayAndrews
Twitter: @WendyMayAndrews

Top Ten Reasons I Love Regency Romance 

by Wendy May Andrews

10. All the Books I get to read in the name of Research – as the Regency era is my favorite period to read about, and a writer really must keep abreast of what is current on the marketplace, it could actually be considered a tax deductible expense ;-)

9. The Settings – Regency era England had spectacular decor and architecture. I find it a challenge to sufficiently describe these but they are a great pleasure and one of the reasons I love Regencies.

8. The Clothes – I am sure wearing all those layers regularly would be wearying today, but everything a Regency lady wore was so elegant. And there was a specific, appropriate gown to be worn for each occasion. A lady could change her clothes up to six times a day! Gentlemen, too, had elaborate, spectacular wardrobes. I would have loved to see that time with my own eyes. It is a pleasure to write about.

7. The Manners – the lords and ladies of Regency England had such impeccable manners. They were so proper and there were quite rigid rules involving any social interactions. But it’s so fun to read how the characters either circumvent these rules or accomplish their ends within them.

6. The Vocabulary – connected with the correct manners, Regency lords and ladies were very well read and had a much more extensive vocabulary than most people today. And they had hilarious expressions for things, like bosky, foxed, or disguised means drunk and blunt, brass, and ready refer to money.

5. The Conflicts – Since the Regency era also coincides with the Industrial Revolution there were so many changes taking place. Women were gaining rights, and many members of the ton were gaining or losing their wealth based on various inventions. It is a fascinating time period.

4. The Research – There are reams of information available about the Regency era. I spend hours researching. So many fascinating things were taking place politically with the Napoleonic wars and then all the negotiations when the war ended. Fashions were changing. Industrialization brought modern conveniences.

3. Jane Austen – really, need I say more? Who doesn’t love her? Austen’s writings were contemporary for her but they have stood the test of time.

2. The Excitement – Regency romances always hold such an edge of excitement. The lords and ladies were so sly with their speech. There are so many subtleties; most Regencies need to be read carefully to catch the nuances. The conflicts and developments of the times lead to many exciting twists and turns to the story.

1. Georgette Heyer – the number one reason why I love Regency Romances. Georgette Heyer, the godmother of the genre, was amazing. Her comedic timing and use of tension and conflict keep readers coming back for more. I love to read and reread her books over and over.

Review: THE MOONGLOW CAFE : A Paige MacKenzie Novel by Deborah Garner

Synopsis (from Amazon)

New York reporter Paige MacKenzie has a hidden motive when she heads to the small town of Timberton, Montana. Assigned to research the area's unique Yogo sapphires for the Manhattan Post, she hopes to reconnect romantically with handsome cowboy Jake Norris. The local gem gallery offers the material needed for the article, but the discovery of an old diary, hidden inside the wall of a historic hotel, soon sends her on a detour into the underworld of art and deception. 

Each of the town's residents holds a key to untangling more than one long-buried secret, from the hippie chick owner of a new age café to the mute homeless man in the town park. As the worlds of western art and sapphire mining collide, Paige finds herself juggling research, romance and danger. With stolen sapphires and shady characters thrown into the mix, will Paige escape the consequences of her own curiosity?

Review

A New York jewelry show is the impetus for Paige to travel back west to Montana to find out about Yogo sapphires. Timberton is a far cry from New York, local businesses barely making it since the close of the sapphire mines. Most of the community eats at the Moonglow Cafe, recently taken over by Mist, an artist. Paige finds a diary but a part is missing. The diary and her search for the missing part prove more challenging all around. And then there's the maybe relationship with Jake.

THE MOONGLOW CAFE has mystery, secrecy, and a touch of romance. It also has interesting characters not the least of which are Mist and the homeless man she's feeding, the gem dealer and the lonely woman trying to keep the hotel afloat. This is the second in the series, following ABOVE THE BRIDGE, but easily read as a stand-alone. Hopefully there is a third coming soon!

AMAZON

Cover Reveal: A ROSE IN BLOOM by Tamie Dearen

A Rose In Bloom, a serial romantic comedy by Tamie Dearen, is available to read at no charge on the blogsite for a limited time. The beautiful cover was designed by the multi-talented Victorine Lieske. The completed book will be available soon on Kindle, Nook, and iBooks!

Like all books written by Tamie Dearen, this is a Clean Indie Read!