HAPPY NEW YEAR 2017

This time of the year is for looking back and looking ahead...  and 2016 had its ups and downs for sure.  

On the upside - the writing side - the fourth in the Cold Creek Series - MURDER IN THE THEATER was finished and released!  The fifth is in process slowly but surely... planned release is late summer or early fall 2017! 

Just as exciting, i joined forces with Cassidy Salem and we launched the Hannah and Tamar Mystery Series with THE MYSTERIOUS PACKAGE. More novella length and reminiscent of early Nancy Drew and Dana Girls, these are fun to write and Cassidy's a great co-author. The plan is to get at least two more of these by late summer or early fall - works in process so far.

2016 also brought increased interaction with many virtual friends and supporters through Facebook groups, Goodreads, and twitter.  Everyone is always helpful, gives suggestions, and answers questions as the complexities of indie publishing increase. One of these days I may get the chance to meet some of these folks in person! 

I officially stopped making New Year's Resolutions many years ago, but it's hard not to think about the future.  With all the turmoil in the world, increasing numbers of people I know dealing with medical issues, for 2017, I hope I can:

• Be more positive and considerate
• Be more tolerant of those who have different ideas
• Be supportive and advocate for those in need
• Be thankful for what I have and can accomplish
• Be thoughtful and remember to engage in random acts of kindness 

And, yes, I'll throw in there the ever present eat better, exercise more and lose weight!  What about you?

Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2017!

Review: DEAD MAN CODE by R Weir

JARVIS MANN RETURNS IN ANOTHER SPINE TINGLING ADVENTURE!!

***DEAD MAN CODE SYNOPSIS***
Cases come and cases go, but private detective Jarvis Mann can't land an easy one these days.

The cops are unhappy Jarvis digs into a murder case they closed, uncovering a crooked tech company, hell-bent on stealing their customers' IDs and US government secrets. Soon Russian mobsters and Chinese government goons arrive to bribe, threaten, beat, and finally kill, in an attempt to stop him and safeguard their criminal enterprise. Can he protect the life of the widow who hired him to find her husband's killer? Will the founder's beautiful and sexy ex-wife provide the key he needs to crack the case, as Jarvis slugs and shoots his way to a pulse-pounding conclusion…

Review

Jarvis is back but not without regrets from his last case and his break up with Melissa.  He agrees to look into the possible murder of a computer nerd - the police aren't thrilled as they want to close the case as a robbery gone bad. How complicated could that be? Some how, once Jarvis finds out the hard way that some Russians don't want him investigating and then the Chinese put him on notice as well, he's inclined to believe murder over robbery. 

In the meantime Melissa can't forgive him, but works for the lawyers who show up to bail out the Chinese and the Russians. Then there's Jarvis' usual charm and escapades with the ladies - Lindi comes through with information to help and April is certainly vying for his attention. In the meantime, the real hot shot hacker comes through.  Action-paced, not an obvious resolution, and Jarvis all the way. If you've liked the others in the series, Weir doesn't disappoint. This can be read as a stand alone. 

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book but this has not affected the content of my review in any way.

AMAZON

Be sure to check out the other Jarvis Mann PI stories:

Blood Brothers
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B019S6AQXW

Twice As Fatal
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XTNTHWW

Tracking A Shadow
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MQHVKJA

The Case of the Missing Bubble Gum Card
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JGEZNSU

Happy Holidays! Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Chanukah! and Merry Christmas!

This is truly the season of holidays and it is not too often that they overlap as they do this year.  

On December 24th some will have already lit the menorah with the first candle of Chanukah as others make their way to midnight Mass and leave cookies and milk for Santa. 

Chanukah will continue through Christmas and Kwanzaa begins on December 26, also with lighting of candles.  Both Kwanzaa and Chanukah end with the start of 2017.

Different cultures, different belief systems, but all of these are rich in traditions and hope.  A time to gather with friends and family.  And, of course, gifts!

Whether you contemplate the story of Chanukah, the birth of Christ, or reflect on the principles of Kwanzaa, I hope we can all take a moment to think of others and ways to ensure:

Peace on earth, goodwill toward all!

Review: KILLER CHRISTMAS (Holiday Series Book 1) (Emma Wild Mystery with Recipes)

Another holiday cozy mystery novella for you...

Synopsis

After breaking up with hunky movie star Nick Doyle, superstar singer Emma Wild returns to her hometown for Christmas to get away from it all. In Hartfield, a small town in Ontario, Canada, she gets caught up in a murder case after a fan's drink is poisoned at the Chocoholic Cafe, owned by Emma's sister Mirabelle.
Who is the killer and was the drink originally intended for Emma? To add to the chaos, Sterling Matthews is the detective on the case. He'd shattered her heart nine years ago and inspired all her hit singles, but now they must work together to find the murderer before the murderer finds Emma.

This is the first book in the Emma Wild 4-book Holiday Series.
Book 1: Killer Christmas
Book 2: New Year's Slay
Book 3: Death of a Snowman
Book 4: Valentine's Victim

Review

It's Christmas and Emma returns to her hometown - she hasn't been back in a while but wants time away from the media frenzy as she mends her broken heart.  A fan recognizes her as they both order at the Chocoholic Cafe. Because they have the same name (Emma), their drinks are mixed up and the fan is dead. Emma has to wonder if the poison was meant for her - and who would want to kill her?  Is renewed romance in the air?

An easy, fun read, Killer Christmas is a quick read for the fireside. Plus, there are recipes! The series continues with New Years, the snowman festival, and Valentine's Day.  

AMAZON

 

Review: A DAMSEL FOR SANTA : A McKENNA MYSTERY (Trouble in Paradise #7) by Terry Ambrose

Here's a Christmas cozy novella for you:

Synopsis

Not even the freak hurricane bearing down on Honolulu can dampen Wilson McKenna's holiday spirit. His girlfriend is coming to town, and they'll be celebrating their first Christmas together. Everything changes though when Chance Logan shows up and begs McKenna to help with a big charity event.

Chance wants his best friend to take the role of Santa in the Christmas play he's directing. The previous Santa claims to have malaria, and dress rehearsal is only hours away. McKenna agrees to help, but trouble strikes during rehearsal when the storm hits town. There's a city-wide power outage, the phone lines and traffic are snarled, and when the lights come on, one of the elves is dead.

When McKenna and Chance decide to investigate, the child star insists on being Santa’s helper. Now, McKenna has questions galore and no answers. Is the killer the Shakespeare-quoting Scrooge? The secretive Jack Frost? Or the way-too-friendly elf with more personalities than he can count? Should he give Assistant Elf Investigator Holly the promotion she's demanding? And what should he do about the Santa suit? It's giving him itches in places he can't even mention in public.

This year, Hawaii's best amateur sleuth has a short Christmas wish list. He wants to find a killer before the curtain comes down on this production. And, he'd kill for a sturdy backscratcher.


Review

McKenna reluctantly gives in to playing Santa in the dress rehearsal only to have to deal with a dead elf. With no power and phone lines down, he takes on the job of sleuth with the help of the child star who plays "Holly"  (the damsel) in the play.  Aside from all the quirky characters and tensions, there's something going on with the Santa Suit and McKenna is stuck.

Lots of twists and turns, the holiday spirit, and some humor along the way.  If you're up for a holiday treat that's short and sweet, you'll enjoy this novella.  Although part of a series, this is easily read as a stand alone.

AMAZON

Blog Tour: OFFed STAGE LEFT by Joanne Sydney Lessner

Paperback: 260 pages

Publisher: Dulcet Press (October 27, 2016)

ISBN-13: 978-0998133201

E-Book ASIN: B01M3R8OD6

Synopsis:

There’s one role you don’t want a callback for: Prime Suspect. Aspiring actress Isobel Spice lands her first regional theater job, playing a supporting role and understudying the lead in Sousacal: The Life and Times of John Philip Sousa. A series of minor backstage accidents culminates in the suspicious death of the leading lady on opening night. When Isobel takes over the role, her mastery of the material makes her more suspect than savior, and she realizes the only way to clear her name is to discover the identity of the murderer—before he or she strikes again.

Review:

This was a fun, easy read.  The pace is quick and the idea of Sousacal is unique. Isobel Spice is an up and coming actress in her first regional show focuses on the experience, despite how bad the script and lyrics are for this musical about Sousa.  This is the fourth in the Isobel Spice series and Isobel's becoming quite the sleuth.  In this one, the murders are not related to a temp position, but an unexpected plot in the theater.  That said, this can be read as a stand-alone. 

Isobel is determined to do well and hopes to get noticed by producers and critics. The other characters, including her good friends Delphi, Sunil, and Hugh, each have their own voice and their own motivations. Some are likable, others not so much.  If you like cozy mysteries with enough suspects to keep you guessing, you will enjoy OFFed Stage Left.

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book. This has not affected the content of my review in any way.

About The Author:

Writer, singer, and actor Joanne Sydney Lessner draws on her own experiences pursuing a performing career in New York City for her acclaimed Isobel Spice Mysteries: THE TEMPORARY DETECTIVE, BAD PUBLICITY, AND JUSTICE FOR SOME, and OFFED STAGE LEFT. With humor and a bit of romance, Isobel juggles auditions and temp jobs, solving murders along the way, while Joanne’s inside knowledge provides a window into the realities of breaking into show business (as well as a forum to share every humiliating audition experience she and her friends ever had.) Joanne’s debut novel, PANDORA’S BOTTLE, was inspired by the true story of the world’s most expensive bottle of wine and was named one of the top five books of 2010 by Paperback Dolls. With her husband, composer/conductor Joshua Rosenblum, she has co-authored several musicals, including the cult hit FERMAT’S LAST TANGO and EINSTEIN’S DREAMS, based on the celebrated novel by Alan Lightman. Her play, CRITICAL MASS, received its Off Broadway premiere in October 2010. Joanne is also a regular contributor to OPERA NEWS and a graduate of Yale University.

Author Links:

http://joannesydneylessner.com

https://www.facebook.com/JoanneSydneyLessner

https://twitter.com/joannelessner

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4085784.Joanne_Sydney_Lessner

https://www.amazon.com/Joanne-Sydney-Lessner/e/B003UH5IBQ

Purchase Links:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M3R8OD6

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1124894677?ean=2940156816392

https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/offed-stage-left

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/673334

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