Tag Archive for: Happy Holidays

Welcome to the Holidays!

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We here at the Stiletto Gang love our readers and hope that you’re all healthy and happy this holiday season. We’ve put together a list of our recent works to inspire you during the gift shopping free-for-all of Black Friday. Aside from some fantastic sales many of the gang are offering giveaways and free books. So do a little shopping, but don’t feel guilty if you snag a few presents for yourself as well!

Many thanks from all your friends at The Stiletto Gang!

 

 

Mary Lee Ashford

  

CONNECT AT: www.maryleeashford.com
 

GAME OF SCONES

After losing her job as food editor at a glossy magazine, Rosetta Sugarbaker Calloway—aka “Sugar” to friends—isn’t sweet on accepting defeat and crawling back to her gossipy southern hometown. So when she has an opportunity to launch a community cookbook business with blue-ribbon baker Dixie Spicer in peaceful St. Ignatius, Iowa, she jumps at the chance to start over from scratch. But as Sugar assembles recipes for the local centennial celebration, it’s not long before she’s up to her oven mitts in explosive threats, too-hot-to-handle scandals, and a dead body belonging to the moody matriarch of the town’s first family. With suspicions running wild, Sugar and Spice must solve the murder before someone innocent takes the heat—and the real culprit gathers enough ingredients to strike again.

BUY NOW: https://books2read.com/u/ml2rkY

GIVEAWAY:

Win a signed copy of Game of Scones! To enter simply comment on The Stiletto Gang post on my Facebook Author Page at: https://www.facebook.com/maryleeashfordbooks

Debra Goldstein

CONNECT AT: https://www.DebraHGoldstein.com
 

THREE TREATS TOO MANY

When a romantic rival opens a competing restaurant in small-town Wheaton, Alabama, Sarah Blair discovers murder is the specialty of the house . . . 
For someone whose greatest culinary skill is ordering takeout, Sarah never expected to be co-owner of a restaurant. Even her Siamese cat, RahRah, seems to be looking at her differently. But while Sarah and her twin sister, Chef Emily, are tangled up in red tape waiting for the building inspector to get around to them, an attention-stealing new establishment—run by none other than Sarah’s late ex-husband’s mistress, Jane—is having its grand opening across the street.  When Jane’s new sous chef, the talk of Wheaton with her delicious vegan specialties, is found dead outside the restaurant with Sarah’s friend, Jacob, kneeling over her, Sarah must turn up the heat on the real culprit, who has no reservations about committing cold-blooded murder . . .
Includes quick and easy recipes!

BUY NOW: https://books2read.com/u/boD76L

GIVEAWAY:

Sign up for my newsletter for a chance to win a free print copy of Three Treats Too Many (U.S. only) https://www.DebraHGoldstein.com 

Kathryn Lane

CONNECT AT: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15096935.Kathryn_Lane
 

WAKING UP IN MEDELLIN

Nikki Garcia, the sexy protagonist in this woman sleuth series, is an unlikely Sam Spade. Nikki’s multinational corporation sends her to Medellin on assignment. Grappling with her own ghosts, she embarks upon an unexpected adventure investigating a high stakes, mega-money corruption scheme at the local affiliate. She also meets a seductive and charming doctor in this foreign country. As her relationship with him deepens, so does the danger she finds herself in. Nikki realizes she’ll have one shot at surviving. 

BUY NOW: https://www.amazon.com/dp/173328270X/

Bethany Maines

CONNECT AT: https://bethanymaines.com/
 

AN UNSEEN CURRENT

You never know what’s beneath the surface.

When Seattle native Tish Yearly finds herself fired and evicted all in one afternoon, she knows she’s in deep water. Unemployed and desperate, the 26 year old ex-actress heads for the one place she knows she’ll be welcome – the house of her cantankerous ex-CIA agent grandfather, Tobias Yearly, in the San Juan Islands. And when she discovers the strangled corpse of Tobias’s best friend, she knows she’s in over her head. Tish is thrown head-long into a mystery that pits her against a handsome but straight-laced Sheriff’s Deputy, a group of eccentric and clannish local residents, and a killer who knows the island far better than she does. Now Tish must swim against the current, depending on her nearly forgotten acting skills and her grandfather’s spy craft, to con a killer and keep them alive.

BUY NOW – ¢.99: https://books2read.com/AnUnseenCurrent 

Lynn McPherson

CONNECT AT: https://lynnmcpherson.net/
 

THE GIRLS DRESSED FOR MURDER

It’s 1958 in the cozy coastal town of Twin Oaks and amateur sleuth Isabelle Walsh is armed with a fresh perspective, two years after tragedy strikes. The first stop on her journey back to joy is the best little dress shop in town—introduced to her by best friend and fashion fiend, Ava Russell. Izzy falls in love with the store and its style. So, when the boutique is marred by murder, Izzy wants to help. But with more suspects to choose from than a spring collection, she isn’t sure where to start. Can Izzy unravel the twisted truth or will she become the victim of a deadly trend? Find out in the third book in the Izzy Walsh Mystery Series…  

BUY NOW: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1626949875 

Julie Mulhern

CONNECT AT: https://www.juliemulhernauthor.com/
 

THE DEEP END

Swimming into the lifeless body of her husband’s mistress tends to ruin a woman’s day, but becoming a murder suspect can ruin her whole life.

It’s 1974 and Ellison Russell’s life revolves around her daughter and her art. She’s long since stopped caring about her cheating husband, Henry, and the women with whom he entertains himself. That is, until she becomes a suspect in Madeline Harper’s death. The murder forces Ellison to confront her husband’s proclivities and his crimes—kinky sex, petty cruelties and blackmail.

As the body count approaches par on the seventh hole, Ellison knows she has to catch a killer. But with an interfering mother, an adoring father, a teenage daughter, and a cadre of well-meaning friends demanding her attention, can Ellison find the killer before he finds her?

BUY NOW: https://books2read.com/u/m2Zpak

Cathy Perkins

CONNECT AT: https://cperkinswrites.com/
 

DOUBLE DOWN

Busted takes on a new meaning for blackjack dealer Maddie Larsson when her favorite customer, a Poker World Tour champion, is murdered. His family claims—loudly
and often—she’s the gold-digging murderer. She better prove she’s on the level before the real killer cashes in her chips.

BUY NOW: ebook – http://bit.ly/DoubleDown_Amazon

                      paperback – https://bit.ly/DoubleDownPaper

Double Down will be free on Nov 27 & 28!

Shari Randall

Connect for fun and upcoming giveaways: https://www.facebook.com/sharirandallauthor
 

THE QUEEN OF CHRISTMAS

Dagmar Smith’s Festival of Trees is the highlight of Mystic Bay’s holiday season. This year Dagmar has added a spectacularly decorated Nutcracker tree to her display and she’s asked dancer Allie Larkin to help unveil it. But when Dagmar’s priceless diamond necklace is stolen in the middle of the festivities, Allie turns detective to unmask the thief. 

Grab a warm drink and curl up with this festive short story starring the characters from the beloved Lazy Mermaid Lobster Shack mystery series. Recipe for hot toddy included!

BUY NOW:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081J7WDT8/ 

Saralyn Richard

CONNECT AT: http://saralynrichard.com
 

PALETTE FOR LOVE AND MURDER

Back from his honeymoon, Detective Parrott investigates the theft of two valuable paintings from the artist’s studio in Brandywine Valley. Through a series of twists that become more and more personal, theft turns into murder, and murder leads to a treasure hunt for a lost masterpiece. Everyone, it seems, is hiding dark secrets, and Parrott learns there is more on an artist’s palette than globs of paint.

BUY NOW: https://books2read.com/u/4XnzxL

GIVEAWAY:

Sign up for Saralyn Richard newsletter and receive a free pdf of Epicurean Feasts, including the menu and recipes from the elegant nine-course meal in MURDER IN THE ONE PERCENT. Subscribe at: http://saralynrichard.com 

Linda Rodriguez

CONNECT AT: http://lindarodriguezwrites.blogspot.com
 

PLOTTING THE CHARACTER-DRIVEN NOVEL

Great plot springs from character and the motivations each character has for taking or not taking action. In Plotting the Character-Driven Novel, Linda Rodriguez turns her sought-after writing course on using depth of character as a springboard to a strong plot into a book designed to help the aspiring writer who wants to tell a story made compelling by the truth and complexity of its characters. She provides examples of actual documents she has used in creating her own award- winning books to demonstrate the methods she teaches.

BUY NOW: https://books2read.com/u/bprKal

Debra Sennefelder

CONNECT AT: http://debrasennefelder.com/
 

THE CORPSE WHO KNEW TOO MUCH

Food blogger Hope Early takes on a cold case that’s heating up fast . . .

Building on her recipe for success with her food blog, Hope at Home, Hope is teaching her first blogging class at the local library in Jefferson, Connecticut. She’s also learning about podcasts, including a true-crime one called Search for the Missing, hosted by Hope’s childhood friend, Devon Markham. Twenty years ago on Valentine’s Day, right here in Jefferson, Devon’s mom disappeared and was never found. Finally Devon has returned to solve the mystery of what happened to her mother—and she asks Hope to help.

The next day Hope discovers Devon’s apartment has been ransacked. Her laptop with the research on her mother’s cold case is missing, and Devon is nowhere to be found. When her friend’s body is later discovered in a car wreck, Hope is convinced it’s no accident. Clearly, Devon was too close to the truth, and the cold-blooded killer is still at large in Jefferson. Now it’s up to Hope to find the guilty party—before the food blogger herself becomes the next subject of another true-crime podcast . . .

Includes Recipes from Hope’s Kitchen!

BUY NOW: http://debrasennefelder.com/work

T.K. Thorne

CONNECT AT: TKThorne.com
 

HOUSE OF ROSE

When rookie patrol officer Rose Brighton chases a suspect down an alley, she finds herself in the middle of every cop’s nightmare—staring down at a dead body with two bullet holes from her gun . . . in his back.

He’s dead and now she has to explain it, which is going to be a problem because what happened was so strange, she doesn’t understand it herself. Rose must unravel the mystery of what happened and who she really is—a witch of the House of Rose. If she doesn’t figure it out fast, there will be more bodies, including her own.

“Thorne delivers a spellbinding thriller, an enthralling blend of real-world policing and other-world magic. It’s a wild ride of high stakes that pits the warm humanity of Rose and her friends against chilling powers of darkness in a battle that is both ages old and totally of today.”

BUY NOW:

All ebook locations –  https://books2read.com/HouseofRose

Print – Amazon

Lois Winston

CONNECT AT: http://www.loiswinston.com
 

A SEW DEADLY CRUISE
An Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery, Book 9

Life is looking up for magazine crafts editor Anastasia Pollack. Newly engaged, she and photojournalist fiancé Zack Barnes are on a winter cruise with her family, compliments of a Christmas gift from her half-brother-in-law. Son Alex’s girlfriend and her father have also joined them. Shortly after boarding the ship, Anastasia is approached by a man with an unusual interest in her engagement ring. When she tells Zack of her encounter, he suggests the man might be a jewel thief scouting for his next mark. But before Anastasia can point the man out to Zack, the would-be thief approaches him, revealing his true motivation. Long-buried secrets now threaten the well-being of everyone Anastasia holds dear. And that’s before the first dead body turns up.

Craft projects included.

BUY NOW: https://books2read.com/u/4DWLkd 

Gay Yellen

CONNECT AT:  https://GayYellen.com/
 

THE BODY BUSINESS

A missing friend. . . A jealous rival. . . An investigator with motives of his own.
Samantha Newman has a great job. But when her best friend at work vanishes, doubt creeps in. When she turns to the FBI for help, they send Carter Chapman, a man with secrets of his own. His mission wasn’t supposed to include the problems of a beautiful corporate executive. When the two of them wrangle over how to proceed, Samantha risks everything to solve the case alone. Fast-paced and full of surprises, the story bounces from big-city bustle to the serene rolling hills of a Texas ranch and back again. Book 1 in the Samantha Newman Mystery Series.

FREE GIVEAWAY:

Free with Kindle Unlimited  https://www.amazon.com/Body-Business-Samantha-Newman-Mystery-ebook/dp/B08C8WDYRW

Or download with BookFunnel – Get your free copy of The Body Business, Book1 of The Samantha Newman Mysteries. Subscribe today! https://bookhip.com/QFFXTT

December 24, 2018

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Can you believe the year is almost coming to an end. Where did 2018 go?

For an introvert and someone with slight mobility issues, I’ve done a lot of traveling this year. I’ve been to Virginia, Maryland, Denver, South Carolina, Bahamas, Florida, Boston, and North Carolina. Looking forward to more adventures next year. It was my first time to visit Denver and Charleston.

My blog is coming along nicely. I love introducing readers of my blog to authors who they may have not known via various other sources. The notes I receive from both authors and readers lets me know that I’m doing the right thing . . . making that reader-author connection.

Other than that, I look forward to what 2019 has to bring. I’m going to these new locations I’ve never been before: Vancouver and Savannah.

What are you looking forward to in 2019?

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

Dru

Nostalgic

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In this week’s hustle and flurry of last minute gifts, mailing
and cooking, I find that I’m as nostalgic as I am busy. Since I suspect you’re
putting the final touches on your holidays—winding up Hanukkah, prepping for
Christmas, or simply happy the Solstice is tomorrow—I’ll keep this post short. 😉

I don’t miss the “good
ol’ days” as much as I do making new nightgowns for the girls (and for their American
Girl dolls 😊 ).
Nights of “some assembly required” and staging Santa’s
cookies.  
Full body hugs.
So where are you? 
Minimizing the trappings? Frantically
finishing? Happy with the whole process?





An award-winning author of financial mysteries, Cathy Perkins
writes twisting dark suspense and light amateur sleuth stories.  When not
writing, she battles with the beavers over the pond height or heads out on
another travel adventure. She lives in Washington with her husband, children,
several dogs and the resident deer herd.  Visit her at http://cperkinswrites.com or on Facebook 

Sign up for her new release announcement newsletter in either place.

She’s hard at work on sequel to The Body in the Beaver Pond,
which was recently presented with the Claymore Award. 

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Happy Holidays
from the Stiletto Gang

Happy Holidays from the Stiletto Gang

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We Wish You Good Times, Good Friends, & Good Books!

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Happy Holidays
from
the Stiletto Gang!

Peace, Love, and Chocolate

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by Susan McBride

In my last post I bemoaned Scrooges so my intention today was to write something filled with sugarplum fairies and sparkly snowflakes and “it’s the most wonderful time of the year” sort of things. Only it didn’t quite pan out. I blame it on The Fray. You see, I had my iPod on shuffle while I treadmilled, and The Fray’s “Over My Head” began to play, and I started thinking of how much there always is to do and how I so often feel like I’ll never keep on top of things. I don’t even have a January deadline this year (merely a proposal to write and my debut in women’s fiction coming out on January 26!). Still, all the things I’m working on behind the scenes–plus getting ready for the holidays–are enough to make me hyperventilate.

In fact, on Sunday while personalizing mailings to some of my favorite library peeps around Missouri, I had a near melt-down. It had just been one of those days…make that one of those weeks low-lighted by a very strange and surreal situation (let’s just say, some people don’t see the line between reality and fiction as clearly as others). Anyway, as I worked on the mailings, the cats kept racing across my desk, scattering paper and scaring me to death; and I kept messing up the letters, wasting toner and holiday stationery. Nothing life or death, but it was enough stress on top of stress that I popped. Luckily, Ed managed to talk me down quickly enough. Having dinner at my Mom and Dad’s also helped, as did trimming their tree and watching my three-year-old niece puke up blue frosting from a kiddie birthday party earlier in the day.

But it got me remembering how I’d promised myself I wouldn’t do this frantic routine anymore or worry about what I couldn’t control. During my breast cancer ordeal, I kept saying, “I will never let stupid s**t drag me down again. I will learn to take things slowly. I will accept that I can’t handle everything alone. I will let myself breathe.” Whoops. Somewhere along the road, when I got to feeling awfully close to back-to-normal, my attempt to be Zen fell by the wayside and my impatient must-do-a-million-things-every-minute side took over again.

The lovely Maggie mentioned in her post on Wednesday how she felt anxious after sending off her latest manuscript, only to remind herself that the most important things in life have nothing to do with reviews or online numbers. Having your health (especially after losing it for even an instant!), having a family who loves you, living your passion: these are what matter. How right she is (honestly, this Stiletto Gang is full of wise women–I have a long way to go in that department!).

So I’ve been reminding myself of the great philosophy that “whatever happens, happens.” Once I began to let go, the bad started fading away and the good took its place. On Monday, I heard from my agents and editor about a good review for The Cougar Club in Publishers Weekly (and the fab Misa has a nice review for Hasta La Vista, Lola in the same issue!). On Tuesday, I received even more amazing news (I’ll share it as soon as I’m able!). It was more proof to me that positive energy flows when I stop worrying and trying to control everything. You would’ve thought I’d learned by now that stressing myself out only harms me (and makes my family concerned). Nothing good comes of negativity. Period.

I do get it. I really get it. And since I’d like to keep it, I’m going to practice my mantra of “peace, love, and chocolate” during the Christmas holiday. I’m not even turning on my computer unless it’s absolutely urgent. I always feel so much calmer and more grounded when I’m fully in my “real-life” as opposed to when I’m doing my “crazed-author-trying-not-to-miss-a-beat” routine.
So in case I’m not around much in the coming week, I want to wish everyone a very happy holidays, whatever you celebrate. May you get off the Internet long enough to really enjoy your friends and family, read a good book or two, listen to music, or find a quiet space to think. And here’s hoping we all learn new ways to free stress from our lives in the year ahead. That’s one New Year’s resolution worth repeating!

P.S. On a very positive note, my kick-off event for THE COUGAR CLUB on January 26 will be a fundraiser for Komen St. Louis! I’d like to put some baskets together to raffle with signed copies of books by cool authors. If you’re an author and are willing to donate a book or two, please email me. And thanks in advance!

No Sanctuary

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Last night we attended our church’s Christmas party. What a great time. It was held at a gal’s house who lives farther up in the mountains, off the main road, over the river and round several curving roads. Nearly every adult who attends our church was there. As all good Baptists do, everyone brought tons of good food.

After eating we played a crazy game that we play every Christmas. Everyone brings a wrapped tree ornament. Numbers are handed out. The first person picks a package to open and displays the ornament. The next person can steal that ornament or open another, and so it goes. Where the actions comes in is the stealing of the ornaments because there are always some that people like better than others.

We had a guest last night who doesn’t attend our church. Unfortunately for her, she kept unwrapping the most prized ornaments which were then promptly stolen. Her gem of a remark was, “Lutherans don’t act like this.” (She was kidding, of course.)

What does this have to do with the title of this blog? My next book coming out is from my other series, and it’s called No Sanctuary. It’s about two churches, two ministers and their wives and of course, murder. I thought having the book launch at my church would be perfect but wasn’t sure how the church council would feel about that because of the subject matter. My son-in-law, the pastor, had no problem, but I knew I needed to run it by those who decide such matters. Since I knew they’d all be at the party, this is where I approached them.

They all said it would be fine. Of course the event will be in the fellowship hall, not the sanctuary, and it won’t be on Sunday. I’ll serve food–anything Baptist needs to have food attached–and it certainly will be a pleasant affair.

Now, going back to holiday celebrations, the next celebrating my husband and I will be doing is dinner out with my critique group and whoever they want to bring, husbands or significant others. We also do this every year and I’m looking forward to merely socializing with my writer friends–who by the way are of several faiths.

Again, I wish all of you a wonderful holiday season, no matter how or what you are celebrating, just remember to connect with your friends and enjoy your family.

Marilyn
http://fictionforyou.com