Love Finds You in Lake Geneva Wisconsin - The Cover!

I have been beside myself in waiting to be able to show the world the beautiful cover Summerside Press has designed for my April 2013 release. And the day has finally arrived!

This story is set in my hometown, and it is a huge blessing from God that I have been granted the opportunity to show the world through this story the beauty of the small Wisconsin town where I grew up.

So without further ado here is my new cover!

Dying to Read Something Good? Try Dying to Read!

I love cozy mysteries, and when I’m not writing historical romance or women’s fiction, I’m writing cozies as well as reading them.

When I received the opportunity to review Dying to Read, author Lorena McCortney’s first book in a new cozy series called The Cate Kinkaid Files, I was on board faster than I could say “yes.”

And I wasn’t disappointed.

The tagline for the story reads: 

“All she wanted was a paycheck. What she got was murder.” 

Love. It.

With her life seeming to be out of control thanks to a job history as long as her arm and a failed romance, Cate Kincaid takes up her Uncle Joe’s offer to act as his assistant PI while he undergoes some surgery. No violence, he promises. Easy peasy stuff.

Her first assignment is to locate the niece an elderly client is trying to find. But, as soon as she arrives at the dark Victorian, the person’s last known address, she runs into a group of mystery-loving ladies known as the Who-Done-It Book Club and she realizes this is not going to be an ordinary case. Suffice it to say the Who-Done-It’s are only the beginning of a mystery that requires more time to unravel than a knotted ball of old yarn. Certainly more time than simply looking up a person to deliver a message would take. I had a couple quibbles with the storyline in places, but they were only minor compared to the entertainment that Dying to Read provided. A great way to spend the last hazy, crazy days of summer.

McCortney spins a tale that keeps the reader turning pages, wondering if Cate will ever get out of her latest predicament. A lot of humor, some pathos, and even a smattering of romance makes this a delightful read. Now I can’t wait to see what Cate gets into in the next book.

You can get a copy on line or at your favorite book and mortar store. Either way, you won’t want to miss this one.

About the Author:

Lorena McCourtney is the award-winning author of dozens of novels, including Invisible (which won the Daphne du Maurier Award from Romance Writers of America), In Plain Sight, On the Run, and Stranded. She resides in Oregon. 

Note: I received a copy of Dying to Read from Revell Publishers for the purpose of review. All opinions are my own and no one else’s.

Lethal Legacy--Another Winner for Author Irene Hannon

Irene Hannon scores another hit with her newest release, Lethal Legacy, from Revell Publishing, the third in her Guardians of Justice series. I’ve read one other book in this series and really enjoyed Hannon’s ability to write edge-of-your-seat romantic suspense. 

Kelly Warren’s father’s death was ruled a suicide, and the case was considered closed by the St. Louis County Police Department’s Bureau of Crimes Against Persons. Whew, that’s a long name for a police department, but these guys aren’t short on courage, smarts, and some hunky good looks to boot.

Kelly has never been at peace with the conclusion her father killed himself, and when she receives a gift in the mail that was preordered by her dad the day before his death, she concludes her instincts are right. The detective that worked her case in on vacation and in his absence, handsome Cole Taylor steps in to help – reluctantly. But his reluctance quickly changes to enthusiasm as easy-on-the-eyes Kelly grabs a piece of his heart that has been closed for quite a while.

Romantic and crime-solving tension weave through this story, with just the right amount of levity thrown in when Cole and his brothers and sister get together for their weekly brunches. I laughed out loud at several of those scenes which also made this only child yearn for such a family.

Except for one small instance where I felt the plot point was somewhat contrived, I found this fast-paced story believable and enjoyable.

Irene Hannon has written more than 40 romance and romantic suspense novels. Her books have been honored with two RITA awards—the “Oscar” of romantic fiction—and she is a six-time finalist for that prestigious honor. Her books have also won a Daphne du Maurier award, a Carol award, a HOLT Medallion, a National Readers’ Choice Award, a Retailers Choice Award and two Reviewers’ Choice awards from RT Book Reviews magazine. One of her novels was also named by Booklist as one of the top 10 inspirational fiction books of 2011.

Irene, who holds a B.A. in psychology and an M.A. in journalism, juggled two careers for many years until she gave up her executive corporate communications position with a Fortune 500 company to write full-time.

I highly recommend this book. Available now in bookstores and on line.

NOTE: Lethal Legacy was provided to me by Revell Publishing, free of charge for purpose of review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

I Give The Glory to God and All the Blessings Fall Down on Me

It's been a long dry and hot summer in the Midwest. Between trying to keep my balcony plants well watered and wincing at the thoughts of my electric bill as the air conditioner churns away, the Olympics this week has brought a welcome respite.

It's awesome to watch the swimmers winning gold, silver and bronze, but the highlight for me so far as been women's gymnastics. I was not familiar with any of the young women on this year's team, but from the start one member stood out to me from the beginning. It could have been her smile that stretches across her face, or the sparkle in her dark eyes, not to mention her uncanny and wonderful gift to fly through the air, twisting and flipping before she nails a near perfect landing every time.

But, wasn't until Gabby Douglas won the gold the other night and she said this in a one-on-one interview right after the medals ceremony, that I knew what attracted me the most to her.

As a recently published author after years of hard work I've been so aware of how much God has been involved in my desire to write, as well as my growth as a writer. It's only been since I totally surrendered the process and my writing career to Him for His glory that things began to happen last year. I've tried various ways of saying this, but a sixteen-year-old girl said better than I ever have.

Congratulations to Gabby Douglas. May you have many years of golden blessings falling down on you!