August 2025 – Ruff Drafts

Guest Post and Blog Tour for Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library by Amanda Chapman

Posted on August 26, 2025 by Debbie

Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library
(Mrs. Christie Series)
by Amanda Chapman

About Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library

Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Greenwich Village in New York City (primarily near Washington Square)
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Berkley
Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 26, 2025
Print length ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0593818814
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593818817
Digital ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593818831
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DP3R1Q9G
Audiobook ASIN B0DPJK5BPS

Book conservator Tory Van Dyne and a woman claiming to be Agatha Christie on holiday from the Great Beyond join forces to catch a killer in this spirited mystery from Amanda Chapman.

Tory Van Dyne is the most down-to-earth member of a decidedly eccentric old-money New York family. For one thing, as book conservator at Manhattan’s Mystery Guild Library, she actually has a job. Plus, she’s left up-town society behind for a quiet life downtown. So she’s not thrilled when she discovers a woman in the library’s Christie Room who calmly introduces herself as Agatha Christie, politely requests a cocktail, and announces she’s there to help solve a murder— that has not yet happened.

But as soon as Tory determines that this is just a fairly nutty Christie fangirl, her socialite/actress cousin Nicola gets caught up in the suspicious death of her less-than-lovable talent agent. Nic, as always, looks to Tory for help. Tory, in turn, looks to Mrs. Christie. The woman, whoever or whatever she is, clearly knows her stuff when it comes to crime.

Aided by an unlikely band of fellow sleuths —including a snarky librarian, an eleven-year-old computer whiz, and an NYPD detective with terrible taste in suits—Tory and the woman claiming to be her very much deceased literary idol begin to unravel the twists and turns of a murderer’s devious mind. Because, in the immortal words of Miss Jane Marple, “murder is never simple.”

AUTHOR GUEST POST

What Exactly Is the Mystery Guild Library? by Amanda Chapman

I love writing mysteries. I really do. But until I started writing them, my goal was to spend every day reading them. Which I pretty much did (and still do). But sometimes I can’t get my hands on that out-of-print classic that I’ve heard about. This (as we all know) is very frustrating and explains how I came to imagine The World’s Best Library – a library where you could find not only that particular out-of-print mystery classic, but others that you’d never even heard of. A veritable Aladdin’s cave of mystery novels.

Which is why, in MRS. CHRISTIE AT THE MYSTERY GUILD LIBRARY, I allowed my fevered imagination full reign. The library would be, as you might suspect (pun fully intended), dedicated to crime fiction: from traditional Golden Age mysteries (think Dorothy L. Sayers or John Dickson Carr); to American private eye whodunnits (think Raymond Chandler or Ross McDonald); to police procedurals (think Ed McBain to Tana French); to contemporary Scandinavian noir (think Steig Larson or Maj Sowall); to everything in between (add your favorites here). It would feature sleuths of all colors, all creeds, all genders, all ages, all levels of expertise (from police veterans to new-minted amateurs) – and all asking (and eventually answering) the same critical question: “Who dunnit?”

The Mystery Guild Library, I decided, would occupy the first two floors of one of the dozen or so remaining Greek Revival townhouses in Greenwich Village known as “The Row,” a series of elegant red brick, marble-trimmed mansions overlooking Washington Square Park. And it would have specific rooms devoted to a few of the greats – prime among them, of course, the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie herself. And best of all, I would live there.

Oops. I mean, my protagonist, the Mystery Guild Library’s fairly reclusive book conservator, Tory Van Dyne, would live there. She would live there because her grandmother had willed the house to her with the proviso that the Mystery Guild Library—a wonderful resource for mystery and crime fiction fans and scholars that had until then been jammed into four cramped rooms on the Upper West Side—would be given a twenty-year lease on the first two floors of the house.This is no problem for Tory, who loves the house, loves the idea of hundreds of mysteries at her fingertips and most of all loves the Christie Room.

Here’s how Tory describes it:

“The library’s Agatha Christie Room is a very close replica of British mystery novelist Agatha Christie’s personal library in Greenway House, her holiday home in Devon, England. It had been a labor of love masterminded by my grandmother, Margaret Jane Van Dyne, in what was at the time her home on Washington Square North and which now houses the Mystery Guild Library on the first two floors and Yours Truly on the two floors above.

“There she lived quite happily with her extensive collection of Agatha Christie first editions, spending the last twenty years of her life absorbed in re‑creating as closely as possible Mrs. Christie’s library at Greenway House.

“And when I say as closely as possible, I am not kidding.

“The Christie Room had been carved out of Grandmother’s second-floor drawing room overlooking the park. It was not only an architectural replica of the Greenway library — including faithful reproductions of its wonderfully eclectic furnishings—it also housed copies—hunted down over years by my grandmother of many of the more than four thousand volumes on the Greenway library shelves. These, of course, included Dame Agatha’s own sixty-six mystery novels (every one of which I had read, and in many cases reread, much to Grandmother’s delight), nineteen plays and two memoirs.

“The room itself was a comfortable space, large but quietly informal, with cream walls and white bookshelves and a down-filled, blue damask couch facing the fireplace. That couch fairly begged you to pick up one of Mrs. Christie’s mysteries (maybe The Body in the Library) and curl up for a good read. Or you could browse the offerings in its cozy alcove, where a collection of bargeware teapots shared space with a well-stocked bar cart, an armchair upholstered in dull gold velvet with an intricate design recalling Egyptian hieroglyphics, and a navy velvet settee edged with gold-embroidered trim.”

So, yes, it all sounds pretty idyllic, right? Until that fateful night when a woman claiming to be Agatha Christie on holiday from the Great Beyond shows up in the Christie Room, politely asks for a cocktail and announces that she is there to help Tory solve a murder – that has not yet happened.

Order Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library here! https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/763557/mrs-christie-at-the-mystery-guild-library-by-amanda-chapman/

About me: I am a lifelong mystery lover and wordsmith. As a book editor, fashion reporter and, eventually, the head of employee communications at a global bank, I’ve always made a living with my pen. But when the book-writing bug hit, I cheerfully waved goodbye to all that to write mysteries full time. Under the name Amy Pershing, I first wrote the Cape Cod Foodie Mysteries. MRS. CHRISTIE AT THE MYSTERY GUILD LIBRARY is the first book in my new Agatha Inc. mystery series. You can learn more about me (and sign up for my newsletter!) on my website as well as follow me on Facebook and Instagram.

About Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library:

Book conservator Tory Van Dyne and a woman claiming to be Agatha Christie on holiday from the Great Beyond join forces to catch a killer in this spirited mystery from Amanda Chapman.

Tory Van Dyne is the most down-to-earth member of a decidedly eccentric old-money New York family. For one thing, as book conservator at Manhattan’s Mystery Guild Library, she actually has a job. Plus, she’s left up-town society behind for a quiet life downtown. So she’s not thrilled when she discovers a woman in the library’s Christie Room who calmly introduces herself as Agatha Christie, politely requests a cocktail, and announces she’s there to help solve a murder—that has not yet happened.

But as soon as Tory determines that this is just a fairly nutty Christie fangirl, her socialite/actress cousin Nicola gets caught up in the suspicious death of her less-than-lovable talent agent. Nic, as always, looks to Tory for help. Tory, in turn, looks to Mrs. Christie. The woman, whoever or whatever she is, clearly knows her stuff when it comes to crime.

Aided by an unlikely band of fellow sleuths—including a snarky librarian, an eleven-year-old computer whiz, and an NYPD detective with terrible taste in suits—Tory and the woman claiming to be her very much deceased literary idol begin to unravel the twists and turns of a murderer’s devious mind. Because, in the immortal words of Miss Jane Marple, “murder is never simple.”

About Amanda Chapman

Amanda Chapman (aka Amy Pershing) is a lifelong mystery lover and wordsmith. Under the name Amy Pershing, she is also the author of the Cape Cod Foodie mysteries. An enthusiastic fan of traditional mysteries and of New York City, she found herself wondering, “What if someone recreated Agatha Christie’s personal library -– even to the furnishings and architecture — in New York City? What would happen in that space?” And thus MRS. CHRISTIE AT THE MYSTERY GUILD LIBRARY — the first in a new series — was born.

Author Links

https://www.facebook.com/amandachapmanauthor/

https://www.instagram.com/amandachapman_author/?hl=en

Website www.amandachapmanauthor.com

Follow Amanda Chapman on Goodreads

Purchase Links
PenguinRandomHouse – Amazon – B&N – Bookshop.org – Kobo

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

August 18 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

August 18 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

August 18 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

August 19 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST

August 19 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

August 20 – Salty Inspirations – COCKTAIL RECIPE

August 21 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

August 22 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

August 22 – Hall Ways Blog – SPOTLIGHT

August 23 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

August 24 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW

August 25 – Sarandipity’s – CHARACTER GUEST POST

August 25 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

August 26 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR GUEST POST

August 27 – Storybook Lady – REVIEW

August 28 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

August 29 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER GUEST POST

August 29 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

August 30 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

August 31 – From the TBR Pile – REVIEW

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Blog Tour, Interview

Author Interview of Carmen Radtke and blog tour for Axes and Alchemy

Posted on August 19, 2025 by Debbie

It’s my pleasure to welcome author Carmen Radtke to this blog for an interview. Carmen is lives in Castiglione del Lago, Italy – a small town with a lot of history and several cat sanctuaries! Sounds like a place I’d like to visit.

How long have you been published, Carmen? What titles and/or series have you published and with which publisher? Have you self-published any titles? Please give details.

My first novel was published in 2017. It’s called The Case of the Missing Bride.

My Jack and Frances mysteries set in the early 1930s and my Genie and Adriana Darling mysteries, teaming up a modern day jewelry designer with the pet-whispering flapper ghost of her great-great aunt, are now being published by dp books. My other mysteries, including the Willowmere mysteries, are self published.

Nice. Tell us a little bit about your books — if you write a series, any upcoming releases or your current work-in-progress. If you have an upcoming release, please specify the release date.

Although I write several series, from historical cozies inspired by true events to contemporary cozies and light paranormal mysteries, they all have a few things in common. They feature smart, resourceful women, found family, and they celebrate friendship. My sleuths usually can’t go to the police – either because they wouldn’t be taken seriously, stand to lose their jobs (a real threat during the Great Depression!), or they’d have to explain their witnesses are cats and dogs or they just happen to have suddenly inherited witchy powers. All my heroines love books – strangely enough we all have the same literary taste!

Interesting. I also write a few cozy series and, although they’re each unique, like yours they also have things in common.

Describe your goals as a writer. What do you hope to achieve in the next few years? What are you planning to do to reach these goals?

I used to be a newspaper reporter, so I’ve always earned my living writing. My goal is to keep on entertaining my readers and to finally make enough money to be financially secure. I’ve recently started networking more with other writers and advertising, something I should have done years ago!

I’m currently working on my next Willowmere mystery, before I return to my older series. I’ve committed to writing a Christmas mystery for an anthology, so that is also on the list for this year.

I wrote for my college newspaper, but it was volunteer. I was paid for my work typing the editor’s stories, though. Making enough money writing to be financially secure is a great goal but one that is difficult to achieve.

What type of reader are you hoping to attract? Who do you believe would be most interested in reading your books?

I love mysteries, both golden age and contemporary, that offer escapism and relatable characters. Whatever I write, however whimsical, is always grounded in facts, even if it’s only a trip to the movie theater or a tree affected by a storm. If a movie wasn’t yet released or the tree doesn’t grow where I want them, they won’t make it into the book.

The readers I want to attract enjoy mysteries with red herrings, plausible plots (yes, even if a ghost or a novice witch investigate), and they love seeing the characters evolve. One of my early readers told me, “I wish these characters were my friends.”

As a cozy mystery author myself, I also hope to attract those type of readers.

What advice would you give other authors or those still trying to get published?

We can’t decide the outcome but we can control our input and what we do with it. Rejection will always be part of your life as a writer. Accept it. But also don’t forget to celebrate every milestone, every achievement. Found the perfect character name? Great. Solved a tricky plot issue? Excellent. Finished your first draft? Hooray! Sing, dance, treat yourself! You’re a writer. You’re creating something that wouldn’t exist without you. That in itself is a huge achievement.

Very nice advice. I totally agree. We need to reward one another for all stops on the journey.

What particular challenges and struggles did you face before first becoming published?

I was very lucky to be selected for mentoring/manuscript assessment by the New Zealand Society of Authors who loved my work. And then the rejections came. Walking in the Shadow was considered too much like The Island by Victoria Hislop, because of the subject matter.

The Case of the Missing Bride, a Malice Domestic finalist and later nominate for a CWA Historical Dagger, was set in the wrong location. Agents loved it but said they could only sell mysteries set in the US or the U.K. …

I was so disheartened I shelved submissions for a couple of years! Nowadays I wish I’d just self-published back then.

Hindsight can be cruel. It’s best to move forward, as you’re doing.

Do you belong to any writing groups? Which ones?

I used to. Nowadays, I just write and I have a trusted feedback network.

Feedback is so important.

What are your hobbies and interests besides writing?

I love animals, travel, movies, tap dance – sadly I have no tap dance group since I left the U.K.

I’m an animal lover, too. I also like to travel, but it’s not always easy leaving my cats.

What do you like most and least about being an author? What is your toughest challenge?

What I love most is the fun I have writing and creating stories that my readers love. The thing I like least or rather the most challenging is marketing myself and treating this as a business.

I believe most authors feel this way. I certainly do.

What do you like about writing cozy mysteries?

As a local reporter, I’ve dealt with all kinds of stories, some uplifting, others harrowing. The older I get, the more I crave comforting stories, where good wins, evildoers won’t escape, and nothing happens that gives me nightmares.

My characters don’t always stick to the law – Jack is a nightclub owner who ignores the 6pm liquor ban that existed in Australia for almost half a century – but they know what’s right. I sometimes have character envy because I wouldn’t mind trading places for a bit!

lol. I enjoy my characters, too, and they sometimes surprise me.

Can you share a short excerpt from your latest title or upcoming release?

“A witch and her talking cat isn’t that the cliché? What about a dog? Or a chipmunk?”
His back arched so far, I feared he’d snap in half. His fur bristled and he glowered at me. “It’s called an archetype, and you should be grateful to have me as your mentor. And talking about clichés, who among us is a perimenopausal woman dumped for a younger woman?”
I staggered back. I’d clearly hit a sore spot, but so had he. Biting my lip, I counted to ten before extending a verbal olive branch. “I stand corrected.”
His body relaxed. He graciously nodded his head.
“I’m also grateful you called me a woman, not a hag, or a crone.”
“Don’t mention it. I’m witty, not mean. Now you may offer me tuna. From your personal stash.”

Thank you for sharing that great excerpt.

Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know about you or your books?

That they’re all well worth a read? 😆 And that the spelling is dependent on the characters and the setting. Jack and Frances are Australian and the books are set in the early 1930s so they don’t sound the same as my British or American characters, even if they’re from the same period, like my lovely flapper ghost Adriana.

Thanks for the interview. I’m sharing the blog tour for your new release below.

Axes and Alchemy (A Cozy Midlife Witch Mystery)
Willowmere Mysteries
by Carmen Radtke

About Axes and Alchemy

Axes and Alchemy (A Cozy Midlife Witch Mystery) Willowmere Mysteries
Paranormal Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Oregon
Independently Published
Publication Date ‏ : ‎ August 15, 2025
Number of Pages: ~230
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0F897P74L

Pirate loot and deadly feud …

So much for a peaceful next chapter: Novice witch Bex Merriweather has her hands full running a leading library and secretly studying magic under the critical eye of her opinionated familiar and mentor, cat Cosmo.

The last thing newly divorced perimenopausal Bex needs is more tasks needing her attention. But when a podcast connects a pirate treasure and voodoo magic with tranquil Willowmere and treasure hunters as well as occultists flock to the town, feuds erupt.

When a dead body is found, Bex and Cosmo can’t discount the idea that greed and black magic had something to do with the murder. But can she protect her secret and the town without exposing the truth about her inheritance? And is somebody already on her trail – somebody wishing her ill? With only her cat and her trusted circle of friends, Bex sets out to catch a killer before the treasure of a long dead pirate claims another victim.

Axes and Alchemy is the second case in this fun-filled series. Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries, magical mayhem, and heroines who believe it’s never too late for a new chapter—or a little witchcraft!

About Carmen Radtke

Carmen has spent most of her life with ink on her fingers and a dangerously high pile of books and newspapers by her side.

She has worked as a newspaper reporter on two continents and always dreamt of becoming a novelist and screenwriter.

When she found herself crouched under her dining table, typing away on a novel between two earthquakes in Christchurch, New Zealand, she realised she was hooked for life.

The shaken but stirring novel made it to the longlist of the Mslexia competition, and her next book and first mystery, The Case Of The Missing Bride, was a finalist in the Malice Domestic competition in a year without a winner. Since then she has penned several more cozy mysteries, including the Genie and Adriana Darling ghost mysteries and the Jack and Frances series set in the 1930s.

Carmen now lives in Italy with her human and her four-legged family. Although she possesses no witchy powers, she’s known to be easily held spellbound by animals.

Author Links:

Website – https://www.carmenradtkeauthor.com

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/carmenradtkeauthor

Purchase Link – Amazon

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

August 18 – Angel’s Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT

August 18 – Sarandipity’s – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

August 19 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

August 19 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

August 20 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

August 21 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST

August 22 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW

August 22 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews

August 23 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

August 23 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

August 24 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

August 25 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

August 25 – Read Your Writes – SPOTLIGHT

August 26 – Salty Inspirations – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

August 27 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW

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Blog Tour, Guest Post

Spotlight and Guest Post for Lost Heart in King Manor

Posted on August 12, 2025 by Debbie

Lost Heart in King Manor: Mysteries of a Heart Series
by Celeste Fenton

About Lost Heart in King Manor

Lost Heart in King Manor: Mysteries of a Heart Series
Romantic Suspense/Edgy Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Dost Island (fictional) off the coast of Massachusetts
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently Published
Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 24, 2025
Hardcover
Print length ‏ : ‎ 347 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8280471207
Paperback
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8280071773
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0F2ZML3M9

LOST HEART IN KING MANOR
Book One in the Mysteries of a Heart Series

At 45, Gabby Heart isn’t looking for drama—just quiet days on Dost Island running her village gift shop, teaching art, and keeping her past tucked safely away. But when her mother suffers a sudden health crisis, Gabby is pulled into a storm of family secrets, betrayal, and a dark legacy buried within the walls of the once-grand King Manor. What was supposed to be a safe place for her mother’s recovery becomes the backdrop for a chilling mystery. Strange incidents begin to unfold, and it becomes clear: someone inside King Manor has a deadly agenda. As a hurricane traps Gabby inside the sprawling estate, she’s forced to work alongside two very different men—her maddeningly attractive officemate and a charming new neighbor, both hiding dark secrets. One man may want her heart. The other may want her dead.

But can she trust her instincts before it’s too late?

★ A slow-burn romantic suspense with an edgy cozy mystery twist peppered with humor, Lost Heart in King Manor is perfect for fans of strong women over 40, amateur sleuths, brooding men with buried secrets, and small seaside towns hiding deadly truths. ★

Because some secrets are worth killing for.
And some hearts don’t break quietly.

Companion Guide to Lost Heart in King Manor: An inside look (Mysteries of a Heart Series)

Companion Guide to Lost Heart in King Manor
Step deeper into the secrets of Dost Island with this richly illustrated companion to Lost Heart in King Manor, the first book in the Mysteries of a Heart series.

Explore the island’s storm-swept cliffs, charming village life, and shadowy past through exclusive character profiles, behind-the-scenes insights, maps, photographs, and bonus content that brings Gabby Heart’s world to life. Meet the unforgettable residents—from the sharp-witted Jay Laird and enigmatic Rick Payne, to the wise and mysterious women of the Heart family—each with their own stories, scars, and secrets.

This companion is your invitation behind the curtain.
But be warned…
On Dost Island, even the quietest corners have something to hide.

GUEST POST

From Gift Shop to Amateur Sleuth: How Gabby Heart Was BornBy Celeste Fenton

My first attempt at writing a novel was, quite frankly, a disaster. It was a chaotic purge of every wrong I’d ever committed, and every slight ever dealt to me. I read it once, winced, and promptly deleted it, hoping it wouldn’t float around cyberspace for eternity like a digital ghost. Then I hung up my writer’s dream, convinced I simply wasn’t one.
Then came a season of deep loss. My husband passed away. Other heartbreaks followed. I found myself untethered. And then, standing in a grocery store line, I overheard two women chatting about an old-shuttered hospital on the West Coast that had been turned into a senior residence. My brain, grief-heavy but still curious, perked up. I shamelessly eavesdropped and even barged into the conversation to ask questions.

Back in my car, I couldn’t stop the what ifs…?
What if the seniors were trapped there? What if there was a storm? What if the residents’ adult children met and things got… complicated?

A few weeks later, on a trip to Maine, I drafted an outline. Was it a Jessica Fletcher-style possession? A creative breakthrough? I’m not sure. But that’s when Gabby Heart walked onto the page—sassy, skeptical, sketchbook in hand, and hiding a guilty secret.

She didn’t tiptoe in politely. She showed up, fully formed and opinionated, bringing her family and friends with her. Somewhere between my own work experiences, the people I’ve known, and the bittersweet transitions of my life, Gabby arrived. And she wasn’t leaving.

Gabby is a widow. A mother. A teacher. An artist. A woman whose life, like so many of ours, veered off script. She’s smart, stubborn, sarcastic, fiercely loyal, and often completely unaware of her own emotional blind spots. She doesn’t carry a badge or a PI license, but she notices things: a strange hesitation in someone’s voice, a glance that means more than it should, something small that just doesn’t belong.

I didn’t want to write a perfect heroine. I wanted to write someone real. Someone good-hearted but complicated. A woman who made me laugh, made me cry, and made terrible decisions even when I begged her not to.

Gabby was never going to be a sweet, cupcake-sleuth. Now don’t get me wrong, I adore those stories too. I’ll take a cozy bookshop, a charming bakery, or a llama farm mystery with my cup of tea any day. But Gabby had sharper edges. She’d survived trauma. She carried invisible scars. And while she had friends (some loyal, some chaotic, all memorable), she didn’t always know how to rely on them. That emotional messiness mattered to me. Because so many of us, especially in midlife and beyond, are navigating complex, beautiful, unfinished lives. Why shouldn’t our heroines reflect that?

The Mysteries of a Heart series blends whodunits with emotional depth: romance and regret, secrets and second chances. It’s sprinkled with humor, layered with grief, and salted with zingers. Gabby isn’t magically “fixed” by solving crimes or falling in love. But each adventure challenges her to see herself more clearly. To confront the guilt she carries. To risk hope. To let herself be loved again even when it terrifies her.

People sometimes ask if Gabby is based on me. Short answer? Not really. She’s braver. I’d run from a villain, whereas she climbs through tunnels to face them. But emotionally? She holds fragments of so many of us: the part that wonders if it’s too late to start over. The part that aches for someone we lost. The part that dares to believe we’re still capable of joy, reinvention, and justice.

Gabby’s journey has taken me places I never expected: into the tunnels beneath a historic manor, across the sea to a Scottish castle, and soon, into a snowbound Canadian chalet with an old map and a new danger. If she makes it out of that, there’s an adventure waiting in Tasmania… and even survival on a deserted island. Each book uncovers new truths. Not just about the mystery at hand, but about who Gabby is becoming. And always, at the core, are the people in her orbit, her friends, family, and unexpected allies, each with their own arcs.

Gabby Heart may not have asked to become an amateur sleuth. But like so many women reinventing themselves in the second and third acts of life, she’s proof that curiosity, courage, a touch of stubbornness, and a spark of imagination can take you farther than you ever dreamed.

About the Author Celeste Fenton is the author of the Mysteries of a Heart series, a romantic suspense saga featuring mature heroines, buried secrets, and just the right amount of edge. A retired educator turned full-time writer, Celeste writes stories filled with heart, humor, and a touch of danger. When she’s not plotting her next twist, you’ll find her remodeling her home, walking her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, spending time with family, planning her next trip to a small town in America, or escaping into a cozy mystery with a hot cup of tea.

Start the series with Lost Heart in King Manor
Where some hearts don’t break quietly.
Available on Amazon Learn more at: celestefenton.com

About Celeste Fenton

I have an M.Ed. and Ph.D. in education and have worked in higher education for over thirty-years. A former educator and lifelong reader, I began writing seriously at age 60. No one is more surprised than me, that in retirement, I found reward and occupation as an author.

My writing is fueled by a lifelong love of mystery and a fascination with the complexities of the human heart. As a widow, mother of adult twin sons, proud grandmother, dog lover, and semi-retired educator, I believe I have enough real-world experience to weave imagination with insight to create stories rich with emotion and suspense. My work blends romance, mystery, and heart—with healthy doses of humor and hope. I feel passionate about helping others realize that creativity doesn’t have an expiration date.

When I’m not writing, reading, or plotting another plot twist, I like to explore small towns across America—setting out solo for month-long adventures much to the awe (and occasional alarm) of family and friends. My latest obsessions include escape rooms, mastering the perfect miter cut for a DIY bathroom remodel, training my cavalier spaniel to do a high five, and making the impossible decision of where to travel next.

• Website: https://celestefenton.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/celeste.fenton.9/

Purchase Links
• Amazon
• IngramSpark
Barnes and Noble

Companion Guide Purchase Link
Amazon

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

August 11 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

August 11 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

August 12 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR GUEST POST

August 12 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW

August 13 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT

August 14 – Salty Inspirations – CHARACTER GUEST POST

August 15 – FUONLYKNEW– SPOTLIGHT

August 16 – StoreyBook Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST

August 17 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

August 18 – Sarandipity’s – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

August 18 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

August 19 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

August 20 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

August 21 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – AUTHOR GUEST POST

August 22 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

August 23 – Deal Sharing Aunt – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

August 24 – Salty Inspirations – REVIEW

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New Releases, Reviews

Book Review of Bookology by Stephanie Sands Larkin

Posted on August 5, 2025 by Debbie

*****5 stars

Bookology contains a plethora of information for both writers and non-writers. It’s divided into two sections. The first part tells the story of Sarah, a fictional wedding planner, interested in expanding her business and specializing in royal themed weddings. After receiving advice to write a book that would help her target her audience, Sarah is unsure at first but agrees to meet with a book coach and a group of people in various occupations who also want to write books that will help them in their careers. Along with the other participants, Sarah and the reader is taken through several steps from planning to producing to promoting a book.

The second part of Bookology contains fun and interesting quizzes, resources, and suggested book ideas for many careers.

Although I write mysteries, I found this book helpful. It has even inspired me to write a non-fiction book. I highly recommend it to anyone in any field who wants to grow their business.

For the book launch today, August 5, you can read the book for only 99 cents.

Purchase Link:
https://www.amazon.com/Bookology-Stephanie-Larkin-ebook/dp/B0FBT7L2CD

Blog Tour, Spotlight

Spotlight and Blog Tour for Solid Gold Murder by Ellen Byron

Posted on August 4, 2025 by Debbie

Solid Gold Murder (Golden Motel Mysteries)
by Ellen Byron

About Solid Gold Murder

Solid Gold Murder (Golden Motel Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – California
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kensington Cozies
Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 29, 2025
Print length ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1496745388
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496745385
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DLR3TVJP

Dee Stern’s Golden Motel-of-the-Mountains promises a tranquil getaway for outdoor lovers in the scenic Californian village of Foundgold. But when Dee accidentally triggers a modern gold rush, she suddenly turns her peaceful retreat into a hotspot for mayhem and murder . . .

With the summer season looming, former Hollywood sitcom writer Dee Stern has one small goal—scrubbing her motel’s unflattering moniker as the “Murder Motel.” Dee and ex-husband-turned-business-partner Jeff Cornetta are excited to introduce a family-friendly panning activity complete with fool’s gold just in time for the peak tourist months. Except neither could have anticipated the discovery of a real gold nugget or the ensuing social media frenzy. In a flash, the viral sensation draws grizzled prospectors, wide-eyed adventurers, and trend-chasing thrill seekers to the abandoned mines scattered around the woods . . .

The instant popularity proves great for business, but it also attracts a group of out-of-touch Silicon Valley techies with dreams of striking it rich—again. Dee finds herself particularly annoyed by the insufferably smug Sylvan Burr, a retired CEO who sold his startup before age 30 and won’t let anyone forget it. But things take a sinister turn when Sylvan meets a grim fate at the bottom of a mineshaft, leaving Dee at the center of a deadly mystery that could end her days as a motelier. And while Sylvan had plenty of enemies, Dee suddenly faces adversaries rooting against her own success. Now, with her life and the future of the Golden Motel hanging by a thread, Dee must unearth a minefield of suspects and outwit a greedy killer before she finally digs herself too deep . . .

About Ellen Byron

Ellen is a bestselling author, Anthony nominee, and recipient of multiple Agatha and Lefty awards for her Cajun Country Mysteries, Vintage Cookbook Mysteries, Catering Hall Mysteries (as Maria DiRico), and Golden Motel Mysteries. She is also an award-winning playwright and non-award-winning writer of TV hits like Wings, Just Shoot Me, and Fairly OddParents, but considers her most impressive achievement working as a cater-waiter for Martha Stewart.

A native New Yorker, Ellen is a graduate of Tulane University and lives in the Los Angeles area with her husband, daughter, and a rotating crew of rescue pups. Visit her at http://www.ellenbyron.com/.

Author Links

Newsletter: https://www.ellenbyron.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ellenbyronauthor/ https://www.facebook.com/CateringHallMysteries/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellenbyronmariadirico/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/ellen-byron https://www.bookbub.com/authors/maria-dirico

Goodreads: Ellen Byron (Author of Plantation Shudders) | Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19130966.Maria_DiRico

Purchase Links – Amazon – Kensington – Bookshop.org – B&N – Hudson Books – Target – Walmart

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

July 30 – The Plain-Spoken Pen – REVIEW – RECIPE

July 31 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW

August 1 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

August 1 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

August 2 – The Mystery of Writing – CHARACTER GUEST POST

August 3 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

August 3 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

August 4 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

August 4 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW

August 5 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

August 5 – Sarandipity’s – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

August 6 – Salty Inspirations – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

August 6 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

August 7 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

August 7 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

August 8 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW

August 9 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – AUTHOR GUEST POST

August 9 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

August 10 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

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Blog Tour, Spotlight

Spotlight and Blog Tour for Death at Rock Bottom by Kris Bock

Posted on August 1, 2025August 1, 2025 by Debbie

Death at Rock Bottom: A Paranormal Mystery
(Reluctantly Psychic Murder Mystery)
by Kris Bock

About Death at Rock Bottom

Death at Rock Bottom: A Paranormal Mystery (Reluctantly Psychic Murder Mystery)
Paranormal Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – New Mexico
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Tule Publishing
Publication Date ‏ : ‎ July 30, 2025
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1966593997
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0F2KN4ZSB

She can touch an object and sense the emotions of the people who’ve held it before…

After solving the mystery of her predecessor’s death, geologist Petra Cloch wants to focus on her new job as the rocks and minerals curator at a quirky, small-town New Mexico museum. But her friend and colleague Liberty is suspicious of the “accidental” death of Frank Underwood, a retired petroleum engineer and rockhound who unexpectedly died while hiking. Frank acted odd and secretive in his last weeks—mumbling about an incredible find in the desert and aliens. Was he showing the first signs of dementia, or were more sinister forces at work?

Petra agrees to help excavate the truth, and soon, instead of meeting for book club, she and her friends become amateur investigators. Petra uses her gift and her brains to sort through the contradictory stories and confusing clues as she and her friends dig for answers.

Did Frank’s heirs decide to hasten their inheritance? Or did his rock shop business partner decide to go solo? Petra joins the local geological club to discover whether someone there acquired a taste for murder, because they’ll need rock solid evidence to catch a killer.

Perfect for fans of Paige Shelton’s Alaska Wild Mysteries and Heather Graham’s Krewe of Hunters!

If you love supernatural sleuths, small-town intrigue, and mysteries with a geological twist, Death at Rock Bottom is your next must-read! Grab your copy today!

About Kris Bock

Kris Bock writes mystery, suspense, and romance, often with Southwestern landscapes. In the Accidental Detective humorous mystery series, a witty journalist solves mysteries in Arizona and tackles the challenges of turning fifty. This humorous series starts with Something Shady at Sunshine Haven, which made Barnes & Noble’s list of “Handpicked Favorites You’ll Love!” Kris’s romantic suspense novels include stories of treasure hunting, archaeology, and intrigue. Readers have called these novels “Smart romance with an Indiana Jones feel.”

Learn more about Kris’s books or sign up for the Kris Bock newsletter and get an Accidental Detective short story and other freebies. Then every two weeks, you’ll get fun content about pets, announcements of new books, sales, and more. As for Kris’s romance stories, the Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series stars the employees and customers at a cat café. Watch as they fall in love with each other and shelter cats. In the Accidental Billionaire Cowboys series, a Texas ranching family wins a fortune in the lottery, which causes as many problems as it solves.

Author Links

Website

Author newsletter signup

GoodReads Author Page

BookBub

Amazon US page or Amazon UK page

Mastodon

BlueSky

Purchase Links
Publisher

Amazon

B&N

Apple