NEW MYSTERIES FROM KENSINGTON BOOKS

6 January 2021

A Catered Book Club Murder by Isis Crawford

Sisters Bernie and Libby Simmons run a catering business in their upstate New York town, and they’re delighted for the chance to provide tasty desserts for the local mystery lovers’ book club. But when fiction spills into a reality and the sisters find themselves investigating a suspicious death, it’s up to them to figure out whodunit…

If anything can be said about the endearingly predictable Margo Hemsley, it’s that she always serves elaborate desserts at her mystery book club meetings. That’s why everyone fears the worst after she doesn’t pick up her order from Bernie and Libby and skips out on the monthly gathering. The Simmons sisters can’t imagine their acquaintance vanishing like a character from one of her favorite novels, at least not willingly.

When the search ends with the discovery of a dead body, Bernie and Libby agree to help the nine remaining book club members prove their friend was murdered. But a speed read through Margo’s background reveals there was more to the victim than harmless hobbies and frumpy cardigans would suggest. As the sleuthing sisters unearth scandalous secrets about the book club members, they’ll have to determine who was connected to Margo’s shady dealings–and who sent her to an early grave…

You can purchase A CATERED BOOK CLUB MURDER at:
Various Retailers

Wedding Bear Blues — A Teddy Bear Mystery #4 by Meg Macy

In the fourth shamelessly adorable Teddy Bear Mystery, teddy bear shop manager and amateur sleuth Sasha Silverman vows to find out who killed the best man in a Valentine’s Day wedding when a heartless, ice-pick wielding killer ruins the big day…

Always a bridesmaid, never a killer…

At the Silver Bear Shop and Factory, Sasha will be selling plenty of bride and groom teddy bears come springtime. But this Valentine’s Day weekend, she’d take any of those silent, stuffed couples over the real thing. Sasha and her sister Maddie are bridesmaids at Cissy Davison’s upcoming wedding in Silver Hollow. Cissy is fuming over the worst choice of best man–the jerk who broke her sister Debbie’s heart–and the groom-to-be won’t budge in his decision. At the rehearsal dinner you could cut the tension with a wedding cake knife.

That is, until best man Dylan is found dead, impaled with an ice pick. Although jilted Debbie is the most likely suspect–the blood on her dress doesn’t help her case–the bride begs Sasha to prove her sister’s innocence. If anyone’s going to walk down the aisle, Sasha will first need to find the cold-hearted killer who iced Dylan…

You can purchase WEDDING BEAR BLUES at:
Various Retailers

Bait and Witch by Angela M. Sanders

Librarian Josie Way moved to small-town Oregon to lay low. Instead, thanks to newfound magic abilities—and a killer on the loose—she’s leapt out of the frying pan and into a cauldron of trouble . . .

Josie Way loved working among the Library of Congress’s leather-scented stacks—until she uncovered corruption and made herself a target. As Wilfred, Oregon’s new librarian, Josie can stay undercover until the case goes to court. But life in this little town isn’t as subdued as she expected. The library, housed in a a Victorian mansion, is slated to be bulldozed. Still digesting the news that her safe haven is about to become scrap lumber, Josie discovers a body in the woods . . .

Almost as shocking, Josie learns that she’s descended from a long line of witches—and her powers have suddenly sprung to life. With help from a spoiled alley cat who just may be her familiar, Josie’s thumbing through a catalog of suspects, hoping she can conjure a way to save her library—and her life. . .

You can purchase BAIT AND WITCH at:
Various Retailers

Top Ten Business eBooks Downloaded in 2020

Jocie McKade

6 January 2021

OverDrive, a digital service that provides eBook access to libraries, just announced their list of the most downloaded ebooks and audiobooks at public libraries with access to OverDrive in 2020.

Ebooks

Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou
The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned From 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company by Robert Iger
Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek
Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as If Your Life Depended on It by Chris Voss with Tahl Raz
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown
The Bullet Journal Method: Track the Past, Order the Present, Design the Future by Ryder Carroll
The Intelligent Investor, Revised Edition by Benjamin Graham
Principles: Life and Work by Ray Dalio
The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9–5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Timothy Ferriss

Audiobooks

Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou
The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9–5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Timothy Ferriss
Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as If Your Life Depended on It by Chris Voss with Tahl Raz
Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport
Principles: Life and Work by Ray Dalio
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown
Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell
Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek
Good to Great and the Social Sectors by Jim Collins
The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek

Intuitive Eating: a Revolutionary Program

Sheila English

Intuitive Eating: a Revolutionary Program to Stop Dieting, Binging, Emotional Eating, Overeating and Feel Finally Free to Live the Life You Want by Nathalie Seaton.

4 stars

My review:

Why do we eat what we eat? There’s a science behind that! Why do we crave things that are bad for us? Knowing what kind of eater you are and why you eat what you do is an important tool in the fight against unhealthy eating behaviors. You can quit dieting once you get a handle on why you eat like and what you do. The book tells you what things trigger you, some of these I knew, but some I had never even considered. This book suggests eating intuitively, meaning to listen to your body’s needs not wants.

About the book:

Don’t just lose weight, but keep it off once and for all! How intuitive eating is the absolute best way to lead a sustained and healthy lifestyle…

How often have you heard, “You shouldn’t eat that because of reasons x,y,z”?

Or how about this one, “Why would you ask me to eat that? You know I’m in the middle of my fasting window!” Your best friend screaming this across the table at you, obviously dealing with some low blood sugar issues.

Statements such as these are all too common nowadays, and with the food and diet industry actively doing all they can to manipulate us into buying more, finding solutions that are actually healthy can often seem quite daunting.

Aren’t you sick and tired of all of this? Have you yourself been yo-yo dieting for far too long? Maybe you’ve tried it all and nothing seems to be working? Or maybe you’ve even succeeded in the past, but the weight, the bloating and the lack of energy just keep coming back?

It doesn’t have to be this way. There are certain things we can do for ourselves, habits we can integrate, that will build us a healthy and sustainable lifestyle.

Even if none of the above is true for you, surely you would like to feel less inflamed, more energized, and completely free to eat whatever you like, whenever you like?

Such a reality is far from fantasy, we just need to properly understand our relationship with food.

That’s why Intuitive Eating starts by looking at:

An understanding around our emotionally charged responses to food
Knowing what kind of eater you are– yes, there are different types
And, how to push past our own fears when it comes to listening to our bodies

From here you’ll find yourself empowered and ready to break free from the dieting paradigm.

Whether you’re trying to lose weight (and actually keep it off), or you’re simply wanting to increase your physical and mental performance, Intuitive Eating is the Bulletproof Guide of 2019.

In Intuitive Eating you’ll discover:

Surprising facts about why we eat the way we do that will blow your mind
What scientists say about the psychologyof eating intuitively
The principles of intuitive eatingthat are guaranteed to bring you success
7 mistakes 99,7% of people make but you don’t have to make
How listening to your bodyis the #1 way to lose weight
The ultimate guideto avoiding any accompanying eating disorders

And so much more.

No more stress around what you ‘can’ or cannot’ eat. No more concerns with when it’s a good time to eat or not, and how much?

After reading Intuitive Eating you’ll know exactly how to listen to your body, and how to give it exactly what it needs precisely when it needs it.

If you want to leave behind all this dieting ‘bla-bla’ for good and instead find yourself within a reality of complete and total food freedom, then scroll up and click the “Add to Cart” button right now.

SNEAK PEEK: THE WRONG FAMILY BY TARRYN FISHER

Jocie McKade

5 January 2021

THE WRONG FAMILY BY TARRYN FISHER

From the author of the instant New York Times bestseller The Wives comes another twisted psychological thriller guaranteed to turn your world upside down.

Have you ever been wrong about someone?

Juno was wrong about Winnie Crouch.

Before moving in with the Crouch family, Juno thought Winnie and her husband, Nigel, had the perfect marriage, the perfect son—the perfect life. Only now that she’s living in their beautiful house, she sees the cracks in the crumbling facade are too deep to ignore.

Still, she isn’t one to judge. After her grim diagnosis, the retired therapist simply wants a place to live out the rest of her days in peace. But that peace is shattered the day Juno overhears a chilling conversation between Winnie and Nigel…

She shouldn’t get involved.

She really shouldn’t.

But this could be her chance to make a few things right.

Because if you thought Juno didn’t have a secret of her own, then you were wrong about her, too.

From the wickedly dark mind of bestselling author Tarryn Fisher, The Wrong Family is a taut new thriller that’s riddled with twists in all the right places.

Taking Care of Those Roots by Laura Frantz

Jocie McKade

5 January 2021

What’s New For You in 2021? A guest post by author Laura Frantz

You have rich roots!

Yes, I mean you, even if you don’t know much about your ancestry or only have a few facts passed down through your family. As a historical fiction author, I’m inspired by how Americans came to be Americans. We are a nation of immigrants gathered from all over the world. Along with Native Americans who were here first, each of us has a complex backstory with roots that reach back to colonial America.

In my twelfth novel, Tidewater Bride, releasing January 2021, I write about those first settlers in Jamestown, Virginia, or rather James Towne as it was called back then. During the writing, several readers contacted me telling me they are descendants of those early settlers who hobnobbed with Pocahontas and her people. One reader even claims a tobacco bride in her family line. Rich roots, indeed! Though I have no kinship with Virginia in the 17^th-century, I do trace my lineage to Scotland as so many readers do.

Fast forward to the present and the current novel I’m researching. Set in 18^th-century Scotland, this novel is based on my eighth great grandfather, George Hume and his seven sons – the ‘Spears of Wedderburn’ as they were called – who were warriors and lairds in the very fractious Scottish Borders. While resurrecting the extensive genealogy my family has passed down, I unearthed much of their tragic yet noble history which I’m including in my fourteenth novel.

My hope this year on my something-new-to-do-list is to return to Scotland. This time I’m going to the place where my paternal family story began – Hume Castle and also Wedderburn Castle in the infamous Scottish Borders or Lowlands. Walking where my ancestors walked and getting to know the place names and landscape form the very backbone of my writing. There’s no substitute for being there where it all began. In fact, setting becomes a character all its own in my novels.

All this ancestry brings me to an important question. What do you know of your own heritage? Even the merest scraps of family history can be passed down which helps preserve it, leaving a lasting legacy. Most of the time our forefathers were too busy trying to survive to leave much evidence other than their existence aside from birth and death records. But there’s never been a better time to blow the dust off your own family tree or begin researching your roots.

Here are some fascinating, helpful sites to start or enrich your own search:

https://www.theoccasionalgenealogist.com/

https://thefamilycurator.com/

https://familylocket.com/

https://www.theancestorhunt.com/

Happy hunting! And reading!

Here’s a look at Laura’s latest release:::::TIDEWATER BRIDE

Will a Busy Matchmaker Find Her Own Match?

Selah Hopewell seems to be the only woman in the Virginia colony who has no wish to wed. True, there are too many men and far too few women in James Towne. But Selah already has her hands full assisting her father in the family’s shop. And now she is in charge of an incoming ship of tobacco brides who must be looked after as they sort through their many suitors.

Xander Renick is perhaps the most eligible tobacco lord in the settlement. His lands are vast, his crops are prized, and his position as a mediator between the colonists and the powerful Powhatan nation surrounding them makes him indispensable. But Xander is already wedded to his business and still grieves the loss of his wife, daughter of the Powhatan chief.

Can two fiercely independent people find happiness and fulfillment on their own? Or will they discover that what they’ve been missing in life has been right in front of them all along?

Bestselling and award-winning author Laura Frantz takes you to the salty shores of seventeenth-century Virginia in this exploration of pride, honor, and the restorative power of true love.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Laura Frantz is a Christy Award winner and the ECPA bestselling author of eleven
novels, including An Uncommon Woman, The Frontiersman’s Daughter, Courting
Morrow Little, The Colonel’s Lady, The Lacemaker, and A Bound Heart. She is a proud
mom to an American soldier and a career firefighter. When not at home in Kentucky,
she and her husband live in Washington State. Learn more at www.laurafrantz.net.

Wanting a Life Do-Over? Author Lynette Eason Says Not if It’s 2020

Jocie McKade

5 January 2021

Special Feature:::: Lessons of 2020

2020 Was the Year I Learned. . . . by Lynette Eason

I actually really love this topic. It made me stop and think. A lot. Something I haven’t really taken the time to do. At least not about this. I could really focus on the negative of 2020, so having to think about what I LEARNED and looking at the positive is a fabulous challenge.

You know how sometimes you want a “do over” in life? Yeah, well, I do NOT want a do over with 2020! However, though I’m almost loathe to admit it, there were a few good things about 2020. I learned that while I’m an introvert, I still need people. I need my friends. I need to get out of my house and have fun. Always before, I never really thought about it. Pre 2020, there were some days, I thought, “I wish the world would just stop for a while. Then I’d be able to rest, catch up and catch my breath.” Well, the world did stop. And guess what? I didn’t rest, catch up OR catch my breath! It seemed that I was busier than ever, frantically trying to get to everything on my to-do list. Seriously. How is that even possible?? SO, that was one thing I learned. Even though the world stops, I will never get it all done! LOL!

Another thing I learned was that I really like my family. Sure, we can all get on each other’s nerves on occasion, but we really and truly like each other and enjoy spending time together. I kind of already knew this, but now I don’t take it for granted.

I also learned that I can’t spend sixteen hours at my laptop anymore. I used to do that without blinking. Now, after about eight, I’m done. I need to get up and move! I’ve learned I have other interests than writing. I really enjoy photography, and since everything was closed thanks to the pandemic, being outdoors was one of the ways we got to have some fun and relaxation. I took my camera and really started working on my photography skills. Especially with the hummingbirds and dragonflies. Yes, I discovered hummingbirds and dragonflies in 2020. To some that may be sad, but I’ve never been a huge nature lover (I don’t like bugs, cooking under the stars, or accommodations that are not equal to or better than, at the very least,

the Marriott), so coming to appreciate the outdoors a little more has been a wonderful eye-opener for me.

I’ve also learned that I really do like cooking. I’ve never really enjoyed it before, but when it became a necessity, I found myself experimenting with new recipes. And I liked it! Which was weird and cool all at the same time.

I also discovered that while I always thought I could write through anything, and have done so over the past 13 years,—through sickness and kids in the hospital, while sitting in the ER waiting for a heart test (that turned out fine) on holidays (when you have a book due Jan 2nd, you write on Christmas Day), through losing most of my hearing this February, to qualifying for a cochlear implant—this year has been my hardest writing year. Hands down the hardest ever. Emotionally and physically. My concentration level has been shorter, as has my patience. My creative processes sometimes seemed dried up and I’ve gained about 15 pounds since January. I could go on, but I think you get the picture.

But…I’ve learned that perseverance is key. I wrote Active Defense, the 3^rd book in the Danger Never Sleeps series, when I really wanted to crawl in the bed, eat chocolate, and binge Prime Videos all day. But I persevered because I really didn’t have a choice. And I found that was a good thing. It showed me that I was stronger than I thought I was. It showed me how to rely on my writer buddies for brainstorming and inspiration. It showed me how to trust in God and my faith in hard times. It showed me—or at least reinforced for me– that my faith isn’t just all lip service, that when it comes down to it, I really do believe that God is who he says He is, and I really do have an amazing set of friends and family.

I’ll take that for the win in 2020.

How about you? What have you learned in 2020 that you’ll never forget?

Check out Lynette’s latest release ACTIVE DEFENSE:

In January 2020, bestselling author Lynette Eason introduced readers to Collateral Damage, the first book in the Danger Never Sleeps series, which was followed by Acceptable Risk in August 2020. This series follows the lives of four friends who have left the military and are returning to a civilian life. But life does not go as planned for these friends who carry their own secrets. Now Eason offers another suspense-filled novel in this
action-packed series, Active Defense.

As a former field surgeon in Afghanistan, Heather Fontaine is used to life- or-death situations. She just didn’t expect them to follow her home. When she finds someone has broken into her house while she was gone, she decides to hide out in a small town. But trouble is not far behind.

As owner of his own security agency, Travis Walker has been secretly watching Heather for weeks and is aware of the pending danger. Travis and Heather must work together to figure out who wants her dead—and why—before it’s too late. Their only solution? Active defense.

Eason will have readers looking over their shoulder as they dive into this story about losing control and finding something even better.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Lynette Eason is the bestselling author of Collateral Damage and Acceptable Risk, as well as Protecting Tanner Hollow and the Blue Justice, Women of Justice, Deadly Reunions, Hidden Identity, and Elite Guardians series.

She is the winner of three ACFW Carol Awards, the Selah Award, and the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award, among others. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and has a master’s degree in education from Converse College. Eason lives in South Carolina with her husband and two children. Learn more at www.lynetteeason.com.

Soldiers’ Stories: A Collection of World War II Memoirs – Memoir Monday

Sheila English

4 January 2021

This is a different kind of history book, one told, not by historians, but by the families of the veterans of World War II. Here they tell the stories that have never been heard. Stories that the veterans told only to their wives and children; stories so personal, so touching, and so real that it will change the way you look at the war and change the way you see the men and women of the greatest generation.

Soldiers’ Stories: A Collection of World War II Memoirs opens our eyes to the reality of war and opens our hearts to these soldiers in a way that can only be seen through the eyes of the people who loved them.

This is a beautiful book in so many ways. You won’t be able to put it down and you will never forget it. Additional links
http://bit.ly/2h4ESsg or http://amzn.to/2gW8fJX

SNEAK PEEK: THE FORGOTTEN SISTER BY NICOLA CORNICK

Jocie McKade

4 January 2021

THE FORGOTTEN SISTER BY NICOLA CORNICK

With parallel stories set the court of Elizabeth I and present-day England, The Forgotten Sister is a lush historical Tudor mystery perfect for fans of Kate Morton, Philippa Gregory, Lucinda Riley, and Barbara Erskine.

In the tradition of the spellbinding historical novels of Philippa Gregory and Kate Morton comes a stunning story based on a real-life Tudor mystery, of a curse that echoes through the centuries and shapes two women’s destinies…

1560: Amy Robsart is trapped in a loveless marriage to Robert Dudley, a member of the court of Queen Elizabeth I. Surrounded by enemies and with nowhere left to turn, Amy hatches a desperate scheme to escape—one with devastating consequences that will echo through the centuries…

Present Day: When Lizzie Kingdom is forced to withdraw from the public eye in a blaze of scandal, it seems her life is over. But she’s about to encounter a young man, Johnny Robsart, whose fate will interlace with hers in the most unexpected of ways. For Johnny is certain that Lizzie is linked to a terrible secret dating back to Tudor times. If Lizzie is brave enough to go in search of the truth, then what she discovers will change the course of their lives forever.

New Year – New Mysteries

Jocie McKade

4 January 2021

Watch Her — A Hester Thursby Mystery #3 by Edwin Hill

In the third intelligently dark suspense novel by two-time Agatha Award-nominated author Edwin Hill, Harvard librarian Hester Thursby becomes enmeshed with a powerful Boston family desperate to keep their deepest secrets from coming to light…

“Hits that elusive sweet spot yet again with an impeccable blend of intelligent and relatable characters confronted with a dangerous and complex crime in a fascinating setting. Hill masterfully ratchets up the tension until it’s impossible to look away. Hester Thursby fans will not be disappointed!”
–Karen Dionne, award-winning bestselling author of The Wicked Sister

While attending a gala at Prescott University’s lavish new campus, Hester Thursby and fellow guest, Detective Angela White, are called to the home of the college’s owners, Tucker and Jennifer Matson. Jennifer claims that someone broke into Pinebank, their secluded mansion on the banks of Jamaica Pond. The more Hester and Angela investigate, the less they believe Jennifer’s story, leaving Hester to wonder why she would lie.

When Hester is asked by the college’s general manager to locate some missing alumni, she employs her research skills on the family and their for-profit university. Between financial transgressions, a long-ago tragedy, and rumors of infidelity, it’s clear that the Matsons aren’t immune to scandal or mishap. But when one of the missing students turns up dead, the mystery takes on new urgency.

Hester is edging closer to the truth, but as a decades-old secret collides with new lies, a killer grows more determined to keep the past buried with the dead. . . .

Purchase WATCH HER at:
These Retailers

Leave No Trace — An F.B.I. K-9 Novel #5 by Sara Driscoll

In the fifth F.B.I. K-9 novel, Sara Driscoll weaves together fast-paced suspense and the fascinating world of law enforcement canines, as Meg Jennings and her search-and-rescue dog, Hawk, are heading south, where it’s hunting season. But this time the prey is human.

One arrow through the heart could be a tragic hunting accident. A second one, within days, looks more like a crime. That’s when Meg Jennings and Brian Foster of the FBI’s Forensic Canine Unit head to Georgia to investigate. With their dogs Hawk and Lacey, Meg and Brian are enlisted to follow the scent of a killer. At first, nothing seems to connect the two victims-a county commissioner and State Patrol officer. But the blood sport around the southern town of Blue Ridge is just beginning.

As the body count rises, the compound bow killer becomes even more elusive, appearing and vanishing like a ghost. However, with each new slaying Meg is beginning to suspect the grim design that’s escalating in the shadows. At its heart, a tragic event that reaches back nearly two centuries in Georgia’s history is now turning Blue Ridge into a hunting ground. But as Meg gets closer to solving the puzzle, the closer she is to stepping into the crosshairs of an elusive murderer with deadly aim, and motives as deep and dark as the woods . . .

Purchase LEAVE NO TRACE at:
These Retailers

Olive Bright, Pigeoneer by Stephanie Graves

Set in a charming British village during World War II, Stephanie Graves’ new charming historical mystery introduces Olive Bright, a spirited young pigeon fancier who finds herself at the heart of a baffling murder…

Though war rages across mainland Europe and London is strafed by German aircraft, the little village of Pipley in Hertfordshire bustles along much as it always has. Adrift since her best friend, George, joined the Royal Air Force, twenty-two-year-old Olive Bright fills her days by helping at her father’s veterinary practice and tending to her beloved racing pigeons. Desperate to do her bit, Olive hopes that the National Pigeon Service will enlist Bright Lofts’ expertise, and use their highly trained birds to deliver critical, coded messages for His Majesty’s Forces.

The strangers who arrive in Pipley are not from the NPS. Instead, Jameson Aldridge and his associate are tied to a covert British intelligence organization known as Baker Street. If Olive wants her pigeons to help the war effort, she must do so in complete secrecy. Tired of living vicariously through the characters of her beloved Agatha Christie novels, Olive readily agrees. But in the midst of her subterfuge, the village of Pipley is dealing with another mystery. Local busybody Miss Husselbee is found dead outside Olive’s pigeon loft. Is the murder tied to Olive’s new assignment? Or did Miss Husselbee finally succeed in ferreting out a secret shameful enough to kill for? With the gruff, handsome Jameson as an unlikely ally, Olive intends to find out–but homing in on a murderer can be a deadly business…

Purchase OLIVE BRIGHT, PIGEONEER at:
Various Retailers

BEHIND THE WORDS: LYNETTE EASON

Jocie McKade

4 January 2021

BEHIND THE WORDS, welcomes Lynette Eason. Hi Lynette, we’re excited to have you on Reader’s Entertainment.

I’m glad to be here, thanks!

First, tell our readers a bit about yourself. Where you’re from, where you live?

I’m from South Carolina and I still live here. I’ve lived in a few other places like Florida and North Carolina, but I found my way back to my childhood city and am very happy to be here.

Is writing your full-time job?

I’m blessed to say that writing is my full time job.

How long have you been writing?

I’ve been writing all my life, but I was first traditionally published in 2007.

Briefly describe your writing day. Tell us about your latest release.

My writing day consists of writing from the time I get up to the time I go to bed. LOL. Not consecutive hours, but I’ve always have the laptop open. So, there’s really no rhyme or reason to it. As for the latest release, Active Defense, here’s the back cover copy:

As a former field surgeon in Afghanistan, Heather Fontaine is used to life-or-death situations. She just didn’t expect them to follow her home. When she returns from a party to find that someone has broken into her house–and threatened her friends–she assumes it is the stalker who has been following her and creeping her out. She hopes to find safety and peace of mind by leaving the city and hiding out in a small town. But trouble has followed her even there.

Luckily, a stalker isn’t the only one watching Heather. Travis Walker has been secretly watching out for her for weeks. As owner of his own security agency, it’s what he does. Together, Travis and Heather must figure out who wants her dead–and why–before it’s too late.

What inspired this book?

I can’t pinpoint any ONE thing that inspired this book. I knew I wanted to have a military feel to the story and that was about all I knew. Fortunately, I have a great imagination and wonderful brainstorming partners. Between the two, I can usually manage to craft a story.

Who has been the most difficult character for you to write? Why?

I think Emily Chastain was the most difficult to write in Code of Valor. I put a lot of myself into her character –gave her some of my own fears and insecurities (should I admit that??) and it was hard to do—even though I found it rather therapeutic as well. Ha.

If you could be one of your characters for a day which character would it be? Why?

Probably Sarah in Acceptable Risk. I just really liked her and the way she stood up for herself, refusing to be put into a box. I liked her strength and her personality.

All writers are readers. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

Dee Henderson mentored me, so huge influence there. Terri Blackstock, Lee Child, James Patterson, Brandilyn Collins, James Scott Bell, and so many more.

Do you have a secret talent readers would be surprised by?

I don’t know if this counts as a talent, but I’m fluent in ASL (American Sign Language).

Your favorite go to drink or food when the world goes crazy!

Chocolate and a coke. But I can’t do that too often. I need to lose weight not gain! LOL!

And what is your writing Kryptonite?

I can generally write through just about anything, but one thing will stall me. And that’s if I have a fight with my husband. It’s really hard to concentrate until all is well in that arena once more. Fortunately, our “fights” don’t happen very often and don’t usually last very long. We’re quick to apologize and forgive. ☺

Thank you so much for joining us today!!

Here’s a look at Lynette’s latest release::::ACTIVE DEFENSE

She’s used to life-or-death situations.
She just didn’t expect them to follow her home.

When former field surgeon Heather Fontaine returns from a party to find that someone has broken into her house–and threatened her friends–she assumes it is the stalker who has been creeping her out. She hopes to find safety and peace of mind by leaving the city and hiding out in a small town. But trouble follows her even there.

Luckily, a stalker isn’t the only one observing Heather. Travis Walker has been secretly watching out for her for weeks. As owner of his own security agency, it’s what he does. Together, Travis and Heather must figure out who wants her dead–and why–before it’s too late.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lynette Eason is the best-selling, award winning author of over fifty books including the Women of Justice series, the Deadly Reunions series, the Hidden Identity series, the Elite Guardians series and the Blue Justice series. She writes for Revell and for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line. Her books have appeared on the CBA, ECPA, and Publisher’s Weekly bestseller lists. She has won several awards including the Carol Award, the IRCC award, the Selah, and the Christian Retailing’s Best 2017 Award. She placed in the top ten in the James Patterson 2016 co-writer contest. The movie, Her Stolen Past, based on Lynette’s novel with the same title, aired February 2, 2018 on the Lifetime Movie Network.

Some of Lynette’s favorite authors include, Brandilyn Collins, Dee Henderson, Shirlee McCoy, Karen Kingsbury, Lynn H Blackburn, Terri Blackstock, Gayle Roper, Deborah Raney, Dani Pettrey, Colleen Coble, Robin Caroll, DiAnn Mills, and Carrie Stuart Parks. Just to name a few!

Lynette is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), Romance Writers of America (RWA), Mystery Writers of America (MWA), International Thriller Writers (ITW), and Faith, Hope, and Love (FHL) chapter of RWA as well as the Kiss of Death (KOD) chapter. Lynette lives in Simpsonville, South Carolina with her husband and is the mother of two grown (ack! How can that be?) children. She can be found online at www.lynetteeason.com and www.facebook.com/lynette.eason and @lynetteeason on Twitter.

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