Cheers to Cozy Mysteries

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31 December 2023

The Kensington Sommeliers have partnered with author Maddie Day to put together the ultimate wine and chee—err, READ—pairings for cozy mystery fans!

Murder Uncorked by Maddie Day

A bold wine like Cabernet Sauvignon pairs perfectly with a meaty mystery. In Murder Uncorked, tannins rise as Cece Barton finds herself at the center of a murder investigation.

Murder at the Lobstah Shack by Maddie Day

Mac and her fellow book club sleuths must net a killer when murder turns out to be the special of the day… Enjoy sips of buttery Chardonnay in between cracking open the pages of Murder at the Lobstah Shack.

Murder in a Cape Cottage by Maddie Day

It’s beginning to look a lot like murder in Murder in a Cape Cottage. Layers of intrigue, star-crossed lovers, and generations-old mysteries make this cozy a rich and flavorful complement to Zinfandel.

Murder at a Cape Bookstore by Maddie Day

Riesling’s floral aroma sets the stage for the spring equinox celebration in Cape Cod. In Murder at a Cape Bookstore, Mac and her Cozy Capers Book Group must bring the killer’s story to an end, before it’s too late.

Four Leaf Cleaver by Maddie Day

Instead of a pint of Guinness, have a pour of Pinot Noir! Cherry and raisin notes make Pinot Noir a delightful match for a St. Patrick’s Day mystery like Four Leaf Cleaver.

Batter Off Dead by Maddie Day

Like Sauvignon Blanc’s citrusy profile, summertime in South Lick, Indiana is bright and cheerful until a bitter crime unravels a close-knit community in Batter Off Dead.

No Grater Crime by Maddie Day

Smooth and versatile, try a glass of Merlot to complement the variety of fine foods found in Robbie Jordan’s Pans ’N Pancakes featured in No Grater Crime.

Reprinted with permission from Kensington Books.

Sneak Peek: Three Eight One by Aliya Whiteley

By

Jocie McKade

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30 December 2023

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Three Eight One by Aliya Whiteley

An astonishing literary crossover novel about the pressures of growing up and the nature of authorship.

In January 2314, Rowena Savalas – a curator of the vast archive of the twenty-first century’s primitive internet – stumbles upon a story posted in the summer of 2024. She’s quickly drawn into the mystery of the text: Is it autobiography, fantasy or fraud? What’s the significance of the recurring number 381?

In the story, the protagonist Fairly walks the Horned Road – a quest undertaken by youngsters in her village when they come of age. She is followed by the “breathing man,” a looming presence, dogging her heels every step of the way. Everything she was taught about her world is overturned.

Following Fairly’s quest, Rowena comes to question her own choices, and a predictable life of curation becomes one of exploration, adventure and love. As both women’s stories draw to a close, she realises it doesn’t matter whether the story is true or not: as with the quest itself, it’s the journey that matters.

ETERNITY’S EDGE By Zachary Hagen

By

Jocie McKade

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30 December 2023

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ETERNITY’S EDGE By Zachary Hagen

Book 4 of the Eternal Chronicles Series
The journey continues that takes you to the very edge of the world in this Christian saga by critically acclaimed author, Zachary Hagen.

Civil war is the beginning of the end, but who will survive?

After Taking over the leadership of the Refuge, Elior and His friends have a time of peace, but when Taariq makes good on his promise to marry Viola and make her his empress, no one could withhold the wrath of the people when they rebel against djinn rule.

The Refuge must become a beacon of light in a world darkened by rebellion, but when a self-proclaimed “Holy Army” rises up, will Elior and his friends be able to keep that light shining bright? Will Aelon’s call prove too much to handle? Will the past keep them from moving forward?

Eternity’s Edge is the penultimate book in the Eternal Chronicles series. Its pages will take you on an epic journey to the absolute Edge of the world where the end of this spellbinding tale will begin.

Eternity’s Edge (Eternal Chronicles Book 4) – Kindle edition by Hagen, Zachary. Children Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Eternity’s Edge (Eternal Chronicles Book 4) eBook : Hagen, Zachary: Amazon.ca: Kindle Store

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Zachary Hagen is a Christian fantasy author and editor. He lives with his wife, Claudia, and their dog, Flynn. When he isn’t busy writing his next book or working with an editing client, you can often find him walking around his neighborhood or hiking.

From a young age he was enthralled with the world of story. From the stories his parents read to him from his blue bedtime story books (if you know, you know) to the first two series that he read, The Chronicles of Narnia and A Series of Unfortunate Events, Zachary’s tastes continued to develop throughout his years of reading.

The influences for his first series, The Eternal Chronicles, include Christopher Paolini, J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, and others.

More information can be found about him at: Zachary Hagen Writes

Book Review: “Foreign Agent” by Brad Thor

By

Jocie McKade

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30 December 2023

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Book Review: “Foreign Agent” by Brad Thor

An unprecedented number of deadly attacks on the U.S.A. by ISIS has everyone on edge.

A highly trained paramilitary CIA squad from the super secret Special Activities Division in Iraq is attacked by ISIS and totally wiped out.

The U.S. Secretary of Defense, Richard Devon, is in the Turkey for high level talks with the Turkish administration. As he was leaving, his motorcade was attacked by ISIS and totally wiped out.

A lone ISIS suicide bomber scaled the outer perimeter of the White House making it to the driveway before detonating herself into oblivion…along with three Secret Service personnel.

The President was safe but, Scot Harvath was called to find out what the heck ISIS was up to.

What Harvath finds out is…..

Oh, to find out what what happens, you can read the book. 🙂

“Foreign Agent” is a fast, action-packed Scot Harvath thriller with cool technology (mostly operated by the Troll), violence, death, and intrigue.

Part of the intrigue is wondering if Scot will be a total ass to Lara like he was to Tracy…..and the need to wait until the end to find out.

Arrrghhh…… 😉

New Release: THE FOXGLOVE KING by Hannah Whitten

By

Jocie McKade

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29 December 2023

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THE FOXGLOVE KING by Hannah Whitten

In this lush, romantic epic fantasy series from a New York Times bestselling author, a young woman’s secret power to raise the dead plunges her into the dangerous and glamorous world of the Sainted King’s royal court.

When Lore was thirteen, she escaped a cult in the catacombs beneath the city of Dellaire. And in the ten years since, she’s lived by one rule: don’t let them find you. Easier said than done, when her death magic ties her to the city.

Mortem, the magic born from death, is a high-priced and illicit commodity in Dellaire, and Lore’s job running poisons keeps her in food, shelter, and relative security. But when a run goes wrong and Lore’s power is revealed, she’s taken by the Presque Mort, a group of warrior-monks sanctioned to use Mortem working for the Sainted King. Lore fully expects a pyre, but King August has a different plan. Entire villages on the outskirts of the country have been dying overnight, seemingly at random. Lore can either use her magic to find out what’s happening and who in the King’s court is responsible, or die.

Lore is thrust into the Sainted King’s glittering court, where no one can be believed and even fewer can be trusted. Guarded by Gabriel, a duke-turned-monk, and continually running up against Bastian, August’s ne’er-do-well heir, Lore tangles in politics, religion, and forbidden romance as she attempts to navigate a debauched and opulent society.

But the life she left behind in the catacombs is catching up with her. And even as Lore makes her way through the Sainted court above, they might be drawing closer than she thinks.

A Tree’s Journey Through Life Has Lasting Outcomes on Three Generations of Men and an Everlasting Friendship

By

Jocie McKade

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29 December 2023

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When a young samara seed named Ash is brought by the winds to Boston he begins a voyage from a hearty park tree to a seafaring adventurer to an old wood craftsman’s legacy. In his introspective and tender story, Whittle Me This, author Clifford Banks masterfully depicts for young readers an affecting interpretation of the cycle of life and giving.

Ash’s early years have given him the joy of children swinging from his branches, a treehouse perched within his limbs, and a smitten older girl and boy who carved their initials within a heart into his bark. But when a Nor’easter and violent rain come, it ravages Ash and the tree ends up floating in the Mystic River where a beaver uses Ash for his dam.

Taken from the river to a shipyard, a paunchy man sees in Ash the perfect mast for his old sea captain father’s sailboat, Wendi. The old man, also a wood craftsman, uses his tools to fashion Ash into a majestic mast. As they set out to sea, it’s then that Ash meets the essence of Wendi, a sworn breath of wind bound to the vessel. Together Ash and Wendi experience many years of seafaring with the aging captain until the ailing old man must settle his joy for the sea in watching his young grandson, Grant, learn to sail.

Back in the Boston Harbor, a superstorm causes Ash’s mast to snap like a twig, giving Ash and Wendi pause to reminisce about their many years together exploring. The sea captain takes Ash once again to his wood shop where he creates what will be his lasting legacy, a baseball bat for his grandson, earning Ash a prominent place in baseball history—alongside his faithful seamate Wendi—and in the generations of lives he touched.

Reminiscent of enduring classics like The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein and The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton, Banks’s Whittle Me This uses reflective storytelling and cerebral language that families and educators of young children will enjoy themselves alongside their young readers with a parable that celebrates the metamorphosis of life and its relationships.

If you would like more information about author Clifford Banks and Whittle Me This, please contact 370441@email4pr.com or visit https://www.amazon.com/author/cliffordbanks.

Regal and Audible Launch Audiobook to Screen Program Featuring “The Boys in The Boat”

By

Jocie McKade

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29 December 2023

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Regal and Audible, an Amazon company, collaborate for the first-time bringing movies and audiobooks together for their respective audiences. Amazon MGM Studios’ The Boys in the Boat, in theaters this Christmas, is the first title they are working on together, offering the first chapter of the audiobook and a special Audible promotion to complete the listen.

Regal and Audible’s mutual efforts are to engage and convert audiobook enthusiasts to see literary-based films in theaters and encourage early listening to the audiobook before the film’s release, driving Audible memberships and ticket sales. This collaboration opens the door to multiple engagement opportunities with Amazon MGM and other studios.

The program started on Friday, December 8, tied to the film’s ticket presale launch, offering a free first chapter listen to the audiobook of The Boys in The Boat, published by Penguin Random House. Along with the links to purchase tickets, there was a special The Boys in The Boat “Page to Screen” featurette included.

Following the launch, Regal and Audible offered Regal Crown Club members a two-month extended free trial of Audible Premium Plus, which includes two credits and access to the Audible Plus Catalog.

“Audible is excited to support audiobook-to-screen titles with Regal and Amazon MGM Studios and extend incredible storytelling experiences to new listeners,” said Derek Murphy, Head of Audible Business Development.

“Regal is excited to work with Audible to launch the first of its kind collaboration,” said Kelly Hawkins, Head of Loyalty. “Regal Crown Club members can create an amazing experience by listening to the audiobook for the upcoming movies, joining in conversations and meet-ups at Regal with other club members to then see the book on the big screen.”

“Echoing Regal’s sentiment that it’s the perfect collaboration between powerhouses like Audible, Regal and Amazon MGM Studios to bring impactful and magical stories, to new and engaged audiences, like George Clooney’s The Boys in The Boat,” said Kevin Wilson, Amazon MGM Head of Distribution. “We are thrilled to embark on this first-time endeavor and look forward to featuring our rich and diverse book-to-screen titles.”

ABOUT THE BOYS IN THE BOAT FILM:
The Boys in the Boat is a sports drama based on the #1 New York Times bestselling non-fiction book written by Daniel James Brown. The film, directed by George Clooney, is about the 1936 University of Washington rowing team that competed for gold at the Summer Olympics in Berlin. This inspirational true story follows a group of underdogs at the height of the Great Depression as they are thrust into the spotlight and take on elite rivals from around the world.

ABOUT REGAL:
Regal, a subsidiary of the Cineworld Group, operates one of the largest and most geographically diverse theatre circuits in the United States, consisting of 5,808 screens in 428 theatres in 41 states along with the District of Columbia and Guam as of November 30, 2023. We believe that the size, reach and quality of the company’s theatre circuit provides its patrons with a convenient and enjoyable moviegoing experience. We are committed to being “The Best Place to Watch a Movie!” Additional information is available on Regal’s website: REGmovies.com.

ABOUT AUDIBLE, INC.:
Audible, Inc., an Amazon.com, Inc. subsidiary (NASDAQ: AMZN), is the leading creator and provider of premium audio storytelling, offering global audiences a powerful way to enhance and enrich their lives through extraordinary content. Audible’s catalog includes more than 850,000 audio titles, including Audible Originals as well as audiobooks and podcasts from leading studios, print, audio and magazine publishers and world-renowned entertainers.

CONNECT WITH THE BOYS IN THE BOAT FILM
WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | TRAILER | BUY TICKETS

CULLEN BUNN AND PATRICK PIAZZALUNGA PRESENT A BLOODY GOOD TIME

By

Jocie McKade

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28 December 2023

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Monsters are My Business takes aim at the things in our nightmares

Dark Horse, Patrick Piazzalunga (X-Factor, Happy Horror Days, Project Patron), and Cullen Bunn (Sixth Gun, The Midnight Show, Lucky Devil) invite fans of bloody horror-humor to plunge into Monsters Are My Business (And Business is Bloody), a four-part comic series fighting against the nightmares lurking in this wild world.

The series features art and covers by Piazzalunga, colors by Marco Brakko (Grimm Universe Presents Quarterly: Steampunk), and letters by Jim Campbell (If You Find This, I’m Already Dead, Midnite Show) to bring you an over the top, colorful, vibrant world of horrors.

Meet Tanner “Griz” Grisholm. Along with a shrewd necromancer who wants him dead and a chainsaw-wielding koala bear named Cuddles as he wages a bloody war against nightmares from beyond time and space. It’s thankless work, but someone has to do it. And when a group of government contractors goes missing in the nightmare landscape of the Flooded Zone, Griz stumbles into a mystery he may not be able to carve his way out of. His old biker pals, the Howling Gargoyles, are up to no good, and the memories might be too much for Griz to handle.

“Some time ago, Patrick and I were discussing working together on a new creator-owned title,” said Bunn. “He sent me some concept sketches of this big, burly biker type and a chainsaw-wielding, cigar-smoking koala bear. From there, we discussed building a story of elder gods, mutant cults, mercenary necromancers, and a lot of bloody good violence. Monsters Are My Business was born! I am just in awe of Patrick’s ability to fuse horror and action and comedy so seamlessly. Readers are going to dig this book!”

“I’m very excited about this comic,” adds Piazzalunga. “Cullen and I discussed creating a horror comedy with tentacled monsters. We are big fans of 80’s horror films, Lovecraft, splatter and gore. Cullen did a fantastic job. When I read the scripts I was super excited and I enjoyed drawing, if you like all this, Griz and Cuddles are waiting for you with their chainsaws!”

Pick up Monsters are My Business (And Business is Bloody) #1 (of 4), which arrives in comic shops on April 10, 2024. Pre-order today for $3.99.

Praise for related work, The Sixth Gun:

“The Sixth Gun is weird western done right. Cullen Bunn makes a near perfect comic arc with this first volume as it shows you all you need to know about the characters and story while being perfectly paced out.”—Comic Book Daily

“If you’re ever a guest in my home, it’d only be a matter of time before you’d be dragged over to one of my bookcases so that I could introduce you to The Sixth Gun. It’s a damn fine comic, one that I will always love.”—Multiversity Comics

“Despite being over a decade old now, the first volume of The Sixth Gun hasn’t aged a day–and is still an impressively constructed, wonderfully entertaining comic. I can’t recommend it highly enough.”—Mid-Life Gamer Geek

Dark Horse Comics

SNEAK PEEK: Who To Believe by Edwin Hill

By

Jocie McKade

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28 December 2023

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Who To Believe by Edwin Hill

In a twisty, claustrophobic suburban suspense novel for fans of Ruth Ware and Liane Moriarty, the aftermath of a murder in a quiet coastal New England town reveals a web of dark secrets among friends . . .

“An inventive and fiendishly-layered exploration of secrets dark and deep.” —LOU BERNEY, Edgar-winning author of November Road

“Hill navigates the dark corners and complicated relationships of a small, seaside town with precision and panache.” —ALEX SEGURA, bestselling author of Secret Identity

Monreith, Massachusetts, was once a small community of whalers and farmers. These days it’s a well-to-do town filled with commuters drawn to its rugged coastline and country roads. A peaceful, predictable place—until popular restaurateur Laurel Thibodeau is found brutally murdered in her own home. Suspicion naturally falls on Laurel’s husband, Simon, who had gambling debts that only her life insurance policy could fix. But there are other rumors too . . .

Among the group of six friends gathered for Alice Stone’s fortieth birthday, theories abound concerning Laurel’s death. Max Barbosa, police chief, has heard plenty of them, as has his longtime friend, Unitarian minister Georgia Fitzhugh. Local psychiatrist Farley Drake is privy to even more, gleaning snippets of gossip and information from his patients while closely guarding his own past.

But maybe everyone in Monreith has something to hide. Because before this late-summer evening has come to a close, one of these six will be dead. And as jealousy, revenge, adultery, and greed converge, the question becomes not who among these friends might be capable of such a thing, but—who isn’t?

Writing With Your Muse From W.L. HAWKIN

By

Jocie McKade

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28 December 2023

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Writing With Your Muse From W.L. HAWKIN

A spiritual guide of creativity

Writing with your Muse offers techniques, strategies, tools, tips, and stories to help you tap into creative inspiration. You don’t have to be psychic to be successful with these techniques, although that natural ability exists in all of us, and these techniques will help you develop your sixth sense. There’s even science to back it up. This book will help you if you hear words or see images but find it difficult to get the text on the page, you’ve written and published but are searching for something fresh and different, you have ideas but don’t know how or where to begin, you want to write but have no ideas, or you’re suffering from a bad case of writer’s block.

Writing with your Muse: A Guide to Creative Inspiration – Kindle edition by Hawkin, W. L.. Reference Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Writing with your Muse: A Guide to Creative Inspiration eBook : Hawkin, W. L.: Amazon.ca: Kindle Store

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

W. L. Hawkin writes the kind of books she loves to read from her home in the Pacific Northwest. Because she’s a genre-blender, you might find crime, mystery, romance, suspense, fantasy, adventure, and even time travel, interwoven in her stories.

If you like “myth, magic, and mayhem” her Hollystone Mysteries feature a coven of West Coast witches who solve murders using ritual magic and a little help from the gods. The books—To Charm a Killer, To Sleep with Stones, To Render a Raven, To Kill a King, and To Dance with Destiny—follow Estrada, a free-spirited, bisexual magician and coven high priest as he endeavors to save his family and friends while sorting through his own personal issues.

Her standalone novel, Lure: Jesse & Hawk (2022) won a National Indie Excellence Award, a Gold Reader’s Choice award from Connections E-magazine, a Crowned Heart Review from InD’tale Magazine, and placed as a finalist in The UK Wishing Shelf Book Awards. Lure is a small-town romantic suspense story set on a Chippewa Reservation in the American Midwest near the fictional town of Lure River.

As an intuitive writer, Wendy captures what she sees and hears on the page, and allows her muses to guide her through the creative process. In her newest book, Writing with your Muse: a Guide to Creative Inspiration, she explains her writing process and offers tips and techniques to help writers.

Wendy needs to feel the energy of the land so, although she’s an introvert, in each book her characters go on a journey where she’s traveled herself.

If you don’t find her at Blue Haven Press, she’s out wandering the woods or beaches of Vancouver Island with her beautiful yellow dog.