A Plain Scandal Book Tour hosted by Cozy Mystery Book Reviews

He Is Siamese If You Please

By Gigabyte Humphrey (Typed by Amanda Flower because Gig doesn’t have thumbs.)

 

 

When my mistress, Chloe Humphrey, told me that we were leaving our urban pad in Cleveland for the boondocks of Appleseed Creek, I nearly coughed up a hairball. I am a Siamese not a mere barn cat, who romps through the fields and catches mice. I like my mice made of plastic and preferably cotton. And what about my paws? How clean could this place be? I’m used to living at a certain level of sophistication. Did she even think of me before accepting this new job? Of course not. If she had, we would be in a loft in New York City right now. That’s the kind of place for a cat with my superior pedigree.

 

 

Despite my vocal complaints, and since I am Siamese I can really caterwaul, Chloe made us move. So instead of my two bedroom apartment with a city view, I’m living in a rundown old Victorian house in the middle of nowhere. This place is a disaster. I mean, the doorknob literally fell off the front door when we entered the house. If it weren’t for the Troyers, an Amish family Chloe befriended, I don’t know what I would do.

 

 

Not everything about the Troyers is grand. Timothy Troyer, who is close to Chloe’s age, is sniffing around, and I don’t like it. She’s mine. I should be the only male in her life. What does she need him for? Sure, he has thumbs and can fix things, but isn’t personality what really counts? I’ve got the personality. Also, he has a dog. Enough said. I may have to leave a little present in his shoe sometime, if you catch my drift.

 

 

Thankfully, Becky Troyer, Timothy’s nineteen-year-old sister, is a keeper. She moved in with Chloe and me right after we arrived in town. She can cook. As much as I love Chloe (don’t tell her I said that!) she is a failure in the kitchen. I’ve witnessed her set fire to a microwave and short circuit a toaster on the SAME DAY. It wasn’t pretty. Becky, on the other paw, is a gourmet, and she truly understands my value. Every morning, she makes me sausage or bacon for breakfast, and she makes cat treats from scratch. She’s a blessing in an otherwise dreadful situation. I would never leave a “present” in her shoe… unless she forgets to make my breakfast, of course. Cats must remind the humans who is in charge.

 

 

I suppose I must make do because Chloe seems determined to stay in this Amish town, and despite all her failings, I can’t leave her. She needs me, and she’s my best friend (don’t tell her I said that either!). Now, I’m off for a nap, right after I sharpen my nails on her bedroom curtains. It’s how I show my love.

 

 

 

Readers can learn more about Amanda on her website, www.amandaflower.com, or through social media. She loves connecting with readers through Facebook and Twitter.

Social Media Links: Facebook Twitter Goodreads Pinterest

Free eBook Alert: The Celtic Crow Murders by Patricia La Barbera

Larissa O'Connor is terrified after being threatened in an empty mortuary by an intruder. When she finds out he left cultic symbols in her husband's casket, she is even more convinced that her husband's death was not an accident.

An intriguing letter summons Larissa to Cushendall, Northern Ireland, where the dark mansion Dalriada awaits with eerie elements for her to discover. Once in Cushendall, Larissa's vivid dreams of sacrificial rituals continue. She is haunted by thoughts of danger to her teenage daughter, and fear for her own safety intensifies. The details of a grisly local murder that included some of those connected with her husband's death contribute to her feelings of dread.

The first glimmerings of romantic attraction engendered by the blue-eyed, tousle-haired Col surprise and confuse Larissa, but she learns she is not the only one with secrets.

Can Larissa trust the warnings and advice of Deirdre, an old keeper of tales? And could an entire town be hiding the truth concerning a Druid's curse on an ancient royal family of Ireland?

 

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Download this book for free today and tomorrow only, February 16th and 17th.

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The Aviator's Wife Blog Tour: Spotlight/Giveaway

 

About the Book:

For much of her life, Anne Morrow, the shy daughter of the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, has stood in the shadows of those around her, including her millionaire father and vibrant older sister, who often steals the spotlight. Then Anne, a college senior with hidden literary aspirations, travels to Mexico City to spend Christmas with her family. There she meets Colonel Charles Lindbergh, fresh off his celebrated 1927 solo flight across the Atlantic. Enthralled by Charles’s assurance and fame, Anne is certain the celebrated aviator has scarcely noticed her. But she is wrong.
Charles sees in Anne a kindred spirit, a fellow adventurer, and her world will be changed forever. The two marry in a headline-making wedding. Hounded by adoring crowds and hunted by an insatiable press, Charles shields himself and his new bride from prying eyes, leaving Anne to feel her life falling back into the shadows. In the years that follow, despite her own major achievements—she becomes the first licensed female glider pilot in the United States—Anne is viewed merely as the aviator’s wife. The fairy-tale life she once longed for will bring heartbreak and hardships, ultimately pushing her to reconcile her need for love and her desire for independence, and to embrace, at last, life’s infinite possibilities for change and happiness.
Drawing on the rich history of the twentieth century—from the late twenties to the mid-sixties—and featuring cameos from such notable characters as Joseph Kennedy and Amelia Earhart, The Aviator’s Wife is a vividly imagined novel of a complicated marriage—revealing both its dizzying highs and its devastating lows. With stunning power and grace, Melanie Benjamin provides new insight into what made this remarkable relationship endure.

 

Praise for The Aviator’s Wife:

“Vivid and mesmerizing, The Aviator’s Wife takes us behind the scenes and into the heart of the woman who loved and married Charles Lindbergh. That was her destiny – a life that took her soaring into the skies and then plunged her to earth, a story of both triumph and pain that will take your breath away.” —Kate Alcott, author of The Dressmaker

 

Purchase the Book:

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

 

 

About the Author:

Melanie Benjamin is the author of the nationally bestselling Alice I Have Been and The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb.
Her latest book is the historical fiction, The Aviator’s Wife.
Benjamin lives in Chicago, where she is at work on her next historical novel.

 

 

Visit the Author:

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK


Leave a comment with your email address for a chance to win a paperback copy of this book. (US/Canada only, through 2/22)

Cat Thursday-Happy Valentine's Day!

Welcome to the weekly meme that celebrates the wonders and sometime hilarity of cats! Join us by posting a favorite LOL cat pic you may have come across, famous cat art or even share with us pics of your own beloved cat(s) and then link up at the host's site: The True Book Addict.

It's all for the love of cats!

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First and foremost, always my Valentine...Tara

And a couple favorite art prints by A. Driessen of kitties in love...

Waiting on Wednesday #5

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, which spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

My first Waiting on Wednesday pick this week is Death and the Courtesan by Pamela Christie. I adore steamy historicals about courtesans as much as I love historical mysteries, so I'm on pins and needles waiting for this delicious looking blend of the two!

Blurb: Pamela Christie's sparkling historical mystery goes beyond the modest drawing rooms of Regency London in the company of the city's most esteemed and scandalous courtesan. . .

Since the age of sixteen, Arabella Beaumont has been happily employed as a highly paid woman of pleasure. True, respectable ladies of the ton would never deign to call at Lustings, her delightful home. Then again, Arabella has no desire to make dreary small talk and sip tea when she could be enjoying the company of amusing, intelligent, and extremely generous gentlemen.

But while Arabella's admirers are legion, she also has enemies. A paper knife stolen during one of her salons was discovered near the body of a former rival. Arabella was entertaining her wealthy benefactor on the night of the murder, but the engaged duke can't provide the alibi she desperately needs. It falls to Arabella and her resourceful sister, Belinda, to clear her good--or at least innocent--name. Utilizing all the talents in her arsenal, the irrepressible Miss Beaumont will endeavor to catch the real culprit, before the hangman catches up to her. . .

Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation
Publication date: 5/28/2013

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My second pick is Of Grave Concern: An Ophelia Wylde Paranormal Mystery by Max McCoy...an historical mystery with a western twist!


Blurb: It’s the spring of 1877 and Ophelia Wylde is a woman on the run. Driven from Chicago for having almost conned a noted industrialist out of a few thousand dollars through a series of spectacular but fake séances, she takes the first train west and finds herself in Dodge City. The rough-hewn cattle town has never seen anyone like Ophelia, a diminutive red-haired spiritualist with a Southern twang who travels with a pet raven and claims to talk to the dead. But when Ophelia’s confronted with the real ghost of a murdered girl , she discovers her talents are greater than she ever pretended -- and teams up with Dodge City’s most notorious bounty hunter to track down the killer.

Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation
Publication date: 7/2/2013

Retrieved by Amber Polo Blog Tour

Blurb: Dog-shifters once again face the book-burning werewolves of Shipsfeather in this charming second installment of The Shapeshifters’ Library series.

Godiva Anglesey, Chocolate Labrador, and the ruggedly handsome English Mastiff Cynerik are forced to team up against power-hungry werewolves when Cynerik discovers an ancient Ohio mound that may hold answers to their shifter history. Knowing the mound’s secrets could benefit the dog-shifters in the ongoing contest for power, ambitious werewolf pack Alpha Sybilla challenges timid Godiva to a battle for the territory. Already faced with a malicious book-worm infestation and a censorship threat to ban all anthropomorphic books in her library, Godiva, who has no interest in battling anyone, must turn from running her small town library to train for a challenge she believes she has no chance of winning. Just when things couldn’t get any worse, Godiva’s mother announces that family tradition dictates that Godiva must be married by Summer Solstice… to a Druid. Godiva doesn’t even know any Druids.

Godiva wants to run her library, retrieve books for library patrons, and keep people happy. She’s no hero. She doesn’t have what it takes to face down werewolves or save the world. Cynerik, however, believes differently. Together they must defeat the werewolves, save the town and its library, protect the most important archeological discovery in dog-shifter history… and, just maybe, find love along the way.

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Author Interview:

When I reviewed Released, I called it “ridiculously creative.” How did you come to write the Shapeshifters’ Library series? How did you create such a magical world?
Well, in some ways it was easy. I’m a librarian who loves dogs and fantasy. Besides, there are so many werewolves out there, I wondered why if wolves could shift, why not dogs. And if dogs shifted, how would they be different from wolves.Libraries are filled with magic. The books alone create doorways to infinite worlds. But there is much more to a library than most people see. To show a library behind the scenes I created a real public library, put it in a fantastic building, and added a quirky staff. And then the librarians discover that floors below are filled with dog-shifter librarians from the days when the library was a shapeshifting school.

 

You must be a dog lover. Have your own pets inspired your four-legged characters?

Of course. My first Old English Sheepdog became the hero of Book 1. Writing “Released” brought him back to life for me.

 

I spent years surrounded by Old English. I showed in confirmation and obedience and was lucky enough to meet many dogs and dog people. Next to librarians they’re the most interesting people I’ve ever met. (See photos of Amber’s Dogs: http://amberpolo.com/about-amber-polo/test1/

 

In Book 2 “Retrieved” my Chocolate Labrador Interlibrary Loan librarian (that’s a library dog joke) and an amazingly smart and handsome English Mastiff are the stars. Creating each of the characters to fit a dog breed without losing respect for the dogs was important to me. You won’t find Marley in my books. I let the werewolves be both the villains and the comic relief.

 

I understand cats make an appearance in Retrieved (Yay!!!) Can you tell us a little about your new feline characters?

Cat lovers can be soooo intense. ;) I did add some cats just to cause trouble and I create an interesting link between werewolves and cats. Let’s just say cats could talk if they wanted to. A bookstore cat will make an appearance in Book 3. I wrote a blog post about my difficulties with a cat-loving graphic artist. http://amberpolo.blogspot.com/2013/01/creating-new-dog-friendly-logo.html

What are some of your favorite books/authors?

Asking a librarian about her favorite books is like asking parents to choose their favorite child. I love so many? Truly so many books so little time!

In general I love fantasy with a little romance and a story that pulls me in and doesn’t let me out until the end. I also am an audiobook addict which allows me to read a lot more than my writing and research time allows and try more authors and genres.

 

Give us a glimpse into a typical day for you.

I confess I spend too much time online. I’m fortunate to be able to write full time, and I do. Connecting online, blogging, and writing another book keep me happy. Since I’ve written a book called “Relaxing the Writer” I also try to live some of the advice I give.

 

Do you have advice for aspiring authors?

Read. Write. Learn. And live a balanced life. More specifically, keep an eye on the changing world of books and publishing and don’t be too quick to publish your first effort.

 

What’s next in the series?

I am so glad you asked. I’m halfway through writing Book 3 which will be called “Recovered.” The hero will be the villain of Book 1, the wolfdog shifter who becomes a lone wolf in Book 2. My heroine is Bliss D. Light, the sweet New Agey Children’s librarian who finds she is a white Greyhound shifter. The story features a cross country chase to find the lost books of the ancient world. And I’m having so much fun…

 

Thanks, Melissa, for inviting me back. It’s always a pleasure to be here with you and your friends.

Author Bio:
A love of books drew Amber Polo into a career as a librarian. A greater love turned her into a writer. The Shapeshifters’ Library series is an urban fantasy filled with books, librarians and dogs and a library everyone will love.

Where to find Amber:
Wordshaping Blog | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter

Pinterest | Google+

Buy Released, Book One:
Blue Merle Publishing | Kindle | Amazon Print | Barnes & Noble & Nook | Well Red Coyote Bookstore

Buy Retrieved, Book two:
Blue Merle Publishing | Kindle | Amazon Print | Barnes & Noble & Nook | Well Red Coyote Bookstore

Giveaway: A Shapeshifter Public Library canvas book bag.
A print copy of "Retrieved," dog biscuits, and a tuft of genuine wolf fur. This giveaway is open only to US/Canada residents. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hobbes Goes Home

Look at that face...can you believe just a few short years ago this little angel was horribly abused and left at an animal shelter? Hobbes got the happy ending he deserved...today he's a local talk radio star, honorary K-9 cop and Fire Dog, and even got to throw out the first pitch at a Vermont Lake Monsters baseball game after being chosen by Vermonters to have a bobblehead doll made in his likeness. (I'm the proud owner of one!!!)

Last winter I was honored to get to meet Hobbes and his wonderful Mom and Dad, Bruce and Tami Zeman. I remember when I picked him up he was trembling in my arms. Tami told me he's still understandably wary of strangers. (I took so many pictures of the little guy he probably thought I was a stalker!!!)

Bruce and Tami have now written Hobbes' story in a children's book, Hobbes Goes Home. They intend to take the book to every school in Vermont, and pledge $1.00 from the sale of EVERY book to the Homeward Bound Animal Welfare Center in Middlebury, Vermont. They are currently in the processing of raising money to have the book published.

If you want to read more about Hobbes and his story, check out this feature that was done on him in a local newspaper. If you're interested in making a donation to help get this book with it's important message out into the world, visit Hobbes' Kickstarter page. You'll even get to see a video starring the precious wiener dog himself!