Showing posts with label novellas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label novellas. Show all posts

Sunday, December 14, 2025

Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway - A Mysterious Collection: A Charlie Kingsley/Redemption Detective Agency Crossover Christmas Cozy Mystery Anthology by Michele Pariza Wacek

A Mysterious Christmas Collection:

A Charlie Kingsley/Redemption Detective Agency

Crossover Christmas Cozy Mystery Anthology

by

Michele Pariza Wacek

About A Mysterious Christmas Collection

 


Cozy Mysteries
Setting - Wisconsin
Publisher: Love-Based Publishing
Publication date: November 19, 2025
Number of Pages: 150
Digital ASIN: B0FVNJXFQS

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In this charming Christmas cozy mystery collection, you get not one but TWO Christmas mysteries--one from the Charlie Kingsley Mystery series (Secret Santa Murder) and one from The Redemption Detective Agency (The Mysterious Case of the Dead Elf).

Even better, the characters in both series will make a crossover appearance in the other mystery.

Here's a peek of each story:

Secret Santa Murder: A Secret Santa party goes off the rails when a guest is murdered after opening their gift. Can Charlie get to the bottom of who did it in this locked door mystery?

The Mysterious Case of the Dead Elf: Emily and the gang take on a case to help a young mother get over her childhood Christmas trauma. Can they go back in time and solve the mystery of a dead elf to save Christmas before it's too late?

Includes TWO Christmas cookie family recipes!

 

The Charlie Kingsley Mysteries

The Charlie Kingsley Mysteries is funny, clean & twisty cozy series takes place in the 1990s in Redemption, Wisconsin. They're perfect if you enjoy small town cozy mysteries with quirky characters, pets, tea, culinary, a touch of romance, 1990s nostalgia and loads of fun. If you like books by Agatha Christie, Louise Penny and Maddie Day, you'll love these books.

The Charlie Kingsley Mysteries is a continuing series with books that are standalone and can be read in any order.

The Redemption Detective Agency

A spin off from the Charlie Kingsley Mystery series. This cozy romcom mystery series also takes place in the 1990s and features a fish out of water amateur sleuth, pet detectives, a cast of silver sleuths (some you'll recognize from the main series), cold cases and a hefty dose of romance. Think The Thursday Murder Club meets Bridget Jones's Diary, but in small town Wisconsin. Also great for fans for The Golden Girls (if they started solving mysteries), Only Murders in the Building (without a podcast and takes place in Wisconsin) and Murder She Wrote.

All the books are clean, twisty and funny. They can be read in any order but to get the best experience, I would recommend starting with Book 1, The Mysterious Case of the Missing Motive.

Click to Purchase!

About Michele Pariza Wacek


A USA Today Bestselling, award-winning author, Michele taught herself to read at 3 years old because she wanted to write stories so badly. It took some time (and some detours) but she does spend much of her time writing stories now. Mystery stories, to be exact. They're clean and twisty, and range from psychological thrillers to cozies, with a dash of romance and supernatural thrown into the mix. If that wasn't enough, she posts lots of fun things on her blog, including short stories, puzzles, recipes and more, at MPWNovels.com.

Michele grew up in Wisconsin, (hence why all her books take place there), and still visits regularly, but she herself escaped the cold and now lives in the mountains of Prescott, Arizona with her husband and southern squirrel hunter Cassie.

When she's not writing, she's usually reading, hanging out with her dog, or watching the Food Network and imagining she's an awesome cook. (Spoiler alert, she's not. Luckily for the whole family, Mr. PW is in charge of the cooking.)


TOUR PARTICIPANTS

December 8 – Boys' Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT
December 9 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
December 10 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
December 10 – Jody's Bookish Haven - SPOTLIGHT
December 10 – Angel's Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT
December 11 – Christy's Cozy Corners - AUTHOR GUEST POST
December 11 – Books1987 - SPOTLIGHT
December 12 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – SPOTLIGHT WITH RECIPE
December 13 – Sarandipity's – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
December 13 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT
December 14 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT
December 15 – Bibliophile Foodie – REVIEW
December 16 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
December 16 – Hall Ways Blog – REVIEW
December 17 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT WITH RECIPE
December 17 – Baroness Book Trove – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
December 18 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT
December 19 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
December 20 – FUONLYKNEW - SPOTLIGHT
December 21 – Salty Inspirations – REVIEW
December 21 – Sarah Can't Stop Reading Books – REVIEW

GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!

Enter for a chance to win one of two paperback copies. (U.S. only)



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Tuesday, March 18, 2025

Book Review - The Smiling Dog Café: Healing Fiction, Volume 1 by Neil S. Plakcy

The Smiling Dog Cafe: Healing FictionThe Smiling Dog Cafe: Healing Fiction by Neil S. Plakcy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Heartbreaking and heartwarming, healing and hopeful stories are all connected by a magical coffee shop and its canine caretakers.

The Smiling Dog Café: Healing Fiction, Volume 1 by Neil S. Plakcy, is a two-novella collection of what is known as “healing fiction,” a style of story of Japanese origin. As the stories unfold, not only do the characters undergo positive restorative change, but readers may also experience hope and satisfaction as well.

In the first story, readers are introduced to Betty Martinez, the owner of The Smiling Dog Café, a magical coffee shop well off the beaten paths in Brooklyn, and as such, a recurring character for each of the stories. I loved the concept that while some of her customers just stumbled across the café, many are led there by following one of the unusual dogs memorialized by Betty’s deceased wife in paintings adorning the walls. Each of the customers brought there by the supernatural canines is hurting, damaged, or lost in some way, and Betty, a retired grief counselor, skillfully serves up hope and wisdom along with her special coffee.

In “Code of Silence,” Jeff Hodges, the product of an abusive childhood home life because of his frustrated, alcoholic father, learned early on from his downtrodden mother that silence and invisibility are the safest routes through life. Jeff takes that lesson to heart, and despite his almost genius-level understanding of computing, computer science, and coding, he hides his abilities, choosing to be safe and secure over even a hint of risk and a fulfilling life. When his skills inadvertently put himself and his coworkers out of a job, he’s led through the side streets and alleys of Brooklyn to The Smiling Dog Café by a mysterious golden retriever.

In “A Mother’s Heart,” Sophia Greenwood’s young daughter, Emma, ends up in the local hospital’s pediatric cardiac unit, suffering from the same congenital heart problem that she has and that killed her mother. Sophia is overcome with guilt, fear, and the belief that she isn’t up to the task of mothering her daughter under the same circumstances she endured as a child. Following a three-legged Irish Setter to The Smiling Dog Café, she discovers Betty and the help she needs to recognize her past has prepared her to be a strong, capable woman and mother.

Both stories are told in mesmerizing dual timelines, detailing how the characters came to this point in their present lives. Jeff’s regrets and fears have hobbled him from living an authentic life, much like Sophia’s childhood medical restrictions could have denied her had it not been for the series of vastly different women who had a hand in her upbringing and care. The author’s writing style puts the reader in the characters’ lives and makes the intervention by the mysterious dogs seem natural while maintaining its magic. Two stories were absolutely not enough!

I recommend THE SMILING DOG CAFÉ to readers of healing fiction and fantasy, especially those who enjoyed the BEFORE THE COFFEE GETS COLD series or similar works.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.




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Tuesday, November 08, 2022

Book Blog Tour: TARGETED by Lynette Eason, Lynn H. Blackburn, & Natalie Walters



TARGETED:
Three Romantic Suspense Novellas
by
Lynette Eason, Lynn H. Blackburn, & Natalie Walters

Christian / Suspense / Romance / Novellas
Publisher: Revell
Pages: 368 pages
Publication Date: November 1, 2022

SCROLL DOWN FOR GIVEAWAY!


Get ready for triple the excitement, intrigue, and romance with three heart-stopping stories from your favorite romantic suspense authors!

In On the Run, Lynette Eason introduces you to IT Specialist Daria Nevsky, a highly skilled FBI agent with the ability to hack any computer. She must go on the run to find out who wants her dead--and Dr. Ryker Donahue refuses to let her do it alone.

In Deadly Objective, Lynn H. Blackburn throws physical therapist Emily Dixon and Secret Service Agent Liam Harper into an impossible situation. They don't know why the vice president's son seems to be in the crosshairs of a killer, but they'll sacrifice anything to keep him safe.

In Caught in the Crosshairs, Natalie Walters pits former Army PSYOPS officer Ari Blackman against his colleague, CIA officer Claudia Gallegos, when Claudia is implicated in the murder of a Saudi prince. Can he prevent a coup that would put America at risk?

CLICK TO PURCHASE!






Lynette Eason 
is the USA Today bestselling author of Life Flight and Crossfire, as well as the Danger Never Sleeps, 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.


Lynn H. Blackburn is the award-winning author of Unknown Threat and Malicious Intent, as well as the Dive Team Investigations series. She believes in the power of stories, especially those that remind us that true love exists, a gift from the Truest Love. Blackburn is passionate about CrossFit, coffee, and chocolate (don't make her choose) and experimenting with recipes that feed both body and soul. She lives in Simpsonville, South Carolina, with her true love, Brian, and their three children. Learn more at www.lynnhblackburn.com.



Natalie Walters is the author of Lights Out and Fatal Code, as well as the Harbored Secrets series. A military wife, she currently resides in Texas with her soldier husband and is the proud mom of three. She loves traveling, spending time with her family, and connecting with readers on Instagram and Facebook. Learn more at www.nataliewalterswriter.com.










GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!
ONE WINNER:
Receives a paperback copy of 
TARGETED,
a soy candle, and
a $10 Target Gift Card
(U.S. only; ends midnight, CDT, 11/12/22.)


FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH POST ON THIS TOUR, UPDATED DAILY,
OR VISIT THE PARTICIPATING BLOGS DIRECTLY:
 

11/02/22

Boys' Mom Reads!

Book Trailer

11/02/22

StoreyBook Reviews

BONUS Review

11/02/22

Hall Ways Blog

BONUS Promo

11/03/22

All the Ups and Downs

Playlist

11/03/22

LSBBT Blog

BONUS Promo

11/04/22

The Book's Delight

Review

11/05/22

The Plain-Spoken Pen

Excerpt

11/06/22

Stories Under Starlight

Review

11/07/22

The Clueless Gent

Scrapbook Page

11/08/22

Forgotten Winds

Review

11/09/22

It's Not All Gravy

Character Spotlights

11/10/22

Rox Burkey Blog

Review

11/11/22

Chapter Break Book Blog

Review


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