What I'm Reading: Operation Glass Slipper (Linda Mooney)

I don't know how anyone could not love this series. It's the most amazing, tongue-in-cheek, hilarious mashup of classic noir detective fiction with Stephen Sondheim-esque fairy tales. They're clever and entertaining and nothing you're expecting. And the covers! OMG, I love the covers.

Operation Glass Slipper
Noir Fairy Tales Book 5

Linda Mooney

https://lindamooney.com/Noir.htm

Marybeth Cendrillon works her life away at her family’s bakery, but two nights a week she gets to be someone else. If her malicious stepmother and stepsisters knew about her other persona, she’d be locked in the attic for good. She lives for the nights when she can transform into Cindra, sultry songstress at Rosie’s Place.

Charles Charmer, co-CEO of Royal Steele, suspects his father, Kingsley Charmer, of dirty dealings and wants to stop him from sullying the family name and possibly ruining the company. There’s a plan to take the man down once and for all, but Charles could be caught in the crosshairs. 

A covert meeting with some of the members of the FBIM ends with Charles seeing Cindra, and he’s enraptured by the doll on stage. He wants her to perform at his father’s upcoming gala because she’d be perfect, and it would give him another chance to hear her voice again. He wasn’t expecting her to be caught in the crosshairs along with him.

With a little magical help, can they both find their happily ever afters?

Warning! Contains cherry tarts, a dangerous mission, magical raw diamonds, showing a little spine, a rope ladder, HEAMS, no go on just cake, and two people finding the courage to save themselves in order to accept each other's love.

Mug Shot: Marble Falls/Lake Vibes

 

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about how Texas Lakes are (in many cases) wide bends in a river. Here's Lake Marble Falls as Exhibit A. 

Marble Falls is a CUTE little town with excellent Cajun food, a quaint shopping district and "world famous pies" courtesy of the Blue Bonnet Cafe. However, my favorite attraction is the "Before I Die Wall" Where people are encouraged to write down an item from their bucket list. It's kind of inspirational. 

What I'm Reading: Tan Lines and Timeline Lies (Sam Marshall)

Funny story. I bought this book back in June and started to read it on my trip to New Jersey to attend my cousin's memorial service. I thought it was cute. It's about a social media influencer who mistakenly tags a person in one of her posts who very much does not want to be involved with this kind of thing. An exceptionally creative meet cute. 

Also, I have a couple of WIPs that involve either influencers or people involved with reality TV shows, and it's always interesting to see how other authors handle the kinds of things you're also working on. BUT the tension as the Black Moment loomed was INTENSE, and my tolerance for character angst is much greater as a writer than as a reader, so I left off reading--something I rarely ever do when I'm actually enjoying the book. But I was dealing with enough real life angst, so this seemed too much. 

I finally picked it up again the other day, and finally finished it and really enjoyed it. It may have gotten a little overly preachy at the end, but endings are hard and overall, I think the author nailed it.

It's a very cute summer beach read, so I'm a little mad at myself that I didn't read it sooner, but OTOH, the temperature was 101F today, so...it still feels like summer, so rush out and read it!

Tan Lines and Timeline Lies

Sam Marshall

https://www.amazon.com/Tan-Lines-Timeline-Lies-Marshall-ebook/dp/B0F9C8TJ3Z/ref=sr_1_4

A fake summer romance. A viral lie. A seaside town where filters fade—and the truth finally shines.

Ever felt like your perfectly curated feed is more real than your actual life?

Have you ever pretended to be okay just to survive one more scroll, one more post, one more day?

Then Emery Blake’s summer might feel all too familiar.

When a wine-fueled, Photoshop-powered lie accidentally turns her into a viral “vacation goals” sensation, Emery does what any broke, burnt-out content creator might do—she doubles down.

The plan? Keep the illusion going. 

The twist? She accidentally drags a grumpy (and very real) local chef into the spotlight with her.

Cue the fake beach romance, strategic hashtags, and a sponsorship deal she desperately needs.

But the longer the lie lasts, the harder it becomes to tell where the content ends… and her feelings begin.

Mug Shot: Pujo Street Cafe

 

We traveled to Lake Charles, Louisiana recently, and had breakfast in the Pujo Street Cafe there. This was my husband's tea service. We haven't really explored Lake Charles to any great extent. There's some excellent Cajun and seafood there, as well as several casinos. However, like all the casinos in Louisiana, all the gambling takes place behind plexiglass walls that just creep me out. 

Latent claustrophobia; what can I say?

Anyway, according to astrocartography, my Sun/IC line is close to there, which mean, "Even when you are not ready to retire, this placement guarantees the best conditions for a relaxed and gentle rest from your hectic working life."  

I might need to plan another trip there soon, because I can certainly use a relaxed and gentle rest, right about now!

What I'm Reading: The Wine Jelly Murder (Meg Benjamin)

Here's another book whose release surprised me. Thank goodness for pre-orders, I guess. Because I was once again startled to learn that another friend and Nine Naughty Novelist alumni has a new release. NB: the next book in Meg Benjamin's Lucious Delights cozy mystery series is due out in October! 

But anyway, I suppose I should be annoyed with Meg for being able to segue so effortlessly from Romance to Cozy Mystery. I've ALWAYS wanted to write cozies, but haven't managed it yet. 

Also, the Lucious Delights series is all about jam making, which is such a cool and original niche. I hope she continues with it for many, many books. 

Meg has also mastered the multi-book story arc. I like how the characters' relationships grow and change throughout the series--sometimes going in different directions than I thought it would. Just like a mystery! I'm interested in how various storylines will continue to play out. 

Another thing I like is how Roxy is generally reluctantly pulled into solving crimes, rather than repeatedly jumping into obvious danger. I swear some cozy heroines are truly Too Stupid to Live. No fear of that happening here. Which is not to say there is NO foreshadowing--where would the fun be in reading something like that? But the characters generally have realistic reasons for why they miss seeing more of the danger signs. 

I've found the entire series very enjoyable.

The Wine Jelly Murder

Meg Benjamin

https://www.megbenjamin.com/the-wine-jelly-murder/

Weddings can be murder, and Roxy’s trying not to be the next victim. 

Roxy Constantine and Nate Robicheaux are into weddings, both for work and family. But when the obnoxious father of the bride is murdered at the engagement party, they find out more about his business than they bargained for.

Now someone wants to stop Roxy from investigating even as she pulls out all the stops on a super New Year’s Eve wedding celebration for her uncle.

She’ll need more than wine jelly favors and wedding cake to stop the killer.

Mug Shot: Clean Slate Mug

 

Well, this mug seems perfect for the start of a new school year--even if (where I am currently) school has already been in session for nearly a month. After the shortest summer EVER. I love these mugs and I have several of them; in part because my husband and I tend to buy them for each other. 

They remind me of a cafe I used to visit in Vallejo, California which served hot drinks out of mugs like these with all sorts of cute and/or inspirational quotes and sayings. 

Overall, I like the way this picture turned out. but I can't imagine why they hung the blackboard crookedly. 

What I'm Reading: Light of Day (Jennifer Bernard)

I was startled to find out that Jennifer Bernard has started a new series! Jen's a friend from my Nine Naughty Novelist days and it's always fun to see what my old pals are getting up to. 

I'll admit that I never want a series that I'm enjoying to end, and Jen keeps creating these extremely cool small towns and then, all too soon IMO, she's moving on to the next one! 

I mean, your mileage may vary. I've moved towns so many times in my life that I think I crave more permanence in my fictional book reading life. 

So it you like small town romance and you don't like starting series until they're wrapped up, check out Jen's website, because she has all your next binges.

However, having said all that, I must admit that I am already in love with Sea Smoke Island, and can't wait to see what else is in store for us here. 

Light of Day

Jennifer Bernard

https://www.jenniferbernard.net/light-of-day

Some secrets are buried deep. On Sea Smoke Island, digging them up could cost you everything...including your heart.

Heather McPhee swore she’d keep her distance from Sea Smoke Island—she escaped the reputation of the “messy McPhees” and intended to keep it that way. But when her best friend and podcast co-host vanishes after uncovering a bombshell story on the remote Maine island, Heather has no choice but to go back.

Luke Carmichael also thought he left the drama of his powerful family behind. Banished from their elite resort and raising his daughter on his own, the island constable prefers a quiet life. Until Heather storms back into town, stirring up old ghosts.

As they investigate Gabby’s disappearance, Heather and Luke uncover a generations-old conspiracy tied to the elite Carmichael resort, one someone will kill to protect. And as sparks fly between the messy McPhee and the renegade Carmichael, they’ll have to decide what’s worth risking—the truth, their lives… or their hearts.

Because on Sea Smoke Island, some secrets refuse to stay buried. And the truth always comes to light.

Mug Shot: Bee Mug

 

So I know I said last week that that was the last mug of summer, but I guess I lied. I just wasn't ready to leave honey lavender latte season quite yet. And what better mug to drink one out of than this bee-themed mug? PLUS, of course, it's got all those great geometric shapes, which makes it perfect for back to school season, as well. 

Need more proof? Well, at my grandson's school, they handed out teeny jars of honey as a first-day-of-school treat. Boom.

And of course, if I'm going to mention honey, I'm going to plug my book, A Taste of Honey (even if it is set in May). Here's a link to the playlist. 

A Taste Of Honey

Oberon Book 4.0

 

For Lucy Greco Cavanaugh, life is a dream come true.  She has it all. The perfect family. The perfect husband. The perfect marriage. What more could she wish for?  Other than the chance to do it all again. To experience once more the agony and ecstasy of falling in love with the man of her dreams. To recapture the joy and uncertainty that comes with starting over.

As far as Dan Cavanaugh is concerned, his life has become a nightmare. His storybook marriage is on the line when Deirdre Shelton-Cooper, the runaway daughter of a former girlfriend arrives in Oberon intent on proving Dan is her father. Even though he's convinced the girl's claims are false, Dan decides his only chance to keep from losing everything lies in keeping her very existence a secret from his wife and family.

But, sometimes, what you don't know can hurt you--and those you love. When Deirdre, masquerading as a surfer girl named Monica, accidentally hooks up with their son, Seth, Lucy and Dan are left to wonder: has their perfect, fairy-tale romance, turned into a classic Greek tragedy?

Sometimes you get exactly what you wish for.  And it's more than you'd ever dreamed.

https://books2read.com/TasteOfHoney

What I'm Reading: Dead Witch in the Library (Gretchen Galway)

As I mentioned last week, several of my favorite authors have been frustratingly slow in the past few years to release new books. Gretchen Galway is one of those authors. Her Sonoma Witches series has been LANGUISHING. But, be careful what you wish for, right? I don't know this for a fact, but she tied up A LOT of loose ends in this latest installment and it read like a wrapping up of the series. 

Nooooo!

Now that I'm no longer living in California, I need a reliable fix, an occasional hit of Bay Area esthetic, and this series was very much that for me. I was familiar with all the locations, lived in some, visited most. Although, to be honest, I OFTEN found myself grumbling at the pages as I read, insisting that this was not at all as I remembered it. 

But, OTOH, if you've spent any time at all in Berkeley, you'll understand that arrogant skepticism is pretty much the default response to EVERYTHING. Part of why I fit right in.

But I digress. 

I love the fictional world Galway has created and inserted into MY world. The snooty witch families, the feud between metal witches and hearth witches, the secrets Alma is forced to conceal, her friendships, etc.

I think the fourth book in the series is my favorite, if only because of the cats and Berkeley setting. This is the seventh book in the series and I really enjoyed it as well, although, as I said, it feels like things are coming to an end. I hate that. And I hope I'm wrong. But, if you're one of those people who like to wait until a series is complete to start reading it, I think you're safe to start this one. 

Dead Witch in the Library

Gretchen Galway

https://www.gretchengalway.com/sw7

As witches gather in San Francisco for an exclusive professional conference, a killer hunts in the shadows...

When a 97-year-old witch librarian dies under suspicious circumstances, Alma is called out of her redwood forest to investigate. Unfortunately, dozens of the most powerful witches in the world are also in the city for a conference—and when they aren’t killing each other, they’re insulting or threatening Alma.

Forced to defend her pride as well as her life, Alma follows a trail of clues that suggest anyone could be a killer. As hexes fly and opponents both fae and human swarm around her, Alma unravels her most elaborate magical mystery yet.

Mug Shot: Lake Mug

 

So, I've always thought of Labor Day as being the end of summer, and I see no reason to change that now, even if the kids around here have all been back in school for close to a month at this point. So here's the last summer mug shot of the year. 

Here in Central Texas, most of the supposed "lakes" are really just especially wide parts of a river. And most of the rivers are considered creeks, so...there's a lot of water to swim and boat and fish in whatever you want to call it. And it's all really nice on a hot day. We nearly bought a waterfront property a short while ago and, in an excess of enthusiasm, I tagged a lot of "lake life" goodies and put together a rocking river playlist. 

I may not be living the waterfront dream life yet, but time's an illusion, anyway. 

What I'm Reading: Into the Dark (Jordan L Hawk)

There are several authors I follow who have (in recent years) been releasing books less frequently than before. This is a frustration that I (sadly) know about from both sides. In the case of Jordan Hawk, it's compounded by the fact that she has several series in the works, so that the wait between books in any given series can be really long. 

I'll be honest. I love her shapeshifters the best. But her OutFoxing the Paranormal series is a pretty close second. It's so delightfully contemporary. It's all ghosts and ghostbusters and psychics and gadgets...like a grown-up version of Scooby Doo. 

This is the third book in the series, and I would definitely suggest starting at the beginning. It's not totally necessary, but you'll miss a lot of character development otherwise.

I also love the covers. 

Into the Dark

Jordan L Hawk

 https://jordanlhawk.com/products/into-the-dark-outfoxing-the-paranormal-3-ebook

OutFoxing the Paranormal’s benefactor, Ms. Montague, has a new assignment for the team: to investigate the haunted asylum Oscar’s grandmother died in. But upon arriving at the site, they find a rival duo of ghost hunters already there.

Between unexpected competitors and the murderous ghost of a former nurse, the pressure is on for Oscar to live up to his family’s heritage and lay the asylum’s ghosts to rest. Can he prove himself by putting an end to the nurse’s reign of terror, or will the asylum claim yet another victim?

Mug Shot: Choose Joy Mug

 

Not much to say about this mug. It's got a nice message and a lot of summery flowers. Love the Forget Me Nots. I guess it reminds me of childhood summers that I spent on a farm in Vermont.  

Anyway, there are a lot of things that can spark joy. And, for the record, decluttering is NOT one for me. But art, writing, yoga, cooking, music, pets, friends, etc

But, while we're on the topic. There's a "Choose Joy" coloring book that's on my TBB pile. If you're interested, check it out. 

https://www.amazon.com/Choose-Joy-Coloring-Gratitude-Wonder/dp/0593232208/ref=sr_1_19

I've also created a "choose joy" playlist on Spotify. You can find that here:

What I'm Reading Wednesday: Good Deeds (Kathryn Moon)

Sooo...I'm not usually a fan of reverse harem romance but I was turned on to Kathryn Moon by a friend who RAVED about her books. Good Deeds is an extremely cute book. I've found that, for me, a sci-fi or alternate universe setting makes all the difference when it comes to RH. I'm actually able to suspend my disbelief.  

I'm not saying it'll ever be a favorite sub-genre...or is it a trope?...whichever. When you have four, or five, or six, heroes to one heroine, the story-to-sex ratio will always be skewed the wrong way for my tastes (and yes, I know: YMMV). Still, this was sweet and funny and a good read. 

I've read four of Moon's books now and my only complaint is that I find it hard to keep track of all the names and personalities (and what scent goes with which alpha) especially when half the characters are bikers with TWO names apiece. 

Good Deeds
Kathryn Moon

 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MCDLJF1

Nötchka Uumian, solo-scavenger and pilot, only came to Bandalier for business. But when her first ever heat cycle hits, she has two choices: get off the planet or find somewhere safe to ride out the heatburns. Determined to never end up mated and trapped in a kitchen, she heads into the Droid district. You can’t mate if the other person isn’t an organic right?

Low on funds and preparing for weeks of sexual stupor, Nötchka finds herself in the Nuts in Bolts, a nearly deserted Cozy House with a handful of older models, two of which aren’t even servicing. But the owner, Proto model Avan-8, is willing to trade sex for repairs and Nötchka is desperate. Everything will stay simple with droids… or it would if she didn’t end up liking them all so much.

If she can just make it through her heat without too many feelings, avoid the pack of Dendärys males that seem determined to catch her, and figure out why women are going missing, it will all work out.

It’s definitely not vekking working out.

Good Deeds is a full length, insta-burn, standalone, whychoose romance novel, starring a fiesty heroine and five fritzing hot android heroes.

Mug Shot: Fiesta Mug

Here's another find from the antique store I mentioned last week. I mean, technically it's a cup, but who really cares, right? It's a very summery coral color and I'm a sucker for vintage Fiesta Ware. 

My mother and grandmother shared my love of dishes and I always associate Fiesta Ware with my grandmother who had quite a few pieces in a variety of shades--notably, yellow, blue, gray and coral. These were everyday dishes and none of them survived my siblings and my childhood. I've been picking up pieces here and there for the past ten years or so.  
 

What I'm Reading Wednesday: Copper Script (KJ Charles)

So, there are a lot of reasons why I like this book. One of the two main characters is left-handed...or WAS left-handed--to be exact. I'm left-handed as well, and one rarely stumbles across a left-handed character, so that was interesting and refreshing. The other main character is a cop--an honest cop who is conflicted about his job. I've written SO MANY cop characters and they've occasionally struggled with similar issues, so it was nice to see how someone else handles the subject. Also, it's M/M which I generally enjoy. AND it's a murder mystery/romance set in post-WWI, which Charles does very well and which gives serious Agatha Christie vibes. Having read ALL of Christie's work back in my teens and twenties, it feels a little like coming home. 

So, all in all, a very good read.

Copper Script 
KJ Charles

https://kjcharleswriter.com/

Detective Sergeant Aaron Fowler of the Metropolitan Police doesn’t count himself a gullible man. When he encounters a graphologist who deduces people’s lives and personalities from their handwriting with impossible accuracy, he needs to find out how the trick is done. Even if that involves spending more time with the intriguing, flirtatious Joel Wildsmith than feels quite safe.

Joel’s not an admirer of the police, but DS Fowler has the most irresistible handwriting he’s ever seen. If the policeman’s tests let him spend time unnerving the handsome copper, why not play along?

But when Joel looks at a powerful man's handwriting and sees a murderer, the policeman and the graphologist are plunged into deadly danger. Their enemy will protect himself at any cost--unless the sparring pair can come together to prove his guilt and save each other.

Mug Shot: Antique Hand-Thrown Mugs

I picked these mugs up a couple of weeks ago in an antique store in New Braunfels. It might just be the best antique store I've ever visited! It was huge! I didn't even make it through half the store.

These sweet mugs appear to be hand-thrown (they're signed on the bottom by "Owen") so they're not quite identical and they were kind of a steal. I love the matte glaze and the dark sage and rust tones. I think these mugs go very well with one of my dish sets--they're butter yellow with green trim and have roosters painted on them.  They're also perfect for an afternoon cup of tea, or an evening outside after dark (once it's cooler and there aren't so many bugs). 
 

What I'm Reading Wednesday Hexes Fly (Jenny Schwartz)

I probably haven’t been paying as much attention to release dates as I should because, much to my surprise, Jenny Schwartz’ new story, Hexes Fly, recently appeared in my Kindle library. Did I say surprised? I think I mean delighted!

This is book two in her new Caldryn Parliament series. As Jenny describes it, the series “is a homage to the Golden Age mysteries of the past, but set in a futuristic society that has magic.” Which sums it up nicely, I think. 

Like her earlier series “Adventures of a Xeno-Archaeologist,” these books are set in the far future, on fictional planets that had been settled (in their distant past) by humans. Think Battlestar Galactica meets magical steampunk. Also like this series, (and her Hidden Sanctuary and Uncertain Sanctuary series) the stories are intensely political in a way that makes you (or me, at least) think deeply about philosophically about all manner of socio-political things. Which you might think would make it the LAST thing I'd want to read right now, but SURPRISE! it's not. 

It's extremely comforting, somehow, to read about a seemingly sane political system even if it involves alien species, allows for magic and exists in a fictional universe. Or maybe it's BECAUSE of that. I dunno. Could be either one. But if you're as burned out with real life issues as I am, I highly recommend it!

Actually, I recommend it even if you're not burned out. It would make a great beach read, too. Check it out!

https://authorjennyschwartz.com/

Hexes Fly (Caldryn Parliament Book 2)
Jenny Schwartz

https://www.amazon.com/Hexes-Fly-Caldryn-Parliament-Book-ebook/dp/B0DXN1LF23

The Spring Ball on the first Saturday of Caldryn Parliament’s Spring Term is a night of glamour and power. 

However, this year the witch clans are feuding, and when rival clans trade curses in the ballroom non-magical bystanders are the victims.

As people transform into animals, burst into unwilling song, or fall into magical slumber Vanda Kavanagh, the Warden of Caldryn Parliament, is suspicious.

The witches claim they never intended to hurt anyone, and Vanda believes them. So, who is using the witches as a stalkinghorse for their own agenda, and what is it that they hope to achieve? Most importantly, why can’t the witches undo their own hexes?

If the spells aren’t broken by the next full moon the curses will be permanent.

Mug Shot: Jersey Shore Mug

So, as I may have mentioned, I was in New Jersey recently. For a funeral, so not the happiest of occasions. But I did spend time with all my cousins, so that was nice. And I found this very cool mug at Newark Airport.

I love matte finishes on pretty much anything. Another thing I love about this mug is the Jersey Shore motif--at least in part because the shore is the setting for my Games We Play series (which is now up to three series, for those who are counting) and cousins play a very big part in many of the stories. 

​Atlas Beach: Come for the fun and games, stay for the love, the laughter, the family complications, and, oh, yeah: the occasional ghost! ​

https://www.pgforte.com/games-we-play-series-1

A quirky, family-owned resort on the Jersey Shore is the setting for this erotic, lightly paranormal series. Cousins Brenda, Luke and Gwyn are determined to turn their failing hotel business around. They have no time for love. They're in no mood for games. But it's not going to matter. Not when they're up against a handful of ghosts, a mischievous boggart, a family curse, and destinies written in stone.

https://www.pgforte.com/games-we-play-series-2

The Games We Play crew are back! This time, with two new stories featuring Kristy's brothers. Tino and Rocky only received a passing mention in the first books, but this duology is All About the Bros!

https://www.pgforte.com/games-we-play-series-3

I'm excited to introduce the Whole Latte Love Collection; three new stories set in my favorite fictional New Jersey small town.