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. 

Mug Shot: St. Andrews State Park Mug

 

So this is the second sea turtle themed mug I have. I got in in Saint Andrews, Florida which is home to (apparently) the largest pod of dolphins in the world--as well as a really cool State Park. 

Anyway, the mug. I'm really enjoying this style of mug. I have four of them now. This one has a two-tonedm blue and green glaze which is very marine-like. I kind of wish it had a dolphin instead of a sea turtle, since we saw dolphins there and didn't see turtles, but what can you do? I enjoyed the park and am glad to have a souvenir from my visit. 

Mug Shot: Tie Dye Mug

So this is a cute mug I picked up during my recent Florida trip. I like it because it's giving serious sixties vibes. Also, it's unbreakable, so perfect for the summer and for drinking tea and/or coffee out of doors. 

I've also fallen down the tie-dye rabbit hole on Youtube. My seven-year-old grandson loves tie-dye, so I foresee a lot more interesting craft projects in my future...
 

Mug Shot: Donut Hole Mug

So I picked up this mug during a recent trip to Florida. It's a nice mug. It's shaped like your standard diner mug, which I always like. But it's bigger than most of them. And I like the cobalt blue glaze, and the donuts were pretty good, too. 

And yep, sorry. That's pretty much all I have to say about that!

 

Mug Shot: Amy's Ice Creams

 

This is a fairly average mug. It's a great size, it's sturdy but not too heavy, it's colorful. Amy's ice cream is a local-ish chain. I think it's mostly (or only?) in Texas. I've been hitting it up a lot this summer, since they have a branch near where I charge my car and it's hot. 

The ice cream is good. They only ever have a few flavors at a time, and most of those are pretty standard flavors--although their drinks and combos do elevate the flavors. But I'm a weird ice cream flavor aficionado, so I go more for the unusual flavors offered by places like Salt & Straw or Jenni's. 

But Amy's has FRIENDLY staff and a small-town feel, and this mug. Which, when you turn it around, offers this message: 

KEEP AUSTIN KIND.

I think we all need a lot more kindness.

Mug Shot: Dog Mug

 

This is just a good reminder. I'm currently dogless myself--but we won't talk about that. My grandson has a new puppy, and that's a much happier topic--although, since I've only spent a couple of hours with the newbie, I don't have much to report back on. Yes, it's another Frenchie and obviously he's adorable. And for my grandson, the timing was perfect, he was missing his last dog so much. 

For me, it's still too soon. I'm still mourning my own pups AND my late grandpup, and haven't reached the stage where I'm open to another. Also, given the recent die-off among my cousins, I'm not sure how kind it would be to form a bond with a dog who might outlive me. Yes, I said it. 

When my sister broke the news about our cousin, two of my four siblings were attending "celebrations of life" for someone else. That's a lot of death...which was not what this post was supposed to be about. 

Anyway, puppies are cute and we should all try and be better people. lol!

Mug Shot: Poolside Mug

 

This is another thrift store find. I couldn't resist the pool vibes. Does anything say summer more than a pool? I don't think so. My son just had a pool put in (no, this is not his pool) and we've all been enjoying it very much. 

I grew up with a pool in my backyard, but in my adult life, pools have been hit or miss. We're just not stable people. But I love swimming (Pisces girl over here) and I look forward to making it more of a habit...one of these days. 

It's actually funny, but I don't think I write a lot of pool scenes.  I can't understand why. But here's a teeny excerpt from Sea Change, which at least mentions a pool in passing (literally). And hey, there's a cool pool on the cover!

It was late afternoon when they returned to the ship, still early enough that they had time for a pre-dinner cocktail on deck after they’d changed into their evening wear.

Cara sipped her virgin margarita and leaned on the rail, sighing sadly as she watched Avalon sink slowly into the sunset and out of sight. “I’d love to come back here, sometime,” she said wistfully.

Liam smiled at her. “Well, let’s plan to. Maybe this Summer we can sneak away for a long weekend.”

“Yeah,” she agreed softly. “Maybe.” That’s if they were still even speaking by then.

It was formal night and Liam looked heart-stoppingly handsome in his rented tux; at least that’s what Cara assumed the problem was, the reason why, every time she looked at him, she felt an aching wrench in her chest. When it was time to go in to dinner he held out his arm and she hesitated only briefly before she took it. For once, her body seemed willing to cooperate with her need to be close to him. Probably just trying to stay warm, she thought. The breeze up on deck wasn’t exactly cold, but it sliced right through the chiffon of her wrap and she was more grateful than usual for the warmth Liam offered.

Cara glanced longingly at the pool as they passed it. It had been so long since she’d been swimming, since she’d submerged herself in water and felt it flow over her, felt it caressing her skin. Maybe later, after dinner when everyone was busy elsewhere, she’d sneak back up...or no. She couldn’t do that, could she? She and Liam had other plans for after dinner. Plans that still caused a jittery, frightened sensation in the pit of her stomach and left her wondering how she’d manage to eat even a bite of dinner.

 

SEA CHANGE

An Oberon Sequel Novella   

https://books2read.com/Sea-Change-Oberon

 

In this sequel to the Oberon series (and yes, you'll probably want to read that first) Cara and Liam are still trying to find their footing on the sometimes rocky road to happily ever after...

When the going gets tough...the tough go cruising?

Love is supposed to overcome any obstacles—that’s what Cara always thought. But when love alone is not enough to help her overcome the trauma in her past, she knows it’s time to get creative.

Surely a change of scenery would help. A week at sea—new faces, new places, a fresh start with no expectations—how could that be anything but fun? At least that’s what her boyfriend Liam thinks when he books them on a romantic cruise vacation along the California coast.

Cara’s not so sure. She thinks the trip is likely to be a lot of things—memorable, life altering, a turning point. Fun isn’t one of them.

But, with so much at stake, and a New Year fast approaching, there’s only one thing the two of them can agree on: they’re both willing to try just about anything to make love last.

Mug Shot: Fathers Day Mug

 

So, this is a mug I had made for my husband a verrrrry long time ago, when are kids were as pictured on the mug. It's faded considerably over the years. My daughter's skin was not yellow, her dress was pink, and my son was wearing a DARK green shirt. 

Crazy right? 

Oh, and also, the type in the picture below? Yeah, those were primary colors once upon a time. 

Speaking of my son, he's a dad himself now, and his son is SUCH a mini-me that I'm not always sure whose photo I'm looking at.