Fresh FIction Box Not To Miss
Abbie Roads | What a Nightmare
Author Guest / October 12, 2016

I woke to the familiar shadows of gray and black blanketing our room, but for some inexplicable reason I felt afraid. Almost like I’d just had a nightmare. I faced the edge of the bed, my husband spooning me, his arm around my waist, his head behind mine on the pillow. There was something off about his breathing. It wasn’t the calm, slow breathing of someone asleep. No. It was the kind of breathing that came from great exertion. Or fear. When my husband spoke it was more breath than sound and meant only for me to hear. “Someone’s in here.” My heart exploded. My body tensed. His arm tightened around me, telling me with his action that we should lie there unmoving, pretending to be asleep, and hope the intruder wouldn’t bother with us. My gaze ping ponged around the room, searching for the man. At first I didn’t see anyone. Then I spotted him. He crawled on his hands and knees along the side of the bed toward me. I thought I had known fear. I hadn’t known fear until I knew he was going to kill me. Kill us. Then I woke up. Yep. That was one…

Mysteries Pets Make Fall Thrillers
Cozy Corner / October 12, 2016

There are a few things that are an absolute must in the world of cozy mysteries, but first and foremost are the animals. A quirky, troublesome pet defines the genre—at least for me it does. I look for the image on the cover, a hint of a fur baby in the title or the series, and absolutely eat up the pages where the characters spend time with their ever loyal pet(s). Whether it’s a cat on the prowl, or a mischievous dog digging up trouble, the animals add a dimension to the story that you don’t normally find in other genres. They define cozy and keep me coming back for more. Watch for these new pet-tastic mysteries this month! NO FARM, NO FOUL by Peg Cochran Farmer’s Daughter First in the Farmer’s Daughter mystery series set on a picturesque farm in Michigan, where Shelby McDonald runs a popular lifestyle and cooking blog, from the national bestselling author of the Cranberry Cove Mysteries. On her blog, The Farmer’s Daughter, Shelby McDonald is growing her audience as she posts recipes, gardening tips, and her experiences raising two kids and running Love Blossom Farm in the small western Michigan town of Lovett. Working…

Victoria Davies | Organized Chaos
Author Guest / October 12, 2016

Organization makes life easier. Four words I’ve been told again and again as a writer. Four words I simply can’t live by. I’m always jealous of the people I meet who are able to write lists and structure their days in a way that allows them to move seamlessly from task to task. When I first started joining writing groups, many of the people I met fit this picture. They created detailed plots and planned out every aspect of the epic growth and transformation of their characters. They could pull out journals and bits of paper from their purse where they jotted down every idea to flit through their incredible brains and created a road map of exactly where they wanted to go. I, on the other hand, live in a constant state of chaos. Seriously, you should see my home. I’m of the opinion that if I put something away I’ll forget it forever. Out of sight, out of mind. So when I tried to learn from my peers about their writing styles, I quickly learned what worked for them didn’t work for me. When I write, I don’t do so in order. I write the big, important scenes…

Asa Marie Bradley | Excerpt from VIKING WARRIOR REBEL
Author Guest / October 12, 2016

Luke’s leg brushed against hers, triggering an immediate response from her overactive hormones. Just being near him turned her on. He held himself differently now than at the club. Tension coiled in his muscles like he was prepared for an imminent attack. “You seem very familiar with military terminology,” Astrid said, keeping her tone casual. He shrugged. “I served for a while.” She’d bet it was for more than “a while,” judging by how quickly his mind had snapped into strategic planning. It would have been a career. “What branch?” “The Marines, of course. There is no other worth joining.” Holden fired one of his grins at her. She wasn’t overly familiar with the different branches of the U.S. military, but she did know that the marines were elite soldiers. She and her battle brothers and sisters were einherjar, Odin’s and Freya’s elite soldiers. She wondered if Holden’s training had been similar to theirs but doubted his had included how to kill supernatural creatures like Loki’s wolverines. “What about you?” Holden asked. Startled from her thoughts, she didn’t know what he meant. “What about me?” “You obviously know something about the military. Did you serve?” Talk about a loaded question….