Spring has sprung in my part of the world, and I am all about sitting outside on my porch in a hoodie, reading in this beautiful weather with a cup of tea. So I thought why not give you a leaf or two to try out? I thought about owning a tearoom or coffee house years ago, but ultimately, I ended up going back to my roots as working in the medical field and writing after work. I still dream about being able to have a wall of tea leaves and mugs covered in all different kinds of sayings and paintings, chatting with people who are regulars and strangers who just dropped in for a shot of the best brew. So let’s dive in to some good reads that pair well with a hot drink. I’ll take mine with cream. First up is a great book by Lynn Cahoon. Lynn and I just did a cozy con event recently and as always it was a blast to get to hang out with her. Seeing her books on the table right near mine reminded me how much I love this her characters! VOWS OF MURDER (A Tourist Trap Mystery Book 17)…

Each Monday the Smashwords store lists the top ten most highly anticipated indie fiction ebooks based on the previous week’s preorder accumulations. Each title on the list is scheduled to release within the next week. To help the talented authors on this list accumulate even more preorders, click the title of the book. The hyperlink will bring you to a Books2Read page where you can order from your preferred ebook retailer. If the preorder is part of a series, click the hyperlinked series title to learn about the other books in the series. Be sure to check back Friday for a list of the Top 25 Bestselling Indie Ebooks.

Excerpt from SIX DAYS IN BOMBAY by Alka Joshi They had brought Miss Novak to Wadia Hospital around eleven o’clock at night. She was feverish and agitated, cradling her stomach with her arms. The back of her skirt was soaked with blood. Her husband, a pale man with broad shoulders, said she’d been complaining of pain for a few days. The husband hadn’t stayed. He left shortly after bringing her in. When Dr. Holbrook, the house surgeon, finished tending to her—she’d needed a few stitches and quite a bit of morphine—Matron assigned me to nurse her. This was not unusual. Patients who were the least bit foreign were assigned either to me or to Rebecca, the other Anglo-Indian nurse on the night shift, because we spoke fluent English. In the daytime, Matron would assign another Eurasian nurse or take care of the patient herself. “She may be here awhile,” Matron whispered, with a meaningful glance at me. We’re a small hospital, and the patient had been given a private room. It did not escape my notice that she could have been taken to a larger hospital popular with the British but, apparently, there had been need for discretion. Even so,…

When my husband, Dan, found me camping on property I’d inherited from my grandparents, he took everything including the RV I’d been staying in since I’d left him. He dumped my few possessions in the dirt, then drove away and left me stranded in forty-four acres of wild Adirondack forest. Alone and biting back fear, I hauled my possessions through the forest to my family’s old boathouse by the lake—a gambrel roof shed with plank flooring, bare walls, and no insulation or electricity, but it was the only shelter I had. When I dropped the last bag on the plank floor two hours later, all I wanted was to eat a bag of chips, drink a cold beer, and sleep until tomorrow. But the feral cat I’d named Sinatra was waiting to be fed. And I needed a bath. I found Sinatra’s bowl, filled it with kibble, then set the bowl several feet from the boathouse where I knew he wouldn’t feel threatened. While he ate, I inspected the outhouse that sat near the wood line. The latrine door would provide privacy I probably didn’t need out here but definitely wanted. There was no toilet paper, but there were two…

This week on Jen’s Jewels, I’m thrilled to welcome bestselling author Wade Rouse, who writes under the beloved pen name Viola Shipman. Known for his heartfelt novels that celebrate family, tradition, and resilience, Wade’s latest book, THE PAGE TURNER, offers a witty and insightful look into the world of publishing, the power of storytelling, and the voices we too often silence. Inspired by his own journey and the unwavering influence of his grandmother, THE PAGE TURNER is a love letter to readers, writers, and the stories that shape our lives. Join me as we dive into the inspiration behind the novel, Wade’s personal connection to its themes, and what’s next for this talented storyteller. Jennifer Vido: THE PAGE TURNER gives readers a witty and insightful look into publishing. What drew you to this topic, and how did your real-life experiences influence the story? Wade Rouse: I recently signed a new, three-book contract, and it made me stop – as I turn sixty – to think deeply about what types of books I wanted to continue to write. That led me back to my grandma – my pen name, Viola Shipman – and to how a woman who never finished high…

Spring cleaning is necessary when living the RV lifestyle, especially if you’ve been parked in one spot for months. Recently we rolled everything up to drive our motorhome down the road to fill the gas tank. This rolling up and stowing away of everything is a necessary before going down the road, no matter what size or type of RV you have. Now our 150-gallon gas tank is filled with diesel, so we are set for the summer here in NC. Our 43-foot motorhome has a lot more space than a smaller RV, but there are still limits. A drawer or closet can only hold so much. I’ve learned the longer we are parked the more sprawl happens and the more things accumulate. Before we roll things up, sorting must happen. Donation bags get filled and dropped off.  I reorganize everything to make it fit. Sometimes it’s like doing a puzzle. One of thing I love in our home is the cedar lined closet my husband made for me. The bar was too low for my dresses, so l had looped them over hangers so they wouldn’t drag on the floor. I asked him to put a new bar as…

1–What is the title of your latest release? THE GEOGRAPHER’S MAP TO ROMANCE 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Geography professors in a failed marriage of convenience inconveniently reconnect for an emergency mission that involves such perils as exploding rocks, wild weather, only one bed … and most daunting of all, their own relationship. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I was looking for a place in Britain’s countryside to the set the action when I noticed that certain cities and towns were lined up exactly, and this not only gave me my story location but also a major element to the magic system in the book: the fey lines of magic that run beneath the land. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? I would love to spend time with Elodie, I adore and admire her as a person—although having said that, it would have to be only an hour or two, because she has far more energy than I do! She’d also probably encourage some bold or free-spirited venture, and would no doubt consider my suggestion of “trying a new cafe” less daring than I think it…

Book Title: THE CUT Character Name: Gertie Harper How would you describe your family or your childhood? My, well, you’re a brave one to ask an old lady about her childhood! The stories I could tell, once I get started I have to stop myself from going on and on. People’s eyes just glaze over after a point, don’t they? No, it’s probably best I don’t get to reminiscing. My family, they’re not with me. But I know they’re out there somewhere, waiting for me, and I know I’ll see them again one day. What was your greatest talent? Hmm, I do fancy myself handy with the knitting needles! And if we can call it a talent, I have quite a knack for keeping up with the news. I would bet I know just about everything that goes on in this hotel. Significant other? Goodness, no! I guess I’m a spinster. I wouldn’t know what to do with a husband if I had one. Biggest challenge in relationships? Outliving them! I’m sorry, I’m sorry, at my age a touch of gallows humor does help keep the loneliness at bay, though. Where do you live? I’m one of only two permanent…

by C.J. Holmes With Easter just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to celebrate all things new—whether that’s new beginnings, hidden surprises, or exciting discoveries. Much like Easter eggs scattered in a springtime hunt, paranormal romance and fantasy series are filled with unexpected gems that reward those willing to look a little deeper. These little treasures, often hidden in plain sight, are the perfect way to revisit your favorite books and uncover new layers of intrigue, romance, and adventure. Whether it’s a familiar side character stepping into the spotlight, a secret mythology slowly revealed, or a subtle reference to something hinted at earlier in the story, these Easter eggs make rereading a series just as exciting as discovering it for the first time. They’re the little breadcrumbs authors leave to enrich the world, creating moments of sheer delight for the readers who pick up on them. The best part about these Easter eggs is how they elevate a story from the expected to the extraordinary. These sneaky details can alter the way we see the entire series, offering new insights or deepening our connection to the world the author has crafted. For those who thrive on character growth, shifting…

1–What is the title of your latest release? THE SIDEWAYS LIFE OF DENNY VOSS 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? The novel follows a loveable man with diminished mental capacity who is arrested for murder after he sets out to make the world a better place and discovers unexpected truths about himself, his family, and the world along the way. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I’m Canadian, but I decided to set the novel in Minnesota because of the gun violence that plagues the US, which is the underlying issue that drives Denny’s story forward. Beyond that, I’ve been to Minnesota many times, have distant relatives there, and am quite comfortable with the people who live there as they’re a lot like Canadians! 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Absolutely! Denny Voss is a kind, sweet and enigmatic guy. I’d hang out with him in a heartbeat. So far, when getting feedback from readers, before giving me any other comments, they often say, “First of all, I love Denny Voss!” 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Stubborn, Funny, Loyal. 6–What’s something you learned while writing…