Excerpt from The Painter Takes an Earl by Misty Urban   The key to the garden gate was exactly where the gardener she’d spied on earlier that day had left it when his work was done. Harriette wouldn’t have asked someone to prop the door open for her. London’s all too active criminal element wouldn’t refrain from attempting to rob a house with dozens of people in it. The city’s thieves were wildly inventive, according to Jock, her groom. Men slid into houses during the day and then hid to let their cronies inside at night. Boys were pushed through windows to open an inside door, or lamplighters enjoined to leave ladders against the sides of houses. How Jock knew all of this, she couldn’t guess, since his former profession had been respectable. She could, of course, have chosen the simpler but more unreliable approach of milling around Grosvenor Square waiting for Renwick to step outside his house. She could still try to stroll inside with the other guests and ask the butler to announce her. And what would he say? “Miss Harriette Smythe of Shepton Mallet, presumed bastard daughter of a refugee foreigner posing as a noblewoman. Would-be painter.”…

1–What is the title of your latest release? LOVE AT FIRST BOOK 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Emily Allen, a librarian from Martha’s Vineyard, takes a job as the assistant to her favorite author in Ireland. Everyone is wonderful and welcoming except the handsome local bookshop owner, Kieran Murphy, who is also the author’s son. As much as they try to ignore the attraction between them, and they really do try, they simply can’t resist each other. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I wanted to travel to Ireland and writing a book set there seemed like a fine reason to go. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Absolutely. As a former librarian myself I know we’d be best friends immediately. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Smart, fierce, loyal. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? That the ones we love never really leave us. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? I wait until I’m done. 8–What’s your favorite foodie indulgence? Cookies. It used to be cake, but I’ve discovered gourmet cookies and there’s no going…

Samurai Squadron III: Spinward Fringe Broadcast 20 by Randolph Lalonde Cornered at the Corral, Book 4, Ghost Town Mysteries by Jamie L. Adams His Willing Wife by Sam Crescent Duchess of a Distant Realm, Book 5, Brotherhood of Blood – Wildwood Series by Bianca D’Arc Wild Magic Book Six by Odette C. Bell All the Stars in Her Hand by Laura Briggs Road Trips, Blue Skies & Dead Guys by Jennifer Fischetto In This Moment, Book 2, Heart of Vallantine Series by Kelly Moran Care, Book 5, White House Men Series by Nora Phoenix Knot Dead Again, Book 10, Yarn Retreat Mysteries by Betty Hechtman     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….

Instead of trying to find your perfect match in a dating app, we bring you the “Author-Reader Match” where we introduce you to authors you may fall in love with. It’s our great pleasure to present K.T. Carlisle!   Writes: Hello! I’m K.T. Carlisle and I write murder mysteries and psychological thrillers with twisty plots and despicable characters that constantly find themselves in impossible situations. My latest book, FORGET-ME-NOT, is the second in my debut murder mystery series, “What Happened to Mia Davis?” A twisted tale full of unreliable narrators and shocking secrets, FORGET-ME-NOT brings readers on a thrilling and unpredictable journey of discovery through the eyes of three women whose individual stories weave a complex tapestry of mystery and intrigue.   About: A self-professed true crime junkie, I am drawn to anything dark, twisted, and slightly horrific. When I’m not conducting book research that is sure to get me placed on the FBI’s Most Wanted list, I can usually be found reading in my hammock on my 11-acre plot of wooded property, tending to my flock of chickens, wrangling my house full of rescue dogs, or watching re-runs of The Office with my wonderful husband.   My perfect reader…

1–What is the title of your latest release? THE HUNTER’S DAUGHTER 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? The secret daughter of a notorious serial killer must catch his copycat, using the tricks her father taught her in the forest long ago. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I grew up in the rural Midwest, and I wanted the landscape to be as much of a character in the book as the others. It was fun to be able to work in details of flora and fauna that I remembered from when I was a girl, like particular snakes, trees, and mushrooms. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? I would! I think Anna Koray is a bit alien and a tough person to get to know. But I like watching how she works evidence from a case, how she draws logical and intuitive conclusions from what she sees. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Driven, secretive, and intuitive. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? Weirdly enough, it’s something I learned about my process. I thought I needed an outline and to really control the story,…

1–What is the title of your latest release? A FRIEND INDEED 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Your best friend killed someone. She needs your help to dispose of the body. You love – and owe – her. A friend in need is a friend indeed… 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? The story’s set in Glebes Bay, a charming coastal town in the Pacific Northwest, like where I grew up, on Canada’s Vancouver Island. A lot of the action takes place in Winderlea, a Scottish Baronial seaside mansion, home to one of the main characters and her family. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? The story’s about two best friends, one a struggling single mom and the other wildly wealthy. I’d hang out with both of them in real life, BUT … In any sentence, it’s what’s after the ‘but’ that matters. In many ways these women are admirable – smart, strong, and determined, but they’re also manipulative and self-serving. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Jo: Loyal, resourceful, and wily. Dana: Elegant, artistic, and convincing. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? This…

1–What is the title of your latest release? THE DECEIVED ONES 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? The Deceived Ones is a contemporary reimagining of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night about a love-quadrangle in which fraternal twins, separated when fleeing Ukraine, learn that gender can play out in unexpected ways, and a composer with writer’s block improvises on how to engage the soprano of his dreams. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? Since I live in Baltimore, I wanted to set it in this city, which mixes grace and grit, as Shakespeare’s play does. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? The Deceived Ones is written from multiple points of view, so there are a number of protagonists. That said, as in Shakespeare’s play, there is one character who is slightly more prominent, and I would love to hang out with her. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Vulnerable, gifted, courageous 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? I learned how to prepare vegan holubtsi, which are Ukrainian stuffed cabbage rolls. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? No matter how much…

Welcome to Jen’s Jewels, where we delve into the sparkling gems of the literary world. In today’s installment, we sit down with the talented Savannah Carlisle to uncover the inspirations behind her enchanting debut novel, THE LIBRARY OF SECOND CHANCES. From clandestine notes in a Little Free Library to the intertwining paths of Lucy and Logan, join us as we unravel the threads of community, love, and historic preservation woven throughout this captivating tale. With insights into character motivations, themes of resilience, and a tantalizing glimpse into Savannah’s next project, this conversation promises to be a literary treasure trove for readers eager to explore the depths of small-town charm and heartfelt romance.   Jennifer Vido: What inspired you to write THE LIBRARY OF SECOND CHANCES? Was there a particular moment or experience that sparked the idea for Lucy and Logan’s story? Savannah Carlisle: It started with the idea of leaving index cards in a Little Free Library so people could write notes to stick in the book they’re leaving telling people why they should read it. Then I thought it would be fun if the locals in this small town signed their notes with pen names, because maybe someone like…

1–What is the title of your latest release? DAUGHTERS OF SHANDONG 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? At the turning point of China’s Communist Revolution, Hai’s father abandons her, along with her mother and sisters. Starving but determined, the women must walk, beg, and bluff their way through war torn China to find and confront the family that left them behind. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? The book is based on my family story and follows my grandmother’s journey from rural Shandong to Qingdao, then Hong Kong, and eventually to Taiwan. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Hai’s character is based on my grandmother, so yes! My “protagonist” helped raise me, and much of her personality has shaped my own. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Determined, caring, braver-than-she-thinks-she-is 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? I learned so much about the refugee enclaves in Hong Kong, which I never even knew existed. I had always assumed that my grandmother went directly from Northern China to Taiwan. I never realized that so many Chinese refugees had to pass through Hong Kong—and that many of…

Instead of trying to find your perfect match in a dating app, we bring you the “Author-Reader Match” where we introduce you to authors you may fall in love with. It’s our great pleasure to present Hannah Lynn!   Writes: Hannah Lynn is an award-winning novelist who writes epic and binge-worthy stories from mythology, told from the view of lesser-known characters. Her books offer an insight into the mythology tales we believe we know so well and cause you to question all you have been told.   About: I am a lover of all things bookish who can generally be found reading, writing or with a cat on my lap. As a former physics teacher, I taught around the world, including Asia, Europe and the Middle East and am now back in England where I spend most of my time in my shed at the bottom of the garden. (I love it!) An unusual thing about me is that I was once asked to sing for a former prime minister in a language I didn’t speak!   What I’m looking for in my ideal reader match: Loves delving into the rich world of mythology. Enjoys twists and turns of narrative that keep you turning the…