Book: THE HEISTCharacter: Juli Butler How would you describe your family or your childhood?I grew up in New Hope, Connecticut. Small-town normal with a dash of… complicated. My dad co-owned and worked at Main Street Motors garage until he left town when I was in high school. My mom owned JB Antiques. Between the two, I grew up learning how to use power tools, put air in my tires, and honing my unique ability to tell the difference between a valuable heirloom and junk disguised as “rustic charm.” My childhood smelled like motor oil and pies cooling on the windowsill. Overall, love was never in short supply. Answers sometimes were. I grew up wanting to see the world…craving adventure. I sure did find that in Boston. What was your greatest talent?I have a knack for spotting what doesn’t belong—whether it’s a suspicious detail, a lie wrapped in a smile, or a missing piece in a puzzle. I blame it on too many years restoring antiques and breathing exhaust fumes. My brain just… connects dots. Even when I wish it wouldn’t. Significant other?Ha. That’s a loaded question. Let’s just say the relationship Gods have a sense of humor. I’ve traded country…

I can’t believe it’s been a whole year since I started writing this column! All good things come to an end and since my projects have become a bit overwhelming, I’m saying goodbye. But before I go, I wanted to recommend some Christmas mysteries from authors I’ve recommended over the year. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season – with only paperback murders! I’ve talked about Benjamin Stevenson before in my column on Australian mysteries. You may want to read the first two books in the series (EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY HAS KILLED SOMEONE and EVERYONE ON THIS TRAIN IS A SUSPECT) before tackling this novella. Benjamin Stevenson returns with a Christmas addition to his bestselling, “deviously good fun” (Nita Prose), Ernest Cunningham mysteries. Unwrap all the Christmas staples: presents, family, an impossible murder or two, and a deadly advent calendar of clues. If Knives Out and The Thursday Murder Club kissed under the mistletoe. I’ve mentioned how much I love Donna Andrews in an earlier column, and I recommend you don’t miss this one! SIX GEESE A-SLAYING by Donna Andrews Meg Langslow Meg and Michael’s house is serving as the marshaling point for the annual Caerphilly Christmas parade. The theme…

Book Title: DAUGHTER OF GENOACharacter Name: Father Vittorio How would you describe your family or your childhood?Let me put it this way. When I was just seventeen, I joined the Society of Jesus as a novice. When you become a Jesuit, you say goodbye to your family, and you go wherever you are sent. That’s very hard for some men, especially those who come from happy and loving homes. For me, it was easy. I left and I never looked back. What was your greatest talent?At school, I thought I would be a great priest-scholar like the Jesuits who taught me. It turned out that I was meant to look after books, not write them. Right now, though, I mostly look after people. Significant other?That would be against the rules! Biggest challenge in daily life?Jesuit priests live in community, but I spend a lot of time alone. I am a librarian by training, but when the Germans occupied Italy, I was seconded to the Archbishop of Genoa, Cardinal Boetto, to carry out important clandestine work helping the Jewish community. This means that I have to keep a great many secrets from those around me. I can never let down my…

What is the title of your latest release?THE TIME HOP COFFEE SHOP What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?A jaded actress, once famous for starring in TV coffee commercials, finds that drinking a cup of “magical” coffee takes her to Mapleville — the idyllic, make-believe town from the commercials. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?I usually set my novels in the North West of England where I live. However, THE TIME HOP COFFEE SHOP has two settings. I based its other location on warm, cosy coffee commercials I’ve seen. In Mapleville, the sky is blue, everywhere is clean, people are beautiful and friendly, and the coffee always tastes great. Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?Yes, definitely. I think I’d find Greta Perks funny and fascinating. She starred in the iconic Maple Gold coffee commercials ten years ago but has since found herself out of favour in the acting world. I bet she’d have some fun stories to share from behind the scenes. What are three words that describe your hero?Tenacious, nostalgic, perfectionist What’s something you learned while writing this book?I’m not a fan of hot drinks, so I had…

Book Title: FAR FROM THE A-LISTCharacter Name: Michaela Turner How would you describe your family or your childhood?This is what everyone wants to know, isn’t it? Obviously, you saw my childhood play out on TV as little Daisy from Breyer’s Town. No, I won’t say her catchphrase for you and no, I didn’t actually have a gumball machine in my bedroom. If you’re curious about my real life and my childhood off screen, well, pick up my mother’s tell-all. Everyone else has. What was your greatest talent?My mother would say it’s acting. She’d say I was born to be a star. I guess the Emmy voters agreed. Significant other?How much time do you have? I’m sure you want to hear about my current relationship with Burke Sanders. You don’t get to date the hottest guy in baseball without everyone feeling like it’s their business, especially when you’re Page Six’s favorite fodder. The tabloids have enough on me, though, so I think I’ll leave it at that. Biggest challenge in relationships?Look, everyone thinks I’m supposed to be one of two things: what little Daisy should have been when she grew up, or that hot party girl from the tabloids. No matter…

Each Friday the Smashwords store reports the bestselling indie fiction titles based on the previous week’s sales. If an author has more than one title eligible for the list, only the highest performing title will be included. This ensures high-performing titles receive the accolades they deserve, while providing up-and-coming authors the visibility they have earned. Don’t miss Monday’s Top 10 Hot Preorders List, where Smashwords will provide a list of the most highly anticipated ebook preorders.

In her latest novel, bestselling author Julie Klassen transports readers to the hauntingly beautiful village of Painswick, weaving together Regency romance, classic whodunit intrigue, and rich historical atmosphere. Inspired by a spontaneous stay at an old English manor, Julie brings to life a story filled with mystery, heart, and a heroine whose journey is as compelling as the setting itself. I had the pleasure of chatting with Julie about the origins of her story, the influences behind its Gothic charm, and what she hopes readers will carry with them long after the final page. Jen: What first inspired you to write this novel? Was it a character, a setting like Painswick Court, or the idea of blending Regency romance with a whodunit mystery?Julie: For this book, the setting inspired me. My husband and I first visited Painswick in England a few years ago and were both charmed by the village and especially by its beautiful churchyard. In a moment of spontaneity, we ventured into the old manor house adjacent to the church, which was at that point acting as a B & B and asked if they had any rooms available. That stay helped inspire this novel. The manor has…

October may have belonged to fangs and fog, but the whole year reminded me why paranormal and fantasy romance endures. These books let love walk around with teeth, with talons, with wings, yet still speak softly about care and choice. They blended indie audacity with trad polish, took us from small Southern packs to snow-bitten mountains, from dungeon cells to holiday streets. Some burned hot, some slow-simmered, all of them insisted that tenderness is not the absence of danger, it is the promise you keep inside it. Below are some that stayed with me long after the lights were out and the kettle had cooled. A REBEL WITHOUT CLAWS – Juliette Cross Juliette Cross kicks off a next-gen spin-off of Stay a Spell with bad-boy werewolf Ronan Reed and Aura witch Celine Cruz colliding in Louisiana pack country. There is wolf cage-fighting, a protective Blood Moon family orbit, and that delicious problem where the girl who fixes everyone else meets the one man who unravels her careful rules. The setup is pure catnip for fated-mates fans, with a sultry Southern vibe and plenty of pack politics. Even better, the tone lands equal parts rowdy and tender, with an emphasis on…

Music (just like writing) remains a deeply personal form of creative expression. When writing MS. PEACOCK’S MISTLETOE SOCIETY, I wrote about the importance of second chances and courage. Sometimes for ourselves and sometimes for others. As always, the playlist wasn’t far behind. Hint: The songs below are tied to the book’s plot. “Linger”The CranberriesWhen we first meet Ms. Peacock, she’s still recovering from a long, epic love. A romance that lingers in her bones. The song “Linger” perfectly embodies her unwillingness to move forward, even though she has so much to embrace in her near future. The lyrics also emphasize our stubborn heroine’s steadfast personality and sensitive nature (even though she tries her best to show a tough exterior). “Rhiannon”Fleetwood MacAs the novel progresses, we begin to see the importance of strong female friendships and inner courage. Ms. Peacock starts to embrace her new team while attempting to unravel one of the most mind-boggling mysteries that her small but mighty secret sleuthing society has ever strived to solve. “You Were Meant For Me”JewelMs. Peacock grows smitten with one of the top suspects, and chaos unfolds within the ranks of the distinguished sleuthing society. Can we trust an outsider? Is it…

It’s December and many of us are looking out at snow covered landscapes. I thought you might want to armchair travel with me through a different kind of landscape, one of sand but not the sands of a warm beach by the ocean. Instead, I’m taking us to Coral Sand Dunes State Park in Utah. In August 2021, after spending the morning wandering among the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon, we drove southwest, chasing a different kind of wonder: the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, Utah. The name alone sounds like something from a dream and standing at the base of those windswept rose-colored hills, we discovered it was exactly that. From the parking area, the dunes looked deceptively gentle, a soft ripple of red against the sky. But the moment we stepped onto the sand; we knew the climb would be its own adventure. Each foot sank deeply, swallowing our steps and testing muscles we didn’t realize we’d been neglecting. In a photo from our visit, you can see one of us standing ankle-deep with every stride, the footprints behind us already softened by the breeze. There are no stairs, no handrails, no guided switchbacks. Just you, the open…