April 2016 edition

Reviews, Interviews, New Releases 

Vol 6 Issue 3 

April 2016 

Interview with 

New York Times 

Bestselling Author 

Hank Phillippi Ryan 

Articles 

Writing the Line - 

What makes 

Christian literature 

Christian 

by Delia Latham 

BOOK EXCERPTS 

PRIME TIME 

by Hank Phillippi Ryan 

BELOVED ENEMY 

by Hywela Lyn 

THE TASTE OF MURDER 

by Trisha Sugarek 

Interview with author 

and playwriter 

Trisha Sugarek 

MOVE YOUR BLOOMING 

CORPSE 

by D.E. Ireland 

turn the page c

in this issue 

April 

2016 

On the cover ... Hank Phillippi Ryan 

What You See Prime Time 

The Other Woman Face Time 

The Wrong Girl Drive Time 

Truth Be Told Air Time 

Writes of Passage 

See her interview on page 4 

Review Columns 

Romance 

Jackie’s Jargon . . . Page 8 

Mystery 

Roberta’s Ramblings . . . Page 12 

Paranormal/Urban Fantasy 

The Eclectic Express . . . Page 23 

Interviews ... 

Mystery author 

Trisha Sugarek 

Page 10 

Book Excerpts 

PRIME TIME 

by Hank Phillippi Ryan . . . Page 5 

BELOVED ENEMY 

by Hywela Lyn . . .Page 9 

Articles 

Writing the Line - What makes 

Christian literature Christian 

by Delia Latham . . . Page 7 

THE TASTE OF MURDER 

by Trisha Sugarek . . . Page 11 

MOVE YOUR BLOOMING CORPSE 

by D.E. Ireland . . . Page 13 

New Releases 

Everywhere 

© 2016 The Book Breeze Page 2

Time Travel 

Romance 

"What's going on?" she asked, leaning over the banister, one bare foot 

dropping over the edge of the step. 

"I think you better go on back up, Miss. It wouldn't be proper for you 

to be seen dressed like this." 

The valet had no more finished speaking when, as though in response 

to his words, the music drifted away in mid-strain and the whispering 

became louder. The violin bows grew still and the soft flute became 

silent. The dance room seemed to have frozen and there were entirely too 

many eyes turned in her direction. 

Erika scanned the room of faces - faces she had never seen before. 

Several pale skinned women stared at her from behind their open fans and 

others from behind crystal goblets poised at their lips. A couple of men 

blew cigar smoke into the air as they watched her. 

"Who is she?" 

Their whispered words, spoken by voices unchecked, drifted clearly 

to Erika's ears. 

"Hardly dressed at all." 

"A man's shirt." 

"Of all the nerve." 

"You'd expect this kind of thing under the hill, but how did that trollop 

get in here?" 

What were they talking about? Her eyes paused on a man in the 

back of the room whose face stood out from the others. His eyes locked 

with hers across the crowded room. She inhaled sharply. 

It was him! It was the man she had seen riding up on the black stallion 

- the man in the portrait hanging in the parlor. 

Once again he was staring at her with that intensity that made her 

hands quiver. The passion in his gaze frightened her. His eyes slowly caressed 

her body down to her bare feet and slid back up to imprison her 

eyes. 

He weaved his way across the ballroom, then started up the stairs. 

He spoke. But she couldn't make out his words. 

© 2016The Book Breeze Page 3

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN is the on-air investigative reporter for 

Boston's NBC affiliate, winning 33 EMMYs and dozens more journalism honors. 

The bestselling author of eight mysteries, Ryan's also an award-winner 

in her second profession—now with five Agathas, two Anthonys, two Macavitys, 

the Daphne, and Mary Higgins Clark Award. Her TRUTH BE TOLD won 

the 2015 Agatha, and she edited the 2015 Agatha-winning non-fiction 

WRITES OF PASSAGE. Critics call her “a superb and gifted story-teller.” A 

founder of MWA University, Hank was 2013 president of Sisters in Crime. Her 

newest book, WHAT YOU SEE, is a Library Journal Best of 2015. 

Tell us about your new release. 

Well, depends on what you mean by new! My newest 

thriller WHAT YOU SEE was just 

nominated for the Agatha for Best 

Mystery of the Year, so that's fabulous. 

As you know you can read my books in 

any order, but it’s the fourth Jane 

Ryland adventure. 

Here's what got me thinking about 

WHAT YOU SEE: what if you realized 

you were married to someone who had 

lied to you from moment one? Who was 

not who they said they were. What if 

you completely fell for it? And then, as 

the real truth begins to emerge, and he 

figures he'll get caught, he takes your 

daughter and tell you you'll never see 

her again. What would it be like to know 

your whole life was based on a lie? 

Couple that with the constant surveillance in our lives… 

Cameras watching us wherever we go. How could that 

deception and that surveillance mesh to make a pageturning 

thriller? What if WHAT YOU SEE in surveillance, 

or in photographs, or on a computer monitor—is not the 

truth? And that is WHAT YOU SEE. (Which, if I may add, 

is also a Library Journal Best of 2015.) 

But you said it depends on what you mean by new? 

What does that mean? 

Oh, that’s such a great story. My very first mystery is also 

new. Again! The first of the Charlotte McNally series, called 

PRIME TIME, had been out of print for a little while. But 

there was so much interest in it, my new publisher snagged 

the rights and decided to bring it back! So now the fun, 

funny, and fast-paced Charlie McNally mysteries are 

available again! PRIME TIME won the Agatha Award for 

best first mystery, and the other three (so far) in the series, 

all bestsellers and award nominees, will be out every other 

month this year. I am so fond of these four books in the 

Charlie series, and I'm thrilled that new readers will be 

introduced to them. 

What led you to write this book? 

PRIME TIME? Well, I remember it perfectly. A life-changing 

moment, right? One day at work, at Channel 7/NBC 

Boston, where I have been a reporter for so many years :- 

) , I was deleting spam emails from my computer, and 

opened one by mistake. What was in that email spam was 

so shocking, I thought… Well I'm not going to tell you. 

Because it would spoil the book! But that 

spam email was the impetus for PRIME TIME, 

and I promise: when you read the book, you 

will never look at your own email the same 

way again. 

Did you have an interesting experience in 

the research of this book? 

Oh, in my 40 years as a reporter ,I have wired 

myself with hidden cameras, confronted 

corrupt politicians, gone undercover and in 

disguise! I've had people confess to murder, 

handled crime scenes, covered fires and swat 

ream situations and tear gas and hurricanes 

and on and on… our stories have changed 

laws and changed lives. So it is a real joy to 

be able to share that authenticity with readers, 

you know? The high stress and the highstakes, 

the responsibility, the joy--and the disappointment 

and the triumphs. 

Being a reporter, I never know what will happen in the next 

moment! It’s exciting, and terrifying, and wonderful… And I 

am so delighted to be able to convey that in the Charlotte 

McNally and Jane Ryland books. 

Are any of your characters loosely based on people 

you know in real life? 

Oh gosh, I confess, since it's only between us, there is a 

lot of me in Charlie McNally. She's determined, and a 

dedicated journalist, and worries what happens to a person 

who's married to her job in television when the camera 

doesn't love her anymore. Because of that, I'm always so 

gratified when people say oh, I love Charlie , she's so fun 

and funny and smart, I wish she could be my friend. And I 

think, smiling to myself, well thank you! 

As for others? Well, there’s no one based on a real 

person… Okay. I will confess that Charlie’s mother, Mrs. 

McNally, is exactly my mom. She recognized herself, too. 

And loved it. 

Do you know the end of your books before you write 

it? 

No! I really don't. I don't use an outline, so the only way I 

know what happens next is by writing the next word and 

the next sentence and the next scene.. Is it a constant 

surprise what happens. When I got almost to the end of 


WHAT YOU SEE, I flounced into the living room, in despair, 

and said to my husband “I cannot solve the mystery I 

created for myself! This puzzle is just too difficult!“ 

My husband said, “Well, honey? You're almost done with 

the book, you certainly know who the bad guy is, don't 

you?” And I just paused and said, “Well, no. I don't. 

And when I finally figured out what happened in WHAT 

YOU SEE, I was by myself in my study, and I stood up and 

applauded. I was so pleased with the ending! So when 

people say to me: the ending of your books always surprise 

me! I say yes don't they? They surprised me, too! Talk 

about a surprise ending--I surprise myself. 

And I hope that always happens! 

What do you do when you are not writing? 

Well, my husband would tell you, I am thinking about 

writing! I have a very demanding job as a television 

reporter, so research and writing and shooting and editing 

for that takes up a big chunk of time. I am working on my 

next book right now, and that takes up the rest of the time! 

I must say, it is quite a juggle. Cooking was the first to go… 

My husband will be the first to tell you. 

And we have not taken a vacation in 

many years. But the joy of writing 

overcomes everything else. 

Which book impacted you as a 

teenager? 

It's funny, because I remember the books 

I read as a kid, mysteries with Nancy 

Drew, and Sherlock Holmes, and Hercule 

Poirot. Oh, and the Edward Eager 

fantasies, and Jane Langton’s Diamond 

in the Window. And A Wrinkle in Ti,e. And 

Visit to the Mushroom Planet. 

As a teenager I remember sneaking 

Marjorie Morningstar from my parents’ 

bookshelf, (I think I thought it would be 

racy!) and I madly read political thrillers, isn't that funny? 

Like Failsafe and Alas, Babylon and Seven Days in May 

and On the Beach. (You can tell I am a child of the sixties!) 

But that's when I fell in love with storytelling, and suspense, 

and realized I loved that kind of page turning , 

unputdownable thriller. It's the kind of book I love to read 

now, too! 

So-What are you reading now? 

My night table pile is way too tall! Right now I am reading 

the fabulous Gregg Hurwitz ‘s ORPHAN X, a new book by 

Brunonia Barry (she wrote The Lace Reader) called The 

Fifth Petal (a wonderfully creepy story about modern-day 

Salem witches), and Chris Pavone’s new international 

thriller The Travelers. All fabulous. I just finished Gilly 

Macmillan’s What She Knew, also terrific. I cannot wait for 

the new Lisa Unger, and the new Jeffrey Deaver. So many 

books! (If you have a favorite, let me know! Just come to 

my website http://www.HankPhillippiRyan.com and click on 

contact. Mention this blog—and I’ll send you a special gift!) 

What social media do you participate in? 

Oh please, don't ask me about this. I am very fond of 

Facebook, I will admit it, and hope you all will come find me 

on Hank Phillippi Ryan author page. I have lots of fun and 

contests and a lot of inside scoop. I know, I know, it's bad 

for me. It gets in the way of writing. But it is irresistible. 

I'm also on Twitter, and Instagram. Way too much.But I 

always always answer emails from readers—just click 

Contact on my webpage—and it comes directly to me! 

What’s next for you? 

Hurray! I just hit “send” on the final final edit of my brandnew 

book SAY NO MORE, and my editor says it’s the best 

yet! It comes out November 2016. So exciting—and I have 

to say I love this book. It's all about the power of silence, 

and how keeping quiet may be the most dangerous 

weapon of all. 

Would you share an excerpt from your book? 

Here’s a bit from the Charlotte McNally mystery PRIME 

TIME. And oh, thank you! LOVE these questions! 

When I arrive at the cemetery, a long, slowmoving 

caravan of cars is snaking down a 

narrow unpaved road, each car puffing up a 

plume of gravel dust as it curves past a stone 

and masonry sign that says “Eventide.” I ease 

my Jeep onto the end of the line, and pushing 

my conscience out of the way, flip the switch to 

turn on my headlights. 

It’s Mack Briggs’ funeral procession, and now 

I’m part of it. 

The cars line up to park, one after the other, on 

the side of a grassy rise. Beyond that, I see a 

dark green canopy set up on metal poles, rows 

of folding chairs underneath. The first arrivals 

file into the seating area, men in substantial 

overcoats, hatless, braving the cold. Women 

wrapped in extra shawls and close-fitting hats against the 

increasing chill, their faces somber and serious, some 

holding flowers and little prayer books. A little boy carrying 

a firetruck stumbles a bit in the gravel, and as he grabs the 

hand of the man walking next to him. I can tell they’ve both 

been crying. A flock of gray birds wheels gracefully over 

the mourners, gliding through the dusky sky then leaving 

the cemetery silent. 

It’s almost time for me to turn into the parking area, but now, 

sneaking into someone’s funeral, my conscience kicks its 

way back in. Questioning my own motives and attempting 

to retrieve my moral compass, all I can think about is 

getting out of here. This is a hideous invasion of privacy. 

This is why people hate reporters. It’s shocking, 

unacceptable, certainly a no-refund no-exchange ticket to 

hell and eternal damnation. 

Continued on page 6 

© 2016The Book Breeze Page 5

7 

But I can save myself. All I have to do is say, I made a 

mistake. I’m in the wrong place, forgive me, I thought this 

was someone else’s service. I’m so sorry, big adios, and 

exit. 

But, I hafta know… 

Excerpt from PRIME TIME continued from page 5 

I look up, and a dark suited attendant is waving me into the 

next spot. I follow his directions, lock my better judgment 

in the glove compartment, and get out of the car. 

Staking out a spot behind the rows of folding chairs, I try to 

stay hidden by an ancient maple tree. No one seems to notice 

me, but problem is, I can only see backs of heads, 

which is no help at all in my search for suspects. I thought 

I might recognize someone or get some clue by coming 

here, like the FBI agents who shadow the edges of organized 

crime funerals to see if some fugitive mob boss, inexorably 

drawn to the burial of his arch rival, sneaks out of 

hiding to savor a final moment of gangster revenge. So 

much for that idea. 

The minister looks up from this Bible, scanning the group, 

squinting with stern disapproval. The mourners look at each 

other, concerned and upset. I suddenly hear why—someone’s 

cell phone is trilling, muffled slightly but still a disastrous 

breach of etiquette for some poor-- 

I dive for my purse, whirling to put the tree between me and 

the service. It’s my phone. I plow though my bag and 

smash the off button without even looking at my caller ID. 

Good work, I congratulate myself. Subtle. 

I lean against the tree, holding my breath. A moment’s 

pause, and the minister continues. I wait, envisioning some 

black-suited funeral home goons picking me up by the elbows 

and throwing me head over heels out of the cemetery. 

I’m clammy with my imminent doom. No one at the station 

even knows I’m here, so Kevin O’Bannon can totally cut 

me loose, point to some clause in my rapidly expiring contract 

that says I’m legally on my own if I do something that 

he, the news director, doesn’t know about. I’ll be instantly 

fired. I see my entire life savings, including my plastic surgery 

fund, heading into the coffers of lawyers and going to 

pay huge fines. 

Course they don’t teach in J-school: Deniability 101: Make 

sure you get permission for everything. 

The minister’s head is bowed again, and it sounds like he’s 

nearing the end of the service. The mourners seem to be 

focused on their sorrow and not some misfit with a cell 

phone. No goons in sight. 

I echo their murmured “Amen,” and then watch the group 

move to pay their final respects as the casket is lowered. 

I’m almost in the clear. No lawsuits, no headlines. I’ll just 

hang here until the funeral is over and pretend the whole 

thing never happened. I admit I still haven’t seen anyone I 

recognize, which is a bummer, but on the bright side, no 

one has recognized me, either. 

“Charlie McNally?” 

Busted. 


T h e W r i t i n g L i f e 

Writing the Line 

by Delia Latham © 2013 

What makes Christian romance "Christian"? 

Writers, please understand before you try to write an 

inspirational romance: Placing characters inside a church 

building on Sunday mornings, or having them say grace 

before a meal does not make a novel inspirational. 

If I had to sum up the essence of inspirational romance in 

one word, I'd use "relationship." The major difference in a 

secular romance and an inspirational one really is that 

simple: the emotional connection (relationship) between 

the hero and heroine, and between the characters and 

God. 

Aside from the stringent expectation of quality writing, 

certain additional standards exist in the world of Christian 

fiction. A writer hoping to place a manuscript in this market 

would do well to become familiar with those finely drawn 

lines and stay well within their borders. 

I can point out the right direction. You'll have to choose the 

roads. 

1. The sensuality meter 

I was once challenged by someone who felt the words 

"Christian" and "romance" conflicted. 

"You cannot write about romance and call it a Christian 

book," he stated. "Christians don't partake in romance, at 

least not until after they're married. And no one wants to 

read about that stuff between a husband and wife. What's 

the point?" 

How sad, this inability to distinguish between sex and 

romance! 

Let me try to make it easy. 

Romance is the wooing of another's heart and the 

emotions involved in that courtship. 

Sex is the physical consummation of a physical attraction 

(no relationship necessary). 

In a Christian romance, sex is off limits for the unmarried 

hero/heroine, and takes place behind closed doors for 

married ones. What's left? Relationship. 

That said, eliminating blatant sexual activity is not the beall 

and end-all of an inspirational novel. What is important 

is the interweaving of the characters' spiritual journeys 

into their lives—and that includes their romantic 

overtures. 

Physical attraction should be a part of the story, but it will 

be communicated through emotions instead of hormones. 

He may notice the way the heroine's dress accentuates her 

curves, but he won't focus on those curves. He'll be drawn 

to her sense of humor, her generosity, her sweetness of 

spirit. Neither is she blind to how he looks in those hiphugging 

jeans, or the way his muscles bulge when he 

ropes that heifer. But her emotional reactions will 

supersede any physical ones. She'll be moved by his 

gentleness with an injured animal…touched by the 

respectful way he handles an annoying elderly neighbor… 

moved to tears by his love for children. 

2. Christian protagonists 

A Christian romance will focus on two relationships: 

the one developing between the hero and heroine, and 

the one between those characters and Christ. (This one 

must be clearly defined, either from the start of the story, 

or by the end of it.) 

It is acceptable to start a book with a protagonist who 

doesn't know or is estranged from God, but that spiritual 

rapport will grow and evolve throughout the storyline and 

must be reconciled by the last page. 

3. Dealing with sin 

In real life, Christian people live with and among non- 

Christians. So it is within the pages of a book. Contributing 

characters may smoke or drink, get pregnant before 

marriage, have abortions, cheat, steal, lie…even murder. 

That's life. These characters' non-conformity to a godly 

lifestyle adds color to the storyline. 

It is crucial, however, that the main characters either stay 

on the straight path or find it. 

4. Preaching 

Ultimate challenge: Do all of the above without turning the 

story into a sermon. Readers read for entertainment and 

escape—not a class on Christianity. Any message the 

author wishes to deliver must be woven seamlessly into the 

storyline. The reader should not be aware of any spiritual 

lesson…until it's already learned. 

What makes Christian fiction Christian? The differences 

aren't many, but mighty. I like to think of it as giving my 

readers a touch of Heaven in an earthly tale. Why wouldn't 

I write on this side of the line? 


Jackie’s Jargon 

ROMANCE REVIEWS 

BY JACKIE MCMURRAY 

Some of my favorite romance reads for your spring reading. 

Women’s Fiction – A Fireproof Home 

for the Bride by Amy Scheibe 

A compelling coming-of-age story set in 

North Dakota and Minnesota during the 

1950s. Scheibe tackles the unsettling 

themes of family secrets, racial unrest, 

and small town politics through the main 

character, Emmaline Nelson. Unlike 

many other young women in the 1950s, 

Emmaline wants more for herself than 

settling down with a man and raising a 

family. She lands a job at the newspaper office as a 

switchboard operator. She dreams of becoming a reporter. 

Little does she know that her research for the newspaper 

leads her to painful family secrets. 

This story stayed with me for a long time. 

Paranormal Romantic Suspense – 

Chasing Victory, The Winters 

Sisters, Book 1 by Joanne Jaytanie 

There are no whimpering females or 

laid-back males in Jaytanie’s debut 

novel, Chasing Victory. Instead, the 

reader gets a fast-paced suspense 

populated by a kick-ass heroine, a 

determined military undercover agent, 

and a murderous villain. 

In Chasing Victory, Jaytanie seamlessly managed to weave 

elements of three genres together—paranormal, romance, 

and suspense—into one neat package. 

Chasing Victory is the first book in the Winters Sisters 

Series, and while each book in the series can stand alone, 

I recommend you start with this book and read your way 

through each book in the series. 

Sweet Contemporary Romance/Chick Lit – Fooling 

Around with Cinderella, A Storybook Valley Novel by 

Stacy Juba 

The story loosely follows the tale of Cinderella, including 

two sisters who take advantage of the heroine, Jaine 

Andersen. Her prince, Dylan Callahan, is the general 

manager of Storybook Valley. When Jaine approaches him 

to propose hiring her to do the park’s marketing, he agrees, 

but only if she’ll finish the summer season as the park’s 

Cinderella before she moves into the marketing position. 

Juba’s writing style is witty and her ability to keep the 

reader in the storybook world is great. I can’t wait 

for the next book in this series. 

Historical Romance – Save My 

Place by Olivia deBelle Byrd 

Olivia deBelle Byrd takes the reader 

on an emotional ride with the ever 

hopeful heroine, Elisabeth Belle 

Sterling, a Southern woman through 

and through. The book is based on 

the real life events of a friend of the 

author and told from Elisabeth’s point 

of view. The book starts with 

Elisabeth’s proclamation that she will 

be a spinster. She’s only twenty-two, but she’s determined 

to stay a spinster after her college boyfriend dumps her 

right after graduation. She 

believes nothing can sway her, that is, until she meets 

Kincaid Patterson on a blind date. 

Save My Place is a story of faith, hope, and unconditional 

love. The narrator’s voice is compelling and leads the 

reader through a maze of highs and lows in a manner that 

had me feeling what she felt—laughter, relief, frustration, 

anger, love and loss. 

there? 

© 2016 The Book Breeze Page 8 

Christian Western Romance - 

Convince Me Cowboy: A Bellham 

Romance by Danita Cahill 

Convince Me Cowboy starts with all 

the reasons Shay Monahan will not 

fall for a cowboyagain—especially not 

a rodeo cowboy. Her heart was 

already broken when she discovered 

the rodeo cowboy she married was 

sowing his oats across the rodeo 

circuit. Now that she is divorced, she dismisses the notion 

of ever dating a cowboy again. 

Cahill does a fine job of giving the reader both points of 

view of the main characters who both do a great deal of 

trying to talk themselves out of falling for the other while 

being thrown together into some intimate moments. 

I loved the setting. I could feel the grit on my teeth at the 

rodeo grounds and visualize the horsesand the ranches. 

Convince Me Cowboy is a clean romance that kept my 

attention while I waited for the heroine to sort through her 

trepidation. There’s just something about cowboys, isn’t

Book Excerpt 

BELOVED ENEMY 

by Hywela Lyn 

Cat Kincaid is obsessed with killing the man she believes is responsible for the torture and death of her sister, but when 

she eventually catches up with him, survival becomes a greater priority than revenge. 

Kerry Marchant, haunted by memories, regret and self-blame, shields himself from the pain of the past by committing 

himself totally to the starship, Destiny, of which he is part owner. However, the beautiful, red haired woman who reminds 

him of his lost love, and who he suspects is working for a corrupt regime, represents a possible threat not only to the 

ship, but to his heart. 

Marooned on an inhospitable planet, they need to work together to stay alive, fighting not only unknown assailants, but 

their growing attraction. But how can they learn to trust each other when he has vowed never to get close to a woman 

again, and she made a solemn pledge to destroy him? 

Gravel and pebbles dug into her 

skin through the fabric of her 

clothing, as something dragged her 

toward the edge of the bank. She bit 

back a cry of horror as she glanced 

over her shoulder at the thing 

twining itself around her leg. An icy 

fear went through her. Snakes—the 

only creatures she really feared. 

She aimed her pistol and then 

realized it was not a serpent that 

dragged her toward the river, but a 

long, rubbery tentacle fastened 

around the tough material of her 

leggings and boot. 

Before she could fire, Kerry let off 

another barrage of plasma bolts into 

the river, then leapt toward her and 

ripped the severed tentacle from 

her leg. It flapped around on the wet grass. She 

scrambled to her knees, still slightly winded and fired 

at the hideous thing. The foliage around it flared for a 

moment with an eerie green flame and the tentacle 

shrivelled into a slimy black mass, emitting a pungent 

odour and causing her to gag for a moment. 

“It seems I was mistaken about the creature being 

dead.” Kerry prodded the smouldering mass with his 

boot and looked across over the water. “It is now.” He 

leaned down and grasped her wrist to haul her to her 

feet. “Are you hurt?” 

“No, I don’t think so.” Her shoulder was sore and 

probably bruised but she’d live. She tried to control 

her shivering. The incident affected her more than she 

wanted to admit. Kerry’s proximity, naked to the waist, 

his lithe body shining 

from the water droplets that still 

clung to his skin, his legs swathed 

in tight black leather, did nothing to 

help. The last thing she wanted was 

for him to realise how scared she’d 

been when she thought a snake 

attacked her. “Thanks. That was 

close. It would have been a bit ironic 

if I’d been killed by the same 

creature I saved you from.” 

She realized he still grasped her 

wrist. She tried to move away, but 

he pulled her back, obliging her to 

turn to him. 

“You are trembling.” 

“I’m fine.” 

“No,” he said. “You’re not.” He pulled her closer and 

his eyes softened, his gaze holding her mesmerized. 

She opened her mouth to try to speak, but in the 

same instant he put his hand under her chin and his 

lips closed over hers. For a brief moment, she tried to 

resist but found herself drawn into his kiss as he 

deepened it, his hand brushing lightly through her 

hair. For a long moment, time seemed to stand still, 

and nothing mattered except his lips burning on hers. 

His tongue teased her own, demanding and insistent, 

his lips incredibly sensuous, firm, caressing. Through 

the thin material of her shirt, Cat felt the warmth of his 

bare chest pressed hard against her breasts. The cold 

metal of the capsule he obviously did not take off, 

even to bathe, dug into her skin, but the slight 

discomfort was nothing compared to the turmoil in her 

mind. 


Trisha Sugarek has been writing since the eighth grade. She has enjoyed 

a twenty year career writing stage plays, fiction, children’s books and 

poetry. In addition to a half a dozen full length plays, she expanded 

her body of work to include eight novels, of which five are a series of 

murder mysteries. She has written a collection of ten minute plays for 

the classroom. An acting career led to directing then to writing. Most 

recently she created four journal/handbooks (instructional) for writers. 

Trisha lives in Savannah, Georgia with her two golden retrievers, Miss Molly and Gus and their cat, 

Fiona. www.writeratplay.com 

Tell us about your new release. 

THE TASTE OF MURDER is book #5 

in my true crime mystery series. 

Detectives O'Roarke and Garcia have 

a cold case dumped on their desk. 

Despite their objections that they 'don't 

do cold cases' their Commander tells 

them that they do now since the new 

Mayor has asked for them. Three 

years earlier a relative of the mayor's 

was murdered and the case was never 

solved. The cold case plunges the murder cops into the 

world of television and competitive cooking shows. 

What led you to write this book? 

After reading my ten minute play, The Art of Murder, my 

fans wanted more. So I wrote book one. Then they 

insisted that I had a series and…the rest is history. I am 

currently working on Book #6. 

Which is more important characters or setting? 

Because of my theatre background (actor, director, 

playwright) I would have to say characters. I have written 

over 45 stage plays and since the characters alone move 

the story along, I think I have become quite adept at writing 

dialogue. Directing is all about ‘control’. When and why 

the actors should move: is the ‘picture’ on stage pleasing 

or discordant with regard to the dialogue? Is the actor 

giving the director the emotion (whatever it is) that the 

director needs? Does the lighting enhance what is going 

on and not distract? I’ve often joked that directing actors is 

like herding a bunch of chickens. It takes a strong, steady 

hand. Writing, for me, is the opposite. You will have a better 

story in the end, if you give up control. I am a writer whose 

characters almost always take control of their own stories 

leaving me to become the typist. In interviewing other 

bestselling authors, I am not unique. It happens to others 

as well. 

Are any of your characters loosely based on people 

you know in real life? 

Yes. My mother in Wild Violets (novel), my aunt in Song of 

the Yukon (novel) and my mother and her six sisters in The 

Guyer Girls (play). While writing Women Outside the Walls, 

I met several women whose husbands and sons had been 

incarcerated. 

What do you hope readers take away from your work? 

In reference to my 10 minute plays for the classroom: 

These short plays address real life issues in a teen’s life. 

From running away to cutting, to bullying, to teen dating 

violence, my hope is that the plays open a dialogue 

between students or students and teachers. 

What do you do when you are not writing? 

I am a voracious reader. Other writers inspire me. I read 

for pleasure because my life is so full of researching for a 

new book. I maintain posting to my blog twice a week and 

interviewing best-selling authors once a month. 

What is #1 on your bucket list? 

To return to Ireland and write. 

Have you ever written a scene that ‘creeped’ you out? 

Angel of Murder, book # 4 In my true crime mystery series 

I delved into the killer’s mind and at times got very 

uncomfortable with his thoughts and actions. 

Do you have a favorite writing place or writing rituals? 

My studio which is filled with my own art work, memorabilia 

from my theatre years, and framed book covers. 

My rituals are a very messy desk, a cup of hot espresso 

coffee with milk, and total silence. My Golden Retrievers 

lay at my feet, sleeping. But always there for me should I 

need feedback. 

Do you have a reoccurring theme to your books? 

Yes with regard to my murder mystery series. My two 

murder cops, Detectives O’Roarke and Garcia work the 

streets of New York. I guess you could say my other fiction 

has a recurring theme as they tell the stories of strong, 

independent women. 

What’s next for you? 

I am currently working on two projects. Book #6, (Beneath) 

The Bridge of Murder and what I call my saga, 

Song of the Yukon which tells the 

true story of my aunt who ran away, 

at age seventeen, to Alaska and 

homesteaded in the 1920’s. This is 

the kind of book that needs some 

rest between creating and research. 

I am, after all, writing about Alaska 

and, specifically, Fairbanks when it 

was a single building trading post for 

miners, homesteaders, tramps and 

thieves. I just completed and 

published another ten minute play, 

The Trans-G Kid. 


Excerpt from THE TASTE OF MURDER by Trisha Sugarek 

©The contestants were called back to the set and lined up in front 

of the judges. Steve reiterated for the viewing audience the 

ingredients of the shopping bag. He then called on the first chef 

to present their dish which, by now, was sitting in front of each of 

the judges. 

“Judges, I have prepared for you, duck in an orange and veal 

sauce with a brussel sprouts and apple slaw.” Chef Lisa Brownley 

told them. 

The judges sampled the dish and gave their critiques. 

“Chef Lisa,” Jeff Kirikos spoke, “the dish’s presentation is 

beautiful…” 

“Thank you, Chef,” Lisa replied. 

“…however, the orange in the veal sauce is a little overwhelming.” 

“Wow, really? You think?” Lisa’s tone was 

sarcastic at the judge’s critique. 

Alexis Gemignani jumped in, “I disagree with Chef 

Jeff and I love the raw sprouts and apple slaw. It 

adds a nice fresh taste.” 

“Thank you, Chef.” Lisa smiled at the judge. 

“Judge Matt Murphy, what do you think?” Steve 

asked. 

“I’m not a fan of raw brussel sprouts but overall the 

dish was good.” 

The cameras went black while Chef Lisa’s dish 

was removed and the next entrée was placed in front of the 

judges. 

“I need fresh water here, please,” Jeff Kirikos said. A crew 

member rushed in with a pitcher of cold water. A makeup person 

hurried over to remove shine from Alexis’ nose. 

“Clear the set, people. We’re rolling,” the director yelled. 

“Chef Suzette, what have you prepared for our judges?” the host 

asked. 

“I have prepared Peking duck won tons for you with a sweet 

potato mash,” the contestant explained. 

The three judges sampled the won tons and smiled. 

“Very creative, chef,” Alexis Gemignani smiled. “Delicious.” 

Matt chimed in. “Very nice, but I find the portion a little large, 

Chef.” 

The camera panned to the third judge, Jeff Kirikos. 

“I like the won ton idea very much. Unfortunately I got an inedible 

and rather large piece of duck skin in one of mine.” 

Suzette blushed. “I’m sorry, Chef.” 

The process was repeated; the won tons were removed and three 

attractive dishes with duck nestled in sauce and perfectly cooked 

brussel sprouts were placed before the judges. 

Cutlery was replaced with new and makeup artists scurried away. 

“Chef Alex, tell the judges about your entrée.” 

The camera zoomed in on a perfectly plated dish. 

“Judges, I prepared a sweet and sour duck, making a sauce using 

the cotton candy, red wine and veal demi-glace. With pan roasted 

brussel sprouts with pancetta. Please enjoy!” 

The three judges sampled the plate, chewing and eyeing the 

contestants. 

“Very nice,” Matt Murphy was the first to speak. “The sweet and 

sour is delicate and doesn’t over-whelm the duck. It’s the best 

entrée for my palate.” 

“Thank you Chef,” Alex beamed. 

country. 

While the other judges critiqued the dish, Kirikos was 

practically gobbling his entrée. He was clearly a big 

fan of the sweet and sour sauce. 

“Adding the pancetta to the roasted sprouts,” Judge 

Alexis Gemignani began, “was a brilliant move. 

Repurposing cooked duck is not easy but you were 

able to do it successfully. 

Also many contestants either drown the protein in 

sauce or don’t put enough on the plate. Here you 

also succeeded. I would put this on my restaurant’s 

menu.” 

“Thank you so much, Chef.” Alex was beside himself 

at the praise from one of the finest chefs in the 

Suddenly Jeff Kirikos, sitting next to Alexis, began to cough and 

claw at his shirt collar. Alexis turned to him; the director yelled 

‘Cut!’ The Chef’s personal assistant, standing behind the 

cameras, began to walk quickly to him. Before anyone could 

react Jeff fell forward, his face landing in the almost empty plate 

of sweet and sour duck. 

Chef Alexis stood, her chair tumbling over. “Jeff!” she bent over 

the prostate form of the unconscious man. Chef Matt rose and 

crossed to Jeff, sitting him up. 

The director yelled, “Call 9-1-1! Get those guys off the set!” He 

waved in the general direction of the contestants. 

An assistant producer herded the contestants off the set and back 

towards the green room doors. 

“Fuck! Is he gonna be all right?” Alex asked. 

“Jesus, what just happened?” Lisa said as she was ushered 

through the doors. 

“We’re screwed,” Suzette muttered. 

Steve Parsons grabbed a napkin and began to wipe sauce and 

duck from Jeff’s face and spoke to him in low tones. “Jeff, can 

you hear me? Come on, buddy, wake up.” 

A bloody brown foam trickled from the lips of the world renowned 

chef. 


Roberta’s Ramblings 

by Roberta Rogow 

Some Cozies for spring reading: 

Kate Carlisle takes us to small-town 

California in her latest Fixer-up Mystery, 

CROWNED AND MOLDERING 

(Obsidian, 2015, $7.99). Shannon 

Hammer, the construction expert of 

Lighthouse Cove, is ready to tackle 

best-selling author Mac Sullivan's 

project, restoing the old lighthouse that 

gives the town its name. After all the 

hassles with the local historian, both 

Shannon and Mac are more than eager 

to gut the place. But everything comes to a halt when the 

body of a young woman is found jammed into the dumbwaiter, 

and it looks like a town mystery is about to be 

solved. The body is identified as an old friend of Shannon's 

who disappeared fifteen years before. Suspect in her 

murder include many of Shannon's high school classmates, 

a charismatic teacher, and a school counselor whose 

position owes more to politics than to competency. Then 

there's another murder, and Shannon knows she has to act 

quickly to prevent a terrible miscarriage of justice. Bits of 

construction lore are sandwiched between clues in this look 

at the nastier side of small-town life. 

A small village in Ireland is the scene of 

A TURN FOR THE BAD, by Sheila 

Connolly (Berkley, 2016, $7.99). Maura 

Donovan is still finding her feet as the 

proprietor Sullivan's Pub in Leap when a 

farmer announces that one of their own 

has gone missing. John Tully was a 

dairy farmer, not a fisherman, so why 

was he taken off the beach, leaving his 

young son alone? What has this to do 

with the body of an unknown man that washes up soon 

after? And who owns the grand boat that's been lurking in 

the bay? 

Smuggling has been a part of Irish life for centuries, but 

Tully had no connection with it... or so his brother says. 

Maura concocts a Plan that involves almost everyone in 

the village, from a pair of fishermen-turned-distillers to the 

local lord, and finds that the hardest part of being a pubowner 

is waiting for other people to do things! Another Irish 

jaunt, with more to come. 

does about who is behind the mugging, but things get 

serious when an explosive device is found in a National 

Forest. Ollie is the target of a dangerous madman, one who 

will stop at nothing, including the assassination of the 

President of the United States, to complete his selfappointed 

revenge. There's a shocker of an ending, and a 

possible new career for Ollie, in this nail-biter that includes 

many recipes fit for a king... or a president. 

Margaret Maron reveals more of Judge 

Deborah Knott's complicated family 

history in DESIGNATED DAUGHTERS 

(Grand Central,2015, $8.00). One of 

the matriarchs, Aunt Rachel, is dying, 

and Deborah is summoned to her 

bedside, to give comfort to the woman 

who holds the family's secrets. Now that 

she is dying, Aunt Rachel is rambling, 

revealing far more than anyone wants 

to hear, especially the one who 

hastened the old woman's death with a pillow over her face. 

A long-lost treasure trove, a long-ago affair, babies born too 

soon or too late, all have a part in the unraveling of this 

tangles tale of love and murder. In the end, a most unlikely 

killer with an even less likely motive is revealed, and Justice 

is properly served. Maron at her best. 

From Appalachia we go to Maine, in 

THREADS OF EVIDENCE, by Lea Wait 

(Kensington, 2015, $7.99). Harbor 

Haven is the home of Angie Curis and 

her group of needlepointers, all of whom 

are agog with the news that the old 

mansion, Auroroa, has been bought by 

a real-life movie star, Skye West. Angie 

is asked to appraise the old furniture in 

the house for possible renovation, and is 

especially intrigued by a set of 

needlepoint tapestries that may hold a clue to the murder 

of a young girl some forty-five years before. Then someone 

tries to poison Skye, and Angie finds herself tracking two 

murderers... one in the past, and one in the present. 

Recipes for Maine treats are included. 

More foreign affairs back in the USA, in 

Julie Hyzy's latest White House Chef 

mystery, FOREIGN ECLAIRS (Berkley, 

2016,$7.99. White House chef Ollie 

Paras has had her share of adventures, 

but she doesn't realize how serious her 

danger is until her purse is stolen on her 

way back home from work. Her new 

husband, Gav, knows more than she 

© 2016 The Book Breeze Page 12 

Roberta Rogow is a retired librarian who enjoys books with 

characters that grab you, often set in exotic places or in 

other times. She reads a lot of historical mysteries, but also 

enjoys Alternate History, and has been known to indulge in 

an orgy of“cozy crafty” mysteries, set in small-town America 

or villages in Great Britain. Her latest release, MAYHEM 

IN MANATAS is the follow-up to MURDERS IN MANATAS.

Book Excerpt: 

MOVE YOUR BLOOMING CORPSE 

by D.E. Ireland 

My Fair Lady characters Eliza Doolittle and Henry Higgins come to life again as a hilarious investigative 

team in this traditional mystery for fans of British mysteries. At the posh Royal Ascot, their 

idyllic outing turns deadly when someone is trampled during a race and a woman is found murdered. 

A beautiful blond woman sauntered 

through the crowd in their direction. 

Her apple green dress sparkled in the 

sunlight, drawing numerous stares. 

“How dare she show her face here!” 

Lady Tansy said. “I told you I will not 

allow her anywhere near me!” 

“Keep your voice down.” He grabbed 

her arm. “She’ll hear you.” 

“I hope she does hear me. That trollop, 

that wanton baggage you throw 

money at. If you must make a fool of 

yourself, I’d rather you choose a 

woman less garish and slow-witted.” 

“Enough,” he said between clenched teeth. 

Lady Tansy shook free from his grip. “As though half 

of London doesn’t know about the pair of you. Now 

she further humiliates me by wearing the colors of 

your racing silks!” 

The young woman drew near. Eliza now saw that her 

dress glittered with tiny green sequins, while her lacy 

bodice was dyed pale lilac. To complete the look, she 

sported a purple silk turban – something normally 

reserved for evening – but it looked sweet atop her 

honey blond curls. 

“She has a right to wear them,” Lord Saxton muttered. 

“They’re her racing colors, too.” 

“Don’t treat me like a fool!” His wife shouted so loud, 

everyone within ten feet turned in her direction. “I am 

well aware of how she seduced you into becoming a 

syndicate member. As she has seduced you in so 

much else. But I will not have it rubbed in my face!” 

“I can’t stop her from wearing the colors. She paid 

for the privilege. And please remember that Turnbull 

was the fellow who brought her into the syndicate, 

not me.” 

This enraged Lady Tansy even more. 

“You are both unspeakable cads.” 

Saxton managed a drunken smile. “All 

is fair in love, war and horseracing.” 

Lady Tansy slapped him so hard across 

the face, his hat flew off. While 

everyone gasped, she stormed into the 

crowd. 

As Eliza stood speechless, Higgins 

appeared beside her. “What the devil is 

going on?” 

Lord Saxton picked up his top hat and 

waved it at the onlookers. “Nothing to 

worry about. My wife had too much champagne.” 

Stony silence greeted his words. 

“Why is Diana Price wearing the horse’s racing 

colors?’ Higgins asked in a low voice. 

Eliza realized he was right. The woman in the turban 

was Diana Price, a popular musical hall singer and 

former Gaiety Girl. “She owns a share in the Donegal 

Dancer.” 

“I can’t keep track of who owns that horse. I’m afraid 

I’ll wake up one morning to discover I’ve become an 

owner, too.” 

“I’m amazed you even know who Diana Price is,” 

Eliza said. “I thought you only went to Oscar Wilde 

plays.” 

“Proves how little you know me. I never miss a Gilbert 

and Sullivan operetta. Miss Price sang Casilda in a 

production of The Gondoliers a year ago. Decent 

soprano voice, albeit a little ragged in the higher 

registers.” 

Eliza frowned. “Even a drunk seaman at the Speckled 

Pig wouldn’t flaunt his fancy lady in front of his wife.” 


THE PRINCESS 

WORE PLAID 

by Karen Hawkins 

Historical Romance 

Released March 21 by 

Simon & Schuster Digital 

Sales 

FICTION 

THE SUMMER BEFORE 

THE WAR 

by Helen Simonson 

Literary Fiction/Historical 


Random House 

New Releases 

PRIVATEER’S 

PRINCESS 

By Gail MacMillan 

Spicy Historical romance 

Released April 15 by 

The Wild Rose Press in 

print and ebook 

WHAT YOU SEE 

by Hank Phillippi Ryan 

Suspense 

Published Feb 2016 

by Forge 

THE NEVER-OPEN 

DESERT DINER: A 

NOVEL 

by James Anderson 

Literary Fiction/Crime 


Crown 

DOUBLE TAKE 

by Abby Bardi 

Contemporary Literary Fiction 

Released March 21 by Impulse 

Australia 

THE ASSOCIATION OF SMALL 

BOMBS: A Novel 

by Karan Mahajan 

Coming of Age Literary Fiction 

Released March 22 by Viking 

PRIMTE TIME 

by Hank Phillippi 

Ryan 

Suspense 

Published Oct 2015 

by Forge 

NOOKIETOWN: A Novel 

by V.C Chickering 

Women’s Fiction 

Released Feb 23 by St. Martin’s 

Griffin 


New Releases 

FOOL ME ONCE 

by Harlan Coben 

Mystery/Thriller 


Penguin Group 

THE ADVOCATE’S 

DAUGHTER 

by Anthony Franze 



Minotaur Books 

TREACHERY AT LAN- 

CASTER GATE: A 

Charlotte and Thomas 

Pitt Novel 

by Anne Perry 



Ballantine Books 

JANE STEELE 

by Lyndsay Faye 



G.P. Putnam’s Sons 

THE SEARCHER 

by Christopher Morgan 

Jones 



Penguin Press 

DELICATE 

INDECENCIES 

by Sandy McCutcheon 



HarperCollins Publishers 

THE STEEL KISS 

by Jeffery Deaver 


Released March 8 

by Grand Central 

Publishing 

CLAWBACK 

by J.A.Jance 



by Touchstone 

SPARROW 

by L.J. Shen 



by author 

OFF THE GRID 

A Joe Pickett Novel 

by C.J. Box 



by G.P. Putnam 

Sons 

THE WATERS OF 

ETERNAL YOUTH 

by Donna Leon 



by Atlantic Monthly 

Press 

DEATH AND DARK 

MONEY 

Sabel Security #4 

by Seeley James 


March 8 by Machined 

Media 

THE GANGSTER 

Isaac Bell Series #9 

by Clive Cussler, 

Justin Scott 



by G.P. Putnam’s Sons 

PORCELAIN DOLL, a Jana 

Lane mystery 

by Joe Cosentino 

Spicy M/M Romance 

Released March 21, 

2016/Dreamspinner Press in 

print and ebook 

SATIN DOLL a Jana Lane 

mystery 

by Joe Cosentino 

Mystery romance 

Released April 29, 2016/The 

Wild Rose Press in e-book, 

paperback 


BELOVED ENEMY 

By Hywela Lyn 

Spicy Sci-Fi Romance 

Released March 11, 2016 

by The Wild Rose Press 

Marooned on an inhospitable planet, 

Cat Kincaid and Kerry Marchant 

need to work together to stay alive, 

fighting not only unknown assailants, 

but their growing attraction. But how 

can they learn to trust each other 

when he has vowed never to get 

close to a woman again, and she 

made a solemn pledge to destroy 

him? 

DEMON KISSED 

By Karilyn Bentley 

Urban Fantasy 

Released Feb 17 by The 

Wild Rose Press in print and 

ebook 

Gin Crawford, the world's latest demon 

huntress, has no time to mourn her dead 

lover as she's called in to determine why a 

demon attack occurred at the local medical 

school. And not just any demon, but the one 

demon that gives her demon-killing bracelet 

the shivers. A dead professor, a lab full of 

missing anthrax, and a demon who turns 

good people into minions complicate her life. 

Can Gin and her mentor Aidan Smythe solve 

the mystery of the missing anthrax and the 

identity of the demon before someone else 

dies? 


TERROR IN 

TAFFETA 

By Marla Cooper 

Mystery 


by Minotaur Books 

Being a wedding 

planner is hard work, 

from juggling drunken groomsmen 

and wardrobe malfunctions to having 

to replace a Styrofoam wedding 

cake, but Kelsey McKenna has it 

handled – that is until homicide detective 

gets added to her job description. 

A smart, funny cozy debut 

perfect for fans of Carolyn Haines. 

A WEDDING IN RED 

CREEK 

By Randi Alexander 

Erotic Romance 

Released Jan 29, 2016 by 

author in ebook 

With their wedding day fast 

approaching, Rori Hughes 

and Jackson Walker have 

much to do. Their red-hot 

courtship, swift and deep 

emotional bond, and Christmas engagement 

have proven the strength of their love for each 

other. But with real life commitments just days 

away, they find themselves battered by serious 

communication challenges. 

While one of them contemplates their unachieved 

goals, the other struggles to ignore the call of adventure. 

The sudden uncertainty of a future spent 

settling into a routine threatens to drive a wedge 

between the couple. Can Rori and Jackson find 

what they’re looking for in Red Creek, or is the 

town nowhere near large enough to hold them 

and their dreams? 

BIDDING ON 

THE BILLIONAIRE 

By JM Stewart 

Erotic Contemporary Romance 

Released March 1, 2016 by 

Grand Central Publishing/Forever 

Yours in ebook (Print to 

follow) 

Shy bookshop owner Hannah Miller finds herself 

having an erotic online fling with a man 

she’s never met. Her lover’s scintillating 

words leave her hooked on him and longing 

for his touch. Corporate Attorney Cade 

McKenzie is addicted to their hot exchanges. 

When business brings him to her doorstep, 

he finally meets her in person. Their agreement 

is an exclusive, no-strings fling, but 

when Cade’s sister volunteers him for her 

charity bachelor auction, Hannah is forced to 

make a tough decision. Is she willing to make 

a bid for the billionaire’s heart? 

GAMBLER’S CHOICE 

By Linda Nightingale 

Romantic Suspense 

Released Feb 17, 2016 by 

The Wild Rose Press 

Becca McQuaid came to England 

to find the perfect horse 

but instead met a darkly mysterious 

challenge in Austen Heath, Baron of 

Hampton. She’s determined to buy Austen’s stallion 

Gambler’s Choice. He’s determined not to 

sell, but the rivals are thrown together by an accident 

that leaves Austen with a broken leg and 

the threat he’ll never ride again. 

Austen Heath has the title, heritage and manor 

house…but not the fortune. Becca is wealthy. Her 

charms are irresistible, but he believes she’s 

shopping for a Ladyship to go with her money. He 

has another reason to hold the sexy blonde at 

arms’ length—the unexplained disappearance of 

an old friend everyone thinks was his lover. When 

her body is discovered on his property, he becomes 

a suspect in her murder. 

© 2015 The Book Breeze Page 17

Fantasy 

Paranormal 

WHAT IS NOT 

YOURS IS NOT 

YOURS 

by Helen Oyeyemi 

Fantasy/ Magical 


Riverhead Books 

WORLD’S END 

by Will Elliott 

Fantasy/Paranormal 


Tor Books 

SLEIGHT 

by Tom Twitched 

Fantasy/Magical 


author 

THE RETURN OF 

THE WITCH 

by Paula Brackston 

Historical Fantasy 


Thomas Dunne Books 

REBEL OF THE 

SANDS 

by Alwyn Hamilton 

Swords & Sorcery 


Viking Books 

THE LYRE THIEF 

by Jannifer Fallon 

Historical Fantasy 


Tor Books 

MIDNIGHT MARKED 

Chicagoland Vampire 

Novel 

by Chloe Neill 

Paranormal 


NAL 

New Releases 

THE TOTAL 

PACKAGE 

by Stephanie 

Evanovich 

Sports Romance 

Released March 

15 by William Morrow 

HOME ON APPLE 

BLOSSOM ROAD 

Life in Icicle Falls 

by Shelia Roberts 

Romantic Comedy 


22 by MIRA 

SUMMER AT LIT- 

TLE BEACH 

STREET BAKERY 

by Jenny Colgan 

Romantic Comedy 


22 by William Morrow 

BLACK LISTED: A 

Benediction Novel 

by Shelly Bell 

Contemporary Romance 


22 by Harper- 

Collins Pub. 

VISUAL EFFECTS 

By Joyce M. Holmes 

Mild Contemporary Romance 

Released April 13 by The Wild 

Rose Press in print and ebook 

© 2015 The Book Breeze Page 18 

JACKSON’S 

TRUST 

by Violet Duke 

Sports Romance 


8 by Random 

House LLC 

FIGHTING DIRTY 

by Lori Foster 

Romance 

Released Feb 23 

by HQN 

A GIRL’S GUIDE 

TO MOVING ON 

by Debbie Macomber 

Romance 


by Ballantine 

Books 

FOREVER IN OCALA 

By Connie Y Harris 

Spicy Contemporary Romance 

Released Mystery romance 

Released March 16, 

2016/The Wild Rose Press 

in print and ebook 

BLUE ANGEL 

By Nadine Monaco 

Spicy Contemporary Romance 

Released January 15 by 

The Wild Rose Press in print 

and ebook

New Releases 

YOUNG ADULT 

I WOKE UP DEAD 

AT THE MALL 

by Judy Sheehan 

YA Mystery 


by Delacorte Press 

FIRSTLIFE 

by Gena Showalter 

Teen Action Adventure 


by Harlequin Teen 

teen 

LADY MIDNIGHT 

by Cassandra Clare 

Teen Fantasy 


Margaret K McElderry 

Books 

THE GREAT HUNT 

The Eurona Duology 

by Wendy Higgins 

Teen Fantasy 


Harper Teen 

New Adult 

RISKING IT ALL 

by Christi Barth 

New Adult Romance 


Loveswept 

THE KEEPER OF 

THE MIST 

by Rachel Neumeier 

Teen Fantasy 


Knopf Books 

Shape shifters, a serial killer, Vampires and time travel 

Book two of the Crimson Series returns to 

the world of the ancient Dhampir. 

Vampires, shape-shifters and a witch 

hunter bent on murder. Caitlin MacPhee 

after two hundred years has finally found 

her soul mate, Raven O'Brien. But it's 

complicated. He's human and Caitlin is 

Dhampir. He's a macho cop who thinks 

his woman needs protecting, she's 

Dhampir and thinks he needs 

protecting. Will she lose him forever 

when she tells him what she is? Then 

there's the killer stalking her and her 

friends. Yep, complicated. Caitlin and 

Raven must work together to stop 

the murderer before Caitlin becomes his 

next victim. 


THE BLOOD RED 

CITY 

By Justin Richards 

Alternate Thriller 


29 by Thomas 

Dunne Books 

The alien Vril are 

waking, and the 

Never War is heating 

up. Colonel 

Brinkman and his team at Station Z desperately 

need answers – they have to discover 

exactly what they are facing and how the attack 

will come. But the information doesn’t 

come easily. With a major Vril offensive imminent, 

the Nazis step up their own project to 

exploit Vril weapon and technology. Described 

at Indiana Jones meets The X-Files, 

THE BLOOD RED CITY is a sequel to THE 

SUICIDE EXHIBITION. 

SKINNY DIPPING 

WITH MURDER 

By Auralee Wallace 

An Otter Lake Mystery 


by Minotaur Books 

Erica Bloom is in no 

rush to return to 

Otter Lake, the site 

of her mother’s spiritual retreat for women. 

But her new-age-y, well-meaning mother 

is losing her grip on the business and 

needs Erica’s help. So she heads back to 

her New Hampshire hometown, where 

nothing much has changed – except for 

maybe the body in the well …. 

Mystery ... Love ... 

Becca McQuaid came to England to find the 

perfect horse but instead met a darkly 

mysterious challenge in Austen Heath, Baron 

of Hampton. She’s determined to buy 

Austen’s stallion Gambler’s Choice. He’s 

determined not to sell, but the rivals are 

thrown together by an accident that leaves 

Austen with a broken leg and the threat he’ll 

never ride again. 

Austen Heath has the title, heritage and 

manor house…but not the fortune. Becca is 

wealthy. Her charms are irresistible, but he 

believes she’s shopping for a Ladyship to go 

with her money. He has another reason to 

hold the sexy blonde at arms’ length—the 

unexplained disappearance of an old friend 

everyone thinks was his lover. When her 

body is discovered on his property, he 

becomes a suspect in her murder. 


TIME OF FOG AND 

FIRE 

By Rhys Bowen 

A Molly Murphy Mystery 


Minotaru Books 

Molly’s husband is offered 

an assignment 

by the secret service, 

the details of which he keeps from Molly. 

When she receives a cryptic message 

from him she fears something must have 

gone wrong. What can she do for him that 

the police can’t? Especially when she 

doesn’t even know what the assignment 

is? Embarking on a cross-country journey 

with her young son, Molly tries to untangle 

the mystery. 

ALMOST 

MIDNIGHT: The 

Novella Collection 

By C.C. Hunter 

YA Urban Fantasy 


by St. Martin’s 

Griffin 

From the Shadow Falls series 

ALMOST MIDNIGHT contains 

Turned at Dark, Saved at Sunrise, 

Unbreakable, Spellbinder 

and a brand new story Fierce. 


WOUNDED AT HOME 

Wounded Seal Trilogy 

Book 2 

by Mitzi Pool Bridges 

Spicy Romantic Suspense 

Released April 20 by The 

Wild Rose Press 

Financial analyst Sky 

Chapman must free her 

sister of a murder charge. 

Ex-SEAL Dirk Browning 

uses his skills as a private 

investigator and a military dog trainer to search 

for a way to keep Sky safe while they look for the 

killer and the missing millions the killer thinks she 

has. Neither Sky nor Dirk want the attraction that 

springs between them. She, because she refuses 

to fall into the philandering-husband trap both her 

mother and sister dove into. He, because his 

mother abandoned him to the Brownings at the 

age of ten and he never saw her again. The killer 

has given Sky a timeline. Find the money and 

turn it over, or she and her sister die. Will Sky survive 

long enough to explore the feelings she has 

for Dirk? Will Dirk be there for her? Or will the 

thief and killer make the questions moot? 

Written 

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and editing services. 

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Written Word pages at www.lyricalpens.com. 

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Eclectic Express Reviews 

Eclectic Mystery Urban 

LGBT 

Fantasy 

Paranormal 

Sci-Fi 

Young 

Adult 

HEART OF A HUNTER 

Hell on Heels Series 

By Tamela Miles 

Urban Fantasy / 34 pages 

Released April 6, 2016 by The 

Wild Rose Press 

Seventeen-year-old Elle Connor 

is attacked one night by the 

demon Pyro. Rescued by the 

guardian angel Tagas she 

discovers she is descended 

from a long line of demon 

hunters. 

Training with Tagas isn’t the only thing in Elle’s life. She 

has her best friend K.D. and her love interest Brandon. 

When betrayal costs Elle someone she loves, her mission 

in life becomes clear and a hunter’s heart is forged by the 

loss. 

HEART OF A HUNTER is face paced but short, little more 

than an introduction to Elle’s world. It’s a good start for a 

series and I look forward to more. There is a great deal 

more I’d like to know about Elle and her world. 

life. 

RISE OF THE FALLEN 

All the King’s Men Book 1 

By Donya Lynne 

Urban Fantasy M/F, M/M 

Erotica 

Released Mar 2012 by 

Phoenix Press 189 Pages 

Micah is heartbroken. The 

man he was bonded to left him 

and the pain is consuming 

him. When he seeks out an 

enemy to kill him painfully 

Samantha Garret interrupts 

Micah’s death and saves his 

KARMA 

Drag.Me.To.Hell series 

By Nadine Nightingale 

Urban Fantasy 

Released May 4 by The Wild 

Rose Press 

5 Stars 

Amanda Bishop was about to 

start a new life as a NYU 

student when her past forced 

her into another direction – at 

gunpoint. 

Alex Remington is a hunter and 

Amanda’s former lover until he found out she was a witch. 

He didn’t take the news well, but when his brother 

disappeared it was Amanda he turned to for help. 

KARMA is a perfectly paced paranormal mystery. Written 

in first person, we follow Amanda as she and Alex follow 

leads, pedophiles and the occasional dead body, to find 

Alex’s brother. 

Nightingale seasons this complex plot with masterfully 

written flashbacks that bring just the right amount of 

information to the reader. This is no small feat. There is 

real skill in knowing just how much info to deliver this way 

without hijacking the plot and sending the reader off into 

the wilderness. 

The story ends with a touch of foreboding, leaving us a hint 

of what may come in the next installment in this must read 

series. 

This is a debut novel for Ms. Nightingale who professes to 

a serious Marvel superhero addition and considers the 

world her home. Nadine Nightingale is definitely an author 

to follow. 

Working in a strip club, Samantha is in hiding from an 

abusive husband and is living a life off the grid; isolated 

from family and friends. Former military, Samantha is a 

tough lady. 

This is the first book in a series about supernaturals who 

police supernaturals. The cast of characters are interesting 

and well defined. The story moves quickly and there is 

plenty of sexual content to keep you smiling. 

I definitely recommend the series. 


WHEN I’M GONE: A 

NOVEL 

by Emily Bleeker 

Fiction/Mystery 

Releasede March 15 by 

Lake Union Publishing 

Luke Richardson has returned 

home after burying 

Natalie, his beloved wife of 

sixteen years, ready to face the hard job of raising 

their three children alone. But there’s something 

he’s not prepared for—a blue envelope with 

his name scrawled across the front in Natalie’s 

handwriting, waiting for him on the floor of their 

suburban Michigan home. 

The letter inside, written on the first day of Natalie’s 

cancer treatment a year ago, turns out to 

be the first of many. Luke is convinced they’re 

genuine, but who is delivering them? As his obsession 

with the letters grows, Luke uncovers 

long-buried secrets that make him question 

everything he knew about his wife and their family. 

But the revelations also point the way toward 

a future where love goes on—in written words, in 

memories, and in the promises it’s never too late 

to keep. 

A VAMPIRE TO BE 

RECKONED WITH 

By RE Mullins 

Paranormal/Vampire/Romance 


The Wild Rose Press 

Vampire Metta Blautsauger 

is known as the family 

airhead and she works 

hard to keep up the façade. 

It’s the perfect cover as she goes from dispensing her 

own brand of justice as a vigilante to an agent for 

Orcus, the Nosferatu shadow agency. 

Captured, tortured, and left for dead, she is forced to 

leave both the agency and Lucas O’Cuinn, the mentor 

she’s grown to love. 

For the last century she’s struggled with regret and 

boredom. Then her life is given new meaning when 

four mortal ministers ask her help in stopping a 

human trafficking ring. If Orcus discovers her unsanctioned 

involvement, they will brand her as a rogue. 

The penalty is death. It’s only a matter of time before 

Lucas arrives—stake in hand. 

Lucas O’Cuinn has waited ninety-eight years for 

Metta’s return and he’s run out of patience. It’s time 

she remembers she belongs to him. 

We hope you enjoyed this 

edition of The Book Breeze. 

Contents of this emag are 

repeated on our blog 

throughout the month. 

Watch the book video 

of Gambler’s Choice by 

Linda Nightingale. 

For more information on how 

you can be a part of The Book 

Breeze visit our website at: 

http://www.thebookbreeze.com 

/For_Authors.php

April 2016 edition

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