Krampus and the Kolaches Holiday Reading

Krampus and the Kolaches

by JD Douwes

Now this is anything but a harmonious caroling expedition, but these characters sure know how to show a reader a good time. It was so fun to join Khalie and her quirky group of friends on their way to the Figgy Pudding event and singing competition. They're all seasonally excited, and I am too as I read about their antics in this vibrant and witty story. 

One of the friends, Dina has brought along her son Fred. He is a mischievous imp, and Dina is in denial about his pranks. That's when the action turns wild. Who shows up as the sparks fly? Krampus appears. Of course, that's the costume that Khalie's boyfriend Harry planned to wear for the caroling event. His furry appearance scares Fred who runs away. Krampus helps Santa by scaring the naughty.

The hunt for Fred begins, and reveals such a crazy adventure all over the holiday event. Everyone wants a taste of Khalie's delicious kolaches too, but she needs to deliver them to the event's bake sale intact. That turns out to be easier said than done. Along the way, Khalie notices some curious peculiarities about Harry in the Krampus costume. What has got into him? What indeed? It's very unnerving, but some changes are actually endearing. With all the crowds and commotion, will they find Fred? What naughtiness will he have instigated? 

At the end of this rollicking chase, you'll have exercised your funny bone. The mystery of the Krampus will be revealed and it will warm your heart. This author has created a delightful holiday story filled with entertaining characters. A nice gift for the season.

Murder In The Past Tense

 

Murder In The Past Tense

By Lynn Bohart

There's a gruesome discovery lying in wait. Decades go by. People move on with their own lives in Southern California. Then one day, one very routine, regular work day, that body is discovered. At first no one knows who it is, but there are clues. Detective Giorgio Salvatori is called to investigate. History has not been buried forever. History has secrets to show, heartbreak to revisit, and sinister acts to finally bring to justice. This death was not natural. No, this death was a violent act. Giorgio will not stop until he uncovers the whole truth, as dirty as it may be. Although many have forgotten those days way back then, this investigation will finally revive the memories of the innocent that were wronged. But how will Giorgio do that, when someone is throwing obstacles in his path, and threatening him and his family? Is there a paranormal force that may also help Giorgio?

The second book in the Giorgio Salvatori mysteries, this detective moved from the New York police department to a small town in Southern California to bring his family away from the crime of that large city. Now he's confronting a murder mystery that touches his heart. It's a brutal murder. As if he's not motivated enough to solve the mystery, he's also haunted by an image that seems unrelated yet is pushing him to uncover clues. It's a mystery within a mystery.

The Southern California setting is so vividly described in this story. The characters are dynamic. Giorgio's family life with his wife and children is brilliantly depicted and contrasted with his job. His brother also assists in this case, and the ties that bind despite some frayed threads. Their partnership is fascinating. It's compelling to watch a police detective who is driven by facts and where the clues lead him also steered by a paranormal force that appears directly to him. Giorgio is more comfortable with facts, but cannot turn away from anything that can help him deliver justice and solve this mystery. The picture of the victim, and the way the author artfully tells this character's story allows the reader to fully get to know them.

After a more than 35 year career as a nonprofit executive, author Lynn Bohart now owns a freelance writing company called Lil Dog Communications, by the way she's a big dog lover too, and she writes for nonprofits and businesses all over the world. With a Master's degree in Theatre, she loves diving into a good story whether she's writing it, reading it, watching it, or bringing it to the stage. She loves a mystery, with the intriguing characters and danger lurking around every corner and is author of 3 series and ten books. Her website is lynnbohart-author.com For more information about the author and her books. You can also hear directly from the author herself on YouTube's podcast, A Novel Talk with Lynn Bohart

Birth of the Fae - An Electric Debut

Birth of the Fae                        Locked Out of Heaven

By Danielle M. Orsino

What's it like to be abandoned, locked out from your home and left to find your own way. The angels on earth must reconcile their feelings as their beautiful wings decay, and they are locked outside the gates of Heaven. After the great war with Lucifer, they band together to learn how to survive, even how to thrive in this foreign land called earth. Now they need to embark on a new, fantastical, epic adventure. They will transform, with their magical dragons, into the Fellowship Aegis of Earth, the FAE. Can they unite? They splinter into the Court of Light and the Court of Dark. They need to find ways to protect themselves from the people of earth, and each other.

In the dedication for this first book in the series, the author writes this book is “to all of the freethinkers and anyone who was told they had a vivid imagination, were too dramatic or flamboyant. . . . You never know where it will take you or the worlds you will create . . . .” Danielle M. Orsino's skill in world building is breathtaking. Characters are striking in their great and varied strengths, but also in their stunning flaws to overcome. The earth's dragons are infused with extraordinary and unique personalities as well. The characters are all so interesting and tug on your heart strings. This story certainly celebrates imagination and the heights it can take a reader.

The Court of Light is led by Queen Aurora. She has her hands full providing vision for a great unity of former virtue angels. These desperate beings populating water, different lands, and air need to be shown the advantages of uniting. Queen Aurora is strong, with a bright vision, but she needs the help of her friends and her court to successfully aid her fellow beings.

In the meantime, the Court of Dark is commanded by King Jarvok who is a former Power Brigade Angel. There is a bitterness that lingers over abandonment from their Creator. When these two factions clash, it is truly epic. And the people can get in the way. All around, the stakes are high.

Drawing from her passion for comic books, cosplay, and the fantasy genre, along with her martial arts expertise Danielle M. Orsino authors an electric book debut. And this is only the beginning of this growing series. You'll want to check out the website https://www.birthofthefae.com/ for more information about the author and her books. You can also hear directly from the author herself on YouTube's podcast, A Novel Talk with Danielle M. Orsino

Beasts and Butterflies by Wendy Beasley

Beasts and Butterflies

by Wendy Beasley

Something had always seemed strange, a bit odd, unspeakably scary about her best friend Jess' father. At thirteen years old, Rachel didn't know why he made her so uncomfortable, why she feared him. Then one day he viciously attacked, and lives were forever changed. He threatened her never to tell anyone, and she didn't. She kept the sad secret even after she discovered she was pregnant. She never told the secret when her adoptive parents told her she was a disgrace and threw her away. Never underestimate the beauty of a person's inner strength that's honed to a fine mettle. This is the story of Beasts and Butterflies. Share the journey of a young girl forced to struggle, and make tough choices. When she eventually returns to face her past, will she prevail? After hiding in the cocoon she weaves, will she emerge and spread her wings in strength and beauty?

After the attack, Rachel changed immediately from a confident, bubbly extrovert to a morose teenager. Her friendship with Jess was broken. And soon after, she was thrown out of her home by her callous, adopted parents. She felt fortunate to have a refuge with her Nan, her adoptive grandparent, who lived in a different city. They became a new family, and her baby son Tom became their bright new addition. Their lives together moved forward, but the secret laced everything with a darkness. Despite some distance from the beast, the ramifications of the secret festered.

Hard work and courage are Rachel's defenses in the mysteries of life, but she's also responsible for her young son Tom's life. As Tom grows, so does the trouble he finds for himself. Rachel begins to have grave concerns for his future. An opportunity presents itself for them to start over again, but it's back in the village where she grew up. Could she do that for her son? Could she face her old neighbors, her past friends, the beast himself who is Tom's secret father? Could Rachel wrestle her inner demons and finally put them to rest? Would it be possible to find happiness? As she moves forward, she has no idea the mystery that also awaits her.

The author, Wendy Beasley creates such memorable characters. Some will steal your heart, and others will fill you with outrage. Rachel carries a heavy secret, but she's not the only one. This story weaves in layers of personal motives and revelations that reflect life's complications, surrounded by raw human emotions. The author skillfully shows you the ripples peoples' actions cause in each other's lives. A heartwarming story of a strong woman and not only the people who surround her, but also the loyal, eager pup who adores her.

After many years as a columnist and freelance writer, this is author Wendy Beasley's first venture into the world of fiction and the book she'd always promised herself that she would write. It's such an inspiring and heartfelt achievement. Wendy Beasley is an ardent dog lover and when she's not out walking or working her well-trained dogs she enjoys writing. Take a look at her website at wendybeasley.uk to learn more about this charming author and her children's book as well. You can also hear directly from the author herself on YouTube's podcast, A Novel Talk with Wendy Beasley

Discover - The Secrets of the Ravine

 

Secrets of the Ravine

By Brenda Whiteside

    Shop keeper Magpie MacKenzie's emotions are in turmoil questions surface once again about an unsolved murder, and the disappearance of her teenage love from the Ravine decades ago. Will the mystery behind this tragedy in the Ravine finally be solved?  Is the answer of what happened to her first love, lost to her with no explanation, about to surface and shock town residents? What ominous revelations will come from answers revealed? For family members who secretly harbored doubts about each other possibly being a murderer, will the truth be what they've feared the most? Is one among them the murderer?

    The same day skeletal remains are found on the edge of town, a tourist keeps people talking about his striking resemblance to the ill-fated, long missing young man named Mark. Magpie Mackenzie was stopped in her tracks at the sight of this lawyer who so looks like a matured Mark. As investigation into the unsolved murder is reopened, Magpie finds that this lawyer, Zack wants to help her. He's eager to do what he can for her, and he's also curious about the strange feelings of deja vu he's feeling. Together they uncover clues to what happened that tragic night in the Ravine. What they discover is darker than ever suspected, and puts both Magpie and Zack in grave danger.

    While they partner in this investigation, Magpie struggles not only with the mystery but also with her feelings toward Zack. As she gets to know him, are her romantic inclinations due to the reminders of Mark, or truly what she sees in Zack? And if her feelings are true, what is it that he feels for her? Could they have a future together, or is their connection only fleeting?

    The people who live in the Ravine remain devotees of a hippie lifestyle. The author presents an intriguing picture of this community of characters, skillfully comparing and contrasting their present day to their past. The Secrets of the Ravine are destined to finally see the light of day, no matter the consequences.

    Author Brenda Whiteside tells a page turner story that weaves mystery with romance, building tension on all fronts. In her series, the MacKenzie Chronicles, she took her interest of legendary mining communities and the '60's subculture to create stories centered around the MacKenzies, a family who live in the contemporary and reportedly haunted city of Joshua, Arizona. It's a mining town, turned ghost town, turned hippie community, turned tourist town. Find out more about this author and her books on her website brendawhiteside.com.

The Night She Disappeared

The Night She Disappeared

By Kevin O'Brien

What happened last night? Anna Malone is a Seattle TV reporter. Viewers rely on her to be observant, know the facts on a scene, and report clearly. Today it's the morning after. She's in pain, uneasy, thinking through a brutal hangover. She can't remember last night. At one point she was at a dinner with her lover and his wife. Talk about an awkward situation. How she ended up at that table is an odd enough story on its own. All memory of what happened after dinner is gone. And today so is her lover's wife.

Award winning author Kevin O'Brien has written another chills up your spine, lock all the doors, riveting suspense thriller. Where is Courtney? Why has she disappeared? Is she alive? Who knows what happened? Whoever knows, will they say Anna's lover did something wrong to his wife? Will they say Anna did it? Are you on the edge of your seat yet? You will be, as you read more and more about the mystery, the suspects, the motives and events leading up to The Night She Disappeared. You may want to check on your own alibi.

Set in scenic Seattle, Anna tries to work through what could have caused Courtney to disappear. As clues start point back in her own direction, threatening her TV ratings, her job, her secret affair with Courtney's husband Russ, and her sanity, Anna is determined to investigate on her own. She will clear her name, she fervently hopes. Maybe Courtney will turn up and end this torment.

Like the lake Anna's houseboat home floats on, Courtney's life under the surface is teeming with surprises. Other suspects with intriguing motives create disturbing twists and turns. Thankfully Anna has some friends she can lean on. She also has TV network competitors who delight in launching sensational attacks against her personal reputation. It's disgusting and alarming, and since Anna still can't remember it's terrifying. And there's someone out there who keeps contacting her with messages that they know what happened The Night She Disappeared.

This is truly a thriller of a story. The characters are all so well developed and credible. You get time with every suspect so you can make up your own mind on guilt or innocence. The Seattle setting can't be beat and certainly contributes a scenic contrast of beauty against danger in our region. This author know Seattle so very well, and those details greatly enhance the excitement of reading about the events in the story. Kevin O'Brien weaves a tremendous action-filled plot that's driven by spellbinding characters.

New York Times bestselling author Kevin O'Brien grew up on Chicago’s North Shore, the youngest of six children, and studied Journalism at Marquette University in Milwaukee. He moved to Seattle in 1980. His railroad job took him all over the Pacific Northwest, and he wrote most of his first novel in Best Westerns and Red Lions. He's now working on his twenty-third novel and continues thrilling his many fans. Find out more from the author himself on YouTube's podcast, A Novel Talk with Kevin O'Brien. And visit the author's website at kevinobrienbooks.com

Sweet Dreams At The Palace Hotel

 

Sweet Dreams

at The Palace Hotel

By Stella Jayne Phillips

Do spirits in a haunted hotel show glimpses into the future, or merely reenact the past? It's a question posed in the first book, Sweet Dreams at The Palace Hotel of the paranormal Creekside Dreams series by author Stella Jayne Phillips. With a mix of excitement, fear, and great anticipation, brand new hotel owner Nikki Benton reopens the historic Palace Hotel. When asked, why the Palace? Nikki answers, “Three reasons, Creekside's cooler than the desert. Price was good . . . It's haunted. How cool is that?” For readers, it's very cool.

The influence of the spirited past on the present can sometimes be chilling, and sometimes illuminates an emotional nostalgia, and sometimes simply reveals the unknowns of what has come before. Nikki is one of those people keenly attuned to the paranormal. And she has lots of exposure to it, with the resident ghosts at her hotel. That's not all that's keeping her busy. Guests checking in and out offer a steady stream of new faces and new stories. Nikki is also close to family and many friends. Sometimes she's called to support and aid them, and sometimes she can use a hand herself.

The small town community of Creekside provides a beautiful backdrop for these characters. Romance is in the air for Nikki when she meets police chief Alex Stark. There are some unexpected bumps ahead for the two of them. It's funny how talk spreads throughout the town, friendly gossip. These town characters present great glimpses into this small town's life, and sometimes drama.

Author Stella Jayne Phillips is an Arizona native. The strong women from her own lineage, willing to risk it all for family, are inspiration for the female lead characters in the paranormal Creekside Dreams series. Her spirited books Sweet Dreams at The Palace Hotel and her newest, Promise In A Dream keep readers turning pages. When not writing at home or in a hotel lobby, Stella can be found enjoying her active life with yoga, line dancing, reading, cooking, traveling, volunteering and spending time with family and friends. She lives in Scottsdale, Arizona with her husband and small white dog Candy. Find out more from the author herself on YouTube's podcast, A Novel Talk with Stella Jayne Phillips. And visit the author's website at Stellajaynephillips.com