Tuesday, April 8, 2025

The Music Box Mystery by Joanne Pence ~ @JoannePence @RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #TheMusicBoxMystery #JoannePence #CozyMystery

 

(The Cook and Inspector Mysteries Book 8)


The Music Box Mystery by Joanne Pence

Cozy Mystery

Date Published: April 8, 2025


 

A music box, a murder, and a message from the grave...



About the Book:

When would-be gourmet cook Angie Amalfi takes a seemingly ordinary music box to be repaired, a series of grisly murders begins, each one inching closer to her and her fiancé, San Francisco Homicide Inspector Paavo Smith. As she and Paavo race to uncover the truth, they discover the music box isn’t just a relic—it’s a key to unraveling secrets that someone is willing to kill to protect. The discovery leads to dark, emotional chapters from the past—chapters that everyone believed would be buried forever.

For readers of the Inspector Rebecca Mayfield mystery series, this story takes place soon after Rebecca and Angie's cousin Richie meet (in the novella, The Thirteenth Santa). Richie has a minor role in this story.


NOTE: The main characters in this story appear in an early mystery series by the author which is being completely reimagined and updated.


The Cook and Inspector Mysteries:


 


Death on a Silver Platter, Book 1

A Quiche Before Dying, Book 2

The Marinara Murders, Book 3

Close Encounters of the Deadly Kind, Book 4

Death by Devil's Food, Book 5

Blind Date's Bitter End, Book 6

The Taverna Affair, Book 7

The Music Box Mystery, Book 8

 

Series Purchase Link


About the Author:

Joanne Pence is an award-winning, USA Today best-selling author of the Inspector Rebecca Mayfield mysteries, The Cook and the Inspector mysteries, the Donnelly Cabin Inn series, and the Ancient Secrets supernatural suspense novels (writing as J.M. Pence), as well as contemporary romance, historical fiction, romantic suspense, and a fantasy. Her novels present a variety of times, places, and reading experiences from mysterious to thrilling, emotional to lightly humorous, as well as powerful tales of times long past. Her books have won or been nominated for a number of high honors, including the Willa Cather Literary Award for Historical Fiction; North American Book Award for Mystery; Idaho Top Fiction Award; The Golden Quill, RWA's Rita and Golden Heart Awards, Daphne du Maurier Award, Independent Bookseller's Golden Scroll, and Romantic Times Career Achievement Award and Best Amateur Sleuth Award.


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Monday, April 7, 2025

Reclaiming Venom by Harley Wylde ~ @RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #ReclaimingVenom #HarleyWylde #MCRomance

 

(Dixie Reapers MC)


Reclaiming Venom by Harley Wylde

Motorcycle Club Romance, 2nd Chance Romance

Date Published: April 11, 2025

 

 

What happens when a life shrouded in memories fades away, leaving only a faint echo of love?

 

About the Book:

Ridley -- Life can change in an instant. For me, it was the day I got that devastating call -- my world crumbled when I found out my husband, Venom, had been shot. He woke up, but the man I loved was a stranger. Then someone gave me a great idea. Make him fall for me all over again! Venom might not remember our past, but deep down, I know our connection is still there.

Venom -- I woke up in a hospital, no idea how I got there or what the hell happened. The angel by my bed seems familiar and yet not. Then she tells me she’s my wife. What the hell?

But as I spend time with Ridley, every story she shares awakens something deep within me. Her laughter, her warmth… the taste of her lips… every moment I spend with her ignites a spark that feels so right. I may not remember our years together, but I know one thing for sure: she’s mine.


Fall in love with the thrill of the ride, the heartache of forgotten memories, and the fierce determination of a love that refuses to die.


WARNING: Reclaiming Venom is intended for readers 18+ due to adult situations, bad language, and violence. While Reclaiming Venom can be read as a standalone, we recommended you read Venom (A Dixie Reapers MC 1) and Emergency Date (Swift Angels MC 2) first to better appreciate Reclaiming Venom.

 

 

Read an Excerpt:


Venom

I moved quickly, coming up behind Tinker. I couldn’t believe this asshole was still alive. Pressing the barrel of my gun to his head, I made sure I had his fucking attention. “Drop it. Now!”

Tinker froze, a string of curses spilling from his lips. Slowly, he turned to face me, realization dawning in his eyes.

“You sneaky bastards,” he snarled.

Torch and Bull emerged from the shadows, their own weapons trained on Tinker. The old man’s face contorted with rage. “This is all your fault,” he spat at us. “You and your damned club!”

Torch stepped forward. “Until you decided to stir up shit, we all thought you were dead. Why now, Tinker? Why didn’t you just stay gone?”

Tinker’s laugh was bitter. “You want to know why?”

His gaze darted to Justin, the President of the Swift Angels MC. “I only found out about him a year ago. My own flesh and blood, a cop. I watched. I waited. Hoped maybe he’d at least be dirty, something I could work with.”

I got it. Sort of. I hadn’t been too pleased to find out my son, Dawson, was not only a fireman, but also the VP of another club. I’d hoped he’d follow in my footsteps. But now, I had to admit I was proud of the man he’d become.

“Then I realized,” Tinker continued, a cruel smile twisting his features, “that the Swift Angels had ties to you Dixie Reaper scum. That’s when I knew it was time to make my move. All these decades, waiting for a chance to get revenge, and it fell right into my lap.”

“It’s over, Tinker. You’ve lost. Do you really think you’ll get out of this alive? We may not have made sure you were dead last time, but things are different now,” I said.

Tinker’s grin widened. “You sure about that, Venom?”

Without warning, chaos erupted. Two men materialized from the shadows behind Justin. Shit! Wire had said Tinker would be alone. Where the hell had these men come from?

“Justin, down!” Logan yelled, but it was too late.

A deafening crack split the air. Justin’s body jerked, his blue eyes wide with shock. Blood bloomed across his chest, a crimson stain spreading rapidly. “Shit,” he muttered, his voice barely audible before his knees buckled.

Logan appeared shocked at first, then the paramedic sprang into action. He snatched the med bag he’d brought as a precaution and sprinted toward Justin’s fallen form.

Two more shots went off, and pain hit me like a fucking freight train. I stared at Tinker in confusion as I sank to the ground, everything going dark around the edges of my vision. I could hear everything around me, even though it felt like I was down a long tunnel, voices echoing.

“Logan! Hurry the fuck up!” Dawson’s frantic voice cut through the chaos.

I felt something pooling beneath me and realized it was my own fucking blood. The world got darker and darker, and I knew I was going under. Jesus fucking Christ! I’d lived this damn long, and a snake like Tinker got the drop on me?

Ridley… What the hell would she do without me? I didn’t want to leave her. There was still so much I wanted to see and do with her. Regret slammed into me, as I tried to recall if I’d told her I loved her before we left.

“Diego!” Logan barked. “Keep pressure on Justin’s wound. I need to check on Venom.”

I felt someone drop beside me, but I couldn’t make out any shapes anymore.

“We need ambulances,” Logan shouted. “Two of them. Now!”

I felt someone rip open my shirt and try to staunch the flow of blood, but I knew it was too late. Nothing could save me now.

“Dad.” Dawson’s voice broke as someone knelt beside me. Was it Dawson? “Dad, can you hear me?”

I heard Logan’s voice on the other side of me. “He’s lost a lot of blood. We need to get him to the hospital immediately.”

Logan worked on packing my wounds. I wanted to tell him to save someone else, that I’d finally come to the end of my journey, but I couldn’t form the words. My body felt cold, and soon even the noises around me faded to nothing.

Ridley… I’m so fucking sorry for leaving you. I’ll always love you.

* * *

Ridley

I stared at my son in horror, seeing my husband’s blood all over him. I wordlessly handed him a change of clothes and watched as he rushed off to a bathroom. Jesus. He’d told me it was bad, but… there was so much blood.

I looked over at Torch, and he came closer.

“What happened?” I asked. “There were so many of you. Was Tinker really that hard to take down?”

Torch sighed and ran a hand over his beard. “He wasn’t alone. Not Wire’s fault. Somewhere he picked up two helpers. While Venom had his gun to Tinker’s head, the other two came out of nowhere. They shot Justin first, and while our focus was on him, the other one shot Venom.”

I pressed a hand to my chest, my knees feeling weak. “How bad? And don’t fucking lie to me, Torch.”

“It’s bad, Ridley,” he murmured. “He nearly coded in the ambulance. By some miracle, the paramedics were able to get him back. They rushed him to surgery the minute we arrived. If it hadn’t been for Logan, he’d have died before they even got there.”

Right when my knees gave out, someone caught me. I glanced up to see Viking behind me. He hugged me tight before picking me up and carrying me over to a chair. He gently eased me down, and I leaned forward, pressing my head to my knees.

“This can’t be happening,” I whispered. “All these years, and this happens now? He was supposed to be safer. He stepped down as VP, and I thought, for sure, most of the danger was behind us.”

Torch took the spot beside me, and Savior sat on the other. We remained silent, praying and hoping for good news. It felt like an eternity before two doctors came out. One talked to the Swift Angels first about Justin, and the other came to me. He faced me, his expression grim, and my heart dropped.

“Venom has a long road to travel before he’s back on his feet. He made it through surgery, but… we lost him. We were about to call time of death, when his heart started beating again. He’s been moved to recovery, but it’s been decided it would be best to place him in a coma to help with the healing process.”

“What…” I licked my lips. “What does that mean?”

“He’s going to sleep until his body is mostly repaired. Then we’ll see if we can get him awake again.”

“What do you mean you’ll see?” Panic welled inside me. “He has to wake up!”

The doctor nodded. “I understand how you feel, but his situation… it’s not the best. For a man his age, well. There’s a lot of trauma to his body. There’s no way of telling when he’ll wake up.”

“Or if, right?” I asked, giving a bitter laugh. “You’re telling me he’s alive, but I may never get the chance to talk to him again? To see his eyes open, or hear him laugh? What the hell am I supposed to do with that?”

I heard my voice rising but couldn’t stop it. Tears streaked my cheek, and I felt the hysteria welling inside me. Then my son was there. Dawson wrapped me in his arms, and I sobbed against his chest while he spoke with the doctor.

Venom. You better come back to me! I can’t live without you.

 

About the Author:

Harley Wylde is an accomplished author known for her captivating MC Romances. With an unwavering commitment to sensual storytelling, Wylde immerses her readers in an exciting world of fierce men and irresistible women. Her works exude passion, danger, and gritty realism, while still managing to end on a satisfying note each time.

When not crafting her tales, Wylde spends her time brainstorming new plotlines, indulging in a hot cup of Starbucks, or delving into a good book. She has a particular affinity for supernatural horror literature and movies. Visit Wylde's website to learn more about her works and upcoming events, and don't forget to sign up for her newsletter to receive exclusive discounts and other exciting perks.


Author on Facebook, Instagram, & TikTok: @harleywylde


Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @changelingpress


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Murder on the Steel Pier: A Tess Mancini Time Travel Mystery by Rosie Genova ~ #HistoricalMystery

 

Murder on the Steel Pier: A Tess Mancini Time Travel Mystery by Rosie Genova

About Murder on the Steel Pier:

Murder on the Steel Pier: A Tess Mancini Time Travel Mystery

Historical Mystery

1st in Series

Setting -1955 Atlantic City

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Two Roses Books (March 31, 2025)

Print length ‏ : ‎ 321 pages

Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DS934RJL

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Greetings from the Nifty Fifties…

The morning after a blowout birthday celebration in Atlantic City, crime reporter and party girl Tess Mancini wakes up in an unfamiliar place—1955. Bread is eighteen cents a loaf, Ike occupies the White House, and the Boardwalk is crawling with vintage cars and vintage wise guys. A bewildered Tess is sure of only two things: One, she’s not crazy, and two, the clothes are fabulous. Somehow, she’s living the life of her Great-Aunt Theresa, who disappeared decades before Tess’s birth.

In her 1950s existence, Tess is a reporter at the local newspaper, living at a boarding house owned by her Zia Antonetta, an Italian immigrant with a big secret. It turns out Theresa has a kid brother, teenaged troublemaker Val Mancini—aka Tess’s paternal grandfather. Though determined to return to her own time, Tess’s curiosity takes over. What happened to the first Theresa Mancini? And is Tess’s trip through time connected to her aunt’s fate?

But when young Val is accused of murdering a boarding house guest, a Nazi in hiding, Tess ends up with two investigations on her hands—and is now stuck in time until she can prove Val’s innocence. As she searches for answers, she finds allies in a dishy police detective and a suspiciously charming fellow reporter. The clock is ticking for Tess to find a way home, but first, she has to keep her grandfather off Death Row.

Because before Tess can get back to the future … she needs to make sure she has one.

About Rosie Genova:

Proud Jersey girl Rosie Genova is a multi-genre author. Her work includes a Jersey shore cozy series, The Italian Kitchen Mysteries, and The Tess Mancini Time Travel Mysteries, set in 1955 Atlantic City. She is also the author of standalone suspense and a couple of rom-coms that presently live in her computer files (but are longing to be released into the wild). A former teacher and journalist, Rosie’s non-fiction has appeared in a variety of publications, including Entrepreneur magazine and The New York Times. The mother of three sons, Rosie still lives in her favorite state with her husband, too many dusty antiques, and a charming mutt named Lucy.

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Eva is Waiting by Romola Farr ~ #HistoricalThriller ~ @RomolaFarr

Eva is Waiting
Romola Farr
Publication date: February 14th 2025
Genres: Adult, Historical, Thriller

About the Book:

Following the death of her mother, Lily is sent to a remote girls’ boarding school, tearing her away from all the excitement of London in the Swingin’ Sixties. Bereft, she develops a relationship with Rainer, the husband of Sylvia, the headmistress.

One day, Bella, the school Collie, goes missing whilst playing on the shore below sheer cliffs. Despite a rising tide, Lily is determined to find the beautiful dog and discovers her trapped between rocks in a cave. Deepening water swirls around them as her fingertips dig into the sand and touch the smooth surface of what she believes to be an animal skull. From that moment on, she is haunted by a young girl pleading for help.

Lily speaks to her headmistress and learns that eleven years previously a pupil went missing. Eva was a refugee from Hungary, and it was assumed by the police that she had run away.

Forced to stay on at school during the Christmas holiday, Lily is caught between those who know what really happened and wish to silence her, and her determination to end Eva’s wait for justice.

But is history about to repeat itself?

Add to Goodreads / Purchase from Amazon

Read an Excerpt:

‘Don’t you have a heater?’ Lily was lying naked on a worn chaise longue with a gossamer thin veil artistically draped over her.

‘Heat burns out creativity.’ Rainer was sitting on a stool with a large pad on his lap, drawing Lily with a stub of pencil.

‘Am I to freeze my nether regions just for a sketch? I thought I deserved oils.’

‘First, liebling, I make sure I have all the correct proportions in pencil before I commence with charcoal, unless you want to have große Brüste und fette Oberschenkel.’

‘I think I’ve been inoculated against that!’

‘You are very funny.’

‘My mother told me I have a queer sense of humour.’

Rainer got up from the stool and placed the pad and pencil on the seat. He looked at Lily and she felt a surge. Since that amazing night, she had acted upon many urges alone in her room, then had knelt by her bed to pray for forgiveness. In her former school, Miss Rooney had made it clear that self-gratification was against the teachings of Christ.

‘As for adultery and fornication,’ Miss Rooney had said, ‘they are an abomination and will send you straight to hell.’ She had slammed the palm of her hand down on her thigh as she paced about and eyed the young girls seated before her. Young girls who had yet to experience their first period and were still reading books by Enid Blyton.

Well, Lily thought, hell it shall be because she was hooked on the greatest drug of all and despite her belief in God, she would rather face His wrath than become a dried-up old prune like Miss Rooney.

Rainer knelt in front of her, and she felt his warm tobacco breath… so intoxicating. ‘You are beautiful,’ he said.

‘Make love to me,’ she whispered.

‘An artist sleeping with his model is a cliché, is it not?’

‘Call it the Spark effect.’

‘I don’t understand.’

‘Muriel Spark… she wrote The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. It’s a novella set in a girls’ school. If they ever make it into a film, I want to play Sandy.’

‘Sandy?’

‘She’s the smartest girl in the Brodie set and has an affair with the art master.’

‘Who is very handsome, no doubt.’

‘Of course. Unfortunately, Sandy ends their affair and becomes a Roman Catholic nun.’

He chuckled. ‘Is that your destiny?’

She shrugged. ‘Que sera, sera, whatever will be, will be.’ She let the veil slip, exposing a youthful breast. ‘My fate is in your hands.’

He repositioned the veil and stepped back.

She forced a smile. ‘So, it’s a nunnery for me then?’

He looked at her. ‘I cannot imagine loving anyone more than I do you.’

‘What about Sylvia?’

‘She saved my life and has given me a future out of reach of the Russian bear.’

Lily wrapped the gauze tightly around her and stood. ‘I’d better go.’

‘Please stay. I owe Sylvia, but I want you.’ He pushed her gently down onto the chaise longue and knelt before her.

Author Bio:

Romola Farr first trod the boards on the West End stage aged sixteen and continued to work for the next eighteen years in theatre, TV and film - and as a photographic model. A trip to Hollywood led to the sale of her first screenplay and a successful change of direction as a screenwriter and playwright. Bridge To Eternity was her debut novel, and Breaking through the Shadows and Where the Water Flows are standalone sequels. All are set in the fictional town of Hawksmead.

Romola Farr is a nom de plume.

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