The Madness of Mercury Tour {+ Giveaway}

It’s a pleasure today to be participating in author Connie di Marco’s Great Escapes Book Tour for her upcoming release, THE MADNESS OF MERCURY.

THE MADNESS OF MERCURY is the first installment in the author’s new Zodiac Mystery series and is scheduled to be released June 8. As part of the celebration, Connie is hosting a tour-wide giveaway for five copies of this tantalizing new cozy murder mystery. Please see the end of the post for more details.

The Madness of Mercury
(A Zodiac Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
New Series
Midnight Ink (June 8, 2016)
Paperback: 312 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0738749129
E-Book ASIN: B01A5OGTRS

Here’s a brief synopsis of the book:

Astrologer Julia Bonatti never thought her chosen profession would bring danger into her life, but her outspoken advice in her newspaper column, AskZodia, makes her the target of San Francisco’s recently-arrived cult leader, Reverend Roy of the Prophet’s Tabernacle.  The followers of the power hungry preacher will stop at nothing to quell the voices of those who would stand in his way and Julia’s at the top of his list.  She’s willing to bet the charismatic Reverend is a Mercury-ruled individual, and she knows all too well that Mercury wasn’t just the messenger of the gods, he was a trickster and a liar as well. 

THE MADNESS OF MERCURY is available for pre-order at the following sites: Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Author Connie di Marco

Connie di Marco is the author of the Zodiac Mysteries from Midnight Ink. She was fascinated by astrology at an early age and this was the inspiration that gave birth to Julia Bonatti, San Francisco astrologer and her newspaper column Ask Zodia. Writing as Connie Archer, she is also the author of the Soup Lover's Mystery series from Berkley Prime Crime. 

Connie lives in Los Angeles with her family and a constantly talking cat.

For more on Connie and her writing, visit her website and connect with her on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.

Here’s what others are already saying about this fascinating new release:

The story is very well-written, and the characters are realistic and likable. ~ Book Babble

Full of suspense and surprises… ~ Laura’s Interests

It’s a truly engrossing mystery, captured me from the first page and I couldn’t put it down. ~ LibriAmoriMiei

This was a fun read with an entertaining and unique main character. ~ I Wish I Lived In a Library

You know from reading the blurb that there’s more than one mystery going on. The threads don’t tie together until the conclusion and it definitely keeps you guessing. ~ FUONLYKNEW

Such a charming start to a new series!!! ~ Moonlight Rendezvous

You can find out even more about Connie and THE MADNESS OF MERCURY by visiting the following blogs participating in the tour.

May 20 – deal sharing aunt – Spotlight

May 20 – Book Babble – Review

May 21 – Laura’s Interests – Review

May 21 – LibriAmoriMiei – Review

May 22 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too! – Spotlight

May 22 – Mystery Playground – Interview

May 23 – I Wish I Lived in a Library – Review

May 23 – fuonlyknew – Review

May 24 – Moonlight Rendezvous – Review

May 24 – Musings and Ramblings – Guest Post

May 25 – Back Porchervations – Review

May 25 – The Bookwyrm’s Hoard – Review, Guest Post

May 26 – Bea’s Book Nook – Review

May 26 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – Review, Interview

May 27 – The Book’s the Thing – Review

May 28 – Shelley’s Book Case – Review, Guest Post

May 29 – A Blue Million Books – Interview

May 30 – StoreyBook Reviews – Review

May 31 – I Read What You Write – Review, Interview

June 1 – A Holland Reads – Spotlight

June 1 – Ashleyz Wonderland – Review

June 2 – Booklady’s Booknotes – Review, Guest Post

June 2 – Brooke Blogs – Spotlight

This tour-wide giveaway is for five (5) print copies of THE MADNESS OF MERCURY by Connie di Marco.

To be one of the five winners, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the instructions for your chance to win. The widget may take a few seconds to load so please be patient.

Thanks so much for stopping by today during Connie’s visit. What zodiac sign are you? (Me, I’m Aquarius -the water sign.) Do you like astrology?

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The Weekenders {+ Giveaway}

◊ THE WEEKENDERS: A Novel by Mary Kay Andrews

◊ Hardcover: 464 pages

◊ Genre: Women’s Fiction

◊ Publisher: St. Martin’s Press (May 17, 2016)

◊ Language: English

◊ ISBN-10: 1250065941

◊ ISBN-13: 978-1250065940

SYNOPSIS:

Some people stay all summer long on the idyllic island of Belle Isle, North Carolina. Others come only for the weekends-and the mix between the regulars and “the weekenders” can sometimes make the sparks fly. Riley Griggs has a season of good times with friends and family ahead of her on Belle Isle when things take an unexpected turn. While waiting for her husband to arrive on the ferry one Friday afternoon, Riley is confronted by a process server who thrusts papers into her hand. And her husband is nowhere to be found.

So she turns to her island friends for help and support, but it turns out that each of them has their own secrets, and the clock is ticking as the mystery deepens...in a murderous way. Cocktail parties aside, Riley must find a way to investigate the secrets of Belle Island, the husband she might not really know, and the summer that could change everything.

Told with Mary Kay Andrews’ trademark blend of humor and warmth, and with characters and a setting that you can’t help but fall for, The Weekenders is the perfect summer escape.

From the first few pages of a Mary Kay Andrews novel you know you’re in for a rip-roaring good time combined with a little heartache and lots of hope.

With her sweet Southern flare, Andrews quickly pulls you into the chaos that is her characters’ lives. You can feel their pain and joy, highs and lows while reflecting on your own life. Andrews’ protagonist Riley Griggs is a strong, independent woman who has lost herself while tending to her family. Readers can relate to her as she finds her way back.

The summer vacation setting comes alive through intense descriptions. The close knit Southern atmosphere shines as the unique characters make you laugh.

THE WEEKENDERS is a story of hope and starting over. It’s about facing life as it comes and taking on the challenges. This is a tantalizing read you won’t be able to put down as those you read about feel more like new friends than characters in a book.

The Weekenders: A Novel by Mary Kay Andrews, St. Martin’s Press, @2016, ISBN: 978-1250065940, Hardcover, 464 Pages

FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this book was sent to me as part of the author’s virtual book tour in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.

Thanks to the lovely Meg and the wonderful folks at Tandem Literary, I have a print copy of THE WEEKENDERS by Mary Kay Andrews to giveaway. The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only and will end at 12 a.m. (EST) on Friday, June 3.

To enter the giveaway, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load so please be patient. A winner will be selected by the Rafflecopter widget and I’ll send an email with the subject line “Thoughts in Progress Giveaway.” The winner will have 72 hours to reply to the email or another winner will be selected. PLEASE be sure to check your spam folder from time to time after the giveaway ends to make sure the notification email doesn’t end up there. If you win and you’ve already won the book somewhere else or you just decided for whatever reason you don’t want to win (which is fine), once again PLEASE let me know.

Thanks so much for dropping by today. I hope I’ve tempted you to check out this fascinating new novel by Mary Kay Andrews. Do you have a favorite ‘go-to’ author that you read to begin your summer fun? What book do you have currently that you would take to the beach with you for an afternoon of relaxing read time?

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The Body in the Wardrobe by Katherine Hall Page

◊ THE BODY IN THE WARDROBE by Katherine Hall Page

◊ Series: Faith Fairchild Mysteries (Book 23)

◊ Hardcover: 256 pages

◊ Genre: Cozy Murder Mystery

◊ Publisher: William Morrow (April 26, 2016)

◊ Language: English

◊ ISBN-10: 0062439502

◊ ISBN-13: 978-0062439505

SYNOPSIS:

          Minster’s wife, caterer, and part-time sleuth Faith Fairchild pairs up with Sophie Maxwell, last seen in Body in the Birches and now a newlywed living in historic Savannah, Georgia, where Sophie crosses paths with murder. Another delightful entry in the beloved mystery series, complete with delectable recipes.

          Attorney Sophie Maxwell has come to Savannah to be with her new husband, Will. But nothing throws cold water on a hot relationship faster than a dead body. Worse for Sophie, no one believes the body she knows she saw is real. Will is spending an awful lot of time in Atlanta on a case he claims is urgent, and she’s been tasked with house hunting for them with his former sweetheart, who Sophie can’t help but suspect wishes Sophie would return to her Yankee roots!

Fortunately, Sophie has a good friend in Faith Fairchild. With teenage Amy being bullied by mean girls and husband Tom contemplating a major life change that will affect all the Fairchilds, Faith is eager for distraction in the form of some sleuthing. In between discussions of newlywed agita, surprising Savannah customs and, of course, fabulous low country food, Faith and Sophie will pair up to unmask a killer!

MY THOUGHTS:

Southern traditions take on a nasty role through the actions of a spiteful character in author Katherine Hall Page’s tantalizing new cozy mystery. Page has created her characters with flaws readers can relate to, as well as loathe. She’s made the characters genuine, realistic and well-rounded.

The charming Savannah setting quickly draws you in as the suspense builds and the tension of Southern customs mingles with Northern ways. Through vivacious descriptions, the author makes the city come alive on the pages as you’re wrapped in the rich historic ambience. The suspense is blended with notable delicious tidbits of the area’s cuisine.

Moving at a steady pace, the story takes readers on a journey of suspense, friendship, traditions, jealousy, and love. With twists and turns to keep you guessing, the story brings unlikely characters together to create a unique and strong friendship.

This is a story rich in history and traditions, loaded with insecurities and memorable settings, topped off with generous helpings of tasty dishes, hours of enjoyable entertainment and characters you’ll want to revisit again and again.

THE BODY IN THE WARDROBE can be read as a standalone. A nice combination of characters, setting and mystery will keep hold you captive until the very end.

The Body in the Wardrobe by Katherine Hall Page, A Faith Fairchild Mystery (Book #23), William Morrow, @2016, ISBN: 978-0062439505, Hardcover, 256 Pages

FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Hope I’ve tempted you to check out this delightful cozy mystery. Are you a fan of this series? Do you enjoy it when an author combines two protagonists to work together in one storyline?

Visceral tightrope of deceit, abuse, and murder

I’m delighted today to tell you about a fascinating new release by a fellow blogger who is not only a very talented writer, but also an amazing photographer.

Author R. Mac Wheeler has just released DEAD MAYBE. 

Here’s a brief synopsis:

          Aran’s a researcher — for a killer. Not a profession of her choice. With her keeper’s death and the end of her servitude she may never have to plan another assassination, but she will kill to survive. Those who contracted her mentor’s hits will come for her. She knows too many secrets accumulated the past decade analyzing the routine of those tagged for death.

You can click on the following link to READ A 30 PAGE EXCERPT of DEAD MAYBE.

The book is also available for sale on Amazon and at Barnes & Noble.

Author R. Mac Wheeler

R. Mac Wheeler is a multi-genre author of flawed characters with a lot of baggage, striving to survive situations beyond their wildest expectations--who talk to themselves, a lot.

To find out more about Mac and this writing (and photography), visit his Author Page, as well as his blog (where you will find amazing photos), and find him on Flickr.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Hope I’ve enticed you to check out the excerpt from Mac’s new release. 

What are your thoughts about female assassins? Are they more deadly because they are female and less suspected?

Finding Fraser {+ Giveaway}

Whether you’re a fan of the TV series Outlander or not, I’ve got a book to tell you about that is stirring and humorous with a splash of romance. It’s FINDING FRASER by kc dyer.

As readers, we have all found ourselves falling for a fictional character, and may even have had a book boyfriend (or girlfriend as the case may be). But no book boyfriend compares to Jamie Fraser, Scottish warrior, lover of Claire Beauchamp, and hero of the fan-favorite bestselling Outlander series. The perfect combination of sexy, brooding, and rugged, Jamie speaks to the romantic in us all, and author kc dyer is no exception. Inspired by Diana Gabaldon’s #1 New York Times bestselling Outlander series, dyer has written a novel about one woman’s search for a real-life Jamie Fraser and her own happy ending in FINDING FRASER (Berkley Trade Paperback Original; May 3, 2016; $15).

Thanks to the lovely Ryanne and the good folks at Berkley, I have a copy of FINDING FRASER to giveaway. Please see the end of the post for more details.

In FINDING FRASER, Emma is on the cusp of thirty and in desperate need of a change. After a string of failed relationships, she can admit that no man has ever lived up to her idea of perfection: the fictional Scottish star of romantic fantasies all over the world—James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser.

Her ideal man might be ripped from the pages of a book, but Emma hopes that by making one life-altering decision she may be able to turn fiction into fact. After selling all her worldly possessions, Emma takes off for Scotland with only her burgeoning travel blog to confide in. As she scours the country’s rolling green hills and crumbling castles, Emma discovers that in searching for her own Jamie, she just might find herself.

FINDING FRASER resonates with the fangirl in all of us. Anyone who has ever been swept away by a particular fictional character from a favorite novel, TV show, or film will relate to Emma’s journey. A masterful combination of self-discovery, humor, and sweet romance, dyer’s novel will have readers planning their own Scottish adventure.

kc dyer resides in the wilds of British Columbia in the company of an assortment of mammals, some of them human. She likes to walk in the woods and write books.

Her most recent novel—an Amazon #1 Bestseller in romantic comedy for grown-ups—is FINDING FRASER, first published in 2015, with a new Berkley edition slated for release in May, 2016.

For teens, kc’s most recent work is FACING FIRE, a sequel to the acclaimed novel, A WALK THROUGH A WINDOW, published by Doubleday/Random House. kc is represented by Laura Bradford of Bradford Literary Agency.

For more on kc and her writing, visit her website and connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can also connect with her at FindingFraser.

Thanks to the lovely Ryanne and the good folks at Berkley, I have a copy of FINDING FRASER by kc dyer to giveaway. The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only and will end at 12 a.m. (EST) on Wednesday, June 1.

To enter the giveaway, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load so please be patient. A winner will be selected by the Rafflecopter widget and I’ll send an email with the subject line “Thoughts in Progress Giveaway.” The winner will have 72 hours to reply to the email or another winner will be selected. PLEASE be sure to check your spam folder from time to time after the giveaway ends to make sure the notification email doesn’t end up there. If you win and you’ve already won the book somewhere else or you just decided for whatever reason you don’t want to win (which is fine), once again PLEASE let me know.

Thanks so much for stopping by today, it’s greatly appreciated. Are you a fan of the TV series Outlander and/or the book series? Who would be your favorite character to have a crush on?

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Aunt Dimity and the Buried Treasure {+ Giveaway}

It’s always exciting when a new installment is released in a long-running series so it’s with glee that I tell you bestselling author Nancy Atherton’s AUNT DIMITY AND THE BURIED TREASURE, the 21^st book in her cozy mystery series about the paranormal detective Aunt Dimity (Viking) goes on sale Tuesday, May 24.

Thanks to Emma and the wonderful folks at Viking/Penguin Books, I have a copy of this fun series to giveaway. Please see the end of the post for more details.

Atherton’s fans have been eagerly awaiting this next entry, in which a fascination with buried treasure spreads like wildfire through the village, while Lori Shepherd travels to London to uncover Aunt Dimity’s old flame. It’s a perfect summer read for fans of cozy mysteries.

Writing for BookPage about the last Aunt Dimity book, Aunt Dimity and the Summer King (now out in paperback from Penguin Books), Atherton said:

“When I wrote my first book, Aunt Dimity's Death, I didn’t think it had a snowball’s chance of being published. At the time, there was no known market for a nonviolent, non-vulgar novel that was sort of a mystery and sort of a love story, with a supernatural element, some gardening, a bit of military history, a pink flannel bunny and a recipe thrown in because, what the heck, why not? The plot couldn’t be summarized in a simple catchphrase, and the story didn’t fit neatly into an established genre. It was a very strange little book—a marketing nightmare! —and I was absolutely convinced that it would remain forever in a box on a shelf in my closet, unseen by any eyes but mine.”

Luckily for Aunt Dimity’s many fans, Atherton was quickly proven wrong—and her books continue to be bestsellers and mystery favorites.

ABOUT THE BOOK: 

AUNT DIMITY AND THE BURIED TREASURE gives fans a glimpse Aunt Dimity’s past. In this new adventure, a fascination with buried treasure spreads like wildfire through the village, while Lori Shepherd travels to London to uncover Aunt Dimity’s old flame. As Lori searches for answers, she discovers an unexpected link between the buried treasure in the village and the treasure buried in Aunt Dimity’s heart.

According to Publishers Weekly, “Atherton smoothly blends history, village life, and the otherworldly” for another charming addition to the Aunt Dimity series.

Author Nancy Atherton Photo by Greg Taylor

Nancy Atherton is the bestselling author of twenty other Aunt Dimity mysteries. The first book in the series, Aunt Dimity's Death, was voted “One of the Century's 100 Favorite Mysteries” by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association.

She lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado. For more on Atherton and her writing, visit her website.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

Thanks to Emma and the wonderful folks at Viking/Penguin Books, I have a print copy of AUNT DIMITY AND THE BURIED TREASURE by Nancy Atherton to giveaway. The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only and will end at 12 a.m. (EST) on Tuesday, May 31.

To enter the giveaway, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load so please be patient. A winner will be selected by the Rafflecopter widget and I’ll send an email with the subject line “Thoughts in Progress Giveaway.” The winner will have 72 hours to reply to the email or another winner will be selected. PLEASE be sure to check your spam folder from time to time after the giveaway ends to make sure the notification email doesn’t end up there. If you win and you’ve already won the book somewhere else or you just decided for whatever reason you don’t want to win (which is fine), once again PLEASE let me know.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I enjoy helping to spread the word when a new release is coming out. Are you a fan of the Aunt Dimity series or is this your first introduction? Are do you just enjoy books that blends a variety of genres together?

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