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Scooped, there it is...Dead #4

Life of Pie...Cut Short #5

Deck the Halls...Dead #6

Do Not Disturb...For Good #7

Shaken, Not Stirred...To Death #8

Legend Has It...Murder #9

Well Done and Dead #10

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Review: The Petal Once Fallen (The Girl Once Known #6) by R.M. Demeester @rmdemeester

4:30:00 AM Fiction, Psychological Thrillers, R.M. Demeester, Review, The Bond Once Broken, The Flower Once Wilted, The Girl Once Known, The Name Once Erased, The Petal Once Fallen, The Vine Once Twisted, Thriller, Women's Fiction No comments

The Petal Once Fallen

The Girl Once Known #6

by R.M. Demeester

Published: June 26, 2026

Genre: Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Thriller, Women's Fiction

Blurb:

Jody Oliver believed perfection was power. Her mother had possessed it, and one day, Jody would too.

But how long can control survive the truth?

In the upper-class South of the 1960s, Jody marries Robert Oliver and claims the life she was raised to want. His parents disapprove, but Jody is determined to become the kind of wife, mother, and woman society expects.

For decades, she rules her family with charm, judgment, and control. But when her son Joseph grows into a man with his own desires, choosing a blue-collar life and a woman Jody despises, the illusion begins to crack.

As love twists into obsession and pride hardens into cruelty, Jody retreats into a world where every betrayal is someone else’s fault, and perfection is the deadliest lie of all.

This is a bonus origin story from The Girl Once Known trilogy.

My Review:

Jody Oliver aims to be the ideal person. The ideal daughter, friend, wife, daughter-in-law, and mother. She puts in her utmost effort to become who she thinks the people around her want her to be. Jody believes that perfection means being in control, and that is her goal. She knows what she desires in life: a family, a husband, and a baby.

Jody encounters the perfect man for her ideal husband, Robert Oliver. Robert is the best match for her perfect life. He understands who Jody is; he knows who she is with her parents, who she is with his parents, and the person she is when they are alone. He loves her regardless because he thinks he knows her true self, but does he really?

The Petal Once Fallen is the sixth installment in The Girl Once Known series by R.M. Demeester. It is a wonderful addition to the series. Once I began reading, I couldn't put it down for a second because I needed to find out how Jody and Robert's life together would unfold. I was eager to see if it would be the perfect life Jody envisioned. How long could she maintain this kind of life?

The suspense in The Petal Once Fallen kept me turning the pages, racing to the end to discover how all my questions would be resolved. As I mentioned before, I adore this series and can't get enough of it, hoping for more stories in this world.

I wholeheartedly recommend picking up a copy of The Petal Once Fallen, along with all the books in The Girl Once Known series, today!

Check out all the books in the The Girl Once Known Series I’ve read.

The Girl Once Known #1

The Bond Once Broken #2

The Name Once Erased #3

The Flower Once Wilted #4

The Vine Once Twisted #5

The Petal Once Fallen #6

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub

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Review: Murder by Meringue (A Darcy and Mozart Cozy Culinary Mystery #12) by Greta Sinclair

4:00:00 AM A Darcy and Mozart Cozy Culinary Mystery, Amateur Sleuth, Cozy Culinary Mysteries, Cozy Mystery, Crime, Death in Denmark, Greta Sinclair, Murder at Christkindlmarkt, Murder by Meringue, Mystery, Review No comments

Murder by Meringue

A Darcy and Mozart Cozy Culinary Mystery #12

by Greta Sinclair

Published: June 26, 2026

Genre: Cozy Culinary Mysteries, Mystery, Crime, Amateur Sleuth, Cozy Mystery

Blurb:

One glowing honeymoon. One stolen secret. One deadly dessert.

Newlywed food critic Darcy Finnegan has waited two months for her Sydney honeymoon, harbor lights, winter romance, and pavlova under the dazzling glow of the Vivid Sydney festival. With her Interpol husband Marcus finally at her side, she's determined to keep this trip blissfully murder-free.

But trouble has a way of finding Darcy, especially when her best friend and photojournalist Lizzie turns up unexpectedly in Australia, Schnoodle Mozart in tow.

At the worst possible moment, Mozart dives beneath a nearby table just as celebrity dessert judge Julian "Jules" Ransom drops dead mid-event. Darcy freezes, because beneath that same table are Lizzie's unmistakable shoes, sticking out far too neatly for comfort.

Now Darcy must race through Sydney's glamorous culinary world, from elite dessert festivals to dockside sugar fraud, unraveling stolen recipes, bitter rivalries, and a deadly frame job built to destroy everything she loves, including her marriage, her best friend's freedom, and the instincts she has always trusted.

Bonus Recipe Included!

Award-Winning Cozy Mystery Author Greta Sinclair Wins Silver Medal at 2025 Global Book Awards for A Very Sticky Murder.

Each book in the Darcy and Mozart Cozy Culinary Mystery series delivers a complete standalone cozy culinary mystery set in a stunning international destination, from Sydney's Vivid festival to Copenhagen's hygge-lit cafés.

No cliffhangers, no prior reading required, and no loose ends.

Perfect for readers who love culinary cozy mysteries, travel mystery fiction, foodie mysteries, and pet cozy mysteries with clever female sleuths, exotic settings, and irresistible food descriptions.

If you enjoy cozy mysteries by Diane Mott Davidson, Laura Childs, Joanne Fluke, Lucy Burdette, or Krista Davis, you'll feel right at home in Darcy's delicious, dangerous world.

My Review:

Darcy is currently in Australia with her charming husband, Marcus Evans, celebrating their honeymoon. Meanwhile, Mozart, her Schnoodle, is at home being cared for by Darcy's close friend, Lizzie, who is dog-sitting. However, this arrangement takes an unexpected turn when Lizzie, a photojournalist, arrives in Sydney for an assignment.

As Darcy and Marcus indulge in the culinary delights of Australia, they are startled by a noise and look up to find Mozart joyfully charging towards them, leaping onto Darcy in excitement.

Later, Lizzie becomes distressed upon spotting her ex, the celebrity dessert judge Julian "Jules" Ransom. While she captures images of Jules during a competition, Mozart dashes under the table, with Lizzie in pursuit. All Darcy can see are Lizzie's shoes and Mozart's tail protruding from beneath the tablecloth just as Jules tumbles face-first into the pavlova.

Consequently, Lizzie is deemed the prime suspect in Jules's unfortunate incident. Determined to exonerate her best friend—who is undoubtedly innocent—Darcy embarks on a mission to clear Lizzie's name.

Murder by Meringue kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish, despite my suspicions regarding the true perpetrator. Someone was attempting to frame Lizzie for a crime she did not commit. I had my theories about who might be behind the framing, yet the numerous twists and turns kept me guessing.

I found myself racing to the conclusion to uncover who was responsible, how they operated, and why they sought to harm Lizzie and implicate her in a crime she did not commit. Was it due to her past with the victim, or was it simply a case of being in the wrong place at the right time?

What I do know is that the suspense had me eagerly turning the pages, anxious to discover what truly transpired with Jules. What actions did Jules take against the real culprit? What motives did they harbor against him? The tension certainly fueled my desire to continue reading. I eagerly anticipate more of Darcy and Mozart's delightful escapades in future installments of the Darcy and Mozart Cozy Culinary Mystery series.

I strongly suggest that all fans of cozy animal mysteries read Murder by Meringue, the twelfth installment in the Darcy and Mozart Cozy Culinary Mystery series by Greta Sinclair! Make sure to obtain a copy of Murder by Meringue today to enjoy another thrilling adventure with Darcy and Mozart!

Check out all the books in the Darcy and Mozart Cozy Culinary Mystery series I’ve read.

Murder at Blackrock Castle #1

Murder at Moulin Rouge #3

Murder at the Museum #4

Murder in Munich #5

Lanterns Masks & Murder #6

Moonlight, Matcha & Murder #7

Murder, Marigolds & Mezcal #8

A Very Sticky Murder #9

Murder at Christkindlmarkt #10

Death in Denmark #11

Goodreads

Amazon

Murder by Meringue #12

https://mybook.to/TheBrothersBrown2

Connect with Greta Sinclair

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Week Blast: The Brothers Brown, Part 2 by R. G. Stanford @RABTBookTours

3:30:00 AM Family Saga, Historical Fiction, Native American, R. G. Stanford, Reading Addiction Book Tours, The Brothers Brown Part 2, Week Blast No comments

for the sake of family

Family Saga, Historical Fiction, Native American

Date Published: 12-04-2025

Based on a true story.

Set in the late 1890’s, The Brothers Brown - a family saga, Part 2 - For the Sake of Family is a sweeping frontier saga of love, guilt, and redemption - an unflinching portrait of a man’s descent into madness amid the unforgiving wilds of Indian Territory.

When Matt Brown boards a northbound train, he carries more than a pistol. He carries the weight of his brother’s death, a marriage strained to its breaking point, and a conscience at war with itself. A doctor’s brown vial of medicine offers fleeting relief but soon draws him into a darker world where pain and guilt blur into something far more dangerous.

His wife, Milla, proud and rooted in her Choctaw heritage, stands as both his anchor and his judge as the world around them shifts under the weight of change and loss.

From Fort Smith, Arkansas, to the wooded banks of Bokchito Creek, two families are bound by tragedy and love, vengeance and mercy. A celebration meant to heal ignites old resentments. A family gathering ends in bloodshed. And a winter dance turns deadly, forcing each to face the cost of survival, forgiveness, and the ties that bind them.

Steeped in the spirit of the Choctaw Nation and the rough mercy of the Old West, For the Sake of Family is a haunting tale of madness, murder, and the fragile hope that redemption can be found on the far side of ruin.

About the Author

Raised on the beaches of South Texas, R.G. Stanford has always been drawn to stories that transcend time. That passion was ignited in 1976 with the discovery of Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, and deepened with The Feast of All Saints just a few years later. Though historical fiction wasn’t an immediate calling, a personal journey into genealogy changed everything.

With no close relatives nearby, R.G. Stanford turned to online resources in search of extended family. That search became a twenty-year journey through genealogy websites, Federal Census records, the National Archives, and old newspapers. Along the way, R.G. Stanford uncovered incredible stories about her family and the people who once lived in the Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory.

Compelled to record the truth of her family in the lore, sprinkled with imagination, R.G. Stanford is a history lover, a research buff, and a passionate genealogy enthusiast. She is also a mother, a grandmother, and a teller of stories, now living near Orlando.

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Release Blitz + #Giveaway: Pillywiggin Awakening by Debbie Bishop @debbiebishop @RABTBookTours

3:00:00 AM Debbie Bishop, Epic Fantasy, Fae Fantasy, Found Family, Giveaway, Metaphysical Fiction, Pillywiggin Awakening, Reading Addiction Book Tours, Release Blitz No comments

The Complete Story ARC

Epic Fantasy, Metaphysical Fiction, Fae Fantasy, Found Family

Date Published: Friday, June 26, 2026
Publisher: Angelgate Entertainment

Peter has spent his life hiding among humans.

A light fae raised at an elite academy, he thought his disguise was to protect his place in the human world. A betrayal and ominous nightmare cause sudden caution, but when a mystical creature he has never seen before warns he is in danger, Peter realizes he must flee. To maintain his cover, he creates a clone and sends him to his home in the mystical realm, then sets out to discover who is hunting him—and why.

CAPTURED. FORGOTTEN. FORGED.

Stolen fae young men face their final day before they become dragon food. Taken from their homes and imprisoned in a brutal mine, they have survived through secret training, strategy, inventive tech, and stubborn hope. They failed to escape before, with severe consequences.

A prophecy whispers that a girl will one day free them.

She doesn’t even know they exist.

At a Paris fashion show, Peter collides with a mysterious girl—and discovers she is his twin sister. Together they possess a dangerous power, and those who control the realms will do anything to claim it. Or destroy it.

PILLYWIGGIN Awakening is a contemporary epic fantasy that weaves dark mystery, military strategy, and technology into a world where power is never given—only built. For fans of Lord of the Rings and Fourth Wing.

This is no tale of a magical savior.
This is the story of stray kids who grow into warriors—and become their own heroes.

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Book Tour + #Giveaway: Brooklyn Masala by Sophie Schiller @SophieSchiller @RABTBookTours

5:00:00 AM Book Tour, Brooklyn Masala, Giveaway, Mystery, Reading Addiction Book Tours, Sophie Schiller No comments

Mystery

Date Published: 04-01-2026

When Brooklyn housewife, Bella Bloom visits a mysterious Indian guru to fix her marriage, she turns into a cooking sensation and...murder suspect in this action-packed, hilarious, new cozy mystery series for fans of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum and Elle Cosimano's Finlay Donovan.

Interview with Sophie Schiller

Author of Brooklyn Masala

Could you tell us about any research trips you took for this story? Which places did you visit, and what made them essential to your writing?

I took some crazy research trips into Jersey City, to get a feel for the town and some of the locations where the Guru’s ashram could be. This took a lot of guts for me because I’d never gone to Hoboken or Jersey City before, so I combined my research trips with family history trips to the area. While I was writing “Brooklyn Masala,” I found out that my family has deep roots in Jersey City, stretching to my great-great grandparents who died in the 1880s! I also took some research trips to local Indian grocery stores, so I could learn Indian cooking while Bella was learning, and get a feel for the different ingredients they use and the cooking techniques. In a way, driving through the Holland Tunnel was like entering a Twilight Zone because I felt as if I was becoming Bella Bloom in her journey toward self-actualization.

What's the strangest thing you've ever had to research online for your book?

The Dept. of Justice has a treasure trove of indictments against diamond smugglers, diamond swindlers, and online articles describing the various ways diamonds are smuggled inside chocolates. Without all this information online, I could not have concocted my plot for “Brooklyn Masala.” These are real cases with real people who fabricated diamond certificate numbers on fake diamonds and smuggled diamonds into Dubai inside chocolate bars. It’s a whole other world out there of people trying to game the system. Fascinating and at times hard to believe. But probably the craziest thing I’ve had to research was how to take down a jetliner using “crazy” behavior: headbutting stewardesses, toppling drink carts, fighting with other passengers, etc. Again, these are real people who do these things that make headlines and also provide invaluable inspiration to fiction writers!

What research (history, mythology, science) goes into your world-building?

I think creating believable characters is the first step towards world building because everything revolves around “character.” The character of the Guru came about through hours and hours of watching online gurus and then creating my own hybrid character using satirical elements. Then you add the supporting players who operate in the Guru’s world of ashrams and phony grocery stores, giving them human qualities and foibles, and then you introduce your main character into this soup and see what happens. So, the research first and foremost is to create attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors that would be believable for your characters and then have them interact with each other, staying true to themselves.

Have any of the people you've known, past or present, left a lasting impression on your writing journey? If so, we'd love to hear about a memorable experience that stands out to you.

No one I’ve known personally, but the books of Jessica Brody have made a huge impression on me and have greatly affected how I view story and character arc and what constitutes a well-written novel. Her “Save the Cat” novel writing book is groundbreaking and should be read by every aspiring writer. It will definitely change how you view story and the different types of stories and what they must contain.

Do you write in the same genre all the time?

I usually write historical fiction, so “Brooklyn Masala” is a huge departure for me that started during the Covid epidemic in 2020, when I used to go to Trader Joe’s and saw all the frozen Indian dinners that people were snatching up. This led me to explore the world of Indian cooking, which gave me the idea of a novel by asking the question: “Can cooking transform an ordinary woman’s life?”

If so, have you ever consider writing in another one?

“Brooklyn Masala” is my first contemporary cozy mystery, women’s fiction novel, and I am definitely planning out a sequel!

Which character, supernatural or human, do you enjoy writing the most and why?

I would have to pick the Guru character, Maharishi Krishna Ram, who I modeled after a real-life Guru who started out as a stockbroker who gave it all up for spirituality and now has a huge influence in Indian society. He was and remains a beloved character who, although on the surface might be somewhat devious, underneath it all he really wants to help his orphans through his network of orphanages. He does have a certain supernatural quality about him because he’s so manipulative and cunning, but he’s also very human, and I hope people will see that while he may be heading on a slippery slope, ultimately good comes from his advice and actions. And while he may have to wear an ankle bracelet from time to time, ultimately he will succeed in the end.

About the Author

Sophie Schiller is a writer of thrillers and historical adventure tales. Kirkus Reviews called her "an accomplished thriller and historical adventure writer." Her latest novel is BROOKLYN MASALA. She graduated from American University, Washington, DC and lives in New York.

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Review: The Christmas Masquerade (Seasons of Invitations #2) by Daisy Landish @daisy_landish

4:30:00 AM Christmas Holiday Romance, Daisy Landish, Historical Romance, Regency Romance, Review, Romance, Seasons of Invitations, The Christmas Masquerade No comments

The Christmas Masquerade

Seasons of Invitations #2

by Daisy Landish

Published: June 25, 2026

Publisher: ‎Beaches and Trails Publishing

Genre: Historical Romance, Regency Romance, Romance, Christmas Holiday Romance

Blurb:

She fled one wedding... and crashed another.

Lady Vivienne Ashford leaps from a church window on Christmas Eve to escape a forced marriage to the vile Lord Vexley. Desperate and penniless, she stumbles through a snowstorm to Wintermere Hall, only to be mistaken for Miss Charlotte Linden, the American heiress the Duke of Wintermere is supposed to marry.

One night, she tells herself. Just until the storm passes. Julian Rathbone, Duke of Wintermere, is facing financial ruin. His only hope is marrying the elusive Miss Linden and her fortune. But when a disheveled woman arrives claiming to be his intended bride, something doesn't add up. She's too skittish, too knowledgeable about England... and far too captivating for his peace of mind.

As Christmas festivities unfold and the house party whirls toward the Twelfth Night masquerade, Vivienne's lies grow more tangled, and her feelings for Julian more impossible to ignore. But when her true identity is revealed, she'll lose everything: her sanctuary, her safety, and the one man who made her believe in love.

Now Julian must choose between duty and desire, between a fortune that will save his estate and a woman who already stole his heart.

Perfect for readers who love sweet Regency romance with mistaken identity, Christmas magic, and second chances at love.

From Daisy Landish, author of Christmas with the Earl, The Lady Series and The Christmas Runaway Bride, comes a clean historical romance where masks hide more than faces, and true love reveals itself when you least expect it.

The Christmas Masquerade is part of the Season of Invitations series, where society’s most sought-after house parties open their doors to dukes, debutantes, and dangerous secrets. From elegant estates to intimate country gatherings, each invitation promises scandal, temptation, and unexpected romance, with stories ranging from clean to gently steamy, where whispered wagers, hidden pasts, and carefully arranged matches may lead not to ruin, but to love.