#MysteryExchange Avery Daniels & The Romance of Resorts

  By Uncategorized

And the #MysteryExchange goes on! This week it’s Avery Daniels and her Resort to Murder series.

The Romance of Resorts by Avery Daniels
I’m Avery Daniels, author of the Resort to Murder mystery series. My amateur sleuth, Julienne, works in a luxury resort and the plan is to have each book based in or around a resort. In my researching of resorts, the romantic appeal is apparent whether you are single, dating, or hitched.
Many, or most, of you have seen an episode of a reality show about finding love. Whether it’s the Bachelor, Bachelorette, Bachelor in Paradise, Average Joe, Joe Millionaire, or the Cougar the courtship is done in luxury locations and homes. There is something about being in a resort style setting that sparks romance. Many have even suggested that the reality shows create this illusion because of the locations that won’t hold up to normal life after the show.
I found many people talking about how romantic a resort is mention how they feel totally away from the ordinary and focused on each other. The top romantic resorts make that sense of a couple’s getaway a priority in the staff. Otherwise the setting varies based on the couple’s taste.
Are you into beaches with water activities, then you might like an indoor/outdoor villa complete with private infinity pool, private sand beach, champagne picnic for two, private excursions on the resort’s yacht, and torch or candle lit sea-side dinner under the stars.
Maybe you enjoy traveling Europe, then you might swoon over canopy beds with a sunken hot-tub before a large fireplace, walking around a medieval town with historic ruins, touring centuries old olive groves and vineyards, strolling ancient forests criss-crossed by walking paths where you come across deer and pheasant. There are even a few historic manor houses or castles turned into luxury accommodations to immerse yourself in history.
Maybe a mountain oasis is more your speed with horseback riding around a lake, bicycling around mountain towns, skiing or snowboarding, hay rides, canoeing, swimming, and hiking. If you’re really adventurous you can white water raft, try some hot springs (even some clothing optional ones), spa and massage treatments, outdoor hottubs, and enjoy hot chocoloate and s’mores around communal fire pits. Or maybe order room service to enjoy with a sunken hot-tub before a large fireplace in your room. There are even luxury tent-cabins (called Glamping for glamour camping) that still have resort level amenities.
Then there is the safari resort experience to really get away from the ordinary. Wildlife viewing with excursions and day trips to wildlife preserves and learning about the native cultures are the draw for these resorts. Or maybe the theme park resort is more your style so you can play and be a kid again with all the adult luxuries.
There are many types that can even have a combination of the classifications in one resort. Here is a quick listing of the types or classifications of resorts around the world to consider: Beach Resorts, Golf Resorts, Island Resorts, Luxury Resorts, Lake, Mountain, Ski, Spa, Pet-Friendly, Theme Park, Historical, Dude Ranch, Singles, Couples, Adult-Only, Family, Eco-Tourism, Clothing-Optional, Casino and All Inclusive Resorts. Often times one resort will fall into a few categories.
Whatever your style, there is a resort to help you with your inner romantic. Even as a single person, I love the romance of resorts. Sometimes it is the beauty around the resorts that nurture a romantic mindset.
What would be the elements of your romantic getaway?
Avery Daniels was born and raised in Colorado, graduated from college with a degree in business administration and has worked in fortune 500 companies and Department of Defense her entire life. Her most eventful job was apartment management for 352 units. She still resides in Colorado with two brother black cats as her spirited companions. She volunteers for a cat shelter, enjoys scrapbooking and card making, photography, and painting in watercolor and acrylic. She inherited a love for reading from her mother and grandmother and grew up talking about books at the dinner table.     
​
Iced:
     Julienne has her ideal job as an event planner at a prestigious resort. During a luncheon event she coordinated, a renowned celebrity pastor is killed next to the buffet. All eyes turn to her as the suspect. If she wants to stay out of jail or even keep her job, Julienne needs all the help she can get to solve the crime.
     Julienne goes undercover and investigates a local swingers group as she follows the trail of clues before they go cold. Can she gather enough suspects and motives to convince the police to widen their investigation? Can she do it before the killer sets his murderous sights on her? Will her personal life ever be as simple as unveiling a murderer?
buy links for Iced
Nailed:
     Julienne is snow bound in the middle of the Rocky Mountains with a killer striking at will.
     Julienne LaMere gets to attend a Resort Management conference at a prestigious ski resort in the Colorado Mountains.  What should be an enjoyable getaway attending workshops by day and shopping and enjoying the resort by night comes to a screeching halt when a loud-mouthed guest is murdered plus the roads and town shut down for an epic blizzard.
     In addition to attending the conference, dodging a smitten teen boy, and seeking clues among the gossiping – and increasingly tense – guests, her best friend’s heart has warmed to an unlikely man and may get broken.  As if her mind isn’t already fully occupied, Julienne and her new boyfriend Mason are skiing down troubled slopes in their relationship.  Will Julienne put the scant clues together and unveil the culprit before a murderer gets away?
buy links for Nailed
Social Media Links:

Wardrobes! #OpenBook Blog Hop

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Let’s talk wardrobe. Do you gravitate to one color? What is your go to style? What shoes do you prefer?

Once upon a time, I opened to my closet door and realized it was a sea of blue. All blue. I hadn’t done it on purpose, and if you had asked me, I would have told you blue wasn’t my favorite color. I’m still not sure how it happened. I’ve never let it happen again.

Now I gravitate to black. On purpose. My entire wardrobe isn’t black, but I have a lot of it. On purpose. Especially for work. It’s a great basic color that goes well with almost every color, and I don’t have to think to hard when I get dressed. Put on a pair of black pants and what ever color shirt I feel like wearing and I’m done. If I want to add an extra punch of professionalism, I can top it off with a black blazer.

Colors I don’t have in my closet? Green and gray. I own one green blouse and one gray sweater. I just feel as if both colors don’t look good on me. And I love me some nice gray but I’m normally disappointed when I try it on. It doesn’t work with my skin color.

Weekends my go-to is blue jeans. (or black jeans.) Depending upon my plan of activities, it’s either t-short or a casual top to go with them.  I have more t-shirts than I need, really, but many of them are souvenirs of a trip somewhere, and I hate to get rid of them. I’ll keep them until they are worn out.

And my choice of shoes? None. Bare feet are my style. As soon as I get home, the shoes come off. As a kid, each summer I used to walk on the rocks in the driveway to toughen up my feet. As a result, my feet aren’t pretty, but I don’t care. I can go outside without stopping to put shoes on for a quick trip to the mailbox or to water my flowers.

When I have to wear shoes, tennis shoes are my choice most of the time. Sandals will work as well. (but not the kind that have the piece that goes between your toes. I hate those. Give me a pair of Jesus walkers any day.)  I do own a couple of pairs of dress shoes. Black for work of course, and low heeled. Watching me walk in a pair of stilettos is not something you want to remember.But since I live out west, I had to buy a pair of boots. Not your traditional cowboy boots, but a lace up pair. They were the closet thing I can find to a pair of boots I owned back in my hippie days.

Oh, before I go, I should mention I own a few dresses. I rarely wear them. But at least I have them available for the proper occasion.

Now, let’s go find out what the other authors are wearing!

July 23, 2018
Let’s talk wardrobe. Do you gravitate to one color? What is your go to style? What shoes do you prefer?

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

Blogger

Wardrobes! #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Uncategorized

Let’s talk wardrobe. Do you gravitate to one color? What is your go to style? What shoes do you prefer?

Once upon a time, I opened to my closet door and realized it was a sea of blue. All blue. I hadn’t done it on purpose, and if you had asked me, I would have told you blue wasn’t my favorite color. I’m still not sure how it happened. I’ve never let it happen again.

Now I gravitate to black. On purpose. My entire wardrobe isn’t black, but I have a lot of it. On purpose. Especially for work. It’s a great basic color that goes well with almost every color, and I don’t have to think to hard when I get dressed. Put on a pair of black pants and what ever color shirt I feel like wearing and I’m done. If I want to add an extra punch of professionalism, I can top it off with a black blazer.

Colors I don’t have in my closet? Green and gray. I own one green blouse and one gray sweater. I just feel as if both colors don’t look good on me. And I love me some nice gray but I’m normally disappointed when I try it on. It doesn’t work with my skin color.

Weekends my go-to is blue jeans. (or black jeans.) Depending upon my plan of activities, it’s either t-short or a casual top to go with them.  I have more t-shirts than I need, really, but many of them are souvenirs of a trip somewhere, and I hate to get rid of them. I’ll keep them until they are worn out.

And my choice of shoes? None. Bare feet are my style. As soon as I get home, the shoes come off. As a kid, each summer I used to walk on the rocks in the driveway to toughen up my feet. As a result, my feet aren’t pretty, but I don’t care. I can go outside without stopping to put shoes on for a quick trip to the mailbox or to water my flowers.

When I have to wear shoes, tennis shoes are my choice most of the time. Sandals will work as well. (but not the kind that have the piece that goes between your toes. I hate those. Give me a pair of Jesus walkers any day.)  I do own a couple of pairs of dress shoes. Black for work of course, and low heeled. Watching me walk in a pair of stilettos is not something you want to remember.But since I live out west, I had to buy a pair of boots. Not your traditional cowboy boots, but a lace up pair. They were the closet thing I can find to a pair of boots I owned back in my hippie days.

Oh, before I go, I should mention I own a few dresses. I rarely wear them. But at least I have them available for the proper occasion.

Now, let’s go find out what the other authors are wearing!

July 23, 2018
Let’s talk wardrobe. Do you gravitate to one color? What is your go to style? What shoes do you prefer?

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

Blogger

#MysteryExchange Linda Brendle & Tatia’s Tattoo

  By Uncategorized

It’s week three of the #MysteryExchange and this week I’m happy to introduce Linda Brendle and her book Tatia’s Tattoo.

About
the book:
As
a successful D.C. lawyer, Tatia’s mission in life was to destroy
the sex trafficking trade in small-town America. She knew where to
find it. She’d been there. With only apathetic foster parents to
protect her, she fell prey to the local pimp. Trapped in the sordid
underbelly of a small Texas town, she survived by sheer will. Her
friendship with her fellow victim Cindy was the only light of
humanity in the darkness until she saw a familiar face. Would Mrs. G,
a mama bear of an attorney, still think she had strength and
potential? Would Jesse, the young Christian tattoo artist and biker,
still look at her with a twinkle in his eyes? Or would they both see
only the mark of shame Eric had etched onto her forearm?
Excerpt
from the book:
Tatia
couldn’t breathe. She could feel his weight on her chest, his hot
breath on her face – and pain – she felt hot, searing pain
running up the center of her body. Then, he rolled off of her, and
she could breathe again, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to. If she
could hold her breath long enough, maybe she could go where Mama and
Daddy went, to their Father’s house. Suddenly, he grabbed her by
the shoulder and jerked her off the bed into a standing position.
“Go
clean yourself up. My friend will be here in fifteen minutes. Stop
your bawling and freshen your make-up. You look like hell.”
He
turned to the bed to straighten the rumpled sheets. When he caught
sight of the fresh bloodstains, he threw his hands in the air in
exasperation.
“Was
this really your first time?”
The
only reply from the bathroom was the sound of running water and soft
sniffling.
“I
could have charged twice as much,” he yelled.
Tatia
woke with start as her alarm clock freed her from the nightmare she
had re-lived for more than a decade. She turned off the alarm and
slipped to her knees beside the bed, asking God to take away the
horror of the dream and to replace it with His light. Basking in the
love she felt in response to her prayer, she rose and picked up her
partially packed suitcase from the floor. She placed it on the bed,
ready for last-minutes toiletries, and headed for the shower. She had
a plane to catch and girls to rescue.
About
the author:
Linda
first began to write during her years as a caregiver. After two
memoirs, A
Long and Winding Road and
Mom’s Long Good-Bye, she
ventured into the world of fiction. Tatia’s
Tattoo will
be followed soon by Fallen
Angel Salvage, the
continuing story of Tatia, her family, and Eric ten years later.
In
semi-retirement from the business world, Linda holds a part-time job
as secretary for her church and an on-line position as an accounting
specialist for BookPros. She also writes a column for the weekly
newspaper in the tiny East Texas town where she and her husband David
live with their feral cat Kitty.
Where
to find the author:

#MysteryExchange Linda Brendle & Tatia’s Tattoo

  By Uncategorized

It’s week three of the #MysteryExchange and this week I’m happy to introduce Linda Brendle and her book Tatia’s Tattoo.

About the book:
As a successful D.C. lawyer, Tatia’s mission in life was to destroy the sex trafficking trade in small-town America. She knew where to find it. She’d been there. With only apathetic foster parents to protect her, she fell prey to the local pimp. Trapped in the sordid underbelly of a small Texas town, she survived by sheer will. Her friendship with her fellow victim Cindy was the only light of humanity in the darkness until she saw a familiar face. Would Mrs. G, a mama bear of an attorney, still think she had strength and potential? Would Jesse, the young Christian tattoo artist and biker, still look at her with a twinkle in his eyes? Or would they both see only the mark of shame Eric had etched onto her forearm?
Excerpt from the book:
Tatia couldn’t breathe. She could feel his weight on her chest, his hot breath on her face – and pain – she felt hot, searing pain running up the center of her body. Then, he rolled off of her, and she could breathe again, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to. If she could hold her breath long enough, maybe she could go where Mama and Daddy went, to their Father’s house. Suddenly, he grabbed her by the shoulder and jerked her off the bed into a standing position.
“Go clean yourself up. My friend will be here in fifteen minutes. Stop your bawling and freshen your make-up. You look like hell.”
He turned to the bed to straighten the rumpled sheets. When he caught sight of the fresh bloodstains, he threw his hands in the air in exasperation.
“Was this really your first time?”
The only reply from the bathroom was the sound of running water and soft sniffling.
“I could have charged twice as much,” he yelled.
Tatia woke with start as her alarm clock freed her from the nightmare she had re-lived for more than a decade. She turned off the alarm and slipped to her knees beside the bed, asking God to take away the horror of the dream and to replace it with His light. Basking in the love she felt in response to her prayer, she rose and picked up her partially packed suitcase from the floor. She placed it on the bed, ready for last-minutes toiletries, and headed for the shower. She had a plane to catch and girls to rescue.
About the author:
Linda first began to write during her years as a caregiver. After two memoirs, A Long and Winding Road andMom’s Long Good-Bye, she ventured into the world of fiction. Tatia’s Tattoo will be followed soon by Fallen Angel Salvage, the continuing story of Tatia, her family, and Eric ten years later.
In semi-retirement from the business world, Linda holds a part-time job as secretary for her church and an on-line position as an accounting specialist for BookPros. She also writes a column for the weekly newspaper in the tiny East Texas town where she and her husband David live with their feral cat Kitty.
Where to find the author:

Learning a Language #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Uncategorized

What language have you always wanted to learn? Do you think you will try?

Learning a second language was a requirement for my high school. Back then, we only had two choices, French and Spanish. Not having a crystal ball to see into the future, I chose French.

Although we only needed two years for graduation, I stuck with French for all four years. I can’t claim I was ever very good at it, although I got decent grades. My comprehension of the written language was far above my abilities with the spoken form. I couldn’t ‘hear’ the unique pronunciations and subtle differences between French and English. I got the words right, but I slaughtered the way I said them.

My senior year, I studied Russian history. That was back in the Cold War days and I thought I should know more about our biggest enemy. As a side point of interest, I attempted to learn some basic Russian. There wasn’t anyone around who knew the language, so most of my study was grammar and the actual letters. This was pre-internet days, so I couldn’t even go online to listen to the language.

Amazingly enough, the college I went to offered Russian. Even though I wasn’t required to take a language course, I jumped on the opportunity. And you know what? I had the same problems with Russian that I did with French. Did fine with the written portion, couldn’t catch the nuances of the spoken part.

There is one language out there that doesn’t require being able to hear the subtleties of the spoken word and I’ve thought about giving it a try. Sign. I know there are on-line courses, but I value in-person teaching, and our local community college doesn’t offer sign as a course. I’m not sure I’m ready to make that much of a commitment to it anyway. I don’t know how I’d use it in my daily life.
But I love watching videos of people who have the skills. Their hands dance as they talk.

Maybe one of these days. Until then.

Just after I finished this blog, I stumbled across a video that proves my point about shows what sign language can do. so here’s a bonus.

July 16, 2018
What language have you always wanted to learn? Do you think you will try?

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

Blogger

Learning a Language #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Uncategorized

What language have you always wanted to learn? Do you think you will try?

Learning a second language was a requirement for my high school. Back then, we only had two choices, French and Spanish. Not having a crystal ball to see into the future, I chose French.

Although we only needed two years for graduation, I stuck with French for all four years. I can’t claim I was ever very good at it, although I got decent grades. My comprehension of the written language was far above my abilities with the spoken form. I couldn’t ‘hear’ the unique pronunciations and subtle differences between French and English. I got the words right, but I slaughtered the way I said them.

My senior year, I studied Russian history. That was back in the Cold War days and I thought I should know more about our biggest enemy. As a side point of interest, I attempted to learn some basic Russian. There wasn’t anyone around who knew the language, so most of my study was grammar and the actual letters. This was pre-internet days, so I couldn’t even go online to listen to the language.

Amazingly enough, the college I went to offered Russian. Even though I wasn’t required to take a language course, I jumped on the opportunity. And you know what? I had the same problems with Russian that I did with French. Did fine with the written portion, couldn’t catch the nuances of the spoken part.

There is one language out there that doesn’t require being able to hear the subtleties of the spoken word and I’ve thought about giving it a try. Sign. I know there are on-line courses, but I value in-person teaching, and our local community college doesn’t offer sign as a course. I’m not sure I’m ready to make that much of a commitment to it anyway. I don’t know how I’d use it in my daily life.
But I love watching videos of people who have the skills. Their hands dance as they talk.

Maybe one of these days. Until then.

Just after I finished this blog, I stumbled across a video that proves my point about shows what sign language can do. so here’s a bonus.

July 16, 2018
What language have you always wanted to learn? Do you think you will try?

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

Blogger

#MysteryExchange Sink or Swim

  By Uncategorized

Welcome to the second week of the Mystery Exchange. This week I’m featuring Stacy Juba and her book Sink or Swim. 
How
do you call for SOS when only the killer can hear you?
Personal
trainer Cassidy sails into the public eye while competing on a TV
game show set aboard a Tall Ship. After she returns home and catches
the attention of a stalker, her well-ordered life turns topsy-turvy.
As Cassidy’s competitors disappear one by one, she teams up with
Zach, the charming photographer tasked to record her personal moments
for the newspaper.
Is
Zach trustworthy? He shadows her as easily as the stalker. Despite
the chemistry simmering between them, Cassidy fears he has a secret
to hide.
She
hates the bizarre rules in this guessing game, but when her stalker
forces a showdown, Cassidy plays to win. . .this time for her life.
If
you’re in the mood for a fun mystery that keeps you glued to the
pages, then pick up your copy of Sink or Swim today.
Excerpt:
Cassidy
straightened as Detective Sean Pierce returned with a Styrofoam cup
of coffee and a Coke. He popped open the can and handed it to her.
Nondescript in his gray striped button-down shirt and khakis,
Detective Pierce scraped up a plastic chair beside her. From his
retracting brown hair and the crinkles under his dark eyes, he looked
as if he was in his early forties, but he had the trim build of a
thirty-year-old athlete.
He
shot her a curious glance. “You were on that game show. I
recognize you from the newspaper. Must have been quite an
experience.”
“That’s
an understatement,” Cassidy said.
Detective
Pierce emptied a packet of sugar into his coffee and stirred it. If
he was attempting to help her relax, he wasn’t succeeding. Her mind
wouldn’t shut off. “The dispatcher tells me you have an
unwanted admirer.”
“Yes.
I feel a little silly coming here when this person hasn’t even
approached me yet, but he gives me a bad vibe. He’s really
persistent, and if you read his letters, he’s not all there if you
know what I mean.” Cassidy passed over the pile of envelopes and
picked up Raggedy Ann from the floor beside her feet.
“He
calls himself Miles,” she said. “He sent this doll to the
studio in New York, then a letter came to my apartment. I found a
half-dozen others in my fan mail from the network.”
Detective
Pierce unfolded one of the letters and held it between his fingers.
He read a few lines and frowned.
“What
do you think?” Cassidy asked, dropping the doll onto his desk
and leaning forward.
“Why
Raggedy Ann? She doesn’t exactly symbolize romance.”
“On
the show, I mentioned that I had one when I was a kid. My father gave
it to me.”
He
nodded and flipped the page. “This guy sounds like a real
winner. He sure rambles. You don’t know anyone named Miles?”
“No.”
“Did
he threaten you in any of these letters?”
“No,
I’d call them obsessive, not threatening. But that doesn’t always
matter, does it? Isn’t it true that stalkers can start out
flattering and turn violent?”
“Yes,
but I’m glad to hear you haven’t gotten any threats yet. How
about ex-boyfriends? Could any of them be hung up on you and hiding
behind this Miles persona?”
Cassidy
pulled herself erect, balancing the soda can on her knee. She’d
been the one to end most of her short-term relationships, but none of
the guys had seemed overly distressed. They’d taken the hint and
stopped calling. Unfortunately, the one man who made her toes tingle
was engaged. “I don’t think so. It’s someone who saw me on TV.
It has to be.”
“Give
me the names anyway. I’ll run a background check.”
She
scribbled a list of all her dates since high school, a deep flush
coloring her cheeks. Four names, only one in the past year. Working
her way through college hadn’t left much time for a social life and
she’d turned down several dates at the gym to avoid awkward
situations when the relationship soured. Cassidy had even less
girlfriends – most of her high school pals had moved away, either
getting married or accepting jobs out-of-state.
She
reviewed the list before handing it to the detective. “This is a
dead end. These guys would contact me directly, not use an alias.”
Detective
Pierce trailed his finger down the short list of names. “You’re
sure about that?”
“Yeah,
and besides, none of them were serious. I dated them all a handful of
times. They weren’t lunatics. I’m telling you, this guy is a
stranger.”


Retailers:
Audible:
Also available in
Kindle Unlimited as part of the Young
Ladies of Mystery Boxed Set
Author
Bio:
Stacy
Juba got engaged at Epcot Theme Park and spent part of her honeymoon
at Disneyland Paris, where she ate a burger, went on fast rides, and
threw up on the train ride to the hotel. In addition to working on
her Storybook Valley chick lit/sweet romance series, Stacy has
written books about ice hockey, teen psychics, U.S. flag etiquette
for kids, and determined women sleuths. She has had a novel ranked as
#5 in the Nook Store and #30 on the Amazon Kindle Paid List. When
she’s not visiting theme parks with her family, (avoiding rides
that spin and exotic hamburgers) or writing about them, Stacy helps
authors to strengthen their manuscripts through her Crossroads
Editing Service. Visit her website to get your free Mystery Lovers
Sampler.

#MysteryExchange Sink or Swim

  By Uncategorized

Welcome to the second week of the Mystery Exchange. This week I’m featuring Stacy Juba and her book Sink or Swim. 
How do you call for SOS when only the killer can hear you?
Personal trainer Cassidy sails into the public eye while competing on a TV game show set aboard a Tall Ship. After she returns home and catches the attention of a stalker, her well-ordered life turns topsy-turvy. As Cassidy’s competitors disappear one by one, she teams up with Zach, the charming photographer tasked to record her personal moments for the newspaper.
Is Zach trustworthy? He shadows her as easily as the stalker. Despite the chemistry simmering between them, Cassidy fears he has a secret to hide.
She hates the bizarre rules in this guessing game, but when her stalker forces a showdown, Cassidy plays to win. . .this time for her life.
If you’re in the mood for a fun mystery that keeps you glued to the pages, then pick up your copy of Sink or Swim today.
Excerpt:
Cassidy straightened as Detective Sean Pierce returned with a Styrofoam cup of coffee and a Coke. He popped open the can and handed it to her. Nondescript in his gray striped button-down shirt and khakis, Detective Pierce scraped up a plastic chair beside her. From his retracting brown hair and the crinkles under his dark eyes, he looked as if he was in his early forties, but he had the trim build of a thirty-year-old athlete.
He shot her a curious glance. “You were on that game show. I recognize you from the newspaper. Must have been quite an experience.”
“That’s an understatement,” Cassidy said.
Detective Pierce emptied a packet of sugar into his coffee and stirred it. If he was attempting to help her relax, he wasn’t succeeding. Her mind wouldn’t shut off. “The dispatcher tells me you have an unwanted admirer.”
“Yes. I feel a little silly coming here when this person hasn’t even approached me yet, but he gives me a bad vibe. He’s really persistent, and if you read his letters, he’s not all there if you know what I mean.” Cassidy passed over the pile of envelopes and picked up Raggedy Ann from the floor beside her feet.
“He calls himself Miles,” she said. “He sent this doll to the studio in New York, then a letter came to my apartment. I found a half-dozen others in my fan mail from the network.”
Detective Pierce unfolded one of the letters and held it between his fingers. He read a few lines and frowned.
“What do you think?” Cassidy asked, dropping the doll onto his desk and leaning forward.
“Why Raggedy Ann? She doesn’t exactly symbolize romance.”
“On the show, I mentioned that I had one when I was a kid. My father gave it to me.”
He nodded and flipped the page. “This guy sounds like a real winner. He sure rambles. You don’t know anyone named Miles?”
“No.”
“Did he threaten you in any of these letters?”
“No, I’d call them obsessive, not threatening. But that doesn’t always matter, does it? Isn’t it true that stalkers can start out flattering and turn violent?”
“Yes, but I’m glad to hear you haven’t gotten any threats yet. How about ex-boyfriends? Could any of them be hung up on you and hiding behind this Miles persona?”
Cassidy pulled herself erect, balancing the soda can on her knee. She’d been the one to end most of her short-term relationships, but none of the guys had seemed overly distressed. They’d taken the hint and stopped calling. Unfortunately, the one man who made her toes tingle was engaged. “I don’t think so. It’s someone who saw me on TV. It has to be.”
“Give me the names anyway. I’ll run a background check.”
She scribbled a list of all her dates since high school, a deep flush coloring her cheeks. Four names, only one in the past year. Working her way through college hadn’t left much time for a social life and she’d turned down several dates at the gym to avoid awkward situations when the relationship soured. Cassidy had even less girlfriends – most of her high school pals had moved away, either getting married or accepting jobs out-of-state.
She reviewed the list before handing it to the detective. “This is a dead end. These guys would contact me directly, not use an alias.”
Detective Pierce trailed his finger down the short list of names. “You’re sure about that?”
“Yeah, and besides, none of them were serious. I dated them all a handful of times. They weren’t lunatics. I’m telling you, this guy is a stranger.”


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Also available in Kindle Unlimited as part of the Young Ladies of Mystery Boxed Set
Author Bio:
Stacy Juba got engaged at Epcot Theme Park and spent part of her honeymoon at Disneyland Paris, where she ate a burger, went on fast rides, and threw up on the train ride to the hotel. In addition to working on her Storybook Valley chick lit/sweet romance series, Stacy has written books about ice hockey, teen psychics, U.S. flag etiquette for kids, and determined women sleuths. She has had a novel ranked as #5 in the Nook Store and #30 on the Amazon Kindle Paid List. When she’s not visiting theme parks with her family, (avoiding rides that spin and exotic hamburgers) or writing about them, Stacy helps authors to strengthen their manuscripts through her Crossroads Editing Service. Visit her website to get your free Mystery Lovers Sampler.

Unpublished stories #OpenBook Blog Hop

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Have you written any books or stories that you haven’t published? Tell us about them. Do you have plans to release them in the future?

I wrote my first book at the tender age of nineteen. It was a handwritten romantic fantasy and I filled several notebooks. After I finished it, I typed it out. At some point, I made a recording of me reading it. (Saved to cassettes. Several of them.)  And you know what? It stunk. But I was rightfully proud of myself for doing it. I still have the cassettes and typed copy of it somewhere. But there’s no way it will ever be released to the world.

After that, I concentrated on my poetry for many years. I have a ton of poems that were never published. Not because they are bad, but because they never found a home. I’m okay with that. (And I’ll ‘fess up, some of them are bad!)

But a few years back, I had a story floating around in my head that would never become a poem. And I’d heard about National Novel Writing Month, and it sounded like fun. Write 50,000 words in a month? I could do that.

Or not. I got to 49,000 words and ran out of story. So after the month was over, I rewrote it in first person instead of third, added a new scene, and got it over the 50,000 words. But I didn’t like the new version, so I rewrote it again- in third person. And it’s okay, but after setting it aside for awhile, I realized the plot was too derivative of other stories I read. And there’s no saving it. So it’s stored away on my hard drive, and there it will stay.

But it got me hooked. I knew I had more stories in me. And I set about writing them.

One is a romance, the other a private eye story. Both have solid plots and likable characters. I haven’t given up on them. Occasionally, I’ll pull one up and read a selection. Maybe edit a few words. But as I’m concentrating my two series, I can’t give them the time they need. Someday.

Although I think my writing is steadily improving, not every story I write is a hit. I set out to write a romance a few ears ago. Solid writing, but it fell flat. I didn’t capture the characters emotions, and I knew it before I reached the end. I switched up the plot and now the beginning and the end feel like two different stories. I don’t think I’ll be able to save that one.

So, for kicks, here’s an unedited selection from the second book, titled “Book 2”, appropriately enough. It needs work, so excuse any errors.

     The fish joint down the street was open after making some quick repairs, and Ken ate his usual-fried shrimp, coleslaw, and fries, and then sat nursing his beer, watching the other patrons, and flirting with the waitress. Each time a woman with long hair came in, he checked to see if it was Piper. He should have talked to her last night, and told her how he felt. It might have been his last chance.  When the waitress brought him another beer, he drank that one too, and another.
     He wasn’t drunk when he returned to his room, but he was definitely feeling the effects of the alcohol. He knew better, especially on the night before a flight. He would regret it in the morning. But now, he had to go see Piper.
     She was already there, playing a song that seemed filled with sadness. It suited him tonight, he decided, but what was she sad about? He sat beside her and listened to the music and the ocean. He hated to think that it would be his last chance to do so- this trip anyway. He would come back, he thought. If she wants me too, he would come back.
     An ending note and she lowered the flute to her lap, gracefully. “I am here, Mr. Ken Walters,” she said, teasing him.
     “I’m here too, Piper. But I will be leaving tomorrow,” he said sadly.
     “Going home does not make you happy?”
     “It should, I know, but I don’t know where home is anymore.” Together they listened to the music of the waves. “I don’t know if I have had a home since my ex-wife and I got divorced.”
      She did not answer. “Sometimes,” he continued, “When I am with my daughter I get a glimpse of what home means.” The beers must have caught up with him. “Sometimes when I am here with you, I feel the same thing.”
      She had been in the process of raising her flute, and she froze, and then set it back down. “What do you mean by that?”
     He reached over and took held one of her hands between both of his. “I mean I want to get to know you better. I want to know your given name, I want to see your face in the daylight, I want to take you to supper and talk with you for hours.”

     She pulled her hand away. “Don’t,” she said. “Don’t.”

Now let’s find out what stories the other authors haven’t shared with us.

July 9, 2018
Have you written any books or stories that you haven’t published? Tell us about them. Do you have plans to release them in the future?

Rules:1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

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