Rich and Gone by W.F. Ranew Blitz and Giveaway

Mystery

Date Published: May 29, 2019

Publisher: Tirgearr Publishing

PI Red Farlow is on the hunt to find $300 million a Florida insurance executive has bilked out of family and friends.

Woody Cunningham stashed the money in safe havens around the world before disappearing. Has he been done in by one of his enemies? Or did he skip town with his girlfriend to live off the ill-gotten wealth? If that’s the case, where is he?

Farlow must quickly learn how and why people hide their money in offshore accounts if he's to find out what happened to Cunningham.

When a tough guy from Farlow's past resurfaces, wanting to settle an old score, Farlow discovers he also has links to the missing man. Clues lead him across Georgia and Florida, and Europe, to find the answers.

Is Woody Cunningham dead, or just rich and gone?

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Excerpt

(Chapter 1)

Chadwick Woodrow Cunningham once gave me a fine cigar. Like the man, the smoke looked classy, robust, and expensive, but it left a foul aftertaste I couldn’t shake.

Born into a wealthy Atlanta family, Cunningham excelled in his education, achieved success beyond imagination, and exuded confidence in everything he did.

His friends regarded him as outgoing and smooth with the ladies. They hailed him as a moneymaking smart guy. Others saw him as impetuous and unfaithful to his wife. The people who invested in his bogus funds regarded him as a cheat in business.

What the hell. Chadwick Woodrow Cunningham had life by the ass, everyone agreed. But on a football Friday night near a small South Georgia town, his life changed forever.

He disappeared.

Someone hired me to inquire about some missing money—nearly three-hundred million dollars—entrusted to Mr. Cunningham. By happenstance, my investigation started a few weeks before he vanished. I soon learned what transpired that evening and how people who knew him assessed Cunningham’s mood in the days before then.

One thing became apparent. As influential and exceptional as Cunningham thought of himself, people valued the money he stole far more than the man.

About the author:

W.F. Ranew is a former newspaper reporter, editor, and communication executive. He started his journalism career covering sports, police, and city council meetings at his hometown newspaper, The Quitman Free Press. He also worked as a reporter and editor for several regional dailies: The Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle, The Florida Times-Union, and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Ranew has written two previous novels: Schoolhouse Man and Candyman’s Sorrow.

He lives with his wife in Atlanta and St. Simons Island, Ga.

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Review of Tidings of Joy (The 12 Mysteries of Christmas #5) by P. Creeden

Tidings of Joy (The 12 Mysteries of Christmas)

As a news reporter, Joy always tried to keep herself out of the paper. But what happens when events at her own paper end up as the headline news?

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**My thoughts**

Joy works for the newspaper in her small town, Christmas Tyme. She has a crush on Jeremy, a local police officer, who is relatively recently divorced and has two kids.

On what feels like a normal wintry Sunday morning, they all go to church. Suddenly after service, comic strip artist Roger Fromme comes running in to confess to Jeremy that he thinks he accidentally killed his and Joy's boss, Mr. Carter. Only the evidence points otherwise and Joy accidentally finds herself in the middle of the mystery.

The story is solved super fast and was not at all what I had expected. I wanted a little bit more out of the story and hope that Joy appears in some later stories, as her newspaper background would make for her to be an excellent sleuth. Plus there is this new romance budding between her and Jeremy that definitely has some potential. I read it in way less than an hour, so it made for a great quick and easy break and escape. I gave it 3.5 stars.

I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.

Review of Orange Thyme Death (Dolphin Bay Cozy Mystery #2) by Leena Clover

Orange Thyme Death

Second in brand new series from the creator of Pelican Cove

*Body at Bookstore Baffles Dolphin Bay*

When a local man is found dead at Bayside Books, Anna Butler becomes implicated in a second murder. Her past connection with the victim raises a red flag the police cannot ignore. The Firecrackers start working to clear Anna of the ridiculous allegations.

Anna's daughter Cassie isn't making things easy. Mother and daughter argue over how to deal with the unexpected visitor, Anna choosing trust and emotion over Cassie's more practical approach. Meanwhile, Mayor Lara, Anna's nemesis, continues to breathe down her neck, promising dire consequences.

The Butler women are immersed in turmoil as the grand opening of Anna's café is postponed and her dreams are threatened once again. As the murder investigation takes a bizarre turn, a certain ex-police chief provides the only bright spot in Anna's life.

Orange Thyme Death is a sensational pageturner that will keep you guessing and leave you amazed at an ending you didn't see coming.

If you like cozy mysteries with fearless heroines, high drama, beach settings and yummy food, you will love this second book set in Dolphin Bay.

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**My thoughts**

I read the first book in this series and definitely was not my favorite. But my instincts were telling me that the series had promise, so I went ahead and purchased the second installment. I'm glad I did!

This story simply flowed better. The author even adds in the complication of a third point of view. While the story being told from two points of view in the first one didn't work for me, I felt it really gave a clearer picture of what was going on this time around.

The amateur sleuthing was more on point. I even found myself liking characters I didn't necessarily care for in the first, especially as more details of their past lives were revealed. 

And of course, I am rooting for Anna and Gino to make a go of things!

I'm glad I took a chance on this one and will be on the lookout for more!

Read my review of Raspberry Chocolate Murder.

Review of The Girl With No Name (Detective Josie Quinn #2) by Lisa Regan

The Girl With No Name

When Detective Josie Quinn is called to a large house on the outskirts of the small town of Denton, she’s horrified by the viciousness of the attack – smashed glass, splintered furniture and blood spattered across the floor. The owner, a single mother, is fighting for her life, and her newborn baby is missing.

A beautiful young woman caught fleeing the scene is Josie’s only lead, but when questioned it seems this mysterious girl doesn’t know who she is, where she’s from or why she’s so terrified…

Is she a witness, a suspect, or the next victim?

As Josie digs deeper, a letter found hidden in the house convinces her the attack, the missing child, and the nameless woman are linked to a spate of killings across the county, and Josie is faced with a heart-breaking decision...

Should she risk the life of one child to save many others? Or can she find another way to stop this killer before any more innocent lives are taken?

Book Links

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**My thoughts**

The second book in the Detective Josie Quinn series starts a couple of years after the first one ended. Josie is situated in her new job as Chief of Police. Her wedding to Luke is approaching. But he is acting a little weird. A recent murder case has really thrown him for a loop.

And then all of a sudden, a new case blows wide open and the whole world turns upside down. Twists right off the bat had me exclaiming out loud, starting my friends who were sitting nearby. And they just continued throughout the whole book. I have a tendency to read in public, and this is one of those books where I could almost embarrass myself with my exclamations with each surprise.

Another interesting thing in this book is all of the random news stories interspersed throughout the book. I had no idea what the connection was, though I knew it would eventually be revealed. And I don't want to giveaway the spoilers, but the way Josie handles certain situations at the end make me admire her even more.

Review of Deleted (Cliffside Bay #2) by Tess Thompson

Deleted (Cliffside Bay #2)

The truth can set you free, but is it powerful enough to repair broken hearts? Find out in this standalone second chance romance from USA Today bestseller Tess Thompson.

Though it’s taken more than a decade, Jackson Waller is finally ready to move on from the tragedy that has haunted his entire adult life. But everything he’s worked so hard to leave behind comes rushing back when his high school sweetheart, Maggie Keene, is spotted standing by her own grave twelve years after her death.

And Jackson’s first love is very much alive.

The lie that turned everyone’s world upside down will finally be set right, but will the connection Jackson and Maggie once shared be strong enough to erase the damage done by one of the most treacherous scandals to ever hit Cliffside Bay?

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**My thoughts**

Here we have the story of Jackson and Maggie. It is definitely possible to read this as a standalone, but I Think you would have a smidge more appreciation for the story if you started with Traded. (That and the whole series is just fantastic and you should read them all.)

Jackson has been a mess since the love of his life, Maggie, was tragically taken from him in a car accident when they were very young. 

Only it turns out that she didn't really die. It was an elaborate scheme concocted by her a-hole of a father. The early revelation that Maggie was in fact alive literally left me with my jaw dropped.

Maggie hasn't returned home because she believed no one cared and she wanted to stay away from her crazy and abusive father. And I can't blame her, though I did have a bit of a hard time believing that no one followed up or discovered the lie, especially in this day and age of social media, etc. And yet, as the story unfolded and things were explained, it did make more sense.

Neither one of them has ever forgotten the other one, nor was able to fully move on. It's beautiful how the stars align so perfectly to reunite them. It's a true second chance romance that will likely make their relationship even stronger than it would have been had Maggie's father not stepped in.

We are introduced to Lisa and Pepper, Maggie's best friends, who will make more major appearances later on in the series. And we are introduced to Hugh, who absolutely breaks my heart. He is featured more later, as well. As the circle of friends continues to expand, I like them all. 

The interactions between all of the characters make you really feel a part of the story. And when you reread these books (as I have done), you can again really see how well plotted they all are. 

This book also has that slight element of mystery that Tess has been including in her books for a while. It keeps the romance aspect a bit more spicy. I really enjoy this whole series.

180 Days: A Teacher's Diary Through One Epic School Year by Sofia Faye Burke

After 20 years in the classroom, I always love to hear about other teachers' successes, failures, and classroom stories. The school year is always a wild ride, no matter what the age level. And I also love to share those stories. Check out an excerpt before you download your own copy. I chose one that really reminded me of my own classroom. Follow the rest of the tour for even more. And of course, enter the giveaway!

180 Days: A Teacher's Diary Through One Epic School Year

180 Days is a fly on the wall experience into a high school classroom over one full school year (180 days to be exact).

Written as a diary by a teacher who was struggling to cope with everything from educational reform to school shootings, this work unfolds via the teachers’ lens of controlled chaos in a broken system. This book takes the reader on a journey from the dilemma of how to make it to the restroom and back before the bell rings to the agony of an active shooter training day, including acceptance of a newfound form of professional development.

Mrs. Burke writes about the daily challenges and rewards of life within the four walls of her classroom. The work is gritty, hilarious, and heart breaking at the same time. Hang on, a school year is one wild ride.

Read an excerpt:

On another fun note, today was fabulous picture day! This is when all students and staff go down to the cafeteria to have their school pictures taken for the yearbook. School photos are a fun notion when presented to you early on in the school year but then you get the images back two months later, suddenly you start talking to yourself, posing questions like: “Is that me?” “Do I look like that?” WTF? Now I just want to avoid the entire school photo process as the images are simply weird. They must have a schoolmarm filter.

Teacher Confessional: Do teachers really swear? Fuckin’ A, yes! We swear on bad days. But not in front of students. Maybe I should start as kids always love the teacher who swears in class. I think they relate and think it’s cool, but those same teachers talk of drinking “juices” and smoking for “medicinal purposes.” Not the best role model in my view.

Day 11: Student started to cry 9th period. Oh, I feel absolutely terrible. But it ended well. She was arguing with me about the directions and I asked her to go out of the room to talk, as I do not like to speak to kids in front of the class regarding discipline if I can avoid it. It just embarrasses students and they resent it.

I met her in the hall and she agreed that she was disrespectful. When you take away the audience, students immediately calm down and talk honestly. But then she broke out in tears and I asked her what was wrong. She told me she is bipolar and so everything is very sensitive for her. I apologized and asked her if she needed a break from class and she took a walk around the hall. She did not want to come back in so I logged off for her. I feel awful for her; you never know what is going on inside the students until you start to peel away those onion layers.

Sofia Faye Burke will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Son of Thunder (The Esther Brookstone Art Detective #2) by Steven M. Moore

The Esther Brookstone Art Detective, Book Two

Mystery, Suspense, Thriller

Date Published: September 2019

Publisher: Penmore Press

#2 in the “Esther Brookstone Art Detective Series,” this sequel to Rembrandt’s Angel has Esther Brookstone, now retired from Scotland Yard, obsessed with finding St. John the Divine’s tomb, using directions left by the Renaissance artist Sandro Botticelli. Esther’s search, the disciple’s missionary travels, and Botticelli’s trip to the Middle East make for three travel stories that all come together in one surprising climax.

Esther’s paramour, Interpol agent Bastiann van Coevorden, has problems with arms dealers, but he multitasks by trying to keep Esther focused and out of danger. The reader can also learn how their romance progresses, as well as travel back in time to discover a bit about Esther’s past with MI6 during the Cold War.

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Praise for Son of Thunder:

"This is an exceptionally well-crafted and well-researched novel. Even though I haven’t read the previous novel in the series, I had no trouble becoming invested in the story and getting involved in the protagonists’ lives. I enjoyed the connection between Esther and Bastiann and how they seemed to balance each other out. While Esther is a firecracker, Bastiann is the calm soul that brings her back to earth while helping her fly. I also enjoyed how Esther seemed to bring a lot to the story. From her quirky personality to her great sense of humor, she made things work while having a grand time. The development of the story was great, the plot was incredibly rich and the characters were super entertaining. It is a great story and I cannot wait for more." - 5 Stars, Readers' Favorite

Other Books in the Esther Brookstone Art Detective Series:

Rembrandt's Angel

Esther Brookstone Art Detective, Book One

Publisher: Penmore Press

Published: May 2017

A Neo-Nazi conspiracy threatens Europe . . .

Esther Brookstone’s life is at a crossroads. A Scotland Yard inspector who specializes in stolen art, she’s reluctantly considering retirement. A three-time widow, she can’t quite decide whether paramour and colleague Interpol Agent Bastiann van Coevorden should be husband number four. Decisions are put on hold while she and Bastiann set out to thwart a neo-Nazi conspiracy financed in part by artworks stolen during World War II. Among the stolen art is the masterpiece “An Angel with Titus’ Features,” a work Esther obsesses about recovering.

The case sends the intrepid pair on an international hunt spanning several European countries and the Amazon jungle. Evading capture and thwarting death, Esther and Bastiann prove time and again that adrenaline-spiked adventures aren’t just for the young.

Amazon

About the Author

Steven M. Moore was born in California and has lived in various parts of the U.S. and Colombia, South America. His travels around Europe, South America, and the U.S., for work or pleasure, taught him a lot about the human condition and our wonderful human diversity, a learning process that began during his childhood in California’s San Joaquin Valley. Evidence of his love of storytelling can be found in his many books in the mystery, thriller, and sci-fi genres. He is a member of International Thriller Writers.

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What They Don't Tell You About Having a Baby by Dr. Heather L. Johnson

What They Don't Tell You About Having a Baby

An Obstetrician's Unofficial Guide to Preconception, Pregnancy, and Postpartum Life

Bringing a baby into the world is one of the most beautiful, natural parts of life, but that certainly doesn't mean it's easy!

Dr. Heather L. Johnson has been a practicing OB-GYN (obstetrician gynecologist) for 40 years, helping expectant mothers through the pregnancy process and delivering their babies. In "What They Don't Tell You About Having a Baby: An Obstetrician's Unofficial Guide to Preconception, Pregnancy, and Postpartum Life," she shares what she has learned throughout her career to assist parents and parents-to-be of all ages.

This guide covers everything from tips and tricks for a smooth conception, how much caffeine is really okay during pregnancy, how to survive those first several confusing postpartum weeks and everything in between. Dr. Johnson shares the lessons she's learned from years of experience and includes conversations she's had with her own patients along with her Dr. J's pearls in an effort to help others. Babies don't come with an owner's manual, but "What They Don't Tell You About Having a Baby" is a great start.

Available on Amazon

Dr. Heather Johnson is a senior partner at Reiter, Hill, Johnson and Nevin, with offices in Washington, D.C., Chevy Chase, Maryland, and Falls Church, Virginia, where she has been since 2001. Dr. Johnson is an actively practicing gynecologist and retired obstetrician after delivering babies for 40 years.

She attended Yale University School of Medicine and trained at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. She has two children, Clarion Johnson III, JD and Sarah Conway, MD along with one granddaughter, Harper, and another on the way.

Because of You by Allie Boniface

Romance

Drake Isle, Book 1

Release Date: October 15, 2019

Publisher: DFM Publishing

Ten years ago, Piper Townsend fell to her death from the top of a fraternity house, and no one on Drake Isle has ever been the same. Blake Carter's fraternity was scandalized. Misterion College closed down altogether. And Blake's girlfriend, Emerson Doyle, fled the island after her best friend died and never looked behind her.

Now they're back.

Blake's the CEO of a multi-million dollar tech firm looking to relocate to the island. Emerson owns a yoga studio in the building he wants to buy. They haven't spoken in ten years. They're on opposite sides of the bargaining table.

But old flames die hard.

And the more Blake and Emerson fight both the past and each other, the more they realize that coming to terms with tragedy is their only chance of finding love again...

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Only $.99 Until October 22nd!!!

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About the Author

Allie Boniface is the USA Today best-selling author of over a dozen novels, including the Cocktail Cruise, Hometown Heroes, and Pine Point series. Her books are most often set in small towns and feature emotional, thought-provoking, sensual romance with relatable characters you'll know and love. A graduate of the University of Rochester and Case Western Reserve University, Allie currently lives in a small town in the beautiful Hudson Valley of New York with her husband and their two furry felines. When she isn't teaching high school English, she likes to travel, lose herself in great music, or go for a long run and think about her next small town story.

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New York As We Know It by Vincent J. Chiapetta

Poetry

Date Published: July 28, 2017

Publisher: Mindstir Media

Running through cities is a part of my exploration. As I run I see, interact, build images that I put together in my poetic interpretive responses, my poems. I write on the run with a pad I carry.

I recall my impressions as I finish. I recall moments as reminders pop up in my mind. As if to see in words my views of the world of people and structures around me. Hopefully others will relate to my words and receive something similar in vision and intensity as I experience.

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About the Author

Born and Bred in New York City. As a scientist, teacher and observer of the beauty of the earth and its inhabitants.

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