Oh, one of Catherine Bruns’ book suggestions will bring back memories for many of you. And, if you love Italian food as I do, her Italian Chef Mysteries might strike a chord as well. You can find her books, and her book “Distractions” in the Web Store. https://store.poisonedpen.com/

USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bruns lives in Upstate New York with an all-male household that consists of her very patient husband, three sons, and several spoiled pets. Catherine has a B.A. in both English and Performing Arts and is a former newspaper reporter and press release writer. In her spare time, she loves to bake, read, and attend live theater performances. Over the past five years, she’s written fifteen mystery novels plus several novellas and has many more stories waiting to be told. Readers are invited to visit her website at www.catherinebruns.net

*****

For me, there’s nothing like curling up with a good book to pass the evening or serve as an escape from real life. Before the pandemic, I was hard pressed to find time for reading or as I like to call it, “me time.” In addition to family obligations, I work full time and have a driving commute of two hours a day. I also write three books a year for two different publishers which means that I am always on deadline for something—either a finished manuscript or a set of edits. 

Since March, I’ve been working my day job from home, which has allotted me some extra time.  I’ve been trying to set aside at least a half hour each night to read for pleasure. Since my gym has been closed the last four months and I sorely need exercise, I take long walks outside with my Kindle in hand.   

My reading preferences have always been a bit of a mixed bag. I love cozy mysteries and thrillers, but there’s a number of comfort reads in different genres that I often revisit.  Like writing, they help distract me from the real world. They’re the epitome of comfort foods—something that I’ve experienced many times but never tire of. Familiar, enjoyable, and they always make me feel good.

The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder

I’ve been a huge fan of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books since I was a little girl. Laura and her family are living in De Smet, South Dakota and “quarantined” during the terrible winter of 1880 when they encounter seven months of blizzards. Trains can’t get through because of the weather conditions and the Ingalls family is trapped inside their home. In some ways their experience is eerily similar to the pandemic. They manage to survive by twisting sticks of hay to burn for fuel and eating coarse bread made from wheat that they grind daily. Some might argue this isn’t a comfort read but for me it’s a story of faith, hope and courage.

Clouds in My Coffee by Julie Mulhern

I adore the Country Club Mysteries but I’m far behind and need to catch up soon. This is the third book in the series (there are currently eleven out) and set in the 1970’s. I grew up during that decade and feel it was an era that people either loved or hated. I happened to love it, and reading these books filled with 70s references is like revisiting my childhood. Ellison Russell is a strong protagonist from a privileged family and finds herself constantly stumbling over dead bodies. Frances, Ellison’s snobbish and scary socialite mother, is easy to hate but she might be my favorite character. She brings so much flavor to a series which is already full of delightful dry wit and humor. If you want to lose yourself in a book, why not lose yourself in another decade along with Mr. Coffee, Tab and bell bottom pants?

Those Girls by Chevy Stevens 

This book was recommended during a writer’s workshop I attended at Bouchercon last year. The instructor read a portion of it out loud and I was immediately hooked. Three poverty-stricken sisters are at the mercy of their abusive father and must leave their farm in Canada one night when the unthinkable happens. The Campbell sisters go on the run hoping for a better life but are soon trapped in an even more terrifying situation, and barely escape with their lives. The sisters change their names and try to forget the past, but it finally catches up with them 18 years later. If you like edge of the seat thrillers, you will enjoy this ride.

*****

As I said, you can order Catherine Bruns’ book “Distractions” through the Web Store. https://store.poisonedpen.com/ You can go directly to her page in the store to order her Italian Chef Mysteries. https://bit.ly/330DGi7

Penne Dreadful is the first in the series from Sourcebooks/Poisoned Pen Press.

First book in a new series from USA Today bestselling author Catherin Bruns! Penne Dreadful, the first in the Italian Chef Mystery books, finds Tessa Esposito embroiled in a hot investigation.

Tomato sauce isn’t the only thing that runs red…A delicious new cozy mystery that is:For fans of Joanne Fluke and Susan FurlongFor readers of cozy mysteries and food mysteriesIncludes delicious recipes

Local Italian chef Tessa Esposito is struggling to get back on her feet following her husband’s fatal accident. And when the police knock on Tessa’s door, things just get worse. They’ve discovered Dylan’s death wasn’t an accident after all, and they need Tessa to start filling in the blanks. Who would want her beloved husband dead, and why?

With the investigation running cold, Tessa decides it’s time to save her sanity by reconnecting with her first love—cooking. And maybe the best way back into the kitchen is to infiltrate Dylan’s favorite local pizza parlor, which also happens to be the last place he was seen before he died. Tessa has never been a fan of detective novels, but even she can see that the anchovies aren’t the only thing that stink inside the small family business. And with suspects around every corner, Tessa finds that her husband’s many secrets might land her in hot water.

*****

The second title, It Cannoli Be Murder, will be released Tuesday, July 28. You can pre-order it now.

A delicious new title in a new series from USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bruns! Tessa’s biscotti have always been killer, but never as deadly as in this addition to the Italian Chef mystery books!

It’s time to serve some just desserts…

• For fans of Joanne Fluke and Susan Furlong
• For readers of cozy mysteries and food mysteries
• Includes delicious recipes!

Six months after her husband’s death, Tessa Esposito is hoping to drum up reservations for her restaurant’s grand opening. And since a signing with bestselling author, Preston Rigotta, is sure to draw a crowd, Tessa agrees to cater her cousin’s bookstore event—whipping up some of her famous Italian desserts. But the event soon takes a sour turn when Preston’s publicist, an old high school rival, arrives and begins to whisk up their old grudges.

That night, a fight breaks out in front of the crowd, and it becomes clear there’s bad blood in Harvest Park. And when the publicist is found dead on the bookstore floor the next morning, a stray cannolo at her side, Tessa knows who will be framed as the prime suspect.

To clear both her cousin’s and her own name, Tessa must investigate the murder. But Preston’s publicist has many secrets to hide, and in the end, the truth is bittersweet…

The second book in the Italian Chef Cozy Mystery series! As Italian Chef Tessa plays the role of a female detective in this murder mystery, she’ll have to follow a string of clues before the case boils over.

I hope you’re enjoying the virtual author events presented by The Poisoned Pen. Although bookstore staff and authors miss seeing people in person, these events allow readers to see and hear authors they might never have seen.

You’ll want to watch the conversation Patrick Millikin moderated with authors Ace Atkins and J. Todd Scott. Ace Atkins’ latest Quinn Colson novel, the tenth in the series, is The Revelators. J. Todd Scott’s Lost River is a standalone. You can order signed copies of both books through the Web Store. https://store.poisonedpen.com/

Here’s the summary of The Revelators for all of us who have been waiting a year after the cliffhanger in The Shameless.

In this gripping new crime novel from the New York Times-bestselling author, Quinn Colson returns to take down a criminal syndicate that has ravaged his community, threatened his family, and tried to have him killed.

Shot up and left for dead, Sheriff Quinn Colson has revenge on his mind. With the help of his new wife Maggie, rehabilitation, and sheer force of will, he’s walking again, eager to resume his work as a southern lawman and track down those responsible for his attempted murder. But someone is standing in his way: an interim sheriff, appointed by the newly elected Governor Vardaman, the man who Quinn knows ordered his murder. Vardaman sits at the top of the state’s power structure–both legal and criminal–and little does he know, Quinn is still working to take him down.

Quinn will enlist the help of his most trusted friends, including federal agent Jon Holliday, U.S. Marshal Lillie Virgil, and Nat Wilikins, an undercover agent now working for crime queen Fannie Hathcock. Since Quinn’s been gone, the criminal element in north Mississippi has flourished, with Hathcock enjoying unbridled freedom. Now as a bustling factory shuts down, a labor leader ends up dead, and Quinn’s own nephew goes missing, everything looks to be unraveling. Even an old friend from Quinn’s past, Donnie Varner, is out of jail and up to his own ways.

Quinn Colson and company have been planning for years, and now they’re finally ready to bust apart a criminal empire running on a rigged system for far too long. This is the Battle of Jericho, the epic showdown that’s been years in the making. Eventually, the war will end–for better or worse.

*****

Here’s the description of Lost River.

A blistering crime novel of the opioid epidemic–and its cops, villains, and victims–written by a twenty-five-year veteran of the DEA.

Angel, Kentucky: Just another one of America’s forgotten places, where opportunities vanished long ago, and the opioid crisis has reached a fever pitch. When this small town is rocked by the vicious killing of an entire infamous local crime family, the bloody aftermath brings together three people already struggling with Angel’s drug epidemic: Trey, a young medic-in-training with secrets to hide; Special Agent Casey Alexander, a DEA agent who won’t let the local law or small-town way of doing things stand in her way; and Paul Mayfield, a former police chief who’s had to watch his own young wife succumb to addiction.

Over the course of twenty-four hours, loyalties are tested, the corrupt are exposed, and the horrible truth of the largest drug operation in the region is revealed. And though Angel will never be the same again, a lucky few may still find hope.

*****

I hope you take time to watch the conversation.

These upcoming virtual events round out the month of July. Mark your calendars now. You should continue to check back on the website, though. It’s quite possible The Poisoned Pen will sneak another event or two into the schedule.

Take a look at the events. If you’re wise, you’ll preorder copies of your favorite authors’ books early to ensure you’ll get one. You can order books through the Web Store. https://store.poisonedpen.com/

Enjoy the virtual events on the Pen’s Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/thepoisonedpenbookstore/

Michael Barson recently interviewed author Michael Brandman for Bookreporter.com. They talked about the Buddy Steel novels and Brandman’s Buddy Steel e-book short story, “Stealth”. You can find the interview here. https://bit.ly/2Cmu1Yf

Michael Brandman is the author of three Jesse Stone novels, each based on characters created by Robert B. Parker, all on the New York Times Best Sellers list.

With his longtime partner, Tom Selleck, he produced and co-wrote nine Jesse Stone movies and three Westerns.

His and Emanuel Azenberg’s production of Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead won the Venice Film Festival’s Golden Lion Award for Best Picture.

He has produced more than forty motion pictures including films written by Arthur Miller, Stephen Sondheim, Neil Simon, David Mamet, Horton Foote, Wendy Wasserstein; David Hare, and Athol Fugard.

He is the father of two sons and lives in Los Angeles with his wife, the actress Joanna Miles.

You can find Brandman’s Buddy Steel books in the Web Store. https://bit.ly/3jhrhvE

Wild Card is the most recent book in the series.

“…another irreverent, complex lawman.” —Library Journal

Follow Buddy Steel on his most difficult and dangerous investigation yet as he stumbles upon corruption in his own backyard.

When San Remo County Acting Sheriff Buddy Steel is deputized by the California Coastal Commission to investigate a reclusive Russian billionaire who has repeatedly violated state law by obstructing public access to his vast beachfront property, he makes a shocking discovery. And learns that the politicos, some with a history of corruption, some just chicken, will not back up enforcement.

This makes Buddy, a former LAPD cop dragged home by his Sheriff father’s ALS diagnosis to “temporarily” head the department, dig in his heels and face down the Russian’s imported goon squad. It can and will get uglier.

At the same time a string of random murders in the county’s normally sleepy town of Freedom, a wealthy enclave up the coast from Los Angeles, places the Sheriff’s Department on high alert as it seeks to apprehend a serial killer whose crimes are so perfectly executed they leave no forensic evidence.

Buddy enlists an old adversary in his war with the Russian. She’s a legal shark from L.A., a savvy negotiator—and former lover. He needs to carry this fight to court. And he needs more backup—from the Sheriff’s Department staff, not the Sheriff, who resists being sidelined. Nor Freedom’s mayor, Buddy’s stepmother.

Unconventional and meticulously obtuse in his methodology, wild card cynic Buddy Steel barrels his way through the myriad obstacles that defy him. He may not want the job but his quest for serving the law is relentless.

Wild Card is the third in the Buddy Steel series by Hollywood ace Michael Brandman who, among his other credits, has both written New York Times bestsellers in the Robert B. Parker Jesse Stone series and brought Jesse to the screen in nine films starring Tom Selleck.

*****

Or, if you want to start at the beginning of the series, you can pre-order a copy of Missing Persons. The first book will be re-released in September. (It’s not that far away.)

Even in a town called Freedom, justice has its price

LAPD homicide detective Buddy Steel finds himself detoured from his own life when his ailing father, Sheriff Burton Steel, calls him home to Freedom to take over as deputy. Though relations between father and son have always been strained, Buddy reluctantly agrees to the arrangement.

When he begins investigating the possible disappearance of a famous local televangelist’s wife, he is met with outright antagonism. While the highly-secured husband insists that his wife is simply visiting a relative, the housekeeper who reported her missing fears she may have been murdered. And no one, from family members to ministry security and staff to the prosecutor’s office seems inclined to help Buddy in his investigation. In fact, many go out of their way to stop him.

But the more he pokes and prods, the more he realizes that the Bible-thumping family and their television empire may be an elaborate cover for a less-than-holy enterprise. But how far up does the corruption reach—and will Buddy pay the ultimate price for refusing to look the other way?

If you’re a dog person, you’re going to love the covers of Laurien Berenson’s Melanie Travis mysteries. If you’re a reader, you’ll enjoy her post about books. So, we’re lucky she was willing to talk about what she’s been reading during the pandemic. You can find Berenson’s books in the Web Store. https://bit.ly/30kLmJ1

Laurien Berenson is an Agatha and Macavity nominee, winner of the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, and four-time winner of the Maxwell Award, presented by the Dog Writers Association of America. She and her husband live on a farm in Kentucky surrounded by dogs and horses. Readers can visit her website at: www.LaurienBerenson.com.

*****

You can find all the books Berenson selects through the Web Store. https://store.poisonedpen.com/

*****

I’ve spent entirely too much time inside my house over the last few months. It’s reached the point where even my dog thinks I should be getting out more. Having now resigned myself to living in pants with elastic waistbands, I’ve decided to look on the bright side and celebrate all the extra time I’m able to spend reading.

Ever since I was a small child, I’ve been a voracious reader. My TBR pile regularly overflows its shelf and become a stack on the floor. To me, there’s almost nothing more exciting than opening a new book, starting a new story, and discovering where an author’s creativity is going to take me this time.  

My favorite books are those that whisk me away from everyday life. Ones that offer an enthralling journey, or give me a glimpse into lives and places that are different than those I’ve experienced. Here are several books that accomplished that goal beautifully.

Murder in an Irish Pub

Carlene O’Connor’s Irish Village cozy series always make me laugh. Especially now, what a wonderful diversion that is. Shiobhan O’Sullivan is both witty and wise as she solves crime while deftly wrangling the lives of her five younger siblings. Set in Kilbane, Ireland, this book is steeped in Irish mysticism and folklore. O’Connor does a wonderful job of bringing the Irish countryside to brilliant,  entertaining life. Bring on the next adventure! I’m already waiting for it.

Pumpkin Spice Peril (Jenn McKinlay).

This Cupcake Bakery series is now twelve books strong and it’s easy to understand why. I love the realistic relationships among the four main characters (Melanie Cooper, her fiancé Joe DeLaura, Angie Harper and her husband, Tate). The friendship between bakers Melanie and Angie rings particularly true—I wish these two women were my best friends. This book centers around the local art scene in Old Town Scottsdale. When a talented glass artist dies after eating Melanie’s cupcakes, Melanie has no choice but to investigate. An intriguing mystery and mouthwatering recipes. What’s not to like?

Dangerous to Know (Renee Patrick).

I know next to nothing about the movie industry, and even less about Hollywood in 1938–but Renee Patrick’s vivid prose drew me in and immediately made me feel at home. I loved the cameo appearances by real people (most notably Marlene Dietrich and costume designer Edith Head.) When a nightclub pianist with friends in high places disappears, social secretary Lillian Frost is tasked with locating him. Instead she stumbles over his dead body. Rife with old Hollywood glamour, this book is bubbly and fun and better than an afternoon at the movies. 

*****

Laurien Berenson’s books are available in the Web Store. https://store.poisonedpen.com/ Game of Dog Bones, the most recent Melanie Travis Canine Mystery, was released at the end of June. Just look at that face!

Standard Poodle owner Melanie Travis is an excellent judge of dogs—and people. But what happens when an unnamed killer emerges at one of the fiercest all-breed competitions ever?
 
As Greenwich, Connecticut, slows down during a bitterly cold February, Melanie and her spunky Aunt Peg head to the city that never sleeps for the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden. Aunt Peg can’t wait to demonstrate her judging chops on national TV, even after being hounded by frustrating mishaps—all seemingly orchestrated by Victor Durbin, an ousted Paugussett Poodle Club member with a bone to pick. But the bright lights of the show ring grow dim when Victor is found murdered, and she’s the one topping the suspect list . . .
 
Driven to solve the crime on her aunt’s behalf, Melanie fetches hair-raising clues about the victim. Victor didn’t score many friends with his unethical breeding practices, sketchy puppy café, and penchant for mercilessly scamming others to get ahead. He burned so many bridges that his own business partner admits to being delighted by news of his death. It appears Victor finally toyed with the wrong person, and as Melanie digs up more chilling evidence, she realizes that exonerating Aunt Peg means confronting a murderer who’s in it to win it . . .

*****

Howloween Murder will be released August 25. Pre-orders always help the author, the bookstore, and you, so don’t hesitate to order the mystery now.

As the town of Greenwich, Connecticut, counts down to a spooky celebration on October 31st, a horrifying murder leaves Melanie Travis pawing for clues in a hair-raising game of trick-or-treat . . .

With just a few days left before Halloween, everyone at Howard Academy is anticipating the guaranteed sugar high they’ll experience from gorging on Harriet Bloom’s famous marshmallow puffs. The private school’s annual costume party revolves around the headmaster’s assistant and her seemingly supernatural batches of gooey goodies. So, it’s a shock when Harriet’s elderly neighbor is suddenly found dead with the beloved dessert in his hand. In a snap, police start questioning whether Harriet modified her top-secret recipe to include a hefty dose of lethal poison . . .
 
Melanie knows her tenured colleague would never intentionally serve cyanide-laced puffs to a defenseless old man. But as explosive neighborhood gossip reveals a potential culprit, it also brings her closer to sealing her own doom. Because on an evening ruled by masked revelers, bizarre getups, and hidden identities, Halloween might just be the perfect opportunity for a cold-hearted killer to get away with murder once again—this time sending a nosy, unsuspecting sleuth to an early grave!

Wait until you hear the conversation between author Jack Carr and Barbara Peters, owner of The Poisoned Pen. He’s so enthusiastic about writing, and so grateful to, and enthusiastic about author Brad Thor. Carr’s third book, Savage Son, was released in April. Signed copies are still available through the Web Store. https://bit.ly/2DWEvxX

Here’s the information about Savage Son.

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER

“A great book…it’s f*cking riveting!” —Joe Rogan

“A rare gut-punch writer, full of grit and insight, who we will be happily reading for years to come.” —Gregg Hurwitz, New York Times bestselling author of the Orphan X series

In this third high-octane thriller in the “seriously good” (Lee Child, #1 New York Times bestselling author) Terminal List series, former Navy SEAL James Reece must infiltrate the Russian mafia and turn the hunters into the hunted.

Deep in the wilds of Siberia, a woman is on the run, pursued by a man harboring secrets—a man intent on killing her.

A traitorous CIA officer has found refuge with the Russian mafia with designs on ensuring a certain former Navy SEAL sniper is put in the ground.

Half a world away, James Reece is recovering from brain surgery in the Montana wilderness, slowly putting his life back together with the help of investigative journalist Katie Buranek and his longtime friend and SEAL teammate Raife Hastings. Unbeknownst to them, the Russian mafia has set their sights on Reece in a deadly game of cat and mouse.

In his most visceral and heart-pounding thriller yet, Jack Carr explores the darkest instincts of humanity through the eyes of a man who has seen both the best and the worst of it.

*****

But, Carr was also talking about Brad Thor’s Scot Harvath books. The Poisoned Pen will do the virtual release for Thor’s book, Near Dark, on Monday, July 20.

You might want to order a signed copy of Near Dark now while they’re available. https://bit.ly/3ha63On

Here’s the summary of Near Dark.

Scot Harvath returns in the newest thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Brad Thor.

The world’s largest bounty has just been placed upon America’s top spy. His only hope for survival is to outwit, outrun, and outlast his enemies long enough to get to the truth.

But for Scot Harvath to accomplish his most dangerous mission ever—one that has already claimed the lives of the people closest to him, including his new wife—he’s going to need help—a lot of it.

Not knowing whom he can trust, Harvath finds an unlikely ally in Norwegian intelligence operative Sølvi Kolstad. Just as smart, just as deadly, and just as determined, she not only has the skills, but also the broken, troubled past to match Harvath’s own.

*****

I think you’ll enjoy this conversation with Jack Carr and Barbara Peters.

If you’d prefer to listen to the podcast, it’s available as well.

With the announcement that Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans are going to star in “The Gray Man” feature film for Netflix (https://bit.ly/3h7qOua), you might want to pick up a copy of Mark Greaney’s first book in the series, The Gray Man. The Deadline article says, “Fresh from a robust earnings report that saw it add 10 million subscribers during the pandemic, Netflix has just set its most financially ambitious feature film so far. Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans are set to star in The Gray Man, with Joe & Anthony Russo directing their first blockbuster since setting the all-time global box office record with Avengers: Endgame two years ago. The intention here is to create a new franchise with a James Bond-level of scale and a budget upwards of $200 million.”

Although the movie certainly won’t be the same as the book, why not start where it all began? Mark Greaney’s books, including The Gray Man, can be ordered through the Web Store. https://bit.ly/2o92azg

Here’s the summary of The Gray Man.

THE FIRST GRAY MAN NOVEL FROM #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR MARK GREANEY

“Hard, fast, and unflinching—exactly what a thriller should be.”—Lee Child

To those who lurk in the shadows, he’s known as the Gray Man. He is a legend in the covert realm, moving silently from job to job, accomplishing the impossible and then fading away. And he always hits his target. Always.

But there are forces more lethal than Gentry in the world. Forces like money. And power. And there are men who hold these as the only currency worth fighting for. And in their eyes, Gentry has just outlived his usefulness.

But Court Gentry is going to prove that, for him, there’s no gray area between killing for a living and killing to stay alive…

Some readers may know Laura Bradford from her Amish Mystery series. However, she also writes women’s fiction, and her July 28 release, Piece by Piece, falls in that category. With the pandemic, publishers are releasing fewer print copies of books, so it’s even more important to pre-order a book if you really want to read it. You can order Bradford’s books, including Piece by Piece, through the Web Store. https://bit.ly/2OzWj3C

Laura Bradford is the national bestselling author of more than 35 books, including her latest women’s fiction release, Piece by Piece. Her first women’s fiction novel, Portrait of a Sister, was a July 2018 Book Club Pick for Delilah of Delilah Radio and a Summer Book Club pick for Southern Lady Magazine.  

“‹Laura also pens several mystery series including; An Amish Mystery series, the Emergency Dessert Squad Mysteries, the Tobi Tobias Mysteries, the Southern Sewing Circle Mysteries (written as Elizabeth Lynn Casey), and a brand new cozy series that will debut with Penguin/Random House in Summer 2021. She is a former Agatha Award nominee, and the recipient of an RT Reviewer’s Choice Award in romance. Laura enjoys baking, spending time with her family, and being an advocate for those living with multiple sclerosis.  Learn more at: https://www.laurabradford.com/

Laura Bradford’s book suggestions can be ordered through the Web Store. https://store.poisonedpen.com/

*****

Prior to the start of the Pandemic, I’d settled into a nice reading routine that coincided with my time on the elliptical at the gym. Every four or five workouts, it was time for another book. Months (and years) of that routine meant I got caught up on beloved authors, and found (and devoured) new-to-me writers that were so good I went on to read my way through their backlist. It was a total win-win as far as routines went.

Then came March and New York’s shelter-in-place order, taking with it my daily workouts and all of those wonderful built-in hours with which I read. Suddenly that block of time I’d so carefully guarded just fell away. Now, I still do workouts (when I think about it), but without the gym, they’ve taken the form of long hikes through the woods, or huffing and puffing on a mat in front of my TV—neither of which lends itself to reading time. And after the workout? Well, then it’s time to write…or spend time with my daughter…or check in on one of my elderly relatives…or a million other things.

But here’s the thing. Reading is, and always has been, a trusted friend in my life—a guaranteed escape hatch when times are tough. Unfortunately, every time I tried to sit down and read those first few months, it was hard to focus, hard to set aside the real world and its uncertainty. Finally, out of sheer desperation, I grabbed one of my favorites from my re-read pile. Thankfully, that did the trick and soon, I was reaching into my To-Be-Read pile for another book, and another book, and another book.

Sure, the world is still upside down; still as scary as it was back in March. But now, thanks to the stories and worlds created by so many amazing authors, I’m able to lose myself in places where I can forget…and imagine…and hope…and breathe, even if only for a little while.

As for what I’ve been/am reading? Well, I’ll start with the re-read I pulled out of my favorites pile—the one that got me back on track in the reading department.

Good Luck With That by Kristan Higgins.

What can I say? I adore this book. In fact, the first time I read it (at the gym), I re-read it again as soon as I was done. I’m not sure I’ve ever done that with another book. But something about these characters—Emerson, Georgia, and Marley—speaks to me. It’s a story about learning to love who you are as you are, and to see yourself as worthy, and special, and important. These women leap off the page and I’m a better person for having met them.

My current read is Wendy Wax’s My Ex-Best Friend’s Wedding.

The story centers around a wedding dress that ties three women together—women who were once close, but, because of broken promises and unfilled dreams, are no longer in each other’s lives the way they once were, or should be…

I’m loving the set-up and the characters Wendy has created in this hard-to-put-down (yay!) book.

Next up?  Outsider by Linda Castillo.

I am a huge, huge, HUGE fan of Linda’s Kate Burkholder series. Every year, I circle (in pen) her release date on my calendar and block off two or three days to read it—although, truth be told, I usually read it in one sitting.  Of course, when I do, I realize I have to wait twelve months for another…

Anyway, this 12^th installment of the series is waiting at the very top of my TBR pile, and from what I gather, Kate and the dashingly rugged (and dare I say, oh so delicious) John Tomasetti are going to go to the mat for an old academy classmate friend of Kate’s who is on the run from the cops.   And, according to the blurb on the cover, “as Kate gets closer to the truth, a killer lies in wait. When violence strikes, she must confront a devastating truth that changes everything she thought she knew not only about friendship, but the institution to which she’s devoted her life.”

I get giddy just reading that, don’t you? So, yeah… I. Can’t. Wait. To. Read. This.

*****

Every time Laura Bradford writes a new Amish mystery, “I. Can’t. Wait. To. Read.” it. You may feel the same way about her new release, Piece by Piece.

A grieving mother learns to heal in Amish country, in this heartfelt, beautifully told novel from national bestselling author Laura Bradford.

Danielle Parker is a gold-medal mom—the kind who volunteers in her children’s classrooms, shuttles them between activities, throws legendary birthday parties, and has a remedy on hand for any emergency. Whatever her husband, Jeff, and their children need, Dani is there, always.
Except for one day.

On that day—the day that Dani reluctantly takes some “me time” while her mom and Jeff drive the children to the park—the unthinkable happens. The car crash leaves no survivors. Somehow, Dani gets through the funerals and visits, accepting neighbors’ sympathy and dropped-off meals. All the while, guilt and grief make her wish the accident had claimed her life too. Then a call comes from Lydia Schlabach, an Amish woman Dani befriended in childhood. In addition to condolences, Lydia offers Dani something more: a place to escape to.

In Pennsylvania’s Amish country, Dani’s days take on a new rhythm, marked by the clip-clop of buggies and the bustle of chores. Lydia gives Dani space to mourn, to think, and to realize how long it’s been since she felt like a person in her own right. And with the help of friendships old and new, Dani learns about the ways life continues to surprise us—even after the deepest loss—with joy, love, and second chances. . . .

Praise for Portrait of a Sister

“Laura Bradford is a master storyteller; this book will stay with you for a long, long time.” —New York Times bestselling author Tasha Alexander

 “A charming, well-told story of love and devotion between sisters.”
—New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hauck

*****

The most recent in Laura Bradford’s Amish Mystery series, A Killer Carol, is available in the Web Store now.

Heavenly, PA has been transformed into a Christmas wonderland, and Claire is delighted to celebrate the season…but a fiendish killer has other plans in this all-new installment in the national bestselling series.

As the owner of Heavenly Treasures, the local gift shop, Claire is busier than ever helping her English customers (and even a few of her Amish friends, like Esther and Ben) find the perfect gift for the special people on their shopping list.

Claire makes sure she has time for her boyfriend, Detective Jakob Fisher. But the man, who was raised and then shunned by the Amish over his choice of career, has been unusually secretive lately. She tries not to worry, to trust their relationship, but trying and doing aren’t exactly matching up.

Before she can figure out what’s going on with Jakob, word comes that Ruth and Samuel Yoder are being questioned in the death of an elderly Amish couple, found murdered not long after the newlyweds were seen leaving the victims’ farm. Ruth, in turn, seeks Claire’s help in convincing the police that she and Samuel had nothing to do with what happened. But when Claire comes across a cryptic note tucked inside the wedding gift the victims had given the newlyweds no more than an hour before their murder, she finds herself in dire need of a little convincing as well.

Can Claire get to the bottom of things in time to ensure a merry Christmas for all?

Beatriz Williams, NYTimes bestselling author, recently took time to talk about writing, historical fiction, and her latest book with John Charles from The Poisoned Pen. Her Last Flight focuses on the birth of aviation. You can still order a signed copy through the Web Store. https://bit.ly/2CvUkLg

Here is the summary of Her Last Flight.

One of Summer’s Most Anticipated Reads, according to Goodreads, SheReads, and Bookish

“I think Beatriz Williams is writing the best historical fiction out there. It’s lush with period detail but feels immediate.”—Elin Hilderbrand

The beloved author returns with a remarkable novel of both raw suspense and lyric beauty— the story of a lost pilot and a wartime photographer that will leave its mark on your soul. 

In 1947, photographer and war correspondent Janey Everett arrives at a remote surfing village on the Hawaiian island of Kauai to research a planned biography of forgotten aviation pioneer Sam Mallory, who joined the loyalist forces in the Spanish Civil War and never returned. Obsessed with Sam’s fate, Janey has tracked down Irene Lindquist, the owner of a local island-hopping airline, whom she believes might actually be the legendary Irene Foster, Mallory’s onetime student and flying partner. Foster’s disappearance during a round-the-world flight in 1937 remains one of the world’s greatest unsolved mysteries. 

At first, the flinty Mrs. Lindquist denies any connection to Foster. But Janey informs her that the wreck of Sam Mallory’s airplane has recently been discovered in a Spanish desert, and piece by piece, the details of Foster’s extraordinary life emerge: from the beginnings of her flying career in Southern California, to her complicated, passionate relationship with Mallory, to the collapse of her marriage to her aggressive career manager, the publishing scion George Morrow.

As Irene spins her tale to its searing conclusion, Janey’s past gathers its own power. The duel between the two women takes a heartstopping turn. To whom does Mallory rightfully belong? Can we ever come to terms with the loss of those we love, and the lives we might have lived?

*****

Enjoy Beatriz Williams’ passionate conversation about aviation, the background of Her Last Flight, and books in general.