Tag: mystery

A Kiss Revealed – Sealed with A Kiss BOOK 2!!

Posted on by Frances

Book 2 in my latest series is NOW available! Let me share with you the juicy details…

 

 

For weeks, The Margaret Killer terrorized Crimson Shores, claiming the lives of seven people. Suspect number one is Laura Keaton. She looks the part. She has a connection with each victim and can’t provide a credible alibi. Evidence for each death was found in her home. And then Detective Kojak discovered her birth name: Louisa Margaret.

Now arrested and facing trial, Laura maintains her innocence. But while in prison, The Margaret Killer disappears. Coincidence? The prosecution doesn’t think so. They use that fact, along with the rest of the evidence to prove Laura’s guilt.

However, an anonymous tip throws the whole case on its head. Not only does it provide definitive proof of Laura’s guilt or innocence, but it raises more questions even while revealing deeper truths.

It also forces The Margaret Killer to reappear…with a vengeance.

 

To get your copy of this serial killer thriller titled A Kiss Revealed, please visit:

www.amazon.com/dp/B07XHNF5J6

This is just half the story, too! Stay tuned for books 3 and 4, coming SOON!

 

A Kiss with Death – Sealed with A Kiss series BOOK 1

Posted on by Frances

 

 

I’m excited to announce that my newest release is finally here!

 

 

A Kiss with Death is book one of what is a four-book series in the crime thriller genre. Each book is rated PG-13 or so as there is murder, some seduction, and occasional drug/alcohol references. However, there is no swearing, and no on-page/descriptive sexual references and/or graphic violence.

 

Here is the blurb:

After a rough past, Professor Laura Marie Keaton now has the perfect life. The perfect house along the lakeshore. The perfect job at Capstone University. The perfect boyfriend who she knows is the one. The only thing she doesn’t have? The perfect alibi.

When a serial killer emerges in Crimson Shores, leaving behind only a card with a number, a kiss, and the name Margaret on it, Laura’s life begins to crumble yet again. She believes she’s the hunted. But as the victim count rises, Detective Randy Kojak believes she’s the hunter.

One piece of information about Laura’s past holds the truth. But like everything else with The Margaret Killer, it may not be what it seems.

 

As of right now it is available in e-book format only through Amazon. However, the paperback and audiobook versions are in the works!! With many twists and turns and a smidgen of suspense and mystery, you will not want to miss this series. I’d love for you to check it out, share with a friend, and even leave an honest review if you get the chance!

 

To get your copy, please head to:

 

www.amazon.com/dp/B07VD8Y9JC

Shackles: The Truth Will Set You Free

Posted on by Frances

It has been way too LONG since I’ve last written a blog post. The truth is, I’ve been wrapped up in finishing my next series that I’ve not had much time to read or post anything. However, I finally did finish a book I wanted to share with you all. It’s slightly different than I’ve read before: a Christian mystery thriller. Yes, those genres can certainly go together. Let me share with you the book’s information, and then let me tell you my thoughts…

 

 

Shackles: The Truth Will Set You Free

By: Dianne J. Wilson

 

 

 

 

 

Jason is not the kind of guy you would want to take home to mom. He’s foul tempered, a bit of a womanizer and has a conscience that has been collecting dust for years. All that is shaken up though, when he unearths a package of carefully preserved love letters and a portrait while diving off the coast of Africa. So many unanswered questions, the letters snag something inside of him. Intrigued despite himself, he begins to unravel the mystery caught up in pages. He finds himself tangled up in the life of a girl he’s never met… a girl who is in desperate trouble.

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free ~ John 8:32

 

 

What I really enjoyed about this book was that it had multiple stories intertwining toward one unique plot. How everything came together was miraculously written. Very well done. The author also did a great job of weaving in Christian themes that I believe are true to the Bible. I liked the depth of characters and scenery, and it was overall enjoyable.

 

Throughout this book there were a few mistakes, but nothing that made it difficult to read or understand. That paired with not being a book I couldn’t put down (it was enjoyable, but not something I had to keep reading) made me rate this four stars. Yes, I would recommend it. For those liking novels taking place in foreign countries, this is it for you. 

 

 

You can get it for FREE on Amazon at:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015GB04IK

Not What She Seems

Posted on by Frances

How about another thriller? I’ve been doing a lot of those lately, haven’t I. All for good reasons, as I’ve shared before. This one, however, isn’t quite a thriller. It’s more a suspense. There’s also a romantic element to it, which sweetens it up a bit. Would you like to know more about this book? Let me share!

 

Not What She Seems

By: Victorine E. Lieske

 

Steven Ashton, a billionaire from New York, and Emily Grant, on the run from the law…and when they meet he can’t help falling for her. What he doesn’t know is that interfering in her life will put his own life in danger.

When billionaire Steven Ashton couldn’t stand his high society social life anymore, he left the stress of New York on a vacation for his soul. The need to meet real down to earth people led him to a small Nebraska town. He didn’t want to lie about who he was, but he couldn’t exactly tell them the truth.

Emily could have easily fallen in love with Steven, under different circumstances, but her past was catching up with her and she needed a new life. If the authorities found out about her, she could lose the one thing that meant everything, her four year old son.

 

I have read other books by Victorine E. Lieske before. I figured this one would be a good one to try. After all, she’s great with her romance novels! So how does she do with suspense? Let’s find out. I’ll first share what I liked.

Not What She Seems is very well-written. I thought the storyline was enjoyable and easy to follow. I love that it’s a clean novel. Many books in this genre tend to be even just a slightly bit dirty. This one wasn’t whatsoever. So that’s a huge plus. Especially for those younger people who like to read suspense. Another huge plus was that you never find out the culprit until the very end. I have to admit that it wasn’t someone I had suspected so kudos to Victorine for keeping it a mystery!

Was there anything I didn’t like? There were a couple of things. The first was that toward the end, I had to reread some parts just to make sure I was following right. Overall, the book is very easy to follow and makes tons of sense. There was just a few parts at the end where I had to recheck. Another downfall is that much of the story was predictable. Not so much the biggest part of the book, but much of the rest was. Lastly, I wasn’t feeling the romance aspect of the story at all. It was cute, but didn’t do anything for me.

All in all, I rated this four stars! If you go to the Amazon page for this novel, which I have the link just below, you’ll see that it has tons of reviews all in favor of this story. It’s also a New York Times Bestseller so that says something, right? Okay. Now that I said my piece, go check it out!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003HS5LRO

Nancy Drew Fan? You’ll Love This!

Posted on by Frances

The Secret of Camp Whispering Pines

Read this fun mystery as a stand-alone, or start with book #1
for only .99!
(all of my books are free with Kindle Unlimited!)
What could be better than hiking, swimming, and horseback riding? Having a mystery to solve, of course! 
 

 

When Sam and Ally go off to summer camp together, they discover the secrets of Camp Whispering Pines. Set in the beautiful, rugged mountains of the Pacific Northwest, the clues are slowly revealed and it’s up to the two girls to figure it out. 


 
New friendships are formed, while at the same time enemies lurk nearby. The closer they get to uncovering the truth behind the camp, the further they are pushed into danger and deceit. Can Sam and Alley put all of the pieces together before it’s too late? Follow them on another thrilling tale filled with excitement and adventure, along misty, high mountain trails, and deep ravines, where the answers wait to be found!
This fun middle grade series is being called a modern-day Nancy Drew. It will take you back to your Trixie Beldon days, but are in current social settings with real issues relevant to today’s teens and pre-teens. They’re clean, wholesome stories that you and your kids will devour! 
 
 
 
Check out the whole series
 
 
 
 
Tara Ellis, an Amazon best selling author, lives in a small, rural town in Washington State set in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. She enjoys the quiet lifestyle with her two kids and several dogs. Tara was a firefighter/EMT, and worked in the medical field for many years, before committing herself to writing young adult and middle grade novels full-time. 
 
 
Follow her on:
 
And join her NEWSLETTER

The Lucky Cat

Posted on by Frances

Do you like cats? If you’re like me, then Yes, Yes, a billion times YES! Those who know me know I grew up with cats and, except the year I lived in an apartment with my then newly wed husband, I have always had at least one cat. So I think it’s safe to say that to read about a cat would be up my alley.

 

Not too long ago I came across a book by Lisa Shea called The Lucky Cat. It’s part of the Salem Massachusetts Mini Mystery series that Lisa has, which if you like the history of that city, these books would be just the thing for you. I didn’t have a lot of time to read so The Lucky Cat was the perfect fix! AND, I do need to share that I kind of know Lisa Shea is a big name so I was excited to pick this one up and see what her writing was like!

 

First, let me give you the rundown on The Lucky Cat:

  • As of January 24, 2017, it has 76 reviews with an average of 4.3 stars!
  • This is book one of thirty-one. You read that right, 31! She wrote one book a day from October 1 to October 31 back in 2014
  • It’s FREE!
  • With just 13 pages, you can read it in 10 minutes
  • It’s #17 in Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
  • #19 in 30 minute short reads: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
  • I’d recommend for ages 14 and up (unless you don’t want the younger ones to read about magic, luck, etc.)
  • Completely clean!
  • There’s a tiny cliffhanger, but not important enough to where you have to read the rest. However, I’d recommend reading them all to get the complete story

 

Kathy Taylor, a black female police officer turned private investigator, moved to Salem, Massachusetts; a town surrounded by wiccans, herbalists and the like.

 

Her first client comes in looking for a stolen cat. This black cat had the power to help the client’s daughter get well from cancer. Now the cat is gone and the client’s daughter is getting sick again.

 

Kathy takes on the case and quickly figures out what happened and why. The cat may be closer than you think and may have been taken for a very meaningful purpose.

 

This is the purr-fect (see what I did there?) short read! The mystery aspect was great as the author did a great job putting the pieces together. I think things were described well, and that this magical cat was sweet. I already have one black cat, but this nice mini mystery makes me want to get another! I rated this 5 out of 5 stars!

A Doggone Good Mystery

Posted on by Frances

NEW RELEASE!

The Case of the Curious Canine

It’s here! Book #7 in the Samantha Wolf Mysteries, and it’s a doggone good mystery!

(Although part of a series, it CAN be read on it’s own!)
The next best thing to owning your own dog is having a job where you get to take care of them. That’s what Sam figures when she, Ally, and Cassy all volunteer at a local animal shelter. But they don’t expect the trouble that comes along with the work.

When dogs start showing up at the shelter with odd symptoms, the director Continue reading “A Doggone Good Mystery” →

Murder, Flowers, Mystery

Posted on by Frances Hoelsema - Author

Murder Under the Magnolias by Charmain Zimmerman Brackett

The first full week in April means a blooming business for Grace Ward, Murder Under the Magnolias-01whose floral designs will be part of several parties with the major golf tournament in town. After the murder of a young woman with a mysterious tattoo, Grace finds herself in the middle of an investigation and wonders if these parties she’s helping with are actually fronts for something more sinister. Continue reading “Murder, Flowers, Mystery” →