Monday, May 12, 2025

All We Buried by Elena Taylor

The Sheriff Bet Rivers Mystery Series

by Elena Taylor

April 28 – May 23, 2025 Virtual Book Tour

ALL WE BURIED

Interim sheriff Elizabeth “Bet” Rivers has always had one repeat nightmare: a shadowy figure throwing a suspicious object into her hometown lake in Collier, Washington. For the longest time, she chalked it up to an overactive imagination as a kid. Then the report arrives. In the woods of the Cascade mountain range, right in her jurisdiction, a body floats to the surface of Lake Collier. When the body is extricated and revealed, no one can identify Jane Doe. But someone must know the woman, so why aren’t they coming forward?

Bet has been sitting as the interim sheriff of this tiny town in the ill-fitting shoes of her late father and predecessor. With the nightmare on her heels, Bet decided to build a life for herself in Los Angeles, but now it’s time to confront the tragic history of Collier. The more she learns, the more Bet realizes she doesn’t know the townspeople of Collier as well as she thought, and nothing can prepare her for what she is about to discover.

Book Details:
Genre: Mystery
Published by: Crooked Lane
Publication Date: April 7, 2020
Purchase Links: AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE| BOOKSHOP.ORG | GOODREADS | PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE

A COLD, COLD WORLD

Now In Paperback!

The world felt pure. Nature made the location pristine again, hiding the scene from prying eyes. As if no one had died there at all.

In the months since Bet Rivers solved her first murder investigation and secured the sheriff’s seat in Collier, she’s remained determined to keep her town safe. With a massive snowstorm looming, it’s more important than ever that she stays vigilant.

When Bet gets a call that a family of tourists has stumbled across a teen injured in a snowmobile accident on a mountain ridge, she braves the storm to investigate. However, once she arrives at the scene of the accident it’s clear to Bet that the teen is not injured; he’s dead. And has been for some time . . .

Investigating a possible homicide is hard enough, but with the worst snowstorm the valley has seen in years threatening the safety of her town, not to mention the integrity of her crime scenes – as they seem to be mounting up as well – Bet has to move fast to uncover the complicated truth and prove that she’s worthy of keeping her father’s badge.

A Cold, Cold World is nominated for a Foreword INDIES Award, Best Mystery of 2024 (winner announced early June)

Book Details:
Genre: Police Procedural, Mystery
Published by: Severn House
Publication Date: August 6, 2024
Book Links: AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOKSHOP.ORG | GOODREADS | SEVERN HOUSE

Praise for ALL WE BURIED:

“Well-crafted . . . Taylor skillfully sets the scene, describing the distinctive local landscape [while] the introspective, conflicted Bet proves her mettle. Readers will look forward to her next outing.”
~ Publishers Weekly

“This spooky and suspenseful story should be a must-read for fans of Lisa Unger, J. A. Jance, and Julia Keller.”
~ Booklist

“Extremely hard to put down . . . Would recommend this to anyone who loves mystery thrillers.”
~ San Francisco Book Review

“This book stands apart due to its smart, thoughtful protagonist and its richly layered setting in the remote Washington wilderness.”
~ Midwest Book Review

“A thrilling start to a mystery series.”
~ BookTrib

Praise for A COLD, COLD WORLD:

“Readers who appreciate the strong woman police chief in Linda Castillo’s Kate Burkholder books or the vivid landscapes of Craig Johnson’s Walt Longmire mysteries will appreciate Taylor’s riveting crime novel.”
~ Lesa Holstine, Library Journal Starred Review

“Taylor perfectly captures the tension and determination of a small town sheriff facing down an isolating blizzard while racing against the clock to solve a murder and save a missing child. Sheriff Bet Rivers will be your new favorite character”
~ Lisa Gardner, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“A terrific ensemble cast in a total immersion setting! Fans of CJ Box and Julia Spencer-Fleming will adore this novel – it’s whipsmart, completely cinematic, and full of heart. Not to be missed!”
~ Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today bestselling author of One Wrong Word

“Sheriff Bet Rivers is back with a suspenseful and shrewdly plotted story of deadly small town secrets . . . Think Longmire meets Yellowstone”
~ James L’Etoile, award winning author of Dead Drop and Face of Greed

“Tense and divinely atmospheric, this is the perfect book to curl up with on a cold winter’s day”
~ J.L. Delozier, author of the multi-award-winning mystery, The Photo Thief

Author Bio:

The Sheriff Bet Rivers Mystery Series by Elena Taylor

Elena Taylor spent several years working in theater as a playwright, director, designer, and educator before turning her storytelling skills to fiction. Her first series, the Eddie Shoes Mysteries, written under the name Elena Hartwell, introduced a quirky mother/daughter crime fighting duo.

With the Bet Rivers Mysteries, Elena returns to her dramatic roots and brings readers much more serious and atmospheric novels. The series introduces Collier, Washington, with its dark and mysterious lake, tough-as-nails residents, and newly appointed sheriff with her sidekick Schweitzer, an Anatolian Shepherd.

Elena is also a senior editor with Allegory Editing, a developmental editing house, where she works one-on-one with writers to shape and polish manuscripts, short stories, and plays. If you’d like to work with Elena, visit WWW.ALLEGORYEDITING.COM.

Her favorite place to be is at Paradise, the property she and her hubby own south of Spokane, Washington. They live with their horses, dogs, and cats. Elena holds a B.A. from the University of San Diego, a M.Ed. from the University of Washington, Tacoma, and a Ph.D. from the University of Georgia.

Catch Up With Elena Taylor:
WWW.ELENATAYLORAUTHOR.COM
ELENA’S BLOG: THE MYSTERY OF WRITING
AMAZON AUTHOR PROFILE
GOODREADS
BOOKBUB – @ELENATAYLORAUTHOR
INSTAGRAM – @ELENATAYLORAUTHOR
X – @ELENA_TAYLORAUT
FACEBOOK – @ELENATAYLORAUTHOR

MY THOUGHTS

All We Buried is written by Elena Taylor. This is book one in the Sheriff Bet Rivers series. One of the things I’ve learned about this author is that I’m drawn into her books right away.

Bet is the new sheriff in a small Washington town. She is worried about living up to her father and grandfather's reigns as Sheriff.

She’s not sure she wants to run against her father’s deputy.

A Washington State professor is studying the dead glacial lake by the abandoned coal mine outside of Collier when he discovers a canvas wrapped body floating in the lake. Bet has never handled a murder investigation so she knows there is a lot at stake. When she starts to dig she finds out more and more sinister activities in Collier. There are clearly some people that want the past to stay hidden.

The author does a wonderful job with her scenes. There were times I would close my eyes and imagine I was standing there watching it unfold. I enjoy getting to know Bet and the townspeople of Collier.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Partners in Crime Tours for allowing me to read a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

Monday, May 5, 2025

My Thoughts - AFTER PEARL by Stephen G. Eoannou

AFTER PEARL

by Stephen G. Eoannou

April 14 - May 9, 2025 Virtual Book Tour

A Nicholas Bishop Mystery

1942. War rages in Europe. Pearl Harbor still smolders. And alcoholic private eye Nicholas Bishop wakes up on a hotel room floor with two slugs missing from his .38 revolver. The cops think he’s murdered lounge singer Pearl DuGaye, mobsters think he saw something he shouldn’t have, and Bishop remembers nothing…

Together with his indomitable assistant Gia Alessi, who he may or may not have fired, a WWI vet who often flashes back to 1918, and a one-eyed female dog named Jake, Bishop tries to piece together the events that took place during his disastrous five-day bender. Along the way, he stumbles across a dirty politician, a socialite and her unfaithful husband, and a cabal of American Nazis who are undoubtedly up to no good.

Written in the spirit of classic noir, Eoannou adds his own unique voice and flair to the genre in this, the first action-packed outing of the Nicholas Bishop Mysteries…

Book Details:

Genre: Historical Noir
Published by: Santa Fe Writers Project
Publication Date: May 1, 2025
Number of Pages: 260
ISBN: 9781951631475 (ISBN10: 1951631471)
Series: A Nicholas Bishop Mystery, Book 1

Author Bio:

Stephen G. Eoannou is the author of the award-winning short story collection Muscle Cars and the novels Rook, Yesteryear, and After Pearl. He holds an MFA from Queens University of Charlotte and an MA from Miami University. He has been awarded an Honor Certificate from The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and the Best Short Screenplay Award at the 36th Denver Film Festival. His latest novel, Yesteryear, was awarded the 2021 International Eyelands Award for Best Historical Novel, The Firebird Book Award for Biographical Fiction, and Shelf Unbound’s Notable Indy Books of 2023. He lives and writes in his hometown of Buffalo, New York, the setting and inspiration for much of his work.

Catch Up With Stephen G. Eoannou:

www.SGEoannou.com
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads
BookBub - @seoannou
YouTube - @stepheneoannou341
X - @StephenGEoannou
Facebook - @steve.eoannou

My Thoughts

AFTER PEARL is written by new to me author, Stephen G. Eoannou. I had never heard of the genre historical noir - so I was excited to try something new. I found myself drawn in within the first few pages. The main character private eye, Nicholas Bishop is flawed. I love flawed characters. In his case, Bishop is an alcoholic who wakes up on the floor of a hotel room with two bullets missing out of his gun.

Of course, Bishop is the prime suspect in the disappearance of lounge singer, Pearl DuGaye and soon is in a tangled mess. Bishop does not remember anything, but the mobsters of the era thinks he saw something. Alongside his assistant, Gia, they try and piece together the 5 days that are missing. I loved being along for the ride as Bishop tries to clear his name.

Set in 1940’s we see a setting a few months after Pearl Harbor. I loved these characters and I am so excited to read the next book in the series.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Partners in Crime Tours for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own.

Giveaway:

This is a giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for Stephen G. Eoannou. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.

The giveaway is for: $50 Bookshop.org Gift Card

https://kingsumo.com/g/1076px3/after-pearl-by-stephen-g-eoannou-gift-card

Monday, March 17, 2025

My Thpughts - Book: Watch Your Back (Crossroads Suspense Book Three. It can be read as a standalone). Author: Kristen Hogrefe Parnell

About the Book

Book: Watch Your Back (Crossroads Suspense Book Three. It can be read as a standalone).

Author: Kristen Hogrefe Parnell

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Release date: March 5, 2025

You can’t watch your own back.

Private Investigator Avery Reynolds leads the charge to expose Tampa’s supposedly “extinct” mob. The crime boss responsible for her foster brother’s death is within her grasp—until she hits a wall in the form of Ethan Bridger, a Coast Guard veteran who unknowingly derails her sting operation. When the elusive “Big Eddie” comes out of hiding, he targets their mutual friends about to tie the knot.

Avery sets aside her angst toward Ethan to focus on ending the crime boss’s reign of terror. But working together exposes her trust issues and his PTSD stemming from a comrade’s tragedy. When Avery goes solo into a prisoner exchange operation, she discovers her vulnerability too late—and must lean on Ethan and the God she thought had abandoned her. But will that help reach her in time?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Kristen Hogrefe Parnell writes suspenseful fiction from a faith perspective. Her books have won the Selah Award and the Grace Award, among others. She lives in the Tampa, Florida area with her husband and son.

More from Kristen

Finding God in Our Fears and Failures

Whenever I write a heroine’s character, I generally see a small piece of myself in her. Although I relate to some characters more than others, I can usually spot some shared quality that helps me empathize with her early on in my writing.

Writing private investigator Avery Reynolds in Watch Your Back was different. I liked her, despite all her sharp edges, but I didn’t see myself in her at first. As time went on, I found our shared similarity: a fear of failure.

While our situations are wildly different, this fear is not. She fears failing to take down Tampa’s elusive mob boss and letting down the few people close to her that she cares about. The stakes are so high at the end of the story that failure is worse than death to her.

While I was writing her story, I was raising a one-year-old, working online, trying to keep up with my home, and barely holding my head above water. Fears of missing my deadline—or worse, fears of letting down my family—ate away at my confidence. I couldn’t do it all. I wasn’t cut out for it.

That revelation was in fact the most freeing discovery I could make. I couldn’t do it all on my own, because I was never meant to. God provided a supportive husband, grace for each day, and the inspiration I needed to finish this story. Most importantly, He provided His never-failing presence. “For not, for I am with you,” the prophet Isaiah writes (Isaiah 41:10a NKJV). Ultimately, the reason we should not fear is Immanuel, “God with us.” (See Matthew 1:23.) He will never leave or forsake His children (Hebrews 13:5).

I don’t want to give away any spoilers in Avery’s story, but I will say she has her own moment of self-revelation as well. But will she recognize God’s hand reaching out to her in time?

When was the last time you found yourself in a situation you couldn’t handle on your own? How did God show up in your story?

My Thoughts

Watch Your Back is book three in the Crossroads Suspense Series that is written by Kristen Hogrefe Parnell While while is part of a series, this can be read as a standalone. I was captivated by this book.

PI Avery Reynolds is leading an investigation that she is hoping will expose the mob. She’s had a vendetta against them since her foster brothers death that the mob was responsible for. When she sets up a sting, it’s derailed by Coast Guard Vet turned security specialist, Ethan. Both of our characters have some deep flaws and are real feeling. Both have some issues they need to work around.

I loved the non stop action. The author has done a great job in keeping readers in suspense throughout the book. I loved seeing our characters evolve. I loved the slow build romance between the two.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Celebrate Lit for allowing me to read a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.