My latest cozy mystery, Let No Clan Put Asunder, just received 5++ stars from N. N. Light’s Book Heaven. Woohoo! What a wonderful way to start the day! Here’s a snippet of the review:
“The narration and world-building suck you into the story. The characters are relatable and mysterious. The gothic vibe is woven throughout this story. Truly, I couldn’t put Let No Clan Put Asunder down…I can’t wait for the next book in the series.”
If you’re interested, you can read the whole review here.The Gothic Gwyn Mysteries are also being featured on The Mystery Section Blog, where you can enter the giveaway to win e-copies of both books in the series. Check it out here.
Guess what! At long last, it’s release day for Let No Clan Put Asunder, the second of The Gothic Gwyn Mysteries. Here, in a nutshell, is the story:
“It was no small thing to marry into the Donnachaidh clan, and there was nowhere to hide from its past.”
So states the tagline of the gothic mystery Gwyneth Camm discovers out of place—not once, but twice—inside her newly inherited Salem home. Her deceased Aunt Ethel seems determined she read the book, and once again, Gwyn finds herself sucked into a gothic romance, inhabiting the body of its heroine.
This time, she’s a young bride in 1970 on her way to a clifftop castle that harbors secrets, Scottish legacies, hidden malice, and…a vampire? Only by learning the truth can she return to her own life, where yet another puzzle awaits.
And here’s a peek between the pages:
Just before midnight, I tiptoed across the darkened drawing room. Anyone might be hiding in the shadows, including the black obscurities high on the vaulted ceiling. Those in particular could cloak something inhuman.
A shiver trickled down my spine, and I paused. Do I really want to do this? The bottom line: I had to if I wanted to further the plot and solve the mystery of Alistair’s disappearance.
I continued to the chapel. Once inside, I reached for the brass light switch on the wall to my right—the same switch Fiona used while playing tour guide—and flicked it. Nothing happened. Darkness reigned supreme, apart from two small flames in a votive candle stand near the altar.
Had the lightbulbs burned out? Did the circuit breaker trip?
No. Someone planned it.
Not a comforting thought. I dared not dwell on it, or I’d lose my nerve. Determined, I hurried to the arched portal that led to the crypt and tried the light switch Garrett had used earlier. It, too, refused to work.
An unbridled shudder ran through me. There was something creepy about a church at night, especially one flooded by darkness. Donnachaidh’s chapel was no exception. The absence of light seemed to twist the sacred into the profane and awaken primal fears. What manner of evil, arcane and unseen, slithered along the stone and woodwork of this lonely place?
All right. That’s enough. I squared my shoulders. The lights don’t work? Fine. I’ll use a candle.
I hastened to the votive stand. I wouldn’t take either of the lit candles; not only did they represent someone’s prayers, but the glass vessels were likely too hot to hold. I grabbed a fresh candle, held the wick to one of the flames, and put it into an unused vessel. Light in hand, I returned to the archway and padded down the spiral stairs.
I hesitated at the bottom. Beyond the limited scope of my candle, the crypt was pitch-black. The air was charged with an ominous silence.
Nerves aflutter, I cleared my throat. The sound seemed as loud as an avalanche. “Is anyone here?”
A silly question, really. If someone were there, they’d let me know it. Unless they wanted to scare me.
Or harm me. I swallowed hard and crept forward.
David Robertson’s tomb. The thought popped into my head and wouldn’t be denied. Intuition or something more? Whatever the case, I obeyed, veering to the right. As I neared the tomb, I halted. The black bouquet was still there, but someone had altered it. Every last petal had been plucked and strewn around the base of the sarcophagus. I inched closer.
No, not plucked. Torn from the stems and ripped to shreds.
The first book in the series, Trip the Light Phantasmic, is currently on sale for 99 cents, so there’s never been a better time to dive into the story. Both books are also FREE in Kindle Unlimited.
Thank you for your interest and support. Have a wonderful day! 🙂
Good morning! My latest cozy mystery, Let No Clan Put Asunder, will be released soon, but in the meantime, the first book in the series, Trip the Light Phantasmic, is part of the Cozy Mystery Bookish Event at N. N. Light’s Book Heaven. You can read the feature here!
Check out all the titles, then enter to win a $15 Amazon gift card. The giveaway is open internationally and runs through February 28. A winner will be drawn on February 29, 2024. Best of luck, and have a wonderful day!
I’m excited to reveal the cover of my upcoming release, Let No Clan Put Asunder! A big thanks to Dar Albert of Wicked Smart Designs! This is the second of The Gothic Gwyn Mysteries, and I’ll let you know the release date soon. Until then, here’s the scoop on the story:
“It was no small thing to marry into the Donnachaidh clan, and there was nowhere to hide from its past.”
So states the tagline of the gothic mystery Gwyneth Camm discovers out of place—not once, but twice—inside her newly inherited Salem home. Her deceased Aunt Ethel seems determined she read the book, and once again, Gwyn finds herself sucked into a gothic romance, inhabiting the body of its heroine.
This time, she’s a young bride in 1970 on her way to a clifftop castle that harbors secrets, Scottish legacies, hidden malice, and…a vampire? Only by learning the truth can she return to her own life, where yet another puzzle awaits.
That’s it for now, but stay tuned. Have a wonderful day! 🙂
Please welcome my dear friend, Mary Morgan, back to the blog! We’re celebrating her latest release:Steinar, the third book in her magical Viking romance series, The Wolves of Clan Sutherland. It’s getting rave reviews, and I couldn’t be happier for her! She’s here today to tell us a little about it. Take it away, Mary!
Hello, Judith! I’m delighted to be back on your lovely blog to share a wee bit about my new release, Steinar, The Wolves of Clan Sutherland, Book 3.
Let me share a glimpse behind the scenes of this Viking paranormal romance story…
From the moment I began Steinar and Inga’s love story, I was unprepared for the surprising twists, mysteries, and betrayals while I wove their tale. As an author, I like to thoroughly plot out my stories. Each chapter has a theme and a direction. Yet I found myself constantly arguing with all my characters over various shifts in plots and scenes. When I finally relented months later, the story poured out of me in waves of writing. Steinar and Inga—both sea warriors—took control and led me, the writer, on an epic sea adventure.
A bit more about this epic tale:
To save the wolf, she must renounce her love for the man.
Descended from the mighty Somerled, Lord of the Isles, Steinar MacDougall’s supremacy over the seas is fierce. On a quest for King William, he is captured by the enemy and presented with a favorable opportunity. Yet Steinar soon realizes his greatest threat comes from the woman who hides behind the mask of a warrior, and the quest for control might send them hurdling into the abyss of the sea.
As leader of the Serpents, Inga the Ruthless travels beyond the isles bartering for goods with her brothers. After rescuing the feared Pirate Wolf during a storm, she surrenders her trust to the man and his inner wolf in order to claim the lost treasure of Odin. Though the journey is fraught with dangers, Inga fears her heart might be the one in peril, leading her to make the ultimate sacrifice.
Will the sea be their salvation or doom them to a watery grave?
A sneak preview:
Steinar raised a brow in amused contempt with the beginnings of a smile tipping the corners of his lips.
“I find nae humor in this.” She pointed a warning finger at the man. “Nor should you.”
He raised the jug near his mouth. “For Inga the Ruthless who has maintained a life around men, I find your response…interesting.” He then took a long draw of mead.
Stunned into silence, Inga gaped at him. Then her eyes narrowed to shards of fury. Her fingers sought the brooch fastened at the top of her cloak and undid the clasp. Removing the cloak from her body, she tossed both brooch and cloak onto a nearby stool.
“How wrong you were in your earlier criticism of my skills as a woman. At Rangvald’s table I was simply Inga, daughter of Olaf.” She gestured to her gown. “Can you honestly tell me I look like a woman who is a leader of men on the seas?”
Steinar’s expression stilled. He wiped the back of his hand leisurely across his mouth. “Nae,” he rasped out.
There she witnessed the invitation in the smoldering depths of his eyes—dark with desire luring her forward.
Her heart hammered against her chest. Inga’s mind ordered her to leave—escape the temptation to feel his arms around her. But her body betrayed and overrode all thought. Slowly, Inga removed the jug from his hand and pressed it against her lips. Tilting it back, she drank deeply of what remained. After tossing aside the jug onto the ground, she smiled fully. “Then I am correct.”
Steinar pushed away from the wall. “You think to claim victory?”
Her breath rose heavily with each rise and fall. When did she become the prey and he the predator? “Always,” she whispered, determined to grasp any shard of control or sanity.
In one swift move, Steinar clasped his hands around her waist and turned her around with her back against the wall. His body towered over her, trapping Inga. Escape not an option.
She gasped. Fight or surrender?
For the first time, Inga lessened the strings binding her to an oath moons ago.
An oath to never let a man control her.
An oath to never let a man touch her.
Oaths be damned! She craved to have this man kiss her.
Mary Morgan is an international best-selling author of award-winning historical fantasy and paranormal romance novels. During her research travels with her knight in shining armor to England, Ireland, and Scotland, she left a part of her soul in one of these countries and vows to return.
Her passion for books started at an early age along with an overactive imagination. Inspired by her love for history and ancient Celtic and Norse mythology, Mary’s tales are filled with powerful warriors, brave women, magic, and romance.
If you enjoy history, tortured heroes, and a wee bit of fantasy, then journey back in time within the pages of her books.
Good morning! My second medieval romance, Soul of the Wolf, is one of the featured books in the Wintertime Reading Bookish Event at N. N. Light’s Book Heaven. See the spotlight here, check out the other books, and enter the giveaway for a chance to win a $20 Amazon gift card.
The giveaway is open internationally, and a winner will be drawn January 30, 2024. Best of luck, and have a wonderful day! 🙂
Fantastic news! The results are in for the 2023 N. N. Light Book Awards, and Trip the Light Phantasmic won Best Cozy Mystery and Best Indie Book of the Year! I’m so grateful. I’m also inspired to finish the second book in the series as soon as possible. I’ll keep you posted!
I’ve got great news to share! Trip the Light Phantasmic is an N. N. Light Book Award Finalist in two categories: Cozy Mystery and Best Indie Book of the Year. What an honor! Congrats and best of luck to all the finalists!
I’m considering this an early Christmas present! Whatever holiday(s) you’re celebrating this month, I hope you’re enjoying the season. Be well, and have a wonderful day! 🙂
N. N. Light’s Book Heaven’s Kindle Unlimited Bookish Event continues, and today, Flight of the Raven, the first of The Novels of Ravenwood, is one of the featured titles. Check it out here! Don’t forget to enter the giveaway. You might just win a $40 Amazon gift card. Best of luck! 🙂
Judith Sterling 