May Flowers, Mystery Releases, + a Giveaway!

May 1, 2025 · Posted by Tule Publishing

Happy May fellow sleuths! We have some wonderful titles for you this month and we can’t wait for you to get into them! Plus, a GIVEAWAY: Because who doesn’t love FREE books?

We will pick ONE winner to receive a digital book of their choice from the May mystery releases. Comment down below saying which book you’re looking most forward to reading! Giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY. The winner will be randomly selected and announced at the end of the month.

Good luck and happy reading!

Dead in the Ditch

By: J.C. Kenney

Wild animal removal specialist Elmo Simpson needs to act fast before the good people of Paradise Springs decide to remove him!

Halloween has arrived, and all is well in Elmo Simpson’s life until his beloved cat Oscar wanders off and doesn’t return. While searching for Oscar, Elmo discovers a body in a ditch. A body that turns out to be Elmo’s former arch-nemesis, a man who Elmo believes stole intellectual property from him worth millions.

When word gets out who the victim is, the town becomes convinced Elmo is the murderer, intent on taking revenge. With nowhere to turn and the reputation of his recently purchased Sea Breeze Resort on the line, Elmo takes it upon himself to figure out who the real killer is. All the while, trying to assemble the threads that connect a dark time in his past with the equally perilous present.

A Wedding and A Murder

By: Vickie Carroll

No one invited a murderer to this wedding, and yet …

The announcement sounded innocent enough: five romance writers have chosen Peachtree Valley for their annual gathering. One of the writers is Kirk’s aunt Lily, and as one of Helen Rogers’s newest investigators at the PI firm, he’s eager to show off his new job.

Helen and her fiancé, Ted Morgan, are eager to show guests a good time at their wedding.

But then someone shows their true stripes and murders one of the visiting writers, and police have no witnesses or clues to work with. It’s an investigator’s nightmare, but the Rogers, Adams, and Brown agency isn’t daunted by hard cases. Their deep dive into the publishing world uncovers jealousy, resentment, and a boatload of motives. Including clues that the killer has their sights on Aunt Lily next.

Can the team pool their talents one more time to save their lives and the wedding too? Or will Helen have to turn the page on this new chapter in her life?

Double-Edged Reckoning

By: Nicole Helm

She seeks the truth, not revenge…

As a teenager, Samantha Price helped bruised and bloody classmate Nate Bennet disappear after his father’s violent attack. Fifteen years later and now a private investigator, she hunts Nate down in Tennessee, needing his help. Her father’s been unjustly accused of a murder that looks tied to a past murder on the Bennet ranch. Sam’s convinced Nate is the key to prove her father’s innocence.

After an injury ended his army career in Special Forces, Nate’s life is at a crossroads. Going home to Marietta, Montana, was never an option until Sam finds him. He’s not convinced his mercurial father is the real murderer, but maybe it’s time to finally unearth the truth. He knows the prodigal son role will rip open bitter wounds, but it’s long past time to face all he left. Including his brothers. Will they protect their father or face the past when he and Sam come asking difficult questions?

As new evidence is unearthed, both Sam and the Bennets are forced to question their long-held beliefs and discover that nothing is what it seems.

Vanilla and Vendettas

By: Lisa Siefert

Stolen sparkling bling. A shocking murder. Will her single-minded sleuthing free her from a sour situation?

Pastry chef Ava Decker is delighted to prepare a special cupcake for her BFF’s surprise engagement. But after the diamond ring disappears from its sugary hiding place, the empty-handed baker is suddenly suspect number one. So when a witness comes forward to the cops, Ava eagerly tracks him down… only to stumble across his dead body.

With the police insisting she mind her own business and an unhelpful psychic more worried about Ava’s stalled love life than useful clues, the amateur snoop might have bitten off more than she can chew. But when she’s arrested for possession of a poached Aston Martin, she’ll need more than her is-he-or-isn’t-he boyfriend and her impulsive bestie to extract herself from the gooey mess.

Can she turn the tables on a thief-turned-killer before she’s baking cakes behind bars?

Blackmail and Kitty Tails

By: DeAnna Drake

A glamorous gala, a cursed dagger, and a killer on the loose—Rebecca Cuthbert and her talking cat, Aneksi, face their most dangerous mystery yet.

When Rebecca Cuthbert volunteered to help with the Citrus Grove Women’s Club gala, she envisioned a night filled with elegant silk drapes, Egyptian-themed decorations, and tasty hors d’oeuvres—certainly not murder. But then the lights flicker out during the party setup, and club president Deborah Ralston is found dead, stabbed with an ancient dagger.

With Aneksi purring by her side and a murder weapon steeped in legend, Rebecca must unravel a twisted web of secrets, blackmail, and bitter rivalries behind this sinister murder. Everyone from suspicious club members to scorned lovers is a suspect, and time is running out as Rebecca’s own antique shop becomes linked to the deadly artifact.

Can Rebecca and her cat corner the killer before tragedy slashes her world again?

A cozy mystery perfect for fans of charming small towns, clever cats, and amateur sleuths!

Final Exit

By: Raemi A. Ray

Careful what you wish for…

Winter has settled over the island of Martha’s Vineyard, and newspaper columnist Kyra Gibson is relieved when her partner, forensic profiler Tarek Collins, returns home. As a birthday surprise, she arranges a meet and greet with the hosts of his favorite true-crime podcast while they’re on island to investigate a notorious cold case.

Forty years ago, a beautiful young actress was brutally murdered and her enigmatic bunkmate disappeared from the prestigious Oak Bluffs summer theater camp. Nothing about the podcasters’ attitude, their lack of preparation, or disdain for the island makes sense. When they disappear, leaving behind a bloody mess, Kyra and Tarek are ensnared in a decades-long web of intrigue. To find the podcasters, they must untangle the historic crime, but someone wants to keep the case cold. Someone willing to kill.

Every islander holds tight to their secrets, and each question leads down a dark and twisted path. When a lead draws Tarek off the island, Kyra embarks on a perilous rescue before the final curtain claims them both.

Kris Bock on the Inspiration for the Museum in the Reluctant Psychic Mysteries

April 28, 2025 · Posted by Tule Publishing

After publishing six books in The Accidental Detective humorous mystery series, I’m writing a new series. In the Reluctant Psychic Mysteries , a quirky loner who can read the history of any object with her touch gets drawn into mysteries at the museum of oddities where she works.

The Banditt Museum is fictional, as are all the characters in the novels, but the museum was inspired by the Billy the Kid Museum in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. This family run museum has a focus on the lawmen and outlaws of the Old West, especially Billy the Kid, but the museum also features a wide array of other items, from Barbie dolls to vintage cars – basically anything the founder could buy cheaply or get donated. It’s a maze of rooms and corridors and outdoor spaces. The website says it houses around 60,000 relics, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the number is even higher now.

I visited the Billy the Kid Museum when I was planning the Reluctant Psychic Mysteries, and it seemed like such a perfect location! A small town with a lot of traffic from tourists and people driving across the country, a museum that could easily be home to an eccentric cast of characters, and plenty of artifacts that Petra might “read.”

I took lots of photos when I visited, so I could use them for reference. Here is a selection.

A horse-drawn hearse and a covered wagon from the Billy the Kid Museum.

An old jail cell is an entertaining photo op for the tourists.

The Billy the Kid Museum has some model rooms, like this old homesteader’s cabin.

Driving back home after visiting the museum, we stopped at this classic diner. Penny’s Diner in Vaughn, New Mexico, features 1950s food and décor and is open 24/7, maintained by the railways for their workers on long train journeys. Guests are invited to write or draw on white boards near the ceiling.

The first Reluctant Psychic Mystery, A Stone Cold Murder, is out now! Petra Cloch studied geology because rocks rarely ‘talk’ to her, and she’s dodged friendships so she won’t need to explain her gift or feel like a voyeur. She’s starting work at a private museum in a small New Mexico town. When she picks up a jagged crystal in her new office, she’s flooded with flashes of rage, fear and death. Everyone says her predecessor died in a car crash, but what if he was murdered? Petra normally avoids involvements, but if the previous curator died because of the job, she could be next …

Learn more The Reluctant Psychic Mystery series or order copies. Available in ebook and print at all major retailers.

Readers say:

“A Stone Cold Murder is one of the most vivid books I’ve ever read. Kris Bock doesn’t just tell a story—she immerses you in it.”

“Petra’s psychometry is such a fresh take on psychic abilities… It’s brilliant character work. And the murder plot? So clever.”

“A Stone Cold Murder by Kris Bock isn’t just a murder mystery—it’s a haunting, immersive experience that blends the supernatural with raw human emotion. As someone who adores crime fiction with a twist, this book grabbed me from the first page and refused to let go.”

About the Author

Kris Bock writes mystery, suspense, and romance, often with Southwestern landscapes. In the
Accidental Detective humorous mystery series, a witty journalist solves mysteries in Arizona
and tackles the challenges of turning fifty. The Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series features the employees and customers at a cat café. Watch as they fall in love with each other and shelter cats. In the Accidental Billionaire Cowboys series, a Texas ranching family wins a fortune in the lottery and find out winning the lottery causes as many problems as it solves. Kris’s romantic suspense novels include stories of treasure hunting, archaeology, and intrigue.

Sign up for the Kris Bock newsletter and get an Accidental Detective short story and other freebies. Then every two weeks, you’ll get fun content about pets, announcements of new books, sales, and more.

Kris also writes a series with her brother, scriptwriter Douglas J Eboch, who wrote the original screenplay for the movie Sweet Home Alabama. The Felony Melanie series follows the crazy antics of Melanie, Jake, and their friends a decade before the events of the movie. Sign up for the romantic comedy newsletter to get a short story preview, or find the books at Amazon US or All E-book retailers.

When nothing ever seems to happen the way you expect and why Janine Amesta’s characters roll with the punches.

April 15, 2025 · Posted by Tule Publishing

I’ve always been a nature girlie. I like exploring the wilderness, going hiking, and appreciating the natural beauty you can find in the world. So when my husband suggested that we move from the traffic-filled Los Angeles to Oregon, I thought I knew exactly what I was getting into. Lots of forests and foggy days and ocean!

As with my stories, nothing ever seems to happen the way a character expects it. We moved to Central Oregon, which is considered the High Desert, and if you can’t tell from the name, it’s very dry and it has a high altitude. It wasn’t at all like the lush green forests and foggy skies I had been dreaming of.

But just because it wasn’t the stereotypical image of Oregon that most people have, it didn’t mean the area didn’t offer really cool things like caves and giant rocks and lots of sunshine. Sometimes I’ll be out on an early morning walk, and I’ll spot a local hot-air balloon in the sky, sparking my imagination. Exploring Central Oregon has actually been amazing, and it’s why I decided to make it the location of my newest series, Love is in the Air.

The first book, Love at First Flight, is about a woman, Selah, who takes over piloting her family’s hot-air balloon business after the sudden loss of her dad. Despite living in the sunny High Desert, she and her family find themselves in a dark hole, struggling to make things work. Things slowly change when Selah meets Dex, a local state park ranger, who’s looking to take a hot-air balloon ride. Even though they hit it off, things hit a roadblock when it’s revealed Dex is planning on using the balloon ride to propose to his girlfriend, putting him off the market.

But as I stated earlier, things never turn out the way my characters expect. The proposal flight is a disaster, first with it getting rejected and then ending with a fateful burst of wind tipping the basket over upon landing, sending Selah into Dex’s lap. The whole situation is awkward and embarrassing for both parties, but neither one expects to ever see each other again.

Only a few months later, they do bump into each other, and though things start off a little bumpy, they start to develop a friendship with each other. This is pushed further when a social media post about them goes viral. And not only does Selah have trouble letting go of Dex, but she also discovers she’s just as attached not only to the hot-air balloon business started by her father but also to the area it’s connected to.

All these years of flying above the land in a hot-air balloon have etched themselves into her heart. It’s part of her and it’s a part of her family. She learns, as I had, that sometimes you’re surrounded by a beauty that you never expected to find.

About the Author.

Janine Amesta has loved reading kissing stories most of her life. She currently resides in Oregon with her husband and their pets, Hitchcock and Pippin. She studied screenwriting in college and her banter is influenced by the screwball romantic comedies of the 1930’s. She’s always on the lookout for the perfect line. You can also follow me on Bluesky.

The Joys of Babies and Book Babies – Susan Sands welcomes first granddaughter and celebrates recent release!

April 8, 2025 · Posted by Tule Publishing

I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve become a grandmother for the first time!! My sweet granddaughter, Nelly Tate Sands was born March 6th and we’re all completely in love! She’s so fresh and smells so sweet. My son and daughter-in-law have spent nine months eagerly awaiting her arrival, planning, dreaming of her. They’ve ordered furniture, painted and decorated her room, bought diapers, clothes, and attended new parent classes. Now she’s finally here, and they’re wonderful new parents.

I’ve been watching all of this and remembering when my husband and I became parents for the very first time. We were so incredibly unprepared in comparison. We called our firstborn our “test pancake.”

I felt similarly when my first book came out ten years ago. It was my “test pancake”. I did everything wrong, I’m sure. But it was my first book baby and I loved it so very much. I still love my new releases after over a dozen books, but I’m a little bit more experienced now and hopefully do a better job preparing for new releases.

My latest novel, WHAT THEY DON’T KNOW is the third book in my Georgia series set in fictional Moonshine, Georgia. It’s a murder mystery romance involving socially awkward Georgia Bureau of Investigations agent, Mitch Calloway, and the town therapist, Bree Hawthorne. Remains of a woman are found in a gravel pit, and Bree aids law enforcement in helping them find the killer. Bree and Mitch go undercover inside a cult as a married couple to uncover deadly secrets and something far too personal to Bree. Mitch and Bree must fight their overwhelming attraction to each as they navigate a dangerous operation.

I hope you will give my new book baby a read—and I hope you love it as much as I do!!

All the best!

Susan

About the Author.

Susan Sands grew up in a real life Southern Footloose town, complete with her senior class hosting the first ever prom in the history of their tiny public school. Is it any wonder she writes Southern small town stories full of porch swings, fun and romance?

Susan lives in suburban Atlanta surrounded by her husband, three young adult kiddos and lots of material for her next book.

Marching along into our April releases at Tule (plus, a GIVEAWAY!).

April 1, 2025 · Posted by Tule Publishing

GIVEAWAY: Because who doesn’t love FREE books?

We will pick ONE winner to receive a digital book of their choice from the April romance releases.

Comment down below saying which book you’re looking most forward to reading! Giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY. The winner will be randomly selected and announced at the end of the month.

Good luck and happy reading!

What They Don’t Know

by Susan Sands

When the past comes to call…

Following the death of her mother and the breakup with her cheating fiancé, clinical therapist, Bree Hawthorne, has built a new life for herself and her pup, Tiny, in the mountains of Moonshine, Georgia. Her practice is thriving, and occasionally, she consults with law enforcement, calling on her insights into human behavior to profile and catch criminals. She finally feels happy, and then the body of a former patient is discovered.

Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s agent, Mitch Calloway, is investigating the death of a woman who disappeared two years ago. When he meets Bree, Mitch inadvertently offends the blonde bombshell therapist. Though a skilled investigator, his social skills are beyond rusty, but Bree can forgive much if pie is involved.

Through her experience with cults and unfortunate family ties, Bree is dragged into the investigation, and soon she and the handsome, though seriously awkward GBI officer go undercover as man and wife at a suspicious nature retreat where several women have gone missing. For Bree, it’s a chance for closure on her unconventional past—if she and Mitch can survive the investigation.

Fly By Night

by Kelly Cain

Can an unforgettable one-night stand in London threaten a 100-year-old family legacy in Texas?

Ambitious airline pilot Margaret Hawthorne grew up shadowed by her family’s legacy, beginning with a couple of Tuskegee Airmen ancestors. She adores flying but feels the weight of being the oldest. She’s poised to succeed her father, though her grandfather stands firm: only male heirs can take the mantel of the company. When her hot English hook-up arrives and befriends her brother, Margaret is suspicious. She doesn’t believe in coincidence.

Posh corporate recruiter Lewis Watson-Grosvenor knows his meteoric rise is related to his English family’s money and connections. Starting out fresh in the states will be a way to prove himself and leave a very public breakup behind. When Lewis discovers the flight-school director he’s been pursuing professionally is the brother of his memorable one-night stand, he knows he must play his cards close to his chest.

As their attraction blooms, so do the secrets and conflicts of interest. Can Margaret and Lewis find a way to trust each other between the ground and thirty-thousand feet?

Love at First Flight

by Janine Amesta

Can the most awkward ‘Meet Cute’ lead to something real?

When Selah Moreno‘s father unexpectedly dies, she abandons her dream job as an airline pilot to helm her family’s struggling hot air balloon business. While piloting is in Selah’s blood, the pressure of being everyone’s rock leaves little room to breathe. It’s no wonder she gets caught up in the daydream of flirting with a handsome potential client…until she finds out he’s booking a proposal flight.

Smith Rock park ranger Dex Westerly wants to take his relationship to the next level, but nothing goes right. His proposal is rejected and a rogue wind tips the basket upon landing, sending the pretty and curvaceous balloon pilot into his lap where she makes an ill-timed joke, increasing his humiliation.

Months later, Dex and Selah bump into each other and bond over business struggles. Dex proposes a marketing partnership to promote her balloon tours while raising funds for the park’s new wildlife rescue program. Sparks fly between them, and when a promotional social media post goes viral, they’re pushed into a pretend whirlwind romance that starts to feel too close to love.

Their Patchwork Family

by Fiona Marsden

What does it take to make a patchwork family?

Leo Farrell has been picking up after his cousin Tinker all his life, even to the point of providing financially for his dead cousin’s secret daughter. When the young girl loses her grandmother and her stable home, Leo knows he has no options but to bring her to Kurrajong Crossing and raise her as his own.

Single mother Tamara’s one night with wayward musician, Tinker, gave her a cherished son, and while the fling was a mistake, and she’s weathered Tinker’s cousin Leo’s silent disapproval for years, she’s grateful to have her child. Then Leo brings home a daughter no one knew existed, sending the gossips into a frenzy.

The children become fast friends, and Tamara and Leo’s long-held dislike of each other quickly turns into fierce attraction. But with secrets set to unravel, how far are they prepared to go to give their children the life they deserve? And will they finally find the kind of love they’ve both been yearning for?

The Dogwood Days of Summer

by Laurie Beach

Should she choose love or freedom?

After years of committing her life to a man she knew wasn’t right for her, Brooke Warter found the backbone to quit that relationship—and now she’s back in Goose Island, South Carolina, sharing a house with her squabbling parents and kooky grandmother.

On the other hand, she has a job working with her best friend at the local winery, and she has space to figure out what comes next. Brooke just needs to keep moving forward and a solid future will automatically follow.

So when old summer camp friends return to her life, she’s not gung-ho on going backward. Especially since she never really let go of her first love—Nathan Daugherty, whom she met when he showed up to camp with his clothes in a grocery bag. After all, childhood fantasies don’t always equal good adult choices, and she needs to stop defining herself based on her relationship status.

But what if a second chance with Nate could offer a whole lot more?

Fans of Susan Sands and Mary Alice Monroe will find themselves charmed with Goose Island!

Bad Boy in Her Bed

by Katja Desjarlais

Bad boy Birch Baker doesn’t run until he meets a woman worth running for.

Tattoo artist Birch Baker has one goal : support his younger brothers so they can escape their hometown and build successful lives without the burden of the notorious Baker reputation. An ex-con from the wrong side of the water tower, he works hard and keeps his head down, looking up just long enough to see his high school crush, Jocelyn Carter, walk through the door of Serpent’s Tongue Ink.

Forensic accountant and former golden girl track star Jocelyn is back in Epson to hunt down the cooked books of shell companies feeding an elusive corporation with potentially criminal connections. A chance run-in with one of Epson’s infamous Baker boys is an alluring distraction—until she discovers one of the businesses she’s investigating belongs to Birch Baker, the man currently warming her bed and stealing her heart.

She won’t risk losing her integrity or career.

He won’t risk losing his family.

But both are losing themselves in each other and sooner or later, something has to break.

Paging Dr. Breakup

by Jillian David

Widow Deirdre Steen has spent the last five years making sure she’s the best chief nursing officer Yukon Valley Hospital has ever seen. It cost her a personal life—and protected her heart. But now her childhood friend, Dr. Calvin Garrett—the one who got away—is temporarily lending his emergency medicine skills to their rural hospital in Alaska’s interior. The community’s relentless matchmaking network loves a challenge, which leaves Deirdre with one viable option: a fake dating pact with Calvin until the spring Breakup Festival and his inevitable departure to his regular job and his life in Seattle.

Calvin moved away years ago rather than watch his best friend marry Deirdre. Now, amazingly, she’s in Calvin’s bed and the center of his world. Yet a woman like Deirdre deserves forever—as well as a man who didn’t finish as runner-up the first time around.

Can an Alaskan spring thaw help two wounded healers thaw the ice surrounding their hearts and fulfill this second chance at love?

April Blossoms with New Reads & A Giveaway!

April 1, 2025 · Posted by Tule Publishing

Spring is here, and so are some exciting new book releases! Whether you’re in the mood for a page-turning suspense or a cozy read to enjoy in the sunshine, April’s books are ready to captivate your imagination. To kick off the season of fresh starts, we’re also hosting a giveaway! Keep reading to discover your next favorite read and enter for a chance to win an ebook copy of one of our new releases!

Giveaway Question: What’s your favorite cozy mystery or thriller setting — a small town, a quirky café, or maybe an old mansion? Let us know for a chance to win!

Old Habits Die Hard

By Melissa Westemeier

Meddling and murder can both be deadly sins

When retired nun and teacher Sister Bernadette returns with her fellow residents to The Abbey: Senior Living, she is the first to discover the body sprawled in the hallway of the converted school where she once taught English and now lives. Instead of freezing with horror, Sister Bernie has questions. Lots of them. Why does Toni Travi, the bedazzled and bejeweled resident from apartment 218, have so much chest hair? Did anyone at The Abbey know Toni was a man? Was Toni’s death related to allegations that she cheated at cards? Where’s the murder weapon? Who had motive? And did someone kill Toni, or the man hiding beneath the Revlon foundation and blonde wig?

Detective AJ Lewis is in charge of the investigation though Sister Bernie acts as if he is still her student. With unholy stubbornness, she dogs his every step, eavesdrops, sneaks beyond the police tape and offers unsolicited conjecture and clues. He wants to keep her safe, but she’s determined to lend a helping hand—it’s her habit, after all!

Karma Never Sleeps

By R. John Dingle

In a small town, the truth can’t always set you free…

When a second woman from a group of friends known as “the posse” is murdered in the woods near the New England enclave of Kendalton, FBI agent and profiler Gus Wheeler and his partner are called in to determine if this is a serial killing. He’s intrigued by a clue hidden on the body: a memorial picture of a teen who died 25 years ago.

Instead of helping with the investigation, the long-term friends stonewall the agents. But Gus can smell fear beneath their calm masks, fake smiles, and politely vague answers. Digging deeper, he discovers they are being terrorized by cyberstalking, spying, threats and mysterious break-ins. When a third member is hospitalized after a brutal attack, Gus suspects someone in the posse is the hunter instead of the hunted.

Is it the alpha leader Jules, her best friend Maria—married to the chief of police—outsider Mel, or weak link Lizzy? Or someone else bent on revenge? Time’s running out, and Gus’s life depends on his skill at determining who’s the best liar in town.

Murder On Display

By Tracy Gardner

Art in the park leads to murder in the dark, creating another crime for the Shepherd sisters to solve.

Savanna Shepherd, an art expert turned elementary art teacher, is planning the Art in the Park festival for her hometown of Carson, Michigan. But apparently, someone isn’t happy that Carson got to host the tourism boosting event and destroys the beloved statue in the park. Then Savanna discovers a local politician’s dead body following a planning committee meeting, and the festival is at risk of being canceled.

Savanna and her sisters are convinced that the arrested murder suspect, a longtime family friend, didn’t do it, despite strong evidence to the contrary. With the help of Dr. Aidan Gallager, Savanna’s new romantic interest, they uncover plenty of hidden resentments, intrigue, and suspects who had a motive for the murder. Can they find out which one of them is behind the framing of an innocent person before the murderer paints them into a corner?

An artful cozy mystery perfect for fans of Krista Davis and Joanne Fluke.

A Stone Cold Murder

By Kris Bock

She hates her gift – but it just might save her…

Geologist Petra Cloch can touch an object and sense the emotions of the people who’ve held it. It’s a miserable way to live. She studied rocks because they rarely ‘talk’ to her and she’s dodged friendships so she won’t need to explain her gift or feel like a voyeur. But when she takes a job as the rock and mineral curator at an unusual western history museum and picks up a jagged crystal in her new office, flashes of rage, fear and death hit hard.

Everyone says her predecessor died in a car crash, but what if he was murdered? Under normal circumstances, Petra would never become involved, but what if the previous curator died because of something he did on the job? She could be next. Petra knows she’ll need evidence, not her psychic sense she hides. Can she trust her chatty colleagues who invite her to lunch and to join a book club? And what about the far too watchful Sheriff who keeps showing up unexpectedly…

Rolling Up Revenge

By Emmie Lyn

Revenge is red.
Berries are blue.
When murder darkens the festival—
Will there be one victim or two?

Misty Harbor’s annual Blueberry Festival kicks off with stacks of syrupy pancakes, crumbly scones, and the rich aroma of blueberry balsamic vinegar. But the celebration curdles when Dani Mackenzie stumbles over a body behind the berry bushes.

The victim is no stranger—and a suspicious splash of vinegar leads Dani and her feisty Jack Russell terrier, Pip, straight to Christy Golden, a vendor and Dani’s own employee. Christy confesses that the dead man had been harassing her at the Little Dog Diner, and now the police are hungry for justice—with Christy as their prime suspect.

Determined to prove her friend isn’t the missing ingredient in a revenge plot, Dani starts mixing up theories and sifting through festival goers for clues. With Pip sniffing out details the police overlooked, it’s clear the real killer is still stirring up trouble.

Can Dani unravel the mystery before another victim is buried beneath the blueberries?

SPOILER Author Melinda Di Lorenzo shares an alternate ending for Unspoken…

March 24, 2025 · Posted by Tule Publishing

***SPOILER ALERT*** Before reading any further, have you read Unspoken? If not, this blog post could ruin the ending of a thriller. If you want to avoid that, stop now and return after you know the ending.

This is your last chance to back out before I reveal this thriller’s twist!

***SPOILER/SPOILER/SPOILER/SPOILER/SPOILER/SPOILER/SPOILER***

EPILOGUE

Three Months Later

Him

Consciousness came in slowly. A wave, lapping at the shore. Dale’s senses came to life in the same way.

First, he became aware of the coolness under his back.

Next came the rhythmic beep of a machinery. Finally, a woman’s voice carried to his ears.

“Such a shame,” she said.

“Is it?” another woman replied. “I heard she hit him in self-defense.”

Self-defense.

The term jarred something in Dale, and he tried to interject. He couldn’t make his mouth work. What was happening here?

“Even so,” the first woman said. “Does anyone really deserve
this?”

Deserve what? Dale wanted to ask.

“It’s not like he’s dead,” the second woman stated.

There are some things worse than death. The though floated up, unbidden.

Again, Dale tried to speak. Again, he failed.

What’s wrong with me?

He tried to move, to push against the restraints of his own body, but his limbs felt heavy, foreign. His mouth, still unresponsive, betrayed him.

What. Is. Wrong.

“Someone told me it’s locked in syndrome,” the first woman said as though in answer to his silent plea for an explanation. “It’s just a rumor. But the longer into your career you get, the more wild stuff you see.”

“So, that means he can hear us?” The second woman sounded nervous.

“Oh, who knows? Maybe if it’s really that, he can. Maybe see us if his eyes happen to be open. And feel us, too.”

A light touch found Dale’s wrist, proving the last piece to be right.

“But if it were true…” the first woman went on. “Then don’t you think his heart monitor would be going nuts right now?”

Dale agreed. It should be going because there was a rising panic in his chest.

The second woman–Dale surmised now that they must be nurses–didn’t seem to be able to stop herself from saying one last thing.

“She’s the one who did this, isn’t she?” she whispered. “The one who almost killed him.”

Now the clack of shoes on linoleum carried to Dale’s ears, and the next voice that spoke was familiar. But it wasn’t his wife; it was Talia.

“Thank you for taking care of him,” she said. “Could you just give us a moment alone?”

There was a shuffle, the nurses murmuring and excusing themselves. Then came a protracted silence before Talia spoke again, her voice right beside him.

“Hello, Dale,” she murmured, the greeting dripping with derision. “I just wanted to see you one last time. Not so much to tell that doctor says this is permanent or even
to say that we’re glad you got this rather than death. It’s just so suiting.”

If he’d been able to speak or move, he would’ve turned away. Plugged his ears. Demanded to know where his wife was and who was behind this. But none of that was possible.

Talia got even closer, her breath warm against his cheek.

“What I really want to do is to ask you a question. Tell me Dale…how does it feel, knowing we took away your power over us?” she asked. “Over your wife, Lena, in particular?”

I’m not powerless! Dale wanted to yell while seizing her throat. I’m not!

Talia laughed. “Oh, that’s right. You can’t tell me, can you? You can’t do anything.”

Rage was a tidal wave. But the not so silent woman was right; there was nothing he could do. Not. At. All.

THE END

Southern Secrets & Deadly Inheritance: A Mystery Born from Family and the South

March 19, 2025 · Posted by Tule Publishing

Deadly Inheritance is the first book in my new Southern Secrets mystery series. There were several sources of inspiration for this series, but mainly I wanted to write about a small town in Southern Arkansas similar to the one where my mother’s family has lived for generations. We visited every year, usually around Easter. As a child of city suburbs, I loved being able to walk “downtown” or hang out with my cousins or granddaddy on the porch swing.

I’d be willing to bet that most of you haven’t read a story that takes place in Arkansas. Many
Americans don’t know where “the natural state” is located (east of Oklahoma and Texas, north of Louisiana, west of Mississippi, and south of Missouri) or how to pronounce it (AR-ken-saw). You may have heard of the Ozark Mountains, or a little ole company called Walmart that’s headquartered in Bentonville, or former President Bill Clinton, a native son. It’s a state with geographic diversity and friendly people, many of whom I’m probably related to, at least in the southern part of the state.

The fictitious town of Crossroads, the setting of Deadly Inheritance, isn’t far from the Louisiana border. This part of the state is famous for the pine forests that spawned many sawmills in the early twentieth century and later a thriving paper products industry. Like many Americans, Merritt Quinn knows next to nothing about Arkansas, but when her Aunt Mary dies, she must travel to Crossroads to learn who had been responsible for her birth mother’s death nearly thirty years ago. Mary’s will is specific: Merritt must go there and uncover the truth in order to claim her inheritance, which includes a property several parties are anxious to buy.

Merritt is a fish out of water in Crossroads, and I enjoyed writing about her new experiences in the South. Mary, she was told as a child, was an honorary aunt, a generous woman interested in her life who rarely visited. Before she died, she told Merritt who her birth mother was but not much else. “See Ernie—he knows,” she said. But, when Merritt appears for her appointment in Ernie Crowell’s law office in Crossroads, she encounters two men from feuding families oddly scheduled for appointments at the same time. They soon discover the attorney’s body. He’s been murdered, and police chief Tim Birch is quickly on the scene, questioning all three of them.

Tim Birch grew up in Crossroads, but he hasn’t been chief for long and has a lot to prove. Ernie was a beloved member of the community and a mentor to him. With Ernie’s assistant away and neither of the two men knowing what their appointments were about, all Tim can figure out is that they shared an interest in the land Merritt is due to inherit. As Merritt researches both her aunt’s and mother’s pasts in Crossroads with the help of new friends, Tim tracks a killer intent on keeping his secrets buried at any cost.

I love stories about family secrets, unsolved mysteries, and ordinary people caught up in life-changing situations. I hope you’ll enjoy Deadly Inheritance and will come back for more southern secrets when the second book in the series, Death Watch, is released by Tule in July.

Here’s a preview of the cover:

All the best,

Carol

About the author

Carol Light is an avid reader and writer of mysteries. She loves creating amateur sleuths and complicating their normal lives with a crime that they must use their talents and wits to solve. She’s traveled worldwide and lived in Australia for eight years, teaching high school English and learning to speak “Strine.” Florida is now her home. If she’s not at the beach or writing, you can find her tackling quilting in much the same way that she figures out her mysteries—piece by piece, clue by clue. You can also follow me on BlueSky.

Leigh Ann Edwards stops by on St. Patrick’s Day to chat about her wrapped series – Witch and Demon Hunter.

March 17, 2025 · Posted by Tule Publishing

Hello everyone! I’m happy to be back on Tule’s blog to celebrate the release of Druids’ Dark Curse, the fifth and final installment in the Realm of Fractured Time series. With my love of all things Irish, I’m especially excited to be here on St. Patrick’s Day!

Are you wearing green? Do you have any Irish heritage?

I’m Canadian, with English, Irish, Norwegian, Scottish, and Welsh ancestry. Despite the mixed lineage, for as long as I can remember I’ve been drawn to Ireland. As a child I loved reading tales of leprechauns and fairies. Even then, hearing the Irish harp or fiddle, stirred something inside me.

I still listen to Celtic music to nurture my muse. While writing my first wedding scene (yes it was Alainn and Killian’s for those who’ve followed my stories) I must have listened to “The Water is Wide” from the Celtic Wedding album by Carlyle Fraser, about forty-seven times.

A harpist played that much-loved song when my husband and I were married in 2013. It was lovely and emotional.

So why my profound love of Ireland? My maternal great-grandparents (who I never met) left Ireland when she was pregnant with my grandfather. He was born in Canada not long after they arrived. My paternal family tree also has various Irish branches. But would those connections explain why Ireland calls to me so strongly?

Several years ago, I purchased a DNA ancestry kit. The results showed I’m 32% Irish. I’ve since done more genealogy research and found several Irish branches from a few timelines. My Welsh ancestors even moved to Ireland sometime in the 1300s.

It was interesting learning names of ancestors from past centuries who share my DNA. Thinking about their life stories piqued my imagination. I’m sure many Irish ancestors experienced hardships. Ireland’s history is steeped in tragedy, yet the people are resilient, and the land remains magical.

After a lifetime of longing to travel to Ireland, I made my first trip to the Emerald Isle in 2008. It was everything I hoped it would be and much more. The whole island was simply enchanting. The fields were as green as I’d heard. The scenery was breathtaking. The friendly people were welcoming and helpful. The music was poignant, the food fantastic. And the history…it just blew me away. One church I visited was over a thousand years old and still being used for services. The centuries-old graveyards with uneven moss-covered headstones and ornate Celtic crosses, told endless stories.

While touring a number of castles I felt transported back in time. A word of caution if you’re planning any historic tours, castle steps are steep and extremely narrow. I was relieved that most stairwells had handrail ropes to cling to or I might’ve met a tragic end in a not-overly-exciting story.

Some castles were only ruins; others were largely as they would’ve been when people lived there. I was as intrigued by the tiny alcoves, murder holes, and arrow slits as the massive Great Halls. The dungeons were dark and scary.

We enjoyed a medieval banquet in Bunratty Castle’s enormous Great Hall with authentic fifteenth century mead wine, food and entertainment. Blarney Castle’s lovely gardens with the mysterious wishing steps and gnarled ancient trees were a highlight. I opted not to kiss the Blarney stone. Not only did you have to bend over backwards…literally, to kiss it. But ew!

I could’ve stayed forever in the little seaside town of Kinsale with the colorful buildings and unique shops. We drove the ring of Kerry, saw the spectacular Cliffs of Moher, and while in Dublin sat in a snug––a tiny room only big enough for two in one of the oldest pubs in Ireland.

The first time I stood on the coast of County Antrim in Northern Ireland it felt eerily familiar. Even the scent of the Irish Sea that separates Ireland from Scotland, twigged a distinct memory… of being there before. Of course, I hadn’t been–– not in this lifetime–– but I firmly believe I’ve spent several past lives in Ireland. I learned months later that precise location was where my paternal Irish roots originated.

Naysayers would claim it’s possibly cellular memory, but Ireland is too close to my heart to be explained by anything scientific. I prefer to believe I have a magical connection.

When planning that first trip we arranged to be in Ireland for St. Patrick’s Day. We spent the previous night in Ashford Castle. Part of that magnificent yet imposing structure was built in the thirteenth century. A knight in full armor stood just inside the door. Rich wood and stunning tapestries were found throughout. Thankfully the castle’s guest rooms had been updated with modern conveniences.

We crossed a stone bridge (formerly a draw bridge) to dine in an old cottage that had been transformed into a quaint restaurant. The dessert was my first introduction to sticky toffee pudding–– quite possibly the most delicious food I’d ever tasted before… or since.

Ashford Castle’s St. Patrick’s Day morning buffet offered nearly every breakfast food imaginable. The most memorable decoration was a two-foot-high leprechaun butter carving. Yes, butter!

In retrospect we should never have planned to travel on St. Patrick’s Day. We couldn’t enjoy the festivities as we might have as our flight home was the following day.

Also, it’s a national holiday in Ireland. We encountered or had to detour around several parades and people celebrating on the streets. Thus, it took even longer driving from County Mayo to Dublin.

I’ve been to Ireland three times now. The city and county of Cork have become among my favorite places. If not for missing my family here in Canada, I’d gladly relocate to Ireland. I prefer the temperate Irish climate. But mostly it’s because it’s my happy place that resonates within my soul. It’s always difficult to leave.

The last time I was in Ireland was 2018, and I’m experiencing a compelling need to return. Between my husband’s job, some family health scares, everyday adult/ homeowner responsibilities and having four pets, add in a few book deadlines and the cost of traveling I haven’t ventured anywhere other than a couple of road trips.

Not to mention we experienced a pandemic. Murphy’s Law…I was scheduled to travel to Ireland late March 2020 to stay with a friend, a fellow author, who’d invited me to a private month-long writer’s retreat in her 200-year-old Irish cottage situated near a fairy glade. I was over the moon excited. Oh, how the words would have flown! I even had my plane, train and bus tickets.

But alas, then the entire world was grounded. Consequently, my much-anticipated trip never came to fruition. (Insert heavy sigh.)

I was understandably disappointed yet considering everything that was happening and how many people were far more seriously affected, I simply had to put it into perspective.

Regardless of why I’ve always been entranced by the land of forty shades of green, little did I know how my enduring love for Ireland would one day change my life. After my very first trip I was so inspired by the history, scenery and mystical locations I’d seen, only days after I returned home, I began writing The Farrier’s Daughter, the first in my seven book Irish Witch series.

This is where I could say, and the rest is history but that would make it seem unrealistically simple. It was a super long process. I’ll always be grateful to my family and friends who supported me every step of the way when I self-published the first two novels, and to Tule Publishing for making my dream of becoming a traditionally published author come true.

I’m honored to have a wonderful following of loyal readers who fell in love with Alainn and Killian and the bewitching Irish magic I’ve always felt. If my series aren’t set in Ireland, there’s at least one key Irish character––even in my Norse and Mystical Stones series.

After the Irish Witch series, came the sequel, The Witches of Time, then the spinoff, the Witch and Demon Hunter that’s since been renamed Realm of Fractured Time.

Now… squee I have news!!! I’m so excited I could do an Irish jig, if I could actually do an Irish jig. I’m bursting to tell someone…anyone…everyone, although details aren’t finalized, another spinoff witch series featuring the daughters of the witches of time is in the works with Tule. The first book could release in spring/ summer 2026. (Just a guess.)

Yikes! In my enthusiasm of telling you about my love of Ireland and my upcoming series, I’ve barely mentioned my newest book. Admittedly, promotions aren’t always my strong suit.

Druids’ Dark Curse released March 13th. It’s a thrilling romantasy adventure that ties up storylines in this and the previous four books. The book touches on the mystical Druids. I’m eager for readers to know how Fiona and Lorcan’s story ends…and of course a little sad, too. I love Lorcan and Fiona. Their character arcs might be the best of any I’ve written. They were both a bit broken after all life had thrown at them. Telling their story was rewarding.

They infuriated me at times when it seemed they were in charge, and I was just along for the ride. But they also made me smile, cry, and laugh. I hope readers feel all those emotions and enjoy Druids’ Dark Curse and the Realm of Fractured Time series as much as I loved writing it.

There are numerous wonderful Irish sayings/blessings I could leave you with today but here’s one I believe fits best.

May you have all the happiness and luck that life can hold ––and at the end of your rainbows may you find a pot of gold.

I feel incredibly lucky being able to do what I love. And my supportive family, friends, readers and publishing team are my pot of gold.

Have an amazing St. Patrick’s Day.

Magical wishes,

Leigh Ann

About the Author.

Leigh Ann Edwards writes smoking hot romantic fantasy with badass heroines, alpha heroes, history, castles, and magic. She believes love is love, that villains should get their comeuppance (sometimes with a stake through the heart), that pleasure is NOT a four-letter word, and that “dog” is another word for “joy.”

Don’t let her gentle appearance fool you; this grandmother of four ditched a sad story and is now enjoying her happily-ever-after with the love of her life in north central Alberta, Canada. Her heroines don’t need to be rescued but they’ll gladly work with a competent partner to right the wrongs of whatever world they inhabit.