Janine Amesta talks about taking chances and discovering your family

March 26, 2026 · Posted by Tule Publishing

The idea of family has always been an important theme in my books, but it’s especially big in my newest series, Love is in the Air.

The first book starts off with the family becoming broken at the unexpected death of the father, leaving Selah, Naomi, and Hailey, along with their mother, to try to keep the family’s hot air balloon business afloat in the aftermath. Each sister deals with the loss of their father in very different ways, and their path toward healing is not always an easy one and is sometimes rocky. But they end up with a new type of family by the end of it, growing even bigger than it was before.

While their family will never look the same again, it doesn’t mean that the way it evolves into something different isn’t just as beautiful.

In the third book, The Love Feud, it focuses on the youngest daughter, Hailey, who carries around a great deal of guilt because she believes that her relationship with her late father wasn’t as good as it should have been. She wasn’t as close to him as her sisters had been, and, even worse, it wasn’t something she strived for. Plus, she didn’t value her family until a part of it was gone. Hailey feels like she has a lot to make up for, and this affects a lot of her decisions, including keeping up with her father’s imaginary feud with the other rival hot air balloon business in the area. It’s her way of making up for and protecting the family she has left.

It’s not until she sees the truth of the whole situation that she discovers things were way more complicated than she realized. This makes things change again—both her perspective and how she sees family. Because, as we all know, family is not just what people are born into, but it can grow from other people you meet along the way.

And I think the concept of family is something many people find relatable. Family is something we all need. People who will support us and love us even when we mess up. Hailey is really a character who puts this to the test because she doesn’t always make the best decisions, even if she thinks she’s doing it for a good reason.

At the beginning, she’s not looking to make Ryland, the love interest in The Love Feud, part of this family. In fact, it’s just the opposite. She’d rather keep the feud between them going, holding the man at arm’s length as long as she can. As hard as she tries to fight against Ryland and the rest of his family, it’s a losing battle. Turns out they’re exactly what she needs to make her own family even stronger. It’s a big surprise when she discovers they’re not exactly who she always imagined them to be.

Perhaps that’s why sometimes it’s better to take a chance. Because you never know where you’re going to find love or your next family.

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.

(Re)Introducing Wade Hendricks with Jill Sorenson

March 24, 2026 · Posted by Tule Publishing

Hello all! I’m back to celebrate Sheriff’s Honor, the second book in my contemporary/Western romance series. This story features a recurring character named Deputy Sheriff Wade Hendricks. In Cowboy’s Last Stand, Wade is a rival for the heroine’s affections and a foil for the hero. He’s also the former best friend of Natalie’s husband, Mike, who died in combat. Although Wade and Natalie shared a night together, it was more of a flop than a love connection.

In Sheriff’s Honor, Wade has relocated to a new town and moved on. When he meets Meredith, he realizes his feelings for Natalie were never that strong. At one point he tells Meredith about their ill-fated encounter:

“I went over to Natalie’s house on Mike’s birthday,” Wade said. “I brought a bottle of his favorite tequila. We planned to hang out and reminisce. It was emotional, and we both drank too much. One thing led to another and we ended up in bed.”
“Did you fall in love with her before that, or after?”
“After.”
“Because it was so amazing?”
“No.” He winced at the memory. “It was awkward, actually. She called me Mike in the middle of it.”
Meredith sat up straighter. “What did you do?”
“I choked,” he said, shaking his head. “I hurried up and finished, and I left.”
“You finished?”
“What was I supposed to do? Not finish?”
“Did she enjoy it?”
“She did not.”
“She said that?”
“She didn’t have to. I could tell.”
Meredith clapped a hand over her mouth, eyes wide. “That’s terrible.”
He smiled wryly. “It was a huge blow to my ego.”

Things didn’t work out for Wade in Cowboy’s Last Stand. Luckily, he’s getting a chance for his own HEA in Sheriff’s Honor. He finds redemption and solace in Lost Lake, Texas with a
spunky ranch hand who captivates him completely.

You don’t have to read Cowboy’s Last Stand to enjoy Sheriff’s Honor, but I think it makes
Wade’s story more satisfying. Either way, I’m happy to (re)introduce a true hero with flaws and missteps who finally meets his match and gets it right.

About Sheriff’s Honor

She’s hiding from a past that could destroy her. He’s sworn to uncover the truth—no matter
what the cost.

Meredith Rose never meant to point a shotgun at the new deputy sheriff. But when Wade
Hendricks strides onto the Lost Lake ranch to visit his mother, all Texas heat and authority, her fight-or-flight instincts kick in. The honorable lawman makes her heart race for all the wrong reasons. Wade came home to bury ghosts, not dig up new ones. Yet the wary beauty his mother hired as a caretaker unearths feelings he’d rather keep hidden. The air sizzles every time they meet, but Wade knows better than to fall for a woman who lies to his face. When a cold case hits too close to home, Meredith becomes an unlikely ally–and a temptation he can’t resist.

In a small Texas town where secrets won’t stay buried, the forbidden fire between them threatens to ignite a blaze of cowboy justice.

About the Author

Jill Sorenson is a diehard romance fan and the dynamic author of more than twenty romance novels. She’s been featured twice in Cosmopolitan Magazine, and her books have received starred reviews from Booklist, Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly. Most recently, she’s written for Harlequin as Susan Cliff. Now she’s making her comeback as Jill with a fresh start in Western contemporary romance!

Born and raised in the Flint Hills of Kansas, Jill transported to a small town in California. She still lives in the Golden State with her family, where she dreams about happy endings in cowboy country.

Why I Wrote A Little Bit Country (and Gave My Characters a Fresh Start Too) with Jacinta Peachey

March 23, 2026 · Posted by Tule Publishing

I am Jacinta Peachey, a debut Australian author starting a new career, just like the two main characters in my novel, A Little Bit Country. If I can do it, so can my imaginary characters.

In A Little Bit Country, my two protagonists are forced to yet again change their lives. Jasmine is running from a toxic marriage, and Ben is reinventing himself after a motorbike accident.

After Ben loses part of his leg, he can no longer be a roofing carpenter. He becomes an egg
salesman, which wreaks havoc with his love like. Not only does he steal Jasmine’s clients, but he does a lousy job of it, signing contracts that sell the produce at a minimal profit. He’s in danger of being sacked, and the girl he spent a fabulous Saturday night with is avoiding him.

Why did I take up writing?

I retired early at 54 because of an arthritic condition. As a dentist, I could no longer do my job and wasn’t trained to do much else, but I was too young to stop as my brain is very busy. I have always loved to read, so I thought I would try becoming an author. Which is an arrogant concept, because creating a page turning book is hard. I had come from a science background and had to teach myself to write creatively. I have lost count of how many courses I have completed, and don’t get me started on my inability to spot spelling errors. Thankfully, someone invented spellcheck. What I would have given for computers in the 1970s and 80s when I was at school.

Also, I love to talk, and now I have lost my audience, AKA my trapped patients who couldn’t answer back because I had stuffed the mouths with cotton wool. Writing a book is the next best thing after years of talking at my patients, relating my life story or anything else that I was convinced was entertaining—and it was never flossing instructions.

My author journey took seven years, and A Little Bit Country is the fourth book I finished and the first to be published. It won the Romance Writers of New Zealand’s First Kiss contest and Romance Writers of Australia’s Ripping Start. Two organisations that I volunteer for.

Why did I base this book around chickens?

A lot of the story of A Little Bit Country is set on an egg farm because I am inherently lazy. I wanted the story to be about a girl, Jasmine, on her own farm, but the idea that she tended to cattle or sheep made my bones ache. I couldn’t put her through it. Don’t get me wrong, I am all for equal opportunities, but I am just over five feet tall and have no upper body strength. Chickens are light and their poo is small, not some enormous dinner plate sized cow pat. And it is easy to carry eggs—if you are careful.

I visited a small egg producing chicken farm run by a single woman and discovered it was doable. Yes, there are still heavy things to lift, but they aren’t enormous animals with minds of their own. Egg farmers also had time to socialise which made it easy for romancing.

And who doesn’t love a chicken? There are also dogs in the book because I am a dog person. Sorry no cats.

Where is the book set?

Dolphin Cove is the setting for all the books in my From the Outback to the Sea series. It is fictional and about three hours south of Perth, the city I live in, and the most isolated capital city in the world. It’s quicker for me to fly to Bali than to most Australian capital cities. Thank God I love to travel.

The area that Dolphin Cove is based in is beautiful. It’s on the Indian Ocean, near some fabulous surf breaks. The lush countryside is perfect for both dairy and beef farming and many wineries that produce delicious Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon wines (which gives me an idea for another book…) If you are ever on the West Coast of Australia it is definitely a place to visit.

Why small-town romance?

I love the story building that goes into a small-town romance. A Little Bit Country features many of the Dolphin Cove locals and lots of retirees. It starts and finishes at the Dolphin Cove hotel which features in all the books in my From the Outback to the Sea series.

Ben’s new job as a maintenance man is at the retirement village, a place that Jasmine regularly visits as she has roped in the women to help her make egg cosies—part of her marketing. Some of these characters were a delight to write about as they are always interfering in a blatant attempt to get Ben and Jasmine together.

What’s next?

The second book in From the Outback to the Sea series, A Little Taste of Home, will be out in September. I will also be self-publishing a contemporary romance with the first book out in May.

If you are (peachy) keen to find out more check out my author page below!

About the author

Jacinta Peachey is an international award-winning contemporary romance author. Her writing is the creative outpouring of a fertile imagination stifled by her first career as a dentist. With a ‘do as I say not as I do’ attitude, coffee, red wine, and chocolate fuel her writing passion. Her stories focus on strong, independent, yet mixed-up women as they navigate life’s unexpected turns.

Dead Man’s Duty RD Post with Fran Thomas Jr.

March 18, 2026 · Posted by Tule Publishing

What would you do if the world thought you were dead?

If you could start over, brand new? New town, new name, new neighbors, and a chance to put a bloody past behind you?

Would you risk everything to come to the aid of someone you barely knew?

When Shannon Winters answers a desperate cry for help from a woman whose grandson died in county lockup from an alleged overdose, she thinks it’s an unfortunate but familiar story. Black, brown and poor white addicts barely rate a mention on the news or get a fair shake from a justice system stacked against them when they’re on the outside, let alone incarcerated. But something about the story resonates, and she takes up the woman’s cause. Ultimately, she finds herself wading into a vast criminal conspiracy which includes corrupt elements of law enforcement, and the wrong kinds of people notice. The more she digs, and the more questions she asks, the more she becomes a threat. And these people have ways to deal with threats. When an attempt on her life hits close to home, Ricky Hynes can only think of one man who can help. There’s a problem, though.

That man is dead.

As his best friend and one of the very few people who know otherwise, Ricky has a decision to make. He knows if the world learns Noah Winston is alive, the top spot on the FBI’s Most Wanted list is a certainty and a cold cell awaits. But Ricky also knows Shannon’s would-be killers won’t stop until they’re successful.

Deep down Ricky knows doing nothing is not an option.

When he gets Ricky’s call, the man now known simply as Hines is living in a small town on the west coast. His neighbors think he is a consultant for a defense contractor who travels frequently for business. He does, but unbeknownst to them he’s no hands-off consultant. He is what he has always been. A killer of men, and that type of business is always booming. Nevertheless, he otherwise lives a quiet, unassuming life, is friendly with neighbors, and has grown especially close with a couple of kids on the street. He seems to finally be free of the burning need for revenge which consumed him for decades and is as close to at peace as a man like him can be. He probably should have known it wouldn’t last.

Even dead men have a duty.

Readers will re-connect with familiar characters in this sequel to Ties That Kill and meet new ones as a global conspiracy is uncovered, one run by a ruthless organization that preys on the most vulnerable among us and employs a cadre of professional killers to protect itself. These people are used to working in the shadows, pulling the levers of power from afar. But they’re about to find out the shadows are a perfect place for a dead man to operate.

Silent Justice Book II, Dead Man’s Duty, is available from Tule Publishing today!

About the Author

Fran Thomas finds one of the most difficult things about the writing process is trying to find the absolute right genre to describe his books. Mystery, thriller, suspense, multicultural, Black/African-American, crime/conspiracy? As a former Principal, he now appreciates the D. All of the above option his students had on many tests.

Desperate to find heroes who looked like him while growing up, Fran gravitated to Marvel comics, and appreciated how its diverse heroes challenged cultural stereotypes. Iconic characters like the Black Panther, Storm and Luke Cage added unique perspectives and contexts to dynamic storytelling, as did anti-heroes like The Punisher. His Silent Justice series continues that tradition.

When not writing, he can typically be found in the gym, Krav Maga dojo or reading–Marvel comics are still a staple. A lifelong New Englander, he is eagerly awaiting the springtime arrival of his first grandchild.

Time for Spring Cleaning with Carol Light

March 16, 2026 · Posted by Tule Publishing

Sick of mounds of snow? Tired of wearing layers of clothing? Ready to put your sweaters, coats, and boots away and dig out your shorts? Most of us have had an unusually rough winter, so I propose we turn our thoughts to spring. Milder temperatures, flowers blooming, gardens to be planted, sun warmly kissing your face … and yes, spring cleaning. Open the windows, strip the beds, and let’s air out the house!

Cleaning up crime in Crossroads, Arkansas, is what my Southern Secrets Mysteries series is all about. That’s particularly true for Fatal Silence, the third book in this trilogy. Although both Deadly Inheritance and Death Watch have unique murders that are solved, some plot lines have carried through both mysteries and still need a resolution. In Fatal Silence I had to tie up those loose ends. All the secrets are at last revealed … or at least all that have been behind recent crimes in Crossroads.

And speaking of spring cleaning, Fatal Silence appropriately takes place in March. Originally, I set the story over Thanksgiving vacation, but I changed it to line up more with the actual release date of the book, March 16. Fortunately, all I had to do was switch some jokes about turkeys to Easter bunnies (Crossroads librarian Katy loves to dress up). The weather in November in Arkansas is often similar to March’s unpredictable temperatures, so no change there. I did bring out some early spring blooms to offer hope that warmer weather—and better days—would soon arrive. The villains didn’t care what time of year they committed their dastardly deeds, so they were okay with the new season. As for the good guys and gals, they had no choice but to roll up their sleeves and get to work cleaning up the town.

Lexie Gilroy is the female lead in Fatal Silence. A life-long resident of Crossroads, Lexie
married right out of high school and soon had her daughter, Sophie. Unfortunately, her marriage didn’t last and neither did her friendship with Ceci Rhodes, who soon started a relationship with Lexie’s ex. Living back at home with her parents, Lexie loves her work as a general contractor in her family’s business. She also has plans to take on bigger projects, like building the town’s new park’s facilities. However, when the bulldozer she convinced her parents to buy is stolen, Lexie’s dreams are put on hold. Worse, she recognizes one of the thieves—Gage Pope, her childhood hero who once saved her life. Deciding not to tell police chief Tim Birch, a close family friend, she takes matters into her own hands and confronts Gage. When he’s found murdered the next day, Lexie becomes a suspect, and that’s just the beginning of her problems.

Tim Birch returns as the police chief in Crossroads. When Gage is found murdered, his team has new questions about the bulldozer theft and Lexie’s connection with both crimes. And when someone targets Lexie to force her to withdraw her bid on the park contract, Tim’s protective nature takes over, even though he’s determined to step back from the murder investigation due to his close ties to her family.

But back to those loose ends from the first two mysteries. One of the subplots in all three books had to do with who was responsible for dumping waste in an already toxic pond. Reporter Jack Huddleston has been trying to uncover the culprits, but his clumsy efforts have only set back Tim’s investigation. Jack has to regain Tim’s trust, if he can overcome his lingering depression.

Californian transplant Cal Kinney also plays a major role in this story when he uncovers more malfeasance at Southern Pines Paper Products Company and decides to do something about it. When he starts receiving threats, he isn’t sure who to trust. Someone wants him fired, and their efforts to stop him soon prove more dangerous than underhanded office politics.

If you’ve ever had someone else clean your house or rearrange your cupboards, you know that it can be hard to adapt to other people’s ideas of cleanliness or organization. Change isn’t easy. Come to think of it, not everyone in Crossroads will be happy after the crimes in this story are solved and the villains caught. Hmmm, does that mean there’s room for another Southern Secrets mystery in the future? After all, no room or house stays clean forever. Can we expect any less of a town with as many secrets as Crossroads?

Have a wonderful spring! Wishing you sunshine, flowers, and hours of good reading—between cleaning jobs, of course.

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.

Gaining a New Perspective with Marie-Claude Arnott

March 6, 2026 · Posted by Tule Publishing

Life happened since my last post: illness… loss… illness… recovery… I now approach the New Year soulful, grateful, and hopeful.

Since my previous blog, I have gained a new perspective on my book, Biography of a Friendship, published in March 2024, which was based on my notes from the 2025 Vancouver International Publishing Conference. They confirmed what I had already experienced and what I have experienced since then.

As per the ‘trends and themes’ discussed at that conference, narrative nonfiction such as memoirs, “remain difficult to get traditionally published and to reach an audience.”

As I reflect on this hurdle, and as an author who is not a public figure, I am grateful that my memoir was traditionally published and hopeful that it will reach a wider audience. I see my glass half full.

Biography of a Friendship fulfilled a promise.

Biography of a Friendship brought awareness to pancreatic cancer.

Biography of a Friendship has helped more than one reader, a humbling fact.

Even if gratification is more than in sales, publishing a book is, however, my publisher’s business. For this reason, I am available for book clubs (my gratitude to the West Van Best Book Club for having me in December), book signings, and other roundtable and Zoom discussions.

Thank you for contacting me here.

Deviled Eggs From the Kitchen of Catherine Mann

March 4, 2026 · Posted by Tule Publishing

Delicious recipes straight from the kitchens of your favorite Tule authors.

I was brought up to believe that most Southern gatherings should include deviled eggs, and they must be served on a special deviled egg dish. I have five different ones! Suffice it to say, I heard the assignment. With Easter season cooking on the horizon, I’ve got my favorite one washed and ready, a treasured gift from my mama.

 

From the Kitchen of Catherine Mann

Deviled Eggs

Ingredients:
6-7 hard boiled eggs
Mayo
Mustard
Diced sweet pickle relish

Paprika

Directions:

Cool and peel the hard boiled eggs. Slice eggs in half long ways. Carefully scoop out the cooked yolks without tearing the egg whites. In a separate bowl, smash the yolks until smooth. Stir in a tablespoon of mayo. Add a ½ teaspoon of mustard. Mix until smooth. Then stir in diced sweet pickles relish (make sure the pickle relish is drained or the mixture will be soupy). Add more pickle relish if needed for desired consistency. Spoon into the egg whites. (I usually boil 7 eggs in case some of the egg whites tear. The extra yolk also gives more filling.) Refrigerate. Sprinkle with paprika right before serving.

About the author

USA Today bestselling and RITA Award winning author Catherine Mann has written over fifty romance novels and her work has been released in more than 20 countries. Catherine has a Master’s Degree in Theater, having written her thesis about powerful Shakespearean women. Born and raised in the South, Catherine and her flyboy husband have four children and reside in Florida where she is the President and a founding member of the Sunshine State Animal Rescue.

Meet the Main Characters of The Cowboy Contract, Paula Altenburg’s Newest Release

March 3, 2026 · Posted by Tule Publishing

The Cowboy Contract is Book 1 in the Roped in Time series. One reviewer calls it “crazy and charming.”

That’s the reaction I hoped for.

These books are western romances, but I also wanted to write something fun, which is where the setting comes in. The Roped in Time books are a mashup of the Wild West and contemporary times.

Burning Scrub is a former ghost town that an aging evangelical turned into an off-the- grid commune, but followers soon decided that life on a poor commune wasn’t for them, and they set the town up as a church so they wouldn’t have to pay taxes. When that didn’t deliver a steady enough paycheck to pay the bills, they turned it into a Wild West theme park for a high-end, international clientele.

The main characters are:

Beau Jones – national singing sensation who needs to work on his country brand,
whether he likes it or not. He falls in love with Belle, the town doctor.

Dr. Belle Forsythe – a beautiful, blue-eyed brunette with plenty of brains but no sense
of style. Signing a five-year contract with a Wild West theme park seemed like a fun way
to pay off her student debt at the time. She doesn’t believe in love at first sight, but
when she falls in love with Beau, she discovers that the chemistry behind it is real.

Jayce Hanson – a real western Marlboro Man. This poor schmuck is madly in love with
Belle, but he’s about to get his heart broken. (Don’t feel too sorry for him, though. He
gets his HEA in Book 2, Time’s Up, Cowboy.) He doesn’t love Beau.

Adam Caldwell – supply chain manager, procurement officer, and getaway driver. He’s
also the town safety officer, but that’s a loosely defined role because the day(s) without
incident rarely make it past 0.

Benny Jenkins – 93-year-old town founder, mayor, and former evangelist (also grifter,
depending on who you’re talking to). He lacks a filter and quite a few morals.

Leon Schmidt – Beau Jones’s agent.

Linda Lovett – 6-year-old who pops up in unexpected places and blabs the town’s
secrets at inopportune moments.

Mavis Jenkins – Benny’s 68-year-old daughter. She’s in charge of cultural sensitivity,
religious requirements, and dietary restrictions.

Pearl and Grady Lovett – Linda’s parents. Grady writes the scripts and Pearl designs the costumes. They’re real multitaskers.

Shanda – mystery woman. What a piece of work.

Tilly Wynn – small but mighty. She handles all external communications and runs the
town’s schoolhouse. Her secrets are revealed in Book 3. Until then, she’s pretty much
just an opinionated bystander who is friends with everyone.

Wyatt Earp, aka Sheik Ali – the town’s client. He’s partially responsible for Adam’s
poor safety record.

There are five books in the series.

The next book, Time’s Up Cowboy, releases June 23rd . If you drop by the Tule Book
Club on Facebook this week, advance copies are being given away.

About the author

USA Today Bestselling Author Paula Altenburg lives in rural Nova Scotia, Canada with her husband and two sons. A former aviation and aerospace professional, Paula now writes contemporary romance and fantasy with romantic elements. You can connect with her at www.paulaaltenburg.com.

Boston Cream Cupcakes– Something Prowling in Paradise Park: The Accidental Detective Book 7

March 2, 2026 · Posted by Tule Publishing

Delicious recipes straight from the kitchens of your favorite Tule authors.

In The Accidental Detective humorous mystery series, witty journalist Kate Tessler solves mysteries in Arizona and tackles the challenges of turning fifty. Kate has followed the most dangerous news stories around the world, but can she survive going home?

Kate doesn’t cook or craft, but another character does. Joe Washington, an old friend of Kate’s father, started baking in his retirement. He supplies the investigative crew with muffins, cupcakes, and cookies. You want someone like Joe in your Scooby gang!

The books don’t include recipes, but I do feature some of the treats mentioned in the books on my blog. Readers who sign up for my newsletter get a download of “22 Recipes From The Cat Café,” plus free short story set in the Accidental Detective and the Reluctant Psychic Mystery worlds. Meanwhile, here’s a great treat for parties (or yourself!):

Boston Cream Cupcakes

“Boston Cream Pie,” the official state desert of Massachusetts, is actually a sponge cake filled with vanilla custard and covered with a chocolate glaze. Cupcakes make perfect miniature versions! A simple vanilla cupcake gets added flavor and creaminess from the vanilla pudding and rich chocolate frosting. For a quick option, you could use cupcake mix and premade frosting. This version will be better though.

Frosting
1cup heavy cream
1 cup chocolate chips
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
2/3 cup sugar
3/4 cup butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup milk + the milk required by the vanilla pudding mix
1 box mix vanilla pudding

Supplies
small pot
cupcake pan and liners, nonstick cooking spray
mixing bowls, measuring cups and spoons
electric mixer

  1. Frosting: Place the heavy cream in a small pot and heat on the stovetop until it simmers. Remove from the heat and add the chocolate chips. Cover the pot and let it rest for five minutes. Uncover and stir until the mixture is smooth. Cover the pot and refrigerate for one hour while you make the cupcakes.
  2. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Prepare your cupcake pan with cupcake liners sprayed with cooking spray.
  3. Microwave the butter in a small bowl, stirring at thirty second intervals, until it’s fully melted. Set aside.
  4. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
  5. Mix the eggs and sugar in a different medium bowl. Beat with electric mixer until light and foamy, about 2 minutes. Continue beating as you gradually pour in the melted butter and then the vanilla.
  6. Continue mixing slowly as you add half of the flour mixture. Keep mixing as you add the milk. Then add the remaining flour mixture and mix only long enough to combine the ingredients.
  7. Spoon the batter into the cupcake liners, filling each about 3/4 full. Bake for 20-22
    minutes. Cool completely.
  8. Meanwhile, make vanilla pudding according to package directions. Using a melon baller or spoon, scoop a small hole into the top of each cupcake. Drop a spoonful of vanilla pudding into each hole.
  9. Get the frosting from the refrigerator. Whip it with an electric mixer for about two
    minutes, until soft peaks form. Spread or pipe the frosting on the cooled cupcakes.

Something Prowling in Paradise Park: The Accidental Detective Book 7 by Kris Bock

Three cases. One body. Zero chance of staying out of trouble.

Kate Tessler may have thought her days of chasing danger were over. But the former war
correspondent’s “retirement” in sunny Paradise, Arizona, is anything but quiet. With her
eccentric circle of friends and colleagues, Kate has built a new life—full of mysteries, mayhem, and the occasional stakeout—as she works towards earning her PI license.

After wrapping her last case, Kate wonders what’s next when three cases—all brought by
friends—fall into her lap. Squatters in a snowbird’s house, local pedigree dogs disappearing, and smash and grab burglaries at local pot shops. Kate juggles the cases with help from her usual cast of amateur crime solvers, including the teen sons of Paradise’s mayor. As she digs,Kate suspects at least two cases are connected.

But things turn deadly when a late-night stakeout leads Kate and one teen sidekick, interested in investigative work, straight to a body. Was it a gruesome accident—or something far more sinister?

With humor and high stakes, The Accidental Detective mysteries prove that danger and
friendship don’t retire quietly.

Get The Accidental Detective humorous mystery series.

Readers say:

“Full of fun, excitement and witty humor.”
“This is a terrific series and I enjoy both the mystery storyline as well as the characters and their interactions.”
“I was on board the train with your multi-generational crew from the beginning. Really fantastic. Have so loved this series.”
“What’s terrific is the cast of really nice people, the sense of home and community.”

About the author

Kris Bock writes romance, mystery, and suspense. Learn more about Kris and her books at the Kris Bock website. Get a free cat café novella, mystery stories, recipes, and more when you sign up for the Kris Bock newsletter.

In Kris’s mystery series, the Accidental Detective, a witty journalist solves mysteries in Arizona and tackles the challenges of turning fifty. This humorous series starts with Something Shady at Sunshine Haven. Her romantic suspense novels include stories of treasure hunting, archaeology, and intrigue. Readers have called these novels “Smart romance with an Indiana Jones feel.”

As for romance, in the Accidental Billionaire Cowboys series, a Texas ranching family wins a fortune in the lottery, which causes as many problems as it solves. Kris’s Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series features the employees and customers at a cat café falling in love with each other and shelter cats. 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.

March Into Great Reads: Discover Our Latest Releases (and Don’t Miss the Giveaway!)

March 1, 2026 · Posted by Tule Publishing

New month, new mysteries! Whether you’re looking for a mystery with political intrigue, procedural  mystery, or a Nun in Seattle, we’ve got the perfect read.

GIVEAWAY: Because who doesn’t love FREE books?

We will pick ONE winner to receive a digital book of their choice from the March 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!

Something Prowling in Paradise Park

by Kris Bock

Three cases. One body. Zero chance of staying out of trouble.

Kate Tessler may have thought her days of chasing danger were over. But the former war correspondent’s “retirement” in sunny Paradise, Arizona, is anything but quiet. With her eccentric circle of friends and colleagues, Kate has built a new life—full of mysteries, mayhem, and the occasional stakeout—as she works towards earning her PI license.

After wrapping her last case, Kate wonders what’s next when three cases—all brought by friends—fall into her lap. Squatters in a snowbird’s house, local pedigree dogs disappearing, and smash and grab burglaries at local pot shops. Kate juggles the cases with help from her usual cast of amateur crime solvers, including the teen sons of Paradise’s mayor. As she digs, Kate suspects at least two cases are connected.

But things turn deadly when a late-night stakeout leads Kate and one teen sidekick, interested in investigative work, straight to a body. Was it a gruesome accident—or something far more sinister?

With humor and high stakes, The Accidental Detective mysteries prove that danger and friendship don’t retire quietly.

Enjoy an Excerpt →

Gone in Three Seconds

by Jim De La Vega

A human time bomb has three minutes. Cassidy Chord has even less.

A terrified woman bursts into a Los Angeles ER with a fresh tattoo she swears she didn’t get. The numbers on her skin count down.

00:03 — BOOM.

The explosion kills the victim and a nurse. Hours later, a businessman in the LAX baggage claim detonates the same way.

Former Blackhawk pilot, now forensic psychologist Dr. Cassidy Chord survived the blast that destroyed her leg, but nothing’s prepared her to pit wits against a foe turning random civilians into walking weapons. The terrorist has stalked and studied Cassidy, engaging her in his sick game — leaving her gifts, clues, and disappearing pictures and emails that turn her from FBI consultant to suspect.

As attacks escalate across Los Angeles, Cassidy goes rogue because anyone can be next. Anywhere. Anytime. If you’re marked, you’re already gone.

Tick. Tick. Tick. BOOM.

Enjoy an Excerpt →

Fatal Silence

by Carol Light

Lexie Gilroy thought running the family construction office for a week would be routine—until thieves rumble off with their brand-new bulldozer before sunrise. She knows one of the criminals. He once saved her life. Now she wants answers, and she’s not waiting for the police to hand them over.

Reporter Jack Huddleston is chasing redemption, and Southern Pines board member Cal Kinney has his own suspicions about missing money. They, too, would rather keep the law at arm’s length while they get their facts straight.

And Crossroads police chief Tim Birch has a big problem of his own. The FBI has informed him of a link between their quiet town, a truck driver stabbed in a bar fight, and an international theft ring.

Secrets here run deeper than anyone guessed. And in Crossroads, loyalty can be the most dangerous weapon of all. If Lexie, Tim, and two unlikely allies don’t trust the right people—and the wrong ones at the right time—they’ll be the next names added to a killer’s list.

Enjoy an Excerpt →

Dead Man’s Duty

by Fran Thomas Jr.

When the truth is buried deep, digging can be deadly.

Investigative reporter Shannon Winters is stuck covering lifestyle fluff—until a desperate Black grandmother begs her to uncover the truth behind her grandson’s death in prison. Officially ruled a suicide, the young inmate’s death hides something far darker: a cover-up pointing to retaliation by someone with far-reaching power.

Shannon’s pursuit unravels a network of corruption, trafficking, and international crime. When trained killers come for her, she survives only because of the intervention of Noah Winston—a man believed to be dead, now living under an assumed name and working sanctioned (and unsanctioned) black ops missions against the cartels.

Noah knows helping Shannon could blow his cover and possibly land him behind bars. She knows trusting him could put her investigation—and her life—in greater danger. But as the conspiracy tightens its grip, both face the same reality: walking away means letting the truth die with them.

To expose the killers, they’ll have to stay one step ahead … or become the next bodies to disappear.

Enjoy an Excerpt →

Framed

by Anna J. Stewart

A fast-paced romantic suspense about betrayal, justice, and the redemptive power of love amid dark Hollywood secrets. 

When photographer Riley Temple develops a roll of film and uncovers an image of a murdered woman, she becomes the target of a deadly Hollywood conspiracy. The deeper she digs, the clearer it becomes that someone powerful wants her silenced.

Her only ally is LAPD Detective Quinn Burton, a man whose loyalty to his family and the force is as unshakable as his attraction to Riley. Their partnership sparks an undeniable chemistry, but their investigation threatens to expose his father—the city’s police commissioner—as part of a secret society thriller that rules Los Angeles’s elite.

As Riley and Quinn race to uncover the truth, danger closes in. Caught between duty and desire, they’ll have to trust each other to survive. But in this world of love, lies, and corruption, trust could be the most dangerous choice of all.

A Hollywood conspiracy. A forbidden attraction. A truth worth dying for.

Enjoy an Excerpt →

Vanished

by Anna J. Stewart

An emotional romantic thriller about courage, redemption, and the cost of love in a city built on secrets.

Seven years after her twin sister vanished, single mother Mabel Reynolds has turned heartbreak into purpose. As a justice-seeking heroine, she’s dedicated to helping victims of violence find their voice. But when new evidence reopens her sister’s missing women mystery case, Mabel refuses to stay quiet—especially when the investigation leads straight to the city’s power players.

Assistant District Attorney Paul Flynn has been promised an easy win on the case—until Mabel storms into his life. Her passion for justice clashes with his political ambition, but their enemies-to-lovers spark quickly turns to something deeper. Together, they uncover a trail of secrets and lies linking Mabel’s sister to a web of corruption and crime that someone will kill to protect.

As desire and danger collide, Paul must choose between his career and the woman he’s come to protect. And Mabel must face the unthinkable truth about how far justice can go before it breaks her heart.

She’ll risk everything to expose the truth.

Enjoy an Excerpt →

Unearthed

by Anna J. Stewart

When trust is the only weapon left, survival means risking everything—including their hearts. This second chance romantic suspense thriller is filled with psychological tension, forensic intrigue, and love and redemption. 

After surviving betrayal and violence, forensic investigator Dr. Cassia Davis lives a life of isolation, her once-brilliant career confined to online consulting. When a Hollywood Hills murder mystery exposes a mass grave connected to her past, Cass must confront the man who shattered her trust—FBI Special Agent Mitchell Keaton.

His mistake nearly cost her life. Now, working together on the crime scene investigation, they must unearth the truth about a serial killer tied to The Circle of the Red Lily, a ruthless secret society that controls Hollywood’s darkest corners.

But digging into the past means reopening old wounds. As passion reignites between them, Cass and Mitch must overcome guilt, trauma, and the lies that tore them apart. Because the closer they get to the truth, the more dangerous the hunt becomes.

Solving her biggest case means facing her greatest fear.

Enjoy an Excerpt →