Mystery Reads

Shattered (Donna Harp Book One) by Karl Jones

BOOK ONE IN THE BESTSELLING DONNA HARP SERIES

A KILLER ON THE LOOSE, A VILLAGE TORN BY FEAR AND SUSPICION

When the body of a brutally murdered young girl is found, Constable Donna Harp finds herself between a rock and a hard place.
Her superior, Sergeant Underwood quickly latches on to the newest resident of Greenville, Jason Denton, an author and former detective, as his prime suspect, though she isn’t convinced of his guilt. Over the next couple of days more girls are murdered, and Underwood continues to focus on Jason Denton, leaving Donna worried that he is allowing his prejudice against outsiders to influence the investigation.
Things become worse when the friends and relatives of the murdered girls, impatient with the investigation, decide to take matters into their own hands.
An attempt on Jason Denton’s life, and her superior’s increasing antagonism and narrow-mindedness, push Donna into risking her career to ensure everything possible is done to stop the killer before he can strike again.
Will the decision she makes prove right, or will it cost her the career she hasn’t even begun to build yet?

Targeted Age Group:: 18+

What Advice Would You Give Aspiring Writers?
Don’t give up, no matter what people say, and keep improving; read lots and learn everything you can.

Author Bio:
Although he’s travelled the world, and seen much of life, Jones prefers to be sat in the quiet of his home with his laptop, writing.
His fictions are set in places which mirror his homeland, and much of his inspiration is drawn from his surroundings. Karl draws on his teen years in Bournemouth, with its quiet village-like suburbs, and bustling town centre, and he uses these settings to bring his books to life.
His thrillers stem from the darkest depths of his mind, however, his tales of space stretch further than your imagination can take you, and you find yourself spiralling out of control into the imaginary universes he creates as you turn the pages faster than warp-speed in order to delve further into his story.
With a bibliography which spans many genres, including amongst them thrillers and romances as well as tales of the paranormal, you’re never going to be short on choice for reading material, because never sleeping, Karl writes from dusk ’til dawn, and occasionally even through ’til morn’ to bring his eager readers the latest instalments from his sought-after, bestselling stories.

Website(s)
Link To Buy Shattered (Donna Harp Book One) On Amazon

Murder in Newport by Marilyn Dalla Valle @mjdalldv

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Liz and Garret Adams’ vacation to Newport, Rhode Island aboard their sailboat, Sloopy, resulted in a heart wrenching test of their love and marriage when Garret saw the image of his first love, Rebecca, standing on the aft deck of the luxury yacht, Party Girl, at Bannister’s Wharf. Torn by his feelings for his wife and Rebecca, who had disappeared without a trace almost thirty years before, Garret rode an emotional roller coaster into the hands of the police as the primary suspect of a gruesome murder in historical Blood Alley.
Although the evidence pointed to Garret and she was convinced that their marriage was over, Liz refused to give up on the man who had been her husband, her lover, but most of all, her friend. Forgetting her own pain, she pried into Garret’s relationship with Rebecca, only to find herself lost in a maze of deceit and misplaced loyalties. Through her persistence, Liz discovered the truth that shackled the killer and set the innocent free.

Targeted Age Group:: Adult

How is Writing In Your Genre Different from Others?
Writing a mystery involves more than developing characters and plot. Clues must be dropped like bread crumbs throughout the story so that the reader can have an ah-hah moment at the climax.

What Advice Would You Give Aspiring Writers?
Write because you have the passion and a story to share.

Author Bio:
Marilyn W. Dalla Valle lives in Northwestern Connecticut with her husband, Roger and a rambunctious Sheltie named Randy. Together they play ball, go for long walks and frequent the shore.

Dance Instructor for 5 years and professional photographer for 30, when her two sons left the nest, Ms. Dalla Valle decided it was time to write. A fan of Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie, Clive Cussler and Sue Grafton, the genre she chose had to be mystery with a twist of adventure.

In March 2000, Murder in Mystic, the first in a mystery series, was e-published at Zeus Publications. Within two months it rose to #2 on the bestseller list, was editor’s choice for October and was nominated for the Frankfurt E-book Awards.

Murder in Newport, second in the series, was e-published in August 2000 and hit #7 on the bestseller list within two weeks. By January 2001, it switched places with Murder in Mystic.

Two Headed Snake of Key West was published January 28, 2014. These books are now available on Amazon Kindle, Amazon books and for order at your local bookstore. Murder in Mystic and Murder in Newport Audiobooks are offered at Audible.com, Amazon.com and iTunes.

Ms. Dalla Valle is a member of the Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. She has been a guest speaker at the Beardsley Library, the Northwest Authors and Publishers Association, the Northwestern Connecticut Community College and Simsbury Public Library.

What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
Love of the sea and fascination with the unexplained led to the birth of the Liz Adams Mysteries; Murder in Mystic, Murder in Newport and Two Headed Snake of Key West.

Website(s)
Author Home Page Link
Link To Buy Murder in Newport On Amazon
Link to Murder in Newport on Barnes and Noble

Social Media:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17469691-murder-in-newport?from_search=true
https://www.facebook.com/mlyndallavalle?ref=hl
https://twitter.com/mjdalldv

Murder in Mystic by Marilyn Dalla Valle @mjdalldv

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The peaceful surroundings of the historic seaport, Mystic, Connecticut, enticed Liz and Garret Adams to leave their hectic careers and move aboard their sailboat, Sloopy. Only a year had passed when they stumbled onto the remains of a young, Naval officer, who washed ashore at Napatree Point. While waiting for Garret to return with the police, Liz is gripped by feelings that she does not understand and would plunge her into a treacherous search for the killer.

With the help of the local psychic, Liz discovers that the harmonious group of tenants that share the dock she calls home is not as it appears. Anger, hurt and rage boil beneath a thin veneer.

When a second body is found by fishermen in Block Island Sound, the morbid game of cat and mouse evolves, thrusting Liz into a battle for her life. Friend or foe, she does not know, but the killer looms in the shadows.
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Targeted Age Group:: Adults

How is Writing In Your Genre Different from Others?
Writing a mystery involves more than character development and plot. It requires a sprinkling of clues throughout the story so that the reader will have an ah-hah moment at the climax.

What Advice Would You Give Aspiring Writers?
Write because you have the passion and a story to tell.

Murder in Newport, second in the series, was e-published in August 2000 and hit #7 on the bestseller list within two weeks. By January 2001, it switched places with Murder in Mystic.

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Website(s)
Author Home Page Link
Link To Buy Murder in Mystic On Amazon
Link to Murder in Mystic on Barnes and Noble

Social Media:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17257778-murder-in-mystic?from_search=true
https://www.facebook.com/mlyndallavalle?ref=hl
https://twitter.com/mjdalldv

Two Headed Snake of Key West by Marilyn Dalla Valle @mjdalldv

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The fiery orb melts across the horizon, cannons rumble, cheers resound and the partying begins in Key West. Looking for adventure, Liz and Garret Adams leave their homeport, Mystic, Connecticut and sail their 36 foot sloop to Florida.

Mayhem follows amidst the palm trees and tropical breezes. Greed, power and jealousy cause brittle relationships to snap. Liz’s uncontrollable psychic powers kick into gear, thrusting the unsuspecting cruising couple into a race to prove a friend’s innocence.

What Advice Would You Give Aspiring Writers?
Write because you have the passion and a story to share.

Murder in Newport, second in the series, was e-published in August 2000 and hit #7 on the bestseller list within two weeks. By January 2001, it switched places with Murder in Mystic.

Website(s)
Author Home Page Link
Link To Buy Two Headed Snake of Key West On Amazon
Link to Two Headed Snake of Key West on Barnes and Noble

Social Media:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20656067-two-headed-snake-of-key-west?from_search=true
https://www.facebook.com/mlyndallavalle?ref=hl
https://twitter.com/mjdalldv

This Doesn't Happen In The Movies by Renee Pawlish @ReneePawlish

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A wannabe private eye with a love of film noir and detective fiction.

A rich, attractive femme fatale.

A missing husband.

A rollicking ride to a dark and daring ending.

Reed Ferguson’s first case is a daring adventure, complete with a dose of film noir, and a lot of humor. With a great supporting cast of the Goofball Brothers, Reed’s not too bright neighbors, and Cal, Reed’s computer geek friend, This Doesn’t Happen In The Movies is detective noir at its best. Follow Reed as he solves crime akin to his cinematic hero, Humphrey Bogart.

Targeted Age Group:: adults

How is Writing In Your Genre Different from Others?
Writing mysteries can be a challenge, as you want to keep the reader turning pages, and you also want to keep them guessing. And it’s also a challenge to make sure that you’re being fair to the reader – having something happen because of coincidence or without rhyme or reason isn’t fair.

What Advice Would You Give Aspiring Writers?
Don’t publish your first book – you may think it’s great, but the reality is it’s probably not. It takes time to hone your craft, so do this before you hit the ‘publish’ button. And do things professionally; this is a business and it should be treated like that. And don’t give up; if you want this, make it happen.

Author Bio:
Renée Pawlish is the award-winning author of the bestselling Nephilim Genesis of Evil, the first in the Nephilim trilogy, the Reed Ferguson mystery series (This Doesn’t Happen In The Movies, Reel Estate Rip-off, The Maltese Felon, and the short story Elvis And The Sports Card Cheat), The Noah Winters YA Adventure series (The Emerald Quest), Take Five, a short story collection, and The Sallie House: Exposing the Beast Within, a nonfiction account of a haunted house investigation.

Renée has been called “a promising new voice to the comic murder/mystery genre” and “a powerful storyteller”. Nephilim Genesis of Evil has been compared to Stephen King and Frank Peretti.

Renée was born in California, but has lived most of her life in Colorado. When she’s not hiking, cycling, or chasing ballplayers for autographs, she is writing mysteries, thrillers and horror. She loves to travel and has visited numerous countries. She has also spent many summer days at her parents’ cabin in the hills outside of Boulder, which was the inspiration for the setting of Taylor Crossing in her novel Nephilim: Genesis of Evil.

What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
I wanted to write a detective story where we meet the detective on his very first case, and I wanted something fun, and that reflected my own love of old movies.

Website(s)
Author Home Page Link
Link To Buy This Doesn’t Happen In The Movies On Amazon
Link to This Doesn’t Happen In The Movies on Barnes and Noble
Link to This Doesn’t Happen In The Movies for sale on Smashwords
Link to This Doesn’t Happen In The Movies for sale via other sites

Social Media:
https://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&query=renee+pawlish
http://www.facebook.com/reneepawlish.author
https://twitter.com/ReneePawlish

Sundark: An Elle Black Penny Dread by Elizabeth Watasin @ewatasin

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Who is Elle Black?

Elle Black, an unconventional psychic detective in an unconventional Victorian marriage, leaves her lovely lesbian wife to answer a desperate plea. Guests are vanishing in a mechanical hotel known as the Sundark, and Elle must use her ‘anomalous perturbationist’ gift–the ability to move objects with her mind–to save herself and the remaining hotel residents from malevolent, sidereal powers. But with apparitions appearing, magnetic lines disrupted, and clairvoyant guests lurking, who is the true murderer . . . or murderess?

Add to your collection of female detective mysteries:
A gaslamp fantasy in a steampunk, paranormal London, follow the telekinetic Elle Black, a twenty-two year old, happily remarried widow, as she solves mysteries in the same alternate world as the Dark Victorian series by Elizabeth Watasin. Where Secret Commission agents Artifice and Jim Dastard haven’t time to tread, Elle Black will take up the lead and follow.

Experience a bonus Art Gallery:
The paperback version of Sundark: An Elle Black Penny Dread, contains a small gallery of illustrations by Elizabeth Watasin.

Learn more about this thrilling, lesbian historical fiction series:
Deep in London’s Chiselhurst lies the Sundark, a magnificent, mechanical manor built in earlier times by a master illusionist and his occultist wife. Its guests have been known to stay, only to never be seen again. Now converted into a hotel, is this rumor some publicity lure or a cover for fleeing, non-paying residents? Elle Black, a housewife and telekinetic among London detectives and Secret Commission agents, is summoned to solve this mystery as more victims vanish, faster than before.

What Victorian Gothic adventure awaits as the psychic sleuth leaves her beautiful, lesbian wife Faedra to investigate the seemingly harmless, clockwork turnings of Sundark’s rooms and towers? The cynical and rough Mr. Hardwick, current owner of the Sundark, dismisses Elle’s ability to solve his hotel’s mystery. But during her first nightly vigil, Elle slips into the chilling, preternatural past as ghosts walk, gaslamps become candles, floors and walls mechanically move, and yet another unlucky guest screams in terror and vanishes.

Did a paranormal force abduct the latest victim? What are the blue fires, and what is Abigail Sundark’s ghost trying to tell Elle? And is it, as the sleuth suspects, a case of murder? Elle must deal with a sinister gardener, a self-styled ghost chaser, spiritualists claiming to be clairvoyants, and a very obstinate, thick-headed hotel owner, who not only refuses to leave but seems to have his own tragic secret.

As Elle delves further into the mystery, one horror is apparent: more death awaits, both in the ghost filled past and in the present as the Sundark loses yet another guest to unseen malevolence. And when Elle discovers that the house sits upon the triple crossroad of ancient corpse roads, she can’t discount its foreboding connection to Abigail Sundark’s chosen chthonic, tripartite deity, the underworld goddess Hekate.

But whatever is behind the vanishings did not count on making Elle angry…

Sundark: An Elle Black Penny Dread, is the latest gaslamp fantasy from speculative fiction storyteller Elizabeth Watasin, who delights in bringing you shilling shockers immersed in Gothic Victorian mystery, women sleuths, and the eldritch vestiges of a steampunk, paranormal London. Enjoy this twist of lesbian historical fiction and look for more of Elle Black as she wrestles with the ‘small’, local horrors Secret Commission agents Artifice and Jim Dastard are too busy to take on.

Targeted Age Group:: Adult

How is Writing In Your Genre Different from Others?
Steampunk and gaslamp fantasy are interesting genres because one can be historical, yet write science fiction and speculative fiction. It’s lots of fun to go back to eras on the cusp of so many interesting issues, whether of colonisation, women’s rights, scientific discovery, industrialisation, medicine, labour, and so forth. And then to bring in paranormal or especially gifted heroines, that’s where the fun begins.

What Advice Would You Give Aspiring Writers?
I always say just write. Write lots, write often, and write when you can. It’s the only way to get better and to get the stories done.

Author Bio:
Elizabeth Watasin is the acclaimed author of the Gothic steampunk series The Dark Victorian, The Elle Black Penny Dreads, and the creator/artist of the indie comics series Charm School, which was nominated for a Gaylactic Spectrum Award. A twenty year veteran of animation and comics, her credits include thirteen feature films, such as Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, and The Princess and the Frog, and writing for Disney Adventures magazine. She lives in Los Angeles with her black cat named Draw, busy bringing readers uncanny heroines in shilling shockers, epic fantasy adventures, and paranormal detective tales.
Follow the news of her latest projects at A-Girl Studio.

What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
I love writing 1880’s Victorian London and I love writing women sleuths in that environment. Make that a mechanical and supernatural alternate world London with uncanny women, and that’s a story begging to be explored and enjoyed.

Website(s)
Author Home Page Link
Link To Buy Sundark: An Elle Black Penny Dread On Amazon
Link to Sundark: An Elle Black Penny Dread on Barnes and Noble
Link to Sundark: An Elle Black Penny Dread for sale on Smashwords
Link to Sundark: An Elle Black Penny Dread for sale via other sites

Social Media:
Link to Author Interview on BookGoodies
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/202881.Elizabeth_Watasin
https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethWatasinX
https://twitter.com/ewatasin
http://www.pinterest.com/ewatasin/

HUSH by Kimberly Shursen @kimberlyShursen

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From the author of political thriller ITSY BITSY SPIDER, voted one of the top two thrillers of 2013, comes this sweeping, legal thriller about the far-reaching boundaries of family ties that surpasses time and distance.

When twenty-eight-year-old pediatric nurse Ann Ferguson meets attorney Ben Grable, it feels as if they’ve known each other all of their lives. With so much in common, the dark-haired, dark-eyed couple believe they have met their soul mate. But soon after they marry, when Ann becomes pregnant, and Ben unseals his adoption papers, their perfect life is torn apart, sending them to opposite sides of the courtroom.

After lawyer Michael J. McConaughey hears of the Grable case, he is determined to be a part of it. Representing Ann, knowing that the high profile lawsuit could have far-reaching, groundbreaking judicial effects, this is the case he’s been waiting for—the one that could change history.

On the other side of the world, when the CEO of one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world finds out about the silent protest sweeping the nation and making international news, he will stop at nothing to derail the trial threatening to cost his company billions.

HUSH will leave readers questioning the most controversial law that has divided the nation for decades.

Editorial Review:

“Suspenseful and well-researched, this action-packed legal thriller will take readers on a

journey through the trials and tribulations of one of the most controversial subjects in society today.”

Katie French – author of “The Breeders,” “The Believers,” and “Eyes Ever to the Sky.”

Targeted Age Group:: 15+

How is Writing In Your Genre Different from Others?
I hope readers would say my writing is fresh, bold, fast-paced, and doesn’t drive a point home, but presents memorable characters who have been thrust into harrowing situations through no fault of their own.
If a reader finds themselves identifying with one of the characters as they work through their challenges, then I have achieved what I hoped to accomplish.

What Advice Would You Give Aspiring Writers?
Don’t fall in love with your words – fall in love with your story.
I never query my work. Focus on your writing – you write novels, not letters.

Author Bio:
From the time I was little, I made up stories. Many times these stories became my family’s embarassment as grade-school classmates would take the tales home. In first grade, I stood and told my class that we had no stove in our home, no refrigerator, and we were starving. Living in a small town of less than 1500, that evening the community began dropping off casseroles and pies to our door. Needless to say, the consequences led me to believe thaqt some stories are best left in the head.

I love to write music and, when my children were young, I began writing a musical. Ten years later, the musical was produced by a Broadway producer, along with independent investors. My second full-blown musical was produced in 2010. Although I enjoy writing music, to bring novels to life has always been my dream.

In 2011, I left my position as director of marketing, drew in a deep breath, and took a huge leap of faith to finally begin the career I had wanted for so long. I have yet to regret that decision.

Website(s)
Author Home Page Link
Link To Buy HUSH On Amazon

Social Media:
Link to Author Interview on BookGoodies
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7033946.Kimberly_Shursen
http://www.kimberlyshursen.com
http://twitter.com/kimberlyShursen

Portrait Of Murder by Rob Riley

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PI Jack Blanchard is hired by his close friend to find his missing sister, who has a long history of drug addiction. Blanchard has little trouble finding her, but subsequently becomes entangled in an investigation that links the past murder of a her drug dealer; the current murder of a top City Official – and a mind bending expanse of government corruption that involves the police department, and leads directly to the Mayor’s office. With disparate sources providing help – a prison inmate who had been an eye witness to key events, and Juanita Velez, head of the Social Services Department – PI Blanchard comes upon a twisted tale of criminal behavior and multiple murders, and a shocking conclusion that no one could have anticipated.

Author Bio:
I live with my wife, Mary Lynne, in southeastern Wisconsin. I spent thirty-two years as a Milwaukee police officer: Seven years doing undercover narcotics investigations and twenty-two years as a major crimes detective. Writing and reading have been lifelong passions; I began by writing short stories more than thirty years ago. Of course, police work provided both the insight and inspiration for my PI mystery novel, Portrait Of Murder. Two additional novels that feature my main character, Private Investigator Jack Blanchard, have been completed.

Website(s)
Author Home Page Link
Link To Book On Amazon
Link to Book on Barnes and Noble

County Ops: The Vengeance of Gable Fitzgerald by Joel Jurrens @JoelJurrens

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Former Black Ops and SEAL Team Six member Gable Fitzgerald discovers the supposedly “accidental death” of his mother was actually an execution. Who would want to murder a seventy-four year-old woman and why? Caught between the bad guys and a beautiful by-the-book DCI agent who tries to keep him inside the law, Gable will use the covert skills developed to take down foreign governments to hunt down his mother’s murderers, and God help anyone who stands in his way.

Targeted Age Group:: 16+

How is Writing In Your Genre Different from Others?
I have the law enforcement experience to bring a sense of reality to the story.

What Advice Would You Give Aspiring Writers?
Write, write, write, and then keep writing. No one is truly a writer until someone reads the work.

Author Bio:
Joel Jurrens spent twenty-six years as a deputy sheriff until his retirement in early 2013. county Ops: The vengeance of Gable Fitzgerald is his third novel. He has also had short stories published in several magazines. He currently lives in northern Iowa with his wife.

What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
Having worked in law enforcement, I realized the small departments do not have the resources to fully investigate all cases. It would be possible to slip a murder by as an accident

Website(s)
Author Home Page Link
Link To Buy County Ops: The Vengeance of Gable Fitzgerald On Amazon

Social Media:

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5814223.Joel_Jurrens
http://www.facebook.com/JoelJurrens
http://twitter.com/JoelJurrens

Beyond Revenge (Mischievous Malamute Series, Book 2) by Harley Christensen @mischievousmali

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SOME FRIENDSHIPS CAN BE MURDER

Arianna Jackson—AJ to her friends—has experienced enough drama in the past six months to last her a lifetime. Finding out she’s adopted and a twin to the girl she found brutally murdered and dumped in her alley being among the headliners. And, of course, there’s her sister’s killer, still pursuing her and the secret she holds, despite assurances he’s currently locked away in a secure government facility.

Unfortunately, even the best of intentions prevent her from living a drama-free existence when Charlie Wilson, a frequent client of her Mischievous Malamute photography business and an old high school friend, asks her for help after being arrested for a heinous crime he insists he didn’t commit. Sure, Charlie may be arrogant and self-centered, but in AJ’s book, being a jerk doesn’t necessarily mean he’s guilty—not of this crime, anyway.

AJ quickly realizes her old pal may not be as innocent as she’d originally been led to believe when he produces a sketchy alibi and is less than forthcoming about a series of missing hours the day of the crime. Still, with or without Charlie’s assistance, she’s determined to find the truth, wherever it leads.

Armed with her Alaskan Malamute, Nicoh, and best friend, Leah Campbell, AJ searches for shreds of evidence to prove Charlie’s innocence. But the harder they look, the greater the roadblocks they encounter as it becomes apparent Charlie isn’t the only one with secrets to hide and demons to bury. In fact, much more may be at stake, including the bonds of friendship.

In a world that walks the tightrope of good versus evil while nudging the boundaries of black versus white, there are always shades of grey—where the truth you seek isn’t always the one you find. Sometimes the demons that haunt us are resurrected for something greater than revealing the truth. Sometimes the reasons go beyond vengeance…beyond retribution…beyond revenge.

Targeted Age Group:: Any…

What Advice Would You Give Aspiring Writers?
Inspiration can be found anywhere. Always have a notebook, journal, cellphone, camera, etc. – whatever works for you – on hand to capture those moments.

Author Bio:
Harley Christensen lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her significant other and their own mischievous motley crew of rescue dogs (aka the “kids”).

When not at her laptop, Christensen is an avid hockey fan and lover of all things margarita. It’s also rumored she’s never met a green chili or jalapeño she didn’t like, regardless of whether it liked her back.

She is the author of the Mischievous Malamute series, which first introduced readers to AJ and her Alaskan Malamute, Nicoh, in Gemini Rising. Beyond Revenge is the second installment in the series, with a third following later in 2014.

For more information on the author and her books, please visit her at www.mischievousmalamute.com.

Website(s)
Author Home Page Link
Link To Buy Beyond Revenge (Mischievous Malamute Series, Book 2) On Amazon

Social Media:
https://www.goodreads.com/HarleyChristensen
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Harley-Christensen-Author/547022795311790
https://twitter.com/mischievousmali
http://www.pinterest.com/hchristensen99/