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#wednesdaywisdom 4.5.2023

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April 5, 2023 · 12:02 am
April 4, 2023 · 12:27 am

#teaserTuesday #tuesdaytease SABLE ( ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID) #comingsoon #preorder #medicalromance

Today’s little tease comes from my upcoming addition to the ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID collection, SABLE.

Sable’s a pediatrician and is sick and tired of being a bridesmaid in all her friends and family’s weddings. She’s determined that the next big wedding function she attends will be her own. Figuring out how to do that is a problem….

In this snippet, she’s trying to fend off the good intentions of her cousin’s matchmaking desires.

You can’t pick your family. ~ Sable Miller

Lord, please grant me the patience of Job.

Sable took another steadying breath – the sixth in as many minutes – and graced her oldest cousin with what she hoped was a normal smile and not an annoyed one.

“So I just knew he’d be perfect for you,” Moira said as she cut her pancakes into tiny bites, as if she were preparing it for a child.

“Moira—”

“The fact he’s never been married is a plus, don’t you think? No bad habits from the first wife to contend with. No kids to worry about sharing weekends with. Of course, I know your first question is going to be why isn’t he married if he’s so great. But thirty-six isn’t old by anyone’s standards anymore. He’s been building his business, devoting all his time to that. And it’s a success. Really. And now he’s ready for the next chapter in his life, and when he asked me if I knew any women looking to settle down, your name jumped right into my head.”

Of course it did.

“So I invited him to dinner this Saturday. You’ll be done with night rotation by then, right?”

Sable sighed and shoved her plate of barely-eaten eggs away from her. She hadn’t been hungry to begin with, but Moira had beat her to the diner and ordered for them both.

She wanted –desperately wanted – to lie and tell Moira she was still going to be working on Saturday night. But it was an easily verified fact and she knew Moira had it in her to call the hospital and find out if she was scheduled or not. She wondered if she already had and her question was merely an affirmation. Besides, Sable knew she was a terrible liar.

“I’ll be done, but Moira I –”

“Great. I told him seven, but you can always come early. In fact, why don’t you? I’ll do your hair and makeup so, you know? You’ll be more appealing. Not that you don’t do a decent job when you take the time, but you never wear makeup when you’re working, and I’d think you’d want to look, you know? Alluring.”

Alluring? This was too much.

“I’m not working Saturday night, Moira, but I already have plans. Plans I can’t, and don’t want to, break.”

Moira’s eyes narrowed. “What kind of plans?”

And this is why she didn’t lie. Thinking quickly, she said, “I’m having dinner with an…old friend.”

“Who?”

“A guy I knew in high school.” Stick with the truth as much as possible, she thought, because Moira was known for her grilling tactics. “I tutored him, in fact, in chemistry. You wouldn’t know him since you were years and years ahead of me.”

Okay, that was a little petty, but it felt good to see Moira’s back go up a tad. She never liked being reminded of her age.

“He’s recently begun working at the hospital and we decided to have dinner so I can clue him in to the workplace politics and such.”

Moira’s mouth stood open, a half-chewed slab of pancake sitting front and center, as she gaped across the table at her cousin.

“Is he good-looking?” she asked after finally swallowing.

“Very.”

“Give me his stats. Name. Age. Ever married? Kids? The aunts will want to know.”

Sable shook her head. “I’m not going to do that, Moira. It’s just a simple dinner. I don’t need you all Googling him and—”

“So he’s Googlable? That’s interesting. Is he a celebrity or something?”

Patience, Lord, pretty please?

If you’re interested in reading it before it’s officially released, and you’re a Booksprout subscriber, here’s the link to read and review: BOOKSPROUT

Or, you can preorder here: AMAZON

And check out all the BRIDES in the entire collection: ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID COLLECTION

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April 3, 2023 · 12:00 am

#mugmonday 4.3.2023

My friend, Lauri, gave this to me recently. It is Maple approved!

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April 2, 2023 · 12:36 am

SABLE ( Always a Bridesmaid – book 12) is available on @booksprout until 4.30 #sweetromance #medicalromance #friendstolovers

I’ve put up a few copies of SABLE over on Booksprout for those of you who read through that site. The cutoff date is 4.30 and the reviews have to be back by or on the release day of May 17.

ALWAYS BEING A BRIDESMAID IS GETTING OLD…

Pediatrician Sable Miller is sick and tired of being the go-to, dependable bridesmaid in all her family and friends’ weddings. But her demanding job, the ridiculous hours, and endless family commitments keep her from finding the perfect man. A matchmaking service? Sounds like too much work. Swipe right dating? Not her thing. The bar scene? When was the last time she even had an evening free to go to a bar?

And forget about dating the myriad of on-the-make doctors and residents in her hospital. Besides, workplace romances never work out.

Sable’s options to meet the man of her dreams and start a family are dwindling and time is running out, because she promised herself the next wedding she would attend would be her own.

Kristopher Lee, the Physician’s Assistant assigned to Sable has a crush on his new mentor. But she’s got a hands-off rule when it comes to dating someone she works with. Kris is nothing if not persistent, though. After all, he didn’t survive three tours in the Army without focusing on a goal. And making Sable Miller fall in love with him is his best goal yet.

EXCERPT:

Of all the gin joints in all the world, he walks into mine. ~Sable Miller

What were the odds?

Of all the men to walk into the department it had to be the guy she’d crushed on all through high school and even into college. The one she’d snuck love-panged peeks at over her books during the classes they shared; the one she’d sat watching from the school’s stadium for, and cheered on, during games even though she hated football and didn’t understand it; the one whose girlfriend, Brittany, mocked and jeered her about her supposedly secret crush in gym class, calling her pathetic and stating no guy like him would ever be interested in a boring, bookworm of a girl like her.

The one guy she knew she subconsciously used as a yardstick to measure all other guys with.

Kristopher Lee. That guy.

As she unlocked her front door and tossed her purse on the foyer table, slipped out of her sneakers and jacket and left them lying on the floor where they landed, Sable groaned.

Of all the gin joints in all the world, she murmured, reciting a line from one of her all-time favorite movies.

Sable shook her head and sighed.

Kristopher Lee. Star athlete. Senior Council President. Voted best looking and most popular. Football quarterback. Army vet.

And now Physician’s Assistant.

He’d said it was a twisted path he’d taken to get where he was today. Natural nosiness had her wondering about that path. She could have asked. He’d wanted to talk with her, she could sense that. But if she asked him about his life, he’d want a quid pro quo about hers.

Never married. No kids. No long-term relationships. All I do is work. All I have is my job.

Brittany had labeled her pathetic in high school.

“Still fits,” she mumbled as she fell, fully clothed, into bed.

At the end of the shift, he’d caught up with her as she was about to hail a cab for home.

“I’m starving,” he said. “Want to grab a quick breakfast somewhere and catch up?”

I’d rather have a root canal.

Good manners kept her from saying it aloud. Instead, she told him she was always exhausted the first night of her rotation and needed to crash or she’d be useless for the next shift.

“No worries,” he’d said. “Rain check?”

 “Sure,” she said, absentmindedly, as a cab stopped in front of her. Kris opened the door, and she slid across the back seat and gave him a murmured, “thanks.”

“See you tonight,” he said, before closing her in. “Have a good sleep.”

As he stood on the curb looking as if he hadn’t just spent the past twelve hours running ragged, and with an open, easy, non-tired smile on his face for her, Sable couldn’t help but give him one in return.

With exhaustion pulling at every fiber in her body, the last image she had before all went black was of his smile.

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April 1, 2023 · 12:53 am

thoughts…

Today marks two weeks since my mother passed away.

I’m still in the shock phase, to be honest.

How could I see her one day, and she be laughing, joking, and wishing everyone well, and the next, within twelve hours after being admitted to the hospital, be dead?

Right now that’s too much to think about, so I’m putting it someplace else. I will get back to it…someday. But not today.

Today I am remembering all the times she made me crazy in the ways only a mother can.

For instance, my mother was like that proverbial dog with a bone when a thought came into her head. The example I think about was when she’d call me in college and tell me to make sure I locked my dorm room door before heading out to class. She was always worried about people sneaking into my room to harm me. I could never understand why she thought this because I lived in a protected dorm. You had to sign in and sign out and approve all visitors. But she’d say it to me two or three times with every call and it made me nuts.

When I was in my forties I learned why.

My mother had been left alone one day when she was about eight or nine. My grandmother was out with my younger aunt and my older aunt wasn’t home. Someone knocked on the door – a neighbor man they all knew. Since he was well known to her, she let him in. I don’t really have to go into detail about what happened, do I? Suffice it to say, while she wasn’t raped, she was molested…something that gave her the greatest of shame in her young life and that she carried with her the rest of her life.

Knowing this explained her behavior, and I feel deep shame that I let her persistent worry bother me so much. She had a good reason to be worried – in her mind, at least.

Another thing she always did that drove me insane was ask a question of me and then immediately answer it. For instance, “How are you doing today? I bet you’re good.” Like that. Then she’d immediately go off on a ten-minute diatribe about the weather or any other topic she’d called me about. Drove me to distraction because you could never get a word in. One day a few months ago my daughter pointed out that I was getting like grandma. I asked how? And she said you just asked me a question and then answered it. We laughed about it, but in reality I was a little flustered.

Again, knowing why she did this explained so much to me. My stepfather is not and has never been what you’d call a talkative man. He is deeply quiet to the point you think he is mute if you don’t know him. Underlying depression had always been my diagnosis, but what do I know? I’m not a shrink. My mother was the alpha in the relationship. She would ask him questions or try to engage him in conversation, but most of the time he gave non-verbal answers. When I lived at home I didn’t notice this as much because she had me to talk to – or talk at, as the case is. But once they were empty nesters, his silence became obvious so it was up to my mother to keep the conversation going.

One of the nurses in the nursing home said she was a chatty Cathy. Well, here’s the reason why.

Today, I’m thinking of all the times I was short with my mother, lost my temper, or said things I really should have thought about before speaking. Guilt doesn’t come close to what I’m feeling right now.

I could have been such a better daughter. I could have listened more; not judged; been more tolerant.

I could have been…nicer.

I could have been…more loving.

Even saying all this I know my mother loved me above all else. She told me every single time she spoke with me.

Every. Single. Time.

One last thing that used to drive me cray-cray was that she never said Goodbye. At the end of every phone call or personal visit, she would say, “My love to you all.” I don’t know why it bothered me, but it did, so one day, about a year ago, I asked her why she always ended a conversation with me like that.

Her answer was, again, very enlightening.

My grandfather died, suddenly, of a heart attack when my mother was 9. He went off to work after kissing his girls goodbye and saying “goodbye” and then never came back home. Doesn’t take a genius or a psychiatrist to understand why the word was one she couldn’t bear to use.

There’s still so much about my mother and her life and her thoughts I don’t know. I’ll never get the answers now… I’m putting that one away someplace, too. It truly is too much to bear right now…

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March 31, 2023 · 6:46 am

A PROMISE FULFILLED spotlighted today on #NotesfromNancy #PNR #Ghosts #lovestory

I’m so honored to have my addition, A PROMISE FULFILLED, to the GHOSTS OR NEW ENGLAND: LAST LIGHT POINT spotlighted today over on friend Nancy Fraser’s blog, NOTES FROM NANCY.

Please stop by and leave me some love!!!

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March 31, 2023 · 12:02 am

#firstlinefriday 3.31.2023 A SHOT AT LOVE #romanticsuspense #Loveontherun #bodyguardromance

The second book in the WILL COOK FOR LOVE series deals with Laine sister Gemma and the hunky FBI agent who is assigned to guard her against a mob-boss’s bullet. A SHOT AT LOVE was a joy to write because I got to use all my karate training and gun shooting skills for Gemma!

Special Agent Kyros Pappandreos scanned the midtown Manhattan street in front of him and swore.

That first line sets the tone for the entire book!

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March 30, 2023 · 1:15 am

Cabanas, Cupids, & Corpses. A new #cozymystery from #author Louise Stevens

My good friend, writer LOUISE STEVENS has a new addition to her PORT SUNSET Mysteries out today, and as she has ever since the first one was released, she’s visiting me and allowing me to tell you all about it! I love a good tradition, lol.

This series is sosososo good!!! Let’s get a peek at the newest addition….

It’s Valentine’s Day in Port Sunset and romance, fun, and murder are in the air. Yep, murder. I’m Millie Wentworth the assistant General Manager of the Gulf Palms Resort. And since our sleepy beach town comes with a body count to rival any big city, I’m an amateur sleuth on the side.

The hotel is hosting a Masquerade Ball and half the attendees are dressed as Cupid. When someone is shot through the heart with a bow and arrow there is no shortage of suspects since Cupids are everywhere. And the victim was so awful lots of people had reason to do her in…seriously…LOTS. Including me.

As usual Detective Green’s laser focus is aimed at the wrong suspects. When my fun-loving grandmother Lulu, Spud the corgi, and I discover another body we need to find the real murderer pronto. Can we catch the killer Cupid before they strike again?

Get your copy here:

Amazon:

https://amzn.to/3l64jx3

Barnes & Noble:

http://bit.ly/3ZVmg0o

Apple:

https://apple.co/3mLJ9VR

Kobo:

http://bit.ly/3ZZ51v3

Smashwords:

http://bit.ly/3mMH4IZ

Amazon Paperback:

https://amzn.to/3FmTEWa

I pulled out my phone and then tossed my purse into the back seat of Scott’s car. I planted my butt on the passenger seat and then swung my tail in behind me. I sighed dramatically. “I cannot wait to get out of this costume.”

The only thing keeping me from yanking the blue wig off my head was knowing what my pinned-up hair looked like underneath it. No need to send Scott running into the night from the horror of the sight.

Scott glanced my way before he drove away from the valet stand. “How many messages did you have from Lulu?”

“A lot. Let me just let her know we’re on our way home and I’ll talk to her in the morning.” I tapped on my phone as I spoke.

When I hit send, I lowered my phone and stared out the windshield in front of me. The roads were empty at this time of night.

After a couple of blocks of silence, Scott cleared his throat and said, “I’m going to hate myself for asking, but do you have any idea about who might’ve killed this woman?”

I flicked a long, flowing lock of aqua hair over my shoulder to see him better in the orange glow of the streetlights. “Why are you going to hate yourself for asking?”

“Because every other time you’ve investigated a murder, you’ve almost been killed, and I don’t want to lose you. And if I ask, it’s like I’m yielding to the inevitable … and it’s sleuthing time.”

“Without Tyler on the case, you might not have to worry too much.”

“It actually makes me more worried. I think Tyler getting your findings to Detective Green is the only reason the right people are in jail for three murders. If Tyler is excluded from the case, I’m afraid Green might arrest the wrong person,” Scott said as he stopped at a red light.

There were no cars in sight in any direction, but we sat at the light like good, little citizens until it turned green.

“I don’t want that to happen, maybe Jennifer can help me feed information to Green. He worships her. Heck, she was even able to get him to dress like Juan Peron tonight. She could get him to do anything,” I said.

One corner of Scott’s mouth tilted up. “You do realize you just proved my point.”

I scrunched up my forehead. “What point?”

“You’re incapable of letting a murderer go free due to Green’s incompetence. You’re already trying to think of ways to get the results of your investigation to him. Face it, Millie, it’s sleuthing time, and you’re all in.”

(My review of this great story!: CCC

Louise Stevens is the author of the Port Sunset Mysteries series. A lover of mysteries since her discovery of Nancy Drew many years ago, she is thrilled to be writing cozy mysteries now. She lives in Maryland with her husband, who also loves a good mystery, in a house packed with books.

Louise Stevens is the pen name of contemporary romance author Donna Simonetta.

Connect with Louise here:

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100071660405154

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Louise-Stevens/author/B09HHR74VQ

Twitter: https://twitter.com/donna_simonetta

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21848293.Louise_Stevens

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15422407.Donna_Simonetta

BookBub:

https://www.bookbub.com/profile/louise-stevens

Find all the Port Sunshine Mysteries here: Lousie Stevens Mysteries

1

Penthouse, Pools, & Poison (Port Sunset Mysteries Book 1)

When the obnoxious guest in the penthouse is poisoned beside his private pool, my daily planner is turned upside down. I’m Millie Wentworth, Assistant General Manager of the swanky Gulf Palms Resort and Spa and solving the murder shouldn’t be my job, but the only food found near the body is a charcuterie board sent to the victim by yours truly.

The Port Sunset Police are looking my way until a shocking revelation shifts their attention to a friend. Suddenly, cracking the case moves to the top of my to-do list and it’s up to me to find the real killer and clear my friend’s name.

Uncovering the truth should be a breeze with me, my pink-haired grandmother, her rescue corgi, and her crew of fun-loving septuagenarian beach bunnies on the case. What could possibly go wrong?

****COZY MYSTERY OF THE YEAR FINALIST, N.N. Light’s Annual Book Awards****

“Get ready to curl up with your next favorite book!” USA Today Best-selling Author Claire Marti

“…one of the best cozy mysteries I’ve ever read.” N.N. Light’s Book Heaven

“…you won’t want this rollicking romp to end.” 5-Star Amazon Review


2

Diamonds, Dunes, & Death (Port Sunset Mysteries Book 2)

I’m Millie Wentworth and I never thought I’d be involved in another murder, but here I am smack dab in the middle of a crime wave at the swanky resort where I’m Assistant General Manager. It started with a major diamond heist and ended with a dead body on the beach.

When one of my grandmother Lulu’s group of fun-loving septuagenarian friends is a prime suspect it’s time for Lulu’s Crew, Spud the corgi, and me, to get sleuthing and uncover the real criminals.

And because dodging mobsters, international jewel thieves, and solving crimes isn’t stressful enough, my hypercritical parents are in town too. My mother doesn’t approve of Lulu and me in the best of times, and these are decidedly not the best of times. Plus she’s already planning my imaginary wedding to my kinda-sorta boyfriend Scott.

All I need to do is catch a murderer plus a jewel thief and survive my parents’ visit. No problem, right?


3

Sunshine, Selfies, & Smugglers (Port Sunset Mysteries Book 3)

Solving mysteries with my fun-loving grandmother Lulu, her friends, and Spud the corgi is my side hustle. By day I’m Millie Wentworth the assistant general manager of the swanky Gulf Palms Resort, so you wouldn’t think sleuthing would be in my skill set. But lately it has been, and since summer is our busy season in Port Sunset I’d hoped it would be murder-free. Is that too much to ask?

Apparently so, because when social influencer Merry Marissa’s yacht cruises into town, we’re suddenly up to our necks in smuggling, stalkers, and slaughter. I have more suspects than the Tipsy Turtle has mai tais. And I’m without my sleuthing team, because Lulu’s Crew are busy going viral to raise money for animal charities.

Can I unravel the mystery and find the killer before Lulu’s Crew and I become the next victims?

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#wednesdaywisdom 3.29.2023

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March 29, 2023 · 12:01 am
March 28, 2023 · 5:47 am

#WednesdayCoffeeClutching 3.29.2023 #authorinterview #instagramlive

I’m super excited to announce I will be on this week’s edition of the WEDNESDAY COFFE CLUTCH on Instagram with Rochelle Bradley and CJ Warrant

I’ve never done an Instagram Live event before and had to look up on Google how to set up my camera!! This should be so much fun. Join us starting at 11ESt/10CT tomorrow!

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