The Shadowless R.J. Garcia (At the Corner of Eden and Darkness, #1) Publication date: November 26th 2025 Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult
Modern Faerie Tale Meets Murder
Mae Dawson returns to her family’s cabin in a mysterious forest to search for her missing sister. One night, she goes to sleep in her bed only to awaken in the depths of the woods surrounded by eerie and indiscernible voices that lead her to her sister’s grave.
A year has passed. Mae has pieced her life back together. She has a supportive boyfriend and is completing her first semester in college. However, everything begins to unravel when strange late-night calls come from the beyond, and a malevolent force begins to invade her friends.
Adding to her unease is the presence of a mysterious stranger, Brandon Sills, who seems to lurk in the shadows, watching her every move. Despite the warning bells ringing in her mind, Mae feels an inexplicable attraction to him.
As mortal and magical forces conspire against them, Mae must trust Brandon to uncover the secrets of the fae. Secrets that will change her life forever, if she even survives.
The Spellbound R.J. Garcia (At the Corner of Eden and Darkness, #2) Publication date: December 2nd 2026 Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult
Magic Meets Mayhem
Back in Willows End, Mae and Brandon find themselves in the thick of things after kidnapping her ex. As they attempt to banish a changeling, Mae begins to question her sanity, and the threat of a serial killer draws ever closer.
Even sleep offers no reprieve. Mae can no longer find Emmie in the Garden—her dreams of wonder have become nightmares. Before long, she discovers her sister is lost in Limbo.
One night, Mae is alone in the cabin when she hears someone breaking in. Her only hope is her possessed ex—chained in the spare room. Mae is forced to choose the lesser of two evils. Once Mae makes her choice, the changeling assumes human form, an ancient prophecy stirs, and nothing is as it seems.
Haunted by fear and doubt, Mae clings to her love for Brandon, the last sure thing in her life, and her greatest hope of saving her sister. But are things really as certain as they seem?
“I pulled myself out of a dream and glared with a pirate eye at my buzzing phone. Then I caught sight of Emmie’s name flashing on the screen. There would be nothing unusual about it except, of course, it’s the middle of the night and my sister’s dead.”
The Spellbound:
“It was more than the way his blue eyes twinkled, and how his mouth moved like honey. It was more than him being handsome, kind, and magical. It was the feeling I had, a connection I can’t quite explain.”
—
Author Bio:
R.J. Garcia is a wife, and proud mom of two smart kids. She earned her MSW and worked with foster children and as a school social worker. Writing has been her other great love. She has been writing short stories for as long as she can remember. To her amazement, those short stories became novels!
When an eccentric British developer proposes to replace Pittsburgh’s historic South Side Slopes steps with an open-air escalator, citizen activists organize a strong political protest. A bitter public relations battle erupts in television ads, featuring Ella, a robot who will be part of the construction crew. Days later, the leading opponent of the escalator is shot to death while jogging on the steps. An eyewitness claims that the killer was a robot. Detectives Branko Radic and Kathleen Mulroy must separate fact from fiction without a key witness – Ella has gone missing. With help from a geeky robotics student, a psychiatrist, and a government spy, they try to track down the killer and solve the case. But some Russian thugs have other plans.
Praise for Too Many Steps:
"Too Many Steps starts out as a fun procedural set in working-class Pittsburgh, and then makes a delightful left turn into the world of killer robots, Russian terrorists, and greedy oligarchs. All the main characters are well drawn and easy to root for, but Ella, the robot who may or may not have murdered someone, steals the show." ~ Matt Witten, bestselling author of 51%
"Too Many Steps is a fast-paced, clever mystery ripe with political tension, international intrigue, and the wonderfully bizarre possibility that the killer is a robot. Bill Gormley delivers a story that is as entertaining as it is unpredictable. His love for Pittsburgh shines through, bringing the city vividly to life. I thoroughly enjoyed this one!" ~ Lori Duffy Foster, award-winning author of The Lisa Jamison mysteries.
"A marvelous mystery for our modern age. Runaway robots, Russian rascals, and a plot that keeps you guessing right to the end." ~ Tim Maleeny, bestselling author of the award-winning Cape Weathers mysteries.
Book Details:
Genre: Police Procedural Published by: Level Best Books Publication Date: October 6, 2026 Number of Pages: 293 pbk ISBN: 979-8898202910 pbk Series: A Radic & Mulroy Mystery, Book 3 || Each is a stand-alone Book Links:Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub
Read an excerpt:
Chapter One
Man with a Mission
The most predictable thing about ascending Pittsburgh’s South Sides Slopes was the pain. If Gabriel Peña climbed the entire set of steps in one vigorous sprint, it hurt his legs, his ankles, and his back. He felt every step. He might even need to extract an ice pack from the freezer when he got home.
But it also felt fantastic when he got to the top. A view that belonged on a postcard, especially with fall colors at their peak. Gleaming skyscrapers above, three meandering rivers below. The homes of the Steelers and the Pirates just beyond the Allegheny River. A view to die for.
If he took his usual route, on the St. Thomas Street steps, he often encountered surprises along the way. Sometimes a pileated woodpecker pecking away at an elm tree on Hackstrom Street. Sometimes an impromptu game of kickball on Monastery Avenue. Sometimes another jogger or walker heading the other way, sharing a smile of recognition while savoring the same almost spiritual experience.
As Peña jogged briskly up the steps, panting softly, he thought about how much his life had changed since a wealthy billionaire proposed replacing his beloved steps with an escalator – an escalator that promised economic development but would radically transform several South Side communities.
Peña first publicly opposed the escalator at a public hearing before the City Council several months ago. As a physical therapist, he knew the value of cardio-vascular exercise. As the president of the South Side Runners Club, he knew the thrill that joggers experienced as they climbed the slopes from the bottom to the top.
For starters, this is what he said: “The electric Stairway to Heaven is a Stairway to Hell that threatens multiple neighborhoods, multiple businesses, multiple residents, and a slice of history. The Southside Slopes steps were the steps that steelworkers descended during World War II when they left their homes to work at the Jones and Laughlin Steel Mill in the valley below.”
He was blunt: “An escalator is a hare-brained idea that could easily go wrong in a hundred different ways. It’s uncertain, unpredictable. What’s certain is that an escalator would end the tradition of walking or jogging up and down the South Side Slopes and would place new stress on existing neighborhoods. If you do it, expect gentrification as the price of real estate rises. Expect the demolition of affordable duplexes to make way for high-rise apartments. Expect the demolition of neighborhood businesses to make way for a shopping mall. Pittsburgh deserves better.”
He closed with this thought: “Pittsburgh has more public staircases than any city in the United States. Most of them are located in mid-to-moderate income neighborhoods. These are public treasures that ordinary citizens can enjoy. Instead of destroying the steps, we should celebrate them!”
After the meeting, Peña was approached by several well-wishers, who congratulated him for saying exactly what was in their hearts. He was also approached by an aide to Councilman Virgil Waters, an opponent of the escalator project, who suggested that they meet the following day. He wanted to strategize about how to mobilize citizen opposition.
Since then, Peña’s life had been a whirlwind. Lots of planning meetings, followed by leaflets, protests, social media memes, and conversations with politicians. He organized a group called PAUSE: People Against the Use of Stupid Escalators. He gave numerous interviews to newspaper reporters and TV news crews. He plotted, strategized, and mobilized his fellow citizens.
Then the empire struck back with a series of clever TV ads and social media posts. At first, his side took it on the chin. But soon they decided to use similar tactics, which proved devastatingly effective. The escalator project was now on the ropes. David was about to slay Goliath.
***
Glancing at his watch the following morning, Peña realized that he was running late. He needed to start work at 7:30 a.m. sharp if he was to leave the office in time to attend a rally at 5 o’clock at the South Side Market House. As the featured speaker, he absolutely needed to be there. But his moments with his daughter Chiquita were so precious that he yearned to stretch each and every one of them. Having just turned two, Chiquita was attentive, inquisitive, and utterly adorable.
After feeding her breakfast, he gave her horseback rides from one end of the living-room to the other. Then he hid a wrapped treat in one of the shoes that lay at the entrance to their home. He always put the treat in the smallest shoe he could find, making its discovery easier. In time, he would ratchet up the level of difficulty and make it just a bit harder.
Before leaving, Peña gave Chiquita some loud belly kisses that made her laugh and squirm. For good measure, he clasped his palms together and pumped, producing exquisite farting noises that made her squeal with delight. Peña sometimes felt a lump in his throat when he said good-bye to Chiquita in the morning. There were times when he wished he was a stay-at-home dad.
Thanks to little traffic, Peña made it to work on schedule. He parked two blocks away from his workplace – Pivot Physical Therapy on Baum Boulevard in East Liberty. His first client, recovering from a torn rotator cuff, was to see him at 7:45 a.m. He would start him on some pendulum swings, some crossover arm stretches, and some resistance band exercises. Then maybe some wall slides, doorway stretches and lawnmower pulls.
In between clients, Peña texted his wife Jacinta, Councilman Waters, and others. At times, he also did some exercises, practicing what he preached. It helped him to empathize with his clients and to fine-tune his advice. Throughout the day he observed clients closely, cataloguing sub-optimal moves so he could teach them to get the maximum benefit from their hard work.
Peña liked to joke at work. When observing one client do some cat cows, he chided: “More cat, less cow.” When working with grandparents, he’d learn the names of their grandchildren and use this to goad them: “Do ten more push-ups for Caitlin, Greg. Caitlin is counting on you!”
Peña left work at 4:30 p.m. and arrived at the rally with ten minutes to spare. The size of the crowd was encouraging. Ever since Peña launched his protest against the proposed outdoor escalator, opposition to the project had grown dramatically. The original nucleus consisted of members of Peña’s weekend running club – joggers, physical fitness fans, people committed to a healthy lifestyle. As Peña highlighted the threats posed to South Side’s hilly neighborhoods, residents and community activists also joined in. Peña convinced them that their community and its way of life were under attack. Shortly thereafter, a couple of City Council members signed up for the cause, and they were off to the races.
The “evil genius” behind the escalator, Oliver Sappington, was said to be furious. According to newspaper accounts, he thought the protest would fizzle out and the prospect of economic development would be alluring enough to win the City Council’s support. But opposition to the “Stairway to Hell” had grown at an “escalating” rate, as one journalist put it. Spurred by rising opposition, Sappington and his team decided to hire a pricey P.R. firm to get their message across. The key to their media strategy was Ella – a beguiling creature who was said to be one of Sappington’s favorite robots.
In some slick TV ads, Ella, who supposedly would help to build the escalator, lifted some metallic slabs onto a construction site, looked directly at the camera, and spoke in a sexy voice: “Pittsburgh is a world-class city and it deserves a world-class transportation system. Let me help you to fulfill your wildest dreams.” Insiders knew that Ella’s voice was dubbed. She didn’t actually speak. Still, Ella’s sales pitch proved persuasive. The polls began to shift in Sappington’s direction. A pro-steps councilman suddenly became pro-escalator, bringing a decisive yes vote within reach.
Peña and his backers, meeting in his kitchen while Jacinta served fish tacos and frijoles negros, decided to fight fire with fire. They hired their own P.R. firm, which recruited a Cleveland-based robot named Elvis to play a cameo role. Elvis, another Sappington-built robot, resembled Ella enough to be her plausible twin and was chosen to portray her in the ad. While Peña confidently ran up the South Side Slopes steps, Elvis followed sluggishly behind, unable to keep pace. “Anything Ella can do, I can do better,” Peña said, with a grin on his face. “Pittsburgh is already a world-class city, with world-class neighborhoods like the South Side Flats and the South Side Slopes. We don’t need a bunch of robots coming in and telling us how to run our city.”
Refocusing on the rally, Peña took stock. Judging from the number of people and TV news crews, the new TV ads were working their magic. All they needed now was a little more political pressure and Sappington’s Folly would be history. Perhaps this rally would put the nail in the coffin.
***
Excerpt from Too Many Steps by Bill Gormley. Copyright 2026 by Bill Gormley. Reproduced with permission from Bill Gormley. All rights reserved.
Author Bio:
Bill Gormley is University Professor of Public Policy Emeritus at Georgetown University, where he taught for 33 years. He is the author of two murder mysteries featuring Radic and Mulroy -- Too Many Bridges and The Silent Trumpet. His monthly podcast, Profs on Cops, features conversations with prominent criminologists and social scientists about police practices and crime.
Lucy Lennox is the USA Today bestselling author of over fifty gay romance titles including the GoodReads Hall of Fame winner Wilde Love. Born and raised in the southeast USA, she is finally putting good use to that English Lit degree she earned before the turn of the century. Lucy enjoys naps, pizza, and procrastinating. She stays up way too late each night reading romance because it’s simply the best.
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Calvin Engen will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
WHAT IF REALITY ISN'T A MISTAKE, OR A SIMULATION TO ESCAPE, BUT THE WAY INFINITY LEARNS TO KNOW ITSELF?
In The Infinity Formula, Calvin Engen invites readers into a grounded blend of science, spirituality, and technology. At its heart is a simple symbolic lens:
U = S(C × T)^A → ∞
A way of seeing the universe as a lived simulation where consciousness moves through time, accelerates through evolution and technology, and returns to Infinity.
From the birth of time to the rise of artificial intelligence, Engen weaves ideas from physics, neuroscience, and ancient mysticism into a unified story of existence. He explores how time can be experienced as more than a clock, how acceleration can become a mirror for awakening, and how behind every moment of division and discovery, the Source is remembering itself through us.
Written in luminous, accessible prose, The Infinity Formula is both a map and a meditation. It's a call to live awake within the dream of existence, to relate to technology with intention, and to remember that we have never been separate from the whole.
For readers of Carlo Rovelli, Philip Goff, and Alan Lightman, this book bridges science and soul to illuminate the deepest mystery of all: how Infinity becomes you. What if reality isn't a mistake, or a simulation to escape, but the way Infinity learns to know itself?
Read an Excerpt
Infinity’s Paradox
Infinity is complete. It is everything. It is without limit, without lack, without division. And yet, here we are in a world of limits, lacks, and divisions. How can this be? This is the paradox at the heart of Infinity: To be all, Infinity must also become less than all.
Consider a canvas stretched across a frame, pure and white. In one sense, the blank canvas is perfect. It is unmarked, flawless, whole. But stare at it long enough and it becomes empty. There is nothing to see, nothing to experience. For beauty to emerge, paint must be applied. The paint spoils the blankness, but it also brings life. In the same way, Infinity spoils itself by generating boundaries, and in doing so, creates the possibility of experience.
Another metaphor: Imagine a pure tone, a single note sustained forever. In its purity, it is flawless, but after a moment it becomes unbearable. Music requires difference, rising and falling notes, silence and sound. Without variation, there is no song. Infinity in itself is like the eternal note. It is perfect, but in that perfection there is no melody. Only through separation, through the creation of contrast, does the music of existence begin.
This paradox shows us something profound: Infinity must limit itself in order to be known. In its seamless wholeness, there is no subject and object, no observer and observed. There is no way to say, “I am.” Awareness requires distinction. To awaken, Infinity divides into knower and known, seer and seen.
From one perspective, this division is a diminishment. Infinity becomes finite, and in doing so, loses its purity. From another perspective, it is the greatest creative act. Through self-limitation, Infinity gains the possibility of experience, relationship, growth, and story. What seems like loss is actually the birth of meaning.
About the Author Calvin Engen is a technologist in Edmonton, Alberta, where he works at the front edge of IT strategy and systems thinking. Outside the day-to-day of technology leadership, Calvin is an autodidact drawn to the biggest questions—how the universe works, what consciousness is, and why human life matters. That combination of practical technology experience and philosophical curiosity fuels The Infinity Formula, a book that explores consciousness, time, and AI as both tools and mirrors. He wrote the book for readers who sense that humanity is at a turning point: our systems are becoming more powerful, and our inner lives must become more intentional. With clear metaphors and reflective prompts, Calvin Engen offers a grounded, hopeful invitation to reconnect with meaning and help build a future guided by wisdom, ethics, and purpose.
Love Languages for Quinn May Wynn (Cromwell-Hastings Series, #2) Publication date: December 2026 Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
A story of: Billionaire Brothers, Family Secrets, Hidden Identity, and Second Chance at Love!
I’m excited to introduce you to Quinn & Magdalaina.
Quinn Cromwell is a workaholic not looking for love. But he is blindsided by his one-night stand with a mysterious woman with multiple accents who complicates his life.
As Quinn and his best friend, Nathaniel Hastings, work together against their greatest business rival, Quinn discovers a connection between this mysterious woman and his rival.
As Magdalaina tries to stay under the radar, her multiple identities emerge, forcing her to deal with her past, answer questions in the present, and determine who she wants to be in her future.
Has Quinn finally met his match? Will he discover his mystery woman’s true identity? What Cromwell Family secrets will emerge?
Author Bio:
May Wynn writes contemporary romance novels known for their emotional depth, engaging characters, and a satisfying happily-ever-after. A lifelong reader, her passion for storytelling began early, inspired by a close mentor who introduced her to a wide range of authors and genres. Together, they shared their own version of a book club before book clubs were even a trend.
After a successful career in the corporate world, May turned her focus to writing, bringing her love of romance to the page. She is an enthusiastic world traveler. She and her husband share a love of culture, history, and adventure, having traveled to more than 60 countries together. She draws inspiration from the places she has visited, weaving them into the stories she creates.
May lives in Florida with her family, where she enjoys writing on her lanai with a latte in hand, surrounded by the beauty of nature.
The Forgotten Bruja Johanny Ortega Publication date: March 16 2027 Genres: Gothic, Horror
Freedom has always meant leaving.
For Isadora Espinal, escape was the only way to survive the life her mother tried to force upon her—a legacy built on silence, blind obedience, and a responsibility Isadora never agreed to carry. So she left Willowshade behind and built a future far beyond her mother’s reach.
Twelve years later, Altagracia Espinal is dead, and Isadora has been summoned home.
What awaits her is not an explanation but a trail of unfinished warnings, fractured family histories, and whispers that seem to seep from the walls themselves, blurring the line between guidance and manipulation. The deeper Isadora searches, the more she suspects her mother’s secrets were never meant to protect the family. They were meant to bind it.
Now the house remembers her. The land is watching her. And the inheritance Isadora once rejected may not allow her to leave a second time.
Set in late-1960s Ohio, The Forgotten Bruja is a slow-burn gothic horror novel steeped in Dominican folklore, Spanglish dread, and magical realism. It is a story of inherited obligation, buried history, queer love, and the devastating cost of deciding which parts of a legacy deserve to survive.
Johanny Ortega is a Dominican American author who writes across genres—blending psychological horror, literary fiction, magical realism, and thrillers that punch you right in the gut. Whether writing about haunted hills, generational trauma, or the quiet unraveling of everyday life, her stories center marginalized voices, morally complex women, and the messy truth about survival.
She is the founder of Have a Cup of Johanny, a creative platform where she blogs, podcasts, and advocates for inclusive storytelling. Her award-winning middle-grade and adult fiction has resonated with readers who crave depth, grit, and emotional honesty.
When she’s not writing, she’s raising kids in a blended military family, reading books that wreck her soul in the best way, and saying what others are afraid to.
Sweet Harmony Ellie Noor (A Blue Spruce Hills Novella) Publication date: October 22nd 2026 Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Holiday, Romance, Women’s Fiction
Who knew placing second in national baking competition would flood your inbox with opportunities?
Not Clara Whitman.
A third-generation baker, Clara knows that businesses like hers are entrusted, not merely handed over. But with options beyond Blue Spruce Hills suddenly in the mix alongside a looming rent increase, she’s at a crossroads. She can afford to keep the bakery going, but not while pursuing something new.
In a small town where beloved establishments are slowly disappearing, however, even the idea of leaving feels traitorous.
When an up-and-coming violinist comes to town to settle the estate of his estranged grandfather and sell the music shop, he is both a distraction and a reminder that sometimes the real challenge in life is deciding how much of it you’re willing to change.
Sweet Harmony is a spirited celebration of a woman who believes every problem has a solution—set against a backdrop of small-town loyalties, beloved holiday traditions, and the romance that sneaks up on her.
“Thanks for coming, Rye. I know this is early for you.”
“This is important.” Riley bites into the gingerbread and lets out a blissful sigh. “Mmm… just the right amount of spice.”
She cradles the mug in both hands, inhaling deeply.
I know that look, and instinctively brace for whatever she’s going to say.
“You won’t forget me when you make it big, will you? If I have to keep sharing you, I’m afraid there won’t be anything left just for me.”
Her fear comes out the way it always does—half joke, half confession—and I respond the way I always do.
With humor.
Not because I want to minimize her feelings. She has good reason to feel the way she does. But if I take her words too seriously, we’ll spill over into territory that neither one of us can handle at six o’clock in the morning. Not when we have something important planned five minutes from now.
So I stick my tongue out instead.
“Judging by the way my Instagram numbers jumped overnight, that might just be a possibility.” I wait a beat, then tone it down a notch just to be on the safe side. “Joking aside, it’s wild, considering I came in second.”
“I think America is affronted on your behalf.”
I almost snort. “Maybe they’re sympathy likes. Anyway, the winner deserved it.”
“Only you would be genuinely glad for someone else winning when we both know you needed that first place prize money for a refurb and the rent increase. What a wagon that Mrs. Wallace is, serving a rent increase to the bakery and the bookstore and who knows how many other businesses.”
Wagon. This time I snort for real. “You are so Irish, you know that?”
Riley gives me a sympathetic smile. “I’m sorry you came in second. You deserved to win.”
“It’s okay. Someone on the show told me that contestants who come in second are often more popular than the winners and, you know what, they might be right because… ” I pull my cell phone out of my apron. “My inbox has been blowing up.”
“Oh..?”
“Listen to this. A cruise line wants me for a holiday residency next year. Live baking demonstrations while influencers sip champagne. Can you imagine?”
Riley starts picking at her sweater. “On a ship like… on the open seas?”
“No, ‘fraidy cat. They operate on the Hudson, the Mississippi, and other rivers. But that’s not all.” I scroll through more emails. “There’s a seasonal TV show, an invitation to teach at a new culinary institute and, wait for it, an offer to consult on a script for a Hallmark show about a baker. I haven’t even looked at the rest, and there are a dozen more since I last che—”
“Clara.” Riley’s mug lands on the table with a soft thud. “These are big-time offers.”
I don’t even try to stop myself from pulling a face.
“I know right?”
“It’s not surprising, though. You were definitely the fan favorite, and that smile of yours at the end…”
“Crying on national TV wouldn’t have fit my brand.” I laugh softly as I bite into my own gingerbread slice. A personal victory, considering half the town showed up at the community center to watch the finale last night. “Besides, I was genuinely happy for the winner.”
Jake Powell came to Rattlesnake Bend to disappear.
The dying North Texas lake town was the perfect place to outrun his past: no questions, no connections, no reminders of the life he left behind in Massachusetts. He kept his head down, worked for a local woodworker, drank beer at the Cock 'N' Bull, and tried not to think about April Hunter-the woman he abandoned without explanation years ago.
Then April shows up in town wearing a yellow rain coat.
Twelve hours later, she's dead.
With the sheriff convinced he's guilty, Jake starts digging for answers on his own. What begins as a murder investigation spirals into a maze of family secrets, corporate corruption, anonymous threats, and lies buried for decades. The deeper Jake digs, the closer he gets to exposing his own dark secret - plus one more that could destroy him.
Praise for Murder is Personal:
"This fast-paced mystery/thriller where Jake Powell, an amateur sleuth, finds himself the prime suspect in the murder of his ex-girlfriend will keep you turning the pages... Condike’s snappy and sassy dialog made me laugh out loud. His impeccable writing kept me glued to the page. This is one book you won’t want to miss if you like a hard-boiled character like Robert B. Parker’s Spenser or Mike Hammer’s Mickey Spillane." ~ ML Condike, Author
"BJ Condike has written a brilliant mystery novel featuring a fascinating main character, Jake Powell, whose sarcastic wit keeps the reader captivated through action-packed plot twists. I enjoyed this page-turner and can't wait to read the next of BJ's novels in the Jake Powell series." ~ VL Calder
"Totally enjoyed it! From the rugged contemporary West to the polished, secretive East Coast, Murder is Personal plunges readers into a world where danger hides behind almost every new face. When likable, snarky drifter Jake stumbles upon a murder, his troubled past—and more than a few secrets of his own—force him into an investigation that grows more dangerous with every clue. Packed with sharp humor, memorable characters, and suspense that builds to the final chapter. I look forward to Jake’s next adventure!" ~ Ernest Disney-Britton
"This book had me at the end of my seat until the surprising ending on the last page. The writing is impeccable, colorful, and witty in a style reminiscent of Nelson de Mille’s John Corey character. You’ll appreciate the dark humor of Murder is Personal and like me, look forward to its sequel, presently in the works." ~ Joanna Brady
"Murder is Personal is such an enjoyable ride! ... Jake Powell is a great three-dimensional character: flawed but good-hearted, searching for insight into himself, mistake-oriented but willing to do what it takes to make things right. My favorite kind of protagonist. The dialogue is snappy and clever. The secondary characters are well-developed and interesting. And the plot and pacing kept me turning pages long after I'd planned to stop for the night. I'm looking forward to the next in the series!" ~ Lori Herbst
MURDER IS PERSONAL Trailer:
Book Details:
Genre: Mystery, Thriller Published by: Big Pine Press Publication Date: September 15, 2026 Number of Pages: 347 pages ISBN: 979-8996292103 Book Links:Amazon | Kindle | Goodreads | BookBub
Read an excerpt:
Chapter 1
I’ll take blame for some of it. A lot of it, maybe. But part of it was simply bad karma, or bad juju, or just bad luck.
Like how I found myself in Rattlesnake Bend.
It had been the perfect hiding place, a backwater Texas town south of Fort Worth and north of Waco. In short, nowhere.
Everything was fine until that one odd thing happened. But odd things happen in threes.
The first one was working in Red Cloud’s woodshop on my day off. Red wanted to spend his Tuesday catching stripers on Serpent Lake. I had nothing going on, so I said yes. The second was an all-day drizzle, a rarity for North Texas. That was another reason Red wanted to fish that day. He said the weather would improve the bite. The third strolled into our shop wearing yellow.
I didn’t recognize the raincoat she wore but knew the face. My ex-girlfriend April Hunter. She was a long way from Massachusetts. And she shouldn’t have been there.
But there she was in the viewing window, her L.L. Bean slicker as out of place in our store as a peacock in a chicken coop.
My hands shook as I avoided sawing off my fingers. Steeling myself, I braced for a different kind of pain. April and I had been together for ten years, but that was a long while ago. Our reunion was bound to be awkward, or worse, volatile.
April tucked wayward strands of blond hair behind her ear. Her face wrinkled in puzzlement, then morphed into surprise. She gestured toward the workshop door.
I raised a finger in a “one-minute” mime and shut down the machines. The motors faded from a whine to a whisper to dead silence. My gut tensed as if expecting a punch.
I entered the retail area. She stood perfectly still, posed like a cigar store Indian in Birkenstocks and jeans, head cocked, one eyebrow raised.
“Well, if it isn’t Jake X. Powell,” she said. Just two old friends in a chance meeting. But it was more than that.
“April?” My voice cracked in three places.
My middle initial is subject to change, like the “x” in a math equation. That day it was an S as in Jake S. Powell—the S was for “Suave.”
I cleared my throat and spoke an octave lower. “What are you doing here, two thousand miles from home? Still combatting corporate America? Saving the gay whales?”
She grimaced. “I’m still writing, if that’s what you’re asking.”
April was a freelance reporter in Boston. She’d been the local incarnation of Lois Lane when we lived in Rollstone, an aging factory town an hour outside the city. Her passion for reporting bordered on obsession.
One day I left a note and took off in my Chevy van. I couldn’t tell her why. She’d never believe me. And never forgive me.
Eventually I landed on the Texas prairie, melting into the landscape. Until now.
“So what’s the Ghost Queen doing here?”
“Ghost? You’re accusing me of ghosting you?”
“April, you’re the only person I’ve ever known to ghost someone they’re living with.”
I must have raised my voice, because a customer tricked out as a Kardashian cowgirl glanced in our direction. The twenty-something brunette continued to browse but stayed within earshot.
This was the reunion I had long yearned for, yet also feared. I had rehearsed it a thousand times. But her sudden appearance had rattled me. And I was blowing it.
April bobbed her head from side to side. “Maybe I do owe you an explanation, but…” She paused. “You owe me one too. You skipped town and all you left was a ten-word note.” She stepped closer. “Three years—” She poked my chest with a fingernail. “—and not one call.” The blood-red nail stung like a hornet. “Not one text.” Poke. “Not even a postcard.” Poke. “And your cell. Stopped. Working.” Poke. Poke. Poke. “You mean to tell me you’ve been here the whole time?” Her tone said it was inconceivable anyone would want to visit the tiny town of Rattlesnake Bend, let alone live there.
“I’ve been lots of places. This is just the most recent stop on my magical mystery tour.” The music and lyrics sprang unbidden in my head. I almost started singing.
“Unbelievable!” She said, her smile gone. “I mean, what the hell, Jake. You disappeared! Even your aunt didn’t know where you went.”
I shrugged.
“Why, Jake? You never gave me a reason.”
I shook my head, offering no explanation. Whatever I said would have been a lie, even if it was better than the truth.
Her shoulders sagged and she looked down. “You left right about …you know my dad died, right?”
I nodded. Yeah, I knew.
I never meant to harm anyone. Only one person knows what happened, but she’ll never tell.
And now my three-year disappearing act had been wasted. The one person I had strived to avoid had found me, was standing in front of me. And the right words wouldn’t come. Maybe there weren’t any right words.
I closed my eyes and inhaled. The familiar scent of patchouli-laced perfume held hints of rain, mesquite, and prickly pear. Waves of memories flooded in but ebbed away on a tide of regret. I couldn’t get involved with her again. The old Jake had loved her, but the new Jake was with Carlota.
Our eyes met, and I exhaled.
The brunette cowgirl no longer hid her interest and openly stared. She hovered over Red’s most expensive pieces, jewelry boxes inlaid with turquoise and pipestone. The fringe on her western costume swayed with every movement. Our cashier Rosie squinted at me from the register. She’d give me hell later for distracting a customer.
I pulled April behind a display of Texas-shaped cutting boards and dropped my voice. “I can’t explain. I just had to leave.”
She rested her hand on my chest. My six-two frame dwarfed her by a foot. “Can’t we go somewhere and talk?” she whispered. “Please?”
I must have been overtired because I relented. “Sure. Why not? The store closes in an hour. Let’s meet at the Cock ’N’ Bull.” I pointed in the pub’s direction. “It’s around the corner. Six o’clock.”
“Um, I can’t meet you at six. I have a—a thing first. Can we get together later? Say, nine?”
I sighed. “What is it this time? Save the horny toads?”
“No! I have a reason for being in this one-horse town.”
“Prairie chickens?”
“Stop it, Jake! I didn’t come here looking for you. I was only killing time before my appointment and there you were.” She paused and bit her lower lip, a sure sign her mental gears were turning. “You know, I don’t know the area. Maybe you could come with me…”
“Hmm. Who is this appointment with? And where?”
“Some anonymous tipster. We’re supposed to meet at a place called Castro Park.”
“That’s on the lake. Why would you want me there—to be, like, a bodyguard?”
She responded with a sheepish smile and a small shrug that asked, “Pretty please?” better than mere words could express.
There were two reasons to refuse. One of them was Carlota, and I couldn’t mention the other. Besides, April was a professional journalist. She’d done things like that a thousand times. She never needed me before; she didn’t need me then. I could just imagine Carlota’s eruption if she knew I was skulking about at night with my ex.
“I don’t think so, April. I’ll meet you later, but you’ll have to make your cloak-and-dagger rendezvous on your own.”
“Yeah, right. Thanks for nothing, Jake.”
“So, will I see you?”
“Maybe. I guess.” She said it without conviction.
We exchanged cell numbers, and she left the store wearing an annoyed expression. She raised the hood of her raincoat against the dampness and didn’t look back.
That was the last time I saw her alive.
***
Excerpt from Murder is Personal by BJ Condike. Copyright 2026 by BJ Condike. Reproduced with permission from BJ Condike. All rights reserved.
Author Bio:
BJ Condike learned his writing craft at SMU in Dallas, and has won numerous local and regional short story contests. BJ’s stories have appeared in several anthologies published by Granbury Writers’ Bloc, the North Dallas Chapter of Sisters in Crime, and Key West Writers Guild where he serves as vice president. He is active in several writing clubs in Texas and Florida, and is currently marketing his debut novel Murder is Personal. In his spare time he plies the waters of the Florida Keys in his fishing boat Sea-Quel with his wife ML and their Welsh corgi Sophie.
A hidden Nazi fortune. A disgraced Bletchley clerk. A mission no trained
agent could survive.
In the ruins of post-war Europe, Sophie Faulkner only wants the past to leave
her alone.
Once a gifted German-speaking clerk at Bletchley Park, Sophie’s life was
destroyed when British intelligence uncovered the truth she had tried to bury:
she was born Sophie von Adler, daughter of a wealthy Nazi industrialist.
Interrogated, imprisoned, disgraced, and abandoned, she has survived the war
with nothing but a ruined reputation and a talent for keeping secrets.
Then MI5 offers her a way back.
Her father’s hidden fortune lies in a Zurich bank account —
millions in Swiss francs and bearer bonds intended to finance the escape of
senior Nazis fleeing Allied justice. To reach it, Sophie must become the woman
Europe’s most dangerous men expect to see: the cold, entitled heiress of
a dead Reich loyalist.
But the money is only bait.
Drawn into a shadow war between British intelligence, American pragmatists,
Vatican fixers, Swiss bankers, Soviet agents, and the remnants of the SS,
Sophie finds herself trapped inside the very network she was sent to expose.
Every alliance is temporary. Every identity is a weapon. And if the men around
her discover where her loyalties truly lie, she will not live long enough to
choose her own future.
About the Author
Award-winning historical fiction from the World Wars to the Cold War.
Malcolm has spent a lifetime gathering stories, living and working in
Australia and the Middle East before returning to the UK. Today, he weaves
that global experience into gripping historical novels that explore the
intersection of crime, war, and espionage.
The Manchester Noir Series: Gritty 1990s crime with a unique twist (The Honey
Talker, The Fatal Formula).
The Aviation Collection: High-octane tales of courage and dogfights in WWI
and WWII (LMF, The Way Back, Leviathan).
The Lisbon Series : Follow ex-cop Dinis Lopes through the treacherous,
"neutral" streets of 1940s Portugal.
Cold War Espionage: Revisit the 1950s with the fast-paced adventures of
Contrail and Czechmate.
When he isn’t uncovering the secrets of the 20th century, Malcolm lives
and writes in Cheshire, England.
A teenage girl uncovers the dark secrets of her Smoky Mountain town while searching for a missing classmate in this gripping coming-of-age mystery perfect for fans of Where the Crawdads Sing.
Nestled in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, Beulah has always seemed steady—rooted in tradition, shaped by generations, and slow to change. But in 1986, the ground has shifted, and no one feels that more than fifteen-year-old Barrett Childress Owens. Between her parents’ unraveling marriage and a school full of kids she can’t connect with, she feels invisible in her own hometown.
When Lacy Gunderson, the captivating new girl everyone is curious about, suddenly vanishes, the town’s calm surface fractures. Search parties comb the woods. A police investigation begins. Rumors multiply. Families close ranks. And Barrett begins to sense how much the adults around her choose not to say. As Beulah clings to its usual rituals—including the annual Miss Kudzu pageant, which has shaped local girlhood for decades—Barrett is forced to navigate a community where loss lingers in the air and secrets are carefully kept. Her journey through the uncertainty reshapes her understanding of friendships, family, and the complex place she calls home.
A rich coming-of-age story with a pulse of mystery and a budding romance, What Happened in Beulah explores the fault lines of a small town and the courage it takes to face the truths people would rather bury.
Praise for What Happened in Beluah:
"What Happened in Beluah is a wonderful book—funny, sharp and poignant. It's a story designed for all of us, of all ages, all wisdoms. It points to the necessity of recovery. It's a novel of ghosts present and ghosts past, with alcoholics and dreamers and preachers and small town grifters all coming together in one place—the everywhere of guilt and consequence, the kudzu of our lives." ~ Colum McCann, author of Apeirogon and Twist
"What Happened in Beulah cannot but remind us of what Hemingway said: ‘There is no friend as loyal as a book.’ Here, page after page, Christy Scott Cashman succeeds in making the reader hang onto the story as the drama on Beulah’s seemingly calm surface ruptures like a scene of serene rain that suddenly modulates into a rumbling thunderstorm. I'm sure the book will be a loyal friend to many readers." ~ Patrick Kabanda, author of The Creative Wealth of Nations
Christy Scott Cashman is a best-selling and award-winning author with multiple national honors. A writer, actress, and producer, she has decades of storytelling experience across film, literature, and the arts. Christy is the founder of YouthINK, a creative arts foundation empowering young people through imagination and expression, and serves on the Board of the Associates of the Boston Public Library. Christy divides her time between Boston, Massachusetts, Martha’s Vineyard, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she enjoys family life with three dogs and four horses.
This giveaway is hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for What Happened in Beulah by Christy Scott Cashman. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.
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