Books
Pleating for Mercy, A Magical Dressmaking Mystery
Coming August 2, 2011
All the Cassidy women possess special gifts. Harlow Jane Cassidy’s is creating beautiful dresses. But she’s about to discover secrets in her own family, and another gift—one that can reach beyond the grave…
When her great-grandmother passes away, Harlow Jane Cassidy leaves her job as a Manhattan fashion designer and moves back to Bliss, Texas. But soon after she opens Buttons & Bows, a custom dressmaking boutique in the turn-of-the-century farmhouse she inherited, Harlow begins to feel an inexplicable presence…
One of her first clients is her old friend Josie, who needs a gown for her upcoming wedding. But when Josie’s boss turns up dead, it starts to look as if the bride-to-be may be wearing handcuffs instead of a veil. Suddenly Josie needs a lot more from Harlow than hemming a dress. Can Harlow find the real killer—with a little help from beyond?
Preorder from:
___________________________________
The Tricked-out Toolbox
Whether you’re just sticking your toe into the murky waters of the publishing industry, traversing the white waters of your already established career, or somewhere in between, The Tricked Out Toolbox is for you.
In The Tricked-out Toolbox, you’ll identify your personality type: introvert or extrovert? Read anecdotes from authors about what’s worked for them and what hasn’t. Get ideas, craft a budget, build a marketing plan, and learn how to execute it.
With checklists and worksheets galore, real-life advice, and an easy to read format, this user-friendly, practical guide allows you to pick and choose what promotion and marketing tools will work for you. If you buy one business book this year, make it The Tricked Out Toolbox.
_______________
Coming early in 2012!
___________________________________
A Deadly Curse, A Romantic Suspense. Read an excerpt.
Most people think the Spanish legend of la Llorona, a woman who killed her children to be with the man she loved, is just a story. High school teacher, Johanna Rios, knows the truth. A descendant of la Llorona’s one surviving child, Joanna’s mother fell victim to the curse, drowning as she tried to kill Johanna and her sister Carmen. When one of Johanna’s former students, dressed in a white peasant dress like the crying woman herself, turns up drowned in the San Julio River, Johanna’s world turns upside down.
The curse is back.
Single father Ray Vargas is filled with guilt. His daughter’s friend, a former student from the high school where he’s principal, is dead and he could have prevented it. When Johanna Rios, one of his teachers, reveals her obsession with la Llorona and thinks three more people will die, each one representing a different version of the crying woman’s story, he will do whatever it takes to stop the killings from happening.
But with danger closing in and his own daughter at risk, Ray must join forces with Johanna to confront the legend, the curse, and the man behind the killings.
___________________________________
A Deadly Sacrifice, A Romantic Suspense. Read an excerpt.
After a horrible night that haunts her still, Delaney West ran away from her home in San Julio, Texas, and out of Vic Vargas’s life. But now, plagued by sleepwalking and terrible dreams, she is back, working at the local vet clinic, and trying to make some sense of her screwed up life. But animals have started dying, their bodies drained of blood, and the marks on their carcasses have churned up the old legends of the chupacabra. When Delaney awakens far from home and with blood on her hands, she fears she’s turned into the monster she’s been running from all these years.
Vic Vargas sunk his life savings into buying Tierra del Oro, the land that would keep him rooted to the town he loves. He’s never forgiven Delaney West for walking out on him the night before they were to be married and he’s consoled himself the only way he knows how–with booze and women. Just when things are looking up, the son he fathered just after Delaney left him is suddenly on his doorstep, Delaney’s back in town, and ranch animals are turning up dead.
When the town curandera predicts a final–human–sacrifice, Vic and Delaney are forced to confront the past. But will they be too late?
Kindle Version
Nook Version
Smashwords Version
___________________________________
Hasta la Vista, Lola!, Book 2 in A Lola Cruz Mystery. Read an excerpt.
When Lola comes home to her parents’ house to find a horde of relatives mourning her death, no one is more surprised than she is. The news had reported that one Lola Cruz, PI was found murdered in an alley, causing great alarm in the Cruz family.
Before Lola can say “boo,” a cop comes to the house. It turns out the dead woman had a driver’s license with Lola’s information. Between avoiding an unsavory ex-boyfriend, sorting out mixed signals from the very interested but not yet committed Jack Callaghan, and filling in as a waitress at her parents’ Mexican restaurant, Lola tries to find out who the woman was and why she stole her identity. Was the woman hiding from someone who meant her harm, or is there someone out there who wants Lola dead?
This follow-up to Ramirez’s debut novel, Living the Vida Lola, is a red-hot, fun-filled mystery. Lola, a black belt in kung fu who loves to salsa dance, makes for a sexy, unique, and vivacious detective.
___________________________________
Living the Vida Lola, Book 1 in the Lola Cruz Mystery Series! Read an excerpt.
Meet Lola Cruz. After paying her dues as an intern, she’s now a full-fledged detective at Camacho and Associates. Her boss is Manny Camacho, a muy caliente former cop with a mysterious ex-wife, a Lara Croft look-alike girlfriend, and a sudden personal interest in Lola. Her first big case? A missing mother who may not want to be found. And to make her already busy life even more complicated, Lola’s helping her cousin plan her quinceañera, and battling her family and their old-fashioned views on women and careers. She’s also reunited with the gorgeous Jack Callaghan, her high school crush whom she shamelessly tailed years ago and photographed doing the horizontal salsa with some other lucky girl.
Lola takes it all in stride, but when the subject of her search ends up dead, she realizes she has a lot more to worry about. Soon she finds herself wrapped up in the possibly shady practices of a tattoo parlor, local politics, and someone with serious—maybe deadly—road rage. To top it all off, her treasured postcoital pictures of Jack are missing! Still, Lola is well-equipped to handle these challenges. She’s a black-belt in kung fu, and her body isn’t her only weapon. She’s got smarts, sass, and more tenacity than her Mexican mafioso-wannabe grandfather. A few of her famous margaritas don’t hurt, either.
Debut author Misa Ramirez, a blond-haired, green-eyed gal with a passion for the Latino culture and authentic Mexican food, has penned a delicious mix of mystery, romance, and all-out fun. Filled with sizzling scenes and side-splitting humor, Living the Vida Lola is a thrilling ride that will have you up all night.
Buy at Amazon
___________________________________
The Flight of the Sunflower,
All About Kids Publishing
Take a journey with a sunflower seed as it looks for the perfect place to take root and grow.
