Here, killer, killer, killer . . .

For the first time in sixteen years, Lara Caphart has returned to her hometown of Whisker Jog, New Hampshire. She wants to reconnect with her estranged Aunt Fran, who’s having some difficulty looking after herself—and her eleven cats. Taking care of a clowder of kitties is easy, but keeping Fran from being harassed by local bully Theo Barnes is hard. The wealthy builder has his sights set on Fran’s property, and is determined to make her an offer she doesn’t dare refuse.

Then Lara spots a blue-eyed ragdoll cat that she swears is the reincarnation of her beloved Blue, her childhood pet. Pursuing the feline to the edge of Fran’s yard, she stumbles upon the body of Theo Barnes, clearly a victim of foul play. To get her and Fran off the suspect list, Lara finds herself following the cat’s clues in search of a killer. Is Blue’s ghost really trying to help her solve a murder, or has Lara inhaled too much catnip?

When reading a mass paperback book, many people fold the cover back, as if they were reading a magazine. Doing this will eventually create creases in the spine. How do you feel about this common bookish habit?

2. Enter the link to your post in the linky list below (enter your Blog Name and the direct link to your post answering this week’s question. Failure to do so will result in removal of your link).


3. Visit other blogs in the list and comment on their posts. Try to spend some time on the blogs reading other posts and possible become a new follower.  The purpose of the hop is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.
  

My Answer:

It doesn't bother me too much. I buy many used books that have creases down the spine. However, if I'm planning on giving away one of my reviews copies after I finish reading it, I always make sure to not to fold back the pages.

For those of you don't know, I actually have a YouTube Channel. Though I don't appear in the my videos very often, when I do, I normally wear a stocking cap or what some people refer to as a "beanie." My main reason for wearing it is because I don't like showing my bald head to entire world. Don't ask why it bothers me, as I don't have an answer for it.

Anyway, I recently received a cool new beanie from CacheAlaska, a family-owned company in Alaska. A cache is place to store supplies in Alaska that's out of reach from bears.

The beanie is available in three different colors: grey, black, and multicolor. I was sent the "grey" color, which is currently priced at $11.95 on Amazon. It's 100% acrylic.

Me wearing the beanie!

Some of you might remember me writing a few posts about my interests in online dating. My depression had kicked in around Thanksgiving and got worse around Christmas, due mostly to the fact that I'm still single. Plus, I always feel a bit lonely around the holidays. A few of my followers were kind enough to leave some comments on my posts. One person mentioned that there should be a dating site for book lovers.

After doing an internet search, I learned that there is in fact a dating site for book lovers. I went ahead and compiled a list of dating sites that appeal to me.

Yes, there's a dating site for readers! It's called Reading Passions. The site is 100% free. I haven't joined this site yet, but I'm considering it. From glancing at the website, it looks like it has groups, instant messaging, webcam video chat, and message forums.

As long as you're an adult, there's no age limit to join Reading Passions. This is somewhat of a surprise to me, as I did find similar sites that are aimed for older people. (If you're looking for older singles, try joining a Surrey dating site or a Leeds dating website.)

If you know me, then you would know that I love reading books! So, naturally, this is the one website that I'm most interested in joining.

Believe it or not! There's two dating websites related to Star Trek. They're called Star Trek Dating and Trek Passions (similar to Reading Passions).

If you're not into Star Trek, then you're in luck. There's also a dating website called Whovian Love  (Doctor Who fans), Dating for Muggles (Harry Potter fans), BronyMate (My Little Pony Fans), and Mouse Mingle (Disney fans).

No matter what country you're from I'm sure there are many science fiction and fantasy fans looking for love. So if you live in another country, then there's a good chance there's a few geeky dating websites that will appeal to you, such as Nottinghamshire dating websites and Bristol dating sites.

Broadway Books; 308 pages; Amazon

Typically, I don't read a book right away after receiving a review copy, but that wasn't the case with Long Black Veil by Jennifer Finney Boylan. The book arrived in the mail on Tuesday afternoon and I ended up reading several chapters that night. I had the story on my mind throughout that night, so I finished reading it yesterday morning.

Long Black Veil is a murder mystery thriller that spans over thirty-five-years. It all began in 1980 when six college friends (Jon Casey, Rachel Steinberg, Masie Lenfest, Tripper Pennypacker, Wailer Curtin, and Quentin Pheaney), a boy (Lenny Lenfest), and a college professor (Nathan Krystal) went inside the abandoned Eastern State Penitentiary in Pennsylvania in the middle of the night. They only wanted to take a look around the supposedly "haunted" prison, but they ended up staying the entire night, as someone traps them inside the place. Eight people went inside the prison, but only seven come out the next morning.

Thirty-five-years later, a body is found inside a prison cell's wall and the prime suspect is celebrity chef John Casey. As the media gets a hold of the story, the remaining survivors of the1980 incident come aware that one of their friends died that night. If Casey is innocent, then who is the murderer?

The answer to the truth might lie within Judith, a fifty-something journalist who knows a bit too much about what occurred that miserable summer night in 1980.

The paperback edition has a Reader's Guide and a few recipes in the back of the book.

Now available Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, and Kobo is the romantic novel In The Heat Of The Tropics by Christina Elliott.

Amid a sweltering Miami summer, a serial killer is haunting the city. Reporter Ingrid Sorenson is assigned the story and her primary source is brusque detective Rick Gonzalez. The pair clash, but sparks of passion ignite. They risk their jobs to give in to their desire, but mistrust of each other’s career motives wedges them apart. Then Ingrid gets a tip that leads her into the killer’s lair. She and Rick must choose between saving themselves or rescuing their love.

When did you become interested in storytelling?

When I was about five, I won a prize for “writing interesting stories.” I have no idea what I wrote at that early age. They must have been very simple stories with one-syllable words but they obviously impressed the teacher! I’ve always been a bookworm and that made me want to write books since I was little. In high school I discovered journalism and that became my career goal since it was about writing.

What was your first book/story published?

I had a short story published in my high school literary magazine when I was in 10th grade so I guess that was my first publication. Then there was a huge gap until about 2007 when I started writing creatively in earnest. I brushed off a bunch of dusty old short stories and submitted them to literary journals. The Internet made submissions much easier!

What inspired you to write In the Heat of the Tropics?

I love both gritty crime fiction and romances so to me romantic suspense is a great genre that combines both elements. I used to be a newspaper reporter in Miami so that was my obvious lead character, Ingrid, and knowing that reporters often clash with cops over big stories, that formed the basis for the romantic and thriller plot. It seemed a natural fit and I knew about both cops (having dated two of them!) and reporters.

What character in In the Heat of the Tropics is the most like you, and in what ways?

Ingrid, the lead character, is based on myself. She’s an intrepid reporter, heads off to follow a story wherever that may take her. She doesn’t get scared easily. She goes to interview prostitutes on the street by herself and follows a lead on the killer. I’ve done many such things myself. As a foreign correspondent, I was in a number of dangerous situations doing my job, although I didn’t realize they were potentially dangerous until I was in them or until afterward and I thought “what was I doing?!” It can be difficult for some to understand that mindset but many journalists have a strong sense of adventure, and that’s what drives Ingrid.

What is your favorite part in In the Heat of the Tropics?

Early date scenes are always fun because there’s a lot of quick, light banter in the dialogue, plus a lot of discovery about the characters. It’s flirtatious and fun, with a lot eyeing each other up and down in the heat of the initial attraction.

What was the hardest part to write?

Any action scene of violence is always the hardest to write for me. You have to choreograph the struggle, where various limbs are positioned, the feasibility of one character being able to do something against the other’s reactions. Not having done a lot of physical fighting I my life, I find these scenes tedious. Maybe I should take a boxing lesson or two!

What would your ideal career be, if you couldn't be an author?

I’d love to be a comedic actor. I took some acting classes some years ago and not only found them hugely therapeutic, but also that I have a knack for comedy. I find being zany and way out a huge release. It’s weird because I love reading, writing and watching drama, but when I act, it’s comedy all the way!

Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?

Revell; 352 pages; $14.99; Amazon

I'd originally read To Follow Her Heart, book three in The Southold Chronicles, back in 2016, but like several other books, I never got around to writing the review for it. I reread the book right after I reread the second book in the series a few nights ago. I meant to have this review written & posted over the weekend, but I ended up binge watching Anne with an E on NETFLIX instead.

Set in 1664, To Follow Her Heart centers on Captain Jeremy Horton, who's ship goes down near the coast of Barbados. Everyone who knows him in Southold, Long Island, including his love Patience Terry, believes he died at sea. Unknowingly to them, Jeremy is the lone survivor of the shipwreck.

While his funeral services is being planned, Jeremy hops aboard a British warship, which has orders to attack New Amsterdam and claim it for the British Crown. Eventually, Jeremy returns to Southold, but the homecoming he had hope for doesn't exist.