February 26 is National Tell a Fairy Tale Day! Fairy tales originated as oral histories told by travelers or moral stories for children. Who doesn't like gathering around a campfire for a thrilling or scary story? ...

5 stars "another story filled with traumatized “imperfect” people facing daunting challenges and somehow managing to survive, prevail and inspire." ...

One of the books I read this week was Cobblered to Death by Rosemarie Ross. It is a culinary cozy mystery, the first in the Courtney Archer series. Host of a television show about rural cooking, Courtney is helping to cohost a cooking competition, and wouldn't you know it—somebody dies. There are plenty of twists and turns as Courtney (and the local security guy and the sheriff) try to figure out which of the other contestants might have done the dirty deed. ...

Back in the saddle, Private Investigator Zachary Goldman is hired by Kenzie's father to investigate the heist of valuable memorabilia from his favorite sports bar. Kenzie did say that it was a bad idea. Maybe Zachary should have listened ...

It is launch day for Time to Your Elf, book #14 in the Reg Rawlins, Private Investigator series. You can read this fun book as a stand alone, or as part of the series to multiply your enjoyment. ...

Hawkins introduces you to a number of widely varying characters in the wake of a murder of a young man on a longboat. Then she slowly starts to weave the connections between each of these characters, their relationships and their pasts. Even when the murderer confesses, you don't yet know everything and are in for a few more plot twists before it all comes together. ...

This year, I am going to let just a taste of romance into my Valentine's Day post. No, I am still not interested in the love at first sight or romantic date tropes, but I thought I would feature some slow-burn romance in the mystery genre. ...

Wow, this one is an amazing read. In From the Ashes, My Story of Being Indigenous, Homeless, and Finding My Way, Jesse Thistle tells about the road he travelled, homeless and in and out of prison for decades before managing to overcome his addiction, enter university, and discover his heritage while working on a BA in history. He is now a speaker on indigenous history, homelessness, and intergenerational trauma. ...

I am very excited to release Sandy, Breaking the Pattern, book #2 in the Breaking the Pattern Series out into the world today. If you read Henry, Breaking the Pattern, then you have already met Sandy and been intrigued by her having grown up in a life of crime and her relationships with her exploitive father and her half brother, who Henry met in juvie. ...

Thirty-Three Teeth by Colin Cotterill is the second book that I have read in the Dr. Siri Paiboun Mystery series. (And though it is the second book in the series, the other one that I have read is actually #4, Anarchy and Old Dogs.) This mystery series is very different from any I have read before. It is steeped in the Lao setting and culture, with lots of fascinating plant names (like dog fart flowers and bull testicle trees), political red tape, and history. ...

I don't usually put a book on sale quite as soon after its launch day as this, but it's your lucky day! Get Careful of Thy Wishes, book #13 in the Reg Rawlins, Psychic Investigator series for just $0.99 this weekend only. ...

has an interesting premise. The main character's husband (a policeman) commits suicide, and she is digging down, trying to understand why. It turns out there are a number of secrets hidden in the past, and at this point (more than halfway through the book) there are many indicators of a police coverup and conspiracy to keep her from finding anything out. ...