Plantagenet Legacy Series by Mercedes Rochelle @authorrochelle @cathiedunn @thecoffeepotbookclub Blog Tour!

#HenryIV #Plantagenet #Lancaster #Medieval #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub 

Book Title: 

THE USURPER KING and THE ACCURSED KING

Series: 

The Plantagenet Legacy

Author: 

Mercedes Rochelle

Publication Date: 

The Usurper King: 4/5/21    The Accursed King: 4/18/22

Publisher: 

Sergeant Press

Pages: 

The Usurper King : 305 pages 

  The Accursed King: 301 pages

Genre: 

Historical Fiction / Medieval Historical Fiction

THE USURPER KING by Mercedes Rochelle

Book 4 of The Plantagenet Legacy

From Outlaw to Usurper, Henry Bolingbroke fought one rebellion after another.

First, he led his own uprising. Then he captured a forsaken king. Henry had no intention of taking the crown for himself; it was given to him by popular acclaim. Alas, it didn't take long to realize that that having the kingship was much less rewarding than striving for it. Only three months after his coronation, Henry IV had to face a rebellion led by Richard's disgruntled favorites. Repressive measures led to more discontent. His own supporters turned against him, demanding more than he could give. The haughty Percies precipitated the Battle of Shrewsbury which nearly cost him the throne—and his life.

To make matters worse, even after Richard II's funeral, the deposed monarch was rumored to be in Scotland, planning his return. The king just wouldn't stay down and malcontents wanted him back.

#2 Book Title and Author Name:

THE ACCURSED KING by Mercedes Rochelle

Book 5 of The Plantagenet Legacy

What happens when a king loses his prowess?

The day Henry IV could finally declare he had vanquished his enemies, he threw it all away with an infamous deed. No English king had executed an archbishop before. And divine judgment was quick to follow. Many thought he was struck with leprosy—God's greatest punishment for sinners. From that point on, Henry's health was cursed and he fought doggedly on as his body continued to betray him—reducing this once great warrior to an invalid.

Fortunately for England, his heir was ready and eager to take over. But Henry wasn't willing to relinquish what he had worked so hard to preserve. No one was going to take away his royal prerogative—not even Prince Hal. But Henry didn't count on Hal's dauntless nature, which threatened to tear the royal family apart.

Universal Buy Links:

The Usurper King: https://books2read.com/u/3nkRJ9 

The Accursed King: https://books2read.com/u/b5KpnG 

The Plantagenet Legacy Series Links:

Amazon US Series Link

Amazon UK Series Link

All titles in the series are available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

EXCERPT FROM THE USURPER KING

HENRY IV DEMANDS HOSTAGES FROM THE PERCIES, WITH UNFORTUNATE RESULTS

It wasn't until later that the king summoned the earl to his council chamber. He confronted Percy in front of a much smaller batch of witnesses, blaming the father for the disobedience of the son. Dispensing with any formalities, Henry went right to the point.

"Why is Harry not here? Where is Archibald Douglas?"

Of course, Percy was expecting a confrontation but his own frustration simmered close to the surface. He didn't know whether he was angrier at the king or his son. At the moment, it didn't matter. 

"Sire, you can see they did not come."

"Yes, I can see. I want to know why."

"You'll have to ask my son. He will answer for himself."

"I'm asking you! Douglas has been the instigator of all our border troubles. I want him under lock and key." Henry caught himself clenching his fists.

"He is, I assure you. Harry takes personal responsibility for him."

"I demanded that he bring Douglas to London. He has no license to flout my commands."

Percy was nearing the end of his patience. "Sire, you forget. We are committed to our guardianship, but we have emptied our coffers in your service. The ransom money will help relieve our debt."

"I have paid you £60,000. What more do you want?"

That was too much. Stamping his foot on the ground, Percy let slip his restraint. "That is not true and you know it," he shouted. "You still owe us £20,000 in cash and bad tallies. And you wonder why Harry is upset."

It was Henry's turn to snap. "Haven't you been paying attention? Look what I've had to deal with!" He threw up his hands. "Two rebellions, back and forth from Scotland to Wales, piracy interfering with trade, expenses of the Calais garrison, the defense of Guyenne, protecting the southern coast against the French. My God, no wonder there is no money in the exchequer. I have paid you as much as I can and there is no more!"

Clearly, Percy was not concerned about Henry's problems. His voice lowered to a growl. "When you entered the kingdom you promised to rule according to your council. By now you have received large sums from the country, and yet you say you have nothing. God grant you better counsel!"

Henry was momentarily taken aback. He couldn't admit it, but all his life he had let someone else worry about finances. Money was always there to draw on when he needed it. The day he took the crown he was the wealthiest man in England. How did it disappear so quickly? He knew a large percentage of his expenses went to annuities—and these annuities had been granted without consulting his council. He had to; how else was he going to hold on to his supporters? At the same time, he needed to continue paying annuities to Richard's retainers and for the same reason. 

He was about to say something when Percy bowed and backed from the room. Neither of them trusted himself to pursue an argument that would just end up with more bitterness, and Henry let him go. Besides, his real quarrel was with Hotspur.

Once Henry Percy returned to Northumberland, he vented some of his anger on his recalcitrant son. "As soon as I walked in the door, he wanted to know where you were. And where was Douglas."

"What an ungrateful wretch," Harry spat. "It wasn't enough that we won the most significant battle in fifty years. He has to cheat us out of our just desserts."

"I agree with you, son. But it wasn't right that I had to take all the abuse. Things went from bad to worse. I had to leave before I said something I would live to regret."

Harry grunted, looking at the ground. "All right. I see that I must face him, myself. But by God, Douglas stays here!"

In his usual fashion, once Hotspur made up his mind he acted upon it right away. Taking a small retinue, he rode to London. 

When Harry was introduced into the king's chamber, he was greeted in much the same manner as his father was. Turning in his chair, Henry said, "Did you bring Archibald Douglas with you?"

Briefly kneeling, Hotspur shook his head. "He cannot travel," he said.

"I wasn't asking about his health," the king retorted. "I commanded you to bring him."

"Sire, as a knight I must observe common decency. He cannot travel."

"That is not the reason. You continue to defy me!"

Pursing his lips, Harry was quickly losing his temper. "You defy the laws of chivalry! It is not your right to demand our prisoners!"

"As your king it is certainly my right! They are firebrands and their retention is good for the country."

"Breaking faith with the Scots will only outrage them further."

"That is not what is at question here."

"That's because you don't understand their customs. They only surrender to the man who has defeated them. No one else! Besides, since you will not reimburse what we are owed, how else am I going to pay my soldiers? I may need the money for Mortimer's ransom seeing that you refuse to pay it."

"I will not have good English gold leaving the country to aid our enemies!"

That was too much for Harry. "Shall a man expose himself to danger for your sake, and you refuse to help him in his captivity? Why is it you beggared the exchequer to ransom that dog Reginald Grey, who started this rebellion in the first place?"

Henry was not about to justify his defence of his Marcher baron. "I'll tell you why I won't ransom Mortimer. He is a traitor! Why else did he allow Glyndwr to capture him so easily? And you! You are a traitor, too! I heard you had Glyndwr in your hands and didn't capture him."

"We were negotiating under a flag of truce! Of course I didn't capture him!"

"And where did your negotiations go?"

"Four times my father and I came to a settlement with the Welsh. And four times you rejected the conditions. Your stubbornness forces them into rebellion."

 "I think you negotiated for yourself!" Overcome by resentment and disappointment, Henry struck Hotspur on the cheek. As the other gasped in shock, Henry drew his dagger and Harry slapped his hand onto his own hip, forgetting that he had relinquished his blade at the door.

His face a deep red, Hotspur retreated a step. "Not here, but in the field!" he exclaimed, then turned his back on the king and stormed out the door, slamming it behind him.

Mercedes Rochelle is an ardent lover of medieval history and has channeled this interest into fiction writing. She believes that good Historical Fiction, or Faction as it's coming to be known, is an excellent way to introduce the subject to curious readers.

Her first four books cover eleventh-century Britain and events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Her new project is called “The Plantagenet Legacy” taking us through the reigns of the last true Plantagenet King, Richard II and his successors, Henry IV, Henry V and Henry VI. She also writes a blog: HistoricalBritainBlog.com to explore the history behind the story. 

Born in St. Louis, MO, she received by BA in Literature at the University of Missouri St.Louis in 1979 then moved to New York in 1982 while in her mid-20s to "see the world". The search hasn't ended!

Today she lives in Sergeantsville, NJ with her husband in a log home they had built themselves.

Website: https://mercedesrochelle.com/  

Twitter: https://x.com/authorrochelle 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mercedesrochelle.net 

Book Bub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/mercedes-rochelle 

Amazon Author Page:  https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mercedes-Rochelle/author/B001KMG5P6 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1696491.Mercedes_Rochelle 

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A Los Angeles Quakes Hockey Series Book 1 by Alisa Jean Release Blitz! @SilverDaggerBookTours #Lincoln #LosAngelesQuakers @alisajean.author

From rivalries to secret glances across the rink, 

dive into a story filled with passion, ice, and a

 little bit of chaos.

Lincoln

A Los Angeles Quakes Hockey Series Book 1

by Alisa Jean

Genre: Sports Hockey Romance 

L.A. Quakes’ fans stomped their feet to cheers of “Caveman!” when I made incredible saves in the crease, leading the team to two Stanley Cup victories. I thought I could go on forever, but at thirty-six, the clock’s counting down even for Lincoln Cavanaugh. Social media and fan sites are filled with rumors of me being traded. Or worse. My future looks as uncertain as a loose puck on the ice.

My fate rests in the hands of Catherine Bishop, daughter of the team’s owner and a power to be reckoned with. And what fine hands they are, along with everything else about her. A chance encounter leads to sparks between us, but is falling in love with this incredible woman worth the risk?

Because with her by my side, I’m once again an unstoppable force between the pipes, and victories pile up like never before. However, our love is a ticking time bomb because Catherine has dreams of making history as the first female and person of color to own an NHL team. Sleeping with a player would make that all go up in smoke. I fear when the truth comes out, it will be the final buzzer for us.

Lincoln:

Hockey Romance

Forbidden Love

Dating the Boss's Daughter

Sneaking Around

Aging Goalie

Dating Her Secret Crush

He Rescues Her

Future Boss

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Alisa Jean is the pseudonym for award-winning authors Marla A. White and C J Bahr. They first teamed up over thirty years ago over a bottle of Zima (don’t ask) while polishing their gear for a horse show. They’ve since moved on to better beverages and writing novels. Separately, Marla prefers to murder characters in the usual way, while C J uses paranormal means. The long-time best friends joined together as a writing team through their mutual love of hockey. Wonder twin powers activated! Their hockey romances examine flawed characters with heart, humor, and sexy sizzle.

Website * Facebook * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

 

I take his tiny gloved hand in my large one and start skating to where the Tremblers are standing in lines in front of the coaches. My friends are right behind me when we stop next to the staff, and I give the boy a gentle push. “Go get back in formation.”

Coach Greer holds out a hand, which I shake. “Thanks for doing this, it means the world to the kids.”

“It’s our pleasure.” My teammates nod along in agreement.

Greer introduces us to the tiny players and as I gaze over the group, I’m happy to see a lot of girls. This isn’t always the case at this age, so I’m glad their numbers are growing. Usually, they’d rather be figure skating. We’re about to break into groups for drills when I hear another pair of skates hit the ice. Turning, I’m stunned to see Catherine gliding toward us.

I spin and whisper-shout, “Who the hell invited her?” while glaring at my friends.

“Um,” Ribi raises a hand. “I thought since she was interested, she could tag along.”

My lips thin into a frown. All three of them bust out laughing. Oh shit, this is a setup.

“Hey. Sorry, I’m late. Traffic coming over the hill was murder.” She murmurs to us, then smiles and gives a wave at the kids. “Hi everyone, I think I missed the intros. I’m Catherine Bishop. My father, Robert Bishop, is the owner of the Los Angeles Quakes. I’m not the best hockey player, so I hope you’ll teach me.”

Which is bullshit. I know she played in college. They weren’t champs or anything, but she knows her way around the ice. I smile, knowing she’s fibbing for the kids’ sake.

And she’s adorable. She threaded her ponytail through the back of her Quakes’ baseball cap. Her hair swishes back and forth every time she moves. She must have gotten the memo, because she’s dressed identically to us, from hockey skates, black snow pants, and a Quakes’ sweater, though hers isn’t numbered. It’s a blank. The hockey gloves swallow her hands, but she holds her stick like she knows how to use it.

Since the introductions are finished, the kids break into groups for drills and my teammates spread out to help. The time flies and my cheeks hurt from the constant smiling.

Then Sonny yells over in that commanding captain's voice, “Caveman, little help in the right circle.” I snap to it, instinctively following his orders because, on the ice, he’s the leader. We all follow and would do anything for him. Then I realize he’s sending me over to Catherine, who is having trouble teaching a little girl how to skate backward. Ribi and Bri are both closer, so his master plan isn’t exactly subtle. If there weren’t kids around, I’d tell him where to shove it, but we’re here for them, so I skate over to help.

“There seems to be a bit of a balance problem over here.”

“I’m a good skater,” Catherine states. “But apparently not the best instructor.”

“No worries,” I crouch in front of the little skater. “What’s your name?”

“Lacey.”

“Nice to meet you, Lacey. Can I show you something?”

She nods her head frantically, and my smile turns into a grin. I stand and hold my stick across my body and lower it to her height. “Grab on with both hands.” She does. Next, I bend my knees a little and lean a tiny bit forward at my waist. “Okay, copy me.” Lacey does, and I start skating forward. She’s pushed along with her grip on my stick. “Good. Keep moving your skates. Excellent. Now take one hand off.” Her balance wobbles, but she recovers. “Great job. Now, without losing your position, I want you to let go and keep skating.”

She looks a little nervous but follows through. She remains upright and skates backward.

“Awesome, Lacey. Look at you go.”

“I’m doing it! I’ve got this.” Her voice filled with pride and smiles.

“Yes, you do. Keep going.” I encourage her and step to the side, watching her skate away.

Catherine skates over. “You’re pretty amazing yourself. It’s like you have this magical touch. I spent almost twenty minutes with Lacey and got nowhere. You skate by and in less than a minute, she can skate backward on her own.”

Before I can reply, I’m slammed from behind, cut off at the knees. I fall forward into Catherine and we both go down. A little boy does a victory circle around us before skating off. I hear my friends laughing, those fuckers. I’ve got to be crushing her, so I move my weight to my arms and look down. “Are you all right? Did you hit your head?” We aren’t wearing helmets. I don’t want her to move if she’s hurt. It’s when I’m staring at her I realize how incredible she feels beneath me, all soft and curvy. I need to banish those thoughts before my cock gets ideas. There’s no way she wouldn’t notice in this position.

“I think I’m good.”

“Okay, let’s take it slow.” I get to my feet and hold out a hand, pulling her up. She’s standing close, so it’s easy to touch the back of her head. “Any pain or tenderness?”

“N-no, I-I’m fine.”

I stare into her eyes. They’re an amazing combination of brown and green. This woman. There’s so much more to her than anyone knows. Screw it. I’m going for it.

“Catherine,” I whisper.

“Y-yes?”

I lean a little closer, our noses almost touching. “Have dinner with me? Sunday.” This close, I can see her eyes dilate with my question. She’s attracted to me. “Come on, say yes.”

“It’s a bad idea,” she whispers back.

“Probably, but let’s do it anyway,” I smirk because I can’t help myself.

“Okay.”

“Okay.” I smile and skate backward, away from her. This is either the best decision ever or the worst mistake of my life.

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by Cindy Goyette January 20 - February 14, 2025 Virtual Book Tour

A Probation Case Files Mystery

There are two ways to get off probation early. The first is to be a model citizen and complete all requirements imposed by the court. The second is to die.

 In Early Termination, Phoenix probation officer Casey Carson’s clients aren’t civic-minded, but they are dropping like flies.

She’s on a gang’s hit list, a detective’s suspect list, and is torn while two very hot men vie for her heart. As more clients die and a probationer accuses her of brutality, she becomes the focus of the investigation. Casey risks losing everything in her race to find the real killer, but doing so will put the target squarely on her back. She will need to find the person responsible for lightening her workload before she’s the one terminated.

Praise for Cindy Goyette's Novels:

"A hard-charging crime novel powered by combustible realism and driven by a fresh, new heroine—probation officer Casey Carson. Buckle up for a wild, white-knuckle ride."
~ Lee Goldberg, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"A dynamite start to an excellent new series. This is the kind of book that can grow legs and take off just by word of mouth. The character Casey Carson has grit, loyalty and honor. OBEY ALL LAWS is a topnotch thriller and I can't wait for the next one. Author Cindy Goyette is here to stay."
~ David Putnam the bestselling author of The Bruno Johnson series

"Cindy Goyette is a master with words. And she knows how to spin a tale! Drawing from rich life experiences in law enforcement, her characters jump from the page. Don't miss a single sentence this gifted author writes."
~ Judith L. Pearson, author of From Shadows to Life, The Wolves at the Door and Belly of the Beast

"A rollicking ride through the gritty world of feisty Probation Officer Casey Carson, a fantastic character with a heart as big and vast as the Arizona desert she calls home. When her probationers keep stacking up as homicide victims, Casey realizes that someone is sending her a message, and they're dead serious about it. Now, she must unravel the sinister plot before she becomes the next victim.

 A complex, entertaining story that includes a secondary theme of romantic frustration simmering in the background, and a twisty ending that ensures we'll see more adventures from Casey Carson. A great read! Five thumbs-up!"
~ Kerry Peresta, author of the Olivia Callahan Suspense series and Back Before Dawn

Book Details:

Genre: Mystery, Suspense
Published by: Level Best Books
Publication Date: January 7, 2025
Number of Pages: 320
Series: A Probation Case Files Mystery
Book Links: Amazon | Goodreads

Read an excerpt:

One

In probation work, there’s no such thing as a routine day at the office.

This morning, flashing red and blue lights guided me to the crime scene. Coming to a stop behind the coroner’s van, I parked my Jeep Wrangler and took a deep breath.

Coroner meant someone was dead. Not a good start to my day, but even worse for whoever I’d been called here about.

As I climbed out of my Jeep, I adjusted my sunglasses and surveyed the area. Yellow crime scene tape blocked off the entrance to the canal. Red tile rooftops peeked over six-foot walls that separated the waterway from the middle-class sea of stucco on either side. The canal, about ten feet wide, snaked smack in the middle of a dirt pathway that residents used to get their steps in.

It was nearing the end of September, and I was grateful for the hint of the cooler weather that would dip below one hundred for the first time in months. Ninety degrees might seem hot to some, but in Arizona, it was sweater weather.

I walked up to a uniformed cop and held out my badge. “I’m with probation. Detective Ramsey asked me to come.”

It wasn’t unusual for the police to contact us, but it wasn’t common practice to be called to a crime scene. My curiosity mixed with dread.

The cop glanced at my identification. “Ms. Carson. Welcome to the shit show. Don’t touch anything.” He held the tape high so I could pass. I ducked underneath and secured my badge to my belt so the other officers could tell I belonged there.

Lots of Tempe Police blue uniforms and forensic staff mulled around the area, but I homed in on the tall, balding man standing close to the water. He had on plain clothes—khakis and a plaid shirt with the sleeves rolled up. I figured he might be Ramsey, so I walked over to him.

He scribbled something on a small notepad and glanced at me as I approached. “You the PO?”

I nodded and dropped my gaze to the mound covered by a tarp at his feet. I wasn’t fond of seeing dead bodies. One reason I was a PO and not a cop.

“Thinking this might be one of your charges, Ms. Carson,” he said. “I gotta warn you, it’s not pretty. He was in the water for a while and birds, and god knows what else got to him. You got a strong stomach?”

No. At the mere thought of seeing the body, my breakfast threatened to make a reappearance, but I wouldn’t admit that. “I’m fine. Why do you think he was on my caseload?”

Ramsey shrugged. “Someone stuffed your business card in his mouth.”

I gulped air. “You’re kidding.”

“Nope. You ready?” Ramsey reached down and pulled the sheet back before I could respond.

A bloated, green face, missing chunks of cheek, greeted me. Bulging eyes looked skyward. Bran flakes swirled in my stomach and crested in my throat. Without a word, I ran to the canal and vomited so hard I thought I’d hack up a vital organ or two.

“You okay, ma’am?” Ramsey sounded bored.

I wiped my mouth on my sleeve and straightened. Memories of the same man, alive and animated, flashed in my mind. Not so long ago, he was proud of accomplishing a solid month of sobriety. Now, I hardly recognized him. “Could you put the sheet back?” I said, keeping my back to the body on the ground.

“Sure.”

I waited a moment to give Ramsey time to cover the corpse and to compose myself. But that would take a while, and the detective didn’t seem like he had a lot of patience. The relationship between police and probation was fickle. We often needed each other, but POs were on the lower end of the food chain.

When I finally turned around, Ramsey was tapping his pen against his notebook. “So, you know the guy, or what?”

“Brian Johnson,” I said. “He was on abscond status. Haven’t seen him for a few weeks, maybe a month. He was doing well, but then he stopped reporting. He probably relapsed. I was gearing up to request a warrant for probation violations. What do you think was the cause of death?”

Ramsey shrugged again. “Too soon to tell, but most people who die of natural causes don’t end up in a canal or send a message like your business card does. They preserved it in a plastic Baggie, so we’d get the point no matter how long it took to find him.

I felt even sicker. Was the message for me? “Couldn’t you ID him through fingerprints? I thought you had all kinds of tech gadgets for that.”

“Sure,” Ramsey said. “But then I wouldn’t have seen your reaction. Plus, some of his fingertips are missing and what’s left probably isn’t usable. Dental records take time.” He pulled a business card out of his shirt pocket and handed it to me. “Call me if you think of anything else I might need to know.”

I turned back to the canal and vomited until I had nothing left to give.

In probation work, there’s no such thing as a routine day at the office.

This morning, flashing red and blue lights guided me to the crime scene. Coming to a stop behind the coroner’s van, I parked my Jeep Wrangler and took a deep breath.

Coroner meant someone was dead. Not a good start to my day but even worse for whoever I’d been called here about.

As I climbed out of my Jeep, I adjusted my sunglasses and surveyed the area. Yellow crime scene tape blocked off the entrance to the canal. Red tile rooftops peeked over six-foot walls that separated the waterway from the middle-class sea of stucco on either side. The canal, about ten feet wide, snaked smack in the middle of a dirt pathway that local residents used to get their steps in.

It was nearing the end of September, and I was grateful for the hint of the cooler weather that would dip below one hundred for the first time in months. Ninety degrees might seem hot to some, but in Arizona, it was sweater weather.

I walked up to a uniformed cop and held out my badge. “I’m with probation. Detective Ramsey asked me to come.”

It wasn’t unusual for police to contact us, but it wasn’t common practice to be called to a crime scene. My curiosity mixed with dread.

The cop glanced at my identification. “Ms. Carson. Welcome to the shit show. Don’t touch anything.” He held the tape high so I could pass. I ducked underneath and secured my badge to my belt so the other officers could tell I belonged there.

Lots of Tempe Police blue uniforms and forensic staff mulled around the area, but I homed in on the tall balding man standing close to the water. He was dressed in plain clothes—khakis and a plaid shirt with the sleeves rolled up. I figured he might be Ramsey, so I walked over to him.

He scribbled something on a small notepad and glanced at me as I approached. “You the PO?”

I nodded and dropped my gaze to the mound covered by a tarp at his feet. I wasn’t fond of seeing dead bodies. One of the reasons, I was a PO and not a cop.

“Thinking this might be one of your charges, Ms. Carson,” he said. “I gotta warn you, it’s not pretty. He was in the water for a while and birds, and god knows what else got to him. You got a strong stomach?”

No. At the mere thought of seeing the body, my breakfast threatened to make a reappearance, but I wouldn’t admit that. “I’m fine. Why do you think he was on my caseload?”

Ramsey shrugged. “Your business card was stuffed in his mouth.”

I gulped air. “You’re kidding.”

“Nope. You ready?” Ramsey reached down and pulled the sheet back before I could respond.

The face before me was bloated, green, and missing chunks of cheek. Bulging eyes looked skyward. Bran flakes swirled in my stomach and crested in my throat. Without a word, I ran to the canal and vomited so hard, I thought I’d hack up a vital organ or two.

“You okay, ma’am?” Ramsey sounded bored.

I wiped my mouth on my sleeve and straightened. Memories of the same man, alive and animated flashed in my mind. Not so long ago, he was proud of accomplishing a solid month of sobriety. Now, I hardly recognized him. “Could you put the sheet back?” I said, keeping my back to the body on the ground.

“Sure.”

I waited a moment to give Ramsey time to cover the corpse and to compose myself. But that would take a while, and the detective didn’t seem like he had a lot of patience. The relationship between police and probation was fickle. We often needed each other, but POs were on the lower end of the food chain.

When I finally turned around, Ramsey was tapping his pen against his notebook. “So, you know the guy, or what?”

“Brian Johnson,” I said. “He was on abscond status. Haven’t seen him for a few weeks, maybe a month. He was doing well, but then he stopped reporting. He probably relapsed. I was gearing up to request a warrant for probation violations. What do you think was the cause of death?”

Ramsey shrugged again. “Too soon to tell, but most people who die of natural causes don’t end up in a canal or send a message like your business card does. It was preserved in a plastic Baggie, so we’d get the point no matter how long it took to find him.”

I felt even sicker. Was the message for me? “Couldn’t you ID him through fingerprints? I thought you had all kinds of tech gadgets for that.”

“Sure,” Ramsey said. “But then I wouldn’t have seen your reaction. Plus, some of his fingertips are missing and what’s left probably isn’t usable. Dental records take time.” He pulled a business card out of his shirt pocket and handed it to me. “Call me if you think of anything else I might need to know.”

I turned back to the canal and vomited until I had nothing left to give.

***

Excerpt from Early Termination by Cindy Goyette. Copyright 2025 by Cindy Goyette. Reproduced with permission from Cindy Goyette. All rights reserved.

Cindy Goyette is a former probation officer who had a front row seat to the criminal justice system. She kept her sanity by finding humor in most situations. A mix of these things helped her create The Probation Case Files Mystery Series, Book 1, OBEY ALL LAWS won a PSWA Award for best suspense, and was published in January of 2024. Book 2, EARLY TERMINATION, released January of 2025.

 Her first cozy mystery, DIAMOND IN THE RUFF, will release in May of 2025. After spending over twenty years in Arizona, Cindy lives in Washington state with her husband and two Cocker Spaniels.

Catch Up With Cindy Goyette:
CCGoyette.com
Amazon Author Profile
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For Love’s Sake: An Epic Historical/Fantasy Romantic Adventure By Kelli A. Wilkins NEW RELEASE!

 

Hi everyone, 

I’m pleased to announce the release of my latest book, For Love’s Sake. It’s an epic historical/fantasy romantic adventure. I hope you’ll add it to your 2025 reading list. 

JUST RELEASED!

For Love’s Sake

An Epic Historical/Fantasy Romantic Adventure

be with him.
He risked losing everything to stay with her.
They were willing to sacrifice everything… for love’s sake

Through a case of mistaken identity, Prince Kevan of Alborg narrowly avoids an assassination attempt and wakes to find himself trapped in mad King Torok’s rat-infested dungeon. Just when he is about to give up hope, he is rescued by an unlikely ally—Torok’s daughter, Princess Adrianna.

Adrianna is desperate to flee her father’s kingdom and agrees to help the handsome stranger escape, but only if he takes her with him when he leaves. Although Kevan knows bringing Adrianna home will not sit well with his father and lead to other complications, he agrees.

They make their way to a waiting ship captained by Kevan’s brother, Mikhael, and set sail for Alborg. Along the way they are lost at sea during a ferocious storm, battle a murderous mercenary sent by Adrianna’s father, and try to deny their intense romantic feelings for each other. 

When they arrive in Alborg, Kevan’s father, King Lenard, disapproves of Adrianna and drops the bombshell that Kevan is already engaged to be married. While Kevan tries to get out of the arranged marriage, Mikhael introduces Adrianna to members of the nobility in an effort to win over the king.

At his engagement ball, Kevan is forced to choose between his duty to his father and his loyalty to Adrianna. Soon after, Adrianna is kidnapped and Kevan and Mikhael band together to hunt down her abductors and rescue her before it’s too late.

Order it here:

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DS2H1YMD

Other platforms

https://books2read.com/u/4jvDXj

Visit my site for a full title list and to catch up on my blog posts! 

(www.kelliwilkins.com)

I’ll be sharing more about the book in an upcoming blog, so stay tuned. I welcome questions and comments from readers. Contact me on social media. (Links are on the contact page of my site.)

Happy Reading!

Kelli A. Wilki

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has published more than 100 short stories, 20+ romance novels, and 8 mystery/horror ebooks. Her romances span many genres and settings, and she likes to scare readers with her horror and mystery stories. 

Her latest release, For Love’s Sake, an epic historical/fantasy romantic adventure, was published in January 2025.

In August 2024, she released Surreal Escapes, a collection of 7 speculative/spooky stories. Anything can—and does—happen in this anthology. 

Kelli released her fourth gay romance, A Thousand Summer Secrets, in April 2024.

This tender contemporary romance takes place over a summer weekend, where two friends reconnect while seeking love and acceptance.

She published The Route 9 Killer, a mystery/thriller set in Central NJ, in May 2023. 

Follow Kelli on her Facebook author page https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKelliWilkins

and visit her website/blog www.KelliWilkins.com for a

full title list and social media links.

Skate City Series: Good Sports, Book Three by Alex Winters New Release Blitz!

 #bookaddiction #bookshelf #mustread #instabook #fortheloveofbooks #bookrecs #newbook #readersofinsta #tbrpile #whattoread #newbook #weekendreads #contemporary #DiverseReads #romance #lesbian

Title:  Skate City

Series: Good Sports, Book Three

Author: Alex Winters

Publisher:  NineStar Press

Release Date: 01/21/2025

Heat Level: 3 - Some Sex

Pairing: Female/Female

Length: 22100

Genre

 Contemporary, Romance, contemporary, lesbian, sports, 

skate shop, skateboarder

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Description

All Zoe Chamberlain wanted was to buy a skateboard for her one of her perpetually late employees. Was that so hard? It shouldn’t have been, yet the minute Zoe walks into Skate City to finish up her shopping, the fiery young redhead behind the counter captures her eye, and her heart, from their first interaction. Sarcastic, funny, witty, and bold, the counter girl—Astrid—makes quick work of Zoe’s resolve and charms her with every fiery retort and sly, leering glance. It’s not quite love at first sight, more like…love at first fight! And Zoe is here for every sexy minute of it!

Astrid Woolf never imagined herself falling for the curvy MILF who walked into Skate City that day, but Zoe was unlike any woman she’d ever met before, and she was desperate to see her again. So, she improvises a lot and fibs a little, convincing Zoe that not only are the boards she’s looking at buy one get one free, but that a complimentary skateboard lesson comes with every purchase. But it’s a limited time offer: one night only! Zoe hesitantly but inevitably agrees and, after work the following night, Astrid meets her behind the bakery Zoe owns to teach her how to skate. Only, Zoe has other plans in mind, and before the night is over, the teacher will become the student, learning just what it means to please another woman, and be pleased in return. It’s a night neither woman will ever forget, but one they’ll want to revisit, time and time again

Skate City

Alex Winters © 2025

All Rights Reserved

Chapter One

ZOE

“Is this…for you?”

Zoe Chamberlain registered the dramatic look on the young cashier’s face and blanched. Miserably. She’d been hesitant about walking into the too-cool-for-school skate shop in the first place, and this comely cashier had just confirmed Zoe’s suspicions that she was, in fact, thoroughly and irretrievably uncool.

“Obviously not, but so what if it was?”

The counter girl, fresh-faced and freckled with charming auburn pigtails and a creamy soft lip gloss Zoe ached to taste, gave her another cool once-over, like maybe she’d wandered into the wrong nightclub and needed to be escorted out.

Pronto.

Zoe half-expected a bouncer to show up at any moment. “Nothing, it’s just…do you need to check with the nursing home first? They might not approve of such a rash purchase.”

Zoe rolled her eyes and glanced around the empty skate shop, a bare bones affair that was so cavalier about its warehouse-inspired aesthetic it just had to be good. In the background, lowkey punk music completed the grunge vibe. “Is this how you treat all your customers?” she teased, knowing the sassy clerk was just giving her the business—and wishing she didn’t enjoy it so very much.

The wispy redhead, tall and gangly in her baby-doll-blue Skate City T-shirt with the pink cuffs and collar, met her gaze with cool green eyes, as languid as they were searching. “Not really, but it’s not every day a MILF walks in to buy a cherry-red skateboard, so I’m at a slight disadvantage at the moment.”

“I’m not a mother!” Zoe huffed, hoping the blush she felt dampening her panties didn’t extend all the way to her cheeks. “And? Gross?”

The counter girl blushed as well but met Zoe’s eyes with the indignance of a young woman clearly confident in who she was. And, apparently, what she wanted. “Maybe not, but…”

Zoe waved her hands, as nervously as she did demonstratively. She wasn’t used to such flagrant come-ons. At least, not since she’d graduated high school a good dozen years earlier. She ran a bakery for Pete’s sake. A nice, wholesome, independently owned bakery specializing in muffins and cupcakes, at that. This—this flagrant sexiness wasn’t a part of her daily routine, though Zoe couldn’t actually say she wasn’t into it. Not that she’d let the sexy skater girl behind the counter know, of course.

“Listen, let’s start over,” Zoe cautioned, feeling as if she’d just stepped into some kind of red-light district, as yet unknown to her despite living in tiny Sunset, South Carolina her entire life. She extended a cautious hand, somehow sensing that if the saucy cashier took it, Zoe might never let it go.

The redhead brightened, standing a little taller and extending a pale hand with long fingers, many of them covered in cheap silver rings that shimmered in the warehouse’s extensive track lighting. “Good idea,” she chirped, squeezing Zoe’s hand so familiarly, so warmly, it was as if they’d known each other for years. “Welcome to Skate City! I’m Astrid. And you are?”

“Astrid?” Zoe gave her a little nose wrinkle for good measure, slithering her hand out of the cashier’s grip before she could detect Zoe’s sweaty palms and the sudden tremors that seemed to rack her entire body. “Is that a real name?”

Astrid jutted out her youthful chin as predictably as she did defiantly. “I mean, is Zoe?”

“How did I say my name?” This time, Zoe did in fact look around the industrial-size skate shop, as if someone with a cue card bearing her name might be standing just behind her.

Astrid leaned over the counter, small breasts pressing against the pale blue of her clingy T-shirt. Tapped Zoe’s nametag as familiarly as she did everything else. “What? You forgot you came straight from work?”

Zoe glanced down at herself, her faded black Sunset Sweets work shirt dusted with flour and, naturally, bearing her crooked nametag just above her left breast. She blushed anew, feeling flustered and seen in ways she hadn’t in, quite literally, years. She still wasn’t sure how she felt about that yet, but part of her wished she’d just gone to the generic skate shop on the Strip like she’d intended to. Those stores were usually so busy Zoe certainly wouldn’t have been able to receive the, uh, personal attention she was currently getting at this grungy skate shop just off the Strip.

“I guess I did,” she said quietly, her hip sagging against the countertop, littered with vibrant pastel and neon Skate City stickers. “I didn’t think this would be quite so hard.”

Astrid apparently took pity on her, inching around from the counter on predictably long legs, topped by a pair of frayed denim shorts so small they could have qualified as bikini bottoms. “Listen, sorry, you’re my first customer all day and I didn’t mean to come on quite so strong.”

Zoe wasn’t letting her off the hook so easily, endless legs and small, perky breasts notwithstanding. “I mean, MILF? I should ask to speak to your manager, young lady…”

Astrid beamed, tugging on her own nametag, hiding just beneath one of her auburn pigtails. “That’d be me too, so…”

“Aren’t you a little young to be a manager?”

Astrid smirked. “I’m not as young as I look.”

“And I’m not as old as I apparently look, so…”

Astrid leaned back against the counter, a hand on either side of her impossibly narrow waist, as if posing for, well, a skater girl catalog. “You act like I insulted you or something.”

“Did I say that? I just wanted to buy a skateboard, that’s all.”

Purchase

NineStar Press | Books2Read

Meet the Author

Alex Winters is the pseudonym of a busy restaurant manager whose curious young staff would love nothing more than to follow him around the dining room reading his steamiest, most romantic passages aloud! When not writing romantic holiday stories of various heat levels, he enjoys long walks with his wife, scary movies, and smooth jazz. Visit him social media to see what stories are brewing up next!

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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