Essence of Foul Play (An Aroma Wellness Mystery) by Daryl Wood Gerber Virtual Book Tour!

Essence of Foul Play (An Aroma Wellness Mystery)
by Daryl Wood Gerber

About Essence of Foul Play 

Essence of Foul Play (An Aroma Wellness Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting - California
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kensington Cozies (March 25, 2025)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1496751507
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496751508
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DB3SGV1Q

Emma Brennan may have her head in a cloud of eucalyptus, but her feet are firmly planted on the ground in breathtaking Carmel, California, as she prepares to open her new spa business, Aroma Wellness. But all the reiki, shiatsu, and massage in the world can’t help her relax when she’s accused of murder . . .

Everything is going smoothly as Emma prepares for the grand opening of the spa. The therapy rooms are painted. The sales shop and café are stocked with meditative and delicious goodies, from essential oils to avocado masks and prickly pear massages. The fountain in the Courtyard of Peace is burbling with good vibrations. In fact, there isn’t a whiff of trouble until that morning when Emma is shocked to learn that a rival spa owner has been bludgeoned . . . with an item from the goodwill basket Emma gave her. Worse, a witness is pointing the finger at Emma . . .

With the police treating Emma like she’s the only suspect, and the town’s anti New Age anything posse badmouthing her every step of the way, she’s left with no choice but to conduct her own investigation. Incensed by the accusations but empowered by her cousin, her nana, and her trusted Birman cat, Vivi, Emma reviews the potpourri of possible suspects, determined to uncover the essence of foul play—before she’s cold-pressed for murder . . .

About Daryl Wood Gerber

Daryl Wood Gerber is the Agatha Award-winning and nationally bestselling author of the Literary Dining Mysteries, the Fairy Garden Mysteries and the Cookbook Nook Mysteries.

As Avery Aames, she penned the popular Cheese Shop Mysteries. In addition, Daryl writes suspense including the well-received The Son’s Secret, Girl on the Run, and the popular Aspen Adams suspense novels. Recently Daryl, who loves a challenge, published a Christmas romance, Hope for the Holidays.  Fun Tidbit: as an actress, Daryl appeared in “Murder, She Wrote.” She loves to cook, garden, read, and walk her frisky Goldendoodle. Also she has been known to jump out of a perfectly good airplane.

You can learn more on her website: httsp://darylwoodgerber.com

Author Links

WEBSITE: https://darylwoodgerber.com

FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/darylwoodgerber

BOOKBUB: https://bookbub.com/authors/daryl-wood-gerber

YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/woodgerb1

INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/darylwoodgerber

GOODREADS: https://goodreads.com/darylwoodgerber

TIKTOK: www.tiktok.com/@daryl_wood_gerber

AMAZON: https://bit.ly/Daryl_Wood_Gerber_page

NEWSLETTER: https://darylwoodgerber.com/contact-media/

Purchase Links 

AMAZON    BARNES AND NOBLE     BOOKSHOP.ORG    KOBO      MYSTERIOUS GALAXY

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

March 18 – Sneaky the Library Cat's Blog – VIVI INTRODUCTION

March 18 – Boys' Mom Reads! – REVIEW

March 18 – Frugal Freelancer – SPOTLIGHT

March 19 – Jody's Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

March 19 – Moonlight Rendezvous – RECIPE

March 19 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR GUEST POST

March 20 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

March 20 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

March 20 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW  

March 20 – FUONLYKNEW –      SPOTLIGHT

March 20 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

March 21 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW  

March 21 – Christy's Cozy Corners – RECIPE

March 21 – Elizabeth McKenna - Author – SPOTLIGHT

March 21- Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

March 22 – Deal Sharing Aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

March 22 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT

March 22 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

March 23 – Melina's Book Blog – REVIEW

March 23 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – REVIEW

March 23 – Cassidy's Bookshelves – SPOTLIGHT

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The Forgotten The Realms of Darkness Book 1 by KA Stefana Book Tour! @SilverDaggerBookTours #TheForgotten #RealmsOfDarkness #Shadowverse @kastefana @shadowworldofkastefana @ka_stefana19

Betrayed! 

Banished!

 Broken! 

Can Luther's love for Amelia survive?

The Forgotten

The Realms of Darkness Book 1

by KA Stefana

Genre

Dark Fantasy, Paranormal Romance 

My name is Luther Van Leer, and I'm a prisoner in the vampire queen's castle. She'll let me out if I'm willing to meet her demands, but I will refuse until she puts a stake through my heart. I'll not let her turn me into a monster. At least, that was my plan. With a turning kiss, I was turned into a monster, banished, beaten, and betrayed. Now, my master expects that I will fall in love with her and play nice. If my cold-dark heart ever finds her, revenge will be mine!

Step into the dark and feudal world of the four kingdoms. The prophecy hangs over the land, turning kings and queens against each other. When Amelia turns Luther, she unknowingly drags him into her world. Instead of gaining a lover, she gains another enemy. Will Luther forgive her ultimate betrayal and help her survive, or will he abandon her? It would be his right.

From the darkness of the salt mines, the horrors of the bird cages, the temptations of the Forbidden Lake, and dragon tattoos, Luther and Amelia will be in a race against time to save their kingdom.

This is book 1 in the Realms of Darkness Series.

This book was first published on Amazon's Kindle Vella.

**Only .99cents!!**

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Chapter 1 No Escape

Your fate was at the mercy of the queen’s whims. If you satiated her desires between the sheets, she might let you live to see another year around in the sun in servitude to her. Otherwise, the jailer would drag whatever was left of you into the dungeons for your remains to decay and fade away.  (Luther)

The Silver Mask

I was a warrior, not a lover. Oh, I loved it, but I didn’t play with my victims. (Amelia)

Shackles

Any remnants of tenderness for Amelia were long gone, leaving nothing but hatred for my master. Step by step, mile after mile, night overnight, and I knew that if I ever escaped and found her, I would destroy her. There was no love for her left in my cold, dark vampire heart. Nothing! Luther

Tales in the Darkness

Amelia tried to take my hand, but I brushed her away. I still didn't want anything to do with her, and she needed to know that there would be boundaries to this relationship. Boundaries that I would control. Master or not, I wasn't letting her take advantage of me again.  (Luther)

Fangs are for biting.

Listening as she groaned, she teased me back, "Your only two choices were death or my mother. You chose death, and I chose you." For the first time in forever, I heard her giggle, and I longed for simpler times. Days when we could safely be in each other's arms without worrying that our heads could be chopped off in the throes of passion. Such times were not conducive to intimacy. (Luther)

Welcome Readers! I am so excited that you are taking this journey with me into the Shadowvere, where my characters live. I love to weave tales of darkness and light, pushing my characters to the end of themselves. How will they react? 

Some may fall into evil, spiraling into a never-ending vortex of darkness. Others may walk the line between the realms of darkness and light. 

Only a few will rise above the chaos. They are the defenders and heroes in the world of shadows, but they, too, wrestle with the shadows surrounding them, trying to lure them down dark alleyways and into the back rooms of iniquity.

My friends always ask me where my tales come from. I guess it comes from years of reading great tales from the likes of Tolkien, Lewis, and so many others. In reality, I don't have a clue. The stories somehow flow from the unruly characters that beg to be written yet refuse to follow their storylines. Just the way I like it!

Past the shadows, you will find twist of romance between kings and outcasts, enemies to lovers and everything in between.

As for me, I started my writing journey during quarantine and haven't stopped writing since. I am thankful for the writing community and their support and for my family and friends. 

Most of all, I am blessed to have a husband who supports all of my late-night shenanigans, wrestling with characters and pounding away at the keyboard until the wee hours of the morning.

~ A million hugs! Thanks for joining the Shadowverse.

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The Matriarch Messiah Mystery of the Matriarchs Book 2 by Maxime Trencavel Book Tour! @SilverDaggerBookTours #MatriarchMessiah @MaximeTrencavel

An ancient prophecy, 

a deadly choice, 

and two women who will rewrite the fate of humanity.

The Matriarch Messiah

Mystery of the Matriarchs Book 2

by Maxime Trencavel

Genre: Epic Science Fiction Suspense Thriller

Six months after the world-shattering events of The Matriarch Matrix, the search for salvation continues…

The Matriarch Messiah is a thrilling science fiction adventure that will leave you breathless. This sequel to The Matriarch Matrix picks up the story six months later, plunging you deeper into a world of conspiracies, forbidden love, and the fight for humanity's future.

Zara Khatum, a woman haunted by ancient visions, finds herself drawn deeper into the heart of a perilous quest. Guided by a mysterious voice, she seeks to fulfill an ancient prophecy and find the cavern of blue light - a sanctuary rumored to hold the key to saving humanity. But the path to salvation is fraught with danger, and Zara is torn between her destiny and her heart.

A shadowy organization, known as NiQihs, seeks to exploit the power of the legendary black object, the source of Zara's visions, for their own sinister ends. They are not alone. The world's superpowers, driven by greed and ambition, race to control the artifact, threatening to unleash unimaginable devastation.

Joining Zara in this dangerous pursuit is Rachel Capsali, a brilliant Israeli archaeologist driven by a personal quest to uncover evidence of Asherah, a forgotten goddess who held a pivotal place in ancient Israelite faith. Unbeknownst to them, both women are bound by a shared destiny - a prophecy foretelling the cavern of blue light and a final, heartbreaking truth: two women will fight to the death, and only one will save us all.

Adding to the complexity, a passionate triangle forms as Rachel vies for Peter Gollinger's affection, a man deeply entangled in the ancient mystery. Zara, torn between fulfilling her destiny and her own feelings for Peter, finds herself caught in a web of conflicting desires.

As Zara and Rachel navigate a treacherous landscape of hidden agendas, betrayal, and relentless pursuit, their rivalry for Peter's affections intensifies. Can love survive the forces that threaten to tear them apart? Will the quest for salvation lead to a heart-wrenching sacrifice?

Dive into a world where:

*Ancient prophecies clash with modern technology: Discover a world where ancient legends are woven into the fabric of a technologically advanced future.

*Intrigue and betrayal threaten to shatter everything: Uncover a web of conspiracies, hidden agendas, and deadly secrets.

*A passionate rivalry for love unfolds: Zara and Rachel's destinies are intertwined, leading them to a final confrontation where only one will survive, but their struggle for Peter's love adds another layer of complexity and tension.

*The stakes are higher than ever before: With the world teetering on the brink of nuclear war, Zara and Rachel must find the cavern of blue light, uncover the truth behind the black object, and face the ultimate sacrifice to save humanity.

The Matriarch Messiah is a must-read for fans of science fiction thrillers with a touch of romance and a dash of the mystical. Prepare to be swept away by a journey where ancient secrets, forbidden love, and the fate of humanity hang in the balance.

**Releases March 17th – Preorder Now for Only .99cents!**

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The Matriarch Matrix

Mystery of the Matriarchs Book 1

"The fate of the world hangs on their choices... The past foretells her future..."

Zara Khatum is a warrior, a survivor, and a woman fueled by a thirst for vengeance. Haunted by the horrors inflicted on her and her Kurdish people, she seeks only retribution. But a hidden legacy, a powerful artifact, and a destiny woven through millennia threaten to reshape her life and the fate of the world.

Enter Peter Gollinger, a troubled Californian whose family is bound by an ancient mystery. He's plagued by dreams, visions of a dark-haired woman he must save. These visions lead him on a path that intertwines with Zara's, pulling them together in a race against time to unearth a secret that could alter the course of history.

The Matriarch Matrix is a whirlwind of adventure that spans centuries and continents. An archeological and mythical journey back to the world’s oldest temple, Gobekli Tepe, where a matriarch's legacy lives on in a powerful artifact hidden. Then, leap forward to a near-future world teetering on the brink of war, where Zara and Peter must unlock the secrets of their shared past to prevent a devastating conflict. They'll face ancient curses, dangerous adversaries, and the weight of a history they barely understand, all while navigating the treacherous landscape of modern politics and the struggle for peace in the Middle East.

This is a tale of love, loss, and the relentless pursuit of truth. Zara, a woman defined by her strength and resilience, finds herself drawn to Peter, a man who is both vulnerable and determined. They are two halves of a whole, destined to complete a quest that began long ago.

Maxime Trencavel's masterful blend of historical fiction, science fiction, suspense, and romance will keep you on the edge of your seat. You'll be captivated by Zara's journey, challenged by the complex themes of faith and destiny, and enthralled by the romance that blossoms amidst the chaos.

Prepare to be transported to a world where ancient secrets and modern anxieties collide, where the lines between past and present blur, and where the power of love may be the only hope for salvation.

"This book is a must-read for fans of intricate, thought-provoking narratives filled with mystery, adventure, and the timeless power of love."

"This is a different kind of love story... It's a love story, but not a romantic love; it’s something deeper, a higher order love."

"The Matriarch Matrix is a unique science fiction adventure that pushes the boundaries of the of the genre in more than one way."

"It seems to me that very few authors in this genre can craft such interwoven, parallel plot lines with success, much less a debut author."

**Only .99 cents!**

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Chapter 3 

A country can’t be free unless the women are free. 

—Abdullah Öcalan, imprisoned leader of the PKK, recognized as a terrorist  organization by the US, NATO, and the EU. 

Mountains outside Siirt, Turkey 

12:40 p.m. GMT−8, May 1, 2021 

“He didn’t die in vain, Zara.” 

Two dark-haired women stand high, overlooking a green valley, beyond which  there is another mountain, and another behind that. These are the northernmost  peaks of the Zagros Fold, a 1500-kilometer creation of the Arabic tectonic plate  smashing into the Eurasian plate twenty million years ago. They form a crown  around the lands known today as the Fertile Crescent, extending from southern  Turkey through northern Iraq, along the border with Iran and down to the Red  Sea. 

But for these two women, the only importance of these mountains is the safe  haven they have provided for the people known as Kurds, who have found shelter  and safety in these alpines for thousands upon thousands of years. Who until two  years ago were the largest ethnic group in the world without a country. 

The taller of the two women wears a grey outer gown over a full-length purple  dress, black belt, sandals, and headscarf, the latter decorated with colorful  embroidered flowers and carefully wrapped around her oval face, tucking away  her shoulder-length dark brown hair. On her wrist is a simple wind-up watch.  Her almond-shaped dark eyes are fixed on the horizon, where she still sees the  village. 

“Didn’t he? Die in vain?” replies Zara. “I told my little boy brother not to join  the PKK. We needed him at home. He was the last man left in my family. And  now, there is only me, my mother, my grandmother, and thank Xwedê, still my  great-grandmother.” 

Putting her hand around Zara to comfort her is Peri, who in contrast wears a  formfitting red cotton top covered by a loose beige sweater, black cotton capri  pants, and tan sandals with sequins matching the ones on her sweater. Her 

shoulder-length dark brown hair is pulled into a ponytail, with two stylish twists  on each side of her face. And on her wrist, at the adamant request of her friend,  nothing. No MoxWorld devices at all. 

“He died while trying to get the women and children of that village, the one  you imagine seeing on the horizon, up into the mountains as government troops  searched for the PKK,” Peri states calmly. “He died a hero.” 

“And what good are heroes?” Zara laments. “Especially when they are dead.” Zara walks along the mountainside through the lush green vegetation of  spring. Patches of red, purple, blue, and yellow flowers litter the landscape. She  bends over to pick a number of red ones. 

“My mother lined his room with poppies of this color after his death. The  color of the blood shed by the men of our family.” 

Following her best friend as she walks, as she always has, Peri asks, “Then  why did you insist we meet here, if his memory brings back such pain?” “Because you want me to help the Anatolian Kurdish separatists. There is a  price one pays. My little boy brother did,” the taller woman replies, her long  earlobes peeking out from her headscarf in the gust of wind. “I don’t agree with  separatism. I believe we should work out a peaceful solution. One that would  better the lives of Kurdish women. Equality for all as we saw in Rojava. Women  and men governed together as equals. I want you to think about the  consequences of what you ask of me now.” 

“They only want your advice. You do not have to take up arms.” “They want my connection to him,” Zara replies, pulling her silk scarf closer  around her oval face. She throws her poppies with the wind gust, which sends  them flying a hundred meters as if they were little balloons. 

Silence as they walk by a more crimson-red set of poppies. Peri bends down  and picks some and hands them to Zara. 

“I do not like that shade of red,” Zara says as she drops the crimson reminders  of “him” and crushes them under her sandal. 

“Why do I follow you, Zara?” asks the disturbed Peri. “You are so complicated.  Poppies are poppies.”

Maxime has been scribbling stories since grade school, from adventure epics to morality plays. Blessed with living in multicultural pluralistic settings and having earned degrees in science and marketing, Maxime has worked in business and sports, traveling to countries across five continents and learning about cultures, traditions, and the importance of tolerance and understanding. Maxime's second novel, The Matriarch Messiah, was conceived, outlined, written, and edited in different locations in Belgium, including the Turkish and Kurdish neighborhoods of Brussels, in various islands of the Caribbean, in Colombia, in Madrid, Malaga, Mallorca, Spain, London, UK, and on the two coasts of the United States. 

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High Couch of Silistra the Silistra Quartet Book 1 By Janet Morris Book Tour! @SilverDaggerBookTours #HighCouchOfSilistra #SilistraQuartet @PerseidPublishing @perseid_press

Dystopian.

Biology shapes reality...

One woman's mythic search for self-realization in a distant tomorrow...

Her sensuality was at the core of her world, her quest beyond the civilized stars.

Aristocrat. Outcast. Picara. Slave. Ruler.

High Couch of Silistra

The Silistra Quartet Book 1

By Janet Morris

Genre: Epic Dystopian SciFi Fantasy

"Engrossing characters in a marvelous adventure." - Charles N. Brown, Locus Magazine

"The amazing and erotic adventures of the most beautiful courtesan in tomorrow's universe" - Frederik Pohl 

I was high-couch in the greatest house of pleasure in the civilized stars.

“We are all bound,” is the great truth of Silistra: Bound by biological necessity and genetics, the men and women of Silistra struggle to sort Nature from Nurture – where Nature always wins. Welcome to Silistra, a glimpse of a far distant future wherein a civilization proclaims the greatest feat an individual can perform is to produce one child, yet distrusts the sciences that brought them to verge of extinction.

Here women and men coexist uneasily in a society ravaged by war, technology, and infertility, each vying for power, each seeking dominion over one another. Be warned, if your tastes run to simplistic plots, throbbing organs, swooning damsels or kick-boxing women in men’s armor, Silistra may be too challenging. Feminists, misogynists, misanthropes, or fans of political diatribe, this is not the book for you.

High Couch of Silistra, first of the notorious Silistra Quartet, brings us to a realm where thought alters probability, where creativity is inextricably linked to the urge to own and dominate, and where the universe itself is amenable to a focused mind.

Rooted deeply in humanity’s mythic past yet unaware of the planet Earth, High Couch of Silistra begins one woman’s mythic quest for self-knowledge – with surprising results.

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**Don’t miss the rest of the series! Find them at Perseid Press!*

Best selling author Janet Morris began writing in 1976 and published more than 30 novels, many co-authored with her husband Chris Morris or others. She contributed short fiction to the shared universe fantasy series Thieves World, in which she created the Sacred Band of Stepsons, a mythical unit of ancient fighters modeled on the Sacred Band of Thebes. 

She created, orchestrated, and edited the Bangsian fantasy series Heroes in Hell, writing stories for the series as well as co-writing the related novel, The Little Helliad, with Chris Morris. She wrote the bestselling Silistra Quartet in the 1970s, including High Couch of Silistra, The Golden Sword, Wind from the Abyss, and The Carnelian Throne. 

This quartet had more than four million copies in Bantam print alone, and was translated into German, French, Italian, Russian and other languages. In the 1980s, Baen Books released a second edition of this landmark series. The third edition is the Author's Cut edition, newly revised by the author for Perseid Press. Most of her fiction work has been in the fantasy and science fiction genres, although she has also written historical and other novels. 

Morris has written, contributed to, or edited several book-length works of non-fiction, as well as papers and articles on nonlethal weapons, developmental military technology and other defense and national security topics.

Janet said: 'People often ask what book to read first. I recommend "I, the Sun" if you like ancient history; "The Sacred Band," a novel, if you like heroic fantasy; "Lawyers in Hell" if you like historical fantasy set in hell; "Outpassage" if you like hard science fiction; "High Couch of Silistra" if you like far-future dystopian or philosophical novels. I am most enthusiastic about the definitive Perseid Press Author's Cut editions, which I revised and expanded.'

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Choice of print or ebook copy of High Couch of Silistra,

$ 10 Amazon giftcard

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