Explore the Cape Cod Bookstore Trail for #IndieBookStoreDay! #CapeCod #IndependentBookstoreDay #books

Our local bookstore has been so supportive of me...here's one
of my novels, Gull Harbor, on their Cape Cod shelf!
Gull Harbor is a fictional town on the Cape, based on
Wellfleet, and this novel combines a steamy
second-chance romance with a ghost mystery.

This Saturday, August 27th, is Independent Bookstore Day, and here on Cape Cod, we have a fabulous event for readers to explore 22 of the indie book stores found throughout Cape Cod and the Islands!  Maps can be picked up at participating bookstores (or downloaded on Saturday), and many of the stores will have special events and refreshments.

I'm thrilled that my town's independent bookstore, Market Street Bookshop in Mashpee Commons, is going to display my novels on their Local Author table!  You can visit the store at 31 Market St., in the beautiful shopping area known as Mashpee Commons, and enjoy some cookies while browsing.  This wonderful bookstore has been so supportive of me through the years, hosting me for book signings every time I have a new release, and I feel very fortunate to have this relationship, and to have this shop in our community.

Then pick up your map and continue your journey, supporting indie bookstores and seeing the different towns throughout the Cape (and the islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, if you're feeling up for a ferry ride!  Here are some of my favorite sites on the Vineyard if your adventure takes you there ~ Visiting Martha's Vineyard)

Another one of my titles, Silver Lake, on the Local
Book Club picks shelf - what an honor!

I hope you'll check out my novels if you're in the Market Street Bookshop, and hopefully you'll take one home as your next beach read...many are set on Cape Cod, including my latest title, The Haunting of Hillwood Farm, an award-winning romantic suspense/ghost mystery.  Signed copies will be available!  Thanks for stopping by, and Happy Reading!

Check out the details here

Find a list of participating bookstores here

Cape & Islands Bookstore Trail FaceBook Page

The RONE Awards ~ Please Vote! #Paranormal Nominee #Books #amreading #RONE2019

"“Hillwood Farm” is the complete ghost-hunting
package: vengeful spirits, an isolated setting,
secrets, a sensual romance, and
an affable, brave heroine facing off
 against the dark underworld."
~ InD'Tale Magazine 

I'm thrilled to announce my latest release, a romantic suspense/ghost mystery novella, was selected by InD'Tale Magazine as a nominee for their prestigeous RONE Awards.  The Haunting of Hillwood Farm is in the Paranormal - Short Category, and voting begins April 22nd and lasts through the week until April 28th.  I'd love your vote if you have a moment to check out the site!

The Haunting of Hillwood Farm originally released in the Love Under Fire Romantic Thrillers Box Set, which was a limited edition set created to raise money for Pets For Vets.  I have the honor of presenting one of the checks we're distributing, in the amount of $1,000, to the Portland, Maine Chapter of Pets for Vets in person in a few weeks.  As someone who is passionate about rescuing shelter animals, and who has had many family members in the service, I was excited to be a part of this project.

The authors of Love Under Fire raised over $3,000 for
Pets For Vets, a wonderful nonprofit organization that pairs
shelter animals with veterans seeking companion animals

Now that the set's run is over, the rights to each individual story were returned to its author.  InD'Tale Magazine reviewed it when it was released on its own, and the Crowned Heart of Excellence Review it received led to the RONE (Reward of Novel Excellence) Award Nomination.

Only a few of the nominated titles will make it to the final judging round, and the selection process to get there means earning enough votes from visitors to the site.  An account is necessary to vote--in fact, you can't see the nominees without one--but it's free, easy, and safe--to create one here.  Then you can vote in ALL the categories as the awards season continues!  Plus, this is a great site for readers and authors.  If you'd like to help The Haunting of Hillwood Farm move to the Finals round, please consider voting here--I'd so appreciate it!  Thank you and Happy Reading!

RONE Awards Voting April 22 - 28

Thank You!

Why Easter's Date Moves Around, + a #Giveaway! #Easter

I've had a busy spring, and I'm looking forward to seeing friends and family over our son's school vacation and Easter Weekend.  Plus, my college son will be home for Easter--yay!  My nephew's birthday lines up with Easter this year, so we'll celebrate that as well.  This is the first time this has happened in his life, so I'm reposting my blog on Why Easter's Date Changes (and how we find it!)...and I have a Spring gift for anyone who enjoys reading Romantic Suspense...and offer for 19 FREE books to fill your e-reader!  

With my usual disclaimer about being a novelist and not a historian, here's what I've discovered:  

According to documents from the 3rd and 4th centuries, Christians relied on their Jewish neighbors to determine the week of the Unleavened Bread; the Sunday that fell within that week would be Easter.  Following the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, the date of Easter was separated from the Jewish calendar and its computations for Passover.

Since then, Easter Day is always the Sunday after the full moon that occurs on or after the Northern spring equinox, which is based on an ancient ecclesiastical computation, and does not correspond to the astronomical equinox.  The church defines the spring, or vernal, equinox as falling on March 21st.  Easter falls on the Sunday following the first full moon after the equinox.  This full moon will occur somewhere between March 21st and April 18th, inclusive.  Therefore, Easter cannot be earlier than March 22nd or later than April 25th.  In 2008, Easter was particularly early, falling on March 23rd.  That hadn't happened since 1913, and will not happen again until 2160.

Of course, there are handy tables available to find the date.  But those tables are derived from something called "The Golden Number" and "The Sunday Letter".  The Golden Number is computed by taking the year, dividing it by 19, and adding 1 to the remainder.  For example, 2014 divided by 19 gives 106, with a remainder of 0. Adding 1 to the remainder gives a golden number of 1.  Finding the Sunday Letter involves determining the first Sunday of the year, with the choices ranging from A through G.  For example, if the first Sunday in January falls on the 1st, that year is an "A" year.

So...why not a fixed date?  The short answer, really, is that Easter moves around from year to year in order to maintain the connection between the astronomical events (the phase of the moon and the season) which would have occurred during the Resurrection and the annual date on which we celebrate this holiday.

Whatever spring holiday or event you celebrate, I hope it's filled with family and happiness.  Take some time to enjoy nature's resurrection--the new life, strengthening sun, and longer days that characterize this season.  And if the Easter bunny visits (that's a whole 'nother story...blog post for next Easter maybe?), remind him to put some new reads in your basket!

And on that note, as promised, I have a Spring Gift for Romantic Suspense fans!  Click on the event page below to visit the Sizzling Spring Romantic Suspense Giveaway, and find 19 free novels and 3 special excerpts up for grabs with author newsletter sign-ups.  My steamy second-chance romance Dangerous Currents is included in this promo, so I hope you'll grab your free copy and enjoy Dean and Malorie's story!  Happy Spring :)

*SIZZLING SPRING ROMANTIC SUSPENSE GIVEAWAY*

The Haunting of Hillwood Farm in #CapeCod News! #paranormal #Books #Mashpee #Barnstable #amreading

My latest release received a wonderful write-up in our local papers, and I'm posting the online version here...the reporter enjoyed this ghost story + romance and asked some great interview questions.  I'm thrilled my 6th novel has been named Best Romantic Suspense on one review site, among The Top 40 Paranormal Romances at another site, and is nominated for a prestigious RONE Award at InD'Tale.  This story was challenging to write, for many reasons, so I'm glad readers are finding it entertaining.  The Haunting of Hillwood Farm is available on Kindle, in paperback, and soon as an audiobook.  If you enjoy spooky hauntings and romantic suspense, I hope you'll give it a read (or a listen)!

"Haunted Farmhouse Backdrop for New Novel" 

~ Cape News/The Enterprise

Blurb:

After tragedy strikes, Callie Sinclair is left with a gift she never wanted--the ability to communicate with ghosts. But when a desperate widow begs for her help, she reluctantly agrees to investigate the strange occurrences at Hillwood Farm. She quickly realizes she's dealing with a dangerous presence beyond anything she's ever experienced, and something else becomes equally clear--the only other living person in the house, Mrs. Turner's handsome grandson, thinks she's a scam artist. While she'd prefer to just ignore him, her heart beats a little faster every time he's nearby. 

Luke Turner doesn't believe in spirits. He's moved back to restore the family farm, but living on the property serves a dual purpose--he can watch out for his grandmother. He's not happy about the sudden appearance of a self-described psychic, or his inexplicable attraction to her. His initial suspicions crumble as evidence points to an actual haunting, but he's still determined not to fall for Callie--the past has taught him it's best to avoid relationships.

As Callie is drawn deeper into the mystery, she becomes the target of a vengeful spirit, and Luke can no longer fight his feelings for her. Unable to resist their desire, passion ignites...even as the paranormal activity escalates to a final deadly confrontation. 

The Haunting of Hillwood Farm on Amazon

Grab a beach read set on Cape Cod!

19 #FREE Romantic Suspense #Books! #amreading #Romance #Suspense #Giveaway

One fateful night tore them apart...will
they get a second chance before a
killer strikes?  Steamy second chance
romance filled with secrets & suspense...

Want to read my steamy second-chance romantic suspense Dangerous Currents for free?  How about 18 other full length novels and 3 special excerpts, all by different authors?  The Sizzling Spring Romantic Suspense Giveaway is underway, so you're in luck!  Check out the 22 offering on our event page, and download the titles that spark your interest!  It's completely free...this is a newsletter builder, so you sign up for the author's newsletter to get your free copy, but you are able to unsubscribe at any time from any of the newsletters.  I hope if you sign up for mine you'll stick around, though...I often have giveaways to announce (like this one), I keep readers up-to-date on my book news and events, and I offer gift card raffles and free books and free audiobooks.

Check out the blurb for Dangerous Currents below, and find the link to the giveaway as well.  Feel free to forward the giveaway page to a friend or share on social media--the buttons are at the top beneath the banner.  Thanks and happy reading!

N.N. Light's Book Heaven Reviews on Dangerous Currents

When a costly mistake ends Malorie Montgomery's career, she returns to Cape Cod in search of a fresh start. But her plans for a new--and quiet--life are quickly derailed when she makes a grisly discovery in the woods, and her screams bring the one person from her past she'd hoped to avoid. Dean Slater, the ex-boyfriend who broke her heart in high school, now lives in the beachfront community that was supposed to be her haven...and he's just as hot as he was six years ago.

With his rough background, Dean always knew he wasn't good enough for the kind, intelligent beauty who claimed his heart, but somehow he'd believed their love was strong enough to survive anything--until the tragic night she turned her back on him when he needed her trust the most. Despite their painful history, Dean can't resist the instinct to protect her, especially when it becomes apparent there's a killer in their town.

Their former chemistry soon reignites, but Malorie has long accepted that her dark family secret has destined her to a life alone. And when she uncovers evidence that makes her the killer's target, a deadly confrontation threatens to destroy any possibility of a second chance.

A new novel of romantic suspense from USA TODAY Bestselling Author Kathryn Knight

Forget the Housework, I'm Reading Reviews on Dangerous Currents

visit the giveaway:

*SIZZLING SPRING ROMANTIC SUSPENSE GIVEAWAY*

Love #Books + #Giveaways? Play the Spring Scavenger Hunt! #giftcards #FridayReads #amreading

Join the Hunt!  Discover new authors,
win prizes...and be sure to tell a friend!

Spring is the sweetest time of year!  Join the Hunt and enter to win sweet prizes...including a See's Candy Gift Basket of treats valued over $100, two $15 Amazon gift cards, and 30 additional prizes offered by the authors along the way...mine's a $10 Amazon gift card.  Playing the game is easy and fun, and all you need to do is visit each author's FaceBook page to find their hidden image.

This event begins TODAY, April 5th, and runs through April 8th, so hurry!  Just visit the event home page to get started.  Please consider "Liking" the Author Pages as you search for images, and don't forget to check out the 30 bonus giveaways along the way.

Basket includes: Assorted Chocolates (1 lb); Springtime Truffles,
white chocolate w/ raspberry and lemon centers (5 oz);
Sweet Bouquet Keepsake Tin w/ milk, dark, and white chocolates (11.5 oz);
Chocolate Truffles (8 oz); Chocolate Buttercream Egg
w/ walnuts and candy flowers (7.5 oz); Peanut Brittle (10 oz);
Café Latté Chocolate Covered Krispys (8 oz);
and Non-Pareil Jelly Eggs (12 oz).

Participating Authors:  

Alex Gordon • Amanda Uhl • Angela Roquet • Angelica R. Jackson • Angie Wilder • Anna Durand • Anne McClane • Ben Westerham • Cailin Briste • Casi McLean • Christine Grabowski • CM Lally • Donna R. Mercer • Honey Phillips • J.M. Walker • Jacqueline Diamond • Jacquie Biggar • Jim Stein • Joanne Dannon • Judith Sterling • Katherine Gilbert • Kathryn Knight • Kerry Blaisdell • Kristine Smith • Lia Davis • Lisanne Harrington • Michelle Jo Quinn • Shae Banks • Shereen Vedam • Soraya Naomi • Stephanie Queen • Taylor Marsh • Viola Calvary • Zoe Dawson • Zoe Forward

CLICK HERE TO HEAD TO THE EVENT PAGE

~ SPRING SCAVENGER FACEBOOK HUNT ~

Feed your Kindle!

A Stranger in Alcott Manor ~ #Gothic #Romance #Ghosts #Books

I have another chance to feature one of my author friends today on my blog, and I'm very excited to showcase Alyssa Richard's third book in The Haunting of Alcott Manor series.  Ghost mysteries, Gothic settings, and romance are a few of my favorite things--most of my own books combine those elements--so this is a great trilogy to highlight here!  Please check out the blurb for A Stranger in Alcott Manor below:

From USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR, ALYSSA RICHARDS, an addictive, Gothic romance filled with mysteries, ghosts and passion…

She thought she had escaped her past. But her haunted homecoming could resurrect an old flame and buried secrets…

Peyton Alcott thought she put the past behind her. Years after being stood up on her wedding day, she’s finally found a dependable new love and a sense of purpose with her high-powered big city lifestyle. So when she returns to help her family open the newly renovated Alcott Manor, she never expected to awaken old feelings she thought were long dead…

When Peyton discovers a tintype photo of her ancestor’s 19th century wedding, she thinks she’s found the perfect decoration for the gothic estate. Until, hidden among the guests, she recognizes the all-too-familiar face of her missing ex-fiance… Determined to solve the mystery, she’s drawn into a hidden dimension where time and truth are twisted. Confronted by secrets that threaten to unravel her bright future, she’s forced to choose between old feelings and new possibilities.

Torn between an old flame and a new beginning, can Peyton navigate a realm of dark forces without losing her way?

A Stranger in Alcott Manor is the third and final standalone book in a riveting paranormal romance trilogy. If you like contemporary gothic settings, romantic ghostly tales, and simmering chemistry, then you’ll love Alyssa Richards’ otherworldly conclusion.

Buy A Stranger in Alcott Manor to uncover secrets of the past today!

Intrigued?  Fresh Fiction Reviews calls it "a stellar bit of storytelling" and "a cauldron of secrets, death, and strong emotions".  Recommended for readers who enjoy "ghostly romances, suspense, and complex mysteries" (*raises hand and adds to TBR list*).  The full review is here.

This novel is a standalone, but if you'd like to check out the entire series, please find below links to Books 1 and 2 on Amazon.  Thanks for stopping by, and happy reading!

The Haunting of Alcott Manor

A Murder at Alcott Manor

P.S. If you'd like to get semi-monthly updates on my book news and more features on other authors as well, sign up for my newsletter!  I have two big events coming this month...An offer for 22 free Romantic Suspense novels and exclusive excerpts (including a free copy of my Steamy Romantic Suspense Dangerous Currents) *and* a fun FaceBook Scavenger Hunt with tons of giveaways and a huge grand prize.  Sign up here!

Sign up for my newsletter or check back here to
participate in the multi-genre Spring Scavenger Hunt
on FaceBook ~ starts April 5th!