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The Story Behind Vanilla Vengeance by Molly Maple

By Molly Maple

“Vanilla Vengeance” is a cozy mystery that takes place in the small town of Sweetwater Falls. Charlotte McKay is a home baker who dreams of someday opening her own cupcake bakery. Whenever she has too much on her mind, she escapes to the kitchen to mull things over while she whips up a batch of cupcakes.

My daughter and I are avid cooking show fans. Whenever we get the urge, we like to make cupcakes together using unique ingredients. When we watch “Chopped” she gets inspired, runs around the kitchen and pulls out three random ingredients that we have to somehow figure out how to bake into a delicious cupcake.

Some of our wonky creations are:

A strawberry, black pepper cupcake with a fluffy buttercream and a balsamic vinegar glaze
A vanilla, banana cupcake with a blue cheese cream cheese frosting (that was an acquired taste)
A brussels sprouts cupcake with a peach cream center and a cayenne vanilla buttercream frosting

They always manage to turn out tasty, despite our strange ingredients. We laugh a lot while we make them, and truly create some fantastic mother-daughter memories. There’s something about cupcakes that make for good conversation. I wanted to take a little of that kitchen magic and put it into a cozy mystery novel. In “Vanilla Vengeance”, in the kitchen is where Charlotte McKay does her best pondering about the unsolved murder mysteries that occur in the small town of Sweetwater Falls.

At the end of each novel, there is a cupcake recipe that is featured in the book for you to try. I happen to think there is nothing a little sugar, a lot of heart, and a dozen cupcakes cannot solve.

Molly Maple is the author of the new book Vanilla Vengeance.

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Interview with MariaLisa deMora, Author of Tarnished Lies and Dead Ends

What can you tell us about your new release, Tarnished Lies and Dead Ends?

It's a massive expansion of a previous short story, Thunderstruck. Tarnished Lies and Dead Ends drops us back in the middle of the Incoherent MC. The story also ties up some loose ends left at the end of Retro's story, Trapped by Fate on Reckless Roads.

What books are currently on your nightstand?

Jordan Castillo Price's newest release, Other Half (PsyCop Book 12), and Mariana Zapata's The Wall of Winnipeg and Me (for a reread).

What advice would you give your teenage self?

Do it! Do everything! Fear nothing! Also, don't try to lie to your daddy. He always knows!

If you had an extra hour each day, how would you spend it?

Reading! I've been addicted to books since I taught myself to read at an early age. The small country school where I attended didn't have kindergarten, so I started first grade as a 5-year-old. Also, the county library was a magical place for me growing up. So many books! We lived quite a ways out of town, which meant Saturdays were my stock-up days for books. I was fortunate in having a librarian who didn't believe in age-restricting the stacks, and she also gave me a "special" library card that allowed twice as many check-outs as normal. I worked my way through so many sections of that library, and never got tired of reading. Still don't! It's how I begin and end each day.

What makes your world go round? Why does it bring you joy?

Family and friends. If we've learned anything over the past year, it should be to cherish those we love.

What scene from Tarnished Lies and Dead Ends was your favorite to write?

There's a scene just before the mid-way point where our hero is being forced into a decision. It's hard, and no one likes having their control stripped away, much less an alpha male like our hero is. Yet, in the midst of all this angst and anger, death and destruction, the characters still found humor, and later when editing that scene I still cracked up reading it. The raw reality of the human interactions between the characters is just awesome, and makes me proud of my words.

MariaLisa deMora is the author of Tarnished Lies and Dead Ends.

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Interview with Sarah K. L. Wilson, Author of Tangled Fae

What can you tell us about your new release, Tangled Fae?

I fell in love with stories of the fae, particularly Daughter of the Forest by Juliette Marillier and The Folk of the Air series by Holly Black. I was particularly drawn to how limitless and ingenious fae stories can be – a melding of the dark and twisted and the gloriously beautiful and I wanted to try my hand at writing one. So, I imagined a world threatened by these magnificent but dark fae and what sort of girl might stand up against them, only to eventually be lured into their twisting, evolving story. That girl was a practical village hunter, mortal in every way, steady and determined. Her opposite is a charming fae – like a cat in human skin – who preens, and boasts, and lashes out violently but who has a plan to change everything with her at the very center of it all. I like things that try for a new perspective on something that’s been done a hundred times. I hope this series measures up to that standard.

What books are currently on your nightstand?

I’m reading Swordheart by T Kingfisher and next on my to-be-read list is Elise Kova’s Loom Saga. I must say that T Kingfisher has become an obsession of mine. Her work is the embodiment of everything I loved and have sorely missed in the work of Terry Pratchett since his untimely death.

What advice would you give your teenage self?

Daydreaming isn’t a waste of time. It’s how you’re going to earn your living someday. So keep on daydreaming and don’t be embarrassed when people catch you at it.

If you had an extra hour each day, how would you spend it?

Reading. I read a lot already, but it’s impossible not to want to add more time to that, don’t you think?

What makes your world go round? Why does it bring you joy?

I have a deep faith that gives me a lens through which I see everything so that nothing is without meaning or passion. It makes simple things bright with joy and dark things laced with golden hope.

What scene in Tangled Fae was your favorite to write?

There’s a scene in the beginning of the books where the fae character kills a mouse with a sewing needle (he has been shrunk to mouse-size) that made me laugh while I wrote it and I think scenes that make the author laugh are fun for readers, too.

There’s also a scene where the fae character surprises the main character with a dark gift – and I loved the complicated emotions they both had surrounding that gift. Both of them see it so incredibly differently – him with pride, her with horror – and you just know that readers are going to take a side on that, and it thrills me to be able to surprise them, too.

There are a few running games the characters play with one another through the series and I like it when they resurface for a few lines. I think people like anticipating and guessing when those will pop up again.

Sarah K. L. Wilson is the author of the new book Tangled Fae.

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Interview with Judith Keim, Author of The Desert Flowers - Rose

What can you tell us about your new release, The Desert Flowers - Rose?

While many of my books take place along the Gulf Coast of Florida, the Desert Sage Inn series takes place in Palm Desert, California. Book # 1 – The Desert Flowers – Rose is one of four books in the series. Alec Thurston, the owner of the upscale Desert Sage Inn, asks Rose Macklin, Lily Weaver, and Willow Sanchez to come to California. He’s dying of cancer and wants them to help with the sale of his inn to a large hotel group and needs their expertise to make sure his hotel retains the upscale reputation he’s built for it. All three love him and immediately agree to come to his aid. He lovingly calls Rose, Lily, and Willow his Desert Flowers, like modern-day Charlie’s Angels of old TV fame. He pairs them with a person from the large hotel group to work on the details. Some pairings work; others don’t. Like all my books, the story focuses on strong women facing challenges and finding love and happiness along the way. Early readers love the story. The Desert Flowers-Lily, The Desert Flowers-Willow, and Mistletoe and Holly follow.

What books are currently on your nightstand?

Like most people today I do my reading on Kindle. I have too many books in my TBR pile to comment. I like to read other books in my genre but go to suspense and mystery when I can, which isn’t often.

What advice would you give your teenage self?

Don’t wait to start your dreams. And if your dreams include writing books, be prepared for a long learning curve and even when you’re in the process of learning, write from your heart.

If you had an extra hour each day, how would you spend it?

Reading.

What makes your world go round? Why does it bring you joy?

I live a pretty simple life with my husband and our two dachshunds Winston and Wally. My husband is a wonderful cook so we spend the evenings with a glass of wine and great food. We moved to Boise to be with family and though it hasn’t happened often with the pandemic, I enjoy seeing them.

What scene from The Desert Flowers - Rose was your favorite to write?

I would have to say I loved the scene where she and Hank realize there might be something wonderful drawing them together.

Judith Keim is the author of the new book The Desert Flowers - Rose.

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The Story Behind Sworn to Protect by Kimberly Readnour

By Kimberly Readnour

What happens when one of your favorite authors opens their world up to write in? That’s an easy answer. You jump at the chance to be included!

I adore K. Bromberg, and her Everyday Heroes series is one of my favorites. When I heard she had opened her world for submissions, I squealed and totally fangirled. I couldn’t fill the application out fast enough.

After being accepted, I had the hard (but oh so much fun) job of figuring out a plot. Cockpit, book three in the EH series, was my favorite, so I knew my story would be based on that book. If you hadn’t read it, the main hero flew a medivac. Well, that information led to Nate Dixon and Mackenzie Gillman being born. I say born because these characters are very much alive in my head! 🙂

So, what about Sworn to Protect? If you mix a broody, ex-military surgeon with a grieving, headstrong, single mom and toss in a covert mission, you’ll get a sexy-sweet, concealed identity contemporary.

I loved, loved, loved writing this book. Every. Single. Part. I fell hard and deep for Nate. In fact, I want to keep him for myself. He’s my perfect book boyfriend. He’s guarded and carries a load of guilt on his shoulders, but oh man, does he know how to be swoon-worthy. Mackenzie is fiercely loyal and determined. They complement each other perfectly, which is why I decided to share him!

Sworn to Protect is filled with emotions, drama, and love. I do hope you’ll find it to be a worthy member of the Everyday Heroes World.

Kimberly Readnour is the author of the new book Sworn to Protect.

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New Mystery and Thriller Books to Read | February 2

Hold on to the edge of your seat as we hunt for clues and solve the case with these exciting new mystery and thriller books for the week! There are so many bestselling authors with new novels for you to dive into this week including Molly Maple, Erin Johnson, Jane Harper, Jonathan Kellerman, and many more. Enjoy your new mystery, thriller, and suspense novels. Happy reading!

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New Romance Books to Read | February 2

Looking to fall in love with some new romance reads? You’ll adore these exciting new novels! This week you can get your hands on books by bestselling authors Kimberly Readnour, Judith Keim, MariaLisa deMora, Sarah Ready, Sloane Virago, and more. Enjoy your new romance books and happy reading!

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New Books to Read in Literary Fiction | February 2

Literary fiction readers are in for a treat. This week’s latest releases list is full of intriguing reads you won’t want to miss! The new releases list includes so many bestselling authors like Kristin Hannah, Abigail Dean, Nancy Johnson, and many more. Enjoy your new literary fiction books. Happy reading!

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New Science Fiction and Fantasy Books | February 2

Set off on an adventure to new worlds this week! This selection of new science fiction and fantasy books will surely please! Science Fiction fans should be excited about the latest from bestselling authors Matthew Mather, Everina Maxwell, T.C. McCarthy, and more. If Fantasy is what your library needs, you’ll be able to pick up the latest from Sarah K. L. Wilson, H.B. Ashman, E. Lily Yu, and more. Enjoy your new science fiction and fantasy books. Happy reading!

Fantasy

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Science Fiction

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New Young Adult Books to Read | February 2

Are you an avid reader of Young Adult books? This week you are in luck! With all of these new novels, you’re bound to find a new favorite book to add to your reading list. This week includes new novels from bestselling authors Courtney Summers, Adalyn Grace, Crystal Maldonado, and many more. Enjoy your new young adult books. Happy reading!