by Misty Simon
Happy New Year! First month of the year calls for First book in a series!
Who doesn’t love finding a brand-new series that they want to dive headlong into? Just for you, I have put together a list of some things you might want to spend all those gift cards on.
First, we have A NEW LEASE ON DEATH: A Mystery (The Ruby and Cordelia Mysteries Book 1) by Olivia Blacke. Can I just tell you that I desperately hope there are a ton more books in this series and I would like them now. How about now? Now? This darkly funny supernatural mystery introduces the unlikely crime-solving duo of Ruby Young and Cordelia Graves. I laughed, I cried, I shuddered in support when Cordelia has to deal with the eternally perky (and living) girl who just moved into her place after Cordelia died and is still hanging around. It tickled my fancy and made me fiend for more.
Next up, I absolutely loved INSTAGONER: A Bark and Blog Mystery by Sydney Leigh. This twisty, fast-paced murder mystery had me hooked from the very first page. Emily Dalle is a lifestyle blogger all afire about the latest trends. When she finds a dead body, she’s quick to involve her online audience for help. This witty and sharp protagonist is all the good things – amateur detective, emerging influencer, savvy and saucy. I love how Sydney cleverly brings the world of social media into the mystery, making her audience an integral part of the story. I would have totally been a commenter!
How about something that’s the beginning of a great series and you don’t have to wait for more to come out to one-click and continue because they’re already available? Make sure you have nothing else to do but read and read some more if you’re going to read this first in series! THE SECRET OF THE LOST PEARLS (Useful Woman Mysteries Book 1) by Darcie Wilde is an amazing journey that you will not want to put down. As with every Darcie book I’ve ever read, I got locked into the world she created and did not want to leave it. Rosalind Thorne is known as a “most useful woman.” She doesn’t have a fortune of her own but she is able to help society ladies in need—for a modest fee, of course—and her client roster is steadily increasing. But when she approached about a stolen item, there is so much more that spins out in front of her that will keep you absolutely enthralled!
And finally, I have a special love for SPYING IN HIGH HEELS by the amazing Gemma Halliday. Long ago in a galaxy far away, I had the privilege of reading the first chapter of this awesome book as Gemma was writing it. I was enthralled and when the whole thing was done, I was absolutely hooked. Maddy Sroringer is my kind of girl and watching her get her fashionable feet stuck in mysteries that will drag you far into the night when you should have closed the book and gone to sleep is a real danger!
Brace yourself for entertainment and engagement, and a healthy dose of snickering and sass!
Start your year off right sinking your teeth into one or all of these wonderful tales. And you can totally blame me if dinner is late, or the laundry doesn’t get done because you just needed to read one more chapter.
Misty Simon always wanted to be a storyteller - preferably behind a Muppet. Animal was number one, followed closely by Sherlock Hemlock. Since that dream didn’t come true, she began writing stories to share her world with readers, one laugh at a time.
Touching people’s hearts and funny bones are two of her favorite things, and she hopes everyone at least snickers in the right places when reading her books. She lives with her husband in Central Pennsylvania where she is hard at work on her next novel or three. She loves to hear from readers so drop her a line via email.
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