Voice recognition mistake of the week: I’m writing book 5 in the Accidental Detective series and wound up with this: “I only hoped we were far enough away that he wouldn’t be able to tell her camel was aimed at him.” 🐪

That was supposed to be “camera.” Did you know that in the late 19th century, wild camels really did roam the West? Smithsonian magazine covers the weird and sometimes gruesome tale in “Whatever Happened to the Wild Camels of the American West?”

For more (fictional) stories of southwestern adventures, including modern day treasure hunting and a spooky suspense set at Puebloan ruins in the Four Corners area, check out my Romantic Suspense Novels. If you need last-minute gifts or stocking stuffer, coupons for ebooks work great! Choose the books you want to give and either print the coupon or Amazon (and maybe other retailers) will email on the date you choose.

In the Accidental Detective Book 3, Someone Cruel in Coyote Creek, Mayor Todd Paradise's teen children are victims of cyberbullying. A recent case of cyberbullying reached a shocking climax when the bully was identified as an adult bullying her own daughter and the daughter's friends. Good Morning America covered the story here.

In The Accidental Detective series, a witty journalist solves mysteries in Arizona and tackles the challenges of turning fifty. The first three books are out and you can pre-order book 4, Someone Missing from Malapais Mountain, for delivery Feb. 28!

Speaking of turning 50, Facebook brought me this memory: “As we age, we can no longer do the crazy stunts of our youth without risk of injury. For example, this morning I threw my neck out of alignment by tipping my head back in the shower to rinse shampoo out of my hair.”

The ferrets don't have trouble with that kind of thing, as Bear Bear demonstrates.

Christmas is almost here, for those who celebrate, but if you need one more Christmas themed book to get you in the mood, try The Billionaire Cowboy’s Christmas. A reviewer said, “I can hardly wait for the next in this series. I highly recommend this clean, romantic Christmas story.” The next two books are also available for preorder! Learn more about the Accidental Billionaire Cowboys series here.

The Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series also includes a holiday story with Christmas Cookies at the Cat Café: Christmas isn’t the same since Diane’s kids grew up and her husband died – so when her high school sweetheart comes back to town, maybe it’s time for some cozy new holiday traditions. Plus the series has five non-holiday books if you’ve had enough of that stuff. Visit the Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series page on Amazon US or Amazon UK to see them all.

It's winter in New Mexico, and the weather outside is ... Well, a bit blustery but often quite pretty in the evenings as the sun sets (so early!).

Find New Books and Authors!

Get Mysteries for These Long Winter Nights: Find humorous mysteries, romantic adventures, edgy thrillers and more, most 99 cents to $5. You can stock up on whodunnits for those long, cold nights.

Reason to Laugh: If you love to laugh, check out these freebies! You can sample mysteries, romance, science fiction, fantasy, paranormal, and more. All come with a big dose of humor. Each requires a newsletter sign-up, but you can unsubscribe any time.

Killer Thriller Women: Do you enjoy reading stories about women facing danger while you sit in the comfort of your own home? Find humorous mysteries, romantic adventures, edgy thrillers and more. All feature female leads ready to fight back!

Quick ferret break before we get to more book stuff: Bear Bear shows how to relax even when family members are pestering you.

Books on My Radar:

Small-Town Christmas Box Set: A Curated Collection of Holiday Stories, by Kerry Evelyn: "Celebrate all that’s merry and bright this season and capture the spirit of Christmas with this heartwarming selection of stories and more! From a hilarious turkey chase to the spirit released when Old Man Wetherby discovers the family nutcracker in the attic to recipes from the characters’ kitchens and themed Christmas activities, get fun holiday reads that warm the heart."

Legacy (Hawaiian Mysteries), by Jessie Kelley: "Join Eliana along with her family and friends as she battles to find the truth of who she is in a world which seems suddenly hostile and alien." The description is vague, but it appears to be a mystery with family drama, and readers say it's suspenseful. Plus, Hawaii! Pre-order for only $0.99 or free in KU.

Wrapped up with You This Christmas: A Sweet, Small Town, Holiday Romance, by Elysia Strife: "After serving her time in the military, Natalie Carlisle works as a traveling teacher, going to remote places all over the world. Meanwhile, Trey Tyler has been training teams across the country in survival readiness. When they meet up in the mountains of Vermont, a blizzard roles in and the two team up with Search and Rescue to find a group of stranded teens." Readers say it's a sweet and enjoyable read about people getting a second chance at romance. 99c or free in KU.

Paradise Beach: A Sweet Second Chance Romance, by Shantal Sessions: "Cat Cortez’s world shattered the day her soulmate walked out. Cat throws herself into building her family’s new nursery and landscaping business, hoping to plant something new in her life. Just when she thinks she’s salvaged what was left of her broken heart, her ex careens back into her life… A fun and flirty second chance romance set on the beaches and blue waves of Maui." Free with newsletter sign-up.

Happy Holidays, and Merry Christmas to those who celebrate - or just like looking at all the fun decorations. At our house, I think someone got into the spiked eggnog.

Thanks for reading this far, , and thanks for choosing to sign up for my newsletter. I hope you're having a cozy winter! (Or summer if you're Down Under.)

If you want to unsubscribe, no problem--the link is at the end. You can also follow me on Amazon (click on the “Follow” button to the left) or BookBub if you only want New Release Alerts. See all of Kris Bock’s links.

PS: If you don’t have “The Case of the Missing Monkey and other short mystery stories,” here’s the direct download link. If you haven’t yet gotten Lions and Love at the Cat Café, you can download it free here. For “22 of the recipes mentioned in Kris Bock’s Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series,” go here (free).