Voice recognition mistake of the day: "Amateurs will be in the low seventies with a breeze and a slight chance of rain." Or maybe temperatures.

It's late spring in New Mexico, which means dramatic skies:

Blooming cacti, including these ocotillo from around the neighborhood:

and occasional hailstorms:

A memory from 2017: When working on a mystery novel at a retreat, you have to hope the cleaning staff won't get curious about the scraps of paper in the trash with notes such as, "Which poison?" and "Mom kidnapped."

This was from working on Something Shady at Sunshine Haven the first the Accidental Detective mystery – and now four books are out, #5 is up for preorder, and I’m working on #6! Grab the ebooks for only $4.99 each ($10-12 print): War correspondent Kate Tessler has followed the most dangerous news stories around the world. But can she survive going home?

Did you get your free copy of “The Missing Monkey and other short mystery stories?” This collection starts with a ten-page mystery short story set in the world of “The Accidental Detective” series, followed by information about the first books in the series, the first chapter of book 1, and three fun, short stories originally written for children. Get the free collection as a direct download here.

Cats in the News: If you've been getting this newsletter for long, you know I'm an animal lover and have an entire series set around a cat café.

Did you also know that one unspayed female can lead to a colony of cats in a few months? April-October is “kitten season,” leading to a drastic increase in the stray cat population. Rescues can be overwhelmed with trapping requests, but many offer education and trap loans so colony caretakers can initiate trapping themselves. If you can, consider donating to your local rescue or TNR program (where cats are trapped, neutered or spayed, and returned to their outdoor location) or finding ways to get involved. Albuquerque’s Street Cat HUB has provided spay/neuter services for over 4000 cats since last July!

Visit the Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series or Amazon UK.

Bear Bear the ferret is responding well to monthly shots to regulate insulinoma and is getting bouncy again!

Bonus voice recognition mistake: “Bear will sometimes snap on my chest for up to half an hour.” That’s a lot of snapping! We prefer napping.

Books on My Radar:

Murder at the Cheese Shop, by Dani Simms. "The peaceful atmosphere of Los Robles is shattered when a murder takes place at the cheese shop. Local innkeeper and vineyard owner, Avery Parker, is implicated, so she begins to investigate. She uncovers secrets and betrayals from past and present love interests, a disgruntled ex-employee, and a suspicious resident. The gossipy locals have their guesses, but who can she really trust? Murder at the Cheese Shop is a thrilling mystery that will keep sleuthing readers on the edge of their seats. Wine pairings and irresistible recipes included!" Mmm, cheese.

Estranged (Coconut Beach Book 1), by Jessie Kelley: "Aurora’s mundane life becomes a roller coaster ride of the worst kind. She escapes to the beautiful island of Kauai looking for peace and the strength to begin again. Her path intertwines with that of a mysterious neighbor whose chaotic life threatens the peace. Aurora is dependent on Eric for her safety and security, and they become involved in each other’s lives. Danger threatens them and turns on Aurora’s family. Set within an island paradise, Estranged is an exciting woman's fiction series with romance and danger." The reviews are good.

Ruthless King (The Vitale Family Series Book 1), by Kiara Morgan: "As the Russian Mafia princess, I have lived my entire life locked away. I have felt pain and cruelty at my own father's hands. Now I'm forced into a marriage with the Italian Mafia's Capo Alessio to unite our two families. I'm haunted by the past and now the present. If he thinks I will break so easily he's mistaken." It's well rated, and one reviewer says, "Kidnappings, murder and mayhem and an unexpected love are all part of this book and will keep you on the edge of your seat."

Find More New Books and Authors!

Free Clean Cozy Mystery & Clean Romance: If you like your fiction on the sweeter side, check out these free sweet romance and cozy mystery stories! Take a break from life and enjoy some cozy spring reads. Each is free with newsletter sign-up! (Unsubscribe any time.)

Free Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense: These stories introduce you to amateur detectives, female sleuths, tough guys, crime bosses, and killers. You’ll find many options, from cute to cozy to creepy. Each is free with newsletter sign-up! (Unsubscribe any time.)

Bonus Bear showing off his napping technique. Not recommended for humans.

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