Voice recognition mistake of the week: “If George wanted a castle badly, I’m sure you could’ve found one.” Er, a cat so badly. It might be harder to find a castle!

Personal Update : This was my Facebook post on Dec 17: You know how when you’ve been awake and vomiting all night, at three a.m. you start Googling “When should you go to the ER with abdominal pain”? The answer for my symptoms Saturday night was “Now,” because it could be a variety of things, but appendicitis was one of them. Of course it’s probably not that, I told myself. We’re just being extra cautious. But it was. Apparently my appendix decided to break up with my body. That toxic relationship is so over! Also, Phil and I both have Covid.

Recovery from the laparoscopic surgery has been easy. Covid has been much more of a drag. I’m slowly getting back to normal activities, physical and mental. And a friend got me a new appendix! It’s much more cheerful than the one they removed from me.

Happy New Year! How about a sensible, enjoyable resolution? Read more this year! (Unless you already read as much as humanly possible.) You can buy my cat café romance and romantic suspense ebooks directly from me at my store. (Note that the series has new covers. The last release was Pride and Prejudice at the Cat Café last spring.) Get the Accidental Detective humorous mystery series and the Accidental Billionaire Cowboys sweet romance series in print or ebook from the publisher or at any major retailer.

Audiobook News : Something Deadly on Desert Drive, The Accidental Detective Book 2, is now out in audiobook! Books 1 and 2 are in Audible, if you have a membership there (or read one with a free trial), in Chirp (don’t ask me why Night Terrors show up with my author name; I have nothing to do with those), in the library app Hoopla (where you can also borrow many of my ebooks), for purchase at Amazon, and with some other retailers. For some reason, the books didn't always show up when I searched within a specific retailer, so an Internet search for the book title + audiobook + your favorite retailer might do better.

Unfortunately, with our health issues, we did not get to make our planned trip to Arizona Christmas week. I did get to watch an incredible sunset from a friend's upper deck though.

Find More New Books and Authors - Get mysteries and thrillers this week!

The Neon Heat , by Hilda Klein: “After trading Connecticut’s quiet streets for Miami’s electrifying chaos, Private Investigator Zaza Whitmore built a reputation for sharp wit, relentless determination, and a knack for unraveling secrets. Every mystery brings passionate connections that threaten to consume her as much as the secrets she uncovers. Set against the vibrant backdrop of 1980s Miami, The Neon Heat is a spellbinding blend of romance and mystery, where the stakes are high, the danger is real, and the lights never go out. Perfect for readers who crave strong, relatable heroines, heart-pounding intrigue, and just the right touch of heat.” Free with newsletter signup.

Millfield Murders: an Ava Ramey FBI Mystery Thriller, by Axl Blaze: “A serial killer is preying upon high school soccer stars. As panic grips the community, news anchor Eliza Thompson receives a chilling package: crime scene photographs, a cryptic letter, and a sinister cipher. The killer’s demand? Broadcast the cipher on live television, or more blood will spill. FBI Special Agent Ava Ramey races to decode the killer’s taunting messages while haunted by the unsolved murder of her own sister. With pulse-pounding suspense, jaw-dropping twists, and a tenacious female FBI agent, Millfield Murders is an electrifying thriller that will keep you guessing until the last page.”

The Mardi Gras Murders , by Jemma Stark: “For years, a murderer has used the revelry of Mardi Gras to hide in plain sight. Special Agent Briana Song is new to the job, while her partner, James Buckley, has been haunted by this case for years. When the murders start again, Briana and Buck resolve to finally end the killer’s gruesome game. But this year, the killer sets his sights on Briana, dragging her into a twisted cat-and-mouse chase through the city of masked crowds. Catching a serial killer is dangerous work, and Briana might discover some monsters don’t like being hunted...” Well rated, and also in audio.

The Idyllwild Mystery Series, by Jolie Tunnell: "Loveda Brown is a governess for a wealthy 1911 Boston family, but things are about to get complicated. The August heat could be blamed for short tempers and frizzy curls, but how did a dead man land in her third-floor bedroom unannounced? The clock ticks down as Loveda and her best friend Bea try to untangle the mystery while her future becomes dimmer than a sixteen-watt lightbulb." Sign up for her newsletter and get the first book, Boston Burglar, free, or check out the ten-book Loveda Brown historical mystery series on Amazon.

Off-Beat Detectives : An All-Genre Giveaway for Mysteries with Quirky Characters. Check out over 30 options for free novels, short stories, and previews! You’ll find cozy, paranormal, and detective mysteries, each free with newsletter signup (unsubscribe any time). 

Here’s a neighborhood cat, Mal, enjoying winter sunshine. He's such a handsome boy!

I hope your end of year was better than mine! Did you do anything fun? 

Thanks for reading this far, , and thanks for choosing to sign up for my newsletter. If you want to unsubscribe, no problem—the link is below. You can also follow me on Amazonor BookBub if you only want New Release Alerts. Or check out my books – available at all major retailers as ebooks or print!

Did you get your freebies? Find them all here: a cat café romance novella, an Accidental Detective short story, and 22 recipes from the cat Café. Plus get a Sweet Home Alabama short story and a preview of my brother’s comedy, Totally Rad Wormhole.

Learn more about the Accidental Detective humorous mystery series, the Accidental Billionaire Cowboys sweet romance series,the Felony Melanie: Sweet Home Alabama romantic comedy novels, and the Furrever Friends cat cafe sweet romance series.