Foxy's Tale - FREE on Kindle!

For just two days, January 15 and 16, Foxy's Tale, my romantic comedy co-authored with LB Gschwandtner, is . . .

FREE on Kindle!

Grab your copy now and tell your friends!

My Favorite Reads of 2011

I didn't get a chance to read nearly as much as I would have liked to, but here are my favorite reads in 2011. These are not necessarily books that were published in 2011 - just books that I read this year and enjoyed enough to recommend to other readers. And they are listed in no particular order! If you ever wondered what kind of books I find interesting, here's a peek.

And feel free to post your favorite reads in the comments! I'm always up for great suggestions!

HAPPY NEW YEAR friends!
_______

Murder Passes the Buck by Deb Baker



Description:

When her neighbor is shot and killed, sixty-six-year-old widow Gertie Johnson seizes the opportunity to move on with her life by investigating his death. Gertie is abetted (and hindered) by her grandson Little Donny, man-hungry best friend Cora Mae, and word-of-the-day challenger, Kitty. It doesn’t help that the death has been ruled an accident by the sheriff of this backwoods community in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Or that Sheriff Blaze Johnson happens to be Gertie’s son.

Whether it’s interrogating neighbors, spying, or impersonating the FBI—not to mention staying one step ahead of Blaze—Gertie will do whatever it takes to solve the case, even when the killer takes aim at her.

Why I enjoyed this book:

Gertie Johnson and her cohorts are just plain fun. This is the kind of series where you immediately want to start the next book when you finish because you love the characters so much.
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The Righteous by Michael Wallace



Description:

When a brutal murder shocks the polygamist enclave of Blister Creek, Utah, church elders call in Jacob Christianson, a medical student and the favored son of a church elder. Jacob must solve the murder while protecting his young sister Eliza from marriage to one of three old men jostling for power within the church hierarchy.

Jacob discovers that the murdered woman has been killed in accordance with secret blood oaths taken within the polygamist temple. Together with his sister, he uncovers a plot to overthrow the church leadership, with murders that reach beyond the community and into the "gentile" world. The Righteous is a heart-pounding suspense-thriller with a depth that will haunt the reader long after the last page is turned.

Why I enjoyed this book:

It's a fast-paced mystery/thriller with a unique premise. The author knows how to grip the reader from the first page and keep you hanging on to the very end. I've already started the second book in this series, and Michael Wallace's talent proves consistent.
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My Planet or Yours? by LC Evans



Description:

Nora Bryant is a single Earth woman out to ban men from her life after a recent breakup. Triskam is a strikingly handsome extraterrestrial, who crash lands near her remote Arizona home. Add to this mix, a couple of misguided thugs looking for a gold rush, an overly friendly, not-so-guard dog, and a communications device that thinks it's a nanny, and you have My Planet or Yours?, a delightful new romantic comedy by LC Evans, author of the Kindle bestseller, We Interrupt This Date.

Why I enjoyed this book:

Triskan the sexy alien. He's funny AND good looking. Can you ask for more? My Planet or Yours is very simply and delight to read.
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Bossypants by Tina Fey



Description:

Before Liz Lemon, before "Weekend Update," before "Sarah Palin," Tina Fey was just a young girl with a dream: a recurring stress dream that she was being chased through a local airport by her middle-school gym teacher. She also had a dream that one day she would be a comedian on TV.

She has seen both these dreams come true. At last, Tina Fey's story can be told. From her youthful days as a vicious nerd to her tour of duty on Saturday Night Live; from her passionately halfhearted pursuit of physical beauty to her life as a mother eating things off the floor; from her one-sided college romance to her nearly fatal honeymoon -- from the beginning of this paragraph to this final sentence. Tina Fey reveals all, and proves what we've all suspected: you're no one until someone calls you bossy.

Why I enjoyed this book:

Tina Fey makes me laugh. And I think she'd be perfect as Barbara Marr in the movie version of Take the Monkeys and Run. (smile)
_____

Under Witch Aura by Maria E. Schneider



Description:

There’s an ill wind blowing in Santa Fe, and it’s touching every witch Adriel knows, including White Feather, who is far more important to Adriel than just any warlock. In search of answers, she delves into ancient magic, a family secret and dangerous religious rituals. Whoever is manipulating the elements appears to be after the ultimate goal: forbidden power over life and death.

Adriel will go to the ends of the earth to keep those she loves safe, but if she lures the enemy away, will she be able to save herself? Her only hope is to use earth magic to hide from the very air she breathes as she hunts down an unseen and untenable evil.
About the Author

Why I enjoyed this book:

I really enjoyed the magic in this book as well as the characters, and the romance aspect wraps it all up into one neat package. I judge a book by my willingness to put it down or my desire to get back to it when I'm doing other things - this book was one I would have read in one sitting if I'd had the time!
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Naked in Death by JD Robb



Description:

In the very first novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series, Eve Dallas gets involved with Roarke, a suspect in her latest murder case. But passion and seduction have rules all their own.

Why I enjoyed this book:

I'm late to this party, since this first book in Robb's series was first published in 1995, but I'm so glad I discovered it now. Quite grisly and a little graphic, the intensity of the writing and story kept me engrossed the entire time.
_____

Devil Moon by Dana Taylor



Description:

Welcome to the mystical town of Beaver Cove, Arkansas where country ghosts offer homey advice and the moon makes lovers of total strangers!

Maddie Harris left Boston in humiliation. She hopes the job as assistant principal in a small Arkansas town will keep her too busy to notice the hole where her heart used to be. Phil Wilcox, divorced former NFL star, returns to his hometown as the new football coach. He hopes to repair the tattered relationship with his eleven-year-old daughter, despite his thorny ex-wife. Maddie is neat and color coordinated; Phil takes "casual" to its limits. Neither is seeking romance, but a mischievous moon and a friendly spirit have other ideas.

Why I enjoyed this book:

GREAT characters! This is a delicious romance with a hint of paranormal. A delightful story with vivid, fun, and interesting characters that I was rooting for constantly.
_____

Dead to Writes by Cathy Wiley



Description:

Cassandra Ellis is a soon-to-be published author, days away from achieving her lifetime goal. But before she can celebrate, before she can even have her first book signing, she's brought in to Baltimore City Police Headquarters for questioning in connection to a real-life murder.

It seems she's the last person to see the victim alive, since she had just met with the former arsonist to conduct research for her next book. Most damning, her day planner was found next to the body.

When another of her subject matter experts is killed-- again right after meeting with her-- Cassie decides to investigate things herself, rather than leaving it in the hands of the police. Although she'd love to get her hands on the homicide detective assigned to the cases.

Using all the tools available to her, including her research skills, her knowledge of murder and murderers, and... psychic parrots, she tries to solve the case before another friend is killed. Along the way, she finds out that murder in real life is different than murder on the page.

Why I enjoyed this book:

Cassie Ellis is an absolutely LOVEABLE character. I had a blast riding along while she bumbled her way through solving the crime.
_______

So there you have it! What were some of your favorite reads of 2011?

A Holiday Gift to YOU!

Happy Holidays to everyone! Despite the fact that I am not a cold-weather fan, this is my favorite time of year, because the spirit of the season is pure and true. To quote Fred Astaire as the postman narrator in Santa Claus is Coming to Town:

"Lot's of unhappiness? Maybe so. But doesn't Santa take a little bit of that unhappiness away? Doesn't a smile on Christmas morning scratch out a tear cried on a sadder day? Not much maybe. But what would happen if we all tried to be like Santa and learned to give as only he can give: of ourselves, our talents, our love and our hearts? Maybe we could all learn Santa's beautiful lesson and maybe there would finally be peace on Earth and good will toward men."


I have now divulged a secret about myself: I'm a big sap. (smile)

So in the spirit of giving, and to show my gratitude to all who have read and loved my books, I'm sharing a work that is very precious to me -- The Chronicles of Marr-nia.

First, below, you can read one of the bonus short stories from that collection. While it doesn't have a Christmas theme, there is snow, and snow always reminds me of Christmas. (smile again)

Second, FROM NOW UNTIL CHRISTMAS DAY, I am giving away a copy (Kindle, Nook or PDF) of The Chronicles of Marr-nia to anyone who emails me at karen.cantwell@yahoo.com. Be sure to type HOLIDAY GIFT in the subject line. Do you already own The Chronicles of Marr-nia? Email me anyway, because I can always send you a copy for a friend.

"Sherman's Purpose"
by Karen Cantwell

Coffee. Sorry excuse for a beverage, thought Sherman Foster, staring into the empty can. Stuff
tank up the house, made his nose itch and his stomach turn.

Resealing the empty container with its plastic lid and shoving it to the back of the counter, Sherman snickered, pleased with himself that he had purposely let the coffee run out. He’d show Horace. Make him real mad, he would. Predictably, Horace would soon yell from his room.
“Sherman! Hey, Sherm! Can ya bring me a cup a coffee? My rheumatiz is actin’ up.”

“Heh, heh,” cackled Sherman to himself. “Ain’t no coffee ta-day, Horace ol’ boy. Guess you’ll just have some o’ that caffeine withdrawal, ’cuz I ain’t goin’ out in this weather. Sure enough, I ain’t gonna walk half a mile to the Seven Ee-leven, just to get you some stinkin’ coffee.”

Sherman shuffled slowly on the yellow linoleum floor that, in its heyday, had been the color of soft, speckled cream. For a man his age, a trip from the fridge to the counter was a major undertaking. An arduous ordeal.

Steam blossomed invitingly from the bowl of oatmeal in his hands, stimulating his saliva glands, tempting his taste buds. But halfway to the table, he remembered the honey.

“Damn!” grumbled Sherman to the quiet, friendless kitchen. “Can’t eat no bowl of oatmeal without honey.”

A mouse on the floor might have heard the scritch-scritching of Sherman’s cheap slippers (courtesy the Salvation Army) scuffing the floor as he moved back to the counter where the honey bear bottle colonized with the hen salt shaker and rooster pepper shaker next to the ramshackle gas stove – the same place they’d resided all the years Sherman knew.

Finally, Sherman’s bony bottom made contact with the seat of the tippy chair at the small round table. Hunched over the chipped ceramic bowl, holding the bear upside down over the oatmeal, Sherman waited for the honey to drip. He had no choice but to wait. The arthritis made it near impossible to squeeze even the tiniest bit.

Before the honey came, Sherman sighed. He took a peek behind him, down the hallway. “Damn!” he mumbled. “I got oatmeal and I got honey. Horace may be a pain in my ass, but he ain’t got no coffee.” He shook his head. “Damn, stinkin’ coffee.”

Flipping the bear back upright, he set it onto the tabletop with a thump. He looked down the hall, sighed one more time, then rose from the chair slow as a sloth and began the long, laborious ritual of bundling up for a cold, even more laborious walk to the Seven Ee-leven.

*****

“Hey there, Sherm!” Nancy bellowed from behind the counter. She smiled so broadly that her chubby cheeks pushed her eyes nearly half-closed.

“Damn, Nanc, you look like a crazy China-woman when you smile like that. Anyone ever tell ya that?”

“Why, yes, Sherm,” she laughed. “You, as a matter of fact.”

“Then why you still do it?”

“To give you sumthin’ to complain about.” She patted her stomach when she talked and didn’t stop smiling. It was Nancy’s way.

Evidently, she didn’t care if she looked like a crazy China-woman or not.

“So what can we get ya today, Sherm?”

“Can o’ Folgers,” Sherman answered, shuffling in the same direction as always.

“For Horace?” she asked.

“Who else? I told ya a thousand times, I can’t stand the smell of it, much less the taste. Stuff rots your gut.” He had made a successful trip to the coffee aisle, picked a can off the shelf and returned to Nancy’s register, where he began the slow motion effort of opening his tattered coin purse. “It’ll probably kill him,” said Sherman, counting out quarters, dimes and nickels one at a time onto the cold counter, “if the laziness don’t first. He should be walkin’ here himself – get up off his feet ever once in a while. He’s just an idiotic old fart. Oughta put him in a home. Let someone else take care of him.”

“You love your brother, Sherman Foster. I know ya do.” Nancy was getting that sad look on her face again. It bothered Sherman. Sure enough, he didn’t like the China-woman look, but that sad-as-a-lost-puppy look was even spookier. Someone really should have a talk with that woman.
He clinked a final coin onto the counter. “That enough, Nanc?”

She counted out the coins, which totaled a dollar fifty-three. The coffee cost three dollars and ninety-nine cents, not including tax.

“That’s enough, Sherm,” she said. “You be good now. See ya tomorrow?”

“Not if I can help it! This oughta last him least a week for cryin’ out loud,” moaned Sherman, making his tortoise-like way to the door.

“Right. Well, say ‘Hey’ to Tina when you see her,” said Nancy, who then turned her attention to another customer.

Sherman shook his head and wondered to himself. Tina? Who’s Tina?

Snowflakes had started to fall – monstrously luscious snowflakes, floating to the ground like the feathers of angels wings. Once outside, Sherman stopped and looked to the sky. “Snow. Who’s gonna shovel this crap? Sure ain’t gonna be that lazy bum, Horace.”
A young girl stood next to him, looking skyward, eyes shining. “I love the snow,” she whispered.

Grumbling and angling his head toward the sidewalk he began the long shuffle back to the house where he and his brother had spent years growing from boys to men, so long, long ago.
He passed the big field where they played cops and robbers, and where in winter, they would sail like the wind down the heaven-kissing hill on toboggans. That was when snow was a dream, not a nightmare.

He passed the cemetery where they’d buried Mother, and then Father, who just didn’t want to live without her no more.

He passed Pearl O’Leary’s house – the woman who broke his heart. Of course, Pearl didn’t live there no more, but her granddaughter did, and every once in a while, when she visited the girl, she would stop in and say “Hey!” to Sherman and Horace. She always complimented Sherman on how kind he was to take care of Horace the way he did, bein’ like a nurse and all. “You’re a good man, Sherman,” she’d say.

“Ach – he’s a bum. Oughta put him in a home.”

“You ain’t foolin’ me,” she’d answer, “You love your brother, Sherman. I know it.”

Back in his house, which wasn’t much warmer than the air outside, Sherman shook off the snow, hung his ratty coat on its hook, laid his hat and gloves carefully on the radiator nearby, then made his arthritic way to the coffee pot on the stove.

“Hey, Horace!” Sherman shouted down the hall. “You’ll have yer stinkin’ coffee soon! Don’t go yellin’ fer it ‘cuz I don’t wanna hear yer caterwaulin’.”

Dog-tired from his grueling walk, Sherman decided to have a sit on the sofa in the living room. Take some weight off his feet for just a few minutes – just while the coffee perked up. As happened on most days, he laid his head down and drifted off.

When Tina came at her usual time, she found a familiar scene – open can of coffee on the counter, a pot percolating furiously over the flame of the single functioning burner left on the stove, and Uncle Sherman asleep on the living room couch.

She took the red can, opened the small door of the pantry, and placed it next to the others that filled the four lined shelves. She counted them. Twenty-one. Twenty-one cans of Folgers. She threw away the empty can, but knew that miraculously, she would find it on the counter when she returned the next day.

After cleaning up, she covered Uncle Sherman with the quilt and waited. When he woke up, she would sit and tell him again. Tell him that Uncle Horace had passed peacefully in his sleep nearly a month ago now. She would ask Uncle Sherman, didn’t he remember? Didn’t he remember finding Horace in bed that morning, and the lovely funeral when they buried him next to Uncle Fred and Aunt Mimi? Didn’t he remember?

Finally, Sherman would shake his head and say that he did. He did remember. He would sit weeping on the couch, his crippled hands cupping his shaking head.

“Why?” he would ask. “Now what’m I gonna do?”

Then he’d curl up in a ball, and sleep again.

Tina would come back. She would come back every day and clean that ancient and tarnished coffee pot. After all, it was his purpose – making coffee for the brother he loved.

Everyone who knew Sherman, knew the truth. That those two had been more than brothers – they’d been best friends. And they knew that despite his cranky grumbling, Sherman Foster really had loved Horace all the years that he lived.

Loved him more than a child loves the sight of new falling snow.

A Barbara Marr Short Story Now on Kindle!

I'm excited to announce that my most recent Barbara Marr short story is now available on Kindle for just .99 cents.

In "It's a Dunder-Bull Wife," Barb bites off more than she can chew when she decides to play Holiday Hostess. Well, if you know Barb, you know that it probably doesn't go so well. See just how bad it gets!

And to all of my friends and readers - HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Best wishes,

Karen Cantwell

Coming Soon!

Okay. I have some good news, and I have some bad news.

Let's start with the good - My new Barbara Marr Holiday Tale, "It's a Dunder-Bull Wife," will be available on Kindle and Nook very soon. Since's it's a Holiday Tale, you can be assured, it will be before Christmas. Curious? Here's a little description:

Dunder-Bull – the perfect little town bordering Barbara Marr’s not-so-polished Rustic Woods. Everything in Dunder-Bull is five-star rated, including the wives. As Barb puts it, “Dunder-Bull Wives make Stepford Wives look like couch potatoes.” Succumbing to the need to “measure-up,” Barb decides to prepare a grand and luscious Christmas feast for a party of twenty. The problem? Barb can’t cook her way out of a turkey-roaster bag. In usual Barbara Marr fashion, chaos ensues. Will she survive? Will her family fall victim to salmonella food poisoning? Will Martha Stewart ridicule her publicly?

A Barbara Marr Holiday short story, sure to tickle your funny bone and touch your heart at the same time. If you liked It's a Wonderful Life, you'll love "It's a Dunder-Bull Wife."

Hmmm. I said there was some bad news too, didn't I? Well, that would be the announcement that the release of Silenced by the Yams, the third Barbara Marr Murder Mystery, has been postponed until February 1, 2012. I'm sorry!

But hopefully "It's a Dunder-Bull Wife" will keep readers enjoying Barbara Marr until February. Stay tuned - when it's ready for sale, I will announce it here.

Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

Best wishes,

Karen

A Fun New Romantic Comedy on Kindle

I don't often go out of my way to recommend books, but in this case, I just can't help myself. Last year, after sampling an excerpt, I read and loved the best selling romantic comedy, We Interrupt This Date by L.C. Evans. Since then, I have contacted and become friends with L.C. It is a friendship I treasure immensely.

L.C. has now just released another romantic comedy, My Planet or Yours? I feel privileged to have read an advance review copy of this fun romance and am recommending here, not because she is my friend, but because I think it is the kind of book my own fans would enjoy. I like to call My Planet or Yours? a romance with an extraterrestrial twist.

Nora is a single woman on the rebound who is literally living on a gold mine, and Triskam is a stud-muffin of an other-world-alien who crash lands near her Arizona home. They're thrown together when a couple of thugs come looking for the gold she doesn't know she owns. Let's just say, there's lots of heat in that extraterrestrial six-pack and Nora has a hard time resisting him. In true L.C. Evans fashion, the story is fun and the characters loveable. Triskam, especially is not only sexy, but sweet and I have to admit, if he crash landed in MY backyard, I'd be all a-twitter.

If you're looking for a just-plain-fun read on your Kindle or Nook, you really should try My Planet or Yours? I know you won't be disappointed.

And right now, it's available at a just-released price of just .99 cents - that price won't last for long, I'm pretty sure.



Click Here for NOOK version

Add Some Laughter to Your Day!

For those of you who don't know, I blog with two other wonderfully funny authors, LC Evans and Barbara Silkstone. Our blog is called A Moose Walked into a Bar, Sit-down Comedy. It's great fun, we keep it clean, and we have guests join us there as well.

So if you're looking to add some laughter to your day, join us there every Wednesday.

My post there today is titled, What's in a Name? Please, do stop by!

CLICK HERE to enter The Moose Bar and find a giggle or two.