Strong Motive: Elizabeth Strong Mystery Book 1 (Elizabeth Strong Mysteries)by K.C. Turner

She rose from the ashes of her past.

Now someone wants to throw her back into the fire.

In the small town of Silverton, Ohio, crime runs big. Court advocate, Elizabeth Strong, knows this all too well and doing everything she can to stop it. She has devoted her life to helping women escape dangerous, narcissistic men. She did it herself years ago sending a man to prison. And he’s had plenty of time to plot his revenge.

While helping a prominent woman navigate the court system, Elizabeth falls prey to a mysterious stalker and Detective Martinez is assigned to her case. When it becomes clear that her client is the target of a murder for hire, Elizabeth and Martinez team up to catch the killer. The client’s husband is rich, connected, and the number one suspect. Is he also sending Elizabeth a message to back off?

Although the one man Elizabeth fears is still behind bars, Martinez suspects he’s somehow involved. It wouldn’t be the first time a prison inmate got to someone on the outside. As the evidence builds in her client’s case, the danger escalates in her own. The tangled web connecting the two together begins to unravel and it’s soon realized nothing is ever as it seems…

Book 1 in the Elizabeth Strong Series

Surreal Absurdityby Jim Lively

What is it about Charles Pierce that makes people want to kill him?

He’s retired from his law practice, does pro bono work for non-profits, and has turned all his attention to focus on his art. He even rented a studio, as part of a gallery where exhibitions are well attended and the wine flows freely.

So why does a mysterious and hostile young man threaten him, while the woman who tried to poison him last year shows up at an exhibition to purchase one of his abstract paintings?

Charles can’t seem to avoid associating with criminals. Even Detective Gonzales believes he is somehow involved in a series of local murders because his business cards are found at the scene.

No one, least of all Charles, can explain it, but the more he seeks clues and answers, the more he finds the whole situation to be a Surreal Absurdity.

Children of the Knightby Michael J. Bowler

An orphan boy. A mysterious stranger. A city in crisis.

When 14-year-old Lance is saved from death, his life is forever changed. For starters, his savior claims to be King Arthur, the once and future ruler of ancient Britain. Lance has met lots of weirdos on the streets of L.A., and they claim to be many things. But this “king” not only reeks of sincerity, he wears armor, rides a gorgeous white horse, and lives in the storm drains underneath the city! Arthur has a throne, old-school clothes, and weapons up the wazoo. Swords, daggers, bows and arrows–the kind Lance has only seen in movies.

Turns out this Arthur guy wants to start some kind of revolution. He plans to collect other cast-off kids like Lance–even teen gang members–and create a New Camelot of Knights to gain more rights for youth and shake up the out-of-touch politicians who run Los Angeles.

Lance is all for helping kids like him. He’s spent his entire life in and out of the system, and it sucks. And he wants to believe in Arthur, but doubts even a king can accomplish such lofty goals. Despite these uncertainties, Lance readily accepts the position of First Knight–youth leader of Arthur’s new army–thereby setting in motion a crusade of tsunami proportions. When the children rise, will the city fall?

The Lance Chronicles begin…

Children of the Knight is for readers who love urban fantasy mixed with action-adventure and populated by unforgettable characters. It’s the first in a complete five-book series intended for high school age youth and adults who love rousing coming-of-age stories that showcase strong adult characters in addition to the teenage protagonists.

There are instances of PG-13 language, drug addiction, and teen characters who suffer the aftereffects of abuse, but there are no graphic descriptions.

The Lance Chronicles opens up a world of possibilities for how we can better ourselves as a society. It’s an anti-dystopia series for those who prefer hope over pessimism.

Winner of the 2013 Gold Medal from The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Winner of the 2020 Gold Medal from the NYC Big Book Awards

Touch Me Againby C. Morgan

The man made my life pure hell in high school.

But that was years ago. And we’re both all grown up now.

He’s hotter than sin and has a smile that leaves me and my friends panting for his attention.

It’s spring break and I need time with the girls on the beach. Florida should do the trick.

Never in a million years did I expect Hudson Philips to be there.

Memories of him bullying and teasing me mercilessly roll through me in waves, but we’re not kids anymore, and those aren’t the only waves he’s making.

He’s damned determined to get back into my good graces, and he’s working every angle possible to make sure it happens.

As hard as I try to deny him, he quickly becomes the only thing I can think about.

But the minute I let down my guard, he puts his up again. He’s not looking for a long-term love affair.

I wish he were, but for now, I simply want him to touch me again.