Book Blitz! Death Hits the High Notes by GG Calpo ~ Excerpt and #Giveaway #DeathHitsTheHighNotes @XpressoTours

Death Hits the High Notes by GG Calpo
(The Sweet TOOTH Murder Mystery Series)
Publication date: October 7th 2026
Genres: Adult, Cozy Mystery, Mystery

Trouble is brewing at Whitman’s Port Choral Society as choir members drop dead and Detective Jonathan Storm raises more questions than answers in his investigation. When Stefan, the choir’s soloist, gets weaker by the day, Meg and her friends take matters into their own hands. And if a murder investigation was not enough to elevate anyone’s blood pressure, Meg finds herself in danger tied to her past that she’s struggling to understand.

Will Meg and her friends stop the killer before Stefan becomes the next victim—and before Meg’s past catches up with her?

Join these golden-age sleuths as they follow the clues, protect their own, and prove that friendship is the strongest weapon against a killer.

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EXCERPT

There were two new faces I didn’t recognize from last year’s concert. They looked familiar, though I couldn’t place where I had seen them before. The conductor stood in front, his back to us as he summoned the choir’s eyes to him with a few taps of his baton. He took a deep breath, synchronizing the choir’s breathing to his own. Gesturing with his baton, he released the soprano’s voice—rich, powerful, and throbbing with emotion. The beginning strains of the solo filled the auditorium. Holding his right hand at waist level, the conductor flicked his right index finger left, then right, counting the beats.

“That’s Amanda, in case you didn’t know,” Liz told me behind her raised hand.

I nodded and tried to stop my giggles when Liz’s shoulder hit mine.

“Will…you…shut…up?” Barbara widened her eyes more with each word.

Liz waved her hands in surrender, twitched her body deeper into the chair, took a deep breath, and closed her eyes. If it weren’t for the trembling of her shoulders, Liz could have fooled us with her pose of deep listening. But we knew her, and all she got from Barbara was another shove. Despite her unfailingly put-together appearance—manicured nails and hair always expertly cut and dyed—Liz hadn’t left her teen years behind. We must have been making a racket because a woman three rows down turned around and glared at us.

Liz and I looked at each other and decided to settle down and listen. I swayed, imagining my soul lifting in prayer, soaring past the lights of the auditorium and ever more upwards into the wide open sky beyond the school building. Then it happened. One minute I was up in the heavens, one with the song; the next minute I was crashing without a parachute.

The glorious voice stopped, leaving echoes of the high note ringing in the auditorium. A harsh cough sounded, jarring and unexpected. The accompanist stopped. The conductor jerked forward while the soprano toppled gracelessly to the floor, face down. Music scores fluttered in the air before landing gently around the stricken woman. A choir member huddled over her while the rest stared in shock.

“She’s not breathing!” The grief-stricken wail rattled my bones.

Barbara jumped up from her chair, her eyes fixed on Stefan, who stood frozen in his place, his eyes fixed on Amanda.

Amanda…who wasn’t moving.

I whipped my phone out of my bag and dialed nine-one-one. How long would help take to get here? Stefan moved to where Amanda was, kneeling to touch her on her shoulder. What was Stefan waiting for? Why was he not giving her mouth-to-mouth resuscitation? A few other choir members crept nearer but then backed away when Stefan waved them off. Start CPR, I wanted to shout, but couldn’t because the 911 operator had picked up my call.

Then the door to the auditorium opened, and in walked Edna, former third-grade teacher of Post Elementary School and the last of our group. One look at the stage and the woman laid out on the floor had Edna gasping, loud enough for everyone to hear, “Oh no, not another murder?”

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About the author

GG Calpo is a retired lawyer and accountant who traded contracts and numbers for the far more enjoyable chaos of fictional crime. Now she writes cozy whodunits featuring warm-hearted golden-aged sleuths who’ve seen it all, heard it all and will investigate a murder with zero hesitation. She loves stories where the stakes are personal, family and friendships are paramount, with characters who refuse to follow the outline and endings that pull the rug out. 

When not plotting twisty crimes—on paper only, of course—she spends her time reading, crocheting blankets and sweaters for her five grandchildren, watching mystery TV shows and taking long walks in her neighborhood. She lives in Central New Jersey with her husband and two corgis, Whiskey and Nugget.

Connect with GG

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Instagram

Death Hits the High Notes

Blitz Giveaway

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Release Day! The Mrs. Astor by Deanna Lynn Sletten ~ My Thoughts #TheMrsAstor

Happy Release Day!

Congratulations Deanna

on the release today of

The Mrs. Astor!

The Mrs. Astor by Deanna Lynn Sletten

Women's Sagas, 295 pages

Published October 6, 2026 by Deanna Lynn Sletten

Inspired by true events, this richly researched novel offers an intimate portrait of the woman who reigned over America's Gilded Age—and the unforgettable night that tested her power, her convictions, and her heart.

New York City, 1896

On the eve of her annual January ball, Caroline Schermerhorn Astor reflects on her life and all that has led up to this moment. She is about to reintroduce her daughter, Charlotte, into society after a scandalous divorce. Society dictates that divorced women simply disappear, but Caroline refuses to ban her daughter from her rightful place. After all, Caroline is the woman who runs New York City society. If anyone can break the rules, it’s her.

From her privileged childhood among the families of the oldest Dutch settlement in New York to her marriage to William Backhouse Astor, Jr., one of the richest men in the country, Caroline has done everything expected of a proper society wife. With elegance, determination, and an unwavering belief in tradition, she raised the Astor name to even greater heights and created an exclusive world where only the most distinguished families belonged. But now, all that could disappear if New York society rejects her because of her daughter’s scandal.

Whatever the consequences, Caroline will hold her head high, because she is The Mrs. Astor, and no one can take from her what she values the most—her precious family.

My thoughts about The Mrs. Astor ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First lines—"Caroline Webster Schermerhorn Astor sat in front of her dressing table mirror, contemplating the face that stared back at her, reflecting on her life and the decisions she'd made up until now."

While reading The Mrs. Astor, I was transported to a different time and place. Honesty, I found myself still there long after I finished the book, that's how enthralled I was by this story. I literally was thinking about the people I met and the setting of this book for days after I was done.

Deanna Lynn Sletten has always produced amazing historical fiction stories and this one is another stellar example of her thorough researching skills. I found myself completely swept up in the lifestyles and events of this time period that she wrote about. I admire Mrs. Astor and respect the strength and resilience she had in a time when women didn't have much power in their lives. Thanks to this book, I now have a better understanding of the life that women survived back then. 

I loved everything about The Mrs. Astor and highly recommend it. If you read historical fiction, you are going to love it too.

I received an ARC of The Mrs. Astor and this is my honest opinion.

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About the author

Deanna Lynn Sletten is the author of Mrs. Winchester's Biographer, The Ones We Leave Behind, The Women of Great Heron Lake, Maggie's Turn, The Lake Harriet Series, and several other titles. She writes compelling historical fiction, heartwarming women's fiction, romance novels, and murder mysteries. She has also written one middle-grade novel that takes you on the adventure of a lifetime

Deanna has recently begun a new murder mystery series, The Rachel Emery Series which includes The Truth About Rachel and Death Becomes You.

Deanna is married and has two grown children. When not writing, she enjoys walking the wooded trails around her home with her beautiful Australian Shepherd or relaxing on the lake in the summer. ~ Goodreads

Deanna loves hearing from her readers.

Connect with her here—

Website | Blog | Facebook | X | Amazon

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Release Day! Dark Current Redemption by Ashley Farley ~ My Thoughts #DarkCurrentRedemption

Happy Release Day!

Congratulations Ashley

on the release today of

Dark Current Redemption!

Dark Current Redemption by Ashley Farley

(Sutherlin Files Series #4)

Women's Crime Stories, 216 pages

Published October 6, 2026 by AHF Publishing

Some sins refuse to stay buried. Some wounds refuse to heal.

Newly elected sheriff Lane Sutherlin thought the worst was finally behind her.

She was wrong.

As Tidewell struggles to recover from decades of corruption, Lane finds herself facing the greatest challenge of her career. Old enemies remain at large, dangerous secrets are still buried beneath the town's carefully polished surface, and powerful forces are determined to protect the past at any cost.

With danger closing in from every direction, Lane must fight for the future she's worked so hard to build. But justice isn't the only thing at stake. As long-buried truths come to light, she is forced to confront the choices that have shaped her life, the betrayals that still haunt her, and the people she has spent years trying to forgive—including herself.

The battle for Tidewell isn't over.

Neither is Lane's search for peace.

Because redemption comes at a price.

And this time, the cost may be everything.

Dark Current Redemption is the unforgettable conclusion to the bestselling Tidewell series—a gripping story of family, forgiveness, justice, resilience, and the enduring power of love.

 

   

My thoughts about Dark Current Redemption ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First lines—"I return to work the day after getting shot. Every rib protests as I push through the front door, but I've endured worse."

What a satisfying conclusion to this fabulous series. As satisfying as it was, I am also a little sad that my journey into the world of Lane Sutherlin and Tidewell is over. I enjoyed this series so, so much!

Things are finally going in Lane's favor but not before there's a lot of danger and drama. Things land where they should but not before she and everyone around her are tested. This one was definitely a page-turner, edge-of-my-seat kind of read. I loved it!

I highly recommend this series, where you'll get it all—Ashley's wonderful storytelling, amazing characters, plenty of drama, and the feeling that the bad guys should not win. Dark Current Redemption was an exciting read and the perfect conclusion to this series. 

I received an eARC of Dark Current Redemption and this is my honest opinion.

Dark Current Rising  - Read my thoughts here

Dark Current - Read my thoughts here

Dark Current Reckoning - Read my thoughts here

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About the author

Amazon Charts and USA Today bestselling author.

Ashley Farley writes heartfelt, faith-infused women’s fiction about love, loss, and second chances. Her stories shine a light on everyday women—mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends—facing life’s toughest moments with courage, hope, and grace.

Originally from South Carolina, Ashley now makes her home in Virginia’s Northern Neck, but her heart still belongs to the Lowcountry—with its moss-draped oaks, salty air, and soulful Southern charm. When she’s not writing, she’s spending time with family or wrangling her two opinionated Labradors. ~ Amazon

Connect with Ashley

Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter | Instagram

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Release Day! Life Out of Order by Audrey Niffenegger ~ My Thoughts #LifeOutOfOrder #NetGallery

Happy Release Day!

Congratulation Audrey

on the release today of

Life Out of Order!

 

Life Out of Order by Audrey Niffenegger

(The Time Traveler's Wife #2)

Time Travel, Fiction, 560 pages

Published October 6, 2026 by Knopf Canada

Alba DeTamble has never lived a life in order. Born with the same rare Chrono-Displacement Disorder as her father, Henry DeTamble, Alba is an involuntary time traveler: She slips unpredictably through decades, carrying the weight of a future she can witness but cannot change. Yet she strives to maintain a normal life: As a gifted violinist, Alba finds refuge in her music, as well as in her tight-knit community of artists and activists who fight to take care of each other in an increasingly unstable world. 

As she dips in and out of time, Alba is haunted by secrets she must keep from those she loves most, including Zach, her safe, supportive anchor in the chaos. Her journey takes her from the riot-torn Chicago streets to the eerie, timeless “Yellow House” to the digital corridors of the Museum of Lost Souls, a virtual sanctuary of forgotten memories and lost artifacts.

With every leap through the years, Alba is forced to reckon with the choices that define her, the people she cannot bear to lose, and the question that haunts every time traveler: Can you ever truly belong to the present?

My thoughts about Life Out of Order ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First lines—"All revolutions go down in history, yet history does not fill up; the rivers of revolution return from whence they came, only to flow again."

The Time Traveler's Wife is one of my all-time favorite books, if not my favorite. It's one of only a few books that I have read multiple times, which is rare for me. I can't believe it was first published in 2003. That's twenty-three years ago! I was so excited when I saw that Ms. Niffenegger was coming out with a sequel. 

Life Out of Order is the story of Alba, the time traveling daughter of Henry and Clare. Through the jumps in time like her father experienced, we get to catch up with the family and get a little peek into what the future might be like. Time traveling has become a known and accepted thing but Alba still runs into issues with the past, the present, and the future. 

I loved that we were able to visit this family again and go through the emotional turmoil, and the love, that they experienced. Scenes that made me tear up in TTTW also made me tear up again in LOOO, even though I knew they were coming. 

Like I said, I absolutely loved The Time Traveler's Wife and I now I love Life Out of Order. Both books will have special places on my bookshelf. I highly recommend them both.

I received an eARC of Life Out of Order and this is my honest opinion.

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About the author

Audrey Niffenegger (born June 13, 1963 in South Haven, Michigan) is a writer and artist. She is also a professor in the MFA Creative Writing Program at Columbia College Chicago.

Niffenegger's debut novel, The Time Traveler's Wife (2003), was a national bestseller. The Time Traveler's Wife is an unconventional love story that centers on a man with a strange genetic disorder that causes him to unpredictably time-travel and his wife, an artist, who has to cope with his constant absence.

Her Fearful Symmetry (2009), Niffenegger's second novel, is set in London's Highgate Cemetery where, during research for the book, Niffenegger acted as a tour guide.

Niffenegger has also published graphic and illustrated novels including: The Adventuress (2006), The Three Incestuous Sisters (2005), The Night Bookmobile (2009), and Raven Girl (2013). Raven Girl was adapted into a ballet by Resident Choreographer Wayne McGregor and the Royal Opera House Ballet (London) in 2013.

A mid-career retrospective entitled "Awake in the Dream World: The Art of Audrey Niffenegger," was presented by the National Museum of Women in the Arts (Washington D.C.) in 2013. An accompanying exhibition catalogue examines several themes in Niffenegger's visual art including her explorations of life, mortality, and magic.

Connect with Audrey

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

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Book Blitz! Jingle Bells, Wedding Vows by Paula Dombrowiak ~ Excerpt and #Giveaway! #JingleBellsWeddingBells @XpressoTours

Jingle Bells, Wedding Vows by Paula Dombrowiak
(Hollow Reign, #3)
Publication date: October 6th 2026
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Holiday, Romance

He’s the uptight rockstar directing the music for my burlesque Christmas show, and driving the grumpy maestro to throw his sheet music is my favorite hobby.

Then we wake up married, and he can’t remember a single thing about our night together.

Theo Mercer is an arrogant control freak in rolled-up sleeves and glasses who thinks he can tame my headlining act. But on my stage, I call the shots. Beneath the falling stage snow, the friction between us is hot enough to burn the theater down.

When our accidental Vegas wedding explodes across the tabloids, Theo swallows his pride and drops to one knee to propose a holiday charade: play blissfully wedded—which means moving my insufferable new husband into my cramped studio apartment.

Forced proximity beneath the mistletoe turns our backstage feud into breathless passion, and behind closed doors, our fake marriage starts to feel dangerously real.

Except our vows have an expiration date. When the tinsel comes down on New Year’s, Theo has to leave.

He swears he’s coming back.

But I stopped believing in Christmas miracles a long time ago, after a string of men who never kept their word. If I let down my walls only to get burned by my fake husband… I won’t survive the fall.

Jingle Bells, Wedding Vows is Book 3 in the Hollow Reign Christmas Novellas, a series of interconnected, steamy holiday romances. Each book can be read as a standalone and features a guaranteed happily ever after.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

iBooks | Kobo

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EXCERPT

In sleep, she looks almost angelic.

Which would be a lot more convincing if I didn’t have the pleasure of knowing she’s a complete and utter menace in sequins and red lipstick who has spent the last couple of weeks driving me insane. The star of the Christmas show who argues with me about every note I wrote for her number. The woman who loves to push my buttons like no one I’ve ever met before.

Mara Delaney.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

Do not tell me I did what I think I did.

My stomach drops as I lift the edge of the sheet and look down. Finding myself still in my boxers should be reassuring, but the relief is fleeting, swallowed almost immediately by a deeper sense of dread.

I turn my head toward Mara. The sheet has slipped just enough to expose the curve of her bare shoulder. I pinch the edge of the sheet to lift it.

Please don’t let her be naked. Please don’t let her be naked.

Fuck, she’s naked.

I don’t remember how I got here. Last night is a haze of disconnected pieces, and everything that matters is missing.

I ease out of bed with the stealth of a military operative trying not to set off a bomb. My shirt is draped over a velvet armchair, and I pull it on before anything else because I need at least one layer of dignity between me and whatever the hell happened last night. One of my Vans sits near the bathroom door. I shove my foot into it and search for the other, getting a good look at Mara’s apartment in the process.

I run a hand through my hair and pull it back to stare at it before my brain catches up to what I’m seeing.

There’s a gold band on my ring finger. Not the kind that comes out of a gumball machine.

What the actual fuck?

My gaze snaps to Mara.

I lean over the bed to see Mara’s hand curled loosely around the sheet, dark red polish chipped at the edges.

The ring on her finger matches mine.

This has to be a joke. Some elaborate, deeply unfunny prank, and when I find Casey, I’m going to kill him slowly, because somehow he’s responsible.

There’s a marriage certificate on the nightstand next to my phone.

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About the author

Paula Dombrowiak grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois but currently lives in Arizona. She is the author of Blood and Bone, her first adult romance novel which combines her love of music and imperfect relationships. Paula is a lifelong music junkie, whose wardrobe consists of band T-shirts and leggings which are perpetually covered in pet hair. She is a sucker for a redeemable villain, bad boys, and the tragically flawed. Music inspires her storytelling.

For more ways to learn about Paula and her books, check out her website: @www.pauladombrowiak.com

Connect with Paula

Website | Goodreads | Facebook Page | Facebook Group

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