Book picks similar to
Pride of Lions by Jullian Scott
mystery
first-in-series
series-trial
1st-in-a-series
Becoming a Highlander
Ann Marie Scott - 2020
When the beloved Laird Malcolm Mackintosh died, no one expected him to leave his fortune and title to a man that does not have a drop of Scottish blood in his veins. Adam Cameron, the nephew of Laird Mackintosh’s late English wife, is an educated and intelligent man but not even he can believe that his Uncle chose him as an heir.Adam travels to the Highlands to see his new property but feels like a sheep among wolves. The only exception is Emilia, a stunningly beautiful lass that appears to be the only one able to speak common English and communicate with him. Never the less, Adam has no interest in becoming a Laird in a place he is unwanted, and is tricked by an enemy Laird called McElwee to sell the land and give up his title. Emilia can not let her people fall into McElwee’s hands, so she decides to seduce the Englishman and make him fall in love with her and the Highlands. Emilia has get Adam on her side quickly as McElwee is secretly arming his men and will not hesitate to destroy anyone that stands in his way! "Becoming a Highlander" is a standalone story by best selling author Ann Marie Scott, packed with emotion, action and romance, set on the beautiful backdrop of the Scottish Highlands.
Justice for All (A Holt Foundation Story Book 1)
Chris Patchell - 2019
But all that changes when, after a romantic birthday with her fiancée, Elizabeth returns home, unaware a secret watcher has unimaginably horrible plans for her. Left for dead . . . Days after the attack, Elizabeth emerges from a coma, but she is irrevocably changed. Compelled to find her attacker and find justice, she travels down a dark path that forces her to choose between love and her obsession--not just for herself, but other survivors. Justice or vengeance... Forced to choose between obsession and love, Elizabeth doggedly pursues justice for the victims of other crimes, while her attacker remains at large. Until finally she gets a call with the news she’s been waiting twelve years for. But what Elizabeth learns could tear her life apart...
Center Stage
Denise Grover Swank - 2016
Ten years ago, Magnolia Steele fled Franklin, Tennessee after an incident that left her with hazy memories and a horror of the place where she had been born and bred. Though her abrupt departure destroyed most of her treasured relationships, she vowed never to return . . . until she has no choice. When Magnolia’s breakout acting role in a Broadway musical ends in disgrace, there’s only one place she can go. She finds herself on her momma’s porch, suitcase in hand. Drama follows Magnolia around like a long lost friend. She reluctantly agrees to help her momma’s catering company at a party for a country music star, only to find herself face-to-face with a sleazy music agent from her past. After a very public spat, Magnolia not only finds him dead but herself center stage in the police’s investigation. Now she must scramble to prove her innocence, relying on the help of acquaintances old and new. But the longer Magnolia stays in Franklin, the more she remembers about the big bad incident that chased her away. The past might not be finished with her yet, and what she doesn’t remember could be her biggest danger.
Where There's A Will
Alex R. Carver - 2016
An armed robbery, a kidnapping, and an enemy that's closer than anyone realises.Inspector Stone has to put aside problems at home and an ambitious underling when the daughter of a local businessman is kidnapped, and a multi-million Euro ransom demanded for her return.Can he find her and return her safely to her parents when the kidnappers are dangerously close to home?
Chased
Felicity Brandon - 2021
Brutal, Ruthless and Charming.Chase Benedict takes pleasure in inflicting suffering on enemies and observers alike.Cambridge graduate, leader of the largest criminal organization in Britain, calculating lawbreaker, he doesn’t take no for an answer.Until me.I won’t bend to his will.I won’t be manipulated by his menace.He’ll discover what it means when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object.
Murder at the Snowed Inn (Claire Andersen Murder for All Seasons Cozy Mystery Series Book 1)
Imogen Plimp - 2020
She knew her fresh start would be exciting, but she never expected it to be tinged with enthralling adventure, romance that’s sweet as sweet can be … and murder!Adorable and resilient, former NYC chef Claire Andersen is no stranger to second chances. She and her stock trader husband George had decided long ago to trade in their life of ambition for one of quaint & quiet adventure—by opening up a cozy neighborhood coffee shoppe on the ground floor their Brooklyn brownstone. He was the coffee-connoisseur, she was the baker extraordinaire. Claire was so happy, she could just die. But fate had other plans—it came for her husband instead.After George’s passing, Claire decides (with a nudge from her doting foster daughter Al) to trade in her life of brews and baked goods for breakfast—bed and breakfast, that is! And what better setting in which to start over than Galway, Maryland—a charming, snowy mountain town (and favorite cross-county ski destination of Claire’s youth).All is well in Claire’s new B&B venture—and with her new oven constantly in use, it’s mouth-watering, even—until her first guest is murdered in-house. It’s not long until one of the suspects Claire questions about the murder winds up dead, too. Suddenly, Claire finds herself starting over yet again—and trading in her hostess hat (she’d just dusted it off, too!) for a secret life as an amateur sleuth.But it’s not all B&B business and bodies: Claire also finds herself in the throes of not one, but two potential romances—each more toe-curling and butterflies-in-the-stomach inducing than the other.Alongside her trusty new pal Evelyn (who’s feisty enough to make anyone blush) and her faithful bloodhound Rupert, Claire races the clock to get to the next victim—before the killer does. And she knows she’d better hurry. Because if the killer catches her first, she might run out of second chances.Author's Note: This book contains a non-binary character whose preferred pronouns are they/them. If the notion of a non-binary character (and its resultant use of grammar) is offensive, then this book is not for you!
Organized for Christmas Wishes
Ritter Ames - 2020
However, things take an unexpected turn when they find a mystery in their hometown. This year, there's a Secret Santa who's keeping everyone wondering who the mysterious benefactor is, why the goodwill is suddenly coming to town, and if more surprises are on the way. What is this benefactor's true motive?There might not be a murder to solve this time, but there is a festive mystery that grows bigger each day--and the organizing duo keep a-sleuthing...Organized for Christmas Wishes is a holiday novelette in the popular Organized Mysteries series. The series features a small town New England setting and interesting characters, along with humor, strong family and friendship ties, and absorbing cozy mysteries.
Bath Bombs & Beyond: A Fanny Doyle Cozy Ghost Mystery
Violet Patton - 2019
Opening a bath shop on Bathhouse Row wasn't fun, it was deadly. Patti swipes the shop's plate-glass window one last time. Tumbles off the stepladder and cracks her noggin on the sidewalk. She wakes with the ability to communicate with Fanny Doyle, Al Capone's former seamstress. Will Patti and Fanny must solve the poisoned bath bomb mystery and save the shop's budding reputation before it's too late? Bath Bombs & Beyond, is the first book in Violet's trilogy: A Fanny Doyle Cozy Ghost Mystery,. If you like ghosts, historical towns, and edge-of-your-seat mysteries, then you'll love this fun new series.
Bells and Blazes: A Novella
Karen Musser Nortman - 2019
It's the season of good will and Max and Lil come to visit, expecting a warm and pleasan experience. But when the Mystery Sisters are around, it can be anything but!
The Rookie
Trina Riggle - 2012
That’s why when she sets her sights on the most brutal competition of all—professional athlete management—she has every intention of succeeding at it.But her aspirations suffer a setback when she finds her first client dead in the hot tub of his high-rise condo, and her prospective second client at the top of the suspect list.Determined to keep her shot at super agent stardom alive, Hale makes a play to find the real killer, and finds no shortage of people who wanted to see the rookie bad boy dead. Including her brother, the golden boy quarterback of the Denver Broncos.Pitted against the press, her own doubts, a pair of thugs hired by a less-than-ethical doctor, and the advances of her superstar ex-lover, Hale needs a Hail Mary of her own to keep her boys on the gridiron and herself from becoming the next victim.
Deadly Offerings
Alexa Grace - 2011
It is the first adventure in this sizzling romantic suspense trilogy.Anne Mason thinks she’ll be safe living in the Midwest building a wind farm. She may be dead wrong. Someone is dumping bodies in her corn field and telling Anne they are gifts—for her!As the body count rises, Anne realizes a cold-blooded serial killer is patiently waiting and watching her every move. And he won’t stop until he ends her life. It is clear there are no limits to this killer’s thirst for revenge or how far he will go to get it.After a nasty divorce, Anne Mason does not want to get romantically involved, especially with ex-husband’s attorney, Michael Brandt.The ruggedly handsome new County Prosecutor is the last person Anne can trust, but may offer her only chance at survival from a psychopathic killer. But will she survive the passion that rages between them?
Belle of the Ball
Pam McCutcheon - 2003
But a wish at a magical rock formation is about to change all that, in a most a-MUSE-ing way. . . . The three Sullivan sisters, named for the Three Graces of Greek legend who embody beauty, charm and grace, don’t live up to their names. Belle is no beauty. Charisma lacks charm. And Grace is somewhat less than graceful. But this doesn't deter their ambitious mother from bribing three bachelors to escort them to Colorado Springs’ beautiful Garden of the Gods. When the girls overhear their escorts mocking how little they resemble their names, each girl makes a wish at the magical Three Graces rock formation. Belle wishes aloud for beauty, but only so she can use it as a weapon to punish the cads who hurt her sisters. Her true wish is for revenge. Handsome viscount Kit Stanhope regrets his rude remarks and apologizes to Belle. He’s surprised when she tells him that's not enough. If he truly regrets his behavior, he has to make her beautiful in time for the Founders’ Day Ball. Kit isn’t sure he’s up to the task. But, intrigued by the spirited Belle, he agrees to assist her transformation from an ugly duckling into a swan with the help of a mysterious Greek dressmaker with muse-like qualities. Unfortunately, Belle makes a rather awkward swan. Still, after a few embarrassing escapades, she masters the flirtatious language of the fan and takes the town known as Little London by storm. Belle soon finds herself falling for the viscount and his sinful mouth. It seems he returns her regard, but she can’t renege on her promise to humiliate him . . . can she? Will her secret muse grant the wish she voiced . . . or the one she holds in her heart? Note to readers: This title was originally published in 2003 by Zebra Ballad.