Jay Mims-- The Softer Approach-- Dan Landis series.

Hey again, everyone. Please welcome for the first time to Read Between the Lines, Jay Mims, author of Five Santas and The Cult of Koo Kway.

If you love detective stories with a quirky detective, be sure to check out the series!

The Softer Approach

Hello Gentle Readers,

I really appreciate Jessie allowing me to stop by the blog and chat for a bit. See, I’m doing this blog hop I’m calling “Christmas in July”. It’s been a lot of fun, and today we’re on the Seventh Day of Mimsey. And I’d like to talk to you about taking the soft approach to murder.

See, I write murder mysteries about a cynical, sarcastic, womanizing private investigator named Dan Landis. And he’s quick with a joke or to light up your smoke. But there’s someplace that he’d rather be. Wait, no that’s “Piano Man”.

My point is, I have a classic hardboiled detective. But, I write cozy mysteries, which are more along the lines of Agatha Christie or Murder, She Wrote.

It’s an unusual take, I realize, to marry the fluffy with the hard, sweet and sour. But, I think what works for this type of storytelling is that you understand why your character is who he is. See, Dan Landis lost his partner Maggie to a mugging gone wrong, and he’s been heartbroken ever since. It’s actually one of the main themes of the story, Dan’s unwillingness to let go of Maggie, and inability to let others in.

And along comes Abbey. She’s a bright ray of sunshine in Dan’s life, and through the course of the first two books becomes Dan’s partner. She puts a soft touch around his harder edges, and I think the readers will enjoy seeing the gradual growth of Dan from hard cynic to sincere guy.

Plus, HK Savage says “Sincere Dan is a panty-dropper.”

So, you’ve got that to look forward to as well.

Here’s the blurb for the books.

The Five Santas

Dan Landis is slumming it as a security guard at a department store. The money’s nice, but he also made sure Abbey has a job in the gift wrapping department. Dan chases a thief into the alleyway, only to discover the body of Santa Claus stuffed behind a dumpster. One body leads to another, and pretty soon Dan’s up to his ears in Yule Tide murder. He’s hired to protect the department store Santa, who appears to be more then meets the eye, but as the bodies keep piling up, Dan begins to smell something rotten in Denmark. Abbey being arrested might have something to do with that.

Open Book Society says “The author, Jay Mims, offers the reader a charming protagonist, whose wittiness defends against the violence surrounding him.”

Author Elizabeth Seckman says, “If you miss Moonlighting with Bruce Willis, you'll want to meet Dan Landis.”

And Jean The Book Nerd says, “Mims has provided us a great holiday/murder mystery story that is surely appreciated.”

Cult of Koo Kway

Dan Landis is back! There’s a body in the kitchen, someone trying to kill him, and a blonde about to be mugged. Picking up where The Five Santas left off, Dan and company are in hot pursuit of a six foot tall cowboy named Tex. But, things get complicated when Mama Landis’ favorite son discovers the body of his best friend in his kitchen. The mysterious Cult of Koo Kway is out to get Dan, and it’s up to everyone’s favorite detective and his new partner Abbey to save the day.

Jean The Book Nerd calls Cult of Koo Kway “An amazing fast-paced mystery book that will have readers on the edge of their seats..”

Author Donna Milward says “The action never seems to stop. How can you go wrong when you start with fuzzy handcuffs?  “

And Author Elizabeth Seckman says, “I love Dan. He's a little bit rotten, but a whole lot adorable.”

And stay tuned for the excitement of The Gray Ghost Inn due out October 15^th, 2013.

Dan, Abbey and their friend Professor Leroy “Doc” Brown are off to Warrenton, Virginia, where they are going to visit the bed and breakfast The Gray Ghost Inn. But, wherever Dan and Abbey go, trouble isn’t too far behind. There’s a body in the library, a house full of suspects, and only one reluctant detective who can solve the case before the killer strikes again.

Want to read Jay Mims’ books? You’re in luck, because we’re giving away presents this Christmas in July! Enter to win one of five FABULOUS PRIZES!

HTML: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Jay Mims can sing all the lyrics to “We Didn’t Start The Fire”, and has never learned to play the piano. He lives with a passive-aggressive Dalek named Steve, a lizard named Bob, and is regularly visited by a cat he calls Eartha Kitty. He writes books and is far funnier on Facebook then in real life. He is terrible at Twitter. His next book "The Gray Ghost Inn" is due out October 15, 2013. Feel free to email him here. For a regular dose of Mimsey, check out his blog.
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5179719.Jay_Mims
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Five-Santas-Oncoming-Series/dp/098393410X/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1372865648&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.com/The-Cult-Koo-Kway-Mims/dp/0983934142/ref=pd_sim_b_1
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-five-santas-jay-mims/1104988019?ean=9780983934103
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-cult-of-koo-kway-jay-mims/1112781489?ean=9780983934141
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JayMims
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JayMimsey
Blog: http://themimsey.blogspot.com
Twitter: @JayMimsey

The Enchanted-- By Elaine Cantrell

The Enchanted

By Elaine Cantrell

Blurb:

Forced by his father into a marriage he didn’t want, Prince Alan soon finds that his bride isn’t the sweet, submissive creature he expected. Morgane has the heart of a dragon and beauty beyond compare, but she isn’t thrilled about the marriage either. When black treachery threatens the kingdom, Morgane and Alan embark on a perilous journey that has an excellent chance of ending in failure and death for them and all their people.

Excerpt:

Morgane advanced on her enemy with deadly purpose.

"No!" Alan roared. "She has a knife."

Morgane tried to retreat, but it was too late. Aili's knife caught her in her thigh. Blood spurted as if from a fountain. Renweard was closer to her than Alan. His sword rose. Aili breathed her last as Morgane swayed and slipped to the floor.

Alan ran across the room and cradled her in his arms. In seconds he was coated with blood. "ʺWe must stop the bleeding!" he cried. "Where are the healers?"

ʺI will find one." Renweard left the room at a run with King Bowdyn right behind him.

Morgane's eyes fluttered open. "Your arms around me. No heaven can compare.ʺ

Alan pressed a kiss to her hair. "I love you, my brave Morgane."

Morgane sighed. "I could not let you face this battle alone.ʺ

Author’s Note:

After spending most of the last ten years writing contemporary romance, I decided it was time for a change. So in the spring of 2012 I wrote my first romantic fantasy, The Enchanted. Several challenges immediately presented themselves. First, I knew that I didn't want the fantasy to overpower the romance which meant I'd have to balance my world building details with the romantic elements.

Challenge two was finding characters who'd fit into my newly created world. I didn't want plastic, stereotypical characters. I wanted real people with warts and human imperfections, people whose lives and problems would draw you in and make you care about them.

My third challenge was to craft a plot that included fantasy elements, yet at the same time allowed my characters to be in charge of their own destiny and in the process grow and change.

I'm pleased with the way it turned out. I enjoyed the experience so much I have another fantasy/sci fi romance in the wings waiting for December and its turn at publication. Given my new love affair with fantasy romance, will I write contemporary romance again? I sure will. I'm working on one right now, and I just love it. It will be my first full length romantic comedy.

Author Links:

http://www.elainecantrell.com

http://www.elainepcantrell.blogspot.com

http://www.twitter.com/elainecantrell

http://www.facebook.com/elainepcantrell

The Enchanted is sold at most online retail outlets.

Reviews:

A sweet story, easy read, fairytale/fantasy/romance 5 stars. 
                                                   Teresa Cypher on Amazon

A wonderful story that has swept into my heart. I will be remembering this one for a long time and reading it again.
                                                   Tifferz Book Reviews on Goodreads

AT WHAT COST Pay It Forward Challenge

Hey, Peeps! I've got a challenge for you. Normally when I do contests or give aways, you readers are the beneficiaries. This time, you get to help me give stuff away and benefit a great cause! 

When I was writing AT WHAT COST, I had to do a lot of research on the topic of teen pregnancy and abortion. The local women's services center helped me a lot with that. They set up interviews with post abortive women, and they gave me pamphlets and websites and all sorts of great research and information that made AWC what it is today: a two time award winning finalist! 

Women's Services of Jamestown is a great resource for pregnant women in our community, but they do so much more. They have options counseling, free pregnancy testing, Wait Training education, emergency hotlines, and support groups to name a few. http://www.pregnant-help.org/ 
They have a FB page too! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Womens-Services-of-Chautauqua-County/275666380664?fref=ts

As a little thank you for all they do for our community, I'd like to donate books back to them to give to the women who will be gracing their doors. So for every 5 books purchased between now and August 31, I will personally donate one book to the Women's Services of Chautauqua County. 

Here's how you can help:
1. Purchase the book and tell all your friends to purchase the book.
2. When you get a confirmation letter (The page that comes up right after you purchase from Amazon or B&N), copy the URL (That address thingy at the top of your page) and post it on my Facebook page or Tag me on Twitter: 

Http://www.Facebook.com/jandersenbooks

Http://www.twitter.com/jvdlandersen

While you're there, be sure to follow me on Facebook and Twitter. I'd love to connect with awesome readers like you! At the end of August, I'll post how many books have been donated. 

Like the idea? Wanna help donate to a great cause? Then hop on over to Amazon, B&N or Astraea Press to get your own copy of AT WHAT COST. 

Ready, Set, GO!