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The Cat Came Back, Book 1 in the 9 Lives Cozy Mystery Series
“I told him I wanted a divorce from Frank,” Christy said.
Quinn’s arm tightened for a few seconds before he pulled away. “A divorce? Do you think that was wise?”
She shrugged. Even though it was just a hug, she missed the warmth of his body against hers, the strength of his arm holding her secure. “I figured it sounded realistic coming from a woman whose husband deserted her and ran off with another woman.”
The Cat’s Paw, Book 2 in the 9 Lives Cozy Mystery Series
“A body was found on my terrace and she—” Ellen pointed dramatically at Patterson. “Believes I put it there.”
“A body?” Christy said. “You mean, like a human body? A dead body?”
Patterson nodded and Ellen said, “Yes!”
“What’s a body doing on your terrace?” Christy asked, staring at Ellen.
Cat Got Your Tongue, Book 3 in the 9 Lives Cozy Mystery Series
When he spoke again, Roy’s voice was even softer than before. “Here’s the problem. Frank saw the murder being committed and he hasn’t spoken since.”
Roy hesitated and Quinn had a sense that his father was about to tell him what he wanted Quinn to shield Christy from.
His voice almost a whisper, Roy said, “We think he’s gone, Quinn. We think Frank has left Stormy’s body forever.”
Let Sleeping Cats Lie
, Book 4 in the 9 Lives Cozy Mystery Series
“Fredrick Jarvis was a national political figure,” Patterson said. “We’re looking at all the people who have protested his policies, his competitors, anyone with international connections.”
Christy thought about Roy reminiscing about the protests he’d participated in while Jarvis was minister of the environment, Jarvis’s long lost daughter, Tamara, held captive by radicals, and so newly returned to Canada, and Quinn, who had spent years in war zones, interviewing friends and foes as well.
The cold of stark fear washed over her. “Everyone?”
Cat Among The Fishes
, Book 5 in the 9 Lives Cozy Mystery Series
Noelle dove for Stormy and snatched him up into a tight hug. The salmon flicked its body one last desperate time and the cat lost his grip. The fish flew over the side of the tank, onto the ground.
Twisting out of Noelle’s grasp, Stormy raced to across the walkway, then leapt off the edge of the tank to the ground below. He landed almost on top of the fish, mere inches away from the feet of the outraged fish farm rep. Snatching up the tail of the fish, he bolted, the salmon’s body bouncing along behind him. He headed for the makeshift parking lot where he took refuge under Christy’s van.
“If looks could kill,” Quinn murmured in Christy’s ear.
Cat in the Limelight
, Book 6 in the 9 Lives Cozy Mystery Series
“It’s beautiful out here,” Christy said.
“It certainly is,” Quinn said, drawing her towards him. He wasn’t looking at the view.
Christy chuckled. They were happily immersed in each other when the evening’s quiet was broken by a scream, followed by shouts, then a babble of voices.
Quinn’s concerned gaze met Christy’s startled one and together they rushed to the balustrade where they looked over the edge and down into the garden. Below, at the bottom of a single set of stairs, a woman lay face down on a flagstone path. Her arms were flung outward as if she had tripped and fallen down the stone staircase and had tried to save herself, but to no avail. A crowd had gathered, among them Sledge. He pulled out his phone and dialed 9-1-1. “I need to report a death.”
Fleece the Cat, Book 7 in the 9 Lives Cozy Mystery Series
“Mrs. Jamieson.” Bonnie, the receptionist at the Jamieson Trust, sat ramrod straight, her complexion pale, her eyes wide. “The police are here. They were waiting when I arrived to open the office.”
Christy Jamieson had some experience dealing with the police and it didn’t include the kind of abject fear she saw in her receptionist’s eyes. She frowned. “Did they say what they wanted? Or give you names?”
Bonnie gulped. “The woman was Detective Patterson. The man said he was Detective Jones.”
Christy nodded, even more confused by Bonnie’s dismay.
A man’s voice, harsh and threatening, broke into the conversation. “I told you to alert me when she came in.”
Bonnie’s fear started to make sense.
Listen to the Cat!, Book 8 in the 9 Lives Cozy Mystery Series
Probably something to do with the murder. The cat’s voice was loud in his head.
“Would you ask her to come down here, please?”
Murder? What murder? No one had told him about a murder. And how would Jodie be involved in a murder? Roy contemplated the detective. “I could, if I knew what this was about.”
Annoyance flashed in Patterson’s eyes. “It’s a private matter, Mr. Armstrong.”
Roy blinked and smiled in a fatuous way that he hoped would get under the detective’s skin. He liked Patterson, but Jodie was family, even if she was irritating family. “Come back in a couple of hours. That way Jodie will have finished her breakfast and Trevor will have arrived.”
When the Cat’s Away, Book 9 in the 9 Lives Cozy Mystery Series
“My father needs your help!” Tamara turned wide, pleading eyes to Quinn.
Christy tightened her hand on the glass of lemonade she was holding. She looked over at Quinn. He appeared to be as tense as Tamara was.
He shifted uneasily. “Look, Tamara, I understand, but I don’t think—”
She rounded on him. “No, you don’t understand. A man is dead. A man my father had an argument with the day before he was killed. That horrible cop Inspector Fortier believes my dad killed this poor man. He’s going to arrest my father, just like he arrested me. And Dad’s done nothing wrong! His only crime is caring about people and helping them live better lives.” As she spoke her voice rose almost to a shout that ended on a choked back sob.
A Recipe For Trouble, a standalone mystery with links to the 9 Lives series
Angelina studied the PDF printout. “My name is the one on the letter sent to Shasta. Maybe someone wants to cause me problems.”
Craig could hear the worry in Angelina’s voice and a twinge fear came alive in his gut. His first instinct was to protect Angelina from any possible threat. His second was to soothe––because the threat would remain just that, thanks to Shasta.
Right now he needed to make sure Angelina understood that he trusted her. That he was there for her. Then they needed to consider who had sent the letter and why.
And if it meant he could spend more time with Angelina?
Bonus.
Pretender’s Games, Book 1 in the Hearts of Rebellion Series
“Why I agreed to come to your party, Miss Tilton,” James said gently. “Why I borrowed Staverton’s snuff box so I would have a way of approaching you that ensured you would be willing to speak to me.”
“Oh,” Thea said, feeling quite silly, but wonderfully flattered. Her voice sounded breathy to her own ears. She wondered if James MacLonan had noticed her lack of composure. “Why did you do those things, Mr. MacLonan?”
His eyes caressed her face. Slowly, he turned her hands so that the palms lay upward. “I could not get you out of my mind,” he said simply. Then he bent and kissed first one palm and then the other with a graceful flourish that spoke of the Continent.
Thea’s breath caught as her heart began to pound, and a strange longing made her want to drift forever in the pleasure of his touch. “James,” she whispered.
Lover’s Knot, Book 2 in the Hearts of Rebellion Series
“I do believe, sir, that you would have no difficulty winning my father over to your cause should you decide to speak to him this very morning, but I do appreciate your thoughtfulness in waiting until things are more settled here. When Thomas is safely away we will all be ready to discuss more private issues.”
The shutter closed over Philip’s expression again, agonizing Alysa as she vainly tried to understand what it was that had caused him to hide away from her. Try as she might, she could find nothing she said that was out of the ordinary. Then Philip smiled and the moment might never have been.
“I must go.” He added gently, “And so must you, or questions will be asked.”
Dangerous Desires, Book 3 in the Hearts of Rebellion Series
She lifted her chin, tilting her head in an oddly vulnerable little movement. She could not gauge the effect her gesture had on the Earl, as he, too, had his defenses well in hand. They stared at each other across the dimly lit room, each measuring the other’s resolve as the candlelight flickered eerily.
Stephanie made the first move. “I think, milord, that I should bid you good night and retire. I am wet and tomorrow—”
“By tomorrow you will have had the time to create a neat little explanation for your unorthodox behavior. Oh, no, I think not, Mademoiselle.”
Ridgeway (A time travel novel of Canadian history)
“At ease, soldier.” The voice was deep, rich and resonant. There was a distinct Irish lilt in it that shivered down Jaclyn’s spine. She looked at the owner of the voice and had to resist the urge to jump up herself. Instead she tilted her head back and observed him along the length of his long, slightly bowed legs, past his narrow hips and strong chest to his face. She couldn’t tell exactly what he looked like though, because the early light was behind him and his features were shadowed by the wide brim of a US cavalry hat, circa 1860. Like the sergeant’s, it had an emblem on the front, the crossed sabers of the cavalry. She shivered. These earnest re-enactors certainly put a lot of detail into their pageant.
And they hadn’t advertised it. Was that possible?
Make Time for Love, Book 1 in the Forward in Time series
“Are you okay?” Faith said. She leaned close to Andrew to say more quietly, “Tell Ava your last name. Quick!”
“When I am able too free myself of this insidious device,” Andrew said, his tone indignant, “I will introduce myself properly. However, until that time I will tell you, dear lady, that my surname is Byrne.”
Ava absorbed the somewhat flowery language. She observed Andrew with considerable interest. “And what is Andrew Byrne doing down here in Faith’s office supposedly rescuing birds in distress instead of being up in your office, Cody, working with you?”
Discover Time for Love and Claim Time for Love, A two book anthology in the Forward in Time series
The flash flood had washed away dirt and gravel, exposing the rock beneath. From where they stood an ancient bone, preserved in stone, was clearly visible. And it wasn’t alone. This had all the earmarks of a major dinosaur find.
But was it on Federal land, or private?
Mike Edmonds looked down at her. His grin was cocky. “Shall we go take a closer look?”
She was on the move before he was.
“The less you know about your future, Andrew, the better,” Faith said.
Chloe sighed. “You have to be patient, Andrew.”
“Patient! How can I be patient when the lady I love, a gentle kind lady who has done nothing wrong but to be born the daughter of a great beast of a man, is being abused by one who should be her steadfast protector?”
There was silence, then Cody said slowly, “That is a problem. I suspect the answer is less than you desire, Andrew. And more than you would allow, Daniel.”