This morning, I have a romantic suspense novel to share! Check out The Marker and learn about author Shelby Morgen and pre-order the book today!

 

A 20th Century Murder Mystery

Romantic Suspense

Date Published: March 7, 2025

Publisher: Changeling Press

 

1974: Peace, love, sex, drugs, and murder -- at a commune in the mountains of West Virginia.

 

Hope knew she should have killed Jesse the night he used her as his marker in a poker game with Spike. When Spike won that marker, he stole Hope’s heart. But Spike wanted more than a weekend with Hope. He wanted forever. That was more than Hope could promise. A man like Spike, a good man, would never understand the evil a bastard like Jesse was capable of.

 

1989: Now he’s First Sergeant Sam Callaghan, and he’s back.

 

When a chance meeting drops Fiona Donovan into the arms of Sam Callaghan, West Virginia State Police, their past twists in on both of them, threatening to tear apart their worlds, for better or worse. Hope -- Fiona -- was the love of his life, the woman who can still rock his world with a single kiss. When he’s around her, Sam forgets to think. But first and foremost Sam’s always been a cop. If Sam discovers Fiona really did murder Jesse, will he be able to arrest her? There are a few things in love’s way -- like her dead husband’s missing body, over a million dollars in cash, and the IRA…

 

All rights reserved.

Copyright ©2025 Shelby Morgen

 

The asphalt felt slightly sticky with heat under his black oxfords. The air in the administration building was already stuffy, though summer wasn't officially here yet. Sam stood waiting at the front desk while the receptionist called for a junior officer who would escort him back to the operations building.

Brenda, his dispatcher, had asked him out a few weeks ago. A man couldn't help noticing how well Brenda filled out that uniform. She wasn't Hope, but she'd been there, been part of his life, every day for the last fifteen years. If she hadn't given up on him yet, Sam decided, he'd accept. Hell. Maybe he'd ask her. He wasn't getting any younger. Besides, there was that betting pool the squad had going. He wasn't supposed to know about it, but there was little in his barracks that escaped his notice.

"Can I help you, Officer?"

Sam pushed his smoke-colored sunglasses to the top of his head long enough to let his eyes adjust to the relatively dim interior florescent lighting. He looked down -- and down again.

The woman who stood behind the reception desk now had to be less than five feet tall. She stood admiring him with pale blue eyes that were just a little too friendly.

Where had she come from? How had she managed to simply appear right in front of him? He really was losing his edge. "I'm already signed in and stamped," Sam explained. He held out his fist so she could see the ink that looked like a temporary tattoo across the back of his hand.

Her warm appraisal made him uncomfortable, like a piece of meat in a butcher's display case. He always got a sick, guilty feeling in the pit of his stomach when women looked at him that way. He slipped his hand into his pocket, fingering a worn silver chain.

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee...

He shifted his gaze away from direct contact with the woman at the front desk, studying the pictures on the wall behind her. Anything but meeting the woman's watercolor eyes. Anything not to encourage her.

The pictures held the usual faces. The Governor. The Commissioner of Corrections. The names changed from one institution to another, but the faces stayed pretty much the same. "Sam Callaghan, West Virginia State Police. I'm waiting for --"

Except that one. Sam stopped mid-sentence as his eyes scanned the picture again. Employee of the Month. "Fiona J. Donovan."

The woman blinked twice. "Excuse me?"

He was hardly aware he'd read the name aloud. Sam rallied himself, forcing his breathing back under control, willing his pulse rate back to normal. He turned his most charming smile on the little woman. Her badge said she was a unit manager. Doris White. "I'm waiting for an escort back to Interview, Ms. White, but I'd really like to see Fiona Donovan while I'm here if you could arrange that for me."

Doris studied him for a moment longer, her smile fading. "Fiona's in records, pulling some case files for me. I'll take you back."

Sam nodded curtly, dismissing the woman as if she didn't exist. Because, for him, she didn't exist. His mouth went dry. His chest felt tight, as if there were some great weight pressing on it. He slid his hand back into his pocket. Hail Mary, full of grace...

The hall seemed like the longest walk he'd ever taken. You're just imagining the resemblance. You've been wrong before.

The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women...

Why would she be here? He'd thought to find her in a restaurant, or a shop somewhere or -- or anywhere else. Anything but actually working in law enforcement.

Hope? A caseworker named Fiona Donovan? That can't be Hope. Not here.

Doris waved at a doorway where a sign on the wall said Records. "I'll be around the corner in the copy room if you need me," she offered.

Hope...

His heart was beating so fast it was bound to explode.

Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

He stood staring, drinking in the sight of her, waiting for her to feel his eyes watching, waiting for her to look up, recognize him, call his name.

Control. Get yourself under control. Slow, deep breaths. Can't let her see you falling apart like this.

Her name was different, her hair was shorter, just past shoulder length, but she couldn't change her face -- the face that had haunted his dreams. She looked a little older, naturally, but not so much older. Not as much older as he'd been feeling lately. She'd gained some weight, but only enough to give her curves a fuller, softer line. He'd have recognized her anywhere. His arms ached to hold her. He had to try three times before he could find the voice to speak her name.

"Ms. Donovan?"

 

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Meet the Author

 

Shelby Morgen loves writing offbeat tales that defy as many rules as possible.

 

She likes chocolate with her peanut butter, suspense with her romance, and kink with her sex, and she’s always had a hard time keeping murder, motorcycles, science fiction, fantasy and paranormal from mixing with her kink.

 

Shelby shares her belief in electronic publishing with her longtime friend and partner, Bill, her husband of more than four decades.

 

Connect with the Publisher

 

Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, & TikTok: @changelingpress

 

This morning, I have a dark, romantic suspense novel in our book release spotlight!  Check out Crucible, learn about author Franca Storm and enter for a chance to win a prize in the book tour giveaway at the end of this post!

 Dark Romantic Suspense

Date Published: 10-11-2023

 

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Some burn in the fire, others are forged in it.

 

I’m justice.

I’m deliverance.

I’m punishment.

Ultimately, I’m a dealer of death.

It’s exactly what they need from me.

To push back the enemy.

To keep them all safe.

I’m always one step ahead.

Until her.

She wasn’t meant to be here.

She’s tempting a cruel twist of fate.

Now he’s got her in his crosshairs.

He’ll feed off her vulnerability.

He’ll make her a victim of his obsession.

If I can’t pull her out, she’ll drown in the dark.

She’ll become as twisted as the rest of us.

 

About the Author

Franca writes emotional and gritty reads about alphas with a dark side and the kickass women who turn their worlds upside down.

A Marvel and DC fan, you’ll often find her binging on superhero shows and movies. Away from that heart-pumping action, she’ll relax with a good book, or work on conquering her next 1,000-piece puzzle.

She writes to alternative and hard rock with her storyboard of inspiration by her side and some tasty snacks along for the ride. A cross between a pantser and a plotter, she’s happiest when she’s fully immersed in crafting her fictional worlds.

Connect with the Author

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This morning in our book Teaser Tuesday spotlight, we have a sci fi romantic suspense to share!  Check out Deadlock, learn about the author, read an excerpt from the book and pre-order the novel on Amazon!

 

(Revenge and Zombies)

 

Sci Fi Romance, Suspense, Action & Adventure

Date Published: September 29. 2023

 

 

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Should you purchase an item via our links--we may receive slight compensation from an
affiliate partner.  

 

Rory and Tessa have managed to work together to survive the island, but now they have an even bigger task at hand. Together, they must find Bennett and the missing zombie before the virus can take over the mainland.

Easier said than done. The mainland Tessa knew before is a different world from the one that exists now. A mysterious plague taking over the poorer population has people nervous, and Rory and Tessa will have their work cut out for them. Will they be able to stop Tessa’s virus before it’s too late?

 

Read an Excerpt

Copyright ©2023 Torri Heat

 

It was silent out on the water. The kind of silence that screamed in your ears, demanding to be heard. The kind of quiet that raised the hairs on the back of your neck and created trails of goose bumps along your arms. It spoke of a storm brewing in the distance, of an imbalance in the scales.

The last time it was this quiet was after my father died, when the laughter had died off, when I had snuck out from under the table I was hiding beneath and ran to cradle his body. Afterwards, I knew I had been screaming from the soreness of my throat, and the way I gasped for air. But during those moments, before the paramedics showed up and carried his body away, it was silent. Completely and utterly silent. There was only the screaming quiet in my ears, surrounding me in a way I thought I would never experience again.

Until now, on the boat. Rory was at the wheel, frowning as he stared into the grey skies. We hadn’t spoken since the rush to the boat, and that had been in mostly short sentences.

“Untie the rope for me.”

“Hand me that oar.”

“Push off.”

And getting to the boat had been too loud as we snuck past the small hordes of zombies that had spread out across the island. Luckily, since we had arrived at the safe zone, everything had quieted down. The zombies that had been at the door soon gave up and spread out, and we knew that it was now or never to make our move. Joe had loaded us up packs filled with supplies and food -- whatever the safe house had to spare. We probably had enough to last the two of us a week on the mainland, maybe two if we stretched our rations. A week to find Bennett, the zombie, and make our mind up about what would happen next. I wasn’t sure yet if we’d return to the island together, or go our separate ways. Right now, our minds were on the next steps, and the next steps alone. We needed to find Bennett and that zombie. There was no other way around it. If he managed to release it into the wild, the whole thing could be a complete disaster.

There was a reason I liked science. I liked reasons. Logic. I liked there to be answers to my questions if I worked hard enough. Two plus two always equalled four, and I had a plan in place for how I wanted to spread the virus. Bennett releasing one random zombie into the wild was not how my plan was going to go and could ruin a lot more than just my revenge. I needed to stop him before that happened.

As for Bennett when we found him… well. Unfortunately in my line of work, there were some things I needed to do, and this was one of them. But Bennett was a liability, and I couldn’t afford to have him running around any more than I could have that zombie running free. I’d take care of him when and where we found him.

The skies were darkening, and the wind was picking up, bringing my silence to an end. Reality was flooding in, and I still needed to figure out what our plan of action was. I pointed to the grey beach in the distance. “I think we should try there!” I called over to Rory, yelling to be heard over the screaming wind.

He turned to look at me, the boat cutting sharply over a wave that splashed us both with cool water. “What?”

I pointed again. “There! Try there!”

Rory nodded and turned the wheel in the direction of the small beach. It wasn’t the largest dock Bennett could’ve gone to, but it was definitely the closest and easiest, which if I was bringing a zombie on my own to the mainland is what I would’ve gone for.

The wind blew through my hair, and I grabbed for the elastic wrapped around my wrist. Twisting my hair into a tight braid, I watched Rory as he controlled the boat easily, as if he had been doing this all his life despite the increasingly choppy water. I wondered what was going through his head at this moment. Did he regret coming with me? Or maybe this was just his way of getting back to the mainland, and he’d dump my ass as soon as we touched ground, maybe even sending the cops my way. Not like I needed him, really. I was certain I’d be able to find Bennett without Rory’s help. I had been finding my way in this world alone since I was young, and nothing had changed now.

But it might be nice to have someone to bounce ideas off, since I no longer had James. A real, live sounding board. I didn’t need him to have pointless conversation with. I’d rather save my breath. But to see if my ideas were on the right track or not? Yeah, that might be nice.

I’d have to wait and see what his plan was once we got the boat to the mainland.

About the Author

 

Torri Heat has always loved control. Her mind was blown when she discovered she could control entire worlds through story writing. Throw some steamy romance in there, and it was pretty close to perfection. Torri loves dark heroes who ride off into the sunset on their motorcycles, fierce heroines who can fend for themselves, and a sprinkle of the paranormal to keep things interesting. When she's not creating alternate realities you can find her managing her three ring circus of kids and animals.

Find all of Torri’s books and sign up for her newsletter at her website, or follow her on social media. You can also leave reviews!

 

Connect with the Author

Author on Facebook: @torriheatwrites

Authoron Instagram and TikTok: @torriheat

 

Connect with the Publisher

Publisher on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram: @changelingpress

 

Buy the Book

 

Pre-Order Today

Buy the Revenge and Zombies Series on Amazon

 

Today, I have a romantic suspense novel in our book review spotlight. Check out Call Her Janie, learn about author S.R. Fabrico, and enter the book tour giveaway at the end of this post.

 

CALL HER JANIE Book Tour Giveaway

I love mysteries and, this week, I have been sharing a few from the Annalisse series by author Marlene M. Bell.  I read and reviewed the first book in the series, Stolen Obsession, several years ago for A Mama's Corner of the World and shared my review of the second book, Spent Identity, and the third book--Scattered Legacy--here this week.  Today, I have Copper Waters to share.  Check out the book, read my thoughts on the book, learn about the author & be sure to enter for a chance to win a prize in the book tour giveaway at the end of this post. 

 

I love mysteries and, this week, I have a few from the Annalisse series by author Marlene M. Bell.  I read and reviewed the first book in the series, Stolen Obsession, several years ago for A Mama's Corner of the World.  Today, I have the second book--Spent Identity--in our book review spotlight.  Check out the book, read my thoughts on the book, learn about the author & be sure to enter for a chance to win a prize in the book tour giveaway at the end of this post.  I will be sharing reviews of more books from the series this week too!