Work at a funeral home can be mundane.

Until you accidentally start bringing the dead back to life.

The Undead Mr. Tenpenny

The Cassie Black Trilogy Book 1

by Tammie Painter

Genre: Humorous Dark Fantasy Mystery

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about the book

Work at a funeral home can be mundane. Until you accidentally start bringing the dead back to life.

 

"...a clever, hilarious romp through a new magical universe" --Sarah Angleton, author of Gentleman of Misfortune

 

Cassie Black works at a funeral home. She's used to all manner of dead bodies. What she's not used to is them waking up. Which they seem to be doing on a disturbingly regular basis lately.

 

Just when Cassie thinks she has the problem under control, the recently deceased Busby Tenpenny insists he's been murdered and claims Cassie might be responsible thanks to a wicked brand of magic she's been exposed to. The only way for Cassie to get her life back to normal is to tame her magic and uncover Mr. Tenpenny's true killer.

 

Simple right?

 

Of course not. Because while Cassie works on getting her newly acquired magic sorted, she's blowing up kitchens, angering an entire magical community, and discovering her past is more closely tied to Busby Tenpenny than she could have ever imagined.

 

If you like comic fantasy whodunits with plenty of wry humor, a cast of unforgettable characters, a touch of paranormal mystery, and piles of pastries, you'll find it hard to pry yourself away from this first book of the Cassie Black Trilogy.

 

Note: While this book delivers a contemporary fantasy tale with snarky giggles and a few hexes, it's fairly clean with only an itty-bitty bit of light cursing, one fight scene, and no hanky panky or sexual situations.

 

 The Cassie Black “Trilogy” has now grown to a very un-trilogy-like six books that include…

The Undead Mr. Tenpenny (#1 of The Cassie Black Trilogy 1.0)
The Uncanny Raven Winston (#2 of The Cassie Black Trilogy 1.0)
The Untangled Cassie Black (#3 of The Cassie Black Trilogy 1.0)
The Unusual Mayor Marheart (#1 of The Cassie Black Trilogy 2.0)
The Unbearable Inspector Oberlin (#2 of The Cassie Black Trilogy 2.0)
The Unexpected Mr Hopkins (#3 of The Cassie Black Trilogy 2.0)

 

catch up on the whole "trilogy" 

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What readers have to say about the series so far...

"Wow and wow again! I absolutely loved this book! You get such a feel for the characters and the story is so fast paced you don't want to put it down."

"More, please!"

"I was unable to put this down when I started reading it. The author combines humour with a fast paced murder mystery all packed into a funeral home."

"…suffused with dark humor and witty dialogue..."

"Cassie Black, won me over in the first book of this series, and she doesn’t disappoint in this one!!!"

 

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**On Sale for Only .99cents!**

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read an excerpt

READ A SAMPLE OF THE UNDEAD MR TENPENNY HERE

The Uncanny Raven Winston

The Cassie Black Trilogy Book 2

about the book

There's nothing like an evil wizard to ruin a perfectly good trip to London.

 

Ever have one of those weeks? You've taken an overdose of magic, you've melted a twelve-year old girl, and Magic HQ has sent a letter "requesting" you come by to discuss your magic control issues.

 

No? Just me, then?

 

I don't want to go. I've got a boss in a wheelchair (my fault), a zombie cat who demands his treats on schedule, and no interest in sorting out the quirks of another magical community.

 

But when someone slips me information tying my parents' disappearance to HQ, I can't pack my bags quickly enough.

 

I'm soon destroying historical displays, befriending befuddled ghosts, and focusing more on uncovering the truth about my past than on learning how to rein in my magic. Which, considering what might happen if I fail the test HQ has for me… Well, best not to think about that.

 

This second book of the Cassie Black Trilogy squeezes you through a magic portal, lodges you in a hidden corner of the Tower of London, and plunges you into a tale of mysterious mishaps, peculiar ravens, and TV-binging trolls.

 

If you like contemporary fantasy with unforgettable characters, snarky humor, and a touch of paranormal mystery -- or if you've ever wondered what those garden gnomes are really up to -- you'll find it hard to pry yourself away from The Uncanny Raven Winston.

 

The Cassie Black Trilogy is a fish-out-of-water tale that takes you from the streets of Portland to the Tower of London. It's got magic and mystery, pastries and zombies, sentient gnomes and an evil wizard...because there's always an evil wizard, isn't there?

 

buy the book 

**Get it On Sale at Smashwords discounted for the month of July!**

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The Untangled Cassie Black

The Cassie Black Trilogy Book 3

about the book

Sometimes taking an overdose of magic is the least of your problems.

 

Not only has Cassie Black just lost two people through a magic portal, but her archenemy, the Mauvais, is threatening to destroy city after city if Magic HeadQuarters doesn't hand her over to him.... a proposal HQ isn't exactly saying no to.

 

As the Magic higher ups debate her fate, Cassie refuses to sit by and watch the grass grow between the toes of the surveillance gnomes. Biting back her life rule to never get involved, she knows the only way to stop the Mauvais is to go after him herself.

 

Which is exactly what he wants. Because the instant Cassie falls into his hands, the Mauvais will gain the unlimited power he’s always craved.

 

So don't get captured, right? Easy for you to say.

 

Trouble is, there's a traitor within HQ who's proving to be more devious, more powerful, and with more tricks up the sleeve than anyone could have ever guessed.

 

In this page-turning conclusion of the Cassie Black Trilogy, the curses are flying, the pastries are plentiful, the bookworms are slithering, and the magical batteries are charged to capacity.

 

If you like contemporary fantasy filled with dark humor, paranormal mystery, and a cast of unforgettably quirky characters, you’ll love the twists and turns of this conclusion to the first Cassie Black Trilogy.

 

buy the book 

**Get it On Sale at Smashwords discounted for the month of July!**

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about the author

Author of humorous fantasy whodunits full of mythical misfits and magical mishaps

Many moons ago I was a scientist in a neuroscience lab where I got to play with brains and illegal drugs. Now, I take wickedly strong tea and turn it into comic fantasy whodunits full of mythical misfits and magical mishaps that I hope give you a giggle. 

My tales run the gamut from the ever-expanding Cassie Black Trilogy with its wryly humorous paranormal mysteries to the comical fantasy whodunits in The Circus of Unusual Creatures, and from light-hearted novellas celebrating my love of books to short fiction in which I really flex my myth-loving and humor-craving muscles!

When I’m not creating worlds or killing off characters, I can be found gardening, planning my next travel adventure, concocting some sort of mess in the kitchen, or working as an unpaid servant to one very spoiled cat and some very demanding squirrels.

 

connect with the author 

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enter the giveaway

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Enter The Cassie Black Trilogy Giveaway Here

I love finding new cozy mysteries to share! Today, I have Death and the Social Climber in book release spotlight! Learn about the novel, the Ann Audrey mystery series, and author Winnie Simpson--and don't forget to enter for a chance to win a prize in the book tour giveaway at the end of this post! 

Date Published: 06-30-2026

Publisher: Mission Point Press

A former lawyer who once helped the FBI convict her own husband for fraud, Ann Audrey has settled into a reclusive life, until her longtime friend Flynn Reynolds asks for help. His elderly aunts are convinced that another nephew was murdered by his wife, Kathryn, whose second husband is now also dead. Ann Audrey is skeptical. Still, she owes Flynn, and there are some odd questions. Complicating matters is Kathryn’s latest mother-in-law, a woman who rose from an impoverished background into Atlanta’s upper circles and recognizes a kindred spirit in her dead son’s ambitious widow. She doesn’t believe Kathryn is a murderer—but she has heard rumors, and she wants them stopped. 

Set in Atlanta in January 2000, as the city buzzes with anticipation for the upcoming Super Bowl, Ann Audrey searches for the black widow through the city’s frenetic bar scene, private clubs, high-rise offices, and beloved local institutions like Mary Mac’s Tea Room and The Varsity. With help from Flynn and her friend Theo, along with the return of sexy detective Mike Bristol, she pieces together a twisting story of social climbing, carefully managed appearances, marriage, and murder. As the Super Bowl kickoff draws near, the case reaches a climax when an ice storm shuts down Atlanta’s roads and power, leaving secrets and murderers with nowhere to hide. 

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 Check out Whipped Cream and Piano Wire (Book 1 of the Ann Audrey Mysteries)

 Following her mother’s lead, Mississippi native Winnie Simpson was an avid murder mystery reader beginning in the third grade, starting with Nancy Drew and moving through the classics of British, American, and international crime. Winnie studied music at Duke University, later receiving an MFA in Music at SUNY Buffalo, where she worked as an arts administrator before throwing it all over in order to make a decent living. After finishing law school at Emory University, she became a partner in a large firm in Atlanta where her practice focused mainly on securities litigation. Retiring early, Winnie relocated to Northern Michigan where she lives in a renovated nineteenth-century building that served as a former Michigan state asylum. For more than a decade, she has taken writing classes and participated in writing groups. She is fond of opera, hiking, cycling, and Duke basketball, most seasons.

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This morning, I have a business self-development book to share! Learn about Born to be (Unconsciously) Biased and author Fabi Fugazza. 

Strategies to Unbias Your Business Decision Making

Unconscious biases, however, cloud our view, and threaten our ability to make optimal, rational decisions. These biases impact our thinking without us even being aware of it, so, because we don't see our own unconscious biases, we often feel our decisions are based purely on "merit". 

This is not so. This book will lift the cloud, explain why decisions made purely on merit are generally a "myth", and show you how unconscious bias impacts your decisions. This book will then provide you with practical strategies to minimise bias in your decision-making processes, helping you to optimise your organisational decision making and your organisation’s outcomes. 

buy the book

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 Fabi Fugazza ANZAM LLB BBusComm MMgmt GDLP is a management expert, author, international academic and lawyer with extensive experience in equity initiatives, human/civil rights and organisational management. 

She has owned unconscious bias consulting and training business jObjective since 2018, is Co-Executive Director of the Italy-based human/civil rights coalition CILD and is a multi-award-winning academic at two universities based in Australia. She has taught unconscious bias, law, business, and social sciences in undergraduate and graduate programs across three continents, and in executive education programs. She is a former Lead Scientific Adviser of New York University’s Public Interest Law Clinic in Paris, has delivered several CPDs on unconscious bias, and has worked with non-profit organisations for over 15 years.

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BookBuzz

I love putting together my reading stack each month. It always gets me excited for what's ahead in the coming weeks!. I get to look over my review calendar, think about upcoming release dates, sprinkle in a few non-work-related books that caught my attention, and build a stack that feels like a good mix of work and entertainment!

Of course, you know these monthly plans aren't written in stone. at all! Sometimes a new book pops up mid-month to add to the list--or life gets busy and a few books carry over to next month. Still, I love having a plan, and this is the stack I'm hoping to work through during July.

My favorite thing about my book work is that I never limit myself to one genre. You'll find me reading fiction one day, a parenting resource the next, followed by a self-help workbook, a children's picture book, or even a craft how-to guide. I love finding books that meet my readers where they are in different seasons of life, and I think this month's lineup reflects that pretty well.

What's in my to-be-read-pile this month?

Cycle Breakers by Harriet Shearsmith

I'm looking forward reading Cycle Breakers and exploring its themes. Books that encourage readers to think differently or challenge familiar patterns always catch my attention, and I'm excited to see where this one leads. Available on Amazon

A Soul on Trial by Robin R. Cutler

I love stories that promise emotional depth and thought-provoking themes, and I'm looking forward to sharing my thoughts once I've finished reading. Available on Amazon

Everyday Nervous System Regulation by Melissa Romano

Mental wellness touches all of us, and I always enjoy discovering practical resources that readers can actually use and apply in everyday life. I'm curious to learn more about the strategies this book offers and whether they'll be useful for readers looking to reduce stress and find more balance. PreOrder on Amazon

Dyslexia and Your Newly Diagnosed Child by Rebecca Bush

This book stood out as a parenting resource because it offers guidance for families navigating a new diagnosis for a child. Books like this provide reassurance alongside practical information, and I'm looking forward to reviewing it for parents who may be searching for support. Available on Amazon

Investing for Tweens by Jamie Bosse

I love seeing financial literacy books written specifically for younger readers. Learning about money early can make a huge difference, and I'm interested to see how this book presents investing in an approachable, engaging way for teens. Available on Amazon

Reconnect: A Marriage Counseling Workbook by Zach Brittle & Laura Heck

Relationship books and guided workbooks can be valuable tools for couples seeking to strengthen communication and connection. I'm interested in exploring the exercises and practical advice this workbook offers. Available on Amazon

The Ultimate Origami Challenge by Brian Yoon

Sometimes it's fun to mix creative books into my reading schedule, and this one definitely fits the bill. I always enjoy activity books that encourage hands-on learning, and I can't wait to see some of the projects inside. Available on Amazon

Mrs. Rabbit's Friendsgiving Dinner by Carole P. Roman

It's never too early to discover a wonderful children's picture book. I'm excited to read this one and see how it celebrates friendship, kindness, and gratitude. Books like this are always fun to share with families and young readers. Available on Amazon

Where You'll Find These Reviews

If you're wondering where these books will be featured, they'll actually be split between my two blogs.

Most of these reviews—including the fiction, nonfiction, self-help, parenting, and workbook titles—will appear here on Book Corner News & Reviews.

My children's and young adult selections, including Investing for Tweens, The Ultimate Origami Challenge, and Mrs. Rabbit's Friendsgiving Dinner, will be featured over on A Mama's Corner of the World, where I share books and resources for families, parents, and younger readers.

I enjoy having both spaces because it allows me to connect readers with books that fit their interests while keeping each blog focused on its own audience.

Looking Ahead

I'm excited to spend July exploring these books and sharing honest reviews, favorite takeaways, and recommendations along the way. Whether you're looking for your next novel, practical life advice, parenting resources, or something fun to enjoy with the kids, I hope you'll find something here that catches your eye.

Now I'd love to hear from you! What's on your reading list this month? Have you read any of these books already? Let me know in the comments—I always enjoy hearing what everyone else is reading!

Today, I have a second chance romance novel to share in our book release spotlight! Learn about Lift Off to Love and author Gina Giambalvo-Glockler! 

A NASA Second Chance Romance

Date Published: June 29, 2026

When her Dallas skincare company is hired to develop a cream for the Diana IV moon mission, Bella Genovese finds herself in a world of astronauts, launch countdowns, and one very unexpected attraction to the mission's quietly devastating commander.

He's a widower with two daughters and a Corgi named Daisy. She's a widow with two daughters and a Corgi named Primrose. He drinks Laphroaig neat and drives a Porsche. She wears Louboutin’s to baseball games and names her suitcase Spotty Dotty.

The universe, it seems, has a plan.

But with a moon landing on the horizon, the miles between Dallas and Houston, and two hearts still carrying the weight of loss — can two people brave enough to reach for the stars find the courage to reach for each other?

Warm, funny and deeply romantic, Lift Off to Love is the story of two people who thought their greatest adventures were behind them — and the love that proved them beautifully, completely wrong.

"Roger that. Always."

The countdown has begun. Get your copy today and join Bella and Jack on a journey where dreams take flight and love reaches for the stars. 

about the author

 Gina Giambalvo-Glockler is a debut novelist with a love of romance, hockey, Taylor Swift, and shoes that are probably impractical but absolutely worth it. A proud Italian American, she writes warm, funny stories about second chances, blended families, and the kind of love that proves it's never too late for a great adventure. When she's not writing she can be found researching Italian designers, developing skincare products, watching the Philadelphia Flyers, and spending time with her rock star husband, drummer Nigel Glockler of the British heavy metal band, Saxon. Lift Off to Love is her first novel.

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This morning, I have a historical fiction novel to share! Learn about Between These Walls by Michael Newman! 

A Gripping Journey Through History's Darkest Corridors

Date Published: March 26, 2020

In the summer of 1988, New York art curator Daniel Singer receives a mysterious package from West Berlin, sealed with security tape that will shatter everything he thought he knew about himself and his family. What begins as a simple delivery transforms into an extraordinary odyssey that spans continents and decades, pulling Daniel into a labyrinth of secrets that have been carefully guarded for over forty years. 

Newman masterfully constructs a dual timeline that oscillates between May 1945 and July 1988, creating a narrative bridge across generations. In the dying days of World War II, on the American occupied side of Germany's Elbe River, US Army Medical Corps Colonel Samuel Singer stumbles upon the shot-up wreck of a smoldering SS staff car. Inside: a badly injured driver, a dead German Army officer carrying the ID of a Nazi war criminal, and a young blonde woman, also dead in the back seat. This haunting discovery sets in motion a chain of events that will echo across four decades. 

The story sweeps across the battlefields of World War I, through the horrors of World War II and the Holocaust, into the founding of Israel, and through three Middle East wars. Each historical moment is rendered with meticulous attention to detail and emotional authenticity. 

The involvement of the Mossad, Israel's legendary intelligence agency, adds layers of intrigue and suspense to Daniel's quest. As he uncovers shocking truths about his heritage, Daniel must navigate a treacherous landscape where the past and present collide, where old wounds remain fresh, and where the consequences of long-buried secrets threaten to destroy everything he holds dear. Following one American family and two German families, Newman crafts a narrative that explores not just acts of evil and callous indifference but also acts of heroism, generosity, and love in the time of Adolf Hitler's rise and eventual defeat.

Newman's research was exhaustive and deeply personal. He traveled throughout Europe, visiting the actual locations that appear prominently in the book. He walked the streets of Berlin, discovering the stolpersteine, the engraved brass plaques embedded in the cobblestone streets marking where Jewish families lived before the Nazis deported them to their deaths in Auschwitz. He ventured to the Eagle's Nest in Berchtesgaden near Munich, Hitler's wartime summer home perched high in the Bavarian Alps. Most significantly, he visited Mauthausen concentration camp itself, where his own father had been imprisoned by the Nazis in 1944-45. 

"My visits to Mauthausen, Berlin and Hitler's summer home at Eagle's Nest were the motivators for me to write Between These Walls," Newman explains.

"These places provided me with the inspiration and ideas for the plot and premise of the book. With the global rise in antisemitism, the words 'Never again' couldn't ring truer."

Between These Walls is available for purchase through multiple platforms, making it accessible to readers worldwide. The novel is available in both paperback and Kindle editions. 

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about the author

 Michael Newman brings an unparalleled authenticity to Between These Walls because he writes not as a distant observer of history, but as someone whose life has been indelibly shaped by it. The son of Holocaust survivors, Newman has always had a deep interest in the Second World War, not as an academic pursuit, but as a personal mission to understand and honor the experiences that defined his family's existence. He received first-hand accounts of what happened during WWII in the concentration camps, particularly Mauthausen, where his father was imprisoned. 

Newman's mother, aunt, and grandmother were hidden by Righteous Gentiles in Budapest during World War II. His father fought in the Hungarian Army, dug trenches in a forced labor battalion near Stalingrad, and later endured eight terrible months at Mauthausen in Austria. In 1956, at age twelve, Newman himself became a refugee, slogging through mud and snow, dodging guard huts to escape into Austria after the crushed Hungarian uprising against the Soviets. 

Years later, as a successful self-made real estate magnate and founder of InterRent, a real estate investment trust on the Toronto Stock Exchange, Newman could have allowed his professional achievements to define him. Instead, he chose to honor his heritage by telling a story that needed to be told. He has since taken his wife, three children, and one granddaughter on trips to Mauthausen, ensuring that the next generation never forgets. 

During the Second Lebanon War in 2006, concerned over what he perceived as one-sided news coverage against Israel, he had the opportunity to travel, surreptitiously, to Israel. Using a connection with an Israeli intelligence colonel, Newman spent a week in the war zone, visiting bomb shelters, air raid command centers, and troops in the field. This experience became a model for a character in his book who helped Israel fight for independence in 1948. 

"I am not a religious person, but I do identify myself with what happened during the Holocaust and I am very much a Zionist and support the founding of Israel," Newman says. 

This conviction breathes through every page of Between These Walls, giving the novel an emotional authenticity that resonates with readers across all backgrounds. 

Today, Newman lives on Toronto's waterfront with his wife, Dixie, and their Morkie, Mia. Surrounded by five children and eleven grandchildren, he has transformed the pain of his family's past into a gift for future generations. Writing books, as Newman admits, is "a career change I wasn't expecting to make at this stage of life. It's been gratifying for the ego." He is currently working on a sequel with the working title A Daughter's Revenge, and has hired a screenwriter on spec to craft a six-part series based on his first book.

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