Meet my new guardians!

We moved into our rental house in Okinawa at the beginning of May and have spent the last 3 months buying furniture and settling in. As part of that process, we needed to find shisa for our entry gate.

Shisa is a traditional Ryukyuan decoration said to be a cross between a lion and a dog. Shisa pairs are placed on rooftops or flanking gates with the female shisa traditionally having a closed mouth to keep the good spirits in, while the male has an open mouth to ward off evil spirits.

We found this pair at a local pottery shop and now our house is fully protected. Here they are in their natural habitat:

One of our favorite things to do in the evenings here is go for shisa walks in our neighborhood. There are so many amazing designs and styles and we're always spotting new ones we hadn't noticed on previous walks.

Facebook Live with Jayne Ann Krentz & Barbara Freethy 😍

Last week I joined Jayne Ann Krentz and Barbara Freethy for a Facebook Live chat. We talked about romantic suspense including Barbara's new release SHATTERED TRUTH (which is fantastic!) and COVERT EVIDENCE, which is on sale right now for only 2.99 (US/UK/EU) 3.99 (CA/AU/NZ). Grab it before the price goes up this weekend.

Falling in love was never part of his mission…​
With visions of professional glory, underwater archaeologist Cressida Porter embarks on a research trip deep into the heart of Eastern Turkey. Her dreams turn into nightmares when she becomes the unwitting courier for a terrorist network. Stranded and unable to speak the language, she turns to a handsome and enigmatic security specialist for help, even while fearing he may be behind a violent assault that leaves her vulnerable.
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CIA Case Officer Ian Boyd’s mission is clear: follow the courier, identify the terrorist leader, and intercept the microchip before it falls into enemy hands. For Ian, cozying up to the alluring archaeologist to find out where her loyalties lie isn’t exactly hardship duty. But spending time with her proves dangerous when she awakens a longing for a life he can never have.
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Attraction wars with distrust as Cressida and Ian are forced on the run. When violence erupts in the already unstable region, Cressida discovers everything she knows about Ian is false. With all secrets revealed, Cressida must decide if she can trust the spy with her life, while Ian faces his own impossible choice: Cressida or his mission.

Fiona Carver Series Sale

1 Couple | 2 Islands | 2 Heart Pounding Adventures!

➢ Dangerous Ground:

In the remote and unpredictable Aleutians, danger comes without warning in an adrenaline rush of a novel by USA Today bestselling author Rachel Grant.

“This page-turning romance is headed for many a keeper shelf.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

➢ Crash Site:

For archaeologist Fiona Carver, the Caribbean glistens with untold menace in a heart-racing novel by Rachel Grant.

“Rachel Grant does it again! Engaging characters, gripping suspense, and steamy romance. Crash Site starts with a bang and delivers non-stop action.” —Laura Griffin, New York Times bestselling author​
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🚨 New Release Spotlight 🚨

Shining a light on my favorite recent reads

(Click on the cover to view on Amazon)

SHATTERED TRUTH by Barbara Freethy

He’s sworn to uphold the law. She’s willing to break every rule to expose the truth. But what they uncover could destroy everything—including each other.

When a whistleblower is murdered just moments before a secret meeting, Haley Kenton is caught on surveillance near the scene—making her the FBI’s top suspect in a case that’s far more dangerous than it appears.

FBI Special Agent Matt Lawson doesn’t know what to make of the beautiful journalist. Haley is secretive and clearly hiding something. But as their paths keep colliding and bodies start to fall, Matt realizes she may be the only one who knows where the truth is buried.

Drawn together by escalating danger and undeniable chemistry, Haley and Matt are forced into an uneasy alliance. But trust comes hard when every secret could be lethal—and someone will do anything to keep the past from coming to light.

Romantic suspense at its most powerful—shocking secrets, a relentless pace, and unforgettable emotion from #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Barbara Freethy.

DON'T TRUST MOTHER by Carey Baldwin

She says I’m her daughter… She’s lying, right?

The daughter: My life was perfect—a father who would do anything for me, a loving husband, a beautiful home… Until she arrived.

Sandra claims to be my real mom and knows things only a mother could. Still, her story doesn’t quite add up. I don’t trust her.

So I’ll play along. Smile. Pretend I believe her. And dig until I find out what she really wants. I have to be careful though.

Because she might be keeping secrets… but she’s not the only one.

The mother: It breaks my heart that Ivy doesn’t believe me. I just have to get her to trust me like a mother. She doesn’t need to know the real reason I’m here… yet.

She deserves the truth about her own parents. The people who raised her have a lot to answer for.

But will I have time to get what I came for, before she figures out who I really am?

Mothers and daughters often tell each other little white lies. But in this family, the secrets are deadly…

The Sun Burns Hot in this Sizzling Summer Read

Two summers ago, I traveled to Malta as research for DON'T LOOK BACK. Many of the places Kira and Rand visit are places I had a chance to explore. Kira's hotel room was my corner, top floor room, and Rand stayed in my children's room a few floors down. Every evening, we watched fireworks go off in all directions from the rooftop terrace. On the Friday night of our stay, live jazz music provided a soundtrack to the fireworks display, just as it does for Kira and Rand.

Travel with me to Malta and feel the searing Mediterranean sun on your skin as you embark on an adventure with an art historian determined to find the truth her father has been hiding for decades.

Sometimes history is better left buried…

Six months after barely escaping a nightmare, Kira Hanson is ready to take the trip of a lifetime—one she hopes will answer questions about her father’s clandestine work recovering art stolen during World War II. But before she boards her flight, she’s waylaid by a friend in need and finally comes face-to-face with the Navy SEAL who saved her six months ago and then ghosted her.

Lieutenant Commander Randall Fallon is thrilled to cross paths with the shy art historian, but within minutes of their reunion he learns she’s in danger once again. Uneasy with the idea of her embarking on a trip to track down art thieves on her own, he just might have to reprise his role as undercover bodyguard and follow her to Europe posing as an art buyer.

Things heat up between Kira and Rand when he tracks her down in Malta, but it soon becomes clear that Rand’s instincts were correct: Kira’s digging into her father’s secrets has unearthed an unexpected enemy.

Complete Evidence Series Signed Books Contest

At long last all 12 Evidence books have matching print covers!

For the first time ever, the complete series has matching covers in digital, print, and audiobook. To celebrate this milestone, I'm giving away signed copies of all 12 books to one lucky winner! Ten additional winners will receive a signed bookplate.

This contest is open internationally.

Shop the Evidence series by Vendor:

Birthday Club Update

Thank you to the Birthday Club subscribers who alerted me to issues with the delivery date for the free ebooks. After many rounds with the help desk at Kit, I *hope* the automation works now. However, if you sign up with a birthdate that has already passed in 2025 the system still might glitch.

To join the Birthday Club, sign up here, cross your fingers, and make a wish! 😂🤞🎂

Good News/Bad News

First the bad news...

I'm saddened to say that due to unforeseen circumstances, I will not be attending RARE Melbourne this October. If you are registered to attend and in the attendee Facebook Group, find my post for a link to sign up to receive a signed bookplate and stickers from me.

Now for the good news!

Evidence: Under Fire Book 4 is nearly halfway drafted!

I shared this on social media when I hit 30k words (and now I'm at 45k, just ten days later!)

The book is not up for preorder yet (I'm still waffling on the title) but it should be soon.

Happy reading!

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