On March 23, 2025 my husband and I boarded a flight with the eventual destination of Okinawa, Japan. We arrived in Naha late on the 24th, and didn't make it to our hotel until after midnight on the 25th. (This is memorable because our hotel was on a military base and they didn't want let me on base because even though my name was on my husband's travel orders, I didn't have a DoD ID at the time and no one is permitted on base after midnight without having a pass already or DoD ID.) We did make it to the hotel eventually--I think it was around 1 a.m.--and so this week for us has been one of remembering those firsts. First morning in Okinawa. First time leaving base, which was when we moved to a hotel in Sunabe, where we lived for 5 weeks. The anniversary of buying our car was the day before yesterday.

Yesterday was the anniversary of the first time we explored a bit of the island. One of my husband's coworkers drove us around for a few hours so we could see neighborhoods we might want to live in. As it happens, he took us to Yomitan peninsula and we were so thrilled to see farmland and large stretches of subtropical forest, quite different from the Chatan/Sunabe area where we'd been staying.

I took a photo of this sign on that first drive, and now I walk by it frequently when I go grocery shopping.

I have yet to try the chicken, but as the sign says, I must will want to! One of these days I will head that way in the evening when it's open. (I usually walk in the mornings.)

I love our neighborhood! The adventure of living here is really a dream come true. As some of you may remember, our move almost didn't happen. Our household goods had been shipped and other items were in long term storage and we were just hours from heading to the airport when we were officially notified not to board the plane because our move had been canceled. A few days later my husband received a waiver and we moved 2 weeks after that first flight was canceled. I can't go into details about how difficult that was, or how difficult it remains for people who weren't as lucky as we were to get a waiver. My heart goes out to everyone who was stuck in that situation and whose lives remain upened a year later.

For many, many reasons, 2025 was a difficult year. Both easier and harder for me personally because of the upheaval of the move, harder because of a personal loss and world events, and distracting because I live in an amazing place with so much to learn about history, culture, language, and cuisine, many sunsets to watch, beaches to explore, and terrifying spiders to photograph.

I would share spider photos here, but I don't want to lose half my subscribers.

Instead, enjoy this photo of the sunset from our rooftop with your average Japanese carrot. Yes, it really is as big as it looks. No, my fingers did not touch when I held it around the base. For scale, the 100 yen coin is only slightly smaller than a US quarter.

Giant carrots, learning to drive on the left, and being intimidated by the sheer variety of soy sauces to choose from at the grocery store were just a few of the things that had an impact on my writing this last year. Words came much slower than usual, which meant I didn't have any new releases (in English) in 2025, let alone my usual two.

While I haven't yet conquered soy sauce shopping, I did reach another important milestone last week. Along with celebrating one year in Okinawa, I am also celebrating completing the first draft of FALSE FLAG! 😍

Yes, at last, FALSE FLAG is moving to the editing phase! This will take a few months, plus another month for Nicol and Greg to record the audiobook, at which point it will be released in digital, print, and audio. Fingers crossed for a summer release!

My next task is to write a real blurb. Stay tuned for that... In the meantime, enjoy this (unedited) excerpt from early in the book.

Staci had been looking forward to the after party more than the upcoming paintball battle, but after last night’s meeting with Gerard Campbell, she was confused and probably more than a little scared. Honestly, she wouldn’t mind the physical activity and aggression of the war game.

She was reeling and more than a little torn over what to do. Taking the job was dangerous. Possibly career-destroying. But she could do some good for the world.

Good for herself.

Her side ached. But it wasn’t the physical pain that had her on edge.

She took a steadying breath. Gerard had wanted to wrap up negotiations on her contract today, but she’d insisted it would have to wait for tomorrow afternoon. She wouldn’t miss today’s bachelor and bachelorette party for anything.

That Freya was here to discuss the pros and cons of the job was a bonus.

Well, she knew the cons. Rabid fans harassing her after she exposed the ridiculousness of his theories. She’d never be able to work for Friday Morning Valkyries if her face became synonymous with Lost Civilizations. FMV’s work was covert. She would be tabloid fodder.

She glared at the bags stacked in the van, as if it was their fault she was in this mess.

“Coffee?” a male voice behind her asked.

She turned and met Lieutenant Jake Burns’ gaze as he earnestly held out a paper cup full of steaming liquid. She wanted to be grumpy at him because he was part of a world she loathed but was now ensnared in through her own actions, but her friends would—rightly—judge her harshly if she continued to be rude to their colleague.

She forced a smile and said, “Thank you.”

He nodded toward the table with the coffee service set out. “Cream and sugar is over there if you need it.”

“No. Thank you. This is perfect.” She took a sip and decided maybe the world wasn’t entirely awful. It would be even better if she could spike it with Irish Cream, but figured with paintball on the horizon, that was a bad idea.

Like her, Jake was dressed for a workout, wearing forest camouflage patterned sweatpants and a green hoodie to fight the early morning chill. He’d probably come here straight from bed given his mussed hair and jaw that was shadowed with an attractive stubble.

“Where did you run off to last night? Hot date?”

Staci met his gaze over the rim of the paper cup. He was a fan of Campbell and the last thing she wanted was to hear him sing the man’s praises.

Especially now.

He wants to use my credentials, my reputation, and my face to sell his sham of an expedition. And I’m going to let him.

Probably.

It wasn’t like she could tell Jake she intended to use her position to reveal the man was a fraud. He might be a member of the online fan groups and spill the beans. Make the fans hate her before filming even began.

SEALs knew how to keep their silence, but this wasn’t an op, not for him. No. It was his hobby. A lark.

For her, it was her life.

“Yeah. Hot date.”

“How’d it go?”

She sipped her coffee. Breathed in the warm aroma. Savored the taste. “Perfect.”

“Bummer.”

She raised a brow.

He shrugged. “I hoped this party might be an opportunity to change your opinion of me.”

“And what is my opinion of you?”

“Shallow. Egotistical. Not too bright.” He leaned in and whispered, “Hot as fuck. That one’s a fact, not an opinion, by the way.”

A sharp laugh erupted from her. “And confirms the egotistical part.”

He winked. “Yes, but my ego is supported by the facts.” He turned and walked—no, swaggered—away, giving her a prime view of his perfect ass and confirming that he was, in fact, hot as fuck.

She couldn’t wait to shoot him.

Pre-order to lock in the discounted price

The heroine of FLASE FLAG, Staci Allen, has never been on scene before, but she was briefly mentioned in TINDERBOX (also where we first meet Rand) and is again mentioned in DON'T LOOK BACK (Rand and Kira's story). Lieutenant Jake Burns is first mentioned--and is on scene--in DON'T LOOK BACK.

There is absolutely no need to read either TINDERBOX or DON'T LOOK BACK to enjoy FALSE FLAG, but if you like action, adventure, archaeology, history, and international settings, you'll love both.

TINDERBOX

• Named to Kirkus Reviews' Best Books of 2017
• 2018 HOLT Medallion Winner

While working on the Horn of Africa, archaeologist Morgan Adler's work and life are threatened, forcing her to make a desperate dash to a nearby US military base to beg for protection. Green Beret Pax Blanchard has orders to intercept Dr. Adler before she reaches the base, and in so doing saves her life, but his responsibilities toward protecting the woman have only just begun.

Morgan and Pax are forced to work together in the scorching desert heat, but it is the fire that ignites between them that threatens to consume them both. He protects her by day, but can he keep his hands off her when the sun goes down? One thing is certain, his job is no longer a matter of following orders, and he will risk everything to keep her safe.

DON'T LOOK BACK

Dive into a hot summer read as you travel to Malta with an art historian who is 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.

New Release Spotlight

He never thought he’d see her again. Fate had other plans.

Ten years ago, Victoria Kelly fled her husband and the Russian criminal underworld—the Bratva. Her dream of becoming a psychologist is finally about to come true, but her future hinges on leaving the past behind. So why can’t she forget one unfulfilled moment of passion with sexy Alexander Tarankov? He saved her life. Then vanished.

FBI Strike Force Agent Kyle Gates buries himself in his job, anything to ease the suffering that comes from deep loss…and guilt. Taking down the city’s newest Bratva leader is his sole focus. Until he runs headfirst into the woman he nearly died saving. She’s twice as beautiful now and a force to be reckoned with. Poignant memories resurface, igniting sparks that more than a decade of separation failed to extinguish. But as the ex-wife of a high-ranking Bratva he put in prison, she’s still a thousand percent off limits.

Despite their simmering passion, Kyle’s presence in Victoria’s life threatens everything she’s worked so hard to achieve. And hide. Working with him puts her back on the Bratva’s radar. When her obsessive ex tracks her down, Kyle’s priorities change. Now, keeping Victoria safe is the only thing that matters. To stay alive, they’ll have to confront dangers from the past and shocking truths that will either save them…or destroy them.

Free Audiobook Download

Click on the cover to download the first book in the Cold Justice series by one of my favorite people AND favorite authors! 😍

A COLD DARK PLACE by Toni Anderson

I hope you enjoyed the excerpt from FALSE FLAG! Be sure to pre-order to get it at a discount, the price will go up after release.

I must go now because I have dinner to make, which includes peeling a carrot, which is going to take a while...