Category Archives: Books

Abandoned in Death, Books, In Death, teasers

Abandoned in Death Teasers

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I apologize for the delayed teasers this go round. Life has been spinning fast for me since December 1, culminating in hip surgery 5 days ago. To make it up to you, I offer a bunch of teasers in one shot.

As always, these are little Easter eggs (to borrow a film term) you’ll find in the book, not spoilers or major plot points.

I re-read Abandoned this week to create my list and it’s a fun, fast read. I think you’ll enjoy it.

So here we go:

  • The memo has gone out: Don’t mess with Bella’s territory.
  • Eve and Peabody are diametrically opposed on body art.
  • Summer internships are interesting and flexible.
  • Eve may have an unsettling definition of Good Mom.
  • It’s been nearly 3 years????
  • Always choose a meditation mantra that fits.
  • Could the perfect lip color get the bad guy?
  • Eve finally expresses an interest in real estate her reasons fascinate Roarke.
  • Life is a balance: you’re too young for some things/too old for others.
  • We learn Peabody has laid conversational traps for her partner.

If your copy of Abandoned in Death already arrived, please do not discuss the book in the comments here. I will open the discussion thread early Tuesday morning.

Laura

Books, Excerpt, Nightwork

Nightwork excerpt

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It’s never too early to plan summer reading, is it? To whet your appetite a little, I’m pleased to present the excerpt from Nora’s summer book Nightwork, out May 24.

Here’s the official book description:

Harry Booth started stealing at nine to keep a roof over his ailing mother’s head, slipping into luxurious, empty homes at night to find items he could trade for precious cash. When his mother finally succumbed to cancer, he left Chicago—but kept up his nightwork.

Wandering from the Outer Banks to Savannah to New Orleans, he dons new identities and stays careful, observant, distant. He can’t afford to attract attention—or get attached. Still, he can’t help letting his guard down when he meets Miranda Emerson. But the powerful bond between them cannot last—because not all thieves follow Harry’s code of honor. Some pay others to take risks so they can hoard more treasures. Some are driven by a desire to own people the way they own paintings and jewels. And after Harry takes a lucrative job commissioned by Carter LaPorte, LaPorte sees a tool he can use, and decides he wants to own Harry.

The man is a predator more frightening than the alligators that haunt the bayou—and when he strongarms Harry into robbing a Baltimore museum, Harry abandons Miranda—cruelly, with no explanation—and disappears. But no matter what name he uses or where he goes, LaPorte casts a shadow over Harry’s life. To truly free himself, he must face down his enemy once and for all. Only then can he hope to possess something more valuable than anything he has ever stolen…

You’ll find Chapter 1 here. Enjoy!

Laura

Abandoned in Death, Books, Cover reveal, Excerpt, In Death

Abandoned in Death Excerpt

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A busy day on the blog — The Becoming discussion thread went live this morning and now I’ll share the excerpt from Abandoned in Death (out Feb 8 2022).

First, click HERE to see the cool cover reveal vid.

What’s Abandoned about you ask? Well here’s the official cover copy.

The woman’s body was found in the early morning, on a bench in a New York City playground. She was clean, her hair neatly arranged, her makeup carefully applied. But other things were very wrong—like the tattoo and piercings, clearly new. The clothes, decades out of date. The fatal wound hidden beneath a ribbon around her neck. And the note: Bad Mommy, written in crayon as if by a child.

Eve Dallas turns to the department’s top profiler, who confirms what seems obvious to Eve: They’re dealing with a killer whose childhood involved some sort of trauma—a situation with which Eve is all too familiar. Yet the clues suggest a perpetrator who’d be roughly sixty years old, and there are no records of old crimes with a similar MO. What was the trigger that apparently reopened such an old wound and sent someone over the edge?

When Eve discovers that other young women—who physically resemble the first victim—have vanished, the clock starts ticking louder. But to solve this case she will need to find her way into a hidden place of dim light and concrete, into the distant past, and into the cold depths of a shattered mind.

And now here’s a look at Chapter One.

You can pre-order Abandoned in Death from your favorite retailer.

TTP: https://bit.ly/3bhlYKs
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ekAJ11
B&N: https://bit.ly/33hJ9Qw
IndieBound: https://bit.ly/33hJgvq
BAM: https://bit.ly/33iiP8Q
Apple Books: https://apple.co/2RDSW0w
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3nQE8aX
Google: https://bit.ly/2ZGFytb
Audible: https://adbl.co/2RI1js5

Laura

Books, Conversation, Dragon Heart Legacy, reader discussions, The Becoming

The Becoming Discussion Thread

160 Comments

Today’s finally the day we learn more about Breen and Marco’s adventure. The Becoming, book 2 in The Dragon Heart Legacy, has landed in stores, on ereaders, on audio.

Here’s the place to discuss all things about The Becoming. Did you race through? Did you savor? Share all the thoughts in the comments.

And please be aware, spoilers are allowed in the space.

Laura

Book Chats, Books, Cover reveal, Nightwork

A Sunday Cover Reveal

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A surprise for this Sunday — I’m pleased to present the cover of Nora’s next summer book, Nightwork — out May 24, 2022.

Here’s the official cover copy:

Harry Booth started stealing at nine to keep a roof over his ailing mother’s head, slipping into luxurious, empty homes at night to find items he could trade for precious cash. When his mother finally succumbed to cancer, he left Chicago—but kept up his nightwork.

Wandering from the Outer Banks to Savannah to New Orleans, he dons new identities and stays careful, observant, distant. He can’t afford to attract attention—or get attached. Still, he can’t help letting his guard down when he meets Miranda Emerson. But the powerful bond between them cannot last—because not all thieves follow Harry’s code of honor. Some pay others to take risks so they can hoard more treasures. Some are driven by a desire to own people the way they own paintings and jewels. And after Harry takes a lucrative job commissioned by Carter LaPorte, LaPorte sees a tool he can use, and decides he wants to own Harry.

The man is a predator more frightening than the alligators that haunt the bayou—and when he strongarms Harry into robbing a Baltimore museum, Harry abandons Miranda—cruelly, with no explanation—and disappears. But no matter what name he uses or where he goes, LaPorte casts a shadow over Harry’s life. To truly free himself, he must face down his enemy once and for all. Only then can he hope to possess something more valuable than anything he has ever stolen…

US and Canadian readers can pre-order from the following links:

TTP: https://bit.ly/NightworkTTP
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3o16OzX (This link offers the option of the Hardcover or Kindle)
BN: https://bit.ly/3ENCP4I
IndieBound: https://bit.ly/2ZsjNk8
BAM: https://bit.ly/3ELzTFH
Apple: https://apple.co/2XRMFBT
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2XSvvEc
Google Play: https://bit.ly/3lQ5tJL
Audible: https://adbl.co/3i3jJxL

Please note that covers and ordering info for the UK/AU/NZ/IRE/SA and Europe will follow.

Laura

Dragon Heart Legacy, Excerpt, reader discussions, The Becoming

The Becoming excerpt

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I know you’ve been waiting for a peek at The Becoming, book 2 of The Dragon Heart Legacy, and that time has come!

First, the official description:

The world of magick and the world of man have long been estranged. But some – like Breen Siobhan Kelly – can walk between the two. She has just returned to Talamh, with her friend, Marco, who’s dazzled and disoriented by this realm–a place filled with dragons and faeries and mermaids (but no WiFi, to his chagrin). In Talamh, Breen is not the ordinary young schoolteacher he knew her as. Here she is learning to embrace the powers of her true identity. Marco is welcomed kindly by her people–and by Keegan, leader of the Fey. Keegan has trained Breen as a warrior, and his yearning for her has grown along with his admiration of her strength and skills.

But one member of Breen’s bloodline is not there to embrace her. Her grandfather, the outcast god Odran, plots to destroy Talamh–and now all must unite to defeat his dark forces. There will be losses and sorrows, betrayal and bloodshed. But through it, Breen Siobhan Kelly will take the next step on the journey to becoming all that she was born to be.

You’ll find the written excerpt here: The Becoming excerpt. And for the first time, we also have an early listen to the audio book: Audio excerpt.

Just 80 days until The Becoming is in stores on November 23. Enjoy!

Laura

Book Chats, Books, Legacy, reader discussions

Legacy discussion spot

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Legacy is on sale today! And here’s the place to discuss the book from start to finish.

A reminder of the cover copy:

Adrian Rizzo met her father for the first time when she was seven. It was the same day he nearly killed her mother, Lina.

A decade later, Adrian is as cool-headed and ambitious as her mother. They aren’t close, but they’re cordial as long as neither crosses the other. And then the vicious letters begin to arrive. While Lina dismisses the death threats as a routine part of her daughter’s growing celebrity, Adrian can’t help but find the vicious rhymes unsettling.

Year after year, they arrive with different postmarks, but the same menacing tone.

Sometimes it even seems like the terrifying messages are indeed routine, like nothing will come of them. Until the murders start, and the escalation begins.

Did you race through Legacy or savor it? Share all in the comments.

Laura

Cover reveal, Excerpt, Legacy, The Becoming

Legacy excerpt

26 Comments

I’m writing this post on Groundhog’s Day (though we’ve pretty much experienced THAT for 11 months, right?) and it looks like six more weeks of winter. But that doesn’t mean we can’t dream about reading under warm, sunny skies while sipping a cool beverage, right?

Unless, of course, you’re in the southern hemisphere and dream of cold days and warm cocoa.

Personally, I think Legacy (out May 23) fits the bill for any kind of reading experience and I’m pleased to share the first chapter.

The official cover copy reads:

Adrian Rizzo met her father for the first time when she was seven.  It was the same day he nearly killed her mother, Lina.

A decade later, Adrian is as cool-headed and ambitious as her mother. They aren’t close, but they’re cordial as long as neither crosses the other. And then the vicious letters begin to arrive.  While Lina dismisses the death threats as a routine part of her daughter’s growing celebrity, Adrian can’t help but find the vicious rhymes unsettling.

Year after year, they arrive with different postmarks, but the same menacing tone.

Sometimes it even seems like the terrifying messages are indeed routine, like nothing will come of them. Until the murders start, and the escalation begins.

You can find the excerpt here: Legacy.

Enjoy!

Laura