Showing posts with label 2023. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2023. Show all posts

Sunday, December 31, 2023

End of 2023


2023 was a year... right?

I feel like a broken record lamenting the woes of creative burnout, but when it strikes, it really can take months, even years, to get over. There's no trick or shortcut, either—it's just something to work through, a time to remember to be kind to yourself, and to take creative pleasures where you can find them! Thankfully, I've been discovering my mojo again in the month of December and I'm confident it'll carry me through 2024.

And I can't wait to show you all what's been brewing on my mental back burners! In the meantime, here's a roundup:

Novels:
Broadway Butchery (Memento Mori: Book Three) | Ebook & Paperback

Audiobooks:
Subway Slayings (Memento Mori: Book Two) | narrated by Kale Williams 

Broadway Butchery (Memento Mori: Book Three) | narrated by Kale Williams

Translations:
Le Mystère du kinétoscope (Snow et Winter: T3) | French, Mnemosyne Lit.

Le Mystère des ossements (Snow et Winter: T4) | French, Mnemosyne Lit.

Le Mystère des esprits (Snow et Winter: T5) | French, Mnemosyne Lit.

À la poursuite de l’Ingénieur (De Magie et de Vapeur: T1) | French, MxM Bookmark

Sur les traces du Gangster (De Magie et de Vapeur: T2) | French, MxM Bookmark

Das Geheimnis der Kuriositäten (Snow und Winter: Buch 2) | German, dead soft verlag

Il mistero del corvo (Snow & Winter: Vol. 1) | Italian, Triskell Edizioni

Reads: December, 2023


We're finishing off the year with only two books I found time to review, but oh God did I love, love, love them both! Check them out:

Christmas Below Stairs by Ellie Thomas

Why the Devil Stalks Death (Death and the Devil: Book Two) by L.J. Hayward

I cross-post my reviews at Goodreads and BookBub and would love for you to give a follow into the New Year!

Friday, December 8, 2023

Sale: Mystery-romance audio at Kobo


C.S. Poe mystery-romance audiobooks are on sale, only at Kobo! From December 8 - 11, the following titles are $3.99 in the United States and $4.99 in Canada:

Snow & Winter:
1. The Mystery of Nevermore, nar. Derrick McClain
2. The Mystery of the Curiosities, nar. Derrick McClain
3. The Mystery of the Moving Image, nar. Wyatt Baker
4. The Mystery of the Bones, nar. Wyatt Baker
5. The Mystery of the Spirits, nar. Wyatt Baker

Standalone:
Southernmost Murder, nar. Wyatt Baker

Happy listening!

Sale: À la poursuite de l’Ingénieur

À la poursuite de l’Ingénieur (De Magie et de Vapeur 1) is on sale! Until December 31, 2023, the French edition of The Engineer (Magic & Steam: Book One) is 2,99€ with all online retailers, courtesy of Editions Bookmark! Check out the sale here!

Blurb: 1881. L’agent spécial Gillian Hamilton est un sorcier qui travaille pour l’Agence fédérale de la Magie et de la Vapeur.

Il est envoyé à Shallow Grave, en Arizona, pour appréhender un ingénieur fou – connu sous le nom du Bricoleur – qui est à l’origine de l’explosion de la moitié de Baltimore. Gillian s’est occupé de certains des pires criminels de l’histoire de l’Agence, cette mission devrait donc se dérouler sans accroc. Il est toutefois déconcerté par une altercation avec le hors-la-loi le plus célèbre du pays, Gunner le Mortel.

Gunner traque également le Bricoleur, qui ne reculera devant rien pour prendre le contrôle des mines d’argent de la ville. Ni Gillian ni Gunner ne sont prêts à le laisser blesser d’autres innocents, alors ils conviennent d’un partenariat très temporaire.

Si le fait d’être confronté à une pratique illégale de la magie, à des mitrailleuses Gatling et à un ingénieur imprévisible à la frontière américaine n’était pas assez problématique pour un citadin, Gillian doit aussi admettre qu’il apprécie beaucoup son associé.

Mais même s’ils survivent à cette aventure, Gillian craint que l’amour entre un agent spécial et un hors-la-loi n’ait aucune chance.

Tuesday, December 5, 2023

Sale: Color of You


Color of You (A Lancaster Story: Book Three) is on sale! Until December 31, 2023, only at Kobo, take advantage of a great discount on both the ebook and audio for this sweet and spicy, small town holiday romance with opposites attracting and a single father.

The ebook is $1.99 in US and CA and the audiobook, narrated by Greg Boudreaux, has been heavily discounted in US, UK, CA, AU, and NZ. Check out the sale here!

Blurb: Bowen Merlin—yes, that’s his real name—accepts a position in the quaint town of Lancaster, New Hampshire, as the high school band director. He leaves New York City for the snowy countryside of New England just in time for the holidays. With class, homework, after-school activities, and a surprise Christmas concert to plan and rehearse, Bowen is plenty busy. And since he’s never had much luck with romance, factoring in time to find Mr. Right isn’t a priority.

Until he meets the proprietor of Snowy Ridge Apple Orchard, Felix Hansen. Suddenly, true love seems like a possibility for the first time in Bowen’s life. The two are a perfect match and fill the skipped beats of each other’s hearts. But as wonderful as Felix seems, he’s harboring old scars that could bring an end to their budding relationship after someone in town goes to great lengths to sabotage their careers.

If Bowen is to survive, he’ll need to lean on old friends and new, convince Felix he’s worth any hardship, and prove they can come out of the catastrophe stronger if they do so together.

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

Reads: October, 2023


We're one month closer to the end of 2023, and while I didn't get much of a chance to write reviews for October (GRL was a blast but there's so much pre and post work for that event!) I do have two fantastic books to share.

The Girl in the Wind (Iron on Iron: Book Two) by Gregory Ashe

Zero Control (Got Your Six: Book One) by Trina Lane

I cross-post at both Goodreads and BookBub, so if you enjoy these reviews or just want to be friends, give me a follow!

Sunday, October 1, 2023

Reads: September, 2023


Another month is in the can and I've got a few reads and reviews to share!

Where Death Meets the Devil (Death and the Devil: Book One) by L.J. Hayward

Death and the Devil, The Novellas by L.J. Hayward

What Would Mrs. Astor Do?: The Essential Guide to the Manners and Mores of the Gilded Age by Cecelia Tichi

As always, I cross-post to Goodreads and BookBub and welcome new followers!

Friday, September 29, 2023

Translation: Il mistero del corvo

The Italian release of The Mystery of Nevermore (Snow & Winter: Book One) is now available and entitled, Il mistero del corvo!

Blurb: È Natale a New York, e Sebastian Snow desidera solo che gli affari vadano bene e che la sua relazione con Neil Millett, un detective della Scientifica non ancora dichiarato, riesca a sopravvivere alle loro continue crisi. Ma quando qualcuno si introduce nel suo negozio, l’Antique Emporium, e lascia un cuore sotto le assi del pavimento, Sebastian si lascia prendere dalla curiosità e comincia a ficcare il naso in giro, determinato a risolvere il mistero.

Ben presto si trova quindi invischiato in un’indagine su una serie di delitti che riecheggiano i macabri scritti di Edgar Allan Poe. Mentre la sua relazione con Neil va in frantumi, Sebastian comincia a subire il fascino di Calvin Winter, il detective incaricato del caso.

Riusciranno i due a ignorare la reciproca attrazione e a trovare l’assassino prima che Sebastian diventi la prossima vittima?

Publisher: Triskell Edizioni
Series: Snow & Winter
Book #: 1

| Amazon | iBooks | Google Play | Kobo | Triskell Edizioni |

Wednesday, September 27, 2023

Audio: Broadway Butchery


Broadway Butchery (Memento Mori: Book Three) is now available at Amazon, Audible, and iTunes!

Narrator: Kale Williams
Length: 8 hours, 10 minutes

Blurb: The Cold Case Squad of the NYPD is overworked, understaffed, but receiving great press due to star detective Everett Larkin. His uncanny memory and Holmesian-like skills of deduction have already led to the capture of one serial killer. Now he’s identified a second predator and brought an end to their 20-plus-year reign of terror.

Routine construction at a Broadway souvenir shop leads to the discovery of a mummified woman in the wall. And when Larkin receives a mysterious VHS tape that same night, he knows it’s no coincidence. Expecting a Victorian mourning artifact to surface in this new mystery, Larkin wastes no time turning to boyfriend Ira Doyle of the Forensic Artists Unit for help.

A web of nameless victims, countless suspects, and endless lies drag Larkin and Doyle deep into the gritty past of Times Square, reopening painful wounds and testing the fortitude of their relationship. And all the while, someone is watching, biding their time until they can make Everett Larkin nothing…but a memory.

Translation: Sur les traces du Gangster

The French release of The Gangster (Magic & Steam: Book Two) is now available, entitled: Sur les traces du Gangster!

Blurb: Alors que l’agent spécial Hamilton est partagé entre son devoir et sa relation avec un hors-la-loi, l’arrivée d’un nouveau gangster ne va pas faciliter sa vie déjà chaotique.

1881. L’agent spécial Gillian Hamilton, sorcier travaillant pour le Bureau fédéral de la magie et de la vapeur, s’est remis des blessures subies à Shallow Grave, en Arizona. De retour à New York, à la veille du Nouvel An, il obtient des informations sur un gangster, connu uniquement sous le nom de l’Horloger, qui a perfectionné l’utilisation de munitions à base de magie élémentaire. Ce cas complique ses projets personnels, en particulier ceux de fêter le Nouvel An avec le célèbre hors-la-loi, Gunner le Mortel.

Mais lorsque sa résidence est cambriolée par un androïde magique qui tente de l’assassiner pour le compte de l’Horloger, lui et Gunner doivent immédiatement enquêter sur les impitoyables gangs de rue de la ville avant que la pratique illégale de la magie ne devienne une menace incontrôlable.

Cette aventure est peut-être la plus folle qu’ils aient vécue jusqu’à présent, et Gillian doit trouver un équilibre entre sa carrière et son amour pour un justicier, sous peine de les perdre tous les deux.

Publisher: MxM Bookmark
Series: De Magie et de Vapeur
Book #: 2

| Amazon | iBooks | Google Play | Kobo | Vivlio | 7Switch |

Friday, September 1, 2023

Reads: August, 2023


This month I've got reviews of several new and fantastic reads, as well as some older (but also wonderful!) books I never wrote reviews for way back when and am now rectifying.

Rogues' Gallery: The Birth of Modern Policing and Organized Crime in Gilded Age New York by John Oller

Custody Battles (Hazard and Somerset: Arrows in the Hand: Book Two) by Gregory Ashe

Redirection (Borealis: Without a Compass: Book Three) by Gregory Ashe

Town Bronze by Ellie Thomas

The Face in the Water (Iron on Iron: Book One) by Gregory Ashe

As always, I cross-post at Goodreads and BookBub and would love for new followers!

Thursday, August 31, 2023

Translation: Le Mystère des esprits

The French release of The Mystery of the Spirits (Snow & Winter: Book Five) is now available in French as Le Mystère des esprits!

Blurb: Mystère, meurtre et mariage… Sebastian est de retour.

Sebastian Snow et Calvin Winter, antiquaire et inspecteur à la Criminelle, coulent des jours heureux depuis leur mariage, un an et demi plus tôt. Pas l'ombre d'un mystère n'a bousculé leur quotidien durant ces nombreux mois et pour un accroc du suspens en voie de guérison tel que Sebastian, cette vie sans histoire est exactement ce dont il avait besoin.

Jusqu'au jour où le lieutenant de Calvin met les pieds à l'Emporium et exige de sa part un compte-rendu sur un objet connu sous le nom de spiritoscope, tout droit sorti des premiers élans du spiritualisme. Au vu de ses connaissances dans le domaine des curiosités de l'ère victorienne, Sebastian offre ses talents de consultant aux forces de l'ordre new-yorkaises et se retrouve, par la même occasion, en porte-à-faux avec son mari.

Pourtant, le nombre de cadavres augmente au même rythme que les indices qui semblent ne les mener nulle part et si Sebastian n'arrive pas à en tirer quelque chose, le résultat pourrait être d'autant plus catastrophique.

Publisher: Mnemosyne Lit.
Series: Snow & Winter
Book #: 5

| Amazon | iBooks | Kobo | Scribd | Smashwords | Vivlio |

Friday, August 25, 2023

Sale: Madison Square Murders 99c

Madison Square Murders (Memento Mori: Book One) is on sale! Ebook copies can be picked up in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia for only 99c from August 25 to 28.

This sale is live at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, iBooks, and Kobo. And if you're an audio fan, don't overlook Kale Williams's narration available at Amazon, Audible, and iTunes!

Blurb: Everett Larkin works for the Cold Case Squad: an elite—if understaffed and overworked—group of detectives who solve the forgotten deaths of New York City. Larkin is different from others, but his deduction skills are unmatched and his memory for minute details is unparalleled.

So when a spring thunderstorm uproots a tree in Madison Square Park, unearthing a crate with human remains inside, the best Cold Case detective is assigned the job. And when a death mask, like those prominent during the Victorian era, is found with the body, Larkin requests assistance from the Forensic Artists Unit and receives it in the form of Detective Ira Doyle, his polar opposite in every way.

Factual reasoning and facial reconstruction puts Larkin and Doyle on a trail of old homicide cases and a murderer obsessed with casting his victims’ likeness in death. Include some unapologetic flirting from Doyle, and this case just may end up killing Everett Larkin.

Wednesday, August 2, 2023

Reads: July, 2023


I only wrote a single, long overdue review in July because the entire month was eaten up by my moving to a new apartment! I hope to enjoy some books and get some new reviews written this August.

The Keeper of Bees (Hazard and Somerset: A Union of Swords: Book Five) by Gregory Ashe

And don't forget, I cross-post at Goodreads and BookBub and welcome new reader friends and followers!

Sale: 3 Kobo Audiobooks $20

For the entire month of August, I have 8 audiobooks for sale at Kobo that are part of their Buy More, Save More, event! Grab 3 C.S. Poe titles and pay only $20—the discount being automatically applied at checkout. This steal is available in: the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

This BMSM includes:

Southernmost Murder - Amateur sleuth Aubrey Grant and FBI Agent boyfriend Jun Tanaka solve a pirate-themed murder mystery in Old Town, Key West. Narrated by: Wyatt Baker

11:59 - Monster hunter Asuka Kawashima makes a deal with the devil to save New York City, Merrick Grace, and his own ability to dream. Narrated by: Wyatt Baker

Color of You (A Lancaster Story) - Small town high school band director Bowen Merlin starts a relationship with apple orchard owner Felix Hansen, who is also the single father of his star pupil. Narrated by: Greg Boudreaux

The Mystery of Nevermore - Spirits (Snow & Winter) - Amateur sleuth and antique dealer Sebastian Snow solves a number of Victorian-American themed murder mysteries in New York City, with the aid of his homicide detective boyfriend Calvin Winter. Narrated by: Derrick McClain (Books 1 - 2) and Wyatt Baker (Books 3 - 5)

Check out my landing page here for all of my audio available at Kobo!

Saturday, July 1, 2023

Sale: 25% off at Smashwords

For the entire month of July, select C.S. Poe titles are 25% off, only at Smashwords! If you were thinking of starting any of my series like Magic & Steam, Memento Mori, or Snow & Winter, you can pick up the first title in each for 25% off. Check out my profile here for all of the books on sale.

The Engineer (Magic & Steam: Book One) - 1881—Special Agent Gillian Hamilton is a magic caster with the Federal Bureau of Magic and Steam. He’s sent to Shallow Grave, Arizona, to arrest a madman engineer known as Tinkerer, who’s responsible for blowing up half of Baltimore. Gillian has handled some of the worst criminals in the Bureau’s history, so this assignment shouldn’t be a problem. But even he’s taken aback by a run-in with the country’s most infamous outlaw, Gunner the Deadly.
Gunner is also stalking Shallow Grave in search of Tinkerer, who will stop at nothing to take control of the town’s silver mines. Neither Gillian nor Gunner are willing to let Tinkerer hurt more innocent people, so they agree to a very temporary partnership.

If facing illegal magic, Gatling gun contraptions, and a wild engineer in America’s frontier wasn’t enough trouble for a city boy, Gillian must also come to terms with the reality that he’s rather fond of his partner. But even if they live through this adventure, Gillian fears there’s no chance for love between a special agent and outlaw.

Based on the short story, "Gunner the Deadly." Entirely revised, newly expanded, and Book One in the exciting new steampunk series, Magic & Steam.

Madison Square Murders (Memento Mori: Book One) - Everett Larkin works for the Cold Case Squad: an elite—if understaffed and overworked—group of detectives who solve the forgotten deaths of New York City. Larkin is different from others, but his deduction skills are unmatched and his memory for minute details is unparalleled.

So when a spring thunderstorm uproots a tree in Madison Square Park, unearthing a crate with human remains inside, the best Cold Case detective is assigned the job. And when a death mask, like those prominent during the Victorian era, is found with the body, Larkin requests assistance from the Forensic Artists Unit and receives it in the form of Detective Ira Doyle, his polar opposite in every way.

Factual reasoning and facial reconstruction puts Larkin and Doyle on a trail of old homicide cases and a murderer obsessed with casting his victims’ likeness in death. Include some unapologetic flirting from Doyle, and this case just may end up killing Everett Larkin.

The Mystery of Nevermore (Snow & Winter: Book One) - It’s Christmas in New York City, and all antique shop owner Sebastian Snow wants is for his business to make money and to save his floundering relationship with closeted CSU detective, Neil Millett. But when Snow’s Antique Emporium is broken into and a heart is found under the floorboards, Sebastian can’t let the mystery rest.

He soon finds himself caught up in murder investigations that echo the macabre writings of Edgar Allan Poe. To make matters worse, Sebastian’s sleuthing is causing his relationship with Neil to crumble, while at the same time he’s crushing hard on the lead homicide detective of the case, Calvin Winter. Sebastian and Calvin must work together to unravel the mystery behind the killings, despite the mounting danger and sexual tension, before Sebastian becomes the next victim.

In the end, Sebastian only wants to get out of this mess alive and live happily ever after with Calvin.

Reads: June, 2023


I briefly fell off the wagon of reading and writing reviews for new and old titles alike... and by briefly, I mean, since February. Yikes! But I'm back with some recommendations and hope these might be of interest to my fellow readers.

The Persistence of Memory (Mnevermind: Book One) by Jordan Castillo Price

Forget Me Not (Mnevermind: Book Two) by Jordan Castillo Price

Life is Awesome (Mnevermind: Book Three) by Jordan Castillo Price

Last Call: A True Story of Love, Lust, and Murder in Queer New York by Elon Green

London in the Rain by Ellie Thomas

Another Chance for Love by Ellie Thomas

A Trick of the Light by Ellie Thomas

As always, I cross-post to both Goodreads and BookBub and love new followers!

Cover Reveal: The Councilman


Gillian Hamilton and Gunner the Deadly return this December in The Councilman! I'm thrilled to be back in this exciting steampunk world and am deep in the research required for Book 4. The official blurb will be released later, but for now I'm sharing the cover art and pre-order links.

Pre-order Links: books2read.com/TheCouncilman
Release Date: December 14, 2023
Series: Magic & Steam
Book #: Four
Cover Artist: Reese Dante
Audiobook Narrator: Declan Winters

Add to your Goodreads bookshelf today!

Friday, June 23, 2023

Soundtrack: Broadway Butchery


Broadway Butchery
is live! Larkin and Doyle's latest mystery was a doozy of a project—to say the least—but I'm pretty happy with the end result. And like I do with all writing, I obsessively listen to the same dozen songs over and over and over until the book is complete. Here's the soundtrack for Book 3:

 


NOT OK - Robert Grace



Arcade - Duncan Laurence



Love Again - Dua Lipa



Little Girl Gone - Chinchilla



Die Happy - Dreamers



The Search - NF



Sunset Jesus - Avicii



Achilles, Come Down - Gangs of Youth



Spillways - Ghost



Throne - Bring Me The Horizon