Book review: Innocent Bystander by CA Asbrey

Blurb:

Pinkerton Agent, Abigail MacKay is worried sick. Her wilful sister, Madeleine, has run off to marry a man whose rich wives mysteriously die. No doctor can establish a cause of death, but Abigail is sure they were murdered. The only person who can help her is the charismatic criminal she left in jail at their last meeting.

Nat Quinn isn’t happy either. He thought he had a special relationship with Abigail, despite them being on opposite sides of the law. He was the last man to see Madeleine before she disappeared, but he now knows the woman he loves has lied about her marriage.

Nat’s faithful lieutenant, Jake, is equally frustrated. He’s given the job of keeping the beautiful Madeleine out of the way. She doesn’t realize her protector is actually her kidnapper, and not her rescuer. Normally, he’d love to spend time alone with a beautiful woman, but Madeleine brings her own set of unique challenges. Can he resist her charms?

Throw in a set of ruthless journalists who’ll do anything to get the story, Nat’s merciless arch-enemy circling, and we have a mystery which stretches the scientific skills of our best enemies to the very limit.

My Review:

CA Asbrey is on a roll! Continuing in the tradition of the first two books, Innocent Bystander, the third installment in her The Innocents Mysteries series, hooks you from page one and doesn’t let up for a minute. This series has quickly cemented its place permanently on my favorite shelf and the characters own a piece of my heart!

Picking up shortly after Innocent as Sin left off, we’re immediately caught up into family drama and secrets, which orchestrates Abi entering into Nat and Jake’s world. This time though, the rules have changed, and no one is left unaffected. As before, I loved how the dynamics between the three play off the other and watching their relationships grow and bloom. We see a new side to Abi that’s endearing and are reminded that behind the charming smiles lies a formidable outlaw duo. They each play up the strengths of the others and together make an unbelievable team.

Many times I found myself giggling at the antics of the trio. Then I would turn the page and start feeling anxious, or excited, or cautious, or growly, or just flat out freaking out! There might even have been a moment where I sided with Jake on what was (or wouldn’t be…) for supper that night.

I have no idea how it happened, but while there was so much going on, each thread of the story weaved together beautifully and it never felt overwhelming or disorienting. Each piece built upon another, creating an intricate pattern. You can’t help but be amazed at how each thread was necessary to take the story to its fullest potential.

I have been absolutely delighted to find myself lost in this series and adore not only the engrossing story line, but the entertaining mystery and fascinating science (and I’m tickled I managed to retain something from high school science classes and could understand and piece together some of the science as it was being taught). If a historical western based mystery thriller with just the sweetest touch of a love story sounds even the slightest bit interesting to you, you want to invest in The Innocents books. 

Want some good news? There’s more coming….

Purchase Links:

Book Review: The Innocents by C. A. Asbrey

The Innocents - Mystery Series book 1
(and thank goodness there’s more coming!!)

Blurb:
Pinkerton Detective Abigail MacKay is a master of disguises—and of new crime-solving technology! But she’ll have to move fast to stay a step ahead of Nat Quinn and Jake Conroy.

Nat and Jake are the ringleaders of The Innocents, a western gang that specializes in holding up trains carrying payrolls—and Nat is pretty savvy when it comes to using the new sciences of 1868 in committing his crimes.

Charismatic Nat and handsome Jake are on the run, and they’ve always gotten away before—before Abi. But when Abi is caught by another band of outlaws during the chase, there’s no other choice for Nat and Jake but to save her life. Abi owes them, and she agrees to help them bring in the murderer of a family friend.

The web of criminal activity grows more entangled with each passing day, but Nat, Jake, and Abi are united in their efforts to find the murderer. Once that happens, all bets are off, and Abi will be turning Nat and Jake over to the law. But can she do it? She finds herself falling for Nat, but is that growing attraction real? Or is he just using her to learn more about the Pinkertons’ methods? Abi always gets her man—but she may have met her match in her “best enemies”—THE INNOCENTS.

My review:

If you're looking for a mystery to twist your mind, awesome dialogue that makes you legit laugh out loud, and characters to fall in love with… Look no further!!

The Innocents, the debut novel by C. A. Asbrey, fully delivers!

From the first page I was immediately captured and drawn deep into the story. My curiosity on who and what and how and when ensured that I remained tightly intrigued and invested. As it were, having to close the pages and be present in real life was difficult to accomplish. So... it didn't happen often. Ha! And even after the last page was complete I was diving back in to re-experience some of my favorite scenes.

Abi is quite the leading lady, with her wits, her strength, her passion, and her vulnerability. I'm not afraid to admit that I want to adopt some of the same tricks and traits that make her her. Especially that hair pin...

Nat. (happy sigh) Nat’s sense of honor, compassion, and humor endeared him to me. And whoever said being smart isn’t sexy? They haven’t encountered Nat. The way that man adored and pursued the challenge of being around Abi and taking on what he did had me melting… even through the few rough moments. He sure knows how to use his mind and turn up the charm and… never mind. If I say too much more I'll ruin it. Just trust me.

Jake. The muscle. Haha. Oh, Jake! His claim to loyalty, family, and his soft under the gruff scary exterior won my heart over. He had his own unique charm about him that made him the perfect partner to Nat, and one of the most adored characters in the story.

I loved how the words flowed off the page, weaving the world around me and bringing all the characters to life. I was laughing as much as I was sifting through all the clues to determine what was happening and who was going to do what next.

The Innocents is a delightfully unique story that will appeal to all readers. Whether you love a western or a mystery, with just a dash of heat thrown in, this will most definitely satisfy.

I was delighted to discover that it’s the first book in a series and that Abi, Nat, and Jake’s story is not over yet. I am most anxious to get the next book in my hands to see what journey C. A. Asbrey takes me (and you!) on next!

What are you waiting for?  Grab your copy here!

     

CALLS FOR SUBMISSION at Prairie Rose

In addition to accepting manuscript submissions for novels, novellas, and short stories whenever anyone wants to send them, Prairie Rose Publications currently seeks submissions for two anthologies and one series.

A Cowboy Celebration

Imprint: Prairie Rose Publications
Theme: love on the Fourth of July
Length: 10,000 to 15,000 words
Deadline: May 1, 2015
Heat: sweet to spicy (no erotica, please)

Fireworks, fried chicken, and true love…

What kind of Fourth of July cowboy celebration is going on at Prairie Rose Publications? Well, hold on to your Stetsons, because we’re bringing out another hot-as-a-firecracker bunch of stories that take place on American Independence Day.

This collection will contain some great Fourth of July stories for everyone, along with the mention of a “special recipe” in each story. The recipes will be included in the back of the book. We had great success with this in the past—and this time, we’re looking for a tasty dish that might be taken to a Fourth of July picnic. These will be western historical romance stories that have a happily-ever-after ending, just in time for an Independence Day release.

Rugged cowboys, daring heroines, and a Fourth of July holiday in the mix are a sure-fire way to get ready for a hot, hot summer.

Your story needs to include mention of a certain food, and the recipe will need to be submitted in a separate document for inclusion at the end of the book. Stories should be 10K-15K in length. Any heat level is fine for this anthology. (We do not publish erotica.)

Deadline for submissions is May 1, 2015.

Email the completed manuscript, along with a query letter (in the body of the email), to Editor in Chief Cheryl Pierson at prairierosepublications@yahoo.com. Please put COWBOY CELEBRATION SUBMISSION in the subject line.

Don't forget: All submissions must be in Times New Roman 12-point font, double-spaced, with one-inch margins.

We look forward to reading the best summer love stories you can dream up, featuring heart-stopping cowboys, saucy heroines, and whatever excitement you can create for them during A Cowboy Celebration.

Nine Deadly Lives: An Anthology of Feline Felonies

Imprint: Fire Star Press
Theme: Cozy mystery
Length: 6,000 to 8,000 words
Deadline: May 1, 2015

Cats...charming, lovable creatures or deadly, razor-clawed predators? This mixture of the sweet and the dangerous is one of the things that makes cats endlessly fascinating and appealing.

If you have a cozy mystery story featuring one or more of our feline friends, Fire Star Press wants to hear from you. Nine Deadly Lives, an anthology of cozy cat mysteries, is now open for submissions. Stories should be 6000 to 8000 words, with no graphic violence, sex, or language.

Deadline for submissions is May 1, 2015.

Submissions must be emailed as an attached Word document to Livia Reasoner at livia@flash.net.

We look forward to reading your submissions!

Duets Series

Imprint: Fire Star Press
Theme: The music of life and love
Length: 15,000 to 25,000 words
Deadline: November 1, 2015
Heat: sweet to spicy (no erotica, please)

Some song titles evoke memories not only of the song, but also of the time…the era…the place. They call for stories all their own, and at Fire Star Press they’ve inspired a new line of novella-length stories we’re calling “duets” because each book will contain two romantic tales.

Someone to Watch Over Me: 1940s—Paranormal

When you think of the song "Someone To Watch Over Me," you probably think of the comfort of a safe haven in the arms of your true love. But what if the “someone” was not what he or she appeared to be? What if he were a ghost from the past, or a figment of the future? What if she were an alien from another world or a shapeshifter? This novella duet lends itself to all kinds of intrigue. Stories should be set in the 1940s. We’re not looking for graphic horror or sex—just an “aha” moment and the inevitable decision: What will your hero or heroine do when they discover exactly who—or what—watches over them?

If I Loved You: 1950s—Misunderstood love

If I Loved You will contain two stories of misunderstood love set in the 1950s. This could be anything from a series of events that are misunderstood by one partner or the other to one big misunderstanding that could cloud the issue of a relationship forever. A man sees his intended bride kiss another man on the cheek and gaze into his eyes and calls off the wedding, only to discover later the man is her brother. A woman learns her boyfriend’s tumultuous break up with her happens because he’s found out some devastating news: He’s suffering from an illness that will take all his energy to battle, and he doesn’t want to burden her. The possibilities are endless.

This Magic Moment: 1960s—A revealing moment changes everything

This Magic Moment will contain two stories set in the 1960s, one of the most turbulent times in American history. "Free love," rock-and-roll, and the civil rights movement changed society daily. In these stories, a revelation changes everything. Maybe a civil rights worker must decide between his passion for his job and his passion for his woman. A Woodstock musician realizes the love he feels for his girlfriend is stronger than the music he makes with his band when he sees her leaving the festival. A preacher’s daughter becomes pregnant and her boyfriend, whom her parents despise, shows them what love truly is when he learns he’s going to be a dad. These are just a few examples of the kind of thing we’re looking for in This Magic Moment. What “magic moment” will drive your story?

Wonderful Tonight: 1970s—Can true love happen in just one night?

Eric Clapton's “Wonderful Tonight” tells the story of what happens to a couple in one single night. That’s what we’re looking for in this novella duet, set in the 1970s, with a twist. In the song, the couple has been together a while, but in these two stories, we are looking for tales about couples who may be barely acquainted, or maybe just met. An incident throws them into a situation where they find love. We’re not talking about just lust, but also a mutual caring that blossoms into the fragile beginnings of love between two people. These stories should be no hotter than spicy, given these parameters. We’re eager to see what kind of wonderful—or maybe not so wonderful—night brings your characters to the brink of true love.

I'm On Fire: 1980s—Unlikely love blossoms

Bruce Springsteen’s hit "I’m On Fire" is the inspiration for this duet of 1980s-set stories about love between two people who are a highly unlikely match. Remember Pretty Woman? Trading Places? The real-life romance of Prince Edward and Wallis Simpson? If you have a story about an interracial couple, a librarian and a party guy, a rock star and a schoolteacher, a wealthy heiress and her chauffeur—any unlikely pair for the decade—we’d love to see it. Make the story sizzle: This duet will be spicy to hot, but no erotica, please. What would make your hero or heroine say “I’m on fire”?

Wicked Game: 1990s—Circumstances aren’t always what they seem

Chris Isaak’s haunting hit “Wicked Game” makes us wonder about the things people will do for desire. The two stories in this volume will feature characters who do something they wouldn't ever have done ordinarily…but are driven to do for the love or desire of another person. Maybe the “wicked games” people play trap two people in a web of deceit. Perhaps a faulty news report threatens to destroy one or both lives, or maybe friends, family, or life itself conspire against the couple to keep them apart by playing one against the other. Could be the hero sets out to destroy the heroine for some reason, only to realize the object of his hatred is not the monster he thought she was.It’s up to you to determine the reasoning and rules for love’s Wicked Game.

If you have a novella-length story idea for one or more of the duet books, e-mail editor Cheryl Pierson at prairierosepublications@yahoo.com and let let her know your interest so she can plan accordingly and “pair up” potential stories. Please put DUETS INQUIRY in the subject line. Both published and un-published storytellers are welcome to submit.

Deadline for submissions is November 1, 2015.

The line will debut in 2016.

Here are today's burning questions:

 

Authors, which of the above sounds like the most fun?

 

Readers, what story would you like to see in any of the above? You just might inspire an author to write it!

A Murder Mystery

Post written and copyrighted by Doris McCraw

Most people think Colorado Springs, Colorado was always a nice resort town. The founding fathers didn't allow the manufacture of 'spirits', property owners needed to be of good moral character, and the company also donated land to build churches. After all General Palmer was a Quaker, even though he fought in the Civil War (on the Union side) as had been a POW. The town was all of the above and more.

Helen (Hunt) Jackson and Isabella Bird arrived in late1873. Neither had an instant love with this new town.

Around the same time of the arrival of the two illustrious ladies, there was a death that to this day has not been solved. Below are the 'facts'.

On November 3, 1873 W.H. (Judge) Baldwin met his demise by person or persons unknown. He may even have met that demise by his own actions.

His body was found in the well at Green and Stitzer’s slaughterhouse. After his body was recovered from the well, at 2 PM, it was noted that his pocket had been turned inside out and the money he that had been on his person the night before was missing. His horse was tied to the fence outside and his hat and shoes were found on the floor about five feet from the well. There was a bruise on his face near one eye. Those are the facts reported in the local paper about finding the body.

Here are additional facts which may have some bearing on the Judge Baldwin's death: The water in the well where the body was about five and a half feet deep and the well itself about four feet square.

The night before Baldwin was seen in town said to be intoxicated Others said he was slightly drunk. He said he was going home, which he may have meant his sheep ranch north and east of downtown Colorado Springs in the Templeton Gap area. Baldwin was seen leaving the Billiard Hall with a man name Blondin, but Blondin returned about 2 ½ hours later. Later Blondin was arrested for intoxication, but slipped away around daylight. (In 1873 the city did not have a jail.)

Also in late 1873 there was a movement to drive out all the 'liquor sellers’ in Colorado Springs. One woman after notice of Baldwin's death, wrote to the paper and said the following: 'Baldwin was generous to a fault, children recognized him as a friend but was the victim of a disease.' She also said ” if the vendor of liquor has sons, when he looks at them, let him think of the stop which was made unsteady by his hand, of the brain which was crazed, of the struggle in the bottom of the well… The poor man…was trying to reform”

The Root & Reef saloon had their court case thrown out on November 22. It seemed the witnesses who testified could not remember if the drank in the saloon or not. This was a contentious time in the growth of the new town.

Below is some additional information on the deceased. He was a ‘judge’ by virtue of judging a sheep contest at one of the territorial fairs. When drunk he would stand in the street and give speeches about General Jackson, the laws of the Constitution and the rights of man. After the elections in September of 1973 his new speech was “I’ll tell ye, boys, I’ll tell ya; I worked hard for ye, accordin’ to th’ rights o’ man and th’ laws o’ the Constitution. I’ll tell ye, boys —the New Town’s got it.”

There was also the story that he had been scalped in South America, and was ever ready to show the scar. He arrived in 1868 and started life here as a sheep herder. (Sheep were a major part of the early economy. I'll write more on that in another post). Later that same year he was shot in the leg and head by a band of Indians and left for dead. About four months before his death he had about 1,000 sheep but sold them to buy liquor. He also at the time of his death had a ranch worth about $1,000.

To this day there is speculation as to what really happened that night of November 3, 1873. Many of the facts are probably lost to time. The town was new and trying to establish itself as a wonderful place to live. Was it a conspiracy, murder or just an accident. We may never know, but the story is a fascinating one.

To follow my haiku: http://fivesevenfivepage.blogspot.com 

“Film and Photography on the Front Range” (Regional History Series): Colorado Springs, CO. Pikes Peak Library District 2012