Blog Tour: GHOSTED by Lori Matsourani

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Lori Matsourani will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour. Also, the author has organized a Goodreads giveaway for the book: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/418301-ghosted.

When her fiancé’s infidelity prompts Bethany Hendren to map out a new path forward, her plans are disrupted by an unexpected encounter with Nick Dorsey, who convinces her to help search for the remains of a troubled eighteenth-century ghost. Nick is the handsome summer boyfriend who ghosted her years ago, and now he wants to rekindle their relationship.

Despite her reluctance to trust him, Bethany discovers he’s still the funny, caring person who captured her heart as a teen, but giving him a second chance is risky—it could lead to love and happiness or result in another devastating heartache.

Although Bethany wants a happily ever after with Nick, does she have the courage to trust him with her future?

Read an Excerpt

He walked toward her as though they were long-lost friends, and she half expected him to pull her into an embrace. Then she recognized the dark chocolate eyes behind the black-framed glasses and her stomach lurched.

Nick Dorsey. He’s Mrs. Snowden’s nephew?

“Aunt Margaret told me you were checking in today.”

Stunned, Bethany stepped backward, bumping into the edge of the desk as her heart thudded. A white-hot flush scorched every inch of her skin as she stared at Nick. Of all the people she could run into, it had to be the first guy to break her heart? And why did he have to be so handsome, with that bit of hair curling over his forehead and late-day stubble?

She inhaled deeply to rein in her composure, hating her can’t-catch-your-breath reaction to him, then dipped her chin in a neutral acknowledgment.

“Hello, Nick.”

His smile morphed into a full-on, lopsided grin. “It’s been ages since I’ve seen you. Ten years, I bet. Not since the summer Zach and I got our drivers’ licenses.”

Mrs. Snowden laid her hand on Nick’s shoulder. “Bethany is staying in the Howard Room. Can you help her with her bag?” Then, turning to Bethany, she said, “Come back down when you’re ready and I’ll give you a tour of the house.”

As Bethany followed Nick to the second floor, the pain, questions, and self-doubts she’d buried years ago reemerged, seeping into her belly like liquid concrete. The last thing she needed was Nick Dorsey invading her healing zone. It had taken her months to get over the summer romance they’d shared—and he’d abruptly ended—when they were teens. And even longer before she could bring herself to date again.

And now he was in her safe space.

About the Author:

Author Lori Matsourani is a romance addict. Give her stories with a touch of heartbreak and a spark of joy, and she’s happy. Throw in characters with a huge helping of heart and soul, and she’s up reading all night in romance heaven! While currently a Texas resident, Lori grew up near Baltimore and often draws on the historical flavor of Annapolis and Maryland’s Eastern Shore to inspire her story settings. She authored her first fiction story at twelve and has been hooked on writing ever since. Early on, her writing career focused on articles for magazines and newspapers before shifting to her first writing love—fiction. For Lori, connecting words to tell a story is like assembling a jigsaw puzzle, and she loves the challenge of creating every piece.

Website: https://lorimatsourani.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lori.matsourani
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lori.matsourani/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/lori_matsourani
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/lori-matsourani.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@lori.matsourani
X: https://x.com/LoriMatsourani
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alloriannam

Buy Links:

https://books2read.com/lorimatsourani
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F9XCPLYD/thewildrosepr-20
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ghosted-lori-matsourani/1147463084
https://books.apple.com/us/book/ghosted/id6746414091
https://wildrosepress.com/product/ghosted/

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Blog Tour: THE SPIRIT OF VANDERLAAN by Susan Harris Howell

THE SPIRIT OF VANDERLAAN

Susan Harris Howell

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GENRE:  Paranormal cozy mystery

 

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BLURB:

 

When beloved professor, Samantha Hayes, learns that her favorite four students live in as many of her old dorm rooms, she wonders how it happened and for what purpose. As she and her student entourage explore the possibilities, they uncover a death years ago and what appears to be the ghost of the dearly departed. All of this stirs up Samantha's long-held fear that she was responsible for that death, challenging all she thought she knew about herself and the work she holds dear. They must figure out what happened before Samantha gets fired for "dabbling in the paranormal."

 

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Excerpt Two:

 

Samantha reached out to hold Chess's shaking hand only to immediately regret it. The stickiness of dried blood would have made her recoil, but she refused to desert Chess, who squeezed her hand like a frightened child. So while Allie returned Chess’s skates and answered the questions of concerned friends, Samantha stayed put. She only hoped the pounding of her own heart would not attract attention and require an explanation.

 

Samantha quickly walked toward the women’s restroom, which, thankfully, was empty, went in, and locked the door. With deep, shaky breaths, and no longer fighting the tears, Samantha moved immediately to the sink where she scrubbed her hands vigorously, several times. She reached into her purse for her cell phone, scrolled quickly through her contacts, and tapped her thumb on the one she sought.

 

She took a deep breath when instructed to leave a message. “Debra, this is Samantha Hayes. Could you give me a call please? I need to talk to you.” She waited a moment, decided she had said all she needed to for now, then added, “Thanks,” before ending the call.

 

She continued to hold her cell, however, as she paced, all the while trying her best to take even, measured breaths. Think of something else. You’ve washed your hands. You’re safe. You'll talk to Debra when she calls back. Breathe. She was surprised that her reaction was this intense. The sight of blood had not frightened her this much in a long time.

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

I am a psychologist, speaker, and author of The Spirit of Vanderlaan, my debut novel released in December of 2024. This book is a fun, cozy, ghost story featuring a professor, Samantha Hayes, and her lively band of students who get caught up in solving a campus mystery. This book draws on my teaching career of over thirty years to capture the camaraderie and warmth between a professor and the assortment of personalities which inhabit her office.

 

I have also published extensively on equality between women and men. My first book, Buried Talents, explores the subtle ways women are discouraged from entering male-dominated occupations. Buried Talents was named a winner in InterVarsity Press’s 2022 Readers’ Choice Awards.

 

My husband and I have two grown children, a daughter-in-law, one adorable grandson, and an incorrigible beagle named Doc. While Doc doesn’t understand a word I say, he fully supports my books and their content.

 

 

Website: https://susanharrishowell.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/susan_h_howell/

Email List & Monthly Blog: https://susanharrishowell.substack.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/susanhowellwriter

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Susan-Harris-Howell/author/B09JL6T1RX?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1723819866&sr=8-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22175282.Susan_Harris_Howell

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/susan-harris-howell

 

 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Spirit-Vanderlaan-Samantha-Hayes-Book-ebook/dp/B0DHV65RM4?ref_=ast_author_dp

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-spirit-of-vanderlaan-susan-howell/1146282868?ean=9781509258888

 

 

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GIVEAWAY 

Susan Harris Howell will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.

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Blog Tour: AIRPLANES, ATLANTA, AND AN ASSASSIN by Mary Seifert

Katie & Maverick Cozy Mysteries, Book #10

Cozy Mystery

Date Published: 07-10-2025

Publisher: Secret Staircase Books

A National Competition and a Deadly Detour

High school teacher Katie Wilk is thrilled when her students qualify for Mock Trial America, a prestigious courtroom competition in Atlanta. Alongside her best friend and fellow teacher Jane Mackey, a team of eager teens, and a crew of devoted chaperones, Katie boards a flight from Minnesota—ready for a week of intellectual showdowns and Southern hospitality. But things go sideways before the plane is even off the ground.

With canceled flights, endless delays, and one particularly obnoxious passenger stirring up trouble, the trip turns into a logistical, almost deadly, nightmare. When that same rude traveler turns up later in Atlanta, the chaos takes a deadly turn—and suspicion lands squarely on the Mackey family.

As Katie digs deeper, she uncovers a web of secrets: stolen documents, corporate espionage, dangerous toxins, and enough motive to make her question everything. Can she untangle the truth before the killer strikes again?

Luckily, she’s got help—from Maverick, her sharp-nosed, loyal Labrador retriever and trained search-and-rescue dog, who’s always ready to sniff out danger.

Smart, suspenseful, and full of heart, this latest installment in Mary Seifert’s charming cozy mystery series delivers Southern intrigue, tricky puzzles, and the kind of dogged determination only a Lab (and a resolute teacher) can provide.

Review: A high school math teacher was on a class field trip with her students. Told in the diary voice of the main character, story has a bit of charm and wit as it takes a while to settle. The number of various characters thrown in here can be a little overwhelming and confusing. The read was generally pretty easy. I liked the set-up and the premise. The thing was that it was pretty slow. It just seemed like more and more characters were coming in, and the reader was just getting bogged down by endless dialogue. When were we going to find a dead body already? We usually already have a dead body within the first 2 chapters in a typical cozy mystery. Story didn’t quite get to me as much as I’d hoped, but it was still a decent and easy read.

Rating: 3 stars

About the Author

Mary Seifert is the author of the Katie and Maverick Cozy Mysteries 2024 International IMPACT Award winner for books in a series, a collection of fun and thrilling tales that will keep you on the edge of your seat! Her books, including the 2023 American Fiction Award finalist Maverick, Movies & Murder and the 2024 Chanticleer Murder and Mayhem finalist Santa, Snowflakes & Strychnine, are must-reads for cozy mystery fans who enjoy a good puzzle wrapped in a heartwarming story.

Set in the charming landscapes of West Central Minnesota, where the lakes begin and the criminals are caught, Mary’s stories transport readers to a world of intrigue, humor, and small-town charm. Each book is a delightful mix of suspense and warmth, featuring memorable characters, ingenious puzzles, and clever twists that keep you guessing until the very end.

Busy crafting her next mystery, Mary indulges in her love of research, currently studying the flora and fauna of the Nantahala National Forest and the magnetic call of Atlanta for the upcoming installment of her series. She believes that every great mystery starts with a curious mind and a love for uncovering the truth, but scrupulously scrubs her browsers history of any hint of crime.

Join Mary on her literary journey, where a good story is always paired with a cozy blanket, a glass of wine, and a touch of mischief!

Contact Links

Website

Facebook

Twitter "X": @mary_seifert

Blog

Goodreads

Instagram: @maryseifertauthor

Threads: @maryseifertauthor

LinkedIn: Mary KG Seifert

BlueSky: @mkgsei.bsky.social

Purchase Links

https://mybook.to/PlanesAtlantaAssassin

Amazon Kindle

Amazon: Paperback

Barnes and Noble

Kobo

Smashwords

ANGUS & ROBERTSON

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Spotlight: CHANCE MEETING by Christine Columbus

Genre: Rom-Com

Summary: Melody is fostering her niece while her sister, Captain Opal Erickson, is deployed to Kuwait. A chance meeting at work with Clayton, a construction manager, awakens feelings of the love and romance. Everything is perfect until Opal reveals a family truth and swears Melody to secrecy.

To honor her sisterly pledge, Mel attempts to reject any advances from Clayton, until he guesses the truth. Torn between loyalty to Opal and love for Clayton, she pours herself into work, making a mess of everything. When the dust settles, Mel is left wondering if she’ll be able to put the pieces of her life back together.

Author Bio: Eighteen years ago, while living in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and waiting for my ship to come in. I published several short stories and a novel with The Wild Rose Press. 

After that, I took an Adult Gap Year that lasted thirteen years. 

In 2024, I signed a contract with The Wild Rose Press for my sweetheart romance novel, Chance Meeting. 

I am excited to be back writing and looking forward to the release of Chance Meeting and sometime in 2025, I’d Rather Kiss You Goodnight.

Purchase links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Chance-Meeting-Christine-Columbus-ebook/dp/B0CW19SK79/

Social Media links: 

Website: https://discoverwithcolumbus.wordpress.com/

Review: THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL by J.C. Kenney

Can a lost pin help two lonely souls find their one true love? Kaitlin didn't want to go to the Christmas Parade. Michael didn't, either. But when their chance meeting along the parade route is brought to an abrupt and all-too-soon end, an angel steps in to bring them back together.

Kaitlin's beloved heirloom angel pin, to be more exact. Michael finds it on the ground after Kaitlin's gone. With only a name to go on, can he track her down to return the pin before the night ends, as he feels he must? Once she realizes it's gone, is there any chance she'll ever see it again? The only hope they have of finding each other and returning the pin to where it belongs rests with divine intervention and the absolute determination that only comes from true love.

Review: A genuine connection made at the Christmas parade. When she loses her special Angel pin and he finds it, it becomes a sweet tale of Cinderella as he tries to find her. A good holiday short to warm your heart! 

Rating: 4 stars