Lily Cranston couldn’t be happier with the way her life has turned out thus far. Managing the Calico Rock Mine and Ghost Town in her hometown of Grady, California is a dream come true. Employed by the city she and her sisters grew up in gives her a sense of belonging and stability. Like a well-oiled machine, the work of her faithful and dedicated staff allows her to spend more time with her hunky boyfriend, CSI Cody West. Life is finally looking up…until the night she finds the body of an apparent hitman on the side of the road! As if that weren’t bad enough, in his pocket is her sister’s name and address.
Has someone really put a hit out on sweet, lovable Ava? To keep her sister safe, Lily must once again use her sleuthing skills to unlock the mystery. Her search for answers takes her on a journey filled with family secrets, ghost seekers, organized crime, and more suspects than she can count. As the possibilities mount without any clear answers, time may be running out for more than just one of the Cranston sisters.
Hello! I have so much to tell you. If you haven’t heard, book one of the Ghost Town Mystery series is free on Kindle and B&N for a limited time. So, if you haven’t gotten a copy of Murder at the Mine go get one now!
Book three, Showdown at the Saloon will be available Tuesday, January 16th. Book four, Cornered at the Corral will be out in May. Take a look at the cover. It’s one of my favorites from the series.
I appreciate all the support and encouragement I’ve received while working on these books. It’s been so much fun creating the Cranston sisters and the community. Sounds like a great place to live.
By the way, how’s the weather where you live? The high today here in the Ozarks is 7 with snow in the forecast. Sounds like good reading or writing weather to me! Wherever you are, stay warm!
I love this time of year. There’s just something in the air that makes me want to curl up in my favorite chair and read a good book. The temperature outside is finally bearable and the ‘ber’ months promise a special time for family and friends. Which one do you like best? Halloween, Thanksgiving, or Christmas?
I like Thanksgiving the best. Now don’t hate me, but my husband is an amazing cook and does all of our holiday cooking (and any other meal). Thanksgiving for me is a good book, no stress, and too much food. Let me know which holiday you like best and why. I’ll put your name in a drawing for an ebook of Murder and the Mine AND Homicide at High Noon.
Want to see the cover for book three in the Ghost Town Mysteries series Showdown at the Saloon? I’ll be posting it today on my Facebook author page. https://www.facebook.com/JamieLAdamsauthorpage
Book two in The Ghost Town Mysteries came out last week and is ready to read. I appreciate all the support and great reviews. The Cranston sisters have been so much fun to create and write about. If there were such a place as Grady, California I would love to live there. The next book in the series, Showdown at the Saloon, is finished and will be coming out in 2024. There will be a cover reveal in my next newsletter.
Blurb:
Lily Cranston is soaring high as the manager of the Calico Rock Mine and Ghost Town in Grady, California. Cash is finally flowing in and improvements to the theme park, like the new zipline, are drawing crowds. Even Lily’s previously stalled love life seems to be heading on the right track with CSI Cody West. But all that comes to a halt when the park’s board of directors suddenly comes to Lily with accusations of embezzlement! Someone’s had their fingers in the till and all eyes are on her. To make matters worse, before Lily even has a chance to prove her innocence, murder strikes her small town!
Melvin J. Rinehart is the arrogant, browbeating bank auditor who’s determined to prove Lily has been stealing from the ghost town. But when Lily arrives at his office to set him straight, she finds someone’s beat her to it—killing the man before Lily has a chance to plead her case! Now not only is Lily in danger of facing embezzlement charges, but she’s also a prime murder suspect. Even her family and new boyfriend in law enforcement may not be enough to keep Lily out of jail. She’s worked too hard to lose it all, so Lily puts her skills to the test to find the real guilty party, uncovering shocking truths and unscrupulous practices along the way. Will she be able to find the missing money and the killer before it’s too late? Or will her time run out as the killer sets their sights on her…
Hello! I’m so excited to be able to share some of the things that are happening in my world with all of you. If you follow me almost anywhere on the internet you already know – Homicide at High Noon will be available on 9/12. Book two of the Ghost Town Mysteries series was so fun to write. If you hop over to my author’s page on Facebook you can enter to win a Kindle copy of the book. https://www.facebook.com/JamieLAdamsauthorpage
Here’s some more news just for my newsletter readers: my publisher has requested two additional books be added to the three-book series. Books one, two, and three are finished. (I’ll share more about on third book in October’s newsletter) I’m working on book four now.
I’ll have more to share later. For now, let me leave you with this – tell me what is your favorite time of year?
I love the fall. I grew up in California near the ocean and we didn’t have ‘seasons’. It wasn’t until I went to college out of state that I discovered scenery changes. The older I get the more I love the time of year when the leaves change, the weather is cooler and there’s a feeling of celebration in the air.
Coming soon: Book News and Clues newsletter where I will share recipes from The Ghost Town Mystery series and clues that will allow you to win prizes.
Book one of the series: Murder at the Mine is available now. Book two, Homicide at High Noon will be available on September 12th.
Murder at the Mine
Lily Cranston is eager to return to her hometown and get a do-over on life. She’ll be among old friends, with a loving family, and as the new manager of the Calico Rock Mine and Ghost Town, she’s excited to take on the challenge of turning the old west town back into the premier tourist destination she remembers from her childhood. But Lily’s happy homecoming takes an unexpected turn when one of the Calico Rock re-enactors turns up dead—murdered in the ghost town!
Bill Stevens was anything but beloved to the staff and volunteers at the Calico Rock Mine. Womanizer, liar, and cheat are all words Lily finds being used to describe the dead man. But when one of Lily’s old friends suddenly emerges as the number one suspect, Lily finds herself digging into the dead man’s past…and finding secrets buried deeper than the old mine itself! While her Chief of Police brother-in-law, and the handsome CSI who is a close family friend—and possibly becoming more than just a friend—both warn Lily off the case, she’s determined to prove her friend innocent and unmask the real killer. Can she solve the mystery, save her friend, and stay alive? Or will the ghost town claim another victim…
Lily Cranston is soaring high as the manager of the Calico Rock Mine and Ghost Town in Grady, California. Cash is finally flowing in and improvements to the theme park, like the new zipline, are drawing crowds. Even Lily’s previously stalled love life seems to be heading on the right track with CSI Cody West. But all that comes to a halt when the park’s board of directors suddenly comes to Lily with accusations of embezzlement! Someone’s had their fingers in the till and all eyes are on her. To make matters worse, before Lily even has a chance to prove her innocence, murder strikes her small town!
Melvin J. Rinehart is the arrogant, browbeating bank auditor who’s determined to prove Lily has been stealing from the ghost town. But when Lily arrives at his office to set him straight, she finds someone’s beat her to it—killing the man before Lily has a chance to plead her case! Now not only is Lily in danger of facing embezzlement charges, but she’s also a prime murder suspect. Even her family and new boyfriend in law enforcement may not be enough to keep Lily out of jail. She’s worked too hard to lose it all, so Lily puts her skills to the test to find the real guilty party, uncovering shocking truths and unscrupulous practices along the way. Will she be able to find the missing money and the killer before it’s too late? Or will her time run out as the killer sets their sights on her…
Murder at the Mine Ghost Town Mysteries book #1
Lily Cranston is eager to return to her hometown and get a do-over on life. She’ll be among old friends, with loving family, and as the new manager of the Calico Rock Mine and Ghost Town, she’s excited to take on the challenge of turning the old west town back into the premier tourist destination she remembers from her childhood. But Lily’s happy homecoming takes an unexpected turn when one of the Calico Rock re-enactors turns up dead—murdered in the ghost town!
Bill Stevens was anything but beloved to the staff and volunteers at the Calico Rock Mine. Womanizer, liar, and cheat are all words Lily finds being used to describe the dead man. But when one of Lily’s old friends suddenly emerges as the number one suspect, Lily finds herself digging into the dead man’s past…and finding secrets buried deeper than the old mine itself! While her Chief of Police brother-in-law, and the handsome CSI who is a close family friend—and possibly becoming more than just a friend—both warn Lily off the case, she’s determined to prove her friend innocent and unmask the real killer. Can she solve the mystery, save her friend, and stay alive? Or will the ghost town claim another victim…
My newest book, The Welcome Wagon will be available on July 15th. I’m so excited to tell you about my soon-to-be new release. Set in the beautiful Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, this historical fiction romance was fun to write. After an unimaginable tragedy strikes, a group of women learn the value of community and trusting in God.
When a wagon train is attacked leaving women and children alone and vulnerable, churches throughout the Ozarks take them in. Maggie Lynn and her wards, along with three other women, end up in an out-of-the-way town in Arkansas. Maggie has seen her fair share of loss, but now she’s responsible for raising her orphaned nieces and must find a way to support them.
Sensible small-town sheriff, Owen Sommers, tries to keep the peace when a wagon full of women descends on his city of bachelors, but his principles are challenged when he suspects the ladies have something to hide. His suspicions are confirmed when strangers appear in town looking for what they believe is rightfully theirs.
As tensions rise and hearts become entangled, will Maggie be able to trust Owen with the truth? And what will happen if she does?
Fall is my favorite season, blue is my favorite color and Chocolate is my favorite flavor. What are some of your favorites? Today I finished reading a book from one of my favorite authors – Karen Witemeyer. Under the Texas Mistletoe is an excellent book if you love historical romances. The book has three stories in one! You can’t beat that.
Wow is it ever hot in my neck of the woods? It’s a hundred and one degrees outside today and humid. We could use some rain here in the Ozarks. I’m ready for fall, which happens to be my favorite season. I’m especially excited about this fall as I will be finishing up on the edits for my newest book. I’m happy to be working with the Pelican Book Group and their amazing staff. What season do you like best and why? I grew up in southern California and the seasons don’t change all that much. When I went to college in Chicago I got a taste of what the four seasons mean. I fell in love with the colorful leaves in the trees and the cooler temperature. Let me know which season you prefer. I’ll put your name into a drawing for an ebook version of Cold Creek Mountain. The winner will be announced on my birthday, August 10th
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