Holiday on the Rocks Blitz

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Romcom

Date Published: October 20, 2025

 

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Seven years ago a couple fell headfirst into love and ran off to
exchange vows in a fit of passion, only to have their dreams implode before
the sun set on their wedding day. Now, as fate would have it, they find
themselves trapped together for a friend’s destination holiday wedding
with Allie determined to never see him again while Levi plans to win back the
one he let slip away.

Because of a storm they find themselves alone at the vacation house with the
unresolved tension shining through like a diamond. As the snow falls outside,
they strike a deal—an unorthodox “closure plan” to finally
put their past to rest. Bound by the twenty-four-hour understanding that they
will spend one day together and then say goodbye forever.

With the glow of holiday lights surrounding them, Levi’s made it his
mission to win back the one he let slip away.

About the Author

Mary Lee Painter

 Mary Lee Painter is the romcom author of The Other Fork in the Road (2024),
Wild in Minnesota (2025), and her latest release, Holiday on the Rocks, has an
October 20, 2025 publish date by Satin Romance. She has her first young adult
romcom entitled Worst Idea Ever which will be published in March 2026 by Fire
and Ice, and an adult romcom entitled Ding Dong, I’m Home to be released in
July 2026 by Satin Romance. Mary Lee resides in Omaha, Nebraska.

 

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Early Snow Teaser

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Mystery

 

Date Published: 11-15-2025

 

Odyssey Pruit paints pictures of the ghosts and spirits she saw in the halls
of an old hotel where she worked ten years before. GUY HOGAN doesn’t
believe in ghosts. Hogan is hired to guard Odyssey’s pictures for her
first art show in the same old hotel. When an early blizzard closes the roads,
knocks out the power and telephone, Hogan is trapped in the hotel with
Odyssey’s quirky fans. When imps and ghouls make their presence known,
Hogan questions his doubts, and the answer could be murder.

Excerpt

 

Opening Scene

By noon, the autumn sky had turned from blue to the color of road
asphalt.  Treetops bent in the winds funneling into the canyon from the
high peaks.  Stray snowflakes splattered the windshield, turned into tiny
droplets, and in an instant were gone.
My best friend and new
boss, Dalton Cummings, pulled his pick-up into a parking spot at the back of
the big, white hotel and killed the engine.  “The truck with the
paintings is supposed to be here in about an hour.”  He pulled up
the sleeve of his flannel shirt and checked his Timex for the tenth
time.  “We’ll leave our gear in the pickup.  I’ll
let the hotel manager know we’re here.  You see if you can
find,”–He snatched a clipboard from the dashboard and flipped through
the pages–-“damn it, I can never remember her…”

“Porsche Hurt,” I told
him.  “Porsche.  Like the car.  Hurt, like
ouch.”
“That’s one of those damn made-up New York
City names if I’ve ever heard one.  Her folks never gave it to
her.”
“You’ve said that before.”  Then it
hit me.  I held back the smile.  “I know what’s going
on.  Ex-game warden Dalton Cummings is nervous about his first paying job
since retirement.  What could it be?”  I enjoyed the edge I
had over my friend.
Cummings turned toward the window.  His breath
painted a gray haze on the glass.
“Let me guess.”
I wanted to see his face, but he wouldn’t turn back.  “The
man who fought forest fires, rescued lost campers, and saved fish and wildlife
for generations to come is afraid of a New York woman.”
“That
ain’t it.”
“Then what?”
He shook his
head, and the brim of his Stetson left a mark on the fogged window.
“I don’t like hotels,” he mumbled.
“What?”
“Hotels.”
He clamped both hands on the steering wheel.  “I’d rather be
in my own bed.”  He stared straight ahead.  “I do fine
in a sleepin’ bag in the backcountry.  But there’s
somethin’ about a little old mint on a fluffy pillow and turned-down
sheets that makes me all crawly.”  He shook like he was cold.
“It’s all too fancy.”
“Don’t worry.”
I bit back a laugh. “It’s just two nights.  You probably
won’t get any sleep anyway.” I couldn’t resist adding one
more thing.  “The ghosts will keep you awake.”
Cummings
jerked up on the door handle and glanced sideways at me.  He raised his
middle finger.  “Screw you, Hogan.”

 

About the Author

Kevin Wolf
Kevin Wolf is an award-winning Mystery and
Western author. His books include Trailridge (2024), The Homeplace, winner of
the 2015 Tony Hillerman Prize and the 2016 Strand Critics Award finalist for
Best Debut Mystery. His short story Belthanger received the 2021 Spur Award
for Best Short Fiction and his novel, The Bootheel was a 2024 Peacemaker Award
finalist.
The legends and landscape of the West are evident in everything
he writes. His newest novel, Trailridge, is set against the grandeur of
Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park and the 1982 Lawn Lake Flood.
Those who visit Rocky often or have chosen the national park for their
once-in-a-lifetime destination will recognize the mountains, valleys, rivers,
and the twists and turns of Trailridge as this story races to its climax.In
The Homeplace, a schoolboy hero returns after sixteen years to solve a murder
in a windswept, dying town on the eastern plains of Colorado. In his short
story Belthanger, readers are given a glimpse of a 1950s small town, soon to
be bypassed by the new Interstate Highway System, and the drama that unfolds
on the town’s darkened streets one night. The BootHeel is a
coming-of-age tale of a teenage orphan and an aging gunman as they follow a
treasure map into Mexico as the nineteenth century draws to its end.
Kevin
Wolf is a member of Western Writers of America, Mystery Writers of America,
and serves as Vice President of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers. He facilitates
a weekly critique group for other writers. The great-grandson of Colorado
homesteaders, he enjoys fly fishing, old Winchesters, and almost every
1950’s Western movie. He lives in Estes Park, CO with his loving and
patient wife.
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Shadow of The Samhain Moon Blitz

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Nordic Monster Romance Series, Book One

 

Fantasy Romance

 

Date Published: October 21, 2025

 

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The Scandinavian legend of the undead draugr, Nordic guardian warriors
of treasure and the burial mounds of ancient tombs. Tropes fated mates, chosen
one and sacrifice.

As autumn descends upon the quaint Scandinavian town of Norskeby, Minnesota,
the annual Harvest Festival is on the brink of celebration. Amidst the vibrant
pumpkins and ghostly decorations, the townsfolk remain blissfully unaware of
the ancient Norse burial ground that lies beneath their feet, a resting place
of dark secrets and vengeful spirits.

Elin Bjorn, the town’s spirited yet introverted librarian, has always felt an
inexplicable pull towards the rich myths of her Scandinavian ancestors. But as
Halloween approaches, her fascination with the tales of Draugr, the vengeful
undead warriors guarding their treasures takes a dark twist.

Join Elin and Ragnor in this spellbinding tale of love, sacrifice, and the
eternal battle between light and darkness, where the true harvest lies in the
heart’s strength and the unbreakable bonds of the soul.

About the Author

Jaylee Austin

 In a whimsical corner of the universe that journey’s through the enchanting
realms of Wonderland, Jaylee Austin weaves tales that dance between the
ethereal and the imaginative.

Her desk, a canvas of creativity, is often interrupted by the playful pounces
of her two adorable companions, but none more so than Tilly, her clever alpha
pug.

With a spirited background as a retired high school English and Theater
teacher, Jaylee brought wit and warmth to the classroom, she invites readers
to leap into alternate realities where the ordinary becomes extraordinary, and
every page is a step further down the rabbit hole.

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DOC Teaser

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(Dixie Reapers MC)

Motorcycle Club Romance, Age Gap, Suspense

Date Published: October 24, 2025

 

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When a fierce heroine collides with a hardened outlaw, secrets ignite
and sparks fly.

 

Nova — I was never a part of my uncle Bats’ outlaw MC world. He kept me
far from the Dixie Reapers, convinced distance meant safety. But when my
parents died in a crash I know wasn’t an accident, I walk straight into
the world I’ve been shielded from, where every secret carries blood,
betrayal, and danger. Each step puts a bigger target on my back, but I
can’t stop. Not when the conspiracy reached higher than I ever imagined.
And then there’s Doc. He’s a risk I can’t afford, no matter
how much I want him.

Doc — I patched into the Dixie Reapers for a fresh start, not to guard the 19
year old niece of a fallen brother. As a veteran and the club’s medic, I
know how to fight, save lives, and bury temptation. But Nova’s stubborn,
reckless, and too tempting to resist. I fell fast, and hard. Once I’ve
set eyes on her, I’m not letting go. Protecting her tests me more than
any battlefield ever has, but losing her isn’t an option.

Enemies circle like vultures — dirty cops, corrupt judges, men willing to
kill to silence us. Together we uncover a deadly web of human trafficking and
murder. But in the outlaw world, justice comes at a cost. Nova is mine, and
I’ll burn the world down before I let anyone take her.


If you like possessive alpha males, gritty MC romance, heart-pounding
suspense, and age gap romances, you’re going to love Doc and
Nova’s story!


WARNING: This book contains mature themes, government corruption, human
trafficking, violence, and adult content. Reader discretion advised.

 

 

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EXCERPT

 

Nova

 

My little Honda looked pathetic among the gleaming motorcycles, like a child
who’d accidentally wandered into an adult party. I gripped the steering
wheel, knuckles white, as I scanned the Dixie Reapers clubhouse. Uncle Bats
had always warned me to stay away from this place, from his world. But Uncle
Bats was dead, and I needed answers that only his brothers might have.

The folder and notebook on my passenger seat contained everything I had left
of my mother — her research notes, newspaper clippings, and a lifetime of
suspicions that had probably gotten her killed. I picked them up, clutching
them to my chest like armor.

“You can do this, Nova,” I whispered to myself. “For Mom and
Dad.”

I took three deep breaths, counting each one the way my therapist had taught
me after the accident. Except it wasn’t an accident. I knew it
wasn’t, no matter what the police report said.

Outside, the late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the parking lot. Men
in leather cuts moved between motorcycles, their laughter and conversations a
low rumble that stopped abruptly when they noticed my car. I felt their gazes
on me, assessing, suspicious.

Uncle Bats had kept me secret from them, and while I knew of the Dixie
Reapers, I’d never been allowed to meet them. Now I was about to shatter
that barrier. The thought sent a tremor through my hands, but I shoved the
fear down deep where it couldn’t reach my face.

I stepped out of the car, my sensible flats crunching on the gravel. Five feet
tall in my best shoes, I’d never felt smaller than I did walking toward
that building. The folder and notebook clutched to my chest were my only
shield against their stares.

“Hey, darlin’, you lost?” called one man, his tone somewhere
between amused and suspicious. Tattoos covered his arms and disappeared
beneath the leather vest emblazoned with the Dixie Reapers patch.

I kept walking, eyes forward, spine straight the way my mother had taught me.
“Look them in the eye, Nova,” she’d say. “Don’t
let them think you’re afraid, even when you are.”

The surrounding conversations died one by one, replaced by silence and the
weight of two dozen stares. I could feel them taking in my brown hair, my
hazel eyes, my five-foot-nothing frame that had never intimidated anyone. I
probably looked like a strong wind could blow me over, but they didn’t
know about the steel underneath. They didn’t know I was
Mary-Jane’s daughter.

The clubhouse door loomed ahead, guarded by a mountain of a man with a graying
beard and hands the size of dinner plates. His cut identified him as a full
member, not just a hang-around. He stepped directly into my path, forcing me
to stop or walk straight into his chest.

“Clubhouse is members only, sweetheart,” he said, voice like
gravel. “Whatever you’re selling, we ain’t buying.”

Tiling my chin up, I met his gaze. “I’m not selling anything. I
need to speak with whoever’s in charge.”

He chuckled, but there was no humor in it. “That so? And what business
would a little thing like you have with the Dixie Reapers?”

The men behind me had moved closer, forming a loose semicircle. I could feel
them at my back, curiosity and suspicion rolling off them in waves.

“My name is Nova Treemont. I’m Bats’ niece.”

The effect was immediate. The doorman’s expression shifted from
dismissive to shocked in an instant. A murmur rippled through the men behind
me.

“Bullshit,” someone whispered.

“Bats never had family,” said another.

“He had a sister,” another voice said.

The doorman’s eyes narrowed, searching my face. “Bats never
mentioned no niece.”

“He wouldn’t have.” I met his gaze. “He kept me out
of… all this. For protection.” I gestured at the clubhouse with
my free hand. “But he’s gone now, and I need help. The kind only
the Dixie Reapers can provide.”

The doorman studied me for what felt like an eternity, his gaze moving from my
face to the items I clutched and back again. I could almost see the gears
turning behind his eyes, weighing the possibility I was telling the truth
against the risk of letting a stranger into their sanctuary.

“Wait here.” He turned to enter the clubhouse.

I stood rooted to the spot, aware of the bikers still watching me. I could
feel the curiosity and hostility aimed my way. I kept my breathing even,
pretending I couldn’t feel their stares boring into my back.

The doorman returned a minute later, holding the door open. “Come
on,” he said gruffly.

I stepped past him into a world my uncle had spent his life shielding me from.
The air was thick with cigarette smoke that clung to the furniture and walls.
The smell of beer and whiskey undercut everything, along with something else
— something distinctly male and dangerous.

Pool balls clacked on a table where a game paused mid-shot as players turned
to stare. Behind a long bar, bottles gleamed under dim lights. Motorcycle
memorabilia covered the walls — license plates, photos.

It should have felt alien, this place my blood relation had called home.
Instead, deep inside me, something whispered recognition. As if some part of
me had been waiting to find this place my whole life.

The doorman nudged me forward with a hand that could have wrapped around my
entire upper arm. “This way.” He guided me deeper into the
clubhouse. “They’re waiting.”

I followed, clutching my mother’s research to my chest, aware that I was
crossing a threshold I could never uncross. Behind me, I heard someone say
softly, “Mary-Jane’s kid? Jesus Christ.”

They’d known my mother then. At least some of them had known, and
they’d stayed away all these years. Just as Bats had intended.

The thought steadied me as I walked toward whatever waited ahead. I
wasn’t just Nova Treemont anymore. I was Mary-Jane’s daughter,
Bats’ niece. And I had questions that needed answering, no matter how
dangerous the answers might be.

The back room was darker than the main area. Five men sat around a table,
their faces half in shadow, their cuts marking them as the officers of the
Dixie Reapers. I stood before them, a girl in jeans and a cardigan, feeling
like I was facing a firing squad. But I’d come too far to falter now.

The doorman who’d escorted me in gave a brief nod to the man at the head
of the table before stepping back, positioning himself in front of the closed
door. Message received: I wasn’t leaving until they decided I could.

“So,” said the man at the head of the table. His neatly trimmed
gray beard and dark eyes seemed sharp beneath heavy brows. The patches on his
cut read, “President — Savior.” “You claim to be
Bats’ niece.”

It wasn’t a question, but I answered anyway. “I am Bats’
niece. My mother was Mary-Jane Treemont, his younger sister.”

A muscle in the President’s jaw twitched. “Bats was a brother to
us for a long ass time. Never once mentioned a niece.”

“He was protecting me. Keeping his family separate from… this
life.”

One of the other men — younger, with a Vice President patch — snorted.
“Convenient story, sweetheart. Got any proof?”

I unzipped my bag and pulled out a small photo album, sliding it across the
table. “Page three. That’s my mother and uncle at her college
graduation.”

I watched as the President flipped to the page, his expression unchanging as
he studied the photo of a much younger Bats with his arm around my mother.

“Could be anyone.” The VP’s tone lacked conviction.

“Check the next page,” I said. “That’s from my
parents’ wedding. My mother, my father, and uncle.”

The President studied the photo longer this time before passing the album to
the man next to him. It made its way around the table, each man taking a
moment to examine the proof of a side of Bats they’d never known.

“So you’re his niece.” The President slid the album back
across the table. “What do you want from us?”

I took a deep breath and placed my folder on the table. “My parents died
several weeks ago in what was ruled a car accident. Their car went off the
road. Police said my father lost control.”

“And you don’t believe that.” The VP watched me with
narrowed eyes.

“No,” I said firmly. “I don’t. My mother was an
investigative journalist. She was working on a story.” I opened the
folder, spreading out newspaper clippings and photocopied notes across the
scarred wood. “She was investigating connections between Magnolia County
officials and organized crime. Money laundering, illegal gambling, possibly
human trafficking.”

The men exchanged glances, their expressions giving nothing away. I’d
honestly expected some sort of reaction, especially since this was happening
in their territory. My uncle had always been clear that while he may be an
outlaw, some things weren’t tolerated.

“Three days before she died, she called me,” I continued.
“She said she’d found something big. Something that would blow the
whole thing wide open. She wouldn’t tell me details over the phone, said
she’d show me everything when they came to visit that weekend.” My
voice cracked slightly. “They never made it.”

I pulled out a copy of the police report, pointing to highlighted sections.
“The accident report says the car was traveling at high speed, that my
father lost control. But my father never drove fast. He was cautious,
meticulous. And the witness statements are vague. No one actually saw the car
go off the road.”

“Accidents happen.” An older member with a gray ponytail watched
me intently. “Doesn’t mean someone killed your parents.”

I met his gaze directly. “After the funeral, our house was broken into.
Nothing valuable was taken, but my mother’s home office was ransacked.
Her computer was gone. All her files.”

That got their attention. The men straightened, exchanging glances that spoke
volumes.

“I managed to salvage these.” I gestured to the documents on the
table. “She kept backups in a safety deposit box. But it’s not
everything. There are references to evidence she had that I can’t
find.”

The President leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. “And
what exactly do you expect us to do about this, Ms. Treemont?”

“I’ve tried the legal route,” I said. “I’ve been
to the police, the FBI, even a private investigator. No one will touch it. The
case is closed.” I swallowed hard. “My uncle –Bats — once
told my mother that if she ever needed help, real help, she should come to his
brothers. That you take care of your own.”

“Bats said that?” The VP’s eyebrows raised.

“He did,” I confirmed. “And with him gone, you’re all
I have left.”

The President’s eyes were unreadable as he studied my face. “You
understand what you’re asking? If what you’re saying is true,
you’re talking about going up against powerful people. The kind that can
make a car accident happen.”

“I know.” My voice came out steadier than I felt. “But they
killed my parents. They’ve been watching me too. Cars following me home.
Strange calls. Last week someone broke into my apartment.” I pulled up
my sleeve, revealing a jagged raw wound on my forearm. “I surprised him.
He had a knife.”

That drew a low curse from one of the men who hadn’t spoken yet.

“Before she died, my mother dug into something dangerous — something
big enough to get her killed. These bastards still tried to bury it, but I
swore I’d drag the truth into the light and make them pay.” My
gaze cut across the table, meeting each man’s eyes in turn.
“Justice for my parents is the only thing that matters.”

The silence that followed was heavy, broken only by the distant sounds of the
main room beyond the door.

Finally, the President gathered up my mother’s papers, tapping them into
a neat stack. “Wait outside.”

The doorman stepped forward, opening the door for me. I hesitated, reluctant
to leave my mother’s research behind.

“We’ll return these,” the President said, seeing my
hesitation. “Go on now.”

I had no choice but to comply. The doorman escorted me back to the main room,
indicating a worn leather couch against the wall. “Sit tight.”

I perched on the edge of the couch, feeling the weight of curious stares from
the men scattered around the room. No one approached me, but I could hear the
whispers.

“… Bats’ niece…”

“… Mary-Jane’s kid…”

“… looks just like her mother…”

That last comment made me look up sharply, trying to identify who had spoken.
An older member nodded at me from the bar, raising his beer bottle slightly.
“Knew your mama when she was younger than you. Bats always said she was
the smart one in the family. Said she could sniff out a lie from a mile
away.”

A lump formed in my throat. I’d never heard anyone talk about my mother
like that, like they’d known her personally. “Did you know her
well?”

The man shrugged. “Well enough. Your uncle always spoke highly of her
investigative skills. Said she could’ve been FBI if she hadn’t
been so damn stubborn about working outside the system.”

That sounded like my mother. And it sounded like something Uncle Bats would
say.

I sat straighter, hope kindling in my chest for the first time since I’d
arrived. Maybe they would help me after all. Maybe I’d finally get the
answers I’d been seeking for several weeks.

I just had to convince them I was worth the risk.

I traced the edge of my mother’s notebook with my fingertip, counting
the seconds that stretched into minutes. The leather couch beneath me had seen
better days, cracked and worn by years of men larger than me shifting their
weight. Around the room, bikers pretended not to watch me while doing exactly
that. I wondered if Uncle Bats had sat here, on this very couch, planning runs
or celebrating victories I’d never know about.

My gaze drifted to a wall of photos near the bar — men in Dixie Reapers cuts,
arms slung around each other’s shoulders, grins splitting their bearded
faces. I rose slowly, drawn to search for my uncle’s face among them. A
few members tensed as I moved, but none stopped me.

There he was. Younger, with fewer lines around his eyes, his arm thrown around
another member, looking more relaxed than I’d ever seen him during his
rare visits to our home. He’d always been on edge around us, as if
expecting trouble to follow him through our door.

Now I understood why.

“He was a good man,” said a voice behind me.

I turned to find the older member who’d spoken to me earlier, the one
who’d known my mother.

“One of our best,” he continued. “Loyal to the bone.”

“But not loyal enough to tell you about his family,” I said
softly.

The old biker’s mouth quirked in a half-smile. “That was his
loyalty to you, girl. Keeping you separate. Safe.” He nodded toward the
back room. “Not many of us manage that trick.”

Before I could respond, the door to the back room opened. The President
emerged, followed by the others. The room fell silent as they approached.

“Ms. Treemont,” the President said, his voice carrying across the
now-quiet clubhouse. “We’ve discussed your situation.”

I returned to the couch, perching on its edge, hands folded in my lap to hide
their trembling. “And?”

“Bats was our brother.” The President spoke in a measured voice,
choosing each word with care. “That carries weight. But what
you’re asking involves the club in what appears to be a personal
vendetta against powerful people, based on circumstantial evidence.”

My heart sank. “It’s not just –”

He held up a hand, cutting me off. “I didn’t say we wouldn’t
help. I said you’re asking a lot.”

Hope flickered back to life in my chest.

“We’ll hear you out,” he continued. “Review what
you’ve brought us. But I can’t promise involvement beyond that.
Understand?”

I nodded quickly. “Yes. Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet.” His expression remained stern.
“This isn’t a democracy. I make decisions based on what’s
best for the club, not for outsiders — even ones with Bats’
blood.”

 

About the Author

Harley Wylde is an accomplished author known for her captivating MC Romances.
With an unwavering commitment to sensual storytelling, Wylde immerses her
readers in an exciting world of fierce men and irresistible women. Her works
exude passion, danger, and gritty realism, while still managing to end on a
satisfying note each time.

When not crafting her tales, Wylde spends her time brainstorming new
plotlines, indulging in a hot cup of Starbucks, or delving into a good book.
She has a particular affinity for supernatural horror literature and movies.
Visit Wylde’s website to learn more about her works and upcoming events, and
don’t forget to sign up for her newsletter to receive exclusive discounts and
other exciting perks.

Author on Facebook, Instagram, & TikTok: @harleywylde

Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @changelingpress

Save 15% off any order at ChangelingPress.com with code RABT15

 

 

 

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The Retirees Virtual Book Tour

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Retirement has never felt so deadly

 

Cozy Mystery

 

Date Published: January 5, 2026

Publisher: Orrplace Press

 

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Welcome to the idyllic yet eccentric retirement community of The
Ocean’s Edge—where retirement has never felt so deadly.

Disco is dead, there’s a serial killer on the loose, the coffin dodgers
are solving cold cases, and only the neighborhood cat knows where all the
proverbial bodies are buried.

When sharp-tongued sugar heiress Diana is ousted from the empire she helped
build, she retreats to a posh 55+ paradise expecting peace, maybe even a pool
boy. Instead, she finds a ragtag group of retirees with a knack for solving
cold cases—and a disturbing knack for attracting new ones. She quickly
finds herself entangled with this quirky yet capable team of senior sleuths: a
psychic, tarot-reading twin duo, a retired detective, a conspiracy-minded tech
guru, and a nurse who might just talk to animals.

Among tarot cards, a talking cat, and dark web dives, this misfit crew
uncovers more than just bingo night secrets. Because in a place this sunny,
the shadows run deep, and someone at The Ocean’s Edge has blood on their
hands.

As the group begins investigating cold cases, darker truths emerge, uncovering
clues that tie back to mysterious pasts, hidden traumas, and residents with
more secrets than memories.

Hilarious, heartwarming, and deliciously twisted, The Retirees is a witty,
tightly woven, charming, cozy mystery that reminds us it’s never too
late for redemption, reinvention, or revenge—and that sometimes the most
unexpected heroes come with walkers, wisdom, and wildly colorful
personalities.

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​EXCERPT

Prologue 

Mr. Anderson

Disco is dead—not just musically or lyrically. Disco is actually dead. To be fair, disco did make a comeback for a time. Musicians and DJs enjoyed mixing seventies and eighties melodies with a hacked mash-up of manufactured noises, mumbo jumbo, or whatever they pawn off as music these days. They’d add vocals, edit with computer programs, and label it retro. 

Disco is dead—literally. Centered in the clubhouse ceiling, a thirty-inch disco ball hangs delightfully, ready to dazzle all who enter as light dances across the round styrofoam spectacle. The tiny mirrored squares reflect light, creating shimmering art along the walls as the sun rises through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The elderly residents revere this flamboyant orb like the Romans revered Venus, the Goddess of Love, every first Saturday of the month. That’s when the disco dance shindig kicks off, but if you ask me, these coffin dodgers would dance until dawn beneath this stupid silver sphere every day that ends with the letter y if their bodies would allow. 

A bloody butcher knife protrudes from the right side of the silvery globe as blood pools below. Blood flows slowly from the dead body beneath it, like a tiny river, toward the front entrance. Home builders in South Florida cut every corner to save a dollar, so you won’t find an establishment with level flooring south of Orlando. The body lies dead on the dance floor, eyes wide open, staring up toward the mirrored ball dangling from above. Even in death, the body continues to worship that giant glittery meatball.

I could captivate you with a story about how this all came to be. I’d love to share it with you. I’m always the first to stumble upon the deceased. I’d be eager to explain everything to the police in meticulous detail when they arrive. I’m perceptive, hypervigilant, and a perfectionist. I notice everything but say nothing. Like wallpaper or antique furniture, no one fully recognizes my charm, character, or priceless value. This group of mismatched septuagenarians pays little attention to me. They’re self-absorbed and enamored by boring, trifling bits of bygone eras. So I generally keep to myself. Occasionally, someone will offer a “Hello” or “How are you today?” It’s mostly small talk. Often, I don’t bother answering their questions. Most mornings, I hold my head high and concentrate on my morning routine, striding by and settling down by the window to watch the hummingbirds enjoy their breakfast nectar at the feeder.  

My name is Roger, but I’m known around here as Mr. Anderson. That’s what they call me, anyway. 

To fully understand my story in the present, it’s essential to update you about my past. My mom gave me up when I was barely six weeks old, and an old man named Monty took me in and cared for me. I grew up feeling happy and loved. Recently, he passed away from what the police described as natural causes. I’m skeptical about that. Let’s put a pin in this for now. We’ll come back to it later. 

More about me. I have a few friends—well, only one, actually. Her name is Carol, and she’s the nurse here at The Ocean’s Edge. Sometimes she sits beside me and shares stories about the cakes and pies she helped bake when her mom owned a pastry shop in Jensen Beach. I love her as much as I adore Key lime pie. The others tend to shy away from me when I pass by, ignoring me as though I have nothing important to offer. That’s simply not the case. I’m a good listener and a great companion. Heck, I was a brave sailor and navigator of the often treacherous Florida seas in my youth.

Nevertheless, I’ve lived here for nearly sixteen years, longer than most of these kooks. I’m much more than just a spectator; I’m a music enthusiast. I enjoy music that evokes emotions—love, heartbreak, or bliss. I’ve come to appreciate their fascination with Frank Sinatra and Cher; after all, they are legends. I genuinely believe in doing things “My Way,” and I believe there is “life after love.” However, some of the Motown funk that these folks enjoy feels too dated for me. I don’t understand why some old-timers remain so stuck in the past. 

Taylor Swift is my favorite artist. I truly admire a self-made woman. She’s folksy, she’s pop, and she writes her own music. Her lyrics are relevant and resonate with the moment. She might even be more talented than—dare I say—Diana Ross or Donna Summer. For the record, I’m also a big fan of Michael Jackson’s musical talent. However, I can no longer idolize him—you know why.

Over time, I’ve come to recognize that people often return to the moments in their lives when they were happiest, and music from that era elicits all those significant primal feelings: joy, freedom, and happiness. 

I’m the curious type, although I fully understand that curiosity kills. I’ve got countless secrets I could share. I know where all the proverbial bodies are buried. However, no one cares to listen, mainly because they’re too wrapped up in neighborhood tittle-tattle or their mysterious geriatric ailments that seem to multiply daily. Most likely, it’s because no one at The Ocean’s Edge can fully comprehend my language. And for the most part, I understand their apprehension. Why would any of these old geezers take the time to get to know me? I’m just a cat. 

 

Available Now for Pre-order

The Retirees

http://www.amazon.com/Retirees-Retirement-never-felt-deadly-ebook/dp/B0FHG3HZSM

 

http://www.leahorr.com

 

 

About the Author

Leah Orr
Leah Orr resides with her husband and three daughters in Jensen Beach,
Florida. Leah is an Amazon #1 best-selling mystery novelist of The She Shed.
She has written 14 books and sold over 100,000 copies worldwide.

Leah donates the profits from her books to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Upon learning that her daughter Ashley was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis
(while still in the womb), Orr knew she wanted to do something special. With
some input from her mother and three daughters, it was decided that she’d
write books to benefit the CF Foundation. The Orr Family has raised over
$1,400,000 in the past 22 years to help find a cure.

Leah’s mission to help cure Cystic Fibrosis has been featured on ABC’s
Health Watch, NBC Today South Florida, ABC Today South Florida, CBS South
Florida, CBS This Morning Virginia, NBC The 10! Show Philadelphia, Fox 4 News
Morning Blend, The Daily Buzz, and Lifetime TV’s The Balancing Act. She
has also been featured in publications such as Forbes Magazine, Medical News
Today, The Boston Globe, The Miami Herald
, and The Sun-Sentinel. Her daughter
Ashley was also a recipient of Oprah’s generosity in The Big Give.

Popular mysteries by Leah Orr include: The Executive Suite, The Bartender, The
Champagne Toast, The She Shed
, and The Fruitcake. Her popular children’s
books include: Messy Tessy, It Wasn’t Me, and Goodnight, Molly.

Orr and her husband were recently nominated as one of Florida’s Finest
Couples by the CF Foundation and included in “In The Spotlight” on
CFF.org. Leah was also nominated as one of Broward County’s top 100
Outstanding Women. Orr grew up in Boston, MA, and graduated from the
University of Miami.

 

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