In the latest from the nationally bestselling author of The Candy Cane Cupcake Killer, Phyllis Newsom returns with a blackberry and blueberry pie recipe that’s to die for…
It’s late summer in Weatherford, Texas and Mike Newsom’s childhood friend is sweltering in prison for a crime he claims he didn’t commit, murdering his wife. So instead of asking his mother to please stop investigating a murder, as he usually does, he asks her and Sam to please help his friend.
Danny Jackson, found guilty of beating his wife Roxanne to death at the ritzy hair salon where she works, was sentenced to prison for 30 years. His pleas of innocence fell on deaf ears, so it’s up to Phyllis to find what actually happened. She finds there are a lot of secrets and lies being told, and Roxanne was in the middle of them all.
Though Phyllis doesn’t want to get mixed up in another murder investigation, her son rarely asks for favors, and certainly not favors like this. She has to untangle the lies and comb out the facts to find what happened that dark night.
Includes recipes!
EXCERPT
Mike nodded. “Final game of the season my senior year. We were playing Stephenville, and whoever won would be district champs. The score was tied late in the game, and we had the ball on our own nineteen yard line. It was third and eleven, and we couldn’t try to throw for a first down because our quarterback had a rubber band for an arm. So he hands the ball to me on a sweep, and Danny, who’s playing right tackle, makes the best block you’ll ever see in your life. Takes out their defensive end and two linebackers. I got outside, juked the defensive back who came up, and realized that not only was I going to get the first down, if I could get past the safety I had a clear shot down the sideline.” Mike shrugged. “So I ran over him and was off to the races.”
“I remember that game,” Phyllis said. “It was one of the most exciting things I ever saw.”
“But you were on your nineteen, you said...” Sam commented.
“Yeah, the DB I put a move on finally caught up to me and brought me down at the Stephenville one. Our quarterback snuck in on the next play, and that was the game. But I never would have gone for eighty and basically won the game if it hadn’t been for Danny’s block.”
“I understood a little of that,” Carolyn said. “You’re saying you owed this man a debt.”
“A big one. Because that was the night I finally got up the courage to ask Sarah to go out with me, and...well...”
“And now you’re married and have a beautiful son and of course you feel grateful to Danny for whatever small part he might have played in you and Sarah getting together,” Phyllis said. “But still, he killed his wife.”
“That’s just it, Mom,” Mike said. “I’m not convinced he did.”
Do you have that moment when someone did something that changed your life? Mine would probably be my brother Bruce sleeping late on a day he was supposed to ride to college with James Reasoner. If Bruce had been timely, I never would have gotten to know James, who became my husband 40 years ago. Leave a comment for a change to win a free ebook of Black and Blueberry Die.
On my first day at college, two boys went room to room through the dorms inviting everyone to go watch a campus movie. If those boys hadn't done that, I night never have felt comfortable striking up a friendship with one of them, who eventually became my husband.
ReplyDeleteI love stories like this. Obviously it was fate.
DeleteCongratulations on the new release, Livia! It sounds like a fun read and the cover is adorable.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I had fun writing it.
DeleteI met a boy a year after our breakup to let him convince me why we should try again...39 years, and we are still together!
ReplyDeleteOh wow! I guess he was pretty convincing.
DeleteLooks interesting and I love the cover. Congrats!
ReplyDeleteThanks Robyn.
DeleteWow, you've got me thinking, now, Livia. A moment when everything changed. I would say it would have to be when Gary and I went on our first date--because we actually didn't really like each other for quite a while up to that point. He didn't realize I was from Oklahoma (we were in West Virginia at this point) and thought my accent was "fake". LOL But we had a mutual friend who told him I was not from WV, and that he thought I was "really nice"--so Gary started being a bit friendlier, and we all three ended up in a couple of other classes together. He asked me to go to the stock car races with him. A fight broke out, and he broke it up--and that was when I knew I was going to marry him. LOL Go figure--I don't know why, but I remember that "revelation" as clearly as if it happened yesterday.
ReplyDeleteWho knew a fight could end in true love. Sounds like a romance novel.
DeleteThe day my cat General found me. We lived in the woods and someone just dropped him off. He found his way to me and we both needed each other. He was the best cat I ever had. He had the heart and soul of a dog. I love this series. Thank you for this chance.
ReplyDeleteRobyn what a great name for a cat. They do seem to take charge of our lives. Thank you for commenting.
DeleteRobyn, you won the free book. I hope you enjoy it.
DeleteThank you very much! :)
DeleteThat magic moment when everything changed...hmm...I am racking my brain and coming up with nothing. All of my relationships built over time. I applied to rescue organizations for my pets. I beginning to think I'm overly structured or something. No matter. I think your new release sounds charming and delightful. The cover is just perfect. I wish you all the best, Livia.
ReplyDeleteBefore that day I thought James was one of Bruce's insane friends. LOL! We did build slowly after that, dating for almost two years before marrying. I appreciate the kind thoughts about the release.
DeleteIt hink I've mentioned on another blog that my friend talked me into going to a going away party for some Marine and I met my husband there. So I'll say that a life altering and changing moment for me was when I broke my back, was flat on my back awaiting surgery and my friend loaned me a bunch of Historical Romances. I'd never read any romances before and when I read one that was a wonderful story but the end was so rushed mad I wanted scream at the author, I decided to try to write one of my own. Oh what a ride it's been since. Wishing you much success with this story. Sounds terrific.
ReplyDeleteOh wow, you broke your back? How horrible, but I'm glad your friend loaned you the historical romances. It really would have been horrible if you hadn't been able to share your wonderful talent. Thanks for the good wishes.
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