Free audio short story

I'm delighted to announce that there's an audio version of my short story "Sand Dollar Secrets." This story features the characters from my Cleopatra Jones cozy mystery series. It's a weekend getaway for Cleo and Rafe and darn if there aren't secrets and a mystery to boot. CLICK for Free Podcast download.

I love beaches and I admit that the St. Joe's of the story is patterned after St. Simons Island, GA, where I spent my middle school and high school years. Though the SSI of today is bustling and condo-friendly, light years ago it was a family vacation place where rambling clapboard cottages lined the beaches.

It was a different time in so many ways. We kids were allowed to walk the beach for hours on end (and that was my first love!). I thoroughly enjoyed the sound of waves and shorebirds, the scent of salt air, the wind in my long hair, the crunch of sand between my toes, and oh my gosh, what treasures washed in with every tide. It could be a perfect shell or an object from clear across the world. The possibilities were endless! I was truly in heaven.

As you might imagine, I collected seashells for decades and have lamps and boxes and bags filled with my beach treasures. Now I'm writing a new cozy mystery series entirely set on a laid-back island like that, and the first in that series, Seas the Day, is now available for pre-order. CLICK here to pre-order this cozy culinary mystery. I hope you'll check it out. (More vendors shown at my website )

Also, have you checked out the Booklover's Bench contest this month? The winner receives 6 cozy mysteries, each written by a different author. This is a marvelous set for your She-Shed, Woman Cave, or wherever you enjoy reading. It's a mystery 6-pack! And it could be yours. CLICK on over to enter!

Lastly, I'm appearing in an author extravaganza over at the House of Clues Facebook page tomorrow, Feb 14, at 9:30 am EST, talking about my forthcoming Seas the Day, and I hope you'll click over to be part of the excitement. I'm giving away a print ARC of the new book. CLICK HERE for House of Clues Feb 14 Valentine's Giveaway party. Remember, it doesn't start until 9 am EST on Feb. 14.

Happy reading - and happy early Valentine's Day!

Maggie

Dreamed It releases today, August 13, 2019

Seemed like it took forever for August 13 to arrive, and then it came on fast like a freight train! Wow! The wonderful feeling of a book release never gets old.

Dreamed It, Book 6 in my Dreamwalker Mystery Series, features my amateur sleuth, Baxley Powell and an ensemble cast of family, friends, and pets. This time she squares off against a wily serial killer.

Oh, man! She is in such a pickle. Not only is she trying to solve the Suitcase Murder, a teenage girl goes missing. With the girl's life clock ticking in her team, Baxley and her team keep digging, putting Baxley in dire straits.

Here's the book blurb: 

Justice for the dead and solace for the living is Baxley Powell’s creed, but she faces uncharted territory in this sixth book of the Dreamwalker Mystery Series. The Suitcase Killer has struck again, only this big city menace is now a problem for Baxley’s hometown. As that investigation heats up, a local woman is reported missing. The sheriff orders Baxley to work the missing person’s case.

Listening to the dead is familiar ground for Baxley but finding a missing young lady isn’t in her skill set. Besides, her dreams rarely follow a timeline. With the clock ticking, can this crime consultant discover a way to reach the living?

Her main source of help in the afterlife, a mentor named Rose, is unavailable. Instead, Baxley must rely on her wits and her Native American boyfriend, Deputy Sam Mayes, to find leads. Each shared dreamwalk and energy transfer binds them closer together, creating another issue. Mayes wants to marry Baxley but it isn’t that easy. They’re hampered by their community roles in opposite ends of the state.

Baxley juggles the pressure of two high-profile cases, a determined suitor, and expanding her limits. One thing is certain. Without her extrasensory sleuthing, the missing woman will die.

~*~

An excerpt is available at my website: https://maggietoussaint.com/dreamed-it/

Early reviews of Dreamed It follow:

“A tense, outstanding whodunnit,” 

- Midwest Book Reviews 

“One of the best books of the series!“ 

- Dru’s Book Musing

“An excellent adventure into the paranormal,” 

- Map Your Mystery

"A suspenseful page-turner that you won’t be able to put down.”

 - Nancy J Cohen, author of the Bad Hair Day mysteries

“Maggie Toussaint is a master of quiet suspense,” 

- Anna Gerrard, author of Peach Clobbered

~*~

 “A dream come true for fans of paranormal mysteries,”

 - Leigh Perry, author of A Family Skeleton Mysteries, on Confound It 

~*~

The book is available on wide distribution. Here are the links currently available:

KINDLE                  AMAZON                     BARNES & NOBLE

I hope you'll follow along on this amazing journey and that you enjoy the entire Dreamwalker series as much as I do!

Keep in touch!

Maggie Toussaint

https://maggietoussaint.com

Two Mossy Bog books out now!

They're here! The Author editions of HOT WATER and ROUGH WATERS are now available across all digital platforms. These books have a mystery plot line and a romance plot line, with different sleuthing couples in each book. Each books is described below.

In HOT WATER small town cop Laurie Ann Dinterman assists the state arson investigator, Wyatt North, who's tracking a serial arsonist turned killer. Wyatt needs to catch the guy that killed his partner, and Laurie Ann needs to keep Wyatt alive to ensure her promotion to investigator. All too soon clues put them at cross purposes. Can they catch the serial killer and arsonist before they go up in flames?

Order from  Nook     

                   Kindle     

                   Kobo

                   iBooks

"Exciting action scenes, sizzling romance, and a nail-biting climax."

- Nancy J, Cohen, author of Trimmed to Death

In ROUGH WATERS former Navy SEAL Rock Mackenzie believes pink-haired florist Jeanie Munro is the key to recovering his stolen sovereigns. A single mom who learned responsibility the hard way, Jeanie turns to Rock for protection when her shop and home are ransacked. After spiriting the kids off to safety, Jeanie and Rock hit the road to catch a thief and a stone cold killer.

Order from  Nook     

                   Kindle     

                   Kobo

                   iBooks

"A story about knowing what you want out of life and not letting the trials get in your way. I intend to read more of the Mossy Bog stories, you should too." - FRESH FICTION

If you like my cozies, you'll like these romantic suspense novels. I certainly hope you'll give them a try!

Also, I'm having a Facebook launch party on Thursday, May 7, from 6:30-8 pm EST over at https://www.facebook.com/NewReleaseParty   I hope you'll join in with the revelry! You're invited.

Happy Reading, y'all.

Maggie Toussaint

The Trouble With Cupid, round two!

This fun mystery anthology just went live for 2019. I hope you'll consider purchasing this short story collection all of which feature Trouble the sleuthing cat from Wetumpka, AL, because all the proceeds go to charity.

$2.99

Buy from KINDLE 

Fun-sized bites of Trouble, Cat Detective! All proceeds from the sale of THE TROUBLE WITH CUPID will be donated to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. The famous black cat detective from Wetumpka, Alabama is at it again in this collection of sometimes poignant, often amusing short mystery tales.

Bestselling authors Carolyn Haines and Laura Benedict lead the lineup with the sassy “Calling All Cupids” and the sweet “Of Mice and Munchkins,” followed by Claire Matturro’s heartwarming contribution, “The Madonna in the Garden.”

With additional stories by eight other authors, including critically acclaimed veterans and exciting new talents, The Trouble with Cupid is a delightful offering of wicked fun for anyone who loves mysteries, cats, and a touch of romance.

Authors: Laura Benedict, Carolyn Haines, Greg Herren, Michelle Broussard Honick, Eve Osborne, Fran Roberts, Nancy Sartor, Maggie Toussaint, Lisa Wysocky, Claire Matturro, and Jaden Terrell.
The Trouble books are a multi-author coalition published by KaliOka Press with each mystery novel featuring Trouble, the black cat detective. All the full-length mysteries are available in e-format and print.

Come on, you know you gotta have it!

Happy Reading!

Muddy Waters cover reveal, Author Edition

As is the way with books and publishers, from time to time, rights revert to the author. That's what's going on here with the forthcoming Author's Edition release of Muddy Waters, the first book in my Mossy Bog Romantic Suspense series. It will soon be available from all digital venues.

My first priority is to reissue ebooks of the five romances that I just had rights reversion on. After that, I will see if issuing print books are warranted.

Meanwhile, please enjoy this new cover, put together with the loving hands of my friend Polly Iyer. My goal is to use the same font and font placement for all three books in this series to create a series look.

Originally issued in 2010, this book has been edited from front to back to update the content.

Muddy Waters is currently up for pre-order at Amazon, to go live on Tuesday, Feb 5. Other vendors have already pushed the listing through their sales channels so there's no waiting at Nook, Kobo, or iBooks.

Here's the new blurb:

Real estate broker Roxie Whitaker is juggling skittish clients, an anxious bride, and her wayward brother. She’d very much like to sell some property, soothe her friend’s wedding jitters, and knock some sense into her party-boy brother’s head. Meanwhile, she needs a date for the wedding. In walks Sloan Harding, the town’s former bad boy and now an Atlanta security expert, and Roxie believes he’s the answer to her dreams.

Sparks fly as he escorts her to the wedding and asks her advice about his property. While he’s home, Sloan hunts for his missing inheritance. Sloan’s search uncovers family secrets and painful memories. To make matters worse, someone in the shadows is after his inheritance, someone who will do whatever it takes to walk away with the fortune.

Also, reviewers from before loved Roxie and Sloan's story. Here are a few snips from those earlier reviews: 

“Great book, wonderful mystery and a red hot love story underlying it.  Roxie and Sloan really mix it up in and out of the bedroom and that is what makes for a great romance.  You can’t ask for more than that now can you?” –  Mary Gramlich, THE READING REVIEWER

“Toussaint pens a pleasant read for a nice fall afternoon. With its home realty and repair subplot, the author obviously knows her stuff.” – Cindy Himler, ROMANTIC TIMES

Buy Links:

Ready now:   Nook    iBooks    Kobo  

Pre-order for Feb 5 delivery    Kindle

More information at my website, including an excerpt!  Click here for the website listing.

Thanks, readers, for demanding more in this fun series that blends cozy mystery and romantic suspense. Hot Water and Rough Waters will be reissued next.

Happy Reading!
Maggie

 

Permanently bad hair and a fiery tale

Hi friends and fans!

I have a guest post up today at Paranormal Romance Guild. They invited me to help launch their new feature "Tell Me More Tuesday."  https://www.paranormalromanceguild.com/tell-me-more-tuesday-maggie-toussaint-shares-new-release-confound-it/

I'm very excited to have the opportunity to share my Dreamwalker Mystery series, which has a strong romantic subplot, with paranormal romance readers. My sleuth Baxley Powell has some serious psychic mojo going on!

Many new-to-a-series readers are purists, so that's why, even though Confound It is a really cool, ultra-absorbing book, I'm giving away a copy of the first book in the series, Gone and Done It. To have a chance to win, you must comment on the post at   https://www.paranormalromanceguild.com/tell-me-more-tuesday-maggie-toussaint-shares-new-release-confound-it/

The Dreamwalker Mystery Series in order from first to last are: Gone and Done It, Bubba Done It, Doggone It, Dadgummit, and Confound It. There will be 7 books in this series, with Dreamed It slated for release next summer. To find out more about my books, visit https://maggietoussaint.com/books/

But to have a chance at winning Gone and Done It, you must comment on the Tell Me More Tuesday post at Paranormal Romance Guild. See you over there!!!

https://www.paranormalromanceguild.com/tell-me-more-tuesday-maggie-toussaint-shares-new-release-confound-it/

No Quarter steps out on its own!

My Cleopatra Jones Mystery novella, "No Quarter," is out now as a standalone in digital format. It was previously released in the Sleuthing Women II Anthology in 2017. The anthology is no longer available and so No Quarter got its own cover and is now out through Muddle House Publishing.

Here's the blurb for the novella: Amnesia, the doctor says when accountant Cleopatra Jones wakes in a distant hospital. Hours later, most of her memory returns. Detective Jack Martinez visits Cleo’s nearby wealthy client, only she’s dead and broke. To Cleo’s horror, she’s a murder suspect. Will she totally recover her memory before the killer returns?

This novella is available across many platforms: 

Kindle           Kobo            iBooks          Nook

I'm excited to have an entry in this Cleopatra Jones series, and I thank fans of the Cleo series for being so patient. Please let me know if you like this new direction for her, and if you want more Cleo. Also, if you previously read the novella in the SWII anthology or if you're just now picking it up, please feel free to leave a review wherever you post your online reviews.

The entire Cleopatra Jones series looks like this:

To celebrate the release of the "No Quarter" novella, I will give away at least one hardcover copy of the first book in this series, In For a Penny, which may be a collector's item by now! Entry for the drawing (US only) may be made by leaving a comment on this post. The contest ends September 26, 2018. Please leave contact info. If you don't want to leave your email or your Facebook name, plan to check back after the 26th. Prizes unclaimed after a week will be forfeited.

Thanks for enjoying my books! 

Maggie

ps The monthly Booklover's Bench contest is ongoing through September 18. Enter for a chance to win a $25 gift card from Amazon or B&N. Visit the contest page.