Lyn Asks the April Question

booksbylyncote.com Posted on by

Bayfield Lighthouse

The Apostle Island Lakeshore

Here’s my April Question—Have you made any plans for what you want to do when the pandemic ends?

I’ve decided that I’m going to compile a list of recommended home town cafes within a 2 hour drive radius. I love little small town cafes. So my husband and I will go to lunch to a different one of these. I want to go to at least two of them in a month through the summer and fall. We’re also going to go to Bayfield to the Apostle Island National Park in Lake Superior. We try to go every year but this year I think we’ll stay overnight and do more than just take one of the boat tours of the islands and lighthouses. It is a beautiful park—watery and striking. ‘-0

My latest book Uncertain Spring is set in Bayfield, though I renamed it Winfield so I could manufacture places and people of my own. ‘-)

Uncertain Spring is on pre-order till March 26th for $2.99. The price goes up soon after that date to $3.99. So if you’ve been reading my Northern Shore Intrigue series, this is book 5. (But if you haven’t, all my series books can be read in any order.) If you remember, last fall I asked the question: Can a Grandmother Be a Heroine in a Romance? 

The response was a RESOUNDING YES! I also wrote it because the people, the 

secondary characters that come as I write stories, want their stories told too. Many of them have unfinished business. And love can come at any age, right?

So I have written Lois’s story of love with suspense.

LYN COTE UNCERTAIN SPRING

Near midnight, a panicked dog barks frantically—not to frighten but to beckon.

Lois has just driven up to her summer home in a March snowstorm, coming north early to be near her adult daughters. Without hesitation she follows as the dog leads her through the thick pine forest. 

Finally she glimpses a young woman lying in the snow, unconscious. Lois taps in 911.

In the morning, the girl has wakened in what the doctor identifies as a state of dis-associative fugue, a form of amnesia. Lois takes in the girl as the local sheriff tries to find clues to her identity.

The nearby vet, a mountain of a man, helps Lois with the girl’s dog. He’s increasingly attracted to this compassionate but oh so refined woman while Lois finds herself drawn to him. Can they take a second chance on love? And why isn’t anyone searching for the girl? Or is someone?

Click here for more info or to purchase.

And what are your plans post-pandemic?–Lyn (A few commenters will receive the offer of a free ebook.)

Share

Lyn Reviews Miranda James’ Cat Me if You Can

booksbylyncote.com Posted on by

Cat Me If You Can (Cat in the Stacks Mystery #13)Cat Me If You Can by Miranda James
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another mystery with Diesel, the Maine Coon, and Charlie Harris, the Mississippi archivist. This time we leave the familiar Mississippi town and the Athena college campus and go to the Carolinas. It’s a mystery lovers convention set up by the DuCote sisters. So the usual “suspects” are there, some secondary characters who we’ve met before and some new ones. Once again I wasn’t able to guess the right culprit in the murders. The most interesting pop-up character was a maid who claimed to be suffering sleep apnea. Guests would find her collapsed in their rooms–hmmmmm….

View all my reviews

https://amzn.to/3831JhJClick here for more info. PAID LINK

Share

Lyn Reviews Lori Oestreich’s Darling, All My Love

booksbylyncote.com Posted on by

Darling, All My LoveDarling, All My Love by Lori Oestreich
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A lovely debut novel by Lori Oestreich. I know Lori but this is my honest review of her book. In this 1930’s historical, she takes on the differences that separate people and lets love overcome the obstacles. What was really special to me was that the story is based on her grandparents’ real love story. Elegant prose and vivid descriptions. I look forward to her next novel!–Lyn

View all my reviews

Click here to go to Amazon to learn more. Paid Link

Share

Lyn Asks the March Question

booksbylyncote.com Posted on by

My new series, “New Neighbor Lane” has a lot of pets in it, starting with a basset hound, Bummer, and two golden tabbies, Twinkie and Peanut Butter.

THE MARCH QUESTION: What was the name of your first pet? Tell us about how you came to have it and anything else you’d like to share!

My first pet was a gray, white and black striped domestic shorthair that my mother found for me. I don’t remember how she found him. I named Puddy Tat. You know why don’t you? Tweety Bird always said, “I t’ought I saw a puddy tat.” Remember Sylvester the Cat? My Puddy Tat was a great comfort to me as I went through grade school. And he was the cat who always climbed our Christmas tree. That was when people had glass ball ornaments! After the third time, my mom put a cup hook in the wall behind the Christmas tree and tied the tree to the wall. Problem solved. She loved animals and said trying to get a cat not to climb a tree–Impossible!

So please share your first pet story with me. (Some commenters will be offered a free ebook.)

And here’s a blast from the past-I only watched the first one. They go on and on!

Share

Lyn Asks the February Question-First Love?

booksbylyncote.com Posted on by

youth-640094_1280

Image by Amanda McConnell from Pixabay

My February Question is--What was your first love, I mean the “really” first one. I’m recalling my third grade crush at Glen Flora School. Oh, my, Benji had the cutest curly blond hair. And I knew he liked me because he would stand in line behind or in front of me. And he’d look at me and then fall straight the floor—not faint, just fall like a tree.

Oh, Mrs. Johnson didn’t like this! But I was so impressed. Fortunately Glen Flora was an older school and had wooden floors or Benji might have gotten a concussion all for love of me. ‘-) So please tell about that first crush. We could all use a smile, right?–Lyn (I randomly offer a free ebook to a few commenters.)

Share

Not Another Cover Model or Models?

booksbylyncote.com Posted on by

Yes, I need help. For the first time I’m thinking of using a couple on a cover. This new series “New Neighbors Lane” revolves around a life-altering event for a family. Each story shows the characters helping Habitat for Humanity build their first house that they’ll own! The first book is titled “Amy’s Forever Love” and features a young single mom with twin girls. Add in the hero’s basset hound and two cute golden tabby kittens and you have a story I hope you’ll enjoy! It’s a winter in Wisconsin story so here are three couples I’ve chosen.

AGAIN WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR IS A COUPLE THAT MAKES YOU WANT TO KNOW THEIR STORY, FACES AND A POSE THAT DRAWS YOU IN!

#1

#1

#2

#2

#3

#3

I’m always interested in why you choose 1,2, or 3. Again I’ll be gifting at least one commenter with a free ebook. So help me out and tell me what you REALLY think!–Lyn

Share

A Recipe That Made My Husband Nearly Dance with Joy! (And the January Question)

booksbylyncote.com Posted on by

I know that chocolate chip cookies aren’t Christmasy–like gingerbread, spritz etc. Tell that to my husband!

A friend (author Roxanne Rustand) gave me this recipe, but then another friend served us vanilla-flavored chocolate chip cookies (made by adding a box of vanilla pudding mix) and that gave me an idea.

I added more vanilla to the original recipe and when he tasted it, my husband nearly danced aorund the kitchen. And then I decided to toast the pecans before adding them in. Toasting nuts brings out their natural oils and FLAVOR. Then my husband did dance around the kitchen! (kidding–he was too busy chomping!)

So if your husband is like mine and wants chocolate chips cookies for Christmas, this one’s for you!

Amazing Chocolate Chip Cookies

3 sticks butter, softened, no substitutions

1 cup white sugar

1 cup brown sugar

two eggs 

3 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt 

3 tablespoons vanilla (Yes, THREE—you won’t believe how this increases FLAVOR!)

2 cups milk chocolate chips 

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

2 cups pecan halves or pecan pieces (toasted in the oven first-this also amps up the flavor)

Preheat oven to 365°. Cream butter and sugars, then add eggs and vanilla; beat until fluffy. Add to dry ingredients and mix. Stir in chips and nuts. Drop by spoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake 12 to 15 minutes till lightly browned. (Don’t over-bake.) If you like them crisper, smash them somewhat flat and bake at 375° for 15 minutes.

Now for the January Question: What’s January like in your neck of the woods? Happy there or not? (Aren’t you glad I didn’t ask you about new year’s resolutions, such as exercise, calories, etc?:-) Or do you have any funny Januray stories? Please share a few commenters will be randomly chose for a free ebook. Happy SWEET Christmas!–Lyn

Share

2020 Chritian Fiction Scavenger Hunt

booksbylyncote.com Posted on by

 

WELCOME TO THIS YEAR’S Christian Fiction SCAVENGER HUNT!

FYI~ For completing this year’s scavenger hunt, the prizes (in USD, Amazon gift cards):

$350 first place

$250 second place

$150 third place

The contest runs from December 6-12.

However, the best prize each participant can “win” is finding new authors and books to read! 

My Book Info

A new deputy in town and a single mom, both with wounded hearts and with a puzzle to solve together–will love spark under the mistletoe? 

That’s a bit about my romance-mystery, Mistletoe and Sage. This holiday novella is book 5 in my Northern Intrigue series, set in the northwoods of Wisconsin where I live! (FYI~Each book is complete in itself, merely sharing some characters and setting.)

Deputy Sage Carey Dietz lost her first love and must now raise little Tucker alone. She’s forged a career in her hometown, joining the local sheriff’s department. In her low crime county, she is blindsided by a nasty act of vandalism.

Earlier this year Garrett Connolly thought he’d found a lasting love. Instead he left his home for a new start as a deputy sheriff in the northwoods.

Deputies Sage and Garrett find themselves working side by side to solve escalating vandalism. The target of the vandalism is what makes for a situation with high stakes. The nastiness is aimed at homes of the affluent new residents. These new residents provide so many needed jobs and fresh cash to their struggling rural county. Who is targeting the new homes? And perhaps making it unlikely others will come and build new houses near Steadfast?

On the personal side, can Sage feel love again? And is Garrett chancing a rebound romance? Welcome to Steadfast, Wisconsin, a town whose people and mysteries you may never forget. One reader said this exciting mystery romance had “characters who will feel like old friends by the end of the story!”

Every character I write becomes dear to me. But Sage possesses a rare spirit of always looking on the bright side, never letting the circumstances that surround her make her feel like less than she is or could achieve less than she could. A strong woman!

Now let’s begin this scavenger hunt! Go to Amazon by clicking this link. You will be taken to Mistletoe and Sage. Please click the Look Inside feature at the top of the book cover.

There find the answer to this question:

How many years did Sage live away from her hometown of Steadfast?

When you have the answer, click this link and fill out the form https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1xKGM_SNUbkt0g4B9GiW5iy13ZuVsnY2rvB56wQoKC1A/edit  and head on to the next blog!

Thank you so much for visiting! The next author on the tour is Jan Thompson, who is telling us all about her Christmas book WISH YOU JOY. You can find it http://janthompson.com/index.php/christmas-scavenger-hunt-december-7-13-2020/ 

Remember that you must answer every question from all 37 authors in this collection and that the round-robin will end on December 12th at 11:59 PM EST!

Enjoy your Christmas and happy reading!—Lyn Cote

Share

Lyn Reviews Vanetta Chapman’s Dead Wrong

booksbylyncote.com Posted on by

Dead Wrong (Agatha's Amish B&B #1)Dead Wrong by Vannetta Chapman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dead wrong by Vanetta Chapman is a delightful murder mystery. Her characters are likable and realistic. The beautiful Texas Hill country is a wonderful setting and I loved the attitudes of the characters. Agatha Lapp inherits a B&B from her late brother. She is a good person, not a goody goody. There is a difference. I also liked her neighbor, retired detective Tony Vargas, again so believable, so human, so sympathetic. I enjoyed every part of Dead Wrong; it was not predictable. And I liked especially that at the end all the red herrings were explained. I don’t like it when dubious clues are left hanging. To me, that’s sloppy writing. So thank you, Vanetta, for another great read!-Lyn Cote

View all my reviews

To purchase, click this cover. PAID LINK

Share

Lyn Reviews Helen C Johannes’ Children’s Book

booksbylyncote.com Posted on by

Frederick Fly-CatcherFrederick Fly-Catcher by Helen C. Johannes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you’re looking for a whimsical fantasy to give that special child for the holiday-this book is for you!

In disclosure, I am a friend of the author, Helen C Johannes. (This is her first children’s book but she’s an award-winning author of fantasy romances for adults.) And I received a complimentary review copy. But this is my honest review.

First of all, I loved that Frederick is such a REAL frog! So many little details about a frog’s life and world are interwoven into this intriguing story. And this creates a great contrast for the moment that magic enters Frederick’s life!

A human tears into the swamp chased by more humans. AND EVERYONE KNOWS THAT HUMANS ARE TROUBLE!~

Before Frederick can blink his big eyes, he’s carried away into the human world–a castle even!
Of course, there is an evil sorcerer. Doesn’t every castle have one? ‘-)

I’m not going to give away the plot. What fun would that leave for you and the child you give this to or read this to?

It’s available in ebook and print.

My final comment: Not every frog becomes a prince but Frederick is a prince among frogs! See if you and that favorite child don’t agree!

View all my reviews

Click on cover below. Paid Link ONLY 99 CENTS EBOOK-LIMITED TIME!–Lyn

Share