Keeping Track Of Time With Grumps

Five unlikely friends and a year that’ll change everything.

ABOUT A MOMENT ON THE LIPS:

ETTA has had enough. At 5 ft 3 and size 20, she is determined to make a change. A change for herself, her daughter, and to show her ex, Robert, that she is, in fact, not only good enough for him but, in fact, far too good.

JENNA is being driven mad by her mother-in-law’s critical and overbearing personality. And with her wedding fast approaching, she’s determined to regain control of her body and the big day.

VAL is feeling lost and in shock after her husband of thirty years has upped and left her. Why? Good question. Val has no idea, but she’s determined to find out.

NICKY has been on a downward spiral since her divorce. Struggling to move on and lonely with only her cats for company, food has become her best friend.

YANA has new life in England. Despite marital bliss being everything she’d hoped for, Yana misses her family back in Russia and has developed some new habits that even her new husband isn’t unaware of.

Together they improve their lives and discover that it’s never too late to strive towards the life you’ve always wanted.

JA Konrath is the author of the Lt. Jacqueline “Jack” Daniels mysteries. She’s a Chicago homicide cop with a wicked sense of humor, and the novels fluctuate between funny business and serious suspense.

Tom Schreck is the author of the Duffy Dombrowski mysteries. He’s a social worker by day and a semi-pro boxer by night, and he’s quick with a left hook as he is with his wit.

Planter’s Punch is a 7500 word novella that features both Jack Daniels and Duffy Dombrowski.

It also includes a bonus interview with the authors.

Both Schreck and Konrath write funny, laugh out-loud mysteries without skimping on the action and suspense.

Kirkus calls Duffy, “Warmhearted, tough, and funny” and Crimespree Magazine raves, “In the boxing match of life I want Duffy Dombrowski as my ring man.”

Booklist calls the Jack Daniels series, “A solid success for those who like to mix comedy and grit” and Library Journal calls Konrath, “Not to be missed.”

With single-minded determination, Henrik has worked toward gaining his knighthood so he may rise above the lowly station in which he was born. But just when the coveted position is within his grasp, he’s tasked with a mission that proves to be far more difficult than expected — secretly keeping a watchful eye on Lady Clover, a nobleman’s daughter with a sharp tongue and a knack for starting fights.

Clover, too, has one goal in life, and it has nothing to do with joining dull and dry Henrik on his supply run to the northern guard post. Why the blacksmith’s son is so determined to keep her close, she has no idea. They bicker and fight, and if Clover were to find a troll pit, she would certainly dump Henrik into it.

By the time they reach their destination, they are more than ready to be rid of each other. Unfortunately, something is amiss in the northern mountains. The usually quiet aynauths are on the move, with a bloodthirsty agenda of killing the peaceful Woodmoor elves.

Putting their differences aside to work together, Henrik and Clover trek across the mountains to investigate. As they slowly unravel the mystery, uncovering clues that hint at a conspiracy against the crown, it quickly becomes apparent that what started as mutual distaste has morphed into something entirely different. Something dangerous, something they didn’t expect.

But neither Henrik nor Clover has room in their lives for love — especially when a sinister plot is already in the works that might not only tear them apart, but the entire kingdom as well…

A collection of four critically acclaimed, gripping short novels that delve into the depths of survival, obsession, and the dark side of human nature.

Box of Bones
Jim, an American expat teaching English in the Philippines, wakes up after a night out to find himself trapped inside a pitch-black coffin — running out of oxygen and out of time. With only his cell phone and his wits, he must fight panic and exhaustion in a desperate race against death.

Six Bullets
Thirteen months after a massive asteroid wiped out civilization, survivalist Burt James is still alive — bunkered in his fortified home deep in the Australian Outback. But now, his food is gone, his ammunition is down to six bullets, and his toughest decision yet is fast approaching.

The Mailman
Los Angeles, 1985. The Sunset Strip is the epicenter of sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll, and record executive Mick Freeman is betting his career on signing a reckless band that could redefine music. Meanwhile, his wife, Jade, lonely and adrift in their crumbling marriage, finds herself drawn to the new mailman — a dangerously seductive stranger who pulls her into a nightmare she never saw coming.

Re-Roll
In the near future, lifelike humanoid robots called Mechs are on the market, programmed to be whatever their owners desire — partners, companions, or servants. Each new Mech comes with a free “roll” to determine its three defining traits. But as everyone knows, luck is fickle, and if you don’t like your first result, you can always re-roll — if you’re willing to pay the price.

Violet arrives in California filled with hope and dreams. However, when she meets the town’s Sheriff, she is shocked to hear that her husband has died. Desperate and alone, Violet has no idea what to do until the Sheriff tells her about Frank, a bounty hunter with a thirst for justice. From that day, she has only one thing on her mind: vengeance.

When she finds the motive behind her husband’s death, will she be able to get the help she needs?

Frank has lived a hard life but he has vowed to help those in need. If he wants to put evil behind bars, he must bring back the man who murdered Violet’s husband. Soon, a deadly game of dangerous outlaws and secret schemes begins. Yet, as he gets to know Violet, he finds himself eager to give her more… A second chance at happiness.

When the brave gunman comes face to face with a ruthless criminal though, only one will live to tell the tale…

Tragedy unfolds with each passing day for Frank and Violet. When Violet gets caught in the middle of a secret she can never reveal, she becomes a pawn in a treacherous game. Frank takes it upon himself to save the woman who gave him a reason to live. Together, will they uncover the truth behind a mysterious death and make whoever is behind it pay?