Thursday, October 11, 2018

HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT - Mary Ellis - One Free Book

Dear Readers, I’ve been looking forward to this latest romantic suspense novel from Mary Ellis. I always read her books as soon as they arrive. As usual, I fell in love with her multi-faceted characters. Some things in her novels are quirky, and there were more quirky characters than usual. And the suspense kept me guessing. I highly recommend this wonderful read.

Signing books at a library event
Welcome back, Mary. You have a lot of books out now. What is your favorite setting to use in your books?
It’s a toss-up between the charming little towns not far from my Ohio home to set my Amish tales, or the gorgeous cities of the South such as Savannah, Charleston, New Orleans, or Memphis, because I do love to travel! My husband and I will be fortunate enough to spend the upcoming winter months in Georgia. As much as I love Ohio, I do not like winter anymore.

I’m glad my husband and I live in Texas in the winter. What do you look for when you’re shopping for a book to buy for yourself?
I love mysteries, whether historical, contemporary, or Amish. They must be good, clean reads with no graphic descriptions, foul language, or sexy scenes. But I do love a little romance in the story, because after all, love makes the world go round!

Give us a little tour of the setting for this book.
Home office
The setting of Hiding in Plain Sight is the historic section of Charleston, South Carolina, voted by Fodor’s Magazine as the most beautiful place to visit in America. I certainly must agree. I had so much fun dodging horse-drawn carriages on the cobblestone streets. I also have scenes set on Kiawah Island, fifteen miles away at the beach. Best of both worlds!

What other books do you have coming out soon?
I have an Amish novella, Nothing Tastes So Sweet, releasing in the anthology, The Amish Sweet Shop, in December. Emma Miller and Laura Bradford also contributed novellas to this anthology.

Writing porch
I’d love to feature that on my blog, too. Please give us a glimpse inside your home.
My home is an A-frame in the middle of three acres of woods. Very private. But the driveway is no fun in the winter. I attached a picture of my office and my porch where I do my writing in nice weather.

Is this novel part of a series or a stand-alone book?
Hiding in Plain Sight is book one of the Marked for Retribution Mysteries. Book two, Sweet Taste of Revenge, will release in February of 2019. I’m happy to say that book three in the series has just been contracted for late 2019.

I’ll be looking forward to each of them. Tell us about this story.
On the run from a troubled past, Kate Weller, the newest member of Price Investigations, covers her tracks, changes her name and takes a case in Charleston, South Carolina, where she can hide in plain sight. Renting a charming room with a waterfront view, Kate sets about trying to locate her adopted client’s natural siblings, only to find more questions than answers when she eventually tracks down a long-lost sister. Meanwhile, her new landlord won’t stop sticking his nose into her case. As far as Kate’s concerned, Eric Manfredi should focus on whatever competitor is bent on ruining his family business. But when petty vandalism turns lethal, and Eric’s father is arrested for murder, Kate determines to prove his innocence. Can she find the real culprit before a killer from her own past tracks her down?

Please give us the first page of the book for my blog readers.
Chapter One
Savannah   
It wouldn’t have taken much to turn a lousy day into something left of atrocious. First, Kate Weller had argued with her landlord who was suddenly demanding a year-long lease instead of their current month-to-month agreement. Apparently, paying in full and on time can work against a person. The landlord wanted her to stick around forever. Next, the air-conditioning in her old Mustang quit working. Since a person couldn’t run surveillance with the top down in a convert­ible, she was forced to endure an uncomfortable afternoon. Finally, she had to watch a landscaper toil for hours in the hot sun without showing the least bit of interest in his female co-worker. Kate yearned to tell his suspicious wife she was imagining things. But since her newfound career as a PI demanded finesse as well as endurance, she would resist insulting the client and be thankful she had a job, considering the gaps in her résumé.

Kate liked her job and the people she worked with. Beth Kirby, a fellow employee, was given the thankless job of training her during her probationary period. She liked her boss, Nate Price too, despite only meeting the man once. And as the agency’s traveling PI, she loved knowing she would soon move on to a new case in a different town. Where no one knows my name, she thought, putting a new twist on an eighties sit-com jingle.

Considering how many times she got stuck in traffic, she should have found the answer to world peace, let alone mapped out her future. Because it was definitely time to move on. An occasional hang-up in the middle of the night might not cause concern. But when the same car parked outside her apartment four nights in a row, Kate knew her past had caught up with her. It wasn’t easy to hide in the twenty-first century.

Maybe if I learned how to cook, quilt, and sew my own clothes, then I could hide in an Amish community. Or maybe not.

After parking the Mustang behind the building, Kate climbed the steps to the second floor, turned the key in the lock, and pushed open the door. Silently, she stood listening . . . for what? The cocking of a trigger? The slide of a semi-automatic chambering a bullet? Or maybe the deep breathing of a madman waiting for her to step across the threshold. Kate had no idea exactly who was after her or how deadly were their intentions. But if the past was a good indicator of the future, she didn’t want to stick around to find out.

So readers, are you hooked now? And Mary how can readers find you on the Internet?
I can be found at: http://www.maryellis.net/ or

Thank you, Mary, for sharing this book with my blog readers and me. I know they will enjoy this story.

Readers, here are links to the book.
Hiding in Plain Sight - Christianbook.com hardback
Hiding in Plain Sight (A Kate Weller Mystery) - Amazon hardback (best price)
Hiding in Plain Sight (A Kate Weller Mystery) - Kindle

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

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20 comments:

Emma said...

"HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT by Mary Ellis sounds wonderful.Thank you for the opportunity to win.Pa.I enjoy reading all of your books.

Robin in NC said...

This sure sounds like an intriguing page turner! Thanks for sharing the chance to win!

Diana Flowers said...

Yes, I am hooked now!! Love Mary Ellis's books & since I live in SC, how can I resist this one? I also love beautiful Charleston & suspense so this book is right up my alley! Thanks for giveaway/interview.

Diana Flowers in SC

Wendy Newcomb said...

This sounds like a good read, thank you for the chance to win a copy.

Wendy in South Sioux City, NE

wfnren at aol dot com

Vivian Furbay said...

What an interesting synopsis! Wonder what she had gotten herself into. Vivian Furbay of CO

Vera Godley said...

I always enjoy a Mary Ellis book and this one looks really interesting.

Vera in central North Carolina - neighborhood had not Power right now but we have a generator. We are so thankful for the generator and for no damage from "Florence" and "Michael" hurricanes.

Winnie said...

This book sounds so intriguing. I haven't read any of Mary Ellis's books yet, but I've heard so many great things about them. I'd love to win a copy.

Winnie T from Utah

Lourdes said...

Thank you for a chance to win this sounds like a great book.

Lourdes Long Island NY

Melanie Backus said...

Hiding in Plain Sight sounds like a must read. Melanie Backus, TX

MJSH said...

Thanks for the giveaway. I’ve enjoyed her books in the past and I’m sure this is another good one.
Mindy from NJ

Anonymous said...

Mary's book sounds like a real page turner that I would enjoy reading.
marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
Maryann in New York

Anonymous said...

I love the premise of this story line. It sounds like so ething I would definitely love to read. The location sounds beautiful, too.
perrianne(DOT)askew(AT)me(DOT)com
Perrianne Askew

Paula Shreckhise said...

I wish I could have kept on reading! Definitely intriguing! Thanks. Paula from Missouri!

Connie Porter Saunders said...

Oh my! I loved this preview. Thanks for sharing!
Connie from Kentucky
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com

Library Lady said...

Our church library readers love our Amish/Mystery books and I do too.
Thanks for entering me in your giveaway.
Janet E.
von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com
Florida

Sharon Bryant said...

Enter me in your awesome giveaway!!

Tammy G. said...

I'd love to read this new story. Love, love mysteries!
Tammy G. in Texas

Mary Ellis said...

Thanks, Lena, for featuring me on your terrific blog! And a big thanks to each of your readers who left me a comment. I loved reading them and truly appreciated their kind words. Fond regards, Mary Ellis

L Palmer said...

I’d love to read your book. It sounds very interesting. Enjoyed the section you included in your blog. I’m from Kansas.

Shelia64 said...

love Mary's books! Shelia from Mississippi