KAREN’S KILLER BOOK BENCH: Welcome to Karen’s Killer Book Bench, where readers can discover talented new authors and take a peek inside their wonderful books. This is not an age-filtered site, so all book peeks are PG-13 or better. Come back and visit often. Happy reading!
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THE HAUNTED LOST ROSE
Charlotte’s Voices of Mystery Book 1
BY C.L. BAUER
Blurb
Some secrets should stay hidden. If they come to light, darkness could weaken even the strongest of families.
Real estate agent Charlotte O’Donohue never looks forward to Mondays. Usually, a couple cups of coffee will fix her mood, but today an unexpected voice directs her to a dead body. She’s going to need a bigger cup, and it better be caffeinated!
When the dead body happens to be your client, the scandal could jeopardize her brother’s business, but Charlotte is more worried about a mysterious stranger who decides she’s the number one suspect. He seems familiar and dangerous. He knows she has a secret, and Charlotte will do anything to keep the truth from him. How could he possibly understand that she can hear the dead?
Ghostly whispers from a spirit who haunts the large Kansas City mansion warns of more danger to come for Charlotte, her family, and for the stranger. But as Charlotte discovers a key to one mystery, another one appears…one that could reveal more than a murderer but a long-forbidden love.
The haunted and the living seem to be conspiring against the spunky real estate agent, throwing her into a love of her own that shakes her to the core.
When long hidden secrets expose lost loves, two intertwined families are placed in jeopardy in Charlotte’s Voices of Mystery.
THE HAUNTED LOST ROSE
Charlotte’s Voices of Mystery Book 1
BY C.L. BAUER
Excerpt
True to his word, Max Shaw stood outside my house at six in the evening, holding all of my worldly work possessions. I greeted him at the door, still in my pajamas and fuzzy slippers. I opened the door, then shuffled into the living room to plop my body in the chair he had sat in that very morning.
Max placed all of my things on the coffee table, and then without asking, he took a seat across from me on my couch. “We have everything we need, and thank you for your cooperation.’
“Uh huh.”
“I’m just searching for the truth.”
“Uh huh.”
I began to chew on one of my fingernails. It was a nasty habit that I long since had abandoned, but today seemed a good time to pick it up again, especially in front of the federal attorney.
“Charlotte, I’m really sorry, and this time answer me.” His tone was a little louder and much more demanding.
I stopped slumping, sitting erect in my chair. We were staring at each other again. I knew what I was looking at, but I wondered what he was seeing. I looked absolutely awful with my medium-length hair pulled into two ponytails on either side of my ears. My makeup was nonexistent. My pajamas were baggy, hiding any form I did have. I didn’t even have a bra on. Usually, I would never allow a man to see me this way, but who really cared? I didn’t. Obviously, he didn’t either.
“What exactly do you want me to say, Mr. Shaw?”
He ran his hand through his hair and clenched his hands together in front of him. He looked as though he was praying.
“I don’t want you to take this all personally.”
If I had been drinking something, I would’ve choked. “You must be kidding! How should I feel? I’m not happy about any of this. You think I killed a man. Your detective thinks I was fooling around with my client, a married man. You think I’m holding something back.” I snapped my mouth shut. I hadn’t told anyone about the key. I was holding something back.
“Did you ever think that by doing everything by the book, I’ll prove you innocent?”
I shook my head. “So now you’re doing me a favor? I am innocent, Poop Head!”
That broke the ice. He looked as shocked as I felt. We both broke out in laughter.
“Gee, I’ve missed that so much,” Max kidded. “You were so cute when you were little.” It was then that he finally examined my look. He burst into laughter again, pointing at my pajamas. “What the heck are those?”
“Birth control?”
About Author C.L. Bauer…
Kansas City, Missouri native C.L. Bauer is the author of three series in mystery genres. Originally a reporter, Bauer worked through jobs in marketing and advertising, to eventually take over the reins of her family’s century old business, Clara’s Flowers. Many of the stories used in her books are based on true events from years in the wedding and event flower world.
You can reach C.L. Bauer on all social mediums, Goodreads, and through her website, www.clbauer.com. You can check out her flower designs at www.clarasflowers.com
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Links to C.L.’s websites, blogs, books, #ad etc.:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3LN8VDD
Buy Link: https://mybook.to/HauntedLostRose
Other Stores: https://books2read.com/u/3Joj5E/
Want to delve into more of Ms. Bauer’s work? Check out her completed Lily List Mystery Series, or sign-up for her newsletter here.
Want to keep up to date on what C.L. Bauer is doing? Follow her on Amazon, Bookbub, and Goodreads.
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Special Giveaway: C.L. is giving away a $10 Amazon gift card, a signed copy of THE HAUNTED LOST ROSE, and some Kansas City swag to one of her readers.
To Enter her Rafflecopter giveaway:
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/9751c04279/?
Happy Reading!
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Thanks, C.L., for sharing your books with us!
Don’t miss the chance to read this book!
This book sounds intriguing! Thank you for sharing.
Good morning, C.L., and welcome to Karen’s Killer Book Bench. I loved your excerpt. I’m hooked! I want to read more. I love suspense mixed with my paranormal. Or is it my paranormal mixed with suspense? LOL Either way, your story promises to be a fun read. Thanks for sharing your book with us today!
This sounds like an interesting book. I appreciate that you have some humor in it as well.
I love your writing and storytelling , and I was immediately drawn into this captivating story from the summary. Once I read the excerpt, I knew I needed to read more. I’d love a signed copy, please. It’s snowing up here in Calgary, Alberta, and I can see myself cuddling up with this very intriguing novel.
“Poop head” 😂😂
Don’t think I’ve seen ever seen that in a murder mystery, especially since it was an adult…
Now how did she wind up braless, in baggy pajamas as a murder suspect?
Thanks, C. L. and Karen.
Wow, your book sounds and looks very intriguing ! And yes, I believe in ghosts. Thank you for the chance. Have a great week.
This sounds very good and something I would enjoy!
The story sounds intriguing, I enjoyed the excerpt.