“This is Cindy, how may I assist you?”
Oh, my apologies. I forgot where I was for a second. My mind is constantly in sales pitch mode these days. You see, the real estate market hasn’t been kind to me as of late. It’s really difficult trying to make a living when your co-worker keeps stealing your listings!
Yes, you heard me right. I was all set to have Mrs. Hunter sign on the dotted line this morning. That sweet, elderly woman is so forgetful, she doesn’t remember my name half the time. But I worked very hard for her as I do all my clients. In the past week alone, I’ve brought salmon for her enormous, temperamental cat while my husband Greg fixed her leaky toilet—which, by the way, is where my career is headed—all because Tiffany Roberts beat me to the punch. Again.
Tiffany is almost twenty years my junior. She’s gorgeous and one of the top agents in the entire state. She’s also deceitful, dishonest and despicable. Should I go on?
I know it may sound like I’m jealous of Tiffany, but not in the manner you might think. I’ve just had enough of her contemptible ways. I’m madly in love with my husband Greg and we have three terrific kids. Darcy’s fifteen and, like most teenagers, a bit self-centered at times. Stevie and Seth are our eight-year-old twins. They’re good boys, except when they’re trying to set the house on fire.
My best friend, Jacques, is a co-worker and complete genius when it comes to the real estate market. He’s second in sales only to Tiffany, but at least he comes by them honestly. Jacques has also been very instrumental in guiding my career at Hospitable Homes the past three years, which is a good thing, because our manager would just as soon that I didn’t have one. She’s looking for any excuse to fire me. Oh, and did I mention that Tiffany is her pet?
When I found out Tiffany had stolen the Hunter listing out from under me—well, I kind of snapped. I mean, not really snapped, but she did push a few buttons. You see, I can tolerate many things, such as the puppy peeing on the carpet, the twins flooding the bathroom, or sometimes even my mother-in-law!
No way will Tiffany get the best of me again. Greg was so proud when I told him. I arranged to meet her at the office tonight after I fed my family dinner. We had steak, by the way. It was kind of tough. (Why can’t you buy good steak anymore?)
I’m not greedy, but we do need the money. Hopefully Greg’s raise comes through soon. Darcy wants a new dress for the spring dance and the twins are outgrowing their clothes at an alarming rate. Plus, the puppy really needs to be neutered.
Okay, deep breath here. I’ve had enough. Tiffany will not treat me like a doormat. I will not settle for less than 70% of the transaction. I will not haul off and smack her. Well, maybe. Did I also forget to mention that I threatened her earlier on the phone? Yes, you heard it here first. I told her to give me back the listing—unless she wanted to die young.
She was waiting for me at the office that night. Alone. And—you guessed it—she was dead.
Now what am I going to do??
You can learn more about Cindy in Killer Transaction, the first book in the NEW “Cindy York” Mysteries, available now from Gemma Halliday Publishing.
About Killer Transaction
Real estate deals can be murder.
All struggling real estate agent Cindy York wants is the home listing that was promised to her. But her deceitful co-worker, Tiffany Roberts, has other ideas, and she always manages to get what she wants. Tired of being manipulated, Cindy tells her to back off—or else! But when Cindy stumbles upon Tiffany’s lifeless body, she suddenly finds herself front and center in a deadly investigation. Now everyone from her kids’ classmates to her monstrous mother-in-law is sold on the idea that Cindy’s guilty. Determined to find out who’s trying to frame her, Cindy enlists the help of her best buddy, Jacques, to negotiate a slew of suspects, a host of clues, and an office full of cutthroat agents…before the next contract is out on her!
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GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 a.m. eastern on November 27 for your chance to win either a print (US entries only, please) or the digital version (open to everyone) of Killer Transaction. Good luck everyone!
About the author
Catherine is the #1 best-selling cozy mystery author of Tastes Like Murder. She lives in a male dominated household that consists of her very patient husband, three sons, and assorted cats and dogs. Catherine holds a B.A. and dual major in English/Performing Arts and is a former newspaper reporter and press release writer. She writes both the “Cookies & Chance” and the “Cindy York” mysteries. Her next release, Baked to Death, is scheduled for January 2016.
You can visit Catherine atwww.catherinebruns.net, on Facebook and on Twitter
Oh my! Can’t wait to read this! Thanks for the chance!
Sounds like a family I know…Should be fun with suspense…
I am from Singapore and it’s so difficult to get all these books. Thank you for giving me a chance to win this! 🙂
Good luck, Chris!
This book sounds too good to pass up! Thankyou for the opportunity!
Thanks for the chance to read another great new series.
This books sounds so good that I tried to put it on my wish list twice, lol. Would love to win it to read. Thanks for the giveaway.
I love it… I grew up in the real estate business.. My family owned an office and the building it was in. When my grandmother brought in this bimbo to sell for her I thought I would kill her for the way she treated me…. Yes I was the oldest grandchild and heir to the throne (no not that one). I was planning on ripping out her bottle red hair but sanity prevailed and I just stopped going into the office.
Toss my hat into the contest ring please dru.
The real estate business can definitely be cutthroat, as Cindy will attest to, lol! Thanks for your comment!
Killer Transaction sounds exciting! I am adding it to my list. Thank you for the giveaway.
myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com
Sounds like a fun book
I haven’t read a book with a real estate setting in a long time and I would love to! Thanks for the opportunity.
Well this sounds fantastic! 🙂 I am anxious to read it, and appreciate the opportunity Dru and Catherine, for a chance to win a copy. Many thanks. 🙂
Thanks Barbara, and good luck!
Catherine Bruns is a wonderful author!! I would love to add a print copy of Killer Transaction to my bookshelf.
Sounds great. Can’t wait to read this one. I haven’t read so many books in my life. Always working, never had the time. Now that I’m home that’s all I want to do. Curl up and read, read, read
New author. Always exciting. The teaser is most intriguing Thanks for this opportunity
This sounds like my family many years ago. I would love to laugh my way through this book. Thanks for the offer.
Sometimes you know exactly what is going to happen. Poor Tiffany.
Sounds like an interesting read.
thanks.
Sounds like a another great read. Thanks for the chance.
Sounds like a wonderful book. I would love to winthis one.Thanks, Dru.
This book sounds like a hoot! I look forward to reading it.
Thanks Mary Jane, I hope you will enjoy it!
would love to win, sounds like a great read, ty
Thank you Dru, for hosting Cindy today!
Love Catherine Bruns…fun reads! I’d love the characters!
Thanks for the chance to win. I don’t know anything about real estate and see this a fun way to learn!
And, of course, she was the one who arranged the meeting.
What a great sounding series.
New author and series, looks like fun
Cindy York and predicament sound intriguing. I would love to own the book. I think I’d prefer the print version. Thanks!
Another new author and book to add to my list. I love finding new ones that are introduced on your blog. robeader53@yahoo.com
Always looking for new-to-me authors. Thanks for a chance to win a copy.
I love the idea of this new series and can’t wait to sit down with it.
Yes, please!!!
Thank you for the giveaway!!!
Thanks for the opportunity. Bobbipad at gmail dot com
Thank you Catherine for commenting and interacting with my readers.
Contest is closed.
The real estate business sounds brutal! Thanks for the contest.
suefarrell.fararell@gmail.com