Have you ever taken a look at your hands? I mean a real look at your hands? Your fingers? Go on. Take a nice long look at them. Yep. Hold them out in front of you. Do you see the creases where your joints meet? Bend them. Up and down, up and down.
Now. . .bend your pointer finger down like it’s missing or how your dad use to play the “where did my finger go” game.
Well…my dad didn’t. Hell, my dad left me on the steps of an orphanage in Walnut Grove, Kentucky—of all places. But Trixie did a fine job raising me even though there wasn’t a single family who wanted to adopt me.
I guess I couldn’t blame them. I was. . .am. . .sort of a rebel. And I did sort of blackmail the local Baptist preacher and kind of steal money from the bank. . .but that’s all in the past. I’m going to prove this town that I’ve changed.
Now I’m a port-a-potty sell’s rep for Porty Morty’s with a company car. . .was. I keep forgetting that Morty Shelton “laid me off” and now I’m driving a 1957 yellow Belvedere given to my by another orphan now turned cop, Derek Smitherman.
I have to find a new job, but no one wants to give me a chance. . . until Trigger Finger Tony mistakenly thought my Belvedere is a taxi and jumped right in.
I protested, but the wad of cash he flashed me is a little hard to walk away from, especially when I need a job. So I agree to be his personal driver while he is visiting Walnut Grove. It isn’t my business why he is here. But it sure is Jax Jackson’s business, the undercover FBI agent who jumped in my car right after I dropped of Trigger.
Jax Jackson demands that I go undercover and help the FBI bring down Trigger Finger Tony and the mob or he’s going to bring me up on federal charges for my criminal past.
But back to the hand.
Trigger Finger Tony is missing his pointer finger. He jokes that he lost it to his hungry piranhas and doesn’t have a problem introducing his pets to people who make him angry.
Hmm…working with the FBI and the mob isn’t how I wanted to prove this town wrong. And I’m a little partial to my fingers.
Well, at least my stray cat, Henrietta, keeps me company while riding shotgun.
You can read more about Laurel in Checkered Crime, the first book in the new “Laurel London” mystery series, published by Tonya Kappes. Books are available at online booksellers.
GIVEAWAY
Comment on this post by 6 p.m. EST on June 23, and you will be entered for a chance to win a copy of CHECKERED CRIME. Three winners will be chosen at random. Unless specified, U.S. entries only.
Meet the author
USA Today Bestselling Author, Tonya Kappes writes humorous cozy mystery and women’s fiction that involves quirky characters in quirky situations. Not only have her novels made the USA Today bestsellers list, but they are an Amazon Top 100 author, Amazon Movers and Shakers, and International bestsellers.
Splitsville.com, the first novel in the Olivia Davis Mystery Series, is a double finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards in the Mystery and Humorous Categories. Carpe Bead ‘em is 2012 winner in Amazon’s eFestival of Words in the Women’s Fiction Category. A Charming Crime, the first novel in the Magical Cures, is the 2013 eFestival of Words in the Fantasy Category Winner. A New Tradition, the Indie Romance Convention 2013 novella of the year.
When not being the princess, queen, and jester of her family of three teenage boys, an adoring husband, and three fury kids, she travels to various writing groups as guest speaker on “How to Market and Promote Your Novels Effectively,” where she is known as a marketing guru.
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Sounds like a wonderful book, I love Tonya Kappes books.Would love to win
Sounds like a fun read.
Are the various typos intended?
It sounds like Laurel wants to be a grown up now and I hope she gets the chance! Love Tonya’s books!!
Sounds like a fun read. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
Sounds like a great book. Definitely will have to get this book.
I’m eager to read Kappes. Count me in.
I love Tonya’s book.
Sounds like a great read, thanks for the chance
Still have yet to read this, but all the reviews and hype sound amazing! Would be awesome to win a copy 😉
Looks like a great read.
Woo Hoo amazing author and friend! Everyone wil love this book!!!
Love your books! Can’t wait to read this one!
This sounds like a book I would enjoy!
Sounds great! Can’t wait to read!
Tonya writes such fun books, would love to win this paperback. Thanks for the chance.
New to me author – and I am so sorry to have missed her. This sounds like a perfect book – mystery and laughter – Wonderful.
Tonya writes such fun books, I would love to win this paperback. Thank you for the chance.
Sounds hilarious.
Laurel sounds a bit “grittier” than most cozy characters—I think I’ll like her.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
sounds like it would be interesting. I get tired of books about a triangle love affair – one of the men is a cop and the heroine has to find the killer for him.
Love Tonya kappas and would enjoy a copy of her new book.
sounds hysterical!! so glad to have another tonya kappes book!
I totally love Laurel already! Just from the bits and pieces I’ve read about her I can tell I’m going to be able to relate to her very well. Just please tell me this FBI guy is super hot!!!
This sounds like my kind of book, humorous and not too gory.
I’m looking forward to reading this one. Thanks for the chance to win.
sounds like a great book. want to read more. Hope I win.
Thank you so much for having Laurel! I had a blast writing her and I hope everyone falls in love with her! xo
Tonya Kappes books are so fun, I know this one will be a blast to read! Can’t wait!
Sounds like a real fun ride.
“Checkered Crime” sounds like something I would enjoy reading.
Thank you for the review Dru Ann…a good one as always! I’m not familiar with this particular author, but the storyline sounds like a good one. Thanks for the chance to win #1 in this new series.
Sandy in So. Cali
I am very eager for this release and it’s just in time for summer fun reading! Tonya, I love your writing style and how there is a cat involved in some mystery or other.
Checkered Past sounds hilarious!
would love to read this!!!
thank you for the giveaway!!!
I’m always looking for new series. This one sounds like a good one.
I haven’t read any of her books, but this one sounds so good. I can’t wait to read it.
Have enjoyed a few of Tonya’s other books, and this one sounds like a fun read as well.
contest is closed.
want to win