A day in my life?

That’s easy. My life–and every single day in it–is filled with one thing and one thing only:

Books!

Specifically, romance novels.

You see, there’s nothing I enjoy more than diving into a romance. Contemporary, historical, suspense, gothic . . . it really doesn’t matter. I love stories about strong heroines and sizzling hot heroes. I can’t wait to see what kind of scrapes they’ll get into and how they’ll have to work together to find their way out of them. Most of all, I adore watching them get to know each other and fall in love.

Yes, that sound you hear is my heart going pitty pat!

In fact, I love romance novels so much, I recently moved to the little town of Tinker’s Creek, Ohio and opened up my dream bookshop, Love Under the Covers, where I specialize in romance and I host groups for both readers and writers as well as sponsor events like speed dating and author signings.

It’s ideal.

Or at least it’s supposed to be.

You see, all that changed the day Brodie Pierce, local bison rancher and too-hot-to-handle man about town, stopped into the shop and left his credit card behind. I went out to the ranch to return it and that’s when I found Brodie–murdered.

If that wasn’t bad enough, my Aunt Charmaine (she of the too blonde hair, the too crazy clothes, and the often too loudly expressed opinions) had a connection with Brodie no one else in town knows about. One that just might make her Suspect Numero Uno.

I had to act, and quick. Especially since Max Alverez, a ranger at the local national park, was on the case. Max is smart, see, and I knew he’d glom on to Charmaine’s involvement with Brodie. Max is also as delicious as delicious gets, and here’s the thing–I might be an expert when it comes to romance novels, but real-life romance is a challenge for me. In fact, any time I’m interested in a guy, I get itchy, and since I can’t think of what to say, I just naturally start talking about romance novels. Yeah, there I am with a guy I barely know talking about happily ever afters. The result should come as no surprise–they turn tail and run!

With all that going on, I had no choice. I had to find Brodie’s killer before my beloved aunt ended up in the clink.

And before I proved to Max once and for all that when it comes to romance, I’m a total dork.

Add one very shaggy dog, one librarian with ulterior motives, a real estate agent who’s not what she seems, and a host of townspeople with secrets and not-so-secret crushes on Brodie, and you’ll understand why I had my hands full.

I had to find the murderer! After all, I had to get my mind off Charmaine’s troubles, Ranger Alverez, and the dangers that suddenly lurked around every corner and back where it belonged–totally and completely on books!

Death of a Red-Hot Rancher, A Love Is Murder Mystery #1
Genre: Cozy
Release: September 2021
Purchase Link

Love meets murder in this new cozy mystery series set in a quirky romance bookstore, with a heroine to die for.

Lizzie Hale may be the lucky owner of a successful romance bookshop, Love Under the Covers, but she’s decidedly un-lucky in love. Though she’s read almost every famous romance novelist, from Jane Austen to Nora Roberts, none have helped her figure out how to get—and keep—a man.

But Lizzie has bigger problems to worry about. Like murder.

When Brodie Pierce, swoon-worthy ranch owner and resident bachelor, is found stabbed through the chest, hearts were heard breaking all over idyllic Tinker’s Creek. But when Lizzie’s aunt is implicated in the murder, she’s determined to clear her name. Lizzie quickly realizes that Brodie was a hunk with many hidden secrets, and she’s soon leafing through a stack of suspects longer than Brodie’s list of lovers.

With the killer still on the loose, Lizzie will have to find the truth before this act of passion ignites a fire she can’t put out.

About the author
Mimi Granger started her publishing career writing romance and like the heroine of her new Love is Murder series, she enjoys the genre in every one of its incarnations. Historical, contemporary, gothic, suspense . . . the subgenre doesn’t matter. Smart and determined heroines, delicious heroes, and the power of romance novels to reinforce the possibility of happily ever after hold a special place in her heart. Of course, she’s also a sucker for a good murder investigation and with “Death of a Red-Hot Rancher,” the first book of the new series, she’s found a way to combine hearts, flowers, and a cold corpse or two. You can find Mimi online at: mystery-book-series.com.

All comments are welcomed.