A Few Thoughts on Castle & More Info On The Prizes!

Castle was fun last night, a bit of a fluffy episode, but I liked it.  They did a spoof of Saturday Night Live and it has some really interesting characters! When the boss, Sid, is found murdered in an elevator shaft, the team goes through several twists and turns to find his murderer.

First, they thought it was an actor Mickey Franks (played by Jaleel White aka Urkel) who has a puppet as his lawyer. I have to say, I laughed at the look on Beckett's face when she had to talk to the puppet. But it wasn't him.

The second suspect is a drug dealer who financed the pilot episode.  But he swears he was only protecting his investment and was in the alley where gunshots were fired at Sid because Sid asked to meet him there. And he has an alibi.

The team keeps digging and finds out that Sid was actually in the alley paying a $4 million ransom for his ex-wife. They track her down through her "track my jog" route and find her in a warehouse. She says her kidnappers have a signet ring and a prop mask.  When they go back to the set to track down the prop mask, Carly Rae Jeppsen is there and Castle almost gets to ask her about the lyrics to Call Me Maybe (what could he need to know about those lyrics? LOL) but then she has to go on stage so Castle and Beckett dance to I Really Really Like you.

They find the security guard guy with the same signet ring that the ex-wife remembered her kidnappers wearing, but he swears he didn't do it either. He doesn't have an alibi, though, poor guy.

Castle, luckily, doesn't really think it's him, that it's too easy, and Ryan comes up with something off the financials---someone has been embezzling from Sid and it all amounts to $4 million dollars. So it's an inside job and the killer is . . .the head of the production company. They have footage of him framing the security guard and proof that he took the money to finance a start up company. Case closed.

Some of the highlights of the show were when Castle was comforting his mother who was nervous about being on Broadway again in a social media world that can be cruel. He is so sweet to her and I love their scenes together.

The actress who was trying to copy Kate's "gait" and the look on Castle's face when Kate asks him if she really walks that way. Poor Castle.

Castle's reaction to the guest host flirting with Kate.  So. Funny.

Next week's episode looks totally intense.  I don't think I'll be watching it with the lights off!

Did you watch last night? What did you think?

Okay, time to get back to the blogaversary party!  When I started this blog it was because I had realized as a Frog Blogger that I really loved blogging and didn't want to give it up when the Frog Blog ended.  I loved connecting with readers and am so glad I've been able to continue doing that! You all make it worthwhile.

So, let's talk about the prizes, shall we? We have some awesome ones. Let me tell you about the first six that we are offering in the big BLOGAVERSARY GIVEAWAY! (If you click on the circles at the top of the rafflecopter you can see them all. Just FYI.) :)

1.  First of all, there's an ecopy boxed set of the novels in my Hostage Negotiation Team series. If you want to read the first chapters of all four books, you can go here and click on the Hostage Negotiation Team tab at the top.

2.  Then, we have Book 1 & 2 of Teyla Branton's Unbounded series. Gritty and well-done. Here's the back copy of Book 1:

Death, Life, or Love—Unbounded Always Play for Keeps

There are only two ways to kill Unbounded, and fire isn’t one of them—as law school dropout Erin Radkey learns the hard way. By fluke of a recessive gene, she has become Unbounded, a nearly immortal being with paranormal abilities.

Erin’s Change separates her from her loved ones and alters everything she believes to be true. A week earlier she was considering a marriage proposal; now she contemplates the best way to stay alive. Caught in a battle between two Unbounded groups, the Emporium and the Renegades, she is also hunted by a secret mortal society sworn to eradicate the Unbounded gene.

As Erin plunges into this dangerous new life, she must carve out her own place in the madness, protect her mortal family, and decide which group she should join. Her unique ability is vital to both groups in the race to secure an identification software that spells death for all Unbounded—or enslavement for the entire mortal world. Some will stop at nothing to use Erin as one more pawn in a battle that has spanned centuries. Erin’s undeniable attraction to Ritter Langton, whose family was massacred by opposing Unbounded two hundred and forty years ago, complicates her choices. There are no second chances. Death, life, or love—Unbounded always play for keeps.

Non-stop action, terrifying consequences, and powerful romance make The Change an exciting addition to the world of romantic urban fantasy.

3.  Third, we have an ecopy boxed set of the Spy Another Day Prequels by Jordan McCollum. If you haven't read this spy series yet, you need to! Here's the back copy of the first one:

I, SPY
Canada is probably the last place you'd expect to find an American spy. But even idyllic Ottawa has its deadly secrets—and so does CIA operative Talia Reynolds. She can climb through ventilation shafts, blend in at the occasional diplomatic function, even scale buildings (small ones). But there’s one thing she can’t do: tell her aerospace engineer boyfriend Danny about her Top Secret occupation.

It worked for a year, keeping Danny in the dark, keeping him away from danger, keeping her secrets. And then Talia finally catches a hot case: Fyodor Timofeyev. Russian. Aerospace executive. Possible spy?

She can make this work, too—until Danny needs her at the same time her country does. And when Fyodor targets Danny? Suddenly her schedule isn't the only thing suffering. Now to save her secrets and her country, Talia must sacrifice the man she loves.

Fourth, we have an ecopy of Heather Moore's California Dreamin' collection. I just started reading this one and it's good! Here's the back copy:

Six brand new contemporary romance novellas with bestselling and award winning authors.

In the sweet novella TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE by Heather B. Moore, Gwen uses her wedding photography business to keep her life simple and focus on something other than her own broken heart. When Jack, a guy too handsome for his own good, helps her clean up after a photoshoot, then asks her out, she doesn’t know if she can handle dating again. But Jack’s charm wins her over, and she agrees to meet him for dinner. The more she gets to know Jack, the more she likes him, but everything about him seems too good to be true.

GONE FISHING, a charming novella by Kaylee Baldwin, follows Claire as she tries to convince her dad to leave his start-up company as a boat guide and come back home to Colorado. He’s the only one who can defend Claire against her domineering mother. But when she arrives at the San Diego harbor, she’s met with more than one surprise. First, that her dad is truly living his dream and has never been happier, and second, she’s unexpectedly attracted to his business partner, Miguel.

In THE PIER CHANGES EVERYTHING, an enchanting novella by Annette Lyon, Alexandria has one last task to perform for her late husband, who died much too young: scatter his ashes in the Pacific Ocean. She goes to the Santa Monica Pier to do just that, but her plans get sidetracked after meeting Michael and feeling an immediate connection to him. They grab lunch, and the more time they spend together, the more they discover that they have in common—including past romantic hardships. As the day wears on, Alexandria begins learn that her heart just might be able to find love again.

In Jennifer Moore’s captivating novella A HERO’S SONG, AnneMarie’s career as a romance novelist is skyrocketing and her agent books her on a late night talk show. The host gets her to admit that she was in love once, with a guitar player. Moments after her segment, Lance Holden appears on the same stage, to perform his newest song. Is it a terrible coincidence? AnneMarie hasn’t seen Lance ever since he broke her heart ten years ago, and she has refused to think about him again. Their lives are worlds apart, but as Lance tries to reconcile with AnneMarie, she finds herself taking a second chance.

In STAY WITH ME, an endearing novella by Shannon Guymon, Jolie moves to L.A. to take on a nanny position for the summer, since apparently having a degree in art doesn’t translate to getting a job as a graphic designer. When Fitz, the family’s chauffeur, picks her up at the airport, she wonders if every man in LA is model-gorgeous. When Jolie meets her two charges, she finds them adorable and needy. But it’s harder to hold onto her job than she thought with a hostile Mrs. James and her spoiled brother. Fitz becomes both the silver lining of her job and the man who just might convince her to stay in L.A.

In the delightful novella, A PLACE TO CALL HOME, by Sarah M. Eden, Ada is the best realtor around. The best. She prides herself in matching each client with the house that will fit all of their needs. She hasn’t failed yet. So when Craig hires her to find him the perfect condo for him and his son, Ada is up for the challenge. What she may not be prepared for is her unforeseen attraction to Craig, her immediate attachment to his nine-year-old son, and her heart telling her that it’s okay to take another chance.

Fifth, an autographed copy of Debra Erfert's Relative Evil.  This book has chills, thrills, and just the right amount of romance. Here's the back copy:

Inspired by her father and his pretty young wife, novelist Claire Abney allows her imagination to run wild and pens a best-selling thriller. However, as Glen Abney suffers multiple freak accidents, she wonders exactly where the prose stops and reality begins.

Claire screens her family from the prying eyes of success with a masculine pen name and her handsome editor, her shill for photo ops and book signings. But her father’s unexpected death, and bungled attempts on her own life, force her to admit the strategy may have backfired. Now, with the help of her brother and Max, her dreamy frontman, she must separate truth from fiction. Before life imitating art becomes deadly.

Sixth, we have an ecopy of Boardwalk Antiques Shop by Heather Moore, Julie Wright, and Melanie Jacobson, some of my favorite writers! Unique and fun, you won't be sorry to win this one. Here's the back copy:

The Boardwalk Antiques Shop
A Tangerine Street Romance
(a novel in three parts)

“Where Every Antique has a Story”

MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE: Jennifer is newest owner of The Boardwalk Antiques Shop, inherited from her aunt. When Jennifer arrives in Seashell Beach, her first priority is to meet with a realtor to sell the place. She laughs out loud when she discovers the realtor’s name is Mr. Studly. But the more Jennifer gets to know Paul Studly, the more she finds reasons to stay and run the antiques shop herself.

SOLVING FOR X: Abbie is only a little bit obsessed with antiques, okay, a lot. So when Holden, an out-of-town business executive, tries to purchase the tin soldiers that Abbie’s had her eye on, Abbie refuses to back down. The antiques shop owner issues a challenge: whoever comes up with the best story for wanting the soldiers, will become the new owner. Abbie isn’t about to let some fancy executive beat her out, no matter how charming he is.

A STITCH IN TIME: When Cate learns that antiques dealer Henry Lancaster has purchased the sewing machine left to her by her grandmother, Cate is determined to get it back. What she isn’t counting on is that Henry has just as much claim as Cate. And it doesn’t help that Henry is good-looking and apparently single. Getting to know Henry becomes an unexpected surprise, sending her life into a sudden detour.
If you haven't entered the giveaway yet, click here and scroll all the way down. Lots of winners and great prizes, including the ones above!  Don't miss it!