Hawaii is palm trees, black sand and blue water - but for policewoman Lei Texeira, there’s a dark side to paradise. Lei has overcome a scarred past to make a life for herself as a cop, but often the cases she works activate wounds and complications from her tangled family history. Lei is affected deeply by her cases even as she solves them with persistence, obsession, and intuition. She falls in love with Michael Stevens, the charismatic detective she works with, and they make a life solving crime in contemporary Hawaii with all its beauty and deadliness.
Revenge Makes it Sweeter by Julie C. Gilbert (2015)
Length: 100 pages
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Revenge Makes it Sweeter Blurb:
Revenge Makes it Sweeter Blurb:
Revenge is a lot of work.
When the original plan for his ex-wife goes awry, Martin Cantrell turns his mind toward a sweeter revenge: stealing their daughter’s affections. But he’s not the only one plotting, and his enemies are better at keeping to the shadows.
Meanwhile, Special Agent Marcella Scott gets a late night summons to the hospital to speak with a gunshot victim. She knows to expect almost anything, yet he still surprises her.
“Agent, if I die, save the girl."
The girl turns out to be Katelyn Cantrell. Marcella’s not the only one protecting her, and the other person has no problem killing to obtain their goals.
Can Marcella prevent an assassination and catch a killer?
Find out in Revenge Makes it Sweeter. This story comes several months before Black Jasmine of Toby Neal's original Lei Crime Series.
When the original plan for his ex-wife goes awry, Martin Cantrell turns his mind toward a sweeter revenge: stealing their daughter’s affections. But he’s not the only one plotting, and his enemies are better at keeping to the shadows.
Meanwhile, Special Agent Marcella Scott gets a late night summons to the hospital to speak with a gunshot victim. She knows to expect almost anything, yet he still surprises her.
“Agent, if I die, save the girl."
The girl turns out to be Katelyn Cantrell. Marcella’s not the only one protecting her, and the other person has no problem killing to obtain their goals.
Can Marcella prevent an assassination and catch a killer?
Find out in Revenge Makes it Sweeter. This story comes several months before Black Jasmine of Toby Neal's original Lei Crime Series.
Hoaka Moonshine by Laurie Hanan (2015)
Length: 77 pages
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Hoaka Moonshine Blurb:
When Dee Maltin bought the little beach cottage on Maui, all she wanted was
to leave her memories behind. Now, fifteen years later, things are starting to go awry. Why does everyone else deny hearing the feral cats that keep Dee awake all night? What’s the smell that permeates her house no matter how much she scrubs?
to leave her memories behind. Now, fifteen years later, things are starting to go awry. Why does everyone else deny hearing the feral cats that keep Dee awake all night? What’s the smell that permeates her house no matter how much she scrubs?
Why does her strange neighbor, who hasn’t spoken to her in all these years, choose this moment to strike up a conversation? A woman shows up at Dee’s door looking for her birth mother. Is she a con artist, or just deluded? Dee searches for answers and is soon over her head in one big Hawaiian-kine mystery.
Rocky Bluff by Kim Hornsby (2015)
Length: 151 pages
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Rocky Bluff Blurb:
Toby Neal calls Rocky Bluff "A Twisty, Fun Mystery!"
Detective Lei Texeira has just moved to Maui from Kauai with boyfriend Michael Stevens when they witness a tragic accident during a performance of The Rocky Horror Show at the local theater. A closer look suggests murder. Stevens is assigned the case but Lei can't keep her nose and her theories out of his investigation especially when she realizes that her new running partner and friend, Kali, might have been the ultimate target. Lei goes undercover in the bizarre theatrical rendition of a narcissistic transsexual and his band of weirdos, but soon finds herself a target as well.
Kali's past catches up with her and Lei and Stevens struggle to apprehend a clever killer who stays several steps ahead of the police in this game of terror. It isn't until the Iao Theater ghost intervenes and Lei finds herself conspiring with a dead woman that final clues fit together to form a bizarre mosaic of treachery.
Although it's not necessary to read the Lei Crime Series to enjoy Rocky Bluff, Kim highly recommends the Bestselling Police Procedural books by Award-Winning Toby Neal. Rocky Bluff takes place between Torch Ginger and Black Jasmine and includes a yummy and sugary recipe for Malasadas (Portuguese Donuts)
Although it's not necessary to read the Lei Crime Series to enjoy Rocky Bluff, Kim highly recommends the Bestselling Police Procedural books by Award-Winning Toby Neal. Rocky Bluff takes place between Torch Ginger and Black Jasmine and includes a yummy and sugary recipe for Malasadas (Portuguese Donuts)
Coconut Island by J. L. Oakley (2015)
Length: 116 pages
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Coconut Island Blurb:
Fifteen years ago…
Before he was Maui County Medical Examiner, Dr. Phillip Gregory was a recently divorced assistant medical examiner who moved to Hawaii and fell in love with a gorgeous woman named Amy Kawela.
Then, she disappeared without a trace, proving his lousy luck in finding life-long love.
Present day…
Tough Choices by Terry Ambrose (2015)
Length: 93 pages
Purchase your copy from Amazon!
Tough Choices Blurb:
Length: 116 pages
Purchase your copy from Amazon!
Coconut Island Blurb:
Memories are dangerous.
Investigative reporter Wendy Watanabe is no stranger to mysteries, but can she handle one steeped in her own family’s history?
A box of letters from a WWII soldier stationed on the Big Island is found at the Hilo Historical Society and unlocks painful memories for Wendy’s Great Aunt Bee.
Bee’s older sister was swept away in the 1946 tsunami, but now Wendy suspects she was murdered first. As she delves into the mystery, Wendy meets a group of nonagenarians who were at the USO center on Coconut Island during the war. One is a hero. Another is a cold-blooded murderer.
When the threat turns to Bee, Wendy seeks the aid of Detective Leilani Texeira and together, the women race to catch the killer before he claims another life.
Unforeseen Danger by Patricia Logan (2015)
Length: 104 pages
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Unforeseen Danger Blurb:
Kaua'i Detective, Jack Jenkins, has just settled into married life with his new wife Anuhea and he loves his job in the laid back island paradise. When he hears his brother Lane, an undercover LAPD cop, has gone missing while on assignment, he flies to the mainland to help locate him.
Jack immediately rubs Lane’s partner Brennan the wrong way. Brennan has no need of his help, and he fears his intrusion will put Lane in even more jeopardy. Jack is not easily swayed when it comes to protecting family and when Bren finally realizes he’s not going to be able to shake the tenacious detective, the men vow to find a way to work together.
As Jack plunges into the unfamiliar world where Lane’s gone undercover, from the biker bars of the Inland Empire to the gay bars of West Hollywood, he uncovers evidence that perhaps Lane has more secrets than he’s been prepared to face.
With unforeseen danger lurking around every corner, Brennan and Jack form an uncommon brotherhood with one goal, taking down the bad guy...while getting Lane out alive.
With unforeseen danger lurking around every corner, Brennan and Jack form an uncommon brotherhood with one goal, taking down the bad guy...while getting Lane out alive.
(Unforeseen Danger takes place after Rip Tides, Book 9 of the Lei Crime series)
Of Rainbows and Butterfly Wings by Ron Logan (2015)
Of Rainbows and Butterfly Wings Blurb:
Fifteen years ago…
Before he was Maui County Medical Examiner, Dr. Phillip Gregory was a recently divorced assistant medical examiner who moved to Hawaii and fell in love with a gorgeous woman named Amy Kawela.
Then, she disappeared without a trace, proving his lousy luck in finding life-long love.
Present day…
A woman who looks a lot like Amy winds up on his table. Shaken by the likeness, Phil leaves the lab in the capable hands of his longtime friend, Dr. Leslie Tanaka, and flies to Honolulu to voice questions he should have asked ages ago. Why did Amy leave him? What really happened to her? Is the dead woman Amy?
He’s finally seeking a truth that’s always torn his heart out. The answers could free him of his burdens, or they could kill him.
Can he discover the truth, survive long enough to tell the tale, and finally find the true love his life’s been lacking?
Of Rainbows and Butterfly Wings takes place between Rip Tides and Bone Hook.
Dead Flow by Malcolm Aylward (2015)
Length: 104 pages
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Dead Flow Blurb:
MURDER IN PARADISE! Gabriella (Gaby) Texeira, Lei’s cousin from California, is assigned the case after a local hula dancer is found murdered in a brutal, ritualistic style killing. As the body count continues to rise, Gaby tries to recruit reluctant Polynesian antiquities expert, Jake Kahanamoku, to help locate and stop the killer before any more lives are taken. Lei and Michael make an appearance in Dead Flow, as well as cameos by Marcella Scott, her partner Matt Rogers, and Lei's faithful dog Keiki.
Dead Flow takes place between the Lei Crime Novels Shattered Palms and Dark Lava.
From Goodreads: "If you love a great story with crime, drama and romance, I highly recommend you read this book.
Tough Choices by Terry Ambrose (2015)
Length: 93 pages
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Tough Choices Blurb:
Even paradise has a dark underbelly...
Marty Fitch is busted by the cops when he accidentally undermines the arrest of a Honolulu drug lord. Marty resolves to fix the problem he's created - as soon as he gets out of jail. His cousin, Pono Kaihale, is on temporary assignment with HPD and bails Marty out. He also makes Marty promise to keep out of police investigations.
When Marty sees a way to take down the drug lord, he can't stop himself. Now, he's operating in a world he knows nothing about, where lies are the norm, retribution is swift, and danger lurks around every corner. The only thing keeping Marty out of jail - and the morgue - is his skill at parkour. With the cops, a drug lord, and even his cousin hunting him down, Marty must make the most difficult choices of his life to survive.
Tough Choices occurs between Books 3 and 6, Black Jasmine and Shattered Palms.
Ti Leaves and Moon Cakes by A. J. Llewellyn (2015)
Length: 83 pages
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Ti Leaves and Moon Cakes Blurb:
Can Abe trust Tony with his life...again?
In this follow-up to Coffee and Kukui Nuts, Maui explosives expert Abe Torufu wants his sister Meleny’s wedding to go off without a bang on the beach at Waikiki. But before the kahuna can bless the big day with a traditional ‘awa and ti leaf ceremony, a suspicious buoy washes ashore, threatening to wreck the celebration. Not only that, but a shocking photo snapped by Abe’s date for the wedding, his Lieutenant, Cherry Joy Omura, reveals a surprising face in the crowd.
When somebody starts taking potshots at Abe, he once again joins forces with U.S. Marshal Tony McCracken to track down a master criminal. Can Abe keep his shirt and his underpants on this time? Can he figure out why he offered Cherry Joy a date involving moon cakes? And most of all, can he get to the er, bottom of why he hates Tony’s new boyfriend?
May you read well and often
