Mary Ellis & DiAnn Mills | New Novel News

Sunset In Old Savannah
by Mary Ellis

Published: April 1, 2017
Publisher: Harvest House
Purchase: Sunset In Old Savannah

In Sunset in Old Savannah, everyone has something to hide. Investigative partners and best friends Michael Preston and Elizabeth Kirby are hired by a wealthy socialite to do surveillance on her wayward husband. When the husband turns up dead, the socialite becomes the police’s chief suspect. Mike and Beth must follow the clues through the historic town with more secrets than branches of moss-draped oaks. The duo uncovers a hodgepodge of potential murderers, including a scheming business partner, a resentful mistress, and a ne'er-do-well brother. As praise of their agency gets around, Mike and Beth must hire investigator Kaitlyn Webb to ease the workload. But will ghosts of Kate’s past threaten everyone's safety before a killer can be put behind bars?

Get to know Mary...

Favorite place you’ve traveled to? 
When we were first married, we traveled up to the Georgian Bay in Canada, about 300 miles north of Toronto. We stayed at the Saga Lodge. Picture the lodge in the movie, Dirty Dancing, and that’s what it was like (minus all the dancing). All meals and activities were included for the week. Although the lodge was far from romantic, somehow that vacation turned out to be incredibly romantic. When my husband retires next year, we’re heading back there. I’ll bet the place has changed, no?

Favorite dessert? 
My favorite dessert is ice cream topped with fresh fruit topped with whipped cream. Oh, my, I could eat that every day!

What's one chore you hate doing? 
I hate scrubbing out the shower. Since we have well water, we end up with orange stains on the fiberglass enclosure even if we wipe down after every shower. It takes strong solvents and serious elbow-grease to get the “orange” off. Two years ago my husband took over the chore, and I am so grateful.

Connect with Mary on her website: http://maryellis.net/ 

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Deep Extraction
by DiAnn Mills

Published: April 4, 2017
Publisher: Tyndale House
Purchase: Deep Extraction


A pacemaker should have saved oil and gas magnate Nathan Moore’s life. Instead, it provided his killer with a seemingly perfect means of execution.

A bombing at one of Nathan’s oil rigs days earlier indicates his death could be part of a bigger conspiracy, a web Special Agent Tori Templeton must untangle. But her first order of business is separating the personal from the professional—the victim’s wife, her best friend, is one of the FBI’s prime suspects.

Clearing Sally’s name may be the biggest challenge of her career, but Tori finds an unexpected ally in the newest member of the task force, recently reinstated Deputy US Marshal Cole Jeffers. As Tori and Cole dig deeper into Nathan’s personal and business affairs, they uncover more than they bargained for. And the closer they get to finding the real killer—and to each other—the more intent someone is on silencing them for good.

Get to know DiAnn...

If your book became a movie, who would you cast for your main characters? 

Rachel McAdams as FBI Special Agent Tori Templeton

Travis Van Winkle as US Marshal Cole Jeffers

Would you rather go to the future or go to the past?
Definitely the future. I want to experience new technology and explore the world.

What’s one thing you must have/do in the morning?
Other than my quiet time with the Lord, it’s the treadmill. I prop my laptop onto it. Tug into a pair of gloves to protect my wrists. And write away while exercising.

Connect with DiAnn on her website:  www.diannmills.com

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Mary Ellis | Spread the Christmas Joy

My Favorite Christmas Memory

When I think back to the Christmases of my childhood, I always smile at one particular memory. For as long as I can remember, our extended family would gather at one of my aunt’s homes (now the homes of my

cousins—my generation) on Christmas Eve. We would enjoy a lavish potluck dinner with the host family providing the main course while everyone else brought side dishes and desserts. Afterward, we would mingle to catch up on family news—coming babies, recent graduations or promotions and other milestones, small or grand. At some point during the evening, the families would separate to attend the church services of their own particular denomination. But beforehand, the children would anxiously await the arrival of one special secular guest—Santa Claus. My uncle (who has just recently passed away) would dress up in full costume and arrive with great fanfare down the staircase. (He left his sleigh and reindeer on the roof.) Over his shoulder he carried a velvet sack filled with wrapped gifts for all the good girls and boys from infants through college-aged. Surprisingly, the sack usually contained even a present for me.

Apparently, I was the last child to still believe in Santa Claus after my cousins had abandoned the notion and discovered the truth about the man-in-red.

But my mother and aunts didn’t want anyone to spoil my fun, so they instructed everyone to keep quiet about who really wore that silken beard of white. Since I was the youngest of my generation my cousins played along, and yours truly continued to believe the myth longer than average. However, someone at school or perhaps a neighborhood kid finally burst my bubble and spelled out the truth. Once I overcame my initial shock I thought about how pleased people seemed to be that little-Mary-Jean still believed. And so I played along with their subterfuge, becoming wide-eyed and anticipatory when that jolly man arrived every Christmas Eve. People would watch my reaction from the corner of their eyes, pleased that the deception continued for another year. Finally (perhaps the year before I started college…) when Santa arrived and presented this little girl with her treasure, I had so say “Hi, Uncle Louie. Thanks for the gift.”

Everyone moaned, while my mother looked broken-hearted. But all good things must come to an end. Now that my dear mom and uncle are gone, I will remember the joy they preserved for me because of their love. And because of the unending love of the Father and the gift of His son…once again I have something to believe in. Merry Christmas. May God’s blessings rain down on you and your family.

_____________

Mary Ellis has written twenty novels. Her latest, Magnolia Moonlight, is part of a mystery series, Secrets of the South. Before "retiring" to write full-time, Mary taught middle school and worked as a sales rep for Hershey Chocolate. She enjoys gardening, bicycling and swimming, and lives in Ohio with her husband, dog and cat. The next in the series, Sunset in Old Savannah, will release in early 2017. www.maryellis.net or www.facebook.com/Mary-Ellis/Author





*Giveaway*

Many of you have heard about my Etsy shop but, if you haven't, these fun, handmade wooden ornaments are up for sale right now. To go along with Mary's lovely post, I'm offering one of these ornaments as a giveaway.

All giveaways run until January 2nd and winners will be announced shortly after. Use the image to the left to share on social media and don't forget the hashtag: #SpreadTheChristmasJoy16

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Magnolia Moonlight by Mary Ellis | New Novel News

Magnolia Moonlight

by Mary Ellis

Published: August 1, 2016
Publisher: Harvest House
Purchase: Magnolia Moonlight

When a local Baptist preacher takes his own life, his congregation is quick to believe rumors, but his widow is certain his death was no suicide. When Price Investigations scratch beneath the surface, they discover Reverend Dean was a victim, not a thief. The two new partners uncover an elaborate pyramid to bilk millions from unsuspecting non-profits, thousands of miles from the small town of Natchez where no one is whom they appear to be.

Get to know Mary...

What’s one thing you must have/do in the morning? 
The one thing I must have in the morning is coffee. We just got back from a research trip to Savannah where we stayed on Tybee Island. When I woke up the next morning, I discovered the room had a coffeemaker but no coffee. I walked at least half a mile to get a cup under a blazing hot Georgia sun.

Name one song/artist you're embarrassed you like. 
That would be Truly, Madly, Deeply by Savage Garden. It’s a mushy romantic song by a bubblegum duo young enough to be my sons. But I love it and drag my husband out of his recliner to dance whenever I hear it.

Would you rather go to the future or go to the past?
Definitely the past! Virtually all of our vacations involve touring historical sites or staying in charming B&B’s in the historical section of town. I love movies and books about history too. I can watch them over and over again.

Connect with Mary: http://maryellis.net/

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Spread the Christmas Joy with Mary Ellis | Day 3

Joy from Mary Ellis

--> When I think back to the Christmases of my childhood, I always smile at one particular memory. For as long as I can remember, our extended family would gather at one of my aunt’s homes (now the homes of my cousins—my generation) on Christmas Eve. We would enjoy a lavish potluck dinner with the host family providing the main course while everyone else brought side dishes and desserts. Afterward, we would mingle to catch up on family news—coming babies, recent graduations or promotions and other milestones, small or grand. At some point during the evening, the families would separate to attend the church services of their own particular denomination. But beforehand, the children would anxiously await the arrival of one special secular guest—Santa Claus. My uncle (who has just recently passed away) would dress up in full costume and arrive with great fanfare down the staircase. (He left his sleigh and reindeer on the roof.) Over his shoulder he carried a velvet sack filled with wrapped gifts for all the good girls and boys from infants through college-aged. Surprisingly, the sack usually contained even a present for me.

Apparently, I was the last child to still believe in Santa Claus after my cousins had abandoned the notion and discovered the truth about the man-in-red.

But my mother and aunts didn’t want anyone to spoil my fun, so they instructed everyone to keep quiet about who really wore that silken beard of white. Since I was the youngest of my generation my cousins played along, and yours truly continued to believe the myth longer than average. However, someone at school or perhaps a neighborhood kid finally burst my bubble and spelled out the truth. Once I overcame my initial shock I thought about how pleased people seemed to be that little-Mary-Jean still believed. And so I played along with their subterfuge, becoming wide-eyed and anticipatory when that jolly man arrived every Christmas Eve. People would watch my reaction from the corner of their eyes, pleased that the deception continued for another year. Finally (perhaps the year before I started college…) when Santa arrived and presented this little girl with her treasure, I had so say “Hi, Uncle Louie. Thanks for the gift.”

Everyone moaned, while my mother looked broken-hearted. But all good things must come to an end. Now that my dear mom and uncle are gone, I will remember the joy they preserved for me because of their love. And because of the unending love of the Father and the gift of His son…once again I have something to believe in. 

Merry Christmas. May God’s blessings rain down on you and your families.

_______________________________

Mary Ellis has written ten bestselling novels set in the Amish community. Before "retiring" to write full-time, Mary taught school and worked as a sales rep for Hershey Chocolate. Living in Harmony, book one of her current series won the 2012 Lime Award for Excellence in Amish Fiction. Book two, Love Comes to Paradise has been nominated for a 2013 Lime Award. Book three, A Little Bit of Charm, has just released from Harvest House. An Amish Miracle, a collection of novellas, releases December 3rd from Harper Collins. She is currently working on a three-book historical romance series set during the Civil War. The Quaker and the Rebel releases January 1st, 2014.

She can be found on the web at: www.maryellis.net or https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Mary-Ellis/126995058236