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.
Never Again by Julie C. Gilbert (2015)
Length: 83 pages
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Never Again Blurb:
The breakup was just the beginning…
When college junior Alana Adams catches her boyfriend passionately kissing another woman, she promptly dumps Nathan and turns to her best friend, Michael, for advice and emotional support.
At first, Nathan apologizes and showers Alana with gifts in an effort to win her back. He tries to get her to see they belong together, but when his efforts fail, he concludes the real problem in their relationship must be her best friend.
As Alana’s rejection further sinks in, Nathan realizes there’s only one solution to their problem: kill Michael Stevens.
Fireweed Trail by Craig Hansen (2015)
Length: 69 pages
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Fireweed Trail Blurb:
Before she was a detective...
Now she's a murder suspect.
Damaged and fragile, Lei is pushed from inaction to one of the most harrowing adventures in her young life. Miles from civilization and help, she only has her own strength and determination to save herself from of a killer's wrath.
And instead of hiking, she's running for her life.
The Shell Keeper by Christine Nolfi (2015)
Length: 38 pages
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The Shell Keeper Blurb:
Thanks to her aunt’s unwanted generosity, policewoman Lei Texeira has embarked on a vacation—of the supernatural sort. She’s staying on the beach in a frothy mansion that resembles a baker’s confection. Pixie, a Southern belle with enough bling to open a shop on Rodeo Drive, manages the place.
When Pixie reveals a local woman reputed to have psychic powers wants to meet Lei, the invitation is anything but welcome.
What Lei discovers about the sorcery of belief, and the love promised to her future will begin to heal wounds she’s carried for far too long.
A Keiki Mystery: Warrior Dog by Emily Kimelman (2015)
Length: 60 pages
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A Keiki Mystery: Warrior Dog Blurb:
But what can she do when the enemy is fire? How will Keiki save her family from this raging, uncontrollable beast?
Saddle Road by J. L. Oakley (2015)
Length: 103 pages
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Saddle Road Blurb:
When a body shows up in Maui's Kahului Harbor, it looks like just another bad day for some poor soul in paradise. Detective Lei Texeira and Lieutenant Michael Stevens identify the victim as a well-respected veteran from Washington State. Soon, they find themselves in the middle of a charity scam where someone's skimming money meant for returning veterans with PTSD.
During the investigation, Stevens enlists the help of an old buddy from the Marine Corps, Tom Harleson. The clues lead Tom, Lei, and Stevens to an exotic animal hunting club on the Big Island where they encounter the killer on the high lava deserts of Saddle Road.
Half Moon Girls by Corinne O'Flynn (2015)
Length: 75 pages
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Half Moon Girls Blurb:
When Detective Leilani Texeira begins investigating a murder on Kaua`i, she's struck by one thing: the victim looks like her. As Lei battles dark memories stirred up by the likeness, a friend calls, worried that her daughter didn't come home last night. Lei soon discovers that the dead girl and the missing girl were friends and last seen together the previous day.
Can she conquer her demons and capture a killer in time to rescue the captive?
Can she conquer her demons and capture a killer in time to rescue the captive?
Hidden Poppies by M. L. Doyle (2015)
Length: 83 pages
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Hidden Poppies Blurb:
Nothing about this kidnapping makes sense.
An army colonel’s daughter isn’t a typical target, and that’s only the beginning. FBI Special Agent Marcella Scott knows that ‘unusual’ also means unpredictable and that translates to dangerous.
Just when they need to be at their sharpest, Agent Scott’s partner, Special Agent Ken Yamada suffers from personal distractions. He’s had to make painful sacrifices for his career. When the young girl’s abduction brings him face to face with one of those sacrifices, Major Chuck Mathews, Yamada begins to question his choices.
In their desperate search for the girl, the agents face foes willing to use deadly force to protect their secrets. But what was hidden before can now be revealed and the truth could change everything.
A Snake in Paradise by Eden Baylee (2015)
Length: 67 pages
Purchase your copy from Amazon!
A Snake in Paradise Blurb:
Lainey Lee has always dreamed of going to Hawaii. It should have been her honeymoon trip, only it never happened. Now, in a poetic twist of fate, she is making the journey twenty-seven years later - following a messy divorce.
Lainey is eager to shed the fears that trapped her in a loveless marriage, but is Julian a tempting distraction, a new beginning, or a snake in paradise?
May you read well and often
6 comments:
Mareena, many thanks for featuring the first wave of Lei Crime novellas! The second batch of stories began appearing in July, and all the authors involved are quite excited by the response we've received from readers.
I've just discovered this world--and these books. Can't wait to read them all, they come HIGHLY recommended!
Thanks for the post! Hidden Poppies was a lot of fun to write, but working with all of these great Lei Crime authors made it even better. I'm looking forward to writing a second Lei Crime novella soon.
Thanks so much for mentioning our books. It was a blast and a bit of rediscovery writing Saddle Road. Hawaii and the Bis Island will always be in my heart. It's where I lived with my husband for a number of years.
Being part of this wonderful ohana of amazing Lei Crime writers made writing even more enjoyable. I'll have a new novella ready for October. In the meantime, I'm excited about the second batch coming any day now.
PS. I love upstate NY. Many fine memories of camping there as a girl.
Mareena, great of you to feature us here. Much appreciated.
It's been such fun to write for the Lei Crime Series, that I decided to do it again!
The follow up to A Snake in Paradise will be SEAL of a Monk, and it releases with other new books end of July!
eden
Thanks for posting this! I have jumped into the "second wave" of the Lei Crime Kindle World. Torn Roots will be available in the Kindle World next week. It features Lei's erstwhile police partner, Pono Kaihale, as well as Pono's wife, Tiare, Lei's best friend Marcella and other beloved Toby Neal characters — plus a few new additions to the World, like Sam, the brilliant geologist; Rowan, the fiery activist; and Special Agent Vanessa Storm, the newest addition to the FBI team in Hawaii.
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