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Thursday, January 22, 2015

BOOK CLUB FRIDAY--GUEST AUTHOR CATHY PERKINS

An award-winning author, Cathy Perkins works in the financial industry, where she's observed the hide-in-plain-sight skills employed by her villains. She writes predominantly financial-based mysteries but enjoys exploring the relationship aspect of her characters' lives. Learn more about Cathy and her books at her website. 

Choosing Memories

Cleaning up after Christmas and the accompanying flurry of departing guests seems as much a January ritual as making New Year’s resolutions. I don’t know about you, but every year I vow to get organized. To clear away the clutter on the kitchen counter. To organize the storage area.

So how’s that working for you?

This year, I have an added incentive. We’re moving to a smaller house in the mountains, which means this house has to go on the market, and did you catch the part about a smaller house? On January 1, I tackled the kitchen junk drawer and then breezed through discarding old magazines, expired coupons and random notices for events. Every day there was a new task. Clothes? No problem. Haven’t worn it, out if goes.  My husband watched in delighted disbelief as bag after bag went to recycle, charity and the trash.

My pace slowed when I tackled the storeroom. Stashes of old financial records? Into the shredder—I created enough confetti for a New Year’s Day parade. Then I hit the brick wall. You knew that was coming, didn’t you?

Family pictures. The kids’ school records and awards. How could I part with those? How should I choose which memories to keep—and which to discard? I can blame part of the reluctance to let go on being far away from the rest of my family, or on my husband being the last member of his, but I think I’m simply sentimental—or a big softie—when it comes to families.

In my latest release, Caroline (Cara) Wainwright is desperately trying to save not just family mementos, but her actual family. An assassin is picking off family members one by one. Cara and Detective David Morris are is a desperate race to stop him before the entire family is eliminated.

What’s the one memento from your family that you absolutely wouldn’t give up? Hopefully there isn’t a hit man targeting you while you make that choice!

Cypher
Cara Wainwright thinks life can’t get tougher when her mother's cancer becomes terminal—until she returns home from the hospital and finds a courtyard full of police officers and her houseguests dead.

Greenville, SC Detective David Morris, is unsure if Cara is the suspect or the intended murder victim. Searching for insight into her family, their mounting secrets, and the conflicting evidence from multiple crimes, his attraction to Cara complicates his investigation. Is the lure need, manipulation—or real?

While David pursues forensic evidence, Cara pushes for answers about her father's possible involvement, for at the center of the mystery stands Cypher—the company her father built and will take any measures to defend.

When the assassin strikes again, Cara and David have to trust each other and work together to stop the killer before he eliminates the entire Wainwright family.

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6 comments:

CathyP said...

Good morning Lois!

Thanks for letting me be your guest. So, what's your "can't give up" momento?

Lois Winston said...

Hmm...I would have to say the family photo albums. All those old photos, pre-digital cameras, can't be replaced if lost.

Marissa Garner said...

Oh, definitely photo albums. Every time we have to evacuate because of brush fires, I remember the three P's: people, pets, photos.

P.S. I loved CYPHER!

CathyP said...

I think we have a theme going here with the photos!

My daughter scanned a bunch of old family ones for me - and I about had heart failure when that computer crashed! Fortunately she had a complete backup!

And Marissa - so glad you enjoyed Cypher!

Angela Adams said...

Enjoyed your post, Cathy!

CathyP said...

Thanks for stopping by, Angela!