Serious About Series - Love and Murder

Discovering a new series is always exciting, and in this Serious about Series spotlight feature, we’re happy to introduce multi-published author, Brenda Whiteside. Brenda is sharing the inside scoop on her Love and Murder series where you’ll find plenty of thrilling suspense, a western theme, second chance love, and spicy contemporary romances.

Published through The Wild Rose Press, Brenda’s Love and Murder series consists of:
The Art of Love and Murder 5/2/2014
Southwest of Love and Murder 1/7/2015
A Legacy of Love and Murder 3/30/2016
The Power of Love and Murder 12/21/2016
The Deep Well of Love and Murder 6/18/2018

Brenda found the inspiration for this series by wanting to write about the places she loves in Arizona. “I was born and raised in Arizona,” Brenda said. “I set out to write a series and felt like the places I love in Arizona would make good settings. The first book, The Art of Love and Murder, also has a native American touch. I’m a proud card-carrying Indian, although I’m a mixture of several races. My Choctaw ancestors walked the Trail of Tears. After that, each book had different inspirations. One of the characters has some of my own traits. Another book was inspired by a miserable night my brother spent in a run-down motel. But the thread that runs through all of them is what comes from complicated relationships. And, of course, murder both past and present.”

The titles of each book in Brenda’s series were created by Brenda throwing out ideas on Facebook and asking for readers ideas.

The main concept of the Love and Murder series is a basic theme running through the series of second chances, mostly in love, but also in life.

Four of the five books in Brenda’s Love and Murder series take place in Chino Valley, Arizona and Flagstaff, Arizona. “One of the books ventures beyond the west,” Brenda said. “Way beyond the west. Lacy, from book one, and her daughter travel to Austria for the daughter’s story of love and murder.”

Books one and four have a setting in a sleepy little college town that lies at the foot of the San Francisco Peaks. “Smell the pines and fresh air,” Brenda explained. “Imagine a glittery night sky. The town dates back to the 30s so the buildings are old and the streets are still cobbled. And there’s even a haunted hotel. Books two and five are set on the Meadowlark Ranch. Here we have wide open spaces filled with golden grass, spotted with the occasional tree. Amber colored mountains rim the horizon. Pronghorns and cattle share the landscape. Book three is set in a castle that dates back to the 1600s at the base of the Alps. Famous paintings cover the walls and lush green gardens cover the grounds.” 

Why this area, we asked Brenda. “I’ll just speak to Flagstaff,” she said. “Flagstaff is not only picturesque with the San Francisco peaks as a backdrop, but the famous Route 66 cuts through it. Because it is a college town, there are concerts nearly every weekend as well as funky stores to shop. The skiing in the mountains is excellent. The town has a vacation feel, but a hometown vibe.” 

Some of the characters you’ll meet in the Love and Murder series are:

The Art of Love and Murder - Lacy Dahl, heroine, she just lost her second adoptive parent, not too long after losing her husband. Her whole foundation has been shaken, but she’s a strong-willed lady making it on her own. Sheriff Chance Meadowlark, hero, he lives with the regret of seeking revenge on his wife’s murderer. He’s half-Hopi and believes he should be a peacekeeper like his ancestors.

Southwest of Love and Murder - Phoebe Anderson, heroine, is blunt, sensual, and dives head on into everything she does. She murdered her first husband on paper and has been successful at writing murder mysteries ever since. Mason Meadowlark, hero, is scarred from losing his baby many years ago and the divorce that resulted. He’s a cowboy-playboy now.

A Legacy of Love and Murder - August Myer, heroine, owns an art gallery and art is her passion Inspector Tobias Wolf, hero, think Austrian James Bond secretly keeping Neo-Nazism at bay.

The Power of Love and Murder - Penny Sparks, heroine, living under an alias since the age of eighteen. Jake Winters, hero, drug rehabbing ex-rock star with a sweet personality, making amends.

 The Deep Well of Love and Murder - Laura Katz, heroine, running from a bad marriage and bad childhood. Randy Silva, hero, half-Argentinian cowboy standing 6’4” who wants to start a kids’ ranch retreat.

Most of Brenda’s primary characters have secondary parts in other books.

And to up the suspense... “Each book has a villain,” Brenda said. “Some several villains, that drives the hero and/or heroine to extraordinary action. All of my villains have major roles. The reader will be taken into the villain’s head as he (or she) has their own point of view just like the hero and heroine do. They’re fleshed out and in some cases, the reader might almost sympathise with them…but not quite.”

In the Love and Murder series all of the characters’ goals are different. “Just to touch on a couple of them,” Brenda added. “Lacy’s goal is to find out more about her birth parents. Phoebe’s goal is to take some time away from writing and pursue a cowboy she had a one-night stand with. Penny’s goal is to put the politician who murdered her family behind bars.”

Brenda explained the key elements in her Love and Murder series are entertainment, suspense, and each character is on a journey of discovery. “No matter your age, or your history, open up to new discoveries,” Brenda said. “What’s around the next corner of your life can be the best part.”

To learn more about Brenda and her books, visit:
http://www.brendawhiteside.com
https://brendawhiteside.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @brendawhitesid2
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Brenda-Whiteside/e/B003V15WF8/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

Here’s a little more to entice you into the Love and Murder series by Brenda Whiteside…

The Art of Love and Murder
Lacy Dahl never questioned her past until the deaths of her adoptive parents and her husband. A husband who wasn't what he seemed. Her research uncovers secrets about the mother she never knew; secrets that dispute the identity of her father and threaten her life. Sheriff Chance Meadowlark is still haunted by the murder of his wife and the revenge he unleashed in the name of justice. When he meets Lacy he is determined not to become involved, but their pasts may make that impossible. As they move closer to the truth, saving Lacy may be his only salvation. Lacy begins to think the present is more important than her past...until Chance's connection to her mother and a murder spin her deeper into danger and further from love. Will the truth destroy Lacy and Chance or will it be the answer that frees them?

Southwest of Love and Murder
Mystery writer, Phoebe Anderson, owes her success to killing her first husband on paper seventeen years earlier. Now, someone has actually done it. When she decides to take a few days away on the ranch of her best friend’s brother-in-law, she doesn’t expect romance to find her...or murder to follow her. Mason Meadowlark is happy with his wild cowboy ways, avoiding love since the death of his baby and the end of his marriage twenty years ago. When Phoebe shows up, he fights to control his emotions, but soon wonders if she just might be worth the risk of opening his heart again. With an obsessed fan close on her heels, Phoebe is thrown into her own murder mystery…and the next target on his list is Mason.

A Legacy of Love and Murder
In Austria to meet her great-grandfather and explore his castle estate filled with priceless art, August Myer arrives to find he’s died suspiciously. As one of the heirs, her life is in danger, turning this fairytale Alpine adventure into a nightmare of veiled threats, unexplained accidents, and murder. Inspector Tobias Wolf splits his time between his profession and fighting the spread of neo-Nazism. But when the beautiful, intriguing American crosses his path during a murder investigation, ensuring her safety challenges his priorities…and his heart. When August learns the handsome inspector is concealing a personal involvement and the death of her great-grandfather is somehow connected, she takes the investigation into her own hands. The outcome could be the death of both of them.

The Power of Love and Murder
For thirteen years, Penny Sparks has managed to hide from the political powers who murdered her family. When she unwittingly exposes her true identity, not only is she marked for death, but the people closest to her risk meeting the same fate. Jake Winters is out of rehab and coming to grips with his demons. When he meets his sister’s roommate, Jake believes Penny might be that someone who can help him find life after rock star status…until her secrets blow up his world. With a government agent turned hit man closing in on her, Penny and Jake race to expose the presidential contender behind the murders of her family. Even if they win the race with death, the murder that stands between them could end their hope for a new life.

The Deep Well of Love and Murder
After an abusive childhood and bad marriage, Laura Katz has finally found a home, stability…and possibly love. But her blissful refuge as nanny on the Meadowlark Ranch, miles from Flagstaff, shatters when her ex is released from prison, determined to reclaim her. Randy Silva, the Argentine foreman, has plans for his own ranch, but a nasty land grab is underway. While the battle escalates, Laura steals his heart, but there are outsiders who stand in their way. He’s in a fight for his land, and the woman he wants by his side. Stakes are high, as the attacks on Randy and his ranch draw blood. While the vengeful ex-husband stalks Laura, a mob-backed land developer teams with a desperate gambler. Randy can’t be sure where the next attack will come from—or who will be caught in the crossfire.