by Diana Orgain | May 10, 2021 | Cooking up Murder, Sneak Peek, Uncategorized
Did you miss Chapter 1? From Murder as Sticky as Jam Chapter Two Without saying a word to Lacey, Mona ran to her car and jumped in the driver’s seat. Jamming the gear shift into drive, she tore out of the parking space, driving like a racecar driver speeding towards Jammin’ Honey. Praying as she drove, she ran a red light and a stop sign. Frantically hoping that it was not her shop on fire, although she had a sinking feeling with each passing block that she’d arrive to find the place, her dream fully engulfed. How could this happen? Fear gripped her heart as she saw a police barricade surrounding the street where Jammin’ Honey sat. The barricade prevented her from driving any closer to the scene of the fire, but she didn’t need to be any closer to realize the awful truth. My shop is on fire! Her heart raced, and a wave of nausea broke over her as she parked the car. Flashing red lights, smoke and the crackling of fire consuming her building created a surreal scene that would be etched into her memory for the rest of her life. Running down the street toward the fire, she was stopped by a police officer she didn’t recognize. He held her back from getting any closer to the structure fire that was her lifelong dream being destroyed right in front of her eyes. “It’s my shop,” she wailed. The officer nodded. “Is anyone in there?” Mona shook her head. “No. Just my…just…my…inventory.” Her knees felt weak. “And my recipe book, too.” Yellow and orange flames...
by Diana Orgain | Apr 27, 2021 | Cooking up Murder, Sneak Peek, Uncategorized
From Murder as Sticky as Jam Chapter One Soft jazz played in the background as Mona Reilly bustled around the empty shop. In just a few days, in time for the Memorial Day weekend, would be the grand opening of her shop Jammin’ Honey, but only if she finished the prep work in time. Memorial Day weekend was the official opening of the summer tourist season in the scenic mountain town of Magnolia Falls. Mona knew it would be the perfect time to open the doors to the shop that had been only a dream a few months ago. Tucking a strand of glossy black hair behind her ear, she sat down at the café table by the window to catch her breath. Picking up the Magnolia Falls Gazette, she read the report on the front page about the grand opening. Pride filled her chest with warmth as she read the article once more. She couldn’t believe this was happening. It’s real, Mona thought, her nerves kicking up a notch. A pair of tourists stopped out front and peeked through the window. Mona jumped to attention; her shop was supposed to open in a few days. She had to get a move on. Where’s Vicki? Mona wondered. It was a quarter past ten and she hadn’t heard from her best friend and business partner, Vicki Lawson. Vicki was an organic beekeeper and was the honey part of Jammin’ Honey. Mona reached for her cell phone to call Vicki, but the phone buzzed in her hand before she could dial. She saw from the caller I.D. that it was...
by Diana Orgain | Apr 13, 2021 | Maternal Instincts Mysteries, Sneak Peek, Uncategorized
Did you miss Chapter One ? Did you miss Chapter Two ? From Nursing a Grudge Chapter Three Continued After the hospital checked Paula into an observation room, the first words out of her mouth were, “When can I get the epidural?” The nurse, a small blonde who looked not a day older than 12, said sweetly, “Oh, we need to see how far along you are before we can even get you admitted to Labor and Delivery.” She tapped at a computer monitor then said, “I’ll be back in flash. I just need to get you set up in our system.” Paula smiled sweetly back to the nurse, but as soon as she left the room Paula let out a stream of profanity that someone suffering from Tourette Syndrome would envy. She finished with, “I want the stupid, stupid, stupid epidural now.” “Hey,” I said, rubbing her shoulder. “They’ll get it to you soon.” She let out a series of deep moans that frightened even me. Another nurse peeked into our room and asked cheerfully, “Every‐ thing all right in here?” Paula replied quickly, “Oh, yes. Thank you. My friend rubbed my shoulder and I feel better already.” I frowned. The mere presence of the nurse had calmed Paula down. The nurse proceeded to complete her check of Paula, including attaching as many monitors as possible. Neither Paula nor that baby would make a move or take a breath that wasn’t accounted for. While the nurse worked, Paula had a contraction but breathed right through it. No moans, no swearing, no yelling. But as soon as the nurse...
by Diana Orgain | Apr 13, 2021 | Maternal Instincts Mysteries, Sneak Peek, Uncategorized
Did you miss Chapter One ? Did you miss Chapter Two ? From Nursing a Grudge Chapter Three I dialed Jill and got her voicemail, I pounded on my steering wheel and let out a few choice swear words. Laurie made a noise from her car seat. I adjusted the rearview mirror and studied Laurie in the Elmo mirror that was pinned to the backseat. “Sorry for the swearing, sweat pea.” Laurie pointed at my reflection in her mirror and cooed. I texted Jill. R U OK? WHERE R U? I’M ON MY WAY TO UC. Then I dialed my hubby, Jim. He picked up on the first ring. “Great news, honey. Ramon is here,” he said. He’s cooking up a storm—” “What? Ramon? What’s he doing there?” We’d met Ramon over the holidays when I’d been investigating the murder of a reporter. Ramon catered for the television station the victim had worked for. “Cooking!” My stomach growled. “Uh! Sorry I’m missing out. Hey listen, Paula’s in labor. David’s flight’s been delayed so I’m on my way to UC. Can you meet me there and pick up the kids?” “Kids?” “I have to watch Danny. He’s not allowed into the maternity ward and neither is our little jelly belly.” “Oh,” Jim said. “Uh, the empanadas are nearly out of the oven and I— ” “Empanadas? Come on, Jim. I can’t take—” “Well, it’s not only the empanadas. I have a sales call scheduled this afternoon. I really worked for this one, so I’d hate to reschedule. Can I call your mom? Maybe she can—” A sales call, my foot!...
by Diana Orgain | Apr 13, 2021 | Maternal Instincts Mysteries, Sneak Peek, Uncategorized
Did you miss Chapter One ? From Nursing a Grudge Chapter Two Continued… He frowned. “Well, then you go by another name. Maybe you’re Carol McCarthy? You’re a crit, though.” He pointed at my card. “You’re not fooling anyone with this pseudonym! Kate Connolly? Please.” The waitress came out from the back and angled her phone at me. “I’ve got her picture now, Donald, don’t worry. We’ll be able to post this online and warn everyone about her.” Laurie wailed louder and I pressed the phone to my ear, trying to ignore everything, only now Paula was wailing, too. “Paula, can you get to the hospital on your own?” She took three short breaths, then said, “Yes, but I need you to pick up Danny.” Danny was Paula’s two-year-old son, and our plan had always been for him to stay with me when she went to the hospital. “UC won’t let him into the maternity ward without another adult present,” Paula continued. “David’s flight’s been delayed and I can’t reach—” “UC? I thought you were going to California Pacific?” Paula wailed again. “Another contraction?” I asked. She ignored my question. “Meet me at UC, not Cal Pacific. Our insurance changed. Don’t you ever listen—” She continued to scold me but I covered the mouthpiece on the phone and addressed the dour man standing in front of me. “Look,” I hissed. “I am not a food critic. My name is Kate Connolly. My friend is in labor and I have to meet her. Please run the charges on my card.” Of course, I didn’t add that Jill was indeed...
by Diana Orgain | Apr 13, 2021 | Maternal Instincts Mysteries, Sneak Peek, Uncategorized
Did you miss Chapter One ? From Nursing a Grudge Chapter Two MAN! Now I needed to pay immediately and the waitress had vanished again. I placed Laurie in her infant carrier, then fished around the massive diaper bag for my wallet. Why didn’t I have a small, cute purse like Jill? I rooted past the diaper wipes and a pacifier. Oh right, fashion purses don’t hold much baby paraphernalia. Then I pushed aside my binoculars, and an UZI tactical self defense pen… Fashion purses probably don’t fit much P.I. equipment, either. I finally located my wallet and peeked inside. I had $17. Not nearly enough to pay for the chichi lunch. Probably not even enough to pay for the coffee drinks these days. I pulled out my phone and messaged Jill: SKULL CAP MAN IS ON YOUR TAIL. I WILL TRAIL YOU. I rose and walked toward the back of the restaurant. “Hello?” I called out. Our waitress appeared and I handed her my credit card. “I have to leave immediately. Can you ring me up?” She made a face. “Is something wrong with the food?” GRAB YOUR COPY OF NURSING A GRUDGE HERE “No. Nothing like that. Just personal business.” “Can I wrap it up for you?” “No. Thank you.” The waitress froze, then slowly she looked over my shoulder at the moms in the corner and then leveled a glare at me. “Are you a reviewer?” “What? No. I just need to leave.” I refrained from turning around and staring at the moms behind me. Maybe they had ratted out Jill, only somehow...
