Friday, May 5, 2017

The Snowman by Yolanda Renee


It’s a pleasure to be participating in author Yolanda Renée’s THE SNOWMAN Blog Tour through MC Book Tours today. I'm excited to be able to share an excerpt from the book. 

This is a prequel to the author’s Detective Steven Quaid Mysteries. This story tells of Steven's first case as a rookie detective. It takes place 10 years before the events in MURDER, MADNESS & LOVE, the first book in the series.

The author is offering a tour-wide giveaway featuring both print and eBook copies from her series. More information on the giveaway is listed below.

◊ THE SNOWMAN
◊ by Yolanda Renée
◊ Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense
◊ Publisher: TRACE Enterprises
◊ Series: Detective Quaid Mystery
◊ Novella
◊ Print & eBooks
◊ Contains explicit sex & violence

It takes a true artist to pursue his victims in the art of seduction, and Stowy Jenkins is no exception, especially with blood as his medium.

          Stowy Jenkins, aka, Stone, and as Alaskans refer to him, the Snowman, is a true artist. His muse, Gigi, is the ultimate inspiration for his painting. Her rejection inspires him to use a very unusual medium…blood.
          While art may be his passion, the taste for blood is his obsession, and multiple murders, the result.
          Rookie, Detective Steven Quaid, is no fan of the Snowman’s murderous exhibitions. A twisted and deadly relationship bond the two men and neither knows who will come out of it alive.


Excerpt:


Chapter IV
Disappointments
June 25th

The cab drove up the long, tree-lined driveway to the Quaid house. Flowers bloomed in brilliant colors around the small cottage home in the suburbs of Juneau. A smile immediately creased Steven's face as the house came into view. His mother had chosen this home because it resembled her beloved cabin in the woods. On this much-needed vacation, Steven wanted to make up for his long absences and spend some time alone at that cabin near the Mendenhall Glacier.

 His parents greeted him at the door. His father, Senator Daniel Quaid, an Irish Alaskan, had a reputation for his fiery determination on behalf of the populace of Alaska, but his mother, Mavis, a Tlingit Indian beauty, was the true civil servant in the family.


 “You’ve arrived just in time. Dinner’s on the table, all your favorites,” his mother said as they hugged.


 “I’m starved. Thanks, Mom.”


 “Welcome home, Son,” his father said and pulled him into a hug. “Come on. I’m hungry too.” Daniel Quaid led the way into the dining room.


 Once the men were seated at the table, Mavis served the soup.


 “I've arranged a few meetings tomorrow with some friends,” his father announced. “I'm looking forward to introducing you to the key players. When do you graduate from law school?”


 “I’m not going to law school. I took the detective's test and finished at the top.”


 “Detective!” His father scowled. “I don't understand. You've dropped out of school? You said you were going for a law degree.”


At one time Alaska called to me, and I answered. I learned to sleep under the midnight sun, survive in below zero temperatures, and hike the Mountain Ranges. I've traveled from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez, and the memories are some of my most valued. The wonders, mysteries and incredible beauty that is Alaska has never left me and thus now influence my writing.

Despite my adventurous spirit, I achieved my educational goals, married, and I have two handsome sons. Writing is now my focus, my newest adventure!

You can connect with me here:
Blog    *     Facebook     *     Twitter     *     Pinterest     *     Email

The other books in the Detective Quaid Series include:



          A killer plays cat and mouse with a young widow against the snowy backdrop of an Alaskan winter. Branded a black widow after the suspicious death of her millionaire husband, Sarah Palmer flees Seattle for Anchorage. However, the peace and quiet she hoped to enjoy in her hometown is soon shattered. A killer is murdering Sarah look-alikes on the 14th of each month, taunting Sarah with a valentine of evidence. After her experiences in Seattle, Sarah is slow to go to the police. When she finally does, she finds Detective Steven Quaid—Anchorage P D’s hotshot investigator—has not only heard the rumors, he believes them. Worse, her aloofness and composure only confirm his suspicions. Is Sarah a victim or a very skilled manipulator?


World damnation is a psychotic man’s goal, but two obstacles stand in his way, greed and a dedicated detective.
Catching Alaska’s most notorious serial killer as a rookie made Detective Steven Quaid a hero, but falling in love with the victim of his last case tarnishes that status. While attempting to repair both his personal and professional life, he stumbles upon an unusual case–and an even more extraordinary foe: a man who believes he is Lucifer. An insidious man who delivers Quaid the ultimate choice: save his fiancée from an assassin’s bullet or stop the sacrifice of a young girl.


Flames burn between a hardboiled cop and a gifted artist, but soon extinguish as another man’s obsession ignites into an inferno of desire, driving him to destroy the object of his madness.
Detective Steven Quaid is ready for new challenges as Anchorage's top detective, but not until he marries the woman of his dreams on New Year's Eve. Determined to give Sarah the wilderness honeymoon she desires, he turns his grandfather's cabin into the perfect honeymoon retreat. After the final details are complete, Steven treks into the mountains to hunt. On his return to the cottage, instead of Sarah, he is greeted by several police officers and a bloody crime scene. Accusations fly, and Stephen flees into the wilderness, his heart racing and thoughts etching into his soul. The wilderness is unforgiving, but Steven faces it head on: Caught between a massive grizzly and a black bear in a deadly tug of war, he is barely saved from death's door by the fortuitous appearance of his uncle. Despite surviving multiple injuries, Steven continues his investigation as he recovers, but answers don't come quick or easy. Having enlisted the aid of his number one suspect, Steven faces a struggle that has become more than personal. This one just may cost him his heart.

You can find out more about the books and the author by following the tour HERE. You can also include your chances of winning in the giveaway.


This tour-wide giveaway features both print and eBook copies of the four books in the Detective Quaid Series. The giveaway will end at 12 a.m. (EST) on Tuesday, June 6.

The prizes include:

* Grand prize - Winner receives a print copy of all four books in the Detective Quaid Series (U.S. and Canada only).
* First place - Winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift certificate.
* Second place - Winner will receive eBook copies of all four books in the Detective Quaid Series.
* There will be 3 runner-up winners and each will win an eBook copy of THE SNOWMAN or one of the other books in the series (winner's choice).

To enter the giveaway, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load so please be patient. If the widget doesn’t show up, just click HERE and you’ll be directed to the widget.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to follow Yolanda on her month-long tour. You never know what you might find out.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

28 comments:

  1. Julie, thanks for sharing an excerpt from The Snowman. That's a great way to be drawn into a story. Thanks also for being a part of Yolanda's tour.

    Mason
    MC Book Tours

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    1. Hi again, Mason: Fancy meeting you here! :)
      You have done an amazing job with the tour, and I am so impressed! Thank you! I can't believe how much easier this has been for me - during this highly stress-filled time to have you in charge and keeping me on track! It means the world! THANK YOU!

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  2. It's fun to go back and write a prequel to already established books, isn't it?

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    1. Hi, Alex:
      Thanks for following the tour. It was fun and relatively easy. I'd already created the Snowman and discussed him in 2 of the first 3 books, so telling his full story seemed apropos!

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  3. Hi Julie - fascinating excerpt - the shocked father ... his son is not doing what he expects and then who are the friends his father wants his son to meet. Well done Yolanda and great to see you, Julie, promoting The Snowman for Yolanda ... all the best - cheers Hilary

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    1. Hi, Hilary!
      Thanks for following the tour! It means a lot! I'm glad the good detective is getting some attention too - Stowy seems to think it's all about him. :) Mason has it covered though!

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  4. Hi, Julie!
    Thanks for being part of the Snowman tour! Sorry I'm late for my own party, but a major jaw infection has knocked me on my ass. I'm not used to heavy pain meds, and well, I'm not running on all engines right now. But Mason, doll that she is, has me covered! So worth it to leave this tour stuff to the professionals, and she is so organized and on top of things! Yay!
    Thanks again, it was a pleasure to read your IWSG post. You sounded so much happier, and you looked it too! I'm thrilled for you, and can't wait to read the next book in your series!

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  5. What a super giveaway! I'll make sure to include it when I feature The Snowman next week! Julie and Yolanda - have a great weekend!

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    1. Hi, Lexa!
      You have a great weekend too! Yes, please do! A giveaway is always fun!

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  6. Cool excerpt Yolanda. I never thought about what it takes to become a detective and I always assumed schooling was involved. His father sounds pissed.

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    1. Hi, Maurice!
      Better education, better detective! :) His father is, but he's a softie too!

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  7. Interesting parental blend of Irish Alaskan and Tlingit Indian.
    Now you've got me wondering about this father-son relationship...

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    1. Father's expectations, can we ever meet them? Thanks, Michelle!

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  8. Yolanda is queen of the blogs today! Congrats on a great tour.

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    1. Thanks, Lee, don't feel like a Queen, but I'll take it! :)

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  9. Great excerpt, and many congrats to Yolanda! Prequels never fail to be fun to read and create...

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  10. Alaskan based stories. Sounds intriguing, although I'd probably enjoy the books best during the winter sitting next to a roaring fireplace. Good luck with the book.

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  11. Yolanda, I've enjoy coming across The Snowman at various blogs on your tour. Best of luck with the release.

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    1. Thanks, LD, it's been a great tour! Mason does an amazing job!

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  12. It was fun reading about this series of books. Great job Julie and Yolanda. Best wishes

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  13. Congratulations to Yolanda. I liked the sound of these books. Thanks for the giveaways!

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  14. Sounds fantastic! Congrats to Yolanda on another thrilling book release!

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