Happy Valentine's Day, Here's Two Feet of Snow

So, our fair county is about to get slammed... once again. A frigid behemoth is hurling its way toward us and everyone is all aflutter with delightful chaos. Rightfully so, I guess, after many of us went a pretty substantial length of time last week without power after the ice storm. Honestly, I kinda live for this shit. I was brought up on several mottos but two that stick out the most often and happen to be the most relevant here, "Improvise, adapt and overcome." and "Be prepared." Words to live by. Words to pass onto the next generation, if they can pry their senses away from their iPhones for half a second. (I sound like I'm 75 but I'm totally guilty of that myself. Trying to curb the habit.)

Initially, I'd planned a freebie day for Cold as a Wedge for Valentine's Day. That can be a real annoying day for folks depending on their current romantic situation. I figure, why not let J.D. be someone's valentine? And hey, there's plenty of female distraction if J.D.'s not your type. The free day will still be happening on Valentine's Day (and on the 15th if you're 14th is, let's say, a violation of expectations) but with the approach of what is prophesied to be another real bitch of a storm- Cold as a Wedge will be free on Thursday, February 13th as well.

So for those snowed in tomorrow and looking for something fun to occupy your mind- you can get Cold as a Wedge for free on Amazon. Solidarity! And for those of the mind that Valentine's Day can take a flying leap, I got ya covered for Friday.

In other news... Copacabana is totally playing on the 70's Music Choice channel right now.

Could Anything Be Nicer Than That?

The last free promotion of Cold as a Wedge was so successful, I was psyched to be able to offer it for free again. Last time, over 300 copies were downloaded in three days! It's been getting positive reviews on Amazon and Goodreads and most importantly, people are having fun riding along with J.D.

Many people from Bucks County are really getting into Cold as a Wedge since it's inspired by the town of Southampton. If you lived in the area in the 70s and 80s you'll recognize some familiar spots and even if you're a current resident- places will ring a bell with you. Readers are saying it's a fun, quick read; a playful distraction. You don't have to be from Bucks County to appreciate it though- it has a little bit of everything that will leave you wanting more!

Download Cold as a Wedge for FREE December 27th & December 28th!

Get Cold as a Wedge

Free Promotion!

Cold as a Wedge will be available for FREE on Amazon today (well, you've got four more hours on today if you're on the east coast) and tomorrow. If you're in the market for a fun, easy read and you've gone through all your cereal boxes- download Cold as a Wedge for free during this promotional period. 81 copies have been downloaded today alone. Sure, it's free, but if someone was giving away piles of shit for free I don't think they'd be going like hot cakes. Snag your copy today and ride shot gun with Southaven's favorite smart ass detective- J.D. Reiter!

Download it now for free!

Promotion ends Monday, December 2nd, 2013.

Book Review for Cold as a Wedge!

Review of Cold as a Wedge by Author Alliance's Maiola Jay

Cold as a Wedge is an engaging mystery with a commendable attention to detail. Centered around Detective J.D. Reiter and his investigation of a local homicide, Cold as a Wedge clearly illustrates the strategy and intricacies of police procedure without overwhelming you in descriptions. It's story and characters are intriguing. The author takes such care to ensure that the characters represent the attitudes and principles of small town America in the 1970's. J.D. is flawed and chauvinistic, but still likable as a product of his time. 

The close of Cold as a Wedge leaves unanswered questions about J.D. so I anticipate more cases from Detective Reiter and look forward to continuing this series. 

Official Review

Step Into J.D.'s World

Excerpt from Chapter 6 of Cold as a Wedge

     Around seven o'clock, J.D. left his father to his glass of brandy and hopped into his truck. As he began driving away from the solace of his childhood home, slowly the case began seeping back into his psyche. 

       "What was she doing there in the woods?" J.D. murmured to himself. Did someone lure her there, or was she followed? Mac and Slim didn't turn anything else up today... When he reached Southaven, instead of making a left and heading home,  he drove straight on down the pike towards Leedom Park. Darkness settled in now, almost mocking the lack of progress they'd made in the investigation so far. 

       As J.D turned down the lane into the park, he kept his eyes trained on the treeline for any signs of movement. There was nothing. Not even grazing deer milling about at the edge of the tree dotted field. He drove over the short bridge and into the park, further than he'd gone the night before. Up on his right was a small gravel parking lot, where the Cornells' car was found. J.D. half expected to see it there, but it was picked up yesterday after it was examined for evidence. J.D. drove to the end of the lot where it met the woods, and backed his truck into an unmarked spot. 

       Based on the report Charlie wrote up, Pamela Cornell was parked directly across from where J.D. sat now. He cut off the engine and pushed in the metal knob to extinguish the headlights. It was common practice for police to revisit the scene of a crime around the same time of day the incident occurred in order to note the traffic. If someone generally went there on a given day or at a given time, odds are they might have been a witness to what happened. 

       For a moment, J.D. sat behind the wheel, scanning his surroundings. All seemed still. He got out of the truck and as quietly as he could, closed the heavy metal door. While he was thankful for the moonlight, it was still pretty dark there in the park. He lit up a cigarette and took a drag. For a beat, he closed his eyes and listened. Crickets chirped a tentative serenade, as if at any moment now their chorus should be silenced. A light breeze barely jostled the freshly sprouted leaves on the trees. It was cool, requiring every bit of the lightweight jacket he wore. J.D. could almost sense himself melding into the surrounding forestry. He opened his eyes, finding they adjusted quickly to the shadowy terrain. 

       Through the trees he could see a pair of headlights make their way down the pike, but instead of continuing on their way, J.D. saw them turn down the lane into the park. Each muscle sensed with confrontation. He flicked his cigarette into the gravel and grabbed his heavy duty Maglite from beneath the bench seat of the truck. Closing the door quietly, J.D. stealthily slipped into the cover of the tree line. He could feel the blood throbbing in his temples. From his vantage point, J.D. couldn't make out any details about the vehicle other than it being smaller in size. The car moved with the slow flow of a funeral procession. It came to the bridge, then rolled to a stop. J.D. crept along, stepping from heel to toe among the legion of oaks. The headlights blinked the vehicle into darkness. As J.D. drew closer, he could see a figure exit the car, accompanied by a small beam of illumination from a flashlight. 

       The figure crossed the bridge and made its way over to the creek in the opposite direction of the crime scene. J.D. was no more than ten yards away from the creek now, having moved undetected across the lane and back onto the soft ground. His lungs tightened as he reached for his .357 Magnum. He could feel that bad boy set snug in the holster. He took a step forward, fingers poised for action. As he moved closer, he could now see that the figured belonged to that of a female. His shoulders eased some and his hand drifted away from his gun. Instead, he aimed his Maglite at the prowler. He threw his voice forward in a commanding bark. 

       "You mind telling me what you're doing here?"

For more, download Cold as a Wedge by K.H. Miller on Amazon for $0.99!