New Romantic Suspense from Penelope Marzec

 

Angel of the L Train, by Penelope Marzec

Inspirational Romantic Suspense
Ebook $5.99
Prism Lux, August 12, 2022, 320 pp.

Buy Angel of the L Train:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Angel-L-Train-Penelope-Marzec-ebook/dp/B09VRRGSTR/
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/angel-of-the-l-train

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/angel-of-the-l-train-penelope-marzec/1141235956?ean=9781522399087

Google: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Angel_of_the_L_Train/ButkEAAAQBAJ?hl=en
Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/angel-of-the-l-train/id1614935301

About Angel of the L Train:

Thea Ahern desperately needs a job, so when she lands a job at LetSlip, a New York City gossip magazine, she takes it even though it will mean hiding her heritage. When she helps a man who is attacked on the subway, she’s hailed as the Angel of the L Train, and people notice her striking resemblance to a once famous actress. This sparks a renewed interest in Paris Hulette and her whereabouts. What happened to the award-winning actress after her husband shot her? And is Thea Ahern really the actress's daughter?

Thea’s coworker, John, understands what it means to hide from your past, and so he shields Thea from the ensuing media frenzy. She falls for him, and he falls for her, but LetSlip’s CEO orders John to investigate Thea. Now he has to choose between protecting Thea or losing his job.

When LetSlip’s CEO is murdered while John is in the building, John is thrust into the public spotlight along with Thea, and his past is revealed. Can Thea ever trust him again? And can he ever be forgiven for what he’s done?

 

A Brief Interview with Penelope

 What do you love about your new book? I love the message of forgiveness in this book. The heroine in Angel of the L Train assumes the hero cannot be absolved for what he has done. Even the hero does not feel he is worthy of mercy. But none of us are truly worthy and yet the Lord does grant forgiveness. He gave his life for us. We are not supposed to judge others. That is up to the Lord, who loves us all. There is hope and there is forgiveness.

 Tell us about the most interesting thing you learned while researching. I went off on a tangent and researched what it takes to be an entertainer in the New York City subway. This was not important information for the story, but I wanted to know because there are entertainers everywhere in the subway system. Some have auditioned and applied for permits. Some have not. I learned you do not need a permit to entertain in the subway system. However, you must abide by all the Transit Authority’s many rules, which include not using an amplifier, not impeding the movement of passengers, and most of all not entertaining inside the subway car.

 I have seen all sorts of entertainment in the subway—including groups who entertained inside the subway car. Evidently, they get away with it most of the time.

 What's the background story no one knows about your heroine? The heroine’s mother was a well-known, award-winning actress who vanished from the public eye after the heroine was born. The heroine grew up in a small town in the New Jersey Pine Barrens where no one ever suspected her mother’s former fame. The heroine never knew her father and her mother forbid her to even say his name. Still, the heroine had a happy childhood until her mother became gravely ill.

 What are you reading now? I’m trying to read as many books published by Pelican Book Group as I can, but I am very far behind in my goal because there are so many books! At the moment, I am reading A Second Chance for Grace, by Karen Malley. I just finished How to Charm a Beekeeper’s Heart, by Candice Patterson. All the books are wonderful. I’m having so much fun.

 What’s next for you? I’ve been writing a historical romance set in 1903. I’ve been working on this one for a long time due to the ups and downs of life. However, I am drawing close to the end and I’m itching to put in the big climax.
 
About the Author:
Penelope Marzec grew up along the Jersey shore. She started reading romances at a young age and fell

hopelessly in love with happy endings. Two of her inspirational romances won EPIC’s eBook Award and another was a finalist in that contest. Her paranormal, Irons in the Fire, was a nominee for a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice award. Her Christian historical, Patriot’s Courage, placed First in the Inspirational category of the 2021 National Excellence in Story Telling (NEST) Contest. Visit her website at penelopemarzec.com for more information.

Clear As Ice holiday novella review and a holiday recipe

Clear As Ice
Penelope Marzec
Holiday Extravaganza novella
Prism Lux, a division of Pelican Book Group
November 20, 2019
$3.99 ebook

Buy on Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Pelican Book Store

About the Book

When Ethan's prayers for his mother's life go unanswered, he abandons his faith, tossing it out with his mother's Christmas ornaments. The loss of his hope leaves him empty and he begins to shy away from relationships, but when his dog Rufus, a rescue from a shelter, develops a fondness for a woman skating on the frozen lake behind his house, he's annoyed. Not only does he resent her using his pond, he doesn't understand her fear of dogs.

Haylie, once an Olympic figure skater, is afraid of more than just Ethan's dog. She lives in constant fear due to threats from a stalker, but one day Ethan's dog chases the danger away, so Haylie decides to try to lose her fear of dogs...But then the stalker's plans expand to include revenge toward Ethan as well. If they are to remain safe and live to see a happily-ever-after, Haylie and Ethan must put aside differences and learn to trust each other. This Christmas season promises to be the most challenging and the most meaningful of their lives.

Penelope, tell us what you love about your new book.

There are two things which gave me endless hours of delight while writing Clear as Ice, my latest release. First, the book brought back all the good times I had when I was young while ice skating on the lake behind the house where I grew up. The cold didn’t bother me as I whirled around on the thin blades. I didn’t worry about falling down. I wound up on my behind hundreds of times—and I laughed. It was a joyful activity. Of course, there were dangers, but even at a young age I was aware of them. I saw kids fall through the ice, which was terrifying. So I always waited until the ice was thick enough before venturing out on it. But when it was good and solid, it was great fun.

The other aspect of Clear as Ice I enjoyed was writing about the antics of Rufus, the hero’s dog, who thinks he’s human—although maybe he’s better than human. In fact, Rufus might be smarter than his owner. Rufus certainly has his own opinions about things. He knows exactly who the hero should date and, of course, he’s right. I thought about my granddog as I wrote about Rufus. My granddog is a genius, of course.

The hero in Clear as Ice decides to skip Christmas. But it is specifically at holiday time when everyone is afforded a wonderful opportunity to celebrate with family traditions. One of the Christmas traditions we always enjoy at our house is Cape Cod Cranberry Pie. It is so easy but so delicious, too. I’ve made it every year since I first discovered the recipe, except for the year the oven died. I originally found the recipe in my New York Times Heritage Cook Book, but the recipe can now be found easily online.

While I enjoy it plain, ice cream or whipped cream on top is nice, too.

CAPE COD CRANBERRY PIE

2 cups cranberries

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup chopped nuts (I use walnuts.)

2 eggs

1 cup flour

1/2 cup melted butter

1/4 cup canola oil

1. Preheat oven to 325F.

2. Spread the cranberries in the bottom of a well-greased ten inch pie plate.

3. Sprinkle with one half cup of the sugar and the nuts.

4. Add the remaining sugar to the eggs, beating well. Beat in the flour, butter, and shortening. Pour over the cranberries.

5. Bake about 1 hour, or until crust is golden brown.

The pie goes fast--so you better make two of them.

Lisa's Review

When a thoroughly traumatized former Olympian must face all of her fears in the space of a few days, it takes an embittered EMT and his dog to bring back the joy of Christmas.

Set in east central New Jersey after Superstorm Sandy, ice skater Hailey revisits the site of her former home which had been destroyed in the storm. She is surprised by a visit from an overly friendly and protective, playful dog, companion to Ethan, the owner of a new house on the lake where she enjoyed ice skating in the winter. Ethan, a former wild teen, now a humbug who’s been disappointed by unanswered prayer, and Hailey, a young woman of great faith, now a physical therapist, continue to run into each other. Ethan’s dog, Rufus, decides Hailey needs him as much as Ethan does and does what he can to take care of her.

Hailey and Ethan team up when Hailey’s past problems terrorize her. Somewhere in their developing relationship, Rufus decides to practice a little matchmaking in between his protection detail. Hailey is willing to take steps toward conquering her fears, but will Ethan crawl out of his well of misery and meet her partway?

Ethan may have thrown over his late mother’s faith when God let him down, but he’s smart enough to realize that Hailey holds the keys to healing grace. He’s not about to let another good thing get away, bah humbug or not. But Hailey’s problems may be more than he wants to deal with. 

Clear as Ice is a sweet and short holiday romance told from both Hailey’s and Ethan’s viewpoints as they maneuver around each other and everything Christmas. Those who enjoy feel-good stories featuring lovable dogs will love Marzec’s inspiration story.

About the Author

Penelope Marzec grew up along the Jersey shore. She started reading romances at a young age and fell hopelessly in love with happy endings. Two of her inspirational romances won EPIC’s eBook Award and another was a finalist in that contest. Her paranormal, Irons in the Fire, was a nominee for a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice award. Visit her website at penelopemarzec.com for more information.

Book Review: Patriot's Pride by Penelope Marzec

Patriot’s Pride

Penelope Marzec

Prism Book Group

July 2015

ISBN  978-1514364994

Print $13.99

Ebook $3.99

Amazon

About the Book:

With knowledge, he believed he could find answers.

She had only faith.

Derrick, a surgeon, is haunted by his brother’s death. When his prayers went unanswered, he turned his faith to science. He believes studying with an esteemed surgeon in England will return meaning to his life.

Margaret’s fiancé died at the hands of a doctor who bled him to death. On board the Prosperity, she meets the arrogant Doctor Fortune who considers her no less than a milkmaid. She considers him a butcher. Though she must journey to England to hear the reading of the will of her grandfather, the Earl of Broadcraft, she finds herself constantly confronting Derrick on his methods of healing. Yet, there is something about his soulful eyes that attracts her.

When a British ship presses the Prosperity’s sailors into service, Margaret and Derrick must work together if they are to reach England. But can they ever learn to trust each other enough to allow love into their hearts?

My Review:

Peril and Romance on the High Sea

The second book in the Patriots saga is a thrill ride. Marzec’s story of a citizen of the new United States of America traveling to enemy territory, England, to learn of her inheritance, is an exciting story. From the start of the perilous sea voyage, to the death of an emotionally disturbed passenger, to a marauding British ship and highwaymen and murder, poor Margaret hardly stands a chance to get to her late grandfather’s manor to hear the reading of the will, much less claim anything of value. When she reaches the manor to see it virtually empty and the solicitor dead, facing the hostile local constable is a laugh. Help comes from a surprise source—the mournful, proud young surgeon who matched skill and wits, and occasionally temper, on the voyage from America. Derrick has crossed the ocean to study with a famed doctor, but once he learns Margaret is in trouble, rushes to her aid.

During the turn of events, Margaret realizes that the pride she accuses Derrick of flaunting is only an echo of her own behavior. Both must come to terms with matters of faith, lifestyle, and prejudices which threaten any chance of future happiness.

Told through the eyes of both Margaret and Derrick, Patriot’s Pride is well-told historical adventure looking at rebel colonists from the eyes of the British, a humbling experience all around. Well done historic details makes this adventure a great read. Recommended for those who enjoy historical fiction with aa little humor amidst matching wits, peril, and romance.

About the Author:

Penelope Marzec started reading romances at a young age even though her mother told her they would ruin her mind, which they did. She became hopelessly hooked on happy endings. She is a member of the New Jersey Romance Writers, the Liberty States Fiction Writers, and EPIC. Winning the EPPIE award twice for inspirational fiction, she has also been a finalist in the same contest. Her paranormal, Irons In The Fire, was a nominee for a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice award.

Penelope Marzec and Patriot's Pride historical fiction

Margaret, the heroine of Patriot’s Pride, first appeared as the indomitable younger sister of Agnes in Patriot’s Heart. Margaret and her pet pig, Jonas, stole many scenes in Patriot’s Heart. I knew I had to give Margaret her own book and I am delighted I was able to do so.

One fact, which initially inspired me to write the book, was the impressment of American sailors by the British even though the Revolutionary War had come to an end. Eventually, the practice turned public opinion against Britain, resulting in the War of 1812.

I did quite a lot of research for the book and discovered many ways in which our world has changed considerably since 1784, which is the year Margaret embarks on a journey to England.

I wrote a blog post on how recipes used to be called receipts. I wrote another on the sad statistics of surgery in those long ago days. I love research and am fascinated by the details of history.

Naturally, once I read about the sad state of surgery in those days, it wasn’t difficult to imagine Derrick, a surgeon, who is haunted by his brother’s death. When his prayers went unanswered, he turned his faith to science. He believes studying with an esteemed surgeon in England will return meaning to his life.

Then there’s Margaret, whose fiancé died at the hands of a doctor who bled him to death. On board the Prosperity, she meets the arrogant Doctor Fortune who considers her no less than a milkmaid. She considers him a butcher. Though she must journey to England to hear the reading of the will of her grandfather, the Earl of Broadcraft, she finds herself constantly confronting Derrick on his methods of healing. Yet, there is something about his soulful eyes that attracts her. When a British ship presses the Prosperity’s sailors into service, Margaret and Derrick must work together if they are to reach England. But can they ever learn to trust each other enough to allow love into their hearts?

Below are the buy links!

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Smashwords

                         

                         

Penelope Marzec grew up along the Jersey shore, heard stories about Captain Kidd, and dug for his buried treasure. All she got was a bad case of poison ivy. Deciding books were better than buried treasure, she discovered romance novels and was soon hooked on happy endings. She became an early childhood educator and found her own hero in an electrical engineer who grew up in Brooklyn, played the accordion, and was immune to poison ivy. Now retired, Penelope either writes her stories or paints seascapes in oils. Sometimes she sings while her husband plays the accordion.

You can find Penelope at her website.

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Follow her tweets @penelopemarzec

Find her on Instagram @marzecpenelope