Author: Jackie Layton

I love God the creator of all things. I live on the coast of South Carolina and write cozy mysteries. I'm a wife, mother, and Gigi.
Cozy mystery

It’s a giveaway

Jackie Layton

This week I’m participating a blog tour and a giveaway. Thanks to JustRead for hosting the tour.

Here’s the landing page with the stops. Be sure to enter the giveaway. https://justreadtours.com/2025/05/19/welcome-to-the-bleeding-heart-librarian-blog-tour-giveaway

May 19
Reading Is My SuperPower
Mrs. Ryan Moser’s Book and Movie Reviews
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama

May 20
Beauty in the Binding
Life on Chickadee Lane
A Modern Day Fairy Tale

May 21
Only By Grace Reviews
Danielle’s Writing Spot
Christy’s Cozy Corners

May 22
Happily Managing a Household of Boys
Carla’s Book Crush
Britt Reads Fiction

May 23
Worthy2Read
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions
Hallie Reads

Have fun and good luck!

Joyfully,

Jackie

Cozy mystery

More Ways to Read

Jackie Layton

I’m excited to share that Bleeding Heart Librarian is available more places, and the paperback is now available.

Here are some of your options:

https://amzn.to/43oidOC  is Bleeding Heart Librarian Kindle ebook

https://amzn.to/44uXTfD  Paperback BHL

https://bit.ly/3Z3AEWz B&N eBook

https://bit.ly/4iYE4kj  B&N paperback

https://bit.ly/43oHk3M  Kobo USA

https://bit.ly/437hZtW  Kobo Canada

Also, if you are on Facebook, I’ll be doing an author takeover tonight at 7:00 EST. We’ll have fun and there’ll be prizes.

And beginning May 19, there’ll be a blog tour for Bleeding Heart Librarian. I’ll share more next time.

Cozy mystery

A Day in the Life of Emma Justice

Jackie Layton

Who’s Emma Justice? She’s the main character in A Texas Flower Farmer Cozy Mystery Series. She’s the amateur sleuth in Weeding Out Lies, Clover Covered Corpse, and Bleeding Heart Librarian (Soon to be released.).

I’d love for you to visit Dru’s Book Musings and get to know Emma better by spending the day with her.

Here’s the link: https://drusbookmusing.com/emma-justice/

Thanks! See you there!

Romantic suspense

Deadly Badlands Pursuit

Jackie Layton

Sharee Stover is back with a new romantic suspense, and if you enjoy romantic suspense, you don’t want to miss Deadly Badlands Pursuit.

It’s the second book in the Dakota K-9 Unit series.

A K-9 team has a witness to defend…and a murderer to track.

When Deputy US Marshal Gracie Fitzpatrick checks on a government witness, she unexpectedly walks into an ambush at Cameron Holmes’s ranch. She and her K-9 partner, Bane, fight off the assailant—but to protect Cameron, they must escape into South Dakota’s treacherous Badlands. Tracking dangerous enemies is what Gracie does, and Cameron’s life in witness protection has left targets on his back. With a killer waiting in the shadows, Gracie and Cameron must work fast to uncover the truth about who wants him dead…if they want to stay alive.

Here’s an order link: https://tinyurl.com/

Romantic suspense

Smoky Mountain Escape

Jackie Layton

If you enjoy romantic suspense, be sure to check out Rhonda Starnes upcoming release, Smoky Mountain Escape.

Two killers on the loose and threats around every corner…

Sheriff Heath Dalton accidentally stumbles upon two gunmen trying to hide a body in the Smoky Mountains and barely escapes with his life. And when traveling nurse Kayla Eldridge finds herself stranded in the stormy wilderness with Heath, she now has a target on her back. They must work together to navigate the treacherous terrain and evade the criminals who are tracking their every move. Can they outrun their merciless hunters before they both lose their lives?

Here’s a buy link: https://amzn.to/3Xbfbuh

Uncategorized

Hairless Hassles

Jackie Layton

Ruth J. Hartman’s back with Hairless Hassles

The story focuses on Mobile Cat Groomer, Molly Stewart. It starts with Molly visiting Lottie and Florence who are octegenerians and cat owners. The two ladies live in houses next door to each other and their Sphynx cats are sisters from the same litter. After Molly bathes the cats, they, and Molly’s
own two cats who accompany her to pet visits, take off running for a spot between the two ladies’ houses. The cats come across a dead body lying in the tall grass. It’s a local woman,
Carlotta Sykes, a nail technician. And she’s been stabbed in the neck with a nail file.

The local sheriff believes Florence and Lottie must be guilty. But Molly wants to prove they are innocent. She involves her boyfriend, friends, the postman, and people who live in the community.

You won’t want to miss the latest book by Ruth J. Hartman.

Hairless Hassles will be available April 15.

Cozy mystery

Bleeding Heart Librarian

Jackie Layton

The third book in A Texas Flower Farmer Cozy Mystery Series will release on April 29, 2025. I’m so excited and I want to share a little about this story.

Emma Justice is friends with the local librarian and brings her extra flowers once a week. On a hot July morning, when people are gathered outside the closed library past opening time, Emma calls the police. The librarian’s body is found in the building and beside the body is a pink and white bleeding heart plant.

Tess Carranza was a lovely person dedicated to children and patrons of the library in Lutz, Texas. Tess recently confided to Emma about her fear someone was using the library to gather information to commit crimes. Emma didn’t get the entire story from Tess before her death, but now she’s determined to stop the crime and catch Tess’s killer.

And, for the cover reveal. I am so thankful to Shawn Reilly Simmons and Level Best Books for this beautiful book cover! Thank you!

Stay tuned for more exciting details in the days ahead.

Life

Think about lovely things

Jackie Layton

I don’t think anyone will argue that we’re living in challenging times. I don’t believe we should ignore what’s happening in the world, but we shouldn’t obsess over it.

One reason I enjoy writing cozy mysteries is because despite a tragedy, there’s a community of people who care for each other. This is true for the characters in the stories as well as cozy readers. I also like solving puzzles and it’s fun to read and write mysteries.

This is one of my favorite verses, “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8

What’s your favorite way to deal with stress? What’s your favorite escape?

I hope you have a wonderful week, and I’m looking forward to hearing how you handle the stress of the world.

Cozy mystery

The Writing Process

Jackie Layton

I have a deadline coming up next week. It’s for the third book in An Organized Crime Cozy Mystery Series, Killer Secrets.

One thing I have struggled with in the past is timelines. So, I check and double-check to make sure the timing is right.

I have an editor at Level Best Books who goes through my story for developmental edits and redline edits. Still, when I turn it in, I want it to be as polished as possible.

Getting a book cover is one of the fun things. I’ve been blessed with great book covers, and it’s always exciting to see what the publisher has created.

After a cover is chosen, you get Advanced Readers Copies. Then, you get your author copies near the release date.

Do you have questions about the writing process? Feel free to ask in the comments or via social media.