Blog Tour: An Extract from Contagion Of Lies by K.J. McGillick
Today I am helping to end the blog tour for Contagion Of Lies by K.J. McGillick. It’s a legal thriller that you can read now!
Book Description:
Former prosecutor Jordan Monroe thought estate law was safe. Then her mentor dies, leaving her to defend Dr. Mallory James in a double-murder case that could resurrect her career—or destroy what’s left of it.
Dr. Ian Stratton, a respected Harbor Point surgeon, and his pharmaceutical-rep mistress are dead from lethal injections. The evidence points straight to Mallory: a volatile affair, public threats, and a mountain of motive. But as Jordan builds her defense, she uncovers something bigger—a hospital drowning in secrets, cover-ups, and dangerous enemies.
Inside Harbor Medical, three shadowy suspects emerge:
- Dr. Blake Rowe — Stratton’s betrayed best friend with deadly drug knowledge
- Evelyn Grant — a disgraced tech stalking Jordan’s niece
- Sarah Rowe — Blake’s wife, lying about her access to the victim
When Grant’s obsession turns violent and surveillance evidence leaks, Jordan must protect her family while fighting manipulated witnesses, missing evidence, and a system built to bury the truth. The deeper she digs, the more she questions Mallory’s innocence—and her own role in defending her.
In a world where everyone lies, Jordan must decide how far she’ll go to win. Because the most dangerous predator… is the one you never see coming.
Perfect for fans of John Grisham, Lisa Gardner, and Melinda Leigh, Contagion of Lies delivers a relentless legal thriller where courtroom drama collides with psychological suspense—and every decision carries a cost.
Buy Your Copy Here:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Vega turned as the door opened. “That’ll be the ME.”
Paxton stepped aside as Dr. Elizabeth Brown crossed the threshold, her equipment case swinging lightly from one hand, her camera bag slung over her shoulder. She moved like always—economical, steady, professional. Twenty years of dealing with the dead had given her that deliberate stillness.
“Morning, Nick.” Her gaze swept the entryway, then the vaulted ceiling above. “Nice place.”
“Too nice,” Vega said quietly. The words came out rougher than he’d intended. “Upstairs.”
Brown nodded once, more business than conversation. “Let’s see him.”
She followed Vega up the stairs, Paxton trailing behind them. Their footsteps felt louder in the clean silence, too sharp against the manufactured perfection.
As they reached the hall, Vega spoke without looking back. “Forty-seven-year-old surgeon. Housekeeper found him this morning. No signs of forced entry. Rigor’s well-established—six to eight hours, per the paramedics.”
“Body position?”
“You’ll see.”
Brown didn’t ask more. At the bedroom door, she paused briefly, reading the space like Vega had earlier. Her stillness was different from his restlessness—professional calm instead of barely contained energy.
“Pristine,” she muttered, more to herself.
Vega gestured inside. “Position looks peaceful. But the scene feels… wrong. Too controlled.”
“Controlled how?”
“Not staged exactly. Just… stripped down.” He couldn’t explain the wrongness that had been eating at him since he’d walked through the front door. “Like someone sanitized it.”
Brown set down her equipment beside the door, pulling on gloves with smooth, automatic precision. “That’s surgeons for you.”
Vega said nothing, but his jaw tightened. This felt different.
She stepped forward and began her work, professional and detached. But Vega watched her carefully, knowing that even Brown sometimes flinched when the dead told a story she didn’t expect.
“Preliminary assessment suggests natural causes,” Brown said, adjusting her position to examine Stratton’s torso. “I’ll transport for full autopsy, but—”
She stopped mid-sentence.
“What?”
Brown leaned closer, frowning. She reached for her magnifying glass, focused on Stratton’s left upper arm, then touched her glasses—a nervous habit Vega recognized from harder cases.
The air in the room seemed to thicken. Vega’s pulse kicked up a notch.
“Nick…”
Something in her tone made him step closer. The wrongness in his gut crystallized into cold certainty.
Brown’s voice stayed measured at first. “Could be a skin blemish. Or an old mark.”
She adjusted the magnifier. Paused. Her silence stretched longer than usual, and Vega found himself holding his breath again.
“Except it’s too clean. No scabbing. Edges are fresh.” A hesitation. “Missed it on initial pass. Positioning hid it.”
She straightened slightly, her voice shifting now—more certain, but uneasy. “It’s an injection site. Someone else did this.”
The confidence was back, but not the detachment. Twenty years of death scenes, and she still got rattled when they shifted from natural to unnatural.
The bedroom changed around them, walls seeming to close in. Not a place where someone had died peacefully, but where death had been delivered with surgical precision.
“Self-administered?”
“Wrong angle. Wrong location.” Brown indicated with her pen, not touching. “Someone else did this. See the bruising pattern? Either the victim was resisting, or the person wasn’t experienced with injections.”
The air felt electric now, charged with the energy of a case that had just turned deadly serious. Vega’s restlessness crystallized into focus.
Vega’s jaw tightened, but his voice stayed level. He stared at the mark for a moment longer. That close, the killer hadn’t needed force—just trust. Or enough skill to bypass it. Someone Stratton knew, or someone good enough to seem invisible.
About the Author:
From the bustling courtrooms of Atlanta to the vibrant tapestry of 16th-century England, Kathleen McGillick’s life and career have been a captivating blend of legal expertise, artistic passion, and a thirst for adventure.
Fueled by an undergraduate and graduate degree in nursing, Kathleen built a foundation of compassion and care. This dedication to service later led her to pursue a Juris Doctorate, allowing her to navigate the intricacies of the legal system for nearly three decades. Her courtroom experience now breathes life into the intricate details of her legal thrillers, ensuring every courtroom scene crackles with authenticity.
But Kathleen’s story does not end there. A deep fascination with art history led her to delve into the world of renowned artists and captivating eras. Her particular passion for 16th-century British history allows her to transport readers to richly detailed historical settings, immersing them in the culture, politics, and societal nuances of the time.
Driven by an unwavering dedication to her craft, Kathleen has independently published twelve thrillers since 2018. Her commitment extends beyond solo creation, as she actively engages with the writing community, honing her skills through workshops and courses led by renowned authors.
And when she’s not crafting captivating narratives, Kathleen embarks on international journeys, soaking in diverse cultures and experiences that further enrich her writing. This global perspective adds another layer of depth and realism to her stories, allowing readers to connect with characters and settings that transcend geographical boundaries.
Contact Kathleen:
Website
Blog Tour: An Extract from Abracadabra by Evanne Hardin Gray
In the spirit of spooky season, today I am taking part in the blog tour for Abracadabra by Evanne Hardin Gray by sharing an extract. In the spirit of Practical Magic and First Frost, a modern-day magic folk tale weaves a fantasy of love, secrets, spellbooks, and family bonds into evocative prose …. And it’s available now!
Book Description:
It’s common knowledge in Duran Hill that some women in the Kinley family have certain gifts … and certain curses … running through their bloodlines. But for three sisters in all but name — Rachel, Juliette, and their cousin Sylvia — the ties that bind them close as ivy throughout their childhood are pulled apart in adolescence when both the gift and curse of that power is revealed between them.
Since that fateful incident, sensible Juliette has tailored a perfect and perfectly-ordinary life which unravels after she marries — and loses — the love of her life. Sylvia, drawn to the dark side, sets up a shop that caters to all the mystical powers the latter generations of the Kinley family shunned. And Rachel, the wild child, in whom its magic seems to create a charmed life, is a carefree wanderer who finds herself suddenly drawn home again.
Her arrival will stir old rivalries and test forgotten bonds in the brief span of a few weeks. But when an old friend in desperate trouble seeks her out, she will impulsively unleash the dangerous secret behind their power: one which has lain forgotten in the Kinley house for two generations.
From the Siren’s song of a dead man’s violin to a jar full of harmless-looking buttons, nothing under the shadow of the family’s roof is what it seems — nothing in their bloodline is safe from the dangerous past.
For Juliette, it brings a test of whether love that has withered can bloom again. For Sylvia, a question of whether a dangerous mistake can only be endured until it destroys you. And for Rachel, the choice is the price between the future of the souls she loves most in life and a powerful force that both makes her the enigma she is — and makes to destroy her like embers caught in a firewind.
Against the backdrop of Southern charm, Scottish superstitions, and bewitching romance, ABRACADABRA casts a spell which cannot be undone, from the ache of lost love to the familial links between souls which go as deep as blood and bone.
Buy Your Copy Here:
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Apple Books
Barnes and Noble
Smashwords
Note from the author: Thanks so much for this chance to share an extract of my novel Abracadabra with the readers at Jessica’s Reading Room! It’s a fast-paced, atmospheric read with elements of romance and magical realism. The following short scene hints at more trouble on the horizon for sisters Rachel and Juliette after Rachel attempted a spell with unfortunate consequences.
Tuesday morning, a fine mist rises from the Kinley house lawn, shrouding the grass and shrubs, lingering spookily under the trees. A stranger on the sidewalk has paused to study the place with interest, the big grey and white house emerging from the fog.
Rachel is late for work this morning. Her alarm has refused to go off, mostly because she forgot to change it. She scrabbles around, buttoning her uniform and slipping on her sensible shoes. Ed will be annoyed when she comes through the door.
Downstairs, Juliette is clattering around with the coffee percolator and the dishes. Rachel can hear Antoine whistling through the open bathroom door down the hall as he works. Swish, scrape, swish scrape. The sound of trowel on tile.
She checks her appearance in the mirror and remembers her name tag is still missing. Ed will say something if she turns up without it again. She has a spare, of course — downstairs. She left it in the pantry.
She takes the steps two at a time. “Pour me a cup, please, Julie,” she calls. The dining room window is cracked open, the summer curtains billowing in the breeze. Rachel closes it, seeing the man outside the fence. She waves to him. He doesn’t wave back.
About the Author:
Evanne Hardin Gray has spent most of her adulthood (and part of her childhood) writing novels, short stories, and screenplays. She has family roots in both New England and the South, which is where she currently writes (sometimes as a ‘ghost’), gardens, and collects books and ideas for them.
Contact Evanne:
Twitter/X: @Abracadabrabook
Facebook
Blog Tour: An Extract from How to Fix a Broken Heart by Nicola May
TODAY is publication day for How to Fix a Broken Heart by Nicola May and I am sharing an extract! This is one I will definitely be adding to my kindle to read.. I’ll consider it an early birthday present to myself since my birthday is at the end of the month!
Book Description:
Gracie Davies is at an all-time low. After a devastating loss, the last thing she needs is a colleague hinting over coffee that it’s time to lose her baby weight. Then her boyfriend betrays her, and her world totally falls apart.
Rebuilding her life from scratch – with the support of her free-spirited sister, an unorthodox therapist, and a feisty new friend – Gracie finally begins to get her mojo back. Add in a passionate fling with handsome landscaper Ed, a fairytale encounter with a Hollywood film star and the persistence of her adulterous ex, and life is anything but predictable…
Soon she finds that community, purpose, and perhaps even new love might be the perfect prescription for a broken heart.
But can a heart that’s been so utterly shattered ever trust again?
Warm, witty, wildly sexy and deeply moving, Nicola May’s unforgettable novel is perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes, Marian Keyes, and Amanda Prowse.
A heart-wrenching and life-affirming story of love and loss from number one bestselling author Nicola May.
This is a revised version of The Women of Wimbledon Common/The SW19 Club.
How to Fix a Broken Hear is out NOW! Buy your copy here.
Background on the extract: Gracie getting used to single life bumps has an embarrassing moment when she meets the handsome landscaper on Wimbledon Common.
~~~
Gracie pulled into the packed car park. What was it with all these women who didn’t have to work? She looked around at all the 4x4s, the odd Smart car and the space-age-looking electric cars. There were also a couple of dog-walking branded vans. Naomi had told her that quite a lot of famous people walked their spoilt pooches here, too. There was actually nothing common at all about Wimbledon Common!
As soon as Gracie opened the passenger door of her red Ford Puma, Boris jumped out, barking and running around her feet in excitement.
Gracie liked the comfort that having a dog on a lead brought. It gave her the same comfort she felt pushing a pram. She had loved looking after Jack when he was a baby. The love she felt for him was so intense, she thought it must almost be like having a baby of her own. She tried to convince herself of this. Yes, her nephew obviously loved her dearly, but he would never be hers, not properly. The familiar sadness of knowing that nobody would ever call her Mum washed over her.
She set off on her trail, breathing in the early April air and enjoying the feeling of sun on her face. If she closed her eyes maybe, just maybe, she could magic all her angst away; she would wake up and still be pregnant, still have Lewis, her lover, by her side. A Lewis who hadn’t cheated. A Lewis who hadn’t ruined everything between them. The Lewis she had been so in love with.
Boris was in his element off the lead. He knew the paths of the common like the backs of his paws.
Gracie didn’t think she had ever seen so many dogs in one place. A lot of them were with the professional dog walkers, some of whom were walking seven at a time. Some were with joggers, most with yummy mummies bitching about one thing or another, in the knowledge that their little Jemimas and Scarlets had been safely deposited at their respective private schools.
All these people had the dog code down to a T. You didn’t really acknowledge the person, just talked about little Pooks, Rudi or Poppytail, then off you went. Mummy duties set aside, the talk now turned from dirty nappies and school uniforms to poo bags and studded collars.
Gracie chose not to join in. Caught up by a mixture of hurt and hatred, she wasn’t in the mood for conversation and, when her button decided to pop right off her jeans, complete self-loathing, too. When Boris decided to have a poo in the most open part of the path, it was just about the last straw.
‘Oh, you little devil, couldn’t you have done it in the woody part?’ She put a hand through her hair in despair and sat down on a bench which, she noticed had been skilfully carved out of a tree trunk.
‘Well, I’m glad he didn’t. I’m always getting shit on my boots. Have you got any bags?’ The North London accent was evident.
‘Oh God, no, I didn’t think.’ The man in front of her was grinning at her agitation.
‘Here, let me. I always carry a couple. I can’t bear the bloody mess.’ He ripped a bag from a roll and swiftly picked up the offensive-smelling litter.
‘I haven’t seen you here before. I work here, see, get used to everyone who comes through. Same old faces, same old habits, same dirty bitches, oh, and their dogs.’ He smiled broadly.
Gracie noticed a good set of teeth along with cropped brown hair, a slightly outgrown goatee beard which she didn’t mind, even though Lewis had always been clean shaven. She also noticed his smouldering brown eyes and beautifully shaped big lips. She loved big lips on a man. He was in his late twenties, she reckoned.
‘You didn’t have to do that, you know.’ His small act of kindness made Gracie feel like she wanted to cry and just not stop. ‘But thank you. Thank you very much.’
‘I know I didn’t, but I did. By the way, my name’s Ed. I would shake your hand but…’
Gracie smiled, looking at the green bag hanging from his finger.
‘So what do you do here then, Ed?’ She felt she ought to make a bit of an effort as he had just picked up her dog’s shit and he was rather handsome.
‘Ground work on the common. Keep it shipshape, you know. I charge around on my quad bike, trying not to run over any posh birds and get sued.’ Gracie liked his devil-may-care attitude. ‘Well, good to meet you…’ Ed hung waiting for answer.
‘Gracie, my name’s Gracie, and this is Boris.’ Boris was now dragging around a stick wider than the length of his body and growling. ‘And he’s actually my sister’s, hence my amateur attempt at canine shit disposal.’
‘Well, he’s a lucky boy having you at the end of his lead.’ Ruffling Boris’s brown coat, the handsome one winked. ‘Right. I’d better do some work.’
Gracie, not sure what to do with this obvious flirtation, stood up, then swore loudly as her jeans began to slowly slip down her hips. She sat down again abruptly.
‘You OK?’ Ed called back.
‘Not really, but I’ll get over it. Seeing all these runners makes me think I should get fit.’
‘You look fit enough to me.’ He grinned. ‘But if you need a bit of a push there’s a running club that meets here regularly.’ He assumed a posh voice. ‘The SW19 Club,’ he laughed. ‘There should be details on the café noticeboard.’
With that he leapt on his bike and whizzed past her with a smile and a wave.
About the Author:
Nicola May is a bestselling rom-com sensation, with over a million copies sold. The author of eighteen romantic comedies, her books have been translated into fifteen languages and consistently appear in the Kindle bestseller charts. She made a remarkable achievement by reaching number one on Amazon twice as a self-published author and has been a vocal advocate for indie authors, campaigning for their own chart in The Bookseller magazine.
When she’s not writing, Nicola can be found enjoying cream teas in her favourite Devon spots, hiking in nature, or placing a bet at the races.
Contact Nicola:
website
X: @nicolamay1
Instagram: author_nicola