Tag: romantic suspense

Lost Heart in King Manor: Mysteries of a Heart Series
by Celeste Fenton

Hi Rick,
The blog is yours.

Things I Shouldn’t Say (But Will Anyway)
By Rick Payne
– former air marshal, health food mogul, and a man caught between past mistakes and one very stubborn heart. They say money can’t buy happiness.

Not exactly true. You can buy comfort. A view. A damn fine bottle of aged bourbon.
But you can’t buy peace. Or clarity. Or closure.

Believe me, I’ve tried.

I’m Rick Payne. I own Natural Universe, a national chain of health food stores with organic everything. Before that, I flew A-10s in Bosnia for the Air Force. Later, I served as an air marshal, patrolling commercial flights with a badge in one hand and a Glock in the other.

Sometimes I still wake up mid-dream, locked in a cockpit on a strike mission…or back in the narrow aisle of a transatlantic red-eye, heart pounding before the lights flicker. That kind of awareness never really leaves you. I’ve learned to tuck it inside a tailored suit.

These days, I fly first class or private. I have a charter on call. I can afford it. But the only place I want to be is Dost Island. Built a mansion overlooking the
ocean.

My family’s there.

My mother, Gail, is still the center of my compass. Fierce, steady, and unfiltered, she raised us on spine and standards. My sister Beth is as grounded as they come, and her husband Roman is quiet, loyal, and always shows up when it counts. Their boys? Luke’s in high school now, and his two older brothers are off at college. All three have more sense than I did at thirty.

I wish my own sons lived closer. Deacon and Travis live on opposite coasts, busy with their own lives. We check in by phone or Zoom every week. Good men. They
make me proud.

There’s a heart on Dost I want to claim.

Hers.

Gabby Heart.

We had something. Real. And then I wrecked it the cowardly way by keeping a secret too big to share. I told myself I was protecting her. That hiding it made me noble. Truth is, I was afraid she’d see the parts of me I still haven’t forgiven myself for. The parts I don’t talk about. I want her back. I’m working on it.

There’s just one obstacle. Jay Laird. Bastard’s got the sarcastic, charming outsider act down to a science. Slick words, a hidden past, and that dangerous kind of allure that works better than truth ever does. Women fall for that. Gabby could fall for that. He walks like a man who’s always ready to bolt, but he stays just close enough to keep her looking. And she is looking. That’s what kills me.

I don’t trust him. Maybe that’s personal. Maybe it’s instinct. Maybe it’s both. Either way, watching him orbit Gabby makes me insane. It’s a slow, quiet rage you swallow with a cold eye and clenched jaw. Occasionally, I let my rage out in the form of insults. It doesn’t seem to faze the ass.

I see the same guilt in his eyes that I’ve spent years trying to outrun. And I wonder if she’ll forgive him for the things I never had the guts to confess. Let Gabby go? Sure, she’s complicated. But I’d do anything for her. Even stand by while someone else tries to win her.

On a whole other level of complicated, there’s Lavanda. Part temptation, part trouble. Like a shot of something smooth that burns going down. We had a thing. Years ago. Burned hot and fast and didn’t leave much behind but smoke. She’s back now. And there’s still something between us. Like a bad habit. Love? No. We couldn’t make it last five minutes without scorching the walls.

So why do I still let her in? Maybe because she never expects more from me than I’ve got. Or maybe because part of me likes her brand of scorch. If you figure it out, let me know.

But the person who truly rattles me isn’t Lavanda. It’s her sister. Detective Rosa Morales. Sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, she’s quiet, steady, unflinching. The kind of person who lets you talk yourself into a confession with nothing but a look. I respect her. Which is dangerous. Because she sees more than she lets on. And she knows my past.

Yeah, I’ve made mistakes. I’ve lied. I’ve cheated. I’ve stolen. And then I built a business and a legacy out of atonement and ambition. That makes it right.
…Right?

Now there’s something dirty and dangerous unfolding inside ACHE—the old King Manor, repurposed and repainted but still creaking with secrets. Someone’s getting hurt. Someone’s lying. And someone’s out for blood.

Whatever happens, I’ll be there. Watching. Waiting. Ready to step in when it all goes sideways.

Because some people call me a hero. Some call me a mistake.

Gabby?
I want her to call me lover.

She’s still the one I’d risk everything for, even if I’m not the one she chooses.

Rick Payne
Former air marshal. Millionaire businessman. Still hoping it’s not too late to be the man I should’ve been.

Thanks, Rick, for dropping by and sharing with us today.

Keep reading for my thoughts about Lost Heart in King Manor. 

About Lost Heart in King Manor

Lost Heart in King Manor: Mysteries of a Heart Series
Romantic Suspense/Edgy Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting –  Dost Island (fictional) off the coast of Massachusetts
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently Published
Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 24, 2025
Hardcover
Print length ‏ : ‎ 347 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8280471207
Paperback
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8280071773
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0F2ZML3M9

LOST HEART IN KING MANOR
Book One in the Mysteries of a Heart Series

At 45, Gabby Heart isn’t looking for drama—just quiet days on Dost Island running her village gift shop, teaching art, and keeping her past tucked safely away. But when her mother suffers a sudden health crisis, Gabby is pulled into a storm of family secrets, betrayal, and a dark legacy buried within the walls of the once-grand King Manor. What was supposed to be a safe place for her mother’s recovery becomes the backdrop for a chilling mystery. Strange incidents begin to unfold, and it becomes clear: someone inside King Manor has a deadly agenda. As a hurricane traps Gabby inside the sprawling estate, she’s forced to work alongside two very different men—her maddeningly attractive officemate and a charming new neighbor, both hiding dark secrets. One man may want her heart. The other may want her dead.

But can she trust her instincts before it’s too late?

★ A slow-burn romantic suspense with an edgy cozy mystery twist peppered with humor, Lost Heart in King Manor is perfect for fans of strong women over 40, amateur sleuths, brooding men with buried secrets, and small seaside towns hiding deadly truths. ★

Because some secrets are worth killing for.
And some hearts don’t break quietly.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

King Manor on Dost Island, off the coast of Massachusetts, used to be a grand estate passed down from one generation to the next until there were no more relatives. Then it sat vacant until it was redeveloped into the Adult Care and Health Enclave complex (ACHE).

Gabby Heart runs the village gift shop with her mother, Connie, teaches art, illustrates children’s books, and has just delivered her daughter, Valentine, to Michigan for graduate school. Gabby had planned to stay to help her get settled, but she received a call saying her mother had fallen, prompting her to book an earlier flight back to Massachusetts. There are some questions regarding her mother’s “fall” and another incident. Gabby was having trouble taking care of Connie while trying to work at the shop and teach art at the Institute, but when she fell again and broke her hip, she needed a level of care Gabby couldn’t provide. Connie’s doctor suggested she move into ACHE for rehab and specialized care.

Not long after, Gabby starts to rethink her mother’s stay at the former King Manor. There is something very odd going on at the health enclave. But before she has time to really investigate, a hurricane hits the island, and she finds herself trapped there with other visitors, like her irritating new office mate, her new handsome neighbor, employees, and residents. It’s all hands on deck to keep everyone safe, but someone decides it is a perfect time to move forward with their deadly agenda.

With the wind and rain strongly blowing and danger lurking, Gabby will do anything to protect her mother, but suddenly, she doesn’t know who she can trust. King Manor has a dark history and so many secrets. Can she survive everything Mother Nature and the Manor throw at her? What about the secrets of the people around her? Will her quest for the truth be her downfall?

All of Ms. Fenton’s characters are well-crafted. It was easy to like Gabby Heart, a 45-year-old mom and daughter just trying to live a quiet, normal life. Her mother, Connie, is still very independent until her life takes a drastic turn. Had Gabby missed some signs? Emma has been Connie’s housekeeper for almost 30 years. She is always happy and pleased to report a little village gossip. Her long-time friends, Lola and Abe, are willing to help Gabby always, in any way they can, even if it just means a girl’s night out. Jay Laird shares an office with Gabby at the Lifelong Learning Institute. They get off to a rocky start. Rick Payne is her neighbor, Beth’s brother. He has come to town because their mother is ill. Beth happens to be the director at the Adult Care and Health Enclave complex and secured a place there for their mother to recover. Rick’s former lover, Lavanda, is truly over the top and goes to great lengths to get that man back in her bed.

King’s Manor is full of surprises, nooks, hidden rooms, and tunnels. Many characters have secrets that are revealed slowly but timely throughout the story. The author builds the suspense and skillfully increases the pace.  A lot is happening inside the manor while the storm wreaks havoc outside. Excitement in getting residents to safety. Excitement as Gabby tries to find answers. Excitement when the bottom drops out literally. Excitement when all the clues start to come together and the guilty parties are homed in on. And excitement when someone’s real identity is revealed.

Favorite line for this book lover is voiced by Rick and Beth’s mother, Gail.

“If only we lived in a world where reading a book burns a thousand calories an hour, I’d be a sweet one-hundred twenty pounds.”

“Hell’s Bells”, Ms. Fenton has given this series a splendid start with Lost Heart in King Manor. I appreciated how Gabby grew by leaps and bounds; her past was holding her back, but she is now definitely moving forward. Mystery, history, suspense, and a bit of salaciousness come together in this compelling first installment of the Mysteries of a Heart Series to make it A Perfect Escape.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC.

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

Companion Guide to Lost Heart in King Manor: An inside look (Mysteries of a Heart Series)

Companion Guide to Lost Heart in King Manor
Step deeper into the secrets of Dost Island with this richly illustrated companion to Lost Heart in King Manor, the first book in the Mysteries of a Heart series.

Explore the island’s storm-swept cliffs, charming village life, and shadowy past through exclusive character profiles, behind-the-scenes insights, maps, photographs, and bonus content that brings Gabby Heart’s world to life. Meet the unforgettable residents—from the sharp-witted Jay Laird and enigmatic Rick Payne, to the wise and mysterious women of the Heart family—each with their own stories, scars, and secrets.

This companion is your invitation behind the curtain.
But be warned…
On Dost Island, even the quietest corners have something to hide.

About Celeste Fenton 

I have an M.Ed. and Ph.D. in education and have worked in higher education for over thirty-years. A former educator and lifelong reader, I began writing seriously at age 60. No one is more surprised than me, that in retirement, I found reward and occupation as an author.

My writing is fueled by a lifelong love of mystery and a fascination with the complexities of the human heart. As a widow, mother of adult twin sons, proud grandmother, dog lover, and semi-retired educator, I believe I have enough real-world experience to weave imagination with insight to create stories rich with emotion and suspense. My work blends romance, mystery, and heart—with healthy doses of humor and hope. I feel passionate about helping others realize that creativity doesn’t have an expiration date.

When I’m not writing, reading, or plotting another plot twist, I like to explore small towns across America—setting out solo for month-long adventures much to the awe (and occasional alarm) of family and friends. My latest obsessions include escape rooms, mastering the perfect miter cut for a DIY bathroom remodel, training my cavalier spaniel to do a high five, and making the impossible decision of where to travel next.

Author Links
• Website
• Facebook

Purchase Links

Companion Guide Purchase Link
Amazon

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.” I am also an affiliate of Bookshop.org and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.” These funds are often used for gift cards and other giveaways.