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Monday, 8 December 2025

Rachel's Random Resources Book Tour of: Crimella by S C Cunningham

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About the Book
Crimella
CRIMELLA not-so-cozy murder mysteries
 
''Nothing ever happens in the sleepy village of Nettleacre... Yeah, right!''
 
Bored, complete opposites, neighbours, an ex-glamour girl, an ex- policewoman, and a romantic white witch, enjoy a glass of wine, hot chemistry, and playing detective in their quaint village. Until a playboy serial killer, a witness-protection crime boss, and unseen entities land on their patch. 

A perfect escape to the beautiful English countryside for fans of Midsomer Murder and Murder She Wrote with a wicked, sexy, otherworld twist. 

(standalone crossovers; Crimella, The David Trilogy and The Fallen Angel Series)
 
Purchase Links
Author Page

Crimella Page

Web

All Links



read an excerpt


 

CHAPTER 4

15.00hrs, Manor House Estate, Nettleacre, UK.

Loathing the boring pompous functions she had to endure, which was the downside to raising monies for charity, she scanned the ballroom full of screechy hooray Henrys and Henriettas, wondering how quickly she could politely get out of there.

Then she spotted him across room.

A tall dark handsome scruffy-haired male in expensive tuxedo, open necked dress shirt, and loose-hanging bow tie draped around his neck, leaning against a stone pillar as if he owned the place… fuck!

With legs crossed, hand in pocket, a near empty champagne flute resting thoughtfully on his lower lip, his clever brown eyes peered over the rim of his glass and stared directly at her.

She looked over her shoulder to check it was her he was looking at. Yep, it was her… double fuck!

That lower part of her inner tummy leapt as he unashamedly took his time to scan her body from top to toe… the cheeky sod!

But she couldn’t look away.

She hadn’t felt that twinge in a long time. It was a nice reminder that at fifty-something she hadn’t lost the inner-smile flutter of hot chemistry.

She loved men, she’d gotten through a few in her time, both good and bad. They used to be the center of her universe, but if she was honest over the past decade it felt like she’d grown up and out of them. They’d become hard work. She sensed a few of her male friends felt the same way, and so they should, women could be a nightmare.

Truth be told, it was a bit sad. She wondered if she getting old, bored, or just peopled out? But seeing Mister Tux proved that she may still be in the game.

Chemistry was a powerful thing, and this guy had it by the bucket-load… what the hell, who is he?

Nettleacre was a small village, she knew everybody, so he must be new, a visitor, or someone’s plus one.

She scanned the guests milling around him. He was getting furtive glances from both men and women, but he didn’t register any of them. He seemed to be alone.

He was still staring at her, and from his narrowing eyes and dimpled half grin, clearly thinking about sex… fuck!

And now, so was she… fuck, fuck, fuck!

The same grin crept over her face.

A nearby couple stepped over to him, trying to start up conversation, she recognized them as local swingers. But he ignored them. Keeping his eyes firmly on her, tilting his head with an I’m-gonna-have-you stare.

The couple gave up and turned away. The woman, clearly incensed, mouthed the word ‘rude’ to her partner.

Anna decided to have some fun, she was leaving in a minute and would probably never see him again… what the hell!

Brazen, she turned and faced him full on, chest-out, feet apart, arms held out in question, giving a do-you-like-what-you-see raised eyebrow.

He caught the challenge and nodded, holding his open hand up in front of him, twisting it backwards and forwards, scrunching his face with a meh-you’re-okay-I-guess reply.

They both laughed.

She liked his smile.

She bit her bottom lip.

He bit his.

She looked away then looked back, so did he.

With a what-are-we-going-to-do-about-this shrug, they stared at each other keeping eye contact for way longer than was necessary. Each refusing to turn away, each knowing what the other was thinking.

It was no longer if, it was now where, when, how, what would it feel like? She sighed, getting hot under the collar.

Guests were beginning to notice them and started to watch the beautiful couple staring at each other across a ballroom. They didn’t care.

He raised beckoning fingers at her, mouthing the words ‘come here, now’.

Her heart leapt.

She thought about stubbornly mouthing ‘no, you come here,’ but couldn’t wait… fuck it, life’s too short.

Just as she stepped forward to join him, her shoulder was tapped from behind, ruining the moment.

Annoyed at the intrusion, she spun round to find the party’s host and owner of the Manor House Estate, Lord Hughie Taggard, fawning over her… ugh!

Hiding her irritation, it took all she could muster to smile at him. Mister Tuxedo’s fawning was sexy, Taggard’s was creepy.

She’d known Taggard since she’d moved into the village, he’d always flirted with her, no matter how clearly she’d let him know she wasn’t interested. The thought of him touching her made her retch. What was it about money that turned the folk into entitled pigs?

 She let him use her B celebrity fame to help him raise money for his charities, not out of the kindness of her heart, but because he was blackmailing her.

‘Hughie,’ she beamed with more delight than she felt.

The man was a bore, if it weren’t for his cash and power, he and his yellow teeth would be alone at his dull networking parties.

Knowing that the two of them were being watched, she played to the crowd.

‘It was good of you to invite me to your little tea party. Raising funds for the local children’s school, how kind of you,’ she lied, giving him one of her aloof smiles, whilst grabbing a glass of champagne from a passing waiter.

‘But,’ she lowered her voice for his ears only. ‘I know you, Hughie, you’re up to something,’ she fake smiled. ‘You don’t do anything unless something’s in it for you. What are you getting out of the charade this time, more money, a favor from one of your council cronies? You make me sick.’

‘Ahh, Anna, Anna,’ he leered, salaciously looking her up and down, appreciating the gold lame dress that hugged her body in all the right places. His mind thinking about what he’d like to do to her. Not his normal type, but she wasn’t in bad nick for a women in her fifties, he might give her a whirl, if she’s lucky.

Sadly, looking good for his age couldn’t be said of him, depraved habits tend to age badly.

‘Ever to the point as per usual,’ he pouted. ‘Never any time for foreplay. But I must say, dear, you’re looking very Marylin Monroe’esque this afternoon. Are you going to sing happy birthday to me?’

‘It isn’t your birthday, Hughie,’ she sighed.

‘No, dear, sadly,’ his eyes unashamedly following the line of her cleavage.

She gave a bored sigh and wriggled agitated fingers under his chin signaling for him to look up at her face.

‘Really?’ she groaned. ‘Do you have to be such a sad cliché? Do you not understand that ogling a birds tits is a turn off, not a turn on. It makes you look like a snotty nosed kid that can’t keep it in his pants, never mind satisfy anyone,’ she cocked her head to the side and gave him a pitying look. ‘Jeez, try to have a bit of class, Hughie, it’ll stop you having to pay for it, and may even get you laid on your own merit for once.’

He ignored her, looking around checking that no one could hear.

‘Now, where were we?’ he muttered. ‘Oh yes, I just wanted to delight you with stories of my latest diving expedit…’

She raised a hand to stop him.

‘I’m getting old,’ she interfukted. ‘Life’s too short for small talk, you’re clearly not going to tell me what you’re up to. So I’m off. These stilettos are way too high to endure more than is necessary, even for you. I’ve done my meet-and-greet duty, time to go.’

She glanced back over her shoulder searching for Mister Tux. She’d much rather be talking to him, but he’d disappeared.

‘Leaving so soon,’ Taggard whimpered. ‘But we have the paps here, dear, you have obligations.’

‘I dealt with the press on the way in, they have more than enough pictures of me and your guests,’ she sighed sipping her drink, still scanning the room.

She spotted Mister Tux walking leisurely towards the entrance, leaving a wave of guests turning to stare, wondering who the handsome newcomer was.

‘Well, before you go, dear,’ Taggard lowed his voice. ‘There’s a little something I need to remind you of, in private, dear.’

He grabbed her elbow and pulled her aside, forcibly directing her to nearby French windows guarded by two security guards. As they noticed his approach they opened the doors allowing him to step out onto the magnificent private terrace that overlooked his estate.

Following, she stopped for a moment, hovering, looking back for Mister Tux. Catching his eye, she managed to give him a quick smile before being ushered through the closing doors.

Taggard guided her to the end wall, where they stood for a moment looking out over his beautifully manicured lawns and onto Acre Woods. A fox sat staring at them from a rose-garden.

She sipped her drink, well used to his threatening behavior, wishing he would hurry up.

He leaned in close and whispered in her ear. Reminding her of what she had to lose if she didn’t play nice. Insulting him in public was not helping her cause.

Her face looked suitable chastised as she listened, nodding in all the right places.

If she was ever going to kill someone, it would be him.



Author Bio  
 
Ex-crime investigator SCCunningham writes gritty murder mystery with amateur sleuths, redeeming ex-cons, unseen entities, hot chemistry, fun banter, and toxic crooks.
 
An ex-model, British born of Irish roots, she’s worked in the worlds of; music, film, sport celebrity management, horseracing, golf, football, tennis, child charity, and crime (CID, RIT, Wanted and absconder unit, Major crime team intel analyst, Victim support) and has written 30 books. She was married to rock musician Raf Ravenscroft ('Baker Street' sax), is proud mum to artist Scarlett Raven, and lives on the UK’s Sussex coast. Causes: veterans, child, animal, and planet protection.

Social Media Links – 
Web

All Links

Author Page



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@rararesources
#RachelsRandomResources

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Sunday, 7 December 2025

Rachel's Random Resources Book Tour of: Dark Orchid Affair by Robert Whanslaw





Rachel's Random Resources
Book Tours
Welcome to my Blog!
Wander through worlds
real and fictional,
meet interesting people,
visit exciting places
and find good books
to enjoy along the way!



About the Book
start 
Dark Orchid Affair
Ben Walker’s life shatters after one reckless night. Seduced by Maxine—a ruthless femme fatale—he wakes to a nightmare: compromising photos, blackmail, and the threat of losing everything—his marriage, career, and freedom.
Faced with impossible choices, Ben pays the price. But one payment is never enough.
Dragged deeper into a deadly web of lies and manipulation, the stakes escalate, and the noose tightens. What began as a desperate bid to protect his secrets becomes a desperate fight for survival.
With his world crumbling and prison on the horizon, Ben must confront a brutal truth—how far will he go to break free? And can anyone truly escape the sins of their past?

A gripping neo-noir thriller of betrayal, seduction, and deadly consequences.
Purchase Links



Author Bio – 
Robert Whanslaw writes noir, dark crime fiction, and psychological thrillers, grounded in grit, flaws, and the messy business of being human.

He doesn’t write about perfect people. If he did, they’d be the kind you’d want to throw off a fast-moving train.
Raised on the likes of Raymond Chandler and James M. Cain, and the raw voices of mid-century noir, Whanslaw brings a classic noir fatalism into the modern world. His stories walk the fine line between justice and survival, where everyone has a secret and most people lie.

Social Media Links – X - @robertwhanslaw

Giveaway to Win 10 x Paperback Copies of Dark Orchid Affair (Open to UK / US only)
*Terms and Conditions –UK & US entries welcome.  Please enter using the Gleam box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Gleam from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize. 



read an excerpt

             In this extract, we meet Carlos Cabrera—though that is only one of the names he wears like an interchangeable mask. A consummate conman and emotional predator, he slips through airports and identities with the ease of a man who has long since abandoned the burden of conscience. As he prepares to leave Miami for London, he lounges in luxury, untouched by the devastation he has left behind.

             Meanwhile, Sarah Copeland, the latest casualty in his trail of carefully constructed betrayals, stands on the edge of despair. Her life, stripped of love, security, and hope, hangs by a thread as she confronts the headstone of her late husband and the ruins of her own judgment. The contrast is stark: while Sarah drowns in grief, Cabrera glides effortlessly toward his next deception.

             This extract from the prologue marks the shifting of shadows from Miami to London, where darkness is about to seep into the city’s streets. In Dark Orchid Affair, this is the moment the reader feels the first cold breath of the noir storm about to break.


Extract from the Prologue of Dark Orchid Affair

             The headstone looked back at her, and Sarah hoped John did not blame her.

             ‘Sorry, John, I know, I was an idiot, please forgive me. I need you more than ever now, please be waiting for me, you’re all I have.’ She got to her feet; and looked once more at the headstone before walking back to the car. Across the Royal Park Bridge, she stopped halfway and leaned against the railings, looking down at the boats anchored below. She watched a couple on the deck of one of the boats huddling up close to each other. She looked at the wedding ring on her finger. It was loose from the weight she had lost in the last few months. She twirled it around, thinking of her wedding day. Closing her eyes to get a clearer picture in her head, and as she did, she let go of the ring, before she could react, it slid from her finger into the water below. She thought about jumping over the barrier, ending it all right there and then, but she had already made other plans.

A black and white flower

AI-generated content may be incorrect.

 

             The lemon grass chicken with the vermicelli noodles had been quite a delight. Cristian had never been keen on eating at airports, but that was something special. Settling back into his chair, he made himself comfortable as the TV screen flickered to life with his flight details.

             Gate D27 wasn’t far. He left the comfort of the American Express Centurion Lounge and stepped into the frenetic chaos of passengers rushing in every direction. Plugging in his earphones, he blotted out the pandemonium with Beethoven's Sixth Symphony. The timings worked kindly for on arrival at the departure gate, boarding for his seat number was announced.

The girl, who had applied her make-up to perfection, greeted him with a warm smile at the British Airways gate. Removing his earplugs he noted how the cacophony of noise from the airport terminal had bowed its dissonance to a genial level.

             ‘Good afternoon, may I see your boarding pass and passport?’ she asked cheerfully.

             Cristian reached into his jacket pocket and handed over the documents, nodding absentmindedly as he wondered if she had more reason to smile than he did. Attempting to mirror her warmth, he greeted her, but his effort felt clumsy in comparison to her polished professionalism. She examined his passport briefly before returning it with another bright smile.

 Passport Number: 509843271

Name: Carlos Cabrera

             ‘Enjoy your flight, Mr Cabrera,’ she said, handing his documents back.

             ‘Oh, I will,’ he replied, this time his smile matching hers, ‘I will.’



https://www.rachelsrandomresources.com/
@rararesources
#RachelsRandomResources

(note: Helen might not have read the featured title yet)


*** ***

scroll down to leave a comment

thank you!

*
You might also like books written by 
Helen Hollick 

*
RECENT RELEASES!
more to read

New release anthology
by various authors

*


*
The SEA WITCH VOYAGES
nautical adventures with a touch of supernatural
 set during the Golden Age of Piracy
If you enjoyed the 1st Pirates of the Caribbean movie,
you'll love these (much better!) seafaring voyages!

*
THE SAXON SERIES
The story of the events that led to
The Battle of Hastings in 1066

Harold the King (UK edition)
I Am The Chosen King (US edition)
AND
1066 Turned Upside Down
an anthology of 'What If'' 1066 tales


*
KING ARTHUR
The Pendragon's Banner Trilogy
 The Boy Who became a Man:
Who became a King:
Who became a Legend... 

*
PLUS...
anthologies (which include award-winning authors)
and non-fiction



More Information:


*
my monthly ' essay' on an interesting topic
)

PLEASE: 

LEAVE A REVIEW 

FOR YOUR FAVOURITE AUTHORS ON AMAZON! 



Just a 4 or 5 star rating and a brief 

 "I thoroughly enjoyed this book!" will make such a difference!

THANK YOU!