writing as Denise Dietz and  Mary Ellen Dennis

The Landlord's Black-Eyed Daughter
Chain a Lambchop to the Bed |  Eye of Newt | Footprints in the Butter
Fifty Cents for Your Soul | Throw Darts at a Cheesecake | Beat Up A Cookie
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THE PICK-ME-UP TRUCK and DEAD AID

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	The Landlord's Black-Eyed Daughter by Mary Ellen Dennis        Elizabeth Wyndham is an innkeeper’s daughter and a highly successful authoress of Gothic romances. Content with spinsterhood, obsessed with one of her book characters—whom she calls "the raven-haired knight"—Bess finds his proximity in Rand Remington. But she hadn’t planned on sacrificing herself to him body and soul, or on the visions that promised only heartache.      Having survived the American Wars, Rand Remington cannot come to terms with the hypocrisy of 18th-Century England. As a highwayman, he steals from the rich and gives to the poor, even though he could be captured and hanged. Yet he's not overly concerned with that inevitable happenstance until he meets Bess, the landlord's black-eyed daughter.
Together, Rand and his “ bonny Bess” share a series of adventures. Together they share a cell in Newgate Prison. All the while Bess is haunted by a 13th-Century tale of love and treachery. She feels that she and Rand have lived before, and that she betrayed him. Bess escapes Newgate, but Rand is brought to trial. Only a royal pardon can save him. Bess writes an eloquent speech in which Rand begs that his life be spared, but he cannot bring himself to say the false words that would set him free. Has Bess somehow betrayed Rand again? Or can they transcend the ghosts of their past and triumph over the threats of the present?
Read an Excerpt from The Landlord's Black-Eyed Daughter Order from Barnes & Noble or Amazon.com or Amazon.ca An August 2007 release from Five Star Publishing! ISBN: 1-594-14575-X
Reviews for The Landlord's Black-Eyed Daughter... Booklist Top 10 in Romance Fiction ********************** Starred Booklist review! Elizabeth Wyndham is "more likely to be attacked by an army of frogs" than find a husband. Fortunately, she is the star author of Minerva Press, a dubious occupation for a lady in 1787, but it pays her bills, as well as her father’s debts. Unfortunately, Elizabeth doesn’t want to finish her latest book because she’ll have to finish off her hero, too, a man who has dominated her dreams. Rand Remington has returned from the war in the colonies wounded in body and soul. His innocent niece has been hung in his absence, and Rand’s revenge against the injustices of the wickedly cavalier upper class is to relieve them of their worldly goods and spread the wealth among the poor. Exhausted from his latest heist, Rand opts to relax by reading a gothic novel by B. B. Wyndham he’s stolen from his latest victim. Much to his surprise, the plot and characters evoke an overwhelming sense of déjà vu, and he’s driven to meet the author. Star-crossed lovers in a former life, Elizabeth and her highwayman face insurmountable odds. Dennis’ wonderful retelling of Alfred Noyes’ The Highwayman is, quite simply, remarkable. ~ Shelley Mosley "Take one highly successful Gothic romance writer who just happens to be an innkeeper's daughter; add one disillusioned, devil-may-care highwayman who robs only the rich on principle; set them down in the turbulent, hypocritical times of late 18th-century England; season with a dash of humor, a splash of the paranormal, and a dollop of danger; and let the adventures begin. Loosely based on Alfred Noyes's poem "The Highwayman," with Robin Hood elements and a hint of Romeo and Juliet tossed in for good measure, this tale, for all its lively romance and adventure, takes on some serious social issues of the times, specifically the privilege of wealth and the inherent injustices it causes. A fast pace, fluid writing, and an exceptionally well-crafted plot make this an enjoyable read." ~Library Journal “The Landlord’s Black-Eyed Daughter engages the reader in an exhilarating romp throughout 18th century England, with adventure at every turn and spine-tingling suspense. Combined with heated romance, accurate historical facts and nonstop action, this book will suit any adult reader. Characters and dialogue are compelling, historical facts not only interesting but fascinating, and the plot one that simply will not allow the book to be set aside until finished. An exceptional, superbly written book. Highly recommended.” ~ Christy Tillery French for Midwest Book Review "If you've been yearning for an old-fashioned romantic adventure, THE LANDLORD'S BLACK-EYED DAUGHTER is not to be missed! Mary Ellen Dennis crafts a swift and bawdy tale that skillfully blends the classic poem The Highwayman with elements of historical romance and the Gothic novel—and manages a happy ending as well. Enjoy!" ~New York Times bestselling author, Mary Jo Putney "THE LANDLORD'S BLACK-EYED DAUGHTER by Mary Ellen Dennis is a rollicking romp of a read. It's everything an intelligent romance should be—adventure-filled, sexy, emotional, and just a down-right good time. Mary Ellen Dennis writes a beautiful novel." ~Gabriella Anderson, author of Temptation's Warrior "Rich with colorful characters and compelling events, Mary Ellen Dennis paints a vivid portrait of an incomparable moment in history. Eloquent! Romantic! Beautifully written!" ~Victoria Gordon, author of Finding Bess

	Just when you thought it was safe to weigh-in at Weight Winners... BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND Diet Club Leader Ellie Bernstein and Homicide Detective Peter Miller in...
	Chain a Lamb Chop to the Bed A Diet Club Mystery by Denise Dietz

Weight Winners, in Colorado Springs, is a support group for people who want to lose weight. Ellie Bernstein is its group leader. When Ellie’s significant other, Peter Miller, a homicide detective with the C.S.P.D., invites her to vacation with him for one “stress-free” week at a dude ranch outside Aspen, she accepts with trepidation. She suffers from acrophobia and tends to avoid such sports as sky-diving, skiing, bungee jumping, and horseback riding. A dead body found near the ranch’s ravine would ordinarily jump-start Ellie’s sleuthing skills. Only this time she’s in unfamiliar territory. She’s never been to Aspen before; she knew and adored the victim—a world-renowned Aspen artist—and to make matters worse, the wife who jump-started his career seems to be missing. Nevertheless, Ellie desperately needs to find the “art patron” who murdered her friend, and she needs to make friends with a black stallion named Satan…before the weight loss she’s achieved becomes permanent in a way she’s never imagined.   Read an Excerpt Order 'Lamb Chop' from Barnes & Noble A November 2005 release from Five Star Publishing! ISBN: 1-5941-4422-2 Reviews for Chain a Lamb Chop to the Bed!   "It is so refreshing to read a book where the leading lady isn't 20-something and a perfect size three. Even young, athletic and naturally slim Kit doesn't draw Peter's eye away from Ellie. How wonderful is that! "The prose in CHAIN A LAMB CHOP TO THE BED is smooth and reads quickly. The author has penned a wonderful tale that will enthrall the reader. The twists and turns will delight mystery lovers everywhere, and the touches of romance do not hurt either. Sit back and enjoy! CHAIN A LAMB CHOP TO THE BED is a highly recommended read that has found a place on this reviewer's keeper shelf." ~ Love Romances "Invited by her significant other, Detective Lt. Peter Miller, to a dude ranch for a week's vacation, you just know that it isn't going to be the stress-free reprise it's supposed to be. Before they leave, there is one murder, and the mystery of a defaced painting by a long-standing friend of Ellie's. In this their third appearance, Ellie and Peter are confronted with other occurrences, including the murder of the artist, on the Aspen ranch. "Other paintings are found slashed and at least one owner also found murdered. Each painting has the face of the model disfigured. The model in the paintings is of the artist's wife and all are early works. Surprisingly none of the new works are touched. And therein lies the mystery, which unfolds in a real twist in the plot. "The novel is written in the usual breezy style of its two predecessors, the characters remain interesting and the plot well-founded." ~ Theodore Feit, Mystery Morgue "Fresh, funny, and fat-free, this lean, mean ‘diet club’ book satisfies like a hot fudge sundae!" ~ Parnell Hall, author of Stalking the Puzzle Lady "Denise Dietz has done it again. CHAIN A LAMB CHOP TO THE BED contains all the elements we expect from the Ellie Bernstein/Lt. Peter Miller series: Snappy dialogue, compelling characters, romance, humor and a crackling good mystery. Dig in and enjoy! " ~ Steve Brewer, author of Boost "Three cheers that delectable diet club leader, Ellie Bernstein, is back! A chilling mystery filled with intrigue, tenderness, and food, all laced together by Denise Dietz's trademark humor and wit. Superb. A solid hit. " ~ Joanne Pence, author of the Angie Amalfi mysteries "Sexy, smart and suspenseful. You'll never feel the same way about the art world again! " ~ Joanne Fluke, author of the Hannah Swensen Mystery Series

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... Eye of Newt ... Hardcover & Trade Paperback Editions Available Sydney St. Charles is descended from a long line of witches. She owns an apothecary shop in Manitou Falls, Colorado. Stocked with all the usual health products, herbs and medicines, Sydney also sells spells, potions and talismans -- even though she isn't really sure herself that her magic is real. Sydney's charms are very popular with the locals, but it isn't witchcraft that has the town buzzing. Clive Newton, a member of the rock band The Newts, has been murdered. And, after buying a love spell from Sydney, the band's manager dies in a fire. On top of that, Sydney finds herself distracted by the appearance of an amnesiac, who she dubs "John Elway" (he seems to recall being a Denver Broncos fan). Sydney reluctantly gets involved with the murder investigation, but she finds her attempts to help are complicated by her growing attraction to "John Elway." She is also drawn into an ancient family mystery: a parallel murder that happened in Salem in 1692. Through an ancestor's journal, she learns far more than she expected about her own heritage--and also about the modern day killer. In the end, Sydney must outwit a murderer who will go to any lengths to silence her.   Read an Excerpt from Eye of Newt Order Eye of Newt in Paperback from Barnes & Noble A September 2005 release from Five Star Publishing! ISBN: 1-4104-0241-X Hardcover edition also available! Eye of Newt October 2004 ~ Five Star Publishing ISBN 1-59414-096-0-9 Order from Barnes & Noble     Reviews for Eye of Newt! "This very enjoyable novel blends two complicated mysteries with interesting characters and a strong sense of humor. Fans of the early work of Marcia Muller or Sue Grafton will delight in this heroine and her occasional irreverent attitude towards the world around her. Part romance, part mystery, and all fun, the resulting novel is often downright funny while at the same time providing a very good tale. Hopefully, this book is the start of a new series from this author." ~ Kevin Tipple, The Blue Iris Journal ("Reviewing Fine Books for Discriminating Readers") "Denise Dietz gives us a book filled with mystery, magic, and mayhem, but most of all, charming wit. EYE OF NEWT is a fanciful romp that should be thoroughly enjoyed and savored." ~ Katherine J. Turcotte, Romance Reviews Today "Witch-in-denial Sydney St. Charles runs an apothecary in Manitou Falls, CO. When her niece receives the severed ear of a rock band murder victim on her birthday -- and the band's agent dies suspiciously after buying a love spell from Sydney -- she reacts; and with the help of her ex-cop brother, her witchy great-aunt, a sexy amnesiac, and clues from old family journals, she prevails. This amazing concoction of self-deprecating humor, raucous familiars, and idiosyncratic family should entertain most. Dietz, who also writes culinary mysteries, lives on Vancouver Island, B.C. " ~ Library Journal "In EYE OF NEWT, Denise Dietz has once more put on display her marvelous knack for off-kilter inventiveness, building page-after-page of enjoyment around a witch of a detective out to solve the murder of a rock and roll star." ~ Robert S. Levinson Author of Hot Paint and The John Lennon Affair "Using wordcraft as deftly as witchcraft, Denise Dietz weaves multiple strands of plot together in a spellbinding history/mystery that transports the reader from 1692 Salem to contemporary Colorado. EYE OF NEWT, with its crackling suspense, unforgettable characters and witty dialogue, is pure magic." ~ Fran Baker, bestselling author of The Lady and the Champ "Skillfully going back and forth between the present and the past, Dietz weaves the two into a parallel story that enables Sydney to solve both the past and present murders. With a pinch of this and a dash of that, a little murder, a little greed and envy, a little love and lust, Dietz has cooked up a bewitching story that will put you under its spell." ~ Murder and Mayhem "Many innocent women died in Salem during the witchcraft hysteria, but a few genuine witches escaped the excutioner. Sydney St. Charles, owner of an apothecary shop in Manitou Falls, is descended from them and has a few magic tricks of her own. One of her love spells apparently goes horribly wrong, and she has to find out what happened. She gets some help from her pets, Anne the cat, Mercy the parrot and Chasdick the yellow Lab, who are reincarnations of Sydney's witchly aunts. This is a fresh, fun series." ~ Shirley Wetzel, reviewer for Over My Dead Body "I can't even begin to do this wonderful book justice. All of these characters seemed so real because of how well written they are and I felt as if I'd made new friends and met some really interesting people." ~ Murder Express

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A "WOO WOO" MYSTERY
by the author of the Diet Club mystery series
and the Ingrid/Hitchcock mystery series

 

Frannie Rosen's psychic mentions a brilliant future, but she never tells the relatively straight-laced and naïve Frannie that she will be possessed by a promiscuous, stage-struck doppelganger. All Frannie wants is an Oscar-winning role---a "to die for" role. What she gets is far, far more than that! Frannie often compares herself with Lewis Carroll's Alice, but she soon learns that Hell's demons, rather than Wonderland's allegories, prowl behind the looking glass. Especially when she's cast in a horror film about demonic possession, directed by the legendary Victor Madison.

While being piloted by Madison, Frannie is also orchestrated by a doppelganger/demon only she can comprehend. She has been "chosen" for her role, and there is more involved than just a doppelganger's dreams of stardom! The dirctor is tyrannical, the teen star of the movie is troubled, her mother is dysfunctional, the scriptwriter is self-destructive, and nobody involved in the production is without a share of irrational temperament. Except Frannie, who is both savvy and naïve as she copes with her own suspicions and the problem of being possessed by an ever-randy demon. Victor Madison, womanizer and director, is universally and deservedly hated, yet unexpectedly irresistible to Frannie herself. His murder surprises no one but Frannie; his murderer is a surprise to everyone but Frannie. But then, only Frannie is faced with disembodied voices, psychic predictions gone truly insane, and an innocence threatened by a reality she simply knows cannot be real.

Reviews: Ambitious Hollywood ingenue Frannie Rosen lands a part in a horror movie directed by the celebrated (and reviled) Victor Madison, but gets more than she bargained for in the demonic possession department when a violent and slutty real-life doppelganger takes over her body.The over-the-top, irreverent serving of horror and Hollywood noir in FIFTY CENTS FOR YOUR SOUL is something of a departure for Dietz (Footprints in the Butter, etc.), but who can resist a book that opens with: "The woman who straddled Victor Madison had hiccups"? ~Publishers Weekly "FIFTY CENTS FOR YOUR SOUL is a book that travels flawlessly between the storyline and reality...Dietz captivated me with her wickedly raunchy story of Frannie, her psychic experiences and the lurid, cruel and sexually insatiable obsessions of film director Victor Madison. The author has a way to keep you reading with her snappy, well crafted dialogue, witty narrative and a plot so interesting, you will be very shocked at the end...FIFTY CENTS FOR YOU SOUL is not a book for cozy lovers. This is an explosion of sex, religion, demons and dopplegangers all wrapped up in a veritable feast of sharp, black humor that will appeal to the mystery reader with a taste for something with real bite. Highly recommended." ~Murder on the Woo Woo Express "Denise Dietz is a very talented writer who has crafted a combination mystery horror novel that will appeal to fans of both genres. FIFTY CENTS FOR YOUR SOUL stars a delightfully quirky heroine who doesn't let the fact that she is "possessed" interfere with her main goal of being a famous actress. Readers will adore her because she is so charming and piquant as she stars in a strong story line." ~Harriet Klausner "This was definitely different and I enjoyed it immensely...it will be considered a gem." ~Barbara Douglas, Murder by the Book, Houston "FIFTY CENTS FOR YOUR SOUL is a fun mixture of mystery, humor and the supernatural, and Frannie Rosen is a delight." ~Romantic Times Magazine

Fifty Cents for Your Soul is Sold Out except for Author Copies
Contact Denise to order an autographed copy!

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Throw Darts at a Cheesecake "A bright and funny new heroine, brisk and clever writing, and wonderfully snappy dialogue." --Mystery Love Company

Now Available in Large Print ISBN: 978-1-59722-452-9 Order from Barnes & Noble or Amazon.com

 

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Beat Up a Cookie "Bernstein is a wonderful heroine...now that she's gotten rid of her philandering husband and kept off those extra 55 pounds, she can revel in her job, her earthy affair with Lt. Peter Miller, and her search for the killer." --Kirkus

Ellie Bernstein is still a fan of the TV series M*A*S*H. So are a lot of other people in Colorado Springs. In fact, years ago at a M*A*S*H bash to watch the show's finale, everyone came as their favorite character. Now, after having lost fifty-five pounds, Ellie sure looks a lot more like Hot Lips. But that claim to fame might be dangerous. There's a killer on the loose, and the show's look-alikes are being murdered. What twisted motive lies behind the killings? Ellie's dying to see the ending of this serial killer's saga...

Available in Large Print, July 28, 2008 ISBN: 978-1-59722-785-8 Order from Barnes & Noble or Amazon.com

 

When Deni was in the third grade, she wrote her first story, THE PENCIL WHO GREW UP TO BE A STUB. Although the assignment was to write a one-page story, using an ink pen, Deni wrote a five-page story, first-person...and she used a pencil. Whereupon, she received a failing grade for not following orders. Just like her latest historical romance heroine, Deni doesn't follow orders "unless they make sense."

Years later, after Deni had enjoyed a short-lived singing career and acting career, she sat at her typewriter, flexed her fingers, and pounded out her first culinary mystery: THROW DARTS AT A CHEESECAKE, inspired by her part-time job as a Weight Watchers lecturer. In the Walker (then Worldwide) novel, diet club members are getting killed off at goal weight and eating as if their very lives depended on it. The second book in the series, BEAT UP A COOKIE, revolves around a group of M*A*S*H* addicts and is dedicated to Alan Alda.

Switching to a computer, Deni wrote the book of her heart, a generational saga that encompasses the Cripple Creek gold rush, the Ludlow Massacre, and Colorado's silent film industry. Published by a regional press, THE RAINBOW'S FOOT is being scripted for a TV mini-series.

Deni hit the bestseller list with FOOTPRINTS IN THE BUTTER - an Ingrid Beaumont Mystery co-starring Hitchcock the Dog. She followed that success with her stand-alone, FIFTY CENTS FOR YOUR SOUL, her "reluctant witch mystery," EYE OF NEWT, and the 3rd book in her diet club series, CHAIN A LAMB CHOP TO THE BED.

Cloning herself into romance author Mary Ellen Dennis, Deni wrote THE LANDLORD'S BLACK EYED DAUGHTER, and recently completed her second historical romance: DESTINY'S DAUGHTER.

Married to fellow author, Gordon Aalborg, whom she met on-line through a writers loop, Deni, with Gordon, collaborated on a romantic suspense, FINDING BESS, and moved to Vancouver Island.

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HEY, THERE'S A DEAD GUY IN THE LIVING ROOM

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Eileen Dietz

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