Book Tour, Guest Post & $100. Giveaway for ICE by Lauren Carr! [Ends 5/5/18] ​

Book Details:
Book Title:  ICE by Lauren Carr
Category:  Adult fiction, 380 pages
Genre:  Mystery, Crime Fiction, Police Procedural, Cozy
Publisher:  Acorn Book Services
Release date:  February 26, 2018
Will send books:  USA & Canada
Tour dates:  Book and ebook: April 2 to 30, 2018 / Audiobook: May 1 to 25, 2018.
Content Rating:  PG (It's a murder mystery and there is mild violence. Very mild swearing no F-bombs. No on-stage sex scenes.)

Book Description:

The clues for a close-to-the-heart missing person’s case heat up when Chris Matheson starts chipping away at the ice on the cold case.

When Sandy Lipton and her unborn child disappear, the court of public opinion finds young Chris Matheson guilty. Decades later, the retired FBI agent returns home to discover that the cloud of suspicion cast over him and his family has never lifted. With the help of a team of fellow retired law enforcement officers, each a specialist in their own field of investigation, Chris Matheson starts chipping away at the ice on this cold case to uncover what had happened to Sandy and her baby and the clues are getting hot!

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MY REVIEW: (LAWonder10)
​Lauren Carr "hits the Jackpot" again with this new "Geezer" series!

Ice is an exciting story of a retired FBI man who tragically lost his wife, so returned to his home town so his mother can assist him in raising his children. When his daughter revealed to him a cruel statement made to her at school, Chris decided it is time to do whatever he needs to tyo solve an "ice" cold case.

Once again, Lauren has created a delightful mix of characters which seem to jump out of the story into real life! The scenes are equally well-portrayed. 

As with all her books, Lauren adds that touch of humor which adds to the reader's enjoyment.

My rating for this book is Five Stars!
*This book was gifted me with no requirement for a positive review. This is my honest review.

Book Trailer:

GUEST POST:
Honest, Officer, I’m Not a Psychopath. I’m a Mystery Writer
By Lauren Carr

I’m a murder mystery writer. Really. I am. My twenty-first book, Ice was released on February 26. That is proof that all of the research I do is for literary purposes. Therefore, when I ask questions about how to turn common household items into murder weapons, it isn’t because I actually intend to use that item to kill someone I know—unless that person ticked me off and I’m planning to make them a murder victim in my next book. (That’s another guest post.)  
It isn’t like I ever expected to be normal. What type of person sits around all day thinking about ways to kill people? Long ago, I accepted the fact that If I wasn’t a mystery writer, I’d be a psychopath. What kind of person does that? At least my husband doesn’t have to sleep with his eyes open.
Usually, my family simply accepts what I do for a living. Since I spend most of my time doing my research and writing on the laptop, they wouldn’t even know what I do—except when I decide to take my research into the real world.
I love to watch criminal documentaries like Forensics Files. I could watch those all day long. I also have some friends in law enforcement—including a former homicide detective. I’ve made some visits to the Writer’s Police Academy, a weekend workshop that takes place at an actual police academy.
Truthfully, Google and YouTube can only take you so far when it comes to research. Sure, with YouTube, you can see a video of how to turn a blender into a weapon to be used in self-defense against an international assassin, but that’s no substitute for actually crouching in the pantry and feeling your heart beating against your chest while assembling it.
Before internet, I was intimidated because I would have to actually talk to people. I felt like a fool saying, “I’m a writer, can you tell me…”
Back when I was writing my first mystery novel, I called the police to ask for procedural information concerning a homicide.  So I dialed the local police department, not the emergency number, and I got an officer on the phone. Immediately, I proceeded to tell him the situation. “I’ve got this dead body, and he’s been murdered and…”
“Excuse me,” the officer interrupted me, “did you say you have a dead body?”
“Yes, and he’s been murdered. So, when you get here, what’s the first thing you do?”
“Where are you?” he asked.
Suddenly, I realized that I was so anxious to ask my question that I failed to tell him that I was a writer doing research. I immediately hung up the phone and closed the blinds. I spent the rest of the day peering out the window to see if the police had traced the call.
Now, I’m much bolder, which is why I don’t get invited to Pampered Chef parties anymore. Years ago, I interrupted the sales rep to demonstrate how a melon baller could be used to extract information from a reluctant source about where his murderous gang is hiding. I’m still waiting to get mad about making that “Do Not Invite” list.
Personal research is not easy, which is why I grab every opportunity I can. The last time I went to the airport, I purposely made myself look suspicious so that I could get patted down and searched. I had waited in line for over an hour and a half for a pat down that only took five seconds. Afterwards, I turned to the security agent and said, “That’s it?”
“Yes,” was her reply and she urged me to move along.
I hadn’t been that disappointed since my first date.
The last time I took my son, Tristan, to the dentist—and I mean the last time—I had the nerve to ask the dentist which tool on his tray would make the most unusual murder weapon. Now that I think about it, the dentist had no problem explaining how each one could be used to kill someone. I wonder if that says something about him … or his patients.
Laying back in the dentist chair, with the suction hose in his mouth, Tristan widened his eyes in horror while the dentist on one side, and me on the other, examined the various tools on the tray directly above him.
“A scalpel is so cliché,” I told our dentist. “I’m looking for one that when the police see it, they will have no idea that it was a murder weapon until Mac points it out in the end.”
“I have just the thing for you,” the dentist said, “But I don’t have it here. Give me your address and I’ll mail it to you.” A few days later, the weapon arrived at our home in a padded envelope with a note, “Here’s your murder weapon. Enjoy!”
I fondly remember the very last time I drove Tristan home from school a few years ago. On the way there, I came upon a police road block. With cars backed up on the road, the police were stopping everyone to search their car.
I practically jumped up and down in my seat with anticipation about being pulled over by the police and getting patted down and having my car searched. Think of the material I would have to use! So, you can imagine my dismay when they waved me through! They searched the guy in front of me and behind me—but they completely ignored me! ME!
Obviously, I didn’t look suspicious enough to warrant a search.
So, when I picked up Tristan, I told him, “Okay, we’re going to be coming to a road block. The police are searching cars. Look suspicious.”
Tristan scrunched down in his seat.
“Sit up. They won’t be able to see you. And try to look sneaky.”
By the time we came back to the road block, I had my eyebrows knitted together and my mouth screwed up into what I hoped to be an evil snarl, while Tristan was hiding in the back seat where hopefully no one would see him and know he was with me.
Again, the police stopped the car in front of me, and the one behind me, while waving me through. Couldn’t they see the body hiding in my back seat? That should have looked suspicious, don’t you think? I knew when they waved me on that I should have reached back and pinched Tristan to make him scream out for help.
Now, my family insists that I don’t need to take any of them anywhere anymore. That’s something else that I’m still waiting to get mad about.
That’s why, when it comes to research, I basically have to stick to Google and YouTube.

About the Author:
Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, and Thorny Rose Mysteries—over twenty titles across three fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!

Now, Lauren has added one more hit series to her list with the Chris Matheson Cold Case Mysteries. Set in the quaint West Virginia town of Harpers Ferry, Ice introduces Chris Matheson, a retired FBI agent, who joins forces with other law enforcement retirees to heat up those cold cases that keep them up at night.

Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr’s seamlessly crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, crime fiction, police procedurals, romance, and humor.

​Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. She lives with her husband, and three dogs on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.
​Connect with the author: Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook  ~  Instagram

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Here is the tour schedule.

Giveaway:​
Prizes: ​ Win a $100 Amazon gift card (Open internationally / 1 winner)
(ends May 5)

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