FIRST CHAPTER FUN

First Chapter Fun – Episode 349 – THE CHRISTMAS WAGER by Holly Cassidy (Hannah Mary McKinnon)

Listen to bestselling authors Hank Phillippi Ryan and Hannah Mary McKinnon read the description and opening pages of THE CHRISTMAS WAGER by Holly Cassidy (Hannah Mary McKinnon's rom-com pen name), which is available September 26, 2023!

About THE CHRISTMAS WAGER:

When LA-based real estate developer Bella Ross arrives in the sleepy, mountain town of Maple Falls, she has one mission: to acquire the local failing Christmas shop, Always Noelle, securing the promotion of her dreams. Nothing can get in her way. Except the shop owner's stubborn grandson, Jesse Harrison.

Both refuse to budge, until an unlikely wager is struck: Bella and Jesse will compete in the Maple Falls Holiday Games, an annual tradition of eccentric feats of strength and skills. Winner decides the selling price. They'll give each other a run for their money, but as the competition heats up, Bella and Jesse's icy feelings toward each other begin to thaw.

It'll take a Christmas miracle for them to admit there's a spark, but what if it's just another game?

About the author:

Holly Cassidy is the pen name for internationally bestselling author Hannah Mary McKinnon. Her suspense novels include The Neighbors, Her Secret Son, Sister Dear, You Will Remember Me, Never Coming Home, and The Revenge List. McKinnon was born in England, grew up in Switzerland, and now lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and three sons. The Christmas Wager is her first novel writing as Holly Cassidy. 

Connect with Holly/Hannah:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/HannahMaryMcKinnon

Instagram: www.instagram.com/HannahMaryMcKinnon

Website: www.HollyCassidyAuthor.com

Stay safe. Stay kind. See you next time on First Chapter Fun!

Hank & Hannah x

Note: read with the author's and publisher's permission

First Chapter Fun – Episode 348 – SOMEONE ELSE’S LIFE by Lyn Liao Butler

Listen to internationally bestselling author Hannah Mary McKinnon read the description and opening pages of SOMEONE ELSE’S LIFE by Lyn Liao Butler, which is available now!

About SOMEONE ELSE’S LIFE:

Blow by blow, Annie Lin’s life crumbles. Her dance studio goes bankrupt. Her mother and beloved dog are gone the same year. Then a terrible accident leaves her young son traumatized.

It’s time for a change.

Palm trees, mai tais, peace and quiet—Annie should be at ease, safe in her new Kauai home with her husband and son. She hopes proximity to her family can provide them all with a sense of belonging and calm. But soon items from her past start turning up—her dog’s collar, a bracelet that disappeared years ago—and she has the unnerving sensation she’s being watched. Reality begins to fracture, and Annie’s panic attacks return. When, during a brewing storm, a woman appears on her doorstep looking for shelter, Annie is relieved to have the company and feels an unexplainable bond with her visitor.

As the night progresses, Annie realizes the woman is no stranger. Their lives are inextricably intertwined—and Annie might just lose everything.

About the author:

Lyn Liao Butler is a Taiwanese American author of thrillers, upmarket fiction, and rom-coms. Her most recent thriller, Someone Else’s Life, was an Amazon bestseller, and her upcoming books include a rom-com, Crazy Bao You coming June 6, 2023, and another thriller What Is Mine, out February 2024. Before becoming an author, she was a professional ballet and modern dancer, and is still a fitness and yoga instructor.

Connect with Lyn:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/lynliaobutler

Instagram: www.instagram.com/lynliaobutler

Twitter/X: www.twitter.com/lynliaobutler

Website: www.lynliaobutler.com

Stay safe. Stay kind. See you next time on First Chapter Fun!

Hank & Hannah x

Note: read with the author's and publisher's permission

First Chapter Fun – Episode 347 – AN HONEST MAN by Michael Kyorta

Listen to bestselling, award-winning crime author Hank Phillippi Ryan read the description and opening pages of AN HONEST MAN by Michael Kyorta, which is available now!

About AN HONEST MAN:

Israel Pike was a killer, and he was an honest man. They were not mutually exclusive.

After discovering seven men butchered aboard their yacht – including two Senate rivals – Israel Pike is regarded as a prime suspect. A troubled man infamous on Salvation Point Island for murdering his own father a decade before, Israel has few options, no friends, and a life-threatening secret.

Elsewhere on the island, 12-year-old Lyman Rankin seeks shelter from his alcoholic father in an abandoned house only to discover that he is not alone. A mysterious woman greets him with a hatchet and a promise: “Make a sound and I’ll kill you.”

As the investigation barrels forward, Lyman, Israel, and the fate of the case collide in immutable ways.

About the author:

Michael Koryta is the New York Times-bestselling author of 18 novels. His work has been translated into more than 20 languages and has won or been nominated for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, Edgar Award, Shamus Award, Barry Award, Quill Award, International Thriller Writers Award, and the Golden Dagger. They’ve been selected as “best books of the year” by numerous publications.

Connect with Michael:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/michaelkoryta

Instagram: www.instagram.com/michaelkoryta

Twitter/X: www.twitter.com/mjkoryta

Website: www.michaelkoryta.com

Meet your First Chapter Fun hosts ⁠⁠Hannah Mary McKinnon⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Hank Phillippi Ryan⁠⁠ and join us for First Chapter Fun ever Tuesday, live on ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ at 12.30 p.m. ET (or catch up later on this podcast).

Stay safe. Stay kind. See you next time on First Chapter Fun!

Hank & Hannah x

Note: read with the author's and publisher's permission

First Chapter Fun – Episode 346 – AFTER THAT NIGHT by Karin Slaughter

Listen to bestselling, award-winning crime author Hank Phillippi Ryan read the description and opening pages of AFTER THAT NIGHT by Karin Slaughter, which is available August 22nd!

About AFTER THAT NIGHT:

Will Trent and Sara Linton are back in an electrifying thriller featuring GBI investigator Will Trent and medical examiner Sara Linton from New York Times bestselling author Karin Slaughter

After that night, everything changed . . .

Fifteen years ago, Sara Linton’s life changed forever when a celebratory night out ended in a violent attack that tore her world apart. Since then, Sara has remade her life. A successful doctor, engaged to a man she loves, she has finally managed to leave the past behind her.

Until one evening, on call in the ER, everything changes. Sara battles to save a broken young woman who’s been brutally attacked. But as the investigation progresses, led by GBI Special Agent Will Trent, it becomes clear that Dani Cooper’s assault is uncannily linked to Sara’s.

And the past isn’t going to stay buried forever . . .

About the author:

Karin Slaughter is the author of more than twenty instant New York Times bestselling novels, including the Edgar–nominated Cop Town and standalone novels Pretty Girls, The Good Daughter, and Pieces of Her. She is published in 120 countries with more than 40 million copies sold across the globe. Pieces of Her is now a #1 Netflix original series starring Toni Collette, Will Trent is now a television series starring Ramón Rodríguez on ABC, and further projects are in development for television.

Slaughter is the founder of the Save the Libraries project—a nonprofit organization established to support libraries and library programming. A native of Georgia, she lives in Atlanta.

Connect with Karin:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorKarinSlaughter

Instagram: www.instagram.com/KarinSlaughterAuthor

Twitter: www.twitter.com/slaughterkarin

Website: www.karinslaughter.com

Meet your First Chapter Fun hosts ⁠Hannah Mary McKinnon⁠ and ⁠Hank Phillippi Ryan⁠ and join us for First Chapter Fun ever Tuesday, live on ⁠Facebook⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠ at 12.30 p.m. ET (or catch up later on this podcast).

Stay safe. Stay kind. See you next time on First Chapter Fun!

Hank & Hannah x

Note: read with the author's and publisher's permission

First Chapter Fun – Episode 345 – THE HOUSE OF EVE by Sadeqa Johnson

Listen to award-winning, bestselling crime author ⁠⁠Hank Phillippi Ryan⁠⁠ read the description and opening pages of THE HOUSE OF EVE by Sadeqa Johnson, which is available now!

About THE HOUSE OF EVE:

1950s Philadelphia: fifteen-year-old Ruby Pearsall is on track to becoming the first in her family to attend college, in spite of having a mother more interested in keeping a man than raising a daughter. But a taboo love affair threatens to pull her back down into the poverty and desperation that has been passed on to her like a birthright.

Eleanor Quarles arrives in Washington, DC, with ambition and secrets. When she meets the handsome William Pride at Howard University, they fall madly in love. But William hails from one of DC’s elite wealthy Black families, and his parents don’t let just anyone into their fold. Eleanor hopes that a baby will make her finally feel at home in William’s family and grant her the life she’s been searching for. But having a baby—and fitting in—is easier said than done.

With their stories colliding in the most unexpected of ways, Ruby and Eleanor will both make decisions that shape the trajectory of their lives.

About the author:  

Sadeqa Johnson is the New York Times best-selling author of five novels. Her accolades include being the 2022 Hurston/Wright Foundation Legacy finalist, a BCALA Literary Honoree, and the Library of Virginia’s Literary People’s Choice Award winner. She is a Kimbilio Fellow and teaches in the M.F.A. program at Drexel University. Originally from Philadelphia, she currently lives near Richmond, VA with her husband and three teens.

Connect with Sadeqa:

Facebook: ⁠⁠www.facebook.com/SadeqaJohnson⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/SadeqaSays⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠www.twitter.com/SadeqaSays⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠www.sadeqajohnson.com⁠⁠

Meet your First Chapter Fun hosts ⁠⁠⁠Hannah Mary McKinnon⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠Hank Phillippi Ryan⁠⁠⁠ and join us for First Chapter Fun ever Tuesday, live on ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ at 12.30 p.m. ET (or catch up later on this podcast).

Stay safe. Stay kind. See you next time on First Chapter Fun!

Hank & Hannah x

Note: read with the author's and publisher's permission

First Chapter Fun – Episode 344 – THICKER THAN WATER by Megan Collins

Listen to award-winning, best-selling crime author Hank Phillippi Ryan read the description and opening pages of THICKER THAN WATER by Megan Collins, which is available now.

About THICKER THAN WATER:

Two sisters-in-law find themselves at painful odds when the man who connects them—the brother of one, the husband of the other—is accused of a brutal crime in this twisty thriller from the author of the “exceedingly entertaining” (The New York Times) The Family Plot.

Julia and Sienna Larkin are sisters-in-law, connected by Julia’s husband and Sienna’s brother, Jason. More than that, the two are devoted best friends and business partners, believing that theirs is a uniquely unbreakable bond. To Sienna, her protective brother can do no wrong, and although Julia knows he’s not perfect, they’ve built a comfortable life and family together. Recently, Jason has been putting in long hours to secure a promotion at work, so when his boss is found brutally murdered—his lips sewn shut—the Larkins are shocked and unsettled, especially as local gossip swirls.

A few days later, Julia and Sienna’s lives are upended when Jason gets into a car accident and is placed in a medically induced coma. Worse, the police arrive with news that he’s the prime suspect in the murder investigation. With Jason unable to respond—and with Julia and Sienna working to clear his name—the two women find their friendship threatened for the first time: Sienna staunchly maintains her brother’s innocence, but as their investigation uncovers a complicated web of secrets, Julia is less sure she’s willing to defend her husband.

About the author:

Megan Collins is the author of Thicker Than Water, The Family Plot, Behind the Red Door, and The Winter Sister. A former creative writing teacher, she is also the managing editor of 3Elements Review. She lives in Connecticut, where she obsesses over dogs, miniatures, and cake. 

Connect with Megan:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/megancollinswriter

Instagram: www.instagram.com/megancollinswriter

Twitter: www.twitter.com/ImMeganCollins

Website: www.megancollins.com

Meet your First Chapter Fun hosts ⁠Hannah Mary McKinnon⁠ and ⁠Hank Phillippi Ryan⁠ and join us for First Chapter Fun ever Tuesday, live on ⁠Facebook⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠ at 12.30 p.m. ET (or catch up later on this podcast).

Stay safe. Stay kind. See you next time on First Chapter Fun!

Hank & Hannah x

Note: read with the author's and publisher's permission

First Chapter Fun – Episode 343 – THE NIGHT IT ENDED by Katie Garner

Listen to internationally bestselling author Hannah Mary McKinnon read the description and opening pages of THE NIGHT IT ENDED by Katie Garner, which is available now!

About THE NIGHT IT ENDED:

Finding the truth seems impossible when her own dark past has her seeing lies everywhere she looks…

From the outside, criminal psychiatrist Dr. Madeline Pine’s life appears picture-perfect—she has a beautiful family, a successful mental health practice, and a growing reputation as an expert in female violence. But when she's called to help investigate a mysterious death at a boarding school for troubled teenage girls, Madeline hesitates. She’s been through tragic cases before, and the one she was entangled in last year nearly destroyed her…

Yet she can’t turn away when she hears about Charlotte Ridley. After she was found barefoot and in pajamas at the bottom of an icy ravine on campus, the police ruled her death a tragic accident. But the private investigator hired by her mother has his doubts. If it were Madeline’s daughter who died, she’d want to know why. 

Arriving at the secluded campus in upstate New York, Madeline’s met by an unhelpful skeleton staff and the four other students still on campus during winter break. Each seems to hold a piece of the puzzle. And everyone has secrets—Madeline included. But who would kill to protect them?

About the author:  

Katie Garner was born in New York and grew up in New Jersey. She has a degree in Art History from Ramapo College and is certified to teach high school Art. She hoards paperbacks, coffee mugs, and dog toys and can be seen holding at least one of those things most of the time. 

​Katie lives in a New Jersey river town with her husband, baby boy, and shih-poo where she writes books about women and their dark, secret selves. The Night It Ended is her debut novel.

Connect with Katie:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/katiewritesmystery

Twitter: www.twitter.com/kgarnerauthor

Website: www.katiegarnerauthor

Meet your First Chapter Fun hosts ⁠⁠Hannah Mary McKinnon⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Hank Phillippi Ryan⁠⁠ and join us for First Chapter Fun ever Tuesday, live on ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ at 12.30 p.m. ET (or catch up later on this podcast).

Stay safe. Stay kind. See you next time on First Chapter Fun!

Hank & Hannah x

Note: read with the author's and publisher's permission

First Chapter Fun – Episode 342 – A TWISTED LOVE STORY by Samantha Downing

Listen to bestselling, award-winning crime author Hank Phillippi Ryan read the description and opening pages of A TWISTED LOVE STORY by Samantha Downing, which is available July 18th!

About A TWISTED LOVE STORY: 

Wes and Ivy are madly in love. They've never felt anything like it. It's the type of romance people write stories about.

But what kind of story?

When it's good, it's great. Flowers. Grand gestures. Deep meaningful conversations where the whole world disappears.

When it's bad, it's really bad. Vengeful fights. Damaged property. Arrest warrants.

But their vicious cycle of catastrophic breakups and head-over-heels reconciliations needs to end fast. Because suddenly, Wes and Ivy have a common enemy - and she's a detective.

There's something Wes and Ivy never talk about - in good times or bad. The night of their worst breakup, when one of them took things too far, and someone ended up dead.

If they can stick together, they can survive anything--even the tightening net of a police investigation.

Because one more breakup might just be their last… 

About the author:

Samantha Downing is the author of the bestselling My Lovely Wife, nominated for the Edgar, ITW, Macavity awards in the US, the CWA award in the UK, and the winner of the Prix des Lectrices award in France. 

Connect with Samantha:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/smariedowning

Instagram: www.instagram.com/smariedowning

Twitter: www.twitter.com/smariedowning

Website: www.samanthadowning.com

Meet your First Chapter Fun hosts ⁠Hannah Mary McKinnon⁠ and ⁠Hank Phillippi Ryan⁠ and join us for First Chapter Fun ever Tuesday, live on ⁠Facebook⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠ at 12.30 p.m. ET (or catch up later on this podcast).

Stay safe. Stay kind. See you next time on First Chapter Fun!

Hank & Hannah x

Note: read with the author's and publisher's permission

First Chapter Fun – Episode 341 – THE GIRLS ARE GOOD by Ilaria Bernadini

Listen to internationally bestselling author Hannah Mary McKinnon read the description and opening pages of THE GIRLS ARE GOOD by Ilaria Bernadini, which is available now!

About THE GIRLS ARE GOOD: 

A DANGEROUS OBSESSION - Martina wants to be the best gymnast in the world. But so does everyone around her.

A TOURNAMENT WITH A DIFFERENCE - During one week of intense competition, Martina and her teammates are tested to the limit, and any sign of weakness can quickly spell the end.

A MURDER IN THE NIGHT - By the end of the week, one of the gymnasts will be dead. 

Every girl will do anything to win…but at what cost?

About the author:  

Ilaria Bernardini was born in Milan and is an author and scriptwriter. Her novel Faremo Foresta was longlisted for Italy’s prestigious Strega Prize and she has created TV shows including Ginnaste and Ballerini (MTV) and has written for Ciak, Tutto Musica, Linus, Rolling Stone, Amica, Vanity Fair and GQ. The Girls Are Good is based on her novel Corpo Libero which subsequently morphed into a cult reality show. This story was inspired by Ilaria’s exclusive behind-the-scenes exposure to the controversies that have gripped the world of gymnastics over the past decade. The book has already been optioned by Indigo productions along with All 3Media (the company behind Fleabag) for an eight-part TV series.

Connect with Ilaria:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/ilaria_bernardini

Twitter: www.twitter.com/faremoforesta

Meet your First Chapter Fun hosts ⁠Hannah Mary McKinnon⁠ and ⁠Hank Phillippi Ryan⁠ and join us for First Chapter Fun ever Tuesday, live on ⁠Facebook⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠ at 12.30 p.m. ET (or catch up later on this podcast).

Stay safe. Stay kind. See you next time on First Chapter Fun!

Hank & Hannah x

Note: read with the author's and publisher's permission

First Chapter Fun – Episode 340 – THE SENATOR’S WIFE by Liv Constantine

Listen to award-winning, bestselling crime author Hank Phillippi Ryan read the description and opening pages of THE SENATOR’S WIFE by Liv Constantine, which is available now!

About THE SENATOR’S WIFE:

After a tragic chain of events led to the deaths of their spouses two years ago, D.C. philanthropist Sloane Chase and Senator Whit Montgomery are finally starting to move on. The horrifying ordeal drew them together, and now they’re ready to settle down again—with each other.

As Sloane returns to the world of White House dinners and political small talk, this time with her new husband, she’s also preparing for an upcoming hip replacement—the latest reminder of the lupus she’s managed since her twenties. With their hectic schedules, they decide that hiring a home health aide will give Sloane the support and independence she needs postsurgery. And they find the perfect fit in Athena Karras.

Seemingly a godsend, Athena tends to Sloane and even helps her run her charitable foundation. But Sloane slowly begins to deteriorate—a complication, Athena explains, of Sloane’s lupus. As weeks go by, Sloane becomes sicker, and her uncertainty quickly turns to paranoia as she begins to suspect the worst. Why is Athena asking her so many probing questions about her foundation—as well as about her past? And could Sloane be imagining the sultry looks between Athena and her new husband?

About the authors:

Liv Constantine is the pen name of sisters Lynne Constantine and Valerie Constantine. Lynne and Valerie are Wall St. Journal and USA Today international bestselling authors with over one million copies sold worldwide. Their books have been translated into 28 languages, are available in 33 countries, and are in development for both television and film.  Their novels have been praised by USA Today, The Sunday Times, People Magazine, and Good Morning America, among many others. Their debut novel, THE LAST MRS. PARRISH, is a Reese Witherspoon Book Club selection. 

Connect with the authors:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/LivConstantine

Instagram: www.instagram.com/LivConstantine2

Twitter: www.twitter.com/LivConstantine2

Website: www.LivConstantine.com

Meet your First Chapter Fun hosts ⁠Hannah Mary McKinnon⁠ and ⁠Hank Phillippi Ryan⁠ and join us for First Chapter Fun ever Tuesday, live on ⁠Facebook⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠ at 12.30 p.m. ET (or catch up later on this podcast).

Stay safe. Stay kind. See you next time on First Chapter Fun!

Hank & Hannah x

Note: read with the author's and publisher's permission