Hey, Hey, Hey...

…It’s a new release today!! The third book in my Broken Vows mystery series, In Sickness and in Death, is now available.


Please join me in applauding everyone at Midnight Ink Books, not only for doing a bang up job of publishing the novel but also for being one month ahead of schedule. Praiseworthy, I think.

Here’s the summary of In Sickness and in Death:

When her sheriff’s deputy husband, Ray, brings home a shaggy haired and sulky twelve-year-old boy and introduces him as their new foster child, Finger Lakes sports car dealer Jolene Parker doesn’t know what to think. The impulsive son of a jailed car thief, Danny is a handful whose main talents include picking locks and hotwiring cars.

After Danny takes a brief joyride in a car that he claims belongs to his dad, Jolene and Ray discover a horrible surprise in the trunk: a woman’s severed arm. While Ray hunts down the victim’s identity, Jolene races to find out whether Danny’s father did the foul deed, driving her straight into the twisted killer’s sights.

I’m delighted to have my third book on the market, but the timing is bittersweet. My first book signing for my debut novel, For Better, For Murder, was at our local Borders. The store manager placed me at a desk by the front door and put up a big display featuring the book. Dozens of my friends and family showed up in support, some bringing me flowers and buying copies of the novel for every member of their family. In contrast, today the Borders’ store clearance signs are up, and I know that my third book will never be on their shelf.

But hopefully you still can find In Sickness and in Death at all the other usual outlets.

To get things started right, I’m giving away ten copies of the book over on Goodreads, so by all means if you’re a member, check that offer out.

And if any of our InkSpot friends would like a chance to win an autographed “trilogy” set, please feel free to email me at Lisa@LisaBork.com to sign up for my mailing list and enter the drawing to win For Better, For Murder, For Richer, For Danger, and my latest release In Sickness and in Death.

Hey, hey, hey…it’s giveaway day.

The Debate

In Sickness and In Death, the third installment of the Broken Vows mystery series, releases September 2011.


Here’s the cover blurb:

“Jolene Parker isn't sure what to think when her police deputy husband, Ray, unexpectedly brings home a new foster child. The impulsive son of a jailed car thief, twelve-year-old Danny has talents that include picking locks and hotwiring cars.

Following Danny's brief joyride in the car that he says is his dad's, a horrific surprise turns up in the trunk: a woman's arm. While Ray hunts down the victim's identity, Jolene tries to determine whether Danny's father did the deed. And it drives her straight into the killer's sights.”

The Broken Vows mysteries have an underlying story arc involving family relations that hangs in the balance from book to book. Those of you who read the first book in the series know it had a happy ending for the protagonist. Book two, not so much. I debated with book three. It could have easily gone either way and the mystery would not have lost any of its punch. I had a perfect moment and a perfect line for a happy or a bittersweet ending.

I debated whether readers who now have a vested interest in the family saga would tolerate two unhappy endings in a row. Is that too much of a downer? Are most readers like me, preferring the “happily ever after” ending? Of course if they are like me, they write that ending in their own heads and wait to see if that’s what occurs in the next book.

So, when you’re vested in a character and a series, do you prefer a happy ending or doesn’t it matter? Does your answer depend on whether the series is more of a cozy or not? Whether it’s the last book in the series or not?

(Psst…In Sickness and In Death is available for pre-order. Pass the word, please.)