Welcome to my stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for Legally Blind Luck (Braxton Campus Mysteries) by James J. Cudney. Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, guest posts, spotlights, reviews and more!
Surprising new family members. A hidden talisman. Deadly curses. Murder. Months after tragically losing a loved one, Kellan learns his relative’s death wasn’t an accident.
Legally Blind Luck (Braxton Campus Mysteries)
by James J. Cudney
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Legally Blind Luck (Braxton Campus Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
7th in Series
Independently published (April 15, 2021)
Gumshoe – A Next Chapter Imprint
Someone has discovered a cursed talisman, and a rogue government agent will stop at nothing to retrieve the heirloom. Unfortunately, it has already changed hands and found its way on campus. Moments before Braxton’s controversial art exhibition opens, Kellan stumbles upon another murder victim, and it appears he might be next on the avenger’s list.
Can Kellan protect the talisman’s true heir and prevent the killer’s nefarious plan? Given all the suspects have ties to prominent Braxton citizens, he’s uncertain whom to trust. Together, Kellan and Sheriff April are determined to solve the mystery – via legal means or blind luck.
Character Guest Post
I’m thrilled to be a coveted stop at Christy’s Cozy Corners on the tour for Legally Blind Luck. Thank you very much for this opportunity. Today, we’re hearing from Queen Tessa, a high priestess of a South African tribe from the 17th century. She died hundreds of years ago, but the clever woman plays a pivotal role in today’s drama. Let’s hear what news she brings us…
***
The world today is as perilous as it was in the past; most don’t understand the tragedies my people suffered in South Africa. Colonists seized control of my land, and while I hoped I could prevent them from murdering my tribe, the only way to do so was to succumb to my own death. I knew it was coming, so I placed a curse on my prized talisman. When Governor Yeardley’s devils captured me, the torture was horrific. But not as terrible as what happened to Yeardley’s descendants as a result of their own doing.
For centuries, I watched over my family; they protected my special figurine. Yeardley’s heirs hunted us down, but they always fell short of locating us. When my last known descendants had an accident of their own accord, everything changed. I couldn’t predict things about the future as I once could. Throughout the last fifty years, anyone who came in contact with my prized talisman died a brutal death. Through blind luck, we safely found and hid it once again… until this pivotal point in time.
Someone unearthed the cursed object among the elephants I treasured. The fool tried to profit from the discovery, and it brought much disaster. And now, my cursed talisman has fallen into the wrong hands. Even I cannot discern who has stolen it… nor do I understand what the death in Glass Hall means to my people. Something wicked is going to happen, and I know of no way to stop it from this permanent place in my watery grave.
As I watched men and women die to protect or steal my figurine throughout the centuries, I prayed to my gods to offer only love and to restore balance. Evil sometimes wins in the short-term. In the long run, it will not. I am confident that someone will save the day. Kellan Ayrwick seems like my best hope. I will guide him to the truth, even if I must take the risk that he will come into possession of my cursed talisman. That almost always means certain death.
I don’t want this to happen to Kellan, yet there is something more important than him emerging. I must watch over him, but it might be too late. Apparently, there was a shocking event I failed to see developing in the past. A unique key that brings resolution to our dilemma–just not in the way I would want it to happen. I might have been the first blind warrior queen, but my latest reincarnation is a whole different force to be reckoned with.
I wish you luck, Kellan. Find all the legal and illegal means necessary to stop this villain. Do not rely on your normal approach. You will be as blind to the truth as I once was…
About James J. Cudney
Background
James is my given name, but most folks call me Jay. I live in New York City, grew up on Long Island, and graduated from Moravian College, an historic but small liberal arts school in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, with a degree in English literature and minors in Education, Business and Spanish. After college, I accepted a technical writing position for a telecommunications company during Y2K and spent the last ~20 years building a career in technology & business operations in the retail, sports, media, hospitality, and entertainment industries.
Throughout those years, I wrote short stories, poems, and various beginnings to the “Great American Novel,” but I was so focused on my career that writing became a hobby. In 2016, I committed to focusing my energies toward reinvigorating a second career in reading, writing, and publishing.
Author
Writing has been a part of my life as much as my heart, mind, and body. At some points, it was just a few poems or short stories; at others, it was full length novels and stories. My current focus is family drama fiction, cozy mystery novels, and suspense thrillers.
I conjure characters and plots that I feel must be unwound. I think of situations people find themselves in and feel compelled to tell the story. It’s usually a convoluted plot with many surprise twists and turns. I feel it necessary to take that ride all over the course. My character is easily pictured in my head. I know what he is going to encounter or what she will feel. But I need to use the right words to make it clear.
Reader & Reviewer
Reading has also never left my side. Whether it was children’s books, young adult novels, college textbooks, biographies, or my ultimate love, fiction, it’s ever present in my day. I read two books per week and I’m on a quest to update every book I’ve ever read on Goodreads, write up a review, and post it on all my sites and platforms.
Blogger & Thinker
I have combined my passions into a single platform where I share reviews, write a blog and publish tons of content: TRUTH. I started my 365 Daily Challenge, where I post about a word that has some meaning to me and converse with everyone about life. There is humor, tears, love, friendship, advice, and bloopers. Lots of bloopers where I poke fun at myself all the time. Even my dogs have had weekly segments called “Ryder’s Rants” or “Baxter’s Barks,” where they complain about me. All these things make up who I am; none of them are very fancy or magnanimous, but they are real. And that’s why they are me.
Genealogist & Researcher
I love history and research, finding myself often reaching back into the past to understand why someone made the choice he or she did and what were the subsequent consequences. I enjoy studying the activities and culture from hundreds of years ago to trace the roots and find the puzzle of my own history. And I wish I could watch my ancestors from a secret place to learn how they interacted with others, and maybe I’ll comprehend why I do things the way I do.
Websites & Blog
Website: https://jamesjcudney.com/
Blog: https://thisismytruthnow.com
Amazon: http://bit.ly/JJCIVBooks
Next Chapter: https://www.nextchapter.pub/authors/james-j-cudney
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/james-j-cudney
Social Media
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jamescudney4
https://www.facebook.com/JamesJCudneyIVAuthor/
https://www.facebook.com/BraxtonCampusMysteries/
https://www.facebook.com/ThisIsMyTruthNow/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jamescudney4/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamescudney4/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/jamescudney4
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamescudney4
Enter the giveaway
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
April 21
Literary Gold – REVIEW
Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT
April 22
Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
Didi Oviatt – Author – REVIEW
FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
April 23
Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST
MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
The Book’s the Thing – REVIEW
April 24
Carla Loves To Read – REVIEW
Nesie’s Place – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
April 25
Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT
StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
April 26
Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
Kyrosmagica – REVIEW
Tea Book Blanket – SPOTLIGHT
April 27
BookloverBlogs – REVIEW
Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT
Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT
April 28
Valerie’s Musings – REVIEW
Books a Plenty Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
April 29
Novels Alive – GUEST POST
Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
April 30
BookishKelly2020 – SPOTLIGHT
Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
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Happy Friday!
The character guest post looks fantastic. I had forgotten all that was written. You made it shine. Love the layout and colors… and it will definitely intrigue your readers. I appreciate it. Thank you so much for taking the time to add in all these wonderful extra links and images.
Jay
Thanks for stopping, Jay! Yes, it does! Your character was very informative!