A USA Today Bestselling author, this slightly out of place Renaissance man writes mysteries and more. Topics include writing, family, gardens, and more, often infused with a bit of gentle philosophy and always with a lust for life.
FREE eBook 3/25 - 3/29/24
Fifty years ago, Sam Moore’s little brother Billy vanished without a trace—leaving Sam with guilt that haunts him to this day. Fifty years with no body, no leads, and no answers. Until now.
https://www.amazon.com/Whole.../dp/B0BXVXNF5X/ref=sr_1_1...
“The Best in the Whole Wide World is an epic western saga, steeped in delicious portrayals of nature, love, and the best of family life.” Aaron Paul Lazar, USA Today bestselling author
Welcome, dear friends and readers.
Spring is coming!
I love it. Spring makes my spirits soar, even in this time of huge adjustment.
Free eBooks
Today I'm going to share two FREE eBooks with you, Robert Sells' new romantic murder mystery, An Affair with Murder, and my first "Young Gus" mystery from the LeGarde Mystery series, Tremolo: cry of the loon.
Rob Sells is an all-round great guy. One of the best I've ever known. Compassionate, giving, and more. Oh, and he can also write!!! So I took him on as a client ;o) (Just for the record, I don't get any money for promoting clients' books that I love and believe in - I just want to share.)
An Affair with Murder is set in a small town and bristles with intrigue, suspense, and plot-twisting romance. The main character is a writer (who doesn't love that?), but past traumas haunt her.
When a a formerly dormant serial killer starts stealing and murdering women, she wants to help, and reaches out to old friends on the police force. But she doesn't know who to trust, and has very good reasons to doubt each one.
Here's the official book blurb:
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Devastated by the murder of her best friend after the prom, Rebecca has a nervous breakdown and flees her hometown.
Twelve years later, now a successful author, she struggles with agoraphobia. Her therapist insists she return home for closure. But when she arrives, she's horrified to find there’s been another grisly murder identical to the first one.
The three officers of the law handling the investigation are former friends of Rebecca and, coincidentally, love interests in high school. Knowing she is writing a murder-mystery, the three men agree to share their findings with her. Rebecca stumbles upon a note from the original homicide suggesting that the killer has be one of the three investigators. But which one?
Not knowing who to trust, Rebecca decides to solve the case on her own. As she gets closer to uncovering the truth, it looks like she will be the next victim.
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Grab a copy of the free eBook this week.
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NEXT: One of my books will be free in parallel with Rob's book.
Tremolo: cry of the loon, book one in the "Young Gus Mysteries."
Get your free eBook March 18th - 22nd.
"As in other great literary works, the description of meals, pastimes and interests are a wonderful satisfying eavesdropping that takes this babyboomer back to a slower time. There is an innocence that is difficult to find in current living and yet these young people still were presented with the evils we all have in our lives today." - DC from Washington
Summer, 1964: Beatlemania hits the States, and the world mourns the loss of JFK.
For eleven-year-old Gus LeGarde, the powerful events that rocked the nation serve as a backdrop for the most challenging summer of his life. After Gus and his best friends capsize their boat at his grandparents’ lakeside camp, they witness a drunk chasing a girl through the foggy Maine woods. She’s scared. She’s hurt. And she disappears.
The camp is thrown into turmoil as the frantic search for Sharon begins. Reports of stolen relics arise, including a church bell cast by Paul Revere. When Gus stumbles on a scepter that may be part of the spoils, he becomes a target for the evil lurking around the lake.
Will he find Sharon before the villain does? And how can Gus--armed only with a big heart, a motorboat, and a nosy beagle--survive the menacing attacks on his life?
This is the actual "Loon Harbor" Camp where Gus spent his childhood summers. It was named "Snug Harbor" in real life and belonged to my grandparents. This is a photo of the cabin Gus lived in, "Wee Castle." See the that room that juts out front? That's where Gus and Shadow slept. And there's his grandfather's boat, rocking in the waves.
I loved writing this book. It basically was a testimonial to the nostalgia I felt for "Camp," one of the best parts of my childhood. It's not there anymore, but I wanted to keep it alive, as it still is in my memory. The mysteries that go on in the background are just gravy, ha ha.
"Anyone who's read any of Aaron Paul Lazar's Gus LeGarde mysteries will recognize the protagonist in this coming of age novel. Young Gus hangs out round the lake with his friends Siegfried and Elsbeth, slowly learning that girls are not boys, just beginning to feel that protectiveness and curiosity that give depth to his later life. JFK's death was recent news; someone's robbing local churches; and a young girl has disappeared--the safety of childhood is tipping on the cusp of slipping away." - Sheila Deeth
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If you enjoy Tremolo, there are two more books in the "Young Gus" series.
Don't Let the Wind Catch You is the second book.
"Aaron Paul Lazar has written a beautiful story, one that will stay with me for a long time. The characters have become friends I don’t want to lose. I laughed out loud at some of their antics, held my breath in some places, and at times wiped away tears...Lazar’s writing flows smoothly throughout; he created scenes so rich I felt I was there and shared in the experiences. Don’t Let the Wind Catch You is a coming of age story that reveals deep understanding of the human condition. There’s tragedy, humor, compassion, and love. It touched me on many levels--definitely a keeper." -- Ellis, Amazon reviewer
Voodoo Summer finishes up the Young Gus series.
"Voodoo Summer by Aaron Paul Lazar is an incredible read. Although it is actually the 11th book in the LeGarde Mysteries, this one flashes back to the summer when Gus is 13. There have been so many references to this summer in the previous books, yet I was strangely unprepared for the impact it would have on me. Lazar is a master of the details and that has always been my favorite aspect of his writings. In Voodoo Summer, I was brought back to childhood emotions and misunderstandings. Wanting so much to grasp the adult world and being too far removed from the facts to reach the realities. Although I already knew the events told in this novel, the emotions are astounding. This is an excellent read, as are all books in this series. Lazar is a master. And Voodoo Summer is flawless." Marsha Jean Thalleen
So, I'm moving through this whole process of losing the love of my life. Above is a picture Alli took of my hand over Dale's. I cherish it. She had such petite hands and feet.
Anyway, I'm okay. I'm keeping extremely busy... yet I'd be lying if I said it was easy. I still feel kind of raw and broken inside, but on the outside, I'm functioning, laughing with grandkids and dog, and starting to heal.
Bless you all,
Aaron Lazar
PS You know I love hearing from you. Write if you like, and if you have thoughts about any of the books above, please let me know!
Hello, friends.
I wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the heartfelt messages you sent about my loss of Dale this week. They comforted me and were beautiful. I actually answered each and every one, but then yesterday I discovered that all of the replies I sent out of my "lazarbooks" mailbox were stuck in the "outbox." A lot of them! Ugh, so frustrating!
I'll have to call the host company again (bluehost) to find out how to fix it. Been working to get this thing operational since Feb. 2nd as you know. But I'll get there. And next week I'm actually going to start redesigning www.lazarbooks so that when you click on it, you'll get a real page.
Meanwhile, as a thank you and as promised, here is the info about the free eBooks.
Noble Souls: FREE eBook from March 3rd - 8th.
I promised to tell you about two new books which were just released by my authors. Today I'm sharing the first of the two, the second book in Nattalia Nealls' Rocky Mountain Trilogy, Noble Souls.
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I've been working with Nattalia on her novels for the past few years, and it has been an incredible delight! We've known each other since the old "Gather.com" days. I think it's been 17 years? Some of you will remember this distinctive social media site that had great artistic support from all over. We had a super writing group and I spent most of my Saturday mornings writing pieces for my "column." I'm still connected to many of the remarkable people I met there, including Nattalia. ;o)
There is no guarantee that when a writer hires me that the book will be phenomenal or supremely satisfying to work on, as you can imagine, and of course you take a chance when you engage in such an arrangement. But in this case, I really hit the jackpot. I absolutely loved Noble Souls (and its predecessor, Best in the Whole Wide World, book 1 in the trilogy).
Living in this parallel universe as we polished and perfected and challenged ourselves to make this book the best it can be was...magnificent. I fell in love with the characters, the farm, nature in the wild, and the Rockies. While watching James and Tracy live their life in current days, Tracy uncovers a diary from James' great grandmother, which propelled me into another century. I learned so much about life in the 1860s, and much more.
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Here's the synopsis from the back of the print book:
Noble Souls, Book 2 in the Rocky Mountain Trilogy
In the spring of 1862, when eighteen-year-old Maria Elena Jaramillo is coerced by an unscrupulous uncle into an undesirable marriage, she accompanies her illegitimate husband on a dangerous journey across the Great Basin Desert, only to be subjected to a violent raid upon the travelers.
Maria is rescued when a mysterious rider swings her upon his horse, sweeping her into another world. Within his protective mountain shelter, hunter-warrior Pateheya gently shows Maria a life more civilized and comfortable than any she has known.
Joining their destinies to become kindred souls, they steal as much time together as possible before returning to their former lives. Can they ever forget what they’ve shared? Will they find a way back into each other’s embrace? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain—Noble Souls is story that will capture your heart and stay with you long after you finish the last page.
“Noble Souls continues the brilliant western saga, The Rocky Mountain Trilogy. A deep love of nature and humanity shines brightly in this stunning novel. Highly recommended.” Aaron Paul Lazar, USA Today bestselling author
The only reason I'm not too sad about finishing this book, is that I get to work with Nattalia on her third book in the series, Under A Canopy of Sky. We're starting soon!
As a celebration of the new book being finished and available, I decided to grab on of the LeGarde Mysteries and make it free for the same time this week.
From March 3rd - 8th The Return, book 13 in the LeGarde Mystery series, will be free. This book can be easily read as a standalone.
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Here's the blurb in case you haven't read this one:
Sometimes the past won’t be laid to rest.
Music professor Gus LeGarde has been happily married to his second wife, Camille, years after his first wife, Elsbeth, leapt to her death from the Letchworth Gorge cliffs. But when he starts seeing a woman around town who looks exactly like Elsbeth, his marriage and sanity are thrown into chaos.Is she a ghost? A figment of his imagination? Or has there been some kind of horrible mistake, and could Elsbeth still be alive?
As if the shock of glimpsing his dead wife, seemingly in the flesh, weren’t enough, the LeGarde household is struggling with the arrival of strange new neighbors. The Silvermans are secretive and unapproachable from the start—patriarch Ezekiel is hostile and threatening, his adult daughter Serena is clearly terrified, and her teenage son Eli shows signs of abuse. At first they avoid the troubled family, but that becomes impossible when Gus’ daughter, Shelby, starts falling for Eli.
After a string of dangerous events culminates in the elder Silverman holding a shotgun on the two teens when discovered in flagrante delicato, Gus forbids Shelby from seeing the boy. But soon after things are broken off, Shelby and Eli abruptly vanish, plunging both families into panic.As the Silvermans’ dark past is slowly revealed, Shelby’s life hangs in the balance. Just how far will this family go to protect their secrets?
"The book is fast paced, drawing you in from the first chapter, and progressing with exciting turns in a way that the book is always pleasurable and satisfying, and even the worst antagonists are treated with empathy. Lazar is a master craftsman and pays careful attention to language, plot, pacing and character so that all of the elements tie together neatly and seamlessly, description charged with rich nostalgia." - Magdalena Ball
The Return - free this week!
Thank you again for your amazing response to my loss of Dale.
Biscuit wants to play fetch some more (never ending, ha ha) and wanted to say hi to you all, as well as to encourage me to stop typing!
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Next time I'm going to share Rob Sells new book - it's a wonderful murder mystery called An Affair with Murder. But hold tight, we may have a big sale coming up for it. ;o)
All my best wishes,
Aaron Lazar
