In today's world, violence has become an unfortunate reality that plagues our society in various forms. It is an issue that knows no boundaries and affects everyone, regardless of age, gender, or background. To create safer environments and build a peaceful society, it is essential to understand what violence entails and how to effectively deal with it. This subchapter aims to shed light on the different aspects of violence and provide insights on navigating through its complexities.

A Poo Poo Kind of MorningI tried not to look down the mouth of hell staring back at me from inside the glaringly pristine outer ceramic shell of the white throne, my throat catching, stomach doing half flips and a rather impressive rollover routine that would have gotten at least a 9.5 even from the Russian judges. Instead, I forced myself to smile and swallow and remind myself the elbow length yellow rubber gloves grasping the handle of the standard i...

A Multiple Drink Kind of NightWhy was it fancy Valentine’s Day drinks were always tinted red? Reminded me more of gore and mayhem than anything to do with romance. Which said a lot, I suppose, for my state of mind when it came to relationships and dating.No bitterness in Fiona Fleming toward the opposite sex or anything.I sipped carefully at the mimosa the bartender smilingly handed me and shrugged off the sweetness. I...

An Insulting Kind of DayI skipped around a small stack of pylons while my deputy cousin unloaded more of the same from the back of the sheriff’s pickup. I beamed at Robert Carlisle, not because I adored him. Quite the opposite. I couldn’t stand the wretched little piece of loathing with his seventies-esque bush of a black mustache or his pompous superiority that he got to be a cop and I didn’t or his growing beer belly and hideous leer he liked to aim ...

A seventh cozy mystery installment to die for!A Crew-less Kind of Week“Good morning, Sheriff. How’s Montpelier?” He and Jill were at a conference in the state capital, gone since last Sunday night. He’d been great to keep in touch, calling when he knew I’d be alone, usually about this time of day and again late enough at night we had lots of time to talk. Did he really know me that well, my schedule? Apparently. Made me feel a ...

A sixth cozy mystery installment to die for!A Dangling Kind of Minute"Have dinner with me tonight." The gruffness of Crew's voice made me shiver all over, especially when he didn't move after speaking, mouth grazing over my earlobe, faint trace of his teeth nibbling at the edge. He was lucky we were thirty feet up on a narrow platform because had we been on the ground? He'd have been at risk of a hard landing and some rather pr...

A fourth cozy mystery installment to die for!A Séance Kind of EveningIt was almost as if someone wrapped the room in a cold hand, chill in the air triggering goosebumps on my skin. I caught motion in the corner of my eye, turned in time to see a glowing, ghostly figure float through the pocket door and come to a halt at the far end of the table. This time, rather than a static image, the young man raised both arms, eyes black p...

A fifth cozy mystery installment to die for!A Tasty Kind of AfternoonNot to be indelicate about it, but if Mom made me eat one more bite of cake, I was going to throw up. I’d honestly ingested enough dessert in the last hour to sink a submarine with no end in sight.Don’t get me wrong. I loved my mother’s baking. But a girl has her limits, and I had finally reached mine, groaning, burping softly around the chocolate, van...

An empowering kind of momentI had no idea hitting someone could be so emotionally satisfying. Not that I condoned violence on a regular basis, but I did happen to be known for my temper. Still, I usually took the pacifist route on the outside, if I tended to boil over on the inside. This opportunity to actually use my fists to strike out at another human being had much more appeal than I should have allowed myself. And the tight grin and panting half-h...

An anxious kind of month“Any new threats against you?” Pamela seemed eager for my answer while I tsked at her.“Are you actually asking me if I’ve had any further nasty messages left in my mailbox?” There’d been more than a few since she’d gleefully published my first column. I figured there’d be pushback, but threatening to hurt my dog, my business and my koi? Unacceptable. And while Crew seemed to think none of the threats were real, ...

When a golf pro falls victim to murder during a tournament hosted at the White Valley Golf and Country Club, Fee finds herself embroiled in the mystery while the hunt for the Reading hoard heats up and secrets behind the disappearance of Fiona Doyle are finally revealed.

An old kind of newCrew closed the distance between us, my head suddenly tucked under his chin, hands pressing me to him, rocking me gently, softly while he whispered my name in my ear. “Fee, I love you. I stayed for you, from the first time we met. I knew it was you.”Damn it, Crew Turner. Stop that right now.He turned me slightly, still holding me, and went on. “For better or worse, this place is home, now.” He nodded ...