Shelly Hickman

Ramblings and Whatnot


TWIN PIQUES by Tracie Banister Release Week Blitz

It’s my pleasure to feature Tracie Banister’s newest book, Twin Piques, in today’s post. Her first two books, In Need of Therapy and Blame It On the Fame, have received many positive reviews from readers so I expect this will be a great read as well. 

Tracie loves her dogs and has often wondered what goes on in their furry little heads, which is what prompted her to create the character Willa, the pet psychic. I’m a dog person as well and have found myself wondering the same thing. In fact, my family and I make a habit of creating mini dialogues for our pups as they interact, or when they give us a certain look.

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We recently got a 5-month-old pit bull puppy (Junebug) to keep our 4-year-old pit/greyhound (Frankie) company. At first, Frankie was excited about the new addition, but after a few days, the novelty wore off, and she went through a period of mourning the loss of being the center of attention. In this shot, I imagine her asking me, “Are you sure you really got this demon for me? I mean, look at her. She’s a beast!” (Yes, Frankie is a priss. Junebug… is not.)

Frankie has since adjusted. I guess she finally realized little Junebug isn’t going anywhere. (I use the term “little” lightly. Junebug’s quite the chunk.)

Anyway, on to Twin Piques! I absolutely love the cover image. Congratulations on the new release, Tracie!



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Forensic accountant Sloane Tobin and kooky pet psychic Willa may have the same face, but that’s the only thing these identical twins have in common.

How she can read the hearts and minds of animals has always been a mystery to Willa, and her rotten luck with men is equally baffling. Although she’s been looking for “The One” for what feels like forever (A teenage marriage to a French mime and dating a guy named Spider seemed like good ideas at the time!), optimistic Willa refuses to give up on love. When she meets Brody, the handsome rose expert hired to save her grandmother’s garden, she’s instantly smitten, but why does he keep sending her mixed signals? Does he return her feelings, or is their attraction all in her fanciful head?

Unlike her twin, Sloane has zero interest in romance. Her passion is her job, where she uses her gift for numbers to take down slimy embezzlers and asset-hiding spouses. When she’s assigned two high profile cases, Sloane feels confident the promotion she’s been angling for is within her grasp. But will her plan to climb the corporate ladder be thwarted by difficult clients, her co-worker-with-benefits, or most surprisingly of all her own sister? And how’s she supposed to stay focused on the drama at work when her childhood friend, Gav, moves in next door and the spark between them becomes impossible to ignore?

To get what they both want, can Willa and Sloane band together and rely on each other’s strengths? Or will their differences drive them apart once and for all?


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An avid reader and writer, Tracie Banister has been scribbling stories since she was a child, most of them featuring feisty heroines with complicated love lives like her favorite fictional protagonist Scarlett O’Hara. Her work was first seen on the stage of her elementary school, where her 4th grade class performed an original holiday play that she penned. (Like all good divas-in-the-making, she also starred in and tried to direct the production.)

Tracie’s dreams of authorial success were put on the backburner when she reached adulthood and discovered that she needed a “real” job in order to pay her bills. Her career as personal assistant to a local entrepreneur lasted for 12 years. When it ended, she decided to follow her bliss and dedicate herself to writing full-time. Twin Piques is her third Chick Lit release. The pet psychic character in this novel was inspired by Tracie’s rascally rescue dogs. She’d love to know what goes on in their heads!




5 responses to “TWIN PIQUES by Tracie Banister Release Week Blitz”

  1. Tracie Banister Avatar
    Tracie Banister

    Thanks so much for featuring TWIN PIQUES, Shelly. Love that picture of Frankie staring straight at the camera with a “WTH?” look on her face – hee! Hope that she and Junebug are besties now. Opposites attract, right? 😉

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    1. I wouldn’t exactly refer to them as besties yet, but at least they play a lot together now. Sometimes it sounds like one of them is going to rip the other one’s head off while they play, and I can’t tell who’s doing all the snarling.

      You’re welcome for the feature. It was my pleasure. 🙂

      Like

  2. Jackie Bouchard Avatar
    Jackie Bouchard

    Oh, Shelly – your pups are so cute! We’ve thought about getting a 2nd dog, but I always worry about how Rita will react to not being Sole Princess of All She Surveys anymore! (We make up mini dialogues for Rita as well. If I talk to her, my hubs will make up her replies, and vice versa.) 🙂

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    1. Hahaha! I like that, Jackie — Sole Princess of All She Surveys. That’s Frankie. Our nickname for her is definitely Priss.

      Like

  3. I enjoyed reading your posst

    Like

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About Me

Las Vegas native, Computer Science teacher, and writer (when the mood strikes). Author of five novels – mostly romantic comedies – available on Amazon and Audible.

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