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C. J. Baty
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Drifting Sands (The Warfield Hotel Mysteries Book 1) Kindle Edition

by C.J. Baty (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 47 ratings
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As he approaches his fortieth birthday, Justin Warfield feels alone, drifting like the sand that blows along the beach near his family's hotel. He has done exactly as his father wanted. Married the right girl and carried on the family tradition of running the Warfield Hotel. On paper things seem perfect, but happiness hasn't been a part of his life for a very long time.Marcus Drummond once spent a summer with his best friend Peter at the Warfield Hotel and fell hard for Peter's much older brother. Five years later he's back, and this time he hopes that Justin will see him as more than his kid brother's friend.Sparks fly when the two meet again, but there are a few things standing in their way. The closet that Justin has himself buried in and someone on a killing spree, dumping bodies on the Warfield beach . . . victims that indicate Justin may be involved in some way.
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  1. Book 1 of 4
    The Warfield Hotel Mysteries
  2. Print length
    211 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    July 12, 2017
  5. File size
    1.6 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
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There are 4 books in this series.
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Bundle price: Kindle price
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Bundle price: Kindle price
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"The Warfield Hotel and general setting of this story is as much part of the cast as any other character. CJ Baty has written a wonderful murder mystery in this setting. The thing is... I'm not sure it's solved yet. Sure, there was a conclusion, it seems wrapped up, but I'm really not convinced. And I LOVE this. I want more." (Lori - Boy Meets Boy Reviews, 4*)
"This is an exciting murder mystery that I devoured in a single sitting. Southern politics, a nasty and soon-to-be-ex wife and an escalating killer come together in an engaging, fast paced book. The characters are well drawn and complex enough to support a full series. The setting is gorgeous and the story is coloured with just a hint of Southern Gothic. " (Sarah - Inked Rainbow Reads, 4*)

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B073WY9LVQ
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ ; 1st edition (July 12, 2017)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 12, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.6 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 211 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 47 ratings

About the author

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C. J. Baty

C. J. Baty

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C. J. Baty lives in southwest Ohio. Her heart however, lives in the mountains of Tennessee where she hopes to retire some day. The mountains have always provided her with inspiration and a soothing balm to the stresses of everyday life.

The dream of writing her own stories started in high school but was left on the back burner of life until her son introduced her to fan fiction and encouraged her to give it a try. She found that her passion for telling a story was still there and writing them down to share with others was much more thrilling than she had ever expected.

She has a loving and supportive family who doesn't mind fixing their own meals when she is in the middle of a story. And a network of friends, who have encouraged and cheered her on in her quest of being an author.

One thing she has learned from life and she is often heard to say is: “You are never too old to follow your dream!”

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
47 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Wendy in AZ
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great read!!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 11, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    4.5 stars: Justin is a gay man who was forced into a heterosexual marriage by his father. He lives his life quietly as he runs the hotel his father left him and his brother.

    Marcus is Justin’s brothers (Peter) best friend. There is an immediate attraction between them when Peter and Marcus come to visit Justin. There is also trouble as Justin’s old lovers are being lured to the hotel and murdered.

    As the Chief of Police, a egotistical self-important man tries to solve the murders, Justin fights his attraction to Marcus.

    I liked this book, but didn’t really like the ending. However, I look forward to book 2 in this series. The sex scenes were hot, the characters real, and the storyline was good, even if was a bit predictable. Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking to lose themselves in a story filled with angst and drama while set against the background of a cozy hotel on the ocean.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reflection
    3.0 out of 5 stars Exasperating
    Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2015
    Exasperating

    *** 2.5 stars rounded up to 3 stars ***

    One of my pet peeves is when a book ends on a cliff hanger. I find it irksome and I feel cheated and manipulated and quite frankly disinclined to buy the next instalment unless it is exceptional.

    I quite liked the story of closeted hotel owner Justin and his love interest Marcus who comes to stay at the hotel with Justin's younger brother Peter. The story has a steady pace and plentiful if fairly brief chapters.

    Peter arrives to celebrate his twenty-sixth birthday and claim his share of their family hotel (currently in the custody of his sister-in-law Caroline). Justin always aware he was gay, married at the behest of their dominating father. The marriage is one of convenience that has lasted fifteen unhappy years.

    Not being American I am probably unaware of some nuances and sensitivities but I was deeply surprised to find someone as closeted as Justin. It felt somewhat like stepping back into the 1980's and I had huge difficulty suspending disbelief.

    This is a murder mystery, victims are regularly discovered murdered close to the hotel. Each has some connection to Justin. There are in my opinion glaring plot holes and cardboard cut out villains. The clues to their identities may just as well have been flashed out with glaring neon signs.

    I was not comfortable with the underlying racism intentional or otherwise. I did not like the mental health elements either, which thankfully were not as crude as I initially suspected, however I remain to be convinced that it was either a realistic nor necessary plot development.

    Perhaps there will be some amazing turn around in the second instalment and the reader will discover red herrings have been cleverly placed along the way. Personally speaking I would have preferred the lose ends satisfactorily tied up in the current book. It might have convinced me that this story is sufficiently well written to enjoy a second instalment.

    In conclusion, this is a gentle romance between Justin and Marcus. Since both are really close to Peter this creates an interesting dynamic. I think it might have been better to concentrate on this than to introduce murders and unsympathetic supporting characters.

    The story was enough to sustain my interest and the hope that it might be something more than pedestrian. I remain unconvinced that there will be a clever plot twist, I am pretty certain I already know the outcome.

    I received a complimentary copy of Drifting Sands from the author in exchange for an honest review.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • WB
    4.0 out of 5 stars Love a good mystery and this is one
    Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    As Justin Warfield turns 40, he realizes his life has never really been his own. Southern society doesn’t look kindly on gay men and Justin would never bring shame to the family name or risk hurting the business; so he married the girl handpicked by his father and took his place running the Warfield Hotel. He’s so far in the closet, he will never find happiness. His brother comes home on vacation bringing with him his best friend, Marcus Drummond. One look and the chemistry between Justin and Marcus is instant and complicated. Complicated by the fact someone is leaving dead bodies near the hotel grounds. Dead bodies that all seem to be connected to Justin.
    This is the first time I’ve read C.J. Baty and I am impressed. I loved the mystery and trying to figure out who was the murderer. But I also really liked the way, the author dealt with the social stigma that still surrounds being gay in some regions of this country. I really felt for Justin, trapped in a loveless marriage, sacrificing his own happiness to do the right thing. Marcus is the perfect foil for Justin. Comfortable in his skin, know what he wants to be happy and pursues it.
    I’ll be honest, I did not anticipate the ending. While it didn’t end exactly as I would have hoped, I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
    One person found this helpful
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  • AuntR
    5.0 out of 5 stars Romance and a Mystery
    Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Ms. Baty brings her trademark of strong main characters, a mystery to solve and romance to Drifting Sands. Book 1 in The Warfield Hotel Mysteries.

    Justin keeps his true lifestyle hidden from everyone out of fear of how it might affect the hotel. Marcus tempts him in that he's never dreamed possible and makes him yearn to break free. But someone is killing Justin's ex-lovers and he doesn't want Marcus in the line of fire and even if that means losing him forever Justin will do all he can to make sure that he's safe.

    The tensions mount as the story races to the climax. Who is the killer? What is the Chief of Police hiding? Will truth and love win out over the nefarious plans of the killer?

    Pick up your copy now to find out the answers! I can't wait for Book 2-Crashing Waves to come out later this year!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • jasonCat
    2.0 out of 5 stars I was bored almost immediately and started reading every other page and ...
    Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I was bored almost immediately and started reading every other page and what I could tell I didn't miss a thing
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  • Firpo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful
    Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    What a wonderful story this is. One of the best mysteries that I've read in a long time. I could feel Justin's pain. I wanted to smack his wife. I'm so frustrated with Justin over Marcus! Just a great read.
    2 people found this helpful
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