LOST HEART IN KING MANOR By Celeste Fenton

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Get ready to step inside the mind (and frizz-prone hair) of a mystery heroine. Today’s guest isn’t your typical detective. Gabby Heart is an artist, a mom, and a reluctant chaos magnet who somehow keeps finding herself knee-deep in danger… and romantic entanglements. From cursed estates to complicated men, Gabby’s here to share the unvarnished truth about life, love, and murder, Dost Island style.

👉 “After spending time with Gabby, I dove into Lost Heart in King Manor. Here are my thoughts… but first, I’ll let you get to know her.”

“Frizz, Flashlights, and the Fine Art of Denial”

By Gabby Heart, amateur sleuth, artist, and reluctant magnet for mayhem

If someone had told me a year ago that I’d be dodging bullets, unraveling family secrets, and chasing clues with a flashlight through a tunnel under a storm-battered estate—while also trying to choose between two maddeningly attractive men, I would’ve asked what they were drinking and whether it came with a warning label.

But here we are.

Let me back up. My name is Gabby Heart. I’m forty-five. Artist. Instructor. Mother to the miraculous Valentine (yes, born on February 14th; yes, I know what our last name is; no, I wasn’t thinking clearly at the time).

I live on Dost Island, where I help my mother, Connie, run Ocean Current, a coastal shop filled with folk art and the kind of classy items that make tourists say, “ooh” and locals say, “how much?”

It’s a good life. Quiet. Predictable. Until, of course, it wasn’t.

It all started with a road trip. I’d just dropped my daughter off at grad school in Michigan and was mentally preparing for my “freedom era” when I got the call: Mom had fallen. I rushed back, expecting a quick recovery. But things didn’t sit right. Her health was slipping, and not in a way that made sense.

That’s when Dr. Anna Stewart, brilliant and unshakeable, suggested moving Mom into ACHE, the newly renovated estate formerly known as King Manor. First rate senior living and healthcare, ocean views, stunning architecture, and as it turned out, secrets in every creaking floorboard.

Then it was raining men, but I wasn’t singing hallelujah.

First, there was Rick Payne. Former air marshal. Freaking superhero-like body. He literally saved me and Mom from an attacker. I might have had some dreams that night. He’s also a self-made millionaire, which I did not know when I first fell for him. The asterisk here is Lavanda. Or as I like to call her, Brunette Barbie. Or Barbie 2.0. I have other names, but I’ll stop here. He says he’s done with Lavanda, the walking bombshell. Maybe he is. He says he wants me. Maybe he does. To his credit, he’s been nothing if not persistent in trying to win me back.

Then… Hell’s bells, there’s Jay Laird. We met at a faculty meeting. I dropped a flyer. He picked it up. Our hands touched. The universe tilted. And then he stole my desk. The one by the window! We dueled in quotes. I don’t even remember who won (okay, it was a tie, but don’t tell him). He has aqua blue eyes, dark hair, and eyelashes that are downright indecent.

He’s also infuriating. Impossible to ignore.

Naturally, we all ended up at King Manor the night a hurricane rolled in.

Cue tornado! Cue me, Jay, and Rick (not, I repeat, not a menage-a-trois; get your mind out of the gutter) trapped underground in the tunnels of a cursed estate—freezing, sniping, and trying not to die. I may not be some fearless Miss Marple wannabe (though Jay insists on calling me that), but I got us out. Hair a frizzed mess, bruised, and muttering, but out.

Speaking of frizz… my shoulder-length coppery hair turns into a lion’s mane the second humidity enters the chat. Which is unfortunate when you live on an island. But hey, at least I’ve got green eyes I’m secretly vain about. We all play the hand we’re dealt, right?

Now to the women who are my besties.

Lola is five feet of fashionable fury, who treats my love life like a criminal investigation and my feelings like clutter that needs organizing. She’s got opinions, lots of them. She’s on the fence about Rick. And she has absolutely zero faith in my “Jay and I are just friends” narrative. She’s not wrong. I hate that.

Abe Murphy, my other bestie, is a calm breeze in Lola’s hurricane. A bestselling author with a past she never wears on her sleeve. Abe lived through a childhood that no one should, and it made her fiercely compassionate. Where Lola’s a scalpel, Abe’s a warm blanket. She didn’t get much page time in Lost Heart, but she’ll shine in our next adventure, Captive Heart at Brantmar Castle. Trust me, it’s worth the wait.

Detective Rosa Morales thinks I’m a nuisance. Not that she says it out loud—she just raises one eyebrow like she’s debating whether to slap cuffs on me or roll her eyes into the next dimension. She doesn’t like me meddling. I don’t blame her. I’d be annoyed with me, too. But I can’t help it! Hell’s bells! I see things. I notice things. And sometimes those things save lives. Which means, unfortunately for you Rosa, I have to keep poking into your investigations. You’re welcome.

So here I am. Sorting through secrets. Tripping over tension. Pretending Jay and I are “just friends” when I’m clearly one sarcastic comment away from kissing him again. Debating whether Rick deserves a second chance, minus any Lavanda-related drama (seriously, one red flag and I’m ghosting like it’s 1999).

I never asked for any of this.

But here I am.

And maybe for the first time in a long time I’m not faking fine… just flirting with actually feeling fine.

Gabby Heart
Frizz, Flashlights, and the Fine Art of Being Fine

Lost Heart in King Manor: Mysteries of a Heart Series by Celeste Fenton

About Lost Heart in King Manor

Lost Heart in King Manor: Mysteries of a Heart Series Romantic Suspense/Edgy Cozy Mystery 1st in Series Setting – Dost Island (fictional) off the coast of Massachusetts Publisher : Independently Published Publication date : April 24, 2025 Hardcover Print length : 347 pages ISBN-13 : 979-8280471207 Paperback ISBN-13 : 979-8280071773 Digital ASIN : B0F2ZML3M9

LOST HEART IN KING MANORBook One in the Mysteries of a Heart Series

At 45, Gabby Heart isn’t looking for drama—just quiet days on Dost Island running her village gift shop, teaching art, and keeping her past tucked safely away. But when her mother suffers a sudden health crisis, Gabby is pulled into a storm of family secrets, betrayal, and a dark legacy buried within the walls of the once-grand King Manor. What was supposed to be a safe place for her mother’s recovery becomes the backdrop for a chilling mystery. Strange incidents begin to unfold, and it becomes clear: someone inside King Manor has a deadly agenda. As a hurricane traps Gabby inside the sprawling estate, she’s forced to work alongside two very different men—her maddeningly attractive officemate and a charming new neighbor, both hiding dark secrets. One man may want her heart. The other may want her dead.

But can she trust her instincts before it’s too late?

★ A slow-burn romantic suspense with an edgy cozy mystery twist peppered with humor, Lost Heart in King Manor is perfect for fans of strong women over 40, amateur sleuths, brooding men with buried secrets, and small seaside towns hiding deadly truths. ★

Because some secrets are worth killing for. And some hearts don’t break quietly.

Companion Guide to Lost Heart in King Manor: An inside look (Mysteries of a Heart Series)

Companion Guide to Lost Heart in King Manor Step deeper into the secrets of Dost Island with this richly illustrated companion to Lost Heart in King Manor, the first book in the Mysteries of a Heart series.

Explore the island’s storm-swept cliffs, charming village life, and shadowy past through exclusive character profiles, behind-the-scenes insights, maps,photographs, and bonus content that brings Gabby Heart’s world to life. Meet the unforgettable residents—from the sharp-witted Jay Laird and enigmatic Rick Payne, to the wise and mysterious women of the Heart family—each with their own stories, scars, and secrets.

This companion is your invitation behind the curtain. But be warned… On Dost Island, even the quietest corners have something to hide.

About Celeste Fenton

I have an M.Ed. and Ph.D. in education and have worked in higher education for over thirty-years. A former educator and lifelong reader, I began writing seriously at age 60. No one is more surprised than me, that in retirement, I found reward and occupation as an author.

My writing is fueled by a lifelong love of mystery and a fascination with the complexities of the human heart. As a widow, mother of adult twin sons, proud grandmother, dog lover, and semi-retired educator, I believe I have enough real-world experience to weave imagination with insight to create stories rich with emotion and suspense. My work blends romance, mystery, and heart—with healthy doses of humor and hope. I feel passionate about helping others realize that creativity doesn’t have an expiration date.

When I’m not writing, reading, or plotting another plot twist, I like to explore small towns across America—setting out solo for month-long adventures much to the awe (and occasional alarm) of family and friends. My latest obsessions include escape rooms, mastering the perfect miter cut for a DIY bathroom remodel, training my cavalier spaniel to do a high five, and making the impossible decision of where to travel next.

Author Links

• Website: https://celestefenton.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/celeste.fenton.9/

Purchase Links

• Amazon
• IngramSpark
• Barnes and Noble

Companion Guide Purchase Link

• Amazon

Review for Lost Heart in King Manor

Celeste Fenton’s Lost Heart in King Manor introduces readers to Gabby Heart, a devoted daughter caught between her own busy life and caring for her mother after a sudden health scare. It’s clear a lot of imagination and care went into crafting this story and Gabby’s world. When Connie is admitted to King Manor, a historic estate turned rehab center, Gabby quickly discovers that secrets, hidden rooms, and even danger lie within its walls.

I really enjoyed the family dynamics woven through the story. Gabby’s loyalty to her mother, even when questions about the past arise, gave the book real heart. The imaginative twists surrounding the killer were clever, and the way secrets unraveled within the manor kept me curious to see how everything would play out.

That said, some of the suspenseful moments, particularly during the storm scenes, didn’t always carry the punch I was hoping for, and the romantic elements leaned more toward attraction than deeper connection. Still, the story offers plenty of intrigue, with crafty reveals and family relationships at its center.

Readers who enjoy mysteries with a mix of family drama, hidden histories, and a touch of romance will likely find this a promising start to a new series.

Tour Participants

• August 11: Books, Ramblings, and Tea – Spotlight
• August 11: fundinmental – Spotlight
• August 12: Ruff Drafts – Author Guest Post
• August 12: Christa Reads and Writes – Review
• August 13: Boys’ Mom Reads! – Spotlight
• August 14: Salty Inspirations – Character Guest Post
• August 15: FUONLYKNEW – Spotlight
• August 16: StoreyBook Reviews – Character Guest Post
• August 17: Maureen’s Musings – Spotlight
• August 18: Sarandipity’s – Character Interview
• August 18: Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – Spotlight
• August 19: Baroness Book Trove – Spotlight
• August 20: Novels Alive – Review
• August 21: Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – Author Guest Post
• August 22: Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – Review, Character Guest Post
• August 23: Deal Sharing Aunt – Review, Author Interview
• August 24: Salty Inspirations – Review

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If you enjoyed your time with Gabby, there’s plenty more where that came from; her escapades continue in Lost Heart in King Manor. Between the coastal setting, tangled secrets, and family bonds at its heart, it’s a mystery with plenty to uncover.

And don’t forget to check out my other guest authors on tour (and maybe a few of my own books while you’re looking around) for more witty banter, twisty mysteries, and characters who feel like old friends you can’t wait to meet again.

As always, thanks for stopping by for some Salty Inspirations!