Archive for August, 2025

Peek Inside And Giveaway ~ Tiny Wild Things By Danielle M. Wong

Posted: August 5, 2025 in Excerpt, giveaways, thriller
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Tiny Wild Things

Danielle M. Wong

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Publication date: August 4th 2025
Genres: Adult, Psychological Thriller

I have always been drawn to tiny, wild things…

Journalist Fran Hendrix thinks she’s about to get the scoop of her career. A reclusive artist has chosen her to take his first interview since the tragic death of his wife years before. Not long after arriving at his secluded country estate, Fran receives a shocking anonymous message. He is lying to you. Get out while you can.

But Fran is a journalist. She’s not going anywhere without her story, even when her host refuses to answer her questions while seeming to know things about her life she hasn’t told anyone. When he suggests they go hunting together, Fran sees it as a chance to finally break through his defenses. But alone with him in the wilderness, she starts to question whether the note was right all along – and she should have gotten out while she still had the chance…

An utterly gripping psychological thriller from an award-winning author that will delight fans of The Hunting Party, The Silent Patient and Sharp Objects.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks

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PROLOGUE:

So this is how it ends—with me standing over a corpse. Dirt wedged beneath my nails, blood caked onto my palms. Body fraught with tension. Heart thudding uncontrollably. Hands trembling, limbs stiff like the lifeless ones beneath me.

The sky shifts above as I bristle from the cold. From the shock, the truth, the knowing. I freeze for a moment—paralyzed by each drop of fear multiplying inside my gut. Succumbing to paranoia. What happens now?

Hypotheticals run through my psyche’s labyrinth, possibilities lost in the fray. My head clouds before instinct finally takes over. Movement beats inertia. I have to go. I need to get the hell out of this place.

Adrenaline courses through me as I snap into action. Bury the evidence, burn the remains. Get rid of the body. The body.

I screw my gaze shut, recalling everything that happened just moments before. I still see the light fading from both eyes…the life bleeding out in slow motion. I remember it like a film, the footage rolling across a screen at the forefront of my brain. I can’t stop it.

I feel a tightness in my chest. Is it sadness, regret, or something else altogether? Perhaps it’s just the disbelief catching up to me. The swell of emotions continues circulating in my veins. Sensations mount, threatening to burst right through my flesh.

My breath is ragged as I unfurl my fingers—still balled into a fist—and cast my stare downwards. Only one of us will make it out alive. I realize that now. Only one of us can survive.

Just then, there is a foreign sound behind me. I whip around to identify the source. Nothing. My vision blurs slightly, making me doubt everything I see. But it was more than a crunch of leaves. I am sure of it. Bile rises to the back of my throat as I take another look. I have the strange sense that something—or someone—is watching me.

Night will arrive soon, cloaking these surroundings in a blanket of blackness. The air has a tangible charge that tells me it is about to storm. Birds loom overhead—lurking like giant gray omens. In this moment, I am both predator and prey. The wind snaps violently against my body as I step further into the woods. It is time to leave.

I work quickly, erasing any and all signs of my presence. What will the police think? Will they believe me? As I go, my mind begins to spin a tale. A convincing story that explains everything, with no detail left unaccounted for.

When I am finished, there are no more traces in sight. Not a single inkling or clue left behind. It’s almost like I have disappeared entirely—from place, from memory. Like I was never even here at all.

About Author Danielle M. Wong:

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Danielle M. Wong is a travel-obsessed author of psychological thrillers. She pens the type of stories that keep her up at night, featuring gripping scenes, complex characters, and twist-filled plots. She has been published to critical acclaim, earning Independent Press, Reader’s Favorite, and International Book Awards, among others. Danielle’s writing has been featured in Harper’s Bazaar, HuffPost, PopSugar, and Writer’s Digest. She is currently working on her next novel.

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Legacy Of Honor By Larry Freeland ~ Guest Post And Giveaway

Posted: August 5, 2025 in giveaways, Guest Post, Historical
Tags: , ,
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​ LEGACY OF HONOR: THE DESCENDANTS by Larry A. Freeland
Category:  Adult Fiction (18 +),  401 pages
Genre: Historical Military Fiction
Publisher: Publish Authority
Release date:  February 2025
Content Rating: PG + M: My book is a story of sacrifice, integrity, courage (moral and physical), love, family and war.​

Book Description:

In The Descendants: A Legacy of Valor, the McCormick family saga continues, plunging readers into the heart of 20th-century warfare. This gripping historical military fiction, written in three parts, follows Sean McCormick’s three sons—Alan, Lee, and Scott—as they confront the harsh realities of war and sacrifice.
In Part 1, Alan, the eldest, leads an Infantry Company with the 101st Airborne Division during the Vietnam War. Amid brutal jungle battles, he faces the relentless toll of command.
Part 2 follows Lee, a U.S. Navy helicopter pilot, as he navigates daring missions and personal struggles, eventually participating in the First Gulf War.
In Part 3, Scott, the youngest, is drafted into the Army during the Vietnam era, stationed in South Korea, and later recruited by the CIA, where he undertakes covert missions across the Middle East.
From the jungles of Vietnam to the deserts of the Middle East, The Descendants—the powerful conclusion to The Legacy of Honor trilogy—explores the courage, brotherhood, and sacrifices of the McCormick brothers. Their intertwined journeys reveal the true cost of duty, family, and legacy.

Buy the Book:
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B&N ~ BAM
add to Goodreads
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Check Out The Entire Legacy of Honor Series:

 

Praise for Legacy of Honor: The Patriarch
“Freeland weaves together an exciting, action-packed, and historically accurate tale of war and romance during and after World War 1.” – James Harvey, author of Grayton Beach Affair
“Freeland writes in nearly encyclopedic fashion as he includes background information about the World War I trenches, the history of the nursing corps, the big increase of cigarette use among American military personnel, the history of “Reveille,” and the meaning of “buying the farm,” among many other things. He also takes the reader on a 30,000-foot overview of a battle about to take place before dropping us down into the action. Freeland’s aim is for his trilogy to explore how this country treats its warriors and veterans during and after our wars. With Book One, The Patriarch, he’s off to a good start.” – Bill McCloud – Vietnam Veterans of America


“Crawl through the trenches of France with American infantrymen and experience the horrendous brutality of WWI warfare … reminiscent of the carnage in Civil War battle scenes in The Red Badge of Courage. Then follow the “doughboys” as they assimilate back into American society, often with heartbreaking and unforgettable outcomes.” – Jameson Gregg, Benjamin Franklin Award Winner and Georgia Author of the Year
In his hometown in Wellington Ohio, Sam McCormick is on a path to follow in his father’s footsteps, leading a life of hard work as a factory manager. But in 1915, Sam loses his parents when the Lusitania is sunk by a U-boat. Soon after, Sam is called up during World War I as an infantryman with the Army’s American Expeditionary Forces and the first division to be sent to France to battle the very forces that killed his loved ones.
Now Sam’s aim is to seek vengeance for his parents’ death. He must survive brutal gas attacks, rapid machine gun fire, and relentless artillery strikes. As he and his troops repeatedly cross into “no man’s land” to take over German trenches, he will cross paths with notable leaders such as General Pershing, General Douglas MacArthur, Colonel George Patton, and Sergeant York, one of the most highly decorated American soldiers of WWI.
But Sam’s attitude changes as the war drags on, and the body count rises. Now Sam just wants the killing to stop. When he is wounded, he finds hope again to rebuild a life with his bride Marie, a witty and intelligent French nurse. But when he returns home, the United States that he loved as a civilian looks far different after the war as a veteran.
Sam McCormick must become The Patriarch. His family and way of life depend on it.
A tale of courage, sacrifice, love and honor, this 20th Century historical fiction saga addresses the horrors of WW1 and the challenges that military men faced upon returning including mental trauma, and physical illness in addition to the hardships of the Great Depression as well as other historical events before WWII, including the Bonus Army March of 1932 and the Little Steel Strikes of 1937.

(more…)

Time Lock Series By Howard Berk & Peter Berk ~ Guest Post And Giveaway

Posted: August 5, 2025 in Action/Adventure, giveaways, Science Fiction
Tags: , ,
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A sci-fi-tinged
action-adventure with heart and humor, the TimeLock series is
set in the crime-ridden near future where a bold new technology transforms the
justice system and challenges America’s moral compass. Only one problem—what
happens if you’re innocent? 
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The Millennium Paradox

Time Lock Book 3

by Howard Berk & Peter Berk

Genre: SciFi Action Adventure

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The
Award-Winning series co-written by award-winning writer Howard Berk
(“Columbo,” “Mission: Impossible”) and Peter Berk. 

Newly relocated to the charming Alaskan town of Caribou Bay
after bidding farewell to his best friends Morgan and Janine Eberly, Yoshi Ito
inadvertently prompts his boss, geneticist Dr. Emory Layton, to try a new
genetic acceleration protocol in a local prison. Using technology from the
TimeLock process, the experiment goes awry.

Instead of yielding the desired medical benefits, it generates a terrifying
outcome that infuses a convicted killer with superhuman powers.
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As the killer begins to exact revenge upon his enemies, local helicopter pilot
Tom Brooks recruits the Eberlys’ help to stop the unstoppable force before the
residents of Caribou Bay—and possibly the whole world—are forever at the
killer’s mercy.

**NEW RELEASE!!**

Amazon * Apple * B&N
* Kobo * Bookshop.org
* Goodreads

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The Kyoto Conspiracy

Time Lock Series Book 2

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TimeLock stole
twenty years from Morgan Eberly’s life. A terrifying new version of the radical
technology might just end it. 

Two years after the events of TimeLock, a new and unhinged
president of the United States approves an immoral and illegal plan to develop
a weaponized form of the TimeLock process for use on the battlefield.
But only one man, geneticist Dr. Lionel Garvey, can execute the program. When
both he and his wife Kiyoko are kidnapped in Kyoto, Japan, Morgan and FBI Agent
Janine Price receive a frantic text from Kiyoko’s brother, Yoshi.
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Realizing they can’t trust anyone in their own government, Morgan and Janine
fly to Japan and team up with Yoshi for an unauthorized rescue mission. After a
daring raid of a research facility in Japan, the trio realize they have only
delayed the president’s insane plan. They must now execute a dangerous assault
on a frozen corner of Siberia to accomplish their mission. Can Morgan and
Janine stop the president from unleashing a newly weaponized version
of TimeLock before it’s too late?

“A deftly crafted dystopian style science fiction
suspense thriller of a novel, “TimeLock” by the team of Howard and
Peter Berk is a compulsive page turner of a read from cover to cover and
unreservedly recommended . . .”​  —Midwest
Book Review (TimeLock)

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* Kobo * Bookshop.org
* Bookbub
* Goodreads

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Time Lock

Time Lock Series Book 1

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When everyman Morgan Eberly is arrested for a murder he
didn’t commit, he’s subjected to an experimental new technology that instantly
ages prisoners the number of years of their sentence. Now 43 and on the run,
can Morgan and rogue FBI agent Janine Price unlock the truth about TimeLock
before it’s too late to turn back?

An innocent man. A radical punishment.
The clock is ticking . . .

With crime rampant, the President authorizes a hugely controversial
program: TimeLock, a cellular acceleration process whereby select
prisoners are instantly aged the total number of years of their
sentence. In other words – three strikes and you’re old…very old.
​
A sci-fi-tinged action-adventure with heart and humor, TimeLock is
the first in a new series of novellas set in the crime-ridden near future where
a bold new technology transforms the justice system and challenges America’s
moral compass. Only one problem—what happens if you’re innocent? 

  

What Readers
are saying about the series:

 

TimeLock is a
high-octane action thriller with a classic feel, reminiscent of Michael
Crichton or Tom Clancy. It’s familiar, but in all the right ways. 

​The central concept is brilliant . . . The novella is tightly paced,
and there’s not a dull moment. . . .The introduction is particularly engaging,
with an absolutely killer prologue that sucks you in right from the
start. Reading TimeLock, I felt like I was watching a movie . . . It’s a crowd-pleasing blockbuster of a
novella, with all the thrills you’d hope for, and a cracking start to a
series.  – Read
the full review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Whoa!! Okay so this was awesome and I have to say first off- I hope like hell
someone picks this up to make a movie or a show out of it!! This was a
super interesting premise so I was hooked. It moved at a great pace and I was
on the edge of my seat the whole time.  -Book Blogger @gryffindorbookishnerd

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I vastly enjoyed this quick read . . .  The writing was keenly honed and
smartly detailed  . . . In sum, was a well-plotted and shrewdly paced
action-packed thriller featuring slightly frayed characters and storylines that
were cleverly laced together with wry humor and witty snark.
–Empress DJ/Honolulubelle, Books
and Binding Book Reviews

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* Kobo * Bookshop.org
* Bookbub
* Goodreads

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Author Interview – Q&A

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Author Peter Berk reflects on working with his father & the inspiration for the new action
thriller series,
TimeLock.
Peter and his father, Howard, shared more than DNA—they shared a love of film and television
and a talent for writing. Indeed, Howard was an award-winning film and TV writer and book
author whose credits included such classic series as Columbo, Mission: Impossible, and The
Rockford Files.
Over the years, Peter and Howard worked on numerous projects together, but one screenplay
stood out among the rest. It was a clever idea about the future of the justice system in America.
In a country burdened with rampant crime and prison overcrowding, ambitious politicians roll
out an innovative, but controversial technology called ‘TimeLock’ that instantly ages prisoners
the number of years of their sentence—the ultimate punishment for inmates and the ultimate
deterrent for potential criminals. Just one problem, though: what happens . . . if you happen to
be innocent?
These and other questions about morals, politics, and the danger of power are brilliantly
addressed by the authors in this story, along with a plucky hero, a little romance, and lots of
action and humor.
Although Peter lost his father, Howard, before translating this exciting story into a novel, the
father-son spirit of family and creativity is fully present in this work. And the circle continues as
Peter now collaborates with his own sons, Jordan and Daniel, on various creative endeavors.
Author Interview Q&A
We caught up with co-author Peter Berk ahead of the TimeLock book release on September 22
and learned more about the origins of this utterly unique story and the authors who created it.
Why did you pick this particular subject matter to write about?
I always thought the premise of TimeLock was one of my father’s cleverest ideas, so when
COVID hit and I was stuck at home day after day like most people, I was inspired to translate
the original screenplay we wrote into a novel. Beyond the action and sci-fi elements of the story,
©2022 IngramElliott, Inc.
however, I always felt the most interesting aspect of the premise was how a young man with his
whole future ahead of him is forced to adjust to sudden middle age when he becomes one of
the first to undergo the radical and terrifying process that is TimeLock.
What makes you the happiest?
Corny as it is–family, of course, friends, writing (both fiction and music) and tennis–the one
sport I’m fairly good at (for my age!).
What fact about yourself would really surprise people?
I can’t say this would qualify as surprising info to anyone, but I actually originally planned on
becoming a film composer and songwriter. Inspired by such movie composers as John Barry,
Jerry Goldsmith, and John Williams, I locked onto writing music as a career as young as 13
years old and thought I’d have my first Oscar by 25. It obviously didn’t exactly work out that
way, but to my great pleasure, both of my sons, Jordan and Daniel, are excellent composers and
Daniel has already amassed some 75 film, TV and commercial music scoring credits–about 73
more than I ever did!
What is your favorite scene in your book? Why?
I have two favorite scenes, actually. The first is an early lighthearted scene at Morgan’s
workplace when he and two of his fellow programmers hack into their horrible boss’s car and
take over its spoken navigation system. It’s a silly scene that doesn’t advance the plot in any way,
but I think it provides some levity before the action kicks in shortly thereafter. It also, I hope,
depicts Morgan as the young and slightly immature man he is before TimeLock changes
everything. My other favorite scene is in the prison auditorium when Morgan, his fellow
inmates and we the readers first truly become aware of what TimeLock is and the horrifying
future these prisoners are about to face.
What books did you love growing up?
Like many young people of my generation, I devoured the Ian Fleming/James Bond novels, but
also gravitated toward sci-fi authors such as Ray Bradbury and Isaac Asimov, while also taking in
such classics as Catcher in The Rye and To Kill a Mockingbird. As I got older, I tended to alternate
between “fun” reads like some of the ones mentioned above and books about WWII and world
history. And of course I can’t leave out my father’s first two novels, The Hero Machine and The
Sun Grows Cold.
Please tell us something about your book that is not in the summary.
TimeLock actually began life as a screenplay I wrote with my father—and two more of the five
novellas planned for the series also originated as movie scripts. In tandem with IngramElliott
Publishing, I very much hope to bring some or all of these stories to the big or little screen in
the future.
©2022 IngramElliott, Inc.
What motivates you to write?
The never-ending inspiration of my father, Howard–the best writer I’ve ever known. I’ll cherish
the countless hours we spent writing together and now I can honestly say that thanks to
IngramElliott, bringing the projects my dad and I wrote together to life in this series of novellas
is easily the most gratifying work I’ve ever done in my life.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
TimeLock is available September 22, 2022, in print and e-Book. Follow @timelocknovel on
Facebook and Instagram. Learn more at www.ingramelliott.com/timelock.
Media inquiries: Email pecalvert@ingramelliott.com.

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An award-winning novelist and screenwriter, Howard Berk’s
credits include memorable episodes of such classic TV series as “Columbo,”
(including “By Dawn’s Early Light,” for which guest star Patrick McGoohan won
an Emmy), “Mission: Impossible,” “The Rockford Files,” “The Fall Guy,” “The New
Mike Hammer” and “The Contender,” starring “V” and “The Beastmaster” lead Marc
Singer. Howard Berk also wrote the feature film, “Target,” starring Gene
Hackman and Matt Dillon.

Peter Berk has
written six novels, three TV pilots and a dozen screenplays, including several
with his father, Howard Berk, which became the basis for the TimeLock series
of novels. IE also published Peter’s political murder mystery, First
Line of Defense and will publish his forthcoming novel, Fireline. Peter and his
family live in Southern California.

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Peek Inside And Giveaway ~ The Cardinal Code By Avery Sterling

Posted: August 4, 2025 in Excerpt, giveaways, New Adult, Romance
Tags: , , ,
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The Cardinal Code

by Avery Sterling

 

Publication date: August 4th 2025
Genres: New Adult, Paranormal, Romance

Vampires are real. Powerful, organized, and nearly untouchable, they move through society under the governance of the Cardinalis Order—an ancient system built to protect their kind and punish those who defy its laws.

Michael Chamberlain is one of them. A successful entrepreneur with a carefully buried past, he returns to The Hamptons to take over his father’s elite nightclub—and to secure a contracted blood source. Cold, controlled, and emotionally detached, Michael has long accepted the rules of his world. That is, until he meets Paislee Sullivan.

A determined college student working to fund her future, Paislee doesn’t know the truth about the Order—or that her presence at the nightclub is more dangerous than she realizes. When her path collides with Michael’s, she’s pulled into the shadows of a world built on power, secrecy, and blood.

As their attraction deepens, Paislee must navigate a society where consent is contractual, love is forbidden, and ignorance offers the only safety. But some connections can’t be denied—and breaking the rules could mean losing everything.

The Cardinal Code is a seductive and high-stakes romance set in a world where the elite don’t just run society—they feed on it.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

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Enjoy this peek inside:

As they pulled into her uncle’s driveway, the house was shrouded in darkness.

Michael killed the engine and was out of the car in an instant. She fumbled for her keys and was surprised when he opened her door.

“Thanks,” she murmured, taking his outstretched hand as she stepped onto the driveway.

“How’s your ankle?”

She tested it. “Actually, it’s not that bad. Thanks for the ride.”

“Let me walk you in,” he offered.

Her heart thudded in her chest. “That’s…really not necessary.”

His lips quirked. “You have to let me finish redeeming myself, Paislee.”

With a dramatic sigh, she dangled her keys in front of him. “Very well, Sir Knightly. Here.”

Michael unlocked the front door, and they stepped into the house. His gaze swept over the modest furnishings as she turned on the lights.

“How long have you been working at Allusion?” he asked, pausing in the living room.

“A couple of weeks.” She slid her bag off her shoulder and set it on a nearby chair. “I came here for school. Allusion helps pay the bills.”

He stepped further into the room.

She busied herself with slipping off her sneakers, but the silence stretched long enough that she turned around.

He was inches away, his eyes dark and unreadable.

Her cheeks flushed, and she quickly changed the subject. “So, am I safe? No danger lurking in the shadows of my house?”

Michael reached for the strap on her skirt, and his fingers traced it slowly before he hooked it and tugged her forward.

“Why do you look so frightened?” he murmured, his brow furrowing.

“I’m not frightened,” she shot back, though her trembling hands betrayed her.

He arched a brow. “You’re shaking.”

Her cheeks burned. “Because I know you’re going to kiss me,” she admitted.

His lips curved into a slow, wicked smile. “Last night, you didn’t seem so afraid of me.”

Her resolve ebbed as his face inched closer. “That was impulsive,” she whispered. “Now I’m just…questioning what I’ve gotten myself into.”

He laughed softly, and the sound was rich and unguarded. “You have no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into, ducizza,” he breathed.

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About Author Avery Sterling:

Avery Sterling’s love for the romance genre began in her teen years when she picked up her first novel. She was captivated by the sweeping scale of emotions brought about by the words. The experience catapulted her towards learning the art of wielding a breathtaking adventure, with a love that felt authentic. Wanting to inspire people with her own thoughts and words, she finished her first novel at sixteen. It was a step towards understanding the essence of what she wished to create.

Most of her youth was spent traveling, searching out the romance and beauty in her everchanging world. From the waves that crashed against the rocky shores of Downeast, Maine, to the warm breezes of the Caribbean, she discovered that love was universal, apparent in its grandest and simplest of forms. Her goal is to write novels an audience can relate to, one that conveys the truth and nature of love… with all that steamy romance.

Website / Goodreads / Instagram / Facebook / Twitter / TikTok

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Turning Toward Eden By Cate Touryan

Posted: August 4, 2025 in giveaways, Historical, Mystery, YA
Tags: , ,
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Turning Toward Eden
by Cate Touryan


Turning Toward Eden
Young Adult Mystery/General Fiction: Coming of Age, Historical Mystery, Literary
Setting – California 1971
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Winged Publications
Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 6, 2025
Print length ‏ : ‎ 350 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1965352766
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1965352762
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DRRGK3W5
AUDIOBOOK COMING SOON!

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“Chasing the truth, huh? Sure you’re not running from it?” Hollis might be her only friend, a lanky boy Mama calls her “beau,” but Eden Lewis has no time for his hogwash. She’s got a mystery to crack. For most fourteen-year-olds, California summers in the early 1970s mean sun and surf, despite the Cold War chill. Not for Eden. Her AWOL father has sent her life into a tailspin, landing her in a shabby beach town, stuck caring for her severely disabled brother. Caught in her parents’ own cold war, Eden ditches Dex at every chance—pier fishing with Hollis, playing poker with the grizzled card sharks, and caterwaulin’ in the church choir, laying plain to the Almighty that singing terms ain’t the same as speaking terms, what with the hand he’s dealt her.

Then Raven arrives mid-ninth grade—an elusive Soviet girl rumored to rain black-winged curses over the fearful town. When a rash of petty crimes escalates to bloodshed on the beach, suspicion falls on the “commie”—and then Eden. Desperate to prove herself innocent, and Raven guilty, she embarks on a reckless game of chase. But for the truth to set her free, she must risk Dex’s life. Will she go all in, no matter the cost?

An evocative story laced with mystery, Turning Toward Eden weaves nostalgia with grit, sorrow with humor, and despair with faith, offering hope to anyone who has sought to belong in a world that rarely plays fair.

“This is storytelling at its most atmospheric—brimming with quirky, well-drawn characters, razor-sharp prose, and the kind of setting you can almost smell. The writing is lyrical, grounded, and often laugh-out-loud funny—even in the midst of deeply poignant moments. With a cast of endearing misfits and a tone reminiscent of Southern Gothic charm, this story lures you in from the very first line and doesn’t let go. Cate Touryan has a truly original voice, a rare gift for language, and a special ability to render a world so vivid you feel baptized in it.” — Zena Dell Lowe, Screenwriter, Story Coach, and Founder of The Storyteller’s Mission

Audiobook Coming Soon!
The audiobook edition of Turning Toward Eden is in production and on its way to Audible, iTunes, and beyond. Stay tuned for a richly narrated experience, perfect for readers who love stories on the go.

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About Cate Touryan

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Cate Touryan writes fiction and creative nonfiction that reach for the story beyond the story and the beginning beyond “The End.” Her complex, realistic narratives often touch on themes of faith. While she avoids gratuitous violence and profanity, keeping any romance clean, she does not shy away from portraying the grit and beauty of real life, instead writing the truest story she can, infused with heart and humor. Her fiction will delight young adults and adults still young.

Cate invites you to journey with her into lives both real and imagined, wherein might lie glimpses of your own story beyond the story and an ending redeemed.

Author Links: Website / Facebook / Instagram / X

Purchase Link – Amazon 

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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Solid Gold Murder ~ A Golden Motel Mystery By Ellen Byron

Posted: August 3, 2025 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways
Tags: ,
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Solid Gold Murder (Golden Motel Mysteries)
by Ellen Byron


Solid Gold Murder (Golden Motel Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – California
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kensington Cozies
Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 29, 2025
Print length ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1496745388
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496745385
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DLR3TVJP

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Dee Stern’s Golden Motel-of-the-Mountains promises a tranquil getaway for outdoor lovers in the scenic Californian village of Foundgold. But when Dee accidentally triggers a modern gold rush, she suddenly turns her peaceful retreat into a hotspot for mayhem and murder . . .

With the summer season looming, former Hollywood sitcom writer Dee Stern has one small goal—scrubbing her motel’s unflattering moniker as the “Murder Motel.” Dee and ex-husband-turned-business-partner Jeff Cornetta are excited to introduce a family-friendly panning activity complete with fool’s gold just in time for the peak tourist months. Except neither could have anticipated the discovery of a real gold nugget or the ensuing social media frenzy. In a flash, the viral sensation draws grizzled prospectors, wide-eyed adventurers, and trend-chasing thrill seekers to the abandoned mines scattered around the woods . . .

The instant popularity proves great for business, but it also attracts a group of out-of-touch Silicon Valley techies with dreams of striking it rich—again. Dee finds herself particularly annoyed by the insufferably smug Sylvan Burr, a retired CEO who sold his startup before age 30 and won’t let anyone forget it. But things take a sinister turn when Sylvan meets a grim fate at the bottom of a mineshaft, leaving Dee at the center of a deadly mystery that could end her days as a motelier. And while Sylvan had plenty of enemies, Dee suddenly faces adversaries rooting against her own success. Now, with her life and the future of the Golden Motel hanging by a thread, Dee must unearth a minefield of suspects and outwit a greedy killer before she finally digs herself too deep . . .

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About Ellen Byron

Ellen is a bestselling author, Anthony nominee, and recipient of multiple Agatha and Lefty awards for her Cajun Country Mysteries, Vintage Cookbook Mysteries,  Catering Hall Mysteries (as Maria DiRico), and Golden Motel Mysteries. She is also an award-winning playwright and non-award-winning writer of TV hits like Wings, Just Shoot Me, and Fairly OddParents, but considers her most impressive achievement working as a cater-waiter for Martha Stewart.

A native New Yorker, Ellen is a graduate of Tulane University and lives in the Los Angeles area with her husband, daughter, and a rotating crew of rescue pups. Visit her at http://www.ellenbyron.com/.

Author Links: Newsletter / Facebook / Facebook / Instagram

BookBub / BookBub / Goodreads 

Purchase Links – Amazon – Kensington – Bookshop.org – B&N – Hudson Books – Target – Walmart 

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

July 30 – The Plain-Spoken Pen – REVIEW – RECIPE

July 31 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW

August 1 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

August 1 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT 

August 2 – The Mystery of Writing – CHARACTER GUEST POST

August 3 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

August 3 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

August 4 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

August 4 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW

August 5 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

August 5 – Sarandipity’s – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

August 6 – Salty Inspirations – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

August 6 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

August 7 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

August 7 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

August 8 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW

August 9 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – AUTHOR GUEST POST

August 9 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

August 10 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

The Quantum Revelations By Stuart Heinrich ~ Spotlight And Giveaway

Posted: August 2, 2025 in giveaways, Mystery, Science Fiction
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The Quantum Revelations

by Stuart Heinrich

 

Publication date: July 31st 2025
Genres: Adult, Mystery, Science Fiction, Thriller

The world is on the brink of an apocalyptic climate crisis and quickly spiraling out of control into a dystopian nightmare.
As everything collapses around them, two scientists struggle for relevance in their quest to build the world’s first practical quantum computer. They discover so much more: a mystery of physics that goes deeper than they could have ever imagined.

Goodreads / Amazon / Book Website

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PRAISE

“Heinrich offers an engrossing metaphysical excursion through the quantum realm to discover the meaning of life in this contemplative debut…[His] rich, multilayered backdrop of existential food for thought propel this story to a truly transcendental experience.”
— Publisher’s Weekly

“Science and faith combine in this nuanced and compelling sci-fi eco thriller… [that] cleverly explores and intertwines the well established science vs religion discourse in a way that, I think, does credit to both sides.”
— LoveReading (featured under “Indie Books We Love”)

“The Quantum Revelations is a wildly unpredictable narrative with a show stopping climax, pondering the interplay of science, religion, and technology in a way that is as captivating as it is disturbing.”
— Independent Book Review

 

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A Ghostwriter’s Guide To Murder By Melinda Mullet

Posted: August 2, 2025 in giveaways, Mystery
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A Ghostwriter’s Guide to Murder: A Novel
by Melinda Mullet


A Ghostwriter’s Guide to Murder: A Novel
Traditional Mystery
First in Series
Setting – A houseboat along Regent’s Canal in central London
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Crooked Lane Books
Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 29, 2025
Hardcover Print length ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8892421423
Paperback Print length ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8892422512
Digital Print length ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8892421430
Audiobook ASIN : B0DRWC4ZBL

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Charming yet wickedly imaginative mystery ghostwriter Maeve Gardner finds herself at the center of a murder investigation with more twists and turns than any story she’s ever written, perfect for fans of Anthony Horowitz and Richard Osman.

Maeve Gardner kills people for a living. A dodgy occupation perhaps, but as ghostwriter for the long-running Simon Hills mysteries, Maeve has planned the perfect murder time and again, and she enjoys it. She dreams of writing something under her own name someday rather than babysitting her adopted character Simon, but at least she’s writing. And as one of the burnt-out souls who’ve run away from dry land to live on London’s waterways, she has the joy of working from the home she loves: a colorful houseboat. Life on the canals is grand, but when her cheating ex-boyfriend turns up floating facedown in the water outside her boat, murdered, and the police arrest her, the plot takes a wayward turn.

Suddenly, Maeve is thrust into one of her own crime dramas, complete with missing money, violent thugs, extortion, and conspiracy. Only this time, there is no real-life Simon Hill to come to her aid. Instead, with the help of friends from the river—India, owner of a popular floating bookshop; Paul, the exceedingly attractive landlord of the local pub; and Ash, Maeve’s quiet, nerdy neighbor who is keeping some secrets of his own—Maeve may have a shot at saving herself.

As Maeve and her motley crew of would-be investigators find themselves wondering if they are in over their heads, a killer lurks and won’t hesitate to kill again…

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About Melinda Mullet

Melinda Mullet is a dual US/UK national. Formerly a lawyer specializing in communications, media, and entertainment law she is now enjoying a second career as a mystery writer.

Melinda is the author of the Whisky Business Mysteries, a six-part series of traditional mysteries set in and around a boutique single malt whisky distillery in Scotland. And coming in July 2025, the first of a new traditional series, A Ghostwriter’s Guide to Murder, set on a houseboat along the Regent’s Canal in London.

Melinda is a travel junkie and a life-long advocate for children’s literacy causes both domestic and international. When she is not in the UK, she lives just outside of Washington, DC, with her whisky-collecting husband and two wild Covid canines named Bailey and Captain Jack.

Author Links: Website / Facebook / Instagram / LinkedIn / Goodreads

Purchase Links – Penguin Random House – Amazon – B&N – Bookshop.org – Books-A-Million

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

July 30 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT 

July 30 – Sarandipity’s – AUTHOR GUEST POST

July 30 – Salty Inspirations – CHARACTER GUEST POST

July 31 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

July 31 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

August 1 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

August 1 – Deal Sharing Aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

August 2 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

August 3 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – REVIEW

August 4 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

August 4 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

August 5 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW

August 5 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUES POST

August 6 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

August 7 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

August 7 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

August 8 – Cozy Up WIth Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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Wolfsbane Hall By Hazel St. Lewis ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: August 1, 2025 in Excerpt, Fantasy, giveaways, Romance, thriller
Tags: , , ,
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Wolfsbane Hall

by Hazel St. Lewis

 

Publication date: August 13th 2025
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Thriller

Phantom meets Clue:

She’s forced to murder to survive—until it’s her turn to die.

At Wolfsbane Hall, a secretive 1930s San Francisco murder mystery club, actress Celestine Sinclair plays a deadly role: executing victims who can only return to life once their murders are solved. Haunted by guilt yet bound by unwavering loyalty, she obeys the orders of the Specter—the club’s unseen mastermind and source of its magic.

But when his nemesis seizes control and poisons her, the game changes. The only way to survive? Solve the night’s mystery and unmask the Specter—an identity that has remained hidden for centuries. Even worse, the three prime suspects are the men closest to her: her lover, her enemy, and her best friend. One of them has betrayed her, and she has only hours left to uncover the truth.

The clock is ticking, the stakes are fatal, and this time, death will last forever.

Goodreads / Pre-order / Kickstarter

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Wolfsbane Hall: A Deluxe Edition Romantasy Thriller
Check out the Kickstarter here!

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Celestine Sinclair hated being a murderer.

She hated blood dripping through her fingertips and clumping in her hair. She hated watching poison devour a body, and the feeling of her hands stretching around a slender throat.

Everything about murder was ghastly, but if she had to choose, her favorite way to kill was suffocation with a pillow while a person was drugged and unconscious. It was two and a half minutes of hell—hell she deserved for the act—but at least it was quiet and didn’t leave a mess.

Celestine loathed messes.

Unfortunately, the very nature of her profession required much more theatrical deaths. The audience didn’t come to Wolfsbane Hall to watch, as they put it, dull and tedious deaths; no, like vultures, the rich, pompous pricks wanted carnage.

They wanted a show.

So, Celestine Sinclair would give them one. That was her one objective as an actress at the infamous nightclub: show above all else.

Show above one’s own sanity.

“You’re wasting time,” said a voice forged from darkness, twisting from the room’s shadows. It was glazed in honeyed whiskey. Sweet yet potent.

The Specter—the magical and mysterious owner of Wolfsbane Hall, the glittering palace at the edge of San Francisco, filled with as much mystery as magnificence. It was a place patrons became a part of a murder mystery show. Glitter, grandeur, and witchcraft were laced into every inch of the manor, interwoven into a tapestry of entertainment.

“You must prepare for your next murder,” the Specter said as a whisper in her ear, darkness twirling and cloaking her from the patrons meandering into the Grand Ballroom—the club’s showroom.

“I know, Specter,” Celestine breathed.

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About Author Hazel St. Lewis:

Hazel St. Lewis is a Northern California-based Romantasy author. Diagnosed with dyslexia at a young age, she struggled to read and write, but fantasy stories inspired her to start storytelling. Unfortunately, now, she is a little too obsessed with morally gray characters. When she isn’t writing, she can be found playing with her hoard of cats (too many to count…it’s a problem), singing songs to said cats, or painting.

Website / Goodreads / Instagram / Newsletter

 

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Peek Inside And Giveaway ~ The Road To Gretna By Suleena Bibra

Posted: August 1, 2025 in Contemporary Romance, Excerpt, giveaways
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The Road to Gretna

by Suleena Bibra

 

(Road to Romance, #1)
Publication date: June 3rd 2025
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

What better way to escape reality than going on a reality show that combines The Amazing Race, Love Island, and Pride and Prejudice?

Naomi Richmond is hoping an ocean is far enough away from her overbearing father. She’s chosen London and built a life there with a job she only dislikes about a quarter of the time.

Nate Williams is perfectly happy where he is, and his dissatisfaction with his job is so low it can’t be quantified numerically. Unfortunately, his boss (and Naomi’s father) is asking him to do something that might make him start to hate Mondays: convince Naomi to come home.

Nate arrives in London at the same time Naomi receives an offer that intrigues her as much as Nate does: be on a reality dating show, where the contestants will pretend to be Regency aristocrats eloping to the famed Gretna Green. Nate is sure it’s his job to stop this, but instead, he ends up on the show with her. Now Naomi is trying to make a name for herself while Nate is trying to make sure she doesn’t do anything to embarrass her father, and they’re both trying to fight the attraction they feel for each other. On camera.

Tune in whenever you find this book and watch Nate and Naomi find themselves and each other, on The Road to Gretna!

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

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Enjoy this peek inside:

“You’re ruined now!” a voice screeches.

I lift my head at the inane comment. “What?” My lips are still wet from the kiss, and I still have a painful erection. I don’t appreciate the interruption.

I see Diane, the chaperone, looking incensed in front of us, with a cameraperson and producer standing behind her.

“Right, we’re on a reality show,” I whisper to Naomi.

“Ruined! After all my hard work keeping you virtuous, now you’re ruined!” Diane carries on, adding some dramatic hand gestures and maybe some tears.

Naomi starts giggling next to me, first demurely behind her hand, but then louder as Diane keeps ranting. She sets me off and now we’re both laughing in the face of…whatever this is.

“Why is no one concerned about my virtue, though?” I ask Naomi, sending her into more fits of laughter.

“You’re a man.” Diane pauses the rant to educate me. “And you’ve ruined Naomi!”

I try to defend the lady next to me. And myself. “Ruined seems like a bit of an overreaction for a kiss.”

“A kiss.” Diane sounds as scandalized as if I told her I was getting a hummer on this bench instead of a hot, but still tame, kiss. “Ruined!”

These might be the only words Diane knows now, too shocked at the (fully clothed) debauchery that allegedly happened here.

“All right then. Maybe we should go back to the ball?” I have no idea what it supposed to happen now that I’ve “ruined” a woman, never having done it before. I look at Naomi, hoping she has any idea what we’re supposed to do, but she’s still laughing too hard at the situation to be any help.

I stand up, not worried about my penis, which started softening at the first screech of “ruin.” I extend my arm out to Naomi, who manages to stop laughing enough to take it.

The producer standing next to the camerawoman gives us a thumbs-up and Diane immediately stops crying. Terrifying.

“Great. We’ve got that. We can go back inside, but we’re going to put you two in a sitting room for a few hours. Part of the ruin consequences. We’ll bring you out when it’s time to get in a couple.” The producer indicates we should follow her. “I’m Aiko, by the way. I’ll be producing the both of you.”

“Hi. Nice to meet you,” I say to the East Asian-British woman in front of me. “I don’t usually ruin women in gardens.”

That sets Naomi off again, and I have to half drag her laughing body back inside the house.

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About Author Suleena Bibra:

Suleena Bibra has read romance in one form or another since she could pick her own books. She occasionally branches out to other genres, but really, what’s the point if there’s no kissing? She also loves to laugh, which probably has to do with her dad putting Monty Python on whenever her mom wasn’t looking.

Suleena studied art history in college and loves to travel every opportunity she gets. A bit indecisive, she has worked as a museum intern, lawyer, workers’ compensation adjuster, and private investigator. Author is best, though, so she can continue living out a bunch of other careers without changing out of her pajamas.

Suleena writes RomComs heavy on banter, shenanigans, and aggressive whimsy. She spends the rest of her time annoying her stubborn, but adorable, bulldog (who also doubles as her particularly lazy writing assistant) with her love.

Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Instagram

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