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If you’re like me, you have a pile of books beckoning to you from your lists. Carole hosts this fun feature where you can share some of those older books and perhaps nudge you to finally read them. If you want to join in on the fun, head over to Carole’s Random Life In Books and leave a link to your post.
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Baytown Salvage

by Mark Wheaton

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Genre: Horror

Synopsis

Wyatt Stoke had just about pissed his life away by the time he hit forty. When his uncle died, he suddenly found himself inheriting a rundown house in Baytown, Texas, an equally rundown salvage tugboat (the Yemanjá), and the scrappiest rag tag crew of small-time crooks and addicts that ever yanked a sunken yacht off a Galveston shoal.

But during a salvage and rescue job on a container ship that’s burning out of control in the Houston Ship Channel, Wyatt and his first mate come across a pair of corpses they were not meant to find. Within twenty-four hours, Wyatt finds himself and his crew in the crosshairs of Louisiana drug runners, corrupt law enforcement officials, and an FBI investigation into just what happened on that burning boat.

Dodging bullets, sharks, mercenaries, oil platform explosions, and drug-addled Cajuns, Wyatt and his crew have to criss-cross the Gulf on the surface and the seafloor itself to uncover a smuggling operation that’s processing fuel for one of the worst terrorist armies in modern history.

Amazon

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I added this back in January 2018.

I’ve really enjoyed some of Mark’s other books and this one sounds action packed.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

You can find a list of my reviews HERE.

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The Queen of Second Chances by D.M. Barr Banner

The Queen of Second Chances
by D.M. Barr
July 1-31, 2021 Tour

 

Synopsis:
The Queen of Second Chances by D.M. Barr

Carra’s memoir-writing class teaches seniors to resolve the regrets of their past. But to win over elder attorney Jay, will she follow her own advice?

Carraway (Carra) Quinn is a free-spirited English major confronting an unreceptive job market. Desperate for cash, she reluctantly agrees to her realtor stepmother’s marketing scheme: infiltrate a local senior center as a recreational aide, ingratiate herself with the members, and convince them to sell their homes.

Jay Prentiss is a straitlaced, overprotective elder attorney whose beloved but mentally fragile Nana attends that center.

More creative than mercenary, Carra convinces Jay to finance innovations to the Center’s antiquated programming. Her ingenuity injects new enthusiasm among the seniors, inspiring them to confront and reverse the regrets of their past. An unlikely romance develops.

But when Carra’s memoir-writing class prompts Jay’s Nana to skip town in search of a lost love, the two take off on a cross-country, soul-searching chase that will either deepen their relationship or tear them apart forever.

Reviews:

Charming, funny, and heartwarming, The Queen of Second Chances is not just a love story where two people discover each other, it is a story of self-discovery. Like all good romances, this one starts with the two main characters loathing each other before slowly realizing that they are perfect together. But before either Jay or Carra can come to that realization, they have to work through their personal shortcomings. Carra feels like a failure and is unable to get past her mother’s desertion of her as a child. Jay, while his helping people who desperately need rescuing demonstrates his fundamental goodness, puts a little too much emphasis on wealth and status. Helping a group of seniors find fulfillment is the catalyst that allows both the main characters to embrace changing their own lives and then ultimately embrace each other. A joy to read, The Queen of Second Chances is the perfect mood lifter in these stressful times.

– S. Lee Manning, author of the critically acclaimed thriller, Trojan Horse
FIVE STARS!

The Queen of Second Chances by D.M. Barr is a beautifully written story of two lost souls brought together by fate. Carra was such a wonderful character, her warmth and kindness towards others were admirable. She also put others’ needs before her own safety and this was highlighted during the car scene outside the Garrison house. She was perfectly matched to Jay. Although he seemed to enjoy a materialistic lifestyle, I feel he had a really good heart and when he met Carra, he found the missing piece in his life. My absolute favorite character was Helen; she was extremely insightful and wise even though she was suffering from the onset of dementia. Her words of wisdom throughout were poignant and powerful, especially her views on looking back in life: “It’s more important to heed the present because that’s what it is, a gift. Nothing lasts long in this life, which is why every moment matters. You can’t take anything or anyone for granted.” I found the relationship between Jay and Carra developed gradually and the dialogue exchanges between them were very realistic. I loved the twist towards the end concerning Jay’s background and the nail-biting ending was brilliant. I feel there are so many underlying messages throughout too. For example, live for the moment, never be afraid to chase your dreams, and forgive yourself for mistakes you have made in your past. I highly recommend this novel.

– Lesley Jones, for Readers’ Favorite
FIVE STARS!

The Queen of Second Chances by D.M. Barr is a lovely, deftly written romantic comedy that fans of the genre will love.

– Edith Wairimu for Readers’ Favorite

 

Genre: Contemporary Sweet Romance, Romcom, Chicklit
Published by: Champagne Book Group
Publication Date: June 7th 2021
Number of Pages: 204
ISBN: 2940165375545 (ASIN B094GFWG3K)
Purchase Links: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads

 

Read an excerpt:

Chapter One

I couldn’t take my eyes off the man. He came barreling into the recreational center at SALAD—Seniors Awaiting Lunch and Dinner, Rock Canyon’s answer to Meals on Wheels—as I sat in the outer office, awaiting my job interview. He was tall, but not too tall. His expensive suit barely concealed an athletic physique that fell just shy of a slavish devotion to muscle mass. Early thirties, I estimated, and monied. Honey-blond curly hair, blue eyes, high cheekbones, chiseled features, gold-rimmed glasses, and of course, dimples. Why did there always have to be dimples? They were my kryptonite, rendering me powerless to resist.

I nicknamed him Adonis, Donny for short, lest anyone accuse me of being pretentious. He was the stuff of every girl’s dreams, especially if that girl was as masochistic as yours truly. Men like that didn’t fall for ordinary girls like me, gals more Cocoa Puff than Coco Chanel, more likely to run their pantyhose than strut the runway. I leaned back on the leather couch, laid down my half-completed application, and prepared to enjoy the view. Then he opened his mouth, and the attraction withered like a popped balloon.

“I want to speak to Judith. Now. Is she here?” The sharpness of his voice put Ginsu knives to shame. It was jagged enough to slash open memories of my mother’s own barely contained temper when refereeing sibling disputes between Nikki and me. Well, at least until she prematurely retired her whistle and skipped town for good.

The attendant working the main desk looked fresh out of nursing school and had obviously missed the lecture on dealing with difficult clients. She sputtered, held up both hands in surrender, and retreated into the administration office, reemerging with an older woman whose guff-be-gone demeanor softened as she got closer. Her name tag read, “Judith Ferester,” the woman scheduled to conduct my interview. She took one look at Donny, sighed as if to say, Here we go again, and plastered on her requisite customer service smile.

“Mr. Prentiss, to what do we owe the honor of this visit?” she asked in a tone sweet enough to make my teeth hurt.

“Judith, I thought we had this discussion before. I trust you to take care of my nana, but day after day, I discover goings-on that are utterly unacceptable. Maybe we shouldn’t have added the senior center, just limited SALAD to meal delivery. Last week you served chips and a roll at lunch? That’s too many carbs. This week, I find someone is duping her out of her pocket change. No one is going to take advantage of her good nature, not under my watch.”

I half-expected him to spit on the ground. Was such venom contagious? I didn’t want my prospective employer in a foul mood when she reviewed my application. I really, really needed this job.

“Mr. Prentiss,” Judith answered, her patronizing smile frozen in place, “I assure you that your championing of our senior center was well founded. The reason your nana isn’t complaining is that she receives the utmost care. She is one of our dearest visitors. Everyone loves her.”

“Tell me then, what is this?” Donny—scratch that, Mr. Prentiss—drew a scrap of paper from his pocket and flung it onto the counter. I leaned forward to make out the object of his disdain. Then, thinking better of it, I relaxed and watched as this melodrama played itself out.

Judith glanced down at the paper. “This? It’s a scoresheet. They play gin for ten cents a hand. We monitor everything that goes on here; your grandmother is not being conned out of her life savings. You have my word.”

Prentiss shook his head so vigorously his gold-rimmed glasses worked their way down to the tip of his perfect nose. He pushed them back with obvious annoyance. Even when he was acting like a jerk, his dimples were captivating. Would they be even more alluring if he smiled? Did he smile…like, ever?

“It’s not the amount that worries me. It’s the act itself. Many seniors here are memory impaired. How can you condone gambling between people who aren’t coherent? Could you please keep a closer eye on things? Otherwise, I’m afraid I’ll have to take my nana—and my support—to the center I’ve heard about across the river.”

Without waiting for Judith’s response, Prentiss departed as brusquely as he’d arrived. Ah, the entitlement of the rich. Walk over everyone, then storm off. He never even noticed my presence. Just as well, considering my purpose for being there. Even if I wasn’t sorry to see the back end of his temper, his rear end was pleasant enough to watch as he exited, I noted with a guilty shudder.

Judith shook her head, rolled her eyes, and let out a huff. Then she noticed me. “I’m so sorry you had to overhear that. I’m the director here. How can I help you?”

“I’m Carraway Quinn. Everyone calls me Carra. I have an appointment for the recreational aide position.”

Judith typed a few keystrokes into the main desk’s computer. “Ah yes, Ms. Quinn. Carraway, like the seed?”

“Something like that,” I said with a smile.

They always guessed, but no one got it right. Some man would, one day. That’s what my mother said a million years ago, when she still lived within earshot. One man would figure it out, and that’s how I’d know he was the one for me. Not that it mattered right now. I had bigger problems than finding a new boyfriend.

“Tell me, would I have to deal with people like that all day?” I tilted my head in the direction of Prentiss’s contrail.

“What can I say? He loves his nana.” Judith shrugged, staring at the door. “Though I’ve never seen him lash out like that before. He’s usually so calm.” She quickly shifted into public relations mode. “Jay Prentiss is one of our biggest contributors. It’s only because of his generosity that we have this senior center and can afford to hire a recreational aide.” She beckoned me into the inner office. “Shall we proceed?”

I followed, but I had my doubts. I belonged in the editorial office of a magazine or on a book tour for my perennially unfinished novel, not at a senior center. This job was my stepmother’s idea, not mine. Calling it an idea was being generous; it was more like a scheme, and the elderly deserved better than someone sent here to deceive them. I was the embodiment of what Jay Prentiss worried about most.

The interview lasted less than ten minutes, as if Judith was going through the formalities but had already decided to hire me. I was to start my orientation the following day. I shook her hand and thanked her, all the while wishing I were anywhere else.

Afterward, I wandered into the recreation area, where I’d be spending most of my time. The room was dingy, teeming with doleful seniors watching television, playing cards, or staring off into space. A few complained among themselves about a jigsaw puzzle they were unable to finish because the last pieces were missing. I wondered how many had lost their spouses and came to the center out of loneliness, their children too busy with their own lives to visit. It was a heartbreaking thought.

Jay Prentiss was complaining about carbs and gambling when he should have been concentrating on ennui. The seniors’ dismal expressions told me they were visiting SALAD more out of desperation than opportunity. It was clear they needed an injection of enthusiasm, not some aide looking to unsettle their lives. It came down to my conscience. Could it triumph against my stepmother’s directives and my plummeting bank account?

Excerpt from The Queen of Second Chances by D.M. Barr. Copyright © 2021 by D.M. Barr. Reproduced with permission from D.M. Barr. All rights reserved.

 

Author Bio:

D.M. Barr

By day, a mild-mannered salesperson, wife, mother, rescuer of senior shelter dogs, competitive trivia player and author groupie, happily living just north of New York City. By night, an author of sex, suspense and satire.

My background includes stints in travel marketing, travel journalism, meeting planning, public relations and real estate. I was, for a long and happy time, an award-winning magazine writer and editor. Then kids happened. And I needed to actually make money. Now they’re off doing whatever it is they do (of which I have no idea since they won’t friend me on Facebook) and I can spend my spare time weaving tales of debauchery and whatever else tickles my fancy.

The main thing to remember about my work is that I am NOT one of my characters. For example, as a real estate broker, I’ve never played Bondage Bingo in one of my empty listings or offed anyone at my local diet clinic. And I haven’t run away from home in fear that my husband was planning to off me.

But that’s not to say that I haven’t wanted to…

Find Our Author Online:

DMBarr.com
Goodreads
BookBub – @DMBarr
Twitter – @AuthorDMBarr
Facebook – @AuthorDMBarr
Instagram – @AuthorDMBarr

 

Giveaway:

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

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The Mountain View Murder

A Wintergreen Mystery

by Patrick Kelly

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The Mountain View Murder (A Wintergreen Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Publisher: Chaparral Press LLC
Paperback: 270 pages
ISBN-10: 1734239220
ISBN-13: 978-1734239225
Digital – Coming Soon

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Guess who cried at Lou Thorpe’s funeral

 

No one. His wife, grown children, and best friends all attended the service, but no one shed a single tear. Poor Lou. He was out for his morning walk when a crazed driver knocked him out of life. Crazed? With no car, no driver, and no witnesses, it’s difficult to say. Was it an accident or intentional?

 

Until that morning, Bill O’Shea was living the dream. After a career of fighting crime in the big city, Bill bought a condo in the beautiful mountain resort community of Wintergreen, Virginia. When he met his attractive new neighbor, Bill knew his retirement was off to a great start. But then the short-staffed police department asked Bill to help them investigate Thorpe’s death.

 

Soon, Bill fell into an old routine. Interviewing suspects. Checking alibis. Everyone had a secret to hide, but Bill lacked evidence to tie any of the suspects to the crime. He was missing something–like he had an itch he couldn’t reach to scratch.

 

Will Bill and his new friends solve the case, or will the murder of Lou Thorpe remain a mystery forever?

 

If you love beautiful mountain settings, a charming cast, and intriguing plot twists, you’re going to love this new series!

 

Clean read: no graphic violence, sex, or strong language.

 

About Patrick Kelly

Pat Kelly was raised in the idyllic suburb of Yorktown, Virginia, where children ran barefoot through the grass and fished in the York River. After graduating from UVA, he left the state to pursue a career in finance. He settled in Texas, married a wonderful woman (Susie), and together they raised two daughters in Austin.

With the girls now grown and gone, Pat has pursued a lifelong love of writing stories. Countless hours at the keyboard have produced the Joe Robbins Thriller Series, two book awards, and four standalone novels.

A few years ago, Pat and Susie bought a summer home in the bucolic mountaintop resort of Wintergreen, Virginia. The beautiful vistas there inspired Pat to write a cozy mystery series featuring the reluctant detective Bill O’Shea. Join Pat’s newsletter to follow Bill’s adventures as he dodges irrepressible bears, pursues romance, and solves mysteries.

Author Links: Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Instagram

Purchase Links – Amazon Paperback  – Amazon Kindle – Coming Soon 

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GIVEAWAY

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

July 5 – Brooke Blogs – GUEST POST

July 5 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

July 6 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

July 6 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

July 7 – Thoughts in Progress – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT

July 7 – Novels Alive – GUEST POST

July 8 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

July 8 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT

July 9 – I Read What You Write – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

July 9 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST

July 10 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

July 11 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW

July 11 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW

July 12 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

July 12 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

July 13 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – SPOTLIGHT, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

July 13 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

July 14 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

 

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

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I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

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Clere’s Restaurant
A Compilation of Short Stories
by Pamela Ackerson
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Who knows what will happen next at Clere’s Restaurant!
Sunday at 7
Jason Donovan has a secret.
The Clere’s Restaurant’s drama has been unfolding in front of his eyes. If he can see it, so can the restaurant’s other guests. But there’s something the servers aren’t telling him, and he will get to the bottom of it.
Kat couldn’t get out of the restaurant fast enough. Funny how things work out…she never thought she’d meet someone like Jason.
Secrets, lies, affairs, and deceit are served with a smile at Clere’s Restaurant…
With a Side of Love
When Sarah Melton decided to move to Florida to be closer to her sisters, she had no idea she’d be served a plateful of drama.
She’d always been told that a restaurant was a good place to find subject matter for the soap operas…well, that was an understatement!
Who would’ve thought a joke would end up being so real?
Winds from the Past
Larriane arrived in Florida with hope, a new job, and a new identity.
A hurricane came barreling towards her sanctuary. Alone in the world, she’d been taken in by the Clere’s Restaurant clan and felt welcome.
What was she thinking? She should’ve known that you can’t run away from your past.
The Throuple with Love
Surprises are quite pleasant when least expected.
Betty was in love with Bruce, but she had to keep the relationship at bay. She wanted the solid happily-ever-after but couldn’t waver from what her heart needed. It was Trouble with a Three in front.
Love should have no boundaries. Could she have her cake and eat it, too?
The Best Catch of His Life
Cassie had to learn everything the hard way. She’d made one too many stupid mistakes, and now had a hard time looking in the mirror and liking what she was seeing. She felt like one of those soap opera tragedies where she was burned to a crisp and had to rise again as a whole new person.
She was a survivor. She was determined to get her happily-ever-after…if only she could forgive herself.
**Only .99 cents July 2nd – 8th!!**
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Vella, My Love

Seriously, Amazon and their Imagination Crews are fantastic. I’ve seen authors, for years, do episodic stories on their websites. Moreover, a few big name authors were doing it on various platforms where the chapters were purchased individually.

When I first started writing, and being published, it was with short stories. I was sixteen when my first short story was submitted to a writing contest. To my ultimate surprise, I took first place, along with a nice little bundle, which was set aside for college.

That put a writing ember under the seat of my pants and I began writing non-fiction articles, and fiction short reads. It was fantastic!

Back then (yes, I’m carbon dating myself), everything was written long hand and I didn’t know how to type. My parents paid someone to type the stories, articles, and edit the pieces before submitting to various publications. (Silly me. At the time, I had no idea they had to pay someone to do that.)

Along came the typing classes, and a whopping 20 words per minute.

What a wonderful surprise when I received an electric typewriter as a gift!

Terrific! I could now do 30 words per minute.

There was nothing to hold me back.

Fast-forward…

To the here and now. I’ve always found short stories, and quick reads to have a special place in my heart.

Yes, I have full-length books. Several:

Native American Time Travel

Private Investigator Time Travel

WW2 Historical Fiction

WW2 Non-fiction

I co-wrote a memoir

And etc.

Short reads and short stories went out the window many years ago when the publishing industry changed.

Now it’s coming back! Yay!

So, tell me. Do you like the idea of episodic stories?

Would you prefer stand-alone short stories and short reads?

Or, do you like a little of “all of the above”?

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Sunday at 7
Clere’s Restaurant Book 1
Jason Donovan has a secret.
The Clere’s Restaurant’s drama has been unfolding in front of his eyes. If he can see it, so can the restaurant’s other guests. But there’s something the servers aren’t telling him, and he will get to the bottom of it.
Kat couldn’t get out of the restaurant fast enough. Funny how things work out…she never thought she’d meet someone like Jason.
Secrets, lies, affairs, and deceit are served with a smile at Clere’s Restaurant…
**Get it FREE July 1st & 2nd!!**
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Pamela Ackerson’s storytelling all began with her younger brother, creating wonderful children’s stories on vacation trips to keep him occupied. Later, she started writing poems and short stories as a teen.
Born and raised in Newport, RI where history is a way of life, Pam lives on the Space Coast of Florida where you are encourage to reach for the stars. She’s just a hop, skip, and jump from Orlando and Disney World, where imagination and fantasy abounds. She has three children, all girls, three grandchildren, and a wonderful husband who puts up with her writer quirks.
Pam may have majored in child psychology with a minor in English, but her distinguished choice of careers never made fruition. Instead, life led her to working in restaurants, interior decorating, owning an advertising business, content editor for a publishing house, teaching and owning a ballroom dance studio, and real estate investments. She is a practicing herbalist and has been involved in the use of natural treatment with raw herbs for over thirty years. As her day job, she currently works as the V.P. of Marketing and Advertising for the book review magazine, Affaire de Coeur.
Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

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Zombies For Everyone
A Jenna Sutton Supernatural Cozy Mystery Book 1
by Kimberly Wylie
Genre: Supernatural Cozy Mystery
Jenna Sutton is nothing like the iconic vampire slayer of TV fame.
She’s the antithesis of a cheerleader. She’s not peppy. And she sucks at gymnastics. She has nothing in common with the fictional Buffy, other than being blonde and in high school…
Oh, and occasionally she kills vampires for a living as well as other things that go bump in the night.
Following an attack on an English teacher at a nearby school, it becomes clear this wasn’t an ordinary coyote bite. The gray-green Lichtenberg-like webbing of streaks making their way up Ms. Pruett’s arm can mean only one thing—zombies.
But this isn’t a normal zombie attack. The victims seem to be hand-picked.
Can Jenna complete her investigation without the school administrators figuring out she’s actually a high school student from another school? Will Jenna be able to find out who’s behind these attacks before a full-scale zombie outbreak overtakes the town? And, perhaps most importantly…
Why did her best friend kiss her after all of these years?
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**Use Coupon Code SILVER10 for 10% off any purchase at the author’s website!!**

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https://www.jennasuttonmystery.com

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What inspired you to write this book? 

I have had insomnia since I was a little kid. One of the tricks I use to fall asleep is to tell myself a story. Each night would be a continuation of the story from the night before, as if the day was simply a very long commercial break. Jenna Sutton and her series of adventures has been playing out in my head, each night for years.

 

What can we expect from you in the future?

You can definitely expect Book 2 of the Jenna Sutton Supernatural Cozy Mystery Series in November of 2021—Werewolves Everywhere. I also have another non-paranormal cozy started (no title yet), set on a small private island in the Caribbean.

 

Do you have any “side stories” about the characters? 

There are definitely side stories, especially about Aunt Cassie. However, at this point, there is a strong possibility some (if not most) will end up in the series at one point or another.  I love Aunt Cassie. She may someday get her own series.

 

Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in Zombies for Everyone

Jenna was orphaned at age 17 ½. She’s a senior in high school when we join her, just before her 18th birthday. She desperately wants to be like her mom—strong, confident, capable—but she’s still a young adult, now struggling on her own. This makes her also a bit insecure and unsure of herself. Jenna has had to keep so much of her life, and the full supernatural world around them, secret, it’s always been difficult for her to make friends. This has made most people think she’s odd and/or stuck up.

Kieron is Jenna’s best friend. He had a huge crush on Jenna when they were younger. The attraction to one another has been on and off over the years, where both are unsure how to make that jump from best friends to girlfriend/boyfriend. He’s really smart, and he’s very tech savvy. He’s one of those kids in high school that hasn’t locked himself into one clique. He’s friendly with and accepted by pretty much everyone.

 

Colm is an Irish-born warlock. He’s confident to the point of being somewhat cocky. He knows he’s good looking. He rarely has trouble with women, and this only adds to the cockiness. He heads up a clean up crew for the Consortium. Jenna is unsure of how old he is. Because witches and warlocks age differently than non-supernaturals, Colm could be young 20s or much older.

 

Cassandra/Aunt Cassie – Cassandra was the daughter who was forced to take in Jenna’s mom, when Jenna’s grandparents were killed. They grew as close as sisters, so she’s always insisted Jenna call her Aunt Cassie. Cassandra was a Hunter who became a witch, which is a societal taboo. Currently, she is third in line for High Priestess of North America—an incredibly prestigious and powerful position.

 

Where did you come up with the names in the story? 

Jenna is the name I almost named my daughter, Brittany. Many of Jenna’s characteristics are modeled after Britt. She’s one of the coolest, strongest, smartest young ladies I know, yet she still has that little bit of insecurity lingering.

 

Kieron is a name I found after I had my son. If I had had another boy, he may have been named Kieron. I’ve also always loved the name Colm. I have a list of names I love, just waiting to come to life in books!

 

What did you enjoy most about writing this book? 

Developing the clues was my favorite part. Cozy mysteries should have clues where the reader can figure out the Who Dunnit as they read. But they can’t be so easy that it spoils the ending. I’ve had several early reviewers compliment me on the ending and how going back they see the clues they missed. That’s a good mystery!

 

Who designed your book covers? 

I designed the book cover. I hope readers like it!

 

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book? 

Nope, I wouldn’t change a thing. I’m actually incredibly happy with it. I worried that when I gave it the final read over before the file went to press I was going to cringe, because I can be a bit over-critical of myself, but I’m actually quite content.

 

If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the lead? 

 

There are a couple of actresses I could see playing Jenna Sutton, if the series every went to film.

  • Ava Elizabeth Sambora – who I didn’t know was Heather Locklear’s daughter until recently,
  • Gracie Dzienny, or
  • Olivia Holt

 

However, I almost would rather the part go to an unknown actress.

 

If you could spend time with a character from your book whom would it be? And what would you do during that day?

I would love to spend the day with Kieron or Colm because both are fun-loving, good looking guys. Who wouldn’t want to spend time with them? However, I’d love to have a coffee with Aunt Cassie. She fascinates me.

 

Are your characters based on real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination? 

I don’t think any writer ever solely creates a character from their imagination. We are affected by people we’ve met, seen on TV, family members, etc.. It would be impossible to not include some of these characteristics in our fictional characters. Jenna definitely has some of my daughter, Brittany, in her. And I would say every character has a little bit of me in them.

 

If your book had a candle, what scent would it be?

This is such a fun question! I think this book’s candle would be a pumpkin scent or a fall leaves type scent. It’s right before Halloween and fall is definitely in the air!

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Kimberly Wylie loves to write books about murder, mystery and mayhem.
Kimberly has been a full-time freelance writer and editor for more than twenty years. She has worked for both large publishing houses and small, boutique publishers, as well as magazines, Fortune 500 companies, and hundreds of private clients. When people asked her, “What do you write?” Her standard answer was always, “Whatever pays.”
For the last two years, Kimberly has focused on finally writing what she wants to write. During COVID, she published an award winning cookbook—The Ambergris Caye COVID Relief Cookbook. This book was featured in Forbes, won a Gourmand International award, and helped provide more than 20,000 meals to the residents of the island of Ambergris Caye, Belize. She’s also recently published a children’s picture book—Carl the Misunderstood Crocodile—and is donating profits to a local wildlife conservation and rescue group. Zombies for Everyone: A Jenna Sutton Supernatural Cozy Mystery is Kimberly’s first foray into her favorite genre—Cozies!
When not writing, you can find Kimberly enjoying the sunshine, the beach or the reef, from her home on Ambergris Caye. She lives there with her husband and the best English Cream Golden Retriever in the world—Coco.
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Draw And Order

A Paint & Shine Mystery

by Cheryl Hollon

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Draw and Order (A Paint & Shine Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Publisher: Kensington (June 29, 2021)
Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
ISBN-10: 1496725263
ISBN-13: 978-1496725264
Digital ASIN: B08KKMYPCT

Appalachian artist and local guide Miranda Trent opens a new murder investigation after her Paint & Shine tour group discovers the remains of a missing hiker along an ancient trail . . .

For her latest excursion, Miranda is thrilled to take a close-knit group of rock climbers, the Risky Business Adventurers, up the challenging Battleship Rock Trail to paint and sample moonshine. But the outing is cut short when they discover a skeleton near the trailhead. Even more startling, the bones belong to Howard Cable, Miranda’s cousin…and a former classmate of the Risky Business group.

The sheriff chalks it up to a hiking accident, but Miranda isn’t convinced that Howard, an experienced woodsman, died within sight of a well-marked trail. So, with the help of Ranger Austin Morgan, Miranda sets out on her own investigation and discovers that the Risky Business group is keeping plenty of secrets. But is one of them hiding the truth about Howard’s death?

About Cheryl Hollon

Cheryl Hollon now writes full-time after she left an engineering career of designing and building military flight simulators in amazing countries such as England, Wales, Australia, Singapore, Taiwan, and India. Fulfilling the dream of a lifetime, she combines her love of writing with a passion for creating glass art. In the small glass studio behind her house in St. Petersburg, Florida, Cheryl and her husband design, create, and produce fused glass, stained glass, and painted glass artworks. Visit her online at http://cherylhollon.com, on Facebook or on Twitter @CherylHollon.

Purchase Links: Amazon    B&N    Kobo     Google Play  IndieBound 

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

June 28 – I Read What You Write – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

June 28 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT

June 29 – Author Elena Taylor’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

June 29 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT

June 30 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

June 30 – Novels Alive – GUEST POST

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July 1 – Baroness’ Book Trove – REVIEW

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July 6 – My Journey Back – RECIPE POST

July 7 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

July 7 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW

July 8 – BookishKelly2020 – SPOTLIGHT

July 8 – Mysteries with Character – REVIEW

July 8 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – REVIEW

 

 

 

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Remember My Name
Remember My Name Series Book 1
by Laurencia Hoffman
Genre: Thriller, Suspense


Dark and twisted secrets mar Shane Coulter’s skin, and darken his fragile heart. Yet he keeps his nightmarish truth hidden from all those he holds dear with a smart mouth and abrasive attitude.

His first love, Callan Reid, refuses to accept Shane’s tough exterior. Convinced something truly horrific lurks beneath Shane’s defenses, Callan vows to uncover the truth.


But some things are better left buried. As darkness from the past threatens to be brought to light, there are those who would kill to prevent it. Can Callan break down Shane’s walls? Or will digging into the past come with deadly consequences?

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Can you, for those who don’t know you already, tell something about yourself and how you became an author?

A big hello to everyone who doesn’t know me! Which is probably most of you. I must have been somewhere around sixteen or seventeen when I decided that I wanted to get my stories published. I did my research and learned the difference between finding an agent to bring your story to big publishers, self-publishing, and independent publishing companies. I didn’t want to self-publish because that seemed too large a task. I’ve tried to find an agent a few times and was unsuccessful. Finally, I decided that putting my stories out into the world was more important to me than getting in with the big publishing houses. It’s hard to remember everything exactly, but I think I was twenty years old when I had my first novella published.

 

What are you passionate about these days?

I think I’m passionate about the same things I always have been: movies, writing, and my family.

 

What do you do to unwind and relax?

I watch TV and order take-out! For me, there’s nothing more relaxing than that.

 

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I’ve been writing ever since I could hold a pen, or so I’ve been told. I considered myself a writer when I was somewhere around twelve or thirteen, and I started to take writing seriously when I was sixteen.

 

Do you have a favorite movie?

Honestly, I love movies too much to have a favorite. I’ll say that right now it’s a tie between The King (2019) and Little Women (2019).

 

Which of your novels can you imagine made into a movie?

I picture all of them as movies when I’m writing them, but the book that I think would the best fit for a movie is Remember My Name.

 

As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?

A Unicorn! I have always loved Unicorns. I’ve been fascinated by them since I was a child. The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle fueled my love for them.

 

What can we expect from you in the future?

I’m working on a Fantasy novella series called a True Knight. Watch out for that one later this year! It’s a project I’ve wanted to work on since I was a teenager, but it never came together. Until now!

 

Do you have any “side stories” about the characters?

I do have a few stories/scenes that didn’t make it into the book. I didn’t think they were important to the overall story, but it’s an expansion of Shane’s childhood and memories.

 

Where did you come up with the names in the story?

For every story, I do a Google search for names until I find ones that I like, first and last names included. They have to “feel” right to me.

 

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

I enjoyed the challenge. I had never written a character like Shane before, someone who, let’s face it, can be quite prickly! That, combined with his secrets, his stubbornness to keep them, and his inability to open up to anyone…I really had my hands full!

 

Who designed your book cover?

Melissa Stevens at The Illustrated Author Design Services. Her work is beautiful!

 

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

Oh, that’s such a tough question. There are always things I want to go back and change, but I have to accept that I did the best I could at the time!

 

If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the lead?

I’ve always pictured Timothée Chalamet as Shane Coulter. In fact, the book is dedicated to him for that very reason!

 

Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

Thank you for reading my work. Your support means more to me than you will ever know.

 

Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?

They are all from my imagination. I do try to bring a sense of realism into my stories. Some elements may have been inspired by real life events or several different films, but what originally inspires me or sparks an idea tends to become unrecognizable when it’s implemented into my work.

 

Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel like you have the reigns of the story? 

They absolutely hijack the story. I couldn’t get Shane to listen to me if I tried! The characters have full control, I’m just the vessel.

 

Have you written any other books that are not published?

Yes, I have several unpublished works. I’m not sure if I will ever get them published. There are some stories that simply take priority over others. And, truthfully, sometimes I forget that I have finished stories sitting in my documents!

 

What did you edit out of this book?

I specifically remember removing a scene between Shane and his father. There are flashbacks in the book that are in chronological order being from Shane’s childhood to his adulthood, but at the end of the book, I had a flashback where Shane was back to being a child. It just didn’t fit. I didn’t want to mess up the nice, neat, chronological order I’d worked so hard on!

 

Fun Facts/Behind the Scenes/Did You Know?’-type tidbits about the author, the book or the writing process of the book.

Shane was originally a character I created within a roleplaying community of writers. The more his story was revealed to me, the more he intrigued me, and I just had to write a book about him…which has now turned into a series!

 

Do the characters all come to you at the same time or do some of them come to you as you write?

My main character always comes to me before I write a single word. There are supporting characters and relationships that I learn about as I go along.

 

What kind of research do you do before you begin writing a book?

It depends on the book. Sometimes I have to research symptoms and outlooks for medical conditions. For Shane, I had to figure out his specific heart condition, find the best and worst cases, how long someone with his diagnosis is expected to live, etc. It’s difficult to keep track of everything, so I try to take notes and bookmark my sources to go back to when I need a refresher!

 

Do you see writing as a career?

I would love to write as a career. Writing is my passion and I can’t imagine not doing it, so I’d be happy to write for the rest of my life.

 

Do you prefer to write in silence or with noise? Why?

I think it depends on what scene I’m writing. If it’s an emotional or dramatic scene, I have to play music to set the mood and get into the zone. If nothing particularly complicated is happening, sometimes I write in silence.

 

Do you write one book at a time or do you have several going at a time?

I usually have multiple. They don’t all get finished, mind you. On average, I write two books at a time and go back and forth depending on which story I feel most inspired for.

 

Pen or type writer or computer?

Computer for speed and efficiency. Pen for emergencies, such as when I’m out and about without a computer.

 

What are you currently reading?

Bones and All by Camille DeAngelis.

 

What is your writing process? For instance, do you do an outline first? Do you do the chapters first? 

I absolutely have to write an outline at least a few chapters in advance. I usually flesh it out as I go, but if I don’t have something to follow and a plan for what to do next, I get lost.

 

What is your writing Kryptonite?

My inability to focus! If I was able to focus for more than one or two hours at a time, I think I would get so much more work done. Even during those one to two hours, I take breaks in between. Finding quiet time to match up with my ability to concentrate is so challenging!

 

Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?

Oh, heck if I know what readers want. I go wherever the story takes me, whether I like it or not! As long as the story feels “right” and I’m staying true to the characters and their story, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. Including myself.

 

How long on average does it take you to write a book?

Depending on the length of the story and the complications of the plot, it could take me anywhere from 3 months to 5 years to complete a story. There’s been a story or two where I have taken years away from writing it, and then come back and finish it.

 

Do you believe in writer’s block?

Oh, yes. Seems like I have it constantly. Recently, I’ve heard it referred to as writer’s doubt. And because I constantly struggle with writing, and whether or not I can convince myself that it’s any good, I would say I have a mix of both.

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Remember His Name
Remember My Name Series Book 2


Born an Empath, the intrusive feelings of others force themselves into the forefront of Wren Stafford’s mind and haunt his dreams.

For a time, he thought he put the pain of his past behind him when he met the love of his life.
But fate had far more cruel plans.

He tried to warn his husband, Henry; begged him not to ignore his predictions of the terrible atrocities to come. Then Henry was found murdered, and Wren was named as the prime suspect.

Harassed by the police and condemned by the public, Wren hunts for his husband’s killer amid being plagued by nightmares of his own grisly death. Time is running out. Can he unravel the clues within his visions in time to stop the killer? Or is he destined to become the next victim?

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Laurencia Hoffman specializes in various sub-genres of romance. Her stories often focus on the darker side of fiction, but love and survival remain the central themes throughout her work.


When she’s not writing, she also enjoys playing video games with her family, listening to music, satisfying her sweet tooth, and watching films.

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!


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Mississippi Moonshine
Cold Case Chronicles Book 1
by Kacie Clement
Genre: Mystery, Romantic Suspense


Forty-six years ago, two brothers were killed and thrown in the Wolf River. Can a troubled detective surface the truth before her own life is at risk?

Atlanta cop Kamira Jackson can’t forgive herself for getting caught and held captive for ninety days. Feeling unworthy of her job, she flees to Mississippi only to be confronted by a police chief who isn’t happy with his jurisdiction employing a Black policewoman. And she fears she’s being set up to fail when she’s given a decades-old murder assignment, and only six months to crack the case.


Vowing to beat the challenge and with the help of a retired veteran, Jackson retreads the slaying of two men shot point-blank and found floating in the isolated swamplands. But exposing an almost half-century conspiracy implicating too many powerful suspects might be fatally hazardous to her health.

Can the traumatized investigator overcome her nightmares and solve the cold case?


Mississippi Moonshine is the gripping first book in The Cold Case Chronicles crime thriller series. If you like fast-paced action, determined heroines, and unexpected twists and turns, then you’ll love Kacie Clement’s thrilling mystery.


Buy Mississippi Moonshine to open a can of dark truths today!


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The Cold Case Chronicles

An interview with author Kacie Clement

 

 

  • Can you tell something about yourself and how you became an author for those who don’t know you already?

 

 

I had retired as an Executive Director of a National Renewable Energy Non-Profit and became quickly bored. Then I found Pinterest. I was on my deck painting rocks, and sobbing wondering what I would do with the rest of my life. I, at that exact moment, decided I would become an author. I grabbed a notebook and sketched out a story.

 

 

  • What have you enjoyed most about writing this series?

 

The characters and building them as the story goes on.  One, in particular, Willie Mae Gordon. She is 80+ years old, living in Shadowbank, Mississippi, a creole woman, and is a traiteur, which is a healer.  She is sassy, always finding some kind of trouble, and often falls right in the middle of her niece Detective Kamira Jackson’s cases. I also enjoy having a mafia family that are the good guys!

 

 

 

  • Where did you come up with the names in your story?

 

Well, I have a hard time with names. I have this obsession with reading obituaries. I write down exciting names and characteristics of people. I mix and match the names and use interesting elements to build my characters.

 

 

  • Convince us why you feel your series is a must-read.

 

The Cold Case Chronicles are fun easy to read novellas. I have had enjoyed writing them and hope people will enjoy reading them connecting with the characters.

 

 

  • What can we expect from you in the future?

 

I am just starting Book 5: The Journey to Justice and plotting a new series, A Whispering Cove Mystery. A new series that will feature a book writing club that solves local mysteries. All members of the club have a secret. The first book will be called Death by Ink. But first, I have to go to Oregon to research my location.

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A Shooting, A Drug Deal, and a Trail of Ants
Cold Case Chronicles Book 2


After narrowly escaping with her life, ace Detective Kamira Jackson is back on the beat in the small town of Shadowbank, Mississippi, to dig up dirt on a string of cold cases. Her second taste of Shadowbank crime is the mysterious drive-by shooting of straight-A student Annie Ainsworth ten years ago. Out for an innocent drive with school friends, the night turns deadly leaving the town grieving and in shock, with few answers to follow.

The bungled investigation ten years prior has far-reaching consequences as a nameless killer remains at large. With a string of suspects casting long shadows, Kamira is determined to uncover the truth behind that tragic night, starting with the friends Annie spent that fateful evening with. Whatever became of them? Oddly enough, they were never interviewed. Mere oversight or a fiery red flag?


While Kamira scours the cold case files for hidden clues into Annie’s killer, her colleague, Terrance James investigates a counterfeiting operation that has infiltrated the community with a sea of fake currency. Organized crime has been quietly making inroads into the Shadowbank community for years, but just how deeply are they entrenched?


The very real danger hits too close to home when Deputy Joe Hopkins is found dead under suspicious circumstances. With an officer down, Kamira comes to the disturbing realization that the past and present crimes have a common thread – the State Line Mob. Adding urgency to the investigation, Kamira and Terrance must keep their wits about them as they uncover the patchwork of clues connecting all three cases. Will they discover the truth before the mob strikes again?


Follow Kamira as she investigates cold cases and encounters characters you’ll long remember after turning the last page. A Shooting, A Drug Deal, and a Trail of Ants is the thrilling second book in the Cold Case Chronicles series.

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The Last Goodbye
Cold Case Chronicles Book 3


There are no coincidences when murder is afoot.

Once a prosperous estate, Hawthorne Plantation sat abandoned for years after the shocking death of wealthy newlywed Virginia Hawthorne in 1950. Discovered dead on the family estate grounds, the flames of suspicion were never quite extinguished after the disappearance of her husband, Allesandro. New love makes us do funny things, but murder? An unclaimed estate only added to the mysteries surrounding Hawthorne Plantation.

Enter Laura Remington, an ambitious young reporter, keen to make her mark on the world by uncovering the estate’s secret past. Bold and enthusiastic, she ran down all the leads two decades later. Perhaps getting a little too close to the truth, she is found dead under equally unsettling circumstances. Another 50 years pass, and the trail may have run cold, but small towns talk and questions linger on. Was this just another tragic accident, or is there a murderous web of lies still threatening to ensnare the next generation of truth-seekers?


Once again, Detective Kamira Jackson finds herself in the thick of things looking for answers in Shadowbank, Mississippi. With her trusted partner, Terrance James, Kamira seeks out the counsel of Wynn Gunn, director of the local historical society and esteemed expert on all things Hawthorne-related. Even without a living heir identified, the historical society has painstakingly worked to restore the estate to its former glory.


But Hawthorne Plantation isn’t quite ready to give up all its secrets just yet. History threatens to repeat itself when the very detectives who previously investigated Laura’s death die inexplicably. Can Kamira turn up the heat on this cold case before she meets the same terrible fate?


Follow Kamira as she uncovers the hidden truths in her latest electrifying case, The Last Goodbye, book three in the Cold Case Chronicles series.


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The Gravedigger
Cold Case Chronicles Book 4


The small town of Shadowbank, Mississippi, holds many secrets. They just aren’t likely to stay buried when the gravedigger comes to town.

Detective Kamira Jackson and her partner in work and life, Terrance James’ plans for a beautiful wedding under the gazebo, coming to a sudden halt when their venue is burned to the group at their rehearsal dinner. Aunt Willie Mae steps in to move the wedding elsewhere, but she has her eyes trained squarely on the likely perpetrators behind the crime, the State Line Mob.

As family and friends descend upon the church to witness the exchange of vows, one unexpected wedding guest is discovered bringing with him more than the usual gift.


Once again, Kamira finds herself embroiled in a cold case with fresh clues on her wedding day.


With Kamira focused on smoking out the killer hiding amongst them, Willie Mae secretly decides to take family matters into her own hands and put an end to the looming threats from the State Line Mob. As she doggedly pursues a dangerous foe, she gets much more than she bargained for.


Will Kamira discover her secret before tragedy strikes?


Join Kamira in her next nail-biting case, The Gravedigger, book four in the Cold Case Chronicles series.

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Kacie Clement, a writer of mysteries, has always been passionate about writing and storytelling.
A part of her writing process, she loves to immerse herself in her current project, diving headfirst into the research, writing, and fine-tuning of the stories she feels are the most worthy of storytelling.
Kacie lives in the woods with her husband, two dogs, and an attack cat named Trip.
Kacie is addicted to fresh-baked cookies, coffee, and fabric.

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!



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Welcome to my stop on the book tour for The Wall organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

David Pereda will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Don’t forget to enter!

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The Wall

by David Pereda

The Wall by [David Pereda]

Synopsis

THOMAS BERTRAM is an American living in San Salvador with his fiancée CECILIA. They own a popular neighborhood restaurant and plan to wed soon. Thomas’s dream is to obtain a resident visa for Cecilia and return to the United States.

DOMINGO JIMENEZ and his wife BLANCA own a small repair shop across the street. Domingo’s dream is to move to America as well so that his seven-year-old daughter NANCY can grow up speaking English and having a good education and a better life than he and Blanca had.

When armed gang members invade their neighborhood to demand “protection” money and threaten them with death if they don’t pay, Thomas and Domingo’s dreams for the future take on a new perspective. They decide to flee the country with their families through Guatemala and Mexico to seek asylum in the United States.

But their journey is more challenging than expected, and they face a myriad of difficulties and must overcome multiple obstacles that put not only their dreams but also their lives at risk.

Check out this peek inside:

Plodding in a caravan in the blistering sun with hundreds of other human beings was a new experience for Domingo—and for Blanca and Nancy, too.

Domingo guessed it was also a unique experience for most crowd members based on their looks and actions. There were people of all ages and types in the mob, including children a lot younger than Nancy. Young men and women wore shorts and T-shirts or tank tops, and many listened to music on headphones as they bounced on colorful tennis shoes. Older members were bundled in jackets and hid their faces from the harsh sun under outsized straw hats as they slogged forward with determination. A few of the people were so old they could hardly walk, hobbling along trying to keep up with the wandering procession. Some of the older children kicked an old soccer ball around or streaked through the crowd screaming and laughing, playing a game of tag, occasionally bumping into someone who invariably hurled angry epithets at them. Several of the younger children were crying and complaining about the heat and the confusion. Dozens of the women were pregnant or carrying recently born babies in their arms, some of them bawling because of hunger or a need for a diaper change. The grounds were littered with discarded items—empty bottles, dirty diapers, cereal boxes, even used toilet paper.

Domingo was amazed at the lack of prominent individuals leading the caravan and maintaining a modicum of order and hygiene. From the very beginning, the march had no leaders and no guides. They had all gathered at El Salvador del Mundo Plaza in central San Salvador at dawn and started moving at around 8 am, when someone sitting under a tree smoking a cigarette stood and yelled, “Vamos!”

And that was it. The caravan started moving, unhurriedly and inexorably, like a gigantic snake uncoiling itself to go in search of something to eat.

They had been on the road for a week now. Although their faces were baked red by the sun, they hadn’t advanced much. Domingo worried that all the food and water he brought along wasn’t going to last more than another week or two. The stress of the trip had already cracked the rosy shell of initial optimism, and reality had begun to seep in—disgruntled rumblings about the speed of the caravan started to surface, and two episodes of theft reported. Tempers flared a few times, usually only resulting in loud arguments and name-calling, but twice ending in fistfights that had to be broken up by others.

A young man named Octavio, traveling with two friends close to Domingo and his family, told him about two thousand people from different parts of El Salvador were in the caravan. They were strangers and suspicious of each other, which was the reason for all the problems.

About Author David Pereda:

David Pereda is the award-winning author of eleven thrillers and mainstream novels. His books have won the Lighthouse Book Awards twice, the Royal Palm Awards, the National Indie Excellence Awards, and the Readers Favorite Awards twice. He has traveled to more than thirty countries around the world and speaks four languages.

Before devoting his time solely to writing and teaching, Pereda had a successful international consulting career with global giant Booz Allen Hamilton, where he worked with the governments of Mexico, Venezuela, Peru, and Qatar, among others.

A member of MENSA, Pereda earned his MBA from Pepperdine University in California. He earned BA degrees in English literature and mathematics at the University of South Florida in Tampa. He loves sports and has won many prizes competing in track and show-jumping equestrian events.

Pereda lives in Asheville, North Carolina, where he teaches mathematics and English at the Asheville-Buncombe Community College.

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Hybrid Magic
by Cristy L. Bowlin
Genre: YA Fantasy
Two nations joined peacefully as one, but a band of assassins lurks in the shadows.
Magic isn’t uncommon in the Deravine Commonwealth, where people can be gifted with the faculties of combat, healing, transformation, or sight. Yet as a hybrid mage, Aaron Ztrong’s abilities aren’t so easily categorized. He managed to save his parents during a dangerous confrontation when he was only a young boy, and now a decade later most people in his life expect him to do remarkable things with his powers. Then there are those who fear what Aaron and others like him can do. When Aaron’s life is threatened by a group calling themselves the Defenders, he takes refuge with two other hybrid mages and the teacher who is training them to enhance their abilities. As the Defenders continue to hunt down hybrid mages, Aaron and his new companions must find a way to survive.
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What can we expect from you in the future?

Hybrid Magic is the start of a trilogy, so you can expect to see the rest of the books coming out over the next couple years! After that, I might venture into a different genre. Fantasy is my favorite, but I would love to try writing some sci-fi or dystopian stories too.

Do you have any “side stories” about the characters?

Hybrid Magic is a spinoff that takes place ten years after the storyline of my first standalone novel, The Temple Dancer’s Diary. Some characters with smaller roles in The Temple Dancer’s Diary are now getting their chance in the spotlight with a story of their own.

Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in Hybrid Magic?

This book is told from three different character perspectives, so I’ll share a bit about each of them.

First, Aaron Ztrong is a fourteen-year-old hybrid mage who became famous when he was younger for defeating another powerful mage. His magic abilities include healing, transforming objects, and making things levitate and fly through the air. His parents see so much potential in him, but he would rather spend his time with his friends and enjoy relaxing hobbies like fishing. He is a prankster who will do anything to get out of his lessons until his life is threatened by a group known as the Defenders who hunt down hybrid mages.

Second, Elara Pratt is a sixteen-year-old hybrid mage who grew up in a small farming village with her three younger siblings. Her magic involves helping plants flourish and grow in any environment. She can even transform into a dryad-like creature herself. After leaving her family behind to learn more about her abilities, she moves to a forest haven that was established to train and protect hybrid mages from the ruthless Defenders. Elara is optimistic, caring, and always eager to make a new friend. But no one is allowed to mess with her garden or any of her plant babies!

Finally, Theo Darien is a seventeen-year-old hybrid mage who grew up idolizing his father, a celebrated constable. Theo dreamed of having combat magic like his dad so that he too could take down criminals. He was initially excited upon discovering his unique abilities to transform any object into a weapon. Then his older half brother joined the Defenders and attempted to kill him because of those abilities. After running away from home, Theo was taken in by a teacher who promised to train and protect him. Theo is quiet and studious, yet also racked with guilt over his final confrontation with his brother. Now he is determined not to hurt anyone with his magic and will only use his powers for good.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

After writing my first book from a single perspective in first-person diary entries, I enjoyed writing this book in third-person point of view with multiple different character perspectives.

Who designed your book covers?

My best friend Naomi Henry designed both of my book covers. She is an amazing artist, and I was overjoyed that she wanted to work with me.

Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?

There are some personality traits each of my characters have that I based off of real people, but for the most part they came from my imagination.

Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel like you have the reigns of the story?

My characters do hijack the story from time to time! I always create an outline before I start writing with major plot points that I want to include in each chapter, so I try to stick to that outline pretty closely for the plot and pacing. The characters develop more organically though. I start out with a few key personality traits in mind for each character, and then I see how they interact with one another. Sometimes their interactions and dialogue will surprise me by taking my story in cool new directions.

If your book had a candle, what scent would it be?

My book would have an autumn candle to match the cover art. It would be a burnt orange color with a woodsy scent containing a mixture of apple, pumpkin spice, and cloves.

Is there an writer which brain you would love to pick for advice? Who would that be and why?

I would love to get writing advice from Tamora Pierce. Her young adult fantasy books set in the Tortall Universe were my favorites growing up. The characters were nuanced, and the stories were so empowering for teenaged girls.

I wrote the whole first draft of Hybrid Magic while I was pregnant with my daughter. I like to think that she was my muse, sparking inspiration whenever I experienced writer’s block.

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Cristy L. Bowlin grew up in Ventura County, CA where she spent most of her free time ballet dancing and reading fantasy books. She got her BA in English with an emphasis in creative writing and a minor in dance from the California Polytechnic State University. She then received her MA in English with a minor in gender and women’s studies from the University of Kentucky. She currently lives with her husband, daughter, and cat in Southern California where she is a college English professor. Her debut YA fantasy novel The Temple Dancer’s Diary was published in July 2019, and her next book Hybrid Magic was just published in the summer of 2021.
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