Posted in Fantasy, Spotlight, Young Adult on March 15, 2024

 

 

Synopsis

 

In a race against time, the fate of the world rests on the shoulders of a group of young elementalists. With the malevolent White Queen on the verge of obtaining unimaginable power, these brave heroes must band together to thwart her evil plan. But as they face impossible challenges and formidable foes, they realize the task is far more daunting than they ever imagined. Armed with only their growing magical abilities and unwavering determination, they must protect their loved ones, track down powerful artifacts, and prevent the catastrophic spell from being cast. With two skilled wizard mentors by their side, the elementalists must push themselves to their limits and beyond. But when up against foes who can see into the future and harness otherworldly energies, will their training be enough to save the world from eternal darkness?

 

 

Amazon

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Ephie Risho has been writing his whole life. Inspired by his sixth-grade teacher to write a story every week, he enrolled in the writing program at his undergrad and has been writing ever since. He loves the outdoors, music, and opportunities to tell stories. He lives in beautiful Bozeman, Montana, where he works in software development and is active in various community groups.

 

 

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Posted in Fantasy, Spotlight, Young Adult on March 14, 2024

 

 

Synopsis

 

A Lost Scepter. An Ancient Map. And the Kraken.

It’s simple, they were told. Just go get the legendary Green Scepter from the Kraken to be able to take on the evil wizards and their vicious goblin armies. It’s a task, by the way, no one has succeeded in for the last two hundred years. After their great success against the goblin horde, the six young elementalists are up to the challenge. The first step: find an ancient dwarven map with clues leading across the world.

But as soon as they find the map, their troubles begin, starting with invisible strangers following their every move. Even if they do follow the map from Dragon Land to exotic empires, and succeed in taking the scepter from the Kraken, the evil wizards are moving quickly with plans of their own. Plans which very well may put the entire world at risk, and change life as they know it forever.

 

 

 

Amazon

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Ephie Risho has been writing his whole life. Inspired by his sixth-grade teacher to write a story every week, he enrolled in the writing program at his undergrad and has been writing ever since. He loves the outdoors, music, and opportunities to tell stories. He lives in beautiful Bozeman, Montana, where he works in software development and is active in various community groups.

 

 

Website * Facebook

 

Posted in 5 paws, Book Release, Journal, Spotlight, Young Adult on February 6, 2024

 

 

Synopsis

 

Bold statements, compelling quotes, and thoughtful prompts lead young Black girls on a journey of ancestral wisdom and self-discovery in this beautifully illustrated guided journal.

I AM a voice for my people.  I CAN create my own opportunities.  I WILL live with hope.

These and other powerful mantras will enlighten, engage, and empower young Black girls to embrace their connection to a long, unbroken line of historical and contemporary Black women who have inspired people through the centuries and across continents. The courage, integrity, humanity, passion, and intellect that flows through the lives of these foremothers is each girl’s to discover, inherit, and enhance with her own accomplishments.

Meaningful quotes and biographies provide real-life examples of how readers can implement what they learn in their own lives. And guided questions and prompts lead girls through a process of self-reflection that acknowledges their own potential to inspire and lead.

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Bookshop

 

 

Review

 

I was sent an online version of the book to look through, and I wanted to share my thoughts on what I saw in the book.

This book combines a journal and the history of various influential and historical African American women. There are actors, scientists, astronauts, businesswomen, and more. There are journal prompts after each individual asking probing questions on how one might achieve the same as these women, what fears one might have, why you love yourself, and more. I appreciated that the women portrayed in this book covered a wide range of ages, including younger women who have made their mark in this world. I have to admit, I started to feel old when I saw some born around the time I was finishing high school!

While the target audience is young black women, I think any young woman would benefit from the history within the pages and the journal prompts. I learned about many women I had not heard of and their contributions to society and the world through their efforts. The journal prompts gave me a moment to reflect and wonder how I might answer the questions when I was younger and how the answers might change today as I am older.

This book is worthy of many young readers, and we give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Authors

 

Dr. Cynthia Jacobs Carter works in philanthropy at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. She is the author of the National Geographic books Africana Woman: Her Story Through Time and Freedom in My Heart: Voices from the National Slavery Museum, which was nominated by the NAACP Image Awards for Best Literary Work. Cynthia’s gift for storytelling brings alive the Black female experience for women of all ages. Having six granddaughters helps inspire her to celebrate young women. Holding a doctorate in educational leadership and a master’s degree in international education from George Washington University, Cynthia has connected especially with young women as an instructor and lecturer in Africana Women’s studies at GW and Georgetown Universities. While working in philanthropy at Howard University, she was curator for the exhibition “Women of the African Diaspora,” which toured the White House, the World Bank, and George Washington and Georgetown Universities. Cynthia serves with several local and national organizations and their boards, including The Links, Incorporated. As a development officer she has grown philanthropic programs at Africare, the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, and at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, where she founded the Harriet Tubman Legacy Society.

 

 

Ruth Chamblee is a publishing and marketing professional who leads the Content Marketing Strategy & Promotion team for National Geographic Kids Books. Her early career included brand management marketing at Richardson-Vicks, a division of Procter and Gamble, and membership marketing for the Smithsonian Institution Books and Recordings divisions. For more than three decades she has designed and carried out multifaceted strategic marketing initiatives for countless National Geographic books, and her guidance has helped bring new voices to and fill key niches in the children’s book market. She is a board member of the Children’s Book Council and Chairman of the Board for Every Child a Reader. Her vision for I Am, I Can, I Will arose from her realization that knowing and honoring our ancestors can contribute to self-awareness, self-empowerment, and self-love for her, her daughter, and all little Black girls.

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Posted in fiction, romance, Spotlight on January 30, 2024

 

 

Synopsis

 

Two societies collide: the trendy, upscale, ultra-hip universe of Atlanta and the alluring, bound-by-tradition world of old India! Pressured by her challenging mother, Harlow Kennedy, an aspiring jewelry maker, agrees to marry politically ambitious pretty-boy Addison Whitmore. The match will elevate Harlow’s non-existent social standing and guarantee financial security for life. The wedding is scheduled to take place as soon as Harlow returns from her BFF’s wedding in India. On the other side of the world, the parents of Tej Mayur, the “it” chef of Atlanta’s hottest new Indian restaurant, are fretting about their son’s unmarried status. They summon him home. When Harlow meets Tej on a flight from Atlanta to Delhi, sparks fly. Unfortunately, Tej’s nuptials are already being arranged by his privileged East Indian family, and Harlow is not Indian. After touching down at Indira Gandhi International, they flee one another’s company–or so they think.

*Expanded edition now available, which includes recipes, discussion questions, acknowledgments, and author’s note.

 

 

Amazon * Bookshop

 

 

Praise

 

“Hudson-Maggio’s crisp, engaging prose and quick-paced storytelling will please readers of lively, travel-minded international fiction. Extreme poverty, enormous wealth, Ayurvedic spas, extravagant weddings, unyielding tradition, fantastic Indian cuisine, snake charmer-all the boxes for depicting India as an exotic backdrop for romantic adventure get checked.” –Publisher’s Weekly

“Readers will find this to be a gratifying and heartwarming story featuring two characters that they will be likely to find endearing despite their flaws. Each chapter alternates between the two main players’ perspectives as they grapple with their futures; this format results in a delightful and easygoing read that some will find to be reminiscent of Indian romance films.” –Kirkus Reviews

“Love Hudson-Maggio has written a fun, hip, and poignant debut novel. KARMA UNDER FIRE is a gem – you’ll fall in love with Harlow and Tej in a hot Atlanta minute!” –Addison Fox, author of Always Her Cowboy

“I was really interested in the premise of this book. The concept of an interracial love story where both parties are POC is unique, which I appreciate. I loved the characters and enjoyed seeing the layers and depth that they had. Overall a sweet heartwarming story!” –Alexa Esperanza, NetGalley Reviewer

“A fun, easy-to-read romance! [Hudson-Maggio] included awesome footnotes for some of the phrases and items I wasn’t aware of, making it easy to understand. The whole arranged marriage with the matchmakers was new to me and fun to learn about. The characters are cleverly crafted, funny, determined, and I really enjoyed the story.” –Janelle Will, NetGalley Reviewer

 

 

About the Author

 

Love Hudson-Maggio is CEO and Founder of a marketing technology firm with offices in Atlanta, GA and Manhattan, NY.  She writes southern women’s fiction with a travel flair about smart people with a lot to learn about life and love.  Love’s passion for travel shows up in her books as her characters find themselves transported between the southern sweetness of Atlanta, GA to other international picturesque locations like India. Love lives in Atlanta, GA with her husband, two sons and their dog.  Love was admitted as a screenwriting fellow at Columbia University for her short play As the Vow Breaks. Upon completion of her screenwriting fellowship her play Eating for Two was performed at a small theater in New York’s Lower East Side as a part of a female ensemble.  Love believes that the love you give away will find its way back to you.  Her books reflect this truth.

 

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Posted in Cozy, Giveaway, mystery, Spotlight on January 11, 2024

 

 

 

 

Shade Grown (Barks & Beans Cafe Cozy Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
8th in Series
Setting – West Virginia
WoodHaven Press (December 11, 2023)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 190 pages

 

Synopsis

 

BOOK EIGHT in the Award-winning BARKS & BEANS CAFE cozy mystery series!!

Welcome to the Barks & Beans Cafe, a quaint place where folks pet shelter dogs while enjoying a cup of java…and where murder sometimes pays a visit.

During Lewisburg’s popular summer home and garden tour, Macy and her brother Bo discover new aspects of their hometown’s history. One of the last homes they visit features a lush commemorative shade garden marking where a Civil War soldier’s bones were buried. As Macy pauses to admire a bed of blue hostas, she glimpses a shadowy shape lying beneath the dinner-plate leaves. It turns out to be the body of famed movie star Cody Franklin, who’d purchased the garden house as a quiet country retreat.

Back at the cafe, Macy speaks with Cody’s distraught sister, who lets slip that she’s afraid her brother’s killer will target her next. Macy’s heart goes out to the bereaved sibling, and she agrees to speak with Cody’s local acquaintances in hopes she’ll uncover some helpful backstory.

But someone powerful is lurking behind the scenes, and Macy has to zoom in on the killer before everything fades to black.

Join siblings Macy and Bo Hatfield as they sniff out crimes in their hometown…with plenty of dogs along for the ride! The Barks & Beans Cafe cozy mystery series features a small town, an amateur sleuth, and no swearing or graphic scenes.

The Barks & Beans Cafe series in order:
Book 1: No Filter
Book 2: Iced Over
Book 3: Fair Trade
Book 4: Spilled Milk
Book 5: Trouble Brewing
Book 6: Cold Drip
Book 7: Roast Date
Book 8: Shade Grown
Standalone Novella: House Blend

 

 

 

Amazon

 

Read for Free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

HEATHER DAY GILBERT, an RWA Daphne du Maurier Award-winning author and 2-time ECPA Christy Award finalist, enjoys writing contemporary mysteries with unpredictable twists, much like the Agatha Christie books she read growing up. Her novels feature small towns, family relationships, and women who aren’t afraid to protect those they love.

 

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Twitter * Pinterest * Goodreads

 

 

 

Giveaway

 

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Posted in Cozy, Giveaway, mystery, Spotlight on November 21, 2023

 

 

 

 

Cry Wolf (An Alaska Untamed Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Alaska
Crooked Lane Books (November 7, 2023)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 272 pages

 

Synopsis

 

Perfect for fans of Paige Shelton, an Alaskan tour guide is bracing for winter when she realizes that the wolves aren’t the only predators on the prowl.

With boat tours off the coast of Alaska shut down for the winter, tour guide Stacie Calder is joining the dedicated team at the Juneau Wildlife World, a wild animal sanctuary. Along with Sasha, her husky companion, she’s prepared to spend the long season in the scenic park. But not everyone is so chipper about the newcomers—least of all, Stacie’s new manager, Oliver Brownling. He constantly gives Stacie a hard time, specifically because she brought Sasha along with her. That is, until his mauled body is found in a remote part of the sanctuary containing wolves.

When it becomes clear that a human was responsible for the brutal murder, all eyes are on Stacie. Encouraged by her friend, Officer Liam Amaruq of the Alaskan State Troopers, Stacie is resolved to find the murderer but knows that her investigation will be difficult with the long suspect list she’s made. Did the sanctuary director plot to get rid of Oliver? Or maybe it was one of Oliver’s coworkers, upset over a missed promotion? Stacie wonders about some of the newer employees, especially since Oliver’s personality made it easy to make enemies.

With the weather worsening, Stacie and Sasha are forced to stay at the sanctuary with the wolves—and her colleagues. As the storm gets worse, it’s clear that this killer has a taste for blood and may strike again. Will Stacie be able to find the murderer, or will the hunter become the hunted?

 

 

 

Amazon * B&NKoboCrooked Lane Books

 

 

About the Author

 

Lark O. Jensen is the pseudonym of Linda O. Johnston, a former lawyer who is now a full-time writer. Lark wrote Bear Witness, the first Alaska Untamed mystery for Crooked Lane Books, in 2022, and the second in the series, Cry Wolf, has just been published. Linda has also written the Barkery & Biscuits Mystery series, the Superstition Mysteries for Midnight Ink, the Pet Rescue Mysteries, and Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime. Linda additionally writes for Harlequin Romantic Suspense, and her stories often involve dogs.

 

 

Website * Blog  (Wednesday blog) * Facebook * Writerspace

 

 

 

Giveaway

 

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Posted in Cozy, Giveaway, mystery, Spotlight on November 19, 2023

 

 

 

 

 

Under the Cocoon Moon: An Olivia Penn Mystery
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – Virginia
Rhino Publishing LLC (November 7, 2023)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 394 pages

 

Synopsis

 

A dead body in the woods … A rare sapphire is missing … The connection changes her life forever.

Olivia Penn is looking forward to spending time with her friends and family over the holidays in her hometown of Apple Station, Virginia. The Christmas season’s spirit has sparked a new romance, and all is looking merry and bright, until she is mistaken for a dead woman.

When a stranger makes a wild accusation involving the parents of the man she’s falling for, Olivia faces a no-win situation. As evidence mounts supporting the claim, a mysterious murder occurs near his father’s cabin that attracts the attention of the FBI. Wedged between mother and son, Olivia investigates to clear his family’s name while matching wits with a legendary thief.

With the clock ticking, Olivia must set a trap using herself as the bait or the killer may disappear without a trace. Her new love hangs in the balance, and her life is on the line. Justice will hinge on sixty minutes and a phone call.

Will the call be answered? Or will the thief recover the sapphire and silence her forever?

If you like Clue, Nancy Drew, and small town, cozy mysteries with heart and humor, a charming cast of characters, and a twisty plot, you’ll love Under the Cocoon Moon, the third book in The Olivia Penn Mystery Series.

 

 

Amazon * Other Retailers

 

Read for Free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

About the Author

 

Kathleen Bailey is the award-winning author of The Olivia Penn Mystery Series. She writes mysteries with heart and humor that keep to the traditional and cozy sides of crime. Kathleen has degrees in English, psychology, and physical therapy. She previously worked as a pediatric physical therapist for over twenty years with children who have special needs. She now spends her days plotting and sleuthing in Virginia where she lives with her husband and adorable feline fur baby. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and the James River Writers.

 

Website * Amazon Author * BookBub

 

 

Giveaway

 

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Posted in Cozy, Giveaway, Monday, mystery, Spotlight on November 6, 2023

 

 

 

 

 

Bulletproof Barista (A Coffeehouse Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
20th in Series
Setting – New York
Berkley (November 14, 2023)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 352 pages

 

Synopsis

 

When a film crew’s location shoot delivers an actual shooting, Clare Cosi finds herself at the scene of a true crime in this showstopping entry in the beloved Coffeehouse Mysteries from New York Times bestselling author Cleo Coyle.

Only Murders in Gotham, the smash-hit streaming program, is famous for filming in authentic New York locations and using real New Yorkers as extras. For its second season, they’ve chosen to spotlight the century-old Village Blend and its quirky crew of baristas. Shop manager and master roaster Clare Cosi is beyond thrilled, especially when her superb bulletproof coffee lands her a craft services contract for the production.

Madame, the eccentric octogenarian owner of the landmark shop, reveals an old kinship with the star of the show, comedian Jerry Sullivan. Now a Hollywood legend, Jerry frequented the Blend during his early years performing in Greenwich Village comedy clubs. But the past may hold more than nostalgia for Jerry. Suspicious accidents begin plaguing his shoot. Then a real bullet is fired from a stage gun, and Clare becomes convinced something sinister is afoot.

While Jerry’s production moves to exciting new locations, Clare keeps the coffee flowing—and her investigation going—even as a murderer lurks in the wings. But can she root out the rotten player in this Big Apple production before the lights go out on her?

Includes a stellar menu of surefire recipes!

 

 

 

 

Amazon *  B&N * Kobo * Google Play * Bookshop * Indiebound

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Cleo Coyle – Alice Alfonsi – Marc Cerasini

CLEO COYLE is a pseudonym for Alice Alfonsi, writing in collaboration with her husband, Marc Cerasini. Both are New York Times bestselling authors of the long-running Coffeehouse Mysteries—now celebrating eighteen years in print. They are also authors of the nationally bestselling Haunted Bookshop Mysteries, previously written under the pseudonym Alice Kimberly. Alice has worked as a journalist in Washington, D.C., and New York, and has written popular fiction for adults and children. A former magazine editor, Marc has authored espionage thrillers and nonfiction for adults and children. Alice and Marc are also both bestselling media tie-in writers who have penned properties for Lucasfilm, NBC, Fox, Disney, Imagine, and MGM. They live and work in New York City, where they write independently and together.

 

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BookBub * Goodreads * Instagram

 

 

Giveaway

 

 

 

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Posted in Book Release, Cozy, mystery, Spotlight on October 17, 2023

 

 

 

 

Spectral Revelations: A Karina Cardinal Mystery
Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Setting – Williamsburg, Virginia
Power to the Pen (October 5, 2023)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 285 pages

 

Synopsis

 

Is Karina’s missing aunt on vacation…or on the lam?

Karina is trying to keep her mind on getting a cosponsor for a bill, but it’s tough with her Mom blowing up her phone. By the time Karina finally stops hitting “ignore”, Mom is frantic. It appears Karina’s Aunt Vera has disappeared, fibbed to her employer about the reason for her absence, even abandoned her beloved cat, Nightshade—which is completely out of character. Karina would bet her favorite pair of designer shoes that Vera is in some kind of trouble.

However, when Karina hauls her cookies from D.C. to historic Williamsburg to search Vera’s house, she finds nothing suspicious. Except for a mischievous Civil War ghost who scares the bejesus out of her and keeps trashing Vera’s office. Until Karina realizes his seemingly random ectoplasmic tantrums have a purpose—revealing key evidence.

Something is definitely fishy, but the clues aren’t adding up. And as the spirit’s visitations become more urgent, Karina calls on reinforcements for help—her latest squeeze Rick Donovan and her sister Jillian. Because the cops are following faulty leads, which could put Vera on the wrong end of an arrest warrant … if she’s found alive.

International bestselling and award-winning author Ellen Butler presents book six in the Karina Cardinal mystery series! Fans of Elizabeth Peters and Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum will adore this gripping mystery adventure.

 

 

Amazon * B&NKobo

 

 

About the Author

 

Ellen Butler is the internationally bestselling author of the Karina Cardinal mystery series. Her experiences working on Capitol Hill and at a medical association in Washington, D.C., inspired the mystery-action series. Book critics call the Karina Cardinal mysteries “intelligent escapism” and “unputdownable adventures that will take readers on an electrifying yet light-hearted and humorous journey.” Butler also writes historical spy fiction. Her WWII spy novel, The Brass Compass, recently won a 2022 Speak Up Talk Radio Firebird Book Award for historical fiction. The second book in the duology, Operation Blackbird: A Cold War Spy Novel, is Butler’s latest historical fiction. The novel is inspired by true events and won a Next Generation Indie Book Award gold medal for historical fiction. Reviewers are calling it “riveting” and “a thrilling adventure.”

 

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Goodreads * BookBub * Amazon

 

 

 

 

Giveaway

 

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Posted in fiction, Giveaway, Spotlight, women on October 13, 2023

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

Socially awkward, anxiety-riddled Beverly Bonnefinche only loves three things in life: her parents, books, and a homeless man named Bill. Without them, the only way Beverly manages to get by each day is with the help of a peculiar coping mechanism that allows her to dissolve her feelings. Yet everything changes for Beverly when she meets Henry, a persistent, friendly man who sees something in Beverly most people have missed. As their relationship develops, despite her best intentions, Beverly soon finds herself stepping outside of her carefully controlled life and forging new friendships.

It’s only when a series of twists and turns threatens to unravel her new life, and her mind, that Beverly must determine if she’s got it in her to stop trudging through life—and finally start living it.

Emotional, witty, and uplifting, Beverly Bonnefinche Is Dead is an unforgettable story of love, loss, friendship, and what it means to ultimately find the courage to be who you are.

​Content Warnings: stillbirth, pregnancy loss, mental health, attempted suicide, suicidal ideation

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Target * Indigo

 

BAM * BookBub * Audible

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Lover of books, Kristen spends her time overly caffeinated in front of her computer in the Tampa Bay area with her husband and four children.

Kristen’s debut novel, Beverly Bonnefinche is Dead was selected by Barnes & Noble as a Top Indie Favorites August/September 2023 Kristen Seeley is the pen name of Marie Still (which she writes suspense/thrillers under)

 

WebsiteNewsletter ~ X (Twitter) ~ Facebook

 

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Giveaway

 

Enter to win a signed copy of BEVERLY BONNEFINCHE IS DEAD & WE’RE ALL LYING (one winner)

Ends Oct 27

 

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