THUNDER ROAD

 

by

 

Colin Holmes

 

 

Noir / Suspense / Historical Fiction

Publisher: CamCat Books

Publication Date: February 15, 2022

Page count: 384 pages

 

Scroll down for the Giveaway!

 

 

 

 

In this gamble, more than a few poker chips are at stake.

 

When an Army Air Force Major vanishes from his Top Secret job at the Fort Worth airbase in the summer of 1947, down-on-his-luck former Ranger Jefferson Sharp is hired to find him, because the Major owes a sizable gambling debt to a local mobster. The search takes Sharp from the hideaway poker rooms of Fort Worth’s Thunder Road, to the barren ranch lands of New Mexico, to secret facilities under construction in the Nevada desert.

Lethal operatives and an opaque military bureaucracy stand in his way, but when he finds an otherworldly clue and learns President Truman is creating a new Central Intelligence Agency and splitting the Air Force from the Army, Sharp begins to connect the dots. And those dots draw a straight line to a conspiracy aiming to cover up a secret that is out of this world⎯literally so.

 

 

CamCat Publishing | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

 

IndieBound | Bookshop

 

 

Praise

 

“[In this] intriguing debut . . . clear crisp prose . . . morphs from a western into a detective story with an overlay of conspiracy theories.” —Publishers Weekly

“Sparkling 1940’s dialogue, wry humor, an unpredictable yet coherent storyline, and a breezy style all his own, make Colin Holmes’ somewhat spooky novel, Thunder Road, a winner. I’ll be on the lookout for his next novel.” —Rob Leininger, author of Killing Suki Flood and the Mortimer Angel “Gumshoe” series

“This genre-defying and enormously entertaining romp is Mickey Spillane meets Whitley Strieber meets Woody Allen. I can’t remember when I’ve had so much plain old fun reading a book and just didn’t want it to end.” —Historical Novel Society, Editor’s Choice

“A carefully crafted and original suspense thriller of a read, Thunder Road by Colin Holmes is the stuff of which block-buster action/adventure movies are made. With many and unexpected plot twists and turns, Thunder Road is an inherently fascinating and entertaining novel . . .” —Midwest Book Review

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before the pandemic, Colin Holmes toiled in a beige cubical as a mid-level marketing and advertising manager for an international electronics firm. A recovering advertising creative director, he spent far too long at ad agencies and freelancing as a hired gun in the war for capitalism.

As an adman, Holmes has written newspaper classifieds, TV commercials, radio spots, trade journal articles, and tweets. His ads have sold cowboy boots and cheeseburgers, 72-ounce steaks, and hazardous waste site clean-up services. He’s encountered fascinating characters at every turn.

Now he writes novels, short stories, and screenplays in an effort to stay out of the way and not drive his far too patient wife completely crazy. He is an honors graduate of the UCLA Writers Program, a former board member of the DFW Writers Workshop, and serves on the steering committee of the DFW Writers Conference. He’s a fan of baseball, barbeque, fine automobiles, and unpretentious scotch.

 

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CamCat Publishing

 

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THREE WINNERS:

 

Each receives an autographed hardcover copy of THUNDER ROAD

 

(US only; ends midnight, CST, 12/16/22)

 

 

 

 

 

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12/09/22	All the Ups and Downs	Author Interview
12/10/22	The Plain-Spoken Pen	Review
12/11/22	StoreyBook Reviews	Promo
12/12/22	The Book’s Delight	Review
12/12/22	Shelf Life Blog	BONUS Promo
12/13/22	Rox Burkey Blog	Audiobook Review
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Synopsis

 

It’s 1939. Jane Benjamon’s got five days at sea to solve the murder of a Wimbledon champion’s coach and submit a gossip column that tells the truth. If not the facts.

On the brink of World War II, Jane wants to have it all. By day she hustles as a scruffy, tomboy cub reporter. By night she secretly struggles to raise her toddler sister, Elsie, and protect her from their mother.

But Jane’s got a plan: she’ll become the San Francisco Prospect’s first gossip columnist and make enough money to care for Elsie.

Jane finagles her way to the women’s championship at Wimbledon, starring her hometown’s tennis phenom and cover girl Tommie O’Rourke. Jane plans to write her first column there. But then she witnesses Edith “Coach” Carlson, Tommie’s closest companion, drop dead in the stands of apparent heart attack, and her plan is blown.

​Sailing home on the RMS Queen Mary, Jane veers between competing instincts: Should she write a social bombshell column, personally damaging her new friend Tommie’s persona and career? Or should she work to uncover the truth of Coach’s death and its connection to a larger conspiracy involving US participation in the coming war?

Putting away her menswear and donning first-class ballgowns, Jane discovers what upper-class status hides, protects, and destroys. Ultimately—like nations around the globe in 1939—she must choose what she’ll give up in order to do what’s right.

 

 

​Capital Books ~ Amazon ~ B&N ~ Bookshop.org

 

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Scribd ~ Chirp ~ Amazon (audiobook)

 

 

Guest Post

 

She makes a very good boy and a very difficult girl

 

Recently a reader said in a book club discussion, “Jane Benjamin makes a good sleuth because she has so many male traits.” (Jane is in the habit of wearing men’s-style clothes in the 1940s.)  That got me thinking. What are Jane’s so-called “male traits” and how are they related to her sleuthing?

 

Jane can be:

Ambitious—She so ferociously wants to achieve her goal that she won’t easily let go of the task. This is good for you if her goal is to help you. Not so good if helping you gets in the way of her goal.

Selfish—She doesn’t get easily derailed from her own needs by the things other people want or need her to do. Sometimes a victim will especially benefit when the victim’s needs align with Jane’s, or when Jane’s experience leads her to feel empathy for a victim with whom she has something in common.

Impetuous—She doesn’t lallygag around, worrying about the ramifications of her actions. If she thinks she’d better jump a gorge, then she jumps, and saves worrying what might have happened for later. This can be helpful in an emergency. But also mighty dangerous.

Mendacious—She is gifted at lying. This means she can wriggle her way out of a bad spot. It also means, when combined with her selfishness, she can avoid reflecting on her own behavior. (At least until the end of the book.)

Heroic—Jane does not see herself as a bystander. She believes in her own ability to be the one who makes the difference, even when that belief isn’t entirely justified. But on most occasions, she won’t sit by and let something bad happen. She’ll do what others are afraid of doing because she knows it’s right and needs doing.

I like the list this reader provoked. But I doubt one thing. Why are these male traits? I’m thinking plenty of girls and women behave this way. Yet we’re surprised and a little judgmental when they do.

That’s why I’m glad Jane is a tomboy, a little freer to be herself.

 

 

Trailer

 

 

About the Author

 

Shelley grew up in California’s Central Valley, the daughter of Dust Bowl immigrants who made good on their ambition to get out of the field. She recently retired from teaching writing at Sacramento State University and still consults with writers in the energy industry. She co-directs Stories on Stage Sacramento, where actors perform the stories of established and emerging authors, and serves on the advisory board of 916 Ink, an arts-based creative writing nonprofit for children, as well as on the board of the Gould Center for Humanistic Studies at Claremont McKenna College. Copy Boy is her first Jane Benjamin Novel. Tomboy is her second. The third, Working Girl, will come out in November 2023. Her writing has been a finalist in the Sarton Book Awards, IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards, Killer Nashville’s Silver Falchion Award, the American Fiction Awards, and the National Indie Excellence Awards. She and her husband live in Sacramento with many photos of their out-of-town sons and their wonderful partners.

 

Website  ~  Twitter ~  Facebook ~ Instagram ~ BookBub ~ Goodreads

 

 

 

Meet the Narrator

 

April Doty is a classically trained actress with a BFA from Syracuse University. She is a voice actor and the narrator of 26 books. Born in Virginia, educated in New York, seasoned in London and settled in Spain, April Doty brings the sound of a rich and varied life experience to her narration. The character of Jane came to life in her home studio on the Costa del Sol.

 

Website ~ Twitter ~ LinkedIn ~ SoundCloud

 

 

 

Giveaway

 

Win signed copies of COPY BOY and TOMBOY, audible download codes for each, a $20 Starbucks card, a woman’s fedora, moleskin notebook, and Sarasa pen. (one winner)

USA only

ends Oct 28

 

TOM BOY (a Jane Benjamin novel) Book Tour Giveaway

 

 

 

AMONG THE INNOCENT

 

by

 

MARY ALFORD

 

 

 

Fiction / Christian / Suspense

Publisher: Revell

Date of Publication: June 7, 2022

Number of Pages: 304 pages

Scroll down for the Giveaway!

 

 

 

 

When Leah Miller’s entire Amish family was murdered ten years ago, the person believed responsible took his own life. Since then, Leah left the Amish and joined the police force. Now, after another Amish woman is found murdered with the same MO, it becomes clear that the wrong man may have been blamed for her family’s deaths.

As Leah and the new police chief, Dalton Cooper, work long hours struggling to fit the pieces together in order to catch the killer, they can’t help but grow closer. When secrets from both of their pasts begin to surface, an unexpected connection between them is revealed. But this is only the beginning. Could it be that the former police chief framed an innocent man to keep the biggest secret of all buried? And what will it mean for Leah–and Dalton–when the full truth comes to light?

 

USA Today bestselling author Mary Alford keeps you guessing as two determined souls plumb the dark depths of the past in order to forge a brighter future–together.

 

 

 

Amazon * Baker Book House * Christianbooks.com * Other Revell Affiliates

 

 

Praise

 

“Readers will be compelled to keep turning the pages until they uncover the truth behind a dark legacy hidden behind lies and madness. Highly recommended.” —Nancy Mehl, author of the Quantico Files

“Among the Innocent is no buggy ride but a race to stop a killer.” —DiAnn Mills, bestselling and award-winning author of Trace of Doubt

“Among the Innocent had me glued to the page from the start. Dishes sat in the sink and chores piled up until I finished it. I highly recommend this story!” — Patricia Bradley, author of Crosshairs

“Mary Alford proves she’s a master storyteller with Among the Innocent. Expect an adrenaline rush on every page.” — Debby Giusti, author of Smugglers in Amish Country

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the first book I have read by this author and now I’m wondering why! This Christian Suspense novel has everything I look for in a book: developed characters, fascinating backstory, a bit of mystery, a hint of romance, and action-packed scenes that will have you wondering if you can put the book down or if you will need to continue reading the book.

I haven’t read a book that included Amish characters in some time and I forgot how much I enjoy the simple life, slightly different language, and the close-knit ties they have in their communities. I have read about rumspringa for the teens and how that can influence their desire to stay in the Amish community or venture out on their own. The downside to this is that the teens can be easily influenced by western culture since it is very different from their own. We see that with several of the female characters that are taken in by the killer’s charm and don’t realize that what he is portraying is not right.

Leah is familiar with both worlds and is able to bridge the gap when needed. However, the death of her family dredges up memories when new girls are found murdered and notes are left behind for Leah. I wondered throughout the book who was behind all of this and I did start to figure it out but not until closer to the end when a few clues are provided. I still didn’t grasp the full impact of those clues until all was revealed. I thought Leah could be reckless when it came to her own safety at various times throughout the book, but thankfully Dalton, the new police chief, did his best to keep her safe. However, sometimes the killer had the jump on Leah and Dalton which just added to the tension in the story.

Dalton may be the new chief but he has another motive for his move to St. Ignatius. It is hinted at but we don’t find out the true reason until much later in the book. There are some twists regarding his secret and the outcome but you’ll have to read the book to find out what.

While this is a Christian-based book, the religious aspect is minor, but it brings in the faith that Leah and Dalton have that everything will turn out ok and that a higher power is watching over them.

This was a fantastic read and I will be investigating more of this author’s works. We give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mary Alford is a USA Today bestselling author who loves giving her readers the unexpected, combining unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots that result in stories the reader can’t put down. Her titles have been finalists for several awards, including the Daphne Du Maurier, the Beverly, the Maggie, and the Selah. She and her husband live in the heart of Texas in the middle of 70 acres with two cats and one dog.

 

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Copies of Among the Innocent

 

+ $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble.

 

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a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

 

 

 

 

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6/8/22	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
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6/9/22	Character Interview	Reading by Moonlight
6/10/22	Review	It’s Not All Gravy
6/11/22	Deleted Scene	All the Ups and Downs
6/12/22	Scrapbook Page	Chapter Break Book Blog
6/13/22	Review	Rainy Days with Amanda
6/14/22	Excerpt	Rox Burkey Blog
6/15/22	Review	Jennie Reads
6/16/22	Review	The Plain-Spoken Pen

 

 

 

 

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Synopsis

 

Things are gonna get messy…

An illegal union, a banned birth, a Great Lie, and now, genocide. Vampire lawyer Donovan Trait and his wife, chemically-turned Judge Shirley Magnusen, are battling for their lives and the lives of their children. The Vampire Coalition wants them dead, but now the despots have also decided to expand their net, targeting any vampire whose blood is mixed with human or Were. Half-bloods are already treated like dirt by the Vampire Nation. They have been subjected to centuries of discrimination and cruelty at their hands. As the Coalition embarks on a campaign of terror, destruction, and slaughter, millions of half-bloods emerge from the shadows, ready and willing to reclaim their place in the Vampire Nation. The problem is, war cannot be unleashed out in the open in the human world, battles must be fought in other ways. Even with an island of highly-skilled vampire nuns and a few Weres and humans at their side, it appears the Traits may be fighting an unwinnable war. Their only option may be to sacrifice their own lives in the hopes of setting all other half-bloods free.

 

 

Extasy Books

 

 

 

 

Excerpt

 

Donovan shifted on the lounger and muttered incomprehensively, then he emitted a rumbling snore.

“Hey, y’all. So yeah, vampires are real and they’re not above doing the dirty to those who share their blood. Take a look at this.” The Tik-Tokker grinned. “You are not gonna believe it. It’s so shady.”

Video of the Coalition camps rolled across the screen. Occasionally, the camera zeroed in a dirty or bruised Millennial, or a guard pushing a group of people into a building, their ankles locked together with some sort of rope. They were seen eating off of metal plates and lined up to fill a metal cup with something from a barrel. It wasn’t water. The liquid was rust-colored and thick, like blood.

“And the dudes running the place have a Marie Antoinette fetish. You know—” The woman mimicked a knife across her throat. “Off with their heads?” She giggled.

A guillotine appeared on camera. About ten people were in line, each with a black hood over their heads and their arms bound behind them. One at a time, they were pushed onto a stage and forced to their knees, their necks positioned directly under the blade. With manic efficiency, a guard released the blade. Most heads flew into a barrel in front of the platform. The ones that rolled off onto the stage were kicked to their final destination. The headless bodies were tossed onto a pile on the ground.

“Oh, grosss,” the woman complained. She leaned toward the camera. “Kind of like a bad zombie movie, isn’t it?” She sat back in her chair and made a face. “Whatever. I mean, like, are we supposed to believe that’s really happening? Isn’t that against the law or something?” She cackled. “As if.” She leisurely stretched her body, her crop top exposing a belly button ring. “I’m so shook.”

The woman tossed her hair over her shoulder and smiled. “Now, I’m not sharing this for the views. It is kind of sus. But if this shit is real, someone needs to get off the pot and do something about it. Aren’t there any woke cops out there who can play the James Bond card? Before anymore—” She swiped her finger across her throat and giggled. Then the screen went black.

Donovan shot up in his chair and blinked. Once. Twice. He shook his head and attempted to gather himself. What the hell? Sure, he had needed the sleep, even if it was only a thirty-minute nap, but the dreams he could do without. It had been less than forty-eight hours since the worldwide kidnappings. Donovan knew preparations for rescue were underway. But he also knew Bengotten and Hannigan were capable of even greater cruelty. He could only imagine the terror and the torture the victims were being subjected to.

It was difficult to understand how the vampire world was capable of this. He had long prided himself on their natural superiority, their ability to rise up above the petty politics and unjustified violence in the human and Were worlds. Yet overnight, vampires had become the monsters, the tyrants capable of such evil. That astonished him. For the first time in his long existence, Donovan was ashamed of being a vampire. If it was possible, he might very well submit to being turned into a human or a Were. He buried his face in his hands. Yes, he could live as a human. Perhaps he could ask Dr. Alvarez to find a way to turn off his vampirism, maybe using the gene-editing Marilyn could not stop talking about.

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Award-winning author Seelie Kay writes about lawyers in love, sometimes with a dash of kink.

Writing under a nom de plume, the former lawyer and journalist draws her stories from more than 30 years in the legal world. Seelie’s wicked pen has resulted in nineteen works of fiction, including the new paranormal romance series Donovan Trait, as well the erotic romance Kinky Briefs series and The Feisty Lawyers romantic suspense series. She also authored The Last Christmas, The Garage Dweller, A Touchdown to Remember, The President’s Wife, The President’s Daughter, Seizing Hope, The White House Wedding, and participated in the romance anthology Pieces of Us.

When not spinning romantic tales, Seelie ghostwrites nonfiction for lawyers and other professionals. Currently, she resides in a bucolic exurb outside Milwaukee, WI, where she enjoys opera, the Green Bay Packers, gourmet cooking, organic gardening, and an occasional bottle of red wine.

Seelie is an MS warrior and ruthlessly battles the disease on a daily basis. Her message to those diagnosed with MS: Never give up. You define MS, it does not define you!

 

Website * Blog * Twitter * Facebook * Instagram * Author’s Amazon Page

 

 

CHARLESTON CONUNDRUM

 

A Liz Adams Mystery

 

by

 

STACY WILDER

 

 

Cozy Mystery / Female Sleuth / Cozy Animal

Publisher: Wild Hawk Press

Date of Publication: January 15, 2022

Number of Pages: 235 pages

 

Scroll down for Giveaway!

 

 

 

A Cozy Mystery with a Twist…

Liz Adams never imagined when she moved to Charleston with her truth sniffing Labrador retriever, Duke, that she would use her skills as a private investigator to avoid winding up on Death Row.

Liz’s life is upended when her best friend, Peg, is murdered and she becomes a suspect.  Liz’s gun was the murder weapon. Tensions flare between Liz and the cops as she rises to the top of their suspect list.

At the request of Peg’s father, Liz agrees to take on the investigation. Riding a roller coaster of emotions, Liz uncovers many secrets Peg kept from her despite being best friends. The suspects include a cast of characters: the ex-husband, the boyfriend, a coworker, several neighbors and family members.

Charleston Conundrum takes the reader from Charleston, South Carolina to Paris and back in the emotional unraveling of Peg’s life and death to a killer ending. It is the first book in the Conundrum series.

 

 

 

Amazon│Barnes and Noble | Google Books

 

Blue Willow Books | Murder By The Book

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I do love a good mystery and this one will definitely keep you guessing who the murderer is because many have motives, but the truth just might surprise you.

I have never visited Charleston but it is on my bucket list and the descriptions in this book might just bump it up a few places. From the crayon-colored homes to the old brick buildings, there is a lot of history in this town that is referenced in this story.

Liz decides to become a PI after a disastrous divorce and ditching her life in Atlanta for Charleston. All things considered, I can’t blame her for making that move. She has really made this town her home and her neighborhood seems tight-knit which is a plus and a minus when you take into consideration the busybody that has her nose in everyone’s business. But this plus is this is where she met Peg, her best friend. A senseless murder takes Peg’s life and Liz sets out to uncover the truth because she doesn’t have much faith in the police. After experiencing the cranky police officer Sam, I can see why. He seems to have it out for Liz and instead of looking for other possible suspects, he wants to pin it all on her. Liz sets out to uncover who has the best motive and might have killed Peg. Unfortunately, most of the suspects are her friends and neighbors. But Liz persists in uncovering the truth while dealing with the grief she feels at the loss of her friend. She is also a little angry at Peg for not being told about Peg’s love interest, Bjorn.

Besides the Charleston setting, we get to experience a little bit of Paris and the mention of the Lourve and Musee d’Orsay took me back to a trip I took to Paris years ago. These are some amazing museums that I am thrilled I could experience. And let’s not forget the patisserie and chocolate! My mouth was watering as I imagined indulging in a pastry or two. There is also a love interest for Liz and the potential for a love triangle, but I think Liz realizes that one man may be enough for her.

There are some intriguing twists to this story that definitely kept me on my toes and the revelation of the murder took me by surprise a little bit but as it was close to the reveal, I wondered if this character could be the suspect but didn’t know why. This person wasn’t even on my radar until the end. I kept trying to pin it on a family member but that just wasn’t working out well for me.

I think a character that deserves a bigger part next time is Duke, her labrador. He seems to have a lie detector sense about him and knows when someone isn’t telling the truth. That does pique Liz’s interest, especially during conversations with a few of the characters during her investigation.

A couple of things surprised me about this book. Liz breaks into multiple homes to snoop for clues that might give those homeowners a motive for killing Peg. Would a PI really do that? Maybe but I don’t know for sure. Secondly, when Liz is arrested she is put into an orange jumpsuit. That seemed awfully quick considering she was being held in the local jail and overnight at the most, but perhaps that is their process there.

Overall, this is a solid story and I was able to read a sneak peek into the next book, Caramel Conundrum, and can’t wait to read it. We give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stacy writes mysteries, children’s stories, short stories, and poetry. Her debut novel, Charleston Conundrum, is the first in the Conundrum mystery series.

Stacy’s mission is to deliver a delightful story to readers of all ages while benefiting a larger community. She donates a portion of the proceeds from the sales of her books to causes that support wildlife conservation, and the homeless, both people and pets. A portion of the proceeds from Charleston Conundrum is donated to National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

As well as writing, Stacy is passionate about her faith, family, Labradors, the causes that she supports, the beach, art, and reading books.

She and her husband live in Houston, Texas with a totally spoiled Labrador retriever, Eve.

 

Website  *  Facebook  *  Amazon * Instagram

 

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Autographed copies of Charleston Conundrum

 

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Visit the Lone Star Literary Life Tour Page

 

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4/26/22	Playlist	All the Ups and Downs
4/27/22	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
4/27/22	BONUS Promo	LSBBT Blog
4/28/22	Guest Post	The Page Unbound
4/29/22	Review	Jennie Reads
4/30/22	Fun Facts	The Plain-Spoken Pen
5/1/22	Author Interview	Chapter Break Book Blog
5/2/22	Review	Carpe Diem Chronicles
5/3/22	BONUS Review	Shelf Life Blog
5/3/22	Author Interview	It’s Not All Gravy
5/4/22	Review	Forgotten Winds
5/5/22	BONUS Promo	Hall Ways Blog
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THE TRACEVERSE SAGA

 

The Shattered Gate &

 

The Two Gates

 

by

 

ERIC R. SWANSON

 

 

Genre: Science Fiction / Genetic Engineering

Publisher: Eric R. Swanson, LLC.

 

Date of Publication Book 1: March 22, 2020

Number of Pages: 394 pages

 

Date of Publication Book 2: May 1, 2021

Number of Pages: 402 pages

 

 

 

The Shattered Gate

 

They selfishly pillaged Earth and made him a hybrid. Will his split nature spell the end of intergalactic abduction?

Half-human, half-Ceran, Micah Trace yearns for something more. Though the repetition and isolation of living as a body double for the King of Ceres is crushing, he’s grateful to be treated better than the other genetically engineered humans. But when he discovers the ailing plight of his ancestors, he heeds the calling and cleverly insinuates himself into a dangerous mission across the galaxy.

Fearing their plan to repair a failing transportation gate might lead to disaster, Micah uses his experience mimicking the king to steal the forbidden authority he’s assumed for so long. But with ulterior motives darkening the depths of space, he may not survive to see the centuries-old connection between the planets repaired.

Can the royal mimic win control of the ship before they’re lost to the vacuum’s void?

The Shattered Gate is the thought-provoking first tale in the science fiction Traceverse Saga. If you like character-driven action, high-tech military defense systems, and intriguing political powerplays, then you’ll love Eric R. Swanson’s interstellar adventure.

 

 

Amazon

 

The Two Gates

 

Born to serve. Trained to lead. Can a man of two species bridge the critical gap between his peoples?

2454. Micah Trace’s half-human heart races as his expedition approaches Earth. Taking leadership of a one-way-trip from Ceres, he fears the memory of a centuries-old mass abduction means they’ll face a hostile reception. And his desperate claim of a shared ancestry falls on deaf ears when the traumatized Earthers greet them with suspicion, capture, and interrogation.
With relations treading a knife’s edge, the offworld ambassador finally proves his genetic roots and convinces the nervous population to repair the stargate and reconnect their worlds. But some resent alien interference in the planet’s affairs, and Micah suspects that they may be willing to kill to ensure his mission’s doom.

Can the hybrid herald unite his two species before the past destroys their future?

The Two Gates is the thrilling second novel in the science fiction Traceverse saga. If you like complex interplanetary politics, stunning character revelations, and pulse-pounding action, then you’ll love Eric R. Swanson’s galactic tale.

 

 

Amazon

 

 

 

Watch the book trailer for The Two Gates

By Eric Swanson

 

 

 

 

 

Or click here to view on the author’s Facebook page

 

 

 

 

 

Eric Swanson was born in September of 1981 in Chicago, IL, and his entire life has been spent engrossed in stories. Growing up in a Minneapolis, MN suburb, Eric developed a deep appreciation for stories with a wide scope. From being frightened by Stephen King’s IT to being enthralled by Orson Scott Card’s Ender Wiggin stories, the written word of others grabbed Eric and often refused to let go… Even after he finished the first reading of a book. Several of his personal copies of favorite novels have endured many many readings. From an early age, Eric was a fan of all things science fiction with a leaning toward the dystopian and post-apocalyptic. The future fascinates Eric to no end, be that a realistic or wild-eyed and farfetched future. While he annually binges Battlestar Galactica (04), he dreams of worlds, people and happenings yet to be written. Eric lives in Austin, Texas with his wife, two children, and a pair of Goldendoodles. They sometimes Tweet for him…

 

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Visit the  Lone Star Literary Life Tour Page

For direct links to each post on this tour, updated daily,

or visit the blogs directly:

 

 

 

3/22/22	Kick-Off Promo	Sybrina’s Book Blog
3/22/22	Review Book 1	Shelf Life Blog
3/22/22	BONUS promo	Hall Ways Blog
3/23/22	Book Trailer 1	The Page Unbound
3/23/22	Review Book 1	Chapter Break Book Blog
3/23/22	BONUS promo	LSBBT Blog
3/24/22	Review Book 2	Forgotten Winds
3/25/22	Bonus Story	It’s Not All Gravy
3/25/22	Review Book 1	Jennifer Silverwood
3/26/22	Review Book 2	Rox Burkey Blog
3/27/22	Book Trailer 2	StoreyBook Reviews
3/28/22	Review Book 1	The Plain-Spoken Pen
3/29/22	Review Book 2	Missus Gonzo
3/30/22	Bonus Story	All the Ups and Downs
3/30/22	Review Book 1	Writing and Music
3/31/22	Review Book 2	Book Fidelity
3/31/22	Review Book 2	Reading by Moonlight

 

 

 

 

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Synopsis

 

She thought she could trust him. Until she became his prey.

Devastated when she learns why and how a brutal home invader murdered her parents, Kayla and her best friend Martin follow clues through Paris and into the French countryside — only to end up in the killer’s lair.

After tracking a clue to a mysteriously familiar French rural town, Kayla and Martin fight an attacker who launches Martin from a speeding train. Kayla refuses to believe he’s dead and in her grieving realizes that he’s become much more than a friend to her. But she knows she’ll be the next to die if she gets caught at the train station, so she runs. And she keeps running, at last finding refuge in a homeless community.

Her new friends help her escape, but when she follows yet another clue, she runs straight into the grips of men who have chased her down since she left her home in Arizona.

Can Kayla and Martin survive their misplaced trust, or will they become the next victims? And will their love survive with them?

No One to Trust is the bone-chilling Book 2 in the Kayla Walsh Mystery Suspense series. Buy it now to learn Kayla and Martin’s fate.

 

 

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Excerpt

 

Kayla Walsh had never expected to leave the safety of witness protection to end up in an abandoned Virginia missile silo. But here she was, following her grandmother’s silver-haired boyfriend, Vincent, through a cold and musty underground parking lot. Dimly lit wall sconces gave the place an eerie aura that added to the goosebumps dotting her olive complexion.

Her best friend and former physical therapist, Martin, touched her arm; his hand felt warm and comforting. As he walked behind Vincent, his size dwarfed their host’s lean, six-foot-two frame. He leaned down to whisper in Kayla’s ear. “Are you sure about this? I’m getting bad vibes.”

A mere five-foot-two-inches tall, Kayla raked a hand through her sleek black hair and whispered back. “You could go back home to Arizona.” Looking up into the dark eyes above Martin’s wide nose, she hoped he wouldn’t abandon her to finish their mission alone.

He swallowed hard and shook his head. “We’re in this together.”

She stepped closer in hopes his body heat would quell her shivers.

Vincent stopped at an elevator and turned toward his guests with a smile that deepened the dimples in his cheeks. His blue eyes sparkled with pride as he pressed the call button.

Martin stopped beside Vincent under a light that reflected off his shaved head and put a green tone on his latte-colored skin.
She stared at a logo on the doors that identified Vincent’s operation as a security business.

“I thought my grandmother said you were a rancher.”

“I have several businesses, dear.” Vincent entered the elevator. “My grandson runs the ranch. At my age, this business is easier on my tired muscles and bones.” He stepped into the elevator and waited for them to join him.

She tried to smile while clinging to a handrail during a high-speed descent farther underground. The sleep-deprived fog in her brain took her thoughts in a morbid direction. The tremble in her knees threatened to reveal her discomfort. Hoping to tamp down her growing unease, she bit the side of her mouth and supported herself against the wall.

“I’m looking forward to sleeping on the plane.” She hoped the words would coax her thoughts away from what brought her to this refurbished missile silo. After being chased down a dirt road by two guys who kept yelling things she couldn’t hear, a magnet attached to a helicopter had whisked her car to a metal platform. Her stomach stayed behind when the platform swished down to a parking lot where Vincent met them.
Beyond Bizarre. And nerve wracking. Rubbing her arms, she wished for a sweater despite the summer heat outside this frigid silo.

“I could use a nap, too.” A wobble in Martin’s unusually quiet voice amped up her anxiety.

The elevator door opened to another hallway with concrete walls lit by more sconces. A young man in tight jeans and black-framed glasses waited for them outside the elevator. Vincent introduced him as his assistant, Alex, who extended a hand that felt even more chilled than Kayla. She figured she’d get there if their stay in that creepy building extended beyond the few minutes she expected.

Alex’s bored expression made her wonder if his administrative duties were as mind-numbing as hers were when she worked for her grandmother at the Arizona home for abused women and children.

Vincent put a hand on Martin’s shoulder. “Kayla told me last night that your attacker at the Lincoln Memorial tried to slice your throat. Our nurse practitioner is waiting to treat the wound. Alex will take you.”

Alex led Martin down another hallway, leaving her feeling small and vulnerable. She stretched to make herself seem bigger as Vincent turned to speak to her.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Karen Randau authors fast-paced stories with intricate plots, lots of action, and a dash of romance told from the point of view of a female amateur sleuth. She lives in the mountains of Arizona with her multi-generational family.

 

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Synopsis

 

A courageous farm girl’s life is changed forever when she falls in love with a charming street musician, opening her eyes to the cruel mistreatment of Mexico’s mine workers and compelling her to stand with them against their oppressor – the man she is marrying.

Esperanza lives a charmed life. The daughter of a wealthy landowner, her family is thrilled when she attracts the attention of the handsome and mysterious Don Raúl, opening the door to a glittering life of opulence for them all.

However, a chance encounter with a charming street musician forces Esperanza to open her eyes to the cruel underworld of Mexico’s mistreated working classes, and she begins to doubt everything she ever thought she wanted.

As the people begin to rise up in a bloodthirsty revolution against their oppressors, Esperanza is forced to make choices that she hoped never to face. Esperanza’s decisions threaten to tear apart her family, her heart, and the country she loves.

In this brutal world where a few careless words can cost lives, will the price of freedom prove to be more than what Esperanza is willing to pay?

 

 

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Praise

 

“A rip-roaring, romantic adventure that is impossible to put down.” – Starred Review

“A well-written and well-researched story against the background of early 20th century Mexico.” – D. Wells, author

“Class intrigue, dynastic maneuvering, and dangerous politics against growing civil unrest in pre-revolutionary Mexico. Can an unlikely friendship blossom into more? I couldn’t put it down, and nor will you!” – Jennifer Nugée, editor

“This beautifully written novel will have you gripped right from the start.” – Melissa Hoskins, author

“A riveting peek into a time of Mexico’s history where huge change, excitement and danger are on the horizon. Hugely engaging characters really pulled me in.” – Starred Review

“I fell in love with the characters and laughed and cried with them all the way on their exciting journey. They feel like my best friends. It was wonderful to read about this little-known part of Mexican history that happened before the revolution. I cannot wait to read what will happen next.” – Starred Review

“A book that will make you weep, rage, and fall in love with an array of characters so realistic they might step off the page. An excellent novel.” – Jessica Leather, author

 

 

Excerpt

 

Don Lorenzo stared at her for a moment, the little cake frozen halfway to his mouth. Then he cleared his throat, placed it down in front of him, and regarded her with polite concern.

“I can see that you have been deeply moved by these tragic events, señorita. Your compassion does you justice. I beg your forgiveness for my tactless words. It has been a long time since we had a woman around the house to remind us to engage our hearts as well as our heads in such matters. Of course, our top priority at the moment is ensuring that this sort of thing never happens again. We are putting every effort into establishing the cause of the explosion, although at present we believe that one of the workers must have laid down a little too much dynamite, and the resulting blast was more than the walls of the tunnel could take.”

“A tragic case of simple human error,” agreed Don Raul, watching her over the rim of his wine glass. “Some poor idiota got his calculations wrong. Drunk, I expect. Many of the workers are dreadful for that, you know. We’ve even had to install guards to keep a check on it.”

“Those workers were not drunk!” she objected, outraged. How dare Don Raul try to turn this back on the workers, to make out as though the accident had been their own fault. “They were following your orders, Don Raul, from your last visit to the mines. You told them they had to use more dynamite to get the gold out faster or risk having their pay cut for not meeting their targets. They all told you it was too dangerous, but you forced them to do it anyway. Didn’t you? Didn’t you?”

There was a stunned silence around the table. Esperanza looked to Don Lorenzo, who was staring open-mouthed at his son with an expression of horror. For the first time, the idea crossed her mind that perhaps the old man had no idea about what had really been going on.

“Raul?” he said shakily, breaking the silence. “Is there any truth in these accusations?”

“Of course not, Father. The señorita must be mistaken. She has been listening to vicious, idle gossip and nothing more.” Raul gave a harsh but unconvincing laugh and glared at Esperanza with ice-cold venom. “This is why ladies should stay out of business, señorita. They have a tendency to believe every rumour they hear and allow their emotions to rule their heads.”

“It’s better to be like that than to have no emotions at all and not care that your actions have destroyed hundreds of lives,” she spat. “Have you even spared a moment to think about them? To consider their families?”

“No. Nor will I,” he snapped, standing up to face her. “There’s nothing to be gained from hanging on to the past, señorita. Life moves on, and so must we.”

“The thing is, though, life doesn’t always move on for everyone, does it?” she raged, angry tears springing to her eyes and her voice trembling with fury. She was on her feet now, too incensed to stay still. “Men lost their lives last week. Wives lost their husbands, children lost their fathers—all for the sake of that gold. And you sit here, bragging about your mines as though those people don’t matter? Did you think I would be impressed?”

She leaned across the table, and he did the same, the two of them facing each other down.

“I’ll tell you what you can do to impress me, señor. Don’t bother using your filthy gold to make silly little baubles for me. Give it to some of those families whose lives you’ve destroyed. Pay some of those medical bills they’re now crippled with or feed the hungry children you’ve deprived of their fathers. Explain to them how they’re supposed to move on with their lives and believe me, they will be happy to tell you exactly what they think of the drunken idiota who got his calculations wrong.”

 

 

Trailer

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Rachel Le Mesurier is the author of ARTIE’S COURAGE, A HERO’S HOPE, and SOFIA’S FREEDOM. In the MUSICIAN’S PROMISE SERIES, she wants to challenge harmful stereotypes, proving that women can be powerful heroes and that men should never feel ashamed to express their emotions. She aims to write characters that readers can identify and empathize with, who make the reader think, laugh, and cry as they share their adventures.

 

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Synopsis

 

Two decades after his family suffers trauma, Max, the loving but remorsefully jealous older brother of a musical genius, chronicles the story of his dysfunctional family.

In mid-1970’s New York City, Max’s sister, Kayla, vaulted to fame as a piano prodigy, holding both audiences and her family in awe with her uncanny musical ability and warm smile. But deep within her lie the seeds of destruction: the paranoid fear of being stalked by a murderous fan. This mystery explores themes of family dysfunction, mental illness, and the long-term effects of family secrets going untold.

 

 

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Read for free with Kindle Unlimited

 

 

Excerpt

 

Your Aunt Kayla was a piano prodigy of the highest degree. The term is thrown around way too much to describe any child who displays virtuosity on a musical instrument at an early age. Most of those deemed “prodigy” are talented, yes, but don’t really have the inner drive to propel them to greatness. Years pass, they may study their instrument with dedication, but almost inevitably their talent no longer seems extraordinary, and few can pursue music as a career. Kayla was one of the very few who deserved the term “prodigy.”

So. Town Hall. …

The publicity was phenomenal, with feature articles appearing in the main New York papers in the days leading up to the event. The family had been instructed by Herr Lindorf – Kayla’s teacher at Bellington – to refuse all requests for interviews of Kayla, because, he said in his heavy German accent, it would make the intrigue much greater when Kayla did perform. But Lindorf himself, if not the entire Bellington hierarchy, gave a lot of information to the media and passed out copies of the professional photographs Bellington had made. The shots selected for the campaign portrayed Kayla as a little girl, making her look perhaps only nine. She’d been posed in frilly costumes, which I knew Kayla hated. They’d stood her next to a grand piano, which looked large enough to engulf her. The articles stressed that Kayla Covo’s first full-length recital would be a miracle coming to fruition.

If the publicity bothered Kayla, she didn’t let on. It bothered everyone else in our family, though. Dad grumbled that he didn’t see why his little girl had to be plastered on posters at the entrance to the subway and likened the Bellington publicity to Nazi propaganda. Mom worried Kayla would be overwhelmed by all the attention. My own unhappiness stemmed from the realization that my influence in Kayla’s life was waning quickly, but my concern was more than outweighed by excitement and anticipation. I couldn’t wait for my sister to show the world what an outstanding pianist she was.

All Kayla would say is “I’ve got much more practice to do so everything is perfect.”

She spoke of perfection often, and, if there’s such a thing as perfection in music, then Kayla came as close to it as a human being can come. From the moment your Aunt Kayla walked on stage to warm applause, she held the audience in her hand and never let go. Her smile said it all. She loved being in front of the hundreds of people lucky enough to attend and exuded an air of extreme confidence, nothing feigned. She knew her power and her abilities. After a modest bow, she took her seat at the Steinway, placed her hands in her lap, and looked down, her gaze beneath the keyboard. All accomplished pianists pause to gather their thoughts before beginning, but Kayla had the habit of stretching the silence almost beyond endurance. While we waited at Town Hall, not a cough could be heard. Then Kayla started to play, and the wait had been well worth it.

We sat on the right side of the audience, to have the best view of Kayla’s face. From her look, we knew she’d transported herself well beyond the recital hall into a realm only she could occupy. I’d seen that look many times, a look I interpreted as complete oneness with the music. I’d often asked her to explain where she’d been in those moments, and she could never really say, but it was always clear she’d been in the music and part of the music at the same time.

 

 

Trailer

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Following a 40-year career as a trial attorney in Washington, DC., Bruce J. Berger turned full-time to writing, earned an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from American University, and now teaches there. His first novel, The Flight of the Veil, is a sequel to The Music Stalker and achieved critical success, winning a Bronze Award in General Fiction from Illumination Christian Book Awards. Kirkus Reviews called The Flight of the Veil “A well-crafted tale about trauma and miracles. Get it.” He has also published more than 50 stories and poems in a wide variety of literary journals.

 

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Synopsis

 

We all want happiness and success and keep chasing both throughout our lives. However, only 4-5 per cent of people in the entire world end up becoming successful and from among them less than 1 per cent become successful and happy. What is the secret power that propels these people to the top of the pyramid? What makes them who they are?

Author Megha Bajaj set out on a journey and visited different parts of the country and discovered 11 such individuals who were truly happy and successful. She realized that in a country of 1.3 billion people these individuals had one thing in common—they had the rare ability to turn an ordinary event into a significant one and then turn that into a ‘breakthrough’.

They seize the moment when there is nothing perceptible to seize; they look at the present and create a future; they realize that the Supreme Power is always there, only if one believes unfailingly, surrenders completely and works tirelessly. Meet Nitin, Asha, Arun, Chitra, Sandeep, Kanni, Uvaraj, Guru, Kavish, Mukesh, Praburam and Sushiil.

Even during the worst possible time the world has ever seen, the book will put you on the path to many wonderful things and a life full of contentment.

 

 

Amazon.in * Amazon.com

 

 

Read this book:

• If you want to find excitement in the ordinary;
• To realize that you need to keep moving regardless of success or failure;
• To ask yourself: When was the last time you did something for the first time;
• To understand why each human being is a co-creator of his or her own destiny;
• To find out why even the sky is not enough for your imagination;
• To accept the fact that life will keep jumping at you and keep saying, ‘Surprise!’;
• To learn how to get rid of desperation and let everything just happen;
• To realize that results may be delayed, but never denied;
• To discover that the answer to all your troubles lies within you;
• To keep expanding your Life Mantra;
• To keep learning.

 

 

Trailer

 

 

 

 

 

 

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About the Author

 

Megha Bajaj is a Bestselling author of the book, The Breakthrough (Rupa). In the past, she has penned several acclaimed and award-winning books including Thank You, Cancer (Hay House), I Inspire (Jaico) and Happiness in the Age of Ambition (Rupa). She has written over a thousand articles for internationally acclaimed magazines and newspapers. Megha is a well-loved speaker and has been invited to premier institutes to share her insights. She was the youngest speaker at The World Confluence of Spirituality and Humanity for two consecutive years. Megha is also writing film scripts for prominent production houses and best knows herself as an ardent seeker.

 

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