PRINGLE PRAWN

 

by

 

Michael Scott Clifton

 

Contemporary Urban Fantasy / Fairies / Humor

Publisher: Book Liftoff

Date of Publication: September 19, 2023

Number of Pages: 310 pages

 

Scroll down for Giveaway!

 

 

 

 

Move over Tinker Bell. There’s a new fairy in town!

Ben’s luck is changing. He has his iconic VW bus, a hot, wealthy girlfriend, and he’s managed to buy an old fixer-upper in an upscale neighborhood—just the thing to convince his girlfriend’s influential father that he’s husband material. But his new home has a secret, and when Ben opens a mysterious grandfather clock, he finds himself dropped into a magical land. There he meets Pringle, a six-inch prawn with a supercharged attitude and a pouchful of fairy dust. She saves his life, and when Ben returns to his world, Pringle returns with him.

Pringle’s adjustment to the modern world is a hilarious series of incidents that completely disrupt Ben’s life. When Russian mobsters and a vengeful HOA president attempt to hijack Ben’s life, Pringle zooms to the rescue—a pinch here, a pinch there, nothing a little fairy dust can’t fix.

But it’s when Pringle begins to grow that things really get interesting, because as Pringle’s size increases, so do her feelings for Ben. Ultimately, Pringle must decide whether to return to her world—or follow her heart and stay with Ben.

 

 

 

Amazon

 

Read for Free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

 

 

This fantasy novel was quite a surprise and a delight. This genre isn’t one of my go-to reads, but this author has a way of describing the worlds he builds in such detail that you feel like you are right there in the middle of the novel.

While primarily set in Tyler, Texas, there is an alternate world filled with magical creatures and prawns. What is a prawn, you might ask? It is the same as a fairy, or similar anyway. Pringle is a bit naive, but then, in her world, she doesn’t run into many issues that she can’t handle. However, being in our world, everything is new, and she has so many questions. I could only imagine Ben’s frustrations at having to describe anything and everything. What might be second nature to us is a whole new experience to this prawn. I don’t know how to get into her love for sugar and devouring several bags. I can only imagine Ben’s reaction upon discovering what she had done.

I was drawn into this story, rooting for Ben and Pringle, and on edge regarding the trafficking part of the novel. This isn’t a trigger for me, but I was concerned how it was going to be resolved in a safe manner for everyone. I loved the resolution and Pringle’s part.

There were so many witty moments that had me laughing out loud. I didn’t expect the level of humor I found, which was quite refreshing. There is even the “Karen” of the HOA who lives next door to the house Ben purchased. Some situations with her will make you question living in an HOA, but humorous at the same time. You can thank Pringle’s magic for those scenes.

Several supporting characters, including Archie, an eccentric millionaire, and Hank, the antique store owner, are worth mentioning. These two take everything in stride, which is also an adventure for them. I love the friendship that develops between these three men.

I have to admit that I didn’t want the story to end. While the story does have a complete ending, there is more than I wanted to know. However, I won’t ask my questions here since some of that could give away the ending.

This is an amazing story, and we give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Multi-award-winning author Michael Scott Clifton lives in Mount Pleasant, Texas, with his wife, Melanie. An avid gardener, rapacious reader, and movie junkie, his books contain facets of all the genres he enjoys—action, adventure, magic, fantasy, and romance. His fantasy novels, The Janus Witch, and the Conquest of the Veil series, (The Open Portal, Escape from Wheel, A Witch’s Brew, and Cavern of the Veil Queen) all received 5-Stars from the prestigious Readers Favorite Book Reviews. The Open Portal has been honored with a Feathered Quill Book Finalist Award. In addition, his YA novel Edison Jones and The Anti-Grav Elevator received a Feathered Quill Book Award Bronze Medal. Two of his short stories have earned Gold Medals, with “Edges of Gray” winning the Texas Authors Contest, and “The End Game” winning the Northeast Texas Writer’s Organization Contest. Professional credits include published articles in the Texas Study of Secondary Education Magazine.

 

 Website * Facebook * X (Twitter) * Instagram

 

Newsletter * YouTube * LinkedIn

 

  Goodreads * Amazon Author Page

 

 

 

 

 

 

GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!

 

THREE WINNERS

 

1st Prize: autographed copy of Pringle Prawn + $10 Amazon gift card

 

2^nd & 3^rd Prize: Kindle copy

 

(US only; ends midnight, CDT, 10/20/23)

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

 

 

Visit the Lone Star Literary Life Tour Page

 

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

 

or visit the blogs directly:

 

10/10/23	The Book’s Delight	Review
10/10/23	The Clueless Gent	Review
10/11/23	Book Fidelity	Review
10/11/23	LSBBT Blog	BONUS Stop
10/12/23	Reading by Moonlight	Review
10/12/23	StoreyBook Reviews	Review
10/13/23	Bibliotica	Review
10/13/23	Hall Ways Blog	BONUS Stop
10/14/23	Boys’ Mom Reads	Review
10/15/23	The Real World According to Sam	Review
10/16/23	It’s Not All Gravy	Review
10/17/23	Forgotten Winds	Review
10/17/23	Shelf Life Blog	BONUS Stop
10/18/23	The Plain-Spoken Pen	Review
10/18/23	Chapter Break Book Blog	Review
10/19/23	Carpe Diem Chronicles	Review
10/19/23	Rox Burkey Blog	Review

 

 

 

 

 

blog tour services provided by

 

 

 

 

The story of Kneaders Bakery and Cafe began with Colleen and Gary Worthington baking traditional European bread in their kitchen. After mastering old-world bread-baking techniques and testing countless recipes, Colleen, Gary, and their growing team of bakers moved onto their signature artisan bread.

But bread is just the beginning. Kneaders is well-known for their mouth-watering soups, sandwiches, and breakfast as well as their delectable pies, cakes, and pastries. For the first time, home cooks have access to popular recipes such as Overnight Chunky Cinnamon French Toast, Artichoke Portobello Soup, and Blueberry Sour Cream Pie. Beautiful and appetizing photos accompany each recipe.

What began in Colleen Worthington’s kitchen a little more than twenty-five years ago has grown into a successful family-owned bakery and cafe business with time-tested, delicious recipes gathered in this one-of-a-kind cookbook.

 

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Bookshop * BAM * Walmart * Deseret Books

 

 

Review

 

I have to admit that I have never heard of Kneaders Bakery and Cafe, but that is only because they do not have a location in my part of Texas. I did discover they have locations in San Antonio, so next time I am in that neck of the woods I plan to check them out.

I am a sucker for a cookbook with a multitude of breakfast options, along with soups and sandwiches. I tend to get in a rut when it comes to sandwiches, so I always like a little inspiration. There are also several french toast recipes that I know my family would enjoy, so that will have to be a weekend treat. While I can’t get their bread here to make some of the recipes, any good thick bread should work, depending on the recipe.

A fun recipe in the cookie section is the Gingerbread Mummy Cookies. This is a twist on a gingerbread cookie where the icing makes them look like a mummy. Great for the Halloween holiday. There is even one called a Spider Cookie that you might recognize as a different name, Haystacks.

Outside of the multitude of dishes, the family shares their story and history. I enjoyed learning about the family behind Kneaders, their hopes, dreams, and history. There are stories sprinkle throughout with the recipes too. It is more than just a cookbook; it is a story of the family, their dreams and their struggles.

This is one cookbook that will used quite often for gatherings with friends and family.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

More than twenty-five years ago, Colleen Worthington rolled up her sleeves and built a baking empire out of her own kitchen, which provided a place for her kids to learn hard work, dedication, and creativity.

Together with her husband, Gary, the Worthingtons pursued their interest in scratch-made artisan breads by training at both the American Institute of Baking and San Francisco Baking Institute. They worked closely with Lehi Roller Mills to develop an exclusive flour mixture and located an ideal, traditional Italian hearth-stone oven. Their first bakery opened in Orem, Utah, in 1997, where they served European hearth breads. Within a few months, they expanded to offer a variety of sandwiches, soups, salads, and pastries. The café also sells a variety of home and seasonal décor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE COLDEST WINTER I EVER SPENT

 

by

 

Ann Jacobus

 

YA / Contemporary / Suicide & Family Issues

 

Publisher: Carolrhoda Lab

 

Date of Publication: March 7, 2023

 

Number of Pages: 352 pages

 

Audiobook: 9 hours, 11 minutes

 

 

Scroll down for Giveaway!

 

 

 

 

Eighteen-year-old Del is in a healthier place than she was a year and a half ago: She’s sober, getting treatment for her depression and anxiety, working in her Aunt Fran’s San Francisco art gallery, and volunteering at a suicide-prevention hotline. Her own suicide attempt is in the past and living with her beloved aunt has helped her see a future for herself.

But when Aunt Fran is diagnosed with terminal cancer, Del’s equilibrium is shattered. She struggles to help care for her aunt—while also dealing with a crush, her looming first semester at college, and her shifts at the crisis line. After Aunt Fran asks for her help with a mind-boggling final request, Del must confront her own demons and rethink everything she thought she knew about life and death.

 

 

 

Bookshop.org │Amazon │ Indiebound

 

B&N │ Books-A-Million

 

 

 

 

This book sent me on an emotional roller coaster. There is so much to unpack in this book, not to mention how it might impact the reader.

Death is never an easy subject, and this book has it in spades. Between Del working as a volunteer at the Suicide Prevention line, her Aunt Fran battling cancer, and even Del’s own rocky past, I felt like the weight of the world was on Del’s shoulders, and the struggle was real. I appreciated the work that Del was doing to manage her issues while helping Fran in the last stages of her life. For someone who is only 18, she handled everything remarkably well. Or as well as could be expected. She wasn’t perfect, but then who is? But she learned a lot about herself and what she could handle being thrown at her.

While I admired Del for making strides in her life, I was very disappointed in her father. He avoided the situation with Fran, his sister, until the very last minute. But it was his way of coping with losing someone that he cared about. It is a message to us to not avoid the hard things in life and to do the uncomfortable no matter how hard it is.

There is a bright side, and that is Nick. While the relationship and interactions between Del and Nick are not always smooth and happy, it does provide real-world experiences for Del and how to handle the ups and downs without giving in to her past addictions. I loved the addition of Noor, his service dog. But then, I am a sucker for dogs in any capacity.

The book addresses an important topic, dying with dignity. At the time of this book, California was not a state that allowed this, but they are now. This is a very controversial topic, but it is an important one.

This book was an emotional one for me near the end as Fran entered her last days. It reminded me of losing my father, so the tears were flowing. It was cathartic, and I could feel for Del and all she was experiencing at that point.

While the book has trigger issues, if that does not impact you, pick up this book. We give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ann Jacobus is the author of YA novels The Coldest Winter I Ever Spent and Romancing the Dark in the City of Light. She earned an MFA in writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts and has published articles, essays, short fiction, and poems. She teaches writing and presents at workshops and conferences. A former suicide crisis line counselor, she’s a mental health advocate and speaks to teens about writing and suicide prevention both. Born in Texas and a life-long Tex-Mex addict, she and her family divide their time between California and Massachusetts.

 

Website ◆ Linktree ◆ Facebook

 

  Pinterest ◆ Goodreads ◆ X (Twitter) ◆ LinkedIn

 

 

 

 

GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!

 

TWO WINNERS:

 

Each receives a signed hardcover copy + San Francisco swag

 

(US only; ends midnight, CDT, 10/6/23)

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

 

 

 

Visit the Lone Star Literary Life Tour Page

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

or visit the blogs directly:

 

09/26/23	StoreyBook Reviews	Review
09/26/23	Hall Ways Blog	BONUS Stop
09/27/23	Boys’ Mom Reads	Audiobook Review
09/27/23	LSBBT Blog	BONUS Stop
09/28/23	Forgotten Winds	Excerpt
09/29/23	The Plain-Spoken Pen	Review
09/30/23	Shelf Life Blog	Author Interview
10/01/23	Bibliotica	Playlist
10/02/23	Chapter Break Book Blog	Audiobook Review
10/03/23	Book Fidelity	Deleted Scene
10/04/23	The Real World According to Sam	Review
10/05/23	Jennie Reads	Review

 

 

 

 

blog tour services provided by

 

 

 

 

 

Secrets and Scallywags: Magical Mystery Book Club
Paranormal Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Setting – A Small Oceanfront Community
Independently published (August 10, 2023)
Digital Print length ‏ : ‎ 256 pages

 

Synopsis

 

When this club selects a book, magic happens. They become the main characters in the story when the mystery comes to life.

This month’s book selection takes them to a charming island community that’s abuzz over a mysterious boat that washed ashore. Rumor has it that it’s the same pirate boat that sunk a year ago in the bay. The one that supposedly sank with treasure aboard.

When the club meets the ghosts of the men from the boat, they learn the astonishing secrets of the treasure. These ghosts can’t move on until it is found.

Can the motley group find the treasure and free the ghosts? They better, since it’s the only way they can exit the book and get back home.

 

 

Amazon

 

Read for Free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

Review

 

This is such a fun series, and if you haven’t picked up any of the books, you need to do that, and soon! Make sure to start with the first book to understand how this all came to be for Glo and Paige.

The concept for this cozy series is unique and brings in paranormal aspects. I love how they get thrown into a book and have to solve the crime. The characters are all unique and blend well together. I have to laugh at how much these characters also love to eat. I swear they are eating all of the time!

This plot is a little different than some of the others as it brings in pirates, and the crime isn’t really a murder that they are trying to solve. I enjoyed the twists and turns and how this story came to its conclusion. I thought that one of the characters might stay behind in the book, and I was surprised when this one did not. You might come to the same conclusions, so I hope I haven’t spoiled anything for the reader.

One of these days, Frank and Zell are going to spill the beans on how long this book club has been meeting and how long they have been participants. I am very curious what their background is with this book club. I also like how the right new member always appears. It is definitely a merry band of book lovers and crime solvers.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Elizabeth Pantley is the international bestselling author of The No-Cry Sleep Solution and twelve other books for parents, published in over twenty languages.

She simultaneously writes well-loved cozy mysteries: The Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic book series and the Magical Mystery Book Club series.

Elizabeth lives in the Pacific Northwest, the gorgeous inspiration for the setting in many of her books.

 

NoCrySolution​.com | Facebook

 

Instagram |  Website | Amazon

 

 

 

 

Giveaway

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

SOMETHING BORROWED, SOMETHING 90% DARK

 

Bean to Bar Mysteries, #6

 

by

 

Amber Royer

 

Cozy Culinary Mystery

Publisher: Golden Tip Press

Date of Publication: September 12, 2023

Number of Pages: 288 pages

 

Scroll down for Giveaway!

 

 

 

 

Felicity Koerber’s bean to bar chocolate shop on Galveston’s historic Strand is hosting the friends and family coming into town for her best friend Autumn’s wedding. As matron of honor, Felicity has a ton of tasks to complete – including making chocolates for the gift bags. She doesn’t have time to solve another murder. But when one of the bridesmaids becomes a prime suspect in the death of a visiting real estate agent, Felicity has to put her detecting skills to use again to keep the wedding plans from getting derailed.

She’s already nervous about the impending deadline she’s given herself to finally choose between her two love interests – and figuring out where life goes once she makes her choice. But add in a missing Pygmy goat and a new coffee shop that wants to partner with her, and she’s frazzled.

She begins to discover that not everything is as it seems among the wedding guests. Can she handle the wedding preparations, pull off turning her shop into a concert venue, and unmask the killer before anyone else dies?

 

 

Amazon

 

 

 

 

Chocolate, a goat, and murder…a trifecta! The icing on the cake? Felicity chooses between Arlo and Logan!

This series has always intrigued me, from the Bean to Bar concept, the characters, and the setting, Galveston, Texas. I do think I gain at least 5 lbs every time I read one of these books and all of the delicious food and treats that are described. I also enjoy reading about how cacao is processed to become chocolate and the different flavor notes based on where it is grown.

The series has been leading up to Autumn’s wedding, and Felicity is the maid of honor. As is with most weddings, something is bound to go wrong. Actually, in this case, several things go wrong, but Felicity is there to help resolve the issues. It is nice to have small towns where neighbors are happy to help out when plans go awry.

There are a few mysteries/cases in the book to be solved. However, do they tie together? Possibly. I laughed when Arlo and Logan made a bet over who would solve their case first. Only dinner, but what an incentive to find the answers in record time. I have to admit, I had some suspicions about a certain character, and it was nice to see I was right to suspect them because they were up to no good. I just wasn’t 100% sure about all of the details of why they did what they did.

I loved the goat that made an appearance in the book Princess Buttercup. Was this a nod to The Princess Bride movie? Indubitably. Ok, maybe or maybe not, but I couldn’t resist. While a goat might be a fun pet, it can also be a menace, so for now, I’ll admire someone else’s goat.

I was glad to see that the love triangle was put to rest at the end of this book. It is never clear who she will choose, but I was very happy with the choice, and she received some excellent advice from her friends about what to look for in her future. There was even a surprise twist that I didn’t expect once she made her choice. I can only imagine what that means for the next book in this series. You’ll have to read the book, no spoilers here.

Overall, I really enjoy this series. If you haven’t read any of the books, I recommend starting at the beginning to understand the characters and what they mean to each other.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amber Royer writes the Chocoverse comic telenovela-style foodie-inspired space opera series and the Bean to Bar Mysteries. She is also the author of Story Like a Journalist: a Workbook for Novelists, which boils down her writing knowledge into an actionable plan involving over 100 worksheets to build a comprehensive story plan for your novel. She also teaches creative writing and is an author coach.

Amber and her husband live in the DFW area, where you can often find them hiking or taking landscape/architecture/wildlife photographs.  If you are very nice to Amber, she might make you cupcakes.  Chocolate cupcakes, of course! Amber blogs about creative writing techniques and all things chocolate.

 

 Website  ◆  Blog ◆  Facebook  ◆  Twitter

 

  Amazon  ◆  Goodreads  ◆ Instagram ◆  YouTube

 

 

 

 

 

 

GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!

 

TWO WINNERS:

 

Each receives an autographed paperback copy.

 

(US only; ends midnight, CDT, 9/21/23)

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

 

 

 

 

Visit the Lone Star Literary Life Tour Page

 

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

 

or visit the blogs directly:

 

09/11/23	Boys’ Mom Reads	Playlist
09/11/23	Carpe Diem Chronicles	Review
09/11/23	Hall Ways Blog	BONUS Stop
09/12/23	Shelf Life Blog	Guest Post
09/12/23	Forgotten Winds	Review
09/12/23	LSBBT Blog	BONUS Stop
09/13/23	Sybrina’s Book Blog	Top Ten List
09/13/23	StoreyBook Reviews	Review
09/14/23	Chapter Break Book Blog	Scrapbook Page
09/14/23	The Real World According to Sam	Review
09/15/23	The Plain-Spoken Pen	Review
09/15/23	Rox Burkey Blog	Review

 

 

 

 

blog tour services provided by

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

Have you ever felt like one of the least of these?

What do you know of the woman at the well? What led her to the well that day – the exact day Jesus would be there? What of the lepers, the blind man, the woman who dried Jesus’ feet with her hair? What of the Centurion who said at the cross, “Surely this was the Son of God”?

Stories of Jesus. You have heard them since you were young. But what about the parts that you’ve never heard?

The stories that need to be told? The stories you need to hear?

 

 

Amazon * Audible

 

Read for Free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

Review

 

Have you ever read the stories in the bible and wondered about the backstory of the different men and women that are portrayed? How did they get to where they were? What drove them to seek out Jesus for healing or forgiveness? What was their life like before meeting the Messiah?

While we will never really know the stories of these people, this author has created a potential life for them. I really enjoyed the tales, and it makes each story become alive and have more meaning than the little that we read in the bible. And let’s be honest, the language is what always throws me off, and I don’t understand some of it anyway! But each story makes me feel a part of those times, and my understanding and compassion is increased. These are relatable stories no matter the times we live in today.

You don’t have to be religious or have read the bible to enjoy these short stories. I think they will inspire almost anyone. The stories are short and can be read quickly, but you might want to take your time to savor the words.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Kathryn is a lover of words and a bearer of mood swings. When she feels the need to inspire, she writes a Christian fiction book. If a mystery is waiting to be uncovered, she finds it. If something otherworldly is finding its way through her fingertips, she travels to it.

Kathryn has been a reader since she was a young child. Although she took classes in writing as a teen, it wasn’t something she really thought would become her career until she was married. And even then, it took a few more years for something worthy enough to publish to manifest itself.

Kathryn’s first book was published in 2002. Since then, many other books have found their way out of her head, depending on the sort of day she is having. Kathryn is a journalist, a teacher, a mentor, an editor, a publisher, and a marketer.

Her greatest joy, other than writing her next book, is meeting with readers and authors who enjoy the craft of writing as much as she does.

 

Blog * Goodreads * Facebook * LinkedIn * Twitter * YouTube

 

 

 

FACING THE ENEMY

 

by

 

DiAnn Mills

 

 

Christian Fiction / Suspense / Romance

Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers

Date of Publication: September 5, 2023

Number of Pages: 352 pages

 

 

Scroll down for Giveaway!

 

 

 

 

When the long-awaited reunion between Risa and her brother, Trenton, ends in tragedy, Risa is riddled with guilt, unable to cope with the responsibility she feels over his death. On leave from the FBI, Risa returns to her former career as an English teacher at a local college, only to see her past and present collide when one of her students, Carson Mercury, turns in an assignment that reads like an eyewitness account of her brother’s murder, with details never revealed publicly.

Alarmed by Carson’s inside knowledge of Trenton’s death, Risa reaches out to her former partner at the FBI. Special Agent Gage Patterson has been working a string of baby kidnappings, but he agrees to help look into Carson’s background. Risa and Gage soon discover their cases might be connected as a string of high-value thefts have occurred at properties where security systems were installed by Carson’s stepfather and children have gone missing. There’s a far more sinister plot at play than they ever imagined, and innocent lives are in danger.

 

 

Buy the Book

 

 

 

 

 

I love a good mystery, especially when there is intrigue, romance, and faith all rolled into the story.

This one covers a more sensitive subject, child abduction and other crimes against children. As the story dives deeper into the dark belly of crime, it brings to life how much that I don’t know or am aware of in our own world. This may be a fictional story, but it could be true, which is very sad. Crimes against children should never happen. So grab hold of your children and keep them safe.

I came to admire Risa for many reasons. She is analytical, cares about her family, and believes in what she is doing for her career. So when her brother is killed by mistake, it sends her into a tailspin. She does not handle the grief very well and begins to doubt her faith in God. I appreciated her struggles and coming to terms with the situation. Everyone handles grief differently, and she is no different. I appreciated the chapter with a counselor. It just reinforces that it is okay to ask for help when you need it.

I enjoyed the romance between Risa and Gage. They both repress their feelings for one another until finally giving in and admitting they love one another. This brings out the protector in Gage, perhaps more so due to his feelings for Risa. This is a good and a bad thing! They are both FBI, and you will discover in various situations that Risa has no problems taking care of herself.

Watching the mystery come together confirmed some of my suspicions but blew me away in other respects because there were several aspects that I didn’t consider in trying to solve the crime. I had a feeling that several paths were going to merge, but the “how” was unknown until it happened. The story is complex, and I admire the author for handling all of the pieces in the right way.

This is another winner in my book, and we give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She is a storyteller and creates action-packed, suspense-filled novels to thrill readers. Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests.  DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, and International Thriller Writers. DiAnn continues her passion for helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.

 

 

 

 Website ║ Facebook ║ Twitter ║ Blog

 

Instagram║ Goodreads ║ LinkedIn

 

 YouTube ║ Pinterest ║ BookBub

 

 

 

 

 

GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!

 

FOUR WINNERS:

 

Each winner gets choice of B&N or Amazon $25 gift card.

 

(US only; ends midnight, CDT, 9/1/23)

 

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

 

 

 

 

Visit the Lone Star Literary Life Tour Page

 

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

 

or visit the blogs directly:

 

 

08/22/23	Hall Ways Blog	Notable Quotables
08/22/23	The Book’s Delight	Review
08/23/23	Chapter Break Book Blog	Guest Post
08/23/23	Librariel Book Adventures	Review
08/23/23	LSBBT Blog	BONUS Stop
08/24/23	Stories Under Starlight	Guest Post
08/24/23	Forgotten Winds	Review
08/25/23	The Real World According to Sam	Review
08/26/23	The Clueless Gent	Review
08/27/23	Bibliotica	Guest Post
08/28/23	Reading by Moonlight	Review
08/28/23	Shelf Life Blog	Guest Post
08/29/23	StoreyBook Reviews	Review
08/30/23	Rox Burkey Blog	Review
08/31/23	The Plain-Spoken Pen	Review
08/31/23	Boys’ Mom Reads	Review

 

 

 

 

 

blog tour services provided by

 

 

 

MUMENTOUS

 

Original Photos and Mostly-True Stories about Football,

Glue Guns, Moms, and a Supersized High School Tradition

That Was Born Deep in the Heart of Texas

 

by

 

Amy J. Schultz

 

 

Nonfiction / Photo-Driven Memoir / Women’s History / Pop Culture / Texana

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

Page Count: 178 pages

Publication Date: April 25, 2023

 

 

Scroll down for a giveaway!

 

 

 

 

The closest you’ll ever get to seeing someone actually wear their heart on their sleeve is in Texas, every fall, at the local high school homecoming game.

They’re called homecoming mums. They are as bodacious as football, as irresistible as a juicy rumor, and as deep as a momma’s love. Over a hundred years ago when the custom began, mum was short for chrysanthemum, a typical corsage that boys gave to girls before taking them to the big football game. But through the decades, mum went from a simple abbreviation to a complicated shorthand for an eye-popping tradition that’s as ingrained in the culture as it is confounding to outsiders.

 

Through her original photography and collection of stories from across and beyond the Lone Star State, Amy J. Schultz takes us deep in the heart of mum country. You’ll meet kids who wear them, parents who buy them, and critics who decry them as just another example of consumerism gone wild. But mostly, you’ll discover that just like every ritual which stands the test of time, someone is keeping the tradition alive. Someone like Mom.

 

 

 

 

Amazon │ Powell’s Books │ Bookshop.org

 

Barnes & Noble │ Target

 

 

 

 

I have been waiting for this book ever since the author had a Mum exhibit in Arlington at a local museum. Attending high school in Texas, I am very familiar with the Mum tradition. However, this was some 40 years ago, and mums in those days were NOTHING as I see now. I am sure you see stories on the news channels highlighting how much bigger and bolder they have become. In fact, I saw this meme, and it is almost scarily true.

 

 

 

Despite the newsworthiness of the Texas mum, this book shares with us a history of how it came to be, stories from moms, students, and more. This book is chockful of stories, old and new, men and women, and their stories of homecoming and mums. You might have your own mum story to share. And you can do so at the back of this book on one of the several blank pages. I might just have to see if I can find any photos from high school during this time.  I will say that my mum came from the local florist since DYI was not big at that time. Or it was just getting started. This was the mid-80s. Or it might have just been the small town we lived in at the time. Mums were also a reasonable size and didn’t require more than a few pins to hold them on.

But more than anything, this book is about traditions and how it brings mothers and daughters together over a shared project. While I don’t think any other state will ever have mums to the proportions that are here in Texas…because everything is bigger in Texas…it does make one take notice. It may seem crazy, but what a wonderful crazy ride to be on.

Pick up the book, enjoy the stories, marvel over the photographs, and perhaps relive a few of your own memories. Or maybe they are your child’s memories. Either way, this book is a memory book for all to see.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amy J. Schultz is an author and award-winning photographer who explores unique aspects of modern culture that hide in plain sight. When she isn’t talking about homecoming mums, Amy is writing, taking photos, working on other creative projects, traveling, snort-laughing, or vacuuming up dog fur.

 

Website ◆ Instagram ◆ Amazon ◆ BookBub

 

Goodreads ◆ Newsletter ◆ Facebook

 

 

 

 

 

GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!

 

TWO WINNERS:

 

First Prize: signed hardback copy + enamel pin; Second Prize: eBook + enamel pin

 

(US only; ends midnight, CST, 9/8/23)

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

 

 

 

Visit the Lone Star Literary Life Tour Page

 

For Participating blogs, added as they pop up.

 

 

blog tour services provided by

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Murder A La Mode (Coffee & Cream Cafe Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – New York
Gemma Halliday Publishing (August 8, 2023)
Digital – Number of Pages 230

 

Synopsis

 

From author Lena Gregory comes a delicious new series that will warm your heart and leave you guessing until the very end…

When twenty-five-year-old Danika Delaney, black sheep of the Delaney clan, returns home to Long Island to take over Jimmie’s, her eccentric uncle’s old fashioned malt shop on eastern Long Island, she’s not exactly thrilled. But things start to look up when her uncle tells her she can do whatever she’d like with the shop, and it seems she might realize her dream of a small trendy café. That is, until she discovers the body of her ex-boyfriend’s estranged wife in a melted puddle of rocky road in the malt shop basement. With her two sidekicks, her sister and a good childhood friend, in tow, Dani searches for–or stumbles upon—one clue after another. But as she narrows down the suspect list, she realizes if she’s not careful she may end up in a puddle of her own…

 

 

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo

 

 

Review

 

This first book in a new series makes a big splash…or perhaps a dip into the cozy realm. Lena Gregory has written many series, and all have been quite enjoyable.

This new series features an ice cream shop (yum!) in New York. While this book doesn’t focus a lot on the ice cream portion of the business, I think that might come in future books.

Danika returns home after being told she is taking over her uncle’s shop. Could she have turned it down? Maybe, but she didn’t have much else going on in her life, so why not go back to your roots and try something new? What she doesn’t expect is to find her first boyfriend’s wife dead in the shop. While she never really intended to become a sleuth, she is thrown into it and actually does a remarkable job uncovering the clues and the killer. Well, almost. She nearly becomes a victim, but a special character saves the day. Read the book to find out who!

I really enjoyed Gwen, Danika’s friend. These two are quite a pair. I do have to question their judgment sometimes, but that is what good friends do, crazy things for one another.

I don’t know if I suspected this character was the killer. I don’t think I had any specific character in mind, but there were several I wish it would have been just because they are not nice characters. But you need that tension to make a story successful.

There could be a potential love triangle in future books. There is Danika’s first boyfriend, Luca, and the police detective, Jake Barlow. There were misunderstandings in the past between her and Luca, but does that mean she wants to restart a new relationship with him? Especially now that his wife is dead? Only time will tell if they will rekindle their relationship or just be friends.

I really enjoyed this start to a new series, and I can’t wait to see what she has planned for the makeover of the ice cream shop. I am hoping for more ice cream flavors and dishes to whet my appetite.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Lena grew up in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, but she recently traded in cold, damp, gray winters for the warmth and sunshine of Central Florida, where she now lives with her husband, three kids, son-in-law, and four dogs. Her hobbies include spending time with family, reading, and walking. Her love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn’t sleep through the night. She works full time as a writer and a freelance editor and is a member of Sisters in Crime.

 

 

Newsletter * Website * Facebook * Author Facebook

 

Twitter * Goodreads * Pinterest

 

 

Giveaway

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

A fun love story following two roommates and a no-strings pact that is put to the test after unforeseen circumstances leave them closer than ever.

The proposition is simple: if ER nurse Claire Harper and her roommate, firefighter Graham Scott, are still single by the time they’re forty, they’ll take the proverbial plunge together…as friends with benefits. Maybe it’s the wine, but in the moment, Claire figures the pact is a safe-enough deal, considering she hasn’t had much luck in love and he’s in no rush to settle down. Like, at all. Besides, there’s no way she could ever really fall for Graham and his thrill-seeking ways. Not after what happened to her father…

Just as things begin to heat up way before the proposed deadline, Graham’s injured in a serious rock-climbing accident—and he needs Claire’s help to heal. She’ll do whatever it takes to nurse him back to health…even if it means moving into Graham’s bed and putting up with his little dog who hates her. But with this no-strings arrangement taking a complicated turn, keeping “for now” from turning into “forever” isn’t as easy as they’d planned.

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Kobo * Bookshop

 

 

Review

 

This was such an entertaining story to read. While it is a trope we have read about before, there is a twist to this story, which is what makes it all that more fun to read.

Claire and Graham definitely have chemistry. They have just been denying it for years. But once they agree to be friends with benefits, things explode. However, an accident sidelines Graham, but this is where the story really picks up. They are put into a situation where they have to really get to know one another, which is really the foundation for any relationship.

I laughed a lot through this book. There are so many witty and snarky comments. But there is also some truth in the conversations, which is nice to balance out the story.

There is so much to love about this book. The sexy characters, witty dialogue, hard conversations, and Graham’s emails to Claire that she doesn’t know about because it was sent to an email address that she created when she was 12 and, needless to say, doesn’t use anymore. You will laugh at the email name! I really enjoyed watching these characters grow, work through past traumas, and create their own HEA.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Allison Ashley is a science geek who enjoys coffee, craft beer, baking, and love stories. When she’s not working at her day job as a clinical oncology pharmacist, she pens contemporary romances, usually with a medical twist. She lives in Oklahoma with her family and beloved rescue dog

 

Website * Instagram * Facebook * Twitter * TikTok