Synopsis

 

‘Gangs of Social Media’ is a mirror of our present situation all over the world. Our lives are taken over by Social Media and we are a slave to our apps. And one of the most poisonous side effects of social media is Fake News.

The story reveals how India’s one and only Forensic Cyber Psychologist, Professor Fabulous is summoned by the National Cyber Defense of India to hunt down the mastermind behind a cyber-attack on social media users who intentionally or unintentionally spread fake news.

In a desperate race against time, Professor Fabulous encounters online scammers, cyber hacktivist gangs, paid trolls, Social Media business executives, Politicians, Cybersecurity Start-ups, and a forgotten victim of fake news before the mastermind reveals his motive behind the cyber-attack.

Will this be the end of fake news or the end of social media itself?

 

A Deeper look into the book

 

Gangs of Social Media is a crime mystery thriller set-in present-day India. The story is of 12 hours when Mr. RAJPUT, Deputy National Cyber Defense Chief teams up with PROFESSOR FABLUOS who is India’s only Forensic Cyber Psychologist to hunt down the MASTERMIND of the worst cyber-attack of all time on SOCIAL MEDIA users who often indulge in spreading FAKE NEWS.

The story begins with three nameless youths in three metro cities of India, namely Bangalore, New Delhi, and Mumbai. All three of them heavily use WhatsApp, Facebook, and Twitter to do one and only one thing, to spread FAKE NEWS motivated by aimless emotion, blind political affiliation, and money. These three represent most social media users in India.

But that day, all the social media users who have been spreading fake news with whatever intention and without any consequences will have to pay a heavy price. A ransomware (computer virus) disguised in the form of a WhatsApp message or Facebook post or as a tweet is circulated and as usual, without thinking of consequences, the users start sharing this message. The moment the users shares any fake news, their device either phone, tablet, or laptop or computer will hang, and a message is displayed, demanding a ransom of Rs.1,00,000 to be paid within 12 hours as a consequence of sharing fake news. If users fail to pay the ransom, the devices will be destroyed and all the data on the device will be made public.

Professor Fabulous and Mr. Rajput have a bitter past, but they put their personal differences away to catch the culprit behind this cyber-attack. The story narration is sequential but keeps the reader guessing. The division of the book into 15 chapters with titles that almost foreshadow the narration that would happen in the chapter is marvelously and artistically done by the author.

Gangs of Social Media sounds dangerous but there is not much to be worried about as Professor Fabulous is fabulous at his job. But what happens at the end. Is the search over? Does Professor Fabulous get to the criminal? The book trades us through the process. It takes us from one person to the other. The end is what the reader must discover herself or himself. It’s the most surprising the realistic climax and leaves the reader with few open-ended questions.

 

 

Amazon India | Amazon USA

 

Quotes

 

“Fake news existed in the past and will continue to exist until human civilization exists, there is no escape from it… “- Professor Fabulous

“Three greatest inventions of the 21^st century. The Smartphone, the Internet, and Social Media. The device, the medium, and the platform. The holy trinity of Fake news Empire.” – Professor Fabulous

“The color of this shirt is blue…that is a fact, and nobody can dispute that. The color of this shirt is awesome!!! That is an opinion… it is highly subjective, biased, and customized to individual needs. The color of this shirt gives me superpowers… that is false or fake news…” – The prime suspect

 

About the Author

 

Vasimraja was born on 29th February 1984, in India.  He currently lives in San Francisco Bay Area, California USA. He started reading fiction novels at the age of eight after overhearing a story narration of Sherlock Holmes by his father. He grew up in different towns of Northern Karnataka State before his family relocated to Dharwad, the literature capital of Karnataka where he met celebrated playwright and author, Late Girish Karnad. He was greatly influenced by Karnad’s writing and personality.

Vasimraja works in the field of semiconductor engineering and has two patents on semiconductor memories. He is an avid reader of English, Kannada and Hindi literature.  He presents the most complex ideas in a very simple form, leaving a lasting impression on readers.

 

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Email

 

 

 

 

Folley at the Fair (An Annie Oakley Mystery) by Kari Bovee

Category: Adult Fiction (18 + yrs), 322 pages

Genre: Historical Mystery

Publisher: Bosque Publishing

Release date: June 2020

 

 

Synopsis

 

She never misses a target. But unless she can solve this murder, she’ll become one… Chicago World’s Fair, 1893. “Little Sure Shot” Annie Oakley is exhausted from her work with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. But when a fellow performer scuffles with a man who threatens her harm, she has to keep her eyes peeled. And when the heckler is found dead under the Ferris Wheel, Annie won’t rest until she proves her defender is innocent. Before she can rustle up any clues, an old friend asks Annie to protect her young daughter. And as more bodies turn up around the grounds, she’s going to need all her sharpshooting skills just to stay alive. Can Annie live up to her reputation and put a bullseye on the killer? Folly at the Fair is the third book in the Annie Oakley Mystery historical fiction series. If you like strong heroines, Wild West adventures, and suspenseful twists and turns, then you’ll love Kari Bovee’s fast-paced whodunit.

 

 

 

 

Interview with Kari

 

Today we welcome Kari to StoreyBook Reviews and sharing her thoughts about writing and what it means to her.

 

Talk about when you realized you wanted to be an author. Life-long dream or happened late on?

 

I think I’ve known I wanted to be an author before I really knew what that meant. When I was about eight years old I asked for a typewriter for Christmas. I got one of those plastic Smith-Coronas—it was turquoise with white keys—and I banged on that thing for years, writing stories, poetry, rants, etc. I also had a diary from when I was about the same age and would spend hours writing in it. When I was about twelve or thirteen years old I read Gone with the Wind and was so blown away by it, it was then I decided how wonderful it would be to be an author. In college I majored in English literature with an emphasis in creative writing and started writing more in-depth stories and even a novel when I got out of school, but it was terrible! When my daughter was just 9 months old, my husband—good soul that he is, encouraged me to go to the Santa Barbara Writers Conference (we were living in Ventura, CA at the time) and that’s when I really got serious about becoming a novelist.

 

Talk about being a healthy writer. How do you deal with long hours of sitting? Do you write standing up? Exercise?

 

I tried writing with a stand-up desk but found it distracting for some reason. When I am working I make sure to take lots of breaks. The longest I allow myself to sit is for about two hours. Then I get up, make some tea, or get a snack. Sometimes, I go out to visit my horses in the field, or just walk around outside. My breaks vary from 15-30 minutes, and then I get back to work. I will also move from my desk to the sofa just to give my body a break. I exercise regularly and my routines include riding my horses three to four times a week, walking four to five times a week, and doing Pilates two to three times a week. Exercise is crucial for me—I need to get out of my head and do something physical or I go a little nuts!

 

Share the best book marketing advice you ever received.

 

When I was newly published, and really for the first two years after being published, I felt I had to do anything and everything right away to get my name out there and to get my books discovered. As I was lamenting this to a friend of mine, who is also a writer, and telling her I was fast approaching burn-out, she reminded me that this career endeavor is a marathon not a sprint. It’s a long-game. There is plenty of time to market yourself and it doesn’t all have to be surrounding the launch. So, breathe and relax. There is plenty of time.

 

Talk about what you want to achieve as an author.

 

What is really important to me is connecting with other people through my books. Whether that connection serves to entertain, inspire, or educate, it’s all good to me. One of my favorite things to hear is when someone has read my books and it has inspired them to look into the history of that time period or that character to find out as much as they can about it or them. It’s great to have that particular interest in common with someone. I’d love to continue writing novels as long as I am able. I have so many different ideas, and writing novels allows me to transport to a different time period or reality, and it takes me out of myself. I plan to keep writing and being open to people and opportunities that come my way!

 

Tell readers how they can help support you as a writer.

 

Reviews, reviews, reviews! Also, reach out and drop me a line. I love hearing from readers and being able to connect with them. A great way to do this is through my website and subscribing to my newsletter.

 

Do you believe you write the kind of book you’d want to read?

 

Absolutely. I believe that if a writer is not completely invested and interested in what they are writing no one else will be. Writing a novel is hard enough! If there wasn’t enjoyment in the challenge and process I don’t think it would be worth doing, at least for me.

 

What advice would you give aspiring writers?

 

Be kind to yourself (it’s harder than it sounds!) Write what you want to write. Don’t write to what is selling at the moment because it changes all the time. If you have a story in you don’t let the current market dictate how you tell that story. It is yours and yours alone.

 

 

About the Author

 

When she’s not on a horse, or walking along the beautiful cottonwood-laden acequias of Corrales, New Mexico; or basking on white sand beaches under the Big Island Hawaiian sun, Kari Bovee is escaping into the past—scheming murder and mayhem for her characters both real and imagined, and helping them to find order in the chaos of her action-packed novels. Empowered women in history, horses, unconventional characters, and real-life historical events fill the pages of Kari Bovée’s articles and historical mystery musings and manuscripts.

An award-winning author, Bovée was honored with the 2019 NM/AZ Book Awards Hillerman Award for Southwestern Fiction for her novel Girl with a Gun. The novel also received First Place in the 2019 NM/AZ Book Awards in the Mystery/Crime category, and is a Finalist in the 2019 International Chanticleer Murder & Mayhem Awards and the International Chanticleer Goethe Awards, as well as the Next Generation Indie Awards. Her novel Grace in the Wings is a Finalist for the 2019 International Chanticleer Chatelaine Awards and the International Chanticleer Goethe Awards. Her novel Peccadillo at the Palace is a Finalist in the 2019 International Chanticleer Murder & Mayhem Awards and the 2019 International Goethe Awards, as well as a Finalist in the 2019 Best Book Awards Historical Fiction category.

Bovée has worked as a technical writer for a Fortune 500 Company, has written non-fiction for magazines and newsletters, and has worked in the education field as a teacher and educational consultant. She and her husband, Kevin, spend their time between their horse property in the beautiful Land of Enchantment, New Mexico, and their condo on the sunny shores of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

 

Website ~ Goodreads ~ Facebook

 

Twitter ~ Instagram ~ Pinterest

 

 

Giveaway

 

Signed copy of FOLLY AT THE FAIR, SWAG (mousepad, pen, tote, bookmark), plus $100 Amazon Gift Card (USA only) (one winner)

(ends Aug 18)

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

Title: ANNA INCOGNITO

Author: Laura Preble

Publisher: Mascot Books

Pages: 271

Genre: Women’s Fiction

 

 

Synopsis

 

Lots of narrative pull…wonderfully complicated. – Jincy Willett, author of The Writing Class, and anthologized by David Sedaris in Children Playing Before a Statue of Hercules.

Anna Colin Beck knows all too well what can happen when things go wrong really wrong. So, she’s spent the last several years living an extremely regimented life at home, doing everything she can to avoid subjecting herself to the torments of a germ-infested world. Everything must be just so, and when things don’t go to plan, she punishes her own body…and that still hasn’t helped alleviate her pain.

After a chance meeting in a laundromat, she finds herself completely infatuated with another person, something that hasn’t happened to her in a long time. Dr. Edward Denture is seemingly brilliant and magnetic…and in the blink of an eye, she’s attending intense somatic therapy sessions as his newest client. The more he draws from her, the further their relationship grows, until it’s crossed countless lines and consumed Anna with a fierce toxicity. And before she knows it, she finds herself buckled into the driver’s seat of a powder-blue El Dorado for a solo cross-country road trip, determined to stop his wedding. It’s a trip that will test every limitation she’s ever set for herself, and though she’s planned extensively for all contingencies, there are some twists and turns you just can’t prepare for.

With wry observations on the intersection of luck, fate, and life, Anna Incognito is a searing, darkly witty exploration of what it means to be alive.

 

 

 

Mascot Books * Amazon * B&N

 

 

Praise

 

5/5 “Rich with witticism in the face of painful realities and evoking lyrical truisms throughout, from of a rating scale of 1 – 5 this novel is so off-the-charts good, it deserves a 10.” IndieReader

 

4/4 “The writing was captivating…This book would be great for readers who are struggling with mental health or for those trying to understand it better. Are you ready to go for a drive with Anna?. Buckle up, because you are in for the ride of your life!” Online Book Club

 

“The protagonist’s acerbic wit and mordant tone work well in the difficult material in Preble’s unconventional road novel. A razor-sharp, oddly fun  romp through the American West.” Kirkus Review

 

 

Review

 

I was not sure about this book when I first started reading.  Anna is not a very likable character.  She is OCD to the extreme and has other issues that might be hard for some to read.  She is also obsessed with a therapist/counselor that she meets by chance at the laundromat and ends up his patient.  In the beginning, I wasn’t sure where this story was headed.  But as I moved further into the book, I observed as Anna shared more of herself and we learn why she is the way she is and perhaps there is hope for her to overcome her issues.  Anna moves from being a shallow self-absorbed character to one that is complex and her story is like peeling an onion, it takes many layers to get to the truth.

Anna, who never goes anywhere, decides to drive from California to Colorado for her former counselor’s wedding.  This is a woman that does not have a car and haven’t driven in years.  But she has a plan or the start of one, and with the help of her neighbor, she ventures off to Colorado.  Along the way, she stumbles across a homeless mother and daughter, and for some unknown reason offers them a ride.  That is where the story really takes off because Mellow, the daughter, ends up going to Colorado with her after her mother runs off.  This trip is actually good for both Anna and Mellow because they both realize what they need to make their lives complete.

Anna’s story is told in pieces and by the end, we have a better understanding about her character.  I actually grew to like Anna especially when she realizes that maybe she has more to offer the world.

There are a few lines that spoke to me that I would like to share with you:

“Hope is the admission that things might get better. It’s a risk, though, because there is no guarantee. Despair is absolute. Giving up requires no risk. Brave people hope. Cowards despair.”

“…sometimes, when you can’t get what you want, you get what you need instead.”

This is a surprisingly good book and we give it 4 paws up.  Definitely worth the read.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Laura Preble is the award-winning author of the young adult series, Queen Geek Social Club (Penguin/Berkley Jam), which includes the novels Queen Geeks in Love and Prom Queen Geeks. Her novel, Out, dealt with the concept of LGBTQ rights within a young adult dystopia; Alex Sanchez, author of Rainbow Boys, says “Out explores an intriguing, mind-bending, and challenging portrait of an upside-down world that turns the tables on homophobia, acceptance, and love.” She has won a Kurt Vonnegut Fiction Prize, and has been published in North American Review, Writer’s Digest, Hysteria, and NEA Today.

 

Website * Twitter * Facebook

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

Korean-American author Jayci Lee delights with A Sweet Mess, a delicious and light-hearted romantic comedy that readers will devour and ask for more.

Aubrey Choi loves living in her small town nestled in the foothills of California, running her highly successful bakery away from the watch of her strict Korean parents. When a cake mix-up and a harsh review threaten all of her hard work and her livelihood, she never thought the jaded food critic would turn out to be her one-night stand. And she sure as hell never thought she’d see the gorgeous Korean hunk again. But when Landon Kim waltzes into her bakery trying to clean up the mess he had a huge hand in making, Aubrey is torn between throwing and hearing him out.

When she hears his plan to help save her business, Aubrey knows that spending three weeks in California wine country working with Landon is a sure recipe for disaster. Her head is telling her to take the chance to save her bakery while her heart—and her hormones—are at war on whether to give him a second chance. And it just so happens that Landon’s meddling friends want them to spend those three weeks as close as possible…by sharing a villa.

When things start heating up, both in and out of the kitchen, Aubrey will have to make a choice—to stick it out or risk her heart.

 

 

Amazon * B&N * IndieBound * BAM * Powells

 

 

Review

 

I think I gained 5 lbs just reading this book and all of the delicious foods that were described.  I do wish that there were a few more recipes at the end especially for the desserts that Aubrey makes for a television show.

Aubrey and Landon have that instant animal reaction to each other sexually as evidenced by their one night stand.  When a review of Aubrey’s bakery goes awry due to miscommunications, Landon seeks to make it right without compromising his no second review policy.  What ensues is their attempts to keep things platonic despite the intense attraction they feel for one another.  Let’s just say it doesn’t work.

If you are in the mood for something light and fluffy (my terminology for most romance novels) then you won’t be disappointed.  True love does not run smoothly for these two and it is definitely a case of communication that can solve all of their problems if they would just not be so obstinate about being true to themselves and their relationship.

I really liked several of the supporting characters.  Tara, Aubrey’s BFF, is a hoot but also loyal to Aubrey.  There is a hint of a possible book featuring her and another character.  Aria and Lucien are two other characters that I liked because they pulled no punches when it came to Landon.  They may be his friends but they knew when he was not making wise choices.

Outside of the romance, there is a subplot regarding Aubrey and her mother and their reconciliation and some truths that come to light that are best for both of them.

I devoured this book and if you are a foodie that loves romance books, I think you will like this book too.  We give this 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

Excerpt

 

“How’s this?” He’d chosen a small table at the back corner. When Aubrey nodded, he pulled out her chair and took a seat across from her.

Their proximity and relative privacy made the air between them hum with electricity. Their knees brushed every time either of them shifted in their seat, sending bolts of desire through him. A sharp intake of breath and a parting of her lips revealed Aubrey wasn’t immune to their magnetic attraction.

Landon had dated his fair share of beautiful women. There was no reason to act like a gawky teenager, but his roaring heart and churning stomach said otherwise. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt nervous around a woman. Her hand was resting less than four inches away from his, but he broke out in a cold sweat working up the nerve to brush his knuckles against it.

He started when Aubrey traced her fingers across the back of his hand with a shy smile. “So, Landon from out of town, what’s your dream?”

His blood had gone south at her touch, leaving nothing for his brain, but he was even more dumbstruck by her question. The woman threw him off balance on all fronts.

“Not big on making small talk, are you?” He managed to keep his voice steady despite his spinning head and hardening body.

“If I’m going to have a chat with a complete stranger, I might as well have an interesting one.” A deep blush stained her cheeks, and her lashes fluttered to hide her eyes. “Besides, you’re leaving tomorrow. I was hoping we could pack a lot into tonight.”

Landon sucked in a sharp breath. Her shy and earnest declaration moved him, and he fought the urge to pull her across the table to kiss her senseless. Instead, he lifted Aubrey’s hand and brushed a kiss on her pale inner wrist. A wolfish grin spread across his face when she gasped at his touch.

“My dream was to open my own restaurant.” To his shock, the truth stumbled out of him. A truth he’d refused to face for the past decade. Maybe he was desperate to give her an interesting conversation. A memorable one. “Someplace spacious and comfortable where people can enjoy a delicious meal without pretense or a six-figure salary.”

“That sounds amazing. What kind of food are we talking about?”

“Whatever inspiration strikes me. If I had to label it, New American–slash–Korean fusion will have to do.”

“I love Korean food. I would totally eat there.” Aubrey sat forward, her eyes round and sparkling. “So you’re Korean? I am, too.”

“Yes, I’m Korean, and you would be more than welcome to eat at my restaurant.”

“Are you a chef?”

“No, but I trained to be one. Have you heard of the CIA?”

“The Central Intelligence Agency? You learned to cook for undercover agents while dodging bullets and jumping out of airplanes?” She cocked her head to the side and gazed at him with solemn interest.

“I . . . um.” Landon was fairly certain she was messing with him, but insulting her wouldn’t be the best way to seduce her. “It’s . . .”

Aubrey’s pale skin turned from pink to crimson before she erupted into laughter, her frame trembling like a 6.8 earthquake. She held up a finger, gripping her side, pantomiming she needed a minute. He crossed his arms over his chest and leveled her with a steely glare, which wasn’t an easy feat considering her infectious mirth.

“I’m s-sorry, but you had to see your face. You couldn’t decide whether a small-town girl like me knew about the Culinary Institute of America or whether I was pulling your leg.”

Mischievous little fox. He needed to get her back for that. “Actually, that’s incorrect.” He drew closer to her, his lips close to her ear, and lowered his voice to a deep, gritty whisper. “I was debating whether or not I should tell you the truth, because if I did, I’d have to terminate you.”

Aubrey stared at him in silence for a second, and then a delighted grin spread across her face. “This is fun.”

“Yeah, it is.” Landon was surprised to find he meant it. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had fun. He certainly had pleasant and interesting times, but fun times? No, this felt alien.

His earlier hesitation forgotten, he ran his knuckles down the side of her face, relishing the feel of her warm, silky skin. Aubrey leaned lightly into his hand, and her eyes slid shut. She was so responsive to his touch. Landon’s mouth went dry, and all he could think was more. He wanted to make her laugh again. He ached to make her fall apart in his arms with her swollen lips calling out his name.

“You’re beautiful,” Landon murmured, unable to look away from her.

“So are you.” Aubrey’s lips curved into a barely there smile that squeezed his heart.

He’d gone to the brewery for a pint to wash away the bitter taste of his sorry day, but he’d discovered something far more intoxicating—something potent enough to tip him off-balance. Aubrey made his blood sing and his rational thoughts melt away. The floor seemed to grow solid and strong, and his body settled heavily into his seat like he’d dropped anchor across from her—as though she had a gravitational pull all her own and he was helpless against it.

He’d led a nomadic life for a decade. He didn’t know how to stay still for long. The smart thing to do would be to run the hell away from this woman, whose mere proximity made it unimaginable to even leave the table.

But smart wasn’t part of his vocabulary at the moment. Greedy, feral, and desperate passion overwhelmed all else. He stood abruptly from his seat, and Aubrey’s mouth parted in surprise. Then he grasped her hand and raised her to her feet.

“Do you want to get out of here?” His eyes bored into hers, his desire and urgency displayed for her to see.

“Yes.”

 

Excerpt from A Sweet Mess by Jayci Lee. Copyright 2020 by the author and reprinted with permission from St. Martin’s Griffin.

 

 

About the Author

 

JAYCI LEE writes poignant, sexy, and laugh-out-loud romance every free second she can scavenge and is semi-retired from her fifteen-year career as a defense litigator. She loves food, wine, and traveling, and incidentally, so do her characters. Jayci lives in sunny California with her tall-dark-and-handsome husband, two amazing boys with boundless energy, and a fluffy rescue whose cuteness is a major distraction.

 

Website * Twitter * Facebook

 

 

 

 

 

 

Calling for the Money (A Holly Price Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Publisher: Red Mountain Publishing (June 25, 2020)
Number of Pages ~280

 

Synopsis

 

 

Holly Price has it all—or does she?

Holly finally has the dream job at the top of her field, the money and prestige she’s worked so hard to attain. But when a friend disappears while Holly is working a make-or-break career assignment, she’s drawn into another criminal investigation. A ruthless con ring will stop at nothing to extort its victims and her friends are directly in their cross-hairs.

While she’s searching for her missing friend, behind the scenes she’s wrestling with a backstabbing boss, a hurtful family situation, and the devastating worry she’s made a massive life choices mistake. When the gangsters target Holly, however, facing certain death has a way of making her reevaluate her life.

Now Holly must confront her painful past in order to redefine her future…and hope she lives long enough to see it.

 

 

 

 

 

Guest Post

 

Setting the Stage

 

“The world only exists in your eyes, your conception of it. You can make it as big or as small as you want to.” ~ F. Scott Fitzgerald

 

I’ll never forget a New York publisher telling me eastern Washington state was an exotic location. Either she didn’t get out much or her definition of “exotic” meant a place no one has visited. Her comment did make me think about the setting for a novel, however, and how that location choice impacts the story.

Setting is as much a component of the story as the plot and characters. Not only is it the background, the physical place where the action occurs, but it also includes the social environment with its history, nuances and norms. Think about how deeply intertwined William Kent Kreuger’s stories are with northern Minnesota, Jonathan King’s ventures can only occur in the Florida Everglades, and how Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch investigations are inseparable from LA. The setting is so connected to the story, it becomes a character as well.

The internet has opened access to the physical appearance of pretty much any location. There are newspaper articles, Nat Geo, Google Earth, and YouTube, and whatever else is relevant to your plot and character. But there’s nothing like actually visiting (or living in) a particular place.

In the first book in the Holly Price series, (So About the Money) Holly moved back to Richland, her hometown, in eastern Washington. Years earlier, she’d bolted out of the area, headed to Seattle for college and a high-flying career. She’d seen Richland as too conservative, too restrictive. Returning as an adult to help her mother, she still chafed over some of those same perceptions, but she can now see positives in the close-knit community.

 

 

Drawing verbal pictures of the area was easy since I was so familiar with the three river-side cities (Richland, Kennewick and Pasco are known as the Tri-Cities) and the surrounding wide-open spaces. I knew the 90-mile view across the rivers from the Nature Preserve to the Blue Mountains and the beautiful desolation of the Snake River. Mom and Pop stores along Richland’s main drag? Yep, place really does reek of the 50s. Cell phone dropping during an emergency call to Detective JC Dimitrak? I knew exactly where that was going to happen along the Kahlotus Highway.

An element like that wouldn’t work in a larger city and dying cell phone batteries have become their own cliché.

With Calling for the Money, I moved Holly out of both Richland and Seattle. Holly’s business trip to California allowed me to reasonably bring Holly’s father back into the picture. After the family conflict simmered in the background of several books, it was the right time to confront that particular problem head-on. Moving her father and Seraphina Vincent, his new honey, from a Sedona sweat lodge to tony Coronado Island slammed a lot of issues into focus.

 

 

Venice Beach was a deliberate location decision. I was able to take advantage of day-job business trips to the area to describe the current influx of businesses and restaurants into what has been frankly considered a seedy area. (Of course, others saw it as fun and funky, if a little over the top.) Over the years, I saw both the changes to Venice Beach and the push back from the locals. (Yes, my client might’ve been one of those intruding tech companies.)

 

 

The location change from Washington to California served to isolate Holly from her Seattle-based work team at Falcon as well as her mother and friends back in Richland. That isolation played directly into decisions Holly needed to make about her future. It made Holly’s initial interactions with Max Vincent not only fun to write but simply possible. United by their mutual irritation with their parents, it drew Holly to both Max and his friends and ultimately to her involvement in yet another mystery.

Wherever an author takes her readers, the setting enhances the story and thus the reader’s experience. And hey, you might visit all sorts of “exotic” locations along the way.

 

About the Author

 

An award-winning author of financial mysteries, Cathy Perkins writes twisting dark suspense and light amateur sleuth stories. When not writing, she does battle with the beavers over the pond height or heads out on another travel adventure. She lives in Washington with her husband, children, several dogs, and the resident deer herd.

 

Website * Twitter * Facebook * BookBub

 

Instagram * Amazon * Goodreads

 

 

 

Giveaway

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

In present-day Los Angeles, Caroline Martin has everything but the thing her soul craves most: a daughter. When she undergoes what is supposed to be a routine hysterectomy, she unwittingly aborts the little girl she’s always longed for, leaving the unborn baby’s soul in limbo.

Sharing a hospital room with Caroline is a pregnant woman who’s just been shot by her boyfriend. Her unborn child is barely hanging on—and the soul of Caroline’s hovering baby cannot resist the overwhelming urge to rebirth via this unclaimed fetus.

In the aftermath of these events, two engaging heavenly guides, working together through sensitive humans, struggle to find an alternate way to help Caroline and her would-be daughter forge the link that was always meant to be between them—before the child’s brutal father makes good on his vow to steal the girl and disappear with her forever.

By turns comic and tragic, Rachael’s Return explores the concept of soulmates, the afterlife, reincarnation, and relationships that never die, even as it offers readers a glimpse of the mysteries that exist within the ordinary and challenges assumptions about the true nature of reality.

 

 

 

 

Review

 

This novel weaves a tale that combines a bit of suspense, fantasy, and some mysticism that will draw you in right from the start.

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book but I was pleasantly surprised.  It takes a small circle of characters and some souls watching down over circumstances and creates a story that will keep you on edge and captivate you.  It also brings to mind the six degrees of separation and how small this world really is with the interactions of the various characters and how each character touched another character’s life in some way or another – through friendship, a chance encounter, or in a hospital room together.

The story flips back and forth from the various character’s viewpoints – this includes those on earth and the souls in heaven or some other plane.  Thor and Aurora are two of the souls that are watching over Caroline and Rachael.  There is only so much they can do and I found it interesting that those on earth have to pray and ask for help before they can give it, or at least on their level.

I enjoyed the soulmates aspect and how some souls are bound together for all eternity and the lengths they will go to so that they remain in each other’s lives in some respect.  There is even a flashback to an event that happened in the mid 1800s that reflects the determination for Caroline and Rachael’s souls to remain together.

This was a different book than I was expecting but I thoroughly enjoyed the story and how it worked out in the end.  I almost didn’t want the story to end!

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Janet Rebhan is the author of the novels Finding Tranquility Base (2012) and Rachael’s Return (2020). Born in West Texas, she was sixteen when she moved to Los Angeles where she graduated from Chatsworth High School before pursuing an acting and modeling career. She went on to study creative writing at UCLA and publish short stories and personal essays. Rebhan has two grown daughters and lives in Los Angeles with her husband.

 

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Puppy Kisses

 

by Lucy Gilmore

 

Publication Date: 5/26/2020

 

 

Synopsis

 

These adorable service puppies are matchmakers in the making…

Dawn Vasquez never takes life too seriously. But when she rescues a golden retriever named Gigi, Dawn begins to imagine what it’d be like to settle down and let someone rely on her for a change. Unfortunately, Adam Dearborn—a handsome, hopelessly buttoned-up cattle rancher in need of a guide dog—has also fallen in love with the little ball of fluff and stubbornly insists that no other animal will do.

Adam isn’t sure what drives him to fight to keep Gigi for himself, but he suspects it has something to do with his growing—and unfortunate—attachment to Dawn. Her whirlwind spirit and sunny disposition might make her a delight to be around, but they also make her unsuited for the difficult life of a rancher. He should be able to put her out of his head. But what’s a love-struck cowboy to do when what he wants and what he needs have never seemed so far apart? And can he allow himself to take a chance on everything Dawn has to offer: puppy kisses, puppy love…and her.

 

 

 

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Excerpt

 

Mentioning her lips had to have been some kind of tactic. Just the word—lips—had him remembering their shape and size, the way the bottom one was so much plumper than the top, how good they felt when pressed against his bare skin. She always warned him to scrub hard before he met up with any other women, since she left a trail of lipstick all over his body.

He wasn’t seeing any other women, but there was no way he was telling her that. She already had him under her spell. He didn’t need to be under her power as well.

“Thank you for the offer,” he said tightly. “But I already like—”

“—the one you can’t have,” Dawn finished for him. She was definitely closer now, the unmistakable nonscent of her mixing with the hay and dirt to whirl his senses. “That seems to be a sort of thing with you, doesn’t it?”

He ran his hands through his hair, since it seemed suddenly important that he do something with them. It was also important to do something with this situation. If he let her continue like this, unchecked and uninhibited, there was good chance neither one of them was getting any work done today.

“As I recall, I’ve had you plenty of times already,” he said, a challenge in his voice. “In fact, I bet I could have you right here and now.”

Adam didn’t know if he was the one who’d drawn closer to her or if she’d stepped up to him, but there was no longer anything between them. Not a puppy, not air, definitely not common sense. The jut of her breasts pressed softly against his chest, the toes of her shoes touching the tips of his work boots.

His hands suddenly decided they had minds of their own. Moving forward to clasp her around the waist, they touched silky fabric and heat and a patch of skin where her shirt didn’t quite reach her waistband. That alone should have been enough to stop him—what kind of a person wore a tiny, silken shirt to a working ranch?—but of course he didn’t. That touch of skin set off something inexplicable inside him.

It always did. That was the problem. Words could be ignored and the sound of her laughter pressed deep down inside him, but one graze of his fingertips on her body and he was lost.

“I’ve always wanted to have sex on a pile of hay,” Dawn said, calling his bluff. She arched into his touch, allowing his hand to slide up her back. He encountered nothing but soft skin and the gentle curve of her spine, both of which promised more of the same, should he give in and really cop a feel. Which was tempting for a lot of reasons, including the fact that Dawn was stacked in ways that seemed wholly against nature. “Surely there must be one or two of those in the barn we could try?”

“There are.” He brought his lips close to her ear, though he was careful not to press against the gently pounding pulse below it. The moment the kissing started, all other bets were off—including the one that had a Great Dane puppy at their feet and a golden retriever puppy napping under Phoebe’s desk. That was the one thing he knew for sure. Dawn had come out here with the sole intention of luring him into lowering his defenses, in using her incredible body and the promise of what it could do to get her own way. She wanted Methuselah, and she’d stop at nothing to get her.

Well, two could play that way. In fact, he was becoming something of an expert at this particular game.

“We could slip in there right now, and no one would know where we are,” he murmured. Dawn arched her neck to give him better access, but he didn’t kiss, didn’t touch. Only teased. “I could throw you into the biggest stack of hay and rip this tiny scrap of a shirt from your body.”

A slight, guttural sound indicated how much she liked the direction this conversation was going. Typical. With Dawn, the anticipation, the clandestine nature of their meetings, was half the fun.

Who was he kidding? Where that woman was concerned, it was probably all the fun.

“No one will think to look for us for hours,” he added, still in that low, crooning voice. “It’ll just be me and you, our bodies slick with sweat.”

Dawn’s hips pressed against his, her arms coiling around his neck so that her entire body could melt against him. This was how she always struck, coiled and soft and yielding.

So he struck back.

“Well, that and the snakes.”

Instead of pulling back, Dawn only laughed and clasped her hands tighter around his neck. “Good thing I happen to like snakes,” she said. Her mouth brushed lightly against his, fluttering like a pair of butterfly wings. “Like the alligators, they make such nice shoes. Purses too.”

Even though Adam’s body thrummed with anticipation, burning hot in all the places it touched hers, he kept his tone level. “We also get the occasional badger, even though they’re pretty rare in these parts. Rats are almost a certainty.”

“Why, Adam Dearborn, are you trying to sweet-talk me?”

No, dammit. He was trying to do the exact opposite. Why did this woman refuse to act like a normal human being? She should run at the mention of rats, not press her hips against his until he ached.

“I’m just making sure you know what you’re getting into, that’s all,” he said. His voice sounded strained to his own ears. “Things can get pretty nasty out here in the wilderness.”

“That’s funny,” she purred. “So can I.”

***

Excerpted from Puppy Kisses by Lucy Gilmore. © 2020 by Lucy Gilmore. Used with permission of the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. All rights reserved.

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Lucy Gilmore is a contemporary romance author with a love of puppies, rainbows, and happily ever afters. She began her reading (and writing) career as an English literature major and ended as a die-hard fan of romance in all forms. When she’s not rolling around with her two Akitas, she can be found hiking, biking, or with her nose buried in a book.

 

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Giveaway

 

 

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THE REPUBLIC OF JACK

 

by

 

Jeffrey Kerr

 

 

Political Satire / Texas Humor / Texas Fiction

Publisher: Independently published

Date of Publication: April 7, 2020

Number of Pages: 253

Scroll down for the giveaway!

 

 

 

 

Jack Cowherd will do anything to win the Texas governorship, even flirt with twenty-first-century secessionists in the Texas Patriot Party. Victory is achieved, but only at the cost of Texas being tossed out of the United States. The Republic of Texas lives again! And Jack is president.

 

Friend and political advisor Tasha Longoria has long warned Jack of the dangers of his demagoguery. Now when he tries to halt the madness, the worst comes to pass: he is impeached, arrested, and charged with treason, the penalty for which is death.

 

Jack has but one chance to save his beloved Texas, not to mention his life. But success depends upon help from the one person least likely to give it . . . Tasha.

 

 

 

 

Praise

 

“Jeff Kerr’s Republic of Jack is a ribald, raucous farce of Texas politics that often exposes the self-serving cynicism boiling beneath the surface of public debate.”  —Texas political reporter R.G. Ratcliffe 

“Jeffrey Kerr’s ideal Texas politician—a man truly for these bitter times—bites off more than any enabler could ever chew in this romp of a new novel, The Republic of Jack! It’s time for readers to discover this writer’s range, intelligence, humor, and, ultimately, compassion. Or maybe you should just go and see his movie or read his catalog of nonfiction titles! In any case, it’s Jeff Kerr’s time.”  —David Marion Wilkinson, author of Not Between Brothers and co-author of One Ranger

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. One of the joys of being an author has for me been the opportunity to speak to so many groups about my books.

 

2. I was so excited to be a featured panelist for Seat of Empire at the Texas Book Festival that I didn’t even notice my name was misspelled.

 

3. Texas Inauguration Day 2011 was also Meet the Author Day at the Texas Capitol.

 

4. Here I’m receiving the Somerfield G. Roberts Award from the Sons of the Republic of Texas, which named Seat of Empire the year’s best book about the Republic of Texas.

 

5. A friend’s invitation to join him in a screenwriting class led to the two of us filming our own feature film, Writer’s Block, due for release later this year. Write what you know, eh?

 

6. “How much is your book?”  “Twenty dollars. If I sign it, fifteen.”

 

7. I’ve spoken to as few as three people and as many as five hundred. This is at Austin’s BookPeople.

 

 

 

 

 

Jeffrey Kerr is the author of three nonfiction books on Texas history, a historical novel, and, most recently, The Republic of Jack, a satirical novel that imagines Texas as an independent country in the twenty-first century. His history of Austin’s founding, Seat of Empire: The Embattled Birth of Austin, Texas, was named one of sixty essential books about Texas by Michael Barnes of the Austin American-Statesman. Kerr also co-wrote and co-produced the documentary film, The Last of the Moonlight Towers, and a feature film, the psychological thriller Writer’s Block. He lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife and two dogs.

 

 

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————————————-

 

GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!

 

One Winner: One signed copy of The Republic of Jack

 

July 7-17, 2020

 

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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:

 

7-Jul	Notable Quotable	All the Ups and Downs
7-Jul	Notable Quotable	Hall Ways Blog
8-Jul	Excerpt	Texas Book Lover
8-Jul	Review	The Clueless Gent
9-Jul	Review	Book Bustle
10-Jul	Character Interview	Forgotten Winds
10-Jul	Review	Missus Gonzo
11-Jul	Scrapbook page	StoreyBook Reviews
12-Jul	Author Interview	Max Knight
13-Jul	Review	Reading by Moonlight
14-Jul	Guest Post	Chapter Break Book Blog
14-Jul	Review	Librariel Book Adventures
15-Jul	Playlist	That’s What She’s Reading
16-Jul	Review	Book Fidelity
16-Jul	Review	The Adventures of a Travelers Wife

 

 

 

 

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Synopsis

 

An introverted horse-whisperer, a famous equine artist, and the mare who brings them together.

Tori Reynolds has never liked the term “breaking” horses to ride. Instead, she earns their trust, and can climb aboard a wild mustang the same day she meets it. Her farm, an historic bed and breakfast, sits along the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan in the small town of St. Ives, and her life as a B&B owner and sought-after horse whisperer is pretty much perfect. Until a visit to New York City changes everything.

Matt Cheval is a handsome, nationally-known artist. When Tori steps into his Manhattan art show, she unexpectedly finds herself and her horse in his paintings. Angry and frightened, she is now faced with the memory of a day she has spent years trying to forget.

Tori flees back to the security of her farm and the comfort of her horse, but Matt follows to apologize for a wrong he isn’t sure he knows how to fix. Torn between anger and her growing feelings for Matt, she wonders if she has wrongly judged this sensitive artist. Maybe some wounds can be healed.

But when tragedy strikes, will their hope in the future, and their faith in God hold their relationship together? Or will they lose each other forever?

 

 

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Praise

 

Pamela Gossiaux is fast becoming a major player in the realm of writing. She deserves the wards and attention that are bound to come her way!” – Grady Harp, Top 50 Amazon Hall of Fame Reviewer

 

“If you are looking for a read to give you comfort, boost your faith, and make you remember how it feels to fall in love, this book is for you!”- Pamela Stewart, Amazon bestselling author

 

 

Trailer

 

 

 

 

 

Review

 

I’m always a sucker for a good romance novel.  To top it off, it has horses.  Ok, dogs are better in my book but horses are so majestic and to top it off, Hope, the horse in this book, is blind.  But that does not stop Hope from trusting Tori and that is something we can all learn from – trust.

The novel will appeal to anyone that enjoys a good romance, loves horses, and has a strong personal faith.  I enjoyed all (or almost all) of the characters and felt like each contributed to the story.  Tori and Matt are strong characters but have their weaknesses.  Tori’s is her relationship with her deceased husband.  I appreciated the steps she had to go through to resolve her issues and accept that there was nothing she really could have done to change the outcome.  Matt’s weakness doesn’t really make an appearance until near the end and his defeatist attitude towards events that occurred. I am purposely being vague so as to not spoil any part of the story.

While this story may be romantic and happy, there are some tense moments and even a time where I disliked Tori for her words and her actions.  Thankfully, she redeems herself and I realize the situation she was in when all of this happened was the driving force, but it was callous of her to say what she said to Matt.

I think that my favorite character is Phyllis.  She has seen a lot in her life and is able to guide Tori when she feels like all hope is lost.  Emma is my other favorite character because she embodies what a friend should look like.

I wanted to share this one passage because I felt like it brings all of the pieces of the story together and a happy ending for all.

“Separately, those blades of grass are weak, and if I tied one around my wrist, it might break. But when they are braided together, they become stronger. We are like that. You and me and God. Alone, you and I are weaker, and can only accomplish some things. But together, with God as the third strand strengthening us, we become stronger. We can hold up against much more.”

This is an enjoyable story and if you like romance, horses, and inspirational stories then you will enjoy this one.

We give this 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Pamela Gossiaux an international bestselling author and the author of the books Good Enough, The Russo Romantic Mysteries, Ordinary Girl, Why Is There a Lemon in My Fruit Salad? How to Stay Sweet When Life Turns Sour, and A Kid at Heart, as well as the highly praised Horses and Hearts inspirational romantic series.

An avid horse enthusiast, she enjoys being outdoors and working in her garden. She also loves chocolate and prefers to curl up with a good book in her downtime. Pamela lives on her horse farm in Michigan with her family and three cats.

 

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Women of Color in Tech: A Blueprint for Inspiring and Mentoring

 

the Next Generation of Technology Innovators

 

by Susanne Tedrick

 

Category: Adult Non-Fiction, 18 yrs +, 288 pages

 

Genre: Business, Careers, Technology

 

Publisher: Wiley

 

Release date: April 2020

 

 

Synopsis

 

Tech industry jobs are growing fast, offering great pay, career growth and learning opportunities. Women of color, sadly, have not been able to fully participate in this boom. There are many misconceptions about the tech industry. Misconceptions can often discourage women of color from pursuing or remaining in technical careers. For example, misconceptions like “tech careers are all about coding ”or “there’s no diversity in tech.”

In reality, tech career opportunities can be diverse, fun, and incredibly dynamic. While there are barriers to overcome, Women of Color in Tech is an indispensable resource for building a rewarding future in tech. Packed with inspiring stories and practical advice, this book shows you how to uncover the resources you need to succeed.

This practical guide will help you develop the blend of knowledge and skills needed for getting into tech—and staying there. Author Susanne Tedrick understands that, for a variety of reasons, young women of color are underrepresented in tech and may not have access to strong support networks or resources to be successful. Using her own experiences transitioning into tech, Susanne offers you real-world guidance on finding knowledgeable mentors, learning the latest industry trends, cultivating strong relationships and more.

If you’re thinking about going into tech, or you want to take your current career to the next level, Women of Color in Tech will help you build a blueprint for a successful career.

• Understand the reality of tech today, not misconceptions.
• Learn about the different tech jobs and opportunities that exist, not just coding.
• Gain an understanding of emerging technology areas that will affect jobs, like artificial intelligence, Blockchain and cloud computing.
• Discover traditional and non-traditional education option to get the skills you need.
• Find mentors, build your professional network and get the guidance you need.
• Stay motivated and deal with difficult situations.
• Recognize the importance of giving back to increase diversity and inclusion.

 

 

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Guest Post

 

My Earliest Memory As A Technologist

 

By Susanne Tedrick

 

Growing up, my dad loved consumer electronics and technology. He is the main reason how I ended up developing a passion for it. There was one particular incident that he and I had that was not only hilarious but perhaps was a solidification that I was meant to go into technology.

When my dad brought home new gadgets or electronics, I always spent as much time as I could experimenting and playing around with them. Sometimes my fascination would transcend mere curiosity, and I dissembled equipment to see the parts inside and to see how it worked (much to my parents’ chagrin).

One weekend afternoon when I was about 11, my dad’s inner “tinkerer” was awakened, and together, we decided that we would attempt to fix our floor model TV on our own. The unit would turn on and there was sound, but no picture would appear. Mind you, neither of us had any idea where to even begin, we didn’t have an instruction manual – it was like the blind leading the blind. My mother was aware of our plan and didn’t really say anything, she just looked at us with a smile that was half bemused/half knowing disaster would strike, but powerless to stop it.

We opened up the TV and had “deduced” that the unit needed a new fuse. We took the broken one that we had to the local electronics shop, where the person behind the counter seemed just as knowledgeable as we were. He took a quick glance at the broken fuse and gave us what he believed was the right replacement. He rang it up at the cash register, and we were then on our way.

We could barely contain our excitement when we got home. We enthusiastically put the fuse in, plugged the unit in and then turned it on. We saw the unit power up as it normally did, but no picture. Shortly after, we heard a loud pop…. and then next thing you know, a small fire has broken out in the back of the TV. My dad immediately unplugged the unit and got the fire extinguisher to put the fire out. My mother, watching the entire time, had a look of disbelief and amusement across her face.

Now obviously, we had no business at all doing what we did, and it is a small miracle that we didn’t burn our house down that day. But that helped spark my curiosity even more and helped deepen my technology knowledge, rather than deter or scare me off completely. Over time, I would learn that the fuse that we had was not the right one and it wasn’t even the root of the problem. It was the picture tube itself that needed to be completely replaced – we weren’t even close!

This memory is one of my favorites with my dad, but it served as an early precursor to my technology career.

 

This was such a fascinating read.  I love hearing how people find their passion and it seems like for Susanne it came at an early age with her dad.  I love how her mom knew things probably wouldn’t end well but gave them space to tinker and try and find the answer.

 

 

About the Author

 

Susanne Tedrick is a technical specialist for a Fortune 50 technology company. Fiercely committed to increasing participation of women and people of color in STEM educational and professional opportunities, she is a career mentor for the Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) Initiative and a volunteer workshop technical assistant for Black Girls Code, a nonprofit that empowers girls of color to develop in-demand IT skills and prepare for careers in tech. Susanne was awarded the 2018 CompTIA AITP Rising Star of the Year Award, and nominated for the 2019 CompTIA Advancing Women in Technology Mentorship Guide Award, for her dedication to advancing her career and that of others. Views expressed are those of author Susanne Tedrick and are not endorsed by any of her current or former employers.

 

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Giveaway

 

Autographed Copy of WOMEN OF COLOR Plus $25 Amazon Gift Card (USA only) (ends July 17, 2020)

 

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