Book Title: Soso and The Kako Leaf by Bella Disu
Category: Children’s Fiction (Ages 6-12), 78 pages
Genre: Children’s Book
Publisher: The Good Work Company
Release date: June 19, 2022
Content Rating: G. Children’s Book.
Follow the life of young Soso as she encounters mysteries and unearths traditions that have existed long before she was born.Be part of her adventures as she gains confidence, self-esteem, and an understanding of her deep cultural heritage.
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This book is available for special purchases in bulk by organizations and institutions, not for resale, at special discounts. Please email all inquiries to The Good Work Company.
Bella Disu is a mother of two wonderful children. She is an enthusiastic lover of art as well as an avid reader. From a young age, she has been enamoured with rich cultural folktales. Now, she channels her love for art and her passion for reading into writing stories. Her stories use new forms to pass on the tales she heard growing up to the next generation.
Bella is also a renowned business leader who is committed to corporate governance and business innovation. In December 2019, she became the youngest ever recipient of the French National Honor – Chevalier dans L’ordre des Arts et des Lettres in recognition of her efforts at promoting French culture in Nigeria.
She is married and lives in Lagos, Nigeria, with her family.
connect with the author: website ~ twitter ~ instagram
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Giveaway – The Ro Bro by J A Huss & Dohnathan McClain @XpressoTours
The Ro Bro
J.A. Huss, Johnathan McClain
Publication date: June 20th 2023
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance
Essie Smith-Scott, the author known as SS, has been the number one erotic romance writer in the world for the past ten years. Movie deals, merchandise, dozens of books on the New York Times bestseller’s list, and the founder of the biggest romance convention to ever hit the planet.
Scoring an invitation to the Sin With Us Romance Convention in Las Vegas is the ‘big break’ every romance author hopes for and Cynthia Lear’s name just made it to the top of the wait list. She’s in. And she’s gonna make the most of it. This is her chance to shine and propel her career into the stratosphere.
But then she meets Essie’s twin brother, Steve. Not only is Steve Smith handsome, and charming, and loves her work—he’s also… lying. To the whole world. Literally everyone.
Because his twin sister, Essie, isn’t the one who’s been writing all those super-spicy Master Choke books all these years—it’s Steve.
***********
Written by New York Times bestselling author JA Huss and actor, author, narrator, Johnathan McClain—The Ro-Bro is a rompy feel-good adventure through the secret life of romance authors and the conventions they attend. Prepare to laugh so hard you pee your pants. This is a story that will make you smile every time you think about it.(P.S. – If you’ve never been to the biggest romance convention in the world, well now you don’t even have to go. Because they all happen just like this.)
—
EXCERPT:
“Holy shit.” Britney, the assistant, looks up at me with an incredulous expression of ‘what the fuck.’ “She’s a… a…”
I volunteer a noun. “A bitch?”
“Yeah!” Britney laughs this word out with gusto.
And I’m laughing too, but then I look over at Cordy, and she’s… not. “What did she mean by that?”
That question is directed to Britney, not me. And immediately I feel cut out of the conversation.
What did she mean by that? Translation—Did Raylen Star just caution me, Cordy, about handing over my ARC to SS’s brother, Steve, because she was insinuating they, she, he might steal my words?
That is exactly what Leslie fuckin’ Munch just did.
I had a good thing going with this girl. She and I were having a moment. And even though Britney kinda busted in on us, Britney wasn’t obtrusive. I was winning her over. Which is important. As the number one romance writer in the world, I wholly and completely understand that the new love interest must befriend the BFF.
And fine. Maybe ‘new love interest’ is a premature title for me? We were still on introductions. We hadn’t made any concrete declarations of intent or anything, but we were on our way. We were getting there. Would’ve gotten there if fuckin’ Leslie hadn’t showed up.
And now, as I watch Cordy and Britney exchange a look and in the next moment watch, in real time, as Cordy’s eyes drop down to the book gripped firmly in my hands, I have to tuck down a moment of rage.
Two minutes. Two. Minutes. That’s all it took for Leslie to ruin the good thing I was building with this lovely creature who might be the only person in the room who can write a run-on sentence with such skill, and emotion, and… and… and moxie that one does not even understand that she, lovely Cordy, just wrote the world’s longest run-on sentence because they have been captivated—imprisoned, even—by her brilliant author voice.
Cordy Serendipitous’s ability to string words together for the longest of sequences is what drew me to her in the first place. I love it. I love that she breaks all the rules. It’s so… so… fuckin’ courageous—especially in a world filled with people who want nothing more than the expected to jump out at them in a totally expected way, lest they have to stretch their minds a bit to find the hidden messages hiding just below the surface—that I, for once, did not feel like a completely isolated freak among those who fit in. At least as far as writing goes.
And Leslie Munch has fucked that up with two words of caution.
Be careful.
Author Bio:
JA Huss is a New York Times Bestselling author and has been on the USA Today Bestseller’s list 21 times. She writes characters with heart, plots with twists, and perfect endings.
Her books have sold millions of copies all over the world. Her book, Eighteen, was nominated for a Voice Arts Award and an Audie Award in 2016 and 2017 respectively. Her audiobook, Mr. Perfect, was nominated for a Voice Arts Award in 2017. Her audiobook, Taking Turns, was nominated for an Audie Award in 2018. Her book, Total Exposure, was nominated for a RITA Award in 2019.
She lives on a farm in central Colorado with her family, horses, donkeys, dogs, goats, and chickens.
FIND HER HERE
www.facebook/authorjahuss
@jahuss – www.jahuss.com
Johnathan McClain is an award-winning actor, screenwriter, producer, romance novelist, and audiobook narrator. As an actor, he has an extensive television, film, and theatre resumé spanning over twenty-five years. As a screenwriter, his feature film debut, THE OUTFIT, co-written with Academy Award winning screenwriter Graham Moore, and starring Academy Award winner Mark Rylance, Zoey Deutch, Dylan O’Brien, and Johnny Flynn, premiered at the 2022 Berlin International Film Festival and was released theatrically by Focus Features the same year.
He has narrated almost two-hundred audiobooks and is the recipient of multiple Audiofile Earphones Awards, SOVAS nominations, and an Audie for his narration of Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff’s #1 NY Times bestselling sci-fi novel, Illuminae, which won the Audie Award for audiobook of the year for multi-voiced narration in 2016.
Along with JA Huss, Johnathan is the co-author of ten novels, two of which have been optioned for screenplays, and the story of their writing partnership was developed as a TV series with MGM Television.
He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Laura.
Find him at www.johnathanmcclain.com
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Giveaway – Morning Star by Kris Jayne @XpressoTours @kris_jayne
Morning Star
Kris Jayne
(Lone Star Crossed Saga, #3)
Publication date: June 15th 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
The marriage is fake, but the passion is real.
Famous for his last name, devilish Anthony Star-Hunter is the black sheep of the Star clan. He’s an expert at using his tall, dark, and handsome charm to get women into bed—the last remnant of his declining hard-party escapades.But the bucks are about to stop here. His grandfather’s will demands he marry to inherit his fortune. Anthony panics. Even with his bad boy allure, how the hell is he going to find a tolerable bride, like, yesterday?
The minute Sarah Pennington spots the tattooed muscles her new stepsister’s ex hides under his Italian suits, she rolls her eyes. Anthony is not for her. And with her father maybe headed to prison for a financial fiasco, she’s had enough bad male behavior. She’s responsible. She’s hard-working. She…can’t stop having naughty dreams about the sexy “celebutant.”
At a beach-side wedding, a drunken mishap throws Sarah into Anthony’s bed, and he’s intrigued. Can he convince her to give fake marriage a chance? Can she convince herself to keep her heart out of the deal?
Their slow-burn, un-love affair isn’t what either expect, but it might be what both of them need forever.
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play
EXCERPT
Anthony
“Stay. We can dance again.”
Sarah grabbed my hands and pulled me closer, twisting her body to the beat. Her head fell back, and her eyes closed with a blissful smile. The graceful line of her neck trapped my gaze, leading it down to her smooth collarbone and the hint of cleavage that swelled with each breath, each laugh, and each toss of her head.
Suddenly, her fingers on mine burned. I yanked them away. Her wrap dropped to the ground. I scooped it up and handed it to her.
“We have a full day tomorrow. Some of us are golfing again. I think the bridal party is going to the spa. Then, we’re sailing to the reef. I need some sleep.”
Her pout deepened. “I’m not your type, am I? You think I’m boring.”
When I didn’t speak, she pushed closer with an inquisitive desperation.
“Am I that boring?”
I swallowed and laughed, but her question rattled me. “No. You’re not boring, just responsible. Usually.”
Swimming beneath the responsibility was a woman longing to be free. I could smell it on her, along with her citrusy shampoo and hints of vanilla.
“Yes. I am. Someone has to be. I’m the someone.” Her eyes slipped shut. “My father might go to prison.”
The revelation shocked me. I’d heard rumors about Edward Pennington’s business partner, but I thought they’d gone their separate ways.
Sarah’s eyes flew open, and her hands covered her mouth. “Don’t tell Catie. She doesn’t know. Because what the hell is she going to do? Nope. He drops that shit on me so I can ‘help.’”
She made finger quotes with her hands.
“Because I’m helpful and re-spons-i-ble.”
Tears pooled in her eyes as Sarah punched me in the sternum, and my heart jumped.
“Lawyers,” she wailed. Then, she stepped away like I was a hot stove she hadn’t meant to touch. “I should go find Steve. We were dancing.”
I wrapped an arm around her shoulders and turned her away from the dance floor.
“No Steve. How about we both turn in?”
She was drunker than I’d thought and, if she was confessing her family business, not in control of herself. The condition wasn’t as fascinating in reality as it had been in theory.
I would walk her back to the house and deposit her in her room to sleep it off and, hopefully, forget this conversation.
“You and me?” she asked, stumbling over a small dip in the lawn. “Whoopsie!”
I caught her arm. “Easy.”
“I almost f-fell.”
I smiled. “I know.”
Her voice dipped to a hush. “Seriously. You and me?”
“What?” I asked.
She gazed up, her soft brown eyes pools of questions and warmth. “Turning in together?”
“I just meant—”
Her wicked smile cut me off. “Like my dreams. I’ve had dreams about you. I had one last night. I can’t stop. Not since we met.”
I’d thought of her too. From her first dismissive sneer, I wanted to make her want me in spite of herself. It was a third-grade urge to pull her pigtails and make her pay attention. She didn’t like me. I didn’t care—or maybe I even loved it. Her face flushed with irritation or desire—both gave me a charge.
What did she dream about doing to me? Could it possibly match the things I wanted to do to her right now?
But I wouldn’t. She was wasted.
Sarah’s arms wound around my waist. The soft cushion of her breasts pressed to my side, and a hot urge swept over me. My cheeks burned. My pulse thundered. My dick was so hard I glanced down to make sure it hadn’t poked a hole through my zipper.
“You and me,” I said, “isn’t the worst idea.”
Another time. When she was sober.
Her smile stretched, then faded, her tongue jutted out, rejecting the notion.
“Pfft. It’s a terrible idea, but I dream about you anyway.”
She clutched me, and my heart sank. Of course, I was a terrible idea for her. But her for me?
The thought made me ache.
Author Bio:
Kris Jayne is a devoted writer, reader, and traveler, crafting addictive contemporary romance novels with heat and heart. She spends her days blissfully sweating out the writing process in the Dallas area with her dogs, Otis the Shih Tzu, Rocco the Terrier, and Red the Foxy Mutt.
Her passion for writing is only matched by her passion for the adventures of travel. In 2008, she let a friend talk her into sleeping outside for the first time in her life when she climbed Mount Kilimanjaro.
P.S. If you’re buying her a gift, she has a penchant for single-malt Scotch and scarves.
Website / Goodreads / Instagram / Facebook / Twitter / Newsletter
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Review – Larimar: Gem Of The Sea by Christine E Schulze @AuthorCESchulze @pumpupyourbook
Title: Larimar: Gem of the Sea
Author: Christine E. Schulze
Publisher: KDP Publishing
Pages: 140
Genre: YA Fantasy
MY REVIEW
One of Christine E Schulze’s reasons for writing The Amielian Legacy was to enthrall readers with a fantastical adventure, with characters that will grab the reader’s imagination, bringing them along on an epic quest. Larimar: Gem of the Sea is the first novella of the series, and once I began reading, I didn’t stop until I was finished.
We begin with a map of the Four Realms, and at the end of the book Christine E Schulze explains their history.
Captain Jorah is at the helm of the Gem of the Sea, sailing on another adventure. There is no place he would rather be, and as we learn his story, we find this adventure was a long time coming. It will take him to places he never could imaging, encountering many magical creatures. He is good and kind. At times, his crew thinks he’s out of his mind, but they are loyal to the core.
Larimar seeks his help. Only a mortal can pull the sword, the Serpent’s Bane, from the stone and save the City of Larimar. Reminded me of a Charmed episode, and, of course, King Arthur.
If you love action and adventure, fantasy and characters that run the spectrum, from human to supernatural, quests to solve the riddles of myths and legends, then Larimar: Gem of the Sea by Christine E Schulze may be for you.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Larimar: Gem of the Sea by Christine E Schulze.
BOOK BLURB
A fearless captain and a mysterious girl who walks on water. An underwater city and a destined deadly curse. What could possibly go wrong?
Captain Jorah is renowned for being one of the youngest explorers to ever sail Zephyrian waters. He’s also notorious for landing his crew in situations they hadn’t counted on, involving man-eating mermaids and other dangerous misadventures.
When Jorah decides to search for the legendary underwater City of Larimar, he doesn’t account for the quest that follows. After being rescued from shipwreck by a mysterious young woman who walks on water and carries a singing seashell around her neck, he soon finds himself reunited with an old friend once thought lost to him. Before he knows it, he’s caught up in a race against time to save her yet again, this time from a looming prophecy about a deadly serpent destined to consume her entire race.
Can Jorah help her save her people before the dark prophecy completes itself?
The Amielian Legends is a collection of stand-alone young adult books, all set in the same fantastic universe, that can be read in any order. Read Larimar: Gem of the Sea today to discover new worlds filled with adventure, diverse characters, and whimsical magic.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3WGhwew
Audible: https://amzn.to/3qisbQz
BOOK EXCERPT
Captain Jorah stood proudly aboard the Gem, smiling as his ship departed from the shores of Muriel. He closed his eyes and lifted his face to the sun, relishing its warmth on his fair skin, paler than usual from being cooped up too much this past winter. With a deep inhale, he savored the salty air and released a contented sigh. How good it felt to be one with his beloved ocean once more.
As they picked up speed, the wind tousled his shoulder-length hair about his face. He pulled the unruly locks back, tying them with a bit of twine, and a fond, bittersweet memory played before him. His mother, washing his hair as a young lad, admiring how its golden-brown hues were the same as his father’s. When he grew older, she would run her hands through his hair and say it was golden-brown like the sands of the distant lands he longed so much to discover. Much as he relished this life of adventure, he oft times wished he could trade it for one more simple, precious night with Mama, sitting on the shoreline, talking, and dreaming of a better life. At least he had fulfilled the greater part of her dream by building that life for himself, and so he would go on doing, with each new quest he undertook.
Jorah watched his kingdom of Muriel as it shrank on the horizon. The castle stretched high on the cliffs, its gold-gilded turrets glistening in the rising sun’s prismatic glow. The flags atop the turrets bore Muriel’s royal standard of two aqua-colored seals swimming in a perfect circle on a dark blue backdrop. As the flags waved at the matching banners that flew from the Gem’s masts, Jorah could almost imagine the castle bid him a fond farewell.
Then again, truth be told, he had seen little inside the castle’s walls in the past few years. He hardly recalled the feel of his fine satin sheets or the taste of fine wine. He preferred to be on the go, always seeking his next quest. At nineteen, he had already explored as many of Zephyr’s Islands as could be reached, discovering many unique creatures and plant life, including what had since become the most popular breeds of Thebazilian foxes. He was also one of few who’d dared to travel to the mysterious Western Realm, learning much from the diverse cultures he encountered there.
Jorah had abandoned a life of luxury to pursue his life-long curiosity. He did not seek gold or silver. Nor did he seek to conquer or establish new lands. No, the most favored treasure he sought was that of ancient civilizations, myths, and legends.
Thus, as Jorah bid Caracol, his first mate, to follow him into his cabin, Caracol inwardly groaned. What harebrained mission had the captain concocted this time? Were they searching for trolls, elves, or perhaps narwhals? Caracol hoped it was narwhals. He had always fancied seeing the great “unicorns who ruled the seas.”
Of course, Caracol, like the rest of the crew, looked up to Jorah. He was a good captain and an intelligent man. But Caracol also wasn’t the only member of the crew to question their captain’s sanity from time to time.
When the crew had first come together, they had thought Jorah crazy for believing in the ridiculous legends he was always digging up. Now, they thought him crazy because the legends nearly always proved true, and yet he still insisted on pursuing such “exhilarating journeys,” as he cheerfully called their oft-near-death experiences. The most exhilarating thing the crew usually found about such quests was the trip home, especially after their last mission, where they had nearly been devoured by man-eating mermaids.
Blessed Amiel, Caracol breathed the silent prayer with a shiver, as he recalled the mermaids’ slimy hands clawing at him. Please let it be anything but mermaids.
Despite his nagging worries, Caracol remained silent as he followed his captain into his cabin. After all, Jorah had kept them alive thus far. Surely, he would keep them safe on whatever new mission he had in store.
As Jorah unrolled one of the huge maps and spread it wide on the table, Caracol watched the familiar, eager glint leap into his captain’s bright green eyes.
“This,” Jorah said, pointing to a location on the map, “this is our new destination.”
Caracol peered over Jorah’s shoulder and instantly felt a headache coming on. His captain didn’t even point to a landmark. Rather, he pointed to some random part of the Zephyrian Ocean. Those usually ended up being the worst kinds of adventures. The mermaids’ seaweed stench rushed back to him, making his stomach roil.
Swallowing hard, he said, “That’s in the middle of the Zephyrian Ocean, Captain.”
“Yes, Caracol, and do you know what’s in the middle of the Zephyrian Ocean?”
Caracol didn’t have any idea, but he had the reluctant feeling that he would momentarily find out.
“I don’t know, Captain.”
“The ancient City of Larimar, also known as the ‘Gem of the Sea!’” Jorah tensed, as though he might burst from his rush of excitement. “It’s the legendary city of the Larimar people, named after one of their ancient queens, ‘Larine,’ and ‘mara,’ their word for ‘sea.’ The Larimar people are elves, skilled in magic that allows them to control the very ocean waves…”
Elves, Caracol reflected, as the captain rambled on. Elves aren’t so bad. The last elves they had encountered had given them weapons, jewels, and other gifts. The King of Arabis had been quite impressed with all they had brought to trade, after that expedition. Caracol began to feel a bit more at ease.
“…with amazing buildings constructed from the larimar stone. It’s the most magnificent city ever built on the ocean floor.”
Oh, dear, Caracol thought. Ocean floor. Of course, there hadto be a downfall somewhere. His thoughts darted back to mermaids, and a knot twisted in the pit of his stomach.
“On the ocean floor, Captain? How will we know where to stop sailing and dive below? How will we know when we’ve found this city?”
The determined, decisive gleam Caracol had witnessed far too often in Jorah’s eyes flashed in them now as he said, “Oh, we’ll know, Caracol. Believe me. If the legends are true, and I’ve never yet pursued a legend that wasn’t based in some truth, we’ll know.”
ABOUT CHRISTINE E SCHULZE
Christine E. Schulze has been living in castles, exploring magical worlds, and creating fantastical adventures and romances since she was too young to even write of such stories. Her collection of young adult and children’s fantasy books, The Amielian Legacy, is comprised of series and stand-alone books that can all be read separately, but also weave together to create a single, amazing fantasy.
One of her main aspirations for The Amielian Legacy is to create fantasy stories with characters that connect with readers from many different backgrounds. Her current focus is to include racially diverse characters and those with disabilities. The latter is inspired by Schulze working with adults with autism and other developmental disabilities at Trinity Services in Southern Illinois.
Schulze draws much of her inspiration from favorite authors like Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Diana Wynne Jones, favorite games like The Legend of Zelda, and especially from the people in her life. Some of her exciting ventures include the publication of her award-winning Bloodmaiden, as well as The Gailean Quartet with Words Matter Publishing. Her books for younger readers include In the Land of Giants and The Amazing Captain K.
Christine currently lives in a cozy Hobbit hole, but you can visit her on her website: http://christineschulze.com.
- Website: https://www.authorchristineschulze.com/
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- Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the_enchanted_book_queen
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Giveaway – Far Out by Khaled Talib @partnersincr1me @khaledtalib
Far Out
by Khaled Talib
June 5 – 30, 2023 Virtual Book Tour
Synopsis:
Hollywood movie star Goldie Saint Helen comes out of a coma after a car accident with an altered identity. She now believes she is a hippie detective living in the Sixties, hired to find a missing teenage girl who is about to end up a guinea pig in a CIA drug experiment.
Goldie also thinks screenwriter Blake Deco, her husband, is an intern at her detective agency. For the time being, Blake plays along as advised by the hospital until she recovers her memory.
However, sinister plotters think it is better that Goldie does not wake up from her fantasy-and they have their reasons.
The couple finds themselves embroiled in a dangerous situation. Blake must use his past military skills as he races against the clock to save his wife before she loses her mind forever.
Praise for Far Out:
“Here is Hollywood in all its glam, seductive sleaze as a cast of greed-enabled sharks angle to glom on to a famous movie star’s megamillions. Lots of action plus insider gossip in a witty, entertaining thriller with a groovy 1960’s vibe.”
~ Ruth Harris, NYTimes & Amazon bestselling author
Far Out Trailer:
Book Details:
Genre: Thriller
Published by: Running Wild Press
Publication Date: January 2024
Number of Pages: 325
ISBN: 978-1955062923Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Read an excerpt:
Chapter One
As she lay on the verge along the Pacific Coast Highway under a starless April sky, a faint bleat caught Goldie’s lips. Her heart pounded irregularly as her breath whizzed in and out of her mouth. Blurry faces swam in her vision, and obfuscated voices floated through and lingered in her distorted senses. She heard maybe six; maybe more, maybe less. Her fading bleariness made it hard to tell.
Out of the corner of her eye, Goldie noticed the coils of steam spewing from the hood of an overturned Lexus underneath the mountain incline on the other side of the road. The red car had smashed into a barrier.
How did it happen?
She sucked in the salty breeze, struggling to refocus despite her discombobulation. As she writhed in pain, she felt her eyelids flicker, pulled down by her mortality.
Is it time to go?
Too soon to die.
At least let me say goodbye to…who?
Why can’t I remember anyone?
A hand repeatedly patted Goldie’s cheek, pulling her out of her stupor.
“Stay with me, okay? Don’t sleep. Help is on the way.” The soothing feminine voice kept Goldie in a state of equanimity. Her gaze strayed toward its owner, a young woman with long, dark hair bracketing a set of angelic eyes within a pale, long face etched with concern and worry.
Angel Eyes leered down at Goldie. “Do you feel pain anywhere? Blink once for yes, and twice for no.”
Goldie blinked once.
“Don’t move.” Angel Eyes gleamed with emotion. “An ambulance will be here shortly.”
“She sure looks like Goldie Saint Helen, the movie star,” came from another, astonished voice, this one belonging to a plump curly-haired girl with ringlets across her forehead. “Hey, wait a minute―it is her!”
Movie star? Who? Me?
“You sure?” Goldie heard another voice ask, this one from a man. Moments later, he inched forward, revealing himself: A blond with a surfer haircut.
“Remember Gun Kiss? We watched the movie last year,” said the curly-haired girl. “Goldie Saint Helen. She was kidnapped by a Mexican drug lord. Her husband saved her, and he wrote the original screenplay inspired by the incident.”
A chilly breeze carrying the salty air swept over Goldie’s warm body, and she shivered involuntarily.
“Someone get her a blanket from the van,” Angel Eyes demanded.
The curly-haired girl stood up and scampered away. She returned momentarily with a blanket.
Goldie felt the thick blanket spread over her right up to her neck, rendering immediate warmth.
A smile blossomed across Angel Eyes’s face. “We’ll stay here with you until the ambulance arrives. You’ll be okay.”
A sting suppressed Goldie’s attempt to raise her lips into a smile. So, she blinked once to acknowledge Angel Eyes’s statement.
Car doors banged shut, and Goldie looked up as she heard someone approach.
“What happened here?” asked a woman wearing a jumper.
Goldie looked up at the woman, but the throbbing headache behind her eyes, which had spread across her cheek and down her ears, restrained her from prolonging her focusing. She dropped her eyes, subsiding the tension.
The woman doubled over, hands on her knees, her eyes fixed on Goldie; the look in them was somewhat curious, somewhat empathetic.
“We’re not sure,” the blond man replied. “ We pulled her out of her car,” he said, pointing to the burning car. Flames unfurled from the hood, but were being fought by men with handheld extinguishers containing the fire from spreading in the interior and trunk.
“Did you kids hit her?” a beefy man asked, to which he received a volley of antagonistic replies.
The blond man stood and cocked his head towards a white van parked up ahead, along the verge. “That’s our van over there. Go see if there’s any damage, then come and apologize to us.”
The beefy man raised both hands, palms up. “Take it easy, man. Just making sure.”
“Why don’t we let the police handle it?” said the curly-haired girl.
The beefy man balked, pulling along the woman in the jumper.
Goldie saw more cars blur by, some stopping. Onlookers approached and jostled for a good spot.
“Hey, isn’t she Goldie Saint Helen?” asked a man in a yellow polo T-shirt. He took his phone out of his pocket and took a few pictures of Goldie. The camera flashed repeatedly, briefly blinding her.
“Have you no shame, Mister? She’s a human being,” snapped the curly-haired girl, glowering at the opportunist.
The man in the yellow T-shirt retreated to his car.
“Asshole.” The curly-haired girl stood up and snapped at the other bystanders. “Well, what are you people waiting for? Go ahead and take some more pictures!”
“Take it easy, I can help,” said a bob-haired woman in a gray sweater and white athletic pants.
“Nothing much to be done here, unless you’re a doctor,” Angel Eyes replied to her.
“I’m a nurse,” the bob-haired woman said. “I just thought―”
***
Excerpt from Far Out by Khaled Talib. Copyright 2024 by Khaled Talib. Reproduced with permission from Khaled Talib. All rights reserved.
Author Bio:
Born and raised in Singapore, Khaled Talib’s books have received reviews in Publishers Weekly and international newspapers.
The author is also a member of the International Thriller Writers.
His books have received praise from New York Times bestselling thriller authors, Gayle Lynds, Ruth Harris, and USA Today bestselling authors, Jon Land, Jean Rabe and Fiona Quinn.
Before he started writing thrillers, Khaled was a magazine journalist and public relations consultant.
When he is not writing, Khaled spends most of his time reading, baking, traveling the world.
Catch Up With Khaled Talib:
KhaledTalibThriller.com
Goodreads
BookBub – @KhaledTalib
Instagram – @khaled_talib_books
Twitter – @KhaledTalib
Facebook – @khaled.talib
YouTube – @KhaledTalib
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Giveaway – Tale Of An Anxious Heart by Elsa Jacobs @XpressoTours
Tale of an Anxious Heart
Elsa Jacobs
Publication date: June 14th 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Suspense
Tale of an Anxious Heart follows the heart-wrenching journey of Marianne, a young woman plagued by anxiety, as she takes a hitchhiker on her way to her beach house. Despite her reservations, she can’t help but feel drawn to his dark and mysterious persona. However, with each encounter, she begins to realize the man isn’t the person she thought he was.
As they continue on their journey, Marianne’s anxiety worsens, and she struggles to control it. James becomes a trigger for her panic attacks, yet she can’t seem to let him go. Her anxious heart is torn between her love for him and the need to protect herself from the danger he brings. Their relationship becomes increasingly complicated, and the line between love and hate blurs.
And when they start to find peace, their world is turned upside down. As they run for their lives, Marianne and James are pushed to their limits. They face betrayals, heartbreaks, and death at every turn. The journey is full of angst, heartache, and passion as Marianne struggles with her anxiety and traumas, and James fights for his redemption. Will they make it to safety and find a new life together, or will their pasts consume them both?
—
EXCERPT:
After three hours on the road, we make a pitstop.
“At last!” he blurts, getting out of the car.
Then, I notice something I shouldn’t have. My hitchhiker stands with a slight groan, hand pressed against his right side. And as he stands, he reveals the inside of his jacket, and there it is—a shiny gun sitting in his pocket. My paranoid thoughts aren’t so paranoid after all.
It’s not rocket science to figure out where this equation leads. Nobody carries that kind of gun unless they are a criminal.
I’m going to die, sliced up by a crazy hitchhiker.
Can I handle this?
But then again, he’s hurt. Maybe he’s losing blood; maybe his life is in danger.
And mine?
He enters the convenience store. It’s almost comical; the way he walks, like he’s invincible. Professional criminal, tough as nails. And here I am, professionally screwed.
I imagine what they’ll say on the six o’clock news: “A young woman was found sliced up so her killer could make a house of cards out of the pieces…”
I can’t take my eyes off his form. The man stands tall, arrogant, his badass attitude taped to his face. He feels nothing.
Although, his eyes are more narrowed than before. He’s a human being. A wounded human being and I’m a nurse.
I fill up the car while chewing on my bottom lip. He heads toward the back of the building. My heart is pounding, unsure of what might happen next. I might have made a huge mistake. The options before me are unappealing—leave him there, join him, or wait for him to come back and pretend nothing’s wrong. I finish filling the gas tank and pay, trying my best to appear normal. The store is dimly lit and eerily quiet, adding to my growing uneasiness. A knot forms in my stomach as I push the door open, my heart trying to spread my ribs apart.
My eyes dart back and forth as I scan the aisles frantically, grabbing snacks and drinks, not knowing what the road ahead has in store.
As I approach the exit, my heart is in my throat. I can’t catch my breath, and I only hear an irregular heartbeat in my ears.
Shit, I’m having a panic attack.
Time slows as my legs weaken, and unwanted sweat rolls down my neck. My sweaty palms land on the door, but the ground drops from under me. My vision blurs, and I can’t breathe.
I can’t breathe. I’m going to pass out. Shit.
My phone’s ringtone blares. I don’t recognize the number.
“Yes,” I answer, my voice barely above a whisper.
An old voice comes through the line. I don’t recognize that, either.
“If you value your life, you’ll leave him,” the voice growls.
I glare at my phone.
I don’t even know if my life has any value at all.
“You have a few seconds to leave, Miss Milosh.”
The call disconnects, and my eyes flutter to my phone as it chimes again. Another ring announces an incoming text message, but I ignore it. I know what I need to do. I steel myself for the task ahead, fully aware I’m going to tread dangerous waters. One stop to grab my first aid box, and I’m thrilled.
Author Bio:
I’m Elsa Jacobs, indie author of contemporary romance from sweet and seductive to dark and gritty. All levels of steam.
A few years ago, I found myself obsessed with a bunch of characters and plots, swirling madness in my mind. The only reasonable cure was to write them all. In less than a year, I had written four draft. I had no intention of publishing because fear held me back, and I put them aside, unsure if they were worth sharing with the world.
Years passed, and I finally mustered the courage to read one of my drafts and spoke to an editor, sending them a chapter. The wait for their response was nerve-wracking.
But, as you can imagine, that one chapter led me on a journey that brought me here. And the story is about to be legendary.
My debut novel, Tale of an Anxious Heart, is a fast-paced and thrilling ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat with its twists and turns. This contemporary medium spice read is not your typical romance, featuring morally gray characters and a steamy, possessive alpha male hero who will leave you breathless.
But don’t be fooled by the conventional tropes – My strong female hero is more than capable of holding her own and conquering inner demons as she embarks on a road trip that will change her life forever. Pick up Tale of an Anxious Heart today and discover why it can be challenging to pick up a hitchhiker…
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Giveaway – Infall by Herb Hughes @ireadbooktours
Book Title: INFALL (A Science Fiction Novel) by Herb Hughes
Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 365 pages
Genre: Science Fiction
Publisher: Books From The Pond
Release date: January 2023
Content Rating: PG. There is some mild language and sex. The sex is stated, but not explicitly detailed. There is also some mild sexual innuendo and sexual jokes. One of the lesser characters is a noted ladies man.
What would you do if a naked alien materialized in front of you amid a ball of swirling winds and colored lights? Would you freeze, run away, scream, hit it, or try to communicate?
And what would you think if you discovered these aliens not only come from a different universe but are also far more intelligent than humans and vastly superior technologically?
Martin O’Brien leaves his native Ireland to chase the dream of love, but things go awry. Before he can return home, he becomes involved with the sudden appearance of aliens. This strange anomaly begins with a few “lightshows,” as the press dubs them, but quickly becomes a flood of millions.
The aliens call themselves Embrians. Human reactions range from murdering them for sport to using them for slave labor to worshipping them as gods.
Martin meets Jennifer Daniels, a pregnant young lady struggling to deal with her alcoholism. Together, they treat, harbor, and befriend a wounded alien named Vanya, but their kindness puts them at risk of being arrested.
Not all Embrians are docile and cooperative. Their leader, Vahlion, threatens to conquer America if his demands are not met. Because Embrians are so advanced, the threat is more than real. It is a certainty!
Martin, Jennifer, and Vanya are on a mission to save Earth, but how do you fight against aliens who have mastered entire fields of science that humans did not even know existed?
Author Herb Hughes worked in the computer industry for over two decades and then built a successful private business before retiring to write novels.
“I write in the present, but my stories are about the past and the future: historical fiction and science fiction. I find both fascinating.”
connect with the author: website ~ facebook ~ goodreads
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The Spotlight Is On Murder At The Pontchartrain by Kathleen Kaska @dollycas
Murder at the Pontchartrain by Kathleen Kaska
About Murder at the Pontchartrain
Murder at the Pontchartrain
Cozy Mystery (Humorous)
6th in Series
Setting – New Orleans, Louisiana
Anamcara Press LLC (June 15, 2023)
Paperback : 280 pages
ISBN-10 : 1941237940
ISBN-13 : 978-1941237946
Synopsis
Private detective Sydney Lockhart and her boyfriend/partner, Ralph Dixon, are headed for New Orleans to tie the knot—again. Having been stalled on their first attempt by some unfinished business dealing with their last case, Sydney and Dixon are now in the Pontchartrain Hotel in the Big Easy. While their marriage license rests at the courthouse for its 24-hour waiting period, they stroll to the French Quarter to visit Rip Thigbee, Sydney’s friend from her previous investigation. Rip owns Finder of Lost Souls, a detective agency dealing with the spirits of murder victims whose cases remain unsolved.
When Sydney and Dixon are at Rip’s office, they learn he went missing after investigating the disturbance of local businessman Frank Threadgill’s crypt. Voodoo Queen Frida Mae, whose shop is located next to Thigbee’s, fears that bad juju led to Threadgill’s death and has now infiltrated Rip’s business. Upon returning to their hotel room, to plan their next step, they find Threadgill’s wife, Mildred, waiting for them. Unfortunately, Mildred has been murdered. The police haul the couple down to the station. Their alibi checks out, but they are told to stick around for a few days. Soon a hotel housemaid is murdered, and this time Dixon is arrested, and Sydney is on her own to find the killer.
Hearing of their predicament, Sydney’s bubble-headed cousin, Ruth, and Sydney’s young charge, twelve-year-old Lydia LeBeau, show up to lend an unwelcome hand. Ruth goes undercover as a chef at the hotel. Lydia, who can talk the Pope into letting her assist in saying Mass, talks her way into the famous Pat O’Brien’s bar, where the locals are eager to share what they know.
After interviewing Mildred Threadgill’s family, Sydney begins her investigation by delving into Frank Threadgill’s mysterious past and discovers that he isn’t who he claims to be. The business he once owned was a cover involving an organization of WWII war criminals and the local Ku Klux Klan. As Sydney gets closer to the truth, she is attacked and left for dead in a nearby swamp. With the help of a few jaunty Cajuns, Sydney makes it back to the city with enough evidence to get Dixon released. Ruth thinks she knows who the killer is. Lydia has her own theory and is convinced Ruth is wrong. Sydney doesn’t know who to trust, convinced that every witness she’s interviewed has lied. But her most shocking realization is that the biggest liar is her own future husband.
Excerpt from Murder at the Pontchartrain
Dixon and I were sitting in the interrogation room in the downtown police station when we got word that the dead woman was Mildred Threadgill. Dixon explained our interest in Mrs. Threadgill, as well as the damage done to her husband’s tomb, and that our friend Rip Thigbee was missing and last seen with Mrs. Threadgill. None of which made a rat’s ass difference to Detective Bergeron who was questioning us. Luckily, our alibi checked out. The people staying in the room next to ours said they heard a commotion and then a scream at the time we were talking to the attendant at the cemetery. Nevertheless, the woman was killed in our room. There was a knife missing from our breakfast tray, possibly the murder weapon. The only person in New Orleans who knew we were staying here was Betsy Radley. We were released, but told to stick around.
“Are we on a case?” I asked.
“We’re on a case. What choice do we have? Deal with a murder today. Get married tomorrow.”
“Does that marriage license have an expiration date?”
“It’s good for two weeks. Maybe we should have kept the rental car.”
Betsy was a little more forth coming with information when we returned to Rip’s office to tell her that Mildred Threadgill had been murdered.
“Oh, my,” Betsy said. “Mrs. Threadgill was here after you left, demanding to see Rip. I told her I didn’t know where he was and that the last time I saw him he was with her. She became livid. She said he was supposed to call her a couple of days ago.”
“And you sent her to us?” Dixon asked.
“She wouldn’t leave,” Betsy said. “I didn’t know what else to do. You said you’d help, so I told her where you were staying.”
“Any idea who would kill her?” Dixon asked, adding a hardness to his voice. When he did that, I knew he was losing his patience.
“I . . . I don’t know,” Betsy stammered.
“I’ll look through Rip’s notes again,” I said.
“So the last time you saw Rip he was headed to the cemetery with Mildred Threadgill, and you haven’t seen or heard from him since?”
“Yes, yes that’s right,” Betsy whispered.
“You’ve been here all week and you haven’t heard from anyone? No one’s called or come in? Just Mrs. Threadgill after we left?”
Betsy began blubbering, which turned to sobs, then to hiccups. Finally, she managed a vigorous shake of her head.
“I want Rip’s home address,” Dixon said.
“He lives upstairs in the apartment on the left. I don’t have a key, but Frida Mae is the landlady. She has one. Wait here. I’ll get it.”
We walked into Rip’s apartment. You wouldn’t think a single guy, an ex-bouncer to be so immaculately neat. Rip didn’t own a lot of possessions, but what he had was clean and orderly. A stack of dinner plates sat on the kitchen counter next to two coffee cups in perfect alignment. Clean silverware stood in a drinking glass. The toaster, minus crumbs, shone like a beacon. Two spotless sauce pans and a skillet were arranged on top of the icebox. What little space he had in the kitchenette he made good use of. The cabinet held a can of sardines, a can of pinto beans, and a box of Wheaties. On the top shelf inside the icebox, sat a package of bacon, carton of eggs, and a stick of butter. The lower shelf held a case of Falstaff beer cans, also aligned with each label showing out. I looked over to find Dixon staring off into space.
“What is it?”
“Betsy’s lying. She knows more than she’s telling.”
“She’s scared. You should have pushed her harder.”
“Let her stew for now. Was Rip in the military?”
“Not that I know of. Why?”
“I can’t find one wrinkle in his bed sheets. His pillow case smells freshly laundered. There’s no dust on the floor under the bed. His dresser contains the usual undershirts, socks, underwear, and handkerchiefs.”
Dixon opened the closet door. Two dress shirts, a pair of slacks, a sport coat hung neatly, each in their proper category. “Look at this. A pair of scuffed cowboy boots.”
“Don’t sound surprised. Any self-respecting Texan has scuffed cowboy boots, even me.” I looked down at his wingtips.
“What?”
“This entire time I thought you were perfect, but I just realized you’re not.”
Dixon straightened his tie. “You’re questioning your assessment of me?”
I held up Rip’s boots.
“Wait. I’m not ever going to wear cowboy boots. I don’t have to, I’m not a Texan.”
“You will soon be one by marriage. I suggest black boots, slightly rounded toes, modicum amount of stitchery. I’ll shop around.”
“No.”
“At least you can wear them around the house.”
“No.”
“Wearing nothing else, just your boots.”
“Well, maybe.”
About Kathleen Kaska
Kathleen Kaska is the author of the awarding-winning mystery series: the Sydney Lockhart Mystery Series set in the 1950s and the Kate Caraway Animal-Rights Mystery Series. Her first two Lockhart mysteries, Murder at the Arlington and Murder at the Luther, were selected as bonus books for the Pulpwood Queen Book Group, the country’s largest book group. She also writes mystery trivia. The Sherlock Holmes Quiz Book was published by Rowman & Littlefield. Her Holmes short story, “The Adventure at Old Basingstoke,” appears in Sherlock Holmes of Baking Street, a Belanger Books anthology. She is the founder of The Dogs in the Nighttime, the Sherlock Holmes Society of Anacortes, Washington, a scion of The Baker Street Irregulars. Watch for Murder at the Pontchartrain: the 6th Sydney Lockhart Mystery in June 2023.
Author Links
- Website http://www.kathleenkaska.com
- Twitter https://twitter.com/KKaskaAuthor
- Facebook http://www.facebook.com/kathleenkaska
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- BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/search/authors?search=Kathleen%20Kaska
- Amazon https://www.amazon.com/author/www.kathleenkaska.com
Purchase Links – Anamcara Press – Amazon
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Giveaway & Father’s Day Gift Idea – 18 Golf Poems by Ronald Colby @ireadbooktours
Book Title: 18 Golf Poems and A Recollection at the 19th Hole by Ronald Colby
Category: Adult Non-Fiction, 54 pages
Genre: Poetry
Publisher: The Colby Company
Release date: 2022
Content Rating: G for everyone.
“Colby has written a novel of relentless energy. While driving a cab at night, his main character hunts his wife’s killers through LA’s dark streets of dreams and nightmares. It’s tense, episodic, complete, and compelling. It’s quite a ride.” ― Francis Ford Coppola, director of The Godfather and Apocalypse Now
“Colby’s well-paced first novel takes the reader on a winding, exhilarating ride through late-1970s Los Angeles.” ― Publishers Weekly
“Big news: Ron Colby’s Night Driver is a contemporary noir novel that deserves a place next to Chandler, Connolly, and Wambaugh. The story of a man who drives a taxi through the night streets of Los Angeles searching for his wife’s killers makes an exciting, original and hard-to-put-down book. Colby knows his turf, his characters and he gets everything right.” ― Michael Elias, author of The Last Conquistador
Giveaway – You Killed My Wife by A J Wilton @partnersincr1me
You Killed My Wife
by A J Wilton
June 13, 2023 Book Blast
Synopsis:
Mort’s first goal on returning home to Brisbane after retiring from the armed forces is to investigate his wife’s death…
With a post-mortem trail that presents him with scandalous industrial espionage and both police and political corruption within Queensland, Mort finds his colleague Pig is the only one he can trust as he delves into the depths of putrid filth in his home state. Together, they must combat this insidious situation, battle not only rife politics and procedures but also outlaw bikie gangs out to protect their own interests.
With a skillset learned from the front-line military, Mort and Pig’s journey is filled with intrigue and danger and ultimately comes to a climax that will see them at the brink of their own existence with only the air in their lungs to keep them alive…
One answer has many questions…
Praise for You Killed My Wife:
“A great read… Suspenseful and exciting with every turn of the page and well researched and captivating characters… Excellent…”
~ Daniel, Indie Book reviewer
Book Details:
Genre: Australian Thriller
Published by: Shawline Publishing House
Publication Date: June 2023
Number of Pages: 320
ISBN: 9781922993045 (ISBN10: 1922993042)
Series: You Killed My Wife, Book 1
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | Shawline Publishing House
Read an excerpt:
1.
‘You killed my wife.’
There, I had said it. Finally, after all these months of wondering how it would sound. It was out there. The reaction was about what I had expected.
Dillion Benson turned his focus to me and was about to tell me to ‘F … off’ no doubt, but seeing me, he stopped. It had certainly stilled the various conversations amongst his group (and some surrounding groups as well).
Benson wasn’t the first to respond. Joe Lancaster, his boss and the detective inspector, responded, ‘And who might you be?’
‘He knows,’ I said, nodding at Benson.
Benson looked at me and asked, ‘Mort?’ He offered his hand, and I nodded and shook hands with who I believed was my wife’s killer. He continued, ‘It was an accident – the coroner has signed off on it. But I must say I am truly sorry for your loss.’
I did not say anything, just stared at him, making him and some of his colleagues uncomfortable. I am a big man and admit I do know how to intimidate.
Another of his colleagues, whose name I wasn’t sure of, piped up. ‘What do you care?
You didn’t even make the funeral.’
I turned the stare onto him, causing an increase in the tension Eventually, I replied, ‘The Army were unable to extract me, didn’t even tell me she had been killed until our mission was complete.’
I continued to stare at him, gradually broadening my look to include the Detective Inspector and Benson, and said, ‘I have read the coroner’s report. I find it intriguing it is not mentioned anywhere that you are a serving policeman, or that a blood test was carried out. So that alone makes the report interesting reading.’
I let that hang, slowly placing my empty glass on their table without breaking eye contact with Benson.
I said As I left, I told him, ‘You will be seeing me again.’
Upon this, I left the bar and the pub. There, I have set the ball rolling – let the dice fall where they will. If I had known then what those four words, ‘You killed my wife,’ would lead to, would I have uttered them?
You betcha!
***
Excerpt from You Killed My Wife by A J Wilton. Copyright 2023 by A J Wilton. Reproduced with permission from A J Wilton. All rights reserved.
Author Bio:
A J Wilton is an Australian small businessman with two thriving businesses who turned to writing through the quieter times brought on by Covid. He describes himself as a ‘Hobby Author’ fitting this into his already time-poor days. To date he has written two novels in his series about Mort and Pig in what is planned to be a series of five.
He lives in the Gold Coast hinterland in Queensland. He and his wife, both inveterate travellers, look forward to exploring somewhere new, with A J able to indulge his other hobby of landscape photography. He has three adult children and three grandchildren.
Catch Up With A J:
www.AJWilton.com
Goodreads
Instagram – @aj_wilton_author
Facebook – @AJWiltonAuthorOfficial
Tour Participants:
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ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN:
This is a giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for A J Wilton. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.
Get More Great Reads at Partners In Crime Tours
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- Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
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