Tag Archives: coming of age

$25 GC – Accidental Paradise by Eric Grandy @goddessfish #ericgrandy #accidentalparadise

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I am always curious how an author choses their cover. I find the cover for Accidental Paradise by Eric Grandy simple yet intriguing. I invited Eric to share his thoughts.

What you love about the cover and why it fits the book.

The cover for “Accidental Paradise” is much like the plot, both simple and complex. What starts out as an innocent search for the idyllic vacation spot for my protagonist, movie star LaVern Whitaker, evolves into a fight for survival for her and her adopted small town. The images in the lenses, the Hollywood sign and the country house, are the essential elements that connect her to both.

The image is of a young and attractive Black woman, and the unsmiling, partially obscured face lends a touch of mystery. Is it LaVern or is it a stock photo? The reader gets to decide. It also looks misleadingly innocent, like she isn’t the determined protector she turns out to be. The eye-catching cover demands your attention, much like movie idol LaVern when she’s out in public. The sunglasses are symbolic of LaVern’s initial attempts to hide her true identity.    

ACCIDENTAL PARADISE by Eric Grandy

GENRE: Coming of Age

BLURB

Natural talent, hard work, and a childhood friend help LaVern Whitaker find her calling as an actress.  When her life becomes overwhelming, they discover a small town where her true identity can remain unknown and she can stay out of the spotlight.  The more she visits her secret getaway, the more deeply she feels connected to the history, the lifestyle, and the people.  Could this place be her home away from home, or become the home she has dreamed of?  Or will sinister forces rip it all away?

EXCERPT

“Make me a promise, Shaundra. Promise me we will always be best friends.”

“I promise, Peaches.”

LaVern stood up and said she had better head back. “Are you coming over tomorrow?”

“Hell yeah.”

Both girls had a hardy laugh at that one.

As Freeman and Jackie watched their daughter recross the street, they noticed a more delighted and relieved child than the one who left a few minutes earlier.

The girls resumed their old routine of talking and gossiping in LaVern’s bedroom. Shaundra asked more questions about her new school; how did she like going to school with White kids? Did she hang out with the other Black students? How was she treated? LaVern did her best to answer; No, she wasn’t completely accepted by everyone, she wasn’t friends with all the Black kids, she still felt very self-conscious being one of a few Black students in an all-White school, sometimes she felt very alone but she had made a few friends.

“My daddy said it would take a little while, that I would get used to it. He said I would get a better education.”

“Well, you’re already smart Peaches. You’ll be smart no matter what school you go to.”

“Well, it is harder than 139, but I’m doing OK.

“I know you, Peaches. If you say you doing OK, I know you killin’ it.”

LaVern looked down at her feet. “Well, I’m doing alright.”

But the Big Dog was right. She was killing it.

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links

Eric Grandy was born and raised in Baltimore City and graduated from City College. After he graduated from Essex Community College, he was drafted by the Chicago Cubs and played six years for that team. He went on to a variety of jobs: photographer, lab manager, driver for DHL and warehouse manager. After retirement, he decided to devote himself to writing, producing several short stories and Accidental Paradise, his debut novel.

Grandy still lives in Baltimore with his wife Rhonda and his daughter Marti.

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Giveaway – Barnabas Bartholomew And The Undead Freshman by Matthew Lett @xpressotours #matthewlett

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Barnabas Bartholomew and the Undead Freshmen
Matthew Lett
Publication date: September 16th 2025
Genres: Coming of Age, Fantasy

Death isn’t the end of education—at least not at UniverZity U., where fourteen-year-old Barnabas “Barney” Bartholomew is about to begin his freshman year.

As a recently raised zombie trying to make his undead mother proud, Barney must navigate the haunted halls of an underground mausoleum-turned-school, where strict Crypt Keepers enforce ancient rules and mysterious passages hide untold dangers. With fellow freshman facing expulsion for merely refusing to eat their grits, Barney knows he’ll need more than just good grades to survive. But when he discovers his beloved grandfather’s connection to this shadowy institution, Barney realizes there might be more to UniversZity U.—and himself—than meets his speckled blue eyes.

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

“What in the heck is a lich?” Barney asked.

“It’s a member of the Undead class, like us, except it was brought back to life by a sorcerer or a necromancer for evil purposes.”

“What sort of evil purposes?” Barney asked. There was a knot in his stomach; a bundle of nerves resting on the edge of a guillotine.

“Hard to tell,” Pudgy replied. “Depends on what the sorcerer wants the lich to do. He could use it as an assassin, I suppose, to knock off his enemies, or as a bodyguard. Or in this case, a guard dog over a graveyard.”

“But why a graveyard? What would a sorcerer want in a graveyard anyway? And what if it’s not even there? This lich thing. Suppose it’s gone?”

Pudgy shrugged. “Then it’s gone and we don’t have to worry about anything. But if it is real, and there is a lich wandering around, it’ll be looking for souls to eat. That’s why we need the crucifix, to repel it.”

“’Souls to eat?’” Barney repeated. “Are you serious?” He felt light-headed for a second; the world beyond his eyes in a lazy swoon.

“Quite serious,” Pudgy answered. “That’s what liches do. They eat the undead, and if they can, they’ll eat their souls too.”

Barney’s face paled at the thought. An undead cannibal running around the graveyard? That’s what it was! An undead cannibal! The dead eating the dead, for Christ’s sake!

Pudgy caught the look on Barney’s face; pallid, the sickly color of cream cheese left out in the sun for too long. He snickered. “Hey, calm down. It’s a legend, remember? We’ll be fine. Trust me.”

Barney didn’t answer, his tongue frozen to the roof of his mouth, when Millicent cleared her throat. “Guys?” She tapped the face of her wristwatch. “We need to go if we plan on making curfew. You can discuss the ins-and-outs of liches later, but we need to move.”

“You’re right,” Pudgy said. “I’ll take the lead with the flashlight. Milly, you’ll be behind me. Barney next and then Marcy, and I don’t want you two kissing back there. Agreed?”

Barney blushed clear to his toes. Marcy smiled at him. Millicent laughed out loud and Pudgy winked at Barney, who was staring at the tops of his shoes with a sheepish grin. “Yeah, yeah, okay…” he mumbled. “Funny, real funny, now can we go?”

And so they entered the southwest tunnel, its passages by now near memorized. It was more of a home away from home for the children; its twists and turns nothing more than well-travelled streets and avenues in their hometowns.

Barney stepped through (minus his flashlight which he’d given to Pudgy), when a thought struck him like a phantom stone in the darkness: Pudgy never fully answered my question, he thought. Why the graveyard? Why would a sorcerer (or a necromancer, for that matter) want a lich guarding a graveyard for him? Hmmm…

###

The trip to the graveyard took less than forty-five minutes, and the four of them arrived to find the wrought iron gates unlocked, and the tombstones shrouded in a silky mist of pale fog. A raven, with one eye missing, was perched on a spire atop the gate. It looked down at the children, as if considering their plight, then cawed in its shrill voice a single word they heard all too well:

“BEWARE!”

The raven took flight after its portent of doom. It did a hop and a half-skip, spread its wings, and then soared over the face of the moon reflected in the wavering mist. The raven disappeared as Pudgy opened the gate in a scream of rust. It was loud in the tranquil of the graveyard; as good as any doorbell that rings after midnight.

“Smooth move,” Barney quipped.

“Sorry,” Pudgy said. “I didn’t expect that. Let’s go.”

They walked through the gates; their eyes blind, sinking in what they could not see. Silence–the full-time caretaker of the grounds–greeted them. Distant thunder rolled over the clouds in the east. Lightning followed and took a snapshot of the graveyard for posterity’s sake.

And had there been a black cat perched on the back of a tombstone, with its yellow lamp-lit eyes and its spine arched in a splay of fur, it would not have surprised Barney in the least. The graveyard was spooky, if not picturesque in the simmering light of the moon; a mural better suited on the backdrop of a Halloween landscape.

“What now?” Barney whispered. The air was dank, hollow

somehow. There was no need to whisper, but the graveyard almost

demanded—dared that it be so upon its consecrated ground.

Author Bio:

Matthew Lett was born in Kassel, Germany. Currently, he lives in Sapulpa, Oklahoma with his wife of 39 years, and their two daughters, who also reside in Oklahoma. He’s also a Veteran of the United States Navy, serving on both the U.S.S. Saratoga and U.S.S. America aircraft carriers from 1985-1989. Matthew has been a prolific writer for over 20 years and is a multi-published author with an array of Novels, Novellas, Novelettes, and assorted short stories in a variety of genres. Most of his work can be found in Horror/Suspense/Mystery categories.
During his leisure time, Matthew enjoys rock-n’-roll music, attends church on a regular basis, watches Mystery Science Theatre 3000, reading, and playing with his 3 grandchildren. And of course, Writing. His books include such titles as, “He Who Walks the Corridors,” (Wolf on Water pub.), “Trail of Love and Death,”, “Woodview Heights: Legacy of Decadence” Trilogy and “Barnabas Bartholomew and The Undead Freshmen.”
Matthew Lett can be reached via e-mail for comments, feedback, and suggestions at matthew74107@yahoo.com


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    • $20 GC & Review – A New Life by L J Ambrosio @authorlambrosio @GoddessFish

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    A NEW LIFE L.J. Ambrosio

    GENRE:  Coming-of-Age

     

    MY REVIEW

    I have been reading the Reflections Of Michael Trilogy by L J Ambrosio since I got my hands on the first book, A Reservoir Man. The series is thought provoking, leaving me thinking of the things L J Ambrosio shared long after the books have been read.

    If you love character driven books, this series is for you. L J Ambrosio explores humanity, the feelings of friendship, love, grief and loss, hate and prejudice.

    A New Life may be a quick read, but it was filled with emotion. The ugliness of politics and homophobia play a part in Louie’s life. I had a thought of what was to come for him, but I was still caught off guard when it happened.

    My thanks go out to Goddess Fish Promotions and L J Ambrosio for the opportunity to read and review A New Life.

    Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
    4 Stars

    BLURB

    From America to the streets of Paris, A New Life follows two friends as they navigate grief, love, and self-discovery in a city filled with history and hope.

    A New Life is a story that lingers long after the last page

    EXCERPT

    They spent the rest of the trip talking about Rhonda and how great she was, from the fight where she tried to protect Ron to the National Cemetery where she was left behind by accident at dusk, not found until midnight.

    Louie started crying, and Ron comforted him, assuring him that the pain was fine; he needed to accept it.

    “Rhonda was so smart,” Louie said proudly. “Some people don’t know the relationship between an owner and their pet. It is so special, so unconditional. Rhonda will always be a part of me. It was nice to bury her here in America, her home country.”

    A while later, Ron and Louie arrived at their motel. Ron said to him, “Let’s get the luggage and go to bed. Hey, I was thinking when we get back to Paris, you should move in me with me and stop sleeping in the bookstore.”

    Louie could not believe what he heard. Sharing more time with Ron would be special; he was excited to have that time together.

    Louie and Ron had a chuckle over how Rhonda refused to walk on the sidewalks in Paris because of all the cigarette butts on the ground; she had to be pushed around in a baby carriage, because she did not want to burn her paws.

    AUTHOR Bio and Links

    Louis J. Ambrosio ran one of the most nurturing bi-coastal talent agencies in Los Angeles and New York. He started his career as a theatrical producer, running two major regional theaters for eight seasons. Ambrosio taught at seven universities. Ambrosio also distinguished himself as an award-winning film producer and novelist over the course of his impressive career.

    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ljambrosioauthor/
    • Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorlambrosio
    • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/louis.ambrosio
    • Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/ljambrosio
    • Blog: https://ljambrosio.blogspot.com/
    • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI2XkCETDOj_VUtCFcB74ig
    • Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Life-Reflections-Michael-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B0F9YPJZQ3/ref=sr_1_1
    a Rafflecopter giveaway

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    MY L J AMBROSIO REVIEWS

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    $25 GC – Turning Toward Eden by Cate Touryan @dollycas @CateTouryan

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    Turning Toward Eden
    by Cate Touryan

    About Turning Toward Eden

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    Turning Toward Eden
    Young Adult Mystery/General Fiction: Coming of Age, Historical Mystery, Literary
    Setting – California 1971
    Publisher ‏ : ‎ Winged Publications
    Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 6, 2025
    Print length ‏ : ‎ 350 pages
    ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1965352766
    ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1965352762
    Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DRRGK3W5
    AUDIOBOOK COMING SOON!

    “Chasing the truth, huh? Sure you’re not running from it?” Hollis might be her only friend, a lanky boy Mama calls her “beau,” but Eden Lewis has no time for his hogwash. She’s got a mystery to crack. For most fourteen-year-olds, California summers in the early 1970s mean sun and surf, despite the Cold War chill. Not for Eden. Her AWOL father has sent her life into a tailspin, landing her in a shabby beach town, stuck caring for her severely disabled brother. Caught in her parents’ own cold war, Eden ditches Dex at every chance—pier fishing with Hollis, playing poker with the grizzled card sharks, and caterwaulin’ in the church choir, laying plain to the Almighty that singing terms ain’t the same as speaking terms, what with the hand he’s dealt her.

    Then Raven arrives mid-ninth grade—an elusive Soviet girl rumored to rain black-winged curses over the fearful town. When a rash of petty crimes escalates to bloodshed on the beach, suspicion falls on the “commie”—and then Eden. Desperate to prove herself innocent, and Raven guilty, she embarks on a reckless game of chase. But for the truth to set her free, she must risk Dex’s life. Will she go all in, no matter the cost?

    An evocative story laced with mystery, Turning Toward Eden weaves nostalgia with grit, sorrow with humor, and despair with faith, offering hope to anyone who has sought to belong in a world that rarely plays fair.

    “This is storytelling at its most atmospheric—brimming with quirky, well-drawn characters, razor-sharp prose, and the kind of setting you can almost smell. The writing is lyrical, grounded, and often laugh-out-loud funny—even in the midst of deeply poignant moments. With a cast of endearing misfits and a tone reminiscent of Southern Gothic charm, this story lures you in from the very first line and doesn’t let go. Cate Touryan has a truly original voice, a rare gift for language, and a special ability to render a world so vivid you feel baptized in it.” — Zena Dell Lowe, Screenwriter, Story Coach, and Founder of The Storyteller’s Mission

    Audiobook Coming Soon!
    The audiobook edition of Turning Toward Eden is in production and on its way to Audible, iTunes, and beyond. Stay tuned for a richly narrated experience, perfect for readers who love stories on the go.

    About Cate Touryan

    Cate Touryan writes fiction and creative nonfiction that reach for the story beyond the story and the beginning beyond “The End.” Her complex, realistic narratives often touch on themes of faith. While she avoids gratuitous violence and profanity, keeping any romance clean, she does not shy away from portraying the grit and beauty of real life, instead writing the truest story she can, infused with heart and humor. Her fiction will delight young adults and adults still young.

    Cate invites you to journey with her into lives both real and imagined, wherein might lie glimpses of your own story beyond the story and an ending redeemed.

    Author Links

    Purchase Link – Amazon 

    TOUR PARTICIPANTS

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    Review – Fangs Of Fate by Rebecca Parcha #rebeccaparcha #fangsoffate

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    GOODREADS

    MY REVIEW

    I saw the colorful cover and the title for Fangs Of Fate by Rebecca Parcha and knew I had to have it. I want to thank Rebecca for the opportunity to read this novel filled with magic and fantasy, and dragons, vampires and fae.

    We start with action and it never lets up.

    Tate Aaralyn is both prey and predator—a duality that defines her.

    I love Tate. You may wonder how she can be prey and predator both, but all I’m going to tell is she has her own set of rules and she does color outside the lines. I love characters that walk the fine line of right and wrong, consequences be damned. I guess you could call this a coming of age for twenty year old Tate. She is put to the test and she does rise to the occasion.

    Fangs Of Fate by Rebecca Parcha is told from two points of view…Tate’s and Chance’s. Tate and Chance used to have a romantic relationship, but he had crossed a line that Tate cannot forgive. Will they be able to overcome their past? We won’t find out in Fangs Of Fate and the book does end on a bit of a cliffhanger, but I felt, if the book was going to be divided, it was the perfect place to stop. The second book, Daughter Of Destiny is due to be published in May of 2025, so it’s not a long wait.

    Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
    4 Stars

    GOODREADS BLURB

    Tate Aaralyn is both prey and predator—a duality that defines her. Beyond the veil that separates worlds, lies the the home of vampires. There, she is prey—fragile, weak, her flaws laid bare. She is a vampire who struggles with the ethics of feeding. And yet, in the human realm she is the executioner of justice.

    But when Tate is sent to a disciplinary hearing that results in forced enlistment to the gaura, her worst nightmare is made real. In desperation to make a lasting difference, Tate faces her biggest challenge yet—Aether, a vampire unlike any other.

    As lines blur, she must navigate the labyrinth of lies and embrace her newfound power, all while questioning her mysterious bond to the male who has managed to capture her heart and, somehow, earn her trust.

    Chance Dale may be the president’s son, but even with his birthright he is, by all accounts, a disappointment. After witnessing evil evolving and the violation of life as he knows it, Chance must find a way to defeat the dark magic before it spreads. The world of politics becomes nuanced, and he is forced to question the very statutes that have guided his life or watch everything he’s worked for burn.

    Chance’s quest to secure the Glenn from foreign powers has his path crossing with Tate’s—his former lover and deepest regret. As the truth unravels, he must choose between the love he once had or the one he could have. Worse yet, that very love could soon become the enemy he hunts.

    • Genre: Dragons, Fantasy, Fiction, Magic, Romance, Vampires
    • 474 pages, Kindle Edition
    • Published October 29, 2024
    • Series: Untish #1

    ABOUT REBECCA PARCHA

    I love all things fiction, specifically, fantasy. Add a little romance, or sometimes a whole heap, and you’ll find my specialty: romantasy. As an avid reader and devourer of all things Fae, dragon, and magical, my work (as you may have guessed) is centered in that world. I love a strong female protagonist who defies the patriarchy while learning to love and trust.

    I am one of the lucky ones; I married my high school sweetheart and am a mother of two adorable, rambunctious boys. As a Colorado native, I love the sunshine and crisp air while enjoying the outdoors with my guys…have I mentioned I’m outnumbered?

    Stories have always held me captive—they are the air I breathe. It is my purest pleasure to share with you the tales that have been burning in my heart. To see a full list of my works, please visit my website at https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/51397939.Rebecca_Parcha

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    $25 GC – Forever We Dream by Mark Workman @xpressotours

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    Forever We Dream
    Mark Workman
    Publication date: March 19th 2025
    Genres: Coming of Age, Young Adult

    Three voices, one dream, and a chance to uncover the truth.

    It’s 1978, and the glittering disco craze is sweeping across America. Identical conjoined triplets Elliana, Bellamona, and Gabriella have one shared dream: finding their mother, who vanished without a trace years ago. Singing is their only solace, and now they have a chance to take that passion to the national stage.

    When they’re invited to compete in Your Shooting Star, a famous music competition, the teenage sisters see it as their chance to reunite with the woman they can’t remember but long to know. But stepping into the spotlight means facing their greatest fears. As the underdogs fight to stay in the contest, they must brave ruthless rival Twyla-Violet, a former child model determined to claim the coveted title at any cost.

    While the four-round competition heats up, secrets, lies, and conspiracies threaten to tear their world apart. Can the triplets stand strong and use the power of television to reconnect with their past? Or will their dream shatter under the pressure of fame?

    Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

    —

    EXCERPT:

    Carla gawked at the triplets, shocked by their wrecked makeup. “What have you done?”

    Katherine stepped over to them. “Carla, I’ll take care of the girls.” She took in their disturbed faces. “Did Twyla-Violet do something to you again?”

    Mona sniffed back her tears. “It doesn’t matter anymore.”

    “Sixty seconds,” Carla announced behind them.

    Katherine pulled the girls around her. “Don’t let that bully beat you. There’s no time to fix your makeup. You must turn this crisis into a tactical advantage. I want you to think of the one thing you want more than anything else and imagine how you’d feel if you couldn’t have it.”

    Papilio stared up at her, six amber irises adrift in the pain-stained red sclera of their eyes.

    “That’s how we feel now,” Mona muttered as another black tear dripped from her chin and soiled more of their white blouse.

    “So put those painful emotions into every word you sing and note you play. Understand, Papilio?”

    Appearing almost catatonic, the triplets nodded slowly.

    Carla pointed at the stage. “Ten seconds!”

    Gently, Katherine brushed a black tear from Mona’s soft jawline with the back of her fingers. “And don’t forget to sing the lyrics from a girl’s perspective. Make them personal.” She stepped back and gestured for Papilio to go.

    “Thanks for everything,” Mona said as if it would be the last time they ever saw the coach they had come to admire.

    An aching feeling in the pit of Mona’s stomach told her something awful was about to happen. She sensed the judges sharpening their axes, anticipating the metallic taste of blood, ready to exact their punishment on Papilio for being naive enough to think three homely zeros were good enough to become America’s Teen Shooting Star. Their wacko mother didn’t even want them—why would anyone else?

    As the dimmed lights increased in intensity, Papilio joined hands, put their right feet forward, and marched onstage while being careful not to trip in their tall platform heels. Halfway there, Gabby lost her concentration. Her ankle twisted sideways, and she nearly fell before Mona, anchored by Ellie, pulled Gabby’s arm and helped her recover, preventing an embarrassing human avalanche.

    Despite the triplets’ messy state, the crowd behind Twyla-Violet’s cheering section applauded loudly. The Empress fan club, still decked out in violet band T-shirts, filled the front row as if they were permanently cemented to the seats. Their jaws dropped when they saw Papilio’s sloppy makeup and ruined costume. The hecklers were so shocked by their disheveled appearance, they forgot to snicker.

    Papilio’s die-hard fan from their school’s math club stood in the middle of the row behind the jeerers. She held a sign that read Go Papilio! Her metal braces glinted as she jumped up and down, black pigtails bouncing, cheering for the band. Two other calculators with her screamed even louder.

    Papiliomania was becoming contagious.

    Author Bio:

    Mark Workman toured the world as a road manager and lighting designer with many famous rock bands for 33 years. After leaving the music business in 2015, he worked at a major drug and alcohol treatment center in Malibu, California, for four years, where he earned his certification as a drug and alcohol counselor. Mark now spends his time reading, writing, and traveling. He grew up in Petersburg, Virginia, has lived in Greater Los Angeles for most of his adult life, and currently resides in the Las Vegas area. His estrangement from his late father since the age of six, along with his love for the music of the Bee Gees and 70s nostalgia, greatly inspired his debut novel, Forever We Dream.

    Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram


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    $25 Starbuck’s GC – Tumult In Mecca by Hans Peter Bech @ireadbooktours @hpbech

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    Book Details:

    Book Title:  Tumult in Mecca: From Civil Servant to Global Business Adventurer: Henrik Bertelsen’s Unexpected Journey by Hans Peter Bech
    Category:  Adult Fiction 18+, 276 pages
    Genre:  Literature & Fiction, Historical Fiction, World Literature European/Scandinavian, Coming of Age
    Publisher:  BOOX 
    Release date:   August 2024
    Content Rating:  G: There is no language, sex scenes, etc. 
    Book Description:

    Tumult in Mecca: From Civil Servant to Global Business Adventurer transports readers to 1979, a year of upheaval and change.

    Henrik Bertelsen, a Danish civil servant and baby boomer, is dedicated to his stable life in Copenhagen. Alongside his English wife, Sammy, they are building a co-housing community and navigating the complex adoption of a child from Indonesia. Henrik longs for peace and stability to secure his career.

    But life takes an unexpected turn when he is offered the chance to renovate hospital kitchens in Saudi Arabia. His adventurer’s spirit is awakened, and Henrik plunges into a world far removed from the predictable corridors of Danish bureaucracy.

    As the project escalates, Henrik finds himself caught in the Mecca conflict—an armed religious uprising that places him in grave danger. Trapped between rebels and police in one of the holiest cities in the world, he must rely on his instincts to survive.

    Escape brings him more than safety—it opens the door to a lucrative job offer from an American tech company, setting his life on an entirely new path. Tumult in Mecca masterfully weaves Henrik’s personal quest for fulfilment with the global turbulence of 1979, capturing the tension between career and adventure, ambition and family, security and risk.
    Buy the Book:
    Amazon ~ B&N 
    add to Goodreads

    Meet the Author:

    Hans Peter Bech is a bestselling author and a frequent blogger on how to make information technology companies global market leaders. He has produced numerous books, papers, podcasts and videos on business development in the software industry. Hans Peter is also a keynote speaker, workshop facilitator, and an advisor for governments and companies. He holds an M.Sc. in macroeconomics and political science from the University of Copenhagen.

    connect with the author:  website ~ X/Twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads
    Enter the Giveaway:
    Tumult in Mecca: by Hans Peter Bech Book Tour Giveaway



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    The Spotlight Is On Almost Infamous by Sarah Ainslee @xpressotours

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    Almost Infamous
    Sarah Ainslee
    Publication date: May 20th 2025
    Genres: Coming of Age, Contemporary, New Adult, Young Adult

    Jenny Han meets Olivia Rodrigo’s SOUR in this humorous and heartfelt coming-of-age novel from the author of That Wasn’t in the Script.

    What do you do when your dad’s a legendary rockstar, but you’re the only one who knows it? For seventeen-year-old Emmy Harper, the answer’s simple: pretend he doesn’t exist. After all, Nick Addison, frontman of the iconic rock band Mayfair, bailed before she was even born.

    Emmy’s summer plans are set until her mom drops a bomb: Nick wants to meet her. The catch? She has to spend two weeks on tour with Mayfair—incognito. After two decades of fame, scandals, and tabloid drama, he suddenly wants to get involved? Hard pass. Turns out, Emmy doesn’t have a choice.

    Now stuck on the road with a bunch of rockstars, Emmy’s world is flipped upside down. Alongside the charming drummer’s son, Sullivan, she uncovers truths about Nick’s supposed abandonment and how everything she’s been taught about her family might be the farthest thing from reality.

    Between band drama, first love, and backstage passes to the wild world of rock & roll, Emmy’s summer is a whirlwind of unexpected twists. But is it a chance for redemption or a ticket to chaos?

    Add to Goodreads / Pre-order


    Author Bio:

    Sarah Ainslee has worn several hats. Nanny, barista, social media manager, and occasional band wrangler (don’t ask.) Through it all, ‘writer’ is the only title that has ever stuck. Telling stories is what she always comes back to.

    She’s a YA contemporary author with a penchant for awkward encounters and whimsical adventures—a dash of romance never hurts either. She writes stories for the teenager inside all of us who still dosen’t know what they want to be when they grow up.

    Sarah currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee. When she’s not writing, you can catch her hunkered down at a coffee shop, sharing every in-depth thought about her love of superheroes and romcoms over on her Instagram.

    Website / Goodreads / Instagram


    —

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    Giveaway – Tender Temptation by Kaylene Winter @xpressotours @kayleneromance

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    Tender Temptation
    Kaylene Winter
    (Charming Irish, #1)
    Publication date: October 3rd 2024
    Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

    Tender Temptation is a scorching tale of age-gap, insta-forbidden-love, hidden identities, coming of age, and second chances.

    I’m a master at rebuilding structures, yet my own life is a constant work in progress. As the middle brother in a family of superstars, I’ve battled alcohol addiction and shoulder the hefty challenge of taking over the family business.

    My world makes a seismic shift when I fall hard for Ivy Bright, a vibrant, enigmatic firecracker whose captivating energy makes me feel invincible.

    Ivy is more than just a spark in my shadowed world—she’s a blaze. Her luminous presence ignites a clandestine desire in me that I can’t resist. But Ivy harbors deep secrets and a tragic past that keeps her trapped in a life she never chose. Despite our undeniable chemistry, her decision to conceal her age and identity backfires spectacularly, threatening to unravel both our hearts.

    Years later, will our rekindled passion withstand buried secrets that come to light, or will the truths of our past push us apart forever?

    Goodreads / Purchase

    —

    EXCERPT:

    Jesus. Will the rain ever fucking stop?

    Hustling down Second Avenue, with little reprieve from the endless downpour, I try to pull my heavy canvas jacket closed, my flannel shirt and black jeans are practically plastered to my body. Water sloshes into my work boots as I try to navigate glistening puddles pooling on the sidewalk.

    I’m soaked to the bone.

    Like most native Seattleites, I don’t own a fucking umbrella.

    Stubbornly stupid.

    Ah, fuck it. I deserve to be wet and uncomfortable. After the day I’ve had, I might as well get the flu on top of it.

    Finally, I spy the green awning up ahead despite the darkened skies. A few more steps and I push through door of the Metropolitan Grill, a Seattle steakhouse institution. Veering left to avoid the hostess, I take a seat at the bar in all my damp glory.

    Settling onto my usual stool with embarrassingly practiced ease, I’m self-aware enough to realize it’s an act of defiance against my wicked cravings. My eyes, inadvertently—or advertently, who the fuck knows—drift to the rows of amber bottles gleaming against the under light of the glass shelving.

    Particularly to the whiskey. Lord, what I’d give for a fucking taste. How I’d savor it. Vanilla and smoky oak. Sweet notes of caramel and honey. A hint of fruit, either orange zest or a slice of crisp apple. I shut my eyes and practically feel the warmth enveloping me in a comforting glow, radiating through every vein and easing the burdens of my mind. Soothing the aches of my soul. Wrapping around me like a soft, fluffy blanket on a shitty Seattle night.

    It’s been over a year since I’ve had a sip. Even though every day is a battle, I haven’t been tempted in months. Today, though, the fight feels harder. The liquor more alluring.

    Freddy, the bartender whom I’ve known for years, sets down a tonic water with lime in front of me. I grip the cool, clear glass tightly, hoping the lime’s sharp scent will override the memory of peat and warmth. The guy in a suit two seats down orders a Red Breast neat. My jaw clenches with envy. The liquid gold catches the light as Freddy pours it with an easy flick of the wrist.

    Mesmerizing.

    Tamping down the old, familiar ache, I turn away. Focus on the clink of glasses and the murmur of conversations around me—anything to drown out the noise in my head. It’s a silent struggle, unseen by the laughing customers in the busy restaurant.

    I take a sip of my tonic, the fizz biting at my tongue. It’s a pale imitation of what I truly crave, but at least it’s safe. Necessary. I’m fully aware of the consequences if I were to give in to my demons. I’ve lived and breathed them and won’t live one more day with regret coiling in my gut. Still, I need something…more.

    “Hey, man. Can I get a hot coffee?” I tap the polished wood with my finger to get Freddy’s attention. “I’m soaking wet and fucking freezing.”

    “Sure.” Seconds later he hands me a steaming mug. “Cream or sugar?”

    “Both.” I slide a twenty toward him. Coffee is no substitute for the nectar of the gods, but at least it will warm me up and keep me sober.

    Hell, it’s no small feat considering what happened today. Suddenly, I’m on the brink of losing my shit and I have no one to blame but myself.

    Well, maybe my stupid, inherited addiction genes. Memories of my da’s spiral into alcoholism invade my thoughts. Barely a teenager when he crashed and burned. I was instrumental in helping him rebuild the business he founded once he got sober. A decade ago, I took over as CEO and now McGloughlin Construction, is the biggest game in town. For what?

    A terrible mistake I made three years ago coming back to haunt me and destroy all my hard work?

    Author Bio:

    When she was only 15, Kaylene Winter wrote her first rocker romance novel starring a fictionalized version of herself, her friends and their gorgeous rocker boyfriends. After living her own rockstar life as a band manager, music promoter and mover and shaker in Seattle during the early 1990’s, Kaylene became a digital media legal strategist helping bring movies, television and music online. Throughout her busy career, Kaylene lost herself in romance novels across all genres inspiring her to realize her life-long dream to be a published author. She lives in Seattle with her amazing husband and dog. She loves to travel, throw lavish dinner parties and support charitable causes supporting arts and animals.

    Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / TikTok


    GIVEAWAY!
    a Rafflecopter giveaway

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    $20 GC – Reflections Of Michael by L J Ambrosio @authorlambrosio @GoddessFish

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    REFLECTIONS OF MICHAEL by L.J. Ambrosio

    GENRE:  Literary Fiction/ Coming of Age

    I am easily swayed by covers, so I am always curious of how they are chosen. L J Ambrosio is here to talk about his covers for the Reflections Of Michael series. Take it away L J.

    Please tell us about the three covers and how they relate to the books.

    RESERVOIR MAN

    The title is a metaphor. The “reservoir man” is the darkness of corruption. He will tempt us with a banquet of debauched temptation. That temptation could be greed, hating your neighbor, violence, sexual abuse, all the seven deadly sins plus more.

    This metaphor will remain in Michael’s life. In his childhood, he would go to a reservoir near his home, waiting for the next person to sit down at his bench to talk to. Michael wanted to hear about their adventures in life but some who sat were men looking to take advantage, sexually, of any young boy. One man who walked around the reservoir took a special interest in Michael and would not leave him alone;  he followed him home and attempted to get into Michael’s house. Michael ran to his sister’s house, but his pursuer followed him there as well, then attempted to break in. Michael gained the strength to push him away.

    Michael carried this all his life. He had to admit he did get fooled at times, where some reservoir men came masked towards him and he did not see them for what they were. This metaphor remains consistent in three novels. In “Exiles,” the police officer beating Louie up, in “Reflections on the Boulevard,” the gang that beats up Ron and violently hurts Rhonda are examples.

    REFLECTIONS ON THE BOULVARD

    This a complicated metaphor as well.  I am quoting the book in the concluding chapter:

    “They crossed the street to the other side, he felt the parallel lives of two men meeting, only for a moment. A car passed. In the reflections of the street, one may see the image of a young man and an older man, who had come together one more time, in this place. He felt him, it was a relief, he and Michael were one. He stood now on the Boulevard Saint-Michel.”

    By reflecting Michael’s image, Ron found his truth as he became one with Michael’s memory. It was a relief to know that Michael would always be with him;  we all see reflections that give us the ability know what to do in our lives and what we are about.  In “Exiles,” when Louie and Lily imitate the old couple in the music room of the bookstore, they are reflecting the idea of a perfect love. Louie is growing, taking another step to understanding true love. It is a part of his rite of passage. Those trials confront all the characters in these stories. Louie’s pain is in finding who he is, the ability to become a partisan. In our journey, we all pass through these challenges, using reflections from our lives, avoiding the “Reservoir Man” around each corner.

    The images on the book are our two journeymen sitting on the edge of le Sien with Notre Dame in front of them.  They are celebrating the incredible structure. The back cover is an image of Ron and Michel driving towards their next magnificent vista. This visual pairing of the two characters in friendship also represents the buddy story line.

    EXILE

    James Joyce was very clear in his beliefs that when the artist is oppressed and creatively cripple, they must leave to exile themselves. Joyce went to Paris and the continent for over 30 years before he went back to Dublin. He was not the only artist to leave, an entire generation of American artists left. They were called the Lost Generation, they found harbor in France.

    Louie and Ron both find safe harbor at the bookstore, that is where they exile. I imagine the bookstore represents all the words they need to understand, they have the comfort of all those great writers.

    They leave to go across America to finally find peace at Walden Pond. The native Americans believed that the dragonfly would take your soul to a resting place. Our characters do change; they are changing at the end of this novel and beyond it. Louie believes in this at the end, as he mourns Lily’s death.

    To “Exile” is not to run away, but to find a new environment to grow and flourish as an artist and human being. The cover of the book “Exiles” represents this safe harbor for these individuals, the dim lights of safety and warmth, growth, and adventure as represented by the books by the many authors of the world. What better place to find a new life than at a bookstore, where many lives and stories and pathways are converging at once. The bookstore is a place with which these characters can all find a pathway to the life they individually need to live, with their own purpose.

    Thanks so much for visiting us today and good luck with the tour.

    A Reservoir Man

    A Reservoir Man, critics have hailed this explosive and timely work as “a must-read coming-of-age story of 2022.” Twists and turns further pull the reader in to Michael’s action-packed tale, with powerful themes, from betrayal and family to secrets and identity. “Be sure not to blink because you just might miss a pivotal moment in Michael’s rousing, larger-than-life story.” —

    R.C. Gibson, Indiestoday.com. “This book is a dream, a gamble, a utopia, even.” — Kalyan Panja, Bookmarkks.

    Reflections on the Boulevard

    Michael’s story continues from A Reservoir Man (2022) where we find him teaching at a university ready to retire. He unexpectedly meets a young man named Ron who becomes his protege and journeys in a haphazard adventure with him throughout America and Europe, each twist and turn of the road bringing unexpected adventures. The journey taken is one of joy, friendship and discovery.

    Exiles

    In this final chapter, Ron’s story concludes from Reflections on the Boulevard (2023). Michael’s wish was for Ron to exile himself in the heart of Paris with its beautiful culture and citizens as they protest and fight for the soul of the city. Ron’s journey is met with life-affirming friendships and lessons along the way. The final book in the Reflections of Michael Trilogy, which started with A Reservoir Man (2022).

    AUTHOR Bio and Links

    Louis J. Ambrosio ran one of the most nurturing bi-coastal talent agencies in Los Angeles and New York. He started his career as a theatrical producer, running two major regional theaters for eight seasons. Ambrosio taught at seven universities. Ambrosio also distinguished himself as an award-winning film producer and novelist over the course of his impressive career.

    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ljambrosioauthor/
    • Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorlambrosio
    • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/louis.ambrosio
    • Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/ljambrosio
    • Blog: https://ljambrosio.blogspot.com/
    • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI2XkCETDOj_VUtCFcB74ig
    • Buy the series on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C79G6BB3
    a Rafflecopter giveaway

    Follow the tour and comment. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. Follow the tour HERE.

    MY L J AMBROSIO REVIEWS

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