Book Tour ~ Burnt Ends by Laura Wetsel

 

BURNT ENDS

by Laura Wetsel

September 23 - October 18, 2024 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

Murder is juicier with a side of barbecue sauce.

Private Investigator Tori Swenson gets a strange accidental death case that looks like murder at one of her uncle’s drive-ins and decides it’s time to get revenge on her estranged family. Pretending to want a reunion, she appears at her uncle’s party to secretly investigate them. When her uncle suddenly dies, Tori’s case takes a sinister turn that makes her a suspect in her uncle’s death and the killer’s next target. To uncover who dethroned the barbecue king, Tori will have to face her own fiery demons while pursuing a killer who wants to make dead meat out of her.

For fans of Knives Out and the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich.

Praise for Burnt Ends:

"Quirky and entertaining, this book and its unforgettable characters, tight plotting, and clever twists make for a reading experience as suspenseful as it is satisfying. A toothsome treat of a book by a debut mystery writer."
~ Kirkus Reviews

"Fire up the grill! Laura Wetsel serves up a delicious debut of grills, thrills, and chills."
~ Riley Adams, author of the Memphis Barbeque Series

"Jessica Jones meets Succession with a side of coleslaw, this is the kind of book you want to sink your teeth into and not let go. Laura Wetsel bursts onto the scene with a mouthwatering mystery that will have readers begging for more."
~ Moriah Richard, Writer’s Digest

"Charred and bloody to perfection, Laura Wetsel's Burnt Ends is smoking hot!"
~ Jamie Stachowski, Meat America

Book Details:

Genre: Mystery (private investigator)
Published by: CamCat Books
Publication Date: September 24, 2024
Number of Pages: 320
ISBN: 9780744311211 (ISBN10: 0744311217)
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | CamCat Books

Read an excerpt:

Chapter One

There it was—smoking meat, the sweet stench of my childhood. Hickory, molasses, tomato, brown sugar. Kansas City’s love letter to everyone but me.

Darnell, my best friend from our early rehab days, drove us into the parking lot of Rocky’s BBQ Smokehouse, and I gagged on the meat-thickened air. Don’t toss your waffles, Tori. The giant statue of Rocky the Pig— “Rocky the Cannibal”—smiled down at me in his chef hat and apron, holding a platter of ribs like he was trying to turn my stomach.

Darnell parked his truck with a displeased grunt. “Seriously, Tor,” he said, wiping the sweat from his bald head. “I said I’d help you move, not run a stakeout in a hundred degrees.”

“Don’t worry.” I took a gulp of Topo Chico to help settle my queasy gut. “My target should be here soon. Then you can help me move into my aunt’s place.” I twisted the zoom lens onto my digital camera and aimed it at a family tottering out of the restaurant with sauce-splattered shirts.

“Fine, then I’m running in for some brisket,” Darnell said. “At least, assuming they’ve got any with the meat drought they’ve been—”

“Hold up,” I cut him off and nodded at a green sedan rolling into the lot. “That’s her.” I pointed my lens at the driver’s door, getting ready to fire away. When a woman stepped out with crutches, I groaned.

“Guess she wasn’t lying.” Darnell shifted the car out of park. “The brisket will have to—”

“Wait.”

Darnell hit the brakes, jerking us forward. “Now what?”

“I want to see if she uses them inside. It would be hard in a buffet line.”

“You’re kidding, right?” He raised his brows at me. “If you go in there with that huge camera, there’s no way she’s ditching her crutches.”

“That wasn’t what I was thinking. I only knew to come here because my target’s sister posted this online.” I pulled out my phone to show Darnell the selfie post of Sasha Wolf with the caption, Waiting for @GinnyWolf. #RockysBBQ #SisterLove.

“Okay,” Darnell said. “Am I supposed to be seeing something here?”

I tapped on Sasha’s photo, zooming in on her sunlit head. “See that sunlight shining on her ponytail?”

“Yeah, and?”

“She’s under an atrium, which means I’d have a great shot from the roof.”

“The roof? You’re not seriously thinking of climbing Rocky’s, are you?”

“Why not?” I said, tying my blonde curls into a fist of a ponytail. “You’ve seen me scale walls and trees before. I’m a nimble little freak.”

“I meant about trespassing.” Darnell pointed to his police badge like he might arrest me.

“You know us private eyes don’t have to follow your rules.” I gave him a reassuring smile. “Just have a smoke, and I’ll be back before you’ve even put your butt out.”

“One cig, Tor,” Darnell warned, tapping a pack of Marlboro Lights on the face of his watch. “Otherwise, have fun moving by yourself.”

For a recovering addict, Darnell was a horrible liar. I knew he’d never abandon me, not for anything. Hanging my camera around my neck, I hopped out of the truck into the afternoon sun, where I already felt like I was sucking meat-flavored steam through a cocktail straw. I’d just have to deal with the nausea. I hustled toward the black and orange pavilion, noting its unclimbable plastic siding and security cameras mounted at the entrance. Maybe I’d have better luck in the back.

I circled around and found luck in the form of a supply truck parked right beside the restaurant. No driver, no cameras, no people. This was my way to the roof.

I hoisted myself onto the hood and made my way up the windshield to the top of the truck. The gap between the truck and building was only two feet, so I made the easy jump. Soon as I hit the roof though, my phone started buzzing in my pocket. This wasn’t an ideal time to take calls, so I let it ring out while I got on my hands and knees to crawl toward the atrium.

When I got to the glass, I peered down below at a buffet hall where six dozen carnivores were dressed for the upcoming Fourth of July weekend and savagely stuffing their smeared, sticky faces with brisket, thighs, and ribs. My stomach surged at this familiar scene. I’d been avoiding the barbecue world for nearly fifteen years, and now that I was looking down on it like some floating deity, I remembered why I’d stayed away. Barbecue didn’t just upset my stomach. From my head to my chest to my teeth, it made me mad everywhere. But I didn’t want to think about why. Not after what I’d done last night.

As I searched the crowd of meat-eaters, I found Ginny, my target, at a table with her sister, her crutches against the wall. I raised my camera to my eye and focused on Ginny’s face. She was teasing Sasha, lifting her brows and puckering her lips, and as she stuck out her tongue, a memory flashed in my head—I was a fourteen-year-old again in an inflatable pool of barbecue sauce with my cousin Annie. My hands shook, releasing the camera, but I jolted my neck back before the camera hit the roof.

That memory was another reminder why I avoided meat, but it made sense why the past was on my mind when Annie was the reason I was on this stakeout. She’d filed her case to investigate Ms. Wolf with my agency yesterday afternoon.

I had no idea though who this Ginny Wolf was to Annie as I placed the burning hot camera back on my face and snapped pictures of Ginny, her crutches, her gold pendant and butterfly tattoo, all material things identifying her.

When she stood up for the buffet, leaving her crutches behind, I videoed the fraudster walking free and easy without them. As I’d thought, another liar.

***

Excerpt from Burnt Ends by Laura Wetsel. Copyright 2024 by Laura Wetsel. Reproduced with permission from CamCat Books. All rights reserved.

 

 

Author Bio:

Laura Wetsel holds bachelor’s degrees in Russian and English literature from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a master’s degree in Russian literature from Northwestern University. She lives in Washington, D.C., with her two cats, Sasha and Ginny Wolf.
While this story is fictional, Burnt Ends was inspired by Laura’s uncle, who ran a successful burger drive-in chain in Ohio, as well as her experience living in Kansas City, Missouri.

Catch Up With Laura Wetsel:
www.LauraWetselBooks.com
Goodreads
Twitter/X - @LauraWetsel

 

 

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Book Blast ~ The Bluff - A Thriller by Bonnie Traymore

 

THE BLUFF

by Bonnie Traymore

October 15-18, 2024 Book Blast

Synopsis:

“What do you have to lose, Kate?” Ryan asked me, as we stood on the bluff looking out on Lake Michigan.

Turns out, almost everything.

When I first moved from Manhattan to this small town six years ago, I worried about many things. I worried about finding a job. I worried that I’d be bored. I worried that my relationship with charming photographer Ryan Breslow was moving too fast. But I never worried about whether the ground beneath my feet would crumble—both literally and figuratively.

My marriage didn’t go as I’d imagined. A year ago, Ryan met his untimely death in a car accident that’s still under investigation. Isolated and alone, all I wanted was to sell my home and leave Crest Lake and its painful memories behind.

But with my home inching ever closer to the edge of the crumbling bluff, the property has become unmarketable. All of us on the lakefront have lost chunks of property, and tempers are at a boiling point about what to do next.

And now, on the evening of a contentious vote about how to fix this pressing issue, my nemesis on the shoreline committee has been murdered. I know how it looks, but it’s not what it seems. But I have to get my plan passed and cash out.

Because I do have secrets.

And they won’t stay buried forever.

Praise for THE BLUFF:

"With a slow-burn intensity that explodes into a jaw-dropping finale, this psychological thriller is both bingeworthy and delicious. Traymore is a master of layered tension, and she left me guessing until the last page."
~ Noelle W. Ihli, #1 bestselling author of Gray After Dark

"With its high-stakes plot and complex characters, the novel is a masterclass in building tension and intrigue."
~ NetGalley

"Gripping and full of surprises, The Bluff is a clever psychological suspense with layered characters and an atmospheric setting. Traymore masterfully ratchets up the tension little-by-little until the shocking, explosive end."
~ Tracey Devlyn, USA Today bestselling author

"This was a slow burn psychological suspense that heated up to a twisty, thrilling finale. A domestic thriller with a timely topic in the background. Great setting. Highly recommended."
~ NetGalley

Book Details:

Genre: Domestic Thriller, Psychological Thriller
Published by: Self/ Pathways Publishing imprint
Publication Date: September 1, 2024
Number of Pages: 277
PRINT ISBN: 979-8218417543
Book Links: Amazon | Goodreads

Read an excerpt:

PROLOGUE

Doug Mitchell takes in the shoreline of Lake Michigan, letting his Sundancer drift around in the currents. The sight of his house high atop the bluff reminds him of what’s at stake. The vote is tonight, and it’s sure to be a doozy of an evening. There’s a cool wind whipping up what little sand remains on the shrinking beach, and he can see the bare patch of earth where the southern stairs collapsed two years ago. But he feels safe and warm on the deck with the soon-to-be-setting sun still overhead, beaming down on him.

It’s not the same shoreline it was decades ago, but then the world is an ever-changing place. He knows this, although he doesn’t let on about it to most people. Right now, his mind is drifting to another place, and he feels a delightful stirring. He pictures the curve of her back. Her slender, graceful neck. The look on her face when he makes her moan. He takes another sip of his cocktail, closes his eyes, and sinks into it.

After a few minutes, a different kind of feeling washes over him. He’s dizzy. And tired. Way too tired. He’s barely had one drink. He opens his eyes, and the world appears blurry. He feels clumsy. Almost immobile. Shaking his head, he tries to snap out of it, but everything’s…

Fuzzy.

Confused.

Off.

He came out here alone, he thought, although he didn’t check the cabin before leaving the dock. A figure is standing on the deck now, too far away from him to make out who it is. It’s someone, though, and even with his mind dulled, he knows this isn’t good.

Seized with panic, he struggles to pull himself out of the quagmire. Finding a last burst of strength, he attempts to spring up and go on the offensive, but his legs are like rubber. His body rocks forward a bit, accomplishing nothing.

He sinks back into oblivion as the figure approaches.

You?

ONE

Kate

I arrive five minutes late, breathless from my run in from the parking lot. The proceedings haven’t started yet. I rush in, whip off my scarf and coat, and take a seat.

Just in time.

The stage is set for a contentious evening. Tonight, the town council will vote on the pressing issue of the failing bluff. I head up the shoreline committee, and I’ve been invited here this evening to present my plan, one of two the board will consider.

“Hi Kate,” the board member next to me says. “Glad you made it.”

She gives my shoulder a squeeze, confirming that I’ve got her vote.

“Of course,” I say. “Sorry I’m late.”

A tingling sensation creeps up my spine, and a feeling of dread squeezes my stomach like a vise. Perhaps it’s the weather. It’s early fall, but it may as well be the dead of winter. It’s bitter cold and gray, with intermittent downpours. The howling wind whipping off Lake Michigan has been keeping me up at night. It’s the same kind of weather we were having when my husband met his untimely death a year ago, which is likely stirring up some buried feelings. A widow at forty-one. Not the way I expected my life to go when I moved here six years ago.

“The meeting of the Crest Lake Township board of directors is now in session,” the president proclaims, banging his gavel with the countenance of a man desperate for power and relevance. Sam Bolger’s his name.

Sam takes role, and it’s lost on nobody that Doug Mitchell is absent. I fiddle with a strand of hair, twirling it between my fingers. It looks darker in this light, almost auburn. My eyes search the room, and hushed tones fill the silence as people whisper to each other.

Where the hell is Doug?

Are we really going to start without him?

I hope he’s okay.

His allies look concerned, naturally, but even his opponents seem troubled, although that could be an act. It would be unacceptable to show their glee, in the event they were feeling it. But I’m not feeling smug or excited or victorious. I’m feeling nervous. Doug is scheduled to present the opposing plan, and there’s no way he would miss this meeting.

Tempers have been flaring over the issue of what to do about the eroding bluff. The police had to be called during the last public hearing. And there have even been a few death threats, anonymous posts that most of us brushed off.

Silly, really. We’re all on the same team, trying to fight mother nature. Desperate to give ourselves the illusion of control. Struggling to keep our large, lakefront luxury homes from plummeting onto the shrinking shoreline that hugs the massive body of water eighty feet below the fragile bluff.

On some level, we all know that whatever we do will only be a stop-gap in the big picture of geological time, and I can’t help but wonder if that’s what’s making people so angry. Humanity’s stubborn insistence that we can bend the planet to our will. Because it’s obvious that we can’t, and perhaps it’s easier to blame each other than to face the realization that humans are at the mercy of forces we don’t really understand and can no longer control.

The president seems to be stalling, fumbling with his computer as he tries to pull up the agenda and project it onto the TV screen. The board member to my right shares a theory with me. Perhaps Doug’s pulling a stunt for dramatic effect, she whispers in my ear. Maybe the president’s in on it—he’s on Doug’s side—and Doug will come bursting in at the last minute, waving some new study in his hands. But after a few moments, it’s clear to everyone that’s not going to happen.

Sam tables the vote for the time being and moves on to other issues. The board gets to work. There are a handful of mundane items on the agenda aside from the one that matters to me. What to do about the shoreline. I wait patiently as the board members work through other business, waiting for Doug’s arrival. He’s a board member and I’m not, and I’m surprised that they didn’t ask me to sit outside.

I wonder what will happen if he doesn’t show. Will they postpone the vote, or will it go my way by default, with my proposal the only option? Item after item is addressed, and I can feel my pulse starting to race as they tick them off.

Parcel tax proposal.

New library budget.

Changes to the vacation rental rules.

My stomach is in knots. Because if the vote goes my way, it will be a Pyrrhic victory, inflicting massive economic consequences on my lake front neighbors. Doug’s plan to simply shore up the bluff at the toe, the spot where the waves hit and wear it down, is the simple one. The less expensive one. But it’s got the environmental groups up in arms. They’ve grown increasingly vocal over the last few years.

The environmentalists want to force the removal of all existing seawalls, like the one Doug Mitchell installed in front of his home, and ban all such structures. Let nature take its course. Force lakefront owners to move back their homes or demolish them if they are in danger of falling off the bluff. But none of them are on the shoreline committee, and none are on the board. And they’ll be upset whichever way it goes tonight.

My plan is a compromise of sorts. But if I win, there will be consequences. Expensive ones that will dramatically reduce some people’s property values and limit beach access for everyone. And lots of visceral anger, much of it directed at me, especially from my wealthy lakefront neighbors who will absorb most of the cost. Several million dollars, split between ten of us. Sweat beads form at my temples as the minutes tick along to the rhythm of the cheap wall clock mounted above my seat.

Why do they keep it so hot in here?

The council meets at the town center, a small, institutional structure that used to serve as a middle school. The chairs are small and uncomfortable. I sit up and twist from side to side, trying to stop my lower back from cramping up. After an hour or so, there’s nothing left on the agenda but the bluff, and I’m wondering if they’ll postpone my presentation and the vote.

A knock at the door startles us.

Police, a voice calls out.

The door opens, and a young officer enters tentatively, crouching his way into the room. It’s a tight community, and he’s likely a bit intimidated. We’re a powerful bunch. If he ran into one of us around town, I imagine he’d be deferential. But this isn’t a coffee shop or a grocery store, and this isn’t a social call.

After a moment, he straightens up, and his face registers the requisite look of authority. “Doug Michell’s been reported missing,” he says. “He went out on his boat earlier today and never returned. The Coast Guard is conducting a search.”

My stomach sinks, and gasps echo around the room. We all sit with the shocking news for a few moments as the officer bites his lower lip.

He continues. “We’re going to need to interview all of you. Detective Whittaker is on his way. Please stay seated and be patient.”

And with that, the vote is delayed.

***

Travis Whittaker leans back in his chair, eyeing me. I can see tension lines in the detective’s forehead. He seems to have aged since I last saw him, although his thick, dark head of hair reveals few strands of gray. It’s his eyes. They look heavy and full, like the weight of the world sits behind them.

He’s been working his way through the group, and I’m second-to-last. It would have been better to get it over with. Waiting around only increased the tension. Nobody really knew what to say to each other, so there was nothing but awkward silence filling the space between us as we stood in the hallway waiting for our turns to go in and be interviewed.

“So, Ms. Breslow. You arrived five minutes late,” he says.

“I just said that,” I reply, immediately regretting my sharp tone.

The detective’s nostrils flare, ever so slightly. He’s an attractive man for his age—early fifties or so—with a neatly trimmed beard and dark, haunting eyes. Right now, though, he looks menacing.

“Yes. I was about five minutes late,” I say, in a softer tone. My throat feels as if it’s about to close.

He narrows his eyes on me and I look away. I catch myself absent-mindedly stroking my neck and stop myself, placing my hands on the table top.

This feels all too familiar.

“And why were you late?”

“The rain,” I offer. “It got heavy when I was driving down Lakeside.” I tap my fingers on the table top as I search for something to add. “I had to drive more slowly.”

He nods and jots something down on his notepad. Almost everyone at the meeting had to drive down that road in the rain. It’s not a very good excuse, but it’s all I can give him.

“Did Doug Mitchell give you any indication that he was planning to miss the meeting tonight?” he asks.

“No, not at all,” I say. “We were all shocked when he didn’t show up tonight.”

“Have you heard from him today?” he asks.

I shake my head no.

“When’s the last time you had any contact with him?” he asks.

I look off to the side, struggling to keep myself focused and calm. I turn back to him. “In person?” I ask.

“In general,” Whittaker replies.

“We’ve been on the same email and text chain over the last week or so. Exchanging information, in anticipation of the vote.”

“You didn’t answer my question.”

I swallow. He’s already seen our text stream, I assume. “Yesterday. Around seven in the evening.”

“Was that an email or a text?”

“It was a text.”

“And what did it say?”

I pull up my phone, hold it in my palm, and let him read the exchange. His eyes rest on my last line to Doug Mitchell.

If you do that, I’ll bury you.

It would have been less stressful for me if Whittaker’s face had registered some kind of surprise. Instead, he closes his notepad and puts his pen down. I struggle to keep a neutral look on my face. Then he informs me that I can leave and asks me to send in the next board member.

I start for the door but then turn back to him. “In paperwork,” I offer. “I meant I’d bury him in paperwork.” Then I turn away again and continue to the door.

“Don’t leave town,” he calls out. “We’re sure to have more questions as the investigation develops.”

I nod and keep walking.

***

As my car winds up the dark, curvy road to my lakefront home, I struggle to steady my shaking hands. This night already had me on edge, and I can feel my pulse racing as I reach the bend in the road, near the top. The part where the drop-off is the steepest. They replaced the guardrail with another one that looks exactly the same.

What was the point of that?

Sometimes I can ignore it and drive right past. On sunny days, when the sky is bright and the birds chirp and all is well in the universe. It looks so different in the daylight. But tonight is foggy and foreboding, and I drive slowly. So slowly, I’d probably get a ticket if an officer was behind me. I don’t look to my right though, because then I have to picture it, and imagine the look of terror on his face as he plunged through the rail and over the side.

What was he thinking?

Or was he not thinking at all?

Did he scream?

Or was there no time?

A chill runs up my spine as I turn carefully around the bend and breathe a sigh of relief. Sometimes, I get a sensation that he’s in the car with me, and I can almost feel his breath on my neck. And now Doug’s missing, and I have no idea what to do next or what this means for me and my shoreline plan. All I know is I have to sell my house get out of this town, before I lose my mind.

Or worse.

***

Excerpt from The Bluff by Bonnie Traymore. Copyright 2024 by Bonnie Traymore. Reproduced with permission from Bonnie Traymore. All rights reserved.

 

 

Author Bio:

Bonnie Traymore is the Amazon International Bestselling author of six domestic/psychological thrillers. Her "popcorn thrillers" feature strong but relatable female protagonists who peel back the layers of suburban American life and give readers a peek inside. The plots explore difficult topics such as jealousy, infidelity, murder, and the impact of psychological disorders, but she also includes bits of romance and humor to lighten the mood from time to time. She's an active status member of International Thriller Writers and Mystery Writers of America.

Catch Up With Bonnie Traymore:
www.BonnieTraymore.com
Goodreads
BookBub - @btraymore
Instagram - @bonnietraymore
Threads - @bonnietraymore
Twitter/X - @btraymore
Facebook - @bonnietraymore

 

 

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Book Blitz ~ Revisiting the Depths - Overcoming Fear and Finding Peace by Amy Tan

 

 

Overcoming Fear and Finding Peace - A Journey of Transformation

 

Memoir, Self-Help

Date Published: September 30, 2024

 

 

Dive into the Depths of Fear and Emerge with Peace and Resilience: An Inspirational Journey

In Revisiting the Depths: Overcoming Fear and Finding Peace: A Journey of Transformation, award-winning author Amy Tan takes readers on an extraordinary journey of self-discovery, healing, and transformation. After a harrowing first dive experience leaves Amy paralyzed by fear and anxiety, she spends decades avoiding the ocean that once captivated her. Thirty years later, driven by a yearning to conquer her past and reconnect with the underwater world, Amy faces her deepest fears head-on. What begins as a quest to rediscover her passion for diving quickly becomes a profound journey of personal growth and healing.

Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Tioman Island, this award-winning memoir chronicles Amy's emotional and spiritual journey as she navigates the underwater world. With vivid descriptions and heartfelt reflections, Amy shares her experiences of overcoming personal obstacles, finding solace in nature, and reconnecting with her true self.

Guided by her compassionate divemaster, Sebastian, and supported by her loving husband, Amy learns to trust herself and embrace vulnerability. Each dive becomes a metaphor for life's challenges, offering lessons in resilience, courage, and the beauty of stepping out of one's comfort zone.

Revisiting the Depths is more than a memoir; it is a testament to the transformative power of nature and the enduring strength of the human spirit. Amy's story will inspire readers to confront their fears, seek peace in the natural world, and embark on their own journeys of self-discovery and healing.

Join Amy Tan on this unforgettable journey beneath the waves. Dive into Revisiting the Depths: Overcoming Fear and Finding Peace: A Journey of Transformation today and discover the profound lessons that await in the depths of the ocean.

About the Author

Amy Tan is an accomplished business executive and award-winning author with over twenty years of experience in corporate leadership and market expansion across Southeast Asia. She holds a Business Administration degree from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and a Postgraduate Certificate from the University of Nottingham.

Beyond her corporate role, Amy is a passionate storyteller, weaving her diverse experiences into narratives that explore personal growth, resilience, and transformation. Her latest book, Revisiting the Depths - Overcoming Fear and Finding Peace, which won the Literary Titan Gold Book Award, recounts her emotional and spiritual journey as she overcomes a long-held fear of the ocean through diving.

Her other works, including Doing Business in ASEAN and China: An Ultimate Guide to Doing Business, showcase her expertise in regional economic integration. Having lived in Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia, Amy brings a rich, cross-cultural perspective to her writing, inspiring readers to overcome challenges and make positive changes. Her work highlights the powerful impact of storytelling on personal and professional development.

 

Contact Links

Website

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Purchase Links

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Book Blitz ~ Who Am I? - A Child's Journey of Discovery by Veronica Landers

 

 

A Child's Journey of Discovery

 

Children's Book

Date Published: February 19, 2024

 

 

Who Am I?: A Child's Journey of Discovery by Veronica Landers is a heartwarming children's picture book perfect for ages 2-9. Follow Emeri as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery, guided by her loving parents and the book of names. Through her adventure, Emeri uncovers the profound significance of her name and the deep thought her parents put into choosing it, realizing how names connect to one's identity and destiny.

This beautifully illustrated story celebrates the uniqueness of each child, reminding them that their name is not just a label, but a reflection of who they are and who they are meant to become. Along the way, Emeri learns that the most important things in life are the love of family and God.

Inspire your child to explore the meaning behind their own name and embrace the qualities that make them special with Who Am I?. This touching narrative is a must-read for parents looking to instill a sense of confidence, love, and purpose in their children.

 

 

About the Author

Veronica is a writer who has always had a passion for storytelling. From an early age, her parents instilled in her the importance of embracing who God created her to be and facing challenges head-on. This mindset has shaped her writing style and themes, as she strives to inspire young readers to embrace their own unique journeys. In addition to writing, Veronica also enjoys exploring the great outdoors. Hiking and embarking on new adventures are some of her favorite pastimes, as they allow her to connect with nature and discover new perspectives. This love for adventure often finds its way into her stories, as she aims to transport readers to exciting and unfamiliar adventures. Veronica is constantly seeking inspiration from her surroundings and the people she encounters. With a heart full of curiosity and a desire to uplift others, she hopes to leave a positive impact on readers through her words. Whether it's through thought-provoking narratives or heartwarming tales of resilience, Veronica's stories aim to remind readers of the beauty and potential that lies within each of us.

 

Purchase Link

Amazon

Book Tour ~ First Woman - Written by Aren Cappella & Illustrated by John Christian

 

John Christian (Illustrator)

 

Children's Book

Published: March 18, 2024

Publisher: MindStir Media

 

"I am a daughter of the Great Mother Wolf and all the Earth is my home."

Aren Cappella was a writer and artist who lived in the town of Sonoma in Northern California. She was an entrepreneur who owned and operated a small bakery in Sonoma with her business partner. Aren died of breast cancer in 1998 at the age of 42. Before her death she wrote this story, "First Woman." It is the story of the first woman on Earth's spiritual quest to find her place among the other animals on Earth and to discover the qualities that make her uniquely human.

 

Purchase Link

Amazon

Cover Reveal ~ Grie ing Graves by M. H. B.

 

Grieving Graves
M.H.B.
Publication date: October 17th 2024
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

One grave.
Two futures.
Almost three years of grief.
Four beating hearts healing from pain.
Five lives forever tied.

I never thought this would be my life.

And falling for my boss, Damon Dreygon, was never part of the plan.

I was meant to seek from him what my boyfriend, Harvey Stark, refused to give me—someone to kiss me, someone to touch me and maybe even someone to heal my wounds.

Instead in Damon, I found a mentor. I found an enigmatic dark prince. Most importantly, I found my voice coupled with my own strength.

This was never supposed to hurt Harvey.
Damon and I were never meant to be together.

With each choice, an entirely different future greets me, yet a few things remain the same: we’ve all known pain, we’re all in need of healing and we’ve all hurt each other in different ways.

All I wanted was for this melancholy to disappear so that I could find peace.

But peace is hard to reach when you’re too busy chasing secrets.

Secrets I wish would’ve stayed buried.
Secrets that meddle with my dreams.
Secrets I’ll be taking to the grave . . .

Goodreads / Amazon

Author Bio:

M . H . B . graduated law from a Canadian University. She loves spending time with her partner and her dog. She has a passion for animals and loves the simple things in life: chocolate, music, books, sunny days, and overall wellness. When she is not writing, her mind is in another world with a book in hand.

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Week Blast ~ The Stars Rain Down - Who Owns You?: Book One by Glenn Thomas

 

 

Who Owns You?,  Book One

 

Science Fiction

Date to be Published: October 11th

 

 

Set in the early 23rd century, THE STARS RAIN DOWN follows an android woman pursuing a renegade human. At the same time, he searches for his missing wife and child, abducted by alien pirates, and sold into slavery. Special Agent Catherine Mercer, an artificial intelligence and agent of Interplanetary Security (think FBI in space), is given the assignment to pursue and apprehend Rick McCabe, a freighter pilot suspected of illegally smuggling passengers to the free colony of Aranae, some 1300 light years from Earth. Rick, on the other hand, on route to Aranae, was attacked by pirates and separated from his pregnant wife, Sarah, who was captured. But, having come under the suspicion of IPS of illegally transporting passengers, Rick goes rogue and sets off to find Sarah while evading Catherine trying to capture him. Rick and his tech-savvy partner QR follow a trail of clues and tips that lead from one planet to another, from one hostile slave owner and alien race to more pirates and unsavory characters. Along the journey, Catherine learns that being human is more than possessing a flesh and blood body. The transitory body holds an eternal spirit that yearns to be free.

About the Author

Glenn Thomas’s life path has been a meandering one, setting new life goals at various points along the way, gaining skills in art, photography, film-making, driving, and ultimately, writing in screenplays and prose.  As a self-described “high-functioning daydreamer,” Glenn often finds contentment in self-imposed isolation, in conversation with characters only he sees and hears, in universes of his own creation.  Once in a while, he writes them down into scripts and novels to share with the world.

Glenn lives in the Los Angeles area and works as a driver for a major motion picture studio.  His first self-published work was a series of short Science Fiction stories called The Spiderboys of Aranae, which appeared in 2015.

In 1986, when Glenn was convinced he was at the start of a long and prosperous career as a visual artist, an idea for a sci-fi story came to him.  A guy loses his wife to space aliens, and he searches the galaxy to find her.  As a fan of the genre, Glenn sat down with paper and pencil to write the story, and two years later, No Longer Mourn for Me was finished.  It then sat on the shelf, unpublished, for nearly 35 years.  Glenn thought about that crudely executed early work, got ideas to improve it, and sat down at the computer for a rewrite.  The original story was completely gutted, retooled, and reborn with a new title: The Stars Rain Down.

 

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Blog Tour ~ The White Wolfe's Wrath by Shea Hulse

 

Author: Shea Hulse

Title: The White Wolf's Wrath

Series: Dragon Fire and Druids, #1

Genre: Romantasy

Release Date: September 26, 2024

Publisher: Hot Tree Publishing

Cover Designer: BookSmith Design

Amazon: readerlinks.com/l/4152266

All links: books2read.com/dragonfireanddruids1

Step into a world where betrayal cuts deeper than a knife, and vengeance burns hotter than wildfire. 

My life took a sharp turn when the White Wolf unleashed his fury upon my family's once-glorious estate, shattering everything I held dear.

But from the rubble, I emerged with a fierce determination. Disguised as a humble servant in the Wolf's inner circle, I tread carefully, balancing on the edge of survival and discovery.

In my quest for payback, I unearth truths that rock my world. The man I swore to hate reveals surprising depths, stirring emotions I never thought possible. Caught between seeking revenge and a budding attraction, I'm trapped in a whirlwind of conflicting feelings.

With the help of the mysterious Amergin, I navigate the dangerous territory of enemies and secrets. War looms on the horizon, and betrayal lurks in every shadow. I must summon all my courage to follow my heart's uncertain path in this turbulent journey of love and revenge.

The White Wolf’s Wrath is the first book in the scorching-hot Dragon Fire and Druids romantasy series.

Amazon: readerlinks.com/l/4152266

All links: books2read.com/dragonfireanddruids1

His anger flickered to something like amusement, and a smile erupted on his face. And suddenly, I couldn't recall my outrage—or my name. 

Despite myself, my heart beat a little faster at the intimacy of his touch. Now that he wasn't threatening me, it felt like a caress. There was a possessiveness behind his hold. 

Those blue eyes were clear, cold, and fathomless like the winter sky. His nose was straight and slender, with no sign of a break despite his profession, and the freckles that radiated out to his high-tanned cheekbones looked more boyish this close. 

His fair hair was braided back loosely today, adding to the boyishness I now saw. But his full beard, cropped close, was stained a strawberry color, slightly darker than the hair on his head. And his smile. Full lips framed a row of straight white teeth, his elongated canines enhancing his wolfish appearance. 

I blinked and swallowed momentarily, partly because of my reaction to him and partly because of embarrassment. Then again, it was his response to me. 

He stood there, one hand on my throat, for much longer than necessary. His eyes continued to scan my face for what I wasn't sure—maybe waiting for me to look away, giving my submission. We would be here forever if that were his goal. 

It wasn't until the men could be heard coming from the cellar that he stepped away. The hand around my throat moved up to cup my cheek, where he patted it before sending me a little smile as if to dare me to disobey him. 

Despite myself, I smiled back.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon

Instagram | Goodreads | Bookbub | TikTok

Shea was born and raised in New Jersey in an Irish and Italian family. She usually sits with a book in her hands and two more in her bag for backup. Pursuing education and psychology in college, she always wanted to make a difference in the world. A lifelong learner and travel enthusiast, she combined her passions in her writing, where fantasy, history, and romance abound. Her writing highlights mental health topics in a relatable way, where the underdog never fails to surprise, usually with a handsome man or two, sarcasm, and folklore. She resides with her husband and children, writing her love story daily. 

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Book Blitz ~ Symphony of a Heart in Pieces by E. Masson

 

Romance

Date Published: September 15, 2024

 

 

One heiress. One normal guy.

A love that will stand the test of time.

A family that won’t.

 

Victoria Smith is born rich and beautiful. She has fame and a name that opens any door. But there’s one thing she doesn’t have: Love.

Not until she meets Australian, Jeff Richardson, anyway.

 

Despite her family’s objections to her marrying a “nobody” Victoria chooses love over money.

And as they build a family, Victoria learns where true wealth lies: Love is the Richardson’s way.

 

But as Victoria builds a business empire of her own, she has to navigate her family through the challenges of growing up rich.

The Smiths made sure she understood that money talks. But she wants the Richardsons to believe that love is the greater gift.

 

When tragedy strikes, will love see their family through?

Or will love fail in a world obsessed with wealth?

 

About the Author

Hello there, lovely readers! Welcome to my corner of the literary world, where fiction comes alive in all its glory! I am E. Masson, a captivating romance author with my pen dipped in dreams and a heart full of romance, I set my readers on the path of unforgettable journeys through the depths of the human heart. From whirlwind romances to slow-burning love stories, each page of my books are infused with warmth and emotion, leaving readers yearning for more.

I have a talent for creating characters you'll adore while feeling like old friends and settings that transport you to new worlds. I am here to sweep you off your feet with every word. So, get ready to rediscover the joy of falling in love with my enchanting romance novels. Welcome to the adventure!

 

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Book Blitz ~ Wine Explained by Fabrizio DeRienzo

 

 

Nonfiction

Date Published: June 4, 2024

Publisher: ‎ MindStir Media

 

"Wine Explained - The Answer to all your Wine Questions" is the ultimate guide for wine lovers who want to expand their knowledge and appreciation of wine. This book, written by Fabrizio Di Rienzo, a highly experienced professional in the field, covers in a question-and-answer format all the essential topics, from wine production to tasting techniques, interesting facts, and many other tips and tricks related to wine.

Fabrizio's impressive qualifications as an Advanced Sommelier, Italian Wine Specialist, and more, combined with his practical experience, shine through in the book. It offers easy-to-follow explanations, making wine accessible to both beginners and seasoned enthusiasts. Whether you're looking to learn the basics or refresh your knowledge, "Wine Explained" provides expert insights and practical tips to navigate the world of wine like a pro

This Must-Have book equips you with the necessary knowledge and skills to enjoy wine confidently. Fabrizio's passion and expertise make "Wine Explained" an invaluable guide for anyone eager to delve into the fascinating world of wine."

 

About the Author

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