Review: Murder on the Wine Cruise (Read Between the Wines Cozy Mystery Series #9) by Dani Simms

Murder on the Wine Cruise

Read Between the Wines Cozy Mystery Series #9

by Dani Simms

Published: July 14, 2026

Genre: Cozy Mystery, Mystery

Blurb:

Avery Parker promised herself: no mysteries on this trip. She almost made it to day two.

A week-long river cruise through Oregon's wine country was supposed to be exactly what she needed — stunning scenery, world-class tastings, and not a single loose thread to pull. She had good friends, a beautiful boat, and every intention of doing absolutely nothing.

Then someone died.

The ship moves on. The crew smiles. The wine keeps flowing. And Avery is the only one who thinks that's a problem.

Trapped on the water with nowhere to go and no one who wants to hear the word murder, Avery must decide how far she's willing to go to prove what she already knows — before the killer decides she knows too much.

The ninth book in the beloved Read Between the Wines Cozy Mystery Series. 

Recipes and wine pairings included.

Goodreads ~ Amazon

My Review:

Murder on the Wine Cruise is the inaugural book in the Read Between the Wines Cozy Mystery Series and also the first work by Dani Simms that I've had the pleasure of reading. However, I am confident it won't be the last. From the very first page, I was captivated by the story and found it hard to put down.

Avery Parker is on vacation aboard a cruise ship, enjoying a week-long journey through the picturesque wine country of Oregon. She sought a respite from her crime-solving duties and the stresses of life. Her intentions were to unwind in the sun with a glass of wine at her side, rather than to engage in any mysteries.

The intrigue and suspense surrounding the events kept me eagerly flipping through the pages. I was hooked from the moment a man was found dead in his cabin. The ship’s doctor claimed it was due to natural causes, but Avery, with her keen observational skills, immediately sensed that the man's death was anything but natural. The clues left behind clearly indicated foul play.

Avery’s investigation into the man’s death could prove perilous. If she does not resolve the mystery promptly, it may cost her more than she is prepared to sacrifice.

Should she fail to solve the crime quickly, someone might feel compelled to take drastic measures to silence her and ensure their secret remains concealed. The pressing question now is how far Avery is willing to go to determine whether the man’s death was indeed natural or a case of murder.

I am eager to explore more titles in the Read Between the Wines Cozy Mystery Series to learn more about Avery Parker and the cases she has tackled in the past.

I wholeheartedly recommend Murder on the Wine Cruise to all enthusiasts of murder mysteries! Be sure to grab your copy of Murder on the Wine Cruise today!

Connect with Dani Simms

 Website ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Amazon

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Book Blitz + #Giveaway: The Beauty of Individual Things by K. Thomas Yoo @RABTBookTours

Historical Fiction / Jazz Age Romance

Date Published: 07-14-2026

Publisher: Mission Point Press

The Beauty of Individual Things follows Margot Andrews, a young American woman swept from New York high society into the dazzling yet fractured world of 1920s London. When the transactional demands of privilege collide with betrayal and violence, leaving her disillusioned and adrift, she escapes to the freshwater shoreline of lost childhood summers.

With her past unrecoverable and her future uncertain, Margot searches for a different life amid Detroit’s dynamic and monied Prohibition era—with its yacht races, rumrunners, and industrial might. Set against a city on the rise, she must navigate her family’s ruthless pursuit of social standing, the magnetic pull of charismatic boat racer Ellis James, and the relentless echoes of her past. The story explores the weight of loneliness and the personal cost of love and reinvention as Margot decides whether to remain a fragile ornament of her family’s design or forge an identity that is beautiful, imperfect, and entirely her own.

About the Author

 

Karen Thomas Yoo was born and raised in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. She graduated from the University of Michigan and received an MBA from Duke University. When she isn't writing, she can usually be found in her garden or on a paddleboard in Lake Michigan. A mother of three grown children, she lives in Grosse Pointe with her husband. This is her first novel.

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Book Blitz: Thinking Critically in College by Louis Newman @RABTBookTours

The Essential Handbook for Student Success

Nonfiction, College Guide

Date Published: April 1, 2026

Publisher: Manhattan Book Group

The Definitive Guide for Success in College and Beyond

Finally, a book that actually prepares you for college! Nearly every first-year college student discovers that college courses are more academically challenging than high school. Professors expect you not just to absorb material but to analyze and synthesize it, to consider multiple perspectives, to evaluate conflicting evidence, and then to apply what you've learned in new contexts.

Drawing on a lifetime of experience teaching and advising students, former dean of Academic Advising and associate vice provost at Stanford University Louis E. Newman explains how to do all this, and more. Whatever your background or academic interest, this book will prepare you for college-level learning. Thinking Critically in College is the definitive guide, not only for those in college, but for everyone who needs a refresher on thinking clearly.

"Thinking Critically in College details and exemplifies the differences between high school and college. Students who read this book before coming to college will have an advantage over those who don't." -LEE CUBA, professor emeritus of sociology, Wellesley College, and author of Practice for Life: Making Decisions in College

"Even students who have taken college-prep and AP courses are unprepared for the type of learning that will take place in college. Thinking Critically in College is poised to help all students at all types of institutions develop the dispositions and skills necessary for success in college." -LYNN PASQUERELLA, president of Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U)

 

About the Author

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Book Blitz + #Giveaway: Bound Beauty by Jennifer Silverwood @JennSilverwood @XpressoTours

Bound Beauty
Jennifer Silverwood
(A Wylder Tale, #3)
Publication date: July 14th 2026
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Forgotten gods haunt her steps, and the cursed prince she left behind isn’t done fighting for her soul.

Vynasha is bound to the prince of Bitterhelm. Even if she were to die, her spirit will remain trapped with him in the castle forever. But she won’t give in to Grendel without a fight. With the aid of an oracle, a witchling, and the wolf that claims her heart, Vynasha plans to claim her power as the curse breaker.

Ceddrych guards their nephew secretly while fighting to keep the feral beasts roaming their borders at bay. But the monsters are closing in, and the madness he has struggled with drives him to one desperate, unforgivable act.

A war is about to begin between the forgotten people of Wylderland and the cruel might of Bitterhelm. Beings of prophecy and legend unite in the epic third chapter of the Wylder Tales Series, a romantic gothic re-telling of Beauty and the Beast.

 WYLDER TALES  is a series of romantic dark fairy tales, set in the past of the wider Borderlands Saga, and includes:
•slow burn romantasy
•forced proximity
•enemies to lovers
•found family
•magical bonds
•wicked witches
•burly beasts
•morally gray characters

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

IN A FORBIDEN DREAM IN WYLDERLAND…

 

The journey seemed to take far longer than she remembered, and part of her feared the passage of time here compared to the world her body remained behind. Ceddrych had told her countless tales of the dangers of magick, of what happened when one dwelled too long in enchanted dreams.

Here the palace looked less like a ruin wrought from rampage. Candles gave off an unnatural silver glow and the hovering lights that had been trailing Vynasha seemed to thicken and gather as she lifted a hand to push open the doors to the throne room. They cracked open before her hand could touch the intricately carved wood.

Snow filtered in through the broken ceiling and rose vines curled over every surface, crawling up the obsidian columns and steps to the throne. Surrounding the steps, the shadow-spirits of beasts of every size and shape lounged and paced. Their forms flickered about the edges, and their eyes glowed brightly, turning to fix upon Vynasha as she slowly entered the hall.

Upon the throne, the thorned vines had dug into a hunched over man. His blood gleamed luminous violet, the same shade as hers was now.

With every step she took, the full wreck of his downfall became increasingly apparent. The shadow beasts at her back pressed closer, urging her forward. Vynasha clenched her fists and refused to climb the steps to face him.

“Grendel.” Her voice echoed like a plucked lute string through the cavernous hall.

Grendel shuddered and then raised his head and looked at her with dead violet eyes. “Vynasha.” The crack in his voice echoed clearly to her ears. His eyes widened when she remained, and his vine-wrapped hands clawed at the arms of his throne. “You have come at last.”

Her feet began to move of their own accord. She barely caught herself in time. She could not, would not go to him, and certainly never pity him. “What happened here? Why are my roses taking over like this?”

“Can you not guess, Vynasha” Grendel leaned forward, ignoring the press of the rose crowning his dark hair. “Vynasha, you have no idea how your absence has undone me. It has been pure torture to sense you but never able to touch you.”

“Good.” Vynasha took a single involuntary step up the stairs leading to his throne. His violet eyes flared wide with apprehension as she growled, “You and your monsters have made our lives a living hell, Grendel. It’s only fair I repay your bloody kindness.”

Grendel’s lips parted and his gaze took in the full measure of her with all the subtlety of a starving man. “Yet you are here,” he said, a new clarity brightening his violet gaze. His hands flexed against the arms of his throne. “You are truly here, and that means the spell has been broken.”

Vynasha flinched at his sudden smile and found herself unable to take a step back. Her feet drove her forward once more, and this time she had no power over herself to stop. “What are you doing to me?”

Grendel’s hand twitched and then she was flung forward. He groaned as he caught her, the thorns digging deeper into his flesh. She cried out as the same thorns cut her palms as she braced herself against his chest. “I have you, at last, I have you,” he said, eyes bright with unshed tears.

He was mad. No, she was mad. For the instant her hands found his flesh, a roaring wave of need assaulted her. She could rage at him and claim this was his need she felt, not her own. But this compulsion was familiar, forbidden and something she had fought desperately to forget in the past three moons.

“Grendel, let me go” she pleaded as she leaned into him, the pain of his thorns forgotten as he pulled her into his lap and began to press his lips over every part of her he could reach.

“How could I give you up my beauty, my love, my queen?”

She couldn’t breathe. The scent of roses, of life and death, of him were overwhelming. A part of her was starving, had been starving for months, she realized wish sickening clarity. “I hate you,” she sobbed as she tilted her chin and gave him further access to her neck. “If you pull me back here again, I will find a way to kill you, I swear it.”

“You cannot kill me without killing yourself, love,” he said with a laugh.

“Then we both die.” She shook her head but could not help tracing her nose along his neck, to draw in more of his heady scent.

“Vynasha,” he cried as her lips pressed to his pulse. “Please, Vynasha!”

But he was no longer tangible beneath her hands, the thorns no longer piercing them both. The painful aching need to mold herself to him faded just as she did, her hands disappearing before her eyes.

“Vynasha!” He cried with an agony she felt as her spirit was ripped free from Grendel’s nightmare. And the world around her dimmed, consumed by a cloud of inky ashes.

Author Bio:

Jennifer Silverwood lives in the middle of an enchanted forest surrounded by cursed books, nosy spirits, and mischievous goblins she calls her children. After beginning several nonsensical degrees, she found her calling helping other authors bring their books to life. Jennifer is the author of two fairy tale fantasy series: the Borderlands Saga and Wylder Tales. Because she wasn't satisfied writing in one genre, she also invites you to explore uncharted space with the Heaven’s Edge Novellas—and dare to fall in love again with the standalone romance titles Stay and She Walks in Moonlight.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / TikTok

GIVEAWAY!

Bound Beauty Blitz

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Review Tour + #Giveaway: A Superhero Called Doberman (The Superhero Doberman #1) by John and Shami Stovall @GameOverStation @GoddessFish

A SUPERHERO CALLED DOBERMAN

by John and Shami Stovall

GENRE: Superhero Fantasy

Blurb:

Leon Lewis is essentially the reincarnation of Anubis, but the idiot street thugs don’t know what a jackal is, so they call him “Doberman” instead…

Which works out, because in this new age of superheroes, most names are copyrighted.

It all started thirty-one years ago…

Humans began being born with a new organ called the “facet gland,” which mutated their bodies and granted them superhuman abilities. Each person’s power is unique, but one fact quickly emerged: these abilities were subject to progression and advancement, much like building muscles through exercise.

Complex powers even follow a tier system with multiple improvement paths. And while some use their gifts to benefit humanity, others embrace unprecedented villainy.

Leon grew up idolizing heroes like Nova, Glitter Ninja, and Japan’s fan-favorite Shine Shine Hero. But his own abilities are dangerous, and could harm random people, so he lives in isolation in a cramped apartment.

That is, until his neighbor, Rachel Anderson, is targeted by the Kings in Yellow—a mysterious street gang infamous for making people vanish.

Leon can’t stand by and do nothing, but activating his abilities might prove fatal…

Because Anubis is death to friends and foes alike.

Purchase A SUPERHERO CALLED DOBERMAN on Amazon

Excerpt:

Two thugs waited in a dark alley behind a strip club and that was never a good sign.

Leon Lewis stood across the street, staring down the alleyway from a good fifty feet away, watching the two suspicious men. He waited, unblinking, in the safety of a moonlight shadow.

The Eclipse Lounge, one of the few high-quality strip clubs in Sacramento, only operated from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. because only the saddest of sacks went to an adult entertainment lounge in the middle of the day. That meant it was always dark when Leon came to visit, and he was extra familiar with the dank surroundings, neon flashing lights, and overstuffed dumpsters.

He also knew who usually came and went. These gangbangers weren’t on the regulars list.

Don’t get the wrong impression, though. Leon never, not even once, went inside the strip club. He had no idea what the interior looked like, and he didn’t care.

He only came to the Eclipse Lounge to make sure one of the girls made it home safely.

Rachel Anderson, who went by the stripper name of Stella Velvet, was Leon’s next-door neighbor. Months ago, she had returned to her apartment with bruises after a long night of work. Since then, Leon had gone out of his way to make sure she got home safely whenever her shift was over.

This would be the third time strange men came to bother Rachel since Leon took up his bodyguard duties. Something was clearly going on.

My Review:

A Superhero Called Doberman serves as a fantastic kickoff to the new series, The Superhero Doberman, authored by John and Shami Stovall. Initially, I was uncertain about what I would discover within the pages of A Superhero Called Doberman, but I was pleasantly surprised by the journey within. It didn’t take long before I found myself completely engrossed in the story.

In mere moments, Doberman captured my heart. I adore both Doberman's and Leon’s characters. I admire how Leon utilizes his superpowers. He epitomizes what it means to be a hero among superheroes. He embodies everything that defines a superhero, utilizing his abilities to protect others from the clutches of evil supervillains.

When Leon’s neighbor, Rachel Anderson, becomes a target of the Kings in Yellow—a notorious street gang known for making people disappear—Leon springs into action, employing his superpowers to locate her before it’s too late.

I am truly captivated by the universe crafted for The Superhero Doberman and eagerly await the release of the next installment in the series. It is a remarkable and thrilling realm filled with superheroes and supervillains. I must confess that I thoroughly enjoyed reading A Superhero Called Doberman far more than I had expected.

I wholeheartedly endorse A Superhero Called Doberman to all enthusiasts of the superhero genre! Acquire a copy of A Superhero Called Doberman and join Leon and Doberman in their fight against crime today!

About the Author:

Shami Stovall was born in Utah, lived in California, and now resides in the wonderful state of Kansas. After graduating high school, she went on to earn his BA in History from Stanislaus State, and then her Juris Doctorate from the Laurence Drivon School of Law.

Stovall’s favorite novel as a child was Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell. It opened her imagination to possibilities she had never considered, and to this day she can still remember the impact it had on her.

As an adult (albeit still a kid at heart), her favorite novel is Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein. Heinlein’s take on a perfect world again opened her mind to possibilities she had never considered, and Jubal Harshaw is the fictional character she most aspires to be.

Stovall loves telling stories, playing video games, John 3, John 4, and writing about herself in the third person.

Connect with Shami Stovall

Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Email

Giveaway:

$25 Amazon/BN GC

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

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Book Tour: Choppiness on the High Seas by Arvind Wadhera @WadheraAuthor @RABTBookTours

Literary Fiction

Date Published: 11-01-2024

Publisher: Troubador

Being born into poverty and hardship in 1930s London, Matthew’s life was one of relentless struggle. One inadvertent act in defence of his mother would haunt his conscience forever.

Matthew’s journey takes him from the poverty of a cold stone granary to the opulence of Mayfair and Kensington Palace Gardens, where he starts a family of his own. Despite working his way to the top of the business world, he remains an outsider to London’s elite. He then realises that same elite has an ugly underbelly. High society was a hot bed of depravity.

Will he correct society’s wrongs? Will the man who never succumbed to expectations be able to challenge his own destiny or will he simply accept the futility of it all?

 

Interview with Arvind Wadhera

Author of Choppiness on the High Seas 

Could you tell us about any research trips you took for this story? Which places did you visit, and what made them essential to your writing?

I write about places and regions I know. London is central to the story because it is a living example of societal extremes as well as global business.

What's the strangest thing you've ever had to research online for your book?

Post cancer therapy dangers.

What research (history, mythology, science) goes into your world-building?

I had to research 1930s and World War 2 London. I also had to research the Suez Canal crisis.

Have any of the people you've known, past or present, left a lasting impression on your writing journey? If so, we'd love to hear about a memorable experience that stands out to you.

My mother’s values inspired Gwendolyn’s character. Matthew’s complexities are partly inspired by my own insecurities about a sense of belonging.

The book turned out to be prophetic, as one reader put it. The Suez Canal crisis and the abuse of youngsters in my book have been repeated in reality in the State of Hormuz and Epstein Files. This is only coincidental, because I published the book before the Iran and the Epstein files revelations; it just shows that geopolitical crises repeat themselves and that there has always been and will be a rotten core of depravity in high society.

Do you write in the same genre all the time?

Yes, this is my second literary fiction book. I write the genre because I read the same genre. I am unable to write commercial fiction, if there is such a thing.

If so, have you ever consider writing in another one?

Not yet. I would like to write an biography and have a brilliant subject.

Which character, supernatural or human, do you enjoy writing the most and why?

The most interesting character for me is Matthew Stephens. I love writing very complex central characters.

About the Author

Arvind is French and British with roots in India. He lives and works in Brussels.

Arvind has three adult children, who all live away from Belgium. He reads literary fiction and was motivated to write after reading three key books: The Portrait of Dorian Gray, Thérèse Raquin, 1984 and East of Eden. He is fascinated by the co-existence of good and evil. In his first book, Emma's Equilibrium, he relates the story of an Olympic winner who suffers hurt along the way. Choppiness on High Seas charts the life of Matthew from his ignominious birth to his passing away in peace after having become one of the weathiest persons in the world.

Arvind loves languages and can speak French, Spanish, Dutch, German, Italian, Hindi, Punjabi and Gujarati. He is a stroke survivor and rides, jogs and does yoga.

He is a strong believer in the duality of fortune and misfortune. He is deeply spiritual.

Arvind finds writing challenging and frustrating and editing particularly painful. He, however, believes that writing can be therapeutic and gratifying.

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Book Blitz + #Giveaway: Hearth or Heart by Emily Lane @XpressoTours

Hearth or Heart
Emily Lane
(The Bowman Girls, #1)
Publication date: July 13th 2026
Genres: Adult, Historical, Historical Romance, Romance

After her father dies, Effie Bowman and her eight sisters are left penniless, homeless, and alone. Salvation comes in the form of the new custodian of the estate, Mr Thornaby. But the more she learns of Mr Thornaby, the more she realises he needs her discretion as much as she needs his security.

In her efforts to moderate the wild Mr Thornaby, she recruits the unlikely aid of ton society’s most determined widower, Sir John Callander.

As the season progresses and Effie pulls Sir John deeper into her desperate schemes to moderate Mr Thornaby, both are forced to wonder if Effie is attempting to tame the wrong gentleman.

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

Of all the consequences to befall a clutch of daughters belonging to an entailed estate, this one was quite outside the common.

‘£20 a month in pin money?!’ cried Effie.

‘Each.’

Mrs Thornaby, ensconced in a cream morning gown of twilled French silk that seemed to defy her age, smiled most becomingly upon her niece.

‘That is just for your frills and affects and whatever other small accoutrements you young girls require these days,’ said Mrs Thornaby. ‘Your dresses, gowns, and hats, of course, can be drawn against my son’s account.’

‘Ma’am, I could never.’

‘Oh, yes, you could,’ said Mrs Thornaby. ‘That boy has too much money.’

Effie’s eyes flashed, and she yanked her gaze down.

Grimacing, Mrs Thornaby said, ‘So, your mother has told you a little of it, I collect.’

‘She has, ma’am,’ Effie admitted.

Mrs Thornaby looked her up and down.

‘Your mother tells me you are an exceptionally good manager.’

Now the talk of money had faded, Effie’s calm, dark eyes levelled upon Mrs Thornaby once more.

‘Yes, ma’am, it’s true.’

‘I suppose with eight sisters, borne of a mother of my sister’s temperament, you, as the eldest, should rather be forced into such a role, even if it was not of your disposition.’

A smirk crossed Effie’s features as she declared, ‘That much is true, to be sure.’

‘But men and boys are a different matter indeed.’

Effie’s hands, trying to thread a needle, paused. She set her embroidery box down and took up her cup of tea.

‘I have no brothers.’

‘Clearly,’ said Mrs Thornaby. ‘And husbands? What thoughts have you on them?’

‘Not so many, ma’am. I can scarcely imagine having one, never mind plural!’

Mrs Thornaby did not laugh. Instead she set down her teacup with a clatter.

‘As you may have heard, my son returned last night from Brighton.’ She paused. ‘My son is… a particular kind of fellow.’

Effie’s brow arched. Having heard—during the small hours of the morning—this particular kind of fellow stumble through the upstairs hallway singing about the roast beef of Great Britain, she was inclined to agree with a great many insinuations that issued from that vague sobriquet.

‘Indeed?’

‘He is now, of course, the custodian of your late father’s estate—by some contortion of family lines.’

Society in the northeast of England was sparse. Somehow, Mrs Thornaby’s son had ended up taking title to the entail of her sister’s late husband’s estate.

‘Yes.’

‘It is all that is natural, then,’ Mrs Thornaby went on. ‘That my son should marry you, to maintain my sister’s place at Barraton.’

What little of the sisterly rivalry that had been passed on to Effie permitted her to regard this piece of charity with deep suspicion. Her eyes cinched a touch.

‘With respect, ma’am, I fail to see why Mr Thornaby should want to marry me.’

‘I do not.’

Blushing, Effie picked up her embroidery box again. ‘I mean, ma’am, that Mr Thornaby must have a great many… um, admirers. I cannot see that he will mark me with any distinction.’

‘He will not, but I shall tell him he is to marry you. Likely, the novelty of it will tickle him, and he will entertain it for a while. Thereafter, it is your duty to… charm him.’

Effie touched her nose. She looked around the cavernous room.

It was an early, grey morning, but the shiny mahogany and silk furniture, glossy wallpapered walls, and great sash windows shone under the blaze of three gilded hearths.

‘Oh. I see.’

Mrs Thornaby’s eyes followed Effie’s, and she grimaced.

‘We are family, Miss Bowman. Now more than we ever were. My son represents Barraton. He is Barraton.’

Effie’s jaw quirked.

‘To put things plainly, my dear, it has lately come to my attention that my son is very much in need of the companionship, temperance, and governance that a wife must, to some unions, bring.’

Mrs Thornaby paused.

‘Now, am I saying that my son is bereft of the faculties required in choosing or acquiring a wife? I am not. But one cannot but put more faith in one’s own family, especially a family so interconnected.’

Effie bowed her head. ‘It would be in my best interests, indeed, to… govern Mr Thornaby—as a wife or no.’

‘But as a wife especially,’ Mrs Thornaby reiterated.

Author Bio:

Emily Lane writes sweet, clean Regency Romance perfect for fans of Georgette Heyer, Sophia Holloway, and Sophie Irwin. Hearth or Heart, her debut, launches July 13th. By day, Emily is a Management Consultant in the Lifesciences industry - she hopes her novels have just as much chemistry as her job! She lives in Thailand, which would be inconvenient but for the hot weather.

The Bowman Girls is Emily's first Regency romance series, with 3 books currently planned:

Hearth or Heart (out now)

Past or Promise (Late 2026)

Duty or Devotion (Late 2026)

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Book Blitz: A Boy Becoming by Eddy Yang @RABTBookTours

A Renewed Vision for a Kinder, Gentler World

Coming of Age Memoir

Date Published: May 14, 2026

Publisher: MindStir Media

What if the most important lessons in life came from the ordinary moments we often overlook?

A Boy Becoming: A Renewed Vision for a Kinder, Gentler World is an inspiring coming-of-age memoir that invites readers into the private journals, drawings, reflections, and life experiences of young author Eddy Yang. Compiled from diary entries written between the ages of ten and sixteen, this powerful memoir chronicles the journey of a young boy learning how to navigate family, faith, friendship, sports, responsibility, and personal growth.

Through honest reflections and meaningful life lessons, Eddy explores what it means to build character in a world that often values achievement over integrity. Along the way, he learns that becoming a better person is not about perfection—it is about practice.

As an ice hockey goalie, Eddy discovers courage, resilience, humility, discipline, and the ability to recover from failure. Through conversations with his parents, guidance from teachers and coaches, experiences with service, and moments of self-reflection, he learns that true strength comes from within and that growth happens one choice at a time.

Filled with wisdom beyond his years, A Boy Becoming explores timeless themes including:

✔ Character Development and Personal Growth

✔ Kindness, Compassion, and Empathy

✔ Family Values and Faith

✔ Self-Reflection and Emotional Growth

✔ Discipline, Responsibility, and Resilience

✔ Youth Leadership and Positive Decision-Making

✔ Sportsmanship and Life Lessons from Hockey

✔ Gratitude, Forgiveness, and Humility

✔ Identity, Purpose, and Self-Discovery

At the heart of this reflective memoir is a simple but powerful truth: character is built slowly through ordinary moments. Every mistake, every challenge, every act of kindness, every lesson learned, and every effort to improve becomes part of the process of becoming.

Perfect for teens, young adults, parents, educators, coaches, mentors, and anyone interested in personal development, A Boy Becoming offers encouragement, insight, and hope for readers navigating their own journey of growth.

Inside You'll Discover:

●      Honest diary reflections from childhood through adolescence

●      Life lessons from family, faith, sports, and service

●      Thought-provoking insights about character and self-improvement

●      Inspirational messages for young people facing challenges and uncertainty

●      Practical wisdom about becoming someone you respect

Memorable Quotes from the Book

"Kind is more important than smart. Logic has no moral. We must be nice no matter what."

"Forgiveness frees you more than it frees the other person."

"Possessions should not possess you."

"A distracted driver misses exits. A distracted life misses destiny."

"Remember: you are not your trophies. You are not your mistakes. You are the daily effort that nobody sees."

If you enjoy inspirational memoirs, coming-of-age stories, personal growth books, youth leadership, family-centered nonfiction, or books that encourage reflection and character development, A Boy Becoming will resonate long after the final page.

Because becoming a better person isn't a destination—it's a lifelong journey.

 

 

About the Author

 

Eddy Yang is a student, writer, ice hockey goalie, and young author whose work focuses on self-reflection, personal growth, family values, faith, discipline, and character development.

His passion for writing began long before he imagined becoming an author. Throughout childhood, Eddy kept journals, diary entries, drawings, comics, and reflections that documented his experiences, thoughts, challenges, and questions about life.

Over time, these personal writings evolved into something larger—a record of growth from childhood into adolescence.

The Beginning of a Writer

Eddy never started writing with the intention of publishing a book.

He wrote to understand himself.

Sometimes he wrote after difficult experiences. Other times he wrote after learning valuable lessons from parents, teachers, coaches, teammates, or faith. Writing became a way to process emotions, reflect on mistakes, and preserve important moments.

As he revisited years of journals and drawings, he recognized a story unfolding: the story of becoming.

Hockey and Character

As an ice hockey goalie, Eddy has learned lessons that extend far beyond the rink.

Goaltending taught him courage, resilience, humility, patience, and discipline. It taught him how to handle pressure, recover from failure, and continue improving after setbacks.

These experiences became a powerful influence on his understanding of personal growth and are woven throughout his writing.

Why He Wrote A Boy Becoming

Eddy wrote A Boy Becoming because he believes growth happens through ordinary moments.

Character is not built overnight.

It develops through repeated choices, honest reflection, mistakes, perseverance, gratitude, forgiveness, and love.

His hope is that readers—especially young people—will recognize that they are not alone in their struggles and that becoming a better person is a lifelong journey worth embracing.

Mission

Through his writing, Eddy hopes to inspire readers to:

● Practice kindness

● Develop discipline

● Embrace humility

● Learn from mistakes

● Strengthen character

● Value family and faith

● Continue growing every day

"Kind is more important than smart. Logic has no moral. We must be nice no matter what."

 

Contact Links

Website

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Review Tour + #Giveaway: Bobbie Bin's Busy Day by Rina Croft @GoddessFish

BOBBIE BIN’S BUSY DAY

by Rina Croft

GENRE: Picture Book

 

Blurb:

Meet Bobbie Bin, the dedicated garbage man of the enchanting Banana Island.

Bobbie ensures the Sundae Dream Hotel is trash-free every day.

Starting before sunrise, Bobbie embarks on his cleaning mission, taking pride in his green uniform and trusted garbage truck.

From collecting trash along the pathways and the beach, to collecting garbage and recyclables from restaurants and other areas, Bobbie's hard work often goes unnoticed but is crucial to the hotel's charm.

Bobbie finishes his day by heading to the recycling plant, where he is amazed to see how recyclable materials transform into new and exciting products, making his job rewarding despite its challenges.

With colourful illustrations and a heartwarming story, Bobbie Bin's Busy Day teaches children the importance of hard work, cleanliness, and environmental responsibility.

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Excerpt:

Bobbie Bin loves his job. He feels a sense of purpose in keeping the Sundae Dream Hotel free of garbage so visitors can enjoy their stay. Bobbie takes great pride in taking part in the recycling process. He feels like an unsung hero, knowing that while his hard work is often overlooked, it is crucial to the smooth running of the hotel, the health of the visitors and staff, and, of course, the environment.

My Review:

Bobbie Bin rises early to start his busy, busy day, where he proudly empties the garbage bins at the hotel, along the beaches, and at nearby restaurants.

Bobby enjoys wearing his green uniform and driving his garbage truck. He takes great care of his truck, ensuring it remains in excellent condition every day. After a long day, Bobby returns home to rest so he can wake up the next morning and do it all over again.

Bobby loves helping keep the hotel clean and free of unpleasant garbage, making sure guests have a fantastic experience. He has a kind heart and a friendly personality. I can picture him going about his day, smiling at everyone he meets.

Bobbie Bin's Busy Day by Rina Croft is a delightful story for parents and children to enjoy together at the end of their busy day, as they learn about Bobby, his green uniform, and his big truck.

Don't miss out on this delightful treasure, Bobbie Bin's Busy Day, and be sure to share it with your mom or dad!

About the Author:

Rina Croft is a children’s author who wrote Bobbie Bin’s Busy Day after her three-year-old son asked for a garbage truck story and couldn’t find one. She created the story for him, and with his input, it became a favorite they read together every day.

Her work focuses on simple, relatable stories that reflect what kids are naturally interested in, including everyday jobs and how communities work.

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Giveaway:

$10 Amazon/BN GC

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Book Blitz: The Rough Life by Danny Fanelli @RABTBookTours

 

Children's Book

Date Published: June 10, 2026

Publisher: MindStir Media

The Rough Life is the adventure of a brand new golf ball named Vic, who finds himself playing his very first round of golf. Things start off well, but Vic quickly learns how humbling the game of golf can be when he is lost in the rough. Vic journeys through the rough, finding a home and making friends with other lost golf balls. While it’s a comfortable life, Vic is not content just watching golf as it happens around him. Vic and his new friends devise a plan to get out of the rough and back in the game.

 

About the Author

 

Danny Fanelli is a husband, father, elementary school teacher and coach from Westchester, New York. He began playing golf and fell in love with the game at 30 years young. One of his biggest fears in life is sinking a hole-in-one while playing solo (he’s come close). When he is not playing golf or practicing his form in the living room, Danny takes turns with his wife chasing his two, wild children.

Purchase Links

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