Review: Echoes of the Forgotten: Web of Malevolence by PD Alleva @PdallevaAuthor

Echoes of the Forgotten: Web of Malevolence

by P.D. Alleva

Published: June 12, 2026

Publisher: Chamber Door Publishing, LLC

Genre: Horror, Short Stories, Collections, Anthologies

Blurb:

What happens when 12 storytellers unleash their darkest visions? You don’t just read it. You experience it. 'Echoes of the Forgotten' is a multi-author series that will stay with you long after the final page. 12 Authors. 12 Books. Zero escape.

Web of Malevolence:

Winter, 1971. Grief drives teenager Michael Tedesco into exile—straight into the arms of a grandfather he barely knows, hidden deep within the sun-bleached isolation of the Florida Keys. At first glance, the island feels like paradise. But paradise has a memory. The locals watch too closely. Speak too little. And when they do speak, it’s only in hushed warnings—stories of Naia Tomes, a witch who once stalked the island… a woman said to have fed on human flesh before the newcomers put her down. Buried. Forgotten. Or so they claim. Because something is stirring again. The wind carries whispers that shouldn’t exist. Shadows linger where nothing should stand. And Michael begins to realize the truth the island has been hiding: Naia Tomes is not finished. As the past claws its way back into the present, Michael is pulled deeper into a suffocating nightmare—one woven from secrets, superstition, and blood. The kind of horror that doesn’t just haunt you… It waits for you. And on this island, revenge is not a story. It’s a ritual.

There’s more waiting in the Echoes of the Forgotten collection—each one steeped in its own brand of darkness. Don’t stop here… there are more folk horrors to satisfy your appetite. Be certain to read all the pulse pounding nightmares in the collection.

Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ Bookbub

My Review:

Upon reading the summary of Web of Malevolence by PD Alleva, I was uncertain about what to anticipate as I began the book; however, the reality of the narrative was far beyond my expectations. The content within is remarkably different and significantly superior to anything I could have envisioned.

Web of Malevolence presents an unsettling and frightening tale, rich with dark folklore and featuring some truly unforgettable characters. The storytelling and world-building are among the finest I have encountered. Additionally, the cover art is one of the most impressive I have seen, vividly bringing the story to life and enhancing its realism, particularly with respect to Naia Tomes.

This narrative evoked memories of films such as Stephen King’s The Body and It, as well as television series like Stranger Things. Although Web of Malevolence is a brief story, it is packed with numerous twists that left me disoriented.

I felt as though I was immersed in the story; each twist that unfolded was astonishing, and I could hardly believe much of what I was reading. Characters revealed themselves to be entirely different from what one might have initially assumed.

Following the tragic loss of his parents, Michael is sent to reside with a grandfather he scarcely knows. Michael’s grandfather, Leo, resides on an island in the Florida Keys.

On the island, Michael befriends new acquaintances, who ultimately prove to be unlike what he initially perceived. He soon discovers that a malevolent and sinister force inhabits the island, seeking vengeance against those who had confined it long ago.

I found my enjoyment of Web of Malevolence to be far greater than I had anticipated, and I was reluctant for it to conclude. My appreciation for the story was so profound that I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading chilling, dark horror stories steeped in folklore. Be sure to obtain a copy of Web of Malevolence today for an exhilarating new adventure!

Furthermore, do not overlook the opportunity to explore all the titles in the Echoes of the Forgotten Collection available on Amazon.

Connect with P.D. Alleva

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Book Blitz + #Giveaway: Iysh by Greg Price @RABTBookTours

Fiction

Date Published: 04-17-2025

In 1940, Leo Butlion, a young Jew studying to be a medical doctor in Koblenz, Germany, has his future plans disrupted when Nazi forces destroy his family and their business. His heroic escape and commitment to survive drive him to overcome the greatest test man could ever encounter. Ivy Jacobson, a deformed yet highly talented fashion designer, works in a textile factory in Liege, Belgium that is ransacked by Nazi invaders. She escapes their brutality and meets Leo. Leo explains the Hebrew word IYSH which means "champion" and together they agree to persevere and champion the cause no matter how difficult it becomes. Their heroism and tenacity unfold in dramatic fashion as they are captured, separated and sent to concentration camps where their future survival is unclear. The story develops from WWII until the Yom Kippur War in 1973 which takes place in Israel.

About the Author

 

Greg Price is a writer, human resource expert and an ordained minister. He has traveled extensively throughout the world and shares his experiences by translating them into literary characters who inspire and motivate the reader. Greg immigrated to the United States from south Africa and currently lives with his wife in Mississippi.

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Purchase Links

https://mybook.to/IYSH

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Book Tour: The Secret of the Smiling Rock Man by Joe Cappello @RABTBookTours

Short Story Collection / Fiction

Date Published: 05-15-2026

Publisher: RMK Publications

In his first collection of short stories Joe Cappello presents an array of characters whom he describes as having “rocks in their heads.” Instead of accepting the hand life has dealt them, they pursue more outlandish solutions to its problems. The reader witnesses firsthand the zany antics these characters employ to cope with the situations they encounter in each story: Mortality…daring to know death’s secret and determined to face it without fear and dread; Workplace… seeking an environment that is based on teamwork and respect, rather than fear and intimidation; Family…taking extraordinary steps to unite an estranged family and to bring another closer together; Language…re-establishing the sacred role of words in our lives as a unifier of people and a conveyor of truth. All told with a healthy dose of humor and a belief that life can be joyful, hopeful and a down-right hoot.

Interview with Joe Cappello

Author of The Secret of the Smiling Rock Man 

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?

Prior to writing the title story for my collection, “The Secret of the Smiling Rock Man,” I had visited Pueblo Blanco in the Galisteo basin of New Mexico. This pueblo featured a stunning array of petroglyphs, rock carvings done by the ancient people living there. As I struggled to find a way to convey my ideas about mortality and the meaning of life, I looked back on some of the photos I had taken on that day. And there he was. A carving of a rock man who became the dominant character of my story, as well as the inspiration for the title and cover design of my collection.

I had also made several trips to the New Mexico town of Madrid, a former coal mining town which was once considered a hippie commune and is now an artist’s community and a popular tourism destination. But it became the basis for the fictional town of Monserat, New Mexico, in my story, “Genesis.” Instead of a place for outsiders and artists, I flipped the switch and recast it as the perfect town to be ruled by a group of capitalists seeking to establish a community based on money and entrepreneurial success.

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

The myth of Sisyphus. In my story, “Running Errands,” I wanted to illustrate the act of breathing. Though essential, it struck me that it is a numbingly routine task. My research led me to the Sisyphus myth. Sisyphus is sentenced by the gods to push a rock up a hill, only to watch it roll down to the bottom every time. He has to repeat this process for all eternity. It seemed weird, but it fit as a metaphor for breathing. We inhale, exhale, then start the whole process over again…for our entire lives. It made me wonder. Are we being punished like the outcast, Sisyphus?

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

I always look to works that came before me for inspiration. In my story, “Hell is Gate 25 at JFK,” I present a fictional account of a time when I missed a flight at JFK due to inclement weather. But the atmosphere in the airport at the time became more bizarre and frenetic with each announcement of a delay and the final one of cancellation. It reminded me of Dante’s Inferno. I injected elements of horror and confusion in Dante’s description of hell in my work and even used a lot of the same character names that appear in his work.

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.

I believe my work has been most impacted by playwrights, as I consider dialogue to be an essential element in all of my work. I remember attending a talk by Athol Fugard, the South African playwright known for his anti-apartheid works. I always admired his dialogue, particularly in works like “Master Harold and the Boys.” It was a thrill to hear him talk about his work. I try to keep the dialogue in my stories as sharp and realistic as the dialogue in his plays. I remember meeting him briefly after he spoke. I told him how much I appreciated his work and I’ll never forget the sincerity and humility on his face as he took my hand and thanked me for my comment.

Do you write in the same genre all the time?

I write fiction in the form of short stories. I am comfortable with this form and I like the challenge of telling a complete story in a limited number of words.

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

Lately, I am drawn to speculative fiction. I like removing the traditional guard rails of storytelling and infusing my stories with a mixture of magical realism and unexplained phenomenon. I have done this in some of my current work and look forward to doing more of it in future endeavors.

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

I like characters who want to know more. They are not satisfied with explanations of our world that are rooted in shallow traditions and expressed in glib platitudes. They know, as humans, we have only begun to scratch the surface of those eternal questions…Who are we...Where did we come from...Where are we going? Now, I can’t wait to see how some of my future characters will go about answering those questions!

About the Author

Joe Cappello’s creative life began when he accepted a minor speaking role in a play, walked on stage for the first time, and came to the terrifying realization that, “Oh, no, they sold tickets!”

Fortunately, he overcame his initial stage fright and began accepting roles in community theatre, the parts of Oscar Madison in “The Odd Couple” and Ivan Lomov in “The Proposal” among his favorites. He studied acting in New York City and performed in a couple of Off-Off Broadway productions including Sam Shepherd’s “Buried Child,” where he played the crotchety, whiney patriarch, Dodge (a part for which his wife felt he was uniquely suited).

He wrote and produced plays for children, awarding roles to his sons and other kids in his neighborhood (earning the gratitude of their parents who considered rehearsals free babysitting). He started writing adult plays and received a number of accolades including an honorable mention in the 2020 Bridge Award contest sponsored by Arts in the Armed Forces (AIAF) for his full-length play, “The Stars of Orion” and selection as the winner of the 2022 Susan Hansell Drama Award for his one act play, “Monarch.”

But the logistics of staging plays proved too time consuming. In his early 30's he started writing short stories and flash fiction pieces and submitting them for publication. Many of the stories presented in this collection have been published in online magazines and anthologies, and some have achieved recognition, most notably, “The Secret of the Smiling Rock Man,” First Place, National Federation of Press Women’s Communications Contest (2022); “They Only Showed Elvis from the Waist Up,” First Place, Southwest Writers Writing Contest (2023); and “Running Errands,” Finalist, Hemingway Shorts Competition, sponsored by the Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park (2023).

Joe invites you to read more of his work and follow his anything-but-straight-line career at joecappelloauthor.com.

Contact Links

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Book Blitz: Miro: Embracing the Unknown by Enas Nour @RABTBookTours

Literary Fiction, Cat Fiction

Date Published: May 22, 2026

A deeply moving novel told through the eyes of a cat named Miro, who begins life in the fragile warmth of his mother’s embrace, only to be swept into a world shaped by separation, survival, love, and loss.

From one cramped apartment to another unfamiliar home, Miro is carried through the unpredictable hands of fate, drifting between tenderness and cruelty, safety and fear. Through the eyes of a growing cat trying to understand the strange creatures who control his world, he learns—step by painful step—what it means to trust, to survive, and to search for belonging in a world that rarely explains itself, and even more rarely shows mercy.

As he grows, Miro observes the humans around him with startling sensitivity: their loneliness, contradictions, tenderness, and hidden darkness. Through his innocent yet deeply perceptive voice, ordinary moments become profound meditations on fear, attachment, identity, and the search for home.

Both heartbreaking and tender, Miro: Embracing the Unknown is not merely the story of a cat—it is the story of any soul trying to find warmth and meaning in an uncertain world.

 

About the Author

Enas Nour is a physician and writer based in Germany, where she combines her medical career with a lifelong passion for literature and creative expression. Drawn to storytelling from an early age, she explores themes of human emotion, resilience, and connection through compelling and thought-provoking narratives. Her writing is marked by empathy, insight, and vivid detail, creating immersive stories that resonate deeply with readers and reflect the complexities of the human experience.

 

Contact Link

BookBuzz

 

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Amazon

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Book Blitz + #Giveaway: The Ice Queen’s Shoes by R.S. Kellogg @XpressoTours

The Ice Queen’s Shoes
R.S. Kellogg
(Breadcove Bay)
Publication date: August 7th 2021
Genres: Adult, Fantasy

When missing your train could change everything…

Freshly graduated from Borealis University and reeling from a failed apprenticeship, Della only wants to get home. But a minor injury changes her route in magical ways and opens unexpected possibilities.

If you love atmospheric fantasy, subtle magic, and stories where a single moment can change a life, discover The Ice Queen’s Shoes today.

Bookfunnel

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The Ice Queen’s Shoes is a FREE prequel story setting up the novel the Sea Queen’s Key, which will be releasing on Kickstarter soon. Follow the campaign at the link below to be notified when it goes live!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rskellogg/the-sea-queens-key-balancing-breadcove-bay

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EXCERPT:

“It is my holiday,” the man sitting across from Della on the train said. “A short one. Two days. So, I suppose it’s going a little bit differently than how I’d envisioned.”

Della watched him carefully. Who had a holiday that lasted only two days? And, for that matter, what kind of a person had a holiday now? Her university had reached the end of its term, but most of the city wouldn’t go on holiday for another three weeks, and then the whole city basically would take a month off.

The old man must have read something in her questioning expression. “I’ve been working on a project,” he said. He looked a bit stressed as he said it, but there was also something a bit impish about him—Della liked him despite her natural distrust of strangers. He seemed avuncular, and she could tell by the unique worn smooth brown cloth of his clothing that he was one of the North Men, rarely sighted in the city of Breadcove Bay.

She was a little flattered by the focus of his attention.

It was going to take some time to get to where she was going, so she may as well spend the time in interesting conversation.

“Tell me about your project,” she said.

He grinned. It was all the encouragement he needed.

“Me and my men have been tracking something across the northern plains,” he said, with the flair of a natural storyteller. “And a week ago, it just got a little bit more interesting. But three days ago, the trail went cold, fast. So, me and the men, we decided a break was in order. We’d each take a two-day vacation, and start at it fresh again.”

“If you’re tracking something,” Della interjected, “Wouldn’t taking a break mean you’d risk the trail going cold?”

The man shook his head.

He looked smug, Della thought. Smug with the air of a man who has supreme confidence in his craft.

“It’s not a beast I’m tracking,” he said. “Not that kind of a being at all. The way tracking of this nature goes, first the trail goes cold, then, we take a break, and if we’re lucky, as we soften our approach to it, the perfect information will naturally show up.”

Curiosity piqued, Della tilted her head. “Naturally show up when you are nowhere near the trail of your prey? I ask you, what on earth are you tracking?”

She’d heard, of course, the legends: that North Men tracked animals, found lost humans, located lost camps and lost objects, and sometimes . . . rumor had it . . . tracked supernatural beings.

She wondered whether she’d happened upon a North Man in the middle of a fairy tale, feeling a bit like an explorer who has stumbled into a strange new environment, where the people might do something completely unexpected at any moment.

Staring at him as though she were watching a polar bear in the governor’s private animal enclosure, where she had been a guest at the winter party one year, she waited as he seemed to debate within himself whether to share with her any part of his tracking tale—and if so, how much.

“I’m tracking a lady,” he finally said, and Della roared with laughter.

The man jolted, clearly knocked off kilter by Della’s hearty response.

She didn’t have a delicate laugh. It was more like the way a man would laugh when he had bested everyone at a game of cards. And it would come out of nowhere.

She cocked an eyebrow at him, folding her arms. She didn’t care a twig how people responded to her laugh. They could take her or leave her.

Just as she could take or leave anyone who came across her path.

And at the moment, this was a person who was entertaining her.

“You’re tracking a woman?” she asked him. “Did she wander out into the north and get lost? Or are you trying to find a romance?”

She snorted and shook her head.

He looked wounded but still doggedly eager to pursue the conversation.

“I’m tracking a Sky Woman,” he said, and Della leaned forward intently, her smile instantly gone.

A Sky Woman.

That would be more akin to a goddess.

“Why are you tracking a Sky Woman?” she asked him.

He rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s complicated,” he said. “But it’s part of the job of my family, and my men, to keep the balance between the Sky people of the north and the boundaries of the city. We have to make sure that neither side encroaches on the side of the other.”

She sighed. “That sounds like a big project.”

He nodded.

“How do you even begin to do something like that?” Della asked.

Author Bio:

R.S. Kellogg writes the Everyday Goddess Stories, the Mermaid Magic Tales, and fiction in the story realms of Breadcove Bay and Agratica, among other places.

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Review: Indigo (Cryptid Charisma #1) by Karen Hulene Bartell @HuleneKaren

Indigo

Cryptid Charisma #1

Karen Hulene Bartell

Published: June 10, 2026

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc.

Genre: Romantic Suspense, Romance

 

Blurb:

Reeling after her fiancé dumps her, Raluca Olson inherits a rustic cabin from an unknown relative. Eerie incidents and rumors of a mythical windigo alarm her, but she’s determined to learn the truth about her dysfunctional family before she flips the property.

Despite unscrupulous realtors, bloodthirsty prowlers, and a devious ex, her life improves with a rescued puppy, and passion ignites when she meets Dylan McCoombs, but…

What does a demonic half-beast share with a psychosis and porphyria? Are monsters born or formed? Nature or nurture? Is a windigo spirit genetic? More importantly, does she carry the gene?

Goodreads ~ Amazon

My Review:

Indigo makes a fantastic kickoff to Karen Hulene Bartell's latest series, Cryptid Charisma. After being jilted by her fiancé just days before their wedding—on her birthday, no less—Raluca Olson decides to make the most of her unexpected inheritance: a cabin from an unknown relative, her great-aunt Winny Nelson, which she plans to renovate and sell.

However, her goal to renovate the cabin is draining her finances more than she can afford, especially after the financial mess her ex-fiancé Bill left her in following their breakup.

Luckily, the local man Dylan, whom Raluca encounters upon her arrival in town, lends a hand with various DIY projects. From their very first meeting, I sensed an undeniable chemistry between Dylan and Raluca.

Additionally, Raluca rescues a puppy she finds at Marchands' cemetery. The Marchands' family seems to hold considerable influence in town. While exploring the cabin, Raluca uncovers diaries belonging to a relative of her great-aunt Winny, leaving her with many questions. What is the connection between her great-aunt Winny and the Marchands?

Taking Indigo on nightly puppy walks becomes an unsettling experience for Raluca, as haunting wails echo through the darkness. I can vividly picture Raluca and Indigo walking through foggy streets, strange sounds creeping through the mist, sending chills down your spine.

The mystery and suspense kept me engrossed as Raluca delved into the questions surrounding Winny and the Marchands' family. And what about that eerie sound? What is it? Is it real? Are the legends true?

I wholeheartedly recommend Indigo to anyone who enjoys a mix of mystery, suspense, and a touch of romance. Be sure to grab your copy of Indigo today!

Connect with Karen Hulene Bartell

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Book Blitz + #Giveaway: Arcanum: Secrets of the Madonna by Kelly O’Hearn @XpressoTours

Arcanum: Secrets of the Madonna
Kelly O’Hearn
(Arcanum, #3)
Publication date: June 9th 2026
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance

Sometimes happily ever after takes more than one two three lifetimes.
The anticipated third book in the Arcanum series, the only book series channeled through the tarot.
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Sarah Fuller has it all—a fragrance empire, a terrace overlooking Central Park, the perfect life. Until a frightening episode shatters everything she thought she knew. Now her husband’s iPhone location is mysteriously off, and the charming widower Harry is impossible to forget.

Haunted by the tarot’s tales of past lives and ancient secrets, Sarah is drawn to Rome—to galleries where Renaissance masterpieces seem to know her name, to shadows of the Inquisition where forbidden love once bloomed, to a truth hidden within the Vatican’s darkest corners.

Who is the woman in those paintings, gazing out across centuries? And why does Sarah recognize herself in her eyes?

From the elite Hamptons to the pyramids of ancient Egypt, from medieval French castles to the dangerous splendor of a newly built Vatican, one woman must unravel the mystery of her soul—before history repeats its most devastating mistake.

This is the story of Arcanum.

In a world where love transcends time, some vows are meant to be broken.
_____________________________________________________________________________

“Sensual, spiritually charged, and utterly unputdownable.”
Marisa Halstead
Founder and CEO of Seeded Sound

Advance Praise for Book Three in the Arcanum Series:
“Sarah’s journey reminds us that love does not vanish-it endures, waiting patiently for the moment we are ready to receive it again. This story left me with a deep sense of peace, wonder, and the quiet certainty that what is meant for us will always find its way home.”

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

JG Melon, June 13

“God, you look terrible.”

Max held Sarah at arm’s length, nose wrinkled, examining her as if she were Chinese takeout possibly left in the fridge too long.

She wrestled free and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Well…you look fabulous as always. Are those real glasses or just for effect? They’re…also fabulous.” She slid into a chair.

“They’re genuine tortoise shell. Vintage. Not cheap,” he said. “They’re for reading, but Lord, I’m going to have to take them off for this lunch. I don’t want to be able to see you this well. You need an Instagram filter or something.” He sat down, still eyeing her critically.

“Well, take them off then,” she said. “We certainly know the menu by heart. And I know, I’ve let myself go a little, missed a few waxing appointments and such. If this is what my eyebrows look like, you can only imagine the state of my—”

“Darling, we’re eating,” Max said. “Poor Carl, that’s all I can say. I bet he still looks polished as always.”

“Handsome as ever,” Sarah said, shaking her head. “Shall we order, seeing as I need to put on five pounds immediately?”

“And get to a salon this afternoon!” he said. “Nails, hair, Botox, the whole thing. You are the CEO of a luxury brand, for god’s sake. Thank goodness it’s summer and nearly everyone is out of town.” He waved over Charlie, their favorite waiter.

“The usual?” Charlie said.

“Yes, please, and stat! Sarah looks like she hasn’t eaten in weeks, doesn’t she, Charlie?”

“You two, always bickering like an old married couple,” Charlie said as he walked away, shaking his head.

Max turned to Sarah. “Now. Tell me about my godchild. How is she feeling?”

“Max, it’s incredible. Alex was in the ICU not six weeks ago, and she’s been fully cleared to go to sleepaway camp. The doctor told us that kids recover from her condition quickly, but if you’d asked me in the hospital whether she would make it to camp this year…I didn’t even know if she would make it home by now. It’s as if it never happened.”

“Sarah, that’s such great news,” Max said. “I called Alex the other day and all she could talk about was having gotten excused from the last two weeks of school. She was thrilled! Especially since having a sick twin sister didn’t get her brother the same dispensation.”

Sarah laughed. “Yes, Sam’s hoping for a dire illness, possibly in September.” She covered her face with her hands. “Actually, you know what, it’s too soon to joke about it.”

“Maybe this will help,” Max said as he filled her glass with red wine. They clinked glasses. “To health,” he said.

“To health.” They both took a sip.

“So let me get this straight,” Max said. “Alex has been back to normal for weeks. Carl has not a hair out of place. The camp bags are nearly packed. And you’re still a mess?”

Sarah covered her eyes again. “I knowwww. I just got so close to losing everything. It really rattled me, Max. Stuart and Sofia have basically been running the company for the past several weeks—and honestly everything is going fine. Gallica’s a hit, we had another great harvest of roses in France, my Arcanum core fragrances are doing well. Do you ever feel like your time has come and gone?”

“Sarah, you’re forty-one, even if you do look eighty right now.” Max patted her arm, then topped off her glass. “You’ve got a whole lotta living left to do. What happened to the Sarah who believed in past lives? The Sarah who slayed at that gorgeous launch party for Gallica? Who caught the eye of ‘Manhattan’s Hottest Bachelor’? He was obsessed with you.”

“Was obsessed?” Sarah said, blushing slightly. “I told you what happened in France? Our little tête-à-tête in the ancient forest?”

“And how you insisted that he go through with his engagement to Simone? Yes, you told me.” Max took a copy of the New York Post out of his tote and put his glasses back on. “Sweetie, he took your advice and ran with it. All the way to Harry Winston.”

Author Bio:

When Kelly O’Hearn first stepped off the train in the city of Florence, Italy, as a 20-year-old, she had the overwhelming instinct that she had been there before. In a place famous for its maze of medieval streets, O’Hearn navigated the city as if she had lived there for a lifetime. Born in New York City, O’Hearn first put her intuitive skills to work as a professional wine taster, instructor, and sommelier in the elite institutions of New York, Portugal, and Aspen. After raising her two children and enduring a personal health crisis, in 2012, she was drawn to begin reading the tarot cards, an ancient practice which does not presume to “predict the future” but offers a collection of stories, perspectives, and self-reflections that can guide one to become one’s most authentic self. O’Hearn is in high demand for her readings, with clients on every continent but Antartica. While most people were baking sourdough or riding their Pelotons during the Covid pandemic, O’Hearn used the tarot cards to channel her own past lives. Weeks of readings, all captured on video, yielded six storylines of herself as several powerful women over the millennia and around the globe: the same one soul, over time, persevering against all odds in the quest for happiness and the love of a soul mate. This time-bending saga inspired O’Hearn to conceive of a series of novels titled Arcanum. Book One: In the Temple Shadows is available now. Book Two: Whispers in the Forest will be released Spring of 2025.

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Arcanum 3 Blitz

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Book Blitz + #Giveaway: Hott Hotter Hottest by Serena Bell @serenabellbooks @XpressoTours

Hott Hotter Hottest
Serena Bell
(Hott Springs Eternal, #5)
Publication date: June 9th 2026
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance

Real bodyguard. Fake boyfriend. Unexpected benefits. Trouble guaranteed.

Tucker: Autumn Sato is a happiness influencer. And I’m…well, let’s just say my brand is more big gray stormcloud. If life were going to plan, the closest I’d get to her would be scrolling past her posts as fast as my thumbs could fly.

But my sister needs help, so I agree to bodyguard Autumn at her sister’s wedding. One thing leads to another, and suddenly I’m pretending to be her new boyfriend in front of all her friends and family.

It’s a hot mess, made worse because I swore I’d never do this again. Never get close to someone I was guarding. Never fall for someone whose safety was in my hands. Never let distraction get in the way of my job.

Unfortunately, this entire week is nothing but distractions: trapped in a car with my smoking hot client, only one bed in our hotel room, only one tent on the wedding camping trip… all before the bachelor–bachelorette prom. Meanwhile, someone seems to have it out for Autumn… or my family… or both.

As things heat up between us, I’m left with one question: Can I keep my heart—and the people I care about—safe?

A spicy, small-town, bodyguard, fake relationship, grumpy-sunshine romantic comedy with a hint of danger and a lot of heart.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

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EXCERPT:

There’s a knock on the door behind us, and it swings open, and—

Wow.

Yeah, this guy is not a blend-into-a-crowd type. He’s gotta be at least six five, and he fills up the doorway—weight-lifter muscles under a lovingly clinging tee, a torso that tapers from broad shoulders to a trim waist, and tree-trunk thighs beneath snug-fitting jeans. His jaw is a hard line to a well-defined chin; his eyes are flecks of pale blue ice; his nose is Roman-warrior-worthy, and his mouth is lush.

Did I say wow? Let me reiterate: Wow.

“Autumn, this is my brother, Tucker; Tucker, Autumn.”

I stand up. Giant White Guy grunts and extends a hand. Mine disappears into his, into heat and calluses and thick fingers that make me wonder—

Nope. Not wondering.

“Thanks so much for being willing to do this on short notice,” I say.

He grunts again.

Okay, so not a conversationalist. We’ll have to work on that because there is zero chance I would date a guy who isn’t a talker. My sister would never believe that.

“Anything you two need from me?” Hanna asks. “Or can you take it from here? I have to run a couple of errands.”

“That’s fine!” I say, hoping to warm him up a bit by being extra friendly, definitely one of my superpowers. “We’ll be great, right, Tucker?”

A grunt.

Not warm yet, but I can work on it.

She gives both of us a look that says she doubts we’ll be great, shoots Tucker another look that I interpret as Behave, and slips out the door.

“So!” I say brightly. “This is gonna be a cinch!”

He raises both eyebrows but doesn’t respond.

“Hanna told you about the discretion thing, right? That my sister can’t know that you’re a bodyguard, because she can’t know that my dad thinks there might be danger at her wedding?”

The grunts clearly have different meanings. I’m taking this one as a yes.

“But I don’t see that as a problem! Because”—I pause for effect—“you can pretend to be my date for the wedding week!”

Author Bio:

USA Today bestselling author Serena Bell writes contemporary romance with heat, heart, and humor. A former journalist, Serena has always believed that everyone has an amazing story to tell if you listen carefully, and you can often find her scribbling in her tiny garret office, mainlining chocolate and bringing to life the tales in her head.

Serena’s books have earned many honors, including an RT Reviewers’ Choice Award, Apple Books Best Book of the Month, and Amazon Best Book of the Year for Romance.

When not writing, Serena loves to spend time with her college-sweetheart husband and two hilarious kiddos—all of whom are incredibly tolerant not just of Serena’s imaginary friends but also of how often she changes her hobbies and how passionately she embraces the new ones. These days, it’s stand-up paddle boarding, board-gaming, meditation, and long walks with good friends.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook Page / Facebook Group / Instagram / X / Newsletter

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Teaser + #Giveaway: The Shores of Our Souls by Kathryn Brown Ramsperger @KathyRamsperger @RABTBookTours

Multicultural Family Saga / Fiction

Date Published: 4-21-2026

Publisher: Ground One Press

She’s a sheltered American. He’s a Middle Eastern diplomat. Can their love lead to lasting peace overseas?

New York City, 1981. Dianna leaves her small southern town for the bright lights and rich culture of the Big Apple and a prime job at the Met. Sparks fly when she crosses paths with a charming Lebanese diplomat. A shared night of passion launches her into an exciting romance and opens her eyes to a bloody conflict far from home. But as warring factions take hold overseas, she can’t shake the feeling that her new love is hiding dark secrets.

Qasim has never known peace. When he gets the chance to bring his country’s troubles before the United Nations, he abandons his family obligations to heal his war-torn homeland. But his true mission takes a detour when he falls for a beautiful American woman. Against the urging of his closest friend and mentor, he wants to share his heart and hopes with her.

In the face of cultural barriers and mounting war, can Dianna and Qasim find the strength to stand up for their love and a lasting peace?

 
Excerpt

February 13, 1981, New York City

Dianna scans the bar through strobe-lit smoke. A haze casts a film on the room’s mirrored walls, hung to give the illusion of space.

“Are you sure this is where you want to be tonight?” Sophia waves her elegant hand through the smoke and lights a cigarette. She feels a pang of guilt for dragging Sophia here. Two decades older, Sophia is more fairy godmother than buddy.

“Sorry,” is all Dianna shouts over the din and shrugs. She catches her stomach sticking out ever so slightly in one of the mirrors and takes a deep breath to pull it in.

“Dianna, I’m afraid I can’t stay much longer,” Sophia says.

Doubting she has the courage to stay here alone, Dianna ponders her options. She looks up at the scum-covered ceiling and asks for inner strength. The subway will close soon, and she has no car.

Then she sees him.

He wears a European suit. An expensive watch with a black face and gold hands glints on his right wrist. Not much taller than she, but wiry, he seems at once exotic and familiar: olive skin graces distinct, proportionate features. His dark hair reminds her of her mother’s, and his graceful stance, her father’s. He moves with a purposeful gait, arms relaxed, head tilted slightly to the right. He seems part of a world she has yet to experience.

The man circles her, moving through the crowd, around chatting couples, each time drawing nearer, until he stands before her, touching her forearm. “Have you seen a woman...?” he begins. Dianna misses the rest of his sentence because of the blaring music, his accent, and the word “woman.” He could be fibbing to make himself appear less threatening. Or maybe he has been stood up. “Look around you,” she says and laughs. “Women everywhere. What did she look like?”

He moves in closer and speaks directly into her ear so she can hear him. Dianna shivers as she catches a whiff of his cologne. Her eyes catch his. With his tailored suit and self-possessed energy, he almost fits right in. Yet his eyes betray him. This man has suffered. She knows all about pretending. She’s hooked. Dianna gazes at the green stone with a pang of pride. She doubts this man wants to hear much about her college days or the job that put her through school. “Yes,” she replies.

 

About the Author

KATHRYN BROWN RAMSPERGER is an award-winning author, editor, and creativity coach. A former National Geographic writer and researcher and humanitarian staff member for the International Red Cross, she has lived and worked in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, regions that deeply inform her storytelling. The Shores of Our Souls is a Foreword Indies finalist and a finalist in the Faulkner-Wisdom Literary Competition. She’s a recipient of the Hollins University Fiction Award.

Having firsthand experience in the places she writes about, Kathryn brings a unique authenticity to her stories, blending rich cultural details with the universal themes of love, redemption, and peace. She studied creative writing at Hollins University, and publications management at George Washington University. She currently lives in Maryland with her husband. They have two adult children, off to their own world adventures, but still parent a feisty feline. Next on their bucket list: Croatia, Portugal, or Tanzania!

Contact Links

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Purchase Links

https://mybook.to/TheShoresofOurSouls

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Book Blast + #Giveaway: The Super Seeders by Miles Hillmann @GoddessFish

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Miles Hillmann will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Blurb: 

The Super Seeders is based on first-hand accounts from the scientists, breeders, and curators who have built the seven pillars of today's plant genetics revolution. It begins with the guardians of global gene banks, conserving the rare and diverse crop genes that form agriculture's safety net. From these collections, plant geneticists are now unlocking hidden traits with fast-moving genome technologies, transforming the possibilities of crop improvement.

International research centres and the groundbreaking Plant Treaty have opened the floodgates for the free exchange of genetic material, enabling a new wave of discovery. Crop breeders are translating these breakthroughs into reality, delivering drought-tolerant, disease-resistant, and higher-yielding varieties for farmers.

The book raises a pressing question: will this revolution reach the 70 percent of Africans who still depend on subsistence farming? The answer will shape not only the future of food in Africa, but the future of food security worldwide.

A story of ingenuity and urgency, The Super Seeders captures the hopes and challenges of the women and men driving a genetic transformation of agriculture—and the farmers whose lives depend on its success. 

Purchase The Super Seeders on Amazon

Read an Excerpt

In the cool, rolling hills of southern Ethiopia’s Wolaita Highlands, the sun crested the teff and barley fields and coloured the red soil with long shadows. Selam, widow and mother of four, wrapped her scarf around her tightly and came out into the morning light from her thatched tukul house, her hands clasped around a woven basket.

She headed for the community seed bank, a mud-brick hut just outside the school, amidst the eucalyptus trees. Inside the hut, the scent of dried grain and neem leaves filled the air. Wooden shelves ran around the room, where clay jars and gourd containers were labelled neatly in Amharic: Aba Dula wheat, Dabo barley, Red sorghum of Wando. Each had a history, some passed down from grandparents, others brought by farmers like her.

“Selam, good morning!” said Abebe, the seed bank coordinator and the village elder. His weathered face creased into a smile behind his grey beard. “We’ve just finished processing the new batch of the sorghum seed. Strong stalks. Early maturation. Your father preferred this variety.”

Selam smiled. She remembered sowing that very same red sorghum as a child alongside her parents. It had been gone for years only to reappear thanks to the gene bank.

About the Author:

Miles Hillmann is a lifelong entrepreneur with a career that bridges scientific curiosity and hands-on innovation, from his early work at the Kabanyolo Agricultural Research Station in Uganda during Idi Amin's fall to experiencing food shortage and famine in the Ethiopian Central Highlands. His work encompassed everything from agricultural development to building flash flood irrigation food-for-work systems.

His first company developed processes for food industry materials. Concurrently he pioneered real-time organic material analysis. He then created one of the UK's major pollution control companies supplying specialist materials to companies in Europe, Nigeria and the Middle East. This led him to establish companies in e-commerce, accredited pollution control training and flood control.

This book is the story of the scientists, curators, and plant breeders leading this movement, told in their voices, through his lens.

Connect with Miles Hillmann

Articles ~ Goodreads

Giveaway:

$10 Amazon/BN GC

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

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