Review: Star-Spangled Murder (Piper Sandstone Savory Mystery) by Karen McSpade

Star-Spangled Murder

A Piper Sandstone Cozy Mystery

by Karen McSpade

Published: March 3, 2026

Publisher: Newcastle Media Publishing

Genre: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Short Story, Thriller, Suspense

Blurb:

It’s not the first time this detective has traded in her jujitsu gi for a pair of high heels, but this time… her killer talent just turned this beauty pageant deadly.

Former Chicago detective turned small-town sleuth Piper Sandstone never expected to don sequins and high heels for Savory’s annual Star-Spangled Beauty Pageant. But when her best friend Rosemary insists, Piper reluctantly joins the lineup—only to watch the festivities collapse in chaos when one of the judges is found murdered backstage. Now, Piper finds herself thrust center stage in a murder mystery investigation that’s anything but glamorous.

The Victim? Sheila, a wealthy businesswoman and the lifelong nemesis of Piper’s best friend, Rosemary.

The weapon? One of Piper’s own throwing stars from her talent routine.

The real suspects? Everyone, from old high school rivals to powerful town leaders with secrets to hide.

The stakes? Piper’s reputation, her freedom, and the new life she has built for herself in Savory.

With Rosemary and Piper tied to the crime as key suspects and the sheriff, Piper’s fiancé, sidelined from the case, Piper must team up with her sharp-witted crew of silver-haired sleuths to find out who really wanted Sheila dead.

But as they dig through layers of small-town secrets, tangled romances, and backstage grudges, every clue only tightens the net around Piper and Rosemary, and every lead pulls them closer to a killer who’s hiding in plain sight.

Packed with Southern charm, laugh-out-loud banter, and a group of senior sleuths who steal every scene, Star-Spangled Murder is a page-turning read perfect for fans who love action-packed cozy mysteries, clever amateur sleuths, witty banter, found family, hidden secrets, red herrings, clean romance, and mysteries that keep you guessing till the end.

If you love small-town drama, quirky sidekicks, and a dash of danger with your cozy mysteries, read Star-Spangled Murder today to uncover what really happened backstage!

Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ BookBub

My Review:

Star-Spangled Murder is a fantastic addition to Karen McSpade's Piper Sandstone Cozy Mystery series. I found myself enjoying Star-Spangled Murder just as much as the other titles in the Piper Sandstone Cozy Mystery series. The Queen Bees kept me captivated with their every move as they expertly solved mysteries.

Savory, Alabama, is gearing up for its annual beauty pageant. One of the Queen Bees, Rosemary, encourages Piper to participate in the pageant alongside her. Although Piper is reluctant to join, she doesn't want to let her friend down.

Piper's unique talent is throwing stars, so you can imagine her shock when one of her stars is discovered backstage with one of the judges, Sheila. Who could have thrown that star? I doubt it was Piper, or was it? Perhaps Piper was merely trying to protect her dear friend, Rosemary. Did someone have a grudge against Sheila? Was the murderer attempting to frame Piper? Or was the star simply in the wrong place at the right time?

Despite the police advising Piper and Rosemary to steer clear of the investigation, they, of course, ignore the warning. Their sleuthing leads them to a variety of suspects, from former high school rivals to influential town leaders harboring secrets.

The mystery around Sheila’s tragic end had me rushing to the end, hoping to learn who threw that star. I must confess, I was eager to find out whether one of the Queen Bees could be involved, though I truly hoped it wasn’t the case. Honestly, I don’t believe Piper or Rosemary were responsible at all. However, it’s hard to ignore how suspicious the star found with Sheila was.

I genuinely enjoy the Piper Sandstone Cozy Mysteries and look forward to more installments in the future. I hope this isn't the last we see of Piper and the Queen Bees.

If you're a fan of a good murder mystery, I highly recommend picking up a copy of Star-Spangled Murder today, or any of the stories in the Piper Sandstone Cozy Mystery series! On second thought, why not treat yourself to a copy of every book in the Piper Sandstone Cozy Mystery series?

Check out all the books in the Piper Sandstone Cozy Mystery series I’ve read.

Hash Browns And Homicide #0

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub

Murder And Grits #1

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub

Red Beans and RIP #2

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub

Mystery on the Half Shell #3

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub

Killer Gumbo #4

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub

Crab Cake Criminal #5

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub

Pies and Pilfering

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub

Star-Spangled Murder

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub

Connect with Karen McSpade

Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ BookBub

Facebook ~ Instagram ~ TikTok

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Book Blitz: Ashlight Dominion: Fear of Breath by J. Trevino Kelley @RABTBookTours

Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction, Dystopian

Date Published: February 3, 2026

In a world where poisoned air has stolen breath itself, survival is no longer a solitary act, it is a covenant. From the ashes of collapse rises New Umoja, a fragile but unbroken community bound together by the Mesh, a living network of memory and thought. At its heart is a struggle: who gets to breathe, who belongs, and how hope endures when systems are built to suffocate. Ashlight Dominion follows those who refuse to vanish, weaving stories of resilience, betrayal, and rebirth into a tapestry of survival. This debut novel by J. Trevino Kelley is both mythic and immediate, exploring how history, power, and identity shape the fight to endure and remain true. With prose that burns and breathes, it asks: What does it mean to rise from ash, not untouched, but unbroken?

 

 

About the Author

 

J. Trevino Kelley is a writer and strategist with a lifelong interest in systems, power, and human behavior. A husband and father of four, raised by a single mother as one of seven children, he draws from lived experience, leadership work, and a deep curiosity about how societies respond to disruption. His speculative fiction explores survival, identity, and the consequences of rebuilding the world after collapse. Ashlight Dominion is his debut novel.

Contact Link

BookBuzz

Purchase Link

Amazon

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Teaser: Impulse Caught by Emily Carrington @CarringtonEmily @RABTBookTours @changelingpress

A Sticks & Stones Romance

Marisburg Chronicles 9

M/M Romance Suspense

Date Published: March 6, 2026

Publisher: Changeling Press

Riku takes charge in bed, but will he have any control over the day-to-day decisions of a marriage?

Money and status differences challenge Riku and Theo to find a middle ground. Their passion is white-hot, but their ideas of living comfortably are at odds. As their wedding nears, driven forward by Theo’s parents’ sense of guilt, Riku feels the old urge to run.

Riku refuses to give into this impulse at first, but as the comparison between his emotional scars and the mountains of Theo’s familial expectations grow, Riku fears running will be the only less-than-honorable course left to him.

Theo isn’t blind to Riku’s struggles but he doesn’t understand what’s wrong. Each time he reaches out, Riku reaches back, yet they never quite connect. Will their need for each other overcome their differences, or will their passion be subsumed by a wave of conflicting desires?

Excerpt

It was the day after the children had left for the summer. There would be ESY, of course, extended school year, but Riku hadn’t been asked to participate. He’d only been a teacher at the Colton school for the deaf since January, so it made sense he wouldn’t be first pick for ESY. He would have normally chewed over that until he was ill, but since Theo had gone back to work in February, they were living relatively comfortably. Riku’s student loans still put a squeeze on him, but he could manage without panicking.

He was sorting through papers posted on the walls. Most of them had gone home with their makers yesterday, but there were a few that hadn’t been collected. These he grouped into a folder he marked “leftover assignments” and stored for early September.

He glanced toward where Theo was wiping down desks, and Riku had to catch his breath. His fiancé was dressed in casual clothes, but he looked like a Greek statue come to life. Attired in a green T-shirt and jeans shorts, he looked younger than he was because of the cutoffs, but not like jailbait. He was thirty-two, having gained another year in mid-April. Unfortunately, Riku had also aged a year, so they were still a decade apart.

The brush of Theo’s medium brown hair on his green-clad shoulders made Riku think of a book he’d read in high school. It had been about a man who could sing magic into the world. His hair had been red as his Irish heritage, but the physical differences didn’t matter. Theo could definitely have sung magic into Riku’s heart, or anywhere else he chose. His broad shoulders stretched the T-shirt over his pectorals and his shorts showed off his long, muscular legs.

If they weren’t at school, Riku would have suggested they quit working and go goof off instead. Unfortunately, they weren’t in their rented room in Marisburg.

Turning his attention back to his chosen task, he went to the bookshelf and started organizing the books. Ninety percent of the books were in print, but the remaining ones were in print and braille, for his students who, like Theo, had Usher Syndrome or other hearing/vision challenges. He wasn’t the braille teacher, could barely feel the dots under his fingers, truth be told. Still, he liked the idea of providing all kinds of different access to literature. Probably that was part of what made him an effective English teacher.

With his back to Theo as he organized the books, he reflected that today most likely wouldn’t see the two of them making love.

Half a year ago, Theo’s parents, courtesy of his father’s quick tongue, had alienated themselves from their son. Mr. Billings had told Theo that if he could prove himself self-sufficient for six months, he would be welcomed back into the familial fold. Theo’s father had apologized, all but falling over his words in an attempt to retreat from the ultimatum but Theo had taken up the challenge.

Now it was the end of that six months. Theo hadn’t been out of communication with his parents, but certain topics, like his relationship with Riku, had been off-limits. As had his access to the family fortunes.

Theo had been, for the past six months, surviving on his own brilliant mind and on his ability to work from anywhere. Today, though, Theo would be reopening full communication with his parents.

Riku wasn’t sure if he should be dreading that time as much as he was.

It wasn’t that Theo hadn’t been talking to his parents. He just hadn’t accepted any monetary handouts from them, and he’d refused to discuss his relationship with Riku. It was easy to trust him, to believe he had suspended those ties temporarily. Theo was prideful and wouldn’t bend. Besides, the two of them had engaged in actual arguments about money, like any other couple.

Riku found himself smiling. Those fights had always ended in makeup sex, almost like they were a new kind of foreplay. He hadn’t always won the arguments, like the one they’d had about moving out of his ex’s house and into a rented room.

To save on money, he’d wanted to stay “just a little longer” despite the fact that they’d been sleeping on an air mattress in his ex’s living room. The word “uncomfortable” didn’t begin to define that situation but it had felt safe because Riku had been able to pay bills without worrying where he would rest at night.

Theo had ultimately been the hero of that fight because he’d shown Riku how selfish he was being. His lover had managed it without making Riku feel bad, which was almost a miracle.

So, why was he so tangled up about bringing the Billings parents back into the picture? They’d apologized for calling him Theo’s Asian fetish, which was apparently the worst offense in their eyes. Shouldn’t he forgive them?

No, he thought. There’s an essential disconnect between how I view the world and how they do. We can’t resolve that.

Hands closed on his shoulders, and he realized he’d been standing still instead of cleaning. He relaxed into the familiar touch of Theo’s skilled fingers as Theo began massaging his shoulders and that spot where he carried ninety percent of his tension, which was at the base of his skull. He must have been unmoving for quite a while because Theo, partially deaf and visually impaired as well, sometimes missed things that happened around him. He’d noticed today, though.

Riku turned and Theo dropped one hand into Riku’s palm. He signed, “What’s wrong?”

“I’m borrowing trouble,” he said and signed. He caught the light playing over Theo’s hair and reached up to touch a lock that had fallen in front of Theo’s eyes. “You’re gorgeous, you know that?”

“Thank you.” He laughed. “I do know, but I also am aware that you’re avoiding talking about whatever’s bothering you. What’s wrong?”

Riku shook his head, remembered Theo might not be able to see that, and answered, “I don’t want to talk about it here.”

“Maybe we should go home, and we should resume this cleaning tomorrow?”

He didn’t want to go back to the rented room and face Theo’s parents. “I’d better finish up here or it’s going to drag on all summer.”

“By yourself?”

“You can go back if you want,” Riku offered.

“Why don’t I stay with you, keep you out of your head?”

Riku hugged him, feeling the warmth of Theo’s skin on his forehead as he leaned against him. “I love you. Thank you for understanding how much I need you to be with me right now.”

Theo kissed him, angling his head so their noses didn’t bump. “I love you.” He smacked Riku’s hip lightly. “Now. Let’s get cleaning. I don’t just love you.” He signed into Riku’s hand. “I crave your touch.”

“And my mouth, I hope,” Riku signed back. “I’ve wanted to taste you for days.”

 

About the Author

Emily Carrington is a multipublished author of male/male and transgender women’s speculative fiction. Seeking a world made of equality, she created SearchLight to live out her dreams. But even SearchLight has its problems, and Emily is looking forward to working all of these out with a host of characters from dragons and genies to psychic vampires. And in the contemporary world she’s named “Sticks & Stones,” Emily has vowed to create small towns where prejudice is challenged by a passionate quest for equality. Find her on Facebook at Shapeshifter Central or on her website.

 

Author’s Website

Emily on Facebook

Emily on Twitter

 

Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @changelingpress

Save 15% off any order at ChangelingPress.com with code RABT15

 

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Review: Astray Mage (Catenarian Chronicles #2) by TC Marti

 

Astray Mage

Catenarian Chronicles #2

by TC Marti

Published: March 2, 2026

Publisher: Phoenix Rising

Genre: Elemental Magic, Action, Suspense

Blurb:

She thought crossing one spirit brought closure. Now she’s caught in a web that could cost her mind—or her life.

Kaija escaped a haunted semester with her soul intact. Starting fresh at Linna Yliopisto should feel like freedom—new friends, a growing reputation, even a guy who’s actually breathing for once.

But peace doesn't last.

When Kaija stumbles on a secret buried deep within the school’s elite society, everything unravels. The people she trusted? Liars in expensive shoes. The system meant to protect her? Just another tool for control. And if Kaija dares to speak out, she won’t just get silenced—she will get reprogrammed.

Literally.

Forced to choose between staying silent or risking a fate worse than death, Kaija must decide how far she’ll go to expose the truth in a society where the magic is real, and so is the manipulation.

Goodreads ~ Amazon

My Review:

Astray Mage is an excellent addition to the Catenarian Chronicles series crafted by TC Marti. From the very first page, Astray Mage immersed me in its universe. To be truthful, it might have been even earlier than that—more like when I first encountered the initial book in the series, Cursed Mage, or perhaps even before that with the prequel, Deceived Mage.

The characters are truly wonderful individuals who support one another. They consistently have each other's backs, embodying a familial bond. While I enjoyed all the characters, I must confess that Kaija and Lilja stand out as my favorites. I adored how Kaija cared for Lilja, assisting her in ways others might not have. Kaija possesses a generous spirit and immense patience.

The world-building is among the finest I’ve encountered. I could vividly imagine everything I was reading, as if I were part of the narrative. I particularly enjoyed witnessing the students learn to harness and control their magical abilities.

Kaija is visited by a spirit girl who shares a tale and seeks her assistance. Kaija uncovers a secret hidden deep within the school. She must unravel this mystery before it’s too late and others are harmed.

The intrigue and tension kept me glued to each word as I endeavored to uncover what the individuals behind the school were desperate to conceal. I eagerly anticipate the next installment in the Catenarian Chronicles series to discover what awaits Kaija and her companions.

Don't miss out on grabbing a copy of Astray Mage today for another enchanting magical adventure!

Check out all the books in the Catenarian Chronicles I’ve read.

Deceived Mage, Prequel

Goodreads

Amazon

Cursed Mage #1

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub

Astray Mage #2

Goodreads

Amazon

Connect with TC Marti

Website ~ Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ BookBub

 

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Teaser + #Giveaway: Just Look at Those Boots by Sherry Roberts @RABTBookTours

Children's Western

Date Published: 02-26-2026

Publisher: Solander Press

A.J. is so excited about his new cowboy boots. He wears them on the first day of the school year. Mom said it was for only one day and then back to his regular boots or sneakers. During recess, A.J. plays in an exciting game of kickball. His boots get very messy during the game.

When he gets home, Jon, the farm hand, see the boots and tells him to clean them up then get into his work boots. Jon tells him to give Lady Star a ride because she’s waited all day for him.

On the ride, A.J. heads to the shallow pond out in one field. While A.J. daydreams, Lady Star sees the pond and decides to get there fast. A.J. loses control of Lady Star and finds himself thrown into the pond. Daydreaming on the ride means A.J. has additional chores when he returns to the barn.

In this second book, Sherry Roberts continues to tell stories inspired by her father’s childhood during the 1930s and 1940s in Northeast Oklahoma. For those who enjoy stores of the American West, as well as history, Just Look At Those Boots, is a must-read. 

Excerpt

“Hi, Benji. Ready for a new school year?” I ask as I sit beside him on the bus. 

“I like summer better.” He shrugs as he lets me know his feelings. It’s the first day, and Benji looks like he just got out of bed. Of course, Benji always looks like he just got out of bed. His hair is going every which way, and his shirt is wrinkled like he slept in it. He probably did. “Why are you late?” 

“Been one of those mornings when everything was going wrong. Sadie made a mess while I was milking her, and I had to change clothes. 

Then Jon saw me daydreaming as I was walking to the bus. Of course, Lady Star was at the rails with him. I had to go over to give her a nose rub. So, yeah, I guess I was daydreaming a bit.” I shrug my shoulders. 

 Benji laughs. “You’re always daydreaming. What was it about this time?” 

“I was thinking about the first day of school. I want it to be a good year. Also, I was looking at my new boots.” 

“Wow, I didn’t notice. Those are great. When did you get them? Won’t they hurt if you wear them all day? You haven’t really worn them in yet.” 

Benji talks like this. He asks questions but forgets to give you time to answer any of them. 

“Benji, stop.” 

Benji takes a breath. I look at my boots again. “I got them on Saturday. I wore them all Saturday and Sunday while working around the farm. 

They don’t hurt. They’re still stiff but it’ll get better. I like wearing them, and Mom said it was okay to wear them today but maybe not every day.”

 

About the Author

 

Sherry Roberts is an award-winning children’s book author. She holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Louisville. She has written multiple award-winning fiction picture books such as ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas…A First for Gus, Hello, Can I Bug You?, Gabriel and the Special Memorial Day, What’s Wrong with Barnaby, and The Best Reading Buddy. She also has written two non-fiction award-winning picture books, Sonnet, Sonnet, What’s in Your Bonnet? and A Visit Through the Wetlands. These two were illustrated with her photography. Sherry’s newest picture book, Amica Helps Zoe, was featured in Kirkus e-newsletter June 2025 as Indie Pick and received a Get It: Recommend review.

As a former middle school teacher, Dr. Roberts decided to write her first middle-grade novel (ages 8-13). Her debut novel, The Galaxy According to CeCe, is the first book in a three-book series. It was officially released on February 24, 2024. Book two, The Galaxy According to Cece: The Mysterious Dr. Pruitt, was released August 2024. Book three, The Galaxy According to Cece: The Stars Align, released February 2025.

Sherry’s next venture is a chapter book series (ages 6-8). The first book, Just Call Me Pardner, was released August 1, 2025. The series is about a young boy in the 1930s on a small farm in Northeastern Oklahoma and is inspired by stories of her father’s childhood in the 1930s. Book 2, Just Look at Those Boots, launches in early 2026, with Book 3, Just Don’t Give a Girl a Frog, launching in November 2026.

Dr. Roberts has also written many articles that appear in various academic journals, along with three textbooks. Personal Financial Literacy is in its fourth edition (Pearson). She is an associate professor of Marketing in Jones College of Business at Middle Tennessee State University.

Contact Links

Website

Facebook

Purchase Links

https://mybook.to/JustLookatThoseBoots

Amazon

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Cover Reveal: Marked by the Alpha by Sheritta Bitikofer @moonstruckwrite @XpressoTours

Marked by the Alpha
Sheritta Bitikofer
Publication date: June 11th 2026
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance

An alpha with a storied legacy. An independent woman rebuilding after grief. Forbidden desire—for only one is human….

After her mother’s death, photographer Erica Barrett, buys a home she and her mother obsessed over during her childhood in the quaintly historical town of Tolstone. Her magnetic next door neighbor intrigues and disturbs her. The sensual pull feels otherworldly.

Wolf shifter Dominic Beaumont never wanted to be the prime alpha of the sanctuary city, Tolstone, but when his father dies, he’s forced to step up as pack leader and prime alpha over all the wolf packs sheltering in his town. Erica’s arrival is dangerous. The attraction is fierce and instant, but duty comes first.

When revelations about Erica’s past and parentage create chaos, and she questions everything she thought she knew about herself, Dominic is her strength. But as tension builds in the pack, and his leadership is challenged, love becomes a risk that could cost him his authority, his people, and everything he’s sworn to protect.

Perfect for readers craving illicit wolf-shifter romance filled with fate, secrets, rebellion and an alpha willing to risk everything for love. 

Add to Goodreads / Pre-order

Author Bio:

Sheritta Bitikofer writes paranormal romance with a particular fondness for wolf shifters and witches. Her stories are driven by one guiding belief: love inspires courage. Through fierce romances, unbreakable pack bonds, and the magic of covens and family, her characters fight for the lives—and loves—they deserve. Sheritta lives in northwest Florida, where she drinks far too much coffee and joyfully balances life as a wife and mother while crafting her next heartfelt paranormal love story.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / Newsletter

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Review: Olympus Dawn (Gaia #4) by Zoë Routh @zoerouth

Olympus Dawn

Gaia #4

by Zoë Routh

Published: March 1, 2026

Publisher: Inner Compass Australia Pty Ltd

Genre: Dystopia, Science Fiction, Thriller 

 

Blurb:

If Mars falls, the future falls with it.

A ruthless CEO wants Mars. A battle-scarred crew stands in his way.

Earth is spiraling into political chaos as a powerful corporation sets its sights on humanity’s next frontier. Lincoln Ellison, the merciless head of Spaceward Bound, is determined to seize a breakthrough terraforming technology and claim Mars as his personal empire.

But on the Red Planet, Commander Troy Bruin and Deputy Commander Xanthe Waters are fighting to keep their crew alive. Sabotage threatens the mission, old rivalries resurface, and every step across the Martian surface exacts a price. As Xanthe grapples with the cost of leadership and Troy races to uncover the truth, the Olympus team must decide who to trust—before Ellison’s ambitions become humanity’s downfall.

Character-driven, tense, and deeply human, Olympus Dawn is a gripping sci-fi eco-thriller about survival, power, and the fight for a future worth living. Perfect for fans of Andy Weir, Kim Stanley Robinson, and Naomi Alderman.

Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ BookBub

My Review:

Lincoln Ellison, the merciless CEO of Spaceward Bound, is determined to seize control of Mars. Troy Bruin will do everything within his power to prevent that from occurring. Both Troy and Lincoln find themselves in a competition to determine who can land on Mars first.

Troy's goal is to protect humanity, while Lincoln's ambition is to dominate his own empire. Lincoln is prepared to take any measures necessary to ensure that he and his team reach Mars ahead of Troy and his crew.

Olympus Dawn is the fourth and final installment in the Gaia series by Zoë Routh. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the Gaia series and am saddened to see it conclude.

Olympus Dawn was so gripping that I was forced to neglect everything else just to finish it. This is a masterpiece of world-building that totally consumes you. It’s a wild ride that I didn't want to end.

I would love to see the Gaia series transformed into a television show. It would be a series I could watch repeatedly. Whenever I think of Olympus Dawn, I picture the crew in their space suits seated in their chairs, sometimes even floating around the spacecraft.

I highly recommend picking up a copy of Olympus Dawn today to find out who reaches Mars first, Troy or Lincoln.

Check out all the books in the Gaia Series I’ve read.

The Olympus Project #1

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub

Olympus Bound #2

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub

Olympus Rising #3

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub

Olympus Dawn #4

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub

Connect with Zoë Routh

Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ BookBub

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Instagram

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Book Blitz: Do What You Love and Outsource Everything Else by Kelly Lorenzen @RABTBookTours

Entrepreneurship 101: Start, Grow, and Succeed Without Burning Out 

Nonfiction - Small Business / Entrepreneurship / Workbook. 

Date Published: November 20, 2025

Publisher: Manhattan Book Group

Do What You Love and Outsource Everything Else® is a practical, no-fluff guide and workbook for new and growing entrepreneurs who want to build a sustainable business without burning out. Written for real life and small businesses, this book meets you exactly where you are, whether you’re launching from a tiny town, running a family-owned shop, or growing something scrappy in a big city.

Designed to be read and used at the same time, this Entrepreneurship 101 resource helps business owners gain clarity, create momentum, and reclaim breathing room. Readers are guided to read a little, do a little, and see results without overwhelm or jargon. The approach is grounded, actionable, and written by a fellow business owner who understands the realities of building while juggling life.

Who It’s For

●     New and newer entrepreneurs, solo or family-run, who feel stretched thin or overwhelmed.

● Small-business owners who want simple, real-world guidance, not theory or hype.

Why It Matters Now

●     The way we market, operate, and grow has changed. In 2025, overwhelm is common and delegation often comes too late. This book provides a clear, practical path to simplify sooner, outsource with confidence, and protect your energy as you grow.

What Readers Will Gain

●     Bite-size guidance you can act on immediately.

●     Encouragement from an entrepreneur who has built, led, and rebuilt through real-life challenges.

● A clear roadmap to build a business that supports your life, not one that consumes it.

Drawing on more than two decades of experience as an entrepreneur, CEO, and philanthropist, author Kelly Lorenzen, PMP, shares proven strategies for confident delegation, streamlined marketing, and systems that actually work. Her personal journey, including navigating health setbacks and professional rebuilds, shapes the grounded, compassionate advice throughout the book.

Each chapter concludes with simple, step-by-step momentum exercises designed to help readers implement what they learn right away. Inside, readers will discover how to:

●     Build a brand that sounds like you and connects with the right audience.

●     Create marketing systems that work on repeat.

●     Delegate without losing control or quality.

●     Build systems that keep running, even when you can’t.

● Reclaim your calendar, avoid burnout, and future-proof your business.

Do What You Love and Outsource Everything Else® is the practical playbook new and growing entrepreneurs wish they’d had from day one. It is clear, encouraging, and designed for sustainable success.

 

Interview with Kelly Lorenzen

Introduce yourself and tell us what you do.

My name is Kelly Lorenzen, PMP, and I am an award-winning entrepreneur and the CEO of KLM Consulting, Marketing & Management. I am also a podcast host, speaker, breast cancer survivor, author, wife, and mom. With more than two decades of experience building and scaling companies and coming from a long line of entrepreneurs, I am deeply committed to helping small and family-owned businesses succeed.

My team, often referred to as “business owner duplicates”, partners with clients as a fractional C-suite and project implementation arm, helping business owners simplify operations, hand off marketing, build systems, and scale sustainably. The goal is simple: allow owners to focus on what they love while confidently outsourcing the rest.

Tell us about your journey as an author and your writing process.

My journey as an author was rooted in consistency and showing up week after week. It began when my teammate, Sahar, created an initial draft using my talks, articles, and blog posts. She captured ideas I had been sharing for years and put them onto the page. That jump-start gave me the momentum I needed to begin editing and re-writing new versions over the course of 6 months or so.

From there, Sunday afternoons became sacred writing time. I started by revising the preface, then chapter one, and continued methodically through each chapter. Once the full manuscript was complete, I went back and refined it again, chapter by chapter, clarifying ideas and sharpening the practical guidance.

For years, people encouraged me to write a book based on my twenty-plus years as a business owner, and eventually I realized why. Through one-on-one work alone, we can only help so many businesses. A book allows me to share hard-won lessons at scale, giving new and growing business owners a better chance at success. I’m incredibly grateful to Sahar for assembling the first version and encouraging me to begin. Over the past year, I’ve spent nearly every weekend revising and refining the book so it’s clear, actionable, and genuinely useful.

Story you’d like to highlight

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I had to step away from the day-to-day operations of my business for several weeks. Because we had already built simple, effective systems and because I had learned how to delegate the right work to the right people, the business continued to serve clients and even grew by 25% that year.

That experience became the heartbeat of this book: building a business that can keep running, even when you can’t.

About the Author

 

My name is Kelly Lorenzen, PMP, and I am an award-winning entrepreneur and the CEO of KLM Consulting, Marketing & Management. I am also a podcast host, speaker, breast cancer survivor, author, wife, and mom. With more than two decades of experience building and scaling companies and coming from a long line of entrepreneurs, I am deeply committed to helping small and family-owned businesses succeed.

My team, often referred to as “business owner duplicates”, partners with clients as a fractional C-suite and project implementation arm, helping business owners simplify operations, hand off marketing, build systems, and scale sustainably. The goal is simple: allow owners to focus on what they love while confidently outsourcing the rest.

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