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Monday, May 25, 2026

Teaser: Rowan’s Lovers by Mikala Ash @ash_mikala @RABTBookTours



Action Adventure Romance, Capture Fantasy

Date Published: May 29, 2026

Publisher: Changeling Press



Rowan has a bounty on her head. Will her lovers get to her before a bounty hunter can collect the reward?

 

Rebellious slave Rowan is heading for the walled city of Iseky to find her lovers Ky and Chin Lau. She also need to discover who wiped her memories and why. Soldier of fortune Kepel Dev is forced to hunt her by any means necessary.

When Ky rushes to Iseky to try to find Rowan, he meets the flirtatious Hetta along the way. Meanwhile Chin Lau has escaped the Skolls and their new leader, Tamin Gutra, but on his way to find Rowan he falls into the hands of cannibals.

Little do they know slave master Ganwe din Kopese holds the key to all their futures.

 



EXCERPT

 

Ganwe din Kopese, known variously as Gan or Kop or Din the Slave Master, surfaced from a pleasant dream soon after sunrise. He’d been led into the desert by a troupe of naked slaves to an idyllic oasis where they frolicked in the sparkling water, the sun gleaming off their flawless skin. Under a swaying palm, strenuous digging uncovered a huge wooden chest of great antiquity. They’d opened it, lifting the creaking lid to expose a veritable king’s ransom. Excitedly they scooped up the glistening gems -- diamonds, rubies, sapphires -- and gaily tossed them into the air so they fell upon his head like the gentlest of summer rain.

Ganwe din Kopese awoke not only with a contented smile, but also a mighty erection. He surveyed the prominent tent in the silk sheet and grunted in self-admiration. “Seesee!” he bellowed.

A moment later his wife, third and youngest bearer of that majestic title, ran full tilt into his room, the folds of her transparent nightdress flowing about her petite body like a desert whirlwind.

“See to that, will you,” he said casually.

Seesee eagerly lifted the sheet, exposing his firm muscular body, and dove in. For a few moments he luxuriated in her warm, wet mouth. “Litu,” he then shouted. “I’m starving!”

From somewhere below -- the kitchen he hoped -- came an unintelligible reply from the second bearer of that esteemed title of wife. Gan imagined she was instructing the slaves in the preparation of some delicacy or other. Litu, he knew, kept a diligent eye on the latest culinary fashions shed like confetti by their betters up north. In the adjoining room a baby wailed, and was soon comforted by Didoy, the first bearer of the revered title of wife, who hummed a soothing rhyme from her childhood.

The house of Kopese had awakened.

Gan lay back, enjoying Seesee’s skills, noting that her technique had improved since Didoy’s lesson in the Quad: the art of pleasing a man with lips, tongue, throat, and fingers. She had finally mastered the timing of the twist of the shaft as she withdrew her mouth from his swollen organ before plunging downward so that her dainty nose was bent against his hard, muscular stomach. She held there for a count of five before slowly withdrawing. As she drew her mouth away, she wrapped her dainty fingers around his shaft to apply the screwing action that gave him an inordinate amount of pleasure. He sighed with satisfaction as the dream of buried jewels faded like a summer mist.

Litu, wearing a flimsy robe shaded in jade, entered with a tray. The smell of freshly baked bread, melting ocyx butter, strips of seasoned meat, and her sweet perfume caressed his nostrils. Balancing the tray expertly on one hand, she used the other to put an extra pillow under Gan’s raised head and shoulders. Then she swept off the sheet, positioned the tray on his flat belly. Seesee adjusted her position so she could tongue his ball sac while Litu knelt beside him to take on the shaft and head duties while he ate.

Gan watched appreciatively as his second wife opened her small, bow-shaped mouth as wide as she could to take in the thick head of his cock. He thought of it as the dome of a massive mushroom, and was secretly pleased that it posed a constant challenge to Litu, who eagerly strove to fit it all in. He took a generous bite of his bread, sending ocyx butter dribbling from the corner of his mouth. He almost bit his tongue when Seesee suddenly sucked one of his balls deep into her mouth.

“Easy, Seesee. Easy.”

“My apologies, husband,” she slurred after popping the delicate egg from between her generous lips. A shiny thread of saliva hung between her mouth and his tight scrotum, and with a giggle she slurped it up as she resumed her wifely duty.

Gan smiled contentedly. What a perfect household I have built, he thought. Three perfect gems, for that was how he often thought of his wives, to cater to my every urge.

He finished his breakfast with a cup of warm wine flavoured with huj, an expensive spice he imported from the Northern Reach. The slaves from that region carried the bales of the crushed seeds on their heads as they trudged their way to the Auction House.

That reminded him of this day’s tasks: the bidding for docile but intelligent slaves who could be taught. The House of Kopese was known across the world for the quality of his bedroom and household slaves. “Only the best from Kopese,” was his watchword, and all the prestigious houses of the city came to him. He excelled in teaching the art of pleasing men and women of refinement, and his slaves were keenly sought after, garnering top prices.

“Enough, Seesee, Litu. Enough, I say. I need all my stamina today.” He laughed at his unintended rhyme.

His two wives, however, pouted. Though they knew the demands of his day and evening, they didn’t like being denied their morning coupling.

“Don’t look at me like that. It’s not the end of the world.”

“It is,” Seesee said. “It’s been a whole week.”

“Has it?”

“You know it has. My cunny is aching. It’s wet all the time.” She screwed up her face. “You don’t love me as much as Litu.”

“Now, don’t be like that. I love you all the same. Didoy, Litu, and Seesee. All the same.”

“But you’ve had Litu three times in the last four nights.”

“I wish you wouldn’t keep count,” Litu said. “It’s not my fault --”

“Litu. Stop it!” Gan snapped. “Just this minute I was congratulating myself on such a harmonious household, and you go and spoil it by bickering.”

“I’m sorry, husband.”

“Now, Seesee. Remind me when I come home that it is your turn. Happy?” She smiled at Litu triumphantly. Shaking his head good-naturedly he chucked his pretty wife under her chin. “Now, is my bath ready?”

“I’d just ordered the heating of the water when you called,” Seesee said.

“Then go. See that it is ready for me.”

She stuck out her tongue at Litu and launched herself off the bed. After she’d skipped from the room, Gan took Litu’s hand and drew her to him for a kiss. She licked the ocyx butter from his chin.

“How old is she? Remind me.”

“Twenty.”

“And how old are you?”

“Two and twenty.”

“Then don’t goad her. Act your age.”

She pouted again.

“Has it really been three times in four nights?”

She nodded, and a sly smile escaped her contrite expression.

“There must be a reason for that,” he said in a questioning voice. “I wonder what the reason could be.”

“Because…”

He silenced her with a kiss. “I love you all the same. Remember that.”

“Yes, husband.”

“Now take this tray to the kitchen, and then go help Didoy with the children.”

“Yes, husband.”

“First, find my robe. It’s a bit chilly this morning. And my slippers. Where are my slippers?”

An hour later, bathed, perfumed, and dressed in his finest, Gan was farewelled by Didoy, who handed him his ebony staff as she did every day.

He kissed her, then stood back in silent admiration of her beauty, and his luck.

“You do this every morning,” she chided.

Her face was colouring in a blush fit for a maiden, not of a wife of ten years with three children and a household to manage. “I stop to thank the gods for the blessing they have bestowed on me. Is that so grievous a crime?”

“Being late will be a very great one if you miss bidding on the best prospects. The High Warden put in an order for six, no less: four cocks and two cunts.”

“Where would I be without you, I wonder.” He kissed her again. “Six, you say? What in the world does he do with them?”

 

About the Author

Aussie Mikala Ash used to be a mild-mannered training & development consultant by day, and a wild sci-fi and paranormal adventure writer by night. Now she is a brazen full-time writer and nature photographer who is concentrating on having among other things, “… bags, and bags of fun!” Mikala can be found on Facebook and on Twitter.


Author on Twitter


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



RABT Book Tours & PR

Book Blast + #Giveaway: K-Pop The Four Lights and The Sharded Lullaby by Lotte Bluejay @GoddessFish



This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Lotte Bluejay will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Blurb: 

An epic K-Pop fantasy adventure series for readers ages 8-12.

Music becomes magic. Friendship becomes power. And every concert could save the world.

When four freshly debuted K-pop idols discover that their songs awaken ancient magic, their rise to fame turns into something far greater than a world tour.

At their first sold-out concert, Hana, Daon, Mira, and Noah expect a night of lights and applause. Instead, they uncover a broken lullaby and fragments of an ancient prophecy. Soon strange things begin to follow them from city to city - whispers in the lights, shadows beneath the rhythm, and a dark force determined to silence their music forever.

Because somewhere in the shadows, a forgotten enemy has been waiting for the music to begin.

To protect their dreams, their fans, and each other, the four must learn to unlock the hidden power within their songs. Because harmony is strongest when no one stands alone. And some melodies were never meant to fade.

Perfect for readers who love:

• magical adventures and epic quests
• powerful friendships and teamwork
• modern fantasy with a pop-culture twist
• stories where music becomes magic

Begin the adventure with Book 1 of The Four Lights. The stage is set. The prophecy has begun. And the world is about to hear their song.

The Four Lights Series

A magical middle-grade adventure about friendship, courage, and the power of music.

Book 1 - The Sharded Lullaby
Book 2 - The Shadow Band
Book 3 - The Crimson Solace
Book 4 - The Syncopated Harmony
Book 5 - The Hollow Beat
Book 6 - The Blinding Crescendo
Book 7 - the epic finale

Read an Excerpt:


Daon’s fingers twitched. Tap-tap … tap.

The pulse matched him.

Hana’s breath caught. “Daon,” she said, low.

“I know, I know,” he whispered, but he couldn’t help it. The beat slipped out of him like a hiccup. He added a heel-thump, tiny, a heartbeat on the floor.

The bobbing steadied. The little bumps turned into a slow roll, the kind you could ride if you knew when to lean.

Daon leaned with it, eyes wide. “Are you seeing this?”

“I’m seeing you stop,” Noah said.

Mira pressed a new chord, soft and bright. The roll faded. The seatbelt sign blinked off.

Silence fell between them, the kind that wasn’t empty at all.

Hana looked from Daon’s hands to Mira’s keyboard to Noah’s steady grip on the bass case. No one said the word magic. No one said powers. The cabin was full of people, full of cameras, full of ordinary. The last thing they needed was attention.

Daon tucked his hands under his thighs like a kid in time-out. “Okay,” he whispered. “Okay. But did you feel how the bumps synced to me? Like the plane caught the beat?”

“It synced to the pilot,” Noah said. “Like it’s supposed to.”

Mira’s mouth curved. “Maybe both.”

The cart came back with snacks. Crackers. Cups. The clink of ice. The very normal world.
They ate. They watched a cartoon on the seatback screens without hearing it. They tried to sleep.

Hana couldn't. She stared at the little screen map and watched their plane crawl toward Japan. A bright line traced their path, pixel by pixel. She thought of the glow that had raced up the mic stands, and of how her body had hummed like a string in tune.

She reached into her backpack and slid out a notebook. On the first blank page she wrote:
Seoul: power went out – we sang – stands glowed – crowd calmed. Backstage: stands still warm – felt watched – not sure. Plane: Daon’s beat = air bumps? Mira’s chord = calm?
She added a question mark and circled it twice.

About the Author:


Lotte Bluejay creates magical middle-grade adventures where music becomes power and friendship saves the day. Her Four Lights series blends the sparkle of K-Pop with the wonder of fantasy, giving young readers stories filled with rhythm, courage, and hope. Every book is written to light up imaginations, celebrate teamwork, and remind kids that even in the darkest moments, their own voices can shine the brightest.

Connect with Lotte Bluejay





Giveaway:



$15 Amazon/BN GC





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


Sunday, May 24, 2026

Book Blitz + #Giveaway: The Flames of Soulflare by La Kayshal @LaKayshal @XpressoTours

The Flames of Soulflare
La Kayshal
(Hell’s Fire Dragon Series, #2)
Publication date: May 27th 2026
Genres: Fantasy, New Adult, Paranormal, Romance

Fourth Wing meets From Blood and Ash in this Dark Paranormal Romantasy where dragons fear prophecy—and love may be the final weapon.

Everin Haydon was stolen, tortured, and reshaped into the dreaded Hell’s Fire Dragon, bound as a weapon for a Dragon Council that calls itself righteous.

Across the realms, Lord Tynan, the Demon of Darkness and Chaos, has ascended. His arrival heralds the Three Days of Darkness, and he will burn heaven and earth to reclaim what fate bound to him—his power, his vengeance.
But one question if the demon has risen, where is the god meant to stop him?

As the dragon world waits for divine intervention, Everin must decide whether she will remain a weapon—or become the fate of the realms.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Apple Books / Kobo

EXCERPT:

Dark themes including captivity and experimentation

Emotional conflict and intense character struggles
Violence and battle scenes
High-stakes situations involving power and survival

This book is best suited for readers who enjoy emotionally intense, character-driven romantasy.
Read Before You Decide

Before committing, please read the prologue.

This will give you a clear sense of the tone, pacing, and writing style.

Prologue:
Present Day

The moon hung quietly above Helldreth Fort, its pale glow spilling through the tall windows and brushing the chamber with soft silver. A cool breeze drifted in and stirred the white curtains, their edges sweeping lightly across Everin’s skin. She pulled her silk gown closer, grateful for the warmth of the room. It felt comforting, far more so than the terrible, dark place she had left behind.

Her steps carried her to the mirror in the corner. The reflection staring back looked thinner, as if her body had been carved down to something she hardly recognized.

The neckline of her nightie dipped too low to her liking, drawing her eye to the faint scars across her chest. The lamp light traced their uneven lines, pale and unsettling.

She touched them gently. Everin barely remembered how or when she got the scars.

She pulled the outer robe around her until it covered more of her chest. At least the scars were low enough to stay hidden unless she wore something too revealing.

A sound of footsteps behind her made her turn.

Tariel Fenwick, her first love, stood at the doorway.

Everin froze for a moment. He looked different—stronger, more defined, more man than the boy she remembered. His dark hair rested just above his shoulders with two thin braids at the sides of his head, framing a face sharpened by a faint stubble. His amber eyes, once so warm, now carried a deeper, shadowed intensity.

His shirt hung open across his chest, revealing sculpted muscle that rose with each slow breath, and a leather gauntlet, more like an open finger glove, hugged his left hand like a seamless extension of his skin.

Her gaze lingered longer than she meant it to. He saw that. A slow, knowing smirk touched his lips.

She straightened quickly. “We need to talk, Tariel.”

“Yes,” he replied, approaching her, “but not now.”

“There is a lot I want to understand,” she said quietly. “So much I don’t remember.”

“Later.” He reached her, lowering his voice. “I’ve long waited for this moment with you.”

He stepped closer.

She stepped back.

“You waited for me?” she whispered, searching his face.

“I did,” he said. “More than you know.”

He brushed a fingertip along her arm. She stiffened but felt a flicker of the old pull toward him, a warm memory trying to surface. Her eyes drifted briefly to his lips, those that she had kissed in the past, before she forced herself to look away.

His smirk deepened. “Are we shy now, Everin?” he murmured, amusement warm in his voice.

“It has been a while,” she managed. “Things are not the same.”

“We are,” he said, touching her jaw. “You still feel this.”

She backed away again, but he followed, closing in until she had no space left. Her leg hit the edge of the bed. She lost her balance and stumbled, falling backward onto the soft covers. Instantly, she pressed her elbow into the mattress as she tried to push herself upright and pull her short nightie into place, but she barely had a second.

By the time she braced herself, Tariel was already on the bed. One knee pressed into the mattress, and in a swift movement, he trapped her between his legs. His body loomed over hers, leaving her nowhere to go. His hand slid behind her back and pulled her closer. The other moved to her neck, his fingers settling at her pulse, firm enough to hold her from looking away.

His control was precise and deliberate.

“Tariel—” She sucked in a breath, fear slipping into her voice. “What are you doing?”

His lips hovered above hers, so close she could taste the hint of warmth in each breath he released.

“You belong to me,” he whispered, his voice shifting, deepening, curling around her like smoke. His eyes burned brighter, molten gold spilling across the darkness of his gaze. “You always have.”

Everin’s heart thrashed in her chest. Something ancient stared back at her through his eyes—something demanding, something claiming.

She tried to pull away. “You’re frightening me.”

He leaned closer, lips brushing the edge of her jaw. “You love me,” he whispered.

“You always have. And you will give yourself to me again.”

His mouth dragged slowly toward hers, teasing, commanding, his breath warm against her parted lips.

“I want you,” he said, low and certain. “I want all of you.”

“No.” Everin gasped, turning her head away as panic surged. “Stop. You’re not—”

His fingers tightened at her neck.

He didn’t stop. The Tariel she loved would have.

“I am yours,” he murmured.

She squeezed her eyes shut. Then her voice broke in a whisper—

“You’re not him. You’re not Tariel.”

The room fell silent. And everything inside her knew she was right.

Author Bio:

La Kayshal is an Australian writer of romance, YA, and children's fantasy novels. She lives with her husband, daughter, and a playful Malshi puppy in the coastal plains of the Sunny State.

Her debut novel, The Lost Crown, is an adventure romance set in the exotic landscapes of India. She also created the much-loved Sylph Series, a whimsical children’s collection that introduces readers to the amazing world of Sylphs, with each book carrying a gentle moral lesson.

A lifelong fan of wizards, magic, dragons, swords, and elementals, she poured all these passions into her YA fantasy Ariston Baker in the Weird Picture Book, a fast-paced journey filled with realms, riddles, action, and adventure.

Her latest project is the Hell’s Fire Dragon series. Book 1, The Flames of Darkness, is a YA Romantasy full of dragons, and Book 2 is set to be released soon.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram


GIVEAWAY!

The Flames of Soulflare Blitz


Saturday, May 23, 2026

Review: The Case of the Hidden Legacy (Lady Theodora Ashcoombe Mystery #10) by Daisy Landish @daisy_landish

The Case of the Hidden Legacy

Lady Theodora Ashcoombe Mystery #10

by Daisy Landish

Published: May 23, 2026

Publisher: ‎Beaches and Trails Publishing

Genre: Short Read, Cozy Mystery, Historical Mystery, Victorian Cozy Mystery


Blurb:


A missing clerk. A coded journal. A family secret that refuses to stay buried.

When a sealed packet from her late father arrives unexpectedly, Lady Theodora Ashcombe discovers it contains a ciphered diary, a list of crossed-out names, and a single chilling instruction: Find Weatherby.

Hours later, the vanished Foreign Office clerk—long declared dead—is found bricked behind a wall beneath Somerset House. And the investigation leads to a truth even Theo never imagined: her father was entangled in a clandestine inquiry he never solved.

Drawn back to Ashcombe Park in search of the missing journal pages, Theo finds evidence of an intruder in the west wing, a man travelling under stolen identities, and signs that her father’s final months were far more dangerous than anyone believed. With Inspector Hargrave and Jasper Welles each uncovering pieces of the mystery—and Pip detecting clues no human nose could hope to find—Theo must follow a trail of deception through hidden rooms, ancestral scandals, and a network of secrets stretching from Belgravia to Greenwich.

But as the masked stranger closes in, one question grows impossible to ignore:
How much truth did her father die to protect—and how much will she risk to finish what he began?

In this breathtaking series finale, Lady Theodora Ashcombe faces the most personal case of her life… and uncovers a legacy that could change her future forever.

Perfect for fans of Miss Scarlett, T.E. Kinsey, and Deanna Raybourn.


Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ BookBub


My Review:

The Case of the Hidden Legacy is the tenth installment in Daisy Landish's Lady Theodora Ashcoombe Mystery series. Just like the previous nine books, it’s packed with intrigue and mystery, maybe even more than before.

Theo’s dad left her some clues about a case he couldn’t shake off and kept under wraps to keep her safe. With Pip by her side, Theo starts to follow her dad’s hints. The first clue led her to a man, but she was shocked to find him buried behind a wall.

While digging through her father’s library for more hints, Theo discovers signs that someone has been living there for an unknown period. This person is also on the hunt for clues in the house.

The case seems to be just as perilous, if not more so, than her father had anticipated. Theo needs to act fast to reveal the truth before anyone else ends up dead or hidden behind a wall.

I was totally on the edge of my seat, trying to piece together what her father was trying to convey. I think Theo is just as sharp as her father believed, maybe even sharper.

The mystery and suspense are so gripping that I couldn’t put the book down until I reached the end. I had to find out how it all wrapped up.

I wholeheartedly recommend diving into The Case of the Hidden Legacy along with all the Lady Theodora Ashcoombe books right now!

Check out all the books in the Lady Theodora Ashcombe Mysteries I’ve read.

The Case of the Clockwork Canary #0

The Avid Reader


The Case of the Vanishing Heiress #1

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub


The Case of the Murderous Botanist #2

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub


The Case of the Silk Widow #3

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub


The Case of the Dovetail Opera #4

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub


The Case of the Christmas Corpse #5

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub


The Case of the Guilded Alchemist #6

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub


The Case of the Fallen Debutante #7

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub


The Case of the Phantom Tenant #8

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub


The Case of the Masked Stranger #9

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub


The Case of the Hidden Legacy #10

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub


Connect with Daisy Landish

Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ BookBub

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter/X ~ Instagram

 

Book Blitz: The Algorithm of Us by Anh Sphabmixay @RABTBookTours



Contemporary Romance, Rom-Com, Women’s Fiction

Date Published: April 29, 2026



Maya Lin never wanted to become the headline.

As the architect behind HeartSpark’s revolutionary dating algorithm, she built her career on one belief: love could be understood through data, patterns, and predictability. But after a viral breakup puts both her reputation and her company under public scrutiny, Maya finds herself forced into the spotlight she spent years avoiding.

Enter Eli Torres — sharp-tongued podcast host, relentless skeptic, and one of HeartSpark’s loudest critics.

When public backlash pushes them into an uneasy collaboration, their clashing beliefs ignite a tension neither of them can explain away. Maya trusts logic. Eli believes love is chaos. But the more time they spend challenging each other, the harder it becomes to ignore the connection growing between them.

Now Maya must decide whether love is something that can truly be calculated… or something that has to be felt.


About the Author


Anh Sphabmixay is a Colorado-based author who writes heartfelt stories centered on connection, kindness, and the beauty found in everyday moments. Inspired by her loving family—including her imaginative daughter and beloved Yorkie, Abbie—Anh creates stories that celebrate emotion, wonder, and human connection.

As a devoted wife and mother, she believes storytelling has the power to bring people together and leave a lasting impact on readers of all ages. When she’s not writing, Anh enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, capturing memories with her daughter and dog, and finding inspiration in life’s simple joys.


Purchase Link

Amazon


RABT Book Tours & PR

Book Blitz + #Giveaway: A Hundred Black Sunrises: A Friday the 13th Story by Tamela Miles @jackiebrown20 @XpressoTours

A Hundred Black Sunrises: A Friday the 13th Story
Tamela Miles
Publication date: March 13th 2026
Genres: Adult, Horror, Paranormal, Romance, Suspense

A hundred different ways to break your heart, a hundred different ways to take your last breath. Sienna and Finn are exploring their strange attraction to each other until strange becomes something sinister. The clock is ticking as they fight to unravel the mystery of what draws them together on fateful Friday, the 13th.

 

Goodreads / Amazon




EXCERPT:

Prologue

Arcadia County, Maryland

Bellefleur Plantation, 1725

“The dinner this evening was appetizing, Poppy. Clear the dishes from the table.”

Poppy nodded, keeping her expression blank, though she seethed with frustrated anger deep down in her gut. She hated the speaker, her master by the laws of the land, Christianpaul Thibodeaux. As she efficiently removed the dishes from the expansive wood dining table, she fought to remain as buoyant as she had been when the evening began. Yes, he’d fed, sheltered, and clothed her from birth nineteen years ago on his property, but the egregious problem was that she was his property, as well. He held the key to her freedom. As she carefully loaded up the ornate dishes in the crook of one arm, she dared to peek at his dinner guest – the reason she could almost taste her freedom. Elijah Delaney. She caught him looking at her before she gracefully left the dining room, tastefully decorated in shades of green, heading for the kitchen.

Elijah discreetly slid his gaze from Poppy and nervously cleared his throat, unsure of how to get to the sole reason for his visit with Thibodeaux. He met the older man’s assessing gaze, and he recoiled inside. The eyes were cold, his lazy smile calculating, and Elijah steeled himself. He had to save Poppy. “Christianpaul, my family –“

The other man waved a hand. “Call me Kit, please.”

“Uh…Kit, the Delaney family sends our best regards on your recent acquisition and expansion of properties in this area.” At Kit’s nod, he continued. “My father and I are very much looking forward to doing business with you – mutually beneficial business, of course. On that note, have you considered my…proposal?”

Kit took a deep draw from his pipe, remaining silent and staring at him for long moments. “Yes, I’ve had time to consider your proposal, and I have a counteroffer. So, you want to take my Poppy and give her a better life than you believe she has here at my beautiful Bellefleur? With me and her family?”

Elijah nodded. “Yes. Absolutely. She would be among the freed blacks and enjoy all the benefits of life. Or, as many as possible.”

Kit guffawed loudly, startling him. “You mean she would be free to visit your bed more frequently and conveniently, of course.”

Elijah’s expression gave away nothing. “I’m not quite sure what you’re insinuating, Mr. Thibodeaux. I assure you-“

Kit waved a hand, wearing a sly smile. “Oh, you’ve been swiving her for some time now. Don’t be coy about it, Delaney. It happens to us all. We, as men, just want a taste from the honey pot.” He put his pipe on the table and leaned forward, eyes gleaming with some inner meanness that disturbed Elijah down to his bones. “You want my Poppy, who I watched birthed into this world, God bless her mama’s resting soul? Then, be prepared to pay the price, boy.”

Elijah clenched his jaw, his stomach tightening with dread. “What price?”

Kit smiled with dark glee. “The counteroffer stands for one day. After that, it’s off the table forever and there will be no further discussions nor negotiations.” He pointed at him. “You leave your father’s business and work for me, for the length of seven years, as a subordinate. Perform well and you can have my Poppy.”

Elijah sucked in a deep, despairing breath. “You must know I can’t do that.”

Kit chuckled, leaning back in the high back wood chair. He took in a deep draw from the pipe. “Then you don’t want her bad enough, son.”

Elijah closed his eyes and gasped when he opened them. Poppy moved swiftly across the expansive dining room, clutching a heavy silver candelabra. He quickly rose to stop her, as she swung it in a sweeping motion and bashed the back of his head. Christianpaul dropped to the floor, lying motionless. Elijah’s mouth opened wide in shock, and he shot from his chair to stand beside her.

Her lips curled back in a feral grin. “Liar! You promised me he could marry me, you cruel bastard!” She moved to strike the older man again and Elijah caught her arm in his firm grip.

He shook his head slowly. “Oh, Poppy. What have you done?”

She met his bright green eyes with her penetrating brown eyed gaze. “Not enough.”

“We’re going to hang for this,” he murmured, his tone dazed.

A weak chuckle filled the silence and they both turned to see Christianpaul struggling to move from his position on the floor, blood dripping from his lips. “Oh yes, you are.” He coughed, struggling to draw a breath, and the crimson droplets sprayed. “Both…of you…will regret this.”

Poppy gasped and backed away, bumping into the ornate wood table. The matching candelabra, lit with candles, tipped over and rolled directly onto the plush rug where the older man struggled to stand. Within seconds, the flames raced across the rug and leapt onto his fine, sky-blue dining coat. He screamed his pain and fury, unable to beat at the tendrils of fire.

“I curse you both! Une centaine de levers de soleil noirs!” He screamed again as the flames fully engulfed him. “You will…never be free of…Christianpaul Thibodeaux!”

A loud cracking sounded across the room and a huge, silver gilded mirror fractured in half, splitting apart their reflections. Elijah grabbed her hand and spoke softly. “Let me get you away from here, Poppy.”

As they moved toward the dining room entrance, one of the kitchen servants appeared. Her brown eyes widened and then narrowed at the scene laid out before her. She hastily wiped her hands on her white apron and latched onto Poppy’s other hand.

“Run far, far away from this cursed place. Take nothing with you. His evil was contained while he was alive, but his death means…” she trailed off and shrugged her shoulders.

“What…what did he mean by “a hundred black sunrises?” Poppy asked in a tremulous voice.

The servant smiled sadly. “Nothing good, you can believe that.” She gestured towards the hallway leading to the front door as a dozen other servants from the kitchen suddenly crowded around them. “Now, go! Take her and go!”

Elijah needed no further encouragement and pulled a dazed Poppy down the hallway, already filled with black smoke. As he opened the heavy door, she looked back one last time to say goodbye to everything she had ever known, and her gaze lit on Christianpaul’s smiling portrait of himself as a much younger man. She shivered as Elijah led her out the front door and she clutched his arm fearfully. Poppy knew every brushstroke of that painting and never in her life had the bastard worn a smile in it.


Author Bio:

Tamela Miles is a school psychologist with an Ed.S and PPS credential and a graduate of California State University San Bernardino and California State University Dominguez Hills. She is also a former flight attendant. She grew up in Altadena, California in that tumultuous time known as the 1980s. She now resides with her family in the Inland Empire, CA. She's a horror/paranormal romance writer mainly because it feels so good having her characters do bad things and, later, pondering what makes them so bad and why they can never seem to change their wicked ways.

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GIVEAWAY!

A Hundred Black Sunrises Blitz


Friday, May 22, 2026

Book Blitz + #Giveaway: Rathuun: King of the Prairie by David Fitz-Gerald @AuthorDAVIDFG @RABTBookTours




Frontier & Pioneer Western Fiction; US Historical Fiction; Action/Adventure

Date Published: March 20, 2026

 


With all the swagger of a classic western, a legendary buffalo claims his rightful place among the genre's most iconic heroes.

Meet Rathuun. Born in an idyllic canyon, tragedy strikes on his first day. A grizzly bear scatters the herd, devours his twin, and leaves him to shiver and die. But the buffalo calf with a white spot on his chin survives.

The plains are changing fast. Wagons roll west in endless streams. Telegraph wires stretch across the horizon. Locomotives scream down polished rails, slicing through the earth. Extinction

seems imminent when everyone wants to kill the biggest buffalo on the prairie. Native people shoot arrows and drive herds over cliffs. Hide hunters slaughter millions. An obsessed buffalo assassin is determined to wipe them all out and change the world forever. There's an army of barking rifles, and they're all pointed at Rathuun.

Will the hunters take Rathuun's head and leave his carcass to rot on the prairie?


This sweeping epic thunders across the American West, taking listeners to unforgettable western landmarks. If you like classic westerns, thrilling action, and high-stakes historical adventures, grab your copy by the horns.

Welcome to the prairie!



About the Author


David Fitz-Gerald writes frontier and pioneer western fiction from the wilds of western Vermont—about as far west as you can get without slipping into New York.

Though he’s never wrangled beeves to market, Dave was a top hand on his grandfather’s dude ranch in the Adirondack Mountains… before he turned ten. He’s lived most of his life on dirt roads. Whenever he gets the chance, he travels west to recharge his spirit on the windswept prairies.

He’s an Adirondack 46’er which means that he’s hiked to the top of every mountain in the park. In 2018, Dave completed the 1960s fitness craze by hiking 50 miles in one day. That’s one heck of a long walk, but not nearly as grueling as the iconic trails that he chases in his fiction.

Even after all these years, Dave still has his head in the clouds like Ken from MY FRIEND FLICKA, and a quiet, self-reliant spirit like Sam from THE TRUMPET OF THE SWAN. That blend of wonder, heart, and spirit runs through the characters he portrays. His editor states he is “exceptionally good at creating real moments between characters”—and readers seem to agree.

Dave’s breakthrough series, Ghosts Along the Oregon Trail won Chanticleer’s Grand Prize for Book Series. He’s now the author of nearly twenty novels and counting, and as long as there’s coffee in the kitchen, Dave will be plotting one adventurous story after another.

 

Contact Links

Website

Facebook

Goodreads

Bookbub


Purchase Link

https://mybook.to/RathuunKingofPrairie

 



RABT Book Tours & PR

Teaser + #Giveaway: 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.


Excerpt

“Sorry I no make Lanford’s funeral,” Samora said breaking in on Win’s memory. She grabbed his hand and squeezed it. “You okay?”
“I’m okay.”
“You don’t look okay.”
“Okay, I’m not okay.” He paced around the yard as the fears he suppressed since Lanford’s funeral that morning spilled out in a rush. “I’m 35 years old, Samora. Where am I going? I been floating around the country, taking odd jobs. I haven’t spoken to my parents in Chicago for over 10 years. And now Lanford up and dies on me.”
Samora felt sorry for the tall, thin figure slumped pathetically in front of her. “Shush, my son. You shouldn't let death haunt you so.” Her brown eyes sparkled as she looked up at Win. “You want to know the secret, yes?”
“What secret?” asked Win.
“Death,” she said. Samora led Win to the front of his casita. “Out there.” She grabbed his chin and pushed his head up, his protruding lips making him look like a fish with a hook stuck in its mouth. She pointed to the view of the Galisteo basin, a huge, flat plain bordered by mountains forming the “Galisteo Wave,” a vista of higher to lower elevations that resembled an ocean wave on its way to shore. “There’s a smiling rock man in the basin. You must find him.”
“A smiling rock man?”
“Find him and you will find the answer.”


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

Website

Goodreads





RABT Book Tours & PR

Thursday, May 21, 2026

Review: Murder at Briar House (A Poppy James Cozy Mystery #7) by Gemma Harper

Murder at Briar House

A Poppy James Cozy Mystery #7

by Gemma Harper

Published: May 21, 2026

Genre: Cozy Mystery, Cozy Animal Mystery, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense 

 

Blurb:

An elegant estate sale. A body beneath the library ladder. And one beagle who knows trouble when he sniffs it.

Café owner Poppy James expects silver-polishing opinions and vintage gossip when she brings coffee to Briar House, the grand old home of the late Eleanor Vale Ashcroft. Then estate manager Simon Creel is found dead in the library, and the room goes so still Poppy can hear Midsip’s low growl from beneath the desk.

Tell me that was already broken,” Nadine whispers.

It wasn’t.

The sheriff sees a tragic fall. Poppy sees a staged scene, missing auction tags, and guests who keep looking anywhere but at the truth. Celia Ashcroft needs the sale to rescue what’s left of the family fortune. Antiques dealer Daniel Voss is circling the wrong heirlooms. And family attorney Andrew Pike seems a little too certain which papers belong buried.

With Theo chasing old property records and Midsip nosing out one clue too many, Poppy follows Briar House’s secrets into a scandal someone has protected for years.

Simon wasn’t killed for what he stole.

He was killed for what he found.

And Poppy may be next.

Goodreads ~ Amazon


My Review:

Murder at Briar House serves as an excellent sequel in Gemma Harper's Poppy James Cozy Mystery series. From the very first page, it evoked the essence of the library, in the film Clue, making me recall memorable lines like, “Colonel Mustard did it in the library with the candlestick.”

This feeling intensified when the estate manager, Simon Creel, was discovered dead in the library. While the sheriff considers Simon's demise a tragic accident, Poppy and Nadine suspect something far more nefarious.

In the room, numerous suspects avoid glancing at the man sprawled at the foot of the ladder. Poppy notices the expressions on their faces, fearful looks that suggest they are terrified of what Simon might have known and the secrets they wish to conceal.

As Poppy, Nadine, Theo, and Midsip dig deeper, they inch closer to the truth, putting Poppy in increasing peril. Someone is watching her closely, and she might become their next target before she unravels the mystery of Simon's death in the library.

The tension kept me on the edge of my seat, breathless with every twist and turn as I followed Poppy, Midsip, Nadine, and Theo in their quest to uncover what really happened in the library. I was eager to discover who killed Simon, with what weapon, and how it all unfolded.

A thrilling and enchanting read, Murder at Briar House captivates you from the opening line to the final page. I am eagerly anticipating the next installment in the Poppy James Cozy Mystery Series.

I wholeheartedly recommend picking up a copy of Murder at Briar House today for another enthralling mystery to unravel!

Check out all the books in the Poppy James Cozy Mystery Series I’ve read.

Caffeine and a Corpse

Goodreads

Amazon


NightBlooms and a Burial #1

Goodreads

Amazon


Killer Crust #2

Goodreads

Amazon


Whistle Stop Murder #3

Goodreads

Amazon


Murder at the Heritage Festival #4

Goodreads

Amazon


Murder on the Bunny Slope #5

Goodreads

Amazon


Death by Choreography #6

Goodreads

Amazon


Murder at Briar House #7

Goodreads

Amazon


Connect with Gemma Harper