Book Blitz + #Giveaway: A Healing Heart in Twinkle Falls by Freda Ann @FredaAnn1663599 @XpressoTours

A Healing Heart in Twinkle Falls
Freda Ann
(A Twinkle Falls Novel, #7)
Publication date: October 1st 2026
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Holiday, Romance

Nicole Holburg

After my military career with the Air Force’s Communications Squadron comes to a tragic ending, I head home to Twinkle Falls hoping to put my life back together.

With a failed relationship behind me, I won’t allow another man in my life since the last one nearly ended it.

Nick Rodriguez

I had my future planned out when I graduated from The Culinary Arts Academy in Switzerland. I’ll settle down with my childhood sweetheart in our home state of Hawaii, if she’d have me after years of lost communication.

As fate would have it, the only girl I’ve loved had married someone else.

When my best friend asks me to be his head chef at a prestigious inn in Twinkle Falls, I accept the offer. Building a new life in the small town where I went to high school leaves me feeling fulfilled.

Once my son comes to live with me, I’m soon reminded of what’s missing from this idyllic life… that one person who leaves me feeling complete. The problem is I have yet to meet her in this small town I’ve grown fond of.

Will these two have as much faith as the pastor does when he nudges Nicole to help Nick at the soup kitchen? Can the town busy bodies, who swoon over the man known as Jason Momoa’s doppelgänger, push Nick in the direction of his potential soulmate?

(Though this book is part of an ongoing series you should have no problem following Nicole and Nick’s storyline. If you’ve already read books 5 and 6 of the series, you’re more than likely familiar with this couple.)

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

—

EXCERPT:

Wincing, I struggle to raise my puffy eyelids while feeling something cold beneath me. Rolling my head to the side I try taking in my surroundings. That’s when I get a glimpse of blood on the concrete under my twisted body.

Ahhh, what— I draw a ragged breath while trying to figure out what’s happening, but that’s when my world turns black.

The next thing I remember is waking up in a white sterile room full of machinery emitting various tones and a window with the blinds half closed. With fuzzy eyes I notice silver rails on each side of the bed I’m lying in. While blinking, glimpses of a nurse taking my vitals comes into view. When finished, she moves to the foot of the bed to type on a computer.

“Where… am I?” I ask attempting to focus on the room. I struggle to fully open my eyes, but only manage to see pieces of my surroundings.

Pain shoots through me as I try lifting my hand to my swollen eyes. Unable to bear the pain rushing through me, my arm drops on top of my right leg as tears sting my eyes.

“Try not to move, Nicole.” A mature and soothing voice approaches me from the foot of my bed. “You’re in the hospital on base. I’m told you were also here a few weeks ago. Can you tell me what happened this time?” The nurse inquires.

My brain feels jumbled, like I’m trying to put together a puzzle without all the pieces, as I attempt to recall what could have put me in here.

Gently I shake my head staring at her while sobbing. “Why—” Unable to put words together I pause.

Breathing deep to calm myself isn’t easy, though I manage to take a few breaths before speaking slowly and softly. “Why can’t I… remember?”

“Oh, honey don’t be so hard on yourself.” She pats my arm. “In your condition you should thank God for being alive. If that knot on your head had been an inch closer to your temple, you wouldn’t be here.

Author Bio:

Freda Ann is fondly known for her sweet/clean, HEA RomComs. Her loyal fans and reviewers have compared several of her books to Hallmark movies. Many have hit #1 in multiple categories after release.

She writes relatable, faith and family based love stories which include kids and adorable dogs. Her writing style appeals to people of all ages. Her books will take you on an emotional journey with likable characters, and dreamy settings you'll wish you could visit.

After retiring from a career in the law enforcement field, Freda feels blessed to be able to write and self-publish her stories for everyone to read. She adores her large family, 5 children and 9 grandchildren, and hosts monthly family gatherings.

To hear about new releases, please follow her on Amazon and also on Goodreads.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram

GIVEAWAY!

A Healing Heart in Twinkle Falls Blitz

—

Read More

Book Blitz + #Giveaway: Look What You Made Me Do by Summer Atkinson @XpressoTours

Look What You Made Me Do
Summer Atkinson
Publication date: September 15th 2026
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult

“An absorbing novel that personalizes the psychological twists and turns of abuse.”
—Kirkus Reviews

How far would you go to break a cycle before it breaks you?

Margot is no stranger to suffering. Such darkness feels familiar when you have a violent drunk for a dad and a single mom working multiple jobs just to stay afloat. But Margot yearns for more than these bleak circumstances.

When she falls for the golden boy of her small New England town, she thinks he will be her escape. But she is unprepared for how ugly twisted love can become. Breaking free isn’t easy, but unconditional friendship and untainted love spark a defiant hope that cannot be dimmed.

As the line between love and abuse blurs, Margot must face the stories she’s told herself about who she is and who she is becoming.

“Look What You Made Me Do is an emotionally unforgettable story that captures both the devastating impact of trauma and the extraordinary resilience of the human spirit. With authenticity and compassion, it explores the profound complexities of survival and the difficult choices trauma can demand. A powerful, deeply human novel that will stay with readers long after the final page.” —Elizabeth May, LCSW, Psychotherapist

“Look What You Made Me Do carefully examines the vast interior world of a young woman growing up around addiction and loss. From childlike observations on men and their power to the desires that come with budding adulthood, this book explores how we can experience trauma, survive it, change, and still find and connect deeply with others.” —Chole Williams, ChloeinLetters newsletter, Substack, and Instagram

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

I had forgotten how charming Old Port could be or had never noticed it amidst all my drama. Not the people, but the place itself. The centuries-worn stone walls that somehow still stood in the woods. The sound of the ocean in the distance. All the quiet comforts of a hometown and its nostalgic beauty that haunts you long after you’ve left.

I watched from the sidelines as the people I once considered peers repeated the same old circular paths, not noticing the furrows they were making in the process. I’d been one of them once, and I wanted to warn them but couldn’t find the words. Not that they would have listened.

There is something about those born on the coast. Those who grow up knowing the closest path to walk to the ocean and who do not know the feel of fresh air without the taste of salt that lingers in its wake. For them, summer is endless, if not in season, then in mentality.

Every day contained possibility, promising to be the one that wouldn’t end. That would change everything. That would make up for the threat of winter hanging in the storm clouds on a humid afternoon. I heard it in the lingering laughter and casual conversation of Old Port’s residents and thought that this easy enjoyment of the ordinary was possible for me too. But I also saw how those same people became too entangled in their comfortable lives, familiar relationships, and unquestioned world views to be willing, or perhaps even able, to consider what might be possible beyond the sheltered confines of Old Port.

So even as I began to appreciate the pleasure of simple enjoyments, I also felt the stir of what was possible for me in life, and I didn’t want to be lulled into complacency.

Author Bio:

Summer Atkinson grew up in Connecticut and now lives in beautiful Colorado with her husband, Jackson, their dog, Bilbo Waggins, and cats Mr. Whiskers and Mosey. She has a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience and a master’s degree in public health, which she uses in her day job as a life science consultant. Her professional career has been particularly devoted to women’s health and reproductive justice. When not writing, she can often be found in the mountains, either hiking, backpacking, or snowboarding. Passionate about travel and the great outdoors, she catalogs her adventures on a travel blog and Instagram titled Out There Travels. Connect with Summer online via @summeratkinsonbooks on socials.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / TikTok

GIVEAWAY!

Look What You Made Me Do Blitz

—

Read More

Book Blitz + #Giveaway: Stormy Night by May Wynn @XpressoTours

Stormy Night
May Wynn
Publication date: March 20th 2026
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

A spicy Novella! A short read, sensual seduction & second chance romance!

One explosive kiss!

Tripping over her own two feet at the restaurant and falling into the arms of a handsome blue-eyed stranger was the last thing on Marena’s plans for the evening.

She’s balancing single life, career, and family. Working on her laptop at the bar turns into a night of excitement when she meets sexy Hayden.

This was Hayden’s first night in town, new to the area for a business project.
A workaholic, he planned to focus on work, after stopping at the bar for a couple of drinks.

Rescuing a klutz from a fall was unexpected, but this gorgeous woman was a distraction he didn’t see coming.

Sitting at the bar an hour later; wine, flirting and laughing, had them both giddy, feeling like teenagers. They were taken aback at their instant chemistry.

A spontaneous kiss leaves his jaw wide open and his world rocked!

One big problem!

As Marena rode home, the lingering smile on her face slowly disappeared. She came to the sober realization that she didn’t know his name or phone number!!

What just happened?
This woman came into his life only a few hours ago, but the passion between them had rocked his world with just one kiss! Then it dawned on him, in horror, he didn’t know her name!

He couldn’t forget their explosive chemistry; How was he ever going to find this woman?

Would fate intervene and bring them together?
Will a stormy night of passion be in their future?
—–
*Perfect for readers who love a short read, sensual seduction & second chance romance!
Tropes:
Spicy Novella
Sensual Seduction
Second Chance at Love
Workplace Romance
Stormy Night Romance
Quick Romantic Read

Goodreads / Purchase

—

EXCERPT:

Leaving the restroom, the loud ring of her cell phone made Marena jump. She pulled the phone out of her jean pocket. It was Rose. As she swung the restroom door open, she was looking down at her phone… not paying attention, she tripped over her own two feet. Her cell phone went flying and Marena felt herself stumbling… her body lunged forward and she was headed for a face-first fall to the floor.

Out of nowhere, a muscular arm from behind reached forward, wrapping across Marena’s stomach and waistline to prevent her from falling.  Slowly she looked up at the stranger with an expression of relief and horror, as she realized she had a solid grip on his forearm. He easily held her weight and steadied her.

“Um, thank you. I’m so sorry,” she blubbered, as her face blushed with embarrassment.

“Are you alright?” The stranger looked down at her face and was startled to see striking green eyes staring back at him. Neither moved for a second, as she held his gaze.

“Yes, I’m just a klutz. My daughter was calling and I wasn’t paying attention to my footing,” she replied, as she looked into a pair of beautiful light blue eyes.

The man who had come to her aid stood about six feet tall, with a medium build. He was ruggedly handsome. His thick mane of dark brown hair, mixed with slight graying, had a messy look, the kind she’d love to run her hands through. The shadow of a brown-graying beard gave him a distinguished, sexy look. She guessed that he was approximately her age.

“Yes, you need to be more careful,” he said, as he looked around the floor and spotted her cell phone.  His eyes took in the woman before him. She was a pretty woman, definitely easy on the eyes, but damn, what a klutz. Their eyes met briefly again, but she blinked and looked away, still blushing and embarrassed.

“And,” he paused slightly. “You’re welcome,” he said, with a smile tugging at the corner of his lips, as he handed her the phone. He had an air of confidence about him that she found very attractive.

Her face flushed a warm pink, knowing he was amused. Their eyes locked again, but this time she held his gaze steadily, challenging him, with a slight tug of a smile. He held his breath and his pulse raced…he saw raw emotions in those gorgeous bright green eyes. It halted him in his tracks, mesmerized. The electricity between them sizzled in the air.

The sound of her cell phone rang loud, breaking the special moment between them. She shrugged apologetically and glanced at her phone.

He smiled wryly. In a flash, he was gone off to the men’s restroom.

Marena walked back to the bar, cell phone in hand.

Author Bio:

May Wynn writes contemporary romance novels known for their emotional depth, engaging characters, and a satisfying happily-ever-after. A lifelong reader, her passion for storytelling began early, inspired by a close mentor who introduced her to a wide range of authors and genres. Together, they shared their own version of a book club before book clubs were even a trend.

After a successful career in the corporate world, May turned her focus to writing, bringing her love of romance to the page. She is an enthusiastic world traveler. She and her husband share a love of culture, history, and adventure, having traveled to more than 60 countries together. She draws inspiration from the places she has visited, weaving them into the stories she creates.

May lives in Florida with her family, where she enjoys writing on her lanai with a latte in hand, surrounded by the beauty of nature.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram

GIVEAWAY!

Stormy Night Blitz

—

Read More

Teaser: Dies Irae by Autumn Montague @RABTBookTours @changelingpress

 

Gay Vampire Romantic Suspense

Date Published: October 9, 2026

Makoto and Will must accept their bond in order to stop a madman’s killing spree.

 

London, 1816. Someone is killing vampires and their Hosts, leaving brutalized bodies on display in the heart of London. Makoto Morinaga, minore and lead hunter for the Baron of Colbourne, must find and stop the madman. Yet the mission is in peril almost from the moment it starts. In despair over loving his master’s Host, he breaks his oath and finds himself bound through Compulsion to the last person he would choose as his Host -- the flamboyant young man who has spent years pining over their master. Makoto can ill afford this appalling distraction while he hunts for a monstrous killer.

Will Carter is an experienced Host who has offered up body and blood to vampires since reaching his majority. He spent years learning the duties of the Colbourne Host, only to have his dreams crumble when his master finds a man more perfect than Will. In his frustration, he taunts Colbourne’s lead hunter into committing a forbidden act. His punishment? Being bound to the last person he would ever wish to hold his contract -- Makoto Morinaga, a man whose body he knows well, but whose heart is a dark mystery and whose stoicism grates on Will’s every nerve.

An unexpected emotional connection heats their hearts even as their Host bond heats their bodies. Just as they begin to find common ground, the madman strikes again. Finding the madman’s lair might end the violence, but the price might destroy them both.

 

WARNING: Adult content, including references to physical violence and torture which may be triggers for some readers.

 

EXCERPT

 

Blood. Thickening blood, smoking and bubbling to a slow boil. The fire above it flickered in the shadows of the darkened alley. Postnato watched as the demon and its unholy servant writhed on the cobbles in purifying flame. Glee and eager satisfaction suffused him as he and his brother awaited the lethal culmination of their night’s work for the Inquisitio Sanguinis.

The demon’s mouth had pulled back from those inhuman fangs in a satisfying rictus of pain. The foul beast still struggled to free itself, despite sharpened stakes piercing shoulder and thigh, pinning it against the bloodied earth. The agonized contortions of the monster’s corrupt human slave had ceased, becoming the involuntary spasms of approaching death.

“Revertere ad inferos, Daemon,” Postnato whispered, condemning the beast to hell with a sneer. “Ad dominum tuum infernalis!”

Yes, back to Hell with you, back to your infernal master, he thought savagely.

The creature’s demonic struggles strengthened at the words, the frantic actions accompanied by a harsh croak of anguish. The renewal of its futile struggles only served to drive the stakes deeper into its flesh, and to fan the flames consuming it.

Postnato resumed his silence as Antenato raised a cautioning finger to his lips. He subsided with difficulty, impatient for the inhuman beast to surrender its last breath.

After another quarter hour, during which the human half of their quarry had become nothing but a flickering corpse-light, the demon gave a final shudder, slackening in approaching death at last.

With a grunt of satisfaction, Postnato bent for one of the buckets at his feet, waiting to douse the remaining flames after his brother had completed one more task, tearing a final, hoarse screech of pain along with the fangs from the dying beast. Antenato held his prize aloft, eyes aglow as their quarry expired. At this sign, Postnato heaved the contents of both pails over the corpses, smothering the fires with rotting offal gleaned from the butcher’s slop midden. The smoldering ruins sent up an instant reek, and he smiled in unison with his brother. This had not been their sacred mission, but chance had given them a demon and now there was one less to walk the earth.

Now to find the leader of these abominations.

* * *

About the Author

Autumn grew up loving history, mythology, and all things Japanese, not necessarily in that order. This eclectic love affair has bled over into her writing, and her stories are always well spiced with the taste of Japan, strange mythological beasties, or the lords and ladies of the ton. Sometimes all three, leading to dark desires and forbidden loves.

And after all, dangerous passions should lead to uninhibited love.

 

Author’s Website

Author on Facebook

Follow Autumn on BookBub

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

Pre-Order Today

Read More

Review: The Night Detective Book 1 by Selvin Faye

The Night Detective Book 1

A Dark Detective Thriller of Secrets, Obsession, and Murder

by Selvin Faye

Published: May 1, 2026

Genre: Thriller, Police Procedurals, Women Sleuths 

 

Blurb:

In a city of rain-slick streets and secrets that never stay buried,
trainee detective Alice Bennett is supposed to spend her
first months at Heyfield Police Station observing from the edges.

Instead, she walks straight into blood.

Brilliant, self-contained, and far better at reading other people than
herself, Alice has a mind built for patterns. She notices the hidden bruise
in a voice. The lie in the way a hand moves. The smallest shift in a room
before anyone else knows it has changed.

It doesn't take long before the station notices her too. Especially
DCI Arthur Holloway — cold, controlled, and legendary
within the force.

When a string of apparently random injuries in Heyfield's renovated parks
begins to form a pattern, Alice is pulled into something far darker than
anyone imagined. Concealed blades. Public spaces turned into traps.
Victims chosen with chilling precision. And somewhere behind it
all, a man who knows exactly how ordinary people move through the world —
and how to punish them for it.

As Alice builds a profile that points toward a local man with a grudge and
a growing appetite for fear, the investigation pulls her deeper into obsession,
fragile authority, and dangerous attention. And then there is Holloway —
pushing her past exhaustion, stripping away every lazy instinct, refusing to
let talent hide behind theory.

Around him, she is sharper, faster, more alive. And far less certain of
herself than she has ever been.

The Night Detective is a dark, addictive British crime thriller
packed with psychological tension, razor-sharp observation, and slow-burn
attraction that builds across the series.

Perfect for fans of Daniel Hurst, K.L. Slater, and Mark Edwards.

• Intelligent female detective

• Atmospheric British crime fiction

• Dark psychological suspense

• Slow-burn tension across a series

• Obsessive killers and layered investigations

Alice's story continues in The Night Detective Book 2.

Goodreads ~ Amazon

My Review:

The Night Detective (Book 1) by Selvin Faye was one of the most engaging stories I’ve read in a while. I absolutely loved getting into the mind of Alice Bennett. The way she reads people and crime scenes—or any scene, for that matter—is incredible. She reminded me so much of Malcolm Bright (played by Tom Payne) from the TV show Prodigal Son.

The book is a brilliant slow burn that packs a massive punch. The mystery and suspense kept me hanging on every word from the very first page. I found myself trying to turn the pages as fast as I could, while simultaneously not wanting the story to end too soon! The descriptions were so well-written that I could visualize everything perfectly.

Every time Alice did her thing, I was left with my mouth hanging open in sheer awe of her skills. I eagerly anticipated every new crime scene just to watch her work. As the story played out, the tension kept escalating, leaving me completely captivated.

After that ending, I absolutely cannot wait to read Book 2! I have to know what happens next and see where Alice and DCI Arthur Holloway’s relationship goes. I highly recommend this book to all police procedural and thriller fans. Grab a copy of The Night Detective today!

Connect with Selvin Faye

Facebook ~ Instagram ~ Goodreads ~ Amazon

Read More

Review: Murder at the Maplewood Garden Walk (Alexia Jones Cozy Mystery #7) by Kaylah Carr

Murder at the Maplewood Garden Walk

Alexia Jones Cozy Mystery #7

By Kaylah Carr

Published: October 3, 2026

Genre: Cozy Mystery, Mystery

 

Blurb:

The flowers are blooming, the competition is fierce, and murder has taken root in Maplewood.

Alexia Jones and her best friend, Jenna, never miss Maplewood’s Annual Garden Walk. But this year’s celebration comes to a deadly end when five-time champion Vivian Caldwell collapses among her prize roses.

The police suspect the summer heat. Alexia suspects murder.

Vivian’s gardening gloves have vanished, someone disturbed the garden shed, and Buddy’s unusual behavior tells Alexia that an important clue is hiding among the flowers.

The list of suspects grows as quickly as the weeds. A rival accused Vivian of sabotaging her garden. A disgraced gardener threatened her over unpaid wages. And Vivian’s troubled biological son was seen entering her house shortly before jewelry and money disappeared.

As Alexia digs beneath the Garden Walk’s picture-perfect surface, she uncovers bitter rivalries, hidden relationships, and secrets someone has protected for years. Now the killer is watching her every move.

With Buddy beside her and Jenna caught in the danger, Alexia must uncover the truth before the murderer claims another victim.

Goodreads ~ Amazon

My Review:

In Murder at the Maplewood Garden Walk, Alexia and Jenna attend Maplewood’s Annual Garden Walk when five-time champion Vivian Caldwell collapses among her prize roses. Alexia knows right away that something is off in the rose garden. While there are plenty of people who might want to hurt Vivian, would someone actually go that far? The answer is a definitive yes.

Although the police blame her sudden collapse on the heat, Alexia refuses to buy it—she is convinced someone had it in for Vivian. The vibrant, flower-filled backdrop of the garden walk provides the perfect contrast to the dark mystery unfolding. Carr does a fantastic job of making the small town of Maplewood feel alive, charming, and packed with hidden secrets.

The author weaves a great web of red herrings and suspicious characters. Everyone feels like a suspect at some point, which kept me guessing right along with Alexia until the very final chapters. As the clues began to surface, I found myself racing toward the end. The author slowly and masterfully revealed each twist, keeping me in suspense from beginning to end without a single dull moment.

Alexia’s loyal German Shepherd, Buddy, plays a major role in tracking down the culprit. Whenever he catches a scent, he stays completely locked on until someone takes notice. Equipped with one of the best sniffers around, he proves to be an incredible asset in solving the mystery. Together, Alexia, Jenna, and Buddy must hurry to uncover the truth before the killer strikes again and takes out another victim.

I highly recommend Murder at the Maplewood Garden Walk to all cozy mystery fans! Grab your copy today!

Check out all the books in the Alexia Jones Cozy Mystery Series I’ve read.

Murder AT The Funeral

Goodreads

Amazon

Murder at the Pet Shop #1

Goodreads

Amazon

Murder at the City Bank #2

Goodreads

Amazon

Murder At Crystal Palms Resort #3

G14pt;oodreads

Amazon

Murder at the Jewelry Store #4

Goodreads

Amazon

Murder on Flight 757 #5

Goodreads

Amazon

Murder at Seaglass Cove #6

Goodreads

Amazon

Murder at the Maplewood Garden Walk #7

Goodreads

Amazon 

Connect with Kaylah Carr

Goodreads ~ Amazon

Read More

Book Blitz: Truthful Lies & Bent Realities by Stephen Foehr @RABTBookTours

A Truly Believed Love Story

 

Mystery, Thriller, Crime

Date Published: April 30, 2026

 

In a time when mythology as propaganda shapes the systems of society and government, two unlikely souls come together to question the reality of it all—what’s going wrong in the world, whether anything’s right, and their own perceptions of honesty, dishonesty, and who they are.

Chillee and Gordie meet in Big Town, where their connection flourishes despite the recognition that they could each be fatal to the identities they’ve created for themselves. Chillee is a realistic idealist, a problem solver who puts her faith in the truth. Gordie, too, is an idealist, but he thrives on uncertainty, posing as a criminal to bring justice to white-collar crimes. They vow to hold one another accountable, to push each other through the steps to being a better person—the best person they’re capable of being.

In Chillee’s neighboring hometown, a county commissioner’s election will determine the fate of the rural community—and unknowingly put relationships to the test. When her best friend Willi asks Chillee to help her run against her ex-husband, she returns to Colton Center with Gordie…who has his own motives in mind.

As the couple continues to work with and against each other, Chillee and Gordie begin to see the deepening cracks in the perceived rights and wrongs of their world. No matter the outcome of the election, life as they knew it may not be the life they continue to lead.

Truthful Lies and Bent Realities is a thought-provoking ride into learning to understand the self and challenge the mind to keep asking the existential questions: Who are we? Who do we think we are? Who do we want to be? And do those identities intersect in the right places?

About the Author

Stephen Foehr, author of 14 fiction and nonfiction books, began his career as a police reporter in Chicago. His nonfiction books examines the relationship between music and culture, autobiography of the blues Taj Mahal, and travel. His fiction deals with submission and how to resist.

Contact Links

Website

BookBuzz

 

Purchase Link

Amazon

Read More

Week Blitz + #Giveaway: The Glass Moth by D. Lieber @AuthorDLieber @RABTBookTours

Dystopian Fantasy

Date Published: 09-15-2026

Publisher: Ink & Magick

Her magic comes naturally. His is synthetic. Their different approaches could get one of them killed.

 

Wisconsin, 2050. Kallista Marquis doesn’t expect much anymore. When poor air quality and undrinkable water are everyday problems, the pessimistic gardener is just glad to have a roof over her head. But when a handsome glassblower informs her she’s a natural witch, she eagerly learns the illicit craft as she discovers her ability to finally impact the world.

Fort Meade. Evan Wells should be thrilled with his special assignment. Desperate to keep taking the wish-granting drug that makes him feel invincible, the Army specialist focuses on hunting down naturals and avoiding the snarky yet attractive private who hardly gives him a moment’s peace. But when his lack of progress again threatens a court-martial, his spiraling anxiety endangers more than he's willing to risk.

Trapped by the economic, governmental, and environmental pressures of their time, these opposing sides believe magic is the only glimmer of hope either of them has. But is that power worth it? Is it worth dying for? Is it worth killing for?

 

Uncertainty, love, secrets, and sorcery tangle the threads of fate in this slice-of-life dystopian fantasy.

 

 

About the Author

 

 D. Lieber writes character-driven stories for every mood. Her characters breathe as if they have souls, and her effortlessly immersive worlds hold inner harmonies that cleverly tie everything together.

Beyond her skeptic and slightly pessimistic mind, Lieber wants to believe. She is a romantic idealist at heart, always fighting to keep her feet on the ground and her head in the clouds. When she isn’t planning her next physical adventure, she’s recklessly jumping from one fictional world to another. Her love of reading led her to earn a Bachelor’s in English from Wright State University. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband (John) and cats (Yin and Nox). 

Contact Links

Website

Facebook

Blog

Goodreads

Pinterest

Instagram

BookBub

Youtube

TikTok

Discord

Purchase Links

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Kobo

iBooks

Smashwords

Books2Read

Read More

Book Blitz: The Hawk's Lady by Colleen Shannon @RABTBookTours

Historical Romance

Date Published: July 4, 2026

A blond Barbary pirate captain of a xebec. . . Sinan Reis.

Who is he? Why did he desert his country?

His latest capture: a fine yacht. And its owner. . . Lady Victoria Grenville.

Who is she? Can an heiress to a fortune conform to harem life?

Amidst sea battles, kidnappings, and political menace from the Dey of Algiers, Sinan and Tory start as captor and captive. But their fierce battle of wills will transform them both.

Most importantly, if Tory can’t submit to him will he sell her at auction? Or can she escape before he does?

Kismet has other plans.

In 1799, Lady Victoria "Tory" Grenville, a willful English heiress, is captured at sea by Sinan Reis, a blond Barbary pirate captain secretly working for a cause he can't reveal. Aboard his xebec and within the walls of an Algiers harem, captor and captive wage a battle of wills that becomes a battle for the heart, set against real political intrigue between the new United States, the Dey of Algiers, and the warring Federalists and Democratic-Republicans of post-Revolutionary Philadelphia. Sweeping sea battles, kidnappings, and court machinations build to a richly satisfying historical romance grounded in meticulously researched 18th-century detail.

 

* New, expanded edition with a newly written epilogue extending the story into the events of 1814, bridging to the author's upcoming Regency-era trilogy.

* Bonus material: author's historical notes, a detailed bibliography/source list documenting the book's research, and a preview/teaser of Shannon's forthcoming "Fire, Wind and Earth" trilogy (Ashes, Burning Bright; Whirlwind, Burning Bright; Tiger, Burning Bright).

* Author Colleen Shannon was nominated by Romantic Times as Best New Historical Romance Author and has won/been nominated for multiple industry awards (including a Kiss Award) across an 18-novel career with over a million copies in print.

* Limited deluxe hardback printing released to mark the U.S. 250th anniversary with patriotic design features available on Colleen Shannon's author website.

The Hawk's Lady: a Deluxe 250th Anniversary Edition of Colleen Shannon's beloved 1989 Barbary Wars romance, now fully revised with new original content.

 

About the Author

Colleen Shannon grew up in Midland, Texas where the skies are as limitless as the tales told by its many colorful residents, dreamers and entrepreneurs all, with some scoundrels sprinkled in. Colleen grew up reading and writing stories of every kind. She wrote her first short story at eight, began a novel at 14 and read authors like Ayn Rand and Clive Cussler at 13. After college when she married and expected her first child, she used a scrap computer assembled by her engineer husband, to write her first novel, Wild Heart Tamed (not posted digitally because she considers it a learning experience).

She sold it herself to Berkley in less than a year, and at the age of 26 began a new career and never looked back. The strength of her first book led to her nomination by Romantic Times as Best New Historical Author. She went on to win and/or be nominated for many other awards, including a Kiss Award for all three heroes of her Fairy Tale trilogy written for Dorchester Books. One of her six completed scripts is a modern, very different version to her Georgian England set beauty and the beast novel The Gentle Beast. It has not been shown as it needs heavy revisions but she moves easily between scripts and novels, including original screenplays like Full Circle, currently revised after two Blacklist evaluations. In the last two years, she has become one of Film Freeways’ top winning screenwriters internationally, per Film Freeway management.

Her 18 single title releases have appeared on many bestseller lists; she has well over a million books in print. Colleen’s recent works include thrillers and screenplays that combine her favorite novel story elements: romance, suspense, history and action. Most recently, she published three Kensington Lyrical Press romantic suspense. The first in the series, Foster Justice, was released in December 2014 and ranked #1 on Amazon’s Western Romance list. Colleen converted the story to a novel from the original script version she wrote at UCLA’s Advanced Professional Screenwriting program.

Colleen Shannon graduated cum laude from the University of Texas at Austin with a B.A. in Archaeology and more recently earned her Master’s in Real Estate Development from the University of Southern California. She currently lives in Austin, Texas.

 

Contact Links

Website

Wikipedia

Authors Guild

Facebook

Goodreads

BookBuzz

Purchase Link

Amazon

Read More

Book Blitz + #Giveaway: The Tally by Christian Kay @XpressoTours

The Tally
Christian Kay
(The Tally Trilogy, #1)
Publication date: October 1st 2026
Genres: Dystopian, Young Adult

Every soul is born with a hundred. Spend it, and you’re worth nothing.

In the sealed city of Galcyon, a number on your wrist is the measure of your soul. It buys your food, your shelter, your right to exist. When it hits zero, the iron cuff goes on, and the city works you until the Reckoning, the holy day when the worthless are executed in front of everyone and it’s called an act of mercy.

Micah has spent eighteen years believing the number is fair. He has to believe it, because it’s the only thing keeping his twin brother safe.

Then the city takes Milo.

To get him back, Micah goes down into the dark beneath Galcyon, past the labor pits and the people the Tally has already thrown away, and finds the one thing the regime can’t survive: proof that the number was never real. Saving his brother means tearing down the lie the whole city is built on, and it will cost him far more than points.

For readers who love dystopia with a beating heart, The Tally is the first book in a faith-driven trilogy about worth, sacrifice, and a love that refuses to be counted.

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

I’m steering Milo toward the dry-goods stalls when the market goes quiet in the far corner. The silence spreads like spilled ink. It originates near a man I know by sight, an old cobbler who fixes boots at a little stand near the east structural posts. I’ve walked past him a thousand times without ever learning his name. Right now, he’s standing frozen beside his workbench, staring down at his own wrist.

His band is dead dark.

Two enforcers are already on him. These aren’t the guys in the soft gray uniforms who handle the census. These are the other kind. The ones in the heavy, matte-black armor that every kid down here learns never to stand near. They move with no rush at all, because a man at zero has nowhere left to run.

I’ve never watched it happen this close. I know how the mechanics work, everyone does, but knowing the math of a thing and watching it happen five feet away are two different beasts. His number just ran out. Maybe it was the automated market toll the city skims off every trader just for standing here. Maybe it was a rent hike, a water tax, or just one more ordinary day stacked on top of too many others. It doesn’t matter. The system took the last fraction of what he had for the crime of existing, and a band at zero is finished.

The enforcer unclips an iron cuff from his tactical belt. It’s thick, dark, and heavy, a band with the light permanently choked out of it. He locks it around the old man’s wrist with a mechanical clack that I feel in my back teeth. Then he unkeys the gold band the man has worn his whole life and slides it off. Just like that, the old guy isn’t a person the Tally bothers to calculate anymore. He’s a piece of state property. The entire transformation took the space of a single breath.

He doesn’t fight. He just asks one question, his voice so quiet that it only carries because the market has gone breathless.

“Can I keep my tools?”

The enforcer tells him calmly that the stand and everything on it is immediately forfeit. He says the old man should be grateful, because asset forfeiture is the merciful route, and the alternative is far worse. He speaks with an eerie, practiced politeness that makes my stomach turn.

Then they march the old man toward the freight elevators that drop deep beneath the market floor, down into the Undercount where they bury everyone who falls. The crowd immediately closes the gap where his workbench stood, erasing him as if he were nothing but wind.

Author Bio:

Christian Kay writes young adult and new adult speculative fiction that blends gripping adventure with themes of courage, sacrifice, redemption, and faith. Through immersive worlds, unforgettable characters, and thought-provoking stories, Christian explores what happens when ordinary people are forced to choose between comfort and truth.

Website / Instagram / Facebook

—

Read More