Labels

Friday, October 3, 2025

Book Blitz: Cicero James, Miracle Worker by Hal Emerson @halemersonauth @RABTBookTours

 


Urban Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, New Adult / Adult Fantasy

Date Published: October 28, 2024



My name is Cicero James, and I died last Thursday.

I know how it sounds, and the rest of what I have to tell you is just going to make it worse. But it's true. I died, and I came back. And the rest of it—why it happened, what it means, and most importantly what we’re going to have to do about it—is what I need you to hear.

I’m going to start at the beginning, and I’m going to tell all of this as faithfully as possible. I’m going to try to bring you along for the ride. It’s all coming out in a rush, so if I don’t tell it quite right, or if I muff a word or use bad grammar or something, try not to hold it against me.

And if I don’t manage to convince you… I understand. No harm, no foul, no hard feelings. This is all insane to anyone who hasn't lived it.

But if you're in, then you’re in, and here we go.

 

About the Author

 


 Hal Emerson is the author of ten books, including the award-winning Exile Trilogy, beginning with The Prince of Ravens. He is a graduate of UCLA, where he studied Shakespeare, Chekhov, and the Greek and Roman Classics. He also has an MBA from UC Berkeley (Cal).

Some of his favorite books and series include East of Eden, The Brothers Karamazov, The Lord of the Rings, and The Wheel of Time. As a young reader he was particularly inspired by The Chronicles of Prydain, and he is an avid Harry Potter fan.

He still believes in the Oxford comma, and he has seen every Robin Williams movie.

 

Contact Link

Website

 

Purchase Link

Amazon


RABT Book Tours & PR

Book Blitz + #Giveaway: Old Ghosts by Janina Franck@XpressoTours

Old Ghosts
Janina Franck
(Saoirse Kennedy, #1)
Publication date: October 7th 2025
Genres: Adult, Crime, LGBTQ+, Suspense

Notorious crime boss Saoirse Kennedy finds herself entangled in a web of mystery when she receives orders to eliminate a detective and faces the resurgence of her haunting past.
In the midst of this city plagued by crime, Detective Lily Rose sets out to apprehend Saoirse, but their paths intertwine when a new, sinister force emerges, prompting an uneasy alliance to protect their city.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

EXCERPT:

Two more men were already waiting for her in the large entry hall, dressed the same as the guards outside, pointing their guns at her.

Saoirse smiled her best cheerful smile, raising her hands in resignation and slowly advancing toward them with carefree steps. “Now, boys, that’s no way to ask a lady to have tea.”

As expected, they barely responded with more than a low growl.

“All I want to do is talk to Garrison. Look, I didn’t even bring a gun.” She gestured to her hips, clad in tight black jeans, wearing an equally tight leather jacket over her olive-green T-shirt.

Her having come unarmed obviously came as a surprise to the guards, because for just a moment, they glanced at one another in an attempt at wordless communication. That rookie mistake was all Saoirse needed. She dashed forward, keeping her body low, and ducked underneath the gun one of them was holding, ramming her head into his ribs. He not only stumbled backward, but he fell, his gun clattering onto the floor. By the time it was in Saoirse’s hands, the other man’s gun was pointed at her again, while hers was aimed at him. However, after a moment’s reflection, she moved it from him to the unarmed man on the floor.

Still smiling, she tilted her head to one side. “I’m sure your boss wouldn’t care if I killed him. But would you? Willing to risk it?” She paused to let her words sink in. Then she repeated her earlier statement. “All I want to do is talk to Garrison. Are you gonna let me go up those stairs, or does he need to die first?”

Her eyes were on his, unblinking and firm. Now it all depended on whether he knew who she was. Though, judging by his glance from her to his partner on the ground, he had a fair idea. Excruciatingly slowly, he lowered both his gun and head.

“There’s a good boy.” Saoirse beamed at him and pranced past him and up the stairs. Except for the guy manning the computers, Garrison wouldn’t have any more security in the building. He didn’t like having too many people around. It made things too confusing, and it lost a significant amount of class.

She had barely made it to the first landing, when she heard the click of a gun’s safety. Dropping her body to the ground immediately, she twisted and fired. The guard’s shot missed her by several meters as her own hitting his arm threw off his aim. Instead of retaliating further, Saoirse sprinted up the last steps of the stairs, and determinedly kicked down the door to what she knew to be Garrison’s office. He wouldn’t change it. Not when it had the perfect view across his grounds and ideal lighting from its positioning.

She was right.

He sat at his desk, facing the door, looking very grave.

“Saoirse,” he said, his tone level. He wore a navy suit today, and a light grey, almost silver tie. His brown hair was brushed and perfectly parted at the side, and his beard neatly trimmed. His hands were clasped together, his elbows stemmed on the table.

“Hello, Luis, old chap,” Saoirse responded. “Mind if we have an uninterrupted chat?”

Author Bio:

Janina is a nature-loving story-addict who may have tea and chocolate running through her veins. Guided by her daydreams, she started writing stories at a young age and never really stopped. Now living in Ireland, she loves to try new things and experience adventures, both real and imagined.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram


GIVEAWAY!

Old Ghosts Blitz


Book Blitz + #Giveaway: Blind Devotion by Addy Anders @XpressoTours

Blind Devotion: A Dark Mafia Romance: Letters of Ruin
Addy Anders
(Letters of Ruin, #1)
Publication date: September 29th 2025
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Dark Romance, Mafia, Romance

PERSETTA

Lost until HIM
I thought the night fate brought us together was the worst night of my life.
I was wrong.
Blinded and with no memory, how was I supposed to know any better?
He’s cold-blooded, cunning, and dangerous—the head of the French mafia.
He’s everything I shouldn’t want in a man, but I do.
For my safety, I have to seduce him.
Instead, with every threat, he’s the one who draws me further into his web.
It’s so easy to fall into his arms as my demons slowly release from their cages.
I feel safe with him.
Until I remember the truth.

ADRIEN

Broken until HER
I walled off my shredded soul and black heart long ago.
No one ever gets in anymore, and yet my guard lowered for her.
She stole away on my boat, injured and with no memories.
The only clue to who she once was—a tattoo on her calf.
This woman. She’s my past. My present. My future.
The one who got away, in more than one sense.
Years ago, I broke our families’ alliance and turned my back on her.
Last night, I was hired to kill her.
My little survivor. My butterfly. If only I recognized her…

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

Just like yesterday, his palm pressed against my throat, but this time he didn’t squeeze. His thumb brushed up and down over my pulse point. His skin trembled against my own—warm, firm, unyielding, and yet somehow vulnerable too. Maybe that was what drew me to him, because it wasn’t rational how much I wanted him closer, his arms around me, his body against mine.

We were suspended like that for seconds…minutes. It could have been hours. Somehow deep inside, I felt protected for the first time in forever. It didn’t make sense. It didn’t have to, but in my jailer’s arms, in this moment, the void melted away and lightness spread. I wanted more, but the instant I reached for him, before I even touched him, he jerked away.

He cleared his throat.

“Never ask that of me again.”

“Or what?”

He stomped across the room and threw the door open so hard it crashed against the wall and skittered back in scattered croaks.

A strangled laugh choked out of me. Pain shot up my side, and tears seeped under my eye dressings. None of this was funny, but his switch in moods was giving me whiplash, especially after the lightness of that memory.

“You don’t possess a touch of sunshine, do you? You’re angry. Tormented, so you hide behind violence thinking it makes you so tough, but you’re nothing but a big ol’ grump, trying to spread his own misery.”

“You know nothing about me.”

He didn’t stick around for my rebuttal. The door battered the frame on his way out, and the lock clicked loudly into place. His absence left me lonelier than before, and I wasn’t quite sure how to feel about that. One thing I was almost certain of though. He didn’t really want to kill me. The next time I saw him, I’d put that to the test.

Author Bio:

Addy Anders writes dark romance meant to tug hard on your heartstrings and never let go. Her books deliver deliciously possessive anti-heroes, strong heroines, a touch of angst to set you on edge, and a cocktail of spice.

Addy loves to travel, preferably outside of major cities. When she’s not writing or out in the wilderness, she can be found with her kindle and a very large cup of tea surrounded by her very supportive husband, two kiddos, and two fur babies.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / TikTok


GIVEAWAY!

Blind Devotion Blitz


Review: Burnt Beginnings & Deadly Secrets (Jenna McGregor Cozy Mystery) by Willow Thorne

Burnt Beginnings & Deadly Secrets Jenna McGregor Cozy Mystery

by Willow Thorne

Published: August 6, 2025

Genre: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Suspense, Cozy Culinary Mystery, Cozy Animal Mystery, Amateur Sleuth Mysteries


 

Blurb:

A Recipe for Disaster… or Murder?

Aspiring chef Jenna McGregor has always dreamed of making it big in the culinary world—until her soufflé flops, her reputation burns, and she stumbles upon a dead body in the school’s storeroom.

What was supposed to be the start of her career in the culinary arts quickly turns into a waking nightmare. With whispers of sabotage, missing ingredients, and a rival who seems just a little too perfect, Jenna finds herself at the center of a mystery she never signed up for.

When the police start eyeing her as the prime suspect, Jenna has no choice but to trade her chef’s knife for a investigator's instincts. With her sharp-witted roommate Sofia, an overeager golden retriever named Biscuit, and a mounting list of questions, Jenna is determined to uncover the truth before she gets served their last course.

Can Jenna clear her name and save her future in the kitchen? Or will the real killer make sure this is her final dish?

Goodreads ~ Amazon



My Review:

Jenna McGregor, a culinary student, finds herself at the center of a captivating mystery in Burnt Beginnings & Deadly Secrets. When she discovers a fellow student's body in the kitchen, Jenna becomes the prime suspect. Determined to clear her name and uncover the truth, she teams up with her roommate Sophia and her new canine companion, Biscuit, to investigate the disappearance of spices and other ingredients.

This gripping cozy mystery, written by Willow Thorne, keeps readers on the edge of their seats as Jenna navigates the twists and turns of the case. With a fast-paced narrative and unexpected revelations, the story will have you racing to the end to uncover the whole story. Dive into the world of Poppy James and join Jenna in her quest to resolve the mystery.


Check out all the books in the Jenna McGregor Cozy Mystery Series I’ve read.


Murder on The Menu

Goodreads

Amazon


Scones, Secrets & Sabotage #1

Goodreads

Amazon


Hotter than Coffee and a Killer Brew #2

Goodreads

Amazon


Burnt Beginnings & Deadly Secrets

Goodreads

Amazon


Harvest of Shadows and Dark Brews #3

Goodreads

Amazon


Connect with Willow Thorne

Review: Killer Crust (A Small Town Cozy Mystery #2) by Gemma Harper

Killer Crust

A Poppy James Cozy Mystery #2

by Gemma Harper

Published: September 27, 2025


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

Blurb:


In Willowbrook, even the sweetest pies can hide the sharpest secrets.

When the Willowbrook Pie Festival ends in chaos, café owner Poppy James finds herself holding more than flour-dusted plates. A letter from beloved baker Etta May reveals shocking news: the bakery deed is missing, and a secret recipe may hold the map to its whereabouts.

With her loyal beagle Midsip sniffing out clues and her gossip-loving best friend Nadine stirring trouble faster than batter in a bowl, Poppy dives headfirst into a puzzle baked with secrets. Historian Theo Mercer lends a steady hand—and perhaps a spark of something more—but even his research can’t keep suspicion from landing on the wrong doorstep. Was it Etta May’s ambitious niece, eager to seize control, or the rival baker who long envied her success?

As threats turn to break-ins and a fire nearly silences the truth, Poppy must race against time. If she can’t untangle the coded recipes and expose the real culprit, Willowbrook’s sweetest traditions—and her own café—may crumble for good.

Goodreads ~ Amazon


My Review:


Killer Crust is an excellent follow-up to Gemma Harper’s A Poppy James Cozy Mystery series. This installment begins with even more secrets that the community of Willowbrook is desperately trying to conceal. Killer Crust is an incredibly captivating tale that captured my interest from the very first page and lingered long after I finished it.

Someone is determined to keep these secrets buried, never allowing them to come to light. Their desire to protect these secrets is so intense that Poppy’s café is set ablaze, taking the truth along with it as it burns. Poppy and Nadine do their utmost to uncover the truth, but their efforts yield little success as everything slips away from them.

How far are they prepared to go to prevent the town’s secrets from surfacing? What level of peril do Poppy, Nadine, and Theo face? I found myself on the edge of my seat, assisting Poppy and Nadine in their quest for answers, yet the more they delved, the more questions arose for me.

I couldn’t put the book down until every answer was uncovered and all the secrets were disclosed. The numerous twists and turns kept me eager for more as I hurried to the conclusion to discover who was behind all the turmoil and the concealed truths.

Killer Crust is a delightful read for any mystery enthusiast! Be sure to pick up a copy of Killer Crust today for yet another thrilling 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


Connect with Gemma Harper