Review: Surplus Marines (Phaethon Corp. #1) by Jaxon Reed @AuthorJaxonReed

Surplus Marines

Phaethon Corp. #1

by Jaxon Reed

Published: October 30, 2025

Genre: Space Opera, Science Fiction, Space Marine

Blurb:

Bo Duckworth is a former master sergeant with the Republican Marines. Forced out of the service for destroying a recalcitrant X103 battle bot during a critical mission, he is out of a job, out of luck and out of ideas on how to make it as a civilian. Like other lost souls, he drifts toward the frontiers of known space looking to find a new life.

Tom Savage is expanding Phaethon Solar, offering the company’s technology to asteroid miners, new planet explorers and others probing the fringes of the galaxy. But on these extremes of humanity’s farthest reaches, his people receive the most inhumane treatment. Here there is no civilization, no law, and no order. Tom decides to procure his own private military to safeguard his company’s technology and personnel.

What Tom needs and what Duck can provide are . . . Surplus Marines!


Veteran science fiction and fantasy author, two time Kindle Scout winner Jaxon Reed presents an all new Space Marines saga set in the Milky Way Universe! Fistfights, gun battles and futuristic combat pepper this fast-moving sci-fi action series. Download it today!

Goodreads ~ Amazon

My Review:

Embark on a thrilling new adventure with Jaxon Reed's Phaethon Corp. series, starting with the captivating Surplus Marines. This opening installment grabs your attention from the get-go, immersing you in a world of action-packed suspense.

Prepare to be hooked as the story unfolds, with heart-pounding battles and the reappearance of a familiar face – the ever-reliable Tom Salvage. As the narrative progresses, you'll be introduced to a new character, Bo Duckworth, who is seeking a fresh start and a job opportunity that Tom has to offer.

Get ready to witness the expansion of Tom's company, Phaethon Solar, as he enlists the help of capable individuals to ensure its safety.

This sci-fi tale is sure to keep you eagerly turning the pages, eager to uncover what lies ahead for Bo, Tom, and the Phaethon Corp.

If you're a fan of captivating science fiction stories, Surplus Marines is a must-read. Dive into this engaging new series and discover the thrilling adventures that await.

Connect with Jaxon Reed

Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ BookBub ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

 

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Book Blitz: Book of Me by Kevin Hipes @RABTBookTours

The Life and Times of Kevin Hipes, the New York Forrest Gump

Memoir

Date Published: July 24, 2025

From the streets of Queens to the deck of an oil tanker in the Caribbean—meet Kevin Hipes, the real-life New York Forrest Gump.

Book of Me is not your average memoir. It’s a laugh-out-loud, tear-in-your-eye, one-of-a-kind true story collection from a man who has lived more lives than most of us can imagine. Factory worker. Hippie. Banker. Entrepreneur. Rockstar (sort of). Preacher. Politician. Oil tanker owner. Cancer survivor. Bipolar truth-teller. Kevin Hipes has worn all these hats—and more.

Told with warmth, humor, and heart, Kevin’s stories come alive in this unconventional autobiography. Originally recorded as a series of YouTube episodes on his channel Planet Hipes, these 66 episodes have been transformed into a compelling, easy-to-read book that invites you to laugh, cry, reflect, and recognize a bit of yourself along the way.

What you’ll find inside:

✅ Hilarious tales from childhood in Queens

✅ Life lessons learned the hard way—and the funny way

✅ Private struggles and surprising triumphs

✅ A faith-driven journey of self-discovery and humility

✅ A reminder that we’re all “special” in our own unique way

Whether you're looking for a good laugh, a touch of inspiration, or a wildly entertaining ride through 70 years of true-life adventures, Book of Me will leave you smiling, thinking, and maybe even saying, “Hey, I’ve got a story like that too.”

📺 BONUS: After reading the book, head to Kevin’s YouTube channel Planet Hipes and experience the stories told by Kevin himself—animated, real, and unforgettable.

Because life’s not about the destination—it’s about the journey. And Kevin Hipes has one hell of a story to tell.

About the Author

 

Kevin Hipes is a born storyteller, lifelong entrepreneur, and proud New Yorker with a personality as big as the adventures he's lived. Often called “the New York Forrest Gump,” Kevin’s life has taken him from the streets of Queens to the pulpit, to business boardrooms, and even to the deck of his very own oil tanker in the Caribbean. As Kevin often says “Forrest owned a shrimp boat, but I owned an Oil Tanker and my story is true!”

With no formal writing background, Kevin still managed to turn a lifetime of unbelievable experiences into a heartfelt, hilarious, and deeply human book—Book of Me. Rather than writing in the traditional sense, Kevin recorded over 100 personal episodes for his YouTube channel, Planet Hipes, then compiled them into a unique memoir filled with wit, wisdom,determination, and raw truth.

As an uneducated street kid from Queens, Kevin has lived many lives from factory worker to Hippie, to rockstar (almost), banker, preacher, restaurateur, politician and more. He shares not just the ups and downs of a seven-decade journey but speaks intimately about being a cancer survivor who also struggled through and dealt with a bipolar disorder, keeping the high energy manic side while overcoming the devastating depressions that plagued him through most of his life. You will find Kevin’s faith in God, unrelenting positive mindset and sense of humor make for a powerful story boldly told in his own words.

Kevin currently lives in Orlando, Florida, where he owns and runs HCB Real Estate, a retail commercial brokerage and development firm. Book of Me is his debut memoir and a testament to the power of authenticity, faith, and self-deprecating humor.

Follow Kevin’s stories on YouTube: Planet Hipes and experience the animated storyteller in action.

 

Contact Links

Website

YouTube

TikTok

Purchase Link

Amazon

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Release Blitz + #Giveaway: Carrie Ingalls The Forgotten Sister by Clarissa Willis @RABTBookTours

Non-fiction Chapter Book Juvenile Fiction

Date Published: 10-30-2025

Publisher: Solander Press

While her sister Laura chronicles their life on the frontier, Carrie Ingalls forges her own path. This is the story of the “forgotten” sister, a frail child who grows into a resilient woman of the American West. From the hardships of pioneer life, Carrie emerges as an independent journalist, newspaper editor, and landowner, quietly shaping the futures of fellow homesteaders and proving that strength comes in many forms.

 

About the Author

 

 Award-winning author Clarissa Willis writes children's books. She has authored four picture books and one chapter book. Bloomers on Pike’s Peak, the story of Julia Archibald Holmes, received a Will Rogers Medallion Award and was a finalist for the Women Writing the West 2025 WILLA Literary Award in Children's Picture Books. Her book Fast as the Wind: The Story of Johnny Fry Pony Express Rider won a Will Rogers Medallion in 2023. The Three Little Pigs and the Not So Big Bad Wolf, released in early 2025. It tells a familiar story with a new twist. She believes childhood is a journey and strives to make it joyful through her books and public speaking.

Clarissa loves traveling and has a special connection to the American West. She finds inspiration in the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona, and the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. In fact, her next book, Not from Around Here, is set in Sedona and chronicles an unusual friendship between a young cowboy and his friend from far away.

Contact Links

Website

Facebook

Goodreads

Instagram

Purchase Link

Amazon

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