Falling From The Nest by Bobbie Candas - Book Tour - Blurb Blitz - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Falling From The Nest
by Bobbie Candas

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GENRE:  Historical Fiction

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BOOK BLURB:

Spring 1946--Following four years of war on the heels of the decade-long Great Depression, Americans are finally feeling a sense of hope that begins sweeping the nation…

Jo-Jo Anderson feels that optimism too. Slipping the reins of her Iowa farming town, Jo leaves to make her mark on the entertainment scene in Manhattan. Audiences are clamoring for new musicals on Broadway, nightclubs are flourishing, and NYC is the beating heart of the radio networks. After arriving, Jo-Jo quickly realizes that thousands of would-be stars are following her same ambitions, making opportunities scarce, but her luck begins to turn when she hears about Talent Jackpot.

Her twin, Sarah, finds success with her studies as a scholarship student at the University of Iowa. But Sarah is adrift socially, finding it difficult to forge friendships. Her perfectly planned life is upended when her hometown boyfriend announces he’s suddenly joined the navy. Sarah’s top grades draw the attention of a crusty biology professor and after accepting his offer of a lab position, her rigid lifestyle gets a lot more complicated.

This novel tells a story of unexpected change. The twins make their way through multiple challenges with humor, ambition, and heartbreak but remain tied together by the bonds of sisterhood, winding their way through the seedier backdoors of the entertainment business, and into college dorm life and love nest apartments.

With the historical backdrop of the post WW2 era, Falling From The Nest, reads as a stand-alone story but also serves as a sequel to author Bobbie Candas’ previous novel, The Lost and Found of Green Tree.

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EXCERPT ONE:

The last of the audition line moved forward and I was suddenly thrust up on the stage of the Imperial Theater. There were three lines of ten on stage, filled with nervous male and female hopefuls auditioning for chorus line spots for a new Irving Berlin musical, Annie Get Your Gun. I could smell my fear as it branched out within me in tingling connections from my frozen face down to my feet. Feet that now felt like dead weights attached to heeled dance shoes whose soles were glued to the floor. I’d arrived late and was in the last group of an open-call audition and purposely nudged myself into the center of the middle line, hoping for a hiding spot. But hiding is hard when you’re a leggy, five-foot-nine, pale blonde female in a string of short, muscular dancers. Kinda like a spotted giraffe among the lions.

After lining up, our executioner and choreographer took about sixty seconds to show us a dozen linking steps to an opening dance sequence. His arrogant face, slim body, and searching eyes leaned back appraising the lines. “OK, boys and girls, this one’s simple. Think you got it?” Everyone around me anxiously nodded yes.

No, I wanted to shout. Repeat please!

The orchestra in the pit began cranking out a tune, as the choreographer yelled out…”And a one, and a two--knee up, kick left, circle back, hop, hop, knee up, kick right…” Then he motioned for the music to stop.

An exasperated expression covered his face. “Ladies and gentlemen, these are the basics, the easy connections. Let’s start again on three. And a one, and a two--knee up, kick left, circle back, hop, hop…” He stuck his arm out, motioning again for the music to stop.

“Alright, first cuts.” His long arm and dismissive finger pointed to the guilty dancers. “Tall blonde, center middle row, thank you. You…guy on the end, first row, that will be all. Back row, green sweater, left side, you may leave.”

He sighed deeply, clapped his hands, and said. “Let’s go again, cue music…repeat.”

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AUTHOR BIO:

I'm a Texas girl: grew up in San Antonio, went to school at UT in Austin where I earned my degree in journalism, and settled in Dallas where I raised a husband, two kids and a few cats. My husband, Mehmet, and the cats will probably disagree on who raised who, but I'm a sucker for a robust discussion.

For years I was involved in retail management, but in 2014 I refocused on my writing, taking deep dives into the lives of my characters. When you can pry my fingers off the keyboard, I enjoy entertaining, sharing food and drink with friends and family. I enjoy shopping, usually on the hunt for apparel, with a special weakness for shoes, and will frequently jump at the opportunity of an unexpected trip to a far-away place.

And I always make time for reading. I keep a stack of novels ready and waiting on my night stand, with a few tapping their toe in my Kindle. I bounce around genres, and I’m always ready for a good recommendation.

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CONNECT WITH BOBBIE:

Email:

http://www.bobbiecandas@gmail.com

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/bobbiecandasauthor

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/bobbiecandas

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8292457.Bobbie.Candas

Amazon Author Central:

https://www.amazon.com/Books-Bobbie-Candas/s?3A283155%3A283155%2Cp_27%3ABobbie+Candas

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AMAZON BUY LINK:

Amazon US Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.com/Falling-Nest-Sisters-Green-Tree-ebook/dp/B0DH8JXF5S

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GIVEAWAY:

Bobbie will be awarding a $25 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner's Choice!!!) to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase is made, I may receive a small commission to help support this blog.  This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those fabulous community outreach projects and awesome giveaways on here**

This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions.  Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.

Where the Stars Cross by Dottie Sines - Book Tour - Blurb Blitz - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Where the Stars Cross
by Dottie Sines

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GENRE:   Historical Romance

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BOOK BLURB:

In the depths of the Great Depression, Ellie suffers another crash—that of her marriage. She’s left struggling to restore her shattered life, feeling as damaged as the stained-glass panels she refurbishes for Chicago’s historic structures. While visiting her aunt in Marietta, Ohio, a charming river town, Ellie encounters towboat captain Wyatt and feels a searing attraction to him. But thanks to past and subsequent wounds, her attempts at opening herself to love seem futile. Her hope for love and her determination to find the place she belongs are further complicated by her tendency to make impulsive decisions. In her journey, Ellie draws on an unrealized level of courage and learns she must identify her brightest passions in charting her course.

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EXCERPT ONE:

Climbing from her automobile, Ellie ambled around to the sidewalk, where she tipped herself onto her toes to stretch her legs and flung out her arms with a moan, promptly smacking a hand into what felt like a human. She pivoted.

“Oh, my goodness, I’m so…” The “sorry” came a heartbeat or two later, followed by, “Are you all right?” even though there was no way this man wasn’t okay.

Tall and sturdy enough to survive much more than a little whack in the chest, his faded blue-and-white pinstriped shirt, tan leather vest, and well-worn trousers did nothing to detract from the toned lines of his body. A sampling of gray wove through the hair peeking out from beneath his newsboy cap. Slightly wavy, sandy blond hair, which on anyone else would need a good trimming but suited him fine. He hadn’t shaved in a day or two.

“Lengthy drive, I take it?” His mouth curved into a half smile, crinkling the corners of soft, hazel eyes. “Nothing like a good punch to work out the kinks, huh, Slugger?”

Ellie drew in her lips. A laugh didn’t seem appropriate right now. “Really, I am very sorry,” Ellie said. “You are all right, aren’t you?”

“I think I’ll be fine,” he said with a nod and a languid blink of those captivating eyes. “Ma’am,” he said with a tip of his cap before he and his comrades continued toward the river.

Ellie’s feet felt their way to the door of the five-and-dime. Wowee, did that bloke look better from the front or the back? Biting her bottom lip, she reached for the door handle.

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AUTHOR BIO:

Dottie scratched out her first fiction as a little kid transfixed by the books she read all those lazy summer days on the front porch swing. Two of her short stories have been published in The Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park’s literary journal, Hemingway Shorts, having placed among the top ten entries in its annual short story contests.

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CONNECT WITH DOTTIE:

Website:

https://www.dottiesines.com

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555443236996

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/dottie_sines_author

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AMAZON BUY LINKS:

Where the Stars Cross, Dottie’s first novel, is available for purchase at the links below - where it’s on the Hot New Releases list for 20th century historical romance!

Amazon US Kindle eBook:
https://amzn.to/3XCKsVP

Amazon US Paperback:
https://amzn.to/3BsGZ4x

Amazon CA Kindle eBook:
https://www.amazon.ca/Where-Stars-Cross-Dottie-Sines-ebook/dp/B0D8LGJ472

Amazon CA Paperback:
https://www.amazon.ca/Where-Stars-Cross-Dottie-Sines/dp/1509257373

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GIVEAWAY:

Dottie will be awarding a $15 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner's Choice!!!) to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase is made, I may receive a small commission to help support this blog.  This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those fabulous community outreach projects and awesome giveaways on here**

This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions.  Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.

On the Threshold by M. Laszlo - Book Tour - Guest Post - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

On the Threshold
by M. Laszlo

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GENRE:   Historical Science Fiction

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BOOK BLURB:

Obsessed with learning the origins of the cosmos, the actual meaning of life, and the true purpose of civilization, a fine Scotsman named Fingal T. Smyth dedicates himself to the study of Plato’s most extraordinary ideas. Convinced of Plato’s belief that humankind possesses any and all innate knowledge deep within the collective unconscious mind, Fingal soon conducts a series of bold, pioneering occult-science experiments by which to resolve the riddle of the universe once and for all. However, Fingal forgets how violent and perilous the animal impulses that reside in the deepest recesses of the unconscious mind. And when Fingal unleashes a mysterious avatar of his innate knowledge, the entity appears as a burning man and immediately seeks to manipulate innocent and unsuspecting people everywhere into immolating themselves. Now, with little hope of returning the fiery figure into his being, Fingal must capture his nemesis before it destroys the world.

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EXCERPT TWO:

Fräulein Wunderwaffe did not return the smile. Hand on heart, the little girl drew a bit closer. Then, as the hot, animalistic presence undulated all across Fingal’s body, the little girl’s eyes grew wide. Until the little girl’s expression turned to that of a vacant stare.

A moment later, her feet pointed inwards, she removed her hat and undid her long, flaxen hair.

Again, he cringed. “If you’ve noticed something, ignore all. This hasn’t got anything to do with you.” A third time, he cringed.

A most ethereal, lyrical, incomprehensible hiss commenced then: from the other end of the winding, decorative-brick driveway, each clay block shining the color of blue Welsh stone, a sleek Siamese cat with a coat of chocolate-spotted ivory had just appeared. And now the creature raced toward his shadow.

As he looked into the animal’s big, searching, blue eyes, the chocolate Siamese studied the off-center tip of his nose. Then the animal turned away, as if to compare the peculiarity with that of some disembodied visage hovering in the distance.

Out upon the loch, meanwhile, a miraculous rogue wave suddenly arose—and now the swell crashed against the pebbly strand.

Not a moment later, a cool flame crawled across Fingal’s throat. The strange fire rattled, too—not unlike the sound of fallen juniper leaves caught up in the current and dancing against the surface of a stone walkway.

Crivens. By now, the alien, pulsating presence held him so tight that he could barely breathe. Before long, he fell to the earth, and as the dreamlike flame continued to move across his throat, he rolled all about—until the illusory sensation of cool warmth wriggled and twisted and dropped into his neck dimple.

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GUEST POST:

On the Threshold: How a Visionary Novel Healed a Personal Wound

So much of the inspiration for my work, On the Threshold, comes from the notorious Amityville murders of 1974. Chances are that many children growing up in the 1970’s found the murders to be disturbing and unforgettable.

When the tragic Defeo family moved into their famous house, it is my understanding that the father named their home “High Hopes” and set up a friendly sign stenciled with those very words. What many fail to grasp is that the song from which the name derives is not so much a song of hope as it is a song of futility. Specifically, the song tells of a determined ant trying to move a rubber-tree plant—something plainly impossible. My profoundly-personal feeling is that the father unconsciously knew that it was futile for him to think that he could remedy his son’s antisocial tendencies by moving the family to a beautiful house in Amityville. This might also help to explain why the father chose to paint the house a somber black. One other note: the father had the “High Hopes” sign written in a Gothic, Germanic-looking script. Could it be that he had already noticed the fact that his antisocial son loved loud, violent WWII movies? More to the point, the father must have at least unconsciously noticed that when his son watched those loud, violent movies, he did not identify with John Wayne and the Americans. Rather, the son rooted for the Nazis.

At any rate, so much of my work deals with the workings of the unconscious mind and the wisdom and knowledge stored there. That thematic topic runs throughout the text and is augmented by the fact that one of the protagonists just happens to be a film critic who employs phenomenological film theory as a means of understanding the workings of the unconscious mind. The novel had to include such a character, though—and looking back at the Amityville murders, it is no mystery why.

Before Butch Defeo committed the murders, he watched a movie on the late show: Castle Keep, a WW-II picture starring Burt Lancaster. Could it be that the movie appealed to something in the murderer’s drug-addled unconscious mind? The movie tells of Hitler’s army storming a Belgian castle. Plainly, the murderer identified with those German soldiers tasked with the violent conquest. And if that’s true, the murderer’s unconscious mind could very well have equated his father with those holding authority over the castle—both the Belgian count and his friend, the American officer portrayed by Burt Lancaster. In short, as the murderer watched the movie that fateful night, he came to equate the castle, the setting for the movie, with the family house there in Amityville.

Let’s remember, too, that as the murderer watched the movie, he watched it at full volume. He did this because he enjoyed the violent sounds of war. This is important because the cacophony must have weighed upon the family’s collective unconsciousness as they slept and heard the terrible clamor. By the time, the murderer burst into their rooms and demanded that they roll over onto their bellies, the family was already in a state of something like shellshock. As for why the murderer would demand that the family members roll onto their bellies, this, too, is no mystery at all: the murderer made such demands only because he could not bear to look upon their faces and to risk eye contact in that moment he pulled the trigger. 

One other point that is important to understand: following the commission of the horrible crime, the murderer took it upon himself to trim his beard in a distinctive way—and in a way that he had never worn it either before or since. The question is why. Here’s the answer: in trimming his beard in the way that he did, he made it look something like the way the Belgian count wore his beard in the movie. In a sense, when the murderer trimmed his beard, he was telling himself that he had conquered the castle and that he was in charge now and that he would be the count from this moment forward. Again, though, the point is that the murderer unconsciously saw his own experience in the movie. His conscious mind saw a WW-II picture that fateful night, but his unconscious mind detected the archetypes that spoke to his own condition.

These aforementioned themes abound all throughout my work. Without a doubt, the WW-II film, Castle Keep, predetermined the decision to set my tale in a castle. (In the interest of full disclosure, I named my castle after the building where the English Department meets at my alma mater, Hiram College.) 

Most important of all, the idea of phenomenological film theory has always informed my thoughts on the unconscious mind. Ultimately, film theory ignited my obsession with Plato and his idea of inborn knowledge. Deep down inside, I’ve always know that the resolution to the riddle of the universe exists within us and has always been there.

M. Laszlo lives in Bath Township, Ohio. He is an aging recluse, rarely seen nor heard. On the Threshold is his second release and first with Tahlia Newland’s Awesome Independent Authors.

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AUTHOR BIO:

M. Laszlo is an aging recluse who lives in Bath, Ohio. Rumor holds that his pseudonym is a reference to Victor Laszlo, a character in the classic film Casablanca. On the Threshold is his first release with the acclaimed, Australian hybrid house AIA Publishing. Oddly, M. Laszlo insists that his latest work, On the Threshold, does in fact provide the correct answer to the riddle of the universe.

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BOOK BUY LINK:

AIA Publishing:

https://aiapublishing.com/product/on-the-threshold-m-laszlo

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GIVEAWAY:

M. Laszlo will be awarding a $10 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner's Choice!!!) to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hidden Treasures by Kathleen Buckley - Book Tour - Guest Post - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hidden Treasures
by Kathleen Buckley

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GENRE:   Sweet Historical Romance

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BOOK BLURB:

Allan Everard, an earl's illegitimate son, is dismissed from his employment at his father’s death but inherits a former coaching inn. Needing to make a new life in London, he begins by leasing the inn to a charity.

Unexpectedly orphaned, Rosabel Stanbury and her younger sister are made wards of a distant, unknown cousin. Fearing his secretive ways and his intentions for them, Rosabel and Oriana flee to London where they are taken in by a women’s charity.

Drawn into Rosabel's problems, with his inn under surveillance by criminals, Allan has only a handful of unlikely allies, including an elderly general, a burglar, and an old lady who knows criminal slang. A traditional romance.

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EXCERPT ONE:

“Sir, we came to London to live with our grandfather, but he is ill, and we couldn’t see him, and our uncle’s wife didn’t believe we are his grandchildren, and now we have no place to go.”

Rosabel wished whoever he was might be able to aid them, knowing she dare not trust him, not after their encounter with the woman at the inn. He was probably a rakehell. Gentlemen did not otherwise concern themselves with females of the servant class, as they must appear to be, clad in their dusty, countrified clothing.

Blinking away her last tears, she was tempted to revise her opinion. His plain black suit, slight body, and untidy hair suggested quite another sort of man. His eyes twinkled when she met his gaze. “May I introduce myself, ma’am? Wilfred Simmons, curate, St. Giles-without-Cripplegate. If you and your sister have nowhere to stay, your situation is serious. London is a hard place even for men if they have no work and no money. A female without resources risks danger to both body and soul. Please let me assist you.”

She bit her lip. Mr. Simmons appeared to be respectable. He had a gentleman’s voice and was no more than four-and-twenty, she guessed. Beside her, Ory sniffed dolefully.

“You are wise not to be too trusting. I have friends who will vouch for me inside.” He smiled at her expression. “Ma’am, no one has ever been abducted from St. George’s Church, Hanover Square.”

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GUEST POST:

The Craziest Thing I’ve Done in the Name of Research

The only problem is choosing one: I’ve written eleven historical fiction/historical romances and there’s always something weird that I have to research, and usually more than one thing. But I’ll start with the one that may seem the strangest.

In my second novel, set just before the Jacobite Uprising of 1745, there is a tense scene with two armed villains, the hero, and two female hostages. I knew from reading up on flintlock pistols there is an interval between the priming charge igniting and the pistol firing the ball. I wanted to use this in the story. Would any of the articles I read tell me what the interval was? No. 

Ah, but there were videos on YouTube of black powder enthusiasts firing flintlock pistols, so it would be easy to time the sequence, no? No. I watched hours of videos of said pistols being fired…from behind the shooter, where his hand and the pistol were invisible.

When I say “hours”, I don’t mean two or three. Two or three on multiple evenings for a total of maybe ten hours, maybe more. Then I came across the perfect video: well filmed, with a presenter who could stand in for the heart-throb in a romance, wearing something vaguely 18th century, and a faint, faint accent. French Canadian, maybe? The camera was at right angles to him as he raised the pistol, cuff ruffle fluttering gently, pointed and fired.

With the “progress bar” at the bottom, I could time from the moment the hammer fell to the shot. I checked and double-checked about a dozen times, but there it was:  a gap of about three seconds.   

Update: I’ve just spent more than an hour trying to locate the link for this video. It isn’t in my file of research material or in my research for that specific book. So I skimmed rapidly through the YouTube videos on flintlocks. There are a lot: reproduction flintlocks, restored antiques, models made of foam, Legos, cardboard and whatever, fantasy flintlocks, flintlocks to use in online games. The one I wanted was gone.  Drat; I wouldn’t mind watching it again.

For the same book, I needed to know the weight of a 1717 Charleville Armory French musket. That was easy because there’s plenty of information online about historic firearms. Because 2,500 were going to be smuggled into Scotland, I needed to know how to transport them once they were unloaded from the ship. How many wagons? How many horses? In an old book available online (for free, thank goodness), I discovered regulations for freight haulers.

For the curious, a six horse team could legally carry six tons of freight. A Charleville musket of that period weighed ten pounds. The packing crates and pistol balls would add some weight, too. Feel free to do the math.

I admit it. I’m a bit OCD about research.

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AUTHOR BIO:

Kathleen Buckley writes traditional historical romance (i.e. no explicit sex). There are fewer ballrooms and aristocratic courting rituals in her books and more problems than does-he-love-me/does-he-not. Sometimes there’s humor. Kathleen wanted to write from the time she learned to read and pursued this passion through a Master’s Degree in English, followed by the kind of jobs one might expect: light bookkeeping, security officer, paralegal. She did sell two stories to the late Robert Bloch, author of Psycho. And no, he wasn’t late at the time.

After moving to Albuquerque, New Mexico, she wrote her first historical romance, striving for Georgette Heyer’s style, followed by nine more.    

In Kathleen’s gentle romances, the characters tend to slide into love rather than fall in lust. Their stories are often set against the background of family relationships, crime, and legal issues, probably because of her work in a law firm. 

When she’s not writing or reading, she enjoys cooking dishes from eighteenth century cookbooks. Those dishes and more appear in her stories. Udder and root vegetables, anyone? 

Kathleen Buckley’s current work in progress is her first historical mystery, tentatively titled A Murder of Convenience. 

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CONNECT WITH KATHLEEN:

Linktree:

https://linktr.ee/kathleen_buckley

Website:

https://18thcenturyromance.com

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/18thcenturyromance

Amazon Author Page:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Kathleen-Buckley/author/B072J2GPZ3

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GIVEAWAY:

Kathleen will be awarding a $25 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner's Choice!!!) to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase is made, I may receive a small commission to help support this blog.  This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those fabulous community outreach projects and awesome giveaways on here**

This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions.  Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.

Men of the 65th: The Borinqueneers of the Korean War by Talia Aikens-Nunez - Book Tour - Book Blast - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Talia Aikens-Nunez will be awarding a $25 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner's Choice!!!) to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Honor and Fidelity. That is the motto of the 65th Infantry Regiment, also known as the Borinqueneers, the only Puerto Rican unit in the United States Army.

Since the regiment’s creation in 1899, the men of the 65th have proudly served the US through multiple wars, despite facing racial discrimination. Their courage, loyalty, and patriotism earned them hundreds of accolades, including the Congressional Gold Medal in 2014.

But the honor and fidelity of the men of the 65th came into question in 1952, in the midst of the Korean War, when ninety-one Borinqueneers were arrested and tried for desertion and disobeying orders. How could this happen in one of the most distinguished and decorated units of the Army?

In this telling of one of the forgotten stories of the Korean War, author Talia Aikens-Nuñez guides us through the history of the Borinqueneers and the challenges they faced leading up to what was the largest court martial in the entire war. Rediscover the bravery of the men of the 65th through Aikens-Nuñez’s thorough writing and the soldiers’ firsthand accounts of the Korean War.

EXCERPT TWO:

The Borinqueneers successfully defended the 1st Marine Division’s retreat, but they soon realized this was only part of a much larger withdrawal of UNC [United Nations Command] troops. As the retreat continued into mid-December, news came that the enemy buildup had accelerated. Chinese and North Korean forces were gathering and converging on Hungnam. The UNC’s worst fears were coming true: they were losing ground in the war.

They had to accelerate their plans in response to protect their troops and evacuate the Korean refugees that had fled to Hungnam. They ordered troops to board ships, division by division, and sail south to Pusan… Meanwhile, the 65th and the 3rd Infantry Divisions would hold the main line of resistance, providing enough cover for everyone to make it safely out of Hungnam…With each withdrawal, the enemy continued to push the Borinqueneers and the 3rd Infantry Division.

…They were exhausted from several days of fighting…The soldiers of the 65th were some of the last to leave Hungnam. They were hurried and squeezed tightly onto the final boats. Finally, they could rest and relax. Once they left, the military would destroy the port so the enemy could not use the equipment and facilities against them.

…After they loaded onto the final ship and set sail, the dynamite detonated. The soldiers looked back and watched the port explode…everything – erupted in smoke and flame.

AUTHOR BIO:

Talia Aikens-Nuñez writes chapter books, picture books, and nonfiction for children. Her daughter inspired her to write her OMG Series of books about an accidental little witch. She and her husband live on a river in Connecticut with their daughter and son.

AMAZON BUY LINK:

Amazon US Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.com/Men-65th-Borinqueneers-Korean-War-ebook/dp/B0BNT3ZRZQ/

GIVEAWAY:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Stellar Heir by Scott Killian - Book Tour - Cover Reveal - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Scott Killian will be awarding a $20 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner's Choice!!!) to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Jael Ked’Korhva hadn’t anticipated becoming the galaxy’s most wanted.

He hadn’t planned on picking up a strange alien artifact, either, but once it was clasped around his wrist, Jael was granted extraordinary abilities. His senses were heightened, his reflexes faster, and he could now regenerate from damage that would spell the end for others, which was a boon, considering he was just a derelict scavenger.

That was until forces from every corner of the stars wanted Jael’s artifact for themselves, and they’ll stop at nothing to take it back. What initially appears as a boon swiftly transforms into a weighty charge. Yet, it's a charge Jael accepts without hesitation, understanding the catastrophic potential should the relic fall into the wrong hands.

Prodded onward by visions of an ancient ally and a mysterious enemy, Jael becomes a pivotal piece in a vast interstellar play of power and dominion.

An action-packed space opera, perfect for science fiction fans of Sun Eater by Christopher Ruocchio or The Mercy of Gods by James S. A. Corey.

About the Author: Scott Killian grew up in California where he consumed every bit of sci-fi and horror media he could find. Delving deep into the works of Thomas Harris, Stephen King and H. P. Lovecraft to name a few, those dark portals in his mind were opened and his obsession with the macabre began. Story telling, in any form, is his greatest passion.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Scott.E.killian
Twitter: https://x.com/authorsekillian
Email: saltnsulfurpublishing@gmail.com
Newsletter signup: https://mailchi.mp/9f595cbdc394/author-scott-killians-newsletter
Book Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DF1RLYLB

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The Starlight Motel by Amy Craig - Book Tour - Guest Post - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

The Starlight Motel
by Amy Craig

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GENRE:    Contemporary Romance

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BOOK BLURB:

Experienced muralist Kada took charge of her family's Palm Springs motel to give her mother time to grieve. As a grant deadline approaches, Kada must convince her mother to manage the motel so she can return to her art. Late in December, Kada encounters a horseman approaching the property. Dane, the reserved son of a local farming family, is a loyal workaholic with limited spare time or experience outside the valley. When lightning startles his horse, he lingers at the motel and stirs up Kada's emotions about leaving the desert oasis. Wary of mixing business with pleasure, she struggles with her attraction. As New Year's Eve approaches, will the cowboy convince her to chart a new course?

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EXCERPT THREE:

Kada’s cry of delight bounced off the casita walls. Looking up from the desert pavers, he watched her launch herself into an older woman’s arms. The pair grinned, and their smiles shone brighter than the swaying patio lights. Staying back, he leaned against an adobe wall and watched Kada and Mrs. Ritchie greet each other. The pair did the hug-shake mother-daughter thing he never understood. In twenty years, Kada would be just as beautiful as her mother. She soaked up her mother’s presence like a drought-stricken plant. He envied their connection. His mother gripped him hard, examined him, and spun him back into the world to do good work.

“Just look at you, runnin’ around the desert like Pops.” Ms. Ritchie gripped Kada’s long, black hair and rubbed it between her fingers. “If I hadn’t seen you for myself, I wouldn’t have believed it. I thought you would stay in Los Angeles, but here you are, the queen of the desert!”

He cocked his head and imagined Kada tearing into a sourdough loaf over drip coffee. She would look at home on the winding streets wearing a wrap-tie dress, but he preferred her stained jeans.

“I thought I would stay in Los Angeles, too, but you needed me.” Reaching to the side, Kada shifted into her father’s arms.

Lean by most standards, he sported the small belly that developed from a desk-bound lifestyle.

“Hi, Daddy.”

He kissed her forehead. “Princess. Good to see you.”

Easing off the wall, Dane figured he could slip back into the cantina, take his salad to go, and sink into one of Walter’s tales. The old cowboy had plenty of stories about what went wrong when a man took his gaze off the land.

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GUEST POST:

Falling in Love with the Main Characters

There are so many wonderful books available. To stand out among the daily onslaught of contemporary romances, a writer has to craft characters that readers care about. If I write strong, captivating characters that resonate with my audience, I know I've succeeded. Also, they should be hot and funny, too.

The leads in THE STARLIGHT MOTEL are strong characters with relatable tenderness. A deadline keeps them moving forward, but too many sidekicks keep them from candlelit dinners and conventional romance. I hope you love Kada and Dane!

Kada is a dedicated and resilient woman, driven by her love for her family, art, and community. Her passion for preserving the Starlight Motel and her gratitude toward her family showcase her deep roots and loyalty, but she only has one life to live. How long can she be the dutiful daughter?

Dane is a stern and demanding neighbor who values his physical reaction to Kada and the emotional connection that surprises him. His willingness to work through his challenges, and his romantic declarations, demonstrate the commitment and tenderness behind his rough exterior. If he had a year to woo Kada, he would do it too slowly to make an impression, but a New Year's Eve deadline gets him moving.

The best way to understand Kada and Dane (and to craft your characters) is to delve into character backstories, fears, and desires. These layers add to their personalities and make the characters feel real. Show their vulnerabilities and strengths. Archetypes are familiar, but humans are endearing. For example, Dane’s interest in Kada triggers desire for a future that honors her family and her artistic dreams. This emotional complexity draws readers in and makes them root for a character's happiness. She's already had one career setback. Will she set aside her professional momentum for a handsome cowboy-farmer who looks good in jeans? Maybe.

Characters should also evolve throughout the story. This growth can be in their personal lives, relationships, or careers. Show their journey and how they overcome obstacles. This makes their victories more satisfying and impactful. Give your characters distinctive traits that set them apart. Ensure character actions align with their motivations. Kada’s actions are driven by the conflict between supporting her family and pursuing her art. Dane’s actions are driven by his pride, his prior successes, and his growing awareness that he's the product of decades of mentorship. Maybe he's too focused.

Through Kada and Dane’s journey, we see how love, support, and personal growth create a compelling and heartfelt romance that readers root for. Kada and Dane are relatable, emotionally complex, and exhibit growth. By creating a dynamic relationship and ensuring characters have unique traits and consistent motivations, anyone can craft captivating characters that resonate with audiences.

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AUTHOR BIO:

Amy Craig lives in Louisiana with her family and a small menagerie of pets. She writes contemporary romance and romantic suspense featuring intelligent heroines. In her spare time, she plays tennis and expands her husband’s honey-do list. Before writing, she worked as an oilfield engineer, project manager, and incompetent waitress. For more information and giveaways, visit www.amy-craig.com or follow her on social media channels.

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CONNECT WITH AMY:

Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/author/amycraig

TikTok:

https://www.tiktok.com/@authoramycraig

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/author_amy_craig

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAmyCraig

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18011214

BookBub:

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/amy-craig

Website:

https://www.amy-craig.com

LinkTree:

https://linktr.ee/authoramycraig

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GIVEAWAY:

Amy will be awarding a $15 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner's Choice!!!) to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase is made, I may receive a small commission to help support this blog.  This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those fabulous community outreach projects and awesome giveaways on here**

This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions.  Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.

Rising Moon by Katie Groom - Book Tour - Guest Post - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Rising Moon
The Cardinal Moon Saga
Book Three
by Katie Groom

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GENRE:   Paranormal

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BOOK BLURB:

Reunited with his mate Zoie and having taken revenge on some of his immortal enemies, werewolf Hugh has new goals for revenge and justice: Ruin the lives of his remaining foes and end their reign.

The powerful Council of the immortal world has been imprisoning those who oppose them. But now, Hugh is one of the Council and perfectly poised to take the Council from the inside with the help of Zoie and their friends.

While Zoie is busy working on her witchcraft—studying and practicing so that she can protect her loved ones, Hugh probes for the secrets that have kept them in power for so long.

Investigating both openly and in secret, Hugh uncovers more than just the public terror. Even without the mock trials, those who disagreed with the Council often found themselves in the dark, lonely purgatory of being a gargoyle. Trapped and awake for all of eternity, in a rapidly expanding graveyard that ages all who enter.

Even immortals have things they fear more than death.

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EXCERPT TWO:

There was no one in the house but Zoie. Hugh had left to handle some Council business, and, while Cade had a key, they didn’t use it unless it was an emergency. She was using the time to catch up on some reading—for pleasure.

Since effectively coming back from the dead, Zoie had been reclassified as a missing person, but there was still some work to be done for her to get her life back. The legal red tape to bring a person back to life was more complicated than any of them had thought it would be. Sure, Hugh had connections that could forge documents, but bringing someone back to life who was never actually dead—nearly impossible in the eyes of the government.

Between researching that and taking action on it, Zoie was also studying magic and practicing and getting better at her skills. It was slow going because, to Zoie’s understanding, because she had let her powers lay dormant for so long, she had to work much harder to get to the level that she would have been at otherwise. No amount of natural skill could make up for practice. But, sometimes, Zoie felt as if she was practicing herself to the point that it was having the opposite effect. It was beginning to feel like a job. A job she didn’t want to do some days.

So between all of that and trying to figure out what she wanted to do with her life, plus balancing a life with Hugh and Silas, Zoie wasn’t left with much time for fun things. So, she was taking this rare time when Hugh was out and Silas was actually with him— and she couldn’t wait to hear how that went for them—to read. She had decided to go back to a simpler time in her life and read a childhood favorite: Anne of Green Gables.

Since Hugh had been technically working two jobs—his role as professor in the English Department and Council Member of the Supernatural World—Zoie had also settled into the role of housewife, and it was another thing that felt like a job that she hated. She had just settled down for another break from her tasks while the laundry was rolling around in the dryer.

Placing the bookmark on the table, Zoie curled up on the couch with her book and a throw blanket. She took a sip of her tea and then turned the page, engrossed in the book to the point that she didn’t even hear the buzzer go off, signaling the end of the cycle.

What did take her out of the book was a loud argument from behind her. It almost made her question her own sanity because she hadn’t noticed anyone entering the house.

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GUEST POST:

What is your favorite motivational phrase and how do you apply it to your writing and life?

I have a lot of little phrases that I apply to my daily life and to writing, but my absolute favorite is “Don’t55 take criticism from someone that you wouldn’t take advice from.”

Read that again.

Don’t take criticism from someone that you wouldn’t take advice from.

In life, if you have someone that is all around negative, and they are not someone who you respect, why are you letting what they say to you bother you?

For example, at work, there are some leaders that I have so much respect for — they are leaders that I aspire to be like; they are kind, fair, and maybe they aren’t always liked, but they do their job well and are equitable, and are respected by others. If they offered me advice, I would at least consider it, and if they offered me constructive criticism, it would mean something. It would probably come from a place of caring.  But there are other leaders — leaders that play favorites; do the bare minimum; and care more about being liked, rather than being respected. If they offered me advice, I would thank them, but I probably wouldn’t take it. So I wouldn’t take their criticism either.

So, as an author, when someone says that my writing sucks or that my book is “all rom - no com” (my favorite 1 star review that I’ve ever gotten), that’s fine. That’s a stranger on the internet, and I don’t know them. I wouldn’t take advice from them on writing; they’ve maybe never written a book, so I’m certainly not going to take their criticism to heart.

There’s a lot of naysayers out there. The world is full of negativity. Protect your peace. You do not have to take every piece of criticism or advice that comes your way. Take what resonates and leave the rest.

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AUTHOR BIO & LINK:

Katie Groom grew up in rural Pennsylvania, where she received her bachelor’s degree in Business Management from PITT and her master’s in Employment and Labor Relations from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. In 2016, she decided to move to Alabama in order to avoid as much snow as possible (and to advance her career in Human Resources).

When she isn’t working, Katie enjoys reading, writing, jokingly critiquing movies and TV, and campaigning that the plural of moose should be meese. She also loves to take in live music (especially Hanson) and traveling, with the goal of reaching each of the continents. Katie’s favorite pastime, however, is spending time with her beloved Shih tzu, Delta.

Twitter:

http://www.twitter.com/katie_writes_

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AMAZON BUY LINKS:

Amazon US Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/3XD6mJR

Amazon US Paperback:

https://amzn.to/3Xn2FX8

Amazon US Hardcover:

https://amzn.to/3XAR0W7

Amazon CA Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.ca/Rising-Moon-Katie-Groom-ebook/dp/B0D6NFSFJC

Amazon CA Paperback:

https://www.amazon.ca/Rising-Moon-Katie-Groom/dp/1962308189

Amazon CA Hardcover:

https://www.amazon.ca/Rising-Moon-Katie-Groom/dp/1962308197

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GIVEAWAY:

Katie will be awarding a $10 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner's Choice!!!) to a randomly drawn winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase is made, I may receive a small commission to help support this blog.  This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those fabulous community outreach projects and awesome giveaways on here**

This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions.  Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.