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Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Bad Guy by Ana Diamond - Book Tour - Book Blast - Giveaway - Enter Daily!


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Ana Diamond 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.
Luke Daniels has done his fair share of bad things. But when the FBI offers him a deal in exchange for infiltrating the local Mafia’s infamous Costa Crew, Luke has no choice but to accept the challenge.

Beautiful, smart and tough, Sophia Costa wants out of the Crew. Appointed boss by her brother after he’s sent to prison, she wants no part in the murder, deceit and secrecy typical of Mafia life.

Just as things heat up between Luke and Sophia, a mysterious hitman targets Sophia, and Luke’s handler starts to wonder if Luke is up for the task.

As the lovers face the possibility of losing everything in order to be together, the line between loyalty and betrayal blur.
EXCERPT TWO:

“If they find out I’m a snitch, they’ll kill me,” Luke Daniels warned Special Agent Troy Wilson.

A hole-in-the-wall diner at a rest stop in northeastern Nevada was the last place Luke thought he’d ever find himself.

The agent’s expression remained stoic. “That’s a risk we’re willing to take. It’s you who needs to decide if walking free from cyber-crime and drug trafficking charges is worth it.

“Hmm. A max sentence of twenty years versus getting killed,” Luke mused. “A lose-lose decision no matter what I decide.”

Luke relaxed his posture while rubbing the stubble on his chin as the waitress set down two cups of black coffee in front of them; the roasted nutty smell instantly perked him up. She said nothing, barely acknowledged them with her heavily hooded eyes, as if she were doing her own hard time working at a diner until the end of her pathetic life. This dusty part of the world wasn’t trying to please anyone.

As he glanced around the empty run-down diner, Luke knew he’d rather be here than in prison for most of his life. “Why not find some guy who knows the mafia world?”

“If you’re smart enough to run a massive drug ring, we’re pretty confident you can infiltrate the Costa Crew. We tend to select those who’ve had some success in their criminal lives. You raked in quite a bit of money during your stint, and you did it without losing any limbs. Resilience is the key to this game, which I believe you possess.” He raised both palms in a “hold off” gesture. “Or you can spend the rest of your life in prison. It’s your choice.”

AUTHOR BIO:

When Ana Diamond isn't writing about tough gals finding love in unexpected places, she’s at work by day in the medical field. She writes romantic mystery novels with feisty strong women and alluring men who can’t resist them. Her books are fast paced, entertaining and heartfelt all at once.

Ana is a 2020 Tara Contest Finalist for Body Conscious and 2015 Melody of Love contest finalist. She lives in New York with her husband, two children and two needy but wildly entertaining kitty cats.

CONNECT WITH ANA:

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Books2Read:

**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.
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Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Fanny Fitzpatrick and the Sirens by Dana Hammer - Book Tour - Guest Post - Giveaway - Enter Daily!



Fanny Fitzpatrick and the Sirens
by Dana Hammer


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GENRE:   Middle Grade Fiction


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BOOK BLURB:


It’s the end of the school year. For most kids, it’s time to relax and get ready for summer. For Fanny, there’s work. She has a brand-new baby brother, and she’s been hired by Zeus to look after his “injured” son. And she still has her and her friends’ cheesemaking business! Fanny is overwhelmed.

But then she meets three sirens who want Fanny to join them on Feather Island for a summer of singing, instrument playing, and fun at the beach. The program is totally free and could start an amazing musical career-the thing that Fanny has always wanted the most.

Athena and Gemma are dead set against it. Athena says that the sirens are bad news; that their whole purpose in life is to lure men to their deaths with their beautiful singing. Gemma says that Feather Island is part of a network of unmappable islands, the type of place where criminals and sketchy organizations hoard their wealth and do their crimes.

Surely, the sirens don’t do that anymore, right? All that stuff was a long time ago. If the sirens want to keep their island paradise a secret, well, that’s not so weird, is it? Fanny has talked to them, and she just knows that they aren’t as evil as everyone says. They are perfectly nice ladies.

Right?

Follow Fanny Fitzpatrick as she navigates big sisterhood, friends who disapprove of her life choices, burning ambitions, and a bunch of sirens luring her away to their private island.

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EXCERPT TWO:


But I don’t have a chance to practice or not practice, because I remember that I have a Zoom date with Gemma and Athena. I head down to the computer and log in to the meeting.

Gemma and Athena are already in there, talking about something. They look serious and sour, but Gemma is wearing the most adorable newsboy hat with embroidered flowers on it, and I squeal when I see it.

“Gemma, that hat though!”

They stop talking and look at me, not smiling. I realize something weird is going on, and so I stop smiling.

“Fanny, we need to talk,” says Athena.

That’s not good.

“Um. Gemma? How’s England?” Gemma shakes her head at me.

I look back to Athena, who has crossed her arms, which makes her look like a strict disciplinarian who’s about to give me a terrible lecture. And I realize that’s exactly what’s about to happen.

“Herman told me everything,” Athena says.

“Um.”

“You let those things in your house! After I specifically told you how dangerous they are!”

“I didn’t let them in,” I say, which I realize is a wimpy thing to say, but I can’t think of anything better. “My dad did.”

“What did they want? Why were they there, at your house?”

“Well—”

“Do you have any idea how many people sirens have killed over the course of these millennia?”

“But that was a long time ago!” I say, sounding desperate and silly, even to my own ears.

“Fanny,” Gemma says, quietly, looking around to make sure no one is listening to her. “I’m not supposed to say this. But there are these islands. A few of them. And they have special deals with the UN, NATO, the African Union, and a few others that I’m not allowed to even say the names of. They have diplomatic immunity. They operate under their own laws, and they answer to no one. They’re unmappable, untraceable. I’ve been talking to Athena, and I think these islands are owned by the sirens.”

“You sound like conspiracy theorists,” I say, rolling my eyes. “How do you even know about these top-secret islands if they’re so top secret?”

“My parents,” Gemma says, like it’s obvious. I guess it should be obvious. I still have no idea what her parents do for a living, but they seem to jet around the planet a lot, with machete-bearing security guards, so I guess it must be important. Still.

“Well, Feather Island is a school. A school for musicians,” I say, trying to reassure them. “There’s a brochure and everything.”

I wish I had the brochure so I could show it to them, how lovely and harmless the place is, but my parents have put it somewhere and I don’t know where it is.

“How do you know about Feather Island?” Athena demands, looking even more furious.

Whoops. I guess I’ve gotta tell them now.

“That’s what the sirens wanted. To tell me about their music camp.”

“NO!” Athena shouts, banging her fist on the table in front of her. Splinters of wood fly everywhere and I’m kind of scared now. This is intense, even for Athena. “You can NOT go to this island. I don’t care what they told you. It’s bad news.”

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GUEST POST:


A Playlist for Fanny Fitzpatrick and the Sirens


I like to create playlists of music that set the mood for whatever I want to write. Fanny Fitzpatrick and the Sirens is about a preteen girl who is recruited by sirens to attend a summer camp for aspiring singers. Fanny is an energetic, determined kid, with a strong moral compass and fierce loyalty to her friends. I wanted a playlist that would reflect that. Here are the songs on it.

(Please note, I am not a preteen girl. These are not present-day cool kid songs. But they work for me, to get me into the right headspace.)

1.)  Sweet Shop Avengerz, Bis
A high-energy song about raiding a candy shop. I think that’s what it’s about anyway.

2.)  Paper Bag, Fiona Apple
There are actually several Fiona Apple songs I listen to when writing Fanny Fitzpatrick stories, because I imagine Fanny’s voice being something similar to Fiona’s, but a little less mature.

3.)  Give Me Chocolate, Baby Metal
The juxtaposition of little girls singing with heavy metal screaming is delightful, and representative of Fanny’s sweetness and her toughness.

4.)  Best Friend, Saweetie/Doja Cat
Fanny loves her friends, and always supports and helps them. I can imagine her and her friends doing a coordinated dance routine to this song.

5.)  Rebel Girl, Bikini Kill
Fanny is a good feminist, who would never tear down other girls out of jealousy.

6.)  Shut Up and Let Me Go, The Ting Tings
I don’t know why, but this song just works for Fanny books.

7.)  Wannabe, Spice Girls
Friendship. Girl power.

8.)  San Diego Zoo, The 6ths
Who doesn’t like pretty songs about the zoo?

9.)  Defying Gravity, from Wicked
Fanny is friends with gods and goddesses and incredibly wealthy people who are always getting her into wacky situations. Fanny is working class and has no supernatural powers, but she doesn’t let those limits define her. She defies gravity, sometimes literally.

10.)  We, The Roches
A cool female singing group, sort of a modern day Andrews Sisters.

11.)  Don’t Give Up, the Noisettes
Fanny doesn’t give up. Ever.

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AUTHOR BIO & LINKS:



Dana Hammer is a novelist, screenwriter and playwright. She has won over forty awards and honors for her writing, few of which generated income, all of which were deeply appreciated. She is not a cannibal, but she is the author of A Cannibals Guide to Fasting. Dana is also the author of middle grade fantasy My Best Friend Athena which was inspired by a desire to write something her 9 year old daughter could read.

Website:

Facebook:

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AMAZON BUY LINKS:



Amazon US Paperback:

Amazon CA Paperback:

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GIVEAWAY:


Dana 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
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Bullets and Dandelions by Gail Koger - Book Tour - Blurb Blitz - Giveaway - Enter Daily!


Bullets and Dandelions
by Gail Koger


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GENRE: Romantic Suspense


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BOOK BLURB:


My name is Tess Reynolds, and I’ll admit few people would think I’m a badass Army sniper called the Scorpion. Afterall, women snipers were unheard of in 1990. People look at me and see a petite blonde who is cute as a button. My father calls it my natural camouflage.

My time in the Middle East has been full of unforeseen complications. I have a rogue CIA agent trying to kill me and I caught the attention of a Force Recon Marine by the name of Alexander Stone. Wowzer! He’s hot but he’s also the biggest jackass I have ever met. To make things even more interesting, I need the Jackass’s help to stay alive.

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EXCERPT ONE:


My jaw dropped. Three naked men were floating in the shallow water. They all had dog tags and looked to be American, probably the Force Recon team. My gaze locked on the biggest guy. Yowzer! He made my heart go pitty-pat. Too bad a thick, black beard covered his face. His body was utter perfection. He had to be at least six-feet-seven, with a massive chest, bulging biceps and heavily muscled thighs.

My gaze froze on his groin, and I suddenly knew what Sally meant when she said a guy was hung like a stallion. Would that thing even fit? Since Pops never allowed me to date, I had zero experience with men. Never been kissed and the one kid that tried ended up with a busted jaw: courtesy of my father.

C’mon handsome, roll over and show me your butt.
A coyote howled.

I frowned. There weren’t any coyotes in the Koh-i-Baba Mountain range or were there? I quickly surveyed the area. Nothing moved and there was no sign of any critters. I turned my attention back to the lake and my stomach knotted. It was empty. Somehow, they knew I was here. One of their scouts must have spotted my footprints.

Damn, I wasn’t in any shape to go up against a Force Recon team. I could always ask them for help, but since I was the Army’s secret weapon, that might get me booted.

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AUTHOR BIO:


I was a 9-1-1 dispatcher for the Glendale Police Department and to keep from going totally bonkers – I mean people have no idea what a real emergency is. Take this for example: I answered, “9-1-1 emergency, what’s your emergency?” And this hysterical woman yelled, “My bird is in a tree.” Sometimes I really couldn’t help myself, so I said, “Birds have a tendency to do that, ma’am.” The woman screeched, “No! You don’t understand. My pet parakeet is in the tree. I’ve just got to get him down.” Like I said, not a clue. “I’m sorry ma’am but we don’t get birds out of trees.” The woman then cried, “But… What about my husband? He’s up there, too.” See what I had to deal with? To keep from hitting myself repeatedly in the head with my phone I took up writing.

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CONNECT WITH GAIL:


Website:

Facebook:

Bluesky:

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Instagram:

Goodreads Author Page:

BookBub Author Page:

Amazon Author Page:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY:


Gail 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
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Monday, February 10, 2025

Line of Sight by Paul G. Wright - Book Tour - Guest Post - Giveaway - Enter Daily!


Line of Sight
by Paul G. Wright


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GENRE:   Mystery


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BOOK BLURB:


It is 1995, and intelligence operative Lora Chandler, a.k.a. Agent Vogel, is tasked with investigating the claim that Professor Simon Blackmarr has cracked the invisibility problem. A mission that leads her back to the half-forgotten beach town of Lancaster, Florida. Home to estranged love interest, and newspaper reporter Richard Davis. Her feelings for him have never really died, and matters become even more complicated when Vogel learns that Blackmarr's breakthrough is legitimate. A scientific discovery that —in the wrong hands — could alter the balance of global power. The stakes become even higher when the professor is abducted from the university, forcing Vogel back into the shadowy realm of espionage to find out who and why. It will take all the skill and cunning Lora Chandler possesses to stop a threat that could have devastating consequences for her personal life — and the world at large.

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EXCERPT ONE:


The file lay in easy reach, on the conference table. The letters LMAR printed across the front. In another moment she would have it. She reached out.

“I think not.”

Mason. He was like a cat, with more lives.

“You think wrong,” said Vogel.

Mason’s hand slammed down on the folder, inches from hers. Their eyes met—his with that same arrogant smirk she’d seen a hundred times before, his dark hair perfectly in place. As always, he was impeccably dressed, his wine-red tie in a flawless knot. Vogel couldn’t deny it—under different circumstances, she might . . . But no, he was an international criminal and a murderer. And he kissed like a college freshman. The lines were drawn.

Mason looked at her through steely eyes. “Vogel,” he said coolly, “why do we always seem to have this same discussion?”

Vogel smirked. “Because, Mason, you’re terrible at losing.”

Mason nodded. “A character flaw, I’m afraid, that is permanent.”

She snatched the file away as Mason lunged for her. Instinctively, her hand went for her gun, and she pointed the sleek black barrel directly at his head. He froze, a smile playing across his face.

“Now let’s be practical,” Mason said. “There’s no way out.”

“You always say that.”

A door opened and men in dark fatigues entered, holding assault rifles. Mason’s henchmen. She should have known. They stood on either side of him, with their weapons trained on her like spiders. Vogel counted six in all.

Mason eyed her. “Really, Vogel. I mean, what are your options? Why don’t you just hand that over and we can all sit down?”

A bead of sweat ran down her back. Her shoes were tight, and she hadn’t showered since Wednesday. She felt gross. This was taking longer than expected. They were on the thirtieth floor, standing in front of a series of plate glass windows. Mason was right. There was no way out.

It was then she heard the roar of the helicopter.

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GUEST POST:


The Making of a Hero: Inside the Mind of Agent Lora Chandler


What makes a great hero? Is it their strength, their intelligence, their ability to navigate impossible situations? Or is it something deeper—their flaws, their struggles, the things that make them undeniably human?

For me, a hero is someone who is not only capable but compelling. Someone who, despite their skills, is still wrestling with their own past, their own doubts, their own choices. And when I set out to write Line of Sight, I knew I didn’t just want to create another spy—I wanted to create a person first.

That’s how Lora Chandler—known in the field as Agent Vogel—was born.

Who is Vogel?


Vogel is the kind of woman you don’t underestimate. She’s sharp, resourceful, and unrelenting in her duty, a seasoned intelligence operative who has spent years navigating the shadowy world of espionage. She’s the one you call when the stakes are too high for mistakes.

But Vogel isn’t just an agent—she’s a person with a past, with relationships, with regrets.

Her latest mission sends her to Lancaster, Florida, where Professor Simon Blackmaar has allegedly cracked the invisibility problem. A discovery with world-altering implications. But what should be a straightforward retrieval job turns a personal when Vogel is forced to reconnect with Richard Davis, an investigative journalist and former lover. What follows is a high-stakes game of cat and mouse, where Vogel must navigate not just dangerous enemies and shifting alliances, but emotions she thought she had buried.

The Inspiration Behind Vogel


Vogel didn’t just appear out of thin air. She was inspired by a real person. A close friend from high school. Someone I’ve always admired for her quick wit, ability to read people, and strength in the face of adversity. She was the kind of person who could charm a diplomat one minute and disarm a bomb the next.

When I decided to write a spy novel, I realized I had never seen one where the lead operative was a woman. At least, not in the traditional sense. That seemed like a gap that needed filling. After all, the real-world intelligence community is filled with strong, brilliant women—why shouldn’t they take center stage in fiction?

At the same time, I didn’t want Vogel to be a superspy, who never makes a mistake or questions herself. I wanted her to be someone who has had to sacrifice for her job. Someone who struggles with the knowledge that the work she does makes real relationships nearly impossible.

And yet, despite all of that, Vogel isn’t jaded. She doesn’t see herself as a hero or a villain. Just someone trying to do her job.

Vogel’s Strengths (and Weaknesses)


What makes Vogel different from the standard spy archetype is her ability to adapt. She’s highly skilled, but she’s not invincible. She wins because she’s observant, because she knows how to use her environment to her advantage, because she’s always thinking several steps ahead.

Her greatest strength? Her ability to read people. Unlike the James Bonds of the world, who rely on sheer force or flashy gadgets, Vogel is a strategist. She listens, she watches, and understands what people want—and more importantly, what they fear.

But her weaknesses are just as important. Her past with Richard Davis is one of them. He represents a life she could have had, but ultimately abandoned. When she’s forced to work with him again, she finds herself questioning everything.

Why Readers Connect with Vogel


At the heart of it, Vogel’s story isn’t just about espionage. It’s about the cost of living a double life. About the choices we make and the ones we regret.

Vogel is tough, but not invincible. Smart, but not infallible. She’s a survivor, but survival has a cost.

I think that’s why people can connect with her. Because she’s more than just an action hero. She’s someone who has fought hard for her place in the world, but still wrestles with what that place truly means. She’s real.

Final Thoughts: The Evolution of a Hero


When I first started Line of Sight, I thought Vogel would be a one-book character. A single story, and a single mission. But as I wrote, I realized she had more to say. There were layers to her I hadn’t even begun to explore.

In starting work on the sequel, I’m excited to see where her journey will take her next. What new challenges she’ll face, and what new questions she’ll have to answer about herself. That’s the beauty of writing. Characters evolve, just like people do.

And Vogel? She’s just getting started.

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AUTHOR BIO:



Paul G. Wright is a native of Atlanta, GA. He has worked as a newspaper journalist, freelance writer, and screenwriter. He studied acting at the Warehouse Actors Theater and earned his degree in filmmaking from Columbia College Hollywood, in Tarzana, CA. He currently resides in the Atlanta area with his wife and their cat Dusty.

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CONNECT WITH PAUL:


Website:

Instagram:

Amazon Author Page:

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AMAZON BUY LINKS:



Amazon US Paperback:

Amazon CA Paperback:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY:


Paul 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
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Thursday, February 6, 2025

Tarnished by Erica Rose Eberhart - Book Tour - Giveaway - Enter Daily!



Tarnished
by Erica Rose Eberhart


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GENRE:  Fantasy


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BOOK BLURB:


In the struggling city of Braewick, a determined 20-year-old gate guard named Ailith MacCree longs for a chance at financial stability and adventure. Little does she know, her wish is about to come true. She accepts a mission from Princess Greer that promises both: escort Princess Caitriona to the Endless Mountains to meet the enigmatic hermit for a great financial reward. Ailith jumps at the opportunity and bids goodbye to all she's ever known. But as they journey together, Ailith discovers that Caitriona holds a dangerous secret-she possesses powerful magic in a kingdom where magic is outlawed.

Ailith and Caitriona face mysterious attacks and supernatural challenges. But as they delve deeper into the treacherous landscape, Ailith learns of Caitriona's tragic past and the dark curse that threatens her very existence.

With rebellion brewing in Braewick, and the oppressive king hot on their trail, Ailith must not only navigate her growing feelings for Caitriona, but also fight against relentless foes. As they race against time to stop the curse, Ailith and Caitriona uncover shocking truths about their kingdom, their families, and themselves.

Will their burgeoning romance survive the trials ahead? Can they break the curse and save their homeland from tyranny? Join Ailith and Caitriona on a thrilling quest filled with magic, danger, and heart-pounding adventure. Fans of high-stakes fantasy will not want to miss this epic tale.

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EXCERPT ONE:


“I see the way you look at her. I see how she looks at you. You know that even at the end of all of this, if all goes according to plan, you’ll never be able to be near Ailith again, don’t you? After all of this, father wants to marry you off and will have her head. We’ll have to ensure she can live peacefully far from Braewick. She’ll be gone from our lives.”

“Does the sun love the moon?” Caitriona interrupted. She looked at Ailith’s sleeping form and everything within her yearned to reach forward and touch her. She was like a moth to a flame, pulled so immediately the sensation was bewildering. “Even though they’re often apart, they still manage to share the sky every once in a while.”

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AUTHOR BIO:


Erica Rose Eberhart grew up in the Catskills region and spent many formative years in both Eastern Pennsylvania and Northern Virginia. She now resides with her family and cat in the Finger Lakes region of New York. A technical editor by trade, she has a Master’s degree in English and Creative Writing. Erica has written stories since she was able to write sentences and has found comfort in fantasy her entire life, whether by consuming fantastical stories or creating her own. Beside the comfort of books, Erica adores nature walks, crocheting, embroidery, cats, baking and autumn. You can follow her many adventures on social media @ericaroseeberhart. Tarnished is her first published novel.

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CONNECT WITH ERICA:


Website:

Instagram:

TikTok:

Goodreads:

Threads:

Bluesky:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY:


Erica 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
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Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Night of the Hawk by Lauren Martin - Book Tour - Guest Post - Giveaway - Enter Daily!



Night of the Hawk
by Lauren Martin


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GENRE:   Poetry


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BOOK BLURB:


Ifá. Nature. Illness. Love. Loss. Misogyny. Aging. Africa. Our wounded planet. In this sweeping yet intensely personal collection, Lauren Martin tells the untold stories of the marginalized, the abused, the ill, the disabled—the different. Inspired by her life’s experiences, including the isolation she has suffered as a result both of living with chronic illness and having devoted herself to a religion outside the mainstream, these poems explore with raw vulnerability and unflinching honesty what it is to live apart—even as one yearns for connection.

But Night of the Hawk is no lament; it is powerful, reverential, sometimes humorous, often defiant—“Oh heat me and fill me / I rise above lines”—and full of wisdom. Visceral and stirring, the poems in this collection touch on vastly disparate subjects but are ultimately unified in a singular quest: to inspire those who read them toward kindness, compassion, and questioning.

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EXCERPT ONE:


A SEA OF KISSES

One kiss to

Make me stay

Two to

Start the day

Three and

I’m on my way.

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GUEST POST:



My Favorite Songs for the Writing of Night of the Hawk


I love music and I often use it to calm my mind a focus me when I’m writing. I know some people work best with no sound. That’s true for me sometimes if I’m in (endless) editing mode but when I’m trying to just get my thoughts to flow, music is my key. My favorite songs for the writing of this collection would be 1) of course Heroes by David Bowie 2) Zombie by Fela Kuti 3) Hummingbird by Low Roar 4) VCR by The XX 5) GTFO by Mariah Carey 6) Sabi by Mohbad 7) This Woman’s Work by Kate Bush 8) Holocene by Bon Iver 😭😭😭 9) Woman by Mumford and Sons 10) When We’re Dancing Close and Slow by Prince 11) Song to the Siren by This Mortal Coil 12) Many Things by Zinoleesky 13) Things Are Changin’ (Live) by Gary Clark Jr 14) Know You by Simi 15) Follow Me by Petit Bisquit 16) Everything by Victony 17) Ojuelegba by Wizkid 18) Tilted by Christine and the Queens 19) Everyday People by Arrested Development.

And if I get stuck, I put on Out of Africa and am reminded of the author Karen Blixen and how she changed and learned and found her voice.

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AUTHOR BIO:



Lauren Martin is a psychotherapist, poet, and a devoted Ìyânífá. Born in Boston and spending many years in New York and Paris, she currently lives in Oakland, California. Lauren studied psychology, photography and poetry at Sarah Lawrence College. She spent years writing without submitting her work due to a long shamanic journey, which led her to both Ifá, and to the writing of several books (including this collection of poems.) The upcoming publication of Night of the Hawk (SheWrites Press, 2024), reflects a deeply personal experience of illness, isolation and true shamanism.

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CONNECT WITH LAUREN:


Lauren and Franky, her adorable and beloved rescue dog

Website:

Facebook:

Instagram:

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AMAZON BUY LINKS:



Amazon US Kindle eBook:

Amazon CA Kindle eBook:

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GIVEAWAY:


Lauren 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
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Tuesday, February 4, 2025

Hijinks, Hitchhikers & Mayhem by Gail Koger - Book Tour - Blurb Blitz - Giveaway - Enter Daily!


Hijinks, Hitchhikers & Mayhem
by Gail Koger


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GENRE:  Action / Adventure, RomCom, Fantasy


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BOOK BLURB:


All Casey wanted was to have hot, mind-blowing sex with Hothar, her soul mate. That little fantasy went up in smoke when she’s stuck babysitting a cowardly witch who is the galaxy’s only hope of survival.

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EXCERPT ONE:


My gaze fixed on a tall, brawny warrior dressed in a spiffy black uniform striding across the landing pad. God, why did he seem so familiar? I eyed his short hair and beard. He didn’t look Coletti. Maybe he was one of Zarek’s mercenaries. I mentally scanned him, and my jaw dropped. “Oh, my God. Hothar?”

The warrior stopped and turned to face me.

My affectionate companion had turned into a cold-eyed stranger. My stomach tied in knots; I walked over to him. “What happened to your warrior’s braids?

“I cut them off.”

Color me confused. Braids were an important part of a Coletti warrior’s identity. “Why?”

“I went undercover as an Avicii mercenary.”

Which explained his brown eyes. “And the beard?”

“It hides my Coletti features.” Hothar’s gaze roamed over me. “You have not been eating properly.”

“Gee, I wonder why?”

“I must go. Zarek awaits me.”

Talk about a slap in the face. Was he that eager to get away from me? “Who do you think told me where you were? Should I call you War Commander now or will Hot Lips still do?”

The muscles in Hothar’s jaw bunched. “I do not answer to Hot Lips.”

“Don’t I get a hug, Hot Lips?”

Hothar’s hands fisted. “I gave my word to Zarek that I would not touch you.”

“Well, I didn’t.” I wrapped my arms around him. “I’ve missed you so much.”

“And I you.”

Pain squeezed my heart at his cool, impersonal tone. He didn’t sound like he had missed me at all. His body remained stiff and unyielding. My God, he hadn’t even smiled at me. I took a step back and smacked his chest. “You’ve changed your mind about us. That’s why you never wrote or called or linked with me.”

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AUTHOR BIO:


I was a 9-1-1 dispatcher for the Glendale Police Department and to keep from going totally bonkers – I mean people have no idea what a real emergency is. Take this for example: I answered, “9-1-1 emergency, what’s your emergency?” And this hysterical woman yelled, “My bird is in a tree.” Sometimes I really couldn’t help myself, so I said, “Birds have a tendency to do that, ma’am.” The woman screeched, “No! You don’t understand. My pet parakeet is in the tree. I’ve just got to get him down.” Like I said, not a clue. “I’m sorry ma’am but we don’t get birds out of trees.” The woman then cried, “But… What about my husband? He’s up there, too.” See what I had to deal with? To keep from hitting myself repeatedly in the head with my phone I took up writing.

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