Category Archives: Texas Authors

Amethyst, The Shallows: Blitz

Posted on by
Reply
AMETHYST, THE SHALLOWS
The Companion Novel to
The Aquamarine Surfboard
By KELLYE ABERNATHY
Young Adult / Magical Realism / Coming of Age
Publisher: Atmosphere Press
Pages: 296 pages
Publication Date: February 6, 2024
NEW RELEASE!

“This is a night for being brave.”
In the aftermath of a devastating sickness that shatters their close-knit beach town, six lonely kids are drawn together during the unpredictable autumn equinox. Among them are fourteen-year-old Lorelei, who yearns to be an oceanographer, and her peculiar younger brother, Tad, who possesses an otherworldly curiosity. When Lorelei has a strange and almost deadly encounter in a sea cave, her loyal boyfriend, Casey, cannot reconcile her fantastical experience with the rational world. Condi, Lorelei’s best friend, understands ocean magic but isn’t free to share what she knows. Kait, a girl from Ireland, regrets her impulsive move to America-all because of an odd occurrence involving her deceased boyfriend’s lost surfboard. When tides turn and the moon shifts, Isaac, the new kid in town who despises the ocean, is forced to face the truth-a profound and powerful magic lives in the deep. Guided by a wise surf master, mystical old women known as the Beachlings, and an open-hearted grandmother, six kids embark on transformative adventures that challenge their beliefs about possibilities and the intense nature of love.

Amethyst, The Shallows is the brand-new companion novel

to The Aquamarine Surfboard.

****
PRAISE FOR AMETHYST, THE SHALLOWS “Amethyst, The Shallows‘ sensitive and potent prose stirs the reader, leaving a lasting impression. Although this novel is the second installment in a series, it stands strong independently, welcoming newcomers and returning readers alike.” —Literary Titan
CLICK TO PURCHASE:

Kellye Abernathy’s passions are writing and serving trauma survivors as a yoga teacher and practical life skills advocate. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary English Education from the University of Kansas. Her home is in land-locked Plano, Texas—where she’s dreaming of her next trip to the sea!
————————————–
FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH BLOG PARTICIPATING IN THIS BOOK BLITZ!
And don’t miss the Lone Star Book Blog Tours Pop-Up Blog-Hop,
Starting March 25, 2024, for book reviews, special features, and a giveaway!

blog tour services provided by

TO RESCUE A WITCH: Blitz

Posted on by
Reply

TO RESCUE A WITCH
By LISA A. TRAUGOTT
Historical Fiction / Action& Adventure / Fantasy
Coming March 1, 2024
It’s 1739. An abused girl accused of witchcraft must be defended by a man married to an actual witch.
William MacLeod, a fierce Scottish lawyer with a kind heart, takes on a daunting task — rescue young Annaliese from the clutches of her tormentors in the untamed wilds of Virginia colony and deliver her safely to her aristocratic father in London. But lurking in the shadows are enemies eager to expose MacLeod’s own wife, Fiona, as a witch with a dark secret.
HTML WordPress Witch Blitz Basic Post.docx
Their perilous journey takes an unexpected turn when their shipwrecks, and Annaliese’s haunting nightmares and unexplained “Devil marks” trigger suspicion among the crew. Tension peaks when MacLeod must become Annaliese’s unwavering protector in a witch trial, where Fiona’s clairvoyance and a murder are unveiled.
To Rescue a Witch navigates themes of betrayal and redemption, in a spellbinding narrative that blends history, magic and the unyielding resilience of the human spirit.
Lisa A. Traugott is an award- winning author and World Championship public speaker semifinalist — who also spoke five lines on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She lives in Austin with her husband, two kids and English bulldog, Bruno.
HTML WordPress Witch Blitz Basic Post.docx
WEBSITE ◆ BLOG ◆ INSTAGRAM

— ———————————-

FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH PARTICIPATING BLOG!

blog tour services provided by

Jokes From A Humorless Machine: Review and Giveaway

Posted on by
1

MAGIC MACHINE SERIES
by
Preston Lewis
and Harriet Kocher Lewis
The intent of these books was to see how artificial intelligence (A.I.) dealt with the Bible and with humor. Since A.I. is generated by godless algorithms and computers, the authors sought to see if ChatGPT would treat faith issues with respect, especially in a world where Christianity is coming under increasing attacks and where the architects of A.I. seem to demean religion regularly. Additionally, the authors sought to see if A.I. had a sense of humor and if ChatGPT could generate rib-tickling jokes based on some standard comic memes and on topical and controversial issues in contemporary culture.
The results were surprising with A.I. generally being respectful of religious issues but failing to show a refined sense of humor. The books provide as much insight on artificial intelligence’s “thinking” as much as it does faith and comedy.


First, I want to take a moment to share with you my experience with AI. I actually just heard of ChatGPT this year. I knew AI excited and I knew there were different platforms, but I never really explored it until this year. I am a special education teacher and was introduced to it at work as a tool we could use to modify text for students so that it would read at their reading levels. Of course I instantly found this fascinating and had to try it out for myself. I was shocked by the results and of course thinking of all the possibilities this could present. And of course, I went even further to take a segment of my writing from a story I had been working on, I had it make it more “epic” just to see what it would do. It certainly made it more epic but in the end, I didn’t use it for my writing for several reasons. Though AI can be helpful, it does seem to lack a soul. 

Jokes From A Humorless Machine was written by Preston and Harriet Lewis. Their objective here was to test ChatGPT and to see if AI could have a sense of humor. It was very interesting to read about their results and the research they did to uncover more about the origin of the jokes. Preston and Harriet’s writing is very clear and enjoyable to read. They clearly explain what they are trying to attempt with their experiments and to see if AI could really have a sense a humor. Which, let’s be real, even Dad Jokes were better than some of the jokes AI came up with, but I still found myself chuckling! I actually really love Dad Jokes, and some of these jokes I felt aligned with those.

I almost want to test this myself and see what sort of jokes AI will come up with for me….

*Heads to ChatGPT and types in a request for a joke*

ChatGPT Responds:

Why did the scarecrow win an award?

Because he was outstanding in his field!


Maybe my writing prompts aren’t very good? Hmmm, let’s try another one…

*Makes another attempt*

Why don’t scientists trust atoms?

Because they make up everything!

*Scratches head*

Not sure I get that one.

Let’s do one more just for fun!

I told my computer I needed a break, and now it won’t stop sending me vacation ads. I guess it really took my request literally and decided I need a byte of relaxation!

Ha! 

I have to admit, I kind of think it’s funny and definitely alot of fun! 

Overall I am thoroughly entertained by ChatGPT. Sure, there might not be a “soul” to that AI, but some of the jokes I actually thought were funny. I like to call them knee slapper jokes. Though the jokes may not be the kind that make you really laugh out loud, it’s still amazing what AI can do and how it could be used as a tool for others. I really enjoyed seeing what Preston and Harriet were attempting to do and the results that the AI produced. I found myself invested and entertained as the authors explored the world of AI and what sort of jokes it had up its sleeve! I found their research fascinating and the real gold to this rainbow of work. Jokes From A Humorless Machine is definitely unlike anything I have read before! And it’s a read worth checking out! 

Preston Lewis is the award-winning author of more than 50 novels and nonfiction books as well as numerous articles, short stories and book reviews. He began his career working at four Texas newspapers before moving into higher education communications and marketing at Texas Tech University and Angelo State University. He holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Baylor University plus master’s degrees from Ohio State University in journalism and Angelo State in history. Lewis’s honors include two Spur Awards for western novels and articles from Western Writers of America as well as nine Will Rogers Medallion Awards for western humor, novels, short stories and articles. Harriet Kocher Lewis is a retired physical therapist and academician at Angelo State University, where she co-authored or edited numerous scientific articles or professional presentations. Her other writings include several published meditations for her church. As a member of an American Physical Therapy Association work group, she helped write the advanced level clinical education curriculum for therapists nationally. She earned a bachelor’s degree in biology/PT at Baylor University as well as a PT certificate from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. Lewis also has a master’s degree from Texas Tech University in health, physical education and recreation with an industrial engineering minor. She is the wife of Preston Lewis, the mother of two and the grandmother of five.
————————————–
FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH POST ON THIS TOUR, UPDATED DAILY, 
or visit the blogs directly:

12/13/23

Hall Ways Blog

Series Spotlight

12/13/23

LSBBT Blog

BONUS Stop

12/14/23

Forgotten Winds

Review Jokes

12/15/23

Book Fidelity

Review Devotionals

12/16/23

The Real World According to Sam

Review Jokes

12/17/23

The Plain-Spoken Pen

Review Devotionals

12/18/23

Jennie Reads

Review Jokes

12/19/23

Librariel Book Adventures

Review Devotionals

12/20/23

It’s Not All Gravy

Review Jokes

12/21/23

Rox Burkey Blog

Review Devotionals

12/21/23

The Page Unbound

Review Jokes
blog tour services provided by

Porter & Midge: Paws and Playtime Blitz

Posted on by
1
PORTER & MIDGE:
PAWS AND PLAYTIME
by
JENNIE CHEN AND GISELLE NEVADA
Children’s Picture Book / Pet Care / Dog Training
Series: Porter & Midge series
Publisher: Raise the Woof Press LLC
Page Count: 32 pages
Publication date: December 12, 2023

Scroll down for Giveaway!

Discover the enchanting world of Porter and Midge: Paws and Playtime – a rhyming children’s book that follows the heartwarming bond between two furry friends, Mastiff Porter and Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Midge, and their devoted companions, CJ and Lora.
On a sunny day, CJ’s thoughtful idea sets the stage for a joyful exploration of new ways to make Porter and Midge’s days even brighter.
Through rhythmic verses, follow their journey as they uncover imaginative games, canine enrichment activities, and thrilling dog sports, all while strengthening their unbreakable connection.

Watch on YouTube

Giselle Nevada has owned several mastiffs, acquired both from reputable breeders and via rescue. Fostering rescued mastiffs and helping them work through their issues led to a keen interest in socialization as a means of preventing future issues. She loves working with her dogs and has dabbled in carting, conformation, agility, rally, trick dog, nose work, and many other canine sports. Her puppy Porter is a testament to early socialization – he has achieved many performance dog titles and has done commercial work. He also has a role in a movie called Match Me If You Can directed by Marian Yeager.
Jennie Chen is a homesick Austinite who founded Keep Austin Dog Friendly. Over the last 20 years, Jennie has owned Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs and Lowchen. She has earned numerous titles in conformation, competitive obedience, rally, herding, animal assisted therapy, and more. She is passionate about the relationship people build with their beloved canines, and she has been an advocate for people living with disabilities who need a service dog to live independently. She is active in various dog clubs and can be seen on AKC.TV from time to time.

WEBSITE ◆ FACEBOOK ◆ INSTAGRAM

————————————–
GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!
ONE WINNER
Pawtographed hardcover copy of Porter and Midge: Paws for Safety
+ a series water bottle
(US only; ends midnight, CST, 12/21/2023)
————————————–
FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH BLOG PARTICIPATING IN THIS BOOK BLITZ!
blog tour services provided by

Conquergood & the Center of the Intelligible Mystery of Being CG Fewston: Notable Quote and Giveaway

Posted on by
1

CONQUERGOOD & THE CENTER
OF THE INTELLIGIBLE
MYSTERY OF BEING
by
CG Fewston
Science Fiction / Dystopian / Steampunk
Date of Publication: October 17, 2023
Number of Pages: 381 pages
Scroll down for Giveaway!


One of resilience and transformation, Conquergood’s life-changing discovery explores the depths of family, memory, love, and the mysteries that lie at the heart of the universe.
In 2183, Jerome Conquergood is an outcast roaming the abandoned and crumbling skyscrapers of Old York City outside the Korporation’s seductive and dizzying headquarters, a post-apocalyptic security-city for the mega-rich. Despite his hatred for the techno-optimism and the Korporation, Conquergood is compelled to save his mysterious twin brother Vincent by joining the Korporation, a mega-corporate and governmental entity in a world oppressed to peace.

Notable Quotables from

Conquergood & the Center of

the Intelligible Mystery of Being

 by CG Fewston



“Time is but a dream of the near and of the deep.” 

*****


“Sorrows are for the babes.” 

*****

“Knowledge can distort truth,” he says. “At the time we don’t know it’s happening, or even if it does or will, but it does without us having to know. Ignorance has a sort of power, too. What others know about you or about me isn’t everything there is to know. It isn’t truth. It can’t be. I don’t need to know anything more about you. I don’t care to know.” 

*****

“The here and the now, the beginning and the end, Korporate Kontrol demands supreme allegiance and absolute power.” 

*****

“What truly frightens him now is that one day he would be unable to trust his own thoughts. Conquergood needs to find his twin brother. Yes, he needs to find his twin. Then and only then would Conquergood be able to find his truth 

*****

“It is far better to remain silent, to the bite the tongue, than to assert individuality. One is the Korporation or one is none. We are all or we are nothing. Such is the Korporate Path.” 

*****

“Blind, but with holy power, he can understand the weakness found in humanity, and such truth finds its way upon his own fractured soul. His thighs tighten but remain flexible and ready for the great push that is to come.” 

*****

“We all tend to forget from time to time,” says Godse, taking the empty chair beside the stand where the book rests closed and drained but ready to be filled again. “But in forgetting we are allowed the ability to remember. And in recollection a brighter joy may spring within us, nourishing that which needs to be nourished, no?” 





Photo credit: Thor
The American novelist CG FEWSTON has been a Visiting Scholar at the American Academy in Rome (Italy), a Visiting Fellow at Hong Kong’s CityU, & he’s been a member of the Hemingway Society, Americans for the Arts, PEN America, Club Med, & the Royal Society of Literature. He’s also been a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) based in London. He has a B.A. in English, an M.Ed. in Higher Education Leadership (honors), an M.A. in Literature (honors), and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing & Fiction. He was born in Texas in 1979.
Fewston is the author of several short stories and novels. His works include A Father’s Son, The New America: Collection, The Mystic’s Smile ~ A Play in 3 Acts, Vanity of Vanities, A Time to Love in Tehran, Little Hometown, America, A Time to Forget in East Berlin, and Conquergood & the Center of the Intelligible Mystery of Being.
————————————–
GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!
SIX WINNERS:
1st: $100 Amazon card + eBook or paperback of Conquergood
2nd: $50 Amazon card + eBook or paperback
3rd: $25 Amazon card + eBook or paperback
4th: Book Lover’s gift bundle + eBook or paperback
5th: Book Lover’s blanket + eBook or paperback
6th: Book Lover’s tote bag + eBook or paperback
(US Only; ends 12/21/23)

Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles: Sneak Peak and Giveaway

Posted on by
4

THE MAGNOLIA BLUFF
CRIME CHRONICLES
Seasons 1 & 2 by
The Underground Authors
Scroll down for a giveaway!




Each stand-alone book in this multi-author crime novel series is set in the fictitious, beautiful little Texas Hill Country town of Magnolia Bluff. Each author writes in their preferred sub-genre to allow readers to experience humor, dark dilemmas, suspense, romance, thrills, and spills — told through good storytelling that will keep readers awake past their bedtime, trying to find out whodunit.
Season three of The Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles begins in January 2024. Stay tuned.







A CHANCE OF A GHOST 


BOOK INFO:

A Chance of a Ghost by RC & JP Carter

Cozy Mystery

Coming April 2024.


BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Danny & Maria have moved their young family from Tampa, Florida to the outskirts of Magnolia Bluff, Texas. They have spent the last year and a half renovating an old Victorian mansion. It had been abandoned for years and needed a lot of work. Now, most of the work is done. During renovations they would hear things go bump in the night. Floorboards would creak. Sometimes, tools would be found in very odd places. They did not think much of that until their son woke up screaming for them in the middle of the night. He had seen a shadowy man at the foot of his bed. Danny immediately called his cousin Mike in Tampa. 

Mike and his wife Maureen are paranormal investigators with Tampa Bay Spirits. As soon as they got the call, they packed up their car and headed west. While enroute to Magnolia Bluff, Maureen sees in her mind’s eye a shadowy figure walking through the house. The closer they get to Magnolia Bluff, the stronger Mike feels someone in Magnolia Bluff will be murdered. 

Is Mike’s premonition correct? Is there a shadowy figure walking through the mansion? Who is the shadowy figure? Why is he there? Who is in danger? What else will the team discover during their visit in peaceful Magnolia Bluff?






Several years ago, Rob & Joan Carter published their first book BIOPRINTS. The series follows Ryan O’Rourke, an Insurance Fraud Investigator, and his team as they work to solve the murder of Ryan’s best friend. This novel involves the black-market trafficking of 3D printed human body parts. FLASH ZOMBIES and the award-winning novel CLONE DRONES are books 2 and 3 in the series. They are also researching the Phoenician Era during the time Jezebel was born which will eventually become a book. Currently, in addition to their entry in the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles Series, they are working on a book about their family adventures, of which there have been many. Rob & Joan also started the author promotion service INDIE BOOK SOURCE and host the weekly podcast series MEET THE AUTHOR Podcast. They have 6 children,14 grandchildren and 1 great-granddaughter, all of which keeps them very busy.


SOCIAL MEDIA & AUTHOR PAGES:

WEBSITE: http://carternovels.com/

WEBSITE: https://indiebooksource.com/books-by-rc-jp-carter/

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjn4IXRvc7AhhDXTVeqp5DQ/featured

PODCAST: https://www.indiebooksource.com/podcast 

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/carter.novels

LINKEDIN: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/rc-and-jp-carter/90/605/162

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/carternovels/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/INDIEBOOKSOURCE

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/JPCarter47

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/rcarter67606 



GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!
THREE WINNERS:
1st: $25 Amazon gift card
2nd & 3rd: eBook bundles of first 18 books in the series
(US only; ends midnight, CST, 12/8/23)

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY
Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway

The Oxygen Farmer: Spotlight and Giveaway!

Posted on by
1

THE OXYGEN FARMER
by
Colin Holmes
Science Fiction / Space Mystery
Publisher: CamCat Books
Date of Publication: December 5, 2023
Number of Pages: 338 pages
Scroll down for Giveaway!
After 35 years of living on the Moon, cranky old oxygen farmer Millennium Harrison has stumbled onto a hidden facility in the shadows of the Slayton Ridge Exclusion Zone with a radiation leak and a deadly secret. Mil’s discovery leads to the death of a young astronaut, sabotage, murder, and cover-ups that may go all the way to the Chief Administrator of the space agency. Unfortunately, she happens to be Mil’s estranged daughter, busy trying to secure her own legacy—the first international mission to Mars.
With time ticking down to a limited launch window, enemies, friends, and even family may do anything to ensure the truth doesn’t come out. Or will history finally catch up with a deadly scheme that has the potential to destroy the moon and eradicate all life on Earth? It seems the planet’s only hope is a cantankerous guy who never really liked those people in the first place.
PRAISE FOR THE OXYGEN FARMER:
“An action-packed thriller perfect for fans of Andy Weir and Jack McDevitt.” —Kirkus Reviews
“This space mystery is a page-turner rooted in its convincing and compelling protagonists and their well-written relationships . . . SF fans will enjoy this rich novel full of good world building, mysterious space intrigue, and dry humor.” —Booklist
CLICK TO PURCHASE:
Before the pandemic, Colin Holmes toiled in a beige cubical as a mid-level marketing and advertising manager for an international electronics firm. A recovering advertising creative director, he spent far too long at ad agencies and freelancing as a hired gun in the war for capitalism.
As an adman, Holmes has written newspaper classifieds, TV commercials, radio spots, trade journal articles and tweets. His ads have sold cowboy boots and cheeseburgers, 72-ounce steaks, and hazardous waste site clean-up services. He’s encountered fascinating characters at every turn.
Now he writes novels, short stories and screenplays in an effort to stay out of the way and not drive his far-too-patient wife completely crazy. He is an honors graduate of the UCLA Writers Program, a former board member of the DFW Writers Workshop and serves on the steering committee of the DFW Writers Conference. He’s a fan of baseball, barbeque, fine automobiles and unpretentious scotch.
CAMCAT BOOKS:
————————————-
GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!
THREE WINNERS:
Signed hardcover of THE OXYGEN FARMER
(US only; ends midnight, CDT, 11/22/23)

Courting Miss Emma: Review and Giveaway

Posted on by
3

 

COURTING MISS EMMA
The Hangman’s Daughters, Book 2
by
Linda Broday

Western / Clean & Wholesome / Sweet Romance / Historical Fiction
Publisher: Severn House
Date of Publication: November 7, 2023
Number of Pages: 203 pages 

Scroll down for Giveaway!


Texas, 1868. Emma Taggart has finally found a place to belong – setting up Heaven’s Door orphanage with her sister Maura was a new beginning for her – and one she will do anything to protect.

When guarded ex-army man Stone Landry buys the neighboring land and moves in – camels and all – Emma’s world changes forever. He is an infuriating man who instantly gets under her skin – in ways she never dreamed possible, and despite herself, Emma starts to wonder if, just maybe, he is man enough to take on a Hangman’s daughter . . . But their newfound connection is quickly tested by violent night raids, kidnappings, and underhand tricks by powerful rancher Zeke Parker, who is intent on running them out of town and taking the land he deems to be his. Can Emma find enough courage to trust in Stone to give her the life, the family, she’s always dreamed of?


PUT TRAILER


Rating: 5/5

I was completely blown away by this book! Set in San Antonio in 1868, Emma and her sister set up an orphanage that they through their whole heart into and will do anything to protect. When her new neighbor, Stone Landry moves in, she simply cannot stand him. But over time their end goals align, and they do what they can to fight for their land. 

The character’s in this story were truly the magic of the book. I found myself invested in each and every one of them. This book had so much to offer, but the characters really drove this story home for me. 

I really loved the chemistry between Emma and Stone. Their banter was leaving me wanting more and more between them and kept me up late some times. I loved how their love story evolved and how they became a formidable team at the end. 

I also really enjoyed Emma’s connection and time she spends with the children at the orphanage. This really brought warmth to my heart and it seeing Emma’s love for the children really made her fighting for their land mean so much more. She was not just fighting for the land, but for the children that lived there so they could have a place to live. 

What a beautiful story! I couldn’t put this one down so be sure to check it out!



I’m a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of western romance novels and short stories. Watching TV westerns during my youth fed my love of cowboys and the old West and they still do. On a still day, I can often hear the voices of American Indians, Comancheros, and early cowboys whispering in the breeze here on the high West Texas plains. We refer to this land as “cowboy” country and men here still ride the range just as cowboys of old. My stories focus on family life and almost all have children.





————————————–
GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!
FOUR WINNERS:
1st $25 Amazon gift card; 
2nd autographed hardcover copy of WINNING MAURA’S HEART;
3rd eBook copy of COURTING MISS EMMA;
4th audiobook of ONE SHOT AT LOVE.
(US only; ends midnight, CDT, 11/17/23)

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js
Continue reading →

Rip the Sky: Spotlight and Giveaway!

Posted on by
Reply

RIP THE SKY
by
Mark Packard
Speculative Fiction / Fantasy / Science Fiction
Publisher: Bluestreak Publishing
Page Count: 317 pages
Publication Date: August 21, 2023
Scroll down for a giveaway!

After a shocking courtroom tragedy, a disturbed Vietnam veteran and the vindictive judge who sent him to prison become an unlikely pair of time travelers in a chaotic multiverse. The fallen angel who rescues them wants to guide them to a radiant new life. But first they must return to the scene of a ghastly crime.

Billy Worster was a naïve teenager ill-prepared for the gruesome realities of war. The sole survivor of a deadly massacre in a Vietnamese jungle, he avoided certain death only because he ran away when the shooting started. Riddled with guilt, he comes home to a dusty Texas farm with post-traumatic stress disorder and the crazy notion that he can fly in and out of parallel worlds.

As Billy struggles with addiction and questions his sanity, he is arrested on a drug charge and ends up in the courtroom of Judge Madeline Johnston, a bitter old judge tormented by a dark secret surrounding her father’s death. She callously tosses Billy into prison, but when a greedy executor files a lawsuit to steal his inherited land, Billy is hauled back to her courtroom in chains, where a stunning twist of fate launches them into the sky on an odyssey of discovery and healing.

Spanning forty years from the jungles of Vietnam through infinite, parallel worlds, Rip the Sky examines how the power of forgiveness can lead us toward a better life, no matter how many worlds we may live in.

XTRA Promo
Mark Packard spent the last 38 years as a trial attorney and is now retired from the courtroom and working as a mediator. In a life before lawyering he was a journalist and regrets waiting far too long before returning to his roots to write his first novel, Rip the Sky. Though he knows he should have jumped off the merry-go-round years ago, he hopes to hang around long enough to craft a few more tales. Connect with the author:
—————————————————
GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!
ONE WINNER
Signed hard copy of RIP THE SKY & $50 Amazon gift card
(US only; ends midnight, CST, 10/13/23)
Continue reading →

And They Danced: Review and Giveaway

Posted on by
2



 

AND THEY DANCED
The Tess Corona Chronicles, Book 1
by
Tiffany Seitz

Paranormal Suspense / Urban Fantasy
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Date of Publication: March 6, 2023
Number of Pages: 352 pages 

Scroll down for Giveaway!

Tess Corona left home thanks to a traumatic experience with the paranormal and has only recently returned home from a secretive military career. Her only desire is to reconnect with her family and find meaningful work. That plan changes when a Texas Ranger lands on her doorstep looking for her twin brother.

Thanks to the suspicious actions of a murder victim’s family, Texas Ranger Crock Ward is asked to investigate the twenty-five-year-old case. With the evidence missing and victim’s husband now deceased, Crock seeks alternatives to solve the murder in the form of Dr. Lazaro Corona and his ghost hunting team.

Laz has dreamed of combining cold cases with paranormal investigation, but he curses the timing. He can’t stop Tess from resuming her role in his investigation any more than he can stop a tornado or a century-old feud that has already destroyed one family and now threatens his.

CLICK TO PURCHASE on:


My Rating: 5/5


Texas Ranger? Former Army Girl? Murder Mystery with a dash of paranormal? YES PLEASE! 


This book was surprisingly delightful! Texas Ranger Crock Ward is given a cold case, the death of Esme Green. This case leads him to the wonderful house of Dr. Laz Corona, in which case also leads him to his twin sister Tess. While not quite a romance, these two obviously have chemistry and could in the future have some sort of relationship between the two. 


The characters in this book were well developed. Their interactions with each other were clever and enjoyable to read. This book was quite suspenseful and I found myself staying up late to read the book despite the fact that I have a bed time as an adult with 2 kids to take care of. I couldn’t help it! I honestly wasn’t sure what I was expecting when I dove into this book, but it really surprised me how much I enjoyed it. I really loved how it wasn’t just a mystery, but had a little paranormal to it was well. And the Corona family was contagious to read about. I just wanted to read more and more of them!


If you enjoy Texas Rangers and a good, solid murder mystery with a little paranormal details in it, then this book is definitely for you! I couldn’t recommend this book enough, it’s purely delightful!





Tiffany (T. A.) Seitz is a 7th generation native Texan, married with two daughters and one wonderful granddaughter. She discovered her love of writing in 2013, publishing her first independent novel, If You Touch My Mind, in the summer of 2015. Since then, she’s published several novels and has a story in Next Chapters Unleashed: A Beachy Anthology. When she’s not writing, she works as an occupational therapist and spends her free time reading, writing, and crocheting.

◆ FACEBOOK ◆ INSTAGRAM ◆ TWITTER ◆
◆ BOOKBUB ◆ GOODREADS ◆


————————————–
GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!
TWO WINNERS:
First prize—autographed paperback;
Second prize–eBook
(US only; ends midnight, CDT, 07/15/23/23)

a Rafflecopter giveaway https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js
Continue reading →