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Pintsized Pioneers: Review and Giveaway

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PINTSIZED PIONEERS:
Taming the Frontier, 
One Chore at a Time

By Preston Lewis & Harriet Kocher Lewis


Young Adult / Nonfiction / History
Publisher: Bariso Press
Pages: 184
Publication Date: September 24, 2024


SYNOPSIS

Children tread lightly through the pages of Old West history. Pintsized Pioneers: Taming the Frontier, One Chore at a Time gives frontier children their due for all the work they did to help their families survive. Even at early ages, the youngsters helped families make ends meet and handled chores that today seem unbelievable. Written for today’s young adults, Pintsized Pioneers offers lessons on frontier history and on the value of work for contemporary youth.


In 1850 adolescents 16 and under accounted for 46 percent of the national population, making them an important labor force in settling the country. Pintsized Pioneers examines their tasks and toils starting with the chores on the trail west. Children assisted in providing fuel and water on the trail and at home when they settled down. In their new locations the young ones helped grow food, make clothing for the entire family and assist with the housekeeping in primitive dwellings.

These pintsized pioneers took on farm and ranch chores as young as six, some going on cattle drives at eight years of age. Even Old West town tykes, who enjoyed more career possibilities, helped their folks survive as well. In the end, many pintsized pioneers pitched in to help their families make ends meet. Difficult as their lives might have been, the lessons those children learned handling chores helped them and their country in the years ahead. Those pintsized lessons have contemporary applications to the youth of today.

Targeted at young adults, Pintsized Pioneers is written at a ninth-grade reading level and includes a supplementary glossary. Even so, Pintsized Pioneers is an eye-opener for adult readers as well.


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ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Preston Lewis and Harriet Kocher Lewis co-authored three books in the “Magic Machine Series” published by Bariso Press: Devotionals from a Soulless Machine, Jokes from a Humorless Machine, and Recipes from a Tasteless Machine. They reside in San Angelo, Texas.

Preston Lewis has published more than 50 fiction and nonfiction works. The author and historian’s books include traditional Westerns, historical novels, comic Westerns, young adult books, and historical accounts. In 2021 he was inducted into the Texas Institute of Letters for his literary accomplishments.

His writing honors include two Spur Awards from Western Writers of America and three Elmer Kelton Awards from the West Texas Historical Association. He has received ten Will Rogers Medallion Awards, and in 2024, he earned an inaugural Literary Global Independent Author Award in the Western Nonfiction category for Cat Tales of the Old West.

He is a past president of Western Writers of America and the West Texas Historical Association, which named him a fellow in 2016.

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Harriet Kocher Lewis is the award-winning editor and publisher of Bariso Press. Titles she has edited have been honored with Will Rogers Medallion Awards, Spur Finalist designations, and Independent Author Awards.

Lewis concluded her 26-year physical therapy career as the inaugural clinical coordinator for the physical therapy program at Angelo State University, where she taught technical writing and wrote or edited numerous scientific papers as well as a chapter in a clinical education textbook.




What a fascinating read about what childhood looked like for pioneers in the 1800’s. This book is a compilation of stories, diary entries, newspaper articles, and much more! It was easy to dive into and get lost into all the research of these stories detailing what life had been like for a child back then. Everyone was integral to life back then, especially the children who had numerous chores and jobs that they needed to attend to. The compilation of these accounts were eye opening. Of course, part of me knew children worked hard, but to really dive into it, to absorb what they went through, it really painted a larger picture of what that looked like.

I had family that were pioneers, so this really touched home for me. Because it gave me an opportunity to really digest what these pioneers went to, it made me think of my ancestors and what it would have been like for them. Some of these stories were so impressive, and I myself could not imagine having my own two year old bring in the cows from the pasture. The responsibility these children had was astonishing and it had made me truly appreciate what we do have today. Life was hard back then and every family member played a vital role to their survival. 

From comparing farm boys to city boys, and what girls did to help, which was much more than just house work, this compilation of stories and accounts will truly draw you in and stick with you. It’s not a long read, but it will for sure astonish you as you dive into the life of a child back then. 

Definitely worth the read, so be sure to check it out!

Rating 5/5

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Lethal Standoff: Character Interview and Giveaway

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LETHAL STANDOFF

by DiAnn Mills

Contemporary Fiction / Christian Mystery & Suspense / Christian RomancePublisher: Tyndale House PublishersPages: 368Publication Date: September 3, 2024

SYNOPSIS

Hostage negotiator Carrington Reed faces her most dangerous challenge yet in Lethal Standoff. Called to a tense situation in South Texas, Carrington must save fifteen hostages held by the armed Kendrix brothers, who demand justice for their father’s unsolved murder. 

Teaming up with investigative reporter Levi Ehrlich, Carrington delves into a web of secrets and lies. As they uncover startling truths, the stakes soar, and so does their undeniable attraction. 

Can Carrington solve the mystery and prevent a deadly outcome? A riveting blend of romance and suspense, this is a must-read for fans of high-stakes thrillers.

Click to Purchase

BOOK TRAILER


Character Interviews for Lethal Standoff 

by DiAnn Mills



Superhero Preferences


Carrington and Levi are superheroes in my eyes. I mean, they scare me with some of the things they did in Lethal Standoff. Curiosity got the best of me, and I asked them a few questions about superheroes.


Carrington Reed 


Favorite Superhero:

  • Wonder Woman – Carrington admires Wonder Woman’s strength, independence, and commitment to justice. She wears her costume well, too.


Superhero Carrington Relates to Most:

  • Black Widow – She relates to Black Widow’s complex background, skilled negotiation, and ability to remain composed under pressure. I can see this with Carrington, in a few scenes, my teeth would be chattering too much to talk.


Superhero Capability They Wish They Possessed:

  • Telepathy – Carrington wishes she could read minds to better understand and negotiate with others in critical situations. I’d like that ability when in “negotiations” with my husband!


Levi Ehrlich


Favorite Superhero:

  • Spider-Man – Levi likes Spider-Man’s relatability, wit, and sense of responsibility. I bet Levi would like to scale a few buildings with a flick of his wrist.


Superhero Levi Relates to Most:

  • Captain America – He connects with Captain America’s sense of duty, moral compass, and desire to do the right thing. Levi probably likes those bulging shoulder and chest muscles.


Superhero Capability They Wish They Possessed:

  • Superhuman agility and reflexes – Levi wishes he had these abilities to enhance his photography and journalism work, allowing him to capture crucial moments effortlessly. Levi also thinks he can write better articles with superhuman creativity.


I haven’t decided on what superhero best suits me. What about you?




ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ard-winning author DiAnn Mills is known for her gripping romantic suspense novels where readers can Expect An Adventure. With multiple Christy Awards and numerous bestsellers, her stories captivate readers with their depth and intensity. A passionate storyteller and dedicated mentor, DiAnn is also a coffee connoisseur and proud grandmother living in Houston, Texas.

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Hallow: Top 5 and Giveaway

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HALLOW: A FRACTURED FAMILY TALE
A Black Orchid Enterprises Mystery, Book #5
By M.R. Dimond


Mystery / Cozy Mystery / Lawyers & Criminals Humor
Publisher: Rock Rose Press
Pages: 321
Publication Date: May 30, 2024



SYNOPSIS

Family: What you don’t know can kill you.

Young Texas attorney JD Thompson enjoys his life in a small Texas town, where he lives with his ABBA tribute band, college roommates, and seventy black cats that his veterinarian partner rescued before Halloween. Probate cases with inheritance squabbles leave him time to help family members, like when his grandfather receives a surprising present from the past. But the squabbles turn deadly, the present isn’t a gift, and the lovely woman who captures his heart isn’t what she seems. As he stands in ashes with murder on the doorstep, JD races to defend his client, his family, and his home. Can he untangle the dark secrets threatening to destroy everything he holds dear? The walls are already splattered with blood.

Join JD and the quirky Black Orchid Enterprises gang in their fifth Texas mystery as the holiday season rolls in—fall holidays, that is, from High Holy Days to Thanksgiving.

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BOOK TRAILER






Top 5 for 3

HALLOW: A FRACTURED FAMILY TALE by M.R. Dimond


The principals of Black Orchid Enterprises, the series’ amateur sleuths, and three-fourths of the ABBA tribute band MultiABBA are:

  • JD Thompson, attorney, series narrator, pianist, and bass-baritone (Benny)

  • Dianne Cortez, accountant, choreographer, and alto (Anni-Frid)

  • Johnny Ly, veterinarian, bass player, and tenor (Bjorn) 


Here are quick five facts about each to help you keep them straight:






Hear JD’s favorite song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoyNlVQbUPc



Sing along with Dianne’s favorite song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r41exeeQ5vM




Listen to Johnny’s favorite song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEhZCRv8RhE








ABOUT THE AUTHOR

After stints in professional orchestras, law firms, cat rescue, bookkeeping, and technical communication, M. R. Dimond returned to a childhood dream of writing fiction, which has turned out to be about musicians, lawyers, veterinarians, accountants, and cats. Her Black Orchid Enterprises Mystery series, set in her near-native Texas, currently contains five novels with more soon to come.

She has had short fiction published in Strange Horizons, Dancing USA, and various anthologies (most recently in Dreaming the Goddess; Hook, Line, and Sinker; and Riddles, Resolutions, and Revenge), as well as nonfiction articles in various publications.

She holds an MBA from University of Tulsa and is a veteran of writing workshops, including Clarion, Viable Paradise, Jim Gunn’s Center for Science Fiction, and Taos Toolbox. She lives in the wilderness east of Austin, Texas, with her husband and many foster cats.

 

This Time Around: Review and Giveaway

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THIS TIME AROUND
by
Kimberly Packard

Time Travel Romance / Contemporary Women’s Fiction / Romantic Comedy
Publisher: Abalos Publishing
Date of Publication: June 11, 2024
Number of Pages: 286 pages 


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SYNOPSIS

Most of us would jump at a chance for a do-over of our teenage years…but what if our worst mistakes lead to our happily-ever-after?

Josie Gardner’s life revolves around her amazing children and her career. But, when her husband threatens to take her kids in their divorce, and the business she’s put most of her passion, time and money into building is at risk of failing, a panic attack shatters her grip on reality… and the present.

Josie wakes up in her teenage bedroom, thirty years in the past. She’s forced to relive her emotionally devastating senior year of high school — the year she cut her father out of her life, caused one of her best friends to sever ties, and turned away the boy she loved.

Determined to get back to her children in her own time, Josie tries to fix the mistakes she made, in the hope that righting wrongs will send her back to the present. But when tempted by her high school crush Josie faces the real possibility of losing her future for good.

Would you take a second chance for love…even if it meant losing everything?

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This Time Around by Kimberly Packard was such a heartwarming, enchanting modern story! This story follows Josie, a 47 year old who’s life seems to be tearing at the seems. But, before the horrible day is over, Josie is thrust back to her 17 year old self, and gets to relive her senior year of high school. It somewhat reminded me of the movie 17 again, only instead of just having a 17 year old body, Josie is reliving her senior year, but learning so much more about herself. I’m sure we have all questioned “what would we change if we could go back?” And that is the true question that drives this story… what would Josie change? And DOES she change anything once she relives what happens to be a significant year in shaping her life? 

There was so much to enjoy about this book! It’s fast paced, with highly engaging characters. The story itself is very enchanting! I have to admit, I really enjoyed Josie’s relationship with her mother. These two were priceless on the page and lovely to read about. I love how Josie seems to have a new awareness about things regarding her mother, it allowed her to see and understand the choices her mom hade made. 

This book was so fun! And it grasped my full attention, though it was a quick read, it was hard to put down because I so very much loved Josie’s character and I wanted to see what was going to happen to her. 

I highly recommend this book! Perfect read for a summer breeze!

Rating: 5/5


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kimberly Packard is an award-winning author of women’s fiction.

When she isn’t writing, she can be found planning her next trip, asking her dog what’s in his mouth or curled up with a book. She resides in Texas with her husband Colby, a clever cat named Oliver and a precocious black lab named Tully.

Her debut novel, Phoenix, was awarded as Best General Fiction of 2013 by the Texas Association of Authors. She is also the author of a Christmas novella, The Crazy Yates, and the sequels to Phoenix, Pardon Falls and Prospera Pass, and her stand-alone titles Vortex, Dire’s Club and This Time Around. She was honored as one of the Top 10 Haute Young Authors by Southern Methodist University in 2019. Vortex was the 2019 winner of the Pencraft award in Women’s Fiction, and Dire’s Club, was awarded the 2021 General Fiction of the Year by the North Texas Book Festival.



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FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH POST ON THIS TOUR, UPDATED DAILY, 
or visit the blogs directly:

06/11/24

Ames for the Stars

Review

06/12/24

LSBBT Blog

Review

06/13/24

Book Fidelity

Review

06/14/24

StoreyBook Reviews

Review

06/15/24

Jennie Reads

Review

06/16/24

Boys’ Mom Reads

Review

06/17/24

The Plain-Spoken Pen

Review

06/17/24

The Real World According to Sam

Review

06/18/24

Carpe Diem Chronicles

Review

06/18/24

It’s Not All Gravy

Review

06/19/24

Reading by Moonlight

Review

06/19/24

Bibliotica

Review

06/20/24

Rox Burkey Blog

Review

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Second Lives: Book Blitz and Giveaway

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SECOND LIVES: 
The Journey of Brain-Injury Survivors
and Their Healers
By Ralph B. Lilly, MD & Diane F. Kramer with Joyce Stamp Lilly
Narrated by Loren C. Steffy & Joyce Stamp Lilly


Audiobook / Biography / Medical Professionals / Neuroscience
Publisher: Stoney Creek Publishing
Listening Length: 6 hours and 21 minutes
Publication Date: February 28, 2024

 NOW AVAILABLE
IN AUDIOBOOK FORMAT! 

Click to purchase on Audible!

SYNOPSIS

“Discharged from a hospital just means you’re not dead.” These words of Ralph B. Lilly, M.D., describe his early struggle to recover from a traumatic brain injury. Lilly was a forty-four-year-old practicing neurologist sitting on his motorcycle at a red light when a drunk driver rear-ended him in 1980. In the ICU, after regaining consciousness and being told what happened, he asked, “What’s a hospital? What’s a motorcycle?” This tragic experience transformed his life and his approach to his neurology practice: doctors treat those with brain injury; but loved ones heal them.

Second Lives: The Journey of Brain Injury Survivors and Their Healers is written by Dr. Lilly and Diane F. Kramer. After his death in 2021, Kramer completed the book with the assistance of Lilly’s wife Joyce Stamp Lilly. This memoir weaves together Ralph Lilly’s experience with a collage of stories about his patients and their healers. After his recovery, Lilly retrained in the emerging field of behavioral neurology, which focuses on behavior, memory, cognition, and emotion after brain injury.

His clinical skills and expert witness testimony were sought by physicians, survivors, families, and attorneys to secure the best “second life” for survivors. His many patients marveled at his uniquely compassionate approach: “What doctor gives you his cell number and says call any time?” Lilly’s pioneering career spanned forty years from Brown University’s Butler Psychiatric Hospital in Rhode Island to Nexus Health System and private practice in Houston, Texas. He treated ER and hospital inpatients whose loved ones were in acute quandary, as well as outpatients who’d long given up finding a doctor who knew how to help. Lilly’s memoir is full of heart, not science, and will provide insight to general readers, family, and friends of patients with brain injury, as well as those who treat them.

His narration is unintentionally poignant, often punctuated by wry humor. He generously incorporates the words of his patients and their families in telling their stories. Their gratitude for his care is profound. As one former patient said, “Without Dr. Lilly, I’d be dead or in jail.

CLICK TO PURCHASE:

BOOK TRAILER




ABOUT THE AUTHORS
A neurologist for over half a century, Ralph B. Lilly, MD had a passion for learning and teaching. A traumatic brain injury in 1980 shifted his focus from general neurology to behavioral neurology, the study of how brain injury affects behavior. After completing a fellowship in neurobehavior at the University of California, Los Angeles, he served as a clinical assistant professor with the Brown University Program in Medicine in Providence, Rhode Island, consulting with psychiatrists looking for possible neurological causes for their patients’ psychiatric symptoms. In Texas, he worked joined what is now Nexus Health Systems and became a clinical assistant professor at The University of Texas in Houston. Lilly focused his life’s work on treating brain-injury survivors and counseling their families, who were victims in their own right. He saw these “healers” as instrumental in guiding the injured loved one to a “new life.” He practiced in Arizona, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Texas, and wherever he was called to help. Before his death in 2021, Lilly lived in Washington, Texas, with his wife, Joyce, three dogs, six cats, and two horses.


Diane F. Kramer retired from the counseling and psychology departments of Austin Community College in 2008 and began writing personal essays, family histories, and fiction. As a volunteer with the Brenham Animal Shelter, she wrote a weekly column on animal welfare for The Brenham Banner Press. Her writing has also appeared in Alamo Bay Press anthologies and blogs Peace through Pie and Drash Pit. She currently writes website copy and press releases for Brenham Lifetime Learning and the Read of Washington County. She lives with her husband and their rescue dog and cat in rural Texas.


STONEY CREEK PUBLISHING



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Just A Hat: Book Blitz and Giveaway

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JUST A HAT
By SHANAH KHUBIAR
Young Adult / Coming of Age / Jewish Fiction / Small-Town Texas / 1970s
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
Page Count: 254
Publication Date: July 18, 2023
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Action-packed, humorous, and bittersweet, this 1970s-era coming-of-age novel is more relevant than ever–exploring how a second-generation immigrant kid in a new hometown must navigate bullying, unexpected friendships, and the struggle of keeping both feet firmly planted in two very different cultures.
It’s 1979, and thirteen-year-old Joseph Nissan can’t help but notice that small-town Texas has something in common with Revolution-era Iran: an absence of fellow Jews. And in such a small town it seems obvious that a brown kid like him was bound to make friends with Latinos–which is a plus, since his new buds, the Ybarra twins, have his back. But when the Iran hostage crisis, two neighborhood bullies, and the local reverend’s beautiful daughter put him in all sorts of danger, Joseph must find new ways to cope at home and at school.
As he struggles to trust others and stay true to himself, a fiercely guarded family secret keeps his father at a distance, and even his piano teacher, Miss Eleanor–who is like a grandmother to him–can’t always protect him. But Joseph is not alone, and with a little help from his friends, he finds the courage to confront his fears and discovers he can inspire others to find their courage, too.
Just a Hat is an authentically one-of-a-kind YA debut that fuses the humor of Firoozeh Dumas’s Funny in Farsi with the poignancy of Daniel Nayeri’s Everything Sad Is Untrue.

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Shanah Khubiar is a retired law enforcement officer, and she is now self-employed as a subject matter specialist. She holds a BS and MEd in education from East Texas State University and a PhD in philosophy. A student of her Persian ancestry, she incorporates (Mizrachi) Middle Eastern Jewry into her fiction, examining the historical challenges and triumphs of a different culture and narrative than what usually appears in literature. Khubiar is a sometime resident and always fan of most things Texas.
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THREE WINNERS:
Signed hardback copy of JUST A HAT
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Magical Elements of the Periodic Table: Book Blitz and Giveaway

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MAGICAL ELEMENTS OF THE PERIODIC TABLE
PRESENTED ALPHABETICALLY
BY THE ELEMENTAL DRAGONS
Magical Elements of the Periodic Table, Book 2
By Sybrina Durant

Children’s Picture Book / STEM / Chemistry
Publisher: Sybrina Publishing
Page Count: 44
Publication Date: March 9, 2024

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In this unique alphabet book, members of the Elemental Dragon Clan present 26 Magical Elements of the Periodic Table in alphabetical order. Each member of the clan has an element tipped tail. They also have magical powers based on the properties of their metals. There are no more perfect groups than unicorns and dragons to familiarize yourself with elements from the Periodic Table. Their theme is: “No Metal — No Magic. . .and No Technology.”

In this book, Antz starts out the book by introducing the very necessary metal, Antimony on his element page. Zora rounds out the alphabet by presenting scientific facts and other fun information about the metal, Zirconium, on her elemental page. In all, readers will get some great insight into the properties of 26 elements from the periodic table. Each page is full of amazing facts and tons of FUN. There’s a Magical Elemental themed periodic table, too!

This unique book will help tweens, teens and anyone else quickly absorb the elements of the Periodic Table.
REMEMBER. . .
No Metal,
No Magic…
And No Technology.
It’s Techno-Magical!

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Sybrina Durant is a unicorn author and entrepreneur. In addition to books, she offers unicorn-themed activities, t-shirts, and more. Plus, she has pulled together a collection of nearly all the unicorn books available today from hundreds of authors. They are categorized on her website by Little Kid, Middle Kid, and Teen Unicorn Books





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Signed paperback of Magical Elements of The Periodic Table, Book 2
and 24 x 36 poster of the Periodic Table
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Amethyst, The Shallows: Character Spotlight and Giveaway

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AMETHYST, THE SHALLOWS
by
Kellye Abernathy
YA / Magical Realism / Coming of Age
Publisher: Atmosphere Press
Page Count: 296 pages
Publication Date: February 6, 2024

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“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 companion novel to The Aquamarine Surfboard.

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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!
————————————–
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THREE WINNERS receive autographed two-book sets
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The Knotted Ring: Blitz

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THE KNOTTED RING
BY MYRA HARGRAVE MCILVAIN
Historical Fiction / Family Saga / Historical Romance
Publisher: Next Chapter
Page Count: 412
Publication Date: December 7, 2023
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Susannah Mobley, expecting a baby by her lover, a slave owned by her family, submits to an arranged marriage to Hezekiah James who is headed to Texas to claim a Spanish land grant. Caught in a series of lies about the origin of a beautiful ring woven from her red hair and the circumstances of her pregnancy, Susannah embarks on the harsh trip to Texas, grieving for her lost love and determined to control her destiny.
On the wagon train journey, Hezekiah is tested by his beliefs and strengths with his slaves and Native Americans, as well as a strange Mad Stone. His determination to build a plantation as fine as Susannah’s home place and to make the best decisions for Susannah fails. Susannah will have to decide if she can live with the consequences of her lies and open herself to this man who shows every form of contrition or if she will allow longing for what she cannot have to destroy her life.
~~~
The Knotted Ring is currently a semi-finalist status
in the Laramie Awards for Western and Americana Fiction.
“An often engrossing and well-handled story of the 19th century.”
—Kirkus Reviews
~~~
CLICK TO PURCHASE!

Barnes & Noble │ Google │ Kobo

Myra Hargrave McIlvain, a sixth-generation Texan, is a storyteller who has written Texas historical markers (yes, real people write those things lining Texas highways), articles for newspapers and magazines such as Texas Highways, and six nonfiction books about famous and infamous Texas characters and places.
McIlvain found her real love when she wrote her first historical fiction. All her tales take place in Texas during major periods of its history. However, The Knotted Ring was inspired by an old family story, and in her search to understand what may have happened, she imagined their lives set in a time that she knew well––the establishment of the first Anglo colony.
McIlvain views history as the story of a people; the people she knows best have made Texas home.
————————————–
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THREE WINNERS
1st Prize: Autographed hardcover & tote bag; 2nd Prize: Autographed paperback + candle; 3rd Prize: Autographed paperback
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The Third Dawn: Review and Giveaway

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THE THIRD DAWN:
FROM BETHLEHEM TO GOLGOTHA
by
Thomas J. Nichols
Inspirational Religious Fiction / Historical Fiction
Publisher: Nicholson Books
Page Count: 212 pages
Publication Date: September 14, 2023
Updated version with new dialogue and more detailed descriptions
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Nichols turns his award-winning writing career to the greatest mystery of all time in The Third Dawn: From Bethlehem to Golgotha.
Accompanied by His lifelong friend, Nur, the young Jesus ventures throughout the towns and villages of Israel, Palestine, and across the sea to the port city of Ephesus. With Nur always at His side, Jesus experiences the joys and hardships of humanity—Jews and gentiles, rich and poor, believers and nonbelievers, freemen and slaves.
Nichols’s gifted storytelling brings forth this unique perspective on the life of the Messiah, providing a rare insight into His personal joys and suffering. The reader will experience the emotions of His power and authority when, on a mountaintop above Capernaum, He pronounces the future, and a spectacular miracle occurs in the city below.
The Third Dawn was initially published in 2011 but is now updated with new dialogue and more detailed settings.


The Third Dawn is an inspirational story of Jesus the Messiah and his early life. Nichols draws upon scripture from the New Testament to bring this story to life. It was neat to dive into the world back then, to see history of another time, and to experience what Jesus as a child must have been like. I really enjoyed seeing Jesus as a boy and seeing his relationship with his mother Mary. 

It was really interesting to have the character Nur introduced to the family. They take him in as his own. To see their bond, their brotherhood, and Nur take on the role of big brother to Jesus, his faith in him, and his devotion was very beautiful. What would it have been like to be Jesus’ brother? Nur is a great character to fill in that question and we really see the strength in their family and the love they share for each other. 

It was fascinating to read about their travels as they grew older. To see the world through their eyes and experience how life was back then. I’m not a very religious person but I enjoyed the aspect of their brotherly relationship and the history of what life was like back then. 

The story is told through Jesus’ entire life, including the crucifixion and resurection and what occurs after. We hear this story told by Nur, Jesus, and Mary. I loved the different POV’s. Nichols is by far a creative story teller and each character had a strong presence in sharing their stories. Nichols writing is told with depth, with faith, and with vivid imagery that pulls the reader in from the very beginning. 

Nichols has created something truly precious for history and religious fans alike. This is a beautiful, biblical story of Jesus, taken from Scripture but woven into a story unlike anything I have ever read before. I appreciate the story for what it is and I think others would really enjoy it!

4/5 stars



Thomas J. (Tom) Nichols’s law enforcement career ranged from patrol, detective, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, Deputy Chief, and Chief of Police. spanning the era of the growth of the Mexican drug cartels and war on drugs. He has written seven novels and three short stories with themes of the border wars, espionage, international intrigue, and the supernatural.
Tom’s latest work is The Third Dawn, an inspirational retelling of the early life of Jesus galvanized by his devotion to local and international church affairs. His ideas were brought to life while traveling with Gwen, his wife who also serves as his editor, to experience of the Holy Land—the Church of the Nativity, the Holy Sepulcher, The Annunciation, the Mount of Olives, the River Jordan, Capernaum, Tiberias, the Sea of Galilee, Jericho, and Ephesus.

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GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!
THREE WINNERS:
First Prize:
Signed copy of THE THIRD DAWN + $25 Amazon gift card
Second & Third Prizes: signed copy.
(US only; ends midnight, CST, 11/24/23)

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