A HUSH AT MIDNIGHT by Marlene M. Bell – LSLL Book Campaign

A HUSH AT MIDNIGHT

Marlene M. Bell

Cozy Mystery / Small Town Mystery
Publisher: Ewephoric
Pages: 368
Publication Date: September 5, 2024

SYNOPSIS

A manipulator.

A fatal plan for revenge.

Award-winning author of the Annalisse series, Marlene M. Bell, brings distant friends together in the rural South only to have one of them become the victim of a brutal crime of passion.

Once celebrated for her show-stopping pastries and irresistible desserts, former celebrity chef Laura Harris is now making headlines for a far darker reason.

Laura has been accused of murder.

How could this petite chef have brutally smothered the beloved small-town matriarch, World War II ferry pilot veteran, Hattie Stenburg? Hattie wasn’t just a pillar of the community; she was Laura’s confidant and mentor. The shocking twist? Hattie’s will contained recent changes, bypassing next-of kin and leaving her entire fortune and historic estate to Laura.

As Laura scrambles to clear her name, she uncovers sinister secrets lurking beneath the town’s idyllic surface. The real murderer is always one step ahead, leaving taunting clues and threatening Laura to leave Texas—or face deadly consequences. With time not a luxury, Laura must untangle the web of deceit before the killer makes her the next victim.

In A Hush at Midnight, Marlene M. Bell twists an amateur sleuth crime mystery into a race against the clock to solve her mentor’s murder.

CLICK TO PURCHASE:

Amazon | Amazon Kindle

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Marlene M. Bell is an award-winning author of the Annalisse romantic suspense series. She’s also an acclaimed artist and photographer using her pictures for descriptive prose that eventually lands in her mysteries. Marlene lives with her husband of 42 years on their East Texas ranch with numerous sheep. When she’s not writing, drawing or painting, she is shepherdess to their Katahdin hair sheep and ranch kitties.

WEBSITE ◆ NEWSLETTER

INSTAGRAM ◆ BOOKBUB

AMAZON ◆ FACEBOOK ◆ GOODREADS

ENTER TO WIN!

To learn more about the book, look for #LoneStarLitAHushAtMidnight on your preferred social media platform.

CLICK TO VISIT THE LONE STAR LITERARY LIFE CAMPAIGN PAGE

FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH REVIEWER PARTICIPATING.

CREAMED by Linda G. Hill – Featured New Release

CREAMED

A Once a Week at Woody’s Novella

by

Linda G. Hill

BLURB

The Christmas market is open and the competition is sexy.

Tom’s the new guy in town, looking to start over. Getting a job as a stripper at Woody O’Flanagan’s Pub is easy, but deep down, Tom is a pastry chef. His booth at the Christmas market comes with the biggest challenge of all …

Mary, the pastry chef at the Christmas market, is about to get a handsome new neighbor. Except his creamy chocolate muffins attract everyone but Mary, with her aversion due to the “chocolate incident.” All she needs to do is ignore him and work that much harder to keep her customers. If only he wasn’t irresistibly charming.

Creamed is a delicious, sexy standalone story in Linda G. Hill’s romcom series, Once a Week at Woody’s. Read them in any order!

AUTHOR’S NOTE: This story, in its condensed version, was previously published in the anthology “Mistletoe and Markets” by Romance Cafe Publishing.

Grab it now!

Buy links:

Universal Link: books2read.com/Creamed

Apple: books.apple.com/book/creamed-a-christmas-romcom

Kindle: amazon.com/dp/B0DPGP7F69
Kobo: kobo.com/en/ebook/creamed

Nook: barnesandnoble,com/creamed

ABOUT LINDA

Award-winning author Linda G. Hill was born and raised an only child in Southern Ontario, Canada. She credits the time she spent alone when she was growing up, reading books and building worlds and characters of her own to keep her company, as the reason she became a writer.

A stay-at-home mom of three beautiful boys, Linda is a graduate of the Writing Program at St. Lawrence College in Brockville, Ontario. Aside from caring for her family, she enjoys traveling the world, eating trout cooked on the barbecue, and, of course, reading.

Website Facebook Twitter Goodreads
BookBub Pinterest Instagram Newsletter

SALLOWSFIELD by Cliff Hudder – Book Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway

SALLOWSFIELD

by Cliff Hudder

Literary Fiction / Humor / Saga / Texas / Yorkshire

Publisher: Texas Review Press

Pages: 390

Publication Date: October 21, 2024

SYNOPSIS

Wyatt W. Sallow, MBA—poet, business ethics professor, and coach of the 8th ranked collegiate chess team in East Texas—travels to the heart of northern England to trace his family origins in mundane Sallowsfield, only to find his supposed ancestry a mirage. He does have a real past, however: one that stalks him across the green hillsides in echoes of his catastrophic marriage, the lingering shadow of a lost child, and—there, in person, inexplicably emerging from the town’s faux-Victorian train station—“X,” the enigmatic object of his unrequited passion and a figure as perplexing as an algebraic variable.

On his eight-day tour/pilgrimage/mock epic journey, Wyatt pursues the specter of his lost love and crosses paths with the citizens of this down-at-its-heels market town as they struggle to grasp the all-consuming obsessions, ghosts, and X-factors that confound their days.

Thought-provoking yet dryly humorous, Sallowsfield weaves diverse elements into a story both light-hearted and philosophical, exploring along the way universal human touchstones of obsession, ruined love, and the inexplicable mysteries that shape our lives.

CLICK TO PURCHASE

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cliff Hudder received an MFA in fiction writing from the University of Houston in 1995 and a PhD in American Literature from Texas A&M in 2017. He has been an archaeological laborer, a film and video editor, photographer, air compressor mechanic, electrical lineman, and educator. His fiction has appeared in Alaska Quarterly Review, The Kenyon Review, The Missouri Review and other journals and his work has received the Barthelme and Michener Awards, the Peden Prize, and the Short Story Award from the Texas Institute of Letters. His novella, Splinterville, won the 2007 Texas Review Fiction Award, and his novel, Pretty Enough for You, was named a Top Ten Texas Favorite by Lone Star Literary Life in 2015. In 2017 Cliff was inducted into the Texas Institute of Letters.

WEBSITE ◆ INSTAGRAM ◆ X/TWITTER

FACEBOOK ◆ LINKEDIN ◆ AMAZON

ENTER TO WIN!

REVIEW

A departure from my usual choice in fiction, Sallowsfield turned out to be an utterly absorbing read. With its non-linear timeline, numerous locations, multitude of characters, and multiple points of view, this book demanded my attention like no other I’ve read recently. It was hilarious in parts, affecting in others, engaging all throughout.

~*~

I didn’t know what to make of Wyatt Sallow at the start. He was socially awkward, physically clumsy, and appeared quite hapless. But as his story unfolded, I found him sympathetic in the end. He was unintentionally funny, especially in his interactions with his taxi driver Hussein. The scenes with his son Wyn showed his loving heart. And there were flashes of intellect and competence particularly displayed in the chess game with the Professor. What eventually reached me was his earnest search for a reason to claim the town with his name as his very own.

~*~

I have the utmost admiration for the author in managing to flesh out the countless characters in this book by providing them with distinctly fascinating back stories. Also, in accomplishing such a complicated timeline that meandered all over the place only to come full circle in a logical way. He brought Sallowsfield to life. So much so that I searched online if it’s a place that actually exists in England. To have the talent required to accomplish those things deserves kudos.

~*~

The most significant cavil I had was in the overuse of infidelity in the story and the majority of those committing such transgression being women. This is a personal bias I can’t overlook despite my overall enjoyment of the book.

I highly recommend dedicating several days to properly relish this book.

CLICK TO VISIT THE LONE STAR LITERARY LIFE TOUR PAGE

FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH BLOG PARTICIPATING IN THIS TOUR.

BLOG TOUR SERVICES PROVIDE BY

WOODS AND WINGS by M.W. Devers – Book Blitz and Giveaway

WOODS AND WINGS

by M.W. Devers

YA / Fantasy / Action & Adventure

Publisher: Midnight6 Publishing

Pages: 430

Publication Date: November 19, 2024

SYNOPSIS

She never sought the path of a hero. Destiny had other plans.

In the peaceful village of Rhigov, where traditions hold sway, fifteen-year-old Astraya Myna dreams of little more than escaping the confines of her kitchen duties. But when a malevolent force known as Vronti shatters the village’s tranquility, Astraya is thrust into a journey she never imagined.

Guided by a legacy she barely understands, Astraya joins forces with her brother, Raustra, and a small band of allies. Together, they embark on a dangerous quest to protect their home from wingroans, dragon-like creatures whose powers are as formidable as their intentions are mysterious.

As shadows of betrayal and hidden truths close in, Astraya navigates a world where loyalty is tested and power proves both elusive and dangerous. With each step she uncovers more about her family’s past and her own untapped strength, until she must decide: how far will she go to save her people and what is she willing to sacrifice to discover the truth about herself?

CLICK TO PURCHASE:

Amazon | IndieBound | B&N | Signed Copy

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

M.W. Devers has been crafting stories since childhood, drawing from a lifelong love of reading that began at age three. The idea for Woods & Wings took root during a family vacation to a theme park, and he’s been dedicated to bringing it to life ever since, beginning in 2022. This is his first published work of fiction.

MWD enjoys the quiet magic of early mornings spent world-building and shaping characters, all from his home in New Braunfels, Texas, where he lives with his family.

WEBSITE ◆ NEWSLETTER ◆ INSTAGRAM ◆

AMAZON ◆ GOODREADS ◆ FACEBOOK

ENTER TO WIN!

CLICK TO VISIT THE LONE STAR LITERARY LIFE TOUR PAGE

FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH BLOG PARTICIPATING IN THIS TOUR.

FOREVER WITH YOU by Kaye Rockwell – Featured New Release

FOREVER WITH YOU

Kaye Rockwell

BLURB

A billionaire and his sister’s best friend.
They can’t stand one another but kept each other’s secrets over the years.
Now she’s in trouble and the only way to protect her is a marriage of convenience.
The only thing is… that has to be a secret too.

This book is an enemies to lovers, best friend’s older brother, billionaire romance featuring the eldest of the Torres siblings, Stephen and his sister’s best friend, Vanessa who he has a hate-hate relationship with. In this book they are forced to enter a secret marriage of convenience.

Buy Links:

Amazon Kindle

ABOUT KAYE

Kaye is a Romance Author who spent the majority of her childhood falling in love with fictional characters, swooning over romcoms and teen dramas, singing and dancing to musicals AND daydreaming about her own Happily-Ever-After that lead to her writing her own love stories.

Social Media Links:

Website ➜ kayerockwell.com
Instagram ➜ @thenomaddreamer
TikTok ➜ @thenomaddreamer
Facebook ➜ @authorkayerockwell
Twitter ➜ @authorkrockwell
Goodreads ➜ goodreads.com/kayerockwell

THE NINE LIVES OF TITO D’AMELIA by Ettore Farrattini Pojani- Book Blog Tour: Feature and Giveaway

THE NINE LIVES OF TITO D’AMELIA

by Ettore Farrattini Pojani

Italian Literature / Historical Fiction

Publisher: Bayou City Press

Pages: 326

Publication Date: October 11, 2024

SYNOPSIS

This is the first (and only) English-language version of the award-winning Italian novel, The Nine Lives of Tito d’Amelia. Nine Lives is a love story about a cat, a family, and an Italian town. Mixing fiction with fact, Nine Lives tells the story of the town of Amelia, Italy, throughout the 32 centuries of its history. In fact, Amelia is considered the first organized city of central Italy, being four centuries older than Rome. The author uses the multiple lives of a cat named Tito as the way to span the centuries.

Author Ettore Farrattini Pojani is the heir of the Farrattini dynasty, a centuries-old family in Umbria whose family palazzo is in Amelia, north of Rome. Tito’s first life occurs in pre-historic Umbria, and his ninth is in the future. Tito’s mission through all nine of his lives is to help the town and the family to succeed.

A changing cast of characters traces the Farrattini line through the centuries, with Tito joining up with a Farrattini in each generation. Using his feline wiles, Tito bends humans to his will, helping them through many challenges from drought to wars to lovelorn marriages to selfish politicization of joint crises.

In this highly imaginative novel, the author mixes fictional lives with non-fictional information about historical figures as well as the Farrattini family and the town of Amelia. Readers are left wondering about details, such as what is fiction and what is fact. The last chapter will evoke surprise, though a clue that the surprise is coming is contained in the very first chapter. Originally published in Italy in 2022, this first English-language translation is published by Bayou City Press in Houston, Texas, and includes additional drawings, maps, lists of characters, a listing of foreign words and special terms, and notes on sources.

CLICK TO PURCHASE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ettore Farrattini Pojani is the heir of the noble Italian Farrattini dynasty, whose family palazzo is in Amelia, Italy, north of Rome. A music expert and critic, Ettore has published extensively on music topics and currently is a collaborator on the website Broadwayworld.com.

This, his second book, was published in Italy in 2022 and has won numerous awards. Prior to focusing on writing, Ettore studied art restoration and specialized in furniture restoration. For almost 20 years he had a workshop in Rome in which hundreds of valuable, unique pieces were brought back to their splendor thanks to his dedication and expertise. In 2001 he transformed the family palazzo into a hotel de charme, which he personally ran for 15 years until it was damaged by the 2016 earthquake.

A dedicated traveler, Ettore is fluent in French and English besides his native Italian.

WEBSITE ◆ FACEBOOK ◆ INSTAGRAM ◆ TIKTOK

Bayou City Press:

WEBSITE ◆ INSTAGRAM ◆ LINKEDIN

ENTER TO WIN!

CLICK TO VISIT THE LONE STAR LITERARY LIFE TOUR PAGE

FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH BLOG PARTICIPATING IN THIS TOUR.

blog tour services provided by

CATCHING FEELINGS by Elle Cruz – Featured New Release

CATCHING FEELINGS

Elle Cruz

BLURB

Daphne Oliveras is much more than a personal assistant to a world-famous young celebrity, Taylor Harrington. Daphne is her protector, therapist, and most important of all, best friend. So when Taylor catches the attention of notorious A-list celeb womanizer Walker Flynn, a much older man, Daphne sees nothing but alarms and red flags. Daphne is ready to run constant interference in their relationship…but Walker’s annoyingly hot and charismatic assistant, Logan, proves to be an intriguing yet unwelcome distraction.

The moment Logan Rafael lays eyes on Taylor’s gorgeous assistant, he’s done for. He’s never felt this level of attraction to anyone before…even though he is sure Daphne despises him just as much as she despises Walker. But Logan’s not a quitter, and he is up to the challenge of charming Daphne and showing her he is the exact opposite of his toxic employer.

When a hurricane strands the two in the Maldives, Daphne finds Logan’s sweet and sexy nature hard to resist. But the question remains: Can they keep sparks flying when their employers’ volatile relationship dooms their own love from the very start?

Buy Link: Amazon

ABOUT ELLE

Elle Cruz is a writer of steamy contemporary romance. When Elle was a kid, she’d get in trouble on purpose to be sent to her room so she could read all day long. She thanks her lucky stars that her parents never thought to take books away from her when she was grounded. In a way, it was mom and dad’s fault for unintentionally cultivating a voracious reader and writer.

After earning her English degree from UC Irvine, Elle eventually went back to school to become a nurse. Apparently she couldn’t get enough of learning because she went to grad school to earn her doctorate degree.

Elle is the daughter of immigrants. She is fiercely proud of her background as a second-generation Filipino-American. She is dedicated to carving out a permanent place for POC in mainstream publishing by contributing her voice to the growing list of diverse authors.

Elle lives in Southern California with her supportive husband and two wonderful kids. When she’s not writing, she likes to keep her body guessing with her two obsessions: cookies and working out.

Follow Elle:

Website Instagram Threads

FALLING FROM THE NEST by Bobbie Candas – Featured New Release

FALLING FROM THE NEST

Bobbie Candas

BLURB

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

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

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

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

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

Buy Link:

Amazon

ABOUT BOBBIE

I’m a Texas girl: Grew up in San Antonio, went to school at UT in Austin, and settled in Dallas where I raised a husband, a few cats, and two kids. My husband and the cats will probably disagree on who raised who, but I’m always a sucker for a robust discussion. For years I was involved in retail management, but I have untangled myself from the world of clothing, shoes, and bags, and immersed myself in my true passion–writing fiction and taking deep dives into the lives of my characters.

When you can pry my fingers off the keyboard, I’ve been known to imbibe in a few glasses of wine and have been spotted forking into decadent desserts while gathering with friends and family. Put me on a shady deck or an umbrella-covered patio, with a table full of opinionated know-it-alls, and a spicy margarita, and I’m in my happy place. I’ve also been known to jump at the opportunity of taking unexpected trips to faraway places.

But I’ll always make time for writing and reading, with a stack of novels ready and waiting on my nightstand, and a few always sleeping patiently in my Kindle. I bounce around genres, and I’m usually up for a good recommendation. So, let me know what you’ve enjoyed reading lately. I can be reached via Messenger on FB or on my FB author page–Bobbie Candas. I look forward to hearing from you!

WELL PLAYED by The New Romance Café – Featured New Release

WELL PLAYED

A Sports Romance Anthology

Romance Café Collection #36

BLURB

True love often isn’t a slam dunk.

No matter how hard you try, sometimes you fumble.

You want to get to loving strokes and fore play but there may be hurdles to overcome.

If a happily ever after is your goal, step up to the plate and hope you don’t strike out.

Well Played, the first Sports Romance collection from The Romance Café is available now.

Buy Link:

Amazon

Authors:

Kenna Shaw Reed Cecelia Conway TL Hamilton
Sharon Michalove Kalli Dean Katherine Isaac & Crystal North
Maida Malby J.T. Silver Katharine O’Neill
Danielle Sibarium Ariana St. Claire JCC Downing
Juliet Martini Harper Michaels Sofia Aves
S L Hollister T.S. Simons Toni Denise
Belinda E Edwards Melinda Pine Gabbi Black

ABOUT TNRC

The New Romance Café is the place to get your daily dose of romance books.

Hang out with like-minded readers and authors at different stages of their writing journey, in a diverse and inclusive group.

Find out about new releases, take part in fun discussions, and recommend your favorite reads in the safe space of the Café.

The New Romance Cafe Links:

Group: facebook.com/thenewromancecafe
Website: thenewromancecafe.com
Romance Cafe Publishing: romancecafepublishing.com

STROKE PLAY

Maida Malby

She’s been playing professional golf for the last year, but Iolana Aguilar feels like a failure. The former number-one amateur in the world hasn’t won since her dazzling victory at her debut tournament in her home state of Hawaii. Frustrated with accusations of not living up to the hype, Lana travels to St Andrews, Scotland. At the Home of Golf, she’ll do her best to recapture her love of the game and fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a major champion golfer. If that means accepting the help of the most attractive caddie she has ever met, then so be it.

MERRY WITH A TYCOON by Liz Durano – Featured New Release

MERRY WITH A TYCOON

LIZ DURANO

When a drunk Santa threatens to ruin my charity winter wonderland, I’m forced to enlist Love Beach hotel tycoon Preston Hollister as a last-minute replacement. To my surprise, this former high school bully becomes a Santa who could give the North Pole a run for its money.

But just as I start warming up to Preston, his company hits us with lease hikes that could close my shop. Can this billionaire prove he’s more than a temporary Santa and truly embody the spirit of giving? Or will my growing feelings clash with the need to save everything I’ve built?

MERRY WITH A TYCOON is now LIVE and Free to read in KINDLE UNLIMITED!

BUY LINK: AMAZON ➭ amazon.com/dp/B0DC53L1DJ

Add to your TBR:

Liz’s first attempt at writing her stories almost got her kicked out of middle school due to NSFW content if not for agreeing to the principal’s suggestion that she channel her angst into Poetry Club instead. Now Poetry Club wasn’t as cool as Drama Club but a deal was a deal and Sister Jerri never told her parents about her NSFW stories either.

These days, Liz writes women’s fiction and romance that’s been described as earthy and hard-won. Her books, which range from sweet to steamy romances, portray relationships that are emotional and sometimes angsty but always with a happily-ever-after. And this time, no one’s kicking her out for writing them.

You can learn more about her books by signing up for her newsletter at lizduranobooks.com/subscribe.

FIND LIZ ONLINE:
Website: lizduranobooks.com
Facebook: facebook.com/lizduranobooks
Instagram: instagram.com/lizdurano
Tiktok: tiktok.com/@lizdurano
Pinterest: pinterest.com/lizdurano
Ream: reamstories.com/lizdurano