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?

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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.

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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.

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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:

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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Facebook: facebook.com/lizduranobooks
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UNDER THE WISHING TREE by June Gray – Featured New Release

UNDER THE WISHING TREE

June Gray

BLURB

Welcome to Oakwood Hollow, where the coffee is good and the townsfolk are delightfully offbeat.

Graham Moore never intended to go to this quaint little town. But one wrong train lands him in Oakwood Hollow just as it gears up for its annual festival, celebrating a tree that is said to grant wishes. Intrigued by the legend and the beautiful-but-slightly-grumpy cafe owner, he decides to stick around for a little while longer.

Eden Mendoza has lived in Oakwood Hollow most of her life, but she might be the only person in town who doesn’t believe in the tree lore. She instead focuses on the tangible—her found family, her thriving knitting business, and, now, this charming soldier who unexpectedly comes into her cafe.

They spend only one day together, but in those few short hours, they form a connection neither can deny. But when Graham inevitably leaves, Eden is left wondering if she’ll ever see him again, or if their brief time together will become nothing but a memory.

Told through dual timelines and point-of-views, Under the Wishing Tree is a story about the magic of second chances, and the unexpected paths that lead us to where we’re meant to be. Perfect for fans of the Gilmore Girls, Lucy Score, and Sarah Addison Allen.

Buy Link: Amazon

ABOUT JUNE

June Gray is a daydreamer who, at the age of ten, penned a short story inspired by a Judy Blume novel and has been unable to stop writing since. She loves to tell stories that titillate and enrage, that break the reader’s heart and put it back together again.

Her fairy-tale life has been lived on four different continents—most notably, in a two-hundred-forty-year-old castle in rural Germany owned by a Graf. She was born in the Philippines, raised in Australia, and now calls the United States home, and she can currently be found dodging tornadoes in Oklahoma with her husband and two daughters.

Social Media Links:

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THE BARBER, THE ASTRONAUT, AND THE GOLF BALL by Barbara Radnofsky & Ed Supkis – Review and Giveaway

The Barber, The Astronaut, and The Golf Ball

by Barbara Radnofsky and Ed Supkis

Biography / Golf / Space Travel

Publisher: Stoney Creek Publishing

Pages: 202

Publication Date: September 17, 2024

SYNOPSIS

In 1971, famed astronaut Alan Shepard returned from the moon and went to get a haircut. Before settling into the barber’s chair in Webster, Texas, near NASA’s Mission Control, Shepard gave his longtime barber and friend, Carlos Villagomez, an autographed golf ball.

During his Apollo 14 moonwalk, Shepard had conducted a world-famous demonstration of gravity by hitting a golf ball in an out-of-this-world sand trap. It took him two tries.

Carlos, a Navy combat veteran and barber for numerous astronauts, says Shepard gave him the ball immediately after he returned to earth and was released from quarantine.

Had Shepard taken a third ball to the moon? And did he give it to his barber as a token of their long friendship?

The debate provides a backdrop for The Barber, The Astronaut, and the Golf Ball, a story of two extraordinary men and their lasting friendship. The book offers a rare glimpse behind the scenes of America’s space program at its pinnacle and shows the ordinary people who supported one of the nation’s most monumental scientific endeavors.

Praise for The Barber, The Astronaut, and The Golf Ball:

It’s perfect!! Barbara and Ed capture Daddy and his long friendship with Carlos. —Laura Shepard, Daughter of Alan Shepard

Brings back the glory days of the U.S. Space Program and the importance of the “little people” who made it happen. We see stern Shepard in a new and admirable light – in Shepard’s high regard for the vast team of dedicated supporters who enabled astronauts to succeed. —Charlie Duke, Apollo Astronaut

CLICK TO PURCHASE:

Stoney Creek Publishing | Amazon | B&N | Texas A&M Press

BOOK TRAILER

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Barbara Radnofsky and Ed Supkis grew up in the 1960s in the shadow of NASA’s Manned Spacecraft Center and married in 1982. They have three children and five grandchildren. The couple —with many other community members — are co-owners of Brazos Bookstore, an independent bookseller. As children of NASA scientists, Barbara and Ed had front-row seats to the development of the space program and the community built around it on rural cow pastures near Webster, Texas.

Barbara Radnofsky is a writer, mediator, teacher, and lawyer. She’s the author of A Citizen’s Guide to Impeachment, a nonpartisan explanation of U.S. constitutional impeachment history and practice.

Ed Supkis MD is a board-certified anesthesiologist specializing in cardiac anesthesia. He served as Director of Quality Assurance for the Division of Anesthesiology and as Medical Director of Respiratory Care for the Division of Surgery and Anesthesiology.

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REVIEW

What an incredibly fascinating subject matter and storytelling technique!

Of the three title “characters”, the golf ball was the one that initially attracted me to this book. It’s my favorite game to play and to watch on television or in person. But while reading it, I also became engrossed with the exploits of the first American in space Alan Shepard, the endeavors of the Navy veteran Carlos Villagomez, and the close personal relationship they’d built through the years. By the end of the book, I am convinced that the golf ball the astronaut gave the barber did actually fly to the moon.

***

The authors drew me in with the strong evidence of their extensive research and interviews. Their use of the plural pronoun “we” in the narration gave me a unique reading experience. I have read many works written by dual-author collaborators. This is the first time I have encountered the storytellers using it as a point-of-view. While it is in the first person to mean Ms. Radnofsky and Mr. Supkis, the “we”, at various points, includes the reader in the narrative. Part of the story. Especially those who witnessed the historical events in space as they unfolded. As a voracious reader, I appreciate the distinctly novel approach.

***

Overall, I enjoyed this book bar for some inconsistencies in the POVs (there were several I’s and instances of referring to the authors in the third-person) and multiple repetitions of the same quotes and anecdotes.

I highly recommend this engaging title for those who seek both entertainment and education in their reading materials. The exhaustive list of references and acknowledgments at the back of the book serves as a testament to the hard work of the authors.

Thanks to Lone Star Lit for including my blog in the campaign to share this story with avid readers.

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AUSTIN HEAT by Amari Nylix – Pop Up/Blog Hop

AUSTIN HEAT: The One Who Undid Me

by Amari Nylix

Contemporary Romance/ Comedy / Football

Publisher: Temair Media

Pages: 390

Publication Date: September 14, 2023

SYNOPSIS

Rumor has it that Texas just got a little hotter! Fans of Tessa Bailey and K. Bromberg will fall for this sexy story of mistaken identity, electric attraction, and irresistible romance in the first installment of the addictive new series, Austin Heat.

Jake is desperate to rewrite his past with women and leave behind the media storm surrounding his off-the-field antics that cloud his potential. He’s done with the stream of models, actresses, and NFL cheerleaders that have warmed his bed since he made a name for himself as starting quarterback for the University of Texas. He desperately wants to meet a normal girl in his hometown of Austin.

After moving to Austin to be the hired girlfriend of one of her long-term escort clients, Rakell finds herself wishing she could live a normal life with an average guy. Turned off by the billionaire clients she’s been serving for the last five years, she longs to get out of the business and build a life where she doesn’t live in the shadows of her escort persona.

Their worlds collide and the spice is off the charts. “Pretty boy” Jake Skyler has met his match with saucy-mouthed, Rakell McCarthy. Both think they’ve fallen for an average person. Both are wrong! What happens when their physical connection explodes, their hearts take charge and the secrets they are concealing are revealed?

CLICK TO PURCHASE

Amazon | B&N

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amari Nylix (alter ego to author Tara Delaney) tells sordid stories revolving around tempestuous love affairs that are inspired by the secret liaisons of Old West villains, heroes, and the temptress women who lure those powerful men into their webs. Amari delights in sharing her torrid stories of heart-wrenching, epic love that begin with the desires of the flesh and evolve into affairs of the heart.

In the Austin Heatseries, Amari works closely with bestselling author of both non-fiction and fiction, Tara Delaney 😉. Tara has been a pediatric occupational therapist for more than thirty years and has extensive professional experience in sensory processing and nervous system development, while also having studied how early trauma impacts our responses as adults. Tara is responsible for trimming back Amari’s numerous spicy scenes, allowing room for all the FEELS.

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