INDIGO, THE DEEP by Kellye Abernathy – LSBBT Book Campaign: Review and Giveaway

INDIGO, THE DEEP

by Kellye Abernathy

Teen and YA / Coming of Age / Fantasy

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

Publication Date: July 7, 2026

SYNOPSIS

“In the heart of the deepest sea caverns, there is a stillness. Learn to surrender to it.”

Fifteen-year-old Condi Bloom knows the magic will happen again. The autumn equinox is looming. Strange currents are sweeping through her coastal town. Tides are turning wild, and a mercurial mist cloaks the lonely rock tower known as Windy Hollow, long believed to be haunted.

When a silent threat glides into the cove, altering the fragile ecosystem and drawing sharks close to shore, Condi ignores the danger. A fierce surfer, she insists on pushing her skills to the limit, hoping to heal a broken heart. Meanwhile, seventeen-year-old Firth Cristo, a bold free diver, is tormented by a past he cannot reveal. Guided by the Beachlings, the mystical women who teach the secrets of the deep, he dares to explore remote underwater sea caverns, navigating the pulsing tides of a shimmering enchantment.

Inspired by the certainty of wonder and the uncertain nature of time, Condi and Firth dive into their rawest places, discovering that healing—of nature, of others, and of themselves—is found in the bounty of a limitless sea.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

An avid reader and writer, Kellye is the author of the YA science-fantasy series: The Aquamarine Surfboard (2022), Amethyst, The Shallows (2024), and Indigo, The Deep (2026). A former wireless business executive and a graduate of the University of Kansas, Kellye teaches practical life skills, creative writing, yoga, and mindfulness within the trauma-survivor community in Plano, Texas. She hopes to inspire healing through body and breath awareness, creativity, consistency, and compassion. Her joys are many and varied, among them neuroscience, oceanography, swimming, biking, family adventures, and great conversation. She believes in staying curious, showing up, and keeping her heart open.

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REVIEW

I’ve enjoyed my previous visits to Dipitous Beach, and this time is no different. Ms. Abernathy’s fantastical world, inhabited by unique individuals, is a fascinating read.

The themes of community, found family, friendship, and environmental stewardship are highly appealing to me; that is why I follow this series closely and own all three books. The mixture of fantasy, adventure, and a little romance makes for a highly original work.

All I know for sure is that the people we love never leave us.”

The author’s talent in giving each character a distinct and unforgettable personality is quite admirable. The Beachlings, in particular, are dear to me, and every possibility of loss evokes sadness.

“Whatever is destined cannot be prevented.”

Cinematic, touching, and relevant, this book deserves a high rating.

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

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FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME by Kimberly Packard – LSLL Review

FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME

By Kimberly Packard

Romance / Time-Slip / RomCom

Publisher: Abalos Publishing

Publication Date: 16 June 2026

SYNOPSIS

Blink and your life’s halfway over. What if that happens literally?

College party girl Emily Murray bounces through majors and boys until an ill-advised art major leads her to a rebellious relationship with an aspiring rock star. When her father cuts off the college fund—and her boyfriend ditches her to chase a record deal—Emily spirals, hard.

One shaved head and emotional black out later, she wakes up thirty years in the future, living a life she doesn’t recognize as a successful therapist and engaged to a total stranger.

With no apparent way to rewind the clock, Emily scrambles to make sense of her new reality. With a wedding date looming and a competitive therapist threatening her fragile career, Emily is forced to question: Was this really the future she was meant for?

Witty, sharp and unexpectedly heartwarming, Feels Like the First Time, the highly anticipated follow up to This Time Around, is a love letter to our younger selves, reminding us that even when we feel lost, we often end up exactly where we need to be.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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

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.

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REVIEW

an iPad showing the cover of the book with an engagement ring in a box and a phone showing a text message

Ms. Packard’s remarkable talent in giving a fresh twist to the classic theme of time-travel fiction is once again in full display in Feels Like the First Time. I read and loved the first book, This Time Around, and raved about it in my review, so I had huge expectations about this second book in the series. To say that I was completely satisfied is putting it mildly. Emotional and original, this book is one of my Top 26 Books of 2026.

I was in awe of the author’s audacity to tell the ending right smack in the middle of the story. While a happy-ever-after is guaranteed in Romance, the convention is that it’s always found at the end of the book. Ms. Packard’s skill in subverting the norm while staying true to the genre’s essence is truly admirable.

As in the first book, the fantastical element of the time jump feels absolutely believable, possible even. Emily’s characterization in both timelines comes across as authentic and relatable. Her reactions to the confusing events happening in both personal and professional life come across as natural, never over-the-top or underwhelming. Several times while reading, I found myself thinking that if I were in Emily’s situation, I would have done the same thing. She’s a lead character who is easy to sympathize with and root for. Her personality is well-rounded, with failings and strengths in equal measure. The same could be said about the support characters, starting with Craig, Monique, Josie, and Astrid. Even the ones who caused heartache to the heroine—Wick and Em’s dad—are not altogether hateful. Just a good balance that is desirable in a story.

As always, the themes of family, close friendships, and swoony romance will always earn my approval. Especially when woven in the evocative way as Ms. Packard did in this book. Her dialogues and narration are quote-worthy, and here are some of my favorites:

Life without laughter is just a drab colorless existence. I have no interest in existing. No matter how many years I’ve skipped. I want to live. Even if that comes with tears and frustration, it will also come with laughter and light.”

Fighting time is like fighting a rip tide. The more you struggle, the more it pulls you under. Time is a gift…”

Love isn’t about fitting yourself into someone else’s box, it’s about being with someone whose love helps you grow.”

…life is a mosaic of belonging and loneliness, joy and sorrow.”

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THE LAST FAIRY WITCH by Jean M. Roberts – LSLL Book Blast

THE LAST FAIRY WITCH

by Jean M. Roberts

Historical Fantasy

Publication Date: March 31, 2026

SYNOPSIS

Hannah Heronstone appears to have everything—a devoted husband, a beloved child, and a thriving business built on ancient herbal knowledge. Yet beneath the calm surface of her life, something old and malevolent stirs. A disturbing encounter with a friend from her husband’s past awakens Hannah’s suspicion that a coven of dark witches is gathering near Wentworth Manor. When Hannah, Peter, and Johannah journey to Ireland, her fears take terrifying form as she comes face to face with an unspeakable monster. A fairy offers her aid—but in a land where truth is slippery and magic demands a price, can such a creature be trusted? And where, across legend and time, can she find the Last Fairy Witch?

Centuries earlier, Eithne is a young Irish slave whose gift for healing marks her as something more. Trained by a druid, her growing power cannot be hidden for long. Sent to the sacred stronghold of Rathcroghan to become a Bandrui, Eithne finds herself caught between two suitors—a gifted bard and a handsome prince—while a darker force watches from the shadows. A ruthless witch who will stop at nothing to destroy her.

Separated by centuries but bound by magic and fate, Hannah and Eithne must each risk everything to confront the darkness rising in their worlds. To save those they love, they must cross through time itself—or lose all they hold dear.

The Last Fairy Witch is book three in The Women of Midsummer Series.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jean M. Roberts makes her home outside of Houston, Texas. Her experiences as a military brat, a serving Air Force officer, and wife of an Air Force pilot have left her with a love of travel, history and a sense of adventure. THE LAST FAIRY WITCH is her 11th novel. She writes historical fiction, historical fantasy, and cozy murder mysteries in a fictitious Texas town. When not writing, she loves to garden, cook, read and dream of her next book.

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ANNE KARINE QUINN – Featured Author

Anne Karine Quinn writes contemporary romance, filled with layered characters, complex love stories, and heartwarming happily-ever-afters. Quinn’s writing journey began at age 13, with original short stories and fan fiction. Fueled by her love for Shakespeare, Sherlock Holmes, Asian dramas, and anime, Quinn shifted her focus to adult contemporary romance, which reflected her interest in compelling storylines and slow burns.

After spending 15 years in the medical field, specializing in nutrition and healthcare administration, she left her career to pursue her dream of writing a novel and seeing her stories on a shelf and in people’s hands. She currently lives in Florida with her husband and two kids. When she’s not stressing in front of her laptop, she is sketching or dragging her family to the local theme parks.

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NOT WITHOUT YOU

The Zhao Twin Duology Book 1

When Himeko’s world is turned upside down, her new bodyguard is there to pick up the pieces. But as their feelings deepen, will their love be enough to overcome the dangers lurking in the shadows?

Himeko Zhao grew up in the world of Los Angeles’ high society, thanks to her father’s deals inside the underground market. She seems to be the woman who has it all, until recent events leave her and her family a vulnerable target.

But then her new bodyguard enters her life.

Kekoa Masa is the very definition of tall, dark, and handsome. He’s cocky, sarcastic, and loves to annoy her. And yet, she can’t deny his charm or allure every time they are together. As their undeniable attraction grows, so does the looming threat that wants her dead.

Themes and tropes: bodyguard romance, close proximity, forbidden romance, Asian American and Pacific Islander representation.

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TELL ME YOU’RE MINE

The Zhao Twins Duology Book 2

Hiko will do anything it takes to ensure his family’s safety. Even if that means proposing a marriage alliance with the most notorious crime family in Los Angeles.

Hiko Zhao: the billionaire heir to his father’s investment firm and underground empire. To strengthen his influence over Los Angeles, he proposes marriage to the daughter of the Tamotsu syndicate.

Nana Tamotsu: the daughter of Los Angeles’ strongest yakuza family. Her sisters were placed in arranged marriages and she hopes to avoid the same fate. However, Hiko Zhao comes calling.

The arrangement is supposed to be business. However, the attraction is undeniable and their desires burn for something beyond just a contract marriage …

Themes and tropes: marriage of convenience, close proximity, billionaire romance, organized crime, Asian and Pacific Islander representation

Buy Links:

Kindle Unlimited
Bookshop.org
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You can find Quinn’s books in independent romance bookshops across the country, including:

The Spice Cabinet ( CT) Shelf Love Atlanta ( GA) Hey Darling Bookstore (MN)
Between the Covers Co. (NJ) Candle Lit Books (FL) XOXO Book Boutique (NV)

Friends to Lovers (VA) The Story Room Collective (FL) Heartbound Bookshop (CA)

Romance-Landia (MD) The New Romantics (FL) The Reading Nook (CA)

The Cookie Plot Books (TX) The Love Letter Bookstore (WA)

WORTH THE FIGHT by Liz Durano – Featured New Release

WORTH THE FIGHT

LIZ DURANO

When the woman you’ve loved for years walks back into your life with a ticking biological clock…

Six years ago, Cassie Reynolds was my Harvard mentor—the brilliant woman who taught me everything about business and left me wanting more than professional guidance. Now she’s back as Pierce Enterprises’ Chief Compliance Officer, hired to ensure I don’t make mistakes as the company’s newly appointed CEO.

There’s just one problem: I never stopped thinking about her.

When I discover she’s planning single motherhood through a fertility clinic because she thinks time’s running out, every instinct I have—shaped by Filipino family values that prioritize community over independence—tells me she shouldn’t face this alone.

I could keep my distance. Let her pursue her clinical solution while I focus on proving myself as CEO. Stay safely within professional boundaries while she builds the family she’s always wanted.

Or I could fight for what we could have together.

A partnership. A family. A future where neither of us has to face life’s biggest challenges alone.

The board already questions whether I’m ready to lead. Getting involved with my Chief Compliance Officer could cost me everything I’ve worked for. But watching Cassie plan for single motherhood when I could give her so much more? That’s a risk I can’t ignore.

Some things are worth fighting for—even when the odds are stacked against you. Even when loving her could destroy my career. Even when she’s convinced our nine-year age gap and professional complications make us impossible.

Especially then.

Because the biggest risk isn’t falling in love with the woman I’m not supposed to want.

It’s letting her walk away when we could build something extraordinary together.

Buy Link: Amazon

Although Liz studied Journalism in college, she discovered that she preferred writing fiction over ad copy, and so these days, she writes women’s fiction and romance. She lives in Southern California with her family and a senior Chihuahua mix who keeps guard of her writing space and a growing pile of books (and wool for when she needs to spin for inspiration).

You can follow Liz’s book adventures by visiting and connecting with her via her social media accounts:

Website: lizduranobooks.com
Facebook: facebook.com/lizduranobooks
Instagram: instagram.com/lizdurano
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Tiktok: tiktok.com/@lizdurano
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Ream: reamstories.com/lizdurano

ALANNAH ROBERTS – Featured Author

Alannah Roberts—wifey, mum to one beautiful baby girl, fur mum to a battalion of Pomeranians, corporate baddie by day, and aspiring author by night (fueled by crispy Coke Zeros and occasionally questionable decisions).

Alannah lives in Australia, but she was born and partially raised in the Philippines. Books have been her escape, her comfort, and her obsession for as long as she can remember. She has cried, laughed, and screamed her way through stories that left a mark on her soul—and now, she dreams of writing ones that do the same.

She started writing Collide back in 2012, but fear and doubt turned it into a secret side project. After surviving an ectopic pregnancy that nearly took her life, Alannah made a promise to herself—and to her daughter—to stop playing small. To chase her dreams. To be brave.

One day, Alannah hopes to live on a little farm, surrounded by books, her family, and her fur babies, writing stories that make people feel something—every day until the end of her days.

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COLLIDE: The Rhapsody of Heartbeats Book 1

One city. Two hearts. And a collision that changes everything

Elena Montgomery returns to New York with nothing but a guitar and a promise to keep. Her family’s name carries weight, but after a bitter divorce shattered her childhood, it’s not legacy she’s chasing—it’s freedom.

Then she meets him. The charming, mysterious stranger who crashes into her life and awakens a part of her she’s kept hidden. The chemistry is explosive. The connection? Addictive. But fame, secrets, and the ghosts of their pasts threaten to tear it all apart.

As the pressure builds and the spotlight grows harsher, Elena is forced to choose: chase the life she’s always wanted or risk everything for the kind of love that burns too hot to last.

Collide is a seductive, emotional rollercoaster about passion, fame, family, and the fierce journey to finding your voice—even when your heart is on the line.

Buy Links:

Kindle Unlimited

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FLOAT: A Collide Short Story

Float is a whimsical short story told from the point of view of a weedy sea dragon featured in Collide—specifically during Chapter 13, when the main characters share a romantic indoor picnic at the aquarium.

Needless to say, things get a little wet.

A light-hearted, cheeky companion piece set in the Collide universe—a fun, imaginative peek beneath the tank.

For the best experience, it’s recommended that you read Collide by Alannah Roberts first.

Preorder Link:

Kindle Unlimited (Release Date: December 13, 2025)

All proceeds from this short story will be donated to the Birch Aquarium in San Diego, which inspired the setting for the scene, and to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, which helps protect the natural habitat of the Australian weedy sea dragon.

THE EYE OF THE STORM by Zoey Fox – Featured New Release

THE EYE OF THE STORM

Zoey York

BLURB

Cassie Hawthorne never planned to come back to Freedom, Montana. But after a humiliating betrayal and a life that’s crumbled beneath her feet, the quiet town she once called home is the only place left to run. Haunted by memories of her childhood, and the boy who shattered her heart, Cassie returns to rebuild her life-one step, one breath, one guarded heartbeat at a time.

Trenton Delsey never forgot the girl who got away. He buried his regrets beneath ranch work, family responsibilities, and the toxic relationship he never had the strength to escape. But when Cassie walks back into town, Trenton’s carefully constructed world begins to crack, and long-buried secrets start to rise.

Drawn together by old feelings and unresolved pain, Cassie and Trenton find themselves navigating the wreckage of their past. But their reunion is more than just emotional-it’s dangerous. Because beneath the surface of Freedom lies a tangled mystery involving the disappearance of billionaire Evan Ransom… and someone will do anything to keep the truth hidden.

As Cassie is pulled into the heart of the investigation-and into the crosshairs of a manipulative woman with everything to lose-Trenton must confront the darkest night of his life: a car crash, a cover-up, and the guilt that’s been eating away at him ever since. What Brenda Walsh knows could destroy him. But what Trenton finally remembers could save them both.

With the help of his fiercely loyal family-including his brother Alex, a U.S. Marshal with his own secrets-Trenton fights for redemption, while Cassie fights for freedom from a past that’s always had a hold on her. Together, they’ll discover that love is not the absence of storms, but the place you find shelter in the middle of one.

Gripping, romantic, and emotionally raw, The Eye of the Storm is a sweeping small-town love story where danger lurks behind every secret-and healing comes at the cost of the truth.

Buy Links:

Amazon Barnes & Noble Website

ABOUT ZOEY

Zoey Fox writes sweeping small-town romances filled with second chances, family bonds, and a touch of storm-tossed drama. She’s the creator of The Delsey Dozen series, set in the heart of Freedom, Montana, where love, secrets, and resilience collide.

When she’s not writing, Zoey enjoys hiking, reading, and gathering inspiration from her own community and family life in upstate New York. She believes in stories that remind us love is worth fighting for—and that even in life’s fiercest storms, we can choose joy, belonging, and happily-ever-afters.

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THE END GAME by Michael Scott Clifton – LSLL Book Campaign

THE END GAME

By Michael Scott Clifton

Contemporary Sports Romance

Publisher: Independently Published

Publication Date: August 8, 2025

SYNOPSIS

Eager to put his past behind him, Chris Cooper takes the head basketball job at Mayfield High School in Northeast Texas. Haunted by a history of rocky relationships, he’s surprised by the sparks his landlady, single mom, Jennie Sloan, ignites in him.

Despite trust issues from her own tumultuous past, something about the tall coach with emerald-green eyes makes Jennie believe in second chances. When her young son bonds with Cooper, the barriers Jennie built around her heart begin to crumble.

Excited about the raw potential of his team, Cooper is blindsided by Rocco Rawlings, the arrogant Head Football Coach and Athletic Director. The AD demands Cooper’s entire team play football. When Cooper refuses, Rawlings works to undermine the basketball program, and Cooper is forced to find inventive ways to succeed.

As the stakes rise on and off the court, Cooper and Jennie must contend with the demons of their past to protect the fragile flame they’ve lit, while Cooper’s scrappy team—fueled by grit, heart and a shared dream—might just defy the odds and reach the ultimate end game.

A state championship.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Journey into realms of magic and mystery

Michael Scott Clifton is a rapacious reader, gardener, and movie junkie. A resident of East Texas, he lives in Mount Pleasant with his wife, Melanie. A multi-award winning author, his books include The Treasure Hunt Club, The Janus Witch, and the Conquest of the Veil Series—The Open Portal, Escape From Wheel, A Witch’s Brew, and Cavern of the Veil Queen, and the award-wining Teen/YA novel, Edison Jones and the Anti-Grav Elevator. Pringle Prawn, an urban fantasy novel, is a 2024 Reader’s Favorite Book Award winner. Google him @authormsclifton, or visit his website at www.michaealscottclifton.com

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REVIEW

Texas-style Hoosiers meets a Hallmark movie, in book form. With its small-town, underdog-basketball-team-goes-to-the-state-championship feel-good story, paired with a sweet romance, The End Game checks all my boxes for an incredibly satisfying read.

… our lives aren’t blank pages in a book … We can’t skip the parts we don’t like and flip ahead to the parts we do.”

Michael Scott Clifton’s writing shows a cinematic quality that makes his work a great candidate for film adaptation. His deft use of classic storytelling elements—characters, setting, back story, conflict, and action—yielded a book that a wide range of readers would find engaging. Sports, romance, drama, faith. There’s something in it for everyone to enjoy.

From the first dribble of the ball, always look where you’re going, not where you’ve been.”

The large cast of characters includes a sympathetic hero in basketball coach Chris Cooper, a fascinating love-interest in Jennie, an obstructive antagonist in Rawlings, a wise mentor in Julius, and a wonderful group of young athletes who are easy to root for. The romance between Cooper and Jennie, although fast-paced, was seamlessly integrated into the story and enhanced the overall theme rather than distracting from it. Jennie and her son Josh were essential parts of Cooper’s personal endgame.

Individual players don’t win games. Teams do.”

The basketball scenes are where this book shines the most. Mr. Clifton’s descriptions of the players’ moves in the games and Cooper’s strategic coaching instructions made the book come alive. There were several heart-in-throat moments as well as fist-pump celebrations. It was as if I was watching the action on TV without the added cursing-at-the-referees part of the normal viewing experience.

In essence, The End Game is a slam dunk of a story. Swish.

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

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CANYON OF DECEIT by DiAnn Mills – LSLL Book Campaign: Review and Giveaway

Canyon of Deceit

By DiAnn Mills

Romantic Suspense

Publisher: Tyndale Fiction

Pages: 338

Publication Date: September 9, 2025

SYNOPSIS

A child. A deadly conspiracy. A race against time.

When survival expert Therese Palmer is called to find a kidnapped girl, she quickly realizes the truth is more dangerous than she imagined. Enlisting the help of Texas Ranger Blane Gardner, they track the girl’s last known location deep in the Guadalupe Mountains—where every clue leads to more deception. As Russian organized crime and a deadly assassination plot come to light, Therese and Blane must fight against ruthless enemies and their growing attraction. Will they find the girl before time runs out, or will she become a pawn in a much bigger game?

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Amazon

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Award-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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REVIEW

Heart-wrenching prologue. Catch-your-breath action adventure. Second-chance romance. Faith-centered story. Danger at every turn and thrilling international intrigue. DiAnn Mills’s Canyon of Deceit has it all.

Hope is a reason to live when the world erupts into madness.”

Ms. Mills delivered once more a fast-paced, high-stakes romantic suspense novel with a strong Christian belief at its core. As I’ve come to expect from her, the main characters, Therese Palmer and Blane Gardner, are excellent at their jobs and worthy of respect. Their tragic back stories make it easy to sympathize with them and root for them to triumph against all odds. What they were missing in terms of luck, they made up for in bravery and fierce determination to complete their mission. They are deserving of a hopeful future together after going through everything Ms. Mills threw their way. Without giving away spoilers, I can say that at the end of the book, bruised and battered Therese and Blane truly earned their happily-ever-after.

Nothing is guaranteed. Neither life nor death.”

The situation with the antagonists is super complicated, and some aspects of the Russian subplot went over my head. It gave a proper backdrop to explain the involvement of the FBI and the Texas Rangers, but the violence and loss of lives and properties leaned towards excessive. The bright light in the midst of all the bloodshed is the little girl Alina. She provided the focal point of the story and the motivation for the actions taken by both sides — good and bad.

It’s not what we lose that defines our character—it’s what we learn.”

An exhilarating read. Thanks to the publisher and Lone Star Literary Life for providing me with an advanced copy to review and for including me in the campaign.

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

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TO CONDEMN A WITCH by Lisa A. Traugott – LSLL Book Campaign: Review & Giveaway

TO CONDEMN A WITCH

By LISA A. TRAUGOTT

Historical Fantasy

Publisher: Rose Castle Media

Pages: 399

Publication Date: August 11, 2025

SYNOPSIS

A stolen scroll. A cursed bloodline. A prophecy that binds three witches across life and death…

Scotland, 1729. When clairvoyant healer Fiona MacLeod discovers an enchanted scroll, she awakens a prophecy linking her fate to two other women: Eleanor, a servant-turned-mistress caught in a scandal, and Matilda, a vengeful ghost burned for witchcraft. Together, they must form a coven—maiden, mother, and crone—to protect a changeling child marked by ancient magic.

But a ruthless witch hunter is closing in—one who will stop at nothing to destroy the child and the women sworn to defend her.

Spanning the infamous Hellfire Caves of England to haunted Scottish glens and the wilds of colonial Virginia, To Condemn a Witch is a haunting prequel in the Tales of the Witchblood series—a dark tale of feminine power, sacrifice, and the unbreakable bond between witches who rise, no matter how often they are condemned.

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Amazon

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lisa A. Traugott is the award-winning author of the Tales of the Witchborn series (To Rescue a Witch and To Condemn a Witch), a haunting historical fantasy saga in the realm of ghosts, goddesses, and rebellion. She double majored in history and theater to guarantee unemployment yet somehow became a full-time author. An original cast member on American Grit with John Cena, she also had five lines on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

She lives in Austin with her husband and two kids where they enjoy walking ghost tours and telling scary stories around the campfire. You can get a FREE chapter of To Rescue a Witch at LisaTraugott.com.

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REVIEW

Ms. Traugott must have a touch of the supernatural herself, because she concocted a spellbinding story that kept me engrossed for several hours straight. To Condemn A Witch is fantastical, with its themes of ancient spirituality and magic, and is also rooted in factual historical events. The combination makes for a fascinating read.

Told from multiple points of view, the story spans several decades and various locations, both real and fictional, including Scotland, London, across the Atlantic, the Virginia Colony, and the Otherworld. The author’s impeccable research provided a backdrop that was so vividly described, it almost felt like the reader time-traveled to witness the events firsthand as they unfolded. Many of the scenes were gruesome, horrifying, and some were even downright scary. But there were also tender moments and funny segments as well.

The major characters were complex and compelling. The villains (the witch hunter, the betrayed wife, the shape shifter) revealed themselves early and were consistent in their evil deeds. Those who were considered protagonists (the coven members — Fiona, Matilda, and Eleanor; William MacLeod) were not necessarily likable or sympathetic, but they had redeeming qualities that proved their humanity and placed them on the right side of the story. They had strengths and flaws, which gave them dimensions that enriched the story. Matilda especially stands out for having made realizations about herself throughout the course of the story that guided her actions later.

Although this book was released later than Book 2, I recommend reading it first before To Rescue A Witch for a more complete experience. Be aware of the contents that may cause anxiety or discomfort — violence, deaths, mature themes, slavery, and historically accurate but objectionable language.

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