About the Book
Oliver isn't proud of what he did back then. Angry and broken by his father walking out on his family, he lashed out at Meg--an innocent bystander. But owning a respected fishing fleet on Prince Edward Island is the opportunity of a lifetime, and he's not about to walk away just because Meg wants him to.
Meg's father has the perfect solution: Oliver and Meg must work the business together, and at the end of the season, he'll decide who gets it. Along the way, they may discover that their stories are more similar than they thought . . . and their dreams aren't what they expected.
Bestselling author Liz Johnson invites you back to Prince Edward Island for a brand-new series about family, forgiveness, and the kind of love that heals all wounds.
My Thoughts
About the Author
About the Book
Author: Dave Milbrandt
Genre: Political Fiction
Release date: July 13, 2021
When high school teacher Myles Bradford wins the Powerball lottery, he decides to do something truly unexpected: run for President of the United States. Bradford is eager about the opportunity, but his family clearly is not. With little time to sway them to his side, he’s thrust into running a quarter-billion-dollar nationwide campaign, complete with cross-country flights and road trips, expert staff, and armed security. But like most dreams, Bradford soon finds that what he imagined is completely different from what is real. Thrust into the spotlight, he faces attacks from newfound political enemies and false accusations while striving to climb the ladder of success. As Bradford gets closer to achieving his dreams, danger lurks on the home front. As his attention is pulled farther away from the things that matter most, Bradford may learn that even success has its price. Will he be able to have it all? Or will his thirst for power come at a tremendous cost?
Click here to get your copy!
My Thoughts
About the Author
The author of the Jim Mitchell series of novels (Chasing Deception, Undue Pressure and Running), Dave Milbrandt fell in love with writing in junior high and has been a storyteller ever since. A former staff writer for a daily newspaper, the Southern California native spent five years in journalism and public relations before becoming a teacher.
In addition to working at several colleges, Dave has taught high school English and Social Science classes since 2005. Dave and his wife, Renée Lynn Milbrandt, who is also a writer, have been married since 1997.
Find out more about Dave and his latest projects at www.davemilbrandt.com
More from Dave
Telling Other People’s Stories
One of the benefits of being married to a fellow writer is that you have a built-in sounding board for story ideas. Your next novel can come from something as simple as a dinner conversation or one person musing out loud and before you know it, the two of you are heaping ideas on top of each other until the bare bones of a promising story emerge.
That’s how Fool’s Luck started. My bride and I were talking and she wondered aloud about why people who won the lottery don’t so something spectacular and world-changing with the the winnings. Before I knew it, we were talking about one “lucky” such person deciding to spend his winnings on a run for president of the United States, and my latest novel was born.
Like with all my books, first came the outline, followed by the research. For my previous trilogy (Chasing Deception, Undue Pressure and Running), the protagonist Jim Mitchell was a much more exciting version of myself, so I could write about being a journalist, college professor and political candidate (for the latter, I had worked enough campaigns to paint some broad brushstrokes).
With Fool’s Luck, however, the only part I could directly relate to was the fact Myles Bradford and I were both married high school teachers. But that was only going to take me so far. I had friends give me insight about life in other parts of the country, and fill in blanks about medicine and private security, but there were two parts of the story that I knew would involve details requiring some pretty in-depth, and sometimes painful, interviews.
The first major tale I had to tell was a political one and a good friend gave me insights that helped build out that side of the story with richness and depth.
The second story, the personal one, was much harder to flesh out. More than medical information, I needed emotions, real, raw emotions, to tell my story and give my characters depth. This need drove me to interview a parent of a former student of mine. Her story was so heart wrenching, so real, that it was hard to read without crying. Her willingness to share her story, to open up a wound, was brave beyond words. Her generosity helped me create a tale would ring true with my readers.
All storytelling is sharing the very real emotions of friends and family, strangers and acquaintances, in a fashion that retains the truth while weaving in enough fiction to keep the story true to itself. Balancing the nonfiction within the fiction with finesse is the key.
Making readers laugh once in a while along the way, well, that’s just the icing on the cake.
Blog Stops
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 19
Inklings and notions, August 20
For Him and My Family, August 21
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, August 22
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, August 23
lakesidelivingsite, August 23
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 24
Locks, Hooks and Books, August 24
Girls in White Dresses, August 25
A Reader’s Brain, August 26
The Sacred Line, August 26
deb’s Book Review, August 27
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, August 28
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 29
Texas Book-aholic, August 30
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, August 31
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 1
Maureen’s Musings, September 1
Giveaway
To celebrate his tour, Dave is giving away the grand prize of a paperback copy of Chasing Deception!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/11587/fool-s-luck-celebration-tour-giveaway
About the Book
Author: Darlene L. Turner
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release date: July 27, 2021
Some secrets are dangerous…
But uncovering the truth could be deadly.
Border patrol officer Madison Steele knows her sister Leah’s fatal car crash was no accident. Someone’s willing to kill to cover up a pharmaceutical company’s deadly crime of distributing tainted drugs. Now they are after Madison to tie off loose ends. But with her high school sweetheart, Canadian police constable Tucker Reed, at her side, can Madison expose the company’s deadly plan before she becomes the next victim?
Click here to get your copy!
My Thoughts
About the Author
Darlene L. Turner is an award-winning author and lives with her husband, Jeff in Ontario, Canada. Her love of suspense began when she read her first Nancy Drew book. She’s turned that passion into her writing and believes readers will be captured by her plots, inspired by her strong characters, and moved by her inspirational message. You can connect with Darlene at www.darlenelturner.com where there’s suspense beyond borders.
More from Darlene
The Hidden Staircase, The Secret of the Old Clock, The Sign of the Twisted Candles—these were just some of my favorite Nancy Drew books. I couldn’t get enough of them growing up! My family often saw me with my nose stuck in one of Nancy’s many tales. When I was finished with those, I’d sneak my brother’s Hardy Boy books and devour them too. This is where my love of writing and of a good mystery/suspense began.
Creating stories in the romantic suspense genre was a natural journey for me. I had always wanted to be a policewoman after watching Charlie’s Angels (they even kicked butt while wearing high heels…what could be better than that?!), Cagney and Lacey, Police woman, Murder She Wrote, etc. My love for all-things-mystery carried into my adult life. Who doesn’t love Sydney Bristow and Kate Beckett?
I enjoy creating strong female characters in a law enforcement role. Madison Steele fits the bill head on as she works to bring down a ruthless pharmaceutical company. While she has nerves of steel, I also wanted to make her vulnerable. In the beginning Madison loses her long-lost sister in a heart-wrenching crash. One she knows was not an accident. This thrusts her into a deadly pursuit of the perpetrators with her estranged high school sweetheart, Tucker Reed, by her side.
I wrote this book during the tough year our world faced living in the unknown. Madison and Tucker are stuck in their own fears but eventually find hope. Hope in the unknown and hope in knowing God is in control and with us—no matter the circumstances. We just need to know where to look.
I hope you enjoy reading Madison and Tucker’s story as much as I loved crafting it. I’d love to hear from you. You can contact me through my website www.darlenelturner.com and also sign up for Darlene’s Diary newsletter to receive exclusive subscriber giveaways.
Blog Stops
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 18
Lighthouse-Academy, August 18
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 19
Genesis 5020, August 19
Simply Susan, August 19
Texas Book-aholic, August 20
Bizwings Blog, August 20
She Lives To Read, August 21
HookMeInABook, August 21
Inklings and notions, August 22
Reviewingbooksplusmore, August 22
Mary Hake, August 22
Betti Mace, August 23
Daysong Reflections, August 23
For the Love of Literature, August 24
deb’s Book Review, August 24
Locks, Hooks and Books, August 25
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 25
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, August 26
Pause for Tales, August 26
Blogging With Carol, August 26
For Him and My Family, August 27
Simple Harvest Reads, August 27 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, August 28
Batya’s Bits, August 28
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, August 29
Kayem Reads, August 29
Little Homeschool on the Prairie , August 30
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, August 30, August 30
A Good Book and Cup of Tea, August 30
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 31
Labor Not in Vain, August 31
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Darlene is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a paperback copy of Lethal Cover-Up!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/1141b/lethal-cover-up-celebration-tour-giveaway
About the Book
Author: Karin Beery
Genre: Women’s Romantic Fiction
Release Date: April 2021
Elementary school music teacher Callie Stevens thinks she’s finally figured out God ’s plan for her life—she even made a list to keep her on track. Moving in with her brother and reconnecting with her ex-boyfriend are at the top of the list. What ’s not on the list is running into her childhood crush, Ryan. God wanted her to connect with Kyle, right? Trying to figure out God ’s plan is hard enough. But a dating-averse older brother, the young blonde who adores him, a pregnant best friend, and Callie ’s continual mishaps make her wonder whether her best-laid plans were truly God-inspired.
Click here to get your copy!
My Thoughts
About the Author
Karin Beery grew up in a small, rural Michigan town where she wrote her first novel in high school. She’s still writing today, telling contemporary stories with a healthy dose of romance. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s editing or teaching it. And when she’s not doing that, she enjoys time at home with her husband and fur babies, once again living in a small, rural Michigan town.
More from Karin
I discovered audiobooks two years ago, and they have changed my life! Now I look forward to long car rides and endless hours cleaning and cooking. Well, I don’t really look forward to the cleaning and cooking, but at least the chores are tolerable because I just turn on a new book and listen to a story while I work! I know I’m not the only one who multitasks with audiobooks. I had a few friends ask me when my books would be available in audio form so they could listen—with long commutes and families at home, they prefer listening to their books in the quiet of the car.
That’s why I’m so excited to bring Summer Plans and Other Disasters to audiobook, and I’m just as excited about my narrator, Jasmine Zhwalen. Summer Plans was my first published book, and now it will be Jasmine’s first too. As soon as I heard her audition, I knew I wanted her to give Callie, Jack, Stacey, and Ryan their voices. Considering it’s the first go-round for both of us, I think it turned out pretty well!
Thanks for listening!
Blog Stops
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, August 17
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 17
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 18
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, August 19
Texas Book-aholic, August 20
Cats in the cradle blog, August 20
Inklings and notions, August 21
For Him and My Family, August 22
deb’s Book Review, August 23
Locks, Hooks and Books, August 24
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 24
By The Book, August 25
The Sacred Line, August 26
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, August 27
CarpeDiem, August 28
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, August 28
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, August 29
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, August 30
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Karin is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Audible gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/112e5/summer-plans-and-other-disasters-celebration-tour-giveaway
About the Book
Author: Shaylene King
Genre: Middle Grade Fiction
Release Date: December 31, 2020
American Idol meets the bible in this modern retelling of the book of Esther creatively re-imagined for a younger generation
Sir Frederick Preparatory School’s Royal Crown competition is only the biggest singing competition on planet earth! So, when Liberty Lane O’Shea, is catapulted into the singing competition to compete for the coveted crown, it’s a dream come true.
Her dreams are dashed when she meets a beastly contestant who plots to vocally “kill off” anyone who might pose a threat to his rise to fame.
To halt the contestant’s vile ruse, Liberty Lane and her cohorts in crime, best friend Calliope and cousin Lincoln scheme to foil his evil ploys.
When Liberty Lane finds herself blackmailed, she is faced with a tough choice. Will she expose this contestant, divulging a secret of her own, and possibly disqualify herself from the competition? Or, will she watch the other contestants “die” an early Royal Crown competition death, putting the crown surely within her grasp?
Click here to get your copy!
My Thoughts
About the Author
Shaylene is an anti-bully activist. She speaks to thousands of students each year across the country and internationally, empowering them to live with profound purpose when they learn to combat mean and cultivate kindness.
She is the founder of The Mean Girl Extinction Project a 501(c)3 on-profit created to address the rise in relational aggression among girls. She teaches girls how to not only survive girl world but to make a difference and thrive in girl world. She leads assemblies, workshops and speaks at girls events, camps, clubs and retreats.
Shaylene also teaches and trains the nation’s leading student-led bully prevention program called Safe School Ambassadors. Equipping students with the tools they need to develop self-confidence and practice and promote positive communication with their peers.
Shaylene lives with her husband in Middle Tennessee, sailing the unchartered waters of empty nesting. She enjoys any time she gets to spend with her two grown children who are off exploring the world and living the life God created them for.
More from Shaylene
Liberty Lane and the One-Girl Rebelution was birthed from my love of fairy tales and reading Bible stories to my kids. I have likely read every modern retelling version of classic fairy tales like Cinderella and Snow White and the Seven Dwarves! One night, while reading a Bible story to my kids at bedtime, I noticed it read a lot like a fairy tale, only it was true. What fun it would be to write a modern retelling of my favorite Bible stories! And, rest is history… or at least a re-telling of history!
This book was a labor of love. It was fun to creatively reimagine what an Esther story might look like today. More important, though, I wanted to create a strong, confident young girl, one who was perfectly imperfect, able to think for herself and stand for what she believed in, even when it was hard—a one-girl “rebel”ution. My hope is that girls might connect with Liberty Lane and feel they too can be comfortable in their own skin and stand by their convictions. When they make a mistake, they can right their wrong, hold their head high, and press on. Speaking the truth is never easy to do, but I want them to know, it will always be the right thing to do.
Blog Stops
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 24
Aryn The Libraryan 📚, August 25
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, August 25
Texas Book-aholic, August 26
Inklings and notions, August 27
Blogging With Carol, August 27
For Him and My Family, August 28
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, August 29
Southern Gal Loves to Read, August 29
deb’s Book Review, August 30
Locks, Hooks and Books, August 31
Cats in the Cradle Blog, August 31
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, September 1
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, September 2
Mary Hake, September 2
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, September 3
Bigreadersite, September 4
Vicky Sluiter, September 4
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 5
Sodbusterliving, September 6
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Shaylene is giving away the grand prize a $50 Amazon gift card, a signed hard back copy of my book, book bag and 2 BookStubs (Free ebook download) … One BookStub for the winner and one for a friend!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/11423/liberty-lane-and-the-one-girl-rebelution-celebration-tour-giveaway
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