Guatemala Paula Loves to Read

Friday, October 23, 2026

**Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway: The Resurrections of Evania James by Jaime Jo Wright**

THE RESURRECTION OF EVANIA JAMES

by Jaime Jo Wright

October 5 - 30, 2026 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

The Resurrection of Evania James by Jaime Jo Wright

If walls could talk, what nightmare might they expose?

1879

When Eloise James's sister, Evania, goes missing after being admitted to an asylum, Eloise is determined to find her sibling but instead discovers evidence of dying patients and missing remains. Wannabe journalist Silas Dobbs has his own suspicions that something more nefarious is at work, and that black market sales may originate at the asylum. Together, they are intent on learning whether Evania is alive, or if her body has also been stolen. But unraveling a web of underground resurrectionists proves daunting, and the dead cannot share their secrets.

Present Day

Tilly Thompson is horrified to find historical human remains entombed in a wall of the Gothic mansion her grandfather just purchased, launching her into an investigation of the original owners' questionable past. The James family legacy harbors a darkness tightly woven through decades of secrets, but the past refuses to remain ensnared by silence. Will revealing the truth resurrect dangers best kept buried forever?

Jaime Jo Wright masterfully weaves a dual-timeline gothic suspense novel that brings together a haunting historical tale and a shadowy modern-day mystery. For fans of atmospheric thrillers, spooky reads, the Victorian era, creepy mansions, and dark family secrets.

Book Details:

Genre: Gothic Fiction; Christian Mystery & Suspense
Published by: Bethany House Publishers
Publication Date: October 27, 2026
Number of Pages: 336 Pbk
ISBN: 9780764246258 (ISBN10: 0764246259)
Book Links: Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub | Baker Book House

Read an excerpt:

Author Bio:

Jaime Jo Wright is a Publishers Weekly bestselling author of more than eighteen novels and three novellas, including Christy Award-winner and ECPA bestseller The Vanishing at Castle Moreau, Christy Award and Daphne du Maurier Award-winner The House on Foster Hill, Christy Award-winner Night Falls on Predicament Avenue, and Carol Award-winner The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond. She lives in Wisconsin with her family and fabulous felines.

Learn more at

JaimeWrightBooks.com
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads
BookBub - @JaimeJoWright
Instagram - @jaimejowright
Threads - @jaimejowright
YouTube - @madlitmusings
Spotify - MadLit Musings
Facebook - @JaimeJoWright

Review:

5 stars!

Atmospheric dual-timeline tale of Gothic suspense.

The Resurrection of Evania James by Jaime Jo Wright is an eerie, atmospheric Gothic suspense tale and perfect entertainment not only for the spooky season, but for the entire year. Two tales of suspense unfold: one set in 1879, the other in the present, and both are mesmerizing as the past encroaches on and informs the present.

In the earlier timeline, Eloise James is horrified when her father has her younger sister, Evania, committed to an asylum for the chronically insane as his solution for dealing with her grief over the loss of her illegitimate infant during childbirth. But when Eloise gets word that the hospitalized Evania is at death’s door, she defies their father and travels to the institution with the intention of demanding her release and taking her to distant relatives to help her convalesce. However, once she arrives at the asylum, she discovers that many patients admitted there are never seen again, and Evania is among the missing.

In current times, Tilly Thompson, the caregiver for her grandfather who is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, moves with him into the James Mansion, the ancestral home of the town’s founding family, only to accidentally discover the skeletal remains of a young woman entombed behind a stairwell wall. Together with her high school nemesis, one of the last members of the James family, she tries to uncover the story of the woman in the wall.

Both storylines had me enthralled from the start with their earnest, engaging, and very vulnerable female protagonists. Eloise, heartbroken over her beloved sister’s fate, has always been an obedient daughter and is defenseless before her father, who sees her as little more than property. Although his attitude is the prevailing sentiment of the time, her father is truly a cruel, unfeeling tyrant. Tilly is neurodivergent and was the target of bullying in high school; her most painful treatment came at the hands of the popular scion of the town’s founding family, Luke James. Nurtured by her paternal grandfather, she has become his caregiver in his waning years after his recent diagnosis of early Alzheimer’s. Knowing her affinity for the large Victorian mansion, abandoned by Luke James and his brother, Kyle, after the deaths of their parents, Grandpa Don purchases the old home as a gift for Tilly in return for her caring for him there until he eventually succumbs to his disease.

From the start, the house holds clues to the past, and the author’s vivid descriptions create a waiting-and-watching atmosphere. Tilly must overcome the pain of her memories to pursue the mystery of the unidentified woman, and her alliance with her former tormentor reveals that he, too, suffered from the memories of his own past. It was satisfying to watch the two reconcile their memories, collaborate, and see their relationship evolve as they work to uncover the truth hidden behind the walls of James Mansion.

I recommend THE RESURRECTION OF EVANIA JAMES to readers of gothic mysteries, suspense, and thrillers.

Tour Participants:

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**Book Blitz: The Adler Legacy by Malcolm Havard**

The Adler Legacy

Malcolm Havard

Historical Thriller

Publisher: Oakbrook Publishing UK

Publication Date: November 17, 2026

Page count: 223 pages

SYNOPSIS:

A hidden Nazi fortune. A disgraced Bletchley clerk. A mission no trained agent could survive.

In the ruins of post-war Europe, Sophie Faulkner only wants the past to leave her alone.

Once a gifted German-speaking clerk at Bletchley Park, Sophie’s life was destroyed when British intelligence uncovered the truth she had tried to bury: she was born Sophie von Adler, daughter of a wealthy Nazi industrialist. Interrogated, imprisoned, disgraced, and abandoned, she has survived the war with nothing but a ruined reputation and a talent for keeping secrets.

Then MI5 offers her a way back.

Her father’s hidden fortune lies in a Zurich bank account — millions in Swiss francs and bearer bonds intended to finance the escape of senior Nazis fleeing Allied justice. To reach it, Sophie must become the woman Europe’s most dangerous men expect to see: the cold, entitled heiress of a dead Reich loyalist.

But the money is only bait.

Drawn into a shadow war between British intelligence, American pragmatists, Vatican fixers, Swiss bankers, Soviet agents, and the remnants of the SS, Sophie finds herself trapped inside the very network she was sent to expose. Every alliance is temporary. Every identity is a weapon. And if the men around her discover where her loyalties truly lie, she will not live long enough to choose her own future.

CLICK TO PURCHASE!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Award-winning historical fiction from the World Wars to the Cold War.

Malcolm has spent a lifetime gathering stories, living and working in Australia and the Middle East before returning to the UK. Today, he weaves that global experience into gripping historical novels that explore the intersection of crime, war, and espionage.

When he isn’t uncovering the secrets of the 20th century, Malcolm lives and writes in Cheshire, England.

The Manchester Noir Series:

Gritty 1990s crime with a unique twist

The Honey Talker

The Fatal Formula

The Aviation Collection:

High-octane tales of courage and dogfights in WWI and WWII

LMF

The Way Back

Leviathan

The Lisbon Series:

Follow ex-cop Dinis Lopes through the treacherous, "neutral" streets of 1940s Portugal.

Shadows Over Lisbon

Lisbon '41

The Queen of Lisbon

The Assassination of a Nobody

The Cascais Conspiracy

The Good Cop

Lena, Elena

Cold War Espionage:

Revisit the 1950s with the fast-paced adventures of Contrail and Czechmate.

Thursday, October 22, 2026

**Book Blitz & Giveaway: Dead Man's Trigger (Max Maguire Vampire, #1) by Kat Huddleston**

Dead Man’s Trigger:

A Max Maguire Vampire Novel

Kat Huddleston
Publication date: October 5, 2026
Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy

Who Knew Immortality Could Be So Short?

When high school history teacher Max Maguire begins to suspect one of his brightest students is in trouble, he ends up walking down the wrong alley. Suddenly, he’s staring down the fangs of a beautiful, powerful, and utterly merciless vampire named Jade.

As Max’s life takes a dark turn he’s forced to learn how to survive in Jade’s twisted world. But if Jade thinks her hostage is going to play nice, she really should have read his resume. This former Special Forces sniper might just have to dust off some very lethal muscle memory.

While Max plots exactly how to kill the most dangerous predator on the planet, he discovers there’s another group of vampires that have their own plans for Jade. Before he knows it, Max is caught in the crosshairs of a vampire war that neither side can afford to lose.

And there’s one thing neither side knows… Max has a secret of his own.

CONTENT WARNING: This is NOT a romance. The novel contains mature content intended for readers 18 and older. This is a gritty, fast-paced genre hybrid combining vampires with dark urban fantasy, tactical military thriller action, and sarcastic humor, with a wisecracking protagonist at its center. There is explicit sexual material, including non-consensual sex, graphic violence, torture, adult themes, and visceral horror elements. In other words, my vampires don’t sparkle.

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

Max Maguire just got a brutal lesson from his captor, Jade, after his arm was exposed to the sun. He’s left burned and sick. The only one who can help him is the vampire who hurt him.

Max faded in and out of consciousness for hours, as the pain from his arm and the demands from his hunger took turns pounding through him like two enormous drums vying for attention. When he felt the sun leave the sky, the hunger reared up.

He tried to sit up, but his body started to shake. He felt like he was going to die, even though he figured a vampire wouldn’t die from a little sunburn. But he didn’t have any control over his body and every time he moved or touched his arm, pain seared through him. Eventually he stopped trying to get up or move and decided to wait it out. And suddenly there she was, Jade, looking down on him like an angel… or at least an angel from hell.

“What’s wrong with me?” Max asked.

“It’s sun poisoning. You’ll feel better after a bite.”

He closed his eyes as his body began to shake again. Max knew that she could bring him one of his former students at that moment and he’d kill them. His body would take over, the desire ripping right through his heart. And just as Max was focusing every ounce of his being on hating Jade, she sat down on the bed next to him and pulled him into her arms. Tenderly, almost lovingly, she rocked him like a mother would a sick child.

“It’s going to be okay. Drink me, Max,” she said.

He looked up at her surprised. Jade laughed.

She leaned down to kiss him on the forehead and then turned her head to the side, exposing her neck for him. Max’s body took over and in an instant he wrapped his hands around her and crushed her into his body, his fangs sinking into her neck. His mind went blank as he drank her deep and hard, extreme pain mingling with intense pleasure driving his senses to places he’d never been before. Better yet, he could feel her pleasure in his act.

When his mind came back to him, Max kept waiting for her to push him away, but she didn’t. When he finally stopped, he lay back wiping the blood from his mouth. She watched him with her cobalt blue eyes, like a curious cat wondering what he might do next. She’d gone from being pink and warm to pale and cool.

“Do you feel better?” she asked.

Max nodded. “Thank you.” It was a kind of twisted logic that would have him thank her for helping him considering she hurt him in the first place. Regardless he’d go with it. He had to make Jade believe she owned him body and soul, and there was no time to start like the present.

He was still in some pain, but Max felt much, much better. He rolled over to look at her, resting his head on his good arm. “You’re beautiful.”

“And you’re an idiot.”

“Okay,” he said.

“When I was holding your hand, you could have twisted out of the sun. You could have screamed, begged me to stop. Any number of things. But you didn’t. You just endured the pain. Why?”

“If I had done those things, would you have stopped sooner?”

“Probably not,” Jade said.

“Maybe I was trying to impress you.”

“I don’t think so.”

“And what do you think?”

“I think… you weren’t going to let me beat you.”

“You’ve already beaten me,” Max said as he played with her long, blonde hair rubbing a strand over his lips.

Jade laughed and shook her head. “Not yet. But I will… Do you want to continue with lessons on the Saracen Lance?”

“Sure. Why not?”

“Why is more like it.”

“I don’t think learning how to handle myself in this environment will hurt me.”

“It might not help you either… You’re a very interesting former human. Not always too bright though.”

“Somehow I don’t think being bright is a requirement for this job.” Max let his eyes run down the length of her body. She was wearing the T-shirt and jeans from earlier. He really wanted to take them off.

Jade touched his chest and her power flowed through him like an electric current. “I suppose not.” Jade pushed him onto his back and Max stopped talking. He didn’t want to think any more. He just wanted to let the feeling of her power flow through him. At that moment he didn’t even have the energy to hate her.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kat Huddleston has never met a perfectly ordinary day she couldn't improve with a vampire, a monster, or an alien invasion.

The result is Dead Man’s Trigger, the first book in her Max Maguire Vampire series, about a former Special Forces sniper turned high school history teacher turned vampire. He has military training, a talent for sarcasm, and a complicated relationship with being dead. Or is it undead?

Kat likes her supernatural creatures intelligent, her heroes complex, and her humor dark. Her vampires don't sparkle.

A Chicago-based writer, teacher, and award-winning artist, Kat spent a couple of decades writing about sci-fi TV and movies for the Syfy Channel’s website and Sci Fi Magazine. She's also written short stories and screenplays, taught fused glass, and created artwork that can be found in several galleries. Occasionally, she pretends she can concentrate on one thing at a time.

When she's not writing, painting, or melting glass in the name of art, Kat lives with her two cats, Jax and Nicky. They provide moral support, quality control, and unsolicited keyboard supervision. So far, neither has offered to help with marketing.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook

Instagram / BookBub / Newsletter

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Dead Man’s Trigger Blitz

—

**Release Blitz & Giveaway: Legacy of the Bluffs by Loretta Marion**

Legacy of the Bluffs

Loretta Marion

Mystery

Publisher: Time At Last Books

Publication Date: October 22, 2026

Page count: 376 pages

SCROLL DOWN FOR GIVEAWAY!

SYNOPSIS:

A suspicious death rattles a quaint Cape Cod seaside village and the discovery of a long-buried secret leaves a prominent local family questioning their legacy.

Cassie Mitchell is juggling the responsibilities of new motherhood and the drama surrounding her sister’s return to Whale Rock while welcoming another tenant to the carriage house. Adding to her worries are the recently discovered letters revealing a stunning confession. Could one of her seven baby brothers, who supposedly died at childbirth, have survived?

Cassie begins unraveling this new family mystery with guidance from the ever-present spirits of her ancestors, the original residents of The Bluffs. However, the fog of pregnancy brain is impeding her deciphering of their messages.

Cassie’s husband, former FBI agent Daniel Benjamin, surprises her with an au pair to help with the baby. But there’s something unnerving about Abbigail Grant, and soon after her arrival, the community is shaken when a body is found sprawled on the rocks near The Bluffs. With the case ruled a homicide, Cassie becomes entangled in the investigation and butting heads with Chief Brooks Kincaid, who is under pressure to solve the case before tourist season begins. A prominent politician appears on the scene, with questions arising over his connection to the victim. And why has the mysterious new owner of the Red Herring estate been nosing around suspiciously?

Can this murder be solved in time to save the summer season? Will Cassie determine if her brother survived? And if he did, will it be a blessing or another curse on the Mitchell family?

“LEGACY OF THE BLUFFS…a story about murder, family secrets, and the complicated inheritance passed from one generation to the next.”

~Literary Global 5 STAR GOLD BOOK AWARD

CLICK TO PURCHASE!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

An award-winning author of fiction, Loretta Marion’s writing bridges the genres of mystery, suspense and women’s fiction, always with hints of romance and humor, sometimes delving into the psychological and paranormal. She creates strong but flawed characters as appealing as the rich atmospheric settings in which the stories take place.

A true bibliophile, she has loved reading and creating with words since she was a young girl. That affection for the written word followed her like a shadow throughout her life, but her passion for writing fiction evolved from the unlikely world of hospice. As a volunteer, she established a Legacy Story program to honor and preserve the rich heritage of the fascinating people who were soon to leave this world. The meaningful experience inspired her to create her own interesting characters and stories.

Though born and raised in the Midwest, Loretta fell in love with New England and has made it the setting for much of her writing. When not whipping out words on her laptop, she is traveling, enjoying outdoor pursuits, or is curled up with a delicious new book.

Loretta lives in Rhode Island with her husband, Geoffrey, and their devoted Mr. Micawber, a sweet and amusing German Shepherd Corgi cross.

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Wednesday, October 21, 2026

**Book Review: The Last Rift Dragon (Knights of the Silver Fog, #1) by Shami Stovall**

The Last Rift Dragon (The Knights of the Silver Fog, #1)

The Last Rift Dragon by Shami Stovall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Good vs. evil, with magic and dragons!

The Last Rift Dragon by author Shami Stovall is the wonderful debut novel in her new magical young adult fantasy series, Knights of the Silver Fog, and it is chockful of twists and turns, acts of bravery, loyalty, and honor, treachery and betrayal, and young knights just out of training desperately fighting to save their homeland and the last of their dragons. The story follows the exploits of young Master Richter Whitlock, on the eve of becoming a full-fledged protector of Bridgehaven, his island home, when they are attacked by their nemesis, the neighboring land of Whettin, whose warriors ride on the backs of nightmarishly giant black centipedes.

The main character, the orphaned Richter Whitlock, is the only child of two knights who were killed while defending their homeland. He has always dreamed of becoming a knight himself in honor of his lost parents. He is an earnest, loyal young man who has dedicated his life to training for his future, bringing his best friend and former servant, Valex “Lex” Thorn, along with him. Their relationship is close and heartwarming.

The author creates a vivid, magic-filled setting for the story to unfold. Her world-building is mesmerizing, creating a vibrant, immersive backdrop for the action and adventure to come. I was particularly taken by the magic element of the land of Bridgehaven and the 'gyfts' that manifested in the people as a result of breathing the silver fog, the breath of the dragons, and how the loss of the dragons threatened the continued development of their special powers.

The plot hits the ground running, with Richter and Lex struggling to reach their final training assessment, and it continues with full-blown, bloody battles against skilled Whettin warriors. The storyline is full of twists and turns, and I was constantly kept off-balance as the characters were forced to pivot to meet the challenges presented. The good guys face treachery and betrayal from unexpected sources when they least expect it, and they don’t always come out on top or unscathed, keeping the suspense palpable and decision-making critical throughout. And then there are the dragons -wild and wonderful, with a surprise tale all their own.

I recommend THE LAST RIFT DRAGON to readers of young adult fantasy, action, and adventure stories.

View all my reviews

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

**WOW! WOMEN ON WRITING TOUR of Toward the Light: A Year in Paris by Deborah Svec-Carstens**

WOW! WOMEN ON WRITING TOUR

Toward the Light: A Year In Paris

Deborah Svec-Carstens

Autobiography / Memoir / Coming-of-Age

Publisher: Spiral Staircase Press

Publication Date: September 15, 2026

Page count: 305 pages

SYNOPSIS:

What happens when the City of Light turns dark?

At twenty-two, Deborah Svec-Carstens leaves small-town Iowa for Paris, hoping a year abroad will bring adventure, independence, and a fresh start. But just as she begins to feel at home, a morning run ends in sexual assault.

Every instinct tells her to leave. Instead, she chooses to stay.

As the months pass, Deborah leans on an unexpected community of friends, wrestles with questions of faith, and finds purpose in caring for Lily, the young girl entrusted to her care. Slowly, she discovers that healing is not a destination, but a path taken one step at a time.

Set against the cafés, parks, and neighborhoods of Paris, Toward the Light is a coming-of-age memoir of trauma, resilience, and the courage of simply staying.

CLICK TO PURCHASE!

| Amazon | BAM! | Barnes & Noble |

READ AN EXCERPT:

My jet-lag fog and doubts lifted at the sight of the Eiffel Tower, L’Arc de Triomphe, and other landmarks. I twisted my head in every direction and leaned close to the windows. The driver watched me through his rearview mirror. I probably looked like a dog running back and forth across the back seat, but I didn’t care. I was in Paris. I had made the right decision.

The car stopped in front of an unremarkable, five-story apartment building six blocks away from the Arc de Triomphe. White shutters in need of a fresh coat of paint framed the windows on the upper levels. A restaurant and a foreign currency exchange were located on either side of seven-foot-tall, dark green, wooden double doors—nearly the size of an entrance to an ancient cathedral.

The driver set my bags on the curb. I rifled through unfamiliar currency to find what I owed. Unsure of whether to tip, I added a few francs to the total, depleting what I’d exchanged. He drove away, and I stared up at the building that would be my home for the next ten months. Luggage in one hand, I used the other to punch in the door code Claudette had given me. When I heard a click, I pushed open one of the heavy doors and stepped over the threshold into a shaded courtyard with no grass and only a few flowers in the windowsills.

A stranger. An outsider. Entering the unknown.

I had arrived.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Deborah Svec-Carstens, JD, MTS, is a writer, book coach, spiritual director, and former lawyer whose work explores healing after trauma, embodiment, and spirituality. Her debut memoir, Toward the Light: A Year in Paris, traces her search for meaning and connection in the months after a traumatic assault in Paris in her early twenties.

Her writing has appeared or is forthcoming in bioStories, the Brevity blog, the Des Moines Register, and Ember & Vine Nonfiction Anthology. Her work has received recognition from Writer’s Digest, WOW! Women on Writing, and Memoir Magazine.

Deborah writes The Spiral Staircase on Substack and offers workshops and presentations. She lives in Central Iowa with her husband, where she writes and accompanies others in their journeys of healing and story.

BLOG TOUR CALENDAR:

October 19th @ The Muffin - Join us as we celebrate the launch of Toward the Light: A Year in Paris by Deborah Svec-Carstens. Read an interview with the author and enter the giveaway.

October 20th @ Guatemala Paula Loves to Read - Looking for a new memoir? Read an excerpt from the debut memoir by Deborah Svec-Carstens, Toward the Light: A Year in Paris.

October 22nd @ All Things Writing - Author Deborah Svec-Carstens shares her writing experience in Writing About Trauma, Not Reliving It.

October 27th @ A Wonderful World of Words - Deborah Svec-Carstens writes about the journey to release the shame after her assault, including writing her memoir Toward the Light.

October 30th @ Nikki's Book and Movie Reviews - Stop by for a review of Toward the Light by Deborah Svec-Carstens.

October 31st @ Boots, Shoes and Fashion - Meet author Deborah Svec-Carstens in today's interview.

November 4th @ Words by Webb - Jodi shares her thoughts on Toward the Light by Deborah Svec-Carstens.

November 6th @ Book Reviews From an Avid Reader - Today Joan is reviewing a memoir of trauma and hope by Deborah Svec-Carstens: Toward the Light.

November 14th @ World of My Imagination - Celebrate National Memoir Writing Month with Nicole's review of Toward the Light: A Year in Paris.

Monday, October 19, 2026

**Blurb Blitz Tour & Giveaway - Dazzled by the Light: Linda Goodman, Pop Astrology, and the New Age by Karen Christino**

Dazzled by the Light:

Linda Goodman, Pop Astrology, and the New Age

Karen Christino

Biography

Publication Date: July 27, 2026

Page count: 403 pages

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by

Goddess Fish Promotions.

Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

SCROLL DOWN FOR GIVEAWAY!

SYNOPSIS:

New Age trailblazer Linda Goodman wrote best-selling books and empowered millions with astrology’s insights. Strong willed, complicated and fiercely independent, she had three husbands, six kids, legions of fans, and extraordinary success. An idealistic seeker, she believed she could create the world she chose; yet with her daughter’s suicide at 21, she shrank from reality.

Dazzled by the Light covers Linda’s West Virginia roots, her relationship struggles, professional achievements and financial setbacks. Enriched with in-depth research, vivid portraits of New Age figures, friends’ candid recollections, and Linda’s effervescent prose, this comprehensive biography illuminates the life and times of an enigmatic icon.

CLICK TO PURCHASE!

READ AN EXCERPT:

Love Letters radio show, 1957

Before Linda Goodman’s Sun Signs success, her most successful project was a radio show called “Love Letters from Linda.” She was preoccupied with love, and was an adroit letter writer; “Love Letters” combined the two. Her show aired in Pittsburgh, where the family had moved in 1957.

From the perspective of a mother of three in a secure marriage, the project may have helped put her sometimes tumultuous past in context. We can envision Linda writing passionate letters to her ex-husband Bill Snyder overseas in the 1940s, while listening to sentimental standards on the radio. Then ten years later imagining penning the loving and supportive missives she would have preferred, or the kind of letters she and her current husband Sam might have exchanged.

The show allowed her to relive her younger days when life held few limitations or responsibilities, when she was a beauty pageant contestant. Linda was the writer and the announcer for the show, which featured romantic songs from the 1940s. She probably read letters she’d created to depict correspondence between soldiers and their sweethearts at home.

“Love Letters” was broadcast in October of 1957 on Monday and Thursday evenings on WJAS in downtown Pittsburgh, and ran through 1961. Linda probably refreshed the letters and switched up the songs. She, herself, was often nostalgic for the past. But the show was innovative, since “oldies” radio didn’t become popular until the 1960s and ‘70s. Once the family moved to New York City, Goodman set her sights on bigger things.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A consulting astrologer for over 20 years, Karen Christino has written nine books about astrology, and horoscopes for Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Modern Bride and Seventeen magazines. She has a B.A. from Colgate University, and also studied at Columbia University.

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| Dazzled by the Light |

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Karen Christino will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.

Sunday, October 18, 2026

**Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway: All's Wool That Ends Wool (Clear Creek Mysteries, #7) by Rebecca McKinnon**

All's Wool That Ends Wool (Clear Creek Mysteries) by Rebecca McKinnon

About All's Wool That Ends Wool

All's Wool That Ends Wool (Clear Creek Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
7th in Series
Setting - Rocky Mountains
Independently Published
Publication date: October 8, 2026
ASIN: B0HCXL9GSC
Paperback
ISBN-13: 979-8187489046 / ASIN: B0HFQ2YLTV

Wedding Bells Are Ringing Christmas Threats are Singing

Holiday cheer has spun through the tiny Rocky Mountain town of Clear Creek, leaving everyone excited for the annual Christmas festival. But the real event of the season — Jemma and Brandon’s wedding — won’t happen until the tourists head home.

While Jemma is fulfilling her one festival assignment of helping vendors set up, she learns a man has swapped the ornaments he’d listed on his application for a book he’s written about the string of local murders. To avoid reigniting everyone’s emotional distress, the event organizer asks him to leave. When Jemma and Brandon check back, instead of finding an empty booth they find the man dead.

Before Jemma can reassure anyone that her focus is on the wedding, not the investigation, unsettling gifts that twist The Twelve Days of Christmas start appearing at her shop. The holiday tune has never been more threatening.

The killer’s grudge is personal, but Jemma has more to protect this Christmas than her life. She needs to wind up the investigation so she and Brandon can finally tie the knot!

Click to Purchase!

About Rebecca McKinnon

Rebecca McKinnon enjoys playing with her imaginary friends and introducing them to others through her writing. She dreams of living in the middle of nowhere but has been unable to find an acceptable location that wouldn’t require crossing an ocean.

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Tour Participants

October 13 – @bibliophile_foodie – REVIEW

October 13 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

October 14 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

October 14 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

October 15 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

October 15 – Twirling Book Princess – SPOTLIGHT

October 16 – Christy's Cozy Corners – SPOTLIGHT

October 16 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews

October 17 – Boys' Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT

October 18 – Angel's Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT

October 18 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT

October 19 – Romance Novel Giveaways – SPOTLIGHT

October 20 – Sarcastically Yours, Jen – SPOTLIGHT

October 21 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

October 21 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

October 22 – Sarandipity's – SPOTLIGHT

October 22 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT

October 23 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

October 23 – Cassidy's Bookshelves – SPOTLIGHT

October 24 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

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Saturday, October 17, 2026

**Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway: Murder on Flesher Pass (Montana Animal Rescue Mystery, #2) by K.L. Borges**

Murder on Flesher Pass (Montana Animal Rescue Mystery Series) by K. L. Borges

About Murder on Flesher Pass

Murder on Flesher Pass (Montana Animal Rescue Mystery Series)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting - Montana
Publisher: Camel Press
Publication date: October 14, 2026
Language: English
Print length: 316 pages
Paperback
ISBN-10: 168492362X / ISBN-13: 978-1684923625
Digital
ISBN-13: 978-1684923632 / ASIN: B0H1DLX1WV

RogerDog Rescue of Helena, Montana, is operated solely for the benefit of Montana dogs, no transported outsiders allowed.

When a fellow rescuer dies while completing a transport for an infamous Butte operation, Betty Mills, Kelly Boyd and Cici Vargas don't believe it was an accident. They infilter the Butte group, just in time to partake in a rescue flight from Mexico. Plans go awry and they unwittingly wind up with something that multiple suspicious characters want to get their hands on. Is it the foreign dogs themselves or something else? The body count begins to grow and the danger spreads to other RogerDog workers.

Can they solve the mystery before it is too late?

Click to Purchase!

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About K.L. Borges

K.L. Borges, an Agatha Award-nominated author, moved to Montana thirty-five years ago with her husband to raise their three children alongside a series of herding dogs. Prior to becoming an author, she taught math at a private Billings high school (Go, Rams!). Borges is a member of the Billings Gem and Mineral Club and Sisters in Crime. She and her husband are often found enjoying the Montana outdoors with their two blue heelers.

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Tour Participants

October 14 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

October 14 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT

October 15 – Boys' Mom Reads! – AUTHOR GUEST POST

October 15 – From the TBR Pile - REVIEW

October 16 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW

October 16 – Deal Sharing Aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

October 17 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT

October 17 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

October 18 – Jody's Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

October 19 – Sarandipity's – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

October 20 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

October 20 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

October 21 - Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

October 22 – Salty Inspirations – CHARACTER GUEST POST

October 23 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

October 24 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

October 25 – Romance Novel Giveaways – AUTHOR GUEST POST

October 25 – Book HookUp – REVIEW

October 26 – Sneaky the Library Cat's Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

October 26 – Baroness Book Trove – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

October 27 – Sarcastically Yours, Jen – SPOTLIGHT

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**Book Blitz & Giveaway - Skip Carter: Henchman for Hire by J. Von Swan**

Skip Carter: Henchman for Hire
J. Von Swan
Publication date: October 13, 2026
Genres: Action, Adult, Humor

From the award-winning author of the Wolf of Vanaheim series comes a story about the guy nobody roots for — until now.

Skip Carter isn’t a hero. He’s a former soldier, ex-con, and lifelong screw-up whose only real talent is taking punches and showing up anyway. So when a shady agency offers to rent him out as muscle for supervillains, he figures it’s just another paycheck.

But between ridiculous costumes, insane bosses, and jobs that always end in broken bones, Skip starts to realize the real losers are the guys stuck cleaning up after the chaos. And when a world-ending threat finally hits Skytropolis, he gets one shot to stop being the disposable henchman and start being the man his daughter believes he can be.

Darkly funny, surprisingly heartfelt, and packed with action, Skip Carter, Henchman for Hire is for anyone who’s ever felt like the sidekick in their own story.

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

Mrs. Fuller glanced down her list. “Okay! Next we have… Mr. Carter.”

Peggy turned around in her chair and locked eyes with me. Her smile wasn’t just excitement. It was encouragement. A silent You can do this.

My chest tightened as I stood, smoothing the front of my suit jacket with sweaty hands. The room stared at me with pure, unfiltered child curiosity. No judgment yet. Just curious attention like they were hoping I might be someone I’m not.

I walked to the front of the classroom, facing a row of small faces that believed adults were all responsible, stable people with their shit together. And I realized, with sudden clarity, that I had no idea what to say.

I opened my mouth but nothing came out.

Awkward, uncomfortable silence stretched. The kind that crawls across your skin and whispers everyone is watching you screw this up.

I cleared my throat and glanced at Dr. Ramirez. He studied me like he was trying to place how he knew me from his emergency room.

“Uh. Hi, kids.”

A few of them waved like I was a minor celebrity. Someone whispered something and giggled.

“My name is Skip Carter. I’m Peggy’s dad.”

Peggy sat up straighter at that. Pride radiated off her like a heat lamp.

“I, uh… I used to be in the military.” That part was safe and true. Technically documented despite the dishonorable discharge. “And now I work in… private security.”

That sounded boring enough to pass. Mrs. Fuller nodded approvingly.

Jayden, the dog lover, raised his hand immediately. “Do you protect people?”

Every instinct screamed at me to lie. To say yes. To let that be the end of it. Protecting people was clean. Simple. Noble.

Instead, honesty slipped out like a bad habit.

“Not really,” I said.

Jayden frowned with confusion. “So then what do you do?”

I choked a little. “I… help make sure certain situations go the way they’re supposed to.”

That felt vague enough to dodge the truth while still being technically accurate. I had spent years perfecting that skill.

A girl with neat, black braids and a pink sweater raised her hand. “Do you stop bad guys?”

“No,” I said, and immediately regretted it. “I mean, sometimes other people stop them.”

She also frowned like I’d just told her Santa wasn’t real.

Another hand shot up. “Do you stop burglars from stealing stuff?”

I shook my head. “No.”

The kids started exchanging confused looks. The magic was leaking out of the room.

From the back, a voice cut through the air. “My mom says he’s a henchman.”

Some of the kids immediately giggled.

I looked toward the sound. It was Billy from next door. He was wearing a Captain Justice T-shirt and a smug expression. The kind of kid who repeated adult conversations without understanding why they hurt.

Peggy whipped around in her seat. “Shut up, Billy!”

Mrs. Fuller stepped forward. “Billy, that’s not appropriate–”

Billy wasn’t done. “She says henchmen work for supervillains and help them hurt people.”

Every pair of eyes swung back to me.

I felt heat crawl up my neck, into my face. The suit suddenly felt too tight.

Peggy stood up in her seat. “My dad knows all the superheroes!”

That part was technically true. Unfortunately.

Billy smirked. “Then does he know Captain Justice?”

I exhaled slowly. “Yeah,” I said. “I know Captain Justice.”

Billy’s eyes lit up. “Is he awesome in real life?”

I thought about Captain Justice and all the times he had knocked out my friends. About him swooping in to stop us even when the jobs were small. About the time he punched a henchman who was injured and trying to surrender.

“He’s kind of a blowhard,” I said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

J. Von Swan is the award-winning author of the Wolf of Vanaheim series. He retired from law enforcement as a Sergeant in 2024 after the birth of his first daughter. During his career, he served on both the SWAT team and the mental health unit, experiences that now influence his writing and dark sense of humor. He now writes full-time and instructs law enforcement part-time at the community college.

J. Von Swan lives in Colorado with his family, where he spends his time enjoying the outdoors and imagining dragons that still need slaying.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram

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Skip Carter: Henchman for Hire Blitz