Friday, September 22, 2023

Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway: Something Borrowed, Something 90% Dark (Bean to Bar Mystery, #6) by Amber Royer

 

 


Something Borrowed,
Something 90% Dark
A Bean to Bar Mystery
by
Amber Royer


Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Setting - Texas
Publisher: Golden Tip Press
Publication Date: September 12, 2023
Print length: 301 pages
Digital ASIN: B0C9YXTC78


SCROLL DOWN FOR GIVEAWAY!


SYNOPSIS:


Felicity Koerber’s bean to bar chocolate shop on Galveston’s historic Strand is hosting the friends and family coming into town for her best friend Autumn’s wedding. 

As matron of honor, Felicity has a ton of tasks to complete – including making chocolates for the gift bags. She doesn’t have time to solve another murder. But when one of the bridesmaids becomes a prime suspect in the death of a visiting real estate agent, Felicity has to put her detecting skills to use again to keep the wedding plans from getting derailed. 

She’s already nervous about the impeding deadline she’s given herself to finally choose between her two love interests – and figuring where life goes once she makes her choice. But add in a missing pigmy goat and a new coffee shop that wants to partner with her, and she’s frazzled. 

She begins to discover that not everything is as it seems among the wedding guests. Can she handle the wedding preparations, pull off turning her shop into a concert venue, and unmask the killer – before anyone else dies?

CLICK TO PURCHASE!

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Amber Royer writes the CHOCOVERSE comic telenovela-style foodie-inspired space opera series, and the BEAN TO BAR MYSTERIES. She is also the author of STORY LIKE A JOURNALIST: A WORKBOOK FOR NOVELISTS, which boils down her writing knowledge into an actionable plan involving over 100 worksheets to build a comprehensive story plan for your novel. 

She blogs about creative writing techniques and all things chocolate at www.amberroyer.com. She also teaches creative writing and is an author coach. If you are very nice to her, she might make you cupcakes. Chocolate cupcakes, of course.



TOUR PARTICIPANTS:

September 11 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT
September 11 – Jane Reads – AUTHOR GUEST POST
September 12 – Cozy Up WIth Kathy – CHARACTER GUEST POST
September 12 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW
September 13 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT
September 13 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT
September 14 – Christy's Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST
September 14 – The Mystery Section – SPOTLIGHT
September 15 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
September 15 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews - SPOTLIGHT
September 16 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT
September 16 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR GUEST POST
September 17 – FUONLYKNEW – RECIPE POST
September 18 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
September 19 – Socrates Book Reviews - SPOTLIGHT
September 20 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR GUEST POST
September 21 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
September 22 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT
September 23 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
September 24 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!


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Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Dust by Dusti Bowling

DustDust by Dusti Bowling
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Riveting and realistic story with elements of fantasy, probing serious topics, and all too possible situations middle-grade students may encounter.

Dust by Dusti Bowling is a riveting tale of four middle-graders navigating a toxic school environment with rampant and unrelenting bullying. Targeted because they stand out as different in some way, three have been friends since starting school together. But when the new kid, Adam, catches the eyes of the mean kids, those most responsible for the bullying, they try to bring him into their group: safety in numbers, right?

The story is told from the point of view of Avalyn, who suffers from severe asthma and whose struggle hits crisis level when dust storms begin to batter their small hometown. She loves her best friends, Dillon and Nan, but knows her disease affects them, too: always having to accommodate for her health and safety. She is genuinely aware and grateful for their modifications but is frustrated all the same.

Nan and Dillon have their own struggles, with Dillon drawing the ire of the Meanie Butt Band first and Nan and Avalyn more so by association with him. The constant harassment these children endure is shocking and heartbreaking. But their situation is not new; it's been going on for a long time. Adam's arrival on campus provides the mean kids with another vulnerable target. I was surprised that Nan and Dillon were reluctant to include him in their small group. Avalyn, on the other hand, can sense his pain and loneliness, and he represents a mystery she needs to solve.

As the dust storms continued to batter the town, the tension built, and so did the severity of the harassment. I knew any minute that something awful was going to happen. When it does, Avalyn must work through her natural doubts and fears to take action and make her voice heard.

Bullying at schools is ongoing and real for many children. The situation in the story had taken on a life of its own and became part of the school's culture. Adam's home situation is not a singular one, and if a reader learns anything from their reading of this book, please let it be that circumstances like Adam's are never the fault of the victim, the child. The story could serve as a jumping-off point for children and adults to discuss the serious topics involved.

I recommend DUST to middle-grade readers and adults who work with or parent this age group.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author or publisher through TBR and Beyond Book Tours.



View all my reviews

Monday, September 18, 2023

Book Teaser Tour: Gobbledy by Lis Anna-Langston

 

Middle-Grade / Holiday

Date Published: 10-20-2023

Publisher: Mapleton Press


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Ever since Dexter and Dougal’s mom passed away, life has been different—but things take a whole new turn when a shooting star turns out to be a creature from outer space! Gobbledy is a fun-filled holiday story that adds up to two brothers, three friends, unlimited jars of peanut butter, a ketchup factory, and one little alien far, far from home.

 

 

Excerpt

 

“What do you think these things are?” she asks.

          A loud wail comes from the new jar full of dirt.

          Slowly, I lift the jar off the work table and unscrew the lid.

          Fi and I look down at the strange bug. The little thing wails. It's not much bigger than the two crickets standing on the sidelines, staring.

          Fi looks at me with a wild look in her eyes. “Does your dad know?”

          I shake my head. “Absolutely not. No. Dad will just make me take him back to the forest.”

          I pull the lid off. The strange little bug opens his mouth really big.

          “Okay, okay,” I whisper. “I’ll feed you, but you have to be quiet.”

          He closes his mouth and blinks. For a second, I think he might actually understand what I’m saying.

          There's a bag of potato chips on the counter in the kitchen. I drop chips into the jar one by one, avoiding the crickets.

          Chomp. Chomp. Chomp.

          “Where’s the rock?” Fi asks.

          Chomp. Chomp. Chomp.

          The back door opens. Startled, Fi jerks upright abruptly, smacking her head on the slanted ceiling. I try to grab her hand as it flies past my face.  Her arms flap wildly as she falls in a woozy, slow motion out into the hall.

          “Fi?” I say loudly.

          Ka-thunk.  

          “Fi?”  I drop to the floor next to her and check her pulse, like I've seen people do in movies.  “Can you hear me?”

          She undoubtedly cannot.  She does not move or answer.

          The jar wobbles on the wooden table.

          “Excuse me,” I quickly step over her limp body and grab the jar.  I tighten my grip as it jerks around in my arms.  Hurky-jerky, it shifts against my shirt.  I hold tight and screw the lid back on.

          “Dexter?”

          Huh? “What are you doing home, Dougal?” I yell.

          “I live here.”

          “I know that, but you're early.”

          “Not really. School is out. Dad asked Fran to pick me up because you got in trouble again, and he couldn't leave work twice.”

          “Umm...”

          Fran walks into the hall and says, “Oh my gosh, what happened?”

          I look left, then right.  Up, then down.  Over, then under.  My eyes settle on my backpack next to my work table. I shove the jar inside quick, listening to the hurky-jerky sound of glass tapping against my notebooks.  I cover the jar with my jacket and step quickly into the hall.

          Fran pulls her hand to her mouth.  “What happened to Fi?”

          Fi is on the floor where I left her.

          “She was, ummm, we were doing our science projects and then she fainted.”

          “I thought you had to turn those in today?”

          “We did, but mine got loose and she was ...”

          I stare at her limp, oddly twisted body.

          “Do you want me to perform CPR until the emergency workers arrive?” Dougal asks.

          Fran rolls Fiona over on her back.  “They'll be no emergency workers. I got this,” she says quietly, tapping Fi’s cheeks. “Fiona?”

          Fi's eyes pop open. “Wha?

          “You passed out, girl.  Are you okay?”

          “Huh?”

          Fran helps Fi to her feet.  She sways, woozy, reaching for the wall.

          Their cat, Sir Shreds-A-Lot, scratches and howls at the back door.

          “Don't let that cat in,” Dougal says.  “He's been sneaking up to the attic and eating the villagers in Mom's village.”

          “What's the last thing you remember?” I ask Fi.

          She rubs her forehead.  “Let me get an ice pack. I'll answer that in a minute.”

 

About the Author

Hailed as “an author with a genuine flair for originality” by Midwest Book Review and “a loveable, engaging, original voice…” by Publishers Weekly, Lis Anna-Langston was raised along the winding current of the Mississippi River on a steady diet of dog-eared books.

You can find her any day of the week in the wilds of South Carolina plucking stories out of thin air.

 

Contact Links

Website

Goodreads

Instagram

 

Purchase Links

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Kobo

iBooks

Smashwords


RABT Book Tours & PR

Sunday, September 17, 2023

Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway: At the Ready (Global Security Unlimited, #3) by Sharon Michalove

At the Ready by Sharon Michalove Banner

At the Ready

by Sharon Michalove

August 28 - September 22, 2023 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

At the Ready by Sharon Michalove

What happens when a hunky French-Canadian security executive falls for a feisty Chicago lawyer?

Micki Press and JL Martin both have complicated lives, but when they come together, the sparks are undeniable. Micki is trying to make it to the top of one of the most conservative corporate law firms in Chicago. JL is the CEO of WatchDog Inc., a successful security company, and is struggling with his own family complications. When Micki's former lover stalks her, JL steps in to protect her, and the two soon realize their feelings go beyond friendship. But with their complicated pasts and the struggles of the corporate world, are they ready to take the next step, or will the twists and turns have them singing the Chicago blues?

If you enjoy a story of complicated love and corporate ambition, you'll love At the Ready. If you enjoy fast-paced action, romance, and a dash of karaoke, you'll fall for At the Ready.

Book Details:

Genre: Romantic Suspense
Published by: Coffee and Eclairs Books (self-published)
Publication Date: August 2023
ISBN: 978-1-7369187-6-0
Series: Global Security Unlimited, 3
Book Links: Amazon | Book Bub | Goodreads

Read an excerpt:

Chicago, February 2014

One secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes.—Benjamin Disraeli

Micki

Today’s the day. Best suit. Flawless hair and makeup. Every inch the polished senior associate. No four-inch heels, though. Frederick Lanscombe, managing partner, is a little sensitive about his height and this meeting is the crucial first step in the campaign to be the next partner at Miller, Lanscombe, Baker, Francis, Masters, and Hargrove.

The door to the small conference room is wide open, Fred at the head of table, eating a donut. My mentor, Rebecca Masters smiles and gives me a small thumbs up. Tyler Miller nods to acknowledge I’m there. More than there. After a hundred years, this firm is still a boys’ club but I plan to crack into top echelon and become just the second woman to make partner.

I fly through the door and end up on hands and knees when Hayden Forbes-Cartwright barrels into me. When I look up, Fred’s donut is poised at his open mouth. Rebecca’s hand is over her mouth. And Tyler laughs. “Great entrance, Micki.” The censure I hear pricks my balloon of confidence.

A snigger erupts from Hayden as his big hand reaches down to pull me up. “So sorry, Micki. Couldn’t put the brakes on in time.”

Upright, balanced a little precariously on my toothpick heels, my glare has the heat of the Milky Way. Not that Hayden pays any attention. His bogus concern is yet one more layer of deceit. Still, points to him. I’m the klutz and he’s the chivalric hero.“Have a seat, Micki, Hayden.” Fred gives each of us a once over. Dressing well is one of the unspoken rules. Hayden’s navy blue pinstripe is comparable to my silver gray jacket and matching pencil skirt—points even on wardrobe. My phone is in my lap and I pull up my spreadsheet. I’ve kept score since the first time we met. The advantage has seesawed back and forth, but we’re competing for the pinnacle in the stakes race, so I’ll have to up my game.

Hayden and I were adversaries from the get-go. We started here, on the same day eight years ago. Me half an hour early. Hayden fifteen minutes late strolling in with his uncle. All my muscles clenched when he looked me over with his trademark devil-may-care smile.

“I know you received the memo. With Sonny Philips’ retirement, the firm will promote one associate to partner this year. As the two seniors, you will be the leading candidates.”

Hayden stops fiddling with his Chicago Yacht Club tie. “Does that mean other associates might be considered?”

“Technically, yes, but in reality you two are the only ones qualified right now. The partners will evaluate you on several criteria besides the competencies you’ve shown in your time here.”

He pauses.

Hayden rushes into the short silence. “Does every partner get a vote?”

“You know they do,” Tyler chides his nephew impatiently.

“And are some votes weighted more heavily than others? Like seniority?”

“No.” Rebecca’s response is explosive. “Please go on, Fred.”

When I glance toward Hayden, he shows no embarrassment, not even a slight flush. We all learn to put on a neutral face. I permit myself a very small smile. Minus five to Hayden.

Fred looks at the sheet in front of him, then from Tyler to Rebecca. They nod. “The criteria include enthusiasm, treatment of others, the opinion of your mentor, maintaining personal control, commitment, successful building and protection of your reputation and that of the firm, consistent hard work, always available, constant improvement, and most important— being perceived as trustworthy.”

Hayden’s eyes dart like tiny silverfish, his tell when he’s scheming. on how to get the edge. While I put in the long hours and never turn down a request, Hayden skates by, taking credit for the work of junior associates. Boasting about staying late when he disappears in the middle of the day. When your uncle’s name is on the door, you have an extra pass. Tyler Miller will definitely push for Hayden to be the next partner.

Fred is still talking and I wrench my attention back to his droning monotone. “Besides the formal evaluation, the other piece will be assisting Rebecca with a high-profile insider trading case. It’s more than usually sensitive because our client is a candidate for a Senate seat. He says he’s been set up. Not necessarily a strong or provable defense. You’ll be combing emails, social media, accounts, and documents to see what evidence you find.”

Bucket of nightcrawlers? Come on, Micki, try to show some enthusiasm. Can’t jump up and down.

“What a great opportunity for us to show what we’re made of.” Hayden’s wide smile and crackling delivery is phony as a carney barker’s come on.

Our managing partner nods his head approvingly. Hayden is his favored candidate too. Fred and Tyler have some kind of mutual admiration society and Hayden benefits.

Yeah, he’s a suck up.

My turn. Say something but avoid the gush. “This is a amazing challenge. I really appreciate the chance to work on a case so important to the future and reputation of the firm and, potentially beyond, Fred.”

Rebecca produces a small smile, so I hope I’ve hit the right note.

As we walk out, she stops me. “Micki, I have a lunch appointment, but let’s have a drink after work.” She looks around but doesn’t see anyone in lurking mode. “We haven’t had a good chat for a while.”

“Great, Rebecca. Just come by my office when you’re ready to leave.”

Then I cancel my date for the evening. Work comes first, always.

*****

The Gage is lively at five thirty. After-work drinks have replaced the three-martini lunch, unless you’re Hayden Forbes-Cartwright. He indulges in both.

Rebecca manages to get us a quiet table in a corner near the tile fireplace. We won’t have to shout and have less likelihood of being overheard.

After the drinks are ordered, she pulls out a legal pad. “Thought we could go over some strategies for the work. My thought is that you’ll work on the emails, social media, anything online and whatever documents we can upload. That way, while you’re traveling, you’ll have plenty of material to access.”

“That would be great. I’ve been anxious about being away at such a crucial point in my career.”

The pencil between Rebecca’s fingers moves up and down like a seesaw. “Thanks to technology. Years ago we were tied to the office, the library. I’m glad you can go to the awards ceremony. Kind of like the Oscars for authors.”

“Yeah. Still five working days away…”

“Our new legal research assistant is already busy organizing everything as documentation comes in.”

A Paris Rose is put in front of Rebecca, who pushes her legal pad to the side, but not before a few drops splash onto the paper, leaving a light pink trail. My Jabberwock is in a coupe. She takes a sip just as the cheese board is deposited in the middle of the table along with a basket of fried pickles. Cheese is a magnet for me. My grabby fingers snatch some almost before the server gets the platter on the table.

“Simon Greenberg is an attorney with Talcott, Maier, and current Republican candidate for Senate from Illinois. The SEC received a tip claiming he made use of private information to trade stocks from several companies he represents. After an investigation, the Commission decided on civil charges. Unfortunately, because his candidacy has made him a public figure, criminal charges are pending as well. Maybe some questions about election finance too.”

“Wait. Shouldn’t Hayden be here?” Not that I want him, but if we’re a team, he deserves the same explanations.

“Hayden has already been briefed.”

Be professional. In control. Pretend it doesn’t matter.

“Oh. I see.” But I don’t. Not at all.

Rebecca takes a huge swallow of the pink liquid. “Not by me. After our meeting, Tyler and Fred took Hayden to lunch and briefed him there.”

How does she know? Or is this an assumption? My heated protest escapes before I can rein it in. “But it’s your case.”

She waves the comment away. “He was so full of himself when he got back. Swanned into my office. ‘Simon Greenberg, huh. I wondered after the rumors flying around. Good for us.’ Then he laughed and walked out.” Her scowl could freeze the Chicago River. “I was sure Tyler at least would make sure he’s up to speed and I wanted to get you in the loop right away. I wouldn’t be surprised if Fred and Tyler didn’t give Hayden some instruction on how to handle things and he will take advantage of the time you are away in April.”

My cocktail beckons and I chug it down, sputtering slightly. “Should I cancel the trip?”

She ignores that. “You’ll meet the client tomorrow, so make a strong impression. You’ll have plenty of work to do while you’re out of the office. Get your laptop set up with VPN. It will be your lifeline to the firm. Video meetings will help too. Make sure you can report on progress every day. A strong impression while you’re in Paris will give you a leg up.”

We see the waiter in the distance and Rebecca catches his attention. Once we have refills, she takes a sip, then leans forward. “Show you’re dedicated to the firm and the case and that you can work without supervision. I’ll try to schedule the meetings first thing in the morning to mitigate the seven-hour time difference.”

“And the other complications?”

“Hayden is one, as I’m sure you’ve guessed. More in terms of your selection as partner. That will be decided long before the case is finished. But he’ll push for every plum he can pluck. The other is that because of the election cycle, Greenberg is pushing to get this cleared up or buried quickly. News of the pending charges will hit the papers tomorrow.”

Why haven’t they leaked already?

Rebecca must be a mind reader. “The papers are planning front-page splashes with stories, commentary, and reactions on at least two inside pages.”

I can picture the Tribune. Huge headline and photos on their broadsheet front page. Stories about the investigation, the campaign, lots of background on the candidate, a piece where the rest of the field comments. Then an editorial on the op-ed pages. Maybe a political cartoon. The Sun-Times tabloid format will be just as comprehensive in a more compact form. “Collusion?”

“Cooperation.” Her forehead wrinkles, brows touching. The corners of her mouth turn down.

“Keeping him from making incendiary comments is going to be a job in itself. We want as little coverage as possible while we work on clearing him—if we can. The damage to his reputation is a gift to the other contenders. He’s been the front runner, the poster boy for the party.”

In two swallows, the Jabberwock has disappeared. I order another, then cram more cheese into my mouth.

“Hey, guys. Didn’t get the memo.” Hayden pushes into the tufted leather booth and reaches for a pickle, almost knocking me to the floor. “Uncle Tyler thought you might be here, Rebecca. Said it’s your usual watering hole.”

“A casual afterwork drink.” Rebecca’s voice is flat.

Hayden reaches over and taps her legal pad. “Sure you aren’t strategizing?” The twinkle in his eye shows malice, not amusement. “By the way, I met Laney this afternoon. She’s a cutie.”

“Laney?” The name is unfamiliar.

With a leer, he says, “Our legal researcher. Fresh out of her paralegal program.”

The server comes by with my third drink.

“Are you running a tab?”

Rebecca nods.

“Two Satan’s Whiskers. Need to play catch up with these two.” His smirk makes my skin crawl.

“How appropriate.”

He snickers. My snarky comment bounces off his crocodile hide.

Before the drinks guy can take off, I hold up a hand. “I’d like to order something to go.”

Pad out, he looks a bit like a bird, head to the side.

“Shrimp cocktail with no sauce, and the Apple Salad. Just put the shrimp on top of the salad with the dressing on the side.”

“You got it.”

Hayden puffs out his chest like a pouter pigeon. “Me, I have a date as soon as I finish these truly spectacular drinks.”

“Drinks named just for you.”

He grins. “You know it. Scary but seductive. And I have some seducing on tap.”

Probably with our new researcher. I push the sour feelings back. “Have fun.”

“Oh, I intend to.”

Rebecca’s warning look doesn’t make any impression either. She grabs her coat off the empty seat. “Off to have dinner with my hubby. He’s cooking tonight.”

I trudge to the office, takeout container in hand, ready for a little research of my own.

***

Excerpt from At the Ready by Sharon Michalove. Copyright 2023 by Sharon Michalove. Reproduced with permission from Sharon Michalove. All rights reserved.

 

 

Review:

4 stars!

Suspenseful continuation of the Global Security Unlimited series!

 

At the Ready is the third book in author Sharon Michalove’s highly-addictive Global Security Unlimited books and will be a definite winner with fans of the romantic suspense series. This tale on partner Jean-Louis “JL” Martin and lawyer Michelle “Micki” Press and their uphill journey to a relationship.

Micki is a senior associate in her prestigious Chicago law firm, up for partner, and facing off against a rival attorney whose uncle is already an established partner. The competition to determine who becomes partner is stacked against her from the start and the firm is a genuine good ole boys club with the decision already made. I appreciated that this main character is a seasoned veteran of her craft, a middle-aged woman, but is realistically portrayed as still having professional and person hopes and dreams. 

JL is a protector with strong feelings for family. He is pulled in several directions throughout the story, trying to take care of his mother who’s facing a couple of personal challenges while keeping the new passion in his life, Micki, safe. Although I enjoyed the occasional sprinkling of French in the story, sometimes I couldn’t easily determine their meaning and it got to be a little much for me. I could get the intent from the context. 

The plot is intriguing with two ex-love interests refusing to bow out of the picture voluntarily. While Micki’s former boyfriend, Sam, is eluding law enforcement to continue his harassment, JL’s former girlfriend, Angelique, worms her way into his mother’s good graces to get to him. Both these storylines are excellent and Sam’s ways and means of getting to Micki are creepy and baffling for the longest time. The resolution of this storyline was extremely satisfying. 

With its engaging characters, great plot, and storylines that continue from the previous books, I recommend AT THE READY for all fans of the series.



Author Bio:

Sharon Michalove

Sharon Michalove writes romantic suspense and traditional mystery as well as being a published historian. After growing up in suburban Chicago, she spent most of her life in a medium-sized university town, working as an academic professional as well as teaching history. She was married to a composer and frequently uses her knowledge of music, history, and food to enrich her novels. A hockey fan, Sharon moved back to Chicago in 2017 so she could go to Blackhawks games and spend quality time at Eataly Chicago.

Catch Up With Sharon:
CoffeeAndEclairs.com
Goodreads
BookBub - @sdmichalove
Instagram - @sdmichaloveauthor
Twitter - @sdmichalove
Facebook - @sharonmichalove
AllAuthor - @sharonmichalove

 

 

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Saturday, September 16, 2023

Book Blitz: All Manner of Beast & Man by Damien Kane Rigden


Thriller/Horror

 

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Following a stay in an inpatient psychiatric facility, Olivia is enrolled in a luxurious mental health recovery center to regain control of her mind and get her life back on track. With seemingly endless amenities and a new best friend as her roommate, has Olivia found a new personal heaven? Or is there something more sinister lurking behind the glossy exterior?

 

 

About the Author

I am a New England based author and artist. I have written in a few different genres, however, all of my stories have common elements of suspense and dread. My background is a mix of engineering, architecture and studio art classes. I have been fortunate enough to find a balance in my life where I can keep exploring the line between my technical and creative interests.

I have a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. After WPI, I spent some time studying architecture at the BAC in Boston. I have taken classes at the Currier Museum and New Hampshire Institute of Art in Manchester, NH. I also studied reduction woodcut printmaking for a year and a half at Piscataqua Fine Arts in Portsmouth, NH.

In 2019 I took my first foray into literature by writing a Sci-Fi thriller novelette based around global warming called 'Swan Song'.

My pandemic project, from early 2020 to August 2021 was a pair of books. The first one, Bell's Codex is an action adventure novel about solving a book which has been encrypted in a secret code. The second one, my magnum opus, is the ACTUAL encrypted book from the story. The puzzle is real and you can solve it yourself.

In April of 2022 I released a suspense/thriller/horror novella entitled "All Manner of Beast & Man."


Contact Links

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

TikTok

 

Purchase Link

Amazon

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RABT Book Tours & PR

Thursday, September 14, 2023

Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway: Citizen Orlov by Jonathan Payne

Citizen Orlov by Jonathan Payne Banner

Citizen Orlov

by Jonathan Payne

September 4-29, 2023 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

Citizen Orlov by Jonathan Payne

Not every fishmonger can be a secret agent.

Journey to an unnamed mountainous country in central Europe at the end of the Great War. Enter Citizen Orlov, a simple fishmonger and an honest, upright citizen, who answers a phone call meant for a secret agent and stumbles into a hidden world of espionage and secrecy. Recruited by the Ministry of Security, he is sent on assignment to safeguard the king.

But Orlov soon discovers that his ministry handler, the alluring femme fatale Agent Zelle, is planning not to protect the king but to assassinate him. Caught in a web of plot and counterplot, confusing loyalties, and explosive betrayals, Orlov finds himself on trial for murder. Given the opportunity to clear his name, he finds that the lives of his friends, mother, and fellow citizens hang in the balance.

Praise for CITIZEN ORLOV:

"A triumph—and an answer to that age-old question of what would have happened had Gogol, Kafka and G. K. Chesterton collaborated on a thriller. A timeless work which will, I fear, be forever timely."
~ Dixe Wills, author of Places to Hide and New World Order

"Jonathan Payne's Citizen Orlov is a stunning debut! A page turning, down-the-rabbit-hole delight, told with equal measure of wit and suspense. A timeless classic for our current moment; a paranoid and comic thriller with a surprise on every page. I loved it!"
~ Don Scardino, Producer/Director, 30 Rock, New Amsterdam

"Highly engaging, and written with an engaging lightness of touch, Citizen Orlov marks the debut of a comic novelist to watch for the future."
~ Dr. Adam Lively, Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing & Programme Leader, MA Novel Writing, Middlesex University

"The blend of action and picaresque buffoonery flatteringly calls Conan Doyle’s Brigadier Gerard tales to mind, and Payne pulls off a genuinely surprising conclusion. This auspicious debut announces a bright new voice in comic suspense."
~ Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

[An] odyssey that seems part Kafka, part ‘Alice in Wonderland.
~ Wall Street Journal

Book Details:

Genre: Espionage Thriller
Published by: CamCat Books
Publication Date: May 2023
Number of Pages: 288
ISBN: 9780744309010 (ISBN10: 0744309018)
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | CamCat Books

Read an excerpt:

On a frigid winter’s morning in a mountainous region of central Europe, Citizen Orlov, a simple fishmonger, is taking a shortcut along the dank alley behind the Ministries of Security and Intelligence when a telephone begins to ring. He thinks nothing of it and continues on his daily constitutional, his heavy boots crunching the snow between the cobbles.

The ringing continues, becoming louder with each step. A window at the back of the ministry buildings is open, just a little. The ringing telephone sits on a table next to the open window. Orlov stops, troubled by this unusual scene: there is no reason for a window to be open on such a cold day. Since this is the Ministry of either Security or Intelligence, could an open window be a security breach of some kind?

Orlov is tempted to walk away. After all, this telephone call is none of his business. On the other hand, he is an upright and patriotic citizen who would not want to see national security compromised simply because no one was available to answer a telephone call. He is on the verge of stepping toward the open window when he hears footsteps ahead. A tight group of four soldiers is marching into the alley, rifles on shoulders. He freezes for a second, leans against

the wall, and quickly lights a cigarette. By the time the soldiers reach him, Orlov is dragging on the cigarette and working hard to appear nonchalant. The soldiers are palace guardsmen, but the red insignia on their uniforms indicates they are part of the elite unit that protects the Crown Prince, the king’s ambitious older son. Orlov nods politely, but the soldiers ignore him and march on at speed.

The telephone is still ringing. Someone very much wants an answer. Orlov stubs his cigarette on the wall and approaches the open window. The telephone is loud in his right ear. Peering through the gap, he sees a small, gloomy storeroom with neatly appointed shelves full of stationery.

Finally, he can stand it no longer. He reaches through the window, picks up the receiver, and pulls it on its long and winding cable out through the window to his ear.

“Hello?” says Orlov, looking up and down the alley to check he

is still alone.

“Thank God. Where have you been?” says an agitated voice, distant and crackly. Orlov is unsure what to say. The voice continues. “Kosek. Right now.”

“I’m sorry?” says Orlov.

“Kosek. Agent Kosek.”

Orlov peers into the storeroom again. “There’s no one here,” he says.

“Well, fetch him then. And hurry, for God’s sake. It’s important.”

Orlov is sorely tempted to end the call and walk away, but the voice is so angry that he dare not.

“One minute,” he says, and lays the receiver on the table. He opens the window wider and, with some considerable effort, pulls himself headfirst into the storeroom, where he tumbles onto the floor. Picking himself up, he slaps the dust from his overcoat, opens the storeroom door, and peers along the hallway; all is dark and quiet.

With some trepidation, Orlov returns to the telephone. “Hello?” he says.

“Kosek?”

“No, sorry. I’ll have to take a message.”

The caller is still agitated. “Well, focus on what I’m about to say. It’s life and death.”

Orlov’s hands are shaking. “Hold on,” he says, “I’ll fetch some paper.”

Before he can put the receiver down, the caller explodes with anger. “Are you a simpleton? Do not write this down. Remember it.”

“Yes, sir. Sorry,” says Orlov. “I’ll remember it.”

“Are you ready?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Here it is. We could not—repeat not—install it in room six. Don’t ask why, it’s a long story.”

The man is about to continue, but Orlov interrupts him. “Should I include that in the message: ‘it’s a long story’?”

“Mother of God,” shouts the man. “Why do they always give me the village idiot? No. Forget that part. I’ll start again.”

“Ready,” says Orlov.

This time the man speaks slower and more deliberately, as if to a child. “We could not—repeat not—install it in room six. You need to get room seven. It’s hidden above the wardrobe. Push the lever up, not down. Repeat that back to me.”

Orlov is now shaking all over, and he grimaces as he forces himself to focus. He repeats the message slowly but correctly.

“Whatever else you do, get that message to Kosek, in person. No one else. Lives depend on it. Understood?”

“Understood,” says Orlov, and the line goes dead.

***

Excerpt from Citizen Orlov by Jonathan Payne. Copyright 2023 by Jonathan Payne. Reproduced with permission from CamCat Books. All rights reserved.

 

 

Review:

5 stars!

Part political thriller, part humor, 100% entertainment. 

Citizen Orlov is the unique new humorous political thriller by debut author Jonathan Payne, and I was entertained from the first to the final page. Frankly, this book is not in my wheelhouse, but I was thoroughly invested and didn't want to put it down. 

The main character, simply identified as Orlov, seems to be one of the least complicated of souls. He is earnest in what he does and appears happy and content with his job as a fishmonger, perhaps occasionally annoyed by the political discourse of his friend and boss, Vanev. He's loyal to his unnamed fictional Central European country, and he loves his mother, who still lives in his childhood home in a small village some distance from the capital city. He is helpful to a fault, and his life changes forever as a result of trying to be helpful when he answers a fatefully ringing telephone. I loved that throughout all the complications and dangerous situations he found himself in, he remained true to his basic caring nature, even as he was forced to make some terrible choices and, eventually, fight fire with fire. 

The intricacies and inner workings of the fictional governmental agencies are, at times, both sad and humorous, and after reading the author's bio, may also be frightening. The separate agendas the agents Zelle, Molnar, and Kosek held had my imagination working overtime and on the edge of my seat, wondering what would happen next. Orlov's and Vanev's experiences in custody and with their justice system had me turning pages non-stop; I had connected to these characters and was compelled to learn their fates. 

With its engaging characters and unique and surprising story, I highly recommend CITIZEN ORLOV to readers of political thrillers looking for a fresh and lighter approach to the genre.


Author Bio:

Jonathan Payne

Jonathan Payne is a British-American writer based outside Washington, D.C. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Novel Writing from Middlesex University, London. His short fiction has been featured at the North London Story Festival and in magazines including Turnpike, Twist in Time and Fiction Kitchen Berlin. Before moving to the United States, he worked for the British government on matters of national security. When not writing or reading, he can be found in the boxing gym.

Catch Up With Jonathan Payne:
www.JonathanPayne.org
Goodreads
BookBub - @jon7payne
Instagram - @jon7payne
Twitter - @jon7payne

 

 

Tour Participants:

Visit these other great hosts on this tour for more great reviews, interviews, guest posts, and opportunities to WIN in the giveaway!

 

 

ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN:

This is a giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for Jonathan Payne & CamCat Books. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.

 

 

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Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway: Citizen Orlov by Jonathan Payne

Citizen Orlov by Jonathan Payne Banner

Citizen Orlov

by Jonathan Payne

September 4-29, 2023 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

Citizen Orlov by Jonathan Payne

Not every fishmonger can be a secret agent.

Journey to an unnamed mountainous country in central Europe at the end of the Great War. Enter Citizen Orlov, a simple fishmonger and an honest, upright citizen, who answers a phone call meant for a secret agent and stumbles into a hidden world of espionage and secrecy. Recruited by the Ministry of Security, he is sent on assignment to safeguard the king.

But Orlov soon discovers that his ministry handler, the alluring femme fatale Agent Zelle, is planning not to protect the king but to assassinate him. Caught in a web of plot and counterplot, confusing loyalties, and explosive betrayals, Orlov finds himself on trial for murder. Given the opportunity to clear his name, he finds that the lives of his friends, mother, and fellow citizens hang in the balance.

Praise for CITIZEN ORLOV:

"A triumph—and an answer to that age-old question of what would have happened had Gogol, Kafka and G. K. Chesterton collaborated on a thriller. A timeless work which will, I fear, be forever timely."
~ Dixe Wills, author of Places to Hide and New World Order

"Jonathan Payne's Citizen Orlov is a stunning debut! A page turning, down-the-rabbit-hole delight, told with equal measure of wit and suspense. A timeless classic for our current moment; a paranoid and comic thriller with a surprise on every page. I loved it!"
~ Don Scardino, Producer/Director, 30 Rock, New Amsterdam

"Highly engaging, and written with an engaging lightness of touch, Citizen Orlov marks the debut of a comic novelist to watch for the future."
~ Dr. Adam Lively, Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing & Programme Leader, MA Novel Writing, Middlesex University

"The blend of action and picaresque buffoonery flatteringly calls Conan Doyle’s Brigadier Gerard tales to mind, and Payne pulls off a genuinely surprising conclusion. This auspicious debut announces a bright new voice in comic suspense."
~ Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

[An] odyssey that seems part Kafka, part ‘Alice in Wonderland.
~ Wall Street Journal

Book Details:

Genre: Espionage Thriller
Published by: CamCat Books
Publication Date: May 2023
Number of Pages: 288
ISBN: 9780744309010 (ISBN10: 0744309018)
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | CamCat Books

Read an excerpt:

On a frigid winter’s morning in a mountainous region of central Europe, Citizen Orlov, a simple fishmonger, is taking a shortcut along the dank alley behind the Ministries of Security and Intelligence when a telephone begins to ring. He thinks nothing of it and continues on his daily constitutional, his heavy boots crunching the snow between the cobbles.

The ringing continues, becoming louder with each step. A window at the back of the ministry buildings is open, just a little. The ringing telephone sits on a table next to the open window. Orlov stops, troubled by this unusual scene: there is no reason for a window to be open on such a cold day. Since this is the Ministry of either Security or Intelligence, could an open window be a security breach of some kind?

Orlov is tempted to walk away. After all, this telephone call is none of his business. On the other hand, he is an upright and patriotic citizen who would not want to see national security compromised simply because no one was available to answer a telephone call. He is on the verge of stepping toward the open window when he hears footsteps ahead. A tight group of four soldiers is marching into the alley, rifles on shoulders. He freezes for a second, leans against

the wall, and quickly lights a cigarette. By the time the soldiers reach him, Orlov is dragging on the cigarette and working hard to appear nonchalant. The soldiers are palace guardsmen, but the red insignia on their uniforms indicates they are part of the elite unit that protects the Crown Prince, the king’s ambitious older son. Orlov nods politely, but the soldiers ignore him and march on at speed.

The telephone is still ringing. Someone very much wants an answer. Orlov stubs his cigarette on the wall and approaches the open window. The telephone is loud in his right ear. Peering through the gap, he sees a small, gloomy storeroom with neatly appointed shelves full of stationery.

Finally, he can stand it no longer. He reaches through the window, picks up the receiver, and pulls it on its long and winding cable out through the window to his ear.

“Hello?” says Orlov, looking up and down the alley to check he

is still alone.

“Thank God. Where have you been?” says an agitated voice, distant and crackly. Orlov is unsure what to say. The voice continues. “Kosek. Right now.”

“I’m sorry?” says Orlov.

“Kosek. Agent Kosek.”

Orlov peers into the storeroom again. “There’s no one here,” he says.

“Well, fetch him then. And hurry, for God’s sake. It’s important.”

Orlov is sorely tempted to end the call and walk away, but the voice is so angry that he dare not.

“One minute,” he says, and lays the receiver on the table. He opens the window wider and, with some considerable effort, pulls himself headfirst into the storeroom, where he tumbles onto the floor. Picking himself up, he slaps the dust from his overcoat, opens the storeroom door, and peers along the hallway; all is dark and quiet.

With some trepidation, Orlov returns to the telephone. “Hello?” he says.

“Kosek?”

“No, sorry. I’ll have to take a message.”

The caller is still agitated. “Well, focus on what I’m about to say. It’s life and death.”

Orlov’s hands are shaking. “Hold on,” he says, “I’ll fetch some paper.”

Before he can put the receiver down, the caller explodes with anger. “Are you a simpleton? Do not write this down. Remember it.”

“Yes, sir. Sorry,” says Orlov. “I’ll remember it.”

“Are you ready?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Here it is. We could not—repeat not—install it in room six. Don’t ask why, it’s a long story.”

The man is about to continue, but Orlov interrupts him. “Should I include that in the message: ‘it’s a long story’?”

“Mother of God,” shouts the man. “Why do they always give me the village idiot? No. Forget that part. I’ll start again.”

“Ready,” says Orlov.

This time the man speaks slower and more deliberately, as if to a child. “We could not—repeat not—install it in room six. You need to get room seven. It’s hidden above the wardrobe. Push the lever up, not down. Repeat that back to me.”

Orlov is now shaking all over, and he grimaces as he forces himself to focus. He repeats the message slowly but correctly.

“Whatever else you do, get that message to Kosek, in person. No one else. Lives depend on it. Understood?”

“Understood,” says Orlov, and the line goes dead.

***

Excerpt from Citizen Orlov by Jonathan Payne. Copyright 2023 by Jonathan Payne. Reproduced with permission from CamCat Books. All rights reserved.

 

 

Review:

Coming soon!


Author Bio:

Jonathan Payne

Jonathan Payne is a British-American writer based outside Washington, D.C. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Novel Writing from Middlesex University, London. His short fiction has been featured at the North London Story Festival and in magazines including Turnpike, Twist in Time and Fiction Kitchen Berlin. Before moving to the United States, he worked for the British government on matters of national security. When not writing or reading, he can be found in the boxing gym.

Catch Up With Jonathan Payne:
www.JonathanPayne.org
Goodreads
BookBub - @jon7payne
Instagram - @jon7payne
Twitter - @jon7payne

 

 

Tour Participants:

Visit these other great hosts on this tour for more great reviews, interviews, guest posts, and opportunities to WIN in the giveaway!

 

 

ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN:

This is a giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for Jonathan Payne & CamCat Books. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.

 

 

Get More Great Reads at Partners In Crime Tours

 

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway: Things That Go Jack In The Night by TG Wolff

Things That Go Jack In The Night

by TG Wolff

September 11-15, 2023 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

Things That Go Jack In The Night by TG Wolff

Mysteries to Die For: Season 6

In the English language, there are a few, very special words that can function as nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. One word goes further, creating new words from old.

That word is JACK.

The brandy distilled from hard cider was the first applejack, the word now synonymous with a children’s cereal. There is the nefarious one-eyed jack of playing card fame. Animals from the jackdaw to the jackrabbit to the elusive jackalope roam all the ranges. There are the ever growing number of people named Jack, birth named or nicknamed, heroes to villains. The way the word “jack” is used in the English language is truly unique, inventive, and too numerous for us to count.

For your puzzle solving pleasure, Mysteries to Die For presents: Things That Go Jack in the Night.

Pepper jack cheese. Lumberjack. Wolfman Jack. Jack be Nimble. One-eyed Jack. Jackass. Jacking Off. Jackalope. Jack-in-the-box. Jackknife. Jackpot. Audio jack.

Twelve stories arranged for you to deduce the truth. Twelve “jacks” that should definitely not be taken at face value. It’s a race between you and the detective to find the killer amid the jack in the night.

Book Details:

Genre: Mystery, Short Story
Published by: Mysteries To Die For
Publication Date: September 2023
Number of Pages: 288
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads | Mysteries to Die For

 

Review:

5 stars!

A superb collection of mystery short stories featuring a “Jack.” 

Things That Go Jack in The Night is a superb new anthology of crime and mystery short stories selected by authors-editors TG Wolff and Jack Wolff. The stories are diverse in nature; however, each one has gained entry into this exclusive gathering by featuring a “Jack” in its telling.

Another distinction of the selected pieces is that they have been or will be featured on the editors’ ongoing podcast, Murders To Die For (M2D4), which can be heard on a variety of streaming services. As on episodes of the podcast, a story unfolds up to the point where the elements of the crime have all been revealed and then halted for a succinct recap titled “Deliberation.” At this time, we amateur gumshoes are to consider what is known about the crime and lock in our number one suspect. The revelation of the perpetrator follows immediately after.

Playing along with the gig was fun and informative, highlighting any holes in the reader’s deductions or ability to analyze the stories for clues to the killer’s identity. Check out the podcast for a narrated version of some of the included stories and be prepared to accumulate a lengthy list of authors whose other works you’ll want to check out.

I recommend THINGS THAT GO JACK IN THE NIGHT to fans of the M2D4 podcast and mystery short stories.


About Our Authors:

TG Wolff and Jack Wolff co-host the podcast Mysteries to Die For. This storytelling podcast combines with original music to put you in the heart of a mystery. All stories are structured to challenge you to beat the detective to the solution. Each season, authors craft whodunnit mysteries around a theme.

Season 6: Things that Go Jack in the Night features: KM Rockwood, Chuck Brownman, Nikki Knight, Ed Teja, Erica Obey, Kyra Jacobs, Ken Harris, Susan Wingate, TG Wolff, and Jack Wolff.

Get More Mysteries to Die For:
Mysteries to Die For
Goodreads
BookBub - @TG_Wolff
Instagram - @tg_wolff
Twitter - @tg_wolff
Facebook - M2D4Podcast

 

 

Tour Participants:

Visit these other great hosts on this tour for more great reviews and opportunities to WIN in the giveaway!

 

 

JOIN IN ON THE GIVEAWAY:

This is a giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for TG Wolff & the Mysteries to Die For crew. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.

 

 

Get More Great Reads at Partners In Crime Tours