Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway: Brushed Up On Murder (Mobile Cat Groomer Mystery, #1) by Ruth J. Hartman

 

Brushed Up On Murder

A Mobile Cat Groomer Mystery

by

Ruth J. Hartman

Cozy Mystery

1st in Series
Setting - Indiana
Publisher: Level Best Books
Publication Date: April 18, 2023
Print length: 275 pages
ASIN: B0BXB8BZMQ

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About BRUSHED UP ON MURDER

 

The life of a cat groomer isn’t just pampering purring felines, it's murder.

Mobile Cat Groomer Molly Stewart loves her job. Until she finds the dead body of one of her pet parents stabbed with a garden implement in his back yard. When Molly’s uncle Russ becomes the prime suspect in the murder and the sheriff won’t consider anyone else, Molly claws through obstacles as she prowls for clues.

With help from handsome veterinarian Hank Chenowith and Molly’s two cats, Percival and Jasper, will Molly succeed in proving her uncle’s innocence before the real murderer pounces on her?

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About RUTH J. HARTMAN

Ruth J. Hartman

spends her days herding cats and her nights spinning mysterious tales. She, her husband, and their cats love to spend time curled up in their recliners watching old Cary Grant movies. Well, the cats sit in the people’s recliners. Not that the cats couldn’t get their own furniture. They just choose to shed on someone else’s. Ruth, a left-handed, cat-herding, farmhouse-dwelling writer uses her sense of humor as she writes tales of lovable, klutzy women who seem to find trouble without even trying. Ruth’s husband and best friend, Garry, reads her manuscripts, rolls his eyes at her weird story ideas, and loves her despite her insistence all of her books have at least one cat in them. See updates about her cozy mysteries at Ruthjhartman.com.

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

April 18 – Christy's Cozy Corners – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT

April 18 – Sneaky the Library Cat's Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

April 19 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

April 19 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

April 20 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – REVIEW

April 20 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

April 21 – I'm Into Books – SPOTLIGHT

April 21 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

April 22 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

April 22 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

April 23 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

April 24 – Mochas, Mysteries and Meows – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW

April 24 – Indie Author Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

April 25 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

April 26 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

April 26 – Baroness Book Trove - SPOTLIGHT

April 27 – The Mystery Section – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT

April 27 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT

April 28 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

April 28 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

April 28 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

April 29 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW

April 30 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT

May 1 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

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Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway: Cafe au Slay (Orchard Hollow, #2) by A.N. Sage

 

Cafe au Slay

An Orchard Hollow Mystery

by

A.N. Sage

Paranormal Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Publisher: Cauldron Press
Publication Date: April 24, 2023
Paperback: 384 pages
ISBN-10: 1989868312 / ISBN-13: 978-1989868317
Digital ASIN: B0C3YG1J3B

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About Cafe au Slay

 

Piper Addison is not a normal witch. If she’s even a witch at all… Life after the big four-oh isn’t so bad. Piper Addison, resident witch and coffee shop owner, finally found her groove. Business is flourishing, her ghost familiar is miraculously supportive, and she might even have a date for the weekend.

There’s only one small catch… A dead body puts Piper in an impossible situation.

Orchard Hollow’s biggest secret is about to be revealed, and Piper might be the only one who can save the town’s paranormal residents. If only she can get a handle on her strange magic.

If that wasn’t enough, the town sheriff trusts Piper to solve the case. Can she help catch the killer before the whole world finds out about magic?

Cafe au Slay is a paranormal cozy mystery, complete with an unlucky witch, a ghost familiar, and a feisty raccoon with a talent for getting into sticky situations.

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About A.N. Sage

A.N. Sage is a bestselling, award-winning author of young adult fantasy and mystery. She has spent most of her life waiting to meet a witch, vampire, or at least get haunted by a ghost. In between failed seances and many questionable outfit choices, she has developed a keen eye for the extra-ordinary. A.N. spends her free time reading and binge-watching television shows in her pajamas. Currently, she resides in Toronto, Canada with her husband who is not a creature of the night and their daughter who just might be. A.N. Sage is a Scorpio and a massive advocate of leggings for pants.

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

April 25 – Elizabeth McKenna - Author – SPOTLIGHT

April 25 – Christy's Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST

April 25 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW*

April 26 – Angel's Guilty Pleasures – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

April 26 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

April 26 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

April 27 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

April 27 – I'm Into Books – SPOTLIGHT

April 27 – Guatemala Paula Loves To Read – SPOTLIGHT

April 28 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

April 28 – The Book's the Thing – REVIEW

April 28 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

April 29 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

April 29 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

April 30 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW *

April 30 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

May 1 – StoreyBook Reviews – DRINK RECIPE

May 1 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST

May 1 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

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Howling with Huskies by Linda Chamberlain, PhD, MPH

Howling With Huskies: And Other Ways to Feel Good! by Linda Chamberlain
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wonderful illustrations with an important, well-crafted, and delightfully delivered message.

After completing their morning chores on the homestead, Galena and Kimmo hear Tutku, the lead dog of the family's sled team, start to howl. Confused when they couldn't see what there was to howl about, they asked the wise husky why. He explained that it made him feel good, whether happy, sad, or many other emotions. When the children tried it, they found out he was right! They did feel better. That led them to seek out the other dogs for more remedies for handling big emotions.

Howling with Huskies by author, scientist, and Alaskan Linda Chamberlain simply and directly passes along ways that children (and adults, too!) can more easily manage stress and other feelings. The book is wonderfully illustrated with charming pictures and fabulous colors. The Northern Lights are gorgeous.

The children are depicted participating in chores and play, and there's even a discreet mention of the daily work that goes into caring for their dogs. Aside from the book's big message, this may segue into an easy discussion about the responsibilities of pet ownership with children who have been asking their parents to bring a new one into the family. New terms are introduced, specific to dog sledding, that will interest children and adults alike. The author uses the names of dogs she has personally known for her canine characters, and there is a fun mix of proper names, both common and those more familiar to residents in the far north.

However, the book's purpose is to offer coping strategies, and the advice coming from dogs may make a child more likely to give them a shot than those suggestions coming from a parent, teacher, doctor, or other adults. My boys would have loved this book when they were kids, especially since our family dog was a Siberian Husky named Ivan.

From its fun and alliterative title to its wonderful illustrations and important, well-crafted, and delivered message, I recommend HOWLING WITH HUSKIES to families for reading aloud and sharing with young elementary school-age readers.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy through Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tours.

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Blurb Blitz & Giveaway: The Circle is Small by Maggie Blackbird

THE CIRCLE IS SMALL

by

Maggie Blackbird

Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Extasy Books, Inc.

Publication Date: March 24, 2023

Page count: 230 pages

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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.

SYNOPSIS:

An ex-cop returning to face his horrendous past, the woman who won’t forgive him, and the family who’ll never let him forget that he killed their son.

First Nations Constable Jordan Chartrand’s guilt can’t handle the accusing stares from the family left to mourn their son after that horrible night…so he flees from his Ojibway community and the woman he loves. Two years later, his mother’s cancer diagnosis forces him to return to help her.

Devoted schoolteacher Ellie Quill wants nothing to do with Jordan after he bolted to the city and left her behind. Her life goals are set. As for her secret, she’ll keep that to herself, even if Jordan’s begging to know the truth about her child.

When the two are compelled to work on a community project to address the rampant drug problem, their forced proximity slowly melts Ellie’s icy walls. But no matter how much her heart desires to give Jordan the second chance he’s begging for, she refuses to because providing a life for her son in the tradition of the Ojibway culture is her top priority now, not moving to the city where Jordan continues to hide.

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READ AN EXCERPT:

Ellie kept dunking the tea bag into the mug.

“I’m sorry. When I met him there, I thought you’d told him to get Ray-Ray, otherwise I woulda stopped him.”

“It’s okay,” Ellie muttered, still staring at her tea instead of at her sister. “You didn’t know.”

“What made you finally tell him?”

Ellie drew in a breath. “I realized if we were going to start with a clean slate, I couldn’t keep hiding it. And he’s right. I shoulda told him from the get-go. I shouldn’t have hidden it from him.”

“Easy,” Iris warned. “Remember something. You have rights, too. He’d upped and left after you told him how you felt, after you begged him to stay. He chose the city over you. He chose everything over you. You had every right to be angry.”

“It still doesn’t justify what I did. Raymond has rights, too, and he had a right to know who his dad is.” Ellie glanced up.

“Look, I can’t see him getting on the plane and skipping town with Ray-Ray. He probably took him to his mother’s. And he’ll be here until she’s done her treatment. He won’t leave.”

“I know he won’t, but he has every right to hate me. If I was in his shoes, I’d be angry, too.” Ellie shoved aside the mug. She’d ruined everything. Keeping that secret and then lying about it was the most foolish thing she’d ever done. What had gotten into her? That wasn’t how she behaved. Selfish. That was how she’d acted.

Iris reached over the table and grabbed Ellie’s hand. “Don’t be hating yourself or blaming yourself. Women have rights, too. And you have rights. You still have rights. If he wants to be pissy about this, let him. But he can’t take Raymond from you. Not after you raised him. Jordan didn’t even stick around long enough to find out you were pregnant.”

“How was he supposed to know I was pregnant without me telling him?” Ellie whispered. “He’s not a jaasakiid.”

“He didn’t need to involve the shaking tent. Did he ever stop and ask?” Iris blinked. “It’s common sense. You two were having sex, for crying out loud. And if he holds this against you—”

“He has every right to.” Ellie ran her nails along the table. “I did it so he wouldn’t take Raymond to Winnipeg. So I wouldn’t have to live in Winnipeg. So I could raise our child here. But…”

What did it matter? The fact was, her heart had shattered into a million pieces for the second time. She could try fooling herself again, as she’d done for the last two years by saying she didn’t care, but she did.

She loved Jordan Chartrand, and she wanted to raise their son together. There went the biggest dream she’d ever dreamt, because she’d screwed up everything now.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

An Ojibway from Northwestern Ontario, Maggie resides in the country with her husband and their fur babies, two beautiful Alaskan Malamutes. When she’s not writing, she can be found pulling weeds in the flower beds, mowing the huge lawn, walking the Mals deep in the bush, teeing up a ball at the golf course, fishing in the boat for walleye, or sitting on the deck at her sister’s house, making more wonderful memories with the people she loves most.

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Shannon in the Spotlight by Kalena Miller

Shannon in the Spotlight by Kalena Miller
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A sensitive portrayal of a young girl’s struggle with OCD and the changing relationship with her best friend.

It was supposed to be a stellar summer for 12-year-old Shannon Carter and her two best friends, Elise and Fatima. Sure, Shannon’s sessions with her therapist, Ariel, were still ongoing and focused on controlling her anxiety, the increase in her compulsive habits, and obsession with getting dirty, symptoms of her diagnosis of OCD. But it was time for the local community theater’s summer musical!

Like every summer since they were old enough to participate, the girls were looking forward to working on the local summer musical at the Rosewood Youth Community Theater. This year’s production was The Sound of Music, the girls’ favorite, and Elise had her heart set on winning the role of Brigitta, one of the Von Trapp children. Fatima preferred to work backstage on set-building, props, and costumes, a true theater techie. On the other hand, Shannon just wanted to be with her friends and usually found herself assigned tasks involving glue or working in the concession stand when the show opened. So, things got weird when the musical’s director overheard Shannon singing with some of the other kids and insisted she auditions as well. But while her performance is spectacular, Elise bombs, and suddenly Shannon’s friend starts acting strangely toward her. And their friendship faces a real test when the cast list comes out.

Shannon in the Spotlight is a new middle-grade novel by author Kalena Miller, and it features a tween struggling with OCD, friendship dramas, and a home life that suddenly feels out of control when her grandmother moves in with her and her mother. The main character, 12-year-old Shannon Carter, has enough on her plate with a sudden increase in the repetitive behaviors symptomatic of her OCD, such as washing her hands and reapplying Chapstick constantly throughout her waking hours. Her anticipation of the wonderful summer ahead, spending tie with her two besties on the summer musical, is almost palpable. And her distress and disappointment over how things pan out even more so. The hurt she experiences over Elise’s actions is gut-wrenching, and the girls’ resolution of their troubles is quite emotional. Shannon is one gutsy kid.

The setting within a community theater production of The Sound of Music was fun and full of little bits of theater business and traditions. That world can be all-consuming to its participants, so Elise’s devastation over her audition and subsequent casting as Louisa rather than the prime role of Brigitta was realistic. She’s also twelve and doesn’t handle her disappointment or jealousy over her friend’s good fortune very well. I loved how Grandma Ruby slowly inserted her way into the production and how she and Shannon were able to build a relationship with each other that was separate from the fallout of the rift she had with her own daughter. I also loved the close relationship Shannon shared with her mother.

With its sympathetic and engaging main character, the sensitive portrayal of her struggle with OCD and the changing relationship with her best friend, and the competitive, yet ultimately cooperative, community theater setting, I recommend SHANNON IN THE SPOTLIGHT to middle-grade readers, especially those looking for OCD representation in fiction.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy through TBR and Beyond Book Tours.

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The Knockout by Sajni Patel

The Knockout by Sajni Patel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was on the edge of my seat whenever Kareena donned her gloves or got up close and personal with Amit.

Kareena Thakkar had practiced Muay Thai boxing since she was an eight-year-old and was performing at an elite level by the time she was a senior in high school. But she had learned her lesson long ago; girls weren’t supposed to participate, let alone excel, at contact sports, especially not Indian girls. Prejudice against her had cost her friendships and social acceptance in the close-knit, local Indian community, so she had learned to keep her sport to herself and, of course, her supportive mother and father.

When she hit high school, her father was stricken with a complicated renal disease, and the last couple of years had seen him in and out of the hospital, each time an emergency as he teetered on the brink of death. The medical bill mounted, and finances got worse when he was unable to continue working. The house and many possessions were sold, and Kareena’s mother took a second job to make ends meet.

Kareena’s refuge became the Muay Thai program, and as she worked to escape her fears, she pushed herself toward excellence. Then the letter inviting her to participate in the national Muay Thai competition arrived. Her coach urged her to accept, explaining this was her first step toward representing the US on the international stage and, perhaps, a spot on a future US Olympic team. The $50,000 prize awarded to the winner would also go a long way toward easing her family’s financial woes. But first, Kareena would have to raise the money to get to the competition, and finding that kind of funding seemed like an impossible hurdle.

The Knockout by Sajni Patel is a new contemporary young adult tale featuring the unique and tantalizing combination of Muay Thai boxing, Indian culture, learning to trust, and first love. Kareena Thakkar is a talented competitor in her senior year of high school, a time traditionally filled with many memorable activities that could easily become distractions in her preparations to compete nationally. Complicating everything is her father’s illness, its impact on the family’s financial health and future, and the toxic vibes Kareena has been getting from the local Indian community over the preceding years. Not only was the story compelling and emotion-filled, but it challenged societal views of gender-appropriate sports.

Kareena is smart and sassy, a fun and engaging girl under normal circumstances, and a wonderfully supportive daughter to her overwhelmed parents. She does an amazing job keeping her life on track but constantly worries because her parents aren’t telling her everything about her father’s condition and their financial situation; they still see her as a child and want to preserve that innocence and protect her from the grim truth. However, this girl’s no dummy. She’s been participating in the highly physical martial art of Muay Thai boxing since she was eight, and backed by her parents’ belief and support and a never-give-up attitude; she has excelled and found success, acceptance, and respect in the ring. It is no wonder that when things get off-balance at home, she begins to rely more and more on the gym as a refuge, a place she can feel she has some control over things in her life.

There are other pressures, social ones, bearing down as well, any one of which would be enough in itself: a friendship that dissolved over a misunderstanding over a boy resulting in a former confidant spreading malicious rumors about her at school and the continued censure of the aunties and uncles isolating her from the Indian community when they learn of her boxing. Kareena maintains superhuman control over her emotions when taunted by her former friend, Saanvi.

Another storyline is her developing relationship with classmate Amit Patel, the projected class valedictorian and “perfect Indian son.” Amit is an enigma to Kareena. Not only does he have secrets of his own, but she also doesn’t quite trust his involvement in her life because she’s been burned before. But the chemistry between the two is palpable, and I was rooting for Amit to prove to be as good as he seemed and become the true friend (and perhaps the love of her life) that Kareena deserved.

The teenage characters ring true throughout the book, feeling genuine and authentic in their words and deeds. The fight scenes were descriptive enough to depict the emotional and adrenaline-charged atmosphere without too many bloody details. The scenes were riveting and tense, and I was on the edge of my seat every time Kareena donned her gloves.

With its unique premise and engaging characters, I recommend THE KNOCKOUT to readers who enjoy contemporary young adult tales, sports themes, family dramas, and stories steeped in modern Indian culture.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy through TBR and Beyond Book Tours.

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Blog Tour & Giveaway: Violins and Vampires (Vampires of the Daemonverse, #1) by Cee Bee

Violins and Vampires
CEE BEE
(Vampires of the Daemonverse, #1)
Published by: Monster House Books
Publication date: August 25th 2022
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance

Lexa Kozlov must pay her family’s massive debt to the mob… all while raising even more money to save her little sister. The result? Lexa’s trapped in a never-ending (and incredibly illegal) stakeout for the Bratva. She barely has time for sleep, let alone find love.

Enter Caelin Vass, the handsome Scotsman who runs Empire Investments. Caelin offers Lexa a new job with dollars galore, as well as a hot bod (that would be his own) to contemplate every workday. Even so, Lexa isn’t sure she should take the gig. Freaky things keep happening whenever Lexa and Caelin are together. Simply put, the energy between them is magical, sensual, and way overwhelming. Lexa faces a big question: is she leaving her old prison just to enter a worse one… or is Caelin Vass all he seems and more?

***12,000 word novella, previously published on Kindle Vella as Blood Slave***

Vampires of the Daemonverse Series
1. Violins and Vampires
2. Veils and Vampires
3. Vixens and Vampires
4. Valor and Vampires

Add to Goodreads / Purchase

Review:

5 stars!

This story had so much to enjoy: great world-building, a sexy Scottish vampire king with a broken heart, and an incredibly savvy and sassy kick-ass heroine!

Violins and Vampires is the riveting first book in author Cee Bee’s adult paranormal romance series, Vampires of the Daemonverse, and it is a hands-down fantastic debut! I was captured by the story from the very start (with naked mud-wrestling!), and now I’m anxiously awaiting the availability of book two (which I wished I could have had in my hands YESTERDAY.) This story had so much to enjoy: a sexy Scottish vampire king with a broken heart, an incredibly savvy and sassy kick-ass heroine, and intriguing world-building with bloodkin, nightlings, daemons, and elementals.

Lexa is a strong female protagonist with some unusual abilities that even she doesn’t understand yet. I loved how she met and accepted the responsibility for her family head-on and did an amazing job keeping things on track and together. She deserves a worthy mate and a happily ever after.

Caelin, the long-lived bloodkin king, truly loves his queen, and keeps himself under tight control around other women, accepting what he needs but not wanting to cause a human woman to succumb to “the red madness.” He still feels the pain and guilt of being helpless against the bloodkin plague.

I liked that Konstantin had made it into the modern world as well. He and Caelin have a millennia-long alliance born of their shared grief over his sister Elisava’s death. And the story would not be complete without the modern iteration of The Gray Woman, now reinvented as a doctor, doing her utmost to keep her promise to Caelin while indulging in her affinity for chaos. Prudence and Vice are suitably creepy and menacing from the start, but then the author really turns it up a notch for them.

The story is fast-paced throughout, with never a slow moment where you would want to put the book down. So, take care of your needs before reading that first page, and be prepared to stay up late to get to the last. With characters you’ll really root for, an intriguing world of paranormals, and a riveting plot, I recommend VIOLINS AND VAMPIRES to readers who enjoy paranormal romance and suspense, especially those with fresh and new vampire lore.

Author Bio:

Author Christina "CEE BEE" Bauer has sold more than 1M copies across her 45+ epic fantasy books for young adults. She's recorded (and narrated) eight of her books into audiobooks, as well as led the translation of her novels into four different languages. USA Today has called her work "must-read paranormal fantasy." Bauer is an autism advocate and quirky loudmouth whose writing style really isn't for everyone. But if you like stories with complex worlds inhabited by chicks who kick ass and take names, then read on!

Christina lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby. She loves to connect with her fans at ChristinaBauerAuthor.com.
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Book Tour: The Low Road (The McLaren Mysteries) by Jo A. Hiestand

 

The McLaren Mysteries

British mystery

Date Published: Sept 19, 2022

Former police detective Michael McLaren arrives in Scotland, ready to immerse himself in the fun of the Highland Games and to enjoy a holiday with Melanie. But the old saying of plans oft going awry rears its ugly head: Simon Shaw, a member of McLaren's folk group, dies. Murdered a year to the day following his uncle's death.

McLaren is determined to find out who killed Simon. Needing justice for his friend is only half of his incentive. He also needs to appease his guilt for suggesting the group sing there in the first place.

As McLaren becomes immersed in the investigation, he wonders if the two deaths are linked, or have to do with the family or their clan. Perhaps Simon's former wife killed him, bent on revenge more powerful than mere divorce. Or was the killing tied to an old hunt for diamonds? After all, diamonds aren't only a girl's best friend. Sometimes they birth greed and murder. And entrap the innocent.

 

About the Author

Jo A. Hiestand grew up on regular doses of music, books, and Girl Scout camping. She gravitated toward writing in her post-high school years and finally did something sensible about it, graduating from Webster University with a BA degree in English and departmental honors. She writes a British mystery series (the McLaren Mysteries)—of which three books have garnered the prestigious N.N. Light’s Book Heaven ‘Best Mystery Novel’ three years straight. She also writes a Missouri-based cozy mystery series (The Cookies & Kilts Mysteries, of which "A Trifling Murder" is the second book) that is grounded in places associated with her camping haunts. The camping is a thing of the past, for the most part, but the music stayed with her in the form of playing guitar and harpsichord, and singing in a folk group. Jo carves jack o’ lanterns badly and sings loudly. She loves barbecue sauce and ice cream (separately, not together), kilts (especially if men wear them), clouds and stormy skies, and the music of G.F. Handel. You can usually find her pulling mystery plots out of scenery—whether from photographs or the real thing.

 

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Book Tour: The Frights of Fiji (Alyssa McCarthy's Magical Missions: Book 1) by Sunayna Prasad

Middle Grade fantasy

Date Published: 10-20-2018

Sent to live with her strict, aloof, and uncaring uncle after her parents are killed in a car accident, twelve-year-old orphan Alyssa McCarthy longs for the life she used to have—one filled with fun and love. Then one stormy night, a message appears in the raindrops on the window that will change everything.

"Your life will never be the same again, as magic will interfere."

Before long, Alyssa is kidnapped by Master Beau, a banished sorcerer with a mysterious connection to her who can only regain his power by weakening hers. Suddenly hurled into a world of wizardry filled with fantastical beasts and marvelous technology beyond her wildest imagination, Alyssa must defeat Master Beau if she ever wants to get home again. But Master Beau will stop at nothing, including using Alyssa’s friends, to ensure he is triumphant.

 

 

Review

4 stars!

Fun and fast-paced tale of magic and faraway places for middle-grade readers! 

The Frights of Fijiis author Sunayna Prasad’s opening installment in her planned middle-grade fantasy series, Alyssa McCarthy’s Magical Missions, and things start off with spooky, unexplainable happenings that are sure to grab the attention of even reluctant readers. With its nice pacing and relatable characters, this may be the perfect book for reading aloud in the classroom, home, or after-school care. 

The story features orphaned Alyssa McCarthy, her cousin Hailey, and friends, with plenty of magic and adventures in unusual places. When an evil wizard threatens to use Alyssa to increase his own power and take over the world, she and her companions rush to foil his plans. The fast-paced action will keep young readers engaged and eager for more as they look for answers to the following questions. 

Will good triumph over evil?

Can Uncle Bruce be saved?

And, what will happen next in this fun series of magical missions?

 

About the Author

Sunayna Prasad enjoys writing fantasy books for children, as well as cooking, creating artwork, watching online videos, and blogging.  She is passionate about modern-day life in fantasy stories, worldbuilding, and even humor. She is constantly brainstorming new ideas and using her creativity.

Sunayna has been writing stories since the age of six. Many sources that have inspired include various books and movies, all of which are fantasy.

She is lives in New York with her parents.

 

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Book Tour: The Knockout by Sajni Patel

The Knockout

by

Sajni Patel

Young Adult Contemporary

Publisher: North Star Editions

Publishing Date: January 26, 2021

Page count: 360 pages

SYNOPSIS:

A rising star in Muay Thai figures out what (and who) is worth fighting for in this #ownvoices YA debut full of heart.

If seventeen-year-old Kareena Thakkar is going to alienate herself from the entire Indian community, she might as well do it gloriously. She’s landed the chance of a lifetime, an invitation to the US Muay Thai Open, which could lead to a spot on the first-ever Olympic team. If only her sport wasn’t seen as something too rough for girls, something she’s afraid to share with anyone outside of her family. Despite pleasing her parents, exceling at school, and making plans to get her family out of debt, Kareena’s never felt quite Indian enough, and her training is only making it worse.

Which is inconvenient, since she’s starting to fall for Amit Patel, who just might be the world’s most perfect Indian. Admitting her feelings for Amit will cost Kareena more than just her pride–she’ll have to face his parents’ disapproval, battle her own insecurities, and remain focused for the big fight. Kareena’s bid for the Olympics could very well make history–if she has the courage to go for it.

Content Warning: disphoria, parent with chronic illness, misogyny, bullying

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sajni Patel is an award-winning author of women’s fiction and young adult books, drawing on her experiences growing up in Texas, an inexplicable knack for romance and comedy, and the recently resurfaced dark side of fantastical things. Her works have appeared on numerous Best of the Year and Must Read lists from Cosmo, Oprah Magazine, Teen Vogue, Apple Books, Audiofile, Tribeza, Austin Woman’s Magazine, NBC, The Insider, PopSugar, Buzzfeed, and many others.

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