Book Review: Sword Brethren (The Northern Crusader Chronicles, #1) by Jon Byrne

Sword Brethren by Jon Byrne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fascinating tale of a dispossessed English lord and his journey to knighthood as a Christian warrior-monk.

Sword Brethren is the first book in author Jon Byrne’s fascinating 13th-century-set crusades series, The Northern Crusader Chronicles, which follows the life of a young, dispossessed English lord, Richard Fitz Simon, from the murder of his father to joining the Livonian Order of Swordbrothers to defend and advance the easternmost boundary of Christendom in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. Fourteen-year-old Richard and his father’s loyal steward, Wilhelm Weber, flee their home in England only steps ahead of assassins sent by his treacherous Uncle Gilbert, who murdered his own brother for his land, money, and title. The two fugitives escape to Lübeck, where Wilhelm’s brother still operates the family salt business, only to find Everhard is very resentful of Wilhelm’s past. Penniless, he and Wilhelm depend on Everhard’s grudging goodwill to subsist until Richard’s secret relationship with Everhard’s daughter, Elsebeth, is revealed and changes everything. Fleeing for his life, Richard finds passage on a ship bound for Riga and a life in the service of the Livonian brothers of the sword, whose mission is to safeguard the recently established outposts and assist in converting the local pagan tribespeople to Christianity.

The story is told by 53-year-old Richard Fitz Simon, a prisoner of Prince Alexander Nevsky, captured after the battle on the ice of Lake Peipus. Severely wounded, he must recover before he can be ransomed back to his order, and as his convalescence progresses, he dictates the story of his life to an Irish scribe provided by the prince who is mightily intrigued by his past. Richard complies to pass the time and, hopefully, have the resulting memoir sent to the son he left behind when he fled Lübeck.

Richard is an engaging, relatable character, frustrated by circumstances that never should have been. At 14, he is an earnest young man, desirous of gaining the approval of his emotionally distant and dismissive father and following in the noble path laid out for him from birth. However, Richard has a fiery temper that often overrides his good sense, landing him in serious trouble many times over the course of his life. Yet, no matter what, when danger appears, he invariably chooses the road of honor. His story is filled with obstacles created by encounters with those who have chosen otherwise, whether because of jealousy, greed, pride, or prejudice, and they do their utmost to harm him or worse.

The plot moves swiftly, with a ton of action in a very short timeframe, as only two years pass in the tale of his past, and it concludes when he is 16. The author creates a vivid, vibrant medieval backdrop for Richard’s tale, whether in London or on the fringes of civilization. The settings are so well drawn that readers will almost feel or see or smell the character’s surroundings.

I recommend SWORD BRETHREN to readers of historical fiction, especially those interested in the Baltic region crusades.

View all my reviews

Book Blitz - A Boy Becoming: Reflections from Ages 10-16 by Eddy Yang

A Boy Becoming:

Reflections From Ages 10-16

A Renewed Vision for a Kinder, Gentler World

by

Eddy Yang

Coming of Age Memoir

Publisher: MindStir Media

Publication Date: May 14, 2026

Page count: 150 pages

 

SYNOPSIS:

What if the most important lessons in life came from the ordinary moments we often overlook?

A Boy Becoming: A Renewed Vision for a Kinder, Gentler World is an inspiring coming-of-age memoir that invites readers into the private journals, drawings, reflections, and life experiences of young author Eddy Yang. Compiled from diary entries written between the ages of ten and sixteen, this powerful memoir chronicles the journey of a young boy learning how to navigate family, faith, friendship, sports, responsibility, and personal growth.

Through honest reflections and meaningful life lessons, Eddy explores what it means to build character in a world that often values achievement over integrity. Along the way, he learns that becoming a better person is not about perfection—it is about practice.

As an ice hockey goalie, Eddy discovers courage, resilience, humility, discipline, and the ability to recover from failure. Through conversations with his parents, guidance from teachers and coaches, experiences with service, and moments of self-reflection, he learns that true strength comes from within and that growth happens one choice at a time.

Filled with wisdom beyond his years, A Boy Becoming explores timeless themes including:

✔ Character Development and Personal Growth

✔ Kindness, Compassion, and Empathy

✔ Family Values and Faith

✔ Self-Reflection and Emotional Growth

✔ Discipline, Responsibility, and Resilience

✔ Youth Leadership and Positive Decision-Making

✔ Sportsmanship and Life Lessons from Hockey

✔ Gratitude, Forgiveness, and Humility

✔ Identity, Purpose, and Self-Discovery

At the heart of this reflective memoir is a simple but powerful truth: character is built slowly through ordinary moments. Every mistake, every challenge, every act of kindness, every lesson learned, and every effort to improve becomes part of the process of becoming.

Perfect for teens, young adults, parents, educators, coaches, mentors, and anyone interested in personal development, A Boy Becoming offers encouragement, insight, and hope for readers navigating their own journey of growth.

Inside You'll Discover:

● Honest diary reflections from childhood through adolescence

● Life lessons from family, faith, sports, and service

● Thought-provoking insights about character and self-improvement

● Inspirational messages for young people facing challenges and uncertainty

● Practical wisdom about becoming someone you respect

Memorable Quotes from the Book

"Kind is more important than smart. Logic has no moral. We must be nice no matter what."

"Forgiveness frees you more than it frees the other person."

"Possessions should not possess you."

"A distracted driver misses exits. A distracted life misses destiny."

"Remember: you are not your trophies. You are not your mistakes. You are the daily effort that nobody sees."

If you enjoy inspirational memoirs, coming-of-age stories, personal growth books, youth leadership, family-centered nonfiction, or books that encourage reflection and character development, A Boy Becoming will resonate long after the final page.

Because becoming a better person isn't a destination—it's a lifelong journey.

 

CLICK TO PURCHASE!

| Amazon | BAM! | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org |

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Eddy Yang is a student, writer, ice hockey goalie, and young author whose work focuses on self-reflection, personal growth, family values, faith, discipline, and character development.

His passion for writing began long before he imagined becoming an author. Throughout childhood, Eddy kept journals, diary entries, drawings, comics, and reflections that documented his experiences, thoughts, challenges, and questions about life.

Over time, these personal writings evolved into something larger—a record of growth from childhood into adolescence.

The Beginning of a Writer

Eddy never started writing with the intention of publishing a book.

He wrote to understand himself.

Sometimes he wrote after difficult experiences. Other times he wrote after learning valuable lessons from parents, teachers, coaches, teammates, or faith. Writing became a way to process emotions, reflect on mistakes, and preserve important moments.

As he revisited years of journals and drawings, he recognized a story unfolding: the story of becoming.

Hockey and Character

As an ice hockey goalie, Eddy has learned lessons that extend far beyond the rink.

Goaltending taught him courage, resilience, humility, patience, and discipline. It taught him how to handle pressure, recover from failure, and continue improving after setbacks.

These experiences became a powerful influence on his understanding of personal growth and are woven throughout his writing.

Why He Wrote A Boy Becoming

Eddy wrote A Boy Becoming because he believes growth happens through ordinary moments.

Character is not built overnight.

It develops through repeated choices, honest reflection, mistakes, perseverance, gratitude, forgiveness, and love.

His hope is that readers—especially young people—will recognize that they are not alone in their struggles and that becoming a better person is a lifelong journey worth embracing.

Mission

Through his writing, Eddy hopes to inspire readers to:

● Practice kindness

● Develop discipline

● Embrace humility

● Learn from mistakes

● Strengthen character

● Value family and faith

● Continue growing every day

"Kind is more important than smart. Logic has no moral. We must be nice no matter what."

 

| Website | YouTube |

Book Review: The Last Perfect Summer by Karla Stover

The Last Perfect Summer by Karla Stover
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As the country gears up for war, changes come quickly to small-town America.

The Last Perfect Summer by Karla Stover is a close-up view of an earlier time as war comes to a fast-changing America. Louise Tanquist, the adopted daughter of a successful Tacoma modiste, is building her own life and following her dreams of opening a photography studio by working for and learning all she can from the owner of a local business. But as the war that will become known as World War I gains momentum, life speeds up, new technologies and innovations are everywhere, and Louise is swept up in the changes and what they bring to her life and hometown.

Louise is an engaging, truly likable heroine, with solid hopes and plans to achieve them. A thoroughly modern young woman, she is involved in her community and the efforts to assist in the ongoing European war when President Wilson announces the United States is joining the fray. Life, as she knows it, is about to change forever.

The plot moves steadily forward as tragedy visits. The author’s attention to detail, physical and emotional, and the historical reconstruction of the time and place is an absolute marvel as the story is dotted with real people and actual places – an absorbing and satisfying creation of historical fiction.

I recommend THE LAST PERFECT SUMMER to readers of historical fiction, especially those with an interest in pre-World War I America and the early Pacific Northwest.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tours.

View all my reviews

Book Review - Pillars of Creation: A Quest for the Great Name in a Nietzschean World by Carlos Nicolás Flores

Pillars of Creation: A Quest for the Great Name in a Nietzschean World by Carlos Flores
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Absorbing, eye-opening, and unique storytelling.

Pillars of Creation: A Quest for the Great Name in a Nietzschean World by Carlos Nicolás Flores is one of the most unique storytelling experiences I’ve had in a while and one that I wish I could have over and over again. Told through the little-used second-person narration (using “you” and addressing the reader directly), the author crafts the mesmerizing story of young Yoltic Cortez and his life on the Texas-Mexico border in the colonia of Cuatro Vientos. It is an unputdownable tale of poverty, dual identities, but also hope.

At the beginning of the story, Yoltic is living an aimless life, in a holding pattern since his father, whom he lived with, was placed in a nursing facility in Nuevo Escandón on the Mexican side of the border, after suffering a stroke. While he continues to work at his job at the local Walmart and visits his father regularly, he longs to be a writer, but a growing addiction to Tezca has opened his mind to surreal visions and buried his initiative to write and handle the day-to-day necessities of life, such as maintaining the home his parents built with their own hands. However, a chance meeting with a young woman escaping the cartel danger at her grandfather’s ranch in Mexico slowly expands his world.

The story prominently presents the border setting, lifestyle, and living conditions as a character in itself; the residents are so completely a part of where they live. Each word, each descriptive phrase is meticulously chosen to create unforgettably vivid images and an evocative atmosphere of this distinct location and its circumstances. I was completely drawn into the narrative and struck by how the characters were simultaneously a part of, or torn between, two worlds: the American and the Mexican. I know will be continuing to think about this book for quite a while to come.

I recommend PILLARS OF CREATION to readers of literary fiction and coming-of-age stories, especially those interested in Texas border settings.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Lone Star Literary Life Book Campaigns.

View all my reviews

New Release Blog Tour: Save Us (Maxton Hall, #3) by Mona Kasten

Save Us

Maxton Hall, Book Three

by

Mona Karsten

Contemporary Romance / Coming-of-age
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: November 4, 2025
Page count: 336 pages

SYNOPSIS:

Can they save themselves? Or will they destroy each other?

Ruby is in shock: Her worst nightmare has come true, and now Oxford and all her dreams that finally seemed within reach are at risk. Worst of all, everything points to James as the one responsible, even after everything they’ve been through together. Ruby thought that she had met the real James—the one who has his own dreams, the one who makes her laugh and makes her heart beat faster with a single glance.

However, after an explosive fight between the two, they discover a terrible truth. Together, Ruby fights to graduate, as James tries to clear her name at school. But that means once again James must challenge his father and his expectations for him. And despite everything, James still threatens to break under the obligations to his family. Ruby and James must ask themselves if the worlds they live in are perhaps too different after all, or if they can finally find a way back to each other.

CLICK TO PURCHASE!

| Amazon | Apple Books | BAM! |

| Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Google Play |

| Indigo | Kobo | Target | Walmart |

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mona Kasten is an international bestseller and literary phenomenon. She was born in Hamburg in 1992 and studied library and information management before devoting herself entirely to writing. After the success of her first novel, Begin Again, she quickly established herself as a star in German publishing and around the world and her Maxton Hall series solidified that. She has sold over 3 million copies in her country of Germany alone, and translation rights to her series have been sold in over twenty countries.

Audiobook Review: Just a Hat by Shanah Khubiar

Just a Hat by Shanah Khubiar
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The unique coming-of-age story of a small-town, Persian-American Jewish teen in 1979 Texas.

Just A Hat by Shanah Khubiar is the vivid and evocative coming-of-age story of young Joseph Nissan, a Persian-American Jewish teen whose family had immigrated to the U.S. to escape the Shah of Iran's police. The multi-layered story features Joseph's school life, home life, and life in general in his small Texas town at the start of the 1979 Iran Hostage Crisis.

The main character is Youssef (or Joseph as he is known at school) Nissan, a 13-year-old transplant from California, living in Hazel, Texas (somewhere outside Dallas) with his Baba and Maman, who had years earlier fled their home in Iran just ahead of the Shah's police. Besides navigating the emotional minefield of middle school, he's on the cusp of manhood, studying for his Bar Mitzvah and slowly changing his relationship with his parents. He's frequently mistaken for Hispanic; his best friends are Mateo and Roberto Ybarra, and there are no other ethnically Persian families (or Jews) in the entire county, so he is unique to the area's residents.

Joseph struggles with wanting to do the same things other kids do and still respect his parents' wishes, especially his father's. Still, their culture and, sometimes, religious restrictions present a conflict. He's quiet, studious, and academically adept. Joseph has a healthy temper that he must constantly work to control. His nemeses in the town are two cousins, Larry and Brian Edmondson, who are revealed later to have their own interesting backstories, who generally make Joseph's life miserable at school and in the neighborhood.

In Texas, football is a common denominator, a great equalizer that brings diverse groups of people together, creating otherwise unlikely allies (and hitting people is considered a legitimate and acceptable practice.) Joseph makes the fortuitous decision to join the football team where he shows a lot of promise. I enjoyed how Joseph observed the "tells" of the two Edmondson cousins that telegraphed their moves on the field and how he used it to even out their relationships with one another.

The story includes details of Joseph's culture and religion, with celebrations attended by extended family from across the country or Israel. The discussions of the extensive preparations for his Bar Mitzvah were eye-opening and informative, as was the talk about the political situation back in Iran that had prompted many of the characters to immigrate to the U.S.

Joseph's life is further complicated by his crush on a classmate, the daughter of a disapproving and narrow-minded Christian pastor. Baba, who knows the tough path such an alliance would pose even if the two kids were older, does not support the friendship either. The confrontation between the two fathers is frighteningly intense but Joseph sees a side to Baba that he's never seen before: one that he'd been worried was absent. It was so satisfying to see father and son open up at different times during the story and reveal their secrets to each other. And I loved when Maman revealed that she, too, had hidden depths. (I would have thrown a hissy about those apples.)

Ramiz Monsef narrates the Audible audiobook and is one of the best at this craft. His voice is warm and welcoming, using subtle changes in tone, accent, and pitch to differentiate this broad cast of characters that include male, female, young, old, and native English, Spanish, and Farsi speakers. The production is just great.

With its wonderfully relatable characters and unique coming-of-age story, I recommend JUST A HAT to readers of young adult fiction.

View all my reviews

Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway: Accidental Paradise by Eric Grandy

 

ACCIDENTAL PARADISE

by

Eric Grandy

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by

Goddess FishPromotions.

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

Coming of Age

Publisher: Audecyn Books

Publication Date: October 1, 2025

Page count: 310 pages

SCROLL DOWN FOR GIVEAWAY!

SYNOPSIS:

Natural talent, hard work, and a childhood friend help LaVern Whitaker find her calling as an actress.  When her life becomes overwhelming, they discover a small town where her true identity can remain unknown, and she can stay out of the spotlight.  The more she visits her secret getaway, the more deeply she feels connected to the history, the lifestyle, and the people.  Could this place be her home away from home, or become the home she has dreamed of?  Or will sinister forces rip it all away?

CLICK TO PURCHASE!

| Amazon | Apple Books | BAM! | Barnes & Noble |

| Bookshop.org | Indigo | Kobo | Walmart |

ENJOY AN EXCERPT:

“Make me a promise, Shaundra. Promise me we will always be best friends.”

 

“I promise, Peaches.”

 

LaVern stood up and said she had better head back. “Are you coming over tomorrow?”

 

“Hell yeah.”

 

Both girls had a hardy laugh at that one.

 

As Freeman and Jackie watched their daughter recross the street, they noticed a more delighted and relieved child than the one who left a few minutes earlier.

 

The girls resumed their old routine of talking and gossiping in LaVern’s bedroom. Shaundra asked more questions about her new school; how did she like going to school with White kids? Did she hang out with the other Black students? How was she treated? LaVern did her best to answer; No, she wasn’t completely accepted by everyone, she wasn’t friends with all the Black kids, she still felt very self-conscious being one of a few Black students in an all-White school, sometimes she felt very alone but she had made a few friends.

 

“My daddy said it would take a little while, that I would get used to it. He said I would get a better education.”

 

“Well, you’re already smart Peaches. You’ll be smart no matter what school you go to.”

 

“Well, it is harder than 139, but I’m doing OK.

 

“I know you, Peaches. If you say you doing OK, I know you killin’ it.”

 

LaVern looked down at her feet. “Well, I’m doing alright.”

 

But the Big Dog was right. She was killing it.

GUEST POST:

Please welcome Eric Grandy, the author of today's featured book, to the blog to talk about his playlist for ACCIDENTAL PARADISE.

The tone of “Accidental Paradise” runs from quiet and contemplative to humorous and light-hearted to riotous and confrontational. My musical playlist encapsulates the emotions intertwined in each of these circumstances.

Ten-year-old LaVern Whitaker doesn’t know why her best friend, Shaundra Jackson, has stopped coming by after school, something that was her regular routine. LaVern’s mother explained that, since she transferred to a private school, Shaundra feels left out, and she needs reassurance that a new school and new friends won’t endanger their friendship. In a quiet and contemplative moment, the two girls are sitting on Shaundra’s stoop when LaVern asks why she stopped coming by. The ten-year-old Shaundra couldn’t explain why, but said she really missed her. “You are my very, very best friend,” replied LaVern. “A new school won’t change that.” The two girls promised to stay best friends forever. Patti LaBelle’s song, “You are my friend,” which talks about looking all around for her friend only to find out you were here all the time, is the perfect musical counterpart.  

The small coastal town of Louiston, South Carolina, is under siege by a ruthless and greedy land developer who wants to build condos and luxury seaside hotels. Development company reps attend a City Council meeting to convince the citizens to sell land that has been in their families for one hundred years. The locals, aware of their sleezy reputation, want no part of selling off their land. In a riotous and confrontational meeting, the reps are shouted down and threatened with bodily harm. The most vociferous of the Council Members, the volatile Stanley Payne, led the verbal assault. “If you sons of bitches get your way,” he fumed, “everybody here will lose their land, their businesses, and their homes!” The meeting degenerated into a chaotic free-for-all with the reps having to be escorted out of the chambers under police escort. Amid all the raucous confusion, I hear the smooth, dulcet tone of the theme to the Pink Panther movie.

Most of the humor surrounds Shaundra. She has a biting, street-honed outlook on life that is both funny and pointed. After LaVern has an emotional breakup with her college boyfriend, she is distraught and sobbing and seeks consoling in a phone call to Shaundra. “You handled him too classy, LaVern. He better be glad I wasn’t there. I would have gone straight East Baltimore on his ass!” The Rick James refrain “Cold Blooded” meshes like a puzzle piece with the take-no-prisoners Shaundra.

 CLICK HERE TO ENJOY ON SPOTIFY!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Eric Grandy was born and raised in Baltimore City and graduated from City College. After he graduated from Essex Community College, he was drafted by the Chicago Cubs and played six years for that team. He went on to a variety of jobs: photographer, lab manager, driver for DHL and warehouse manager. After retirement, he decided to devote himself to writing, producing several short stories and Accidental Paradise, his debut novel.

 

Grandy still lives in Baltimore with his wife Rhonda and his daughter Marti. 

GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!

Eric Grandy will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.

Book Review: Narrow the Road by James Wade

Narrow the Road by James Wade
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An historical fiction novel with a desperate quest, loyal companions, and coming-of-age.

Narrow the Road by Texas author James Wade is a wonderful work of historical fiction, and with its engaging main characters and gripping plot, it reminded me of a true-to-life, epic fantasy quest set in 1930s Depression-besieged East Texas. The storytelling is mesmerizing, the language immersive, and the atmospheric setting had me glued to the tale from start to finish.

With the bank on the brink of foreclosing on their farm, his cotton crop doomed and rotting in the fields, and his mother slowly dying in her bed as she refuses to travel to Houston for treatment, fifteen-year-old only child William Carter sets out on a journey through East Texas, a last-ditch effort to find his absentee father. Thomas Carter had joined hundreds of fellow WWI veterans to march on Washington, D.C., and appeal to lawmakers to provide benefits to those who’d fought and were left hanging when they returned home. While their protests were disregarded, Thomas had failed to return home to his wife and son; his last communication to them was a cryptic letter sent from another East Texas town, some distance from their farm outside Manning. With his mother on her deathbed, refusing to budge until her husband returns home, William sets out for his father’s last known location, accompanied by his best friend, Ollie Leek.

William is a young man with much too much on his shoulders and long out of options. During their journey, he and Ollie, and later Lena, meet an abundance of characters, both good and bad, including men who had served with or met Thomas Carter. Through the men’s commentary and diary entries, William discovers another side to the man he knows as his father. Ollie is William’s boon companion, and a truer “ride or die” friend would be hard to find. While William is the serious, goal-focused, straight man, Ollie is the much-needed comic relief, the wild hair, the accidental genius, and steadfast, loyal friend who knows William like a brother.

Early on, the action tends to pause at times as the author sidesteps to fortify the overall historical foundation of the story or expand the main characters’ exposure to life at that particular time, resulting in a more immersive experience for the reader. This development proves timely as the action really ramps up later in the story.

The East Texas setting provides a diverse terrain for the main character's quest, with farmland long overdue for rain, deep, dark forests, swampland, and small, barely there towns. Wherever the location, though, the author delivers vivid word pictures that place the reader in the moment alongside his characters. While this is not the first novel of this author that I’ve read, it is my favorite.

I recommend NARROW THE ROAD to readers of historical fiction, especially those who enjoy coming-of-age stories, Depression era, or East Texas settings.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Lone Star Literary Life Book Campaigns.

View all my reviews

Children's Book Review: It Happened on Saturday by Sydney Dunlap

It Happened on Saturday by Sydney Dunlap
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An excellent story for middle-grade readers that realistically portrays the dangers lurking online.

It was the end of the summer between seventh and eighth grades, and Julia’s best friend since the fifth grade was finally coming home from camp. The days had dragged while Nori was away, more so than in the past, since the twins, also friends from school, had moved away right after the last day of school. Julia was looking forward to Nori’s return with plans for how they would spend the final summer vacation days before the new school year started.

But when Nori returned, something had changed. She had met a boy at camp who turned out to attend the same school and had developed a different kind of friendship: a boy-girl friendship. Suddenly, Nori always had plans with Luke and didn’t have time for Julia. To top it off, Julia’s parents were busy with work and each other, and her older sister, Danielle, had a boyfriend of her own. Julia felt abandoned, the odd-man-out, just like that awful time in fifth grade before she had met Nori.

However, after a quick afternoon makeover by Danielle, Julia posted her “new look” online. To her surprise and gratification, the “Likes” and complimentary comments poured in. But one comment, in particular, caught her eye. When that one was followed up by another and another by the same intriguingly unknown boy, Julia decided to reply, even though her parents had told her never to respond to strangers online. Little did Julia know that tyler_g had plans for her.

It Happened on Saturday is a marvelous cautionary tale that explores the dangers lurking online with the advent of social media. In this case, the threat is kidnapping for sex trafficking. Julia is a regular girl with the same troubles and concerns felt by most elementary and middle-grade children: feeling ignored, not belonging, loneliness, and parents who are distracted by having to make a living. She is also experiencing changes in her once stable relationship with her best friend, who has moved on from childhood interests to having a boyfriend. Young readers will easily relate to her feelings and everyday life.

The story demonstrates some of the simple, yet devious tactics employed to gain a victim’s trust, manipulate their choices, and isolate them from safety. Julia is somewhat wary at first, especially when Tyler reveals too much too soon. But the guy is a pro and recovers to the point where Julia gets comfortable again.

This book would be an excellent choice to share with older elementary/middle-grade children or students to launch a discussion of this topic at school or home.

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

Release Blitz: Save You (Maxton Hall, #2) by Mona Kasten

Save You

Maxton Hall, Book Two

by

Mona Karsten

Contemporary Romance / Coming-of-age
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: September 2, 2025
Page count: 352 pages

SYNOPSIS:

After all the hurt between them, will they be able to find their way back to each other? 

Ruby thought that she and James had something special. She’s never had such strong feelings for someone. And after his betrayal, she’s also never felt this much hurt. Ruby just wants her old life back before she knew anyone at Maxton Hall, especially before she knew James. But as hard as tries, she can’t forget him…. 

When they both receive their acceptance to Oxford, James sees it as a punishment, while Ruby sees it as a dream come true. Ruby wants to support James as he struggles with his father’s expectations of him taking over the family business. But she makes one thing very clear: she is not willing to forgive him or give him a second chance. As love and hate compete for Ruby's heart, James will try everything he can to win her back.

CLICK TO PURCHASE!

| Amazon | Apple Books | BAM! | Barnes & Noble |

| Bookshop.org | Google Play | Indigo | Kobo | Target | Walmart |

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mona Kasten is an international bestseller and literary phenomenon. She was born in Hamburg in 1992 and studied library and information management before devoting herself entirely to writing. After the success of her first novel, Begin Again, she quickly established herself as a star in German publishing and around the world and her Maxton Hall series solidified that. She has sold over 3 million copies in her country of Germany alone, and translation rights to her series have been sold in over twenty countries.

Book Blitz & Giveaway: Forever We Dream by Mark Workman

Forever We Dream
Mark Workman
Publication date: March 19, 2025
Genres: Coming of Age, Young Adult

Three voices, one dream, and a chance to uncover the truth.

It’s 1978, and the glittering disco craze is sweeping across America. Identical conjoined triplets Elliana, Bellamona, and Gabriella have one shared dream: finding their mother, who vanished without a trace years ago. Singing is their only solace, and now they have a chance to take that passion to the national stage.

When they’re invited to compete in Your Shooting Star, a famous music competition, the teenage sisters see it as their chance to reunite with the woman they can’t remember but long to know. But stepping into the spotlight means facing their greatest fears. As the underdogs fight to stay in the contest, they must brave ruthless rival Twyla-Violet, a former child model determined to claim the coveted title at any cost.

While the four-round competition heats up, secrets, lies, and conspiracies threaten to tear their world apart. Can the triplets stand strong and use the power of television to reconnect with their past? Or will their dream shatter under the pressure of fame?

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

—

EXCERPT:

Carla gawked at the triplets, shocked by their wrecked makeup. “What have you done?”

Katherine stepped over to them. “Carla, I’ll take care of the girls.” She took in their disturbed faces. “Did Twyla-Violet do something to you again?”

Mona sniffed back her tears. “It doesn’t matter anymore.”

“Sixty seconds,” Carla announced behind them.

Katherine pulled the girls around her. “Don’t let that bully beat you. There’s no time to fix your makeup. You must turn this crisis into a tactical advantage. I want you to think of the one thing you want more than anything else and imagine how you’d feel if you couldn’t have it.”

Papilio stared up at her, six amber irises adrift in the pain-stained red sclera of their eyes.

“That’s how we feel now,” Mona muttered as another black tear dripped from her chin and soiled more of their white blouse.

“So put those painful emotions into every word you sing and note you play. Understand, Papilio?”

Appearing almost catatonic, the triplets nodded slowly.

Carla pointed at the stage. “Ten seconds!”

Gently, Katherine brushed a black tear from Mona’s soft jawline with the back of her fingers. “And don’t forget to sing the lyrics from a girl’s perspective. Make them personal.” She stepped back and gestured for Papilio to go.

“Thanks for everything,” Mona said as if it would be the last time they ever saw the coach they had come to admire.

An aching feeling in the pit of Mona’s stomach told her something awful was about to happen. She sensed the judges sharpening their axes, anticipating the metallic taste of blood, ready to exact their punishment on Papilio for being naive enough to think three homely zeros were good enough to become America’s Teen Shooting Star. Their wacko mother didn’t even want them—why would anyone else?

As the dimmed lights increased in intensity, Papilio joined hands, put their right feet forward, and marched onstage while being careful not to trip in their tall platform heels. Halfway there, Gabby lost her concentration. Her ankle twisted sideways, and she nearly fell before Mona, anchored by Ellie, pulled Gabby’s arm and helped her recover, preventing an embarrassing human avalanche.

Despite the triplets’ messy state, the crowd behind Twyla-Violet’s cheering section applauded loudly. The Empress fan club, still decked out in violet band T-shirts, filled the front row as if they were permanently cemented to the seats. Their jaws dropped when they saw Papilio’s sloppy makeup and ruined costume. The hecklers were so shocked by their disheveled appearance, they forgot to snicker.

Papilio’s die-hard fan from their school’s math club stood in the middle of the row behind the jeerers. She held a sign that read Go Papilio! Her metal braces glinted as she jumped up and down, black pigtails bouncing, cheering for the band. Two other calculators with her screamed even louder.

Papiliomania was becoming contagious.

Author Bio:

Mark Workman toured the world as a road manager and lighting designer with many famous rock bands for 33 years. After leaving the music business in 2015, he worked at a major drug and alcohol treatment center in Malibu, California, for four years, where he earned his certification as a drug and alcohol counselor. Mark now spends his time reading, writing, and traveling. He grew up in Petersburg, Virginia, has lived in Greater Los Angeles for most of his adult life, and currently resides in the Las Vegas area. His estrangement from his late father since the age of six, along with his love for the music of the Bee Gees and 70s nostalgia, greatly inspired his debut novel, Forever We Dream.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram

GIVEAWAY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

—

Book Review: Stay, Girl by Anjelica R. Jackson

Stay, Girl by Angelica R. Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The heartwarming story of the healing power of love.

Stay, Girl is a wonderfully heartwarming story of 12-year-old Bet and a fostered beagle named Penny set in 1953 California’s Central Valley. While timeless and with universal elements, Bet and Penny’s story comes alive in this nostalgic setting of a simpler time and place. Their tale is one of two wounded creatures re-discovering kindness, love, and safety. I couldn’t put it down.

Bet is a determined, capable 12-year-old, conditioned much too soon to depending on herself for her most basic needs. When her mother passes away, she takes off from her home in Sacramento and her abusive stepfather and makes her way, by foot, to her mother’s brother’s home in Amberfields, California, quite some distance away. Bet’s plan for escape had been to join a friend working in an Idaho lumber camp, but she’d promised her mother on her deathbed that she’d go to Uncle Earl’s, and she always kept her promises.

We can only imagine what Bet expected Uncle Earl to be like, considering her experiences with the adults, especially men, in her brief life, but Earl is not that. A former Navy cook, now working at the small town’s diner, he’s a giving and gentle soul and the caretaker for the county for three rescued dogs. A recent addition to his home is a very sick red and white beagle that had been removed from a deplorable situation. Bet feels a kinship with the small, frightened dog she names Penny, and it becomes her goal to heal her and become Penny’s “person.”

The plot covers the summer of 1953, and Bet and Penny’s slow but steady recovery as both become a part of their new home and new community, seeing a side of people they had been denied up to this point in their lives. The author’s vivid descriptions of the setting drew me in so completely I could almost feel the heat and hear the sounds of that long-ago summer, a time when telephones, television, and cars weren’t a part of every household yet. Bet’s story was compelling, with plot twists that changed its trajectory in unexpected ways and kept me glued to its pages.

I recommend STAY, GIRL to readers of historical fiction, especially those who enjoy coming-of-age stories.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy through WOW! Women On Writing Book Tours.


View all my reviews

Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway: Reflections of Michael Trilogy by L.J. Ambrosio

REFLECTIONS OF MICHAEL

by

L.J. Ambrosio

Literary Fiction / Coming of Age

Publisher: Film Valor

SCROLL DOWN FOR GIVEAWAY!

SYNOPSES:

A Reservoir Man, critics have hailed this explosive and timely work as “a must-read coming-of-age story of 2022.

”Twists and turns further pull the reader into Michael’s action-packed tale, with powerful themes, from betrayal and family to secrets and identity. “Be sure not to blink because you just might miss a pivotal moment in Michael’s rousing, larger-than-life story.”

-- R.C. Gibson, Indiestoday.com.

“This book is a dream, a gamble, a utopia, even.” 

-- Kalyan Panja, Bookmarkks

Michael's story continues from A Reservoir Man (2022) where we find him teaching at a university ready to retire. He unexpectedly meets a young man named Ron who becomes his protege and journeys in a haphazard adventure with him throughout America and Europe, each twist and turn of the road bringing unexpected adventures. The journey taken is one of joy, friendship and discovery.

In this final chapter, Ron's story concludes from Reflections on the Boulevard (2023). Michael's wish was for Ron to exile himself in the heart of Paris with its beautiful culture and citizens as they protest and fight for the soul of the city. Ron's journey is met with life-affirming friendships and lessons along the way. The final book in the Reflections of Michael Trilogy, which started with A Reservoir Man (2022).

CLICK BELOW TO PURCHASE THE TRILOGY!

| Amazon | Amazon AU | Amazon CA | Amazon UK |

READ AN EXCERPT:

Excerpt from Reflections on the Boulevard
 
 

“How long will the trip last? I thought I would be in Transcendental amazement by now.”

 

Michael was a little shocked. “Ron, we have only been driving for 2 hours.”

 

Michael explained to him that they would drive US 80 until they reached the borders of Nebraska and Wyoming, so he had to settle in. The corn fields were right down the road. Passing the corn fields, Ron observed how peaceful everything was. Michael suggested they pull over and park the car for a while.

 

While just sitting in the car, Ron saw two figures in the field, a man, and a woman. They suddenly disappeared among the corn and, from above, you could see the corn stalks shake violently. Ron chuckled.

 

“Oh God, looks like those people are doing it! It almost looks like he is doing it to the corn stalk!”

 

Michael tried to change the subject, “Look at those birds” he said, quickly. Ron was still caught up in his imagination. A few moments passed as Michael tried to rest his eyes and prepare for the next stretch of road. Suddenly he heard Ron crinkling a wrapper to a candy bar, which jarred him back to the moment. Michael sat listening to Ron crunch; he nearly threw it out the window.

 

“Can you not chew so loud, Ron?”

 

“Sorry. I love these things.”

 

A moment passed; the corn stalks were calm now. 

INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR:

Author L.J. Ambrosio was very kind to sit down and answer a couple of questions I had after I had read the REFLECTIONS OF MICHAEL Trilogy and participated in the book tours for each of his book launches. To Louis: Thank you so very much.

You have mentioned in previous interviews that the books in the trilogy are based on your life experiences. With that in mind ...

Were any of the characters more representative of you than someone you knew? I wondered if the main characters were representative of you at different points in your life?

Michael has very close links to my life, but there is Louie, the dreamer, the partisan, very much my instincts. As for Ron – the emotional. I feel Ron's pan every day in my thoughts of the past. Lily is like all the women in my life. They cared for me and protected me from those reservoir men. Lily encompasses beauty both in and outside. I can never thank all the great women/girls in my life. All of them tender. As Louie cuddled with Lily in the bookstore during the riots – that security so many ladies gave me. They are all me, and I hope you find something of them in yourself.

 

Your books feature a lot of travel, so where are some of your favorites or more memorable places to travel?

Paris, but America in the west is magnificent. Grand Canyon desert, Yosemite, Grand Tetons. I love America and all its beauty, but Paris holds the number one spot.

Were there any scenes in your books that were cathartic or therapeutic for you to finally write down and tell someone about - perhaps that you hadn't ever shared previously?

Throughout the entire three books, I can go from chapter to chapter pointing to moments and the people who tried to use me, and who did use me. I took lessons from them – that is life. I learned you have to keep walking and emotionally touching those around you as you go on. Don't obsess about the reservoir men. Just walk on in your purity, whatever purity means to you.

Now that the trilogy is done, do you have plans to write more?

I need to rest. I almost died and was in a semi-coma. I want to see the face of god again. I want to touch the dew on the leaf again. I want to sit in the forest or on the beach just thinking of whatever comes to my mind. To hug my dog, to watch all the birds I feed, and the blind homeless cat we feed and love every night.

Maybe I will continue the relationship and growth in one more book of Ron and Louie surrounded by Michael's memory.

I want to revisit Rhonda at the banks of Walden Pond and say goodbye as the dragonflies take her soul. I still miss the fourteen dogs I had who passed on and who I loved so much. I remember their smiles, their barks, and their cuddles when the storms approached. Animals are our cousins. They understand us if we love them. We don't even kill bugs in the house; we just chase them outside.

Having published three books now, did you encounter any surprises in the process of becoming a published author?

I can spell and write. Even though I have my terminal degree, I was never able to write in college, but I explain very well.

Thank you for these questions. They made me feel great. I have to say I love life and pity the reservoir men. I love to get up in the morning, always at 7 AM and look for the adventure.

And I would like to thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. Best wishes!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Louis J. Ambrosio ran one of the most nurturing bi-coastal talent agencies in Los Angeles and New York. He started his career as a theatrical producer, running two major regional theaters for eight seasons. Ambrosio taught at seven universities. Ambrosio also distinguished himself as an award-winning film producer and novelist over the course of his impressive career.

| Blog | Facebook | Instagram | Tumblr | X (Twitter) | YouTube |

GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!

The author will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card, a print copy of the book, or a dragonfly necklace to three randomly chosen winners.

a Rafflecopter giveaway