Guatemala Paula Loves to Read

Saturday, January 24, 2026

**Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway: Captive Heart at Brantmar Castle (Mysteries of a Heart, #2) by Celeste Fenton**

Captive Heart at Brantmar Castle

Mysteries of a Heart Series

by Celeste Fenton

About Captive Heart at Brantmar Castle

Captive Heart at Brantmar Castle: Mysteries of a Heart Series
Cozy Mystery - Romantic Suspense
2nd in Series
Setting - Dost Island (off the coast of Massachusetts) and the Scottish Highlands
Publisher: Independently Published
Publication date: September 22, 2025
Hardcover Print length: 305 pages
ISBN-13: 979-8266642805
Paperback Print length: 389 pages
ISBN-13: 979-8292238829
Digital ASIN: B0FNLY4WXK

Gabby Heart travels to a remote Scottish castle with her best friend, Abe—a bestselling children’s author—expecting misty views, historic charm, and quiet time to plan their next book series. But Brantmar Castle holds more than ghosts of the past. When the women are taken hostage, Gabby must rely on her instincts, her resilience, and the help of men who may not deserve her trust to survive.

Meanwhile, on Dost Island, young residents are vanishing without a trace. As those left behind scramble for answers, unsettling clues emerge—leading to a dark motive no one could have predicted.

From the storm-swept highlands of Scotland to the rocky shores of New England, Captive Heart at Brantmar Castle blends mystery, emotional grit, simmering romance, and humor, in a story where secrets run deep... and time is running out.

Two mysteries. One fight for survival. And danger closing in from both sides of the sea.

A slow-burn romantic suspense with an edgy cozy mystery twist peppered with humor, Captive Heart at Brantmar Castle is perfect for fans of strong women over 40, amateur sleuths, brooding men with buried secrets, and adventure in small seaside towns and exotic locales hiding deadly truths.

Click to Purchase!

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About Celeste Fenton

My writing is fueled by a lifelong love of mystery and a fascination with the complexities of the human heart. As a widow, mother of adult twin sons, proud grandmother, dog lover, and semi-retired educator, I believe I have enough real-world experience to weave imagination with insight to create stories rich with emotion and suspense.

When I'm not writing, reading, or plotting another plot twist, I like to explore small towns across America—setting out solo for month-long adventures much to the awe (and occasional alarm) of family and friends. My latest obsessions include escape rooms, mastering the perfect miter cut for a DIY bathroom remodel, training my cavalier spaniel to do a high five, and making the impossible decision of where to travel next.

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Tour Participants

January 14 – Jody's Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

January 14 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

January 15 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

January 16 – Sarandipity's – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

January 16 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT

January 17 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

January 18 - Boys' Mom Reads! – AUTHOR GUEST POST

January 18 - StoreyBook Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST

January 19 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

January 20 – Christy's Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST

January 21 – Salty Inspirations – AUTHOR GUEST POST

January 22 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT

January 23 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW

January 24 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT

January 25 – Cozy Up With Kathy - REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

January 26 – Sarah Can't Stop Reading Books – SPOTLIGHT

January 27 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book - REVIEW

GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!

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Friday, January 23, 2026

**Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway: In Skein Sight (Clear Creek Mysteries, #5) by Rebecca McKinnon**

In Skein Sight

Clear Creek Mysteries

Rebecca McKinnon

About In Skein Sight

In Skein Sight (Clear Creek Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Setting – Rocky Mountains
Independently Published
Publication date: January 23, 2026
Digital ASIN: B0FTGHX7LG

Spring has sprung in the Rocky Mountains, and Clear Creek is celebrating the arrival of the new season and increased tourism with a host of events — including a special cooking class taught by Jemma’s good friend, Chef Leandro.

When a knit-wit chef barges into Leandro’s kitchen insisting it’s now his, sparks fly between the two. It seems that everyone wants the new chef gone, but no one expects Jemma to find the man stabbed through the heart.

Leandro’s knife skills — and his argument with the dead man — make him the obvious suspect. But Jemma’s ready to cross needles with the Sheriff and anyone else who tries to place the blame on her friend.

With the killer’s eyes on Jemma from the start, she needs to weave in the ends before things unravel!

Click to Purchase!

About Rebecca McKinnon

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

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Tour Participants

January 13 – Jody's Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

January 13 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 14 – Christy's Cozy Corners – REVIEW

January 15 – Salty Inspirations – AUTHOR GUEST POST

January 16 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

January 17 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

January 18 - Sarah Can't Stop Reading Books – REVIEW

January 18 - Sarandipity's – SPOTLIGHT

January 19 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

January 20 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

January 21 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

January 22 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

January 23 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT

GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!

Enter for a chance to win a

$20 Amazon Gift Card

Have you signed up to be a Tour Host?

Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today!

Want to Book a Tour?

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Thursday, January 22, 2026

**Book Tour & Giveaway: The Serpent series by S.Z. Estavillo**

Every crime tells a story…

But not every killer is the villain.

The Serpent’s Order

The Serpent Series Book 4

by S.Z. Estavillo

Genre: Thriller, Romantic Suspense

An assassin bound by obedience. A detective marked for death. A cartel war with no survivors.

Von Schlange thought she’d escaped her past. Now Black Nova owns her—an elite, off-the-books task force where obedience is survival and failure means death. As their newest assassin, she’s unleashed on targets tied to Jaxon Ryker, a drug lord buried deep in the Alaskan wilds.

Her partner, Xander Holt, a former Navy SEAL with ice in his veins, lives by the same brutal code: no attachments, no lines crossed. But as missions turn bloody, the fragile boundary between partner and lover begins to blur—and desire becomes its own kind of danger.

Across the country, Detective Anaya Nazario faces a nightmare of her own. A synthetic “zombie drug,” deadlier than fentanyl and immune to Narcan, is ripping through Los Angeles. Her investigation exposes a network of dirty cops shielding Ryker’s empire—and puts a target squarely on her back.

Two women on opposite fronts. One war against corruption and cartel power. And a single truth—every betrayal leaves a body behind.

Explosive, unrelenting, and razor-sharp, The Serpent’s Order propels the Serpent Series into its most dangerous chapter yet—where justice is a myth, and survival comes at a price paid in blood.

**NEW RELEASE on Feb 10, 2026! PreOrder Now!**

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Twilight of the Serpent

The Serpent Series Book 3

Some predators hide in plain sight. Others hunt from the shadows.

Merrick Winslow is a decorated Army officer, a man of discipline and honor—or so he claims. When he reports that his ex-wife, Cheonsa Soo-Min, has been stalking him, no one questions his story. He paints her as unstable, vengeful, and dangerous, a woman consumed by obsession. But when two officers are gunned down with her own weapon, the truth becomes harder to see. With the law closing in, Cheonsa vanishes, fleeing to Rio de Janeiro, where she is taken in by Von Schlange, the vigilante thought to have disappeared for good.

Von has retired her vengeful ways, leaving behind a life of bloodshed to run a quiet veterinary clinic. But when Cheonsa’s past collides with Winslow’s lies, the two women begin to unravel a deadly deception—one that turns predator into prey. By the time Von uncovers the truth, an innocent life has already been taken.

Now, there’s only one thing left to do: find the real monster and make him pay.

Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Detective Anaya Nazario and Supervising Special Agent Blake Huxley are adjusting to life as new parents. But after only four months of maternity leave, Nazario is pulled back into the field to investigate the murder of two officers. What should be a straightforward case quickly spirals into something far more sinister—secrets buried beneath the badge, a killer hiding behind a uniform, and a web of corruption stretching further than anyone expected.

As Nazario and Huxley chase down leads, their investigation intersects with a vigilante they once thought was dead. And this time, Von Schlange isn’t just seeking justice—she’s delivering retribution.

For fans of Karin Slaughter, Gillian Flynn, and Taylor Adams, Twilight of the Serpent delivers a high-stakes vigilante thriller packed with morally gray justice, relentless suspense, and a tangled web of deception. Perfect for readers who love strong female leads, intense cat-and-mouse chases, and dark psychological twists.

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The Serpent Woman

The Serpent Series Book 2

The exciting sequel to The Serpent's Bridge...

A serial killer is on the loose. With her insidious tattoo and venomous killer strike, they’re calling her the serpent woman.

Two of the best in their field, LAPD Detective Anaya Nazario and FBI Supervising Special Agent Blake Huxley are forced to work together yet again, despite their strained romantic history and a baby on the way. Together on a nationwide hunt, they must find this serpent woman before she strikes again.

But, as the cat-and-mouse chase evolves, Nazario and Huxley begin to realize that their killer is on a mission of vigilante justice and they must struggle with the question of who really deserves their justice: The killer, or her victims?

This dark thriller delves into the sensitive topics of sex trafficking, child abuse, animal death, sexual assault, graphic violence, and dead bodies. Reader discretion is advised.

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The Serpent’s Bridge

The Serpent Series Book 1

Compelling dialogue, rich, gritty prose, and characters you won’t forget — if you loved The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest by Stieg Larsson, or Ink and Bone by Lisa Unger, you’ll love The Serpent’s Bridge.

Recovering alcoholic Detective Anaya Nazario remains haunted by her father's murder. Lucas Nazario was the highest-ranking Puerto Rican LAPD detective, and his case has gone unsolved for twenty-four years since his murder. When Mexican immigrants are targeted by a serial killer, Nazario senses a connection and fights to keep the leadless case open. The homicide investigation centers on Sanctuary Baptist, a church composed of immigrants led by Pastor Stan and his wife. Nazario's personal and professional worlds collide when she is compelled to collaborate with her former lover, Special Agent Blake Huxley. As their lives merge once more, the FBI and Detective Nazario stop at nothing to find a killer.

Is this the same monster who killed her father and left him for dead under a bridge?

Can she put a stop to the murders before more families lose loved ones?

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Get the Box set duo for Only $2.99 for a limited time!

Get it on Amazon!

As a BIPOC thriller author, she previously parted amicably with her agent and, three months later, secured an eight-book deal with Oliver-Heber Books—now boasting 24,000 downloads in its first year and a BookRaid bestseller ranking in the thriller category. The Serpent Woman (Book 2) reached #1 on Amazon and topped all three of its categories. Her background spans literary agencies and TV studios, where she contributed to greenlit screenplays that became Lifetime movies. She holds a Master’s in Television, Radio, and Film, has taught author branding workshops (L.A. Writer’s Conference, North Texas RWA), and maintains a 100K+ social media following.

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a $20 giveaway!

Enter The Serpent Series Giveaway Here

**Teaser Tour: To Die For by Audrey Steidl**

To Die For

Audrey Steidl

Young adult

Publisher: Acorn Publishing

COMING: April 10, 2026

SYNOPSIS:

To Die For is a harrowing look into the life of a narcissist who refuses to take accountability for the damage she inflicts.

High school senior Dei Fields appears completely harmless, but she has a keen instinct for manipulation. When she first sets eyes on hot star athlete Mika St. John, she’s determined to have him … and Dei always gets what she wants. There are only three obstacles: Mika’s friends, his family, and his girlfriend. But Dei isn’t afraid to destroy relationships to satisfy her fantasies.

In a matter of weeks, she love-bombs Mika into thinking he has found his soulmate, but when Dei’s plans go awry, everything changes—including her identity. Will Dei get what she wants this time? Or will she finally get what she deserves?

ENJOY AN EXCERPT:

“Why are you always spoiling things? Why couldn’t you have just believed me?”

Then the girl charged toward her, rage in her eyes. Marion had seen this before – it was the bully on the playground, the mean girl at the gym – why are you making me do this??

And suddenly Marion knew that she was fighting for her life. Swinging the flashlight she connected it with Dei’s upper arm, unbalancing her, if only for a moment. As Dei staggered back, Marion glanced at the front door and knew that she would never make it in time. Instead, she headed for the balcony and tugged the glass door open with all her might. At once, the rain whipped against her face, stinging like shards of glass, but she knew that Dei could feel it too.

And then she began to scream. After all, they were only one floor up from the boardwalk. Surely someone would see them struggling!

But there was no one there. It was as if Naples had become a ghost town. There was nothing but abandoned cars and boarded up windows – and rising water.

A tiny, claw-like hand grabbed at her arm and twisted, but she wrenched free. With Marion’s clothing soaked, it was harder for Dei to hold onto her, but she stepped all the way out onto the concrete patio, now slick with rain.

“You bitch!”

Marion heard Dei scream behind her and turned to face her abuser but before she could raise the heavy flashlight again, it slipped from her wet grip and clattered to the floor.

Seeing it fall, Dei kicked the flashlight under one of the chairs and then lunged at Marion.

Grabbing her by the hair she was surprised to feel the old woman fighting back. They were both soaked, their bodies slick with rain and debris carried in by the fierce wind.

Suddenly one of the chairs slammed into Dei, hitting her back legs, and she lost her hold on Marion. As Dei staggered back, Marion moved toward the door, intending to lock her out, but Dei caught her by the wrist.

“No, you don’t!” she said fiercely, propelling Marion towards the rail of the balcony. For one terrifying moment, Marion feared that she would lose her balance and pitch forward over the ledge to the street below. Instead, her core held -- and years of yoga and gardening paid off in that moment, saving her life.

Pushing herself away from the railing, Marion saw Dei rushing toward her like a linebacker. She had youth and energy and agility, but Marion had one thing Dei didn’t have in that moment – her wits.

As Dei charged towards the railing, Marion waited until the last millisecond and then stepped aside - the impact to Dei enough to knock the wind out of her. Falling to her knees, she was now doubled over beside Marion, if only for a moment.

But that moment was all that it took for Marion to see the iPhone sticking out of the pocket of Dei’s jeans. Adrenaline surged through Marion as her right hand connected with the phone, and in one sweeping movement, she took it and flung it over the balcony to the flooded street below.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Audrey Steidl is the award-winning author of the romantic thriller, The Fallen. Her passion for storytelling began at an early age when she wrote scripts and performed them with her neighborhood friends in full costume and makeup. This love blossomed into a career as an actress and as a producer for cable television. Now, when she’s not writing page-turners, Audrey is a hotel travel executive, a pilates fiend, and a lover of travel and art. A long-time San Diego resident, she shares her home with her husband Jamie and their mischievous Pomeranian Loki. Her latest novel, To Die For, is inspired by those who have the courage to walk away from narcissists and emotionally abusive relationships.

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

**Book Blitz: One Grey Night It Happened by Michael Fields**

One Grey Night It Happened
by
Michael Fields

Young adult / Mystery / Thriller

Publisher: Xlibris

Publication Date: May 4, 2020

Page count: 212 pages

SYNOPSIS:

Falsely accused and pursued by the local police, Lucas Bradshaw, a gifted black athlete, escapes Virginia, and with the help of a friend he enrolls in the predominately white Bloomington High School in Central Pennsylvania.

Set in the mountains of Central Pennsylvania, “One Grey Night It Happened” recognizes the natural beauty and rich cultural heritage of Pennsylvania’s wilderness region.

Running from a notorious mountain clan, a young and defiant Jeremiah Willis departs Arrowhead Mountain and enrolls in Bloomington High School. A black transfer student and gifted athlete, Lucas Bradshaw, enrolls that same morning.

The day before he enrolled, Lucas witnessed a school massacre in his Virginia school, Robert E Lee Academy, and now is the target of a massive manhunt.

Sparks fly when Jeremiah and Lucas meet. They form an unlikely alliance and become allies in the fight against bullies, racists, and corrupt officials. The boys share a deep reverence for nature. When developers plan a million-dollar Dream House on Arrowhead Mountain, Jeremiah and Lucas work together to protect the forests. Suspense mounts at a torrid pace. Either tragedy or triumph awaits Jeremiah and Lucas.

CLICK TO PURCHASE!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Michael Fields, now retired, taught and coached in both public and private high schools in Ohio, Pennsylvania, California, New York, and Southeast Asia for thirty years. He has drawn on this experience to portray a "realistic and sometimes explosive" school environment. In 1967 the author met John Steinbeck in Northeast Thailand. John Steinbeck told him, "If you're going to do this, write about things you know, write about things you really care about. And don't quit your regular job." Following Steinbeck's advice, the author did both.

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Tuesday, January 20, 2026

**Book Tour & Giveaway: Killer Friends (Bloodstone, #4) by Chris Karlsen**

Killer Friends

Bloodstone, Book Four

Chris Karlsen

Historical suspense

Publisher: Books to Go Now

Publication Date: November 10, 2025

Page count: 334 pages

SCROLL DOWN FOR GIVEAWAY!

SYNOPSIS:

Henrietta Newell stormed into the detective bureau. She claimed her adult son was missing and feared for his safety. The detectives attempted to reassure her that the absence of a bachelor in his thirties, in a city like London, wasn’t extraordinary. Despite their efforts, she insisted an investigation be conducted, reminding them of her political connections.

Detective Rudyard Bloodstone and his partner were told to look into the matter. Their investigation reveals evidence of suspicious and unusual activity but no clues regarding the man’s disappearance. The few leads they develop take them from the world of wealthy families and into the secret society of sexual peculiarities.

The detectives discover the victim didn’t simply disappear. He was murdered. They have the evidence except for one problem, they’re missing is the victim’s body.

CLICK TO PURCHASE!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I was born and raised in Chicago. My father was a history professor, and my mother was, and is, a voracious reader. I grew up with a love of history and books.

My parents also love traveling, a passion they passed onto me. I wanted to see the places I read about, see the land and monuments from the time periods that fascinated me. I’ve had the good fortune to travel extensively throughout Europe, the Near East, and North Africa.

I am a retired police detective. I spent twenty-five years in law enforcement with two different agencies. My desire to write came in my early teens. After I retired, I decided to pursue that dream.

I’m currently working on the Bloodstone series, which is historical suspense stories set in Victorian London. I’ve also written two World War 2 romances: The Ack Ack Girl and Moonlight Serenade.

My past series include my historical/time travel romance series is called, Knights in Time. My romantic thriller series is Dangerous Waters.

Each series has a different setting and some cross time periods, which I find fun to write.

I currently live in the Pacific Northwest with my husband and three wild and crazy rescue dogs.

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Monday, January 19, 2026

**Book Blitz: lies and games by r.r. king**

Poetry, Men's Issues

Date Published: December 27, 2025

Lies and Games is a collection about what men learn to hide and how that hiding becomes habit. Written from lived experience, these poems explore attraction, silence, and the tension between wanting closeness and fearing it. The poems documents moments and the cost of staying guarded. This book captures the journey of becoming with all the confusion and broken edges that come with it. This is not a love story. It's what happens around one.

About the Author

A New Yorker by identity, R.R. King learned to live with armor, both literally and figuratively. Known for discipline and presence whose life demanded strength before vulnerability. He spent years building a life defined by control and resilience, but poetry came from the moments when that armor slipped. Lies and Games documents a masculine unraveling. His writing speaks to the experience of standing in a full room and still feeling alone and exploring his adulthood through trials and errors.

Purchase Link

Amazon