Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway - Shocktober: The Biggest Upsets in World Series History by Jonathan Weeks

Shocktober

The Biggest Upsets in World Series History

by

Jonathan Weeks

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.

Sports History
Publisher: Lyons Press
Publication Date: January 7, 2025
Page count: 258 pages

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SYNOPSIS:

Mays’s spectacular catch in 1954, Bill Mazeroski’s walk-off homer in 1960, and Kirk Gibson’s pinch-hit blast in 1988 are just a few of the memorable moments that have dominated highlight reels. The outcome of the Series has not always been terribly surprising—especially during the late 1940s and early 1950s when the Yankees captured five consecutive championships, breaking their previous record of four straight titles from 1936 to 1939. But despite its predictability at times, the Fall Classic has taken many unexpected turns. The 1906 Cubs lost to the weak-hitting White Sox after establishing a new regular season record for wins. The 1955 Dodgers avenged seven prior October failures with an improbable victory over the seemingly invincible Yankees. And in 1969, the Mets finally shed their image as “loveable losers,” dethroning the powerful Orioles. In more than a century of World Series plays, a number of similar scenarios have emerged; twenty-two of those stories are told in Shocktober.

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To understand why members of the White Sox conspired with gamblers to throw the 1919 World Series, one must take into account the financial climate of baseball in the early-20th century. Players weren’t paid exceptionally well (at least in comparison to today). Before the advent of free agency, owners held most of the advantages when it came to negotiating contracts. Players were more or less stuck with the clubs they had signed with until team executives decided it was time to get rid of them. Typical deadball stars were minimally educated and rough around the edges. In their free time, many gravitated to bars and pool halls, where men of questionable integrity could be found. Some players developed relationships with members of the underworld—especially bookmakers who were willing to tamper with the outcome of games in order to turn a profit.

 

Ty Cobb, one of the biggest names of the era, was paid $20,000 in 1919—equivalent to about $348,000 today. No one else was making that much at the time—not even Babe Ruth. Pitcher Eddie Cicotte, at a little over $9,000, was the highest paid member of the Chicago conspirators. The others were earning significantly less.

 

A common misconception among contemporary fans is the idea that Chicago team owner Charles Comiskey was a nefarious miser who drove his men to commit the crime of the century. Multiple myths have persisted regarding Comiskey’s penny-pinching ways—the most salacious being the story about how he delivered a case of flat champagne to his players as a World Series bonus in 1917. Other fallacies have been handed down over the years.

 

In reality, Comiskey was prone to acts of generosity. He allowed a number of Chicago organizations to use his ballpark for free and gave out complimentary grandstand tickets to school children. During World War I, he donated a significant portion of his annual income to the Red Cross. While it’s true that he could also be frugal, charging players for laundry fees, he actually paid his men pretty well. The White Sox Opening Day payroll in 1919 was among the highest in baseball.

 

While the specific motivations of each conspirator have been endlessly debated, it’s safe to assume that the primary incentive was financial gain. By his own account, it was first baseman Chick Gandil who approached gamblers with the idea of a fix. At the time, the club was divided into two social cliques with tension existing between the two. The educated players fell under the influence of Ivy League graduate Eddie Collins. The rest of the joiners cast their lot with Gandil—a former boxer with an attitude toward authority. Shortstop Swede Risberg played a major role in the fix as well, helping Gandil lure other players (ones who could be trusted to keep their mouths shut) into the fold. Boston-based bookmaker Joseph “Sport” Sullivan convinced New York underworld kingpin Arnold Rothstein to bankroll the plot. Others involved included “Sleepy Bill” Burns (a former pitcher) and Abe Attell (a former featherweight boxing champion). Both were associates of Rothstein’s.

GUEST POST:

Please welcome Jonathan Weeks, the author of today's featured book to the blog!

Why baseball books? 

Well, I could have made this a very short essay and answered simply ‘Why Not?’ But there is a specific story associated with the question.

Around the time of my 40th birthday, I decided to make a bucket list. I actually wrote down some of the things I wanted to accomplish over the next few decades of my life. I have no idea what happened to the list and have forgotten most of the things that were on it. But there is one item that stands out clearly in my mind: “Become an expert at something.” 

Seriously? Yep. For real—I honestly wrote that down. And I knew even then that it was a pretty tall order for someone who had already expended roughly half a lifespan.   

With no time to waste, I started eliminating the things I felt I could never be good at. Math? Boring and incomprehensible. Car repair? Too messy and labor intensive. Medicine? I pass out at the sight of my own blood. Nuclear Technology? Bad for the environment.

And so it went—until I stumbled upon the topic of writing. I was fairly accomplished during my high school years (several teachers told me that I showed promise) and I had gone on to write a few articles for my college newspaper. But every time I submitted my work elsewhere, it was always: “thanks, but no thanks.” I experimented with different forms of writing—short stories, novels, poetry. I even dabbled at children’s books. You could have papered the walls of a sizeable home with all the rejection letters I received. The negativity wore me down over time and I eventually developed a serious case of writer’s block. 

Unable to produce a single paragraph of coherent fiction, I composed songs on my guitar (bad ones mostly) and also learned how to write screenplays. A friend and I collaborated on a science fiction script and entered it in an Amazon Studios contest. We made it to the semi-finals but that’s as far as we got.   

It was around this time that I came up with my bucket list. Without any ties to Hollywood, I knew I would never make it as a screenwriter. So I decided it was time to execute Plan F (since Plans A through E had failed to yield any tangible results). There was one form of writing I had never explored in any depth: Non-fiction. And there were at least two topics I had always been passionately interested in: baseball and history.

I had written a lot of term papers in college so the process came fairly naturally to me. The learning curve was steep and my first project was a failure. But my second book (Cellar Dwellers: The Worst Teams in Baseball History) ended up being published. I have kept on writing ever since. Though I still struggle with fiction, I have managed to produce two novels, both of which were released through indie presses. I have learned a lot about baseball over the past 15 years or so—maybe not enough to be considered an “expert” on the topic. But if I may be so bold, I can actually say that I’m getting closer with every book.  

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jonathan Weeks has written several sports biographies and two novels, one of which was a posthumous collaboration with his late father. He grew up in the Capital District region of New York State and currently works in the mental health field.

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Blurb Blitz & Giveaway: Bullets and Dandelions by Gail Koger

Bullets and Dandelions

A Deputy Gemma Stone Novel

by

Gail Koger

Romantic Suspense

Publication Date: December 26, 2024

Page count: 143 pages

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SYNOPSIS:

My name is Tess Reynolds, and I’ll admit few people would think I’m a badass Army sniper called the Scorpion. Afterall, women snipers were unheard of in 1990. People look at me and see a petite blonde who is cute as a button. My father calls it my natural camouflage.

 

My time in the Middle East has been full of unforeseen complications. I have a rogue CIA agent trying to kill me and I caught the attention of a Force Recon Marine by the name of Alexander Stone. Wowzer! He’s hot but he’s also the biggest jackass I have ever met. To make things even more interesting, I need the Jackass’s help to stay alive.

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The smell from the mess hall drew me like a magnet. I was having one of everything. Grabbing a tray, I went down the line until there was no more room on my plate.

 

A soldier eyed my tray in disbelief. “Are you sure you’ve got enough food?”

 

“Nope, I’m coming back for seconds.” I carried my tray over to an empty table and started eating.

 

“On your feet soldier,” Sergeant Stone growled.

 

Well, hell. I plastered a confused look on my face and looked up at him. “Excuse me?”

 

“Drop the act. You know why I’m here.”

 

“Sorry, but I don’t.” I went back to eating.

 

Sergeant Stone studied my face. “Are you the Scorpion?”

 

I picked up my glass of water and drained it.

 

“Answer the question.”

 

“By your stench, you’ve been out in the sun too long. Maybe you should have a medic check you over for heat stroke. It might explain your mental confusion too,” I said pleasantly.

 

“I could have you arrested for assault,” Sergeant Stone snapped.

 

I raised my eyebrows. “Got any proof of this brutal assault, sergeant? Like a picture or fingerprints or some kind of hard evidence?”

 

“Footprints.”

 

Shit! Shit! Shit! “Call me curious, but who did I assault?”

 

His lips twisted in self-mockery. “Me.”

 

“Un huh, and where did this horrible assault occur? 

 

“The village of Tarin Kowt.”

 

“Never heard of it.” I took a big bite of chocolate cake. God, it tasted so good.

 

“You’re the blonde midget we’ve been tracking for the last two days, and I can prove it.”

 

Midget?  That was kinda rude. “I’m not the person you’re looking for.”

 

“Yes, you are. Now get up. You are coming with me.”

 

“No.” I shoveled more food in my mouth.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I was a 9-1-1 dispatcher for the Glendale Police Department and to keep from going totally bonkers – I mean people have no idea what a real emergency is. Take this for example: I answered, “9-1-1 emergency, what’s your emergency?” And this hysterical woman yelled, “My bird is in a tree.” Sometimes I really couldn’t help myself, so I said, “Birds have a tendency to do that, ma’am.” The woman screeched, “No! You don’t understand. My pet parakeet is in the tree. I’ve just got to get him down.” Like I said, not a clue. “I’m sorry ma’am but we don’t get birds out of trees.” The woman then cried, “But… What about my husband? He’s up there, too.” See what I had to deal with? To keep from hitting myself repeatedly in the head with my phone I took up writing.

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Book Review: The Fortress (The Fortress, #1) by T.A. Styles

The Fortress by T.A. Styles
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

To atone for the past, he vowed to keep children safe and save their lives.

The Fortress is the first book in author T.A. Styles's post-apocalyptic series featuring a former teacher and the children left behind after a deadly virus ravages the world. With its large cast of child characters trying to eke out an existence in the chaotic, lawless remnants of society and the evil adults who want to take everything from them, I was completely drawn into this exciting and horrifying survival story.

Sim is the only one left of his small family, but his survivor's guilt has a twist: he killed his daughter and near-death wife so they could all die together. However, his resolve failed when he turned the gun on himself, and he was left to cope on his own with the knowledge of what he had done. His self-imposed penance was to collect any children left behind and care for them in his large, fortified, and now well-supplied home on the hill. Saving the children from the streets was a two-edged sword, though. He was saving a life, but each one reminded him of the daughter that should have been at his side. A growing troop of lost or orphaned children of all ages eventually surrounds him. I enjoyed their backstories and how they had come to "The Fortress," their name changes, and their preparations to ensure their continued safety.

Sim leads The Fortress with a firm grip, and while he takes input from the kids, he mostly discards it. As the young survivors age, they form a formidable team. But will it be enough to fight off those who want what they've built with Sim?

I really enjoy post-apocalyptic tales, and this was one of the best; I was delighted to see that there are two more books available in the series. The children have a wide range of personalities, even the youngest ones who are still forming theirs. The story gets started quickly, taking just a little time for bare bones, upfront exposition. The danger presented by wandering adult survivors is immediately established, and the kids' fight for survival becomes critical early on. The suspense mounted as the little group inside The Fortress waited for the next assault on their safety. I didn't want to put this book down!

I recommend THE FORTRESS to readers who enjoy post-apocalyptic tales that prominently feature children.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy through RABT Book Tours and PR.

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Book Review: Scandalous in Huntington Beach (Love Is a Beach, #3) by Melody DeBlois

Scandalous in Huntington Beach by Melody DeBlois
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rich and satisfying secret baby and a second chance at love story.

Scandalous in Huntington Beach is the third book in author Melody DeBlois’s Love Is a Beach women’s fiction series, and it features the single father of a surprise secret baby. Senate hopeful Bennett Browning is surprised to discover he’s the father of a baby girl when his former girlfriend, Rachel, passes away. Wanting to do the right thing and be the perfect father to this tiny being he never even knew existed, he’s still woefully unprepared for the day-to-day of caring for an infant when Social Services hands the baby over. But like a miracle, Emma Kuan, Rachel’s older sister, offers to act as nanny to her newly-discovered niece, and the immediate emergency is quelled. But as Bennett and Emma spend time together, bonding over their shared grief for Rachel and love for baby Madelynn Grace, life takes an unexpected turn for them all.

The main characters, Bennett, Emma, and Madelynn Grace, absolutely stole my heart! Strangers to each other on page one, they slowly form a new family (and puppy makes four) from their starting point of an expedient business arrangement as their life priorities change. You can’t help but hope for the best and their relationship to become a love match.

The story, though, is more complex and nuanced than initially imagined. Both Bennett and Emma have complicated pasts as children, and trust issues must be overcome before they can create a new life with new dreams. They experienced setbacks and breakthroughs that had all my emotions engaged on their way to their HEA.

I recommend SCANDALOUS IN HUNTINGTON BEACH to readers of women’s fiction, contemporary romance, especially those who enjoy a satisfying second-chance romance or secret baby theme.

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

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Book Review: Royal Scandal (Royal Blood, #2) by Aimee Carter

Royal Scandal by Aimee Carter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It’s a full-on private war as someone in the royal circle is determined to destroy Evan and, perhaps, the monarchy itself!

Evan Bright, the illegitimate daughter of the king, is being targeted by a press corps fueled by the tasty yet false tidbits slipped to them by an anonymous source. Apparently, when the perpetrator is not satisfied with the social media chaos and family drama that results, Evan starts experiencing "accidents" that put her life and those around her in danger.

Royal Scandal is the second book in Aimée Carter’s exciting YA series, Royal Blood, and this time; it’s a full-on private war as someone in the royal circle leaking sensitive information to the media about the tumultuous goings on in the royal family. As relationships crumble and new alliances develop, Evan desperately tries to protect her family and loved ones from their hidden persecutor.

Evangeline “Evan” Bright, the illegitimate daughter of the king and much-maligned by the media, is still struggling to find her place in the royal family. I enjoy this fish-out-of-water character and her continued attempts to fit in, even with the family members who have been horrible to her. Because of her past, she’s socially awkward and clumsy but improving daily under the guidance of Kit, Tibby, Jenkins, and Maisie. I was glad to see the two sisters grow closer and establish an understanding of each other. Her nemesis, Benedict of York, had been banished from the royal presence due to his actions in book one, but family politics and the need to present a united front to the media soon saw him back in the fold to create more havoc.

The plot grows more complex as Evan’s mother, Laura, joins them at Christmas, and the adults in the immediate family decide to pursue the real loves of their lives. But as news of the new liaisons is leaked, the media has a field day. It is easy to compare the fictional tale to the history of Britain’s royal family and gain a more sympathetic view of what they endure on a day-to-day basis and for an entire lifetime.

As the story unfolds, there is one mishap involving Evan after another, and it is quickly determined that these are no mere accidents. Tension mounts as her unseen stalker multiplies his efforts to discredit her, and the attacks turn deadly. The story is one twist after another, and I did not want to put the book down. There is a cliffhanger ending that left me shocked that I wouldn’t have the much-needed resolution to the story! While this is the second book in the series, and there is some backstory given so that this book can be read on its own, I feel the two should be read in order.

With its action-packed plot and relatable main character, I recommend ROYAL SCANDAL to young adult fiction readers and fans of the previous novel in the series.

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


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Children's Book Review: Will's Race for Home by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Will's Race for Home by Jewell Parker Rhodes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An exciting and inspirational historical middle-grade adventure story.

Will’s Race for Home is a new historical middle-grade adventure story from author Jewell Parker Rhodes centered around the Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889. Twelve-year-old William Samuels and his father, George, set out for Oklahoma from their home in Texas, where they are sharecroppers on another man’s cotton farm, to participate in the upcoming land rush. At stake is a 160-acre piece of farmland they can call their own. Along the way, they face danger from many directions: rattlesnakes, a treacherous river crossing, and, worst of all, from their fellow man. However, Will also comes to know and understand his emotionally distant father, a man of few words and agonizing secrets buried in his past.

I absolutely fell in love with this book and its young protagonist from the first page. Will Samuels easily mirrors the thoughts and feelings of any boy, as does his yearning to gain his father’s approval and love. Not only does the journey allow him to connect with his reserved father, but it also opens his eyes to a world from which he’s been mostly sheltered his entire life, living in deeply rural southwest Texas. Young readers will identify with Will, his hopes and dreams, and his love for his family and the mule, Belle.

The author features the historic Oklahoma Land Rush, which occurred on April 22, 1889, and the descriptions of the Samuels’s journey, the time, and settings are vivid and evocative, putting the reader smack on the trail with Will, George, and their new friend and former Union soldier, Caesar. The story gives readers an idea of what it meant to be a sharecropper and the difficulty of ever getting ahead under the system.

Occurring a little over 20 years after the end of the Civil War, the story relates the tensions still in existence between those who supported opposite sides of the conflict: for many, the war was never over. Will’s mother, Anna, his father, George, and their friend, Caesar, put names and faces to the men and women who had been enslaved from birth, only gaining freedom after the start of the war, and illustrates realistically what that meant for them going forward.

This is not the first book I’ve read from this author, and her stories and writing continue to be an immersive experience, no matter the topic. Her writing style is warm and easy to read, and the chapter lengths are perfect for younger readers. With its exciting and suspenseful story and engaging, relatable characters, I recommend WILL’S RACE FOR HOME to middle-grade readers and for use as a read-aloud book in the classroom, in an afterschool program, or at home.

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

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Book Review: A Perilous Premiere (Stone & Steele Mysteries, #1) by Gail Meath

A Perilous Premiere by Gail Meath
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fun and frothy and a solid murder mystery to boot!

A Perilous Premiere is the first book in author Gail Meath’s fun and frothy yet seriously solid mystery series, Stone & Steele Mysteries, and this name-dropper of a murder mystery sets a delightful tone for what’s to come. After fashion designer Vivian Steele’s husband, George Ramsey, is gunned down before her very eyes in an assumed robbery gone wrong, she naturally looks to the police for answers. However, they show no interest in trying to find the murderer after an initial, lame attempt, so she decides to call in old favors from people in her past to reignite the investigation. While her actions yield results, they don’t supply the answers she was looking for nor the revenge she craves, and before she can regroup, another murder occurs with evidence planted to make her look like the killer.

Vivian is a sweet and talented woman with a smart mind and an even smarter mouth. She berates herself emotionally for having been blissfully unaware when her husband’s true nature comes to light. Still, she’s compelled to bring his murderer to justice. She is joined by wealthy playboy Preston Stone who is investigating the case of an unbelievably valuable coin collection, and Vivian’s husband is one of the small number of possible suspects.

The plot is fast-paced as the pair, first separated and eventually as an unwilling team, follow up on the few clues they uncover during their investigation, some of which are lifted straight out of the crime scene before the police make an appearance. The case of theft and then murder is full of twists sprinkled with the sightings of celebrities from the early Golden Age of Hollywood. (Viv’s best friend is Carole Lombard!) The author packs in historical figures and events with those of a more fictional vintage, and the fun mingling of fact and fiction really makes the book a lot of fun. But along with the fun and froth, there is one heck of a good, complex tale of murder, mayhem, and misdirection.

I recommend A PERILOUS PREMIERE to readers of historical cozy mysteries, especially those who enjoy old movies and Hollywood history.

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Blurb Blitz & Giveaway: Sanctuary by Ginny Fite

SANCTUARY

by

Ginny Fite

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.

Dystopian / Speculative Fiction

Publisher: Milford House Press

Publication Date: November 16, 2024

Page count: 240 pages

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SYNOPSIS:

Sometimes losing your children is the only way to save them.

The year is 2039.

Chased by government goons determined to quarantine her and a virus that might kill her at any time, Jean Bennett races a thousand miles to Canada to get her five children to safety. On a journey unlike any they’ve ever taken, Jean learns who she is and what she must do to save her children.

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ENJOY AN EXCERPT:

The infection hit with such ferocity and speed that all public transport had shut down by the end of my husband’s meeting in DC, sixty-five miles from home. No car, no commuter train, no way out.

 

In the five hours since he’d arrived in the city that morning, police had blockaded roads and barred highway entrances. Airlines delayed flights and then canceled them. Residents, under threat of arrest, huddled in their homes, and universities restricted students to dorms. Government officials shuttered public buildings, closing, and locking the gates.

 

Television news showed black-helmeted National Guardsmen herding panicked tourists back toward their hotels as they stampeded down unfamiliar streets. Coast Guard cutters patrolled the Potomac River; helicopters buzzed overhead. From Capitol Hill to the Ellipse, red lights on Constitution Avenue blinked on and off. Front pages of the morning newspaper skittered across empty streets.

 

I waited for Ted to call.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ginny Fite is an award-winning journalist and author of nine traditionally published novels, three collections of poetry, a collection of short stories, and a book of humorous essays on aging. A graduate of Rutgers University and Johns Hopkins University, her 40-year career in communications included posts in newspapers, government, higher education, and a robotics R&D company. Pushcart Prize nominated, shortlisted for the 2019 SFWP prize, a finalist for the 2020 Bakwin Prize, winner of the FAPA gold medal in fiction for the collaborative novel Thoughts & Prayers, her stories have appeared in The Delmarva Review, Women Arts Quarterly Journal, Heartwood Literary Magazine, Coffin Bell, and the Anthology of Appalachian Writers. Writing about ordinary people who grapple with extraordinary circumstances, her novels span the genres of mystery, thriller, adventure, speculative, and women’s fiction. Learn more at GinnyFite.com.

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Published novels

Sanctuary

Leave Everything You Know Behind

The Physics of Things

Possession

Blue Girl on a Night Dream Sea

No End of Bad

Lying, Cheating and Occasionally Murder

No Good Deed Left Undone

Cromwell’s Folly

Thoughts & Prayers (co-author)

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Book Review: The Last Bookstore on Earth by Lily Braun-Arnold

The Last Bookstore on Earth by Lily Braun-Arnold
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

YA dystopian tale with a twist!

The Last Bookstore on Earth is a new YA dystopian/speculative fiction novel from Lily Braun-Arnold, and it offers a fresh twist on the plethora of end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it tales. While Liz, the main character, has suffered the loss of her family, friends, and the life she knew (like everyone else in the story), she retreats to the only place of safety she knows left standing (the local bookstore where she had an afterschool part-time job). She creates a little beacon of “normal” for others as she continues to open the store daily, offering book recommendations and a place to leave messages. However, as a repeat of The Storm looms on the horizon, the bookstore faces a much more imminent threat. A small group of organized survivors are out for revenge against her new partner, and they’ve tracked their prey to the bookstore’s doorstep.

Liz Flannery is the unusual protagonist of the story. She and her twin, Thea, were only a few weeks away from heading off for their first year of college when The Storm arrived, changing everything. Liz was the only one in her small family to live through it and suffered the burden of survivor’s guilt and more. When circumstances allowed, she fled to the familiar safety of her workplace and the comfort and companionship of another coworker who apparently had the same idea.

Liz, escaping her grief and guilt, is content with the setup and begins to feel a responsibility to maintain the facsimile of normal operations for the occasional survivor who happens upon the open store. Eva, though, chafes to escape the claustrophobia of the routine and her feelings of responsibility for Liz, and she abruptly abandons her. Locals and transients alike express their gratitude and appreciation for the continued existence of the story and their ability to leave messages there for friends and loved ones and trade supplies for what they need, which keeps Liz from ever having to forage through the rubble and death of her New Jersey hometown. Their generous offerings, though, isolate her further and keep her from understanding just how much the world outside the bookstore has changed for the desperate.

The plot just gets established when rumors that another storm is headed their way. Customers leave messages for those coming behind them and urge Liz to evacuate; the store was greatly damaged in the first storm and is unlikely to withstand another. But Liz sees a solution to leaving her safe place in the appearance of Maeve, a drifter about her age, who breaks in one night looking for shelter and salvage and claiming to be able to make the necessary repairs to the building. Maeve, having started her journey in New York City, knows how much life has devolved and has had her run-ins with some of the more organized survivors. She’s tougher and more aggressive than the passive, polite Liz, but they eventually form an attachment and help each other work through the past year of trauma and scramble to prepare for the coming storm.

The author can certainly tell a mesmerizing tale! I read this in one enjoyable evening with no regrets after staying up way past what was prudent in order to reach the finish. The story’s pacing kept me engaged, and I needed to see what happened next. The vivid descriptions of the settings created strong visuals, placing me in the scenes firsthand. Characters are well-developed, and I felt sympathy for even those I didn’t particularly care for or agreed with their actions. I was delighted by the premise, a bookstore all to oneself, but in a Twilight Zone twist, staying open for business as usual as the society around it collapses, creating a little island of “normal” and a haven of familiarity, comfort, and even, safety for those left behind. Liz’s collecting the stories of the survivors willing to share them with her was an absolute bonus.

I recommend THE LAST BOOKSTORE ON EARTH to readers of young adult post-apocalyptic and dystopian fiction, especially those who enjoy a positive LGBT, however low-key, representation.

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

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Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway: Lethal Wilderness Trap by Susan Furlong

LETHAL WILDERNESS TRAP

by Susan Furlong

December 30, 2024 - January 31, 2025 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

Trust means everything...
when danger hits too close to home.

Hunting a never-caught killer, Special Agent Nolan Shea learns of a new victim. But the body on Ava Burke's land puts her and her young daughter, Rose, in someone's lethal sights. With a trail of shocking clues pointing to her family's involvement, Ava starts to question everything she holds dear and is soon desperate to uncover the truth with Nolan. Step after step, they confront their fears. But will finally cornering a murderer out in the wilderness become a trap they can't escape?

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

Book Details:

Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense
Published by: Harlequin
Publication Date: January 21, 2025
Number of Pages: 208
ISBN: 9781335980427 (ISBN10: 1335980423)
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | Harlequin

 

Author Bio:

Susan Furlong grew up in North Dakota where she spent long winters at her local library scouring the shelves for mysteries to read. Now, she lives in Illinois with her husband and children and writes mysteries of all types. She has over a dozen published novels and her work has earned a spot in the New York Times list of top crime fiction books of the year. When not writing, she volunteers at her church and spends time hiking and fishing.

Catch Up With Susan Furlong:
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Book Blitz & Giveaway: Some Like It Hott (Hott Springs Eternal, #3) by Serena Bell

Some Like It Hott
Serena Bell
(Hott Springs Eternal, #3)
Publication date: January 14, 2025
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance

She’s nothing he wants. And everything he needs.

Preston: I’m Mr. Serious, the guy they call “all work and no play.” So of course my grandfather’s sadistic will has put me in charge of fun at the family’s wedding resort. I have just a few weeks to come up with an all-ages activities program for the resort’s guests—or lose my family’s land forever. Meanwhile, the clock’s ticking at my finance firm, where I’m up for a huge promotion—if I can prove I’m a team player.

Worse, I have to work with the reigning queen of fun, Natalie Archer. If there’s a party, Natalie’s there, and she’s the one dancing on the tables. She doesn’t think much of my suits, ties, cufflinks, and spreadsheets, and I don’t think much of her fun-first–safety-last attitude. But for some reason, I can’t stop thinking about her gorgeous curves, wild curly hair, or sparkling smile. I’m a man who values self-control—and I’m running low.

Natalie launches Operation Fun to help me loosen up and win the promotion I’ve been chasing. Now we’re spending days and nights together—and learning that some activities are a lot of fun for both of us. But as our deadline approaches and our collaboration heats up, Natalie and I find ourselves asking a big question: Opposites may attract, but can they live happily ever after?

A spicy, grumpy-sunshine, fish-out-of-water, billionaire, opposites attract, workplace relationship standalone romantic comedy set in the beloved small town of Rush Creek.

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EXCERPT:

By the time I start my new job a week after my coffee-shop encounter with Lloyd and Susie, I’m starting to feel more optimistic about things. My new boss, Hanna, hooked me up with a swanky room in the Hott Springs Eternal lodge; I’ve deleted all Lloyd’s emails, texts, and photos; and I’ve pawned all the jewelry he gave me.

I’m not sleeping great, and I’m still a little weepy…but you can’t have it all.

I poke my head into Hanna’s office and say, “Hey!”

“Oh, hi, Natalie. Come in.”

I can tell right away that something’s off. She doesn’t sound as brimming with enthusiasm as she did when she called to let me know I had the job or when we talked about my lodging. But I tell myself it’s nothing to do with me—probably a bridezilla situation from earlier in the morning—and step inside.

“Good to see you.” She waves me into a chair across from her. “I have some paperwork for you to fill out, but first I wanted to have a word with you.”

She rearranges a stack of papers, and I realize she’s nervous. Which means the “something off” I observed when I first walked in? Probably does have to do with me.

Shit. “Everything okay?”

I don’t know what I’ll do if this job falls through. Things are over with Lloyd, and it’s a huge understatement to say my parents aren’t my first choice of roommates. Or maybe it’s more accurate to say that the idea of asking them for any kind of favor makes me feel like throwing up. Which is why I have to save the money to go back to school.

And even if my housing situation weren’t at stake, I want this job. Yeah, it’s not on the long-term Get Serious path, but it’s totally up my alley. I love people and I love, well, fun—and this is a job where I get to make sure people have fun. Nothing else I’ve applied for sounds like something I want to do.

“I have so many great ideas for how to make Hott Springs Eternal a true destination!” I blurt out, sounding like a bad cover letter—as if that’s going to keep her from delivering whatever bad news is on the tip of her tongue.

She winces, and…I do, too. She looks away, and shit. Shit shit shit.

“It’s complicated,” she says, still not making eye contact. “Nothing to panic about, but there’s a—twist.”

“A twist,” I repeat. That doesn’t sound good.

“I’m really sorry about this bait and switch, but my hands are totally tied. I know I hired you to be the sole person in this position, but, well…God, how do I explain this?”

She’s not making any sense, and apparently my face betrays my confusion and worry because she says, “Wait, let me start from the beginning.”

But just then, her eyes leave my face and fix on something behind me. “Oh, hey,” she says.

I turn to see a man standing in the office door, towing a rolling suitcase behind him. He’s tall and broad-chested, wearing a gorgeous gray linen suit whose expensive tailoring flaunts the strength in his shoulders and biceps. His brown-and-burgundy power tie is cinched up tight against his strong, tanned throat. A half day of dark stubble coats his iron jaw, his cheekbones were carved from stone, and he’s scowling like he just found out his bespoke-suit maker has gone out of business.

My mouth goes dry, and my thighs get hot.

I may have read a little too much “You liked Fifty Shades? Try this!” romance at a formative age.

My eyes go to his hands.

No ring.

Yes, I checked. The universe has spontaneously served me up a Hot Man in a Suit. I challenge any single, straight woman with a pulse not to try to figure out if this guy’s married.

Although it’s pointless.

Because things never work out between men like him and women like me. They’re all business, and I’m a party. They take themselves and everything else seriously, and I’m still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up.

But it doesn’t stop me from having to wipe imaginary drool from both corners of my mouth.

It might be the stern look and the crease between his dark eyebrows. The set of his jaw or the harsh twist of his lush mouth.

Whatever it is, I have to force my eyes away from him and back to my boss’s face.

Which is pained.

Whatever the bad news is, it involves this man. And that makes sense because no matter what happens next, I already know he’s bad news for me.

“Preston,” Hanna says, “this is Natalie Archer. I’ve, er, hired her to be Hott Springs Eternal’s activities coordinator.”

His scowl deepens, making my heart beat faster, out of both fear and lust.

“That’s unfortunate,” he says.

Yikes.

Nice to meet you, too, Preston.

Author Bio:

USA Today bestselling author Serena Bell writes contemporary romance with heat, heart, and humor. A former journalist, Serena has always believed that everyone has an amazing story to tell if you listen carefully, and you can often find her scribbling in her tiny garret office, mainlining chocolate and bringing to life the tales in her head.

Serena’s books have earned many honors, including an RT Reviewers’ Choice Award, Apple Books Best Book of the Month, and Amazon Best Book of the Year for Romance.

When not writing, Serena loves to spend time with her college-sweetheart husband and two hilarious kiddos—all of whom are incredibly tolerant not just of Serena’s imaginary friends but also of how often she changes her hobbies and how passionately she embraces the new ones. These days, it’s stand-up paddle boarding, board-gaming, meditation, and long walks with good friends.

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Book Review: The Devourer by Alison Ames

The Devourer by Alison Ames
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Magical, thrilling, and fresh!

The Devourer is a new young adult fantasy by veteran author Alison Ames, and it is a thrilling, high-seas adventure with magic, monsters, and revenge. After her half-brother, Cameron, attacks their father, stealing a precious treasure map in the process, 17-year-old Adrasteia “Adra” Dantes takes possession of her father’s ship, Worldeater, and vows revenge.

In Adra’s world, magic is available to those special few attuned to its presence and it can be unpredictable and dangerous, as she well knows. As she and her crew of young women and one young man pursue their quarry, the veil between the non-magical and the mystical realms is somehow breached, and a creature known to the merfolk as The Devourer has been loosed under the seas to wreak destruction on all who travel above.

This novel is an exciting story with a surprising mix of diverse characters, interesting storylines, and relationships. Adra, the young captain of the Worldeater, is morally complex; she enjoys inflicting pain and killing but is secretly kind to her crew, those she loves, who are less fortunate or are in trouble. She is single-minded in her pursuit of her half-brother, and the adventure is filled with incidents of her bravery in protecting the crew while achieving her goals. Her relationship with Quinn, the young woman Cameron coerced into impersonating him and acting as a decoy, is a slow-burn romance that ignites an internal conflict in Adra as well as one more overt with her crew.

An interesting side story involves the creature Diana, a sentient and talking osprey who was once a human sailor, much like those on the Worldeater. While hunting Cameron, Adra and Diana search for the island fortress of the spellcaster who changed Diana’s former crew into animals and compel her to reverse her curse.

While the ship’s accidental sojourn in the Doldrums may have been tedious for the fictional crew, the tension in the story builds as the main characters’ backstories come to light and they await the arrival of an ancient being from the deep summoned by a magic-using crew member to help them move to a more favorable latitude. As the creature gets closer and closer, the details of its physical appearance, including its vast size, alarm the stranded sailors. However, the horror of their rescuer pales against what is to come in the form of The Devourer.

I found the story compelling, full of thrilling scenes and constant suspense. Adra was somewhat difficult for me to really like because of her mercurial nature and her joy in inflicting pain, but that aspect of her character is mentioned only once, and for the rest of the story, her decision to punish was more conflicted and thoughtful. I felt like I was dumped a little prematurely into the action, without enough build-up of the world and the existence of magic, so I didn’t have the grounding to engage with the story immediately. I think a reluctant reader would probably set this one aside in favor of a story they didn’t have to work as much to enjoy. However, perseverance proved fruitful in this case.

I recommend THE DEVOURER to young adult fantasy readers, especially those who enjoy slow-burn sapphic romances and adventures on the high seas.

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

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Book Blast & Giveaway: Sensible Shoes by Cindy Causey

Sensible Shoes

by

Cindy Causey

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by

Goddess Fish Promotions.

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Women's Fiction

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc.

Publication Date: January 6, 2025

Page count: 261 pages

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SYNOPSIS:

At her fiftieth birthday party, Tess Thomason, a plain-Jane, divorced mother and decidedly unprepared women’s newspaper columnist, is blindsided by her well-meaning family with a stack of gift cards she interprets as meaning she’s fat, frumpy, and wrinkled. Facing a lonely future and failing career, Tess embarks on a journey of self-discovery, taking her readers along for the ride. But her resolve is nearly derailed by a hilarious season of family chaos that includes a surprise pregnancy, rushed wedding, and unexpected houseguests. In the midst of it all, Tess is drawn into a confusing new relationship with a man who is impossibly perfect for her. But if she can keep herself, her family, and her willpower firmly seated on the crazy roller coaster of her life, maybe Tess will find her own self-worth and a new love in the bargain.

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ENJOY AN EXCERPT:

“Tess, Tess, I’m not expecting you to write like Sylvia. I’m not even expecting you to write about fashion. What I have in mind is a column to women, for women, about women. Real women. Like one of those influencers on the Internet. You know…funny, wise, poignant, and… relevant.”

The creeping dread, now fully formed, tossed a grenade into my stomach. She might as well have asked me to write like Shakespeare. “You want me to be funny, wise, poignant, and…relevant? Are you insane?”

Okay, I may have stepped over the line with that last bit, because Ruth’s face twisted a little in the ominous way I had seen so often just before she pounded her fist on the desk. “Just write the damn thing, Tess. I don’t care if you’re funny, wise, poignant, or what was the other thing?”

“Relevant,” I murmured.

“Relevant, for God’s sake. Just do it. I need a column for the women’s page starting next week, and you’re it. Write about what you know. Family. Food. The laundry. You’ve got family. You’ve got laundry. It’ll be a cinch.”

“But—”

“No buts. Just do it. It’ll be good for you. You need to get out of your rut.” She turned her attention to her computer screen.

As if in a trance, I rose from the chair and turned to leave. “Oh, Tess?” she said without looking at me.

“Yes?” Maybe she’s changed her mind; she saw my outfit, and she changed her mind.

“Happy birthday.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Cindy Causey taught herself to type in the 8th grade because she couldn't write in her diary fast enough in longhand. A degree and career in advertising were the result. A fifteen-year stint as a copy chief at JCPenney Catalog led to the position of Internet Marketing Manager for JCPenney.com.

After 20 years at JCPenney, Cindy retired in December, 2007, and began working full time with her husband Scott in their multi-media production company, Dallas Media Center. They specialized in audio/video production and editing, vintage media transfer to DVD and CD, as well as website design and hosting. Cindy shuttered the company in 2021, three years after Scott passed away.

After her first book, a non-fiction work called Cherish the Gift: a Congregational Guide to Earth Stewardship, was published, Cindy began writing fiction. She found her voice in romance, the stories of the struggles two people endure on the road to happily ever-after. Her debut novel, A Different Drum was published in May 2009 by The Wild Rose Press, followed by A Hot Time in Texas that same year.

In early 2025, her latest novel, Sensible Shoes, a humorous look at a woman struggling with life after 50, was published by The Wild Rose Press. It will be followed in late 2025 by a romantic suspense novel entitled Saving Samantha.

Cindy makes her home in Dallas, Texas. In addition to writing, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her 5 grown children and 4 grandchildren. She would like to see the edges of the entire world from the deck of a cruise ship.

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