My Love For Reading

My love affair with books began when my parents read Little Golden Books to me.  I remember one that especially impressed me.  I wish I could remember the title, but it’s long gone.  It was about a family of pigs who were so messy no one would go to see them.  After they finally cleaned up their house, they had tons of visitors.  I also remember a book about Woody Woodpecker.  After my mother read that one to me, I wrote my first story which I dictated to my father who wrote it in pencil on a piece of notebook paper.  I was every bit of five years old then.  

Later, after I learned to read, my mother made a treat out going to the library each week.  The minute she got home from work she’d take my sister and me to the library.  Afterward, we’d go to eat hot dogs at the local diner.  It wasn’t anything special, but at an early age we learned to associate reading with good times.  

Having learned to love reading, I was never without a good book close by.  I read so many good ones!  Black Beauty, Little Women, Anne of Green Gables, The Sherwood Ring, the Trixie Belden mysteries, My Friend Flicka, the Black Stallion series, the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew, and so many more!  I wish I could remember them all. 

I was content to be a reader until about ten years ago.  I had gone through a period where nothing special caught my fancy.  At the same time my son wrote a book.  I decided to give it a try too.  To my surprise, it totally captivated me.  I spent long hours before the computer writing the kind of story I wanted to read and couldn’t find.  I became totally addicted to writing.  I even took my computer with me on vacation so I wouldn’t miss a single day writing.

Did I stop reading because I was now an author?  No indeed.  If you’ll check my Goodreads page you’ll find a sample of the things I’ve read in the recent past.  I just finished Careless in Scarlett.

Whenever I need an escape from my reality, books are always there to provide it.  My life is richer today because of all the wonderful things I’ve read in the past, and I know my future will be filled with many more happy hours reading.  Parents, read in front of your kids.  Teach them to love books.  Their lives will be richer for it. 

Katie Walsh

 

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Enter to win a $15 Amazon/BN gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Katie Walsh expects to write a love story someday. The hero resembles her father, and the heroine the deceased mother she never knew but imagines from the longing on her father’s face.

Katie doesn’t expect her father to be murdered, or his will to leave their farm to Guy Knowles, the man she hoped to marry, and order her to another state. Betrayed by the men she trusted, what should have become a love like no other withers and dies.

Until Ted Howard, who doesn’t fit the hole Guy left in her heart. Instead, he fits himself into what she needs—someone who will stay, protect her, and break his own heart for her if needed.

Read an Excerpt

When our neighbor, Guy Knowles, began to drop by and take me for long but mostly silent walks across Papa’s pasture, I wondered if my parents had done the same thing and if my excitement mirrored what my mother’s might have been. Did she, like me, translate every quiet step into tender words? Did she see lifelong devotion on Papa’s face then, like I watched for it now on Guy’s?

I expected my love story—the one I would write and the one I would live—to be like theirs. What I didn’t expect was that both stories would begin the day a stranger came to my door and told me my father had just been killed. Killed, not died.

Nor did I expect this tale of “A Love Like No Other” to reach full bloom in a tiny jail cell far away.

About the Author:

Colleen L Donnelly was born and raised in the US Midwest but ventured to other parts of the country as an adult to experience life from other perspectives. Besides writing, she spends time outdoors, antique hunting, reading, or watching a good movie. Even though she retired from a career in laboratory science, she is never bored and always busy at something.

Social Media Links:

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/colleen-l-donnelly
Website: http://www.colleenldonnelly.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ColleenLDonnelly
Goodreads: http://www.Goodreads.com/colleenldonnelly
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colleenldonnelly/
Amazon: http://amzn.to/37vcnO4
Twitter: https://x.com/ColleenLDonnell/

Buy Link: https://amzn.to/3YQIFP2

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Ok I've Decided

 “Are there any subjects, people, or topics that you have never written about, but would like to?”

This is an interesting topic because I’ve always written straight, contemporary romance, but a few years ago I decided to add something different to my romances. The first time I did so I wrote a fantasy romance. It had mythical creatures, magic spells, and a seemingly invulnerable foe. Add to that I created wizards that were both good and bad. I was fun to write the book because I liked creating new worlds. 

I also have a book that deals with a plane that was a victim of the Bermuda Triangle. This book hasn’t been submitted yet, but it’s written and ready to go. 

Blue 52 which is one of my best has time travel in it.

So what’s next? I’ve never written a western before, but it would be such fun to write one. I’d have gorgeous cowboys, cattle drives, beautiful scenery, and maybe some bad guys who played dirty to get the ranch. I don’t know if it would be set in the past or present. I’ve never written a historical either, I think I’d love to do it. 

What do you say, readers? What do you think you’d like to read?“Are there any subjects, people, or topics that you have never written about, but would like to?”

This is an interesting topic because I’ve always written straight, contemporary romance, but a few years ago I decided to add something different to my romances. The first time I did so I wrote a fantasy romance. It had mythical creatures, magic spells, and a seemingly invulnerable foe. Add to that I created wizards that were both good and bad. I was fun to write the book because I liked creating new worlds. 

I also have a book that deals with a plane that was a victim of the Bermuda Triangle. This book hasn’t been submitted yet, but it’s written and ready to go. 

Blue 52 which is one of my best has time travel in it.

So what’s next? I’ve never written a western before, but it would be such fun to write one. I’d have gorgeous cowboys, cattle drives, beautiful scenery, and maybe some bad guys who played dirty to get the ranch. I don’t know if it would be set in the past or present. I’ve never written a historical either, I think I’d love to do it. 

What do you say, readers? What do you think you’d like to read?

Secret Southern Promises

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Title: Secret Southern Promises

Series: Magnolia Grove Series

Author: Winter Travers

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Tropes: Second Chance; Secret Baby Romance

Release Date: October 29, 2024

𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘦's 𝘬𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨.

Dolly Hanes has always been rooted in Magnolia Grove—along with the secret she’s kept about her son Nash. Running her family’s grocery store and raising a boy on her own, Dolly made peace with her decision to let Boone West, the love of her life, walk away all those years ago.

Boone West left town chasing rodeo dreams and never knew the price Dolly paid to let him go. Now, after years away, he’s back in Magnolia Grove—only to find Dolly, the woman he never stopped loving, right where he left her. But she’s not alone anymore.

Can love heal the wounds of the past, or will the truth drive them apart forever?

In the heart of Alabama, lies a charming little town on the river, where everyone knows your name… and your business.

Follow the intertwined lives of its beloved residents as they navigate first love, second chances, and all the unexpected surprises that their small-town holds.

Welcome to Magnolia Grove, where every neighbor has a story worth unraveling, the roots run deep, and love blossoms around every corner.

Join the Magnolia Grove Reader Group to find out more!

Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author Winter Travers is a devoted wife, mother, and aunt turned author who was born and raised in Wisconsin. After a brief stint in South Carolina following her heart to chase the man who is now her hubby, they retreated back up North to the changing seasons, and to the place they now call home. Winter spends her days writing happily ever afters, and her nights being a karate mom hauling her son to practices and tournaments.. She also has an addiction to anything MC related, puppies, and baking.

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The Cat Who Chased Ghosts

 

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

In a sleepy little town, an ordinary-looking cat hides an extraordinary secret that will transform his owners' lives forever.

When the Thompson family inherits a dilapidated old house, their overprotected son Timmy forms a strong bond with Whiskers—a chronically lazy tabby who's not what he seems.

As Timmy explores the house's mysteries, a chilling discovery puts his courage to the test. With the help of Whiskers and some newfound friends, he must face supernatural forces beyond his imagination and rescue a soul in peril.

The Cat Who Chased Ghosts is a spine-tingling tale about bravery, loyalty, and the magical power of friendship (human and feline) that will thrill readers of all ages, reminding us that sometimes the most extraordinary heroes come in the most unlikely packages.

Read an Excerpt

“Yes, Whiskers was called out on important business,” she carried on casually, as if commenting on the weather.

Timmy frowned, confused. He checked Mrs. Krantz for signs that she might be joking.

“Called out? By whom? On what business?”

“He wouldn’t tell me, now, would he?”

Timmy was at a loss for words. Jasper had been right: the woman was cuckoo.

“You seem perplexed, my dear,” she said with a hint of condescension (or so he thought). “Do you think only humans have business to attend to? Have you never heard of Puss in Boots, or the Three Little Pigs, or the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland?”

“Those are just stories. They aren’t real,” Timmy snapped, now convinced that the old lady was mocking him. The Three Little Pigs, for Pete’s sake! Did she take him for a toddler?

“Narrow-minded, are we?” Her lips smiled, but her eyes didn’t. “Let’s see . . . yes, here it is.”

She handed him a book.

Its cover featured a whimsical drawing of a cat in a wizard’s hat, and it was both big and heavy. Quite a few pages were on the verge of falling out like it had been opened and closed too many times. Timmy could barely make out the title in the dim light.

“From Bastet the Goddess to Puss in Boots: A History of Magical Felines,” he recited.

About the Author: Nic Minnella has worked in journalism for twenty-plus years. She's also a part-time translator and a full-time cat enthusiast. When she's not occupied with any of the above activities, she's often traveling to faraway places or daydreaming about them.

"The Cat Who Chased Ghosts" is her first published work of fiction, a middle grade supernatural mystery tale where a boy and his cat must confront ghosts and spirits to save their loved ones from the clutches of darkness.

Twitter: https://x.com/nicminnella
FREE TO READ ON KINDLE UNLIMITED: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D7PS7Y4W

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THE RISE UP TRILOGY

THE RISE UP TRILOGY

Henrik Wilenius

 

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GENRE:  Young Adult Contemporary

 

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BLURB:

 

The Rise up trilogy is a coming-of-age story about Hashim, Alex and Maryam, three best friends on the threshold of adulthood. Before they can find their place in this world, they must come to terms with their past and learn to confide in each other as they are confronted by intolerance, ignorance, and corporate greed that threaten to rob them of their future. Inspirational, harrowing, intense and deeply moving, this trilogy presents a ray of hope amidst terrible hardship, misfortune and loss.

 

Book One: Catch You if You Fall

 

High school best friends Hashim, Alex, and Maryam must confront real-life issues that loom for Gen-Z today, including the climate crisis, corrupt politics, and racial and gender equity.

 

When Hashim turns eighteen, he receives a grant from his Mosque that will send him to an Ivy League in New York. His devout Muslim family couldn’t be more proud. And to support their young son on his journey, they arrange a wife for him. There’s only one problem: Hashim is gay.

 

Hashim’s best friend Alex is struggling with a difficult home life, a non-present father, and financial issues that prove particularly painful when all his friends are planning to go off to college and leave him behind.

 

Standing confidently alongside these two boys is Maryam, a headstrong Muslim girl who bucks her traditional roots by becoming a vegan activist.

 

It doesn’t take long until certain evil forces start to draw these three even closer, as their futures and the wellbeing of their community and the world is threatened. They are called to act.

 

Book Two:  Merry Farm

 

In the second installment of the Rise Up Trilogy, best friends Hashi, Alex, and Maryam stumble upon a huge government coverup. When more people get sicker and sicker, and nothing about the outbreak makes news, it becomes clear the corruption goes up high.

 

As the three attempt to expose and stop a tragedy that could kill thousands, they end up framed as the bioterrorists responsible for this exact crime, and a team of hitmen is dispatched to hunt them down. As they grapple with their own growing pains, Hashi, Alex, and Maryam hurry to outrun the disaster, prove that they are innocent, and do what they feel is right.

 

Book Three: Collusion

 

Now a well-known activist, Maryam, along with her two best friends Hashim and Alex, is chosen by the President of the United States to draw up a proposal to help fight climate change, mere weeks before superstorm Roxanne makes landfall in the Northeast.

 

After the President’s Future Rescue Advisory Board hears their climate proposal to set heavy taxes on meat, dairy and carbon emissions, and someone leaks it to the press, chaos spreads across party lines. A few months since they stopped a deadly virus in its tracks, the three uncover a conspiracy on the highest level of the legislative branch.

 

While the deadly hurricane wreaks havoc along the eastern seaboard, destroying the U.S. Naval Command in Norfolk, Virginia, and hitting New York City with devastating force, Maryam, Hashim, and Alex grapple with forces beyond their control in the government.

 

How will their stories unravel? What do their futures hold as they mature into adults in a world that may not accept them? Find out in this last book in the Rise Up Trilogy.

 

 

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EXCERPTS:

 

Excerpt One:

 

From CATCH YOU IF YOU FALL

 

“And it’s going to happen tomorrow,” Hashim said as he crouched on the couch. 

 

Alex drew his brows closer, but soon his forehead smoothed. “Seriously?” he said and studied Hashim’s face. “Wow. We need to get you out of this mess.”

 

Sharing his predicament with his best friend had calmed Hashim’s nerves. Not that he had told the whole story, like the fact that he was gay. However, that was a piece of information he had only shared with God, though unwillingly, because from Him, you can’t hide a thing. 

 

Alex’s eyes grew wide. “But you’re just turning eighteen, for God’s sake. Isn’t it a little early to get engaged?” 

 

Hashim pressed his lips together and winced. You tell me. 

 

“His mom knows that once Hashim has committed to an engagement, he won’t break it,” Maryam said. She had been following the conversation from the other side of the room, giving the guys some space after she saw how upset Hashim was when he came in. “Without a solid religious reason to back out, that could shame the whole family,” she added. “People won’t greet you anymore or return your calls. You become a nobody.”

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Henrik Wilenius is the author of the Rise Up Trilogy, a young adult coming-of-age story about Hashim, Alex and Maryam confronting real-life issues like climate change, corrupt politics, animal cruelty and racial and gender equity. 

 

The Rise Up Trilogy is now available also as an audiobook and a weekly serialized audiobook podcast on all the major platforms. 

 

Previously, Henrik as published two books (an autobiographical coming of age book and a YA novel) by a major publisher (WSOY) in Finland before switching to English and self-publishing. The Rise Up Trilogy was inspired by his fifteen-year stint as a volunteer in a Red Cross Youth Shelter and by his vegan activism.

 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BVJ1TNFG

Buzz Sprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2264640

Website: http://www.henrikwilenius.com

TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/henrikwileniusauthor

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/@henrikwileniusauthor

Interview with Henrik Wilenius

1.Did you always want to be an author?

I never thought I was going to be an author, although my two older brothers, my sister, my father, my grandfather and my great uncle were writers. In my early twenties, I founded an art servicing company, selling contemporary art, and after an initial success, I ventured out to real estate development and market researched. But something was not right. By living the high life, I was neglecting my spiritual needs. I decided to radically downsize and went back to university to study philosophy, because I was obsessed with the question of why it is so hard for us to expand our understanding. And when I found the culprit, I became a writer. It was supposed to be an essay on Rhetoric by Aristotle, but only after half an hour of writing, I knew it was going to be a full-length manuscript. End of Restlessness, a philosophical study into my own coming-of-age, was published in 2001. Soon I realized that though if I really want to relay my understanding, I needed to write fiction, young adult fiction, because that’s the genre where the post-modernism doesn’t reign, at least in Europe. And I’ve been on that road now for over twenty-five years. 

 

2.Tell us about the publication of your first book.

I was lucky to find  Minna Koivuniemi, my editor provided by WSOY, my Finnish publisher. At the same time, she was working on her doctorate thesis on Spinoza, the Portuguese philosopher. She got me and was able to finetune my writing. I got a lot of exposure when my book came out and had over twenty interviews in TV, radio and newspaper plus all the book reviews. They exhausted me though, but that’s the price you pay. Unfortunately, most of the attention was given the juicy details I’ve included in the autobiographical narrative instead of the more deeper ponderings that rode along the stories about my life. 

 

3.Besides yourself, who is your favorite author in the genre you write in?

John Green. I love the way he writes about heavy themes without losing hope. 

 

4.What’s the best part of being an author? The worst?

I love all the aspects of writing, the research, working on the outline, creating fictional worlds, turning a screenplay into a manuscript, and working on the feedback from various readers. Like most of the writers, I’m not keen on book marketing and social media. 

 

5.What are you working on now?

I have three manuscripts in different stages of development in my virtual drawer that I’ve been working on lately. All of them are coming-of-age stories with strong social justice issues. I haven’t yet decided if I will continue writing about Hashim, Maryam and Alex, though. I guess I’m still waiting Rise Up Trilogy to gain more readers. As of right now, I don’t see the point of continuing but then again, if this blog tour hits off, the chances of me getting back to these characters increase. Then I would pick a time maybe two or three years after Collusion, book three, ended. I have some ideas already, but I rather not yet talk about except that there are big surprises coming.

 

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE The author will award the winner's choice of an audiobook set via Spotify or a digital book set of THE RISE UP TRILOGY. Please use the following Rafflecopter code on your post: a Rafflecopter giveaway If you cannot embed the code, please use this HTML link: Enter to win the choice of an audiobook set via Spotify or a digital book set of THE RISE UP TRILOGY - a Rafflecopter giveaway

Licensed to Rear

LICENSED TO REAR

Riya Aarini

 

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GENRE:  Family Fiction

 

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BLURB:

 

Mila Winston aspires to earn a professional license to practice parenthood. It’s all she needs to start her family in the happiest micronation on Earth. Newcomers flock to Coolbeensia to fulfill their dreams of raising children here, where kids are guaranteed loving—as opposed to horrible—parents.

 

But mighty obstacles test Mila’s grit. Peter Losor, a chap with an annoying air of bravado, questionable parenting skills, and a defiant personality, stirs up trouble, eventually challenging the very law that defines Coolbeensia—that licensure is mandatory to enjoy the privilege of raising children.

 

Will Mila survive her trying ordeal and achieve her ambitions of being a licensed parent in the quirky yet revolutionary micronation? Find out in this satirical, contemporary family fiction novel that will leave you second-guessing the ideals surrounding the prestigious job of parenthood!

 

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EXCERPTS:

 

Excerpt One:

 

Mila ran to the side of the bed and plucked a glossy brochure off the nightstand. It had been folded and curled to reveal a particular page, as if waiting to be pointed out. “See?” She set her slender index finger on a small ad at the bottom of page nineteen. “I think we should move here.”

 

“Coolbeensia? Huh, an odd name.” Jason looked off into the distance. “But I think I’ve heard of it before. Isn’t that the place where you need a license to have children?”

 

Mila smiled, nodding emphatically. He’d heard of it, which eliminated the first hurdle and pushed them one step closer in the right direction. “Yep, it’s perfect.”

 

“How’re we going to get a license to raise a family?” His shoulders inched up. “It’s unheard of.” 

 

“But brilliant.” Mila patted her husband on the arm. Naturally, he showed concern, as they’d discussed having children long before they officially tied the knot. Having a full house was important to them both. Children would complete their family, plus a furry pet or two, besides the giant stuffed bear.

 

“It’s no biggie. It’s just like earning a license to drive. You’ve done it before, and so have I. We’ll be assured that we’re surrounded by qualified parents who know how to keep their kids safe. Isn’t that like what a driver’s license is for?” She gazed at him, hoping her brief but logical answer would convince him.

 A short interview with Riya Aarini:

1.Did you always want to be an author?

I recall as a nine-year-old wanting to write a book. I’ve always been a writer, discovering my love for writing a few years later in junior high. I studied English Literature in college, solidifying my enjoyment of piecing together the written word.  

2.Tell us about the publication of your first book.

My first story was published in Cricket, a magazine for children. My first book, however, wasn’t published until much later. It was a middle-grade novel revolving around the story of a boy who discovered a magic lamp. Any fantastical story with a magical lamp is sure to pique interest.

3.Besides yourself, who is your favorite author in the genre you write in?

I enjoy reading the work of Terry Pratchett, the English author who penned Good Omens—a lovely book—with Neil Gaiman.

4.What’s the best part of being an author? The worst?

Expressing my ideas on paper (or the screen) is the best part about being an author. I don’t believe there is a worst part about being an author. Is there anything awful about eating a slice of chocolate cake? No, I don’t think there is. Being an author is like enjoying a slice of cake. It’s satisfying.

5.What are you working on now?

I’m working on promoting Licensed to Rear. The story has a good, thought-provoking message delivered in an entertaining way. I hope people read and find it an enjoyable story.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Riya Aarini entered her small part of the world one summer day in the Pacific Northwest. She writes in an eclectic mix of genres, including humor and contemporary fiction. If you enjoy quirkiness with a pinch of whimsy, you’ll have an appetite for her books. 

 

Author Website: http://www.riyapresents.com

 

Social Media:

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/aarinibooks

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/aarinibooks

 

Buy Links:

Book is available everywhere books are sold, including

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Licensed-Rear-Novel-Riya-Aarini-ebook/dp/B0DGFGDZYT

 

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

 

The author will be awarding a book-themed T-shirt to a randomly drawn winner.

 

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