Category: newbookrelease

#NewRelease! Balance of Nature by Jacqui Murray #writingcommunity #whattoread #mustread

I’m excited to welcome Jacqui Murray here today to talk about her latest release, “Balance of Nature.” As always with Jacqui’s books, I loved this story. My review is included.

Summary

A tribe haunted by the past. Lies that threaten the future. A reason to find the truth. 

Savage Land is the third trilogy about prehistoric man in the series, Man. Vs. Nature. Savage Land explores how two bands of humans survived one of the worst natural disasters in Earth’s history, when volcanic eruptions darkened the sky, massive tsunamis crossed the ocean in crushing waves, and raging fires burned the land. Viral tribes of Neanderthals and early man considered themselves apex predators, but that crown belonged to Nature and she was intent on washing the two-legged blight from her lands.

In Balance of Nature, Book Three of the trilogy, Yu’ung’s Neanderthal tribe hopes to settle at Gibraltar but instead find unexpected threats and lethal challenges.
Follow the courageous Yu’ung, the determined Kazeb, the mystical Shanadar, and the pawed-and-clawed Canis as they navigate a perilous world of tribal conflict, unexplained visions, and shifting loyalties. Their journey is a testament to the resilience and strength of true leadership in a sweeping saga that ultimately leads to who we are today.

My Five-Star Review

The prehistoric story continues with many characters I’ve grown to love in the other two books. After surviving everything nature had thrown at them, this story follows two resilient clans. Fierce and his mixed clan have traveled the seas and gotten rid of one problem, just to find another. Having already made contact with another surviving clan, he doesn’t get the welcome he expected. Both clans have to be careful who they trust. Yu’ung is a favorite character, a strong alpha woman who has no problem leading or supplying the clan’s needs. The friendship that developed between her and Kazeb was one of the many things that kept me turning the pages to see what was going to happen next. The loyal Canis are close to my heart as they protect their clan. Shanadar is fascinating as he guides through wisdom and his vision, where characters from the past still guide the clan. The settings, research, and attention to detail not only educate me but make me feel like I can understand how life used to be. There is survival, family, love, and logic all mixed together perfectly. While I suggest you read the entire series to fully understand the character’s journey, it could be a standalone because they are so well-rounded, and the journey is carefully explained. I highly recommend this book and the series.

Book Trailer

https://youtu.be/b6wG54fV1_0?si=qyi5V6d-DI8o6EuD

Book information

Print, digital, audio soon available: http://a-fwd.com/asin=B0G45MFBWW

Genre: Prehistoric fiction

Editor: Anneli Purchase 

Author bio

Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular prehistoric fiction saga, Man vs. Nature which explores seminal events in man’s evolution one trilogy at a time. She is also author of the Rowe-Delamagente thrillers and Building a Midshipman , the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy. Her non-fiction includes 100+ books on tech into education, and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics.

Social Media contacts

Amazon Author Page:         https://www.amazon.com/Jacqui-Murray/e/B002E78CQQ/

Blog:                                        https://worddreams.wordpress.com

Pinterest:                                http://pinterest.com/askatechteacher

X:                                             http://twitter.com/worddreams

Website:                                 https://jacquimurray.net

 

#NewRelease! “Silverhills’ Rescue” by #SandraCox #writingcommunity #whattoread #mustread

I’m thrilled to have Sandra Cox here today to share her latest book, “Silverhills’ Rescue!” It’s an amazing addition to the Silverhills stories, and my review is included.

Blurb

A marker is called in.

Brandon comes home from a trail drive to find his wife on her way to Mexico to help the mission folk that took her in. Putting herself in danger. Crossing perilous terrain, where not only the weather kills, but Comancheros and bandoleros as well. He climbs back into the saddle and heads out after her. Both of them now embarked on separate journeys that involves killers, flooded arroyos and narrow divides where one misstep means a plunge to certain death. And, if that’s not enough to challenge them, at journey’s end they’ll face the most dangerous situation of all.“This book contains plenty of grit and gunfire, but no graphic violence or explicit scenes.”

Excerpt

July, 1874

The sun hit a blood-red horizon and shot upward in a crown of tangerine brilliance, hurting the eyes, lighting the trail from the top of the canyon to the ranch house like a beacon thrown across the sea.

The early July morning a warm one.

Dust rose as a horse trotted up. Jonas, a young cowhand, reined in his sorrel gelding beside the woman who stood on the veranda. “Rider coming.”

“Is it Brandon?” Hand over her eyes, Alexandria O’Malley Wade strained to make out the narrow trail at the top of the foothill that her husband and their men would come galloping over when they returned from the trail drive. Her tan split-skirt rustled as she leaned against the smooth white-painted railing, trying to get a better view.

Jonas pushed up in his stirrups. Worn leather boots peeping from canvas chaps. “Can’t tell.”

The speck at the top of the canyon grew as it came tumbling down the trail. Her heart thumped and her breath lodged in her throat. Her fingers tingled, her excitement rose.

The speck shifted into a rider.

Anticipation heightened.

Then shriveled. It wasn’t her husband.

The horse was a pinto not the big roan Brandon rode. And even from this distance, she’d know her husband with every fiber of her being.

She heaved a deep breath and waited.

As the rider trotted closer, she slid her hand to the worn wooden handle of her 4.75-inch barrel, single-action, six-cylinder Peacemaker.

Jonas did the same.

She frowned. The pinto looked familiar, but it wasn’t one of theirs.  And instead of a cowboy hat and chaps, the rider wore a sombrero along with a brightly-colored poncho.

Spying her, he yanked the sombrero off his head and waved it.

She recognized the rider and the horse at the same time. Her breath caught then whished out on a mile-wide smile.

“It’s okay, Jonas. I know him.”

Now sure there was no trouble brewing, he nodded, raised his hand to the approaching rider, and putting heels to his horse’s ribs, galloped off.

“Manuel.” She jumped off the porch and ran toward the boy who’d went in search of Brandon when she’d holed up at the mission awaiting the birth of the twins.

He leaped off his horse and grabbed her in a bearhug.

The term boy no longer applied. He was muscled and lean. A man.  A young man, but still a man.

“What are you doing here? Is your family well? Sisters Sarah and Marie? Father Jon?” The questions tumbled over each other.

The smile on his face fell away.

Something was wrong. Dreadfully wrong. Stomach knotting, she took a step back and waited, dread seeping through her pores.

My Five-Star Review
I have loved the Silverhills series and was excited to see a new story. All the familiar characters are back. When someone from the past arrives seeking help, Alexandra is ready to jump in and assist. Brandon is still away tending cattle, but there are many to watch their twins. She sets out with Manuel and a hand, Charlie, to help the people at the mission who helped her. It’s a long journey, and it doesn’t always go smoothly. I love these characters, and especially Alex. She is strong, kind, stubborn, and willing to put her life on the line for those she cares for. The setting is so beautifully described that it makes me feel like I’m riding along with them. The pace is fast as they go from one situation to another. There was more than once when I thought: Oh no, how will they survive this? Plus, there was a lovesick horse and a desperate puma in the mix. This well-written western was hard to put down, and I can highly recommend it.

Amazon Purchase Link

Author Bio

Sandra, who writes as both S. Cox and Sandra Cox, is an animal lover and avid gardener. She spent a number of years in the Midwest chasing down good Southern BBQ. By the time she moved to North Carolina where Southern BBQ is practically a staple, she’d become a vegetarian.

She and her husband are ruled by four cats and a dog. An award-winning author, her stories consist of all things Western and more.

Sandra can be found at http://www.sandracoxwriter.com

OR http://www.cowboytrivia.blogspot.com

OR https://sandracox.blogspot.com

OR https://www.pinterest.com/scoxauthor/

OR https://www.bsky.app @scoxauthor

OR Amazon.com: Sandra Cox: books, biography, latest update

Miracles & Ghosts Blog Tour Day Ten #ColleenMChesebro #writingcommunity #newrelease

Today is the last day of the Miracles & Ghosts Past Blog Tour!  I’m thrilled to share the final stop with Colleen M. Chesebro. She is not only a fantastic poet but a very active and supportive mentor to many learning about symbolic poetry. I have always been interested in haikus, and through her blog, I learned what they were and many other types, including tankas and a favorite of mine, haibuns. She has several poetry collections that, if you love poetry and haven’t read them,  you should! Here’s a favorite of mine and my five-star review:

My five-star review:

I read and loved “Fairies, Myths, & Magic Book 1” and was eager to read the second book. This dips into a darker side of fairies and magic but also offers the coming light. Told through beautiful poetry and short stories with the addition of the history of the feminine lore of different cultures. I could learn as I was entertained. Although I love my forest, I have a healthy appreciation of it and the magic it holds. This collection brought to life our past and present, leaving the promise of the future or its consequences. A perfect read for a cold fall or winter night that inspired me to bring a few new traditions into our house.

BLOG POST STOP TEN

Miracles & Ghosts Past Blog Tour Day Nine #NoelleGranger #writingcommunity #newrelease

Today is the ninth day of the Miracles & Ghosts Past Blog Tour. We are visiting the supportive and talented Noelle A. Granger. She has a catalog that includes historical fiction and mysteries. I went back and forth between two books to share here today. The Last Pilgrim is amazing and a must-read, but the first book I read by Noelle was Death by Pumpkin. This is the one I’m going to share today, as it introduced me to her great writing. Who could pass up a title like that? So before we move on to today’s post, here’s my review.

NOTE: I am having a technical issue on my end with today’s blog post stop. I can’t directly respond to comments; I can only leave a general comment. I apologize and have tried three different browsers. I did respond, but as a general comment, and I appreciate all comments. So you won’t be notified of my response, but it’s there separately 🙂 Sorry for any issues, but do stop by and visit. Noelle has really rolled out the red carpet!

Death by Pumpkin: A Rhe Brewster Mystery (Rhe Brewster Mysteries Book 3) 

My five-star review:

“Death by Pumpkin” is the third in the Rhe Brewster Books. Although this is the first I’ve read of this series, I found it very easy to follow along and get to know the characters. Rhe is a nurse and works for the police department while being a widowed mom. The story starts out with an unusual death and Rhe involved in the investigation. Soon it becomes apparent there is more to this and an unknown danger lurking. While Rhe struggles with being a mom, nurse and working to be an investigator, she questions her love life and feelings. There are many exciting parts and twists, including an airplane ride where it was obvious there was a lot of research put into it. I love Rhe’s character and her caring but inquisitive side while being a protective mother to her son and good friend and relative. She focused on not only solving a crime but protecting her brother-in-law and friend Sam’s job. This is a wonderfully written cozy whodunit that weaves in relationships, making it a page turner. I will definitely be reading more Rhe Brewster stories and can easily recommend this one.

TODAY’S BLOG POST LINK

 

Miracles & Ghosts Past Blog Tour Day Eight #RobbieCheadle #writingcommunity #newrelease

Today is day eight of the Miracle & Ghosts Past Blog Tour. We are visiting the hardest-working author I know, Robbie Cheadle. She not only bakes and creates amazing fondant cakes for her children’s books that are written with her son, Michael, but also has novels, poetry collections, and draws and paints. Additionally, she is involved in creating poetry anthologies and is a big supporter of other authors. Have you had the pleasure of reading any of her books? If not, you should. Before we head over to the post, I want to share a favorite book of hers and my five-star review.

My five-star review:

“Lion Scream” is a creative collection of poetry, photos, information, links, and a short story. The poetry tells a story of the wildlife in South Africa. It is not always a pleasant narrative with the loss of their habitat or cruel hunters maiming for profit. I learned a lot about the animals and found all the poems fascinating on many different levels. Ms. Cheadle discusses the Sixth Mass Extinction and Climate Change effect on animal life through her visits to wildlife reserves and personal interaction. She shares extra reading through links to learn more, which I appreciated. This was a meaningful way to bring the plight of animals to people’s attention. The short story, at the end, tackled another important subject of our youth’s mental health and the medication used. I won’t pick out my favorites because the message is too important. A book not to be missed by those who love animals and the world we share with them.

BLOG POST STOP EIGHT

 

 

 

Miracles & Ghosts Past Blog Tour Day Seven #DWallacePeach #writingcommunity #newrelease

Welcome to day seven of the Miracles & Ghosts Past Blog Tour. Today, we visit Diana Wallace Peach. Having been in two groups with her, I’ve found her to be very supportive of fellow authors, including her extensive reading and reviews. I find many great reads from those reviews. Plus, we share the love of nature. If you haven’t read any of her fantasy books, you should! Before we head to her stop, I want to share a review from one of my favorite books by Diana.

Version 1.0.0

My five-star review:

“Liars and Thieves” is a fantasy with Elves, Goblins, and Changelings living in an uneasy truce with crystals as their energy. The theme of greed and need felt current to me, and the world was brilliantly written in beautifully described images. My favorite character is Talin, who is a spy with a heart, and Alue is a close second as an Elf who has more sense of justice and temper than most. I enjoy the interactions between them in any form. Naj, the half-Elf and half-Goblin, approaches things more logically but is a solid leading character with a charming relationship with the Goblin he loves. I like what binds the three together. Then, there’s a lack of trust and blame between the three groups that felt very real to me as well as some misplaced loyalties. The unexplained disappearances and earthquakes threw in some chaos. I can’t wait for the next book to see what happens. If you love fantasies, you will want to read this.

BLOG POST STOP SEVEN

 

Miracles & Ghosts Blog Tour Stop Six! #DarleneFoster #writingcommunity #newrelease

Today is day six of the Miracles & Ghosts Past Blog Tour, and we’re visiting Darlene Foster. This supportive author has not only created a wonderful character, Amanda, for middle grade readers and us adults, but also written a beautiful memoir that captivated me as my grandmother was born in Alberta. Darlene shares her adventures and always offers a kind word. If you haven’t read anything by Darlene, you are missing some good reading. Before you head over to the blog post, check out one of my favorites and review.

My five-star review:

“You Can Take The Girl From The Prairie” is a heartwarming collection that glimpses into the author’s life of what it was like growing up in Southern Alberta in the 1950s and 60s. I have always had a curiosity about Alberta since my grandmother was born there in the 1920s. The heartwarming stories had me either laughing or shedding a few tears, and immediately drew me in. Ms. Foster’s family didn’t have all the extras that others had, but she was blessed with a beautiful childhood full of love. I loved the relationship between not only her and her grandmother, but her father, too. It wasn’t always an easy life and there was heartbreak along with the celebrations, but this was a family that was always there for each other. I read this in one sitting and can only hope there are more stories to come. I can highly recommend these stories.

BLOG TOUR STOP SIX

Miracles & Ghosts Blog Tour Day Five #LaurenScott #newrelease #writingcommunity

Today I’m visiting Lauren Scott for Day Five of the Miracles & Ghosts Past Blog Tour. I met Lauren through the poetry community. After reading one of her collections, I found we had the same love for nature, animals, and family. We both have a soft spot for the redwoods. She is supportive of other writers and enjoys reading print books.  If you haven’t read anything by her, which includes poetry and a children’s book— you are definitely missing out. Before you go to the post, check out one of my favorite books and its review.

My five-star review:

“Ever So Gently” is a beautiful collection of free verse and symbolic poetry. It is broken into three sections that cover nature, life’s moments, and some author insights. I love nature and I’m drawn to vivid images, but the emotions and insights explored in our shared experiences were equally intriguing. There was a peace within these pages that allowed me to drift off into a poetic slumber when I was done reading. Although I enjoyed the entire collection, here are a few lines that captured my heart. “Fresh raindrops/gently landed/on their wilted spirit/as I witnessed them lifting…”—Wilted Spirits, “You stowed dreams in the clouds,/imaginings rose higher than the heavens…”—First Breath, “Their presence graced my universe beautifully like an endless ceiling of bright blue sky. Then they were gone.”—Friendships Gone, and “Its glow will grow ever so gently/into a bright beacon of hope/rising with the golden sun/bringing clarity to our vision.”—Ever So Gently. A collection that I will be enjoying again and can highly recommend.

BLOG TOUR POST STOP FIVE

New Release! “Amanda in Ireland: The Body in the Bog” by Darlene Foster #newrelease #mustread

I’m thrilled to be sharing here today, “Amanda in Ireland: The Body in the Bog” a new release by the amazing Darlene Foster. It’s a fun read, see my review below.

BLURB

Twelve-year-old Amanda Jane Ross is invited to be a bridesmaid for her cousin’s wedding in Ireland! She falls in love with the Emerald Isle the moment she lands in Dublin. The warm, friendly Irish people immediately make her feel at home. Towering castles, ancient graveyards, and the stunning green countryside are filled with fascinating legends, enthralling folktales, and alarming secrets.

Things take a dark turn when disaster strikes. Amanda wonders if there will be a wedding at all. As she joins the search for a missing horse, she stumbles upon a world of screaming banshees, bloody battles, and dangerous peat bogs. The closer she gets to the truth, the more dangerous things become. Will she become another body in the bog?

Amanda in Ireland VIDEO LINK

EXCERPT

“I-I’m a bit claustrophobic and that looks like a very
narrow opening.”
“It’s not that tight, and once you’re through, it opens up.
Look, if I can fit through it, you can. I’m bigger than you.”
Amanda nodded. “OK, I guess so.”
She gingerly made her way up to her cousin. He went
through the opening first, turning sideways and crouching
down. Amanda took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and
squeezed through, her heart hammering in her chest.
She felt a breeze and opened her eyes, realizing she had
made it through, although it was very dark. “Taylor!” she
shouted. “Are you in here?”
No answer.
Her chest tightened as she started to panic. Goosebumps
slid along the back of her neck. Then she saw a faint light and
shouted, “Taylor.”
“Over here!” He waved his phone. “Be careful, hold on to
the wall.”

Amanda made her way to the light, hugging the cool wall
until she got to her cousin. “That light isn’t very bright.”

“I forgot to charge my phone and I’m running low on
power. You’ll have to stick close to me. There’s a place I want to
check out. It’s actually a large chamber, but hard to get to unless
you know it’s there.” Taylor turned and started walking, leaving
her in the dark again.
Amanda could hear the drip-drip of water as she felt her
way along the wall. She tried to follow the outline of her
cousin, but his cell phone light got dimmer and dimmer. Soon
it was almost totally dark.
“Taylor, Taylor, are you still here?”
He didn’t answer. Amanda felt an opening in the wall. Did
he turn here or go straight?
“Taylor, I don’t know which way to go.”
Amanda felt tears well up. Trembling, she thought of Tom
Sawyer and Becky Thatcher lost in the underground caves for
three days.
She listened for an answer but only heard the constant
dripping. And then she heard something else. It was faint, but
it sounded like a horse snorting.

MY FIVE-STAR REVIEW

Twelve-year-old Amanda is off to Ireland to be a bridesmaid in her cousin’s wedding. As she falls in love with Ireland, so do I. It’s a place I’ve always wanted to visit, and I got a beautiful glimpse of it through the lush descriptions and interesting history. Amanda feels immediately welcomed and starts exploring, but she finds herself in another mystery. First, there’s a missing horse, and then the bride. As she sets out to figure out what happened, there are a few not-so-nice people who don’t want her to. I love how I was captured from the very first page; plus, it was easy to get to know the characters, even if you’ve never read one before. Although it is intended for middle-grade readers, I also enjoy this adventure. I can highly recommend this story for children and adults who love clean mysteries, history, amazing scenery, and great characters.

PURCHASE LINK FOR AMANDA IN IRELAND

 

Author Bio

Darlene Foster grew up on a ranch in Alberta, Canada, where her love of reading inspired her to see the world and write stories.  Her Amanda Travels series features spunky Amanda Ross, a twelve-year-old girl who loves to travel. All ages enjoy following Amanda as she unravels one mystery after another in unique destinations. Darlene is retired and has a house in Spain where she writes full-time. Her constant interest and enthusiasm for everything keep her young at heart. When not travelling, meeting interesting people, and collecting ideas for her books, Darlene enjoys spending time with her family in Canada and with her husband and entertaining dogs in Spain.

Author Links

Website 

Blog 

Facebook 

Twitter/X 

Bluesky 

Instagram 

Amazon

Goodreads 

#NewRelease “Whispers of a Southern Moon” by #PriscillaBettis #shortstories #poetry #faith #writingcommunity #mustread

I’m excited to have Priscilla Bettis here today to share her latest release, “Whispers of a Southern Moon.”

BLURB

An artistic, new collection of inspirational fiction and poetry by Priscilla Bettis.

Includes the award-winning story “Fix Your Face,” a “wonderful Southern Gothic piece akin to the work of Flannery O’Conner!”—Brooke Dreger, Editor, Solid Food Press

A simple man in rural Alabama risks his sanity to keep his sister alive. Lines of poetry celebrate the symphony of a Southern night. A sentient house deep in Virginia’s Great Dismal Swamp lures those it seeks to protect.

In Whispers of a Southern Moon, Priscilla Bettis intertwines short stories and poetry to create an inspirational collection of literary fiction and verse. Bettis explores questions about faith, love, and our perceptions of reality, and she does so with an elegant but fierce grip on the reader. This collection spans everything from Southern Gothic prose to Biblically inspired haiku. By the end of the collection, readers will be encouraged that even in the most twisted circumstances, God is present, and we are loved.

Amazon Purchase Link

 

My Review

“Whispers of a Southern Moon” is a beautiful faith-based collection of short stories and poetry. The stories take the reader on a journey where the message is that one is never alone, even in the darkest circumstances. It’s a well-balanced combination of entertainment and Christian reading. The poetry is lush and full of imagery and emotion connected to the stories. Many subjects are covered, like aging, inner beauty, addiction, relationships, reality, and Alzheimer’s, which offered a truth I could relate to. It’s hard to pick a favorite, but “Whispers of a Southern Moon” was a beautiful tale of an ex-dancer who never got over the loss of her family. The house felt like a character within the story. What made this more special was the author’s sharing of her personal journey of how she found and grew in her Christian faith. I can easily recommend this collection.

 

Author Bio

Priscilla Bettis is an avid reader and a joyful writer. Priscilla lives in small-town Texas with her two-legged and four-legged family members. She is a former secular horror author who now writes Christian short stories and poetry inspired by her awe of God and love for fellow human beings.

Find Priscilla on X (at PriscillaBettis) where she chats with others about life and writing.

Amazon Author Page

Twitter