Friday, September 6, 2024

Tour Wrap Up: The Maker of Worlds by David Litwack

 



Fantasy

Date Published: 05-22-2024

Publisher: Evolved Publishing


 

If you had the chance to remake the world, what kind of world would you choose?

When tragedy strikes Lucas Mack's young life, he desperately yearns to escape its sorrow, and takes an improbable leap through the mythical maelstrom. Rather than splashing down on the far side like his neighbors, he's transported to a magical realm where he has the power to redefine not only who he is, but the world in which he resides.

As he stumbles about trying to find his way, he meets Mia, an equally troubled fellow pilgrim. With the help of a mystical guide and an aging wizard, they navigate the enchanted land while learning to control their newfound powers. Yet this realm is more complex than they expected, with seasoned sorcerers who've been corrupted by the sinister side of magic.

Limited by natural law and seduced by magic's power, they are tested as never before. Will the gift of magic bring renewed hope or drive them to the edge of the void? 


 





Currently a 4.6* Rating on Amazon
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Did you miss any of the stops on this Tour?

July 29 - RABT Book Tours - Kick Off

July 30 - Momma Says to Read or Not to Read - Spotlight

July 31 - Momma and Her Stories - Excerpt

August 1 - Books Blog - Spotlight

August 2 - Novel News Network - Review

August 5 - Liliyana Shadowlyn - Spotlight

August 6 - Book Junkiez - Excerpt

August 8 - Our Town Book Reviews - Excerpt

August 9 - Crossroad Reviews - Spotlight

August 12 - The Avid Reader - Interview

August 13 - Lady Hawkeye - Spotlight

August 14 - BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee - Spotlight

August 15 - Texas Book Nook - Review

August 19 - Matters That Count - Spotlight

August 20 - My Reading Addiction - Interview

August 21 - My Bookmarked Reads - Spotlight

August 22 - Chapter Break - Interview

August 26 - The Indie Express - Review

August 28 - A Life Through Books - Interview

September 2 - The Faerie Review - Spotlight

September 4 - On a Reading Bender - Review

September 5 - Nana's Book Reviews - Spotlight


About the Author

The urge to write first struck at age sixteen when working on a newsletter at a youth encampment in the woods of northern Maine. It may have been the wild night when lightning flashed at sunset followed by the northern lights rippling after dark. Or maybe it was the newsletter's editor, a girl with eyes the color of the ocean. But he was inspired to write about the blurry line between reality and the fantastic.

Using two fingers and lots of white-out, he religiously typed five pages a day throughout college and well into his twenties. Then life intervened. He paused to raise two sons and pursue a career, in the process -- and without prior plan -- becoming a well-known entrepreneur in the software industry, founding several successful companies. When he found time again to daydream, the urge to write returned.

David now lives in the Great Northwest. He no longer limits himself to five pages a day and is thankful every keystroke for the invention of the word processor.

 

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Tour Wrap Up: The Missy Box by Anne Emerson

 


Historical Fiction

Date Published: 08-24-2023


 

The Missy Box

In 1685 two ten-year-old girls cross the Atlantic, one in the hold of a slave ship, and the other at the Captain’s table of a royal Danish Ship. On St. Thomas their lives will become intertwined, along with that of Mette, the brothel keeper, and Isaac and Pundi, two other wanderers who have landed in this fomenting place at the dawn of its plantation history.

Eighty-five years later, in Copenhagen, this family story is uncovered by Maria Suhm, the way many are, through treasures kept hidden. The Missy Box gives up its secrets with tantalizing reluctance, against a backdrop in 1772 of historical scandal and conspiracy that will bring Denmark to a crisis.

The Missy Box is an imagined story based on the young life of Maria Suhm Wheelock, the wife of the second President of Dartmouth College and her great grandmother, Maria Bourdoux Lasalle, a Huguenot refugee from France.

Set in a time before the interior of American had been discovered by Europeans, the Missy Box recreates a world connected by oceans, peopled by refugees, and the kings who controlled their fates. 

 




Currenlty a 4.8* Rating on Amazon
Get your copy today!







Did you miss any of the stops on this Tour?


August 26 - RABT Book Tours - Kick Off

August 26 - The Faerie Review - Spotlight

August 27 - Texas Book Nook - Review

August 28 - Momma Says to Read or Not to Read - Spotlight

August 29 - My Reading Addiction - Interview

August 30 - On a Reading Bender - Review

August 31 - Nana's Book Reviews - Spotlight

September 1 - The Avid Reader - Interview

September 2 - Matters That Count - Spotlight

September 3 - Novel News Network - Review

September 4 - Crossroad Reviews - Spotlight

September 5 - Our Town Book Reviews - Review

September 6 - Book Junkiez - Excerpt

 

About the Author

Anne Emerson is a writer and a painter in Jamaica Plain Massachusetts. Her award winning first book, Letters from Erastus: Field Notes on Grace was published by Levellers Press in Amherst MA. The Missy Box is an imagined story based on the author's 13th great grandmother, a Huguenot refugee.

 

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Week Blast: Tales of the Wythenwood by J.W. Hawkins #darkfantasy #fantasy #giveaway #promo #excerpt #rabtbooktours @JWHawkinsBooks

 



Dark Fantasy

Date Published: 08-31-2024

 

 

J.W. Hawkins' "Tales of the Wythenwood" masterfully blends whimsy with darkness, capturing the essence of dark fantasy and classic fairy tales while infusing them with modern sensibilities. The collection is rich in themes of nature, survival, morality, and the complex interplay between good and evil. The author’s love for rhythmic and descriptive language breathes life into the Wythenwood, making it a character in its own right. Each story, while unique, contributes to a cohesive world where the fantastical and the real intertwine seamlessly.

"Tales of the Wythenwood" is a testament to the power of storytelling, reminding us of the beauty, terror, and wonder that lie just beyond the veil of the ordinary world. Whether you're drawn to tales of cunning foxes, mysterious creatures, or the timeless struggle between light and darkness, this collection offers a rich tapestry of narratives that will captivate and enthrall readers.

 

 

Excerpt

 

The Taker of Faces (Sample from Tales of the Wythenwood)

1.

 

Tonight is the night, thought the Taker of Faces. She stood within the moonlit forest looking out to a pool, eerie in its stillness. The Taker inhaled deeply, as grace itself walked into the scene, tall and elegant, powerful and strong yet with a step so light that she could imagine that its hooves would not bend a blade of grass as it trod. As moonbeams stained all they touched an otherworldly blue, she imagined them as fairies, half-remembered from childhood tales, come to light the darkness.

Slowly, the stag dipped its noble head to lap water from the pond, tiny ripples breaking its pristine surface. The Taker dug her fingernails into the palms of her hands as the anticipation welled, so giddy did she feel that the trickle of ochre that dripped from her hands to the floor went unnoticed. Then, the stag, ever so slightly, moved its head. Elation filled her, dizzying euphoria that tingled in her toes and heightened every sense, for now, she truly saw it—beauty. For barely a moment, a single, glorious moment the stag’s features were fully revealed beneath the shimmering cobalt rays. Glistening magnificently, its antlers cast a long and mesmerizing shadow. If there was such a thing as beauty in the world, this was it. She ran her fingers slowly down the length of her face, drinking in the sensation of the gnarled and mottled surface. And silently, she vowed that that beauty would be hers.

But, like a burrowing insect, a grain of doubt crawled inside, niggling at the dark recesses of her mind. Intrusive images flittered past distractingly, a gray pelt illuminated in the darkness, yellow eyes shining like flames untamed, a distorted reflection in the water’s mirrored surface. There were sounds too, her rasping tongueless scream played over and over as she relived pummeled the wolf’s tattered corpse with her fists until the skin of her knuckles was bare and ragged. It had deceived her—it was not the one, this time would be different.

Steeling herself, she took the rope from her shoulder, one end had already been secured around the trunk of a tree and hung across its sturdiest bough, before proceeding to lasso its looped end over the stag’s antlers. Immediately it tried to bolt, rearing onto its hindlegs as the rope pulled taut. The Taker found one corner of her crooked mouth, turning wryly upward as she watched the creature thrash in wild desperation. The moment when she could leave her body behind and be reborn in the form of something new felt near, felt tangible—she could almost taste it with what remained of her tongue. Dropping her guard, a short, sharp, mirthful bark escaped her throat. Swinging around, the deer turned to face her, eyes wide, startled and blazing with fury. Lowering its head, it charged full pelt towards the Taker, rearing up once more as again it reached the end of its tether. With faces inches apart the two stood with eyes interlocked, the stag roared gutturally at its tormentor while the Taker bared her teeth in a dog-like snarl, vehemently hissing all the while.

Slowly, without breaking her gaze she slipped one hand into the pocket of her tunic. For a moment she could not locate the item she sought amidst the folds of weatherbeaten leather. Staying calm, she felt a butterfly of elation flutter within her stomach as she grasped a small wooden cylinder, barely thicker than her smallest finger. Deftly, she slipped a second item into the tube and brought it up to her lips and blew. The stag reeled from the sudden sting, back and forth it swung its great head as it tried with all it could muster to dislodge the dart that protruded from its neck.

Now the butterfly truly unfurled its wings within in her and she danced upon the spot, snorting and giggling with childish jubilance as she did. The peak of the mountain she had tried to scale so many times was so near. Over and over the words jigged through her thoughts melodiously—this one is the one, this one is the one.

The glee in her eyes seemed all the merrier as the moon’s rays of incandescent silver glinted mischievously upon them. She knew this part well, watching as the stag’s movements slowed to a mournful trudge. The Taker sat down on the moist ground, licking the blood from her palms like a wounded animal and waited.

She did not have to wait long before all the will in the world was no longer enough to keep the stag’s eyes from closing. Grunting, she flipped the beast to its back and with practiced efficiency trussed its legs with the rope and tipped it sideways onto a crude sled, crafted from branches and twigs knotted together with vine.

Her muscles protested as she heaved her laden sled—but her heart sang. Like a caterpillar, she would soon be transformed, reborn into something pure and beautiful. Glancing down at the mess of twisted labyrinthine scarring that was her hand, she smiled, imagining it peel away like the used husk of a chrysalis. Soon she would be what she was always supposed to be, soon she would be elevated.

 

About the Author

J.W. Hawkins is a writer of Dark and Epic Fantasy, best known as the author of Tales of the Wythenwood. He is noted for his florid and descriptive use language and use of fantastical allegory that mirrors the empirical world. He lives in the UK with his wife Michelle and two boys Graham and Mark.

 

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Sunday, September 1, 2024

Tour Wrap Up: Red Roses by Tasha Hutchison

 

 


Broken Petals, Book 2


 

Women's Fiction

Date Published: 09-02-2024

Publisher: Running Wild Press



 

 

Four girlfriends take a trip around the world after drunkenly taking ancestry tests during a wine-filled girl's night that changes the trajectory of their lives.

 












Did you miss any of the stops on this Tour?


August 16 - RABT Book Tours - Kick Off

August 16 - Momma and Her Stories - Excerpt

August 17 - Liliyana Shadowlyn - Spotlight

August 18 - Book Junkiez - Excerpt

August 19 - On a Reading Bender - Review

August 20 - The Indie Express - Review

August 21 - The Avid Reader - Interview

August 22 - Momma Says to Read or Not to Read - Spotlight

August 23 - Texas Book Nook - Review

August 24 - Nana's Book Reviews - Spotlight

August 25 - Our Town Book Reviews - Excerpt

August 26 - The Faerie Review - Spotlight

August 27 - Matters that Count - Spotlight

August 28 - My Reading Addiction - Interview

August 29 - Novel News Network - Review


About the Author

Tasha Hutchison, author of the captivating women's fiction novel, "Broken Petals." With a passion for captivating storytelling, Tasha aims to enchant and intrigue readers through her evocative narratives. Her book Broken Petals also landed her as a finalist in the best book awards for Page Turner Awards in 2023.

Hailing from Texas, she holds an associate in arts degree and finds solace in quality time with her loved ones. When not crafting compelling tales, Tasha channels her creativity into developing writing organizers to assist fellow writers in nurturing their story ideas.


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Friday, August 30, 2024

Tour Wrap Up: Weight of the Kiss by Derek W. Whaley

 



Military Thriller

Date Published: April 17, 2024

Publisher: MindStir Media


 

Bombs, Bullets, and burnt-out vehicles are the order of the day in Kandahar, Afghanistan. War is afoot and everywhere you turn someone is hunting you. Follow Reaper-1, the leader of Reaper and Bang squads, as he takes a tour in Afghanistan. Learn about the military equipment, the soldiers, and the environment. Reaper-1 will show you plenty of shenanigans, struggle, and sadness. You will laugh when you read about all the characters and their stories, you will hurt as they are pinned down in combat, and you will cry when some of your favorite members are lost to war. Reaper-1 will walk you through struggles of friendship, combat, and post combat mental health. Reaper-1 will show you what it means to be alive and the pain of death. Come take a trip to Afghanistan, once the smoke clears, you'll be glad you did.







Currently a 5* Rating on Amazon







Did you miss any of the stops on this Tour?


July 29 - RABT Book Tours - Kick Off

July 30 - The Faerie Review - Spotlight

July 31 - Our Town Book Reviews - Excerpt

August 2 - Books Blog - Spotlight

August 5 - Texas Book Nook - Review

August 6 - The Indie Express - Review

August 7 - BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog - Spotlight

August 8 - The Avid Reader - Interview

August 9 - Matters that count - Spotlight

August 12 - Guatemala Paula Loves to Read - Review

August 13 - Nana's Book Reviews - Spotlight

August 14 - On A Reading Bender - Review

August 19 - A Life Through Books - Interview

August 21 - Book Junkiez - Excerpt

August 22 - Momma Says to Read or Not to Read - Spotlight

August 26 - Crossroad Reviews - Spotlight

August 27 - My Reading Addiction - Interview

August 28 - Novel News Network - Review

August 29 - Liliyana Shadowlyn - Spotlight



About the Author

Master Sargent, retired USAF, Derek Whaley hails from Twin Falls, Idaho. His life purpose are his two children. His son, 9 and his daughter, 15. Derek served 20 years in the United States Air Force, retiring under Honorable conditions in 2019. Derek transitioned to social work and earned his master’s degree from the University of New Hampshire. He interned with substance abuse disorders in Haverhill, Massachusetts and discovered a liking to the field and is now a Drug Court Therapist. If you’re ever looking for Derek, just find people struggling and Derek will be near to help.

 

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Friday, August 23, 2024

Tour Wrap Up: Blue by Walter Jones

 



"Until the Lion tells his side of the story, the tale of the Hunt will always glorify the Hunter."

 

Pamela Edwards McClafferty (Editor)

 

Fiction

Date Published: May 21, 2024

Publisher: Spellbound Pictures Ltd USA LLC.


 

 

 

BLUE: A Multigenerational Epic of Destiny, Secrets, and Freedom

 

Until the lion tells his side of the story, the tale of the hunt will always glorify the hunter.

 

Spanning five generations, four families, two continents, and three secrets, BLUE is a captivating saga that intertwines the lives of four extraordinary individuals on an urgent mission for freedom.

 

Meet the Protagonists:

 

  • Nicole Johnson: A beautiful Howard University MBA graduate with a vision to build her international advertising/marketing company, Fresh, Inc., in her hometown of Chicago.
  • Regina Bovine: A stunning artistic marketer and graduate of life's challenges, Regina becomes Nicole's partner in Fresh, Inc., bringing her unique perspective and talent.
  • Segun Bada: A brilliant MIT graduate who establishes the headquarters of his international conglomerate, Quantum Protection Systems (Q.P.S.), in Gaborone, Botswana.
  • Sotonye Bada: Segun's gifted brother and a graduate of the Mayo Medical School, Sotonye sets up his medical practice in Gaborone, Botswana, alongside his brother.

 

Together, their paths converge in an extraordinary saga that takes them across the globe to Chicago, New Orleans, Botswana, Sudan, Ethiopia, Huntsville, Nigeria, Kenya, Washington D.C., and Tanzania. As they unravel the secrets of their ancestors, they discover the reason the ancient oracles destined them to join forces.

 

A Race Against Time:

With BLUE, a formidable force of evil, threatening to unleash his deadliest powers upon the world before the children born to either join or destroy him reach their thirty-first birthday, Nicole and Regina are drawn back to the African continent, the birthplace of BLUE.

In a final, epic battle, they join Sotonye and Segun to protect the Freedom Code, a legacy for their ancestors, their present allies, and the future generations of their people—and all people. For if one man or woman is enslaved, so is the world.

 

BLUE: A Riveting Tale of:

 

  • Family: Exploring the intricate bonds and connections between generations and families across continents.
  • Love: Showcasing the power of love in its various forms, from familial love to romantic love.
  • Destiny: Unraveling the ancient prophecies that foretold the convergence of four lives on a mission.
  • Freedom: Fighting for the fundamental right of freedom for all individuals and the world at large.

 

Immerse yourself in this multigenerational epic that will keep you turning pages as you journey alongside Nicole, Regina, Segun, and Sotonye in their quest for freedom and the preservation of their legacy.

 

 





Currently a 4.8* Rating on Amazon





Did you miss any of the stops on this Tour?


July 22 - RABT Book Tours - Kick Off

July 23 - Nana's Book Reviews - Spotlight

July 24 - On A Reading Bender - Review

July 25 - Crossroad Reviews - Spotlight

July 29 - Momma Says to Read or Not to Read - Spotlight

July 30 - The Avid Reader - Interview

August 1 - Sapphyria's Books - Spotlight*

August 2 - Momma and Her Stories - Excerpt

August 5 - Liliyana Shadowlyn - Spotlight

August 6 - Texas Book Nook - Review

August 7 - Matters That Count - Spotlight

August 8 - BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog - Spotlight

August 12 - Book Junkiez - Excerpt

August 13 - My Reading Addiction - Interview

August 14 - A Life Through Books - Interview

August 15 - My Bookmarked Reads - Spotlight

August 16 - Novel News Network - Review

August 19 - Books Blog - Spotlight

August 20 - Our Town Book Reviews - Excerpt

August 21 - The Faerie Review - Spotlight

August 22 - The Indie Express - Review



  About the Author

 Walter Jones, a native Chicagoan, (1952 -) has written his first novel.

“Dreams can come true, but it probably won’t happen as you first imagined. No one could have told me a novel I started when I was in my forties would come to fruition in my sixties. Or that I would go from golden boy to ‘I‘m sorry. You are extremely qualified for the position, but we are considering other candidates.’ Or that I would face years of doubt and criticism from relatives and friends.”

The sixth child of Mary Louise Spillman and Russell Donald Jones Jr., Walter grew up in two predominately African American communities, Morgan Park and Chatham. The Spillmans were one of the first African American families to settle in Chicago; they owned homes and businesses and took care of their neighborhoods.

By the mid-1960s, the civil rights movement was in full swing. Housing projects had been built and crime was on the rise. By the time Walter graduated from Chicago State University (psychology), the peace he had known in his youth was a memory.

Walter had high hopes that he could make a difference when he began his career at the Austin Chicago YMCA before becoming the first black executive at Lawson YMCA Metro Chicago. He ended his YMCA career at the historical Black Washington Park. Thereafter, he worked at Habitat Boulevard LLC and then ventured out on his own to found his own construction company.

“Working in public service, I watched my people falling into materialistic, superficial, and destructive traps. I was surprised and humbled to find I was no exception. When my construction business failed, I had to reassess myself and my life. For years I had focused on the image I wanted my children and others to have of me, not on the man I truly was. I began to reflect on the people who had profoundly influenced my life.”

BLUE began to take form as Walter wrote about the African American life of his youth—the beauty, majesty, brilliance, and courage of his people. He suddenly realized he was rebuilding that which he had lost, a love of self and humanity. To support his family, he took odd jobs. Ultimately he joined a security company, where he works to this day.

“As my greatest advocate, my mother read my first draft of BLUE before her death in 1995 and made me promise to complete it. Little did I know she was freeing me from BLUE and showing me how long the path can be to freedom, but I learned, and I am grateful.”

 

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Friday, August 16, 2024

Tour Wrap Up: Forever, Now by Haleh Shahrzad

 



Drama / Fiction

Date Published: May 19, 2024

Publisher: Mindstir Media


 

Marriage was supposed to be happily ever after, but it turned out to be anything but.

Darya's life takes an unexpected turn when she marries a man despite her intuition, believing in the promise of a happy and everlasting future. However, the façade of their seemingly-perfect life begins to crumble when her husband's infidelity and lies come to light, leaving their home and hearts shattered.

As Darya grapples with the pain of a broken marriage and the responsibilities of motherhood, she embarks on a quest to find her own happiness and purpose. Navigating through a heart-wrenching journey of betrayal, loss, and rebuilding, Darya learns hard-fought lessons about the world and herself.

 

Forever, Now is a tale of resilience, self-discovery, and the enduring power of love and determination. It explores the depths of human emotions and the indomitable spirit of a woman who finds her way back to happiness despite life's most painful setbacks.







Currently a 5* Rating on Amazon











Did you miss any of the stops on this Tour?



July 15 - RABT Book Tours - Kick Off

July 16 - Crossroad Reviews - Spotlight

July 17 - Momma and Her Stories - Excerpt

July 18 - The Faerie Review - Spotlight

July 19 - The Avid Reader - Interview

July 22 - My Bookmarked Reads - Spotlight

July 23 - Texas Book Nook - Review

July 24 - Nana's Book Reviews - Spotlight

July 25 - Book Junkiez - Excerpt

July 26 - Momma Says to Read or not to Read - Spotlight

July 29 - Novel News Network - Review

August 1 - Matters That Count - Spotlight

August 2 - A Life Through Books - Interview

August 6 - Our Town Book Reviews - Excerpt

August 7 - Books Blog - Spotlight

August 8 - On a Reading Bender - Review

August 12 - My Reading Addiction - Interview

August 14 - The Indie Express - Review

August 15 - Liliyana Shadowlyn - Spotlight



About the Author

Haleh Shahrzad, the author of Forever, Now, was born in Tehran, Iran. Her journey began with a challenging experience in her homeland when she faced obstacles to higher education due to improper hijab and her absence at Islamic Friday prayers, despite passing the entrance exam and gaining acceptance to Tehran University. Determined to pursue her dreams, she made the courageous and harrowing decision to leave Iran.

As an Iranian-American, Haleh offers a unique and powerful perspective in her storytelling. She adeptly integrates her rich cultural experiences into her narratives, creating compelling stories that resonate with readers. Currently residing in California, she shares her life with her husband and son.

 

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