C.A. Milson's Blog, page 7
August 17, 2025
Revenge
Love, Bullets, and
a Second Chance — Will They Survive the Crossfire?
Revenge
The FBI Tampa Mystery Series Book 1
by A.M. Holloway
Genre: Clean Romantic Suspense, Mystery Thriller
Love, Bullets, and a
Second Chance — Will They Survive the Crossfire?
When FBI Special Agent Micah French joins
a high-risk pursuit through the streets of Tampa, he never expects the day to
end with his partner shot and the woman he once loved holding his partner’s
life in her hands.
Finley Herald, the surgeon who broke his heart a decade ago, now lives in
Tampa. She’s saving lives at Tampa General and possibly risking her own when a
vengeful cartel leader wages war against the agents involved in his brother’s
death.
As bullets fly, allies fall, and a trail of revenge stretches from Mexico to
Florida, Micah must navigate a storm of violence, betrayal, and second chances.
Every decision could be his last, and Finley’s reappearance threatens to
shatter the emotional defenses he’s spent years building.
This book is a gripping blend of action,
faith, and romance, where love may be the deadliest risk of all.
**Get it for Only .99cents 8/24 – 8/26!**
A.M. Holloway is an author of clean murder mysteries where
crime and suspense take hold. Her catalog spans five series. A.M., who is
married, relies on her husband’s expertise in the CSI field to ensure accuracy
in her books. She was born and raised in Georgia but now lives in Central
Florida. When not writing, you will find her with her family, enjoying the
outdoors, or sitting in her favorite chair, daydreaming about her next book.
Website * Facebook * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon
* Goodreads
Follow the tour HERE for special content and a $40 giveaway!
Sweetheart Wedding
In the heart of a small town, love finds its home.
Sweetheart Wedding
Cranberry Bay Book 5
by Mindy Hardwick
Genre: Contemporary Small Town Romance
Determined to start her life over after a failed engagement,
Gracie has built her boutique inn into a successful Cranberry Bay business.
Meanwhile, youngest Shuster brother, Adam, loves helping his
friends and family while working as a park ranger.
Devastated after a tragic accident, Adam guards his heart
and is happy to have Gracie’s friendship. Both swear off love. But when Adam
and Gracie are tossed together to help plan a Cranberry Bay wedding, they find
their resolve not to fall in love crumbling.
And when Adam loses his Oregon State Parks job and takes a
new job in Montana, both will have to decide whether to make the commitment to
love each other and leave Cranberry Bay behind for a new life.
**New Release!**
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**Don’t miss
the rest of the Cranberry Bay books!**
Mindy Hardwick holds an MFA in Writing for Children and
Young Adults from Vermont College. Her published contemporary small-town
heartwarming romance includes her Cranberry Bay Series: Sweetheart Cottage,
Sweetheart Summer, Sweetheart Christmas and Sweetheart Santa. She has also
published a young adult romance, Weaving Magic and a young adult novella,
Erin’s Choice. Mindy’s middle grade books include: The World is a Sniff,
Stained Glass Summer, Some Stories Are Not Seen, and Seymour’s Secret. Mindy
facilitated a poetry workshop for teens at Denney Juvenile Justice Center and
wrote about the experience in her memoir, Kids in Orange: Voices from Juvenile
Detention. Mindy can often be found walking on the north Oregon Coast beaches.
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The San Francisco Connection
Set in an undiscovered San Francisco, Kelly Allegretti’s
mystery book is an intriguing well written thriller featuring an unconventional
pair of father-daughter detectives.
The San Francisco Connection
The Titoo Family Detective Series Book 1
by Kelly Allegretti
Genre: Mystery
Kelsey is launching her new career as a detective at her
father’s agency in their hometown of San Francisco. Her first case? Find a
missing family friend. It sounds simple until it isn’t. As Kelsey digs deeper,
she’s pulled into a tangled investigation laced with romance, danger, and
corruption. Suddenly, the line between personal and professional begins to
blur.
Is she truly ready for this life?
This case won’t just test
Kelsey’s resolve. It’ll push her father’s limits too.
**Only .99cents!**
My name is Kelly Allegretti. I am from San Francisco.
I am disabled mom of three. Who loves all things books.
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and a $10 giveaway!
August 14, 2025
I HAVE A STORY
I HAVE A STORY
Colleen L Donnelly
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Historical Romance
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
Jim Turner writes crime but doesn’t live it. He respects his grandfather’s tales of heroes but doesn’t believe them. When his failing grandfather sends him to a remote peninsula to write the end of his own heroic love story, Jim includes a war criminal interview to maintain his edge.
Chastity is an anomaly, a misfit in pre-WWII culture as well as in Jim’s life. Her spritely charm and endearing features turn Jim’s world upside down, especially when she reveals his grandfather’s peninsula as the site of her upcoming wedding.
Do good journalists flee when their interviewee is murdered? Do heroes write fiancés out of another’s story and themselves in? “The End” become the hardest words for Jim to write.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT
Author’s Note: Boy meets Girl. Can he love her enough to wish her happiness with another?
She rifled through pillows, fabric-covered boxes, scarves, and whatever else got in her way, searching for a pen and paper. By the time she unearthed what I would need, I knew exactly what I would say about this gem of a girl whose forehead now glistened from exertion. Resisting the temptation to graze her hand, I took the pen and paper from her.
“Here’s what I think you should say.” She plied me with highlights of her romance with Dwayne, their chance encounter and the immediacy of their commitment, their starry optimism for the future.
I couldn’t write that way. I didn’t take dictation. I always plotted with my head and wrote from the gut. But this time, I wrote from the heart, penning my vision of Chastity’s awakening into the passion which oozed from her and all around her home.
“Did you get all of that?” she stopped and asked.
“That and more,” I assured her. Though I had captured her enthusiasm on the page, not a single one of her words made it there. Not even their full names. I referred to them as Chastity and Dwayne, and nothing more. I believed the universe already recognized her, this beautiful explosion of life and color in a world darkened by war. Dwayne carried the distinction of the one lucky enough to orbit her as long as they both should live. I choked down my objection to that and forced a smile.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Colleen L Donnelly put her science education to use for years and then put it behind her to pursue other passions. Her first love is writing and her second is hunting—hunting for that next good story, hunting for relics and antiques, hunting for the next good author to read. An avid believer in work hard/play hard, Colleen splits her time between indoors and out, always busy at something.
Buy Links:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4lq6qGO
Goodreads: bit.ly/4jHc6Lj
BookBub: https://bit.ly/4ivgQls
Social Media Links:
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/colleen-l-donnelly
Website: http://www.colleenldonnelly.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/colleen.donnelly.568/
Goodreads: http://www.Goodreads.com/colleenldonnelly
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colleenldonnelly/
Amazon: http://amzn.to/37vcnO4
Twitter: https://x.com/ColleenLDonnell/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
Colleen L Donnelly will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.
August 13, 2025
THE SPIRIT OF VANDERLAAN
THE SPIRIT OF VANDERLAAN
Susan Harris Howell
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Paranormal cozy mystery
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
When beloved professor, Samantha Hayes, learns that her favorite four students live in as many of her old dorm rooms, she wonders how it happened and for what purpose. As she and her student entourage explore the possibilities, they uncover a death years ago and what appears to be the ghost of the dearly departed. All of this stirs up Samantha’s long-held fear that she was responsible for that death, challenging all she thought she knew about herself and the work she holds dear. They must figure out what happened before Samantha gets fired for “dabbling in the paranormal.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT
As she walked to her first class of the day, Samantha congratulated herself that for the first time this semester she would arrive at her own class on time. A glance at her watch revealed she even had five minutes to spare. With Douglas Hall in sight and her classroom on its main floor, she was sure to make it on time—
“Samantha!”
Grrr! So close. Although showing up late for class frustrated her, she was mostly annoyed by the person who was about to detain her. If I ignore him, maybe he’ll go away.
“Samantha!” This time he was more insistent.
Samantha released a breath of resignation. She should have known better. He wasn’t the kind to be ignored. Samantha turned to face him as she reached the door of the building. She hadn’t been at Vanderlaan long enough to flout someone who carried the weight around here that he did. “What can I do for you, Len?”
Dr. Len Titus stood before her, dressed as always, in a suit with a starched white shirt and tie which he would loosen by afternoon. His graying hair with a precise part on the side had become his hallmark, along with his hands-on-hips pose and gravelly voice. Levi’s imitation of each was spot on, although professional decorum required that Samantha refrain from the encouragement her laughter would ensure. Since Len Titus was of slight frame, someone unfamiliar with this man might assume passivity or weakness. Not Samantha.
“I see we’re both teaching in Douglas Hall this semester,” he said. “Hope I won’t be in your way.” He peered over his wire-rimmed glasses. “Or you in mine.”
Samantha took a breath, gritted her teeth, and walked through the door. She would use the back entrance next time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
I am a psychologist, speaker, and author of The Spirit of Vanderlaan, my debut novel released in December of 2024. This book is a fun, cozy, ghost story featuring a professor, Samantha Hayes, and her lively band of students who get caught up in solving a campus mystery. This book draws on my teaching career of over thirty years to capture the camaraderie and warmth between a professor and the assortment of personalities which inhabit her office.
I have also published extensively on equality between women and men. My first book, Buried Talents, explores the subtle ways women are discouraged from entering male-dominated occupations. Buried Talents was named a winner in InterVarsity Press’s 2022 Readers’ Choice Awards.
My husband and I have two grown children, a daughter-in-law, one adorable grandson, and an incorrigible beagle named Doc. While Doc doesn’t understand a word I say, he fully supports my books and their content.
Website: https://susanharrishowell.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susan_h_howell/
Email List & Monthly Blog: https://susanharrishowell.substack.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanhowellwriter
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Susan-Harris-Howell/author/B09JL6T1RX?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1723819866&sr=8-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22175282.Susan_Harris_Howell
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/susan-harris-howell
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Spirit-Vanderlaan-Samantha-Hayes-Book-ebook/dp/B0DHV65RM4?ref_=ast_author_dp
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-spirit-of-vanderlaan-susan-howell/1146282868?ean=9781509258888
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
Susan Harris Howell will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.
August 12, 2025
Tales From the Cursed Edge
Step beyond the threshold of safety and discover what lies
beyond . . . the Cursed Edge.
Six gripping tales of courage, sacrifice & redemption
await on the precipice between salvation and damnation.
Tales From the Cursed Edge
Dark Stories of Swords and Sorcery
An Edge Weaver Anthology created by Marie Ito
with stories by
Michael Magistro, James Andrews, W.E. Wertenbeger,
Rob D. Smith, Jack Finn, JP Wilder, Chris Mason
Where light fails,
heroes are forged in darkness.
Six gripping tales of courage,
sacrifice, and redemption await on the precipice between salvation and
damnation. Each story draws you deeper into a world where magic flows like
blood and monsters prowl the shadows.
Journey with unlikely heroes thrust into extraordinary
circumstances—a mundane worker transported to a realm of danger and destiny, a
mighty king confronting the terrible price of power, a battle-hardened
mercenary facing the ghosts of his past, a loyal emissary venturing into enemy
territory with nothing but faith, two companions racing against time to prevent
an ancient evil’s return, and a lone holy warrior seeking divine aid against a
darkness that threatens all creation.
These tales explore the moments that define us: when fear
must yield to courage, when ordinary souls rise to extraordinary challenges,
and when the darkness seems insurmountable, but the flame of hope refuses to
die.
From master storytellers Michael Magistro, James Andrews,
W.E. Wertenberger, Rob D. Smith, Jack Finn, JP Wilder, and Chris Mason comes an
anthology that will transport you to lands where magic and monsters reign, and
where heroes are forged in the fires of adversity.
Step beyond the threshold of safety, and discover what lies
beyond . . . the Cursed Edge.
The Savage Rat Lord by Michael Magistro:
A young fast-food worker falls into another world and finds his true
calling in a desperate village.
Denmýr by James Andrew:
A powerful warrior king faces dark truths about his family’s bloody
legacy and his ancestral sword.
The Many Mouths of the Endless Night by W.E.
Wertenberger & Rob D. Smith:
A mercenary
confronts childhood guilt in a city where rat-controlling street urchins stalk
the night.
The Last Emissary by Jack Finn:
A desperate kingdom sends its final messenger to a usurper’s court in
a last attempt to end a brutal war.
The Black Altar by JP Wilder:
Two companions discover a dark artifact tied to an ancient cult
seeking to open a forbidden gateway.
Heroes Never Die by Chris Mason:
A lone paladin, survivor of a sacred order, embarks on a quest to
reclaim divine power against cosmic horror.
EdgeWeaver
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Michael
Magistro is a Clovis, California-based author with deep
roots in the vibrant Bay Area. When not managing regional operations for a
Fortune 150 company, Michael channels his passion into crafting compelling
narratives that explore themes of redemption, legacy, rebirth, and the enduring
search for hope in the darkest of times. Outside of his professional and
creative pursuits, he enjoys powerlifting, devouring a wide range of media, and
cherishing moments with his family.
James
Andrews is a full time artist and designer living in
the Northeastern United States. This is the first step in his journey as an
author and he has many more stories to tell. When he’s not sculpting dragons,
drawing comics, or writing, he spends all the rest of his time with his golden
retriever and his cat.
W.E.
Wertenberger is a writer of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Crime
fiction. He grew up in Northern Ohio and currently lives and works in Kentucky.
His most recent work has appeared in Savage Realms Monthly and Cirsova
Magazine.
Rob
D. Smith wanted to weave tales as soon as he plucked
his first Fantastic Four comic book off the grocery store spinner rack. He
honed his imagination with scribbled drawings in notebooks creating intricate
stories where he learned that his imagination was far greater than his art
skills. Words became his way of exploring the weird worlds in his mind. Since
then, he has had wide success in the crime, horror, fantasy, and weird fiction
genres.
Jack
Finn is a folk horror author and member of the
Horror Writers Association. He lives in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and
two clever dogs. His debut novel, The Seven Deaths of Prince Vlad (Anuci Press,
2024), explores dark and thrilling themes. In 2025, Jack’s werewolf
duology—Prey Upon the Lambs (April) and The Desolation of Hunters
(September)—will be released by Anuci Press, along with They Come When You Are
Asleep, an anthology of his short stories (Velox Books). His work has appeared
in notable horror collections, including Doors of Darkness, Horroscope 4,
Twelve Months of Horror, and more.
Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bluesky
JP
Wilder also known as JP Vile, is a versatile author
and academic specializing in fantasy, science fiction, and pulp genres. Best
known for his Crusader series and Hunter Caine Pulp Stories, Wilder delves into
themes of war, honor, betrayal, and redemption through action-packed
storytelling. He has contributed essays and introductions to the Edge Weaver
Classics series, covering iconic works like A Princess of Mars and 20,000
Leagues Under the Sea. Wilder also explores historical mysteries and survival
strategies in his academic works. Holding an MBA and an MFA in Creative
Writing, he enriches his narratives with profound historical depth.
Chris
Mason is a fantasy and sci fi writer hailing from
Jackson, Mississippi. He is the author of The Stars Fell (Science Fiction), as
well as The Dark Rider (Dark Fantasy). A fan of epic storytelling centered
around good versus evil, he can usually be found gaming on his couch with his
cats, Quincy and Rocky, or traveling in search of new inspiration.
Follow the tour
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and a giveaway!
Choice of print or ebook copy of Tales From the Cursed Edge,
$25 Amazon giftcard
– 1 winner each!
GHOSTED
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. Also, the author has organized a Goodreads giveaway for the book: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/418301-ghosted.
When her fiancé’s infidelity prompts Bethany Hendren to map out a new path forward, her plans are disrupted by an unexpected encounter with Nick Dorsey, who convinces her to help search for the remains of a troubled eighteenth-century ghost. Nick is the handsome summer boyfriend who ghosted her years ago, and now he wants to rekindle their relationship.
Despite her reluctance to trust him, Bethany discovers he’s still the funny, caring person who captured her heart as a teen, but giving him a second chance is risky—it could lead to love and happiness or result in another devastating heartache.
Although Bethany wants a happily ever after with Nick, does she have the courage to trust him with her future?
Read an Excerpt
As they walked back to the inn, Bethany counted on the shadows from the street lamps to mask Nick’s probing gaze and boost her courage to ask him what happened all those years ago. His reason might help her find closure and make peace with the past. And then, maybe, they could part as friends.
But what if his explanation inflicted a fresh wound instead?
She hesitated, and Nick broke the silence. “There’s something captivating about this town at night. It gives me a sense of anticipation, like something exciting is just ahead.”
“It’s the same for me, too,” she replied, relieved her question remained unasked. “Like anything is possible, as though the darkness dismantles all the barriers we erect during the day.”
He turned his head. “Are there specific barriers you’re referring to?”
Fear. She was afraid to find out what happened that summer. And truth. Did she really want to know why he’d ghosted her?
As she contemplated a reply, his fingers brushed against hers. She stiffened, surprised by his touch and flustered by the warmth of his skin. Immediately, her mind went blank, his question and her reply obliterated by the rapid thudding inside her chest.
Be strong.
“I’m sorry,” she mumbled, moving her hand away from his to scratch her cheek, then fidget with her purse strap. “What did you say?”
About the Author:
Author Lori Matsourani is a romance addict. Give her stories with a touch of heartbreak and a spark of joy, and she’s happy. Throw in characters with a huge helping of heart and soul, and she’s up reading all night in romance heaven! While currently a Texas resident, Lori grew up near Baltimore and often draws on the historical flavor of Annapolis and Maryland’s Eastern Shore to inspire her story settings. She authored her first fiction story at twelve and has been hooked on writing ever since. Early on, her writing career focused on articles for magazines and newspapers before shifting to her first writing love—fiction. For Lori, connecting words to tell a story is like assembling a jigsaw puzzle, and she loves the challenge of creating every piece.
Website: https://lorimatsourani.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lori.matsourani
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lori.matsourani/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/lori_matsourani
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/lori-matsourani.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@lori.matsourani
X: https://x.com/LoriMatsourani
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alloriannam
Buy Links:
https://books2read.com/lorimatsourani
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F9XCPLYD/thewildrosepr-20
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ghosted-lori-matsourani/1147463084
https://books.apple.com/us/book/ghosted/id6746414091
https://wildrosepress.com/product/ghosted/
Lori Matsourani will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.
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August 6, 2025
Time Lock Series
A sci-fi-tingedaction-adventure with heart and humor, the TimeLock series is
set in the crime-ridden near future where a bold new technology transforms the
justice system and challenges America’s moral compass. Only one problem—what
happens if you’re innocent?
The Millennium Paradox
Time Lock Book 3
by Howard Berk & Peter Berk
Genre: SciFi Action Adventure
The Award-Winning series co-written by award-winning writer Howard Berk
(“Columbo,” “Mission: Impossible”) and Peter Berk.
Newly relocated to the charming Alaskan town of Caribou Bay
after bidding farewell to his best friends Morgan and Janine Eberly, Yoshi Ito
inadvertently prompts his boss, geneticist Dr. Emory Layton, to try a new
genetic acceleration protocol in a local prison. Using technology from the
TimeLock process, the experiment goes awry.
Instead of yielding the desired medical benefits, it generates a terrifying
outcome that infuses a convicted killer with superhuman powers.
As the killer begins to exact revenge upon his enemies, local helicopter pilot
Tom Brooks recruits the Eberlys’ help to stop the unstoppable force before the
residents of Caribou Bay—and possibly the whole world—are forever at the
killer’s mercy.
**NEW RELEASE!!**
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* Goodreads
The Kyoto Conspiracy
Time Lock Series Book 2
TimeLock stole
twenty years from Morgan Eberly’s life. A terrifying new version of the radical
technology might just end it.
Two years after the events of TimeLock, a new and unhinged
president of the United States approves an immoral and illegal plan to develop
a weaponized form of the TimeLock process for use on the battlefield.
But only one man, geneticist Dr. Lionel Garvey, can execute the program. When
both he and his wife Kiyoko are kidnapped in Kyoto, Japan, Morgan and FBI Agent
Janine Price receive a frantic text from Kiyoko’s brother, Yoshi.
Realizing they can’t trust anyone in their own government, Morgan and Janine
fly to Japan and team up with Yoshi for an unauthorized rescue mission. After a
daring raid of a research facility in Japan, the trio realize they have only
delayed the president’s insane plan. They must now execute a dangerous assault
on a frozen corner of Siberia to accomplish their mission. Can Morgan and
Janine stop the president from unleashing a newly weaponized version
of TimeLock before it’s too late?
“A deftly crafted dystopian style science fiction
suspense thriller of a novel, “TimeLock” by the team of Howard and
Peter Berk is a compulsive page turner of a read from cover to cover and
unreservedly recommended . . .” —
Midwest
Book Review (TimeLock)
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Time Lock
Time Lock Series Book 1
When everyman Morgan Eberly is arrested for a murder he
didn’t commit, he’s subjected to an experimental new technology that instantly
ages prisoners the number of years of their sentence. Now 43 and on the run,
can Morgan and rogue FBI agent Janine Price unlock the truth about TimeLock
before it’s too late to turn back?
An innocent man. A radical punishment.
The clock is ticking . . .
With crime rampant, the President authorizes a hugely controversial
program: TimeLock, a cellular acceleration process whereby select
prisoners are instantly aged the total number of years of their
sentence. In other words – three strikes and you’re old…very old.
A sci-fi-tinged action-adventure with heart and humor, TimeLock is
the first in a new series of novellas set in the crime-ridden near future where
a bold new technology transforms the justice system and challenges America’s
moral compass. Only one problem—what happens if you’re innocent?
What Readers
are saying about the series:
TimeLock is a
high-octane action thriller with a classic feel, reminiscent of Michael
Crichton or Tom Clancy. It’s familiar, but in all the right ways.
The central concept is brilliant . . . The novella is tightly paced,
and there’s not a dull moment. . . .The introduction is particularly engaging,
with an absolutely killer prologue that sucks you in right from the
start. Reading TimeLock, I felt like I was watching a movie . . . It’s a crowd-pleasing blockbuster of a
novella, with all the thrills you’d hope for, and a cracking start to a
series. – Read
the full review
Whoa!! Okay so this was awesome and I have to say first off- I hope like hell
someone picks this up to make a movie or a show out of it!! This was a
super interesting premise so I was hooked. It moved at a great pace and I was
on the edge of my seat the whole time. -Book Blogger @gryffindorbookishnerd
I vastly enjoyed this quick read . . . The writing was keenly honed and
smartly detailed . . . In sum, was a well-plotted and shrewdly paced
action-packed thriller featuring slightly frayed characters and storylines that
were cleverly laced together with wry humor and witty snark.
–Empress DJ/Honolulubelle, Books
and Binding Book Reviews
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An award-winning novelist and screenwriter, Howard Berk’s
credits include memorable episodes of such classic TV series as “Columbo,”
(including “By Dawn’s Early Light,” for which guest star Patrick McGoohan won
an Emmy), “Mission: Impossible,” “The Rockford Files,” “The Fall Guy,” “The New
Mike Hammer” and “The Contender,” starring “V” and “The Beastmaster” lead Marc
Singer. Howard Berk also wrote the feature film, “Target,” starring Gene
Hackman and Matt Dillon.
Peter Berk has
written six novels, three TV pilots and a dozen screenplays, including several
with his father, Howard Berk, which became the basis for the TimeLock series
of novels. IE also published Peter’s political murder mystery, First
Line of Defense and will publish his forthcoming novel, Fireline. Peter and his
family live in Southern California.
Website * Facebook * Facebook * X * Instagram * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads
Follow the tour HERE for special content and a $20 giveaway!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
August 5, 2025
BLOOD IN THE SHADOWS
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Hawk MacKinney will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
When marine buddy, Gulfport, Mississippi Sheriff asks Craige Ingram for help, Ingram and Buckingham Parish patrolman ‘Badger’ Thomas Boback find themselves in the summertime dogdays of the humid Gulf Coast. With crowded beaches and an undermanned staff, a routine investigation soon becomes anything but routine when indescribable body parts start showing up along the surf, in beachfront cabins, half-buried in bayou wetlands, stashed under freeway bridges, and across county lines. Craige’s search for answers to identifying victims and killer among the crowds of tourists and skin-and-sun partygoers soon makes it obvious the victims have no connection with one another—until conflicting DNA results and haunting premonitions resembling the warnings Craige’s grannie often had become part of the investigation. The jigsaw of abandoned cross-kin offspring begin a horrifying Gordian Knot tangle that threatens anyone who approaches the shadowy ancient wreck of an old mansion – an asylum from a lost time.
Read an Excerpt
During the long haint-ridden nights the craving had become scalding, nearly uncontrollable. The green-yellow eyes withdrew into darker corners of windowless rooms, as flickers of Cajun Grandmère Nana’s weathered face swirled in the mist. Everybody around knew ageless Kreyòl Cajun Grandmère Nana. Some of them truly were believers. They knew what they had seen with their own eyes, and no one was going to convince them otherwise. They’d call to her by her dead half-sister’s spook-name, Momby Bocor. In the shadows of full-moon nights, they’d mumble in a breathless cadence, “Momby Bocor. Momby Bocor. Momby Bocor,” that became more chant than phantom witch-worker. Nana’s soft Acadia dialect in her New Orleans patois gave a pleasing lilt to the dapples of moonlight, her outline sauntering the back yard beneath the sprawling sheen of the swamp magnolia’s thick leaves. Not a hair was out of place in the golden red crown circled atop her head. Her frayed sweet gum twig swizzled back and forth in toothless twitches. Time-wrinkled eyes looked, mesmerized, toward the full silvery orb. She could almost see ancient Luna rising out of the gentle watery laps of the Gulf, reflected in the ripples and washing the sandy beaches. Nana often warned her gran’chil’ Ramona about the waxing madness that came from the blinding dazzle of the full moon. Lots of folks shrugged her off as a tiddly old crone passing her unnumbered days and nights inside her own world. Yet Nana’s houseplants never got frost burned, and her early flower beds and vegetable gardens were never planted before the last freeze. Ramona didn’t shrug off her Gran’mere Nana who was sharpened by the clean brisk air spilling among the haints and steamy haunts of bayous that would stay warm until spring. Then would come the days of warm Gulf air piling into big dark thunderheads, and the offshore waters would froth into elegant capped grey plumes. He could hardly wait. Sharp mangled grubby teeth chewed the lower lip pulling it raw. Blood oozed. The wet tongue did a quick taste, fed the perpetual lust. The craving hunger was always there. With the cloudy moon it would make for a cozy night to roam so long as Richard didn’t find out. It would make for good hunting.
About the Author:
Hawk MacKinney has authored several award-winning works of fiction that include THE MOCCASIN HOLLOW MYSTERY SERIES and THE CAIRNS OF SAINCTUARIE SCIENCE FICTION SERIES. His historical romance MOCCASIN TRACE was nominated for the prestigious Michael Shaara Award for Excellence in Civil War Fiction and the Writers Notes Book Award.
Cross-genre character-driven plots reflect Hawk MacKinney’s southwest upbringing along the Texas and Oklahoma borders. With postgraduate faculty positions in several medical universities, Hawk MacKinney has taught graduate courses in both the United States and Jerusalem.
Website: http://www.hawkmackinneyauthor.com
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Shadows-Hawk-MacKinney/dp/B0FG47PDSV/ref=sr_1_1
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August 4, 2025
Tales From Planet Sanos
The future is grim. Seven human women, trained in survival
and negotiation are being permitted to land on Planet Sanos with one goal:
secure a future for the humans of Earth… at any cost.
Tales From Planet Sanos
A Multi-Author Science Fiction Romance Omnibus
with stories by
Celia Kyle, Chloe Graves, Elin Wyn, Holly Hanzo,
Lara Roth, Mary Ashe, Robin O’Connor
The future is grim.
The Earth’s oceans are poison to humans, and pure water, untainted by the
generations of pollution, is scarce and coveted. Our only hope—Earth’s only
hope—rests in the landing capsule gradually descending from the generational
spaceship, the USS Legacy. Seven human women, trained in survival and
negotiation are being permitted to land on Planet Sanos with one goal: secure a
future for the humans of Earth… at any cost.
This SPECIAL EDITION print omnibus has a glossy cover, printed edges, digital
signatures, and custom artwork throughout. It contains the following Planet
Sanos shared world novellas:
Taken by the Alien Merking by Celia Kyle
Taken by the Siren King by Chloe Graves
Taken by the Storm King by Elin Wyn
Taken by the Alien Kraken King by Holly Hanzo
Taken by the Leviathan King by Lara Roth
Taken by the Merrow King by Mary Ashe
Taken by the Alien Triton King by Robin O’Connor
Website * Amazon * B&N
* Goodreads
Ex-dance teacher, former accountant and erstwhile
collectible doll salesperson, Celia Kyle now writes paranormal and science
fiction romances as well as urban fantasy. It goes without saying that there’s
always a happily-ever-after for her characters, even if there are a few road
bumps along the way. Today she lives in central Florida and writes full-time
with the support of her loving husband and two finicky cats.
Website * Facebook * Instagram * Bluesky * TikTok * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads
Follow the tour
HERE
for special content
and a giveaway!
Enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card or a print copy of the
Special Edition
– open WW (anywhere that Amazon will ship)
– 1 winner each!
