C.A. Milson's Blog, page 9

THE PYJAMA BOY

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.
Steven Murphy will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Steven Murphy spent his formative years in Sydney’s Redfern.

Abandoned by his mother when only weeks old, his father left him in the care of a cruel, alcoholic stepmother while he himself was in jail. Unbelievably, the child they dubbed the “Pyjama Boy” fought his way through life to achieve his ultimate goal. His story is a poignant and haunting one that captivates its reader from the very beginning and remains long after the book has been closed.

AN INSPIRATIONAL TALE OF SUCCESS AGAINST THE ODDS

Read an Excerpt

There was something odd about the woman driving the yellow station wagon. Her eyes darted around suspiciously. Steve watched her from his patrol car. Her 1988 Sigma moved off from his right at the green lights, to enter the late-night traffic. She had a passenger, a young man with
a wispy beard. As they moved, the man looked across at the police car waiting third in line at the red light and then glanced momentarily over his shoulder into the back seat. Sparks spat along the dark surface of the road as he tossed his cigarette out the window of the car.

‘Nervy little punk, ’ remarked the older police constable next to Steve.

‘There’s something odd about both of them in that Sigma…,’ said Steve.

‘Yeah, I think we should have a chat with them.’

As lights turned green and when they were clear of the intersection, Steve pulled past the two vehicles in front of them. The Sigma had increased its pace and was nearly out of view as it turned left almost without slowing. Steve’s pulse rate rose with the revs of the police car. They swung into the side street and passed the Sigma with Red and blue lights flashing, then slowed in front of it. The older policeman put his arm out his window, indicating that the Sigma should pull up at the curb.

While the woman searched a handbag for her licence, Steve noticed that there was someone lying on the back seat of the car. Shining his torch through the window, Steve realised with a jolt that the passenger was gagged, with a tee shirt twisted and pulled tightly into an open mouth. The arms were pulled back and bound at the wrists with a leather belt.

Within minutes a second patrol car had arrived at the scene and the couple were taken into custody, their bound and gagged passenger found to be dead. Steve looked at the victim, a man in his mid-thirties and recognised the face of one who had recently ‘helped him in his enquiries.’ Soon there were detectives and forensic officers examining the car and, as the body was being removed, Steve received orders to drive to an address in a nearby suburban street.

About the Author:

I’ve never thought of myself as special-just someone who has lived through life’s challenges like everyone else. But over time, I’ve come to see that by sharing my journey, with all its imperfections, I might offer something meaningful to others. Life moves so quickly, and the choices we make shape everything. My hope is that by being honest about my experiences, others might find encouragement or even a little clarity for their own paths.

Speaking at Schools and events across Australia has been an unexpected privilege. These moments aren’t about presenting a perfect image; they’re about connecting with people on a real, human level. I bring photos, videos, and documents to show the truth of my story-not to impress but to connect. When I speak openly, sharing the vulnerabilities and lessons I’ve learned, something powerful happens: the audience feels it, and suddenly, it’s not just my story-its something they can see themselves in, too.

If you would like to have Steve speak to your School, group or organization he can be contacted through email: stevenmurphy_11@bigpond.com

You can connect with Steven Murphy through a number of platforms to learn more about his story and work.

Website: https://thepyjamaboy.com/

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

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/56696685.Steven_Murphy

Book Trailer” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUopXLOFQU4

Visit his website to view the one bedroom flats he uses to live in and show his living conditions as described in the book.

Feel free to reach out — Steven is always happy to connect with readers and share more about his journey.

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ONLY IN SEPTEMBER

ONLY IN SEPTEMBER
Cynthia Flowers
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE: Women’s Fiction

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BLURB:

When Jacqueline follows her trusty Labrador Bailey down a hidden path to the beach, she’s unaware that her vacation plans on a small island off the New England coast has already taken her life in a new direction. Running into an unassuming local beach comber stirs new thoughts, desires, and a self-determination she never knew she possessed. Jacqueline will need to trust her instincts and make the most of what fate has in store if she wants the future that, until now, she has only dared to dream of.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT

The ferry was taking its sweet time making its way to Block Island.

Time is the ultimate dictator. Where did I hear that? I couldn’t have just come up with that one on my own.

Jacqueline French grabbed one of the last outside seats on the Block Island Ferry. It had only left Point Judith, RI, ten minutes ago, but for her, it seemed like ten hours ago. This would be her fourth September visiting this tiny tear drop-shaped island nestled between the south coast of Rhode Island and Montauk Point, located at the eastern tip of the south fork of Long Island, New York.

Over the last several years, both Montauk Point and Block Island had become popular and expensive vacation destinations for well-to-do Manhattanites. They came seeking a reprieve from the overly manicured crowds who flocked every summer to the more fashionable vacation locale known collectively as the Hamptons.

She always preferred visiting Block Island this time of year, after many of the Labor Day vacation stragglers dispersed and the kids were back at school. Although there were still a fair number of visitors, the din of racing mopeds was confined mostly to the weekends. Thanks to Michael, who she met on her first trip to Block Island, she came to know virtually every back road and trail on this seven-mile-long by three-mile-wide island. Beyond its beauty, Jacqueline’s deeper connection with the island was its shape. She shed many tears lately over the fate of her marriage and the direction her life had taken.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Cynthia Flowers, a recently retired advertising professional, now grant writer, resides with her husband and four-year old Labrador named Eddie, at their “sanctuary” in Upstate New York, Although previously published, this is Cynthia’s first book of fiction. Early on in grade school, Cynthia looked forward to creative writing class and enjoyed reading her stories aloud to her eager classmates.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Only-September-Cynthia-Flowers-ebook/dp/B0DWT79L6N/ref=sr_1_1

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RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY

Cynthia Flowers will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Q & A With …

Tell us about you as a person.

I am a born-and-bred New Yorker who has transitioned from city life to full-time living and hiking in rural upstate New York with my trusty labrador Eddie. After retiring from a career in advertising, I am now pursuing my passion for grant writing—and, hopefully, my dream of becoming a novelist.

If you could hang out with one famous person for one day, who would it be and why?

The naturalist David Attenborough. Experiencing his passion and unending curiosity about nature would be a delightful and unforgettable way to spend a day in my life.

What’s the story behind your latest book?

My love affair with Block Island. From the moment I first set foot on Block Island 27 years ago, it captured a part of me I’ve never been able to reclaim. My alter ego has been relentlessly searching for a way to call it home ever since – – chasing the dream through every possibility, every longing. While reality may have kept me at a distance, my imagination refused to surrender. In its boundless landscapes, it found a way to live there, weaving stories that let me stay, even if only in spirit. My imagination was sparked by a very casual encounter I had with a young man I briefly met who was also walking their dog at the beach. Mine and his hit it off immediately and went missing. Then we ran into each other again on the island under different circumstances and I think we both felt the chemistry, but it never went any further. So, I asked myself what if?

What advice do you have for other writers who want to get the word out about their latest book?

Not sure, I am new at this. Do your research and then make the investment in experienced people who know how to promote and get the word out.

List 5 things on your bucket list.

Hiking trips in the Pacific NW and Canadian RockiesRiver cruise to the interior of AlaskaTour of New Zealand (both islands) with a stop over in HawaiiAND to write a novel.

THEIRS UNTIL ALWAYS

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Mae K. Knight will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Adam:

Men like me don’t get happy endings.
When my demons talk to me, I talk back.
I heeded their call when they demanded my parents’ death.
I even listened when they ordered my own.
And they nearly won.
Until her.
One night changed my life. Then I lost it all. I lost her.
Now, I’ll do anything to get my sunshine back.
But can a sinner like me be willing to share after learning I’m not the only one craving her light?

Jordyn:

When a man shows you his red flags, run.
But running from Adam is easier said than done.
When he re-enters my life, my world implodes with the secrets he’s keeping.
Can I forgive him and learn to live in his shadows? To be the light he thinks I am?
Or will his darkness consume me?

Abel:

Witnessing your twin nearly die, hardens something in you.
I’ll do whatever it takes to keep Adam breathing.
As kids, he’d protected me, even though that was my job as the older brother.
Now, it’s my turn to protect him.
You can run little sunshine, but you won’t get far.
If Jordyn’s what my brother needs to keep his demons at bay, then I’ll claim her for us.
She’ll be ours, always.

Read an Excerpt

This place really does serve a mean cup of Joe.

I lift the delicate-looking porcelain cup to my lips, letting my lashes flutter against my cheeks as I take another hearty sip of my mocha latte. Licking my lips, I glance around the bustling coffee shop, sunlight bathing my fellow caffeine fiends, kissing the glass enclosure showcasing treats and the checkered tile flooring. Behind the green counter, four uniformed bodies move in sync to crank out orders as people filter in and out of the building.

I wait, settling back into the booth I’d snagged early, only moments after the shop opened. I know Jordyn will be strutting her bubbly self through the frosted glass doors at any moment and there’s not a damn thing Adam can do about me intercepting her, unwilling as he is to blow our cover.

But I am fixing this, dammit.

I’ve wiled the hours away on my phone, gathering intel on the next assignment I plan to take as soon as things are cleared up here.

A vacation with your twin and girlfriend wouldn’t be a bad idea.

I freeze, sucking back air as the woman in question strolls in, oblivious to my position at the back of the shop and at the turn of my own thoughts.

My girlfriend?

No. Jordyn is Adam’s. He’s said so, and I’ve respected that, chalking up my moments with her to brotherly duties. My twin needed me and… God, look at the way that dress rises and falls from the delicious jiggle of her ass. I swipe at my mouth in the event drool slipped past my lips.

About the Author Mae K. Knight is a self-published author based in Louisiana, who enjoys writing “trauma boys” as her readers coined them, BIPOC FMCs that look like her and fast, smutty stories that leave you craving for more. When not writing, she’s reading monster romances penned by her fellow indie authors, studying for her nursing degree, or lifting heavy weights in the gym to feel like a bad bitch on a competition platform.

If you want to read more of her work, check out her website: https://maeknight.carrd.co, buy signed paperbacks directly from her: https://mackandmae.shop or go directly to her Amazon page for her KU titles: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mae-K.-Knight/author/B0D3674KWR.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560507610143
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/49729390.Mae_K_Knight
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@maek.knight
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maek_knight

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SHOOTING STARS ABOVE

SHOOTING STARS ABOVE
Patricia Leavy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE: Romance

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

For fans of Colleen Hoover comes an emotionally charged contemporary romance about a internationally best-selling novelist and a federal agent fighting to heal past wounds.

Tess Lee is a world-famous novelist. Her inspirational books explore people’s innermost struggles and the human need to believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel—but despite her extraordinary success, she’s been unable to find personal happiness. Jack Miller is a federal agent working in counterterrorism. After spending decades immersed in a violent world, a residue remains. He’s dedicated everything to his job, leaving nothing for himself.

The night Tess and Jack meet, their connection is palpable. She examines the scars on his body and says, “I’ve never seen anyone whose outsides match my insides.” The two embark on an epic love story, but old traumas soon rise to the surface as Jack struggles with the death of a loved one and Tess is forced to confront her childhood abuse. Can unconditional love help heal their invisible wounds? Together, will they be able to move from darkness to light?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT

“So, what do you do?” she asked.

“I’m a federal agent with the Bureau—counterterrorism. I joined the military right out of high school, Special Forces. I was in the field, often deep undercover, until about a year ago, when I took a desk job as the head of my division.”

“Wow, you’re like the real-life Jack Bauer. You even look a little like him, with that whole rugged, handsome hero thing you have going on,” she said.

He blushed and ran his hand through his light brown hair. “I promise you I’m no Jack Bauer, even on my best day. People thought that character was so tragic, but the real tragedy is that Jack Bauer doesn’t exist, and you’re stuck with guys like me.”

She smiled. “What made you choose that line of work?”

“My parents raised me and my siblings to value community, to be patriotic. My father was in the military and then became a firefighter. The idea of service always seemed important. I wanted to serve my country, to protect people. It’s hard to explain, but when I see someone innocent being threatened, I’m willing to do whatever is necessary to protect them. I know it sounds cliché, but I feel like it’s my purpose in life.”

“That’s noble,” she remarked.

He shook his head. “The lived reality often isn’t. When you spend most of your life in the abyss, it gets pretty dark.”

“A residue remains, right?” she asked.

He looked at her intently, a little surprised. “Yes, exactly.”

“I understand. You convince yourself it’s all been for something that matters more than you do, that whatever part of yourself you sacrificed was worth it, because it simply has to be.”

He looked at her as if she had read his innermost thoughts. “Yes,” he said softly. “Tell me, what do you do?”

“I’m a novelist.”

“What are your books about?”

“That’s a difficult question to answer. I guess I wanted to write about everything: what it means to live a life, why it’s so hard, and how it could be easier. To walk people through the darkness, in a way. Perhaps my goals were too lofty, and in that respect, each book fails more spectacularly than the one before.”

The bartender smirked.

Tess wistfully said, “Maybe reality can never live up to our dreams.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Patricia Leavy, PhD, is an award-winning, best-selling author. She was formerly Associate Professor of Sociology, Chairperson of Sociology & Criminology, and Founding Director of Gender Studies at Stonehill College. She has published more than fifty books; her work has been translated into many languages, and she has received more than one hundred book honors. Recently, her novel The Location Shoot was featured in Ms. Career Girl’s “10 Perfect Books to Get Your Fall Reading List Started” and She Reads in “Novels to Read if You Love Classic Movies” and was the 2024 Best Book Awards First Place Winner in Women’s Fiction. Patricia has also received career awards from the New England Sociological Association, the American Creativity Association, the American Educational Research Association, the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry, and the National Art Education Association. In 2018, she was honored by the National Women’s Hall of Fame and SUNY-New Paltz established the “Patricia Leavy Award for Art and Social Justice.” Patricia lives in Maine and serves on the board of the London Arts-Based Research Centre. In addition to writing, she enjoys movies, art, reading, and travel.

Website: https://patricialeavy.com/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Shooting-Stars-Above-Celestial-Romances-ebook/dp/B0CYJ76ZXK/ref=sr_1_1

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY

Patricia Leavy will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.

Enter to win a $10 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Q & A With …

Tell us about you as a person.

I’m shy and happiest at home alone in my office with my imaginary friends. I love writing more than anything else and have since I was little. There’s nothing better than getting lost in a story world you’re creating. It’s magical.

If you could hang out with one famous person for one day, who would it be and why?

Tori Amos. She’s my favorite musician. I’ve been lucky to meet her a few times and have some lovely chats, but I’d love the chance for a deep dive conversation about the creative process. I think that would be so inspiring.

What’s the story behind your latest book?

It’s a love story. Really, it’s about the power of love to help us heal our visible and invisible wounds, and the struggle to balance darkness and light in our lives. The story follows world-famous inspirational novelist Tess Lee and counterterrorism agent Jack Miller. Both have given so much to others, but haunted by past violence, neither has been able to find personal happiness. The night Tess and Jack meet, their connection is palpable. She examines the scars on his body and says, “I’ve never seen anyone whose outsides match my insides.”
When I was ten years old, I tried to write a novel. I don’t remember all the details, but it was a love story about two people who help each other heal. I wasn’t able to finish it at the time, being that I was only ten. One night in late 2019, I stepped out onto the balcony of my home office and looked up at the stars. Like a bolt, Shooting Stars Above came to, as a complete book, which was different than my previous novels. I wrote the first draft in only ten days, completely immersed in the story world. It was magical. I believe Shooting Stars Above is the novel I tried to write at the age of ten. I think the seed lived inside of me my entire life. It took years of writing other books to develop the tools to actualize that bolt of inspiration. There’s a saying that “hurt people hurt people,” but sometimes that isn’t true. Sometimes people in pain are able to love others in extraordinary ways. That’s the core inspiration for the book. Really, it’s about the healing power of love and learning to balance darkness and light in our lives.

What advice do you have for other writers who want to get the word out about their latest book?

Start doing publicity at least six months before the book launch. Plan everything out. Hire a good team if you’re able to. Be creative. Be willing to ask people for help.

List 5 things on your bucket list.

Going to SwitzerlandGoing back to Japan (my last trip was cancelled during the pandemic). Seeing the Northern lights in Iceland (I’ve been many times but not gotten lucky yet). Eating a really great gluten-free donut. Writing a book that surprises me.

Any final thoughts?

Shooting Stars Above wrapped me in the warmest embrace. I hope it does the same for readers.

FATHER OF ONE

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Maka, a young Bosnian soldier, has survived three years under siege. When the enemy forces launch their final attack on his hometown, he must escape to the hills. But traversing the vast woods is a task against all odds: to stay alive, and to find his infant son and his wife, he is soon forced to make a desperate move.

Set against the harrowing background of raging guerrilla warfare and the genocide in Srebrenica, Father of One is, at heart, a story of deep humanity, compassion and love. It is the account of one man’s desire to reunite his family, separated by war, and of bonds unbroken by trauma, sustained by loyalty and tenacity. Writing in a voice that rings with clarity and authenticity, Jani Anttola lays open a dark moment in Europe’s recent history.

Enjoy an excerpt:

The old man they called Dedo died in September after a two-day storm. The wind blew from the south, bringing sea clouds, grey and ragged like used steel wool, that poured down on the valley and the gusts drove rain against the window planks, making them wet and dripping, with pooling water on the floor of the cell. Outside the camp the trees bent in the heavy wind and the hayfields were flat in the rain. It was a summer storm but it wasn’t warm: the police stayed holed up in their house and grey smoke puffed from the stovepipe and was ripped away flatly in the wind. The cops had reduced their perimeter to a few that huddled in the far corners. In their olive-green ponchos the guards looked like some strange, dark-glistening mushrooms behind the rain. Then, after the storm broke, the drizzle continued for a day and the hills were deep green and misty, and the rusty old silos of the batching factory stood out brightly in their crumbling yellow paint. There were pools of water on the paths between the barracks and tree branches blown across the yard and everything was washed out, fresh and silent.

That afternoon they were corralled into the third barrack. The hundreds of inmates stood waiting, packed in the hall now, happily surprised by the announcement of an additional tea portion. The previous police crew had repurposed the building as a prison canteen. On the low counter the inmates had built, a gas stove was alight. On its grate sat a fifty-litre, boiling aluminium kettle. Maka stood behind the cauldron with another inmate, a ladle in hand, feeling the heat from the little blue flames that flickered underneath.

Jani Anttola is a Finnish novelist and a medical doctor. In the 1990s he served in Rwanda with the French military and fought in Bosnia as a soldier of the Bosnian army. His works have been published in the UK and Finland. He has spent most of his adult life abroad, working in Africa, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific.

Author website: https://www.jani-anttola.com/

Buy links

https://bookguild.co.uk/bookshop/historical/father-of-one/

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DIVING INTO THE BELOVED

DIVING INTO THE BELOVED
Lark Compton
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GENRE: Poetry

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BLURB:

Diving Into the Beloved is a mesmerizing collection of poetry that plunges into the realms of love, spirituality, and the soul’s longing. Each poem is a profound reflection of the sacred dance between the lover and the Beloved, capturing the essence of divine connection and human vulnerability. Compton’s words invite readers to explore the depths of their own hearts, making this book not just a literary work but a spiritual experience—an invitation to embrace the love that resides within and around us. With a youthful, modern interpretation of the path to enlightenment, this collection reminds us of the ecstatic poets like Rumi and Hafiz, yet Compton’s voice remains distinctly his own, weaving together concrete details and bold imagery that will leave a lasting impression.

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EXCERPT

Beloved, take me back

to that feeling space

in dream time

where I can easily navigate

my yellow submarine

with its pink propeller of love

while laughing at the absurdity

of being a character

in your psychedelic cartoon

Laughing and crying tears of tangerines

floating endlessly

in my submarine of love,

silly, as it swims endlessly in you

I give up, I have no clue

why I continue to exist on your playground

For the moment I will keep crying and laughing

tears of tangerines

until there are enough

for a giant glass of your morning juice

Then, I hope that when you drink it

you will laugh at this cartoon,

put it down

and I can go back to composing poetry

to the tune of

“We all live in Beloved’s submarine

Laughing and crying tangerines of pure love

floating through galaxies and universes

sharing our love fruit with all

in Beloved’s wild cartoon of Love”

~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Lark enjoys being a hermit and staying out of the limelight.

He has been known to accidentally bodysurf with turtles at play.

He leaves them alone and they leave him alone.

Everyone’s happy.

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/53108042.Lark_Compton

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RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY

Lark Compton will be awarding print copies of the book to ten randomly drawn winners.

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Bypass Surgery

In recent weeks, some may have noticed that I have not been as active as I normally would be. This is due to in late April I had a heart attack, and was in hospital for almost a month.

On Saturday May 17th, I underwent a triple bypass surgery at Wythenshawe Hospital. Needless to say I was scared.

I survived the open heart surgery. Triple bypass operation. Six days ago, I was ok to go home and the real healing began. Among the obvious, there still my eyesight that still little blurred, and inner pain around my neck and back. I still feel little weak.

Thank you all those who came and saw me these past few weeks. I know it was not easy to see me in the state I was in.

But now the long healing process begins. Not just physically but mentally as well, and I know the realisation of this operation has not hit me mentally as yet.

It will take time to recover, and I know that it is a long road ahead.

Opaline’s Discovery

Love. Magic.
Danger.

Could these three
words articulate distinct spiritual essences to fuse together?

Opaline’s Discovery

The Witch DNA
Trilogy Book 1

by Sonja Gunter

Genre: Fantasy
Romance, Romantasy, Urban Fantasy

 

Love. Magic.
Danger.

Could these three
words articulate distinct spiritual essences to fuse together?

Bookstore owner,
Opaline Lunn, facilitates a Speed Dating Event, in hopes of finding her
soulmate. She meets attendee Detective Eamon Dayan, who wasn’t looking for
love, but sparks fly at their first kiss.

Together they
unearth Opaline’s powers which lead to the discovery that she has two sisters,
and someone called The Ancient One who wants to kill them.

Unraveling a myriad
of mysteries, with Opaline’s newfound ability to do spells, the soulmates must
find her sisters by her twenty-fifth birthday to be able to confront the evil
force and save all of them.

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I was born and
raised in the cold and beautiful Minnesota, but I escaped to Illinois for
seventeen years to raise my two boys, and now I call Florida home. My husband
Andy, who’s always been my hero, has put up with my late night computer typing
and endless stacks of papers with my stories on them. We have one furry friend
as family: Chip, a sixteen year old ragdoll cat.

Life has been
full of ups and downs, but I’ve made it through the hard times. I love to
travel and go to Disney World to trade pins.
I’ve been a bowler for many years, and you can catch me writing my next
novel at the lanes.

I encourage you
to check out my web site, www.sonjagunter.com for more info and don’t be surprised if I
let my Norwegian heritage come through in my stories.

Go Vikings! You betcha!

 

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Idle

Some women run from trouble…others out-think it

Idle

Sadie Hawkins Mysteries Book 2

by Patricia C. Lee

Genre: Amateur Sleuth Mystery

Sadie Hawkins thought her toughest challenge was keeping her
small freight business afloat—until her best friend, Tanya Woods, is arrested
for murder. With the police convinced Tanya is guilty, Sadie attempts to prove
her friend’s innocence before it’s too late.

As Sadie launches her own investigation with her crew, they use their special
skills and step outside the law to uncover dark secrets tied to StreetSmart;
Tanya’s workplace that provides a support system for rehabilitated young adult
offenders. While her search for the truth intensifies, Sadie and her associates
find themselves in a dangerous web of betrayal, lies, hidden motives, and
vengeance.

With her business at risk, her trust tested and best friend on the line, Sadie
must rely on both her instincts and the loyalty of those around her as she
strives to find the killer. However, in a world full of secrets, even friends
can become enemies and the truth might be more than she can handle.

**On Sale – Get it 50% off!**

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First Gear

Sadie Hawkins Mysteries Book 1

In the heart of Texas, Sadie Hawkins’ entrepreneurial dreams
take flight when a golden opportunity lands in her lap: hauling antiquities.
But when calamity strikes she finds herself not just fighting for her business,
but for her freedom.

Determined to clear her name, Sadie dives into her own
investigation, leaning on a motley crew of rehabilitated young adult offenders
known as StreetSmart for support. Racing against the clock, confronting both
her past and a deadly adversary, Sadie discovers that this mystery holds more
than just her future – it holds her life in the balance.

Embark on a gripping journey with Sadie as she untangles the
web of danger and deceit threatening to consumer her in this suspenseful
mystery that will keep you turning pages.

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Pat is an
Amazon bestselling author and playwright who has had a love affair with the
written word since childhood, many times immersing herself in the stories of
Enid Blyton and Carolyn Keene. An active imagination gave inspiration to short
stories and her first play as a teen.

Her
full-length play, The Truth About Lies, was staged at a regional
theatrical competition in 2006.  She was selected as “One of 50
Authors You Should be Reading” in 2012. One of her novels achieved a
finalist slot in the 2013 International Book Award Contest – fantasy category.
And her Daughters of the Crescent Moon Trilogy
garnered second place in the 2016 Paranormal Romance Guild Reviewers Choice for
Best Series.  She is also the winner of
the 15th Annual Writer’s Digest Short Story contest for A Holy Night.

Although
still in pursuit of a place truly called home, Pat shares her life with a
husband and cats, all of which claim rule over the house at one point or
another. Besides dreaming up the next novel, she enjoys traveling, baking,
camping, wine, and of course reading – not necessarily in that order. And she
believes chocolate should be its own food group.

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* Goodreads

 

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The Dog Roses

Sisters squabble. Queens go to war.

Resolution

The Dog Roses Book 2

by David H. Millar

Genre: Historical Fantasy

Sisters squabble.
Queens go to war.

Ten summers ago, victory brought peace and prosperity to Southern Ériu. Danu and Brighid were celebrated as heroes and saviours. The queens
scaled the heights, and there was only one way to go.

One twin became overbearing, the other resentful. Pride dug a pit filled with
blackthorns between them. They became tyrants, and the kingdom was sundered.
The people were left bitter, divided and afraid, and the lush farmlands fell
barren. Stripped of their powers, the Dog
Roses were no more. Each blamed the other, and neither took
responsibility.

Angry parents gave the twins’ brothers an army and tasked them to bring law to
the kingdom. An embittered veteran and a beautiful assassin accompany them.
Whose gold is in the assassin’s pouch, and what are her orders?

In the Halls of the Aes Sídhe, Draighean is chastised and
commanded to return to her wards. “Guide them, support them, or kill them.
Just finish what you started.”

An evil philosophy grows, and another army gathers. Can the sisters be
reconciled? The people need the Dog Roses, but can they forgive them? Yet, do
Danu and Brighid want the responsibility? Do they want their powers returned?
Being normal is very tempting.

The Dog Roses: Resolution contains
scenes of sex, violence, and language appropriate to the historical period (400
B.C.) and locations in which the story is set. It is not recommended for those
under 14 without parental consent.

5-Star Editorial Review (Literary Titan)

The Dog Roses: Resolution is a bold,
blood-soaked dive into a myth-soaked world of ancient Ériu, dripping with power
struggles, family betrayals, and queens who rule with both sword and seduction.
It’s the second book in Millar’s Dog Roses series, and it doesn’t pull any
punches. At the heart of it are two sisters, Brighid and Danu, daughters of
legendary rulers who were meant to lead with wisdom but fell into tyranny and
chaos. When their father sends their brothers to clean up the mess, all hell
breaks loose. You’ve got ancient gods, cunning assassins, ruthless politics,
and enough battle scenes to make a Roman general blush.

If you’re into Celtic fantasy that
doesn’t tiptoe around darkness, The Dog Roses: Resolution will grip you and not
let go. I’d recommend it to fans of Bernard Cornwell, lovers of Irish
mythology, or anyone craving epic family drama with bite.
— Literary Titan

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Na Feirdhriseacha

The Dog Roses Book 1

You have no weapons, striapach.”
“I am the weapon, tuilí.”

It is 400 B.C. The mist clears,
and three triremes glide into the calm waters of the bay in Southern Ériu. On a
grass-topped dune, a young girl dances gleefully at the Goddess’s gift.
The warrior princesses, Brighid and Danu, leap over the vessels’
sides into the cold waters and look north towards their ancestral home—the fort
of Ráth Na Conall. The clash of
weapons is not a good omen.

From his throne in Caher Conri,
the depraved Uallachán rages
at the sight of the red shield embellished with a swooping black raven and the
memories it provokes. He swears vengeance on the daughters of his old
adversary.

Draighean, a demi-goddess of the
mystical Aes Sídhe, stands
alone on the mountain peak. She bites full maroon lips, unhappy at her mission.
Yet, does she have a choice? Evil must be confronted and defeated.

Uallachán’s idea of peace is to crush all dissent, but is he no more than a
puppet of the powerful kings of the Connachta?

The twins know they must defeat the invasion and stop the enslavement of their
people. Still, even with the help of Draighean, the odds are daunting.

The Dog Roses  contains
scenes of sex and violence and uses language appropriate to the period it is
set in, i.e., 400 B.C. It is not recommended for those under 14 without
parental consent.

5- Star Editorial Review & Gold Book
Award (Literary Titan)

David H. Millar’s The Dog Roses: Na
Feirdhriseacha is an
exhilarating historical fantasy that plunges the reader into a world of ancient
Gaelic warfare, mysticism, and political intrigue. The novel follows
the twin sisters, Brighid and Danu, as they navigate their birthright, destiny,
and the brutal conflicts that define their world. From the stormy shores of
Ériu to the blood-soaked battlegrounds of their homeland, the sisters must
harness their strength, wit, and the mystical bond of the feirdhriseacha—the
dog roses—imprinted on their chests. Their journey is one of leadership,
betrayal, and resilience, all set against the backdrop of Celtic mythology and
the harsh realities of Iron Age survival.

The Dog Roses: Na Feirdhriseacha is a
gripping read that will appeal to fans of historical fantasy, especially those
with an interest in Celtic mythology and ancient warrior cultures. The
depth of world-building, the complexity of the characters, and the sheer
intensity of the storytelling make this a novel worth savoring. If you enjoy books like The Mists of Avalon
or The Last Kingdom, this one should be on your list.
— Literary Titan

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Born
in Belfast, Northern Ireland, internationally published and award-winning
author David H. Millar is the founder, owner, and author-in-residence of A Wee
Publishing Company—a business formed to promote Celtic authors and literature.

David
is the author of the five-volume, ancient Celtic-based Conall series and
the spin-offs The Dog Roses, The Dog Roses: Resolution, The
Blood Queen and Brianag: A Blood Queen Novel.

David
resides in Houston, Texas, with his family and two recent family members,
tuxedos Beau and Stiletto.

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