Aubrey Wynne's Blog, page 3

FATHER OF ONE by Jani Anttola with excerpt and giveaway

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:

This is it.

He would shoot some of them, then kill himself with the last one.

Maka counted his rounds. One in the chamber, four in the magazine. That was enough. And he had the grenade. He clipped off a cartridge and put it in his pocket. How many could he get? One? Two? More? He decided on three. A good number. He’d kill two on the road, then at least one more with the grenade when they stormed the house.

Three lives for his. It sounded like some sort of a deal.

He placed the muzzle of the automatic rifle into the rugged hole and took aim at the nearest soldier. He was about thirty metres away. Maka would drop him with a single slug. But when he looked at the man through the sights, over the blued metal of the gun, he felt bitter about dying this way. He knew the man outside was there to kill him and his kin, but what if he, too, was somebody’s father? He was probably in his forties and distantly resembled a clerk who had worked in the post office in Srebrenica. This Chetnik also wore a šajkača, with its V-shaped top making his head look like a pig’s hoof. He had a messy stubble and a moustache that seemed to hang from his long, thin nose, as he stood under the sun with weary eyes.

So, you’re here to kill me?

It’s you who’s going to die now. But I don’t do this because I like it.

If there were a way to leave this situation without killing anybody, let alone himself, Maka would do so. Just it was too late. It was far too much, and nothing could get it undone. He positioned the sights in the middle of the man’s chest and calmed his breathing down. He took the slack out of the trigger, until he felt the tiny resistance of the firing mechanism in his fingertip.

 

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/hist...

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Guest post by Eliza Hampstead on A CODE OF KNIGHTS AND DECEPTION

Books set in the past require a strong sense of life during the period. Tell me about the research you did for this series.

Thank you for having me! I’m excited to share insights about the historical accuracy of my book and how it brings the past to life.

Research: A Deep Dive into Medieval Life (Maybe Too Deep)

Oh, the research—so much research! Honestly, I think I might have overdone it (just a little). But I’m a scientist, and research is kind of my thing. When I first had the idea for this book, I had just started learning sword fighting—yes, actual longsword combat. That led me deep into the medieval rabbit hole, and I never really climbed back out.

I didn’t just read about the period—I lived it as much as I could. I trained with a sword (which, let me tell you, makes writing fight scenes a lot easier), shot a bow, and attended medieval conventions where I walked around in historical clothing, ate medieval food, and tried not to trip over my own gown. I read an absurd number of non-fiction books on everything from castle architecture to women’s daily lives, knights, medieval fashion (I must have looked up the word houppelande at least fifty times), and even the duties of the castle household—because, let’s be honest, that stuff matters when you’re thrown into the 15th century.

For accuracy, I even visited the town and Warwick Castle multiple times. The staff was amazing—they gave me a private tour and showed me hidden details most visitors don’t see, like a mysterious carving in the earl’s chamber that might be from a king. Naturally, I asked a million questions.

And I looked up every tiny detail that appears in my book. Were windows made of glass at that time? What did women do during their period? How did medieval toilets work? (Spoiler: not great.) If it made it into the story, you can bet I researched it first. Because I hate it when historical fiction gets things wrong, I was determined to do it right.

But—and here’s where things got tricky—I may have gone a bit overboard. At one point, my manuscript had 53,000 extra words of historical detail (yes, that’s about 200 pages). It was like I was trying to write a history textbook instead of a novel. So, I had to cut a lot to keep the story moving.

And yes, I had to tweak some details, like the specific dances used at the time, because the earliest recorded versions come from a later period. But don’t worry—I have an in-story reason for why these “mistakes” exist. Let’s just say that if you pay close attention, these little historical inaccuracies might just lead you straight to Ethan’s secret…

Researching this book was an adventure in itself, and I hope that love for history and detail shines through in the story. So, if you love immersive historical worlds with mystery and romance, this book is for you!

 

A CODE OF KNIGHTS AND DECEPTION

Eliza Hampstead

GENRE:  Historical Time Travel Romance

BLURB:

Outlander meets Black Mirror in this sizzling dark time travel romance.

She thought it was real. She was wrong.

When Sophia wakes up in 15th-century England, she expects hardship—but nothing prepares her for this brutal, unforgiving world. Lost, alone, and desperate to return to her husband and son, she vows to find a way home. But as the days turn into months, Sophia begins to build a new life, finding unexpected kinship and purpose in this strange land.

After a violent attack, she takes fate into her own hands, disguising herself as a man to train under Henry, the castle’s enigmatic master-at-arms. As steel clashes and their connection deepens, forbidden desire ignites.

Yet Henry is not who he claims to be. His real name is Ethan, and this is the least of the lies he tells her. Falling for Sophia was never part of the plan—but the closer they become, the more he realises how wrong it is to keep her in the dark.

As danger closes in and the lines between reality and deception blur, Sophia must uncover the truth about Henry—and herself—before she runs out of time.

*Warning: strong language, steamy scenes, and graphic violence inside. Mention/Description of, but not limited to, abduction, blood, death, amputation, childbirth, death, sexual assault, suicide, violence against children, rape, and torture.*

The book is the first in a duology and ends with a cliffhanger.

 

Excerpt:

Then, with a sudden crash, I was yanked back into reality. My eyes blinked open to find myself lying on beaten earth, small stones scattered around me like the remnants of some forgotten battle. I attempted to reach for them, but my fingers refused to obey my command. Were those dark pellets in the corner rat droppings? The thought made me want to retch, but I had no air to spare.

Before me appeared the bluest eyes I had ever seen. They fixed intently on my face, twin beacons of azure that seemed to anchor me against the encroaching tide of despair. I stared into them, unable to pull my gaze away from their hypnotic depths. They were like the water in the Mediterranean—inviting, warm, and mysterious all at once. Just as I longed to dive into those azure waves and sink into them on a hot summer day, I wanted to immerse myself in the comforting embrace of those mesmerising eyes.

Strong hands grasped my shoulders, shaking me back into reality with a jolt. I tore my gaze from those captivating eyes and looked downward, my vision fixing on sensually shaped lips surrounded by a dark beard. The man’s mouth moved vigorously, but I couldn’t make out the words he was saying. My ears were filled with a persistent ringing, drowning out the world around me.

“…breathe,” I finally heard him say, his voice taking on an urgent tone. “Can you hear me? You must draw breath!” He shook me again, his grip firm yet gentle, grounding me in the present moment. “Breathe! Quickly now, do not falter!”

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Award-winning author Eliza Hampstead, a scientist by training, lives with her family in the UK. When she’s not writing, she spends her time as a geek. Playing all sorts of games (board games, video games, RPGs) and being a big fan of medieval history are only a few of the many hobbies she has. Passionate about fantasy, she’s always planning her next adventure.

https://linktr.ee/elizahampstead

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/214547589-a-code-of-knights-and-deception

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22627172.Eliza_Hampstead

https://www.amazon.com/Eliza-Hampstead/e/B0B7FJW2VQ/

https://www.instagram.com/authorelizahampstead/

https://www.pinterest.de/elizahampstead/

https://www.tiktok.com/@elizahampstead

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorElizaHampstead

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/eliza-hampstead

 

Newsletter:

https://subscribepage.io/Jsj7Dt

https://elizahampstead.mailerpage.io/

Purchase Links:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D6VGNQ41

Universal link: https://relinks.me/B0D6VGNQ41

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My Big Fat Beach Wedding by Melanie Summers

My Big Fat Beach Wedding
Melanie Summers
Publication date: April 24th 2025
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance

The plan was simple: fake the wedding, save her career. Then she met the best man.

Vivian Whitlock’s social media empire is about to crumble. She’s closing in on thirty, and her fans are moving on to their ‘weddings and babies’ era. About to be dropped by her management team, she pretends she and her secret boyfriend are ready to take the plunge.

There’s just one problem: he doesn’t exist.

Enter Dominic James, a charismatic actor working at the idyllic Paradise Bay Resort. He’s got Broadway dreams and the perfect cover story. The two strike a deal—he’ll play her doting fiancé, and she’ll launch him into New York stardom.

But Vivian’s picture-perfect plan takes an unexpected turn when she moves into the beachside bungalow Dominic shares with his brother, Ben—an intense, fiercely-devoted single dad with no time for romance.

Surrounded by swaying palms, ocean breezes, and a precocious five-year-old who steals her heart, Vivian starts to wonder if she’s been chasing the wrong dream all along.

Is she about to lose everything she built—or finally find something that lasts?

My Big Fat Beach Wedding is a STAND-ALONE laugh-out-loud, banter-filled tale of two people who can’t fall in love but do anyway. It’s the perfect heartwarming, feel-good escape from the real world.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Single Dad who would do anything for his young son

Opposites attract
Living in the Same House

World’s most adorable 5-year-old (with cute red glasses)

Loads of witty banter
A slow burn, plenty of steam, and a hint of spice

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

Okay, so slight problem. Dominic left for work early for a pre-show meeting, and Josephine has gone to the other side of the island for a two-day solo hiking trip up a mountain (of course she did). I agreed to go for a sunset dip in the ocean with Henry and Ben this evening, which means we’re all frolicking around playfully in the water in our swimsuits, and Mr. Not-Dad-Bod is in a pair of black trunks that are leaving very little to my imagination. And I know I shouldn’t be looking. Like, I actually do know it, okay. No one has to tell me that it’s completely inappropriate to be ogling my future BIL. But at the same time, my eyes are drinking in the sight of him right now as he gets Henry set up on a surfboard laying on his stomach and sends him back toward the shore. Ben’s arms and chest flex as he pushes the board, and I can’t seem to look away. Also, he’s laughing and smiling, and dear God, but he’s got the best smile I think I’ve ever seen. Better than Giancarlo by about ten million percent. I’m in the water up to my ankles so I can catch Henry if needed, but honestly, he doesn’t need my help. The kid is a total pro, and I’m pretty sure he’s been riding a surfboard since he could walk.

Other than us and the odd seagull, the beach is empty. The waves roll gently in toward the shore in white foamy swirls that disappear into the sand. Behind Ben, the sun is about to dip down to reach the horizon, and the only sound competing with the lapping water is that of Henry’s irresistible little giggle. He reaches the shore and I put my foot out to hold the board steady while he gets off, his life jacket clearly making the task a little more difficult. He adjusts his prescription goggles, then grins up at me. “Come on, Auntie Viv, you’ve got to try it!”

“Oh, no, you keep going. You’re having so much fun,” I tell him, picking up the board and holding it under my arm like the real surfers do.

“I get to do this every day. I want you to try it,” he says, taking my hand while we wade back out to Ben against the gentle surf.

Ben grins at me and lifts Henry up onto his hip. “Yeah, why don’t you give it a try? I bet you’ll love it.”

“Do it! Do it!” Henry chants.

Blushing a little, I say, “All right, but I’m not exactly sporty, so try not to laugh.”

Ben takes the surfboard from me with his free hand, his fingers touching mine as he does, sending a thrill right through me to my toes. “I’m sure you’ll be fine. You’ve laid on your stomach before, yes?”

“Yes.”

“Then you can do this.” He holds the board in place for me while I climb on, trying my very best not to think about the fact that he’s so close to my bikini-clad bottom right now. God, I hope she looks good like this. Be perky, bottom.

No, don’t worry about that, silly beans! He’s not looking. He’s a gentleman.

I grip the board with both hands and hold on.

“You ready?” he asks in his deep voice.

“Yup,” I squeak out, even though there’s nothing scary about what I’m about to do.

“Away you go!” he says, pushing the board toward shore.

I squeal and hold on, feeling like a kid again as I zip toward the beach. When I get there, I quickly stand, then turn to Henry and Ben, who are cheering mightily as if I’ve just done something spectacular. I give them a deep bow.

“Again! Again!” Henry says as I walk back to them.

(Okay, so I’m not walking like I normally do. I may or may not be striding toward them with a little extra hitch in my hips and my shoulders back a wee bit more than normal. Bad Vivian. Bad. And yet, still doing it.)

“You know who hasn’t had a turn?” I ask Henry.

“My dad?”

“Yup! Your poor dad, right? I bet he wants a turn.” I give Ben a smile and I have to say, I don’t hate the look on his face right now. All that hip swaying might not have gone unnoticed.

Author Bio:

Melanie Summers also writes steamy romance as MJ Summers.

Melanie made a name for herself with her debut novel, Break in Two, a contemporary romance that cracked the Top 10 Paid on Amazon in both the UK and Canada, and the top 50 Paid in the USA. Her highly acclaimed Full Hearts Series was picked up by both Piatkus Entice (a division of Hachette UK) and HarperCollins Canada. Her first three books have been translated into Czech and Slovak by EuroMedia. Since 2013, she has written and published three novellas, and eight novels (of which seven have been published). She has sold over a quarter of a million books around the globe.

In her previous life (i.e. before having children), Melanie got her Bachelor of Science from the University of Alberta, then went on to work in the soul-sucking customer service industry for a large cellular network provider that shall remain nameless (unless you write her personally – then she’ll dish). On her days off, she took courses and studied to become a Chartered Mediator. That designation landed her a job at the R.C.M.P. as the Alternative Dispute Resolution Coordinator for ‘K’ Division. Having had enough of mediating arguments between gun-toting police officers, she decided it was much safer to have children so she could continue her study of conflict in a weapon-free environment (and one which doesn’t require makeup and/or nylons).

Melanie resides in Edmonton with her husband, three young children, and their adorable but neurotic one-eyed dog. When she’s not writing novels, Melanie loves reading (obviously), snuggling up on the couch with her family for movie night (which would not be complete without lots of popcorn and milkshakes), and long walks in the woods near her house. She also spends a lot more time thinking about doing yoga than actually doing yoga, which is why most of her photos are taken ‘from above’. She also loves shutting down restaurants with her girlfriends. Well, not literally shutting them down, like calling the health inspector or something–more like just staying until they turn the lights off.

She is represented by Suzanne Brandreth of The Cooke Agency International.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

 

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THE LAST DOOR, AJAR by Michael Holly Barrett with giveaway and excerpt

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Michael Holly Barrett 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.

It is 1945. The infamous Max Smartz, superspy; Eva Braun, wife of Adolf Hitler; Joseph Goebbels, propaganda minister; and Otto Klugg, intelligence officer, do not die at the end of World War II, but trick the guards in the Fuhrerbunker tunnels, allowing them to make their escape. Their escape plan is to reach war-neutral Southern Ireland, where Maxwell Smartz has an established base and is familiar with rural south Kerry and its people. They evade capture and eventually reach France. Here, they meet with a good friend and colleague, an undercover agent called Maurice Le Blanc, who asks them to assist him in retrieving some stolen gold bars.

After finding the fortune, the friends attempt to retrieve it in an old Dutch van but are continually thwarted and risk losing everything. To complicate matters, they learn that Max’s brother, Victor, has been incarcerated in the notorious Spandau prison and is being tried for Nazi war crimes. They hatch a plot to save him, but is it worth the danger of going back to Berlin and being caught?

Read an Excerpt

Joseph Goebbels was a German Nazi politician who joined the Nazi party in 1933. He rose to the ranks of Propaganda Minister and Minister of Culture. He was not very tall and had a clubbed foot, which never stopped him thinking big and walking tall. Culture was fine by Goebbels as long as it was German culture, pure Aryan. His henchmen, the Nazis, would gladly kick the shit out of anyone with the slightest notion of foreign culture other than the ‘Only true German culture’. He was responsible for all publicity, films, art, books and newsreels that only showed the best of all that was German. Magda, his wife, was four years younger than him and was an avid supporter of Nazism, and a good friend of both Hitler and his wife, Eva. Eva was quoted as saying, ‘She, Magda, had no compunction about killing her six children, she feared for their safety if they continued to live’. Joseph Goebbels was a brilliant orator; his speeches were full of passion and fire for the Germany he so loved. Hitler loved his friend, Joseph, and his great enthusiasm for rousing the people into action. Now things had changed dramatically — they were losing the war, everything that could go wrong, went wrong The Yanks, English and Russians were all racing towards Berlin looking for scalps, and Joseph, Magda, Hitler and Eva made an unwritten pact not to allow that to happen. They would deny the intruders the pleasure of rolling heads, they were intent on spoiling the party for the allied army.

About the Author: My humble beginnings in a terrace house with an outdoor toilet and indoor rats. The drinking water was got from a public pump in the street. We were all sailing in the Titanic,Third Class, but we were not aware of anything better. We had so much fun, swimming in the river. As kids we had wonderful imaginations.The only luxuries we ever saw were in the Cinema, usually American films, people smoking and drinking alcohol.

Everyone in the town of County Cork, Ireland seemed to be in the same boat; we made the best of it until the swinging sixties came along and changed everything. In spite of our poverty, I managed to get a College education. But opportunities were as scarce as rich Uncles. The Christian Brothers were brutal, and handy with the cane, in National School. I was lucky like many fellows my own age to get an apprenticeship as a diesel mechanic. Soon developed a taste for Alcohol, and got into trouble pretty soon, was lucky again to find A.A. and get my act together in 1978.

My hero died in 1977, Elvis Presley, the music stopped, the sixties was over, the Beatles were broken up, CCR, too. So getting sober was the best thing to do, under the miserable circumstances. I got a job as a Pipe Welder with ASME 1X certificate and began working around Europe, finally settling in warm Spain, Barcelona and met a Catalunya woman. Started writing for the first time, mostly comedies, Peter Sellers style, another hero of mine.

This is my second published book, I also self published earlier works Like ,’Gorilla Days in Ireland’ by Michael Barrett, on Amazon. The Frankie Stein Enigma, and others, I paint oil and acrylic pictures, write mountains of poetry, sing and play the guitar.

‘ I do just about everything, that doesn’t make any money for me.’ But love doing what I do, writing poetry is mind stimulating, energising.

My favourite actors are William Holden, Warren Oates, Gregory Peck, and favourite detective the great Peter Falk in Columbo, a genius and Clouseau, Peter Sellers, and Peter Ustinov.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100045861996652

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-barrett-78b686103/

AMAZON.COM: https://amazon.com/dp/177962574X

AMAZON.CA: https://amazon.ca/dp/177962574X

BOOKTOPIA: https://www.booktopia.com.au/search.ep?keywords=9781779625748

ABEBOOKS: https://www.abebooks.com/products/isbn/9781779625748

BETTERWORLD BOOKS: https://www.betterworldbooks.com/product/detail/9781779625748

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ONLY IN SEPTEMBER by Cynthia Flowers with excerpt and giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions to celebrate the release day of ONLY IN SEPTEMBER by Cynthia Flowers. Cynthia 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.

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.

Read an Excerpt

During their return trip on the trail, they happened upon a series of small cottages. One of them was having exterior repairs done. The sudden screech of a buzz saw gave them a startle. Bailey was off leash and ran over to investigate. Stephen called after her.

The buzz saw suddenly stopped. Then someone from behind the cottage exclaimed, “Hey, I know you.”

The person behind the voice rushed out from behind the cottage and came into view. It was Michael. He looked at Jacqueline. Their eyes locked. She was happy to see him, and he seemed equally pleased to see her. Bailey jumped up on Michael like she had when they first met earlier in the week at the beach.

“Hey, there.” Michael motioned to Jacqueline. His smile was unavoidable.

Jacqueline slowly walked toward him. She didn’t want to seem too eager in front of Stephen.

“Do you two know each other?” Stephen inquired.

“Well, sort of,” Michael said with a chuckle. “We met at the beach the other day. Or, I should say, our dogs met at the beach. We just happened to be tagging along.”

Jacqueline broke her silence and elaborated further about how the pooches got along famously. “I meant to make it to the beach again before setting sail, but the week got away from us.”

“Don’t need to apologize to me. It’s Serendipity you need to square with. But unfortunately, she’s not with me today. Maybe another time,” Michael suggested.

“Considering we’re on the early afternoon ferry tomorrow, I don’t think that’s possible,” Stephen said deliberately and looked at Jacqueline to finish what he started. Instead, she looked down at Bailey to avoid Stephen’s gaze.

“Oh, well, I suspect you’ll be back, “Michael shot back. “It’s seldom that someone visits this island only once.”

As they started off, she lingered behind Stephen for a moment to clip Bailey’s collar to the leash and took the opportunity to mouth at Michael, “See you in the morning.”

He acknowledged her invitation with a wink.

About the Author: 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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Unspoken Words by Linda Joyce with excerpt and giveaway

Unspoken Words
Linda Joyce
Publication date: April 22nd 2025
Genres: Adult, Women’s Fiction

What happens when the truth you’ve hidden becomes the key to your greatest fear—and your greatest hope?

For years, Jane Landry has carried a secret that could break hearts and heal them all at once. Her son, Christopher Marcus, is the light of her life—but he’s also the boy no one knows about. Not his father, her ex-husband Mark, nor his wife Maggie, or his sister Suzanne, Jane’s best friends from childhood. Now, with a cancer diagnosis threatening her future, Jane must summon the courage to confess her secret. She prays they’ll embrace Christopher as family before time runs out.

But just as Jane takes the first step, tragedy strikes—Mark is killed in an accident after learning he has a son. The devastating loss leaves Jane grappling with how to face Maggie and Suzanne, the two women she’s avoided for years but now desperately needs. Her truth risks alienating them, yet the stakes are higher than ever. Christopher needs a home. Jane needs to know her boy will be loved when she’s no longer there to protect him.

As Jane uncovers the secrets Maggie and Suzanne have been hiding, she realizes she’s not the only one carrying the weight of the past. Old wounds, unexpected betrayals, and the search for forgiveness weave together in a story about love, loss, and the lengths we’ll go to for family.

Set against the vivid backdrop of New Orleans, Unspoken Words explores the messy, beautiful journey of redemption and the bonds that hold us together—even when stretched to their breaking point.

Discover a story that will break your heart, heal your soul, and stay with you long after the final page.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

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EXCERPT:

Katrina had destroyed my city in August of 2005. Afterward, she huffed away like a diva without a backward glance. Her coming and going from the city I loved had proved more dramatic than my own.

I paid the cabbie for the wild ride and then stood on the sidewalk in front of the entrance to the mausoleum. My hands shook when I slipped the strap of my purse over my shoulder. My knees wobbled, but I remained upright. My heart thudded like a bass drum in a second line parade.

Thudding so hard it cut off my breath. Paralyzed, I stood in the merciless Louisiana sun.

Humidity clung to my skin like olive oil on a sweet potato before roasting in the oven. My reflection in the mausoleum’s glass doors showed a tidy dress, tidy shoes, tidy hair.

Outside, calmness.

Inside, untidy screams.

I swallowed back a ball of fear, took a first unsteady step, then another. Plodding, I entered the building and nodded to the guard at the reception desk.

“Need help finding a loved one?” He scrutinized me as though he recognized me.

“No, thank you.”

“Sign in here.” He rose and pointed to an open guest book.

I wrote Jane and started to write Maucele beside it to prove I had every right to be there but changed my mind and scribbled Landry instead.

My father had told me where to find Mark. I searched for the correct aisle. My leather flats shruffed against the hard marble floors. Mausoleums reminded me of morgues I’d seen on TV, not burial grounds. A collection of people who were dead—they couldn’t hear if I made noise. But I continued on my tiptoes just in case.

Finding the correct hallway, I let go of a raggedy breath and claimed a seat in the middle of a long, cold granite bench, then extracted a week-old envelope from my purse.

Did the words inside hold the truth of what Mark wanted?

Clutching the official message, I fought against the impulse to wad up the paper and throw it at him, the same way I’d thrown heated words the last time before we parted. Then, he’d been alive. Able to fight back. I wanted him to fight now.

Anguish spewed like liquid from a shaken can of Nehi soda. “NOoooo! NOoooo! NOoooo! Dammit, Mark.”

“Miss Landry, are you okay?” The guard’s voice echoed down the wing of the mausoleum along with the sound of footsteps beating a path in my direction. “Ma’am?”

“I apologize. Grief hit me.”

“Excuse me? Who hit you?” He frowned as though I were a naughty child.

“Never mind. I’ll be quiet.” My inner pain fought for further release, but my outer calm took control.

His eyebrows became a unibrow. “I’m going to have to ask you to leave if you are unable to contain yourself.”

“It won’t happen again.” I waved apologetically.

His toe-to-head scan told me he was trying to decide if he had a dangerous mental case and needed backup.

 

Author Bio:

Linda Joyce believes stories are as integral to her life as breathing. She shares the joys and agonies of characters and often wishes their stories would continue far beyond “The End.” She lives metro-Atlanta with her very patient husband and their three fur babies—Jake, Maxence, and Sugar. Linda’s addicted to Cajun food and Japanese food. She’s a fan of smooth jazz. She will deny traditional jazz music hurts her ears—that could get her banished from her hometown, New Orleans. Her current life’s adventure includes learning enough Kanji to be able to read a Japanese newspaper.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram

 

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Guest post from Naomi Laeuchli – author of regency romance THE SCHOOLMASTER’S DAUGHTER

The Schoolmaster’s Daughter is set in the Regency era, in the English town of Bath. Fans of Bridgerton will recognize the Regency era. It was named for George, the Prince Regent, who ruled after his father, George III, was deemed mentally unfit (incidentally George III was the king on the throne during the American revolution!).

Bath was a spa town. People would go there to ‘take the waters’. It was believed that drinking and bathing in the mineral waters was good for your health and would help cure various ailments. As more and more members of high society went there for their health, social events also sprung up in the town, such as dances at the assembly rooms, concerts and theater.

During the 1700s, Bath was at its most fashionable, but at the time The Schoolmaster’s Daughter is set, it has somewhat fallen out of favor. While not explained in the book, the reason for this was that the medical men of the time decided that sea bathing had more restorative properties than mineral water did, and consequently the Prince Regent made Brighton popular, stealing some of Bath’s thunder.

Bath was still a popular location, and families would still go there, but it wasn’t the first choice anymore for London’s high society, which is an important plot point for The Schoolmaster’s Daughter, where the hero Julius is keen to avoid the social elite and some of his creditors.

My editor for the book was not always familiar with the historical references in the book. This was very helpful in showing me where the book wasn’t being welcoming to new readers but also lead to me doing more research into the town and its history to make sure I was properly setting the scene. One of my favorite books, Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen, is also set in Bath, as well as several books by my favorite author Georgette Heyer, so I quite enjoyed getting to visit the town with my own book and research.

THE SCHOOLMASTER’S DAUGHTER

Naomi Laeuchli

GENRE:  Regency Romance

BLURB:

Deep in debt and desperate for a solution, Julius Claydon knows that marrying a wealthy woman is his only hope. When he meets the beautiful and rich Clara Haughton in Bath, he believes she could be his salvation, but there’s one obstacle in his path: Lydia Cray, Clara’s sharp-witted and penniless companion.

When Lydia quickly sees through his fortune-hunting motives, Julius proposes an alliance. He will help secure her future if she helps him secure Clara’s heart.

But Lydia is not all she appears to be, and she has a plan of her own: to teach him a lesson he won’t soon forget. But her scheming soon leads to unforeseen consequences for them both.

Can love spring from deception?

Excerpt:

He fetched them both a glass. “Now, tell me. How goes our business?”

“Do we have a business? I thought we had a scheme.”

“Business sounds more honorable.”

“Do you care about honor?”

He frowned and opened his mouth to retort, and then noticed her expression. Her voice might be serious, but her face was laughing, and her eyes glinted gaily. She was, he thought, very hard not to laugh along with. And so he did. “Touche,” he said. “Scheme it shall be.”

“Well then, our scheme is going quite nicely. Clara was in raptures over your care of William and Margaret. She said she had never known a man could have such a natural affinity with children.”

He grimaced. “Maybe as a rule we can’t, but we can have a natural affinity with rogues and ruffians and those two were equal parts of both.”

“I wouldn’t tell her that,” she replied thoughtfully. “It would probably not go over very well.”

“She can’t actually think those children are well behaved?”

“She thinks they are naturally high-spirited and that high spirits in children must not be checked.”

“William at least, if not checked, is likely to end up on the gallows. Margaret may even join him there. And I shall watch with pleasure.”

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Naomi Laeuchli has lived overseas in nine different countries on three different continents where her family was posted with the American Foreign Service. In November 2012 she moved from the Democratic Republic of the Congo back to the states and currently lives in Arizona with five horses. She works as a freelance writer and part time at the local library. She has written several interactive stories for Choice of Games, Tales, and Dorian.

https://www.amazon.com/Schoolmasters-Daughter-Naomi-Laeuchli/dp/B0D9SKC3D7 FREE TO LIVE ON KINDLE UNLIMITED

https://nplwrites.wordpress.com/

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Historical Romance Easter Egg Hunt Hop

It’s Springtime! The grass is green, the temperatures are rising, and Easter eggs are hiding.

What traditions do you enjoy this time of year? Some people buy a new bonnet each year. In New Zealand and parts of Australia, hot cross buns are more than just a tune you have to learn as a kid; they’re an Easter favorite. The island countries enjoy noshing on these dense treats on Easter, which occurs during their meteorological fall. Once you know that Easter comes right before their winter, it makes more sense that they’d be drawn to this bit of comfort food over the holiday.

My sister always had an hunt. The kiddos got candy and the adult kiddos got cash and gift cards.Others enjoy a great brunch. In France, don’t forget a fork and your appetite if you happen to be in the southern French town of Haux on Easter Monday. Each year, a giant omelet is served up in the town’s main square, according to Atlas Obscura. And when we say giant, we mean giant: The omelet uses more than 15,000 eggs and feeds up to 1,000 people. Legend has it, when Napoleon and his army were traveling through the south of France, they stopped in a small town and ate omelets. Napoleon liked his so much that he ordered the townspeople to gather their eggs and make a giant omelet for his army the next day.

I remember getting a new dress and Easter bonnet every year when I was young. The school district I worked for had an Easter Hat contest every year. For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card and your choice of ebook from my Once Upon a Widow or Chicago Romance series, tell us which bonnet tickles your fancy!

                                                                #1                                   #2

                         #3                                            #4

 

Don’t forget to find the rest of the Easter eggs at my fellow authors’ pages or blogs!

Ruth A. Casie. https://ruthacasie.com/blog/

Elizabeth Rose https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethRoseNovels

Tabetha Waite https://www.authortabethawaite.com/blog-1

Brenna Ash www.brennaash.com/parlor

Elizabeth Watson https://eelizabethwatson.com/holiday-hops/

Katherine Bone www.katherinebone.com/

Misty Urban https://mistyurban.com/historical-romance/

Heather McCollum/Eleri Drake https://www.heathermccollum.com/fun-for-readers/holiday-hop-fun

C.H. Admirand https://www.facebook.com/CHAdmirandAuthor

Tara Kingston https://www.facebook.com/TaraKingstonAuthor

Janna MacGregor https://www.jannamacgregor.com

Mihwa Lee www.instagram.com/mihwawrites/

Collette Cameron https://facebook.com/collettecameronnovels

Tina Gabrielle https://www.facebook.com/TinaGabrielle

Anna St.Claire https://www.annastclaire.com/contests

Glynnis Campbell  https://www.glynnis.net/landing_page/annual-historical-romance-easter-egg-hunt-hop/

Maeve Greyson https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMaeveGreyson

Christina Diane https://christinadianebooks.com/easter-egg-hunt/

Rachel Ann Smith https://penfordpublishing.com/books-in-english

Celeste Barclay www.facebooks.com/celestembarclay

Edie Cay ediecay.com

Terri Brisbin https://www.terribrisbin.com/bookshelf.html

Lori Ann Bailey https://loriannbailey.com/books/wicked-highland-misfits/

Aubrey Wynne https://aubreywynne.com/easter-egg-hunt-hop/

Kathryn Le Veque https://www.facebook.com/kathrynlevequenovels

Laurel ODonnell https://www.laurel-odonnell.com/easter-egg-hunt-april-17-20/

Alanna Lucas https://alannalucas.com/

Ramona Elmes https://m.facebook.com/RamonaElmes/

Deb Marlowe https://www.debmarlowe.com/easter-egg-hop.html

Eliza Knight https://elizaknight.com/news/

EVERYTHING YOU’VE EVER WANTED by Jess Ames

EVERYTHING YOU’VE EVER WANTED

Jess Ames

GENRE:  Women’s Fiction

BLURB:

Jenna Mitchell has spent her adult life under the control of her husband, her dreams of owning her own bakery pushed aside. But at twenty-eight, she’s finally ready to reclaim her life and pursue her passion. Well… almost.

With the unwavering support of the Sensational Six—her close-knit group of friends—Jenna can finally envision a day where she is in charge of her own destiny, a big step forward for her. As she works at her friend’s café, Jenna begins to discover the strength and courage she needs to break free from her past and begin focusing on her future.

But can she quiet the echoes that keep finding their way back to her? Will the doubts they’ve created make it impossible for her to see—and trust—the path forward before her chance at a better life slips through her flour-dusted fingers?

Fans of Rachel Hanna will enjoy this warm and uplifting story about self-discovery, finding the courage to start anew, and the unbreakable bonds of chosen family.

Excerpt  

I’d prepared for this moment in therapy. We had role-played and rehearsed for weeks, and as I tilted the phone away from my ear in preparation of what I knew was coming next, I sent up a silent prayer that I could speak with the same resolve I’d finally achieved in my sessions.

“I’m just not so sure about that anymore, Craig. That’s not our home anymore, and for the record, I like it here.”

My therapist’s voice floated through my head. “Good. Very good. Keep going, Jenna. You’ve got this.” I focused on the tension in my shoulders and let them drop from somewhere near my earlobes.

“Oh, I’m sure you do like it there, living it up and doing whatever the hell you want, but you have to know it’ll never last, Jenna. You need me. You’ll never survive on your own. So, go down to the bank and get the money and get me the hell out of here,” he volleyed back. I could almost see his confident sneer as he waited for his words to take shape in my soft, pliable mind.

But what Craig didn’t know, and what I was finally learning, was that my mind could bend to my will, too.

I let the silence stretch long enough to gather up the scraps of my newly found strength, breathe in slowly through my nose, and look around to ground myself in the new life I was willing into existence, one bright white and navy throw pillow at a time. “Craig, I don’t think it’s a great idea for me to come bail you out right now,” I began with all the confidence I could muster, “but I’m sure your attorney will be able to work something out.”

“I don’t have an attorney, Jenna. I have a public defender,” he spit out.

“I know, Craig. But I —”

“Jenna, you’re being ridiculous. Come down here right—”

Taking a page from his own book, I cut him off. Hung up the phone. For the first time, I didn’t feel compelled to listen to him go on and on about all the ways I’d failed him, and all the ways he’d saved me. I no longer needed my subscription to his misguided savior program. It had become painfully clear who had been saving whom in our relationship, and I was no longer compelled to rescue him after what he’d done to land himself in jail. It was embarrassing enough to know that he had destroyed my friend’s home, just as I was starting to get my feet under me and maybe forge my own path to a little bit of independence. I can’t even imagine how Paige had felt to come home and find her kitchen and bedroom destroyed. And then to find out it was my husband who had done it out of anger and jealousy that she was offering me a chance to bake for her retreats—an opportunity to gain some independence (God forbid)… I’d been lucky that Paige was such an understanding friend and didn’t hold Craig’s actions against me.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Jess Ames is knocking on the door of fifty, but has the sense of humor of a twelve year old and the body of a fifty-four-year-old (according to her fitness app).

She is “mama” to nine, “mimi” to four, “friend” to all, an adequate wife, and living the dream of the little girl who wanted to be a writer when she grew up.

They are both still waiting for that moment, so she’s writing in the meantime.

https://JessAmesAuthor.com

https://Facebook.com/JessAmesAuthor

https://Instagram.com/JessAmesAuthor

https://TikTok.com/@JessAmesAuthor

Everything You’ve Ever Wanted

Ebook (Kindle):

https://www.amazon.com/Everything-Youve-Wanted-Clearwater-Dreams-ebook/dp/B0D9FMKVTQ

Paperback:

https://www.amazon.com/Everything-Youve-Ever-Wanted-heartwarming/dp/B0DZJ1DTXN

Signed paperback:

https://jessicaames.com/collections/books/products/everything-youve-ever-wanted-signed-paperback

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NEW RELEASE! Crimes, Conspiracies, and Courtship (A Paddy’s Peelers Mystery) by Aubrey Wynne

Crimes, Conspiracies, and Courtship
Paddy’s Peelers Mysteries Book 1
by Aubrey Wynne

Lady Matilda has always been an introvert, preferring her books to awkward conversations with strangers. As her first Season arrives, her mother insists she put away her bluestocking and concentrate on finding a husband. But Mattie is terrified of finding herself betrothed or even worse— not betrothed. The arrogant men of the ton terrify her.

Mr. Harry Walters is an orphaned, ex-Bow Street runner turned investigator, who makes a living by his wits. Working for Paddy O’Brien and his Peelers, often taking assignments for the Home Office, Walters is used to working closely with the beau monde. When a peer approaches him about a new assignment, Harry realizes they are both after the same man. He accepts the job but soon finds himself also protecting the earl’s sister.

While working in costume at a masquerade, Walters makes a fatal mistake when he asks Lady Matilda to dance. It takes only a few stolen glances and one waltz for two unlikely souls to become hopelessly entwined. Mattie is determined to win the heart of this handsome, rugged man. Harry is just as determined to keep her safe.

Will fate find a way to bring a common man and an earl’s sister a happy ever after? Or will his lack of title and dangerous life keep her at arm’s length?

Set in the hectic district of Cheapside during the Regency, Paddy’s Peelers search the dregs of London with skill and cunning to uncover political plots, bring criminals to justice, and perhaps unexpectedly find love along the way. A sweet but action-packed romance.

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