Readers Roost: based on a true story

Showing posts with label based on a true story. Show all posts

Saturday, October 24, 2026

The Gershwin Cutter Book Blitz #rabtbooktours

Thriller, Drama, Suspense, Action, Redemption, Healing

Date Published: July 9, 2026

Publisher: Manhattan Book Group

INSPIRED BY TRUE EVENTS.

RESCUED FROM A BRUTAL CULT, SHE BELIEVED SHE HAD ESCAPED THE SHADOWS. BUT TEXAS HARBORS EVEN DARKER SECRETS.

Blake is a steely, enigmatic force, fiercely loyal to her one-eyed horse, Ira. As she navigates the patriarchal arena of cutting horse competitions, her steadfast devotion teeters on the brink of danger, unearthing a dark past she had long sought to bury.

Across the scorched Lone Star badlands, retired detective Sonny Harrell hunts the killers who murdered his father. His trail of blood and lies uncovers a ruthless syndicate that would flay you to the bone to guard its empire of corruption.

When Sonny's path collides with Blake's, she is swept into a vortex of violence. Outnumbered and outmatched, they must claw through the chaos-or vanish into oblivion.

About the Author

Paul’s debut crime thriller Nannerl’s Symphony—based on Mozart’s history—was published soon after he completed his PhD in Mathematics from Imperial College London. He has since authored over 100 academic papers in top journals. The Gershwin Cutter is his second thriller, with two more on the way. Currently, he holds an endowed professorship at the University of Texas in Austin. A recipient of multiple research awards, Paul was also a finalist for the U.S. National Library of Poetry Award. He has lived on three continents and is fluent in several languages. An animal lover, Paul is the proud pet parent of a blue-eyed Alsatian.

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Wednesday, September 9, 2026

Discovering Elizabeth Release Blitz #rabtbooktours

Historical Fiction

Date Published: September 9, 2026

Before Vicky could truly understand herself, there was a story she needed to understand in her Great Aunt Elizabeth.

Queens, 1984. Dr. Elizabeth Khayat—Palestinian-American, former pilot and pioneering physician—is recently widowed and fiercely private about her past. When her rebellious teenage grandniece, Vicky, is sent to spend the summer with her, the two clash immediately. Vicky is consumed by romance and rebellion; Elizabeth has built her life on discipline and hard-won independence. But Elizabeth’s guarded presence conceals a wartime history in World War II France—where, as a young doctor learning to fly, she formed a dangerous alliance with a German-Jewish colleague and became entangled with the French Resistance. Survival demanded impossible choices, and not all of them can remain buried.

As Vicky’s own reckless relationship begins to spiral, long hidden truth threatens to surface—forcing both women to confront who they are.

Discovering Elizabeth is a dual-timeline novel about legacy, sacrifice and the complicated inheritance between generations of women.

About the Author

Alexandra Khayat Dahl is a fourth-generation American whose family’s origins are from the Levant region of the Middle East. Raised in Washington, DC and educated in Catholic schools, she went on to attend an international university that set the course for a life defined by global experience. She spent the majority of her adult years in Europe, where living across cultures sharpened her perspective and strengthened her voice. A mother of four adult children, she returned to the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic with a renewed commitment to preserving the stories that shape generations.

Inspired by the true life of her great aunt and godmother—a fearless doctor, aviator, supporter of the French resistance and a trailblazer who defied an arranged marriage to marry for love— Alexandra celebrates a legacy of courage, conviction, and uncompromising independence.

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Monday, July 27, 2026

Only Angels Have Blue Eyes Teaser #rabtbooktours

Horror / Suspense

Date Published: 08-03-2026

Things are looking up for Maylin Cole and her 4-year-old daughter, Margo. Fleeing an abusive relationship, the private clinic Heaven’s Hope offers shelter and the promise of a new life. Led by the charismatic and beguiling Seraph Nakir, they learn a surprising truth: they’re actually angels who have lost their way.

Everyone has an angel name and is being prepared to ‘ascend’ when the time is right. Their angelic identities will play a significant role in aiding humanity when the world ends.

As the weeks pass, Maylin becomes accustomed to the peculiar confrontational therapy. The black curtains and bars on the windows no longer trouble her. The lack of privacy, mystifying theology, and strange rules become commonplace. She sees Margo less frequently since the children are kept in the basement.

The death of another patient awakens Maylin to dark secrets within the walls, and soon the horrifying truth about Nakir and Heaven’s Hope is revealed. Maylin must confront her insecurities, rediscover her individuality, and use her wits and resources if she hopes to save Margo and the other children.

Inspired by a true crime case, this slow-burn thriller roars to a pulse-pounding climax, reminding the reader to think independently, ask questions, and be careful who you trust.

Excerpt

Maylin stared at Nakir in disbelief. “I…I can’t do this.”

“Administer Uriel’s punishment. Now,” he replied.

Maylin looked at the man’s back as he knelt before the fireplace like a monk at an ancient altar. Then she looked back at Seraph Nakir. “No. N-no way…”

Nakir tilted his head, his dreadlocks falling to one side. He scowled at her. “The injury was against you,” he said. “So, it is only right that you be the one to dispense his punishment.”

She shook her head, eyes still wide, and thrust the poker toward Nakir.

He refused it. “You must, my daughter. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. His bruises for your bruises. Go ahead. Begin.”

“No, no—this isn’t right. It’s not—”

“Carry out the punishment!” Seraph Nakir bellowed, stepping forward to tower over her.

About the Author

J. Todd Kingrea is the author of "With A Blighted Touch" and The Deiparian Saga ("The Witchfinder," "The Crimson Fathers," and "Bane of the Witch"). He has also authored two non-fiction books, two short stories, and role-playing game scenarios. When not writing, he enjoys collecting and watching movies, reading, and prowling through dusty old bookstores. He and his wife live in Galax, Virginia.

You can find him online at www.jtoddkingrea.com, on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Stay in touch at jtoddkingrea@yahoo.com.

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Saturday, July 18, 2026

The Notorious Murder of Ellar Day Week Blast #rabtbooktours

Literary Western Fiction

Date Published: 06-13-2026

Publisher: Steinmetz Press

Seventeen-year-old Ellar Day is drowning in societal judgment. Following a shotgun wedding and an equally swift divorce from an unfaithful husband, she is under intense pressure from her demanding father to find a respectable provider and secure her infant son’s future. Instead, she falls for Joe Dixon, a former Buffalo Soldier. Because of the era's deep racial prejudices, their passionate affair is strictly forbidden, forcing them to steal quiet moments in back alleys and mule barns.

Meanwhile, her father champions Mark Atkins, a local editor who offers Ellar financial security and a white-picket homestead. But beneath Mark’s polished facade lies a dark, volatile past. When a stormy night with Joe leaves Ellar facing a potential pregnancy, the stakes turn deadly. Knowing a mixed-race child means social ruin for her and a hangman’s noose for Joe, she sacrifices her happiness and accepts Mark’s marriage proposal to save the man she loves.

Yet, safety is an illusion. Facing financial ruin and discovering Ellar's betrayal, Mark unleashes a brutal act of vengeance. When Ellar is fatally shot down a long hotel corridor, Joe is immediately accused of the crime. Orchestrating a ruthless brand of Wild West justice, Joe is burned alive in his jail cell by a lawless vigilante mob.

Reviews for The Notorious Murder of Ellar Day

"The Notorious Murder of Ellar Day is an untold story that is as compelling as it is timely and impactful.

~Penny Haw, author of The Invincible Miss Cust and The Woman and Her Stars.

"There is no easy or clear path for Ellar. Doing the right thing feels wrong and doing what feels right is forbidden."

~Kimberly Burns, author of The Mrs. Tabor and The Redemption of Mattie Silks

"The political and social backdrop of a bustling Colorado mining town gives authentic historical flavor to this captivating debut novel."

~Sherry Skye Stuart, author of Forgotten Female Felons Book One.

"Five stars for Marcy S. Wood's stunning debut! This beautiful reimagining of history portrays the delicate intersection of romantic tragedy and racial injustice with the reverence it deserves."

~Jennifer Wyrick, former owner of the Beaumont Hotel.

Excerpt

I sped down the stairs and out the door. The hag’s vicious laugh haunted my ears. Across the street stood Joe, speaking with the men with whom he played cards. They joked and smoked cigarettes. Surely they knew and were laughing at me. They fell silent as I dashed past. I tossed my mask.

“Missus Woodcock?” he said.

I ran on, too confused to orient myself.

“Excuse me,” I heard him say. To me? To his friends? I continued, hell-bent on escaping my dreadful embarrassment. I saw Mr. Begole’s store was closed up tight with the kerosene streetlights reflected in its windows, and the black night everywhere else. Kicking mud behind me, I rushed toward the company housing.

When I got to my tent, I hurled Chas’s clothes from the top drawer. I stomped them into the muck and mire of my life. It dawned on me that my wicked husband spent my money on whores and sodomites. I spat rancid bile from my mouth, and it landed just shy of Joseph W. Dixon’s feet.

“You all right?” He held my mask, now tarnished with mud.

I stared at him, wishing to scream. Instead, I kept my voice low and even. I gnashed my teeth.

“What does the W stand for?” I asked.

“What?”

“The W stands for What?”

“What are you asking me?”

“Your middle name?” He looked confused. “The W in your middle name. You’re Joseph W. Dixon, right? Oh, never mind. Were you aware of my husband—of his, all of this—when you met me today?” I was angry and addled, but my run through the chilly night had cleared my senses.

“I don’t find it my place to judge a man’s proclivities.”

About the Author

Marcy S. Wood, MA in Creative Professional Writing, lives in the mountains of Ouray, CO. She writes at the end of her family’s dining table with a pup at her feet and a cat on her lap.

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Saturday, June 27, 2026

The Brothers Brown Week Blast #rabtbooktours

for the sake of family

Family Saga, Historical Fiction, Native American

Date Published: 12-04-2025

Based on a true story.

Set in the late 1890’s, The Brothers Brown - a family saga, Part 2 - For the Sake of Family is a sweeping frontier saga of love, guilt, and redemption - an unflinching portrait of a man’s descent into madness amid the unforgiving wilds of Indian Territory.

When Matt Brown boards a northbound train, he carries more than a pistol. He carries the weight of his brother’s death, a marriage strained to its breaking point, and a conscience at war with itself. A doctor’s brown vial of medicine offers fleeting relief but soon draws him into a darker world where pain and guilt blur into something far more dangerous.

His wife, Milla, proud and rooted in her Choctaw heritage, stands as both his anchor and his judge as the world around them shifts under the weight of change and loss.

From Fort Smith, Arkansas, to the wooded banks of Bokchito Creek, two families are bound by tragedy and love, vengeance and mercy. A celebration meant to heal ignites old resentments. A family gathering ends in bloodshed. And a winter dance turns deadly, forcing each to face the cost of survival, forgiveness, and the ties that bind them.

Steeped in the spirit of the Choctaw Nation and the rough mercy of the Old West, For the Sake of Family is a haunting tale of madness, murder, and the fragile hope that redemption can be found on the far side of ruin.

About the Author

Raised on the beaches of South Texas, R.G. Stanford has always been drawn to stories that transcend time. That passion was ignited in 1976 with the discovery of Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, and deepened with The Feast of All Saints just a few years later. Though historical fiction wasn’t an immediate calling, a personal journey into genealogy changed everything.

With no close relatives nearby, R.G. Stanford turned to online resources in search of extended family. That search became a twenty-year journey through genealogy websites, Federal Census records, the National Archives, and old newspapers. Along the way, R.G. Stanford uncovered incredible stories about her family and the people who once lived in the Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory.

Compelled to record the truth of her family in the lore, sprinkled with imagination, R.G. Stanford is a history lover, a research buff, and a passionate genealogy enthusiast. She is also a mother, a grandmother, and a teller of stories, now living near Orlando.

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Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Oh, Tal! Not Like That Book Blitz #rabtbooktours

Children's Picture Book

Date Published: April 15, 2026

Oh, Tal! Not Like That., a new book by autistic actor Tal Anderson and award-winning Hollywood artist, Michael Richey White, is Book 2 in the Oh, Tal! series for children.

Tal and the family cat, Winnie are once again taking on the world, and this time, they're doing it at school. Tal starts the school year off excited, but quickly learns that in the classroom, they like kids to follow directions, and to be the same, and do things uniformly. Tal has different ideas, however, and classmates and teachers work hard to teach and model the "right way" to do things.

In the end, they all learn a valuable lesson: that there are more ways than one to get things done, and that expressing yourself authentically leads to good things. Once again, Tal wins over hearts and confirms it's okay to be different, be yourself, and to follow your own path.

About the Author

Tal Anderson is a professional actor, filmmaker, and writer. She is an advocate for change, using her voice and unique platform as an autistic actor to support inclusion and authentic representation in front of and behind the camera in Hollywood. She is best known for her work in the Netflix series "Atypical" as Sid, but can also be seen and heard in many other productions including, guest-starring in Season 5 of "Magnum P.I." on NBC, and as the English voice of Tina in the Disney Plus series, "Team Chocolate." Tal has always been a storyteller, and as a child could be seen constantly using her FLIP video camera, or one of several hand-held voice-recorders to record every day life, or her daily performances of stories/scripts she had made up or written. It is this love of imagination that led her to acting and filmmaking as an adult. "Oh, Tal! - Not Today," is Tal's first book. She lives in Los Angeles with her cat Winifred, where they can both live their best lives and be their true selves.

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Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Voyagers Homeland to Heartland Book Blitz #rabtbooktours

Biographical Fiction

Date Published: March 26, 2026

Voyagers: Homeland to Heartland is a sweeping, multi-generational saga inspired by true family history, tracing a Norwegian immigrant family's journey from the rugged valleys of Norway to the windswept prairies of Nebraska.

Rooted in the author's own heritage, the story follows Kittil and Marte Dyrebu as they leave behind everything familiar-family, language, and homeland-to chase the promise of opportunity in America. Their passage across the Atlantic is only the beginning. What follows is a lifetime of perseverance: carving a home from raw prairie, enduring devastating storms, profound loss, quiet joys, and the relentless demands of frontier life.

Told through richly detailed vignettes, Voyagers weaves together the lives of parents and children, siblings and spouses, revealing how love, faith, and tradition are carried forward even as circumstances change. From intimate moments around a family table to life altering crossroads shaped by duty, sacrifice, and longing, each generation faces its own tests-yet remains bound by shared memory and resilience.

At its core, Voyagers is a tribute to storytelling itself: the way stories preserve identity, heal grief, and connect past to present. It is a novel for anyone drawn to historical fiction, immigrant journeys, and the enduring power of family legacy.

Both tender and unflinching, Voyagers honors the courage of those who came before-and the stories that continue to shape who we are.

About the Author

Award-winning author and motivational speaker, D. L. Norris is widely recognized for her insightful contributions to literature and personal development. With a prolific career spanning several decades, Norris has explored themes of health, emotional wellness, family dynamics, and cultural history, earning her a devoted readership. Her acclaimed novels, "The Long Way Home," "Where the Heart Is," "Old Books and Faded Dreams: Collector's Edition," "Field of Memories: A Tapestry of Heartwarming Short Stories," The Intercessors: They Walk Among Us," and "Voyagers: Homeland to Heartland"—are celebrated for their vibrant, oft-humorous stories and authentic portrayal of real-life events and mindsets inspired by her beloved Scandinavian heritage.

Norris's writing is characterized by its warmth, wit, and ability to capture the complexities of human relationships, drawing from her own experiences and family traditions. Through her work, she invites readers to reflect on the importance of resilience, hope, and unconditional love, weaving together narratives that resonate across generations.

She and her husband, Quincy, reside in the picturesque city of Hartford, Connecticut, where they continue to inspire others through their commitment to storytelling and community engagement.

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Wednesday, April 15, 2026

The Man In the Middle Book Blitz #rabtbooktours

A Tapestry of Tangled Lives

Family Saga / Fiction / Based on True Lived Experiences

Date Published: April 6, 2026

Publisher: Serapis Bey Publishing, Arizona, US www.parulagrawal.com

A story of human connection between twins, between lovers, between comrades in war, set against the shadow of the evangelical religion and its judgments."

Based on a childhood of shadowy secrets surrounding her parents’ marriage and the rigid judgment of the Evangelical religion, the author attempts to find her truth. A work of historical fiction and romance, it spans the era of WWII and beyond, weaving the story of her father, mother and aunt (her mother’s twin sister). The unexpected twists and turns mirror those of our own lives, and readers can empathize and identify with the characters’ humanity as they struggle with their flaws. The power of religious judgement is explored along with the strength and resilience of individuals challenged by the ethics of life. This is also a fascinating study of the complexities of being twins. With the strongest of bonds that overwhelms their very different personalities, their love for the same man creates a gulf between them that threatens their entire adult relationship. It is also a story of a man and how he navigates his own journey after love and loss. When his WWII experience takes him to countries he has never dreamed of seeing, and opens him to the excitement of new cultures, he finds new meaning. At the same time, his bonds to his comrades in arms and their shared experiences of battlefield traumas leaves him with emotional scars. A story of secrets and the power of love, the themes of self-doubt and second chances are embedded in the narrative, along with the acceptance of one’s actions following painful choices.

A story of human connection between twins, lovers, comrades during World War 11, families, and generational trauma, set across the United States and Europe and against the shadow of the Evangelical religion and its judgments. A family saga of secrets, shadows, and unspoken enduring love, and its impact across three generations, based on a true story of lived experience. A work of romantic, historical fiction, The Man in the Middle; A Tale of Tangled Lives is based on the true story of the author’s parents. It follows their youth in the early 1900s in US, through the years of WWII in Europe, and after, and their lives as friends, lovers, parents, and elderly individuals.

This is a story of love and its many forms. There are no heroes or demons, only people dealing with their humanity. Or maybe there are heroes: Luke, as he navigates his life honourably and responsibly, while harbouring feelings for more than one woman; Anna as she comes to terms with her selfish impulses and attempts to overcome them; Pierrette, who recognizes and accepts that she cannot give Luke the life he wants, and that their love is not enough. Karoline is perhaps the true heroine of the book. A victim of the religious beliefs she is trapped by, she finds it impossible to love herself. Instead, she spends her life feeling inferior to her sister and undeserving of Luke’s love. At Luke’s passing, she finally receives the confirmation of her worth and her place as the love of his life.

About the Author

"The author lives half-time in San Diego, CA, and half-time in a small village in Southern France. This is her exploration of the unexplained secrets that shadowed her childhood and the consequences that haunt all our choices."

“I wrote this book to come to terms with my past. I wanted to understand the people who raised me, through the fictional characters of Karoline and Luke, who represent my parents and my mother’s twin sister, Anna, who represents my aunt. My childhood was full of love, but as I watched the individuals around me, I sensed a drama that excluded me. I knew my father had been in WWII and experienced Normandy, the Battle of the Bulge and much more during the four years he spent in Europe. The way he talked about the world he had discovered there intrigued me and I knew there was more to tell, which he never spoke about. My mother adored my father, but there was a tension in the room when my aunt was present. A connection between my father and my aunt was obvious despite their effort to hide it. Through the years, there were inadvertent comments that hinted of a previous relationship between them, but it wasn’t until the end of my father’s life that conversations took place that enlightened me. I didn’t ask, but they each wanted to tell their story, their truth about what happened. This book is my truth, my experience in living with them and loving them. It is my attempt to honor them by exploring their humanness and accepting that we are each a complex entity.”

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Instagram: @julie.lee.williams

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https://mybook.to/TheManintheMiddle

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Monday, March 2, 2026

Just Look At Those Boots Teaser #rabtbooktours

Children's Western

Date Published: 02-26-2026

Publisher: Solander Press

A.J. is so excited about his new cowboy boots. He wears them on the first day of the school year. Mom said it was for only one day and then back to his regular boots or sneakers. During recess, A.J. plays in an exciting game of kickball. His boots get very messy during the game.

When he gets home, Jon, the farm hand, see the boots and tells him to clean them up then get into his work boots. Jon tells him to give Lady Star a ride because she’s waited all day for him.

On the ride, A.J. heads to the shallow pond out in one field. While A.J. daydreams, Lady Star sees the pond and decides to get there fast. A.J. loses control of Lady Star and finds himself thrown into the pond. Daydreaming on the ride means A.J. has additional chores when he returns to the barn.

In this second book, Sherry Roberts continues to tell stories inspired by her father’s childhood during the 1930s and 1940s in Northeast Oklahoma. For those who enjoy stores of the American West, as well as history, Just Look At Those Boots, is a must-read.

Excerpt

“Hi, Benji. Ready for a new school year?” I ask as I sit beside him on the bus.

“I like summer better.” He shrugs as he lets me know his feelings. It’s the first day, and Benji looks like he just got out of bed. Of course, Benji always looks like he just got out of bed. His hair is going every which way, and his shirt is wrinkled like he slept in it. He probably did. “Why are you late?”

“Been one of those mornings when everything was going wrong. Sadie made a mess while I was milking her, and I had to change clothes.

Then Jon saw me daydreaming as I was walking to the bus. Of course, Lady Star was at the rails with him. I had to go over to give her a nose rub. So, yeah, I guess I was daydreaming a bit.” I shrug my shoulders.

Benji laughs. “You’re always daydreaming. What was it about this time?”

“I was thinking about the first day of school. I want it to be a good year. Also, I was looking at my new boots.”

“Wow, I didn’t notice. Those are great. When did you get them? Won’t they hurt if you wear them all day? You haven’t really worn them in yet.”

Benji talks like this. He asks questions but forgets to give you time to answer any of them.

“Benji, stop.”

Benji takes a breath. I look at my boots again. “I got them on Saturday. I wore them all Saturday and Sunday while working around the farm.

They don’t hurt. They’re still stiff but it’ll get better. I like wearing them, and Mom said it was okay to wear them today but maybe not every day.”

About the Author

Sherry Roberts is an award-winning children’s book author. She holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Louisville. She has written multiple award-winning fiction picture books such as ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas…A First for Gus, Hello, Can I Bug You?, Gabriel and the Special Memorial Day, What’s Wrong with Barnaby, and The Best Reading Buddy. She also has written two non-fiction award-winning picture books, Sonnet, Sonnet, What’s in Your Bonnet? and A Visit Through the Wetlands. These two were illustrated with her photography. Sherry’s newest picture book, Amica Helps Zoe, was featured in Kirkus e-newsletter June 2025 as Indie Pick and received a Get It: Recommend review.

As a former middle school teacher, Dr. Roberts decided to write her first middle-grade novel (ages 8-13). Her debut novel, The Galaxy According to CeCe, is the first book in a three-book series. It was officially released on February 24, 2024. Book two, The Galaxy According to Cece: The Mysterious Dr. Pruitt, was released August 2024. Book three, The Galaxy According to Cece: The Stars Align, released February 2025.

Sherry’s next venture is a chapter book series (ages 6-8). The first book, Just Call Me Pardner, was released August 1, 2025. The series is about a young boy in the 1930s on a small farm in Northeastern Oklahoma and is inspired by stories of her father’s childhood in the 1930s. Book 2, Just Look at Those Boots, launches in early 2026, with Book 3, Just Don’t Give a Girl a Frog, launching in November 2026.

Dr. Roberts has also written many articles that appear in various academic journals, along with three textbooks. Personal Financial Literacy is in its fourth edition (Pearson). She is an associate professor of Marketing in Jones College of Business at Middle Tennessee State University.

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https://mybook.to/JustLookatThoseBoots

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Thursday, February 26, 2026

Just Look At Those Boots Release Blitz #rabtbooktours

Children's Western

Date Published: 02-26-2026

Publisher: Solander Press

When he gets home, Jon, the farm hand, see the boots and tells him to clean them up then get into his work boots. Jon tells him to give Lady Star a ride because she’s waited all day for him.

About the Author

Contact Links

Website

Facebook

Purchase Links

https://mybook.to/JustLookatThoseBoots

Amazon