Voices Carry Here Teaser #rabtbooktours

Mystery and Suspense

Date Published: 05-04-2026

Publisher: Mission Point Press

Do you hear the voices? Listen if you dare . . . You’ll get both the heebies and the jeebies in this unsettling new title.

A henpecked husband learns that “till death do us part” isn’t the end of the story when his dead wife returns.

A newly retired couple uncovers a pestilent secret buried beneath their dream home.

A young woman retreats to the countryside to discover herself, only to stumble upon an unsolved tragedy calling out for justice.

Voices Carry Here is a collection of short stories steeped in mystery, suspense, and the supernatural. Set against the beauty of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, these tales will reveal secrets just beneath the surface of tranquil lakes, cries for help echoing from shadowed campgrounds, and small-town characters experiencing extraordinary circumstances.

Blending chills with warmth, author Gail Galotta’s flair for supernatural suspense is tempered with touches of humor, romance, and nostalgia.

 
Excerpt from “The Pestilence House”

We moved into our newly constructed home in early June. The first nightmare occurred just two weeks later.

I awoke to the sound of heavy breathing. Thinking at first that it was Ken, I swept my arm across to his side, but it was vacant. I quickly realized that something else was present in the room, something that was steadily approaching the bed. I lay there paralyzed, my back to the presence that hovered above me for a moment and then lowered toward my head. I could feel the subtle waves of labored breaths against the nape of my neck. I tried to scream, but terror froze my vocal cords. Is this a dream? It must be a dream! Where is Ken! Then, another sound invaded my ears—a guttural noise, like that of an animal. A racoon? A coyote? I jerked my head around and opened my mouth to fend off the beast with a mighty shout. Instead, my lips encountered the extended tongue of a different creature. His distorted face—with its bulbous nose and bulging eyes—scarcely seemed human. His skin was dappled with bruises and only thinly veiled the skeletal frame beneath. Suddenly, the tongue retracted, and the jaw extended in an effort to speak—or bite. I screamed. A bloodcurdling scream that vanquished the intruder and sent my very human husband rushing upstairs.

Ken turned on the light and sat next to me on the bed while I attempted an explanation of…I wasn’t sure what. He suggested that my nightmare may have been prompted by something I heard from the movie he had been watching. My trembling eased as he continued. “Sometimes I wake up and think someone’s at our door. You know, like when our dog used to hear a doorbell on TV.”

The reference made me smile. “I didn’t bark, did I?”

Although Ken’s theory seemed plausible, I wasn’t totally convinced. Especially after I suffered a similar experience a few nights later. Our cocker spaniel had been gone for several years, but when I felt the mattress yield to the weight of something at my feet, my first thought was of that beloved pet, and I instinctively adjusted my position to accommodate her. Then my eyes flashed open. Something was moving slowly along my body. I could feel the light depressions on the blanket, like footsteps in the snow. This time I didn’t scream. My breaths quivered as something pressed gently on my back and then my shoulder. I lay still, waiting to throw off the…squirrel? Rat? But when a whisper approached my ear, I bolted upright. Whatever noise I made alarmed Ken. This time the television was off, and the only ambient sound that could have possibly inspired my dream was the rhythmic breathing of my husband, who had been asleep next to me in bed.

 

About the Author

Gail Galotta was raised in Chicago with childhood summers in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

She’s always been drawn to the mystical pull of water, which often shapes the settings of her stories. An award-winning writer and former English teacher, she lives in Vulcan, Michigan, overlooking the same lake that inspired her earliest work. When asked what inspires her latest fiction, she offers only a cryptic smile.

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Icarus Rising New Release Blitz #IndiGo

Title: Icarus Rising

Series: Motherboards & Magic (#2)

Author: Stephanie Burke & Areana Senoj

Publisher: Changeling Press LLC

Release Date: January 3, 2025

Heat Level: 4 - Lots of Sex

Length: 125 pages

Genre: Action Adventure, Futuristic, New Releases, Sci-Fi , Suspense

Themes: Alien Encounters, Bisexual, Multisexual, & Pansexual, Cyber-Punk, Gay, Hentai, Multiple Partners, Voyeurism and Exhibitionism

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Synopsis

Dark clouds are gathering. Icarus is the light at the end of the tunnel. And in his wake: Chaos.

Even though dark clouds gather in the distance, Asher, Vers, and Korya start to see the light at the end of the tunnel. That “Light” is named Icarus, and with him comes chaos. Even as the trio’s immediate problem is solved, more people are out to get them.

With danger at every turn, they can only depend on each other. Who is this mysterious alien called Icarus? Is he there to help protect them from the DPL or are they about to become victims of an insidious plot to end the planet? Either way, the friction is burning as they take one step closer to unraveling the mysteries of Asher’s parents’ death, and what the DPL is hiding.

Excerpt

Icarus Rising (Motherboards & Magic 2)

Stephanie Burke & Areana Senoj

All rights reserved.

Copyright ©2024 Stephanie Burke & Areana Senoj

TO THE INDIVIDUAL WITH THE GOLDEN BLOOD:

WHOEVER IS THE RH NULL,

I’VE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU.

WE HAVE ISSUES TO DISCUSS THAT ARE PARAMOUNT TO THE PROTECTION OF THIS PLANET.

MEET ME AT THE SAHARA, LAS VEGAS

THE ALEXANDRIA SUITE (OF COURSE)

Even on second reading, the message made no sense to Korya. “Okay, what the fuck?”

Vers immediately pulled up Korya’s keyboard and began a trace. “You might want to get the boss,” Vers snapped, eyes intent as zis four-fingered hands flew over the keyboard. “I can’t find any trace, or even how they broke through your firewall.”

Korya, not needing to be told twice, spun on her pink fuzzy slippers and raced to the bathroom. “Asher!” she called out as she swung the door open and… froze.

Asher stood before her, absently toweling his waist-length hair, completely and utterly naked as the day he was born. His long hair flowed in inky waves down his back, the ends, dyed a lighter blue, drawing her attention for a moment before her gaze returned to his… other attributes. Oh, every creator god that ever existed, was that dick real?

But then her focus shifted back to his face and questioning look. His head tilted to the side, his cybernetic eye flared wide blue before a silver line overtook the red bar that had been there since he received news about his parents.

Her gaze wandered again, trailing over his golden skin, noting how soft and supple it looked, then back to his heart-shaped face -- and down his neck. Even though he was breathing and swallowing normally, she didn’t notice his neck muscles constrict.

“Korya?” His voice box looked off, like it didn’t move naturally.

Her attention then traveled to his right arm, muscular and powerful looking as he rubbed at his scalp. His other hand let go of his fall of hair to rest on his hips as he adjusted his stance, then shifted his weight on his legs. And that was where the jaw-dropping confusion reasserted itself in Korya’s brain.

His left arm and hand were a strange, steel gray with what looked like swirls of silver. It covered his left arm from the shoulder down to his fingertips and both legs. The water flowed along the metal muscles that looked and moved as natural as flesh but strangely was not. Fuck. She’d forgotten that he had lost both of his legs and one arm…

But… how? If not for the color and the too graceful and smooth movements of his body, she would have totally forgotten the greater portion of his physiology was cybernetic.

But what beautiful technology, she decided as she tracked the shifting movements under the metallic skin of his thick thighs, down to his toes flexing on her shower mat, and then back up to his calves.

Her new boss was metal… well, mostly. Her gaze darted back up to his left shoulder where she would be damned if she could even see how the flesh attached to the metal. It was a smooth, seamless transition. Only the fact that the golden flesh tones of his skin faded into the stark steel-gray metal gave away his android leanings.

But damn, each muscle was defined and sculpted beautifully. Her gaze dropped to his hips where his perfect Adonis belt melded into metal in a beautiful flow that only the world’s best artists or poets could do it the most justice.

“There are veins!” she all but shouted as she moved closer, dropping to her knees and reaching out a tentative hand for the closest thigh.

She didn’t even notice his flinch, only that he stepped back a bit and stared down at her, his confused look turning incredulous as she got a closer look at what so fascinated her.

Truly, Asher would be flattered but he knew her fascination had nothing to do with him and everything to do with the hardware he sported.

“Can I help you?” he asked as she looked up at him, flushed bright red, and pulled her hand back.

“Uh… I mean… did this hurt?” Then she winced, thinking her previous question the most stupid that had ever fallen out of her mouth. “That was a dumb question. Of course, it hurt. How in the galaxy did they manage… I mean the seams are nonexistent. And you look so real…”

“Yeah, just like a real boy.” His tone was pissy at best, but he really didn’t care. There was a woman kneeling at his feet and reaching for parts of his body that only he and his many varied doctors… okay. He really didn’t care who was staring at him, any parts of him. His shame had died a hard death when they had to lift his dick for him to take a piss. The legs came first, after all, and over time they’d built the graphene skeleton for his left arm and replace the pulverized bones in his right. The legs were an easy build and began to look more and more human as the augmentation therapy advanced, but the arms… He remembered standing under the water of a hot shower for the first time in months when they finally got his legs attached and healed… and the complete humiliation of someone having to scrub between his butt cheeks after every time he took a shit when they finally allowed him solid foods. They were kind enough to do scar removal from the colostomy bag but by that time, he had been poked, prodded, scanned, examined, and touched on every part of his body, intimate or not. A female on her knees before him while he was naked was something he’d experienced several times before. Someone who was neither a medical nor scientific doctor touching him and without his consent, however…

“Did you need something, really, or is this just a thing you do? If it is, I’m sure Vers will be more amenable --”

“I’m sorry.” Korya moaned, slapping both hands over her eyes and lowering her head, giggling nervously.

No, not nervously -- more like she was shocked by her actions. But not too shocked, because yes, that was her, parting some fingers to get another look at his junk… or… what was she staring at?

Purchase at Changeling Press LLC

Meet the Authors

Stephanie Burke

Stephanie is a USA Today Best Selling, multi published, multi award-winning author, Master Costumer, handicapped, wife and mother of two.

From sex-shifting, shape-shifting dragons to undersea worlds, sexually confused elemental Fey and homo-erotic mysteries, all the way to pastel-challenged urban sprites, Stephanie has done it all, and hopes to do more.

Stephanie is an orator on her favorite subjects of writing and world-building, a sometime teacher when you feed her enough tea and donuts, an anime nut, a costumer, and a frequent guest of various sci-fi and writing cons where she can be found leading panel discussions or researching varied legends and theories to improve her writing skills.

Stephanie is known for her love of the outrageous, strong female characters, believable worlds, male characters filled with depth, and multi-cultural stories that make the reader sit up and take notice.

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Areana Senoj 

Areana Senoj is a multi-genre writer of erotic romance, paranormal, and sci-fi fantasy fiction. She’s been an actress, singer, dancer, educator, and, briefly, a stay-at-home “tennis, soccer, and band mom,” as well as a small business entrepreneur. Now she’s enjoying a new career living life as a full-time writer. She’s thrilled to join Changeling Press, where she's teamed up with USA Today Best Selling Author Stephanie Burke, co-authoring Motherboards and Magic.

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Giveaway

One lucky winner will receive a $10.00 Changeling Press Gift Code! 

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Blue Book Blitz #rabtbooktours

 

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

 

Pamela Edwards McClafferty (Editor)

 

Fiction

Date Published: May 21, 2024

Publisher: Spellbound Pictures Ltd USA LLC.

 

 

 

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

 

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

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

Meet the Protagonists:

 

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

 

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

 

A Race Against Time:

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

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

 

BLUE: A Riveting Tale of:

 

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

 

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

About the Author

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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RIP Challenge 2023: Day 25: New Best Friend

 

https://amzn.to/46YfP05

R

Ornery Owl's Rating

🌟🌟+1/2

Mini Review

I threw on an additional half-star because the performances are pretty good and the movie is fun if you'd like to see Mean Girls as a sleazy suspense flick. The plot revolves around a bunch of shallow, backstabbing, rich assholes who meet an ambitious social climber from the wrong side of the tracks and they try to destroy each other. 

The sheriff and Alicia's mother are the only truly sympathetic characters. Trevor is an okay guy as well. Most of the other characters are a collection of sociopaths whose lives revolve around drinking, getting high, having sex, and fucking each other over. Good times!

RIP 2023 Day 8: The Cottage

 

https://amzn.to/3Q4Mzze

MA

Ornery Owl's Rating

🌟🌟🌟

Mini Review

Pretty much an alternate universe in which Charles Manson is a romance writer. Excellent performances and a creepy presence. Not a great story and not exactly fun-bad, but a decent popcorn movie. 

Free use image from Open Clipart Vectors

The Axe Release Blitz #rabtbooktours

 

Suspense Novella

Date Published: September 27, 2023

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

 

Sweethearts Eric Leidheldt and Desiree Chauveau are spending a weekend at his uncle's cabin when they encounter two strangers cutting wood. Eric is knocked unconscious, and Desi is viciously attacked. The following day two police officers come to their apartment to arrest Desi. Her assailants are dead, murdered with an axe, and her fingerprints are on it. She confesses—but is she really guilty? Eric is determined to stand by her, but the physical and emotional effects of the attack severely challenge their relationship.

Excerpt

The pickup was a very old, battered Dodge. Beyond it were two bearded men in plaid flannel shirts. The one with the axe was about forty, broad-shouldered, and dark-haired. The other one was tall, scruffy, a little younger, and had red hair. They both turned toward the approaching couple. The red-haired one stared at Desi in a way Eric didn’t like, but the other man smiled genially and said, “Howdy, folks. Pretty day, ain’t it?”

And then he swung the axe.

About the Author

Linda Griffin knew she wanted to be a “book maker” as soon as she learned to read and wrote her first story, “Judy and the Fairies,” at the age of six. She retired as fiction librarian for the San Diego Public Library to spend more time on her writing. She has had stories of every length from short shorts to novellas published in numerous literary journals, and The Axe is her seventh book from the Wild Rose Press.

 

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The Flapper, the Imposter, and the Stalker Guest Post #GoddessFishPromotions

 

The Flapper, the Impostor, and the Stalker

by Charlene Bell Dietz

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

GENRE: Mystery, Historical, Suspense Novel

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

BLURB:

A privileged teenager from Minneapolis in 1923, scraps her college scholarship and runs away to become a flapper in dangerous, chaotic Chicago. In her search for illusive happiness, she confronts the mob and then must contrive a way to not be murdered.

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

Excerpt 

Kathleen continued, “You said you wished you could go to college with me. What if we could go somewhere together, not to college, but someplace where we could dance and act and you could sing? I bet with our talents, we could turn this horrid world into something much more joyful—help make it one big party.”


“How?” Sophie’s eyes opened wide.


“We’ll go where you won’t have to teach kids piano, or act or dance, unless you want. You’ll be able to sing your heart out and, who knows, maybe even write your own songs.”


“My mother would never let me.” Sophie looked off into the near distance.

“Sophie, we’ll get to wear sparkly dresses. And wouldn’t you love to wear those modern, classy clothes? We’d bob our hair even shorter, wear lipstick, and be around people who know how to have fun and not have a care in the world.” Sophie should see the photos in Kathleen’s collection of theater magazines again. Then she’d be excited too.


“I’m sick of funerals and consoling others,” Kathleen continued.


“Look at how miserable Dolly is. Aren’t you tired of that too? We’d be around progressive people, thinking people, people who know how to make the most out of life. They’re searching for talent, Sophie. We’ll fit right in.”


“Where, Kathleen? No one much appreciates our abilities here.”


“Chicago. There are all sorts of openings for attractive young ladies with well-turned ankles and voices like canaries. That’s what the advertisements say.”


Guest Post

My Coauthor—My Reader

Charlene Bell Dietz

My father grabbed my ten and twelve-years-older brothers, and marched them, double-stepping, into the kitchen. He pulled his belt off and, ushering them down into the basement, slammed the door. Daddy never lost his temper. Daddy never hit us. I strained with all my hearing molecules, but our deep cellar smothered all sounds.

You just became my other author. Your vivid imagination about the cellar and what might happen, and why my brothers found themselves in horrible trouble brought more to this passage than my written words could. This is why we live in books. They capture our emotions and let our imaginations soar.

Stephen King says if you don’t have time to read, you don’t have time to write. I read all the time, and I read anything. People say they are voracious readers, but I’d say I’m a compulsive reader, even though I’m an author. I read, I imagine, and I write to let other readers imagine.

My first two mystery books won the coveted Kirkus Reviews’ starred review, and both were named to Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books of 2018. Everyone said I had achieved the impossible. But how? After scratching my head, and evaluating hundreds of books, I believe I know.

This is my second-year judging contest books. I fling each book into mental categories: 1^st waste of paper, 2^nd needs help, 3^rd Okay, going places, 4^th Excellent, 5^th Dang it! This fifth category contains intelligent, well-written books with cold, unengaging stories. These authors leave no room for readers to help write their books.

New authors are told, “Make the reader care.” Authors must go deeper than this and must make room to include the reader as their emotional coauthor of their books. Readers’ minds, from the first paragraph, should create a wealth of concern or curiosity. When books start with absolute clarity, when they say exactly what the author means, and they leave nothing to anyone’s imagination, the reader’s mind has nowhere fun to go.

“Some people should wear labels” Poisonous. Dangerous to humans and other living things. Jossenda Ledesma was one of those people. But of course, she wore no such label, and her toxin was slow to bubble to the surface.” (Relative Danger, Margaret Tessler, p. 1, 2017.) Here, readers might envision their own dragon-lady aunt, maybe revisit a horrid encounter, experience intense empathy, or predict something awful. Subtext, the unsaid text, becomes powerful. Yet, not stating the obvious requires the author to work harder.

To create rich storytelling, the author hunts for moments to surprise the reader, to create suspense, and to engage the reader’s intelligence. This allows the reader’s imagination to kick in, enhancing the author’s words.

“Children, come. I have a surprise for you.” The father held up a bag of candy. (on-the-nose dialogue)

“Children, come. I have a surprise for you.” The farmer opened the cellar door and pointed down into the darkness. (Subtext)

Authors who write with meticulous clarity, use on-the-nose dialogue, and neglect the use of subtext leave no room for readers to become their emotional coauthors. Invite your reader to coauthor your stories, letting their imagination live in your stories.

Subtext exudes power. Long ago, when I stood outside our basement door, knowing my brothers had not heeded my father’s admonitions, my unruly imagination wrote my story for years to come. I would never play with matches—ever.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Charlene Bell Dietz’s award-winning mystery novels The Flapper, the Scientist, and the Saboteur combines family saga with corporate espionage, and The Flapper, the Impostor, and the Stalker propels readers back into 1923 in frenetic Chicago. The Scientist, the Psychic, and the nut gives readers a frightening Caribbean vacation. Her latest novel The Spinster, the Rebel, and the Governor is a historical biography about Lady Margaret Brent, the first American woman to be called an attorney, whose integrity and intelligence saves pre-colonial Maryland from devastation. This book won the New Mexico Press Women’s first place award and an award by the National Press Women. The Spinster, the Rebel, and the Governor will be released as a second edition by Artemesia Press in February 2024. Two of her Flapper books have won the coveted Kirkus stars, and two were named best book of 2018. Charlene, a retired educator, lives in the foothills of the mountains in central New Mexico where abundant wildlife, solitude, and natures’ beauty inspires her creativity.

Connect with Charlene:

chardietzpen@gmail.com

https://inkydancestudios.com/

https://www.facebook.com/charlene.dietz.9/

Buy Links:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/charlene%20bell%20dietz/_/N-8q8

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=charlene+bell+dietz&crid=2WD20WVLC2LSK&sprefix=%2Caps%2C225&ref=nb_sb_ss_recent_1_0_recent

https://treasurehousebooks.net/product-tag/charlene-bell-dietz/

The book will be $0.99 during the tour.

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

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE:

Charlene Bell Dietz will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Phoenix Rising Book Blitz #rabtbooktours

 

Action, Adventure, Techno-Thriller, Suspense, Sci-Fi, Military Thriller, Conspiracy

Date Published: May 2023

 

 

Unveiling the latest sensation in the world of Short Form Novels: Phoenix Rising by Mark T. Wellington!

 

This high-octane, adrenaline-pumping thriller will transport you to the year 2035, where mind-controlled space-age drones reign supreme, and one man's quest to save the world takes an intensely personal turn.

Immerse yourself in the gripping story of Tony Simmons, a fearless Air Force major with the extraordinary ability to control three of the most powerful drones ever created - the Devastators. When his family is kidnapped, and he finds himself betrayed and hunted, Tony is forced to push his powers to the limit in a desperate race against time.

Phoenix Rising is the perfect embodiment of the Short Form Novel, delivering a relentless, fast-paced narrative that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Mark T. Wellington masterfully weaves a tale of suspense, intrigue, and heart-stopping action, combining futuristic technology and geopolitical complexities with raw, human emotions.

In this compact literary masterpiece, every page is packed with tension, danger, and unexpected twists, as Tony navigates the treacherous world of betrayal, espionage, and simmering romantic tension with his colleague, Adrianne. As the line between reality and fabrication blurs, Tony must unravel the shocking truth behind the conspiracy that threatens his life and the safety of his family.

Don't miss out on this exhilarating new addition to the Short Form Novel revolution! Grab your copy of Phoenix Rising today and join Tony Simmons as he battles insurmountable odds to save his family and uncover the sinister truth that lies beneath the surface. Are you ready for the ride of your life?

About the Author

Mark T. Wellington is a US Air Force Veteran with the Electronic Security Command who held an SCI/SBI Top Secret clearance—his experience in the military has given him the tools to tell exciting stories. His expertise in cyber and electronic warfare, as well as his practices in Krav Maga and kickboxing, inspired his turbulent and exciting novel, Phoenix Rising.

A citizen of the world, Mark's passport is a mosaic of global experiences. He has journeyed from the bustling streets of Istanbul to the steep inclines of Mount Everest, and from the historic heart of Berlin to the vibrant culture of Barcelona. Having resided in six different countries, he has absorbed diverse cultures, engaged with intricate art forms, and navigated awe-inspiring landscapes.

Despite his technological acumen and AI engineering expertise, he is never one to be confined within the digital realm. His creativity spills over into his passion for scuba diving, rock climbing, and racing, each providing unique inspirations for his storytelling. Moreover, his interests in cooking, gardening, and painting reveal an individual who fully embraces the blend of art and science, making his work as varied and colorful as his life.

With his extensive world travels, deep technical expertise, and unbounded creativity, Mark is a true renaissance man, promising many more exciting stories to come.

 

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​

Climate of Monsters Friulian Son Book Blitz #rabtbooktours

 

Climate of Monsters Series, Book One

Suspense, Dark Fantasy, Supernatural Thriller, Horror

 Published: June 28, 2022

 

Climate of Monster is a book of two incredible but unlikely heroes that intertwine to fight legendary mythical monsters and new creations that are rampant due to climate change. Our heroes include a young Italian master swordsman, and a dangerous Swedish woman who is both a special forces expert and medical doctor. Book 1: Friulian Son features incredible monsters that are larger than life: from biker werewolves, sea monsters, anthropomorphic squirrels, and a human hybrid cuttlefish (among many others).

Book Two Climate of Monsters: Breath of Fire is due out later in 2023.

About the Author

Mitchell Sanders is just another ordinary individual. As a scientist and serial entrepreneur, in his spare time he enjoys reading and writing horror books. His inspirations come from his lovely wife and best friend, Elisabeth, and three children and three grandchildren, who encouraged him to write and finish his first book. Mitch spent a good portion of his life studying biomedical sciences and advanced wound care. He has a BA in biology from Boston University with a minor in Latin language and literature, and an MS in molecular biology and a PhD in biomedical sciences, both from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). Mitch did two postdocs at the Whitehead Institute / MIT, a world-renowned nonprofit research institution dedicated to improving human health through basic biomedical research. Mitch is a worldwide expert in wound repair and regeneration. Mitch was formerly founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of a diagnostic company for sixteen years.

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Teaser Tuesday: Marissa Unbound #rabtbooktours

Unbound, Book 5

Paranormal Romance, Suspense, Dark Fantasy

Release Date: January 20, 2023

Publisher: Changeling Press, LLC

 

When Marissa learns her abusive husband, Arfon Hanson, plans to murder her so he can take another wife, Marissa flees. She hopes to find sanctuary at the convent where she was educated, but fate intervenes when Steffan Gwinett rescues her from the henchmen Arfon sent to bring her back.

Years ago, Marissa and Steffan had been in love, but her father broke off their relationship, sending her away. Their chance meeting rekindles all their old feelings for each other. After they make love, Steffan vows to expose Arfon for a would-be murderer.

Marissa won’t let Steffan take on the dangerous job alone. She disguises herself as a boy, and they begin an investigation of Arfon. They get more than they bargained for when they discover her husband is the leader of a demon-worshiping cult -- and is making plans to offer a local boy as a sacrifice. Can they rescue the victim and find a happy ever after for themselves?

EXCERPT

Copyright ©2023 Rebecca York

Steffan Gwinett rode past the darkened house and dismounted in the pasture where Darias, his horse, could graze as he would. The moon was almost full, and the sky danced with stars, the heavens giving him enough light to guide his steps. He stood for a moment looking toward the spot where the bee boxes had stood. He could see no sign of them now.

“I’ll be back soon,” he said to his steed, before turning toward the cottage.

It was not an imposing dwelling. The main room had a packed dirt floor. When he’d lived there, the only furnishings had been a large fireplace for warmth and cooking and a table and chairs for sitting and eating. Up above, on the opposite side from the fireplace, was a narrow loft where he had slept. Beyond the main room lay another, barely large enough for a mattress, where his parents had slept until his mother had died. Then it was only Steffan and his grizzled old father -- until his father, too, had succumbed to years of hard labor.

Steffan’s father had been a farmer whose fortunes rose and fell with the vagaries of the weather. When the crops were good they ate well, with extra coin for buying necessities they could not make themselves. Sometimes they could even afford a few luxuries, like sturdy fabric for his mother to sew into clothing.

Steffan had known that hardscrabble life was not for him. He’d dreamed of running off with the girl he loved, though that had only been a foolish fancy.

After reality had crashed over him, he had gone off to join King Norwen’s troops. That had not worked out either. Three years of enforcing the king’s draconian edicts had been enough for him. He’d declined his next enlistment and taken the coin he’d managed to save during his time of service.

Now here he was, having another look at this land, wondering if he could make it work for him in a way his father had never considered.

He was almost to the front door when he stopped short. Since childhood he’d enjoyed a talent other people did not possess. He had no name for it, yet somehow he always knew when he was not alone.

That sixth sense had saved his life more than once when he’d been a member of the royal troops -- like the time they’d been ordered to clear a town of troublemakers. One of the ruffians had been waiting with a heavy club at the intersection of two streets. Sensing him, Steffan had stopped in his tracks and turned the tables on the would-be assailant.

That same ability slowed his steps now as he approached the cottage. Stopping short of the entrance, he drew his knife and reached for the knob, easing the door inward a few inches. At the same time, he stepped to the side so that he would not be an immediate target. With the door cracked, he stood in the cool night air -- listening. He could hear nothing. The house looked as though it was abandoned, yet his instincts told him that was not true. Pushing the door open a bit farther, he peered into the darkness, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the shadowy interior. When he could take in details, he scanned the room. The table and chairs were gone, as was all the cooking equipment near the fireplace.

He tipped his head up, directing his attention to the loft. Someone could be up there in the shadows, waiting to leap down on anyone who entered. A quick glance told him the access ladder was also missing. Unless an intruder had pulled it up after himself, there was no way to reach the sleeping platform.

Who would be in here? From the squalid looks of the interior, obviously not someone who had made a home in this empty cottage. Perhaps it was a ruffian using it as a temporary hideout.

With the main room cleared, his next target was the bedroom. Quietly he crossed the packed dirt and listened at the ripped curtain that still hung there.

Steffan detected nothing -- until the curtain flew open and a dark figure leaped out at him, the only thing clearly visible the glint of moonlight on steel.

Only Steffan’s instincts and his hours in the practice yard saved him from a serious knife wound. He twisted away from the assailant and thrust out his foot, sending the knave sprawling and their blade skittering away.

The man was hardly an experienced fighter, Steffan noted as he followed the attacker down, trapping him against the packed earth floor.

The man? No, it must be a youth. In their frantic struggle he detected little meat on the assailant’s arms, and little muscle mass. This boy had no idea how to fight off a warrior -- luckily for Steffan. “Stop struggling before you get hurt,” he growled.

Probably realizing that further combat was dangerous, the assailant took his advice -- which gave Steffan time to evaluate the body that lay beneath his. He had expected a shallow chest to go with the spindly arms. The reality was quite different. Instead of a boy’s upper trunk, he felt the swell of nicely rounded breasts. Confusion grabbed him as he stared down into glaring green eyes. Familiar eyes -- eyes that took him back to another time and place.

He gasped, feeling as though he had taken a hard blow to the gut in a jousting match. For heartbeats he was frozen in place -- as was the girl who glared up at him.

Finally he was able to choke out, “Marissa Dumfries.”

About the Author

New York Times and USA Today Best-Selling Author Rebecca York began her career as a journalist writing articles for newspapers and magazines, but after several years decided to try writing fiction. She's a highly successful author of over 50 romantic suspense and paranormal novels and is the head of the Columbia Writers Workshop. Her many awards include two Rita finalist books. She has two Career Achievement awards from Romantic Times: for Series Romantic Suspense and for Series Romantic Mystery. Her Peregrine Connection series won a Lifetime Achievement Award for Romantic Suspense Series. She collects rocks, and enjoys cooking, walking, reading, gardening, travel, and Mozart operas.

Contact Links

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Publisher’s Instagram/Facebook/Twitter: @changelingpress

 

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Ornery Cinema: Nanny

 

Anna Diop stars as Aisha in Nanny

Genre: Horror, Drama, Suspense

Rating: R

(Nudity, violence, alcohol use, foul language, sexual content)

Blurb:

Aisha is an undocumented nanny working for a privileged couple in New York City. As she prepares for the arrival of the son she left behind in West Africa, a violent presence invades her reality, threatening the American dream she is painstakingly piecing together.

Watch the Film

https://amzn.to/3IrpoeW

Free use image from Open Clipart Vectors

Ornery Owl's Review

Five out of Five Stars

I was expecting a schlocky, over-the-top thriller, which is what a Blumhouse film normally delivers. Instead, I received a wonderfully suspenseful ghost story that kept me wondering what was happening. Was Aisha suffering from PTSD? Was she showing signs of onset schizophrenia? This engaging story riveted me. 

The movie was refreshingly free from the overt gore and jarring jump scares that plague other Blumhouse productions. The intimate scenes were subtle and tasteful rather than being uncomfortable, in-your-face soft-core porn performances. Nanny gets paranormal suspense right. I hope future Blumhouse productions will follow suit.