BOOK BLAST & GIVEAWAY: Tyra of the Shadows by Martha Wickham

 

Child of Frankenstein’s Bride, Book 5

 

Paranormal / Historical

Date Published: 07-23-2024


 

Will Tyra ever get out of the shadows?

Growing up isn’t easy for Tyra Smythe. Especially when you grow up in a
house with shadows. She and her friend Evelyn conjure up the ghost of a girl
who lived there 100 years ago and the mystery of the funhouse begins. While
her parents are away in England, the ghost Abby, begins to haunt. When more
ghosts appear at Tyra’s fourteenth birthday party, word that the house is
haunted gets out and draws unwanted attention to it.

Shortly Margaret has decided it is a good idea to make her home an
attraction for some extra money. It is 1929 and more haunted houses are
needed, the house is named the Shadows and creepy renovations are started
all at the expense of Tim Terror and his haunted attractions company.

As Abby haunts the halls and stairs, her hunger grows. Her legend says she
died there and appears during a full moon, and she even has a museum room.
Abby’s heart is close to Tyra, but they must move on though they feel at
home again once the remodel of The Shadows is complete.

Will she ever be able to leave, or will it leave her?

 

 

EXCERPT

 

“Don’t give him your address. I wonder if they can help you
find your father,” Evelyn said.

“They won’t. Jack isn’t any help. I’ll just look
myself. I’ll think about going to the police. We don’t have a
phone. I don’t like this.”

When they got home, it felt much cooler in the house. They grabbed drinks
and the telephone directory and went upstairs. Tyra did find a Nathaniel
Johnston—she actually found two of them. “Evelyn, another big
house to go look at later. I found Nathaniel.”

“Good.” Evelyn took everything out of her bag. They laid the
blue velvet table cover, the candles, and the Ouija board in front of them
on the floor.

“I’ll go get a couple candlesticks. We will try a séance
and use the board tonight,” Tyra said.

“Hattie, where are the candlesticks?” Tyra called.

“In the hallway by the kitchen!” Hattie answered.

She and Evelyn raced there and grabbed two.

Hattie appeared. “Be careful with those. Matches are in the
kitchen.”

“Thanks,” Tyra responded. “Have you ever seen a ghost in
here?”

“No, never,” Hattie responded.

“Hopefully, we will,” Tyra said as she headed for the kitchen.
She grabbed the matches.

“We won’t light them now, not until tonight,” she told
Evelyn.

“My mom is coming by in the morning to come and get me,” Evelyn
said.

Tyra nodded. “We’re going to try a séance. I read about
them in the paper.”

“I don’t want you to do that. I told you I haven’t seen
any ghosts here. When the wind blows, you can hear it loud. This is an old
house. Your dad said it was built in the 1790s,” Hattie said.

“We’ll just try. It probably won’t work.” Tyra went
to her room as Evelyn followed.

“Is it even worth the time?” Evelyn asked.

“No, but this is.” Tyra pulled out a rolled-up Ouija board that
looked like a map. She took the planchette out of Evelyn’s purse.
“I didn’t tell Hattie we had this.” They sat on the floor
and felt the beautiful soft velvet.

About the Author

Martha has studied writing with Writer’s Digest and has an
associate’s degree in Social Services. She has also written poems and
songs and even studied screen writing and horror. She still writes and likes
getting writing prompts. Her favorite author is VC Andrews. If you purchase
and read Martha’s books a review on this web site will be greatly
appreciated. She can also be found at http://www.marthawickham.com.

 

Contact Links

Website

Twitter @MarthaWickham

 

Purchase Links

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Kobo

Smashwords

 

 

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RELEASE BLITZ: Shaloha Gems by Terry Chodosh

Humorous Fiction/Romantic Comedy/Historical Fiction/Jewish Fiction

Date Published: July 9th, 2024

Publisher: Acorn Publishing


 

Abe Goldstein’s life is speeding downhill faster than a Coney Island
roller coaster. 

His Manhattan diamond company is on life support. Crime is so bad that
muggers are mugging other muggers. And his overbearing mother has gone
behind his back and posted his profile on a Jewish dating site. Now,
Abe’s phone is blowing up with messages from women who want to marry
him. 

At the advice of his accountant, Abe flees to Honolulu and cuts a deal with
an Okinawan family to buy their diamond ring business. The owner’s
beautiful daughter Kiyoko stays on as a consultant, and Abe finds himself
falling hard for her.

But there’s trouble in paradise. Abe’s meddlesome mother hires
an unscrupulous matchmaker to break the pair up and find a nice Jewish girl
for him instead. To make matters worse, a rival diamond firm connected to
Japanese organized crime is bent on destroying Abe’s fledgling
business, Shaloha Gems.

As Abe navigates the twists and turns of his unconventional island life,
everything he values is in jeopardy. He may be willing to damage his
relationship with his mother to preserve his romantic relationship. But will
he crumble under the pressure if he loses his reputation and his budding
diamond empire too? Or will a discovery that leads back to the darkest days
of World War II open an unexpected door to a brighter future?

 

 

About the Author

Born and raised in New Jersey, Terry Chodosh earned his MS in criminology
from Florida State University. Terry began his twenty-eight-year career with
the United States Secret Service (USSS) in NYC and fulfilled assignments in
the San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Honolulu field offices as well as in the
Gerald Ford protective detail.

While assigned to the Honolulu office, Terry traveled extensively in Asia,
conducting complex financial crime investigations and providing executive
protection for US government officials, including the president and vice
president of the United States. After retirement, Terry wanted to tap into
his humorous and creative side, which was often restrained throughout his
career, so he began writing his novel Shaloha Gems.

Terry lives with his wife and son in Honolulu, Hawaii. He enjoys distance
swimming in the ocean and outrigger canoe paddling, and he strives to stay
one step ahead of skin cancer and tiger sharks.

Contact Link

Website


Purchase Links

Amazon 

Barnes and Noble

Draft2Digital

 

 

 

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BOOK TOUR: The Curse of Maiden Scars by Nicolette Croft

The Curse of Maiden Scars
Nicolette Croft
Coming in August 2024: Audiobook narrated by Liz May Brice

Sixteen-year-old Renna Covert toils away in the shadows of a Yorkshire workhouse, her days filled with the mundane task of shelling cotton and the dangerous duty of scouting for punters. One fateful night, she crosses paths with two sailors and finds herself thrust into the heart of a chilling encounter at the local asylum.

These harrowing experiences catalyze Renna’s journey, promising newfound opportunities and revealing long-buried family secrets. Yet, at every turn, powerful forces conspire to thwart her quest for truth, forcing her to abandon her scullery work and embark on a daring escape to Venice alongside her steadfast companions.

In the labyrinthine alleys of Venice, Renna’s fate takes yet another twist. She is ensnared by a cunning Madam who trains her as a Venetian courtesan. But beneath the veneer of luxury lies a world fraught with danger, where Renna must rely on her withs and resilience to navigate the treacherous waters of deceit and betrayal.

Set against the backdrop of Venice’s tumultuous Napoleonic invasion of 1797, this is a tale of a girl’s struggle for survival. It is a story of resilience, defiance in the face of adversity, and, ultimately, one young woman’s determination to reclaim her identity.

Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/mgDEOq  

Excerpt:

My story must have begun before life as a stray waif, but I didn’t know the tale. The cotton house takes in children as little as three—the unwanted offspring of criminals, crazies, and the contagious. By sixteen, we were expected to make room for younger sprogs and pursue meaningful work. It was weeks until my sixteenth birthday, and I didn’t have a plan. Choices for a girl like me were limited, so Camilla told me. I had some learning and hoped I might find a maid’s position. Whatever I was to become, I didn’t want it to include lurking about the seedy, dank Yorkshire streets like a wet cur.

A cackle of laughter echoed from inside the Inn that stood open behind me. A woman’s mound of blond hair tied in red, pink, blue, and black ribbons appeared in the window’s waving candlelight. She tossed her head back and let out a bright, spirited laugh as a burly man with a beard kissed her neck. I envied their intimacy. I longed to know such love and care.

Deep shivers tightened my sodden dress over my back, and a cough rattled through me. I was prone to illness. My lungs had never been strong. And the wetness only made things worse. I stuffed my head between my knees and swooned in lightheadedness. I closed my eyes and wished myself someplace warm and safe, dreaming of a small bed in a quiet room free of mold, surrounded by soft blankets, the amber light of candles, and a stack of leather-bound books with stories waiting for me to discover. Such a wish was only a fantasy to me—nothing in my real life resembled it.

Boot heels sounded beside me, ripping me out of my daydream. I lifted my head too quickly, and my vision faded darkly. Panic grew from the depths of my belly. Had I missed the opportunity to signal the workhouse strumpets, giving them time to sell their comfort for a copper?

A passerby kicked me and shot, “street rat.” He poured ale over my head and rolled with laughter. There was always laughter. I’d have kicked his feet out from under him if I hadn’t felt weakened from illness. I was accustomed to this sort of abuse, having scouted for culls since the age of eight, and wasn’t afraid to fight back if needed.

About the Author:

Nicolette Croft can’t remember a time when she was not creating imaginary worlds inspired by her Hungarian and American ancestors. As a neuro-divergent learner, however, putting those stories to paper proved more challenging than imagining them. Because her determination would not allow her to settle, she pursued an English B.A. to improve her writing.

Young motherhood also brought unexpected challenges, which motivated her to pursue graduate work in twice-exceptional learners and education. She would later add an M.A. degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, specializing in neurodivergent people, trauma, and grief. Nicolette uses her natural gift of storytelling as an exploratory method for her clients.

The Curse of Maiden Scars is also an outgrowth of her personal journey and marks her first publication as a novelist, having previously published short fiction. When not at her counseling practice or researching historical facts for her latest story, Nicolette shares treasured time with family, friends, and her husband. Whether writing, cooking, traveling, or learning, the act of creation is always at the center of her colorful life.

Author Links:

Website: https://www.nicolettecroft.com

Twitter: https://x.com/croft_nicolette

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NicoletteCroftAuthor/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolette-croft-a6744929a/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicolettecroft22/

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@nicolettecroft22

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Nicole-Croft/author/B0052UF75G

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/178035999-nicolette-croft

BOOK TOUR & GIVEAWAY: The Devil’s Spies by K.C. Sivils — $0.99 SALE !!

 The devil has eyes and ears everywhere!

The Devil’s Spies

by K.C. Sivils

Genre: Historical Fiction

 Needing to stop the flood of humanity fleeing communist oppression by making it to the divided city of Berlin, the communist government of East Germany took drastic measures. In August of 1961, construction of the Berlin Wall began.

Two young lovers, an American refugee worker, and an East German seminary student, find themselves separated by the wall. Desperate to be reunited and build a life together, Angela Wettin and Michael Dieterich, with Michael’s brother Joseph, set in motion a dangerous plan to escape by tunneling under the Berlin Wall. Determined to stop any hope of gaining freedom, the East German Stasi, the dreaded secret police of the communist state, formed Department XX/4 to infiltrate and spy on the Church in East Germany. Faced with betrayal, dangerous cave-ins, and family conflict, the trio enters a life-and-death race against the Stasi and Department XX/4. Can they gain their freedom before they are caught by the Devil’s Spies from the Stasi?

**On Sale for Only .99cents June 30th – July 6th!!**

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads
“It’s after two in the afternoon,” Angela complained to the nearby soldier. The GI studiously ignored Angela. He’d learned the hard way to ignore pretty girls when on duty. Hating the fact time moved so slowly, Angela decided the best course of action was to get a cup of tea before making her crossing into East Berlin. She’d expected to at least see Michael on the other side of the checkpoint, and if not Michael, then her fiancée’s partner in crime, Werner. Shouting, followed by the sound of gunfire, jarred Angela out of her pique. A hundred or so yards from Check Point Charlie, a young man appeared at the top of the wall, caught in the wire. Spellbound, Angela watched as the man made no effort to free himself from the wire, simply rolling off the top of the wall and falling, taking several feet of barbed wire with him. The bark of gunfire stopped, and a West Berlin police officer pulled himself up to the top of the wall and peered over, looking down. Screams from the onlookers propelled Angela forward. Sprinting towards the chaos, she could hear the cries of a man in pain, begging for help. Another West Berlin police officer reached the wall as the first dropped down from it. They spoke, and the second officer climbed the wall and shouted to the man on the other side. Angela watched in horror as the second officer produced bandages and dropped them over the wall. “Murderers!” “Criminals!” As an angry crowd gathered, Angela took notice of the escapee who had made it over the wall. He was cut and bleeding and clearly stunned by what had happened. “You! You’re an American!” Turning to the voice, Angela stared at the red, angry face of a young Berliner. “Neither side will do anything to help him! Get the American soldiers!” The sound of tear gas canisters being launched could be heard from somewhere on the other side of the wall. In seconds, tendrils of the greyish-white gas and its pungent smell began to reach across the wall. The Berliner covered his face and pushed Angela. Shouting, “Go! Now, while there is still a chance to help him!” Angela nodded, relieved to suddenly find herself useful. She turned and ran as fast as her feet would take her to Check Point Charlie. “Someone’s been shot trying to escape,” Angela panted as the Lt. in command of the detail came out to meet her. He said nothing, instead looking up in the sky at the helicopters that had suddenly appeared. “We have our orders, Ma’am.” “Your orders?!” “Yes, Ma’am. We contacted General Watson for instructions.” “Good, do something.” “Ma’am, our orders are to stand down.”

 U.S.A. Today and Amazon Best-Selling author is the creator of the scifi crime noir series of Inspector Thomas Sullivan novels as well as the southern noir series of stories centering around the private investigator James Benoit “Heat” Heatley.

A longtime fan of crime noir and science fiction, director Ridley Scott’s adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s sci-fi classic Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep into the masterful Harrison Ford vehicle Bladerunner encouraged Sivils to consume as much of both genres as possible in his younger years.

A fan of past noir masters such as Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler, Sivils also enjoys the current generation of storytellers like Sandra Woffington, Tom Folwer, Jeff Edwards, Renee Pawlish, and James Scott Bell.

In addition to his aforementioned series, Sivils is also the creator of the Agent Nelson Paine Historical Mystery series set during WW II and the early years of the Cold War.

In a previous life, Sivils was a varsity basketball coach and high school history teacher. He and his wife, Lisa, have three adult children, seven grandchildren, and two four legged furry children who still live at home, Bella and Mr. Darcy.

Website * Facebook * Facebook * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

 

Enter to win a 
$10 Amazon giftcard,

ebook of The Devil’s Spies,

ebook of The Price of a Lie,

ebook of Murder on the Harz Mountain Railway

– 1 winner each!

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COVER REVEAL: Wrinkled Rebels by Laura Katz Olsen

 

Literary Novel / Historical Fiction

Date Published: 07-23-2024

Publisher: Vine Leaves Press


 

Now 80 years old, retirement and advanced age have dissipated the spirit of
six college radicals of the 1960s, who jointly had participated in civil
rights campaigns and anti-war protests. Having engaged in only periodic
communication over the decades, they suddenly receive an invitation to
reunite for an extended weekend. Struggling with whether to go, each of them
has divergent qualms and expectations for the proposed gathering.

During their three days together, they confront their inner demons, each
other, and their future. Does Rebecca, the prime mover of the event, find
solace after losing her wife and career? Can Malaika regain her sense of
self after stepping down from her successful law practice? Mourning the loss
of her youthful athletic prowess and attractiveness, what happens when
Deanna faces her old friends?

Struggling with two divorces and a failing marriage, can Russell attain
peace of mind? How will Max, an expat living in Canada, manage with his
incipient dementia? Will the demoralized Keith recover his idealism?

Wrinkled Rebels is a story of how six people achieve meaningful lives
through the struggle for social justice. It is also a tale of love, the
bonds of friendship, and growing old positively.

About the Author

Laura Katz Olson, AGF Distinguished Professor of Political Science, has
taught at Lehigh University since 1974. To date, she has published nine
nonfiction books, focusing on aging and healthcare. Her latest, Ethically
Challenged: Private Equity Storms U.S. Health Care has been awarded several
gold medals, including from the Independent Book Publishers Association
(IBPA) and the Benjamin Franklin Awards. Elder Care Journey: A View from the
Front Lines, which relates her personal experiences as a caregiver for her
mother, won a Gold Medal in the Ninth Annual Living Now Book Awards.
Wrinkled Rebels is her second novel.

 

Contact Links

Website

Facebook

Twitter @lauralee111

Goodreads

LinkedIn

Preorder Today



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BOOK TOUR: Stumbling Stones by Bonnie Suchman

Stumbling Stones
by Bonnie Suchman

Shortlisted for the Hawthorn Prize 2024

“Alice knew that Selma sometimes felt judged by their mother and didn’t always like it when Alice was praised and Selma was not. Alice glanced over at her sister, but Selma was smiling at Alice. In what Alice understood might be Selma’s last act of generosity towards her sister, Selma was going to let Alice bask in the glow of Emma’s pride toward her elder daughter. Then the three shared a hug, a hug that seemed to last forever.”

Alice Heppenheimer, born into a prosperous German Jewish family around the turn of the twentieth century, comes of age at a time of growing opportunities for women.

So, when she turns 21 years old, she convinces her strict family to allow her to attend art school, and then pursues a career in women’s fashion. Alice prospers in her career and settles into married life, but she could not anticipate a Nazi Germany, where simply being Jewish has become an existential threat. Stumbling Stones is a novel based on the true story of a woman driven to achieve at a time of persecution and hatred, and who is reluctant to leave the only home she has ever known.

But as strong and resilient as Alice is, she now faces the ultimate challenge – will she and her husband be able to escape Nazi Germany or have they waited too long to leave?

Buy Link:

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/4ND1x8

Interview with Bonnie Suchman

How long have you been writing, and how long did it take before your first book was published?

As an attorney for more than 40 years, I have been writing my whole work life. Three years ago, I published a non-fiction book about my husband’s German Jewish family. I realized I was not done writing about Alice Heppenheimer, but decided to write Stumbling Stones as a novel to provide a fuller and richer story. I was fortunate to find a publisher, Black Rose Writing, to publish my first novel.

Do you have a routine you follow when you’re working on a book? A certain time of day when you write, or a snack you keep nearby?

I still have a full-time job, so I have to work around my work schedule. Sometimes I write before work, sometimes in the evening, and sometimes on the weekend. And my goldendoodle, Teddy, is almost always by my side as I write.

If you could pick your top 3 favorite books of all time, what would they be?

I don’t think I really have favorite books as much as I have favorite authors. Any time I see a new book by Kate Atkinson, Ian McEwan or Kazuo Ishiguro, I race to download it. All three are masters of their craft, and there is never a wasted word in any of their books. I would love to write like them, but, for now, I will have to settle for reading them.

What do you think is the most important thing to remember when following your dreams?

In following your dreams, I have two suggestions: be open to new opportunities and don’t be afraid to fail. Throughout my life, I have always been interested in trying new things, and have sometimes been surprised by the outcome.  Being a published author was never one of my dreams, but I am so grateful that I tried it and I am loving writing about the Heppenheimer family. And it is rare that I have regretted giving something a try. Even if I try something and it doesn’t work out, I have found that what I have learned from the experience has helped me on the next stops of my journey. Certainly, if I worried about failing as an author, Stumbling Stones would not have been published.

Does your family support your writing?

My husband supports every new thing I have tried. But he is especially supportive of my writing, and has read and provided helpful comments on everything I have written. Of course, it helps that he is also a lawyer and that I am writing about his family.

About the Author

Bonnie Suchman is an attorney who has been practicing law for forty years. Using her legal skills, she researched her husband’s family’s 250-year history in Germany, and published a non-fiction book about the family, Broken Promises: The Story of a Jewish Family in Germany. Bonnie found one member of the family, Alice Heppenheimer, particularly compelling. Stumbling Stones tells Alice’s story. Bonnie has two adult children and lives in Maryland with her husband, Bruce.

Author Links:

Website: www.bonniesuchman.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BonnieSuchman

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556457672565

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bonniesuchmanauthor/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/bonniesuchman/

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/bonnie-suchman

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Bonnie-Suchman/author/B09L3BDVRQ  

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21796158.Bonnie_Suchman

BOOK TOUR: Snarling Wolf by David Fitz-Gerald

Snarling Wolf: A Pioneer Western Adventure
David Fitz-Gerald
Page Length: 229
Genre: Western, Historical Fiction

Dive back into the gripping, frontier chaos. Snarling Wolf is the fourth adventurous installment in the Ghosts Along the Oregon Trail series.

The famed Snake River marks the point the wagon master claims that all the greenhorns turn loco. After twelve hundred grueling miles and four relentless months on the trail, the expedition teeters on the brink. Frayed nerves, exhausted patience, and the specter of doom cast a dark cloud over the travelers.

At every turn, new dangers emerge. A young man who is like a brother to Dorcas Moon is ravaged in a mountain lion attack. A heat wave grips the dusty, barren plains and spreads sickness. The wolves that lurk in the shadows edge closer. Even the rattlesnakes seem emboldened.

Dorcas’ daughter, Rose’s descent into madness can no longer be ignored. What began as an eerie preoccupation with death takes a shocking turn when Rose reveals her truths. Dorcas is thrust into a realm of disbelief, and her worst fears about Rose’s mysterious suitor become a stark reality.

As weary emigrants yearn for respite, tales of murderous outlaws spread like wildfire across the prairie. Passing strangers share the latest terrifying news. It’s only a matter of when, not if, the notorious highwaymen will strike. Which bend of the mighty snake shelters the feared outlaws?

Grab your copy of Snarling Wolf now and unveil the next chapter in Dorcas Moon’s relentless saga. Sink your teeth into this tale of survival, madness, and the unyielding spirit of those who brave the treacherous migration.

Buy Links:
This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.
Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/snarling-wolf

Author Bio:


David Fitz-Gerald writes western and historical fiction. He is the author of twelve books, including the brand-new series, Ghosts Along the Oregon Trail set in 1850. Dave is a multiple Laramie Award, first place, best in category winner; a Blue Ribbon Chanticleerian; a member of Western Writers of America; and a member of the Historical Novel Society.

Alpine landscapes and flashy horses always catch Dave’s eye and turn his head. He is also an Adirondack 46-er, which means that he has hiked to the summit of the range’s highest peaks. As a mountaineer, he’s happiest at an elevation of over four thousand feet above sea level.

Dave is a lifelong fan of western fiction, landscapes, movies, and music. It should be no surprise that Dave delights in placing memorable characters on treacherous trails, mountain tops, and on the backs of wild horses.

Author Links:
Website: https://www.itsoag.com/GATOT
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorDAVIDFG
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDaveFITZGERALD/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authordavefitzgerald/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/AuthorDaveFITZGERALD/
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/david-fitz-gerald
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/dfitzgerald
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17341792.David_Fitz_Gerald
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/authordavidfitzgerald

BOOK TOUR: The Falconer’s Apprentice by Malve von Hassell

Book Title: The Falconer’s Apprentice
Author: Malve von Hassell
Publication Date: January 30, 2024 (second edition)
Publisher: Malve von Hassell
Pages: 214
Genre: Historical Fiction

THE FALCONER’S APPRENTICE is a story of adventure and intrigue set in the intense social and political unrest of the Holy Roman Empire in the thirteenth century.

“That bird should be destroyed!”

Andreas stared at Ethelbert in shock. Blood from an angry-looking gash on the young lord’s cheek dripped onto his embroidered tunic. Andreas clutched the handles of the basket containing the young peregrine. Perhaps this was a dream—

Andreas, an apprentice falconer at Castle Kragenberg, cannot bear the thought of killing the young female falcon and smuggles her out of the castle. Soon he realizes that his own time there has come to an end, and he stows away, with the bird, in the cart of an itinerant trader, Richard of Brugge.

So begins a series of adventures that lead him from an obscure castle in northern Germany to the farthest reaches of Frederick von Hohenstaufen’s Holy Roman Empire, following a path dictated by the wily trader’s mysterious mission. Andreas continues to improve his falconry skills, but he also learns to pay attention to what is happening around him as he travels through areas fraught with political unrest.

Eventually, Richard confides in Andreas, and they conspire to free Enzio, the eldest of the emperor’s illegitimate sons, from imprisonment in Bologna.

Buy Links:

This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/31BMjD   

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-falconers-apprentice-malve-von-hassell/1121105739?ean=9781737101185/  

Author Bio:

Malve von Hassell is a freelance writer, researcher, and translator. She holds a Ph.D. in anthropology from the New School for Social Research. Working as an independent scholar, she published The Struggle for Eden: Community Gardens in New York City (Bergin & Garvey 2002) and Homesteading in New York City 1978-1993: The Divided Heart of Loisaida (Bergin & Garvey 1996). She has also edited her grandfather Ulrich von Hassell’s memoirs written in prison in 1944, Der Kreis schließt sich – Aufzeichnungen aus der Haft 1944 (Propylaen Verlag 1994).

She has taught at Queens College, Baruch College, Pace University, and Suffolk County Community College, while continuing her work as a translator and writer.

Malve has published two children’s picture books, Tooth Fairy (Amazon KDP 2012/2020), and Turtle Crossing (Amazon KDP 2023), and her translation and annotation of a German children’s classic by Tamara Ramsay, Rennefarre: Dott’s Wonderful Travels and Adventures (Two Harbors Press, 2012).

The Falconer’s Apprentice (2015/KDP 2024) was her first historical fiction novel for young adults. She has published Alina: A Song for the Telling (BHC Press, 2020), set in Jerusalem in the time of the crusades, and The Amber Crane (Odyssey Books, 2021), set in Germany in 1645 and 1945, as well as a biographical work about a woman coming of age in Nazi Germany, Tapestry of My Mother’s Life: Stories, Fragments, and Silences (Next Chapter Publishing, 2021), also available in German, Bildteppich Eines Lebens: Erzählungen Meiner Mutter, Fragmente Und Schweigen (Next Chapter Publishing, 2022), and is working on a historical fiction trilogy featuring Adela of Blois.

Author Links:

Website: https://www.malvevonhassell.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MvonHassell

Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/malvevonhassellauthor/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/malve-von-hassell-02b61517/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mvonhassell/

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/malvevonhassell.bsky.social

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/471746.Malve_von_Hassell

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/malve-von-hassell

Amazon author link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Malve-von-Hassell/author/B0CTGLDQ7P/

BOOK TOUR & GIVEAWAY: Bill’s Cajun House of Pleasure

It’s a romp in the swamp!

Bill’s Cajun House of Pleasure

by Alan Lampe

Genre: Historical Fiction

It’s a romp in the swamp of historic proportions!

Eager young reporter Jimmie Rains is assigned to write an exposé on the treatment of elderly residents of Our Lady of Sorrows Nursing Home. He soon finds that all the residents speak in awe and hushed tones of the life led by legendary fellow resident Bill Valencourt.

As a teenager, Bill was sent to work for his cranky and demanding uncle who ran a bordello on the edge of the swamp. His girlfriend, Anne Marie, was less than happy with this arrangement. As the granddaughter of the famous swamp witch Marie Laveau, she believes her magic is strong enough to keep Bill from straying. She seduces him, believing the taking of his virginity will bind him to her for all time.

When his uncle is murdered by the wife of an angry patron, Bill’s destiny is irrevocably changed, leaving him the new owner of the cathouse and setting him on the path to both riches and ruin. When he falls in love with one of his girls—the beautiful and curvaceous Ariel—Anne Marie vows revenge.

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Alan Lampe has been writing down tales and stories since the second grade. Over the years, his writing matured and was recognized by The National Library of Poetry. They published six of his poems in their anthologies in the late 1990s. Jotting down ideas and cranking out numerous short stories off and on throughout the first decade of the twenty-first century, he focused on his writing in 2011 instead of Super Bowl XLV.

Bill’s Cajun House of Pleasure is the brainchild of Alan and his former girlfriend. The first nuggets of this romp in the swamp were hatched eight years ago. Between workshops, critic groups, and conferences, he polished his prose in the following years. Wanting to leave no detail unchecked, he traveled to Louisiana to capture the essence of Cajun life.

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BOOK BLITZ: The Sower of Black Field by Katherine Koch

 

Inspired by the True Story of an American in Nazi Germany

Historical Fiction

Date Published: April 15, 2024

 

INSPIRED BY TRUE EVENTS

Throughout the Third Reich, millions of Germans pledged allegiance to Adolf
Hitler. In the Bavarian village of Schwarzenfeld, they followed an American
citizen.

As he struggles to rekindle the faith of a guilt-ridden Wehrmacht veteran,
a morose widow, and her grieving teenage son, Fr. Viktor Koch, C.P. is
haunted by self-doubt. What is driving him to stay in the Third Reich? Is he
following a higher plan, or the mystic compulsion of his German heritage?
Exposed to American ideals, his parishioners grow restless under Nazi rule.
Relying upon his ingenuity to keep them out of prison, Fr. Viktor solicits
aid from an unlikely intercessor—the Nazi charity worker who
confiscated his monastery for state purposes.

In April 1945, American liberators make a gruesome discovery: the SS have
left a mass grave of concentration camp victims on Schwarzenfeld’s
borders. Enraged by the sight, the infantry commander orders the townspeople
to disinter 140 corpses, construct coffins despite material shortages, dig a
grave trench, and hold a funeral ceremony—all in 24 hours. If they
fail to fulfill this ultimatum, he vows to execute all German men in
town.

Fr. Viktor has to pull off a miracle: he must convince his countrymen that
his followers are not the enemy. Their humanity is intact. And most of all,
they are innocent.

About the Author

Katherine Koch is a renaissance woman from San Antonio, Texas. By day she
is a professional web administrator, digital marketing specialist, and
graphic designer. By night she is an independent scholar, historian, and
writer. She is captivated by stories of the Passionist missionaries in her
family, all of whom have a peculiar knack for tumbling into harm’s way
during history’s most fascinating time periods.

 

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