History doesn’t just shape nations—it reshapes the lives of the people caught inside it, often in ways they never chose. And sometimes, the most powerful stories come from the women determined to claim a future in a world designed to deny them one.

Today’s spotlight shines on Her Own Legacy by Debra Borchert, a sweeping historical fiction novel set against the turbulence of the French Revolution. At its heart is a story of resilience, identity, and the fight to hold onto what matters when everything is at risk. With a richly layered setting and a heroine navigating loyalty, love, and survival, this is a book for readers who are drawn to strong women, emotional stakes, and the quiet strength it takes to rewrite your own story.

Book Title:  Her Own Legacy, Book 1 of the Chateau de Verzat Series by Debra Borchert
Category:  Adult Fiction (18+), 870 pages
Genre:  Historical Fiction
Publisher:  Le Vin Press
Release date:   Sep 2022
Tour dates: Mar 13 to Apr 3, 2026
Content Rating:  PG-13 + M: No explicit sex scenes or bad language, but one of the main characters is illegitimate. Violence of the French Revolution included, but no gore. ​

Bloodstone Series #4

Date Published: 11-10-2025

Publisher: Books to Go Now

Detective Rudyard Bloodstone and his partner were told to look into the matter. Their investigation reveals evidence of suspicious and unusual activity but no clues regarding the man’s disappearance. The few leads they develop take them from the world of wealthy families and into the secret society of sexual peculiarities.

The detectives discover the victim didn’t simply disappear. He was murdered. They have the evidence except for one problem, they’re missing is the victim’s body.

My parents also love traveling, a passion they passed onto me. I wanted to see the places I read about, see the land and monuments from the time periods that fascinated me. I’ve had the good fortune to travel extensively throughout Europe, the Near East, and North Africa.

I am a retired police detective. I spent twenty-five years in law enforcement with two different agencies. My desire to write came in my early teens. After I retired, I decided to pursue that dream.

I’m currently working on the Bloodstone Series, which is historical suspense stories set in Victorian London. I’ve also written two World War 2 romances: The Ack Ack Girl and Moonlight Serenade.

My past series include my historical/time travel romance series is called, Knights in Time. My romantic thriller series is Dangerous Waters.

Each series has a different setting and some cross time periods, which I find fun to write.

I currently live in the Pacific Northwest with my husband and three wild and crazy rescue dogs.

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Date Published: November 11, 2025

What would you risk to uncover a secret buried for over 150 years?

From bestselling and multi–award-winning author David R. Leng comes the next pulse-pounding installment in the Echoes of Fortune series. 

His debut, Echoes of Fortune: The Search for Braddock’s Lost Gold, captivated readers and earned a 4.5-star rating on Goodreads. Now the adventure continues with a brand-new novella that plunges deeper into history’s deadliest secrets. 

When historian Jack Sullivan, Smithsonian curator Emma Wilson, and fellow former Navy SEAL Steve Johnson set out for a Thanksgiving dive off Cozumel, they expect nothing more than warm waters and forgotten wrecks. Instead, they uncover a Confederate ghost ship that vanished in 1865—along with a sealed brass tube containing secrets powerful enough to change history. 

But they’re not alone. Shadowy mercenaries and a black-hulled yacht stalk their every move, determined to silence them before the truth surfaces. From dazzling reefs to the back alleys of Veracruz, Jack and his team are forced into a deadly game where history isn’t past—it’s a weapon. 

Some secrets don’t want to be found. And some will kill to stay buried. 

Perfect for fans of Steve Berry, Clive Cussler, Dan Brown, and James Rollins, Shadows Over Cozumel delivers nonstop action, historical intrigue, and a mystery that spans centuries.

About the Author

 David R. Leng, known for his expertise in risk management and insurance, now ventures into the world of fiction with his latest historical thriller, Echoes of Fortune. With a distinguished career spanning over 30 years, David is the author of International #1 Best Sellers including "Insured to Fail" and "The 10 Laws of Insurance Attraction," and has saved clients over $42 million in premiums and overcharges. As Executive Vice President and Partner of the Duncan Financial Group, David is celebrated for his innovative Risk Profile Improvement Process and has earned numerous accolades, including Advisor of the Year by the Institute of WorkComp Professionals. 

An avid contributor to industry publications, David’s passion extends beyond his professional achievements to include boating, skiing, woodworking, and supporting his local high school’s musical productions. His foray into historical thrillers reflects his deep storytelling skills and a lifelong commitment to engaging and captivating audiences.

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Today, I have a thriller to share! Learn about Giant Steps and author Patrick H. Moore and the other books in the Nick Crane thriller series! 

Thriller

Date Published: September 29, 2025

One final stand...

The fate of freedom hangs in the balance…

Get ready for a heart-pounding ride through the dark underbelly of America in Patrick H. Moore’s latest Nick Crane thriller, Giant Steps. 

As the third and final installment in Moore’s gripping Nick Crane versus The Principals trilogy, Giant Steps finds veteran LA PI Nick Crane locked in a life-or-death struggle with the ruthless Marguerite Ferguson and her cabal of aristocratic “super patriots.” 

Nine years after he and his team liquidated Frank Constantine, a murderous military shrink and close personal friend of Marguerite Ferguson and The Principals, Nick Crane is hiding out on the edge of the Mojave Desert. He has been fighting for his life for a year now, barely escaping Marguerite’s vendetta at every turn. Now, he and FBI Special Agent Carrie North decide the time has come to turns the tables. They decide infiltrate to the very heart of Marguerite’s evil empire. Crane summons his crew of crackerjack operatives and together they devise a diabolically clever sting operation designed to bring Marguerite to her knees once and for all. 

Set largely in current-day Southern California, Crane and his team of freedom fighters represent all common, decent Americans who truly believe in “liberty and justice for all.” Blessed with dry wit and unimpeachable courage, Crane and his crew embark on a relentless quest for truth in the face of corruption and betrayal, even as they fight for their life and freedom in a landscape where only the brave dare to challenge the powers striving to destroy America. 

Packed with engaging characters, relentless action, and razor-sharp dialogue, Giant Steps is a scintillating sequel that builds on the momentum of its predecessors, Rogues & Patriots and 27 Days.

Are you ready to join the fight? Get your copy today and step into the shadows, face the danger, and take Giant Steps with Nick Crane.

“In this third installment of the series, Nick Crane and his freedom fighters continue their battle against a group of so-called ‘super patriots’ known as The Principals. A story for our times, the book resonates in today’s political climate. Moore entertains with his clever prose, while giving us something to think about. A great addition to an excellent set of thrillers.” —Joel W. Barrows, bestselling author of the Deep Cover series

“

L.A. PI Nick Crane is back, along with his partner, FBI Special Agent Carrie North, in Giant Steps, the final installment of their three-volume battle against the forces of evil, personified by the despicable Marguerite Ferguson and her lethal band of ‘super patriots’. Patrick H. Moore’s prose is electric, pulsing with rat-a-tat jack-hammer energy, that spits out words like bullets. Warning: hang on tight for the ride of your life!” —Charles Salzberg, Shamus Award nominated author of Canary in the Coal Mine and Second Story Man

“Giant Steps is the finale of Patrick H. Moore’s Nick-Crane-versus-The-Principals trilogy. Everything readers have anticipated about the dramatic final battle between Nick and Marguerite Ferguson—with long-suffering FBI SA Carrie North caught in the middle—comes to a thrilling head. Moore delivers, serving up a landscape where only Nick Crane dares challenge the powers intent on destroying America.” —Ken Funsten, CFA; Director, Sisters-in-Crime, L.A. and author of What’s Really Unforgettable

“Spilling over with investigative authority, in Giant Steps Patrick H. Moore weaves a modern PI thriller where freedom fighters and fake patriots wreak havoc across the dark landscape of a desolate yet familiar America. Moore writes with the addictive panache of Lee Child and Vince Flynn.” —John Nardizzi, Shamus award finalist and author of Telegraph Hill and The Burden of Innocence

 Learn about the Series

The Full Nick Crane Thriller Series

27 Days

A Nick Crane Thriller, Book 1

Rogues & Patriots

A Nick Crane Thriller, Book 2

Giant Steps

A Nick Crane Thriller, Book 3

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About the Author

PATRICK H. MOORE writes thrillers and crime novels. He is a retired Los Angeles based investigator and sentencing mitigation specialist. Between 2003 and 2024, Patrick worked on over five hundred drug trafficking, sex crime, violent crime, and white-collar fraud cases.

Patrick studied English Literature and Creative Writing at San Francisco State University.

Patrick was one of the founders of All Things Crime Blog, which, in its heyday (2014 to 2017), was one of the most popular crime blogs in America.

In 2014, his first PI thriller, Cicero’s Dead, was indie published by US iNdIe Books. In February of 2023, Down & Out Books published Patrick's PI political thriller, 27 Days, and followed that up with the publication of Rogues and Patriots in April of 2024. Both Rogues & Patriots and 27 Days were finalists in the General Thriller category of the American Fiction Awards, and Rogues & Patriots was recently named a Judges' Top Pick in the Thriller category in this year's Killer Nashville Silver Falchion awards.

Down & Out will be publishing Giant Steps, the third book in the three-volume series in which LA PI Nick Crane fights The Principals, a violent cabal of right-wing extremists, in September of 2025. Down & Out also published Patrick's recent novella Setting the Record Straight.

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Today, I have a poetry collection to share in our book spotlight! Learn about Destinations and author Danielle Pitter--and be sure to enter for a chance to win a prize in the book tour giveaway at the end of this post. 

Date Published: 01-25-2025

Currently, she’s a writer on her own website, PoetryBooksYA.com. She also holds a Master of Information degree from Rutgers University. Additionally, she is a member of the New Jersey Library Association.

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This morning, I have a memoir in our book spotlight. Learn about Continuity and author Bonnie Clevering! 

Life Beyond the Credits

Date Published: 09-09-2025

Publisher: Punctuate Press

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Continuity By Bonnie Clevering: Life Behind the Credits will be released on Punctuate Press (distributed by APG) on September 9. It will uniquely come in two formats: a paperback memoir, and a beautiful hardcover coffee table book with hundreds of photos. While stories about Nancy Sinatra’s old wives tale helping Bonnie get pregnant, making dinner for the Ocean’s Eleven cast, and how hair creates character are certainly delightful, Bonnie also shares deeply about being a woman in Hollywood, the consequences of saying “no” (and “yes”), single motherhood, and legacy.

About the Author

Bonnie Clevering, in a nearly 5-decade career as a Motion Picture Hair Stylist, has trussed the tresses of hundreds of actors including Hilary Swank, Bette Davis, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Al Pacino, Keanu Reeves, and Kristen Stewart. Her impressive resume includes iconic films and TV series like Hello, Dolly!, RoboCop, Any Given Sunday, Ocean's Eleven, Erin Brockovich, Office Space, The Twilight Saga, and Mr. & Mrs. Smith, totaling over 120 productions. She earned membership in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences in 2001.

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This morning, we have a spiritual fantasy adventure in our book spotlight! Learn about The War in Heaven by author Mano Sotelo! 

Fantasy / Adventure / Religious & Spirituality

Moving beyond that, The War in Heaven is an epic allegorical myth that explores humanity’s endless struggle with a multitude of psychological, ideological, and emotional conflicts. It ultimately presents a transformative journey of two brothers that discover peace in the face of addiction, diversions, anger, fear, and desire. 

As mentioned, The War in Heaven is an allegory. It’s a story of one’s relationship with reality. It’s an invitation to look at our identities, our relationship with ourselves, other human beings, and the world around us. It’s about facing internal and external conflicts and ultimately obtaining peace.

Mano has always been interested in belief and value systems (i.e., philosophy, psychology, religion, and mythology), and the study of inherited truths. Specifically, how we create our realities every day through the adoption of prescribed precepts and largely unquestioned thoughts. Mano is an award winning visual artist that has over 23 years of higher education teaching experience. His work has been highlighted in national and international competitions and has been exhibited in art museums and galleries across the United States. Mano’s formal education includes a BFA, MFA and MBA degree.

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This morning, I have a self-help book that focuses on mental health in our book blitz spotlight! Learn about Lost Before I Could See and author Victoria Molta! 

Navigating My Way Through Mental Illness

Date Published: March 28, 2025

Publisher: MindStir Media

Victoria takes the reader on a kaleidoscopic tour beginning with her childhood in southern California, living in the San Gabriel Valley with her family. She describes her father's mental illness and alcoholism, and how, eventually, she succumbs to mental illness as well, as a young adult. She describes her family as one born of privilege and wealth, though definitely not exempt from tragedy and dysfunction. Through all her breakdowns and setbacks, she continues to rise and find meaning from chaos. From that, she develops empathy for people who have been marginalized by society and finds deep connections. In her 30s, she marries Bill, a man she had met in a halfway house where they both were living during the 1980s. It turns out to be a wonderful life partnership where they support each other in their work experiences as well as find joy in adventurous travel experiences. 

Later in life, they buy a house and settle down near the shore of Long Island Sound with their rescue dog, Mandy. They appreciate the simple things in life. Peace that once seemed boring is now so appreciated because drama, which had dominated her life for so many years, no longer matters to her.

Victoria holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Vermont and has written extensively about mental health recovery, housing advocacy, and social inclusion. Her essays have appeared in mental health journals, anthologies, and newspaper editorials across the country. 

She was the first person in recovery to be openly hired by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in Connecticut, where she coordinated over 130 public presentations in a single year. She later worked as a peer mentor at the Yale Program for Recovery and Community Health and held support roles at mental health clubhouses, warmlines, and public housing sites. 

Victoria also created and hosted the award-winning cable show You and Your Mental Wellness, highlighting the voices of Connecticut’s mental health leaders and community members. The show became a valuable resource and was featured on the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services website. 

She lives with her husband of over 30 years and their rescue dog, Mandy, near the tranquil shores of Long Island Sound. Today, she continues to advocate for awareness, dignity, and healing for all those impacted by mental illness.

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