This morning, I have a young adult, coming of age novel to share! Check out Summer Fated to Be Mine, learn about author B. Truly and be sure to enter for a chance to win a prize in the book release blitz giveaway at the end of this post!

YA, Coming of Age, Urban, Romance

Date Published: 05-06-2025

 

 

Many of our posts contain affiliate links.

Should you purchase an item via our links--we may receive slight compensation from an
affiliate partner. 

About the Book

 

First Love is Overrated 

This summer these two broken souls discover if your second love can make you forget your first

 

Growing up, the Morelli brothers were close

 

Their kinship sinks deeper than the Titanic the summer they both fall for the same girl. Zakiah always felt Iliana Kaplan's heart belonged to him. All along, it has been their story, until fate removed the blindfold.

 

Everything falls apart when Zakiah realizes Iliana will never give him her whole heart. This time, the middle brother, Elijah, won't be able to repair the damage. A rift is torn amid all of them, and nothing will ever be the same again.

 

Two years later, when love comes knocking on his door, Zakiah strays from his motto. He can't pretend the connection he feels with Glory Glover isn't real. He just can't afford to fall victim to love again—already learned that lesson the hard way.

 

Life drops the other shoe. When his dad reveals who his betrothed is, there's no running from what fate has in store. Can your second love make you forget your first? Zakiah must decide if love only exists in fairytales. No matter what choice he makes, it won't be easy to find what's truly his to behold.

 

What happened in the spring might've made him forget his summertime dreams, but reality rarely has a silver lining.

 

About the Author

B. Truly has wanted to be an author since she was fifteen years old. She is grateful to have accomplished this dream. B. Truly has very vivid dreams and a wild imagination. She likes to read, watch tons of TV shows, and movies. She’s addicted to romance and gets a thrill out of suspense and sci-fi. She writes young adult, new adult, and adult romance, sci-fi, dystopian, paranormal, and urban genres.

B. Truly likes to explore conflicted plots of romance with thrilling twists. She also loves creating impossible situations for her characters to grow from and try to overcome.

B. Truly has three wonderful children, and a husband who defines the person that she is today. She works full-time as an Ultrasound technologist in Houston, Texas.

Connect with the Author

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Instagram

TikTok

Buy the Book

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Kobo

Smashwords

Enter the Giveaway

Today, I have a coming-of-age novel to share! Check out Promising Young Man and learn about author Elias Axel!

Coming-of-Age

Date Published: February 11, 2025

ADHD Much?

Witty, defiant Oscar tells an unforgettable story of a misunderstood, mistake-riddled teen. Of losing his sense of wonder. Of chasing a lie across America. Of discovering the power of second chances.

Oscar Danielsson isn’t ready for the real world—yet. But he’s 18 now, and everyone’s got expectations. Why not? With his sharp wit and melancholy good looks, his future's as promising as anybody’s. Lie. He’s not like anybody. He’ll take his bedroom over hanging out. Self-medication over whatever his shrink prescribes for his ADHD. And it’s hard enough to get out of bed in the morning, let alone write a stupid paper in time to graduate from high school. If it wasn't for his old spaniel, Enzo, he's not sure he'd want to stick around.

Just when he meets Bette, the weirdest cute girl on the planet, a scrape with the law Oscar’s too out of it to remember sends him blasting down America's highways with his eccentric Grammy. Leaving Bette, Enzo, and all his vices behind is torture. But he'll do anything to ditch the shame. And if they make good time, he can repay his debts to his boss, snag his diploma, and slip back into bed like nothing ever happened. But that would be another lie.

If you fell for Charlie Kelmeckis in The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Sutter Keely in The Spectacular Now, or Theodore Finch in All the Bright Places, Promising Young Man’s Oscar Danielsson will melt, break, and then repair your heart.

Like "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephan Chbosky and "It's Kind of a Funny Story" by Ned Vizzini, "Promising Young Man" explores themes of social anxiety, mental health, and the challenges of navigating adolescence told from the perspective of a young protagonist as he undergoes a journey of self discovery. Like Colin Higgin's "Harold and Maude," Promising Young Man's story is quirky & intergenerational.

Praise for Promising Young Man:

"I love this book. It's a page-turner... I found myself looking forward to bedtime to read it.” —Jill Wine-Banks, author, "The Watergate Girl;" MSNBC legal analyst; co-host, Webby-winning #SistersinLaw Podcast

"Axel is a natural... writes with a flow and energy that is absolutely compelling.” —Chris Canaan, Emmy Award-winning writer; co-creator "Walker, Texas Ranger" (starring Chuck Norris); screenplay, "No Good Deed" (starring Samuel L. Jackson & Stellan Skarsgård)

"At times funny, at times raw, at times so poignant you’ll find yourself tearing up..  It’s a story filled with wrong choices and thwarted dreams but also hope, resiliency, and redemption…” —Maggie Smith, award-winning author of "Truth and Other Lies

"...deeply moving... absorbing... truly enjoyable” —Sarah C. Maza, Member American Academy of Arts & Sciences, Professor of History Emerita Northwestern University

"a powerful story of survival, resilience, and hope... One of the best books I read in 2024." —Nathan Chung (early reader), Neurodivergent, recognized as a Top 50 Global Neurodiversity Evangelist, and a D-30 Impact List 2024 Honoree

"a raw, compelling journey... as humorous as it is heartfelt... the kind of book that sticks with you..." —Hollie Smurthwaite, Author, "The Psychic Color Series"

About the Author

A midwesterner through and through who writes to ignite sparks in every quadrant of the reader's brain and dreams of visiting all of America's national parks.

Connect with the Author

Website

Goodreads

Instagram

TikTok

BookBuzz

Buy the Book

Amazon

B&N

Bookshop

This morning, I have a coming of age / historical thriller in our book blitz spotlight! Check out Memories of MK-Ultra and learn about author Bill Yarborough!

Coming of Age / Psychological /Historical Thriller / Metaphysical

Memories of MK-ULTRA traces the development of three siblings from their early childhood—marred by harrowing mind control experiences in the CIA’s MK-ULTRA program—through their coming of age during the turbulent 60s and into their early adulthood in the 1980s. As the story develops, an incredible chain of events uncover the dark forces shaping their lives . . . until an unexpected source of light appears.

Buy the Book

Amazon

Bill Yarborough has enjoyed writing for many years. Manhattan Book Group will publish his debut novel, Memories of MK-ULTRA, in September 2024. The story is inspired by repressed memories from his young childhood where he, his brother, and his sister recall undergoing experiments of the CIA’s MK-ULTRA mind control program. Bill is also working on a sequel to his first novel, and his short story “Night Mother” was published by Prolific Press in an anthology of short stories, Jitter Issue # 8. Bill also co-authored emotional health articles in The Diablo Gazette Magazine, and he and his wife, Inge, are working on a book entitled EFT on Steroids.

Website

Facebook

X "Twitter"

Today, I have a coming of age novel in our book blitz spotlight!  Check out Ivy Hill!

A Novel inspired by True Events

Coming of Age / Fiction

Date Published: November 28, 2023

Publisher: Manhattan Book Group

Many of our posts contain affiliate links.
Should you purchase an item via our links--we may receive slight compensation from an
affiliate partner. 

What happens when a loving family man dies suddenly and a stranger takes his place?

IVY HILL is a thoroughly American coming-of-age story set in the mid-20th century. Earthy, realistic, and mordantly funny, it is rich with details of that iconic era. It is also a timeless, universal tale of redemption, morality and conquering adversity, with nearly-mythic elements anyone from any century and virtually any culture would recognize: there's a wicked giant, a good grandmother and a bad one, a "ghost" or two, and even, in a manner of speaking, a dark potion.

And at the center of the story, an innocent child.

Love, death, danger and fate intertwine in this novel, which was inspired by author Arthur Ruben's actual life. It takes place in Brooklyn from 1952-1957, then Newark from 1958-1970. Ruben's protagonist, five-year-old "Eddie," is devastated following the death of his beloved 34-year-old father. He waits in vain and with a slowly breaking heart for Daddy to return. His mother's disastrous remarriage, plus the family's wrenching move from Brooklyn, NY, to the Ivy Hill section of Newark, NJ, turns Eddie's life inside out. 

Over the next thirteen years, he is transformed from helpless brokenhearted child into an entirely different creature. The post-war society he was born into is also transformed: the repercussions of that potent and turbulent time, still in living memory-Viet Nam, Woodstock, the Mansons, and especially now, civil rights-are with us to this day, and will resonate with millions of readers.

Buy the Book

Amazon

Today, I have a coming of age novel in our book blitz spotlight!  Check out A Reservoir Man, learn about autho L.J. Ambrosio & be sure to enter for a chance to win a prize in the book tour giveaway at the end of this post.

Coming of Age

Date Published: 05-23-2022

Publisher: Film Valor

A Reservoir Man, critics have hailed this explosive and timely work as “a must-read coming-of-age story of 2022.”

A Reservoir Man has unique insights in to life and a compelling narrative about an individual grappling with truth, identity, and freedom.

Early Reviews

"Twists and turns further pull the reader in to Michael’s action-packed tale, with powerful themes, from betrayal and family to secrets and identity."

“Be sure not to blink because you just might miss a pivotal moment in Michael’s rousing, larger-than-life story.” -- R.C. Gibson, Indiestoday.com.

 “This book is a dream, a gamble, a utopia, even.” -- Kalyan Panja, Bookmarkks.

A Reservoir Man by L.J. Ambrosio is a brilliantly written coming-of-age fictional memoir that is sure to steal your heart and leave you craving for more. - The Reading Bud, Book Critic

The book "A Reservoir Man focuses on a coming-of-age story that will highly impress anyone who comes across this wonderful piece. -Emilee Jackson, Book Critic (UK)

This is a thought-provoking story that will resonate with readers wherever they are in their personal journey. I expect everyone to take something different from this tale, but no one who reads it will be unaffected. - Gina Rae Mitchel, Book Critic (US)

about the author

Louis J. Ambrosio ran one of the most nurturing bi-coastal talent agencies in Los Angeles and New York. He started his career as a theatrical producer, running two major regional theaters for eight seasons. Ambrosio taught at 7 Universities. Ambrosio also distinguished himself as an award-winning film producer and novelist over the course of his impressive career.

connect with the author

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Blog

Goodreads

Instagram

YouTube

BookBub

buy the book

Amazon

enter the giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

 This morning, I have a coming of age, women's fiction novel in our book review spotlight!  Check out The Secrets We Conceal, read my thoughts on the book, learn about author S.R. Fabrico & enter for a chance to win a prize in the book tour giveaway at the end of this post.

Meet the Author

 

 

 

Born and raised a Yankee who loves NY style pizza and Philly cheesesteaks. I was introduced to the amazing world of Southern BBQ after moving to Tennessee where I live with my husband and two children. My family is my main priority, everything I do is for them. I attended college in the 90’s and received a degree in mathematics with a minor in secondary education, I went on to coach cheerleading and dance for 20 years and won a Hip Hop Dance World Championship. Anything and everything creative are my absolute favorite, so writing has always been a hobby. When I’m writing, I like to wife hard, mom hard, paint, read good books and watch good movies.

connect with the author: website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram 

 

---

Follow the Book Tour

Visit the iRead Book Tours Page for More Tour Stops

 

 

Enter the Giveaway


Win signed copy of THE SECRETS WE CONCEAL and $25 Visa Gift Card (one winner / USA only) (ends May 6)​

Visit the iRead Book Tours Page to Enter!

---

 

This morning, I have young adult, coming of age novel in our book blitz spotlight!  Check out The Olive Tree and learn about author Mariam El Houli!

Young Adult, Coming of Age

Date Published: March 2022

Publisher:‎ Dean Publishing

We were unbreakable.

We were strong, and we were resilient.

Just like the olive tree.

Nisma is like any other 16-year-old. She goes to school, she fights with her brothers, and she loves her grandmother, Nazik. But, life for Nisma isn’t as simple as boys and books: Nisma is an Islamic Palestinian in Israel, and her new friend, Hannah, is a Zionist.

When Hannah’s mother is attacked and Nisma invites the pair to live in her family home, she has no idea of the chain of events that she has set in motion. What unfolds will show Nisma that in a country shrouded by corruption, bigotry and segregation, love and compassion is her best chance at survival.

A love letter to the Palestinian people, Mariam El Houli’s The Olive Tree is a heartbreaking and gripping debut – a tale of friendship, strength and loss, and the fatal consequences systematic prejudice can have on a country’s people.

Buy the Book

Amazon

About the Author

Mariam El Houli is an author, entrepreneur, and loving wife and mother. Of proud Lebanese background, Mariam lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband and five children. Mariam obtained a Bachelor of Literature and Composition from Griffith University.

Mariam created global skincare business, Eve’s Skin, from absolutely nothing. Vegan, organic, and Australian made, Eve’s Skin offers premium skincare at affordable prices. She also co-founded Mica Minerals, an organic mineral makeup brand.

When Mariam isn’t penning her next bestseller, heading her prosperous skincare label, or doting on her family, you can find her whipping up delicious Lebanese delicacies in the kitchen.

Mariam’s aim is to save the world one book at a time.

Connect with the Author

Website

This morning, I have a coming of age fantasy adventure in our book blitz spotlight.  Check out Graphite and Turbulence and learn about author Jami Fairleigh and other books in The Elemental Artist series!

The Elemental Artist Series, Book Two

Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Coming of Age

Date Published: March 1, 2022

Publisher: Kitsune Publishing

Many of our posts contain affiliate links.
Should you purchase an item via our links--we may receive slight compensation from an
affiliate partner.  

He will need courage, resilience, and a bit of magic… to survive fatherhood.

Artist Matthew Sugiyama finally has a location to start his search for his birth family, but no one prepared him for the turbulence of a scowling, unhappy child. Not only is the depot is far away, his fledgling parenting skills are not cutting it... and everyone has plenty of advice to offer on fatherhood.

But before Matthew can find his bearings, Akiko disappears. In a blink, Matthew’s priorities change. Time is running out and when old friends and enemies arrive in the depot, the situation leaves Matthew scrambling. He needs a plan—and he needs help—but who can he trust?

A profoundly moving father daughter story of the search for love and connection, Graphite and Turbulence celebrates the magic that transforms friendly strangers into family.

Graphite and Turbulence is the sequel to Oil and Dust. Author Jami Farleigh invites you to rejoin many of your favorite characters as they continue to travel through a post apocalyptic landscape in a tale that blends fantasy, laughter, coming of age, and parenting into another perfect escape.

Buy the Book

Amazon

B&N

Kobo

iBooks

Google Play

Other books in the The Elemental Artist Series

The Elemental Artist Series, Book One

About the Book

When all has been lost, we find ourselves…

Out of the ashes of destruction, a new world has arisen. The plagues of the past—the worship of greed and pursuit of power—are gone. Now, the communities that remain in this post-apocalyptic world focus on creating connections, on forging futures filled with family and love. And all with the help of hard work, hope… and a little bit of magic.

Artist Matthew Sugiyama knows this well. Traveling the countryside in search of the family he lost as a child, he trades his art for supplies—and uses his honed magic to re-draw the boundaries of reality, to fashion a world that is better for those he meets.

Following glimpses of visions half-seen, Matthew—and the friends he encounters along the way—will travel a path from light to darkness and back again. A road where things lost in the past can only be found in the love of the present, and the hope for the future.

And he will travel this path wherever it leads. From joy to sorrow, from tears to laughter. Because Matthew is the Elemental Artist, and he knows that though dangers arise, humanity will always triumph… in a world he has painted in shades of Oil and Dust.

Buy the Book

Amazon

B&N

Google Play

iBooks

About the Author

Jami Fairleigh is a biracial, Japanese-American writer, urban planner, and hobby collector from Washington. She shares her life with a husband, a trio of well-mannered horses, a pair of dubiously behaved parrots, and one neurotic dog. Her writing has been published by Terror House Magazine, Horror Tree, Defenestration, and Amsterdam Quarterly. She is currently working on the third novel in the Elemental Artist fantasy series. You can find her and more information about her writing at jamifairleigh.com.

Connect with the Author

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

BookBuzz