Monday, June 9, 2025

Historical Fiction Spotlight: The Apache Kid: Army Apache Scout by W. Michael Farmer

This morning, I have a historical fiction novel in our book blitz spotlight! Learn about Native American fiction novel Army Apache Scout from The Apache Kid Chronicles - Volume 1 and author W. Michael Farmer! 



ARMY APACHE SCOUT (The Apache Kid Chronicles-Volume 1)

 

Fiction / Indigenous / Historical Fiction / Native American

Date Published: 06-03-2015

Publisher: Hat Creek


 

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About the Book

 

From Army Scout to Outlaw, from Hero to Legend.

 

He survived the embers of the fires and murders at the Camp Grant Massacre of the Apache. Young Has-kay-bay-nay-ntayl ("brave and tall and will come to a mysterious end"), a child known by many names but later feared and revered as the Apache Kid-grows up in two cultures where survival means choosing between loyalty and betrayal, his people and their overseers. Trained by the legendary Al Sieber and other former military officers, the Kid makes a meteoric rise to prominence as a First Sergeant of scouts, a warrior whose skill and leadership helps win the U.S. Army's fight against renegades and maintain peace between Apache bands at San Carlos Reservation.

 

But neither war nor peace are ever simple. When forced to make an impossible choice between his own People or the Army, he chooses his People. His choice leads the Army to imprison him at Alcatraz. Released early by the Army, Arizona Territory tries to imprison him again but he, with seven other Apache on the way to Yuma Penitentiary, escape and become the object of the greatest manhunt in Arizona history. The only one to survive the manhunt, Kid becomes both a ghost and a legend, the most feared border outlaw for the next ten years before vanishing into Mexico.

 

Seen through Kid's eyes, The Apache Kid: Army Apache Scout brings to life the thrilling and tragic journey of Apache Kid as a young man and the best of the Army's Apache scouts.

 

About the Author

W. MICHAEL FARMER blends over fifteen years of research into 19th-century Apache history and Southwest living to create richly authentic stories. A retired PhD physicist, his scientific work included laser-based measurements of atmospheric aerosols, and he authored a two-volume reference on atmospheric effects.

 

His fiction and essays have earned numerous honors, including three Will Rogers Gold and six Silver Medallions, multiple New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards, and a Spur Finalist Award. His novels include The Life and Times of Yellow Boy, Legends of the Desert, and the award-winning Geronimo duology. His latest novels include Trini! Come! and the Chato Duology, featuring Desperate Warrior and Proud Outcast.

 

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Saturday, June 7, 2025

Women's Fiction Book Blitz: Whispers Where the Wildflowers Bloom by Jhani Mills

Today, we're stepping into a world where secrets are as abundant as the petals in a meadow and where the past echoes through the present. We're excited to shine today's spotlight on Whispers Where the Wildflowers Bloom by the talented Jhani Mills! Learn about the book and author--and add the book to your reading list or buy today! 


 

Women's Fiction

Date Published: March 15, 2025

 

 

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About the Book

 

She was never meant to bloom-but she did.


Amelia Harper was born into a world of privilege, but behind closed doors, her life was anything but charmed. Shaped by a childhood of deep scars and silent battles, Amelia spends years forging her own path, determined to build a future that doesn’t belong to her pain. As she rises from the shadows to become a successful business owner, an unexpected love with Ethan offers her a chance to heal, not by forgetting the past, but by blooming beyond it.


Whispers Where The Wildflowers Bloom is a raw, moving journey through survival, self-discovery, and the enduring strength it takes to reclaim your life. In a world where hope can seem impossible, Amelia reminds us that beauty still grows — even in the most barren of places.


About the Author

Jhani Mills writes emotionally charged stories where resilience, betrayal, love, and survival collide with lyrical force. She is the two-time award-winning author of Astral Seeds: Eclipse of the Celestial War, the first installment of her epic Astral Seeds trilogy. Her body of work also includes Whispers Where The Wildflowers Bloom and the explosive The Devil in Fine Print, the beginning of a bold new series blending conspiracies, science, and survival against impossible odds.

 

Known for crafting unforgettable characters and worlds where hope is a rebel force, Jhani’s stories are a testament to the beauty that blooms from broken ground. When she's not writing, she can be found chasing sunsets, savoring strong coffee, and believing fiercely that some of the most beautiful things in life bloom from broken ground and the quietest revolutions often leave the deepest scars — and the brightest legacies.


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Wednesday, June 4, 2025

Women's Fiction Feature Review: Higher Love by Joanne Kukanza Easley

Today, I have a dramatic women's fiction novel to share in our book review spotlight. If you enjoy a complex family drama, Higher Love should be on your summer reading list! Learn about Higher Love and author Joanne Kukanza Easley, read my thoughts on the book, and be sure to enter for a chance to win a prize in the book tour giveaway at the end of this post.



Book Title:  HIGHER LOVE by Joanne Kukanza Easley
Category:  Adult Fiction (18+), 360 pages
Genre:  Women's Literary Fiction
Publisher:  Red Boots Press
Release date:   May 2025
Content Rating:  PG-13 + M: Adult themes of alcoholism, underage drinking, underage sex

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About the Book
 
In 1986 Austin, Texas, sixteen-year-old Stephanie steps into sixty-two-year-old Lauren’s life, her uncanny resemblance cracking open a buried past. Claiming to be the daughter of the child Lauren gave up for adoption forty-five years ago, Stephanie upends Lauren’s life—already complicated by her remarriage to Brett after thirty-three years apart. Stung by her adoptive grandmother’s deception, Stephanie stays, her past of tragedy and self-harm forging a fragile bond with Lauren and Brett. When Stephanie’s trust fund evaporates, crushing her college dreams, Lauren sacrifices all to give her a future—only to face a bittersweet twist that echoes the past and changes everything. This heart-wrenching family drama delves into the enduring impact of secrets, the power of unconditional love, and the strength found in facing our pasts.
 
My Review
 
Higher Love Brings a Well-Done Family Drama to Readers. The basis of the novel is not necessarily unique, but the way the author allows her characters to come to terms with the traumas of the past will keep readers engaged from beginning to end. With the chapters bringing views from Stephanie and Lauren, readers gain insights into the lives and experiences that the main characters bring to the novel. The emotions are complex, but the storyline feels believable, and the characters feel real and relatable.
Expect a Character-Driven Story. While there are some plot twists moving the story along, most of the novel focuses on the emotional journeys of the characters, both past and present. The characters are realistic, the emotions are very human and real--and the characters' raw, honest presentations shed light on the significance of family, forgiveness and healing. 
 Would I Recommend Higher Love by Joanne Kukanza Easley? I am not always a fan of women's fiction, but the intense complexity of this novel was thought-provoking, emotional and interesting. There are adult themes presented in the book, but this is a novel that older teens/young adults (as well as older readers) will find relatable and interesting. I enjoyed the author's writing style and the clear understanding of human nature and the long-lasting impacts of generational trauma that were presented throughout the novel. I would recommend it to fans of complex family dramas and heavier women's fiction.
  
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Meet the Author 

​Joanne Kukanza Easley, a retired registered nurse who worked in the cold, stark environment of operating rooms and the highly charged setting of psychiatric facilities, now resides in the Texas Hill Country. There, she crafts fiction centered on complex women of the twentieth century. Her debut novel, Sweet Jane, garnered multiple accolades, including the adult fiction prize at the Texas Author Project, and was a finalist for prestigious honors like the Sarton Award and the Eric Hoffer Award, among others. Her second book, Just One Look, was selected as a May 2022 Pulpwood Queen Book Club Pick. Her third novel, I’ll Be Seeing You, revisits characters from Sweet Jane. Her fourth novel, Higher Love, a continuation of her third, is slated for release in Spring 2025. Easley’s award-winning short stories and poetry have been featured in various anthologies.

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Tuesday, June 3, 2025

Literary Fiction Review: Renewals by Gregory F. DeLaurier

Today, I have a crime thriller to share in our book review spotlight. Crime thrillers and suspense novels always find their way onto my reading list. Recently, I had the opportunity to read and review Renewals by Gregory F. DeLaurier. Learn about the novel and author, read my thoughts on the book and be sure to enter for a chance to win a prize in the book tour giveaway at the end of this post.


 

Book Title:  RENEWALS by Gregory F. DeLaurier
Category:  Adult Fiction (18+), 276 pages
Genre:  literary fiction, amateur sleuths
Publisher:  Independently published/Gregory F. DeLaurier
Release date:   February 2025
Content Rating:  R. My book is rated R for one attempted child sexual abuse, not explicit. There is bad language throughout. 
 

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About the Book

When academic Richard returns to his hometown he discovers a scam that has ruined the city, he must unite his friends and family to uncover the truth, but this pits him against the scam’s architect, aging but violent drug kingpin Giacomo Duchamps, who could destroy everyone Richard loves should he fail.

Renewals captures the nature of a hardscrabble small town and those who live and struggle there, in this pitch perfect tale of corruption and renewal. It is the story of the renewal of a city but also the renewal of the lives of those who are lost or oppressed; a young woman trapped in sexual abuse and exploitation, a young ex-con searching for a better life, and others.
 
My Review
 
Expect a Fast-Paced Novel with Believable Twists, Turns and Tension. This novel creates a very believable storyline, with realistic plot twists and believable dialogue and scenes. I love reading a fictional novel that feels real enough that I find myself wondering if it's based on true events. This novel holds all of the corruption, greed and suspense of a mob thriller but does so in a real-world way that pulls average readers into the lives of those affected as the scenes unfold. 
Renewals Offers the Perfect Cast of Characters. While there are no perfect characters in the book, there are plenty of memorable characters that will hold your interest from the beginning to beyond the last page. I enjoyed the humor, the conversations, the twists and turns, and the relationships presented in the book. While the novel is well-written and reaches satisfying conclusions, you can expect to be sad to leave the characters behind as you reach the end. 
 Would I Recommend Renewals by Gregory F. DeLaurier? If you enjoy crime fiction with realistic amateur sleuths and a perfectly imperfect cast of characters--this novel is a well-done, quick read that will hold your interest from beginning to end. 
 
Buy the Book 
 
Meet the Author 
​Gregory F. DeLaurier is a retired university professor who has returned to his first love, fiction writing. He lives in Melrose MA, and has a daughter in her 40s who lives in Brooklyn and a 21 year old son attending Berklee College of Music. His fiction and non-fiction are widely available.

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Monday, June 2, 2025

Young Adult Mystery Blitz: Risky Pursuit by Nancy G. West

My favorite genre has always been mysteries! As a tween/teen, I read every mystery themed novel in our small town library, so I love finding new young adult mystery suspense stories to share! Learn about Risky Pursuit and author Nancy G. West in this book spotlight feature.
 



YA Mystery, YA Suspense

Date Published: April 15, 2025

 

 

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About the Book


High school senior Decker Savage, burdened by his baby brother’s death and dreading his parents’ impending divorce, sees his mother with a scruffy stranger and follows him to a dark house. He hears shouts upstairs, a man hits the floor, and the culprit escapes. Decker follows the victim's ambulance. Through their mutual love of baseball, they become friends; but the elderly man can’t remember who attacked him, and Decker fears the assailant will return. His grades crater, his relationships go south, his baseball skills are erratic, and by entering the man’s house, he broke the law.


He suffers anonymous attacks and receives threatening notes: if he doesn’t forget the man and the house, he, his family, and his friend will be the next victims. Will Decker be able to uncover the culprit’s identity, solve the mystery, and stop the attacks?


About the Author

Nancy G. West was a University of Texas business major who switched to English literature in grad school and discovered that writing fiction was a lot more fun than accounting. Her April 2025 novel, RISKY PURSUIT, with its young, resourceful protagonist, multiple adult POVs, and themes of family, loss, risk, grief, secrets, danger, and courage, should appeal to readers ages 14 and up.

She’s also the author of the Lefty-Award-nominated Aggie Mundeen rom/com mysteries, and the psychological suspense novel, Nine Days to Evil.

Her mystery/suspense novella, THE PLUNGE, was a June 2019 selection for ALA’s book club.

Nancy West lives in Texas with her family.

 

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Thursday, May 29, 2025

Thriller Book Review Feature: The Perfect Mother by Desiree Moodie

I love thrillers and books that promise to expose "secrets" of the past. Today, I have a thriller to share that does just that. Learn about The Perfect Mother and author Desiree Moodie, read my thoughts on the book and be sure to enter for a chance to win a prize in the book tour giveaway at the end of this post.


 

Book Title THE PERFECT MOTHER by Desiree Moodie
Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 
Genre: Thriller
Publisher:  Twisted Thoughts Publishing
Release date:  May 2025
Content RatingPG-13 + M: The book has a few "f" words, one or two religious profanities and a few crude terms. There is no sex, but there is violence. Mature themes include pregnancy loss.




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About the Book


The perfect neighborhood. The perfect family. The perfect crime.
 

When Dawn Harrington moves to the quiet, picturesque town of Meadowbrook, she’s hoping for a fresh start. A place where no one knows her name. Where she can leave behind the whispers, the heartbreak, the gaping hole left by the son who vanished from a park nearly twenty years ago. But secrets have a way of following you.
 

A few blocks over, Evelyn Harper has spent years crafting the perfect life—an adoring husband, beautiful children, a home straight out of a magazine. But when she sees Dawn standing in her driveway, Evelyn feels the first stirrings of something she hasn’t felt in years.
 

Fear.
 

Because Dawn isn’t just any new neighbor. She’s a woman with a past. A past that collides violently with Evelyn’s own. 
 

At first, Dawn and Evelyn circle each other warily—neighborly smiles masking something far more sinister. But as Dawn starts asking questions and Evelyn begins watching her every move, the game between them becomes something far more treacherous.
 

As their carefully built lives begin to crumble, one of them will stop at nothing to uncover the truth.
 

The other will stop at nothing to keep it buried.
 

Because some lies can be forgiven. Others demand blood.
 

The Perfect Mother is a spellbinding psychological thriller about deception, obsession, and how far a mother will go for the truth. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Gillian Flynn, and Shari Lapena, this is one twisted suburban nightmare you won’t soon forget.​
 
 
My Review


The Perfect Mother Brings Some Twists and Turns to the Expected Storyline. While Evelyn's secret is easy enough to figure out pretty early on, the author still manages to weave some twists and turns throughout the story to keep it interesting and engaging. It did take a few chapters for me to fall into sync with the flow of the story and the shifts between time periods and points of view, but I enjoyed watching the full story unfold.

Don't Expect to Love the Characters. I didn't find myself connecting well with any of the characters in the book, but they were fairly well-developed and complex enough to keep me interested in the outcomes. While the shifts in the points of view throughout the novel helped tell the stories of both women, there were times that the voices were very similar, and this made some sections seem a little confusing or feel overly long. 

Would I Recommend The Perfect Mother by Desiree Moodie? If you are looking for an exciting page-turner--this isn't that type of psychological thriller. If you enjoy dramas that look at the impacts of events and trauma on lives, this is an interesting story. I didn't love the ending as presented in the novel and preferred the "alternate ending" provided, so be sure to read both endings! Overall, I enjoyed the book (especially with the alternate ending) and would read other books from the author. 
 

Buy the Book
 
 
 
Meet the Author


Desiree Moodie has been writing since before she could talk — seriously. As a kid, she spent weekends scribbling on notebook paper and stapling the pages together into makeshift books.

Now, she crafts dark, twisty stories featuring morally complex characters and impossible-to-put-down plots. Her writing is influenced by her travels, old-school noir films, and pro-wrestling (yes, still). She loves difficult women, villains who might just have a point, and snappy dialogue.

When she's not writing, Desiree is watching reruns of Perry Mason, working on her Lauren Bacall impression, or pulling Tarot cards. She’s got a soft spot for readers who love clever, gritty stories with a little bite — so don’t be shy. Drop her a line (just not in all caps).

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THE PERFECT MOTHER by Desiree Moodie Book Tour Giveaway




Historical Fiction Spotlight: Dangerous Times by William Kinsolving

This morning, I have the first book in a fiction series to share! Learn about Dangerous Times and author William Kinsolving in this book blitz spotlight. 

 

Fiction

Date Published: May 1, 2025

Publisher: Manhattan Book Group


 

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About the Book

 

This book's background is the prophetic but overlooked decade of American history, 1846 to 1856, from the Mexican War to the presidential election of James Buchanan. The decade was a foreshadowing of our national cataclysm. Underlying every social aspect was the nation's fatal flaw, slavery, that perverted the Constitution on which the Enlightenment ideals of a "United States" were based. And on every day, similarities to the distortions of the present decade are obvious.

 

I chose a Southern ethos, finding an unexpected woman to suffer and survive the decade; and three brothers, each of whom carves a unique path through it, one as a fugitive unjustly accused of murder and slave-stealing, one as an enigmatic operative across the jagged spectrum of antebellum party politics, and the eldest who inherits his family's storied tobacco plantation as its lands burn out.

 

The story is told chronologically, the fiction adhering to the history. Should a question arise as to which is which, any event of historical significance - no matter how bizarre or implausible -- did indeed happen.

 

The novel echoes ethnic truths as they were at the time. I write of intimacies as well as horrors found in historical records. Both public and private relations were often infused with their own destruction -- as were the expanding "United States" in that decade, and I fear in this one.

 

About the Author

After a questionable academic career at Stanford (I mean, how practical is a double major in Drama and Far Eastern Theology?), Kinsolving fled to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival to play Richard II. He then attended The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art for polish. Returning to New York, he appeared as an actor under-, off- and on Broadway, as well as a saloon singer in foul Greenwich Village nightclubs. For creative diversion during these years, he acted and/or directed back in Oregon, at the Stratford (CT) Shakespeare Theater, Harvard, Dartmouth, Café La Mama, then went out and won the Best Actor of the Year award from the San Francisco Chronicle for performing at the Berkeley Rep.

 

Ineluctably transitioning to a second career, Kinsolving wrote a play with 84 speaking roles, was awarded a Ford Foundation Playwriting Grant, and had the play produced by the Stratford Ontario Shakespeare Festival. This led to the first of some 54 films on which he worked for every major studio (and several distinctly minor ones) in Los Angeles, London and Rome (ask him about Zeffirelli sometime) as screenwriter and script doctor. Suspecting that such a life was leading to the utter corruption of his soul (not to dare mention his body), he retreated to Carmel to write the first of five novels (a NY Times best-seller, a couple of Literary Guild Main Selections, he adds humbly, but only if asked).

 

While serving on the Board of Trustees of the California Institute of the Arts, he regressed happily to nightclub and fundraising performances, accompanied by the likes of Peter Duchin and Emmanuel Ax, singing at the Algonquin Hotel’s late lamented Oak Room and for one of the late Brooke Astor’s better birthday parties among many other less name-dropping venues.

 

Last year, he directed a musical for which he wrote the book and lyrics in the nave of San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral about Johann Sebastian Bach and his family. Bach provided all the music, and proved to be very easy to work with. THAT WEEK WITH THE BACHS had the best voices in the Bay Area, including the ineffable Frederica von Stade.

 

He began work on the historical novel DANGEROUS TIMES between the diversions above. He knew the history, but even so, was startled by how constant the similarities are in that destructive time to what’s going on in this one.

 

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