Today, I am sharing a new crime thriller from author T.R. Motley! Learn about the book and author and add it to your new year reading list! 

Crime Thriller

Date Published: December 3, 2025

At the age of 17, she is forced to run when her parents arrange a marriage to a cartel member. After working with the FBI to take down most of the cartel, she is placed in a protection program. Unbeknownst to her, the Juarez Cartel has rebuilt and is stronger now than before. 

In a twist of fate, Aurelia is kidnapped, forced to marry Diego, son to the leader of the cartel, and produce an heir. Diego, who becomes an unseen ally, along with Aurelia begin to align themselves with individuals throughout Mexico to take down the cartel. They will fight, blackmail, and kill to protect those they love.

In an act of desperation, Diego makes the ultimate sacrifice and enlists the help of Daniel Zimmerman, a U.S. FBI agent and Aurelia’s first love. On the day of the raid, will everyone make it out of Mexico alive?

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Meet the Author

My love of books started as a teen when life was not the best, and I would place myself in the characters shoes and get lost in the story. As an adult, it was my escape from reality in a sometimes cruel world. Along the way, my own stories began to swirl in my head. I always wanted to put those stories on paper, but needing to be a responsible adult, took the safe route. 

On my last week in the PICU, my fellow coworkers and I went on a float trip. Several people asked if we had it to do over again, would we still have become a nurse. Surprisingly, only two people said they would. When going around and asking what everyone would have done instead, I said I would have become an author. Silence ensued for a minute, before there was a chorus of, "Go for it!" Two months later, I did a ton of research and started my first novel. Seven months later, I had a completed piece of work. Months of beta reading and changes along with and editor, helped round out what my book has become. 

Now, twenty years later, I am pursuing that dream of storytelling.

Aurelia's story is about overcoming any obstacle, even when being pushed down from every angle for most of her life. It is about seeing some of the worst circumstances in life, facing those head on and fighting back to make her life better. It is about believing that just because you were born into a certain life, you can fight for what you want and make your way out. It is about finding love in the worst circumstances and having life ripped away once more. It is about a woman fighting in a man's world and excelling. It is about finding friends in the misted of tragedy and realizing sometimes people will fight for you just as hard. 

We see the mark drug cartels not only leave on the U.S. and Mexico in general, but in the lives of real people. We see how easy human trafficking and bringing drugs in from Mexico can be. We learn that people are so greedy for power and money, that they allow these things to happen. People that should protect us. This is a powerful story of how Aurelia, who is immersed into this world, not only fights for herself, but others who have been drug in along with her. There are powerful characters that Aurelia meets along the way who join forces to not only help her with this fight but become the family she never had.

This is a romantic suspense novel, appropriate for ages 18+ (adult only).

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This morning, I have a self help book to share in our book blitz spotlight! Learn about Rate your Date and author Doublas H. Ruben PhD. 

A Primer for Selecting Healthy Partners

Self-Help, Nonfiction

Date Published: November 16, 2025

Rate Your Date provides the first complete survival kit on how to meet, date, and romance sexual partners

Increase your sexual aptitude with secrets on finding eager partners, why they are eager, and what turns partners off. Don’t guess, get the facts, and be ahead of the game. Avoid common dating mistakes that sabotage sex. Become an expert at charisma and persuasion. Simple and rapid steps empower you to give and receive affection. Less focus on how to make love, and more focus on who, when, where and how much to make love. Stimulating strategies take the mystery out of mate-searching. So, if you’re tired of lonely nights and empty dreams of erotic partners, forget the pornography. Open doors of opportunity for dating-singles, for couples in sexual distress, and for individuals tired of repeating bad relationships. Let the science of behavior be your guide. Now you’ll have at your fingertips a blueprint for dependable love connections. 

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 Dr. Douglas Ruben is a forensic and licensed psychologist and national consultant in Applied Behavior Analysis, Personality Theory, Addictions, Rehabilitation, and Parenting. Locally, he conducts forensic evaluations and conducts a family and individual behavior therapy practice. He has conducted over 6000 forensic evaluations. His seminars on forensics, parent empowerment, schools, Personality Disorders, and Adult Children of Alcoholics appear nationwide through different seminar organizations. He literally has given over 3000 workshops across the United Stated from Portland, Oregon to Portland, Maine. 

Dr. Ruben is author and co-author of over 73 scholarly and self-help books and over 100 professional articles. Among his practitioner-books include Behavioral Forensics: Using Applied Behavior Analysis in Psychological Evaluations, Behavioral Guide to Personality Disorders (DSM 5), Tantrum Survival Kit: The Definitive Guide to Tantrum Management; Effects of Bad Parenting and What to do About It; Treating Adult Children of Alcoholics-A Behavioral Approach; Assessing and Treating Addictive Disorder; Avoidance Syndrome; Handbook of Childhood Impulse Disorders and ADHD; Reassessment in Psychology; New Ideas in Therapy; Current Advances in Psychiatric Care; Transitions: Handbook of Managed Care; Family Addiction; and Aging and Drug Abuse He co-edited four books with Dr. Turner including Readings in Aphasia; Readings in Muscular Dystrophy; Readings in Cerebral Palsy, Homebound Teaching, and Behavioral Management in Public Schools: an Urban Approach. His self-help books recently include Evil Inside Use: Dangers of No Impulse Control, Parent Guide to Children of Alcoholics, 25 Secrets to Emotional Self-Healing; Forever Sober, No More Guilt-10 steps to a shame-free life, Bratbusters: say goodbye to tantrums and disobedience, and Pandemic Family Communication. He has been in private practice for 43 years. 

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This morning, in our book teaser spotlight, I have a western-themed historical mystery to share! Learn about Elmer Kelton's The Blessing and author John Bradshaw, read an excerpt from the book & be sure to enter for a chance to win a prize in the book tour giveaway at the end of this post. 

Date Published: 12-03-2025

Publisher: Devil's Claw Press

Trouble is, it was bought from his old adversary, Fat Gervin, who is still as crooked as ever. Gervin finds a seeming loophole in the contract and tries to pull another fast one on Hewey, who is fed up with Gervin’s endless treachery. Tensions rise, and when Gervin is shot, it’s Hewey who’s on the hook for the crime. But things are never as they seem, and it’s up to an eclectic cast of characters to sort it out, and for Hewey to learn what’s really important in life. 

Written by longtime journalist turned novelist John Bradshaw, who was selected by The Elmer Kelton Estate to continue the Hewey Calloway tradition.

Read an Excerpt

The morning sun was warm on Hewey’s face as he neared the Circle W’s eastern fence and the road beyond. When he crossed a small hill just west of the road, he saw an automobile parked outside the fence and a man struggling to open the wire gate that led into the ranch. Hewey rode nearer and saw the man was a stranger. He was older than Hewey by a decade or so, soft in the middle and wearing a dark suit and a snap-brim driving cap. 

Although Morgan Jenkins occasionally visited the ranch in his automobile, Pincushion had certainly never been this close to one of the machines. He snorted and sidestepped, threatening to do something untoward. Unconcerned with the horse’s feelings, Hewey swatted the dun on the hip with the heavy tail of a rein. Pincushion decided Hewey was more of an immediate threat than the vehicle, and he moved forward cautiously. 

The gate was made of five strands of barbwire with a cedar stay tied in the middle and another at each end. The gate fastened with two loops of barbwire, one at the top and another at the bottom. The gate had to be pulled tighter, by hand, to release the wire loops that held it closed. The man in the suit was having trouble with the task. He looked up as Hewey approached. 

“Mornin’,” Hewey said cautiously. He and Pincushion both eyed the stranger with some wariness. 

“This is the Circle W Ranch, is it not?” asked the man abruptly. “I am looking for a man by the name of Hewey Calloway. Do you know where I might find him?” 

Hewey thought that one over for a moment. The man did not strike him as a lawman. In any case, he had been on the straight and narrow, for the most part at least, since Spring had expressed her dislike of public drunkenness and the misfortunes that so often befell Hewey during those occasions. 

“Yes, sir,” he said finally. “This is the Circle W, and I’m Hewey Calloway.” 

“That is excellent news,” said the man. “My name is Howard Stephens. I am an attorney in Alpine, for the time being at least. I have some information for you, and some paperwork. Would it be possible for us to go someplace where we might sit and talk? Somewhere out of this sun? It’s getting dreadfully hot already.” 

Everything Hewey knew of lawyers taught him to be wary. “What do we need to talk about? Am I in some sort of trouble? I been behaving myself pretty well for a couple years now.” 

“No, Mister Calloway. I assure you this is all good news. I guarantee it, to be precise, but it is a bit lengthy to get into out here.” 

Hewey was still uncertain, but his curiosity got the best of him. “We can go up to headquarters. It’s just a few miles thataway.” He nodded his head west. 

“Perfect,” said Stephens. “Now, would you mind helping me with this gate? It seems to be broken.”

Bradshaw attended South Plains College followed by Texas Tech University. He spent several years shoeing horses for a living as his writing career progressed. 

While the desire to write books was always there, Bradshaw first pursued a career in journalism. He wrote numerous stories for ranching, horse and horseshoeing magazines. 

Growing up, Livestock Weekly came in the mail once a week, as it does for most in the livestock industry. Writing for Livestock Weekly was always a goal, and in 2005 Bradshaw’s first story was published. It was a profile of Brownie Metzgar, a humorous cowboy still working in a feedlot while in his late 80s. 

In 2007 Bradshaw accepted a fulltime position with Livestock Weekly. While with the paper he had over a thousand stories published, as well as enough market reports to give him permanent nightmares. 

Horses have always played an important role in his life. The son of a horseshoer, he has spent a significant amount of time either on or under a horse. He still shows in both ranch horse and reined cow horse competitions. 

He and his wife, Sara, live outside Abernathy. Sara owns an architecture firm, SK Architecture Group, and they raise Spanish goats, hair sheep and cattle. 

In 2013 the couple had a stillborn son, Fox Joaquin Bradshaw. After several years of heartbreak they adopted an infant boy, whom they named Julian Boone Bradshaw. Boone died in his dad’s arms following an accident at the barn five days before his sixth birthday.

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Today, I have a contemporary fiction novel to share in our book teaser spotlight! Take a minute and learn about The Legacy of a Lie and author Ron Elcombe--and be sure to enter for a chance to win a prize in the book tour giveaway at the end of this post! 

Contemporary Fiction

Date Published: January 15, 2026

Publisher: Windy Ridge Publishing

Her daughters—Kay, a celebrated mezzo-soprano, and Anna, a self-doubting composer—must confront the emotional fallout of their mother’s long-buried lies. Alongside them are a young, truth-seeking journalist, a lawyer, and a priest, all carrying the weight of secrets they are professionally and morally bound to keep. 

Set in the haunting beauty of Minnesota’s river bluffs and Lake Superior’s North Shore, this is a story of legacy and redemption—of truth breaking through the cracks of deception and healing in the wake of generations of silence.

Read an Excerpt

She turned the radio off as she pulled into the drive-through at the Coffee Stop. The attendant, too perky for the morning hour, wished her a great day and passed a medium coffee with cream but no sugar through the window. Only two meetings were scheduled for the day: the first with her boss at 11:00 a.m. and a division meeting at 1:00. With any luck, she’d escape the office early. 

Instead of turning north to I–94 and Saint Paul, the car pulled out of the Coffee-Stop driveway onto the main street and turned south toward Red Wing. Maarit was surprised at the easy merge into the lighter-than-usual highway traffic. 

“Why is the sun in my eyes today?” Maarit muttered. “It wasn’t yesterday.” Within a few minutes, where she expected stop lights, stop signs were spaced apart at irregular intervals. Long stretches of unfamiliar road stretched to the horizon. She looked at her watch and frowned. She should have been at work twenty minutes ago. The highway transitioned into a street with no curb or shoulder, then evolved into a narrow gravel road. She tried to turn around, but the car slid off the narrow shoulder into a ditch. 

Confusion became fear. The front bumper hit an orange snow fence. The car shuddered. Forward motion ceased. Engine warning lights glowed red throughout the vehicle. Fear became panic. She tried to yell for help, but only a faint whisper escaped her lips. Her head throbbed. Everything blurred. Then, everything went dark as she lost consciousness.

About the Author

 Ron Elcombe is a professor emeritus at Winona State University (MN), where he taught various advertising and mass communication courses for 25 years. His eclectic career encompasses teaching instrumental music, as well as sales and marketing roles for multiple companies. He has been published in the Lake Country Journal and several professional academic journals and has attended seminars on fiction writing at the Iowa Summer Writers Festival. "The Legacy of a Lie" is the first book in a three-novel series. He resides in Rochester, Minnesota, with his wife, Sharon, and enjoys summers on the golf course and at the family cabin in northern Minnesota.

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This morning, I have a motorcycle club romance novel in our book teaser spotlight! Learn about Spirit Bear Conspiracy, the first book in the Brotherhood of the Wild, and author Anne Kane! 

Brotherhood of the Wild 1

A Riptide MC Romance

Date Published: January 2, 2026

Publisher: Changeling Press

Ryland -- I was tailing a gang of poachers, certain they’d lead me straight to their kingpin, when a stray arrow from a crossbow slammed into me. Pain lanced through me and everything faded to black. In that blur of unconsciousness, I could have sworn a pure white bear stood over me, calm as can be. When I opened my eyes again, a woman -- curvy and impossibly beautiful -- was watching me with the cutest look of mixed concern and distrust on her face. 

Kimberly -- I thought I was alone on a tiny island off the coast of British Columbia until an arrow from a crossbow barely missed skewering me. With my dog Diego at my heels, I ran to hide in a maze of caves, my heart pounding. Crouched down in the dark, I listened in terror as voices and footsteps floated to me from outside. I prayed the shooters wouldn’t find the spirit bear that inhabited this place. When I finally crept back out into the daylight, I found I wasn’t the only target -- but the unconscious man lying in a pool of his own blood wasn’t talking. Victim or one of them? 

About the Author

Anne Kane lives in the beautiful Okanagan Valley with a bouncy little rescue dog whose breed defies description, a cantankerous Himalayan cat, and too many fish to count. She spent many years trying to fit in and act normal, but finally gave up the effort. She started writing romance in 2008, and her fate was sealed when she won a publishing contract with Red Sage Publishing and just a month later Changeling Press accepted her first submission. Since then she has published more than thirty stories in a variety of sub-genres, all with a happily ever after. 

She has two handsome sons and six adorable grandchildren and enjoys spending time with them whenever she can. Her hobbies, when she’s not playing with the characters in her head, include kayaking, hiking, swimming, playing guitar, singing and of course, reading.

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Save 15% off any order at ChangelingPress.com with code RABT15

Today, I have a children's book to share in our book blitz spotlight! Learn about Magic Macy and the Giant and author Mark Robertson!

Children’s Book

Date Published: November 27, 2025

About the Author

Today, I have a nonfiction self help book to share! Learn about Career B.L.I.S.S.: How to Transition from College to Career with Ease and author Laurie Nilo-Klug, M.A. 

How to Transition from College to Career with Ease

Date Published: October 9, 2025

Publisher: ‎Manhattan Book Group

This isn’t just another career guide. It's a movement that challenges the status quo and flips the script on traditional career advice, specifically for folks with marginalized identities. The book's core idea is that you already have everything you need for success; you just need to know how to articulate it. It teaches you a clear, 5-step process (B.L.I.S.S.) to create a career that celebrates who you are and supports the life you want to live. 

A huge part of the book is built on Dr. Yosso’s community cultural wealth theory, helping readers see that their unique backgrounds—what society might call 'disadvantages'—are actually powerful strengths, or forms of capital they can leverage in the job market. It covers everything from crafting application materials and networking without feeling fake, to negotiating an offer and managing the emotional ups and downs of the first year on the job." 

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In addition to writing and coaching, I partner with colleges, employers, and high schools by providing transformative career workshops. These workshops leverage my proven B.L.I.S.S. method and a culturally responsive approach built on Dr. Yosso's Community Cultural Wealth theory. This ensures students are equipped with the confidence and tools to successfully transition into careers. My work has been featured in FOX 5, Washington Times, and Thrive Global. 

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