This morning, we are joining the book release blitz for Her Only Chance! Learn about this contemporary romance novel and author Dalia Dupris--and be sure to enter for a chance to win a prize in the giveaway at the end of this post. 

Date Published: 07-07-2026

Publisher: Dream Weaver Press

This captivating tale is a stirring blend of romance, suspense, and family drama, perfect for readers who crave richly drawn characters, heartfelt emotion, and the tension of real-world stakes. Will Elaine secure the future of Hartland Orchards, or will the challenges she faces prove insurmountable? Dive into a story of ambition, loyalty, and love, and experience a journey where every decision carries weight, every relationship matters, and every secret has the potential to change everything.

about the author

 Dalia Dupris is a recipient of the RWA Spectrum Award and is a two-time EMMA Award winning author. She has BA in English Literature and Master’s degree in Social Work. In her spare time, she enjoys bike riding along the California coast with her husband and hiking with her daughter. She loves hearing from her readers. Their words of encouragement inspire her to continue creating memorable characters and compelling stories. 

Website

Facebook

Goodreads

Pinterest: @daliadupris

Instagram

buy the book

Amazon

https://mybook.to/HerOnlyChance

enter the giveaway 

A jilted bride.

A wrecked goalie.

An unexpected kiss that changes everything.

Slapshot Summer

A The Playmakers Series Novella

by G.K. Brady

Genre: Steamy Fake Dating Hockey Romance

 

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about the book

A jilted bride. A wrecked goalie. An unexpected kiss that changes everything.

I came here to reset.

After a season that pushed me to my limits, I needed sun, quiet, and space—somewhere I could shut out the noise and get my head back under control.

Then Lexi Campbell sat beside me at the bar and asked for my help flirting with another guy.

I said yes because it was supposed to be fake. A distraction. Something with clear lines and no consequences. I’m good with pressure. I know how to stay focused, how to hold my ground when everything’s coming at me fast.

What I didn’t expect was how easy it felt to want her.

One kiss blows past every boundary I set. Suddenly, I’m not playing defense anymore—I’m all in, and I don’t know how to pull back. Lexi’s on a honeymoon she’s taking alone, guarding a broken heart she pretends doesn’t still hurt. I’m standing at my own crossroads, unsure where my future leads or if I’m ready to risk wanting something real again.

It was supposed to be a fling. But wanting her is the one thing I can’t seem to control.

For fans of fake dating, opposites attract, and swoony NHL players who actually like to dance, Slapshot Summer is a heartwarming romance with plenty of spice … and, of course, a guaranteed HEA.

**PLEASE NOTE: This story was originally published as Sunsets, Stick Saves, and a Honeymoon in the Love in Destiny Series. The content has not changed. If you’ve read that version, then you've read this one as well.**

 

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about the author

Since childhood, all sorts of stories and characters have lived in G.K. Brady’s imagination, elbowing one another for attention, so she’s finally giving them their voice on the written page.

 An award-winning writer of contemporary romance, she loves telling tales of the less-than-perfect hero or heroine who transforms with each turn of a page. She also writes historical fiction under the pen name Griffin Brady.

 G.K. is a wife and the proud mom of three grown sons. When she’s not writing, she might be reading, traveling, drinking wine, listening to music, or gardening—sometimes all at once! She currently resides in Colorado with her very patient husband. 

 

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enter the giveaway

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Enter the Slapshot Summer Giveaway Here

Today, we are sharing an action adventure audiobook in our book spotlight! Learn about Rathuun King of the Prairie and author David Fitz-Gerald and enter the book tour giveaway at the end of this post. 

Frontier & Pioneer Western Fiction; US Historical Fiction; Action/Adventure

Date Published: March 20, 2026

Narrator: John McLain

Run Time: 9 Hours and 46 Minutes

 

 

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about the book

With all the swagger of a classic western, a legendary buffalo claims his rightful place among the genre's most iconic heroes. 

 

Meet Rathuun. Born in an idyllic canyon, tragedy strikes on his first day. A grizzly bear scatters the herd, devours his twin, and leaves him to shiver and die. But the buffalo calf with a white spot on his chin survives. 

 

The plains are changing fast. Wagons roll west in endless streams. Telegraph wires stretch across the horizon. Locomotives scream down polished rails, slicing through the earth. Extinction seems imminent when everyone wants to kill the biggest buffalo on the prairie. Native people shoot arrows and drive herds over cliffs. Hide hunters slaughter millions. An obsessed buffalo assassin is determined to wipe them all out and change the world forever. There's an army of barking rifles, and they're all pointed at Rathuun. 

 

Will the hunters take Rathuun's head and leave his carcass to rot on the prairie?

 

This sweeping epic thunders across the American West, taking listeners to unforgettable western landmarks. If you like classic westerns, thrilling action, and high-stakes historical adventures, grab your copy by the horns.

 

Welcome to the prairie!

about the author

David Fitz-Gerald writes frontier and pioneer western fiction from the wilds of western Vermont—about as far west as you can get without slipping into New York.

Though he’s never wrangled beeves to market, Dave was a top hand on his grandfather’s dude ranch in the Adirondack Mountains… before he turned ten. He’s lived most of his life on dirt roads. Whenever he gets the chance, he travels west to recharge his spirit on the windswept prairies.

He’s an Adirondack 46’er which means that he’s hiked to the top of every mountain in the park. In 2018, Dave completed the 1960s fitness craze by hiking 50 miles in one day. That’s one heck of a long walk, but not nearly as grueling as the iconic trails that he chases in his fiction.

Even after all these years, Dave still has his head in the clouds like Ken from MY FRIEND FLICKA, and a quiet, self-reliant spirit like Sam from THE TRUMPET OF THE SWAN. That blend of wonder, heart, and spirit runs through the characters he portrays. His editor states he is “exceptionally good at creating real moments between characters”—and readers seem to agree.

Dave’s breakthrough series, Ghosts Along the Oregon Trail won Chanticleer’s Grand Prize for Book Series. He’s now the author of nearly twenty novels and counting, and as long as there’s coffee in the kitchen, Dave will be plotting one adventurous story after another.

 

connect with the author

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Bookbub

buy the book

Audible

Amazon

https://mybook.to/RathuunKingofPrairie

 

enter the giveaway 

 

Today, we are sharing a quick book teaser for upcoming contemporary romance novel Her Only Chance! Learn about the book and author Dalia Dupris! 

Date Published: 07-07-2026

Publisher: Dream Weaver Press

This captivating tale is a stirring blend of romance, suspense, and family drama, perfect for readers who crave richly drawn characters, heartfelt emotion, and the tension of real-world stakes. Will Elaine secure the future of Hartland Orchards, or will the challenges she faces prove insurmountable? Dive into a story of ambition, loyalty, and love, and experience a journey where every decision carries weight, every relationship matters, and every secret has the potential to change everything. 

 pre-order the book

amazon 

about the author

 Dalia Dupris is a recipient of the RWA Spectrum Award and is a two-time EMMA Award winning author. She has BA in English Literature and Master’s degree in Social Work. In her spare time, she enjoys bike riding along the California coast with her husband and hiking with her daughter. She loves hearing from her readers. Their words of encouragement inspire her to continue creating memorable characters and compelling stories. 

connect with the author

Website

Facebook

Goodreads

Pinterest: @daliadupris

Instagram

You finally did it. After weeks, months, or maybe even years of writing, you've typed the words "The End." It's an exciting moment, and you deserve to celebrate it. But before your manuscript makes its way into readers' hands, there's one more important journey ahead: polishing your work.

Understanding the difference between editing and proofreading is one of the most important parts of preparing a manuscript for publication. Although the terms are often used interchangeably, they serve very different purposes. 

One of the most common questions new writers ask is, "Do I need editing or proofreading?" It's a fair question because the two terms are often used interchangeably. While both are essential parts of preparing a manuscript for publication, they do serve different purposes. If you know the difference, you can make smarter decisions about your writing, avoid unnecessary expenses, and produce a book that readers will enjoy from the first page to the last.

Whether you're self-publishing, submitting to a traditional publisher, or just wanting your manuscript to be the best it can be--understanding the editing process is a very valuable skill to learn.

What Is the Difference Between Editing and Proofreading?

The easiest way to think about editing and proofreading is to compare them to renovating a home.

Editing is the remodeling stage. You're improving the layout, fixing structural problems, replacing outdated features, and making everything work together more effectively.

Proofreading is the final walkthrough before the house goes on the market. You're checking for paint drips, crooked light switches, and small details that could leave a poor impression.

Both stages improve the final product, but they happen at different times and focus on different goals.

What Is Editing?

Editing is the process of improving your manuscript before it's ready for publication. An editor looks beyond grammar and spelling to evaluate how well your story or message works as a whole.

Depending on the type of editing you choose, an editor may help you strengthen your plot, improve character development, tighten pacing, eliminate inconsistencies, refine dialogue, and make your writing more engaging. They also look for repetitive wording, awkward sentences, and places where readers might become confused or lose interest.

Think of editing as a team collaboration. A good editor isn't trying to rewrite your story—they're helping your voice shine while making the reading experience smoother and more enjoyable.

Types of editing include:

• Developmental editing for writing structure.

• Line editing for tone and readability.

• Copy editing for grammar, punctuation, spelling, and factual errors or inconsistencies.

Each level of editing plays an important role, and not every manuscript requires every service. The key is understanding where your book is in the writing process.

What Is Proofreading?

Proofreading is the final review before publication. By this stage, your manuscript should already be edited, revised, and formatted.

Instead of making major changes, a proofreader looks for the small mistakes that inevitably slip through after multiple rounds of revisions.

A proofreader's job is to catch the small errors that are easy to overlook, including:

• Typos and spelling mistakes
• Missing words or awkward sentence omissions
• Problems with punctuation, capitalization, or grammar
• Inconsistent spacing between lines or characters
• Formatting inconsistencies
• Missing or incorrect page numbers

These details may seem minor to the overall novel, but they can really interrupt the reader's experience and even affect your credibility as an author.

Why Editing Should Always Come Before Proofreading

It's tempting to want everything cleaned up as quickly as possible, but proofreading too early often means doing the same work twice.

Imagine paying someone to correct every typo in Chapter Five, only to remove that chapter completely after an editor suggests a better structure for your story.

Editing is where the big changes happen to your book after your first draft. Chapters may be rewritten, scenes moved, character dialogue expanded or cropped, or entire sections removed. Once those editing revisions are complete, proofreading provides the final polish before publication.

Following the proper order saves both time and money.

Editing vs. Proofreading: A Quick Comparison

If you're still revising your story, developing characters, or restructuring chapters, editing is the service you need.

If your manuscript is complete and you're preparing to publish, proofreading is the final step to help ensure readers see your best work.

Editing improves the content.

Proofreading perfects the presentation.

Both are equally important.

Can You Edit Your Own Book?

Every writer should learn basic self-editing skills. In fact, the more polished your manuscript is before you hire an editor, the more value you'll receive from professional editing.

Before sending your manuscript to an editor, there are some things you can do:

• Take a break from your manuscript for at least a week. Fresh eyes notice problems you've become blind to during the writing process. 
• Read your work aloud. Hearing your sentences often reveals awkward dialogue, repeated words, and pacing issues that are easy to miss when reading silently. 
• Change how you read your manuscript. Print it out or view it on an e-reader or tablet. A different format can help you notice mistakes that disappear on your computer screen.
• Search for words you are overusing in your writing. Many authors rely too heavily on words like "just," "really," "very," "that," or "suddenly." Identifying these habits can make your writing stronger.
• Embrace the value of using beta readers for early book feedback. Honest feedback from these trusted early readers can help identify confusing scenes that fail to flow well or inconsistencies in character behaviors before your professional editing begins. 

Helpful Editing Tools for Writers

Technology has become an excellent writing companion, although it shouldn't replace a human editor.

Several tools can help improve your manuscript before you invest in professional editing.

Grammarly offers suggestions on grammar, spelling, punctuation, and clarity that are especially useful during self-editing.

ProWritingAid provides detailed reports on readability, repeated words, pacing, dialogue, and writing style, making it a favorite among novelists.

Hemingway Editor highlights overly complex sentences and encourages clearer, more concise writing.

Microsoft Word Editor and Google Docs also include built-in grammar and spelling tools that can catch many common mistakes.

These programs are incredibly useful for polishing a draft, but they can't judge emotional impact, character development, storytelling, or whether your ending delivers a satisfying conclusion.

Common Myths About Editing and Proofreading

One of the biggest myths for writers is that a good spell checker is all you need. While modern software catches many simple errors, it won't recognize when you've used the wrong word in the right spelling or notice that a character's name spelling changed halfway through your novel.

Hiring an editor doesn't eliminate the need for final proofreading. Fresh proofreader eyes almost always catch a few missed, minor errors or flaws--even after the pros.

Some writers also believe that asking for editing is a sign of weakness. Nothing could be further from the truth. Every traditionally published book has been edited, often multiple times. Working with an editor isn't about fixing bad writing—it's about making good writing even better.

Choosing the Right Service for Your Manuscript

If you're unsure whether you are ready for editing or proofreading, ask yourself one simple question:

"Am I still changing the story?"

If the answer is yes, editing should come first.

If the story is finished, professionally edited, and you're preparing to publish, proofreading is the next logical step.

Knowing where you are in the process helps you invest your time and budget wisely.

Book Corner Takeaway

Writing a book is such an incredible achievement! But, creating a book that readers remember takes more than just finishing the first draft. It requires patience, revision, and a willingness to improve your work.

Remember, editing and proofreading aren't competing for the same role. The two are partners--collaborating in producing your professional manuscript. Editing strengthens your story structure and flow, while proofreading provides the final polish for the reader.

Whether you're publishing your first novel or your fifth, giving your manuscript the attention it deserves is one of the best investments you can make. Your readers may never notice great editing or flawless proofreading, and that's exactly the goal. They'll become immersed in your story, turning pages instead of spotting mistakes.

After all, that's what every writer hopes for.

Work at a funeral home can be mundane.

Until you accidentally start bringing the dead back to life.

The Undead Mr. Tenpenny

The Cassie Black Trilogy Book 1

by Tammie Painter

Genre: Humorous Dark Fantasy Mystery

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

Work at a funeral home can be mundane. Until you accidentally start bringing the dead back to life.

 

"...a clever, hilarious romp through a new magical universe" --Sarah Angleton, author of Gentleman of Misfortune

 

Cassie Black works at a funeral home. She's used to all manner of dead bodies. What she's not used to is them waking up. Which they seem to be doing on a disturbingly regular basis lately.

 

Just when Cassie thinks she has the problem under control, the recently deceased Busby Tenpenny insists he's been murdered and claims Cassie might be responsible thanks to a wicked brand of magic she's been exposed to. The only way for Cassie to get her life back to normal is to tame her magic and uncover Mr. Tenpenny's true killer.

 

Simple right?

 

Of course not. Because while Cassie works on getting her newly acquired magic sorted, she's blowing up kitchens, angering an entire magical community, and discovering her past is more closely tied to Busby Tenpenny than she could have ever imagined.

 

If you like comic fantasy whodunits with plenty of wry humor, a cast of unforgettable characters, a touch of paranormal mystery, and piles of pastries, you'll find it hard to pry yourself away from this first book of the Cassie Black Trilogy.

 

Note: While this book delivers a contemporary fantasy tale with snarky giggles and a few hexes, it's fairly clean with only an itty-bitty bit of light cursing, one fight scene, and no hanky panky or sexual situations.

 

 The Cassie Black “Trilogy” has now grown to a very un-trilogy-like six books that include…

The Undead Mr. Tenpenny (#1 of The Cassie Black Trilogy 1.0)
The Uncanny Raven Winston (#2 of The Cassie Black Trilogy 1.0)
The Untangled Cassie Black (#3 of The Cassie Black Trilogy 1.0)
The Unusual Mayor Marheart (#1 of The Cassie Black Trilogy 2.0)
The Unbearable Inspector Oberlin (#2 of The Cassie Black Trilogy 2.0)
The Unexpected Mr Hopkins (#3 of The Cassie Black Trilogy 2.0)

 

catch up on the whole "trilogy" 

Amazon

 

 

What readers have to say about the series so far...

"Wow and wow again! I absolutely loved this book! You get such a feel for the characters and the story is so fast paced you don't want to put it down."

"More, please!"

"I was unable to put this down when I started reading it. The author combines humour with a fast paced murder mystery all packed into a funeral home."

"…suffused with dark humor and witty dialogue..."

"Cassie Black, won me over in the first book of this series, and she doesn’t disappoint in this one!!!"

 

 buy the book

**On Sale for Only .99cents!**

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read an excerpt

READ A SAMPLE OF THE UNDEAD MR TENPENNY HERE

The Uncanny Raven Winston

The Cassie Black Trilogy Book 2

about the book

There's nothing like an evil wizard to ruin a perfectly good trip to London.

 

Ever have one of those weeks? You've taken an overdose of magic, you've melted a twelve-year old girl, and Magic HQ has sent a letter "requesting" you come by to discuss your magic control issues.

 

No? Just me, then?

 

I don't want to go. I've got a boss in a wheelchair (my fault), a zombie cat who demands his treats on schedule, and no interest in sorting out the quirks of another magical community.

 

But when someone slips me information tying my parents' disappearance to HQ, I can't pack my bags quickly enough.

 

I'm soon destroying historical displays, befriending befuddled ghosts, and focusing more on uncovering the truth about my past than on learning how to rein in my magic. Which, considering what might happen if I fail the test HQ has for me… Well, best not to think about that.

 

This second book of the Cassie Black Trilogy squeezes you through a magic portal, lodges you in a hidden corner of the Tower of London, and plunges you into a tale of mysterious mishaps, peculiar ravens, and TV-binging trolls.

 

If you like contemporary fantasy with unforgettable characters, snarky humor, and a touch of paranormal mystery -- or if you've ever wondered what those garden gnomes are really up to -- you'll find it hard to pry yourself away from The Uncanny Raven Winston.

 

The Cassie Black Trilogy is a fish-out-of-water tale that takes you from the streets of Portland to the Tower of London. It's got magic and mystery, pastries and zombies, sentient gnomes and an evil wizard...because there's always an evil wizard, isn't there?

 

buy the book 

**Get it On Sale at Smashwords discounted for the month of July!**

Amazon * Author’s Site *  Smashwords * Goodreads

 

The Untangled Cassie Black

The Cassie Black Trilogy Book 3

about the book

Sometimes taking an overdose of magic is the least of your problems.

 

Not only has Cassie Black just lost two people through a magic portal, but her archenemy, the Mauvais, is threatening to destroy city after city if Magic HeadQuarters doesn't hand her over to him.... a proposal HQ isn't exactly saying no to.

 

As the Magic higher ups debate her fate, Cassie refuses to sit by and watch the grass grow between the toes of the surveillance gnomes. Biting back her life rule to never get involved, she knows the only way to stop the Mauvais is to go after him herself.

 

Which is exactly what he wants. Because the instant Cassie falls into his hands, the Mauvais will gain the unlimited power he’s always craved.

 

So don't get captured, right? Easy for you to say.

 

Trouble is, there's a traitor within HQ who's proving to be more devious, more powerful, and with more tricks up the sleeve than anyone could have ever guessed.

 

In this page-turning conclusion of the Cassie Black Trilogy, the curses are flying, the pastries are plentiful, the bookworms are slithering, and the magical batteries are charged to capacity.

 

If you like contemporary fantasy filled with dark humor, paranormal mystery, and a cast of unforgettably quirky characters, you’ll love the twists and turns of this conclusion to the first Cassie Black Trilogy.

 

buy the book 

**Get it On Sale at Smashwords discounted for the month of July!**

Amazon * Author’s Site *  Smashwords * Goodreads

 

about the author

Author of humorous fantasy whodunits full of mythical misfits and magical mishaps

Many moons ago I was a scientist in a neuroscience lab where I got to play with brains and illegal drugs. Now, I take wickedly strong tea and turn it into comic fantasy whodunits full of mythical misfits and magical mishaps that I hope give you a giggle. 

My tales run the gamut from the ever-expanding Cassie Black Trilogy with its wryly humorous paranormal mysteries to the comical fantasy whodunits in The Circus of Unusual Creatures, and from light-hearted novellas celebrating my love of books to short fiction in which I really flex my myth-loving and humor-craving muscles!

When I’m not creating worlds or killing off characters, I can be found gardening, planning my next travel adventure, concocting some sort of mess in the kitchen, or working as an unpaid servant to one very spoiled cat and some very demanding squirrels.

 

connect with the author 

Website * Bluesky * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

enter the giveaway

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Enter The Cassie Black Trilogy Giveaway Here