Tag: #BookSeries

Posted in #History

History of Ohio

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

A Captivating Guide to the People and Events That Shaped the History of the Buckeye State (U.S. States)

The history of Ohio is so much more than farms and factories.

Do you think there isn’t much to know about the US state of Ohio? Or do you think you already know everything there is to know? Prepare to be amazed. Ohio is quite possibly the most important state in the United States. It has a history as varied and as interesting as any ancient kingdom. Ohio’s history includes the remains of ancient civilizations. It is the home of some of the richest human beings to ever live. There have been grisly wars for domination and epic struggles for freedom. Ohio’s history has it all.

Ohioans have been at the center of progress for many years. This began with the first humans in Ohio. It continued through the development of great systems of canals and railroads. It extends to the development of space travel.

Did you know that Ohio and Michigan were once at war? Did you know that the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth US presidents were all from Ohio? Did you know that ancient Ohioans built massive effigy mounds and that we’re only now discovering what they mean?

Ohio has an amazing story to tell the world; you just have to listen. Delve into this book on the history of Ohio and learn more about:

  • The home to many well-known companies and brands, like Goodyear, Tide, Dawn, and Standard Oil;
  • The birthplace of eight US presidents;
  • Great Native American leaders like Tecumseh, Blue Jacket, and Little Turtle;
  • American generals like “Mad” Anthony Wayne, William Henry Harrison, and Ulysses S. Grant;
  • John D. Rockefeller’s rise to power;
  • The first flights of the Wright Brothers;
  • The home of astronauts John Glenn and Neil Armstrong;
  • The bravery of conductors on the Underground Railroad;
  • Revolutionary new findings about the sacred mounds of ancient Ohioans;
  • And so much more!
Posted in #BookTours

The Golden Sword

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree


Estri battles to regain her identity after being denied her memories by her captor.

Will love find a way?


The Golden Sword

The Silistra Quartet Book 2

by Janet Morris

Genre: Dystopian Epic SciFi Fantasy Romance



Dystopia. Biology shapes reality. The further adventures of the most beautiful courtesan in the galaxies of tomorrow.

She had the power to create planets. The sixty carved bones of the Yris-tera foretold her ancient fate. Her heritage of power took her beyond time and space and stole from her the one man she loved.

Enslaved on the planet Silistra tomorrow’s most beautiful courtesan unleashes the powers of the gods.

 

What readers are saying:

 

“Pure excellence…. A heroic quest of the highest calibre.” – Goodreads

 

“This is a book which makes one’s blood sing and one’s mind ponder. I loved the first in the series and enjoyed this as much, perhaps more. The ending leaves the reader desperate to know what happens to Estri next – courtesan, slave, warrior, lover, rebel. What is next for our heroine?” – Goodreads

 

“Call it what you like: science fiction, space opera, sword and planet or erotic fantasy . . . The Golden Sword is all these things, and so much more. A highly intelligent and sensual novel filled with ideas and revelations, this is a gripping story that explores human sexuality and the role it plays in politics. Although the memorable characters are bisexual, toss away all your preconceived notions, for there is a humanity, a strength of will and determination, a realism and depth of emotion to these characters that will have you thinking twice about all you know and all you think you know. This is a book for mature and discerning readers who like some meat on the bones of the books they read. Janet Morris led the way for all the science fiction authors, both male and female, who came after. “ – Joe Bonadonna, Goodreads

 

Amazon * B&N * Bookbub * Goodreads



I wondered what it meant, to be a “ten,” as the crellkeep chose a spot apparently like any other upon one chain and fastened me to it by means of heavy metal anklets that were spaced along its length.

“I put you next to Aje. You will sleep through the nights,” he informed me, as if I should be grateful for some thoughtful service. Seeing me safely bound, the two jiasks turned and left the chamber.

“What is your name?” the crellkeep asked.

I almost told him, but caught myself. It took me a moment to remember the crell name Chayin had given me.

“Miheja,” I said finally.

“Meh-he-ya,” the crellkeep corrected me gently. “The Eastmost Star’s Daughter. Suits you. So you have the dharener entranced, do you? A ten, indeed. Crell life is no burden to one so highly numbered.” He stood up, rubbing his back, “I go to get Aje. You will like him. They all do,” he said and patted my naked shoulder. Moments later I was alone in the deserted ever-dusk of the crellpits. A single torch burned at the chamber’s entry, throwing life into the feature- less rock walls.

I crawled the length of my tether, and by lying stretched out could just get my fingers upon the central ring. I tested its strength, as had countless crells before me. There was no weakness in it. I had expected none. I then examined each link of my chains with my fingers, to see if perhaps somewhere there was one unsoldered among them. There was no error among the 387 links that bound me firmly to the central ring. Its twin was sunk where the cold stone floor met the wall behind me. Perhaps there was a weakness in that area, but I had not enough tether to explore it. I lay down upon my left side and curled my knees against my chest. I could not think. I merely lay there.




High Couch of Silistra

The Silistra Quartet Book 1



Biology shapes reality…

One woman’s mythic search for self-realization in a distant tomorrow…

Her sensuality was at the core of her world, her quest beyond the civilized stars.

Aristocrat. Outcast. Picara. Slave. Ruler.



“Engrossing characters in a marvelous adventure.” – Charles N. Brown, Locus Magazine



“The amazing and erotic adventures of the most beautiful courtesan in tomorrow’s universe” – Frederik Pohl



“The best single example of prostitution used in fantasy is Janet Morris’ Silistra series… Estri’s character is most like that of Ishtar who describes herself as “‘a prostitute compassionate am I'” because she “symbolizes the creative submission to the demands of instinct, to the chaos of nature …the free woman, as opposed to the domesticated woman”. Linking Estri with these lunar and water symbols is not difficult because of the moon’s eternal virginity (the strength of integrity) links with her changeability (the prostitute’s switching of lovers). […]

Morris strengthens the moon imagery by having Estri as a well-keepress because wells, fountains, and the moon as the orb which controls water have long been associated with fertility, […] In a sense, she is like the moon because she is apparently eternal, never waxing or waning except in her pursuit of the quest; she is the prototypical wanderer like the moon and Ishtar. She is the eternal night symbol of the moon in opposition to the Day-Keepers […]

 At her majority (her three hundredth birthday), she is given a silver-cubed hologram letter from her mother, containing a videotape of her conception by the savage bronzed barbarian god from another world. […] If Estri’s mother then acts as a bawd, willing her lineage as Well-Keepress to her daughter, then Estri’s great-grandmother Astria as foundress of the Well becomes a further mother-bawd figure when she offers her prophetic advice in her letter: “Guard Astria for you may lose it, and more. Beware of one who is not as he seems. Stray not in the port city of Baniev …look well about you, for your father’s daughter’s brother seeks you”. Having no brother that she knows of does not stay Estri from undertaking the heroic quest of finding her father.”

 – Anne K. Kaler, The Picara: From Hera to Fantasy Heroine

 

Amazon * B&N * Bookbub * Goodreads

 


I am Estri Hadrath diet Estrazi, former Well-Keepress of Astria on the planet Silistra. I have begun three times to tell this story, and three times I have been interrupted. This, then, the fourth attempt, will surely prove successful.

Perhaps you have heard of Silistra, the planet that was catalyst to the sexual revolution in the year twenty-two thousand, seven hundred and four Bipedal Federate Standard Time, or of the Silistran serums that lengthen life and restore vitality in virtually any bipedal life form, or perhaps you have at some time contracted the services of a Silistran telepath, or a precognitive, or a deep reader. It is possible that you have in your own home the scintillating, indestructible web-cloth woven by our domestic arachnids, or have seen holograms of our golachits, those intelligent builder-beetles who exude from their mouths a translucent, superhard substance called gol and create from this gol, under the guidance of the chit-guards, the formidable and resplendent structures in which we live and work.

And perhaps you have seen no web-cloth, no gol, never been ill, and are not interested in sex. If so, you may never have heard of Silistra.

I carry Silistra in my mind’s eye, here under this alien sun. In my mind alone can I look out the east window of my beloved exercise hall in Well Astria and see the sun’s rising burst upon the jewel-like towers and keeps of the Inner Well and a thousand rainbows arc and dance in the greening sky.




Best selling author Janet Morris began writing in 1976 and published more than 30 novels, many co-authored with her husband Chris Morris or others. She contributed short fiction to the shared universe fantasy series Thieves World, in which she created the Sacred Band of Stepsons, a mythical unit of ancient fighters modeled on the Sacred Band of Thebes. She created, orchestrated, and edited the Bangsian fantasy series Heroes in Hell, writing stories for the series as well as co-writing the related novel, The Little Helliad, with Chris Morris. She wrote the bestselling Silistra Quartet in the 1970s, including High Couch of Silistra, The Golden Sword, Wind from the Abyss, and The Carnelian Throne. This quartet had more than four million copies in Bantam print alone, and was translated into German, French, Italian, Russian and other languages. In the 1980s, Baen Books released a second edition of this landmark series. The third edition is the Author’s Cut edition, newly revised by the author for Perseid Press. Most of her fiction work has been in the fantasy and science fiction genres, although she has also written historical and other novels. Morris has written, contributed to, or edited several book-length works of non-fiction, as well as papers and articles on nonlethal weapons, developmental military technology and other defense and national security topics.

Janet said: ‘People often ask what book to read first. I recommend “I, the Sun” if you like ancient history; “The Sacred Band,” a novel, if you like heroic fantasy; “Lawyers in Hell” if you like historical fantasy set in hell; “Outpassage” if you like hard science fiction; “High Couch of Silistra” if you like far-future dystopian or philosophical novels. I am most enthusiastic about the definitive Perseid Press Author’s Cut editions, which I revised and expanded.’

  

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Posted in Cover Reveals

Nerdy Girl Nell #CoverReveal

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Nerdy Girl Nell
Lindsey Gray
(Nerdy Girl Novels, #2)
Publication date: March 17th 2026
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Sports

Nell De Lacy loves small things like leading library story time, a well-stocked bookshelf, and evenings with friends. Relearning how to date after grief was supposed to be the hardest thing.

Enter professional wrestler Chance Robicheaux. Towering, tender, and utterly relentless about keeping her safe. The two become friends first, spending nights learning each other’s quirks. Between hospital rooms and poker nights, the two find something electric and real.

Nell’s life suddenly fractures with a violent assault, a cache of stolen images, and a blackmailer who won’t be denied. As the threat tightens and the press draws near, Nell’s voice, literally and figuratively, fails her at the worst possible time.

With the De Lacy family company’s December board vote approaching, Nell faces a critical challenge that threatens to upend her life. The outcome of the vote carries the risk of awarding a coveted contract to the wrong people, forcing Nell to balance family loyalty, legal danger, and a secret that could change everything.

Nell and Chance’s is a story about rebuilding, of finding courage in therapy and friendship, and discovering there’s strength in asking for help. Nell’s fight becomes Chance’s fight, and soon they choose to fight evil together. Will justice arrive before the quiet she loves is gone forever?

Goodreads / StoryGraph / Fable / Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon Can / Amazon Aus / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / iBooks / Smashwords / Vivlio / Everand / Bookshop.org


Author Bio:

Lindsey Gray is a writer, an over-thinker, and a chronic list-maker, but her passion for writing stories you’ll love always tops the list. Her author journey began in 2010 with the publication of her first novel, and she has spent the last decade creating worlds for readers to play in. In addition to her own work, Gray utilizes her skills formatting novels for other authors and hosts the weekly show, Gray Matters, on TMV Cafe Internet Radio. She lives and writes fueled by iced tea, her handsome hubby, and the beautiful chaos of mothering her children.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / X / Threads / TikTok / Instagram / BlyeSky / StoryGraph


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Posted in #SciFi

TekLab (The TekWar Series Book 3)

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Jake Cardigan hunts an assassin bent on killing civil servants in this sci-fi thriller by the iconic Star Trek actor and New York Times–bestselling author.
 
A French diplomat is walking alone down a darkened Paris side street, when a killer emerges from the shadows. He stuns the Frenchman, cuts his body into quarters, and leaves a note that reads: “This is for Brazil!” It is the ninth murder in this fashion in the last two months—a string of round-the-world killings that strikes fear into the hearts of all those connected with the bloody Brazilian wars of the past decade. But as private eye Jake Cardigan is about to discover, the culprit is far more treacherous than the average serial killer.
 
As he makes his way through Europe’s seamy corners, Cardigan begins to suspect that the trail of death may lead back to his old nemeses, the drug kingpins known as Teklords. As international peace teeters in the balance, Cardigan must stop the murders or risk being drawn and quartered himself.
 
This ebook features an illustrated biography of William Shatner including rare images and never-before-seen documents from the author’s personal collection.


Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

A serial killer’s choice of victims leads Jake Cardigan once more into a showdown with the cartel of infamous druglords responsible for the manufacture of “Tek,” the world’s deadliest drug. Hard-boiled Cardigan and his easygoing Latino partner Gomez are an engaging, if stereotyped, duo who deserve a wider scope for their adventures. Shatner’s serviceable style of fast-paced action and his tongue-in-cheek portrayal of the 22nd century make this a pleasant albeit uncomplicated read. Purchase only where author popularity demands.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

This third futuristic crime adventure by Star Trek’s Shatner (TekWar, 1989; TekLords, p. 571) displays the same cardboard characterization, predictable plotting, and lackluster prose as before. Once again, private detectives Jake Cardigan and Sid Gomez tangle with the nefarious international dealers of Tek, a mind- altering electronic “drug.” The case this time begins with a grisly murder in the style of an elusive serial killer, the Unknown Soldier, but Jake and Gomez have reason to believe it was really the work of the Tek cartels; and through a series of unlikely contrivances and convenient informants, the detectives uncover a plot that links the Tek dealers to a conspiracy (believe it or not!) to restore the banished monarchy to power in England. Along the way, Jake’s son Dan, Dan’s girlfriend Nancy, and Jake’s ex-wife Kate get involved, and the whole family heads for a climatic conclusion aboard a luxury resort satellite, the Caribbean Colony. Shatner’s future world is as generic and unconvincing as his characters, and the fast-paced action that carried the other Jake Cardigan adventures is tired and limp here. If this is where Shatner’s writing career is headed, one wishes he would return to TV. — Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Review

“Fast-paced action and [a] tongue-in-cheek portrayal of the 22nd century.” —Library Journal

About the Author

William Shatner (b. 1931) is a Canadian actor, author, and film director, known for his irreverent charm and his star turn as Captain Kirk in the original Star Trek television series, as well as many other roles. Born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, Shatner was cast in Star Trek as the courageous, unpredictable Captain James T. Kirk in 1966. The show became a cult hit in syndication, leading to a number of spin-offs and movies. Shatner starred in seven Star Trek films beginning with Star Trek: The Motion Picture in 1979. He later played leading roles on the television series T.J. Hooker (1982–86) and Boston Legal (2004–08). Shatner has also published a number of novels, most notably TekWar (1989), a science-fiction thriller that inspired eight sequels as well as video games and a television series. When he isn’t working, Shatner and his wife, Elizabeth, divide their time between Southern California and Kentucky. 

Posted in #BookTours

Rhythm and Design

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Rhythm and Design
Long Temple
(The Rhythm and Design Series, #1)
Publication date: May 18th 2025
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

A soulful architect. A gospel-rooted musician. A love built to last.
Rhythm and Design: A Platinum Chocolate Romance is a powerful story of purpose, passion, and divine timing.

Claire Baldwin is used to building beauty from structure—dreaming in blueprints, raised among silver spoons and Ivy League expectations. Focused, brilliant, and untouchable, love was never part of the plan. Until one almost-mistake in her youth taught her the price of giving too much to someone who offered too little.

Oliver Jamison Graham, the son of a revered pastor, walked away from the pulpit and into the chaos of the music industry. Between neon stages and lonely hotel rooms, he searched for something sacred—something real. Music filled his nights, but his faith kept whispering him home.

When Claire and Oliver’s paths collide again, it isn’t just chemistry—it’s destiny. But building a life together means facing the unspoken: the pasts they’ve tucked away, the faith they’re still figuring out, and the families who’ve prayed them into purpose.

Together, they’ll navigate ambition, intimacy, trust, and spiritual alignment in a romance steeped in grace, humor, and honest love. Can two people from different rhythms create a design strong enough to stand?

If you love later-in-life second chances, clean-but-steamy romance, emotional depth, and characters who wrestle with faith as fiercely as they fall in love—Rhythm and Design will leave you breathless and blessed.

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT

Claire adjusted the delicate strap of her silver gown, her fingers brushing the smooth satin as laughter and music drifted through the warm summer air. The garden shimmered beneath strands of soft white lights, each glow reflecting off crystal glasses and polished silver like tiny promises suspended in time.

Tonight was meant to be simple — a celebration, a farewell, a graceful closing of one chapter before she stepped into the life she had so carefully designed.

But life, she was learning, rarely followed clean lines.

She felt it before she saw him — a subtle shift in the atmosphere, like the hush that falls just before the first note of a song.

Oliver Graham stood near the stage, tall and steady, dressed in black that seemed to absorb the light around him. He carried himself with an ease that wasn’t practiced, just lived — the quiet confidence of a man who had known both applause and solitude, who understood the weight of purpose even in celebration.

Claire’s breath caught, surprising her.

It had been years, yet something about him felt familiar, like a melody she’d heard long ago but never fully released.

As if sensing her gaze, Oliver turned. Their eyes met across the veranda, and the world seemed to narrow to that single moment — music fading, conversations dissolving into a distant hum.

He didn’t smile right away. He simply looked at her, as though taking in the woman she had become, measuring something deeper than appearance.

Then came the slow curve of a knowing smile.

Heat crept up Claire’s neck, and she looked away, steadying herself with a sip of champagne that suddenly felt warmer than it should.

Moments later, his voice — smooth and rich — settled beside her like velvet.

“You’ve grown into everything they said you would,” he said softly. “Your parents couldn’t stop talking about you. Yale. Full scholarship. Future architect of the century.”

Claire laughed lightly, surprised by the warmth in his tone. “They said all that?”

“They should’ve said more,” he replied. “Yale’s lucky to have you.”

Something in her chest softened — a quiet recognition she hadn’t expected, like a door opening somewhere deep within her carefully guarded heart.

The music shifted, laughter swelling around them, but Claire felt as though she were standing inside a pocket of stillness.

“And you?” she asked. “Still changing the world one song at a time?”

Oliver smiled, a hint of humility softening his features. “Trying to. Mostly just trying to stay honest.”

Honest. The word lingered between them like a promise neither had spoken aloud.

When Oliver later stepped onto the stage, the crowd quieted instinctively, drawn to the calm gravity he carried. He adjusted the microphone, glanced toward Claire, and said, “I wrote this for tonight. It’s called Beyond the Horizon.”

The first notes drifted into the night like a prayer — tender guitar, soft percussion, a melody that seemed to breathe with its own quiet life.

Claire stood still as the lyrics wrapped around her, each word reflecting pieces of her journey — the late nights bent over drafting tables, the silent prayers whispered into the dark when doubt tried to settle in, the relentless pull toward something greater than comfort.

The road is wide, but your steps are sure, drawn to purpose, built to endure…

Her fingers tightened slightly around her glass as emotion rose unexpectedly, catching in her throat. She had spent so many years building strength, focusing forward, refusing distraction — yet here she was, undone by a song that seemed to see her more clearly than she saw herself.

Oliver’s voice carried warmth and depth, every note grounded in sincerity. When their eyes met mid-song, something unspoken passed between them — not a spark, but a steady flame, quiet and certain.

By the final note, silence lingered for a breath before applause rose like a wave across the garden. Claire barely heard it. Her hand rested lightly against her chest, as if holding something fragile and new.

Later, when the music shifted into a softer groove and guests drifted toward the dance floor, Oliver found her again near the edge of the veranda.

“You okay?” he asked gently.

Claire nodded, a small smile touching her lips. “I am now.”

They stood close, not touching, yet aware of each other in a way that felt both new and strangely familiar.

“I’m heading to New Haven tomorrow,” she said quietly. “Three weeks early. I want time to settle in… start fresh.”

Oliver’s expression softened, admiration flickering in his eyes. “That sounds exactly like you. Always building the next chapter before anyone else even sees the blueprint.”

She laughed softly. “You expected anything less?”

“Not a chance,” he said. “You’re building your future with intention. That’s rare.”

The music swelled around them, couples swaying beneath the lights, laughter rising into the warm night air.

For a moment, neither spoke. The silence wasn’t awkward — it felt full, like a pause meant to be savored.

“Don’t disappear on me,” Oliver said finally, a hint of playfulness in his tone.

Claire raised an eyebrow. “I’m going to Yale, not Mars.”

He laughed, then handed her his phone. “Still. Just in case I feel like sending musical inspiration.”

She entered her number, her fingers brushing his briefly, a small spark of awareness passing between them.

As he stepped back into the crowd, Claire watched him go, the night humming with possibility.

For the first time since she began mapping out her future, she allowed herself to consider that maybe life wasn’t only about structure and certainty.

Maybe it was also about rhythm.

About unexpected harmonies.

About moments that couldn’t be planned — only felt.

And as she looked up at the stars scattered across the velvet sky, Claire felt something shift quietly inside her.

The future she was building suddenly felt wider.

Not just a design.

But a song.


Author Bio:

LongTemple is a contemporary Black romance author and visual storyteller whose work is rooted in emotional truth, spiritual reflection, and the resilience of love shaped by lived experience. Her stories explore pain, struggle, faith, healing, and the quiet triumph of choosing connection again—especially later in life, when love carries history and meaning.

Born and raised on New York City’s vibrant Lower East Side, LongTemple writes with a voice shaped by culture, memory, and survival. Her storytelling carries a musical cadence—sometimes aching, sometimes soaring—always grounded in honesty and soul. She centers grown, layered characters who confront grief, betrayal, forgiveness, and hope, and who discover that love, when chosen with intention, can still be transformative.

She is the creator of the Platinum Chocolate Romance Universe, a body of interconnected contemporary romance and women’s fiction that celebrates mature Black love and second chances. Each novel is paired with a companion adult-themed line art coloring book, offering readers a reflective, immersive experience that extends the story beyond the page and invites creative engagement alongside emotional connection.

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