Tag: #Fiction

Posted in Book Tours

Dragonsong

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Sometimes, nothing but the death of your father will do


Dragonsong

by Michael Forester

Genre: Epic Fantasy Adventure



Rebekah, noblewoman of Albion, has been driven to madness by the murder of her lover Vidar. In her torment she bargains with the Prince of Demons to turn her into a dragon. Thus transformed, she seeks to take revenge upon her father, Merlin, whom she is fooled into believing is responsible for Vidar’s death. To save the world from the ravages of Dragonsong, Merlin is forced to banish his beloved daughter to hell, regardless of the consequences for him personally. 

Behind the subterfuge stands Oberon, Captain-King of Elves. He does not foresee the devastation his jealousy and unrequited love for Rebekah will unleash upon Gaia when he frees her from Merlin’s spell and summons her from hell to support his war against Albion.

To save Gaia a second, Merlin is forced to travel back in time to prepare a warrior capable of overcoming the dragon through the power of the Sleep Stone. But he does not foresee the bond that will develop between the dragon and his own assistant, the Seer, Michael of Albion. If Lady Attie and Michael prove unable to return the Sleep Stone to the mouth of Hell in time, the Demon Army will be swarm out of Hell and overrun Gaia.

Time. Time is the key. Time is the only solution to Gaia’s destiny – but only if the gods of Asgard can find a way to stop it.  

 

What readers are saying:

“On a par with the epic of Beowulf, this modern day classic never ceases to amaze. Gripping, thrilling, twisting and turning, the plot of this epic piece of verse (an achievement unrivalled in the 20 the century, I’d say), will have you gripped from start to finish. Don’t just dream of dragons and elves, Kings and Warriors, heaven and hell: read about them and allow the mythology to soak deep into the fibre of your being! You, and your deepest soul, will be thrilled.” -Rod Boothroyd

 

Absolutely beautiful book I loved this book. It is a tale of wizards, demons, dragons, elves, love and treachery set around the Arthurian court but written in rhyme. I have not read any poetic literature for over 40 years since studying Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight at university so this book intrigued me. I am full of admiration for anyone who can write beautiful poetry but when they can also tell a story at the same time I find that quite remarkable. It is about the battle between elves and men, love stories ending tragically and deceit and treachery. I would urge people to read this even if they haven’t read poetry in a long time, I just found it so beautiful and the story will entrance you. The last lines as written by the Scribe are “Or wilt thou, reader, now persuade me once again to take my pen And make another story come to be? All I can say is that I really hope so!  – A 5 Star ***** Review By Breakaway Reviewers

  

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Michael Forester is a deafened author who lives between the New Forest and the sea. He is a full time author and public speaker, travelling both in the UK and internationally, speaking inspirationally and signing his books for readers in locations as far apart as the UK, Thailand, Cambodia and the Philippines. He is the author of ten published books to date, on subjects as diverse as business strategy, spiritual inspiration and epic fantasy poetry.

Michael’s own journey has taken him from early years in academia into middle years in management training and Neuro Linguistic Programming. It has taken him from normal hearing to near-profound deafness and the life-changing arrival of a hearing dog, Matt. It has taken him through a miraculously survived suicide attempt in 2002, into a spiritual awakening.

He has travelled to over forty countries, from the Amazon Rainforest, encountering ecological devastation, to South Africa, experiencing post-Apartheid forgiveness; from a personal pilgrimage in search of the singing bowls of Nepal, to a first-hand examination of the darker side of economic modernisation in the Philippines, besides many other destinations.

 

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Posted in Book Tours

Dead Geniuses

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

How many times does a genius have to die anyway?

A rogue AI named Nessie makes answering that question problematical.



A Once-Dead Genius in the Kennel of Master Morticue Ambergrand

Dead Geniuses Book 1

by R. Gary Raham

Genre: Science Fiction



What happens when you die, but the universe isn’t done with you?

You might end up as the pet of a giant worm-a-pede alien and…if you survive your evolved descendants and rogue aliens of 1 million A.D…discover you have more in common with intelligent worms than you ever thought possible.

 Yes, all this might happen if you are Rudy Albert Goldstein—the discoverer of the Biomic Network Algorithm—who thought his time had come. He had done his part to make the world a better place. Now he deserved—even looked forward to—a peaceful and mercifully succinct death. But the universe had other plans…

 

What reviewers are saying:

“The arch tone should remind readers of Kurt Vonnegut, although Raham is better grounded in exobiology and science and displays a more upbeat outlook for the human (and nonhu man) condition in this engaging tale.” Kirkus Reviews

 

“A Once-Dead Genius is filled with fascinating characters that we hu mans can learn a lot from (despite the fact that we are, as one of Gary’s characters puts it, ‘primates with delusions of grandeur’). The plot is solid, the action entertaining and philosophically challenging, and the science is great.” Michael Carroll, Astronomical artist, journalist, and author of Europa’s Lost Expedition

 

**On Sale! Get it for only $2.99 for a limited time!**

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A Singular Prophecy

Dead Geniuses Book 2



When young paleontologist, Ryan Thompson, finds a new species of mosasaur in Cretaceous seaway sediments, he is thrilled. Joy quickly turns to fear when he touches an artifact buried among the sea reptile’s ribs. Suddenly, he must fight a mental takeover by an alien intelligence committed to transforming the Earth into a refuge for her own species. As Ryan and his girlfriend, Skeets, attempt to thwart alien plans to colonize Earth begun in the deep past, even this crisis becomes trivial when the uneasy symbiosis of Ryan and the alien, Siu, generates a new entity with the power to transform the entire universe.

 

What reviewers are saying:

“Gary Raham, the author of this enthralling book, seems almost to have been there hundreds of millions of years ago when Siu’s dim star blinked out and the trees began to die on the planet known as Grove. This is the magic of good writing, and Raham is no less convincing as he describes the discovery by modern paleontologists on Earth of the jewel-like engram that has carried the genetic imprint of Siu through a galactic gate, out of the void of deep time, and into our lives.”

Kate Gilmore, author of The Exchange Student and Enter Three Witches

  

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A Twice-Dead Genius Comporting With Misunderstood Abominations

Dead Geniuses Book 3



Rudyard Albert Goldstein, inventor of the Biomic Network Algorithm, made peace with death in the 22nd century. But an idiot doctor hijacked his mind, placing it in the care of Nessie, an impish AI guardian. Then, he died again, nearly a million years later, merged with a worm-a-pede alien male sated after completing his conjugal obligations. They expired peacefully on a cliff top, pondering the nature of existence—and the promise of abominable liaisons.

Two deaths should be quite sufficient for any genius to endure.

Somehow, though, Nessie resurrected him from oblivion. His descendants needed him again. New hostile aliens roamed the Earth—along with a mysterious immortal hybrid with powers that rivaled those of Nessie. Was the healthy young body Nessie had prepared for him, along with the prospect of meeting a maker of universes, enough of a bribe to risk dying a third time?

Apparently so.

Readers of Raham’s A Singular Prophecy (Biostration, 2011), and A Once-Dead Genius in the Kennel of Master Morticue Ambergrand (Penstemon Publications, 2018) will reconnect with old friends (both human and alien). But even those new to the author’s quirky sense of humor will enjoy this third adventure that spans the breadth of time and space.

 

What reviewers are saying:

“After reading and reviewing the 2018 release of “A Once-Dead Genius in the Kennel of Master Morticue Ambergrand,” I could not imagine where Raham’s distant future could take us that would outdo that fine novel. But this author is clearly writing on a different plane because “A Twice-Dead Genius Comporting with Misunderstood Abominations” is even more intriguing and entertaining.” Pat Stoltey, Author of Wishing Caswell Dead

 

Naked apes, gigantic worm-a-pedes, alien life forms galore. Gary Raham’s latest does not disappoint. It’s yet another cosmic-scale adventure with fascinating characters and a riveting, amusing story.

Michael Carroll, Astronomical artist, journalist, and author of Europa’s Lost Expedition

 

**On Sale! Get it for only $2.99 for a limited time!**

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Not Quite Dead Geniuses at Large on an Angry Planet

Dead Geniuses Book 4




How many times does a genius have to die anyway? Rudyard Albert Goldstein, inventor of the Biomic Network algorithm, asked himself—and his AI guardian, Mnemosyne (aka Nessie)—that question many times in the course of their million-year relationship. Nessie didn’t play fair, making multiple copies of him from time to time in an effort to preserve his precocious species, H. sapiens from natural disasters, invading aliens, their own self-destructive proclivities, and even from the now angry planet that gave them birth.

Could Rudy & Nessie manage to convince multiple species, each with their own unique delusions of grandeur, to work together to avert their own extinctions? Could Rudy find a way to let Nessie finally set him free?

Only time—and the completion of an even vaster intellect—would tell.

 

What reviewers are saying:

“An increasingly madcap conclusion to an eco-themed SF saga of a weary Earth chafing under its alien tenants.” Kirkus Reviews

 

“One of the things I love about this series is the cast of imaginative characters, including human, alien, and the combinations of living creatures with the surviving intelligence of great minds long gone.” Pat Stoltey, author of Wishing Caswell Dead

 

Deep Time and Gary are close bud dies, as is evidenced by the panoramic time and physical settings taken in by his tales. Fans of the first Once-Dead Genius—and newcomers as well— will not be disappointed by the newest installment…” Michael Carroll, Astronomical artist, journalist, and author of Europa’s Lost Expedition

 

**On Sale! Get it for only $2.99 for a limited time!**

 

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads








R. Gary Raham illustrates nature with the critical eye of a biologist, but he also loves to tell stories that highlight nature’s complexities and undiscovered mysteries. Sometimes that leads him to speculative fictions that he hopes will inspire another generation of both scientists and story-tellers. Raham’s work has been known to make a reader laugh and think simultaneously with no known deleterious effects. Raham taught biology at the middle and high school level, has worked for decades as an accomplished graphic artist and science journalist, and won numerous awards for his writing and illustrations. He currently has over 20 published books of science fact and/or science fiction. Raham has written science titles for Chelsea House, Discovery Channel Books, Marshall-Cavendish, and Teacher Ideas Press. Many of his award-winning science articles for both children and adults are featured in Confessions of a Time Traveler (Penstemon, 2015), a finalist in the Colorado Authors’ League Awards.

 

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Posted in Book Tours

Jingled

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Jingled
Evan J. Corbin
Publication date: November 7th 2025
Genres: LGBTQ+, Satire, Speculative Fiction

Matt Daughtry has always felt like he and his parents live in separate worlds—his shaped by the urbane, Northeastern liberal elite, theirs by Southern conservatism, homespun “common sense,” and talk show-fueled conspiracies. His homosexuality remains an open secret, something they sidestep rather than confront, much less accept. When he and his sister return for Christmas, the wrong sibling brings home a boyfriend for the first time.

What starts as a tense but routine holiday gathering takes a surreal turn the next morning. Flights are canceled, pilots and flight attendants mysteriously take time off, and by the following day, an estimated seventy-eight million Americans fail to return to work. Their explanation? They just want to spend more time with their families. Christmas can be every day when you’re with family.

His parents—and millions of Americans—are suffering from a bizarre condition, trapped in an endless holiday loop, determined to celebrate Christmas every day. They make choices that go against their self-interests. Blissfully unbothered by their accumulating debts, economic collapse, or even basic responsibilities, they live in a festive delusion seemingly fueled by an addictive algorithm used by an evangelical shopping app called MerryNet.

At first, Matt sees no reason to get involved. He’s never been able to reach his parents before—why would this be any different? But as the syndrome spreads, paralyzing the country, he stumbles upon evidence linking the outbreak to corporate actors intent on silencing their perceived right-wing enemies. Faced with a choice between complicity and action, Matt realizes that exposing the truth may come at the cost of his career, safety, and sanity. But the country may slide further into a dystopian nightmare if he doesn’t act.

With the help of his boyfriend and sister, Matt must not only uncover the syndrome’s cause and cure but also confront the deeper divisions tearing his family—and the nation—apart.

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

His father stood at the head of the table, clearing his throat in a way that demanded reverence. “Let’s join hands and pray over the meal,” he said.

Matt hesitated, his fingers brushing Grant’s as they linked. He glanced at his boyfriend, who exuded detached curiosity, like Jane Goodall observing chimpanzees in a mealtime ritual. The faintest twitch of Grant’s lips hinted at a private joke, but he said nothing, playing the part of the respectful outsider with disarming ease.

“Thank you, dear Lord, for delivering this family together tonight,” his father said, his eyes closed. “Even though my children forsake you, please forgive them so that they may join their mother and me in heaven.”

Matt bit down on his lip and squeezed Grant’s hand tighter.

“Amen,” his mother said. “Matt, does your friend eat ham?”

“I do,” Grant said. “Even if I didn’t, I’d make an exception for this. It’s a honey ham?”

“Yes, it’s Matt’s favorite,” she said. “Isn’t it, Matt?”

Matt scowled at his empty plate. “I’m not as hungry as I thought.”

His father’s cheeks flushed. “Your mother spent all day making this meal. Don’t sulk. Eat.”

“I’m not hungry either,” Elise said as she twirled her origami-like napkin on the table.

Matt’s mother sucked in a choppy breath of air and turned her head, blotting her nose with her napkin.

“Kids,” his father said, “this is Christmas. Christmas is for family.”

“I just don’t understand,” his mother said, giving another sniffle.

A hush fell over the table. Silent night, indeed, Matt thought. A music box chimed in the distance under the tree. Matt could feel his pulse thudding in his neck.

Aunt Cathy refolded her napkin and tucked it under her plate. “Welcome to the family, Grant. Matt tells me you’re a psychologist. I suspect you already know we’re crazy.”

“Still a resident, technically,” Grant said. “I’m just happy to be here. It isn’t my place to say.”

“Maybe we do need professional help,” Matt’s mother said behind a smile Matt didn’t trust. “Do you know why my son and his sister hate his parents so much that they’d come here just to starve themselves at our table?”

Matt’s father didn’t look up from his plate. “Judy, let’s leave Matt’s guest alone.”

“No, I want to know,” she said, forgetting to hold her smile.

Grant took a sip of his wine. “It’s really quite simple, Mrs. Daughtry,” he said as if observing an early impressionist work at the art gallery. “Your children love you but feel the transaction is one-sided. Your love for them is perceived as conditional on their support for your values.”

“Excuse me,” Matt’s mother said as indignation dried her tears.

“You’re excused,” Grant said. “I’m a professional. And you did ask.”

“Grant,” Matt said, reaching for Grant’s knee and immediately regretting how his tone sounded like his father’s. His stomach churned as he saw his mother’s hand tremble over her napkin.

“Is this how you speak to your own family?” she shot back.

“Yes. They’ve come to appreciate my honesty.”

“Elise, do you hear this?”

“I don’t know, Mom,” Elise said. “He’s not wrong.”

“Elise!”

“What? We’re all thinking it.”

Matt’s father dropped his fork with a clatter. “If we didn’t love you, why would we invite you here? Wrap all these gifts?”

Elise rose from her chair. “I don’t think it’s faith or love when it just pushes people away while you cling to a piety that makes you think you’re better than anyone who doesn’t watch your news shows, read your websites, vote for your favorite fascists, wear your stupid dresses, or donate to your megachurch!”

His father huffed and stormed out. His mother turned toward the window, biting down on her knuckles. “This isn’t how Christmas should be,” she sobbed. “Christmas is for family.”

“I wouldn’t mind having one of those nutty brownies now,” Grant said.

Author Bio:

Evan resides in Philadelphia, PA. When he’s not working or spending time with his friends, he writes a little.

Website


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Posted in Cozy Mysteries

The Inn at Holiday Bay: Boxes in the Basement

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

First in the series!
Memorable characters, a cozy seaside inn, small-town charm, and a celebration for every holiday.

After suffering a devastating personal loss, Abby Sullivan leaves San Francisco and impulsively buys a sprawling old mansion in Holiday Bay, Maine—sight unseen. She hopes to find solitude and healing but instead finds herself unexpectedly adopted by a giant Maine Coon cat named Rufus, a mysterious drifter named Georgia, and Georgia’s lovable but insecure dog named Ramos. Even though Abby initially believed that solitude would be essential for her to heal, she discovered an inn she never planned to own, a cat who refused to leave, and a family she never imagined needing.

In the first book in this series, the small seaside town is rocked by the murder of a local girl. Abby is drawn into a tangled investigation when she stumbles across boxes in her basement that may hold clues to the killer’s identity. She’s not a detective, but as a New York Times bestselling mystery author and the widow of a homicide detective, she knows how to follow the trail. Together with Georgia, Rufus, Ramos, and Police Chief Colt Wilder, Abby races to solve the case before the killer strikes again in what could be an annual spree.

RO G'ma
5.0 out of 5 stars 
An Exciting New Start
Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2018
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
This is the first book in a new series written by Kathi Daley. The writing style flows smoothly, and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in descriptive writing, and much of the time I was reading, I felt like I was right in the midst of the activities taking place and sharing the characters tragedies and joys. The mystery was well plotted and complex, with lots of twists and turns to keep the reader engaged. The setting is charming, the well-developed characters are affable, compassionate, and caring, and this book is a perfect blend of humor, mystery, heartache, joy, and caring.

When a distracted driver swerved into oncoming traffic, Abby Sullivan’s life changed forever because her husband, Ben, and their five-week-old son, Johnathan, didn’t survive. A year later, Abby, a published author, hadn’t written a word since the accident and was still struggling to cope with her loss. She decided a change was in order, so she bought a huge old house in the charming town of Holiday Bay, Maine without even seeing it, sold her condo, packed up her belongings, and left San Francisco. Over the years, the house had been neglected and was in need of repairs, but there was an adorable little cottage on the property that she was able to move into. Abby isn’t a cat person and had never owned a pet, but the day she arrived, a large orange cat she later learned was a Maine Coon named Rufus whose owner had recently passed away, entered into her life, and she finds that she can’t resist his sweet meows and cuddling. Abby contacted Lonnie Parker, a highly recommended contractor, and a decision was made to convert the main house into an inn. She became fast friends with him and his wife, Lacy. A young woman, Georgia Carter, who’d gone through some hard times and been on the road for over a year with her rather large dog, Ramos, shows up on her doorstep looking for a job and a place to stay. Being kind-hearted and knowing how devastating the curves life throws at a person can be, Abby puts Georgia in contact with Lonnie and offers her the cottage’s second bedroom for at least a few nights. The body of Darcy Jared, a murder victim, was found in the woods on Abby’s second day in town. Abby found four boxes in the basement of the main house, each containing possessions, and photos of teenage girls, which she thought was odd. When Police Chief Colt Wilder showed her a picture of a group of people, she recognized one of the young women as one of the girls whose pictures were in the boxes she’d found. Abby becomes intrigued with the girls, two of whom had died, one who was missing, and the final one who was still alive and well and starts investigating. Although she’s not a trained professional, she always did research for her books and used to brainstorm with her husband, who had been a homicide detective, on some of his cases, and he’d often told her she had a natural knack for seeing details others had missed.
Posted in Book Tours

Unholy

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

 Book Tour

Unholy

Heart’s True Desire Series: Book Three

By

Kathryn Amurra

 

About the Book:

Genres: Paranormal Romance / Vampire Romance

Publisher: Wild Rose Press

Publication Date: October 20, 2025

 

In her last semester of college, Beth D’Angelo has one goal—to get her thermodynamics experiment to work so she can graduate. But everything changes when she nearly runs over a mysterious stranger with her car—a man whose hauntingly handsome face fills her with an inexplicable sense of dread. Suddenly, her failed experiment becomes the least of her worries. Strong, alluring, and centuries-old, Thomas Callahan is a vampire whose powers are as dangerous as his secrets. After Beth nearly runs him over, her sweet nature and innate fear of him become an irresistible challenge—to corrupt her innocence. As they spend more time together, Beth’s fear dissipates and becomes something Thomas finds himself craving more than blood. Knowing it is only a matter of time before she discovers what he truly is, and with two hunters on his trail seeking vengeance, Thomas must decide if loving Beth is worth risking both their lives.

 

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon

Nook

Apple

 

Excerpt:


As she stood there, looking up at Thomas, his magnificent appearance struck her again. A bit taller than her five feet four inches, he was easily six feet tall. His dark hair was on the long side of clean-cut, and the cold wind had made it just messy enough to look incredibly sexy. His nose was straight and perfectly placed on his strong, masculine face, and his eyes were a beautiful dark brown. Perhaps it was his dark lashes and eyebrows, or perhaps something else, but Beth couldn’t help feeling that there was something ominous behind those eyes. It was almost as if his eyes held a warning, even while his mouth invited her to draw closer.

 Before Beth realized she was staring at Thomas’ mouth, his lips parted and he spoke again. “Well, I don’t mean to brag, but damsels in distress are my specialty.”

Blinking free of her trance, she shook her head. “Well, I’m not a damsel. In distress, I mean. I don’t need your help.”

He pressed his lips together and nodded slowly. “I understand. In that case, perhaps you can help me instead.”

“Me help you? With what?”

He smiled smugly again. “I’m thirsty.” He paused, almost long enough to allow her to speak, before continuing. “Come have a drink with me.”

She could feel her eyes grow wide with shock even as she told herself to act casual.

“I’m not a big drinker.” At least her voice sounded calm, even if her hands were fidgeting inside her coat pockets.

“Coffee then?”

“I don’t drink coffee after four o’clock. It would keep me awake all night.” She realized as the words left her mouth how much like an old lady she sounded. Lin was right—she may as well have told the guy that she had to get home to soak her dentures.

Though her responses should have completely put him off from pursuing any further interaction, Thomas simply replied, “Then how about some chamomile tea? I’ve read that’ll help calm your nerves and get you in the right mindset for bed.”

The way the man said “bed” sent Beth’s heart racing, and she couldn’t help but wonder if the innuendo was intentional.

“Maybe some other time,” she managed to utter.

He took a step closer to her, and her breath caught.

“I will remember you said that.”

 

What Readers Are Saying:

“Ms. Amurra brings deep, interesting characters that she developed them so well from the beginning of the book and throughout the story. Even the vampire was realistic, and Ms. Amurra created such a unique story line that I was intrigued and captivated until the very end.” –Kelly Barr

 

“I’m not a fan of vampires. With that being said. After reading the first two pages I was hooked.” –Jean

 

About the Author:

Kathryn Amurra is the author of sweet and sensual love stories. Her debut series, Soothsayer’s Path, is a historical romance series of standalone books set in Ancient Rome around 115 CE. Her new series, Heart’s True Desire, is a paranormal romance series of standalone books published through The Wild Rose Press. Kathryn has been making up stories for as long as she can remember and writing since grade school. Against the advice of her 12th grade English teacher, she studied Mechanical Engineering in college, then worked as an Engineer for a few years. After finding and marrying her own hero, she and her hubby went to law school together. They currently live in North Carolina with their three girls.

 

Contact Links:

Email – kathrynamurra@gmail.com

Website: https://www.kathrynamurra.com

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/kathrynamurra/

X – https://x.com/AmurraKathryn

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20280375.Kathryn_Amurra

BookBub – https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kathryn-amurra

 

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