INTRODUCTION

Hi everyone My name is Victoria Zumbrum, 40 years old, married 14 years with 1 son. This is my very first blog. So bear with me. I have always wanted to have my own blog. I have always loved to read. I enjoy getting lost in a good book.
I love becoming part of the story and characters. I am hoping to bring my love of books to my readers.

I love reading different genres such as paranormal, young adult, romance, romantic suspense, mystery, Christian fiction, some horror, etc. The list goes on. I started reviewing books a couple of years ago and have done reviews for different blogs and even some authors. I really have enjoyed reviewing books and I will continue to do so. If anyone is interested in me reviewing a book for them, please contact me. I still have a lot to learn regarding my own blog so bear with me. I welcome and appreciate all followers.

Friday, March 29, 2024

Review of Harper by Katy Regnery

New York Times bestselling author Katy Regnery is back with her second Stewarts of Skagway romance! Joe Raven. My first love. My only, ever love. Harper Stewart and Joe Raven have loved each other since childhood. From elementary school to middle school, through high school and into college, they were each other's first crush, first kiss, first love, first everything... until something happened which tore them apart. Ten years later, Harper and Joe will finally confront the long-buried secrets that ended their relationship. Will the same secrets that almost destroyed them now threaten any chance of a future together? Or will the deep love they once shared give them the strength and courage to forgive? ***** THE STEWARTS OF SKAGWAY Six siblings. Six love stories. The Stewarts of Skagway. A small but mighty outpost on the very edge of the Alaskan wilderness, Skagway has been a favorite stop for prospectors, adventurers, and cruisers for over a hundred years. It’s also the home of the midnight sun, grizzly bears and the six Stewart siblings who are about to spend 2024 falling in love! Meet the sexy, sharp-witted, fun-loving Stewarts of Skagway – Tanner, Harper, Hunter, Sawyer, Parker and Reeve – who have no idea how much their lives are about to change as they each find their very own happily-ever-after. Book #1: Tanner (Jan 2024) Book #2: Harper (Mar 2024) Book #3: Hunter (May 2024) Book #4: Sawyer (Jul 2024) Book #5: Parker (Sep 2024) Book #6: Reeve (Dec 2024)

MY REVIEW:

HARPER IS BOOK 2 IN THE STEWARTS OF SKAGWAY SERIES. THIS IS HARPER AND JOE'S STORY. THEIR STORY IS HEARTRENCHING AND WILL BRING TEARS TO YOUR EYES. JOE AND HARPER MEET IN GRADE SCHOOL AND ARE TOGETHER THROUGH COLLEGE. THEY ARE EACH OTHER'S FIRST CRUSH, FIRST KISS, FIRST LOVE AND FIRST EVERYTHING UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS THAT DESTROYS THEIR RELATIONSHIP. THEN JOE AND HARPER MEET UP AGAIN AND HAVE A SECOND CHANCE AT LOVE BUT WILL HARPER'S SECRET DESTROY THEIR CHANCE AT HAPPINESS?

I REALLY ENJOYED HARPER.  I LOVE SECOND CHANCE ROMANCES WHERE THE CHARACTERS FIND LOVE AGAIN. HARPER IS AN EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER READ WHICH WILL LEAVE THE READER IN TEARS.  YOU WILL SEE BOTH CHARACTER'S SIDES.  YOU WILL UNDERSTAND WHY HARPER MADE THE DECISION SHE DID AND WHY JOE IS MAD. I LOVE HARPER AND JOE TOGETHER. THEY WERE SO IN LOVE DESPITE ALL THE YEARS OF BEING APART.  THE TRUTH NEEDED TO COME OUT.  HARPER WAS CARRYING SO MUCH GUILT AND HEARTACHE AND SHE NEEDED TO TELL JOE THE TRUTH IN ORDER FOR THEM TO MOVE ON.  I LOVE JOE'S CHARACTER AND HIS LOVE FOR HARPER. HE WAS SO MAD BUT HE WAS ABLE TO FORGIVE HARPER AND MOVE ON.  I THOUGHT BOOK 2 WAS EVEN BETTER THAN THE FIRST. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO READING THE REST OF THE SIBLING'S STORIES.  I LOVE THIS TIGHT NITTED AND CLOSE FAMILY.   4 STARS
 
Katy Regnery New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katy Regnery has a heart for smart romance featuring strong women and decent men. Exclusively self-published, Katy claims authorship of over 50 titles, including three RITA® finalists. Translated into French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, and Turkish, Katy has sold over 1.8 million books worldwide. Pen names: Katy Regnery (Contemporary Romance) Callie Henry (YA Romance) Check out Katy’s Website: http://www.katyregnery.com Sign up for Katy’s newsletter today: https://tinyurl.com/4r6awnr2

The Empress' Journey by Joseph Kopel Book Tour and Giveaway

 


 What is your stance?  


The Empress’ Journey

Tikl The First of Nehel Book 1

by Joseph Kopel

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Amid turmoil and despair, a new hope arises as a young empress.

The Gesha obliterated the once thriving but ailing Kingdom of Aranka, triggering an imbalance in Sankaris. Epidemics, wars, pollution, and madness plague the land as the protagonists pursue for answers.

A glimmer of faith spreads throughout the maimed world as the Promise. Her rise to power brings a much-needed balance, ensuring a fresh start and the dawning of a new era.

Will she unravel the mysteries behind these afflictions and restore the balance to Sankaris?

Join this captivating tale of humanity, resilience, determination, and the search for truths in a world gripped by darkness.



Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads




Joseph Kopel is an imaginative author who has transitioned from Sci-Fi to Space Opera and now ventures into the realm of Fantasy with his debut in the genre.

What began as a hobby has grown into thirty-five years of writing. Being bilingual, he switched between English and Spanish. The greatest influences on him were the Latin American literature in Mexico City's libraries and the most famous American Sci-Fi authors.

When he is out of any fantastic realm to be in the world of reality, he enjoys his time with his wife, three kids, and his two pets.

Currently, he lives in Northwest Missouri, in a small peaceful country town of only 250 people.


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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

$20 Amazon giftcard – 1 winner,

Signed Original First Edition of The Empress’ Journey – 5 winners!

   

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Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Adulting The Ultimate Cheat Sheet by Haley Cavanagh Book Tour and Giveaway

 


 Don't just drift through adulthood—thrive in it.

Adulting: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet

by Haley Cavanagh

Genre: YA Nonfiction, Coming of Age Self-Help

Embark on a journey to adulting mastery with Adulting: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet. Unlock the secrets to a well-rounded adult life with clear, concise, and invaluable advice on budgeting, cooking, time management, building meaningful relationships, and so much more! This comprehensive guide is your roadmap to taking charge of your life, offering you the tools and wisdom you need to sculpt the life of your dreams.

Adulting: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet offers practical advice and user-friendly tips that will empower you to make the most of every aspect of your life, ensuring that you become the self-reliant, confident, and accomplished person you were always meant to be.

Join author, Haley Cavanagh—military veteran, devoted wife and mother, and award winning author—in waving goodbye to uncertainty and hesitation and embracing the fulfilling life you've envisioned. Don't just drift through adulthood—thrive in it. The future is yours to shape, and this book is your indispensable guide on the journey to living the adult life you truly desire.


**Enter the Goodreads giveaway HERE! Ends 3/15**


Bookbub * Goodreads

Amazon * *AbeBooks * Alibris * B&N * Bookshop.org * CedarFortPublishing * Target * ThriftBooks




Astraeus

The Oceanstone Initiative #1

by Haley Cavanagh

Genre: SciFi Romance


Amazon * Apple * B&N * Bookbub * Goodreads


Retaliation

The Oceanstone Initiative #2


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Haley Cavanagh is a military veteran, wife, and mother. She was awarded the League of Utah Writers 2020 Silver Quill Award for Retaliation, the second novel in her Oceanstone Initiative series. Haley is an alumna of Columbia College, a musical theater nut, and she loves to dive into any book that crosses her path. Haley resides with her family in the United States and enjoys spending time with her husband and children when she’s not writing. She loves to hear from her readers and encourages you to contact her via her website and social media.

You can find her in-person book signing events here:

https://haleycavanaghbooks.com/events/


Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads


Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

$50 Amazon



Storm Seed by Janet Morris Book Tour and Giveaway

 


 High adventure and mystical intrigue await…


Storm Seed

Sacred Band Series Book 7

by Janet & Chris Morris

Genre: Epic Fantasy


 Hot off the presses, the final "lost" volume of the iconic Sacred Band series in an all-new Author's Cut edition.


High adventure awaits in Storm Seed by Janet & Chris Morris:


- Travel with the Sacred Band of Stepsons to a future undreamed.

- Meet the changeling son of Tempus and the Froth Daughter.

- Learn what it takes to become a dragon.

- Bring gods to a godless realm.


Tempus the Black, avatar of the Storm God, and his partner Niko reunite the Sacred Band for a mission to a dying world. And from there -- should the gods allow -- to mystical Lemuria. -


Praise for the Sacred Band series: "Janet Morris, Tempus (1987), and, with Chris Morris, Tempus Unbound (1989), The Sacred Band (2010).

"A fantasy series about the Sacred Band of Stepsons, an elite army modeled on the fourth-century B.C.E. Sacred Band of Thebes. The stories explore the fraught personal relationships of mixed hetero- and homosexual troops, only sometimes paired, as they fight for their commander, the immortal Tempus. Morris includes archaeological and historical details, from physical items to social practices, religion, and philosophy, to create a fantasy world that is, in many ways, more historically accurate than many popular accounts of antiquity." -- Robert W. Cape, Jr, in Classical Traditions in Science Fiction, Brett M. Rogers & Benjamin Eldon Stevens, eds., Oxford University Press


**ON SALE now for only $2.99!**

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** The Sacred Band Series is Perseid Press’ featured series of March **

--Get them all on sale for Only $2.99 each!--

Find the buy links at

Perseid Press


Best selling author Janet Morris began writing in 1976 and has since published more than 30 novels, many co-authored with her husband Chris Morris or others. 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.


Christopher Crosby Morris (born 1946) is an American author of fiction and non-fiction, as well as a lyricist, musical composer, and singer-songwriter. He is married to author Janet Morris. He is a defense policy and strategy analyst and a principal in M2 Technologies, Inc. He writes primarily as Chris Morris, but occasionally uses pseudonyms.


Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Bookbub

Amazon * Amazon * Goodreads * Goodreads


Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Choice of print or ebook copy of Storm Seed , 

$10 Amazon giftcard 

– 1 winner each! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Tuesday, March 26, 2024

The Outback Man Series by Millie Wolf Book Tour and Giveaway

 


 A scorching hot series of steamy small town romances  


Nannying for the Outback Man

Outback Man Series Book 1

by Millie Wolf

Genre: Steamy Small-Town Contemporary Romance


I swore I’d never fool around with one of my nannies. But that was before I met Camille.

This fiery woman is living under my roof, sleeping in the next room. I can hardly keep my hands to myself. But there’s a catch. She has a boyfriend.

I know I stand no chance with this lioness. Not even when her boyfriend makes a terrible mistake.

Or do I?

The Outback Man series is set in the town of Sunrise, Australia. Each romance is a steamy standalone but they are best read as a scorching hot series.


**Only .99cents!**

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads


Sheltered by the Outback Man

Outback Man Series Book 2

I’ve been wearing baggy clothes for months now, afraid of men looking at me and wanting me. But when Mason takes me in off his dark doorstep, things change. Now, I want nothing more than to be looked at. To be wanted.

This older, grumpy giant is doing me a good turn. He might just restore my faith in men. And in love.

The Outback Man series is set in the town of Sunrise, Australia. Each romance is a steamy standalone but they are best read as a scorching hot series.


**Only .99cents!**

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads


Fake Married to the Outback Man

Outback Man Series Book 3

When a virgin steps into my life, fresh out of hell, I sweep her up and carry her over the threshold. I might be a bad boy but I want to make this angel smile every day. Even if she’s saving herself for a real marriage.

Why does it kill me that our marriage isn’t the real deal? Can I overcome my tortured past and claim this bride as my own?

The Outback Man series is set in the town of Sunrise, Australia. Each romance is a steamy standalone but they are best read as a scorching hot series.


**Only .99cents!**

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads


Millie Wolf is an author of short instalove romance. She lives on the sunny west coast of Australia with her husband and far too many bicycles. When she’s not reading or writing romance, she’s out soaking up the sun in a saddle or on the sand. She never goes anywhere without a good book.



Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

$20 Amazon

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Thursday, March 21, 2024

The Other Murder by Kevin G. Chapman Book Tour and Giveaway

 


Sometimes, the most dangerous thing . . . is the truth. 

The Other Murder

by Kevin G. Chapman

Genre: Mystery, Suspense 

 “A sleek, gripping thriller that raises important questions about truth and justice.” ~Kirkus Reviews


FINALIST -- 2023 CLUE AWARD


Sometimes, the most dangerous thing . . . is the truth.


For disgraced cable news producer Hannah Hawthorne, covering the shooting of a pretty NYU sophomore is a chance for redemption. When the story snowballs into a media circus, Hannah’s reporting fans the sensationalistic flames and earns her acclaim. The tragic murder, seemingly the result of random urban gun violence, prompts protests and vigils that further magnify the story.

Meanwhile, Paulo, a reporter for a small online neighborhood newspaper, is following the other murder in Washington Square Park that same night – a Hispanic teen. He discovers an unexpected connection that is political dynamite. When Hannah and Paulo team up, they uncover disturbing facts, leading them to question everything they thought they knew. Their reporting also leads them to the man who might be the killer.
When the story is ready to explode, the truth may be hotter than anyone can handle. Breaking the next scoop could ruin Paulo’s paper and wreck Hannah’s career – and it could get them both killed.

If you like David Baldacci's page-turners, Michael Connelly’s cops, and Sara Paretsky’s quirky characters, you will love The Other Murder.


What readers are saying:


With intelligent characters and believable dialogue, Chapman has managed to create a riveting whodunit that also speaks volumes about social issues plaguing the justice system. . . . The social issues are skillfully woven into the narrative, making readers seriously consider these problems even when they’re immersed in conversations with possible snitches and the chaos of climactic shooting scenes.” ~Kirkus Reviews


"Haunting, chilling, and heroic . . . a must-read novel." ~Chanticleer Book Review (5-star "Best Book") 


Chapman once again knocks it out of the park.” “The author did a superb job of developing all the essential players.” ~Feathered Quill Book Reviews

Chapman's attention to building a fast-paced story filled with satisfyingly unpredictable twists and turns creates a memorable, compelling saga. . . .  

Worthy of a top recommendation.” ~Midwest Book Review


The Other Murder will grip you from the start and keep you reading through all the twists and turns until the surprising end.” ~ReadorRot.com


Magnificent.” “An excellent story, it is a must read for mystery-suspense/thriller lovers!” 

~InD’Tale Magazine


The story is a mystery that kept me involved as the different pieces of the whole story came to light. But there is also a side story that sent my thoughts off on tangents, pondering the press, what we can and should expect from them. Chapman’s story ought to get us all thinking.”

 ~Big Al, Big Al’s Books & Pals (5-stars)


The writing is gorgeous, the narrative is filled with realism and mystery, and the action moves in unexpected directions.” ~The Book Commentary (5-stars)


Absolutely chilling. It's a gripping and harrowing storyline! A great story to follow and try to figure out what will happen next. This is one of those books that grabs you from the start and pulls you in.”

~Amy’s Bookshelf Reviews (5-stars)


A captivating story with a thought-provoking premise.” ~Bookpleasures.com


Fans of a ‘whodunit?’ mystery will love trying to piece together this mystery. . . . With its suspense, mystery, and twists, this book is a must-read.” ~ Georgia Lyonhyde for Reedsy Discovery


Amazon * Audiobook * B&N * BookShop.org * Bookbub * Goodreads






Kevin G. Chapman is an attorney specializing in labor and employment law. In 2021, Kevin finished the first five books in the Mike Stoneman Thriller series: Righteous Assassin (CLUE Award finalist), Deadly Enterprise (Kindle Book Award semi-finalist), Lethal Voyage, (Winner of the 2021 Kindle Book Award, CLUE finalist, RONE finalist), Fatal Infraction (Best Police Procedural of the year – CLUE Award), and Perilous Gambit. In late 2022, Kevin published a stand-alone mystery/thriller titled Dead Winner (CLUE Award - Best Suspense/Thriller of the year). Kevin is a resident of Central New Jersey and is a graduate of Columbia College and Boston University School of Law. Readers can contact Kevin via his website at www.KevinGChapman.com.


Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads


Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

$30 Amazon



Virtual Book Tour The Pheeworker's Oath by Adam Gaylord


Welcome to the -Week Virtual Book Tour Schedule for The Pheeworker’s Oath by Adam Gaylord - SciFi, Speculative Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery 
March 17-22, 2024)


About The Pheeworker’s Oath:

Humans don’t belong on this world. The refugees who crash-landed on the Atipok homeworld can’t see or touch phee, the elemental power which flows through rock and stone like living rivers of light. From the moment of his hatching, healer Takey has manipulated phee to heal, bending strands to his will to mend muscle and bone for both human and Atipok alike.

But when the Atipok queen is murdered and her death blamed on an orphaned human child capable of pheework, the first of her kind, a rift is torn between the two races that could spell the end of humanity. Anti-human factions seize power and the Atipok army is on the march. Can Takey survive long enough to unravel the strands of conspiracy, protect the child, and broker a peace to avoid genocide without betraying his own people or himself?

Genres: 

SciFi, Speculative Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery

Book Tour Schedule: 

https://saphsbookpromotions.blogspot.com/2024/03/book-tour-schedule-for-pheeworkers-oath.html

Praise:

From Aimee Ogden, Nebula Finalist:

A compellingly alien protagonist, who also has the deeply-held and familiar belief that a better world is possible. 

In THE PHEEWORKER'S OATH, neither compassion nor cruelty are traits limited to humankind. There are no easy answers to the complexities of human refugees building a new home for themselves on a different world--but it is easy to care about the compellingly alien Takey, and about his deeply-held and familiar belief that a better world is possible. 

From Rachael Jones, WFA Finalist & Tiptree Award honoree:

The Pheeworker's Oath is a timely science fiction tale about a stranded human colony dependent upon the Atipok, aliens with near-mystical abilities that allow them to control their environment and their very bodies. It is a fascinating examination of how manipulative leaders harness fear of the other to gain power, and how the only way to break that power is to find kinship with the very beings you've been told to fear. This adventure story showcases timeless themes and intriguing worldbuilding. Come for the cool alien powers, stay for the lizardlike Atipok--but don't you dare call them Lizards!

Purchase Links:

MIRROR WORLD PUBLISHING:

Paperback: 


Meet the Author:


Adam Gaylord (he/him) lives in Colorado with a wife that is smarter than him, their two monster children, and a very handsome dog. When not at work as an ecologist, he’s usually writing, baking, drawing comics, or some combination thereof. Look him up on GoodReads or find him on Twitter/BlueSky @AuthorGaylord.

Connect with Adam Gaylord :

Twitter:
https://amzn.to/4acJJPB

Goodreads Author Page: 

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Greystone by B L Ryan Book Blast



This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. B L Ryan will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

All Mouse could remember about her father was sitting on his lap while he told her stories. She wished she could remember what he looked like. When she hangs a white pendant that belonged to her father in her bedroom window, this wish becomes the key to great adventure in another world. A gate appears with a dragon twirling in the air above a colourful garden on the other side of the gate. Zeeta, the royal dragon, greets Mouse and invites her into the garden. The garden is part of Sweet Water holding, home to Lady Jane, who is the seer for Prince Ruler Jared.

As Mouse and Zeeta struggle to complete a quest, Mouse searches for her father. Their journey takes them across the plains of Norlanda and south to the Border Mountains.

The seers have foretold that a far traveller will appear and lead Norlanda against its enemies. This does not seem likely, as Norlanda is prosperous and peaceful at this time. Meanwhile, dark forces gathered in the Border Mountains have recognized the presence of Mouse in the lines of destiny and have started to move towards her.

How will the presence of a child, a far traveller from another world, affect the destiny of this world?

Read an Excerpt

King Henry regarded Jared impatiently.

“It has come to my attention that you and members of the Royal Guard have taken up with all manner of disreputable people. I have been told that you visit mead houses and the common rooms of guild holdings throughout Greystone City.”

“The Royal Guard are not responsible,” said Jared.

“No, they are not!” His father slammed his hand on the table.

The King’s scribe, sitting in the corner, jerked and dropped one of his ink brushes. It fell off the desk and rolled across the floor. He knelt and picked it up quietly.

“I had hoped Captain Hawke would subdue your more eccentric tastes in companions!”

“Are not the common folk my people?” Jared asked. “That is not the issue,” said the King, his voice rising with irritation.

“You disappear with Zeeta for days at a time. It is time you acted as the future King of Norlanda.”

“Father, how else can I know this Kingdom and its people?”

“An excellent sentiment!” the King said. He pressed both hands on the table and leaned forward. “A grand tour would give you a chance to meet some of your other loyal subjects as well as suitable maidens.”

Jared’s jaw tightened; his grey eyes narrowed. “I would meet only the maidens the Council deemed suitable,” he returned shortly.

The King glared at him. “You have a life of great privilege and responsibility. By the grace of the Etu, your life belongs to this land and its people.”

“By the grace of the Etu, I would not ask for such a life,” his son returned tersely.

The King signaled the scribe to leave the room and came around the table to stand by his son. He tried to speak reasonably. It had been a long day. He was not feeling well, and he knew his temper was not helping. He placed a hand on his son’s shoulder.

About the Author:Born in Saskatchewan, Betty has lived in several areas across Canada, from Ottawa to Vancouver Island while growing up. Her fondest memory as a child is of her father building a tent trailer and her mother sewing yards and yards of canvas for the tent. The family travelled across Canada and down the eastern seaboard of the United States for several summer vacations.

Betty worked as a drawing office assistant in Oxford, England, for almost two years before returning to Canada to work as a topographical clerk in Edmonton, Alberta. She pursued a BSc. in Agriculture with a major in Horticulture from the University of Alberta. While raising her children, Betty worked as an Office Manager for a non-profit society and took writing courses at night school and from the Institute of Children's Literature, Connecticut.

The garden has always been a source of inspiration and joy for Betty, as are all the beloved cats and dogs who have walked into her life. Betty believes stories are the foundation of our life. The stories we enjoy, the stories we tell ourselves, our children and others, reflect how we view the world around us. She enjoys writing fantasy for the youth genre because she feels there is still so much of the wonder of life, and the attitude that anything is possible, from this age group.

Greystone is her first novel. She is currently working on the sequel, Greystone: A New Beginning.

Free to read on KU: https://www.amazon.com/Greystone-B-L-Ryan-ebook/dp/B0CQK3HB8R/ref=sr_1_1

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