Tag: #aboutauthor

Book Tour/Feature Post and Book Review: For the Honor of the Empire by Andrew J. Harvey

Hi, everyone!

Today I am sharing my Feature Post and Book Review for FOR THE HONOR OF THE EMPIRE (The Honor Trilogy Book #2) by Andrew J. Harvey on this Black Phoenix Book Tour.

Below you will find a book description, my book review, an about the author section, and the author’s social media links. Enjoy!

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Book Description

Haunted by the horrors of war and the weight of her new role as envoy to the Sultan Line, Margaret Peric reaches her breaking point. But with the support of her estranged mother, her devoted sister Louise, and a slowly healing bond with Markus Ackov and his daughter, Jessie, Margaret begins the long road to recovery.

Meanwhile, on the volatile world of Sultan, Jade Carvello and her partner Carlos Babineaux uncover a terrifying plot: eco-terrorists are preparing to unleash a devastating weapon-one that could destabilize the entire Cross-Temporal Empire. As Carlos walks a dangerous line between spycraft and exposure, Jade must protect Margaret, now a symbol of diplomatic hope, from enemies closing in on all sides.

But when a deadly bombing rocks the Sultan capital and Margaret is taken hostage, survival becomes uncertain. The conspiracy leads back to a line thought lost to history-and to a biological weapon born from its ancient secrets.

As the C-TE prepares for war, For the Honor of the Empire delivers a gripping story of political intrigue, emotional resilience, and interdimensional conflict-where loyalty and love must stand against terror, and redemption comes at the highest cost.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/242874015-for-the-honor-of-the-agency?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=FRukz4A4Jr&rank=1

Universal link for the book on Amazon

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My Book Review

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

FOR THE HONOR IF THE EMPIRE (The Honor Trilogy Book #2) by Andrew J. Harvey is the second exciting book in this sci-fi trilogy and it is so much more than middle book filler. The political intrigue, plot twists and surprises continue, along with the romances. Once you figure out the worldbuilding of multiverses, these books contain everything a good suspense thriller gives you and more.

As all the main players continue to try to discover who is biologically sabotaging the Mainline’s crops, this book focuses more on the action and political intrigue in the Sultan Line multiverse.

The book opens with Margaret Peric being discovered having attempted suicide due to her unresolved PTSD from the war. Margaret is asked by the First Leader to be the new diplomatic Ambassador to the Sultan Line and she believes she cannot handle the assignment on her own, but she also cannot refuse. With the support of Markus Ackov and his daughter, Margaret is thrown into a hornet’s nest of intrigue, political double cross, and anarchists. A bombing in the capital with hostages taken ratchets up the stakes and the tension.

This book in the trilogy focuses on Margaret and while it starts with her succumbing to her PTSD and insecurities, she then must attempt to find her warrior strength and determination, real or not, to carry on and lead. I loved reading more about Jade and Carlos’ relationship and their work to uncover who wants to destroy the Mainline, but while Margaret and Jade had two intertwining plotlines in the first book, I feel this book is much more focused on Margaret’s character arch and the political intrigue/thriller plotline. An intricate plot with plenty of action and fully developed characters had me wanting to not put this book down. I also had more understanding of the multiverse worldbuilding in this book, which made it even more enjoyable.

I highly recommend this intriguing second book in the Honor Trilogy and cannot wait to read the next!

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About the Author

Andrew spent his high-school years in the school’s library lost in the worlds of Andre Norton, Robert Heinlein, and Isaac Asimov. Reading in turn led to writing, with the first draft of The Portal Adventures originally completed to read to his two sons at night. Now his children have left home he lives in Perth with his wife, one dog, and sixty four gold fish.

Andrew is presently the Principal of Hague Publishing, established in 2011 as an independent publisher of Science Fiction and Fantasy. Registered in Western Australia, it publishes original work by Australian and New Zealand authors.

Andrew’s first published short story (A Messenger to the Dragon) appeared in Aurealis – Australian Fantasy and Science Fiction in 1992. His most recent was the award winning 1827: Napoleon in Australia, which appeared in Sea Lion Press’ anthology Alternate Australias released in 2020.

His first novel, Nightfall (book one in the Clemhorn Trilogy) is an adult, alternate history set against the backdrop of the Cross-Temporal Empire and its fifty-four separate lines. Nightfall was released by Zmok Books in 2019. The series is distributed by Simon and Schuster.

Trouble on Teral and Crisis at Calista Station, the first two books in his new middle-grade, Science Fiction adventure series, The Portal Adventures, were released by Canada’s Peasantry Press in 2020. The open ended series is a combination of Caroline Lawrence’s Roman Mysteries and Andre Norton’s juvenile speculative fiction.

A passionate reader of Alternate History Andrew is working on completing a number of additional series of trilogies based on the Cross-Temporal Empire.

Social Media Links

Website: https://andrewjharvey.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndrewJHarveyAuthor

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/andrew-j-harvey

Book Tour/Feature Post and Mini Book Review: The Reluctant Pioneer by Julie McDonald Zander

Hi, everyone!

Today I am sharing my Feature Post and Book Review for THE RELUCTANT PIONEER by Julie McDonald Zander on this Black Coffee Book Tour.

Below you will find a book description, my mini book review, an about the author section, and the author’s social media links. Enjoy!

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Book Description

Matilda Koontz cherishes her life as a wife and mother on a Missouri farm, but her hardworking husband wants to claim free farmland in the Pacific Northwest. When he suggests selling the farm to trek two thousand miles across the Oregon Trail, she balks.

But in the spring of 1847, Matilda and Nicholas Koontz and their sons embark on a grueling journey westward. Fresh graves testify to dangers of disease, accidents, starvation, and a multitude of hazards threatening her family and her beloved’s dream.

With new struggles at every turn, Matilda wonders how she can protect her sons on such a perilous journey. Will they reach the trail’s end? Will the babe growing inside her womb survive?

When tragedy strikes, the question changes: How can she possibly continue?

This pioneer woman’s journey is inspired by a true story.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/218201752-the-reluctant-pioneer?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=clKBXcJyrB&rank=1

Universal link for the book on Amazon

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My Mini Book Review

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

THE RELUCTANT PIONEER by Julie McDonald Zander is a Christian historical fiction novel featuring a woman and her family’s journey westward from Missouri on the Oregon Trail in 1847. The story draws from real events and thorough research, making each scene feel immersive.

This is such an emotional read as you experience every step of the journey. Matilda is courageous and resourceful through all the trials of this journey. All the secondary characters are fully developed and I loved Matilda’s boys. I did have a bit of trouble with the slow start, but it did eventually pull me in, and I was even disappointed when it ended. I enjoyed this author’s writing in a previous book, and I do realize this is a Christian historical and based on a religious woman, but this story had too many religious references for me to thoroughly enjoy.

Overall, though, I found Matilda compelling, the story historically interesting and well researched, and well worth reading.

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About the Author

Julie McDonald Zander, an award-winning journalist, earned a bachelor’s degree in communications and political science from the University of Washington before working two decades as a newspaper reporter and editor. Through her personal history company, Chapters of Life, she has published more than 75 individual, family, and community histories. Her debut novel, The Reluctant Pioneer, won a Will Rogers Medallion and was a finalist for the Western Writers of America’s Spur Award for Best Historical Novel. She and her husband live in the Pacific Northwest, where they raised their two children.

Social Media Links

Website: https://mczander2024.ag-sites.net/index.htm

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563140294856

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliemcdonaldzander/?hl=en

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mczander.bsky.social

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-reluctant-pioneer-by-julie-mcdonald-zander

Book Tour/Feature Post and Book Review: Play with Fire by Sophie L. Henderson

Hi, everyone!

Today I am sharing my Feature Post and Book Review for PLAY WITH FIRE (Vancity Fire Book #1) by Sophie L. Henderson on this Bookouture Books-On-Tour blog tour.

Below you will find a book description, my book review, an about the author section, and the author’s social media links. Enjoy!

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Book Description

I may look dainty, but I’m just as tough as every other firefighter. That might all go up in flames when my ex walks into the fire hall…

As the only woman in the fire hall, I’ve worked hard to earn my crew’s respect. But my plan to pass probation without drama goes up in smoke the moment my ex-boyfriend Brodie – the hottest reporter in town with serious Clark Kent energy – makes me the star of his latest feature.

The fire hall is in trouble, and the only way to save it? Prove the city needs us: telling my story in the process. As Brodie and I are forced to work together, I can’t help but notice his attempts to impress me. But it won’t work. I’ll never forget how he broke my heart when he dumped me three years ago.

When I take a risk at a call out and recklessly enter a burning room to rescue a young mother, the first person to come to my rescue is Brodie and I feel the heat between us as he manhandles me back to safety. I can’t start things up again with him…can I?

The captain’s ‘no-dating’ rule means my job is as much on the line as my heart. I’m the one keeping the city safe from danger, but Brodie makes me feel protected in a way I’ve never known before.

Can I say no to my smoking hot ex to save my career or will playing with fire mean I’m going to get burned again?

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/244527610-play-with-fire?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=leRDptXG6Q&rank=1

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0G4D3ZKS2social

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My Book Review

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

PLAY WITH FIRE (Vancity Fire Book #1) by Sophie L. Henderson is the first book in a new steamy contemporary romance series. This an emotional and sexy second chance romance with a female firefighter heroine, a hero who is a local newspaper writer, and extended family drama.

Savannah is working her dream job as a firefighter in Vancity. She is still on her initial probation, and it is all going well until her captain tells her she is going to be shadowed and then featured in a newspaper article to promote their small community fire house. This is a problem because her rich father does not know about her career change and the reporter writing the feature is her college boyfriend who dumped her and broke her heart.

Brodie is finally going to get the promotion to feature writer for his paper if he can write a great article about the local fire house. He is willing to do anything for that promotion, even though it will probably involve his bully of an older firefighter brother. What he does not expect is that his article will feature the new female firefighter who just happens to be the girl he left behind.

This romance is well written with an interesting dynamic between the hero and heroine. Savannah is a tough, dedicated firefighter who felt well researched and her reason for becoming one was very emotional. Brodie is the black sheep of his firefighter family and has had his self-worth badly damaged over the years by his father and older brother and yet he continues to strive for what he wants. Both are dealing with parents that interfere, not in a good way, and they need to learn to communicate not only between themselves as adults, but to also stand-up to the interfering parents. There are several smokin’ hot sex scenes, but they are not gratuitous, and a few where quite entertaining. There is a lot going on in this plot, but the author does a nice job of bringing everything together in the end. I will definitely be looking for the next book in this series.

I recommend this second chance, sexy, contemporary romance.

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About the Author

Sophie L. Henderson writes steamy romcoms full of chaos, heart, and characters who swear a little too much to be considered polite. Originally from a tiny village in England, she spent seventeen years wrangling jazz hands as a drama teacher before finally listening to the voice in her head (the one telling her to write, not the one asking for another snack). She now lives in Vancouver with her husband, where she’s embraced views of snowcapped mountains from the beach, over-invests in the hockey, and talks to hummingbirds like they’re her best friends.

Social Media Links

Mailing List: https://bookouture.com/subscribe/sophie-l-henderson

Feature Post and Book Review: Illusions of Trust by Jeffrey S. Stephens

Book Description

Russell Palmer, a young New York City attorney, is well-known for taking on unusual and high-risk cases alongside his private detective associate, Robbie Whyte. When the wealthy and alluring Christina Franco approaches him to represent her during divorce proceedings, he finds her story impossible to resist.

As Christina recounts the abuse she has suffered, Palmer’s protective instincts kick in. His interest deepens when she mentions a dangerous associate of her husband—someone Palmer has clashed with before.

Soon, a series of events begins to unfold that may or may not be related to Christina and her influential family. There is the apparent suicide of a prominent lawyer. That is followed by a murder for which another of Palmer’s clients is charged. Then, a federal investigation into a major pharmaceutical company is tied to Christina’s husband.

As Palmer and Whyte work to solve an increasingly complex puzzle, they follow a trail that leads them from New York’s underground to the rarified world of the ultra-rich—and even into the halls of Congress. Along the way they encounter a cast of intriguing individuals, including Christina’s parents—an influential politician and his reclusive wife; an attractive journalist with a personal interest in Palmer; and a number of others populating their client’s world.

As they peel back layers of deceit and corruption at every turn, Palmer and Whyte must navigate a treacherous path to protect their clients—and themselves—while ensuring that justice, in all its forms, prevails.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/232832404-illusions-of-trust?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=WfRQcC5CU3&rank=1

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My Book Review

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

ILLUSIONS OF TRUST by Jeffrey S. Stephens is a twisted and engrossing legal/political thriller featuring an unusual New York City attorney and his private detective partner. This novel moves between the rich and powerful of Manhattan and Washington D.C. to a connected criminal boss and disposable criminals. This is a standalone novel that was difficult to put down.

New York City attorney Russel Palmer believes in justice for all and is known for taking on unusual cases from all strata of society with or without the ability to pay. Palmer is idealistic, a brilliant lawyer, naïve in his relationships with women, and a germaphobe. His partner, private detective Robbie Whyte is a tough retired NYC detective and like a father figure to Palmer. Palmer’s private practice is rounded out with Maurine, his secretary/office manager who is the sometime needed conscience of the group.

Palmer rarely takes on divorce cases, but when wealthy and alluring Christina Franco shows up with a story of abuse and threat, Palmer takes her case against Whyte’s warnings. Palmer gets pulled into a web of seemingly unrelated government subpoenas, illegal corporate maneuverings, murder, and underworld ties he as digs into this seemingly straight forward divorce case. Palmer and Whyte dive into trying to bring all the information into order, but everyone in this case seems to be keeping secrets and the lies are flowing.

I found this book very compelling with memorable characters and an intricate criminal legal plot with twists and lies abounding from the ultra-rich of Manhattan, corporate manipulation and corruption, and the connected and disposable in the NY criminal underworld. Palmer and Whyte are wonderful protagonists individually and perfect together as a powerhouse team. This story is very investigative leaning, rather than courtroom legal drama which I really enjoyed. I would love to see this book become a series because I want more of these characters and was sorry when the book ended.

I highly recommend this engaging legal/political thriller!

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About the Author

A native New Yorker, now living in Connecticut, Jeffrey Stephens is the author of the Jordan Sandor thrillers, TARGETS OF DECEPTION, TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY, TARGETS OF REVENGE and ROGUE MISSION; the murder mystery CRIMES AND PASSION; the international treasure hunt FOOL’S ERRAND; the Nick Reagan espionage adventures THE HANDLER and ENEMIES AMONG US; and the first book in his new legal thriller series, ILLUSIONS OF TRUST.

Social Media Links

Website: https://jeffreystephens.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeffreystephenstheauthor/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/illusions-of-trust-by-jeffrey-s-stephens

Feature Post and Book Review: Blood on the Wire by Candace Irving

Book Description

When a VA therapist is brutally stabbed, Kate Holland is stunned—the man had clashed with her own shrink days earlier. But the shock deepens when Kate discovers stolen military-grade explosives hidden in his home.

The victim had been investigating a war crime overseas, and now the fallout is erupting in Arkansas. With Ruger at her side and Arash in the fight alongside her, Kate follows a trail of secrets and corpses toward a killer who won’t stop until innocent blood is spilled.

To stop him, Kate must risk everything—including the fragile trust she’s building with the two allies she can’t afford to lose.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/239425643-blood-on-the-wire?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=9kTzLQnFmZ&rank=2

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My Book Review

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

BLOOD ON THE WIRE (Hidden Valor K-9 Mysteries Book #5) by Candace Irving is another outstanding action packed and thrilling addition to this series. I enjoyed every book in the entire series and Kate and Ruger’s journey, but I believe you could read this book as a standalone and still love it due to the strategically placed background information you may have questions about.

Special State Investigator Kate Holland and her K-9 Ruger are called to investigate the stabbing death of one of the Little Rock VA’s psychologists. When she gets to the scene, she realizes she met this doctor arguing with Kate’s own doctor just a few days earlier. As Kate and the local detective search the doctor’s home, they discover two safes. One has a cache of military grade C-4 and the other has a notebook filled with writing in code.

As Kate investigates the murder, she discovers the doctor was looking into a crime from two years ago in Afghanistan. There are suspects that are almost too convenient and many tangled stories of truth and lies. As the body count increases, Kate realizes someone is trying to get rid of all ties to the real killer and crimes of the past.

I love this series! I look forward to reading not only an intricately plotted suspense/mystery, but an intimate story of a vet’s healing journey through PTSD and a terrible wartime incident all while she navigates her current job, her work and personal connection to her dog, and finally her learned ability to open up in her personal relationships. The intricate plot and twists in this book left me continually guessing until the very end.

I highly recommend this suspenseful police procedural/K-9 mystery! This is a well written, engrossing series and I cannot wait for more.

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About the Author

A former US Navy Lt., Candace Irving is the daughter of a librarian and a retired boatswain’s mate chief. Candace grew up in the Philippines, Germany, and all over the United States. Her senior year of high school, she enlisted in the US Army. Following basic training, she transferred to the Navy’s ROTC program at the University of Texas-Austin. While at UT, she spent a summer in Washington, DC, as a Congressional Intern. She also worked security for the UT Police. BA in Political Science in hand, Candace was commissioned as an ensign in the US Navy and sent to Surface Warfare Officer’s School to learn to drive warships. From there, she followed her father to sea.

Candace Irving writes gritty military thrillers. She is the author of the Deception Point Military Detective Thriller Series and the Hidden Valor Military Veterans/K9 Psychological Suspense Series. She also writes military romance and romantic suspense as Candace Irvin (without the “g”).

Social Media Links

Website: https://candaceirving.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CandaceIrvingBooks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candaceirvingbooks/?hl=en

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/blood-on-the-wire-a-kate-holland-suspense-a-hidden-valor-military-veteran-k-9-mystery-book-5-by-candace-irving

Feature Post and Mini Book Review: The Traitor’s Circle by Jonathan Freedland

Book Description

When the whole world is lying, someone must tell the truth.

Berlin, 1943: A group of high society anti-Nazi dissenters meet for a tea party one late summer’s afternoon. They do not know that, sitting around the table, is someone poised to betray them all to the Gestapo.

They form a circle of unlikely rebels, drawn from the German elite: two countesses, a diplomat, an intelligence officer, an ambassador’s widow and a pioneering head mistress. What unites every one of them is a shared loathing of the Nazis, a refusal to bow to Hitler and the courage to perform perilous acts of resistance: meeting in the shadows, rescuing Jews or plotting for a future Germany freed from the Führer’s rule. Or so they believe.

How did a group of brave, principled rebels, who had successfully defied Adolf Hitler for more than a decade, come to fall into such a lethal trap?

Undone from within and pursued to near-destruction by one of the Reich’s cruelest men, they showed a heroism in the face of the most vengeful regime in history that raises the question: what kind of person does it take to risk everything and stand up to tyranny?

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/223830505-the-traitors-circle?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=FEmiThRIwv&rank=4

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My Mini Book Review

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

THE TRAITOR’S CIRCLE by Jonathan Freedland is a nonfiction novel that reads like a gripping spy thriller. This book features a group of aristocratic Germans during WWII who come together to voice their objections to Hitler and the Nazi regime, help Jewish friends, families, and even strangers escape the Holocaust and are then betrayed by a traitor within.  The terrible retribution of the Gestapo on all involved during the final years of the war is stark and terrible and yet their stories need to be told and remembered for their bravery and moral resistance to the depravity of the Nazi regime.

This is a nonfiction book that I was unable to put down, even with scenes of torture and depravity. The author masterly introduces the members of the group, and you become invested in the varied individuals and the various reasons for them opposing the new regime. I have read many nonfiction history books and historical fiction books about WWII and that era, so I assumed this story would not end well, but the author does a great job of following all the characters to the end of their journeys whether they lived or died. This book gives the reader a look at German dissenters during a time that a radical regime sought to eliminate all dissent.

I highly recommend this gripping nonfiction WWII novel!

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About the Author

Jonathan Freedland is a Guardian columnist and former foreign correspondent. He is the presenter of BBC Radio 4’s contemporary history series, The Long View, as well as two podcasts, Politics Weekly America for the Guardian and Unholy, alongside the Israeli journalist Yonit Levi. He is a past winner of an Orwell Prize for journalism. He is the author of twelve books, the latest being The Escape Artist: The Man Who Broke Out of Auschwitz to Warn the World. He has written nine thrillers, mostly as Sam Bourne, including The Righteous Men which was a Sunday Times number one bestseller.

Social Media Links

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JonathanFreedlandOfficial/

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jonathanfreedland.bsky.social

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-traitors-circle-by-jonathan-freedland-2025-01-21