Tuesday, April 30, 2024

New Release Blast: Selena Flowers and the Cursed Ruby by Ella English #promo #middlegrade #fantasy #rabtbooktours @authorella1

 

The Merblood Saga Book 1


Middle-Grade Fantasy

Date Published: April 30, 2024

 

 

When the Tide Turns, the Merblood Rises...

In the quaint, windswept town of Madderly Bay, twelve-year-old Selena Flowers' dream of a peaceful life shatters as an eerie voice echoes in her mind, a reminder of the nightmarish encounter that awaits her beneath the waves: "Just relax. You can breathe easily. I’ve got total control over you."

Selena, newly arrived from the bustling streets of London, finds herself in a gothic mansion teetering on the edge of a coastal cliff, her mother Fiona's strange inheritance. But their new beginning turns into a chilling adventure when an undead mermaid, Faustina, crashes through Selena's window, heralding a descent into a dark, hidden world.

The once thriving zombie merkingdom beneath Madderly Bay, now a forgotten abyss, is Faustina's haunting domain. Cursed to eternal youth, this zombie mermaid queen is driven by a lonely, venomous desire to expand her ghostly army. When Fiona begins to show signs of a ghastly transformation, Selena knows the curse has found its newest victim.

Faustina's power stems from a mysterious ruby necklace, an artifact of untold magic and menace. Its dark magic can turn the tide of fate, offering salvation or doom. As Selena grapples with bullies at her new school and the complexities of a small town riddled with secrets, the necklace becomes her only hope to save her mother from a watery, undead fate.

With the help of her new friend Chloe, Selena embarks on a perilous quest to uncover the necklace's hidden past and its current whereabouts. The journey takes her deeper into Faustina's world—a world of betrayal, ancient curses, and underwater lairs.

As the clock ticks and Fiona's transformation accelerates, Selena must confront her deepest fears. Plunging into the murky depths, she faces off against Faustina in a heart-stopping struggle for the necklace. In this underwater chess game, every move could be her last. Will Selena retrieve the necklace and reverse the curse, or will she become another lost soul in Faustina's mermaid kingdom?

As Selena's story unfolds, she discovers that the true power lies not in a ruby's glow, but in the strength of her own heart. In a final, breathtaking climax, Selena must decide the fate of the necklace, balancing the weight of its power against the safety of those she loves.

"Selena Flowers and the Cursed Ruby" is a tale of magic, courage, and the unbreakable bonds of family. It is a story that reminds us that even in our darkest hours, there is always a glimmer of hope.

...For in the Depths of Despair, a Hero Rises.


About the Author

Ella English is a British author and illustrator who swapped afternoon tea for lattes to go when she moved from London to Baltimore, USA 23 years ago. She writes children's books, including the beloved Kitty in the City chapter book series about a singing cat in Manhattan, as well as the Merblood Saga which deals with magic and mermaids in Madderly Bay.

The inspiration for the Merblood Saga can be traced back to Ella's childhood holidays on the Kent Coast in the UK. With massive waves crashing against the seawall and the occasional freak wave pulling unsuspecting beachgoers into the water, young Ella's imagination ran wild. She began to wonder if a hidden community of mystical mermaids could be living beneath the surface, their lives intertwined with the ebb and flow of the tides.

Years later, those childhood musings have transformed into a middle grade series that will enchant readers. The Merblood Saga brings the magic of Ella's coastal daydreams to life, inviting readers to dive into a world where mermaids are real and adventure lurks beneath the waves.

 

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RABT Book Tours & PR

Teaser Tuesday: Lord of Storms by Alice Gaines #promo #excerpt #teasertuesday #darkfantasy #comingsoon #preorder #rabtbooktours @changelingpress

 

Dark Fantasy, Capture Fantasy, Action Adventure

Date Published: May 3, 2024

 

 

Advertising executive by day and novelist by night Gray Stewart has retreated to the country for a much-needed vacation.  She’s at the top of a mountain when lightning threatens to fry her to a crisp.  She finds shelter with a mysterious man who goes only by Rowan.

Rowan is the Lord of Storms, a super-human being who has power to minimize the damage of dangerous storms.  He works in secret, and his female visitor is a threat to that secrecy.  She’s also a threat to his equilibrium because as long as she’s around, his thoughts keep straying to sex… and love.


 

EXCERPT

 

Gray Stewart had reached the top of the world. Okay, she was only up about nine thousand feet, but her heart still raced from the climb, and her lungs were working overtime to suck in oxygen. She’d made it all the way to the top of Mount Richardson, the tallest peak in this part of California, and if she could breathe, the view would steal her breath away. Wait ‘til she told the wiseasses back at the office she’d mastered the climb. None of the macho types who treated women like weaklings could have kept up with her.

She broke out her water bottle and took a swig and swung her small backpack off her shoulder onto the granite beneath her. Then, she sat, crossing her legs. The beautiful ham and Swiss sandwich the inn’s restaurant had made for her beckoned. She removed the plastic wrap and took a bite. With the tomato from the farmer’s market in the inn’s parking lot, nothing had ever tasted so delicious. In fact, the water tasted pretty damned amazing, too. Maybe she’d give up coffee.

No reason to get crazy about this, though. Pretty soon she’d be back in the city where you needed caffeine to face the morning. For now, she could gaze into the valley far below… at the tall pine trees that now appeared the size of toys for a model train set and the river shrunk to no more than a ribbon winding between rows of wine grapes.

A couple of days in the country, and her head was starting to straighten out. She’d left home for college, and for a little hick girl from a tiny town, that had been a shock. But then, she’d found the chance job of a lifetime as a professional writer. So, her art consisted of convincing people that Gloryshine toothpaste could give them a dazzling smile. Big deal. She made a good income at that and wrote the great American novel at night. Her life ought to be perfect. So, why wasn’t it?

She continued eating and feeling sorry for herself until she’d devoured the sandwich. Then, she pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her arms on them as she studied the beauty of nature. Unless… wait a minute… was that a… Lord no, please… a thunderstorm in the distance? Maybe it was travelling away from her. Lightning flashed, and she started counting the seconds before the thunder. It took some time and wasn’t particularly loud. A good sign.

Another flash, and this time the thunder came quicker. And louder. So, the storm was headed her way, after all. She was sitting at the very top of a tall mountain with no trees around her -- just like a lightning rod waiting to be hit.

Then, the wind whipped up, and clouds gathered. More lightning, followed by more thunder, now really loud. She had to get away from here and fast.

She scrambled to her feet and grabbed her pack before heading in any direction as long as it was down. Even city people knew you didn’t want to be the tallest thing around when lightning was looking for something to hit. She was moving too fast for the terrain, which you couldn’t call a path. Rocks underfoot threatened to trip her, and the gravel was even more uncertain. The rain started, slapping her in the face, blurring her vision, but she kept going. That blasted storm was chasing her, and either she reached safety, or she could get fried.

Her backpack slipped from her hand, taking her phone and the keys to the rental car with it. She kept going, jumping over obstacles and skidding in places. The way got steeper, and remaining upright took all her effort, and all the while, the booming got louder. How much longer before the spears of lightning would overtake her? In the end, something caught her foot and she fell.

Attempting to catch herself with outstretched arms only caused her to turn sideways and roll. Sky, dirt, sky, dirt. So fast she couldn’t tell up from down. Something sharp bit into her arm as she kept spinning down the side of the mountain. Lord help her if there was a cliff ahead because she’d never stop.

But she did stop. Suddenly, something dug into her side -- a boot, of all things. And it belonged to a man. From where she lay, he seemed as tall as a pine and as fierce as a bird of prey.

“What kind of idiot climbs to the top of this mountain ahead of a thunderstorm?” he said.

“Who in hell are you?” she said right back.

“Never mind. You’d better come with me.” He bent and scooped her up as if she weighed nothing at all. That was her last thought before the world went dark.


 

About the Author

USA Today best-selling author Alice Gaines has published several sensuous and erotic works. She prefers stories that stretch the imagination, highlighting the power of love and sex. Alice has a Ph.D. in psychology from U. C. Berkeley and lives in Oakland, California, where she sings in her church choir.


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RABT Book Tours & PR

Monday, April 29, 2024

Book Blitz: Opium et Moi by Robert Miller #promo #memoir #nonfiction #rabtbooktours

 

Memoir


 

Every perfume is a unique work of art, no different than a piece of music or a painting in its ability to evoke feelings in its audience. In 1976, Yves Saint Laurent fell in love with the idea of creating a new perfume that would convey the lush, sensual mood of the name he had already chosen, OPIUM.

Working with Yves, his personal and business partner Pierre, and so many others in the world of high fashion and fragrance could be exhilarating, infuriating, and often, a simmering pot-au-feu threatening to boil over. This narrative takes you behind the scenes, providing a glimpse of that fascinating world and the people who kept it spinning.

It is a highly personal story, and one I know well. It is my story.


About the Author

As a young boy, I was always absorbed in books about history—particularly that of the United States—and geography, yet still managed a healthy appetite of sports and a weekly outing to see the latest cowboy or adventure movie. Later, I was exposed to the Broadway stage and developed a great fondness for musical theater, at one point picturing it as a future career choice. But alas, as I grew older and realized I was not that talented, I became more serious about the future.

Fortunately, I wound up in a creative segment of the business world, which provided me the opportunity to travel the globe and stimulated my interest in world history. It also opened avenues into entertainment and politics. I found a home in the fashion industry and served as President of Charles of the Ritz Group, Ltd., then a wholly owned subsidiary of Squibb Corporation, where I also served on its Board of Directors. Here, I was deeply involved with well-known fashion designers, Yves Saint Laurent and Gianni Versace; Hollywood stars, Linda Evans and John Forsythe; and because of the success of the perfume, Opium, wound up in Washington meeting with senators, representatives and administration officials to obtain relief from gray market goods flooding the United States in the early 1980’s.

After my retirement, I wrote two novels based on my many years of experience in the fashion industry, and continually pursued my interest in history. Following a short break to write a non-fiction book on the relationship of taxes and jobs, I spent much of my time these past several years studying the biblical account of the rise of Christianity from the varying narratives of religion, history and archaeology. The results of that research were a source of information and inspiration for my wife, Leslie Schweitzer Miller, in writing her first novel, DISCOVERY.

Now my interest is in public policy on issues that affect the United States such as healthcare, taxes, job creation and foreign affairs, about which I will be commenting periodically.

 

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RABT Book Tours & PR

Teaser Tuesday: 800 Sayings By Old Folks Who Raised Us by Wm Rocky Brown, 3rd #promo #excerpt #nonfiction #rabtbooktours

 

Nonfiction

Date Published: 07-08-2021

Publisher: Pageturner Press and Media


 

The parents and grandparents of William Rocky Brown, 3rd, who raised him, had roots in the southern USA. Along with that Southern upbringing came the ability to turn everyday activities or things of nature into wise sayings. His mother and grandmother had old down-home sayings that took him a while to understand. After talking to others, he realized he wasn’t alone in this beautiful experience growing up, so he compiled the wise sayings in his book, 800 Sayings by Old Folks Who Raised Us.

The wise sayings—to be passed down from generation to generation—in this book are pearls of wisdom that relate to the past generations, while the present and future generations may take time to understand, just as Brown experienced. It creates good family fun and memories. It can also be used in the form of an intergenerational family game. 

 

P R E F A C E


Let me begin by saying that God is the Head of my life, Jesus is my Savior and the Holy Spirit is my Comforter.

Our parents or grandparents, who had roots in the South, raised many of us. Now, along with that Southern raising came the ability to take every day activities or things of nature and turn them into wise sayings. My mother was from Greenville, North Carolina and my grandmother who raised me was from Mobile, Alabama. They both had old sayings from ‘Down Home’ that took me a while to really understand what they were saying. After talking to others, I realized that I wasn’t the only one who had this wonderful experience growing up, so I decided to compile these 800 sayings.

It is my hope that they will bring you fond memories and laughter and you will share them with your children and grandchildren.

This book is dedicated to my mother Gwendolyn Regina Carraway Brown and my grandmothers: Ethel-Mae Knight Brown (Mother-dear), Halease Moore Wooten-Reid and my great-grandmothers Willie-Mae Knight and Carrie Skipper. My grand’s are the women on the cover and that’s me at 2 months old. (By the way, that’s a design on the chair and not a ribbon in my hair. lol)

Special thanks to my friend Ellen Graham, my Bethany Baptist Church members, my Facebook friends and the contributions I found that were posted on the internet by others who also enjoy these sayings.

 

Enjoy my friends!

WRB, 3rd

 


About the Author

The Honorable Reverend Dr. William Lewis Rocky Brown, 3rd, was born and raised in Chester, PA. He has three daughters and three grandchildren. Dr. Brown received his Bachelor’s from Cheyney University, his Master’s from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Doctorate from Jameson Christian College. He studied at the MLK Jr. Center in Atlanta and the University of the Virgin Islands and completed The F.B.I. and D.E.A. Citizens Academies.

Dr. Brown is an ordained 45-year Baptist Minister now serving at the Bethany Baptist Church in Chester, creator and host of Saturday Night Live Prayer & Praise Weekly Service, and a Master Police Chaplain. He’s also the author of “800 Sayings By Old Folks Who Raised Us” and The 3N1: A Trilogy Of Spiritually Filled Motivational Messages”. He has a weekly column in Scoop USA and a daily Blog on his website: www.yourspiritualmotivation.com. In the 80s and 90s, he traveled around the country, motivating youngsters to stay in school and to say no to drugs and violence, using the art of Rap. Thus, he was affectionately known as the “Rappin Rev.” He is a former elected member of the City Council of Chester. He was also elected twice as Chester City Controller and was elected in 2021 as a Pennsylvania State Constable.

Dr. Brown has been involved in numerous community and civic organizations. He is a Prince Hall 33-degree Mason, Past Master, Grand Chaplain Emeritus, Past Grand Worthy Patron, and an Elks and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity member. He has received over 200 awards and commendations.

 

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RABT Book Tours & PR

Tour Kick Off: MEGASTAR! by R.J. Eastwood #blogtour nowontour #giveaway #romance #fiction #rabtbooktours @bobemery




Contemporary fiction and Romance

Date to be Published: May 1, 2024

Publisher: Indies United Publishing House


 

Dive into the mesmerizing world of “MEGASTAR” and experience a poignant tale of music, fame, love, and love lost. Nineteen-year-old Addison Stone, raised by a mentally unstable single mother, becomes an overnight international singing sensation. Still carrying the scars of his youth, he struggles to accept his sudden fame and fortune. Will it suffice to fill the void left by his tumultuous past?

With a twist of fate and a bit of kismet, Addison stumbles upon solace in his extraordinary singing voice. The stage becomes his refuge, but amidst the blinding lights and thunderous applause, there’s a deafening silence left by the absence of the woman he loved, lost, and hopes to reclaim.

As he climbs the ladder to musical acclaim, his heart remains tethered to a past he can never escape. He yearns for the love he once had but is lost to his addiction to fame and fortune.

From mother to son, the legacy of Addison’s turbulent childhood persists. Journey through the intricate roots of Addison’s life as “MEGASTAR” takes you on a captivating odyssey.

 

Praise for Megastar

In Megastar, readers receive a powerful tale of teen Addison Stone, who reaches the pinnacle of international singing success but also creates distance from the woman he loves, lost to stardom and addiction. The author blends realistic dialogue and character insights into the story of how pasts are either set aside or influence future decision-making. Libraries and readers seeking novels steeped in reflective accounts of changing love and ambition will find Megastar thought-provoking and worthy of book club debate and discussion as its hero attempts to move from tragedy to uplifting new possibilities in both life and love. 

5 Stars. D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

 

Novels that feature celebrities are of enormous interest to the reading public. Megastar features teen Addison Stone reaching the heights of fame without the usual pitfalls that so often overshadow the rich and famous. The story concentrates on Addison’s feelings, portraying how money and fame cannot replace the loss of the woman he loves love. I kept expecting the story to take a different path, but time after time, I was surprised and simply had to keep reading to the explosive ending. I highly recommend this book. A well-deserved 5 stars!

Reviewed by Lucinda E Clarke for Readers’ Favorite



About the Author

Mr. Emery’s career as a Producer, Director, and Writer of motion pictures and television productions spans four decades. At a very early age, he began writing short stories and shared them with one of his teachers, who encouraged him to keep writing. His work in motion pictures and television eventually led him to begin writing books, both fiction and non-fiction, for which he has received many book awards, among them, Pen America, Author’s Circle, Book Excellence, Book Talk Radio, Readers Favorite, Literary Titan, International Review of Books.

His newest novel, “MEGASTAR,” is his 9th publication.


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April 30 - Crossroad Reviews - Spotlight

May 1 - Our Town Book Reviews - Excerpt

May 2 - The Faerie Review - Spotlight

May 3 - My Reading Addiction - Interview

May 6 - SSLY - Spotlight

May 7 - Momma and Her Stories - Excerpt

May 8 - The Sexy Nerd Revue - Spotlight

May 9 - The Avid Reader - Interview

May 10 - Matters That count - Spotlight

May 13 - Pat Fayo Reviews - Review

May 14 - Tea Time and Books - Spotlight

May 15 - Novel News Network - Review

May 16 - Karma Zee Readz - Spotlight

May 17 - Book Junkiez - Excerpt

May 20 - Nana's Book Reviews - Spotlight

May 21 - Texas Book Nook - Review

May 22 - Sapphyria's Books - Spotlight

May 23 - A Life Through Books - Interview

May 24 - Books Blog - Spotlight

May 26 - Brittany's Book Blog - Excerpt

May 27 - On a Reading Bender- Review

May 28 - The Indie Express - Review

May 29 - My Bookmarked Reads - Spotlight

May 30 - Elicia's Book Haven - Review

May 31 - Michelle the Book Critic - Review

June 1 - Momma Says to Read or Not to Read - Spotlight

June 2 - Writers N Authors - Interview

June 3 - Joss's Corner - Spotlight

June 5 - Liliyana Shadowlyn - Spotlight

June 6 - Readers Roost - Review

June 7 - RABT Reviews - Wrap Up




 

 

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RABT Book Tours & PR

Tour Kick Off: The Gnome and the Threat to the Forest by Marilyn Slaughter #blogtour #nowontour #childrensbook #rabtbooktours @gobthegnome





 

Illustrator: Angel Neha


Children's Book

Date Published: February 27, 2024

Publisher: Mindstir Media


 

This short story is about a mother wanting her children to enjoy the outdoors. The story takes Nathan, Iris, and Mommy on another trip to the national park. Nathan and Iris are extremely excited to visit with their new friend, Gob the Gnome again. Gob takes Nathan, Iris, and Mommy on a short tour of park and Nathan sees a large empty area of the park. Gob explains to Nathan, Iris, and their mom the unfortunate realities of what happens in some parks due to human interference and natural occurrences. Gob also introduces the family to some of the animals and explains how they suffer through deforestation, tornados, and storms. In this story Iris comes to age by using what she learns from Gob to defend the forest.

Since the 1400s, folklore has described gnomes as guardians of treasure and the protectors of Earth. Gnomes represent stability, growth, and good luck. This is the second book of the six-book series about Gob the Gnome. The six books in this series all revolve around Gob, the protector of a local forest, who becomes friends with Nathan and Iris and helps to educate them on the importance of caring for the environment.



About the Author

 Marilyn Slaughter is an educator with experience teaching second through fifth grades, middle school science, and social studies. She now spends time authoring books for children and adults for engagement, learning, and entertainment. Marilyn’s first six books are a set with the theme of children, with their families enjoying the outdoors; and with teachers and classmates learning about the environment. The children are introduced to a magical and mythical being in the forest and they work to save the local forest. Her goal is to provide a fun read with an entertaining way for children to learn about science.

 

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April 30 - Liliyana Shadowlyn - Spotlight

May 1 - Momma and Her Stories - Excerpt

May 2 - Nana's Book Reviews - Spotlight

May 3 - Novel News Network - Review

May 6 - My Bookmarked Reads - Spotlight

May 7 - Book Junkiez - Excerpt

May 8 - Momma Says to Read or Not to Read-  Spotlight

May 9 - The Avid Reader - Interview

May 12 - Iron Canuck Reviews - Review

May 13 - Tea Time and Books - Spotlight

May 14 - My Reading Addiction - Interview

May 15 - Crossroad Reviews - Spotlight

May 16 - Texas Book Nook - Review

May 20 - Matters That Count - Spotlight

May 21 - A Life Through Books - Interview

May 22 - Sapphyria's Books - Spotlight

May 23 - Kim's Book Reviews and Writing Aha's - Spotlight

May 27 - The Indie Express - Review

May 28 - Books Blog - Spotlight

May 29 - Our Town Book Reviews - Excerpt

May 30 - The Faerie Review - Spotlight

May 24 - RABT Reviews - Wrap Up


RABT Book Tours & PR