☼ A Place In The Spotlight ☼ with M.C.V. EGAN

Friday, July 11, 2025

The Perfect Ten

Fiction / Drama

Date Published: May 22, 2025

The Perfect Ten is a gripping tale of friendship, betrayal, and the lengths people will go to when pushed to the edge.

When three high school friends witness a disturbing event, they make a pact to never speak of it again. Twenty-five years later, their high school reunion reignites not only memories—but a dangerous new alliance. Two of the men are facing personal crises: one is drowning in debt, the other desperate to save his wife from a rare cancer. Their third friend, connected to a powerful mafia family, may hold the key to their salvation—but at what cost?

As the trio ventures into the high-stakes world of counterfeiting, an unexpected fourth member joins their scheme—a once-forgotten classmate whose transformation is as stunning as it is surprising.

Spanning the coal mines of Pennsylvania to the glittering heights of Manhattan’s finance and fashion districts, The Perfect Ten takes readers on an international journey filled with twists, secrets, and moral gray areas. With characters you’ll root for and a pace that never lets up, this smart, fast-moving thriller asks: How far would you go for the people you love?

About the Author

John R. Iredale was born in Woodstock, Ontario, Canada, and earned his doctorate in podiatric medicine in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1967. He went on to practice podiatry for nearly five decades in Durham, North Carolina. Known by friends, family, and patients as a natural-born storyteller, John often found inspiration in the lives of those around him. His deep curiosity and attentive ear uncovered stories that spanned generations, cultures, and communities.

In retirement, John finally turned to the page, sharing the vivid tales that have been living in his memory and imagination for years. The Perfect Ten is his debut novel—a suspenseful blend of crime, loyalty, and the power of old friends with unfinished business.

Purchase Links

Amazon

B&N

Thursday, July 10, 2025

Journey Beyond the Yellow Brick Road

Finding Your Emotional Home as a Caregiver

Self-help, Caregiving

Date Published: July 10, 2025

This subtly crafted book entwines the enchanting narrative of "Oz" with the foundational principles of caregiving and personal growth. Using anecdotes and scenes drawn from the classic tale and its various modern re-imaginings, each chapter provides a fresh perspective on navigating life's challenges and offers strategies for dealing with complex emotions and situations.

Taking her readers on a journey of self-discovery, of resilience, and of deeper reflection on their caregiving roles and experiences, Dr. Eboni Green gently nudges us to embrace self-love and acceptance, while also highlighting the importance of finding joy in the midst of adversity. This is more than a mere guide, it's an empathetic companion for those seeking to balance caregiving responsibilities with personal well-being.

With Dorothy and Toto in tow, Journey Beyond the Yellow Brick Road stands as a beacon of hope and empowerment, encouraging readers to find their own path to emotional fulfillment and inner peace, much like the journey to the Emerald City.

About the Author

Dr. Eboni Green is an inspirational author, Registered Nurse, and passionate advocate for caregivers whose insightful books have become essential resources for those navigating the complex journey of caregiving. With a career spanning over 30 years in the healthcare field, Dr. Green's work has been instrumental in illuminating the challenges and triumphs faced by caregivers in a society that often overlooks their crucial role.

Her journey began as a nursing assistant, where she worked closely with top professionals and immersed herself in the intricacies of care systems. It was through these experiences that Dr. Green witnessed firsthand the pivotal role of caregiving and the profound challenges faced by caregivers and families alike. Recognizing a glaring gap in resources and education for both parties, she found her true calling: to champion the needs of not only those in need of care but also those who care for them.

Driven by a desire to make a difference, Dr. Green has authored several transformative books. Her notable works, "Caregiving: Things You Need to Know," "Reflections from the Soul," and "The 7 Pillars of Successful Caregiving," serve as valuable tools, guiding caregivers through their journey with wisdom and empathy.

Beyond her writing, Dr. Green co-founded Caregiver Support Services with her husband to offer training to caregivers and support their mental health. Her impact extends to academia, where she shares her knowledge and passion as a college professor, further influencing the next generation of healthcare professionals. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and gardening.

Through her comprehensive efforts, Dr. Eboni Green remains a beacon of hope and a pillar of support for caregivers worldwide, advocating tirelessly for their recognition and well-being.

Contact Links

Author Website

Facebook

Purchase Link

Amazon

The Hole in Your Life: Grief and Bereavement by Dr. Bob Rich, PhD Genre: Nonfiction, Inspirational Self-Help

The Hole in Your Life by Dr. Bob Rich is a heartfelt,

uplifting practical guide to understanding grief and healing from it.

The Hole in Your Life: Grief and Bereavement

by Dr. Bob Rich, PhD

Genre: Nonfiction, Inspirational Self-Help

The Hole in Your Life by Dr. Bob Rich is a heartfelt, practical guide to understanding grief and healing from it. Rooted in personal experience-most notably the loss of his daughter, Natalie-and decades of psychological counseling, Dr. Rich offers readers compassionate tools for navigating bereavement. Drawing on real-life case studies, mindfulness techniques, and the "seven magic bullets" for wellbeing, he explores the complexities of grief, from anticipatory sorrow to finding meaning and renewal. Blending storytelling, humor, and therapeutic insight, this book serves as both a comfort and a roadmap for anyone experiencing loss, emphasizing that while grief is unique and unpredictable, growth and peace are possible.

"Thank you for asking me to read The Hole in Your Life. Its insights will help countless people struggling with loss. I recently lost my youngest sister, and it was a blessing to read your thoughts on the paths I can take toward remembering her in healthy ways." -- Georgiann Baldino, author of A Family and Nation under Fire, and other books

"Dr Bob Rich's The Hole in Your Life is written from the heart. It shares his personal experience and many case studies with his clients, making research-based recommendations on how to process grief in a very readable and easy-to-apply manner." -- Dr David Morawetz, counselling psychologist, grief counsellor, and founder and director, Social Justice Fund

"Grief is something that touches everyone's life at some point or another, so it only makes sense to empower ourselves with the tools to cope-and who better to learn from than Dr. Bob Rich, a psychologist with decades of experience helping patients overcome a wide variety of life's problems, including of course, grief." -- I. C. Robledo, a bestselling author and editor in self-development.

"The Hole in Your Life is a good toolbox for coping with grief and I agree with all of it. Among the points that resonated with me most deeply are these ideas: grief is part of our life experience, so let's not be afraid of it; it is easier to recover from grief if you grieve before the person dies and suffer with them; and, that only way to learn from loss with meaning is through suffering, as long as it is not self-inflicted." -- Alfredo Zotti, author of Music Therapy: An Introduction with case studies for mental illness recovery.

Learn more at Grief.LHPress.com

From Loving Healing Press

Amazon * Apple * B&N * Google * Bookbub * Goodreads

Dr. Bob Rich is an Australian storyteller who has retired 5 times so far, from 5 different occupations, one being decades of psychotherapy. He is still going strong as a writer, editor and Professional Grandfather.

Any person under 25 qualifies as his grandbaby; they only need to apply. Everything he does, including his writing, is designed to work for a survivable future, and one worth surviving in.

His self-help books include woodcraft, coping with cancer, conquering depression, anxiety and anger. Fiction ranges over historical, contemporary, and speculative. The book that has won the most awards is a biography. His blog, Bobbing Around, is at https://bobrich18.wordpress.com

Website * Facebook * Bluesky * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a $10 giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Airplanes, Atlanta and an Assassin

Katie & Maverick Cozy Mysteries, Book #10

Cozy Mystery

Date Published: 07-10-2025

Publisher: Secret Staircase Books

A National Competition and a Deadly Detour

High school teacher Katie Wilk is thrilled when her students qualify for Mock Trial America, a prestigious courtroom competition in Atlanta. Alongside her best friend and fellow teacher Jane Mackey, a team of eager teens, and a crew of devoted chaperones, Katie boards a flight from Minnesota—ready for a week of intellectual showdowns and Southern hospitality. But things go sideways before the plane is even off the ground.

With canceled flights, endless delays, and one particularly obnoxious passenger stirring up trouble, the trip turns into a logistical, almost deadly, nightmare. When that same rude traveler turns up later in Atlanta, the chaos takes a deadly turn—and suspicion lands squarely on the Mackey family.

As Katie digs deeper, she uncovers a web of secrets: stolen documents, corporate espionage, dangerous toxins, and enough motive to make her question everything. Can she untangle the truth before the killer strikes again?

Luckily, she’s got help—from Maverick, her sharp-nosed, loyal Labrador retriever and trained search-and-rescue dog, who’s always ready to sniff out danger.

Smart, suspenseful, and full of heart, this latest installment in Mary Seifert’s charming cozy mystery series delivers Southern intrigue, tricky puzzles, and the kind of dogged determination only a Lab (and a resolute teacher) can provide.

About the Author

Mary Seifert is the author of the Katie and Maverick Cozy Mysteries 2024 International IMPACT Award winner for books in a series, a collection of fun and thrilling tales that will keep you on the edge of your seat! Her books, including the 2023 American Fiction Award finalist Maverick, Movies & Murder and the 2024 Chanticleer Murder and Mayhem finalist Santa, Snowflakes & Strychnine, are must-reads for cozy mystery fans who enjoy a good puzzle wrapped in a heartwarming story.

Set in the charming landscapes of West Central Minnesota, where the lakes begin and the criminals are caught, Mary’s stories transport readers to a world of intrigue, humor, and small-town charm. Each book is a delightful mix of suspense and warmth, featuring memorable characters, ingenious puzzles, and clever twists that keep you guessing until the very end.

Busy crafting her next mystery, Mary indulges in her love of research, currently studying the flora and fauna of the Nantahala National Forest and the magnetic call of Atlanta for the upcoming installment of her series. She believes that every great mystery starts with a curious mind and a love for uncovering the truth, but scrupulously scrubs her browsers history of any hint of crime.

Join Mary on her literary journey, where a good story is always paired with a cozy blanket, a glass of wine, and a touch of mischief!

Contact Links

Instagram: @maryseifertauthor

Threads: @maryseifertauthor

LinkedIn: Mary KG Seifert

BlueSky: @mkgsei.bsky.social

Purchase Links

https://mybook.to/PlanesAtlantaAssassin

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

The Synchrotron by Rain Hunter Genre: Science Fiction Comedy

The End of the World has Never Been This Incompetent!

The Synchrotron

by Rain Hunter

Genre: Science Fiction Comedy

✔️A deadly virus.
✔️A world overrun by monsters.
✔️ Six scientists on a dangerous mission to cure the world.
We are screwed...

They only wanted a Nobel Prize. Instead, they will have to save the world.

It was going to be the experiment of the year. Preparing to blast x-rays through a piece of palladium at the most dazzling European synchrotron, Anna and five of her fellow scientists expected a few hiccups.

Not a horde of hungry spleen-eating zombies.

The world has succumbed to the virus, leaving only scattered survivors.

When Anna and her friends realise that the infected can be cured back into humans, they pledge to find a cure no matter the cost. Equipped with a lab wrench and questionable lab ethics, Team ID26 are humanity’s last hope.

But what is the price of saving the world?

Running out of time, Anna and her friends will face the impossible choices between life and death, morality and cure. When the future of the world is at stake, what will they have to sacrifice?

**Only .99cents!!**

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

What is similar between science and postapocalyptic survival?

Everything that can, will go wrong.”

Rain Hunter is a writer of post-apocalyptic science fiction. Having spent years as a materials researcher, Rain intricately weaves scientific precision into the stories. “I’ve had a fun lab run over the years and might have picked some degrees on the way,” laughs Rain. "But the most important thing for my books is that the science has to be real. No more can-and-know-it-all characters! If I know how to cook meth from baking soda and cough syrup, I won’t be able to start a rocket engine, full stop. Even in fiction!”

Rain is a huge fan of the zombie genre, both in movies and books. “I’d kill to be a zombie extra in a film. Even if they smash my brains out in the first two seconds. Sign me up anytime.”

Dark humour and irony are the main ingredients in Rain’s novels. “I am sure the world will die laughing. That’s what I would do.”

Rain lives in Birmingham (England), which serves as a main inspiration for the goriest post-apocalyptic scenes. In their spare time, Rain plays a harp in the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Nah, not really.

Website * Facebook * Instagram * TikTok * Amazon * Goodreads

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a $25 giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Daughter of Starlight

YA Fantasy, Fantasy

Date Published: July 9, 2025

Luma was six years old when she was found wandering alone with no memory of a family or how she got the strange scars that crisscross her palms. Now, twelve years later, Luma is summoned across a magical bridge to another world: a world where the decimated population of elves suffer under the ruthless wizard army.

Luma’s appearance is a ray of hope for the elves, who believe she is their prophesied “Daughter of Starlight”, the only one whose powerful magic can heal their broken defenses. Luma just wants to get back home, but the wizards discover her, and soon Luma is in the fight of her life. As she flees a mighty adversary, Luma struggles with hints of a strange power from deep within, a power that she can neither control nor deny any longer.

Desperate for answers, Luma joins a group of elf resistance fighters on a perilous journey in search of the exiled elf mage. Along the way, Luma begins to realize there could be more truth to this prophecy than she first thought, and that just maybe, she has a family after all.

About the Author

Molly M. Hammond is an award-winning author whose love of language and writing has been lifelong. She earned a degree in English and Communication and then went on to earn a second degree in American Sign Language Interpreting. An avid runner, Molly often gets her best story ideas while running and remains outraged that those ideas do not then present themselves, fully formed, on the page. When she’s not running, writing, or interpreting, Molly can often be found taking an excessive number of photos of her dog, Bungee, and her two cats, Rose, and Clover. Molly lives in the beautiful St. Croix River Valley of Minnesota with her husband and two sons, who bring her joy every day.

Contact Links

Purchase Links