☼ A Place In The Spotlight ☼ with M.C.V. EGAN: February 2024

Thursday, February 29, 2024

The Poison Dart Debbie Bradley Crime Mysteries Book 2 by Geri Dreiling Genre: Mystery, Thriller

Some tales don’t want to be told. They’re shrouded in the dark and cloaked in danger. Sensible people leave those mysteries well enough alone. But not Debbie Bradley. After all, that’s how she makes her living.

The Poison Dart

Debbie Bradley Crime Mysteries Book 2

by Geri Dreiling

Genre: Mystery, Thriller

An overdose. A drug bust. A captive of the cartel. When fates collide, who will survive?

The ripple effects of an overdose send shock waves through a community.

A sweeping drug bust upends lives, exposing the cartel's deep reach into the Midwest.

A quest for a better life threatens to destroy a family.

As Debbie Bradley digs deeper into each story, startling connections emerge. When fates collide, who will survive?

What readers are saying:

“The narrative contains the right blend of mystery, crime scenes and action. It is one of those books that keeps one glued until the very end.“

“Dreiling relies more on intelligent conversations, on the proper and strategic use of lies, and on wordplay“

“Grab or download a copy, curl up with a blanket on the couch, and enjoy this good read and solid, accurate, crime story with interesting twists and turns.“

“With a talent for plot creation, patiently unwinding the threads of all angles, and never lacking for excitement, Dreiling is an author you will want to read time and time again.“

**On Sale for Only .99 cents until March 1st!!**

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Crime Beat Girl

Debbie Bradley Crime Mysteries Book 1

A girl is dead. A boy is locked up. Can Debbie Bradley discover the truth before more lives are lost…maybe even her own?

A series of deadly shootings. An outbreak of stolen cars. When journalist Debbie Bradley returns home to St. Louis, the summer crime wave has started. And she’s in the center: A witness, a reporter, a target.

Debbie’s reasons for leaving behind her promising career in Washington D.C. were complicated. Her mother, a prominent lawyer, was diagnosed with cancer. Her engagement was cooling. When she got offered a job in St. Louis that she hadn’t been looking for, Debbie recognized an opportunity. Or an escape.

But she didn’t expect to come home and see a girl die. Debbie never planned to investigate a boy behind bars. And she didn’t anticipate colliding with hostile cops and wary politicians.

As her work gains attention, Debbie gathers enemies. Will her assignment to cover the St. Louis crime beat be her last?

What readers are saying:

“Intense crime story full of unexpected twists and turns” —

Readers’ Favorite, 5-Star Review

“Gripping crime story…with deep themes and highlighting very real problems” —

Readers’ Favorite, 5-Star Review

“A page-turner, engaging the reader from the first page to the last” —

Readers’ Favorite, 5-Star Review

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Geri L. Dreiling is the author of Crime Beat Girl, the debut novel in the Debbie Bradley Mystery series, which received seven book awards. She is also the author of Erasing the Past. Dreiling is an award-winning journalist as well as professor and lawyer. She lives in St. Louis.

Check out the St. Louis on the Air interview for Crime Beat Girl!

https://www.stlpr.org/show/st-louis-on-the-air/2020-09-14/thursday-geri-l-dreilings-new-novel-crime-beat-girl-is-set-in-st-louis

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Hidden Treasure at Little Lake by Dawn Linee Reed

Children's Mystery

Date Published: January 29, 2024

Publisher: ‎Mindstir Media

It seemed like it would be another quiet, summer morning of fishing for 11-year old Charlie, her older brother, Finn, and his best friend, Tyler. Their friendly lakeside town in west Michigan was usually peaceful and a bit boring during summer vacation for these three mystery-loving middle schoolers. Little did they know, they were about to stumble upon a thrilling treasure hunt with tricky clues and a sinister thief who is determined to beat them each step of the way. Join these three amateur detectives for a small-town Michigan mystery with twists and turns that will keep you guessing.

The Author

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Instagram: @dawnlineereedbooks

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Brake Check by Gitte Tamar

Horror, psychological thriller, dark fantasy, occult, fiction

Date Published: February 18, 2024

When winning turns deadly…

It's 1972. On a scorching summer day in North Carolina, the sight of Rut, the father of her child, cheating with the next-door neighbor, sends pregnant Loretta into labor. Amidst the chaos, she promises that her baby boy, Rich Richardson, will not follow in his father's footsteps as a loser, but become something much greater - a professional race car driver. Loretta leaves the hospital's entrance, filled with anticipation of a fresh start and dreams of her baby's prosperous future. However, the fairytale life she had sold herself quickly takes a dark turn, when she is left with no choice but to go back home to the child's waiting father. Driven by a sense of entitlement to fame and fortune, her impulsive decisions forever change her and her son's fate.

Are you ready to face the horrors that await?

Get your copy today and uncover the rollercoaster of frightening evil that lurks beneath a young man’s life of fame.

About the Author

Brigitte, "Gitte," Tamar was born in a small rural Oregon town. Growing up, she was enthralled by scary tales featuring poetic tones and consistently gravitated towards writing darkened narratives. In the different storylines, Brigitte explores the harsh realities of social issues faced by today's generations. This includes the dark outcomes brought on by peer pressure, addiction, homelessness, mental illness, childhood trauma, and abuse. She feels it is essential to share narratives that refrain from sugarcoating the topics society tends to shy away from.

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Wednesday, February 28, 2024

You Are a Sovereign Woman of Strength, Love, and Grace: Embrace Your Journey by Elizabeth Upton Genre: Nonfiction, Motivational Self-Help, Inspirational, Self-Esteem

"It’s important to be kind to yourself and trust who you are without harsh criticism."

You Are a Sovereign Woman of Strength, Love, and Grace:

Embrace Your Journey

by Elizabeth Upton

Genre: Nonfiction, Motivational Self-Help, Inspirational, Self-Esteem

You Are a Sovereign Woman of Strength, Love, and Grace provides deep insights into achieving mental strength, physical healing, hope, and peacefulness. It offers reassurance and common-sense answers to living without doubting your inner wisdom and strength.

It’s important to be kind to yourself and trust who you are without harsh criticism. This book helps you find the essence of your sovereignty and encourages you to live a life devoid of doubt, fear, and despair. It introduces you to the core issues that rob you of joy and self-confidence.

Regaining the essence of who you are is not an instant process, but this book has been written for pause and reflection, rewarding you with an abundance of life answers and hope wherein your sovereignty eagerly welcomes you.

5-Star Review by Diana Lopez for Readers' Favorite:

You Are a Sovereign Woman of Strength, Love, and Grace is an inspiring book that will help you discover who you really are. Elizabeth Upton addresses the importance of balancing body, mind, and soul, emphasizing the need to appreciate our inner and outer beauty. She teaches us to strengthen ourselves internally and act with courage in our decisions through affirmations. At the same time, she reminds us of the importance of assuming our responsibilities and being conscious of our actions. Elizabeth Upton also encourages us to pursue our dreams with confidence and joy. She highlights the mind's ability to overcome negative emotions and achieve freedom, happiness, and security. This book will motivate you to take control of your life and live fully.

I loved Elizabeth Upton's statements because of the diversity of topics she addresses. Although her perspective is profound, her writing style is clear, direct, and positive. She talks about real problems like organizing time between family and work responsibilities. She also offers practical advice for living in the present and letting go of the past. She even explains how to devise action plans to achieve your goals. I appreciated her words for their comforting, loving, and inspiring nature. Elizabeth gives us the strength to develop our creativity and encourages us to try new things, accepting success and failure equally because we learn from both results. You Are a Sovereign Woman of Strength, Love, and Grace is ideal for taking a moment of tranquility and getting away from daily stress with uplifting phrases to relax and recharge your personal energies...

**On Sale for Only $1.99 until March 2nd!!**

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Elizabeth Upton is a best-selling author and influential writer of gripping romantic thrillers and inspiring self-help motivational nonfiction books.

Her best-selling books, 'Secrets of a Nun: My Own Story,' 'The Silver Woman of Fire' and 'The Healing Swords of Love and Innocence' helped set her firmly within the world's literary map. With many novels to her credit, like her newest fiction book, released in June 2022, titled 'Lovers' Secrets and Revenge,' a gripping romantic thriller, and her new nonfiction release in Feb. 2024, titled 'You Are a Sovereign Woman of Strength, Love, and Grace: Embrace Your Journey.'

The Author's favorite book she enjoyed writing was 'The Shaman and The Mafia,' as she shares, "The creation of this story has been an exciting journey. I would love to meet all of the characters in this book in real life." Elizabeth's nonfiction books and novels are available on Amazon and Amazon Kindle and are featured on fine literary book sites and magazines.

Elizabeth was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA., until the age of sixteen, when she entered a New York State Convent and became a nun for twenty years, but she yearned for a more authentic spiritual life. Elizabeth left the convent and chose to attend and receive her B.A. from Syracuse University.

Returning to her native state of California, she attended and received her M.A. in psychology from Chapman University. The Author began working for over thirty years in family counseling as a social worker and probation officer working with troubled teens and abused children. She is a speaker, spiritual mentor, and advisor.

Elizabeth is happily married and enjoys writing books for her reader fans around the world. When the Author is not writing, she works out with a personal trainer to stay fit and healthy; she loves long walks on the beach with her husband and dog. She enjoys reading good books by some of her favorite authors like Geraldine Brooks, Hanh, Jerry Archer, Joseph Murphy, and Michael Connelly.

Elizabeth and her husband reside outside the area of Santa Barbara, California.

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Before the Emerald Crown by Michelle Deerwester-Dalrymple

The Before Series, Book 5

Fantasy

Date Published: 02-28-2024

Publisher: Sword and Thistle LLC

In a time nearly ancient, a young woman has lost everything before a brave Scottish princess defied her mother.

Except for her unexplainable talent for magic.

Now Magda's being hunted, and in her attempt to survive, loneliness and desperation take control.

Until she meets someone who offers her a chance at happiness, at normalcy, at the fullness of life. Then she discovers something wrong, so shockingly wrong with this hopeful future, and she must make a harrowing decision to ensure her survival.

And she will have to draw on all her magic to do it.

Actions have repercussions -- Magda knows this better than anyone else -- and with her magic, she will also ensure everyone else learns that lesson.

About the Author

Michelle Deerwester-Dalrymple is an award-winning author of historical romance -- Scottish, Highlanders, and Ancient! To Dance in the Glen was recently a bestseller! She also writes contemporary romance as M.D. Dalrymple -- police and campus romances, and as Strawberry Chase, paranormal romance author.

Winner of the Top Ten Author Academy Award for 2018, Best Indie Book 2019, and N.N Night's 2021 Winner for Scottish Romance.

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Tuesday, February 27, 2024

A Darkhurst Chronicles by Gail Z. Martin Genre: Dark Epic Fantasy Adventure

Undertaker brothers fight the monsters who killed their family and uncover a dark secret that could destroy a kingdom.

Reckoning

A Darkhurst Novel Book 3

by Gail Z. Martin

Genre: Dark Epic Fantasy Adventure

Undertaker brothers fight the monsters who killed their family and uncover a dark secret that could destroy a kingdom.

When Corran, Rigan, and their friends became outlaw monster hunters and fled beyond the walls of Ravenwood City, they thought they had defeated the source of the abominations that killed so many of their friends and loved ones. But the more successful they become at destroying the creatures, the more they realize that greater evil is at work—larger and more terrifying than they ever imagined.

The city state of Ravenwood is wealthy, powerful, and corrupt. Ambitious and ruthless leaders use betrayal and assassination to gain their ends. Blood magic conjures monsters to further the goals of the ruling class, and stolen power is paid for by the deaths of commoners. But now the magic extracts too high a toll, merchant princes scheme against each other, smugglers and pirates threaten the trade that holds the kingdom together, and old alliances shatter. Darkhurst’s wastrel king seems ill-suited to stop the collapse of the merchant league and the kingdom itself.

When fanatic priests begin a reign of terror to summon ravenous beings and cause the unmaking of the world, Corran, Rigan, and their friends face an impossible task. They must bind the monstrous First Being, stop the priests from bringing about their blood-soaked reckoning, and put a king on the throne that will end the cull forever. The price of failure is the destruction of Darkhurst and the world itself.

Reckoning is the fast-paced, action-packed conclusion to a monster-filled fantasy adventure with non-stop twists and turns, loyal brothers, found family, forbidden magic, vengeful ghosts, high-stakes intrigue, and dangerous secrets set in a vibrantly visualized world.

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Vengeance

A Darkhurst Novel Book 2

Fighting the monsters that killed their family and friends cost undertaker brothers Corran and Rigan Valmonde their home and livelihood and made them wanted men—but the worst is yet to come.

The city-state of Ravenwood is wealthy, powerful, and corrupt. Merchant Princes and Guild Masters wager fortunes to outmaneuver League rivals for the king’s favor and the best trading terms. Ambitious and ruthless leaders use betrayal and assassination to gain their ends. Blood magic conjures monsters to further the goals of the ruling class, and the price of stolen power is paid for by the deaths of commoners. Now, the fate of Ravenwood hangs in the balance as rival city-states maneuver to gain advantage.

When Corran and Rigan and their friends became outlaw monster hunters and fled beyond the walls of Ravenwood City, they thought they had defeated the source of the abominations that killed so many of their friends and loved ones. But the more successful they become at destroying the creatures, the more they realize a greater evil is at work – larger and more monstrous than they ever could imagine…

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Scourge

A Darkhurst Novel Book 1

Three undertaker brothers fight the monsters who killed their family—and uncover a plot larger and far more dangerous than they ever imagined.

In a city beset by monsters, three brothers must find out who is controlling the abominations. The city-state of Ravenwood is wealthy, powerful, and corrupt. Merchant princes and guild masters wager fortunes to outmaneuver League rivals for the king’s favor and advantageous trading terms. Lord Mayor Ellor Machison wields assassins, blood witches, and forbidden magic to ensure that his powerful patrons get what they want, no matter the cost.

Corran, Rigan, and Kell Valmonde are guild undertakers left to run their family’s business when guards murdered their father and monsters killed their mother. Their grave magic enables them to help souls pass to the After and banish vengeful spirits. Rigan’s magic is unusually strong and enables him to hear the confessions of the dead, the secrets that would otherwise be taken to the grave.

When the toll exacted by monsters and brutal guards hits close to home, and ghosts expose the hidden sins of powerful men, Corran, Rigan, and Kell become targets in a deadly game and face a choice: obey the guild or fight back and risk everything.

Scourge is a fast-paced, action-packed, monster-filled fantasy adventure with non-stop twists and turns, loyal brothers, found family, forbidden magic, vengeful ghosts, high-stakes intrigue, and dangerous secrets set in a vibrantly visualized world.

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Gail Z. Martin writes urban fantasy, epic fantasy, steampunk and more for Solaris Books, Orbit Books, Falstaff Books, SOL Publishing and Darkwind Press. Urban fantasy series include Deadly Curiosities and the Night Vigil (Sons of Darkness). Epic fantasy series include Darkhurst, the Chronicles Of The Necromancer, the Fallen Kings Cycle, the Ascendant Kingdoms Saga, and the Assassins of Landria.

Together with Larry N. Martin, she is the co-author of Iron & Blood, Storm & Fury (both Steampunk/alternate history), the Spells Salt and Steel comedic horror series, the Roaring Twenties monster hunter Joe Mack Shadow Council series, and the Wasteland Marshals near-future post-apocalyptic series. As Morgan Brice, she writes urban fantasy MM paranormal romance, with the Witchbane, Badlands, Treasure Trail, Kings of the Mountain and Fox Hollow series. Gail is also a con-runner for ConTinual, the online, ongoing multi-genre convention that never ends.

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Not Quite a Scandal Audacious Ladies of Audley Book 2 by Bliss Bennet Genre: Historical Regency Romance

An inheritance lost. A betrothal threatened. A scandal brewing…

Not Quite a Scandal

Audacious Ladies of Audley Book 2

by Bliss Bennet

Genre: Historical Regency Romance

An inheritance lost. A betrothal threatened. A scandal brewing…

Outspoken Quaker Bathsheba Honeychurch knows how difficult it is for an unmarried woman to successfully champion political change. Her solution? Wed best friend Ash Griffin as soon as he comes of age and begin remaking the world. But when Ash’s urbane, aloof cousin arrives with inconceivable news, Sheba’s future dreams are suddenly at risk…

The death of the Earl of Silliman reveals an appalling lie: it is not Noel Griffin, but his long-lost cousin Ash, who is the true heir to their grandfather’s title. Raised to place family above all, Noel accepts his grandmother’s bitter charge: find Ash, disentangle him from his religious community, and train him to take on the responsibilities and privileges of a title that Noel had been raised to believe was his. Noel certainly won’t allow a presumptuous, irritating Quakeress to thwart him in doing his duty—no matter how fascinating he finds her...

When scandal threatens both their reputations, can Sheba and Noel look beyond past dreams and imagine a new world—together?

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Bliss Bennet writes smart, edgy novels for readers who love history as much as they love romance. Despite being born and bred in New England, Bliss has always been fascinated by the history of that country across the pond, particularly the politically-volatile period known as the English Regency. Though she's visited Britain several times, Bliss continues to make her home in the States, along with her spouse and an ever-multiplying collection of historical reference books.

Bliss's Regency-set historical romances have been praised as "savvy, sensual, and engrossing" by USA Today, "catnip for the Historical Romance reader" by Bookworlder, "romantic, funny, touching, and extremely well-researched" by All About Romance, and "everything you want in a great historical romance" by The Reading Wench. Bliss's latest book is Not Quite a Scandal, the second book in The Audacious Ladies of Audley series.

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Hatfield 1677 by Laura C. Rader

Historical Fiction

Date Published: May 21, 2024

Publisher: Acorn Publishing

Colonist Benjamin Waite, a devoted husband, father, and skilled military scout in King Philip’s War, reluctantly obeys orders to guide an attack against a camp of Algonquian Natives.

After the catastrophic event, Benjamin is burdened with guilt and longs for peace. But the Algonquians, led by the revered sachem Ashpelon, retaliate with vengeance upon Ben’s Massachusetts town of Hatfield, capturing over a dozen colonists, including his pregnant wife Martha and their three young daughters.

Hatfield 1677 is a tale of three interwoven yet diverging journeys of strength and survival: Benjamin, driven by love and remorse to rescue his family; Martha, forced into captivity and desperately striving to protect her children; and Ashpelon, willing to risk everything to ensure the safety and freedom of his people.

Based on the lives of the author’s ancestors, this riveting and unforgettable novel gives voice to three vastly different experiences in North America during a time before the creation of the Declaration of Independence. Then, the land was but a wilderness and a battleground; equality was not yet perceived as self-evident; and liberty and happiness were nothing more than dangerous pursuits.

About the Author

Laura C. Rader earned a BA in psychology from San Diego State University, where she minored in history and took creative writing and literature classes. She drew on those passions in her thirty-year career as a history and English teacher of elementary and middle school students. Now, a full-time historical fiction writer, Laura also enjoys studying genealogy, attending neighborhood book club meetings, taking forest walks with her Rough Collie, and visiting her adult daughter in Brooklyn. Originally from California, Laura lives twenty miles north of Raleigh, North Carolina. Hatfield 1677 is a work of historical fiction inspired by a story Laura discovered about her ninth great-grandparents while researching her family’s genealogy.

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