☼ A Place In The Spotlight ☼ with M.C.V. EGAN: January 2025

Friday, January 3, 2025

Selena Flowers and the Phantom Tides by Ella English

The Merblood Saga, Book 2

YA Fantasy

Date Published: 02-25-2025

Publisher: Spider Web Press

Just when thirteen-year-old Selena Flowers thought she was safe, strange events plunge her seaside town into peril once more. She must dive back into the dangerous underwater world she narrowly escaped last year to find answers about the chaotic happenings in town.

Beneath the waves, the undead mermaid queen Faustina desperately searches for a powerful ruby necklace while corrupting sea creatures into her zombie army. A sinister dark force is unleashed, spreading its dark magic and corrupting the merkingdom.

To have any hope of stopping this evil and restoring balance above and below the waves, Selena must join forces with unlikely allies, including Faustina herself, and embrace her connection to the underwater world.

With the fate of two realms at stake, Selena must defeat the darkness before it consumes everything and everyone she loves.

About the Author

Ella English grew up in the heart of London, where the hustle and bustle of city life met summer adventures at her grandma’s house on the Kent coast. Exploring tide pools and collecting seashells, she developed a love for the ocean and a knack for creating imaginative worlds that she now brings to life through her writing.

Now living in Baltimore, Maryland, Ella is the author of The Merblood Saga, a dark fantasy YA series that plunges readers into a haunting underwater realm filled with cursed mermaids, ancient magic, and buried secrets. The first book, Selena Flowers and the Cursed Ruby, has been a hit with young readers, drawing them into its mysterious and dangerous world.

Ella also writes and illustrates Kitty in the City, a whimsical series about a singing cat named Katy who takes New York City by storm. The latest installment, Katy in Central Park, will be released in June 2025.

When she’s not weaving dark magic or drawing cats, Ella is kept busy by her two mischievous felines who make sure she stays entertained and grounded. Follow her adventures (and plenty of cat cameos) on Instagram @EllaEnglishAuthor or visit www.ellaenglish.com for more.

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A Just Revenge

Fiction

Date Published: August 26, 2024

Publisher: MindStir Media

Fiction

Date Published: August 26, 2024

Publisher: MindStir Media

Sean Roberts loved farming and his girlfriend. After they broke up she disappeared into San Francisco's drug filled hippie environment of the 1960s. Her parents were frantic and no one in their small-town seemed able to help them find their daughter. They reached out to Sean and he agreed to search for their lost daughter.

His search forced Sean to assume his nom de plume, George Wescot and enter a world of extreme wealth and of people who only cared about their own pleasures and not the pain it caused other people. George uses his skills learned from hunting, fighting and evasion to penetrate this sadistic society. Subsequently, he pursued across the United States, India, and Europe. Finally, Sean stopped running from the Brothers, and started hunting those people who caused his ex-girlfriend's and her family's pain from injuries she sustained.

About the Author

I have been a writer all my life. I wasn't very good partly because I'm dyslexic and partly because of my dyslexia I was a terrible reader. But I love to write and therefore wrote often. I wrote many stories. One was published in a magazine. Before the pandemic I started writing my first novel,"Farm Tough", and self published it. The book got good reviews from readers but wasn't promoted. Shortly thereafter, I started to write "A Just Revenge" partly about my time at Yuba College, Chico State College, Los Angeles and finally Europe. I found that I write best when I write about something I know, about something I've done or about something I feel.

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Thursday, January 2, 2025

Essentially Sweet Romances Series by Elysian Hunt Genre: Sweet Romantic Comedy

This series is like a box of chocolates, each one has delicious mystery, a sweet romantic filling, essential oils, and its own unique flavor! From the big city of Raleigh, to the big sky of Montana, and all the way to Buffalo, you'll find laughter, sweet romance, and best of all, dogs!

The Lavender Thief

Essentially Sweet Romance Book 1

by Elysian Hunt

Genre: Sweet Romantic Comedy

When Stephanie Pierce got home from a long day with her millionaire boss, nothing could prepare her for finding the apartment’s caretaker dead in the hall or her extreme attraction to the hot detective assigned to protect her and solve the case.

Still, she can't help but notice that things in her overly organized life are out of place, especially her beloved essential oils.

Was she the real target?

Can she let go of perfection and embrace real life and love? Is there any chance she and her Goldendoodle catch the heart of the detective and survive the thief lurking in the shadows?

This is a laugh out loud, cozy romance, with an amateur sleuth x hot detective, and a heartwarming HEA ending! On a scale of 1 to 10 here is what you'll find inside...

Spice level: 2 (some sizzling kisses)
Thriller vibe: 4
Cute dog: 10
Clean romance: 10
Essential oil twist: 9

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The Peppermint Villain

Essentially Sweet Romance Book 2

Beck Graham is a city girl at heart, but her Montana roots are calling her. But when she arrives, she finds her long lost Gran dead, with a mysterious local legend to blame. Heading back to Raleigh would be the easy thing, but the ranch catches at her heart. Determined to discover the actual killer, Beck finds the one man she can’t seem to attract is the one with the answers she seeks.

Can she survive Montana’s wilderness? Can she prove true Graham blood runs in her veins? Not without the help of a tall, dark, and handsome Navy Seal who knew Gran better than anyone else.

This is a laugh out loud, cozy romance, with an amateur sleuth x hot detective, and a heartwarming HEA ending! On a scale of 1 to 10, here is what you'll find inside...

Spice level: 2 (some sizzling kisses)
Thriller vibe: 6
Cute dog: 9
Clean romance: 10
Essential oil twist: 7

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

The Lemon Gunman

Essentially Sweet Romance Book 3

Wanted for assassination.

I’m the top female sharp-shooter in the US, so it makes sense, I guess. Only I didn’t do it.

Running is my only option in order to figure who framed me, and exactly what happened in that Cincinnati hotel room. But I’m trapped here in the city, incapable of producing an alibi, when all I want is the wide-open fields of Montana. Oh, and Harper Wasden, the Navy Seal who stole my heart the second I laid eyes on him. But he’s off fighting a war somewhere, I’m alone, with only an abandoned Pitbull to keep me from going crazy. When help arrives out of nowhere, saving my neck from the FBI’s clutches, dare I trust it? Not when every heart beat pounds out the name Harper Wasden.

The problem is, it looks like I did it. Even. To. Me.

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The Spearmint Spy

Essentially Sweet Romance Book 4

A dark anniversary looms over the most luxurious cruise ship on earth.

Escaping myself in order to survive the date that almost killed me last year is imperative. Daddy's ship is the perfect place to do it, with no reminders of the past or familiar faces. But finding a body in my car just before boarding is no help at all. Especially since she’s dressed just like me, designer nails and all.

To make things worse, an infuriatingly handsome passenger is determined to ruin the entire trip, and besting him might be the only enjoyment I get. Except all my usual tricks fall flat, and he seems impervious to my seething rebukes.

Finding a gun hidden in my room is the last straw; espionage surrounds me and I haven’t got a clue how to survive it, or the anniversary I’ve never been less prepared for. I’ll need all the brute force my protection dog can dish out, and, I hate to say it, the help of the one man I can’t intimidate.

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The Myrrh Boss

Essentially Sweet Romance Book 5

Have you ever been deceived, hoodwinked, snookered?

Well, I have, by a man I once a looked up to and, it chokes me to say it, dated. Turns out he runs the mob in Buffalo, NY, and I was 100% wrong about him. One thing I’m not wrong about is that spurning him equals life over for me. He has eyes everywhere, and the police force is wrapped around his little finger too, which is why I’m also running from fake drug charges.

But when I discover his under-ground dog fighting ring, something deep down and red-headed flares up. One of us is going down, and it won’t be me, I’ve got dogs to save.

A street-wise kid named Cooney hatches the craziest plan. He says the mob’s second in command, Billa, will help me, but isn’t that jumping from the pan into the fire? And a fire he is too. How can I keep from repeating my mistake when Billa is stealing my heart piece by piece? Can a girl from the suburbs take down a mafia boss?

In this sweet but sizzling mafia romance, you’ll laugh out loud all the way to the feel good ending!

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

Writing across multiple pen names, Elysian Hunt has sold more than 1.4 million books, won multiple awards, and been a best seller many times over. With over 35 novels in print, she enjoys many genres as long as they are fast-paced and engaging.

She never wanted to be a writer, but she couldn’t ever find that one book, the perfect one for her. So, she wrote it, and the rest is history. With fresh story ideas churning and a deep love for sharpening her writing skills, Elysian’s work gets better with time.

There are a few things you can count on with her rom com and cozy mystery books: sweet romance, happily ever after’s, and don’t forget the dogs! Fall in love with vivid characters, intriguing settings, and mysteries that will keep you turning the pages.

Website * Facebook * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

ebook copy of The Lavender Thief,

$20 Amazon giftcard – 1 winner each!

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Conquist by Dirk Strasser

Historical Fantasy

Date Published: September 1, 2024

Publisher: Roundfire Books

Capitán Cristóbal de Varga's drive for glory and gold in 1538 Peru leads him and his army of conquistadors into a New World that refuses to be conquered. He is a man torn by life-long obsessions and knows this is his last campaign. What he doesn't know is that his Incan allies led by the princess Sarpay have their own furtive plans to make sure he never finds the golden city of Vilcabamba. He also doesn't know that Héctor Valiente, the freed African slave he appointed as his lieutenant, has found a portal that will lead them all into a world that will challenge his deepest beliefs. And what he can't possibly know is that this world will trap him in a war between two eternal enemies, leading him to question everything he has devoted his life to - his command, his Incan princess, his honor, his God. In the end, he faces the ultimate dilemma: how is it possible to battle your own obsessions . . . to conquer yourself?

About the Author

Dirk Strasser’s epic fantasy trilogy The Books of Ascension—Zenith, Equinox and Eclipse—was published in German and English, and his short stories have been translated into several languages. “The Doppelgänger Effect” appeared in the World Fantasy Award-winning anthology Dreaming Down Under. His historical fantasy novel Conquist was published in 2024. The serialized version of Conquist was a finalist in the Aurealis Awards Best Fantasy Novel category. Dirk’s screenplay version of Conquist won the Wildsound Fantasy/Sci-Fi Festival Best Scene Reading Award and was a featured finalist in the Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival and the Creative World Awards. He is the co-editor of Australia’s premier science fiction and fantasy magazine, Aurealis, and was a judge on the 2024 Sydney Science Fiction Film Festival Screenplay Awards. Dirk has been a high school teacher, a writer of best-selling textbooks, an educational software developer, a publishing manager, and a soccer club president.

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Wednesday, January 1, 2025

Life Lessons from Mom by Amy Tan

For The Man You'll Become

Inspirational Self-Help / Parenting

Date Published: 01-31-2025

Publisher: Books to Hook Publishing, LLC.

A Mother’s Enduring Wisdom for Her Son.

Inspiration, Guidance, and Lessons for a Meaningful Life.

This heartfelt collection offers powerful truths, invaluable insights, and practical lessons through anecdotes, personal reflections, and uplifting stories. It’s a must-read for anyone seeking clarity, purpose, and direction in life.

Discover how to:

- Grow Personally and Spiritually: Build self-awareness, make ethical choices, and draw strength from faith.

- Strengthen Relationships: Foster lasting connections rooted in trust, respect, and heartfelt communication.

- Overcome Challenges with Resilience: Turn adversity into opportunities for growth.

- Navigate Life’s Transitions with Confidence: Thrive in every stage, from career changes and leadership roles to family and entrepreneurship.

- Live a Meaningful Life: Pursue passions, prioritize well-being, and create a lasting legacy.

-Achieve Balance: Embrace the 4-Quadrants of Personal Growth—spiritual, social, intellectual, and financial.

Whether you’re a son seeking guidance or a parent sharing wisdom, this book is a powerful companion for navigating life’s uncertainties and achieving greatness.

The perfect gift for sons, partners, friends, or anyone searching for inspiration and guidance to live a meaningful life.

While no book has all the answers, this one provides a wellspring of hope, support, and actionable inspiration.

From mother to son, these are life lessons every man needs.

A loving reminder: You are never alone, and you are capable of extraordinary things.

About the Author

Amy Tan is an accomplished business executive and award-winning author with over twenty years of experience in corporate leadership and market expansion across Southeast Asia. She holds a Business Administration degree from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and a Postgraduate Certificate from the University of Nottingham.

Beyond her corporate role, Amy is a passionate storyteller, weaving her diverse experiences into narratives that explore personal growth, resilience, and transformation. Her recent book, Revisiting the Depths - Overcoming Fear and Finding Peace, which won the Literary Titan Gold Book Award, recounts her emotional and spiritual journey as she overcomes a long-held fear of the ocean through diving.

Amy’s latest book, Life Lessons from Mom: For the Man You’ll Become, is a thoughtfully crafted guide that offers practical wisdom on navigating life’s challenges, cultivating meaningful relationships, and building a legacy of love. She is also the author of Doing Business in ASEAN and China: An Ultimate Guide to Doing Business, which showcases her expertise in regional economic integration.

Having lived in Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia, Amy brings a rich, cross-cultural perspective to her writing, inspiring readers to overcome challenges and make positive changes. Her work highlights the powerful impact of storytelling on personal and professional development.

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