Ashes On the Wind Tour and Giveaway

 

The love story behind the Crime of the Century

Ashes on the Wind:

The Love Story Behind the Crime of the Century

by Brandy Purdy

Genre: Dark Historical LGBTQ Romantic Suspense, True Crime

Nathan "Babe" Leopold was a socially awkward genius who used arrogance as a shield. He cultivated a philosophy of absolute selfishness cherry-picked from his reading of Nietzsche and indulged himself with vivid sexual fantasies about kings and slaves.

Richard "Dickie" Loeb was the brightest of the bright young things, a social butterfly as fragile as glass inside, hiding his insecurities behind a dazzling smile and a mouthful of lies. He found escape in thrilling tales and fantasies of crime.

They were two brilliant and privileged boys, each harboring secrets it would have been social suicide to reveal in their 1920s world.

When Babe met Dickie, it was like his favorite fantasy had stepped out of his dreams into real life.

When Dickie met Babe, he thought he had found the accomplice who would help make his criminal dreams come true.

Dickie was willing to give Babe what he wanted, if Babe would give him what he wanted. Quid pro quo. Until Dickie wanted something more, leaving Babe desperate and willing to do anything to hold onto his dream. Even if it led down a dark path to the Crime of the Century and infamy as the thrill killers Leopold and Loeb.

  

I have read all but one of Brandy Purdy’s novels, since 2010 and I have enjoyed them all including Ashes on the Wind. Brandy spends extensive time doing research and has the knack for telling a great story.

~CelticLady Reviews

  

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Brandy Purdy is the author of several historical novels including The Ripper's Wife, The Secrets of Lizzie Borden, The Boleyn Wife, and The Tudor Throne.

  

Website * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

$10 Amazon giftcard (WW),

kindle ebook of Ashes on the Wind (US only)

-1 winner each! 

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In Darkness Virtual Book Tour

Horror

Date Published: September 16, 2024

 

Try not to wonder what secret darkness your neighbors or classmates hold in their hearts for you. 

It’s about the hidden dark thoughts that all of us think every day. Most of us would never act on them, we’re not sociopaths, but what if there was a circumstance where through supernatural intervention, you couldn’t help but act on those hidden desires? That’s what IN DARKNESS is about, the lethality in those hidden, benign shadows that some of our thoughts live inside.

Dark thoughts, like cream, will always rise to the top at the wrong moment.

About the Author

Russell Rothberg has worked in television as a writer and Executive Producer for the Peacock series, Long Bright River, based on the bestselling novel, as well as for the Paramount+ series The Offer.  Before returning to his roots as a writer, Russell was the Executive VP of Drama Development at Universal Television, where he developed series such as Bates Motel, Chicago Fire, Shades of Blue and Emerald City.  Russell started his career as an actor-writer-director with an original play, Life After Death, at the Intar Theatre in NYC. Born and raised in New York City, Russell currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Vera. In Darkness is his first novel.

 

Purchase Link

Amazon

Immortal Wounds by Angie Barton - Haunted Halloween Spooktacular

SPOOKY COOKIES 

I LOVE baking, especially around the holidays! 

Every October I make these amazing double chocolate  chip cookies and it’s easy to say that they are a hit  with both children and adults! They are soft and chewy  with just the right amount of chocolate, but it’s the candy eyeballs that are the star of the show!

 

INGREDIENTS

• ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature

• ½ cup granulated sugar

• ½ cup dark brown sugar, packed

• optional: black food coloring

• 1 large egg

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 cup all-purpose flour

• ½ cup + 2 Tbsp. Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa Powder

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• ¼ teaspoon salt

• 2 Tbsp. milk

• 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips (I use semi-sweet)

• Candy Eyeballs for topping the cookies

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350˚ F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Using an electric mixer, combine the butter and sugars. You can add black food coloring at this time to get a deeper shade of black in the cookies. Beat together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Blend in the egg and vanilla, scrape down the bowl if needed.

2. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients in the mixer on low speed just until mixed. Mix in the milk on the lowest speed and fold in the chocolate chips.

3. Roll about 2 tablespoons of dough into balls and place on the baking sheets. Flatten slightly. Top cookies with candy eyeballs. 

Place cookie sheet in freezer for 10-15 minutes.

4. Bake for 10-11 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheets for about 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. ENJOY!

Immortal Wounds

Immortal Wounds Series

Book One

Angie Barton

Genre: Fantasy/Historical Fiction/Magical Realism

Publisher: Angie Barton 

Date of Publication: April 22, 2022

ISBN: 979-8990647206

ASIN: BOD9XTF25K

Number of pages: 392

Word Count: 93,000

Cover Artist: Donnell McKenzie

Tagline: Did Isobel make an error in landing in the wrong time, or was it part of her destiny?

Book Description: 

After witnessing the brutal deaths of her mother and husband, Isobel overhears a confession from one of the murderers, a ruthless vampire who claims to be her father. For fear that she and her unborn daughter’s death could come next, Isobel uses the only magic she possesses and summons a portal to take her two hundred years in the past to revisit an ancestor in Scotland who she believes may know the truth of her parentage. However, in her haste, Isobel lands in the wrong century. Before she realizes her mistake, she stumbles upon a family: a ferocious Highland warrior and his two sisters.

Isobel could not have prepared herself for what she discovers during her stay: the vampire who claimed to be her father, alive three hundred years in the past! With the help of Meg, the youngest sister, and Mariam, both women’s ancestor, Isobel finds herself belonging in a world she never dreamed of—one entangled with vampires and webbed with revenge, curses, and a prophecy that has dictated all of their lives for the last four hundred years. 

Did Isobel make an error landing in the wrong time, or was it part of her destiny?

Amazon

About the Author: 

Award winning author, Angie Barton, published her first novel, Immortal Wounds, in 2022. Angie’s love for writing centers around the fantasy genre, but she also enjoys writing thriller and romance. Her passion for reading, which led to her love of writing, began in elementary school with the Scholastic Book program. Her parents, who are life-long avid readers, have been a huge influence on her reading. Therefore anything and everything Angie could get her hands on she read.

Angie has been an early childhood educator since 1986 and hold a B.S. in Child Development. Her love for literacy has continued throughout her career, not only for herself, but also with the children she has cared for and taught. What Angie is most passionate about is helping others discover the excitement that reading brings. Her greatest desire in writing is to create and bring joy and entertainment to everyone she touches.

Currently, if Angie isn't reading at least three books at a time or working on a rough draft for her next book, she can be found outdoors gardening, woodworking, or relaxing by her pond. She shares that she's a Capricorn, tried and true, drinks way too much tea, and that her "to be read" pile of books can spike at any time.

www.authorangiebarton.com

https://www.facebook.com/author.AngieBarton

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/angie-barton

https://www.instagram.com/immortal_wounds/

https://www.goodreads.com/goodreadscomangie_barton

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Book Blast: The Cat Who Chased Ghosts by Nic Minnella

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

In a sleepy little town, an ordinary-looking cat hides an extraordinary secret that will transform his owners' lives forever.

When the Thompson family inherits a dilapidated old house, their overprotected son Timmy forms a strong bond with Whiskers—a chronically lazy tabby who's not what he seems.

As Timmy explores the house's mysteries, a chilling discovery puts his courage to the test. With the help of Whiskers and some newfound friends, he must face supernatural forces beyond his imagination and rescue a soul in peril.

The Cat Who Chased Ghosts is a spine-tingling tale about bravery, loyalty, and the magical power of friendship (human and feline) that will thrill readers of all ages, reminding us that sometimes the most extraordinary heroes come in the most unlikely packages.

Read an Excerpt

The idea seemed to greatly amuse Jasper. His eyes now sparkled with excitement.

“Alright, count me in.” He laughed, closing his comic book. “After school, we go on the hunt. If there’s something spooky in your attic, we’ll catch it on camera.”

He lifted his hand for a high five.

“Deal.” Timmy grinned, reciprocating. Just as he began to feel the tension in his body ease up for the first time since the night before, a faint rustling sound caught his attention.

“You’ll catch what on camera?” asked someone behind them.

Both boys turned around to see Louisa standing there, her arms crossed over her Born Swiftie sweatshirt, suspicion etched on her face.

“None of your business, Louisa,” Jasper retorted.

“Still breaking into people’s homes?” she shot back.

“We’re planning a science project,” Timmy intervened.

Louisa looked at him with narrowed eyes. “A science project that needs video cameras and voice recorders?”

“We’re doing an experiment on . . . sound properties. Of different spaces,” he made up on the spot, looking over at Jasper, who nodded enthusiastically.

“Listen, we still owe you for helping us last night. If you need anything,” added Timmy, trying to defuse the tension while changing the subject.

Louisa shrugged, mollified. “I think you two are up to something. And I think I know what. But you’re right, it’s none of my business,” she said and turned away, shaking her ponytail in silent disapproval. “Just remember that some things are better left alone.”

About the Author: Nic Minnella has worked in journalism for twenty-plus years. She's also a part-time translator and a full-time cat enthusiast. When she's not occupied with any of the above activities, she's often traveling to faraway places or daydreaming about them.

"The Cat Who Chased Ghosts" is her first published work of fiction, a middle grade supernatural mystery tale where a boy and his cat must confront ghosts and spirits to save their loved ones from the clutches of darkness.

Twitter: https://x.com/nicminnella
FREE TO READ ON KINDLE UNLIMITED: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D7PS7Y4W

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The Pumpkin King's Bride Tour and Giveaway

 

Enter a world where autumn never dies

The Pumpkin King’s Bride

by Rae Lori

Genre: Gothic Fantasy Romance 

Enter a world where autumn never dies

In a village shadowed by tales of the fearsome Pumpkin King, Anna Everglen carries the weight of grief and loneliness. Seeking an end to her pain, she volunteers to face the dreaded monarch of the shadowy forest.

But the castle of eternal autumn holds more than just fallen leaves and glowing pumpkins. There, Anna discovers a world of enchantment, mystery, and unexpected secrets.

Is the fearsome Pumpkin King really what the villagers and the myths say he is? Or was everything told to her a lie?

For fans of Beauty and the Beast inspired tales.

 Ravenfire Bookstore * Amazon * Apple * Kobo * Smashwords * Books2Read 

 Bookbub * Goodreads

Book Trailer:

https://vimeo.com/1022075592

 

Rae Lori is a multi-published, award-winning author and a geek girl at heart. She was first bitten by the writing bug at ten and never stopped loving the written word. Over a twenty-year-plus writing career, she has been published with various zines, journals and publishing companies and taught new writers the craft of novel writing in between her projects. She has won various awards including an Honorable Mention in the 73rd Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition, the 2011 ForeWord Book of the Year Gold Award Winner in Writing (Adult Nonfiction), and Best Romance Novella in SORMAG’s 2009 Reader’s Choice Awards.

Rae can usually be found with her head in the clouds daydreaming of her next story. That is, when she isn’t gaming or watching her fave movies with her fellow geekazoid husband (it’s time for another Aliens rewatch!), crocheting, or has her nose in a book.

 

Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

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The Revolution Series Tour and Giveaway

 

World War III has erupted on American soil. 

Seventeen-year-old Jadzia’s life will never be the same again.

Path of Redemption

The Revolution Series Book 2

by Heather Kreke

Genre: YA Christian Dystopian

In the last year, Jadzia Mills has survived war, the death of her best friend, being almost beaten to death, and a cross-country journey to reunite with her family.

Now she’s being hunted by the military she abandoned. When almost captured, she faces a choice: continue to run or surrender and face a court-martial with an unknown sentence. To protect her family, she surrenders and is sentenced to a long prison term.

In prison she must face vicious inmates, brutal guards, and unending hours of loneliness, all while dealing with the horrors of her past.

Thanks to a favor from a sympathetic sergeant, Jadzia is released early. But the world she knew has changed. A divide between believers and nonbelievers is forming, and she must choose where she belongs.
With her family. Or the boy she loves?

 

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

 

Path of Totality

The Revolution Series Book 1 

2023 Selah Award Winner in First Novel
2023 Selah Award Finalist in YA Fiction

World War III has erupted on American soil. Seventeen-year-old Jadzia’s life will never be the same again.

As a mandatory draft takes effect, Jadzia finds herself on the front lines of the war, torn apart from her family. But when her best friend is killed, Jadzia is desperate to find her way back to them. She abandons her platoon and sets out on her own.

Jadzia must navigate a dangerous cross-country journey, facing betrayal, violence, and the constant threat of death. Along the way, she meets Ryker–the son of a faith leader whose places of worship have been attacked. Despite the chaos, Jadzia finds refuge and friendship among Ryker’s unlikely group of individuals … even though their faith is a little old-fashioned. And Ryker's insistence on helping her doesn't make it easier for Jadzia to resist her growing feelings toward him.

But the military is determined to capture Jadzia and all outlaws. When survival seems impossible, will sacrifice be their only route to freedom?

This action-packed YA dystopian novel is perfect for fans of The Out of Time Series and The Gifting Series.

 

Amazon * B&N * Bookbub * Goodreads

Heather Kreke is passionate about showing teens and young adults they can find hope in God’s plan for their lives—even through the darkest times. Her debut novel Path of Totality won first place in the 2023 Selah awards in the First Novel category.

She is the Blog Manager for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, Coordinator for the Blue Ridge Readers Connection, and a writing coach. In her spare time, she teaches writing classes, writes numerous blogs, and has completed coursework through the former Christian Writers Guild. Married since 2004, Heather has three daughters.

 

Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Signed Print set of both books! – 2 winners, US only ,

$20 Amazon giftcard – 1 winner, WW 

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Magic Unleashed by Delta James Virtual Book Tour

Magic Unleashed

The Grimm Files

Book One

Delta James

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy

Date of Publication: 9/20/24

Number of pages: 131

Word Count: 32,000

Cover Artist: Dar Albert, Wicked Smart Designs

Book Description: 

Mysterious deaths. Impossible magic. And the sexy dragon who might drive her to murder.

In the shadowy heart of modern-day New Orleans, where the supernatural simmers just beneath the surface, Phoenix Duvall is a force to be reckoned with. As a formidable fairy enforcer, she stands as the city’s last line of defense against the demonic threats that prowl the night. She’s trained from childhood and is armed with lightning-fast reflexes, mastery over fire, and deadly weapons, Phoenix knows she’ll only come into her full power when she finds and bonds with her fated mate. But Phoenix has never been one to wait for fate—until it throws her into the path of Griff Broussard, a hard-nosed dragon shifter detective with secrets of his own.

Griff has been investigating a series of gruesome deaths that defy all logical explanation. As their paths intertwine, Phoenix is forced to confront the truth: Griff is her fated mate. Together, they form an uneasy alliance to combat a rising demonic cult. But as their chemistry ignites, so too does the danger surrounding them.

Griff becomes possessed by the very demon lord they’ve been hunting. Phoenix faces an impossible choice: uphold her duty as a fairy enforcer, or risk everything—including her life and the fragile balance between worlds—for the man she’s come to love.

As the battle for New Orleans intensifies, Phoenix must confront her deepest fears and make a heart-wrenching decision in a final showdown that will determine the fate of both worlds.

Magic Unleashed, the first book in The Grimm Files, is a gripping paranormal romance where love is a double-edged sword, and the price of power could be everything.

Amazon

Excerpt:

With no warning whatsoever, Phoenix bolted after it—whatever it was. She might be some badass faery enforcer, but he wasn’t about to let her go alone. Griff flung a handful of bills at Finn and bolted out the door behind her.

The muggy night smacked him in the face like a slap as he emerged, keeping one eye on the retreating figure and the other on Phoenix. Whoever or whatever it was, was fast, but Phoenix was faster. She seemed to levitate just above the ground—even without her wings—as she closed the distance.

“Phoenix!” Griff called, but to no avail. Phoenix didn’t break stride, turn around, or even slow down. The figure ducked into an alley, and Phoenix followed, the darkness swallowing her up.

Griff raced to catch up with her, rounding the corner just in time to see the figure disappear through a door at the end of the alley. Griff saw Phoenix skid to a halt. He could feel the presence of magic in the alley. Many parts of the city felt as if magic had been mixed into the mortar that held the buildings together.

Griff caught up to her, breathing heavily as he glanced at the door. “Looks like we found our lead.”

Phoenix nodded, her grip tightening on her knives. “And it’s not going to wait for us.”

With one last glance at Griff, she pushed the door open, stepping into the unknown.

Griff Broussard wasn’t a stranger to darkness. It lingered at the edges of his life, always threatening to swallow him whole. But tonight, as he stood at the threshold of the old door, staring at the door Phoenix had just disappeared through, that familiar darkness felt different. It was alive, pulsating with magic and danger, pulling him into its depths like a predator sizing up its prey.

The metallic tang of the night air filled his lungs as he pushed through the door behind Phoenix, muscles tense and instincts flaring. His senses sharpened. Even in human form, his dragon nature simmered beneath his skin, the beast pacing impatiently, ready to be unleashed at the first hint of a threat. He couldn’t help it—not here, not now, not with the echoes of his father’s unsolved murder still whispering at the edges of his mind.

Phoenix was already a few steps ahead, her movements fluid and silent as she navigated the narrow hallway beyond the door. Griff’s gaze swept the space, noting every detail—the cracked tiles on the floor, the flickering overhead light, and the faint trace of something old, something ancient lingering in the air. Magic. He could smell it, thick and oppressive, curling around him like smoke.

“Phoenix, wait,” he hissed, his voice low but urgent.

She glanced back at him, her eyes sharp and alert, but there was a flicker of impatience in her expression. Phoenix always charged headfirst into danger, relying on her instincts and speed.

Griff had always been the opposite—calculated, methodical. He needed to understand what they were walking into before they stepped too deep. But there was no time for planning now. The person they’d been chasing—their only lead—was somewhere ahead, and they couldn’t afford to lose it.

Without another word, Phoenix continued forward, her hand brushing the wall as she moved. Griff followed, the tension between them thickening with each step. He knew she could handle herself—hell, she was probably better suited for this than he was—but that didn’t stop the protective instinct that flared in his chest whenever they were in a situation like this. He hated that about himself. Hated how being around her always made him feel more… vulnerable. More aware of the fact that she was a storm he could never quite tame.

About the Author:

Delta James is a USA Today bestselling paranormal and contemporary romantic suspense author, whose goal is to captivate readers with stories about complex, curvy heroines and the dominant alpha males who adore them. For Delta, romance is more than just a love story; it’s a journey with challenges and thrills along the way. 

After creating a second chapter for herself that was dramatically different than the first, Delta now resides in Florida where she relaxes on warm summer evenings with her loveable pack of basset hounds as they watch the birds, squirrels and lizards. When not crafting fast-paced tales, she enjoys horseback riding, walks on the beach, and white-water rafting. 

Her readers mean the world to her, and Delta tries to interact personally to as many messages as she can. If you’d like to chat or discuss books, you can find Delta on Instagram, Facebook, and in her private reader group 

Website - https://www.deltajames.com/

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@authordeltajames 

Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/deltajames 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/deltajamesauthor/ 

Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/DeltaJamesAuthor/

Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/348982795738444/

Bookbub - https://www.bookbub.com/authors/delta-james 

Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Delta-James/e/B07FKPBQBT  

Newsletter https://carefree-water-38673.myflodesk.com/nlwebsite  

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18197022.Delta_James

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