Book Blitz of The Snake and the Tree by Leslie Cole. (#contests- Enter to win An Amazon Gift Card and An Ebook copy of the book.)

Middle Grade Portal Fantasy

Date Published: 10-27-2026

Publisher: Harmony Press

Seventh grader Max plots a brilliant way to forge friendships, dodge bullies, and cover up his limp by excelling at soccer. His plan flourishes splendidly until fate intervenes, and a freak accident sidelines him with a foot injury, grounding him from soccer indefinitely. In a moment of exasperation, he bats a baseball, and his neighbor’s window is shattered, which thrusts him into an unwanted alliance with the last person he ever wished to befriend: Ti. The boy who is a bully magnet!

Ti’s aunt presents Max with a daunting choice to either confess to his parents about the broken window or assist Ti in testing his invention, the Quantum Locator. Little does Max know that the Quantum Locator possesses the extraordinary ability to locate anyone, anywhere.

Together, with Max’s dog Ralphie, they stumble through a portal into a realm teeming with supernatural wonders. From a forest ruled by a colossal snake emperor to a mysterious Tree. Now, the boys must navigate their way through this enchanting land. Will they survive to get home?

In this captivating middle-grade thriller, Leslie Cole examines friendship, choices, and loyalty, maintaining suspense until the last page.

 

About the Author

 

 Leslie Cole is the author of the Max & Ti series, including her latest book The Snake and the Tree. She writes wholesome, hearty, and humorous middle grade fiction for kids who wonder where they belong and feel too embarrassed to ask. She feels a passion for the kids, including the adult kids, who need a kind and encouraging voice of support. Her stories remind readers that our deepest wounds don’t define us and that no one must face life alone. Her publishing credits include publishing poetry in the Nashville paper “The Contributor;” reading her poetry as the “Poet of the Month” at the Scarritt-Bennett Poet’s Corner; having her poetry named “Critic’s Pick” in “The Nashville Scene;” publishing two nonfiction books as a physician in her fields of medicine; and publishing a research paper as first author in the field of addiction medicine. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband Tim and their dog. They enjoy the company of their adult children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and extended family. She paints landscapes and still lifes, as well as drawing the occasional illustration for her books. She continues to work as an addiction medicine physician, where she witnesses the power of connection, repair, and humans overcoming unbelievable odds.

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https://mybook.to/TheSnakeandtheTree

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Book Slitz of The Amalfi Wish by Rosie Donlin. (#contests- Win A $25 Amazon gift card.)

The Amalfi Wish
Rosie Donlin
(The Lucky Year, #1)
Publication date: October 31st 2026
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Women’s Fiction

Laurel McBride knows how to make other people’s dreams come true. She just has no idea what to do with her own.

As an event planner at a Florida resort, Laurel can rescue beachfront weddings, soothe impossible clients, and solve disasters before anyone notices. But six weeks after she and five other women split an $84 million lottery jackpot, she is still answering emails, fixing everyone else’s problems, and postponing her own life.

So Laurel does something wildly out of character: she walks away from work, crosses the Atlantic, and spends July on the Amalfi Coast with the other winners.

The plan is simple—sunshine, spectacular food, beautiful views, and one glorious month in which nobody needs anything from her.

Then she meets Tore.

With him, Laurel cannot hide behind schedules, competence, or the carefully controlled version of herself who always knows what to do. And as the women settle into their lucky year, Laurel begins to wonder whether the dependable life she built was ever truly hers—or whether being needed has simply kept her from risking what she really wants.

For the first time, Laurel has enough money to choose almost anything.

Now she must decide what would actually make her happy.

Sun-drenched, romantic, and full of friendship, food, and second chances, The Amalfi Wish is the first interconnected standalone novel in The Lucky Year series.

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

The condo was quiet at seven, and the orange was still on the cutting board.

Laurel McBride had paid four ninety-nine for it at Whole Foods, then left it there for days, sticker still on the peel. She hadn’t eaten it or put it away.

Outside the sliding door, the courtyard sprinkler was drowning the same azalea again. Laurel caught herself planning what to tell the superintendent, then remembered she wasn’t at Mariner’s Crown. The superintendent could handle the azalea on his own.

Over Memorial Day, a storm at Mariner’s Crown had stranded six women at the Compass Bar long enough for them to buy a Powerball ticket and make a promise. The ticket had left each of them with fourteen million dollars. The promise had given them a year of places to go together, beginning with Laurel’s month on the Amalfi Coast.

Six weeks after the money reached her account, Laurel still hadn’t bought herself a thing. She had paid bills, shifted money among accounts, and stared down every question about what came next. Then she’d spent four ninety-nine on an orange and left it on the cutting board like incriminating evidence. Fourteen million dollars, and produce made her nervous.

She’d been excellent at spending other people’s money. Give Laurel a wedding budget and she could tell you where to save, where to splurge, and which upgrade a bride would remember after the flowers were gone. This money belonged to her rather than a client, free of deadlines and finalized floor plans. It was hers whenever she chose to want something.

Author Bio:

Rosie Donlin writes destination women's fiction about complicated friendships, second chances, and women figuring out what they truly want. Her books blend escapist settings, grown-up romance, humor, memorable meals, and plenty of reasons to pour another glass of wine.

Rosie lives in San Francisco.

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The Amalfi Wish Blitz

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Book Blitz of Baker by Michele Packard.

A Matti Baker Thriller

 

Thriller

Rated as a top political and medical thriller author by BestThrillers.com - Packard delivers again in this newest thriller.

Baker's dedication to safeguarding America faces its ultimate test as fundamental freedoms teeter and artificial intelligence reshapes destinies. With corrupt forces threatening existence, she must expose them before time runs out. Can she prioritize the greater good over personal survival? Join her pulse-pounding journey as she confronts insurmountable odds, unveiling the climax of an epic struggle for justice. Will she defy the odds or make the ultimate sacrifice?

 

The Full AESOP Series

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B089FBWTMS

 

AESOP: A Matti Baker Thriller, Book 1

FABLE: A Matti Baker Thriller, Book 2

TELLER: A Matti Baker Thriller, Book 3

CounterIntelligence: A Matti Baker Thriller, Book 4

DEFCON: A Matti Baker Thriller, Book 5

BAKER: A Matti Baker Thriller, Book 6

 

About the Author

Known affectionately as "AESOP" by her family and friends due to her penchant for embellishment, Packard weaves her experiences and sharp wit into engaging narratives that resonate with readers.

Growing up in a household where her father devoured the works of acclaimed authors like Patterson, Child, Flynn, Clancy, and Woods, Packard developed an affinity for conspiracy theories and stories featuring resilient protagonists in psychological, political, and military thrillers. With a masterful blend of sarcasm and intricate plot lines, she seamlessly intertwines current and historical events, crafting thought-provoking stories that keep readers on the edge of their seats.

Acknowledged as one of the top political thriller authors of the year, Packard's literary prowess has garnered her widespread recognition and positioned her as an author to watch closely. Embracing every moment of her literary journey, she revels in the acclaim and the joy of sharing her compelling narratives with a growing audience.

 

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Book Blitz of Safe in Sound by Ania Ray. (#Contests- Win An eBook copy of Safe in Sound.)

Safe in Sound
Ania Ray
(A Blue Spruce Hills Novella)
Publication date: October 29th 2026
Genres:Adult, Contemporary, Holiday, Romance

She’s “happy,” but someone might say she’s “settled.” What happens when the life that makes you feel safe is also the one keeping you small?

Thirty-four-year-old piano teacher Riley O’Connor believes her chance to become a world-class musician has sailed. She’s content-ish with her life in Blue Spruce Hills, a quaint mountain town that is safe, quiet, and predictable. Instead of performing on stages, she teaches the neighborhood kids, hangs out with her best friend Clara, reads books surrounded by her houseplants, and rehearses like she’s about to be called to join the London Philharmonic.

Though she’d be too scared to go. Grammy called her ’Fraidy Cat, after all.

When what Riley thinks is a break-in turns out to be a dog who won’t leave, she’s thrust into a series of events that challenge her to confront her anxiety. First, the social kind: the veterinarian is incredibly handsome. And kind. And grieving his wife. And looking for someone to give his son piano lessons.

She agrees.

Suddenly, Riley is on a winter hike with a man where bears, snakes, and fatal injury are possibilities. And when an opportunity arises to accompany renowned violist Albi Drechsler, the dream she’d long ago decided was out of reach is suddenly within it. To get what she wants, she must prove that fear doesn’t have the final word. But could she actually leave the safety of Blue Spruce Hills?

Safe in Sound is a story about overcoming fears, leaning into friendship, and trusting that even when the night feels darkest, love can hold you through. If you miss your loved ones a little extra during the holidays, you’ll love this redemptive story that proves those we miss most can still find a way to make us courageous.

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

I exhale, the breath in front of me a wisp reminiscent of the steamed milk Clara’s grandmother would mix into the hot chocolate we’d share after school. While I waited for Grammy and Pappy to come home from the Mom and Pop store they owned and ran together, Clara was my safe place.

I stuff my gloved hands in my pockets. This morning I am hanging an angel on a doorknob with someone who risked social status by befriending me. The school playground was too giant a target for a skinny eight-year-old with fiery hair. Grammy always said I’d grow into my hair one day, but I’m pretty sure the “big-tempered redhead” myth fell apart with me. Maybe because Clara has always been my fire. I’m more like old embers buried under kindling.

So way back when… gosh, has it really already been over two decades? Way back when Clara asked if I wanted to skip on the sidewalk with her—and my answer was a genuine yes—we began our friendship.

Basically, I’ll do whatever Clara asks. She knew I was the new kid and approached me anyway. Anyone who does that—when kids seem to feel most powerful when they’re being mean and exclusive—deserves to have their best friend wake up early.

And even though I’d love to still be sleeping right now, three blissful hours remaining in my regular schedule, I feel a thrilling anticipation at seeing my best friend. Sure, I see her in passing every weekday, and we catch each other up in text messages all the time, but to sit down and really connect usually only happens when she comes over once a month. And we’ve missed a lot of those lately because she’s doing big baker things.

And I do little piano teacher things.

It’s fine. I’m happy.

Author Bio:

Hi, I’m Ania Ray, an author of women’s fiction that dives into the raw, transformative journeys of complex female characters. My books force each protagonist to confront the worst of herself before she evolves into the hero of her own story.

The Cromwell Rules trilogy features interconnected standalones, so you can enjoy each book individually or follow Lily Cromwell's entire arc from start to finish. In The Cromwell Rules and Breaking the Rules, I explore how boundaries can feel stifling or nonexistent, and how we each must find our sweet spot of self-respect.

When I’m not writing, I lead Quill & Cup, a writing community that helps authors finish the stories that matter to them. Outside of writing, I’m a wife, a mom to a toddler who’d live outdoors if she could, and a tea lover (Cinnamon Apple Spice is my favorite).

If you love reading novels with relatable, complex characters and emotionally gripping stories, you’re in the right place.

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GIVEAWAY!
Safe in Sound Blitz

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WELCOME TO THE HALLOWEEN BOOK BLAST!

 

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