Book Blitz of In The Dead of Winter By Rhonda Blackhurst (#contests- Enter to Win A Copy of the Book)

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Rhonda Blackhurst will be awarding a free e-book of Inn the Dead of Winter or book one, Inn the Spirit of Murder to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Welcome to Spirit Lake in the dead of a Minnesota winter, where the brutally cold temp isn't the only thing to fear.

Andie Rose Kaczmarek, a six-year sober life coach and owner of the haunted Spirit Lake Inn, has learned the hard way that the living are far more dangerous than anything in the spirit world.

When a controversial guest fails to return to her room on the same night a body is discovered in a fish house on Big Spirit Lake, Andie Rose teams up with her sponsor and sidekick, Sister Alice, and her emotional support red retriever, Aspen, to solve the case.

After Andie Rose discovers illegal activity on the inn’s property that ties to the murder, the investigation shifts into high gear. As she uncovers shocking secrets of those she thought she knew, someone is intent on keeping her quiet at any cost.

Can the inn’s resident ghost save her from impending harm when it seems the ones closest to her pose the greatest threat?

Read an Excerpt

Tootsie’s attitude hung between them, and I held my breath for a moment.

“Knock it off, Toots.” Simon’s voice was a low grumble.

“Knock what off?” She turned on him. “Showing the ladies how to live a little? That they’re not only a mom and a wife, but they’re also their own person?”

Simon grasped his wife’s upper arm. “Toots,” he warned. He turned his attention toward Bobby and Jerry. “You’ll have to excuse my wife, gentlemen. She’s become a bit too, shall we say, independent, as she gets older.”

She released a heavy sigh. “Lighten up, Simon. You say that like it’s a bad thing. I have always been independent. This isn’t the dark ages. Women have every right to be independent of men.”

Again, I agreed wholeheartedly with Tootsie, but swallowed my retort to Simon. A gift sobriety had given me. The ability to keep my mouth shut sometimes.

“Refreshments,” I said merrily as I could to lift the cloud that levitated in the room. Two guests had been smart and skittered from the room unnoticed from all except me.

“Aspen’s with Jade,” Sister Alice said as she came through the door. She quirked a brow as she scanned the guests and touched the crucifix that hung around her neck. “Do I sense tension in the room? What did I miss?”

Tootsie took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “My husband emerging from a cave.”  

About the Author: 

 Rhonda is an avid reader, writer, coffee and dark chocolate connoisseur, and certified life coach. She has 10 independently published novels: The Inheritance, a contemporary fiction novel; seven books in the Melanie Hogan Mysteries; and Finding Abby and Abby's Redemption in the Whispering Pines Romantic Suspense duology. She was awarded the 2022 Master of Literary Arts Award from the Brighton Chamber.

Website: http://www.rhondablackhurst.com
Personal Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rhonda.blackhurst.1
Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rjblackhurst/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhonda.blackhurst
BookBub: https://partners.bookbub.com/my_books
TWRP Buy Link: https://wildrosepress.com/product/inn-the-dead-of-winter/

Buy The Book: AMAZON

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal of the Book Lush by tinia montford To be published on 3/31/2025

Lush
Tinia Montford
Publication date: March 31st 2025
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Suspense

Laurene King had it all: beauty, wealth, and a sexy secret affair with Reese Ashbourne— the brooding heir of her family’s sworn enemy.
But one reckless night shattered everything.

Tragedy struck. Laurene disappeared. And Reese was left with betrayal, unanswered questions, and scars he’ll never forget.

Now, Laurene is back, forced to return to the life she fled, but her homecoming comes with a cruel twist. Their families, teetering on the edge of ruin, have resurrected an old deal to save themselves: an Ashbourne and a King must marry—or lose everything.

Only this time, Reese is the groom. Not his brother.

Haunted by the past, Reese craves revenge as much as he still craves her. Trapped in a forced proximity neither can escape, their chemistry ignites—and so do their secrets.

But someone knows the truth about that night. The lies that tore them apart are unraveling, and the shadowy danger lurking in their luxurious world could destroy them both.

With their second chance at love and their families ’legacies hanging by a thread, Laurene and Reese must choose: bury the past or watch everything crumble to ashes.

The clock is ticking, and some truths are better left buried…

Add to Goodreads / Pre-order

Author Bio:

Tinia (TUH-NIA) Montford is a Pisces who’s a sap for romance, especially when there’s (tons of) kissing. Loves eighties sitcoms and will consume anything with chocolate. She graduated from the University of San Francisco with a degree in English and Graphic Design. She is currently pursuing her MFA in Fiction.

You can find Tinia at www.tiniamontford.com or on social media: @tiniawritesbooks

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / Amazon

—

Book Blitz of Ambition To Savor by B.B.E. Gwyn (#Contests- enter to win A $25 Amazon gift card)

Ambition to Savor
B.B.E. Gwyn
(The Lone Thorn Series)
Publication date: February 7th 2025
Genres: Adult, Adventure, Fantasy

When a quest for magical ingredients takes you from kitchen to adventure, you’d better save your appetite.

Dedicated and cautious restaurant owner Jonathan Tessier dreams of crafting legendary recipes—the fame and fortune that might follow is a pretty nice bonus. But it’s all he can do to keep his restaurant afloat. Stolen ingredients, a surprise visit from a food critic, and a damaged reputation put his business at risk.

Jonathan knows he needs to make a change. A big one. Before he loses it all.

He and his eager head chef, Elenora Kerras, soon set off to find the bizarre ingredients that might save his restaurant. This hunt takes them through towns and wilderness, where they encounter dangerous beasts and sly individuals. They face challenges more thrilling than even their busiest dinner shifts.

Each success brings Jonathan ever closer to his lofty goal—until he stumbles upon his most startling discovery yet.

Will his dreams be worth all their luster, or will the revelation shatter his culinary world?

A standalone fantasy adventure in the Lone Thorn series, Ambition to Savor is a fun and whimsical tale that explores a question you never thought you needed to ask—What if a restaurant owner had magical powers and a dream to find flavors from deep within a world of hidden quirks?

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

Corruption. Mutiny. Absolute villainy was occurring within the walls of his beloved establishment.

Jonathan Tessier had little reason to complain of late. Profit margins were rising, his customer base was expanding, and the recent annual health inspection had wrapped up swimmingly with no findings. After years of fatiguing work and plowing through stress, things were supposed to be looking up for his pride and joy, the Taverne Tessier.

However, walking down the street on this early autumn morning, he was feeling neither proud nor joyous. He could see his restaurant across from him as he stood waiting at the intersection, its pristine exterior of royal blue and beige surrounded by trees of warm hues. When he first renovated the place, he had aimed for a clean and regal appearance inside and out, so even if he could not boast of its size, the feeling of elegance, class, and beauty would still be conveyed.

And now it was filthy. Metaphorically speaking, of course.

Author Bio:

B.B.E. Gwyn is an author who enjoys diving into realms of low fantasy adventure. She draws inspiration from tabletop role-playing games, yokai folklore, and all kinds of media featuring characters with fun, bizarre powers. Her novels focus on intricate plots and rich character development without any romance or spicy elements, using the full breadth of her pages to offer thrilling adventures in a mysterious world.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

GIVEAWAY!a Rafflecopter giveaway

—

Interview of M.R. Leonard Author of Pilgrims A Sci-Fi Novel (#contests- Enter to win A Signed Copy of Pilgrims)

 

 

I want to welcome M.R. Leonard to Books R Us. Mr. Leonard is the Author of Pilgrims- A Sci-Fi Novel. The author has provided my readers with an interview about the book and the author. Do not forget to enter the giveaway below and thanks for stopping by.

Book Details:

Book Title: PILGRIMS by M.R. Leonard
Category:  Adult Fiction (18 +),  412 pages
Genre: Science Fiction
Publisher:  Blue Castle Press
Release date:  November 2024
Content Rating: PG-13. There is death in my book. There are also religious profanities “God damn”. There are also a few swears (not many but some “F” bombs said by the villain at the end). There is no description of sex but my protagonist follows an online creator who does adult content (her content is never described at all other than to say it exists). The main thing is the violence in my book. It is not gory but it does involve children dying.

Book Description:

Latin was a dead language—until the aliens arrived.

Out-of-work Latin teacher and borderline alcoholic Austin DeSantis is determined to spend his final days in the arms of a prostitute—that is if the aliens don’t exterminate humanity first.

But when the aliens land at the Vatican, begin speaking Latin, and reveal themselves to be Catholic, the world turns upside down.

Pressed into service as a translator and thrust into the center of humanity's first contact with a cryptic alien race, Austin must uncover their true intentions before religious turmoil rips the planet apart. But with Austin caught between the Catholic Church, the US military, and an enigmatic alien AI, he'll have to decide where his loyalties lie as the fate of humanity hangs in the balance.

PILGRIMS is a sci-fi retelling of Augustine's Confessions, mixing a high-concept premise à la Children of Time with the ceaseless pacing and rich characterization of Red Rising.

 

INTERVIEW

In your book you have the classic trope where aliens hover above world cities. But in this case the aliens are . . . Catholic. How did you come up with that idea?

I love first contact stories. The Day the Earth Stood Still, ET, Arrival, Close Encounters of the Third Kind . . . They capture the imagination and make us look at our current society in a whole new way.

Those stories have a problem though. The reason the aliens come to Earth is usually weak. For example, the aliens in Independence Day come to Earth because they want our "resources" even though space is filled with all sorts of awesome resources that they don’t have to fight pesky Earthlings for. That doesn’t make sense!

So I wanted to create a first contact sci-fi story where the aliens' motivation for coming to Earth is airtight. And, as outlandish as it sounds, aliens that are devout believers of an Earth religion (in my novel—Catholicism) have a very compelling reason to travel all the way to Earth. It's such a good motivation in fact, that I was shocked to see no other writer had ever addressed it before . . . until now.

Is your book just for Catholics?

Yes. It is only for Catholics. In fact, it is only for the Pope. If anyone else reads it, God will smite them!

All kidding aside, I’m a lifelong sci-fi fan but a recent revert to Catholicism. I wrote a book for sci-fi fans—full stop. Most of my readers don’t know the first thing about Catholicism. They just enjoy an original first contact story done well. And the Catholic readers appreciate that I wrote something that doesn’t take cheap shots at their faith. A win-win.

Which was the hardest character to write? The easiest?

The hardest character to write was my protagonist—Austin. When we meet Austin, he’s in a pretty dark place. Aliens are on their way to Earth, due to arrive in a few days, but no one knows why they’re coming. A lot of people think this is the end of the world, including Austin. And with the world ending so soon he does some pretty dark things. Making him likable despite his failings was no easy task.

The easiest to write was the alien robot—Virgil. He is just so good, and he gets placed into these impossible situations but isn’t broken by them. He’s most reader’s favorite character.

Your book is billed as a sci-fi retelling of Augustine’s Confessions. Does a reader need any familiarity with the Confessions to understand your book?

No. Not at all. What I’ve found is that readers who are familiar with that iconic piece of Western literature (published around 400AD) LOVE the Easter Eggs. And the readers who have no idea what the Confessions is don’t miss a thing. But many of them go on to get themselves a copy of the Confessions to see what all the fuss is about when they’re done with my book.

What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?

Austin's story is not over. The book concludes about fifty days after Catholic aliens arrive on Earth. What happens to society ten years after such a momentous event? Fifty years? There is still so much story to tell. And the sequels will be coming out over the next few years.

Besides writing, any big plans in the future?

Yeah. Even though I’m a sci-fi author, I’m not really into space. I like things on Earth just fine. But I do want to go to the Moon one day. I think tourism to the Moon will likely start in the late 2030’s so I consider this a real possibility. And I want to raise money to start a monastery on the Moon. That’s why my Instagram handle is @Monksonthe_Moon. It’s about time we had monks on the Moon, isn’t it?

What can I say, I like to have modest goals . . .

 

BUY THE BOOK:
Amazon  ~ Audible ~ B&N 
add to goodreads

Meet the Author:

Michael Leonard was born and raised in Boston, but the cities he’s spent the most time in are Beijing, Florence and Edgartown (in that order). After graduating from Boston College, he pursued a career in law before becoming a China market entry advisor and accumulating a few lifetimes worth of adventures in just nine short years. Somewhere along the way he lost his faith but he found it again in graduate school at MIT. Married with two young sons, he can be found discussing his next novel with his ten pound dachshund as he strolls around Boston Harbor.

connect with the author: website ~ X ~ instagram ~ goodreads

---

Enter the Giveaway:

PILGRIMS by M.R. Leonard Book Tour Giveaway

Book Blitz of Be In My Bubble by Maya Mason (#contests-$50 Amazon gift card)

Be In My Bubble
Maya Mason
Publication date: October 11th 2023
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance

London. 2020. Lockdown.

Emily has had a terrible year when it comes to love. And now she’s stuck in her apartment, alone.

Things change when—one fateful night—she trudges to the rubbish chute and bumps into Robbie. Robbie—tall, hot, Australian Robbie. Robbie—her brother’s friend from school Robbie.

Why on earth did I choose to wear my twerking corgi T-shirt tonight of all nights?

And that’s when her bubble of one becomes a bubble of two. Cue glorious meals, dancing the night away, and cuddling on the couch.

Can this love bubble stand the test of time, or is it set to burst? Read now to find out.

This is the coronavirus-era rom-com you didn’t know you needed.

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

“You’re on top of me,” she blurted out, referring to his apartment’s location. The second the words left her mouth, her face erupted in an instant rash of crimson.

He chuckled, a low, warm sound that made her stomach flip. “Alright, Emily. It’s night one. Catch you later.”

Her rubbish hit the floor, instant-noodle and crisp packets flopping out, as she locked eyes with Robbie. The shock of seeing him made her feel as if she was standing in sand, immobile, stuck.

Robbie. Her brother’s friend Robbie. Tall, Australian, self-assured. His chiselled good looks and broad build made him look like the fourth Hemsworth brother, but his floppy dark hair and soulful eyes were more Dev Patel.

“What are you doing here?” she said, staring down first at her rubbish and then at her T-shirt, which featured an illustration of a twerking corgi. The lone pimple on her chin seemed to pulsate to house music.

He smiled, dimples deepening. “Maybe we could be in each other’s bubble a bit. Stop ourselves from fully hermiting. Seems safe if we haven’t seen anyone else.”

Author Bio:

I'm a New Zealander living abroad who loves dogs, trash TV, and every food under the sun.

I write books that I hope will make you laugh, smile, and maybe sometimes cry. My debut novel 'Be In My Bubble' is set during the Covid lockdown in London, and I actually wrote it during lockdown (doing so actually helped get me through those years). Please let me know what you think of it, I love to hear from readers.

Instagram / Amazon

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

—

Book Blitz of Sins Of The Fire by Phoenix Ward *#Contests-A copy of Sins of the Fire + book themed swag)

Sins of the Fire
Phoenix Ward
(Sins of the Fire, #1)
Publication date: September 13th 2024
Genres: Fantasy, New Adult, Young Adult

No one knows dragons coexisted with humans.

Ancient times long past, we shared magic, weapons and even our very souls with these creatures. Society’s connection between them spanned the test of time, through art, stories, and spoken word. Yet though depictions remain, they no longer exist.

Christian armies, believing these creatures to be devils, laid siege to end their species in a wild pursuit of their Promised Land. Bloodshed for nearly two centuries suddenly came to an end. Concurrently, those winged beasts, admired and feared, were extinguished without a trace.

It’s 2028, and the Crusades are talked about in my college classes. One dragon was able to escape it all by sealing itself in a blade. If such a blade existed, and anyone were to lift it today, they’d reignite the war long dormant—An affront on God himself.

I’m Kane, by the way. Kane Wynde. And this is Mysherra, the affront to God.

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

“You shall be tied to the blade, for as long as your mind and spirit remain. Is this acceptable?”

The earth shook, and the rumble of fire howled from outside of the cave. An ultimatum laid before me. To bind myself within

the blade would mean giving up my freedom for eternity. To fight a war that threatened to burn the earth to its core would mean

my death. The Gods have brought upon us a calamity no mortal could ever hope to quell. Humans who were once close to us

rallied for our demise. Our kind torched them, their lands, and their ilk in sport. Whichever side won, there would be no true

victor. Only ash.

Would it be acceptable to live the rest of my life as a weapon? Would it be better if I died fighting a lost cause?

Imprisonment or death; my options were narrow.

Looking down at the human, dressed in burns, I pondered what he thought. He bore no hatred. He held no contempt for my

kind after what happened. He agreed to fight alongside me with eyes ablaze with passion. I wondered why. What would make

someone turn a blind eye to the wounds inflicted by a beast of my caliber? What allowed him to grace my hand, still slick with the

residue of death, and find camaraderie in the midst of devastation?

The silence of the cave was beginning to draw on my senses, my own thoughts starting to cloud the noise of the carnage.

We agreed to fight together, but fear was a wise and stringent guide. Regardless of it, I had to make a choice.

“This is acceptable.”

“In doing this, you will relinquish your body. Your essence shall be ripped completely from within. Your magic, your

strength and your flames will be in the hands of your wielder. Is this acceptable?”

My heart shuddered. It would hurt. I would die, yet I would live. What would happen to my body? Would my heart sit in

silence, left to rot in its empty temple? Would my flesh be torn away with my spirit? Again, I looked towards the human. His gaze

held mine. Though twisted and bloated, he held me in their comfort. He smiled. He did not need to reassure me with words nor

tender touch.

“This is acceptable.”

“The process shall span the turn of the moon. With the dawn, you shall awaken in your new form. Do you accept the terms

of the pact?”

“I accept.”

The dragon ’s eyes flashed. “The terms have been set, and the pact is complete. May fortune favor you, Mysherra.”

As the sword began to gleam, I closed my eyes.

Tingling spread across my body as the sensation of my insides were pulled from within me. And thus, through a pain that

transcended anything inflicted upon my hide of scales, I accepted my fate.

Author Bio:

Phoenix Ward is an indie black writer, and educator from Philadelphia. He has worked in the field of education for over five years, teaching all grades Mathematics and English. When he’s not writing, he is composing music using Logic Pro X, or tutoring children on subjects they struggle in. Currently, he lives in Philadelphia with his dog and cat.

An avid world-builder, Phoenix has created many stories from youth to adulthood, but none have captivated him as much as his latest work Sins of the Fire, which combines his passion for storytelling with his deep understanding of human nature. He draws inspiration from the vibrant city life of Philadelphia and his own experiences as an educator, infusing his narratives with authenticity and depth.

In addition to his work as a writer and educator, Phoenix is committed to supporting young creatives in their journeys. He actively encourages students and adults alike to seek a way to create their own stories. Everyone has a message to share, and doing so in story is the best way to do so.

Website / Goodreads

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

—

Cover Reveal of Walk the Line by Paula Dombrowiak and Natalie Parker

Walk the Line
Natalie Parker, Paula Dombrowiak
(Blood & Bone Legacy, #1)
Publication date: April 22nd 2025
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

It was supposed to be simple: Film the tour. Build my portfolio. And for Heavens sake, keep it in my pants.

Then I met Felix Krasinski.

The captivating and infuriatingly cocky frontman of Velvet Drift commands attention everywhere he goes—including mine. Am I proud of it? No. I’m supposed to be filming their perfromance, not fantasizing about his perfect abs. I’m determined to be taken seriously, and hooking up with the ridiculously hot rockstar is the fastest way to tank my credibility.

Felix is always in control, and I’m an impulsive rule-breaker. We don’t make sense. But we can’t seem to stay away from each other.

Because, between his uptight habits and annoyingly perfect jawline, there’s more to Felix than his stage presence and legendary last name. He’s protective, vulnerable, and gets me in a way no one else does.

But my career depends on keeping things professional, and his future hinges on staying laser-focused on his band’s success.

Every heated argument, every stolen kiss, makes me want to throw caution—and professionalism—to the wind.

One thing’s certain—this summer tour is about to get a lot more complicated than I bargained for.

Walk the Line is the first book in the Blood & Bone and Turn it Up second generation series crossover. Grab this new adult, angsty, forced proximity, steamy contemporary rockstar romance. Walk the Line can be read as a standalone.

Add to Goodreads / Pre-order

Author Bio:

Paula Dombrowiak grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois but currently lives in Arizona. She is the author of Blood and Bone, her first adult romance novel which combines her love of music and imperfect relationships. Paula is a lifelong music junkie, whose wardrobe consists of band T-shirts and leggings which are perpetually covered in pet hair. She is a sucker for a redeemable villain, bad boys, and the tragically flawed. Music inspires her storytelling.

For more ways to learn about Paula and her books, check out her website: @www.pauladombrowiak.com
--

Natalie Parker resides in the Seattle area with her husband and two rugrats, but is originally a Michigan girl.

She always enjoyed writing and noticed she had a knack for it while earning her Psychology degree and has always been an avid reader, but never thought of becoming an author until one day there seemed to be a story to tell.

In her spare time, she enjoys reading, reading, reading to her kids, drinking coffee, reading, occasional yardwork, reading, listening to music, reading and writing.

Stay tuned for more to come for your favorite characters of the Turn it Up series!

—