Spotlight: Room for Grace by Maureen Kenner and Daniel Kenner

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Stage 4 cancer for her and a debilitating disease for her husband: life crashed down in an instant. Maureen Kenner found resilience, however, in the lessons she learned from her Special Ed students in Providence, RI. Her students lived with their hearts opened despite struggles of the highest magnitude. Through these students, Maureen gains courage, humor, and the strength of spirit to face her devastating realities, head on. Maureen’s oral history was captured by her son Daniel who tenderly wrought this book out of their recorded conversations. Through anecdotes and hard-earned lessons, Maureen tackles challenge after challenge and reframes daily struggles with a positive outlook allowing her to transcend and conquer mortal fears with dignity and room for grace.

Book Excerpt

STAGE 4

Mary Poppins was my nurse on Day 6. “Pretend you’re at summer camp,” she joked, encouraging every step I made toward healing and recovery. “We’ve got a whole bunch of activities for you to choose from.”

“But instead of Newcomb and color wars and collecting orange salamanders or dancing to Tommy James and the Shondells,” I said, “today’s activities at the hospital include pain med management, ice chip crunching, and Dammit! Doll whacking…”

“Don’t forget IV pole walking,” she teased. “I always know when you’re coming because your IV pole is the squeakiest.” She tenderly guided me back into bed.

“But instead of early morning skinny dipping,” I said, “someone signed me up for the johnny gown flash mob.”

That really made her laugh. “I wish all my patients worked like you.”

“Well, you help make it easy,” I admitted. “I loved sleepaway camp. I’d pack my trunk with stamped stationary and Razzles, pick-up sticks and jacks. And my Magic 8-Ball. My bunkmates and I thought we could predict the future. Go figure. I could never have predicted this.” She wrapped a warm blanket around my feet. “One year,” I continued, “I was the last camper to be picked up and, on the way home, my sisters teased me that my parents wanted to leave me there.”

“That’s one of the reasons I love my job here,” she smiled. “The staff is a family. We’re planning a barbecue together this weekend.”

It was August 2013.

Dr. David Sanfred, our family practitioner, walked into my room at 6:45 a.m. and stood at the end of my hospital bed. “Maureen, we’re getting ready to send you home soon,” he said. And then, “It’s time to talk.”

It was time to face what I’d avoided all week.

“I’m sorry to tell you, but it’s very serious.” Though by our family’s side for many difficult situations, I’d never heard Dr. Sanfred’s tone this methodical. “We thought it was Stage 1 but the cancer metastasized from the colon to your umbilicus and has advanced to Stage 4.”

The hospital symphony went silent. I turned my head and watched the early morning sunlight peek through the window. “Is it curable?”

He gave my hand a soft pat. “No, it is not curable.”

I heard myself gasp.

I was in a panorama shot. I saw Mary Poppins outside the thin curtain share morning notes with the nurse coming on. They whispered, glanced sympathetically in my direction. I struggled for breath and gripped the Dammit! Doll.

“Will I be able to go back to my classroom?”

“No,” he cautioned, “you will not be able to teach right now. But soon. We hope.”

The tears kept coming. Mary Poppins came back into the room. She reached out and hugged me gently, with so much affection I could feel her heart break.

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About the Author

Daniel Kenner rocked out to Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” while other infants sang “Mary Had A Little Lamb.” A proud member of Actor’s Equity, SAG-AFTRA, and National Players Tour 60, Daniel was a Presidential Arts Scholar at George Washington University and Scholarship recipient at The British American Drama Academy. Directed the Washington D.C. premier of Sarah Kane’s Crave. Author of the manuscript, Roux. Winner of the Rhode Island Playwriting Festival for his World War II letters home drama, Fields of Sacrifice. Adapted Les Misérables for high school stages.

Maureen Kenner’s heart was in the classroom. For thirty-five years she was a Special Education teacher in the Providence Public Schools. Born and raised in Dobbs Ferry, New York, Maureen graduated from Rhode Island College with a degree in education and later earned a Master’s Degree from Providence College. Maureen was a vital influence at the Vartan Gregorian Elementary School at Fox Point, working tirelessly as a mentor for the betterment of all children and their families. Honored with many accolades throughout her career, Maureen was awarded Providence Teacher of the Year in 2003. Living with cancer, as a model patient, Maureen exemplified integrity, courage, grace, and hope. For thirty-one years, through sickness and health, Maureen was the beloved soul mate to the late Jacob “Buddy” Kenner, her intense love recognized in 2016 as a Rhode Island Caregiver of the Year.

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Spotight: Blessed Betrayal by Livia Grant

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She wanted happily ever after.
He thought he had it.

Underneath the perfect exterior of Calista Bennett’s marriage lay an ugly truth that threatens to drown her when she is betrayed.

Across town, Nickolas Mikos isn’t doing much better after his life is plunged into his new reality by his wife’s lies.

Life can change in the blink of an eye. Can Cali and Nick comfort each other’s raw pain enough to allow for a second chance at happiness, or will their fears and anger prevent them from uncovering the blessing in the betrayal?


The sound of a bell ringing, followed by a pounding jarred Cali awake. The dark bedroom was quiet. Her husband’s half of the bed was still empty. What had she been dreaming about that had woken her so abruptly?
She looked at the alarm clock on the bed stand. It read 4:04 a.m. She took a few calming breaths to settle her nerves. She was just lying down to try to get back to sleep when the doorbell rang.
Panic invaded. They lived in a safe neighborhood, but did someone know she was home alone tonight? Who could be at the door at this hour?
She knew Kevin had a handgun somewhere in the house, but she’d never learned how to use it. She jumped up and ran to the window facing the front of the house, pulling the gauze drape aside enough to peek out.
Panic turned to dread as she saw a police car in the driveway. Her mind raced to think of possible reasons for a visit by the police at this hour. Each scenario seemed worse than the one before. She rushed to her closet to grab her terrycloth robe before she jogged to the stairs, turning on the lights to the entryway to alert the police she was awake. The in-progress knocking stopped immediately.
Cali looked out the peephole. Standing on her porch were two uniformed police officers. They looked official, but she was still afraid. She wished Kevin were home with her to handle this.
She didn’t want to open the door. “Hello, officers. It’s late. What’s the problem?”
She watched through the viewer as the taller of the two responded to her question. “We’re sorry to disturb you at this hour ma’am, but there’s been an accident. We’d like to come in to discuss it with you.”
An accident. Her first thought went to her father. She hadn’t talked to him in months. “An accident? Was it my father?”
“Honestly, ma’am, we’re not sure. If you’d open the door, we have a few questions for you. Perhaps you could help us sort things out.”
Cali took a deep breath and unlocked the front door. A blanket of dread surrounded her as she let the two officers into the foyer. The shorter, stockier man reached out his hand with a business card.
“I’m Officer Jackson, and this is my partner, Officer Stanton. If you don’t mind me asking, who might you be?”
The question was unexpected. They were standing in her foyer. Surely, they knew who she was. “I’m Calista Bennett.”
She didn’t miss the quick glance between the men before Officer Jackson spoke.
“And who is Kevin Bennett to you, ma’am?”
“Is Kevin in some type of trouble officer?”
“Just answer the question if you would, ma’am.”
Cali’s voice quavered in her reply. “Kevin’s my husband, but he’s out of town on business this week. He’ll be back tomorrow afternoon if you need to speak with him. What is this about again?”
It was Officer Stanton who spoke, “Perhaps we could sit down before we answer your questions.”
Panic had her heart pounding in her ears. “I don’t want to sit down. I just want to know why you’re here.”
Officer Stanton’s eyes filled with pity before he spoke.
“I’m sorry to tell you this, Mrs. Bennett, but we believe your husband was in an accident a few hours ago.” He stopped long enough to take a small notebook out of the front pocket of his bulletproof vest. Flipping the pages, he finally continued, “Does your husband own a silver 2016 Audi R8?”
Her answer was a whispered, “Yes. It was a graduation gift from his parents when he passed the bar.” The truth was sinking in. Kevin had been in an accident. “Let me go change my clothes. What hospital did they take him to?” Only then did Cali realize he hadn’t even shared what city he was in. “He’s on a business trip. Where do I need to go to see him?”
The officers hesitated. “I’m sorry to inform you that your husband died from his injuries.”
Cali would have collapsed to the floor if Officer Stanton hadn’t caught her. He let her lean on him heavily as he steered her to the nearby living room. They sat on the closest love seat, and he wrapped his arm around her as unconscious tears overflowed down her cheeks. Her mind reeled. There had to be a mistake.


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USA Today bestselling author Livia Grant lives in Chicago with her husband and furry rescue dog named Max. She is fortunate to have been able to travel extensively and as much as she loves to visit places around the globe, the Midwest and its changing seasons will always be home. Livia's readers appreciate her riveting stories filled with deep, character driven plots, often spiced with elements of BDSM.




Spotlight: Kate’s Congressman by Carmela Goff

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Kate’s Congressman
Carmela Goff
(Bright Sisters, #1)
Publication date: October 5th 2018
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Kate Bright lost the love of her life to tragedy. Now all she wants is to pick up the pieces and shelter herself from further pain. The last thing she needs is the attention of a handsome, arrogant politician who hungers for publicity. But Kate has a hunger of her own, whether she likes it or not. Being with Blake will require her to step into the limelight in spite of her private torment. Do his feelings for her extend beyond the public stage?

Kate’s Congressman is the first standalone novel in the Bright Sisters Romance series.

Watch for other volumes, including June’s Arresting Officer, coming soon.

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

One awkward step from the balcony onto the marble flooring inside sent her lurching toward the floor. She steadied herself, struggling to keep from dropping her champagne flute, and fell into something warm and solid. An arm scooped her up at the waist, firm but gentle, supporting her until she righted herself. For a moment she found herself wishing to stay in this stranger’s embrace, awakening a need for human connection. Then embarrassment took hold as she stepped away from the warm, dark wool of his suit jacket.

“I am so sorry, I guess I just—” Her breath escaped her as she stared up into the eyes of her rescuer, all chiseled jaw and piercing green eyes. She blushed as she realized that strong arm and those broad shoulders belonged to the guest of honor, Congressman Blake Madsen.

“Hey, I assist where I can. Looks like I was in the right place at the right time, for once.” He smiled and seemed to nod to himself, fighting not to give her more than a quick once-over. But eyes didn’t lie, and his told her he liked what he saw, too.

“That may be the first time I’ve actually been helped by Congress,” she said, blushing and wondering where the statement had come from. “No offense.”

He laughed, a throaty sound that warmed her from head to toe and seemed much more genuine than she would have expected from a politician. “Is this a roast or a fundraiser?” he asked. She studied him as he spoke, admiring his features that seemed to be carved from granite. Damn, he was even better looking in person than on TV. She could certainly see how he got elected.

“I’m sorry,” she said, holding up her flute, intact in spite of her clumsiness. “At least I saved my drink. Would have been a shame to spill it on that lovely suit.” She fought a strong urge to place a hand on his lapel, explore the rich wool, maybe reach for that silk tie and unknot it ever so slightly. Her face burned hot as those full lips of his upturned ever so slightly into a smile.

“That would have been unfortunate,” he said. “I think that would mean you owed me your vote.” Her frown caused him to backpedal. “Just kidding. I’m fine with earning it the old fashioned way. I’m Blake Madsen.”

It was her turn to laugh. “Of course you are,” she said. “Anyone with access to a TV or the internet knows you.” And any red-blooded woman with anything resembling a pulse. She kept that bit to herself.

He raised his eyebrows at her. “And you are?”

“Katherine Bright,” Janice said from behind her, approaching them and placing a hand on her friend’s shoulder. “Kate to her friends, of which you are no doubt one, Congressman.”

Blake nodded, held out his hand. She pressed her own into his, fitting like a glove, and forced herself to withdraw it before things became awkward.

“Kate is a brilliant editor,” Janice said, neglecting to mention her post at Home Weekly. “She also arranged the printing of those amazing handouts at the front table. I don’t know what I would do without her.” She was on a roll and not about to stop. “She’s such a hard worker, I’m amazed I managed to talk her into coming tonight. I keep telling her, she needs to get out and enjoy herself more, get back in the dating pool, you know?”

Slick, Janice. Very smooth. Kate was not sure how, but her face burned even hotter.

He nodded. “I can sympathize.”

“That’s right,” Janice said, producing her phone and clicking furiously. “Of course, we all know Blake’s status, since he made the cut.” She passed her phone to Kate with an article loaded in the browser. Sexy Public Servants: The Hottest Eligible Bachelors on Capitol Hill. Blake grinned up at her from position number two on the list, though as far as she was concerned he smoked all the competition. At thirty-two, he was apparently one of the youngest members of Congress.

“Janice, please.” It was Blake’s turn to flush red. “We’re here to sell my campaign, not me.”

Janice smirked as she took her phone back. “Is there a difference? Sorry to interrupt, but the Wallaces just arrived, and you definitely want to make an impression.”

Blake nodded, looking reluctant to leave. “Sorry, Ms. Bright,” he said, “but duty calls.”

Kate shrugged, disappointed to be losing the focus of those intense green eyes. “It’s why we’re here, isn’t it? And it’s Kate, not Ms. Bright.”

He grinned. “Sure thing, Kate. To be continued.”


Author Bio:

Carmela Goff grew up in sunny Southern California, where she studied history and fine arts before returning to her true love, the romance of words. She currently resides in California's Central Valley with her husband and Maine Coon cats. When not dreaming up new stories, she can be found hiking and geocaching and tending to her ever-demanding garden.

Website / Goodreads


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Cover Reveal: Finding My Fight by R.G. Corr

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Today we have the gorgeous cover reveal for FINDING MY FIGHT by R.G. Corr! Check it out and pre-order your copy today!

Title: FINDING MY FIGHT

Author: R.G. Corr

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release Day: October 25th

About FINDING MY FIGHT:

A perfect marriage? A beautiful home? Things are not always as they seem.   To everyone they knew, Ginny’s life with Blake Daniels was perfect. When Blake’s job takes them away from home and the friends Ginny has known since childhood, things start to change. On their own, in an isolated house, the man who held Ginny up through her mother’s passing is no longer the kind, supportive man she thought she’d married. In his place now resides a cruel beast whose only desire is to control her. Ginny’s life as she knows it, becomes indelibly marked with every bruise he leaves on her, and every callous word he sends her way.   When the unthinkable happens, Ginny is forced to find the strength she needs to leave and rebuild her life without Blake. Yet nothing could have prepared her for what was still to come. Ginny believed the nightmare was over, but it was only just beginning. Her husband is back, and there’s only one reason he’s here. For her.

Pre-Order Your Copy:

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Exclusive Excerpt:

He can’t be back. It’s impossible. My breaths come thick and fast as I run frantically down the road. Peering around the edge of my hood, I check over my shoulder. I can’t see him. But just because I don’t see him, doesn’t mean he isn’t there… biding his time. Hopelessness shrouds me as reminders of him continue to attack my mind. Blake… he can’t be here. He can’t be back. It’s impossible. The rushed pounding of my boots landing on the concrete causes my panic to surge. I want to cry out but what if he hears me? Stumbling the last step to the house, I drop my keys and shopping bag to the ground below, the contents spilling over the path around my feet. A sob catches in my throat as I desperately pick up the key. I have to get inside, away from him. Raising my right hand, I try to steady the trembling with my left. When the key slides into the lock and the click sounds, I push on the door with all my weight, almost falling inside. Leaving the shopping splayed outside, I spin around and slam the door closed. The echo reverberates around the small hallway, but I don’t pause for a second. I twist the lock and jerk the chain across. Only then, as I lean back against the door, do I fight to take control of my breaths. How can this be happening? How can he be here? My head judders from side to side in a state of shock and disbelief. The first tear forms before more follow, falling to my cheek. The freedom I’ve had a taste of is now at an end. He warned me it would always be us, no matter what. He won’t let me go twice, and I know I won’t be able to survive. Not again. Hesitantly, I tread into the kitchen. The room appears uncharacteristically dark, but I don’t put on a light. I don’t want to be seen. My focus flitters from corner to corner, door to door, searching for anything that is out of place—but everything appears to be how I left it. I move towards the window, standing back as far out of sight as I can. Gently, my fingers slide in between the blinds so I can peer outside. Dark clouds make their way across the sky, droplets of rain are starting to fall again, and the trees sway with the impending storm that’s been predicted. I scan over the few people that are walking down the path on the opposite side of the road. When I don’t see him, I look beyond, to the open fields. “Where are you?” I say out loud. “You’re dead. You’re supposed to be dead!” Withdrawing my fingers from the blinds, I move quickly to the cutlery drawer and take out a sharp knife. “Dead!” I whisper in desperation. The fear encroaches as I think of the unimaginable and the possibility that somehow my husband is still alive. I retreat until my back hits the wall. Like I did months ago when I knew he was near. When I knew it was time. I tighten my grip on the cold metal of the knife knowing that this time, I have no choice but to be ready for him. My mouth feels dry, and I lick my lips reliving what fear feels like. The hairs on the back of my neck now stand on end and my heart thumps louder, taking over the silence. My legs slowly start to give way, and I slide down the wall as a broken sob rips from my chest. I thought the nightmare had ended, but as I sit, gulping back my cries in an attempt to remain quiet, I fear it’s only just beginning. My husband is back, and there’s only one reason he’s here. For me. When a voice calls out, my body jolts against the wall. The letterbox rattles as he calls my name through the opening. My fingers tighten around the knife in my palm. He won’t hurt me. Not again.


About the Author:

R.G. Corr is a mum of three who has had an overactive imagination for many years. A discussion with a friend at a soft play area, amidst the noise and mayhem of toddlers, finally convinced her to put pen to paper and create her first novel. R.G. lives in Nottinghamshire, England and although Sherwood Forest is just down the road, she prefers the sight and sounds of Holywell Bay in Cornwall to provide the inspiration she desires. It has become one of her most loved places. When R.G. is not working or writing, you'll find her nose deep in her kindle swooning over her latest book boyfriend.

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Spotlight: The Secrets of Hawthorne House by Donald Firesmith

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The Secrets of Hawthorne House
by Donald Firesmith
Genre: Teen Paranormal Mystery

Fifteen-year-old Matt Mitchell was having the worst summer imaginable. Matt’s misery started when a drunk driver killed his mother. Then Matt’s father moved him and his sister to a small town in rural Indiana, as far as his grieving father could get from the ocean that his mother had loved. At the new high school, three bullies were determined to make Matt miserable. And to top it off, Matt learned that the recluse who lived in the dilapidated Victorian mansion next door was none other than Old Lady Hawthorne, the town’s infamous witch and murderer. Matt’s terrible summer was turning into an awful autumn when something quite unexpected happened. Old Lady Hawthorne’s niece and her three children moved in next door, and Matt met Gerallt.



A geek by day, Donald Firesmith works as a system and software engineer helping the US Government acquire large, complex software-intensive systems. In this guise, he has authored seven technical books, written numerous software- and system-related articles and papers, and spoken at more conferences than he can possibly remember. He's also proud to have been named a Distinguished Engineer by the Association of Computing Machinery, although his pride is tempered somewhat by his fear that the term "distinguished" makes him sound like a graybeard academic rather than an active engineer whose beard is still slightly more red than gray.

By night and on weekends, his alter ego writes modern paranormal fantasy, apocalyptic science fiction, action and adventure novels and relaxes by handcrafting magic wands from various magical woods and mystical gemstones. His first foray into fiction is the book Magical Wands: A Cornucopia of Wand Lore written under the pen name Wolfrick Ignatius Feuerschmied. He lives in Crafton, Pennsylvania with his wife Becky, and his son Dane, and varying numbers of dogs, cats, and birds.





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Spotlight: When You Became Mine by A.S. Teague

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I was twelve years old when I fell in love with Piper Kelley. Even at the age of eight, she was everything I wasn’t: brave, bold, and beautiful.

The night of my college graduation party, I finally made my move, but Piper only had eyes for one man—my younger brother.

With a battered heart, I left for Vegas, determined to put her behind me. But eight years later, fate proved once again that it had never cared about my plans.

Now, I’m back home, and determined not to fall into the same trap I spent the majority of my adolescence trying to escape.

But when Piper finds herself at the risk of losing her medical license, I realize just how far I’m willing to go to protect her.

I was twelve when Piper Kelley became mine.

It’s time I let her know.

Exclusive Excerpt

He tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear, his hand lingering as his thumb swiped the last bit of moisture from my face. “I love this song.”

My brows wrinkled and I strained my ears to hear what song was playing. “Yeah.” I forced a small smile and let my eyes flutter shut. My body began to sway with the music, and I let the artist’s soulful voice wash over me. “Maybe one day I’ll get to dance at their concert.”

Lawson moved and I opened my eyes to see him stand. Jumping from the last two steps, he turned back to me, his hand outstretched. “Why wait?”

With a soft smile on his face, his eyes sparkled as he asked, “Dance with me?”

I shook my head. “No, uh, I’m not really good.”

He laughed, the sound warming me. “Me neither. Come on.”

What the hell?

I stood and brushed off the back of my pants, hesitating. Who was this guy? His smile widened, and he winked—Lawson Reed, the nerdiest man I knew actually winked at me, before giving his outstretched hand a little shake. With a lift of my shoulders, I sucked in a breath before stepping into his open arms.

It was strange at first, but when he pulled me in close I rested my head on his chest, desperate for any morsel of comfort I could get. His heart beat strong, steady, in rhythm with my own. I allowed my lids to flutter shut again and I inched myself closer, holding Lawson impossibly tighter while he slowly rocked me back and forth.

The music played, and I got lost in the words.

The way they felt.

The way Lawson felt.

The way I felt in Lawson’s arms.

All too soon, the song ended, and a more upbeat one took its place.

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About the Author

A.S. Teague enjoys the warmth of South Carolina with her husband and two daughters. The stereotypes about peach cobbler and sweet tea are not overstated. After years in the medical field, she is now enjoying every minute of being a stay-at-home mom. She loves wine, the beach, wine on the beach, and crying at Disney movies. When she doesn’t have a book in her hand, she can be found pestering her husband with pictures of animals she wants to rescue, as well as debating whether to exercise or take a nap.

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