Spotlight: A Monster Mash Made for Two by J.C. Valentine

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(A Coffee Break Mystery, #2)

Publication date: October 11th 2023

Genres: Adult, Mystery, Romance

Synopsis:

In the haunted town of Oakdale, sparks fly between bartender Noah and shy photographer Allison amidst costumes and spooky decor at his tavern’s monster bash on All Hallows’ Eve. But Allison experiences unexplained supernatural events—glimpses of a shadowy figure that may be the legendary Irish Jack’s ghost. Are these just harmless paranormal tricks leading up to Halloween, or could the haunting be real?

Amid lingering questions of the paranormal, cute surprises, and creative dates, Noah and Allison’s connection deepens, until they both begin entertaining ideas of taking their lives and relationship to the next step. But even the sweetest romances have challenges. Will their sweet romance end as just another holiday fling?

Excerpt

"Wait, hold that pose!" I instructed Noah, framing the perfect shot on my camera and then snapping away. We were taking advantage of the vibrant fall scenery at a park on the outskirts of town I'd been wanting to photograph since I’d come through on my first night to meet up with Kara.

Ever since Noah had suggested I take his picture, I hadn’t stopped thinking about it. So when he had asked me to spend this sunny Saturday together, I hadn’t hesitated to bring my camera along. Since he'd been so supportive of my photography goals, I didn’t think he’d mind—and he hadn’t. Capturing Noah's good-natured personality and the colorful landscape was hardly a challenge. Instead, it was a blast. Not only was he insanely photogenic, but his charm and character oozed from every picture. A girl could almost be jealous. The man didn’t possess a single bad angle!

"Let me see!" Noah said, bounding over to peek at the preview on my Nikon. I laughed as I scrolled through the shots of him climbing trees, admiring the foliage, and grinning cheesily at me. He was a total goofball, and I loved every second of my time with him.

"These are awesome, Al. You have a great eye," he praised, giving my hand an affectionate squeeze. I smiled up at him, feeling that now familiar, fluttery happiness I always did when we were together, which, these days, had been near constant. There wasn’t a day that went by that didn’t have Noah in it. I’d even decided to stick around a while longer and stay with Kara, taking up her spare bedroom at her insistence, and at this point, even thinking about returning home seemed abominable.

I didn’t want to leave at all, and thoughts of giving up everything and moving here were starting to take over.

Things had been going amazingly between Noah and me since meeting at O'Reilly's Halloween bash a few weeks back. We both wanted to take it slow, but I knew this creative, funny guy was someone special. And the possibility of pursuing my dream of photography with Noah's endless support only made me more smitten.

Eventually, we collapsed onto a quilt beneath a canopy of red and gold leaves, munching the snacks we'd packed. Noah had even brought a thermos of rich homemade hot apple cider. He was so thoughtful, I couldn’t stop smiling inside. If ever God had made a perfect man, Noah was it.

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About the Author

J.C. Valentine is the USA Today and International bestselling author of the Night Calls and Wayward Fighters Series and the Forbidden Trilogy. Her vivid imagination and love of words and romance had her penning her own romance stories from an early age, which, despite being poorly edited and written longhand, she forced friends and family members to read. No, she isn't sorry. 

Living in the Northwest, she has three amazing children and far too many pets. Among the many hats she wears, J.C. is an entrepreneur. Having graduated with honors, she holds a Bachelor's in English and when she isn't writing, you can find her editing for fellow authors. 

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Spotlight: The Ancient Ones by C. B. Strul

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The Ancient Ones is a Science Fiction adventure that takes place on Earth 100,000 years ago. It is the survival tale of a teenage girl named Blue Flower who escapes into the wilderness as her tribe is captured by an opposing clan. Out in the far reaches of the desert landscape, she is rescued by a being from another world and the two of them form a bond through music.

c.b.strul presents his first full-length science fiction novel under the publishing flag of Odom's Library. He has previously released a series of three novellas: Spinners, Forget the Complex, and What Grows from the Stump of a Tree? He lives in Los Angeles with his fiance, extended family, and two sweet pug doggies.

Buy on Amazon | Bookshop.org

About the Author

C.B. Strul is excited to launch his first full-length science fiction novel entitled The Ancient Ones. He has previously released a series of three novellas: Spinners, Forget the Complex, and What Grows from the Stump of a Tree? He lives in Los Angeles with his fiancée, extended family, and two sweet pugs. To learn more, please visit OdomsLibrary.com or follow him on Instagram @CBSciFi.

Spotlight: Get Your Book Seen and Sold: The Essential Book Marketing and Publishing Guide by Claudine Wolk and Julie Murkette

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It is easier than ever to publish a book, but many authors find out too late about the actual work-the book marketing-that needs to be done to achieve sizable book sales. Instead of embracing the opportunities to promote their books, authors are intimidated and shut down. Those days are over. This is the book authors MUST HAVE to give their books the best chance to be seen and sold.  

In this essential, easy-to-read, and easy-to-understand guide, the author will work through the graphs, examples, and exercises in the book and learn:

  • The fundamentals of book marketing: Message, Audience, and Hook 

  • How the book marketing fundamentals effortlessly feed into every aspect of book marketing

  • The breadth of book marketing options and how book marketing works, with examples

  • How book distribution IS a crucial part of book marketing 

  • To develop an elevator pitch and a formal pitch to media contacts

  • To develop with a doable book marketing plan

  • To develop media kit items for their book publicity efforts: Press Release, Author Bio, etc.

  • The types of book reviews and how to get them

  • To create a list of media contacts and how to use them

  • To organize their new entrepreneurial business as book marketer/author

  • Ideas to “shake their tree” to develop unique book marketing opportunities 

  • To examine the best social media channels to promote their books

  • Where to put their book promotion dollars

  • Most importantly, authors will learn something priceless...the correct starting point!

Authors, You CAN do right by your book! Go on and reach the book buyers that you had in mind when wrote your treasured manuscript and Get Your Book Seen and Sold today.

Excerpt

Your Message

You Are Sharing What Your Audience Already Desires

Always remember that you are sharing a message that your audience already desires. You are not selling anything. The process of identifying your message is fun because you know your message better than anyone. You care about your message more than anyone. You needed to share your message so badly that you wrote a book! YOU are the person who will come up with the best ideas for sharing your message. YOU will know who and where to pitch your story. YOU are the one who cares the most, so you will be the one who will work the hardest. Once you start to get responses to your marketing and promotion efforts, you will love it and have fun. More ideas will flow. You will be on a roll, and there is nothing more fun than seeing your message out in the world.

Buy on Amazon | Bookshop.org

About the Author

Claudine Wolk and Julie Murkette are experienced in sharing their knowledge of the publishing industry to give books the BEST chance to be sold. Julie is the long-time owner of Satya House Publications, which published and marketed the award-winning I See the Sun series of books, among others. Claudine Wolk is a published author, journalist, podcast host and book marketing consultant. You can find her writing in her weekly newsletter on Substack: Get Your Book Seen and Sold. Her book, It Gets Easier and Other Lies We Tell New Mothers, (Harper Collins) is translated into three languages and was released as an audiobook (Nov. 2022).

Find Claudine online at:

Substack: https://ClaudineWolk.Substack.com

Website: ClaudineWolk.com

Instagram: @ClaudineWolk

Facebook: Facebook.com/ClaudineWolk

Twitter: @help4newmoms

Spotlight: Eat Smarter Family Cookbook: 100 Delicious Recipes to Transform Your Health, Happiness, and Connection by Shawn Stevenson

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Release Date: October 10, 2023

Pages: 304

The companion cookbook to Shawn Stevenson’s Eat Smarter, a national bestseller, featuring 100 family-friendly recipes to help you boost your metabolism, up-level your energy, and start living a happier life.

Starting a new health journey may seem daunting, but you don’t have to do it alone. In fact, not doing it alone is a secret to longevity and health that has been largely overlooked… until now! The latest research shows that simple changes to our environment, and eating more often with people we care about, have a tremendous impact on our food choices, metabolic health, mental health, and so much more.

As health expert and #1-ranked podcast host of “The Model Health Show” Shawn Stevenson shows us, nutrition goes beyond preparing and eating healthy foods, and can be a delicious, transformative experience for all. In Eat Smarter Family Cookbook, Stevenson expands on his bestselling Eat Smarter with 100 delectable recipes with radically upgraded ingredients that are fit for the whole family. Inside, you’ll find recipes like Sweet Potato Protein Pancakes, Supreme Salmon Burgers, and Avocado Fries that offer a healthy and mouthwatering twist to old classics.

Each easy-to-prepare recipe is designed with nutrient-dense ingredients that will transform your body from the inside out. Complete with sample meal plans, mind-blowing food facts, and tips to transform your family’s kitchen, Eat Smarter Family Cookbook has all the recipes you’ll need to upgrade your food choices and, ultimately, transform your health and the health of your entire family.

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Spotlight: A Cowboy Country Christmas by Jennie Marts

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(Creedence Horse Rescue, #6)

Publication date: October 10th 2023

Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Holiday, Romance

Synopsis:

There’s no better time than Christmas to open your heart

Holt Callahan used to love the holidays, but getting dumped on Christmas Eve would turn anyone into a Grinch. Now he hates Christmas and all the holly jolly shenanigans that go with it. When he moves back to his cousin’s ranch in Creedence, Colorado, the last thing he expects is to come face to face with the one who got away and all her holiday cheer.

Lainey McBride is all about Christmas, and despite running her family’s ranch festivities while her grandfather is in rehab, she hasn’t lost her holiday spirit, no matter how many things don’t go according to plan. But the holidays have their own way of healing, and a Christmas in Creedence just might be the merry magic that brings these two broken hearts back together again.

Excerpt

This book is so chockful of funny, heartwarming AND steamy scenes—it’s hard to pick just one for an excerpt. The ugly Christmas sweater scene was fun and I think the live nativity scene is one of the most fun scenes I’ve ever written. This book has a fainting goat in it, so you know that’s going to cause some fun. But there is also a lot of Christmas magic and memories. And making a little girl’s Christmas dream come true.

There is an adorable dog that Holt finds under the porch of the bunkhouse and against his better judgement, he feeds it and gives it a blanket. Eventually, it finds its way into Holt’s house and both his and Lainie’s hearts. There was a scene I had a lot of fun writing when Holt and Lainie are talking about naming the dog….

Lainey sucked in a breath as she reached to pet the dog’s side. “What do you mean? Why wouldn’t you keep her? She’s obviously already attached to you.”

“She just likes me because I feed her. But look at her. She’s too friendly not to be someone’s pet.” After getting over her initial skittishness of the night before, the dog had been cuddly and affectionate, either following after them if they walked around the bunkhouse or rolling over for belly rubs if she was sitting next to them. “Some family is probably missing her.”

“Maybe.”

“I need to at least call the Humane Society and the sheriff’s office to see if someone’s looking for her.”

“Okay, but if no one claims her, then she’s for sure your dog. And you should totally name her something Christmas-themed, since this is the time of year when you found her. How about Holly? Or Mistletoe? Or how about Carol?”

He cocked an eyebrow. “What a great idea. Then I can always be reminded of this holiday I’m such a huge fan of. And also, if I were keeping her, there’s no way in hell I’d name my dog Carol. Or Mistletoe. Unless you want me to just turn in my man card right now.”

Her eyes went dreamy as she stroked a finger along his sizable bicep. “As if. And no, I’m quite partial to your man parts. I mean your manly parts. Wait, I mean your manliness.” She dropped her head into her hands. “Pretend I did not say that.”

“Too late. You already said you loved my man parts.”

“I said partial to…and anyway, we were talking about the dog. And thinking of ideas of what to name her.”

“You were thinking of what to name her. But I’d rather go back to talking about what you love about my—”

She held up her hand to cut him off. “What about Jingle or Snickerdoodle for a name?”

“For my man parts? I don’t think they’d take too kindly to being called Snickerdoodle, but Jingle Balls does have a certain holiday ring to it.”

She let out one of her hearty laughs, the kind that came from her belly and snuck out as a surprise. The kind that made his manly heart melt like butter on a hot biscuit. “We are not going to start talking about your Christmas balls again,” she said, still laughing. “How about Eggnog or Snowy? For the dog.”

He grimaced. “How about not?”

He was acting grumpy, but he was really having fun with her. Too much fun. She was so easy to be with, and not just to be with, but to be himself with. He was only this comfortable with a few select people. Although his comfortableness with her was also interspersed with moments of fluttering heartbeats and a racing pulse whenever their hands touched, or her shoulder brushed his, or if he caught a whiff of her delicious scent. Her nearness could send jittery nerves spiraling through his stomach that made him feel like a love-crazed teenager, which probably shaved several points off that man card they were just discussing.

She tapped her fingers to her lips. “Okay, I’ll stop with the too cutesy. But I really still like the idea of a Christmas name. Just give me a second. I know I can think of a good one. Hmm. I suppose Cindy Lou Who is out?”

He shrugged. “Not if I can shorten it and just call her Lou.”

Buy on Amazon | Bookshop.org

About the Author

Jennie Marts is the USA TODAY Best-selling author of award-winning books filled with love, laughter, and always a happily ever after. Readers call her books “laugh out loud” funny and the “perfect mix of romance, humor, and steam.” Fic Central claimed one of her books was “the most fun I’ve had reading in years.”

She is living her own happily ever after in the mountains of Colorado with her husband, two dogs, and a parakeet that loves to tweet to the oldies. She’s addicted to Diet Coke, adores Cheetos, and believes you can’t have too many books, shoes, or friends. 

Her books include the contemporary western romance Hearts of Montana series, the romantic comedy/ cozy mysteries of The Page Turners series, the hunky hockey-playing men in the Bannister family in the Bannister Brothers Books, and the small-town romantic comedies in the Lovestruck series of Cotton Creek Romances. 

Jennie loves to hear from readers. Follow her on Facebook at Jennie Marts Books, or Twitter at @JennieMarts. Visit her at www.jenniemarts.com and sign up for her newsletter to keep up with the latest news and releases.

Connect:

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https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6876233.Jennie_Marts

Spotlight: Rain Falling on Embers by Liana Gardner

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(Katie McCabe, #1)

Publication date: October 3rd 2023

Genres: Contemporary, Middle-Grade, Young Adult

Synopsis:

How do you survive the worst thing that can ever happen?

When thirteen-year-old Katie McCabe’ s dad gets sick and is hospitalized, she’ s sent to live with her uncle in a strange town. But within days of arriving, her dad unexpectedly dies.

Struggling with her new reality, Katie is lost. She doesn’t fit in at her new home and never will.

It only gets worse when Katie starts her freshman year of high school and begins to have run-ins with the son of the man who owns the town— a powerful man with ties to her family’ s past.

Then one day, she is attacked from behind. Blindfolded and slung across the back of a horse, Katie is taken up into the hills. Dumped in the middle of the wilderness in an oncoming storm, she is left to find her way home. But how will she survive?

Excerpt

I drummed my heels against the bale of hay beneath me. “You know, I’ll swear it was all my idea.”

“But, Katie, it was.” Tom reached behind his back and pulled out a flask. “Except for this.”

“Are you getting sly on me, Tommy Wolff?” He never tried anything without checking with me first. “What’s in it?” Other than something to get us both into trouble.

He shrugged and leaned back against the side of the shed. “Nothing much. Just a little rum to go with the sodas I brought.” He cracked open a can and handed it to me. “Drink some out, so I can spice it up for you.”

Tipping the can back, I swallowed as much as I could in a mouthful—no dainty sips for this girl—and gagged. The bubbles flew up my nose, triggering a coughing spasm.

Tommy slapped my back until I caught my breath again. “Are you okay, Katie?”

The urge to sneeze gripped me and I held up an index finger. When it came, the sneeze nearly blew me off the hay.

“Next time, give me more of a warning.” Tommy stuck a finger in his ear and jiggled it. “I might be deaf.”

I wrinkled my nose. “Sorry.”

“You’re so ladylike.” He snickered. “NASA should hire you for testing sonic boom levels.”

I smacked his shoulder, then passed the soda back to him. “If Daddy finds out, he’s gonna blow a gasket.”

Tom’s grin faded. “You gotta admit, you make things tough for your dad. I can hear the news at eleven now.” He rolled into his impression of a TV announcer. “Tonight’s feature is on Sheriff Ron McCabe. Honest and upright, Sheriff McCabe stands for truth, justice, and the American way, keeping our county safe.”

I groaned. Trust Tommy to work in a comic book reference.

“But all superheroes have their kryptonite, so let’s explore the secret he’s hiding.” He pulled the corners of his mouth as far down as he could. “While Ron McCabe upholds the law, his only daughter, Katie, is the biggest troublemaker this town has ever seen.” Tom burst into laughter.

“Stop, already.” I leaned back on the hay and studied the whorls in the ramshackle beam and board ceiling. If I had to hear one more time how I’d compromised Daddy’s position as sheriff … I turned my head toward Tommy and winked. “But you have more fun with me than anyone else.”

He snatched up the rum and made his eyebrows dance. “Ready for some fun?”

Laughing, I sat up. “What made you think of this?”

He concentrated on pouring the rum into the can. “If we're going to start smoking, we should mark the occasion with a drink.” He doctored his soda and set the flask on the pallet flooring. “Anyway, you’re always saying I never come up with my own ideas. So, I did.”

“I’ll say. And what an idea.” I gave him a high five.

A faint flush of pride colored Tom’s cheeks. Although the afternoon sun shone bright, the inside of the shed remained dark. The only light filtered through the cracks in the walls. We kept the light off so we didn’t attract any attention—not that we would, because a clump of trees screened the shed from the house. Even with the lights on and the door open, no one would see us. Besides, Mr. Pickford rarely ventured far from the house these days. And since I took care of his animals for him, he didn’t have any reason to come out to his shed.

Tom held up his can. “Cheers.”

I jumped off the hay bale to click cans and knocked the flask over. “Oh, Tommy, I’m sorry.” I grabbed it and stood it upright. “I only spilled a little.” I bit my lip. If his dad found out, Tommy would catch fire … more for letting it spill than for taking it in the first place.

“Forget it. I should’ve put the cap back on.” He raised his can. “To our adventure in smoking.”

This time we clinked without mishap, and I took a big swig. My first alcohol at thirteen—I felt so worldly. Shivers scurried up and down my spine and heat warmed my cheeks.

Having watched other smokers do it, I smacked the pack of cigarettes on my palm and took two out. I stuck one in the corner of my mouth and handed the other to Tommy. “Light me.”

Tom tore out a match. “I'll warn you, my dad smokes strong ones.” He struck it and watched it flare. “Here you go.” He dropped the matchbook and held the burning flame toward me.

Not wanting to gag, I didn’t inhale all the way on my first puff. I had an image to preserve. Tommy struck another match and held it to the end of his cigarette. Though he tried not to, he coughed. I took another drag, a little deeper this time. I’d ease into smoking, one puff at a time. I snatched the packet Tom dropped.

“It’s interesting how people get engrossed in watching a flame.” I lit a match and stared at it while it flickered. Right before it could burn my fingers, I shook it out and dropped it. Lighting another, I held it in front of Tom’s eyes. “What do you think about?”

He gazed at it without answering.

Over the summer, a new Tommy had emerged, and I didn’t know exactly how to handle the changes. For instance, he wanted everyone to call him Tom instead of Tommy. Try as I might, the old, familiar name slipped off my tongue before I could stop it. He’d been my best friend since Daddy and I had moved here when I was two, but after he’d turned fourteen, he wanted more, and I wasn’t sure I did. Neither of us understood what we were going through. Why couldn’t things stay the same?

“Ouch.” The flame burned me, so I shook it, and flung the match over my shoulder. I blew on my fingers then looked into Tommy’s hazel eyes. “So? What do you think about when you stare at a flame?”

Tom stroked his jaw and gave a little half shrug. “I don’t know, I kinda stop thinking. It mesmerizes me.” He perched next to me on the hay bale. “Katie, are we still going to be friends once I start high school?”

“Are you kidding? Of course.” I hated the thought of being left behind in middle school just because I was a year younger but couldn’t fathom life without him. “You’re my best friend, and nothing, not even you going to a different school, will change our friendship.” I bumped my shoulder against his. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

Tommy slouched and stared at his sneakers. “But you might make all sorts of new friends and won’t need me to hang out with anymore.”

Was he nuts? “Hey, look at me.”

He gave me a sideways glance.

“New friends? We already know everyone in this podunk place. Any new friends I have will want to be friends with you. You’re a great guy, so don’t let anyone tell you anything different.”

Tom straightened, but then his eyes got big. A crackling noise came from behind us. Smoke overpowered the smell of the cigarettes.

I spun around. The dry hay had caught fire and the flames raged.

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About the Author

Liana Gardner is a Bram Stoker Awards Nominee and the multi-award-winning author of 7th Grade Revolution, The Journal of Angela Ashby, and Speak No Evil. The daughter of a rocket scientist and an artist, Liana combines the traits of both into a quirky yet pragmatic writer and in everything sees the story lurking beneath the surface. 

Liana volunteers with high school students through EXP which prepares students for a better life by helping young people gain experience, unlock doors, and build the confidence they need to succeed by bringing industry and schools together to build tomorrow’s workforce and provide career opportunities to students from under-served communities.

Engaged in a battle against leukemia and lymphoma, Liana spends much of her time at home, but her imagination takes her wherever she wants to go. Most recently she was titled Lady of Lochaber and Glencoe and was honored with a star named after her in the Andromeda Constellation.

Liana is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

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https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16959433.Liana_Gardner