*Book Tour & Giveaway* Faded Red Beads

 

Whether you experienced foster care or adoption or neither, 

this story will encourage you to keep believing that good will find you.

Faded Red Beads: From an Orphanage to a Disrupted Adoption.

A Story of Courage, Resiliency and Faith.

by Monica Hargrave

Genre: Nonfiction Inspirational Biography

As I began to head upstairs to my bedroom, my adopted father abruptly asked, "Where have you been?" I responded with, "What do you mean? I called you at 3:15 p.m. and told you I had a game this evening." He said, "No, you did not. I did not talk to you today!"

I stood there, frozen, thinking, you're crazy as hell. Mr. O'Neal proceeded to tell me what my future was going to be, and I didn't agree with anything he said. "You will not participate in sports; you will come directly home from school, cook dinner, clean the house, etc." As he yelled, I began plotting my next move. When I tuned in, he said, "You will have no outside interaction with anyone." I recall thinking, This is my last day in this hellhole. It didn't matter where I ended up, I knew anything had to be better than this. I wasn't living at all. His home felt like prison, and I was ready to be free. This wasn't about me trying to sneak around and see boys. It was about a robbed childhood. I didn't have many answers, but I knew living with Mr. O'Neal was suffocating. He wasn't equipped to be an adoptive parent. The system failed. Providing a roof wasn't enough.

This story is written to inspire individuals. To move when you don't have all the answers about what lies ahead, but you know if you stay where you are, you will die. To trust your gut and to not copy anyone's life, you are an original. It just so happens this story is about a little girl's journey from an orphanage to a failed adoption to charting her path forward. Whether you experienced foster care or adoption or neither, this story will encourage you to keep believing that good will find you.

  

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When Monica was born, the doctors said, "If she makes it overnight, she will survive." Monica spent approximately nine years in foster care and then ran away from her adoptive family. She strives to empower women to actively address whatever is holding them back from leading fulfilled lives. You get one life. Live it. Monica completed her undergraduate studies at Niagara University and has a masters degree in health administration from Central Michigan University and a masters in human resources development from Villanova University. She completed Emory University's executive coaching program and coaches women who are unfulfilled in their careers. Monica loves trying vegan recipes, animals, exercising, and reading James Patterson novels. She has three furry friends.

 

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*Book Tour & Giveaway* A Holiday for Homicide-GUEST POST

A televised cooking competition puts Sherry, a successful cooking competitor, in the spotlight, 

especially when the final challenge calls for catching a killer.

A Holiday For Homicide

A Cook-Off Mystery #9

by Devon Delaney

Genre: Cozy Murder Mystery

 A televised cooking competition puts Sherry in the spotlight, especially when the final challenge calls for catching a killer . . .

Despite being a seasoned competitor, nothing could have prepared Sherry Oliveri for the thrill of being chosen for a three-day cooking challenge on national television. She’s dying to tell her friends, but she and everyone else involved in the contest has been sworn to secrecy until it airs. Still, that’s not stopping someone from penning cryptic notes about the show for the whole town to read, which has the production crew on edge—right up until one of them is found dead.

Determined to root out the killer, Sherry suspects the truth lies with whoever’s behind the mysterious notes—which have now turned dark with menacing comments on the murder and suggestions of buried secrets. Trying to unravel it all while focusing on her recipes, Sherry’s stopped dead in her tracks when the cook-off host drops a bombshell. With no time to spare, she’ll have to unearth the one missing ingredient that will ensure the killer’s cooked . . .

Includes recipes from Sherry’s kitchen!

Praise for the Cook-Off Mysteries:

“The Cook-Off Mystery series by Devon Delaney is a very tasty treat!” —Cozy Mystery Book Reviews

“This is a very fun and rollicking mystery that stays light-hearted even as the case gets more complicated . . . Cooking, holiday celebrations, and moving family drama all make for the perfect escape.” —Kings River Life

 

"This book was gripping and hard to put down. It didn't feel like everything else you see out there, it felt very fresh. I really enjoyed this book!" – Netgalley Reviewer

 

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**Don’t miss the rest of the Cook-Off Mysteries! **

Find them on Amazon!

Devon Delaney is life-long resident of the Northeast and currently resides in coastal Connecticut. She is a wife, mother of three, grandmother of two and accomplished cooking contester. She taught computer education and Lego Robotics for over ten years prior to pursuing writing. Along the way Devon has been handsomely rewarded for her recipe innovation over the last twenty-plus years. Combining Devon’s beloved hobby of cooking contesting with her enthusiasm for writing was inevitable.

When Devon is not preparing for her next cook-off, she may be found pursuing her other hobbies, including playing competitive USTA league tennis, gardening, needlepointing, painting, jarring her produce, and hooking rugs. Her standard poodle, Rocket, is her pride and joy and keeps her on the path of sanity.

 

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GUEST POST

What inspired you to write this book?

I was inspired to write A Holiday For Homicide, the latest addition to my cooking competition cozy murder mystery series, by my experience on television’s Live With Kelly and Ryan Show. I won their backyard grill recipe contest and was invited to cook my winning recipe on the show live.  I have always used my cook-off experiences as fodder for my books and cooking on television added another dimension. All I needed was a murder, many suspects and enough intrigue to engage my readers from page one through a thrilling conclusion and my book was done.

Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in A Holiday For Homicide? 

Kat is a new character in my series. She is a young friend of the main character Sherry, and is a ripe source of information as she works in the mayor’s office. Pep is Sherry’s brother and runs a food truck. He is privy to all sorts of characters ordering his famous toasts at his truck’s window. Basil, one of Pep’s clientele, is the director and producer of the televised cook-off being held in Sherry’s hometown of Augustin, CT. He has a few secrets he shares only with his associates. One secret may hold the reason for a murder that occurs. Garret is a freelance journalist who uncovers more questions than answers as he covers the cook-off event. Hazel is a quirky older woman who has a nose for news and a desire to be involved.

How did you come up with the concept and characters for the book?

I have always maintained, competition breeds bad behavior. I have never witnessed a murder in my twenty plus years of participating in cook-offs, but I can see how one might occur, given the right circumstances. The televised cook-offs I have been a part of are another level of stress and tension. My characters are an outflow of - who knows the victim, who has reason to want him dead and who would benefit most from his demise. I also create red herring characters based on the likelihood they draw attention away from the guilty party. The natural progression of the plot dictates the importance of my characters. I’m as surprised as anyone when the red herrings begin to fade away and the truth reveals itself. 

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*Book Tour & Giveaway* The Synchrotron-GUEST POST

 

The End of the World has Never Been This Incompetent!

The Synchrotron

by Rain Hunter

Genre: Science Fiction Comedy

✔️A deadly virus.
✔️A world overrun by monsters.
✔️ Six scientists on a dangerous mission to cure the world.
We are screwed...

 

They only wanted a Nobel Prize. Instead, they will have to save the world.

It was going to be the experiment of the year. Preparing to blast x-rays through a piece of palladium at the most dazzling European synchrotron, Anna and five of her fellow scientists expected a few hiccups.

 

Not a horde of hungry spleen-eating zombies.

 

The world has succumbed to the virus, leaving only scattered survivors.

When Anna and her friends realise that the infected can be cured back into humans, they pledge to find a cure no matter the cost. Equipped with a lab wrench and questionable lab ethics, Team ID26 are humanity’s last hope.

 

But what is the price of saving the world?

 

Running out of time, Anna and her friends will face the impossible choices between life and death, morality and cure. When the future of the world is at stake, what will they have to sacrifice?

 

**Only .99cents!!**

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What is similar between science and postapocalyptic survival?

Everything that can, will go wrong.”

 

Rain Hunter is a writer of post-apocalyptic science fiction. Having spent years as a materials researcher, Rain intricately weaves scientific precision into the stories. “I’ve had a fun lab run over the years and might have picked some degrees on the way,” laughs Rain. "But the most important thing for my books is that the science has to be real. No more can-and-know-it-all characters! If I know how to cook meth from baking soda and cough syrup, I won’t be able to start a rocket engine, full stop. Even in fiction!”

 

Rain is a huge fan of the zombie genre, both in movies and books. “I’d kill to be a zombie extra in a film. Even if they smash my brains out in the first two seconds. Sign me up anytime.”

 

Dark humour and irony are the main ingredients in Rain’s novels. “I am sure the world will die laughing. That’s what I would do.”

 

Rain lives in Birmingham (England), which serves as a main inspiration for the goriest post-apocalyptic scenes. In their spare time, Rain plays a harp in the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Nah, not really. 

 

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GUEST POST

When I realised my special calling

I was fifteen when my best friend and I were assigned to create an “informative school poster” covering recent events. Basically an A1-sized newspaper with full creative freedom. This was long before mobile phones or slick newsletter apps existed.

My friend, let’s call her Hulia because that’s her name, and I spent two weekends drafting, doodling, and perfecting our creation. We spiced it up with an overdose of humour and proudly pinned our masterpiece in the school hall.

It was taken down within thirty minutes, the time sufficient for the whole school to spread it out into memes and jokes.

Apparently, “creative freedom” didn’t mean the full humour allowance. The school’s SLT called our humour Senseless, Hammy, Inappropriate, and Tacky. Win? 

As for my calling, that’s for food. Easy. Call me when there’s food.

 

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*Book Tour & Giveaway* The Hole in Your Life

 

The Hole in Your Life by Dr. Bob Rich is a heartfelt, 

uplifting practical guide to understanding grief and healing from it.

The Hole in Your Life: Grief and Bereavement

by Dr. Bob Rich, PhD

Genre: Nonfiction, Inspirational Self- Help

The Hole in Your Life by Dr. Bob Rich is a heartfelt, practical guide to understanding grief and healing from it. Rooted in personal experience-most notably the loss of his daughter, Natalie-and decades of psychological counseling, Dr. Rich offers readers compassionate tools for navigating bereavement. Drawing on real-life case studies, mindfulness techniques, and the "seven magic bullets" for wellbeing, he explores the complexities of grief, from anticipatory sorrow to finding meaning and renewal. Blending storytelling, humor, and therapeutic insight, this book serves as both a comfort and a roadmap for anyone experiencing loss, emphasizing that while grief is unique and unpredictable, growth and peace are possible.

 

"Thank you for asking me to read The Hole in Your Life. Its insights will help countless people struggling with loss. I recently lost my youngest sister, and it was a blessing to read your thoughts on the paths I can take toward remembering her in healthy ways." -- Georgiann Baldino, author of A Family and Nation under Fire, and other books

"Dr Bob Rich's The Hole in Your Life is written from the heart. It shares his personal experience and many case studies with his clients, making research-based recommendations on how to process grief in a very readable and easy-to-apply manner." -- Dr David Morawetz, counselling psychologist, grief counsellor, and founder and director, Social Justice Fund

"Grief is something that touches everyone's life at some point or another, so it only makes sense to empower ourselves with the tools to cope-and who better to learn from than Dr. Bob Rich, a psychologist with decades of experience helping patients overcome a wide variety of life's problems, including of course, grief." -- I. C. Robledo, a bestselling author and editor in self-development.

"The Hole in Your Life is a good toolbox for coping with grief and I agree with all of it. Among the points that resonated with me most deeply are these ideas: grief is part of our life experience, so let's not be afraid of it; it is easier to recover from grief if you grieve before the person dies and suffer with them; and, that only way to learn from loss with meaning is through suffering, as long as it is not self-inflicted." -- Alfredo Zotti, author of Music Therapy: An Introduction with case studies for mental illness recovery.

Learn more at Grief.LHPress.com

From Loving Healing Press

 

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Dr. Bob Rich is an Australian storyteller who has retired 5 times so far, from 5 different occupations, one being decades of psychotherapy. He is still going strong as a writer, editor and Professional Grandfather.

Any person under 25 qualifies as his grandbaby; they only need to apply. Everything he does, including his writing, is designed to work for a survivable future, and one worth surviving in.

His self-help books include woodcraft, coping with cancer, conquering depression, anxiety and anger. Fiction ranges over historical, contemporary, and speculative. The book that has won the most awards is a biography. His blog, Bobbing Around, is at https://bobrich18.wordpress.com

 

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*Book Tour & Giveaway* The Fake Ghost

 

A supernatural thriller of vengeance and occultic magic.

A powerful American leader is reborn as a black child in an African hut.

The Fake Ghost

by Nuzo Onoh

Genre: Supernatural Horror, Magical Realism

A dark farce and a supernatural thriller of rebirth, betrayal, vengeance, occultic magic, mysterious invocations and creepy rituals–from Nuzo Onoh, recipient of the Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement and “the Queen of African Horror.”

Set both in Nigeria and the USA, The Fake Ghost follows the whacky and sinister travails of the President of the United States, reborn as a black child in a tiny African hut. As the child grows, he insists on being called POTUS and hears disturbing voices in his head that often cause him to be cruel and selfish. Until one day an accident separates the linked souls. With the help of a medicine-man, the president must find a way to free his trapped soul and return to the United States to prevent a dastardly political plot against him. But first, he must enter a diabolical blood pact, which might return to haunt him with devastating consequences.

"Sometimes shocking, fantastical and hilarious, but also tinged with hope, this ghost will haunt you long after the final page." —Tim Lebbon, author of The Last Storm

 

**Releases Aug 12, 2025!**

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Nuzo Onoh is an award-winning Nigerian-British writer of speculative fiction She is a pioneer of the African horror literary genre. Hailed as the “Queen of African Horror”, Nuzo’s writing showcases both the beautiful and horrific in the African culture within fictitious narratives. Nuzo’s works have featured in numerous magazines, podcasts and anthologies, as well as in academic studies. She has given talks and lectures about African Horror, including at the prestigious Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies, London. She is a Bram Stoker Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Nuzo holds a Law degree and Masters degree in Writing, both from Warwick University, England. She is a certified Civil Funeral Celebrant, licensed to conduct non-religious burial services. An avid musician with an addiction to JungYup and K-indie, Nuzo plays both the guitar and piano, and holds an NVQ in Digital Music Production. She resides in the West Midlands, United Kingdom.

 

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*Release Blitz & Giveaway* The fifth Strain

"This taut, entertaining tale mingles astonishing powers with ordinary adolescence."

—Kirkus (The Fourth Kinetic)

The Fifth Strain

Clairvoyants Book 2

by Brady Moore

Genre: YA Fantasy

There were four known types of Clairvoyants who had escaped from a laboratory, their memories wiped clean: Kinetics, Readers, Prophets, and Aurals. But that was before they met 17-year-old Rion Grean. Since the moment Rion discovered his telekinetic abilities, he knew his life would never be ordinary. However, he didn't anticipate the drastic changes that would follow when his mother's secrets were revealed, leading to their farewell.

On that day, Rion learned he wasn't alone in possessing extraordinary powers and was introduced to PSYRIIN, a militaristic entity determined to annihilate his kind. With a new adversary emerging, Rion is confronted with tough decisions: Should he search for his mother, or should he ally with the Clairvoyants to rally the scattered few in a battle for their survival? As hidden truths come to light and he uncovers a mysterious link to a new strain, Rion will soon understand the true meaning of fighting for family.

 

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The Fourth Kinetic

Clairvoyants Book 1

In this world, there are four strains of clairvoyants: Kinetics who can move objects with their minds, Prophets who have involuntary visions of the future, Readers who can delve into the innermost thoughts of others in an instant, and Aural who can transfer their consciousness to control the bodies of others.

At just 17 years old, Rion Grean is a Kinetic with no knowledge that he is not alone in his abilities. His protective mother had kept them constantly moving, even going as far as refusing to tell Rion about his father whom he never met. However, when an accident separates them, Rion finds himself being pursued by a covert militaristic force that sees his kind as dangerous anomalies in society. Suddenly thrust into a world filled with different factions of Clairvoyants, Rion must navigate through alliances and betrayals to determine who he can trust.

Despite his natural talents and intelligence, Rion has always struggled to make friends and find purpose in life due to his sheltered upbringing. But as he faces challenges outside of his comfort zone, he learns the true meaning of friendship and family. This is not a typical story of good versus evil; it is a deeply personal journey of self-discovery and the struggle to coexist in a society that fears what it cannot understand.

 

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Brady Moore was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. He began writing stories and drawing his own comic books at the age of ten and never looked back. After graduating high school he attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Media Studies. Heavily influenced by film and television, his writing includes elements from multiple genres and multimedia styles. He currently resides in Charlotte, NC where he enjoys writing everything from poetry to movie scripts. His ultimate goal is to see one of his works adapted for the screen.

 

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*Pre-Release Tour & Giveaway* Some Call Me Eve

 

Enemies bound by desire. 

Allies torn by fate.

Some Call Me Eve

by T. Pike

Genre: Historical Romance

Princess Evangeline has an insatiate lust for power. As her kingdom’s most feared warrior and heiress to the throne, she plans to one day rule in her father’s place, just as she rules over countless men during secret nights of sin.

But when the castle falls to a new enemy, Evangeline becomes a slave in her own kingdom, forced to obey the heartless queen’s commands to honor her father’s dying wish: to protect her people.

The princess craves vengeance, but can she resist the carnal magnetism between her and Prince Rune, the queen’s son and royal pawn? And as rebellion brews, can she trust Rune, the man with the power to quench her torrid flames, to be her greatest ally?

 

**Releases July 21st – PreOrder Now!**

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T. Pike grew up in Northwest Arkansas where she swam competitively for more than 17 years. After graduating from Texas A&M University with an English degree and All-American honors, she returned home to pursue her master's in English and write her debut novel: Some Call Me Eve. Now a law student, she enjoys running and hiking with her dogs and exploring the mountains with her partner.

 

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