Category Archives: Book Tour

by Jennifer Reed/ bookjunkiez | September 19, 2024 · 5:00 am

The States Audiobook Tour

Contemporary Romance

Date Published: April 30, 2024

Narrator: Siofra Brogan

Run Time: 8 hours and 45 minutes

Tildy Sullivan is the middle child in an elite yet fading Manhattan family.
Her quiet practicality hides her deep, profound longing for childhood
summers in western Ireland. She also carries a secret regret. After her
mother’s death, she’s persuaded to abandon Ireland and the love
of the local boy, Aiden.

When Tildy volunteers for a lucid dreaming experiment, it gives her all she
wants – a life lived for her family during the day and a secret,
perfect Ireland of her own at night. Will she face reality, or succumb to
the ease of her dreams?

THE STATES is a modern reimagining of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, a
story of love, obligation, and second chances.

Cami Hensley · The States by Norah Woodsey (Audiobook Sample)

About the Author

NORAH WOODSEY is the author of The States, The Control Problem, Lifeless,
and the novella When the Wave Collapses. After short careers in finance and
tech, she has dedicated herself to creating fiction. Her subjects of intense
interest but not quite expertise include history, physics, genetics,
sociology and gender studies. The product of four generations of
Brooklynites,”she now lives in California with her husband, children
and their dog Saoirse.

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by Jennifer Reed/ bookjunkiez | September 13, 2024 · 5:00 am

Cayman Conundrum Virtual Book Tour

Liz Adams Mystery Series, Book 4

Cozy Mystery

Date Published: 06-28-2024

Publisher: Wild Hawk Press

Sun-kissed sands and sinister secrets. A honeymoon in paradise turns
perilous in this riveting seaside mystery.

A tropical vacation transforms into a web of danger and deception when an
author and his manuscript vanish. Is his thriller about money laundering in
the Caribbean too close to the truth?

With the stakes high and time ticking, Private Investigator Liz Adams and
her new husband, Brad, along with their truth-sniffing Labrador, Duke,
partner with the local authorities to unravel a multitude of crimes. As they
search for clues, the newlyweds explore the delights of the island,
including a hunt for buried treasure.

Will they unearth the clues in time, or will the honeymoon end in
heartbreak? Set against the backdrop of the stunning island of Grand Cayman,
this cozy mystery will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very
end.

EXCERPT

Secrets Are Hell

While Tim cocooned his body in the blue leather chair behind his desk, his fingers flew over the keyboard. The words flowed from his fingertips onto the computer screen. After he completed the final chapter of his novel, Secrets Are Hell, he leaned back in the seat that was positioned to optimize the view of the Caribbean. As he rubbed his newly acquired goatee, he watched the turquoise waves lap against the pearly sand.

When Tim and his former partner, Brad, sold their company, Multipoint Protection Services, Tim moved to Grand Cayman to pursue his dream of becoming an author. He grinned. His vision was about to come true.

After the identity thefts from his former company, Tim lasered in on the connection between the stolen information used to purchase prescription drugs and the subsequent laundering of the black market proceeds. The thriller was a product of his experiences, research, and imagination.

He recalled the conversation with his informant at the bar. Once the man he only knew as Jax consumed three shots of tequila, he’d spilled secrets about the money laundering business on the island. The man dripped sweat as he spoke, and he warned Tim to be careful with the revelations. Although Tim had fictionalized the facts gathered during his research, he prayed that he’d sufficiently disguised the characters involved in the illicit events.

Satisfied that the first draft was complete, he saved the document onto the flash drive and locked the device in the desk drawer. He stood and stretched his arms overhead before hiding the key underneath a leather-bound edition of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, one of many in his collection of books in the wall-to-wall bookcase behind him.

Tim raised his eyes toward the planked pine ceiling and contemplated his next steps. When he returned from Brad’s upcoming wedding, he would consult with developmental editors. In the meantime, he’d let the story marinate. His phone pinged, and he turned back to the desk to find a text from his girlfriend, Becky.

Why haven’t you called or messaged me?

His six-month-old puppy, Snooper, barked. He stepped away from his cellphone to let the dog inside. A salty breeze drifted through the opening. As he inhaled the scent, he wondered why he’d ever gotten involved with the former beauty pageant queen. He met her a few months ago when he’d volunteered at the rescue organization where he had adopted Snooper. While he massaged the black and white cocker spaniel mix’s ears, he reflected on that day they’d both tended to the homeless pets.

As Tim handed Becky a bag of cat food, a jolt of adrenaline pulsed through his body. Becky measured the servings and filled the bowls they’d deliver to the felines. While she poured, he admired her flowing raven hair that framed a heart-shaped face. Her almond shaped hazel-colored eyes shimmered with intrigue. After he heard Becky’s deep-throated laugh, he invited her to join him for a cup of coffee after their shift.

A month into the relationship, she began texting him incessantly. If he didn’t reply within an hour, she’d get agitated. He regretted inviting her as his plus one to Brad and Liz’s wedding in Charleston, South Carolina. A sigh escaped his lips. He longed for a soulmate like his friend had discovered in Liz.

Tim was delighted that the couple had chosen Grand Cayman as their honeymoon destination. He smiled in anticipation of the treasure hunt he’d planned as their wedding gift. Snooper wiggled away and bounded toward Tim’s cat, Irish. The feline hissed and halted the puppy in his tracks. Tim chuckled, picked up his phone, and fingered a response.

Been working on the book. Meet up for drinks at five at The Deck? We can talk about travel plans.

Without waiting for a reply, he placed the device down and strode toward the kitchen to feed his pets.

Who knew that today would be the last time he would touch the manuscript?

About the Author

Stacy Wilder writes mysteries, children’s stories, short stories, and
poetry. Her mission is to deliver a delightful story to readers of all ages
while benefiting a larger community. She donates a portion of the proceeds
from the sales of her books to causes that help the homeless, both people
and pets.

Beyond writing, Stacy is deeply devoted to her faith, family, and her
beloved Labradors. She is also enthusiastic about the causes she supports,
the beauty of art, the serenity of the beach, and the joy of reading.

She and her husband live in Houston, TX with a totally spoiled Labrador
named Eve. www.storystacy.com

Contact Links

Purchase Link

https://mybook.to/CaymanConundrum

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by Jennifer Reed/ bookjunkiez | September 12, 2024 · 5:00 am

Scattershot Virtual Book Tour

My Journey from the Projects to Paris to Rodeo Drive

Memoir

Date to Published: September 10, 2024

Publisher: Acorn Publishing

Larry Chrysler’s life takes a dramatic turn when a chance encounter
with a mysterious stranger disrupts his day. From that moment, the son of a
bipolar mom and a homophobic dad decides he must follow his heart and forge
his own path to success if he is to achieve his fashion design dreams. Armed
with only a high school diploma and “angels on his shoulders,”
Larry befriends wayward princesses, dresses A-list actors and rock music
royalty, and embarks on jet-setting adventures his younger self hardly could
have imagined.

Scattershot: My Journey from the Projects to Paris to Rodeo Drive tells the
unforgettable story of a Jewish gay boy who leaves the oppressiveness of the
Minneapolis projects to pursue a glamorous career in design among elite
fashion circles in America and Europe. At times funny, wise, and heartfelt,
this is a story of coming out during the repressive 1950s and of eventually
finding true love. In this wryly candid and inspirational memoir, Larry
proves that no dream is impossible with a little daring and
panache—and, of course, a fabulous wardrobe.

EXCERPT

Each evening, when Norman and I retired to our bedrooms, Andrew would go down to the pool house, smoke a cigar, and read magazines. One day, there was a conversation about the Marrakesh Hotel Mamounia, where I had stayed a few times. I was describing the decor and beautiful gardens when Andrew blurted out, “Oh, I once loved the hotel but now nobody who is anybody goes there anymore. It just isn’t done.”

As he spoke, I realized he was quoting an interview with Yves St Laurent’s partner Pierre Berge in a magazine I had left on the dining table the day before. His comment was another one of his supposed experiences — and an obvious lie. I felt certain he’d never been there. Another of his fantasies was when it was his turn to shop for groceries, and I complained that the price he’d paid for certain items was outrageous, he blithely claimed he never looked at the price of anything because in his “very rich” family there was no need.

One evening, the three of us, along with our two houseguests, drove into nearby Nice to go to L’Ascenceur, a gay bar I frequented when in town. The moment we entered the bar, Andrew, in a booming voice, said, “Well, here we are fellas, the rich American guys from California.” It was mortifying.

Happily, the rest of the month was uneventful, and Andrew continued his nightly time alone reading and smoking in the pool house.

Norman and I belonged to a private international gay businessmen’s club called Gamma Mu. Twice each year the members gathered in a US city hosted by resident members where we spent four days going on special tours, participating in meetings, and networking and socializing with each other. At the requisite Friday luncheon, new members were introduced. Before the seated group, each person explained where he was from, who had sponsored his membership, and what their type of career was. This particular Fly-In (as they were called) was in Seattle, and Norman brought Andrew, who had recently become a new member. That Friday, the newbies stood before the crowd and rattled off the usual list: their sponsor, their hometown, and their career. Except for Andrew. When he stood on the stage, he said, “My name is Andrew da Silva. I am from La Jolla, California, and I don’t work. Norman Blachford, my sponsor, keeps me.”

A collective gasp filled the room. The next morning, I saw Norman with his luggage in the lobby, where he was checking out of the hotel. He said he and Andrew were leaving early because there was an emergency and they had to return to California. I knew, however, that Norman was embarrassed and couldn’t stand the thought of saving face for the rest of the weekend.

I rarely saw Andrew after that except for a dinner or two with Norman here in Los Angeles. Then, the shocking news came on the television about Andrew, whose real last name was Cunanan: he had been murdering men in Minneapolis and his whereabouts were unknown.

An FBI agent stationed in Minneapolis called me and informed me my name was found on a list of Andrew’s intended victims. He said to contact the authorities immediately if anything came up and promised to reach out to me should it be found that I was in any danger. After that call ended, I put the telephone down, poured myself a stiff drink, and began to shake all over.

Meanwhile, there were television interviews with purported “friends” of Andrew’s relishing their fifteen minutes of fame, telling untrue stories about him and their friendships just as Andrew had spread his false stories over the years. Each time I called Norman, he would repeatedly say, “Oh it couldn’t possibly be our Andrew.” His denial was the same as it had been when I had originally warned him about Andrew in Mexico City.

In New York on my way to Europe shortly after the news first broke, things continued to remain tense and frightening with Andrew still on the loose, his whereabouts still unknown, and a lot of murmurs “on the street” that he might be in New York City. My greatest fear was he might be out to get me because of that evening at the restaurant in Nice when I called him out on his lies.

Norman phoned and said he would be in New York at the same time as me. When I asked him where he was staying, he named the same hotel he and Andrew usually stayed in, which was on a dark and quiet street near the Plaza Hotel. Incredulous, I asked, “Are you out of your mind staying there? You could be accosted by Andrew on that street. He knows exactly where you stay.”

Again, Norman poo-pooed the danger he might be in and then invited me to a cocktail party he was throwing at the Regents bar. I couldn’t believe the level of denial, and yet there I was, somehow complicit in his denial as well, putting on my sports coat and hailing a taxi to the Regents bar.

About thirty of us stood around the bar waiting for the oft-late Norman and all chatting about Andrew. What else was there to discuss, after all? We waited and waited until finally, about 45 minutes later, Norman arrived with a new boyfriend, in tow: Peter. We all immediately eyeballed each other knowingly, because Peter’s coloring and demeanor resembled Andrew’s to a T.

Shortly after that, Gianni Versace was murdered in Miami,

About the Author

Larry Chrysler was raised in the bi-racial projects of 1930s Minneapolis
before pursuing a career as a dress designer in New York and Los Angeles. He
eventually established himself as a distinguished menswear clothier on the
iconic Rodeo Drive. Currently, Larry lives in Beverly Hills with his husband
Matthew. Scattershot: My Journey from the Projects to Paris to Rodeo Drive
is his first book.

Contact Links

Facebook: Larry Chrysler

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by Jennifer Reed/ bookjunkiez | September 11, 2024 · 5:00 am

YAY… I Love to Learn Virtual Book Tour

Children’s Book

Date Published: July 23, 2024

Another wonderful rhyming Childrens story from Mr. B about the value of
learning at school, home or with family and friends…Yay. The thirteen
rhymes and and magical illustrations bring excitement and fun to the
importance of learning, listening, paying full attention and the importance
of asking questions with every learning experience. Like Mr. B’s first first
three books, Yay…It’s My First Day of School, Happy Makes Me Happy and
Twins With Love x2 your hearts will smile.

YAY I Love to Learn excerpt

About the Author

Mr. B

Happy Makes Me Happy

Amazon Best Selling Children’s Book Author

Mike Barnes is a semi-retired new author whose passion for writing came to
fruition upon his retirement from 38 years of authentic servant
leadership.

As a father and grandfather, Mike was reading to his twin granddaughters
and decided to unleash his passion for writing children’s books with
rhyming stories about love, care, and kindness.

In addition to Happy Makes Me Happy, Mike has a second book Twins With Love
x2 and a third book, YAY… It’s My First Day of School coming
this year.

Mike also recently started Barnes Leadership and Strategy Coaching whereby
he has been a keynote speaker on Authentic Servant Leadership Hardwired to
the Heart.

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by Jennifer Reed/ bookjunkiez | September 9, 2024 · 5:00 am

Whispers of the Past Virtual Book Tour

Paranormal with a little romance

Date Published : 09-07-2024

Gifts always come with strings… Just don’t get tangled in them. When Kat
Summers inherits a dilapidated house, she can’t wait to restore it. As she
breathes life into the house, something within her awakens. Shadows &
voices haunt the hallways & trigger her quest for answers. Jana Summers
has a spreadsheet for everything. So, when her wife quits her job &
begins restoring a money pit, she panics. There’s no spreadsheet on how to
handle a haunted house or a wife with the gift of sight.

Listen to Whispers of the Past for free on the My Secret Obsession
Podcast

https://mysecretobsession.alitu.com/

EXCERPT

“I’m sorry, what?” Jana replied. A slew of emotions and thoughts assaulted her as she processed Kat’s words. No way did Kat just say the house was theirs.

Kat beamed with excitement. She felt like Elsa looked while dancing in her ice castle. She would rebuild Haynes Manor to its original glory. “This place is ours. We own it.” Kat spread her arms and twirled in a circle. “All of this is ours.” She came to an abrupt stop with her arms out wide. “Isn’t this incredible!”

Jana remained speechless. Was this a joke?

“What do you think?” Kat asked. She knew this would be a hard sell for Jana, but she also knew that she’d get Jana to see the wisdom behind restoring this place.

“Wait, what do you mean? How is that possible?”

Kat took in a deep breath and unloaded, “When my aunt passed, the trust said that the house had to be owned by someone related to the original Haynes family. No one else wanted it. I was last in line, and the house was finally offered to me. I took it. This is all ours. The land, everything. Isn’t this incredible!”

The fact that Jana just stared blankly at her with an occasional blink worried her. She stepped closer and took Jana’s hand. “I know this is a lot to take in. I wanted it to be a surprise. What do you think?”

The acid in Jana’s stomach churned, threatened to burst through her flesh and dissolve any dead insect that lay on the dirty, poop-covered, water-damaged floor. Her heart raced as she replayed Kat’s words. Was it possible that this dump, this decrepit, poor excuse for a house was actually theirs?

Kat had never seen Jana so quiet before. She was near catatonic. Kat gave Jana’s hand a little squeeze, hoping it would wake Jana up from whatever nightmare was swirling through her head. “Please say something.”

Jana shook her head and blinked quickly as she awoke from her stupor. “You bought this house? Without talking to me?” She couldn’t believe it. Would never have believed that Kat would buy a house without consulting her.

“That’s the beauty of this. We didn’t have to pay a thing. This place was free. It’s ours, free and clear. We paid nothing.”

“You can’t actually believe that.”

“What? That it was free? Yes, it was free. F. R. E. E,” she spelled out. Why was this so difficult to understand?

Jana licked her lips and gazed around at the disaster that was now officially hers to restore. “This place is the exact opposite of free. It’s going to cost us millions. I can’t believe you made a decision like this without talking to me.

Que panic attack. Kat listened as Jana unloaded.

“What are the taxes? How much land do we own? We will owe taxes on that land. We’re close to the river. Do we need flood insurance? That’s going to be expensive. Insurance alone could be more than you make a year. Then, even if we go cheap and just make this place barely livable, I don’t see how that doesn’t cost us a million dollars. Will the plumbing need to be updated? The air conditioning? The units out there now are dead. This place is huge. Will we need two or three air conditioning units? Will the vents that run throughout the house need to be updated? The roof needs to be replaced. The window casings are crap. The floors are in terrible shape. Is the electrical actually up to code? My god, the list of things wrong with this place is never ending.

Kat nodded and tilted her head to show that she heard Jana. “I agree, this house will be expensive in the beginning. But this is a once in a lifetime chance to own a piece of history. This is a gift that we will cherish for our lifetimes and pass on to our children.”

Jana closed her eyes and inhaled. She focused on the breath raising her ribcage and filling her lungs. She shook her head in disagreement. “No, this is not a good gift. I bought you a pair of five-hundred-dollar sunglasses. That’s an acceptable luxury gift. We have a rule, right?” Jana pointed between herself and Kat. “We don’t spend more than five hundred dollars without consulting the other.” She motioned around the room, “This way exceeds our five-hundred-dollar limit. I can’t believe you didn’t talk to me about this. What happens if all of this fails? If we go into debt?”

“I know. And I usually agree, but this is different. I don’t expect a single penny, dime, quarter or nickel from you. I will pay for everything with my inheritance.”

“Okay, let’s say that I don’t pay for anything. We are married. I am legally responsible for your debts, whether you want me to be or not. I should have had a place at the table when you were making this decision.”

Kat was relieved that Jana was at least talking and not still catatonic, but she needed to allay Jana’s concerns. “I have three million as my inheritance in my trust. You’re right, this will be expensive, but I do have the money. There is nothing that you will be responsible for.”

“I can’t believe you’re still saying that,” Jana scoffed. “This affects me in every way possible. I assume that you think we’ll sell our house. We’ll pack up and move out of our home, away from our friends, and start this new life here, so we can live out the fairytale that’s in your head. How are you going to work on this place and teach? The drive is at least an hour each way. Do you really want to do that?”

Kat had hoped this wouldn’t come up right away. Jana wasn’t going to take this well either. She clenched her teeth in anxiety and then began, “I’m not going back to teaching. I quit.”

Jana squatted, resting her butt on her heels. “I need to sit down.” She held her face in disbelief. “Fuck, it’s so gross in here that I can’t even sit on the floor.” She stood again, both hands rubbed her forehead. After a few breaths, she moved her hands to her hips. “What do you mean you’re not going back to work?”

Kat put on her ‘everything is going to be fine’ face. Jana was teetering on completely losing it, and she just needed to keep her from going over the precipice. “You know about my family trust. I have three million dollars at my disposal. You and I, we’ve discussed how that money can help us retire early. You can quit your job in your fifties if you want. If we live wisely, we can live out our retirement in relative ease. And I want you to know that, even with this house, I have not veered from that goal.”

Jana made a sound that Kat wasn’t familiar with. She couldn’t decide if it was a show of frustration, anger, denial, or simply just the sound of a woman completely overwhelmed. But as Jana’s eyes locked on hers, she knew it was a blending of anger and disbelief.

Kat continued, ‘When we got married, we promised that we wouldn’t be like the other marriages out there. We wouldn’t lose our independence to make decisions. I can’t go back to teaching. You know why.”

“Fuck,” Jana mumbled. “Not losing our independence doesn’t mean completely disregarding the other person. We should have talked about this. About all of this.” She paced in a circle like a gazelle surrounded by a pack of hyenas.

About the Author

Karen lives in Georgia with her wonderful husband and twin daughters. She
loves traveling the world. Whether it’s to the heights of Yosemite,
the white sands of the Caribbean, or even Down Under, she’s always
ready to pack a bag in search of inspiration. She enjoys creating worlds
filled with unique characters that will delight and raise goose bumps on her
readers.

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