Monday, March 31, 2025

Someone Had to Lie by Jack Luellen ~ #Crime #Mystery ~ @jack_luellen @partnersincr1me

Someone Had to Lie by Jack Luellen Banner

SOMEONE HAD TO LIE

by Jack Luellen

March 31 - April 25, 2025 Virtual Book Tour

About the Book:

Someone Had to Lie by Jack Luellen

THE JAMES BUTLER MYSTERIES 

Some cases never let you go.

Reeling from the sudden death of a close friend, James Butler and Erica Walsh are pulled back into the shadow world of Mexican cartels and the CIA. Seeking to avenge the murder of their friend with only his haphazard notes to guide them, they puzzle through the possible connections searching for anything concrete. As they investigate his murder, and his notes, they find unsettling links between drug trafficking, American gangs, the CIA, and the opioid epidemic.

Determined to find the truth hidden among cases they thought were long closed, Butler and Walsh call on friends and colleagues to help them survive the crosshairs that got their friend killed. With the threat spreading across more of their contacts, they must uncover the truth before they are buried in lies.

The James Butler mysteries from Jack Luellen seamlessly weave fact with fiction, introducing nonfiction material in the midst of fast-paced murder mysteries.

Praise for Someone Had to Lie:

"Jack Luellen crafts an intriguing tale, interwoven with proven facts about the deadliest drug in our society, Fentanyl. Someone Had to Lie takes the reader on an educational journey into the biggest cartels and Narcos in the world and provides a behind the scenes glimpse of cartel operations through his lead character James Butler. Gripping storytelling! A must read!"
~ Leo Silva, Author of Reign of Terror, Former DEA Supervisory Special Agent

Book Details:

Genre: Crime; Mystery
Published by: Torchflame Books
Publication Date: March 11, 2025
Number of Pages: 294
ISBN: 9781611533705 (ISBN10: 1611533708)
Series: The James Butler Mysteries, Book 2
Purchase the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Torchflame Books | Add to Goodreads

Read an Excerpt:

“Is that music playing in your office? You never listen to music at work?”

“I do on rare occasions.”

“That’s Alice Merton. How are you even aware of her music?” Erica asks, gobsmacked.

“I’m not, but I met Detective Torres at a Starbucks this morning and it was playing, and I liked it. I asked a Gen Z barista who the artist was and played it when I got in,” James says.

“I’m in shock.”

“I’m evolving,” James says, his words interrupted by the playing of the Johnny Rivers hit “Secret Agent Man” from his cell phone. “Alexa, off. Tim, hi, thanks for calling back. Erica is here with some information to share.”

“Hi, Erica. What’s going on?” Tim says.

“After we left the jail today, I went back to the office to work, and a few minutes ago, Belmonte called me to tell me that the DEA had been quote, ‘Requested,’ end quote to refrain from investigating or prosecuting Javier and that Javier was being moved to a different facility. Belmonte said the directive apparently came from the DNI. He called me from a burner phone and suggested we keep the circle of information as small as possible,” Erica explains.

“Holy crap,” Tim says.

“Any idea who could have that kind of juice?” James asks.

“None in particular,” Tim says.

“You didn’t tell anyone about meeting Javier?” Erica asks.

“Of course not,” Tim replies.

“Then how did anyone—” Erica begins.

“I have no idea,” Tim interrupts.

“One thing seems certain,” James says. “Aguilar was spot on. It is bigger than we knew.”

***

Excerpt from Chapter 24 of Someone Had to Lie by Jack Luellen. Copyright 2025 by Jack Luellen. Reproduced with permission from Jack Luellen. All rights reserved.

 

 

Meet the Author:

author

Jack Luellen is a Denver, Colorado, attorney with more than 30 years of experience. In practice, Jack has tried cases to courts and juries, and has written hundreds of briefs, motions, and memoranda, to state and federal courts, including federal courts of appeal and the United States Supreme Court.

In 1990, Jack first started working on cases related to the 1985 kidnapping and murder of DEA Agent Enrique Camarena and has investigated the case in the years since that time. Jack's investigations have taken him to foreign countries and included interviews with witnesses both notorious and infamous. This work has been the background to Jack's upcoming novel Someone Had to Die.

Jack is the proud parent of an amazing daughter and is a weekend warrior on the tennis courts.

Catch Up With Jack Luellen:

LuellenWriting.com
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads
BookBub
Instagram - @luellen_writing
Threads - @luellen_writing
X - @jack_luellen
Facebook - @Luellen Writing

 

 

Tour Participants:

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The Victorian Locket by Elefair King ~ #CozyMystery ~ @RABTBookTours

 

A Galveston Historical Mystery

 

The Victorian Locket by Elefair King

Cozy Mystery

 

Sarah Anne Law, affectionately known to family and friends as Sam, was playing the stalking game with her cat when she inadvertently discovered a secret compartment in her haunted Victorian home. Not only did Sam find a hidden treasure, but she also realized that their playful game aroused a long-dormant spirit. Perhaps the newly awakened spirit and one of the more disturbing hauntings in her beautiful home were connected. Did a murder occur? As Sam followed clues to unravel the 125-year-old mysteries, she unveiled the true horrors of Galveston’s deadly and gruesome past.

 

About the Author:


Elefair King, a native Texan, grew up in Houston. Retired, she now lives in The Woodlands, Texas. Married for 40 years, she has one son who lives nearby. Driven by her compassion to serve others, she founded several non-profit organizations as well as served on committees and boards of many local and regional charities. Elefair loves history, especially about her beloved Texas. She frequently stops along its country roads to read historical markers when seeking new adventures.

 

Contact Link:

Website

 

Purchase Link:

Amazon


RABT Book Tours & PR

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If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.
Thank you for supporting Sapphyria’s Books.

Spoons by J. Corn ~ @RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #Spoons #JCorn #ChildrensBook


Spoons by J. Corn

 

Children’s, Self-Help, Grief, Loss, Illustrated

 

 

About the Book:

Spoons is a sweet story about enduring loss and finding hope. At some point, every family will face the loss of a loved one, and the Spoon family is no different. Children and adults can find comfort from the lessons in this book and apply them to their own family stories.


About the Author:

Throughout her life, J. Corn has dealt with grief: first losing her mom at a young age, then her husband leaving her a single mother of two, and most recently her father. The grieving process has taught her the importance of talking about your loved one after they're gone. No one should suffer alone or in silence. Corn hopes that SPOONS will encourage families to share stories about their loved ones, even when it's dificult. She and her children are active members of their community grief counseling center. SPOONS is Corn's debut book.

About the book Spoons is a sweet story about enduring loss and finding hope. At some point, every family will face the loss of a loved one, and the Spoon family is no different. Children and adults can find comfort from the lessons in this book and apply them to their own family stories.


Contact Links:

Website

Instagram and Threads: @jcorn.books

FB

Pinterest

Youtube 


Purchase Link:

Amazon


RABT Book Tours & PR

This post contains affiliate links.
If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.
Thank you for supporting Sapphyria’s Books.

There’s Something About You, Olivia Bennet by Valerie G. Miller ~ @RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #TheresSomethingAboutYouOliviaBennet #ValerieGMiller #Historical

 

There’s Something About You, 

Olivia Bennet 

by Valerie G. Miller

Historical

Date Published: 11-26-2024

 

 

Two women. Two generations. A lifetime of secrets…


Sydney, 1989. When a secret trunk belonging to her enigmatic mother is delivered, Olivia Bennet’s safe and predictable world is thrown into disarray.

Inside the trunk, long-buried secrets tell of a different life that is totally foreign to shy and unadventurous Olivia. Secrets she’s certain her mother intended to stay hidden.

For the first time, Olivia has hope of finding answers about her father, and along with it, her identity. But only if she has the courage to face who she truly is.

Sydney, 1964. Amidst the vibrant backdrop of multicultural inner Sydney, Rosemary Benito plans to leave behind her painful past and embrace the freedom her new home offers.

While her exotic beauty attracts unwanted attention, if she works hard enough in her new country, Rosemary can become whatever—and whoever—she wants. She just has to make sure her old life doesn’t catch up with her.

Neither woman can change their pasts. But if they’re brave enough, they both have the power to determine their futures…


A poignant family saga full of love and loss that spans two generations. There’s Something About You, Olivia Bennet, reveals the tender bond between mother and daughter, the undeniable ties that bind generations together, and the importance of belonging.



About the Author:

Valerie G. Miller is an Australian author celebrated for her dual timeline historical fiction, weaving heartfelt narratives that resonate across generations. Rooted in her Italian heritage, Valerie brings rich cultural nuances to her stories, crafting tales that celebrate family, resilience, and the deep human need for belonging. Her short stories explore the intricacies of human connection, capturing the tender moments that bind people together and create a sense of home in each other's hearts.

In addition to her writing, Valerie is training to become an accredited book coach, sharing her passion for storytelling and supporting aspiring writers on their creative journeys.

Originally from Sydney, Valerie now calls Brisbane home, where she lives with her husband, daughter, and a lively household that includes her dog and two cats. A lifelong lover of storytelling, she earned her Master of Letters in Creative Writing in 2021, further honing her craft.

Valerie is never far from her next story, always keeping a novel and a notebook tucked in her bag, ready to capture inspiration wherever it strikes.


Contact Links:

Website

Facebook

Goodreads

Instagram

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Kobo

iBooks

Smashwords

 

 

 

RABT Book Tours & PR

This post contains affiliate links.
If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.
Thank you for supporting Sapphyria’s Books.

Sunday, March 30, 2025

Waters of Destruction (An Orchid Isle Mystery) by Leslie Karst ~ #CozyMystery #LeslieKarst


Waters of Destruction (An Orchid Isle Mystery)
by Leslie Karst

About Waters of Destruction:

Waters of Destruction (An Orchid Isle Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Hawaii
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Severn House; Main edition (April 1, 2025)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1448312183
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1448312184
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DKXTRTX5


Retired caterer Valerie Corbin investigates a suspicious drowning in this Orchid Isle cozy culinary mystery, featuring a feisty queer couple who swap surfing lessons for sleuthing sessions in tropical Hilo, Hawai‘i.

After a vacation of a lifetime in Hilo, Hawai‘i, retired caterer Valerie Corbin and her wife Kristen have decided to move permanently to the beautiful – if storm-prone – Big Island. The couple are having fun furnishing their new house, exploring their new neighborhood and playing with their new little dog, Pua. But while they’ve made good friends with local restaurant manager Sachiko and her partner Isaac, they can’t help but feel a little lonely.

So when Sachiko begs Val to fill in for a member of her bar team who’s gone AWOL, Val dusts off her cocktail shaker and happily agrees. It’s a great chance to meet more people – and learn the local gossip.

Such as about Hank, the missing bartender, who vanished after a team-building retreat at a local beauty spot a week ago, and hasn’t been seen since. Until, that is, his body turns up at the bottom of the waterfall, and the police seem very interested in where Sachiko was at the time of his death.

Sachiko couldn’t have killed him . . . could she? Val dives into the murky waters of the case, determined to find out.

This mouth-watering cozy mystery is perfect for fans of Ellen Byron, Jennifer J Chow, Lucy Burdette and Raquel V Reyes, and includes a selection of delicious Hawaiian recipes to cook at home.

About Leslie Karst:


Leslie Karst is the author of the Orchid Isle mysteries Waters of Destruction and Molten Death, of the Lefty Award-nominated Sally Solari mystery series, and of the IBPA Ben Franklin and IPPY award silver medal-winning memoir, Justice is Served: A Tale of Scallops, the Law, and Cooking for RBG. After years waiting tables and singing in a new wave rock band, she decided she was ready for a “real” job and ended up at Stanford Law School, then returned to school to study the culinary arts. Now retired from the law, Leslie splits her time between Hilo, Hawai‘i and Santa Cruz, California, spending her days writing, cooking, cycling, gardening, and observing cocktail hour promptly at five o’clock.

Author Links:


Chicks on the Case: https://chicksonthecase.com/

Mystery Lovers Kitchen: https://www.mysteryloverskitchen.com/




Purchase Links:


TOUR PARTICIPANTS:

March 24 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

March 25 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR GUEST POST

March 26 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

March 27 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

March 28 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

March 29 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

March 30 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

March 31 – Rebecca M. Douglass, Author – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW


April 2 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

April 3 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

April 3 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW

April 4 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

April 5 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW

April 6 – Carla Loves To Read – REVIEW, RECIPE

April 6 – Celticladys Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

April 7 – Frugal Freelancer – AUTHOR GUEST POST

April 7 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT



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If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.
Thank you for supporting Sapphyria’s Books.




Saturday, March 29, 2025

Touch of the Elegrian by Cheryl A. Arko ~ #SciFi ~ @XpressoTours @CherylArko

Touch of the Elegrian
Cheryl A. Arko
Publication date: March 25th 2025
Genres: Adult, Science Fiction

Prejudice. Legacy. Redemption.

About the Book:

Erys carries a secret that could shatter his world. The telepathic Elegrian has spent his life atoning for his dead father’s role in humanity’s disastrous first contact. Now, as a tech specialist for the Earth-led alliance, he serves in silence—until sabotage threatens the lives of dozens of human children. And the traitor is one of his own.

Forced to work with a brilliant but hostile human engineer, Erys must dismantle not only the deadly conspiracy but also the deep-seated mistrust between their peoples. With time running out, he faces an impossible choice: break the fragile Elegrian-Human treaty and invite the death penalty to forge a forbidden mind link with a human… or let innocent lives be lost.

Two worlds on the brink. A single act of defiance. Can compassion rewrite a doomed future?

The Elegrian Legacy begins here—a gripping sci-fi adventure rich in high-stakes dilemmas, deep character bonds, and first-contact intrigue.

Add to Goodreads / Purchase from Amazon

Read an Excerpt:

Far, far away to the east, in New York City, where magic and power and rumor swirled in their own urban galaxy, a very ancient and powerful creature lived in the highest tower money could buy. While many of his kind lived and worked in the greater New York area, coiled around the rise and fall of stocks and bonds in an endless dance of power and wealth, he was by far the oldest in that den of snakes. He was old enough that his thick fingers still dreamed of worn gold coins and his body of piles of treasure beneath his scales. Now, of course, he slept only on damask of the finest quality, spread over a memory foam mattress—nowhere near as comfortable as cold hard cash.

That night, he was window shopping, his hungry eye roving over page after page of the most exotic goods Sotheby’s online could offer.

If one lived long enough, even the most exquisite meals tasted like ashes on the tongue; breathe often enough, and even bottled air from Everest smelled stale and flat. He could hardly be bothered to hide his own nature when he was alone—the secret theater of the Council and its Compact had been a bit of a thrill for a while, but Mr. Drake—just Drake to his friends—was getting bored.

He yawned, and his long, forked tongue spilled out, unfurling and flicking against his human nose. No one was around to see it, so he wasn’t breaking the Law, and besides, he missed all the parts of his true shape quite badly. Missed a herd of sheep’s eyes rolling in terror. Probably lamb again tonight, from that place on the other side of Broadway.

Mr. Drake’s lair took up the entire upper floor of his tall tower in the center of the city, wide rooms filled with the carcasses of kingdoms burned to the ground beneath his fearsome will. Company logos on banners from decades past, those battle standards of board members who had crumbled and fallen to their knees in merger upon acquisition upon merger. Darwin had certainly been on the money about the adaptation of species. In the face of adversity, Drake and the rest of his kind had thrived, but—

But he wanted to spread his wings high above his head, soar over the crescent moon, sweep down on farmland and gout flame from his throat; the glorious crescendo of a sun going supernova. Instead, he stoked another cigar, the smoke curling from his nose a pacifying reminder of who he had to be now.

His cellphone lit up, vibrating on the long cocobolo desk. Drake looked down at it with a grimace and tapped the screen with one stubby finger.

“Drake,” he said. “How do you have this number?”

“I have my ways, Old One.”

He was in the middle of pouring himself another whiskey, ready to tear this joker a new set of holes, when he recognized the voice and sighed.

“Old One, is it? When was your sweet sixteen, Morgan?”

“Oh well, you know me,” The Hollow Woman sounded far too cheery for his tastes. “Evergreen.”

Drake snorted.

“Isn’t it still daylight on your side of the world? Why don’t you go out and catch some rays, you old hag? Go get a tan. Would be good for the both of us.”

“Have it your way,” Morgan said sweetly. “Don’t trouble yourself with little old me, then.”

“I won’t,” he snarled, and hung up. Smoke was starting to waft down from the high ceilings, having pooled there in those short minutes on the phone. The AC here was top notch, of course, the best AC in the city, but nothing manmade could keep up with his kind’s distemper. He flipped through a few more pages on Sotheby’s, but quickly, rapidly stabbing his finger on the mouse. He tried to hum something to himself, and his phone buzzed again.

“All right. This is getting old pretty fast,” he said. “Spit it out already and go away. What do you want?”

“Want? Oh, darling Drake, not a thing. Not a single thing.”

He laughed, a deep rumble like an earthquake, the magma pushing up beneath the surface.

“Wanting is what you’re for, Morgan. Maybe you forgot?”

“Well, now. Maybe you’re not interested.” She was almost purring. Purring! “I’m sure one of your brothers will be.” And she hung up on him.

Dammit. Dammit. Dammit, he thought. The haze of smoke had curled down just above the surface of his cocobolo desk. If he wasn’t careful, he would trigger the alarms on the floor below again. He took a breath. He took another. I am a calm blue ocean, he thought to himself. I can be one with my feelings.

Meet the Author:

CHERYL ARKO is a science fiction author and an accomplished senior data scientist with a long career in IT and medical data analysis. She has loved reading science fiction ever since she could connect letters into words, devouring everything from Andre Norton to E.E. "Doc" Smith to more and more authors through the years who have shared their thought-provoking ideas of imagined places and alternate realities.

TOUCH OF THE ELEGRIAN is Cheryl's debut novel and was a Killer Nashville Claymore Award Finalist for best Science Fiction/Fantasy. She writes stories that take her to the stars, imagining who we might find out there, inviting readers to come along for the ride to visit new worlds and their people. To explore what makes us different—and what makes us the same. And to discover the inherent good that exists in the universe to balance against darkness, no matter how far we travel.

A seasoned dog trainer, Cheryl lives with her beloved Airedales in a tiny house nestled within thirty acres of serene Minnesota pine trees.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter


GIVEAWAY!




This post contains affiliate links.
If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.
Thank you for supporting Sapphyria’s Books.

Friday, March 28, 2025

Rare by Patrick de Moss ~ @XpressoTours @patdemoss ~ #Fantasy

Rare
Patrick de Moss
Publication date: March 1st 2025
Genres: Adult, Fantasy

About the Book:

Some songs aren’t meant to exist.

When sixteen-year-old Emma receives a mysterious Beatles record—a cover of The Girl Can’t Help It, a song they never recorded, her life changes in ways she never imagined. Grieving her grandmother’s death and lost in the heavy fog of depression, Emma doesn’t expect much from the strange package. But the moment the needle drops, magic ripples through the world.

Angels shiver. Dragons stir in their hoards. Vampires feel an ancient hunger awaken. The song calls to them all, and it calls to Emma too. For the first time since her grandmother’s death, Emma feels something spark inside her: hope. But magic has a price, and the Dark has heard the song as well.

To protect the record, Emma must venture into the Hidden States of America—a surreal, shadowed version of the country where myth and reality blur. It’s a country shaped by the stories we tell and the secrets we keep, where ordinary towns hide extraordinary truths.

As Emma struggles to carry the song to where it belongs, she’ll have to confront her grief, face her deepest fears, and discover if she has the strength to resist the pull of the Dark.

From Patrick de Moss, the acclaimed author of Kings of Nowhere, comes a darkly magical tale of loss, courage, and the power of music to heal even the deepest wounds. This is a story that explores the fragile beauty of hope and the strength it takes to face the shadows.

Rare is a spellbinding modern fable. Every note of the song of this story echoes with both wonder and danger. Some songs can change the world. Some songs can change you.

Add to Goodreads / Purchase from Amazon

Read an Excerpt:

Far, far away to the east, in New York City, where magic and power and rumor swirled in their own urban galaxy, a very ancient and powerful creature lived in the highest tower money could buy. While many of his kind lived and worked in the greater New York area, coiled around the rise and fall of stocks and bonds in an endless dance of power and wealth, he was by far the oldest in that den of snakes. He was old enough that his thick fingers still dreamed of worn gold coins and his body of piles of treasure beneath his scales. Now, of course, he slept only on damask of the finest quality, spread over a memory foam mattress—nowhere near as comfortable as cold hard cash.

That night, he was window shopping, his hungry eye roving over page after page of the most exotic goods Sotheby’s online could offer.

If one lived long enough, even the most exquisite meals tasted like ashes on the tongue; breathe often enough, and even bottled air from Everest smelled stale and flat. He could hardly be bothered to hide his own nature when he was alone—the secret theater of the Council and its Compact had been a bit of a thrill for a while, but Mr. Drake—just Drake to his friends—was getting bored.

He yawned, and his long, forked tongue spilled out, unfurling and flicking against his human nose. No one was around to see it, so he wasn’t breaking the Law, and besides, he missed all the parts of his true shape quite badly. Missed a herd of sheep’s eyes rolling in terror. Probably lamb again tonight, from that place on the other side of Broadway.

Mr. Drake’s lair took up the entire upper floor of his tall tower in the center of the city, wide rooms filled with the carcasses of kingdoms burned to the ground beneath his fearsome will. Company logos on banners from decades past, those battle standards of board members who had crumbled and fallen to their knees in merger upon acquisition upon merger. Darwin had certainly been on the money about the adaptation of species. In the face of adversity, Drake and the rest of his kind had thrived, but—

But he wanted to spread his wings high above his head, soar over the crescent moon, sweep down on farmland and gout flame from his throat; the glorious crescendo of a sun going supernova. Instead, he stoked another cigar, the smoke curling from his nose a pacifying reminder of who he had to be now.

His cellphone lit up, vibrating on the long cocobolo desk. Drake looked down at it with a grimace and tapped the screen with one stubby finger.

“Drake,” he said. “How do you have this number?”

“I have my ways, Old One.”

He was in the middle of pouring himself another whiskey, ready to tear this joker a new set of holes, when he recognized the voice and sighed.

“Old One, is it? When was your sweet sixteen, Morgan?”

“Oh well, you know me,” The Hollow Woman sounded far too cheery for his tastes. “Evergreen.”

Drake snorted.

“Isn’t it still daylight on your side of the world? Why don’t you go out and catch some rays, you old hag? Go get a tan. Would be good for the both of us.”

“Have it your way,” Morgan said sweetly. “Don’t trouble yourself with little old me, then.”

“I won’t,” he snarled, and hung up. Smoke was starting to waft down from the high ceilings, having pooled there in those short minutes on the phone. The AC here was top notch, of course, the best AC in the city, but nothing manmade could keep up with his kind’s distemper. He flipped through a few more pages on Sotheby’s, but quickly, rapidly stabbing his finger on the mouse. He tried to hum something to himself, and his phone buzzed again.

“All right. This is getting old pretty fast,” he said. “Spit it out already and go away. What do you want?”

“Want? Oh, darling Drake, not a thing. Not a single thing.”

He laughed, a deep rumble like an earthquake, the magma pushing up beneath the surface.

“Wanting is what you’re for, Morgan. Maybe you forgot?”

“Well, now. Maybe you’re not interested.” She was almost purring. Purring! “I’m sure one of your brothers will be.” And she hung up on him.

Dammit. Dammit. Dammit, he thought. The haze of smoke had curled down just above the surface of his cocobolo desk. If he wasn’t careful, he would trigger the alarms on the floor below again. He took a breath. He took another. I am a calm blue ocean, he thought to himself. I can be one with my feelings.

Meet the Author:

Playwright, poet, prose writer, as well as former gravedigger, hotline psychic, line cook, chef, waiter and a few other things in between, Patrick de Moss lives and works in St. John's, Newfoundland.

Website / Goodreads / Twitter


GIVEAWAY!




This post contains affiliate links.
If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.
Thank you for supporting Sapphyria’s Books.

The Dan Alsop Series by SJ Slagle ~ @SindaSlagle @RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #TheDanAlsopSeries #Mystery #SJSlagle


Book 1, The Dan Alsop Series


The Dan Alsop Series by SJ Slagle

Murder Mystery

Date Published: March 28, 2025


 

A cowboy lies dead on the trail, shot through the heart with no one around. Detective Dan Alsop must find his killer through a maze of squabbling relatives, disgruntled friends and Hollywood mobsters. Was it a single event or will the killer strike again?


Book 2, The Dan Alsop Series


Murder Mystery

Date Published: March 28, 2025


 

His mentor lies dead at his feet. Detective Dan Alsop is stretched thin with only the notion of an ancient casino robbery to guide him. His search for the elusive killer takes him to cemeteries and silver mines until he strikes again.


About the Author:

 SJ SLAGLE started her career as a language arts teacher. When she began writing, her initial interest was children’s stories, but then she moved on to Western Romance, Mysteries and Historical Fiction. She has published over 30 novels and her website is www.sjslagle.com.

SJ has written several Western Romance series including the THESE NEVADA BOYS, RANCHER, and THE WESTERNERS, as well as Mystery series: FLOYD SISTERS MYSTERIES and SHERLOCK AND ME. All her books are distributed in digital, paper and audiobook formats.

Her first historical fiction novel, LONDON SPIES, was awarded a B.R.A.G. Medallion in 2018. She was given the Silver Award with the International Independent Film Awards for her screenplay called REDEMPTION. She conducts writing/publishing symposiums in her local area.

S.J. Slagle lives and works in Reno, Nevada.

 

Contact Links:

Website

Facebook

Twitter: @SindaSlagle

Goodreads

Pinterest

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Kobo

iBooks

Smashwords

 

 

 

RABT Book Tours & PR

This post contains affiliate links.
If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.
Thank you for supporting Sapphyria’s Books.

Thursday, March 27, 2025

#BookReview ~ Savage (Lotus MC: San Antonio, Book 1) by Cala Riley #FriendstoLovers #SecondChance #Romance #MCRomance


Savage: Lotus MC: San Antonio, Book 1
by Cala Riley

Book Details:

ASIN: ‎ B0D7NZVLS5
Publication Date: ‎ March 27, 2025
Print Length: ‎ 260 pages



About the Book:

Savage

I never wanted to be the president of the Lotus MC, but when my uncle dies, I have no choice, but to fill his shoes.

As if putting my club back in order isn't enough, a Texas sized tornado blows into my life.
Bailey Watts.

She is my childhood best friend and the only woman I have ever truly loved. Time and distance has changed us though.

When danger finds its way to her life, I have a decision to make. Do I want to make good on the claim I put on her when I was seven years old or will I let her go for her own good?

Bailey

Taking a PI case for my best friend shouldn't be so hard, but her brother is a slippery little weasel.
That's how I find myself at the gate of the Lotus MC knowing there is only one man in this world that can help me.

Hayes Brown.

I haven't seen him since he broke my heart when I was seventeen years old, but the moment we are together again those old feelings come flooding in.

Things aren't always as they seem. When my case becomes intertwined in his club, we find ourselves chasing ghosts while dealing with the fall out of past decisions.

Will Savage and Bailey find their way back to love or are they destined to crash and burn once more?

My Review:

Savage is the amazing first book in the Lotus MC: San Antonio series. Two childhood best friends reconnect after several years apart. The catalyst of their reunion is the missing brother of Bailey's bestie, Laura. When her PI case stalls, Bailey knows the only person she can turn to for help is Hayes. 

Their reunion is explosive, snarky, and a long time coming. I loved every bit of their banter. When they both finally admit their feelings - and not just the lovey-dovey ones - their walls crumble and the heat kicks up into high gear. Amid this friends-to-lovers and second-chance-romance is a an evil no one sees coming. Savage will do anything to protect Bailey - and I mean anything.

Savage is a beautiful and gritty MC romance, filled with suspense, action, and realism. The authors created a novel with all the feels. I laughed, my eyes waters, and I got angry. I was anxious and on the edge of my seat. The synopsis pulled me in but the character-driven plot, outstanding character development and world building, and writing style kept me engaged. I was unable to put the book down.

I was provided with a copy of this book. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

My Rating:



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Trespassing Series ~ Trespassing 1 - 9 ~ by P.W. Creighton ~ @RavenRequiem13 YA, YA Mystery, YA Romance


Trespassing Series
Trespassing 1 - 9
P.W. Creighton

Genre: YA, YA Mystery, Detectives, YA Romance
Date of Publication: 2013 - 2025
Cover Artist: For The Muse Design

Tagline: When the elite own everything and are immune to consequences, trespassing may be the only way to survive…

About the Book:

Cape Cod is a community divided between wealthy socialites who established the town and the working class responsible for running it. Every year it is getting harder for residents to even make a living.

Logan Harrison is an average student attending Nauset High School, he just wants his life to be something more, to mean something. As his sophomore year comes to a close, his world is shattered by a tragic suicide that fractures his friends. In an attempt to understand what happened and deal with the guilt, Logan uncovers a twisted secret that is subtly tearing the community apart with a deadly cost.

When the elite own everything and are immune to consequences, trespassing may be the only way to survive…

Purchase the series from Amazon


Bad Reputation

Trespassing

Book One

P.W. Creighton

 

Genre: YA, YA Mystery, YA Romance

Date of Publication: 12-6-2013

ISBN: 978-1492727859

ASIN: B00F0SM1YK

 

Book Description:

 

It's the last day of sophomore year for Logan, just one more day until summer vacation, and the whole school is buzzing. Someone called into the local radio show with an alarming confession, and at Nauset High School it’s all anyone can talk about.

 

Logan is more focused on just making it through the day. He has developed a reputation, and it comes back to haunt him at the worst times, even for those who supposedly know him. He just wants to make it to the end of the year party to kick off summer and ensure his girlfriend, Hailey, doesn't break-up with him. Or his car doesn't breakdown.

 

As the night progresses, Logan learns that secrets will always be exposed, and the cost of those secrets can have a deadly price. Who was responsible for the confession, and will they make it through the night?

  


Sunglasses At Night

Trespassing

Book Two

P.W. Creighton

 

Genre: YA, YA Mystery, YA Romance

Date of Publication: 2-28-2014

ISBN: 978-1495408649

ASIN: B00IQFF9NO

 

Book Description:

 

A Senator's daughter is dead, Nauset High School and the Sheriff's Department are under fire. They knew something was going to happen and failed to prevent it.

 

Logan is struggling with his loss, and the guilt that he now has to hide from his friends, along with the new secrets that turned the night into horror. As the funeral approaches, more questions are raised that put him in the Senator’s crosshairs. Kayla, the dream girl he met by chance, believes that there is something more going on, and pulls Logan into her world where privilege and entitlement are the norm.

 

Can Logan trust her? Is she who she seems to be? Logan is starting to learn that he isn't the only person who has secrets that he doesn't want revealed.

 

 

Cruel Summer

Trespassing

Book Three

P.W. Creighton

 

Genre: YA, YA Mystery, YA Romance

Date of Publication: 12-17-2015

ISBN: 978-1519207333

ASIN: B019I12EJ6

 

Book Description:

 

A scandalous party at the County Club has left Logan isolated and alone. His friends, old and new, have fallen victim to the gossip that is now swirling about him.

 

A chance encounter at the beach helps him to realize that he's not quite as alone as he thought, and his new accomplice, Devin, shows him that not everyone wealthy is untrustworthy. She has her own secrets and is willing to confide in Logan in exchange for his help. But trust does not come easy when former friends are involved.

 

When another shocking confession hits the airwaves, Logan begins to suspect that the spiral of death and tragedy is only just beginning. And Logan and Devin may have their own role to play. 

 


View from a Bridge

Trespassing

Book Four

P.W. Creighton

 

Genre: YA, YA Mystery, YA Romance

Date of Publication: 8-2-2024

ISBN: 979-8334551107

ASIN: B0CWMW5592

 

Book Description:

 

Summer is over, it's the start of Junior year but Logan and Devin can't easily move on. Someone else is dead, and they were involved.

 

Logan is trying to protect his new accomplice, Devin, unfortunately, she is also being blackmailed. Not only did someone assault her - they took pictures, and are distributing them through the school. And she isn't the only one. What first seemed like an isolated incident that caused their friend to commit suicide, is now turning into a disturbing trend.

 

A search for answers leads Logan and his friends only to more questions and yet another death. One that they may have caused. Summer may be over, but Logan's problems are just starting. 



Everything You Want

Trespassing

Book Five

P.W. Creighton

 

Genre: YA, YA Mystery, YA Romance

Date of Publication:  8-24-2024

ISBN: 979-8334900066

ASIN: B0DCSS7HT2

 

Book Description:

 

Logan and Devin have confronted the classmate who drugged, assaulted, and humiliated her. Unfortunately, he was murdered in front of them before Devin could get any answers or satisfaction.

 

Now, the Sheriff's Department is investigating the death of a Nauset High School star athlete, and Devin is their only suspect. This puts Logan in a race to prove Devin's innocence, before she is locked up and he becomes an accomplice to murder.

 

When a suspicious video surfaces that misrepresents the night of the murder, Logan and Devin realize that they are up against something more sinister than they ever suspected. Logan is determined to clear Devin's name, but his quest for answers may put his own family at risk.

 

  

Here’s to the Night

Trespassing

Book Six

P.W. Creighton

 

Genre: YA, YA Mystery, YA Romance

Date of Publication: 9-7-2024

ISBN: 979-8335536738

ASIN: B0DFTQRZ2R

 

Book Description:

 

Someone has confessed to the murder of Nausett High School's star athlete, but a seemingly random accident has left the shooter critically injured, leaving Logan and Devin cleared of suspicion, but without answers.

 

When they start to realize that other individuals involved with the murder and assaults have started to go missing, Logan and Devin feel compelled to dig deeper, pulling their new friends and allies along with them. As they discover more connections, they start to learn that there is a mysterious figure coordinating things behind the scenes.

 

Logan, Devin, and their closest friends are starting to learn that the deeper you go, the higher the extremes someone will take to protect themselves. The deaths at Nauset High haven't stopped just yet and the worst is yet to come.

  


Never Let You Go

Trespassing

Book Seven

P.W. Creighton

 

Genre: YA, YA Mystery, YA Romance

Date of Publication: 11-26-2024

ISBN: 979-8337933115

ASIN: B0DP5G6F2F

 

Book Description:

 

Logan is now starting to realize what he is up against. He is facing some very powerful and wealthy opponents, and even the Sheriff's Department is complicit. When you can't rely on the people hired to keep you safe, who can you rely on?

 

After the drive-by shooting deaths of his friends Logan and his allies have decided to take matters into their own hands. They don't want justice for their lost friends, they want payback. The Sheriff's Department refuses to investigate, but consumed by guilt and anger, Logan will not stop looking for answers.

 

As Logan continues to uncover the secrets of the Cape's elite, he begins to realize the depth of corruption in the community. Exposing secrets to the light can bring answers, but it can also lead to more deaths.

 

  

If You’re Gone

Trespassing

Book Eight

P.W. Creighton

 

Genre: YA, YA Mystery, YA Romance

Date of Publication: 12-11-2024

ISBN: 979-8342060714

ASIN: B0DQ6MHCHL

 

Book Description:

 

Logan and Devin finally are starting to feel like they have answers to some of their questions, but corruption in the Sheriff's Department continues to block them from truly understanding what is happening.

 

Finally, fully recovered from their injuries, Logan and Devin decide to dedicate time to their growing relationship but find themselves in the right place and the right time to prevent a deadly car accident. When they learn the identities of the victims, they realize that they are closer than ever to uncovering some of the secrets that led to Scarlett's death and started them on this path of tragedy and murder.

 

Scarlett's secrets take them to the elite and foreboding Nausett Academy - former school to Scarlett, Devin, and Hailey - and the home of their elusive opponent. What Logan finds will give their opponent a name - but will show who can be trusted, who has ulterior motives and what that cost will be.

  


Good Girls Go Bad

Trespassing

Book Nine

P.W. Creighton

 

Genre: YA, YA Mystery, YA Romance

Date of Publication: 2-13-2025

ISBN: 979-8307541609

ASIN: B0DX55J69L

 

Book Description:

 

After the traumatic events at Nausett Academy and discovering that evidence went missing after it reached the Sheriff's Department, Logan and Devin have decided to go on an extended Spring Break. What's the point in having your own boat if you can't just take off? They are done with dealing with murder, lies, and corruption. They are ready to start a new life, one where no one knows who they are, or their history.

 

When they discover that their friends are being investigated for murdering the no-longer elusive mastermind behind the drugging and blackmail of their peers, they realize that you can't outrun your problems. Logan and Devin are confident that their friends are being framed for murder and are determined to catch the true killer.

 

Logan and Devin may have a name and a face for their opponent, but they are learning that they are always steps ahead of them, and not even death can stop their devious plans.



Read an Excerpt Good Girls Go Bad – Trespassing 9

The thirty-minute drive from Ocean View down to the gallery had taken less than half the time. It was surprising that no one had complained to send the Sheriff’s Department our way. We had jumped curbs, cut across lawns, and even taken an insane drive through the park to shave off as much time as possible but it still felt like an eternity. Orange streetlights flickered past us as I was able to put my foot down on the straightaway.

Every minute Hailey was flipping between calling and texting without a single response. Even Liz wasn’t responding to her. I completely understood her paranoia. I had felt the same thing when Hailey texted me out of nowhere to apologize. I would’ve ignored it entirely if Scar hadn’t changed my thinking. If things were large enough for us to notice, then there was infinitely more that was hidden.

Last year Jen was just a princess, pretty and bitchy with too much attitude. Everything was beneath her. No matter who she was hanging out with, the attitude never changed. She was miserable and I just kept out of the way. After Scarlett, she had changed, like all of us. She actually was nice and funny. The world was different. I actually cared about her. She wasn’t the closest of friends, but she was a friend now.

The headlights swept over a large gray clapboard building on the corner. The black shingle roof and white trim kept with the Cape-aesthetic, but it was a strange design split between a Cape home and a large boathouse. Serenity Sea Gallery was Jennifer’s burden. Her mom’s gallery was dedicated to local artists and seascape style art, she had opened it ages ago, but it never really was her priority. Much like Jen, it was just an after-thought for her mother.

I took my foot off the gas.

“No!” Hailey snapped at me. “Around back. She uses the backdoor.”

“Right.” I put my foot down again making the engine growl.

The tires screeched as I cranked the wheel to turn us around the corner of the gallery. We swerved through the narrow space between the building and a privacy fence. Standing on the brakes, I cranked the wheel again to spin the Bronco around and face the back cinder-block wall of the gallery. We slid to a stop with a pair of black steel fire-doors directly in the headlights.

Hailey didn’t even wait for us to come to a full stop. She had the door open and was out and moving by the time I took my foot off the parking brake. I didn’t bother shutting it off, instead I copied her and jumping out to sprint for the door.

“Jen?” She called out as she reached the doors trying one side without luck. “Jen?” Hailey called out again as she pulled the second door open. She ducked inside and I was a half-step behind.

“Jennifer?” I called for her.

We entered a darkened area of the gallery filled with metal shelving and wooden crates. Once the door closed to shut out the headlights it took a moment for our eyes to adjust to the room. Somewhere off to one side, the darkness wasn’t nearly as bad.

“Jen?” Hailey tried to hurry through the space but kept bumping into things as she made her way down the aisle. “Jen? Ow. Jen?” I jabbed my hand out in front of her to keep her from banging her head on a crate that was sticking out.

“Jennifer?”

“Jen?” Hailey let out a shriek when she reached the end of the shelves. “Jen!” She darted forward and I kept pace with her. We had reached a prep area with a couple of long counters, tools, and a small office just beyond. There was just enough light from the office to reveal a long shape near the center of the space. “NO!” Jennifer was hanging from the exposed metal rafters. Her bare feet lightly brushed against a work stool that had been knocked over.

I couldn’t manage a sound as the world slowed. Hailey screamed. I lunged forward, wrapping my arms around Jennifer’s legs. Lifting with all my strength had her roughly sitting on my shoulder.

“Get something to cut her down!” I commanded, but Hailey wasn’t moving. “Hailey! Get something! NOW!”

Hailey darted around and came up with some form of wire-cutters. She frantically circled around us before she scrambled up onto the closer workbench. Teetering overhead, she stretched out to cut at the cord above Jen’s head. There were a few seconds of her trying to cut it before Jen fell into my arms.

Jennifer Maack was a Pack girl, pristine, flawless, and small. Not quite as small as Devin but as soon as she fell into my arms, she felt heavier than any of the girls. She was a ragdoll, limp, and hard to balance. I shifted her around until I could carry her in my arms to a clear spot away from anything. As gently as I could, I set her on the cold concrete floor.

“Call 9-1-1,” I said and leaned in to check her. Glancing up, I saw Hailey was a complete wreck crying but still not moving. “HAILEY!” I shouted to get her attention. She finally looked at me. “CALL 9-1-1!”  She gave a quick nod and pulled out her phone.

Leaning in close, I couldn’t see Jennifer’s chest moving and I couldn’t hear her breathing. I untangled the noose to give her more space before I placed my hand on her neck. She was still warm. I fumbled around and thought I felt a pulse, but it was hard to tell.

 



About the Author:

Born in California, P.W. has spent most of his life traveling throughout the US. P.W. draws inspiration from many adventures, turning his strange reality into fiction.

Over the years, P.W. has found himself in many unusual situations, ranging from hanging off an 80 foot cliff-face in New York, to sailing off the coast of Salem, Massachusetts. P.W. has hosted archaeological excavations, and have even reported from the middle of a police stand-off.

When a teacher asked in the second grade what he wanted to be when he grew up, he didn't have an answer. He lets the characters make that decision for him.







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If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.
Thank you for supporting Sapphyria’s Books.