Showing posts with label Coming of Age. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Coming of Age. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 24, 2026

No Matter What by Stephen Suffron ~ @RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #NoMatterWhat #StephenSuffron #YoungAdult #YA


No Matter What by Stephen Suffron


Young Adult / Coming of Age / Christian

Date Published: April 14, 2026

Publisher: Clay Bridges Press



About the Book:

Most people don’t know quite what to make of Jay McGee. His teammates call him “Mac Daddy” ('90s slang for a smooth-talking ladies' man). But Jay is nothing like that. In fact, he just doesn’t fit neatly into any box—honors student, basketball player, church kid—and he’s okay with that, as long as two people notice: Coach Mays, the fiery perfectionist standing between Jay and his basketball dreams, and Nicole Ellis, the cheerleader he’s secretly liked since sixth grade.

When Jay finally seizes a moment of boldness with Nicole, he steps into new territory—only to discover her life is far more complicated than he ever imagined. Maybe he should just focus on basketball. Except Coach Mays seems blind to Jay’s potential, harping only on his flaws.

Caught between pressure, failure, and secrets no one talks about at Sunday school, Jay is forced to wrestle with deeper questions—about who he is, what he believes, and what it really means to be seen, to love, and to become someone worth noticing . . . no matter what.

 

What makes it unique:

This book provides a practical way for teens to engage with difficult questions and feel seen in the struggles they’re facing, while also being educational and presenting hard truths everyone will have to wrestle with. It helps the reader ask tough questions about who they are, who they want to be, where they want to go in life, and who they want to bring along on the journey.

The engaging characters and witty conversation pull in the reader and command attention and focus. This is not a story that will be read and quickly forgotten. Unlike generic "coming of age" books, No Matter What tackles the struggles of adolescence with taste and decency, allowing the reader to think and feel throughout the story without becoming unnecessarily uncomfortable or awkward.

 



About the Author:


Stephen Suffron is a dad and longtime pastor, currently serving at First Baptist Church in Denison, Texas. He loves telling stories that connect people across generations through humor and biblical truth. No Matter What began as a short story for a college class and was later expanded into a novel to help guide his own teenagers through high school. Steve and his wife have been married for more than twenty years and are raising four children together.


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Tuesday, January 27, 2026

Book Amplifier Tour ~ America by Mike Bond ~ #America #ComingOfAge

 

In America, Mike Bond captures a moment when everything felt possible and unstable at once. Youth, rebellion, and idealism take shape amid rapid cultural change and national uncertainty.

About the Book:

Four young people step into adulthood as the country around them struggles to redefine itself. Troy, an orphan, discovers joy in family and dreams of exploration beyond the known world. Tara finds her future through music, her voice echoing the spirit of change and rebellion. Mick, Troy’s brother, questions authority as athletic success collides with the realities of war. Daisy pursues equality, service, and understanding through activism and study. Their intersecting paths reflect a generation caught between hope and heartbreak, shaped by a time that promised freedom while demanding sacrifice.

Meet the Author:

Mike Bond is the author of nearly a dozen bestselling novels and an ecologist, war and human rights journalist, award-winning poet, and international energy expert. His work spans more than thirty countries across seven continents, often drawn from firsthand experiences in remote, dangerous, and war-torn regions. His novels are praised worldwide for their intricate plots, vivid settings, and explosive pacing. His reporting has covered wars, revolutions, terrorism, and major environmental crises. Learn more at his website.

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Monday, August 11, 2025

Turning Toward Eden by Cate Touryan ~ @CateTouryan ~ Young Adult Mystery/Young Adult General Fiction: Coming of Age, Historical Mystery, Literary

 

Turning Toward Eden by Cate Touryan

About Turning Toward Eden:

 

Turning Toward Eden

Young Adult Mystery/General Fiction: Coming of Age, Historical Mystery, Literary

Setting: California

 1971 Publisher: ‎ Winged Publications 

Publication date: ‎ May 6, 2025

Print length: ‎ 350 pages

ISBN-10: ‎ 1965352766

ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1965352762

Digital ASIN: ‎ B0DRRGK3W5

AUDIOBOOK COMING SOON!

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“Chasing the truth, huh? Sure you're not running from it?” Hollis might be her only friend, a lanky boy Mama calls her “beau,” but Eden Lewis has no time for his hogwash. She’s got a mystery to crack. For most fourteen-year-olds, California summers in the early 1970s mean sun and surf, despite the Cold War chill. Not for Eden. Her AWOL father has sent her life into a tailspin, landing her in a shabby beach town, stuck caring for her severely disabled brother. Caught in her parents’ own cold war, Eden ditches Dex at every chance—pier fishing with Hollis, playing poker with the grizzled card sharks, and caterwaulin’ in the church choir, laying plain to the Almighty that singing terms ain’t the same as speaking terms, what with the hand he’s dealt her.

Then Raven arrives mid-ninth grade—an elusive Soviet girl rumored to rain black-winged curses over the fearful town. When a rash of petty crimes escalates to bloodshed on the beach, suspicion falls on the “commie”—and then Eden. Desperate to prove herself innocent, and Raven guilty, she embarks on a reckless game of chase. But for the truth to set her free, she must risk Dex’s life. Will she go all in, no matter the cost?

An evocative story laced with mystery, Turning Toward Eden weaves nostalgia with grit, sorrow with humor, and despair with faith, offering hope to anyone who has sought to belong in a world that rarely plays fair.

"This is storytelling at its most atmospheric—brimming with quirky, well-drawn characters, razor-sharp prose, and the kind of setting you can almost smell. The writing is lyrical, grounded, and often laugh-out-loud funny—even in the midst of deeply poignant moments. With a cast of endearing misfits and a tone reminiscent of Southern Gothic charm, this story lures you in from the very first line and doesn’t let go. Cate Touryan has a truly original voice, a rare gift for language, and a special ability to render a world so vivid you feel baptized in it." — Zena Dell Lowe, Screenwriter, Story Coach, and Founder of The Storyteller’s Mission

Audiobook Coming Soon! The audiobook edition of Turning Toward Eden is in production and on its way to Audible, iTunes, and beyond. Stay tuned for a richly narrated experience, perfect for readers who love stories on the go.

About Cate Touryan:

Cate Touryan writes fiction and creative nonfiction that reach for the story beyond the story and the beginning beyond “The End.” Her complex, realistic narratives often touch on themes of faith. While she avoids gratuitous violence and profanity, keeping any romance clean, she does not shy away from portraying the grit and beauty of real life, instead writing the truest story she can, infused with heart and humor. Her fiction will delight young adults and adults still young.

Cate invites you to journey with her into lives both real and imagined, wherein might lie glimpses of your own story beyond the story and an ending redeemed.

Author Links:


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TOUR PARTICIPANTS:

July 30 – Hall Ways Blog – SPOTLIGHT
July 30 – Novels Alive – REVIEW
July 30 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT
July 31 - Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT
August 1 - Jody's Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
August 2 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT
August 3 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
August 4 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT 
August 5 – Christy's Cozy Corners – SPOTLIGHT
August 6 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
August 7 – Boys' Mom Reads! – REVIEW
August 8 – Sarandipity's – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
August 9 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
August 10 – Reading Is My SuperPower – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
August 11 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
August 12 – Salty Inspirations – SPOTLIGHT
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Thursday, June 19, 2025

Luna Court by Dandy Noel ~ @lunacourtmedia @RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #LunaCourt #DandyNoel #Memoir



Luna Court by Dandy Noel

Nonfiction/Memoir, Adventure, Coming of Age, Drama

Date Published: March 24, 2025

Publisher: MindStir Media


 

"Life on the road was a dream. Destinations were shaping up to be cold, hard, complicated realities."

The call of the open road, the music that fuels them, and the night that changed everything... In the early 1990s, amidst the gritty allure of Southern California's burgeoning music scene, 18-year-old Denver finds herself at a crossroads. Her father has been missing for over a year, leaving behind a void that haunts her every moment. After high school graduation, Denver and her best friend hit the road for a transformative journey across the country.



About the Author:


You might say Dandy’s lifelong pursuit of healing began in many places: with parents who both abandoned her in different ways; with the incredible cross-country road trip she embarked on as a teenager; or with a transcendent night in Washington D.C.

The truth is, healing is not about beginnings or about endings. It’s an invitation that beckons to every one of us.

 

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Wednesday, June 11, 2025

A New Life by L.J. Ambrosio ~ #ComingOfAge ~ @authorlambrosio @GoddessFish



This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. L.J. Ambrosio will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.


About the Book:

From America to the streets of Paris, A New Life follows two friends as they navigate grief, love, and self-discovery in a city filled with history and hope.

A New Life is a story that lingers long after the last page.

Genre:

Coming-of-Age


Read an Excerpt:

They spent the rest of the trip talking about Rhonda and how great she was, from the fight where she tried to protect Ron to the National Cemetery where she was left behind by accident at dusk, not found until midnight.

Louie and Ron had a chuckle over how Rhonda refused to walk on the sidewalks in Paris because of all the cigarette butts on the ground; she had to be pushed around in a baby carriage, because she did not want to burn her paws.

Louie started crying, and Ron comforted him, assuring him that the pain was fine; he needed to accept it.

“Rhonda was so smart,” Louie said proudly. "Some people don’t know the relationship between an owner and their pet. It is so special, so unconditional. Rhonda will always be a part of me. It was nice to bury her here in America, her home country.”

A while later, Ron and Louie arrived at their motel. Ron said to him, "Let’s get the luggage and go to bed. Hey, I was thinking when we get back to Paris, you should move in me with me and stop sleeping in the bookstore.”

Louie could not believe what he heard. Sharing more time with Ron would be special; he was excited to have that time together.

About the Author:
Louis J. Ambrosio ran one of the most nurturing bi-coastal talent agencies in Los Angeles and New York. He started his career as a theatrical producer, running two major regional theaters for eight seasons. Ambrosio taught at seven universities. Ambrosio also distinguished himself as an award-winning film producer and novelist over the course of his impressive career.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ljambrosioauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorlambrosio
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/louis.ambrosio
Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/ljambrosio
Blog: https://ljambrosio.blogspot.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI2XkCETDOj_VUtCFcB74ig

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Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Memories of MK-Ultra by Bill Yarborough ~ @RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #MemoriesofMKUltra #BillYarborough #ComingofAge #Thriller

 

Memories of MK-Ultra 

by Bill Yarborough

Coming of Age / Psychological /Historical Thriller / Metaphysical

 

 

Memories of MK-ULTRA traces the development of three siblings from their early childhood—marred by harrowing mind control experiences in the CIA’s MK-ULTRA program—through their coming of age during the turbulent 60s and into their early adulthood in the 1980s. As the story develops, an incredible chain of events uncover the dark forces shaping their lives . . . until an unexpected source of light appears.

 




About the Author:

Bill Yarborough has enjoyed writing for many years. Manhattan Book Group will publish his debut novel, Memories of MK-ULTRA, in September 2024. The story is inspired by repressed memories from his young childhood where he, his brother, and his sister recall undergoing experiments of the CIA’s MK-ULTRA mind control program. Bill is also working on a sequel to his first novel, and his short story “Night Mother” was published by Prolific Press in an anthology of short stories, Jitter Issue # 8. Bill also co-authored emotional health articles in The Diablo Gazette Magazine, and he and his wife, Inge, are working on a book entitled EFT on Steroids.

 

Contact Links:

Website

Facebook

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Purchase Link:

Amazon



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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.

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Memories of MK-Ultra by Bill Yarborough ~ @BillYarborough3 @RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #MemoriesofMKUltra #HistoricalFiction #thriller #BillYarborough


Memories of MK-Ultra by Bill Yarborough


Coming of Age / Psychological /Historical Thriller / Metaphysical


About the Book:

Memories of MK-ULTRA traces the development of three siblings from their early childhood—marred by harrowing mind control experiences in the CIA’s MK-ULTRA program—through their coming of age during the turbulent 60s and into their early adulthood in the 1980s. As the story develops, an incredible chain of events uncover the dark forces shaping their lives . . . until an unexpected source of light appears.



About the Author:


Bill Yarborough has enjoyed writing for many years. Manhattan Book Group will publish his debut novel, Memories of MK-ULTRA, in September 2024. The story is inspired by repressed memories from his young childhood where he, his brother, and his sister recall undergoing experiments of the CIA’s MK-ULTRA mind control program. Bill is also working on a sequel to his first novel, and his short story “Night Mother” was published by Prolific Press in an anthology of short stories, Jitter Issue # 8. Bill also co-authored emotional health articles in The Diablo Gazette Magazine, and he and his wife, Inge, are working on a book entitled EFT on Steroids.

Contact Links:





Purchase Link:





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Monday, November 4, 2024

Blues Jam by Stephen Rice ~ @RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #BluesJam #StephenRice #ComingofAge


Blues Jam by Stephen Rice


Fiction / Coming of Age

Date Published: June 10, 2024

About the Book:

A young woman battles loss and addiction growing up in Saint Paul and finds her way to live her dream of becoming a Blues drummer.


About the Author:

 

Stephen was born and raised in Henderson, NY. He moved to Saint Paul, MN to attend Hamline University. After working a variety of jobs, he began a career as a computer programmer. An interest in writing words preceded his interest in writing code.

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Wednesday, September 11, 2024

Book Blitz ~ Blues Jam by Stephen Rice ~ @RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #BluesJam #StephenRice #ComingofAge


Blues Jam by Stephen Rice

Fiction / Coming of Age

Date Published: June 10, 2024



 


A young woman battles loss and addiction growing up in Saint Paul and finds her way to live her dream of becoming a Blues drummer.

 


About the Author:

Stephen was born and raised in Henderson, NY. He moved to Saint Paul, MN to attend Hamline University. After working a variety of jobs, he began a career as a computer programmer. An interest in writing words preceded his interest in writing code.

 

Purchase Link:

Amazon



RABT Book Tours & PR

Tuesday, July 30, 2024

Preorder Blitz ~ Exiles by L.J. Ambrosio ~ @authorlambrosio @RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #Exiles #LJAmbrosio #Fiction #UF #RomCom



Exiles by L.J. Ambrosio

Fiction/Coming-of-age

Date Published: May 2024

Publisher: Film Valor


 

About the Book:

In this final chapter, Ron's story concludes from Reflections on the Boulevard (2023). Michael's wish was for Ron to exile himself in the heart of Paris with its beautiful culture and citizens as they protest and fight for the soul of the city. Ron's journey is met with life-affirming friendships and lessons along the way. The final book in the Reflections of Michael Trilogy, which started with A Reservoir Man (2022)

About the Author:

Louis J. Ambrosio ran one of the most nurturing bi-coastal talent agencies in Los Angeles and New York. He started his career as a theatrical producer, running two major regional theaters for eight seasons. Ambrosio taught at 7 Universities. Ambrosio also distinguished himself as an award-winning film producer and novelist over the course of his impressive career.

 



Contact Links:

Website

Twitter

Blog

Goodreads

Instagram

TikTok: @ljambrosioauthor

 

Purchase Links:

Author's Site 

Amazon 

B&N 

Kobo 

iBooks



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