Lethal Standoff ~ Lone Star Book Blog Tours Author Video & Giveaway!

 

LETHAL STANDOFF

By DiANN MILLS

Contemporary Fiction / Christian Mystery & Suspense / Christian Romance

Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers

Pages: 368

Publication Date: September 3, 2024

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SYNOPSIS

Hostage negotiator Carrington Reed faces her most dangerous challenge yet in Lethal Standoff. Called to a tense situation in South Texas, Carrington must save fifteen hostages held by the armed Kendrix brothers, who demand justice for their father's unsolved murder. 

Teaming up with investigative reporter Levi Ehrlich, Carrington delves into a web of secrets and lies. As they uncover startling truths, the stakes soar, and so does their undeniable attraction. 

Can Carrington solve the mystery and prevent a deadly outcome? A riveting blend of romance and suspense, this is a must-read for fans of high-stakes thrillers.

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AUTHOR VIDEO

DiAnn Mills talks about

Antagonistic Settings

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Award-winning author DiAnn Mills is known for her gripping romantic suspense novels where readers can Expect An Adventure. With multiple Christy Awards and numerous bestsellers, her stories captivate readers with their depth and intensity. A passionate storyteller and dedicated mentor, DiAnn is also a coffee connoisseur and proud grandmother living in Houston, Texas.

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Frowns and Gowns ~ Lone Star Book Blog Tours Book Blitz, Review, & Giveaway!

 

FROWNS AND GOWNS

The Mischief Series, Book 5

By AMANDA M. THRASHER

Children’s Chapter Book / Fantasy / Fairies

Publisher: Progressive Rising Phoenix Press

Page Count: 236

Publication Date: September 12, 2023

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Embark on a Magical Adventure with Lilly, Boris, and Jack!

Get ready to join Lilly, Boris, and Jack on an unforgettable journey filled with excitement, laughter, and a touch of mayhem. Brace yourself for a whirlwind of mishaps as these three fairies plan a magnificent magical ball, only to encounter an unforeseen disaster! Experience the magic of friendship with Lilly, the quick-witted and resourceful fairy, Boris, the mischievous fairy with a heart of gold, and Jack, the troublemaker with a curious, adventurous spirit on their latest adventure.

Throughout, Lilly, Boris, and Jack teach the true meaning of friendship and teamwork. Together with their friends, they'll overcome challenges, learn valuable lessons, and create memories that will last a lifetime. Don't miss out on this enchanting tale!

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Progressive Rising Phoenix Press

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HALL WAYS REVIEW: Oh, my heart. Frowns and Gowns is the fifth book in Amanda M. Thrasher’s The Mischief Series, but it’s the first I’ve read, and I am hooked. Time spent between the pages is a perfectly sweet and magical place for young readers (and Mimis) to escape the real world for a while. Even though my oldest granddaughter is only four, I am already imagining her staying a week at Mimi’s and Granddad’s, and my reading this chapter book to her – one sparkly minute at a time.

What struck me was the respect and politeness the little fairlings show for each other and for the adult fairies and creatures in their lives. They mostly follow the rules (I’m looking at you, Boris and Jack), and they often think about the consequences of their actions and encounters with others. Reading Frowns and Gowns made me realize how much I value, and miss, thoughtfulness and consideration.

What terrific examples these young fairies set for readers. Sure, there’s mischief in the mix because that’s life, but it is fun and funny and delightfully descriptive. And the sweets! I could definitely relate to Boris and his affinity for the foods prepared for and presented to the fairies. I’ll have one (or six) of everything, please.

Jumping in so late in the series, there were definitely a few things that piqued my curiosity, so I must go back to the beginning to find out what’s so special about Lilly, why is the invisible Agent Chester assigned to her, and what kind of danger could there possibly be in this lovely mushroom patch (beyond the friendly, but stinky, moss ball attacks)?

The librarian in me appreciates that Thrasher stretches the vocabulary level so that young readers (or those absorbing the story through a read-aloud) are exposed to more robust word choices than the norm. Plus, there are so many talking points and scenes that can springboard into other activities. This series would be a great addition to any classroom or school library. (And Mimi’s library, too.) 

Award-winning author Amanda M. Thrasher was born in England and moved to Texas, where she lives with her family. She writes YA, general fiction, middle grade, early reader chapter, and picture books. She is the founder and CEO of Progressive Rising Phoenix Press.

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TWO WINNERS

receive autographed, paperback sets

of all five books in The Mischief Series

+ $25 Starbucks gift card

(US only; ends midnight, CDT, 03/28/24)

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The Desk from Hoboken ~ Lone Star Book Blog Tours Spotlight & Giveaway!

THE DESK FROM HOBOKEN

A Genealogy Mystery, #1

by

ML Condike

Mystery / Women Sleuths / Forensic Genealogy

Publisher: Harbor Lane Books, LLC

Date of Publication: March 5, 2024

Number of Pages: 446 pages 

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After a personal loss, forensic genealogist RaeJean Hunter accepts what she believes is a straightforward case to ease back into the game: a student at Connecticut College has found human remains on the school campus. The College hires RaeJean to confirm their tentative identification that it’s a woman named Mary Rogers, whose cause of death has never been determined.

Unfortunately, it becomes downright dangerous. Someone thwarts her investigation of the same case that inspired Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Mystery of Marie Rogêt.” Still, she meets relatives, some helpful and others not, amid escalating threats. Using her skills, including DNA analysis, historical records research, genealogy mapping, and guidance from a mystical antique desk, she follows every clue.

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ML Condike’s novel, The Desk from Hoboken, is the first in a genealogy mystery three-book series. She also has short stories published in five anthologies. ML Condike completed Southern Methodist University’s Writer’s Path in Dallas in 2019 and is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime North Dallas, Granbury Writers’ Bloc, and Key West Writers Guild.

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THREE WINNERS:

1st: signed paperback and Corgi plush toy

2nd: signed paperback and $25 Amazon gift card

3rd: choice of $25 gift card or signed paperback

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Reap the Wind ~ Lone Star Book Blog Tours First Line & Giveaway!

REAP THE WIND

by

JOEL BURCAT

Action-Adventure / Suspense / Climate Change / EcoThriller

Publisher: Milford House Press, an imprint of Sunbury Books, Inc.

Date of Publication: February 6, 2024

Number of Pages: 215 pages 

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REAP THE WIND is THE PERFECT STORM meets THE FIRM.

Reap the Wind is a thrilling action/adventure novel that follows three lawyers as they embark on a treacherous journey from Houston to Cincinnati during a catastrophic hurricane. Josh Goldberg is on a mission to be with his girlfriend for the birth of their child. Along the way, they'll face terrifying obstacles like tornadoes, hailstorms, and driving rain. But the real danger may come from within as they struggle to survive each other's company. His two travel companions—his best friend, a drug-addicted lawyer, and his conniving boss who has her own agenda.

Don't miss out on this unforgettable odyssey that might just be a suicide trip.

PRAISE FOR REAP THE WIND:

"Reap the Wind is a bold, bracing and blisteringly original take on the legal thriller form. Joel Burcat has fashioned a seminal tale focusing on the nightmare of all road trips in which a storm raging outside the car is matched only by the storm raging within. Burcat dares to tread on the hallowed ground of John Grisham and Scott Turow and ends up blazing a fresh, daring literary tale of his own. Not to be missed!"

—Jon Land, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author

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Amazon │ Sunbury Books 

Midtown Scholar Bookstore (signed copies)

Joel Burcat is an award-winning author of three environmental legal thrillers: Drink to Every Beast (illegal dumping of toxic waste), Amid Rage (a coal mine permit battle), and Strange Fire (a fracking dispute). His most recent book, Reap the Wind, is about three lawyers trying to drive from Houston to Cincinnati in a climate change-induced hurricane.

He has received a number of awards, including the Gold Medal for environmental fiction from Readers’ Favorite for Strange Fire, and as a Finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards for Amid Rage. He has written numerous short stories. Burcat imbues his novels with facts to educate his readers about critical environmental issues while they are being entertained by the story.

Burcat’s books are infused with realism developed over a forty plus year career as an environmental lawyer.

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THREE WINNERS:

Signed copy of REAP THE WIND

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Magical Elements of the Periodic Table ~ Lone Star Book Blog Tour Book Trailer, Free Activity Sneak Peek, & Giveaway!

MAGICAL ELEMENTS

OF THE PERIODIC TABLE

PRESENTED ALPHABETICALLY

BY THE METAL HORN UNICORNS

The Blue Unicorn’s Journey to Osm Series

by

Sybrina Durant

Illustrated by Pumudi Gardiyawasam

Children's Book / Science & Nature / Mythical Creatures

Publisher: Sybrina Publishing

Date of Publication: February 7, 2023

Number of Pages: 41 pages 

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Ready to learn the magic of science? Metals and all the other elements from the periodic table make everything seem magical. You can see it everywhere: in buildings, transportation, communications, medicines, and even in the food you eat! All technology and everything that makes life modern come from the magical elements in the earth, water, and the air.

 

Think of it like this, “No Metal – No Magic…and No Tech-no-lo-gy.” You can learn about all that stuff in this book called The Magical Elements of the Periodic Table Presented Alphabetically by The Metal Horn Unicorns. Twenty-six techno-magical elements are presented from A to Z by the magical metal horn unicorn tribe from Unimaise.

Every element page includes:

*where the featured element comes from*

*when it was discovered*

*scientific info about the element*

*everyday uses for it*

*a bunch of interesting facts*

*a unicorn who wields its magical powers representing each element*

 

The book also has an amazing unicorn-themed periodic table plus special pages featuring elemental compounds and alloys. Now, that’s Techno-Magical!

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Amazon│B&N│Unicorn Book Store 

Watch on YouTube

Check out the Interactive Viewer to learn more about the 

elements of the periodic table that each unicorn represents!

(Click here to view the accessible version of this interactive content)

Sybrina Durant is a unicorn author and entrepreneur. In addition to books, she offers unicorn-themed activities, t-shirts, and more. Plus, she has pulled together a collection of nearly all the unicorn books available today from hundreds of authors. They are categorized on her website by Little Kid, Middle Kid, and Teen Unicorn Books.

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ONE WINNER:

Paperback copy of Magical Elements, set of Unicorn Elements Trading Cards,

& Unicorn Elements Periodic Table Poster (24”x 36”)

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Ghostly Bugles~ Lone Star Book Blog Tours Review & Giveaway!

 

GHOSTLY BUGLES

by

Max L. Knight

Historical Fiction / Texas History

Publisher: Wild Lark Books

Date of Publication: February 23, 2023

Number of Pages: 210 pages 

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Do the souls of the dead reach out from beyond the grave? Do echoes of the past resound through the ages? Are such insights a privilege or a curse? An old man grapples with these questions and his own mortality as he re-examines one of the most famous battles in history - the Alamo.

The 1836 siege and battle as well as current efforts to restore Alamo Plaza to hallowed ground and create a world-class attraction unfold as the old man tries to make sense of his memories, dreams, and perceived outreach by the dead whose souls cry out to him for inclusion and recognition. Beyond the myth and the legend are their stories as well as his own.

Ghostly Bugles is a fictional re-creation of the Alamo story, rich in historical detail with a unique paranormal element. The narrative combines elements of the traditional storyline with contemporary efforts to "Re-imagine the Alamo". The dual timelines balance our understanding of this world- renowned event and provide new perspective and appreciation for the courage and sacrifice of everyone involved - Texian and Tejano defenders, and Mexican soldiers.

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Amazon │ Wild Lark Books

HALL WAYS REVIEW: The structure and premise of Ghostly Bugles, written by San Antonio author Max L. Knight, are compelling. Readers are introduced to the main character, identified only as “the old man,” and are then immersed and held captive in his thoughts.

“The Alamo was and always would be personal for him.”

The old man has admittedly been fascinated with the Alamo since he was a young boy and has never lost interest, so his vast knowledge is believable and for this Texan, even enviable. Via the old man’s ruminations, we get not only a factual history of the site and restoration of the Alamo, but also a nostalgic history of San Antonio and its bygone days. However, it’s by way of the old man’s dreams that readers are transported into the stories of the people on either side of the walls of the Alamo.

“He intimately sensed the presence of the souls of the deceased; he envisioned the circumstances under which they lived and died, even felt their pain at the moment of their demise. Rather than dispel these ghosts, he reached out to them.”

With the old man’s visions sometimes having him “soaring over” events, the story is able to be told from an omniscient point of view. The chapters alternate between the here & now of the old man’s observations and the then & there of the days leading up to, through, and after the Battle of the Alamo. It’s established early on that whatever’s unfolding on the pages is known to the old man, be it from his book knowledge or from the voices of the dead. But there’s also a layer of added information that goes beyond the characters’ experiences. In Ghostly Bugles, it’s Knight’s next-level attention to detail that engrosses, fascinates, and chills the reader.

I have never professed to be a student of history, and even as a Texan, I only recall the big picture of the Alamo and minimal details learned in school, so many years ago. Reading Ghostly Bugles is eye-opening because it shares not only the stories of the Texians, but also of the Tejanos and Mexicans who fought. One of the things Knight does well is to provide a wider lens, and he puts the battle in a context I hadn’t thought of before: the soldiers of the Mexican Army were fighting for their homeland and trying to put down an insurrection within. *Texan mind blown by the obvious*

“It was cruel psychological warfare.”

The level of detail in Ghostly Bugles is mind-boggling, which is a nod to the author’s research and clear expertise in the subject of soldiering. Specifics of munitions are provided down to the finest detail, but so are the horrible consequences of the trek to the battle lines, living in unhealthy conditions, and of course, the gruesome deaths. To Knight’s credit: he doesn’t glamorize a thing, nor does he downplay the flaws of the leaders on both sides. Travis and Bowie are slave owners; David Crockett struggles with his alter-ego, Davy; Santa Anna is a sexual predator.

Once again, Max Knight educates and entertains his readers through historical fiction, and leaves us with much to consider, not only from the story pages but from his Afterword and even acknowledgments (thank you). Ghostly Bugles feels thoroughly authentic, and I’m glad I read it.

MAX L. KNIGHT was born in Panama and grew up in the Canal Zone and in San Antonio, Texas, where he and his wife reside. In addition to degrees from Texas A&M University and Campbell University, Max served twenty-four years in the United States Army (1973-1997), retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

He became the first Alamo Docent in 2004, but the tragic events of 9/11 compelled him to reactivate his security clearance and, when the approval finally came through, he returned to work in support of U.S. Counterintelligence operations. A stage IV throat cancer diagnosis in 2014 abruptly ended that phase of his life, and he turned to writing to help him get through the chemo, radiation, and surgeries. Max is currently cancer free.

His other works include Silver Taps, Palo Duro, and Tarnished Brass.

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Signed copy of Ghostly Bugles

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