Book Junkiez

The Rough Life Virtual Book Tour

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 12:00:58 +0200

Children’s Book

Date Published: June 10, 2026

Publisher: MindStir Media

The Rough Life is the adventure of a brand new golf ball named Vic, who
finds himself playing his very first round of golf. Things start off well, but
Vic quickly learns how humbling the game of golf can be when he is lost in the
rough. Vic journeys through the rough, finding a home and making friends with
other lost golf balls. While it’s a comfortable life, Vic is not content
just watching golf as it happens around him. Vic and his new friends devise a
plan to get out of the rough and back in the game.

About the Author

Danny Fanelli is a husband, father, elementary school teacher and coach from
Westchester, New York. He began playing golf and fell in love with the game at
30 years young. One of his biggest fears in life is sinking a hole-in-one
while playing solo (he’s come close). When he is not playing golf or
practicing his form in the living room, Danny takes turns with his wife
chasing his two, wild children.

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Amazon

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Winning the Wrong Game Virtual Book Tour

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 12:00:56 +0200

When the Life You’ve Built Still Isn’t Enough and How to Restore
What Actually Matters

Christian Living / Religion / Nonfiction

Date Published: August 4, 2026

Publisher: Lucid Books Publishing

You’ve worked hard, built a good life, and achieved what you set out to
accomplish. So why does something still feel off?

On the surface, everything looks right. But underneath, something is beginning
to crack—and no amount of success, performance, or achievement seems to
fix it.

Josh Wintermute knows that feeling well. After walking through physical,
mental, financial, and spiritual struggles, he came to a life-changing
realization: the problem wasn’t just the circumstances—it was the
foundation.

In this honest and practical book, Josh walks you through the three
foundational areas every life is built on—your heart, your home, and
your culture. He helps you uncover what’s broken beneath the surface, do
the hard work of restoration, and rebuild on what truly matters.

You are not as stuck as you think.

You are not as alone as you feel.

And
you are going to make it.

EXCERPT

I didn’t know what to do. I tried turning my head from left to right, but no matter what direction I turned, a stinging pain shot through my neck. At thirty years old, I never imagined I would be dealing with the amount of pain I was experiencing every moment of every day. I felt like a weight was sitting between my shoulders, giving off moments of sharp, piercing pain that radiated down my arms and into my fingers. With all this constant pain, I couldn’t focus at work, and even being present with my family and friends became noticeably more difficult. No matter how much I prayed, rested, or stretched, there was no relief from the pain.

I saw a chiropractor who did everything within his scope of care to bring some relief, but nothing worked. The next step was to get an MRI to see what was happening in my spine. There I was inside the MRI tube, listening to the loud clicks of the machine and hoping for answers about the pain I was constantly feeling. A few days later, I got a call from the doctor who said I had five herniated discs in my neck and upper back. I was relieved by the answers but stood motionless, unsure what to do next. My chiropractor had a plan—adjustments, spinal decompression, and pain management injections.

For the next year, I spent four to five days a week at the chiropractor’s office to get adjusted and have my spine stretched, hoping to move the discs into place. Each session lasted about an hour, and the out-of-pocket expenses quickly added up. We met our insurance deductibles and were maxing out our out-of-pocket requirements. After all these treatments, I was still miserable, still in pain. I told my doctor, “I can’t keep doing this. What do I need to do next?” He suggested talking to a surgeon, the very thing we were trying to avoid by doing the treatments. So I reached out to a handful of neurosurgeons, and they scheduled me to have another round of MRIs to see what shape my spinal cord and discs were in.

The results of the MRIs revealed I still had three discs out of place and bulging. The conversation shifted to surgery and a plan to cut out one disc, replace it with a spacer, and fuse the vertebrae together. This was intended to save as many discs and vertebrae as possible due to my age and the severity of my condition. The surgeon warned me that additional surgeries might be necessary because of the extra stress on the bones above and below the fused vertebrae. But I was desperate for relief, so I told them to schedule the surgery.

A few weeks later, I went in for the surgery, optimistic about finding some relief. After the anesthesia wore off, I woke up in a different kind of pain due to the surgery. The surgeon expressed his findings and said the surgery was a success. I was instructed to rest for the next six weeks and then have a follow-up appointment to see if everything looked correct.

I was working full-time at a large organization and had three young sons, all under the age of six, so resting was not as easy as it sounded. After six weeks, I went back to see the surgeon and had an X-ray, which showed a successful surgery. He gave me some tips and limitations for my continued healing and recovery. I felt relief from the pain I had been dealing with and was so grateful that I was on the road to a full recovery. Then the unimaginable happened.

About the Author

Author Josh Wintermute is a life builder and founder of Quiet Winters,
helping leaders build their lives on a solid foundation. With over 20 years of
pastoral ministry, Josh has walked with hundreds of people through
life’s ups and downs and has a deep desire to see people heal and grow
through the challenges we face in life. Josh has been married for over 25
years, has three sons, and lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Contact Links

Website

Instagram: @joshwintermute
@quiet_winters

Purchase Links

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

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The Hero of Pamplona Virtual Book Tour

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 12:00:49 +0200

And Other Mostly True Stories

Memoir

Date Published: June 12, 2026

Publisher: MindStir Media

What makes a life worth remembering? Is it danger—or joy?
Triumph—or deception? Sometimes it’s all of them, tangled together
in moments that refuse to fade.

The Hero of Pamplona and Other Mostly True Stories is a memoir told through
twenty-two vividly rendered short stories drawn from the extraordinary life of
Len Wechsler. Spanning decades and continents, these deeply personal
reflections move effortlessly from New York to Los Angeles, Paris to Pamplona,
Lisbon to Tangiers—each place leaving its mark, each moment carrying
emotional weight.

With the voice of a philosopher, the instincts of a filmmaker, and the honesty
of someone who has lived fully, Wechsler explores friendship and betrayal,
risk and reinvention, longing and belonging. These are stories shaped by
youthful bravado, artistic pursuit, cultural collision, and the quiet
reckonings that come with time.

Sometimes humorous, sometimes haunting, and always human, this memoir invites
readers into a life lived on the edge of experience—where truth and
memory blur, and where the author believes one simple thing: if a story
touches him, it may touch you too.

Whether you read it as travel memoir, coming-of-age reflection, or a
meditation on identity and chance, The Hero of Pamplona and Other Mostly True
Stories is a journey worth taking.

EXCERPT

Preface

In Paris, adoring fans yelled “allez le trieze.” Go number 13. I was number 13. When I was fourteen, my ninth-grade teacher said I made her vomit. At twenty-one, I was the hero of Pamplona. I was almost raped in Tangiers, Morocco. I hated my name, except when Flossie said it. Twenty-one years ago, I was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Believe the diagnosis, never the prognosis.

The first time I thought about writing stories was over
twenty-five years ago when I was living in Portugal. I wrote the stories in my head while sitting in a café in Lisbon’s Rossio Square drinking an espresso as I watched dawn touch the tops of 400-year-old blue, yellow, and pink buildings. And that was the problem. Once I had the stories in my head, the excitement was gone and the motivation to put the story on paper was lost.

When I returned home to Los Angeles, a storyteller friend suggested I submit a story to a venue called Spark Off Rose. On April 4, 2011, I read “The Hero of Pamplona” aloud to an audience of one hundred people at a theater in Venice, California. That was it. I was hooked on storytelling.

In the end, I gathered these stories for two reasons. The first is that doing so made me smile, and as I wrote, I was reminded once again to never take the good times for granted. The second reason is because of a line in a letter my father sent to me a few years before he died. “The spoken voice is wonderful, but the written word has a special permanence.”

Perhaps one of these stories will bring a smile to the face of someone I know, or even to the face of someone I don’t know. Maybe a story will resonate with a reader and encourage that reader to write his or her own story.

The Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa wrote about people who are “but a series of marginal notes in the book of life.” Are the people in this book “marginal notes in the book of life?” Not if you know them—and that’s the point. Everyone has a story. The key is to take the time to listen.

About the Author

Len Wechsler is a writer, filmmaker, and lifelong storyteller whose work
spans continents, cultures, and creative disciplines. Raised in New York City
and educated in the Midwest, Wechsler studied philosophy at the Sorbonne in
Paris before earning a master’s degree from New York University. His
early adult years were marked by adventure and movement—from playing
professional basketball in France and Italy to traveling across Europe and
around the Mediterranean.

In the United States, Wechsler taught in both New York and California before
launching a filmmaking career in the mid-1970s. He was among the earliest
filmmakers to capture the raw beauty, risk, and exhilaration of surfing and
skateboarding on film, later transitioning into screenwriting for feature
films. His creative life continued overseas when he lived and worked in
Portugal for thirteen years as a teacher and theater director.

More recently, Wechsler co-wrote a stage play exploring the underbelly of Los
Angeles, which debuted in New York City. A member of the Writers Guild of
America West, he now lives in California, where he continues to
write—and still plays basketball when he can, even if the three-pointer
no longer falls as easily.

Contact Link

Website

Purchase Links

Amazon

B&N

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The Grace of God Virtual Book Tour

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 12:00:29 +0200

True Stories of Faith and Hope

Religion Christian Nonfiction

Date Published: August 11, 2026

Publisher: Clay Bridges Press Publishing

The power of prayer is undeniable. The Grace of God repeatedly illustrates how
God equipped us to carry His message of love during one of our nation’s
darkest times.

Fear had taken root in our hearts. Our ages and health
conditions felt like real disadvantages. We found comfort in Christian music,
so we shared it with our neighbors. Notecards to healthcare workers and
elderly shut-ins were warmly received, so we continued writing them and
encouraged others to do the same. Physical nourishment was needed as well, and
God provided a way for us to help there too. We prayed over every idea, and in
return, God blessed us with inspiration.

We learned that love is an action.

We learned that anyone can be
the hands and feet of our Lord.

We witnessed evidence of God’s
presence again and again.

Our hope is that these stories encourage you to persistently seek God through
prayer. His grace is unending.

EXCERPT

As we sat outside the hospital, we got to know some of the staff in many ways. We got to know some of their families and life situations; some shared about their past and their faith; others just shared how they are feeling in the moment. The following are a couple of their stories.

Stephanie: Stephanie is a young student nurse that we saw going in and out of the hospital with the other student nurses. However, as the numbers of COVID-19 cases surged, the hospital reached capacity and the number of deaths climbed to two to six a day, Stephanie lagged behind the other nurses. Finally, one day she was way behind the other students, and she stopped where were sitting. It was obvious that Stephanie had been crying. She stood before us with her shoulders slumping, her head hung low, and her eyes red. We asked her if she was OK, and she began to sob uncontrollably. She lifted her head wiping her tears and simply said, “I don’t know if I can do this. I didn’t become a nurse to watch people die every day. I wanted to try to help them get better, to help heal them. It seems all I do is try to make them comfortable and hold their hands because their families cannot come in before they die. I don’t know if I can do this.” At this point we asked her name, and she said Stephanie. We asked if she would like to pray with us and she said, “Yes . . . please.” We took out our three-strand prayer cords and explained that because we couldn’t hold hands, we were using the cords so we could have some kind of connection. We explained the idea of the three strands comes from Ecclesiastes 4:12, with says that three strands can’t be easily broken. The three strands had a meaning: one strand for her, one for us praying for her, and one for our Lord to whom we were praying. Stephanie smiled and cried softly. Stephanie took one end of the cord, and we took the other and began to pray. We prayed for her peace of mind and heart and for her strength to face this horrible disease. We prayed that she would lean into the Lord and accept the comfort the Lord has for each of us. We said amen, and she thanked us. We told her, “No, thank you for doing so much more than us.” We hoped the prayer helped and that Stephanie would find some comfort.

We continue to go to the hospitals to pray, and we continue to look for Stephanie each time we are there. We watch the student nurses as they walk in and walk out of the hospital. Since that time, many groups of student nurses have come and gone, but no Stephanie. We have prayed for Stephanie often, praying she found peace and the strength to flourish no matter what she chooses to do. We pray that she leans into the Lord and follows His will. We ask ourselves whether Stephanie finished her nursing degree; we don’t know. It doesn’t seem like she finished with the group we saw her with originally, but that doesn’t mean she didn’t finish. Her finishing is not the important thing but rather her finding her place in this world through our Lord. Stephanie gave all she could just as the Lord gives to us.

Hot dog man. While sitting outside a hospital, we don’t always get someone’s name. Sometimes, the staff passes quickly, and sometimes it just never comes up as strange as that may seem. When we don’t find out their names, we give them nicknames as a way of remembering them. “Hot dog man” got his name when we talked with him at the end of one of his shifts; he told us all he wanted was a good Chicago-style hot dog and thus the nickname. If you don’t like that nickname, please know it was much better than his original nickname, which was “angry man.” We called him “angry man” because the first time we met him, he stopped and said, “Why don’t people (expletive) just stay home and wear masks!” He was so angry at people for not doing what they were guided to do and getting sick and making their jobs so hard. We found out later that he was a respiratory therapist, so he encountered the disease up close every day. However as time passed, we became friendly, and he shared the difficulty of seeing so many sick and dying. We would see him at least once a week, but then, he was gone. We were left not knowing what happened to him or whether he was all right. That was the hard part of what we did; sometimes, people would just be gone.

About the Author

Tom Banwart spent most of his life in northern Illinois and graduated
summa cum laude from Trinity International University. A promising corporate
career was cut short when chronic health issues led him into permanent
long-term disability, reshaping both his priorities and his path.

Blessed with creative talents, Tom turned a simple woodburning hobby into a
small business and embraced the role of “Mr. Mom” to his three
sons, finding purpose and joy in the rhythms of family life.

Though he often sensed a calling to do God’s work, Tom pushed it aside
for many years. That changed in 2020. As the pandemic altered daily life and
stirred deep questions of faith, he found himself in honest, raw conversations
with Christ—dialogues that became a spiritual lifeline. Those
reflections and personal experiences evolved into writing, eventually forming
the foundation of his first book.

Today, Tom continues to use his creativity and vulnerability to encourage
others, sharing stories that point to God’s presence in every season,
especially the diff...

Inferno Teaser

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 12:00:35 +0200

Kiss of Death MC (#18)

MC Romance

Date Published: September 18, 2026

Publisher: Changeling Press

I survived the fire. Juniper gives me a reason to burn down the world.

Juniper — Getting dumped on my twenty-first birthday is bad enough. Finding
Brett, my ex, at Throttle with another woman turns humiliation into open
warfare. So I walk up to the biggest, meanest looking biker in the place,
climb into his lap, and claim him as mine. Inferno plays along a little too
well, and one reckless kiss becomes the hottest night of my life. Still, it
was just a one night stand. Should have ended then and there. Instead, my ex
decides he doesn’t like losing what he threw away. His calls become
threats, then the threats become violence. My bakery, my home, everything my
grandmother left me becomes a target. But Brett’s forgotten one thing.
I’m not alone anymore. I have Inferno, Kiss of Death, and a fire of my
own.

Inferno — Juniper lands in my lap wearing red lipstick, motorcycle boots, and
enough attitude to wake something in me I thought died years ago. She’s
way too young for me, and a woman running from a controlling ex is trouble. I
also know the second Brett puts a bruise on her skin, he becomes my problem. I
went to prison for nearly killing a man who hurt a woman I loved. I’ll
burn my life down before I let history repeat itself. But Juniper isn’t
looking for a savior. She wants a partner willing to stand beside her while
she fights back. Good thing I’ve always liked playing with fire.
Brett’s about to learn exactly why they call me Inferno.

WARNING: Adult language and situations, abuse, arson, and a violent stalker
ex-boyfriend.

Excerpt

Juniper

The sad little grocery store cake sitting on my counter summed up my life
right now. I made cakes for a living, so I knew exactly what I was looking at.
Shortening-based buttercream, whipped too fast so it held those little air
pockets that collapsed if you pressed a finger in. Red gel piping simply said
“Happy Birthday” and skipped my name entirely, because a name is
an upcharge, and, apparently, I wasn’t worth the extra four dollars.
Twenty-one candles would’ve cost more too. There were no candles.

That morning I’d spent six hours at my own shop building a dinosaur cake
for a five-year-old named Milo. The creation had hand-piped scales on a
fondant T-rex while his mom hovered by the register asking if I could make the
teeth “less scary, but still cool.” I believed, the whole time I
worked, that tonight would be mine. That somebody would finally build me
something special for my birthday.

I closed the shop two hours early. Cooked pork chops with the mustard cream
sauce that Brett loves so much. I set the good plates from his mother that I
was always terrified I’d chip.

He’d come in forty minutes late, jacket still buttoned like he
hadn’t decided if he was staying, studying his phone like it held the
secrets of the universe. “You would not believe this lake
listing,” he said, dropping into his chair, not even glancing my way.
“Guy wants two point one for a place that’s basically standing on
a septic field. I told him, I said, ‘Gary, I can sell water to a
drowning man, but I can’t sell delusion’.” He laughed at his
own line. I simply looked at him, trying to talk myself into being cheerful.

I cut into my chop and waited for a gap in his running monologue. “So I
made this dinosaur cake today,” I said, “for this kid, Milo, and
his mom wanted the teeth less scary but still –”

“Yeah, that reminds me, Gary’s brother-in-law does teeth,
actually, orthodontist, and get this –” and he was off again, and I
just… let him go on. Because why not? I picked my fork back up and took
a bite while he rambled on. He still hadn’t told me happy birthday.

His phone buzzed and he glanced down before turning it over. After a while, it
buzzed again.

“Hey,” I said, and I tried to keep it light, “We said no
phones tonight. Right?”

He didn’t answer right away as color swept his neck to his face and a
flash of annoyance crossed his features. Then he gave me a “sorry for
you” smile. “Junie,” he said, setting his fork down
carefully. “Can I say something, and I need you to just hear it, not
react to it?”

“Um, sure.” My stomach started to roll. I recognized his tone and
I knew this would be a twenty-first birthday I’d rather forget.

“You’re a lot,” he said, simply. “I don’t mean
that as an insult. You’re needy in a way you probably don’t even
realize. Phones-away requests, the whole birthday production, the plates.
It’s a lot of ask-for, given we’re barely even in a
relationship.” He cleared his throat. “And you’re emotional.
Everything’s a whole thing with you. I can’t mention anything
without you needing your turn.”

I opened my mouth but couldn’t form words. My throat tightened with
emotion, and I could feel tears forming behind my eyes.

“And I’ll be honest,” he continued, “because I think
you’d rather I was honest, you’re kind of boring, Junie. Same
shop, same recipes, same everything. Your five-year plan is a second oven. I
used to think that was cute, but I thought you’d grow out of it once you
ran out of money and got a real job. I don’t think it’s cute
anymore. I need a woman with a little ambition. I’m going places, and
you’re… not. Dinosaur cake? Really, Junie?”

Somewhere deep inside me, a voice was screaming, actually screaming, say
something, say anything, throw the water glass, throw a pork chop at him, ask
him who’s texting him at eight-fifteen on your birthday, and what came
out of my mouth, soft and stupid, was, “The pork chops are getting
cold.”

“Juniper. I think we both know this has been coming.”

I looked down at my plate so he wouldn’t see my eyes. I didn’t
trust what my face was doing. No way was I going to give him the satisfaction.
I forced the smallest shrug I could manage.

He pushed his chair back, slow and deliberate, like he wanted me to watch
every little thing. “Look, Junie, you’re a great girl. You really
are. But we’re just not… compatible.” He wiped his mouth
with his napkin. “It’s not the end of the world. You’ll land
on your feet. I mean, you already have your little cake shop, right?”

Wow. My little cake shop. The business I’d thrown every ounce of blood,
sweat, and tears I had into. The fact was, I cleared more with my
“little cake shop” than he made with his real estate ventures. I
suspected it was the same smarmy personality I initially fell for. Unlike me,
apparently his clients knew how to cut their losses and get the fuck out of
Dodge.

“I guess so,” I said, because what else was there? I stabbed a
piece of pork chop and chewed it, even though I could barely swallow, doing my
best to act as if none of this had any effect on me.

His phone buzzed again. He actually reached for it this time. “I’m
going to head out. I’ve got to call Gary back before he does something
stupid on that listing.” He didn’t even look at me. Just stood up,
fixed his jacket, and checked his hair in the microwave door reflection.
“I’ll send someone to get my stuff later.” The door clicked
shut b...

Queen of Starlight Blitz

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 12:00:24 +0200

Fantasy

Date Published: September 14, 2026

The stars gave her power. The darkness will give her a crown.

A year after defeating the evil wizard army, the elves of Edira prosper, yet
Luma, the Daughter of Starlight, senses something is amiss. Shadows move where
light should reign, and ominous whispers fill her mind, hinting that this
hard-won peace may be more fragile than anyone realizes.

Soon, attacks by a vicious darkness confirm her fears, and Edira is not the
only world under threat. Malicath, home of the wizards, faces the same
darkness, which drains and corrupts magic, including Luma’s own powerful
starlight.

Faced with a shared enemy, Luma and the elves form a tenuous alliance with the
wizards. Together, they search for the Unseen Star, an ancient magical relic
capable of restoring balance to both their worlds. But as the darkness grows
stronger and time runs out, Luma realizes that all magic demands a
price—and this one may be more than she can pay.

Return to the magical world of Edira in this sequel to the multi-award-winning
fantasy, Daughter of Starlight.

About the Author

Molly is passionate about crafting meaningful moments and heartfelt narratives
in fantasy-adventure stories brimming with magic and mystery. An unapologetic
language nerd, she earned a degree in English and Communication, laying a
strong foundation for her writing career. Not stopping there, Molly pursued a
second degree in American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreting. As an avid runner,
Molly often gets her best story ideas while running and remains outraged that
those ideas do not then present themselves, fully formed, on the page. When
she’s not running, writing, or interpreting, Molly can often be found
taking an excessive number of photos of her dog, Bungee, and her two cats,
Rose and Clover. Molly lives in the beautiful St. Croix River Valley of
Minnesota with her husband and two sons, who bring her joy every day.

Contact Links

Purchase Links

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Chow Chow Blitz

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0200

Children’s Book

Date Published: September 14, 2026

Meet Dea — the little Chow Chow puppy with a BIG heart!

With her beautiful deep-blue fur, bright eyes, and sweet fluffy face, Dea is
impossible to forget. But this curious little puppy has one special talent:
finding trouble wherever she goes!

Luckily, Dea has Rocky by her side. Together, they discover that being brave
doesn’t mean never feeling scared. Sometimes, true courage means slowing down,
being careful, and listening to those who love you.

But Dea’s adventures are only beginning…

Beyond the garden are new friends, mysterious places, and unexpected
surprises. And somewhere out there, a mysterious fox is watching.

Who is she? What does she want? And where will Dea’s curiosity take her next?

Dea will be back… so hold on tight! Her next adventure could be even more
exciting!

About the Author

Daniela Hristova arrived in the UK with an English vocabulary consisting of
little more than “teabag” and a background as a multi-media journalist,
actress, and singer who had spent years working in television, radio,
newspaper, and stage in her home country. With a diverse professional journey
that later ranged from wielding a mop to building a career in leadership and
court security, she has navigated life’s twists with a steady faith, a sharp
eye, and a wonderfully dry sense of humor. Channeling her unique experiences
and cultural blunders into the written word, she has penned a witty tribute to
the resilience it takes to start over. When she isn’t writing or tackling new
adventures, she enjoys spending time with her family and her dog, Dea. Fluent
in Faux Pas is her debut memoir.

Contact Links

Purchase Link

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The Safe Room Week Blast

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 12:00:52 +0200

Thriller

Date Published: 09-10-2026

When I was fifteen years old, I made a mistake. I trusted the warm smile
of a stranger called Peter Harlow, and accepted a ride home in his car.

It would be the last moment of my life I’d ever feel safe again.

The trauma of what happened that night will never leave me—and it was
only the beginning. For the last nineteen years, I’ve been trapped in a
nightmare of blocked numbers, violated restraining orders, and the compulsion
to scan every face in every crowd, waiting for the day when his will be among
them.

But I’ve also spent the time preparing. My home has become a fortress, with
reinforced doors, perimeter cameras, and a safe room in the cellar. I’ve even
taught my seven-year-old daughter how to call for help. When I finally have to
face Peter Harlow again, I’ll be ready.

Or so I thought.

Because on the night of a furious snowstorm, a terrified stranger arrives at
my gate. Emily is barefoot, bruised, and desperate for help—claiming her
husband just tried to kill her.

To let her in from the storm would mean breaking every rule I’ve made to
protect myself and my daughter—but could I live with myself if I
didn’t?

But what follows is everything I’ve lived in fear of for all these years.
First, the lights go out. Then, the internet dies. Next, the phone line goes
dead—and finally, I find myself trapped inside my own safe room,
watching through a camera feed as the man who stole my life for two decades
walks the halls of my home, playing happy families with my little girl.

I built this fortress to keep him out. Now, it’s the only thing keeping
me from protecting my child.

The Safe Room is a heart-stopping psychological thriller by bestselling author
Sarah A. Denzil, the “mistress of twists.” Essential reading for fans of Alice
Feeney, Freida McFadden, and Caroline Kepnes.

Enter Giveaway

About the Author

Sarah A. Denzil is a million copy bestselling author of psychological
suspense novels. Her books include number one bestseller Silent Child, which
was a Goodreads Choice semi-finalist in 2017. Her books have been published in
several different languages and have appeared on the Wall Street Journal
bestseller list.

Sarah lives in Yorkshire with her husband and cats, enjoying the scenic
countryside and rather unpredictable weather. She loves to write moody,
psychological fiction with plenty of twists and turns.

Contact Links

Purchase Link

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The Human Language Virtual Book Tour

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 12:00:59 +0200

Develop psychological safety, improve your relationships, transform your
life. Launching The MECAnism, a practical framework

Non-Fiction, Self-Help, Business, Parenting, Mind/Body/Soul,
Inspirational

Date Published: September 2026

Publisher: Serapis Bey Publishing

TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE WITH THE WAY YOU SPEAK

As human beings, we have a deep need for social connection, yet our primitive
fight-or-flight response can be a major barrier to achieving it, leading to
misunderstanding, conflict and disconnection.

Fortunately, there is a solution.

The Human Language delivers a compelling message. By replacing our habitual,
learned patterns of communication we can experience greater understanding,
empathy and connection in our relationships, transforming our lives.

Through easy-to-follow chapters, this book introduces The MECAnism, to calm
your instinctive reactions, gain emotional clarity and develop psychological
safety. It gives you the practical tools and techniques to listen, speak and
act in your daily life with compassion, for yourself and others, enabling you
to meet your needs with confidence.

“I will recommend using The Human Language 1000 times. It helps me
verbalise my feelings and work through moments of overwhelm. There are
applications across all areas of life.It can, and will be, a transformative
book.”

Pam Bryant, Oxford, UK

“Penny uses just enough science to help the reader understand why they behave
the way they do while focusing on simple techniques to get to the heart of
change.

The Human Language should be required reading for anybody who has to work or
live with other people, which is most of us.”

Diana D’Ascoli, Philadelphia, US

EXCERPT

Changing the way we speak to other people is not an easy or quick

process. It has become deeply ingrained in us for various reasons—

our judgements, unconscious biases, unmet needs, and the

assumptions and reactions we make on a daily basis. However, and

it is a significant ‘however’, the crucial fact remains that … we hold

the power to change. It is entirely within our human capability to

break old habits and form new ones. The new type of

communication and connection we are discussing involves skills that

can be learned by any one of us at any point in our lives. We have

the ability to re-engineer our relationships so our daily lives no

longer resemble the examples mentioned above. Our daily existence

can transform into a state where we have greater control about how

we listen to and speak with others. We can experience the benefits

of genuine connection and understanding, both with other people

and with ourselves. This shift will bring about less conflict and

xvenable us to attract less of what we don’t want and more of what we

truly want. Ultimately, it will lead us to a greater sense of inner

peace. To embark on this journey, we examine how we conduct our

conversations. In this book, we encourage you to shine a light on

your minds, to pay attention to the messages conveyed by your

emotions, to identify your underlying core needs, and to choose

actions that will best fulfil what you truly want underneath. First, we

must address the most significant conversation of all; the one we

have with ourselves.

About the Author

Penny Newton-Hurley is the founder of CommPassion Ltd. She has worked with
large private organisations in the UK and globally, and in the public sector
across the areas of government, military, healthcare and education for more
than 30 years. CommPassion provides training in interpersonal communication
skills, resolving conflict between individuals and building psychological
safety within teams for higher workplace and relationship performance.

In 2025, her company launched their first four online courses, taking their
expertise and experience from the world of business directly to individuals in
all areas of their lives. This book reveals the details behind her courses and
supports the learning of improved communications skills.

Communication has been a fascination for Penny since childhood, when she spoke
with her father in Morse Code! After a few exciting years spent working in
International Marketing, Penny had an opportunity to be involved in the
nascent field of Internal Communication where she began to understand the
importance of humanto-human connection in the workplace. In 2005, she was
introduced to the teachings of nonviolent communication. From that moment on,
it became her purpose to spread this message as far as possible, a mission to
change the way we talk and listen and communicate with each other; to change
the way the world speaks.

Today, she is a trainer of compassionate communication techniques, Workplace
Mediator, Certified Psychological Safety Facilitator with the Fearless
Organisation; as well as a UK Samaritans Listening Volunteer. Penny holds a BA
(Combined Honours) in Modern Languages (French/Spanish) with Politics,
Economics and Linguistics.

Contact...

The Dark Waters Series Tour

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 12:00:57 +0200

Black & African American Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Fiction

Date Published: 06-06-2023

Publisher: KCIN Entertainment Group, LLC

Books 1 & 2 (Book 3 releases September 8, 2026.)

The Dark Waters series follows the rise and fall of one of Philadelphia’s most powerful families.

Judge Keenan Waters and his family have spent decades building a legacy of power, influence, and respect. But behind the perfect public image lie buried secrets, betrayal, and deadly consequences that threaten to destroy everything they’ve built.

As loyalties are tested and relationships crumble, the Waters family is pushed closer to the edge of ruin. With shocking twists and intense family drama, the Dark Waters series keeps the readers turning pages until the very end.

Perfect for fans of Black & African American Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Fiction, the first two books are available now, with the shocking conclusion, Dark Waters 3, arriving September 8, 2026.

EXCERPT

PROLOGUE

It will be a sweltering summer in Philadelphia for the Waters family. The temperature in the city will match last year’s heat, but the pressure, hatred, and drama will bring record highs and crushing lows for all of them.

Judge Keenan Waters Sr. sets the tone for betrayal and disloyalty when he decides one family isn’t enough—so he creates another. His ten-year affair with Mia, his mistress, is a deliberate slap in the face to his wife and children. Lost in a haze of love and lust, he doesn’t care about their feelings. He’s made it clear: Mia is non-negotiable. He doesn’t hide that he loves her or spends most nights at the house he bought for her on the other side of town. She completes him in ways thirty-five years of marriage simply cannot. From the very beginning, he’s been upfront with Lillian: he’s not leaving Mia. He even reiterated it two weeks ago when Lillian confronted him—again.

Though Keenan Sr. doesn’t anticipate or expect it, everything will change suddenly for him, Mia, and their secrets. He knows Lillian still loves him wholeheartedly, but he doesn’t realize she’s finished rolling over and taking his shit. This time, she’ll make sure it all stops—one way or another.

Keenan Sr. reaches for his phone on his desk, scrolling to his wife’s number. Instead, he dials his eldest son, DA Keenan Waters Jr.

After a few rings, Keenan Jr. answers.

“Hey, Dad. How are you doing today?”

Keenan Sr. can tell his son is busy. He shakes his head, thinking, I hope you’re not stuffing your damn pockets again. Clearing his throat, he says, “Good afternoon, son. I hope I’m not catching you at a bad time.”

Keenan Jr. gestures to his assistant as he answers. “Julie, we’ll review the criminal history and Bob Stanton’s ties to the community for tomorrow’s bail hearing this afternoon. Also, CC me on the sample grant proposal email for my brother. Thanks.”

Once Julie leaves, Keenan Jr. focuses back on the call. “Sorry about that, Dad,” he says. “Just finishing meeting notes before heading to court.”

“Okay, well, I won’t keep you. Just wanted to confirm that you, Taylor, and my grandbaby will be at the house tomorrow night for the anniversary party. Your mother moved dinner to six instead of seven-thirty. You three will still make it, right?”

Keenan Jr. picks up on his father’s desperation—a ploy he’s used for the past three years to avoid another anniversary meal alone with Lillian.

They’ve fallen for it every time. Distracted by a text on his phone, Keenan Jr. responds with a rushed, “We’ll be there, Dad.” The words he’s typing on his screen demand his attention: Where in the fuck is my money? “Alright, son. I’ll let you go. See you tomorrow night.”

“Okay, Dad.”

While his parents fight and hate each other, Keenan Jr. has a loving marriage with his wife, Taylor Christine. She’s his and their daughter’s lifeline, the backbone of their family, and he loves her to pieces for it. Taylor keeps it all together while Keenan Jr. lies, steals, and cheats his way to the top.

Sitting behind his desk in the District Attorney’s office, he works incredibly hard to become the next mayor of Philadelphia. He attends charity galas with Taylor by his side, repaying the city with a sliver of the money he’s stolen. He’s an ideal candidate on paper: an eighty-two percent conviction rate, volunteer work with underprivileged kids, and a great campaign slogan, Building a Safer Philadelphia. But his dirty dealings are a ticking time bomb.

Just as he’s about to send a death threat in response to a string of angry texts, his phone rings. He answers, his tone sharp and impatient. “Hello.”

“Hey, Keenan, bud. I couldn’t keep texting; I’m in traffic, so I called you,” says the man on the other end.

“Muthafucka, let me tell you something,” Keenan Jr. growls. “I sent that official letter to the FDA to sway the judge against revoking your guy’s liquor license. My name and reputation are on the line here.” When he doesn’t get an immediate response, he snaps, “Did you forget that, or do I need to break your jaw to jog your memory?”

The man chuckles dismissively. “Chill out, dawg. I’ve got it covered.”

“Don’t fucking mock me, you fat-ass.”

“Relax, man. Raynard Kordan knows the email you sent to save his ass will cost him 20k.

I’ll drop your cut off tomorrow. And ease up with the name-calling, or else.

” Keenan Jr. leaps to his feet. “Or else what, you sloppy—”

Click!

The man hangs up, cutting him off mid-rant.

Fuming, Keenan Jr. grabs his suit jacket and storms out of his office, texting his sister, Naomi, as he heads to the elevator.

Naomi reads her brother’s message about tomorrow night as she sits at a red light on Chestnut Street. She rolls her eyes before texting back: I don’t want to come, but I’ll be there, Keenan, damn

After texting her brother, she makes a call. She grins when Jace, her on-again, off-again engaged boyfriend, answers.

“Wassup, Naomi?”

Her tone is nasty. “What size shoe does your new bride wear?”

“What? Why do you want to know her shoe size?”

“Because I just passed a second-hand work boot shop and thought of her,” Naomi replies, smirking. “I was going to grab her a pair as a wedding gift, but I think I’ll get her something else since I don’t know her size.”

Jace sighs. “Naomi, come on. I already asked you not to show up tomorrow.” “And I was thinking of asking you the same thing.”

Before he can respond, Naomi hangs up and sends him a text: See you tomorrow.Then she blocks his number.

Tears threaten to fall as she thinks about the boy she can’t have. He’s getting married tomorrow, though Naomi has tried to stop him. She used everything...

The Vote Release Blitz

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 12:00:55 +0200

A Story of Political Peril

Fiction

Date Published: 09-10-2026

Publisher: Mission Point Press

A cautionary political tale that shines a light on the danger to our
country when the wrong people have too much money and power.

The Vote is a political thriller built around a conspiracy among powerful
political actors, billionaires, and party operatives who seek to manipulate
the constitutional amendment process in order to permanently reshape the
structure of American government. The mechanics of American politics,
particularly the Article V constitutional amendment process, is the framework
that informs the central premise of the novel. The current political landscape
of the country lends credibility to the story and gives the narrative an
interesting and timely foundation.

The manuscript opens with a series of interconnected storylines involving
political figures, wealthy conspirators, and emerging state-level candidates.
These threads gradually reveal a coordinated effort to gain control of state
legislatures and Congress as part of a broader plan to fundamentally alter the
country’s political system. The concept itself is ambitious and grounded
in recognizable political realities.

About the Author

David Swanson was raised on a dairy farm in central Michigan. He
received a degree in political science from the University of Puget Sound and
an advanced degree in foreign trade from the Thunderbird Graduate School of
International Management. Between degrees, he served a stint in the United
States Navy.

In 1981, he founded Daavlin, a medical technology company that eventually grew
into a prominent player in the field of dermatology. As part of his career, he
stepped foot on every continent and dipped his toes in every ocean on earth.
Reading, writing, traveling, acting, and directing live theater are his
favored pastimes.

He’s also a lifetime political junkie. As this book goes to press,
Swanson is a candidate for the Ohio House of Representatives.

Contact Links

Website

Goodreads

Purchase Links

https://mybook.to/TheVote

Amazon

Bookshop

The post The Vote Release Blitz first appeared on Book Junkiez.

Discovering Elizabeth Blitz

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 12:00:47 +0200

Historical Fiction

Date Published: September 9, 2026

Before Vicky could truly understand herself, there was a story she needed to
understand in her Great Aunt Elizabeth.

Queens, 1984. Dr. Elizabeth Khayat—Palestinian-American, former pilot
and pioneering physician—is recently widowed and fiercely private about
her past. When her rebellious teenage grandniece, Vicky, is sent to spend the
summer with her, the two clash immediately. Vicky is consumed by romance and
rebellion; Elizabeth has built her life on discipline and hard-won
independence. But Elizabeth’s guarded presence conceals a wartime
history in World War II France—where, as a young doctor learning to fly,
she formed a dangerous alliance with a German-Jewish colleague and became
entangled with the French Resistance. Survival demanded impossible choices,
and not all of them can remain buried.

As Vicky’s own reckless relationship begins to spiral, long hidden truth
threatens to surface—forcing both women to confront who they are.

Discovering Elizabeth is a dual-timeline novel about legacy, sacrifice and the
complicated inheritance between generations of women.

About the Author

Alexandra Khayat Dahl is a fourth-generation American whose family’s
origins are from the Levant region of the Middle East. Raised in Washington,
DC and educated in Catholic schools, she went on to attend an international
university that set the course for a life defined by global experience. She
spent the majority of her adult years in Europe, where living across cultures
sharpened her perspective and strengthened her voice. A mother of four adult
children, she returned to the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic with
a renewed commitment to preserving the stories that shape generations.

Inspired by the true life of her great aunt and godmother—a fearless
doctor, aviator, supporter of the French resistance and a trailblazer who
defied an arranged marriage to marry for love— Alexandra celebrates a
legacy of courage, conviction, and uncompromising independence.

Contact Links

Website

Instagram

Instagram

BookBuzz

Purchase Link

Amazon

The post Discovering Elizabeth Blitz first appeared on Book Junkiez.

The Needs of the Heart Virtual Book Tour

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 12:00:10 +0200

Self-Help / Philosophy

Date Published: May 30, 2023

Living in this world is hard, no matter the point in history or the
dominant culture which governs how society conducts itself.

Wars, famine, political corruption, economic depression, social injustice,
civil unrest, all of which leads to the spiritual, personal unrest of the
human soul.

And it makes us wonder… How do I, as a person, and we as human beings, work
together individually yet collectively to make the world a better place for
those who live here today and for those who will be born into this world
tomorrow?

Aspiring author Phillip Anderson, author of The Needs of the Heart, provides
deep insight into the human emotional spectrum as well as giving deep
introspective insight into the emotions and principles he believes people of
all races, religions, ethnicities, and demographic backgrounds need to not
only make themselves better people, but the world a better place.

EXCERPT

I am not prone to dismiss logic, reason, strategy, or any other analytical processes of the left hemisphere of the human brain. However, I am a man who believes that there is more to life than just having one outlook. I am of the belief that emotions are just as powerful and just as necessary as logic, reason, and all the other rational approaches to life. I believe that what makes life grand is the emotional factor that comes with it. I would rather feel, experience, live in the moment, and have a genuine connection to that which I feel than to just view it from an analytical point of view. The best part of being human is that we have both options. We have the ability to live in the moment and connect on a deep level to the people, things, and experiences we encounter in our life. We can also cognitively approach something from afar while at the same time determining whether or not to attach ourselves to it. My main emphasis is the emotional connection we have to people. From our emotions comes the connections we forge, and from those connections come beautiful things. The human heart is one of the greatest things ever gifted to humanity; in our limited time on this earth (this physical realm), we can live and remember how we lived before we die.

About the Author

Hello, my name is Phillip Anderson. I am a young Author from New York
City. My love for writing started when I was 16 years old when I was writing
in my journals rather than thinking about publishing a book as a professional
Author. I graduated high school in 2014 and later in that year was accepted
into Morehouse College where I would graduate with a Bachelors degree in
Kinesiology. However, It wasn’t until I was in grad school where my passion
for writing truly took hold. After completing the first year of my 2 year
master’s program, I dropped out of the program to pursue my passion of
writing. A year and a half later, I would go on to complete and publish my
first book titled The needs of the Heart in 2020 with the intent to pursue
writing as a full time endeavor.

Contact Links

Website

Goodreads

Purchase Links

Amazon

B&N

The post The Needs of the Heart Virtual Book Tour first appeared on Book Junkiez.

Salva Me Teaser

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 12:00:03 +0200

LGBTQ+ Regency Vampire Romance

Date Published: September 11, 2026

England, 1816. A nosferatu, a rogue vampire, hunts unchecked through
Sussex. Jeremy Takeshi Colbourne is honor-bound by ancestral duty to find and
destroy such madmen. Foremost among the vampires of England, he must find a
way to ensure the safety of the English citizens and the vampires that live
among them.

Then Jeremy and his blood-host Morgan Holland discover a brutally savaged
girl. With this latest victim of the nosferatu, Jeremy realizes the time has
come to make Morgan aware of the Colbourne responsibilities. But the situation
could not have come at a worse time.

For years, Morgan has served as Jeremy’s blood-host. Though Morgan adheres
faithfully to his Contracted terms, he refuses to surrender to the sexual
seduction that completes each feeding. He yields neither his body nor his
heart, though Jeremy yearns for both.

As the nosferatu’s atrocities grow, Jeremy must ask everything of Morgan to
gain the strength needed to fight the ravening monster. Will Morgan relent and
give up body and heart to help Jeremy defeat their enemy, or will the battle
destroy them both?

EXCERPT

Jeremy cursed at the knock on the oaken door of his study. Morgan had
attempted to corner him several times today. Pure cowardice had driven Jeremy
to take refuge here, a place his loyal Host rarely intruded on, since it held
the Buddhist shrine housing his mother’s mortuary tablet. He glanced at
the portrait standing behind the black stone, wishing for a bit of Keiko
Yamakawa’s legendary strength.

Evading Morgan had taken a toll on Jeremy. The Contracted day for his feeding
had come and gone. Today marked two full weeks since Morgan had wrenched
himself from Jeremy’s grasp, nearly bleeding to death before Jeremy
could administer the requisite clotting agent. The sight of Morgan’s
injuries had seared itself into Jeremy’s mind, rendering him unwilling
to risk another such incident.

It almost made him wish to return to Japan, despite the difficulties involved.
Obtaining the necessary dispensation from the Tokugawa Shogunate had been hard
enough when he left. Lord Matsumae had done what he could, but it had taken
his mother’s personal attendance on Emperor Kōkaku and an appropriate
gift to Tokugawa Ikeharu to get it done. Going back would be far worse,
despite his home’s exemption from the Sakoku Edict. Even so, he was
tempted. If only to avoid what he now faced.

The knock came again, harder than before, followed immediately by the entrance
of Morgan Holland. “Excuse me, Lord Colbourne. While I am always loath
to disturb you in your sanctum, you cannot avoid me forever.”
Exasperation filled Morgan’s voice, underscored by heavy concern.

Jeremy risked a glance at his Host, unwilling to see but drawn nonetheless.
The wounds on Morgan’s neck had healed; his skin flushed a healthy hue.
Unlike usual feedings, the last one had left two ragged scars, visible
reminders of Jeremy’s lack of control. Even now, the remnants of
Morgan’s refusal echoed in his mind, invading his dreams.

“I am not convinced you are well enough to support a feeding,
Holland,” he hedged, though his Host showed no lingering signs of ill
effects. “Your wounds have barely healed.”

Morgan sighed. “I understand your reluctance after the debacle last
time, but you cannot risk your health or your sanity by some idiotic attempt
at endurance. I am prepared to meet my Contracted terms without qualms.”

“So you say. Nonetheless, your refusal made quite an impression.
I’d prefer not to endure that again so soon.”

Morgan’s cheeks heated with angry embarrassment. “Then break
Contract, my lord, and find someone more willing to accommodate all of your
needs. Or go back to Japan.”

The slap of the words felt like a further refusal. Jeremy straightened in his
chair, denying the spike of pain, determined to retain his rationality. Fear
was anathema to the Barons of Colbourne and to the Yamakawa family. Being
afraid to feed on his Contracted Host shamed both houses. He stood, feeling
the weakness of flesh from self-deprivation.

“After twelve years? I’d rather not, thank you. You’re all I
need. Or want.” Jeremy considered the irony of his irrational thoughts
mere moments before. “It is far harder to return than to leave,”
he added. “While my home in Matsumae is exempt from the Sakoku Edict,
only my status as a noble Chi no Kami allowed me to leave in the first place.
I have no wish to reverse the process any time soon.”

Morgan considered for a moment and then gave him the ghost of a smile.
“Then please stop delaying the inevitable. Despite what happened before,
I refuse to watch you kill yourself, however noble your ancestors may have
found the practice. It would render all my efforts worthless.”

“Such things are not reserved for my ancestors,” Jeremy growled.
“If I chose seppuku, who would be my second? You’d still have to
watch me die.”

“At least it would not be this slow death you’re attempting
now.”

Trust Morgan to know him well enough to hit so close to the truth of the
matter. Jeremy allowed silence to reign for a moment and then gave a grudging
chuckle. “No quarter, I see. You win, Holland. Give me two hours, and
I’ll meet you in the sanguis cubiculum.”

Two hours would give Jeremy sufficient time to contact William Carter. After
this long, the sexual urges would be difficult to suppress, but he could not
afford another mistake like the last time.

Morgan nodded to him. “Two hours, then, Lord Colbourne. I will be
ready.”

At the appointed time, Morgan waited as instructed, nervous despite his
earlier words to Colbourne. He touched the scars on his neck gingerly,
wondering. For all his bravado and calm facade, the thought of facing
Colbourne’s fangs disturbed him. That last bite had driven into his neck
without preparation, the savage sting a hint of what mankind had faced in the
early days of the nosferii. Yet beyond the pain, another sensation had lurked,
one he was reluctant to recall.

Perhaps it was only the remnants of the lust that rose in him every time
Colbourne fed, but the agony of the unprepared bite had seemed to turn into a
hazy pleasure at the end, before he’d passed out. Perhaps the
recollection was only some perverse blending of his memories.

Colbourne entered the sanguis cubiculum through the far door. Morgan caught a
brief glimpse of another person before the closing door blocked his view.

So he arranged for his companion to be available immediately after he is
finished with me.

In spite of the obvious benefits to the situation, the idea irritated Morgan
for some reason. Though he refused to offer up his body for postfeed sex,
he’d always steadfastly ignored Colbourne’s subsequent retreat to
his rooms for several hours. To have t...

Cressida’s Circle Teaser

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0200

Steampunk Adventure Romance

Date Published: September 11, 2026

In a world overthrown by witchcraft, a giant love has been lost. Can
Cressida be saved?

Mourning the loss of her husband, Cressida Troy is on her way to Earth. Her
mission; to meet the Queen of England and cement relations between the
Lunarians and humans to present a united front in the approaching war with the
Martians. For Cressida, the mission has a much deeper and personal meaning.
Being human, as well as the Lunarian Empress, Cressida is plagued by doubt and
guilt and seeks redemption for what is seen by many as the betrayal of her
species. Matters are complicated when she is kidnapped by the pernicious
witch, Lady Neva, who is hell-bent on revenge against Queen Victoria. Armed
with unlimited magical power, Lady Neva is planning to usurp the crown and
rule both Earth and space.

Meanwhile Jacob McLeary, Cressida’s former fiancé, is under the
watchful and lascivious eye of Lavinia Branscombe, a Lunarian agent. Knowledge
of the dark secret at the heart of the Lunarian society fuels Jacob’s
loathing of the aliens, but with so much at stake, can love overcome the
barrier of hate? Will Cressida find redemption?

EXCERPT

Like a child’s toy, the cradle of humanity filled the bridge windows
with brilliant colour: blue, green, and brown, flecked with white, a gemstone
set against the black velvet of space. If only people could know how
insignificant this world was in the scheme of things, floating silently in the
incomprehensible emptiness.

Pointless philosophising distracted me for only a moment. My heart trembled
with anticipation. I was nearly home.

The Lunarian crew, in their natural form, goblin like, winged with leathery
skin and large bright eyes, ignored my presence, as they should. Though they
were experienced, with hundreds of trips behind them, piloting a spacecraft
was not something to be taken lightly, especially with me on board creating
the expectation that everything should be executed perfectly.

I would have put them at ease, but that would have been churlish of me, I
realised. They wanted to impress me, and lowering expectations would have been
like a slap in the face, a sign of patronising condescension on my part. Not
an endearing action no matter how well intended.

I turned my thoughts back to the sparkling globe before us, and the people who
awaited me. I’d read how the ancients believed that the souls of the
dead fled their bodies and ascended to the moon, a way station before
reincarnation, or their ultimate disposition in paradise or the underworld.
Little did they contemplate that souls from that grey desert of a world would
descend upon the Earth and conquer it.

I had to be careful how I approached not just the Queen, and her parliament,
but most importantly the bureaucracy which ruled from the shadows and exerted
more power than she could ever hope to wield. I hoped they understood we
humans were a conquered species. Of course, behind the mask of cheerful
bonhomie and expressions of respect as they delivered begrudging cooperation,
there would be fear and hatred. From that febrile soup simple
misunderstandings could bubble up and poison the nascent relationship.

The politicians had wanted a state visit to impress everyone with the
importance of our relationship, and to thank me for using our power to save
them from their European enemies. Though our reasons differed, I agreed with
Her Majesty that ostentatious displays of pomp and ceremony were unnecessary.
She wanted to maintain her image of the Warrior Queen and didn’t want to
share the adoration of the crowds as the saviour of the Empire. She feared the
loss of face if I was seen as an equal.

I wanted none of that either, feeling as disloyal as I did for my part in what
was fundamentally the takeover of her empire. I requested a low-key, quiet
visit. A gentle introduction back into human society. One in which I would not
feel such a fraud. With Her Majesty’s relieved endorsement, my desire
had carried the day.

The other vexed issue was the taking of her son the Prince of Wales by Lady
Neva. I had to placate and convince her that we were doing everything we could
to return him to her. Though she detested the Prince — after all he had been
intimately involved in several assassination attempts, and she had come so
close to strangling him with her own hands — he was her son.

Randolf, my bodyguard and general factotum on this mission, floated at my
side. “My lady,” he said softly into my ear. “Amanda has
prepared a meal.”

“Thank you, Randolf.” I had skipped breakfast, and as always, my
body servant had correctly anticipated my needs. I was indeed feeling hungry.

Randolf was a handsome, powerfully built, athletic man. His bright azure eyes
reminded me so much of Jacob’s. My body stirred, my nipples hardened,
and my quim throbbed. He and his female counterpart, the stunningly beautiful
Amanda, had pleasured me delightfully and often since we had left the moon,
and I had gratefully surrendered myself to them. That train of thought pushed
the need for food aside. I wanted to be pleasured again.

I took Randolf’s proffered hand, and we glided to the access chute that
led “down” to the passenger quarters. His body heat pulsed through
his tunic and through my gown to warm my flesh. He wore no pants, and his
stiff cock swayed enticingly as he propelled himself before me. Amanda was
awaiting us, naked and undeniably aroused, the nipples of her ample breasts
pink and erect. I gave her an encouraging smile to confirm my thoughts were of
a similar nature.

Being firm, she countermanded my desire with the advice that I needed
sustenance. She offered a full English breakfast: steaming scrambled eggs,
kippers, ham, bacon, and sausages, kidneys, mushrooms, and fried tomatoes. A
feast for a multitude. With a petulant pout, I took a dainty bite of each and
finished with a cup of tea and a slice of toast. I’d maintained a
salacious gaze which lingered on her almond-shaped eyes and gave rise to a
pink flush to her cheeks. When I’d finished, I gracefully dabbed my
mouth with a napkin and took Randolf’s cock in hand.

“Keep the food warm, and join us,” I told Amanda. “I may eat
some more later. My current appetite, though, is for the diverting pleasures
of unbridled fornication.”

Making love when one has no weight, once the initial challenges are overcome,
is a sublime enterprise, more like an ethereal ballet of the most intimate
kind. Holding your partner in a close embrace, limbs entwined, his cock held
snugly by one’s tight sheath, so that you become as one, spinning,
rotating, pirouetting like a ballerina celebrating a mind-shattering climax.

About the Author

Aussie Mikala Ash used to be a mild-mannered training & development
consultant by day, and a wild sci-fi and paranormal ad...

Fluent in Faux Pas Blitz

Mon, 07 Sep 2026 12:00:37 +0200

A Guide to Accidentally Getting Everything Wrong

Memoir, Non-Fiction

Date Published: September 7, 2026

Two degrees. Zero English.

A night shift in an abandoned psychiatric hospital.

You learn to laugh. Fast.

Arriving in England for a fresh start, the author quickly discovers that the
English language is a minefield of polite confusion, baffling idioms, and
linguistic traps. Without the vocabulary to express who she is, daily life
becomes a high-stakes game of translation roulette at the absolute bottom of
the career ladder.

Spanning decades through the beating heart of the British workforce—from
factory lines and catering at Heathrow to securing film sets and government
buildings—her biggest opponent isn’t the long hours; it’s the English
dictionary.

Navigating professional environments with a mismatched vocabulary leads to
spectacular, unintentional blunders. From mixing up sound-alike words to
translating idioms far too literally, every shift becomes a lesson in how
easily things get lost in translation.

Yet, behind the comedy lies a deeply personal struggle: the quiet isolation of
startincover. When pressure peaks, remarkable encounters and a profound return
to faith offer a path to true transformation.

Fluent in Faux Pas is a warm, witty, and wonderfully honest memoir—a
celebratory story of resilience and an inspiring reminder that the best parts
of life are often found when we are completely lost in translation.

About the Author

Daniela Hristova arrived in the UK with an English vocabulary consisting of
little more than “teabag” and a background as a multi-media journalist,
actress, and singer who had spent years working in television, radio,
newspaper, and stage in her home country. With a diverse professional journey
that later ranged from wielding a mop to building a career in leadership and
court security, she has navigated life’s twists with a steady faith, a sharp
eye, and a wonderfully dry sense of humor. Channeling her unique experiences
and cultural blunders into the written word, she has penned a witty tribute to
the resilience it takes to start over. When she isn’t writing or tackling new
adventures, she enjoys spending time with her family and her dog, Dea. Fluent
in Faux Pas is her debut memoir.

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Turtle Lake Blitz

Mon, 07 Sep 2026 12:00:05 +0200

Crime Thriller / Suspense

Date Published: 09-07-2026

Publisher: Mission Point Press

Turtle Lake is a gripping tale of revenge, survival, and the intricate
interplay between human nature and the natural world. The story follows Jim
Peters, the comptroller at Ramsey Motors, who uncovers a corrupt scheme by the
company and its insurer, U.S. Underwriters, to defraud employees of their
retirement and insurance benefits before moving operations overseas.
Infuriated, he devises an elaborate extortion plan to expose their corruption
and protect the employees through a spectacular plot that ends up achieving
national headlines. To accomplish his plan, Peters uses simple, everyday
methods and lessons learned from alpha predators in the natural world.

About the Author

Bob Milne has been hailed throughout his 60-year career as one of the
best ragtime/boogie-woogie piano players of all time. A solo concert
performer, he traveled all over the world playing for dignitaries and
celebrities as well as small town audiences. He was given the title of
National Treasure by the Library of Congress and deemed an Ambassador of Music
by the U.S. Department of State.

Bob’s extraordinary musical abilities were the subject of numerous brain
studies, which have inspired a popular RadioLab podcast.

Little did they know that Bob was also a talented writer.

For years he wrote articles about his saloon-playing days for music
publications. Many of these stories were compiled into a book called The
Journeyman Piano Player: Adventures in Gracious Dining. Bob has written reams
of poetry, some of which became lyrics to songs that he composed. The longest
piece of poetry he ever wrote was the lyric book for The Legend of Sleepy
Hollow, a grand opera he composed and orchestrated.

Mr. Milne has been fascinated by nature his entire life. At a young age he
realized that instincts are present in all species of birds, mammals
(including humans), and literally every living thing in nature. He has used
this information countless times over his lifetime to predict what the human
species will do in future situations.

Bob is now retired from the long piano tours and is enjoying his woodland
home. Today he spends his time studying nature in the woods. Signed copies of
his book may be purchased through his website.

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The Human Language Blitz

Sun, 06 Sep 2026 12:00:15 +0200

Develop psychological safety, improve your relationships, transform your
life. Launching The MECAnism, a practical framework

Non-Fiction, Self-Help, Business, Parenting, Mind/Body/Soul,
Inspirational

Date Published: September 2026

Publisher: Serapis Bey Publishing

TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE WITH THE WAY YOU SPEAK

As human beings, we have a deep need for social connection, yet our primitive
fight-or-flight response can be a major barrier to achieving it, leading to
misunderstanding, conflict and disconnection.

Fortunately, there is a solution.

The Human Language delivers a compelling message. By replacing our habitual,
learned patterns of communication we can experience greater understanding,
empathy and connection in our relationships, transforming our lives.

Through easy-to-follow chapters, this book introduces The MECAnism, to calm
your instinctive reactions, gain emotional clarity and develop psychological
safety. It gives you the practical tools and techniques to listen, speak and
act in your daily life with compassion, for yourself and others, enabling you
to meet your needs with confidence.

“I will recommend using The Human Language 1000 times. It helps me
verbalise my feelings and work through moments of overwhelm. There are
applications across all areas of life.It can, and will be, a transformative
book.”

Pam Bryant, Oxford, UK

“Penny uses just enough science to help the reader understand why they behave
the way they do while focusing on simple techniques to get to the heart of
change.

The Human Language should be required reading for anybody who has to work or
live with other people, which is most of us.”

Diana D’Ascoli, Philadelphia, US

About the Author

Penny Newton-Hurley is the founder of CommPassion Ltd. She has worked with
large private organisations in the UK and globally, and in the public sector
across the areas of government, military, healthcare and education for more
than 30 years. CommPassion provides training in interpersonal communication
skills, resolving conflict between individuals and building psychological
safety within teams for higher workplace and relationship performance.

In 2025, her company launched their first four online courses, taking their
expertise and experience from the world of business directly to individuals in
all areas of their lives. This book reveals the details behind her courses and
supports the learning of improved communications skills.

Communication has been a fascination for Penny since childhood, when she spoke
with her father in Morse Code! After a few exciting years spent working in
International Marketing, Penny had an opportunity to be involved in the
nascent field of Internal Communication where she began to understand the
importance of humanto-human connection in the workplace. In 2005, she was
introduced to the teachings of nonviolent communication. From that moment on,
it became her purpose to spread this message as far as possible, a mission to
change the way we talk and listen and communicate with each other; to change
the way the world speaks.

Today, she is a trainer of compassionate communication techniques, Workplace
Mediator, Certified Psychological Safety Facilitator with the Fearless
Organisation; as well as a UK Samaritans Listening Volunteer. Penny holds a BA
(Combined Honours) in Modern Languages (French/Spanish) with Politics,
Economics and Linguistics.

Contact Links

Website

Instagram: @pennynewtonhurley

Facebook: Penny Newton-Hurley

LinkedIn: Penny Newton-Hurley

TikTok: @pennynewtonhurley

YouTube: Penny Newton-Hurley

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Tree Trek Blitz

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 12:00:46 +0200

A Daughter’s Walk Through Grief

Nature, Botany of Trees, Healing Through Nature, Grief Journey

Date Published: 05-23-2025

Publisher: Holy Cow! Press

These intimate portraits of trees are a balm that heals grief.

In this memoir, Stephanie Mirocha weaves a blend of botany, philosophy,
personal reflections, and healing through nature from grief after the loss of
her father. Trees provide the backdrop of friendly support she clings to as
she revives her father’s educational Tree Trek. She “speaks for the trees,”
bringing enthusiasm to the treks she leads. Each chapter focuses on the
science of a different tree, connecting the reader with the beauty of nature,
and the vitality that comes from listening to the guiding wisdom of one’s
inner voice.

Excerpt

In my scientific study of trees, I have learned the particular traits
and idiosyncrasies of each species which, in a nonscientific way, imbues them
with personality. As my dad used to say about any species, “That’s
their nature, just the way (fill in the blank) are.” These traits can
reflect our own inner natures and make connections to our own lives. A swamp
white oak in winter holding onto its leaves may strike some people as
stubborn, others as steadfastly persevering, still others as merely
decorative, or it might make a connection to some memory from long ago.
Depending on what experiences we bring to the situation, we will be drawn to
one or more favorite trees that somehow speak to us.

They reflect what we need, like healing from grief, as we focus both within
ourselves and beyond ourselves at the same time. In this way, trees bring us
home.

Let’s fill in my dad’s blank with juniper. Imagine a juniper
coming into view as we walk through the forest. Juniper stands there pure,
unmasked, with no agenda at all. Something makes us stop and admire her,
feeling her truth flow through us. What does juniper give us? Different things
for different people. She is just benignly there, presenting her dark blue
“berries” amidst her prickly fronds, always extending an
invitation to rest beneath for a while and contemplate…what?

That is for you to find out!

There are many paths to take through grief. Nature offers one way to help move
through this powerful emotion and find our way forward, but each path is
different and deeply personal. As you walk with me on my grief trek through
the trees in these pages, my hope is to open one possible doorway for you to
process your own suffering. I have found that spending time in nature offers a
trail leading directly into the heart, and, at the very least, to a sense of
calm. This is doable for everyone because we are part of nature. The calmness
we find beyond ourselves reflects the meditative truth and beauty of our own
inner wisdom shining from within. One key moment is all it takes to start
things in motion

About the Author

Stephanie Mirocha is a visual artist, author, Minnesota master
naturalist and science communicator who grew up climbing trees and exploring
the city park across from her childhood home. Her creative art expression not
only takes form in her passion for writing but also translates into her career
as a fine art painter. Besides creating the art for this book, she has
illustrated four children’s picture books connecting children to nature.
Frog in the House won the 2016 Giverny Award for a science picture book in
English, and My Little Book of Bald Eagles won 1st place, Juvenile Nonfiction,
in the 2010 Next Gen Indie Book Awards. She and her scientist father shared a
poetic heart and a love for nature, each informing and supporting the other
throughout their close relationship. Graduating from the University of
Minnesota with a BA in Philosophy, Stephanie followed her free spirit and
embraced the unconventional life of an artist after moving to Aitkin, a small
town in north central Minnesota. This is her first written book. Her art
business website is https://stephaniemirocha.com/.

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Everything That’s Left Behind Week Blast

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 12:00:38 +0200

Fiction/Science Fiction

Date Published: June 28, 2026

Publisher: Sapphire Stories

When Nichola Rodale stumbles upon information suggesting her father—a
renowned scientist and brilliant puzzle maker—may not have died during
The Great Drought, she embarks on a perilous journey across the desolate
American Southwest to discover the truth.

About the Author

Kelly Lydick’s writing has appeared in Natural Awakenings, Co Yoga +
Life, True Blue Spirit, American Art Collector, Western Art Collector, and
many others. She has been featured on NPR’s The Writers’ Block and
the Word podcast, and on iHeart radio. She is the author of the experimental
Mastering the Dream, a contributing author to the anthology Dreams That Change
Our Lives, and the author of Dream Incubation for Greater Self-Awareness: A
Handbook. Everything That’s Left Behind is her first novel.

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https://mybook.to/EverythingLeftBehind

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The post Everything That’s Left Behind Week Blast first appeared on Book Junkiez.