Reviews!

I am still having a difficult time concentrating on reading a book, I hope to get back into it at some point. Still doing book promotions just not reviews Thank you for your understanding during this difficult time. I appreciate all of you. Kathleen Kelly July 2024

17 January 2025

My Heart’s Desire by Heather Alexander (The Kincaid Brothers Series, #2) Book Blitz! ⁣⁣#HeatherAlexander #KincaidBrothers #MyHeartsDesire #XpressoTours @XpressoTours⁣

#bookstagram #bookworm #bookish #booklover #bibliophile #booknerd #booksofinstagram #bookaddict #bookstagrammer #igreads #bookshelf #bookaholic #instabook #writersofinstagram #bookblogger #readersofinstagram #instabooks

My Heart’s Desire

Heather Alexander

(The Kincaid Brothers Series, #2)

Publication date

 January 13th 2025

Genres

Adult, Romance, Time-Travel

When her best friend’s name appears on a tombstone dated 1883, the only way for Amber Harrison to save her is to travel through a mysterious time portal to the Old West—

Destiny drops her in 1883 Montana at the feet of Josh Kincaid—a sexy, time-traveling deputy with plans of his own. Attraction stirs between Amber and Josh, and soon their flirtatious friendship blossoms into a fiery romance. Teaming up, they devise a rescue, but time isn’t their only enemy. An escaped convict, seeking his revenge on the Kincaids, interferes with their plans. In order to keep their future on its true course, they must stop their adversary’s plan from coming to fruition. Can they beat time and return to their rightful place, or will they be stranded in 1883 forever?

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks

EXCERPT

“Don’t move,” a deep, masculine voice commanded.
Amber froze. The hair on the back of her neck stood up. Waves of fear poured down her spine.

“Hands where I can see them,” the voice continued.

Amber thrust her hands straight up into the air. Her stomach burned, fear roiling in its depths. If she didn’t have an ulcer when this over, it would be a miracle. She closed her eyes for a second, hoping the voice belonged to Wyatt. Because if it wasn’t him, or she was in the wrong year, surely, she was dead. Trespassing was against the law even in this backward time. Great, and she didn’t think it was possible for her anxiety level to climb any higher.

“Turn around…slowly.”

The initial signs of an oncoming panic attack banged at the door to her senses. Her heart pounded, her chest tightened, and her head spun like she’d just come off the tilt-a-whirl at the amusement park. But she did as she was told and inched herself around, one baby step at a time.

If anything confirmed her trip back in time one hundred and forty years, this was it. The cowboy standing before her was tall, over six feet, and clad in what she expected to see a man from the 1880s to be dressed in. He wore an unbuttoned vest over a linen shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His pants were super snug, and his dusty cowboy boots covered his legs from the knees down. The empty holster sat low over his right hip, and the silver spurs at his heels clanked as he moved toward her.

“W-Wyatt?” She swallowed nervously, lowering her hands. “D-don’t shoot!”

Dark blond brows shot up when she said his name, but he waved the gun and took another step toward her.

“I didn’t say you could lower your hands.”

Oh, shit!

She thrust her hands up again. “You…you are Wyatt, aren’t you? Wyatt Kincaid. Please tell me you are. Otherwise, I’m seriously screwed…in more ways than you could possibly imagine.”

Mesmerizing green eyes widened, and then his gaze swept over her from head to toe but remained on her feet. “I’d recognize twenty-first century sneakers anywhere.”

He tipped his chin toward her footwear, but his gun remained aimed at her.

Relief surged through her, and she sagged a little. This must be Emma’s husband. Now she understood what compelled her best friend to return to a previous century. Emma, you got yourself one fine husband. Out of all the details Emma revealed about Wyatt last year, Amber didn’t recall anything about him having such compelling green eyes. It was difficult to look away, not that she wanted to, she had to. This was her best friend’s husband.

Chalk it up to her time-travel muddled mind.

He took a step toward her and tilted his head to study her. “I’m guessing you’re…Amber?”

“Uh-huh. That’s right.” She nodded, still a little stunned. “Where’s Emma? I need to see her.”

His scowl quickly turned into a smile, and he holstered his gun. “Wow, the famous Amber Harrison in the flesh.”

He recognized her! Inside, she jumped up and down with excitement. “You know me? Wait, I don’t know how that’s possible. We’ve never met.”

“I recognize you from a photo Emma brought back with her last year…but you’re mistaken about who I am.”

She retreated a step. “If…if you’re not Wyatt Kincaid, then who are you?”

His smile widened, and he extended his hand. “Hi, I’m Josh. Wyatt and James’s brother.”

Heather Alexander writes time-travel, contemporary, and historical romance.

Heather began writing as a child, inspired by her mom who loved to write fiction and poetry. Putting pen to paper—or rather fingers to keyboard—she began writing in the genres she loves. When she’s not writing, Heather enjoys spending time with her family, sipping Earl Grey tea while cozying up with a great book, and traveling. She is currently working on her next book.

Follow Heather on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads @booksbyha

Join her on GoodReads and BookBub.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook 

/ Instagram / X / Bookbub

GIVEAWAY!

  • Signed copies of books 1 & 2 in the series OR a $25 Amazon gift card (winner’s choice)

a Rafflecopter giveaway


16 January 2025

✨E X C E R P T R E V E A L ✨ You Can Leave Your Hat On by Deanndra Hall!

 

Title

 You Can Leave Your Hat on 

Author

 Deanndra Hall 

Genre

 Cozy Mystery/Murder Mystery 

Release Date

 February 17, 2025 

Hosted by

 Buoni Amici Press, LLC.

Another vision. Another crime. And the millions behind it.

Reluctant and (unfortunately) well-known psychic Maisey Friedman is in dire need of a break—a little rest and relaxation. Going on a girls' trips for the weekend will help her decompress and forget all the turmoil she's been embroiled in. After all, fancy dresses, Derby hats, and mint juleps with her friends can cure the blues.

But when she mistakenly places the wrong flowy hat on her head, Maisey regrets all of her weekend frivolity. Seeing a middle school teacher being thrown from a bridge to her death catapults Maisey and her husband, Aaron, into yet another murder investigation. This time, the key players just might be a little too powerful for Maisey and Aaron. A well-connected and corrupt murderer is one enemy the Friedmans don't want to tangle with.

 Can they find justice for the innocent teacher before time runs out?

AMAZON

The next instant, she was lying on the pavement, staring up at the sky, with Cherilyn on one side of her and Carly on the other. “Maisey? Maisey! Are you okay? Hey, Maisey, honey, are you all right?” Carly was yelling, as though Maisey were deaf.

“You don’t have to scream. I can hear you,” Maisey whispered, groggy. She lay there for a minute before she managed to say, “Oh, no.”

“Oh no what? Are you sick and didn’t tell us?” Cherilyn barked.

“No. It’s happening again.” How, she wasn’t sure, but it was.

“What’s happening?” Carly asked.

“I saw … somebody. And something. But I don’t understand. I bought this hat new. It shouldn’t …” When she’d struggled to sitting, she picked up the hat, and her heart fell into her shoes. “Oh, shit.”

“What?” Cherilyn demanded.

“This isn’t my hat. I picked up somebody else’s hat. It’s not mine. See? It’s got a really, really narrow ribbon for a band. Mine had a wide grosgrain ribbon. Shit, shit, shit. This is somebody else’s hat, and somebody died while they were wearing it.”

Carly planted her hands on her hips and rolled her eyes. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“I wish I were.” Maisey struggled to stand, so Cherilyn and Carly helped her.



Deanndra Hall is a working author living in the far western end of the beautiful Bluegrass State with her husband of over 35 years and small menagerie of weird little dogs. When she’s not writing, she’s editing. When she’s doing neither of those two things, she’s having dinner with friends, spending time with family, kayaking, eating chocolate, drinking beer or moonshine, or looking for something that she put in the wrong place and can’t seem to find (which is pretty much everything she owns).

Amazon | BookBub

BLOGGER:

 


Title: You Can Leave Your Hat on 

Author: Deanndra Hall 

Genre:  Cozy Mystery/Murder Mystery 

Release Date:February 17, 2025  

Hosted by: Buoni Amici Press, LLC.


Another vision. Another crime. And the millions behind it.

Reluctant and (unfortunately) well-known psychic Maisey Friedman is in dire need of a break—a little rest and relaxation. Going on a girls' trips for the weekend will help her decompress and forget all the turmoil she's been embroiled in. After all, fancy dresses, Derby hats, and mint juleps with her friends can cure the blues.

But when she mistakenly places the wrong flowy hat on her head, Maisey regrets all of her weekend frivolity. Seeing a middle school teacher being thrown from a bridge to her death catapults Maisey and her husband, Aaron, into yet another murder investigation. This time, the key players just might be a little too powerful for Maisey and Aaron. A well-connected and corrupt murderer is one enemy the Friedmans don't want to tangle with. Can they find justice for the innocent teacher before time runs out?

AMAZON 

The next instant, she was lying on the pavement, staring up at the sky, with Cherilyn on one side of her and Carly on the other. “Maisey? Maisey! Are you okay? Hey, Maisey, honey, are you all right?” Carly was yelling, as though Maisey were deaf.

“You don’t have to scream. I can hear you,” Maisey whispered, groggy. She lay there for a minute before she managed to say, “Oh, no.”

“Oh no what? Are you sick and didn’t tell us?” Cherilyn barked.

“No. It’s happening again.” How, she wasn’t sure, but it was.

“What’s happening?” Carly asked.

“I saw … somebody. And something. But I don’t understand. I bought this hat new. It shouldn’t …” When she’d struggled to sitting, she picked up the hat, and her heart fell into her shoes. “Oh, shit.”

“What?” Cherilyn demanded.

“This isn’t my hat. I picked up somebody else’s hat. It’s not mine. See? It’s got a really, really narrow ribbon for a band. Mine had a wide grosgrain ribbon. Shit, shit, shit. This is somebody else’s hat, and somebody died while they were wearing it.”

Carly planted her hands on her hips and rolled her eyes. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“I wish I were.” Maisey struggled to stand, so Cherilyn and Carly helped her.

Deanndra Hall is a working author living in the far western end of the beautiful Bluegrass State with her husband of over 35 years and small menagerie of weird little dogs. When she’s not writing, she’s editing. When she’s doing neither of those two things, she’s having dinner with friends, spending time with family, kayaking, eating chocolate, drinking beer or moonshine, or looking for something that she put in the wrong place and can’t seem to find (which is pretty much everything she owns).

Amazon | BookBub

SENSIBLE SHOES by Book Blast!

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Cindy Causey will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
At her fiftieth birthday party, Tess Thomason, a plain-Jane, divorced mother and decidedly unprepared women’s newspaper columnist, is blindsided by her well-meaning family with a stack of gift cards she interprets as meaning she’s fat, frumpy, and wrinkled. 
Facing a lonely future and failing career, Tess embarks on a journey of self-discovery, taking her readers along for the ride. But her resolve is nearly derailed by a hilarious season of family chaos that includes a surprise pregnancy, rushed wedding, and unexpected houseguests. 
In the midst of it all, Tess is drawn into a confusing new relationship with a man who is impossibly perfect for her. But if she can keep herself, her family, and her willpower firmly seated on the crazy roller coaster of her life, maybe Tess will find her own self-worth and a new love in the bargain.

Read an Excerpt

“Tess, Tess, I’m not expecting you to write like Sylvia. I’m not even expecting you to write about fashion. What I have in mind is a column to women, for women, about women. Real women. Like one of those influencers on the Internet. You know…funny, wise, poignant, and… relevant.”

The creeping dread, now fully formed, tossed a grenade into my stomach. She might as well have asked me to write like Shakespeare. “You want me to be funny, wise, poignant, and…relevant? Are you insane?”

Okay, I may have stepped over the line with that last bit, because Ruth’s face twisted a little in the ominous way I had seen so often just before she pounded her fist on the desk. “Just write the damn thing, Tess. I don’t care if you’re funny, wise, poignant, or what was the other thing?”

“Relevant,” I murmured.

“Relevant, for God’s sake. Just do it. I need a column for the women’s page starting next week, and you’re it. Write about what you know. Family. Food. The laundry. You’ve got family. You’ve got laundry. It’ll be a cinch.”

“But—”

“No buts. Just do it. It’ll be good for you. You need to get out of your rut.” She turned her attention to her computer screen.

As if in a trance, I rose from the chair and turned to leave. “Oh, Tess?” she said without looking at me.

“Yes?” Maybe she’s changed her mind; she saw my outfit, and she changed her mind.

“Happy birthday.”

About the Author:

Cindy Causey taught herself to type in the 8th grade because she couldn't write in her diary fast enough in longhand. A degree and career in advertising were the result. A fifteen-year stint as a copy chief at JCPenney Catalog led to the position of Internet Marketing Manager for JCPenney.com.

After 20 years at JCPenney, Cindy retired in December, 2007, and began working full time with her husband Scott in their multi-media production company, Dallas Media Center. They specialized in audio/video production and editing, vintage media transfer to DVD and CD, as well as website design and hosting. Cindy shuttered the company in 2021, three years after Scott passed away.

After her first book, a non-fiction work called Cherish the Gift: a Congregational Guide to Earth Stewardship, was published, Cindy began writing fiction. She found her voice in romance, the stories of the struggles two people endure on the road to happily ever-after. Her debut novel, A Different Drum was published in May 2009 by The Wild Rose Press, followed by A Hot Time in Texas that same year.

In early 2025, her latest novel, Sensible Shoes, a humorous look at a woman struggling with life after 50, was published by The Wild Rose Press. It will be followed in late 2025 by a romantic suspense novel entitled Saving Samantha.

Cindy makes her home in Dallas, Texas. In addition to writing, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her 5 grown children and 4 grandchildren. She would like to see the edges of the entire world from the deck of a cruise ship.


Cindy Causey will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.

15 January 2025

Double Takedown A Mike Stoneman Thriller #6 by Kevin G. Chapman Book Tour! @SilverDaggerBookTours #DoubleTakedown #MikeStonemanThriller @kevingchapman

What happens when a closed case cracks wide open

Double Takedown

A Mike Stoneman Thriller #6

by Kevin G. Chapman

Genre: Mystery, Thriller 

What if everything you thought you knew was wrong?

The glittering lights of Broadway are just a cover for the dark secrets hidden behind the curtains. NYPD homicide detectives Mike Stoneman and Jason Dickson are about to find out how many layers one story can have in their latest case. As they prepare to testify in a high-profile murder trial, they begin to question if they got it wrong. The Broadway director claims evidence was planted to frame him and that Mike and Jason developed tunnel vision. If they did, can they live with themselves, knowing that an innocent man might be convicted . . . and that someone else got away with the perfect crime?

With orders to stay away from the closed case, Mike and Jason are plagued by doubts and can't let it go. When new evidence leads to even more questions, the detectives race to put the pieces together and uncover the whole truth. But their unauthorized investigation could lead to catastrophic collateral damage, could cost them their badges, and the director may still be guilty.

For fans of intense crime thrillers and complex characters, Double Takedown is a must-read.

What readers are saying:

“A fantastic story with delicious plotting! A crime thriller that’s more than a cut above the rest." ~Anna Willett, author of the Cold Case Mysteries featuring Detective Inspector Veronika Pope.

“The sixth installment in the Mike Stoneman Mystery series, Double Takedown is a mind-blowing and perfect detective mystery read.” ~Feathered Quill Reviews https://featheredquill.com/double-takedown/

“Mike and Jason are probably my two Favorite detectives. Their side stories with their wives and families enhance what is already sure to be a great read. Another page-turner, you won't put this down till the end, I promise!” ~@Roxxisreading

“A compelling mixture of mystery, police procedural, and thriller. I couldn’t put it down.” ~ Guy Wheatley author of From the Delta Mud. 

“As a retired Homicide Investigator after thirty years, trust me when I tell you that Double Takedown reads as real and as gritty as any case that I ever worked. A mystery tour de force for the ages.” ~ Frederick Douglass Reynolds, Award Winning author of Saint Bloodbath, and Black, White, and Gray All Over. 

“In this gripping installment to the Mike Stoneman detective series, we dive into the underbelly of the theatrical world where drugs are routine and the line between accident and foul play blurs. I couldn’t put it down.” ~Daniel V. Meier Jr., Award winning author of the Sam Adams Investigator series.  

Amazon * Audible * B&N * BookShop.org 

* Bookbub * Goodreads

**Don’t miss the rest of the series!** 

Find them on Amazon

 

 

Kevin G. Chapman is an attorney specializing in labor and employment law. In 2021, Kevin finished the first five books in the Mike Stoneman Thriller series: Righteous Assassin (Kindle Book Award semi-finalist), Deadly Enterprise (Kindle Book Award semi-finalist), Lethal Voyage, (Winner of the 2021 Kindle Book Award, CLUE finalist, RONE finalist), Fatal Infraction (Best Police Procedural of the year – CLUE Award), and Perilous Gambit. In late 2022, Kevin published a stand-alone mystery/thriller titled Dead Winner (CLUE Award - Best Suspense/Thriller of the year). Then, in 2024 came The Other Murder, winner of the CLUE Award Grand Prize (best suspense/thriller of the year) and finalist for the National Indie Excellence Award. Now, in 2025, Mike Stoneman is back in book #6, Double Takedown. Kevin is a resident of Central New Jersey and is a graduate of Columbia College and Boston University School of Law. 

Readers can contact Kevin via his website at www.KevinGChapman.com

Website * Facebook * FB Group * Twitter * Instagram  

Bluesky * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

#mysterybooks #thrillerbooks #suspensebooks #crimebooks #murdermystery #mysterylovers #crimelovers #books #readers #reading #booklovers #BookTour #Giveaway #bookbuzz #bookboost #bookrecommendations #BookBlogger #Bookstagram #bookish #bookclub #MustRead #Writersofinstagram #AmReading #BookPromo #AuthorPromo #writingcommunity #readerscommunity  

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Hardcover copy of Double Takedown (US only),

$20 Amazon giftcard – (WW) – 1 winner each!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Release Blitz for Shadow by Aubree Valentine Release Blitz!

 


Ten years away has taught Lindsey Addington to go after what she wants and her sights are set on Garrett Everleigh. Lindsey will do whatever it takes to break down Garrett’s walls and convince him to take a chance on love. Fans of Yellowstone and Heartland will fall in love with this best friend's little sister/forbidden romance that sets the tone for this new, exciting, and highly anticipated series from Aubree Valentine.

 

Welcome to Addington Ranch… where the cowboys steal hearts and the women tame wild stallions. 

Garrett Everleigh has been waiting (and half heartedly dreading) the day that Lindsey Addington, an heir to the Addington Ranch, returned home from chasing her horse show dreams. 

Lindsey is everything the rugged, determined ranch hand has ever wanted—and everything he can't have. Especially if he wants to keep his job and the ‘family’ that chose him. The only family Garrett has. 

Ten years away has taught equestrian royalty, Lindsey Addington, exactly what - and who - she wants. Far more stubborn than Garrett ever gave her credit for, Lindsey won't let his reservations - or his secrets - keep them from having the relationship they deserve.

Putting a decade of training with thousand pound animals to good use, Lindsey turns her insight and training on Garrett and breaks down every ounce of his resolve until he breaks. 

  • Fans of Yellowstone and Heartland will fall in love with this best friend's little sister/forbidden romance that sets the tone for this new, exciting, and highly anticipated series from Aubree Valentine.

Buy Now on Amazon or Kobo/Kobo Plus!


Buy Nowhttps://books2read.com/ShadowAddingtonRanchBook1 

Excerpt 

Copyright 2025, Author Aubree Valentine

“What are you doing out here, Linds? You’ve got a party going on, you know?”

“I know. I came out here to see you,” she gently elbowed him. 

“You should get back to your party.”

“Maybe later,” she turned up the dial on what little of sex appeal she thought she had and moved so that she was kneeling on the ground beneath his open thighs. “Right now, I came out here because I wanted to tell you something.” 

“Don’t,” Garrett grunted and stood, trying to put space between them. 

Lindsey stood just as quickly and grabbed ahold of his biceps. “Garrett, will you atleast look at me, please?”

Garrett squeezed his eyes closed. “I can’t, Linds. I can’t look at you because if I do, all of my resolve will break.” 

That confession was a tiny reassurance that at least Garrett had some kind of feelings for her too. It was all the encouragement she needed to keep trying.

“Then let it,” she begged. She wanted to see his resolve break. She wanted him to give into whatever it was that he was fighting and give in to her.

Garrett opened his eyes and put his hands on Lindsey’s shoulders. This time she could see the hunger lingering in his eyes. “Is that really what you want, Linds? Do you really want me to give into temptation?”

That was exactly what she wanted. What she’d been longing for. She was eighteen now after all. Nothing was stopping them from letting the attraction take over. “Of course,” she whispered in return.

“Tell me exactly what you want, Linds,” Garrett brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear. 

“Kiss me.”

“I shouldn’t,” he argued. 

Lindsey could think of a million reasons why he should.

“But you will,” she batted her eyes and bit her lip, “won’t you?”

“Damnit,” he cursed under his breath. 

Then his lips were on hers.

She half expected Garrett to be gentle, or to immediately back away again. But he didn’t. Once his lips touched hers, he devoured her like he was a man starved for far too long. And with every ounce of experience that came with kissing a man and not the desperate nervousness of Lindsey’s first kiss and former high school boyfriend. 

Everything about Garrett’s kisses were better than she could have ever imagined. They were all-consuming. Promising. And for a split second, she let herself believe that they really could have it all. That the two of them could be so much more someday soon.

“Shit, Lindsey,” Garrett broke their kiss like she was a flame and she’d just burnt him. “I shouldn’t have done that. I’m sorry,” he said as he started pacing around. 

She should have walked away then. Took the victory of winning a kiss and walked away. Forgotten about her feelings and the happily ever after she thought included Garrett. Except she couldn't. 

“Garrett,” she moved toward him, countering every step he took backwards until he bumped into a tree. With his body pinned against the hard bark, she wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head on his shoulder, soaking in as much of Garrett and the moment as she could. 

“Linds, I…we shouldn’t. You’re getting ready to leave for college. You don’t need a man like me holding you back.”

“Garrett,” she looked up into his eyes. “I really need you to kiss me again. Let me have this. Let me have you. All of you. Even if it’s just for tonight.”

Buy Now on Amazon or Kobo/Kobo Plus!

About Aubree Valentine

 

About Aubree Valentine

Aubree Valentine is a masterful storyteller who weaves tales of passion, heartbreak, and happily-ever-afters that leave readers swooning and coming back for more. A hopeless romantic at heart, Aubree channels her boundless imagination and appreciation for the complexities of romance into every book she writes.

Her characters are as real as they are irresistible—flawed, relatable, and unforgettable—taking readers on journeys filled with sizzling chemistry, emotional twists, and moments that tug at the heartstrings. Whether it’s a steamy small-town romance or a friends-to-lovers tale, Aubree’s stories always promise: love, laughter and happily ever after. When she’s not penning her next novel, Aubree can be found binge-reading romance novels, borrowing her husband’s power tools for some over the top project, or spending quality time with her family and their fur babies.

Connect with Aubree Valentine on social media, through her website, or sign up for her newsletter to stay up-to-date on new releases, exclusive content, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into her writing

 

Follow:


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BookBub | Website | Newsletter | Amazon 



“The Northern Pacific Railroad” by Tim Piper Book Spotlight!



Hotly-anticipated standalone in

award-winning

historical fiction series takes readers to

Western Frontier 

A thrilling adventure for fans of the show

“1883”


In 1872, six hundred miles between Bismarck

and Bozeman were to be surveyed for the

Northern Pacific Railroad. But Sitting Bull is

gathering strength to resist this incursion

into the tribes’ hunting grounds. Citizens and

politicians question the need for the rail line

and doubt that it can ever be guaranteed

safe from Indian raids. But financier Jay

Cooke is willing to risk his financial empire to

build it.


When Cooke summons Jubilee Walker to his

mansion and presents a proposition for

completing the survey, Jubil finds it impossible

to resist.


But the stakes are high, both financially and

personally. How much will Jubil risk to turn his

adventure travel tours into a major business?

Can he do it without losing the respect of the

people he loves? And will he even survive the

attempt to complete the survey?


Book 3 in the Jubilee Walker series is based

on actual events of the 1872 and 1873 railroad

surveys, and the ensuing financial turmoil as

investors lose faith in Cooke’s vision.


“The Northern Pacific Railroad”

Tim Piper | January 15, 2025 |

Sunshine Parade Publishing

| Historical Fiction | Coming of Age

Hardcover | B0DKB9PZR4  | $19.99 |

Paperback

| 9798988418672 | $13.99

Ebook | B0CYVH4D7X| $4.99


The Powell Expeditions (Book 1)


Ebook

B0CH1L9DG6 $4.99 | Paperback

B0CHVPBGNZ $13.99

Hardcover: B0CJ41X635 $19.99

The Powell Expeditions (Book 1


Ebook: B0CH1L9DG6 $4.99 |

Paperback: B0CHVPBGNZ $13.99

Hardcover: B0CJ41X635 $19.99

After his mother’s death, seventeen-year-old

Jubilee Walker asks to join a scientific expedition

led by Major John Wesley Powell, a family

friend. Powell initially refuses, but Jubil’s

persistence and resourcefulness eventually

win him a place on Powell’s crew. However,

Jubil’s plans for a life of adventure are

complicated by his deepening feelings for his

best friend, Nelly Boswell, who is reluctant to

spend her life with a man who insists on

such a dangerous lifestyle. How will Jubil

navigate the hardships and lawlessness

of the American West?

And will he be forced to choose between a

life of adventure and the girl he loves?

Jubil’s story draws on the real-life

adventures of naturalist,college professor,

and one-armed Civil War veteran Major

John Wesley Powell during his Colorado

River Exploring Expeditions. Powell became

'the first explorer to summit Longs

Peakinthe Colorado Rockies and navigate

the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon,

fixing his place in history as one of America’s

great explorers.


Ebook

B0CYVH4D7X $4.99 | Paperback

B0CZSBYPTG $13.99

Hardcover: B0D1JWYZY4  $19.99

Mountain men through the decades have told

tales of the exotic geography surrounding the

source of the Yellowstone River, and Jubilee

Walker, to the dismay of his fiancée,

Nelly Boswell, can't resist the opportunity

to see it for

himself. When Jubil joins an expedition to

explore the region, he and his companions

brave an unforgiving wilderness to find that

the truth is even stranger than the legends.

But a year later, when Jubil returns with

a surve crew, he finds ruthless men exploiting

t for profit. Will Jubil's commitment to

preventing the despoilment

of Yellowstone's geographical wonders get him

killed?

Based on events of the 1870 Washburn Expedition

and the 1871 surveys by Dr. Ferdinand Hayden

and Captain.

John Barlow, the second installment of the Jubilee

Walker series chronicles events leading up to the

passage of the bill that designated Yellowstone as

America's first national park.



TIM PIPER is retired from a long career in

Information Technology and has been a lifelong

hobbyist musician. In his earlier days he

was an avid hiker and backcountry

camper, but his adventures these days are less

strenuous and more comfortable. He began

his education at Illinois State University as an

English major, but life circumstances put him

on a more pragmatic path, and he graduated

with a BS in Business Admin,

a degree he finds appropriately named. He

lives in Bloomington, Illinois. 


Learn more at www.timpiper-author.com

or follow him on Facebook.


2024 BookFest First Place Award for

Young Adult Historical

Fiction for

“The Powell Expeditions”


2024 Goethe Book Awards Long List for

Late Historical

Fiction for "The Powell Expeditions"


2024 Independent Press Award “Distinguished

Favorite”

in Western Fiction for “The Powell Expeditions”


2024 BookFest Second Place Award for

“Young

Adult Historical Fiction” for “The Yellowstone

Campaign”



Praise for “The Jubilee Walker” series


“I thoroughly enjoyed the novel “Yellowstone Campaign”.

I had not read part one of the series, but now I will go back

and read it. The character of Jubilee Walker was very

compelling and real. It was interesting to think about how

the first non-indigenous people felt when they encountered

the wonders of Yellowstone. I have visited Yellowstone

National Park and enjoyed being at many of the vistas that

were described in this novel.. I thought this novel was a

wonderful blend of interesting characters and events woven around historical fact.”

– Amazon review for “The Yellowstone Campaign”


“I enjoyed the first book in the Jubilee Walker series

about the Powell Expeditions, and I enjoyed this one equally.

I grew

up being exposed to the West and it's National Parks,

and this book

provides an eye-opening look at the early days

of the establishment of Yellowstone as a protected piece

of land.

It has all the drama of that landscape, as seen through the

eyes of young explorer Jubil who is torn between his

yearning for adventure and his love for his fiancée. Based on

the story being based on real people and events, it's a good

entry point for history buffs and National Park lovers alike.”

Goodreads review for “The Yellowstone Campaign”


“Brace yourselves for a thrilling ride through the Wild West

in 1867 with Jubilee Walker. From wagon trains to

climbing mountains and riding the rapids of the Colorado

River, this book is an adventure-packed gem!”

– Reviews Thick and Thin for “The Powell Expeditions”


"An engrossing and historically accurate fictionalization

of the hardships and joys of the West in the 1860s ...

I loved Jubil's all-too-human longings for

adventure and companionship, and his practical nature

that made him a valuable member of the expedition."

5 stars from Page Appropriate for

“The Powell Expeditions”


"From the beginning, you pull the reader in with simple prose,

but you also show a glimpse of how life promises to change for Jubil."

YA Outside the Lines for “The Powell Expeditions”










An Interview with Tim Piper about

“The Jubilee Walker” series:

How did you incorporate the true-life adventures

of Major Powell into your fictional story?


The story adheres closely to the historical record of Powell’s

1867, 1868, and 1869 exploring expeditions and the people

who participated in them. The events of those expeditions

serve as the context for the formative years of my

protagonist, Jubilee Walker, as he makes his way into

adulthood in post–Civil War America.


Describe the trip to the Rockies that inspired your novel.

During one of my early trips to Rocky Mountain National

Park, I hiked the Longs Peak Trail. After the hike, I

purchased a book on the history of the mountain and

learned the first person to summit it was Major John

?Wesley Powell. Researching Powell, I was surprised to

learn he had close connections to my hometown,

Bloomington, Illinois. Much of Powell’s life struck me as

something out of an adventure novel, but I did not find any

fiction that had dramatized it. I carried the idea with

me for years until finally deciding to make an effort to

write the novel I wanted to read.


Why do you feel that Major Powell deserves more recognition?


Over Powell’s lifetime, his adventures, scientific expeditions,

and geographic surveys of America’s developing western

frontier led him to conclusions about land and water use

that were far ahead of his time. Though he was very

influential in scientific and academic circles,

his recommendations were never fully adopted by

politicians. The impact of failing to address his concerns

was made evident by the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, and

can still be felt today in terms of water use policy in

the western states. He was one of the first

to espouse conservation policy that still struggles to

protect our natural resources against America’s

drive to exploit them.


Where do you find your writing purpose and inspiration

from?

Though I have always had an artistic nature and enjoyed

music and writing as hobbies, I chose the more expedient

path of making a living in the business world rather than

the risky world of the arts. After I retired, my wife was

taken ill and passed away, and I was lost for what to

do with myself. I tried following my hobby of music but

could no longer find joy in it. But writing provided me

with a means to block out my internal dialogue and pass

the days doing something constructive. These days,

I follow my curiosity to research topics that appeal

to me, and then weave those into fictional stories that

I would like to read myself.


What kinds of research did you do for the story?

Major John Wesley Powell taught at Illinois Wesleyan

University in my hometown of Bloomington, Illinois. I

contacted the archive librarian at IWU’s Ames Library,

and was allowed access to their John Wesley Powell

Special Collection. These materials, along with other

resources suggested by the librarian led me to a

wealth of information about Powell. Other books

and online newspaper articles provided insights into

life during post–Civil War America.


What are some key takeaways you hope people will have

from your book?


The protagonist, Jubilee Walker, is a young man who

knows more about what he doesn’t want to do with his

life than what he does want. He makes most of his

decisions by following his passions and doing what his

heart tells him is right. His good-natured personality,

enthusiasm, reliability, and calm demeanor in the face

of difficult circumstances win him the support and

friendship of most people he meets. Jubil’s philosophy

of following his passion and heart is a worthwhile

message for anyone.


Could the books in the series be read as standalones

or does the reader benefit from reading the book

in order?


Yes, the books can be read as standalone though the

reader's experience is enhanced by reading them in

sequence. Each episode is more meaningful as you

watch the protagonist, Jubilee Walker, grow

with each life experience.


How have you grown as a writer since beginning the

series?

Though it might seem each book in the series would

get easier to write, I've found the opposite to be true.

The lives of the characters get more complex

and their motivations change, making plotting more

difficult. The risk of repeating yourself in some way

grows, and your internal critic gets more demanding

as your ability to see your own weaknesses as a writer

grows.


What has surprised you most about this series and the

process of writing and promoting it?


By far the most surprising aspect of the process has

been the positive acceptance of my work. I will

be forever grateful that the books have been

received with far more approval than I ever imagined. 





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