24 January 2025

Crossing the Line by Chris Cloake Book Tour! @SilverDaggerBookTours #CrossingTheLine @chriscloakeauthor @author_chriscloake

Running away, young & frightened.

There's no going back.

Crossing the Line

by Chris Cloake

Genre

 Women’s Fiction

Rebecca is running away from violation and loss. Young, frightened and homeless, but articulate, imaginative and determined, she dreams of a new life, a new self. There’s no going back.

Follow her path into desperate isolation during a freezing winter as she struggles to survive. When stealing offers a way out, fate plunges her into the criminal realm of drugs where the stakes and the hits are high, and deadly, and her existence relies on trust. But who is using who? Is she falling into the same traps again?

Crossing The Line by Chris Cloake leads you through the moral minefield of addiction and throws open the debate over control and consent, with outcomes that will stir deep emotions. If you’re a fan of challenging story lines then this you must read.

Get Crossing The Line now to discover the inescapable truths Rebecca faces as a vulnerable girl in a world driven by greed. Marvel at how her courage and an unexpected ally bring about an earth shattering conclusion.

Amazon * Apple * Kobo * Smashwords * Books2Read * Bookbub * Goodreads

 

Chris Cloake was born in 1964 and began telling stories a couple of years later. He grew up in Kent, England. He is motivated to write by a deep interest in life, particularly the cruel, deeply flawed nature of people contrasted with their incredible creativity and inspiration. The power of the natural world is a common theme in his work as a writer and professional photographer. He lives happily with his wife, two children and a large collection of music, books and board games.

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* Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

 #womensfiction #comingofage #newadult #dramabooks #literaryfiction #contemporaryfiction #addiction #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!

Little Boy Blue Social Worker Claire Conover Mystery #4 by Margaret Fenton Tour!




Warning: Adult language, abuse

Little Boy Blue

Social Worker Claire Conover Mystery #4 
by Margaret Fenton 

Publisher
Aakenbaaken & Kent (Oct, 2024)

Category
Mystery, Amateur Sleuth 
Tour Dates
November 4-27, 2024

 ISBN
978-1958022184 

 Available in Print and ebook
228 pages

   Little Boy Blue

Description Little Boy Blue by Margaret Fenton

The latest installment in Fenton’s acclaimed southern mystery series, Claire Conover Mysteries, featuring Birmingham, Alabama child welfare social worker Claire Conover, Little Boy Blue is a confident, compelling, and captivating tale about long-buried secrets, revenge—and how nothing, absolutely nothing, is quite as it seems. 

 Claire Conover is in the midst of personal upheaval: an indiscretion has cost Claire her relationship with longtime love Grant Summerville, and she is trying to weather the challenges of being a single foster mother to 13-year-old LaReesa Jones. At least her job hasn’t put her in danger again—at least until Grant is accused of child abuse by a former employee, Regina Maynard. 

Even though she and Grant are broken up, Claire vows to prove his innocence, despite repeated protests and warnings from her Unit Supervisor, Mac McAlister. Convinced of Grant’s innocence, Claire starts to investigate. Then Regina is murdered, and Claire takes charge of Regina’s six-year-old son, Dylan. When she starts to unravel the destruction and chaos Regina left behind, Claire realizes there is no shortage of suspects in Regina's murder, including Grant himself. 

Regina had plenty of enemies, including people she stole from and ex-lovers she was blackmailing. But who wanted her dead? And more importantly why? Complicating matters even further, LaReesa’s drug-addled biological mother comes back into the picture, causing the teenager to spiral-- and causing Claire immeasurable anxiety over what the future could hold. 

 The stakes have never been higher: against the backdrop of a ticking clock, Claire and Grant must work together to solve Regina’s murder before Grant loses everything. But it’s clear that someone doesn’t want the truth to come to light, and soon Claire herself becomes the target. She’s lost Grant, she’s afraid she could lose LaReesa …but this time, Claire may lose something even more valuable: her life.

 Teeming with tension, simmering suspense, and a riveting storyline, Little Boy Blue is mesmerizing. An extraordinary new entry in Margaret Fenton’s Little series, Little Boy Blue is a brilliantly rendered, briskly paced mystery that brims with real, relatable characters, authenticity, and a powerhouse of a plot that will leave readers breathless.

Praise for Social Worker Claire Conover Mysteries

“Did my usual thing of plunging in without reading the blurb on the back cover and my heart sank when I saw the story was about social services and child welfare? So glad I wasn’t put off as this is a great, well told, murder mystery with a cast of interesting characters. The book has a nice writing style and kept me reading as the plot developed at a frantic pace. I had real trouble putting this down and finished it in two sittings as I couldn’t wait to find out the conclusion.”- Kevin Cannon, Monty’s Book Reviews 

 “Claire, a social worker, finds herself involved in the death of a clients child. Little Mikey only 3 dies and when they found out it was because of a drug overdose his mom, -a long time addict gone clean - gets sent to jail. But nothing is quite like it seems because Claire does not give up until she finds out the truth --even if it puts her life in danger. Finished this book in 2 days. Could not put it down.” =-Agnes, Bubbie’s Books 

 “Little White Lies” by Margaret Fenton captured my attention with an intriguing storyline that never wavered throughout. I voraciously tore through the pages of this immersive book in one sitting; it was the ultimate escape from reality! I loved piecing together the clues from this political mystery.
 The author did an excellent job of illustrating conflict within a relationship. “Little White Lies” had all the necessary ingredients for a deliciously immersive mystery—perfect pacing, well-developed characters, and puzzling clues to uncover. Readers interested in books about racial disparity and familial dysfunction will be quickly immersed in the story.”- Reader Views's Review

“Margaret Fenton has given the reader a wonderfully written mystery in Little White Lies that has so much exciting action and so very many lies that the reader will be completely involved and not put it down until the very last page. In Claire, the author gives the reader an excellent main character that we come to care about.

 Quill says: This is an excellent and well-rounded story that I would recommend to anyone who loves a really good mystery. It would be a huge surprise if, after reading Little White Lies, you don’t turn around and go right out to read the first two books in the series. I, for one, cannot wait to see what happens to Claire and the others in the next book.”- Feathered Quill Book Reviews

Excerpt 

The assessment room was on the first floor on the east side of the building. It was a large room that had been painted in a happy, pastel yellow. Toys were scattered throughout the space, including a large, non-gender-specific dollhouse and several anatomically correct dolls. A table flanked by two chairs held paper and colored pencils. There was a bookshelf of books about families, too. Two denim bean-bag chairs were in there as well, on the colorful floor mat in the form of a jigsaw puzzle. I sat in the observation room so I could watch through the one-way mirror. I made sure the camera next to me was recording and dimmed the lights. 

After a few minutes, Russ entered with little Dylan, who looked exactly as he had when I saw him last. Maybe a little taller. Skinny kid, dressed in clean, gray cargo shorts and a royal blue t-shirt with a gray truck on it. His clothes were a little big on him, but he would grow into them soon. His hair was dark brown and shaggy, like he hadn’t had a haircut in a while. He had big, curious, blue eyes. His fair skin was slightly pink from a mild sunburn. 

He went immediately to the table with the paper and colored pencils on it, that was just below the observation window. He started to pick up a pencil and stopped, looking at Russell. “Can I color?” He asked in a small voice.

“Sure, we can color if you want to.” Russell sat in the other chair at the table. He asked permission before coloring, I thought, so impulse control was pretty good so far. Over the years, I had seen so many kids bolt into that room and tear through all the toys before I could even catch up.

Dylan chose a green pencil and drew some grass on a piece of paper. Then he chose black and drew a road. A small truck was next, colored red, with a brown-haired figure behind the steering wheel. Russell asked if he knew why he was here. He shrugged. “I’m supposed to talk about Mr. Grant.”

“What about Mr. Grant?”

“I’m supposed to say he touched me.”

“What can you tell me about that?”

“He touched me.”

“Can you tell me more about it?”

“He touched me.”

“Can you tell me where?”

“In the bathroom.”

I saw Russell choke back a giggle. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t clear. I meant where on your body.”

Dylan started squirming, drawing huge roll bars on the truck. He shook his head.

“Dylan, remember we talked about this before we came in here. This is very serious. I need you to tell me the truth. You won’t get in trouble for saying the truth, ever. Can you point to where he touched you?”

Dylan waved a hand toward his lap. “Down there. I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”

“Okay, I appreciate your being honest with me. Your truck looks great! Does your mommy drive a truck?”

“No, we have a Kia but it’s little and doesn’t work most of the time. Mommy says she is going to get us a truck, as soon as she gets some money.”

“How does mommy get money? Does she have a job?”

“She used to work for Mr. Grant, but she doesn’t anymore. It’s sad. He was nice.”

“I thought you said he touched you.”

I could see the moment of panic on little Dylan’s face. He was caught in the deception and he knew it. He shrugged. “I don’t know.”

Russ focused on the truck again. After a moment, he asked, “Where would you go in that truck, if you could drive it?”

“I don’t know.” Dylan drew headlights on the truck, coloring them yellow. He was shutting down.

“Is there anything else you want to talk about, before I go get your mom?”

“I don’t know.”

“Last chance.”

“No.” It was practically a whisper.

“Okay, I’m going to go get your mom.” Russ left to get Regina while I continued to watch Dylan. After Russ left, he continued coloring on the picture. He drew a large mountain behind the truck, outlined in brown. Several large objects were drawn on the top of the pointed mountain that looked like boulders. Then a gray thundercloud.

Russ and Regina walked in the room and, without being asked, Dylan took his picture and went and sat on one of the bean bag chairs so the adults could sit on the chairs by the table. Regina was artificially orange-tan, with long dark brown hair and blue eyes like her son’s. Her body was larger than I remembered; she had gained some weight. She wore a lot of eye makeup that was a bright blue color, and her fire engine red lipstick wasn’t doing her any favors. Her expression made me think she was annoyed.

Dylan was anxious. He was hyper-focused on his mom, and seemed to be waiting for her to say something. Acknowledge him, or anything. Russell asked how things were going.

“How do you think things are going for God’s sake? My son has been abused. What did he tell you? Did he tell you the details?”

Dylan shrank small in the bean bag as Russell answered, “I’m sorry, but everything Dylan and I discuss is between us, like I said before we started. Is he having any behavioral problems?”

“No. Should he be?”

Russell shrugged. “I’m just getting an idea of what’s going on.”

“When will Grant be arrested? When will the charges be filed?” 

“I am going to refer Dylan to the Cole Center for further evaluation. They’ll do an assessment and determine whether to send the case to the District Attorney for review.”

“So all this was for nothing?” She shouted. “What the hell is the point of us coming down here then?” She stood up, as did Russ.

Dylan tucked his knees up to his chest on the bean bag. The poor kid was practically in the fetal position.

Russell continued, “This is the first step in any investigation. We’ll refer it out from here and see what they are able to determine.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” Regina grabbed her purse and loudly said, “C’mon Dylan. Let’s get out of here.” 

Dylan stood up and Russell addressed him. “It was great to meet you, Dylan. Thanks for talking to me. Can I keep your picture?”

He nodded and handed it to Russell as Regina stormed out of the room. Dylan followed her and I heard Russell sigh as I turned off the camera. He walked them out toward the lobby, then joined me the observation room after I turned up the lights.

©Margaret Fenton


Little Boy Blue

Guest Review by Laura


“I followed his advice and inhaled deeply. Then again. The tears were back, suddenly, and I wiped my eyes with my fingers. I always cry when I am furious, and I hate that. I didn't want to fall apart in front of Dr. Pope and Mac.” 

An exciting story about an amateur detective and her quest to discover the truth behind the false accusation cast against the man that she loves. 'Little Boy Blue,' by Margaret Fenton is a stunning story of devotion and justice all leading to a thrilling ending. 

Claire Conover is a social worker in Alabama who is trying her best to raise her teenage foster daughter, LaReesa. Things are already rough for Claire on the day that she finds out about the accusation of child abuse against her ex-boyfriend, Grant. Grant owns a tech company and had recently fired an employee who was stealing from him. 

This employee has now filed a complaint with Claire's office claiming that Grant was abusing her six-year-old son. Of course, Claire realizes immediately that the complaint is a lie and she begins investigating the case herself, while trying to stay away from having an official involvement. What follows is a gripping adventure of investigation and truth-seeking!

Claire is in for a real challenge, especially after the employee who accused Grant turns up dead. 

'Little Boy Blue,' is the fourth book in Margaret Fenton's Claire Conover series, and each book is even more riveting than the last! At no point did I know where this story was going and I loved that! It kept me guessing all the way through! 

I highly recommend this book if you're interested in amateur sleuth stories, or if you just want a great mystery to curl up with in front of the fire! Five stars! 


About Margaret Fenton

Award winning author, Margaret Fenton spent nearly ten years as a child and family therapist for her county’s child welfare department before focusing on writing. Hence, her work tends to reflect her interest in social causes and mental health, especially where kids are concerned. 

She has been a planning coordinator of Murder in the Magic City since its inception in 2003. Margaret lives in the Birmingham suburb of Hoover with her husband, a retired software developer, and their adorable Papillons. She received her B.A. in English from the Newcomb College of Tulane University. 


Pre-order Little Boy Blue by Margaret Fenton

Amazon (eBook coming soon) Bookshop.org (eBook coming soon)

Giveaway Little Boy Blue by Margaret Fenton

This giveaway is for 2 print copies and is open worldwide. This giveaway ends on February 1st, 2025 midnight, pacific time. Entries accepted via Rafflecopter only. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow Little Boy Blue by Margaret Fenton

Little Boy Blue Web Tour Schedule

Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus

Jan 6 Guest Review-Mark & Excerpt

Gud Reader Goodreads 

Jan 7 Review

Amy Locks, Hooks and Books 

Jan 8 Guest Review-Sal & Excerpt

Linda Lu Goodreads 

Jan 9 Review

Bee BookPleasures.com  

 Jan 14 Review

DT  Amazon & Goodreads

Jan 17 Review

Kathleen Celtic Lady Reviews 

Jan 24 Guest Review-Laura & Excerpt

Steve Silver Screen Videos 

Jan 27 Interview

Gracie Goodreads

Jan 28 Review

Steve Silver Screen Videos 

Jan 29 Review

Leslie StoreyBook Reviews 

Jan 30

Guest Review- Nora and Guest Post

I


Damned Yankees by Ray Deptula Book Tour! #DamnedYankees @ray.deptula @DeptulaRay32221 #DamnedYankees @ray.deptula @DeptulaRay32221

Damned Yankees is a gripping tale set during America’s Revolutionary War, where loyalty is tested, and survival is anything but certain.

Damned Yankees

by Ray Deptula

GenreBook Tour!

 Historical Fiction

Those who fight their nation’s wars are typically those least able to avoid it.

The world was, is now, and always will be a complicated and volatile place filled with those whose self-interests supersede more noble aspirations.

If history has taught us anything, it is that times may change, but human nature does not.

The competing interests and political tensions of the formation of our country were no more or less dysfunctional than they are today, with the best and worst of individual behavior continually on display.

Jack Halliday wants nothing more than to belong somewhere that provides him with security and values his worth.

In an uncaring world that devours the weak, he is forced to rely on his strongest attribute, his ability and willingness to fight, which ironically belies his benevolent nature.

Much like the fledgling union of the thirteen original colonies, Jack’s rebirth into autonomy constantly teeters on demise in a world where his decisions are all he can control.

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Ray Deptula is a native of Wells, Maine, and a graduate of Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, Maine.

He spent 24 years in the U.S. Navy as a helicopter pilot and a political-military officer.

He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island with a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies.

Damned Yankees is the first book Ray has published, having conceived of it while taking a Revolutionary War elective at the Naval War College.

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23 January 2025

Get started on Eternal Ashes by @janellemarie_author!! Book Tour! ⁣⁣#janellemarie #EternalAshes #XpressoTours @XpressoTours⁣

 

Eternal Ashes by Janelle Marie

(Ash & Rage, #1)

Publication date January 21st 2025

Genres

Adult, Thriller

One night. One moment.

One mistake

                                  Now life will never be the same.

In her hometown of Auburn Village, Sofie Collins has built a good life for herself and her teenage daughter, April.

Sofie’s business is growing, and they are both happily in love, with April about to graduate from high school in only a few weeks.

Life – although far from perfect – is good. But one moment is all it takes.

Just one moment and now Sofie’s world will never be the same again.

Instead of building a brighter future with each passing day, Sofie suddenly finds the happiness she found slipping further and further through her fingers.

And it seems as though all the blame and guilt lies with her…

Or does it?

This mesmerizing drama is the compelling first chapter of a story of heartbreak, betrayal and cold revenge. When her world breaks, will Sofie find the strength to rebuild the pieces? Or is she about to send it crashing down?

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

Sofie stared out the window of Chief Edison’s unmarked police car, a cold sense of dread spreading through her chest as she awaited her daughter’s fate. The local hospital wasn’t far, but the ride felt like it was hours. They had left immediately after throwing on some clothes. Sofie wasn’t sure what she had grabbed, or if she should bring anything for April. What had happened? What could’ve possibly happened? Why hadn’t she come home?

The night was still and silent. Everything was so quiet and peaceful, in such stark contrast to the turmoil raging through Sofie’s whole body.

Please, let my baby girl be okay. The thought repeated itself in her head, right along with the last image she had of April walking hand-in-hand out of the pub with Drew. April’s last words to Sofie had been “I love you.” But Sofie couldn’t remember if she’d said those all-important words back to her.

Sofie’s breath clutched in her chest, her gasp disturbing the silence inside the car. Chief Edison glanced back at her through the rearview mirror, concern in his eyes despite his blank expression. Beside her, Parker took Sofie’s hand, interlocking their fingers.

Chief Edison hadn’t given them many details beyond the fact April and Drew had been in an accident. He’d shared no insight into their condition. He didn’t need to though. Sofie could read between the lines. If the kids were okay, they would have been driven home.

April would have called.

If the kids were okay, Chief Edison would have said so instead of staying tight-lipped. His silence was a red flag. A bad omen.

Please, let my baby girl be okay…

Sofie’s vision blurred and she blinked back tears, refusing to let any fall yet. She was convinced crying prematurely would only bring bad luck. Sofie was fearing the worst, but she needed to hold on to some kind of hope. At least now, before she knew for certain how bad it was.

Maybe the kids were banged up and in shock. Maybe there were some broken bones. Maybe some concussions. Scrapes and scratches. Bruises. A bunch of stuff would heal quickly…

And maybe one day, a few weeks or months from now, they would remember this incident as a scary close-call they’d overcome. A minor setback.

Someday in the future, April and Drew would be married and in their forties, telling their kids about the bad crash they had weeks before graduating high school. Their yearbook would have pictures of all the signatures they’d gotten on their matching casts.

There was no need to panic.

No need to panic. Sofie let these words replace the chant in her head, wanting so badly to believe them. Yet, no matter how hard she tried to cling to some optimism, the prolonged drive provided ample time for dread to take hold again.

Janelle Marie is a distinguished voice in the realm of thriller-suspense fiction. Residing amidst the towering evergreens and cascading mountains of the Pacific Northwest, she infuses her stories with the essence of her surroundings, creating a unique and immersive experience for her readers.

With a talent for weaving tales, Janelle embarked on her writing journey, driven by a love for a great book. She discovered her passion for crafting stories that send shivers down the spine, skillfully spinning narratives that are tapestries of suspense, where unexpected twists and turns keep readers guessing until the final, gripping conclusion.

Janelle Marie invites readers to join her on a journey into the heart of suspense, where the landscapes are as unpredictable as the twists in her tales. Through her evocative prose, she aims to transport readers into a world where danger lurks in the shadows and the only way out is to keep turning the pages.

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

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Private I by Jill Fain Lehman, PhD, Ashlei E. Watson. and Paul Pangaro, PhD Book Spotlight!


 A story of intrigue, romance, murder, and artificial intelligence...

She was almost out, her life of enforced seclusion nearly over. She’d go to college at MITI, make a name for herself in Machine Intelligence (MI), and develop personal MIs to solve the world’s problems by building on the technology her grandfather had secretly invented.

But the house was on fire when Paloma arrived home. Her grandfather, beaten and tortured, lay dead on the floor. Someone knew about Marlowe, Paloma’s MI, and would clearly kill to acquire it. They’d come for her next. They’d come for Marlowe.

Paloma has no choice but to run, at least until she can figure out who is after them. A tech corporation? The government? Anti-tech terrorists? As she encounters each, her grandfather’s arguments about the dangers of a Marlowe-like MI in the wrong hands begin to make sense. But after 15 years together, Marlowe has become both her best friend and, for better or worse, part of who she is.

A new take on classic noir themes, Private I is a mystery thriller rooted in today's headlines and driven by characters with distinct answers to the questions those articles what do we mean by machine consciousness? Would we recognize it if we saw it? Would we want it if we could, have it?

 It is the story of a dead body, a society in decay, and the internal monologue of a voice that is still young enough to care and naive enough to stumble. Of course, in our case, that internal monologue has two voices.


Jill Fain Lehman, PhD, is a Senior Project Scientist at Carnegie Mellon University’s Human-Computer Interaction Institute with over 40 years of experience in artificial intelligence, natural language processing, and machine learning. 

She has collaborated with leading organizations like Disney Research, The Rand Corporation, and Carnegie Learning. Jill is the co-author of Private I, a speculative fiction novel exploring the complexities of AI, consciousness, and trust.

Ashlei E. Watson is an American novelist, known for her work that blends speculative fiction with deep philosophical themes.

Paul Pangaro, PhD, is an entrepreneur, researcher, and educator with over 30 years of experience applying cybernetics to human-machine systems. He has founded multiple startups and now teaches at Carnegie Mellon University, where he is establishing a Laboratory for Cybernetics.


211 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 15, 2023




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