Sneak Peek: He Should Have Told the Bees by Amanda Cox

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9 August 2023

He Should Have Told the Bees by Amanda Cox

Beckett (Beck) Walsh loves working alongside her father in their apiary. But when her father passes away unexpectedly, her life takes an unexpected turn. Suddenly, it is up to her to run Walsh Farm, including managing the finances, which she has never done. But there is a catch—she is only part owner of the farm, and the other owner, someone she knows nothing about, has the power to sell the business. Why would her father risk something that meant so much to both of them?

Callie Peterson is attempting to open her first storefront for her natural body care products. So, when she learns that she has been named in the trust of a man she’s never heard of, she views this as an opportunity to take care of her struggling finances. Not only will the extra money support her new start-up business but it will also help her absent mother get into rehab for her lifelong substance abuse issues.

As Beck and Callie try to navigate through the difficult conundrum, they must first sort through a complex and entangled past full of secrets in order to pave the way for a brighter future for both of them.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Amanda Cox is the four-time Christy Award–winning author of The Edge of Belonging and The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Bible and theology and a master’s degree in professional counseling, but her first love is communicating through story. Her studies and her interactions with hurting families over a decade have allowed her to create multidimensional characters who connect emotionally with readers. She lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with her husband and their three children. Learn more at AmandaCoxWrites.com.

RESTORE Book 3 of the Reborn Marks Series

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Jocie McKade

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9 August 2023

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RESTORE — Alone, back in slavery, Lexil must figure out a way to survive…

Lexil is back in Anstetor where it all began. Back to who she once was. Not only has she been separated from everyone she knows, she is imprisoned by a group of rogue Retrievers who want to brutally punish runaway Reborns.

Though obstacles are placed in her path, she continues her quest to rid the land of prejudice and slavery. Will she achieve her goal? Will she change beyond recognition by the choices she is forced to make?

Aided by unlikely sources, Lexil forges deeper into Anstetor, revisiting familiar places and haunting memories. New truths are presented to her. Relationships are challenged. Her body, mind, and emotions are pushed to the limit.

Amazon.com: Restore: A Young Adult Dystopian Novel (The Reborn Marks Book 3) eBook : Greene, Jenna: Kindle Store

Restore: A Young Adult Dystopian Novel (The Reborn Marks Book 3) eBook : Greene, Jenna: Amazon.ca: Kindle Store

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jenna Greene is a writer and teacher, as well as a clumsy dancer, enthusiastic dragonboat paddler, and a semi-professional napper.

RELIVE YOUR POP CULTURE OBSESSIONS IN “THE ART OF SUPER7”

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Jocie McKade

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8 August 2023

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All the things you grew up with in a beautifully designed art book

Dark Horse Books partners with Super7 to present The Art of Super7: an oversized art book that explores all of the epic pop-culture sensations that defined your childhood. This 216-page hardcover volume is a celebration of the youthful obsession, nostalgia, and visual innovation of Super7.

Science fiction, giant monsters, comic books, punk, skateboarding, robots, and rebellion: these elements form the manifesto of pop-culture knowledge, graphics, aesthetics, and DIY energy that is Super7. Explore each of these obsessions through the creative offerings of one of the premier design houses of lifestyle-oriented collectibles, toys, and apparel.

The Art of Super7 explores the art, design, and packaging of official product collections that include G.I. Joe, Universal Monsters, Masters of the Universe, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Thundercats, Transformers, and Peanuts, in addition to music legends Mötorhead, Misfits, Beastie Boys, Ghost, O.D.B., as well as Super7’s own in-house creations and many, many more.

The Art of Super7 hardcover will arrive in bookstores February 13, 2024 and comic book stores February 14, 2024. The oversized artbook measuring at 9 x 12″ is available for pre-order now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and at your local comic shop and bookstore and will retail for $49.99.

Dark Horse Comics

Sneak Peek: Murder at the Serpentine Bridge by Andrea Penrose

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Jocie McKade

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8 August 2023

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Murder at the Serpentine Bridge by Andrea Penrose

USA Today bestselling author Andrea Penrose’s atmospheric mystery series sends newlywed sleuths, Lady Charlotte and the Earl of Wrexford, beyond the glittering ballrooms and salons of Regency London to untangle a web of international intrigue…

Charlotte, now the Countess of Wrexford, would like nothing more than a summer of peace and quiet with her new husband and their unconventional family and friends. Still, some social obligations must be honored, especially with the grand Peace Celebrations unfolding throughout London to honor victory over Napoleon.

But when Wrexford and their two young wards, Raven and Hawk, discover a body floating in Hyde Park’s famous lake, that newfound peace looks to be at risk. The late Jeremiah Willis was the engineering genius behind a new design for a top-secret weapon, and the prototype is missing from the Royal Armory’s laboratory. Wrexford is tasked with retrieving it before it falls into the wrong hands. But there are unsettling complications to the case—including a family connection.

Soon, old secrets are tangling with new betrayals, and as Charlotte and Wrexford spin through a web of international intrigue and sumptuous parties, they must race against time to save their loved ones from harm—and keep the weapon from igniting a new war . . .

PODCAST:: Magnolia Bluff, Murders & Mystery with Author Charles Breakfield on Book Lights

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Jocie McKade

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8 August 2023

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Magnolia Bluff, Murders & Mystery with Author Charles Breakfield on Book Lights

LISTEN HERE!

Charles Breakfield works as a data/telecom solution architect and supports digital security, blockchain solutions, and unified communications. He enjoys writing, studying World War II history, travel, and cultural exchanges. Charles’ love of wine tastings, cooking, and Harley riding often provides writing topics.

Much of his personality comes from his father who served in the military for 30 years and three wars. Charles grew up on multiple bases and different countries. The multi-cultural exposure helps him with the various character perspectives they bring to the series. His personal ambition is to continue to teach his co-author Burkey, humor.

BREAKFIELD AND BURKEY together build stories as fictional story writers. Storytelling is the best method to share excitement, thrills, and insights to today’s technology risks.

EnigmaSeries.com has information on their 12 books, 10 short stories, audio books, book trailers, and the upcoming Enigma Heirs.

And for more about our host Lisa Kessler visit http://Lisa-Kessler.com

Book Lights – shining a light on good books!

Here’s a look at their latest release: The Killer Enigma: Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles-Book 16

Enough is Enough – JJ rumbled when the Paparazzi invaded dinner

When JJ and Jo recognize privacy doesn’t exist for them, they head back to Magnolia Bluff to check on their friends and recapture the small-town anonymity.

They reject the status of urban legends in favor of acceptance and a quiet, peaceful life. A supermodel needs time and space to recharge herself between jobs, and he needs time to adore his wife.

Does Magnolia Bluff hold the answers to their prayers, or will a dark past overtake them?

Past, present, and future collide in a perfect storm no one expected. JJ and Jo need to take action. Chief Tommy Jager states he likes them, but he can’t wait for them to get back to their day jobs.

Who will live or die to prevent the truth from being exposed? The answers may be in the graveyard with the fresh flowers.

Their friends are targets – Their dreams are broken – They must fight

Book Review: “End Game” by David Baldacci

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Jocie McKade

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7 August 2023

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Book Review: “End Game” by David Baldacci

After two “successful” assignments, one in London and the other in Iraq, Will Robie and Jessica Reel are teamed up for the most important assignment of their lives…….

Blue Man went on vacation to his hometown in eastern Colorado for some rest, releaxation, and fishing (and also to catch up with old flame, Claire Bender and her kids, Derrick and Patti).

Problem is…..

Blue Man is missing and Robie and Reel are the only people who can find him!

Heading to the small Colorado town, the team finds out that the police department there is woefully understaffed with only Sheriff Valerie Malloy and her deputy Derrick Bender there to help Robie and Peel if needed.

Interestingly, in the town are pockets of independent tough-minded, government hating, groups like white supremists, Nazis, self proclaimed survivalists, “religious” groups, and more.

Some of these groups are violent, some could have easily kidnapped Blue Man (Roger Walton), and some do not want the Feds in their town

And will do anything to…….

Oh, to see if Robie and Reel survive………you can read the book. 🙂

“End Game” is fast furious and scary as hell.

True to it’s title, sadly, for many of the characters in the book.

HOPE IS A RAINBOW Releasing From Best-Selling Author & NBC’s TODAY Co-Anchor Hoda Kotb

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Jocie McKade

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7 August 2023

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PYR to Publish HOPE IS A RAINBOW by Best-Selling Author & NBC’s TODAY Co-Anchor Hoda Kotb

Hoda Kotb, co-anchor of NBC’s TODAY, #1 New York Times bestselling author of I’VE LOVED YOU SINCE FOREVER, and mother of two, will publish a new children’s picture book, HOPE IS A RAINBOW with Flamingo Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers.

Scheduled for publication March 5, 2024, HOPE IS A RAINBOW will celebrate the power of optimism and positivity and encourage young readers to reach for their dreams—whether they are as big as the night sky or as small as a bowl of purple ice cream. With beautiful and timeless illustrations by Chloe Dominique, HOPE IS RAINBOW honors the childlike wonder and curiosity that exists in all of us, young and old.

Hoda Kotb said, “I wrote HOPE IS A RAINBOW to celebrate the beauty and wonder surrounding us all and to encourage the little ones in our lives to explore, to ask questions, and to follow their dreams. I hope this will be a book that readers young and old return to again and again, and I can’t wait to introduce it to the world.”

About Hoda Kotb
Hoda Kotb is the award-winning co-anchor of NBC News’ TODAY and co-host of TODAY with Hoda & Jenna. She is also the New York Times bestselling author of seven books, including YOU ARE MY HAPPY, I’VE LOVED YOU SINCE FOREVER, WHERE WE BELONG, TEN YEARS LATER: SIX PEOPLE WHO FACED ADVERSITY AND TRANSFORMED THEIR LIVES, HODA: HOW I SURVIVED WAR ZONES, BAD HAIR, CANCER AND KATHIE LEE, I REALLY NEEDED THIS TODAY and THIS JUST SPEAKS TO ME. Kotb resides in New York City with her two daughters, Haley Joy and Hope Catherine. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram @HodaKotb.

About Chloe Dominque
Chloe Dominique is an Illustrator and Concept Artist living in Norwich, with her partner, daughter, and their dog of mischief, Loki. She loves illustrating stories and creating characters that are full of heart, adventure and charm. When she’s not drawing, Chloe enjoys exploring the countryside and coastlands of England with her family.

Guest Post: Maria’s Biscoitos (Portuguese Cookies) By Alan Hlad

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Jocie McKade

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7 August 2023

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Dear Readers,

Are you a foodie? I am! In addition to having a passion for writing historical fiction, I have a love for cooking that was inspired by my parents who owned a mom-and-pop grocery store. While growing up, my parents taught me to cook. And my ardor for food often appears in my books.

The Book Spy is inspired by real-life librarians who served as spies in World War II. The story is set in neutral Lisbon, Portugal, and I enjoyed including a bit of Portuguese cuisine within the story. Below is a recipe for one of several foods in the novel, and it makes a great snack for book clubs.

Bom apetite!

Alan Hlad

THE BOOK SPY

Perfect for fans of Kate Quinn, Marie Benedict, and Pam Jenoff and inspired by true stories of the heroic librarian spies of WWII, the new book from the internationally bestselling author of Churchill’s Secret Messenger transports readers from the New York Public Library to Portugal’s city of espionage in a thrilling, riveting tale.

An American librarian. A Portuguese bookseller. A mission to change the tide of the war.

1942: With the war’s outcome hanging in the balance, President Roosevelt sends an unlikely new taskforce on a unique mission. They are librarians and microfilm specialists trained in espionage, working with a special branch of the Office of Strategic Services and deployed to neutral cities throughout Europe. By acquiring and scouring Axis newspapers, books, technical manuals, and periodicals, the librarians can gather information about troop location, weaponry, and military plans.

Maria Alves, a microfilm expert working at the New York Public Library, is dispatched to Lisbon, where she meticulously photographs publications and sends the film to London to be analyzed. Working in tandem with Tiago Soares, a Portuguese bookstore owner on a precarious mission of his own—providing Jewish refugees with forged passports and visas—Maria acquires vital information, including a directory of arms factories in Germany.

But as she and Tiago grow closer, any future together is jeopardized when Maria’s superiors ask her to pose as a double agent, feeding misinformation to Lars Steiger, a wealthy Swiss banker and Nazi sympathizer who launders Hitler’s gold. Gaining Lars’ trust will bring Maria into the very heart of the Fuhrer’s inner circle. And it will provide her with a chance to help steer the course of war, if she is willing to take risks as great as the possible rewards . . .

Reprinted with permission from Kensington Books.

Reed Environmental Writing Award announces 2024 call for nominations

By

Jocie McKade

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6 August 2023

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The annual awards program by the Southern Environmental Law Center honors extraordinary environmental writers focused on the South

Today the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) announced a call for entries in the 2024 Phillip D. Reed Environmental Writing Award. Next year marks the 30^th anniversary of the Reed Award, which celebrates writers who achieve both literary excellence and offer extraordinary insight into the South’s natural treasures and environmental challenges.

The Reed Award presents two awards each year to recognize outstanding writing in the following categories:

Book Category for works of nonfiction (not self-published)
Journalism Category for newspaper, magazine, and digital writing published by a recognized institution such as a news organization, university, or nonprofit group

Nominations are welcome from anyone, including readers, authors, and publishers.

In the long, proud tradition of Southern literature, writers have often drawn on the region’s unique natural treasures for inspiration and insight—from the haunting cypress swamps of Georgia to the tall mountains of western North Carolina to the rolling fields of the Virginia piedmont. As the South continues to grow and change, writers are increasingly exploring our relationship with the natural world and the environmental challenges we face as a region. SELC’s Reed Environmental Writing Award honors the best of these storytellers.

Recent winners include:

Corban Addison, author of Wastelands: The True Story of Farm Country on Trial
Isabelle Chapman, investigative reporter for CNN
Alexis Okeowo, staff writer at The New Yorker
Margaret Renkl, opinion writer for the New York Times and author of Late Migrations: A Natural History of Love and Loss
Drew Lanham, author of The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man’s Love Affair with Nature

There are three options for submitting entries: electronic copy (up to 64MB), hard copy, or a website link to where the submission is available for sale. Hard copy submissions will not be returned. Below are general contest requirements.

All submissions must have been published between October 1, 2022, and
September 30, 2023.
All submissions must relate to the natural environment in at least one of the following states: Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, or Virginia.
Submissions are due by October 1, 2023, at https://www.southernenvironment.org/2024-reed-environmental-writing-award-nominations/
Journalism entries must be at least 1,000 words and may consist of a single article or a group of articles.

Reed Award winners are selected by a national panel of judges that includes leading environmental writers, journalists, and advocates. The awards honor the late Phillip D. Reed, a distinguished attorney, committed environmental activist, and a founding trustee of SELC.

An in-event award ceremony honoring the 2024 winners will be held on March 22 in Charlottesville, Virginia, in conjunction with the Virginia Festival of the Book. The event will also be streamed online.

Summer Book Drive Held by Books-A-Million Amplifies Donations for Local Schools

By

Jocie McKade

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6 August 2023

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America’s Hometown Bookseller unites communities across the nation with annual charitable event.

Books-A-Million has launched its annual Summer Book Drive, a month-long charity event aimed at benefitting local schools in the communities we serve. All 200+ locations are receiving many donations from loyal customers in support of schools chosen by each store’s bookselling team.

The objective behind the Summer Book Drive is twofold – first, to provide schools with much-needed donations from customers and, second, to raise awareness for their sponsored school and the school’s causes through in-store features. Books-A-Million hopes to foster long-lasting partnerships with educational institutions and be an ally for their ongoing success.

“The amazing customers and associates of Books-A-Million support the Summer Book Drive in a tremendous way,” said Scott Kappler, Executive Vice President of Operations. “It’s because of their generosity that this incredible campaign spreads the joy of reading to children and schools in need of extra resources.”

This annual Summer Book Drive has become a highlight of the season, allowing generous Books-A-Million shoppers to make a positive impact on their community in a way that’s just as easy as it is rewarding. By choosing a particular book to donate, they can ensure that their donation has personal meaning for them—and brings a welcome boost of joy to those who receive it.

Serving communities with the Summer Book Drive since 2014, the company looks forward to another successful summer of uniting books with students and the schools they attend.

ABOUT BOOKS-A-MILLION
Books-A-Million operates more than 200 stores in 32 states as well as its e-commerce site, Booksamillion.com. A leading retailer of books, toys, games, and collectibles since 1917, the company has grown to be the nation’s second-largest bookstore chain.