Category Archives: Spotlight

New Release Spotlight: Red Deception by Gary Grossman & Ed Fuller

Masters of international intrigue, Ed Fuller and Gary Grossman, are back with their latest, timely geopolitical thriller, RED DECEPTION

Title: Red Deception by Gary Grossman & Ed Fuller
The Red Hotel Series Book Two
Publisher: Beaufort Books
Genre: Political Thriller
Length: 377 pages

Summary:

When terrorists bomb bridges across the country and threaten the Hoover Dam, the vulnerability of America’s infrastructure becomes a matter of national security. But Dan Reilly, a former U.S. Army intelligence officer, predicted the attacks in a secret State Department report written years earlier– a virtual blueprint for disaster, that was somehow leaked and is now in the hands of foreign operatives.

With Washington distracted by domestic crises, Russian President Nicolai Gorshkov sends troops to the borders of Ukraine and Latvia, ready to reclaim what he feels is Russia’s rightful territory. Tensions in Europe threaten to boil over as a besieged American president balances multiple crises that threaten to upend the geopolitical order. With the U.S. at the mercy of an egomaniacal leader, and reporters and covert agents on his tail, Reilly may be the one man who
can connect the dots before an even bigger catastrophe unfolds.

Blending career insight with first-hand knowledge of global politics, Fuller and Grossman have
once have drawn a chilling portrait of the fragile fault lines in Europe and the players poised to seize power.

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Reviews

“Grossman and Fuller’s exciting sequel to 2019’s Red Hotel finds Dan Reilly, the president of the International Kensington Royal Hotel Corporation, in a taxi during morning rush hour in Washington, D.C., when two stalled trucks loaded with explosives blow a huge hole in a bridge over the Potomac, killing nearly 100. The authors keep the multiple plot lines moving swiftly ahead with rapid scene shifts, and the behind-the-scenes look at the high-end international hotel world lends authenticity. Reilly is a believable, able hero…hopefully, he’ll be back soon for more adventures.” –Publishers Weekly

“Forget ‘ripped from the headlines,’ because RED DECEPTION threatens to write its own! … a relentlessly riveting tale that hones in on our greatest fears and takes us right to the brink in breathless fashion.”—Jon Land, USA Today bestselling author

“An in-depth and realistic ground-level view of the type of asymmetric Nation-state sponsored threats faced by the Agencies tasked with protecting the United States both domestically and abroad.” —Edward Bradstreet, Special Agent, Department of Homeland Security Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)

“RED DECEPTION is so prescient, filled with deep insights into the real worlds of espionage and politics, while giving us a window that sheds light onto the darkest aspects of political intrigue and human nature.”—Barry Kibrick, host, national PBS series, Between the Lines

Intelligence experts and thriller authors concur: Red Deception is “a page- turner by authors who might as well sit on the National Security Council.”


Author Bios

ED FULLER https://edwinfuller.com/ is CEO of Laguna Strategic Advisors, a global consortium providing business consulting services worldwide. He has served on business and charitable boards during his 40-year career with Marriott International where he was chief marketing officer followed by 22 years as president and managing director of Marriott International. Under his management, the international division grew from 16 to 550 hotels in 73 countries with 80,000 associates and sales of $8 billion. Upon retirement, Fuller has served on five university boards and taught as adjunct professor for MBA and undergraduate students. He blogged for Forbes and other tourism and lodging industry media. His book, You Can’t Lead with Your Feet on the Desk, has been printed in English, Japanese and Chinese. Fuller served as captain in the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany and Vietnam and received the Bronze Star and the Army Commendation medals. He and Gary Grossman are co-authors of the Red Hotel series, including the 2018 thriller Red Hotel and the 2021 release, Red Deception, soon to be followed by Red Chaos.

***

GARY GROSSMAN http://garygrossman.com/ is a journalist, newspaper columnist, documentary television producer, reporter, media historian and the author of Executive Actions, Executive Treason, Executive Command, and Executive Force. In addition to the bestselling Executive series, Grossman wrote the international award-winning Old Earth, a geological thriller. With Ed Fuller, Grossman has collaborated on the globe-hopping Red Hotel series. Grossman has contributed to the New York Times and the Boston Globe, and was a columnist for the Boston Herald American. He covered presidential campaigns for WBZ-TV in Boston. He is a multiple Emmy winner for series and specials for networks including NBC, CNN, ABC, CBS, Fox, History Channel, Discovery and National Geographic Channel. He served as chair of the Government Affairs Committee for the Caucus for Producers, Writers and Directors, and is a member of the International Thriller Writers Association and Military Writers Society of America. He is a trustee at Emerson College and serves on the Boston University Metropolitan College Advisory Board. Grossman has taught at Emerson College, Boston University, USC, and currently teaches at Loyola Marymount University.

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Spotlight & Giveaway: Winner Takes All by Sandra Kitt

Title: Winner Takes All by Sandra Kitt
The Millionaires Club Series Book One
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 320 pages

Summary:

Jean Travis has the job of announcing the latest lottery winner on TV and is stunned to find that Patrick Bennett, her teenage crush, is the top mega winner. They haven’t seen each other in years, and Patrick is thrilled to renew their acquaintance. Jean, not so much. After all, a lot has changed since they used to study together and Jean worked so hard to hide her feelings. Now that he’s won so much money, Patrick faces a whole new world of demands from family, friends, coworkers, strangers. The only person he knows for sure he can trust, is Jean…

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Purchase Links: Amazon * B&N * Google Play * Apple * Kobo

Author Links: Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads


Giveaway

I am giving away ONE eBook copy of The Winner Takes All. To enter today’s contest, fill out the form below. Contest ends 4 PM mountain time Friday April 9th.

CONTEST OVER

* I am the only person who will have access to info that is submitted to me UNLESS a publisher or author has donated an eBook or print book for the giveaway. For a prize donated by an author or publisher, I will forward your e-mail and format selection or address to the person responsible for distributing the prize. Please refer to the privacy page HERE if you have questions about how your information is used. In the event the contest form is not working, please leave your book selection in the comments below.*

It’s that easy! The winner will be selected using random.org. I will e-mail one lucky winner the eBook of their choice in their preferred format. The winner will be posted HERE on Tuesday.

***The eBook in this giveaway have been purchased by Book Reviews & More by Kathy.***

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Spotlight & Giveaway: Overland by Ramcy Diek

Title: Overland by Ramcy Diek
Publisher: Acorn Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Romantic Suspense
Length: 317 pages

Summary:

Dark Romantic Suspense Thriller

Skyla Overland is proud to work for Overland Insurance, the company founded by her grandfather. Besides one nerve-wracking insurance fraud case in the past, her sheltered life is uneventful and just the way she likes it. Until one day, everything changes…

Skyla and Troy, the manager at Overland Insurance, are the last ones to leave the office. In the empty parking lot, Troy takes her in his arms. Why would he ruin their easy-going friendship by kissing her, especially since he knows she’s dating Edmond?
Left alone, Skyla hurries to her car, puts on her seatbelt, and glances in her rearview mirror.
The face of a stranger grins at her from the backseat. “How nice to see you again,” he hisses close to her ear.

Regaining consciousness, Skyla finds herself on the backseat of her own car, with her hands tied behind her back. Is she getting kidnapped? Who is he? And where is he taking her?

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Purchase Links: Amazon * B&N

Author Links: Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads


Giveaway

I am giving away an eBook copy of Overland to ONE lucky winner. Here’s how to enter the Saturday Series Spotlight contest:

You must Do TWO of the Following:

1. Sign up for e-mail updates (below). One email daily with the day’s posts.

Enter your Email:


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OR:

2. Be or become a fan of Book Reviews & More by Kathy Facebook page

OR:

3. Follow me on Twitter (@BookReviewsMore)

Make sure you have filled out the contest entry form:

4. To be eligible to enter contests on Book Reviews and More by Kathy you MUST fill out the contest entry form (found HERE). This form only needs to be filled out ONCE. Your privacy is important to me, and I will not share your information.

And don't forget to:

5. Fill out the form below by 4 PM Mountain Time Friday January 8th.

CONTEST OVER

* I am the only person who will have access to info that is submitted to me UNLESS a publisher or author has donated an eBook for the giveaway. For a prize donated by an author or publisher, I will forward your e-mail and format selection to the person responsible for distributing the eBook. Please refer to the privacy page HERE if you have questions about how your information is used. In the event the contest form is not working, please leave your book selection in the comments below.*

It’s that easy! The winner will be selected using random.org. I will e-mail one lucky winner a copy of Overland in their preferred format. The winner will be posted HERE on Tuesday.

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Spotlight: Girl on the Ferris Wheel by Julie Halpern & Len Vlahos

Available Tuesday January 12, 2021.

Title: Girl on the Ferris Wheel by Julie Halpern & Len Vlahos
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult
Length: 357 pages

Summary:

In Girl on the Ferris Wheel, Julie Halpern and Len Vlahos expertly tackle this quirky and poignant romance that explores what first love really means—and how it sometimes hurts like hell.

Tenth graders Eliana and Dmitri could not be more different. He’s an outgoing, self-confident drummer in a punk band called Unexpected Turbulence. Eliana is introspective and thoughtful, and a movie buff who is living with depression.

Dmitri quite literally falls for Eliana when he sees her in gym class and slams into a classmate. The pair then navigate the ins and outs of first love. Exciting, scary, unexpected, and so much more difficult than they ever imagined. They say opposites attract, but they soon realize that there is so much they just don’t understand about each other. It begs the question: How long can first love possibly last when you’re so different?

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Purchase Links: Amazon * B&N * Google Play * Bookshop * Kobo

Julia Halpern Links: Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads

Len Vlahos Links: Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads

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New Release: Deserted by Cara Dee

Title: Deserted by Cara Dee
Auctioned Series Book Three
Publisher: Cara Dee
Genre: Contemporary, Gay, Romance, Suspense
Length: 381 pages

Summary:

Deserted is the third book in the Auctioned Series, following book 1, Auctioned, and book 2, Stranded.

Gray Nolan had survived a kidnapping where he was supposed to have been auctioned off to the highest bidder. He had also survived being stranded on an island, under siege from a different set of foes, and throughout the hell they’d all endured, their motto had been “Leave no man behind.”

Recovery was different. Gray wanted to be left alone to fight his demons—and to get over the attachment he’d formed for the man who’d saved him more than once. But in a time when darkness threatened to consume him, salvation arrived as he set out to uphold the promise he’d made to a friend. Eight-year-old Jayden stormed into his life, fresh off the streets of Philadelphia, and lit up Gray’s bleak existence.

Darius Quinn had known that Gray was going to close himself in and run away after everything they’d been through. But he was determined to follow and watch over the young man who should have been just a paycheck. Something about Gray prevented Darius from staying in his preferred role of passive observer, and he couldn’t let Gray carry out his last commitment alone.

What started out as a cross-country road trip to guide them home to Washington was quickly turning into a journey with a destination that scared the life out of Darius. He’d never wanted that kind of future before, and now he was gearing up to fight for it.

(All books taking place in the Camassia Cove universe are standalone unless otherwise stated. For more information about the standalone series, the town, and the residents, please visit www.camassiacove.com.)

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Purchase Link: Amazon


Excerpt

“Malley!”

Gray whipped around toward the entrance of the church and the source of the loud, unmistakably young voice. Could that be Jayden? Hell, it had to be. Those pale brown eyes haunted Gray every night.

The boy stalked down the aisle, aiming for Father O’Malley, and shrugged and smirked when the priest reminded him to keep his voice down in the church. Father O’Malley was amused, and he ruffled the boy’s shaggy hair.

Gray’s heart pounded when he observed the kid. It was Jayden. He had no doubt. Little things came back to him, insignificant mannerisms he hadn’t paid attention to before, but now it was so clear. He remembered how Jonas’s forehead creased and how he’d scratch his shoulder when he was working something out in his head. Jayden was doing the same thing right now. Whatever Father O’Malley said to him made the boy quiet down and think hard.

How did Jayden survive on his own? Gray found himself with a pile of questions that built up quickly. Or rather, the urgency to have them answered increased. Philadelphia couldn’t be an easy city to live in. For chrissakes, the kid was eight.

Gray had avoided one follow-up question for days, though now he couldn’t hold it back any longer. He had to face the reality and come up with a plan to actually help the boy. He did have a place in mind, but what if Jayden didn’t agree? To him, Gray was a complete stranger.

So…what happened next?

Jayden seemed fidgety and restless, and he nodded jerkily when Father O’Malley said something and gestured toward Gray.

Shit. This was it. He was gonna have to tell this little boy he’d lost his only family member.

Gray swallowed hard, struck by a wall of sadness. Jonas was supposed to be here, goddammit. The rage followed so easily. Imagine. Fucking hell. Surviving a whole year with that organization, then getting away, and just when you were granted a taste of freedom…

Jayden walked over to Gray with rapid steps, and he unzipped his coat halfway and pulled off his scarf.

Holy shit, he really looked like his brother. Gray catalogued the traits and couldn’t tear his gaze away. The eyes were the same. More than shape and color; Jayden’s eyes had seen too much too. His face had a bit more roundness to it than Jonas’s had had, but Jayden still had a hint of hardness to his features. His jaw was set, his eyes missed nothing, his shoulders were stiff, and he was white-knuckling that scarf in his hand.

Jayden reached Gray and didn’t hesitate to slump down next to him. “Jonas is dead, right?”

Christ.

Gray cleared his throat, his mind racing to sort his jumbled thoughts. There was no protocol for this kind of thing. Well, there probably was for professionals.

“Yes. I’m sorry,” Gray said quietly.

“Fuck,” Jayden whispered. He nodded once and looked away. Gray heard him sniffle. “I knew it.” Then he growled and kicked the pew in front of them, eliciting a thump that flew through the church. “I knew he was dead.”

“Jayden—” Gray’s heart broke for the kid, and he carefully put a hand on Jayden’s shoulder. “He talked about you a lot. He tried his hardest to come back to you. It was all he wanted.”

Jayden’s chin wrinkled, and he visibly struggled to contain his emotions.


Author Bio

I’m often awkwardly silent or, if the topic interests me, a chronic rambler. In other words, I can discuss writing forever and ever. Fiction, in particular. The love story—while a huge draw and constantly present—is secondary for me, because there’s so much more to writing romance fiction than just making two (or more) people fall in love and have hot sex. There’s a world to build, characters to develop, interests to create, and a topic or two to research thoroughly. Every book is a challenge for me, an opportunity to learn something new, and a puzzle to piece together. I want my characters to come to life, and the only way I know to do that is to give them substance—passions, history, goals, quirks, and strong opinions—and to let them evolve. Additionally, I want my men and women to be relatable. That means allowing room for everyday problems and, for lack of a better word, flaws. My characters will never be perfect.

Wait…this was supposed to be about me, not my writing.

I’m a writey person who loves to write. Always wanderlusting, twitterpating, kinking, and geeking. There’s time for hockey and cupcakes, too. But mostly, I just love to write.

Author Links: Website * Website * Facebook * Facebook Group * Twitter * Amazon Author Page * BookBub * Goodreads * Instagram

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Release Day Spotlight & Excerpt: Tamarillo Tart by Jay Hogan

Title: Tamarillo Tart by Jay Hogan
Southern Lights Series Book Two
Publisher: Southern Lights Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Gay, Romance
Length: Novel

Summary:

CASSIDY MARTIN is a country boy through and through. He loves his horses, his Lord of the Rings tourist business, and his isolated paradise at the foot of New Zealand’s Southern Alps. Not that everyone appreciates the seclusion he craves. Take his ex-wife for example.

The sexy-as-hell guy on his latest tour might be whip-smart and push all of Cass’s buttons, but he’s about as country as a pair of Louboutins, and Cass has been there and done that. Broken heart with the T-shirt.

STEFAN HAMILTON doesn’t do ‘outdoorsy’, he’s a city boy, born and bred. The closest Stef gets to the country is ‘Cowboy Night’ at his favourite Auckland gay bar even if the music makes Stef want to rip his hair out by the roots.

But Stef is also a hardcore Lord of the Rings fanboy. So, when he gets the chance to go on a horse trek to the iconic film locations in the Southern Alps, he sucks up his fear of the gigantic animals and his allergy to camping for the chance to let his nerd flag fly. But when his mate pulls out at the last minute, Stef is left to negotiate the horses, the wrath of mother nature, and an inconvenient crush on the cowboy leading the tour.

City meets country and the sparks fly.

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Purchase Link: Amazon


Excerpt

Look Stef, Ethan promised the horses are nice—they’re not going to bite you. Cass will set you up on the beginner’s one. It’s only a few hours in the saddle the first day—”

“Oh. My. God. A saddle. I can already feel the chafing.”

“—then an overnight at some historic shepherd’s hut and back down the next day. And just think, you get to see the Lothlorien forest, the Ithilien camp site, Isengard, the Misty Mountains, the filming location for the refugees of Rohan, and loads more. Come on, you must be gagging for that.”

Stef’s raked his eyes over the mouth-watering man standing opposite. He was certainly gagging for something. “Maybe. Not that I’ll be able to enjoy any of it because I’ll have left half the skin of my arse on the fucking saddle.”

The sexy cowboy shook his head in amusement.

“You sure this Cass can be trusted?” Stef eyeballed the man in question, well aware he could hear everything Stef said.

Cass smirked and it looked good, too bloody good. “Standing right here,” he pointed out.

“Oh. My. God. Was that him?” Tanner asked in disbelief. “Please tell me you’re not having this conversation where he can hear you.”

“Every damn word and you still haven’t answered me. I want him to know you’ll sue his fine arse to hell and back if he tries to put me on anything that even remotely looks at me sideways.”

That earned him a rumbling belly laugh from Cass who then spun on his heel, and waved Stef to the passenger seat. “Get in princess, or we’ll be late. I won’t let any harm come to you from the nasty-wasty horses. Nice to know you like my arse, by the way.”

Cass made his way to the driver’s door and got in, leaving Stef’s jaw on the floor…again. What the hell?

Tanner choked back a laugh.

Stef narrowed his eyes and lowered his voice to Tanner. “Is this dude gay? Did you guys fucking set me up? If you think for one minute—”

“We’re not setting you up. And I have no idea if he’s gay or not. What the hell does it matter anyway? Hang on—”

Stefan could hear Ethan chattering in the background before Tanner came back on.

“Ethan says Cass isn’t gay. He was apparently married for a while, to a woman—”

Stef scowled and “Pffft. Like that means anything.”

“Just go on the damn tour for fuck’s sake, will you? Make my boyfriend happy. Make me happy. Have some fucking fun, if it fucking kills you. Fill your fan boy bucket with all things LOTR and then come home. I promise you won’t have to see another damn horse for the rest of your stay.”

“Says the man who promised me he hadn’t set me up and then handed my name to that hypnotist two years ago, in full violation of our specified no-humiliation bro code. I still can’t look at a donut without popping a boner. Completely ruined one of my all-time favourite foods.”

Tanner chuckled. “To be fair I didn’t know that Stephen had given the guy a heads-up about your birthday, when he suggested it. But you gotta admit it was fucking hilarious.”

“It was fucking mortifying.”

The van backed out putting the driver’s window right alongside Stef. Cass rolled the window down wearing his aviators and a shit-eating grin. He proffered his hand through the window. “I’m Cass, by the way. Get in.”

“Stefan or Stef, take your pick.” Stef’s hand was briefly enveloped in the other man’s warm, dry… huge clasp and he couldn’t help but stare down. “Big hands big…”

“Gloves,” Cass answered and released Stef’s hand.

Stef grinned at him. At least the man had a sense of humour.

“So—” Cass studied him with a gentler eye. “—are you gonna trust me and get in, or am I gonna have to break it to Arwen that you stood her up?”

“Arwen?”

“Your horse.”

“Are you kidding me?”

Cass arched a brow. “It’s theme, what can I say?”

Stef cranked his own brows even lower, into his patented this-guy’s-a-fucking-lunatic territory. “You know I should pull out on the basis of that horrifying tourist-trap decision alone, and yet somehow I’m oddly charmed and terrified in equal measure.”

He relayed the information down the phone. “I’m riding a horse called, Arwen, Tanner. Did you fucking hear that? That must qualify as cruelty under the SPCA rules, right?”

Cass bit back a smile. “Is there a problem with the name?”

Stef locked onto those sea green eyes and couldn’t hold back a grin. God, the man was gorgeous. “Nope. But she’ll be the first and only woman I’ll ever ride—” He cocked his head cheekily. “— just saying.”


Author Bio

I am a New Zealand author writing in m/m romance, and romantic suspense. I have traveled extensively and lived in the US, Canada, France, Australia and South Korea. In a past life I have been an Intensive Care Nurse, Counselor, and a Nursing Lecturer.

I’m a cat aficionado especially of Maine Coons, and an avid dog lover (but don’t tell the cat). I love to cook, pretty damn good, love to sing, pretty damn average, and as for loving full-time writing, absolutely… depending of course on the day, the word count, the deadline, how obliging my characters are, the ambient temperature in the Western Sahara, whether Jupiter is rising, the size of the ozone hole over New Zealand and how much coffee I’ve had.

Welcome to my world.

Author Links: Website * Facebook * Facebook Group * Twitter * Amazon Author Page * BookBub * Goodreads * Instagram

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