Tag: Book Spotlight Page 8 of 33

I’m very pleased today to welcome The Write Reads Blog Tour for the first volume of D.L. Cary’s The Veil Chronicles series Maria’s Shadow! I’m less-than-pleased to mention that the tour ended yesterday, and this post was supposed to go up on the fifth of the month. My apologies to Mr. Cary and The Write Reads for that. In addition to this Spotlight, I’ll be sharing my $.02 about this book soon. But as I said, the Tour’s over now, so if you take a look at the feed for https://twitter.com/WriteReadsTours or The Write Reads on Twitter or The Write Reads on BlueSky, you’ll see bloggers who had interesting things to say about it on time.

Book Details:

Title: Maria’s Shadow
Series: The Veil Chronicles
Genre: Thriller
Age Category: Adult
Format: Paperback/Ebook/hardcover
Length: 241 Pages
Publication Date: April 23, 2025

About the Book:

Maria’s Shadow by D.L. Cary is a gripping thriller that follows Maria Hernández, a young Salvadoran woman ensnared by the sinister Saffron Veil after chasing a Hollywood dream. Trapped in a California mansion, she escapes with a dangerous secret, pursued by the powerful Senator Edward Grayson. As Detective John Jefferson uncovers a web of corruption in North Carolina, their paths converge in a high-stakes battle against a shadowy cabal. Packed with suspense, betrayal, and relentless pursuit, this novel explores courage and sacrifice against overwhelming odds.

Book Links:

Amazon Canada ~ Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Goodreads ~ The Story Graph

About the Author:

D.L. Cary is a Christian suspense and clean-thriller author who loves delivering pulse-pounding intrigue without the profanity or graphic violence.
His debut series, The Veil Chronicles, drops you into covert conspiracies and spiritual warfare while championing themes of redemption, justice, and hope. If you enjoy inspirational fiction, redemptive suspense, or spiritual thrillers you can share with the whole family, you’re in the right place.

He calls Alabama home, where he lives with my best friend (and wife), Heile. Before that, they lived in North Carolina. Finishing up their crew is a rambunctious group of dogs and cats, with Alex, an orange tabby, being the newest addition.

Every page he writes is fueled by faith and by readers who crave values-driven stories where hope endures, and justice prevails.

Instagram ~ Facebook ~ Twitter [source: his Goodreads page, I’m not sure that’s actually him] ~ TikTok ~ Goodreads

My thanks to The Write Reads for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials they provided (including the book).

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: How to Survive in a Scale-up Business by Vidya Murali

By HCNewton

On August 29, 2025

In Fiction, Non-Fiction

I’m pleased to host this spotlight for Vidya Murali’s recent release, How to Survive in a Scale-up Business. From what I can tell, I wouldn’t understand most of the book, but their publicist asked nicely. So why not help bring this to the attention of someone who is interested in business writing?

Book Details:

Title: How to Survive in a Scale-Up Business: Master the Human Skills Needed to Thrive in Young, High-Growth Businesses by Vidya Murali
Format: eBook/Hardcover/Paperback
Length: 166 pg.
Publisher: Routledge
US Publication Date: August 20, 2025

About the Book:

Working in a scale-up is exciting, but it can also be exhausting. This book is your emotional survival kit for succeeding in a fast-paced and unpredictable environment.

Scale-ups attract ambitious, driven and hardworking individuals seeking excitement, ownership, freedom and greater rewards. However, these opportunities often come with challenges. Understanding the emotional and behavioural patterns commonly seen in scale-ups – and learning from others’ experiences – can help you move from struggling to thriving.

In this book, author Vidya Murali brings together:

A personal scale-up suitability checklist to help assess and understand whether scale-ups are the right environment for you based on your skills and preferences
Guidance on what to look for when interviewing, and how to set yourself up for success in the first 90 days
Insights, frameworks and coaching questions to tackle toxic patterns commonly seen in scale-ups
Real-life case studies from scale-up leaders with lessons and strategies
Practical strategies for introverts, highly sensitive people, ethnic minorities and people with ADHD and/or dyslexia to thrive in scale-ups
Tools for building your emotional skills to progress and thrive in scale-ups – including if you lose your job or face a mental health breakdown

A must-read for anyone transitioning into scale-ups or already working in one, this book will be of immense interest to graduates seeking their first full-time role, professionals transitioning from corporate environment, leaders – including founders – as well as HR professionals and coaches.

Book Links:

Amazon UK ~ Amazon US ~ Bookshop.org

About the Author

Vidya Murali has been working in the UKu2019s leading tech businesses, including Amazon and high-growth scale-ups such as Deliveroo. Having grown up in India before moving to the UK in 2006 and completing her MBA at the University of Cambridge, Vidya brings a unique perspective as a woman of colour and an introvert navigating high-growth and fast-paced business environments. She experienced significant anxiety in the wake of the pandemic, which prompted her to reflect on what matters most and prioritise her well-being. During this time, she started practising mindfulness meditation and began supporting others through coaching and mentoring. She now holds a leadership position and supports her colleagues and clients as they navigate the exciting u2013 yet chaotic u2013 environment of fast-moving scale-ups, helping them navigate the challenges and seize opportunities, and thrive.

LinkedIn

Thanks to Ambition Public Relations Limited for the request to feature this!

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: A Necromancer Called Gam Gam by Adam Holcombe

By HCNewton

On August 18, 2025

In Book Tour, Fantasy

I’m very pleased today to welcome The Write Reads Blog Tour for Adam Holcombe’s, A Necromancer Called Gam Gam! Now, I read this back in 2023, so in addition to this Spotlight, I’ll be reposting what I said then–I’ll also be reposting what I said about the first two short stories in the series, “The Knight Revenant” and “Nugget’s Tenth Life“. But it’s not just re-runs here today, nosiree Bob! I have A Few Quick Questions with Adam Holcombe coming up in a little bit, too! (these links will actually work when the posts go up). If you take a look at the feed for https://twitter.com/WriteReadsTours over the next few days, you’ll see a lot of bloggers who had interesting things to say about it. A Necromancer Called Gam Gam was the 2nd Place Finalist for the 2024 Book Blogger’s Novel of the Year Award, so you know there’s a lot of good to be said about it–but before getting to this Spotlight, let’s start with a word about BBNYA.

BBNYA:

BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists (16 in 2024) and one overall winner.

If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.

Book Details:

Title: A Necromancer Called Gam Gam
Genre: Fantasy
Age Category: Adult
Format: Paperback/Ebook/Audiobook
Length: 110 Pages
Publication Date: May 30, 2023

About the Book:

A grandmotherly necromancer seeking resolution for her past with the help of her loyal entourage: an undead cat and a spectral knight.

A girl on the run from the Eternal Empire for the mysterious power she possesses.

When a chance encounter pulls them together, Gam Gam will do what it takes to protect Mina from the rogue sergeant hounding her–including raising the dead. As long as they’re dressed for the occasion.

Book Links:

Amazon Canada ~ Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Goodreads ~ The Story Graph

About the Author:

Adam Holcombe daylights as a programmer and moonlights as an author. After spending years toying with the idea of writing, he decided to fully commit and work toward releasing his first novel. Then Gam Gam got in the way, and his first novel became his first novella. The novel will come later. When he’s not locked in a cold basement, typing away, he can be found hanging out with his wife, his dog, and his tortoise or playing D&D or board games with friends.

BlueSky ~ Patreon ~ Instagram ~ TikTok ~ Goodreads

My thanks to The Write Reads for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials they provided.

PUB DAY SPOTLIGHT: War Song by Michael Michel

By HCNewton

On August 7, 2025

In Dreams of Dust and Steel, Fantasy, Fiction

I’m excited to help Michael Michel spread the word about today’s publication of the relaunched prequel novella in his Dreams of Dust and Steel series, War Song. A sequel novella is due in a couple of months, and what better way to tide yourself over until Book Three than by reading a couple of novellas that help introduce the world?

Book Details:

Title: A Graveyard for Heroes by Michael Michel
Series: Dreams of Dust and Steel, #0
Format: eBook
Length: 103 pg.
Publisher: Chainbreaker Books
US Publication Date: August 7, 2025

About the Book:

Admar’s future is a path paved with broken glass.

Each step forward living under Scothean tyranny cuts away another piece of his humanity–right down to the bone.

But even a meager life as a miner is better than a pointless death. A sister, a mother, a lover, all lost at the uncaring hands of the Scoths, have left him with nothing but memories and ash for comfort. While stories like his are all too common, they still aren’t enough to stoke rebellion among the oppressed.

If Admar is to find hope amid the brutal occupation of his homeland, he’ll have to question how deep his convictions go. For with every crack of the enemy’s whip, he’ll know torment. With every swipe of their axes, he’ll know suffering. And every moment he refuses to act will drag him further from his destiny.

Maybe there are no more heroes left…

Or maybe they’re waiting to be made.

Book Links:

Amazon

About the Author

Michael Michel lives in Bend, Oregon with the love of his life and their two children. When he isn’t obsessively writing, editing, or doing publishing work, he can be found exercising, coaching leaders in the corporate world, and dancing his butt off at amazing festivals like Burning Man. His favorite shows are Dark, The Wire, Arcane, and Norsemen. He loves nature and deep conversations. Few things bring him more joy than a couple of hours playing table tennis.

Website ~ Twitter ~ Instagram ~ Goodreads

PUB DAY SPOTLIGHT: You’ll Never Walk Alone by Troy Lambert

By HCNewton

On July 25, 2025

In Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

I’m excited talk about today’s release of (literary local) Troy Lambert’s You’ll Never Walk Alone. It looks like a quick, intense read for the thriller fans out there. Here’s a little more about the story to get you interested.

Book Details:

Title: You’ll Never Walk Alone by Troy Lambert
Format: eBook/Audio
Length: 26 pg.
Publisher: TUnbound Media
US Publication Date: July 25, 2025

About the Story:

Face Your Fears. Embrace the Unknown.

In the heart-pounding thriller, “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” nurse Grace Whitmore is caught in a storm—both outside and within. As she trudges through rain-soaked streets after a long hospital shift, every shadow threatens to pull her back into a childhood terror she’s tried to forget.

When Grace senses an unseen presence tracking her steps, paranoia and dread begin to twist her reality. Is it her imagination, or is there truly someone lurking in the dark? Each echo of footfalls drives her deeper into a maze of fear and doubt.

Just when she believes she’s found safety behind her apartment door, a returned badge on her doorstep throws everything she thought she knew into question. Was the night’s pursuit merely a figment of her mind—or a misunderstood gesture of goodwill?

As tension mounts with an inexplicable sound from her home, Grace’s journey morphs into a battle of wits and survival. Will she overcome the haunting shadows of her past, or will the true threat emerge from where she least expects?

Discover the gripping tale of suspense and psychological intrigue that will keep you questioning every flicker of light and shade.

Book Links:

Author’s Audio/eBook Bundle Page ~ Author’s eBook Page ~ Other Retailers

About the Author

Troy Lambert writes thrillers and mysteries that keep readers up past midnight. With a mind for puzzles and a taste for the twisted, he crafts stories that are gripping, emotional, and unforgettable. When he’s not writing, Troy is podcasting, teaching, or spending time with his loyal dog. Dive into his books and discover why readers can’t put them down.

Website

PUB DAY SPOTLIGHT: Shield of The Mothership by JCM Berne

By HCNewton

On July 22, 2025

In Fiction, JCM Berne, Science Fiction, The Hybrid Helix

I’m excited talk about today’s release of Turn 7 of The Hybrid Helix series, JCM Berne’s Shield of The Mothership. SF readers, Super-hero fans, Space Opera fans, and people who like to read good books in general should check it out. Here’s a little more about the book to get you interested.

Book Details:

Title: Shield of The Mothership by JCM Berne
Series: The Hybrid Helix, Turn 7
Format: Hardcover/Kindle/Paperback
Length: 477 pg.
Publisher: The Gnost House
US Publication Date: July 22, 2025

About the Book:

Sometimes the enemy of your enemy is still your enemy.

Rohan swore he’d never work for the il’Drach again, never again be called Lance Primary, never again kill or risk the lives of his friends on behalf of the Empire.

But when the safety of the sector is at risk, when inaction could lead to the death of every living thing in the galaxy, he has to work with what he has.

Even if what he has is allies he can’t trust, a mission he doesn’t understand, and the growing suspicion that things are only getting worse.

Book Links:

Amazon ~ Author’s Website

About the Author

JCM Berne has reached middle age without outgrowing the notion that superheroes are cool. Code monkey by day, by night he slaves over a hot keyboard to prove that superhero stories can be engaging and funny without being dark or silly.

Website ~ Bluesky ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram ~ YouTube

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: The Fall is All There Is by C.M. Caplan

By HCNewton

On June 25, 2025

In Book Tour, Fantasy, YA/MG/Children's Books

I’m very pleased today to welcome The Write Reads Blog Tour for C.M. Caplan’s, The Fall is All There Is! If you take a look at the feed for https://twitter.com/WriteReadsTours over the next few days, you’ll see a lot of bloggers who, unlike me, had the time to read it and write interesting things about it. The Fall is All There Is was the 6th Place Finalist for the 2024 Book Blogger’s Novel of the Year Award, so you know there’s a lot of good to be said about it–but before getting to this Spotlight, let’s start with a word about BBNYA.

BBNYA:

BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists (16 in 2024) and one overall winner.

Book Details:

Title: The Fall is All There Is
Genre: Fantasy, Science Fiction
Age Category: Adult
Format: Paperback/Ebook/Audiobook
Length: 415 pages
Publication Date: November 7, 2022

About the Book:

All Petre Mercy wanted was a good old-fashioned dramatic exit from his life as a prince. But it’s been five years since he fled home on a cyborg horse. Now the King – his Dad – is dead – and Petre has to decide which heir to pledge his thyroid-powered sword to.

As the youngest in a set of quadruplets, he’s all too aware that the line of succession is murky. His siblings are on the precipice of power grabs, and each of them want him to pick their side.

If Petre has any hope of preventing civil war, he’ll have to avoid one sibling who wants to take him hostage, win back another’s trust after years of rivalry and resentment, and get an audience with a sister he’s been avoiding for five years.

Before he knows it, he’s plunged himself into a web of intrigue and a world of strange, unnatural inventions just to get to her doorstep.

Family reunions can be a special form of torture.

Book Links:

Amazon Canada ~ Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Goodreads ~ The Story Graph

About the Author:

C.M. Caplan is the author of the SPFBO 9, BBNYA, and Indie Ink Awards Finalist, The Fall Is All There Is. He’s a quadruplet (yes, really), autistic, and has a degree in creative writing. If you enjoy his books, you can rate them on Goodreads and Amazon.

Facebook

My thanks to The Write Reads for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials they provided.

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: The Lights of Shantinagar by Nidhi Arora

By HCNewton

On June 13, 2025

In Book Tour, Fiction, General Fiction/Literature, YA/MG/Children's Books

I’m very pleased today to welcome The Write Reads Ultimate Blog Tour Nidhi Arora’s The Lights of Shantinagar! If you take a look at the feed for https://twitter.com/WriteReadsTours over the next few days, you’ll see a lot of bloggers who did find the time to write interesting things about it (or, check out the banner below).

Book Details:

Title: The Lights of Shantinagar
Genre: Contemporary, Family Saga
Age Category: Adult
Format: Paperback/Ebook
Length: 272 pages
Publication Date: June 5, 2025

About the Book:

The Lights of Shantinagar is a warm and lively portrait of family life set in modern India where new philosophies are reshaping old traditions and one woman’s astute observations can change everything.

Aspiring quantum physicist Sumi is newly married and has moved into her husband’s family home. Here she observes that the beguilingly tranquil middle-class town of Shantinagar is not very different from her beloved quantum world: the happenings in one house are cryptically entangled with things next door, objects mysteriously disappear and unexpected interactions reveal surprising truths.

As the line between right and wrong begins to blur, new discoveries force the residents of Shantinagar to reflect on what they truly know about themselves and the ones they love. Meanwhile, Sumi must blend logic with love to make sense of her new circumstances.

Book Links:

Amazon Canada ~ Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Goodreads ~ The Story Graph

About the Author:

Nidhi Arora’s stories and essays are featured in international journals and anthologies including Best New Singaporean Short Stories, Out of Print, The Hooghly Review, QLRS, Cha, and Popshot. She has self-published two books on Secure Attachment: A parent-child bonding series and edited a third. More at www.nidhi-arora.com.

My thanks to The Write Reads for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials they provided.

PUB DAY SPOTLIGHT: A Graveyard for Heroes by Michael Michel

By HCNewton

On June 11, 2025

In Dreams of Dust and Steel, Fantasy, Fiction

I’m excited to help Michael Michel spread the word about today’s publication of the second book in his Dreams of Dust and Steel series, A Graveyard for Heroes. Fantasy reader friends and foes (assuming I have one or two) are going to want to get this right away and move it to the top of your TBRs. I’d go on about that, but this post isn’t about that. Let me just give you the facts about this book, and I’ll rave later–hopefully tomorrow (assuming I can figure out how to stop without telling you everything that happens).

Book Details:

Title: A Graveyard for Heroes by Michael Michel
Series: Dreams of Dust and Steel, #2
Format: Hardcover/Kindle/Paperback
Length: 606 pg.
Publisher: Chainbreaker Books
US Publication Date: June 11, 2025

About the Book:

Loss. Redemption. Grief…and the dangers of belief.

Treachery looms across the land.

With scores to settle, the lowborn shake rust from their knives and trade allegiances for a promise of blood while the highborn rally their armies.

Namarr’s future rests on a blade’s edge, and the heroes who might save it can no longer hide.

Meanwhile, across the sea, Scothea has already succumbed to revolution.

Fanatics led by the Arrow of Light wrest the throne from an ancient line of kings. Now, their sights are set on a Third Crusade against Namarr. For most, it will be their last.

The pieces are set. The gameboard is chosen.

For those unwilling to play, there’s only one peaceful place left…

The inside of a grave.

The second installment in the Dreams of Dust and Steel series continues with the plight of characters both loved and hated. Perfect for fans of A Game of Thrones, The Age of Madness, The Five Warrior Angels, The Broken Empire, and Ash and Sand.

Dreams of Dust and Steel has the gritty feel of a western, the sweeping scope of the fantasy classics, and brings a fresh new voice to the genre.

In this world, pain can be turned into magic powers, and the price of success can often be worse than failure. Rooted in spirituality as much as it is steeped in bloody violence, this is Game of Thrones meets X-Men.

If you want a character-driven epic rife with scheming politicians, psychedelic horrors, savage knights, and chilling cult leaders, this is one of five books in a series sure to leave you with all the emotional baggage you desire.

Book Links:

Amazon ~ Bookshop.org

About the Author

Website ~ Twitter ~ Instagram ~ Goodreads

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: Hive (Madders of Time #1) by D.L. Orton

By HCNewton

On May 15, 2025

In Book Tour, Fiction, Science Fiction

I’m very pleased today to welcome The Write Reads Ultimate Blog Tour for Book One in D.L. Orton’s Madders of Time series, Hive! If you take a look at the feed for https://twitter.com/WriteReadsTours over the next week, you’ll see what several other bloggers have had to say about it. My $.02 will be coming along in a little bit.

Book Details:

Title: Hive by D. L. Orton
Genre: Madders of Time, Book One
Genre: Science Fiction
Age Category: Adult
Format: Hardcover/Paperback/Ebook
Length: 350 pages
Publication Date: May 6, 2025

About the Book:

What if saving the future meant rewriting the past?

In a dying world overrun by microdrones, humanity’s last survivors cling to life inside the Eden-17 biodome. Isabelle Sanborn knows her time is running out, but one desperate plan might give humanity a second chance. With the help of Madders, an enigmatic AI built from the memories of a brilliant physicist, Isabelle sends Diego Nadales—the love of her life—35 years into the past. His mission? To change the course of history and prevent their world’s collapse.

When Diego arrives in the vibrant yet fragile Main Timeline, he’s forced to confront ghosts of the past, including a younger, ambitious version of Isabelle. As he battles to shape a better future, Diego must navigate a delicate web of relationships and events without destroying the very fabric of time.

Brimming with suspense, heart-pounding action, and a poignant love story that transcends time, Madders of Time – Book One is a breathtaking science fiction adventure. Award-winning author DL Orton weaves a tale that explores sacrifice, resilience, and the timeless power of love.

Fans of The Time Traveler’s Wife and Dark Matter will find themselves captivated by this unforgettable journey through parallel worlds and intertwining destinies.

The clock is ticking. Can love survive the collapse of time itself?

Prepare to lose yourself in the first installment of the Madders of Time series—a story that will keep you turning pages and leave you hungry for more.

Book Links:

Amazon Canada ~ Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Goodreads ~ The StoryGraph

About the Author:

The BEST-SELLING AUTHOR, DL ORTON, lives in the foothills of Colorado where she and her husband are raising three boys, a golden retriever, two Siberian cats, and an extremely long-lived Triops. Her future plans include completing the books in the BETWEEN TWO EVILS series followed by an extended vacation on a remote tropical island (with a Starbucks).

When she’s not writing, playing tennis, or helping with algebra, she’s building a time machine so that someone can go back and do the laundry.

Ms. Orton is a graduate of Stanford University’s Writers Workshop and a past editor of “Top of the Western Staircase,” a literary publication of CU, Boulder. The author has a number of short stories published in online literary magazines, including Literotica.com, Melusine, Cosmoetica, The Ranfurly Review, and Catalyst Press.

Her debut novel, CROSSING IN TIME, has won numerous literary awards including an Indie Book Award and a Publishers Weekly Starred Review. It was also selected as one of only 12 Great Indie Stars by BookLife’s Prize in Fiction.

My thanks to The Write Reads for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials they provided.