Friday, 25 July 2025

✧ Book in the Spotlight ✧ Unspoken ( The Dust Series, Book #1) by Jann Alexander


Unspoken
(The Dust Series, Book #1)
by Jann Alexander



A farm devastated. A dream destroyed. A family scattered.

And one Texas girl determined to salvage the wreckage.


Ruby Lee Becker can't breathe. It's 1935 in the heart of the Dust Bowl, and the Becker family has clung to its Texas Panhandle farm through six years of drought, dying crops, and dust storms. On Black Sunday, the biggest blackest storm of them all threatens ten-year-old Ruby with deadly dust pneumonia and requires a drastic choice —one her mother, Willa Mae, will forever regret.


To survive, Ruby is forced to leave the only place she's ever known. Far from home in Waco, and worried her mother has abandoned her, she's determined to get back.


Even after twelve years, Willa Mae still clings to memories of her daughter. Unable to reunite with Ruby, she's broken by their separation.


Through rollicking adventures and harrowing setbacks, the tenacious Ruby Lee embarks on her perilous quest for home —and faces her one unspoken fear.


Heart-wrenching and inspiring, the tale of Ruby Lee's dogged perseverance and Willa Mae's endless love for her daughter shines a light on women driven apart by disaster who bravely lean on one another, find comfort in remade families, and redefine what home means.



Praise for Unspoken:

"Reminds me, in tone, of Texas classics like The Time it Never Rained and Giant. I loved it. Alexander is a great new talent in the genre of Texana."
~ W.F. Strong, author, Stories From Texas



Buy Links:





Jann Alexander


Jann Alexander writes characters who face down their fears. Her novels are as close-to-true as fiction can get.

Jann is the author of the historical novel, Unspoken, set in the Texas Panhandle during the Dust Bowl and Great Depression eras, and her first book in The Dust Series. 

Jann writes on all things creative in her weekly blog, Pairings. She's a 20-year resident of central Texas and creator of the Vanishing Austin photography series. As a former art director for ad agencies and magazines in the D.C. area, and a painter, photographer, and art gallery owner, creativity is her practice and passion.

Jann's  lifelong storytelling habit and her more recent zeal for Texas history merged to become the historical Dust Series. When she is not reading, writing, or creating, she bikes, hikes, skis, and kayaks. She lives in central Texas with her own personal Texan (and biggest fan), Karl, and their Texas mutt, Ruby.

Jann always brakes for historical markers.


Author Links:

Website ✧ Facebook ✧ Instagram ✧ Bluesky ✧ Pinterest



Monday, 14 July 2025

✧ Book in the Spotlight ✧ A Prodigy in Auschwitz: A Holocaust Story, Book One: Simon by Fred Raymond Goldman

 

A Prodigy in Auschwitz: 
A Holocaust Story, Book One: Simon
By Fred Raymond Goldman


Publication Date: April 29th, 2025
Publisher: Historium Press
Pages: 368
Genre: Historical Fiction / World War II Fiction

When Nazi Germany troops enter Krakow, Poland on September 2, 1939, fourteen-year-old Simon Baron learns two truths that have been hidden from him.


One, the people who have raised him are not his biological parents. Two, his birth mother was Jewish. In the eyes of the Germans, although he has been raised Catholic, this makes Simon Jewish. Simon's dreams of becoming a concert violinist and composer are dashed when his school is forced to expel him, and he is no longer eligible to represent it at its annual Poland Independence Day Concert. There, he had hoped to draw the attention of representatives of a prestigious contest who might have helped him fulfill his dreams.


Simon vows to never forgive his birth father for abandoning him, an act resulting in unspeakable tragedies for his family and in his being forced to live the indignities of the ghetto and the horrors of Auschwitz and Sachsenhausen concentration camps.


Throughout his ordeals, Simon wavers between his intense anger toward his birth father and his dreams of being reunited with him. Through his relationships with Rabbi Rosenschtein and the rabbi's daughter, Rachel, Simon comes to appreciate his Jewish heritage and find purpose in his life. Driven by devotion to family and friends and his passion for music, Simon holds on to hope. But can he survive the atrocities of the Nazi regime?


How do you reconcile a decision you made in the past when the world erupts in war, threatening the life of someone you love and believe you were protecting?


✧ Excerpt ✧


Simon was one of the first to notice the disturbance among the starlings roosting in the sycamore trees bordering the east and west sides of the square. He heard their pitched chorus and the flapping of their wings seconds before hundreds of them flocked to the sky, creating two formations before joining into one large configuration. They moved swiftly, twisting, turning, changing shapes, and creating an astonishing spectacle to those watching below. 

As the progression of movements among the birds increased, Lena and the other young girls with whom she was playing ran to the benches where those caring for them were sitting. Lena pressed closely against Simon, her older brother. “What is it?” she whispered.

Simon put an arm around Lena’s shoulder. “Don’t be scared,” he said. “I saw this in a movie. Watch, it will be spectacular. You’ll have something special to tell the others at lunch.”

She pulled closer to him when the birds formed a spiral-like circle that temporarily blocked out the sun and caused a brief darkening over the square. Two worshipers wearing prayer shawls came out of the front doors of Beth David Congregation, a square-shaped, flat-roofed building on the west side of the square. Its congregants were comprised of Jews who followed the rules and practices of Halakhah, the strict observances of Jewish laws. They looked up into the partially blackened sky, stared at each other, and shrugged before returning inside their house of worship. 

“This is unusual,” an observer sitting near Simon said. “Starlings take flight at dusk.”

An elderly woman occupying the same bench shook her head. “It’s a bad omen. Something terrible is going to happen.” 


Purchase Links: 


Fred Raymond Goldman


Fred Raymond Goldman graduated from Western Maryland College in Westminster, MD (now named McDaniel College) in June 1962 with a BA in psychology. Two years later, in 1964, he earned an MSW degree from the University of Maryland School of Social Work.

Most of Fred's career was spent in Jewish Communal Service. He served as the administrator of Northwest Drug Alert, a methadone maintenance program at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore. In this role, he also acted as a community resource, guiding individuals struggling with addiction toward Jewish services that supported abstinence, counseling, and job placement. Following that, Fred was hired as the Assistant to the Director of Jewish Family Services in Baltimore.

His final professional role was with Har Sinai Congregation, a Jewish Reform Synagogue in Baltimore, where he served as Executive Director for 23 years, retiring in October 2005.

In retirement, Fred pursued his love of hiking with The Maryland Hiking Club and spent time volunteering at The Irvine Nature Center. There, he led schoolchildren on nature hikes and assisted in the center’s nature store.

Writing had always been a passion for Fred, dating back to childhood, but it wasn't until retirement that he began to take it seriously. He started writing children's books and became a member of the Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Association.

Among the titles he wrote are: Vera and the Blue Bear Go to the ZooNever Bite an Elephant (And Other Bits of Wisdom)The Day the School Bus Drivers Went on StrikeIf You Count, and The Day the School Devices Went on Strike.

Though none of these books has been published, Fred remains hopeful that if the CONCERTO books gain recognition, opportunities for the earlier works may follow.

Fred’s journey of writing the CONCERTO companion books began when he saw a note on a local library bulletin board about a new writer's group led by a local author. He joined and, along with nine other participants, learned the fundamentals of writing: staying in the protagonist’s point of view, building narrative tension, developing distinctive and flawed characters, and the process of writing and rewriting.

Over the course of more than four years, Fred dedicated time to writing, researching, rewriting, and submitting the manuscript. What began as a single book titled The Auschwitz Concerto was eventually split into two volumes and self-published. For a time, the manuscript was also titled The Box.

The encouragement from the group’s teacher and fellow members played a key role in shaping the novels, and Fred hopes his feedback was equally helpful to others in the group.

In the 'Author’s Notes' of the CONCERTO books, Fred outlines the goals behind sharing these stories. Prior to writing them, he had only a general understanding of the Holocaust—knowing that nine million lives were lost and that it was a horrific chapter in history. Through the writing process, he gained deeper insights into both historical events and human suffering, fostering a greater sensitivity to contemporary issues. He firmly believes that what affects one group can quickly impact everyone, and that such awareness is critical today.

✧ Tour Schedule ✧



Sunday, 13 July 2025

✧ Book in the Spotlight ✧ Dagger’s Destiny (Curse of Clansmen and Kings, Book 2) By Linnea Tanner Narrated by Kristin James

 

Dagger’s Destiny (Curse of Clansmen and Kings, Book 2)
By Linnea Tanner
Narrated by Kristin James

Audiobook Title: Dagger’s Destiny
Series: Curse of Clansmen and Kings 
Author: Linnea Tanner
Narrator: Kristin James
Publication Date: October 2, 2018 (Audiobook Publication)
Publisher: Apollo Raven Publisher, LLC
Listening Length: 12 hours and 50 minutes
Genre: Historical Fantasy, Historical Romantasy, Myth & Legend

A Celtic warrior princess accused of treason for aiding her enemy lover must win back her father’s love and trust


In the rich and vibrant tale, author Linnea Tanner continues the story of Catrin and Marcellus that began with the award-winning novel APOLLO’S RAVEN in the Curse of Clansmen and Kings Series. Book 2: DAGGER’S DESTINY sweeps you into an epic tale of forbidden love, mythological adventure, and political intrigue in Ancient Rome and Britannia.


War looms over 24 AD Britannia where rival tribal rulers fight each other for power and the Romans threaten to invade to settle their political differences. King Amren accuses his daughter, Catrin, of treason for aiding the Roman enemy and her lover, Marcellus. The ultimate punishment is death unless she can redeem herself. She must prove loyalty to her father by forsaking Marcellus and defending their kingdom—even to the death. Forged into a warrior, she must overcome tribulations and make the right decisions on her quest to break the curse that foretells her banished half-brother and the Roman Empire will destroy their kingdom.


Yet, when Catrin again reunites with Marcellus, she is torn between her love for him and duty to King Amren. She must ultimately face her greatest challenger who could destroy her life, freedom, and humanity.


Will Catrin finally break the ancient prophecy that looms over her kingdom? Will she abandon her forbidden love for Marcellus to win back her father’s trust and love? Can King Amren balance his brutality to maintain power with the love he feels for Catrin?


✧ Praise ✧ 

Tanner is a masterful wordsmith and storyteller. There were no plot holes, everything was believable, and her characters grew as did the plot.”
~ The Audiobook Reviewer

For those with an interest in epic fantasy, the characters and their interactions, each with their personal goals and motivations, and often in conflict with each other, Dagger’s Destiny is a book sure to keep your interest.”
~ Geoff Habiger for Readers' Favorite (GOLD MEDAL Fiction: Magic / Wizardry)

Click on the link to listen to an audio excerpt:

Book Trailer


Purchase Links:


 ✧ AUDIOBOOK GIVEAWAY✧ 
Linnea Tanner is giving away an audiobook copy of Dagger’s Destiny!
A winner will be chosen at random and announced after the tour has finished.

Linnea Tanner


Award-winning author, Linnea Tanner, weaves Celtic tales of love, magical adventure, and political intrigue in Ancient Rome and Britannia. Since childhood, she has passionately read about ancient civilizations and mythology. She is particularly interested in the enigmatic Celts, who were reputed as fierce warriors and mystical Druids.

Linnea has extensively researched ancient and medieval history, mythology, and archaeology and has traveled to sites described within each of her books in the Curse of Clansmen and Kings series. Books released in her series include Apollo’s Raven (Book 1), Dagger’s Destiny (Book 2), Amulet’s Rapture (Book 3), and Skull’s Vengeance (Book 4). She has also released the historical fiction short story Two Faces of Janus

A Colorado native, Linnea attended the University of Colorado and earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry. She lives in Fort Collins with her husband and has two children and six grandchildren.

Author Links:
Website ✧ Facebook ✧ Instagram ✧ Twitter / X ✧ Pinterest ✧  Bluesky ✧  Amazon Author Page ✧ BookBub ✧ Threads ✧ LinkedIn ✧ Goodreads 

✧ Tour Schedule✧ 

Thursday, 10 July 2025

✧ Book in the Spotlight ✧ An Echo of Ashes by Ron Allen Ames


An Echo of Ashes
By Ron Allen Ames


Publication Date: March 25th, 2025

Publisher: Historium Press

Pages: 247

Genre: Historical Fiction


An Echo of Ashes is a story lost to time, then found again in century-old letters that lay in a tattered box.


Based on actual events taken from the pages, this story tells of when the Great War and the Spanish Influenza forever altered the lives of millions, including a family of subsistence farmers who also worked the oil fields of Pennsylvania.


Ella and Almon make their home in the backcountry. Almon and his sons work in the oil fields, just as their forefathers before them. As war and influenza break out, the parents seek to shield their family from the impending perils. Earl, the eldest son, is a gifted trombone and piano player. He is captivated by Lucile Lake, a girl from a higher social status. All he has to win her heart are his music and his words as the military draft looms in the foreground. Jack, a friend as close as a brother, faces the horrors of war at the Western Front. Albert's free spirit creates chaos as he searches for direction. Arthur's patriotism leads him to the Mexican border. Young Russell must suppress his fear to save a life, while Little Clara remains protected from the distress.


World War One and the Spanish Influenza Pandemic are most often documented separately, yet they intersected in 1918. For those who endured sacrifice and loss during this time, looking forward seemed their only choice. The sharp echo of tragedy, carried through the ashes of what once was, likely dulled but never vanished from their minds. This is just one of countless family stories from such a perilous chapter in American history.


✧ Excerpt 

He heard footsteps coming and could see a silhouette through the lace curtains that hung in the door’s window. The curtains flicked, the door opened . . . and there she stood.
   
 “Yes?” Lucile asked the dashing young man. Earl froze as Lucile stared directly into his deep blue eyes, recognizing him.

“I am here…” Earl blurted out as he thought, I am making a fool of myself. “I mean, I am here to give lessons.” Did that sound right?

She giggled. “I do not want trombone lessons.”

“No,” Earl spoke up. “Piano lessons.”

Just then Lucile’s mother called out from the adjoining parlor, “Lucile, who is at the door?”

“It is the trombone player, mother . . . the one from the pie social. He is here from the advertisement.”

“Tell him it is piano lessons we require, not trombone.”

Earl then spied a grand piano sitting to the right of the room by a large window.

“The advertisement says a reference is required . . . may I?” He pointed to the piano.

Lucile raised her brow and hesitated. Finally, she opened the door just far enough for Earl to squeeze by. He nervously fumbled with his hat before pushing it into Lucile’s hands.

✧ Purchase Link ✧
Amazon

Ron Allen Ames 


Ron Allen Ames is a history enthusiast who attributes his forty-six years of life experience as a hands-on business co-owner, for giving him insight into human nature, a benefit when portraying the lives of others. The information he received, dating from 1914 to 1919, is what prompted Ames to bring this history to light in An Echo of Ashes.

Ames lives with his wife Cathy in Pennsylvania. They have two grown sons.

Author Links:

Website ✧  Facebook ✧  Instagram ✧ 

✧  Tour Schedule ✧  




✧ Book in the Spotlight ✧ Unspoken ( The Dust Series, Book #1) by Jann Alexander

Unspoken (The Dust Series, Book #1) by Jann Alexander A farm devastated. A dream destroyed. A family scattered. And one Texas girl determine...