Cat Welcomes First-Time Author of Literary Fiction, Ms. E. Ann Brown, and Her New Book Release Titled ‘Forever Kind of Love’ Now On E-Book Sale. . .




About Author Ms. E. Ann Brown

Ms. E. Ann Brown is an American author and influential writer of literary fiction after retiring as a primary school educator. The author released her first book, ‘Forever Kind of Love,’ in Jan. 2023, and available on Amazon in both e-book and paperback versions.

Ms. Brown’s formal education background was in the field of education, but she considers herself a lifelong learner and has studied many other areas and interests. Brown is a spiritually oriented person who sees the world from a positive perspective and conveys her perspective in her writings.

She is a proud mother who has raised four beautiful grown children as she home-schooled them and went on to a home-school consulting business where she developed chosen curriculum plans for other families. Writing has been a natural part of her life since she was an adolescent babysitter making up stories while babysitting on the spur of the moment. She has always been a storyteller throughout her life.

When she is not writing, she enjoys spending time with her family as she is a loving grandmother and great-grandmother. Born and lived many years on East Coast, she now resides in the beautiful Pacific Northwest in Southern Oregon.



ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BJ7TQYQQ
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Elizabeth Alleyne (October 14, 2022)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 178
 Family Life Fiction (Books)
 Literary Fiction ~ New E-Book on Sale at $1.99




About Forever Kind of Love is Available On Amazon

A random statement made in response to a loving question turned out to be prophetic, unknowingly. If you read the story you will find out how. You will rejoice, you will laugh, and you will cry. You will be amazed, and you will be disappointed. But isn’t that what happens in our real lives?

Bad things do happen to good people, and people of faith seem to persevere and ultimately experience a good outcome. This story has many life situations that are very challenging, but because of the love the two main characters have for each other, they were able to persevere and prevail.

After becoming empty nesters for only a short time, a surprise they never would have anticipated came to bless their lives more than they could have imagined. Sharing their life with someone else’s children because of their misfortune was heartwarming and a blessing for all concerned. Illness has a way of wiggling into our lives, often without warning, but it does not have to defeat us. These situations can end up making us stronger in faith than we were before. Happy endings are always encouraging.
Read and enjoy!



Visit & Connect With The Author!

 FacebookTwitterGoodreadsAmazon,
All Author – https://allauthor.com/author/authoreannbrown/



Best-Selling Author Barbara Daniels Dena Celebrates 2023 With A New Book & Pre-order Sale, an Upcoming Free E-Book Giveaway, & Awarded a 5-Star Reader’s Favorite Book Review. . .


Now, what a way to kick off a brand new year for Author Barbara Daniels Dena!

Her second book titled “One Soul’s Journey” Book Two of ‘The Soul Series’ is currently on pre-order and available on Amazon to release on Jan. 25th, 2023. >> http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BR1ZTKJQ <<<

And that’s not all! She will celebrate her new release by offering Book One of the series titled “For The Soul” for a free giveaway that will begin on JAN. 20th, 2023 and run through JAN. 25th, 2023!

More amazing news? Barbara’s new book has just been awarded a Reader’s Favorite 5-Star editorial book review before it has even been released which I’ll be sharing next.

It will give my reader’s a good insight as to how delightful her second collection of short stories is!




The Reader’s Favorite 5-Star Book Review for “ONE SOUL’S JOURNEY” Book Two


For immediate release:

The author’s new book receives a warm literary welcome.

Readers’ Favorite announces the review of the Fiction – Anthology book “One Soul’s Journey” by Barbara Daniels Dena, currently available at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BR1ZTKJQ.

Reviewed By Pikasho Deka for Readers’ Favorite

“One Soul’s Journey is the second collection of short slice-of-life stories by Barbara Daniels Dena. Containing both fictional and autobiographical tales, this anthology is an original piece of work covering decades of the author’s life experiences. The book begins with Dena sharing anecdotes from her childhood, witnessing the Jim Crow laws in effect during the late 50s and early 60s in Arkansas.

Some of the other tales include a little girl and her mother losing her baby sister with chaotic ramifications, the life of an Irish Setter at a dog rescue center, a mother and son volunteering as dressed mascots at the local zoo, striking up a burgeoning friendship with her first customer at the flower shop, delivering flowers to the wrong address, and many more.

If you love to read heartwarming and wholesome short stories, One Soul’s Journey is a must-read for you. Barbara Daniels Dena’s smooth prose and skillful storytelling style make the narrative a breeze. Complemented by some truly fascinating tales, it makes for a fantastic reading experience. Dena has a way with words that will have readers engaged from the outset, and some of the stories have revelations thrown in along the way that will leave you pleasantly surprised.

These stories have underlying themes of compassion, kindness, and love and highlight how helping others can go a long way to making you feel fulfilled. I had a wonderful time reading the book and recommend it to anyone who is looking to raise their spirits through a relaxing read.”

You can learn more about Barbara Daniels Dena and “One Soul’s Journey” at https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/one-souls-journey …

You may connect with the author on Social Media here:
 FacebookTwitterGoodreadsAmazon, & at All Author https://barbaradenaauthor.allauthor.com/



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Barbara Daniels Dena is an American best-selling author and influential writer of her eclectic short stories in ‘The Soul Series.’

The author’s stories are almost a memoir and are a unique collection of inspiring short stories of ‘good ole fashioned living,’ along with many past and present memories and life experiences that tug on the heart, warming stories, and fictional tall tales and doggie tails delighting readers worldwide. The books are available on Amazon Books, Kindle, and many fine online book sites.

Barbara began writing at an early age as a lover of “Make-Believe.” Today, her writing has developed from memories of family experiences, various compilations of events in her life, and her love of animals. She is willing to admit that her vivid imagination plays a role in her stories. The author is an Illinois native who has lived in many places; as Barb says, like a free-spirited “Gypsy,” she has lived and worked in Illinois, Washington, Idaho, and Georgia, but Ultimately, comes home settling back in the Quad Cities area of Illinois.

She is a proud mother of two grown children. She was a business owner, ran a Temp Agency, transitioned into her passion for floral design, and opened, owned, and ran several floral shops. Her favorite flower is the “Casablanca Lily.” Her favorite color is Red, and when she isn’t writing, Barbara spends her free time oil painting and enjoys quilting, knitting, and reading.

Her favorite book is “Death Be Not Proud” by John J. Gunther. Her first love will always be playing with her fur baby; a little Yorkie named Zoe. She continues to write from her cozy nook as she gazes over a pond full of geese and ducks. On many days it is more gazing than writing.




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Pre-Order Today Here >> https://www.amazon.com/One-Souls-Journey-Collection-Stories-ebook/dp/B0BR1ZTKJQ

Say “Merry Christmas” With These Hot Book Deals! Give The Gift of Reading For Those You Care About With Last Minute Book Gift Ideas. . .


Hello Avid Readers, Friends, and Visitors,


Cat has the honor of representing many exceptional writers and authors who have decided to give book readers and buyers of books a real treat by lowering the pricing on almost all their books for the “Holiday Gift Buying Season.”

Everyone loves to have a package under the tree with beautiful reads of all different genres too!

So, this post will be pretty vibrant as Cat will share all our fine authors running sales, but I’ll let the holiday book banners do the “showing off,” knowing books make great gift ideas. Cat even has some paperbacks on sale that are new and newer releases for under $9, and all books are purchasable on Amazon in formats of E-books, Paperbacks, and are within Kindle Unlimited, so you read free!

Most of the Books are Award-winning and have garnished 5-Star Editorial Book Reviews awarded by literary book influencers Reader’s Favorite.


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Amazon #1 Best-Selling Author Elizabeth Upton Offering E-books and a Few Paperbacks Now On Sale on Amazon and Within Kindle Unlimited. https://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Upton/e/B001KEA1NG/



Nothing says “Merry Christmas” like these thrilling suspense reads by Elizabeth Upton! All her E-books are on sale for $1.99, and a few paperbacks under $9 too!


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One Amazon Reviewer Says About Mysteries by Kim Carter:

“This is one of the best mysteries I have read in a long time. I am a 77-year-old woman and have the entire book in the ‘Clara and Iris Series!’ Kept me in suspense the entire book. I would say that Ms. Carter is up there with Patricia Cornwell as far as keeping you in gripping suspense to the book’s last few pages. I highly recommend all of them to readers!”



All Seven of Kim Carter’s E-books are on sale for only .99 cents for the first time and several paperbacks are priced under $10!




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Best-Selling American Author Pavane Ravel & Her Political Fiction Suspense Drama of “The Other Shoes of Lary Martin” Novel Series Book One – ‘Revelation of Lies’… $1.99!
https://www.amazon.com/Other-Shoes-Larry-Martin-Revelation-ebook/dp/B09CRPH41P/


Reviewed By Reader’s Favorite:

Larry Martin is not a good person. He is lazy. He treats women badly. He thinks the world owes him everything that he wants but hasn’t earned. Unfortunately, Larry was also raised by an abusive father with right-wing beliefs, which he adopted as his own. What more can one expect from a person raised without love? Then Larry loses his job as a journalist and eventually loses his home as well.

Larry decides to shed his old self and change. He decides to become a better person.
Pavane Ravel has a writing style that is easy to fall into. It is comfortable and has a good flow. There is definitely good character-building.

As this book is based on profound character growth, the author does a remarkable job of slowly easing the reader along on the journey. I found the attention to detail with the construction of the various homesteads quite interesting. The Other Shoes of Larry Martin is ideal for readers who enjoy extraordinary character changes, fighting for survival and climbing to the top to make a change for the better.

This book can also be recommended to those readers who want to know themselves on a deeper level. I loved how the story itself became the story of the book.   



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A poignant and gripping memoir on sale by #1 Amazon Best-selling Author Wilsdaryon Prescher
https://www.amazon.com/Wilsdaryon-Prescher/e/B0B2VMN1FX/


One Book Reviewer Says:

5.0 out of 5 stars. He allowed time to give him strength

Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2022.

“How many roads must a man walk down. . . ” After reading this memoir, one can only believe there are mountains to climb and mountains to conquer, and as young as this author is, and through every trial that was thrown in his path, he found a way through. He conquered! Brave for having the audacity to share his memories with us!” Highly suggest this book!


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Amazon #1 Best-Selling Romance Novelist Richard E. La Motte with Three New Releases and His E-book “The Treasure” on Sale or Read Free With Kindle Unlimited. Makes a Great Gift!

https://www.amazon.com/Treasure-Through-Amazon-Adventure-Headhunters-ebook/dp/B0BCPBZLC4/



One Reader/Reviewer Says:

“Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2022
Verified Purchase

“If you are a reader who screams at the characters of the book you are deep into, ‘The Treasure’ will be one to give you laryngitis. At every turn of a page, one of the characters in this book is either in jeopardy or creating havoc. Precisely what a fast-paced emotion-driven mystery with an underlying love interest should have. Highly entertaining!



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Best-Selling Novelist and New E-book Releases of “Seeing Red” & “Pearly Everlasting by Claudia Ricci
Now Available on Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/Seeing-Red-Claudia-Ricci-ebook/.B0BHL1KR77/

That’s How Claudia Is Celebrating
The New Year!
With 2 New Book Releases.




One Amazon Reviewer Shares:

“Ronda’s story in Seeing Red made sense to me, and the writing touched me viscerally and emotionally. I could feel her challenges, pain, and desire; life was tearing her apart. I felt drawn in from the very first paragraph.

She goes to Spain to follow her fantasy lover and pursue her love for flamenco; what she finds there through her wild adventures is the most important thing missing – her love for herself.

I recommend this book to all of my friends and new readers!” Literary Fiction (Books) Romance.


MORE BOOKS By Claudia Ricci ~ Her Blog> http://mystorylives.blogspot.com/2022/11/the-noctuary-night-journal.html



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Fictional fun read of tall tales and puppy tails by Author Barbara Dena is on sale now!
https://www.amazon.com/Barbara-Daniels-Dena/e/B09DWB2236/


E-book only .99 Cents, and Paperback under $9 & Her New Book Releases in Jan 2023

“Memories and fiction fill this collection with humor, heartwarming compassion, and spine-tingling fright from the author’s own experiences and an imagination she can barely control. Quilts, children, and dogs have always played a large part in the author’s life. Therefore, it is unsurprising to find stories of warm quilts wrapped around her tales or tails.

A trait the reader discovers in Barbara’s writing is that, much like life, nothing within the covers of this book will be what one expects.” Check out her Guest Featured Author Spotlight For Her Upcoming New Book Titled “One Soul’s Journey!”
>>> https://zuzannebelec.com/zuus-intervuus/



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Multi-Award-Winning Mystery Action and Adventure Series by Diane Olsen Has Been Blowing Avid Readers,’ and Reader’s Favorite Book Reviewers Away With The “Rising Wind Book Series and Book Five is a Brand New Release!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B093PRX88L/ – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09447YQ7F/




All Five E-books Are On Sale on Amazon and can be read free with Kindle Unlimited. Makes a great Holiday Gift For Readers on Your Gift List!


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YES! Cat Does Have Some Holiday Children’s Books Too!
This One By Awarding-Winning-Author Shawna James now comes in New Languages of English, Spanish, Dutch, and French.



Gift your tots the Gift of Reading This Christmas.>> https://www.amazon.com/Shawna-James/e/B08L1KRVY1/. . .



*** MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY READING TIME Throughout This Holiday Season!
May God Bless You All With Peace, Love, and Kindness! ***
CAT LYON









Special Cover Reveal for Best-Selling Author Barbara Daniels-Dena! Barb Is Celebrating The Coming New Year With a New Book Release Titled “One Soul’s Journey.”

About The Barbara:

Barbara, an Illinois native draws fictional stories from her vivid imagination as she ponders the ‘what if’ scenarios in everyday life. With a bit of embellishment and embroidery of the details, a new story takes shape.

Memories of family experiences also grace the pages of this anthology like the paintings on a wall, to be enjoyed and reflected upon.

Barbara spends her free time reading and playing with her tiny Yorkie, Zoe, who happens to believe she is the writer in the family, Barbara is only the assistant

~Barbara Daniels Dena



ABOUT THE UPCOMING JAN 2023 RELEASE ~ ONE SOUL’S JOURNEY

“One Soul’s Journey” ~ is an eclectic and extraordinary collection of short stories. The ingredients ~ are imagination, a dash of real life, inspiration, and lots of love. If you’ve read and loved her first collection, “For the Soul,” this book will delight you.

Two short stories excerpts from “One Soul’s Journey

“Stop talking to me. You know owls don’t talk. Do you want someone to hear you? People will think I am nuts, talking to you.”

“Tracy knew a man was there. She felt his eyes on her, watching her. Feeling her fluttering heartbeat return to normal and the adrenaline surge passing, the original lure of the cabin returned to niggle at her curiosity bone.”



Barbara’s First Book “For The Soul”

Read Barbara’s First Book Free with Kindle Unlimited   Or only $0.99 to buy



“About The “For The Soul”

Memories and fiction fill this collection with humor, heartwarming compassion, and spine-tingling fright from the author’s own experiences and an imagination she can barely control.

Quilts, children, and dogs have always played a large part in the author’s life. Therefore, it is not surprising to find stories of warm quilts wrapped around her tales or tails.

A trait the reader discovers in Barbara’s writing is that much like life, nothing within the covers of this book will be what one expects.



BOOK REVIEWS “For The Soul”

5.0 out of 5 stars  
Delightfully charming short stories

Amazon review in the United States

For the Soul is a delightfully charming collection of short stories about everyday life, some are real, some are fanciful interpretations, and some are Ms. Dena’s creative imagination. Ms. Dena has a knack for bringing to life everyday events with humor, wit, pathos, generosity, and love.

There are many lessons to be learned. Her characterizations are authentic and likable. She finds the extraordinary in what many might find mundane and brings it to life, so the reader sees it in a new light. I found myself relating to so many of the stories. I highly recommend For the Soul, a truly enchanting read.

5.0 out of 5 stars 
Excellent book. A must read

Amazon review in the United States

Reading FOR THE SOUL by Barbara Daniels Dena, I had to keep reminding myself that she and I were not related. Some of her stories could have been my stories. It was as if she reached into my past and pulled out beautiful memories that had been long forgotten. Barbara’s book gave me hours of enjoyment and a lifetime of memories. I highly recommend you fall in love with this book.


Barbara Daniels Dena

 Visit Amazon’s Barbara Daniels Dena PageFind all the books, read about the author, and more.


Barb Daniels Dena is a Best-selling American Author of her funny and eclectic book debut, “For the Soul: A Collection of Short Stories,” which was released in August 2021. Almost a memoir, this unique collection of inspiring short stories of ‘good ole fashioned living,’ along with many past and present memories and life experiences that tug on the heart, warming stories wrapped in fictional tall tails and humor delighting readers worldwide. The book is available on Amazon Books, Kindle, and many fine online book sites.

Barbara began writing at an early age as a lover of “Make-Believe.” Today, her writing has developed from memories of family experiences, various compilations of events in her life, and her love of animals. She is willing to admit that her vivid imagination plays a role in her stories.

Barbara is an Illinois native who has lived in many places; as Barb says, like a free-spirited “Gypsy,” she has lived and worked in Illinois, Washington, Idaho, and Georgia, but Ultimately, comes home settling back in the Quad Cities area of Illinois.

She is a proud mother of two grown children. She was a business owner, ran a Temp Agency, transitioned into her passion for floral design, and opened, owned, and ran several floral shops. Her favorite flower is the “Casablanca Lily.” Her favorite color is Red, and when she isn’t writing, Barbara spends her free time oil painting and enjoys quilting, knitting, and reading.

Her favorite book is “Death Be Not Proud” by John J. Gunther. Her first love will always be playing with her fur baby; a little Yorkie named Zoe. She continues to write from her cozy nook as she gazes over a pond full of geese and ducks. On many days it is more gazing than writing. 


Connect With The Author on Social Media:

WebsiteFacebookTwitterGoodreadsAmazon,












Hot New Book Release Titled “Pearly Everlasting”& Press Release as Best-Selling Author Claudia Ricci ‘Receives Warm Welcome From Reader’s Favorite’ & 5-STARS . . .





For immediate release:

The author’s new book receives a warm literary welcome.

Readers’ Favorite announces the review of the Fiction – Literary book “Pearly Everlasting” by Claudia Ricci, currently available at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BNW9R185.

Readers’ Favorite is one of the largest book review and award contest sites on the Internet. They have earned the respect of renowned publishers like Random House, Simon & Schuster, and Harper Collins, and have received the “Best Websites for Authors” and “Honoring Excellence” awards from the Association of Independent Authors. They are also fully accredited by the BBB (A+ rating), which is a rarity among Book Review and Book Award Contest companies.

~Reviewed By K.C. Finn for Readers’ Favorite ~ Dec. 2022

Pearly Everlasting is a work of fiction in the literary style and family drama subgenre.
The work is best suited to the mature adult reading audience owing to its potentially distressing subject matter and the inclusion of explicit language and sexual situations. Penned by Claudia Ricci, this harrowing and heartfelt interpersonal drama follows the meeting of protagonists Salvia Fischetti and Morgan Pochyrus. A painter wracked with guilt and a biker poet find more than just their artistic souls connecting as they battle to save an infant from a terrifying illness, and what develops is a series of emotional challenges that will bring them both closer to one another, and closer to the healing they’ve always desired.

Claudia Ricci has a keen sense of character that lends itself to this style of storytelling, so much so that you begin to feel that you know Salvia and Morgan personally within just a few pages of meeting them. I enjoyed the close narration and craftwork in the dialogue, which gives each character their distinct parlance but never loses the artsy stylistic edge that reminds you of the beauty of the author’s wordplay.

Plot-wise, there’s much to enjoy, with a slow-burning start that contextualizes Salvia’s great loss and deep pain. There are some heart-breaking parallels drawn and difficult moments later that echo back perfectly to the opening chapters to leave readers feeling satisfied with the journey of growth and healing that’s taken place.

I would not hesitate to recommend Pearly Everlasting to fans of artistic and literary writing that also digs deep into human emotion and connection.”

You can learn more about Claudia Ricci and “Pearly Everlasting” at https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/pearly-everlasting where you can read reviews and the author’s biography, as well as connect with the author directly or through their website and social media pages.

Readers’ Favorite LLC
Media Relations
Louisville, KY 40202
800-RF-REVIEW
support@readersfavorite.com
https://readersfavorite.com

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OTHER NOVELS By Best-Selling Author Claudia Ricci



Brand New Book Release of Pearly Everlasting
E-book On Sale For Only
$2.99!

Pearly Everlasting Claudia Ricci




A MESSAGE FROM THE AUTHOR
CLAUDIA RICCI


Dear Readers –

By some extraordinary coincidence, my new novel, Pearly Everlasting, is coming out in the very same week that my beautiful new grandson, Monte, arrived in Denver!  As I sat down to try to figure out what to say about this, my fourth book, I remembered two words that my chiropractor said to me this week: Baby Love.

There is nothing like the love a mother feels when her baby, usually purply blue and slippery, is placed for the first time on her chest. There is nothing like the outpouring of love that explodes from mom and dad to family and friends after that baby is born!

Well, so, you could say this book has at its core Baby Love.  Because it is Baby Love in the end that captures the protagonists and wraps them in a blanket of redemption.

At this season 20 years ago, I had just finished a grueling four-month treatment for Hodgkin’s Disease, a type of lymphoma that – very thankfully – is curable. I suffered enormously that year during chemo – an experimental treatment that involved five IV cancer drugs each week for 13 weeks – followed by eight weeks of radiation. But as my oncologist said at the end, “I was a poster child” for triumphing over the disease. I am continually and forever grateful for my good health. 

Not long afterward, my very good friend Karen Jahn said to me, “So now you’ve proved it, Claudia, you can get through anything!”

I looked at her and felt my breath catch.  I felt my stomach sink. “No,” I said, shaking my head back and forth. “Absolutely not.  I know for sure that’s not true. There’s one thing I just cannot imagine how I would get through…losing one of my three children.”

And so, I suppose it was this deep fear that led me to write my fourth novel, Pearly Everlasting. The main character, Sal – short for Salvia, an Italian name that means “safe, secure, healthy” — loses her teenage daughter Sofie in a car accident. Sal, who feels responsible, sprang to life in my imagination with a wound so deep that she begged me to stay with her, to keep her company in her lonely struggle to overcome her endless grief.

When the story opens, it’s been four years since Sofie’s passing, but memories are everywhere and they always land Sal in an ocean of tears.

I know that my fictional character is just that. A character in a book. I know, too, that there are many, many fine non-fiction books written by parents who have lost their adored children. Books that can help others deal with this unspeakable grief.

I don’t pretend to think my book falls into that category.  It’s just a story.  A story with a very redemptive ending.  But sometimes I have wondered, do I have the right to produce a fictional account of one woman’s unspeakable sorrow? When I haven’t had to endure that sorrow myself?

And then I hear and see Sal, and she is whispering to me, “Yes, please, this story is important, vital,” because it shows how life can go on in unexpected ways after the gut-wrenching loss of a loved one.

With that in mind, I offer readers Pearly Everlasting, which follows Sal into an unexpected relationship with a young woman who is pregnant. And also, into a relationship with a man – poet Morgan Pochyrus — who is also grieving the loss of a friend. Guilt reigns for both Sal and Morgan.

Light emerges in the book, however, as the two of them are forced to care for an infant with a life-threatening illness. It makes me feel good to know how the characters land at the end. 

I hope you will give it a try!
~Claudia Ricci

Order the paperback or ebook from Amazon. Or email me at claudiajricci@gmail.com if you want a signed copy.
And you can read the first chapter on Amazon by going here.
 

Readers! Fall Into These Autumn Reads By Our Authors Who Have Garnished 4 & 5-Star Editorial Book Reviews Given By Reader’s Favorite and Are Worth Your Reading Time…


Hello and Welcome, Avid Readers,
Are You Looking for some Fantastic Reads?

You won’t go wrong by purchasing and reading these sweet reading treats written by many of the fine authors we represent at ‘Lyon Literary Services.’ Cat loves sharing books and ‘The Why’ you should read them when they have these exceptional editorial book reviews like the ones below. With the Holiday Season almost here, they would make great gifts too. and all books are available on Amazon, and most are within Kindle Unlimited Membership! …Enjoy!


The Shaman and the Mafia
By Elizabeth Upton

The Shaman and the Mafia is a work of fiction in the mystery subgenre. It is suitable for the general reading audience and was penned by author Elizabeth Upton. 


Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers’ Favorite

The Shaman and the Mafia is a work of fiction in the mystery subgenre. It is suitable for the general reading audience and was penned by author Elizabeth Upton. The book follows former nun Marietta Collins as she is dragged into the aftershock of a tragic murder when her friend Joseph is killed in what looks like a mob hit. As Marietta becomes romantically involved with both Joseph’s brother and the FBI agent investigating the death, the past refuses to stay buried for all involved as the FBI hunts the mafia boss believed to have ordered the hit whilst the police search for the killer directly.

While the mystery of Joseph Gleason’s murder lies at the center of this novel and provides the core narrative around which the characters gather, the significant contribution to the story the death makes is to act as a catalyst for an in-depth and intriguing character study of those involved in Joseph’s life.

Author Elizabeth Upton has created a cast of colorful characters, each of whom has had life breathed into them by her stunning prose, and it’s a treat to turn each page and find the direction in which the narrative events will push them next. I particularly enjoyed the development of Detective Riley as she is forced to confront the harsh reality of corruption in an institution she has served for years. Beautifully blending the trappings of a love story and a thriller, The Shaman and the Mafia uses the best of both genres to tell a story unlike any other, which will stay with readers long after the final page is turned.


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This Is Me Trying: Navigating Through A Lifetime of Trauma
By Wilsdaryon Prescher

This Is Me Trying: Navigating Through A Lifetime of Trauma is a work of non-fiction in the memoir subgenre. It is aimed at mature readers and was penned by author Wilsdaryon Prescher. 

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers’ Favorite

The book follows the author’s recovery from the abuse he endured in his youth, a journey made possible by the power of music. Throughout the rocky road of escaping the abuse, developing coping mechanisms that hindered more than they helped, and encountering the biases that people hold against abuse survivors, the power of music provides a tool for the author to rediscover their authentic self and move forward into adulthood.

I’m always in awe of any author penning a memoir, especially one willing to show sincere emotional vulnerability to their readers, but sometimes an author leaves nothing off the table when describing the upsetting and painful parts of their lives. Such an author is Wilsdaryon Prescher, whose willingness to frankly portray some of the most challenging situations a young person can live through is matched deftly by his skillful prose in doing justice to the depiction of those moments.

This book is an emotional journey that readers will be moved by as they experience the hardships of the author’s younger years and the rocky road to happiness that came with adulthood. Overall, This Is Me Trying is an honest depiction of the never-ending struggle toward recovery and a book that frankly depicts mental health issues and the journey to better mental and emotional well-being, wherever your starting point in life may be. Highly suggest reading!


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Lovers’ Secrets and Revenge

(Book Three – John Callahan Series) By Elizabeth Upton
Lovers’ Secrets and Revenge is a crime mystery romance novel by Elizabeth Upton.

Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers’ Favorite

Lovers’ Secrets and Revenge is a crime mystery romance novel by Elizabeth Upton. It’s been ten years since John Callahan had last seen his grandmother, Annabella O’Sullivan. Upon a visit to her sprawling estate in Dublin, Ireland, John is delivered a striking blow when his grandmother dies, and he is her sole heir.

His grandmother’s death and the unexpected murder of an employee force him to hire private security guards for himself and Morgan Gallagher, Annabella’s lover. Additionally, his recently inherited estate has a break-in by an armed man. Meanwhile, John starts falling for an Irish woman named Sara O’Boyle. But when one of his own employees becomes his stalker, John must find a way to protect himself and his loved ones. Who is the killer? Is John’s life in danger?

An absorbing murder mystery filled with romance, suspense, and intrigue, Lovers’ Secrets and Revenge is a cozy book to spend your evening with. Author Elizabeth Upton spins an intricate yarn full of dramatic moments that have you eagerly turning the pages in anticipation of what will happen next. The narrative will especially appeal to fans of telenovelas or soap operas, with the constant twists and turns of the plot leaving you asking for more. The characters have defining traits that pop out of the pages. John is one of the more fleshed-out characters, and his romance with Sara is one of my favorite aspects of the book.
If you enjoy romance and crime stories, this is what you’re looking for.


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A Crime Story
A Mother-Daughter Cozy Mystery ~ By Richard E. LaMotte

A Crime Story: A Mother-Daughter Cozy Mystery by Richard E. LaMotte is a light-hearted thriller about a mother and daughter...


Reviewed by Antoinette Wessels for Readers’ Favorite

A Crime Story: A Mother-Daughter Cozy Mystery by Richard E. LaMotte is a light-hearted thriller about a mother and daughter who get stuck in a small town with a murder mystery on their way to Hollywood. Clair and Mindy decide to start investigating the unsolved murder of Samantha and write a crime story to pass the time.

They soon realize that everyone in town has their theory about what happened, but Mindy is set on uncovering the truth in memory of Samantha. It doesn’t take long for their snooping to start annoying the wrong people, and accidents start to happen. Will they be able to answer the unanswered questions, or will Samantha’s murder always stay a small-town mystery?

Richard E. LaMotte wrote A Crime Story in a way that will have anyone, even readers who don’t enjoy thrillers or mysteries, loving this light-hearted mystery immensely. It is not overly elaborate, is easy to read, and even easier to enjoy. The theme which stuck with me as a reader was the relationship between a mother and a daughter who needed to find each other again.

They grew as characters while they were investigating the murder, and through this, they could also reconnect. The pace of the story is gentle. I enjoyed the fact that the book wasn’t more than two hundred pages, but it never felt rushed.

I would recommend this book to any reader who wants a quick, enjoyable fall read with adventure and a little suspense.


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Dark Secrets of the Bayou
By Multi award-winning writer Kim Carter

Dark Secrets of the Bayou is a work of fiction in the murder mystery genre. It is aimed at all ages and was penned by author Kim Carter

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers’ Favorite

Dark Secrets of the Bayou is a work of fiction in the murder mystery genre. It is aimed at all ages and was penned by author Kim Carter. The novel follows the homecoming of attorney Tink Mabry as she visits Kane, Louisiana, with a co-worker to deal with the dilapidated homestead she’s just inherited from a family she barely knows. No sooner has she arrived than she ends up as the prime suspect in multiple murder investigations. As Tink explores her new surroundings, she realizes that the family secrets that plague her inheritance may hold the key to exonerating her, though some things are best left in the past.

Author Kim Carter has crafted a sinister and spine-tingling work of dark mystery fiction, an ideal read for a cold winter’s night. This story combined many elements and genres that I adore, from the historical references to the 19th century and the creepy, dark expanses of the Louisiana bayous, to chilling, horror, and family drama elements. The complex plot interweaves all of these factors seamlessly, delivering a smoothly-told narrative with sharp, exciting deviations in the mystery plot.

It certainly kept me guessing until the end, and the close narration of Tink and her emotional journey really got me rooting for her (and fearing for her) as the story developed. Overall, I would highly recommend Dark Secrets of the Bayou for those who enjoy a dark mystery with lots of horror elements and a spellbinding atmosphere. This was a worthy introduction to an author worth reading again and again.


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Daily Gratitude Reflections Volume 2

365 Inspirational Guides to Grateful Living
By Deborah L. Perdue

Daily Gratitude Reflections Volume 2: 365 Inspirational Guides to Grateful Living is a work of non-fiction in the new age, spiritual, and self-help subgenres.


Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers’ Favorite

Daily Gratitude Reflections Volume 2: 365 Inspirational Guides to Grateful Living is a work of non-fiction in the new age, spiritual, and self-help subgenres. It is suitable for the general reading audience and was penned by author Deborah L. Perdue. The book lays out a year-long series of prompts to allow readers to reflect on their lives and feel gratitude for their positive things. This shift in focus away from negativity is shown to have a transformative effect on how a person perceives their life and leads to a more positive outlook and acceptance of happiness.

It often feels that cynicism is the dominating force in this world, and it is a negative mindset that seeps its way into every aspect of our lives if we give it the opportunity. Leading the charge against this force are writers like author Deborah L. Perdue who recognize that the daily practice of gratitude can push back against negativity and the adverse effect that it has on our lives. Perdue, in particular, is an outstanding practitioner in this field, demonstrated by this essential book which helps readers to take daily, manageable steps toward a lifelong change for the better.

The daily exercises on reflection and positivity are easy to pick up but provoke deep thought and contemplation about our lives, the perfect exercise for encouraging gratitude in our lives. Overall, Daily Gratitude Reflections Volume 2 follows its predecessor in giving readers an invaluable toolset for pushing their mindset in the right direction and making long-lasting changes for the better in their lives.
I highly recommend it!


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The Song of Ramon and Maria

An Epic Historical Novel of Love and Revenge
By Richard E. LaMotte

The Song of Ramon and Maria by Richard E. LaMotte is an epic romance novel set against the backdrop of the Mexican Revolution at the dawn of the 20th century.

Another New Release and 5-Stars for Richard!

Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers’ Favorite

The Song of Ramon and Maria by Richard E. LaMotte is an epic romance novel set against the backdrop of the Mexican Revolution at the dawn of the 20th century. Despite misgivings from her family, Maria Duranthon marries the love of her life, Ramon, an Indian cowboy, in the small Mexican town of Rosario. But when Ramon is drafted into the Mexican army, and Maria’s father is unexpectedly murdered, the two lovers will diverge toward very different paths in life.

After suffering a harrowing assault by a despicable captain, Maria leaves for Mexico City, realizing, to her horror, that she is pregnant. She is forced to beg on the streets until she finds refuge in the bordello of a European madame. Meanwhile, Ramon joins the revolutionaries while being hunted by the federal forces. Can Ramon and Maria find their way back to each other?

A sprawling tale of love, loss, and betrayal, The Song of Ramon and Maria never lets you take your eyes off the pages. Author Richard E. LaMotte weaves an epic yarn filled with romance, tragedy, and political intrigue that keeps you on your toes with a string of twists and turns you never see coming. This story is full of heartbreak, where our heroes sacrifice themselves for the greater good.

Ramon and Maria are two star-crossed lovers who find themselves separated from each other due to extraordinary circumstances they have no control over. If you love to read epic romance sagas or historical fiction, I can’t recommend The Song of Ramon and Maria enough.


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More Books To Check Out on Amazon!


Sister Mysteries
by Claudia Ricci 


Seeing Red
by Claudia Ricci